ScienceDaily: Vitamin D News

Vitamin C does not lower uric acid levels in gout patients, study finds

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:37:37 EDT

Despite previous studies touting its benefit in moderating gout risk, new research reveals that vitamin C, also known ascorbic acid, does not reduce uric acid (urate) levels to a clinically significant degree in patients with established gout. Vitamin C supplementation, alone or in combination with allopurinol, appears to have a weak effect on lowering uric acid levels in gout patients, according to the results of a new study.

Sunshine could benefit health and prolong life, study suggests

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:58:58 EDT

Exposing skin to sunlight may help to reduce blood pressure, cut the risk of heart attack and stroke -- and even prolong life, a study suggests.

Preterm infants may need 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

Preterm infants may need to be given 800 international units of vitamin D a day to ensure they develop strong bones, according to a new study.

Vitamin D: More may not be better; Benefits in healthy adults wear off at higher doses, research suggests

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:29:29 EDT

In recent years, healthy people have been bombarded by stories in the media and on health websites warning about the dangers of too-low vitamin D levels, and urging high doses of supplements to protect against everything from hypertension to hardening of the arteries to diabetes. But new research finds that blood levels of the so-called "sunshine vitamin" that are higher than the top of the range suggested by the Institute of Medicine confer no additional benefit. This finding, combined with results of a previous study noting potential harm from higher vitamin D levels in healthy people, has urged investigators to prescribe caution.

The right amount of vitamin D for babies: 400 IU daily dose for suggested for infants under one year of age

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:40:40 EDT

Vitamin D is crucial to the growth of healthy bones. It is especially important that babies get enough of it during the first twelve months of their lives when their bones are growing rapidly. This is why health care providers frequently recommend that parents give their babies a daily vitamin D supplement. But how much vitamin D should babies be given?

Researchers pinpoint upper safe limit of vitamin D blood levels, study suggests

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:16:16 EDT

Researchers claim to have calculated, for the first time, the upper safe limit of vitamin D levels, above which the associated risk for cardiovascular events or death raises significantly, according to a recent study.

Low vitamin D levels a risk factor for pneumonia

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

A new study has shown that low serum vitamin D levels are a risk factor for pneumonia. The risk of contracting pneumonia was more than 2.5 times greater in subjects with the lowest vitamin D levels than in subjects with high vitamin D levels.

Sunshine hormone, vitamin D, may offer hope for treating liver fibrosis

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:01:01 EDT

Liver fibrosis results from an excessive accumulation of tough, fibrous scar tissue and occurs in most types of chronic liver diseases. In industrialized countries, the main causes of liver injury leading to fibrosis include chronic hepatitis virus infection, excess alcohol consumption and, increasingly, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Mushrooms can provide as much vitamin D as supplements

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:28:28 EDT

Researchers have discovered that eating mushrooms containing Vitamin D2 can be as effective at increasing and maintaining vitamin D levels (25–hydroxyvitamin D) as taking supplemental vitamin D2 or vitamin D3.

Excess vitamin E intake not a health concern, study suggests

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:14:14 EDT

Despite concerns that have been expressed about possible health risks from high intake of vitamin E, a new review concludes that biological mechanisms exist to routinely eliminate excess levels of the vitamin, and they make it almost impossible to take a harmful amount.

Vitamin D may reduce risk of uterine fibroids

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:44:44 EDT

Women who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D, according to a new study.

Month of birth impacts immune system development

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:46:46 EDT

Newborn babies' immune system development and levels of vitamin D have been found to vary according to their month of birth, according to new research.

Vitamin P as a potential approach for the treatment of damaged motor neurons

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:11:11 EDT

Biologists in Germany have explored how to protect neurons that control movements from dying off. In a new paper, they report that the molecule 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone, also known as vitamin P, ensures the survival of motor neurons in culture. It sends the survival signal on another path than the molecule Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which was previously considered a candidate for the treatment of motoneuron diseases or after spinal cord damage.

Vitamin D insufficiency linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:41:41 EDT

There is a link between vitamin D insufficiency and adverse health outcomes such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia in mothers-to-be and low birth weight in newborns, suggests a new article.

