VITAMINTESTING.COM: Vitamin Deficiency Test Information

Vitamin D deficiencies affect more than half of the U.S. population.  Data published by British research scientists in the recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine indicate that seniors with low levels of vitamin D may be at an increased risk of cognitive decline.

While cognitive performance declines as we age, data from David Llewellyn and his associates at the University of Exeter in England shows that insufficient levels of vitamin D may accelerate this decline.  The Exeter researchers analyzed vitamin D levels from blood samples of 858 adults aged 65 and older.  At the start of the study, and again after three and six years, cognitive tests were performed.

The test data indicated that severe vitamin D deficiency, defined as blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) of less than 25 nanomoles per liter—were associated with a 60% increase in the risk of significant cognitive decline.

“If future prospective studies and randomized controlled trials confirm that vitamin D deficiency is causally related to cognitive decline, then this would open up important new possibilities for treatment and prevention,” concluded Llewellyn and his colleagues.
Archives of Internal Medicine 170(13):1135-1141, 2010

A recent article shows a relationship between the presence of Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Chronic Fatigue.  Published in the Neuroendocrinology Letters, Belgium researchers reported that plasma CoQ10 levels are substantially lower in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).  Chronic Fatigue Syndrome results in high levels of fatigue and inflammatory, autonomic and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

In all, 58 men and women diagnosed with chronic fatigue were studied using a control group of 22 healthy patients.  Almost 45% of the Chronic Fatigue patients had levels that were less than the lowest CoQ10 levels detected in the control group!  The net conclusion: Increased CoQ10 levels lead to a reduction in chronic fatigue symptoms.

The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine states in a recently-released study that low Vitamin D levels can make asthma worse.   Performed at the Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, in Denver, the research involved 54 people.  What was observed is that Vitamin D levels were correlated to people’s scores on standard breathing tests.  Specificially, the lower the Vitamin D levels, the lower breathing performance scores were. 

A WebMD interview with Dr. E. Rand Sutherland, chief of the pulmonary division where the study was conducted, stated that “Our findings suggest that Vitamin D levels influence a number of important features of asthma, including lung function, bronchospasms, and therapeutic response to steroids.”

Drinking one cup of green tea daily may improve dental health and reduce the risk of losing teeth by about 20%, according to a new study from Japan. Plus, drinking more cups appears to reduce the risk even more, with five or more cups a day associated with a 23% reduction in risk. The findings were published in Preventive Medicine.

Being an observational study, the findings do not prove causality, but the link does appear to be biologically plausible, state the authors, led by Yasushi Koyama from Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. Previous studies have reported that green tea catechins may inhibit the action of oral bacteria linked to the development of periodontal disease, they said.

“A number of experimental studies have shown that green tea catechins inhibit oral bacteria, while some experiments have indicated that the concentration of tea catechin conferring the above effect should be more than 100 mg/100 ml,” wrote the authors. “A typical preparation of green tea contains a catechin concentration of 50-150 mg/100 ml. “Therefore, this amount of catechin contained in one cup of green tea might be sufficient to aid tooth retention,” they added.

Koyama and co-workers analyzed data from 25,078 people aged between 40 and 64 years. By measuring tooth loss in people with up to 20 teeth still remaining, the researchers calculated that one to two cups of green tea per day was associated with an 18% reduction in tooth loss risk. The same reduction was calculated for three to four cups per day, while five or more cups were associated with a 23% reduction in risk. If the researchers limited or extended the data for people with less than 10, or up to 25 teeth, the same protective levels of green tea consumption were observed.

The researchers noted that a certain level of tea was required to produce the effect. This “threshold” value could be linked to the catechin content of green tea, they added.

Preventive Medicine 50(4):173-179, 2010

Reservatrol, found in red wine, has been shown to potentially lengthen your life.  Since the initial research findings, this supplement has become very popular.  With prices approaching $80 a bottle, people are scooping up this supplement.  The claims are based on lab studies in which worms, fruit flies, fish, and mice did indeed enjoy longer, friskier lives after eating food laced with resveratrol.  But, the problem is that  there’s no solid proof that ingesting this supplement will extend your life.

In test-tube studies, Reservatrol boosts enzymes called sirtuins, which regulate aging and could help you beat the clock.  In animal studies, resveratrol discourages the development of cancers of the colon, breast, intestine, and esophagus. And it protects your heart by discouraging blood clotting, keeping artery walls flexible and squelching inflammation. This sirtuin activation does the same thing as calorie restriction in animal studies: You live the equivalent of 50% longer with the same quality of life.

