By IAN MARBER

PUBLISHED: 20:55 GMT, 21 April 2012 | UPDATED: 20:55 GMT, 21 April 2012

Dame Judi Dench has age-related macular degeneration

Actress Dame Judi Dench is among the half-a-million adults in the UK sufferering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It afflicts 10 per cent of those aged over 66 and almost a third of those over 75.

When the macula, a spot located in the centre of the retina, deteriorates, the most central field of sight is affected. This makes reading, driving, writing and recognising the faces of people close by difficult.

Treatments include drugs, radiation and laser therapy, all of which have varying degrees of success. But a combination of nutrients found in everyday foods has been found to reduce the symptoms of macular degeneration by 19 per cent, and cut the risk of developing the condition by up to a quarter.

The macula is yellow and this is attributed to the presence of lutein and zeaxanthin in its pigment. These  nutrients, known as carotenoids, play an important role in protecting vulnerable tissue, including those found in the eyes. Vitamin E, Vitamin C, zinc and Omega 3 fats are also key.

But how much food has to be eaten to achieve the doses of the most effective nutrients? In some cases, diet alone is sufficient, but we should also consider taking supplements.

LUTEIN – SUPPLEMENT

FOUND IN: Kale, spinach, peas, corn

Just 6mg of lutein a day could reduce the risk of AMD by more than 40 per cent, according to a 1994 study at Harvard University. However, the American Macular Degeneration Foundation suggests that up to 30mg daily is beneficial.

To get 10mg one would have to eat 2oz (66g) cooked kale, 5oz (150g) cooked spinach or 4oz (100g) raw spinach. Alternatively, you would need to eat 1.1lbs  (500g) of peas, and 1.5lbs (700g) of corn to get that amount, which is why I would recommend a supplement.

ZEAXANTHIN – SUPPLEMENT

FOUND IN: Oranges, goji berries, spinach, collard greens

This is the pigment that gives paprika, corn and saffron their characteristic colour. The chemical also forms part of the structure of the macula. The vital role of zeaxanthin in AMD was highlighted by the University of Southampton in 2003.

While no data exists to establish a recommended dose, a major clinical trial in the United States – known as the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) – is working with 2mg in supplement form. Concentrated zeaxanthin is a potent nutrient. To derive 2mg we would have to eat 2.2lbs of cooked spinach or 27 oranges.

OMEGA 3 – DIET

FOUND IN: Oily fish, nuts and seeds

The quality of the macula is improved by Omega 3, according to a French study in 2011. However, the ratio between Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats is also important. A typical Western diet favours Omega 6 (found in vegetable oils, many meats and most nuts) over Omega 3 by a ratio of 10:1, yet last year researchers recommended a ratio of 5:1.

In day-to-day terms, this means favouring Omega 3 fats to get the 1,000mg as used in the AREDS study. You get this from half a portion of canned salmon or fresh trout,  two-thirds of a tin of tuna, a handful of walnuts, or 10 tablespoons of  olive oil.

A teaspoon of linseed oil will also give you all you need.

ZINC – SUPPLEMENT  AND DIET

FOUND IN: Seafood, poultry and meat, nuts, seeds and beans

The recommended daily intake for zinc is 15mg but to combat AMD, a study in March found 80mg of zinc in supplement form to be most effective.

Oysters are also a rich source – just four of them will give you the recommended dose, as would a portion of lean roast beef (5oz). But you would have to eat four chicken breasts or a whole bag of peanuts (8oz), which would also contain more than 3.5oz of fat and 1,400 calories, to achieve this kind of zinc intake. So a supplement is probably a good back-up.

VITAMIN C – DIET

FOUND IN: All fruits and vegetables

Getting Vitamin C from food allows the nutrient to be absorbed in a more regulated way. A combination of Vitamin C-rich foods throughout the day should easily get you to 500mg, which has been  found to improve macula density by 19 per cent.

Oranges aren’t the only fruit when it comes to Vitamin C. Try to include a variety of foods in your diet – blueberries or any other dark berries, broccoli and carrots are all good sources.

Raw is best, otherwise steam or sauteed rather than boil, which washes out some of the Vitamin C content.

