News
Vitamin D may be critical for infant brain development
26 September 2012
According to a new Spanish study, vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy could hinder infants' brain and motor development.
23 April 2012
A new study from the UK suggests that intake of oral vitamin D at 5,000 IU daily for three months has a superior effect than 2,000 IU daily in treating mild to moderate vitamin D deficiency.
In the study, 30 vitamin D deficient patients with blood levels less than 20 ng/ml were given 5,000 IU /day or 2,000 IU /day of a vitamin D supplement (1). After three months, changes in vitamin D levels and muscle strength were measured. The study results showed that after three months of receiving 2,000 IU /day vitamin D levels averaged 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L), meaning about half the patients were still vitamin D deficient. In the 5,000- IU /day group the average vitamin D level was 45 ng/ml (114 nmol/L), which is considered to be within the normal range. In addition, 93% of the patients had levels which measured greater than the average 30 ng/ml. Among the 2,000- IU /day group, however, only 45% had levels above 30 ng/ml. In both groups, grip strength improved significantly compared to baseline, while the improvements in timed tests of sitting to standing and the 6-meter walk test also improved, but not significantly. The improvements in muscle strength did not vary with dosage: the 2,000- IU /day group showed the same improvements in grip strength as the 5,000- IU /day group did.
The researchers commented that these findings demonstrate that the administration of oral vitamin D at 5,000 IU daily for three months is superior to 2,000 IU daily in treating mild to moderate vitamin D deficiency. Muscle strength improvements, it was noted, were the most dramatic at changes in lower ranges of vitamin D levels. Although the UK Food and Nutrition Board recommends a vitamin D intake of 4,000 IU /day as the upper limit, quite a few people would still have inadequate levels at this dose, the scientists added.
26 September 2012
According to a new Spanish study, vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy could hinder infants' brain and motor development.
2 December 2013
A new review from the Netherlands shows that, in many countries, the polyunsaturated fatty acid intake of adults does not meet the levels that are recommended to prevent chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease.
16 July 2013
According to a new review daily supplementation with iron during pregnancy reduces the risk of maternal anemia and low birth weight babies.