Vitamins

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a group of substances close in chemical structure that includes retinol (vitamin A1) and other retinoids with similar biological activity.

Crystallized vitamin

(40-fold increase)]]

Vitamin A is deposited in the liver, can accumulate in tissues. It is toxic when overdosed.

Vitamin B3

Vitamin B3, which is also known as niacinamide, nicotinic acid or nicotinamide.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid).

Vitamin C under the microscope

Vitamin D

2022

Scientists for 14 years studied vitamin deficiency and found that it is associated with the risk of premature mortality

In early December 2022, employees of the University of South Australia for 14 years studied the biomaterial of 307 thousand people with low levels of vitamin D in the body. Patients who did not struggle with the deficiency of this micronutrient were more likely to have respiratory diseases and died before.

The study, whose findings were published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, found that the risk of death increased as the severity of vitamin D deficiency increased. The vitamin is an important nutrient that helps us maintain good health while keeping our bones and muscles strong and healthy.

Scientists for 14 years studied vitamin D deficiency and found that it is associated with the risk of premature mortality

Vitamin D deficiency has been indirectly associated with early mortality before, but this correlation was not specifically studied, since patients with micronutrient deficiency were not selected for studies regarding life expectancy, notes one of the authors of the study, Josh Sutherland.

A study using Mendelian randomization evaluated 307,601 entries from Biobank. Great Britain Low vitamin D levels were noted as less than <25 нмоль/л, а средняя концентрация составила 45,2 нмоль/л. В течение 14-летнего периода наблюдения исследователи обнаружили, что риск смерти значительно снижался при увеличении концентрации витамина D, причем наиболее сильный эффект наблюдался среди людей с тяжелым дефицитом.

Senior Researcher and Director of the Australian Centre for Precision Health at the University of South Africa, Professor Elina Hippönen, said more research is needed for December 2022 to develop effective public health strategies to help achieve national guidelines and reduce the risk of premature death associated with low vitamin D.^[1]

Vitamin D deficiency directly raises dementia and stroke risks

In mid-June 2022, scientists from the University of South Australia reported a causal relationship between vitamin D and neurodegeneration and found out how many cases of dementia could be prevented with a dietary supplement. The data also show optimal vitamin D levels for the prevention of incurable disease.

Dementia is a decline in cognitive functions with a loss of the ability to remember, think, solve problems or make decisions, if the pathology progresses, then it interferes with daily activities. This is a broad term, not a specific disease, for example, Alzheimer's disease is a special type of dementia, the most common, which affects 6 million Americans. Dementia is not a normal sign of aging, although it mostly affects older people at least 65 years of age. Pathology is one of the leading causes of disability and addiction among older adults worldwide, affecting thinking and behavior as we age. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about 14 million Americans will suffer from dementia by 2060.

Vitamin D deficiency directly raises dementia and stroke risks

A genetic study by the University of South Australia shows a direct link between dementia and vitamin D deficiency. By examining the link between vitamin D, neuroimaging features and risk of dementia and stroke, the study authors found:

• Low vitamin D levels are associated with less brain volume and an increased risk of dementia and stroke.
• Genetic analysis confirmed the causal relationship between vitamin D deficiency and dementia.
• In some populations, up to 17% of dementia cases can be prevented by raising vitamin D (50 nmol/L) levels in each person's body to normal levels.

Supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia's genetic study analysed data from 294,514 participants from Biobank, Great Britain examined the impact of low vitamin D levels (25 nmol/L) and the risk of dementia and stroke. Nonlinear Mendelian randomization, a method of using measured variation in genes to examine the causal effect of modifiable disease exposure, was used to test for the presence of latent causality for neuroimaging, dementia, and stroke outcomes.

The association between 25 (OH) D and total gray matter, white matter and hippocampus volume was nonlinear, with lower volumes for both low and high concentrations (adjusted p-nonlinear ≤ 0.04). 25 (OH) D had an inverse association with hyperintensive white matter volume. [per 10 nmol/L 25(OH)D; adjusted β: –6.1; 95% CI: –11.5, –7.0]. Deficits were associated with an increased risk of dementia and stroke, with the strongest associations for individuals with 25 <25 нмоль/л (по сравнению с 50–75,9 нмоль/л; скорректированный HR: 1,79; 95% ДИ: 1,57, 2,04 и ОР: 1,40; 95% ДИ: 1,26, 1,56 соответственно).(OH) D

Nonlinear analysis confirmed the threshold effect of 25 (OH) D on dementia, with the predicted risk being 54% (95% CI: 1.21, 1.96) higher for participants at 25 nmol/L compared to 50 nmol/L. 25 (OH) D was not associated with neuroimaging results or stroke risk in MRI analysis. The proportion of potential exposure suggests that 17% (95% CI: 7.22, 30.58) of dementia could be prevented by increasing the 25 (OH) D level to 50 nmol/L.

Researchers remind that it is possible to achieve optimal vitamin D levels by correcting diet and sun exposure, in some cases dietary supplements will be effective. For example, for the prevention of dementia, there is a so-called MIND diet. The main sources of vitamin D: raw egg yolk, fermented milk products, cheese (cottage cheese), butter, fish liver, sea products. In the largest amount, the vitamin is found in the liver of cod and halibut, herring, mackerel, tuna, mackerel. However, the richest source of it is considered the sun, but only in combination with clean air, when morning ultraviolet rays act.

Senior researcher and director of the Australian Center for Precision Health at the University of Australia, Professor Elina Hippenen, said that the results are important for the prevention of dementia and awareness of the need to eradicate vitamin D deficiency. Hippenen added that the study is the first to study the effect of very low vitamin D levels on the risk of dementia and stroke using reliable genetic analysis in a large population.^[2]

Polyvitamins

For 2020, multivitamin drugs are very popular, in which one tablet contains two or more vitamins.

Multivitamins, in fact, are many foods. But the most important multivitamin we begin to take from the beginning of life is mother's milk, it contains many of these most useful compounds.

For a long time, the baby feeds only on the mother's milk. This means that the breastfeeding mother must eat vitamin-rich food herself, and artificial mixtures must be like natural milk.

Notes