News
Vitamin D may prevent virus infections in infants
13 May 2011
Newborns with vitamin D deficiency could be at increased risk of lower respiratory tract infection by the respiratory syncytial virus, reports a new study from the Netherlands.
10 October 2012
Vitamin D deficiency among Australians is more prevalent and lasts longer than expected, says a new study.
To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Australia, the epidemiological study measured vitamin D concentrations in 24,819 blood samples between July 2008 and July 2010 (1). The study results showed that the participants were most deficient (less than 50 nanomoles vitamin D per liter serum) during fall and spring, especially in September (58% of total participants). Vitamin D levels were highest during the summer, peaking for women in January and men in February with a total of 36% people who were vitamin D deficient. The highest prevalence of deficiency occurred in female inpatients (42% in summer and 62% in spring). Additional factors associated with lower vitamin D included being an inpatient, female, aged 20–39 or over 79 years, being socioeconomically disadvantaged or from a major city.
The researchers concluded that the use of vitamin D supplements do not currently address the factor of seasonal variation. A modified approach would include commencement, or increase, of supplement use at the end of summer and be maintained until the end of spring, at which time the supplement use would either be stopped or reduced depending on an individual's exposure to sunlight. Thus, supplementation guidelines would need to be modified and strengthened.
13 May 2011
Newborns with vitamin D deficiency could be at increased risk of lower respiratory tract infection by the respiratory syncytial virus, reports a new study from the Netherlands.
1 February 2012
The case for taking action to prevent cardiovascular disease i.e., eating healthily and performing physical activity, remains clear and compelling.
20 March 2017