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With bottled pills, you can have complete loss of C-vitamin within a week if the pills are exposed to moisture, according to an expert in food science. Not even a tight lid can prevent that from happening.
Your pill bottle may be tightly capped but every time you remove the lid to get out your vitamins moisture enters into the bottle, especially if you store your vitamins in high-humidity areas like the kitchen or bathroom. The moisture causes solids to dissolve and become liquid in a chemical process known as deliquescence.
  “You can get complete loss of the ingredients. It depends on the conditions. It depends on the formulation. Within a very short time –in a week – you can get complete loss of vitamin C in some products that have deliquesced,” Lisa Mauer, an associate professor in food science at Purdue University is quoted as saying in an article at www.sciencedaily.com on March 2.
  According to Mauer, not even a tightly fitted bottle cap can prevent this from happening because each time you remove the lid to get out your vitamins, moisture enters the bottle.
  The only way to prevent the problem is by using blister packs that effectively seal each tablet in a moisture-resistant atmosphere. The Danish company Pharma Nord has always had a policy of manufacturing food supplements in blister packs that comply with EU and FDA requirements regarding “water vapor permeability”, as this guarantees that the tablets are not affected by moisture (or dust).
  Another advantage with blister packs is that you only get in contact with the pills that are taken out for immediate consumption. With bottled pills, you typically pour out some pills in your hand and put the remaining pills back into the bottle, exposing unused pills to germs each time.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com, March 2. 2010

Increased intakes of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenonic acid) may improve mental function in middle age people, suggests a new study from the US.

Increased blood levels of DHA were associated with improved nonverbal reasoning and working memory in people between 35 and 54, but intakes of other omega-3 fatty acids ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) were not, according to findings published in the Journal of Nutrition.

“These findings suggest that DHA is related to brain health throughout the lifespan and may have implications for clinical trials of neuropsychiatric disorders,” wrote the researchers, led by Matthew Muldoon from the University of Pittsburgh.

The potential brain boosting benefits of omega-3 have been reported by numerous studies, most recently at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009) in Vienna. Scientists reported in the Austrian capital that daily supplements with the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may improve both memory function and heart health in healthy older adults. The study presented at the Alzheimer's conference was funded by Martek Biosciences.

Visit nutraingredients.com for more...

Supplements of multivitamins and minerals may help reduce body weight and improve blood fat levels, according to results of a clinical trial in obese Chinese women.

Results of a 26-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study with 87 women found that multivitamins and minerals were associated with significantly lower body weight, body mass index, and fat mass.

Visit nutraingredients.com for the full article.

Daily supplements of magnesium may improve lung function in asthmatics, and improve their quality of life, says a new study from America. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either the a daily dose of 340 milligrams of magnesium or placebo for 6.5 months.

Measures of lung capacity increased by about 6% during six months of magnesium supplementation, and improvements were also observed in the bronchial response to methacholine, a chemical that produces constriction of the lungs, according to findings published in the Journal of Asthma.

Read the article at nutraingredients.com

Middle aged and elderly people with high blood levels of vitamin D may be at a 33 per cent lower risk of developing heart disease, says a new review from the UK.

Researchers from the University of Warwick performed the first ever systematic review and meta-analysis looking at the association between blood levels of vitamin D and cardiometabolic disorders, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Twenty-eight studies giving data on 99,745 participants across a variety of ethnic groups including men and women were included in the meta-analysis and systematic review, published in the journal Maturitas.

“If the relationship proves to be causal, interventions targeting vitamin D deficiency in adult populations could potentially slow the current epidemics of cardiometabolic disorders,” wrote the researchers, led by Johanna Parker and Dr Oscar Franco.

Parker and her co-workers reviewed the scientific literature and identified 28 observational studies, with the majority published between 2004 and 2009. No data from clinical trials was included.

According to the analysis, the highest blood levels of the vitamin were associated with a 33 per cent reduced risk of CVD, a 55 per cent reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes, and a 51 per cent reduction in the risk of metabolic syndrome, compared with the lowest blood levels of vitamin D.

“We found that high levels of vitamin D among middle age and elderly populations are associated with a substantial decrease in cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome,” said Dr Franco.

“Targeting vitamin D deficiency in adult populations could potentially slow the current epidemics of cardiometabolic disorders,” he added.

Visit nutraingredients for the full article.

Endurance athlete sets new world record in Antarctica thanks to Q10 and Pharma Nord UK


Noel Hanna climbed Everest last year thanks to Bio-Quinone Q10 and this January he set a new Guinness world record with a little help from Pharma Nord UK.

Over the New Year period, the endurance athlete tackled Antarctica's Mount Vinson in the final stage of an epic World Record attempt, which has seen him scale seven of the world's highest peaks over three years.

He completed this amazing challenge at noon on Sunday January 3 and was quick to thank Pharma Nord UK for their contribution.

“I've been in great health the whole time thanks to Pharma Nord's vitamins and supplements,” Noel said. “I took Q10 when I scaled Everest and it has given me a boost again.”

Noel, who also works as a sports trainer, has needed to keep his energy levels at their absolute maximum during this arduous adventure, which is raising money for the Ulster Cancer Foundation.

He says: “When attempting an endurance challenge like this you need to be in peak condition and when it comes to energy I wouldn't go anywhere without Q10.”

Noel and his wife Lynne have been taking Bio-Quinone Q10 for years and feel they would never have been the first couple from Northern Ireland to climb Mount Everest if not for the energy boosting supplement.

He says: “For Everest we used the Q10 before we left and during our two months on the Mountain. We did not suffer from tiredness or muscle pain and enjoyed a fantastic summit with abundant energy.”

“Nothing prepares you for the physical pressure this kind of expedition puts you under,”

Lynne adds. “I needed to be prepared physically and that required high calibre supplements. Pharma Nord's Q10 really helped me to harness every drop of energy day after day”.

Everest was just one stage of Noel's epic 7 Summits 2 Sea Level challenge, which not only sees him scale some of the world's highest peaks, but also requires a top-speed descent to sea level to succeed in his Guinness World Record attempt.

In total, Noel has beaten Argentina's Mount Aconcagua, Nepal's Mount Everest, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Denali in Alaska, Russia's Mount Elbrus and the Carstensz Pyramid of Indonesia.

Noel's final expedition was to take on the 4897m peak of Mount Vinson in Antarctica and he completed this challenge by reaching sea level at noon January 3 2010.

Pharma Nord was the first company to introduce Q10 to the European market and Bio-Quinone Q10 Gold is still considered to be the benchmark in quality throughout the industry.

Each capsule contains 100mg of Coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like substance, which plays a vital role in the body's energy supply mechanism and has many other benefits, including heart health and antioxidant activity. Bio-Quinone Q10 Gold uses an oil-based gel capsule formulation for optimum absorption.

It is literally all about living for today. By understanding that nature favours survival today over tomorrow, a theory that vitamin inadequacy is behind the rise in chronic diseases “makes sense… and it is almost certainly going to be right,” says world-renowned scientist Bruce Ames.

Visit Nutraingredients.com for an exclusive interview with Stephen Daniells and Professor Bruce Ames.

The dental health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids may include anti-bacterial effects, extending the benefits beyond inflammation, says a new study from the University of Kentucky.

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), as well as their fatty acid ethyl esters could inhibit the growth of oral pathogens, including Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, and Porphyromonas ginigivalis at relatively low doses.

Visit nutraingredients.com for more information.

The omega-3 compound ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid (E-EPA) may improve memory and learning, and reduce the risk of Alzheimer´s disease, says a new study.

Researchers from Canada and Thailand report that, while levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine decrease with age, E-EPA may slow this decline, according to findings published in the Journal of Neurochemistry.

Read more on nutraingredients.com

Taking a daily fish oil capsule can stave off mental illness in those at highest risk, trial findings suggest.

Read more on the BBC News website.

Low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of developing Crohn’s disease, suggest results of a new cell study from Canada.

Visit nutraingredients.com for the full article.

Multivitamins, folate, and green leafy vegetables may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer in current and former smokers, says a new study from the US.

Read more here.

Current recommended intake for vitamin D during winter months need to be increased by five times, says a new study from California.

Click here to see the article on Nutraingredients.com

Increased intakes of vitamin E may reduce the risk of bladder cancer by about 35 per cent, says a new study from an international team of researchers.  Read here for more...

Dear customers,

Now that it's 2010, we must acknowledge the latest amendment to VAT in the UK.  There has been a rise of 2.5% to 17.5% VAT.  All of the products affected by this have had their prices amended accordingly. 

There will also be a further change to prices for Bio-Pycnogenol from 1st February.  Prices will increase slightly in line with raw material costs.  The 90 tab pack will also be withdrawn and replaced by a 60 tab pack.

Many thanks...

MultiVits.

While stocks last and until 31st December 2009, we have some pocket-sized 2010 diaries to give away with orders.  Due to demand, they're limited to one per household, so its first come, first served. 

We've also got 20% off BioActive Q10 Uniquinol (30mg) in 30 and 60 capsule packs.  This is a great chance to try this highly absorbable form of our world class Q10. 

There's also a great offer on Evelle Duet and our Q10 Skincare Gift Set.

Season's Greetings!

Vitamin D has been associated variously with cardiovascular health, strong bones, cognitive health and immune health.

Researchers from Utah presented fresh evidence this month linking vitamin D deficiency to heart disease at the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Scientific Conference in Orlando, Florida.

Scientists from the Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City now claim to have dug up stronger evidence supporting the cardiovascular benefits of vitamin D. They also claim to have more firmly established the link between a lack of the vitamin in the diet and heart disease.

For more than a year, the Intermountain Medical Center research team followed 27,686 people who were 50 years of age or older with no prior history of cardiovascular disease.

The participants had their blood vitamin D levels tested during routine clinical care. They were divided into three groups based on their vitamin D levels – normal (over 30 nanograms per millilitre), low (15-30 ng/ml), or very low (less than 15 ng/ml). The scientist then followed them to see if they developed some form of heart disease.

Researchers found that people with very low levels of vitamin D were 77 percent more likely to die, 45 percent more likely to develop coronary artery disease, and 78 percent more likely to have a stroke than those with normal levels. They also found that participants with very low levels of vitamin D were twice as likely to suffer heart failure.

Brent Muhlestein, director of cardiovascular research at the Intermountain Medical Centre, said: “This was a unique study because the association between Vitamin D deficiency and cardiovascular disease has not been well-established.”

And although the study is only observational, Muhlestein said it is based on a population pool in Utah that is well suited to the task in hand.  “For example, because of Utah’s low use of tobacco and alcohol, we were able to narrow the focus of the study to the effects of Vitamin D on the cardiovascular system,” said Muhlestein.

“We believe the findings are important enough to now justify randomized treatment trials of supplementation in patients with Vitamin D deficiency to determine for sure whether it can reduce the risk of heart disease,” added the researcher.

For more information and references, see the full article here.

A coalition of European doctors has recommended vitamin D be given to over-75s at 600-800IU per day, after meeting in England over the weekend.

Please visit nutraingredients for the rest of the article.

OUT OF STOCK DUE TO HUGE DEMAND

A respected name in the UK for over 20 years, Pharma Nord is one of the world's leading manufacturers of pharmaceutical grade vitamins and supplements.


From September 2009, and while stocks last, we are giving away 10,000 samples of our famous Bio-Quinone Q10 Gold, worth £6 each. The aim is to raise awareness of Q10 and the huge impact this powerful and natural coenzyme can have on our energy levels and heart health.

Coenzyme Q10 exists in every single cell in our bodies and acts like a spark plug in the energy supply process. Q10 levels decrease with age, illness and exercise and without Q10, our cells cease to function. Q10 supplements are often taken by those prescribed statins to lower cholesterol (which interfere with Q10 production) as well as by people looking to increase their energy levels and maintain a healthy heart as they get older. It is also popular with amateur and professional athletes who undergo vigorous exercise.

This year, celebrity GP Dr Chris Steele from ITV1's This Morning (pictured above) gave our Bio-Quinone Q10 his full endorsement. He said: “I have taken Bio-Quinone Q10 for years.  It is vital for energy production and, as you get older, it becomes very important to top it up.”

Pharma Nord can document the quantity of the active ingredients, the safety and the absorbency of every capsule.  We exist only to provide products that fulfill essential health needs, that are backed by peer-reviewed research and that meet stringent pharmaceutical standards.

We're offering 10,000 people the chance to experience the effects of Bio-Quinone Q10 free of charge because we believe it can make a difference to their health and wellbeing.

