Tuesday, 29 September 2009
TWO of our plucky Bighearted Scotland winners are planning to climb one of the world's highest mountains - and want celebs to join them!
Go-getting gong heroes Ryan McLaughlin and Allan Thomas have asked Ultimo tycoon Michelle Mone and Celtic defender Gary Caldwell to take part in their Comic Relief-style trek up Kilimanjaro.And the bra queen is said to be "definitely interested" after she and fellow guest Gary met the dynamic duo at our awards bash last week.
Mountaineer Allan, who won the Fundraiser of the Year award, plans to lead the trek next summer - and Ryan 14, is determined to join him.
Allan, 41, of Aberdeen said: "Meeting people like Ryan was really inspiring. We want to raise £100,000."
The salesman, who won our gong for climbing Everest to raise cash for cancer victims, is deciding whether to tackle 19,340ft- tall Kilimanjaro or 15,781ft Mont Blanc in the Alps. He said: "Mont Blanc is technically more difficult, but Kilimanjaro is higher so altitude sickness can be worse."
Allan has invited Michelle and Gary to train on Scotland's hills, along with other Bighearted nominees.
He and Ryan aim to raise cash for the six Bighearted charities as well as their own causes.
Ryan, of Drumchapel, Glasgow - who won Child of the Year for his campaign to help multiple sclerosis sufferers like mum Kirsten, 34 - said: "There will be blisters, sweat and tears but I can do it."
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/500317/Awards-winners-want-stars-to-climb-Kilimanjaro-to-raise-charity-cash.html
Miss Scotland ready to hit the heights
MISS Scotland Katharine Brown and DJ Suzie McGuire have signed up to join Celts ace Gary Caldwell in a Bighearted charity climb up Mount Kilimanjaro
The daring celebs have agreed to take part in the Comic Relief-style trek up the 19,340ft Tanzanian mountain next summer.
We told earlier this month how Hoops defender Gary volunteered for the adventure at our glitzy Bighearted Scotland Awards.
He was impressed with the plan to conquer Africa’s highest peak by award-winners Ryan McLaughlin, 14, and Allan Thomas, 41 – and now Kath and Suzie will join them too.
Kath, 22, from Dunblane, Perthshire, said: “I was thrilled to be asked and immediately said yes.
“I’ve always wanted to climb that mountain – I’m drawn to it.”
Clyde 1’s Suzie, 35, from Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, added: “I’m definitely up for it – but I am nervous.”
Gary, 27, said: “I’m really excited about Kilimanjaro. As long as the dates don’t clash with football commitments I’ll do it.
“There are a couple of others in the dressing room who want to climb it too.”
Aberdonian Allan, who won our Fundraiser of the Year, and Child of the Year Ryan, of Drumchapel, Glasgow, hope the trek will raise £100,000 for the six Bighearted Scotland charities, plus their own causes.
www.shineonscotland.org.uk
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Vitamin D Deficiency Triggers Multiple Sclerosis
Supplements during pregnancy and early years could cut child’s susceptibility, study says
Posted February 5, 2009
THURSDAY, Feb. 5 (HealthDay News) — A direct interaction between vitamin D and a common genetic variant may affect a person’s risk of multiple sclerosis, according to British and Canadian researchers who also said that vitamin D deficiency while in the womb and early in life may increase the risk of MS later in life.
Both genetic and environmental factors play a role in MS, a neurological condition that affects 2.5 million people worldwide. Vitamin D is a major environmental factor, and the largest genetic effect comes from the region on chromosome six containing a gene variant called DRB1*1501 and from adjacent DNA sequences.
In the general population, about one in 1,000 people will develop MS. But that increases to about one in 300 among people who have a single copy of the DRB1*1501 and about one in 100 among people with two copies of the variant.
The study found that proteins activated by vitamin D in the body bind to a particular DNA sequence lying next to the DRB1*1501 variant, which causes the gene to switch on.
The study was published in the Feb. 6 edition of PLoS Genetics.
“In people with the DRB1 variant associated with MS, it seems that vitamin D may play a critical role. If too little of the vitamin is available, the gene may not function properly,” study co-author Julian Knight said in a journal news release.
The researchers believe that vitamin D deficiency in mothers or even in a previous generation may lead to altered expression of DRB1*1501 in offspring.
“Our study implies that taking vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and the early years may reduce the risk of child developing MS in later life,” lead author Dr. Sreeram Ramagopalan said in the news release. “Vitamin D is a safe and relatively cheap supplement with substantial potential health benefits. There is accumulating evidence that it can reduce the risk of developing cancer and offer protection from other autoimmune diseases.”
More information
The Multiple Sclerosis Society has more about genetics and MS.
Thursday, 4 June 2009
have you signed the epetition yet
Time is running out to sign the shine on scotland campaign petition it ends on Monday
Is Vitamin D Deficiency Linked To Alzheimer's Disease And Vascular Dementia?
cienceDaily (May 27, 2009) — There are several risk factors for the development of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. Based on an increasing number of studies linking these risk factors with Vitamin D deficiency, an article in the current issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (May 2009) by William B. Grant, PhD of the Sunlight, Nutrition, and Health Research Center (SUNARC) suggests that further investigation of possible direct or indirect linkages between Vitamin D and these dementias is needed.
Low serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] have been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, depression, dental caries, osteoporosis, and periodontal disease, all of which are either considered risk factors for dementia or have preceded incidence of dementia. In 2008, a number of studies reported that those with higher serum 25(OH)D levels had greatly reduced risk of incidence or death from cardiovascular diseases.
Several studies have correlated tooth loss with development of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia. There are two primary ways that people lose teeth: dental caries and periodontal disease. Both conditions are linked to low vitamin D levels, with induction of human cathelicidin by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D being the mechanism.
There is also laboratory evidence for the role of vitamin D in neuroprotection and reducing inflammation, and ample biological evidence to suggest an important role for vitamin D in brain development and function.
Given these supportive lines of evidence, Dr. Grant suggests that studies of incidence of dementia with respect to prediagnostic serum 25(OH)D or vitamin D supplementation are warranted. In addition, since the elderly are generally vitamin D deficient and since vitamin D has so many health benefits, those over the age of 60 years should consider having their serum 25(OH)D tested, looking for a level of at least 30 ng/mL but preferably over 40 ng/mL, and supplementing with 1000-2000 IU/day of vitamin D3 or increased time in the sun spring, summer, and fall if below those values.
Writing in the article, Dr. Grant states, "There are established criteria for causality in a biological system. The important criteria include strength of association, consistency of findings, determination of the dose-response relation, an understanding of the mechanisms, and experimental verification. To date, the evidence includes observational studies supporting a beneficial role of vitamin D in reducing the risk of diseases linked to dementia such as vascular and metabolic diseases, as well as an understanding of the role of vitamin D in reducing the risk of several mechanisms that lead to dementia."
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