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Lee Swanson Research Update
Raising vitamin D levels may lower risk of heart attack
August 2008
A study from Harvard School of Public Health says that increasing vitamin D levels in the body may reduce the risk of heart attacks.
A doubling of blood levels of vitamin D was associated with cutting the risk of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) in
Raising vitamin D levels may lower risk of heart attack
A study from Harvard School of Public Health says that increasing vitamin D levels in the body may reduce the risk of heart attacks.
A doubling of blood levels of vitamin D was associated with cutting the risk of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) in half, according to results published in a recent issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
“Vitamin D deficiency has been related to an increasing number of conditions and to total mortality,” wrote lead author Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D. “These results further support an important role for vitamin D in myocardial infarction risk. If this association is causal, which remains to be established, the amount of vitamin D required for optimal benefit may be much higher than would be provided by current recommendations (200-600 IU/d), especially in those with minimal sun exposure.
“Thus the present findings add further support that the current dietary requirements of vitamin D need to be increased to have an effect on circulating 25(OH)D levels substantially large enough for potential health benefits,” he added.
Giovannucci and colleagues reviewed the medical records and blood samples of 454 men aged between 40 and 75 with a history of non-fatal heart attack or fatal heart disease. Data from these “cases” were compared with data from 900 healthy “control” men with no history of heart disease. Self-administered questionnaires provided information on diet and lifestyle factors.
The Harvard researchers calculated that men with vitamin D deficiency, or 25(OH)D levels of 15 ng/mL or lower were 142% more likely to suffer from a heart attack than men with sufficient levels of the vitamin of at least 30 ng/mL.
When the researchers adjusted the results to account for other factors, they discovered that men with vitamin D deficiency were 109% more at risk of heart attack, compared to men with sufficient levels of the vitamin. “Even men with intermediate 25(OH)D levels were at elevated risk relative to those with sufficient 25(OH)D levels,” wrote Giovannucci.
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I have been using one of your products for about two weeks and I do not notice any difference. How long should I use a product before I will see results? Should I consider using a different product?
Many factors contribute to how well a supplement works. Because of the differences in makeup, one supplement may prove beneficial for one of the body's needs and not another. You may have tried a product a friend or family member loves, but for you, there were no results. The extent of benefits can also range from subtle to powerful. There are a number of reasons for this.
First of all, when taking vitamins, antioxidants and other nutrients, we may not necessarily feel different. This is nearly always the case, especially as we age. The best advice is to first allow time for the supplements to work within the system, at least four weeks and up to six for optimal results. After this time, stop taking the product for a few days. Most people notice the difference they did not previously think was present!
Another factor involves making sure you are taking the right product. Sometimes it is not easy to pinpoint what our body may be particularly lacking. For digestive concerns, we may be missing certain enzymes more than others, perhaps hydrochloric acid or pepsin, or maybe we need an acid neutralizer. Again, if a digestive product does not offer the help you are seeking, you may want to find a different type or try a combination.
Remember, Swanson Health Products offers a 100% satisfaction or money back guarantee. We understand that sometimes a product simply does not work for an individual. If you are struggling with finding a product that may help you, we will be happy to help! We have Product Specialists available to discuss options by phone; feel free to e-mail us your concerns. Please keep in mind that according to strict FDA guidelines, our panel of experts is not licensed to treat or make recommendations for medical conditions or diseases.
You may also be interested in a wonderful feature we have online at Swanson Health Products, which enables you to shop by a specific health concern like “Joint Health,” for example. Simply click the “Shop by Health Concern” drop down menu on the left sidebar of the home page and select one of the categories from the alphabetized list. You will find a discussion of simple suggestions that can easily be incorporated into your everyday life.
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How Do I Pick the Right Vitamins & Herbs?
