issue_2_2017_rev2

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analysis & control
increase ‘healthy’ life expectancy.
Nutrition and diet are well
evidenced in their ability to not
only alter life expectancy but also
quality of life; with good diets
helping people to stay well and
active, for longer.
Aging brings changes in body
composition with loss of strength
and muscle mass, loss of bone
mass, impairments in our digestive
functions, as well as changes to
dental health. Risk of chronic
diseases like heart disease, stroke,
dementia and osteoporosis all
increase. Changes in skin mean
that less vitamin D is produced,
leaving people vulnerable to bone
loss and placed at further risk due
to vitamin D deficiency.
Diet plays a critical role in health
at every life stage and as we age,
what we eat not only affects the
length of life, but also the risk of
developing chronic diseases like
dementia or heart disease in
addition to mood, energy levels
and body composition. A good diet
helps the body recover quickly
from injury or illness and helps to
preserve muscles and bones.
Hydration is crucial too; healthy
hydration levels reduce the risk of
cancer, kidney stones and heart
disease while dehydration doubles
the risk of death from a stroke.
News: Supplementation with B
vitamins may help as an
adjunctive treatment for
schizophrenia
A new systematic review and
meta-analysis reports adjunctive
treatment with B vitamins resulted
in shorter duration of
schizophrenic episodes. The study
covered 18 randomised controlled
trials (RCTs) with 832
schizophrenic patients. Vitamins
B6 (pyrodoxine), B9 (folic acid)
and B12 (cobalamin)
supplementation were used in the
studies.
Schizophrenia is a common, costly,
long-term illness effecting around
1% of the population.
Schizophrenia is a type of
psychosis. Sufferers have difficulty
in distinguishing their own
thoughts and ideas from reality.
They can suffer from
hallucinations, delusions, muddled
thoughts and dramatic behavioural
changes. Sadly, the symptoms are
largely unresponsive to
antipsychotic treatments.
A systematic review carried out in
2013 indicated that adjunctive
treatment with micronutrients,
including minerals and vitamins
can be beneficial to people with
psychiatric disorders. In the case
of B vitamins, it is thought their
role in the biosynthesis of proteins
involved with neuronal growth in
repair could be helpful. A specific,
very recent meta-analysis in
patients with depression
supported the adjunctive use of
methyl folate, EPA/DHA and
vitamin D to help reduce
depressive symptoms. It has also
been suggested that the beneficial
effect of certain vitamin and
minerals, in terms of reducing
neuroinflammation and oxidative
stress, may be helpful in delaying
the onset and relapse of
schizophrenia.
In the new study, the combined B
vitamins 6, 9 and 12 had a
beneficial effect on total
schizophrenia symptom scores
with the best results obtained in
patients who had only recently
developed symptoms. Neither
anti-oxidant vitamins (C and E) nor
minerals showed any significant
benefits in comparison with
Changes in skin mean
that less vitamin D is
produced, leaving
people vulnerable to
bone loss and placed at
further risk due to
vitamin D deficiency
www.foodmagazine.eu.com issue two | 2017