News
Can supplements alone prevent chronic diseases?
5 January 2012
A new French study claims that the use of dietary supplements may not improve general well-being. Experts criticize the study’s poor validity.
08 April 2013
According to a new study from Denmark low blood vitamin D concentrations seem to be related to a higher risk of developing tobacco-related cancers in smokers.
In the observational study, the plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in blood samples of 9791 participants were measured at the beginning of the trial and cases of cancer were documented during up to the following 28 years (1). During the study 1081 participants developed a tobacco-related cancer (e.g., lung, head and neck, bladder and kidney cancer) and 1506 developed other cancers. The results showed that smokers who developed cancer had lower average levels of vitamin D (14.8 ng/mL or
37 nmol/L) than the average of all participants (16.4 ng/mL or 41 nmol/L). Vitamin D concentrations
were not associated with the risk of other cancers.
The researchers commented that these findings are biologically plausible because vitamin D has been shown to decrease tumor invasion and metastasis in in vitro studies. In addition, animal models with vitamin D deficiency showed increased susceptibility to tobacco smoke carcinogens. Finally, smoking is associated with reduced 25(OH)D concentrations (2). Experts noted that the observational data remain suggestive rather than conclusive. Further testing in randomized controlled trials would be necessary before vitamin D supplements can be considered for clinical recommendation for cancer risk reduction in smokers (3).
5 January 2012
A new French study claims that the use of dietary supplements may not improve general well-being. Experts criticize the study’s poor validity.
30 October 2017
As the colors of visible light move from red through yellow and green to blue and violet, they increase in energy. Blue-violet light has the greatest amount of energy in the visible spectrum. Learn how blue light impacts our vision and the role nutrition plays in the health of our eyes.
1 June 2014
The amount of knowledge and information about the role of vitamin D in the human body has increased in recent years. It is considered certain that vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and thus for the formation and maintenance of strong bones.