Preventing Colon Cancer with vitamins

Vitamin D might help prevent colon cancer. A new study finds high levels of vitamin D in the blood are linked to lower risks of colorectal cancer. But researchers say it's not clear if higher intake of the vitamin actually prevents the disease.

The finding is based on a study of more than 500,000 people from ten countries in Europe.

The research is published online in the British Medical Journal.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to long list of health concerns

You can add Crohn's disease to the growing list of conditions that vitamin D may treat, improve, or prevent. Some of the other benefits of vitamin D are reductions in breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. Vitamin D deficiency can worsen asthma symptoms, and some experts even suggest that higher levels of vitamin D can help prevent influenza, including the H1N1 virus.

More new evidence suggests that ability to lose weight  improves with an increase of vitamin D and the sunshine vitamin is essential for proper brain function and heart health. Researchers also believe that proper levels of vitamin D can reduce your risk of multiple sclerosis and even macular degeneration. At one time, scientists believed the only function of vitamin D was to protect our bones.

You can get vitamin D from food, from supplements, and from the controversial; exposure to the sun. One might assume that deficiency would be less of a concern in San Diego, where this free nutrient is abundantly available, but deficiency is still an issue, even in the southern United States.

While relatively rare in the United States, severe deficiency in some places continues to cause rickets, even though British scientist; T. A. Palm discovered that lack of sunshine in some areas correlated with an increase in rickets way back in 1892. Doctors originally treated rickets with cod liver oil, which contains vitamin D.

With some experts claiming there is an epidemic of Vitamin D deficiency, it is worth getting a blood draw to determine if supplementation is necessary. Experts disagree about  what level is optimal but most agree that a 25(OH)D (or vitamin D) level of at least 30 to 32 ng/mL is a good number.

Recommended daily dose is also a topic of much debate; some experts suggest 400 IU is plenty while others suggest as much as 10,000 IU or more, per day. Regular discussion between doctors and their patients regarding vitamin D would be advisable.

Vitamin D is only naturally found in a few foods such as oily fish, fish liver oils, certain eggs, and  possibly, in some mushrooms. Milk contains added vitamin D, and some breads and cereals are fortified. Responsible exposure to the sun is also an option worth researching to help maintain optimal vitamin D levels.

This new information shows how poorly scientists understood this important nutrient just 20 years ago. It raises some additional questions. How much do scientists know about how other vitamins and nutrients work? Is all of the nutrition research causing people to pick foods based on specific nutrients, rather than evaluating the nutritional value of the food as a whole? Will Coke or Pepsi be the first to start fortifying their products with vitamin D?

Multivitamins Lower Risk of Death from Heart Disease

Long-term regular consumption of a multivitamin may reduce the risk of dying from heart disease by 16%, according to recent findings published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. In addition, an intake of vitamin E over 215 mg per day over the course of ten years may result in a 28% reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD). This flies in the face of a well-publicized study about the ineffectiveness of these supplements on heart disease in particular.

University of Washington researchers reported that multivitamins did not decrease the risk of either total mortality, or cancer mortality. On the other hand, vitamin C and vitamin E were associated with small decreases in risk of total mortality. Specifically, the use of multivitamins and vitamin E decreased risk of death from CVD by 16% and 28%, respectively. These results after analyzing the 10-year use of multivitamin, vitamins C and E supplements of 77,719 Washington State residents aged between 50 and 76 that was obtained by questionnaire. (Pocobelli, G. et al. Am J Epidem. Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1093/aje/kwp167.)

This research contradicts conclusions from a controversial meta-analysis published originally in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2007, Vol. 297, pp. 842-857.), which reported that supplements of vitamin E, vitamin A and beta-carotene may increase mortality risk by up to 16%.

The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., with 1 in 3 people dying from complications attributable to it. Prevention is key, and it makes sense to do all you can to reduce your risk. Take a comprehensive daily multivitamin to protect your cardiovascular health.

Pregnant Women Lack Vitamin D

9/25/2009 8:47:00 AM

BELFAST, Northern Ireland—Pregnant women, even those who use supplements, have insufficient levels of vitamin D, according to a new study

Researchers at Queen's University compared vitamin D levels in 99 Caucasian pregnant women at 12, 20 and 35 weeks of gestation to 38 non-pregnant women. Vitamin D levels were lower in the pregnant women with 96 percent classified as insufficient at 12 and 20 weeks, and 75 percent classified insufficient at 35 weeks.

