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Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamins are organic substances, which means they’re made by plants or animals. Minerals are inorganic elements that come from soil and water, and are absorbed by plants or eaten by animals. Your body needs larger amounts of some minerals, such as calcium, to grow and stay healthy.

These micronutrients are not produced in our bodies and must be derived from the food we eat.

Vitamins are organic substances that are generally classified as either fat soluble or water soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K) dissolve in fat and tend to accumulate in the body. Water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins, such as vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folate) must dissolve in water before they can be absorbed by the body, and therefore cannot be stored. Any water-soluble vitamins unused by the body is primarily lost through urine.

Minerals are inorganic elements present in soil and water, which are absorbed by plants or consumed by animals. While you’re likely familiar with calcium, sodium, and potassium, there is a range of other minerals, including trace minerals (e.g. copper, iodine, and zinc) needed in very small amounts.

Treatment For Vitamin D Deficiency

Treatment For Vitamin D Deficiency Read More »

Understanding the importance of vitamin D for health at any age is crucial. Since low levels of vitamin D are common, it is important to know how to treat it. We will discuss various ways to improve health through sunlight exposure, proper nutrition, and the use of vitamin D supplements as part of the treatment for vitamin D deficiency. Additionally, we will explore how individual characteristics can influence the success of achieving healthy vitamin D levels, as well as determine safe dosages for its maintenance. This article was last reviewed by Svetlana Baloban, Healsens, on October 24, 2020. This article was last modified on 29 October 2020. Let us start with how we define vitamin D deficiency. In summary, a deficiency occurs when the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is less than 20 ng/ml (50 nmol/L). If your serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level is between 20 and 30 ng/ml (50 to 75 nmol/liter), then we are talking about vitamin D insufficiency. Values of less than 10 ng/ml refer to severe vitamin D deficiency. We will analyze the approach to treat this deficiency separately. Treatment for vitamin D deficiency Sunbathing Sunbathing, mentioned in the article about the influence of vitamin D on health, is an excellent way to compensate for vitamin D deficiency. Sunlight (ultraviolet) promotes the formation of about a dozen beneficial compounds, including not only vitamin D but also nitric oxide (NO5), which is beneficial for reducing blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. The skin contains significant reserves of nitric oxide, which, when exposed to ultraviolet light, can be converted into NO and enter the systemic circulation. Studies on humans show that this process can cause dilation of arterial vessels and reduction in blood pressure. IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Treatment for vitamin D deficiency 2 Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment Using Supplements 3 Maintenance Dose of Vitamin D 4 Monitoring Vitamin D Levels RELATED ARTICLES It is also noted that the impact of ultraviolet radiation can suppress clinical symptoms of multiple sclerosis independently of vitamin D synthesis . Sunlight is also beneficial for maintaining healthy erectile function. However, it is worth remembering that UV radiation remains a proven carcinogen. What to do in this situation? It is recommended to consider the option of “healthy sun exposure”, when you are in the sun during the safest times – before 10 in the morning and after 4 in the evening. It is important to remember that sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 can reduce vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Additionally, people with naturally dark skin have built-in sun protection and require at least three to five times longer exposure to produce the same amount of vitamin D. Choose the safest times for sunbathing without sunscreen. Food Another way to increase the level of vitamin D in the body is through the consumption of food products. Very few foods naturally contain or are enriched with vitamin D. However, in combination with sunbathing, food products can also be beneficial. Pay attention to foods such as fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna), egg yolks, cheese, liver, and vitamin D-fortified dairy products and cereals – they can become a good source of this vitamin. In addition to sunbathing, in case of vitamin D deficiency (especially at critical levels when the level of 25(OH)D is less than 20 ng/ml), it is advisable to take vitamin D in the form of supplements. It is worth noting that the increase in the level of 25(OH)D when taking vitamin D supplements is highly individual. In the next chapter, we will delve into the issue of vitamin D dosages through supplements recommended at present. Vitamin D Deficiency Treatment Using Supplements Vitamin D deficiency is defined when the level of 25(OH)D is below 20 ng/mL. It is important to realize that unprotected sun exposure is the primary source of vitamin D for both children and adults. Vitamin D synthesized in the skin can remain in the blood at least twice as long as vitamin D obtained from external sources. However, if opportunities for sunbathing are unavailable, considering vitamin D supplementation becomes advisable. The amount of vitamin D needed to treat deficiency largely depends on the degree of deficiency and key risk factors. Let’s delve into clinical recommendations for treating vitamin D deficiency using supplements. Research findings indicate a rate of increase in the level of 25(OH)D in serum of approximately 0.4 ng/mL/μg/day. This means that intake of 100 IU/day of vitamin D increases the level of 25(OH)D in serum by less than 1 ng/mL. For instance, if your level of 25(OH)D in serum is 15 ng/mL, an additional daily intake of about 1500 IU of vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 is required to achieve and maintain a level of 30 ng/mL. However, to achieve a similar increase in the level of 25(OH)D in serum among individuals with obesity, two to three times more vitamin D is required. Vitamin D can be taken on an empty stomach or with meals, and dietary fats are not required. Taken three times a year, weekly, or daily, vitamin D can be effective in maintaining the level of 25(OH)D in serum for both children and adults. » Discover everything about what your cholesterol results mean. How much vitamin D should I take if I’m deficient? So, the amount of vitamin D needed to treat a deficiency depends largely on the degree of the deficiency and the underlying risk factors. Initial supplementation with Vitamin D3 for 8 weeks, either 6,000 IU daily or 50,000 IU weekly, can be considered. When the vitamin level exceeds 30 ng/ml, the daily maintenance dose will be 1500 to 2000 IU. If after 8 weeks your level of 25(OH)D in the blood has not increased, it is recommended to undergo testing for celiac disease or hidden cystic fibrosis. Higher-risk adults may require higher starting doses of vitamin D3. These people include African Americans, Hispanics, people with obesity, chronic illness, and taking certain medications. Typically, your doctor may prescribe 10,000 IU of vitamin per day. For such people,