But despite these studies, the evidence remains unconvincing.  The primary reason: the animal studies used huge doses.  You’d have to drink 180 to 1,500 bottles of red wine a day to get the levels that help lab mice. Second, no one really knows quite how much it would take to get similar effects in humans. Then there’s safety. Among the concerns: Resveratrol slows how fast your liver breaks down common drugs, including some statins, erectile dysfunction meds, calcium channel blockers, and some immune system suppressants. That could dangerously screw up the doses. And there’s some evidence that resveratrol may activate estrogen receptors on cells, spelling trouble for women with a history of estrogen-sensitive tumors (often breast, ovarian, and uterine).

There are also quality concerns.  In one analysis, 3 of 19 brands contained far less than their labels promised. It’s not clear that any of the supplements are made in an oxygen-free environment, which is critical to preserving supplements’ potency (you’d have to buy nitrogen-wrapped, single-pill foil wraps to get the active compound).

So  for now, why not drink a rich, red wine or eat a handful of peanuts to get your resveratrol?  Some of the highest concentrations are found in the skins of grapes; that’s why dark red wines (pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel) have the highest levels. White wines have the least because skins are removed earlier in the fermentation process.

Don’t drink? Chill and munch half a cup of red grapes (not green) every day. Snack on peanuts and peanut butter.  Sprinkle on some blueberries (or cranberries; they have some resveratrol, too). When summer’s fresh berries aren’t available, blend frozen berries into smoothies or throw some into muffin mix.

And don’t focus just on Reservatrol.  Other powerful ways to add years to your life include regular exercise (at least 30 minutes a day); relaxing to reduce chronic stress (a major ager that zaps energy, raises blood sugar, and boosts heart disease risk); getting 7 to 8 hours of good sleep every night (burning the candle at both ends encourages diabetes, heart disease, and overeating); and maintaining a healthy waistline.

While Vitamin E is thought to be good, there has are no conclusive studies showing that it protects the heart or prevents cancer. And large doses can thin out the blood and may inclrease the risk of stroke in those with uncontrolled blood pressure.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 15 mg of which half could be satisfied with just one ounce of dry roasted almonds.

While taking vitamins is often thought to be a good thing, getting too much of them can simply be dangerous.

For instance, large doses of Vitamin E can increase the risk of bleeding if you’re on blood thinners.  Higher doses of this vitamin, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, was associated with a higher risk of dying.  Furthermore, high dosages of vitamin A can increases the risk of liver cancer, lung cancer, birth defects and reduced bone density.

An earlier analysis by these same researchers in 2004 found that actual dosages contained in vitamin supplements may greatly exceed the dosages listed on the package.  For instance, some Vitamin E supplements advertised to contain 400 IU actually contained as much as 1000 IU.  Further compounding the issue of high vitamin consumption is that a number of processed foods are “fortified” with vitamins, causing you to have vitamin levels in excess of that which you consume in supplements.

In summary, the safe use of vitamins is best achieved by creating a partnership with a qualified medical professional and undergoing vitamin testing to ensure that what you’re taking is the right amount.

Excess amounts of Vitamin A acumulate and can eventually be toxic. Other effects of high levels of this vitamin include: blurred vision, headaches, vomiting and liver, bone and nervos system problems.

The RDA for men is 900 mcg and for women 700 mcg. Foods that are Vitamin A rich include: carrots, fortified cereals, dark leafy greens, fruits and sweet potatoes.

If you’re taking Zinc supplements, beware. High doses can interfere with how your body metabolizes copper and iron, may weaken the immune system and may also reduce the levels of HDL (good cholestrol).  It is unclear, since there are many studies with mixed results, if Zinc reduces the length of a common cold.

Zinc supplements can also interact with a number of drugs, including antibiotics, blood pressure medications and NSAIDs.

The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for Zinc is 11mg for men, 8 mg for women. Common sources include: meat and poultry, beans, nuts and lentils.

Vitamin D deficiencies are now thought to be rampant amongst kids.  While pediatricians thought the problem had been solved amongst children with Vitamin D fortification of milk, crereal and other foods, a number of studies shows that Vitamin D deficiency is much more of a health problem than anyone realized according to Catherine Gordon, director of the bone health program at Children’s Hospital Boston.  In the June issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Gordon found that a whopping 40% of toddlers and infants tested below average for Vitamin D. 

A review of Vitamin D research published last July in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that sunlight (15 minutes a day), diet and supplements are all good sources of this important Vitamin.  While the Nationhal Institutes of Medicine suggest 200 IU per day for children and 400 IU for adults, some doctors suggest doubling this dose as overdosing on Vitamin D is thought to be highly unlikely. 

As many of 95% of older Americans are also thought to be Vitamin D deficient.  Besides helping with bone health, Vitamin D is also thought to play a role in preventing diabetes and hypertension as well as decreasing heart attack risk according to the National Institutes of Health.

So how do you know if you are Vitamin D deficient?  Follow our proven process to get your Vitamin Levels checked !!!