Essay about Film Versions of Shakespeare Comedies

Film Versions of Shakespeare Comedies Shakespearean plays are complex, intricate pieces of work in which a diverse range of interpretations and readings can be made. This is particularly true of his comedies, where the light-hearted humour is often offset by darker, more serious undertones. In adapting these comedies it is for the director – in the cinematic context – to decide how to interpret the play and which elements are privileged and which are suppressed. This variance in interpretation is exemplified in comparing two of the more recent cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare’s comedies, Trevor Nunn’s Twelfth Night and Kenneth Branagh’s A Much Ado About Nothing [‘Much Ado’]. Although both films can to an extent be seen as†¦show more content†¦This action is the first imperative step that leads to the undoing of several characters, primarily Malvolio. It is essentially Malvolio’s ultimate narcissism that allows the other characters to easily plot his demi se . Nunn’s adaptation of Feste is not dissimilar to Malvolio with his interpretation of the ‘professional clown’ proving persuasive because the fool presents wise insights into the complicated web of love that many principal characters become entwined with. His ability to suggest that love is a game, that lovers often love to love, and that love can be almost blind, are important themes to the attraction and comedy of the film. However Nunn utilises Feste above the scope of the comedic, with his poignant insights reminding the audience that this film is in fact dealing with serious issues and at times, the deeper, disturbing, side of love. In Ben Kingsley’s moving performance, Feste becomes an outsider as a man who lives alone away from Olivia’s house yet somehow witnesses all that occurs amongst the characters and provides some telling insights. This is illustrated when he shows Olivia why take away the fool could mean take away the lady, arguing not on ly to save his job but also out of a deep compassion for Olivia’s grief over her brothers death, and a desire to show why she need not commitShow MoreRelated What is drama? The Collins dictionary describes drama as a serious1360 Words   |  6 Pagesentertainment needs. Today technology has helped drama mature. The public is able to view their favourite soap opera or comedy program on the television or on the Internet. William Shakespeare was and still today is believed to be the greatest playwright of all time. He had the ability to pack the theatre every night when he was performing in one of his 37 plays of comedies, histories and tragedies. Baz Ulhrman described him as being incredibly popular In the late 16th century ShakespearesRead MoreBenedick And Beatrice In William Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing1042 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s classic comedy Much Ado About Nothing follows the story of the two famous pairs of young lovers; Claudio and Hero, and Benedick and Beatrice. Although mainly following the first pair throughout the text, the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice is followed throughout the text with less attention from the reader, not noticing love forming between the two. Shakespeare sets his text in Messina, a town located on the island of Sicily in Italy. The play mainly takes place atRead MoreDifferences Of Shakespeare And Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare1668 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare was a well known British writer who was known for the many plays and sonnets he wrote. This 16th century writer wrote a play called Much Ado About Nothing in the year 1598 (Alchin). This play consists of many charact ers meddling into each others lives, causing chaos, lots of drama, and even romance making for some very comedic entertainment. The title gives away a lot about the plot that it really is a lot about nothing. Shakespeare is regarded as a very influential writer inRead More Shakespeare In Love -Combination of Romantic Comedy and Shakespearean Tragedy1505 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare In Love -Combination of Romantic Comedy and Shakespearean Tragedy William Shakespeare once told us, All the World’s a Stage —and now his quote can be applied to his own life as it is portrayed in the recent film, Shakespeare In Love. This 1998 motion picture prospered with the creative scripting of Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman and direction of John Madden. The combined effort of these men, on top of many other elements, produced a film that can equally be enjoyed by the ShakespeareRead MoreBaz s Film And William Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet939 Words   |  4 PagesBaz Lurhmann film or William Shakespeare play Romeo Juliet is one of the most famous plays of all time. All most ever person in the world has heard of this play and the author William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare is one of the first authors to have a play start off as a comedy but ends up as a tragedy. A lot people have even tried to turn Romeo Juliet into a movie. The most successful at this has been Baz Luhrmann with his star cast; and his use of the exact lines in the play makes hisRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1124 Words   |  5 PagesThe play Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare s most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. Its plot is based onRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All1554 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a British poet and playwright, he was well known as the greatest writer of all time, he was often called the Bard of Avon.Although many facts of his life remain unknown, his poems and plays are unique and have timeless theme that touch everyone’s heart, and are still widely studied and performed in today’s society. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England enjoyed a time of prosperity and stability that ledRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All1568 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare: Greatest Playwright of All William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a British poet and playwright, he was well known as the greatest writer of all time, he was often called the Bard of Avon.Although many facts of his life remain unknown, his poems and plays are unique and have timeless theme that touch everyone’s heart, and are still widely studied and performed in today’s society. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, England enjoyed a time of prosperity and stability that ledRead MoreThe Comedy and Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare1115 Words   |  5 PagesThe Comedy and Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare The Prologue includes phrases like death-marked love and fatal loins. From this we might think that Romeo and Juliet is an unrelenting tragedy. Yet the first Act has many humorousRead MoreShakespeares Timeless Love Story Retold in Film Essay911 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"He was not of an age, but for all time!†, described Ben Jonson in regards to Shakespeare (qtd. in Chrisp 62). As research proves, there is no doubt to the truth of this statement. Adding to Jonson’s words in regards to Shakespeare’s timelessness Peter Chrisp explains that â€Å"there have been more than 500 film and TV adaptations of Shakespeare’s dramas† (Chrisp 65; Mabillard). Furthermore, in the introduction to Gnomeo and Juliet, a Red Good Gnome says, â€Å"The story we are about to tell has been told

Cultural Plunge - 1022 Words