VITAMIN E – SUPPLEMENT

FOUND IN: Nuts, seeds and oils

Vitamin E is found naturally  alongside essential fats and additional Vitamin E may not be required. The AREDS suggestion  is 400iu (the measurement used to quantify vitamin intake), although the recommended daily intake is just 22iu.

You would have to munch your way through 3.3lb (1.5kg) of almonds, or 63 avocados to get this amount, so a supplement is the best bet. A word of caution: Vitamin E can also thin the blood and should not be taken while on blood-thinning medication such as Warfarin, so check with your GP.

by ROSALIND RYAN, femail.co.uk

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-112432/Could-slimming-supplement-help-lose-weight.html#ixzz1lu4tZAKD

As the bikini panic starts to set in, many of us may be feeling desperate that the gym sessions and low fat lunches aren't having the desired effect.

We've all heard the warnings about quick-fix diet pills. But a new breed of weight loss tablets - known as slimming supplements - is now emerging to tempt us.

Derived from a variety of vitamins and minerals, such as kelp from seaweed or fatty acids from animal proteins, these supplements have a better image than traditional diet pills because they contain natural ingredients.

But do they work? A small number of studies are starting to show a positive effect for some supplements. However, many of these studies have only been carried out using animals so their effect on humans could be different. Experts are also divided over how safe these supplements are and the effects of taking too many.
CLA
What is it?
CLA stands for conjugated linoleic acid, a type of essential fatty acid found in animal fats. One reason that we may not be eating enough CLA is that we have cut back on these fatty foods to improve our diets. Luckily CLA is also found in milk so you can drink this as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

How does it work?
CLA may have an effect on body composition - reducing the amount of fat in the body and increasing the amount of lean muscle tissue. The theory is it works by reducing fat storage and boosting the breakdown of fat in the body.

Enthusiasts believe CLA works by speeding up the action of an enzyme which helps break down fat in the blood. At the same time it slows down another enzyme responsible for helping the fat cells absorb fat.

Has it been proven?
In one animal trial, piglets fed a diet containing CLA had less body fat and more lean muscle than the piglets kept on a normal diet.

In a Norwegian study on humans, one group of healthy volunteers were given a daily dose of CLA and another group were given a placebo - a pretend pill - and both groups were told not to diet. After 12 weeks there was no significant difference in weight loss between the two groups, but those taking the CLA had lost more body fat.

Professor Mike Pariza from the University of Wisconsin, a pioneer of CLA for weight loss, says that CLA can also reduce the ratio of fat to muscle when you put weight back on after dieting.

But in contrast, another American study found no effect on weight, fat stores or muscle in healthy women who took CLA every day for nine weeks compared to those on a dummy dose.

Lyndel Costain, consultant nutritionist for the Medical Research Council, says, 'Human studies with positive outcomes do not show weight loss, but rather a change in body composition. If the headlines about CLA's weight loss benefits are true, we'd all be queuing for a supply of this miracle fat buster, but there is not enough evidence in humans yet to recommend it as a slimming pill.'

Where can I get it? http://www.selecthealthy.com/cla-1000mg.html

A coroner has written to the Health Secretary calling for all pregnant women and those who breastfeed to take vitamin D.

North London coroner Andrew Walker said action should be taken to reduce the risk to others after he held an inquest last week into the death of a three-month-old boy.

In his letter to Andrew Lansley, Mr Walker said Milind Agarwal was taken to the doctor in July with symptoms of a probable viral infection.

He was sent home with saline nasal drops. A later telephone consultation with another doctor led to his parents being advised to give him paracetamol.

But his mother and father still had concerns and called an ambulance. Their son was taken to Northwick Park Hospital in north London ''where it was recognised he was seriously unwell''.

The baby died from septic inflammation of the heart against a background of an abnormal aortic heart valve.

A consultant paediatric pathologist told the coroner's court that vitamin D deficiency played a role in progression of the infection and suggested all pregnant and breastfeeding women should be taking vitamin D daily.

In his letter, Mr Walker told Mr Lansley that consideration should be given ''to increasing public awareness of vitamin D deficiency'', in particular that all pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should receive 10mcg of Vitamin D every day.

Research has previously found that pregnant women and those trying to conceive are lacking vitamin D.

