Researchers used data from the Iowa Women’s Health Study which followed a group of women with a mean age of 61.6 for a period of 20 years starting 1986.  They concluded:

In older women, several commonly used dietary vitamin and mineral supplements may be associated with increased total mortality risk; this association is strongest with supplemental iron. In contrast to the findings of many studies, calcium is associated with decreased risk.

The supplements they referred to included multivitamins , vitamin B_{6 ,} folic acid , iron, magnesium, zinc  and copper. 

It goes without saying that it is better to get your vitamins and minerals from food.  Supplements are just that – supplements to your food intake. 

However there are clear cases for the use of supplemental Vitamin D, Omega 3 and so on for menopausal women, therefore alarmists headlines like these need to be tempered by specific details.

Researchers have used co-enzyme Q10 to make “older” mice produce not only more eggs but also healthier eggs.

They believe that if CoQ10 can have the same effect on humans then women seeking fertility treatment will not only produce embyros with less chance of chromosomal abnormalities but also there will be less need to transfer multiple embryos thus reducing the instance of multiple births due to IVF.

Read more: http://www.canada.com/Fertility+benefit+from+vitamin/5441089/story.html#ixzz1ZAnnwJBM

Read more: http://www.canada.com/Fertility+benefit+from+vitamin/5441089/story.html#ixzz1ZAmLC1AS

This Consumer Update video includes an interview with Barbara Schneeman, Ph.D., Director of FDA’s Office of Nutritional Products, and highlights reasons to consider taking vitamin supplements along with tips for doing so safely

 See their video.

“The amount of calcium that people consume on a daily basis through a normal diet is generally not sufficient for post-menopausal women and as they get older they require more Vitamin D as well. Supplements may be necessary to prevent osteoporosis and reduce this scourge of old age,” he says.”

A free test at menopause would be a wake up call for many women who, according to Professor Nordin, are not aware  that their calcium requirements rise sharply once they reach menopause.

If you are thinking of taking Calcium supplements then there is a little more involved that simply swallowing Calcium. Read our thoughts on calcium and menopause.

The study, published in the Journal of Nutrition, found that increased blood levels of DHA were associated with improved nonverbal reasoning and working memory in people between 35 and 54, but intakes of other omega-3 fatty acids ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) were not.

Another reason to keep eating fish and/or taking your Omega-3 Supplements.

04-03-09

DENVER, April 2, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (omega-3s), namely EPA and DHA found in seafood and fish oil, are known for their potential heart health benefits, but evidence of other benefits continues to stack up. Enhanced infant brain development, reduced hot flashes in menopausal women and healthier weight loss in obese dieters are newer associations with omega-3 consumption. Research findings on these topics are summarized in the March 2009 Fats of Life and PUFA Newsletters.

A study in Australia examined the effects on neurodevelopment of giving preterm infants more DHA than is usually found in breast milk or preterm formula. When the infants reached 18 months of age, the researchers found that all infants receiving the DHA-rich breast milk were less likely to develop serious mental delay compared with infants receiving standard breast milk.

“Additional DHA offers a simple, economical way to improve infant nutrition and reduce serious mental developmental delays related to preterm delivery,” said PUFA Newsletter Editor Joyce Nettleton, D.Sc.

An Italian study showed that providing DHA to healthy infants throughout the first year of life helps them reach some developmental milestones earlier, such as sitting without support. Just 20 milligrams of DHA was enough to make a difference.

EPA proved beneficial to women around the time of menopause. Quebec researchers found that their hot flashes decreased by 55 percent after 8 weeks with EPA consumption.

“Once others confirm these findings, women may have a safe, effective way to ease the distress associated with menopause,” Nettleton added.

Obese individuals may also benefit from omega-3s. Spanish researchers found that animals fed omega-3s deposited significantly less fat in their fat tissue and livers, and had much lower production of inflammatory substances. This suggests that increased consumption of omega-3s by obese humans might discourage fat gain and promote healthier fat tissue and liver metabolism. Another study from Spain, Ireland and Iceland found that higher omega-3 intakes by obese individuals on a weight-loss diet might help control their appetite and satiety, promote weight loss and reduce the likelihood of developing insulin resistance.

