Weight loss and reduced waist circumference are related to an improvement in heart health and factors related to metabolic syndrome. According to a new study, supplementing with calcium and vitamin D during weight loss enhances heart health benefits in women with typically low calcium intake.
Recent research has shown that overweight individuals with low calcium and dairy consumption are at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. The findings suggest that adequate calcium intake could create a healthier metabolic profile similar to a balanced diet and regular exercise.
In a new study, researchers investigated this issue by testing cardiovascular benefits of long-term calcium supplementation in women with usual low calcium intake. Healthy, overweight or obese women with a daily calcium intake of less than 800 mg/day were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the group consuming 2 tablets/day of a calcium + vitamin D supplement (600 mg elemental calcium and 200 IU vitamin D/tablet) or the group consuming placebo. Both groups completed a 15-week reduced calorie weight-loss program.
Significant decreases in LDL cholesterol levels, as well as the ratios of Total to LDL and LDL to HDL were seen the calcium +D group. These changes were independent of the changes due to fat loss and reduced waist circumference. A tendency for more beneficial changes in HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol was also observed in the calcium +D group.
This was the first study to show that consumption of calcium +D during weight- loss enhances the beneficial effect of body weight loss on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women with typically low calcium intake.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 1, 54-59, January 2007
Low Vitamin D levels are related to poor physical performance in the elderly
In a recent study, researchers examined the association between vitamin D status and physical performance. Among subjects with low vitamin D levels, physical performance and grip strength were significantly lower than that of participants who did not have reduced levels.
In addition to its role in bone health, vitamin D is thought to play a role in musculoskeletal function. In a recent study, researchers examined the association between vitamin D status and physical performance in a sample of 976 persons over the age of 65. The physical performance of the subjects was analyzed using a short physical performance battery (SPPB) and handgrip strength. The SPPB tests included walking speed, ability to stand from a seated position, and ability to maintain balance in progressively more challenging positions.
Over 28% of the women and 13% of the men had vitamin D levels low enough to be considered a deficiency. Nearly three-fourths of the women and over half of the men had vitamin D levels that were considered insufficient. Among subjects with low vitamin D levels, physical performance and grip strength were significantly lower than that of participants who did not have reduced levels. The finding remained valid after taking into consideration other factors such as season of the year and physical activity levels.
Given the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in older populations, additional studies examining the association between vitamin D status and physical function are needed. Current vitamin D recommendations are based on its role in bone health, although emerging research indicates vitamin D may also play important roles in preservation of muscle strength and physical function as well as other conditions such as cancer prevention.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 62:440-446 (2007)
Calcium, Vitamin D and Cancer Risk
A new study published in the June 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown a reduction in cancer rates among postmenopausal women taking vitamin D combined with calcium. This four-year, double blind, randomized placebo-controlled study involved over 1,100 postmenopausal women who were divided into three treatment groups. The first group received a supplement containing calcium and vitamin D, the second group received just calcium, and the third group received a placebo.
The researchers found that the women taking the calcium and vitamin D supplement had a 60 percent lower incidence of all cancers than women not taking the supplement. This new study takes an important step in extending several decades of research involving the role of vitamin D in health and disease. The results further strengthen the case made by many specialists that vitamin D may be a powerful cancer preventive and that it is commonly found lacking in the general population, particularly the elderly.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007 June;85(6):1586-91.
Why USANA Active Calcium?
Every dietary supplement produced by USANA carries a potency guarantee, which ensures that what is stated on the label is actually contained in the product. They have been exhaustively tested by NSF International and have been found to contain all ingredients at the labeled amounts. NSF is an independent, not-for-profit organization that helps protect consumers by certifying products and writing standards for food, water, air and consumer goods.
Currently, the Food and Drug Administration has not finalized Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for dietary supplements, as they are required to do under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. Rather, Congress has initially stated that dietary supplement GMP should be modeled after foods. Because of this statement, many supplement manufacturers have chosen to follow GMP for foods. USANA, however, voluntarily follows GMP for pharmaceuticals as the basis for its quality assurance program in the manufacturing of all of its products, meaning USANA treats nutritional supplements with the same care that goes into the manufacturing of pharmaceutical products.
- Comprehensive support for bone health contains sufficient calcium, magnesium, silicon, and vitamin D, to meet nutritional needs in only 4 tablets per day
- Clinically-tested formula
Supplementation with calcium is one of the keys to strong and healthy bones and to an enhanced quality of life. ACTIVE CALCIUM™ is carefully formulated with highly bioavailable forms of calcium, plus other important factors for lifelong bone health.
ACTIVE CALCIUM contains high amounts of calcium citrate and carbonate, magnesium, and vitamin D to optimize bone mineralisation and to ensure proper calcium use.
More information click here http://products.usana.com/bin/sg_active_calcium.pdf
You may find out more detail about USANA at the following website. http://sites.google.com/site/janetyogahut/Products/usana
May everybody have a very good health! Take care of yourself!
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