In 2009, experts warned that a lack of vitamin D in pregnancy can lead to a youngster suffering rickets and longer-term problems such as schizophrenia and Type 1 diabetes.

While many people can get vitamin D from sunshine, those living in cooler countries may not be getting enough.

As a result, the body often relies on its own stores of vitamin D in the winter months. Otherwise, dietary intake or multivitamins are needed.

Vitamin D is found in small quantities in a few foods such as oily fish, eggs and liver, and in fortified foods such as margarine, breakfast cereals and powdered milk.

But pregnant women are advised to avoid liver and liver products, raw or under-cooked eggs and to limit their intake of certain fish such as tuna.

So what are the effects?

Flavanols are easily found in the western diet – wine, apples and grapes to name a few – the exact mixture of flavanols found in each food is unique and distinct to that food.

Circulation:
The flavanol rich cocoa bean has demonstrated an ability to improve endothelial dysfunction, a state in which blood vessels are not working as effectively as they should (a common sign of atherosclerosis). The flavanols have the ability to increase a compound called Nitric Oxide that is responsible for improving the widening of blood vessels and thereby improving blood flow and circulation .

Blood Pressure
This effect will also have a significant impact on blood pressure. Recent research has shown that cocoa reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while also increasing blood flow. Several other studies have shown that cocoa has a role in reducing the risk of stroke (by 20%), coronary heart disease (by 10%) and all-cause mortality (by 8%) .

Cholesterol
In 2011 a meta-analyses on cocoa concluded that dark chocolate and cocoa products significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and total cholesterol . Even more encouraging than that was the discovery that this effect seemed to be even greater in those participants who were at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. This effect however was seen in the dark chocolate rather than other cocoa products. This questions whether the health benefits of dark chocolate are simply down to its cocoa content and if, in fact, the stearic acid found in cocoa butter also plays a beneficial role as a “cholesterol-neutral fat”. Fibre and other minerals present may also play a part.

Cognitive function and mood
Theobromine, a methylxanthine and metabolite of caffeine, is found in higher amounts in chocolate than any other known food source. A study published in 2004 , assessed mood and cognitive performance in two study arms. In the first arm, participants were supplemented with placebo, cocoa powder, or a capsule containing caffeine and theobromine in amounts identical to the cocoa powder. In the second arm, participants supplemented with one or three chocolate chocolate bars representing white chocolate (no methylxanthines), milk chocolate (a small amount of methylxanthines), or dark chocolate (high level of methylxanthines). The chocolate with the methylxanthines brought about improvements in cognitive and mood scores. It was also noted that the higher the methylxanthine content (ie in dark chocolate), the greater the benefit.

Exercise Performance
Whilst caffeine is already a recognized thermogenic, theobromine is also receiving focus on its fat-burning capabilities. A further look at theobromine hints at its potential to support the vagus nerve, a brain nerve linked to gut health, heart rate and breathing control. Continuing research on the link between support of the vagus nerve and reduced inflammation and improved recovery, post exercise .

So it seems that cocoa is one of the richest flavanoid containing foods available but it is also a good source of minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and potassium as well as the vitamins A, B1,B2,B3,B5, C and E.
Sadly however this is not the green light to dive into the nearest shop for chocolate. The evidence clearly demonstrates that the health promoting properties only relate to the high cocoa content chocolate, that is 70% and above. The darker the better.

H Schroeter et al. “(-)-Epicatechin mediates beneficial effects of flavanol ri8ch cocoa on vascular function in humans.” PNAS, vol 103, no.4 (Jan 24.2006):1024-1029

[1] D Taubert et al. “Effect of cocoa and tea intake on blood pressure: a meta-analysis.” Archives of Internal Medicine, vol 167. No 7 (April 9, 20070: 626-634.

[1] Jia L et al., “short-term effect of cocoa product consumption on lipid profile: a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials.” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol.92 no.1 (July 2010); 218-225

[1] HJ Smit et al. “Methylxanthines are the psycho-pharmacologically active constituents of chocolate.” Psychopharmacology, vol 176. No3-4 (November 2004): 412-419

[1] P Terziotti et al. “Post-exercise recovery of autonomic cardiovascular control: A study by spectrum and cross-spectrum analysis in humans.” European Journal of Applied Physiology. Vol.84 no.3 (March 2001):187-194

North London coroner Andrew Walker said action should be taken to reduce the risk to others after he held an inquest last week into the death of a three-month-old boy.