digestive disorders

DIGESTIVE DISORDERS CAUSES: PART 1

DIGESTIVE DISORDERS CAUSES: PART 1 Read More »

The food you choose has a major impact on your health and life expectancy. However, it is not only the quality of products which is important, it is also important how well they are absorbed. So let’s take a look at the most common causes of digestive disorders. Unfortunately, the article is longer than we planned. First, because it contains most common disorders. Secondly, in addition to describing the problems, we also explain how to improve digestion. This article was last reviewed by Svetlana Baloban, Healsens, on January 24, 2020. This article was last modified on 15 October 2020. If you think that digestive disorders are an inevitable part of our life, then you should know that this is far from the case. Like many chronic diseases, they can result from inappropriate habits. For example, think about proper nutrition and related digestive disorders. This is important, since gastrointestinal disorders are far from uncommon! More than 40% of people worldwide suffer from them. The magnitude of the problem is also reflected in the ever-increasing consumption of over-the-counter gastrointestinal drugs to relieve the symptoms of digestive disorders. So, some digestive disorders can be inherited, others acquired. So, genetic defects include lactose intolerance, which means inability to digest milk sugar. The celiac disease also needs be mentioned, although the disease is not inherited. However, susceptibility to its development can also be inherited. Note that celiac disease is a multifactorial disease. This means that several genes at once interact with environmental factors to cause it. IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Digestive disorder causes 2 Improper food chewing 3 Vitamin B12 deficiency 4 Helicobacter Pylori 5 Lactose intolerance RELATED ARTICLES Most ailments occur due to the additional stress that our digestive system experiences as a result of poor nutrition. On the one hand, certain supplements or medications help to cope with the problem. On the other hand, healthy eating is still the most important thing for restoring and maintaining healthy digestion. Digestive disorder causes There’s nothing new in the fact that one’s diet provides nutrition needed for energy, growth, and recovery. But apart from that, it also affects and regulates several important functions of the body. For example, proportions of proteins, carbohydrates and fats control the type and amount of gastrointestinal hormones released into the bloodstream. These hormones regulate gastrointestinal motility, secretion and absorption, cell proliferation, appetite, and local immune defenses. Furthermore, the gastrointestinal hormonal peptides/amines interact and integrate with the enteric, autonomic, and central nervous systems (gut-brain axis). Food intake also affects the gut microbiota. Microbiota, in turn, plays an important role in health and disease. In general, food makes many stops during the digestion process, which can potentially be disrupted. Improper food chewing Children often are told to take their time and chew food well. And this makes sense! Improper chewing of food puts additional stress on the gastrointestinal tract. This is due to the need for an increased amount of digestive juices, which will be required to break down large pieces of food. This can cause gas and bloating. And in the future, it can lead to more serious problems in the digestive system. Therefore, you should chew slowly, enjoy the taste, and chew each bite thoroughly. In addition, the number of teeth also affects the chewing quality. So, for example, a number of studies have confirmed that the more teeth, the better a person can chew and the more he does not consume foods rich in fiber, vitamins, folic acid, calcium and protein. Difficulty in chewing fiber rich foods can be associated with increased risk of systemic illness, such as cardiovascular disease, and with oral diseases, such as oropharyngeal cancer. Therefore, we should take care of our teeth and enjoy our food, chewing it thoroughly. So, you will have more pleasure and the gastrointestinal tract will be grateful to you. Vitamin B12 deficiency When food enters the stomach, an intrinsic factor (IF) is released. The intrinsic factor (IF) is a glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in the transportation and absorption of vitamin B12. Insufficient release of intrinsic factor (IF), can result in deficiency of this vitamin. If such a disbalance is not eliminated, it can lead to adverse events. These include such disorders as anemia, overwork, tingling or numbness of fingers and toes, imbalance, depression, and even dementia. Inadequate excretion of this element may be corrected with supplements containing IF and vitamin B12. Remember that vitamin B12 coming in from outside loses its properties in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it is recommended to be taken in the form of injections or sublingual tablets. Helicobacter Pylori Another problem that can appear during digestion is the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that infects up to 50% of the world’s population. H. pylori can disrupt the delicate balance between highly acidic gastric juice and mucus. Therefore, they are the most important cause of chronic or atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, lymphoma, and gastric carcinoma. Typically, this H. pylori infection is acquired in early childhood and persists without treatment. It should be added that the majority of children with H. pylori infection are asymptomatic. And if any symptoms are present, they are usually associated with gastritis or ulcer disease. Furthermore, the presence of Helicobacter may be associated with anemia. Thus, it has been documented that those infected with H. pylori have lower iron stores. So, if there are any concerns, the doctor may suggest a Helicobacter pylori antibody blood test. Lactose intolerance We have already mentioned above about lactose intolerance. Now we will dwell on its specifics in more detail. So, lactose intolerance is a clinical syndrome that manifests itself with characteristic signs and symptoms when using lactose, a disaccharide. Usually, when lactose is consumed, it is hydrolyzed to glucose and galactose by the enzyme lactase. Lactase deficiency leads to clinical symptoms such as nausea, colic, gas and diarrhea. The severity of the disease varies from person to person. In many people, the amount of lactase produced decreases with age. In addition to the age

vitamin a immune system

VITAMIN A HELPS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

VITAMIN A HELPS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Read More »

