News
Most women in the UK do not take folic acid before pregnancy
5 March 2014
A new UK study reports that less than one in three women take folic acid supplements before pregnancy to prevent birth defects.
20 March 2017
A nationwide, cross-sectional study called VitaMinFemin (vitamin- and mineral status among German women) was carried out in Germany to determine the status of selected nutrient levels during different stages of life. Researchers measured fatty acid levels in the red blood cell (RBC) membranes (percentage of total erythrocyte fatty acids) in 446 women aged 40 - 60 years (average age was 49 years). Researchers looked specifically at the omega-3 index (percentage of EPA and DHA of total fatty acids), to determine levels of cardio-protection, with the lowest cardiovascular risk at an omega-3 index of 8 percent or greater, and the highest risk with an omega-3 index or 4 percent or less. None of the women in the study took an omega-3 supplement.
The average omega-3 index was 5.49 ± 1.17 percent in the total study population and 97.3 percent (n = 434) of the women showed an omega-3 index below 8 percent. The majority of the study population had an omega-3 index between 4 and 6 percent (62.8 percent, n = 280), while 9.0 percent (n = 40) of the women had an omega 3 index of 4 percent or less.
The results indicated that omega-3 index is affected by age and smoking with slightly higher values in women 50 years (p = 0.032) of age or older and non-smokers (p = 0.002), which is in line with several other studies.
These results cannot be considered surprising as a German nutrition report from 2012 demonstrated that most German women have a low intake of EPA and DHA – less than 200 mg per day. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommends adults consume 250mg per day of DHA and EPA for cardiovascular health.
5 March 2014
A new UK study reports that less than one in three women take folic acid supplements before pregnancy to prevent birth defects.
16 November 2012
According to a new US study, high calcium intake from diet or supplements does not increase the risk of blood vessel calcification.
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).