Maternal Vitamin D Status During Pregnancy Influences Childhood Bone Mass

New research shows that pregnant mothers with inadequate vitamin D levels may negatively influence the long-term bone health of their children.

Vitamin D status is often poor in women of childbearing age, and evidence suggests that the risk of bone fracture (due to osteoporosis) in adulthood could be determined partly by environmental factors during pregnancy and early childhood. A recent study investigated the effect of maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy on childhood skeletal growth.

In a longitudinal study, researchers studied 198 children born in 1991 and 1992. Body build, nutrition, and vitamin D status of the mothers were examined during pregnancy, and the children were examined at age 9 to correlate the original maternal characteristics to their current body size and bone mass.

Forty-nine (31%) mothers had insufficient vitamin D levels, while another 28 (18%) had deficient levels during late pregnancy. Inadequate vitamin D in mothers during late pregnancy was associated with reduced whole-body and lumbar spine bone mineral content in children at age 9.

Maternal vitamin D insufficiency is common during pregnancy and now looks to be associated with reduced bone-mineral accumulation in offspring during childhood. Vitamin D supplementation of pregnant women, especially during winter months, could lead to improved bone health and a long-term reduction in the risk of osteoporosis in their children.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Urgent Plea For Your Help!

First, my apologies as it’s been quite a while since I’ve written to you. It’s always interesting the challenges that life tosses our way. As a result, I am coming to you with a plea and asking for your help.

Many of you know that the past few years have been a time of great challenge and change for me. They’ve also been years of exceptional personal and spiritual growth as well, and honestly, looking back, I wouldn’t change any of it. (well ok, maybe a few!!!) I believe there are always lessons we need to learn from these challenges so that we can move to a higher spiritual level. I certainly have and am thankful for the experience.

I was very blessed to have a partner come into my life a year ago who brought me great joy and peace. We were joined together at a ’soulular’ level with an incredibly strong and unbreakable connection and I loved him dearly.

Life had different plans for us though. In April he was diagnosed with cancer and after further testing and much consultation with oncologists, it was determined he should have surgery and then chemo. Arrangements were made and I took him in on July 10th for his surgery.

Well by now you may realize that I’ve been writing in the past tense here …. it didn’t go well. Once opened up the cancer was found everywhere. The doctors did what they could but the prognosis was bad. The worst was yet to come when in the recovery room he ‘bled out’ and was rushed back into surgery to stop the bleeding and try and keep him alive.

Here’s what I want you all to really recognize!

Suddenly he had lost his entire bodys’ volume of blood. Bag after bag of blood was given to him. That night he had 14 units of whole blood alone, along with many bags of frozen plasma and platelets. By the end, he had 21 units of blood given to him. I watched it flow into him along with other fluids to try and bring his pressure up and replace what he was losing, to sustain him another minute, another hour, another day.

He fought valiantly and courageously for 3 1/2 weeks until his body gave up and nothing more could be done for him. I held him as he passed and closed his eyes when it was over. I was honoured to have been by his side and to help him through this incredibly difficult time. Who knows, I suspect this is the reason the universe brought us together. No one should be alone at times like this and had we not met, he would have been. I’m so very blessed and grateful to have shared this time with him although it was so short.

Our lives can change in a single instant. My plea to you is this - PLEASE GIVE BLOOD. Give the life saving blood that is in such critical demand all over the world. Your local communities will offer blood donor clinics. You can check these out by visiting the American Red Cross in the United States at http://www.redcross.org/donate/give/ or calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543). In Canada contact the Canadian Blood Services, http://www.bloodservices.ca/ or by calling 1-888-2-DONATE.

It’s always interesting to notice how serendipitous life can be. One and a half weeks after I lost my partner, I attended my weekly Rotary meeting. Amazingly, the speaker that day was from Canadian Blood Services with a plea for my Rotary Clubs’ help in giving blood and passing the message along.

