Lower vitamin D levels during pregnancy are associated with a higher risk of developing diabetes

Summary This study tested the associations between vitamin D levels and the risk of developing diabetes and insulin resistance (the diminished ability of the body to respond to the action of insulin in decreasing blood sugars) during pregnancy. Blood samples were taken from 655 participants in the first (6-13 weeks) and second (24-28 weeks) trimester.…

Vitamin D supplementation improves pancreatic function in adults at risk of diabetes

Summary This study determined whether vitamin D supplementation improved the function of the pancreas in adults at high risk of diabetes. The pancreasis important for the insulin production and the regulation of blood sugar levels. 92 adults received either vitamin D or calcium for 16 weeks. The researchers found that participants receiving vitamin D supplements…

Turmeric and curcumin are beneficial in preventing diabetes-induced oxidative stress

Summary This study analyzed the protective effect of turmeric and curcumin (the plant turmeric is a source of curcumin) on oxidative stress, i.e. an imbalance between free radicals production and the body’s antioxidant defenses. Oxidative stress is associated with diabetes complications. Diabetic rats were fed either only their normal diet or a diet containing curcumin…

Anti-diabetic potential of resveratrol

Summary This study investigated the effects of resveratrol in regulating hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), pro-inflammatory factors, insulin secretion and antioxidant defenses in diabetes. Oral resveratrol was administered (5 mg/kg body weight) to diabetic rats for 30 days. The results of the present investigation demonstrated that resveratrol exhibited significant anti-diabetic effects by attenuating hyperglycemia, enhancing…

Vitamin E reduces cancer risk

Summary This study evaluated the beneficial effects of vitamin E in head and neck cancers. The findings suggest that a sufficient intake of vitamin E reduces the risk of cancer. Vitamin E was also found to protect against the toxic effects of bleomycin, a drug used in conventional cancer treatment. Further details can be found…

Calcium supplementation lowering effects on blood pressure

Summary Normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women participated in a study to determine the effects of calcium supplementation on blood pressure. Subjects were randomly assigned to control or supplemented groups (1000 mg Ca/d). Blood pressure and serum total and ionic calcium were measured during the 20-wk supplementation period. Calcium supplementation had a significant lowering effect on…

Benefits of coenzyme Q 10 in hypertensive patients

Summary This study was undertaken to clarify the mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Ten patients with essential arterial hypertension were treated with oral CoQ10 50 mg twice daily for ten weeks. Plasma CoQ10, serum total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, serum sodium and potassium, plasma clinostatic and orthostatic renin activity, urinary…

Magnesium administration reduces risk for arrhythmias in cardiac surgery

Summary An irregular heartbeat or “arrhythmia” is an abnormal heart rhythm, caused by problems with the heart’s electrical conduction system. Arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or with a skipping rhythm. Arrhythmias can be caused by a heart attack or other (organic) damage to the heart muscle. The most…

Low selenium intake increases cancer risk

Summary Knekt P, Aromaa A, Maatela J, Alfthan G, Aaran RK, Hakama M, Hakulinen T, Peto R, Teppo L. Serum selenium and subsequent risk of cancer among Finnish men and women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1990 May 16;82(10):864-8. References P Knekt, A Aromaa, J Maatela, G Alfthan, R K Aaran, M Hakama, T Hakulinen, R Peto, L Teppo   Link to article >>

Omega-3 fatty acids have blood pressure-lowering effect

Summary Studies of whether polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil–in particular, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids–lower blood pressure have varied in design and results. We conducted a population-based, randomized, 10-week dietary-supplementation trial in which the effects of 6 g per day of 85 percent eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were compared with those of 6 g per…

Vitamin E and other antioxidants protect against heart disease

Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…

Vitamin C reduces mortality from cardiovascular diseases

Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…

Health benefits of micronutrients

Summary This review evaluated studies on the role of natural compounds and micronutrients in cancer prevention. Carotenoids (i.e. beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A), vitamins C and E, selenium and other compounds derived from plants (dithiolthiones, glucosinolates, indols, isothiocyanates, flavonoids, phenols, protease inhibitors, plant sterols, allium compounds and limonene) were found to have anti-cancer effects.…

Magnesium decreases frequency of cardiac arrhythmias after bypass surgery

Summary Coronary bypass operation. A coronary bypass operation becomes necessary if one or more coronary arteries have developed severe atherosclerotic deposits that threaten to clog the arteries and cause a heart attack. In order to avoid a heart attack, a coronary bypass operation is frequently performed. Surgically, a bypass is constructed around the atherosclerotic deposits…

Coenzyme Q10 can replace conventional pharmaceutical therapies in patients with hypertension

Summary A total of 109 patients with symptomatic essential hypertension presenting to a private cardiology practice were observed after the addition of CoQ10 (average dose, 225 mg/day by mouth) to their existing antihypertensive drug regimen. In 80 per cent of patients, the diagnosis of essential hypertension was established for a year or more prior to…

Vitamin C levels associated with mortality from heart attacks

Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…

Low vitamin D levels increase the risk of heart attack

Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…

Pantethine, a derivative of vitamin B5, helps in normalizing various lipid metabolism disorders

Summary Lipid disorders are characterized by imbalanced levels of fatty substances (i.e. cholesterol and triglycerides) in the bloodstream. These lipids are carried in the blood stream in form of microscopic round particles, called lipoproteins. Thus, these conditions are also called lipoprotein disorders. There are, generally speaking, two types of cholesterol-transporting lipoproteins: a) the “bad cholesterol”…

Vitamin C has a positive effect on HDL-cholesterol levels

Summary Lipid disorders are characterized by imbalanced levels of fatty substances (i.e. cholesterol and triglycerides) in the bloodstream. These lipids are carried in the blood stream in form of microscopic round particles, called lipoproteins. Thus, these conditions are also called lipoprotein disorders. There are, generally speaking, two types of cholesterol-transporting lipoproteins: a) the “bad cholesterol”…

Coenzyme Q10 increases physical performance in patients with angina pectoris (chest tightness)

Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…

Vitamin C promotes transformation of cholesterol into bile acid

Summary Lipid disorders are characterized by imbalanced levels of fatty substances (i.e. cholesterol and triglycerides) in the bloodstream. These lipids are carried in the blood stream in form of microscopic round particles, called lipoproteins. Thus, these conditions are also called lipoprotein disorders. There are, generally speaking, two types of cholesterol-transporting lipoproteins: a) the “bad cholesterol”…