Importance of Vitamin D for Smokers

In addition to bone health, the latest research reveals the benefits of vitamin D which is great for health, including preventing cancer. In a recent study revealed the benefits of this vitamin in protecting the lungs, especially for those who smoke. In his study, Nancy E. Lange, MD, MPH, of the Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital studied 626 Caucasian men over a period of 20 years. The study assessed three time periods are completely different between 1984 and 2003. Pulmonary function of each participant was measured using a spirometer. The results showed that participants who had no vitamin D, the average forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 12ml lower than those who get enough vitamin D gets (decreased only 6.5 ml). Forced expiratory in one second or so-called FEV1 is the volume of air can be expelled from the lungs at the first second of maximal terinflasi maximum exhalation. "Our results indicate that vitamin D may modify the damaging effects of smoking on lung function. This effect might be due to vitamin D has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-oxidants," said Lange. This study has several limitations, including the observational information. Vitamin D levels are also likely to vary from time to time. Another limitation of this study involved only older men. "If these findings can be replicated in other studies, will provide many benefits to public health," he said. Therefore, in the near future he plans to examine the benefits of vitamin D is there for the lung to the dangers of air pollution. Alexander C. White MS, MD, chairman of the committee of the American Thoracic Society Tobacco Action, said, or not enough vitamin D levels in a person, should not overshadow the health risks and dangers associated with smoking. Those who smoke should be aware of the consequences of health problems that may be obtained. The study is published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Widespread use of Traditional Medicine

Interest of people to consume herbal medicine and traditional medicine continues to rise. In general, they assume a more natural medicinal plants and thus more secure. In Indonesia alone, according to the Health Research Association in 2010 made the Ministry of Health showed that 59.12 percent of the population never eating herbs and 95 percent of those admitted to the health benefits of traditional ingredients. Types of medicinal plants of the most widely cultivated himself to be a herb such as ginger (50.36 percent), kencur (48 percent), ginger (39 percent), meniran (13 percent), and the pace (11 percent). The Government continues to encourage the use of herbs. One of them by Law No.36 of 2009 which states that the traditional health care services included in 17 different health measures are required to be prepared. According Abidinsyah Siregar, director of community development of traditional health care, alternative and complementary, in the year 2011 there are 40 hospitals in Indonesia that integrate traditional or complementary health care. "Hospitals that are programmed there had been 44, but pretty much the initiative of private hospitals include traditional pengobotan. Maybe it's been more than 100 hospitals," he told a media event education Healthy Life with Herbal held by PT.Deltomed in Jakarta, Thursday (12/7). Although Indonesia has berlimbah medicinal plant raw materials, but herbal medicine through research and innovation remains a big challenge. Indeed, we already recognize the benefits of the overall 9000 35 000 medicinal plants medicinal plants in the country, but we have standardized herbal new 38 new species and six fitofarmaka that we have. Fitofarmaka is a group that has been proven to be effective after a clinical trial. "Nonconventional medicine will continue to be encouraged to be studied, tested, and studied so it has scientific basis," he said. Safety testing of herbal in the herbal industry is very important because not all herbs safe. "Before the crop is marketed through preclinical drug should thus be referred to as a standardized herbal medicine," said dr.Abrijanto, business development manager PT.Deltomed. Community is expected to be careful in choosing a traditional medicine, especially if do not have a registration number does not include descriptions BPOM and drugs in the Indonesian language. "Every herb imported into Indonesia must have written in Indonesian," he said. The use of traditional medicine is expected to replace the use of conventional medicine that is currently 95 percent of raw materials are imported.

First in the World, Dengue Fever Vaccine

The scientists finally succeeded in creating the first dengue fever vaccine in the world. Pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-made vaccine is claimed to be able to protect against three types of viruses that cause dengue fever. Efficacy or the efficacy of this vaccine in a while it was still awaiting the results of clinical trials in Thailand. If it is positive, then this could be a milestone in the development of dengue vaccine that has been awaited for 70 years. In addition there are other pharmaceutical companies Sanofi is also developing a vaccine, Sanofi product is more advanced but a few years. This new vaccine is predicted to be widely circulated in 2014. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease Aedes aegypti. This disease has the symptoms of pain in the joints of bones and have killed three million people around the world. Dengue fever itself caused by four types of virus, and when infected with one virus type does not give immunity to the three other types of virus. Children are most susceptible to death from this disease. Although Sanofi vaccine is claimed to provide protection to the four types of virus, but a study conducted in Thailand showed only three types of virus protection. According to Sanofi it is still analyzing why the vaccine was only able to provide protection against three types of virus. "We must return to the initial data to find the cause, and still waiting for the present phase III study was conducted in Thailand," said Pascal Barollier, a spokesman for Sanofi. Phase IIb study in Thailand involving 4002 children aged 4-11 years. The study was conducted during the dengue epidemic. Sanofi Pasteur himself was said to have invested 423 million U.S. dollars to build a new plant in France in order to develop a three-dose vaccine. According to the plan, Sanofi will publish new research results in scientific journals in September and presented his findings at a meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicin

B Vitamins Prevent Lung Cancer

Vitamin B has been more famous for its benefits to maintaining brain health. But the latest study showed vitamin B also lowers the risk of lung cancer, even in smokers.



