Researchers Develop Wearable Sensor to Monitor Vitamin Levels Through Sweat

 How soon will your competent? doctor get this installed on you to verify correct levels? Oh NO, your doctor doesn't know about it!

Do you prefer your doctor, hospital and board of director's incompetence NOT KNOWING? OR NOT DOING? Your choice; let them be incompetent or demand action!

Researchers Develop Wearable Sensor to Monitor Vitamin Levels Through Sweat

5 Vitamins That Remove Plaque From Arteries

 I have no idea on this. Ask your competent? doctor if these others are better and EXACTS AMOUNTS TO USE.

plaque removal (6 posts to July 2017)

5 Vitamins That Remove Plaque From Arteries

Vitamins can make your brain 3 years younger, study says

But where do we get genuine vitamins?  And this still leaves your doctor to come up with interventions to recover the extra two years.

The supplements in the US have zero guarantee of purity or efficacy due to the fucking stupidity of the US Congress passing the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).

Your doctor should already have interventions to recover your lost 5 cognitive years from your stroke  if they are competent at all.

 

Vitamins can make your brain 3 years younger, study says

Peer-reviewed scientific study tracked 3,500 seniors over a three-year span

Regular vitamins and walks can slow or even reverse the effects of cognitive decline. Getty Images/iStockphoto

If you’re getting more forgetful as you age — and who among us isn’t? — there are two things you can do about it this Memorial Day weekend.

Take a multivitamin. And go for a 30-minute walk.

Then keep both of those practices up.

So reports a peer-reviewed scientific study out last week, which found that regular vitamins and walks can slow or even reverse the effects of cognitive decline on the aging brain.

The average effect on the aging brain of a daily multivitamin is the equivalent of being a full three years younger, according to a study conducted by researchers at Columbia and Harvard medical schools and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. “We estimate that the effect of the multivitamin intervention improved memory performance above placebo by the equivalent of 3.1 years of age-related memory change,” the researchers report in the latest issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

This was based on a study of more than 3,500 senior citizens over three years. The participants were randomly assigned either to take a Centrum Silver multivitamin — Centrum is a Pfizer-owned PFE, -1.34% brand — or a placebo every day. They were subjected to various standard brain tests every year, such as tests requiring people to recall as many words as possible from a random list.

Researchers say the benefits were most pronounced in those with underlying heart disease.

The benefits of the daily vitamin showed up as early as the first annual exam, and persisted in the years afterward, the researchers said.

These findings confirm similar findings in a parallel study published last year, which found that a daily multivitamin benefited the whole brain, not just the memory. That study, too, found the effects were most pronounced among those with underlying heart disease.

Meanwhile another independent study, conducted at the University of Maryland, found that walking for 30 minutes three or four times a week also has a significant beneficial effect on the brains of older people.

The study involved 33 participants aged between the ages of 71 and 85 who exercised on a treadmill under supervision over a 12-week span. Verbal memory tests and MRI scans showed brain and memory benefits, even that quickly.

There are so many scientific studies coming out these days — on age-related cognitive decline and more generally — that it’s easy to become inured to them. But cognitive impairment and full-blown dementia are already pandemics way more extensive than COVID-19 even at its most acute stage. Alzheimer’s is currently killing over 6 million Americans (six times as many Americans as died with the coronavirus-borne disease), and the numbers are rising.

And scientific breakthroughs in terms of medical treatments, let alone cures, are scarce and expensive.

So it’s good news that there are things we can do on our own. These include not just taking vitamins and walking but eating the right foods, avoiding the wrong ones, studying, doing crosswords and meditating.

We can hardly do them all at once. But anything is better than nothing.

Next challenge for those of us getting older? Remember to take the multivitamin every morning. And remembering where we put them.

Vitamin or Mineral Supplements Don’t Prevent Dementia

Well shit, What does? Stroke survivors need answers now.  You can't make that determination from the studies you went thru. The supplements in the US have zero guarantee of purity due to the fucking stupidity of the US Congress passing the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).  I guess I'll just load up on coffee and champagne.

Vitamin or Mineral Supplements Don’t Prevent Dementia

 

This is the research it is based upon;

Vitamin and mineral supplementation for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in mid and late life

 

Get The Boost Your Body Needs From New Vitamin-Infused Coffee Pods

Ask your doctor how helpful this would be for your recovery. Coffee has 136 posts  already that your doctor better know about. What vitamins are in your stroke recovery protocol? Would require a Keurig machine in the hospital, and that way I could have gotten multiple cups every day, practicing walking practice to get there and to the bathroom. Your OT should be clamoring at this opportunity to get you real world living practice, using your affected hand to put the cups into the machine.
http://read.yourfamilyprotection.com/new-vitamin-infused-coffee-surprises-many-ah/?

