Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors

Study Finds Long-Term Use of Beta Carotene May Prevent Cognitive Decline

No convincing justification to recommend the use of antioxidant dietary supplements to maintain cognitive performance: editorial

Nov. 12, 2007 - Men who take beta carotene supplements for 15 years or longer may have less cognitive decline, according to a report in the November 12 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Beta carotene is a colorful fat-soluble compound naturally present in many fruits, grains, oil and vegetables. Read more...

Mormons Have Less Heart Disease Due to Monthly Fasting Says Study

Report to American Heart Association says people who skip meals better off

Nov. 6, 2007 – Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS or Mormons) have lower rates of heart disease than other Americans and a new study of older people indicates it may be linked to their religious practice of skipping food for one day a month. The Mormon religion also prohibits smoking and it was previously assumed this was the reason they enjoyed healthier hearts. Read more...

Vitamin D Does Not Deter Cancer Deaths but Does Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

Highly hyped vitamin D takes a blow from massive study but not dead yet

Oct. 30, 2007 – Vitamin D has received considerable favorable attention lately, primarily as a way to stop cancer, but idea came crashing down today with the release of a large study – 16,818 participants – that concluded a higher vitamin D level is not associated with a lower risk of drying from cancer. But wait, the hype is not totally dead – this study did conclude that D substantially decreases the risk of colorectal cancer. Read more...

Older Men Can Reduce Heart Failure Risk by Eating More Whole Grain Cereal

Breakfast cereals with at least 25% oat or bran content were used in study

Oct. 23, 2007 - Men who consume a higher amount of whole grain breakfast cereals may have a reduced risk of heart failure, according to a report in the October 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Senior Citizens Prefer American Food More Than Other Adults When Eating Out

Matures 3-to-1 more likely to choose French food, cool to Japanese

Oct. 19, 2007 - When senior citizens, or “Matures,” as Harris Interactive calls them, go out to eat they want American food. Harris found, in fact, thisis the favorite food for most American adults, but no age group is as adamant about their meat and potatoes as are the oldest Americans. Read more...

Diet Counseling Leads to Only Modest Improvement in Heart Risks

Those with risk factor elevation - such as high blood pressure or cholesterol - respond better than those at ‘average’ levels

Oct. 17, 2007 – Senior citizens, in their unending fight against heart disease, are frequently advised to select a diet that will help reduce their risk. A review of 38 studies, however, finds the that dietary advice does lead to modest improvement in risk factors such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, especially in people at higher risk.The reviewer suggests, however, these diets may lead to more health improvements than the study indicates. Read more...

Low-Fat Diet Appears to Lower Risk of Ovarian Cancer for Older Women

Women on diet low in fat  40% less likely to develop ovarian cancer

Oct. 10, 2007 - A diet low in fat could reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in healthy older (postmenopausal) women, according to new results from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Dietary Modification Trial. Researchers found that after four years, women who decreased the amount of dietary fat they consumed were 40 percent less likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who followed normal dietary patterns. Read more...

Senior Citizens May Not Get Calcium Needed Due to Confusing Food Labels

Consumers often don't get nutritional information they need due to confusion

Oct. 5, 2007 - Current food labeling leads to under-consumption of calcium, an important additive for senior citizens fighting against osteoporosis, and this is probably true for other nutrients, according to a new study. The problem can be improved, the researchers say, if consumers are taught to better translate the information on the food package label. Read more...

Quercetin Identified as Flavonol to Reduce Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

Smokers benefit most from intake of 'hidden' plant nutrients

Oct. 4, 2007 - Eating flavonol-rich foods may help reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, says a team of international researchers. Quercetin, which is found naturally in apples, onions and red wine, has been identified as one of the most beneficial flavonols (subgroup of flavonoids) in preventing and reducing the risk of pancreatic cancer. Read more...

Ornish Diet Best, USDA Food Pyramid Down the List for Improving Heart Health

Study ranks popular weight-loss plans for reducing cardiovascular risk

Oct. 1, 2007 - The Department of Agriculture’s Food Pyramid needs repair, at least when it comes to diets that improve heart health, according to researchers who compared ten diet plans to see which one could best reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the major killer of senior citizens. The Pyramid plan came in sixth in this test with the leader being the Ornish diet plan, which is specifically targeted at protection from heart disease. Read more...

Wine, Beer, Liquor It Doesn't Matter – Too Much Jumps Breast Cancer Risk

Three drinks of alcohol a day is as bad as smoking a pack a day

Sept. 27, 2007 – It makes no difference if women drink wine, beer or liquor - too much of any alcoholic drink is likely to trigger cancer. The increased risk of breast cancer from drinking three or more alcoholic drinks a day is similar to the increased risk from smoking one pack of cigarettes a day, concludes one of the largest studies ever on the effects of alcohol on breast cancer risk. Read more...

