Category: Research
Magnesium therapy relieves chronic low back pain
This study’s findings are promising in that they suggest that magnesium supplementation may be beneficial for people with refractory chronic low back pain who have failed to respond to conventional treatment strategies. KEEP READING >>
Vitamin B6 deficiency common in elderly Norwegians living in nursing homes
The study’s findings support the protective effect of vitamin supplementation on maintaining higher plasma PLP concentrations in this elderly population. This observation would be consistent with the notion that older elderly people living in nursing home should be provided with additional dietary vitamin B6 to decrease their risk of developing vitamin B6 deficiency. KEEP READING >>
DSM-formulated eye health products show benefits in 5-year study
The long-awaited results of the 5-year AREDS2 study, a follow-up to the original Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, have been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. KEEP READING >>
Gymnema
Found in Central and Southern India, gymnema is a rain forest vine that has a long tradition in the treatment and management of diabetes. The Indian name is Gurmar, which means “sugar destroyer.” Its use has been documented in Ayurvedic medical texts for over 2,000 years in the treatment of “sweet” urine. KEEP READING >>
Reishi mushroom
Reishi mushroom is called the “mushroom of immortality” in China, and it has been used as a tonic and strengthening medicine for thousands of years. Applications in traditional healing include increasing intellectual capacity and memory, promoting agility and lengthening the life span. KEEP READING >>
Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure in the elderly
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Vegetable-rich diets have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease, but the important components of a vegetable-rich diet for cardiovascular health are not fully understood. One recent suggestion is that the inorganic nitrate component of vegetable-rich diets may play a significant role in cardiovascular health. KEEP READING >>
Vitamin D supplementation improves insulin sensitivity
Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency are commonly found in many populations worldwide. The effects of inadequate vitamin D status may be seen in many physiological systems in the body, including the ability to properly control blood glucose. Risk factors for vitamin D inadequacy include reduced sunlight exposure, darker skin color, low vitamin D intake and obesity. KEEP READING >>
Iron supplementation improves cognitive performance in South African children
Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide. The consequences of iron deficiency can include anemia, as well as suboptimal growth and brain development. Anemia has been previously associated with poorer performance on various cognitive performance tests. It is uncertain, however, whether iron supplementation can improve cognitive function in children who have iron deficiency but no significant anemia. A recently published study conducted in South Africa has now addressed this question in children aged six to 11 years old. KEEP READING >>
Passionflower
Passionflower, or maypop, is a common roadside vine found in many areas of the United States. Passionflower has been reported to have sedative, hypnotic, antispasmodic and anodyne (pain relieving) properties. It has traditionally been used for neuralgia, generalized seizures, hysteria, tachycardia, spasmodic asthma and insomnia. KEEP READING >>
Choline
Choline is a member of the water-soluble B complex vitamin group. Classifying choline as a vitamin is questionable since humans synthesize it. However, because the rate of synthesis is normally insufficient to meet human metabolic needs, choline has been included as an essential vitamin nutrient. KEEP READING >>