Coffee has become a driving force behind our ability to wake up and perform throughout the day. A Harvard study found that 54% of Americans 18 and over drink at least one cup of coffee per day.

That's a lot of people looking for an extra energy boost as they head off to work, school, and to participate in other daily activities.

Choose Your Flavor Now

A study published by the journal Circulation also found that coffee drinkers are far less likely to experience  "premature death" and have a vastly decreased chance of suffering from a stroke or type II diabetes.

The health benefits of coffee have been studied in depth and researchers often find many health benefits to drinking at least one cup every day. In many studies, researchers have found that 2, 3, and even 4 cups of coffee can have positive outcomes on our health and longevity.

Until now, the health advantages of drinking coffee were left to the natural roasted product and VitaCup is flipping that strategy on its head. The new company has created Keurig-friendly pods that inject a healthy dose of vitamins and antioxidants into every single cup.

Every helping of VitaCup comes with the promise that you'll enjoy fair trade arabica coffee sourced from only the very best coffee bean producers in South America.

Whether you're a coffee snob with discerning taste or you want a sustainable BPA-free coffee pod that's 100% recyclable, you'll find what you're looking for with VitaCup.

Sustainable Coffee With The Flavor To Match

Advertisement

Developed To Maintain Vitamin Effects

The nutritional value information located on every order of VitaCup is accurate after brewing. The company wanted to ensure that heating its product wouldn't cause a loss of nutrients.

If you avoid reheating your coffee, the vitamins listed on each package will be delivered upon drinking.

Sponsored by VitaCup

A Healthy Dose Of Vitamins And Antioxidants

A Growing List Of Products With A Proven Track Record

VitaCup has already delivered more than 100,000 pods to customers around the world. The company offers a variety of flavor options. Non-coffee drinkers can also enjoy a steaming hot and healthy cup of green tea.

With an unlimited number of coffee profiles to choose from on the open market, it was important for the company to provide something for every coffee drinker's palette.

6 Vitamins And Minerals That Boost Brain Power

You can take these with a grain of salt since they don't point directly to any amounts. Once again you are completely on your own to decipher how much to take and when. A complete and total failure of our medical system. Conscience laundering once again, suggest a solution but never deliver on what specifically needs to be done.
http://www.medicaldaily.com/6-vitamins-and-minerals-boost-brain-power-396091

The human brain is a complex organ requiring many different nutrients to function properly. Nutritional deficiencies have been shown to contribute to the development of psychiatric disorders, age-related cognitive decline, and developmental disorders. On the other hand, both human and animal studies show that increased intake of brain-supporting nutrients improve various aspects of cognitive functioning such as learning and memory. For all these reasons, it is important that you ensure your brain is getting the right kind of nutrients. Here are 6 of the essential vitamins and minerals for a healthy brain.

1.Thiamine (B1)

Vitamins from the B group are considered to be particularly important for good brain health. Thiamin is one of the many B vitamins that is found abundantly in the brain and nerve tissue. It plays a role in the conduction of nerve impulses, according to an article published in The Journal of International Medical Research. Furthermore, a severe lack of this vitamin can lead to Korsakoff syndrome, a chronic memory disorder most often seen in alcoholics and those suffering from diseases such as AIDS.

2. Folic acid (B9)

Folic acid refers to different compounds known as folates, and can be obtained from different foods such as spinach, asparagus, and lentils. Half of the body’s stores of this vitamin are in the liver, which is why liver damage can lead to a deficiency of several key B vitamins. Folic acid also plays an important role in the synthesis of amino acids and the formation of nerve tissue. The metabolism of folic acid is highly dependent on the supply of other vitamins of the B group. A deficiency of this and other B-vitamins is associated with developmental problems in children. Furthermore, a study on aged rats found how to improve memory with folic acid supplements for 8 weeks.

3. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

The highest concentration of this essential vitamin is found in the brain, especially in the pituitary gland (400mg/kg). You can get high amounts of this powerful antioxidant from citrus fruits and green vegetables. Vitamin C is important in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter dopamine, but it also protects the brain against oxidative stress. Because this vitamin cannot be stored in the body, it is important you get adequate daily amounts from food, around 90mg daily, according to Mayo Clinic.

