News
Taking medication daily may increase the risk of vitamin deficiency
24 June 2011
Daily intake of three or more drugs can be associated with a low status of vitamin D, K, and the B-vitamins in the elderly, a new Austrian study suggests.
26 March 2012
A new literature review from the US suggests that long-term daily intake of up to and including 10,000 IU of vitamin D is safe.
To examine the safety of daily consumption of vitamin D, a detailed literature search was conducted, which summarized primary and secondary sources of original data, meta-analyses and systematic reviews (1). The analysis showed that long-term daily intake, up to and including 10,000 IU of vitamin D, does not produce signs or symptoms of vitamin D toxicity and is safe for the entire general population of otherwise healthy adults. Even daily vitamin D intake of 2,000 IU allows for the often cited and excessively conservative five-fold safety factor.
The researcher commented that a large body of scientific evidence would demonstrate that long-term daily intake of 600 to 800 IU of vitamin D is insufficient to achieve and sustain vitamin D adequacy ( serum 25-hydroxyergocalciferol + 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration above 75 nmol/L). Furthermore, it would require daily vitamin D intake of at least 1500 IU to maximize the physiologic benefits of vitamin D to the musculoskeletal system, the central and peripheral nervous systems, the heart and central and peripheral cardiovascular systems, the respiratory system, the skin, the eyes, dentition, glucoregulation, immuno-regulation, and disease resistance.
24 June 2011
Daily intake of three or more drugs can be associated with a low status of vitamin D, K, and the B-vitamins in the elderly, a new Austrian study suggests.
10 February 2012
Increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy may decrease the risk of atopic eczema in children by 36%, suggests a new Australian study.
1 May 2012
Observational studies and randomized controlled trials have examined the cardiovascular effects of fatty fish consumption and long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) from dietary supplements. Several clinical trials have documented significant benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), for cardiovascular health. Although much has been learned, some questions remain unanswered, including: what are the precise physiological effects and molecular mechanisms that account for the observed benefits for cardiovascular health; and what are the magnitudes and dose-responses of effects on specific diseases and the potential differences in various populations? National and international guidelines now give consistent recommendations for the general population: to consume at least 250 mg/day of long-chain n-3 PUFA or at least two servings of oily fish per week (1, 2).