Expert opinion
The role of antioxidants in menopause
1 November 2014
Menopause, a form of reproductive aging, is defined as the permanent cessation of ovarian follicular activity and eventually, the menstrual cycle.
07 February 2014
According to a new study from Turkey women with low levels of vitamin D seem to have thinner femoral cartilage, increasing their risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee.
The observational study measured blood vitamin D concentrations and thickness of cartilage in the knees of 80 women between the ages of 20 and 45 who did not have pain or problems with their knee joints (1). The study results showed that women with very low vitamin D values (below 10 ng/mL) had significantly thinner femoral cartilage.
The researchers concluded that being severely deficient in vitamin D seems to increase the risk of develo- ping osteoarthritis. These findings are supported by earlier research indicating that vitamin D supplementa- tion may be able to help with osteoarthritis associated pain (2).
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis worldwide. In people with osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the joints wears down over time, causing pain. It is commonly referred to as “wear and tear” arthritis, to differentiate it from the autoimmune disorder rheumatoid arthritis. Risk factors for osteoarthritis include age, obesity, previous injury, and being female. An adequate vitamin D intake is necessary for normal bone and cartilage turnover, and previous epidemiologic research has shown a connection between low vitamin D levels and having osteoarthritis of the knee. Lower concentrations of antioxidant vitamins (C and E in parti- cular) in joint fluid has also been linked to an increased osteoarthritis risk (3).
1 November 2014
Menopause, a form of reproductive aging, is defined as the permanent cessation of ovarian follicular activity and eventually, the menstrual cycle.
1 July 2013
A new genetic study from the UK reports that there is a clear causal link between low blood concentrations of vitamin D and the development of hypertension.
4 July 2013
A high-dose supplementation with vitamin D may be an easy adjunct therapy for depression and major cardiovascular risk factors among women with type 2 diabetes, reports a new US study.