News
Adequate vitamin C intake may be associated with longer survival of heart failure patients
16 November 2011
Low vitamin C levels may increase the risk of complications in patients with heart failure, says a new Korean study.
01 February 2013
According to new US research beta-carotene may lower the risk of type-2 diabetes in people with a common genetic variation, while vitamin E (gamma-tocopherol) may increase risk of developing the disease.
The study analyzed existing data on potential interactions between 18 gene variants previously associated with increased risk for type-2 diabetes and blood levels of substances previously implicated in type-2 diabetes risk (1). The results showed that people carrying two copies of one of the 18 predisposing gene variants seem to have a statistically highly significant association between increased beta-carotene blood levels and lower risk of type-2 diabetes. In addition, people with these gene variants may have a higher disease risk when combined with high blood levels of gamma-tocopherol – the major form of vitamin E in
the American diet. High blood levels of alpha-tocopherol – another form of vitamin E that predominates in most supplements – showed no harmful interaction with the predisposing gene variant.
The researchers commented that further experiments should clarify whether beta-carotene and gamma-tocopherol are, respectively, protective and harmful themselves, or merely markers whose levels in the blood correspond with the presence or absence of some other substance, process or defect that is a true causal factor. Beta-carotene and gamma-tocopherol seem to interact with the same gene variant (SLC30A4) coding for a protein abundant in insulin-producing islet cells of the pancreas, where the protein aids the transport of zinc into those cells. This, in turn, triggers the release of insulin, whose adequate secretion by the pancreas and efficient uptake in muscle, liver and fat tissue counters the dangerous buildup of glucose in the blood and, in the long run, the onset of type-2 diabetes. The genomes of some 50 to 60 percent of the US population carry two copies of that very gene variant, which previous studies have shown to confer a slightly increased risk of contracting type-2 diabetes. The scientists noted that the new findings reassure that beta-carotene has protective effects evidence already exists to suggest it reduces the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
16 November 2011
Low vitamin C levels may increase the risk of complications in patients with heart failure, says a new Korean study.
1 January 2012
Sexual health is of particular importance to a man: not only when he wants to start a family, but during all phases of his life. And while sexuality’s functions differ from man to man, in almost all societies there is a connection between a man’s success and his sexual health. This applies to most aspects of a man’s life as his body’s functionality and performance must be just as good sexually as it is in his working life and in sports. Hence, sexual health affects a man’s quality of life and his self-esteem. A balanced, micronutrient-rich diet plays an important part in maintaining sexual and reproductive health.
6 October 2013
A new review suggests that there is not enough evidence that taking supplements with vitamins C and E, or carotenoids, such as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, prevents or delays the onset of age-related macular degeneration. Experts criticize the review as flawed.