Category: Nutrition

The symptom is not normally painful, but can be irritating.

Twitching around the eyes can be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency.

The twitch usually occurs in one eye or the other, or just below them.

The symptom is not normally painful, but can be irritating.

The body uses vitamin B12 to make red blood cells and to keep the nervous system healthy.

B12 deficiency has also been linked to facial pain.

The pain can also be felt across the forehead, occasionally coming down to the edge of the nose.

Other, more common signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include feeling tired, experiencing muscle weakness and being constipated.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to neuropathy.

This can cause a tingling or numbness in the hands, legs or feet.

The sensation frequently starts in the feet and moves to the hands.

The feelings may also be linked to problems with walking or even difficulty balancing.

People who may have difficulty getting enough vitamin B12 include vegetarians, older people and those with some digestive disorders, such as Crohn’s disease.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is easy to rectify with supplements or by dietary changes.

Vitamin B12 levels can be boosted through supplementation or by eating foods such as dairy, liver, salmon and eggs.

Fortified breakfast cereals also contain vitamin B12.

Dr John D. England, a neurologist at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, said:

“People with suspected nerve problems should talk to their doctors about screening tests, especially blood glucose, vitamin B12 level and serum protein levels, since these tests can often point to common causes of neuropathy.”

Dr England continued:

“There are many people with a neuropathy who have been walking around for years without having been diagnosed and treated.

Both neurologists and people with neuropathy need to know that the appropriate choice of tests is critical to accurate diagnosis.”

The guidelines were published in the American Academy of Neurology.

Around half the world’s population is deficient in vitamin D.

Tiredness and weak muscles can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency, research finds.

As a result, people with low levels of vitamin D are at double the risk of mobility issues with age, scientists have found.

Other signs of vitamin D deficiency include poor sleep, symptoms of depression and headaches.

The vitamin is thought to play a role in regulating serotonin, a neurotransmitter important for mood.

Around half the world’s population is deficient in vitamin D.

The conclusions about mobility issues come from a study including 2,099 people aged 70-79 whose vitamin D levels were measured.

Dr Denise Houston, the study’s first author, explained the results:

“We observed about a 30 percent increased risk of mobility limitations for those older adults who had low levels of vitamin D, and almost a two-fold higher risk of mobility disability.”

Vitamin D is vital for muscle function and low levels have been linked to diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Dr Houston said:

“Higher amounts of vitamin D may be needed for the preservation of muscle strength and physical function as well as other health conditions.

However, clinical trials are needed to determine whether increasing vitamin D levels through diet or supplements has an effect on physical function.”

Vitamin D is critical to the functioning of the whole body.

From October to March many people in northern climes do not get enough vitamin D.

Vitamin D is found in oily fish, egg yolks, fortified cereals and some margarine spreads.

Most people need around 10 micrograms per day, which can also be obtained from supplements.

Vitamin D supports the mineral density of bones and aids neuromuscular function as well as reducing the risk of fracture.

The study was published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A (Houston et al., 2012).

Taking around 4,000 IU of vitamin D could help to ward off this symptom.

Frequently becoming sick from respiratory infections like colds and the flu can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency, research suggests.

Vitamin D is critical to supporting the immune system and fighting off infection.

Taking around 4,000 IU of vitamin D can help to ward off infections, some studies have found.

One recent study found that taking vitamin D supplements could reduce the risk of infection by 40 percent.

Professor Adit Ginde, the study’s first author, said:

“After studying these patients for a year, we found a 40 percent reduction in acute respiratory illness among those who took higher doses of vitamin D.

Vitamin D can improve the immune system’s ability to fight infections because it bolsters the first line of defense of the immune system.”

The conclusions come from a clinical trial of 107 patients in nursing homes.

Half received high doses of vitamin D supplements (up to around 4,000 IU per day) and the other half lower doses (up to 1,000 IU per day).

They were followed for 12 months to observe the number of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) they suffered.

The results showed that higher doses of vitamin D reduced the risk of ARIs by almost half.

Professor Ginde said:

“This is a potentially life-saving discovery.

There is very little in a doctor’s arsenal to battle ARI, especially since most are viral infections where antibiotics don’t work.

But vitamin D seems able to potentially prevent these infections.”

Taking vitamin D supplements has few risks, although the study did find that the higher level was linked to more falls.

Professor Ginde said:

“If our results are confirmed by a larger trial, high dose vitamin D, ideally using daily dosing to minimize fall risk, has the potential for substantial public health benefit through ARI prevention for the large and growing population of long term care residents.”

Other signs of vitamin D deficiency include fatigue and tiredness, back pain, depression, muscle pain and even hair loss.

The study was published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (Ginde et al., 2016).

A high omega-3 diet can lower the signs and symptoms of the disease by 50 per cent.

Stiffness in the joints and swelling can be indirect signs of omega-3 deficiency, research suggests.

Waking up stiff in the morning, feeling pain in the joints, swelling, tenderness and loss of flexibility are all signs of arthritis.

