Showing posts with label vitamin D. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vitamin D. Show all posts

Monday, October 24, 2011

Vitamin D shortage

Pregnant women and newborns are underserved dramatically with vitamin D. This is the result of a study by Prof. Dr. Clemens Kunz from the Institute of Food Science, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen (JLU), together with Dr. Peter Gilbert, chief physician of St. Joseph Hospital in Giessen. It is the first study in Germany, which checks the actual vitamin D status in this group using blood tests. Kunz and Gilbert concluded from the results that a significantly higher vitamin D intake for pregnant women as well as for many other population groups is urgently needed to prevent health consequences such as disorders of bone formation. A higher intake of vitamin D could be made on food supplements, fortified foods or medicines. "But first, the authorities are required to increase the intake recommendations," said Kunz. Currently recommends the German Nutrition Society (DGE) for adults - including pregnant and lactating women - the inclusion of five micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D (200 IU) per day. In Canada, for example, the recommendation is for daily vitamin D intake ten times higher.

Kunz has made in his study, in partnership with the St. Joseph's in the casting of Krankenaus October to December 2010 in 84 pregnant women at delivery blood samples. Simultaneously, a sample from the umbilical cord of the child was removed. Then, the researchers examined the concentration of 25 OH D in the blood, which is the storage form of vitamin D, which is suitable for the determination of vitamin D status is best. The result: a vitamin D deficiency was present in 90 percent of women and 88 percent of the infants. Only two of 84 women and three of the examined newborn children had 25-OH D concentrations, which are more than 50 nanomoles per liter (nmol / L) on the latest recommendations of the Institute of Medicine (U.S.) by 2011.

In several international studies, researchers have already investigated the influence of maternal vitamin D status on the health of newborns. They were able to demonstrate a clear correlation between low 25-OH D levels and an increased number of new cases of acute lower respiratory tract infections, a decreased bone mineralization, rickets of prematurity and brain development. Intervention studies in recent years confirm the poor supply of many pregnant women during this sensitive period. They also illustrate that the current recommended intakes in Germany make any significant contribution to improving vitamin D status during this critical phase.

A lack of vitamin D leads to disturbances of bone formation. Rickets, osteomalacia (osteomalacia) and osteoporosis may result. Because not enough vitamin D is present, increased dissolved calcium from the bones - rather than take it out of the food - in order to obtain the necessary calcium concentration in the blood up.

Evidence can be a vitamin D deficiency in addition to the determination of 25 OH D by bone density measurements or the determination of parathyroid hormone in the blood. Groups at risk for vitamin D deficiency include, for example, pregnant and lactating women and their infants and the elderly.
READ MORE - Vitamin D shortage

Friday, May 27, 2011

Easy tips safe from skin cancer during the summer

Every summer comes we will be happy to go to the beach or casual events outside which deal directly with sunlight. It's good you still consider your skin to avoid the dangers of UV rays cause skin cancer without the need to restrict your desire to have fun out there.

The skin is the outermost part and largest organ of the body that more potential for common cancer especially skin cancer. And one of the most dangerous skin cancer is melanoma due to the growth of pigment-producing cells that are not controlled. Melanoma has caused 79 percent of deaths of skin cancer.

Some simple tips to avoid the dangers of skin cancer.

-Sunbathing briefly and try to get the shelter
We do need sunlight to produce vitamin D but it's actually not so much. Simply bask about 10 minutes of unprotected skin in the morning or late afternoon. Or you can use a thicker weave clothes or darker colors and white T-shirts as sun protection factor (SPF) or use UV protection clothing products.

-Using the right SPF
Choose an SPF that can protect both from UVA and UVB rays. Medical officer recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply about a half hour before sun exposure and repeat regularly throughout the day.

-High consumption of fruits and vegetables as antioxidants
The fruits and vegetables are very good fo our body to fight against most cancers. A topical vitamin C serum is also good as a little protection if you forget to wear sunscreen.

-Check your skin regularly to your dermatologist
At least once a month check your skin health to your dermatologist, especially when there are changes in your skin such as the mole is larger, darker, black or bleeding. Earlier known melanoma will be easier to be cured with surgery.
READ MORE - Easy tips safe from skin cancer during the summer

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Research: Breast cancer can be prevented with vitamin D intake and sun exposure

New research by French scientists have managed to find the key to preventing breast cancer by a combination of a higher intake of vitamin D either from food or supplements and regular exposure to direct sunlight

A previous study also mentions the relationship between vitamin D deficiency in women with breast cancer risk which has been suggested the excess of vitamin D as an anti-cancer. Vitamin D can influence cell growth, differentiation of healthy cells and programmed cell death (apoptosis).

However, intake of vitamin D from food and supplements alone would not be complete without a combination of regular exposure to direct sunlight. French scientists have compared women with a place of abundant sunshine in the south of France only had half of risk than women who live in less sunny areas such as Paris. Scientists concluded that exposure to sunlight regularly have the most significant protection from developing breast cancer.

Results of a study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, concluded that the importance of women to get a good intake of vitamin D from sunlight exposure and diet to reduce the risk of breast cancer. It is also influenced by the ability of an individual woman to process or synthesize vitamins from food and sunlight exposure.

Currently, almost the average woman in France and America have low levels of vitamin D, especially from the least sun exposure.
READ MORE - Research: Breast cancer can be prevented with vitamin D intake and sun exposure

Friday, November 19, 2010

Vitamin D Deficiency plus Diabetics Can be Fatal

If you have diabetes so be careful to also deficient in vitamin D. Recent research shows that people with diabetes with lower levels of vitamin D will have a higher risk of death compared to diabetics with higher vitamin D levels.

So the importance of vitamin D in our bodies so that deficiencies can aggravate existing disease. Researchers at the Steno Diabetes Center in Gentofte said that the limit levels of vitamin D in the body that is less than 13.9 nmol / L (5.6 ng / mL) would have a risk two times higher risk of developing heart disease and risk of death compared with the levels vitamin D above 13.9 nmol / L.

The results of a study published in the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes Care suggest that almost the majority of study participants had levels of vitamin D is very low under the standards of Vitamin D Council between 125-200 nmol / L (50-80 ng / mL). Vitamin D Council recommends 20 to 30 minutes of basking in summer sun to be able to produce about 10,000 international units (IU) of vitamin D in white skin.


source
READ MORE - Vitamin D Deficiency plus Diabetics Can be Fatal

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

95 percent American Babies are Vitamin D Deficiency

Some research has identified about the large number of infants who lack vitamin D in the U.S., but the mothers and pediatricians were less aware of the compliance requirement of vitamin D for infants with only one percent of it is already getting vitamin D supplements.

According to research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that only about 5-13 percent of breast-fed babies have received the amount of vitamin D recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics which is about 400 IU vitamin D per day. If we only rely on human breast milk would lead to vitamin D deficiency because human milk is relatively low amount of vitamin D. The researchers suggest that we should give at least 32 ounces of fortified formula per day so they can get 400 IU of vitamin D.

Other research has also been mention of vitamin D deficiency in newborns that reached 58 percent and 36 percent in mothers, although mothers who have taken prenatal vitamins.

Exposure to sunlight is very good to increase the intake of vitamin D for mothers, but it did not have a direct impact on the requirement of vitamin D in infants. So that the infants should get their own exposure to direct sunlight to synthesize vitamin D for themselves. Thus although the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants get no direct sunlight at all for the first six months of life, and that they wear protective clothing and sunscreen beyond that age - effectively ruling out the healthiest, most reliable source of this essential nutrient.


source
READ MORE - 95 percent American Babies are Vitamin D Deficiency

RELATED POSTS