Suboptimal vitamin D status during childhood may increase cardiovascular risk in adulthood

Not to outlive their parents? When we talk about this generaion being the first one in American history not expected to outlive their parents this is getting down to one of the specifics about what this means. Please read and share! - Ekayani

March 18, 2015 - Weekly Essentials of Health by Usana Health Sciences

Suboptimal vitamin D status during childhood may increase cardiovascular risk in adulthood

 At a Glance

A new study shows an association between low 25-OH vitamin D levels in childhood and increased occurrence of atherosclerosis in adulthood.

 Read more about this research below. 

 

Many previous studies have shown an association between inadequate vitamin D levels in adulthood and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. One of the major risk factors for heart disease is atherosclerosis, or thickening and narrowing of the arteries.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers investigated a potential link between childhood vitamin D deficiency and increased artery thickness and atherosclerosis in adulthood.
The study included 2,148 subjects aged 3-18 years from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, which began in 1980. Ultrasound studies of the left carotid artery were conducted in 2007, when the participants were then aged 30-45. Stored serum vitamin D samples taken at the beginning of the study were analyzed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D in 2010.
After adjusting for age, sex, and childhood risk factors, and independent of cardiovascular risk factors such as serum lipids, hypertension, smoking, diet, physical activity, BMI, and socioeconomic status, decreased levels of vitamin D in childhood were associated with a greater carotid artery thickness. Children with 25-OH vitamin D levels in the lowest 25% (
The results could possibly be explained by the fact that the biologically active form of vitamin D, calcitriol, plays a role in vascular proliferation and growth while inhibiting calcification. The authors also suggest that since vitamin D is important for a healthy immune system, it may help reduce infections early in life that could contribute to cardiovascular disease risk.
These findings suggest that insufficient vitamin D levels during childhood should be considered a possible risk factor for adult cardiovascular disease, and add support to the recommendation to supplement vitamin D during childhood.
Juonala M et al. Childhood 25-OH Vitamin D Levels and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2015 Feb 10:jc20143944. [Epub ahead of print]

Weekly Essentials of Health : Higher fiber intake improves survival time after a heart attack

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Higher fiber intake improves survival time after a heart attack

At a Glance
A new study shows that people who survive heart attacks may improve their chance of survival by increasing their dietary intake of fiber.

Read more about this research below.
Diet plays an important role in the development of heart disease, yet secondary prevention guidelines tend to emphasize pharmaceuticals over diet and lifestyle recommendations.  Adequate dietary fiber intake is known to be associated with a lowered risk of many conditions, such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Whether, and to what extent, fiber intake impacts survival after a heart attack is less known.

In a new study published in the British Medical Journal, researchers analyzed data from two large studies, the Nurse’s Health Study and the Health Professional Follow-Up Study, to determine whether increased fiber intake would improve chances of survival after a heart attack. Of the total of 173,229 patients in the study, researchers looked at 4,098 men and women who had survived a first heart attack and followed them for an average of nine years. Detailed questionnaires were completed several times during the follow-up period and used to analyze lifestyle habits.

Participants were separated into five groups (quintiles) according to their dietary fiber intake after their heart attack. Those who ate the most fiber had a 25% lower chance of dying from any cause in the nine years after their heart attack compared with those who ate the least fiber. When considering only cardiovascular causes of death (heart attack, stroke and coronary heart disease), the top quintile had a 13% lower mortality risk than those with the lowest intake. Researchers also found that every 10g per day increase in dietary fiber was associated with a 15% lower risk of death over the nine-year follow-up period.

When the specific type of dietary fiber was looked at individually (cereal, fruit or vegetable), only higher cereal fiber intake was strongly associated with an increase in long-term survival after a heart attack.

Currently, only 5% of Americans consume the minimum recommendation of dietary fiber of 25 g per day for women and 38 g per day for men. With more people surviving heart attacks, it is increasingly important to emphasize healthy lifestyle choices in addition to appropriate medication to improve long-term health and survival.

Shanshan Li et al. Dietary fiber intake and mortality among survivors of myocardial infarction: prospective cohort study BMJ 2014;348:g2659 doi: 10.1136/bmj.g2659

Book Review #2: Wheat Belly by William Davis MD Lose the Wheat, Lose the...

Let's Go Outside! Fitness & Fun May 4th McCarren Park

The track at McCarren Park with the Pool to the right

Let's Go Outside - Fitness and Fun in McCarren Park!

It's been a long hard winter with storm after storm and we could all use a life affirming boost during Spring! Join me and instructor Elina LeClaire who will lead us in Intensati®, a nifty mind, body, spirit workout that will get your blood pumping and mood elevated Saturday, May 4th at 10:30AM in McCarren Park! I took a class with Elina at my neighborhood training gym Human @ Ease and really enjoyed myself. Although I may be coming late to the party, I wanted to share this with you because her approach offers a new twist on the same old workout. Why is Intensati®  different? Studies are showing that shouting positive affirmations to yourself (and anyone else within earshot!) while working out leaves you coming back for more. The idea here is to replace the old negative tapes running on repeat in your head with better thoughts. If you are what you eat, you do what you think!  As part of the event, yours truly is going to offer some insights into the easy ways you can take care of your heart and the right fuel to give your body AFTER a work out.  Losing weight may not be what you think! And of course we will have snacks - healthy snacks courtesy of Usana Health Sciences the Nutritional Supplement company that is NSF and ConsumerLabs approved. Afterwards enjoy the McCarren Park Farmers Market overseen by GrowNYC or join me at Urban Rustic our local farm to table deli eatery.

Where Meet us at Human at Ease located at 31 Nassau Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn 11222

Once the group is assembled we''ll walk together two blocks to the track!
What to Bring: Bring water, wear sneakers and dress in your sweats. If you are prone to sweating bringing a dry tee shirt to change into post workout. 

We'll meet here Human @ Ease

How to Get There: Take the G to Nassau. If you are taking the L transfer at Lorimer 1 stop to Nassau. Take Nassau exit. Walk on Nassau towards McCarren Park two blocks. We'll be out front.
Start Time: 10:30AM Yes you can do it!

End Time: 12:15PM See that wasn't so bad was it?

Cost: FREE You can't beat free!

  


Elina LeClaire has a passion for health & wellness, inspirational events, and coaching

people to discover and pursue their dreams.  For over a decade, she has helped challenge, inspire and equip more than 10,000 people through her company Dream Careers.  Since 2010 Elina  has been practicing Intensati® a practice she loves to share as it  has taken her to the next level in pursuing her own dreams. She teaches Wednesdays and Sundays at Human @ Ease in Greenpoint. You will leave class feeling stronger, uplifted and inspired. Elina is enthusiastic about leading you through a transformational workout of mind, body and spirit that will empower you to live a life you love.

Ekayani Chamberlin is a wellness and lifestyle coach based in Greenpoint. She offers True Health Assessments helping clients focus on long term health goals in the areas of weight management, nutrition, sleep and glowing skin.She radiates health and vitality at age 50 and is motivated to assist others in feeling the same way based on the principles optimal nutrition, diet and attitude. She comes from a long line of healers and doctors most notably Bernando LaPallo who is 112 years young, currently working on his second book. Take the True Health Assessment  here

Intensati® is a revolutionary workout developed by Patricia Moreno. Its a fusion of high-energy aerobics, martial arts, yoga, and strength conditioning. Combining spoken affirmations with simple choreography, IntenSati provides a heart-pumping, exhilarating workout that builds physical, mental, and spiritual muscle. It is fitness at the highest efficiency and empowerment.