Amerikai Magyar Hírlap, 2009 (21. évfolyam, 1-50. szám)
2009-08-14 / 30. szám
“I think there is a consensus that we might benefit from higher vitamin D levels,” says James C. Fleet, a professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University and a longtime researcher on the vitamin and prostate cancer. “But the committee is going to ask whether there is existing scientific evidence that is strong enough to make a change.” Vitamin D has long been known to be crucial to bone and muscle health by improving calcium absorption in the intestines and the way calcium is regulated in bones. More recent research shows that receptors for it are found in almost every organ and tissue system in the body, suggesting that deficiencies may affect many types of cell functions. When exposed to sunlight, the skin makes the vitamin, but not everyone spends the five minutes a day or so outside that is necessary for synthesis - and many more people today wear sunscreen to Long considered just a supplement consumed prevent skin cancer, with calcium for bone health, this humble vitamin “A large portion of may have untapped potential in fighting or prevent- people fall into the ating disease, suggests an explosion of new research, risk category, and they Not only has it shown promise in reducing the risk would benefit from beof, among other things, diabetes, pancreatic cancer, ing brought out of that breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, but it also category,” Fleet says, seems to improve infertility, weight control and “The question is: Is memory. the current requirement Two advocacy groups have sprung up in the enough to keep most United States to promote the substance. Food in- people out of the at-risk dustry executives are exploring ways to fortify more category?” products. And PubMed, an international database * A study of 13,000 of medical literature, shows that 2,274 studies ref- Americans, published erencing the vitamin have been published - just this in March in the Aryear. “Vitamin D is one hot topic,” says Connie chives of Internal Weaver, a professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue Medicine, found that 50% to 75% have suboptimal University in Indiana. levels by current standards. A level of 20 nanograms Next week, hope and hype may collide. An per milliliter of 25-hydroxy vitamin D - the form most Institute of Medicine committee will convene in commonly measured in blood - has traditionally been Washington to discuss whether the recommended considered sufficient. daily intake of vitamin D and calcium should be Most people 50 and older aren’t meeting the curincreased. There, researchers overwhelmed by the rent recommendations, Weaver says, vitamin’s potential will square off against skeptics The vitamin is found in relatively few dietary who say much more study is needed before people sources - some fortified foods, such as milk and some are urged to take vitamin D supplements. Getting cereals, and naturally only in some fatty fish, such the newly suggested amounts would be difficult as salmon. Three cups of fortified milk provide only otherwise. 300IU. The last time guidelines were issued on the “The largest source is sunshine, but not everyvitamin was in 1997, long before an onslaught of one can depend on that,” Weaver says. “The elderly, scientific informa-tion suggested people are getting dark-skinned people, higher-latitude dwellers all have too little. Currently, the recommended daily intake trouble getting enough from sun.” In darker-skinned is 200 to 600 international units with an upper limit people, melatonin in the skin blocks absorption of the of 2,000 IU. ultraviolet rays needed to make the vitamin; older Some researchers are advocating at least 600 people don’t appear to synthesize it from the sun as IU a day, with an upper limit of 10,000 IU. Giving well as younger people. impetus to this push are the facts that many people Some scientists argue that levels of 40 to 60 ng/mL seem to be deficient and that the nutrient appears to would be far better for disease prevention. That would play a role in many conditions. require daily intake much higher than the current 200 Other scientists say it’s too soon to urge everyone to 600 IU. to take supplements. An influential report released The July issue of the Annals of Epidemiology in June by the Agency for Healthcare Research and (09)X0007-4, devoted to vitamin D research, links Quality found little conclusive evidence to support the vitamin to lower risks of cancers of the breast, increasing the recommended amounts. colon, ovaries and prostate. Animal and lab studies DUNA Travel 8530 Holloway Dr. #102 W. Hollywood, CA 90069 Spa, Hotel foglalások, Kocsi bérlés Kedvezményes repülőjegy árak LAX-BUD-LAX $535 •-tői -l-Tax +Fee április 1-től Információért hivják ZSUZSÁT TEL: (310) 652-5294 FAX: (310) 652-5287 1-888-532-0168 Augusztus 14. 