Too Much Alcohol Could Reduce Vitamin A Levels in Your Body

Too Much Alcohol Could Reduce Vitamin A Levels in Your Body

Before understanding how too much alcohol could reduce the Vitamin A count in your body, it's important to understand why Vitamin A is important for you. Vitamin A is key to a strong immune system and improves your eyesight. It comes from two main sources: plants and animal products. According to web MD, Vitamin A supplements are used in the treatment for cancers, HIV, dry eye and measles.

A study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal suggests that chronic alcohol consumption has a dramatic effect on the way the body handles vitamin A. Long-term drinking lowers vitamin A levels in the liver, which is the main site of alcohol breakdown and vitamin A storage, while raising vitamin A levels in many other tissues.

"We hope this study will lead to a broader understanding and appreciation of the fact that excessive consumption of alcohol has a negative effect on vitamin A function in the body," said one of the researchers Robin Clugston from Columbia University Medical Center in New York, New York.He added, "Ultimately, we hope that vitamin A will be seen as a broad target for alcohol in multiple tissues of the body and that our understanding of alcohol-induced disease will be linked together by its effects on vitamin A."Clugston and colleagues conducted multiple experiments using several groups of mice including those who received alcohol-containing food and alcohol-free food. 

They analysed the liver and other organs (kidney, spleen, heart, lung, white adipose, brown adipose and blood), from both groups of mice and measured tissue vitamin A levels.The alcohol-fed mice had distinct changes in how their body handled vitamin A. In general, vitamin A levels were lower in the liver and higher in other tissues.  This strongly suggests that vitamin A in the liver is reduced by excessive alcohol consumption and that these findings are important in the development of alcoholic liver disease.


source:http://food.ndtv.com/health/too-much-alcohol-could-reduce-vitamin-a-levels-in-your-body-1213556

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Vitamin K antagonists do not affect bone mineral density, fracture risk

Vitamin K antagonists do not affect bone mineral density, fracture risk

Vitamin K antagonists do not increase the risk for fracture or reduce bone mineral density, according to findings published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

“Because osteocalcin, a protein produced by osteoblasts, undergoes the same carboxylation process [as vitamin K], the inhibition of the gamma-carboxylation exerted by vitamin K antagonists leads to lower incorporation in the bone matrix,” the researchers write. “Undercarboxylated osteolcalcin serum levels increase with the use of vitamin K antagonists, but whether this translates into fracture risk or lower bone mineral density values is still controversial.”

Nicola Veronese, MD, of the department of medicine, geriatrics section, at the University of Padova in Italy, and fellow researchers examined data from 79,663 patients treated with vitamin K antagonists and 597,348 controls, which included healthy individuals and patients with a medical illness. All participants were identified through a literature search.

Two investigators completed the PubMed and Embase search from database inauguration through August 2014 for studies that compared fractures and bone mineral density among patient and control groups. Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies were selected.

Altogether, 21 studies were included for analysis. Patients treated with vitamin K antagonists were found to have a higher risk for fracture in both cross-sectional (three studies; RR = 1.24; 95% CI, 1.12-1.39) and longitudinal (seven studies; RR = 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01-1.18) investigations, as well as more incident hip fractures (four studies; RR = 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05-1.31). However, when studies that matched patients treated with vitamin K antagonists with healthy controls were evaluated (n = 4), findings in longitudinal studies became nonsignificant.

Bone mineral density values were similar among patients treated with vitamin K antagonists and medical controls at all study sites. The researchers note that one study showed lower spine T-scores in patients treated with vitamin K antagonists as compared with healthy controls (standardized mean difference, –0.45; 95% CI, –0.75 to –0.14).

“The use of [vitamin K antagonists] seems to neither significantly increase fracture risk when matching on confounding factors nor reduce [bone mineral density] beyond effects of medical illness,” the researchers write. “Since the use of [vitamin K antagonist] treatment, as well as osteoporosis and fractures, are continuously increasing, particularly in older people, future studies using appropriate matching procedures, following patients for sufficiently long periods and including newer oral anticoagulants are needed to clarify the short- and long-term effects of [vitamin K antagonists] on bone health.”



source:http://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/hematology/news/online/%7Bc07099db-a99d-4f38-8bc0-510d964642f4%7D/vitamin-k-antagonists-do-not-affect-bone-mineral-density-fracture-risk

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Vitamin D supplements little help for obese teens

Vitamin D supplements little help for obese teens

Taking vitamin D supplements does not benefit obese teens and may actually harm their health, new research indicates.