Cultural Plunge at an Asian Market As I contemplated on what my cultural plunge was going to be, it made me realize that I am lucky to say that I have been exposed and acquainted with maybe more than the usual. My ex-husband is Middle Eastern, I am Mexican, and I have homo-sexual friends, and have and had friends that are African-American, Caucasian, Japanese, Filipino, Jewish, and Korean. I finally chose to explore more of the Asian culture because although I have friends that are Asian I liked to know more about their culture. Being that I love to cook, I decided to go to an Asian market. As I searched the internet for suggestions on where to go, I found 99 Ranch Market to have the highest ratings. 99 Ranch Market is an Asian†¦show more content†¦Although not sold in its original form at our common grocery stores, we normally see the flavor being used in teas and smoothies. Then there was the mangosteen. It is another purple fruit. It is creamy and citrusy with a hint of peach. Second to last is th e Lychee. This is a common Asian fruit that is small and white in the inside and has a grape like texture when eaten. Lastly was the Durian, sadly the worst one of them. It has hard spiky husk that needed to be cracked opened. I was warned about this one but didn’t think it was going to be as bad as it was. It smelled like skunk spray/ sewage. I tried to taste it but didn’t. We immediately threw it away. The smell was horrible. A lady who I spoke to at the store prior to buying the fruit just told me that it was an acquired taste and smell, but I didn’t expect what we experienced. Nonetheless, I enjoyed going through and tasting each fruit. It definitely was an experience and an eye opener to the different types of fruit out there besides your usual bananas, strawberries, and oranges. Ultimately I have to say that I enjoyed this overall experience. It has opened up my eyes to many different cultures and definitely different way of eating. Since my visit, I have bought and Asian inspired cook book and plan to make a few dishes with ingredients that are only found at Asian markets. Oh and next time I decided to go; I’ll make sure not to take my bigShow MoreRelatedAssignment on Cultural Plunge672 Words   |  3 PagesI. PRIOR EXPECTATIONS My first reaction when receiving this assignment was surprise. Usually, a cultural plunge would involve a person entering a cultural type environment that is not within the persons comfort zone, as described by Pham (2013). However, since this type of plunge is also outside of our comfort zone, I suppose that it could also qualify as a cultural plunge. I am looking forward to trying this exercise, since I believe it will teach me a lot about not only myself, but also aboutRead MoreCultural Plunge: An Exceptional History Of Perseverance.2116 Words   |  9 PagesCultural Plunge: An Exceptional History of Perseverance In the early hours of morning on June 28th, 1969, New York City, hundreds gathered; All of them connected and protesting for their rights. In Greenwich Village, a poor Manhattan neighborhood, stood a bar where people of all ages, different identities and walks of life came to. The Stonewall Inn had become a sanctuary for many people gave them a chance to be themselves without worry of being accepted, treated unfairly or cruelly becauseRead MoreCultural Exploration Of A Sightseeing Tour1707 Words   |  7 Pageslearning about different cultures, as each new culture I encounter teaches me to truly appreciate diversity. In this course, I had the opportunity to partake in a cultural exploration from the comfort of my home, and gain new perspectives from various readings, discussions, films. In addition, the course also encouraged me to step outside my â€Å"cultural comfort zone† through different exploratory projects. It would be difficult to explore the ever-expanding multitude of cultures that exist (and will exist)Read More Career Development in Generation X Essay2185 Words   |  9 Pagesof their parents when they were children, they are committed to spending time with their own children. Their family values are more like those evident in the 1950s, and it is predicted that the divorce rates of this generation will show a downward plunge. They are more realistic about the balance between their work and family/social lives that will give them satisfaction and make them happy. The women in Generation X are especially cognizant of career realities. Many of them are ruling out jobsRead MoreThe Second Hofstede Cultural Dimension Compared : Individualism Vs. Collectivism1643 Words   |  7 PagesThe second Hofstede cultural dimension compared is â€Å"Individualism vs. Collectivism† which indicates whether members within a society define themselves as individuals or associate themselves with a particular group. In Hofstede’s comparison of Japanese and American cultures, American culture scored relatively high (91) in the individualism dimension. On the contrary, the Japanese culture scored relatively low (46) which firmly categorizes the culture as Collectivist. To clarify, Americans placesRead MoreThe Pregnancy Outreach And Birth Mothers956 Words   |  4 PagesFor my cultural plunge, I decided to sit in at a birth mothers care group for women who decided to give their child or children up for adoption. This care group is one of many care gr oups held by Crisis Pregnancy Outreach. Crisis Pregnancy Outreach, or â€Å"CPO† is a nonprofit organization assisting women in crisis, such as those experiencing unplanned pregnancies. Their main mission is to help woman find alternate solutions to unplanned pregnancies that do not result in abortion. Each week women gatherRead MoreSocial Issues Of The Young Middle Class778 Words   |  4 Pages‘passion’, ‘self-belief’, and the ‘conviction’ that ‘no dream is distant’† (3). Gooptu writes that these do-ers, â€Å"do not place blame on political systems or infrastructure; instead they take the responsibility themselves, roll up their sleeves, and plunge into action† (3). The young entrepreneurs demonstrate different forms of agency, less in the form of resistance as the activists in other chapters take, but more of a proactive form of agency, as improvisation and resourcefulness. Many of the youngRead MoreAnalysis Of Louise Erdrich s A Healthy Way Essay1369 Words   |  6 Pagesand government-sanctioned Indian boarding schools. The characters in Tracks must reconcile with their Native American culture while also facing the constant threat to their culture. The characters in Tracks attempt to understand and accept the ir cultural identities in a country doomed with racial tensions. Napush is an example of a character who is able to positively accept his Native American identity in a healthy way, while Pauline is an example of a character who is unable to accept her NativeRead MoreVolunteering At A Nursing Home1446 Words   |  6 PagesThe cultural experience that I decided to participate in was volunteering at a nursing home. Hospice centers focus on the care of chronically or terminally ill patients. Volunteering at such a center would require training and certification and a clean bill of health. Nursing homes require similar training for some forms of volunteer service, however there are other options available that still allow direct interaction with residents. I chose to volunteer at the LakePoint Nursing and RehabilitationRead MoreResearch of the Tingunee Essay689 Words   |  3 PagesResearch of the Tingunee Meghan Shmunes Cultural Anthropology Professor Pappas June 9 2013 Shmunes 1 After receiving this grant, I cannot wait to go study the people and culture of Tingunee. Before I embark on this journey to the Tingunee of the lower Quebin river valley though, there are some important things I must make sure I do first. There has been no known visitors to Tingunee or any research conducted on their culture, so I will need to

Biography of Charles Willson Peale The True Renaissance...

