Sunday, May 27, 2012

Advanced Dental Treatments in New York

May 25, 2012 by adminProsthodontists are specialized in the work of oral restoration. They can replace a missing or broken tooth efficiently. In cosmetic dentistry, the role of prosthodontists is unavoidable. Prosthodontists in New York are well experienced and qualified. There are two types of prosthodontics. They are fixed and removable prosthodontics. Cosmetic dentists at New York are efficient in administering prosthodontics to the people who go to them.
Cosmetic Dentistry
The main concern of cosmetic dentistry is the overall appearance of the teeth and gum. There are many problems that can affect the good look of the teeth. People seek the services of good dentists when they experience these problems to their teeth. If you are a resident of New York City, it is easy to find a Cosmetic dentist. Cosmetic dentists at New York offer various facilities to restructure or correct your teeth and bring back that pleasant old smile to your face.
Restorative Dentistry
Though, we all like to have strong and healthy teeth, at some point of our life, we develop problems and even the teeth can break away partially.

As a resident of New York City, you can easily find ways to restore your damaged teeth. Restorative Dentistry in New York City is very famous and people flock to avail their service. Restorative density also is known as crown and bridge. People value the restoration of their teeth is essential to retain their natural appearance.
Implant Dentistry
There are many tooth replacement treatments are available, but dental implant surgery stands out. It is developed to replace damaged, decayed or missing teeth. The procedures of implants are different for each person and dental implant surgery is well developed and established in New York. If you have a problem with your teeth that needs surgery, a consultation with the implant dentistry of New York is the best option.
Treatment of Occlusal Disease
In order to make sure that you don’t have any serious problems to your teeth, you have to visit a dentist at least twice a year. Such an occasional visit can diagnose bite related problems of your teeth. They are commonly involved in all the routine diseases we treat in dentistry. This can leave the people with lot of discomforts and disharmony and force them to seek for treatment. People experiencing occlusal problems need not lose hope because there is variety of treatment options available at New York dentistry.
Spa Services
Our daily routine has become so busy and tight and so we all seek to have some time to be a bit relaxed and pampered. This much desired relaxation can be sought from the spa services offered by the cosmetics dentistry at New York. At cosmetics dentistry of New York, spa services provide the facility of body treatment in a quiet and calm atmosphere. You can relax here without any worries and obligations. A day at spa can rejuvenate you and you will feel that your energy level has increased considerably.
There are many advanced dental technologies available in New York. So, make it a habit to meet a dentist to understand the health of your teeth and receive treatments if necessary.

Dental

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Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle, Eye, 0.5 Ounce

Ageless Intensives Deep Wrinkle Eye uncovers revitalized, healthier looking eyes with fewer visible under eye wrinkles and crows feet starting in just two weeks. Retinol Sa helps smooth wrinkles fast and diminish the look of age spots. Hyaluronic Acid adds line-plumping moisture to hydrate, replenish, and rejuvenate the look of skin. And, allantoin and skin emollients help soothe and nourish tired eyes.95% saw a reduction in the look of fine squint lines45% saw the look of dark circles fade64% saw a reduction in the appearance of crepiness59% significantly reduced appearance of deep eye wrinkles, including crow's feet and under eye wrinkles

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Saturday, May 26, 2012

Guide to Younger, Softer and Glowing Skin

May 25, 2012 by admin

Anti aging products are manufactured to combat the signs of aging that would sooner of later appear on your skin. Some of the best anti aging skin creams save your skin from the harmful effects of exposure to sun’s UV rays, free radicals, and pollutants. The markets are brimming with a wide range of anti aging products. But unfortunately not all of them are capable of treating fine lines, wrinkles and other conditions associated with skin aging.

So, if you want your skin to look fresh and younger, then you need to pick the best anti aging skin care cream that contains some of the most effective ingredients. It is a nice idea to go for an anti aging cream that contains antioxidants. This is because antioxidants help in reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on your neck and face.

Antioxidants also contribute to minimise hyper pigmentation and impart a healthy glow to your skin.

Make sure that you go for the anti aging cream that contains antioxidants only from natural substances such as green tea and grape seed. Green tea extracts can be immensely helpful in balancing your skin pigmentation. They are also capable of decreasing skin inflammation. They can also improve the elastin level of your skin. Above all, these extracts protect your skin against sun damage.