How timely! I stood up and shared with my fellow Rotarians how true in fact this plea was as I had just lived this. We never know when or how our lives may be touched by someone requiring this life saving fluid. It’s established fact that we all will be touched by cancer in our lives, whether ourselves or someone in our family or close to us. Chemo patients often require blood and blood products to help them through their treatment.

Now, I can’t give blood due to my own health challenges, but I realized after listening to this speaker that I could give time and I could ask you for your help. I immediately volunteered my time to assist in blood donation clinics or speaking on their behalf and I am spreading the word by asking you.

So there are no excuses and I ask you again, please give blood or give time for this very worthy cause. Who knows, one day you or a loved one could be the patient lying in a hospital bed receiving this precious gift of life. The life you save could be your own!

I thank you all for your support and for giving blood. And I thank everyone who donated the blood that was so vital in keeping my Brian alive for those few short weeks. I carry your kindness in my heart always.

I will be back in touch soon and ask for your patience as I move through the grieving process.

My best wishes and thanks to you all.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Prenatal Zinc Supplementation Influences Lean Tissue Growth in Infants

A double-blind study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed a significant positive correlation between supplemental zinc during pregnancy and infant growth throughout the first year of life.

 

It has been suggested that maternal zinc intake influences growth in utero and in the first stages of growth after birth. In a recent study, researchers assessed the effect of maternal zinc supplementation during pregnancy as well as its effects on infant growth during the first twelve months.

A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of prenatal zinc supplementation was conducted among women in Lima, Peru between 1995 and 1997. Women enrolled during the second trimester and were assigned to receive daily supplements with zinc (15 mg zinc + 60 mg iron + 250 mcg folic acid) or without zinc (just 60 mg iron + 250 mcg folic acid) through pregnancy to one month after delivery. At birth, 546 infants were followed for 12 months to assess growth. Measurements were collected monthly while health status and dietary intake were monitored weekly.

Infants born to mothers supplemented with zinc had significantly larger average growth measures beginning at 4 months and continuing through month 12. Prenatal zinc was associated with greater weight, calf circumference, chest circumference, and calf muscle area.

In this population of women, zinc supplementation during pregnancy resulted in children with better growth measures (which were in turn associated with healthy increases in lean tissue mass).

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

What Are Antioxidants? Part 1

Free radicals are atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. Once formed, these highly reactive radicals may cause damage to cells, organelles, and DNA. Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and terminate their reactive behavior before vital cellular components are harmed. The body cannot manufacture many antioxidants (including micronutrients like vitamin C), so they must be supplied by the diet.

 

Free radicals (pro-oxidants) are atoms or molecules with unpaired electrons. These highly reactive substances can be formed in a number of ways, and once formed they may use their reactivity to damage important cellular components - such as the cell membrane - or macromolecules like DNA. This damage can lead to mutation, impaired function, and even cell death. To minimize potential damage from free radicals, the body utilizes a defense system of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and terminate their reactivity before vital cellular components are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin/mineral) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and selenium. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients, so they must be acquired by diet. In addition, there are many plant-derived nutrients (phytonutrients) that can act as powerful antioxidants in the human body.

It is impossible to completely avoid damage from free radicals. Free radicals arise from sources both inside (endogenous) and outside (exogenous) our bodies. Oxidants that develop from processes within our bodies form as a result of normal breathing, metabolism, and inflammation. Exogenous free radicals form from environmental factors such as pollution, sunlight, strenuous exercise, smoking, and alcohol. Unfortunately, no antioxidant system is perfect, so cells and DNA damaged by oxidation accumulate as we age.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Mercury In Dental Fillings Harmful

 

The use of mercury amalgams in dental fillings continues, despite a steady decline due to public awareness. After years of negotiations and stalling, the FDA has now been forced to agree that mercury amalgams should not be used in pregnant women and children. It’s an important step toward eliminating mercury use from all medical practice.

