USA Today is reporting that testing for vitamin D levels, once uncommon, has skyrocketed as medical studies raise awareness about vitamin D deficiencies. Physicians agree that they’re increasingly using the blood test to find out whether their patients are low on the vital vitamin.

My Take?

The AP is reporting new research linking low vitamin D levels with deaths from heart disease and other causes. In fact, patients with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D were about two times more likely to die from any cause during the next eight years than those with the highest levels, the study found. The link with heart-related deaths was particularly strong in those with low vitamin D levels.

My Take?

Reuters Health is reporting a small study showing adolescents can safely take, and may need, vitamin D doses that are up to 10 times what is generally recommended. They found that the high vitamin dose caused no toxic effects.

According to MedPage, a new meta-analysis shows that consuming high levels of omega-3 fatty acids (by eating fish twice a week) was associated with a 38% lowered risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – a  disease that causes severe vision loss in the elderly.

In yet another study of vitamin D, Reuters is reporting a study where scientists found that low vitamin D levels are associated with a higher risk for heart attack. 

Researchers studied medical records and blood samples from 454 men aged 40-75 who had either died from heart disease or who were alive but had a heart attack.

Reuters Health is reporting a study showing that people with low vitamin D levels may face an increased risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD). In participants with the highest vitamin D levels, only 3.7 percent had PAD. Among those with the lowest levels, 8.1 percent had PAD.

Here are my takes on some of today’s health headlines, including one that is, in my opinion, being blown way out of perspective:

Mercury teeth fillings may harm some: FDA

Silver-colored metal dental fillings contain mercury that may cause health problems in pregnant women, children and fetuses, the Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday after settling a related lawsuit.

Here are my takes on some of today’s health headlines.

If Dad is not involved in child care, can we blame the mom?

Here are my takes on some of today’s health headlines:

Vitamin D for babies may prevent type 1 diabetes

A new systematic review reports to have “the strongest evidence to date” that supplemental vitamin D in babies and children may help reduce the risk of later development of type 1 diabetes by 29 percent.

Readers of this blog have read me frequently comment on the host of health problems prevented by vitamin D.

Please let me know if you like this type of entry or not. Your feedback will be very helpful to me.

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