The self taught, revered scientists, extensive naturalist and all around jack of all trades Charles Willson Peale was thought of like a true Renaissance man. All of his artistic talent and knowledge he passed on to his many sons. Being friends with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, Peale promoted artistic development and public art. In his artwork, he captured the realness and vivacity of life. The similarities between Peale and his American contemporaries can be seen when they are compared to him. The well known Neo-classicist artist, Charles Peale through all of his trades was a masterful craftsman and artist. Fully skilled in many fields Charles Peale was known as an American Leonardo. Living from 1741-1827†¦show more content†¦Painted from 1770-1773 The Peale Family consisted of nine of the Peale family members and their â€Å"faithful nurse† (Strickland 72). Willson himself is in the back left holding a palette and painting on an easel that says â€Å"Concordia Animae,† which means, harmony of souls. The unique composition of The Peale Family shows â€Å"the essential unity of the group† (Strickland 72). Connected by the hand and shoulder contact, the people in this painting seem to overlap, showing the concept of E Pluribus Unum. Popular in the 1800’s to the early 1900’s the style of conversation was used in this painting (Strickland 72). The clearness, crispness and realism represented in The Peale Family, demonstrated the classical nature of Peale’s work. Although some of his other works contain a more heroic and classical theme, the y still convey the same styles. Being the first to paint a portrait of George Washington, and also painting portraits of 40 different officers from Valley Forge, Peale was known to have painted very â€Å"outstanding American leaders† (Encyclopedia of World Biography). As he painted in his classical style, Willson Peale established a name for himself that would be remembered for centuries. The American contemporaries of Peale and the things they achieved were in some ways similar and rivaled to his own. One of Peale’s friends and the president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson was an architect who built the University of

Factors That May Affect Vitamin D

Question: Describe about the Factors that may affect vitamin D? Anser: Factors that may affect vitamin D status Geographical Location As the majority of vitamin D is produced in the skin and requires UVB radiation to initiate the process, latitude can have a pronounced effect vitamin D status. In countries with a latitude below 35N the body can produce sufficient vitamin D all year round (Tsiaras Weinstock 2011). At latitudes above 35N, which includes much of Europe including Germany; Italy and Amsterdam, sunlight exposure is limited during the winter months and therefore there is higher risk of vitamin D3 deficiency (Webb et al., 1988). A study conducted in the USA, at high latitude 44N, by Sullivan et al.(2005), found that approximately 28% of younger girls had a serum 25(OH) D level below 75nmol/l in cold places. In contrast, hypovitaminosis D can be infected people who live in sunny countries that can produce a high amount of vitamin D because of their lifestyle (Horani et al. 2011). Season In European countries, seasonal changes has significant impact on vitamin D as compared with countries located near equator, the concentration of 25(OH)D is higher in summer and gets lower in winter season (Levis et al., 2005 ). A cross sectional study was conducted by (Mavroeidi et al., 2010) to assess vitamin D status in 3000 postmenopausal women at different seasons, over a period of one year. Additionally the study assessed the incidence of hypovitaminosis D in participants from different cities in the UK (Aberdeen 57N, Surrey 57N). The data showed that vitamin D deficiency was higher in the north of the UK than in the south. In Surrey, 17.1% of Asian women were found to be deficient in vitamin D (These datas were based on the dietary and predictors. Hypovitaminosis with the highest rates recorded among residents of regions in Aberdeen by 25-26% in postmenopausal women during winter and spring, and decreased to 4.2% in summer. Similarly, in a study carried out by (Hypponen and Po wer, 2007) showed consistent findings, confirming that the incidence of hypovitaminosis D is higher in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK. In contrast, the survey conducted by Levis et al (2005) in Florida, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in 212 participants was 38% and 40% in male and female respectively, in the wintertime with mean serum 25 (OH) D was 24.9 8.7 ng/cc, whereas, the mean serum 25 (OH) D concentrations of sub-optimal group (just 99 people) was (31.0 11.0 ng/ml) in the end of summer. Skin type and Race Skin type and race considered as factors could effect on vitamin D status because the effectiveness of melanin to absorb UVB radiation could increase the effectiveness of cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D3 (Kift et al., 2013). In 2007, a study carried out by Chen et al. (DATE) indicated that the skin pigmentation could have an effect on D3 production in the skin. This study was conducted by measuring serum 25(OH) D concentrations in adults with different types of skin (Universal skin classification, II or White, fair, blue eyes, III or Mediterranean, blue or brown eyes , IV or Asian, brown eyes and V or Light-skinned black, Indian. At the end of study, serum 25(OH)D concentrations