To get a free sample, and for more information, those interested should send their name and address to q10@pharmanord.co.uk with 'Q10 SAGA Magazine' in the subject. We cannot accept e-mails to any other Pharma Nord or Multivits address.

We promise we won't pass personal details on to any third parties.  Unfortunately requests are not accepted by telephone or via any other e-mail address.  Please allow up to 7 working days for delivery. One pack per household, subject to availability.

More cases expected into the winter.  Click here to see the BBC News article.

Also, see below for Dr Paul Clayton's insighful article on the use of Beta 1,3/1,6 glucans (ie Bio-Glucan) for virus protection.

September 2009

New strategies needed to fight the new flu pandemic by Dr Paul Clayton

The current public health strategies of using vaccines against the rapidly developing H1N1 flu pandemic are likely to be sub-optimal, warns British expert Dr. Paul Clayton. The problems with inadequate vaccine supply and anti-viral resistance means that using natural compounds called 1,3/1,6 betaglucans to strengthen the innate immune system will most likely be more effective.

The next great flu pandemic has arrived. Variant H1N1 (swine) influenza has been designated a Phase 6 pandemic by the WHO. Symptoms include high fever, headache, eye pain, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue with, in some cases, rapid progression of symptoms to severe respiratory distress and death. Up to one in four will be affected when the pandemic establishes itself, and although H1N1 is not particularly virulent, the real concern is that it will mutate into a more dangerous form.

Many governments have stockpiled anti-viral drugs and vaccines. But that is highly unlikely to be an effective way of dealing with the coming pandemic, warns Dr Paul Clayton, Fellow of The Royal Society of Medicine and immediate past Chair of the Royal Society’s Forum on Food and Health. He is a former Senior Scientific Advisor to the UK government's Committee on the Safety of Medicines.

Questionable strategies

“The current strategies were based on two assumptions: firstly, that the emergency could be managed, and secondly that the drugs and vaccines will be reasonably effective. Both assumptions are questionable. Our ability to deal with a contagious and highly lethal viral epidemic is, realistically, inadequate,” says Dr. Clayton

According to Dr. Clayton, there is another option: A natural ingredient derived from baker’s yeast called 1,3/1,6 betaglucans. These ingredients up-regulate the function of the innate immune system. Strengthening the innate immune system can be a critically important element in patient management and public health during the pandemic. Simply trusting vaccines and anti-viral drugs alone would be extremely unwise.

Resistance to anti-viral drugs

“The efficacy of the anti-virals, which was never very high to begin with, is undermined by the fact that resistance to anti-viral drugs develops very rapidly, as occurred with the recent H5N1 (bird) flu. This problem is worsened by the fact that Tamiflu passes through sewage plants intact, leaching low concentrations of the drug into the waterways where wildfowl, a major flu virus host, live. This is a tried and tested way of developing drug resistance,” Dr. Clayton explains.

Vaccines are compromised by the genetic instability of the flu virus: its rapid mutation rates mean that the right vaccines are unlikely to be ready as each new wave of the pandemic, each one driven by a new viral mutant, cuts though our communities. There are also questions about the safety of these rushed developmental programmes.

The innate immune system is the best defence

An extensive body of evidence shows that the best defence against viral infection is to enhance the effectiveness of the innate immune system, the body’s first line of defence against invasion by bacteria and viruses.

“The innate immune system specifically recognises 1,3/1,6 betaglucans, natural compounds found in the cell walls of fungi such as yeast. When it recognises betaglucans it increases the responses of macrophages and neutrophil granulocyte cells - key components of the innate immune system -  and moves to peak effectiveness. In this state published research demonstrates higher levels of protection against numerous infectious agents, from flu viruses to the feared biological weapon anthrax. This improved resistance to infection occurs in animals and in humans,” says Dr. Clayton

Betaglucans boost immune response

The Canadian Department of Defence has been taking careful note. Starting in the early '90's they ran a test program to measure the immuno-protective effects of 1,3/1,6 betaglucans and nearly 300 other compounds thought to act on the immune system, and in 2004 reported that the betaglucans were the most effective of them all. Not only did they protect against infection with bacteria, viruses and fungi, they also conferred protection against radiation injury.

“These valuable ingredients are too useful and too important to ignore. As the new flu advances, I have started to give a purified, high-potency brand of betaglucans to my children, at a dose of 250 mg  per day; armed with the knowledge that they are safe and effective prophylactic agents. I believe this protective strategy should be considered by all front-line medical staff – and indeed their families,” Dr. Clayton concludes.

Fact box

How to choose the right betaglucans

Betaglucans derived from yeast are far more effective than the differently structured beta glucans derived from mushrooms. This is because the immune system evolved to recognize yeast infections, whereas we were never threatened by infection by mushrooms!

The actual amount of betaglucan per capsule is critical - some yeast products contain very little of the key compounds. Another criterion is purity, generally expressed as a low protein content. As there are some shoddy materials on the market, a reasonable option is to work with betaglucans from companies with a strong research background and an established track record.

The betaglucan raw material with the best record is Wellmune WGP, which contains high and standardised levels of 1,3/1,6 betaglucans (also known as beta glucan 3-6), a highly purified extract from baker’s yeast. It may be used by people with yeast allergy, since the allergy-provoking compounds in yeast (mannoproteins) have been removed.

Wellmune WGP is protected by more than 40 patents, has been thoroughly tested in regards to both safety and effectiveness and can be used continuously or during high-risk periods. It has been proven to enhance the immune system. Scientifically, the research demonstrates that Wellmune WGP mobilises immune cells to move faster to viral or bacterial challenges and destroy them more effectively.

Wellmune WGP is available in the dietary supplement Bio-Glucan by Pharma Nord UK.

Low levels of vitamin D may increase the risk of dying from all causes by 150 per cent, suggests a study with over 700 elderly women.

Click here for the whole article on nutraingredients.com

Click here to download a safe PDF document of this study from Nutraingredients.com

See the article here on BBC News.

Our man Trevor Pill (yes, handy name for a supplements company!) is embarking on his first ever Great North Run. He's been training for months and has used our Bio-Quinone Q10 to help with his energy levels and recovery from exercise, as recommended by Andrew Steele.

His chosen charity is Action Duchenne. They are tirelessly searching for a cure for Duchenne Muscular Distrophy, a severe muscle wasting disease.

We wish him the very best of luck along with all the brave runners on Sunday. If you'd like to sponsor him, simply visit http://www.actionduchenne.org/stopwasting/trevorpill

He's raised nearly £200 so far, so lets give him a big push!

Click here to see the Daily Mail article...

Increased intakes of vitamin D during pregnancy may reduce the development by about 25 per cent, suggests a study with over 20,000 Norwegian women.

The risk of pre-eclampsia was 27 per cent lower in women who consumed vitamin D supplements with daily doses of 10 to 15 micrograms, compared to women who did not take supplements, according to researchers from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

However, a correlation between vitamin D intake and omega-3 fatty acid intake was observed, and the researchers noted that “further research is needed to disentangle the separate effects of these nutrients”.

Pre-eclampsia, affecting two to three per cent of all pregnancies, occurs when a mother's blood pressure rises to the hypertensive range, and excretion of protein in the urine becomes too high. It is estimated to be responsible for about 60,000 deaths worldwide.

It is not known why some expectant mothers develop pre-eclampsia, although oxidative stress has been proposed to play a part. The role of antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress had been supported by a small clinical trial that linked vitamin C and E intake to fewer biomarkers for pre-eclampsia for predominantly low-risk participants.

However, subsequent studies, including a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (Vol. 354, pp. 1796-1806) and a Cochrane Systematic Review (2007, Issue 4), found that vitamins C and E had no effects on the risk of pre-eclampsia.

The new study, published in Epidemiology suggests that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of developing the potentially fatal condition.

Led by Helle Margrete Meltzer, the researchers examined the relationship between vitamin D intakes during pregnancy and the risk of pre-eclampsia in 23,423 would-be first time mothers participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study.

The women answered a general health questionnaire at the fifteenth week of pregnancy and again at the thirtieth week, while a food frequency questionnaire was administered at week 22.

According to the Norwegian findings, women with a daily intake of between 15 and 20 micrograms of vitamin D from diet and supplements had a 24 per cent lower risk of developing pre-eclampsia compared to women who consumed less than 5 micrograms per day.

The overriding benefits were observed for vitamin D from supplements, with a daily dose of 10 to 15 micrograms linked to a 27 per cent reduction, compared to women who did not take supplements.

“These findings are consistent with other reports of a protective effect of vitamin D on pre-eclampsia development,” wrote Meltzer and her co-workers.

“However, because vitamin D intake is highly correlated with the intake of long chain omega-3 fatty acids in the Norwegian diet, further research is needed to disentangle the separate effects of these nutrients,” they concluded.

Source: Epidemiology

September 2009, Volume 20, Issue 5, Pages 720-726, doi: 10.1097/EDE.0b013e3181a70f08

“Vitamin D Supplementation and Reduced Risk of Preeclampsia in Nulliparous Women”

Authors: M. Haugen, A.L. Brantsaeter, L. Trogstad, J. Alexander, C. Roth, P. Magnus, H.M. Meltzer

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has confirmed that it will be investigating the role of vitamin D in protection against swine flu, NutraIngredients-USA.com has learned.

The agency started a study last year on the role of vitamin D in severe seasonal influenza, which it said it will now adapt to the H1N1 swine flu virus.

“Researchers in PHAC are working with colleagues at McMaster University and with partners at other universities and hospitals to determine whether there is a correlation between severe disease and low vitamin D levels and/or a person's genetic make up. This line of research in seasonal influenza will be adapted to H1N1,” wrote the agency in an e-mail to NutraIngredients-USA.com.

PHAC said it is testing serum samples to examine this possibility in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Toronto.

Preventing ‘severe outcomes’

Part of the researchers’ goal is to understand if vitamin D levels are in any way responsible for the fact that most people with seasonal influenza develop a mild illness but a small minority go on to develop severe symptoms.

According to PHAC, results from its study will indicate the extent and nature of the role of vitamin D in sever seasonal influenza. The agency said it would most likely take at least three influenza seasons to be able to recruit a sufficient sample size of individuals with severe disease and controls before the results can be “meaningfully” analyzed.

“If we find that there is a correlation between severe disease and vitamin D levels we shall, with our partners in the future, conduct randomized controlled studies to determine the whether vitamin D can be used as a means to mitigate severe seasonal influenza,” it said.

“PHAC intends to adapt this strategy to H1N1 in order to prevent severe outcomes of infection.”

Experimental models

The agency stressed that the role of vitamin D in H1N1 is not well established. However, it added that early work in the 1940s, in experimental animal models, indicated that mice that receive diets low in vitamin D are more susceptible to experimental swine flu infection than those that receive adequate vitamin D (Young, 1946).

In addition, PHAC said that epidemiological evidence suggests a role for vitamin D in seasonal influenza in general.

“Influenza infection is correlated geographically and seasonally with levels of solar ultraviolet radiation (Cannell, 2006). Given that vitamin D is synthesisized in our skin on exposure to sunlight, low serum levels of 25(OH) vitamin D in winter months appear to correlate with the occurrence of seasonal influenza in the winter. However a direct causal relationship between low vitamin D levels and the risk of influenza remains to be proven.”

“How vitamin D might protect against influenza infection is not fully understood. However new research suggests that vitamin D induces the production of antimicrobial substances in the body that possess neutralizing activity against a variety of infectious agents including influenza virus (Doss, 2009).”

Original article here

It is clear that more research is needed, but this is a noteworthy story nonetheless, given the current high profile of Omega-3.  Visit www.nutraingredients.com for more information and health news.

Infertile men have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their sperm than fertile men, suggests new research that opens up the possibility for supplements to boost sperm quality.

The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 was also found to be higher in infertile men, according to findings from a study with 150 men in Iran in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Nutrition.

“These results suggest that research should be performed to assess the potential benefits of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation as a therapeutic approach in infertile men,” wrote the researchers, led by Mohammad Reza Safarinejad from Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, Iran.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the association of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on semen quality, and seminal plasma anti-oxidant capacity in infertile and fertile men,” they added.

Being the first such study, the researcher noted that “there is a need for future, large, prospective studies to confirm the results of the present study”.

The study adds to a small but growing body of evidence supporting the importance of balance between omega-3 omega-6 fatty acids.

Study details

Safarinejad and his co-workers measured levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the blood plasma and spermatozoa of 82 infertile men who suffered from defective production of spermatozoa, and 78 fertile men.

Specifically, they looked at levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and the levels of omega-6 fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA).

