News
Early salt intake may influence the preference for salty taste later in life
20 January 2012
A new study suggests that early consumption of starchy table foods may shape a greater preference for salty taste of infants and young children.
01 March 2011
Vitamin D insufficiency in early adulthood may be a risk factor in subsequent hypertension among women, a new US study suggests.
In an observational study, blood pressure and vitamin D levels were measured in 599 women aged 24–44 years at the beginning of the trial and again 14 years later (1). The results showed that vitamin D insufficiency – serum 25(OH)D below 80 nmol/liter – was not significantly associated with concurrent systolic hypertension (?140 mm Hg) at baseline. However, vitamin D insufficiency was associated with a fivefold increased risk of systolic hypertension 14 years later after adjusting for age, body fat percentage, antihypertensive medication use, and smoking. In the observed group a total of 81% of women had inadequate blood concentrations of vitamin D. The researchers commented that these prospective results indicate a role of vitamin D insufficiency in early adulthood as a risk factor in subsequent hypertension among women.
The study results confirm previous results indicating a link between long-term vitamin D insufficiency and elevated blood pressure (2-4). Although there is evidence highlighting the relationship between vitamin D and all cause mortality (5), cardiovascular events (6, 7) and blood pressure, questions remain about the causality of these associations, the timing of the vitamin D impact on cardiovascular health, and the magnitude of effect generated by vitamin D. Clinical trials have attempted to address these questions but with mixed results: One trial with dietary supplementation, for example, indicated systolic blood pressure was reduced by 7.4 mm Hg (8), while another clinical trial identified no significant difference in blood pressure between the treated and control groups (9), which may be due to the low vitamin D treatment dosage (400 IU).
The researchers noted that long-term studies measuring vitamin D and blood pressure at frequent intervals would be warranted. Further, the potential link between vitamin D, body fat percentage, and hypertension would merit further investigation.
20 January 2012
A new study suggests that early consumption of starchy table foods may shape a greater preference for salty taste of infants and young children.
1 February 2011
The human brain monitors and regulates the body’s actions and reactions. It continuously receives sensory information, rapidly analyzes this data and then responds, controlling bodily actions and functions. While one part of the brain controls processes that are independent of conscious brain functions (e.g., breathing and heart rate), others are responsible for the coordination of movement or complex thinking processes such as learning and memory.
16 September 2013
A new review from the UK confirms a positive impact of a micronutrient-rich diet on cognitive function, and an inconsistent effect on mild cognitive impairment.