Endocrinology

Many of us take supplements, mostly vitamins, convinced that the pills will make us healthier. Vitamins help regulate body processes and help us grow and develop healthily. Similarly, minerals are also essential for the body to grow and function properly. However, contrary to this, by overdosing our vitamin and mineral consumption we are actually increasing our risk of disease. Check out.

Thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. Hormonesdefine produced by the thyroid gland have an enormous impact on the health, affecting all aspects of metabolism, from the rate at which the heart beats to how quickly one burn calories.

As long as the thyroid releases the proper amounts of these hormones, the human system functions normally. But sometimes, the thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones, upsetting the balance of chemical reactions in the body. This condition is known as hypothyroidism, or under-active thyroid disease.

Mutations that lengthen a worm's lifespan also inhibit tumor growth, according to a study in this week's Science. The authors found that mutant Caenorhabditis elegans worms that live twice as long show increased cell death and decreased cell division in tumor cells.

The finding is the latest in a string of phenotypes that have been linked to longevity mutants, including resistance to memory loss, muscle deterioration, and pathogenic microorganisms.

Researchers from the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam have found that an increase of vitamin D intake -- from supplements, diet or sun exposure -- may lower the risk of falls in the elderly.

Previous studies have suggested that vitamin D from supplements can decrease the risk of falls, but not all of the studies have confirmed their findings. According to lead researcher Dr. Marieke Snijder, this is because the tests have been relatively small and focused on institutionalized seniors; primarily women.