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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Vitamin D Lowers Seniors' Risk From Falls: Study

Vitamin D Lowers Seniors' Risk From Falls: Study

Delivering vitamin D supplements to homebound seniors might help lower their risk of falls, a new study suggests.

Previous research has found vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining muscle strength, and some studies have suggested vitamin D may help prevent falls, researchers say. 

Vitamin D is found in such foods as cheese, yogurt, egg yolks and beef liver, and the skin naturally produces the vitamin when exposed to sunlight.

"Falls in homebound older people often lead to disability and placement in a nursing home," said lead author Denise Houston, associate professor of gerontology and geriatric medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Homebound seniors tend to have poor eating habits and little exposure to sunlight, putting them at increased risk for low vitamin D levels, she and her colleagues noted.

They arranged to have vitamin D supplements delivered to Meals on Wheels clients. 

Over five months, 68 homebound seniors received either a monthly vitamin D supplement of 100,000 international units or a placebo with their Meals on Wheels prepared-food deliveries.

At the start of the study, more than half of the seniors had insufficient vitamin D levels, and fewer than one-quarter had optimal levels.

The supplements increased vitamin D from insufficient to sufficient levels in all but one senior who received the supplements, and to optimal levels in all but five.

Also, seniors who received the vitamin D supplements reported about half the falls as those in the placebo group, according to the study published online Aug. 16 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

However, the study doesn't actually prove that higher levels of the vitamin prevented falls.

"Although these initial findings are encouraging, we need to confirm the results in a larger trial," Houston said in a Wake Forest news release.

Every year, about one-third of seniors who live at home suffer falls, and about one in 10 falls results in serious injury, the researchers say.

source: http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Health-News/vitamin-d-falls-seniors-study/2015/08/21/id/671170/

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Healthy Bones Require Balanced Nutrients

Healthy Bones Require Balanced Nutrients

In addition to the right kinds of physical activity, healthy bones and bone building require balancing 4 major nutrients: Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, and Magnesium.

The functions of these 4 nutrients are entwined and depend on each other for strength.

For example:

1. Vitamin D maintains skeletal calcium balance by promoting calcium absorption in your intestines.

2. Calcium and phosphate depend upon Vitamin D for bone formation.*

3. Vitamin K2 helps to cement the Calcium you absorb into the bone matrix rather than depositing it on the inside of your blood vessels leading to atherosclerosis.

4. Magnesium is an important mineral that your body needs to build a strong bone matrix.

Imagine the effects on your bones if one of these nutrients is missing, or not present in the right amount. 

Calcium: Your Bone’s Best Friend (Most of the Time)

Load up on dark leafy greens at your local farmer’s market, healthy bones require bone-building nutrients. And ideally your bones get many of these nutrients from the foods you eat.

But, our diets have changed over the years to ones that are heavy in meat and grains, which are naturally low in Calcium. And they can have an acidic effect on the body if eaten in excess.

The human  body will always do what it must to maintain a balanced ph. When the body becomes too acidic, it releases minerals, including Calcium from your bones and teeth.

However, eating too little protein can be just as bad. Protein deficiency interferes with Calcium absorption in your intestines.

On the other hand, dark, green leafy vegetables are rich in Calcium. And they have an alkalizing effect on your body, these are Key reasons to eat plenty of fresh leafy green vegetables

Remember, the balance of bone-building nutrients is Key.

Some high Calcium foods also contain naturally high amounts of Vitamin K2, such as fermented cheeses and butter from pastured cows. When choosing dairy, look for products made from raw, hormone-free, unpasteurized milk.


source: http://www.livetradingnews.com/healthy-bones-require-balanced-nutrients-115962.htm

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The Lifestyle Choices That Affect Alzheimer's Risk

The Lifestyle Choices That Affect Alzheimer's Risk

There are no guarantees when it comes to aging, but a new study helps clarify the lifestyle choices that affect our risk for Alzheimer’s disease, for better and for worse. The team from the University of California, San Francisco culled thousands of previous studies on Alzheimer’s risk and protective factors, and arrived at 323 studies that provided high-quality data. They found, as other studies have, that there are some key elements that are largely within our power to integrate or avoid, in order to reduce the risk of the brain disease that affects some 5 million people in the U.S. today.

