There are new federal guidelines for upper limits for some vitamins to discourage potentially harmful ``mega-doses.'' For instance, over 35 mg daily of niacin can cause facial flushing and extremely high doses can damage the liver. More than 100 mg daily of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) may cause sensory nerve damage.
Too much vitamin A has been linked to birth defects, so pregnant women should take no more than the RDA of 5,000 IU daily. It is best to take vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene.
LATEST STUDY: WALKING HAS NO EFFECT ON LABOR
Should pregnant women walk during labor? Some professionals think strolling around during the early stages makes childbirth go more smoothly. Others are just as adamant that women should stay in bed. Traditionally, those who favor walking argue that it might reduce discomfort and make the uterus perform better. Those on the other side say it's safer for women to stay in bed, where they won't fall down and can be monitored more easily.
A new study of more than 1,000 women finds neither side is right: Walking during labor has no effect - good or bad - on labor and delivery, said Dr. Steven L. Bloom, who directed the study through the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
QUITTING IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN SMOKING
While it's never too late to quit smoking, some effects of the habit are permanent and irreversible. That's according to the American Council on Science and Health, a nonprofit consumer group, which says smoking for as few as five years damages virtually every organ in the human body. The group adds: ``We don't want to dishearten or depress smokers - quitting is always healthier than smoking.''
DRINK MILK, OJ TO KEEP YOUR GUMS HEALTHY
Got milk? How about orange juice? Scientists at the State University of New York at Buffalo have found that people who consumed too little calcium or too little vitamin C had a greater risk of developing gum disease than those whose diets contained adequate levels of both nutrients. The studies underscore the importance of diet in preventing periodontal disease, said Sara Grossi, director of the UB Periodontal Research Center, where the research was conducted.
Adults are recommended to have 800 mg a day of calcium, which is critical to the formation of bones and teeth. Too little calcium can lead to osteoporosis and other ailments in later life.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IS LINKED TO DEMENTIA
Alzheimer's disease affects an estimated 4 million people in the United States and is the most common cause of dementia in older people. The Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center, sponsored by the federal government's National Institute on Aging, provides a number of resources for both patients and caregivers.
Free brochures cover a variety of topics, ranging from risk factors to new treatment options. ADEAR also provides referrals to research facilities conducting clinical trials.
For information, call ADEAR at 1-800-438-4380.