Osteoporosis

Is a disease of bones that includes an increased risk of fracture. The disease is stated when the mineral density of the bone (BMD) is significally reduced. To be spesific when a bone mineral density is 2.5 standard deviations or more below the mean peak bone mass (average of young, healthy adults) as measured by DXA.

Osteoporosis is an increasing health concern and to prevent it you'll have a few main things you can do. First: Quit smoking. Smoking greatly builds up the risk of osteoporosis. Second: Exercise. This increases the bone density. Third: Get enough the mighty vitamin D. It stimulates the absorption of calcium and therefore strenghtens your bones.

Vitamin D Supplements - Not usually living up to claims

Some vitamin D supplements were tested by ConsumerLab.com to determine whether they contained the claimed amount and form of vitamin D, calcium and vitamin K, were able to disintegrate fully to be available for absorption, and if they were free from unacceptable levels of lead. 

This may not be news to you but: The most common problem found with the supplements containing vitamin D was the wrong amount of vitamins. For example, a tablet listing 800 IU of vitamin D contained only 664 IU, 83 percent of the listed amount. Guess this is kind of common problem but what can we do.

I've never had much faith in those med companies and to be honest this doesn't do any good for that. If I want to find something positive about this: at least they didn't put more vitamins than claimed. It can be hard to stay on track how  much e.g. vitamin D you get from food and fortified milk. Although it shouldn't be much of a concern because it seems that we should get much more vitamin D than we're suggested. I've read about the recommended amount being 50 mcg/day for real which is over 5 times than we are suggested at the moment where as the tolerable upper intake level being about 100 mcg/day.

You can view the whole article here.

Summer

Today I certainly noticed that the summer is really coming. The temperature is rising and the sun is shining from a cloudless sky. Could things be more perfect? Well in fact the entrance examination could be past by now but never mind. I think summer really has many positive influences on us. Everyone is suddenly on a very nice mood and smiling. Maybe it has something to do with the bright colours and lightness that comes within, I don't know for sure, but it does feel damn good!

Now that the sun has come out of its closet we are getting the much needed vitamin d in Finland too. (Check that post if you haven't yet!) But on the contrast we should protect our eyes from the UV-radiation and be careful not to get sunburn. Also remember to stay hydrated when the temperature starts to climb a bit more. So the positive vibes don't come without some negative effects. But I guess we can deal with them. 

Happy Easter dear readers!

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in very few foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. It is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and maintains adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone and to prevent hypocalcemic tetany. Vitamin D prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.

Vitamin D has other roles in the body, including modulation of cell growth, neuromuscular and immune function, and reduction of inflammation. Many genes encoding proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are modulated in part by vitamin D. It has many positive influences and greatly boosts the immune system (more specifically CD8+ T lymphocytes) possibly preventing mesothelioma and other cancers.

There is considerable discussion of the serum concentrations of vitamin D associated with deficiency (e.g. rickets), adequacy for bone health, and optimal overall health, and cut points have not been developed by a scientific consensus process. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) (average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy people) recommends about 15 mcg/day. And the Tolerable Upper Intake level (UL) (maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects) is 100 mcg/day for adults.

Here are the latest news about vitamin D.