Vitamin D may lower diabetes risk in obese children and adolescents

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:17:17 EDT

Being obese puts individuals at greater risk for developing type 2 diabetes, a disease in which individuals have too much sugar in their blood. Now researchers found vitamin D supplements can help obese children and teens control their blood-sugar levels, which may help them stave off the disease.

Vitamin D benefits breathing in tuberculosis patients

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:15:15 EDT

Maintaining adequate levels of vitamin D can help people breathe better and may even protect against tuberculosis, according to a recent study. The study of more than 10,000 Korean adults found that lung function improved when people had absorbed more vitamin D into their bodies.

Potential immune benefits of strong vitamin D status in healthy individuals

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 21:28:28 EDT

Research shows that improving vitamin D status by increasing its level in the blood could have a number of non-skeletal health benefits. The study reveals for the first time that improvement in the vitamin D status of healthy adults significantly impacts genes involved with a number of biologic pathways associated with cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases.

Living in a sunny climate does not improve vitamin D levels in hip fracture patients

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:14:14 EDT

While it is well known that a majority of hip fracture patients of all ages and both sexes have insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D, a new study looks at whether or not living in a warm, sunny climate improves patient vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D replacement improves muscle efficiency

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:14:14 EDT

New research shows for the first time a link between vitamin D levels and muscle efficiency. Vitamin D supplementation may also be effective in improving skeletal muscle function. The findings may explain the physical fatigue commonly experienced by patients with vitamin D deficiency, with broad implications for a large section of society.

For smokers, low levels of vitamin D may lead to cancer

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:08:08 EDT

New research shows that decreased levels of vitamin D may predispose smokers to developing tobacco-related cancer. This study illustrates that simple vitamin D blood tests and supplements have the potential to improve smokers’ health.

Too much vitamin D during pregnancy can cause food allergies, research suggests

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:58:58 EST

Pregnant women should avoid taking vitamin D supplements, new research suggests. Substitution appears to raise the risk of children developing a food allergy after birth.

Modern life may cause sun exposure, skin pigmentation mismatch

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:43:43 EST

As people move more often and become more urbanized, skin color -- an adaptation that took hundreds of thousands of years to develop in humans -- may lose some of its evolutionary advantage, according to an anthropologist.

Vitamin C is beneficial against the common cold, review suggests

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:23:23 EST

According to an updated review on vitamin C and the common cold, vitamin C seems to be particularly beneficial for people under heavy physical stress. In five randomized trials of participants with heavy short-term physical stress, vitamin C halved the incidence of the common cold. Three of the trials studied marathon runners, one studied Swiss school children in a skiing camp and one studied Canadian soldiers during a winter exercise. Furthermore, in a recent randomized trial carried out with adolescent competitive swimmers, vitamin C halved the duration of colds in males, although the vitamin had no effect on females.

African-American, Caucasian women should take identical vitamin d doses, study says

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 07:51:51 EST

African-American women battling vitamin D deficiencies need the same dose as Caucasian women to treat the condition, according to a recent study.

Vitamin D potency varies widely in dietary supplements, analysis finds

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:22:22 EST

Vitamin D supplement potency varies widely, and the amount of vitamin D in over-the counter and compounded supplements does not necessarily match the amount listed on the label, according to a new research.

Obesity leads to vitamin D deficiency, study suggests

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:37:37 EST

Obesity can lead to a lack of vitamin D circulating in the body, a new study suggests. Efforts to tackle obesity should thus also help to reduce levels of vitamin D deficiency in the population, says the lead investigator of the study.

Low vitamin D levels may increase risk of Type 1 diabetes

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:46:46 EST

Having adequate levels of vitamin D during young adulthood may reduce the risk of adult-onset type 1 diabetes by as much as 50 percent, according to researchers. The findings, if confirmed in future studies, could lead to a role for vitamin D supplementation in preventing this serious autoimmune disease in adults.

Vitamin C supplements linked to kidney stones, Swedish study finds

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:46:46 EST

New research from Sweden shows that men who take vitamin C supplements regularly run a higher risk of developing kidney stones.

