Health News Tidbits

Health News Tidbits – August 2002

Journal of the American Diabetes Association 2002:
62nd Scientific Session Abstract Highlights
-following are snippets of studies that have appeared in the journal Diabetes in 2002

-Higher magnesium intake is associated with lower fasting insulin levels among women without diabetes. Therefore, magnesium may have a role in the prevention of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

-A short time of zinc supplementation improved insulin sensitivity in obese insulin resistance women without zinc deficiency.

-Chromium Picolinate has been demonstrated to enhance insulin sensitivity in both human and animal studies by enhancing glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis by enhancing insulin signal transduction pathways

-Large losses of chromium might contribute to developing insulin resistance in patients with diabetes mellitus.

-Chromium Picolinate Reduces Insulin Requirement in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

-Like Chromium Picolinate, CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) may be a potent insulin sensitizer that enhances glucose uptake in human skeletal muscle.

-Acetyl-L-Carnitine treatment may be beneficial with respect to nerve fiber regeneration, vibration perception, and in alleviating pain in patients with long-standing diabetes.

-Increased homocysteine concentrations is associated with insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction and supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12 improves vascular endothelial function.

-Omega-3 fatty acids may acutely decrease insulin secretion, while linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, may increase insulin secretion in obese adults.

-Phytosterols reduced overall cholesterol by 13.7%, improved HDL by 2%, and triglycerides decreased by 11% in 14 non-diabetic patients given 2 grams of a specific phytosterol complex.

-Oat ingestion ameliorates endothelial function in adults with clinical features of insulin resistance, with particularly strong effects in women. Antioxidant vitamins conferred no benefit, and may have adverse effects in women.

-Alcoholic beverages, particularly wine, may lower glucose and insulin responses after a carbohydrate-containing meal.

-Administration of alpha lipoic acid partially improved endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and increased urinary NO excretion, suggesting that alpha lipoic acid can be used as a preventive measure of atherosclerosis.

-Dietary supplementation with soy phytoestrogens reduces insulin resistance, improves glycemic control and lowers lipid concentrations in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.

-A gluten free diet in those with asymptomatic celiac disease and type 1 diabetes have improved well being.

Basikol May Help Lower Elevated Cholesterol -
Mayo Clinic doctors say there's good data showing this plant sterol substance can help lower cholesterol and appears to be well tolerated and relatively safe when taken as directed by your health professional. Mayo Clinic Health Letter August 2002

Study Links Estrogen Use, Ovarian Cancer -
A July 17th study published by the National Cancer Institute found that women who took estrogen were one-and-a-half more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those not on the hormone. Women on estrogen for 20 years or beyond were three times more likely.

HRT Study Halted After Research Showed Doing More Harm Than Good -
A study published in JAMA (2002;288:321-333) found that one of the largest and best-designed federal studies of hormone replacement therapy had been cancelled due to the women taking the Premarin hormones having a greater risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, and blood clots than those not taking the drugs. The 8.5 year study, which was supposed to last until 2005 was halted because of a significant increase in the risk of invasive breast cancer. The combination estrogen and progesterone are synthetic, not natural hormones.

Soy Protein Produces Health Benefits -
In 23 men and 18 postmenopausal women with elevated cholesterol, regardless of phytoestrogen content, a soy protein diet was shown to lower cholesterol, homocysteine, and overall cardiovascular risk. In men, the soy diet also reduced blood pressure. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:365-72.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Prevent Heart Disease -
By improving elasticity, a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2002;76:326-30) says that Omega-3 fatty acids, found in some fish, may benefit those who are at risk for ischemic heart disease and sudden cardiac death. In particular, EPA and DHA showed to improve large artery elasticity in 38 middle-aged men and women with elevated plasma total cholesterol. Systemic arterial compliance rose 36% in the EPA group, 27% in the DHA group,. while no change in the placebo group.

