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Prevent Fractures From Falls With Vitamin D Supplementation
News reports have picked up the story about a recent meta-analysis on vitamin D, and headlines have read: “Vitamin D doesn’t aid the prevention of Osteoporosis.” A meta-analysis (Effects of vitamin D supplements on bone mineral density: a systematic review and meta-analysis) conducted by researchers at the University of Auckland in New Zealand and published in The Lancet earlier this month looked at 23 vitamin D studies. The studies totaled 4,082 generally healthy people (92 percent female) with an average age of 59 years. Bone mineral/density was studied at one to five sites in each study, with the sites being lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, femur, total body or forearm. Participants took 500-800 International Units (IUs) of vitamin D per day. Results of the meta-analysis showed a small benefit at the femoral neck in bone density, but no other areas. The lead author of the study, Dr. Ian R. Reid, said “for healthy people focused on osteoporosis prevention, vitamin D does not make a positive contribution.”
While this meta-analysis didn’t find vitamin D to be helpful in managing osteoporosis, the study doesn’t review vitamin D levels and the potential for falls. In May, 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended exercise or physical therapy and vitamin D supplementation to prevent falls in community dwelling adults 65 years or older who are at increased risk for falls.
Falls are the leading cause of injury in community dwelling adults 65 years or older, and 30-40 percent of adults 65 years or older fall at least once per year! Fractured bones are the result of approximately 5 percent of these falls, and two meta-analyses have found that vitamin D prevents fractures. Low vitamin D levels increases fracture risk. It has been estimated that as many as half of the older adults with hip fractures could have vitamin D levels below 30 ng/mL. (Optimal vitamin D is 30-100 ng/mL; suboptimal is 20-29 ng/mL and lower than 20 ng/mL is insufficient. Dr. Cooper likes to see levels 40-60 ng/mL in patients.)
Adult Cooper Complete multivitamins contain 2,000 IU vitamin D, and a standalone 1,000 IU Vitamin D tablet for individuals who need higher supplementation to get to an appropriate level.
Since falling is such a risk for older adults, it makes sense to stay aware of vitamin D levels through an annual blood test and to supplement as appropriate to get levels where they need to be. In addition, as Dr. Cooper has long advocated, it makes sense to commit, at every stage of life, to move and exercise like your life depends on it.
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Introducing the New Cooper Complete Supplement: MVP
By Vitamin Expert Todd Whitthorne
Imagine this: It’s a beautiful sunny day–perfect baseball weather. You’re in the batter’s box facing Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish. Nerves aside, you’re wondering what type of pitch will be hurled your way. Will it be a 97 mile-an-hour fastball or a 64 mile-an-hour curve ball? Since it takes a mere half-second for a pitch to reach home plate, your decision to swing will be made in the blink of an eye.
In that fraction of time, your eyes must evaluate the speed, direction and anticipated path of the pitch. That visual “data” is passed through the optic nerve, into the brain, which then sends a signal through your nerves to your muscles to immediately react to the information being processed. This all hinges on your hand-eye coordination which can mean the difference between a game-winning base hit or game-ending strikeout. The start of this entire process is obviously highly dependent on vision.
He Did What?
On a recent trip to Brazil I met with “Professor” Oscar Erichsen, the head trainer of Atletico Paranaense, one of the country’s premier soccer teams. He recalled in great detail a moment during the 1970 World Cup in Mexico City. Pele, arguably the best soccer player in history, took a shot on goal from midfield. The shot sailed wide but the mere fact that Pele had even attempted such a feat sent shock waves throughout the soccer world. Professor Oscar explained that the shot attempt was significant for two reasons. One was the obvious leg strength that it took to launch such a blast. The other was more subtle.
Pele had an incredible ability to constantly evaluate data while in the throes of competition. For instance, how were his teammates positioned in comparison to the competition? How fast was Defender A compared to Defender B? How did the length of the grass and the direction of the wind impact the flight of the ball? On this particular play, Pele sensed the defenders nearest him were out of position and that the opposing goalie had drifted away from the net. In an instant he made the decision to take a shot that, despite being off-line, fans still talk about over 40 years later.
Scientifically this ability to read one’s external environment is known as “exteroception” and Professor Oscar said no one has ever had it better than Pele. This is similar to what we hear about great point guards, “He has eyes in the back of his head,” or about outstanding quarterbacks, “The game just seems to slow down for them.”
See Stronger with Cooper Complete MVP
Vision is a key performance factor in just about every sport. The ability for an athlete’s eyes to adapt to varying light conditions, whether from artificial indoor light or bright sunshine outside, has a direct impact on performance.
I’m very excited that we have added a new product to our Cooper Complete line of nutritional supplements: Cooper Complete MVP (Maximum Vision & Performance). This product is scientifically formulated to improve tolerance to glaring light by 58% and reduce glare recovery time by 5 seconds performance, as well as improve contrast sensitivity–the ability to distinguish a white ball against a blue sky. The ingredients in MVP are pure, potent and supply the proper nutritional levels that research shows are most beneficial to athletes of all levels looking for a competitive edge.
I encourage you to visit our website to learn more or purchase Cooper Complete MVP.
