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Friday, June 15, 2012
Vit D3 & Children
Kids hit hard by little exposure to sunlight
Sumitra Deb Roy | TNN
Mumbai: Kids and young adults in the city are not getting enough exposure to sunlight, resulting in high levels of Vitamin D deficiency, according to a recent study.
The study by PD Hinduja Hospital found that Mumbaikars are shunning even half an hour of exposure to the sun in a day, considered ideal worldwide. Vitamin D is secreted in the body when the skin is sufficiently exposed to sunlight.
Dr Vipla Puri, consultant (radioimmunoassay), at the hospital’s department of lab-medicine said, “The decline in Vitamin D levels indicates that kids have sedentary lifestyles — watching television, playing indoor games or using computers.” She said most children and young adults in the study belonged to the higher socio-economic strata. “Vitamin D deficiency has reached alarming proportions and parents must take steps to alter their kids’ lifestyle if they want to protect them from serious diseases,” said Puri.
Pediatrician Dr Deepak Urga, who consults with Lilavati Hospital, termed Vitamin D deficiency in children as an “alarming problem”. “Children are increasingly getting used to a life without natural light,” he said. Blaming food habits, Ugra said the kind of food children in metros prefer are not rich sources of Vitamin D. “It gets tougher for vegetarians as Vitamin D sources are sparse,” he said.
Studies show it affects the immune system in children. “Vitamin D deficiency causes allergies and respiratory infections in children,” said Ugra. He added most vitamin supplements also fail to provide the quota of anything between 200-1000 IU/ day (international unit).
Physician Dr Pratik Samdani alsoblamed pollution. “Factorslike latitude, atmospheric pollution, duration and time of exposure to sunlight is also important for the skin to absorb and use it,” he said.
Sunscreens and Vit D3
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Vit D3
| Publication: The Times Of India Mumbai; | Date: Jun 15, 2012; | Section: Times City; | Page: 7 |
‘Sunshine’ vitamin vital for health
Sumitra Deb Roy | TNN
Recent studies have rechristened Vitamin D from a mere ‘sunshine’ vitamin to a hormone with significant bearing on bones, heart, kidneys, among other organs. Efforts are now being made to understand the extent of its deficiency in the population and fight it.
Some experts believe Vitamin D deficiency is a pan-Indian phenomenon affecting people from all age-groups and sections of society, reasons for which range from lifestyle, atmospheric pollution, skin pigmentation, clothing to duration and time of exposure to sunlight daily. Endocrinologist Dr Sudhindra Kulkarni, who consults with Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said Vitamin D has been proved to play the role of regulators of cell growth. “Almost all tissues and cells in the body have receptors for it and need it,” he said.
Dr Vipla Puri, consultant (radioimmunoassay), department of Lab-Medicine at PD Hinduja Hospital, said there is epidemiologic evidence now to show Vitamin D is required for more than strong bones. “It plays a role in preventing chronic diseases involving the immune and cardiovascular system later in life,” she said. “More recently it has become a general health indicator because of its associations with major conditions like cancer. Doctors too are becoming more aware and asking for this test,” she said.
Head of the orthopaedic department at Parel’s KEM Hospital Dr Pradeep Bhonsale said Vitamin D deficiency in adults was astonishingly high and more cases are coming to fore given increased awareness. “Over 50% of patients we treat in our hospital have this deficiency. This can also shunt a child’s growth and give rise to bone deformities,” he said. He added Vitamin D deficiency was responsible for unexplained pain in the back and joint pain in children as well as adults.
While global studies have established the importance of Vitamin D as a health parameter, there is little consensus in India on how much is too much or too little for an individual. Pediatrician Dr Deepak Ugra said concentrated Vitamin D supplements provide much less than the requirement of 400 IU/ day. “Calcium tonics available in the market have only about 100ml of Vitamin D components,” he said. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated its Vitamin D guidelines, recommending infants children and teens should take atleast 400 IU per day in supplement form.
