News
Many pregnant women do not meet iodine intake requirements
10 May 2013
According to a new data analysis, the majority of pregnant women in the US may have an inadequate iodine status and insufficient intakes from dietary supplements.
27 March 2013
A new US study reports that regular vitamin D supplementation may help African-Americans lower their blood pressure.
In the randomized controlled trial, 250 African-American adults were divided into four groups: three of the groups received daily vitamin D supplementation of 1000, 2000, or 4000 IU for three months, while the fourth group received a placebo (1). The study results showed that the participants in the supplementation group had a decrease in systolic blood pressure by an average of 0.7 to 4 mm Hg, with those who received the highest vitamin D dose benefiting the most. Participants in the placebo group showed a rise in systolic blood pressure (1.7 mm Hg).
The researchers commented that the blood pressure lowering effects of vitamin D were modest but signifi-cant. If further research should be found support these findings, widespread use of vitamin D supplemen-tation among African-Americans could have significant public health benefits. High blood pressure, a risk factor for heart attacks, heart failure and stroke, is 40 percent more common in African-Americans than in other American ethnic groups.
Numerous observational studies have implicated vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency as risk factors for hypertension, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Results of randomized controlled trials investiga-ting beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation have been inconclusive so far (2). Several putative mechanisms underlying the potential vascular and renal effects of vitamin D have been discussed: low vitamin D levels seem to be associated with increased activation of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS), contributing directly to elevations in blood pressure as well as to renal injury. On the other hand, higher blood vitamin D concentrations have been linked to improved endothelial function, reduced oxidative stress and inflammation.
10 May 2013
According to a new data analysis, the majority of pregnant women in the US may have an inadequate iodine status and insufficient intakes from dietary supplements.
16 June 2014
Recent studies report that diets which exclude animal foods result in significantly lower intakes of vitamin B12, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc and selenium.
1 May 2014
Exercise may increase the formation of reactive oxygen species in the body which may cause cellular damage, impair skeletal muscle function and pain and thereby affect exercise performance.