Vitamins, minerals and supplements: 6: minerals (1).

In the sixth of an occasional series on vitamins, minerals, and supplements June Thompson gives an overview of minerals and the role they play in the wellbeing of the individual, including their function and the potential impact on health that deficiency may cause.

Vitamins and minerals 4: overview of folate and the B vitamins.

Many studies have suggested that elevated homocysteine levels are an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Lower levels of the three water-soluble vitamins--folate (folic acid), vitamin B6 and vitamin B12--are primary determinants of high blood homocysteine levels. In the fourth of an occasional series on vitamins, minerals and supplements, June Thompson looks at the role folate, in particular, may play in reducing homocysteine in the body and in protecting the body from some other diseases.

Vitamins, minerals and supplements: part two.

Vitamins and minerals are organic food substances found only in plants and animals and are essential to the normal functioning of the body. Although only required in small amounts, as previously discussed in the past decade there has been an increased use of vitamin, mineral, herbal and nutritional supplements in the general population. While deficiencies in such nutrients can be harmful to health, conflicting claims have been made about the health benefits of such supplementation. In the second of an occasional series on vitamins, minerals, and supplements, JUNE THOMPSON gives an overview of the role that water-soluble vitamins play in the health of the individual, including their functions, and the potential impact of any deficiency of these.

Breastfeeding: benefits and implications. Part two.

Recent guidelines from the Department of Health recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months (26 weeks) of an infant's life with the late introduction of solids being cited as protective against the development of asthma, eczema and atopy. However, it has been suggested that national and international recommendations for the age of introducing solid foods (weaning) are founded on insufficient evidence. In part two of her update, June Thompson looks at the conflicting literature regarding whether exclusive breastfeeding for six months conveys significant benefits for babies and if current recommendations that a delayed introduction of solids is protective against the development of asthma and allergy are supported by the evidence.

Haemolytic disease of the newborn: the new NICE guidelines.

This article looks at the epidemiology of rhesus D, the clinical manifestations of haemolytic disease of the newborn and recent NICE guidelines on prevention. All pregnant women should be offered prophylactic anti-rhesus D immunoglobulin as part of normal antenatal care if they are rhesus-D negative and free from Rh-D antibodies.