4. Calcium

As far as minerals are concerned, Calcium is the number one essential mineral for healthy brain functioning. It plays a central role as a nerve cell messenger. It also regulates neurotransmission and controls nerve excitability. Low levels of this essential mineral are usually rare as the body has a large reservoir of this mineral in the bones. However, some drugs can deplete the levels of this mineral which can lead to various health problems.

5. Magnesium

Magnesium is important for the conversion of many B vitamins into their active form. In other words, taking any vitamin supplement on its own would be futile without magnesium and other minerals as their interplay is what makes the brain work. One study found that administration of magnesium supplements to aged rats improved working and long-term memory. The magnesium in cell membranes is also important for the transmission of impulses. Furthermore, magnesium and calcium need to be both in ideal amounts in the body to prevent excitability of the nervous system. A deficiency of either one can lead to neurological problems.

6. Zinc

Zinc is found in high amounts in certain so-called Zinc-containing neurons which are found exclusively in the forebrain. Scientists don’t know what role zinc plays in the maintenance of brain health, but its deficiency is associated with different neurological and psychological impairments. For instance, alterations in zinc homeostasis were found in Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer sufferers. Foods high in zinc are pumpkin seeds, beef, and shrimp, but you can also find this mineral in some top memory pills available on the market.

Conclusion

Our brain is an organ whose complex functioning largely depends on a great number of micronutrients. Studies show that vitamins of the B group, vitamin C, and minerals are important for normal brain functioning. Furthermore, a deficiency of any of these vitamins can lead to developmental problems in children and psychiatric illnesses in adults. Getting your daily dose of these essential micronutrients is important if you wish to preserve your brain health and mental agility.

References:

1. http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/vitamins-fight-alzheimers.html
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4011065/
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10721903

Author Bio:

Ella James is a contributing writer for Medical Daily, and an aspiring author who is pursuing a Health Services Administration degree from St. Petersburg College. She is also an active contributor to Consumer Health Digest, which is a leading Health News site. In recent years, she had the opportunity to review Geniux. Get connected with her on Facebook and Twitter.

9 Vitamins and Minerals That Fight Inflammation in the Body

Not sure I really trust this, no references and a reference to the quackery of detoxing.
http://www.reinventingaging.org/general-health/9-vitamins-and-minerals-that-fight-inflammation-in-the-body/?utm_source=Yahoo%20Native%20-%209%20Vitamins%20and%20Minerals%20That%20Fight%20Inflammation

1. Magnesium
2. Coenzyme Q10
3. Vitamin E
4. Glutathione
5. Vitamin K   This is contraindicated if on warfarin.
6. Vitamin B
7. Vitamin D 
8. Vitamin A
9. Vitamin C 

The role of vitamin supplementation in the prevention of cardiovascular disease events

Have your doctor review this and see whether you can reduce the cost of your expensive pee. Mine is pretty expensive and I don't remember why I started most of them.
http://www.mdlinx.com/internal-medicine/newsl-article.cfm/5298943/ZZF307965849E94474BB34FC062CEC0F93/?

► Click here to access Full Text, PubMed, Publisher and related articles..

Clinical Cardiology, 05/30/2014  Review Article

Desai CK, et al. – The purpose of this study was to review the currently available literature for vitamin supplementation with respect to prevention of cardiovascular disease. They revealed unfortunately, the current evidence suggests no benefit exists with vitamin supplementation in the general US population. They also point out that further research is needed to evaluate whether there are specific populations that might benefit from vitamin supplementation.

• The production, sale, and consumption of multiple vitamins is a multibillion–dollar industry.
• Most Americans take some form of supplement ostensibly for prevention of cardiovascular disease.
• It has been claimed that vitamin A retards atherogenesis.
• Vitamin C is an antioxidant and is thought to possibly decrease free radical–induced endothelial injury, which can lead to atherosclerotic plaque formation.
• Vitamin E has been extensively studied for its possible effects on platelet function as well as inhibition of foam–cell formation.
• Low levels of vitamin D have been thought to negatively impact myocardial structure and increase the risk for cardiovascular events.
• Increased intake of vitamin B6, B12, and folate has been associated with reduction of homocysteine levels; elevated homocysteine blood levels have been associated with the occurrence of stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular death.

Peeing money down the toilet

I'm sure you've read the articles this week about supplement ineffectiveness.

