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Effects Of Vitamin D Deficiency Amplified By Shortage Of Estrogen
"Researchers at Johns Hopkins are reporting what is believed to be the first conclusive evidence in men that the long-term ill effects of vitamin D deficiency are amplified by lower levels of the key sex hormone estrogen, but not testosterone.
In a national study in 1010 men, to be presented Nov. 15 at the American Heart Association's (AHA) annual Scientific Sessions in Orlando, researchers say the new findings build on previous studies showing that deficiencies in vitamin D and low levels of estrogen, found naturally in differing amounts in men and women, were independent risk factors for hardened and narrowed arteries and weakened bones. Vitamin D is an essential part to keeping the body healthy, and can be obtained from fortified foods, such as milk and cereals, and by exposure to sunlight.
Health benefits of eating fish far outweigh risks from contaminants, report concludes - theheart.org
October 17, 2006 | Steve Stiles
Boston, MA - A review of the literature on the health effects of dietary fish or fish-oil intake has a reassuring message for seafood lovers, anyone eating fish for health reasons, and perhaps most everyone else [1]. Levels of mercury and other contaminants in commercially bought fish are low, and their potential risks are overwhelmed by likely reductions in cardiovascular mortality, according to a report in the October 18, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
"The main message is really that everybody should be eating one or two servings of fish or seafood per week for their health," Dr Dariush Mozaffarian (Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA) told heartwire.
In his analysis, coauthored with Dr Eric B Rimm (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA), regular "modest" intake of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the two long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) abundant in finfish and shellfish (collectively referred to as "fish" in the article), is associated with a 36% drop in coronary disease mortality (p<0.001) and a 17% fall in total mortality (p=0.046). The n-3 PUFAs, they also conclude, appear to be important to early brain development.
"Potential risks of fish intake must be considered in the context of potential benefits," according to Mozaffarian and Rimm. "Avoidance of modest fish consumption due to confusion regarding risks and benefits could result in thousands of excess CHD deaths annually and suboptimal neurodevelopment in children."
Those potential benefits are immense compared with the highly publicized but apparently low health risks associated with methylmercury, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that have been found in some fish species, they write. The evidence suggests a potential for neurodevelopmental deficits from early exposure to methylmercury, but the risk is likely diminished by limiting intake of fish with high methylmercury concentrations
Whole Health Source: Palmitic Acid and Insulin Resistance: a New Paradigm
"We've been having an interesting discussion in the comments about a recently published paper by Dr. Stephen C. Benoit and colleagues (free full text). They showed that a butter-rich diet causes weight gain and insulin resistance in rats, compared to a low-fat diet or a diet based on olive oil. They published a thorough description of the diets' compositions, which is very much appreciated!
They went on to show that infusing palmitic acid (a 16-carbon saturated fat) directly into the brain of rats also caused insulin resistance relative to oleic acid (an 18-carbon monounsaturated fat, like in olive oil). Here's a representation of palmitic acid. The COOH end is the acid end, and the squiggly line is the fatty end. Thus it's called a "fatty acid", various forms of which are the fat currency of the body."
Do dietary lectins cause disease? -- Freed 318 (7190): 1023 -- BMJ
Do dietary lectins cause disease?
Freed DL.
BMJ. 1999 Apr 17;318(7190):1023-4.
PMID: 10205084
Whole Health Source: Wheat is Invading China
"Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Wheat is Invading China
Dr. Michael Eades linked to an interesting study yesterday on his Health and Nutrition blog. It's entitled "Vegetable-Rich Food Pattern is Related to Obesity in China."
It's one of these epidemiological studies where they try to divide subjects into different categories of eating patterns and see how health problems associate with each one. They identified four patterns: the 'macho' diet high in meat and alcohol; the 'traditional' diet high in rice and vegetables; the 'sweet tooth' pattern high in cake, dairy and various drinks; and the 'vegetable rich' diet high in wheat, vegetables, fruit and tofu. The only pattern that associated with obesity was the vegetable-rich diet. The 25% of people eating closest to the vegetable-rich pattern were more than twice as likely to be obese as the 25% adhering the least.
The authors of the paper try to blame the increased obesity on a higher intake of vegetable oil from stir-frying the vegetables, but that explanation is juvenile and misleading. A cursory glance at table 3 reveals that the vegetable-eaters weren't eating any more fat than their thinner neighbors. Dr. Eades suggests that their higher carbohydrate intake (+10%) and higher calorie intake (+120 kcal/day) are responsible for the weight gain, but I wasn't satisfied with that explanation so I took a closer look.