The factors that appear to be protective against Alzheimer’s include many of the things that we already know to be good for us: Eating a healthy diet; healthy intake of folate, vitamin C, and vitamin E; coffee consumption; fish consumption; light-moderate drinking; and staying cognitively active. There were also some links between medications and reduced Alzheimer’s risk, including estrogen, cholesterol lowering drugs (statins), blood pressure meds, and anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The nine factors associated with higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s were:

• Obesity
• Depression
• Carotid artery narrowing
• Low educational attainment
• High levels of homocysteine (a compound that builds up, in part when B vitamin levels are low)
• High blood pressure and low blood pressure
• Frailty
• Current smoking (in the Asian population)
• Type 2 diabetes (in the Asian population)

Many of the connections have been known for some time, but it’s helpful to have them confirmed by newer, large-scale analyses. Keep in mind, of course, that the study only arrives at correlations between these factors and Alzheimer’s – it doesn’t prove that one or more actually cause or prevent the other. And genetic factors still play a strong role in the development of Alzheimer’s. But the researchers say that assuming causality is at play, if the population avoided the nine risk factors listed above, up to two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases could also be avoided. That’s quite a high percentage. We may not be able to do all good things for ourselves all the time, but when it comes to the brain, the more we can do, the better.


source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/08/22/the-lifestyle-choices-that-affect-alzheimers-risk/

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Easy does it on Vitamin D supplements for obese teens

Dosing obese teens with vitamin D shows no benefits for their heart health or diabetes risk, and could have the unintended consequences of increasing cholesterol and fat-storing triglycerides. These are the latest findings in a series of Mayo Clinic studies in childhood obesity.

Seema Kumar, a pediatric endocrinologist in the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, has been studying the effects of vitamin D supplementation in children for 10 years, through four clinical trials and six published studies. To date, Dr. Kumar’s team has found limited benefit from vitamin D supplements in adolescents. The latest study, Effect of Vitamin D3 Treatment on Endothelial Function in Obese Adolescents, appears online in Pediatric Obesity.

“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,” says Dr. Kumar. “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.”

One in five American adolescents is obese, and more than a third are overweight, according to the Journal of American Medical Association. Several observational studies also have noted links between vitamin D deficiency and a host of weight-related medical complications, including cardiovascular diseases and insulin resistance. As a result, caregivers and providers often start high-dose supplementation in an attempt to slow or reverse some of the clinical complications associated with obesity.

“I have been surprised that we haven’t found more health benefit,” says Dr. Kumar. “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.”

This is the first of Dr. Kumar’s studies to report increased cholesterol and triglycerides during vitamin D supplementation, a finding she says might be attributed to the smaller number of children who participated in the study and the relatively short time frame. She calls for larger, placebo-controlled studies to examine the long-term effects of vitamin D supplementation on teens and children.

Parents and providers often put obese adolescent children on vitamin D regimens — sometimes at more than 5-to-10 times the recommended daily intake — because some studies have shown a link between vitamin D in the blood and improved vascular function, says Dr. Kumar. She opted to study vitamin D in overweight teens because this population is at increased risk for chronic disease, and because of the compound’s increasing popularity as a homeopathic or complementary treatment for obesity.


source: http://www.gosanangelo.com/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/study-easy-does-it-on-vitamin-d-supplements-for-obese-teens_74812435

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To B12 or not to B12

To B12 or not to B12

Not much is known about vitamin B12. People usually aren't aware of its vital role in keeping the human body together. 

B12, an integral part of the B complex group of vitamins, is responsible for many things that we take for granted - it helps in the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose, pushes up our energy levels and keeps lethargy at bay. It is vital in regulating both the nervous and digestive systems, which implies that adequate quantities of this vitamin decrease stress, fight depression and keep the brain from shrinking.

B12 also helps shield you from heart disease by regulating your cholesterol levels and protecting you from high blood pressure and stroke. It is, in addition, crucial to the maintainence of your nails, skin and hair. It also keeps you looking young as it aids in skin cell renewal.

Wait, it's not over yet. This vital vitamin has a role to play in your body's metabolism and helps in producing the all-important red blood cells. And when it's done with that, it moonlights as an anti-cancer superhero, fighting colon, breast, lung and prostate cancer. Phew!

Like all things we take for granted, B12 is missed only when its levels drop. Many conditions affect the body's ability to absorb this vitamin', ranging from severe anaemia to the thinning of the stomach lining, to diseases that affect the small intestine (celiac disease and Crohn's disease). Problems with the immune system like lupus or Grave's disease and heavy drinking also interfere with the way B12 is absorbed by the body.