Enough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

How the vitamin industrial complex swindled America

No Good Data For or Against Taking Vitamins: Experts

I'll have to think about this. I had good reasons for starting all these but I have no idea what they are anymore.
Mine currently are:
C,
D,
E,
B complex,
Melatonin,
Green tea,
Colostrum,
Fish oil,
Tumeric,
Garlic,
Aspirin

Forget about fish oil and multivitamins for secondary prevention of CV events

something for your doctor to weigh in on.
http://blogs.theheart.org/private-practice/2012/11/7/forget-about-fish-oil-and-multivitamins-for-secondary-prevention-of-cv-events?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BlogsTheheartorg+%28Blogs+%40+theheart.orgENGLiSH%29
There seems to be hope on the horizon for secondary prevention—as shown by promising results with colchicine and PCSK9 here in Los Angeles—but it's time to ditch your fish oil and multivitamins.
video at the link.

Study: Daily Multivitamins Don’t Cut Risk Of Heart Attack Or Stroke

So unless you are taking them for another reason, you can reduce the cost of your pee. But note that these people were already healthy. So ask your doctor for their opinion.
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/11/11/study-daily-multivitamins-dont-cut-risk-of-heart-attack-or-stroke/
Daily multivitamins don’t cut the risk of heart attack or stroke, and a new study finds that many take them as a “quick fix” crutch.
The study followed more than 14,500 men for over a decade, and looked at whether taking the common multivitamin – Pfizer Inc.’s Centrum Silver – can prevent disease in comparison to taking a placebo or a fake vitamin. In addition to cancer and heart disease, researchers also looked at whether multivitamin use affected cognitive decline and eye disease.
More than half of Americans take a vitamin or supplement on a regular basis, and about a third take a daily multivitamin.
“Many people take vitamins as a crutch,” Howard Sesso, one of the authors of the study and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, told the Wall Street Journal. “There’s no substitute for a heart-healthy diet and exercise.”

However, there was a small reduction in cancer risk, according to results from the study released in October.
“One thing worth noting is these physicians were quite healthy,” Dr. Sesso added. “A lot of them exercised and most had pretty good diets”—which make it harder to measure the added benefit of a multivitamin.

They didn't link to the specific study so have your doctor find that. 

Neurocognitive effects of multivitamin supplementation on the steady state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) measure of brain activity in elderly women

We as survivors will need better cognition in order to direct our neurogenesis and neuroplasticity efforts. Get your researcher involved in testing this in survivors. You do want to get Smarter After Stroke, don't you? I couldn't resist Peter.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003193841200282X

Abstract

Objective

Growing evidence suggests that dietary supplementation with selected micronutrients and nutraceuticals may have the potential to improve cognition in older adults. Fewer studies have investigated the effects of these substances on brain activity.

Methods

This study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, conducted to explore the effects of 16 weeks supplementation with a combined multivitamin, mineral and herbal formula on the steady state visually evoked potential (SSVEP) measure of brain electrical activity. Participants were elderly women aged between 64 and 79 years, with subjective memory complaints. Baseline and post-treatment SSVEP data was obtained for 22 participants in the multivitamin group and 19 in the placebo group. A spatial working memory delayed response task (DRT) was performed during the recording of the SSVEP.

Results

The results revealed that when compared to placebo, multivitamin supplementation delayed SSVEP latency during retrieval, interpreted as an increase in inhibitory neural processes. Behavioural performance on the DRT was not improved by the multivitamin, however improved performance accuracy was associated with increased midline central SSVEP latency. There were no multivitamin-related effects on SSVEP amplitude.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that in the elderly, multivitamin supplementation may enhance neural efficiency during memory retrieval.

---

Highlights

► The SSVEP was examined before and after 16 weeks multivitamin or placebo treatment. ► The multivitamin increased SSVEP latency during spatial working memory performance. ► Increased latency was interpreted as an increase in inhibitory neural processes. ► Multivitamin supplementation may influence cognition by enhancing neural efficiency.

Lack Of Sun May Increase Stroke Risk

Cause or just a correlation?

Experts: Vitamin D May Explain The Association

http://www.koat.com/health/30352727/detail.html
People who live in areas with the least amount of sunlight may have a greater risk for stroke, according to findings presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in New Orleans this week.Strokes occur when blood and oxygen is cut off from the brain due to a blood clot or a burst blood vessel. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the number one cause of disability, according to the American Stroke Association.What's unique about this study, explained professor Leslie A. McClure, a biostatistician from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is that her team used NASA satellite and ground monitor data to determine sunlight and temperature exposure and how it corresponded with the stroke risk of study participants.When the different factors were compared, McClure said they found that people who had less than the midpoint level of sun exposure were at 60% increased risk for stroke. The study also confirmed previous findings that both hot and cold temperature exposure is associated with higher stroke incidence.The UAB researchers used data from the REGARDS (REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) project, a long term study that includes more than 30,000 Caucasian and African American participants, age 45 and older. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Vitamin D: Too Much May Erase Heart Benefit

