Tag: supplementation
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 >>
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 >>
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 >>
Vitamin E protects male smokers from prostate cancer
Findings are of note because they support the idea that vitamin E supplementation may protect men who are smokers against prostate cancer. KEEP READING >>
Coenzyme Q10 supplementation improves vascular function
The meta-analysis found that in all of the studies but one, Coenzyme Q10 treatment had a significant positive effect. Larger, long-term, randomized trials of Coenzyme Q10 will be necessary to ultimately prove the efficacy of this treatment in cardiovascular disease. However, current findings from clinical trials appear promising. KEEP READING >>
Fish oil supplementation improves muscle function in elderly Brazilian women
Aging is accompanied by decreases in functional capacity that can degrade the quality of life. Changes in function associated with aging include declines in the neuromuscular system, such as morphologic and phenotypic changes, changes in the size of muscle fibers and loss of muscle mass and strength. Among the detrimental age-associated neuromuscular changes, the ability to generate muscle torque and the rate at which this torque can be developed declines. However, studies have shown that these altered neuromuscular effects can be reversed or attenuated through strength training. And given the potential positive effects of fish oil, it is reasonable to explore the possibility that the effects of strength training on skeletal muscles may be enhanced by increased fish oil intake. KEEP READING >>
Strategic use of supplements and fortified foods, along with fresh foods, for complete nutrition
If only our lifestyles never failed to give us opportunities to prepare and eat the variety of foods we need to provide our bodies with complete nutrition. If only aging didn’t throw new nutritional challenges at us every few years. If only everyone lived in a region where the availability of nutrient-rich foods were consistent. If only. Unfortunately, we don’t live in that world. We live in a different reality. The good news is that we have extensive knowledge about nutritional science and we have the ability to enrich foods and beverages (and produce supplements) to help us address nutrient deficiencies. KEEP READING >>
L-Carnitine Supplementation Improves Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver
The most common cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries is commonly called "fatty liver," or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In the general population, 10 to 24 percent of people may have NASH. This liver condition is associated with disorders of energy metabolism, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. The causes of NASH are uncertain, but nutritional, metabolic, genetic, viral, and other factors may either cause or contribute to the development of fatty liver disease. KEEP READING >>