Supplements to Prevent Fractures?
Contrary to current opinion, a systematic review of 33 randomized trials in about 50,000 community-living adults over 50 years old found no benefit for supplementation of vitamin D and/or calcium. This study strongly supports the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce in not recommending calcium or vitamin D supplementation in this population. PositiveTip: Get your vitamin D from…
Read MoreVitamin D Supplementation and Fall Risk
Swiss researchers evaluated monthly high-dose vitamin D supplementation in 200 adults 70 years and older with a history of a fall in the past year. They were randomized to receive one of three monthly regimens, including the control group. At 12 months, lower extremity function was the same in all groups, but fall rates were…
Read MoreLive Longer with Lower Vitamin D Levels
Studies of the role of vitamin D in human physiology indicate that vitamin D is involved in bone formation, the growth and development of immune cells, and stimulation or inhibition of blood vessels in cancer. Those who have lower levels of vitamin D are found to have higher death rates from heart disease, diabetes mellitus,…
Read MoreValue of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Questioned
Many people take omega-3 fatty acid supplements hoping to reduce their risk of adverse cardiovascular events. However, recent research suggests that these supplements may have little value. A group of 12,500 well-controlled diabetic patients who received 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acid or a placebo demonstrated no differences after 6 years of follow-up. These findings…
Read MoreFormula Supplemented With Fatty Acids Offers Little Benefit
A meta-analysis by researchers at Yale University shows that infant formula supplemented with long-chain polyunstatured fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA), was no better than other formulas for infant cognition. The Yale researchers compared supplemented and unsupplemented soy and cow's milk-based formulas.PositiveTip: Through the first year, breastfeeding is the optimal infant nutrition.…
Read MoreLess May Be More!
Although a healthy diet provides sufficient vitamins and minerals, many individuals take vitamin and mineral supplements hoping to further improve their health and prevent disease. A large, 19 year observational study of postmenopausal women has found that taking common vitamin supplements may actually shorten life instead. After controlling for confounders, absolute risk increased from 2.4%…
Read MoreDon’t Count on Supplements to Prevent Chronic Disease!
Selenium, an essential element necessary for proper cellular function, has recently become a popular supplement thought to have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. A new British study has linked high levels of selenium to increased levels of total cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol. The U.K. has lower selenium status that the U.S. making it a good…
Read MoreWhy All the Fuss About Folic Acid?
There is increasing evidence that folic acid (FA) suppresses immune surveillance of cancer cells and may stimulate cancer cell growth. Earlier in 2009 it was reported that folic acid supplements were associated with excess risk of prostate cancer.
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