Vitamin D concentrations in New Zealanders with and without inflammatory bowel disease: do they differ?

Aim: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) are at risk of low vitamin D owing to reduced absorption, medication-associated sunlight exposure restrictions and/or increased requirements due to inflammation. This study aimed to determine if the serum vitamin D concentration of New Zealand IBD patients relates to disease activity and differs from controls.

Method: Data concerning demographics, sunlight exposure, vitamin D supplementation and disease activity were collected using a retrospective questionnaire.

Higher- Versus Lower-Intensity Strength-Training Taper: Effects on Neuromuscular Performance.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of strength-training tapers of different intensities but equal volume reductions on neuromuscular performance.

Methods: Eleven strength-trained men (21.3 [3.

New Zealand green-lipped mussels (Perna canaliculus) enhance non-haem iron absorption in vitro.

Fe bioavailability can be manipulated by the nutritional composition of a meal. Ascorbic acid and unidentified components of meat, fish and poultry, but particularly beef, all appear to enhance the absorption of non-haem Fe. The aim of the present study is to identify whether extracts of green-lipped mussels (GLM; Perna canaliculus) enhance non-haem Fe absorption in Caco-2 cells and to compare the effect with that of beef.