Beta-Carotene

USEFUL FACTS

Beta-carotene, derived from the Latin name for carrot is converted to vitamin A (retinol) by the body, (see table below for food source).

Some studies suggest that dietary intake of beta-carotene may reduce the risk of two types of chronic illness—heart disease and cancer.

The richest sources of beta-carotene are yellow, orange, and green leafy fruits and vegetables (such as carrots, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cantaloupe, and winter squash). In general, the greater the intensity of the colour of the fruit or vegetable, the more beta-carotene it contains.

Beta-carotene offers protection from cancer only when other important antioxidants, including vitamins C and E are present in the diet.

Cholestyramine and probucol, medications used to lower cholesterol, can lower blood concentrations of dietary beta carotene by 30% to 40%, according to a 3-year trial in Sweden. Colestipol, a cholesterol-lowering medication similar to cholestyramin, may also reduce beta-carotene levels.

Beta carotene is one of the orange dyes found in most green leaves, and in carrots. When leaves lose their chlorophyll in the autumn, carotene is one of the colours left over in the leaf.

FOOD	Retinol Equivalents (REs) per 100 grams

Carrots, raw	2574
Carrots, cooked	2455
Spinach, raw	674
Spinach, cooked	743
Sweet potato, cooked	2180
Squash, cooked	714
Dandelion, raw	1400
Red pepper, raw	580
Red pepper, cooked	558
Mash, raw	708
Mango, fresh	523
Apricots, dry	730
Apricots, fresh and pitted	260
Cantaloup	322
Wheat germ	160
Spirulina	28333
Nori	4895
Kombu	1623
Dulse	266
Aonori	150

DO WE REALLY NEED VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS?

The simple answer to this question is yes; there are known to be some forty-five nutrients essential for human life, in addition to proteins, fats and carbohydrates and the amount consumed through one’s diet will have a direct influence on an individual’s health.
This however is only part of the puzzle, due to medical therapies (pharmaceuticals), the increasing number of insecticides, pesticides, herbicides etc, along with harmful colourings and other food additives; we are seeing an ever increasing number of food allergies and food intolerance cases.

Nutrient deficiencies can and do exist in individuals participating in healthy and well balanced diets, this in part is due to the increased amounts of tea, coffee and alcohol we consume as a nation. The aforementioned are not only a concern due to their diuretic properties but also their inhibiting factors on the body’s ability to metabolise certain fresh food produce. Tea for instance decreases the absorption of iron due to the tannins within it (although this debate still rages on) and we consume in the region of an average of six cups per day. However there is no doubt or debate on the more tea you drink the more regular visits you take to the bathroom.

How many of you reading this knows of the 1995 Bread and Flour regulation:-

“It is a legal requirement that certain nutrients are added to white flour and to margarine due to the loss of nutrients during the milling process”. The percentage of flour produced from the wheat is known as the “extraction rate of flour”; wholemeal flour has an extraction rate of 100%. Sufficient iron, thiamine, niacin and calcium carbonate must be added to flour to ensure no less than;

1.6g Iron
0.25mg Thiamine
1.60mg Niacin
235-390mg Calcium Carbonate

Margarines include requirements for added vitamin A and D to maintain the correct yield that grazing produces throughout the year.

Folate is the generic descriptor for Folic Acid and Folate deficiency is an important cause of anaemia, second only to nutritional iron deficiency and regular intake of Folic acid supplements (400 micrograms) as been shown to reduce neural tube defects (NTD) in pregnancy. See www.biome.ac.uk or www.rcog.org.uk

There are many, many health benefits and reasons one should take supplements at various times in life, too many to mention and explain in this one article, however keep an eye on this page as we shall be discussing similar topics in the very near future.

Diclofenac Sodium Tablets
Diclofenac is used to relieve pain and inflammation in a wide range of conditions, including musculoskeletal disorders such as tendon inflammation (tendinitis), sprains, strains, dislocations and fractures. Diclofenac works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

Many people taking Diclofenac suffer from a number of side effects, non more so than stomach upsets and ulceration of the stomach and these can last for many months. There are a number of preventative measure that can be taken to reduce the risk of these side effects.

Take diclofenac with food, milk, or an antacid to lessen stomach upset.
Do not crush, chew, or break diclofenac tablets. Swallow them whole.
Remain upright (sitting or standing) for 15 to 30 minutes after each dose to prevent irritation of your esophagus (throat).
Watch for bloody, black, or tarry stools or blood in your vomit. These
symptoms could indicate damage to your stomach.
If you drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day, diclofenac may increase the risk of stomach bleeding.

Pain relief hope for arthritis sufferers with £26m drug trial in Scotland

By JEREMY WATSON

A DRUG that promises to bring pain relief to millions of arthritis sufferers without damaging side-effects is to be put on trial in Scotland. Giant drugs company Pfizer is to fund the £26m three-year study – the biggest of its type ever held north of the Border – which is aimed at testing a new drug, Celecoxib, against others of its class.
Millions of people worldwide suffer from arthritis. But while the group of painkilling, anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat the painful condition – called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – are effective, they have a range of serious side-effects.

Arthritis affects around nine million people in the UK, with around 2.55 million prescriptions for drug treatment issued every year in Scotland alone. In the most common form – osteoarthritis – the cartilage protecting the bones is worn away and new bone forms, creating deformity. Although mainly affecting the elderly, it can affect younger people through sports injuries, leading to constant pain and sleepless nights.

Professor Chris Hawkey, who has carried out studies on Celecoxib, said: "Traditional NSAID drugs can cause bleeding from the lining of the stomach and Celecoxib is thought to minimise this. But we are unclear what treatment is best overall and this trial offers a great opportunity to resolve this."

NUEXCOM
Health & Medical
www.nuexcom.co.uk / www.nuexcom-injurycare.co.uk