The anti aging skin creams that contain grape seed extract and hence are capable of scavenging free radicals that lead to skin cell damage. They also minimise collagen breakdown, which is one of the topmost reason associated with aging skin problems.

You can also select the anti aging creams that contain coenzyme Q10. Such creams nourish your skin by making use of antioxidants. Coenzyme Q10 is a vital substance similar to vitamins and is found in the cells of your skin. With the passage of time, the quantity of this substance gets reduced. This reduction effects on the antioxidants and energy production of skin cells.

Such creams rejuvenate and moisturise your skin. These creams ensure supple and soft skin by monitoring elastin and collagen production. Fortunately, you have internet to carry out your search and that makes it very easy for you to grab the right cream for keeping your skin glowing, young and healthy.

Anti Aging

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Dental Health Care For Dental Braces

May 25, 2012 by admin

Making a beautiful smile, beaming all but from ear to ear, has become an admitted rite of passage for teenagers these days, as common as SATs and their first date. In fact are now so normal that kids seldom get teased about wearing them and it’s seem as something that ‘just is’, during the teenage years. To ensure that one get the effects of dental health care that one needs with the dental braces, one have ongoing care of them to interpret cautiously.

Are Invisible Braces the Answer?

Although the new style of Invisalign braces for dental health care are much less busy kind of dental brace, it would not be true to say that they are the reply to all problems. They are less annoying in their almost invisibility, yet they still need to be taken care troubles of when utilized, with cleaning, care with food and other issues a trouble.

The ADA (AmericanDental Association) does not conceive that this pattern of dental brace is right for all troubles.

They also arrange for free dental care. Indeed they do not suggest they are utilized for children and when they are utilized, the best use is for minor work, typically where common dental braces would not needfully be utilized.

A good invention, Invisalign braces, a dental health care fill a corner in the dental braces market, but only a little one, particularly where the adult wearer actually has a good bite design and the issues are minor. So, traditional dental braces are still the item of option for most children and adults, whether they have a short or long term trouble with their teeth and mouth.

Dental Braces and Intimate Relationships

If one is sexually active and wear dental braces then aid must be taken particularly when French kissing or other relations that involve the mouth. The metal in the braces could severely get in the way and where caring parts of the anatomy are involved, this might make the feel memorable for the wrong reasons.

No-one would like for dental braces to have a holding out impression such as injury, a sexually transmitted disease or even bigger an unwantedpregnancy to be the result. With a couple of simple precautions they fulfill a necessary role in managing the visual aspect of millions of people today, so they are worth the effort. In spite of the discomfort, numerous years experience has proven that the effort is worth it and a million-dollar smile is within touch for many more people these days than ever before.

Dental

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Coconut Oil For Weight Loss And More

175 lbs. - 4 tbsp. per day. The reason why you need to start out slowly is because you want to make sure you are not allergic to it.

This article is focusing on organic coconut oil for weight loss, but there are many health benefits of coconut oil, too. If you don't need to lose weight, then it can be taken as a nutritional supplement. I am at a healthy weight so I just consume a tablespoon each morning in my coffee to stay healthy. I've tested it out now for about 6 months and I made it through the winter without getting sick (this is a first), plus it helped to improve my oral health. There really is a lot to learn about this amazing tropical oil.

Article Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/weight-loss/coconut-oil-for-weight-loss-and-more
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2 Shocking Foods That Make You Gain Weight

Sugar Is Toxic: What Does That Mean? Is Sugar Toxic? This question was covered on CBS' "60 Minutes," last Sunday April 1st. Not an April Fool's joke, the report was about a study done by Dr. Robert Lustig who is a pediatric endocrinologist in San Francisco. Let's define some terms to make this easier to understand: "Pediatric"… By: Patty Allread in  Health and Fitness  >  Nutrition   Apr 09, 2012   2   Likes: 1



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Z'Tejas Launches -Super Dads- Video Facebook Contest

Z'Tejas Launches "Super Dads" Video Facebook ContestShare: Tweet24
May
2012Z'Tejas Launches "Super Dads" Video Facebook ContestOne Super Dad Will Win A Year's Worth Of Free Z'Tejas Dining.


