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.
07 October 2010
Vitamin D supplements may not improve bone density in healthy children with normal vitamin D status, a new Australian review suggests.
The meta-analysis included six randomized controlled trials that measured changes in bone density of 884 healthy children and adolescents (aged from one month to 19 years) receiving vitamin D supplements or a placebo for at least three months (1). The analysis indicates that vitamin D supplementation had no statistically significant effects on hip bone, forearm, or whole body bone density in healthy children with normal vitamin D blood levels. There was, however, indication that children who had low levels of vitamin D in their blood might benefit from supplementation.
The researchers commented that while there would be no reasonable evidence that vitamin D supplementation significantly improves bone health in the general population specific groups like vitamin D deficient children could benefit from supplementation.
Experts criticized the limited amount of data analyzed in the review. There are not enough studies on children to give a conclusive answer on the subject. In addition, the study should not overlook the fact that a lot of people – including children – have inadequate vitamin D status, or are fully deficient, and are recommended to increase their vitamin D intake, they said.
Low bone mineral density is a major risk factor for osteoporosis. Previous studies have suggested that up to 90 percent of bone mass is built during childhood, and increasing bone mass in childhood is seen as a potential way to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. It is estimated that a 10 percent increase in peak bone mass reduces the risk of an osteoporotic fracture in adult life by 50 percent. Vitamin D is known to improve calcium deposition in bones, and previous research has suggested children with vitamin D deficiency have reduced bone density.
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.
15 August 2011
Results from randomized controlled trials and observational studies investigating the association between homocysteine and cardiovascular disease have been inconsistent so far.
14 November 2013
A new US review suggests that adequate intakes of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol, but not gamma-tocopherol) seem to help patients with chronic allergic inflammation of airways.