Kulkarni said the time of exposure to sunlight is also a subject of debate. “Some studies say 20 minutes is fine while others say it has to be over 45 minutes. On the other hand, exposure to too much sunlight has also been linked to skin cancer so one has to exercise caution,” he said.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Bones from FAT
MEDICAL MAGICScientists grow bones from fat in labTech Will Pave Way For Repairing Or Replacing Broken Bones With New OnesLondon: Scientists have succeeded in growing human bone from stem cells in a laboratory, which they claim may eventually pave the way for patients to have broken bones repaired or replaced with new ones grown outside the body. The researchers started with stem cells taken from fat tissue. It took around a month to grow them into sections of fully-formed living human bone up to a couple of inches long. The first trial in patients is on course to be conducted later this year, by an Israeli biotechnology company that has been working with academics on the technology, the Daily Telegraph reported. Professor Avinoam Kadouri, head of the scientific advisory board for Bonus Bio-Group, said: “There is a need for artificial bones for injuries and in operations. We use three dimensional structures to fabricate the bone in the right shape and geometry. “We can grow these bones outside the body and then transplant it to the patient at the right time. By scanning the damaged bone area, the implant should fit perfectly and merge with the surrounding tissue. There are no problems with rejection as the cells come from the patient’s own body,” he added. The technology, which has been developed along with researchers at the Technion Institute of Research in Israel, uses three dimensional scans of the damaged bone to build a gel-like scaffold that matches the shape. Stem cells, known as mesenchymal stem cells, which have the capacity to develop into many other types of cell in the body, are obtained from the patient’s fat using liposuction. These are then grown into living bone on the scaffold inside a “bioreactor”, an automated machine that provides the right conditions to encourage the cells to develop into bone. Already animals have successfully received bone transplants. The scientists were able to insert almost an inch of laboratory-grown human bone into the middle section of a rat’s leg bone. The technique could ultimately allow doctors to replace bones that have been smashed in accidents, fill in defects where bone is missing, or carry out reconstructive plastic surgery. PTI  |
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Saturday, April 9, 2011
It’s always sunny in Mumbai, but citizens lacking Vitamin D
It’s always sunny in Mumbai, but citizens lacking Vitamin D
Sumitra Deb Roy TNN
Mumbai: The city’s upper middle class and wealthy may adhere to a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise, but our attempt to seek cover from the harsh gaze of the tropical sun has put us at risk.
Most Mumbaikars working in air-conditioned offices are lacking in vital Vitamin D, the benefits of which range from strengthening
bones and teeth to preventing diabetes, cancer and cardiac problems. The sun’s rays are a major source of Vitamin D.
A study conducted by doctors at P D Hinduja Hospital at Mahim found that 77.5% of 561 males and 72.68 % of 443 females, who had come to the hospital for routine health checkups, were deficient in Vitamin D. Men and women in the 40-60 age group appeared to be the most vulnerable, said doctors.
Of the 1,004 healthy men and women tested, 75% had a deficiency with less than 20 nanograms (ng) of Vitamin D per millilitre of blood. Another 20% had “insufficient” levels of Vitamin D. Only 2.4% men and 5.4 % women tested had adequate levels of vitamin D in their blood, which is more than 40ng/ml.
Doctors say this is a worrisome trend and call it an “underlying epidemic”.
NOT ENOUGH OF THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN
•Though the major source of Vitamin D is sunlight, it’s also found in food items like raw milk and cod liver oil
•It maintains normal calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, which are needed for strong bones & teeth
•Apart from brittle bones and teeth, recent studies have also found a correlation between Vitamin D deficiency and Type-I diabetes, and cancer
•A study conducted by Hinduja Hospital doctors found that Mumbaikars suffer from a massive Vitamin D deficiency. Only 2.4% of 561 males tested and 5.4% of 443 females had healthy levels of Vitamin D
•Of the 561 men tested, 435 showed deficiency (less than 20 nanogram per millilitre), while 112 had insufficent amounts of Vit D (between 21-40ng/ml). Of the 443 women tested, only 24 showed sufficiency (above 40ng/ml)
Lifestyles hit Vitamin D levels
Mumbai: On one hand scientists warn us of the sun’s harmful UV rays. On the other hand, these rays are a vital source of essential Vitamin D, which is often called the sunshine vitamin. When doctors at Hinduja Hospital in Mahim tested people who had come for routine medical checkups, they found that an overwhelming majority—75% of 1,004 people—were seriously deficient in Vitamin D. All the people hailed from upper middleclass and wealthy families.
The sunshine vitamin is not only required for healthy bones and a strong skeletal structure, emerging studies have linked deficiencies to diseases like
diabetes and cancer, cardiacrelated ailments, neuromuscular disorders and even abnormal brain functions.
Yet the deficiency of vitamin D remains unexplained in a city like Mumbai where sunlight is found in abundance. Doctors blame it on urbanization and
lifestyle. Dr Vipla Puri,
consultant, laboratory medicine, P D Hinduja Hospital said: “Almost all people who hail from higher-income groups work indoors and step out only after the sun sets. It is taking a huge toll, silently.” Her department had collected the data for the study
over the last three months.
According to Dr Sudhindra Kulkarni endocrinologist at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, the deficiency is “rampant and alarming”. He said: “It is not only about less or more exposure to sunlight but about appropriate absorption of the light and its conversion to Vitamin D. That process is suffering leading to an array of problems, and recently even metabolic disorders.” People step out of their air-conditioned houses and step into their air-conditioned cars and once again enter their air-conditioned offices, he added.
Experts say that many patients suffering from diabetes and thyroid are also found to have Vitamin D deficiency. This could explain why more youngsters are falling prey to health problems like osteoporosis.
Besides sunlight, an appropriate diet is also required. Head of the endocrinology department at KEM Hospital Dr Nalini Shah said Indian food, unlike in the West is not fortified with Vitamin D. Even after adequate exposure to sunlight, some may suffer from the deficiency, she said. “The UV rays may get filtered due to environmental conditions.”
