New Information Linking Low Vitamin D with Allergies

Children with low vitamin D levels are nearly two-and-a-half times as likely to suffer from peanut allergies and a host of other allergies, according to a new study published this month.

 

A study of more than 3,000 children shows that low vitamin D levels are associated with increased likelihood that children will develop allergies, according to a paper published in the February 17 online edition of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Researchers from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University headed the study.


Researchers looked at the serum vitamin D levels in blood collected in 2005-2006 from a nationally representative sample of more than 3,100 children and adolescents and 3,400 adults. The samples are derived from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a program of studies designed to assess the health and nutritional status of adults and children in the United States. The survey is unique in that it combines interviews, physical examinations and laboratory studies. One of the blood tests assessed was sensitivity to 17 different allergens by measuring levels of Immunoglobulin E (IgE), a protein made when the immune system responds to allergens.

When the resulting data was analyzed by Einstein researchers, no association between vitamin D levels and allergies was observed in adults. But for children and adolescents, low vitamin D levels correlated with sensitivity to 11 of the 17 allergens tested, including both environmental allergens (e.g., ragweed, oak, dog, cockroach) and food allergens (e.g., peanuts). For example, children who had vitamin D deficiency (defined as less than 15 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood), were 2.4 times as likely to have a peanut allergy than were children with sufficient levels of vitamin D (more than 30 nanograms of vitamin D per milliliter of blood).

The research shows only an association and does not prove that vitamin D deficiency causes allergies in children, cautioned Michal Melamed, M.D., M.H.S., assistant professor of medicine and of epidemiology & population health at Einstein and senior author of the study. Nevertheless, she said, children should certainly consume adequate amounts of the vitamin. “The latest dietary recommendations calling for children to take in 600 IU of vitamin D daily should keep them from becoming vitamin-D deficient,” she said.

However, vitamin D scientists do not all agree that 600 IU daily will get most children over 30 ng/ml, as that daily target is only designed to get vitamin D levels above 20 ng/ml. A study published by GrassrootsHealth in conjunction with Creighton University and the University of California-San Diego this week recommended daily intake of 9,600 IU of vitamin D to get almost all the population over 40 ng/ml vitamin D blood levels.

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Red Light Therapy to the Rescue!

You may have been seeing a lot of posts about Red Light Therapy coming to some of our Hollywood Tans salons, so we're here to give you all the info you need on this awesome new treatment!

Red light therapy is a form of heliotherapy that uses red tinted light to stimulate the body's natural defense systems and bring relief to various ailments.  When applied directly on the area of the body that is currently experiencing distress, the red light helps to activate ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, in muscle tissues releasing more energy for the body to use.

Ailments that can be soothed with the use of red light therapy include head aches, poor circulation, acne, sinus issues, and even mild depression.  It also has been known to stave off the effects of aging, including wrinkles and dry skin, by helping to produce more collagen.

The duration of red light therapy ranges from two to five minutes, depending on the nature of the ailment or issue, with repeated sessions after a short period of rest.

Hollywood Tans using Red Light therapy, or a similar variation, include Hollywood Tans Atlanta area salons, Hollywood Tans Riverside, CA, and soon Hollywood Tans of Riverdale, NJ.  Be sure to check it out!

Happy Tanning!

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Tanning for Weight Loss?

When I first heard about tanning promoting weight loss, I did not believe it!  But after doing some research, I'm starting to like what I've learned.  Check it out!

As we all know, tanning supplies your body with your daily dose of vitamin D.  Not only does raising your vitamin D level help ward of illnesses like rickets and diabetes, achieving the optimal range of 50ng/ml to 80ng/ml of D will greatly assist you in maintaining a healthy body weight.  Fat cells actually have vitamin D receptors, and when your body has enough vitamin D these receptors are activated and assist your fat cells in burning more calories.  As if thats not cool enough, it also helps in releasing something called leptin.  Leptin is an appetite suppressing hormone that is released once you've had enough food to eat.  When your vitamin D levels are too low, the release of leptin is greatly inhibited and can leave you eating more than you need to.    

Not only that, according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, for every 1ng/ml increase of Vitamin D in the blood of those who previously had insufficient levels, an additional half pound of body fat was lost (when combined with portion control and exercise of course!).  So basically the study shows that for people trying to lose weight who are also low in vitamin D, raising your levels in D will assist you in losing more weight than if you were just practicing portion control and exercising alone.  Pretty cool huh?!

