Vascular cognitive impairment linked to B vitamin deficiency

In the August 26, 2008 issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers at Tufts University's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) report that a deficiency of three B vitamins is associated with cognitive dysfunction in mice, as well as adverse effects on the brain's capillaries.

Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy assistant professor Aron Troen, PhD and colleagues fed mice one of two diets designed to result in high homocysteine levels over a ten week period. Elevated plasma homocysteine has been linked with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. The first diet contained a high amount of the amino acid methionine, which metabolizes to homocysteine, and the second diet was deficient in folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, which help convert homocysteine back to methionine. A third group received normal diets.

"Mice fed a diet deficient in folate and vitamins B12 and B6 demonstrated significant deficits in spatial learning and memory compared with normal mice." Dr Troen reported. "The B vitamin-deficient mice also developed plasma homocysteine concentrations that were seven-fold higher than the concentrations observed in mice fed a normal diet."

Dr Troen's team additionally observed reductions in capillary length and density in the brains of mice that received B vitamin deficient diets. Mice that were given high methionine diets experienced similar effects, but to a lesser degree.

"The elevated levels of homocysteine that were associated with vascular cognitive impairment in the mice in our study are comparable to the levels that are associated in older adults with an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disease, the latter of which manifests with conditions such as stroke and atherosclerosis," stated Irwin Rosenberg, MD, who is the director of the Nutrition and Neurocognition Laboratory at the HNRCA. "These findings may indicate that microvascular changes mediate the association between high homocysteine levels and human age-related cognitive decline."
Reported 9/08 LEF.ORG

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Posted in: B vitamin depletion,B Vitamins,B vitamins and health

Signs of vitamin deficiency

The mainstream medical pundits and mass media tell you that vitamins just are a waste of time and money. They want you to eat the standard American diet that is void of almost all nutrition and then they want to dose you up with costly drugs, create more side effects to get you on the symptomatic merry-go-round, but offer no cures. This following post is just an example of how easy it is to correct a usually common nutritional deficiency without cortisone cream.

And remember it is real nutrition that keeps your health in tact.

It really amazes me what people think they can get away with on the internet.

An example I found today asks you for $67 to get a download book of some undefined type about a condition called cheilitis.

Angular cheilitis (also called perlèche, cheilosis or angular stomatitis) is an inflammatory lesion at the labial commissure, or corner of the mouth, and often occurs bilaterally. The condition manifests as deep cracks or splits. In severe cases, the splits can bleed when the mouth is opened and shallow ulcers or a crust may form.

Causes
Although the disease has an unknown etiology, the sores of angular cheilitis may become infected by the fungus Candida albicans (thrush), or other pathogens. Studies have linked the initial onset with nutritional deficiencies, namely riboflavin (vitamin B2)and iron deficiency anemia,which in turn may be evidence of poor diets or malnutrition (e.g. celiac disease). Zinc deficiency has also been associated with angular cheilitis.

Cheilosis may also be part of a group of symptoms (upper esophageal web, iron deficiency anemia, glossitis, and cheilosis) defining the condition called Plummer-Vinson syndrome (aka Paterson-Brown-Kelly syndrome).

Angular cheilitis occurs frequently in the elderly population who experience a loss of vertical dimension due to loss of teeth, thus allowing for over-closure of the mouth.

Less severe cases occur when it is quite cold (such as in the winter time), and is widely known as having chapped lips. This lesser form mostly happens to young children/teenagers. The child may lick their lips in an attempt to provide a temporary moment of relief, only serving to worsen the condition.

The best approach for this condition is improved nutrition, supplemented by B complex vitamins (found in our coming new product RK BioBlend), improved hydration, and the use of an organic lip balm to help moisturize the lips.

And this won't cost you $67.

Many Middle-aged And Older Americans Not Getting Adequate Nutrition

ScienceDaily (2009-03-07) -- As older adults tend to reduce their food intake as they age, there is concern that deficits in micronutrients lead to medical problems. Researchers examined how well different ethnic groups met the recommended daily allowances through food intake and supplement consumption. The study determined that many middle-aged and older Americans are not getting adequate nutrition. ... > read full article

Inadequate Fruit And Vegetable Consumption Found Among U.S. Children

ScienceDaily (2009-03-06) -- Children and adolescents aren't meeting guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption, according to researcher. ... > read full article

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Posted in: 2009,and health,B vitamins and health,cheilitis,natural health care,natural health news,vitamin deficiency

Pregnancy and Nutrition

We take a very strong stand against the use of anti-depressants in pregnancy for very good scientific reason. We believe nutrition is the underlying foundation for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

This of course starts with a healthy mother and a health father.