But all's not lost. And even if it has, it can easily be regained. B12 is abundantly available in many foods like meats, eggs, milk, cheese, certain kinds of fish and liver. For those who don't eat these, B12 supplements are widely available.

For those with severe B12 deficiency, intramuscular doses is a medically-approved way of compensating the lack of it. The best part about this vitamin though is that it is water-soluble, which means that after the necessary levels get absorbed by the body, the extra amounts are excreted naturally by your body.

But don't self medicate. You need to check with your doctor before deciding how exactly to tackle a B12 deficiency. Sometimes it could be symptomatic of a larger problem.

If you are feeling chronically tired, get your B12 levels checked. The prescription may be as simple as eating more B12-rich foods or popping a pill.




source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Life-Style/Health-Fitness/Diet/To-B12-or-not-to-B12-/articleshow/48452552.cms

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On a high meat diet? Here’s what you are missing

On a high meat diet? Here’s what you are missing

While the war between benefits of being a vegetarian or a non-vegetarian continues, one must know the important nutrients that each of these diets offers and the other doesn’t. According to our expert dietician and sports nutritionist Deepshika Agarwal, it is important to maintain a balance between the two. However, if any nutritional deficiency is observed in a person following the non-vegetarian diet, they may need to seek to vegetarian sources.

Following are some of the nutrients that are not present in animal food or if present, are in extremely low quantities:

Fibre: Animal food is deficient in dietary fibre. Fibres like pectin that help in the growth of beneficial bacteria are found in fruits like plums, guavas and bananas. Beta-glucan another form of fiber linked to lowering blood pressure and sugar levels is found mainly in whole-grain cereals like oats and bran. Similarly, lignans are also available in abundance in flax seeds and grains and not in any animal food.

Read: Reasons for eating more fibre
Starch: The first thing that comes to mind when you read starch is potatoes and rice. High carbohydrate foods are generally high in starch content and hence starch is not easily found in animal food.

Vitamin C: Citrus fruits are loaded with this vitamin. Cooked animal food cannot provide Vitamin C to the body. The only animal foods that contain small quantities of Vitamin C are raw liver, raw meat and some variety of fish. However, raw forms of animal food are not edible and hence they fail to provide the body with this essential nutrient. Here are 15 ways Vitamin C keeps you healthy.

Antioxidants: The advantages of antioxidants are endless. Flavonoids, Vitamin D, catechins etc are some of the antioxidants that are present in plant foods especially fruits and colourful vegetables. Meat or fish obviously lack these nutrients responsible as co-factors for many enzymes in the body. Did you know antioxidant foods can boost your memory?

A largely non-vegetarian diet deprives you of these essential nutrients and hence you need to balance the diet by adding sufficient quantities of these essential foods to avoid nutritional deficiency and associated health complications.






source:http://www.thehealthsite.com/fitness/nutrients-not-found-in-non-vegetarian-food-bs815/

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Vitamin D pills can increase cholesterol in teens

Giving obese teenagers extra vitamin D pills can elevate their cholesterol and fat-storing triglycerides levels, an Indian American researcher has discovered.

Seema Kumar, pediatric endocrinologist in the Mayo Clinic Children's Centre also found no benefits of extra vitamin D supplements in improving heart health or decreasing diabetes risk.

Parents and providers often put obese adolescent children on vitamin D regiments -- sometimes at more than 5-to-10 times the recommended daily intake.

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

"We are not saying the links between vitamin D deficiency and chronic diseases do not exist for children - we just haven't found any yet," she added.

This is the first of Kumar's studies to report increased cholesterol and triglycerides during vitamin D supplementation.

Kumar has been studying the effects of vitamin D supplementation in children for 10 years through four clinical trials and six published studies.

To date, her team has found limited benefit from vitamin D supplements in adolescents.

She, however, calls for larger, placebo-controlled studies to examine the long-term effects of vitamin D supplementation on teenagers and children.

"This is because some studies have shown a link between vitamin D in the blood and improved vascular function," Kumar said in a paper appeared online in the journal Pediatric Obesity.

She opted to study vitamin D in overweight teenagers because this population is at increased risk for chronic disease.

According to her, it is possible to ingest too much vitamin D, a condition called vitamin D toxicity or hypervitaminosis, which can result in poor appetite, nausea, vomiting and kidney complications.


source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/Vitamin-D-pills-can-increase-cholesterol-in-teens/articleshow/48493572.cms

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Are vitamin D tests testing the health budget?

Are vitamin D tests testing the health budget?

