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Results for search "Vitamins / Minerals".

25 Jul

How Do Plant-Based ‘Milks’ Measure Up to Cow’s Milk?

A new study finds compared to cow’s milk, plant- based products may not provide comparable amounts of some nutrients, like calcium and vitamin D.

Health News Results - 133

Vitamin D Plus Calcium: Good News, Bad News for Older Women

Women who've gone through menopause and hope that supplemental vitamin D plus calcium might shield them from disease may be disappointed by new data.

A follow-up analysis of data from the landmark Women's Health Initiative trial found the supplement combo lowered a woman's long-term odds of dying from cancer by 7%.

However, it also raised her odds of fatal heart disease by 6%.

...

Too Much Niacin May Be Bad for the Heart

Niacin is an essential B vitamin, but new research reveals that too much of it may harm your heart.

Found in many foods that millions of Americans eat, excessive amounts of niacin can trigger inflammation and damage blood vessels, scientists report in the Feb. 19 issue of the journal Nature Medicine.

"The ave...

Daily Multivitamin Might Help Aging Brains

A daily multivitamin could help people keep their brains healthy as they age, a new trial finds.

Results suggest taking multivitamins could help prevent memory loss and slow cognitive aging among older adults, researchers report in the Jan. 18 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutritio...

Be Sure to Get Enough of the 'Sunshine Vitamin' This Winter

In the middle of winter when sunshine can be hard to come by, it's tough to get enough vitamin D, but one expert has some advice.

“Vitamin D is well known to support bone health, but it also plays a role in the health of your heart as well as your GI tract. It is tougher to get it [in the winter] because a lot of the absorption and how the vitamin gets transformed to a usable substance ...

Put These Foods on Your Grocery List for Better Vision

Nutrition is important for your whole body, including those two small organs through which you look at the world.

The same diet that's good for your heart and the rest of your body will also help your eyes, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

The academy offers advice on vision-healthy foods and how to create a diet rich in them.

“Some nutrients keep th...

Do Fish Oil Supplements Really Boost Your Health?

Stroll past the supplements in any drugstore and you'll find broad claims about fish oil helping everything from heart and brain health, to joints, eyes and immune systems. But you just might be wasting your money, according to a new study.

“We know from recent large, randomized trials that fish oil supplements do not prevent heart disease in the general population, but yet they are one...

Vitamin K May Kickstart Healthy Lungs

It may not get the publicity of some better-known vitamins like D, but vitamin K -- found in leafy green vegetables -- may boost lung health.

A new, large study -- published Aug. 10 in ERJ Open Research -- suggests that people who have low levels of this vitamin also have less healthy lungs. They are more likely to report having asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD...

Vitamin D Might Ease the Agony of Psoriasis

People who have psoriasis may want to get their vitamin D levels checked.

New research suggests that blood levels of the so-called "sunshine vitamin" may affect the severity of their condition. In psoriasis, skin cells build up and form dry, itchy, sometimes painful patches.

While synthetic vitamin D creams are an emerging therapy, the study suggests that a diet rich in vitamin D or...

Milk Alternatives Don't Always Measure Up to Milk

If you're drinking soy, oat or almond milk, you may not be getting the same nutrients as you would with a glass of cow's milk.

A new analysis of more than 200 plant-based milk alternatives found that few contain the calcium, vitamin D and protein that can be found in cow's milk.

Only 12% of the alternative milk products studied had comparable or greater amounts of all three nutrient...

Need Vitamin D, But Need to Watch the Sun? Here's How You Do It

Your body needs vitamin D, the "sunshine" vitamin, but too much time in the sun can increase your risk for skin cancer.

An expert offers tips for boosting vitamin D intake while staying safe from the sun and this summer's record-high temperatures.

“Vitamin D is important for bone health, calcium absorption, reduction of inflammation, promoting cell growth and immune and cardiovas...

Exercise and Cognitive Training Slow Thinking Declines. Vitamin D? Not So Much

As older people start to lose some of their mental abilities, regular exercise might slow the progression to dementia, a new study indicates.

With five months of physical activity, the mental ability of seniors with so-called mild cognitive impairment improved significantly, researchers in Canada report.

They also found that computerized training to improve memory added to the benef...

Mixed Results on Vitamin D's Benefit for Aging Hearts

Vitamin D supplements might lower the risk of heart attack and other cardiac ills for people over 60 -- especially if they're already taking heart meds, a new study suggests.