were increased dramatically in all types of skin. Actual recorded mean levels for types II, III, IV and V were 210%, 187%, 125%, and 40% respectively. The authors concluded that the production of previtamin D3 in Type II skin is (5-10 fold) more potent than the type V skin (highly pigmented skin). Table 1: Skin type, skin reaction to sun exposure Skin type Skin colour Skin reaction I White, red hair, or fair Always burns, never tans II White, fair, blue eyes Burns easily III Mediterranean, blue or brown eyes Mild burn, tans average IV Asian, brown eyes Rarely burns, tans easily V Light-skinned black, Indian No burn VI Dark-skinned black No burn From Lips et al (2014) Shaw Pal (2002) reported that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is increasing among minority groups living in Great Britain, particularly those are from India and Pakistan and this is due to their lifestyle or habit to stay indoors. Furthermore, studies carried out by de Roos et al, (2012) and Brough et al., (2010) state that skin pigmentation in those groups is not the only reason for reduced vitamin D production but it is s also due to wearing clothes that tend to cover their entire bodies and staying indoors for longer during the day thus limiting UVB exposure. (). Kift et al. (2013) carried out a prospective cohort study in South Asian people aged 20-60 years to assess vitamin D level and lifestyle factors and compare the result with study conducted in Caucasian people with same condition. Demographic factors, vitamin D level, UV exposure and vitamin D intakes were analysed with same methodologies in study conducted on South Asian and Caucasian people. The authors found tha t there was no difference in the percentage of body area exposed to the sun. Also, they reported that white people reach a mean vitamin D level of 65.3nmol/l in summer, whilst south Asians only reach a mean level of 22.4nmol/l. During the wintertime, it was reported that 40% of South Asians were found to be deficient (15nmol/l), due to their low vitamin D intake and increased skin pigmentation. They further stated that it should be noted that skin pigmentation could affect pre vitamin D3 production. The conclusions to this study state that future prospective studies need to find effective ways to address these apparent issues. Clothing and Sunscreen Clothing and sunscreen are known as cutaneous factors, as they are a physical barrier in absorption of solar radiation by the skin and thus effective in less production of vitamin D level (Tsiaras and Weinstock, 2011). Most of sunscreens are having a sun protection factor (SPF) 8 that helps to protect the body against UV B radiation and decreases vit. D synthesis by less than 95 %, whereas (SPF) 15 decreases by less than 99% (Webb and Engelsen, 2006). According to Holick (2004), when the skin is exposed to the sunlight, the amount of UVB photons well absorbed by Blocking out sunlight as a result of dress style is particularly associated with hypovitaminosis D amongst immigrant women in the UK and Europe (Gillie 2010). A previous study by (Glerup et al., 2000) indicated that the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is higher in immigrant women (veiled and ethnic Muslims women) than in Danish women due to limited sunlight exposure. Another study conducted in Turkish women examined three groups of women with different dress styles (Alagl et al., 2000). Group I wore a dress, which exposed the arms and lower legs to sunlight, group II covered whole body except hands and face, last group (III) wore a traditional Islamic style that cover whole body. The result reported that the serum 25(OH) D level was significantly high in group I than in groups II and III, where all of the women were under normal levels. Obesity There are several diseases that can affect vitamin D level including kidney disease and obesity (Tsiaras Weinstock 2011). The inverse relationship between obesity and vitamin D deficiency is well-established (Wortsman et al, 2000; Esteghamati et al., 2004; Holick Chen 2008). In fact, those who are obese, living in high-risk regions such as Scotland are considered to be at twice the risk of those living in lower risk regions of Great Britain (Hyppnen Power, 2007). A study was conducted by Wortsman et al (2000) to investigate the relationship between obesity and vitamin D production. It was shown that those who were obese participants (i.e. having a BMIover 30kg/m2) had 57% lower serum vitamin D concentrations than non-obese participants after exposure to ultraviolet D3 or receiving oral D2 supplements.. The authors suggested that this was due to increased vitamin D storage in adipose tissue. They further stated that although their findings are similar to another studies, they tend t o believe that obesity did not affect vitamin D production but rather the release of vitamin D3 from the skin into the circulation . A recent crosssectional study carried out by Turner, et.al. (2013) has confirmed the latter hypothesis suggested by Wortsman et al.(2000), showing that the deposition of vitamin D3 in body fat compartments results in decreased bioavailability of vitamin D3 from cutaneous and dietary sources. Bischof et al (2006) indicated that the serum 25(OH) D concentrations associated negatively with BMI (body mass index) in a study of 483 adults. Results reported that prevalence of hypovitaminosis (25(.OH)D 22.0 nmol/l) in participants with BMI less than 30kg/m2 was increased from 8.8% to 15% in adults with BMI greater than 30kg/m2. Lee et al.