News
Folate intake in Germany is inadequate
18 April 2014
According to a new data analysis from Germany, significantly more people consume too little folate than was previously supposed.
05 November 2013
Variations in genes involved in responses to oxidative stress may be crucial for beneficial effects of vitamin E in reducing inflammation, suggests a new study from the UK.
To explore the role of genetic variants (polymorphisms) on changes in inflammatory cytokine production after vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) supplementation, inflammatory markers (TNF-alpha and IL-1beta, -6, and -10) were measured in blood samples of 160 healthy, middle-aged male volunteers at the beginning of the study and after 6 weeks of supplementation with 75 IU or 600 IU alpha-tocopherol per day (1). The study results showed that the ability of alpha-tocopherol to decrease inflammatory marker concentrations depended on several variations in the participants’ genes involved in inflammation or responses to oxidative stress.
The researchers concluded that the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the production of inflammatory cytokines appears to be dependent on an individual’s genotype. These genotype-specific differences may help explain some of the discordant results in studies that have used vitamin E. Despite evidence of antioxidant effects of vitamin E in vitro and in animal studies, large, randomized clinical trials have not substantiated a benefit of vitamin E in reducing inflammation in humans. Thus, an individual’s genetic background may affect the response to alpha-tocopherol supplementation.
18 April 2014
According to a new data analysis from Germany, significantly more people consume too little folate than was previously supposed.
24 May 2015
A new study in vitamin E deprived rats appears to have revealed the mechanism behind the beneficial effects of vitamin E on muscle health. Vitamin E deficiency is known to cause serious muscle weakness in humans, but until now the reasons were unknown. Labazi et al. found the anti-oxidant activity of vitamin E and probably Glutathione 4 peroxidase (Gpx4) are an essential component of the membrane repair mechanism in skeletal muscle.
26 August 2013
According to a new press release from New Zealand widespread vitamin D supplementation in aged care facilities has saved the government over 400 thousand US dollars over the past two years.