February 2008

February2008

Hearthealth solutions: the basics

While a growing number of natural products aimed at hearthealth become available with good research to back them up, a few recent studieshighlight some dramatic findings on a few of the basics: vitamins C, D and E.

Vitamin C: University of Cambridge researchers measured vitamin Clevels in more than 20,000 men and women, who were then followed for about 10 years.The subjects had not had a previous stroke and completed an extensivequestionnaire concerning their health and lifestyle. The researchers found thatthose with the highest blood levels of vitamin C had 42% lower stroke risk thanthose with the lowest concentrations. The researchers say the link could not beexplained by related factors such as age, sex, smoking, body mass index, bloodpressure, cholesterol, physical activity, diabetes, heart attack, social class,alcohol consumption, or use of dietary supplements. Confirming data from otherstudies, these investigators documented that smoking is related to dramaticallylower plasma vitaminC.

Vitamin D: Fresh fromheadlines touting its cancer-preventative properties, vitamin D now has another starring role-in heart disease prevention. For fiveyears, US researchers looked at 1,739 participants in the Framingham HeartStudy. They found that those with the lowest levels of vitamin D had a 62%greater risk of a cardiovascular event than those with the next highest levels.The risk associated with low vitamin D levels was especially great for peoplewho also had high blood pressure. Their incidence of cardiovascular events wasdouble that of people with higher blood levels of vitamin D. Researchers say onepossible explanation is that vitamin D receptors found in the heart and otherparts of the circulatory system may cause genes in their cells to malfunctionwhen they don't get enough of the nutrient. Low vitamin D may also cause anincrease in inflammation. While these researchers don't go so far as torecommend widespread supplementation of vitaminD, they do comment that "virtually all elderlypeople have to take supplements" to achieve their daily requirements.

Vitamin E: Taking vitaminE supplements can halve the risk of heart attacks and related deaths for manyType 2 diabetics, according to Israeli researchers. After only 18 months oftreatment, people with the haptoglobin (Hp) 2-2 genewho took 400 IU of vitaminE daily had more than 50% fewer heart attacks, strokesand related deaths than Hp 2-2 patients who took a placebo pill. About 40% ofdiabetics carry the Hp 2-2 gene.

Sources: American Journal of ClinicalNutrition, Jan 2008; American Technion Society, Jan11, 2008; Health Day News, Jan 7, 2008

Prostate protection on your plate!

Men looking for ways to maintain a healthy prostate glandshould begin by considering their diet, according to recent research studies.In one, German researchers looked at 40 elderly male patients with confirmedbenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or enlarged prostate) who were free fromprostate cancer. The men were given supplements of lycopene, a compound foundnaturally in tomatoes and tomato-based products, and also available as adietary supplement.

After six months, the researchers noted a reduction inprostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, while a placebo pill had no sucheffect. Increased PSA is often an indicator of prostate cancer. In addition, noenlargement of the prostate was found in the lycopene group, while the placebogroup was found to have progression of prostate enlargement. Past researchindicates that lycopene levels may increase when tomatoes are cooked.

The researchers say the results suggest lycopene mayinhibit the progression of BPH and may have a role to play in the prevention ofprostate cancer.

In a related study, researchers found that men whofrequently eat onions and garlic are less likely to suffer BPH. The studycompared the diets of 1,369 men with and 1,451 men without BPH. The resultsrevealed that those who ate onions four or more times per week had a 59% lowerBPH risk than men who never ate onions. Garlic was also found to be protective:men who ate the most garlic had a 28% lower risk than men who never did.

Sources: J Nutr,2007; 138(1): 49-53; Urology 2007;70:672-6

Adequate B12 vital in pregnancy

Pregnant women with low levels of vitamin B12 have threetimes the risk of delivering babies with neural tube defects, according to anew study led by a University of Toronto researcher.

"In a population-based, case-control study of more than500 pregnant women in Ontario, we found the risk of neural tube defects tripledin the presence of low maternal vitamin B12 levels," said Joel Ray, aprofessor and a St. Michael's Hospital physician. "Taking into accountfolic acid fortification in flour and moderate use of folic acid supplements,the data suggest about 34% of the neural tube defects may be due to low levelsof B12."