Women who took multivitamins had higher levels of vitamin D than those who did not take a supplement, but levels were still classified as too low.

The researchers recommend pregnant women take higher dose vitamin D supplements in order to avoid rickets, schizophrenia and type 1 diabetes in their children.

Vitamin D Recommendations for Kids

By Peggy L. Manuel, MD, FAAP

Contributing Writer - Integrative Health Expert
About the Author
August 6, 2009


1. Newborns

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends 400 IU vitamin D3 daily starting from birth. Liquid vitamin D drops containing 400 IU per drop can be used.

2. Children Over 1 Year Old

Research suggests that about 1,000 IU vitamin D3 per 25 lb. may be needed in addition to any multivitamins or vitamin D milk, even in sunny areas like Southern California. For a child one year or older, 1,000 IU vitamin D3 daily may be reasonable (especially in winter or when sick). 1,000 IU daily or 2,000 IU every other day (M/W/F) works fine.

3. Anyone Over 12 Years Old

Research suggests that about 2,000 IU vitamin D3 daily (in addition to multivitamins, milk or sunshine) may be needed. After 2 - 3 months of supplementation, persons with dark skin, health concerns and those who are overweight may wish to request a blood test for 25OHvitaminD level to see if more supplementation would be helpful.

4. Pregnant or Breast-Feeding Women

Research suggests women need 3,000 - 5,000 IU daily while pregnant, and 4,000 - 6,000 IU vitamin D3 daily while breast-feeding for optimum health. These recommendations are not yet endorsed by the American College of OB-GYN, although they are considering revising upward the current recommendations.

Note on Sunshine: Those preferring to use sunshine to obtain sufficient vitamin D levels should be aware that sun exposure would need to be between 10 am and 2 pm without sunblock, and does not work through windows. The ideal amount of time would be about one-fourth the amount of time before burning. (Sunburns are strongly discouraged.) These recommendations are not presently endorsed by most dermatologists due to concerns about photoaging and skin cancer. For more information, visit the Vitamin D Council or GrassrootsHealth. (See especially the video with Dr. Michael Holick and the Disease Prevention Incidence Chart.)

Vitamin D Benefits: Researchers recommend a goal of 40-60ng/ml 25-OH vitamin D levels (60-75ng/ml for cancer patients per cancer researcher Donald Trump, MD). The benefits of sufficient 25-OH vitamin D levels include preventing rickets, strengthening muscles, bones and teeth, lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of falling, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular disease and death from all causes, as well as boosting the immune system against viruses (including influenza), bacteria, and tuberculosis. Vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of depression, preeclampsia in pregnancy and perhaps even autism.

Why men get Fat

By: Poon Chian Hui

Men, put down that double cheese burger and listen when women tell you that you are often clueless about good nutrition.

Women tend to be more proactive about their health and seek nutritional advice more often than men, who tend to view food as a matter of enjoyment.

A 2005 study in The Journal Of Men's Health And Gender noted that this difference in attitude may be linked to the trend of men being more likely to be overweight.

Nutritional woes of ageing men include decreased metabolism. This means an even higher risk of weight gain, said dietitian Pauline Chan, managing director of The Nutrition Place.

'With decreased metabolism, a high-fat diet can lead to obesity and cause health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure and even stroke," she said.

Instead, they should eat easily digestible and nutritious food, as their ability to absorb nutrients tends to be less efficient, said Ms Jenny Goh, a senior nutritionist at Fitness and Health International.

However, meeting dietary requirements may be trickier for men, as they require slightly more nutrients than women due to higher body weight and energy demands, said Ms Chan.

'Unbalanced diets or diets with inadequate nutrients increase the risk of malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, bone fractures, infections and overall decline in health status," she said. 'Such consequences of poor health may even lead to depression."

Nutrients that older men may lack are vitamins C and D, the minerals iron, calcium and zinc, protein and fibre.

Some nutrient-packed foods to include in one's diet are wholegrain bread, oatmeal, steamed meat, fish, tofu, leafy vegetables and low-fat milk, she suggested.

Vitamin D deficiency, a longstanding problem for older women, has recently been found to be common in older men as well. An American study published this year determined that 26 per cent of older men aged 65 to 99 are vitamin D-deficient, with 72 per cent not meeting the optimal intake of this vitamin.

