Beta-carotene supplementation long-term may delay mental decline

In a newly published study, researchers tested the cognitive function of participants in the Physicians' Health Study II (PHSII), a continuation of the Physicians' Health Study (PHS) trial looking at the effects of beta-carotene and other vitamin supplements on chronic disease. The subjects included participants from the original PHS (started in 1982) and newer recruits from 1998.

The researchers tested the general cognition, verbal memory, and category fluency of 5,956 participants, including 4,052 participants from the PHS with a minimum supplementation period of 18 years.

Among the 1,904 newly recruited subjects (average supplementation of 1 year) no differences in cognition were evident whether they took beta-carotene or the placebo.

However, among the long-term supplement users from the PHS, the mean global score (average of all tests) was significantly higher in the beta carotene group than in the placebo. On verbal memory, men receiving long-term beta carotene supplementation also performed significantly better than the placebo group. The potential mechanism for the protective effects could be related to the role of vitamin A and beta-carotene on beta-amyloid protein production in the brain. The build-up of plaque from beta-amyloid deposits is associated with oxidative stress, cell death, and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The study is the first to look at long-term antioxidant supplementation in relation to a decline in cognitive function that occurs naturally with age, and that precedes diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(20):2184-2190.

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Beta-carotene linked to reduced mortality risk in the elderly

In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers have demonstrated an association between plasma carotene levels and lower death rates among the elderly. This prospective study involved 1168 elderly men and women who were followed for 10 years. After the follow-up period, researchers looked at causes of mortality in the study population. The subjects with higher plasma carotene concentrations had a lower overall mortality risk, and a lower risk of mortality from cancer and cardiovascular disease specifically. To put the results in context, researchers performed a meta-analysis of 5 studies on plasma antioxidants and all-cause mortality in elderly populations.

These findings are somewhat surprising since some of the previous supplemental trials have been negative or inconclusive. The researchers suggested that the confusing evidence so far may indicate that beta-carotene needs to be taken in concert with other antioxidants to have a beneficial effect on health.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 82, No. 4, 879-886, October 2005

Possibly the most interesting part of the researchers' findings were that "the confusing evidence so far may indicate that beta-carotene needs to be taken in concert with other antioxidants to have a beneficial effect on health." We hear it everywhere: "Eat a balanced diet." While we should all aim for eating a balance diet, with plenty of natural fruits, vegetables, and whole-grains, it is often difficult to maintain such a diet at all times.

However difficult it may be to eat a balanced diet everyday, it is becoming easier to have a balanced intake of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other vital nutrients by taking a multivitamin. The editors of The Complete Guide to Whole Nutrition recommend taking USANA's Essentials or HealthPak 100 as your multi-vitamins, both of which can be found at www.WholeNutrition.USANA.com. Both USANA's Essentials and the HealthPak 100 can deliver 7,500 IU of Beta-Carotene -- which is so valuable when you consider all of the other vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants you can get from either of these products -- all working together to protect your body from free radicals.

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Widespread Vitamin D Deficiency Drains Billions of Dollars from Canadian Health Care System

The Vitamin D society, a Canadian non-profit group organized to increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to vitamin D, has calculated the cost of vitamin D deficiency on the Canadian health care system to be no less than $9 billion dollars annually.

Vitamin D has long been known only for its role in bone health and proper calcium absorption. However, the explosion of research over the past few years has revealed that vitamin D plays a key role in cell growth regulation in the body, and may be related to the prevention of 22 forms of cancer as well as heart disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and many other disorders.

Due to what is being considered a Canadian crisis and worldwide problem, the Vitamin D Society is recognizing the month of November as Vitamin D Awareness Month.

For the complete story and more information about the society and vitamin D research, go to the following link:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2007/31/c2359.html

We continue to see more and more attention drawn to this topic and if you search throughout this blog you'll notice that many of the articles specifically reference the importance or more Vitamin D in one's daily diet. For the highest quality Vitamin D supplement, check out Usana Health Science's "Essentials."