Vitamins - Archives

• Kenneth D.R. Setchell wins International Award for Innovative Research
  
  in Human Nutrition
  
  Dr Kenneth D.R. Setchell is the first winner of DSM Nutritional Products’ 25 000 Euro International Award for Innovative Research in Human Nutrition. Emmo Meijer, CTO of DSM and Bob Hartmayer, COO of DSM Nutritional Products presented the award at a ceremony during the 9th European Nutrition Conference in Rome, Italy, on 3 October 2003.
  
  The International Award for Innovative Research in Human Nutrition is given in recognition of innovative research in the nutrition field, with emphasis on naturally occurring dietary bioactive compounds promoting human health. It was established by Roche Vitamins, which became on 1 October 2003 DSM Nutritional Products, to encourage and recognize excellence in scientists engaged in significant research that broadens the understanding of the role of nutrition in human health.
  
  
  Author: Sara Collin - Date: December 10, 2003



• Kids chill out with new vitamin pops
  Did you know that only one in five children eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day, or that one-fourth of all vegetables eaten by children and adolescents are french fries?
  Author: Doug Murphy - Date: December 10, 2003



• False information published in AP article, "Tanning Salons Linked to Cancer Risk"
  The report (“Tanning Salons Linked to Cancer Risk”) that was distributed earlier this week to national print and broadcast outlets was born of woefully incorrect, false and purposefully misleading information submitted to the Associated Press from the American Academy of Dermatology.
  Author: Sara Collin - Date: December 10, 2003



• Vitamins and blood homocysteine levels
  One of December's biggest stories involved an intriguing study on the potential benefits of using vitamins to lower blood homocysteine levels, and therefore heart disease risk, among middle-aged people. Lead authors Gilbert S. Omenn, M.D., Ph.D. and Brahmajee Nallamothu, M.D., and their colleagues used risk and cost information to show that it's worth it for people to make sure they get the recommended doses of folic acid and vitamin B12 to bring their homocysteine levels down, even though the exact health impact of low homocysteine is not yet known. The story received widespread national and international attention. A press release is available here.
  Author: Doug Murphy - Date: July 3, 2005



• Vitamin D recommendation of The American Academy of pediatrics undermines breastfeeding
  
  The March/April issue of Mothering Magazine criticizes the American Academy of Pediatrics for eroding support for breastfeeding as the exclusive source of nutrition for infants.
  Author: Sara Collin - Date: December 10, 2003



• UCSF researchers identify mutations in gene
  Last fall, researchers at UC San Francisco announced that they had identified an elusive gene critical for vitamin D metabolism. Now they have identified mutations in that gene, paving the way for genetic diagnosis of a hereditary form of childhood rickets.
  Author: Sara Collin - Date: December 10, 2003



• Study finds new evidence that vitamin C helps reduce oxidative stress in passive smokers
  Research led by University of California, Berkeley, nutrition experts has found new evidence that vitamin C can significantly reduce levels of oxidative stress, which is associated with a variety of chronic diseases, for people exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.
  
  The study, published Aug. 5 in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, provides hope for people who cannot escape secondhand smoke, said Gladys Block, professor of nutritional epidemiology at UC Berkeley's School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study.
  Author: Doug Murphy - Date: December 10, 2003



• Scientists call for clearer information, warnings on potentially dangerous natural products
  
  Consumers may be endangering their health by consuming excessive doses of "all-natural" dietary supplements, swallowing untested and unregulated herbs, vitamins and other dietary supplements, warned scientists from the American Council on Science and Health today. ACSH called for an end to the current legal double standard that requires warnings on standard prescription and non-prescription drugs while exempting makers of dietary supplements from revealing the possible health hazards of their products.
  
  In a letter responding to a request from the Commission on Dietary Supplement Labeling for public testimony, ACSH Director of Nutrition Dr. Ruth Kava and ACSH President Dr. Elizabeth Whelan noted that many Americans have suffered death or injury after taking overdoses or defective preparations of products such as L-tryptophan, chaparral tea, and supplements of selenium, vitamin A and vitamin B6.
  