The study of 400,000 people showed, vitamin B6 and amino acids in the body methionin enough to reduce the risk of lung cancer by half. Nevertheless, the experts emphasized that quitting smoking is far more effective to prevent lung cancer.

"Increasing intake of vitamin B will never be the same effect as if we quit smoking," said Dr.Panagiota Mitrou from the World Cancer Research Fund, one of the researchers.

Research of this nature is still early of course require further research to prove whether the vitamins are widely available in nuts, fish, or meat is indeed effective in preventing lung cancer.

Nevertheless, the ex-smokers or people who have never smoked can still do something positive, such as vitamin B-sufficient, to reduce the risk of lung cancer.

Awards for Phytopharmaca

Stimuno re-elected as the Most Recommended Brand in 2010 or most recommended products that consumers in 2010, for the category Immune System survey Onbee Son of Marketing Research, in seven major cities in Indonesia. Stimuno given in appreciation of Jakarta, Wednesday, June 9, 2010.

Most Recommended Brand award is given to the most recommended brand by measuring consumers Index WOMM (Word of Mouth Marketing Index).

Based on the above survey, Stimuno get the highest index of 224.9 WOMM for the child immune system category. In 2009 then, Stimuno also selected as the Most Recommended Brand by the same institution. A survey conducted on 3000 respondents with 15-55 years of age, men and women, and in seven major cities (Greater Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Medan, Makassar, Semarang and Denpasar).

National Sales Manager Stimuno, Andreas Sri Widada states, based on the above results, recommends consumers more Stimuno karena boost endurance, good quality, from the original herbal materials, and superior in terms of formulation.

Before accepting this award Most Recommended Brand, Stimuno selected as Top Brand for Kids 2010 (Research Frontier Consulting Group). And in 2008, obtained an Indonesian Original Product Award (APAI), the category of medicine.

Stimuno are immunomodulatory (immune system booster), which is made from herbs native to Indonesia (Phyllanthus niruri-Meniran), which can increase endurance. Stimuno has obtained a certificate from BPOM Phytopharmaca RI, the highest level for herbal products, which means the quality, efficacy and safety have been through clinical trials.

Low, Compliance Drinking Cholesterol Drugs

If lifestyle changes are not successful in reducing levels of cholesterol, especially LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) to the extent desired, then the doctor will give medicine. Unfortunately in Indonesia, 68.7 percent of patients fail to achieve the target of therapy. The reason is because often forget to take medication.

This was revealed in a study called the Pan-Asian Cepheus (Centralised Pan-Asian Survey on the under treatment of hypercholesterolemia). Studies conducted in eight countries across Asia, including Indonesia, aims to see the characteristic treatment of hypercholesterolemia in Asia and see how the interaction between doctor and patient in achieving the target of therapy.

Survey also noted 65 per cent of patients admitted forget taking their cholesterol-lowering drugs several times and considers it does not affect their cholesterol levels. This has become one of the causes of treatment failure in accordance with the guidelines managing lipids.

Meanwhile, patients with high risks such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, carotid artery disease and diabetes will be more difficult to achieve the target of therapy.

"Hypercholesterolemia therapy success rates in Indonesia unfortunately still not maximal, even ranked last in Asia," said Dr.M.Munawar, SpJP, national coordinator of Cepheus. In Indonesia, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in the range 11-18 per cent.

Extensive research has shown levels of LDL are major risk factors for heart disease and blood vessels. The lower the cholesterol level, the better in reducing risk, especially if accompanied by changes in lifestyle, the risk of heart attacks and strokes would decrease.

Sodium intake is closely Set

Table salt as one of the main sources of sodium, there's always the food we eat. Body do need sodium, but if excessive will be one of the causes of hypertension.

Sodium or sodium is one of the important minerals for the body. Sodium levels in the body about 2 percent of the total minerals. Healthy adult body contains 256 grams of compound sodium chloride (NaCl) which is equivalent to 100 grams of sodium element. Normal serum sodium level at 310-340 mg / dL.

Body's need for sodium has been widely studied by scientists working in the field of nutrition and health. We need a minimum of 200-500 milligrams of sodium each day to keep the salt levels in the blood remained normal, namely 0.9 percent of blood volume in the body.

Lack of sodium intake can cause decreased blood volume which makes the blood pressure decreased, heart rate increased, dizziness, sometimes accompanied by muscle cramps, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, decreased memory, decreased resistance to infection, difficult to heal wounds, disorders eyesight, unhealthy hair and split ends, and the formation of white patches on nails.

Although sodium plays an important role for the health of the body, the excessive consumption of equipment must be prevented because it may cause negative effects. Number of natural sources of sodium in causing cases of sodium deficiency is rare. Conversely, the case of excess consumption that it often becomes a problem. Therefore, we need to look at your diet to avoid the negative impact of excess sodium.