Lead threat thrives. The state Department of Health is aiming to eliminate all lead exposure cases by 2010. That may be difficult in Washington County, where officials report as many as 20 cases a year. [News Source]

High Blood Levels Of Vitamin D Protect Women From Breast Cancer, Study Suggests (Science Daily) High blood levels of vitamin D protect post-menopausal women from breast cancer. This connection has been confirmed by research of the German Cancer Research Center. It also shows that a particular gene variant of the vitamin D receptor is associated with an elevated breast cancer risk if the tumor has receptors for the female sex hormone estrogen. [News Source]

Old Orchard Introduces First Multi-Serve Vitamin Water, Sweetened with Agave Nectar and Real Fruit Juice (PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance) Leading beverage company Old Orchard Brands introduces a unique entry into the functional beverage category today with the launch of FruitSense, the first vitamin water available in multi-serve, 64-ounce bottles. [News Source]

Biofuels getting bad press. Biofuels are getting blamed for causing a global food crisis and setting back worldwide anti-poverty efforts. Does growing things to make them into ethanol make sense? What are the alternatives? [News Source]

Can the earth provide enough food for 9 billion people? A tight global food situation with record-high grain prices presents the possibility of increasing malnutrition, perhaps famine, in parts of Africa and South Asia. [News Source]

Consumers struggle to get rid of BPA. When most Canadians open their kitchen cupboards, they're sure to find at least one product packaged in a container made with bisphenol A. [News Source]

Vitamin D lessens breast cancer risk (UPI) German scientists say women with low blood levels of a marker for vitamin D are at heightened risk for breast cancer. [News Source]

Your Health: Experts recommend daily doses of vitamin D at 1,000 to 2,000 units (Tri-State Neighbor)

Q:As a physician, I have been testing my patients for 25-hydroxy vitamin D for several months. Many are deficient, and some have symptoms of pain and muscle weakness.

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WGA: Vitamin B12 deficiency, insomnia (KXAN 36 Austin) AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) -- If you are feeling tired and irritable you might want to see your doctor, it could be a medical problem. Dr. Sujata Jere with the Austin Diagnostic Clinic in Round Rock has seen patients come in this week with Vitamin B12 deficiency. [News Source]

Vitamin D linked to brain function: Study (New Kerala) Washington, Apr 21 : In a definitive critical review, scientists at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland have found convincing biological and behavioural evidence indicating a vital link between vitamin D and brain development and function. [News Source]

Low Vitamin D May Raise Breast Cancer Risk (KMGH 7 Denver) Having less vitamin D in her blood may make a woman more likely to get breast cancer. [News Source]

Low Vitamin D May Raise Breast Cancer Risk (KSAT San Antonio) Having less vitamin D in her blood may make a woman more likely to get breast cancer. [News Source]