The study is the first to examine the link between thetwo using an accurate measurement of vitamin B12while adjusting for folate levels. Neural tubedefects are birth defects of the spinal cord and brain, otherwise known as spina bifida and anencephaly. Research has shown the riskof neural tube defects can be reduced by nearly 50% with folic acid supplementstaken just before and after conception, or through consumption of foodfortified with folic acid.

Source: University of Toronto,May 23, 2007

Super results for migraine sufferers

Sometime in their lives, up to 20% of men and up to 35%of women will suffer migraines. While most experts agree that migraines are theresult of excessive constriction of blood vessels in the head followed by arebound dilation period, the exact cause of this pattern is not fully known.

Recent studies highlight a few natural remedies with thepotential to significantly alleviate migraine headaches.

One of these is coenzyme Q10. US researchers atCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centerstudied 1,550 young subjects (average age 13.3 years) with frequent headaches.They discovered that coenzyme Q10 deficiency was quite common among thesubjects (74.6%), and that supplementation with coenzymeQ10 among those deficient was found to be effective inreducing the frequency of headaches. In all, 46.3% of the patients experienceda 50% reduction in headache frequency.

In another study into the effects of alpha lipoic acid, researchers at the University of Liege, Belgium, conducted a randomized, controlled trialon 44 patients diagnosed with migraine headaches (with or without aura). Theyfound that supplementation with alpha lipoic acid reduced the frequency of migraine attacks, the number of headache days and the severity ofheadaches over the course of three months, while no changes were found amongsubjects taking the placebo.

Sources: Headache, 2007; 47(1): 73-80;Headache, 2007; 47(1): 52-57; Headache. 2005 Mar;45(3):196-203

Herb's effect on mood "significant"

In a new clinical trial, patients with mild-to-moderatedepression given rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) extractshowed significant improvements in depression compared to those given placebo.The six-week trial was conducted on 89 subjects, aged 18 to 70, who wereassessed with clinically significant depression according to two differentstandard measurements used in psychiatry: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD).

Patients were given either 340 mg or 680 mg per day of rhodiola; or a placebo capsule.

Following treatment, both rhodiolagroups experienced statistically significant declines in mean total HAMD scoresas well as statistically significant declines in mean BDI scores. The subjectsin the placebo group did not show statistically significant decreases in eitherscores.

The researchers reported other treatment benefits. Atboth dosage levels of rhodiola, people in the HAMDsubgroups experienced improvements in insomnia, emotional instability, andlevels of somatization (the conversion of anxietyinto physical symptoms), while such measures did not significantly change in theplacebo group. Also, the group given the higher dose of rhodiolaexperienced a statistically significant improvement in low self esteem, whilethe lower-dose group and the placebo group did not.

The authors concluded that rhodiola extractdemonstrates clear and significant anti-depressive activity in patientssuffering from mild to moderate depression, evident from both overalldepression levels as well as from specific symptom levels of depression. Theyfurther noted that no adverse effects could be detected in either of the groupsgiven the rhodiola.

Source: American Botanical Council(ABC), Dec 19, 2007

Diet, exercise can affect fertility

If you're a woman hoping to become a mother soon, eatinga healthy diet, being physically active and maintaining normal weight willimprove your chances, say researchers.

In a recent study, diet and lifestyle data from 17,544women were matched to the outcomes of their attempts to become pregnant.Researchers found diet had the greatest impact on fertility, and getting a halfhour or more of vigorous physical activity per day and maintaining a healthyweight added to its benefits. Women with the highest number of healthy diet andlifestyle habits had an 84% lower chance of ovulation disorder infertility thanthose with the fewest healthy habits.

The researchers suggest adopting a "fertilitydiet," characterized by higher consumption of monounsaturated fat found innatural foods like nuts and avocados, and olive oil. Women should also opt forvegetable protein rather than animal protein, low-glycemiccarbohydrates like whole grains, moderate consumption of high-fat dairy,multivitamins and iron from plants and supplements.