Vitamins are essential constituents of our diet that have been known to influence the immune system. But which vitamins have proven effective to help our immune system? Is a healthy diet enough? All these questions are constantly raised and become especially burning during epidemics. In turn, many studies test hypotheses and publish the results, sometimes breaking quite common myths. This time, to further expand on the topic of immunity health, we will review how vitamin A affects the immune system. We will also answer the question of how to check a deficiency / excess of this vitamin. This article was last reviewed by Svetlana Baloban, Healsens, on February 23, 2020. This article was last modified on 22 February 2020. To begin with, we note that vitamins cannot be sufficiently synthesized by our body and must come to us with food. So Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, who won Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, said that “Vitamins and their metabolites are essential for a large number of physiological processes”. And that’s true. Vitamins and their metabolites are essential for a large number of physiological processes. They play an important role in the immune system, extending to both innate and adaptive immune responses Vitamin A Helps Immune System IN THIS ARTICLE 1 Vitamin A Helps Immune System 2 Vitamin A Deficiency 3 How is vitamin A deficiency treated and prevented? 4 Hypervitaminosis A or Vitamin A Toxicity RELATED ARTICLES Many people know that vitamin A is crucial for maintaining vision. And, of course, who has not heard that it is widely used in cosmetics?! Vitamin A turned out to be the first vitamin approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an anti-wrinkle agent.. Thus, it confirmed its ability to change the appearance of the skin surface and has anti-aging effects. However, its functions do not end there. So, it is crucial for promoting growth and development and protecting epithelium and mucus. Did you know that it’s also called an anti-inflammation vitamin? It has to do with its critical role in enhancing immune function. For this function, vitamin A should be referred to as the vitamin that helps our immune system. In turn, vitamin A deficiency impairs innate immunity by impeding the regeneration of mucosal barriers damaged by infection. It’s not just that our innate immunity suffers, but vitamin A is also required for adaptive immunity. In severe cases, the immune system is so weak that it cannot even cope with a common cold. There are several reasons why vitamin A deficiency may develop. First of all, nutritional deficiencies can affect the lack of this vitamin. So, we obtain vitamin A through diet in two forms. Retinol and retinyl ester come from animal sources such as meat, dairy products, and fish. Provitamin A (beta-carotenoid) is derived from colorful fruits and vegetables. Insufficient intake of the vitamin with food may result in its deficiency. Second, vitamin deficiency is associated with certain diseases, such as liver disorder. Moreover, infectious diseases transiently depress serum retinol concentrations. Zinc deficiency can also impair the absorption, transportation and metabolism of vitamin A. Let’s see how often vitamin A deficiency occurs in people? Vitamin A Deficiency and Its Impact on the Immune System Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is the single most important cause of childhood blindness in developing countries. Dietary surveys indicate that many US adults are not meeting dietary requirements for vitamin A. According to their results, 51% of adults fall short of the Estimated Average Requirement. But what about the situation in other countries? ? In 2018, a paper was published about vitamin A intake in China among 12,246 adults aged 18 to 64 years old. Approximately 87% of adults didn’t consume enough vitamin A. Remarkably, retinol intake was significantly higher in younger adults compared to older adults, and in males compared to females. Therefore, understanding the symptoms of vitamin A deficiency can be very helpful. So, classic symptoms include problems such as dry eyes and night blindness. Although eye problems are the most well-known issues related to vitamin A deficiency, this symptom may not be observed. Therefore, we consider other symptoms. Dry skin also is suggestive of its deficiency but can be due to other causes. Moreover, poor wound healing, as well as acne, may indicate a problem of vitamin A. To diagnose vitamin A deficiency, a serum vitamin A/retinol analysis is used. This lab test will be useful if levels are under 28 μg/dL. In this case, it will indicate an acute shortage. However, this analysis is not suitable if deficiency is mild. This is due to the fact that serum retinol concentrations don’t begin to decline in healthy individuals until liver reserves of vitamin A are dangerously low. How is vitamin A deficiency treated and prevented? In order to prevent vitamin A deficiency, it will be enough to include foods rich in vitamin A into your diet. Concentrations of preformed vitamin A are highest in liver and fish oils. Other sources of preformed vitamin A include such foods as: The recommended daily allowance (RDA) is 900 mcg and 700 mcg per day for men and women. So, one medium-sized raw carrot, weighing 61 g, contains 509 mcg RAE of vitamin A. To talk about vitamin A deficiency, it treated with vitamin A palmitate oil. For such cases, a dosage of 60,000 IU is taken orally for 2 days. Then the dosage reduced to 4500 IU orally per day. An alternative dosing is: Hypervitaminosis A or Vitamin A Toxicity Vitamin A is fat-soluble. Therefore the body is able to accumulate it, mainly in the liver. Accordingly, its excessive consumption can lead to its excess, which is toxic (hypervitaminosis A). But do not worry that a regular diet can lead to such results. As already mentioned, a study of dietary preferences came to exactly opposite conclusion. Nevertheless, excessive consumption of foods rich in vitamin A has been observed. For example, the authors of “Carrot man” tell a story of a 48-year-old male. The man complained to his primary care physician of abdominal discomfort and yellow/orange skin discoloration. It turned out that

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EFFECT OF ZINC ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

EFFECT OF ZINC ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Read More »

