Monthly Archives: August 2012

Vitamin D and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Originally vitamin D was understood to be required for optimal bone health, deficiency of which could lead to osteomalacia in adults and rickets in children. Little more attention was paid to vitamin D status once fortification of foods resulted in … Continue reading →

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More on Vitamin D and Weight Loss

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] are the established marker for vitamin D status. Generally, an association exists between serum 25(OH)D and obesity but the exact interactions are not fully understood. Poor vitamin D status may play a role in … Continue reading →

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Green Tea Lowers Cholesterol Levels

Posted on August 9, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Elevated levels of total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Reductions in serum cholesterol levels of 1% reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 3%.  However, cause and effect are not proven and it … Continue reading →

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Vitamin D and β-Cell Function

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Epidemiological evidence suggests that vitamin D status is inversely associated with diabetes risk. A role for vitamin D in the development of type 2 diabetes has been established in animal models that show decreased glucose tolerance and incidence of diabetes … Continue reading →

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Even More Evidence of Widespread Vitamin D Deficiencies

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D)] have been established as the biomarker for vitamin D status, and are representative of the sum total of dietary, supplementary and endogenously produced vitamin D. Generally, a plasma level of 25(OH)D below 25nmols/L will … Continue reading →

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Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Diabetes

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that is thought to results primarily from lifestyle factors relating to diet and exercise. The cornerstone of type 2 diabetes control and treatment is dietary modifications that replaces poor quality dietary foodstuffs with items … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Diabetes, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish, Fish Oils, Omega 3 | Comments Off on Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Diabetes

More on Fructose and Health

Posted on August 5, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Consumption of sugar in Western nations has increased in recent decades partly due to increased intakes of sugar sweetened soft drinks. Epidemiological studies show that high consumption of such drinks can increase the risk of developing detrimental blood lipid profiles, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, de Novo Lipogenesis, Diabetes, Fructose, Glucose, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, Syndrome X, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols, VLDL | Comments Off on More on Fructose and Health

Calcium and Metabolic Syndrome

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The metabolic syndrome is a conditions characterised by insulin resistance and abdominal weight gain, and can increase the risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The abdominal obesity associated with metabolic syndrome results in increased oxidative stress and inflammation due … Continue reading →

Posted in Adiponectin, Calcium, Cardiovascular Disease, Dairy, Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, Oxidative Stress, Weight Loss | Comments Off on Calcium and Metabolic Syndrome

Sugary Drinks are Detrimental to Health

Posted on August 3, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Sucrose is implicated in the development of obesity and cardiovascular disease, because high intakes of fructose are known to lead to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. In recent decades, fructose consumption has increased in Western nations, particularly through an … Continue reading →

Posted in C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, de Novo Lipogenesis, Fructose, HDL, Insulin Resistance, LDL, Metabolic Syndrome, VLDL | Comments Off on Sugary Drinks are Detrimental to Health

Lack of Sleep Causes Increased Energy Intake

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The purpose of sleep is not fully understood, but it is thought to be an important period of restoration that is aided by hormonal changes. Research shows that adults who attain less than 7 hours of sleep a night have … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy Expenditure, Ghrelin, Leptin, Saturated Fatty Acids, Sleep | Comments Off on Lack of Sleep Causes Increased Energy Intake