News
Insufficient vitamin E intakes may increase hip fracture risk
1 September 2014
According to a new study from Norway, older people with low blood vitamin E concentrations seem to have an increased risk of developing hip fracture.
06 May 2013
The UK National Osteoporosis Society has developed new clinical guidelines for the management of vitamin D deficiency due to a lack of national recommendations on the indications for vitamin D measurements and conflicting guidelines from various organizations.
The group of clinicians and scientists, with expertise in vitamin D and osteoporosis, recommends that patients with tested 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 blood concentrations under 50 nmol/l (20 ng/ml) should be treated for vitamin D deficiency (1). For severe deficiency or urgent situations, they recommend treatment with loading doses, for less urgent deficiencies they recommend using daily dosing. For example, the guidelines suggest a loading dose of either 50,000 IU per week or 20,000 IU twice weekly for urgent deficiencies. For less urgent deficiencies, doses ranging from 800 IU to 2,000 IU per day, or even in some cases, as high as 4,000 IU per day are recommended. For all options, the experts recommend the use of vitamin D3.
The experts commented that pressure was mounting from clinicians to develop guidance that covers the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of vitamin D deficiency. This, coupled with growing public awareness and interest in vitamin D, encouraged them to provide guidance for healthcare professionals across the UK.
1 September 2014
According to a new study from Norway, older people with low blood vitamin E concentrations seem to have an increased risk of developing hip fracture.
1 July 2013
Micronutrient requirements differ according to the individual. They can vary according to stage of life, gender, health status, lifestyle habits, possible hereditary metabolic disorders and environmental influences. At certain stages of life, the importance of and need for individual micronutrients is particularly high, for example in pregnancy and when breastfeeding, for children and youths during the growth phase, and in old age. Micronutrient intakes that do not meet the needs of earlier stages of life in particular can increase chances of developing chronic illnesses later in life, such as osteoporosis or heart disease. It is therefore important to ensure an adequate intake of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, essential fatty acids and other nutrients from the very beginning.
7 May 2013
According to a new US study, the addition of lutein plus zeaxanthin and omega-3 fatty acids to a supplement that has been proven protective in progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may not significantly further reduce this risk in AMD patients. However, lutein and zeaxanthin may play a role in additionally lowering the risk of AMD progression in patients with low intakes of these carotenoids.