A workable solution is to expose oneself to adequate sunlight every day for anywhere between 15-30 minutes, added Puri: “The good news is that public awareness is improving. “We do at least 150 Vitamin D tests a day, which was not the
case few
years ago,”
she said.
THE ABCs OF D
It is a fat soluble vitamin, something that gets easily dissolved in body fat SUN’S RAYS | A major source of Vitamin D is exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is absorbed by the body when UV rays touch the skin. The chemical conversion of Vitamin D into its hormone form is performed by the liver and kidney
OTHER SOURCES |
Though its
major source is sunlight,
Vitamin D can also be found in certain food items such as raw milk and cod liver oil
WHY DO WE NEED IT?
It maintains normal calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, which are needed for strong bones and healthy teeth. Phosphorous is required to keep the body’s muscles and nerves in working order
It aids in the absorption of calcium, and helps form and maintain strong bones
DEFICIENCY DANGERS
In adults, Vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, where the bones become thin and brittle
It can cause muscular weakness
It can lead to osteoporosis, which is the thinning of bone tissues and their degeneration over time
In kids, it can cause rickets (weakening of bones)
Studies have linked deficiency to diabetes, cancer, cardiac ailments, neuromuscular disorders and abnormal brain functions
Advertisement
Sumitra Deb Roy TNN
Mumbai: The city’s upper middle class and wealthy may adhere to a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise, but our attempt to seek cover from the harsh gaze of the tropical sun has put us at risk.
Most Mumbaikars working in air-conditioned offices are lacking in vital Vitamin D, the benefits of which range from strengthening
bones and teeth to preventing diabetes, cancer and cardiac problems. The sun’s rays are a major source of Vitamin D.
A study conducted by doctors at P D Hinduja Hospital at Mahim found that 77.5% of 561 males and 72.68 % of 443 females, who had come to the hospital for routine health checkups, were deficient in Vitamin D. Men and women in the 40-60 age group appeared to be the most vulnerable, said doctors.
Of the 1,004 healthy men and women tested, 75% had a deficiency with less than 20 nanograms (ng) of Vitamin D per millilitre of blood. Another 20% had “insufficient” levels of Vitamin D. Only 2.4% men and 5.4 % women tested had adequate levels of vitamin D in their blood, which is more than 40ng/ml.
Doctors say this is a worrisome trend and call it an “underlying epidemic”.
NOT ENOUGH OF THE SUNSHINE VITAMIN
•Though the major source of Vitamin D is sunlight, it’s also found in food items like raw milk and cod liver oil
•It maintains normal calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, which are needed for strong bones & teeth
•Apart from brittle bones and teeth, recent studies have also found a correlation between Vitamin D deficiency and Type-I diabetes, and cancer
•A study conducted by Hinduja Hospital doctors found that Mumbaikars suffer from a massive Vitamin D deficiency. Only 2.4% of 561 males tested and 5.4% of 443 females had healthy levels of Vitamin D
•Of the 561 men tested, 435 showed deficiency (less than 20 nanogram per millilitre), while 112 had insufficent amounts of Vit D (between 21-40ng/ml). Of the 443 women tested, only 24 showed sufficiency (above 40ng/ml)
Lifestyles hit Vitamin D levels
Mumbai: On one hand scientists warn us of the sun’s harmful UV rays. On the other hand, these rays are a vital source of essential Vitamin D, which is often called the sunshine vitamin. When doctors at Hinduja Hospital in Mahim tested people who had come for routine medical checkups, they found that an overwhelming majority—75% of 1,004 people—were seriously deficient in Vitamin D. All the people hailed from upper middleclass and wealthy families.
The sunshine vitamin is not only required for healthy bones and a strong skeletal structure, emerging studies have linked deficiencies to diseases like
diabetes and cancer, cardiacrelated ailments, neuromuscular disorders and even abnormal brain functions.
Yet the deficiency of vitamin D remains unexplained in a city like Mumbai where sunlight is found in abundance. Doctors blame it on urbanization and
lifestyle. Dr Vipla Puri,
consultant, laboratory medicine, P D Hinduja Hospital said: “Almost all people who hail from higher-income groups work indoors and step out only after the sun sets. It is taking a huge toll, silently.” Her department had collected the data for the study
over the last three months.
According to Dr Sudhindra Kulkarni endocrinologist at Fortis Hospital, Mulund, the deficiency is “rampant and alarming”. He said: “It is not only about less or more exposure to sunlight but about appropriate absorption of the light and its conversion to Vitamin D. That process is suffering leading to an array of problems, and recently even metabolic disorders.” People step out of their air-conditioned houses and step into their air-conditioned cars and once again enter their air-conditioned offices, he added.
Experts say that many patients suffering from diabetes and thyroid are also found to have Vitamin D deficiency. This could explain why more youngsters are falling prey to health problems like osteoporosis.