In his letter to Andrew Lansley, Mr Walker said Milind Agarwal was taken to the doctor in July with symptoms of a probable viral infection.

He was sent home with saline nasal drops. A later telephone consultation with another doctor led to his parents being advised to give him paracetamol.

But his mother and father still had concerns and called an ambulance. Their son was taken to Northwick Park Hospital in north London ''where it was recognised he was seriously unwell''.

The baby died from septic inflammation of the heart against a background of an abnormal aortic heart valve.

A consultant paediatric pathologist told the coroner's court that vitamin D deficiency played a role in progression of the infection and suggested all pregnant and breastfeeding women be prescribed vitamin D daily.

In his letter, Mr Walker told Mr Lansley that consideration should be given ''to increasing public awareness of vitamin D deficiency'', in particular that all pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should receive 10mcg of Vitamin D every day.

Research has previously found that pregnant women and those trying to conceive are lacking vitamin D.

In 2009, experts warned that a lack of vitamin D in pregnancy can lead to a youngster suffering rickets and longer-term problems such as schizophrenia and Type 1 diabetes.

While many people can get vitamin D from sunshine, those living in cooler countries may not be getting enough.

As a result, the body often relies on its own stores of vitamin D in the winter months. Otherwise, dietary intake or multivitamins are needed.

Vitamin D is found in small quantities in a few foods such as oily fish, eggs and liver, and in fortified foods such as margarine, breakfast cereals and powdered milk.

But pregnant women are advised to avoid liver and liver products, raw or under-cooked eggs and to limit their intake of certain fish such as tuna.

Animals react to the changing seasons with changes in mood, metabolism and behaviour people and human beings are just the same. Many people find they eat and sleep slightly more in winter and dislike the dark mornings and short days and this is commonly referred to as 'winter blues' or 'winter depression'. Others have symptoms that are more severe, often making it difficult to cope with work and putting strain on relationships. This is a recognised problem known as Seasonal Affective Disorder that's usually shortened to SAD (sometimes also called SAD syndrome or SAD disorder).

What are the symptoms of SAD and winter blues?

If you suffer from either SAD or winter blues symptoms you will probably start to notice the difference around September and may not feel like your normal self until April. The main symptoms are listed below; you may not experience all of them, particularly with milder winter blues: 

• Sleep problems - oversleeping but not refreshed, cannot get out of bed, needing a nap in the afternoon
• Overeating - carbohydrate craving leading to weight gain
• Depression, despair, misery, guilt, anxiety - normal tasks become frustratingly difficult
• Family / social problems - avoiding company, irritability, loss of libido, feeling emotionally 'numb'
• Lethargy - too tired to cope, everything an effort
• Physical symptoms - often joint pain or stomach problems, lowered resistance to infection
• Behavioural problems - especially in young people

Who does it affect?

The standard figure says that around 2% of people in Northern Europe suffer badly, with many more (10%) putting up with milder symptoms (sub-syndromal SAD or winter blues). Across the world the incidence increases with distance from the equator, except where there is snow on the ground, when it becomes less common. More women than men are diagnosed as having SAD. Children and adolescents are also vulnerable.

What causes SAD?

The problem stems from the lack of bright light in winter. Researchers have proved that bright light makes a difference to the brain chemistry but why some people suffer and others don't is not clear.

Nerve centres in our brain controlling our daily rhythms and moods are stimulated by the amount of light entering the eyes. As night falls, the pineal gland starts to produce a substance called melatonin that tells our body clock it's night time; bright light at daybreak is the signal for the gland to stop producing this melatonin. But on dull winter days, especially indoors, not enough light is received to trigger this waking up process. Light is also linked to serotonin (also known as or 5HT), a neurotransmitter in the brain. This makes sense because low serotonin levels can cause depression and if you're depressed it can be difficult to concentrate and complete what would normally be simple tasks. Evidence has shown that serotonin levels increase with exposure to bright light - SSRI drugs such as Prozac have the same effect, but without getting into prescription drugs, a simple course of Vitamin D can be an effective counter balance.