"Our results suggest that further exploration of the possible benefit of vitamin D on cardiovascular events, particularly in those at higher risk of having an event, might be warranted," said senior researcher

An Apple (and Some Blackberries) Each Day May Keep Frailty Away

You've heard of eating your spinach to stay strong, but how about loading up on your flavonols?

New research suggests that plant-based foods rich in these important dietary compounds could lower your chances of developing frailty as you age.

Apples and blackberries are among the fruits that contain a particular flavonoid called quercetin that may be the most important to prevent fra...

Dietary Supplements Used by Most Adults, One-Third of Kids: Survey

Taking vitamins may drain your wallet without helping your health, yet a new government survey shows most American adults take them, as do about one-third of children.

Researchers who were led by Suruchi Mishra, from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, found vitamin use was common from 2017 to March ...

What an Expert Says About Taking Magnesium for Sleep

When people struggle to fall asleep, it's no surprise they seek solutions.

Options can range from prescription medications to sleep therapy, good habits and an abundance of supplements.

Taking magnesium for sleep is something some say has real benefits, but does it really?

It's not entirely certain, but the mineral serves a variety of other important functions, so it just m...

Vitamin D Might Help You Avoid Dementia

Can vitamin D lower dementia risk?

Quite possibly, a team of British and Canadian researchers report.

In their study, investigators spent roughly a decade tracking more than 12,000 older people. None had dementia at the start of the study period. In the end, the team determined that those who had been taking vitamin D supplements during that time appeared to face a 40% lower ri...

Vitamin D Could Be Weapon Against Type 2 Diabetes

Vitamin D supplements are typically used to guard against bone loss and fractures, but new research offers up another possibility: For folks with pre-diabetes, they may help lower the chances of a full diabetes diagnosis.

Across three clinical trials, investigators found that vitamin D supplements were modestly effective in curbing the risk of pre-diabetes progressing to type 2 diabetes. ...

Androstenedione: A Banned Bodybuilding Supplement You Should Avoid

Androstenedione is one of those supplements that was peddled to athletes for years as a quick path to bulging muscles and high testosterone levels, but it carries some grave dangers.

Also known as "andro," the dietary supplement was once touted to enhance athletic performance by stimulating muscle growth and boosting testosterone levels. But once it enters the body, it acts like a st...

Could Vitamin D Help Ward Off Suicide?

A new study hints that treating low vitamin D levels with supplements might have a critical benefit for certain people: a decreased risk of attempting suicide.

In a study of more than 1 million U.S. veterans, researchers found that those prescribed vitamin D were nearly 50% less likely to attempt suicide over eight years, versus those who were not prescribed the supplements.

The ben...

What Is Chromium Picolinate? Do You Really Need It?

Chromium picolinate is a supplement that many folks take, as it's touted to unlock insulin, burn fat and build muscle.

But do you really need to add it to your diet when the mineral chromium is already present in many foods, albeit in tiny amounts?

"There is little evidence or support for chromium supplementation, though advertisements suggest it can enhance muscle mass and help wit...

Your Weight Could Alter Vitamin D's Effect on Health

Vitamin D is widely promoted for better health, but if you're overweight, you might not reap the benefits.

In a new study, researchers found a 30% to 40% reduction in cancer, cancer deaths and autoimmune diseases among people with a lower body mass index (BMI) who took vitamin D supplements,...

The B Vitamins: Put Them on Your A List

B vitamins. These powerhouse nutrients help your cells function at their best, protect your brain and heart, support your immune system and can even improve your mood and energy levels.

This critical class of vitamins needs to be part of a healthy diet.

According to Harvard Health, B vitam...

Vitamin D May Help Maintain Muscle as You Age

One way to maintain muscle strength with age: Get enough vitamin D.

Researchers in Brazil and the United Kingdom found that older folks who were deficient in the vitamin increased their risk of losing muscle strength by 78%.

"Vitamin D is known to participate in various functions. …," said study co-author

Formula Feeding Raises Odds for Anemia in Very 'Preemie' Babies

Babies born prematurely who are fed formula may need iron supplementation like their breastfed counterparts, new research suggests.

“Just because a baby is on iron-rich formula, we should not assume all of their iron needs are being met, since iron from the formula may not have the same absorption as iron from breast milk,” said researcher Grace Power. She is a third-year medical stu...

