How to Choose a Multivitamin

While it’s generally agreed that a balanced diet is the best foundation for health, some studies suggest that to receive the required amounts of all vitamins and minerals we would need to consume approximately 3,000 calories worth of very specific fruit and vegetable combinations on a daily basis. For anyone who is not free to cook—and eat—for the majority of the day, this is not a viable option.

For these reasons among others, it’s no surprise that a study conducted by The Council for Responsible Nutrition shows that a daily multivitamin is the first choice among dietary supplements. Adding to healthy eating with the missing vitamins and minerals not only helps prevent deficiencies related to disease; it also promotes optimal performance in everyday life. As a result, multivitamin supplementation continues to increase, as do the available choices. When it comes to making the right choice, the following points will provide solid guidance.

• Most multivitamins will contain approximately 100 percent of the RDA recommendations for 20-25 individual nutrients—in general, the most important of these are the B-complex vitamins, Vitamin D and Vitamin E, and these can certainly be present in higher amounts.
• Biotin is critical for B-complex absorption, but is often included in minimal amounts for reasons of cost—a quality multivitamin will contain 100 percent of the RDA.
• Zinc is regarded as increasingly important in recent studies, and obtaining the entire RDA from food can be challenging; a quality multivitamin should contain approximately 50 percent of the RDA to make up the difference.
• Iodine helps to ensure proper thyroid function, which is foundational to proper metabolism—a sound multivitamin formula will contain 100 percent of the RDA.
• Despite debate about iron supplementation, it is almost certainly advisable for pre-menopausal women; their RDA is set at 18mg, while men require 8mg.
• Selenium has demonstrated particular potential for men’s health, specifically prostate function, but intake must be moderate, regardless of gender—a balanced formulation will contain 75 to 100 percent of the RDA.

As the last two points suggest, varied vitamin and mineral needs have been shown in certain populations, such as higher amounts of B-complex for athletes, Vitamin D for adults over 65, and other categories based on individual genetics and lifestyle habits. Assessing those needs and taking the next step towards custom nutrition may prove useful for those individuals.

All of the above, however, will definitely prove useful in selecting a good general-purpose multivitamin. In times when many of us find ourselves struggling to reach the top of the food pyramid, this simple measure can deliver a much-needed nutritional boost.

Caffeine may lower Parkinson's Risk: Study

In a study presented at the American Academy of Neurology 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Dr. G. Webster Ross and colleagues report a relationship between coffee and caffeine consumption and a reduced potential for Parkinson’s disease. Specifically, drinking three large cups of coffee a day—a total of approximately 28 ounces over the course of 24 hours—could protect against the development of Lewy bodies in the brain.

These abnormal accumulations of protein within nerve cells are an established precursor—in other words, the earliest, preclinical stage of Parkinson’s. Earlier work published by Dr. Ross and colleagues that looked at the incidence of Parkinson’s over 30 years of follow-up among also showed that it’s occurrence was highest among those who never drank coffee and lowest among those who consumed the most, with a similar trend for total caffeine intake.

In order to identify Lewy bodies in subjects, researchers used sensitive alpha-synuclein staining in multiple brain stem regions of the 519 participants and performed Braak PD staging. Of the 519 participants, it was established that 443 had no Lewy bodies present, whereas 76 did.

The exact protective mechanism of caffeine in regard to the brain is unknown, but animal studies do indicate that caffeine blocks the adenosine A2A receptors that control movement, which are very sensitive to caffeine. Animal research has also shown a protective effect of genetic depletion of the A2A receptor in knockout models of the gene, said Dr. Ross.

For humans, this explanation is still unconfirmed. “Whether coffee or caffeine are neuroprotective in humans remains uncertain,” said Dr. Ross. “There’s still this sort of nagging idea that people with PD may for some reason avoid coffee and caffeine containing products.”

Nonetheless, this study does establish an encouraging, positive correlation for those looking to maintain neurological health and function. Along with recently reported antioxidant properties, evidence is growing in favor of coffee and the caffeine it contains, in terms of potential health benefits.

Red Wine & a Healthy Heart

Over the last several years moderate red wine consumption has not only increased but has also been encouraged. This phenomenon has occurred due to the acceptance by the medical community, as well as the general public, of the documented health benefits of red wine consumption.

Wine polyphenols, such as resveratrol, have been credited with those health benefits related to red wine use. These polyphenols have been shown to be effective in reducing the occurrence and damage of free radicals, decreasing the risks of heart disease, increasing the death rate and destruction of cancerous cells, and improving the outcomes of other health conditions and concerns.

