News
Many preterm infants may need vitamin D supplementation
11 March 2015
A new study from Australia suggests that a standardized nutrition protocol can be effective at raising vitamin D levels in preterm infants.
07 May 2014
A new study from Norway suggests that a consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-rich oily fish at least three times per week and/or fish oil supplements may reduce the risk of developing a blood clot in a vein.
The observational study registered the weekly intake of fish for dinner and the intake of fish oil supplements of 23,621 persons aged between 25 and 97 years, and documented the incident of venous thromboembolism (VTE) over 15 years (1). The study results showed that participants with high fish consumption (three or more times a week) had a 22% lower risk of developing VTE than those who consumed fish 1–1.9 times per week. The addition of fish oil supplements strengthened this effect: Participants who consumed fish at least three times a week and who additionally used fish oil supplements had a 48% lower VTE risk than those who consumed fish 1–1.9 times a week but did not use fish oil supplements.
The researchers commented experimental studies have indicated that the preventive effect of omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish and fish oil supplements on cardiovascular diseases, reported in several studies, may be mediated by the antiarrhythmic, antithrombotic, and LDL cholesterol lowering properties of the essential fatty acids (2). The antithrombotic effect of omega-3 fatty acids, however, may be counteracted by high intake of saturated fat. Earlier cohort studies on a potential link between fish or fish oil supplement intake and the risk of VTE have shown conflicting results. Generally low frequencies of fish servings per week, no monitoring of additional omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, and lack of validation of self-reported fish intake may all contribute to the varying results, the researchers added.
11 March 2015
A new study from Australia suggests that a standardized nutrition protocol can be effective at raising vitamin D levels in preterm infants.
15 February 2013
Increased intakes of vitamin D during adolescence could help to reduce the risk of the onset of type 1 diabetes as an adult by half, suggests a new US study.
2 July 2013
A new review from China concludes that a higher consumption of omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish seems to be associated with a significant reduction in the risk of developing breast cancer.