Besides sunlight, an appropriate diet is also required. Head of the endocrinology department at KEM Hospital Dr Nalini Shah said Indian food, unlike in the West is not fortified with Vitamin D. Even after adequate exposure to sunlight, some may suffer from the deficiency, she said. “The UV rays may get filtered due to environmental conditions.”
A workable solution is to expose oneself to adequate sunlight every day for anywhere between 15-30 minutes, added Puri: “The good news is that public awareness is improving. “We do at least 150 Vitamin D tests a day, which was not the
case few
years ago,”
she said.
THE ABCs OF D
It is a fat soluble vitamin, something that gets easily dissolved in body fat SUN’S RAYS | A major source of Vitamin D is exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is absorbed by the body when UV rays touch the skin. The chemical conversion of Vitamin D into its hormone form is performed by the liver and kidney
OTHER SOURCES |
Though its
major source is sunlight,
Vitamin D can also be found in certain food items such as raw milk and cod liver oil
WHY DO WE NEED IT?
It maintains normal calcium and phosphorous levels in the blood, which are needed for strong bones and healthy teeth. Phosphorous is required to keep the body’s muscles and nerves in working order
It aids in the absorption of calcium, and helps form and maintain strong bones
DEFICIENCY DANGERS
In adults, Vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia, where the bones become thin and brittle
It can cause muscular weakness
It can lead to osteoporosis, which is the thinning of bone tissues and their degeneration over time
In kids, it can cause rickets (weakening of bones)
Studies have linked deficiency to diabetes, cancer, cardiac ailments, neuromuscular disorders and abnormal brain functions
Advertisement
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Cell Phones & Bones
Could cellphones be weakening our bones?
A study has found that using mobile phones may increase our chances of having osteoporosis later in life
Mumbai Mirror Bureau mirrorfeedback@indiatimes.com
Astudy has found that men who routinely wear their cellphone on their belt on the right side have reduced bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the right hip, according to the study by Fernando Sravi of National University of Cuyo, Argentina.
His research on how electromagnetic radiation from cellular phones may adversely affect bone strength appears in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.
Sravi writes, "The different patterns of right-left asymmetry in bone mineral found in mobile phone users and nonusers are consistent with a effect of electromagnetic waves not previously described."
Sravi measured BMC and BMD at the left and right hip in two groups of healthy men: 24 men who did not use phones and 24 men who carried their cellphone in a belt pouch, on the right side, for at least one year.
Measured using a test called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, BMC and BMD are standard markers of bone strength. Average hip BMC and BMD measurements were not significantly different between groups.
However, men who did not use cellphones had higher BMC in the right femoral neck (near the top of the thigh bone): a normal left-right difference that was absent in cellphone users.
Thus men who wore their cellphones on the right side had a relative reduction in femoral neck BMC in that hip.
The phone users also had reduced BMD and BMC in the area near the thigh bone, close to where the phone would be worn on the belt. The difference between the left and right hip was significantly related to the estimated total hours spent carrying a cell phone.
There are concerns about potential harmful effects of phones. However, few studies have looked at if the electromagnetic fields emitted by them could affect bone mineralisation.
With the rapid growth in cell use, any significant effect on BMD could have a substantial effect on the rate of osteoporosis.
Although small, the new study raises the possibility that long-term exposure to radiation from phones could adversely affect bone mineralisation.
Larger follow-up studies will be needed to confirm or disprove this hypothesis, according to Sravi.
He suggests that studies may be warranted in women, who have higher rates of osteoporosis; and children, who would have longer expected lifetime exposure to mobile phones.
A study has found that using mobile phones may increase our chances of having osteoporosis later in life
Mumbai Mirror Bureau mirrorfeedback@indiatimes.com
Astudy has found that men who routinely wear their cellphone on their belt on the right side have reduced bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the right hip, according to the study by Fernando Sravi of National University of Cuyo, Argentina.
His research on how electromagnetic radiation from cellular phones may adversely affect bone strength appears in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.
Sravi writes, "The different patterns of right-left asymmetry in bone mineral found in mobile phone users and nonusers are consistent with a effect of electromagnetic waves not previously described."
Sravi measured BMC and BMD at the left and right hip in two groups of healthy men: 24 men who did not use phones and 24 men who carried their cellphone in a belt pouch, on the right side, for at least one year.
Measured using a test called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, BMC and BMD are standard markers of bone strength. Average hip BMC and BMD measurements were not significantly different between groups.
However, men who did not use cellphones had higher BMC in the right femoral neck (near the top of the thigh bone): a normal left-right difference that was absent in cellphone users.
Thus men who wore their cellphones on the right side had a relative reduction in femoral neck BMC in that hip.
The phone users also had reduced BMD and BMC in the area near the thigh bone, close to where the phone would be worn on the belt. The difference between the left and right hip was significantly related to the estimated total hours spent carrying a cell phone.
There are concerns about potential harmful effects of phones. However, few studies have looked at if the electromagnetic fields emitted by them could affect bone mineralisation.
With the rapid growth in cell use, any significant effect on BMD could have a substantial effect on the rate of osteoporosis.
