Month: January 2012

Spain, January 2012- “ believe that many diseases may aggravate conditions of chronic vitamin D deficiency ”, said Faustino r. Pérez-López, researcher at the University of Zaragoza. In particular, during menopause, this situation is more serious, that low levels of vitamin B12 in the blood are associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, loss of motor coordination and bone fractures.

Vitamin D deficiency is a real threat in Europe, where levels in blood are reduced in the 50-75% of the population. “ health professionals should know that this is a common problem and affects much of the population of Europe, even to those who live in sunny regions ”, postulated Pérez-López.

For this reason, an expert group of the European society of menopause and andropause (EMAS), led by Pérez-López, has prepared a statement on supplemental vitamin D and health of postmenopausal women. The text have signed 11 experts from international institutions such as the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford (England).

“ Analyze the conditions and diseases that are associated with vitamin D deficiency and recommend the use of supplements in postmenopausal ”, explains.

Improvements in bone health

Supplements of vitamin D, according to these experts, produce improvements in bone mineral density and neuromuscular function and reduce the risk of fracture. “ Would be desirable for the World Health Organization or competent bodies of the European Union to establish minimum standards or recommendations on enrichment of foods with vitamin D ”, view Pérez-López.

In some European countries there are recommendations in this regard, but in others there is no regulation or is not strictly enforced. There is not even consensus within the medical community about the benefits of supplements. Although Pérez-López insists: “ is proven its effectiveness, although it is not accepted until now ”.

“ It is not known what will happen in the future, but since the EMAS we make the recommendation. This is the first European statement on the matter addressed to menopausal women ”, stresses Pérez-López.

As well as stimulate the absorption of calcium and phosphates, the system of vitamin D has many functions. Low levels are associated with rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, and risk of fractures, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, infections and degenerative diseases.

“ We have observed that, in women healthy postmenopausal women, a good level of vitamin D is associated with physical fitness, and affects the mass of fat, balance and muscle strength ”, say the authors in the article published in Maturitas.

Un rayo de sol

“ A healthy lifestyle should be exposure to the Sun for about 15 minutes, three to four times a week, when weather conditions permit, given that 90% of vitamin D is synthesized through the action of the Sun on the skin ”, detailing the researchers.

Vitamin D is synthesized by exposure to sunlight, so the current lifestyle emphasizing the low or zero exposure to the Sun and little leisure outdoor activities, cause this vitamin deficiency.

a healthy lifestyle must consider the exposure to the Sun for about 15 minutes, three to four times a week, when weather conditions permit.

Of course, as with everything, there to maintain the fair measure. “ Solar exhibitions of longer duration are not recommended to increase the risk of different types of cancer and the aging of the skin ”, added Pérez-López.

Sunlight Sustitutivos

Ideal, according to these experts, would be to maintain blood levels higher than 30 ng/ml, although there is no unanimity on the optimum levels.

But a large number of women cannot obtain the required amounts of vitamin through exposure to the Sun or food. To compensate for this deficiency, the daily consumption of 600 IU (international units) of vitamin D is recommended until age 70, and from that age 800 IU/day.

“ Patients with risk factors associated to suffer hipovitaminosis (obesity, pigmented skin areas near the Poles, syndromes of poor intestinal absorption, etc.) should receive higher amounts up to 4,000 IU daily ”, explains. There is scientific evidence that up to 4,000 IU/day dose not produce intoxication in healthy people.

Cutting: vitamin D

Vitamin D includes a series of compounds hormonal lipophilic that regulate the metabolism of calcium through their actions on the kidneys, digestive treatment, skeleton and parathyroid glands. Vitamin D supplements can be taken in the form of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) or D3 (cholecalciferol).

Vertebrates synthesize Vitamin D3 in the skin by exposure to sunlight, while a small amount is obtained from foods such as fatty fish, eggs and milk. Vitamin D synthesized in the skin and ingested undergoes two transformations, the first occurs in the liver and leads to calcidiol. The second takes place in the kidneys and other tissues and form calcitriol, which is the active hormone.

This hormone stimulates the absorption of calcium and phosphates and regulates the transcription of various genes. Also involved in the synthesis of insulin, heart contraction, regulate immunity has antimicrobial effects and controls cell proliferation and apoptosis mechanisms.

Bibliographic reference:

Faustino r. Pérez-López, Marc Brincat, C. Tamer Erel, Florence Tremollieres, Marco Gambacciani, Irene Lambrinoudaki, Mette H. Moen, Karin Schenck-Gustafsson, Svetlana Vujovic, Serge Rozenberg, Margaret Rees. “ Vitamin D and postmenopausal health ”. Maturitas, volume 71, pp. 83-88, January 2012.