Podcast: Jorn Dyerberg, MD, the Father of the Omega-3 Movement, Interviewed
Todd Whitthorne interviews Jorn Dyerberg, MD, the father of the omega-3 movement. Dr. Dyerberg was studying the Eskimos, who ate a high fat diet, and had very low rates of heart disease, and discovered the protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) in marine sources. Dr. Dyerberg talks about advances in the science of omega-3 fatty acids from 1970 to present day, and a bit about the 25,000 studies that have been conducted during this time period. Once studied primarily for cardiovascular health, researchers have also studied the impact of omega-3 fatty acids on inflammatory disorders, brain health, eye health, etc. Dr. Dyerberg discusses the protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids, and how much of the nutrients we need for optimal health.
Dr. Dyerberg is also the co-author (with Richard Passwater and Cheryl Hirsch) of the book The Missing Wellness Factors: EPA and DHA: The Most Important Nutrients Since Vitamins?
Click here to listen to the interview.
Are you Getting Enough Vitamin D?
By Todd Whitthorne, Vitamin Expert
Today’s Healthy Living Section of the Dallas Morning News featured a story on healthy ways to make your face more beautiful, which included protecting your skin from the sun’s UV rays. As a guy that works at Cooper and oversees our vitamin and nutritional supplement line, I spend a great deal of time following the literature on this topic.
I obviously agree that the sun can do tremendous damage (aging and increased risk of skin cancer). But I also I think it’s always important to remind folks that when it comes to sun screen you should be careful “not to throw the baby out with the bath water.” That same UVB light that accelerates aging and increases cancer risk is also the same light that generates vitamin D.
We have a vitamin D deficiency epidemic in this country. An article published in the 2009 Archives of Internal Medicine found that 77 percent of U.S. adults and adolescents were insufficient in vitamin D (90 percent of Mexican-Americans and 97 percent of all non-Hispanic blacks). At Cooper Clinic we have been measuring vitamin D levels in our patients since 2006, and we find approximately 80 percent of our first time patients have levels lower than we like to see (<40 ng/ml).
Dr. Ed Giovannucci, a highly respected researcher from Harvard, wrote in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in 2006 that “sunlight might prevent 30 deaths for each one caused by skin cancer. I would challenge anyone to find an area or nutrient or any factor that has such consistent anti-cancer benefits as vitamin D. The data are really quite remarkable.”
Of course, then the question comes up of whether physicians prefer that their patients get vitamin D through supplementation, as opposed to directly from the sun. That really depends on whom, and what type of doctor, you ask. Most of the research indicates that there is really very little difference between the two.
Most physicians feel supplements are the most logical choice because of ease, cost, accuracy of dosing, etc. Dermatologists clearly like to steer folks away from the sun. However a few, including Dr. John Cannell, Founder of the Vitamin D Council, feel that the sun is the preferred method since that’s the way we were “designed” to get vitamin D (listen to a podcast with Dr. Cannell).
Obviously no one, including Dr. Cannell, recommends getting a sun burn, but for most folks 10-15 minutes of unprotected sun exposure seems to be a logical, and safe, dose. The problem is how often do most people go out in a bathing suit, or shorts and a tank top, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the UVB light is most available? Clearly if the weather is gloomy and overcast that wouldn’t be practical.
Something else to keep in mind is that there is a huge variability in how much vitamin D we synthesize from the sun, or absorb from supplements. There clearly is no such thing as “one size fits all.” Cooper Clinic physicians recommend starting with 2000 international units (IU) of vitamin D-3 per day and go up in dose as needed. The ideal method to determine how much vitamin D you need is to get a blood test. But from a practical standpoint, most people aren’t going to take the time or spend the money to do that. 2000 IU per day may not get them to an “optimal” blood level, but for most individuals it will at least help them avoid “deficiency” (less than 20 ng/ml).
Even though I run and ride my bike outside quite a bit, I have found that I need to take 5000 IU of Vitamin D-3 per day for me to maintain a blood level of 60 ng/ml (my ideal target). But remember, everyone is different. The main takeaway is to make sure to get your vitamin D. Whether it’s from the sun or supplements….just get it.
Podcast: Gretchen Vannice, MS, RD, author of Omega-3 Handbook, A Ready Reference Guide for Health Professionals, is interviewed
In this episode, Gretchen Vannice, MS, RD, author of Omega-3 Handbook, A Ready Reference Guide for Health Professionals, is interviewed by Todd Whitthorne. A registered dietitian, Gretchen explains what types of omega-3 fatty acids are most beneficial, and how to determine the type of omega-3 in different foods. The ways our body stores and uses EPA and DHA are also explained. Gretchen also reviews the intake recommendations for omega-3 fatty acids for different populations.
Listen to the complete podcast here.
Dr. Cooper Encourages Proper Supplementation
By Jill Turner, VP of Operations, Cooper Complete Nutritional Supplements
Since 1997 Kenneth H. Cooper, MD, MPH, founder and chairman of Cooper Aerobics, and an advisory board of respected experts from four leading universities have been studying nutritional supplements and what role they play in health and preventive medicine. That research led to the development of Cooper Complete® Nutritional Supplements. Our philosophy with supplements is that they work as an insurance policy to help fill in the gaps of what we most likely are not getting through our daily diet.
Dr. Cooper has long advocated that proper supplementation starts with a balanced diet. While it is always best to receive vitamins and minerals through food, in reality most people are unable to get the proper amount of vitamins and minerals through diet alone. Men and women should review their supplementation needs with a physician who knows them and their general health.
Our recommendation for proper supplementation remains the same despite a recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine regarding vitamins. To read our statement regarding this news, please click here.
For more information on Cooper Complete Nutritional Supplements, visit our website.