(2009) found in their study that the effectiveness of supplementation of vitamin D is dependent on BMI. The obese and vitamin D deficient patients may need a higher dose of supplement than non-obese to increase vitamin D level s. 95 subjects with (25(OH) D 6 ng/mL) were given 10.000 IU (cholecalciferol) for 1 week, the authors reported that 25(OH) D concentrations correlated negatively with BMI. Socio-economic status Several studies have linked low vitamin D intake with low economic status (Dealberto, 2006). In many of these associations, the authors cite issues such as poor nutrition, poor lifestyle and inability to afford supplements to treat the deficiency. For instance, poor dietary intake is prevalent in regions with a high poverty rate, mostly affecting middle-aged women of childbearing age (Brough et al., 2010). According to Brough et al. (2010) a socially deprived population cannot afford some of the basic nutrients such as vitamin D, which are essential for normal metabolic function. Therefore, some resort to what have been described as shortcuts of life (means shortage of essential nutrients); the impact of this is exposing their immune system to chronic diseases. A report released by the Greater Manchester Poverty Commission (GMPC) in 2002, identified Manchester as one of the regions with the highest incidence of extreme poverty with approximately 25% of its population living in abject poverty (GMPC, 2012). It also revealed that those who are socio economically deprived couldnt efficiently protect themselves from low winter temperatures, causing these individuals to stay indoors longer than other UK residents, compared to those with an average annual income. According to Grimes (2011) those who have a low income and are socioeconomically deprived are also burdened with a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency. Several campaigns such as the Glasgow campaign introduced free vitamin D supplements for the ethnic groups to improve their vitamin D status (Shaw and Pal 2002). According to Dunnigan et al (1985), the campaign was started in 1979 and ran for 5 years. The intervention gave Asian schoolchildren, up to 18 years, a low daily dose of vitamin D (100 IU). After supplementation, it showed that the prevalence of rickets decreased. This effort led to significant improvement amongst these communities, particularly those targeted cities in Northern England. However, the identification of a large number of deficient people in study conducted by Roy et al., (2007) suggests that the gains made 40 years ago are no longer visible, and more people have been diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency among the minority population than ever before. Vitamin D intakes from different sources in the UK Tedstone (2014) has published the most recent survey about food consumption, which showed that many of the UKs population are still suffering from vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency with 24% of adults aged 19 years and older and 22% of children not having sufficient vitamin D levels. In wintertime, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was found to increase to 40% in both groups. The reason for the hypovitaminosis D was attributed to the reduction in sunlight exposure (longer nights, less external activity and weather pattern), which gives the body 90% of its vitamin D requirement (OConnor and Benelam 2011). Natural and fortified food A startling statistic is that vitamin D dietary intake is much lower in Great Britain as compared to other western nations including United States and Canada (Calvo et al., 2005). Variance in dietary intake of vitamin D between Britain, the United States and Canada has been attributed to the differing extents to which mandatory fortification food occurs in these countries. In the UK only specific foods are fortified with vitamin D, these include margarine, breakfast cereals and infant milk (OConnor and Benelam 2011). According to Sinha et al (2013) there is still a debate between whether the vitamin D intake from food is adequate and enough to maintain serum 25(OH) D concentrations at an optimal level. Some of the most common food sources, which are rich in vitamin D, are fish, liver, fortified margarine and fortified cereals (see table 2.4). Table 2: Dietary source of vitamin D in the UK Source Contribution to dietary vitamin D intakes in women % Contribution to dietary vitamin D intakes in men % Cereal and cereal products Milk and milk products Egg Fat spreads (including fortified margarine) Meat products Fish and fish products 22 3 9 15 18 30 20 2 10 19 24 21 Adopted from OConnor Benelam (2011) Clinical nutritional assessments of natural food items suggest that with the exception of fish and cod liver oil, most natural food stuffs contain minimal vitamin D, if any (Brough et al., 2010; Sinha et al., 2013). According to Schmid and Walther (2013) although there are several sources of vitamin D, it is still difficult for people to meet their recommended intake of vitamin D through consumption of natural food alone. Conversely, Hill et al. (2004) stated that in countries with low levels of sunlight, vitamin D deficiency could be treated by ensuring individuals have an abundance of food that is rich in vitamin D. Additionally, a recent study carried out by Rizzoli (2014) has shown that an improvement in bone health and a reduction in the risk of fracture in later life could be achieved through dietary intervention. It is proposed that vitamin D