Vitamins C, D and Zinc, do you know what they are for?

In many cases it is not possible to incorporate all the vitamins necessary for the body into the children's daily diet and alternatives must be considered to protect the three lines of defense of the immune system. Therefore, Bayer is committed to offer an innovative solution that helps strengthen their defenses so that students can enjoy their school days without health problems: Redoxitos Total, the only gummies with vitamins C, D and Zinc in a single rubber . It is a solution that offers Better Life to children and adults through an easy and fun way.

According to Dr. Carlos Fernandez Newball, Bayer's medical advisor, "children have a more sensitive immune system and are more exposed to contamination, dirt, excess sugar, germs and allergies. The essential vitamins and Zinc protect each of the defense lines of the immune system, since a strong immune system is essential for good health. "

What is the use of vitamin C, D and Zinc?

Vitamin C: provides support for the skin and mucosa, our first line of immune defense.

The body can not produce vitamin C on its own, nor does it store it. Therefore, it is important to include many foods that contain this vitamin in the daily diet. This vitamin is needed for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body. Is used for:

- Form an important protein, used to produce the skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels.

- Heal wounds and form scar tissue.

- Repair and maintain cartilage, bones and teeth.

- Help the absorption of iron

- Supports normal collagen formation

- Contributes to the generation of normal energy that produces metabolism

- Reduces fatigue and fatigue

- Supports normal psychological functions

- Helps to maintain the functions of the immune system during and after physical activities

- It is also an antioxidant, that is, they block part of the damage caused by free radicals. The accumulation of free radicals over time is largely responsible for the aging process.

Vitamin D, calcium and bone health

According to a study of the Colombian Consensus on vitamin D, Colombians have a high deficiency of this vitamin. This situation prevails due to the lack of exposure to sunlight, the low concentration of vitamin D in food, overweight, metabolic syndrome and failure to take supplements, among other causes.

Supports cellular immunity, the second line of immune defense.

People normally get vitamin D when exposed to sunlight, which leads to the production of vitamin D in the skin.

- Helps the growth and formation of cells

- Contributes to maintain healthy bones, teeth and muscles

- Supports the absorption of calcium and phosphorus

Why is vitamin D and calcium important for bone health?

Vitamin D allows the body to absorb calcium. Calcium is necessary to have strong and healthy bones. Without enough vitamin D and calcium, bones may not form properly during childhood and may lose bone mass, weaken and break easily during adulthood. Even if you consume enough calcium in your diet, the body does not absorb that calcium if you do not consume enough vitamin D [i].

Zinc: is a key element in the formation of antibodies, the third line of immunological defense.

- Helps maintain the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes.

- Help protect cells

- Contributes to maintain a healthy body

- Contributes to the integrity of the immune system

Vitamin C can stop the progression of leukemia

Since the 1970s, researchers have been interested in the therapeutic potential of vitamin C for the treatment of cancer. Now, research developed by scientists at the Perlmutter Cancer Center at the University of New York (USA) shows how vitamin C can prevent the leukemia stem cells from multiplying, and thus block their progression.

It is already known that an enzyme called Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2) has the ability to produce stem cells, undifferentiated cells that have not yet gained a specific identity and function, a circumstance that can be used for patients with leukemia, since in Instead of maturing and dying like any other cell, they regenerate and multiply infinitely, hence the organism is unable to produce normal white blood cells, which our immune system needs to fight infection.

According to experts, 50% of patients who have chronic myelomonocytic leukemia also have a genetic malfunction that reduces TET2, hence they focused on finding out how this enzyme could be genetically stimulated and whether vitamin C would play an important role or do not.

Activation and deactivation of the TET2 gene

The researchers used mice genetically modified to lack this enzyme and designed mouse models with the possibility of "turning on" and "turning off" the TET2 gene by optogenetics. By shutting down this gene, experts discovered that the stem cells began to malfunction. When activating the gene, this dysfunction was reversed.

In leukemia and other blood diseases that depend on TET2, only one of the copies of the gene is altered.

When trying to administer a high dose of vitamin C intravenously to modified rodents, they found that vitamin C promoted a genetic mechanism (DNA demethylation) that restored TET2 function; that is, the defective copy of the gene was compensated by amplifying the action of the copy that does work normally in the TET2 gene.

The study undoubtedly confirmed the hypothesis of the researchers. By promoting the demethylation of DNA, vitamin C "told" stem cells to mature and die. Not only that. The treatment also stopped the leukemia cancer cells that had been transplanted from human patients to growing mice.

