News
Coenzyme Q10 may benefit heart health of patients with heart failure
14 December 2012
According to a new data analysis from the US, increased intakes of coenzyme Q10 may improve heart function in people with congestive heart failure.
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.
14 December 2012
According to a new data analysis from the US, increased intakes of coenzyme Q10 may improve heart function in people with congestive heart failure.
7 August 2012
A new US study suggests that the combination of being obese and having insufficient blood vitamin D concentrations may put people at an even greater risk of insulin resistance – a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes – than either factor alone.
10 June 2016
A new, large, retrospective observational cohort study (1) conducted in Italy clearly demonstrated that an intervention of 1 g per day of marine omega-3 fatty acids in patients who had recently suffered a myocardial infarction (MI) produced a substantial reduction in consequent repeat MIs and sudden cardiac death. This study suggests that a reappraisal of the efficacy of marine omega-3 fatty acids as a part of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is warranted.