We believe that birth control pills, fast food, microwaved food, soy-craziness, low fat mania and an overload of over processed foods, fluoridated water and the excessive use of artificial sweeteners contribute to the many problems we see today.
We do support the use of B vitamins during pregnancy (like our biosupplemente naturelle) serve to prevent serious birth defects like Spina Bifida. We also support the use of real food and whole food along with an adequate intake of iodine to protect the mother and the developing fetus.

We believe that low iodine is implicated in post partum maternal health issues and also in the cases of Trisomy 21 or Down Syndrome.

In areas where low selenium levels are present in food, iodine is not sufficiently metabolized.

Since SSRIs' contain fluoride which blocks the uptake of iodine by the thyroid, matters are only worsened. This may be a direct correlation to those cases where a mother has killed her child.

Iodine levels and thyroid hormones in healthy pregnant women and birth weight of their offspring.

Study Abstract: The fetus is the most vulnerable to severe iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism during pregnancy. The effects of mild iodine deficiency and subclinical hypothyroidism are poorly known. The present study assesses the association between thyroid hormones and urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in healthy pregnant women and the birth weight of their children.

Methods: 657 pregnant women were recruited in Sabadell and followed until delivery. The association between thyroid hormones during the first trimester, UIC during the first and third trimesters and birth weight was studied in 557, 251 and 528 mother-newborn pairs, respectively, using linear and logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Only 239 women had all data available (thyroid function and UIC at first and at third trimesters). Six percent of newborns were classified as SGA.

Results: The median UIC was 95mug/L and 104mug/L during the first and third trimesters, respectively. Women with third trimester UICs between 100mug/L and 149mug/L had lower risk of having a SGA newborn than women with UICs below 50mug/L (adjusted OR (95%CI): 0.15 (0.03-0.76). There was no significant reduction in SGA among mothers with higher UICs. Lower free T4 and higher TSH levels during the first trimester were not associated with birth weight or SGA. Nevertheless, analysis were repeated including only those women with all data available, and high TSH levels become statistically significantly associated with lower birth weight and higher risk of SGA.

Conclusions: The present study suggests that iodine status during pregnancy may be related to prenatal growth in healthy women.

Alvarez-Pedrerol M, Guxens M, Mendez M, Canet Y, Martorell R, Espada M, Plana E, Rebagliato M, Sunyer J. Iodine levels and thyroid hormones in healthy pregnant women and birth weight of their offspring. Eur J Endocrinol. 2008 December.
Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, 08003, Spain

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Related posts from Natural Health News

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/ssri-drugs-in-pregnancy-linked-to-heart.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/05/nutrition-and-preventing-post-partum.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/03/fluoride-is-not-cure-for-mothers-or.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2006/11/diabetes-epidemic-by-prescription.html

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/birth-control-pill-risk-takes-note-by.html

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Posted in: B vitamins and health,fluoride dangers,illness rates increase,independent information,iodine,natural health news,natural news,post partum depression

Oldsters and the B's

I think I need to reiterate that it is quite important to avoid fluoride in ALL forms and aspartame as well as sucralose if you want to stave off dementia.

A late 1990s study showed that 67 percent of all people in care facilities for Alzheimer's have improperly functioning thyroid gland. If you understand how this can be connected to fluoride it might give you something to think about.

There is also a body of my work that came from some consulting I did in the late 90s at Alzheimer's care centres implementing the use of pure essential oils that are known to enhance memory as well as create a calming environment. This made a major impact but was not continued, as it was probably too much outside the mainstream for third party payers that control health care and for most doctors to grasp.

I've added some older material from my web site and my Health Matters© series (established 1991).

(from leaflady.org)

Older people who are short on vitamin B12 have more trouble recalling certain words, and low levels of B9 (folate) may add to the brain drain. Try adding salmon and beans to your diet to get B12 and folate.

Contrary to what most doctors today think, healthy individuals require about 2400 mcg B12 daily. Shots are the best, high quality troches are next. It's the intracellular B12 that counts, not what is in the blood.

B 12 at Work

Taking Care of Your Brain is Possible

Folic Acid Protects The Brain
A certain amount of mental decline is considered a normal component of aging; however, severe cognitive dysfunction related to aging is regarded as pathologic. Many researchers are studying methods to improve memory and other cognitive functions as we age. In a study of healthy people, ages 50-75, folic acid supplementation (800 micrograms daily for three years) resulted in better memory and cognitive speed scores compared to those who took a placebo. Individuals taking folic acid had memory scores comparable to people 5.5 years younger, and cognitive speed scores of people 1.9 years younger. The as-yet unpublished study, presented in June at the Alzheimer’s Association meeting, did not look at possible prevention of Alzheimer’s disease with folate, but did show that moderate folic acid supplement can slow age-related cognitive decline.

Miller AL. The methionine-homocysteine cycle and its effects on cognitive function. Altern Med Rev 2003;8(1):7-19.

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Posted in: Alzheimer's supplements,B vitamins and health,health news,natural care,natural health news,natural news