Hence, one should also get enough sunlight to enable the skin to produce vitamin D, which is needed in calcium absorption for stronger bones, added Ms Goh.

'The housebound and those living in institutions may face a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency," she said.

'Vitamin D supplements should be considered in such cases."

Older people should also go easy on salt. Their taste sensitivity decreases with age, which leads to greater preference for salty foods.

'High salt intake can worsen existing high blood pressure," Ms Chan warned.

Older men should cut down on condiments like soya sauce and choose natural alternatives like herbs and spices to enhance taste, she said.

Those who suffer from loss of appetite should try eating small but frequent meals, advised Ms Goh.

Helping Your Liver With Alpha R-Lipoic Acid

Discover why Alpha R-Lipoic Acid is being taken by an increasing number of people with chronic liver disease.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

In an effort to prevent liver damage, those with chronic liver disease are engaged in a continuous battle against free radicals. Thus, free radical neutralizers, otherwise known as antioxidants, are always advised to support liver health. A naturally occurring antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals, Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), is included in many practitioners’ recommended liver health regimens because it is known to protect – and even restore the integrity of liver cells.

Understanding Cellular Oxidation
Cellular oxidation is the natural process where either oxygen or disease breaks down a substance. By losing an electron, the broken-down matter produces free radicals. Free radicals are very unstable and react quickly with other compounds, trying to capture a needed electron to gain stability.

Generally, free radicals attack the nearest stable molecule, stealing its electron. When the attacked molecule loses its electron, it becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Unless this cascade of free radical damage is stopped, cellular damage – or even cellular death – is likely to occur.

Because they can safely bind with free radicals, antioxidants are capable of terminating a destructive rampage before cellular damage is caused. By safely binding with free radicals, antioxidants can stop this injurious chain reaction. Thus, many health professionals suggest that their patients with chronic liver disease take supplements and foods rich in antioxidants to help prevent their hepatic cells from deteriorating.

ALA
Alpha Lipoic Acid is an antioxidant that is used to protect the liver for a variety of reasons.

· Solubility – Unlike other antioxidants, ALA is both fat and water-soluble. Thus, this antioxidant can bind with free radicals in a lean liver or in a fatty liver, and it can confer free radical protection to both interior and exterior cellular structures.

· Regeneration – Antioxidants are typically depleted as they attack free radicals, but there is evidence that ALA may help to regenerate other antioxidants so they can function once again. Such a capability is highly desired when constant liver inflammation threatens to form new free radicals.

· Boosts Glutathione – A primary function of ALA is to increase the body’s production of glutathione, which helps dissolve toxic substances in the liver.

· Reduces Liver Enzymes – According to research from the 1970s by Drs. Fredrick C. Bartter and Burton M. Berkson, ALA restores liver enzyme levels back to normal.

Alpha R-Lipoic Acid
Because of the functions described above, Alpha Lipoic Acid is well-known in the health supplement industry to help those with chronic liver ailments. However, information regarding the different forms of ALA – and which one is preferred – is just now being acknowledged.

ALA exists in two forms: Alpha R-Lipoic Acid and Alpha S-Lipoic Acid. Some facts about these two forms include:

· Both forms contain the same number and composition of atoms but have different arrangements.

· Naturally occurring lipoic acid is Alpha R-Lipoic Acid.

· Synthetic lipoic acid contains a 50/50 mixture of the R and S forms.

· Research indicates that the Alpha R-Lipoic Acid alone is far more effective than Alpha S-Lipoic Acid or the mixture.

ALA Cautions
In general, there is little evidence of ALA causing any harm. Although rare, one of ALA’s few reported side effects is a skin rash. Before supplementing with ALA, review the following specific concerns:

· ALA can lower blood sugar levels, so those with diabetes should only take this supplement under the supervision of their doctor.

· Several animal studies suggest that people who are deficient in thiamine (vitamin B1), a condition often associated with alcoholism, should not take ALA.

· ALA may lower levels of thyroid hormone, thus those taking thyroid hormones should be monitored if they wish to take ALA.

Until a universal cure is discovered, chronic liver disease demands vigilant attention to preserving as many liver cells as possible. Due to its ability to protect the liver from free radical damage, Alpha R-Lipoic Acid is a logical choice for liver cell preservation. Because it scavenges free radicals, has a dynamic solubility, can regenerate other antioxidants, boosts glutathione and helps normalize liver enzyme levels, ALA should be a top contender in everyone’s liver wellness regimen.

