News
Magnesium deficiency may exacerbate diabetes symptoms
8 February 2011
A new Brazilian study suggests that inadequate magnesium intake may, over the long-term, increase the risk of chronic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.
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.
8 February 2011
A new Brazilian study suggests that inadequate magnesium intake may, over the long-term, increase the risk of chronic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes.
1 September 2015
Platelet activation and aggregation play an integral role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Overactivation can lead to the formation of large thrombi and the blockage of essential blood vessels. Certain micronutrients are able to actively intervene in the biochemical clotting cascade, including the marine omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and water-soluble tomato concentrate, and may therefore be beneficial to cardiovascular health.
14 July 2014
According to a new international review low blood vitamin D levels seem to have a causal role in the development of high blood pressure.