23 February 2015
According to a new study people with higher blood vitamin E concentrations seem to have a lower risk of developing a chronic inflammation of the gum.
The study analyzed data of 4708 participants of the large US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) measuring serum vitamin E (tocopherols) levels and assessing periodontal status (1). The study results showed that participants with relatively low serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations had a significantly increased risk for periodontitis. These findings were independent of potential demographic,lifestyle, and biologic confounding factors.
The researchers commented that oxidative stress seems to play a central role in the development of periodontitis, a highly prevalent, microbially induced chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by loss of supporting periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. A well-accepted biologic function of vitamin E is its antioxidant activity, although other possible effects have been suggested, such as cofactors for enzymes and transcription factors for inflammatory and other metabolic pathways (2). The new findings warrant further confirmation in intervention settings.
14 February 2013
According to a new Swedish study women after menopause with long-term inadequate calcium intakes may have a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
1 June 2015
Life expectancy in most of Northern Europe is almost double what it was two centuries ago. If ageing is considered a disease, then it surely is the most prevalent disease. Professor Mathers says «the challenge is to enhance healthy ageing and to reduce the financial and social burdens associated with chronic ill health in later life».
27 September 2009
A number of minerals and vitamins have been identified as playing a potential role in the prevention of bone diseases, a new review article reports.