deficiency can be addressed by consuming 3 servings of dairy products a day, which include milk and yogurt, both of which are rich sourc es of essential nutrients and include a substantial amount of vitamin D. Significantly, it is important to note that insufficient natural sources for vitamin D is a risk factor in itself, and should be taken into consideration when plans are put into place to tackle the problem. Vitamin D supplements There are a huge number of intervention studies that have considered vitamin D supplementation, taking into account factors such as in the different forms of the vitamin used and in the dosage levels applied (Sinha et al., 2013). The expression of the amount of vitamin D in food or supplements is micrograms (g) or International Units (IU). g is most common used by Europe (1 g is equivalent to 40 IU) (OMahony et al., 2011) A summary of these studies is given in Table 2.3. Reference Study participants Vitamin D Dose Length of intervention Study design Result Close et al. (2012) Athletes male Oral D3 125 g 8 weeks (RCT) Vitamin D3 supplementation improved some measures of musculoskeletal performance including vertical jump height and sprinting performance Vieth et al. (2001) 61 male and female Oral D3 4000IU 3 months (RCT) Vitamin D3 effectively increased 25(OH)D to high-normal concentrations in practically all adult Cipriani et al. (2010) 35 female, 13 male young adults 600.000IU oral D3 Single dose (Prospective study) Single oral high dose of vitamin D rapidly increase 25(OH)D and decrease PTH Armas et al.(2004) 30 healthy men 50.000IU Oral D3, D2 Single dose (RCT) Vitamin D3 raises and maintains 25OHD levels to a substantially greater degree than does vitamin D2 Aloia et al., 2008 262 healthy white and African American male and female (Oral D3) 50 g/d and 100g/d 18 Weeks (Randomized double blind) Determination of the intake required depending on basal vitamin D concentrations Cashman et al (2008) 221 men and women 200IU, 400IU and 600IU of oral D3/d 22 weeks (RCT) Higher doses of vitamin D would be required to maintain serum 25(OH)D concentrations in the normal level Heaney et al Table 2.3: vitamin D intervention trials Calcifediol supplement 25(OH) D3 is a vitamin D metabolite used to treat vitamin D deficiency, it is hydrophilic and has a shorter half-life than vitamin D3 (Jetter et al., 2014). Supplementation of calcifediol is a simple, safe and economic treatment to increase 25(OH) D concentrations more rapidly than vitamin D3 (Bischoff-Ferrari et al., 2012). Jetter et al (2014) evidenced in their study that the (HyD3) single or bolus increases the plasma 25 (OH) D concentrations more rapidly than vitamin D3. Where the plasma 25(OH)D was between 8 to 24ng/ml at baseline, after 15 weeks 70% of those taking vitamin D3 reached a 25(OH)D concentration of 30ng/ml whilst all of the women given HyD3 reached a plasma concentration 30ng/ml. Similar findings were reported by Cashman et al (2012), 58 old age people received vitamin D3 and calcifediol in doses equivalent to 20g or 7g HyD3 for 10 weeks. At the end of the study, only 29% of the vitamin D3 group increased their 25(OH) D3 concentrations after 5 weeks and no further increases by week 10. In contrast, the groups given HyD3 showed increased serum 25(OH)D3 concentrations within the 5 week period with further increases by week 10. The above studies have a limitation in that they examine the effect of calcifediol on increasing plasma 25(OH) D concentrations in old aged (50 to 70 years) and the refore the previous findings may not be generalizable to all adults. Further studies are therefore required in order to confirm these results in younger adults. References Alagl, F., Shihadeh, Y., Boztepe, H., Tanakol, R., Yarman, S., Azizlerli, H., Sandalci, . (2000) Sunlight exposure and vitamin D deficiency in Turkish women. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 23(3) pp. 173-177.Aloia, J. F., Patel, M., DiMaano, R., Li-Ng, M., Talwar, S. A., Mikhail, M., ... Yeh, J. K. (2008) Vitamin D intake to attain a desired serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 87(6) pp. 1952-1958Ann M. Coulston, Carol J. Boushey, Mario Ferruzzi (2012) Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease. Academic Press.Bischof, M. G., Heinze, G., Vierhapper, H. (2006) Vitamin D status and its relation to age and body mass index. Hormone Research in Paediatrics, 66(5) pp. 211-215.Bischoffà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ferrari, H. A., Dawsonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Hughes, B., Stcklin, E., Sidelnikov, E., Willett, W. C., Edel, J. O., ... Egli, A. (2012) Oral supplementation with 25 (OH) D3 versus vitamin D3: effects on 25 (OH) D levels, lower extre mity function, blood pressure, and markers of innate immunityl. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 27(1) pp. 160-169.Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A., Giovannucci, E., Willett, W. C., Dietrich, T., Dawson-Hughes, B. (2006) Estimation of optimal serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D for multiple health outcomes. