Vitamins for Health and Illness Prevention
November 4th, 2008
Vitamins, including over-the-counter multivitamins, are increasingly being utilized in health care to treat a wide range of health conditions and for illness prevention.
Chronic pain affects some 86 million Americans a year, and is the cause of business and industry losses approximating $90 billion annually to sick time, reduced productivity and direct medical and other benefit costs. Relief could be provided in the vitamin counter at the neighborhood grocery story.
B-vitamins, such as thiamin (B1), pyridoxine (B6), and cyanocobalamin (B12), have been proven to be clinically effective in treating various painful conditions such as lumbago, sciatica, trigeminal neuralgia, facial paralysis and optic neuritis by acting as an analgesia (pain reliever.)
Niacin (vitamin B3) improves “good” cholesterol. Niacin can increase levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good” cholesterol by 15 percent to 30 percent. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) can aid in migraine prevention.
Up to 8 out of 10 people will have back pain in their lifetimes. In many cases, such pain is chronic and there is no evidence of any injury, disease, or bone problem such as a slipped disk. An extra daily supplement of Vitamin D can effectively reduce chronic muscle, bone and joint aches and pains.
Patients with active tuberculosis are often found to have vitamin D deficiencies. New research indicates that the majority of patients with tuberculosis (TB) have low levels of vitamin D; leading to the possibility that vitamin D supplementation could reinforce current treatments or be used as a preventative measure against tuberculosis.
Vitamin D also has aging benefits linked to reduced inflammation. Previous studies have indicated that there is a connection between a higher risk of death from heart disease, cancer and diabetes and vitamin D deficiencies.
Low levels of vitamin D may be associated with increased cancer incidence and mortality in men, particularly for cancers of the digestive system. In women, vitamin D may help curb breast cancer progression. A daily dosage of 1,000 international units of vitamin D can lower the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers by about one-third.
Vitamins A and E, zinc, and chromium can effectively treat acne, as well as protect the mucous membranes, which shield the body from germs and allergens. Magnesium helps relieve constriction in the lungs caused by asthma and allergies and can help prevent migraine headaches. Vitamin C can block histamines, which may trigger allergic reactions, and reduces inflammation.
For more information about vitamins for health and wellness call Dr. Richard Browne, Acupuncture Physician, at (305) 595-9500.
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