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Vitamin D Deficiency Linked to Hair Loss and Ageing: Scientist Rates popular Supplements

Suffering from unexplained hair loss or noticing premature signs of ageing? A growing body of research suggests low vitamin D levels could be a key culprit. Now, a leading scientist has assessed a range of popular vitamin D supplements, revealing which ones offer a genuine boost and which are simply a waste of money.

Vitamin D is crucial for overall health, playing a vital role in immune function, bone health, and potentially, maintaining youthful vitality. With many experiencing deficiencies, notably during winter months or with limited sun exposure, supplementation is often considered. But navigating the market can be confusing.This assessment cuts through the noise, providing a fact-based guide to effective vitamin D supplementation.

POWDERED VITAMIN D

M&S Vitamin D3 Powder, £5.73 for one month’s supply

PRICE PER DAY: 19p.

EXPERT VERDICT: At 50mcg (2,000 IU) per dose, this is still under the 100mcg safe limit and contains easy-to-absorb vitamin D3. Powder could be an easier option if you don’t like taking pills, as it can be added to cereal or smoothies. But at £5.73 for just one month’s supply, it is pricey. It also contains erythritol, a sweetener that may cause stomach cramps, diarrhoea and bloating in some people. 5/10

ENRICHED MUSHROOMS

M&S Baby Chestnut Mushrooms, £1.45 for 200g

PRICE PER DAY: £1.45.

EXPERT VERDICT: These are said to be ‘naturally enriched with vitamin D’ by light exposure. When mushrooms are exposed to UV light, they produce vitamin D2, the version that’s less well absorbed. And mushrooms alone are not enough to maintain optimum vitamin D levels.You’d need to consume at least 200g – a whole pack – every day to get the 10mcg minimum. 6/10

FIZZY TABLETS

Holland & Barrett Vitamin D 1,000 IU/25mcg, £4.49 for 20 effervescent tablets

PRICE PER DAY: 22p.

EXPERT VERDICT: These contain the better absorbed vitamin D3. But as with all effervescent tablets the bubbles are created by adding sodium carbonate – basically salt, so not great for people on low-sodium diets, such as those with high blood pressure. They also contain the artificial sweetener sorbitol, which can cause stomach cramps and diarrhoea; and sucralose, which triggers bloating in some. And they’re quite pricey.4/10

Revolutionary Sound Wave Therapy Destroys Liver Cancer​ in First UK ​Patient,‍ Offering Hope Without Traditional Treatments

London, UK – A groundbreaking new treatment utilizing focused sound waves has successfully eliminated liver cancer in a UK patient, marking a potential turning⁤ point in how the disease is tackled. The non-invasive procedure, called⁤ histotripsy, offers a path ⁢to recovery without the need for surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation – a prospect ⁢previously unimaginable ⁢for many.

Roger, a patient who ⁣battled cirrhosis, was among the⁤ first to benefit from the ‍innovative⁣ therapy at St Mary’s Hospital in London.Facing a⁢ grim prognosis, he is now expressing profound gratitude after the treatment proved prosperous. ‍”I’m so grateful I could have it – I was luckily in the right place ​at the right time,”⁣ he stated.

Histotripsy ​works by precisely targeting cancerous tumors with ⁣focused ultrasound waves. A device is placed on the patient’s⁣ abdomen,⁣ above the liver, and utilizes⁢ the principle that ultrasound travels⁢ more effectively⁤ through‍ liquids -‌ in this case, water is ⁣used to displace air. These waves generate microscopic bubbles within the tissue surrounding the cancer cells.

As Dr. See explains, “The targeted sound waves‍ create ⁣microscopic bubbles in the liquid within the tissue around the cancer cells. This mass of bubbles form⁤ and collapse thousands of times and, in effect, explode, which then destroys the cancer. But the surrounding tissue ‌is unharmed.” The cancerous cells are then liquefied ⁣and naturally absorbed by the body over the course of ⁤a month or two, leaving only a small scar.

Remarkably, Roger’s⁣ procedure took just ​20 minutes⁢ – significantly shorter than the minimum one hour required for ablation ⁢(a heat-based cancer‌ destruction technique) and the two to six‌ hours⁤ typically needed for surgery. A CT scan the‌ day following‍ the procedure confirmed the success, showing a ⁣mark were the ultrasound⁤ was⁤ directed, but no remaining signs of cancer.

Currently, histotripsy is approved for‌ use on⁤ liver cancers. Though, promising trials are already underway in ‍the United States to explore its potential request in ‍treating pancreatic ⁢cancer.

Professor ‌Stephen Ryder, a consultant hepatologist, highlights the increasing prevalence of liver cancer, potentially ‍linked to “an increase in alcohol-related liver​ injury⁣ – made worse over the pandemic – and a rise in fatty liver disease, due to ‍two-thirds of the⁣ population being‌ overweight.” He describes histotripsy as “potentially a very interesting treatment because it ​doesn’t involve external ⁤trauma,” but cautions that further research is⁣ needed to determine the maximum ​size of tumors that can​ be effectively targeted and ‌to assess long-term ⁢outcomes compared to existing methods like ​ablation.​ (Ablation cannot precede histotripsy, as ‌the heat alters tissue structures, hindering accurate cancer cell identification.)

A second UK patient is scheduled to recieve histotripsy treatment later this month. Roger reports experiencing no symptoms or discomfort before or after the ‌procedure, stating it felt “as if nothing had​ happened.” He will continue to attend regular check-ups but ‌requires no ongoing ‌medication.