Combining the therapeutic potential of vitamin C with anticancer drugs - inhibitors of PARP -, the efficacy of vitamin C treatment was enhanced, making it even more difficult for leukemic stem cells to reproduce.

"Our results suggest that the high dose of vitamin C - and it is important to keep in mind that this means that the doses to be administered intravenously - could have therapeutic benefits in the myelodysplastic mutant TET2 syndrome", explains Benjamin Neel, co-author of the paper.

"We also plan additional preclinical studies to test the effects of high doses of vitamin C in combination with PARP [inhibitors] in more models of acute myeloid leukemia and in samples from primary patients," concludes Neel.

Vitamin D: Is it enough with the sun?

While it is true that some people can get enough vitamin D only from sunlight, others will need to make changes in their lifestyle or take supplements.

What is vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a very important nutrient for health. Certain foods contain a small amount, but the greatest amount of vitamin D is obtained from sunlight.

Some of the benefits of vitamin D include: helping the body absorb calcium to have strong bones, for support nerves to carry messages to and from the brain; It also plays a key role in muscle movement and supports the immune system to fight infections and diseases.

Vitamin D is different from most other vitamins. When the body processes it, vitamin D is converted into a hormone called calcitriol, which causes the bones in the body to absorb calcium.

Can we get enough vitamin D from the sun?

Some people may get enough vitamin D from the sun's rays, however there are factors that come into play, such as the place in the world where we live, the time of year, the time of day and the color of the skin. People who live near the equator get more exposure to the sun. In the northern hemisphere, we may not be able to get enough vitamin D from sunlight during the winter.

The amount of melanin in the skin affects the amount of vitamin D that we can produce. Thus, less melanin results in a lighter skin, which also does not protect against harmful ultraviolet rays.

People with more melanin on the skin (and therefore darker skin) have better protection against the sun, but they take longer to produce vitamin D, making them more likely to have vitamin D deficiency.

These factors make it difficult to recommend how much sunlight we must take to produce the vitamin D that our body needs.

Some people may not absorb the proper amount of vitamin D from sunlight due to specific lifestyle factors. For example, people who work at night, those who stay indoors during the day, those who always cover their skin or wear a high-factor sunscreen every day ...

The body can only produce a certain amount of vitamin D at a time. After this, it is vital to protect the skin from UV rays. UV rays can cause burns, aging of the skin and increase the risk of skin cancer.

There is currently no established level for vitamin D deficiency, but some experts classify the deficiency as having less than 12 ng / ml of vitamin D in the blood and claim that levels below 20 ng / ml are too low to have healthy bones and general well-being.

Symptom

Vitamin D deficiency in children can cause rickets. This is a condition that makes bones soft, which causes them to bend. It can also cause bone pain and weak muscles in adults.

Not having enough vitamin D or calcium during a lifetime can contribute to osteoporosis. This causes fragile bones that can fracture more easily.

Recommended daily intake

The recommended dietary intake of vitamin D is difficult to judge, as it depends on sun exposure. For this reason, the guidelines base their recommended intake on the assumption that a person receives the minimum amount of sun (the recommended dietary intake is measured in UI, international units):

From 0 to 12 months 400 IU

1 to 70 years 600 IU

70 years and more than 800 IU

For adults with vitamin D levels below 30 ng / ml, the guidelines of the Endocrine Society recommend a daily intake of 1,500-2,000 IU to restore healthy levels of vitamin D.

Natural sources of vitamin D include salmon, tuna, cheese, egg yolk or beef liver.

Fish and vitamins protect against Alzheimer's

Can nutrition help us prevent some neurodegenerative diseases? Yes. According to an article recently published in the journal Neurology, a diet rich in fish and vitamins can protect the brain from the contraction associated with Alzheimer's disease.

The study was conducted on people of an average age of 87 years in which they counted the levels of certain nutrients through blood tests. According to the data, people who had higher amounts of vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids -present mainly in fish- obtained higher scores in memory tests and cognitive abilities. By contrast, the people who obtained the worst results were those with high rates of trans fat in the blood, which are associated with diets where fast food abounds, fried, frozen and confectionery products. These people are more likely to suffer reductions in brain volume related to Alzheimer's disease.

This study was the first to use biomarkers of nutrients in the blood to analyze the effects of diet on the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, the authors incorporated other variables such as age, blood pressure or number of years of education, which also proved to be decisive in the mental abilities of the participants.

Foods with many vitamins

To avoid diseases and enjoy a healthy life, nothing better than a good dose of vitamins.

Vitamins are organic compounds that we need in small amounts to avoid diseases. We need to take vitamins from food because the human body does not produce enough or does not even produce them.

