Vitamin A Deficiency News and Research

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Low vitamin D a consequence not a cause of ill health

Low vitamin D status is a marker of ill health rather than an underlying cause of disease, say the authors of a systematic review published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.

16 Dec 2013

Acid-inhibiting medications linked with increased risk for vitamin B12 deficiency

Use for 2 or more years of proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2 receptor antagonists (two types of acid-inhibiting medications) was associated with a subsequent new diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency, according to a study appearing in the December 11 issue of JAMA.

11 Dec 2013

Beta-carotene: An important and safe precursor for vitamin A

A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine study in the November 22 issue of Journal of Biological Chemistry, explains how vitamin A is generated from beta carotene, its dietary precursors. The discovery sheds new light into how beta carotene’s enzymes are utilized differently contributing to the vitamin’s production. This insight will help guide solutions for vitamin A deficiency, a global public health problem affecting more than half of all countries, according to the World Health Organization.

11 Dec 2013

Study links vitamin B12 deficiency to acid-suppressing medications

Long-term use of commonly prescribed heartburn and ulcer medications is linked to a higher risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, according to a new study published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

10 Dec 2013

Low vitamin D levels: Not a cause but a consequence of ill health

A comprehensive review of the evidence suggests that low vitamin D levels are not a cause but a consequence of ill health, casting strong doubt on the value of vitamin D supplements to protect against acute and chronic disorders such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and even death.

6 Dec 2013

Study: Diet low in vitamin D can cause free radical damage in brain

A new study led by University of Kentucky researchers suggests that a diet low in vitamin D causes damage to the brain.

2 Dec 2013

Black women with vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy more likely to deliver preterm babies

African-American and Puerto Rican women who have low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy are more likely to go into labor early and give birth to preterm babies, research led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health reveals.

31 Oct 2013

Vitamin D Total assay for use on Access 2 and UniCel DxI immunoassay systems receives CE Mark

Beckman Coulter, Inc. announces the CE Mark approval of Access 25 (OH) Vitamin D Total assay for use on the Access 2 and UniCel DxI series of immunoassay systems. Offering enhanced performance, the new assay is an important addition to the company’s bone metabolism assay menu.

23 Oct 2013

Research: Low levels of vitamin D appear to increase child's risk of anemia

Low levels of the "sunshine" vitamin D appear to increase a child's risk of anemia, according to new research led by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. The study, published online Oct. 10 in the Journal of Pediatrics, is believed to be the first one to extensively explore the link between the two conditions in children.

22 Oct 2013

Vitamin D supplements ineffective in preventing osteoporosis, finds study

Taking vitamin D supplements does not improve bone mineral density at the total hip, spine, forearm, or in the body as a whole, a large meta-analysis involving more than 4000 healthy adults published in The Lancet has found.

11 Oct 2013

Many developing countries in Asia-Pacific region face twin burdens of under and overnutrition

Asia and the Pacific's drive for food security has focused too narrowly on quantity, with a surge in obesity and still high levels of malnutrition in some countries highlighting the need for a new approach, says a new Asian Development Bank study.

5 Sep 2013

New systematic review analyzes patterns of vitamin D status worldwide

A new systematic review published in the British Journal of Nutrition, is one of the first to focus on patterns of vitamin D status worldwide and in key population subgroups, using continuous values for 25(OH)D to improve comparisons.

5 Sep 2013

Calcium and vitamin D supplements have no effect on joint symptoms in postmenopausal women

A team of investigators systematically analyzed the effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on joint symptoms in a rigorous and controlled study of postmenopausal women. They found that supplementation did not reduce the severity of joint symptoms reported by the participants.

17 Aug 2013

Researcher receives $3.52 million grant to study epicardial fat in arteries of heart

It's no secret that a diet high in fat and sugar can lead to extra fat around the waistline. But it's what the diet will do to a specific type of fat around the heart that caught the attention of a group of Creighton researchers.

16 Aug 2013

Joint symptoms in postmenopausal women not reduced by calcium and vitamin D supplements

A team of investigators systematically analyzed the effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation on joint symptoms in a rigorous and controlled study of postmenopausal women.

16 Aug 2013

Multiple sclerosis patients see "rapid expansion" of effective new treatment options

After decades of research, multiple sclerosis patients are seeing a "rapid expansion" of effective new treatment options, according to a review article in the journal Neurologic Clinics.

14 Aug 2013

Study identifies individuals who benefit from vitamin D supplementation

Studying the expression of genes that are dependent on vitamin D makes it possible to identify individuals who will benefit from vitamin D supplementation, shows a University of Eastern Finland study published recently in PLoS One.

13 Aug 2013

GSTS Pathology celebrate success of Innovation Academy event

GSTS Pathology recently hosted their first Innovation Academy event in London (28 June 2013). This inaugural scientific symposium welcomed over 100 attendees, offering participants great networking opportunities and the chance to hear presentations from a group of GSTS experts. Discussions were focused into four tracks: Child Health, Keeping People Healthy, Infectious Diseases, and Next Generation Diagnostics. On show was the innovative approach to laboratory medicine that can be found throughout the GSTS Pathology organisation.

6 Aug 2013

Quick zaps of ultraviolet light can boost vitamin D levels in mushrooms

Quick zaps of ultraviolet light can boost the vitamin D levels in mushrooms in seconds, turning the fungi into an even healthier food, according to Penn State food scientists.

5 Aug 2013

Vitamin D-deficient older individuals are more likely to struggle with everyday tasks

Chevy Chase, MD-Vitamin D-deficient older individuals are more likely to struggle with everyday tasks such as dressing or climbing stairs, according to a recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

18 Jul 2013