Two earlier posts on Vitamin D are here; read them all and talk to your doctor.
http://oc1dean.blogspot.com/2011/12/vitamin-d-fails-again-to-affect-cv.html
http://oc1dean.blogspot.com/2011/11/excessive-amounts-of-vitamin-d-linked.html
The latest one here:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Prevention/30514?utm_source=cardiodaily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=aha&utm_campaign=01-05-12&eun=gd3r&userid=424561&email=oc1dean@yahoo.com&mu_id=

Action Points

---

• Note that prior studies assessing the relationship between vitamin D status and markers of inflammation have yielded inconsistent results.
  



• Point out that this study found a significant inverse relationship between CRP and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels less than 21 ng/mL.
  

Low levels of vitamin D may confer a cardiovascular benefit, but too much vitamin D may have the opposite effect, according to a large cross-sectional study.

The critical threshold appears to be a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of 21 ng/mL -- more than that level increases C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker for cardiovascular disease, but lower serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D lower CRP levels, reported Muhammad Amer, MD, and Rehan Qayyum, MD, MHS, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Their findings were published online in the American Journal of Cardiology.

A multivariate analysis that tracked 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations as well as CRP in more than 15,000 healthy adults revealed that above the threshold for benefit, CRP increased with each 10-ng/mL increase in 25-hydroxyvitamin D.

In a univariate analysis, CRP levels decreased as levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D increased up to the median of 21 ng/mL.

The authors analyzed data from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Researchers combined three two-year cycles of continuous NHANES surveys from 2001 to 2006.

The mean age of participants was 46, and the median serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and CRP levels were 21 ng/mL and 0.21 mg/dL, respectively. The proportion of men to women was close, 48% versus 52%, with no significant difference in levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D between the two groups.

Whites had significantly higher baseline levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D than nonwhites.

Significantly more people with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m² had lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels at baseline (41% versus 25%, P<0.0001); the same was true for smokers (22% versus 18%, P=0.004).

However, the mean total cholesterol was significantly higher for those with higher levels of vitamin D at baseline (201.6 versus 198.6 mg/dL, P=0.001).

"From our results, it appears that vitamin D supplementation among asymptomatic subjects with baseline vitamin D values of greater than 21 ng/mL might have no additional effects on systemic inflammation, as measured by changes in the serum CRP levels," Amer and Qayyum concluded.

Researchers admitted they could not determine a temporal relation between 25-hydroxyvitamin D and CRP. Another limitation was the inability to adjust for geographic location or time of year.

Good Nutrition Keeps Brain in Shape

Eat healthy
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/AlzheimersDisease/30453?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&email=oc1dean@yahoo.com&eun=g424561d0r&userid=424561&mu_id=
One paragraph here, rest at the link.

• High vitamin B, C, D, and E levels correlated with higher total cerebral volume relative to intracranial volume, suggesting less brain atrophy (P=0.018)
• High trans fat levels linked to substantially lower total cerebral volume relative to intracranial volume (P=0.0002)
• High marine omega-3 fatty acid levels were associated with less white matter hyperintensity lesion volume relative to total cerebral volume (P=0.03), though attenuated to nonsignificance with further adjustment for hypertension and depression

Notably, the differences on MRI did not appear to explain the association of the vitamin levels with cognition in an exploratory analysis.

"Cognitive benefit gained by a plasma profile high in antioxidants C and E, B vitamins, and vitamin D may partially operate on the neurobiology that governs rate of total brain atrophy (e.g., Alzheimer type pathology), whereas the effects of the marine omega-3s may be mediated through more vascular mechanisms," Bowman's group concluded.

JAMA Commentary Contends Vitamin Therapy Can Still Reduce Stroke

Ok, lets quit arguing and come to a consensus, lives are at stake.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/239580.php
A commentary by Dr. David Spence of The University of Western Ontario and Dr. Meir Stampfer of the Harvard School of Public Health in today's Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) argues that vitamin therapy still has a role to play in reducing stroke.

Vitamin B therapy was once widely used to lower homocysteine levels. Too much of this amino acid in the bloodstream was linked to increased risk of stroke and heart attack. But several randomized trials found lowering homocysteine levels with B vitamins did not result in a cardiovascular benefit. And a study by Dr. Spence, a scientist with the Robarts Research Institute at Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, found Vitamin B therapy actually increased cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Dr. Spence says this commentary provides insights that overturn the widespread belief that "homocysteine is dead." He says two key issues have been overlooked in the interpretation of the clinical trials: the key role of vitamin B12, and the newly recognized role of renal failure.