Vitamin E Studies Have Been Fatally Flawed for Years Says New Study

Amount needed to reduce oxidative stress far higher than used in clinical trials

Sept. 24, 2007 – Many senior citizens have kept a close eye on research about Vitamin E after studies indicated it could provide protection from heart disease, the number one killer of the elderly. But, the research to determine the power of Vitamin E to reduce oxidative stress and, therefore, preventing cardiovascular disease, has produced widely varying results. Now researchers say generations of studies on vitamin E may be largely meaningless, because the levels necessary to reduce oxidative stress are far higher than those that have been commonly used in clinical trials. Read more...

Age-Related Macular Degeneration Risk Lowered by Lutein and Zeaxanthin

Pigment found in spinach, egg yolk, corn protect the macula from blue light

Sept. 12, 2007 – A new study seems to confirm previous findings that consuming high levels of the plant pigments lutein and zeaxanthin may lower the risk for senior citizens of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in older people. Read more...

Vitamin D Supplements Appear to Lower Death Risk from Any Cause

Editorial: ‘moderate sun exposure, food fortification with vitamin D and higher-dose vitamin D supplements for adults need to be debated’

Sept. 11, 2007 – People who regularly take vitamin D supplements appear to have a lower risk of death from any cause, at least according to a study that followed the participants over six years. This amazing finding is reported today in the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Chemists Say They Now Know How to Remove Bitterness from Coffee

Great news for senior citizens who already prefer coffee to sex

Aug. 22, 2007 – Chemists think they can make coffee taste better. That’s staggering news to millions of senior citizens who said in a poll that they would prefer to give up sex before their coffee. But, the scientists claim they have discovered what makes java bitter and say this could lead to even better tasting coffee. Read more...

Adequate Vitamin D3 Could Prevent 600,000 Breast, Colon Cancer Cases

Vitamin D3 is obtained through diet, supplements and sunlight

Aug. 22, 2007 – Vitamin D continues to win praise for its contribution to better health. This time it is a study that says 600,000 cases of breast and colon cancer could be prevented around the globe – 150,000 in the U.S. - each year if more people reached the recommended levels of vitamin D3. Read more...

Report Highlights Benefits of Vitamin D Supplements for Senior Citizens

Report will be basis of NIH conference on Vitamin D and bone health

Aug. 20, 2007 - A new report highlights the evidence for bone health benefits in postmenopausal women and older men (the majority over 60 years of age) from taking vitamin D supplements. It also confirms that vitamin D from ultraviolet-B (sunlight) exposure, fortified foods, or dietary supplements are all effective in raising the level of circulating vitamin D. Read more...

Western Red Meat-White Flour Diet Can Lead to Colon Cancer, Its Return and Death

Diet high in red and processed meats, sweets and desserts, french fries, and refined grains increases the risk of cancer recurrence and decreases survival

Aug. 14, 2007 – Regularly eating a “western diet” – lots of red meat, refined grains, fat and deserts, that many senior citizens grew up on – not only increases your risk of colon cancer, but it increases the chances that the cancer will return and you will die, according to new research to appear in the Journal of the American Medical Association tomorrow. The study compared these western diet eaters with those who had diets high in fruits and vegetables, and poultry and fish. Read more... Link to video with story.

Senior Citizens Find Guidance on Better Health with Omega-3 in Mayo Newsletter

Benefits for seniors: heart protection, lower blood pressure, even relief from rheumatoid arthritis

Aug. 14, 2007 – Omega-3 fatty acids should be as much a part of the healthy diet as are lots fruits and vegetables and very little fat and cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter, which provides detailed advice on consuming these healthy fatty acids. This form of acid appears to have many health benefits for senior citizens, including heart protection, lower blood pressure and even relief from rheumatoid arthritis. Read more...

Antioxidant Supplements Fail to Protect High Risk Women from Cardiovascular Deaths

Use of vitamins C, E and beta carotene for cardiovascular protection not warranted

Aug. 13, 2007 – Those eating lots of fruits and vegetables, which are rich with antioxidants, are known to lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, but the results from a new study indicates these antioxidants to be effective may have to come from the plant foods, rather than from supplements like Vitamins C and E and beta carotene, all high in antioxidants. Read more...

Senior Citizens Need Just a Little More Protein-Rich Food to Maintain Muscle

Elderly just as able to turn protein into muscle as younger people

Aug. 13, 2007 - A new study suggests that a diet containing a moderate amount of protein-rich food such as beef, fish, pork, chicken, dairy or nuts may help slow the deterioration of elderly people’s muscles and, it also finds, that older bodies are just as capable as younger ones in turning this protein-rich food into muscle. Read more...