According to their results, fertile men were found to have higher blood and sperm levels of all three omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, infertile men had significantly higher blood ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.

Levels of AA were higher in the infertile men, added the researchers, while the ratios of AA to DHA and EPA were also higher.

The AA to DHA or EPA ration was also linked to lower sperm counts, and decreased sperm motility.

“A high proportion of omega-6 fatty acids in the spermatozoa is a distinctive feature of infertile men. There is a growing body of evidence that the fatty acid composition of sperm membranes, determine their physiological characteristics,” wrote the researchers.

“The data tend to support a possible beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation among patients with [defective production of sperm],” said the researchers.

The findings are biologically plausible, noted the researchers, with DHA, for example, known to be present in the membranes of spermatozoa.

A MOTHER from Northumberland has won a competition to become the face of a new anti-aging cream.

Dawn Harris will be the focal point of an advertising campaign for Q10 Revitalising Face Cream, a product manufactured by North East based pharmaceutical company Pharma Nord UK.

The 45-year-old, of Southfield Green, Cramlington, Northumberland, was chosen from dozens of entries.

After a professional photo- shoot, her face will be used in newspaper and magazine adverts.

She said: “I’m thrilled and shocked to have won. I’m looking forward to the professional photo-shoot.

“Everyone would like one good photo of themselves and the photo-shoot should be a lot of fun. I’m still in shock to have been asked. I’m nervous about seeing my face everywhere but it’s a nice surprise.”

Mrs Harris, a credit controller, lives with her husband Paul, 51, and two children Sarah, 19, and Daniel, 17. “My family and friends will be really surprised but I’m sure they will be looking out for the adverts,” she said.

“I can’t quite believe it to be honest. I have never thought about being a model and to win something like this is a huge shock.”

Morpeth-based Pharma Nord UK, who specialise in dietary supplements, launched the competition at the end of May.

Pharma Nord spokesman Dr Chris Steele helped the company to choose the winner after the entries were narrowed down to a shortlist of four finalists. Dr Steele said: “I found it very difficult to decide on the winner, as all four finalists had compelling stories and the right look. But I think Dawn will do a fantastic job representing Pharma Nord’s excellent product.”

To be in with a chance of winning the competition, entrants had to write or email a recent photo and 250 words explaining why they should be chosen to model for the product.

Dawn explained that she lost more than four-and-a-half stone after having her two children and has gone on to lose more weight, something of which she is proud.

Pharma Nord UK Managing Director Bent Henriksen said: “We liked Dawn’s fresh and frank approach – she’s a real woman who has overcome personal difficulties and made herself stronger, which is just what we were looking for.”

As part of her prize, Dawn will also receive a free supply of the face cream for a year.

ONE of these women will be the face of Pharma Nord 2009.

Last month, Pharma Nord UK launched a competition to give someone the chance to star in a new advert for the company's best-selling Q10 Revitalising Face Cream.

We are now delighted to announce the names of the four finalists – Dawn Harris, of Cramlington, Northumberland, Denise Jefferson, of Kenton Bankfoot, Newcastle, Becky Magson, of West Molesden, Morpeth, Northumberland, and Angela Wilkinson, of Stanley, County Durham.

Pharma Nord distributes high-quality nutritional supplements to pharmaceutical standards, and has had a base in Morpeth, Northumberland, for more than 20 years.

Our celebrity spokespeople include GP Dr Chris Steele, who appears before two million viewers each week on ITV 1's This Morning, and expert nutritionist Maryon Stewart, but last month we decided to search for another face to represent one of our key products.

Q10 Revitalising Face Cream with SPF 15 combines highly active substances, such as Coenzyme Q10, Pycnogenol, jojoba, and apricot kernel oils, in a unique, paraben-free formulation to protect skin from premature ageing.

The winner of our competition will be chosen by Dr Steele and will receive a photoshoot from a professional photographer at picturesque Linden Hall in Northumberland.

These photos will go on to form an advertising campaign for Pharma Nord products that will feature in newspapers and magazines in 2009-2010. The winner will also receive a free supply of Q10 Revitalising Face Cream for 12 months.

But they won't be the only winner – now the competition has closed every valid entry we have received to our competition will receive a one-off promotional code entitling them to 20% off their next purchase of Q10 Revitalising Face Cream.

Pharma Nord Marketing Executive Dean Forbes says: “We've had an enthusiastic response to the competition from a broad spectrum of women and men, aged 18 to 80. Narrowing down the entries to a shortlist of four was a tough job and choosing the winner will be even harder. With the standard of entries being so high we already know we have some fantastic candidates to represent our product.”

To stand a chance of winning our competition, entrants had to write or email us, with a recent photo of themselves, and explain why they should be the face of Pharma Nord Q10 cream in no more than 250 words.

Dr Chris Steele, who will continue to endorse another of Pharma Nord's key products, Bio-Quinone Q10, says: “There are all sorts of people out there producing nutritional supplements, but Pharma Nord, who are based in Morpeth, make very high quality vitamins and minerals. I've been using their products for years.”

The winner of the Face of Pharma Nord 2009 will be notified shortly.

For further details call Pharma Nord UK FREE on 0800 591 756, email uksales@pharmanord.co.uk

Pharma Nord UK are looking for someone from the North-East to star in a new advert for their best-selling Q10 Revitalising Face Cream.

The company produces high-quality nutritional supplements to pharmaceutical standards, and has had a base in Morpeth, Northumberland, for more than 20 years.

Our celebrity spokespeople include Newcastle born GP Dr Chris Steele, who appears before two million viewers each week on ITV 1's This Morning, but we are now looking for a fresh face to represent one of our key products.

Q10 Revitalising Face Cream with SPF 15 combines highly active substances, such as Coenzyme Q10, Pycnogenol, jojoba, and apricot kernel oils, in a unique, paraben-free formulation to protect skin from premature ageing.

And we want someone from the North-East to represent this best-selling product.

The winner of our competition will receive a photoshoot from a professional photographer, a free supply of Q10 Revitalising Face Cream for 12 months, and the chance to see their face on Pharma Nord adverts.

But they won't be the only winner - every valid entry to our competition will receive a one-off promotional code entitling them to 20% off their next purchase of Q10 Revitalising Face Cream.

Pharma Nord Marketing Executive Dean Forbes says: “You don't need a background in modeling to win. Those aspiring to be the next Kate Moss will have as much of a chance as those who would just like to find out what it's like to be a model for a day.

“So it's not only a wonderful opportunity for a budding model to add a nationwide advert to their portfolio, but it's also a chance for someone to step out of their 'normal' life for an afternoon and take part in a professional photoshoot for an ad campaign.

“We hope to receive a diverse range of entries from across the North-East.”

To be in with a chance of being chosen please write or email us, with a recent photo of yourself, and explain why you should be the face of Pharma Nord Q10 cream in no more than 250 words.

The competition is open to anyone living in the North-East and entrants must be 18 or over.

Dr Chris Steele, who endorses another of Pharma Nord's key products, Bio-Quinone Q10, says: “There are all sorts of people out there producing nutritional supplements, but Pharma Nord, who are based in Morpeth, make very high quality vitamins and minerals. I've been using their products for years.”

For further details call Pharma Nord UK FREE on 0800 591 756, email uksales@pharmanord.co.uk Entries can be emailed to dforbes@pharmanord.co.uk or sent by post to Pharma Nord UK, Face of Pharma Nord competition, Telford Court, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2DB. The closing date for the Face of Pharma Nord competition is June 29 2009.

Click here for full competition terms and conditions.

You will be aware of increasing concerns about the likelihood of a flu pandemic. Dr Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organisation, has warned that the swine flu virus first identified in Mexico cannot be contained, as the economic and social impact of the outbreak continue to spread.

Flu pandemics occur approximately every 30 years, when a virus mutates to such an extent that people no longer have any immunity to these new forms. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, and the efficacy of other types of anti-viral agents has been questioned.

The best defence against such infections is a healthy immune system. Some natural substances are known to promote healthy immune function, the most effective being beta 1,3/1,6 glucans, a polysaccharide derived from baker’s yeast.

Bio-Glucan contains 250mg/capsule of Wellmune WGP, the most active, best documented and cost effective form of beta 1,3/1,6 glucans. Bio-Glucan acts as a primer of the innate immune system, the body’s inborn first line of defence against infection. This is in contrast to acquired immunity, with which many people are more familiar, which involves the development of antibodies against foreign organisms as a second line of defence.

The importance of the innate immune system is highlighted by the fact that many species are unable to develop antibodies via acquired immunity, yet are still able to withstand exposure to infectious organisms.

It is thought that in the ultra-clean modern environment in which most people live in industrialised societies, there is insufficient exposure to the microbial products that in the past would have acted to provide natural stimulation of the innate immune system.

The importance of the latter has been highlighted in research by Dr Paul Clayton, recently featured in the Daily Mail, which demonstrated the high level of exposure to beta glucans in the Victorian diet and environment, and the health benefits that this subsequently conferred on their immune function.

Beta 1,3/1,6 glucans are non toxic and non allergenic, and no significant adverse effects from their use have been reported. It should be noted that the effectiveness of different commercial beta glucan supplements may vary widely.

Key determinants of effective immune response activation by beta 1,3/1,6 glucans include the number and length of molecular branches, method of processing and uniformity of molecular size. The best characterised commercially available beta 1,3/1,6 glucan in this regard is Wellmune WGP.

Low blood levels of magnesium may increase the risk of stroke by 25 per cent, suggest findings from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

According to findings published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, increasing levels of the mineral could decrease the risk of ischemic stroke, with the effects related to magnesium’s benefits on blood pressure and for diabetics.

Diet is known to have an impact on a person's risk of having a stroke, and in particular a connection has been made between intake of sodium and hypertension. Conversely, more magnesium, potassium and calcium has been inversely linked to hypertension in some observational studies.

The new study supports the potential of magnesium to reduce the risk of stroke possibly via an anti-hypertensive mechanism, suggest the researchers, led by Aaron Folsom from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health.

Dietary sources of magnesium include green, leafy vegetables, meats, starches, grains and nuts, and milk. Earlier dietary surveys show that a large portion of adults does not meet the RDA for magnesium (320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men).

Study details

Over 14,000 men and women aged between 45 and 64 took part in the study, and during the course of 15 years of follow-up the researchers documented 577 cases of ischemic stroke. The incidence of stroke was highest amongst diabetics and people with hypertension, added the researchers.

Blood levels of magnesium were negatively associated with the risk of stroke, they said, with levels of 1.6, 1.7, and 1.8 mEq/L linked to a 22, 30, and 25 per cent reduction in stroke, respectively, compared to 1.5 mEq/L.

After the results were adjusted for hypertension and diabetes, the researchers found that the links became non-significant.

"Dietary magnesium intake was marginally inversely associated with the incidence of ischemic stroke," wrote Folsom and his co-workers.

"Low serum magnesium levels could be associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke, in part, via effects on hypertension and diabetes," they concluded.

Magnesium and diabetes

A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies by researchers at Stockholm's Karolinska Institutet, reported that for every 100 milligram increase in magnesium intake, the risk of developing type-2 diabetes decreased by 15 per cent.

Writing in the Journal of Internal Medicine Susanna Larsson and Alicia Wolk concluded that while it is too early to recommend magnesium supplements for type-2 diabetes prevention, increased consumption of magnesium-rich food "seems prudent."

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology

Published online ahead of print, 16 April 2009, doi:10.1093/aje/kwp071

"Serum and Dietary Magnesium and Risk of Ischemic Stroke - The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study"

Authors: T. Ohira, J.M. Peacock, H. Iso, L.E. Chambless, W.D. Rosamond, A.R. Folsom

A combination supplement containing omega-3, vitamin C and zinc may improve symptoms of asthma, a condition on the rise, suggests a new study from Egypt.

The trio of nutrients were associated with improvements in asthma measures, lung function, and markers of inflammation in the lungs, according to findings of a randomised, double blind, placebo-self-controlled crossover trial published in Acta Pædiatrica.

“Children with moderately persistent bronchial asthma may get benefit from their diet supplementation with omega- 3 fatty acids, Zn and vitamin C,” wrote the researchers, led by Mohammed Al Biltagi from Tanta University in Egypt.

The study adds to a growing body of science linking fish consumption and fruit and vegetable intakes to a reduction in the risk or asthma, or improvements in the symptoms associated with the condition.

Asthma stats

According to the European Federation of Allergy and Airway Diseases Patients Association (EFA), over 30m Europeans suffer from asthma, costing Europe €17.7bn every year. The cost due to lost productivity is estimated to be around €9.8bn.