The FDA admits mercury fillings are harmful
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally admitted that mercury from amalgam dental fillings may be toxic to children and developing fetuses. The admission came as the FDA settled a lawsuit filed by Moms Against Mercury and others concerned about mercury exposure.

Anyone who knows me even casually has to be aware that the banishment of mercury amalgams in dental fillings has been one of my passions for many years. Mercury is a poison, and it has no place in the mouths of humans (or animals, for that matter). Yet the professional dental community and government health authorities have steadfastly denied that any harm is done by using mercury in dental fillings, despite a wealth of evidence to the contrary, as I made clear in my book A Mouth Full of Poison.

As part of the court settlement, the FDA agreed to alert consumers about the potential health risks on their Web site. The decision by the court also begins a comment period on the safety of mercury amalgams that ends in a year. The FDA must reconsider its proposed classification of mercury amalgam as a Class II device, the same category of safety as wheelchairs, requiring only a simple warning. The American Dental Association and amalgam manufacturers don’t want mercury amalgam to be placed in Class III, because that would mean they have to prove that it is safe to use. They can’t do that, and they know it. They know that the medical evidence continues to mount that mercury amalgam damages human cells and contributes to a long litany of illnesses, especially neurological disorders. I believe this court ruling is a necessary first step in completely banning the use of mercury for all medical and dental procedures.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Getting Fit - One Step at a Time

 

 

Exercise is a key to a healthy lifestyle. If you find it difficult to schedule dedicated time each day to exercise, find creative ways daily to incorporate it into your lifestyle. Some ideas are: actively play with your children, break up an exercise routine into 10-minute segments throughout your day and get up and move every hour while at work.

To maintain a youthful lifestyle, Slow down and pace yourself. Quit scurrying around like a squirrel preparing its nest for winter. You can’t enjoy life if you run through it at breakneck speed.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

 

Inadequate Vitamin Levels May Result in Poor Athletic Performance

Athletes and active individuals with low B-vitamin intakes may perform worse in high-intensity exercise and have a decreased ability to build and repair muscle. Active individuals, especially those with poor or limited diets, should consider using a multivitamin supplement.

Athletes deficient in B-vitamins may perform worse during high-intensity exercise and have less ability to repair and build muscle than individuals with nutrient-rich diets.

B vitamins, including thiamin, riboflavin, B6, B12, and folate, are required by the body for proper conversion of proteins and sugars into energy. B vitamins are also utilized during the production and repair of cells, including red blood cells.

In a recent study, researchers analyzed both diet and athletic performance of several elite and collegiate athletes, as well as those of less competitive individuals. Even a marginal deficiency in these nutrients negatively influenced the ability of the athletes’ bodies to repair, operate efficiently, and fight disease. Exercise-induced stress, changes in body tissues resulting from training, increased loss of nutrients (in sweat, urine, and feces), and the additional nutrients needed to repair and maintain higher levels of lean tissue mass may all affect an individual’s B-vitamin requirements.

The researchers noted that current national B-vitamin recommendations for active individuals may be inadequate, and chronic deficiencies could jeopardize athlete’s abilities and long-term health. Athletes, as well as individuals with poor and restricted diets, should consider a multivitamin supplement to ensure B-vitamin adequacy.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Omega-3 Fatty Acids vs. Statin Drugs for Reducing Mortality Risk

A recent meta-analysis (involving almost 100 clinical trials and more than 250,000 individuals) reviewed mortality risk reduction from both statin drugs and omega-3 fatty acids. The results were impressive: statins reduced overall mortality risk by 13%, while omega-3 fatty acids reduced it by a dramatic 23%.

A review published in the April 11, 2005 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine analyzed the effects of various lipid-lowering regimens on overall mortality and mortality from coronary heart disease. Researchers reviewed 97 clinical trials that included 137,140 men and women receiving treatment and 138,976 control subjects. This analysis compared the mortality risk associated with diet, lipid-lowering drugs, omega-3 fatty acids (commonly found in fish oils), and niacin.Statins (a class of lipid-lowering drugs) and omega-3 fatty acids significantly lowered both overall and coronary heart disease mortality risk during the trial periods. When compared to controls, overall mortality risk was reduced 13 percent by statin drugs and 23 percent by omega-3 fatty acids. When the risk of mortality from heart disease alone was examined, the use of statin drugs and omega-3 fatty acids were found to lower the risk by 22 and 32 percent, respectively.

