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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Vitamin E Tocotrienols Affects Inflammation Markers

Vitamin E Tocotrienols Affects Inflammation Markers

According to data published in a recent issue of Clinical & Experimental Cardiology, an annatto-based tocotrienol ingredient may be able to reduce some markers of inflammation.For one month, researchers tested the effects of a 90% delta-tocotrienol/10% gamma-tocotrienol ingredient (DeltaGold, derived from annatto) at increasing dosages of 125, 250, 500 or 750 mg/d in 31 individuals with high cholesterol. Everyone also followed the American Heart Association’s Step-1 Diet and had bloodwork done regularly to see the effects on inflammatory markers.

Even at the lowest dose, the supplement lowered levels of nitric oxide (NO), c-reactive protein (CRP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and δ-glutamyl-transferase (δ-GT). The most effective dose—250 mg/d—lowered NO by 40% and CRP by 40%, while total antioxidant status climbed 22%. Another positive result, the 250-mg dose reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines by 15–17%. The researchers stated this dosage in hypercholesterolemic patients “may be a potential therapeutic alternative natural product for the maintenance of health during aging process.”


source: http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/news/breaking-news/vitamin-e-tocotrienols-affects-inflammation-markers61346

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The vitamin D deficiency: should we act?

 The vitamin D deficiency: should we act?

As someone with an aspiring career in healthcare PR I have recently gained an education in the world of healthcare journalism in the mainstream media. As an intern I have noted how health and medicine shape the headlines of the newspapers and magazines we read every day. But I’m yet to establish whether these headlines then go onto shape our lives? Or are they forgotten quicker than you can say ‘vitamin D supplements’?

Vitamin D has recently hit the forefront of our popular consciousness, gaining national coverage in newspapers over the last week. The story hit the headlines as government health advisors are now declaring that, thanks to Britain’s perpetual state of drizzle, the entire population is not receiving sufficient levels of vitamin D. Subsequently in order to protect our health and boost our vitamin D levels we may have to become a nation of supplement takers. This marks a change from current government advice which suggests that only specific groups are at-risk; these include children under 5, pregnant women and adults over 65.

So we’re all at-risk of a vitamin D deficiency –but will we alter our lifestyles accordingly? The draft report which sparked this media activity was due to be released in 2007, but has been continually delayed. It is presumed these delays were due to the huge wealth of ever-growing information regarding vitamin D. This diminishes hope that the final report, due in 2016, will be published punctually. By this time people will almost certainly have lost interest in what was once breaking news.

The seeming lack of urgency surrounding the report is enough for anyone to mistake this current influx of headlines as a big fuss about nothing. However the delays merely highlight the sheer quantity of information, the complications of completely changing current government advice and inevitable bureaucracy.

I also feel a misunderstanding about the severity of this issue may prevent people from taking action. I can confidently assume this news story has led to numerous puns surrounding the British summer (or lack of it). Herein lies the problem – something with such a simple solution as getting 15 minutes sun exposure a day or taking over the counter supplements does not feel as intimidating as many health headlines. However a vitamin D deficiency can not only harm your bones but is also blamed for chronic conditions such as cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

So while the headlines may be forgotten, awareness still needs to be raised. When the solution is so simple, why take the risk at all?


source: http://saycomms.co.uk/blog/2015/08/the-vitamin-d-deficiency-should-we-act/

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Many Older Women Don’t Need Vitamin D Supplements

Many Older Women Don’t Need Vitamin D Supplements

Vitamin D supplements may be ineffective in improving bone density or bone strength in postmenopausal women, a clinical trial has found.

Researchers randomized 230 women to one of three groups: a low-dose group who took 800 units of vitamin D daily; a high-dose group who took 50,000 units twice a month; and a group that received placebo pills.

All had similar vitamin D blood levels at the start of the study, about 20 milligrams per deciliter. By the end of one year, the average vitamin D levels were 42 in the high-dose group, 27 in the low-dose group, and 18 in the placebo group.

Calcium absorption increased about 1 percent in the high-dose group, while decreasing 2 percent in the low-dose group and 1.3 percent in the placebo takers. But there was no difference among groups in changes in bone mineral density or trabecular bone score, a measure of osteoporosis risk. Nor was there any difference in the number of falls or the ability to exercise. The study is in JAMA Internal Medicine.

