The Benefits of Exercise in Postmenopausal Women

A February 2010 research study from the University of New South Wales examined the effect of an aerobic weight-bearing exercise program on bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. The purpose of the study was to examine what specific role - if any - regular exercise had on BMD.

30 postmenopausal women were divided into two groups for the study. The first group (19 women, mean age 66.4 years) was assigned a two-year exercise program consisting of twice-weekly aerobic weight-bearing exercises. The second group (11 women, mean age 65.4 years) did not participate in an exercise program. Before and after the two-year study period, bone density measurements were taken at the spine and hip of each study participant.

At the end of the study, women in the exercise group experienced less than one-fourth the spinal BMD loss compared to the control group (-0.8 compared to -3.8, 95% CI 0.3-5.7% difference.) Results were even more impressive for the hip measurement, where the exercise group saw a 9.6% improvement compared to a 4.4% loss in the controls (14.0% difference, 95% CI 4.6-23.5.)

The authors of the study concluded: “this study adds strong evidence that twice-weekly weight-bearing aerobic exercise has a protective effect on bone density in postmenopausal women as well as being associated with other measurable benefits."

Caplan GA, Ward JA, Lord SR. The benefits of exercise in postmenopausal women. 2010. Australian Journal of Public Health 17(1):23-6.

Vitamin D Supplementation Inhibits Age-Related Bone Loss in Older Women

Until recently, it was unknown whether improving vitamin D status (without changing calcium intake) could have a positive effect on bone turnover. To that end, a group of researchers recently measured the effect of vitamin D supplementation on markers associated with bone turnover in women known to be vitamin D deficient less than 20ng/ml.

Participants were South Asian women at least 20 years of age. The women were categorized by age and menopausal status, then randomized to receive either 4,000 IU of vitamin D or a placebo every day for 6 months.

In the women who received vitamin D supplements, average vitamin D blood levels increased from 8.4 ng/mL to 30 ng/mL. Additionally, measured bone markers either stayed the same or decreased in postmenopausal women who received vitamin D supplements, indicating a potential reduction in bone turnover. In postmenopausal women who received placebo, markers associated with bone turnover increased. In younger, premenopausal women, no significant bone turnover change was reported for either placebo or supplementation.

This research confirms that correcting vitamin D deficiencies in older women can suppress age-related increases in bone turnover, which also helps reduce bone resorption (the process by which bone breaks down and releases its minerals, resulting in a transfer of calcium from bone into the blood).

von Hurst PR, Stonehouse W, Kruger MC, Coad J. Vitamin D supplementation suppresses age-induced bone turnover in older women who are vitamin D deficient. 2010. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. EPub ahead of print, retrieved online 6 April 2010.

Inadequate DHA Intake in Infants is Related to Decreased Visual Acuity

he range of human milk docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations can vary considerably since maternal diet can greatly influence breast milk fatty acid composition. In one study, average DHA levels in human milk ranged from 0.17% to 0.99%, with U.S. and Canadian women among those with the lowest levels.

New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition sought to determine the effect of 4 amounts of DHA supplementation on the visual acuity of formula-fed infants. Other objectives were evaluated, including visual acuity maturation, red blood cell fatty acids, tolerance, anthropometric measures, and adverse events.

This double-blind randomized trial included 343 healthy, term, formula-fed infants. The infants were enrolled at 1-9 days of age and randomly assigned to be fed one of four infant formulas containing differing levels of DHA (0%, 0.32%, 0.64% and 0.96%). All other nutrients were equivalent between the formulas. Visual acuity of the infants was measured at the completion of the study at 12 months.

Infants fed control formula (0% DHA) had significantly poorer visual acuity at 12 mo of age than did infants who received any of the DHA-supplemented formulas. There were no significant differences in the visual acuity of the infants fed any of the other DHA-supplemented formulas.

DHA supplementation of infant formula at 0.32% of total fatty acids improves visual acuity. Higher amounts of DHA supplementation do not appear to provide additional improvements to visual acuity.

Birch EE, Carlson SE, Hoffman DR, Fitzgerald-Gustafson KM, Fu VLN, Drover JR, Castañeda YS, Minns L, Wheaton DKH, Mundy D, Marunycz J, Diersen-Schade DA. The DIAMOND (DHA Intake And Measurement Of Neural Development) Study: a double-masked, randomized controlled clinical trial of the maturation of infant visual acuity as a function of the dietary level of docosahexaenoic acid. 2010. AJCN 91(4):848-59.

Osteoarthritis Symptoms Improve with Regular Walking & Glucosamine Sulfate Supplementation

The results of a new clinical trial published in Arthritis Research and Therapy suggest that supplementing with glucosamine and taking regular walks can improve pain, physical function, and overall activity levels in adults with mild to moderate knee or hip osteoarthritis.

Thirty-six low-activity participants (aged 42 to 73 years) were provided with 1500 mg glucosamine sulfate per day for 6 weeks. At the end of six weeks, the participants began a 12-week progressive walking program (while continuing to take glucosamine.)

Study subjects were given a pedometer to monitor step counts. They were then randomized into two groups – one to walk 3 days per week, the other to walk 5 days per week. The length of the walk was gradually increased over the course of the program, with 6000 per day being the goal by the end of the 12-week period. Physical activity levels, physical function, and arthritis symptoms were analyzed at the beginning and at 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks.

Physical activity levels, physical function, and pain assessment scores improved during the first 6 weeks of the study (glucosamine supplementation only.) Between the start of the walking program (week 6) and the final follow-up (week 24), further improvements were seen, though most improvements happened between weeks 6 and 12. No significant differences were observed between participants who participated in the 3 and 5 day per week programs.

In people with mild to moderate hip or knee osteoarthritis, walking a minimum of 3,000 steps (approximately 30 minutes) at least 3 days per week, in combination with glucosamine sulfate, may reduce some symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Ng N, Heesch KC, Brown WJ. Efficacy of a progressive walking program and glucosamine sulphate supplementation on osteoarthritic symptoms of the hip and knee: a feasibility trial. 2010. Arthritis Research & Therapy 12(1):R25.

Low Vitamin B6 Status is Related to Increased Oxidative Stress

a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers measured blood plasma levels of pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (vitamin B6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and an oxidative DNA damage marker (8-OHdG) in over 1200 Massachusetts adults aged 45-75 years. Their goal was to examine the relationship between vitamin B6 levels and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

The analysis revealed a strong dose-response relation between plasma vitamin B6 concentration and plasma CRP (a marker of inflammation). Increasing vitamin B6 concentrations were significantly associated with lower CRP levels and decreased urinary 8-OHdG (a marker of oxidative stress). Low plasma vitamin B6 concentrations also correlated with metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes. These negative associations remained even after controlling for homocysteine levels.

The results of this study suggest that low vitamin B6 concentrations may be associated with inflammation, higher oxidative stress, and metabolic conditions in older adults. Additionally, while the relationship between vitamin B6 levels and homocysteine has been known for many years, this new analysis demonstrates that vitamin B6 may influence cardiovascular disease risk through additional mechanisms.

Shen J, Lai CQ, Mattei J, Ordovas JM, Tucker KL. Association of vitamin B-6 status with inflammation, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammatory conditions: the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. 2010. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 91(2):337-42.

CHF & USANA- Making a Difference

USANA Corporate and Associates contributed more than $ 11million in 2009. Also, Conan O'Brien brings recognition to Childrens Hunger Fund via Twitter.


CHF & USANA — Making A Difference