Researchers from Monash University have conducted a study into the frequency and testing patterns for vitamin D deficiency which raises questions about best practice and the financial impact on health spending in Australia.

"While current recommendations are to test high risk individuals, such as the elderly, consensus of testing frequency and timing is lacking," Associate Professor Anita Wluka from Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said.

Analysis of Medicare data from 2000 to 2010 found that the rate of 25(OH) D testing had increased 94-fold, representing a financial increase from $1.02 million to $96.75 million during the period.

As a part of their study, the researchers conducted a three-year audit (from 2010 to 2012) at a major metropolitan community health centre in the western region of Melbourne. The incidence of vitamin D deficiency varies across society, with females, the elderly, lower socioeconomic groups and migrants presenting a higher risk. To date, studies of testing patterns have not evaluated socioeconomic factors and migrant status in light of testing.
"This study aimed to examine 25(OH) D testing patterns by GPs as well as identifying patient characteristics associated with higher levels of testing. We found that 55.6 per cent of eligible patients in the study were tested for vitamin D deficiency, which is obviously a significant proportion," Associate Professor Wluka said.

Of these patients, the majority were female (59.8 per cent) and 65.7 per cent of migrants were tested compared to only 42.1 per cent on non-migrants. Researchers did not find a significant testing pattern between patients in most disadvantaged areas and least disadvantaged areas.

"It is important to assess and test high risk groups; however the incidence of possible over-testing needs to be considered. Evidence-based policies and improved guidelines on testing frequency are needed and could provide significant savings in annual health care expenditure.

"Another option could be raising the current recommended daily supplement dose of 800IU to those at risk of vitamin D deficiency, and refraining from testing unless risk factors changed for the patient," Associate Professor Wluka said.


source:http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-08-vitamin-d-health.html

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What is vitamin D? A deficiency can lead to DIABETES and even multiple sclerosis

What is vitamin D? A deficiency can lead to DIABETES and even multiple sclerosis

A VITAMIN D deficiency isn't one of the most talked about medical complications but it has serious implications including a connection with cardiovascular disease and even cancer.

Vitamin D can be found in many products - including natural sources like animal-based products, including fish and fish oils. 

But being deficient in the vitamin can lead to complicated health problems with symptoms including bone pain and muscle weakness. Express.co.uk have asked all the questions you need to know the answer to, including how to get more vitamin D and who's more susceptible to being deficient in the mineral. 

We spoke to a series of experts in the field including Boots UK Pharmacist, Tom Kallis, Vicky Pennington, a Boots UK Nutritionist and Consultant Nutritionist and Dietitian Juliette Kellow. 

What is vitamin D?
Vicky Pennington, Boots UK Nutritionist, said: Vitamin D helps to maintain healthy bones as without adequate vitamin D you cannot absorb calcium into the body. It also helps to maintain a healthy immune system.

Are woman lower in vitamin D than men? 
VP: Some groups have higher vitamin D requirements and are particularly at risk of deficiency - babies and young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, pregnant teenagers and older people.

The UK Department of Health recommends:
5 micrograms for adults. This is 100% of the recommended daily allowance
7 micrograms for children under 5
10 micrograms for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers
10 micrograms for older people, those of Asian / African origin and those who don't get much sun

Can you ever get too much vitamin D?
VP: Yes, it is a fat soluble vitamin that the body can store. When choosing a supplement Boots recommend that you do not take more than 25 micrograms a day, as this is the safe upper limit (SUL) as currently outlined by the governments expert group on vitamins and minerals

How can we boost our vitamin D levels in the winter? 
VP: Vitamin D is called the "sunshine vitamin" because most of the vitamin D we need is made by sunlight on the skin. A northern latitude, dark skin pigmentation, covering the skin, being housebound or spending very little time outdoors (office workers, night-shift workers) and wearing sunscreen all limit the opportunity to manufacture vitamin D.

We always recommend customers use a SPF sun cream when exposed to sunlight. Dietary sources of vitamin D such as oily fish and eggs are important too, but the average UK daily diet provides just 2.8 micrograms (women) and 3.7 micrograms (men).

Is it the same if you get it from food as if you get it from the sun? 
Boots UK Pharmacist, Tom Kallis said: Ultimately they're the same, dietary sources of vitamin D are colecalciferol, which is the same substance which is produced in the body via sunlight; it's two ways to achieve the same thing, whether you get it by diet or by sun, but it’s a lot more difficult to get the full amount from dietary sources alone though - the majority of our vitamin D will be made from sunlight.