Vitamin D Might Help Shield the Aging Brain

Older adults who harbor more vitamin D in their brains may stay mentally sharper, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that when older adults had higher levels of vitamin D in their brain tissue, they tended to perform better on standard tests of memory and thinking. They were also less likely to have dementia or milder cognitive impairments.

Experts stressed that

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 8, 2022
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  • Vitamins, Fish Oil, Minerals: Which Supplements Help or Harm the Heart?

    Manufacturers make all kinds of health claims, but can taking a dietary supplement actually lower your heart disease risk?

    A comprehensive analysis of prior research suggests that in certain cases the answer is yes. Some types of supplements -- such as omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) -- do provide a cardiovascular leg up.

    But many supplements were found...

    Berry Good for You: Some Foods Can Strengthen Your Brain

    Eating more berries and drinking tea may help slow mental decline as you age, new research suggests.

    In a study of more than 900 adults, researchers found that foods like these -- containing antioxidant flavonols -- delivered brain benefits to older adults. Flavonols are found in fruits like berries, green leafy vegetables, tea and wine.

    For example, people who ate a serving o...

    Vitamins: It's Best to Get Them From Food, Not a Bottle

    Bottled vitamins might seem a convenient way to get all the important nutrients, but the best delivery method is still just eating actual healthy food.

    “We have plenty of studies showing that when we look at food as the bioavailable source of certain nutrients of vitamins and minerals, they tend to be one of the best options,” said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 25, 2022
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  • Low Vitamin D Could Raise Diabetes Risk for Black Americans

    Too little of the "sunshine vitamin" -- vitamin D -- in Black Americans could raise their odds of developing diabetes, new research suggests.

    Two new studies found an association between levels of vitamin D in the blood and insulin resistance, a precursor to full-blown diabetes.

    It's been long known that low blood levels of vitamin D "are associated with an increased risk of diabet...

    400-Year-Old Mummy Reveals a Nobleman's Child, Kept From the Sun

    A “virtual autopsy” of a mummified 17th century Austrian infant has shed new light on Renaissance childhood — as well as the importance of vitamin D to health.

    The researchers used CT scans to examine the remains, which had been found in an aristocratic Austrian family crypt containing the perfect ...

    Vitamin D Could Help Extend Your Life: Study

    A vitamin D deficiency puts you at risk for more than just weakened bones, a major new study reports.

    Too little vitamin D in your system can increase your overall risk of premature death, as well as your specific risk of dying from cancer, heart disease or lung disease, acco...

    Vitamin Supplements May Help People With Cystic Fibrosis

    More than 160,000 people around the world have cystic fibrosis, and supplementing with vitamins C and E could help reduce the damaging inflammation in their lungs, according to new research.

    "Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that is associated with increased inflammation, and like many inflammatory diseases, it comes with a large amount of

  • By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 3, 2022
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  • Could a Folic Acid Prescription Help Prevent Suicide?

    More than 1 million Americans attempted suicide in 2020, and a new study is hinting at a potential way to reduce that risk: prescription folic acid.

    The study, of more than 800,000 Americans in a health care database, found that when people were on prescription folic acid, their likelihood of being treated for

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 30, 2022
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  • Multivitamins Linked to Healthier Brains in Old Age

    A daily multivitamin might help keep your brain free from any decline in thinking skills, a new study suggests.

    In a trial of more than 21,000 men and women, the study authors reported that

  • Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 14, 2022
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  • Vitamin D, Fish Oil Won't Help Elderly Stay Strong, Study Finds

    If only you could pop vitamin D and fish oil supplements to fight the frailty that often comes with aging, but new research delivers a disappointing message: Don't count on it.

    In reaching that conclusion, t...

    Vitamin D Supplements Won't Shield You From COVID-19, Studies Find

    While vitamin D got some attention early in the pandemic, it does not reduce the risk of either COVID-19 or other respiratory infections, two new clinical trials found.

    Both studies, one done in the United Kingdom and the other in Norway, found that boosting levels of vitamin D in adults during the pandemic didn't help protect against

  • By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 8, 2022
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  • Taking 2 Supplements in Pregnancy Could Lower Baby's Odds for Croup

    Many new parents have been jarred awake in the dead of night when they hear their baby let out that telltale barky cough that signals a bout of croup.