Even if you have a healthy, well-balanced diet, a multivitamin is nutritional insurance♦

by Molly Kimball, Eating Right, The Times-Picayune

With thousands of supplements on the market promising everything from weight loss to better sleep, it's hard to know which products -- if any -- you should take. I see it every time I'm at the store: At least one person is standing in the supplement aisle with a bottle in each hand, glancing back and forth between the two, then up at more products on the shelf. Their puzzled expressions say it all. "Does this work? Will it help me? Which brand is better? Is it worth the money?" There's good reason for all the confusion. With thousands of supplements on the market promising everything from weight loss to better sleep, it's hard to know which products -- if any -- you should take. The one supplement that I recommend almost universally is a general-purpose multivitamin and mineral, an all-encompassing supplement containing a broad range of nutrients that are necessary for normal functioning, growth, and development. Experts disagree whether a multivitamin is necessary if a person eats a healthy, well-balanced diet. The American Dietetic Association says the best nutritional strategy is to "wisely choose a wide variety of foods." While this is a decidedly noble nutritional goal, it's not always realistic. People often get stuck in a dietary routine, reaching for the same types of foods for many of their meals and snacks. The result: They end up getting the same types of nutrients over and over again. Even for those who make a conscious effort to vary the foods they choose, it can still be quite challenging to get all of the necessary nutrients through diet alone. Take vitamin E, for example: To get the minimum recommended amount for adults, you could eat a cup of toasted wheat germ daily. Not a fan? Not to worry, you can also get your daily dose of E by eating 66 almonds. Problem is that you'll also be getting more than 400 calories and nearly 40 grams of fat. When it comes to selenium, a single Brazil nut will provide your requirement for the day. Some of the next highest selenium-containing foods include poultry skin, and the kidneys from pork, lamb and beef. Fortunately, just two or three ounces of oysters will also cover your selenium needs for the day. It's because of these harder-to-get nutrients that I recommend a multivitamin to most of my clients as a type of nutritional insurance, just in case they aren't getting all of their nutrients through food. But taking a multivitamin doesn't mean you're off the hook from eating fruits and vegetables. Supplements may supply many of the vitamins and minerals that we know about, but there are also loads of nutrients that exist in foods that scientists haven't even identified yet, much less incorporated into nutritional supplements. So if you do opt for a multivitamin, how can you tell which one is best for you? The ingredients vary widely by brand. Some provide well over 100 percent of the recommended intake of many vitamins and minerals, while others have far less. People's diets and their needs are all unique, so not everyone requires the same amount of each nutrient. For example, post-menopausal women typically don't require as much iron, and seniors usually need additional vitamin B12. But almost everyone can benefit from multivitamin supplements that contain at least 100 percent of three key nutrients: vitamin D, vitamin E, and folic acid. When it comes to supplementation, it is possible to get too much of a good thing, and "tolerable upper limits" have been established for many vitamins and minerals. If you're taking a multivitamin with just around 100 percent of the daily value of most nutrients, though, it's not likely that you'll even be close to these. Even so, it's a good idea to take stock of the rest of your diet. Do you tend to eat a lot of fortified foods, bars and shakes? If so, you may already be getting 100 percent or more of many key nutrients, so it may not be necessary to add a multivitamin. For those who decide to take a multivitamin, try to get on a schedule of taking it at the same time each day. It is typically better absorbed with food (plus taking it on an empty stomach can leave you feeling nauseated). Also, some people might find that taking a multivitamin at night makes it more difficult to fall asleep. If this happens to you, try taking your multi with breakfast or lunch. Since some vitamins and minerals can interfere with certain prescription medications, always let your doctor and pharmacist know of any supplements you're taking. And remember that supplements are just that: supplements -- not substitutes -- to an otherwise healthy lifestyle.

Molly Kimball is a registered dietitian in New Orleans

Helping Your Liver With Alpha R-Lipoic Acid

Discover why Alpha R-Lipoic Acid is being taken by an increasing number of people with chronic liver disease.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

In an effort to prevent liver damage, those with chronic liver disease are engaged in a continuous battle against free radicals. Thus, free radical neutralizers, otherwise known as antioxidants, are always advised to support liver health. A naturally occurring antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals, Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), is included in many practitioners’ recommended liver health regimens because it is known to protect – and even restore the integrity of liver cells.