Since omega-3 fatty acids did not reduce cholesterol levels significantly, researchers suggest that protection against heart arrhythmias, in addition to known anti-inflammatory properties, may be responsible for the reduction in mortality risk.

 

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements Enhance Health Benefits of Weight Loss

In a recent study, women with low calcium intake were given either a calcium + vitamin D supplement or placebo in conjunction with a 15-week weight-loss program. Those who received the calcium + vitamin D supplement had a greater tendency for beneficial changes in LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol levels.

Research has demonstrated that overweight individuals with low calcium and dairy intakes have an increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Naturally, this suggests that adequate calcium intake could create a healthier metabolic profile ” one more similar to a balanced diet and regular exercise.

In a recent study, researchers explored this possibility by testing cardiovascular health indicators after long-term calcium supplementation in women with usual low calcium intake. Healthy overweight or obese women with a daily calcium intake of less than 800 mg per day were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: group A received two tablets/day of a calcium + vitamin D supplement (600 mg elemental calcium and 200 IU vitamin D/tablet), while group B received a placebo. Both groups completed a 15-week reduced calorie weight-loss program.

Significant decreases in LDL cholesterol levels, as well as improvements in the ratios of total to LDL and LDL to HDL cholesterol were seen the calcium + vitamin D group. These changes were independent of changes due to fat loss and reduced waist circumference. Tendencies for more beneficial changes in HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol were also observed in the calcium + vitamin D group.

This study demonstrates that adequate consumption of calcium and vitamin D during weight loss enhances other beneficial effects of body weight loss on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women with previously low calcium intake.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Getting Fit - One Step At A Time!

Research has shown that people who wear a pedometer and have a daily goal of walking 10,000 steps, walk an average of a mile longer each day.

Make getting fit a family activity. Sign up for a 1 or 3.1 mile fun run and train as a family. This will get everyone motivated to exercise and have a fun event to look forward to doing together.

 

Research has shown that people who wrote down everything they ate discovered they had underestimated their daily calorie intake by 1,050 calories. That could add up to gaining a pound every 3½ days.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Review of omega-3 fatty acids and heart disease risk

A recent issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings summarizes the latest findings on omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular health, and advocates supplementation for the groups most likely to benefit.

Large trials of over 32,000 participants using fish oil supplements have shown reductions in cardiovascular events (heart attacks, stroke) of 19% to 45%. Researchers recommend consumption of EPA and DHA at 1 gram/day for those with known coronary artery disease and at least 500 mg/day for those without disease. The recommendation is increased to 3 to 4 grams/day for those with high triglycerides, a dosage shown to lower triglycerides by as much as 20% to 50%. Since 2 meals of oily fish per week generally provide only 400 to 500 mg/day of DHA and EPA, people with high triglycerides and heart disease are strongly encouraged to use fish oil supplements to reach beneficial levels. Researchers also state that the combination of omega-3 supplements and statin drugs provides significantly enhanced benefit over statin use alone in improving blood lipid levels.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Problem Free????

With so many uncertainties in the real estate market nowadays, I was reflecting and thinking that this would be of value to you.  Read it and absorb what it is saying to you.  Practice it and see your lives and what you are currently experiencing in your real estate business, or in any other circumstance for that matter, see it from this perspective and recognize that something only becomes a “problem” if you allow it to and if you think of it in those terms.  If you believe it is a problem then so it shall be!

How many new and ambitious efforts would you undertake if you knew for sure that there would be no problems?

And how many worthwhile achievements do you avoid because you fear that there will be problems?