Although small, the new study raises the possibility that long-term exposure to radiation from phones could adversely affect bone mineralisation.
Larger follow-up studies will be needed to confirm or disprove this hypothesis, according to Sravi.
He suggests that studies may be warranted in women, who have higher rates of osteoporosis; and children, who would have longer expected lifetime exposure to mobile phones.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Painkillers up risk of stroke, heart attack by four times
London: Commonly used painkillers such as ibuprofen and diclofenac may increase the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke by fourfold, a new study has claimed.
In one of the most comprehensive studies on the cardiovascular effects of painkillers, scientists from Bern University in Switzerland analysed data from 31 trials involving more than 116,000 patients taking such drugs and found that heart patients using a high-dose painkiller daily for a year could triple their risk of a stroke.
Although the overall numbers of people suffering heart attacks or strokes while on the drugs is small, the team found that there are important risks associated with taking them, the Telegraph reported.The drugs examined were naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, celecoxib, etoricoxib and two others called rofecoxib or Vioxx, and lumiracoxib.
The drugs, called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS) and a subgroup of newer onescalledCOX-2inhibitors, areknown to affect the heart and one of them, Vioxx, was removed from sale in 2004 because of the increased risk of heart attacks. PTI
Heart patients using a high-dose painkiller a day for a year could triple the risk of a stroke
In one of the most comprehensive studies on the cardiovascular effects of painkillers, scientists from Bern University in Switzerland analysed data from 31 trials involving more than 116,000 patients taking such drugs and found that heart patients using a high-dose painkiller daily for a year could triple their risk of a stroke.
Although the overall numbers of people suffering heart attacks or strokes while on the drugs is small, the team found that there are important risks associated with taking them, the Telegraph reported.The drugs examined were naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, celecoxib, etoricoxib and two others called rofecoxib or Vioxx, and lumiracoxib.
The drugs, called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS) and a subgroup of newer onescalledCOX-2inhibitors, areknown to affect the heart and one of them, Vioxx, was removed from sale in 2004 because of the increased risk of heart attacks. PTI
Heart patients using a high-dose painkiller a day for a year could triple the risk of a stroke
Monday, January 3, 2011
Can Too much calium cause heart disease
Don’t throw out those calcium supplements just yet.
Oh, the ruckus a single study can raise. A report about calcium and cardiovascular disease had people from San Diego to Caribou, Maine worriedly calling their doctors or throwing away the calcium supplements they were taking to keep their bones strong.
Here’s what prompted the concern: New Zealand researchers pooled the results of 11 randomized, controlled trials—the so-called gold standard of medical research—comparing the effects of calcium supplements and placebo on preventing osteoporosis or colon cancer. All the trials also had information on the volunteers’ cardiovascular health. As reported online in the BMJ, more of the volunteers taking calcium had heart attacks, stroke, or died suddenly than did those taking the placebo. Media reports duly noted a 30% increased risk of cardiovascular disease with calcium supplements, which sounds scary. Another way to put the findings: 5.8% of those taking calcium had a cardiovascular event, compared with 5.5% of those taking placebo.
This publication is just another piece of the calcium puzzle. It isn’t a practice changer. Some prior studies have shown that taking calcium supplements is linked to cardiovascular disease, others haven’t.
The connection between calcium and cardiovascular disease is plausible. Calcium deposits are part of artery-clogging plaque. They also contribute to stiffening of the arteries and interfere with the action of heart valves. But whether there is a direct connection between the amount of calcium in the bloodstream (calcium supplements increase blood calcium levels) and cardiovascular problems isn’t yet known.
An even bigger unanswered question is how much calcium the average person needs each day to keep bones strong and healthy. At one end of the spectrum, the World Health Organization says 400 to 500 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day are needed to prevent osteoporosis. At the other end, the official recommendation for Americans is 1,000 mg/day from ages 19 to 50 and 1,200 mg/day after that.
Given the uncertainty about the balance of benefits and risks of calcium supplements, it’s probably best not to rely just on this mineral to keep your bones strong and prevent bone-thinning osteoporosis. Other options include:
•Weight-bearing exercise, like walking, running, tennis, and others, is one of the best things you can do for your bones.
•Getting enough vitamin D, from sun and supplements, is also good for bones and overall health. (As with everything, don’t overdo it—no more than 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine without sunscreen, and/or 800 to 1,000 IU of a vitamin D supplement.)
•Vitamin K from green leafy vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, and kale is also important for bone health.
A single study rarely changes health recommendations. This New Zealand study alone definitely shouldn’t change advice on calcium supplement. It should, though, nudge you to talk with your doctor about calcium, and do other things to protect your bones.
Oh, the ruckus a single study can raise. A report about calcium and cardiovascular disease had people from San Diego to Caribou, Maine worriedly calling their doctors or throwing away the calcium supplements they were taking to keep their bones strong.
