Friday, September 28, 2007

Vitamin D supplementation lowers fracture risk

Researchers have found that doses of 700 to 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day may reduce the risk of hip fracture by 26 percent and nonvertebral fracture by 23 percent.

The May 11 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association published the results of a meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials involving vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of fracture. The analysis concluded that supplementation with higher than the commonly recommended 400 international unit (IU) doses of vitamin D reduces the risk of hip and nonvertebral fractures in older individuals.

The vitamin D studies included a total of 19,114 men and women aged 60 and older. The trials used the form of the vitamin known as cholecalciferol, or vitamin D3, which, according to studies cited in the current review, may be much more effective than the dietary form of the vitamin.

The researchers found that doses of 700 to 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day reduced the risk of hip fracture by 26 percent and nonvertebral fracture by 23 percent. Studies that used 400 IU vitamin D3 or less found no significant benefit for either type of fracture. The role of additional calcium supplementation could not clearly be defined from the studies, but it appears that at least 700 milligrams calcium per day may also be necessary for nonvertebral fracture prevention.

JAMA 2005 May 11;293(18):2257-64.


This study helps show us why drinking your milk every day does a body good but maybe not quite "good enough." We see that smaller amounts of vitamin D don't reduce fracture risk while larger amounts DO. Also, while this study focused on older individuals, perhaps we should consider the benefits of fracture prevention for younger athletes, especially in high contact sports like football, hockey, basketball, rugby, etc.

Where can you find an excellent source of Vitamin D3? The "Essentials" by Usana Health Sciences will supply you with 600 IU of Vitamin D3 in addition to your daily intake of vitamin D3 through meals. When combined that's virtually the same amount recommended in this study to safely lower fracture risk, not to mention all of the other essential vitamins and minerals found in scientifically recommended amounts! For more information, visit www.WholeNutrition.Usana.com

Friday, September 14, 2007

Supplemental vitamin D and calcium reduces risk of diabetes

The incidence of type-2 diabetes is lower among women who get adequate calcium and supplement with vitamin D. Researchers used data from the Nurses Health Study, which includes over 83,000 women, to study the relationship of calcium and vitamin D intake to type-2 diabetes.


After 20 years of follow-up, it was concluded that a combined daily intake of over 1,200 mg of calcium and more than 800 IU of vitamin D was associated with a 33 percent lower risk of type-2 diabetes. Interestingly, dietary vitamin D intake did not appear to provide any statistically significant benefit. But the women who supplemented with at least 400 IU of vitamin D had a 13% lower risk of diabetes when compared to those who took less than 100 IU per day. Both dietary and supplemental calcium resulted in decreased risk of type-2 diabetes, and those with overall intakes above 1,200 mg had a 21% lower risk than those who got less than 600 mg per day.

Elevated intakes of calcium and vitamin D, especially from supplements, are significantly associated with lower incidence of type-2 diabetes.

Diabetes Care 29:650-656, 2006


The results from this study are truly amazing! While generally it is best to get vitamins and minerals from one's diet, this study actually shows that sometimes it is better to get them from a nutritional supplement. Again we see the benefits of Vitamin D which seems to have almost limitless benefits to the human body (search above for "Vitamin D" to find other articles on the benefits of Vitamin D).

On a side note, how many more studies need to surface highlighting the ways we can lower our risk of Type-2 Diabetes? This study is proof that a low glycemic diet is not our only line of defense against Type-2 diabetes--nutritional supplements combine for an amazing 1 - 2 punch!

For the highest quality nutritional supplements and low glycemic meal replacement shakes, we recommend USANA Health Sciences. Visit www.WholeNutrition.Usana.com for direct from the manufacturer pricing and secure internet ordering!

Monday, September 10, 2007

Canadian study indicates that quality of nutritional supplements is still a concern

In a recent study, researchers discovered that more than half of the nutritional supplements tested did not disintegrate properly. Included in the test were 39 tablets and 10 capsules containing minerals and vitamins commercially available on the Canadian market. USANA's Multimineral was included in the test. The first disintegration stage was performed using Simulated Intestinal Fluid (SIF) pH 6.8 for 20 minutes. Products which did not disintegrate were further analyzed using USP disintegration conditions for dietary supplements. Of the 39 tablets tested, only 18 products (which included Usana's Multimineral) disintegrated fully at the first stage. The 21 tablets that did not pass the first stage were then tested for disintegration using USP conditions. Nine tablets still failed to disintegrate, including all three timed-release products tested. Forty-percent of the capsules also failed the first stage, although all ten eventually passed when subjected to USP testing conditions.