“Right now, our patients are getting mixed messages from ‘don’t bother taking D at all’ to ‘take 2,000 too 4,000 units a day,’ so what are we to do?” said the lead author, Dr. Karen E. Hansen, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin. “This study supports a middle-of-the-road approach. If your D level is 20 or higher, that’s enough, and if you’re low, you can achieve that with 600 to 800 units a day.”


source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/10/older-women-vitamin-d-supplements/?_r=0

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Void food supplements without prescription

Experts have warned against taking food supplements without prescription or medical advice as these may cause cancer, infertility and even lead to sexual impotence.

Some experts have pointed out that these amount to medications (food supplements: vitamins) of unknown source/origin that are entering the Sultanate’s markets.

Speaking to Al Shabiba, the sister publication of the Times of Oman, Dr. Muataz Jado, medical officer at Advanced Fertility & Genetics Centre, said all vitamins were not completely safe.

“Vitamins taken by the youth at the gyms/centres without medical consultation could cause infertility and sexual impotence as there are cases in which those who take food supplements believed that these supplements are simply vitamins and have no side effects. Some food supplements comprise hormones that are detrimental to human bones and could cause cancer,” he added.

For instance, Vitamin E, if taken for a long time and in big quantities, can cause liver cancer. The WHO has been opposing for over ten years the use of Vitamin E during pregnancy as it causes cancer and congenital malformation of the embryo.

“Food supplements have become popular and their use is not restricted to body building,” he added. There are some medications that enter the Sultanate under the term “food supplements,” a majority of which are imported, mainly from places not subject to the federal law of these countries.

The majority of such food supplements are exported to the Middle East region. There are also other medications in the market, the source of which is unknown and that do not carry any details in any language, he added. It seems unusual that people do take medications of unknown sources just because someone advised them to do so.

Outlets selling food supplements refuted allegations that they popularised such supplements. A manager at one such outlet said the “food supplements they sell are vitamins authorised by the Ministry of Health and these have no side effects.”



Source: http://timesofoman.com/article/65214/Oman/Health/Oman-health-Food-supplements-can-be-dangerous-say-experts

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5 Cucumber Health Benefits You Probably Didn't Know

There are so many benefits of cucumbers that most people do not know. In fact, cucumbers are labeled one of the World's Healthiest Foods, reports WH Foods. Listed below are some health benefits from consming cucumbers. 

1: Reduces Cancer Risk
Cucumbers contain a certain chemical that can help reduce the risk of certain cancers. According to WH Foods, researchers recently discovered that cucumbers contain a unique polyphenol, called lignans, which are usually found in vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.
Cucumbers also contain three forms of lignans: lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. The lignans found in cucumbers have a history of decreasing certain cancers, including breast, uterine, ovarian and protstate cancers. Moreover, the same lignans can help decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.

2: Cucumbers Contain plenty of Healthy Vitamins and Nutrients
Cucumbers are actually chock-full of vitamins including Vitamins B1, B2, B3, and Vitamin C. Other nutrients can be found as well like folic acid, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc, states the Huffington Post.

The vitamins and nutirents found in cucumbers can relieve stress, if added to a cup of boiling water. Huffington Post explains that the nutrients from the cucumbers will be released through the steam of the boiling water, making a nice calming and comforting aroma. 

In addition, the vitamin B found in cucumbers are also a good source of energy, more so than other caffeinated drinks like coffee. Futherore, since cucumbers also contain electrolytes, sugar and B vitamins, they can be consumed to prevent morning hangovers. Simply, eat a cucumber before going to bed.
People with anemia can also benefit from eating cucumbers, since the vegetable contains folic acid and iron.

3: Lowers Blood Pressure
Cumcumbers contain 4 percent DV of postassium, which can reduce blood pressure and keep people hydrated. Bembu explains that cucumbers do not contain any sodium, which is essential in order for DV to lower blood pressure.

A healthy blood pressure can help prevent other diseases like stroke, heart attack, kidney disease and even vision loss. Bembu advises not to drink too much cucumber water though. It is important to drink just the right amount.

4: Helps with Weight Loss
Cucumbers can work like a diuretic, a drug that increases the amount of urine a person passes. As a diuretic, cucumbers can help shed some fat cells and water weight by removing excess fluids, explains 3 Fat Chicks.

In addition, cucumbers are also filled with fiber, which help regulate bowel functions in the body, resulting in a clean digestive tract. 

5: Can Treat Diabetic Patients
Accoring to ieatndrink.com, there is scientific evidence that cucumbers contain a specific hormone which helps the pancreas produce more insulin. Studies have found that the hormone can be consumed through cucumber juice. 

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