What is the RDA for vitamin D and how long will it take for you to get that in the UK? 
TK: Oral RDA is 10 micrograms for vitamin D in pregnancy or over 65s, 5 micrograms is the RDA found in most supplements for the general population. However, the time it takes for vitamin D to be produced via sunlight varies depending on the season, time of day and skin type. Darker skin will shield some of the UVB rays needed to produce vitamin D due to the pigments in the skin, so it will take longer to produce for these people.

Also direct sunlight (at midday) will give the greatest abundance of UVB rays that penetrate through the atmosphere (making vitamin D production quicker) than in early morning or late afternoon. The further away from the equator also affects how much UVB penetrates through the atmosphere - much more penetrates when the sun is overhead closer to the equator.

How do you get vitamin D, naturally? 
TK: Vitamin D is obtained through sunlight on the skin (sunlight catalyses the reaction of 7-dehydrocholesterol -> colecalciferol. Colecalciferol is then converted to the biologically active form of Vitamin D by the liver and kidney) or through foods in the diet. These foods include oily fish, eggs, some cereals and cod liver oil. It's much easier to obtain vitamin D through sunlight, but that and diet are two ways to help achieve this.

Do SAD lamps work? 
TK: SAD lamps will only work to boost vitamin D levels if they have the correct wavelengths of light which allow the body to produce vitamin D and if enough vitamin D is produced from their use.

What happens if you don't get enough? 
TK: Low vitamin D levels can lead to rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, where there is a low mineral content in the bones. Symptoms include stunted growth in children, bone pain and fractures.

Can sun beds give you a vitamin D boost? 
TK: Sun beds can help with vitamin D production as they use the correct wavelengths of UV involved in their synthesis however, there is a greater risk of burns and skin cancer through regular use of sunbeds, so regular use is not advocated.

Can you get it through windows? 
TK: Depending on window type, some have a complete UV filter on them. Most glass will absorb UVB rays, which are instrumental in the synthesis of Vitamin D.

Are Muslim women who wear burkas at risk of low vitamin D levels? 
TK: If there is only limited exposure to sunlight and someone is covered up from head to toe all day, then yes, this can put you at risk of vitamin D deficiency if not enough sunlight falls on the skin.

In what way does a low intake of vitamin D affect your life - drowsy? Etc
TK: Low vitamin D levels have a tenuous link with SAD - some studies show that oral vitamin D supplementation can help, but it doesn't look clear cut. Some research suggests prolonged vitamin D deficiency can play a role in increasing health risks associated with bone cancers.

Consultant Nutritionist and Dietitian Juliette Kellow explains: “Vitamin D contributes to the normal development of bones and teeth and is made in the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. However the British summer can’t always be relied upon to provide the amount of sunshine we need. Choosing a fortified whole grain breakfast cereal that contains Vitamin D is a great way to ensure that you’re not missing out when the sun isn’t shining.”


source: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/597596/Vitamin-D-foods-supplements-deficiency-side-effects

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Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Sources, Benefits and Dosage

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Sources, Benefits and Dosage

vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, is important to many functions in the body. For example, it is needed to grow and repair tissues throughout the body. Vitamin C is a popular remedy for the common cold, but research is mixed on whether it helps or prevents the sniffles.

Sources of vitamin C
Dietary sources of vitamin C include many fruits and vegetables. Sources with the most vitamin C are fresh, raw cantaloupes, citrus fruits, kiwis, mangos, papayas, pineapples, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, watermelon and cranberries, according to National Institutes of Health (NIH). Red and green peppers, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, turnip greens and other leafy greens, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, winter squash and Brussels sprouts are other good sources of vitamin C. 

Benefits
The body uses vitamin C in many different ways. Vitamin C is needed by the body to form collagen.  According to the NIH, the body also uses vitamin C to make skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. It also uses this vitamin to repair and maintain cartilage, bones and teeth, to heal wounds and to form scar tissue.


Vitamin C may also prevent cancer by blocking the damage made by free radicals. “Vitamin C is a vital antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals that we are exposed to in the environment such as air pollution, cigarette smoke and ultraviolet light from the sun,” said Dr. Sherry Ross, OB/GYN and Women’s Health Expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. 

Many people tout vitamin C as a cure-all for a wide range of diseases. Many of these have not been proven. “Health benefits of vitamin C that have been proposed but not scientifically proven include a lower risk of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, age-related macular degeneration and cataracts,” said Ross.