Studies have suggested a link between vitamin D deficiency and problems such as insulin resistance and heart disease, and some doctors put obese teens on high-dose vitamin D supplementation to try to slow or reverse such obesity-related health problems.

But this latest research found the supplements do not improve obese teens' heart health or reduce their diabetes risk, said Dr. Seema Kumar, a pediatric endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester, Minn. In addition, the supplements may be linked to increased levels of cholesterol and fat-storing triglycerides, according to a Mayo Clinic news release.

"After three months of having vitamin D boosted into the normal range with supplements, these teenagers showed no changes in body weight, body mass index, waistline, blood pressure or blood flow," Kumar added.

She has studied the effects of vitamin D supplementation in children for 10 years, and her latest findings were published online Aug. 14 in the journal Pediatric Obesity.

"I have been surprised that we haven't found more health benefit," Kumar said. "We're not saying it's bad to take vitamin D supplements at reasonable doses, and we know most obese teens are vitamin D-deficient. We're just saying the jury is still out on how useful it is for improving overall health in adolescents," she explained.

"We're not saying the links between vitamin D deficiency and chronic diseases don't exist for children -- we just haven't found any yet," Kumar said.

Consuming too much vitamin D can also result in vitamin D toxicity, which causes poor appetite, nausea, vomiting and kidney complications, Kumar said.

While the study found an association between vitamin D supplementation and higher levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship. Kumar suggested large, placebo-controlled studies are needed to determine the long-term effects of vitamin D supplementation on children and teens.



Source: http://www.wsfa.com/story/29787338/vitamin-d-supplements-little-help-for-obese-teens-study-finds

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Vitamin C scores high in ways it can be useful to us

Vitamin C scores high in ways it can be useful to us

When you hear “vitamin C,” do you think about oranges and fending off colds?

Think again! Many people are surprised to learn that a half-cup of red peppers has twice as much vitamin C as an orange, and this versatile vitamin may be better at fighting cancer and cardiovascular disease than colds.

Now you “C” it! Humans can't make vitamin C, so we need to get it from food. We also can't store it, so we have to be sure to get a continuous supply.

Luckily, at least a little vitamin C can be found in all fruits and vegetables. Foods can lose vitamin C when they're cooked or stored for long periods of time, however, so those cooked mixed vegetables or that old bottle of orange juice may have less C than raw veggies or fresh OJ.

Since Vitamin C dissolves in water, cooking methods that use little or no water (microwaving or light steaming) or dishes in which you consume the cooking liquid (soups and stews) will get you the most vitamin C for your buck. Or, you can simply enjoy C-rich foods like broccoli and peppers au natural.

VITAMIN C SCIENCE

This important vitamin has lots of uses in our bodies. It's necessary for growth and repair of tissues, from healing wounds to maintaining cartilage, bones and teeth. Vitamin C also is a powerful antioxidant, fighting the free radicals that promote diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and arthritis. While it has a role to play in the body's immune system, research doesn't support the idea that vitamin C can prevent colds, although it might help you get better, faster.

Fortunately, there are lots of other science-based benefits from getting/having this important vitamin into/in your diet. Studies show that people who get more vitamin C from foods or supplements have a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease and stroke.

While vitamin C doesn't prevent cancer, it might help treatment. Additionally, people with higher vitamin blood levels have lower risk of death from all causes, including cancer and heart disease.



Source;http://triblive.com/lifestyles/fooddrink/8879806-74/vitamin-cancer-disease#axzz3jvb53Wsa

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Vitamin D Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Mortality

Vitamin D Linked to Lower Breast Cancer Mortality

Higher concentrations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) are associated with lower mortality from breast cancer, according to a meta-analysis published in the March issue of Anticancer Research.