The condition is on the rise in the Western world and the most common long-term condition in the UK today

According to the American Lung Association, almost 20m Americans suffer from asthma. The condition is reported to be responsible for over 14m lost school days in children, while the annual economic cost of asthma is said to be over $16.1bn.

Study details

Dr Al Biltagi and his co-workers recruited 60 children (average age 8, average BMI 17 kg/m2) with moderate persistent asthma and randomly assigned them to alternating phases of supplementation with omega-3 (1000 mg of a triglyceridic oil containing about 30 per cent EPA/DHA), zinc (15 mg), and vitamin C (200 mg), either singly or in combination for six weeks.

Asthma was analysed using the childhood asthma control test (C-ACT), while lung function and inflammatory markers were also assessed. The Egyptian researchers report significant improvement of C-ACT for all four interventions (three single nutrients or a combination of the nutrients). The combination of all three was associated with an increase in C-ACT scores from 16.5 to 22.1, said the researchers.

Mechanism

Commenting on the potential mechanisms at work, the research note that omega-3 and zinc have anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, vitamin C is an antioxidant and this may “counteract oxidant stress and reduce the external attacks (bacteria, virus, toxins and xenobiotics) in the lung,” said the researchers. “The antioxidant effect of vitamin C may modulate the development of asthma and the impairment of pulmonary functions.”

Zinc may work via different mechanisms, they said, including the regulation of T-cell lymphocytes, which are part of the bodies allergy response. “It also inhibits the activation of NF-kB, a transcription factor implicated in the expression of many proinflammatory genes,” they added.

Source: Acta Pædiatrica

April 2009, Volume 98, Issue 4, Pages: 737-742

“Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn supplementation in asthmatic children: a randomized self-controlled study”

Authors: M. Al Biltagi, A.A. Baset, M. Bassiouny, M. Al Kasrawi, M. Attia

Women who undergo hormone replacement therapy for the menopause could be dramatically increasing their risk of skin cancer.

Those on HRT for more than six months at a time are twice as likely to develop a malignant melanoma, researchers discovered.

They also found taking the Pill for more than six months makes it 28 per cent more likely that a cancerous mole will develop.

The study, published in the journal Annals of Oncology, compared nearly 800 Dutch women diagnosed with a melanoma between 1991 and 2004 with a group of 4,000 cancer-free women.

It is thought the higher risk may be due to the way oestrogen in the HRT stimulates the growth of skin cells, called melanocytes.

The study, by experts at Leiden University in the Netherlands, is the latest to highlight the health risks associated with taking HRT.

It is already linked with breast cancer and an increased risk of potentially fatal blood clots.

Malignant melanomas kill around 1,700 people a year in the UK.

Over-exposure to the sun's rays is the major cause and since the mid-1990s there has been a 24 per cent increase in cases.

Dr Joanna Owens, from Cancer Research UK, said UV radiation was still the biggest danger.

Daily Mail Online

26th February 2009

Increased levels of vitamin D may protect against common respiratory infections such as cold and flu, according to new findings from the US.

According to findings of a study with about 19,000 adults and adolescents, people with the lowest average levels of vitamin D were about 40 per cent more likely to have a recent respiratory infection, compared to those with higher vitamin D levels.

The findings, published in this week’s Archives of Internal Medicine, indicated that increased intakes of the sunshine vitamin may be an important way to prime the immune system against disorders like the common cold.

“To our knowledge, this is the first population-based study to evaluate and demonstrate an association between serum 25(OH)D level and [upper respiratory tract infections],” wrote lead author of the study Adit Ginde, MD from the University of Colorado, Denver.

“The association seems to be robust, with a clinically and statistically significant association present in all seasons and when controlling for potential confounders.”

Out with C, in with D?

In background information in their paper, Ginde and his co-workers note that for many decades, consumers have looked to vitamin C for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) “despite the lack of convincing evidence of benefit in community populations”.

Furthermore, the segment of cold and/or flu prevention, and ‘immune boosting’ remains among the top reasons that Americans take vitamin and herbal supplements. The study represents the first to report a ‘robust’ association between vitamin D and respiratory health.

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. Both D3 and D2 precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form that is tightly controlled by the body.

Benefits for those most at risk

While low vitamin D levels were associated with increased risks of cold and flu in ‘healthy’ people, the researchers noted that low levels were linked to even higher risks in people with chronic respiratory disorders, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and emphysema.

The observations were based on data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Blood samples from the 18,883 adults and adolescents allowed the researchers to measure 25(OH)D levels.

The lowest average vitamin D blood levels, defined as less than 10 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood, were associated with a 40 per cent increased risk of respiratory infection, compared to the highest average levels of 30 ng/mL or higher.

The links were observed in all seasons, said the researchers. For people with a history of asthma, low vitamin D levels were associated with a risk of respiratory tract infection five times more than those with high levels, while the among COPD patients, respiratory infections were twice as common among those with vitamin D deficiency.

“A respiratory infection in someone with otherwise healthy lungs usually causes a few days of relatively mild symptoms,” explained senior author of the study, Carlos Camargo MD, DrPH, from MGH Department of Emergency Medicine.

“But respiratory infections in individuals with an underlying lung disease can cause serious attacks of asthma or COPD that may require urgent office visits, emergency department visits or hospitalizations. So the impact of preventing infections in these patients could be very large.”

The researchers said that clinical trials to test vitamin D supplements to boost immunity and fight respiratory infections are being planned.

“While it's too early to make any definitive recommendations, many Americans also need more vitamin D for its bone and general health benefits. Clinicians and laypeople should stay tuned as this exciting area of research continues to expand,” said Ginde.

In terms of the mechanism, Ginde and his co-workers note that the vitamin plays a defining role in the production of a type of protein called cathelicidins that are found in many cells including microphages that play a role in immunity.

The science builds for vitamin D

Commenting on the study, Andrew Shao, PhD, vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), a supplements trade association, said it adds to growth of science supporting the benefits of vitamin D.

“The majority of Americans continue to fall short in getting adequate amounts of vitamin D through diet alone. Given that vitamin D is relatively low in most foods, and there are serious risks associated with excessive sun exposure, dietary supplements are an important alternative to achieving a sufficient intake,” said Dr Shao.

“While this study on its own does not mean that higher vitamin D intake will ensure that you don’t get an upper respiratory tract infection this winter, it is consistent with, and adds to, the relatively new body of evidence showing that vitamin D plays a critical role in immune function.”

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine

2009, Volume 169, Issue 4, Pages 384-390

“Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey”

Authors: A.A. Ginde, J.M. Mansbach, C.A. Camargo Jr

For full information see source: Nutraingredients.com. Breaking News on Supplements & Nutrition – Europe. 25/02/2009

I've taken Coenzyme Q10 for years, says TV's Dr Chris Steele.

The 63-year-old has been the resident health expert on ITV 1's This Morning for 20 years and takes his position very seriously.

“It's a doctor's job to make people feel better and live longer,” Dr Steele says.

Consequently, he would never give advice that he doesn't follow himself and this includes sharing his knowledge of the products that have kept him healthy over the years.

Dr Steele is a firm believer in the benefits of taking dietary supplements and multivitamins, but says if you are going to take them its very important to use the best quality.

One of his personal favourites is coenzyme Q10.

Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance that plays a central role in the body's energy production.

It was first discovered in 1957 by Professor Fred Crane and over the last few decades, the potential benefits of Q10 supplements have been increasingly recognised by scientists and doctors.

Dr Steele says: “I've taken Q10 for years. It's vital for energy production and, as you get older, it becomes very important to top it up if you want to feel younger and keep active for longer.”

Coenzyme Q10 is found in all tissues, and has two main functions within the body, namely energy production and as an antioxidant. No other substance found within the body has these two important functions.

Q10 levels peak around the age of 21, but gradually fall as you get older, so keeping yourself topped up with a supplement could keep you looking younger and feeling more active as the years go on.

As well as losing Q10 as you get older, your levels will also decrease if you're ill, drink too much, or do a lot of intense physical exercise. Heart and cancer patients have reported very low levels of Q10 and it is now known that the heart, muscles and liver have a particular need for Q10 due to their exceptionally high energy requirement.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins also block the body's own production of Q10, so if you are taking these and are feeling drained of energy, a Q10 supplement could be the answer. Other side effects of statins include muscle and abdominal pain, constipation, and liver problems.

Research shows coenzyme Q10 does not affect the cholesterol lowering effect of statins, so taking both will be no problem.

Dr Steele says: “Lots of people also take statins to control cholesterol, but they can drain you of Q10. If you are complaining of tiredness you may need a Q10 supplement.”

Born in Wallsend, near Newcastle, Dr Steele left the North East in the early 1960s to do a medical degree in Manchester. He met his wife in the city, started a family, and has remained there ever since.

One of many doctors working in the Manchester area, Dr Steele's patient list just happened to include Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, who approached him about appearing on This Morning, the ITV show they were presenting at the time.

He was hesitant at first, and only intended to stay for a few months, but following encouragement from his four children he made the leap from family doctor to household name.

That was more than 20 years ago and Dr Steele is now one of the most well known health professionals in the UK, as well as an MBE, and appears in front of two million viewers each week.

He says: “It's a very responsible position and it's something I take seriously. I'm a family GP, but there are two million viewers, so that's my patient list.”

Dr Steele is a big believer in the benefits coenzyme Q10 can have for people as they get older, but he's not the only supporter of the supplement.

Another expert on health, and also from Dr Steele's native North East, is Dr David Mantle, of Newcastle University's School of Biology.

Dr Mantle has spent years investigating the link between nutrition and health and believes Q10 has a key role to play.

He says: “Coenzyme Q10 is a key nutrient for maintaining good health, particularly your cardiovascular system.

“The efficacy and safety of coenzyme Q10 has been extensively documented, with more than 1,000 research papers, including more than 100 randomised controlled clinical trials published in scientific and research literature.”

When taking a Q10 supplement, it is important to use to use a formulation the body can readily absorb, so you get the maximum benefit.

In Copenhagen, Denmark, where extensive Q10 studies have taken place, they have found that Q10 dissolved in soya oil and made up in a soft gelatine capsule produces optimal bio-availability, which essentially means it gets the best absorption in the body.

Dr Mantle says: “Buying cheap CoQ10 products can be a false economy. For example, in a review by a consumer organisation of 32 CoQ10 products marketed in the USA, several were found on analysis to contain substantially less active ingredient than stated on the product labeling, with one product containing no active ingredient at all.

“It is therefore important to purchase CoQ10 products from companies manufacturing to pharmaceutical standards, a guarantee of product quality.”

So if you're looking to boost your health by improving your diet then coenzyme Q10 is one dietary supplement worth considering, especially if you're not feeling as young or energetic as you used to be.

High intakes of vitamin C may protect against blood pressure increases in young women, according to a new study from the US.

Researchers, led by Gladys Block from the University of California, Berkeley, report that a one mg per decilitre increase in blood vitamin C levels was linked to a 4.1 and 4.0 mmHg in systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

The study, said to be the first to report a relationship between blood vitamin C levels and blood pressure in young women with normal blood pressure, is published in the open-access Nutrition Journal.

“Lowering BP or attenuating increases in BP in healthy young adults may lead to lower BP in older adults and reduced risk of age-associated vascular events,” wrote the authors.

“This study suggests that vitamin C may be an important factor in BP regulation even among health young adults, and that further study is warranted.”

High blood pressure (hypertension),defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) - a disease that causes almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe, and reported to cost the EU economy an estimated €169bn ($202bn) per year.

Study details

Block and her co-workers recruited 242 women aged between 18 and 21. Two-thirds of the women were African-American, while the other third was Caucasian. The blood levels of vitamin C of the women ranged from 0.22 to 3.13 mg/dL

During follow-up over a ten year period, the researchers noted that blood vitamin C levels were inversely associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The effects were still observed after the researchers accounted for the race, body mass index, and dietary intake of fat and sodium of the women.

Indeed, women with the highest vitamin C levels were found to have systolic and diastolic blood pressure 4.66 mmHg and 6.04 mmHg lower than women with the lowest vitamin C levels.

“A 1 mg/dL increase in plasma ascorbic acid levels was associated with 4.1 mmHg lower systolic blood pressure and 4.0 mmHg lower diastolic blood pressure,” wrote Block and her co-workers. “Plasma ascorbic acid levels in this cohort ranged from 0.22 to 3.13 mg/dL, indicating that a 1 mg/dL change in plasma ascorbic acid level is achievable in this young population.”

