Showing Results for Balance
Clinical Updates (11)
Search term may appear only in full report available to members. Sign in or Join now for full access.
Vitamin D for Muscle and Balance?
Why did a recent study show that both high and low-dose vitamin D didn't improve muscle strength or balance in women despite the fact that other studies have shown vitamin D to help? The likely answer has to do with the vitamin D status (i.e., blood levels) of the people chosen to participate in these studies. To find out what you should do to improve your balance and reduce your chance of falling, see the "Muscle, Balance and Falls" section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review >>
Vitamin D and Leg Muscle Strength
Giving a moderate amount of vitamin D to women deficient in vitamin D was shown to improve leg muscle strength. A much higher dose did not. Get the details, including dosage, and learn about vitamin D for strength and balance in the Muscle, Balance, and Falls section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Picks among vitamin D supplements.)
Melatonin and Balance
If you take melatonin, be aware that it can potentially affect balance for a period of time, as demonstrated in a recent study. For details, see the Concerns and Cautions section of the Melatonin Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for melatonin.
Do Spreads Lower Heart Risk?
Buttery spreads like Smart Balance and Benecol claim to lower the risk of heart disease due to their phytosterols/stanols. These plant compounds can certainly help (by lowering cholesterol levels), but recent lawsuits challenge whether Smart Balance and Benecol provide enough sterols/stanols to claim a benefit. It turns out that one may, and one may not. Find out more and get our quality ratings of cholesterol-lowering supplements in the updated Cholesterol-Lowering Supplements Review >>
Strength Improves with Vitamin D
A review of 13 studies found that vitamin D supplements may improve balance and muscle strength, but not gait, among older individuals. See the update to the Vitamin D Supplements Review for details, including dosage. More >>
Vitamin D Increases Strength
A recently published review of clinical studies found that supplementing with vitamin D can improve muscle strength in young, healthy men and women. This has also been found in older individuals and may relate to the fact that vitamin D receptors occur in skeletal muscle. However, this benefit may be limited to vitamin D deficient individuals. Get the details in the "Muscle, balance and falls" section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review >>
Vitamin D & Muscle
If you are looking to increase muscle mass, make sure you're getting adequate vitamin D. Raising deficient levels has been shown to increase muscle in seniors, and more recently, in men and women in their 40s. For details see the Muscle, balance and falls section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for vitamin D.
Signs of B12 Deficiency
B12 deficiency is not uncommon, most often affecting older people. Symptoms include anemia, fatigue, tingling in the arms and legs and loss of balance -- but a recent case report highlights a lesser-known sign of B12 deficiency. Find out more, plus how much B12 you should get in the "B12" section of the B Vitamins Review >> (Also see our Top Picks for vitamin B12 and other B vitamins.)
Vitamin D for Muscle
Vitamin D increased muscle mass in older men and women with low levels of vitamin D in a recent study. Get the details in the Muscle, balance and falls section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review. (Also see our Top Picks for vitamin D.)
Vitamin D for Strength?
Muscles contain vitamin D receptors, but does giving high-dose vitamin D to women deficient in vitamin D improve their muscle strength? Get the answer in the recent update to the Muscle, balance and falls section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review.
Too Much Vitamin D
A 2-year study suggests risks with vitamin D at daily doses of 1,000 IU and higher. Get the details in the Muscle, balance and falls section of the Vitamin D Supplements Review. Also see our Top Picks for vitamin D.