Sunlight may help ward off rheumatoid arthritis in women

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 18:45:45 EST

Regular exposure to sunlight -- specifically ultraviolet B -- may reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, indicates a large long-term study.

Quantum dots deliver vitamin D to tumors for possible inflammatory breast cancer treatment

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:59:59 EST

Quantum dots can be used to rapidly move high concentrations of the active form of Vitamin D to targeted tumor sites where cancer cells accumulate.

Low vitamin D levels linked to high risk of premenopausal breast cancer

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:34:34 EST

Low serum vitamin D levels in the months preceding diagnosis may predict a high risk of premenopausal breast cancer.

Which nutritional factors help preserve muscle mass, strength and performance in seniors?

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 11:17:17 EST

A new review identifies nutritional factors that contribute to sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass), or conversely, are beneficial to the maintenance of muscle mass. The Group reviewed evidence from worldwide studies on the role of nutrition in sarcopenia, specifically looking at protein, acid–base balance, vitamin D/calcium, and other minor nutrients like B vitamins.

Supplements and cow's milk play biggest roles in determining vitamin D levels in children

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 17:21:21 EST

Taking a vitamin D supplement and drinking cow's milk are the two most important factors that determine how much vitamin D is in a child's body, new research has found.

Obese moms risk having babies with low vitamin D, study finds

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:07:07 EST

Women who are obese at the start of their pregnancy may be passing on insufficient levels of vitamin D to their babies, according to a new study. The study found that babies born to lean mothers had a third higher amount of vitamin D compared to babies born to obese moms.

Two cups of milk a day ideal for children's health, new research shows

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:27:27 EST

New research has answered one of the most common questions parents ask their doctors: How much milk should I be giving my children? The answer is two cups per day.

Significant link found between daytime sleepiness and vitamin D

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:09:09 EST

A new study suggests that there is a significant correlation between excessive daytime sleepiness and vitamin D, and race plays an important factor.

Vitamin D deficiency may contribute to alcohol-related muscular weakness

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:09:09 EST

Myopathy refers to a disease characterized by muscular weakness and wasting. Vitamin D deficiency is a well-recognized cause of myopathy, and excessive drinking is often associated with low or subnormal levels of vitamin D. A new review indicates that vitamin D deficiency might partly explain the occurrence of the frequently observed myopathy in chronic alcoholism.

Vitamin D can help infection-prone patients avoid respiratory tract infection

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:31:31 EST

Treating infection-prone patients over a 12-month period with high doses of vitamin D reduces their risk of developing respiratory tract infection -- and consequently their antibiotic requirement, according to a new study by researchers in Sweden.

Mother’s vitamin D level linked to birth weight

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:21:21 EST

Mothers’ vitamin D levels at a gestation of 26 weeks or less were positively related to birth weight and head circumference, and, in the first trimester were negatively associated with risk of a baby being born small for gestational age, according to a recent study'

Vitamin D tied to women's cognitive performance

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:22:22 EST

Two new studies show that vitamin D may be a vital component for the cognitive health of women as they age.

Vitamin D linked to lower rates of tooth decay

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:03:03 EST

Health scientists have long disputed the role of vitamin D in preventing tooth decay. A new review of existing studies suggests that vitamin D may indeed have a role in tooth health. The review encompassed 24 controlled clinical trials from the 1920s to the 1980s. About 3,000 children in several countries participated. Vitamin D levels in many populations are declining while dental caries in children are increasing.

High Vitamin D levels in pregnancy may protect mother more than baby against multiple sclerosis

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:33:33 EST

Pregnant women who have higher levels of vitamin D in their blood may have a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis than women with lower levels, while their babies may not see the same protective effect, according to a new study.

Fetus suffers when mother lacks vitamin C

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 08:56:56 EST

Maternal vitamin C deficiency during pregnancy can have serious consequences for the fetal brain. And once brain damage has occurred, it cannot be reversed by vitamin C supplements after birth.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to type 1 diabetes

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:13:13 EST

A study has found a correlation between vitamin D3 serum levels and subsequent incidence of Type 1 diabetes. The six-year study of blood levels of nearly 2,000 individuals suggests a preventive role for vitamin D3 in this disease.