Dietary protein and bone health: a systematic review and meta-analysis -- Darling et al. 90 (6): 1674 -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Dietary protein and bone health: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Darling AL, Millward DJ, Torgerson DJ, Hewitt CE, Lanham-New SA.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Nov 4. [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 19889822
Vitamin D and MS
"This website is about Vitamin D and MS
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS), with an uncertain cause. Colleen Hayes and Donald Achaeson have suggested that insufficient sunlight exposure and chronic viral infections might be unrelated environmental risk factors for MS. These risk factors may act synergistically to enable the pathogenic autoimmune response.
The prevalence of MS is highest where environmental supplies of vitamin D are lowest. Sunshine enables the production of vitamin D3 (VD3) in the skin. Epidemiological studies have shown that higher vitamin D blood levels are associated with lower risk, less relapses and a slower progression of multiple sclerosis. Higher vitamin D levels can be achieved in part by increased oral intake of VD3.
Optimal health requires serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels higher than 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L) P Lips, 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L) P Heaney or at least 40 ng/ml (100 nmol/L) R Vieth. "
Effectiveness and safety of vitamin D in relation to bone health. - [Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2007] - PubMed result
Effectiveness and safety of vitamin D in relation to bone health.
Cranney A, Horsley T, O'Donnell S, Weiler H, Puil L, Ooi D, Atkinson S, Ward L, Moher D, Hanley D, Fang M, Yazdi F, Garritty C, Sampson M, Barrowman N, Tsertsvadze A, Mamaladze V.
Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2007 Aug;(158):1-235. Review.
PMID: 18088161
Health Canada Licenced Finger Pulse Oximeters, COPD Pulse Oximeters, Sport Pulse Oximeter.
"Our Finger Pulse Oximeters are high quality, Health Canada licenced finger pulse oximeters suitable for both medical use and use by athletes, pilots or anyone travelling, working or training at high altitudes.
Hypoxia is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole (generalized hypoxia) or a region of the body (tissue hypoxia) is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Generalized hypoxia occurs in healthy people when they ascend to high altitude, where it causes altitude sickness leading to potentially fatal complications: high altitude pulmonary edema and high altitude cerebral edema. Hypoxia also occurs in healthy individuals when breathing mixtures of gases with a low oxygen content, e.g. while diving underwater especially when using closed-circuit rebreather systems that control the amount of oxygen in the supplied air. A mild and non-damaging intermittent hypoxia is used intentionally by athletes during altitude trainings to develop an athletic performance adaptation at both the systemic and cellular level. A Finger Pulse Oximeter is invaluable for monitoring blood oxygen saturation for these situations."
Whole Health Source: Butter vs. Margarine Showdown
"came across a gem of a study the other day, courtesy of Dr. John Briffa's blog. It's titled "Margarine Intake and Subsequent Coronary Heart Disease in Men", by Dr. William P. Castelli's group. It followed participants of the Framingham Heart study for 20 years, and recorded heart attack incidence*. Keep in mind that 20 years is an unusually long follow-up period.
"
Defining Adequate Vitamin D Intake : Cross-sectional and Intervention Studies
Defining Adequate Vitamin D Intake : Cross-sectional and Intervention Studies
Viljakainen, Heli Tuulikki
University of Helsinki
2008-05-23
Doctoral dissertation (article-based)
In summary, vitamin D intake remains inadequate among the target groups of this thesis, as reflected by seasonal variation in calcitropic hormones and bone metabolism. Dietary intake of vitamin D should be increased to achieve at least an adequate vitamin D status (S-25-OHD>50 nmol/l) and possibly an optimal vitamin D status (S-25-OHD>80 nmol/l) throughout the year. This could be accomplished by introducing new vitamin D-fortified foods to the market.
Coeliac bone loss link uncovered - BBC NEWS | Health
"People with coeliac disease may be more susceptible to osteoporosis because their own immune system attacks their bone tissue, a study suggests.
Osteoporosis is a known risk of coeliac disease and has been explained by a failure to absorb calcium or vitamin D. "
African Americans, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and osteoporosis: a paradox -- Aloia 88 (2): 545S -- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
African Americans, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and osteoporosis: a paradox.
Aloia JF.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Aug;88(2):545S-550S. Review.
PMID: 18689399
African Americans have lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and a lower risk of fragility fractures than do other populations. I review the evidence on factors other than vitamin D that might explain this paradox and the calcium economy in different life stages.
The Top 10 Health Breakthroughs of 2008 | Health and Wellness News
"The following is a list of the Top 10 health breakthroughs of 2008. I know there are many other possible candidates for this Top 10 list. This is my version of the highlights that made 2008 special."
Aggressive Vitamin D Treatment for Osteoporosis
"May 19, 2008 (Orlando, Florida) — A new study shows that a proactive vitamin D treatment plan should be considered when caring for all osteoporosis patients, and that such treatment might help decrease the likelihood of developing vitamin D deficiency.
Vitamin D deficiency is widespread among patients being treated for osteoporosis, and such deficiency should be treated aggressively, according to the findings presented here at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 17th Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress."
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