News
Carotenoids may improve lung function
27 September 2011
According to a new US study, increased blood carotenoid concentrations may be associated with a slower rate of age-related lung function decline.
07 August 2013
The antioxidant effects of carotenoids such as beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin may counteract the mechanism of osteoporosis and related risk of fractures in elderly men, suggests a new study from China.
The prospective cohort study estimated the carotenoid intakes and fruit and vegetable consumption (based on food frequency questionnaires) of 63,257 men and women aged 45 74 years over a mean period of 9.9 years, as well as documenting cases of hip fracture (1). The study results showed that among men, con-sumption of vegetables was associated with lower hip fracture risk. Similarly, higher dietary intake of total carotenoids and specific carotenoids (such as beta-carotene and lutein/zeaxanthin) was associated with a significantly reduced hip fracture risk of between 26% and 39%. No such associations were observed among women.
The researchers commented that these findings support experimental and epidemiological data suggesting that carotenoids in vegetables and fruits may benefit bone health due to their antioxidant properties. Thus, an adequate intake of carotenoids may reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures among the elderly. An earlier case-control study involving 646 Chinese hip fracture patients reported that greater consumption of both fruit and vegetables in men and vegetables in women seems to decrease the risk of osteoporotic frac-tures (2). No plausible explanation for the sex difference has yet been suggested.
27 September 2011
According to a new US study, increased blood carotenoid concentrations may be associated with a slower rate of age-related lung function decline.
11 November 2011
A new Austrian study indicates that significant portions of the elderly population are at a high risk of lacking vitamins, especially D and K, and several B vitamins.
10 July 2015
Recent work by Ramsden et al (1) at the NIH in Bethesda, MD, USA has demonstrated that a dietary intervention rich in marine omega-3 fatty acids but low in omega-6 fatty acids can provide an effective, complementary approach for managing chronic pain and related conditions. The beneficial effects were found to be due to specific endocannabinoids derived from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).