Sharif B. Mohr, MPH, from the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of five studies to examine the correlation between 25(OH)D at diagnosis and mortality from breast cancer. A random-effects model was used to calculate hazard ratios.

The researchers observed a correlation between higher 25(OH)D concentration and lower case-fatality rates after breast cancer diagnosis. Compared with patients in the lowest quintile of 25(OH)D, those in the highest quintile had about half the death rate from breast cancer (hazard ratio, 0.56).

"High serum 25(OH)D was associated with lower mortality from breast cancer. Serum 25(OH)D in all patients with breast cancer should be restored to the normal range (30 to 80 ng/mL), with appropriate monitoring," the authors write. "Clinical or field studies should be initiated to confirm that this association was not due to reverse causation."

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Low vitamin D-binding protein levels increase risk for food allergy

Low vitamin D-binding protein levels increase risk for food allergy

Polymorphisms associated with low vitamin D-binding protein levels weakened the association between low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels and food allergy, according to study results.

This may increase the biological plausibility of vitamin D insufficiency in the development of food allergy, according to researchers.

Jennifer J. Koplin, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, and colleagues assessed data from a population-based cohort study to determine whether polymorphisms that lower the vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) could make up for adverse effects of low serum vitamin D on food allergy risk.

The analysis included 607 infants — 338 with and 269 without food allergies ­— aged 1 year. The analysis also included 105 infants — 55 with persistent egg allergy and 50 with resolved egg allergy — aged 2 years.

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 levels (25[OH]D3) (less than or equal to 50 nM/L) in infants aged 1 year increased the risk for food allergy, especially in infants with the GG genotype (OR = 6; 95% CI, 0.9-38.9).

However, this did not appear to be the case in infants with GT/TT genotypes (OR = 0.7; 95% CI, 0.2-2).

Persistent vitamin D insufficiency increased the risk for persistent food allergy (OR = 12.6; 95% CI, 1.5-106.6).

The results have future implications for the prevention and treatment of food allergy, according to the researchers.

“Reference ranges to define low levels of 25[OH]D3 with a detrimental biological effect may need to take into account differences in the DPB level, including racial variation, and treatment dosages might also need tailoring,” the researchers wrote. “Further studies should determine whether correction of vitamin D insufficiency could aid in the development of tolerance including during immunotherapy to foods.” 



Source: http://www.healio.com/allergy-immunology/drug-food-insect/news/online/%7B6d619e39-dc62-427f-ba0e-ff9489289705%7D/low-vitamin-d-binding-protein-levels-increase-risk-for-food-allergy

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Vitamin D Deficiency Tied to Dry Eye Syndromes

Vitamin D Deficiency Tied to Dry Eye Syndromes

Patients with vitamin D deficiency should be evaluated for dry eye syndromes, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.

Pelin Yildirim, M.D., from the Kocaeli Derince Training and Research Hospital in Turkey, and colleagues assessed the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and dry eye and impaired tear function in 98 premenopausal women (50 with vitamin D deficiency).

The researchers found that patients with vitamin D deficiency had lower scores in Schirmer's test and tear break-up time test (TBUT) and higher scores in the ocular surface disease index (OSDI). Fatigue severity scale was negatively correlated with Schirmer's test and TBUT scores, while visual analogue scale-pain was negatively correlated with TBUT scores. Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire scores showed no significant correlation with dry eye parameters. Vitamin D level was negatively correlated with OSDI and positively with Schirmer's test and TBUT scores.

"Dry eye and impaired tear function in patients with vitamin D deficiency may indicate a protective role of vitamin D in the development of dry eye, probably by enhancing tear film parameters and reducing ocular surface inflammation," the authors write.



Source: http://www.empr.com/medical-news/vitamin-d-deficiency-tied-to-dry-eye-syndromes/article/434059/

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Every Newborn Needs Lifesaving Vitamin K

Every Newborn Needs Lifesaving Vitamin K

What do vitamin K and immunizations have in common? Actually, nothing — but that isn't stopping parents from refusing the lifesaving treatment when their children are born. There has been much discussion about immunizations in the past few years, and here is one dangerous unintended consequence: When parents refuse vaccines after a child's birth, they unwittingly also refuse vitamin K.

