By Jwesly Stifen


A deficiency of vitamin B1 in people with diabetes could cause a range of problems including kidney disease, retinopathy and stroke, a new study has found.

Researchers from the University of Warwick found that the deficiency is not due to dietary habits but instead down to an increased rate of the vitamin's removal from the body.

They discovered that vitamin B1 concentration was decreased by 76 per cent in type one diabetic patients and 75 per cent in those suffering from type two diabetes.

It is the first time that this vitamin deficiency has been found in people with diabetes and is likely to have been missed in the past due to the methods used to measure thiamine (vitamin B1) status.

Writing in the journal Diabetologia, the researchers argue that the decreased availability of the vitamin is linked to problems with the cells and artery walls of the body's circulatory system.

The researchers have now outlined a number of areas for further research relating to vitamin B1 and diabetes.

Matt Hunt, science information manager at Diabetes UK, said that the study could 'potentially have very exciting outcomes'.

'More research needs to be done into the link between vitamin B1 deficiency and people with diabetes developing complications such as kidney and retina damage, heart disease and stroke. Researchers are already looking into the effect of giving people the vitamin in tablet form to see if early kidney damage can be reversed,' he added.

'We should note that the vitamin supplement research is still at trial stage. We would not advise that people look to vitamin supplements to reduce their risk of complications at this stage.

'Eating a healthy balanced diet, taking regular physical activity and managing blood glucose levels are key to good diabetes management.'

By Mike Singh


Vitamin B2 is also commonly known as Riboflavin or Vitamin G. This water soluble vitamin is found in most plant and animal tissue and belongs to the B-Complex family. It assists in the metabolic processes of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Riboflavin is essential for the proper formation of red blood cells and hence helps produce anti bodies. It is also required to maintain the mucous membranes that are located throughout the digestive tract. Since this vitamin is involved in cell respiration and growth, it benefits the skin, hair, nails and connective tissues.

Being a part of the B-Complex family, B2 is vital because it helps in the production of Vitamin B3 (Niacin) and also helps the body absorb Vitamin B6. It also ensures normal development during periods of rapid development especially puberty.

Sources of Vitamin B2 :-

Milk, eggs and dairy products are excellent sources of Vitamin B2. Most people who have a nutritionally well balanced diet possess sufficient quantities of vitamin B2 as it is found in most plant and animal tissues. Green leafy vegetables, broccoli and asparagus are also good sources of B2 as are nuts, legumes, mushrooms, fruits, fish and whole grains and cereals.

Since its a water soluble vitamin, there is no fear of consuming more than the daily recommended amount as the body will eliminate the excess amount through the urine. When too much B2 is present in the body the urine will appear more yellow than normal. It is important to keep in mind that one should try and purchase milk in a container other than a glass bottle as heat and light can destroy the Riboflavin present in it.

Daily intake of Vitamin B2 :-

Experts recommend that the daily intake of B2 for men should be around 1. 3 mg whereas for adult females it should be 1. 1 mg daily. Pregnant women should consume around 1. 4 mg and women who are lactating should get about 1. 6 mg daily.

Symptoms of Vitamin B2 Deficiency :-

Although a nutritionally well balanced diet can ensure that one has adequate supplies of this vitamin , excessive consumption of alcohol, tobacco, caffeine and refined sugars can trigger a Vitamin B2 deficiency.

Symptoms of this vitamin deficiency can include a general feeling of weakness, lightheadedness, cracks and sores on the corner of one's mouth, soreness in the throat and/or tongue, irritated skin and anemia. The eyes can also become extra sensitive to light or can water excessively.

Problems with digestion and insomnia have also been known to occur. Mental responses may slow down and in some cases growth might be adversely affected. It is quite likely that a deficiency of Vitamin B2 can lead to the onset of Rheumatoid arthritis as well.

By RA Butters


Without enough vitamin D, women face significantly increased health risks at all stages of life.

Vitamin D has long been recognized for its importance to bone strength, but a growing body of medical evidence indicates that it plays a crucial role in many aspects of health. Though it is the only vitamin that the body can produce, deficiency is alarmingly common. As many as three fourths of the adults and teens in the US are believed to have inadequate levels, and D vitamin deficiency has been identified as a growing health problem all over the world.

Exposure to the sun triggers the skin to manufacture the vitamin, but the body's ability to produce it declines with age. There are relatively few natural food sources of it, and most people get the majority of the vitamin by drinking fortified milk.

Crucial to bone, muscle development in adolescent girls

Recent research by the University of Manchester, UK screened 99 girls between 12 and 14 years of age. 75% of the girls had demonstrably low blood levels of D vitamin, though none of the girls showed symptoms of deficiency.

The researchers then tested the girls' muscle strength and force. The girls who were not deficient scored significantly higher in the strength and force tests than those who were deficient, leading the research team to conclude that the link between deficiency and relative weakness definitely merits further study. The study data highlights the importance of the vitamin to muscle function in adolescent girls, they said, adding that there could be implications for long-term bone development.

Levels particularly important during pregnancy

Studies show that inadequate levels of D vitamin during pregnancy could have a negative impact on many aspects of pregnancy, from increasing the risk of pre-eclampsia to decreasing the length of gestation, birth weight, and odds for good fetal bone development.

It is also believed that sufficiency of the vitamin during pregnancy can actually lower the child's risk of many health problems and diseases later in life.

One of the most important nutrients for women during and after menopause

The hormonal swings of menopause, together with an increasingly indoor-oriented lifestyle and the aging body's decreased ability to manufacture D vitamin, makes deficiency among older women common. This is particularly dangerous, experts say, because low levels of the vitamin significantly increase the risk of osteoporosis, osteomalasia, and hip fractures.

In addition, deficiency has been related to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast cancer, as well as a higher incidence of heart disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma, and diabetes.