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Higher carotenoid and selenium levels associated with reduced risk of dying over 5 year period...
A report published in the January 2006 issue of the Journal of Nutrition revealed that older women whose levels of carotenoids and selenium are higher have a decreased risk of dying compared to those whose levels of the nutrients are low. Selenium is a trace mineral found in small amounts in plant and animal foods, while carotenoids occur in plant foods and include alpha and beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin.
In a study funded by the National Institute on Aging, researchers at Johns Hopkins analyzed data from 632 women aged 70 to 79 enrolled in the Women’s Health and Aging Studies I and II, which were designed to evaluate the causes and course of physical disability in older community-dwelling women. Selenium and carotenoid levels were measured upon enrollment, and participants were followed for 60 months.
At the end of the follow-up period, 14 percent of the women had died. Primary causes of death included cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, infection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and accidents. Those who died were older and more likely to be African-American, smokers and overweight. Higher levels of selenium and individual and total carotenoid concentrations appeared to be protective against mortality. Women whose selenium or total carotenoid levels were in the lowest 25 percent of participants had a greater risk of dying than those whose levels were in the top 75 percent, and as nutrient levels increased, mortality decreased. For those who died, mean carotenoid and selenium levels were 1.40 and 1.43 micromoles per liter, compared to 1.72 and 1.54 micromoles per liter for those who survived.
In their discussion of the findings, the authors write that the underlying biological mechanism by which diminished levels of carotenoids and selenium contribute to an increased risk of death could be increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Serum carotenoid levels are considered to be the best marker for fruit and vegetable intake, and studies have shown that high intake of these foods reduce inflammatory biomarkers and protect against cardiovascular disease. Deficient selenium levels have also been associated with atherosclerosis and increased oxidative stress. Additionally, selenium is needed for the formation of an enzyme that is necessary for the transformation of the thyroid hormone thyroxine into its biologically active form. They conclude that their “work provides some early insight into the relation between antioxidant nutrients and mortality among older women,” and recommend the usual further studies.
1/3/2006- Nutra USA Ingrediients.com
Upping intake of vitamins C and E, zinc, and beta-carotene could reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by a third, suggests a new Dutch study."In this study, a high dietary intake of beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and zinc was associated with a substantially reduced risk of AMD in elderly persons," wrote lead author Redmer van Leeuwen.
AMD affects the central part of the retina called the macula, which controls fine vision, leaving sufferers with only limited sight. AMD affects over 10 million people in the United States, with a further 15 to 20 million worldwide, and is the leading cause of blindness in people over 50.
The new findings, published in the 28 December issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (vol 294, pp 3101-3107), support the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) reported in 2001 that showed supplements containing as much as 13 times the recommended daily allowance of the same antioxidants reduced the five-year progression of early and late-stage AMD.
Unlike AREDS, however, which focused on antioxidant supplementation for people already suffering from AMD, the new study is the first to report a reduction in the risk of AMD for a diet rich in antioxidants.
The research followed more than 4,000 middle class people aged 55 or over, each of whom completed a semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire.
During the eight-year follow-up period, only 13 per cent of the sample population developed AMD. "An above-median intake of all four nutrients was associated with a 35 per cent reduced risk," reported the researchers.
A below-median consumption of all four nutrients was linked to a 20 per cent increased risk of AMD.
Comment: For more information on why you should supplement with Anti-Oxidants, click here... Antioxidants: The Case for Supplements
CW
Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.
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