Older Women Who Drink Three Cups of Coffee Daily Protect Memory

Caffeine appears to reduce cognitive decline, but not in men

Aug. 7, 2007 – Women who have reached age 65 can protect their thinking ability by taking a heavy dose of caffeine – as in three cups of coffee a day. Even better news is the finding that this power increases with age – the older the women, the memory loss is less. The bad news is the study found it does not work for men. Read more...

Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium in Milk Reduce Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

15% lower risk among individuals with the highest dairy intake

July 10, 2007 – Most Americans, including senior citizens, fail to get the calcium and vitamin D they need, but this shortfall could be affecting more than their bones. It may, at least in part, be one reason behind the epidemic of type 2 diabetes, suggests new research conducted at Tufts University. Read more...

FDA Rules on Dietary Supplement Manufacturers Good News for Boomers, Senior Citizens

What you need to know about supplements. Government already provides lots of helpful information

July 5, 2007 - The Food and Drug Administration made a significant move on June 22 to establish regulations to require the manufacturers of dietary supplements to adhere to practices that will ensure the products are produced in a quality manner, do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are accurately labeled. It should be welcomed news to senior citizens and baby boomers – in particular women, who are the leading consumers of these products designed to enhance health. Read more...

Blood Pressure Lowered by Just Small Amounts of Dark Chocolate

Small enough to avoid weight gain - good news for millions of senior citizens

Percent of senior citizens with high blood pressure - 2003-04 - Centers for Disease Control Green = Men Gold = Women

July 5, 2007 – High blood pressure, or hypertension, is the leading chronic disease for senior citizens, affecting over half of all those age 65 or older. It presents on on-going battle for those afflicted, but here is news to make their life a little sweeter – eating about 30 calories of dark chocolate daily will lower their blood pressure, without adding inches to their waistline. Read more...

Omega-3 Protects Eyes from Retinopathy as in Major Causes of Blindness in Senior Citizens

Diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration may be helped

June 25, 2007 - Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, found in certain fish and  supplements, protect against the development and progression of retinopathy in mice - a deterioration of the retina. Retinopathy is a general term referring to some form of non-inflammatory damage to the retina of the eye and includes the major sources of blindness in senior citizens – age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, although the disease tested in this study was most closely associated with retinopathy of prematurity. Read more...

All Omega Fats Not Created Equal, One is Detrimental to Health, Says New Book

Ultimate Omega-3 Diet warns of difference between omega-3 and omega-6

June 20, 2007 – Report after report tells Americans how they can improve their health by consuming more omega-3 fatty acids, most often found in certain fish. But, a new book warns, not all omega fats are healthy and too many people are loading up on omega-6 fats that contribute to the problems senior citizens fear most - Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, heart attacks, strokes, arthritis, vision disorders, learning disorders, PMS, cancer, mood disorders, stress, and insulin resistance. Read more...

Is the Government Increasing Your Risk for Colon Cancer? Urgent Need for Research

Plea by co-author of JAMA report that folic acid supplements do not prevent colon cancer but may increase risk

June 9, 2007 – In view of new research showing folic acid supplements do not reduce the risk of precancerous tumors in the colon – and may even increase the risk – the government may be contributing to this risk due to its mandate that folic acid be added to foods such as bread, flour and pasta. Research into this possibility should be a high priority, according to Robert Sandler, M.D., a co-author of the study. Read more...

Evidence Mounts that Vitamin D Provides Powerful Cancer Protection

Older women in study reduced risk 60% with vitamin D3 and calcium

June 8, 2007 - Most Americans and others are not taking enough vitamin D, a fact that may put them at significant risk for developing cancer, according to a landmark study conducted by Creighton University School of Medicine. A study of older American women found a 60% reduction in cancer risk in people taking vitamin D3 and calcium. It is the latest in a growing list of studies finding very significant health benefits, in particular for senior citizens, from the "sunshine vitamin." Read more... links to more Vitamin D reports...

Folic Acid Supplements Do Not Appear to Reduce Risk of Colorectal Tumors

Previous studies found folate may help prevent colorectal tumors

June 6, 2007 - New research indicates that folic acid supplementation does not decrease the risk of benign colorectal tumors, but may possibly increase the risk for some type of colorectal tumors, according to a study in the June 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Previous studies have suggested that folate supplementation may help to prevent colorectal tumors. Read more... link to video

Americans – Even Old Ones – Can Maintain Weight Loss

Study of people up to age 84 finds 60% hold weight loss; Hispanics most likely to regain

June 5, 2007 - Every so often, another study comes out depicting the average American as an incorrigible yo-yo dieter and committed couch potato; however, nearly six in 10 people maintained their weight loss to within 5 percent over a year’s time in a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that included people up to age 84. Read more...

