News
Adequate vitamin D levels during pregnancy may support dental health of children
2 May 2014
A new US study reports that a sufficient maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy may positively influence childhood tooth development and health.
30 July 2014
A new study from Greece reports that high blood vitamin D concentrations seem to increase the exercise performance of professional soccer players.
The observational study measured the blood vitamin D levels and exercise performance (muscle strength, sprinting capacity, maximal oxygen consumption) of 67 male professional soccer players (mean age 25 years) before and after a six-week off-season period (1). The study results showed that participants with high vitamin D levels had improved parameters of exercise performance. Vitamin D concentrations increased significantly following the six-week off-season period compared to baseline, while at the same time all measured performance parameters decreased.
The researchers commented that these findings confirm earlier studies which have consistently shown that higher vitamin D levels positively affect strength and performance in athletes (2). Vitamin D is thought to exert a host of physiological effects on neural and muscular tissues, the immune system, and energy homeostasis, thus affecting among other parameters physical performance (3). Reductions in exercise training stress (in the off-season) may increase vitamin D levels, suggesting a possible association of decreased vitamin levels due to training-induced stress. A growing number of studies report a high preva-lence of vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency even in regions with extensive sunlight in both athletic and non-athletic populations (4).
2 May 2014
A new US study reports that a sufficient maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy may positively influence childhood tooth development and health.
21 October 2015
Only a few studies have been carried out to assess the effect of blood serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and the risk of cervical cancer. The findings from these studies were inconsistent. However, a new study conducted with 1,200 participants from the city of Harbin, in Northern China, has yielded promising results, indicating that alpha carotene, beta carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C could be beneficial in reducing the risk of cervical cancer in Chinese women. The effect was particularly noticeable in women who suffered from the effects of passive smoking.
5 September 2011
A diet high in sodium, when combined with little exercise, may be detrimental to cognitive performance, suggests a new Canadian study.