News
New breath test to detect vitamin B12 deficiency
28 June 2011
US research team has developed a simple, non-invasive, low-cost breath test which can more accurately measure vitamin B12 status.
20 March 2013
According to a new Australian study, a sufficient vitamin D supply may be an important protective factor against food allergies in the first year of life.
The observational study measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations of 577 one-year-old infants who had been shown in a skin prick test to be allergic, sensitized but tolerant, or non-allergic to peanut, egg, sesame seed, cow’s milk and/or shrimp (1). The study results showed that infants with vitamin D insuffi-ciency (below 50 nmol/L), whose parents were born in Australia, were more likely to be peanut and/or egg allergic than were those with adequate vitamin D levels independent of eczema status. Children with two or more allergies were 10 times more likely to have vitamin D deficiency.
The researchers commented that vitamin D could play an important role in regulating a child’s immune system in the first year of life. It is likely that reduced diversity of bacteria in the gut due to increased hygiene explained the current food allergy epidemic, with vitamin D and an infant’s diet also being crucial factors. The next step is to conduct a trial to provide infants with either vitamin D supplementation or placebo in the first year of life, to see if vitamin D could protect against food allergies or possibly help in developing tolerance to certain foods.
Australia has one of the highest rates of food allergies in the world, affecting more than 10 percent of infants. Until recently, Australia also had one of the highest rates of vitamin D deficiency, and was one of the few countries that did not fortify foods with vitamin D or provide supplements to infants.
28 June 2011
US research team has developed a simple, non-invasive, low-cost breath test which can more accurately measure vitamin B12 status.
1 May 2014
The formation of cell membranes as well as many other physiological functions crucially depends on the availability of sufficient amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eico- sapentaenoic acid (EPA). Omega-3 fatty acids appear to have a key function in the formation, growth and regeneration of cells and in the transmission of cell signals throughout life. During pregnancy and breastfeed- ing the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids are already playing an important role in the development of the infant brain and eye cells. Studies found that omega-3 fatty acids could also improve sight and brain function in adults. Fatty acids are needed for the production of hormone-like substances (eicosanoids) which act in the body in multiple ways. Hence fatty acids appear to be involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism, blood pressure, immune system, inflammatory processes and psychological wellbeing. An adequate intake of ome- ga-3 fatty acids could therefore help in the prevention of many diseases.
25 February 2013
According to a new study, increased intakes of antioxidants found in coffee and tea, such as flavonoids, do not seem to decrease the risk of developing stroke or dementia for elderly people. Other studies observed potential preventive effects of higher consumptions of fruits and vegetables containing antioxidant beta-carotene and vitamins C and E.