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Anti-Aging Sunshine Vitamin

We asked in our last newsletter: what is the sunshine vitamin? For those to you with an inquisitive mind, it is Vitamin D. When the sun’s rays (UV-B waves), hit our skin we actually convert a common substance known as cholesterol into Vitamin D. Sun block or winter days do slow down the process of manufacturing Vitamin D. Some studies indicate that most people don’t manufacture enough Vitamin D. 

A new study that looked at the mortality rates in high-income countries and some common diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes mellitus linked inadequate Vitamin D to increased mortality rates of these diseases. The test included around 57,000 people and the results indicated supplemental vitamin D groups had less incidences of death. The study lasted for approximately six years.

Is vitamin D the new anti-aging vitamin? Getting enough Vitamin D is definitely beneficial for prevention of diseases such as rickets’ and perhaps other diseases. Supplementing with vitamin D would be a good idea if you were not getting enough sun exposure. Getting some sun before the 11:00 hour is ideal way to ‘photo-synthesize’ your vitamin D. Avoid the sun in the mid-afternoon 11:00am -4:00pm hours; this reduces the amount of damaging radiation exposure.

Exercise
Strength Training and Obesity for Pre-menopause Women

In a recent article in the American Clinical Journal of Nutrition, weight training was evaluated to see if pre-menopausal women would benefit with body fat reduction. The research focused on abdominal body fat.  For most women between the ages of 25-44, there is a tendency to gain 1-2 pounds of fat each year. This weight gain is accommodated with an increase of intra-abdominal body fat, or ‘ab’ fat.

The study involved two groups. One of the groups trained with weights two times a week. The other group received a pamphlet about aerobic exercise. As you could imagine with no follow up the ‘pamphlet’ group was set to fail. After two years the groups were reevaluated. The weight lifting group gained only 2% in body fat while the other ‘pamphlet’ group gained about 15% in body fat. Conclusions would indicate that working out with weights is a good way to maintain good shape. The ‘pamphlet’ idea is good, but with no action the 15% is highly probable.

Vitamin Research
Folic Acid &Brain Function

Folic acid is in the news frequently. A recent study that looked at brain function and folic acid reported positive news. It seems that adequate amounts of folic acid in the blood improved brain function. Memory seems to be improved when there are adequate amounts of folic acid. 400mcg is the recommended daily allowance for folic acid. Remember the name folic acid comes from the Latin word folium, which means leaf. Green leafy foods have good amount of folic acid. Eat your greens today.

Starkie Sowers CN
Edited By: Wayne Grubacich

Reference:

  1. Archives of Internal Medicine (2007;167(16):1730-37).
  2. Orv Hetil. 2007 Feb 18;148(7):319-25.
  3. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2003 Apr;2(2):86-98
  4. Kathryn H Schmitz, Peter J Hannan, Steven D Stovitz, Cathy J Bryan, Meghan Warren, and Michael D Jensen

Strength training and adiposity in premenopausal women: Strong, Healthy, and Empowered study Am J Clin Nutr 2007 86: 566-572.

  1. Christine M Pfeiffer, Clifford L Johnson, Ram B Jain, Elizabeth A Yetley, Mary Frances Picciano, Jeanne I Rader, Kenneth D Fisher, Joseph Mulinare, and John D Osterloh Trends in blood folate and vitamin B-12 concentrations in the United States, 1988–2004
    Am J Clin Nutr 2007 86: 718-727.