A study by the National Eye Institute, however, did find that an intake of 500 mg per day of vitamin C, along with beta-carotene, vitamin E and zinc supplements, slowed the progression of advanced age-related macular degeneration by about 25 percent. It also helped slow visual acuity loss by 19 percent for those who are already at high risk of developing the disease. The vitamins did not have significant effect on the development or progression of cataracts, though.

The medical community is split over the benefits of vitamin C on the heart. Some studies suggest that vitamin C may prevent heart attacks by slowing down hardening of the arteries by preventing LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Other studies show that vitamin C does not prevent heart attacks. A study by Johns Hopkins found that vitamin C has a “modest” effect on lowering high blood pressure and does not currently suggest supplements as a treatment option.

Vitamin C is often taken to prevent or cure the common cold. Research shows that most people taking high doses of Vitamin C still get the common cold just as often as those who don’t take high doses. It may shorten the amount of time a person is sick, though, and may also lessen the symptoms. [Related: Does Vitamin C Really Help Colds?]

Deficiency and Dosage
Vitamin C deficiency is fairly common. Smoking cigarettes can lower the amount of vitamin C in the body, so smokers are more prone to a deficiency, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Often, doctors will suggest a vitamin C supplement to smokers to prevent or cure a deficiency. 

Not getting enough of this vitamin can cause easy bruising, gingivitis and bleeding gums, dry and splitting hair, rough, dry, scaly skin, a decreased wound-healing rate, nosebleeds and a decreased ability to ward off infection, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

An extreme lack of vitamin C for long periods of time can cause scurvy. Symptoms of scurvy are skin that bruises easily, bleeding gums, joint pain and poor wound healing. 

 “An estimated 40 percent of men and 38 percent of women are getting insufficient amounts of vitamin C. If you’re not eating your fruits and veggies, it’s a good idea to supplement,” said Brian Dixon, an expert in molecular and cellular biology and executive director of Health and Science Education at USANA Health Sciences.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin C varies, depending on age, gender and other factors. Typically, the RDA is 75mg for women and 90mg for men, according to Oregon State University. Pregnant and nursing women should take 80mg to 120 mg, depending on age.

Most of the population can take substantially more than the RDA without any side effects since vitamin C is water soluble. This means that it is not stored by the body. It is filtered out and leaves the body in urine, according to the NIH. “However, some people taking more than 2,000 mg could experience some gastrointestinal upset. And those who are prone to form kidney stones should get clearance from their doctor before taking high doses of Vitamin C,” said Dixon.


Source: http://www.livescience.com/51827-vitamin-c.html

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Avoiding The Sun May Be Bad For Your Health

Avoiding The Sun May Be Bad For Your Health

New research suggests that sunlight exposure not only provides the benefits of vitamin D production, but also many additional health benefits not related to vitamin D.

A scientific consensus paper by scientists from the University of California, San Diego, Creighton University, Boston University Medical Center, and the Medical University of South Carolina, along with other research contributors addresses the health risks and quantifiable harm that the current culture of sun avoidance in the United States carries.

"Humans have adapted to sun exposure over many thousands of years and derive numerous physiological benefits from UV exposure in addition to vitamin D," Carole Baggerly, executive director of GrassrootsHealth and co-author of the paper, said in a statement. "These benefits far outweigh those derived from vitamin D intake by supplements, and therefore sun avoidance being recommended by the US Surgeon General and others is unnecessarily putting Americans at risk."

The paper concludes that moderate UV exposure is a natural way to improve human health. In fact, patients suffering from cutaneous tuberculosis and other conditions stand to benefit immediately from the use of heliotherapy in their treatments.

The conclusion is consistent with the results of a survey released this week by GrassrootsHealth, which can be accessed at www.grassrootshealth.net, in which 99 percent of dermatologists surveyed believe that UV exposure is a viable form of treatment for non-lethal skin conditions like psoriasis.

"We urge the US Surgeon General's office and other public health entities to do the work needed to recommend UV exposure levels that are both beneficial and safe, and which favor scientifically-researched information over current cultural norms," Baggerly added.

The paper notes that further study is needed to better understand the additional health benefits of UV light beyond vitamin D, including those related to the release of nitric oxide, production of beta-endorphin, and regulation of circadian rhythms -- all important components of life-long health and well-being.


source: http://www.universityherald.com/articles/22132/20150810/avoiding-the-sun-may-be-bad-for-your-health.htm

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