Omega-3 deficiency could be contributing, as scientists believe there is a link between this leading cause of disability and a lack of omega-3 in the diet.

Researchers suggest that a diet rich in omega-3 could decrease the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

A study has found that adding fish oil to the diet — and to some degree flaxseed oil (alpha-linolenic acid has an anti-inflammatory effect) — can ease or even prevent osteoarthritis.

With population aging, osteoarthritis will be one of the leading causes of disability.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by 2040 it is estimated that 26% of US adults aged 18 or older will be diagnosed by a doctor with arthritis.

While there are still no effective medications for treating this condition, omega-3 fish oil can be one of the best natural remedies in treating osteoarthritis.

Professor John Tarlton, the lead researcher of the study, explained the effect of omega-3 on osteoarthritis:

“Classic early signs of the condition, such as the degradation of collagen in cartilage and the loss of molecules that give it shock-absorbing properties, were both reduced with omega-3.

Furthermore, there was strong evidence that omega-3 influences the biochemistry of the disease, and therefore not only helps prevent disease, but also slows its progression, potentially controlling established osteoarthritis.”

Western diets contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, which can lead to inflammatory disorders such as colitis, heart disease, osteoporosis, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Modern diets contain up to 30 times more omega-6 than omega-3, whereas our ancestor’s diets contained almost an equal level of these two omega fatty acids.

Therefore, supplementation with omega-3 can help to restore this imbalance in Western diets and improve conditions such as colitis and heart-related diseases.

Fish oil is much more effective than flax seed oil, but for vegetarians and vegans this supplement is an important option.

Professor Tarlton concluded:

“Most diets in the developed world are lacking in omega-3, with modern diets having up to 30 times too much omega-6 and too little omega-3.

Taking omega-3 will help redress this imbalance and may positively contribute to a range of other health problems such as heart disease and colitis.”

The study was published in the journal of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (Knott et al., 2011).

A daily supplement that reduces illness duration and makes the symptoms less severe.

A multi-vitamin with mineral supplements can improve immune function, making illnesses less severe and easing symptoms, especially in those who are 55 or older.

Taking a daily multi-vitamin and minerals supplement high in vitamin C for three months will lower the odds of catching a cold, respiratory infection, and pneumonia and also will reduce the length of illness and symptoms.

Micronutrients such as Vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc are particularly essential for the immune system to function properly.

Scientist at OSU’s Linus Pauling Institute enrolled a group of healthy adults aged 55 and older to assess the effects of vitamin and mineral supplements on immune function.

For 12 weeks, the multi-vitamin and mineral supplement (MVM) group received a daily formulated MVM supplement (Redoxon® VI, Singapore) while the other group was on placebo supplementation.

The group who were on the MVM Redoxon supplement exhibited improved immune function and nearly a 70 percent reduction in the number of days sick.

In other words, the length of illness on average reduced from more than six days in the placebo group to less than three days in the MVM Redoxon group.

Moreover, the severity of illness among those in the placebo group was four times higher than those on the MVM supplement.

Professor Adrian Gombart, study co-author, said:

“The observed illness differences were striking.

While the study was limited to self-reported illness data and we did not design the study to answer this question, the observed differences suggest that additional larger studies designed for these outcomes are warranted — and, frankly, overdue.”

MVM Redoxon contains 700 mcg vitamin A, 45 mg vitamin E, 6.6 mg vitamin B6, 400 mcg folate, 9.6 mcg vitamin B12, 1,000 mg vitamin C, 400 IU vitamin D, 5 mg iron, 110 mg selenium, 0.9 mg copper, and 10 mg zinc.

Professor Gombart said:

“Supplementation was associated with significantly increased circulating levels of zinc and vitamin C, and with illness symptoms that were less severe and shorter lasting.

This supports findings that stretch back decades, even to the days of Linus Pauling’s work with vitamin C.

Our results suggest more and better designed research studies are needed to explore the positive role multivitamin and mineral supplementation might play in bolstering the immune system of older adults.”

Vitamin and mineral deficiency is more common as we get older and so this will lead to age-related immune system dysfunction.

Over one-third of older adults in Europe, the United States, and Canada are lacking one or more micronutrient.

Professor Gombart said:

“That likely contributes to a decline in the immune system, most often characterized by increased levels of inflammation, reduced innate immune function and reduced T-cell function.

Since multiple nutrients support immune function, older adults often benefit from multivitamin and mineral supplements.

These are readily available, inexpensive and generally regarded as safe.”

The study was published in the journal of Nutrients (Fantacone et al., 2020).

Up to 70 percent of people could have a vitamin D deficiency.

Symptoms of depression can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency, research suggests.

Depression symptoms include moodiness, lack of motivation and tiredness, as well as physical signs like headaches, stomach aches and dizziness.

As many as 70 percent of people could have a vitamin D deficiency.

Foods that are rich in vitamin D include oily fish and eggs, but most people get their vitamin D from the action of sunlight on the skin.

