The argument for taking a daily multivitamin is not as strong as it used to be. Research continues to accumulate showing that vitamins do not provide the benefits they were once believed to, and sometimes can be harmful.
Ultraviolet light causes skin cancer, but it also triggers the body’s production of vitamin D, which seems to counteract it. Limited sun exposure can boost levels of vitamin D, or it can be obtained through a vitamin supplement.
My doctor gave me a prescription for 50,000 units of vitamin D to be taken every two weeks. But I’ve read that the recommended dose is more like 1,000 IU a day, and that more than 2,000 IU a day is unsafe. I don’t want to do more harm than good!
A five-year study hopes to determine whether vitamin D and omega-3 fats have an effect on rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other illnesses.
In primary hyperparathyroidism, one or more of the parathyroid glands produces too much of a hormone that regulates blood calcium levels. If the imbalance becomes serious enough, it can lead to bone or kidney disease and require removal of the gland.
The federal government’s dietary guidelines are likely to Include recommendations to reduce sodium intake, take vitamin D, avoid solid fats, and more.
A five-year study funded by the National Institutes of Health hopes to determine whether vitamin D and omega-3 fats have an effect on rates of cardiovascular disease or cancer.