    Until now, nothing was thought to stave off the disease in babies who are prone to it, but a new study has discovered that when women took hi...

    Tips to Food-Fueling Your Active Vegan Child

    Kids can take part in sports while on vegetarian and vegan diets, but parents and caregivers must help them select foods that will fuel them and meet their nutrition needs.

    Vegan athletes can become deficient in vitamin B12, vitamin D, long-chain omega-3 fats, riboflavin and calcium, so it's important to find good substitutes, said Roberta Anding, a registered dietitian at Baylor College ...

    Dietary Supplements: Are You Throwing Money Away?

    Most Americans swear by dietary supplements, with nearly 3 of 4 people taking some type of supplement on a daily basis, a new HealthDay/Harris Poll has revealed.

    But many have a mistaken belief in the effectiveness of these supplements, which for the most part don't help folks live longer or healthier live...

    Vitamin D Supplements Won't Help Your Bones, Large Study Finds

    Seniors who take vitamin D supplements to improve their bone health and ward off fractures are just wasting their time and money, a major new study has found.

    These supplements did nothing to reduce their average risk of

    Eat These Foods, Your Kidneys Will Thank You

    Eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables is common advice, but many Americans eat few of these nutrient powerhouses, according to a new study.

    This includes adults with chronic kidney ...

    You Can Take Too Much Vitamin D -- One Man Found Out the Hard Way

    Vitamin D supplements are often touted for their health benefits, from boosting the immune system to guarding against cancer. But as one British man found out, it is possible to get too much of a good thing.

    Vitamin D overdosing -- clinically called hypervitaminosis D -- is linked to a range of potentia...

    Vitamin D Deficiency Common in Young Black, Hispanic Americans

    Vitamin D, the "Sunshine Vitamin," boosts the immune system and helps prevent cancer, among other health benefits, but a significant number of Black and Hispanic teens have low levels of this nutrient, according to a new study.

    "This paper calls attention to the need to raise...

    Vitamins, Supplements Useless for Most People: Expert Panel

    Millions of people pop vitamins and supplements every day in hopes of staving off heart disease and cancer, but a new report finds the evidence to support that strategy is largely lacking.

    While there is some research showing that a daily multivitamin may slightly reduce cancer risk, the bigger pictur...

    Your Daily Vitamin D From Tomatoes? Gene Tweak Could Make It Happen

    A genetically engineered tomato could one day rival salmon as a dietary source of vitamin D, if early research pans out.

    British scientists used gene "editing" to produce the tomato, which is chock full of provitamin D3, a precursor that the body can convert into vitamin D.

    The gene twe...

    Calcium Supplements Could Spell Trouble for Older Heart Patients

    Seniors are often advised to take calcium supplements, but new research says the pills might significantly increase an aging person's risk of heart valve problems that contribute to heart failure.

    People taking either calcium supplements alone or calcium with vitamin D had a higher risk of heart-related death or death from any cause compared with people not taking supplements, the researc...

    Over Half of American Parents Give Their Picky Eaters Supplements

    If your child is a picky eater and you feel you need to give them dietary supplements, you're not alone.

    In a new poll of more than 1,200 U.S. parents with at least one child aged 1 to 10, more than half said they struggle to get their child to eat a well-balanced diet and half said they regularly give their child dietary supplements.

    About one-third of parents said their child is a...

    Vitamins, Supplements Don't Guard Against Severe COVID

    Remember when everyone was downing zinc supplements at the beginning of the pandemic, in hopes of guarding against a severe case of COVID-19?

    New research suggests that folks may have wasted their time and effort: Taking zinc, vitamin C or vitamin D supplements doesn't lower one's risk of dying from COVID-19.

    Vitamin D Supplements Might Cut Your Odds for Autoimmune Diseases

    Taking vitamin D supplements may help stave off psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and other autoimmune diseases, a new study suggests.

    Previous research has hinted at this connection, but the new study is the first randomized controlled trial to look at what happens when people are given vitamin D supplements and followed to see if they develop an

  • Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 27, 2022
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  • Fish Oil Has No Effect on Depression, Study Finds

    They may have other proven health benefits, but new research shows that fish oil supplements don't prevent depression or improve mood.

    Some experts recommend omega-3 fish oil supplements to help prevent depression in high-risk patients, but studies have yielded mixed results and there are no g...

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