Nutrient Spotlight: Vitamin D
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Although the majority of Americans consume sufficient amounts of most nutrients, vitamin D is consumed by many individuals in amounts below the Estimated Average Requirement. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans identified vitamin D as a nutrient of public health concern because low intakes are associated with health concerns.
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Vitamin D has also been getting quite a bit of press recently for its possible role in COVID-19. In a retrospective study of patients tested for COVID-19, researchers at the University of Chicago Medicine found an association between vitamin D deficiency and the likelihood of becoming infected with the coronavirus.
“Vitamin D is important to the function of the immune system and vitamin D supplements have previously been shown to lower the risk of viral respiratory tract infections,” said David Meltzer, Chief of Hospital Medicine at UChicago Medicine and lead author of the study. “Our statistical analysis suggests this may be true for the COVID-19 infection.”
The research team looked at 489 patients at UChicago Medicine whose vitamin D level had been measured within a year before being tested for COVID-19. Patients who had vitamin D deficiency (defined as less than 20 nanograms per milliliter of blood) that was not treated were almost twice as likely to test positive for COVID-19 compared to patients who had sufficient levels of the vitamin.
It’s important to note that the study only found the two conditions were frequently seen together; it does not prove causation. Meltzer and colleagues are currently planning further clinical trials.
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This year’s Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo has gone virtual, and the Mushroom Council will be exhibiting, sharing new research, hosting live cooking demos and giving away fun prizes. Please stop by and chat with us. We’d love to “see” you!
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Mushroom Council/FNCE Highlights
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- Live Cooking Demo with Registered Dietitian Pam Smith
October 18-20 @ 1 p.m. CT
- Sunday 10/18: Smoky Blended Burgers
- Monday: 10/19 Pam’s “Possible” Sliders
- Tuesday 10/20: Ultimate Taco Bar
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- Mushroom Pub Quiz
October 18 & 19 @ 3:30 p.m. CT
Wind down with some fun mushroom trivia and win prizes!
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- Poster Session
October 20 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Nutritional impact of mushrooms in US Diet: A dietary modeling study using NHANES 2011-2016 data. Presented by Dr. Victor L. Fulgoni.
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