Health News Tidbits

Health News Tidbits – December 2002

Doc's Throw "Fat Free" Out the Window -
After reviewing nearly 150 studies linking diet and heart health, researchers writing for Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) say it is more important to watch what kind of fat you eat instead of staying "fat free." JAMA 11/27/02

Nuts May Help Protect Women From Diabetes -
Women who eat five or more servings of nuts or nut butter a week can reduce their risk of developing adult-onset diabetes by 30% compared to those not consuming nuts. The results were based on the prestigious Nurses Health Study that has tracked 83,000 women over 16 years. JAMA 11/27/02

Chronic Stress Can Interfere With Normal Function of Immune System -
Chronic Stress seems to impair the immune system's capacity to respond to glucocorticoid hormones that normally are responsible for terminating inflammatory response. Health Psychology, November

Medications Blamed for Serious injuries, Birth Defects, and Deaths in Children -
Between 1997 and 2000, about 3750 serious injuries, 664 cases of birth defects and 769 deaths in children under two years of age were linked to medications and reported to the FDA, according to a study in the November issue of Pediatrics. This comes on the heels of a federal court decision that the FDA does not have the power to require drug makers to test adult medicines in children.

Red Wine Component to Be Studied Against Cancer -
English and American scientists funded by the US National Cancer Institute will begin studying a cancer prevention drug based on reservatrol, a natural compound in red wine.

Selenium May Protect Against Cancer -
A study involving more than 120,000 men and women shows former smokers with high selenium levels were less likely to develop cancer as those with lower levels. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, Nov 2002

Garlic May Help Prevent Prostate Cancer -
A US National Cancer Institute study of 238 men with prostate cancer and 471 men without were asked what they ate. Those who ate more than a third of an ounce (10g) a day of onions, garlic, chives, or scallions were much less likely to be in the group with cancer. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, November 2002

SAMe Found As Effective As Antidepressant, NSAIDs -
According to a meta-analysis study funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, S-adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe) is about as effective as older, conventional antidepressants in treating depression. It also finds SAMe to be comparable to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen) in treating the pain of osteoarthritis.

Occasional Wine Helped Protect Against Dementia -

Flavanoids, antioxidant compounds found in fruits, vegetables, teas, and wine, have been found to have protective effects against neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's. A Danish study following a group of 1,709 people over age 65 for 15 years found those who drank a glass of wine once per week or once per month significantly dropped the chances of developing dementia. Journal Neurology, November

Human Growth Hormone Could Have Serious Side-Effects -
According to the lead author in a report in November 13th issue of Journal of the American Medical Association, a study on the effects of growth hormone found swelling (edema), joint pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome common. Of greatest concern, however, was the "very high frequency" of glucose intolerance or diabetes. All of the side effects went away a few weeks after hormone treatment ended. "Growth hormone should be 100% limited to controlled clinical trials at this point," said Marc R. Blackman, MD, of the National Institutes of Health.

Mothering Magazine Exposes Vaccine/Autism Connection -
The November/December 2002 issue of Mothering Magazine covers the connection between vaccines and autism. In these articles, the main focus is on thimersol (ethyl mercury), a mercury preservative used in many vaccines and its link to autism. A Center for Disease Control document dated Feb 2000 based upon Vaccine Safety Datalink Project, cited a 2.48 relative risk of autism in children who were exposed to just 62.5 mcg of thimersol from their vaccinations. In 1997, the FDA recommended, but did not insist, that thimersol be removed from all vaccines. As far back as the 1970's, the FDA said thimersol had no effect as a preservative in vaccinations.

Meta-Analysis Says Most Menopause Treatments Weak -
According to a review of twenty-nine independent studies in November 19th Annals of Internal Medicine, black cohosh was the only alternative treatment found to be effective for hot flashes.

Fish Suggested for Those With Heart Disease -
According to the American Heart Association, people with coronary heart disease should eat fish at least once daily or take fish oil supplements. The AHA also recommends that all adults eat a variety of fish, especially fatty fish, at least twice per week. Circulation 11/19/2002

No Heart Benefits Seen With Hormones -
Hormone supplements showed no heart benefits in older women who already had heart disease, according to a new study in November 20th Journal of the American Medical Association. T

Folic Acid and Heart Disease -
By reducing homocsyteine, an amino acid linked to heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders, with folic acid supplementation, patients may be able to lessen the risk of heart disease, vein problems, and stroke. This is another study in the long list of mounting evidence supporting the benefits of folic acid supplementation. British Medical Journal 2002;325:1202-1206

Mold Found in Schools Across U.S. -
According to the American Association of School Administrators, toxic mold found in walls of school buildings is a growing problem across the country. The association blames aging buildings, mold-promoting construction techniques, and lack of proper ventilation in newer schools.

Soy Phytoestrogens Shows Benefits in Postmenopausal Women With Type 2 Diabetes -
32 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes completed a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial of 30g soy protein and 132mg isoflavones daily versus placebo for twelve weeks. Women supplemented with phytoestrogens demonstrated significantly lower mean values for fasting insulin, insulin resistance, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, cholesterol ratio, and free thyroxine. Diabetes Care 2002, Oct;25(10):1709-1714

DHA Improves Arterial Flexibility in Overweight Children -
Clinical data from children with elevated blood lipid levels (hyperlipidemia) showed that when supplementing with DHA (essential fatty acid), they showed markedly improved endothelial function (arterial flow). Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association,11/18/2002

Vitamin E Shows Promising Results for Oxidative Stress -
Researchers presented results of a study measuring the effects of increasing doses of vitamin E as alpha tocopherol on a patented biomarker for measuring oxidative stress called isoprostanes. These have become the gold standard for in-vivo measurement of free radicals in the body. Oxidative Stress levels were reduced 30% at 800IU, 35% at 1600IU, and 49% at 3200IU of vitamin E. American Heart Association and Oxygen Society Meetings 11/20/2002

Protein Predicts Heart Risk Better Than Cholesterol -
Measuring levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP), a protein linked to inflammation were a better predictor of risk of heart attack than LDL (bad cholesterol). In a 28,000 female study, the women with the highest levels of CRP were 2.3 times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event than women with the lowest levels of CRP. New England Journal of Medicine 2002;347:1557-1565, 1615-1616

Test May Miss Statin Drug-Linked Muscle Damage -
Muscle aches and fatigue are common symptoms associated with cholesterol-lowering medications. Researchers studied patients with normal creatine kinase levels by taking samples of their muscle tissue while they were taking statins and also during an 8-week period when they were taken off the drugs. The first four people studied had muscle tissue abnormalities and aforementioned symptoms. Once off statins, they felt better and tissue samples looked normal again. Researchers recommend that the current muscle enzyme test may not detect muscle damage in some people who take statins. Annals of Internal Medicine 10/1/2002

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