Orange County, CA (1888PressRelease) May 24, 2012 - Does your dad deserve the title of "Super Dad"? Does he constantly go above and beyond the call of duty, make sacrifices and flawlessly perform the art of parenting? If so, Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill at South Coast Plaza wants to hear about it through its inaugural "Super Dad" video Facebook contest. To enter, record a video no longer than 30 seconds explaining why your dad qualifies as a super hero parent and post it on www.facebook.com/ztejassouthcoastplaza before Father's Day, Sunday, June 17. The winner will be revealed on Wednesday, June 20 - and will receive a year's worth of Z'Tejas dining ($50 gift card per month for 12 months).

"Dads work hard year around so we wanted to provide one special dad with a year's worth of free Z!" said Jeffrey Grasso, the restaurant's general manager. "We look forward to hearing about all the super dads out there in the community."
Also in time for Father's Day, the popular restaurant is offering free $5 bonus cards for every $25 gift card purchased through June 17. Guests may redeem the $5 bonus cards (no more than two per visit) from May 21 through Aug 15, 2012. Gift cards may be purchased at the restaurant and for more information please call (714) 979-7469.

Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill offers a wide array of fresh, flavorful and innovative menu items inspired by culinary influences from Louisiana, Texas, California and Mexico. The restaurant's interior features an exhibition kitchen, private dining room, mahogany bar, wrought iron detailing, handcrafted tile work, copper accents, jewel-toned fabric lined booths and flattering amber-colored lighting. Al fresco dining is available on the restaurant's 85-seat heated patio. Located on the east side of South Coast Plaza (3333 S. Bristol Street, Costa Mesa), Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill is open daily for lunch and dinner; half price appetizers and drink specials are offered during happy hour. For more information visit www.ztejas.com.

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VibraSlim Vibration Fitness Proudly launches New Website Vibraslim.com

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May
2012VibraSlim announces the launch of brand new domain and website at www.vibraslim.com. After many years, VibraSlim has finally gained possession of the company's trademarked domain name and has built a fantastic site representing the company's brand.


(1888PressRelease) May 24, 2012 - Over the past decade VibraSlim has become the world's most respected name in vibration exercise machines and the new website embraces the company's core strengths and values. Company President Chris Jackson stated, "We believe in building beautifully designed and engineered fitness equipment that is also very easy to operate. We combine advanced technology and simplicity to really empower our customers to get in shape. Not only has our vibration fitness machines changed so many lives around the world, but we have changed the whole idea on how fitness and weight-loss can be achieved." VibraSlim works with people of all ages and health levels to empower them to get healthy and in shape. VibraSlim's Vibration Fitness is used in sports training, medical rehab, retirement homes, gyms and in homes all over.

The best selling Europlate has dominated in North American market share with its high quality construction and affordable price. "All of our competitors are selling low quality Chinese made equipment that are imitators of our machines. What they can't copy is our technology, quality and after purchase service." Says Jackson, "And none of them can match our Lifetime Guarantee." This dedication to quality and service has kept the company at the top of the industry and #1 in customer satisfaction.

Visit www.vibraslim.com to learn all about whole-body vibration machines and what they can do for you.

About VibraSlim
VibraSlim Fitness is the USA's number one Vibration Fitness Machine and supplies doctors, hospitals, chiropractors, therapists and trainers worldwide. VibraSlim's technology has been featured on The Doctors Show, NBC, The Tyra Banks Show, Fox News, Health Magazine, just to name a few. Visit the brand new website to learn more about Vibration Fitness Machines and Vibration Training.

Kelly Miller
VibraSlim Fitness
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When HDL Cholesterol Turns from Good to Bad

Researchers jolted the world of simplicity this past week when they announced that HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. can help cause heart disease instead of prevent it.  The million dollar question now becomes, “How do you know if you have good or bad HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. ?” 

Getting right to the point, you have more bad HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. when you are overweight, when your triglyceride level is more than twice your HDL score, and when you are in a state of inflammation, either chronic or acute. 

