Category Archives: Vitamins

Bone Fracture, Calcium, Flavonoids (Soy), Phytoestrogens, Vitamins

Almost the definitive study on bone health in postmenopausal women

Treatment with genistein — a naturally occurring estrogen in soybeans — has the potential to regulate bone metabolism without harmful estrogenic activity in the breast and uterus,” says Dr. Herbert Marini from the University of Messina in Italy.

In this study, genistein had positive effects on bone health in postmenopausal women who had evidence of bone wasting.

Unfortunately, they didn’t measure fracture rate. Continue reading Almost the definitive study on bone health in postmenopausal women →

Alcoholism/Drug Abuse, Anxiety (Panic)/Depression, Cochrane Library, Folic Acid, Vitamins

Feeling depressed? Start taking a vitamin

Studies dating back more than 15 years suggest that people with depression are likely to have low blood levels of folic acid (or folate) and vitamin B12.

Of course, not all of the researchers have come to the same conclusion. But to start, here’s a summary of the most positive analysis of folic acid and B12.

Continue reading Feeling depressed? Start taking a vitamin →

Alzheimer's Dementia, Anemia, Birth Defects, Cancer, Diet-Nutrition, Folic Acid, Heart Disease, Infants, Malaria, Pregnancy, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid Diseases, Stroke, Vitamins

The pros and cons of folic acid fortification of foods

Fortifying food, such as wheat and corn flour, with folic acid reduces the risk of spina bifida in babies.

This public health practice was introduced 10 years ago in North America. Now, that practice is being debated in the UK and worldwide. “Are the benefits to the few outweighed by possible harm to some of the many exposed? Continue reading The pros and cons of folic acid fortification of foods →

Cancer, Diet-Nutrition, Elderly, Vitamins

Vitamin E supplements and the risk of lung cancer

A recent review of the medical literature revealed that except for prostate cancer, there was no evidence that vitamin E could protect from getting lung, stomach, esophageal, pancreatic, breast, or thyroid cancer.

Now, this study by researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle reports negative news for the vitamin E supplements and lung cancer. Continue reading Vitamin E supplements and the risk of lung cancer →

Bleeding Disorders, Calcium, Cancer, Diet-Nutrition, Flavonoids (Soy), Lycopene, Obesity, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Selenium, Trans Fats, Vitamins

A ten-year perspective: The influence of nutrition on prostate cancer

Ten years ago, the late Dr. William Fair, a surgeon at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and CAM advocate wrote, “epidemiologic and laboratory evidence increasingly demonstrate that nutritional factors, especially reduced fat intake, soy proteins, vitamin E derivatives, and selenium, may have a protective effect against prostate cancer.”

Now, Steffen Theobald, a nutritional consultant and manager at the Scientific Association for the Improvement of Patient Competence in Germany updates the role of nutrition in the development, prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer.

Continue reading A ten-year perspective: The influence of nutrition on prostate cancer →

Basil, Bee Pollen, Caffeine, Coffee, Coneflower, Creatine, Dong Quai, Echinacea, Ginger, Ginkgo, Ginseng, Goji Berries, Guarana, Kava, Obesity, Vitamins, Ylang-Ylang Oil, Yohimbine, Zinc

Seizures associated with guarana in energy drinks

Recently, 4 patients experienced seizures multiple times following heavy consumption of energy drinks. The authors proposed that energy drinks rich in caffeine, taurine, and guarana seed extract could have provoked these seizures.

Here’s what we know about guarana thanks to researchers from the University of Florida at Gainesville and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) in Amazonas, Brazil. Continue reading Seizures associated with guarana in energy drinks →