Here’s what prompted the concern: New Zealand researchers pooled the results of 11 randomized, controlled trials—the so-called gold standard of medical research—comparing the effects of calcium supplements and placebo on preventing osteoporosis or colon cancer. All the trials also had information on the volunteers’ cardiovascular health. As reported online in the BMJ, more of the volunteers taking calcium had heart attacks, stroke, or died suddenly than did those taking the placebo. Media reports duly noted a 30% increased risk of cardiovascular disease with calcium supplements, which sounds scary. Another way to put the findings: 5.8% of those taking calcium had a cardiovascular event, compared with 5.5% of those taking placebo.
This publication is just another piece of the calcium puzzle. It isn’t a practice changer. Some prior studies have shown that taking calcium supplements is linked to cardiovascular disease, others haven’t.
The connection between calcium and cardiovascular disease is plausible. Calcium deposits are part of artery-clogging plaque. They also contribute to stiffening of the arteries and interfere with the action of heart valves. But whether there is a direct connection between the amount of calcium in the bloodstream (calcium supplements increase blood calcium levels) and cardiovascular problems isn’t yet known.
An even bigger unanswered question is how much calcium the average person needs each day to keep bones strong and healthy. At one end of the spectrum, the World Health Organization says 400 to 500 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day are needed to prevent osteoporosis. At the other end, the official recommendation for Americans is 1,000 mg/day from ages 19 to 50 and 1,200 mg/day after that.
Given the uncertainty about the balance of benefits and risks of calcium supplements, it’s probably best not to rely just on this mineral to keep your bones strong and prevent bone-thinning osteoporosis. Other options include:
•Weight-bearing exercise, like walking, running, tennis, and others, is one of the best things you can do for your bones.
•Getting enough vitamin D, from sun and supplements, is also good for bones and overall health. (As with everything, don’t overdo it—no more than 10 to 15 minutes of sunshine without sunscreen, and/or 800 to 1,000 IU of a vitamin D supplement.)
•Vitamin K from green leafy vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, and kale is also important for bone health.
A single study rarely changes health recommendations. This New Zealand study alone definitely shouldn’t change advice on calcium supplement. It should, though, nudge you to talk with your doctor about calcium, and do other things to protect your bones.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
AOC closed
AOC will be closed from 31st december to 2nd January 2011. AOC reopens on 3rd January 2011
Botox spinal jabs could be an effective pain killer
Botox spinal jabs could be an effective pain killer
Mumbai Mirror Bureau mirrorfeedback@indiatimes.com
Botulinum neurotoxin type A – better known as Botox – reduces responses to an inflammationrelated pain when injected into the spinal canal in mice, reports a study in the January issue of Anesthesia and Analgesia.
"Botox may be a useful analgesic in inflammatory pain," according to the new research, led by Won-Ho Lee, of Seoul National University.
The researchers used a standard experimental model of pain in mice to examine the effects of spinal botox injection.
In this model, a chemical called formalin is injected into the paw, producing a predictable two-phase inflammatory pain response.
Pain behaviours were monitored for up to four weeks in mice that did and did not receive spinal Botulinum neurotoxin.
Even a single spinal injection of Botulinum neurotoxin produced a pain-reducing effect: mice receiving the injection exhibited significantly fewer pain behaviours, particularly during the second phase of the pain response.
These effects were not accompanied by any movement abnormalities, suggesting that Botulinum neurotoxininjection did not adversely affect spinal cord function.
The pain-reducing effect of a single injection of Botulinum neurotoxin peaked at 10 days, then decreased up to 14 days.
Mice treated with Botulinum neurotoxin also had significant reductions in certain neurotransmitters involved in various types of pain conditions.
“This study draws attention to the many unexplored therapeutic avenues to help us control chronic pain,” says Steven Shafer, Editor-in-Chief of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
“Only by finding new approaches to attenuating pain transmission can we create therapeutic options to free future generations from the scourge of chronic pain.”
Mumbai Mirror Bureau mirrorfeedback@indiatimes.com
Botulinum neurotoxin type A – better known as Botox – reduces responses to an inflammationrelated pain when injected into the spinal canal in mice, reports a study in the January issue of Anesthesia and Analgesia.
"Botox may be a useful analgesic in inflammatory pain," according to the new research, led by Won-Ho Lee, of Seoul National University.
The researchers used a standard experimental model of pain in mice to examine the effects of spinal botox injection.
In this model, a chemical called formalin is injected into the paw, producing a predictable two-phase inflammatory pain response.
Pain behaviours were monitored for up to four weeks in mice that did and did not receive spinal Botulinum neurotoxin.
Even a single spinal injection of Botulinum neurotoxin produced a pain-reducing effect: mice receiving the injection exhibited significantly fewer pain behaviours, particularly during the second phase of the pain response.
These effects were not accompanied by any movement abnormalities, suggesting that Botulinum neurotoxininjection did not adversely affect spinal cord function.
The pain-reducing effect of a single injection of Botulinum neurotoxin peaked at 10 days, then decreased up to 14 days.
