News
Vitamin D may reduce the incidence of seasonal influenza
1 April 2010
Increased intakes of vitamin D may reduce the incidence of seasonal flu, according to a new study.
18 November 2010
A combined supplementation of vitamin D and calcium is effective in increasing the bone mineral density of post-menopausal women, even when calcium intakes are adequate, says a new Finnish study.
In the randomized controlled trial, 593 post-menopausal women were randomly selected for bone mineral density (BMD) measurements, with half of the women receiving daily vitamin D (800 IU) plus calcium (1 gram) supplements for three years, while the other group received placebo (1). The results showed that the total body BMD increased significantly more in the group who received supplementation compared with women who received no intervention. Moreover, women who most fully participated in the supplementation study, taking at least 80 percent of the supplements, showed the greatest benefits. The researchers commented that daily vitamin D and calcium supplementation has a positive effect on the skeleton in postmenopausal women, even in those with adequate nutritional calcium intake.
Earlier, a Danish meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials with 68,517 people (mean age 69.9 years) from the US and Europe found that the vitamin-mineral combination significantly reduced fractures by 8 percent, and hip fractures by 16 percent (2). Supplemental vitamin D on its own in daily doses equivalent to 10 to 20 micrograms had no effects on fracture prevention. The researchers concluded that daily supplements which combine vitamin D and calcium may reduce the risk of fractures for everyone, regardless of age or gender. However, results from another trial did not back up the positive effect of lowering the risk of fractures (3).
The combination of vitamin D and calcium is recommended to reduce the risk of bone fracture for older people, particularly those at risk of or suffering from osteoporosis. The action of the nutrients is complimentary, with calcium supporting bone formation and repair, while vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. In 2008, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) accepted a health claim linking calcium and vitamin D to bone health in older women.
1 April 2010
Increased intakes of vitamin D may reduce the incidence of seasonal flu, according to a new study.
25 July 2011
Increased dietary intakes of vitamin A and vitamin E are significantly associated with a reduced risk of the prevalence of age-related hearing loss, according to the first population-based study of the link between antioxidants intake and hearing loss from Australia.
23 June 2014
In a new draft, the US Food and Drug Administration strongly recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women eat more omega-3 fatty-acid-rich fish as part of a healthy diet.