The mechanisms by which wine polyphenols perform their activities have not been fully indentified, and those that have been are not completely understood. A study published in Food Research International investigated the effects of red wine polyphenols on the rate of oxidation of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the blood, in addition to their abilities to neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are both a cause and a result of fatty acid oxidation, creating a vicious cycle that can have far-reaching health affects.

This study showed that red wine polyphenols appeared to protect fatty acids from oxidation, especially the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and in doing so also reduced and controlled the production of free radicals. By identifying this process, researchers believe that they may have found one mechanism through which these polyphenols provide anti-inflammatory benefits to the body.

By protecting and retaining healthy fatty acid levels, polyphenols influence the actions of those fatty acids, especially omega-3’s, which have been proven to influence healthy cholesterol levels and heart functions, vision and eye health, cognitive health, blood circulation, joint health and comfort, and much more.

Consuming red wine has often been seen as a pleasurable, as well as a social activity. Most individuals have never or will never think of this activity as doing something healthy for their body. Dietary habits that encourage wine consumption, such as those of the French and Mediterranean lifestyles, support the notion that wine provides beneficial components that can improve the quality of life. Research on wine consumption, as well as supplements that contain wine-related polyphenols, appears to be primarily positive and continues to grow.

New study for heart failure patients

Each year in the US, 400,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure. The combination of CoQ10 and Pycnogenol® is an effective, natural solution for patients who suffer from heart failure. Although the results of heart failure cannot be reversed, the natural alternative can help people manage this condition.

Research has shown that Coenzyme Q10 has the ability to strengthen the heart muscles, and Pycnogenol® can help strengthen the heart chamber walls and dilates arteries. A recent study showed improvement in blood flow and general heart health in patients with heart failure with a combination of Coenzyme Q10 and the branded pine bark extract Pycnogenol®.

The study involved heart failure patients between the ages of 54 and 68. The group was randomly assigned the combination of Pycnogenol® (pine bark)/ Coenzyme Q10 or a placebo. The results showed a greater decrease in blood pressure in the Pycnogenol®/ Coenzyme Q10 group than the placebo. The study also showed an increase in the amount of blood pumped by the heart.

With ever increasing healthcare costs, patients and doctors are seeking natural alternatives to improve health. A Pycnogenol / Coenzyme Q10 combination offers a promising alternative to heart failure patients without the side effects of traditional medications.

Curcumin may improve the outcome of tendonitis.

Turmeric has long been used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of a range of health related conditions. Curcumin, a natural component of this spice, has been identified as being primarily responsible for turmeric’s activities. Research on curcumin has shown that it provides a variety of benefits such as improving antioxidant status, inflammatory conditions, immune functions, and cognitive health.
Preliminary research in people with arthritis found curcumin to be helpful in reducing inflammation and symptoms such as pain and stiffness. Based on this information, a recent study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry (August 2011) looked into the affects of curcumin on the inflammatory process of tendonitis. Tendonitis can cause swelling, pain, stiffness, and burning around a joint which not only can affect movement but can also last for months depending on the damage and treatment. This study looked at the direct impact of curcumin on human tendon cells. Researchers found that the curcumin not only helped to reduce existing inflammatory markers, it also helped to reduce the initiation and promotion of inflammation. Though more research is necessary, this study supports the potential role for curcumin in treating inflammatory conditions, especially those in relation to tendons and joints.

To read more on this study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3151097/

Welcome to the new look of nutraMetrix®!

nutraMetrix is excited to welcome you to the launch of its redesigned Web portal. The changes made highlight the revamped nutraMetrix brand and will help you take full advantage of your nutraMetrix Web portal. It is a great place to guide Health Professionals and their patients to the best nutraMetrix products and services. The new nutraMetrix Web portal serves as a central location for resources and information for patients. The new nutraMetrix.com includes:

• Detailed health regimens for reference
• Customizable profiles
• Product news & announcements
• Access to the latest studies and industry updates
• Navigation to nutraMetrix social media outlets

So start exploring the new nutraMetrix Web portal and let us know what you think!

Vitamin D may help to reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.

Vitamin D is rapidly becoming one of the most studied vitamins of our time. These studies have indicated that vitamin D is closely linked with several aspects of human health and survival. A new meta-analysis (collective review and analysis of previous studies) published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (July 2011), reported finding a clear correlation between vitamin D intake of greater than 500 IU per day and a 13% reduced risk for developing type-2 diabetes. It was also noted that those individuals with the highest blood levels of vitamin D (>25 ng/dl) had a 43% lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes than
those individuals with the lowest blood levels (<14 ng/ml). This research review shows that vitamin D may play a role in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes; however, more high quality studies will be needed to find how and to what extent it may be used in the course of this health-related condition.

To read more on this study:
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/ejcn2011118a.html