News
1. Oyebode O. et al. Fruit and vegetable consumption and all-cause, cancer and CVD mortality: analysis of Health Survey for England data. J Epidemiol Community Health. Published online March 2014.
5 April 2018
05 April 2018
Black Americans with knee osteoarthritis have higher rates of vitamin D deficiency and pain sensitivity when compared to white Americans, says a new US study.
In the study, 45 black and 49 white patients (average age of 56 years) with knee osteoarthritis completed questionnaires regarding their symptoms and underwent sensory testing, measuring sensitivity to heat and pain on the affected knee and forearm (1). In addition, the participants’ blood vitamin D concentration was measured. The study results showed that eighty-four percent of black participants had vitamin D levels below 30ng/ml compared to 51% of whites. The average vitamin D level for black participants was 19.9. ng/ml compared to white participants with an average level of 28.2 ng/ml. Black participants reported increased overall knee osteoarthritis pain and those with lower vitamin D status displayed greater sensitivity to heat and pain.
The researchers commented that these data demonstrate that differences in pain sensitivity between the two races are mediated at least in part by variations in vitamin D levels. The scientists are now planning a study to investigate the impact of increased vitamin D levels on chronic pain in black and white older Americans.
Osteoarthritis involves degradation of the joints, causing joint pain, stiffness, tenderness, and locking. Vita-min D deficiency may be one of the many factors that account for increased pain in osteoarthritis. Although vitamin D deficiency is commonly defined as a 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum level below 20 ng/mL (50 nano-moles per liter), published studies have used different definitions for vitamin D deficiency. By using different cut-off points, vitamin D deficiency was found to be common in certain subpopulations, including older adults (41% using 25(OH)D level below 20 ng/mL), African Americans (61% using 25(OH)D level below 15 ng/mL), and women with osteoporosis (64% using 25(OH)D level below 30 ng/mL) (2).
5 April 2018
1 January 2016
It is a universal wish of parents around the globe that their children should sleep longer, deeper and wake as little as possible. There is growing evidence that good sleep is important for the child’s mental development. This article will examine whether simple nutritional intervention, for example with foods high in marine omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins or tryptophan can improve children’s sleep.
9 July 2012
According to a new review, taking more than 800 international units of vitamin D daily could reduce the risk of hip fractures in older women by 30 percent.