New Report on Vitamins in Chronic Conditions
The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) released this study in late 2002. Overt signs of vitamin deficiencies are rarely found in western societies but sub-optimal states are both common and the source of many chronic conditions.
This review concentrated on 9 vitamins that the authors found central in preventive care. Folate, Vitamin B6 and B12 are important for maintaining low levels of homocysteine, an intermediate amino acid. High levels of homocysteine is an independent risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. Interestingly, folate deficiency is the most common deficiency in the world and people with low vegetable consumption, the elderly and alcoholics usually have suboptimal levels. Vitamin B12 is involved in a complex absorptive process making the elderly, those with low stomach acid and patients with bowel disease vulnerable to deficiency.
Higher dietary folate appears to reduce the risk of colon and breast cancer, perhaps because of its involvement in the DNA synthesis. It is also now accepted that folate supplementation prior to pregnancy decreases the risk of neural tube defects.
Inadequate levels of Vitamin D are more common than previously thought. In addition to the large percentage of housebound, elderly and dark skinned people that have been found to be deficient there is a new trend emerging for young urban caucasians, even in sunny climates. This is thought to be a result of sun protection campaigns to prevent skin cancer! Because of its involvement with calcium absorption, low levels of Vitamin D are associated with decreased bone mineral density in both sexes.
Suboptimal levels of other vitamins including Vitamin C, E , A and K also contribute to chronic disease development. The review expressed the need for doctors to look out for the early warning signs in patients.
Fairfield FM, Fletcher RH
‘Vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults – Scientific Review’
Journal of the American Medical Association 2002 : 287:3116-3126
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