2009 © AMERIKAI tyagya r Hírlap also demonstrate its importance in many of the cellular mechanisms that control cancer, such as cell growth, cell death, inflammation and DNA repair. Five studies on colorectal cancer and breast cancer, taken together, showed that people with levels higher than 34 to 52 ng/mL had a 50% reduced cancer risk, says Cindy D. Davis, a researcher at the National Cancer Institute’s Nutritional Science Research Group. Such studies are not proof that the vitamin influences disease development, points out Dr. Karen E. Hansen, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin who studies bone health. “People with higher vitamin D may just be healthier for other reasons,” she says. But evidence linking higher blood levels to diabetes and cardiovascular disease is also mounting. A study in December in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that deficiency may increase the risk of cardio-vascular disease. Other studies have tied lower levels to an increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, stroke and congestive heart failure. Even for bone health, some studies suggest that about 700 to 800 IU a day are needed to prevent frac-tures in people over 50, Hansen says. She recommends 800 IU a day, with calcium, to her patients. Meanwhile, studies show that the previous estimation of a toxic dose - 2,000 IU a day - is most likely too conservative. Toxic doses can lead to a dangerous level of calcium in the blood, high blood pressure and even kidney failure. “It’s likely they will increase their recommendation for all ages,” Hanson said of the Institute of Medicine committee, which will release its report next year. But not everyone is convinced the advice should be changed. In a report ordered by the federal government to assist the committee, researchers concluded there is a lack of strong evidence to support altering recommendations. The committee is not expected to change calcium recommendations. “We did not find data that indicate a specific level of vitamin D intake is associated with adverse outcomes or beneficial health outcomes,” said Dr. Thomas A. Trikalinos, co-director of the Hifts Evidence-based Practice Center, which prepared the report. He said the report was meant to inform the committee and did not make recommen-dations. “The report sees the totality of the evidence and tries to put everything into perspective,” Trikalinos says. Already, however, the American Society of Clinical Oncology has recommended a higher intake for breast cancer patients who are deficient. In October, the American Academy of Pediatrics said children should get 400 IU a day, double the current recommendation. In November, 18 University of California researchers issued a statement saying 2,000 IU is appropriate for most people. “I think some of the more vocal advocates are pushing the medical community to move forward” before adequate research is completed, Fleet says. Dozens of more scientifically rigorous studies are in progress that could help resolve the questions about how much people should consume. “I think they held this [Institute of Medicine] meeting two to four years too early,” Fleet says. “They are working without the big wave of vitamin D research that was initiated after people started pushing for it.” _ ,, resource: L. A. Times AUGUSZTUS 20-i ESEMÉNYNAPTÁR St. Stephen's Day Celebrations in the San Francisco Bay Area- SAVE THE DATES! Thursday, Aug., 20, 10: 15 am The Honorary Consul General of Hungary in San Francisco , Dr. Eva E. Voisin, cordially invites you to celebrate St. Steven’s Day/ Hungarian National Day, at a flag raising ceremony in San Francisco City Hall, Room 200. The Hungarian Flag will fly and will be visible on the Polk Street Balcony for 24 hrs. RSVP & Info: evoisin@ix.netcomcom. Saturday, Aug. 15, 11-5, Hungarian picknick, Hungarian Catholic Mission, Woodside Priory, RSVP & Info: Ildikó Zentai ildikoz@yahoo.com , Fr. Maurusz Nemeth mnemeth@woodsidepriory.com Sunday, August 23, 10:30 am, ( departure from the usual 11:00 am time ), St. Steven’s Day Mass, Hungarian Catholic Mission, Woodside Priory, RSVP & Info: Fr. Maurusz Nemeth http://us.mc815.mail.yahoo.com/ mc/compose?to=mnemeth@woodsidepriory.com Sunday, August 23, 10:00 am, St. Steven’s Day Service, Hungarian Reformed Church of the San Francisco Bay Area, RSVP & Info: Magyari-Kope Gabor gabor73@yahoo.com Sunday, August 23, 10:00 St. Steven’s Day Concert &Celebration, Golden Gate Park , Music Concourse / Band Shell RSVP & Info: András Rekay, a.rekay@worldnet.att.net CELEBRATE the GREATEST KING of HUNGARY with us! Hungarian Journal The Changing Role of Vitamin D How much is too much? It may be more than you think. Vitamin supplements have been both heralded and hyped over the years, only to ultimately fall from grace once research proves them to be little more than placebos in our quest for longer life or better health. But at least one substance may have true merit - vitamin D. The English Page of the Hírlap can serve as a bridge between the non-Hungarian-speaking members of the family and the community. Use it to bring people together! Subscribe to the Hírlap! Advertise your business in the Hírlap! If you have any questions or suggestions, please call (323) 463-6376