A few years back it became obvious that your quality of HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. was of great importance, as I explained in my article, The Amazing New World of HDL Cholesterol.  Briefly, I like to say that LDL cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein. It is a group of lipids and proteins that allow lipids like cholesterol, triglycerides, and fat soluble nutrients (Vitamin A, D, E , K, Q 10, carotenes) to be transported with the water-based bloodstream. is like a UPS truck, loaded with fat-soluble nutrition packages that need to be delivered to cells or can be used to help defend you should the LDL encounter a hostile neighborhood when traveling around your body.  In comparison, HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. functions as a tow truck for damaged or spent LDL cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein. It is a group of lipids and proteins that allow lipids like cholesterol, triglycerides, and fat soluble nutrients (Vitamin A, D, E , K, Q 10, carotenes) to be transported with the water-based bloodstream. , towing the LDL UPS truck back to your liver so it can be recycled or reloaded with more packages.

You need enough HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. to carry on its important role, plus that HDL needs to be in high quality condition.  If your tow truck gets a flat tire of its own or if its equipment malfunctions, then its ability to do what it needs to do is compromised.  The new study shows that HDL, in a compromised state of health, actually becomes part of the problem in terms of being associated with increased cardiovascular risk.  At this time it is not clear whether or not poor quality HDL is actually causing heart disease, but it sure isn’t helping the problem.  In fact, a higher amount of poor quality HDL is predictive of many other cardio problems that are locking themselves into place.

The new study focuses on a type of naturally occurring HDL particle called HDL apoC-III, which may or may not be present on any given HDL molecule.  The researchers followed 32,826 women and 8,225 men for 10-14 years, comparing levels of HDL apoC-III to see who developed coronary artery disease.  Those with the highest levels of HDL apoC-III had a 60 percent increased risk of developing coronary artery disease.

I should point out that HDL apoC-III is far from “bad” and is part of the natural balance of how HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. functions.  It is a signaling molecule that is helping to prevent the break down and clearance of HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. .  In other words, it is saying you need more tow trucks for some reason.

It is pretty obvious what drives up the amount of HDL apoC-III:  being overweight, having elevated triglycerides, and having an ongoing low-grade or acute inflammation issue.  The more locked in the metabolic problem, such as type 2 diabetes, the more likely that HDL apocC-III is problematically elevated, primarily because the metabolic problem keeps triglycerides elevated.

When you are overweight it is typical that you have extra blobs of fat (triglycerides) heading to your liver.  Your liver has to defend itself from this onslaught of potential injury due to excess calories, thus it makes more LDL cholesterol Low-density lipoprotein. It is a group of lipids and proteins that allow lipids like cholesterol, triglycerides, and fat soluble nutrients (Vitamin A, D, E , K, Q 10, carotenes) to be transported with the water-based bloodstream. , piles the fat blobs onto the UPS truck, and tries to drive them out of the liver – a defense mechanism against your liver being poisoned and damaged by fat.     

Inflammation can be acute, like an infection or injury, or chronic, like an ongoing health problem including being overweight.  Inflammatory signals in your bloodstream create a hostile environment for both LDL and HDL, increasing the risk of damage.  LDL actually uses its fat-soluble antioxidants to help combat the problem, changing from a UPS truck to a police car.  Higher amounts of LDL are damaged under such conditions, meaning that more HDL tow trucks are needed.  Thus, HDL apoC-III is elevated to help prop up the number of HDL particles.

Being overweight is not a normal situation during human evolution.  To the contrary, we are genetically designed to handle food scarcity.  Being overweight drives up triglycerides as well as inflammation, which simultaneously provides two main reasons that elevate HDL apoC-III.  Unfortunately, this forces HDL into a compromised position and renders it inefficient at preventing heart disease.  I personally do not think elevated HDL apoC-III is causing anything harmful. Rather, it is simply a sign that many other issues of metabolism are not in good condition and those issues are the ones that are causing heart disease.

This is why engaging the process of consistent weight loss is vital to cardiovascular health.  Thankfully, you don’t have to be a perfect weight before you reverse the need to have elevated HDL apoC-III – but you do have to stay in positive trend to maintain low risk.  As your triglyceride levels come down and you feel more fit with less wear and tear, rest assured that your HDL apoC-III is in better shape and the quality of your overall HDL is improving.