Immune response is the main mechanism of host defense against infections and pathogenic microbes, it helps to eliminate toxic or allergenic substances that enter our body through mucosal surfaces. So, the importance of immune response can hardly be overestimated. However, a wide range of factors can disrupt it. And by reason of it, it is so important to understand what exactly causes the failure. In this article, we will talk about the role of zinc in the immune system and this will open a series of articles on the topic of maintaining immunity. This article was last reviewed by Svetlana Baloban, MD on 18 March 2020. This article was last modified on 7 February 2020. How to boost the immune system When talking about ways to strengthen our immune system, we cannot help recalling some general recommendations. Usually, general recommendations look exactly the same as those for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, namely: But the most effective means of preventing infection are still vaccines. IN THIS ARTICLE 1 How to boost the immune system 2 Zinc Functions in the Immune System 3 Zinc Deficiency Symptoms 4 Diagnosis 5 Foods High in Zinc RELATED ARTICLES Even though this list of general recommendations is non-exhaustive, these recommendations are universal and will work for everyone. And since you probably heard about them, we will talk about other factors that can negatively affect immunity. So, there is evidence that various micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies result in a weak immune system. These, for example, include vitamin A and vitamin D deficiencies, lack of zink, selenium, and others. As we have already said, we will begin our review with the effect of zinc on immunity. We will loop over the role of zinc in the immune system, talk about diagnostics and analyze treatment methods. About Zinc Zin is a mineral that’s important to the body in many ways. It is the second most abundant trace metal in the human body after iron. In contrast to the latter, zinc cannot be stored and has to be taken up via food daily to guarantee sufficient supply. So, it plays a role in cell division and growth, wound healing, and the breakdown of carbohydrates. Zinc also provides normal brain functioning, improves memory, and mental performance. In addition, it contributes to maintaining healthy bones, skin, hair, nails. Moreover, zinc is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory effect. This ability plays a role in the prevention of free-radical-induced injuries during inflammatory processes. Zinc and Immune System But the functions of zinc in the body do not end there. Zinc deficiency, as well as zinc excess lead to a weak immune system, which can result in increased susceptibility to infections and the development of inflammatory diseases. This is primarily due to the fact that zinc is crucial to normal development and functioning of cells which indirectly affect innate immunity, neutrophils and NK cells. Zinc deficiency also affects cells which absorb particles that are foreign or harmful to the body (macrophages). And in addition, zinc deficiency adversely affects the growth and function of major immune cells (T and B cells). As far back as 1963, Dr. Prasad for the first time proved the existence of zinc deficiency. Since then, knowledge about zinc evolved rapidly. It has been proven that marginal-to-moderate zinc deficiency leads to a weak immune system, delays wound healing, and increases oxidative stress. When zinc deficiency was first discovered, it was thought to be a rare disease. However, subsequent studies have found that zinc deficiency is very common, with an estimated two billion people worldwide being affected. As for zinc excess, it needs to be said, that it is quite rare. As a rule, its symptoms are mostly due to copper deficiency. Zinc Deficiency Symptoms As it was already mentioned above, the lack of zinc is a fairly frequent phenomenon. In addition, it especially affects industrial countries and the elderly. Therefore, let’s look at its indirect and direct signs that can be determined. The first symptom of zinc deficiency is a weak immune system. So, if you often catch a cold or are susceptible to chronic allergies, it may be a sign of zinc deficiency. Diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome may also indicate a lack of zinc. And besides, deterioration of the skin, nails, and hair can mean a deficiency of this trace element. Lack of zinc can cause significant hair loss. Worsening night vision, decreased mood, sleep disturbances, and decreased appetite are also noted. Vegetarians are more likely to have trouble getting enough zinc than others. This is due to the fact that they exclude meat from the diet, while meat is a good source of zinc. For such people, it would be useful to consider foods high in zinc. For example, you can vary your diet with pumpkin seeds, which can be added to any dishes, or almonds (see the full list of high products in zinc below). Also, alcoholic beverages decrease the amount of zinc that the body absorbs and increase the amount lost in the urine. In addition, studies reveal that nutritional deficiency of zinc is caused by high consumption of cereals, legumes, and oilseeds. They are all rich in phytate, which makes zinc unavailable for absorption. Diagnosis To date, no specific and reliable biomarker of zinc status is known. Nonetheless, serum/plasma zinc concentrations can be seen as potentially useful. Unfortunately, this test is far from ideal, as some elderly people were subject to an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines (zinc depletion factor) at normal plasma levels of zinc. That is why doctors can offer additional tests to show the content of zinc in the hair or its content in the urine. He may also suggest researching your diet to see how much zinc comes with food. But be as it may, a laboratory blood test for zinc is readily available, inexpensive, and good for primary diagnosing. Lab Test for Zinc Deficiency Reference Range (mcg/mL) for the age of 11 years old: 0.66 – 1.10 mcg/mL Foods High in Zinc A wide variety of foods

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+31 6 12683966
contact@healsens.com

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