"It is now clear that the large trials showing no benefit of vitamin therapy obscured the benefit of vitamin therapy because they lumped together patients with renal failure and those with good renal function. The vitamins are harmful in renal failure, and beneficial in patients with good renal function, and they cancel each other out," says Dr. Spence, the author of "How to Prevent Your Stroke." The authors also contend most of the trials did not use a high enough dose of vitamin B12.

Vitamin D fails again to affect CV mortality

And this is one of my many vitamins I take. Should I stop and save my money?
http://www.theheart.org/article/1327841.do?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=20111215_EN_Heartwire
A new British study is the latest in a long line of research that has failed to find any impact of vitamin D on cardiovascular-disease mortality [1]. The results also showed no benefit of vitamin D on cancer incidence or mortality, say Dr Alison Avenell (University of Aberdeen, Scotland) et al.

"We don't have the evidence yet to say that this dose of vitamin D can prevent deaths from heart disease or cancer," Avenell told heartwire. She and her colleagues report the long-term follow-up from the placebo-controlled Randomised Evaluation of Calcium or Vitamin D (RECORD) trial online November 23, 2011 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Vitamin D has become somewhat of a panacea lately, following the failure of many other vitamins to have any impact on CVD morbidity or mortality, with many patients taking vitamin-D supplements and/or doctors prescribing it, without any real evidence of benefit. One expert has previously told heartwire the situation resembles "a massive uncontrolled experiment."

Avenell agrees with other physicians in the field that the results of large, ongoing trials are needed before any definitive recommendation can be made regarding vitamin-D supplementation. One is the 20 000-patient US Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL) study, results of which won't be available until 2016 or 2017, and the second is the UK Vitamin D and Longevity (VIDAL) trial, which is currently enrolling 1600 patients but plans, in the long run, to recruit as many patients as VITAL, says Avenell.

RECORD adds to body of evidence on vitamin D: No benefit on CV mortality

The RECORD study was conducted in over 5000 people aged 70 or older with a previous low-risk fracture, 85% of whom were women. Participants were randomly allocated into one of four groups: daily vitamin D3 (800 IU), calcium carbonate (1000 mg), both, or placebo for 24 to 62 months, with a follow-up of three years after intervention. The main outcome measures were all-cause mortality, vascular-disease mortality, cancer mortality, and cancer incidence.

Daily vitamin-D supplementation did not significantly affect all-cause and vascular-disease mortality or cancer incidence and mortality in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis.

Supplementation with calcium also had no significant effects, in contrast to a systematic review published in 2010, which included earlier data from RECORD that showed an increased risk of MI with calcium, says Avenell.

In a post hoc analysis adjusting for compliance, thus with fewer participants, trends for reduced mortality with vitamin D and increased mortality with calcium "were accentuated, although the results remain nonsignificant," she and her colleagues say.

Hazard ratio for mortality, vascular-disease mortality, and cancer mortality and incidence for vitamin D and calcium, compared with placebo

Vitamin, Diet Link to Stroke Risk Assessed

I'm sure most of you are like me and take a bunch of vitamins/supplements, then read this and talk to your doctor.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Strokes/30188?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DailyHeadlines&utm_source=WC&eun=g424561d0r&userid=424561&email=oc1dean@yahoo.com&mu_id
There's little that individual vitamins and nutrients can do to prevent stroke, but overall healthier diets may lower the risk, an Australian researcher found.In a review, neither antioxidant vitamins nor B-vitamins were associated with stroke prevention, but a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, did appear to diminish risk, Graeme Hankey, MD, of Royal Perth Hospital in Australia, reported in The Lancet."The overall quality of an individual's diet and balance between energy intake and expenditure seem to be more important determinants of stroke risk than individual nutrients and foods," he wrote.Hankey reviewed the literature on individual vitamins, nutrients, foods, and overall diets and their effects on stroke risk.