Understanding Cellular Oxidation
Cellular oxidation is the natural process where either oxygen or disease breaks down a substance. By losing an electron, the broken-down matter produces free radicals. Free radicals are very unstable and react quickly with other compounds, trying to capture a needed electron to gain stability.

Generally, free radicals attack the nearest stable molecule, stealing its electron. When the attacked molecule loses its electron, it becomes a free radical itself, beginning a chain reaction. Unless this cascade of free radical damage is stopped, cellular damage – or even cellular death – is likely to occur.

Because they can safely bind with free radicals, antioxidants are capable of terminating a destructive rampage before cellular damage is caused. By safely binding with free radicals, antioxidants can stop this injurious chain reaction. Thus, many health professionals suggest that their patients with chronic liver disease take supplements and foods rich in antioxidants to help prevent their hepatic cells from deteriorating.

ALA
Alpha Lipoic Acid is an antioxidant that is used to protect the liver for a variety of reasons.

· Solubility – Unlike other antioxidants, ALA is both fat and water-soluble. Thus, this antioxidant can bind with free radicals in a lean liver or in a fatty liver, and it can confer free radical protection to both interior and exterior cellular structures.

· Regeneration – Antioxidants are typically depleted as they attack free radicals, but there is evidence that ALA may help to regenerate other antioxidants so they can function once again. Such a capability is highly desired when constant liver inflammation threatens to form new free radicals.

· Boosts Glutathione – A primary function of ALA is to increase the body’s production of glutathione, which helps dissolve toxic substances in the liver.

· Reduces Liver Enzymes – According to research from the 1970s by Drs. Fredrick C. Bartter and Burton M. Berkson, ALA restores liver enzyme levels back to normal.

Alpha R-Lipoic Acid
Because of the functions described above, Alpha Lipoic Acid is well-known in the health supplement industry to help those with chronic liver ailments. However, information regarding the different forms of ALA – and which one is preferred – is just now being acknowledged.

ALA exists in two forms: Alpha R-Lipoic Acid and Alpha S-Lipoic Acid. Some facts about these two forms include:

· Both forms contain the same number and composition of atoms but have different arrangements.

· Naturally occurring lipoic acid is Alpha R-Lipoic Acid.

· Synthetic lipoic acid contains a 50/50 mixture of the R and S forms.

· Research indicates that the Alpha R-Lipoic Acid alone is far more effective than Alpha S-Lipoic Acid or the mixture.

ALA Cautions
In general, there is little evidence of ALA causing any harm. Although rare, one of ALA’s few reported side effects is a skin rash. Before supplementing with ALA, review the following specific concerns:

· ALA can lower blood sugar levels, so those with diabetes should only take this supplement under the supervision of their doctor.

· Several animal studies suggest that people who are deficient in thiamine (vitamin B1), a condition often associated with alcoholism, should not take ALA.

· ALA may lower levels of thyroid hormone, thus those taking thyroid hormones should be monitored if they wish to take ALA.

Until a universal cure is discovered, chronic liver disease demands vigilant attention to preserving as many liver cells as possible. Due to its ability to protect the liver from free radical damage, Alpha R-Lipoic Acid is a logical choice for liver cell preservation. Because it scavenges free radicals, has a dynamic solubility, can regenerate other antioxidants, boosts glutathione and helps normalize liver enzyme levels, ALA should be a top contender in everyone’s liver wellness regimen.

Learn the Best Time of Day to Take Vitamins

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 by: Melanie Grimes, citizen journalist

The body performs different functions at different times of the day. Many people suggest adding food supplements at varied times of the day to accommodate for the digestion and assimilation of these nutrients.

At night, many suggest taking calcium. This is because calcium is utilized at night, and also because calcium can help you get to sleep when taken at bed time. Remember the adage of a glass of milk before bed? Calcium absorption is the reason this makes sense. Magnesium is needed to work hand-in-hand with calcium. Many people take magnesium along with calcium, in the same supplements, at bedtime, although some suggest that magnesium is best absorbed in the day time. If the calcium supplement contains magnesium, taking both at the same time is appropriate.

Many vitamins are best ingested with food, so taking them at meal time is advised. It's easy to remember to take vitamins with meals, since you are eating and drinking at that time, anyway.