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 84(1) pp.18-28Blair. M. (2012) 'Action needed on vitamin D levels'. [Online] [Accessed on 16th May 2014] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20710026.Brough, L., Rees, G. A., Crawford, M. A., Morton, R. H. and Dorman, E. K. (2010) 'Effect of multiple-micronutrient supplementation on maternal nutrient status, infant birth weight and gestational age at birth in a low-income, multi-ethnic population.' British Journal of Nutrition, 104(3) pp. 437-445.Calvo, M. S., Whiting, S. J. and Barton, C. N. (2005) 'Vitamin D intake: A global perspective of current status.' Journal of Nutrition, 135(2) pp. 310-316.Cashman, K. D., Seamans, K. M., Luc ey, A. J., Stcklin, E., Weber, P., Kiely, M. and Hill, T. R. (2012) 'Relative effectiveness of oral 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and vitamin D3 in raising wintertime serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in older adults.' American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 95(6) pp. 1350-1356.Cashman, K. D., Hill, T. R., Lucey, A. J., Taylor, N., Seamans, K. M., Muldowney, S., Kiely, M. (2008) Estimation of the dietary requirement for vitamin D in healthy adults. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 88(6) pp. 1535-1542.Dawson, C., (2009) Introduction to Research Methods: A Practical Guide for Anyone Undertaking a Research Project. How to Books, Oxford.de Roos, B. Sneddon, A. and Macdonald, H. (2012) ' Fish as a dietary source of healthy long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFA) and vitamin D'. Food Health Innovation Service, available at https://www.abdn.ac.uk/rowett/documents/fish_final_june_2012.pdf.Dealberto, M.J. (2006) 'Why immigrants at increased risk for psychosis? Vitamin D insuffie ncy,epigenetic mechanisms, or both?' Medical Hypothesis, Vol. 68, pp. 259- 267.Dehghan, M., Del Cerro, S., Zhang, X., Cuneo, J. M., Linetzky, B., Diaz, R., Merchant, A. T. (2012) Validation of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for Argentinean adults.' PloS one, 7(5) pp. e37958.DeLuca, H. F., Prahl, J. M., Plum, L. A. (2011) 1, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D is not responsible for toxicity caused by vitamin D or 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics, 505(2) pp. 226-230.Dunnigan, M. G., Glekin, B. M., Henderson, J. B., McIntosh, W. B., Sumner, D., Sutherland, G. R. (1985) 'Prevention of rickets in Asian children: assessment of the Glasgow campaign.' British Medical Journal (Clinical research ed), 291(6490) pp. 239.Esteghamati, A., Aryan, Z. and Nakhjavani, M. (2004) 'Differences in vitamin D concentration between metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese adults: Association with inflammatory and cardiometabolic markers in 4391 subjects. Diabetes Metabo lism, [Online] [Accessed on 5 May 2014] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1262363614000469Gillie, O. (2010) 'Sunlight robbery: A critique of public health policy on vitamin D in the UK.' Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, 54(8) pp. 1148-1163.Glerup, H., Mikkelsen, K., Poulsen, L., Hass, E., Overbeck, S., Thomsen, J., ... Eriksen, E. F. (2000) 'Commonly recommended daily intake of vitamin D is not sufficient if sunlight exposure is limited.' Journal of Internal Medicine, 247(2) pp. 260-268.Greater Manchester Poverty Commission (GMPC) (2012) 'Research Report. The Centre for Local Economic Strategies. [Online] [Accessed on 16th May 2014] https://www.cles.org.uk/publications/greater-manchester-poverty-commission-evidence-and-recommendations-report/.Grimes, D. S. (2011) 'Vitamin D and the social aspects of disease.' QJM Oxford University Press, 104(12) pp. 1065-1074.Hill, T. R., O'Brien, M. M., Cashman, K. D., Flynn, A. and Kiely, M. (2004) 'Vitamin D intakes in 18- 64-y-old Irish adults.' European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 58(11) pp. 1509-1517.Hoffmann, M. R., Senior, P. A., Mager, D. R. (2015). Vitamin D Supplementation and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Holick, M. F. (2004a) 'Sunlight and vitamin D for bone health and prevention of autoimmune diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease.' The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 80(6 Suppl) pp. 1678S-1688S.Holick, M. F. (2004b) 'Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis.' The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79(3) pp. 362-371.Holick, M. F. and Chen, T. C. (2008) 'Vitamin D deficiency: A worldwide problem with health consequences.' American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 87(4) pp. 1080S-1086S.Horani, M., Dror, A., Holland, D., Caporaso, F., Sumida, K. D. and Frisch, F. (2011) 'Prevalence of vitamin D3 deficiency in Orange County residents.' Journal of Community Health, 36(5) pp. 760-764.Hyppnen, E. and Power, C. (2007) 'Hypovitaminosis D in British adults at age 45 y: Nationwide cohort study of dietary and lifestyle predictors.' American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(3) pp. 860-868.Janet Houser (2011) Nursing Research: Reading, Using, and Creating Evidence. 2nd ed., Jones Bartlett.Jetter, A., Egli, A., Dawson-Hughes, B., Staehelin, H. B., Stoecklin, E., Goessl, R., Henschkowski, J. and Bischoff-Ferrari, H. A. (2014) 'Pharmacokinetics of oral vitamin D3 and calcifediol.' Bone, 59 pp. 14-19.Kift, R., Berry, J. L., Vail, A., Durkin, M. T., Rhodes, L. E. and Webb, A. R. (2013) 'Lifestyle factors including less cutaneous sun exposure contribute to starkly lower vitamin D levels in U.K. South Asians compared with the white population.' British Journal of Dermatology, 169(6) pp. 1272-1278.Lee, P., Greenfield, J. R., Seibel, M. J., Eisman, J. A., Center, J. R. (2009) 'Adequacy of vitamin D replacement in seve re deficiency is dependent on body mass index.' The American Journal of Medicine, 122(11) pp. 1056-1060.Levis, S., Gomez, A., Jimenez, C., Veras, L., Ma, F., Lai, S., Roos, B. A. (2005) 'Vitamin D deficiency and seasonal variation in an adult South Florida population.' The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism, 90(3) pp. 1557-1562.Lips, P., van Schoor, N. M. and de Jongh, R. T. (2014) 'Diet, sun, and lifestyle as determinants of vitamin D status.' 