Billions could be saved with nutritional intervention!

Dietary supplement regimens may reduce the number of disease-associated medical events, representing the potential for hundreds of millions of dollars – and in some cases billions – of savings. On the back of my last post about the futility and waste involved in certain medical procedures and drug regimens, this report commissioned by the Centre for Responsible Nutrition Foundation suggests massive savings with switch from medical treatment of chronic disease, which currently accounts for 75 percent of the healthcare budget, to prevention which currently accounts for a miserable 3 percent!

The specific nutritional factors that were singled out for use in prevention strategies include calcium, magnesium and vitamin D for osteoporosis, lutein and zeaxanthin for age-related eye diseases along with a number of nutrients for prevention of coronary heart disease. These include omega-3s, B vitamins (folic acid, B6, B12), psyllium, phytosterols and finally chromium picolinate for diabetes-attributed CHD.

I could add a few more to that list and also suggest that the best nutritional prevention strategies start with both prospective parents before conception, but at least this study’s "game-changing" recommendations are headed in the right direction. Authors, Frost and Sullivan, do however suggest that “This will be a marathon and not a sprint”, pointing out that everyone in Washington wants to save money! That’s for sure - particularly given current healthcare costs and the fights over Obamacare, just wondering if they’ve factored the insidious, negative influence of Big Pharma into the race ... ?

Improving vitamin D status - starts with the gut

Daily supplements of probiotic strain Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 may boost circulating vitamin D levels in the blood by 25%, say results of a post-hoc analysis of a published randomized controlled trial.

Another tick in the long list of health benefits of probiotics. This one from a company at the forefront of research to show how the gut microbiome can be manipulated positively to deliver a host of physical and mental health benefits! It’s been known for ages that a healthy gut is important for ensuring absorption of all nutrients, vitamin D included. But this latest study shows that a particular strain of probiotics can actually increase circulating levels of vitamin D - better absorption may not be the only factor involved - researchers propose that more vitamin D precursor is being produced.

But if you’re thinking vitamin D and bone strength, reflect on another new study. There is a direct and causal relationship between vitamin D status, high blood pressure and the risk of heart attack and stroke, according to new genetic research data. So many benefits of vitamin D and one of the reasons why I advocate regular sun exposure free from the protective effects of sunscreen - important for all ages and life stages, particularly important during infancy and childhood. 

And if you still have doubts about getting out in the sun, check this link to a video explaining how gene expression is linked to Vitamin D.

Spend some time in the sun

Consumption of high doses of vitamin D supplements during pregnancy may raise the risk of children developing food allergies after birth, says research.

Vitamin D has been in the news a lot lately - most notably because of the widespread incidence of deficiency that has been noted in Western populations. These are largely a legacy of cancer-council scare-mongering and lifestyles and working environments that are focused mostly indoors rather than out.

Now along with the identified deficiencies comes the debate about supplemental dosage forms and levels and now concern about the potential for Vitamin D during pregnancy to lead to food allergies in the baby - something the supplements would in fact be designed to prevent.

Makes a good case for moderate exposure to sunlight as the best way to prevent deficiency and get the appropriate dose in the appropriate form. So avoid sunburn, limit exposure to the strong midday sun, but ensure some regular, unprotected exposure when the sun is more than 50 degrees above the horizon (it’s at 90 degrees when it’s directly overhead). Vitamin D is manufactured when your skin takes on a very slight pink tinge.