Each body needs different vitamins because, for example, humans need vitamin C (ascorbic acid) but dogs do not need it because their body produces enough for their own needs.

Foods with vitamin A

The best sources of vitamin A include: liver, cod liver oil, carrots, broccoli, sweet potato, butter, kale, spinach, pumpkin, some cheeses, egg, apricot, cantaloupe and milk.

Deficiency of vitamin A or retinol can cause night blindness and keratomalacia or dry keratitis (an eye disorder that causes dry cornea).

Foods with vitamin B

The best sources of vitamin B include: yeast, pork, cereals, sunflower seeds, brown rice, rye, asparagus, kale, cauliflower, potatoes, oranges, liver and eggs.

Deficiency of vitamin B or thiamine1 can cause: beriberi (between its manifestations include neurological signs and optic neuritis with loss of sight) and Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (brain disorder).

Foods with vitamin B2

The best sources of vitamin B include: asparagus, bananas, persimmons, okra, chard, cottage cheese, milk, yogurt, meat, eggs, fish and green beans.

Deficiency of vitamin B2 or riboflavin can cause: ariboflavinosis whose symptoms are sore throat, redness of the tongue, sores in the mouth, scaly and yellowish inflammation of the skin (seborrheic dermatitis), red eyes or fatigue.

Foods with vitamin B3

The best sources of vitamin B3 include: liver, chicken, veal, fish (tuna, salmon), milk, eggs, avocados, dates, tomatoes, leafy vegetables, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, asparagus, nuts, whole grains, legumes. mushrooms and brewer's yeast.

Deficiency of vitamin B3 or niacin can cause: pellagra (characterized by diarrhea, dermatitis and mental disorders).

Foods with vitamin B5

The best sources of vitamin B5 include: meats, whole grains, broccoli, avocados, royal jelly and fish roe

Deficiency of vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid can cause: paraesthesia (tingling and numbness of a part of the body).

Foods with vitamin B6

The best sources of vitamin B6 include: meats, bananas, whole grains, vegetables or nuts. Regarding milk, freezing can reduce its vitamin B6 content.

Deficiency of vitamin B6 or pyridoxine can cause: anemia, peripheral neuropathy (damage to certain parts of the nervous system that causes pain, loss of sensation and inability to control muscles).

Foods with vitamin B7

The best sources of vitamin B7 include: egg yolks, liver, fish (especially blue fish) and some vegetables (such as garlic, tomatoes or watercress).

Deficiency of vitamin B7 or biotin can cause: dermatitis or enteritis (inflammation of the intestine)

Foods with vitamin B9

The best sources of vitamin B9 include: yeast extract, liver, dried herbs, sunflower seeds, legumes, green leafy vegetables, asparagus or peanuts.

Deficiency of vitamin B9 or folic acid during pregnancy can cause: birth defects. Therefore, it is usually indicated to women who want to have children, a supplement of folic acid throughout the year before becoming pregnant.

Foods with vitamin B12

The best sources of vitamin B12 include: fish, seafood, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy products, some fortified cereals and soy products. Therefore, vegans are recommended to take vitamin B12 supplements.

Deficiency of vitamin B12 or cyanocobalamin can cause: megaloblastic anemia (a condition in which the body produces abnormally large, abnormal, and immature blood cells).

Foods with vitamin C

The best sources of vitamin C include: fruits and vegetables. The kakadu plum and the camu camu fruit (native to the Peruvian Amazon) have the highest vitamin C content of all the foods that exist. Cooking food destroys vitamin C.

Deficiency of vitamin C or ascorbic acid can cause: megaloblastic anemia.

Foods with vitamin D

The best source of vitamin D is that produced by the skin after exposure to sunlight, although it can also be found in small quantities in fatty fish, eggs, beef liver and mushrooms.

Deficiency of vitamin D or ergocalciferol can cause: rickets and osteomalacia (softening of the bones).

Foods with vitamin E

The best sources of vitamin E include: kiwi, almonds, avocado, eggs, milk, nuts, green leafy vegetables, uncooked vegetable oils, wheat germ and whole grains.

Deficiency of vitamin E or tocopherol can cause: it is uncommon but can cause hemolytic anemia in newborns (a medical condition that causes a decrease in the mass of red blood cells).

Foods with vitamin K

The best sources of vitamin K include: green leafy vegetables, avocado, kiwi. Parsley, for example, contains a lot of vitamin K.

Deficiency of vitamin K or phylloquinone can cause: hemorrhagic diathesis (predisposition of the organism to bleeding, that is, an inherited predisposition to hemorrhage).