For more than half a century, giving newborn infants an injection of vitamin K within the first few hours of life has been the standard of care. Pediatricians know that vitamin K is essential for infants to be able to clot (stop bleeding), and that babies are born with very low levels of vitamin K.

When the bleeding won't stop

Infants who do not receive vitamin K injections are at risk for a deadly condition: vitamin K deficiency bleeding of the newborn (VKDB). There are two types of VKDB: early onset and late onset. Early onset VKDB involves bleeding in the first few days of life, and can mean bleeding from a circumcision site or umbilical cord stump. Late-onset VKDB can occur from 4 to 12 weeks of life, and usually means internal bleeding.

My colleagues and I recently published a case study in The Journal of Emergency Medicine detailing a case involving a 10-week-old infant I treated at the emergency department at Nationwide Children's Hospital who was diagnosed with late-onset VKDB. 

The baby presented with increased fussiness that had progressed over a two-week period and had experienced a full day with flecks of blood in his stool. The child appeared pale on examination. Because of this, we performed a complete blood count, finding that the red blood cell levels were very low (indicating anemia) and the blood showed no ability to clot.

We discovered that he was experiencing intracranial bleeding (bleeding that occurs within the skull), and that the parents had refused "all shots" at birth. The infant was lacking essential vitamin K and was bleeding into his brain.

In this case, we immediately administered a vitamin K shot, and within 24 hours the bleeding stopped. Follow-up scans showed there was no further internal bleeding, and his symptoms subsided. It was a close call, and presented an opportunity to remind all parents why vitamin K shots are so important.

Vitamin K is not a vaccine

I recommend that all newborns and children be vaccinated according to the guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). But for those parents who might be leery of vaccinations, it is important to know that the vitamin K shot is not a vaccine. It has no immune properties whatsoever and should not be lumped in with vaccines.

The vitamin K injection is completely safe, and essential for all infants. All vaccines are also safe, but even the criticisms of vaccines wouldn't apply to this injection, since it contains only a vitamin. Adults get vitamin K through the foods they eat, mostly from green, leafy vegetables like kale, spinach and herbs. The problem in pregnancy is, no matter how often expectant mothers eat foods rich in vitamin K, it does not cross the placenta well. An unborn baby therefore doesn't get the benefits of vitamin K from the mother's diet.

Likewise, after birth, tests have shown that breast milk retains very little vitamin K from a mother's diet, so breastfeeding alone doesn't give infants sufficient amounts of vitamin K, either. The stomach and intestines do not absorb vitamin K well, so oral doses and formula are not as effective as the shot. 

That's why all babies need an injection of this crucial vitamin immediately after they are born.

Fortunately, VKDB is rare. According to the AAP, vitamin K deficiency causes unexpected bleeding in the first week of life in 0.25 to 1.7 percent of newborns.

If internal bleeding does occur in a newborn, it can be hard to detect. Symptoms of VKDB can include increased fussiness, bruising, blood in the urine or stool, and vomiting.

Those are fairly common symptoms in newborns, however, that could point to any number of conditions, leading to misdiagnosis. The longer the symptoms persist, the worse the bleeding can become, and as parents grow concerned, they eventually seek medical attention.

That is why physicians need to be aware of how many parents opt out of their babies' vitamin K shots. The injection has been routine for so long, it might not occur to some doctors that VKDB is a possibility. Otherwise, the physician may go down a different diagnostic path, delaying treatment and increasing the risk of further damage to the infant.

As was evident in the case we treated, and in similar cases recently, a vitamin K shot or infusion given immediately after diagnosis can stop the bleeding and save the infant's life.We were lucky we caught it in time or the outcome may have been devastating. Our patient had a fortunate outcome, but we could avoid these situations entirely if all parents understood what the vitamin K shot is, knew why it's so important and allowed health care providers to give the injection to babies shortly after birth.



Source:http://news.yahoo.com/parents-choose-shot-every-newborn-needs-lifesaving-vitamin-143459788.html

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