Iron deficiency is a potentially serious condition that affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. At the opposite end of the spectrum, iron excess creates health problems for millions more. While most of us have blood iron levels somewhere between these extremes, it’s important to understand the consequences of getting too much or too little iron, says nutrition expert Christie Knudsen, MS. ...
by Ryan Halvorson
Very often, a primary goal of resistance training programs is hypertrophy. To achieve this, many people lift weights and follow a sound nutrition program. However, some seek to fast-track these traditional methods by using more synthetic means. A recent study published in The American Journal on Addictions (2010; 20, 9–13) stated that 1 in 10 experienced male weightlifters, aged 18–40, uses human growth hormone (HGH). The study included 231 men who participated in an anonymous survey; the study’s focus on performance-enhancing drugs was not disclosed to participants.
Dietary supplementation is widespread, especially among professional and recreational athletes. Have you been thinking about supplementing to enhance your athletic performance? Are you aware of the scientific research and safety concerns regarding some popular performance-enhancing ergogenic aids?
by Diane Lofshult
With the steadily rising cost of a college education, who doesn’t want their child to perform optimally in school? Can you help your kids land a full 4-year scholarship by simply giving them a vitamin and mineral tablet each day? According to a recent study, you had better keep funding that college savings account, because there is no magic pill to make kids smarter.
by Diane Lofshult
answer: Our bodies definitely pay the price after drinking too much alcohol, and the sobering fact is that there is no real cure for a hangover. While B vitamins are essential for the metabolism of food and normal functioning of the nervous system, there is no good scientific evidence to suggest that popping a vitamin is an effective remedy for a hangover.
by Maggie Moon, MS, RD
Rarely does a day go by without some new nutrition study making the news. The science of nutrients—especially specific vitamins and minerals—is dynamic, and new findings surface regularly. There can be a lot of information to keep straight, and we don’t get much help from the media, whose priority is the news hook. “The result can be incomplete information and, sometimes, inaccurate recommendations,” says Carol S.
by Diane Lofshult
According to a recent study published online by the journal Pediatrics, at least 1 in 5 kids in America under the age of 11 doesn’t get enough daily vitamin D, which can have a negative effect on proper bone growth.
The problem is particularly widespread in minority groups: almost 90% of African American children and 80% of Hispanic kids may be deficient in vitamin D, the researchers estimated.
by Diane Lofshult
Although it occurs in only 3% of cases, babies who are breast-fed run the risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia during their first 6 months of life. Now a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says early iron supplementation may help reduce that risk.
The prospective, placebo-controlled study assessed the effect of early iron supplementation of breast-fed infants on iron status. Potential adverse effects in terms of tolerance and growth function were also studied.