Mechanism

While the researchers did not perform a study to elucidate the mechanism, they did state that other studies have offered a “substantial biologic rationale for a causal role of ascorbic acid in maintaining normal BP”.

While a potential role for vitamin C may via an antioxidant mechanism, there is also the possibility that he nutrient’s other functions may be having an effect. These include a role in the function of smooth muscle function, or prevention of nitric oxide (a vasodilator or compound that opens up the blood vessels), they said.

An extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree may reduce markers of inflammation in people with osteoarthritis, suggests a new study.

According to new findings of joint German and Italian research, published in the journal Redox Reports, supplements of Pycnogenol may be able to reduce levels of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, sufficiently to prevent a ‘spill-over’ of the inflammatory marker from the joints into the whole body.

"The decrease of systemic inflammatory markers, particularly CRP, suggests Pycnogenol properties may be potent enough to arrest the spread of inflammation from osteoarthritic joints to the whole organisms" said Dr. Peter Rohdewald, a lead researcher of the study.

"When inflammatory processes are allowed to reach the whole body the degenerative processes may burden overall health including increased cardiovascular risks."

Indeed, CRP is reported to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular-related events.

The study supports and expands earlier results from other studies published in the journal Phytotherapy Research (April 2008, Vol. 22, pp. 518-523) and the journal Nutrition Research (November 2007, Vol. 27, pp. 692-697).

Osteoarthritis effects about seven million people in the UK alone are reported to have long-term health problems associated with arthritis. Around 206m working days were lost in the UK in 1999-2000, equal to £18bn (€26bn) of lost productivity.

Study details

The researchers recruited a sub-set of 55 patients from a larger osteoarthritis study involving 156 people with significantly elevated CRP levels. The subjects received either two daily doses of 50 mg Pycnogenol or placebo for three months.

Rohdewald and his co-workers report that people receiving the pine bark extract experienced significant reductions in CRP levels from an average of 3.9 mg/L at the start of the study to 1.1 mg/L after three months. This is equivalent to a 71 per cent reduction, said the researchers. Moreover, a reduction in the blood levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of 30 per cent was recorded.

On the other hand, people in the placebo group experienced “only marginal and non-significant effects”, said the researchers.

“This is the first indication of Pycnogenol effects on CRP levels but the physiological mechanism remains unknown at this point,” wrote the researchers.

Mechanism

While the researchers did not elucidate the mechanism, they did state that the extract has been reported to have anti-inflammatory process. Previous studies have reported that the pine bark extract may impact on levels of the protein, NF-kappaB, known to be play a key role in some inflammatory pathways.

“Our study indicates the need for further investigation on the mechanisms involved in the lowering of CRP levels by Pycnogenol,” wrote the researchers. “Specific, targeted studies should be considered for detailed evaluation of Pycnogenol to local inflammation of osteoarthritic joints.”

Victor Ferrari, CEO of Horphag Research: "We have now come full circle with regards to the understanding of Pycnogenol in inflammatory conditions. Three clinical trials with convincing results, further understandings ex vivo with regards to all inflammatory markers involved have now made Pycnogenol an ingredient of choice for joint health.

“The CRP data opens further applications in fields where we have proven to be very solid - cardiovascular health!"

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is backing efforts to encourage increased consumption of vitamin D through food and dietary supplements.

In a recent position statement on vitamin D, the academy stressed the importance of obtaining adequate levels of the vitamin without overexposure to cancer-causing UV radiation from sunlight or tanning machines.

"Vitamin D is essential for optimal health, and the medical literature supports safe ways to get it - a healthy diet which incorporates foods naturally rich in vitamin D, vitamin D-fortified foods and beverages, and vitamin D supplements," said dermatologist C William Hanke, MD, president of AAD.

"And, according to the medical literature, unprotected exposure to UV radiation from sunlight (natural) or indoor tanning devices (artificial) is not safe. Individuals who intentionally expose themselves to UV radiation for vitamin D are putting their health at risk for developing skin cancer."

AAD said it supports the recommended daily intake levels provided in guidelines from the Institute of Medicine (IOM), and is urging physicians to do the same.

Increased intake

Currently IOM recommends that children and adults up to age 50 should consume 200 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D per day - equivalent to 5μg. Adults aged between 51 and 70 should have an intake of 400 IUs (10 μg), and adults aged 71 and over should consume 600 IUs (15 μg).

AAD noted, however, that these recommendations may be revised upward due to evolving research on the increasing clinical benefits of vitamin D.

Indeed, IOM told NutraIngredients-USA.com last week that it has started a review of all science on Vitamin D, with a view to updating recommended intake levels.

The review is being sponsored by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Health Canada, with a final report estimated to be complete in spring 2010.

More calls

Just last month, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a report stating that children should be consuming double the usually recommended levels of vitamin D - 400 International Units (IUs) of the vitamin per day, compared to the 200 IUs previously recommended by AAP.

And in recent weeks, a group of 18 scientists from the University of California said recommended daily intakes of vitamin D should be raised to 2,000 International Units for vitamin D3.

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. The former, produced in the skin on exposure to UVB radiation (290 to 320 nm), is said to be more bioactive.

Both D3 and D2 precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form that is tightly controlled by the body.

Benefits

Previously, experts have noted that about one billion people are estimated to be vitamin D deficient, even more so since very few foods are fortified with the vitamin.

In adults, it is said vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases. There is also some evidence that the vitamin may reduce the incidence of several types of cancer and type 1 diabetes.

By Daily Mail Reporter  18^th November 2008

Three cups of green tea a day could keep obesity at bay.

Research shows the tea helps the pounds melt away, even while still eating junk food.

Spearole Tea, a blend of green tea, spearmint, grape seed and olive leaf, also cuts blood pressure and makes it easier for the body to process sugar, a medical conference will hear tomorrow.

Researcher Dr Lindsay Brown said: 'If someone had told me you could do all these things with something as simple as green tea with olive extract I would said they'd been out in the sun too long.

'It is simply amazing.'

Dr Brown, a pharmacologist at Brisbane's Queensland University, studied the effect of the tea on the health of a group of rats.

The creatures were fed a fat and sugar-laden diet caused the amount of fat around their bellies to double in eight weeks and their blood pressure to soar.

When Spearole Tea was added to their diet, their waistlines and their blood pressure quickly returned to normal.

This was despite the continuing to eat junk food, the Australian Health and Medical Research Congress will hear.

Dr Brown said it was likely three cups of the tea a day could also help people stay trim, improving overall health.

Warning that the obesity epidemic threatened to wipe out the gains achieved by improvements to heart health, he said: 'The UK, the US and Australia all have something like 60 per cent of the adult population overweight or obese.

'The decrease in cardiovascular mortality in the last 40 years has added on average six years to life expectancy.

'That is the biggest increase in life expectancy in one generation in the history of the species.

'The control of cardiovascular disease has had an amazing effect on survival and that is at risk from obesity.'

Dr Brown said that experiments showed ibuprofen also help shed weight, however their side-effects mean they are unlikely to ever be recommended for such a purpose.

It is thought that both the drugs and the tea work by stopping the fat cells from releasing inflammatory chemicals that attract more fat causing them to grow in size.

The olive and grape components of the tea, which costs around 15 pence a cup, are likely to have a similar effect, while the spearmint adds to the flavour.

Dr Brown, whose research was funded by Spearole Tea's manufacturer, Dr Red Nutraceuticals, said: 'The tea product is a safe and effective food alternative for confronting obesity and cardiovascular disease since the long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs in reversing weight gain is not viable.'

Previous studies have credited green tea with the ability to cut appetite and cholesterol and even cut the risk of cancer.

To see the article online, please click here

A new study indicates that Pycnogenol, a flavonol derived from French maritime pine bark, can reduce jet lag in passengers taking long haul flights.

Pycnogenol, extracted from the bark of the Maritime pine that grows on the southern coast of France, is currently used in over 400 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products. The functional food and cosmeceutical ingredient, contract manufactured in situ by Biolandes, is the branded ingredient of private firm Horphag Research.

This latest study, published in a recent issue of the journal of Minerva Cardioangiologica, contributes to growing research that suggests the potential health benefits of the pine bark extract, Pycnogenol.

The two-part study conducted at G. D'Annunzio University in Pescara, Italy and consisting of a brain CT scan and a scoring system, indicated that Pycnogenol lowered symptoms of jetlag, such as fatigue, headaches, and brain edema (swelling) in both healthy individuals and hypertensive patients.

Passengers, say the researchers, also experienced minimal lower leg edema, a common condition associated with long flights.

"I'm encouraged by the results of the study as Pycnogenol was effective in preventing jetlag related effects without any side-effects," said Dr. Gianni

Belcaro, a lead researcher for the study conducted at G. D'Annunzio University in Pescara, Italy.

"Previous Pycnogenol flight studies have shown a reduction in jetlag; however this was the first study to solely focus on the condition," he added.

The two-part study

Jetlag, also called desynchronosis, is largely caused by the body's inability to immediately adjust to the time in a different zone while travelling. As the body struggles to cope with the new schedule, temporary conditions such as insomnia, fatigue, irritability and an impaired ability to concentrate may set in.

For the study, 133 passengers who took flights between seven and nine hours in length were given 50 mg of oral Pycnogenol three times daily, for seven days, starting two days prior to the flight.

Patients in the first part of the study were evaluated with a rating scale consisting of a scoring system. Thirty-eight Pycnogenol-treated and 30 control patients were rated on the most common complaints of jetlag that included: dehydration and loss of appetite; fatigue; insomnia and/or highly irregular sleep patterns, and an alternation in mental performance (easy crossword) as well as general wellbeing.

Observations were measured and taken within 48 hours after the end of the flights.

The researchers report their results showed a "significantly lower score (56 per cent) in the Pycnogenol group for all items rated", collectively leading to a reduction in jetlag signs and symptoms.

"Moreover, symptoms lasted only for an average of 18.2 hours in the Pycnogenol group as compared to 39.3 hours in the control group," add the researchers.

Second study

In a second group of flight passengers, a brain CT scan was performed after the flight in order to assess brain alterations after flights. The study consisted of 34 Pycnogenol-treated patients and 31 controlled patients.

Jetlag symptoms were evaluated using a rating scale providing scores according to the severity. The first observation was performed within 28 hours from the end of the flight.

According to the scientists a swathe of symptoms "were all significantly lower by on average 61.5 per cent in the Pycnogenol group compared to the untreated control group."

Symptoms included sleep alterations, short-term memory alterations, minor cardiac alterations (heart rate, blood pressure), and lower limb swelling.

"This is the first study describing diffuse subliminal swellings of the brain after long haul flights, which we found to be reduced to less than half in the Pycnogenol group," said Dr Belcaro.

The researchers, while asserting that more science needs to be conducted on this topic, "Pycnogenol is emerging as a natural, yet safe option for long distance travellers."

Source: Minerva Cardioangiologica October 2008, Volume 56, Suppl. 1, no.5, Pages 1-7

Published online ahead of print

"Jet-lag: Prevention with PYCNOGENOL. Preliminary report: Evaluation in healthy individuals and in hypertensive patients"

Authors: G. Belcaro, M.R. Cesarone, R. J. Steigerwalt, A. Di Renzo, M.G. Grossi, A. Ricci, S. Stuard, A. Ledda, M. Dugall, U.Cornelli, M. Cacchio

Daily supplements of multivitamins and minerals may improve the brain function of children, says a new study from British and Australian researchers.

Twelve weeks of supplementation with vitamins and minerals was found to boost the attention scores of children, according to results published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

"This represents the first observation of acute behavioural effects of vitamins/minerals in human subjects," wrote the researchers, led by Professor David Kennedy from Northumbria University in Newcastle.

"Naturally, these observations require replication in larger cohorts, but they do suggest that this matter should be given some priority," cautioned the researchers.

Study details

The Newcastle-based researchers, in collaboration with scientists from Swinburne University in Australia, and the University of Westminster in London, recruited 81 children (average age 11) to participate in the randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups investigation.

The children were reportedly all healthy and free from food allergy. In addition, none of the children used other dietary supplements during the three months prior to the study. Participants were randomly assigned to daily multivitamin and mineral supplements or placebo for 12 weeks. The study used Pharmaton SA's Pharmaton Kiddi blend of multivitamins and minerals. The Swiss company also provided funding for the study.

Cognitive performance was measured using a battery of laboratory assessments. Measures were taken before the study, after one and three hours after the first dose, and after 12 weeks.