Action Points
Neither antioxidant vitamins nor B-vitamins were associated with stroke prevention, but a healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, did appear to diminish risk.
Two popular healthy diets -- the DASH diet (which focuses on reducing hypertension) and the Mediterranean diet -- have been shown to reduce stroke risk, and the latter has also been shown to diminish heart disease and death.
Vitamins & Minerals
Randomized trials have shown that beta-carotene, the biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, won't prevent stroke; in fact, it appears to up the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular death.
Similarly, large randomized controlled trials have shown that vitamins C and E won't prevent stroke, either, Hankey reported, adding that vitamin E may even increase the risk of death.
Calcium could also increase the risk of stroke, and trials have shown that it may increase the risk of heart attack by 31%.
While B-vitamins reduce stroke risk, he found, in places with low folate intake, treating deficiency may lower stroke risk. Similarly, vitamin D deficiency is also associated with a higher stroke risk, as well as other related factors such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
The relationship between stroke risk and sodium and potassium intake is a bit clearer; high salt intake -- about 5 g per day -- has been associated with a 23% increased risk of stroke in observational studies, and also carries clear heart disease risk, Hankey said.
At the same time, upping potassium intake could diminish risk, he reported. Studies have shown a 21% lower risk of stroke with a higher intake of the mineral, and the benefits may come through its ability to help lower blood pressure.
Macronutrients
Patients who eat a lot of fat overall don't appear to be at a heightened risk of stroke, Hankey reported. In fact, a high intake of the vilified trans- or saturated fats doesn't appear to up the risk.
But polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids from marine life have been shown to reduce the risk of heart events and death, and those found in plants have been shown to diminish stroke risk.
Eating lots of carbohydrates has been associated with other poor outcomes that could be related to stroke risk, such as higher blood sugar levels and increased body weight, but high fiber intake appears to lower risk factors such as blood pressure and cholesterol.
Hankey added that there are no ties between protein and stroke.
Foods
When it comes to specific foods, a few have been repeatedly linked with a lower risk of stroke, such as chocolate, coffee, and tea.
Cocoa, for instance, may be protective via its antihypertensive or anti-inflammatory properties, Hankey wrote.
One major stroke risk trial, INTERSTROKE, found that greater intakes of fish and fruit were each associated with a lower risk of stroke, while a handful of observational studies have shown that eating too much meat may up the risk of ischemic stroke.
It's not clear, however, whether the type of meat, be it red or processed, for instance, has a specific effect on stroke risk, he added.
Finally, while not directly related to stroke risk, sugary drinks have been linked with several other risk factors, including adiposity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. But whole grains, on the other hand, can protect against heart events.
Diets
There have been some conflicting results as to whether a "healthy" diet can diminish stroke risk -- depending on how that diet is defined, Hankey wrote.
The Women's Health Study, which defined a healthy diet as one with high fiber, folate, and omega-3 intake paired with low consumption of bad fats, was associated with a higher risk of stroke over 10 years, but the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals' Follow-Up found that a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber and low in fat and red meat was associated with a lower risk of stroke.
Yet other studies have shown that unhealthy "Western" diets are clearly associated with an increased risk of stroke, Hankey reported.
Two popular healthy diets -- the DASH diet (which focuses on reducing hypertension) and the Mediterranean diet -- have been shown to reduce stroke risk, and the latter has also been shown to diminish heart disease and death.
Malnutrition
Though overnutrition has clearly been associated with an increased risk of stroke -- likely through its effects on obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes -- poor nutrition can also play a role in risk, Hankey wrote.
Observational studies have suggested that malnutrition in the first year of a woman's life may ultimately be associated with a greater risk of stroke in her offspring, and malnutrition in childhood can up the risk of stroke later in life as well.
Hankey noted that findings of the many studies on stroke risk are diverse because the majority of them are epidemiological and subject to limitations.
Thus, he called for further research to improve the quality of evidence relating to the association of nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns with stroke risk.

Excessive Amounts Of Vitamin D Linked To Onset Of Atrial Fibrillation

Be careful out there. 

Excessive Amounts Of Vitamin D Linked To Onset Of Atrial Fibrillation

While previous studies have linked vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, new research at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute shows that too much vitamin D can lead to the onset of a dangerous heart condition known as atrial fibrillation.

Researchers at Intermountain Medical Center, the flagship facility for the Intermountain Healthcare system, studied more than 132,000 patients and found the risk of developing atrial fibrillation was two and a half times greater in those with excess levels of vitamin D compared to patients with normal levels.

Results of the study were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Fla.

Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart's upper chambers quiver instead of beating rhythmically, which can cause blood to pool and clot. Atrial fibrillation has been linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart failure, heart attack, dementia and even Alzheimer's disease.

T. Jared Bunch, MD, a heart rhythm specialist at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute and lead investigator on the study, says the findings are significant because so many Americans use vitamin supplements to promote their health.

"There are both benefits and harm to taking vitamin supplements of all kinds," says Dr. Bunch. "Our goal is to determine a safe dose and usage range so patients can understand what amount is healthy, and what amount may be toxic."

