News
High vegetable intake may decrease diabetes risk
29 April 2012
According to a new UK study, increased consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables could reduce the risk of diabetes by 21%.
29 June 2012
According to a new Iranian study, vitamin C and E supplements may protect against increased oxidative stress in women taking oral contraceptives.
In the randomized controlled trial that lasted four weeks, 120 healthy women were divided into three groups: those taking contraceptives only (0.03 mg ethinylestradiol and 0.15 mg levonorgestrel), those taking contra-ceptives plus vitamin C and E supplements (150mg and 200 IU respectively), and those taking a placebo (1). An analysis of blood samples showed that participants who only took contraceptives experienced increased levels of a marker of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde), while antioxidant enzyme activity (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) decreased. Taking additional supplements of vitamins C and E significantly increased enzyme activity and reduced plasma levels of the oxidative stress marker.
The researchers commented that low-dose oral contraceptives may potentially present a cardiovascular risk by enhancing oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The use of vitamins E and C may therefore be bene-ficial in reducing this side effect of oral contraceptives. However, larger intervention studies would be necessary to confirm these results.
29 April 2012
According to a new UK study, increased consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables could reduce the risk of diabetes by 21%.
1 April 2012
Chronic, low-grade, tissue inflammation is a significant risk factor in the development of a variety of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and auto-immune diseases. Moreover, many discomforts, such as chronic pain, memory problems, mood swings, and general muscle fatigue, can be connected in some way to an underlying inflammatory condition. An important development in nutritional science in recent years has been the discovery of anti-inflammatory properties of certain micronutrients and their potential to prevent or treat certain diseases or conditions.
3 February 2014
A follow-up study from Finland reports that a supplementation of vitamin E had a preventive effect on prostate cancer development in male smokers, which lasted about eight years after the initial trial and resulted in decreased mortality.