Mice treated with Botulinum neurotoxin also had significant reductions in certain neurotransmitters involved in various types of pain conditions.
“This study draws attention to the many unexplored therapeutic avenues to help us control chronic pain,” says Steven Shafer, Editor-in-Chief of Anesthesia & Analgesia.
“Only by finding new approaches to attenuating pain transmission can we create therapeutic options to free future generations from the scourge of chronic pain.”
Friday, December 24, 2010
Yoga & Knee Rplacements
STRETCH AT YOUR RISK
Yoga can tear your knee joints: Docs
New Delhi:If you are performing yoga on a regular basis, here is a word of caution from orthopaedic surgeons. Health studies show that certain exercises can cause wear and tear of bone joints forcing people to undergo surgeries.
“Studies have shown that deep knee bends can lead to wear and tear of the knee joints ultimately calling for a knee replacement surgery,” Dr Ashok Rajgopal, chairman of the Bone and Joint Institute in Medanta-The Medicity, said.
“Many yoga gurus have undergone knee replacement surgeries with us because of this excess wear and tear,” he said. Each time a person conducts deep knee bends he is actually dislocating the joints that puts pressure on them, the doctor explained. “This is witnessed among yogic gurus while doing vajrasana.”
Even patients who have opted for total knee replacement have complained of difficulty in walking or bending the knee post surgery. So experts have now come up with ‘customized knee joint replacement’ that promises to ease all discomfort associated with it.
“The standard implant used earlier would not replicate the original bone that existed before surgery. Ultimately, the alignment of the hip, knee and the ankle necessary for comfortable walking does not happen,” Dr Naresh Trehan said.
“Customized knee joint is a success because it is a carbon copy or the identical reproduction of the original joint. It is of exact size, shape and fits into the position of the lost joint bones. This gives good alignment and there are no post-surgery complaints,” the Medanta chairman and managing director said.
AGENCIES :The Times of India Thursday 23rd December 2010
Yoga can tear your knee joints: Docs
New Delhi:If you are performing yoga on a regular basis, here is a word of caution from orthopaedic surgeons. Health studies show that certain exercises can cause wear and tear of bone joints forcing people to undergo surgeries.
“Studies have shown that deep knee bends can lead to wear and tear of the knee joints ultimately calling for a knee replacement surgery,” Dr Ashok Rajgopal, chairman of the Bone and Joint Institute in Medanta-The Medicity, said.
“Many yoga gurus have undergone knee replacement surgeries with us because of this excess wear and tear,” he said. Each time a person conducts deep knee bends he is actually dislocating the joints that puts pressure on them, the doctor explained. “This is witnessed among yogic gurus while doing vajrasana.”
Even patients who have opted for total knee replacement have complained of difficulty in walking or bending the knee post surgery. So experts have now come up with ‘customized knee joint replacement’ that promises to ease all discomfort associated with it.
“The standard implant used earlier would not replicate the original bone that existed before surgery. Ultimately, the alignment of the hip, knee and the ankle necessary for comfortable walking does not happen,” Dr Naresh Trehan said.
“Customized knee joint is a success because it is a carbon copy or the identical reproduction of the original joint. It is of exact size, shape and fits into the position of the lost joint bones. This gives good alignment and there are no post-surgery complaints,” the Medanta chairman and managing director said.
AGENCIES :The Times of India Thursday 23rd December 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Now, a jab that will help you delay knee surgery
Publication: The Times Of India Mumbai; Date: Oct 14, 2010; Section: Times Nation; Page: 19
Now, a jab that will help you delay knee surgery
Gel-Like Substitute For Synovial Fluid Works Wonders
Revathi Ramanan TNN
Chennai: It is now possible for osteoarthritis patients to be relieved of pain and delay knee-replacement surgery, by undergoing a procedure called visco supplementation.
It is a procedure by which a gel-like substance that mimics the naturally available synovial fluid (present in joints), is injected into the joint to supplement the viscous properties of the synovial fluid. It is particularly effective for younger people suffering from osteoarthritis and helps them delay surgery. “Nowadays because of more awareness among the people we see more cases of osteoarthritis and that too in people in their early forties. Visco supplementation helps us provide relief to those patients,” said Dr G Rajasekar, rheumatologist at Sri Ramachandra Medical University. He also mentioned that because of the sedentary lifestyles which people lead, osteoarthritis can set in earlier because of the related obesity.
“Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which is characterised by loss of cartilage. Visco supplementation works when cartilage is available and not in the later stages of osteoarthritis when surgery or joint replacement is the only option,” said Dr Rajasekar. Knee osteoarthritis, he said, was the most common type of osteoarthritis and India has the second largest patient base of over 15 million. “Women are more susceptible to it and it worsens with age,” he said.
P Meena (67), who suffers from osteoarthritis and underwent visco supplementation, said that the procedure has provided her relief and she was able to carry on with household activities without much pain. “Though the pain is not completely gone, it has reduced to a great extent. I was scared that I would have to undergo surgery but now after this procedure I exercise regularly, take vitamin tablets and I feel much better,” she said.
