News
Adequate blood carotenoid levels may reduce breast cancer risk
13 July 2012
Blood concentrations of beta-carotene, lutein and total carotenoids seem to be associated with reductions in breast cancer risk, suggests a new UK review.
09 December 2013
Blood concentrations of the antioxidants vitamin C and beta-carotene are significantly lower in patients with mild dementia, says a new German study.
In the observational study, the blood levels of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene as well as levels of lycopene and coenzyme Q10 were measured in 74 patients with mild dementia and 158 healthy control persons, all aged 65 to 90 (1). The results showed that the serum concentrations of vitamin C and beta-carotene were significantly lower in patients with mild dementia than in the controls.
The researchers commented that the findings indicate it may be possible to influence the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by increasing one’s intake of dietary antioxidants. In order to possibly influence the onset and development of AD, further investigations into potential dietary risk factors would be needed.
Alterations in the brain, caused by amyloid-beta plaques and loss of synapses, are held responsible for the characteristic symptoms of AD. Oxidative stress is believed to promote the development of AD, and so antioxidants may help to protect against neurodegeneration.
13 July 2012
Blood concentrations of beta-carotene, lutein and total carotenoids seem to be associated with reductions in breast cancer risk, suggests a new UK review.
1 April 2014
A new study from the UK suggests higher blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid seem to be associated with less bedtime resistance and total sleep disturbance in children.
23 July 2015
Pre-eclampsia is a fairly common condition in pregnant women (affecting around three million women globally per year) resulting in highly elevated blood pressure, which threatens the lives of both the mother and the unborn child. High-dose vitamin D supplementation has been shown to be effective in preventing the onset of the condition as well as ameliorating the symptoms in patients who have already presented with the condition. A new paper provides a plausible metabolic mechanism for the beneficial effect of vitamin D.