Nutrients Must Come from Food, Not Pills to Ward Off Pancreatic Cancer

Vitamins B6, B12 and folate found to work for lean people; multivitamins set off alarm

June 1, 2007 – Researchers trying to find nutrients that may protect men from pancreatic cancer have made an unexpected discovery. They found, at least in lean people, that certain nutrients do provide cancer protection, but only if they come from food, not vitamin supplements. They also found that multivitamins may actually increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Read more...

Older Women with Hypertension May Reduce Blood Pressure, Cholesterol with Soy Nuts

Reduced bad cholesterol 11%, systolic, diastolic blood pressure 9.9%, 6.8%

May 29, 2007 – Older women with high blood pressure, which includes more than half of all senior citizens, may be able to lower their blood pressure and reduce their cholesterol levels by substituting soy nuts for other protein sources in a healthy diet. Women with hypertension have four times the risk of heart disease compared to those with normal blood pressure and it is estimated that about half of all senior citizens suffer with this problem. Read more...

Drinking Coffee May Offer Senior Men Protection from Gout Arthritis

Something in coffee lowers uric acid levels in blood

May 25, 2007 – Gout, the most common inflammatory arthritis in adult men, follows the development of high uric acid levels in the blood. Researchers now think drinking coffee, but not tea, may help fight the disease because it seems to lower uric acid levels. Read more...

Senior Citizen Health & Medicine

Risk of Progressive Lung Disease (COPD) Cut in Half by Mediterranean Diet

Risk of lung cancer from COPD reduced by high-dose inhaled corticosteroid, finds another study

May 16, 2007 – There is no known cure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which primarily strikes older people and becomes a chronic disease for many senior citizens, but a large study has found the chances of developing this progressive inflammatory lung disease can by cut in half by eating a Mediterranean diet. Read more..

Nutrition, Vitamins & Supplements for Seniors

Compound in Cocoa Significantly Cuts Risk of Diseases that Kill Senior Citizens

Researcher says epecatechin discovery as important as penicillin

March 12, 2007 – A compound found in cocoa, epecatechin, is believed to have reduced the risk of four of the five most common killer diseases among senior citizens to less than 10 percent among the Kuna people of Panama. The health benefits are so striking that the Harvard medical professor who has studied the effect for years says this could rival penicillin and anesthesia in importance to public health. Read more...

Omega-3s Boost the Brain's Grey Matter to Improve Mood

Eating fatty fish protects senior citizens' hearts, may make them happier

March 7, 2007 – Consuming fish with omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon and tuna, may not only protect senior citizens from heart disease, it may make them happier. A previous study found people with higher blood levels of omega-3s were more agreeable and less likely to be depressed. The latest study finds omega-3 increases the grey matter in the brain that is associated with mood and behavior. Read more...

Garlic Does Not Lower Bad Cholesterol but Still May be Good for Heart

Study confirms findings of others that found only slight change

Feb.26, 2007 – A new study confirms what several others have indicated – eating garlic will not make a significant reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol. The results do not demonstrate, however, that the popular dietary supplement is not usefulness in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, according to an editorial published with the study in today's issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Read more...

Senior Citizens Drinking Lots of Caffeine Lower Risk of Heart Disease Death

No significant protective effect in patients below the age of 65

Feb. 23, 2007 – It's news about health that most senior citizens like to hear – it's more good news about coffee. The regular drinking of caffeinated beverages by senior citizens – persons age 65 and older – appears to protect them from heart disease and death, says a new study. Read more...

Vitamin D May Prevent Half of Breast Cancers, Two-Thirds of Colorectal Cancer

Daily intake of 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 best achieved with diet, supplements and sunlight

Feb. 6, 2007 – A new prescriptions for possibly preventing up to half of the cases of breast cancer and two-thirds of the cases of colorectal cancer in the United States – vitamin D - has been found in two studies. The studies using a sophisticated form of analysis called meta-analysis, in which data from multiple reports is combined, was conducted by a core team of cancer prevention specialists at the Moores Cancer Center at University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and colleagues from both coasts. (Data on vitamin D below news report.) Read more...

Senior Citizen Health & Medicine

Senior Citizens Find Surprisingly ‘Good News’ in 30 Years of Coffee Research

'Many negative health myths about coffee drinking may now be transformed into validated health benefits'

January 22, 2007 – Senior citizens, many who said in a survey that they had rather give up sex than coffee, can find new support for their cherished drink in a report saying that 30 years of research indicates moderate drinking of this beverage is shown to have generally positive and even protective effects against a host of ills, including diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney stones, depression, cancer and more. Read more...