To determine if there is a correlation between too much vitamin D and increased heart risk, Dr. Bunch and his colleagues examined blood tests from 132,000 patients in the Intermountain Healthcare database at Intermountain Medical Center.

Patients did not have any known history of atrial fibrillation, and all had previously received a vitamin D assessment as part of their routine care. Patients were then placed into categories to compare levels of vitamin D: low (less than 20 nanograms per decilter), low/normal (21-40 ng/dl), normal (41-80 ng/dl), high/normal (81-100 ng/dl), and excess (more than 100).

Patients with vitamin D levels in the normal range were compared with other groups to assess their risk of developing atrial fibrillation. In patients with low, low-normal, normal and high-normal levels of vitamin D there was no increased risk of atrial fibrillation. However, in those with excess levels of vitamin D there was a significant increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation risk was two and a half times greater in patients with excess levels of vitamin D compared to those with normal levels.

The Institute of Medicine currently advises that healthy adults should be able to take as much as 4000 IU (international units) of vitamin D daily. But the reality is that doctors don't yet know how much vitamin D causes toxicity, which is why Dr. Bunch says communication between a patient and their healthcare provider is critical.

Vitamin D, which is synthesized by the body with exposure to sun, is used to regulate calcium and phosphate concentrations in the blood and is essential for growth and development, cellular health, and bone remodeling, a process where mature bone tissue is removed from the skeleton and new bone tissue is formed.

In regions where sun exposure may be limited, supplemental vitamin D may be required to maintain normal blood levels. The exact amount of vitamin D to achieve normal levels is unknown and usage varies in different regions and communities, which can cause problems, say the researchers.

Dr. Bunch stresses that patients need to tell their doctors about all of the vitamins and supplements they take, as well as all medications, in order to ensure they get the best care possible. He says this research also suggests that checking blood levels of vitamin D in patients that develop atrial fibrillation may help uncover the cause of the abnormal heart rhythm disorder.

"Patients don't think of vitamins and supplements as drugs," says Dr. Bunch. "But any vitamin or supplement that is touted as 'healing' or 'natural' is a drug and will have effects that are both beneficial and harmful. Just like any therapy, vitamins need to be taken for the right reasons and at the right doses."

More than two millions Americans suffer from atrial fibrillation. The risk of developing atrial fibrillation increases as people age. About five percent of people over the age of 80 will develop the heart disorder during their lifetime.

Vitamin D does not improve endothelial function or arterial stiffness, but it remains the vitamin du jour

Supplement info to be correlated with your doctor.
http://www.theheart.org/article/1315347.do?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_source=20111121_EN_Heartwire
Data from a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial has cast real doubt on the alleged cardioprotective benefits of vitamin D. Researchers performing the small study report that treatment with vitamin D for four months had no significant effect on endothelial function, vascular stiffness, or inflammation in healthy postmenopausal women.

"At this point in time, from the standpoint of heart-disease prevention, we have no evidence to prescribe vitamin D to patients, and we have no evidence not to give it," senior investigator Dr James Stein (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI) told heartwire. "We have other agents that have been proven effective to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. In the US, with many patients taking the supplement and many physicians prescribing it, some of whom are megadosing it, what we really have going on is a massive, uncontrolled experiment."

The study, led by Dr Adam Gepner (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health), was presented here this week at the American Heart Association 2011 Scientific Sessions. It included 114 postmenopausal women with serum 25-OH vitamin-D concentrations >10 and <60 ng/mL. The women were randomized to 2500 IU of vitamin D3 or placebo for four months.

Confirming several previous observational studies, the patients in the study with low levels of vitamin D were more likely to have a multitude of cardiovascular risk factors compared with patients with significantly higher levels at baseline. Stein acknowledged his study has limitations—it was small and only four months long and did not look at hard cardiovascular events—but the group saw no evidence of change across multiple surrogate end points, including endothelial function, arterial stiffness, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and blood pressure.

"I am concerned that vitamin D has become the new vitamin C or vitamin E," Stein told heartwire. "It has been touted as a panacea for all sorts of conditions, including muscle aches, mood disorders, and fatigue, and is now being used by many physicians as a way to prevent heart disease."

The 20 000-patient Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (VITAL) study is currently ongoing, but results of the study won't be available until 2016 or 2017. The study, which is led by researchers from the Brigham and Women's Hospital in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute and the National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute, is a randomized clinical trial investigating whether taking 2000 IU of vitamin D3 daily or 1 g of omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, and stroke in people who do not have a prior history of these illnesses.