Healthy Anti-Aging Resources

Advanced Doses of Vitamin D Are Required To Achieve Optimal Vitamin D Status

It is currently estimated that more than 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency. Relatively small amounts of vitamin D are obtained through the diet and many lifestyle factors reduce endogenous vitamin D synthesis, therefore supplementation offers an important avenue for achieving and maintaining optimal vitamin D status.

Scientists at USANA Health Sciences and Linus Pauling Institute recently conducted a clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of moderately high daily doses of vitamin D3 on increasing circulating levels of vitamin D during winter, spring, and summer seasons.

19 healthy volunteers, most using USANA’s HealthPakTM daily dietary supplement packs, BiOmegaTM and/or Active CalciumTM supplements, were randomly divided into the treatment or control (placebo) groups. The treatment group was given a daily supplement providing 4000 IU of vitamin D3 for three months from December 2008 to March 2009. The control group received a matching placebo tablet. Both the Vitamin D3 and matching placebo tablets were manufactured at USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (Salt Lake City, USA). Blood samples were drawn at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of supplementation, to analyze circulating vitamin D levels (25-hydroxy vitamin D3).

The study found that:

* Treatment with 4000 IU/day significantly increased circulating vitamin D levels during the winter and maintained them in the optimal range above 50 mg/mL.
* Circulating vitamin D levels reached maximal levels after 4 weeks of supplementation and plateaued thereafter.
* Upon cessation of supplementation between weeks 12-16, vitamin D levels declined appreciably underscoring the need for continuous supplementation to maintain optimal levels throughout the winter and early spring.
* Supplementation of 2000 IU/day through the late spring and summer maintained vitamin D levels in the optimal range.
* At the conclusion of the study, vitamin D levels in all subjects that did NOT continue supplementation through the summer returned to the baseline values originally measured in December.

This study shows that continuous intakes of vitamin D are needed to obtain optimal circulating levels of vitamin D above 50 mg/mL throughout the entire year.

Source: Dixon B et al; 2009; USANA Clinical Research Poster; Accessed 21 Jun 2010.

http://www.usana.com/media/File/dotCom/company/science/crb/CR_Vitamin_D_Poster.pdf

New research shows that vitamin D supplementation can reverse normal age-associated bone loss in postmenopausal women, which can lead to a reduced risk of osteoporosis and other bone disorders.

Until recently, it was unknown whether improving vitamin D status (without changing calcium intake) could have a positive effect on bone turnover. New Zealand Researchers at Massey University recently measured the effect of vitamin D supplementation on markers associated with bone turnover in women known to be vitamin D deficient (<20 ng/mL).
Participants were South Asian women at least 20 years of age. The women were categorized by age and menopausal status, and then randomized to receive either 4,000 IU of vitamin D or a placebo every day for 6 months.
In the women who received vitamin D supplements, average vitamin D blood levels increased from 8.4 ng/mL to 30 ng/mL. Additionally, measured bone markers either stayed the same or decreased in postmenopausal women who received vitamin D supplements, indicating a potential reduction in bone turnover. In postmenopausal women who received placebo, markers associated with bone turnover increased. In younger, premenopausal women, no significant bone turnover change was reported for either placebo or supplementation group.
This research confirms that correcting vitamin D deficiencies in older women can suppress age-related increases in bone turnover, which also helps reduce bone resorption (the process by which bone breaks down and releases its minerals, resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone into the blood).

Source : von Hurst PR et al2010. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. EPub ahead of print, retrieved online 6 April 2010.

New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed a correlation between vitamin D levels and various stages of breast cancer development.

Vitamin D influences pathways related to cancer development, but little is currently known about vitamin D status in breast cancer survivors. Recent data taken from the Health, Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) study showed a correlation between vitamin D status and breast cancer survivors. Vitamin D concentrations from 790 female breast cancer survivors were obtained and vitamin D insufficiency was found in 597 individuals – or 75% of participants. Average vitamin D concentrations were even lower among African American and Hispanic women.

Controlling for various factors such as body mass index (BMI), race/ethnicity, geography, season, physical activity, diet, and cancer treatments showed that stage of disease independently predicted vitamin D levels.

In this group of breast cancer survivors the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was abnormally high. Based on these results, health professionals and clinicians should consider monitoring vitamin D status in breast cancer patients in addition to administering appropriate cancer treatments.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 133-139, July 2008

In a recent study, researchers examined the association between vitamin D status and physical performance. Among subjects with low vitamin D levels, physical performance and grip strength were significantly lower than that of participants who did not have reduced levels.

In addition to its role in bone health, vitamin D is thought to play a role in musculoskeletal function. In a recent study, researchers examined the association between vitamin D status and physical performance in a sample of 976 persons over the age of 65. The physical performance of the subjects was analyzed using a short physical performance battery (SPPB) and handgrip strength. The SPPB tests included walking speed, ability to stand from a seated position, and ability to maintain balance in progressively more challenging positions.