“It’s important to have clear health goals when looking for supplements.” Questions to get you started
Q. Do I really need vitamins and herbs?
A. Even if you eat healthfully, you could probably benefit from taking vitamin supplements. Certain vitamins help protect the body against the damage caused by environmental factors, such as the sun, pollution, and pesticides and other toxins, that can lead to illness, disease, and aging. For more in-depth information on nutritional supplements, see Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy People.
Many herbal remedies have been used traditionally to help prevent or treat diseases, and science has supported a wide range of uses.
Q. Where do I begin?
A. Before making any change in your health protocol, it is a good idea to check in with your healthcare practitioner, especially if you are pregnant or have a health condition. Next, it is important to have clear health goals when looking for supplements. For example:
- A healthy 20-year-old might simply be looking for “dietary insurance.”
- Someone in his or her 30s might want to manage stress.
- Postmenopausal women might be concerned about osteoporosis.
- Men over 50 might be thinking about prostate health.
Each of these will benefit from a slightly different supplement protocol. Talk with a knowledgeable healthcare practitioner, letting your health goals and history guide your research and help you determine the herbs and supplements that will be safest and most effective for you.
Q. Are vitamins and minerals always safe?
A. Although most supplements have good safety records, each person’s body will react differently depending on his or her unique physiology as well as on any other medications, herbs, and supplements also being taken. In addition, certain combinations of medications, herbs, and nutrients can potentially cause depletions or interactions. For that reason it is important to check with your health practitioner. Also try Rx Answers, which contains depletion and interaction information for drugs, nutritional supplements, herbs, and foods.
Q. Do women need special vitamins or herbs?
A. Each woman will have different health concerns depending on her age, health history, and genetics. In addition to meeting general nutrient needs, women may have specific concerns such as osteoporosis, PMS, heart disease, iron levels, and pregnancy. For a comprehensive look at women’s health and how supplements might help, see the Women’s Health Center.
Q. Do men need special vitamins or herbs?
A. Like women, each man will have different health concerns depending on his age, health history, and genetics. In addition to meeting general nutrient needs, men may have specific concerns such as prostate health, stress, diabetes, and heart health. For a comprehensive look at men’s health and how supplements might help, see the Men’s Health Center.
Q. Are vitamins and herbs safe for children?
A. Although many experts believe that children can safely benefit from vitamins and other supplements, it is important to consult your family practitioner before giving children vitamins, herbs, or other supplements. See Children and Supplement Safety for more information.
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5 Tricks to Get Your Kids to Eat Nutritiously.
“Studies have shown that life-long eating habits are formed early, and that parents have the biggest influence”
A mom of three shares tried-and-true nutrition tips
by Nicole Pierce, ND
If you’ve ever struggled to slip those essential fruits and veggies into your child’s diet, or you worry that your kids may actually turn into a bowl of mac ‘n’ cheese, keep reading! As a mom and naturopathic physician I have become an expert at balancing the goals of a raising a healthy family with the unpredictability of daily life. While my ideals haven’t changed, I’ve had to find new, quick, and easy ways to help my family eat healthy, nutritious and stay happy.
Studies have shown that life-long eating habits are formed at an early age, and that parents have the biggest influence on kids’ food choices. With that in mind, I developed these tips to make sure that my three children will grow up eating well, and will also enjoy what they eat:
1. Be realistic
When my oldest started school, she discovered all sorts of new and unhealthy snacks. Don’t try to hide things that kids love, just look for healthier, more nutritious alternatives like homemade fruit juice popsicles, and whole-grain or multigrain foods instead of refined flour pastas, breads, and crackers. Instead of soda, try juice diluted with carbonated water.
2. Don’t give up
It’s funny: one day my kids may gobble down stems of broccoli, other days they’ll leave it to wither on the plate. We’ve found that if we keep putting a food in front of them that our kids will eventually taste, if not like, it.
We avoid making special meals for our kids by always including at least one food we know they’ll like, and making sure that “problem” foods become part of a well-liked meal. Some of our favorites: spinach and squash puréed into a pasta sauce, chicken enchiladas filled with sweet peppers and zucchini, and pita pocket hummus sandwiches topped with shredded carrots and cucumbers.