And yes, you always have what it takes to work through those problems without being overwhelmed by them.

In order to be free of problems, you do not need to avoid those problems.

You can be surrounded by all sorts of complex problems, deeply involved in working through those problems, and still be free of them.

Because the problems will get to you only to the extent that you allow them to do so.

You can give your time, effort and attention to the problems while at the same time keeping your precious, innermost self completely detached from them.

Success is attained not by avoiding problems.

Spectacular success comes when you can thoroughly deal with the problems wihtout letting them pull you down.

Learn to keep the inner part of you problem free.  And no problem will ever be a “problem” for you!

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Long-term magnesium intake reduces the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease among men

About 10-15 percent of the U.S. population (20 million people) have gallstones, and 1 million new cases are diagnosed yearly, according to the US National Institutes of Health. New research indicates that higher magnesium intake may decrease the risk of gallstone disease.

Magnesium deficiency has been associated with alterations in blood lipids (cholesterol) and insulin hypersecretion, which can lead to formation of gallstones. In addition, gallstone disease is an important risk factor for gallbladder cancer. A recent study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology analyzed the effect of long-term consumption of magnesium on the risk of gallstone disease.

Researchers studied magnesium consumption and risk of gallstone disease in a group of 42,705 U.S. men from 1986 to 2002. Magnesium intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, and newly diagnosed gallstone disease was determined twice a year.

During 13 years of follow-up, 2,195 cases of gallstones were documented. The average intake of magnesium was calculated to 352.8 milligrams per day for the study population. Men with the highest average levels of magnesium intake (454 mg/d) were 28 per cent less likely to develop gallstones, compared to men with the lowest average intake (262 mg/d).

It is not yet known whether higher magnesium intake protects against initial formation of gallbladder stones, or whether it simply decreases the likelihood of the already existing gallstones becoming symptomatic. However, since surveys show that most adults do not meet the RDA for magnesium (320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men), improving the diet and supplementing magnesium may prove to be an effective means of reducing the progression of gallstone disease.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Getting Fit - One Step At A Time

Dyes and chemicals used to flavor and preserve junk food, require a lot of extra vitamins and minerals from the body just to metabolize and detoxify them.

Because junk food has no nutrients in it, the body must use its precious stores of nutrients to digest junk food.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

 

Vitamin D insufficiency widespread even in sunny climates

It is well-established that vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is very common among northern populations. However, there is little information on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in southern climates with high sun exposure. A recent study shows that adult residents of southern Arizona are commonly deficient in vitamin D despite living in an area with chronic sun exposure.

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition determined and analyzed blood vitamin D levels in a group of residents of southern Arizona (statistically representative of the larger population).

Participants were categorized into 4 groups on the basis of serum vitamin D concentrations: <10.0 ng/mL, 10.0 to 19.9 ng/mL, 20.0 to 29.9 ng/mL, and 30.0 ng/mL and over. A level of 30 ng/ml is considered a minimum healthy level, and more optimal levels are at 50 ng/ml or more.

The average vitamin D concentration for the total population was 26 ng/mL. Of 637 participants, 22.3% had vitamin D concentrations >30 ng/mL, 25.4% had concentrations <20 ng/mL, and 2.0% had concentrations <10 ng/mL. Blacks (55.5%) and Hispanics (37.6%) were more likely to have deficient vitamin D concentrations (<20 ng/mL) than were non-Hispanic whites (22.7%). Exposure to sunlight had a greater effect on vitamin D levels in whites than in blacks and Hispanics.

Adult residents of southern Arizona are commonly deficient in vitamin D despite living in an area with chronic sun exposure. Adults with darker skin are particularly at risk for vitamin D insufficiency.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement”

award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Meta-analysis of glycemic index and glycemic load effects on chronic disease

Due to inconsistent findings from observational studies, there is controversy over the effects of dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) on the risk of certain chronic diseases. A recent meta-analysis showed that diets high in GI and/or GL increase the risk of certain chronic, degenerative diseases.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recently published a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between GI, GL, and chronic disease risk.