This study illustrates that disintegration, one basic indicator of product quality, is still a concern for dietary supplements.

J Pharm Pharmaceut Sci (www.cspsCanada.org) 9(1):40-49, 2006
http://www.ualberta.ca/~csps/JPPS9 (1)/Loebenberg.R/tablets.pdf


It's important to do your research before beginning any dietary or nutritional supplement regime. The editors at TCGWN recommend products manufactured by Usana Health Sciences as they are certified by NSF for quality and rated #1 in independent nutritional rankings.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Vitamin D reduces the risk of certain cancers

A study published in the American Journal of Public Health, has found that vitamin D deficiency may account for several thousand premature deaths annually.

The researchers reviewed 63 studies on the relationship between vitamin D and certain types of cancer worldwide between 1966 and 2004. The majority of studies found a protective relationship between sufficient vitamin D status and lower risk of cancer, especially in cancers of the colon, breast, prostate and ovary.

Vitamin D is acquired either through the diet or through exposure to sunlight. Food sources include milk, yogurt, cheese, and fortified orange juice. A typical serving provides approximately 100 international units (IU). Researchers suggested that people might want to consider a vitamin supplement to raise their overall intake to 1,000 IU's per day. Supplementing with additional vitamin D could be especially important for people living in northern areas, which receive less vitamin D from sunlight.

The evidence suggests that improving vitamin D status through diet and supplements could reduce cancer incidence and mortality at low cost, with few or no adverse effects.


It is fantastic how much people can reduce their risk of several types of cancer just by taking supplements. The problem with relying solely on sunlight to cause our skin to produce Vitamin D is that sun exposure can contribute to skin cancer. Furthermore, our daily lives are so hectic that it is extremely difficult for most of us to eat the necessary foods that would provide adequate amounts of Vitamin D, nevermind the rest of the vitamins, minerals, antioxidant sources, and nutrients our bodies need to fight off degenerative diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.

It has never been easier to supplement our diets with the highest quality supplements on the market, ones that have been produced using the same Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) that the pharmaceutical industry uses. USANA Health Sciences offers supplements that have been ranked #1 in North America by the Nutrisearch Comparative Guide to Supplements, which ranked about 500 companies' supplements for accuracy, completeness, and bioavailability. Try them now at: www.WholeNutrition.Usana.com and get your Vitamin D, as well as just about every other known essential vitamin, mineral, antioxidant, and miscellaneous extracts that research shows helps our bodies to stay healthy and to age gracefully!

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Soy and cruciferous vegetables reduce cancer risk by enhancing DNA repair


Nutrients found in soy and cruciferous vegetables have recently been shown to have anti-cancer activity for hormone-responsive tumors (i.e. breast and prostate cancers). The British Journal of Cancer reported that genistein (a soy isoflavone) and indole-3-carbinol (I3C) found in vegetables such as broccoli, enhance DNA repair and partly explain the ability of increased vegetable intake to reduce the risk of cancer.

Nutrients found in soy and cruciferous vegetables have recently been shown to have anti-cancer activity for hormone-responsive tumors (i.e. breast and prostate cancers). The February 13, 2006 issue of the British Journal of Cancer reported that genistein (a soy isoflavone) and indole-3-carbinol (I3C) found in vegetables such as broccoli, enhance DNA repair.

After adding increasing doses of I3C and genistein to two prostate cancer and two breast cancer cell lines, the scientists found a rise in levels of certain proteins which repair damaged DNA. Additionally, when researchers added I3C and genistein together in low doses to the cell lines, the results were synergistic, providing greater benefit than that obtained by either compound alone.

The finding could explain, in part, the protective effect these compounds have shown against some cancers. The study is also among the first to discover a cellular explanation behind the ability of increased vegetable intake to reduce the risk of cancer.

British Journal of Cancer (2006) 94, 407-426.


When the British Journal of Cancer publishes research like we see above, people take notice! This is some incredible evidence of the power of nutritional supplementation. Who are you trusting your health to? Research like this is one of the big reasons that nutritional supplements have been getting so much attention recently.

While many doctors and patients rely on pharmaceutical drugs for treating cancer, a growing number are incorporating nutritional supplementation into the treatment and prevention of the disease. The editors of The Complete Guide to Whole Nutrition and their partnering doctors (headed by Dr. John Koehler of Rockford, IL) recommend Usana Health Sciences for all nutritional supplementation needs. Find more information and order Usana at www.WholeNutrition.Usana.com