May 2013 - It is believed that around a third of all cancer cases could be attributed to dietary and lifestyle factors. The link between nutrition and cancer risk is very complex, and it is difficult to establish the influence of individual dietary factors. The results of reviews have indicated that cancer-preventive diets above all consist of large quantities of plant-based foods such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains and pulses. With a low energy density, these foods supply the body with plenty of fiber, as well as varying amounts of essential micronutrients such as vitamins, carotenoids, minerals and trace elements, which are thought to potentially influence the specific mechanisms by which cancers develop. Several of these micronutrients are involved in the maintenance of genetic information (Deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA) and may therefore be able to prevent the formation of tumor cells.

April 2013 - It is difficult to prove an unequivocal link between dietary habits and the avoidance of specific diseases, especially when the disease can be influenced by several factors. The sum of multi-factorial risks and protective mechanisms affects the development and prevention of diseases like cancer and cardiovas-cular disease over decades. Hence the positive effects of micronutrients on health, as well as the negative consequences of a slight but long-term insufficiency, are often only detectable after a long period of time. Although numerous scientific studies in recent years have shown that there is no significant association between the diet – for example the consumption of fruit and vegetables – and the incidence of certain cancers, there is much to indicate that the regular intake of sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals and trace elements can contribute to the prevention of cancer and other lifestyle diseases.

March 2013 - Vitamin K is the name given to a group of essential micronutrients: vitamin K1 (phylloqui-none), the best characterized form, is found mainly in green leafy vegetables, while vitamin K2 (menaqui-none-4, -7, -8 and -9) is found in small amounts in meat, cheese and fermented soy products and is also synthesized by the body’s own gut flora. Vitamin K3 (menadione) is a synthetically manufactured form, but may also occur during absorption from the gastrointestinal tract of vitamin K1 and K2. In practical terms, the two forms K1 and K2 are of greatest importance in human metabolism. The involvement of vitamin K1 in blood clotting and bone metabolism is well documented. It is likely that an adequate intake of vitamin K could also reduce the development of atherosclerosis and the incidence of brain function disorders. Depending on national health authority, the recommended daily intake of vitamin K for adults is between 60 and 120 micrograms.