Month of birth effect: Give pregnant women vitamin D supplements to ward off multiple sclerosis, say researchers

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 19:26:26 EST

The risk of developing multiple sclerosis is highest in the month of April, and lowest in October, indicates an analysis of the available evidence, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

Genetic variation may modify associations between low vitamin D levels and adverse health outcomes

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:15:15 EST

Findings from a study suggest that certain variations in vitamin D metabolism genes may modify the association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations with health outcomes such as hip fracture, heart attack, cancer, and death.

Vitamin D may prevent clogged arteries in diabetics

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:42:42 EST

People with diabetes often develop clogged arteries that cause heart disease. New research has found that when vitamin D levels are adequate in people with diabetes, blood vessels are less likely to clog. But in patients with insufficient vitamin D, immune cells bind to blood vessels near the heart, then trap cholesterol to block those blood vessels.

Vitamin D could hold vital key to arresting development of Alzheimer’s disease

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:14:14 EST

Scientists have uncovered evidence that lack of a particular form of vitamin D is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Lack of vitamin D contributes to pain in black Americans with knee osteoarthritis

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:56:56 EST

A new study reveals that black Americans display lower levels of vitamin D and greater pain sensitivity compared to white Americans. Findings indicate that vitamin D deficiency may be one of many factors that account for increased pain in older black Americans with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Low vitamin D levels linked to longevity, surprising study shows

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:03:03 EST

Low levels of vitamin D may be associated with longevity, according to a study involving middle-aged children of people in their 90s.

High levels of vitamin D in plasma protects against bladder cancer

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:14:14 EDT

High levels of vitamin D are associated with protection against bladder cancer, according to a study by molecular biologists and epidemiologists.

Nearly 80 million Americans won't need vitamin D supplements under new guidelines

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:52:52 EDT

Nearly 80 million Americans would no longer need to take vitamin D supplements under new Institute of Medicine guidelines, according to a new study.

Vitamin D supplements may benefit lupus patients

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:39:39 EDT

A new clinical study provides preliminary evidence that vitamin D supplementation could be considered an immunomodulatory agent for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a debilitating autoimmune disease characterized not only by skin, joint, neurological and renal symptoms, but also by inflammation of tissue linings in the body.

Vitamin C prevents bone loss in animal models

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 15:12:12 EDT

Researchers have shown for the first time in an animal model that vitamin C actively protects against osteoporosis, a disease affecting large numbers of elderly women and men in which bones become brittle and can fracture.

Vitamin variants could combat cancer as scientists unravel B12 secrets

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 08:29:29 EDT

In a development that may lead to new drugs to treat cancer, scientists have discovered the process by which a key vitamin (B12) is made in cells.

Vitamin D supplementation does not reduce rate or severity of colds, study suggests

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 16:17:17 EDT

Although some data have suggested a possible inverse association between serum vitamin D levels and the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (colds), participants in a randomized controlled trial who received a monthly dose of 100,000 IUs of vitamin D3 did not have a significantly reduced incidence or severity of colds.

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with mortality in older adults

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:18:18 EDT

Low levels of vitamin D and high levels of parathyroid hormone are associated with increased mortality in African American and Caucasian older adults, according to a new study.

Low vitamin D levels linked to more severe multiple sclerosis symptoms

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:17:17 EDT

Low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased number of brain lesions and signs of a more active disease state in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study finds, suggesting a potential link between intake of the vitamin and the risk of longer-term disability from the autoimmune disorder.

Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of heart disease, Danish study finds

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 10:25:25 EDT

New research from Denmark shows that low levels of vitamin D are associated with a markedly higher risk of heart attack and early death. The study involved more than 10,000 Danes.

Gestational exposure to urban air pollution linked to vitamin D deficiency in newborns

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 08:39:39 EDT

Gestational exposure to ambient urban air pollution, especially during late pregnancy, may contribute to lower vitamin D levels in offspring, according to a recent study.