Month: August 2023

Up to 40 percent of the population have a vitamin D deficiency.

Taking vitamin D supplements is linked to losing four times as much weight, research finds.

People who took a vitamin D supplement also doubled the number of inches by which they reduced their waistlines.

As many as 40 percent of the population have a vitamin D deficiency.

A deficiency in this vitamin has been linked to increased inflammation the body.

Foods that are rich in vitamin D include oily fish and eggs, but most people get their vitamin D from the action of sunlight on the skin.

Being deficient in vitamin D is repeatedly linked to being overweight and obese.

The conclusions come from a study of 400 obese and overweight people, all of whom had a vitamin D deficiency.

All were put on a low-calorie diet, but they were split into three groups, with each given different amounts of vitamin D supplementation.

One had none, another had 3,000 IU per day and the remainder had 800 IU per day.

After six months, the results showed that those taking the highest amount of 3,000 per day had lost 12 pounds.

Those taking 800 IU per day had lost 8 pounds and those taking none lost just 2.6 pounds.

The study’s authors explain the results:

“The present data indicate that in obese and overweight people with vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D supplementation aids weight loss and enhances the beneficial effects of a reduced-calorie diet.”

The results also revealed that vitamin D helped people lose more from their waistlines.

The group taking 3,000 IU per day lost two inches in comparison to just 1 inch in the control group.

The researchers conclude:

“All people affected by obesity should have their levels of vitamin D tested to see if they are deficient, and if so, begin taking supplements.”

The study was presented at the European Congress on Obesity, 2015 (Vigna et al., 2015).

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Statins may reduce the risk of a heart attack by as much as one-third.

Statins are cholesterol-busting drugs that are designed to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

However, some people naturally worry about the side-effects these drugs may have, despite the fact that they are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs.

Statins may reduce the risk of a heart attack by as much as one-third.

Still, many refuse to take them because around 20 percent of people report side-effects.

Some of the most common side-effects are fatigue, muscle aches and joint pain.

Other common side-effects of statins are headaches, stomach pain, dizziness, constipation and feeling sick.

In addition, some people taking the cholesterol medication report pins and needles in their hands and feet.

The ‘nocebo’ effect

However, research suggests that some of these people may be experiencing the ‘nocebo’ effect.

The nocebo effect is when a person experiences side-effects due to the negative associations the drug has rather than because of its pharmaceutical effect.

One study has found that 90 percent of symptoms reported were from patients who were taking a placebo.

In other words, many people, despite taking a pill with no medicine in it, are still getting side-effects.

Dr James Howard, study co-author, explained:

“Statins are life-saving treatments that can help prevent the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular disease.

Previous studies have shown that statins are safe and effective at preventing serious health conditions but some patients stop taking or refuse the drug due to reported side effects, potentially increasing their risk of heart attack and stroke in the long-term.

Our study suggests that the reported side effects of statins are not caused by the statin themselves but by the effect of taking a tablet.

Some of the side effects could also be from the typical aches and pains of getting older.

Our findings are significant because they are further evidence that side effects from statins are minimal.

These drugs play a significant role in keeping patients who are at risk of cardiovascular disease healthy.

One way to help encourage patients to take or stay on their medication is for doctors to talk to their patients about the nocebo effect.

In more severe cases patients could be referred for talking therapies.”

The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Wood et al., 2020).

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B12 deficiency early in life can lead to these cognitive problems.

Difficulties with memory and thinking skills can be signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, research finds.

People with a deficiency in this vitamin can find it hard to recall memories or to concentrate.

A study finds that low levels of vitamin B12 in infancy would result in poor development and performance on visuospatial skills and social perception tasks later on.

Social perception and visuospatial abilities are part of cognitive functioning, like understanding information and responding to them, or making judgments about social rules.

In this study, children low in vitamin B12 at 5 years of age scored poorly in cognitive tests such as recognising other children’s feelings and solving puzzles.

Dr Ingrid Kvestad, the study’s first author, said:

“Our results clearly demonstrate associations between early vitamin B12 status and various measures on development and cognitive functioning, as for example the ability to interpret complex geometrical figures, and the ability to recognize other children`s emotions.”

Their findings suggest that vitamin B12 deficiency causes harm or delays the development of children’s brains.

Previous studies have found that vitamin B12 is important for the developing brain, learning, problem solving skills, and memory.

Dr Kvestad said:

“The number of children in low-income countries that do not develop according to their potential is large.

Our results indicate that correcting children`s vitamin B12 status early may be one measure to secure a healthy development for these vulnerable children.

We are currently in the process of confirming our results in randomized controlled trials.”

Red meat is a good source of vitamin B12, but in South Asia and countries with low incomes, animal products are limited, thus low B12 status is often seen in those population.

For this study, 500 infants in Nepal underwent a blood test to estimate their vitamin B12 levels.

Then five years later, these children underwent several cognitive development tests.

Dr Kvestad said:

“Most of the Nepalese children participating in the study did not have severely low levels of vitamin B12, but their levels were suboptimal, below the recommendations for best possible growth and development.

It’s like a hidden deficiency of the vitamin in these children’s bodies, making their cells work rigorously to signalize imminent danger.

Our study is one contribution in the big puzzle to understand the implications low B12 levels might have on small children’s cognitive development.”

The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Kvestad et al., 2021).

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