News
Adequate vitamin D levels may reduce frailty risk
17 December 2010
Maintaining defined vitamin D blood levels can reduce the incidence of frailty in older women, suggests a new US study.
01 September 2014
According to a new study from Norway, older people with low blood vitamin E concentrations seem to have an increased risk of developing hip fracture.
The observational study measured serum vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) concentrations in 1,168 men and women aged 65–79 years who suffered hip fractures during up to 11 years (1). The study results showed a linear increasing risk of hip fracture with lower serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations, with a 51% higher risk for participants with the lowest blood levels compared to participants with the highest levels.
The researchers commented that oxidative stress has been suggested as contributing to the development of osteoporosis and fractures (2). Vitamin E has strong antioxidant properties which can potentially counteract damage to bones. Experimental results indicate that in addition to its antioxidant effect, alpha-tocopherol could have a possible direct role in bone remodeling and promoting osteoclast fusion, thus stimulating bone resorption (3). The evidence from human studies is very limited, but reviews conclude that higher vitamin E intakes seem to be associated with increased bone mineral density (BMD) and decreased fracture risk (4, 5). The new results confirm those of an earlier study with 654 older men (6). The dietary intake of vitamin E is relatively low in many countries, e.g., in the Nordic countries (7).
17 December 2010
Maintaining defined vitamin D blood levels can reduce the incidence of frailty in older women, suggests a new US study.
14 February 2011
A German study has shown that many pregnant women and their doctors are unsure of reasonable intake of food supplements, despite existing recommendations.
6 December 2013
A new review from France suggests that existing study data indicating that increased blood vitamin D concentrations are associated with a reduction in the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular events, diabetes and related mortality, does not prove that vitamin D supplementation can prevent those diseases. Experts commented that, although evidence in non-bone-health-related chronic disease prevention is missing, there is good reason to ensure that the vitamin D supply is adequate.