A total of 37 prospective cohort studies of GI and GL and chronic disease risk were included. In 4 to 20 years of follow-up across studies, a total of 40,129 incident cases of degenerative diseases were identified. For the comparison between the highest and lowest quantiles of GI and GL, significant positive associations were found for type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, gallbladder disease, breast cancer, and all diseases combined.

Low-GI and/or low-GL diets are independently associated with a reduced risk of certain chronic diseases. Relating to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, the protection is similar with that seen in diets high in whole grains and fiber. The findings support the hypothesis that higher GI and GL diets, and their resulting increases in postprandial (after meal) blood glucose levels, increase the risk of several chronic, degenerative diseases.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Getting Fit - One Step at a Time

Poor posture can reduce the amount of oxygen flowing to your lungs, brain and muscles. Muscle tension is released and you will breathe easier when your body is properly aligned.

Oxygen is essential for life. Increasing your oxygen intake through deep breathing and exercise has been shown to increase your metabolism. Oxygen is the fuel that burns fat.

Slow, deep breathing brings air to the lowest part of your lungs and exercises your diaphragm. Deep breathing relaxes your mind and body, massages your internal organs, calms emotions and promotes restful sleep.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award
at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

The Importance of Vitamin E

We’ve all heard and it is clear that there is an epidemic vitamin D deficiency.  Few people are aware that there is also a serious epidemic deficiency of vitamin E.   An editorial that accompanied the largest study on vitamin E in medical history (Am J Clin Nutr 2006 Nov;84(5):1200-7) stated 93% of American men and 96% of American women do not obtain the [pathetically low] recommended dietary allowance of 15 IU of vitamin E per day.  It is clear that we should be taking at least 30 to 50 times that level (400 to 1000 IU/day) to reduce the risk of chronic diseases.  Taking this much vitamin E in the correct form and balance with other vitamins, is both safe and effective; more than the pharmaceutical companies would have you believe.   However, it is in the economic interest of pharmaceutical companies to dissuade the public from taking supplements so that they can be on medications that do little to nothing to reverse disease.  Other health practitioners make their living by “educating” others that they can get everything they need from their food alone.   The medical research indicates otherwise.  The amount of vitamin E, as well as other important vitamins, required to reduce the risk of chronic diseases can only be obtained through supplementation. 

Tragically many doctors and the lay person have the misconception that vitamins, such as vitamin E supplementation may be harmful.  There seems to be continued misinformation put out in news media and health magazines, regarding the “dangers” of supplementation.  Either they are not aware of the medical research, or they are purposefully misleading the public for their own gain.  This non-stop attempt to persuade people not to supplement, but to get all their antioxidants from their food alone is at minimum unethical, at worst dangerous.   Vitamin E seems to be in these detractors line of fire more than any other nutrient, probably because it is the most common supplement used today.   With the thousands of medical studies showing the benefits of supplemental vitamin E, how is it that there is still controversy and confusion?  The doses of vitamin E that research has shown to be of benefit can ONLY be obtained through proper supplementation. 

Almost weekly a new study about the benefits of vitamin E is published.  Almost all show health benefits or potential health benefits.   Because vitamin E is one of the most popular supplements, it is only when a medical study or report showing a possible negative effect it is reported by the media, either to make headlines, and/or to scare people away from taking this incredible vitamin.  The negative findings regarding vitamin E of a few medical reports have either shown to be excessively biased, restricting other important vitamins that work synergistically with vitamin E, poorly designed, or bearing no cause and effect of vitamin E to a detrimental health impact.  The studies of vitamin E that have shown a true potential negative impact are few, but of more importance it has given us clarity regarding the synergistic impact of various vitamins as well as the importance of the formulation of vitamin E.   

Vitamins must work together for optimal benefit!