Having adequate HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. , especially high quality HDL Cholesterol High-density lipoprotein that is one of five lipoproteins that enable cholesterol and triglycerides to be transported within the bloodstream to the liver and to the adrenals, ovaries, or testes for the production of steroid hormones. , will always be important for optimal cardiovascular health.  Many nutrients are vital for the formation of HDL and the preservation of its quality.  These include higher dietary protein (especially whey protein), DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. Must be gotten through the diet via cold water oceanic fish or some very limited plant sources or taken as a supplement., tocotrienol Specialized form of vitamin E. Powerful antioxidant showing positive benefits for cholesterol, cardiovascular, neurological health and cancer risk reduction. E, vitamin D, pantethine, silymarin, pomegranate, niacin, and likely many others – even chocolate!  Nutrients in and of themselves will not fix a problem.  You must as a priority engage the process of weight loss.  When you combine good nutrients with a consistent weight loss program, then you have optimized your path to health and well-being and boosted your cardiovascular vitality.

 

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Thin as a baby, obese as an adult -- a diabetic in old age?

ScienceDaily (May 21, 2012) — Small babies had significantly higher blood glucose and insulin levels and a higher risk of diabetes at the age of 75 and older. The risk of diabetes in old age was five-fold among those born small but who were obese in midlife compared to those with higher birth weight and low body mass index in adulthood.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiabetesObesityDiet and Weight LossHealthy AgingInfant's HealthDiseases and ConditionsReferenceDiabetes mellitus type 2Birth weightBlood sugarGlycemic index

- Studies have shown that small body size at birth is associated with diabetes in adulthood. However, little is known about the effect in old individuals. In our study, the association between birth weight and glucose metabolism in old age was strong in spite of the long time between the exposure and the outcome as well as the age-related changes that occur in the glucose and insulin metabolism, says Dr. Mikaela von Bonsdorff from the University of Jyväskylä.

The Finnish researcher worked with an Icelandic dataset at the National Institute on Aging, NIH, US. Iceland has one of the highest average birth weights in the world and also one of the lowest rates of diabetes. High birth weight has been attributed to the high protein nutrition and the universal use of cod oil which is known to lengthen gestation. In spite of these unique features, the present findings are in line with earlier studies conducted in the Western countries.

- In terms of identifying risk factors for diabetes, it is important to consider body size at birth along with the traditional risk factors as low birth weight seems to yield a lifetime risk for diabetes. The present findings are concerning while obesity is increasing in all age-groups, says Dr. Mikaela von Bonsdorff.

The 1682 participants belonging to the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility – Reykjavik (AGES-Reykjavik) Study were born between 1914 and 1935. They had taken part in the follow-up as middle aged and in old age and these data were linked with anthropometrical birth data extracted from medical records in Iceland. The international study group included researchers from the US, Iceland, the Netherlands and Finland.

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Excess maternal weight before and during pregnancy can result in larger babies

ScienceDaily (May 22, 2012) — Excess weight in pregnant women, both before pregnancy and gained during pregnancy, is the main predictor of whether mothers will have larger than average babies, which can result in increased risk of cesarean section or trauma during delivery, states a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

See Also:Health & MedicinePregnancy and ChildbirthDiet and Weight LossInfant's HealthDiabetesFitnessGynecologyReferenceBirth weightBlood sugarDiabetic dietStillbirth

Women with diabetes in pregnancy or gestational diabetes are at increased risk of having a large-for-gestational-age baby. Called macrosomia, it is defined as an infant whose weight is above the 90th percentile of Canadian fetal growth curves, or more than 4 kg. Current clinical practice focuses on managing glucose levels in women with these conditions to reduce the risk of having larger babies. Recent studies have shown a link between maternal glucose levels in women without gestational diabetes and the risk of having a larger baby.

Proposed new criteria suggest lowering the glucose levels for diagnosing gestational diabetes to help identify women who might be at risk of having a large-for-gestational-age baby.

To determine the effects of a variety of maternal factors such as obesity, glucose levels and lipid levels on infant birth weight, researchers from Mount Sinai Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), University of Toronto, and St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, conducted a study with 472 women -- 368 with normal glucose tolerance and 104 with impaired glucose tolerance.

They found that excess weight before pregnancy and the amount of weight gain during pregnancy were the strongest metabolic predictors of whether a woman would have a large-for-gestational-age baby. Elevated glucose levels had a relatively modest impact as did lipid levels.