Pregnant Women Avoid Tuna -

According to advisers from the FDA, pregnant women who eat too much tuna risk exposing their babies developing brains to harmful mercury levels. Two 6 ounce cans of tuna per week is fine if that's the only fish they eat. Shark, swordfish, mackerel, and tilefish are already are prohibited for pregnant women. The panel does recommend that women eat up to 12 ounces a week of a variety of other cooked fish.

American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization Strongly Encourage Exclusive Breastfeeding for First Six Months of Life -
While being recognized for its benefits, exclusive breastfeeding in the USA is poor and public health efforts are needed to improve the rate of exclusive breastfeeding. Of the participants, only 47% were exclusively breastfed at 7 days after birth, 32% at 2 months, 19% at 4 months, and 10% at 6 months. Am J Pub Health 2002;92(7):1107-1110

Extra Breastfeeding Prevents Cancer -
Research suggests that for every year of life a baby is breastfeeding, a women's risk of breast cancer drops 4.3%. This is on top of the 7% reduction she enjoys for every baby to which she gives birth. This study was carried out by Cancer Research UK.

Vegans May Have Nutrient Deficiencies -
Because vegans omit all animal products from their diet, they may be getting too little of some nutrients such as B12, calcium, B2, vitamin D, selenium. even after researchers included dietary supplements in their analysis, the vegan's intake of calcium and selenium remained low. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:100-106

Good Bacteria Treat Infant Eczema -
Babies that are fed healthy bacteria (Probiotics) while they are being weaned may be less likely to develop the skin condition eczema. A healthy gut microbalance is essential for the normal development of the immune system. Gut July 2002;51:51-55

FDA to Require Trans Fat Labeling -
FAD announced that it will require food producers to list the grams of trans fat on the label with other nutrition facts. Trans fat occurs in meat, dairy products, pastries, fried and fast foods and is directly associated with bad LDL cholesterol and heart disease. According to the Institute of Medicine, the only safe amount of trans fat is none.

Importance of Folic Acid to Your Health -
Editorial review lists an array of preventive neurologic health benefits for all ages which include but are not limited to developmental delay, cognitive deterioration, motor and gait abnormalities, behavioral and psychiatric symptoms, seizures, epilepsy. Recent study of 26 folate deficient epileptics with 5 mg of folic acid for three years resulted in improved drive, initiative, alertness, concentration, mood, and sociability British Medical Journal June 22, 2002;324:1512-1515

Vitamin B12 May be Effective Carrier of Anticancer Drug -
A recent mouse study showed that when treating cancer with B12 and interferon, tumors were eradicated. Scientists suggest that vitamin B12 inhibits tumor growth by inducing apoptosis, or cell death. J Nat Canc Inst July 3, 2002

Prostate Cancer Over treated -

According to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 29-44% of men who used a PSA blood test to find prostate cancer over a ten year period were "over-diagnosed." Those patients may have received surgery or radiation treatment for prostate cancer that would never have progressed so far that it threatened their health. Prostate cancer is a slow moving disease that will never become life threatening. In addition a recent Journal of Clinical Oncology study showed that PSA blood test, the supposed "gold standard" for prostate cancer screening, was virtually useless in detecting it.

Co-Enzyme Q10 Essential if on Statin (Cholesterol-Lowering) Medication -
Cholesterol lowering Drugs such as Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor, Pravachol, Lescol, and Baycol block the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase in the liver, which shuts down the liver's ability to manufacture cholesterol, and as a result, cholesterol levels drop. Yet the liver also manufactures coenzyme Q10 via the same enzyme pathway. Blocking this enzyme is disastrous to health. Without it, your cells are unable to produce energy. Early complications of CoQ10 deficiencies are elevated liver enzymes and myopathy, which are the side effects of statin drugs. Drug companies made statin drugs with CoQ10 initially because of the statin side-effects, but stopped because it was too expensive. Supplement with at least 100 mg. CoQ10 if on a statin. Health and Healing Newsletter July 2002 Vol. 12, No.7

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