Studies published many years ago showed that for vitamin E to continue to function as an antioxidant within the body, adequate levels of vitamin C must be present to regenerate (donate more electrons) to vitamin E so that it can continue to prevent oxidation of lipids.  Any study about vitamin E that restricts the participants from also taking vitamin C is setting up the study to show nothing more than how vitamin E is quickly “used up,” and not regenerated to continuously provide an antioxidant benefit.   It tells us nothing about the real benefits that can be obtained from proper supplementation.

The correct formulation of vitamin E is critical.

Vitamin E is a family of nutrients; alpha, delta, and gamma-tocopherols and tocotrienols.   There is a difference between the synthetic (petroleum-derived) vitamin E, dl apha-tocopherol , and the natural (food-based ) vitamin E, d alpha-tocopherol.  Gamma-tocopherol is a critical form of vitamin E needed to reduce the oxidation of lipids (cholesterol) in conjunction with alpha-tocopherol.  (J Am Copll Cardiol.  1999 Oct:34(4):1208-15, Pro Natl Acad Sci USA, 1993 Mar 1:90(5):1771-5)  In addition, studies have shown that people who supplement solely with vitamin E in the alpha-tocopherol form are at risk to lower the blood levels of a critical form of vitamin E, gamma-tocopherol.   (J Nutr. 2003 Oct:133(10):3137-40; J Nutr.1985 Jun:115(6):807-13 )  The average American’s blood-stream is five times more rich in alpha-tocopherol than gamma-tocopherol, and that difference jumps 20 fold among people who take vitamin E as alph-tocopherol without gamma tocopherol. 

In 2007, a negative study about vitamin E (that lingers as the “justification” for the case against vitamin E) highlights the way the public can be mislead to make some poor decisions about supplementation.  (JAMA Feb 27, 2007).  This was a flawed study with flawed data that concluded that vitamins A and E “significantly increased the risk of mortality.”  This meta-analysis (report) did very little to help us understand the benefits of vitamin E, but showed us just how data, and the public’s opinion, can be manipulated.   The authors of this meta-analysis (which is not a study per se, but a review of previous published studies) considered 815 prior studies regarding antioxidants, but included the results of only 68 of these studies for analysis.  Some of the studies excluded from their report showed significant benefits and reduction of mortality from taking supplements.  Selection bias was glaringly evident.  The authors essentially “cherry-picked” the studies they wanted, and ignored others, so that they could come to their desired conclusion:  vitamin E can kill you! 

The authors were unable to establish any cause and effect between supplementation with vitamin E and an increased risk of death, making this a poorly designed study.  The elderly people who died could have just as easily died from accidents, medications, surgery, etc. …who knows?  One noted researcher described this report a kin to “doing a cholesterol-lowering study without ever measuring cholesterol levels.”  Furthermore, the average duration of the reviewed studies was 2.7 years, so the ridiculous conclusion that the authors wanted the public to believe was that vitamin E could kill you (somehow) in less than 3 years!   

The others ignored many studies showing significant benefits derived from supplemental vitamin E.  One such study that was ignored by these researchers was the November 10, 2006 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition which is the largest study on vitamin E in medical history measuring alpha-tocopherol in male smokers.  (Am J Clin Nutr 2006 Nov;84(5):1200-7)  This study followed 29,000 patients for over 19 years, and included over 13,000 deaths, …making possible a significant and fair analysis of vitamin E and the risk of death.

This study showed a significant reduction in overall mortality in those patients with the highest blood levels of alpha-tocopherol.  Specifically, over a 19-year period men with the highest blood levels of alpha-tocopherol  showed the following reduction in causes of death:

Prostate Cancer             32% Reduction of Death

Ischemic Stroke              37% Reduction of Death

Hemorrhagic Stroke        35% Reduction of Death

Lung Cancer                    21% Reduction of Death

Respiratory Illness          42% Reduction of Death

The authors of this significant and powerful study stated:  “As a primary fat-soluble antioxidant that protects lipids from peroxidation, alpha-tocopherol is able to scavenge mutagenic free radicals and inhibit the oxidation of LDL-cholesterol, and the abilities have important implications for the prevention of carcinogenesis and atherosclerosis ….alpha-tocopherol also has several important functions that are independent of its antioxidant activity, including modulation of gene expression, enhancements of immune responses , an suppression of tumor angiogenesis.”