So what has all of this got to do with fertility?

Sperm cells are largely made of protein and depend on CoQ10 for synthesis. Equally, female eggs depend on CoQ10 rich mitochondria almost exclusively for their energy, which becomes reduced as the eggs, and we, age. CoQ10’s potent antioxidant abilities may be able to protect egg and sperm cells from this oxidative and toxic damage. Without sufficient levels of CoEnzymeQ10 available, the quality and quantity of the egg or sperm may be compromised and therefore so is fertility. This cycle is more prevalent in those who are attempting conception at a ‘later’ stage in their fertile life. As our fertility peaks in our early 20’s and the average age for pregnancy in 2011 is 29 years old, many of us are conceiving in the ‘later’ stage of their fertile life. The body’s own production of CoEnzyme Q10 peaks at around the age of 21, therefore in combination with the slow reduction in quality of our eggs or sperm over time, many of us may also be experiencing low levels of CoEnzymeQ10.

Where’s the evidence?
Studies show that consuming additional CoQ10 has health benefits, including enhancing fertility in males and possibly, in females. A further study in 2009 demonstrated that improving intake of CoenzymeQ10 can improve both sperm shape, motility and mobility, thereby improving the rate of male fertility. The study examined the effects a 300 mg daily dose of CoQ10 had on men with infertility problems. After six months of CoQ10 supplementation, the researchers concluded that there was significant improvement in both motility and density of sperm cells.
And what about female fertility? Again in 2009, the Journal of Fertility and Sterility published a study that investigated the role of CoEnzymeQ10, along with other nutrients including selenium, in stimulating mitochondria production and thereby improving subsequent egg quality. The researchers found that CoQ10 supplementation increased the quantity and quality of eggs ovulated in the test group.

How do we improve our CoEnzymeQ10 levels?
Rich sources of dietary CoEnzymeQ10 include mainly meat, poultry, and fish. Other relatively rich sources include soybean and canola oils, and nuts. Fruits, vegetables, eggs, and dairy products are moderate sources of CoEnzymeQ10. However be mindful of the source of these foods as intensive farming (ie non-organic produce) reduces the amount of CoEnzymeq10 within food. Equally, pay attention to your cooking methods; steam your vegetables as approximately 14%-32% of Coenzyme Q10 is lost during frying of vegetables and eggs

You can also take coEnzymeQ10 in the form of a food supplement. CoQ10 is a fat-soluble nutrient so it should be taken with food that contains some fat in order to be absorbed and used by the body. In addition, smaller, multiple daily doses of CoQ10 are able to maintain more stable levels in the blood compared to larger single doses. Thus, instead of taking 300 mg of CoQ10 as a single daily dose, break it down to three doses of 100 mg.

J Endocrinol Invest. 2011 Sep;34(8):e224-8. Coenzyme Q10 improves seminal oxidative defense but does not affect on semen parameters in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: A randomized double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Nadjarzadeh A, Sadeghi MR, Amirjannati N, Vafa MR, Motevalian SA, Gohari MR, Akhondi MA, Yavari P, Shidfar F.

J Endocrinol Invest. 2009 Jul;32(7):626-32. .Coenzyme Q10 and male infertility.Balercia G, Mancini A, Paggi F, Tiano L, Pontecorvi A, Boscaro M, Lenzi A, Littarru GP.

The trial of almost 2,400 pregnant women, supplemented with Omega 3 also showed a 35 per cent reduction in the incidence of low birth weight babies and the same percentage reduction in post natal depression.

Findings included a very significant reduction in the number of 'slow developers' among the infants born to omega-3 supplemented mothers - from 6.9 per cent to 2.7 per cent.

Dr Alex Richardson, senior research fellow at the Centre for Evidence Based Intervention, University of Oxford, and co-founder of the UK charity Food and Behaviour Research, says:

"Many previous studies have shown the importance of omega-3 essential fatty acids for the normal development and future health of the unborn baby, as well as the health of the mother. In this trial - the largest of its kind - highly significant reductions were found in many factors that can adversely affect children's development and well being over their lifetime - including pre-term delivery, low birth weight, and seriously delayed language and cognitive development.

