04 May 2014
According to a new UK study, increased consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables could reduce the risk of diabetes by 21%.
In the case- cohort study, the quantity and variety of fruit, vegetables, and combined fruit-and-vegetable intake and the incidence of Type 2 diabetes were observed in 3,704 participants for 11 years (1). The study results showed that participants who ate the most fruits and vegetables combined had a 21% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes compared with those who ate the least. The quantity of vegetable intake, but not fruit, was associated with a reduced Type 2 diabetes risk.
The researchers concluded that a diet characterized by a greater quantity of vegetables and a greater variety of both fruit and vegetable intake seems to be associated with a reduced risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes affects over 220 million people globally, and the consequences of high blood sugar kill 3.4 million every year. The WHO expects deaths to double between 2005 and 2030.
3 October 2014
A new study from Turkey reports that preterm infants with higher vitamin D levels are less likely to develop respiratory distress syndrome – the number one cause of death for preterm infants – than those with low levels.
8 February 2010
Increased dietary intakes of alpha- and beta-carotene may reduce the risk of breast cancer among female smokers, a news study suggests.
20 January 2009
According to a U.S. survey, individuals with low vitamin D blood levels have a higher risk of nose and throat infections. In a secondary analysis of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a survey of the U.S. population, found that individuals with low blood levels of a vitamin D marker (25-hydroxyvitamin D) were also more likely to have an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Specifically, the analysis found that compared to those with levels greater than 30 nanograms/milliliter (ng/ml), individuals with less than 10 ng/mL had a 36% higher risk of having a recent URTI; those with 10–<30 ng/mL had a 24% higher risk (1). In recent years, vitamin D deficiency has reemerged, resulting in the resurfacing of diseases such as rickets in children. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, “Older adults, people with dark skin, and people exposed to insufficient ultraviolet band radiation (i.e., sunlight) should consume extra vitamin D from vitamin D-fortified foods and/or supplements.” The researchers commented that the evidence supporting the benefits of vitamin D continues to build. Given that vitamin D levels are relatively low in most foods and there are serious risks associated with excessive sun exposure, dietary supplements can be an effective alternative for achieving a sufficient intake. However, this study on its own does not mean that higher vitamin D intake will ensure prevention of upper respiratory tract infection. 1.Ginde A. et al. Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009; 169 (4):384–390.