The quarterly Fats of Life and PUFA Newsletters, sponsored by DSM Nutritional Products, are available for complimentary subscription at www.fatsoflife.com.

SOURCE Fats of Life

URL: http://www.fatsoflife.com www.prnewswire.com

Five Fast Facts on Calcium Supplements:

1. 1200 mcg a day
2. Split it in three doses of 400 mg taken with meals 
3. Check the “elemental” Calcium
4. Avoid sources such as Oyster Shell, dolomite, and bone meal as they can have impurities such as lead
5. Make sure you also get magnesium, Vitamin D3, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, silica and Vitamin K.

More about Calcium 

Calcium absorption varies from person to person, according to genetics, but average, only 20-40 percent of calcium you eat is absorbed and this decreases with age. Illness or disease can decrease the amount you retain. Other factors that inhibit absorption of calcium include:  lack of exercise, medicines, drugs, smoking, caffeine and stress.

Lack of nutrients also reduces absorption of  calcium, especially the vitamins C, D and K, as well as the minerals magnesium and phosphorus.

Deficiencies of calcium contribute to osteoporosis, a condition where bones become porous and brittle.

Food Sources of Calcium:

The best and easiest food sources of calcium include milk, milk products, sardines and salmon.

Supplements: 

There are many different kinds of Calcium supplements and you need to be aware of which type you buy as not only can the actual amount of elemental Calcium vary greatly but there is a chance that lead impurities being present.

Calcium Citrate is best absorbed form of Calcium and can be taken an empty stomach or with meals.  500mg of Calcium Citrate provides 100mg (21%) of elemental calcium. While it has less elemental Calcium, which means you need to take more, it is cheaper than Calcium Carbonate so taking more might still be a cost-effective solution.

Calcium Carbonate is the most popular form on the market and should be taken with meals. It has about twice as much elemental calcium by weight as calcium citrate. 500mg of Calcium Carbonate provides 200mg (40%) of elemental calcium.

In taking a Calcium supplement you need to make sure that you are also getting  magnesium, vitamin D3, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, silica, and vitamin K.  A Calcium supplement along with a multi-vitamin may be adequate.  There are also Calcium supplements that come in combination with other supplements – particularly Vitamin D and K.

Dosage:  

Age 19 to 50 = 1,000 milligrams (about 3 1/3 glasses of milk)
Age 50+ = 1,200 milligrams (about 4 glasses of milk)

Over 2000 mg is not likely to provide any greater benefit. Over 2500 mg is not recommended.

Calcium is absorbed most efficiently when it’s taken in amounts of 500 milligrams (mg) or less. If you take 1,200 mg of calcium a day, then it is recommended you split it into three doses. Therefore, Calcium is easiest taken with meals. 

Cautions:

Oyster Shell, dolomite and bone meal supplements can often contain large amounts of impurities, including lead, and therefore should be avoided.

Because calcium supplements can impair the absorption of some medications, including certain antibiotics and blood pressure drugs, you may need to take your calcium supplements separately.

The following interactions affect bioavailability of calcium:

1. A high protein diet or high coffee consumption increases calcium excretion — and therefore you need more calcium.
2. Fiber, oxalates (in rhubarb, spinach, beets, celery, greens, berries, nuts, tea, cocoa), and high zinc reportedly decrease absorption and therefore you need more calcium.
3. Lactose, other sugars, and protein increase absorption of calcium.
4. While Calcium can be taken with or without meals, oil soluble vitamins D and K are better absorbed if taken with meals.

According to the show intro, “It may seem like common knowledge that taking vitamins is good for you, but over the last few years several studies have failed to show that vitamin supplements help prevent chronic disease or prolong life. In fact, things like vitamin C, can actually help cancer cells grow”. 

The New York Times Health Columnist Tara Parker-Pope and Dr. Gery Deng of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s Integrative Medical Services expounded on the topic.  Their opinion was that there was no real proof.   Others, including program listeners, disagree.  

As  Tara almost lamented, consumers will continue to believe. But not just because of marketing hype, Tara.  Some of us are capable of weighing evidence for ourselves and drawing our own conclusions.