Date:January 13, 2016
Source:University of Edinburgh
High levels of vitamin D are linked to improved fertility and reproductive success, a study of wild sheep has found.
The study, carried out on a remote Hebridean island, adds to growing evidence that vitamin D -- known as the sunshine vitamin -- is associated with reproductive health.
Experts hope that further studies will help to determine the relevance of the results for other mammals, including people.
Researchers led by the University of Edinburgh measured concentrations of a marker linked to vitamin D in the blood of an unmanaged population of Soay sheep, on St Kilda.
Scientists found that sheep with higher levels of vitamin D in their blood at the end of the summer went on to have more lambs in the following spring.
The study offers the first evidence that an animal's vitamin D status is associated with an evolutionary advantage.
Vitamin D is produced in the skin of sheep and other animals, including people, after exposure to sunlight. It can also be found in some foods, including certain types of plants. It is essential for healthy bones and teeth and has been linked to other health benefits.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
You only need to enter your comment once! Comments will appear once they have been moderated. This is so as to stop the would-be comedian who has been spamming the comments here with inane and often offensive remarks. You know who you are!