Dr P V Mohandass of MIOT hospitals said there was a chance that corticosteroids (drugs to reduce inflammation or pain) could destroy the joints. Plus, they cannot be given to people who have diabetes. “Visco supplementation is better than giving corticosteroids because it encourages the knee to generate its own natural fluid,” said Dr AB Govindaraj, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Guest Hospital.
But, visco supplementation is not an alternative to surgery, cautioned Dr Mohandass. “It gives only temporary relief for the pain. It isn’t curative in nature,” he said. Dr Govindaraj said the procedure had to be repeated once every year and every injection costs around 15,000.
MAKING
NO BONES ABOUT IT
Those with knee pain due to osteoarthritis now have an option to delay surgery by going in for a treatment called Visco supplementation
Now, a jab that will help you delay knee surgery
Gel-Like Substitute For Synovial Fluid Works Wonders
Revathi Ramanan TNN
Chennai: It is now possible for osteoarthritis patients to be relieved of pain and delay knee-replacement surgery, by undergoing a procedure called visco supplementation.
It is a procedure by which a gel-like substance that mimics the naturally available synovial fluid (present in joints), is injected into the joint to supplement the viscous properties of the synovial fluid. It is particularly effective for younger people suffering from osteoarthritis and helps them delay surgery. “Nowadays because of more awareness among the people we see more cases of osteoarthritis and that too in people in their early forties. Visco supplementation helps us provide relief to those patients,” said Dr G Rajasekar, rheumatologist at Sri Ramachandra Medical University. He also mentioned that because of the sedentary lifestyles which people lead, osteoarthritis can set in earlier because of the related obesity.
“Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which is characterised by loss of cartilage. Visco supplementation works when cartilage is available and not in the later stages of osteoarthritis when surgery or joint replacement is the only option,” said Dr Rajasekar. Knee osteoarthritis, he said, was the most common type of osteoarthritis and India has the second largest patient base of over 15 million. “Women are more susceptible to it and it worsens with age,” he said.
P Meena (67), who suffers from osteoarthritis and underwent visco supplementation, said that the procedure has provided her relief and she was able to carry on with household activities without much pain. “Though the pain is not completely gone, it has reduced to a great extent. I was scared that I would have to undergo surgery but now after this procedure I exercise regularly, take vitamin tablets and I feel much better,” she said.
Dr P V Mohandass of MIOT hospitals said there was a chance that corticosteroids (drugs to reduce inflammation or pain) could destroy the joints. Plus, they cannot be given to people who have diabetes. “Visco supplementation is better than giving corticosteroids because it encourages the knee to generate its own natural fluid,” said Dr AB Govindaraj, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Guest Hospital.
But, visco supplementation is not an alternative to surgery, cautioned Dr Mohandass. “It gives only temporary relief for the pain. It isn’t curative in nature,” he said. Dr Govindaraj said the procedure had to be repeated once every year and every injection costs around 15,000.
MAKING
NO BONES ABOUT IT
Those with knee pain due to osteoarthritis now have an option to delay surgery by going in for a treatment called Visco supplementation
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Medicine for aches and pains
I see patients popping pills on their own and nobody thinks twice before popping a ?combiflam? Brufen! I must warn everyone here that all these drugs which are grouped under a common heading ? Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, can damage our kidneys permanently.
Please be careful and do not take drugs on your own.
The safest bet is to take plain paracetamol for pain relief (Crocin or Metacin).
Some patients feel that allopathic drugs are dangerous and take fast relief powders dispensed by quacks.
I have got these powders routinely analyzed and they all have steroids in them! A popular ?vaidya baba? in south Bombay sells ?Sandhivat? tablets and there is a queue of 200 patients daily! On laboratory analysis they had pure steroids as the one and only ingredient!
Please be careful and do not take drugs on your own.
The safest bet is to take plain paracetamol for pain relief (Crocin or Metacin).
Some patients feel that allopathic drugs are dangerous and take fast relief powders dispensed by quacks.
I have got these powders routinely analyzed and they all have steroids in them! A popular ?vaidya baba? in south Bombay sells ?Sandhivat? tablets and there is a queue of 200 patients daily! On laboratory analysis they had pure steroids as the one and only ingredient!
knee caps in osteoarthritis
Knee CapsAlmost every single elderly person owns one of these popular caps. A support to an inflamed knee obviously helps BUT a long term use actually is detrimental to the knee. A long term use of any brace causes the knee muscle to loose their strength. A brace has to worn under supervision of a qualified orthopedic surgeon. I also see lot of patients buying expensive (3000 Rs) braces in a camp arranged by quacks. 400 to 500 patients are supplied with these braces which are again purchased in the hope that they will avoid a surgery. These quacks (none of them are even qualified orthotists) make these braces so rigid that the knee damage is accelerated! Then there are magnetic and other special belts, but remember that nothing can stop aging and all these are useless.
Friday, May 28, 2010
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