News
Vegans may have an increased risk of micronutrient deficiencies
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.
28 December 2012
According to a new US study increased vitamin D levels of mothers at a gestation of 26 weeks or less may be related to a higher birth weight and a larger head circumference.
In the observational study, blood vitamin D concentrations of 2,146 pregnant women were measured at 26 weeks of gestation or less (1). Birth weight, head circumference, and placental weight were measured within 24 hours of birth. The study results showed that mothers with 25(OH)D levels above 15 ng/ml gave birth to newborns who weighed a mean 46 grams heavier and with head circumferences 0.13 cm larger than infants born from mothers who had a vitamin D status below 15 ng/ml. Birth weight and head circumference rose with increasing 25(OH)D up to 15 ng/ml and then leveled off.
The researchers concluded that maternal vitamin D status seems to be independently associated with mar-kers of growth in term infants. Large randomized controlled trials are needed to test whether maternal vitamin D supplementation may improve fetal growth. Previous studies have shown inconsistent associations between maternal vitamin D status and fetal size.
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 January 2012
In the UK, more than 40% of people aged 65 or older have a limiting longstanding illness. Common conditions include osteoporosis, affecting 50% of women and 20% of men over the age of 50; coronary heart disease, affecting 21% of people over the age of 65; and stroke, age-related macular degeneration, and depression.
21 October 2015
Only a few studies have been carried out to assess the effect of blood serum levels of antioxidant vitamins and the risk of cervical cancer. The findings from these studies were inconsistent. However, a new study conducted with 1,200 participants from the city of Harbin, in Northern China, has yielded promising results, indicating that alpha carotene, beta carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C could be beneficial in reducing the risk of cervical cancer in Chinese women. The effect was particularly noticeable in women who suffered from the effects of passive smoking.