That is why levels are typically lower in the body through the winter months in more Northern climes.

Studies have also linked vitamin D deficiency to dementia.

One study including 286 people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) found higher levels of vitamin D were linked to better cognitive functioning.

Dr Amie L. Peterson, the study’s first author, said:

“About 30% of persons with PD suffer from cognitive impairment and dementia, and dementia is associated with nursing home placement and shortened life expectancy.

We know mild cognitive impairment may predict the future development of dementia.

Intervening in the development of dementia has the potential to improve morbidity and mortality in persons with PD.”

People in the study were given tests of their cognitive function, any depression symptoms and vitamin D levels.

The results showed that people with higher vitamin D levels had better cognitive function and fewer symptoms of depression.

They could name more vegetables and animals in one test and displayed better memory in another test.

Dr Peterson said:

“The fact that the relationship between vitamin D concentration and cognitive performance seemed more robust in the non-demented subset suggests that earlier intervention before dementia is present may be more effective.”

Low levels of vitamin D has been connected to a number of diseases including multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

Vitamin has also been implicated in human memory.

The study was published in the  Journal of Parkinson’s Disease (Peterson et al., 2014).

Anxiety, depression, aggressiveness and breaking rules can be signs of these mineral and vitamin deficiencies in boys.

Mental signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency include depression, memory issues, confusion and irritability.

Now, a study finds that children with behavioural problems might be deficient in important nutrients such as iron and B12.

A study has found that boys with low blood levels of vitamin B12 and iron could exhibit some problematic behaviours such as depression, anxiety, breaking rules, and being aggressive.

Professor Eduardo Villamor, the study’s co-author, said:

“Iron deficiency is still highly prevalent in many regions worldwide.

There is less data on vitamin B12 deficiency but available evidence also suggests it may be a substantial public health problem in certain populations.”

For this study, 3,202 children aged 5 to 12 years old from primary public schools were randomly selected and followed-up for 6 years.

The research team wanted to see if micronutrient deficiency in children would lead to mental health problems.

Several health issues were linked to poor diets lacking micronutrients such as iron and vitamin B12.

They found that internalizing and externalizing behaviours in male adolescents were strongly related to anaemia (iron deficiency), and low levels of vitamin B12 through their childhood.

Professor Villamor said:

“Interventions to curb these deficiencies must be informed by knowledge of their causes in each specific setting.

In our study population, for example, we showed before that a school snack program increased vitamin B12 blood levels after three months.”

Past studies have found that iron deficiency in infants would reduce the alertness, self-soothing, and self-regulation such as ability to focus, control body function, and manage emotions.

These issues possibly develop further during childhood and could lead to behavioural problems in teenagers and poor mental health in their adulthood.

The study didn’t find any link between vitamin B12 and iron deficiency among girls and behaviour problems.

This may be related to differences in physical and psychological changes at puberty between girls and boys.

Professor Villamor said:

“We don’t have a clear explanation of why there were sex differences, although we knew it was important to study boys and girls separately because they may differ in the timing of development.

Studies in rats have found that some micronutrient deficiencies affect male and female brains differently but it is not clear exactly why this may also be the case in humans.”

Physical rather than mental symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency include headaches, fatigue, breathlessness and pale skin.

Taking a B12 supplement is one of the easiest ways to combat this problem.

Adults need around 1.5 mcg per day.

The study was published in The Journal of Nutrition (Robinson et al., 2018).

A walk of as little 20 minutes in the daylight is enough to provide sufficient levels of vitamin D.

Sleepiness and fatigue during the day can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency, studies find.

People with lower vitamin D levels can experience less sleep overall and more waking during the night.

People experience worse sleep, the lower their vitamin D levels are.

Vitamin D may affect critical neurotransmitters and inflammatory markers.

Fatigue may also be due to problems in the body’s mitochondria.

Mitochondria are the ‘power stations’ within each cell in our body.

Without vitamin D, the mitochondria cannot work efficiently.

Around half the world’s population is deficient in vitamin D.

Foods that are rich in vitamin D include oily fish and eggs, but most people get their vitamin D from the action of sunlight on the skin.

Other signs of vitamin D deficiency include low mood, muscle fatigue, difficulties with learning and memory, gut problems and headaches.

One study of global populations has found that vitamin D deficiency is a widespread problem in many areas.

Vitamin D is vital for bone mineralisation, so deficiency can lead to a greater risk of fracture.

Some of the main risk factors for having low vitamin D levels are:

• being female,
• poor dietary habits,
• being older,
• living in northerly areas,
• and less exposure to sunlight.

Urbanisation means many people live and work indoors.

A walk of as little 20 minutes in the daylight is enough to provide sufficient levels of vitamin D.

The conclusions come from a review of the research carried out across six continents.

The results showed the risk of vitamin D deficiency is highest in the Middle East and South Asia, largely because of traditional clothing that blocks the action of sunlight on the skin.

The study was published in the journal Osteoporosis International (Mithal et al., 2009).