News
Vitamin D may lower blood pressure
5 November 2012
Vitamin D supplements could reduce blood pressure in patients diagnosed with hypertension, states a new study from Denmark.
21 May 2014
A new study from Australia reports that increased blood concentrations of carotenoids such as beta-carotene may prevent fractures long-term.
The clinical study observed fracture incidents among 998 adult participants who received daily vitamin A
(7.5 mg retinol equivalents) and/or beta-carotene (30 mg) during a mean of eight years (1). The study results showed that participants with increasing concentrations of total carotenoids in blood had a lower risk for any fracture. No association was observed between plasma retinol concentrations and the risk for any or osteoporotic fracture.
The researchers commented that these findings do not support some earlier observational studies which reported an increased fracture risk associated with increased serum retinol levels (2, 3). The new study included a larger number of individuals with higher plasma concentrations of retinol and beta-carotene than previous observational studies, and was able to examine a wider range of concentrations. On the other hand, the new results match earlier reported observations that long-term supplementation with retinol (for up to
17 years) is not associated with the risk for fracture, whereas long-term supplementation with beta-carotene may reduce this risk (4).
5 November 2012
Vitamin D supplements could reduce blood pressure in patients diagnosed with hypertension, states a new study from Denmark.
30 September 2013
Adequate intakes of omega-3 fatty acids may decrease long-term the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis for women by up to 50%, suggests a new study from Sweden.
1 July 2014
It has long been known that vitamin K, which is involved as a coenzyme in the production of coagulation factors, is essential to the regulation of blood coagulation. But vitamin K also fulfils an important role in the activation of certain enzymes which, together with vitamin D, regulate metabolism and can combat the hardening of soft tissues such as blood vessels and help slow bone demineralization. In recent years interest in this vitamin has grown considerably following the discovery of other potentially health-promoting properties. Attention centers on research into the function of vitamin-K-dependent enzymes (Gla proteins), which are found in bones and teeth as well as in blood vessel linings, the brain and other soft tissues, where they appear to regulate cell division and cell differentiation, among other things. Studies indicate that a sufficient intake of vitamin K could help prevent the occurrence of atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, insulin resistance and inflammation of the joints, and above all could protect against the age-related loss of cognitive abilities.