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Calcium-Packed Carrots in the Works
Jan. 14, 2008 -- The carrots of tomorrow may pack more calcium, thanks to genetic engineering.
Normal carrots don't contain much calcium. By tweaking a carrot gene, scientists at Texas A & M University and Baylor College of Medicine have developed calcium-rich carrots.
In an experiment, 30 adults ate the genetically modified carrots one day and normal carrots another day. Both types of carrots contained a tracer chemical that tracked calcium absorption.
Participants absorbed 41% more calcium from the genetically modified carrots than from the normal carrots. That calcium may boost calcium consumption, helping to protect bones from osteoporosis, but the calcium-rich carrots aren't ready for prime time.
"These carrots were grown in carefully monitored and controlled environments," Baylor's Kendal Hirschi, PhD, states in a news release. "Much more research needs to be conducted before this would be available to consumers."
Meanwhile, you can get calcium from plenty of other foods (including dairy products, leafy green veggies, and fortified foods) and from supplements. And don't forget about weight-bearing exercise if you're trying to prevent or treat osteoporosis.
The study appears in this week's online early edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
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