News
Omega-3 fatty acids benefit heart health for non-fish eaters
31 March 2010
Increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids may decrease the risk of heart disease and heart attack in people with low fish intakes, according to a new study.
11 March 2015
A new study from Australia suggests that a standardized nutrition protocol can be effective at raising vitamin D levels in preterm infants.
The observational study evaluated the effectiveness of a hospital’s vitamin D practices in meeting current supplementation recommendations by comparing the vitamin D levels of 28 infants at birth to their vitamin D levels at discharge (1). The infants received a standardized nutrition protocol including a vitamin D supplementation. The average vitamin D intake was reported at 643.6 IU daily. The study showed that the proportion of vitamin D-deficient infants decreased from at birth to discharge (32.1% versus 7.1%). Vitamin D levels increased from an average of 18.4 ng/ml to 29.2 ng/ml.
The researchers added that hospitals should recognize the importance of vitamin D in early development. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in ensuring the normal growth and development of an infant. According to the scientists, low vitamin D levels during infancy have been related to a higher risk of impaired language development, allergies, and respiratory distress syndrome, which is the number one cause of death for preterm infants. An earlier study found that 64% of preterm infants were vitamin D deficient at birth, and 35% of these infants remained vitamin D deficient upon being discharged from the hospital (2). These results suggest that vitamin D supplementation for preterm infants during their stay at the hospital was inadequate for the majority of the infants who were deficient.
31 March 2010
Increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids may decrease the risk of heart disease and heart attack in people with low fish intakes, according to a new study.
2 November 2009
Lower intakes of salt (sodium chloride) may have benefits for bone health in women at risk of osteoporosis, says a new study.
3 March 2010
Increased intakes of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenonic acid may improve cognitive functions in middle age people, according to a new study.