Kennedy and his co-workers report that the children in the vitamin/mineral group performed more accurately on two tests of attention. Indeed, the researchers noted the first signs of improvement only three hours after the first dose on the first day.

"The most surprising facet of the improvement in attention task performance seen here is that it became evident by three hours post-dose on the first day," they wrote.

"To the best of our knowledge, the possibility that vitamins or minerals could exert behavioural effects after a single dose has not been explored," they added.

However, no effects were observed on measures of the children's mood, they added.

Science behind the claims?

The researchers noted that the study was aimed at testing the claims of the manufacturer that the multivitamin and mineral could improve the physical development and neural performance of the children.

"The combination of vitamins, minerals and amino acids present... in the present study does not allow the results presented to be attributed to any one component," wrote the researchers.

"Further work in this area could examine the constituent parts of this treatment in more detail, perhaps focusing on attentional measures and including acute, as well as chronic, assessment," they added.

Source: British Journal of Nutrition

November 2008, Volume 100, Pages 1086-1096, doi:10.1017/S0007114508959213

"Cognitive and mood effects in healthy children during 12 weeks' supplementation with multi-vitamin/minerals"

Authors: C.F. Haskell, A.B. Scholey, P.A. Jackson, J.M. Elliott, M.A. Defeyter, J. Greer, B.C. Robertson, T. Buchanan, B. Tiplady, D.O. Kennedy

Researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center report that intakes of vitamin E in the alpha-tocopherol form were associated with consistent and independent reductions in lung cancer risk. Other forms of the vitamin did not have any effects on their own, they added.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to compare dietary intakes of the different forms of tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma and delta-tocopherol) and lung cancer risk," wrote lead author Somdat Mahabir in the International Journal of Cancer.

"Our large lung cancer case-control study adds meaningful data on alpha-, gamma-, beta- and delta-tocopherol to the literature,"

There are eight forms of vitamin E: four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Alpha-tocopherol is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, while gamma-tocopherol is the most common form in the American diet.

Study details

Mahabir and co-workers report results from an ongoing study involving 1,088 patients with lung cancer (average age 61.7) and 1,414 healthy controls (average age 60.8). Dietary intakes were assessed using a modified version of the 135-item National Cancer Institute's Health Habits and History Questionnaire Food Frequency Questionnaire. Demographic and lifestyle data were also collected, including smoking habits.

The researchers calculated that the highest average intakes of alpha-tocopherol (more than 7.73 mg per day) were associated with a 53 per cent reduction in lung cancer risk, compared to the lowest average intakes (less than 4.13 mg per day). This result took into account the other forms of tocopherols.

When the researchers accounted for the other tocopherols they observed no significant associations on lung cancer risk for beta-, gamma, and delta-tocopherol.

Considering all the tocopherols together, the highest average intake (more than 12.95 mg per day) was associated with a 55 per cent reduction in the risk of lung cancer, compared to the lowest average intakes (less than 6.68 mg per day), said the researchers.

"We found consistent independent associations for increased dietary alpha-tocopherol intake and risk reduction but did not find independent associations for gamma-, beta- and delta-tocopherol in lung cancer risk," wrote Mahabir.

"Our data should be useful in stimulating additional epidemiologic and basic science research in the relationship of different forms of vitamin E and cancer."

No mechanistic study was performed by the researchers, and they make no discussion of it in their article.

Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide with over 1.2m new cases diagnosed annually, according to the European School of Oncology. It has one of the lowest survival rates with only 25 per cent of patients surviving more than one year after diagnosis (England and Wales).

Source: International Journal of Cancer

Volume 123, Pages 1173-1180

"Dietary alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols in lung cancer risk"

Authors: S. Mahabir, K. Schendel, Y.Q. Dong, S.L. Barrera, M.R. Spitz, M.R. Forman

Daily supplements of extracts from green tea (Camellia sinensis) may reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and markers of oxidative stress, and all within three weeks, says a new study.

Reductions of systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 5 and 4 mmHg, respectively, were observed following daily supplements of green tea extracts, while total cholesterol levels were reduced by 10 mg/dL, according to findings of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study.

The study adds to an ever growing body of science reporting the potential health benefits of green tea and its extracts, which already range from reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, and certain cancers.

Researchers from the University of Florida, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and the Nutritional Science Research Institute, Boston, report their findings in Nutrition.

Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent. Oolong tea is semi-fermented tea and is somewhere between green and black tea.

The four primary polyphenols found in fresh tealeaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), and epicatechin (EC).

Study details

Meri Nantz and co-workers recruited 52 healthy men and 72 healthy women with an average age of 29 and randomly assigned them to receive daily supplements of green tea extract (Cardio Guard, containing 100 mg of L-theanine (Suntheanine, Taiyo International) and 200 mg of a decaffeinated catechin green tea extract (Sunphenon 90DCF, Taiyo International)) or placebo for three weeks.

At the end of the supplementation period the researchers found that total and LDL cholesterol levels had decreased by 10 and 9 mg/dL, respectively.

In addition to the blood pressure improvements, improvements in malondialdehyde (a marker of oxidative stress) and amyloid-alpha (a marker of chronic inflammation) were also recorded. Specifically, 12 and 42 per cent reductions, respectively, were observed.

"Camellia sinensis compounds may be an option for people who have mild to moderate high BP, elevated LDL cholesterol, elevated markers of inflammation, or a combination of these three CVD risk factors," wrote the researchers.

"It may be helpful for individuals whose health care providers suggest a trial of diet and exercise before resorting to prescription medication," they concluded.

High blood pressure (hypertension), defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) - a disease that causes almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe, and reported to cost the EU economy an estimated €169bn ($202bn) per year.

Source: Nutrition

Published online ahead of print, 9 October 2008, doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2008.07.018

"Standardized capsule of Camellia sinensis lowers cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study"

Authors: M.P. Nantz, C.A. Rowe, J.F. Bukowski, S.S. Percival

Taking vitamin supplements could help to guard against the leading cause of blindness. People with higher levels of antioxidants are less likely to suffer eye damage caused by the sun, suggests a study.

In the long term, experts now believe it could protect against age-related macular degeneration, a common condition which causes loss of sight. Research by a team in London found that vitamins C, E, carotenoids and zinc all seemed to help the eyes stay healthy well into old age.

Writing in the Archives of Opthalmology, a team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine conclude that middle-aged people could cut their risk of AMD by protecting their eys from harsh sunlight and taking vitamin supplements.

Daily Express 14th October 2008

The minister responsible for public health has sought to reassure industry the Government is listening to its concerns.

Dawn Primarolo MP was guest speaker at Consumers for Health Choice's annual Parliamentary Reception, attended by retailers and suppliers.

During the event, the MP was challenged by CHC's Michael Peet to be forthright when setting the Government's proposals.

Peet raised the organisation's concerns surrounding both the Food Supplements Directive and the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive.

"Despite two years of campaigning, the problems that concerns CHC supporters have not gone away," he said, adding that it was now moving into the end game with the setting of maximum and minimum permitted levels under the Food Supplements Directive.

Primarolo responded, saying the Government would always be forthright in its proposals, adding that a continued collaboration between industry and agencies such as the Food Standards Agency was important.

"Let me make it absolutely clear I don't want either directive to stifle consumer choice and I don't believe if implemented correctly it necessary will," she told the audience.

"Food supplements that are safe and properly labelled should be freely marketed and we intend to pursue energetically that view."

She said consumer choice was of paramount importance, adding: "It is important that the industry should have and will have and does have robust controls in place to safeguard the consumer but I don't believe those proposals have to be a threat to the industry.

"We will continue to push for a measured and proportionate approach. Quite simply the stronger the evidence, the stronger our position in future negotiations."

Turning her attention to the THMPD, Primarolo added: "I know some of you are worried about the registration scheme, though others actually support it. The concern is that this will restrict choice as there won't be enough products on offer for consumers."

She believed the directive offered benefits, such as giving "people reassurance the products they have are safe, high quality and come in the right information for safe usage".

Primarolo added she was confident a competitive market will develop and explained that the MHRA had been asked to explore ways to aid companies to meet the challenges of registration.

"I want to give you my assurance I will be keeping my eyes peeled in this area and looking around this room I know I will be very robustly supported in that challenge. I don't underestimate the concerns you are expressing and we will continue to do our very best."

More than 50 per cent of Europeans are classified as "overweight" so there is a desperate need for ways to control food intake. One useful strategy could be supplements of the trace element chromium. In a recent US study published in the journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, food intake was reduced by 25 per cent among weight-troubled adult women who took chromium on a daily basis, compared with an eight per cent reduction in the placebo group where study participants were given identical "dummy" pills. In addition, self-reported hunger levels and fat cravings were also reduced with help from chromium.

Supports glucose metabolism

While it is fairly unknown that chromium affects the desire for high-fat foods, earlier studies have linked the nutrient to a decreased craving for sweets and sugary foods in general. The human body uses chromium to convey sugar from the bloodstream to the cells where it is processed to make energy. A Czech study from the University of Plzen, which was published a few years ago, showed how chromium supplements given to type-2 diabetics improved their glucose clearance and several other diabetes markers.

Useful for weight management

The new study is conducted by researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Centre at Louisiana State University, and the University of Florida, and includes 42 healthy, non-smoking, overweight women with self-confessed carbohydrate cravings. The women were randomly assigned to either 1,000 micrograms of chromium, or placebo for eight weeks. Their food intake at breakfast, lunch, and dinner was measured at the beginning of the study, after one week, and finally after eight weeks. Besides a significantly reduced food intake and lower cravings for fat and sugar in the chromium group, a slight weight reduction was noted. In comparison, women in the placebo group had gained weight during the eight-week period.

Source: Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics October 2008, Volume 10, Issue 5, Pages 405-412

Chromium helps you stay off the sugar

Many people have a craving for sweets and sugary foods and find, for the same reason, that it is difficult to manage their weight. Being chromium-deficient may explain their insatiable desire for sugar, as the body needs chromium to convey sugar from the bloodstream to the cells of the body, where sugar is converted into energy. If you lack chromium, an essential trace element found in brewer's yeast, organ meats, mushrooms, nuts and shellfish, sugar (glucose) tends to pile up in the blood instead of reaching the cells.

When too little sugar reaches the cells, your energy levels drop, causing symptoms like fatigue, irritability plus an overwhelming urge for a quick "carbohydrate fix" in the form of sugar. This constant feeding on sugar will of course contribute to an existing weight problem.

A natural solution is to take a supplement with organic chromium such as Bio-Chromium and make sure the body's chromium requirement is taken care of.

Diabetics could benefit from chromium tablets

According to research carried out by scientists with the Charles University in Plzen, the Czech Republic, chromium supplementation may play a crucial role in the management of type-2 diabetes. "Chromium is known to improve metabolism and has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity about eight times," Professor Jaroslev Racek recently explained.

Heading the research, Racek and colleagues demonstrated in a study of 36 male and female type-2 diabetics, that those of the patients who were given 2 x 100 micrograms of organic chromium (ChromoPrecise®) for a period of three months lost 1.3 kilos on average, had reduced glucose levels (levels increased in the control group) and increased insulin sensitivity.

Besides reduced blood sugar levels the diabetics supplemented with chromium had lower levels of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is known to promote complications such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Source

Influence of chromium-enriched yeast on blood glucose and insulin variables, blood lipids, and markers of oxidative stress in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Racek J, Trefil L, Rajdl D, et al.

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2006 Mar;109(3):215-30

Although the design was not scientific in any way, a British study comparing pupils who were given fish oil capsules with others who were not ended up showing what previous research has demonstrated: it boosts mental performance.

Could fish oil be the future "brain booster" for school pupils? According to a recent British study, that seems to be the case. The study claimed that out of the more than 3,000 students that took part, close to one third showed significant improvements in GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education), a standard for assessing the academic qualifications of students aged 14-16 years. Although the science was ridiculed by an award-winning medical writer for being conducted in a non-scientific manner - which in essence is true, as there was no placebo group - the study does corroborate earlier research linking fish oil consumption to improved cognition.

No laughing matter

The study, which was carried out on pupils in County Durham in England under the surveillance of Dave Ford, from the Council's Children and Young People's Services Department, was labelled "laughably incompetent" and even called unethical, but the harsh reaction may be a bit out of proportion, as we are dealing with fish oil and not some synthetic drug.

The scientists matched students who showed improved test results to those of similar abilities and backgrounds, who did not take the supplements, and that way they found a positive link between fish oil intake and performance. What the scientists failed to do was to make similar analyses of those children who were not given supplements.

