Vitamin Supplements
Vitamin Supplements May Lower Cataract Risk
Cataracts are a common problem among older Americans, a population expected to triple in the next 50 years. Certain dietary components, particularly vitamins and minerals that protect against oxidative stress, may play a role in retarding cataract development.
Additionally, results of several cross-sectional studies provide evidence of a lower incidence of lens opacities among users of various types of nutritional supplements.
This recent population-based study provides further evidence of the association between vitamin supplement use and reduced incidence of nuclear and cortical cataracts. The participants of the study included 43- to 86-year-old residents of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, identified by private census. The five-year incidence of cataracts, determined by optometric photographic techniques, was evaluated at baseline and follow-up examination. Of the 3,684 participants in the examinations, 3,089 qualified for incident cataract analysis in the current study.
At five-year follow-up, subjects who had used multivitamins or any supplement containing Vitamin C or E for more than 10 years were 60 percent less likely to suffer cataracts compared with nonusers. Taking multivitamins for this duration lowered the risk for nuclear and cortical cataracts, but not for subcapsular cataracts. Intake of supplements for shorter durations than 10 years was not associated with reduced risk for cataract. Differences in lifestyle and diet between supplement users and nonusers did not influence these associations.
The authors caution that no specific nutrient appeared to be responsible for this reduced risk, and that unmeasured lifestyle differences between supplement users and nonusers may have contributed to their results.
This recent population-based study provides further evidence of the association between vitamin supplement use and reduced incidence of nuclear and cortical cataracts. The participants of the study included 43- to 86-year-old residents of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, identified by private census. The five-year incidence of cataracts, determined by optometric photographic techniques, was evaluated at baseline and follow-up examination. Of the 3,684 participants in the examinations, 3,089 qualified for incident cataract analysis in the current study.
At five-year follow-up, subjects who had used multivitamins or any supplement containing Vitamin C or E for more than 10 years were 60 percent less likely to suffer cataracts compared with nonusers. Taking multivitamins for this duration lowered the risk for nuclear and cortical cataracts, but not for subcapsular cataracts. Intake of supplements for shorter durations than 10 years was not associated with reduced risk for cataract. Differences in lifestyle and diet between supplement users and nonusers did not influence these associations.
The authors caution that no specific nutrient appeared to be responsible for this reduced risk, and that unmeasured lifestyle differences between supplement users and nonusers may have contributed to their results.
Thiamine in the Treatment of Hepatitis B
Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an international health concern that causes cirrhosis, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Most current treatments for HBV are expensive and posses physical and psychological side effects.
A relationship between a relative deficiency in thiamine (vitamin B-1) and chronic HBV infection is suggested in three major areas. One is that thiamine may possess antiviral properties. Second, some research supports the thought that thiamine may slow or reverse liver damage during chronic HBV. Third, correlation exists between thiamine deficient populations and the prevalence of chronic HBV.
With this background, the purpose of the present study was to present the results of administering thiamine to three patients with chronic HBV. One marker of HBV is the level of aminotransferase found in the body. The authors noted that after and during periods of thiamine administration to the three patients that their aminotransferase levels dropped substantially, which is associated with the amelioration of HBV. When the thiamine was removed from the patients, aminotransferase levels rose again.
These cases demonstrate that the relationship between thiamine and HBV needs to be further investigated because of its potential utility. If proven effective in reducing liver damage or inducing remission of chronic HBV in larger trials, thiamine may offer obvious advantages over current treatments for chronic HBV.
With this background, the purpose of the present study was to present the results of administering thiamine to three patients with chronic HBV. One marker of HBV is the level of aminotransferase found in the body. The authors noted that after and during periods of thiamine administration to the three patients that their aminotransferase levels dropped substantially, which is associated with the amelioration of HBV. When the thiamine was removed from the patients, aminotransferase levels rose again.
These cases demonstrate that the relationship between thiamine and HBV needs to be further investigated because of its potential utility. If proven effective in reducing liver damage or inducing remission of chronic HBV in larger trials, thiamine may offer obvious advantages over current treatments for chronic HBV.
B-6 Deficiencies May Increase Risk of Heart Disease
As much as one-fifth of the U.S. population may be at increased risk because they do not get enough vitamin B-6. This study links vitamin B-6 deficiencies to heart disease and stroke. Vitamin B-6 levels were lower in both men and women who had heart disease or stroke incidence compared to healthy subjects, and subjects with a B-6 deficiency were also more than twice as likely to have heart disease or stroke than those without a deficiency
Overall about 20 percent of the individuals in the study were found to have B-6 deficiencies. These findings were independent of homocysteine levels, which have been previously used as an indicator of heart attacks and strokes. A more detailed analysis of the B-vitamins� independent effects on cardiovascular disease is needed.
Red Palm Oil Increases Vitamin A Levels
When it comes to what's on the minds of children these days, vitamins definitely are not at the top of the list. In our fast-forward way of life, the simplest things, such as taking a daily vitamin, can sometimes even evade parents.
According to the World Health Organization, 140 to 250 million children under the age of five are affected by vitamin A deficiency. No matter what the reasons, kids aren't getting enough of these important nutritional supplements. In a year-long study of African school children, researchers discovered the benefits of adding red palm oil to the daily school lunches to help boost the vitamin A levels in the students.
Red palm oil is the highest plant source of provitamin A carotenoids. In the study, each one of the 239 young volunteers either received 15 ml of red palm oil in their individual meals three times a week, a vitamin A pill with their lunch or neither. Researchers recorded a baseline reading of each child's deficiency level. At the end of the study, 12 months later, a second reading was taken to measure any changes.
The children who ingested the meals with the red palm oil additive saw a 26 percent improvement in their deficiency levels, comparable to the 29 percent improvement for the children who took a vitamin A capsule. According to the authors, the results showed how beneficial the inclusion of red palm oil can be in a child's diet, especially when it may be more cost effective in countries that capsulated supplements may not be as readily available.
Red palm oil is the highest plant source of provitamin A carotenoids. In the study, each one of the 239 young volunteers either received 15 ml of red palm oil in their individual meals three times a week, a vitamin A pill with their lunch or neither. Researchers recorded a baseline reading of each child's deficiency level. At the end of the study, 12 months later, a second reading was taken to measure any changes.
The children who ingested the meals with the red palm oil additive saw a 26 percent improvement in their deficiency levels, comparable to the 29 percent improvement for the children who took a vitamin A capsule. According to the authors, the results showed how beneficial the inclusion of red palm oil can be in a child's diet, especially when it may be more cost effective in countries that capsulated supplements may not be as readily available.
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