News
Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce gum disease risk
28 October 2010
Dietary intake of the omega-3 fatty acids may be associated with a decreased prevalence of periodontitis of up to 20 percent, a new US study suggests.
14 March 2012
Older adults with a higher body mass index have lower vitamin D levels, which needs to be taken into account when determining an adequate dietary vitamin D intake, a new UK study suggests.
In order to investigate a potential association between overweight or obesity and serum vitamin D (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) concentrations, 110 healthy young adults (between 20–40 years of age) and 102 older adults (64 years of age and older) took either 5, 10 or 15 micrograms of vitamin D or a placebo every day for 22 weeks during the winter months in this randomized controlled trial (1). The study results showed that in the older adults with a high body mass index, high waist circumference and a high percentage of body fat had low blood vitamin D concentrations at the beginning of the study and after supplementation. No such associations were apparent in younger adults.
The researchers concluded that overweight and obesity may need to be taken into account when determining an adequate wintertime dietary vitamin D intake for healthy older adults residing at higher latitudes. Past studies have already observed low levels of vitamin D in older (2) and younger (3) obese populations, which suggests the need for higher dietary intakes to meet recommended levels. A recent study showed that women with higher levels of abdominal obesity had lower blood vitamin D levels and an increased mortality risk (4). The scientists concluded that obesity and a poor vitamin D status may have a cumulative negative effect on the risk of disease.
28 October 2010
Dietary intake of the omega-3 fatty acids may be associated with a decreased prevalence of periodontitis of up to 20 percent, a new US study suggests.
1 December 2015
Metabolic syndrome is a disorder of energy utilization and storage, diagnosed by the coincidence of overweight or obesity with disturbances of lipid and sugar metabolism and hypertension. Subclinical inflammation and a fatty liver are further components typically associated with this condition. Metabolic syndrome substantially increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Diets targeting weight loss by restricting either carbohydrate or fat intake are an effective approach to improve most conditions associated with metabolic syndrome, but the benefit is not successfully achieved over longer periods. Therefore, a balanced diet rich in nutrients improving metabolism may represent a successful strategy. The role of several related nutrients has been presented and discussed during the 12th European Nutrition Conference (FENS 2015) in Berlin.
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.