Vitamin E News and Research

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Vitamin E is a nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. Vitamin E helps prevent cell damage caused by free radicals (highly reactive chemicals). It is fat-soluble (can dissolve in fats and oils) and is found in seeds, nuts, leafy vegetables, and vegetable oils. Not enough vitamin E can result in infertility (the inability to produce children). It is being studied in the prevention and treatment of some types of cancer. Vitamin E is a type of antioxidant.

Study shows that folic acid added to flours lowers incidence of congenital neural tube deformation

Dr. Philippe De Wals of Universit' Laval's Department of Social and Preventive Medicine today publishes a study clearly indicating that the addition of folic acid to flours has led to a 46% drop in the incidence of congenital neural tube deformation (mainly anencephaly and spina bifida) in Canada. Such deformations either result in the child's death or in major health problems, including physical and learning disabilities.

13 Jul 2007

Striking north-south differences in EpiPen prescribing

A new study suggests strong variation in the occurrence of anaphylaxis between the northern and southern U.S. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can be fatal without treatment with epinephrine.

12 Jul 2007

Free fruit scheme in schools may not help that much

The free fruit scheme in schools, introduced by the UK government in 2004, may confer no long term benefit, says a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health .

12 Jul 2007

Free fruit at school - a fruitless exercise!

According to researchers a government scheme in Britain to hand out free fruit in schools has been fruitless! - as it has done nothing to encourage children to eat more healthily.

12 Jul 2007

Vitamin D deficiency remains an under-recognized problem in children

Many otherwise healthy children and adolescents have low vitamin D levels, which may put them at risk for bone diseases such as rickets.

10 Jul 2007

Balanced diet keeps asthma away

Teenagers who forego a healthy and balanced diet may have a harder time catching their breath.

10 Jul 2007

Debate on folic acid fortification

Since the institution of nationwide folic acid fortification of enriched grains in the mid 1990s, the number of infants born in the United States and Canada with neural tube defects has declined by 20 percent to 50 percent.

10 Jul 2007

Unhealthy teen diet increases asthma risk

According to a new study teenagers who have an unhealthy and unbalanced diet may be more prone to respiratory problems such as asthma.

10 Jul 2007

Global control of micronutrient deficiencies

Malnutrition is still the most serious threat to the health of the world population and the most important cause of infant mortality in the world. About one third of the population in developing countries is faced with micronutrient deficiencies, such as vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

5 Jul 2007

Alli jokes - great marketing!

GlaxoSmithKline's new diet drug, Alli, hit shelves nationwide last month.

4 Jul 2007

Calcium from food better than pills

The majority of women today are aware that calcium is essential in preventing osteoporosis, especially after the menopause.

27 Jun 2007

Link between depression and low levels of folate

In research published in the July edition of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, the York team led by Dr Simon Gilbody, concluded that there was a link between depression and low folate levels, following a review of 11 previous studies involving 15,315 participants.

27 Jun 2007

FDA cracks down on dietary supplements

It's taken a few years but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. has finally established a set of regulations to ensure good manufacturing practices for dietary supplements.

25 Jun 2007

Vitamin D deficient rickets in infants

The message about preventing vitamin D deficient rickets in children is not getting through, warn senior doctors in this week's BMJ.

23 Jun 2007

Extra vitamin A does not help mothers and children in developing countries

Giving mothers and children in developing countries twice the WHO recommended doses of vitamin A, as suggested by an international vitamin group, does not have a beneficial effect.

23 Jun 2007

WHO-based tropical disease research programme to focus on emerging diseases

The World Health Organization (WHO) based Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) has adopted a new strategy for strengthening and expanding research to prevent and control 'infectious diseases of poverty.'

22 Jun 2007

Blackcurrants the best fruit of all

Researchers in the UK say when it comes to health giving properties the blackcurrant is more nutritious than any other fruit.

20 Jun 2007

Analysis of steroids as a treatment for sudden hearing loss

Although steroids are the most widely used treatment for sudden hearing loss, little scientific evidence supports their use or that of any other therapies for this condition, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis both published in the June issue of Archives of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery.

19 Jun 2007

Researchers identify potential role for retinoic acid in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

An important finding, which could eventually lead to a new therapeutic approach for treating autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, psoriasis and others, was announced by researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI).

17 Jun 2007

Bone marrow microenvironment can contribute to blood cell disorder

Disorders of blood cells may begin in the biological environment where the cells develop, not just with the cells themselves, according to a study from researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Center (Peter Mac) in Melbourne, Australia.

17 Jun 2007