Supplements for Young and Old

Studies around the world continue to demonstrate the need for vitamin D, and two recent ones show how important it is at any age. In Egypt, four months of vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced autism symptoms in children when compared to a placebo. In Japan, falls among frail elderly people decreased by 42 percent with vitamin D supplements, and by 72 percent when supplements were combined with exercise. A dose of 1,000-2,000 IU daily is often recommended, but it’s best to get a blood test to identify individual needs.

Dementia Rates Are Dropping

The risk of dementia is declining, according to an analysis of more than 21,000 people age 65 and older, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. After looking at various factors that could account for this, researchers concluded that education plays the biggest role: the more educated a person, the less likely he or she is to develop Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. Researchers also encourage people to continue to learn as they get older.

Hospital Re-Admissions Could Be Reduced by 30%

As many as half of patients admitted to U.S. hospitals are malnourished. Effectively correcting the nutritional problem could reduce unplanned readmissions by 30 percent, according to a study of several thousand patients, published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.

Joint supplements have anti-cancer effect

Glucosamine and chondroitin have been popular joint remedies ever since a large study published more than a decade ago found that they were effective for arthritis relief. Now, a new study led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in New York, has found that the combination has a protective effect against cancers of the colon and rectum, as well. The research, which analyzed data from more than 68,000 women and 27,000 men, was published in the International Journal of Cancer.

20 grams of nuts per day can reduce risk of heart disease

Eating a handful of nuts (about 20 grams) a day can reduce risk for heart disease, cancer, and other ills, according to a European study published in the journal BMC Medicine. Peanuts, although they are actually a legume, were as beneficial as tree nuts.

Bone Health? There’s an App for That

Fractureproof is an app that senses if your exercise is effectively improving your bone health, and if not, it gives you tips on how to do it right. All you need is a smartphone (Only iOS so far) attached to your hip or in your pocket while you exercise. The app costs $3.99, but the money benefits American Bone Health, a nonprofit organization that educates and assists people with osteoporosis and other bone diseases. Check it out on iTunes or at facebook.com/fractureproof/.