"Gestational impaired glucose tolerance was not a significant independent predictor of having a large-for-gestational-age infant," writes Dr. Ravi Retnakaran, Mount Sinai Hospital, with coauthors. "Similarly, none of the lipid measures was independently associated with birth weight or large-for-gestational-age infant. These data suggest that maternal weight and its associated circulating factors have a greater impact on infant birth weight than do mild glucose intolerance and lipid levels in women without gestational diabetes."

"In the context of the current obesity epidemic, these data support the importance of targeting healthy body weight in young women as a strategy for reducing the risk of excessive fetal growth and infant macrosomia," conclude the authors. "Furthermore, these findings suggest that, in the care of overweight or obese women in pregnancy, closer monitoring of weight gain during pregnancy may be warranted."

In a related commentary, Dr. Edmond Ryan, University of Alberta, writes, "Recently proposed criteria

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Hormone plays surprise role in fighting skin infections

ScienceDaily (May 23, 2012) — Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules produced in the skin to fend off infection-causing microbes. Vitamin D has been credited with a role in their production and in the body's overall immune response, but scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say a hormone previously associated only with maintaining calcium homeostasis and bone health is also critical, boosting AMP expression when dietary vitamin D levels are inadequate.

See Also:Health & MedicineVitamin DVitaminCholesterolDietary SupplementDiseases and ConditionsNutritionReferenceB vitaminsVitamin DEssential nutrientDietary mineral

The finding, published in the May 23, 2012 online issue of Science Translational Medicine, more fully explains how the immune system functions in different situations and presents a new avenue for treating infections, perhaps as an alternative to current antibiotic therapies.

The immunological benefits of vitamin D are controversial. In cultured cell studies, the fat-soluble vitamin provides strong immunological benefits, but in repeated studies with humans and animal models, results have been inconsistent: People with low levels of dietary vitamin D do not suffer more infections. For reasons unknown, their immune response generally remains strong, undermining the touted immunological strength of vitamin D.

Working with a mouse model and cultured human cells, Gallo and colleagues discovered why: When levels of dietary vitamin D are low (it's naturally present in very few foods), production of parathyroid hormone (PTH), which normally helps modulate calcium levels in blood, is ramped up. More PTH or a related peptide called PHTrP spurs increased expression of AMPs, such as cathelicidin, which kill a broad spectrum of harmful bacteria, fungi and viruses.

"No one suspected a role for PTH or the PTH-related peptide in immunity," said Richard L. Gallo, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and chief of UCSD's Division of Dermatology and the Dermatology section of the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System. "This may help resolve some of the controversy surrounding vitamin D. It fills in the blanks."

For example, the findings relate to the on-going debate over sun exposure. Sunlight triggers the production of vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D have been claimed in some studies to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, but other studies have failed to confirm this. On the other hand, high levels of solar exposure that could increase vitamin D have been shown to increase the risk of skin cancer.

"Since sunlight is a carcinogen, it's a bad idea to get too much of it," said Gallo. "PTH goes up when levels of vitamin D from diet and sun exposure are low. PTH may be what permits us to have low D in the diet and not kill ourselves with too much UV radiation."

Gallo said PTH's newly revealed immunological role provides a new connection between the body's endocrine system (a system of glands secreting different regulatory hormones into the bloodstream) and its ability to fight invasive, health-harming pathogens.

While much more work remains to be done, including human studies, it's possible that PTH or PTHrP might eventually become an effective antibiotic treatment without the risk of antibiotic resistance in targeted microbes. One challenge would be how to specifically limit treatment to the targeted infection. "Maybe that could be done by developing the therapy as a cream," Gallo said.

Co-authors of the study are Beda Muehleisen, Carolos Aguilera and George Sen, Division of Dermatology, UC San Diego; Daniel D. Bikle, Department of Medicine and Dermatology, UC San Francisco; Douglas W. Burton, Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System; Leonard J. Deftos, Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System and Department of Medicine, UC San Diego.

This research has been funded in whole or in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (NIH), under contract number HHSN272201000020C to the Atopic Dermatitis Research Network and grant numbers R01 AI052453 and R01 AI0833358; the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH, under grant numbers R01 AR052728; and the Veterans Administration Merit Award (ID:1145995). Additional funding was received from the State of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (#18XT-0182) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (PBZHP3-125571 and PASMP3_140073).

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