Fat-soluble vitamins need fat in order to be absorbed, so they should always be taken with meals that contain fat. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K.

Vitamin C lasts only a few hours in the bloodstream. It should be repeated every three hours for best results, or the entire dose should be divided up to take a third with each meal.

Fiber is best ingested in the morning upon rising. That way it will do its work in the colon without being impeded by food. Fiber can cause vitamins to not absorb, as it can act as a coating to the intestines, so it is best to not take vitamins before fiber. Iron is especially not absorbed well with fiber.

Probiotics are taken with meals and sometimes before a meal, usually about 20 minutes. Digestive enzymes are taken with meals as well, for best effect.

Stimulating vitamins, such as vitamin C, should not be taken before bedtime, as it can keep a person awake. Some even suggest that citrus juice and vitamin C cause nightmares, but this is unconfirmed.

If you are taking many nutritional supplements you might want to organize them in a pillbox that provides a separate box for each time of the day. A few minutes preparation can ensure that you take the recommended doses and that you remember to get all your doses in, in a timely manner. Setting the box near your dining area will remind you to take the vitamins when you eat. Even if you don't take vitamins at the "appropriate" time, adding nutrients to your diet will build health at any time of the day.

Related Link:

Increasing female fertility

July 20, 8:22 AM


If you have been trying to get pregnant but have been unsuccessful, there are a number of things that can be done to increase your chances if conception. While it takes most women an average of 6 months to 1 year to become pregnant, female fertility may be enhanced by simply living a healthier lifestyle.
1. No more caffeine. Studies have shown that women who drink excessive amounts of caffeine have delayed conception. In one study, women who drank more than one cup of coffee per day had a 50% reduction in fertility compared to those who did not consume coffee.
2. Stop smoking. It is common knowledge that smoking is bad for your health, but studies have also shown that women who smoke are less fertile than those who do not. Also, women whose mothers smoked during their pregnancies are less likely to conceive.
3. Reduce alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol, even in moderation, can decrease fertility. The results of once study show a greater than 50% reduction in the probability of conception when the participants consumed alcohol.
4. Take your vitamins. Especially vitamin E. Women trying to conceive should take a multivitamin or prenatal vitamin in addition to vitamin E. When couples were given vitamin E in one study, their fertility increased significantly.
5. Maintain a healthy weight. Being severely overweight or underweight can have a negative effect on fertility. Maintain a healthy weight by eating three balanced meals per day in addition to two or three healthy snacks in between meals. Eating frequently will keep energy up and reduce cravings. Start a cardiovascular program by walking 20 minutes per day three times per week to help shed unwanted pounds and increase walking time and frequency as stamina builds.
6. Check your current prescriptions. Some medications can interfere with fertility. Consult your doctor or pharmacist to see if your current medications could be hindering your chances of conception.
7. Try herbal supplements. Herbs like Vitex, which can be found in liquid and pill form, have been used to successfully increase fertility.
8. See an acupuncturist. For centuries, acupuncture has been used to increase fertility and ease female reproductive problems.
If you are not pregnant after one year (or 6 months if over age 35) of carefully-timed unprotected sex, it is recommended to seek medical advice from an OB/GYN.

Warm up to the sunshine vitamin or risk bone-softening diseases

SOURCE: BY MARILYN LINTON
Here comes the sun and you'd better NOT stay out of it!
The sun, by far, provides us with the biggest dose of vitamin D, says Dr. Reinhold Vieth, a vitamin D booster and researcher in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.
"My prescription for a white person is to lie on your tummy for 10 minutes and then flip over on your back for 10 minutes on a day when the sun is reasonably high in the sky. That'll do it -- you'll make about 10,000 units, your week's worth."
Despite the media attention directed at this new superstar of vitamins, many of us are unaware of what vitamin D's relation to the sun is all about.
When the sun's rays hit the skin, a pre-vitamin D compound is manufactured and transformed by the body into active vitamin D.


