Casefile 11 : Vitamin D deficiency

Come one come all!!! Forensic Scientist Kelly is back!!! Haha, gosh I haven't been here for a long long time. Bet you all miss my lectures, haha =) Well, I sprained my ankle like really recently and it's like the second time for my left ankle. I won't tell you how many times I've sprained my right one...Haiz. All these sprains made me think if my bones were weak so i decided to do some research.

So, i found out this really interesting but important vitamin...(drum roll)...Vitamin D! You may think it's not important but it is! Vitamin D deficiency can occur:

• when usual intake is below recommended levels.
• when there is limited exposure to sunlight.
• when the kidney cannot convert vitamin D to its active hormone form.
• when someone cannot adequately absorb vitamin D from the digestive tract.

Vitamin D deficiency causes diseases like rickets and osteomalacia. Rickets occurs in children. It is a bone disease characterised by a failure to properly mineralise bone tissue. It results in soft bones and skeletal deformities. Here's an interesting fact : In the late 19th and early 20th century, German physicians noted that consuming 1 to 3 teaspoons (3 teaspoons is equal to 1 tablespoon) of cod liver oil per day could reverse rickets. Isn't that cool?

Prolonged breastfeeding without Vitamin D supplementation can also lead to rickets. In addition, extensive use of sunscreen and increased day-care also lead to Vitamin D deficiency. Why??? Because increased day-care results in children having lesser outdoor activities and sun exposure.

Rickets is more common among immigrants from Asia, Africa, and Middle Eastern countries. Immigrants from these regions are more likely to follow the dress code that limit sun exposure thus leading to Vitamin D deficiency. In addition, darker pigmented skin converts UV rays to vitamin D less efficiently than lighter skin. So forget about getting a tan people! Haha...

X-ray of a child with rickets:

In adults, Vitamin dificiency results in osteomalacia, which causes muscle weakness in addition to weak bones. See that weak spot in that picture below?

Vitamin D dificiency can also lead to osteoporosis. While rickets and osteomalacia are extreme examples of Vitamin D dificiency, osteoporosis is a long-term effect of Vitamin D insufficiency. Adequate storage levels of Vitamin D help keep bones strong and may help prevent osteoporosis in older adults, in non-ambulatory individuals (those who have difficulty walking and exercising), in post-menopausal women, and in individuals on chronic steroid therapy. So you see, it's not only calcium which keeps our bones strong!

However, we must also take care not to take in too much Vitamin D. Vitamin D toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. It can also raise blood levels of calcium, causing mental status changes such as confusion. Sun exposure is unlikely to result in Vitamin D toxicity. Diet is also an unlikely cause, unless large amounts of cod liver oil are consumed, haha. Vitamin D toxicity is much more likely to occur from high intakes of Vitamin D in supplements.

Wow man, my lectures are still so long. I bet you all are sleeping now. Haha, by the way detective cxy, THAT PICTURE YOU POSTED WAS THE MOST DISGUSTING, GROSS AND REVOLTING PICTURE I HAVE EVER SEEN! It can be compared to that advertisement that asks you to quit smoking! Gosh...

By Forensic Scientist Kelly =)

Casefile 10: Lack of Vitamin C = DEATH

"What can Vitamin C deficiency lead to?"

"SCURVY!"

That's the typical answer we always get. However, that's not all. The lack of Vitamin C is fatal. Hence we need to know the symptoms, prevent and cure the lack of Vitamin C quickly!

Symptoms

1. Delayed healing of wounds.
Vitamin C contains collagen which holds the cells together and thus speeds up the healing of wounds. Without it, wounds will not be able to heal as quickly.

2. Bloody urine
Vitamin C also plays a vital part in all glands and organs in the body e.g. blood vessels. A lack of Vitamin C can cause fragile blood vessels. These blood vessels break easily and thus lead to bleeding. This is why a mild lack of Vitamin C can lead to blood in the urine. Also, linking to the previous point, because wounds cannot heal quickly, prolonged deficiency of Vitamin C can cause a minor injury e.g. an ulcer to aggravate and lead to profuse bleeding!! THIS CAN BE FATAL.

3. Weak immune system
Vitamin C is known as the "antibiotic vitamin". It is vital for us to stay healthy. A person with low level of Vitamin C in the blood or urine is prone to infectious diseases e.g. common colds. Hence this can be treated by a large intake of Vitamin C! As easy as ABC. :)

4. Stress!!!
Hey, Inspector Zhao, stress is not unrelated to deficiency diseases! Lack of Vitamin C causes stress and vice versa!

5. Cancer
Stress causes a depletion of vitamin C. As vitamin C is a vital form of antibody, its deficiency will allow cancer growth in cancer patients Cancer patients especially children with leukemia, show symptoms of bleeding gums, bruising, and profuse bleeding, due to Vitamin C deficiency. Hence vitamin C dosage can prevent cancer growth and in some cases even results in its regression.

6. Deformed babies

7. Ugly smile!
Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron and thus ensures healthy gums, bones and teeth, and fresh complexion. Without Vitamin C, your smile will look like this:

Scary arh? So start stuffing yourselves with citrus fruits, e.g. guavas, lemones, limes, oranges, papayas and POTATOES (potato chips excluded. :p)!

Love,

Detective CxY

http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:LHr0g-l0pgEJ:www.diethealthclub.com/daily-menu/vitamin-c-or-ascorbic-acid.html+Vitamin+C+deficiency+mental+stress&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=sg

Unrelated Casefile : Stress

The Criminal Psychology Department requested this information to be released as soon as possible. It has nothing to do with deficiency diseases but it is of utmost importance that we are all in the know.
















Do you feel like this?

Stress is a psychological and physiological response to events that upset our personal balance in some way. Stress is extremely common among students, especially with schedules like what we have!

The largest study ever conducted on acne and stress reveals that teenagers who were under high levels of stress were 23% more likely to have increased acne severity, according to researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and colleagues.


And not only that! Stress affects a person both physically and psychologically. It can cause high blood pressure, digestive problems, headaches, inablity to concentrate, poor judgement, pessimism et cetera.

BUT THE WORST THING IS stressors(the event that triggers the stress) are not only negative things (like a tiring schedule) but also good things (like getting promoted) !

How on earth are we supposed to manage our stress if anything and everything can cause stress?
There is no single solution to stress that would work for everyone, it all depends on your stress levels and stressors.

-You can try getting more rest, it doesn't have to be sleep, stoning is also a form of rest.
-Exercising regularly will also help by releasing endorphins or endomorhpines(more about this coming soon to this blog)
-Watch a stupid movie or TV show that will make you laugh. Laughing releases endomorphines too :D


If you want more information on stress, check out http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm