Vitamin D and Calcium

Friday, May 7, 2010

Vitamin D and Calcium Reduce Bone Fractures

Doctors surprised that women and men of all benefit. New study shows the two nutrients must be taken together to reduce the chances of fracture. Researchers reviewed seven major
vitamin D bone fracture studies covering more than 68,500 participants, average age 70, who took vitamin D with or without calcium. Doctors found that overall, people who took vitamin
D with calcium were 8 percent less likely to have a bone fracture, and 16 percent less likely to have a hip fracture, compared to those who did not take vitamin D with calcium. Scientists
noted that the chances of fracture did not decline with vitamin D alone, but only when participants took vitamin D and calcium together. Doctors were surprised to find
that vitamin D with calcium benefited women and men of all ages and concluded that, “Calcium and vitamin D given together reduce hip fractures and total fractures, and probably
vertebral fractures, irrespective of age, sex, or previous fractures.”

Reference: British Medical Journal; 2010, Vol. 340,
Electronic Prepublication

Omega3 and CoQ10

Omega-3 fatty acids cut fatal heart attacks, reduced pain, and improved heart and blood vessel function in those with very high cholesterol and heart failure. In an omega-3 study, researchers
recruited 18,645 Japanese participants who ate a large amount of fish but who were at risk for
heart disease because of very high cholesterol levels, over 252 mg/dL. Participants took 1,800 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per day plus statin drugs, or a placebo with
statin drugs, for five years. After an average follow up period of 4.6 years, researchers found that, compared to placebo, those who had taken EPA were 19% less likely to have had a major coronary event including sudden cardiac death, fatal and non-fatal heart attack, unstable
chest pain (angina pectoris), and vascular surgery including angioplasty, bypass, or stent.
In another omega-3 study, researchers recruited 24 men and one woman, average age 60,
whose hearts were unable to fill with or pump enough blood (heart failure), and who
had had a heart attack. Participants were keeping the failure stable with drugs including
beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and diuretics, and 23 of the 25 participants were also taking statin drugs. Researchers randomly assigned a 2,000 mg com-
bination of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plus EPA—minimum 85% DHA/EPA content—or a placebo, for four months, and found that those who had taken omega-3s had significantly improved heart function (heart rate variability) and blood pressure (baroreceptor regulation),

Reference: The Lancet: 2007; Vol. 369, No. 9567,
1090-8.