"All expectant mums need to ensure a good dietary intake of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and seafood, and for any women who choose not to eat these foods, supplementation offers a safe and effective way to ensure an adequate supply."

Results also found a 35 per cent reduction in depression in the treated group during the first six months postpartum. With one in 10 believed to suffer from post natal depression, trial findings suggest that by supplementing with fish oils during pregnancy, almost 28,000 UK mums could potentially avoid post natal depression annually.

Most interestingly the general health of the supplemented infants appeared to be markedly better, as evidenced by other significant measures including: reductions of 61 per cent in infant serious adverse health events, 43 per cent in infant admissions to intensive care and even 66 per cent in the number of foetal/infant deaths.

Thought I would bring this exciting article from the Daily Mail to your attention, don't know how far off this solution is, but it could be a major breakthrough in Arthritis relief.

A revolutionary jab made from stem cells found in tummy fat could soon stop osteoarthritis in its tracks.

The breakthrough provides hope for the eight million people in the UK who suffer from the incurable condition and could potentially save thousands from needing joint replacement surgery.

Dutch and French researchers found injecting stem cells harvested from a patient’s own waistline protects joints against crippling damage. It appears to be the closest experts have come to halting the disease using  stem cell

The therapy works by stopping destruction of cartilage – the ‘shock absorber’  tissue inside which gets ground down by osteoarthritis – and by protecting ligaments.

A single dose of stem cells extracted from adipose tissue – fat which accumulates around the stomach – more than halved damage to knee joints in mice.

The findings, revealed at the American College of Rheumatology in Chicago, could mark a turning point in the search for a treatment. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis in the UK.

Pain free: The treatment could end knee surgery for arthritis sufferers

It can inflame and damage any joints, but occurs mostly in the knees and  hips. Some joints become so severely worn down they require surgery.

As well as older age, risk factors include being overweight, a family history of the condition and sports-related injuries.

Many sufferers rely on anti-inflammatory painkillers to ease their suffering, but these can damage the stomach if used long-term. About 60,000 people a year end up needing a knee replacement.

Significantly, adipose tissue is   relatively easy to access and is thought to be the most abundant source of adult stem cells in the body.

According to some estimates, it contains 40 times more stem cells than bone marrow. Scientists are already using these fat cells in the search for cures for cancer, heart disease and spinal injuries.

Researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands, and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in France, injected adipose stem cells into the joints of mice with arthritic knees.

The cells, known as mesenchymal cells, have the capacity to grow into a variety of body tissues.

Some mice received the jab seven days after osteoarthritis first set in, others 14 days after – which would translate into a few weeks or months in humans.

When it was given sooner, the jab cut destruction of cartilage by 54 per cent compared with those  injected with a dummy jab. After six weeks, they had half the amount of ligament damage.

The jab also slowed a process called synovial activation, where the soft membrane around the joint becomes inflamed, in some cases by as much as 30 per cent.

British experts and charities including Arthritis Care last night welcomed the latest research.

Robert Moots, professor of rheumatology at the University of  Liverpool, warned it was not yet certain how stem cells will behave in human joints.
But he added: ‘It is the strongest clue yet that stem cell treatments could make a big difference.’

Advice on other currently available products

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2060551/The-revolutionary-cell-jab-halt-arthritis-millions.html#ixzz1dUXJ5Uho

Women are born with all the eggs they'll ever have. It's different for men. Men produce sperm all day, every day - throughout their lives

So how to add a bit of zip to that production line?

According to a study published in the journal Human Reproduction, men who took vitamin D tended to have more motile – or viable and moving – spermatozoa.

The Dutch team came to this conclusion after analyzing samples taken from 300 healthy men, none of whom were known to have fertility issues. Scientists noted that higher blood serum levels of the vitamin appeared to correlate with increased motility.

While the group noted that it is unclear whether or not vitamin D actually speeds up sperm, they did suggest that the nutrient is vital for reproductive health. The team added that further research may determine if dietary supplements may benefit men who are having reproductive problems.

Previous studies have shown that improving levels of calcium and vitamin D in the blood can improve fertility in vitamin-deficient male laboratory rodents.