Vieth is not advocating over-exposure to the sun -- he wears sunscreen if he's out at the beach -- but he joins many experts in thinking that our fear of the sun may be contributing to vitamin D deficiency -- itself a definite health hazard.
The relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer is complicated: Some research suggests that vitamin D protects against skin cancers, but stronger research shows a connection between melanoma and too much sun.
The Vitamin D Council (www.vitamindcouncil.org) notes that the skin produces approximately 10,000 international unit (IU) vitamin D in response to 20 to 30 minutes of summer sun exposure. That's 50 times more than the daily recommendation of 200 IU a day. (If you're over 50, the RDA goes to 400 IU.)
Vieth is adamant that current RDAs on this vitamin need to be revised. He says that even 50 years ago, scientists knew that the body, when exposed to normal sun, makes 50 times what policy makers today say we need.
"Medical societies are relatively wishy-washy," he says, but the Canadian Cancer Society (www.cancer.ca) has now said that Canadians might "consider" taking 1,000 IUs a day in supplemental form.
Vitamin D advocates, including the Vitamin D Council in the U.S., infer that even 1,000 IU is not enough. In addition to suggesting sunbathing, the council's other controversial recommendations for ensuring that we get adequate levels of vitamin D include using a sun bed (avoiding sunburn) during winter months, and that we take 5,000 IU per day for three months and then obtaining a 25-hydroxy vitamin D test.
Depending on what the test shows, we should then adjust our dosage of vitamin D intake so that blood levels are between 50 to 80 ng/mL (nanograms per millilitre) or 125-200 nM/L (nanomoles per litre) year-round.
According to Vieth, about 40% of doctors are huge fans of the 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test, which means that about 60% of Canadian physicians are not.
I asked Vieth how you would know if you're not getting enough of the vitamin. "Vitamin D deficiency is not unlike general pain syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome," he says, adding his view that testing for vitamin D deficiency is a good idea.
In Vieth's line of work, D does not stand for diet. To get enough vitamin D from food, he says, you'd have to consume about one pound of fish a day. "Even if you drank an extra glass of milk a day, it would only raise your blood vitamin D levels by 2.5 nM/L. Considering you'd want a level higher than 75, it's just absurd how much more milk you'd have to drink."
---
Are Canadians vitamin D deficient?
At latitudes above 40 degrees north, the skin cannot produce adequate vitamin D. Despite concerns about skin cancer, vitamin D is not only essential to health but may help to prevent a growing list of conditions and diseases. Canadians, especially those in the West, can be sorely deprived of the sunshine vitamin - especially during winter months. Research has shown that a lack of vitamin D raises the risk of the following:
- Fractures
- Several cancers
- Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Some cardiovascular disease
- Asthma
- Autoimmune diseases
- Osteoporosis
- Muscle weakness or wasting
Young and Old need D
One-third of urban Canadian toddlers don't get enough vitamin D, placing them at higher risk for problems including rickets, Type 1 diabetes, MS and certain types of cancers. Results of research released in May from Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children indicated that factors associated with lower levels of vitamin D in kids included lower milk intake, higher BMI and watching TV while snacking.
Meanwhile, researchers in Britain and China have shown an association between low vitamin D and metabolic syndrome (which increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and diabetes) in people aged 50 to 70. Seniors' bodies are less efficient at forming vitamin D and their diets may be D-deficient, say the researchers. Spending more time outdoors may be one way they can increase their D levels.

Daily Vitamin Can Thwart AIDS Progress, Study Says

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. Published: Thursday, July 1, 2004

A simple daily vitamin pill can delay the progress of AIDS in H.I.V.-infected women, an eight-year study by Harvard researchers has found.

Vitamins are by no means a cure or a substitute for antiretroviral therapy, the researchers said. But for malnourished women in Africa or Asia with little hope of getting better drugs, vitamins are a cheap, safe way of giving them extra months of life and a little less misery before they die, the study, which is being published today in The New England Journal of Medicine, suggested.

''The study is important for developing countries, especially for pregnant and postpartum women, who are a nutritionally vulnerable group,'' said Dr. Lynne Mofenson, chief of the pediatric and maternal AIDS branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, one of the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Richard G. Marlink, who helps run treatment programs in six African countries as director of the Harvard AIDS Institute and scientific adviser to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, said the study would prompt him to recommend vitamins for his patients.

''This is exciting because it costs literally pennies and can ward off the time when you need to begin treatment with expensive and toxic drugs,'' he said.

The study, run by the Harvard School of Public Health and the medical school of Muhimbili University in Tanzania, followed 1,078 women in Dar es Salaam between 1995 and 2003. The women were recruited when they were pregnant. They had no access to anti-AIDS cocktails, so H.I.V. infection meant a sentence of eventual death from tuberculosis, meningitis, pneumonia, Kaposi's sarcoma or other opportunistic infections.