Basis for further trials

Interestingly, the critics of the study do not dismiss the fact that fish oil may have certain benefits in terms of mental performance. The only thing they object to is the way in which the research was carried out.

Lead researcher, Dave Ford, is quite positive about the whole thing and said that the study has produced some interesting and possibly exciting issues that could be the basis for future scientific trials. At least, fish oil supplements are extremely safe and have numerous health benefits, so compared with what school pupils are otherwise known to bring to exams for producing better scores - typically caffeine pills, energy drinks and various stimulants - a fish oil supplement definitely seems to be the better choice.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/health/3083228/Fish-oil-makes-children-smarter-study-claims.html

Why fish oil is "brain food"

Haven't you often heard the expression "brain food"? That term is often used about fish. This has something to do with the fact that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), are important constituents of brain cells and help them communicate better.

A fish oil supplement like Bio-Marine Plus contains omega-3 fatty acids in their "free" form, which means that they have already been broken down and are ready to be absorbed and utilised. When omega-3 fatty acids come in their triglyceride form (like in fresh fish), the body must decompose them first by means of the digestive enzyme, lipase. This process entails a certain amount of waste. Bio-Marine Plus has by-passed this digestive process, which is why the product is absorbed with more ease and works faster. Also, the fish oil is thoroughly screened and purified using the world's leading purification technique (PureMax^TM). This ensures en effective elimination of heavy metals, pesticides, furans and other unwanted environmental pollutants that are often found in fish.

Increased intake of vitamin D from the diet and from sunlight may reduce the risk of breast cancer by over 20 per cent, says a new study.

The potential protective effects of the vitamin were not limited by the hormone receptor status of the tumours, according to research published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

"This study suggests that vitamin D is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer regardless of [oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive and progesterone-receptor (PR)] status of the tumour," wrote lead author Kristina Blackmore from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Over one million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, with the highest incidences in the US and the Netherlands. China has the lowest incidence and mortality rate of the disease.

Hormone-sensitive oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive and progesterone-receptor (PR) positive tumours are said to be the most common type diagnosed among breast cancer patients in the US. These tumours are stimulated to grow by the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

Study details

"Few epidemiologic studies have considered the association between vitamin D and hormone-receptor-defined breast cancer," wrote Blackmore.

In order to start filling this knowledge gap, the Canadian researchers analysed the vitamin D intakes of 759 women with breast cancer, and compared this to the vitamin D intakes of 1,135 healthy controls.

Increased intakes of the vitamin were associated with a 24 per cent reduction in the risk of developing ER+ and PR+ tumours, said the researchers. Moreover, increased intakes were also associated with 26 and 21 per cent reductions in the risk of receptor-negative (ER-/PR-) and mixed receptor (ER+/PR-) tumours. However, these last two associations were not significant, said the researchers.

"Future studies with a larger number of receptor-negative and mixed tumours are required," they concluded.

D and the big C

The link between vitamin D intake and protection from cancer dates from the 1940s when Frank Apperly demonstrated a link between latitude and deaths from cancer, and suggested that sunlight gave "a relative cancer immunity".

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. Both D3 and D2 precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form that is tightly controlled by the body.

There is growing evidence that 1,25(OH)2D has anticancer effects, but the discovery that non-kidney cells can also hydroxylate 25(OH)D had profound implications, implying that higher 25(OH)D levels could protect against cancer in the local sites.

Source: American Journal of Epidemiology. Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1093/aje/kwn198

"Vitamin D From Dietary Intake and Sunlight Exposure and the Risk of Hormone-Receptor-Defined Breast Cancer"

Authors: K.M. Blackmore, M. Lesosky, H. Barnett, J.M. Raboud, R. Vieth, J.A. Knight

The dietary supplements industry has been boosted by a Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) survey results that show 79 per cent of physicians and health care professionals recommend dietary supplements to their patients.

Bone, joint and heart health are among the main health conditions for which US health professionals recommend dietary supplements to patients.

Maintaining overall health and wellness and a healthy cholesterol level also figured highly in the survey that polled around 900 physicians and 300 registered nurses and nurse practitioners.

The results are informing CRN's consumer wellness campaign "Life...supplemented", for which consultant and CRN ex-president Annette Dickinson, Ph.D, filled in some of the gaps between the health conditions favoured by physicians and the dietary supplements commonly used in their treatment.

The physicians were not asked to recommend specific supplements in the poll that was conducted last October but for which data analysis is ongoing.

The top five conditions were:

Bone health 33% (of physicians recommending)

Overall health and wellness 32%

Joint health 29%

Heart health 26%

Maintain healthy cholesterol 22%

For each condition Dickinson highlighted various dietary supplements. These included: -

Bone health - Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Vitamin K and Vitamin C.

Overall health and wellness benefits - a Multivitamin with Minerals "is king", she said. Seventy two percent of physicians said it is a good idea for patients to take a multivitamin. Others included Omega-3 from Fish Oils, Vitamin D, and Antioxidants such as Green Tea and CoenzymeQ10.

Joint health - Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate. "There is a strong body of human clinical trials that supports the safe use of Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulphate, or their combination for significant and long-lasting decreases in joint pain and improvements in mobility," Dickinson said. About 21 million US adults have osteoarthritis.

Heart health - Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). "They reduce inflammation, reduce the tendency to form clots, decrease the likelihood of developing cardiac arrhythmia, and at high levels lower triglyceride levels," Dickinson observed.

Other options include Vitamin E and B Vitamins. Dickinson: "Observational studies suggest benefits for heart health from taking at least 200 IU of Vitamin E per day-an amount impossible to obtain from diet alone. And observational studies have shown that generous amounts of B vitamins, such as folic acid and Vitamins B6 and B12, can lower homocysteine, which may help prevent heart attacks, although that has not been borne out by recent clinical trials."

Maintain healthy cholesterol. Soluble fibre in foods and supplements, soy protein, phytosterols and stanol or sterol esters are highlighted.

Physician use

Of the 72% of physicians who say they use dietary supplements 87% used a Multivitamin, 78% use Vitamin C, 63% use B vitamins, 59% use Vitamin D, 58% use Vitamin E as well as Calcium.

Female physicians are more likely than male physicians to take single vitamins or mineral supplements (48% versus 35%). They also take more Calcium and Iron.

Male physicians are more likely to take Fish Oil (52% versus 34%). They are more likely to cite heart health and maintaining healthy cholesterol as reasons for taking dietary supplements. 27% of male physicians take supplements for heart health and maintaining healthy cholesterol (22%), while just 14% and 12% of female physicians do the same.

The research forms part of CRN's three-year public relations campaign, "Life...supplemented". CRN wants to encourage a perception that taking dietary supplements is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, in much the same way as it is widely accepted that exercise and a well-balanced diet are pillars of such a lifestyle.

A national campaign to persuade every Scot to take daily supplements of vitamin D is needed if the country's appalling health record is to be reversed, leading scientists believe.

A report, published this week, links poor weather to the lack of the "sunshine vitamin" in Scotland, and urges the Scottish government to launch a nationwide vitamin D programme to lower the incidence of devastating illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis.

The research points to the country's damp, cloudy climate as a significant contributor to its bleak record of ill health and disease.

Vitamin D deficiency - caused by lack of exposure to sunshine - is twice as common among the Scots as it is among the English. The average Scot has a vitamin D level four times lower than their neighbour south of the Border.

A five-year research project by Oliver Gillie, a scientist and writer, demonstrates extensive and remarkable parallels between Scotland's dull weather and indices of disease.

It suggests that the "Scottish effect", the country's hitherto unexplained high mortality rate compared with other industrial countries, is in large part down to lack of sun. Crucially, a shortage of the "sunshine vitamin" is established as a factor in higher rates of multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, several types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other ailments that together give Scotland one of the worst health records and highest premature mortality rates in Western Europe.

Dr Gillie's study - Scotland's Health Deficit: An Explanation and a Plan - echoes world-wide research on vitamin D deficiency but goes further, showing how the higher rates of disease in Scotland mirror closely the lower amount of available sunlight.

A lack of sunshine in Glasgow and the West of Scotland reflects levels of chronic illness that which cannot be explained by deprivation alone. A lack of sunshine on Orkney and Shetland - only 24 per cent of the maximum number of hours possible - corresponds to the highest prevalence of MS in the world.

By contrast, the South Coast of England, where such diseases are much less common, receives 400 more hours of sunshine a year than Scotland.

Dr Gillie says that successive reports on the state of Scotland's health have failed to recognise that insufficient sunlight and vitamin D are important risk factors, and calls for firm action from the Scottish government on supplementation and the fortification of food.

Last week The Times convened a panel of experts who studied the report and endorsed unanimously the importance of vitamin D as an important ingredient in creating a healthy Scottish population.

Dr Harry Burns, the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, said: "It is important that attempts to improve health in Scotland remain focused on action on the social, economic, behavioural and psychological determinants of health. If vitamin D supplements can be shown to contribute to that agenda then we will make the appropriate recommendations."

Dr Adrian Martineau from Queen Mary's School of Medicine, London, who is working on evidence that vitamin D can reduce cold and flu symptoms, said: "This is a very important initiative. What [Dr Gillie] has highlighted is that 85 per cent of us have lower Vitamin D levels than we should have and 85 per cent of our cells need vitamin D to function properly. It's highly plausible that supplementation would be of great benefit."

See the article online at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article4753513.ece

Scalpels are no better than physical therapy and painkillers, concludes a new study to be published in the New England Journal of Medicine. A more useful solution, however, is treatment with glucosamine sulphate.

Patients who suffer from knee pain caused by arthritis are no better off by choosing surgery over physiotherapy and painkillers, according to a new study to be published in The New England Journal of Medicine. 86 patients who had the operation did not experience improvements beyond those observed in 86 controls who received physical therapy and took medication to dampen the inflammation.

To add insult to injury, a 2002 study in which patients were assigned to either real knee surgery or a sham operation revealed that there was no difference between real and bogus surgery. This, needless to say, has caused a somewhat heated discussion among different groups of health professionals.

Glucosamine sulphate works

What seems to be a safer bet, however, is the use of glucosamine sulphate, a shellfish extract with a documented effect on knee osteoarthritis. Several studies comparing glucosamine sulphate with NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which are traditionally used to relieve joint pain, clearly show that glucosamine sulphate works every bit as effectively in relieving pain and improving joint functioning. In fact, there are studies that show a better effect of the cartilage-stimulating shellfish extract.

First-line treatment

The effect of glucosamine sulphate has turned out to be that convincing, leading rheumatologists recommend the remedy as first-line treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine is a building-block involved in the synthesis of joint cartilage. It supports the maintenance of healthy cartilage and has been shown to arrest further progression of the cartilage erosion, which is the underlying cause of the symptoms. Some studies suggest that it may even replace some of the deteriorated cartilage.

In order to work properly, glucosamine depends on the presence of sulphur. Glucosamine sulphate contains sulphur and is therefore the biologically active form of the substance.

Source:

The New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 359:1097-1107

A Randomized Trial of Arthroscopic Surgery for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

In 1990, Pharma Nord was the first company to introduce coenzyme Q10 (in conventional oxidised form) into the European market. Now Pharma Nord has launched a new product, BioActive Q10, containing the reduced ubiquinol form of coenzyme Q10.

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring vitamin-like substance that plays a vital role in supplying energy to all cells within the body. Coenzyme Q10 is also important as a powerful antioxidant but as people age, the body becomes less able to maintain adequate Q10 levels from normal dietary sources. Lack of coenzyme Q10 is associated with tiredness and muscle weakness. Coenzyme Q10 occurs in two forms; oxidised (ubiquinone) and reduced (ubiquinol). The normal functioning of Q10 requires the inter-conversion of these forms within the body.

Until recently, coenzyme Q10 supplements were only available in the oxidised form, as ubiquinone. Most people are able to absorb supplemental Q10 in this form adequately. However, certain categories of people may be less able to absorb this form of Q10. These include the elderly, as well as people with liver disease, pancreatic disease, digestive disorders such as IBS, and following digestive tract surgery. For such categories of people, Q10 is more easily absorbed in the reduced (ubiquinol) form, as BioActive Q10.

Ubiquinol is extremely sensitive to the effects of air and light. BioActive Q10 contains ubiquinol in a stabilised form, using specially developed light-proof and air-proof packaging to prevent oxidation via a patented process unique to Pharma Nord. Pharma Nord is therefore able to guarantee the stability of this product during the whole of the product shelf life.

As with all Pharma Nord products, BioActive Q10 is produced to pharmaceutical standards, a guarantee of product quality, safety and efficacy. The production of Pharma Nord Q10 products is also guaranteed to be nanotechnology-free.