  Drs. Kava and Whelan charge that the 1994 Hatch-Richardson Act has put consumers in jeopardy. That law allows manufacturers to market dietary supplements without having to prove that they're effective or safe. At present action can only be taken against these products after someone is harmed by them (The FDA is currently considering banning supplements containing the "natural" stimulant ephedrine, responsible for the deaths of 17 people within the last year). Drs. Kava and Whelan note that manufacturers of vitamins or herbs do not have to list the potential adverse effects of their products. A survey in June, 1996 by ACSH showed that the labels of most vitamin A supplements do not indicate that large doses can cause birth defects, and the labels for most herbal preparations do not disclose their potential toxic, allergic, or diuretic effects.
  
  Author: Sara Collin - Date: December 10, 2003



• Pumpkins High In Vitamin A
  Many Coloradans search for the perfect pumpkin each October. Whether you are looking for a pumpkin to carve or the perfect pumpkin to fill your pie, the Colorado Department of Agriculture has your best source for locating those festive gourds. The 2002 Pumpkin Patch List is on the Internet.
  Author: Doug Murphy - Date: October 12, 2005



• Newly launched dietary supplement for alcoholics may have other benefits
  Recovery Pharmaceuticals has just launched a new product, ThiaSure™ Multivitamin/Multimineral Dietary Supplement to address the nutritional deficiencies found in many alcoholics. A unique component of ThiaSure™ is lipid soluble thiamine, a form of vitamin B1 that is not found in other multivitamin preparations. In a new study recently published by researchers at Albert Einstein School of Medicine, a similar form of lipid soluble thiamine, benfotiamine, was successful in blocking the development of diabetic retinopathy in rats. Recovery Pharmaceuticals is initiating a research program to explore the effect of ThiaSure™ and its lipid soluble form of thiamine in diabetes.
  Author: Doug Murphy - Date: December 10, 2003



• Committee of Experts report on vitamins
  The Committee of Experts constituted to go into various aspects relating to Vitamin-A Administration has submitted a report. Its salient findings/recommendations are as under: (i) The magnitude of Vitamin A deficiency has declined significantly, although it exists as a public health problem in some areas.
  Author: Sara Collin - Date: December 10, 2003



• DSEA event garners more than 80 TV airings
  The Dietary Supplement Education Alliance's (DSEA) "Mission Possible" event June 18 returned media placements on television news programs nationwide. "Mission Impossible" television star Peter Lupus, 70, lifted 76,235 lbs. in 26 minutes and 45 seconds, setting a new world record and raising more than $15,000 to provide vitamins to at-risk children. Less than 48 hours after the event, there were 82 confirmed television airings of the event with a total audience of more than 4.8 million viewers. Many of the news stories included an interview with Lupus in which he strongly encouraged people to give their children vitamins to help them grow healthy and strong. The news coverage drove more than 6,000 visitors to the DSEA Web site in the 48 hours following the event, exceeding the traffic the site received the previous month. DSEA is a non-profit industry coalition offering clear, science-based information about the benefits of dietary supplements.
  Author: Sara Collin - Date: December 10, 2003



• HostWorks signs vitamin & supplement retailer Vitarama
  Denver based Internet provider HostWorks launched Vitarama, a health and vitamin supplement on-line store. The site, found at vitarama.com provides information about hundreds of brands of supplements and vitamin products while the searchable database offers product research capabilities. HostWorks designed the shopping cart and provided administrative capabilities and will host and maintain the site.
  Author: Sara Collin - Date: December 10, 2003



• Improve the quality of life with vitamin supplements
  Vitamin supplements can be an important part of your diet. If you don't eat enough are the right kind of foods, Vitamin supplements can provide you with all the deficiencies your body may be lacking. They can also prevent the onset of disease later in life.
  Author: David Tees - Date: February 14, 2003