Food sources of vitamin D include salmon, milk, eggs, and some fortified cereals, however to get your daily dose of vitamin D would require eating up to 19 oz of salmon or 42 oz of milk a day, which may be more calories then are conducive for weight loss.  

But don't worry, solarium tanning can easily satisfy your daily dose of vitamin D, in as little as 5 minutes a day!  So stop into Hollywood Tans today to get your vitamin D and a gorgeous glow!    

Tan Away Muscle Pains and Fibromyalgia!

Fibromyalgia is a widespread medical disorder, characterized by chronic widespread muscle and connective tissue pain, or a heightened or painful response to pressure.  Fibromyalgia symptoms include fatigue, sleep disturbance, joint stiffness, numbness, and cognitive dysfunction.  Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2-4% of the population, with a female to male incidence ratio estimated at 9:1.  

While there is as of now no definitive cure for fibromyalgia, some treatments have been demonstrated through controlled clinical trials, including medications, exercise, and behavioral interventions, like adding tanning to your routine.

In one study, a Dr. Steven Feldman (M.D., Ph.D. and dermatologist practicing at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) found that fibromyalgia patients who were exposed to UV rays in tanning beds over a period of six weeks felt a significant decrease in pain compared to those who were in non-UV beds.  According to Dr. Feldman, the UV rays cause the skin to release endorphins, essentially feel-good molecules, that ease pain and increase muscle relaxation.

One of Dr. Feldman's patients, Laura Hemrick, said that before the UV treatments she felt "...like [she] had been hit by a truck".  Hemrick underwent six months of testing before she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.  She tried to treat her condition with exercise, which only provided minmal relief, and then medications, which made her so sick that she gave up.  "I would deal with the pain before I go back to those again," Hemrick said.

Tanning however was her saving grace.  After undergoing tanning sessions of approximately 12 minutes three times a week, Hemrick says her pain has been put at ease.  In fact, tanning is the only thing that has successfully worked for her.

And tanning doesn't just help with severe muscle pains like those of fibromyalgia; many people have come forward claiming tanning helps soothe their arthritis and back pains.

Seems that a lot more than a gorgeous glow can be achieved through solarium heliotherapy!

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Vitamin D Takes On Diabetes!

Its no secret that vitamin D has widespread benefits for our health, like prevention of chronic diseases.  Now, more and more evidence is coming to light that suggests vitamin D may play a vital role in the prevention and management of glucose intolerance and diabetes.

Of the estimated 23 million Americans with diabetes, the majority have low vitamin D levels, suggesting that vitamin D plays an integral role in insulin sensitivity and secretion.  

In a study involving 3,000 people with type 1 diabetes, there was a decreased risk in disease for those who took vitamin D supplements.  Continuing observational studies of people with type 2 diabetes also revealed the importance of supplementation in the prevention of the disease.

While vitamin D is certainly not the sole cure for this harmful disease, management of the nutrient may be a simple and cost effected method to improve blood sugar control and prevent many serious complications associated with diabetes.  But diet alone will not be sufficient in managing proper vitamin D levels; a combination of adequate dietary intake and exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light can decrease the risk of diabetes and related health concerns.

Not only is it linked to diabetes prevention, vitamin D is also crucial in maintaing bone strength, maintaining a strong the immune system, cancer prevention, proper circulation, and cardiovascular health.  Along with ultraviolet rays, other sources of vitamin D include fish, eggs, fortified milk, cod liver oil, and supplements.


For more information on the links between diabetes and vitamin D, check out our sources below.  And to get your daily dose of this essential nutrient, stop by your local Hollywood Tans salon today!

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Q & A time with the Senior Tanologist!

Question:  Can I tan while pregnant?

Great question, I get this one a lot!  Consulting your doctor on this topic is always a wise choice, as each pregnancy is unique and has it's own considerations.  At this time there are no studies on the effects of tanning beds on the unborn child, so anything you hear at this point is just a myth.

Because the UV light used in solarium tanning does not ever reach the child, your baby is not at risk from UV.  The real thing that you need to monitor is your body temperature, specifically keeping cool.  During the first trimester your doctor will most likely advise you not to do anything that will raise your body's temperature, such as hot tubs, saunas, and tanning.  However, after the first trimester, it may be okay to have moderate sessions while using a tanning bed or booth. The most important thing to remember is to stay cool and drink plenty of fluids.  

One thing you should take into account, however, is that your skin during pregnancy is more sensitive than usual so you should start with shorter sessions until your body has built up your base tan.  Happy Tanning!