Large intakes of omega-3 fatty acids from fish may explain the low levels of heart disease in the land of the rising sun, says a new study.

A comparison of blood omega-3 levels and atherosclerosis among Japanese, white American and Japanese American men found that Japanese men had the lowest levels of atherosclerosis and two times higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than white Americans or Japanese Americans.

The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, adds to an established body of science supporting the cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, first reported by Danish scientists in the early 1970s.

In addition to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, research has also linked omega-3 fatty acids to improved heart rhythms, and a reduced risk of a second heart attack.

"Our study suggests that very high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have strong properties that may help prevent the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries," said lead author Akira Sekikawa, from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

"Increasing fish intake to two times a week for healthy people is currently recommended in the U.S. Our study shows much higher intake of fish observed in the Japanese may have strong anti-atherogenic effect."

Study details>

The population-based cross-sectional study examined data from 868 men aged between 40 and 49. Of these, 281 were born and living in Japan (Japanese), 306 were white men born and living in the US (white American), and 281 were Japanese men born and living in the US (Japanese-American).

Results showed that the Japanese men had the lowest atherosclerosis level - hardening of the arteries and a major risk factor for CVD - compared to their Japanese-American and white American counterparts, after accounting for potential confounding factors such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, cigarette smoking, body mass index and diabetes.

Moreover, blood omega-3 levels were two-fold higher in Japanese men than the other two groups, report the researchers.

"Given the similar levels of atherosclerosis in Japanese Americans and white Americans, it also tells us that lower levels of heart disease among Japanese men are much more likely lifestyle related than a result of genetic differences," said Sekikawa.

To assess the risk of atherosclerosis, the researchers looked at the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery - a lower score indicating a reduced risk. As expected, Sekikawa and co-workers also report that increased omega-3 levels were associated with lower IMT scores.

Fish consumption among the Japanese is reportedly one of the highest in the world, with men consuming an average of 100 grams every day from early in life. On the other hand, Americans eat fish less than two times a week.

"The Japanese eat a very high level of fish compared to other developed countries," said Sekikawa. "While we don't recommend Americans change their diets to eat fish at these quantities because of concerns about mercury levels in some fish, increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids in the US could have a very substantial impact on heart disease."

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Pollution concerns

The risk of pollutants from oily fish, such a methyl mercury, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) have led to some to advocate a reduction in fresh fish intake, despite others advising that the benefits of fish consumption outweigh the risks.

Such conflicting views on fish intake have seen the number of omega-3 enriched or fortified products on the market increase as consumers seek omega-3s from 'safer' sources. Most extracted fish oil are molecularly distilled and steam deodorised to remove contaminants.

Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology

Volume 52, Pages 417-424, doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2008.03.047

"Marine-Derived n-3 Fatty Acids and Atherosclerosis in Japanese, Japanese-American, and White Men - A Cross-Sectional Study"

Authors: A. Sekikawa, J.D. Curb, H. Ueshima, et al. for the ERA JUMP (Electron-Beam Tomography, Risk Factor Assessment Among Japanese and U.S. Men in the Post-World War II Birth Cohort) Study Group

Recent research reports from consumer organisations or universities within the UK, Europe and the USA have highlighted the variability of the levels and biological effectiveness of the active ingredients found in different brands of nutritional supplements. A UK scientific study highlighted differences in antioxidant activity between Ginkgo Biloba supplements marketed by different manufacturers, with Pharma Nord's Bio-Biloba having the highest antioxidant level.

In a review of 32 coenzyme Q10 products marketed in the USA, several supplements were found on analysis to contain substantially less ingredient than stated on the product labelling, with one product not containing any active ingredient at all.....

All nutritional supplements marketed by Pharma Nord are produced to pharmaceutical standards, a guarantee of product quality and safety. All Pharma Nord products already conform to new EC regulations relating to nutritional supplement quality and safety, which became effective in 2005.

Dr D Mantle, Newcastle University

Recent research has shown that the levels of a number of important vitamins and minerals have substantially decreased since the 1940's; these include depletions in copper (76%), sodium (49%), calcium (46%), iron (27%), and magnesium (24%). The contect of zinc, an important element for normal immune function and male fertility, was depleted in vegetables by 57% in just a 13-year period from 1978.

Similarly it has been recognised that soils in many parts of the world, including the UK, are deficient in the essential trace element selenium. This deficiency is manifest upwards through the food chain, culminating in man.

Insufficient intake of selenium is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and immune disorders. Government estimates place the average selenium intake for the UK population to be approximatley 50% of their own recommended daily intake figure.

Dr D Mantle - Newcastle University

Interestingly, a report in the Guardian newspaper says that the mineral content of popular meats and milk has fallen over the last 60 years according to a recent analysis of the government records of compositions of everyday food.

The report claims that iron had dropped in everyday meats by up to 47%, (60% in milk),magnesium by up to 7% (21% in milk)and calcium by up to 2%.

One of the studies revealed that modern agricultural methods do not allow the soil to enrich itself.

Also important is that widely used fertilizers may not contain all the nutrients that humans and plants require. Evidence also suggests that the faster the grass grows the more diluted the uptake of elements. Clover, which is higher in nutrients than grass, is less prevalent today and as such cattle may have a different dietary intake. Other evidence suggests that analysis is far better today than sixty years ago which could possibly have an impact on some of the research validity.

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/feb/02/foodanddrink

Taking supplements such as calcium, magnesium and iron may help promote the normal function of bones, the immune and cardiovascular system.

If you work in the media, you may be interested in the press release regarding the new Multivits website.

Click here for more information.

The supply of energy within the body is important on two levels.

At the most fundamental level, every cell within the body requires a constant supply of energy to survive and function - without this constant energy supply, the cells die.

At the second level, different tissues within the body may have particular energy requirements to function optimally- a good example is muscle tissue, which has an extremely high energy requirement during physical exertion. Without an adequate energy supply in such circumstances, individuals may feel tired and lacking motivation to undertake physical exercise.

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring, vitamin-like substance that plays a key role in the body's energy supply process. Coenzyme Q10 is required to convert sugars and fats from food into energy, in the form of a specific molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

This process takes place in specialized structures within cells called mitochondria. Coenzyme Q10 is also important as an antioxidant, helping to protect tissues from the damaging effects of free radicals produced within the body.

Increasing Your Energy

Some coenzyme Q10 is manufactured within the body, with the remainder being obtained from the diet. As individuals age, the body is less able to maintain optimal levels of coenzyme Q10. In addition, coenzyme Q10 levels are depleted by lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking, as well as by physical exertion or illness.

Dietary supplementation can help to maintain optimal levels of coenzyme Q10 within the body. Coenzyme Q10 supplements can be effective for chronic fatigue, and may also improve athletic endurance. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation also helps to maintain healthy muscles and a healthy heart.

Types of Q10

It is important when choosing a coenzyme Q10 nutritional supplement to look for one manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, as this is a guarantee of the content of the supplement and ensures you get what you pay for. It is also best to look for Q10 in oil based capsule form, for better absorption by the body.

How much should you take?

Most nutritionists and experts believe that the optimum Q10 intake is in the range 30-100mg per day, preferably taken in split doses. Coenzyme Q10 is generally very well tolerated, with no serious adverse effects reported in long term use.

Multivits stocks Pharma Nord Bio-Quinone Q10, which is a coenzyme Q10 product available in 30 milligram, 100 milligram, or 200 milligram amounts. The pack sizes range from 30 capsules up to 150 (offering a saving on the price).

Pharma Nord Bio-Quinone Q10 is manufactured to pharmaceutical standard, ensuring quality and consistency. Their Q10 product range is one of the most widely used and trusted on the market.

If you would like further information on Bio-Quinone Q10 or any other products offered on Multivits.co.uk please get in touch, we'll be glad to help.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Multivits

PS: Look out for information in the near future regarding a new supplement from Pharma Nord – Bio-Active Q10.

Bio-Glandin 25 is a product containing borage oil (also known as Starflower oil). Borage Oil is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). GLA is an essential omega-6 (may also be referred to as n-6) fatty acid. GLA is also found in cell membranes where it acts as an essential component of prostaglandin E1. This is a hormone type substance that is associated with immune response.

Studies have shown that GLA has a positive effect on those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis and those who suffer from PMS (Pre-Menstrual Syndrome) and mastodynia (breast pain). Those who suffer from allergies may also benefit from this supplement.

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin. It has a number of important functions such as protecting cell membranes by acting as an antioxidant. It may also have a benefit to the immune system.

Bio-E Vitamin (200IU) 60 caps £4.95
Bio-E Vitamin (200IU) 150 caps £9.95

Dear customer,

Please be advised that, due to exceptionally high demand for this product, we only have available 30 capsule boxes of Omega 7 - limited to 1 per customer per order. This is however at a lower price-point of only £6.95.

We expect to have some stock in in the near future and will of course announce this as soon as it is available.

UPDATE: 22/04/08

Please be aware that Omega 7 is now available in 60 and 150 capsules as Multivits now has further stock of this excellent product.

Kind regards,

Multivits

At Multivits, there are a few things we recommend to make sure that you stay at your best. The following are simple lifestyle tips that should keep you feeling great.

• Five different servings of fruit and vegetables per day will give you access to your essential nutrients. If you're in doubt that you're receiving your full daily intake, you could always supplement with Bio-Vitamin C or Bio-Vitamin D3. Alternatively, for a good 'nutrient base', you could consider Bio-Multivitamin & Mineral.

• Foods lose vitamins and minerals when they are cooked so it is best to try and cook them in the healthiest way possible - steam or poach fish and vegetables and grill or bake meat. Remember, foods such as sardines and mackerel contain high levels of CoQ10 (the same as coenzyme Q10) (extremely important for the body's energy supply), so if you don't eat enough of these you may want to consider supplementing with Bio-Quinone Q10. CoQ10 is particularly important for maintaining the efficient functioning of the heart. Carnitine is an amino acid-like substance that is mainly obtained from meat. This is important in the metabolism of fat and for energy production in the body. Vegetarians and those with a high-energy output (such as athletes) may consider this supplement (such as Bio-Carnitine) as it acts in synergy with coenzyme Q10 in the metabolism of fatty acids during energy production.
• Fresh foods are very important to your diet - try to make sure you eat them as much as possible over their processed counterparts. Frozen vegetables can also count toward your five a day.

Beverages

• Too much caffeine can limit the absorption of vitamins and minerals such as iron, and it may also increase the excretion of the water-soluble vitamins through urine. Sugary drinks such as coke may also increase your calories without you realising.
• Alcohol can have a number of effects including dehydrating your body and making you feel poorly after one-too-many. Try to limit your intake and drink a non-alcoholic beverage between drinks.
• A good way to boost your intake of nutrients is with a smoothie or fruit drink. Look out for those with added sugar or very little fruit content however.

Breakfast

• There are a number of ways in which to start the day in a healthy way, but why not try some wholemeal cereal (or porridge) with fresh fruit. This will give you complex carbohydrates to boost your energy through the morning and provide some of your daily intake of vitamins and minerals.
• Fresh fruit juice at breakfast can also help with your five-a-day.

Lunch

• If you make sandwiches for lunch, try to use wholegrain or seeded bread - this will give you more fibre, iron and complex carbohydrates than white bread.
• Limiting fats such as butter will help to keep your cholesterol levels in check.
• Lean cuts of meat such as tuna or salmon go very well with a fresh salad for vitamins, minerals and iron.

Snacks

• A boiled egg will give you the benefit of carbohydrates and protein, along with iron and vitamins A and B.
• A small pack of unsalted nuts will be a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium (which may be deficient in UK soil) and vitamins B and E.
• Various seeds (including sunflower and sesame) can provide extra vitamin E.
• Raw vegetables such as pepper and carrot contain beta-carotene - a precursor to vitamin A.
• Dried fruit can contain vitamin B, iron, magnesium and calcium

Dinner

• A lean cut of meat will provide a good source of protein as part of a meal.
• Including two vegetables (such as carrots and spinach) should make a meal more wholesome
• Potatoes can be substituted for complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, pulses or even lentils

Overall, there are a wide variety of options for a healthy diet that don't necessarily leave you resorting to 'rabbit food' that may taste unappealing. If you try just a few of the above you should find it a wholesome, filling way to add nutrients to your diet. Of course, Multivits has a wide variety of nutritional supplements and we are here to help.

Simply give us a call on 01670 534900 for information on any of our products.

Regards,

Multivits