News
Vitamin D recommended to treat multiple sclerosis
2 April 2014
The Brazilian Academy of Neurology has released new guidelines and recommendations for neurologists to use vitamin D in multiple sclerosis patients.
04 February 2009
High-dose vitamin B1 supplements may protect against kidney damage, a condition said to threaten one in three diabetics, according to a study.
In a randomized controlled trial , 40 type-2 diabetics received three daily capsules containing either 100 mg vitamin B1 (thiamine) or a placebo for three months (1). This was followed by two months of additional wash-out period. The daily 300 milligram doses of thiamine were found to reduce the rate of albumin excretion by 41% from the value at the start of the study. The results also showed 35% of patients with microalbuminuria saw a return to normal urinary albumin excretion after being treated with thiamine.
The same researchers reported in 2007 that thiamine supplements may boost vascular health in diabetics.
Microalbuminuria occurs when small amounts of albumin – the most abundant protein in human serum – leaks from the kidney into the urine. It is a marker of early kidney disease development in diabetics (‘diabetic nephropathy’). An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.
2 April 2014
The Brazilian Academy of Neurology has released new guidelines and recommendations for neurologists to use vitamin D in multiple sclerosis patients.
30 July 2014
A new study from Greece reports that high blood vitamin D concentrations seem to increase the exercise performance of professional soccer players.
20 January 2009
According to a U.S. survey, individuals with low vitamin D blood levels have a higher risk of nose and throat infections. In a secondary analysis of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a survey of the U.S. population, found that individuals with low blood levels of a vitamin D marker (25-hydroxyvitamin D) were also more likely to have an upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). Specifically, the analysis found that compared to those with levels greater than 30 nanograms/milliliter (ng/ml), individuals with less than 10 ng/mL had a 36% higher risk of having a recent URTI; those with 10–<30 ng/mL had a 24% higher risk (1). In recent years, vitamin D deficiency has reemerged, resulting in the resurfacing of diseases such as rickets in children. According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005, “Older adults, people with dark skin, and people exposed to insufficient ultraviolet band radiation (i.e., sunlight) should consume extra vitamin D from vitamin D-fortified foods and/or supplements.” The researchers commented that the evidence supporting the benefits of vitamin D continues to build. Given that vitamin D levels are relatively low in most foods and there are serious risks associated with excessive sun exposure, dietary supplements can be an effective alternative for achieving a sufficient intake. However, this study on its own does not mean that higher vitamin D intake will ensure prevention of upper respiratory tract infection. 1.Ginde A. et al. Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2009; 169 (4):384–390.