Source: ObstetGynecol 2007;110:1050-8

Deborah Mitchell, author of Nature's Aphrodisiacs (Dell, 1999) suggeststhese essential oils to help rekindle the libido:

Basil: Thisspicy sweet scent is said to restimulate sexualdesire. The oil is extracted from the plant flowers and leaves and can be usedin an aroma lamp.

Jasmine: This plantand its scent have been used as an aphrodisiac since ancient times. The oil hasa strong, seductive power over both men and women to reawaken passion. Tryjasmine in an aroma lamp or massage oil.

Neti pots

What is it? A small,spouted container used to flush the nasal passages with salt water.

Why use it? To improve chronic sinus infection, allergic sinusitis, headachesand coughs.

What's theresearch? In 2002, researchers reported that "daily...nasalirrigation improves sinus-related quality of life, decreases symptoms, anddecreases medication use in patients with frequent sinusitis." A review in2003 concluded that "patients treated with nasal irrigation rely less onother medications and make fewer visits to physicians." Neti pots

Researchers at Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea, reportthat eating mushrooms may protect women from breast cancer. They looked at the dietsof 362 women between 30 and 65 years with breast cancer, and a group of matchedcontrol subjects. After adjusting for a number of factors, both the dailyintake and the average consumption frequency of mushrooms were inverselyassociated with breast cancer risk. A strong inverse association was found inpostmenopausal women but not in premenopausal women. The researchers concludedthat the consumption of dietary mushrooms may decrease breast cancer risk inpostmenopausal women.

Source: IntJ Cancer. 2008 Feb 15;122(4):919-23

Getting your essential fattyacids (EFAs) from oily fish or from fish oil capsules appears to be equally effective atincreasing blood levels of EFAs.

Looking to supercharge your nextcup of green tea? According to new research, adding lemon juice can triple the bio-availabilityof natural antioxidants in green tea called catechins.Catechins have been studied for the prevention ofchronic diseases like cancer (including colon, breast and prostate cancers) andheart disease.

Source: Mol NutrFood Res 2007;51:1152-62

Spanish researchers report thatmoderately high levels of beer intake may protect against the uptake ofaluminum, a suspected factor in Alzheimer's disease. The effect appears to bedue to levels of silicon in beer, which can range between about 10 to 40 mg perlitre. The silicon in the beer was able to reducealuminum uptake in the digestive tract and thus slow the accumulation ofaluminum in the body, including the brain tissue.

Source: Food and ChemicalToxicology, Jan 2008

Iranian researchers report thatsupplementation with vitamins C and E may significantly enhance aerobic powerin athletes. In their three-week study, 36 male physical education studentswere assigned either vitamin E (400 mg/d); vitamin C (1000 mg/d); both vitaminE and C; or a placebo. In a 12-minute run test, all three vitamin groupsperformed significantly better compared to subjects consuming the placebo. Theresults suggest that daily supplementation with vitamin E (400 mg), vitamin C(1000 mg), or vitamin E plus vitamin C for a period of 3 weeks maysignificantly improve aerobic power.

Source: Res Sports Med, 2007;15(4): 249-56

If you're a vegetarian man, yourhealth complaints may be related to missing micronutrients. Indian researchersevaluated 502 lactovegetarian adults (vegetarians whodon't eat eggs but do consume dairy products), average age of 30 years, andquestioned them on the presence and severity of health complaints. Theresearchers found that intakes of various micronutrients, includingbeta-carotene, riboflavin, iron and zinc, were half the recommended dietaryintakes. Among men, lower intakes of iron, zinc, niacin, and thiamin were foundamong those with mild complaints, compared to men with no complaints. Men withmoderate complaints had significantly lower intakes of calcium, zinc, vitamin Cand riboflavin, compared to men with no complaints.

Source: Scan Journof Food and Nutrit, 2007; 51(4): 159-166

These articles are based upon current scientific studies and professionalopinions; however, they are not to be regarded or relied upon as medical advicefor self-diagnosis or treatment of any condition or disease.

Copyright 2008 Health News Update