About six million people in poor countries are already sick enough to need antiretroviral drugs, the World Health Organization estimates, and another 25 million or more will need them soon. Only about 400,000 are getting them.

Efforts to increase that number have gone slowly because of high drug prices, fights over patents, a lack of money from donors, reluctance by African leaders to admit that their nations have epidemics and the inability of shattered health care systems to muster enough doctors, nurses and laboratories to safely deliver the drugs.

The Tanzania study found that 30 percent fewer of the women who received the multivitamins died or progressed to full AIDS during the study than a group of women receiving a placebo. The counts of CD-4 cells, the immune system cells that the virus attacks, stayed somewhat higher in the group that took multivitamins. That group also had fewer incidents of thrush, throat ulcers, inflamed gums, nausea, rashes, fatigue and other debilitating side effects.

Nonetheless, vitamins were no cure. About a quarter of the women who received them still died or reached full AIDS during the study, and without antiretroviral treatment, virtually all can be expected to die in the next few years.

The study had to be changed twice in midstream for ethical reasons, Dr. Fawzi said.

Vitamin A was dropped from the supplements because researchers found evidence that it increased the risk that mothers would pass the infection to their babies.

Also, when the authors had early evidence that multivitamins prevented fetal death and premature births, they put all the women in the study on multivitamins until they delivered. After that, the mothers went back on their previous regimens, without doctors or patients knowing whether they were on a placebo.

The study confirms what researchers have suspected since the epidemic's early days, Dr. Marlink said.

Many AIDS researchers noticed that vitamin-deficient patients sickened faster than well-fed ones, he said, but Americans who were malnourished usually had other problems, like drug and alcohol abuse, that made it hard to blame poor nutrition for their rapid declines.

Three years ago, Dr. Andrew Tomkins of the Institute for Child Health in London gave multivitamins or placebos to 481 H.I.V.-infected men and women in Thailand. Although Dr. Tomkins followed the patients for less than a year, the group taking vitamins had ''significantly'' lower mortality, especially among those whose immune systems were weakest, he said.

Dr. Tomkins called Dr. Fawzi's study ''particularly important'' because many people are not yet in treatment despite the efforts of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and ''it's going to be a long time before everybody is,'' he said.

The women studied were poor but urban. Their diet was ''not very rich, but not suboptimal,'' he said, adding that rural women probably ate less well. But those who benefited from vitamins did so ''regardless of whether they were undernourished or not,'' Dr. Fawzi said.

A version of this article appeared in print on Thursday, July 1, 2004, on section A page 8 of the New York edition.

Why Liquid Vitamins and not hard pills?

Liquid nutritional supplements have become very popular in recent years. With advancement in research and technologies, liquid vitamins have become the intelligent alternative to hard pills and tablets. Our stomach was not designed to digest "rocks." Liquid vitamins and minerals have already been dissolved. Based on the most up-to-date research, Passion 4 Life liquid vitamins is the most complete and effective formula available. Just one liquid ounce (2 tablespoons) is designed to provide more energy, endurance, stamina and a strengthening of the immune system. Our clients report a host of other results such as: better ability to focus, better sleep, less aches and pains from every day stress, less issues with allergies, clearer complexion, stronger nails, shinier hair and numerous other physical results and improvements.

Every day, millions of people walk the vitamin aisles of health food stores baffled by the hundreds of choices of bottles of pills and tablets before them. Passion 4 Life liquid vitamins has been designed to completely take the guesswork out of buying vitamins and minerals. One of the leading NFL running backs said it so well: "It's so easy!"

It would take literally handfuls of pills to equal the 135 liquid vitamins and minerals in just one liquid ounce a day. Most hard and difficult-to-swallow pills are only absorbed between 10% and 20%. The remainder can be found in the nation's sewer plants.

Passion 4 Life liquid vitamins and minerals is absorbed up to 98% directly into the bloodstream within 3 minutes of ingestion (scientific evidence available under blood analysis)

Passion 4 Life liquid vitamins can be a powerful weapon in the arsenal against aging prematurely while it helps maintain a healthy mind and body. Passion 4 Life has NO sugar and NO caffeine. It tastes great! Even kids love it. Although it can be mixed with water or fruit juice, most people take it straight.

Visit us at http://www.passion4lifevitamins.com/ to learn more.....