3. Eat the rainbow
We try to include a colorful blend of veggies at meal time both for nutrients and to appeal to our kids’ visual senses. A favorite trick: We set up a salad bar and have a contest to see which child can get the most colors on their plate. Try it out: shredded beets, sliced carrots, chopped purple cabbage, cauliflower florets, tomatoes, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, cucumbers, bell pepper slices, dried cranberries, and a couple of different dressings.
4. Look out for taste triggers
Pay attention to what your kids like. One of ours likes vinegar, another likes sweet. While it may seem hard to please them both, it can be easier than you think. Cooked carrots release the sugars to make them sweeter, but a sprinkle of vinegar after cooking can add a bit of sour.
5. Get kids involved
When at the store, let the kids manage the produce part of the shopping list—challenge them to pick the freshest, best they can find. Even if it takes a little more time, invite kids into the kitchen to chop, spread, strain, or simply put the food on plates. We also started trying variations on favorite foods, which we write down as special family recipes. Jump in with something easy and tasty: build smoothies together using a variety of frozen fruits, 100% fruit juices, soy or rice milks, and low-fat yogurts. When you find the perfect blend, write it down and later let your kids make their own.
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Does My Child Need Supplements?
“Consult with a qualified healthcare provider to determine if supplements are right for your child.”
What parents should know
by Jeremy Appleton, ND, CNS
Children who eat healthful diets rich in whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables should not need to take a daily multivitamin. But how many children truly fit that description? Even in households steeped in whole foods and nutritious cooking practices, children can be finicky eaters. Or they may live in households where a standard Western diet is consumed and junk foods are not significantly limited.
Q. Can a nutritional supplement take the place of eating a diet rich in healthful whole foods?
A. Nutrition research strongly suggests that the answer is no. But a combination of some whole foods and high-quality supplements may be the best compromise most parents can expect, one that is likely to prevent nutrient deficiencies even if it does not provide the nutritional benefits of a diet truly rich in whole foods. Children from low-income households are at risk of several nutritional deficiencies and, for them, supplementing with a high-quality multivitamin may be the best safety net preventing them from falling into nutritional deficit.
Q. When should I consult a doctor?
- Some nutritional supplements and herbs can be poisonous if taken in the wrong amounts, even if they are sold over the counter or are formulated for children.
- Always consult a qualified healthcare provider if you have questions about the safety or efficacy of supplements for your child.
Q. What about herbal supplements?
- Herbal supplements for children are not recommended on a daily basis, but instead may be considered to help address specific health concerns. For example, chamomile and mint teas can be useful for upset stomachs, and ginger syrup or tea may help a child who is nauseated.
- Consult with a qualified healthcare provider to determine if herbal supplements are right for your child.
Q. Does my child need a multivitamin?
- While most well-nourished children probably do not need a multivitamin, there appears to be no harm (and probably some benefit) from taking a good one. A high-quality multivitamin will provide at least the RDA of its key ingredients, it will contain no unnecessary additives, and it will meet its label claims for nutrient content. Consult with a healthcare provider if you have questions about how to choose a high-quality multivitamin.
- A multivitamin usually provides the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of most essential vitamins and minerals. Several good children’s multivitamins are available, some in chewable form.
- Children from low-income households are at the highest risk of nutritional deficiencies. Studies suggest that, in these groups, multivitamin supplementation can improve brain function and attention in school, fortify the immune system against infection, and prevent nutritional deficiency diseases such as anemia (caused by deficiency of iron or certain B-complex vitamins) and rickets (caused by vitamin D deficiency).
- Improved performance on IQ tests has been observed in some children who take a daily multivitamin, compared with those who do not. However, the results of this research are not conclusive, and it may be that the children who benefited were marginally deficient in iron and had that deficiency corrected by the multivitamin.