Over 28% of the women and 13% of the men had vitamin D levels low enough to be considered a deficiency. Nearly three-fourths of the women and over half of the men had vitamin D levels that were considered insufficient. Among subjects with low vitamin D levels, physical performance and grip strength were significantly lower than that of participants who did not have reduced levels. The finding remained valid after taking into consideration other factors (such as season of the year and physical activity levels).

Given the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in older populations, additional studies examining the association between vitamin D status and physical function are needed. Current vitamin D recommendations are based on its role in bone health, although emerging research indicates vitamin D may also play important roles in preservation of muscle strength and physical function, as well as potential preventative roles in conditions such as cancer.

The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 62:440-446 (2007)

A recent study among 252 women followed over 20 months investigated the impact of different types and amounts of fibre on body weight and body fat.

Across the 20 month time frame, almost 50% of the women gained weight and body fat. Among the women who did not gain weight, each gram of dietary fibre consumed on top of their usual intake contributed to a 0.25kg decrease in body weight and 0.25% decrease in body fat. Different types of fibre appeared to contribute to the changes in body weight and body fat, most likely due to the fact that eating high fibre foods helps reduce the amount of energy (kilojoules) people eat over time.

It didn’t matter whether the women were active or how much dietary fat they ate – the effect of fibre on reducing weight and body fat was the same.

Take-home message: Adding wholegrain foods, fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts can boost your daily fibre intake, which may in turn help keep your weight in check.

Source: Journal of Nutrition, March 2009

Foods provide many nutrients that may interact to modify risk for multifactorial diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a major cause of blindness among older adults in western nations and is characterized by a loss of central vision. The May 2009 issue of the journal Ophthalmology published a study showing a protective effect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD) when several nutrients are combined with a low-glycemic diet.

Researchers analyzed data from 4,003 participants in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). Information was collected on the subject’s intake of several nutrients related to eye health, including vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, lutein/zeaxanthin, and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Glycemic index was calculated for consumed food items. Photographs of the macula of the eye (taken upon enrollment) were graded for severity and type of macular degeneration.

Participants with a high overall intake of the associated nutrient group, as well as higher intakes of low-glycemic foods, had the lowest risk of early or advanced macular degeneration. When single nutrients were analyzed separately, vitamin E emerged as significantly protective against the disease.

The study is the first to analyze the combination of multiple nutrient groups and a low glycemic diet. Dr. Chiu, lead researcher on the paper and an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, also noted that “although the compound score may be a useful new tool for assessing nutrients in relation to AMD, specific dietary recommendations should be made only after our results are confirmed by clinical trials or prospective studies.”

Source: Ophthalmology. May 2009. 116:5(939-946)

Nutritional factors play a key role in normal functioning of the skin, the body’s largest organ. Recent research indicates that higher intakes of vitamin C and linoleic acid and lower intakes of fats and carbohydrates are associated with better skin-aging appearance.

Using data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I), scientists examined associations between nutrient intakes and skin aging in 4,025 women between the ages of 40 and 74 years. Clinical examinations of the skin were conducted by dermatologists. Skin-aging appearance was defined as having a wrinkled appearance, dryness associated with aging (senile dryness), and skin atrophy(shriveling or shrinking).

Higher vitamin C intakes were associated with a lower likelihood of a wrinkled appearance. Higher linoleic acid (an omega-6 essential fatty acid) intakes were associated with a lower likelihood of senile dryness and skin atrophy. A higher than average fat and carbohydrate intake also increased the likelihood of a wrinkled appearance and skin atrophy. These associations were independent of age, race, education, sunlight exposure, income, menopausal status, body mass index, supplement use, physical activity, and energy intake.

Elevated intakes of vitamin C and linoleic acid and reduced intakes of fats and carbohydrates are associated with better skin-aging appearance. Promoting healthy dietary behaviors may have added benefit for the appearance of skin (in addition to other beneficial health outcomes) in the general population.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 86, No. 4, 1225-1231, October 2007

MULTIVITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS UNRELATED TO BREAST CANCER RISK IN LARGE U.S. STUDY

A recent Harvard Medical School study followed more than 37,000 U.S. women for 10 years and found no correlation between multivitamin use and breast cancer risk.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital recently evaluated possible associations between multivitamin supplements and risk of breast cancer. At the beginning of the study, 37,920 cancer-free U.S. women aged 45 and older provided detailed information on multivitamin supplement use. Throughout an average of 10 years of follow-up, 1,171 cases of breast cancer were documented.
The use of multivitamin supplements was not associated with an overall risk of breast cancer in this large study group. High frequency of use (at least 6 times per week) and duration of supplementation (current use for at least 20 years) were not associated with an increase in risk compared to non-users. A small reduction in breast cancer risk was seen in multivitamin users who consumed 10 grams/day of alcohol or more. There was also a slight decrease in risk of estrogen receptor negative-progesterone receptor negative breast cancer among multivitamin users.
The researchers stated that there was no overall statistically significant association between multivitamin use and breast cancer, and multivitamins may reduce the risk for women consuming alcohol and in certain estrogen receptor negative cancers.

Source: Ishitani K et al. 2008. Am J Epidemiol 167(10):1197-206.