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| Vitamin D may protect against rheumatoid arthritis |
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Sunday, May 31, 2009
Women with highest levels of vitamin D intake are about one third less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than women with the lowest levels, findings from a new study suggest.
Although vitamin D is best known for its role in building bones, it may also have effects on the immune system, senior author Dr. Kenneth G. Saag, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues report in the medical journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.
To determine the effect of vitamin D intake on rheumatoid arthritis risk, Saag’s team analyzed data from nearly 30,000 women, between 55 and 69 years of age, who participated in the Iowa Women’s Health Study. All of the women were rheumatoid arthritis-free at study entry in 1986, and vitamin D intake was ascertained through food frequency questionnaires.
During the 11-year follow-up period, 152 confirmed cases of rheumatoid arthritis were identified, the investigators report. Both dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake were inversely linked with rheumatoid arthritis risk, the authors found. High dietary (at least 290 IU/day) and supplemental (at least 400 IU/day) intake were associated with 28 percent and 34 percent reductions, respectively, in the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
However, only the association between vitamin D supplement intake and rheumatoid arthritis risk was statistically significant. No single food item high in vitamin D or calcium was strongly linked to rheumatoid arthritis risk, the researchers point out. However, there was a trend toward a lower rheumatoid arthritis risk with greater intake of milk products.
Although the effects of vitamin D on the immune system are not yet fully defined, “the results from this study suggest a possible role for vitamin D in reducing the risk of an immunologic disorder,” the authors state. Further studies are needed to verify these findings, they add.
Sugar problems during pregnancy may up cancer risk: Many women have difficulty maintaining normal blood sugar levels during pregnancy and now new research suggests that this problem may raise their long-term risk of cancer, especially breast cancer.
Previous reports have suggested a link between diabetes and cancer risk, study author Dr. Shelagh I. Dawson, from the University of Otago in Christchurch, New Zealand, notes. However, it was unclear if other forms of disease, such as mild sugar problems during pregnancy, were also associated with an elevated risk of cancer.
To investigate, Dawson assessed the 20-year cancer outcomes of 753 women who were enrolled in a study looking at the effect of a mother’s sugar levels on the developing baby. Various data were analyzed to determine if any of the subjects were admitted to the hospital with a cancer diagnosis during the study period.
The researchers’ findings are reported in the medical journal Cancer. Thirty-four women—4.5 percent of the entire group—were diagnosed with cancer and in 18 cases this was a breast cancer, Dawson notes.
The more impaired women were in controlling sugar levels during pregnancy, the greater their risk of cancer, the findings indicate. In fact, women with the worst control were up to 5- and 11-times more likely to develop any cancer and breast cancer, respectively, than women with the best control.
“These results are in keeping with studies that suggest that many (cancers) are associated with altered (sugar) metabolism,” Dawson states. However, as far as she knows, no study published to date has “examined a continuum of risk across the full spectrum of (sugar) tolerance.”
Toenail fungus: Ugly, discolored toe nails may be a sign of a fungal infection. Besides being embarrassing, untreated fungal infections can spread.
Guard yourself against toenail fungus with these foot health tips from the American Podiatric Medical Association:
* Wash your feet regularly with soap and water.
* Dry them thoroughly.
* Make sure your shoes fit properly.
* Wear shower shoes in public areas.
* Change socks, hosiery, even shoes, daily.
* Clip toenails straight across so the nail doesn’t extend past the tip of the toe.
* Use a recommended foot powder talcum, not starch.
* Wear socks made of synthetic fiber.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