Q. Does my child need an iron supplement?
- Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency disease among children and adolescents. It is less common now that breakfast cereals and breads are fortified with iron. But adolescents, particularly adolescent girls who have begun menstruating, may be at increased risk of developing iron deficiency.
- Breast-feeding infants less than three months of age do not need iron supplements.
- Formula-fed infants do not need iron supplements because baby formula is fortified with iron.
- Children between the ages of three months and three years may need iron supplementation in the amount of 1 mg per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight per day. However, some experts disagree, saying that once solid foods have been introduced the need for iron supplementation goes away. This depends on the child’s individual diet.
- Children who eat nutritionally inadequate diets may be at risk of iron deficiency, which can cause anemia and impair brain function and intellectual performance. Such children require dietary intervention and/or supplemental iron.
- Some children’s multivitamins contain iron; some do not. Be sure to check the label to see how much iron is in the multivitamin. Do not give your child iron if he or she does not need it as too much iron can be dangerous. Consult your pediatrician to determine if your child needs iron.
Q. Does my child need a vitamin B12 supplement?
- Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause serious, irreversible nerve damage and anemia. Reliable amounts of vitamin B12 can be obtained only from foods of animal origin (in other words, fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products).
- Tempeh, seaweed, and some other foods not of animal origin may contain some vitamin B12, but the amounts are not consistently high enough for these foods to be dependable sources.
- Therefore, children who consume a vegan diet (one that contains no animal products whatsoever) need to take a vitamin B12 supplement. Most children’s vitamins contain sufficient vitamin B12 to meet this requirement.
- The RDA for children ages 1 to 3 is 0.9 mcg per day; for children ages 4 to 8, the RDA is 1.2 mcg per day; for children ages 9 to 13, it is 1.8 mcg per day. Adolescents (ages 14 to 18) require the same amount as adults: 2.4 mcg per day.
Q. Does my child need more calcium?
- Calcium is needed to help a growing child or adolescent reach peak bone mass, which will decrease their later risk for developing osteoporosis.
- Unfortunately, poor dietary choices—particularly among adolescent girls—may lead to lower-than-recommended calcium intake.
- Many children’s vitamins include calcium, but it may not be enough for adolescents, especially those with increased requirements (for example, female athletes who have begun their menstrual periods). Children, adolescents, and young adults (ages 11 to 25) need to get 1,200 mg of calcium per day from all sources.
Q. Does my child need a vitamin D supplement?
- Vitamin D is produced in the skin after exposure to sunlight. If sunlight exposure is adequate, there is no requirement for additional vitamin D.
- People who get little exposure to sunlight, either because of living conditions or geographical location, may be at risk of developing a deficiency of vitamin D, which is needed for proper bone formation and to prevent rickets.
- Cow’s milk is fortified with vitamin D, and most children’s vitamins provide sufficient vitamin D.
- Children over six months of age need 400 IU of vitamin D per day.
Q. Are essential fatty acid supplements necessary?
- Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are needed for proper development, particularly of the brain and nervous system. They also contribute to the health of the heart and skin. A diet that includes nuts and fish should provide ample EFAs. Some children whose diets are low in these foods may benefit from a high-quality fish oil supplement.
- Fish oil supplements should be free from contaminants, such as pesticide residues and heavy metals, particularly mercury. These contaminants, which pollute our oceans and are consumed by fish, can be removed from the oil during the manufacture of a supplement. It's hard to know which products have had these removed, but companies with high purity standards will often advertise it.
Q. Do some children need additional vitamin or mineral supplementation?
- Some children who have poor or restricted diets, liver disease, or other chronic medical problems (especially those that lead to fat malabsorption, such as cystic fibrosis) may need specific vitamin and mineral supplementation to prevent nutrient deficiencies.
- Only a qualified healthcare provider should prescribe nutrients to treat a medical condition.
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