News tagged with 'Vitamin D'

Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, is deficient in at least six million U.S. children, reports this study from Harvard and published in the journal Pediatrics. Given its increasing recognition in health maintenance, the study author says this should be a call to action.

There is good new and bad news to report about breast cancer, but overall, the American Cancer Society in this 2009-2010 report says that the deaths rates have been steadily declining about 2 percent a year.

Actor, Patrick Swayze died of pancreatic cancer this week. Among his good habits that may have added to his 20-month survival, were his love of work, and physical fitness from dancing. Among the lifestyle factors that may have raised his risk - cigarettes and alcohol.

The first trial accusing Merck of withholding information on the dangers of osteoporosis drug, Fosamax, has ended in a mistrial after Juror No. 5 says she was intimidated and threatened by the other seven jurors for siding with the plaintiff.

Millions of kids aren’t getting enough vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, possibly increasing their risk for heart disease, bone problems and other health risks. In sheer numbers, 7.6 million children have a vitamin D deficiency while 50.8 million have insufficient levels.

Vitamin D levels appear to be declining in the general population, according to this published study, even though it is increasingly linked to immune health, bone strength and cardiovascular improvement.

New research links low levels of vitamin D to high blood pressure and high blood sugar in teenagers, which can lead to early health problems. The "sunshine" vitamin is needed to keep bones strong, but recent research has linked vitamin D to other possible health benefits in both children and adults.

Quest Laboratories will have to retest an unknown number of people for vitamin D after a lab error. It has since been corrected and letters are going out to those who used the diagnostic testing service.

Who knew the "Sunshine Vitamin" could do so much?   The latest findings link a deficiency of vitamin D to the risk of heart attack and stroke. Half of adults, and at least 30 percent of children are deficient in this vitamin that is so easy and inexpensive to acquire. 

A new study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine suggests that counties with higher levels of precipitation also have higher autism rates, further deepening the mystery of the causes of autism.

New research in the Archives of Neurology suggests vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin" can help ease the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Researchers found that vitamin D deficiencies may have a unique association with Parkinson’s disease, which warrants further investigation.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is raising the guidelines on vitamin D for infants, children and adolescents as rickets appears to be on the rise in the U.S. once again.  The recommendation is to have at least 400 IU a day for children beginning in infancy. For adults 1,000 IU daily may not be enough.

New research shows a link between a gene involved in vitamin D metabolism and the risk of melanoma, a serious and sometimes fatal skin cancer, according to Italian researchers from the University of Padua.

The jury is still out on a new, controversial osteoporosis drug Pfizer hopes to market. Fablyn may have some additional risk for cancer and was rejected by the FDA three years ago. Approval could mean $500 million a year for Pfizer. 

"Sunshine Vitamin" is essential for overall good health. As little as 10 minutes of sun exposure daily can be enough to prevent vitamin D deficiencies that can lead to increased health risks.