92-98-page Handout, distributed in lecture 1317 for moduleMavroeidi, A., Oneill, F., Lee, P. A., Darling, A. L., Fraser, W. D., Berry, J. L., ... Macdonald, H. M. (2010)' Seasonal 25-hydroxyvitamin D changes in British postmenopausal women at 57 N and 51 N: A longitudinal study'. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 121(1) pp. 459-461.Maxwell, S. M., Salah, S. M., Bunn, J. E. G. (2006) 'Dietary habits of the Somali population in Liverpool, with respect to foods containing calcium and vitamin D: a cause for concern?.' Journal of Human Nutrition And Dietetics, 19(2) pp. 125-127.OMahony, L., Stepien, M., Gibney, M. J., Nugent, A. P., Brennan, L. (2011) ' The potential role of vitamin D enhanced foods in improving vitamin D status.' Nutrients, 3(12) pp. 1023-1041.O'Connor, A. and Benelam, B. (2011) 'An update on UK Vitamin D intakes and status, and issues for food fortification and supplementation.' Nutrition Bulletin, 36(3) pp. 390-396.Pal, B. R., Marshall, T., James, C. and Shaw, N. J. (2003) 'Distribution analysis of vitamin D highlights differences in population subgroups: Preliminary observations from a pilot study in UK adults.' Journal of Endocrinology, 179(1) pp. 119-129.Pearce, S.H. and Cheetham, T.D. January, (2010)' Diagnosis and management of Vitamin D deficiency'. BMJ, 11: 340.Peat, J., Mellis, C., Williams, K. and Xuan W (2002) Health Science Research: AHandbook of Quantitative Methods. London: Sage.Preece, M. A., McIntosh, W. B., Tomlinson, S., Ford, J. A., Dunnigan, M. G. and O'Riordan, J. L. (1973) 'Vitamin-D deficiency among Asian immigrants to Britain.' Lancet, 1(7809) pp. 907-910.Rizzoli, R. (2014) 'Dairy products, yogurts, and bone health.' The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 99(5), 1256S-1262S.Roy, D. K., Berry, J. L., Pye, S. R., Adams, J. E., Swarbrick, C. M., King, Y., Silman, A. J. and O'Neill, T. W. (2007) 'Vitamin D status and bone mass in UK South Asian women.' Bone, 40(1) pp. 200-204.Ruston D, Hoare J, Henderson L et al. (2002) 'The National Diet and Nutrition Survey: adults aged 19 to 64 years.' Volume 4:Nutritional status (anthropometry and blood analytes), blood pressure and physical activity. London: TSO.Schmid, A. and Walther, B. (2013) 'Natural vitamin D content in animal products.' Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.), 4(4) pp. 453-462.Shaw, N. J. and Pal, B. R. (2002) 'Vitamin D deficiency in UK Asian families: Activating a new concern.' Archives of Disease in Childhood, 86(3) pp. 147-149.Sinha, A., Cheetham, T. D. and Pearce, S. H. S. (2013) 'Prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiency.' Calcified Tissue International, 92(2) pp. 207-215.Sullivan, S. S., Rosen, C. J., Halteman, W. A., Chen, T. C., Holick, M. F. (2005) 'Adolescent girls in Maine are at risk for vitamin D insufficiency'. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 105(6) pp. 971-974.Tedstone, A. (2014) New National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows UK population is eating too much sugar, saturated fat and salt. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-national-diet-and-nutrition-survey-shows-uk-population-is-eating-too-much-sugar-saturated-fat-and-salt.Thuesen, B., Husemoen, L., Fenger, M., Jakobsen, J., Schwarz, P., Toft, U., Ovesen,T. and Linneberg, A. (2012) 'Determinants of vitamin D status in a general population of Danish adults.' Bone, 50(3) pp. 605-610.Tsiaras, W. G. and Weinstock, M. A. (2011) 'Factors influencing vitamin D status.' Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 91(2) pp. 115-124.Turner, C. B., Lin, H., Flores, G. (2013 ) 'Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among overweight and obese US children.' Pediatrics, 131(1) pp. e152-e161.Utiger, R. D. (1998) 'The need for more vitamin D.' New England Journal of Medicine, 338(12) pp. 828-829.Van Teijlingen, E., Hundley, V. (2002) The importance of pilot studies. Nursing Standard, 16(40) pp. 33-36.Vieth, R. (2009) How to optimize vitamin D supplementation to prevent cancer, based on cellular adaptation and hydroxylase enzymology. Anticancer research, 29(9) pp. 3675-3684.Webb, A. R. and Engelsen, O. (2008) 'Ultraviolet exposure scenarios: Risks of erythema from recommendations on cutaneous vitamin D synthesis'.72-85-page handout, distributed in lecture 624 for module.Webb, A. R., Kline, L., Holick, M. F. (1988) 'Influence of Season and Latitude on the Cutaneous Synthesis of Vitamin D3: Exposure to Winter Sunlight in Boston and Edmonton Will Not Promote Vitamin D3 Synthesis in Human Skin'. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology Metabolism, 67(2) pp.373-378.W elman, C., Kruger, F. Mitchell, B. (2005) Research Methodology. 3rd ed., Oxford: University PressWHO. (2009) Global Database on Body Mass Index. World Health Organization, An interactive surveillance tool for monitoring nutrition transition. https://www.who.int/bmi/index.jsp?introPage=intro_3.html , Geneva (accessed 17, May 2010).Wortsman, J., Matsuoka, L. Y., Chen, T. C., Lu, Z., Holick, M. F. (2000) Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D in obesity.' The American journal of clinical nutrition, 72(3) pp. 690-693.