The researchers further elaborated that although the patients who enjoyed the greatest health benefits had higher blood levels of alpha-tocopherol, these same subjects also had the highest levels of gamma-tocopherol, meaning that these people were taking the natural formulation of vitamin E, not dl-alpha-tocopherol without gamma-tocopherol and the tocotrienols.   This study, and other significant studies are ignored by the media, and obviously by doctors who are continually visited and educated by pharmaceutical companies. 

Certainly, there are tens of thousands of studies reporting the benefits of various nutritional supplements.  They are both safe and effective.  If doctors and the public were simply made aware of the poorly designed analyses that denigrate vitamin E supplementation, and the significant studies about the benefits of taking vitamin E, in the form of alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol (along with delta-tocopherol and the mixed tocotrienols) along with vitamin C and vitamin K, which replenishes the antioxidant abilities of vitamin E, then I believe that not only would people need less medication and reduce the economic crisis in the health care industry, but more importantly people could enjoy the true health and happiness that can be obtained by eating right, exercise, and proper supplementation with a full spectrum of quality vitamins and minerals.

The natural form of vitamin E, along with co-enzyme Q10, the red grape extract (grape seed extract and resveratrol) and a full spectrum of other antioxidants (quercetin, alpha lipoic acid, turmeric extract, olive extract, green tea extract, etc.), vitamins (B, C, D, and K), and minerals in the chelated form, all contribute to safely and significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, lung diseases, and almost every other chronic  degenerative disease, as well as slow the aging process, all without the side-effects of drugs.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award
at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Pregnant Women and Early Visual Acuity in Infants

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid found most commonly in fish oil, is important to neural development. It is speculated that DHA intakes are low enough in some pregnant women to impair infant development.

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared eye development scores among infants of women who supplemented DHA versus infants of women with typical diets. Supplemental DHA at 400 mg/day or a placebo was consumed by the women from 16 weeks of gestation until delivery. Researchers determined maternal red blood cell fatty acids, dietary intakes at 16 and 36 weeks gestation, and infant visual acuity at 60 days of age.

Infant visual acuity was related to sex and maternal DHA levels. More infant girls in the placebo than in the DHA group had a visual acuity below average and maternal red blood cell fatty acids were inversely related to visual acuity in both boys and girls.

These results suggest that some pregnant women in the study population were DHA-deficient.
View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny

Higher Plasma Vitamin C Concentrations Predict Lower Risk of Stroke in Adults

In a British study of over 20,000 adults, those with the highest plasma vitamin C levels had a significantly lower risk of stroke when compared to adults with lower levels.

To date, clinical trials have not shown significant benefit of vitamin C supplementation in reducing stroke risk, but they have not examined the relation between plasma vitamin C concentrations and stroke risk in a general population.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the relation between baseline plasma vitamin C concentrations and risk of incident stroke in a British population of over 20,000 adult men and women. The participants completed a health questionnaire and attended a clinic during 1993″1997. After an average follow-up time of 9.5 years, the participants in the top fourth of plasma vitamin C levels had a 42% lower risk of stroke compared to those with the lowest levels. These results were independent of age, sex, smoking, BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, physical activity, diabetes, social class, alcohol consumption, and any supplement use.

Plasma vitamin C concentrations, therefore, may act as an indicator of lifestyle or other factors associated with reduced stroke risk and may be helpful in determining those at high risk of stroke.

View the #1 Rated Nutritional Supplement in North America, recipient of the “NutriSearch GOLD Medal of Achievement” award at www.vibranthealthandprosperity.usana.com today!

To your vibrant health,

Mary Wozny