News
Zeaxanthin may improve visual function in AMD patients
18 November 2011
According to a new US study, supplementation with zeaxanthin can improve visual acuity in elderly patients with age-related macular degeneration independently of lutein.
16 April 2014
A new study from Australia reports that low blood vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy seem to be a risk factor for the development of postpartum depression symptoms.
The observational study measured vitamin D concentrations in blood samples of 706 pregnant women at
18 weeks gestation and documented cases of postnatal depressive symptoms at three days post-delivery (1). The study results showed that women with the lowest vitamin D levels were significantly more likely (around twice the risk) to report postnatal depression symptoms in the first days following birth than women with the highest levels, even after accounting for a range of confounding variables including season of birth, body mass index and socio-demographic factors. In addition, low vitamin D levels were associated with an increa- sed risk of reporting a greater level of symptomatology that may indicate mood disturbance.
The researchers commented that in addition to the potential for positive impacts on health and development of the offspring, ensuring adequate intake of vitamin D during pregnancy may be one method of protecting against postpartum mood disturbance in mothers. Previous research has shown that pregnant women are more likely to be deficient or insufficient in vitamin D (2). A number of studies have found that vitamin D insufficiency may be linked to later developmental difficulties for the offspring such as language delay (3) and severe mental illness (4). The new findings support those of a smaller-scale study that reported a link between low levels of vitamin D measured postnatally and increased risk for postpartum depression (5).
18 November 2011
According to a new US study, supplementation with zeaxanthin can improve visual acuity in elderly patients with age-related macular degeneration independently of lutein.
25 October 2013
A new study from Denmark suggests that an increased fish intake during pregnancy may protect children against developing asthma, both early on and later in life.
17 February 2010
High blood levels of vitamin D may be at a 33 percent lower risk of developing heart disease, says a new review.