Health News Tidbits

Health News Tidbits – July 2003

Eating Protein is Health for Your Bones -
Researchers have found that women between the ages 65 and 77 years who consumed the most protein had 7.5 percent to eight percent higher bone mineral density (BMD) in the spine, 5.5 percent to seven percent higher BMD in the midradius, and five percent higher BMD in the total body than women who consumed less protein. The positive effects were seen when calcium intake was greater than 408 mg per day.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, June 2003;77(60:1517-1525)

Breast Cancer up 25% in Latest HRT Study -
A new study of 16,608 postmenopausal women in the United States showed a 24 percent increase in breast cancers after women had been taking hormone replacement therapy for three years. In addition, within one year's time, significantly more abnormal mammograms appeared among the hormone-taking women.
JAMA 6/25/03

Too Much Soda May Cause Caffeine Headaches in Kids -
A five-year study suggests children who drink too much cola may experience "caffeine-induced" headaches on a daily basis. Soft drinks account for more than half of the caffeine intake among US schoolchildren. The study involved 36 children and teens, ages 6 to 18, who visited a hospital with complaints of daily or near-daily headaches and were deemed "excessive caffeine consumers." All reported drinking at least 1.5 liters of cola each day and an average 11 liters of cola each week. After gradually discontinuing their daily cola-drinking habit over a one-two week period, 33 of the 36 patients experienced a "complete cessation of all headaches." Cephalalgia 2003;23:332-335

Panel Warns on Danger of Smallpox Vaccine -
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said the government should not follow through on plans to offer smallpox vaccinations to 10 million emergency workers because of previously unknown and potentially dangerous cardiac side effects. The Committee called the cardiac side effects "a new and unanticipated safety concern." Out of 37,600 civilian health workers who volunteered for the vaccine, there have been four probable and eighteen suspected cases of heart inflammation or myopericarditis reported. Out of 450,000 people in the military, there has been one confirmed case and 35 probable or suspected cases.

Female Vegetarians at Risk of Eating Disorder -
According to a recent study of 143 female college students, those who considered themselves vegetarian were more likely to be preoccupied with their weight and be at risk of developing an eating disorder. The study found that the vegetarians reported weighing themselves several times daily, opted for diet foods, and would vomit after eating.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2003;103:745-747

CDC Issues Diabetes Warning for Children -
One in three children born in 2000 will become diabetic unless many more people start eating less and exercising more, the Centers for Disease Control warned. Lack of exercise and horrible dietary habits are the main culprits.
cdc.gov

Mercury Levels in Vaccines Far Exceed What is Safe -
According to London doctor Richard Halvorsen of Holbron Medical Center, diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping-cough vaccinations at two, three, and four months give babies more than 40 times the recommended maximum intake of mercury by body weight which their mothers are told is safe to eat in fish. Dr. Halvorsen only administers mercury vaccinations because of this discovery. The United States recommends that vaccinations be mercury-free, but still circulates in old stockpiles and is continuously used in vaccines such as the flu and pneumonia vaccines (mandatory vaccine for all children now).
www.bbcnews.com

Prostate Cancer Overused -
Half of all prostate cancers picked up by PSA blood screening are irrelevant, according to a Canadian study. The report estimates that 50% of men aged 55 to 67 who are diagnosed with prostate cancer from a yearly PSA screening would not have shown symptoms of the disease during their lifetime. From the study's calculations, it was suggested that the PSA will find cancer on average 12.3 years before you would ever suffer from it or show symptoms.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 6/18/03

Linking Weak Sperm, Pesticides -
According to a University of Missouri study of 86 men, those with high levels of three common pesticides were more than 10 times as likely to have low-quality sperm than men who have not been exposed to the chemicals. The widely used weed killers alchalor and atrazine, and the insecticide diazinon were the focal point of the study. Researchers believe people ingest the chemicals through water tainted with the compounds. This study adds new fuel to a decade long controversy of how toxic chemicals are responsible for the growing male infertility in areas such as North America and Europe. Other chemicals such as DEET and malathion have also showed a correlation with sperm problems.
Journal Environmental Health Perspectives 6/18/03

Miso Soup Cuts Breast Cancer Risk -
Miso soup contains fermented soy paste that contains soy isoflavones, which block the cancer-causing effects of estrogen. A Japanese study monitoring the eating habits of 21,852 women aged 40-59 for 10 years from 1990 found that women who had three or more bowls of miso soup each day reduced their risk of getting breast cancer by about 40% to those who had only one bowl. Those who had two bowls cut their risk by 26%.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 6/18/03

NSAIDs Fail to Slow Alzheimer's -
As previously suggested, anti-inflammatory drugs such as Vioxx and Aleve do not slow the progression of Alzheimer's. The study involved 351 patients over one year with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's.
JAMA 6/4/2003:289:2819-2826,2865-2867

Kiwi Fruit Allergy Danger -

While exotic fruits such as kiwi have become staples to the masses, so have an increase in allergies. An Australian study has found that children under five are experiencing life-threatening symptoms brought on by kiwi. The study showed forty percent of allergic symptoms are life-threatening in children under five. The effects on young children appear to be much more serious on children than adults. Little is know what property of the fruit is the culprit.
European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology

Natural Progesterone Reduces Premature Births -
Giving pregnant women the hormone progesterone can reduce their risk of premature delivery by one-third. The progesterone proved so effective that the study was halted early because it would have been unethical to keep giving some women a placebo.
New England Journal of Medicine, 6/19/03

Policosanol Effectiveness Eclipses Lovastatin in Patients with Intermittent Claudication -
Twenty eight patients with moderately severe intermittent claudication followed a twenty-week double blinded, randomized treatment period to 10 gm policosanol or 20 mg lovastatin once daily. Policosanol showed a 33.7% positive effect as opposed to 24.3% for the Lovastatin. Policosanol reduced total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, Triglcyerides, and Fibrinogen more effectively than Lovastatin. While the policosanol treatment was well tolerated, one Lovastatin patient withdrew because of a nonfatal myocardial infarction and six experienced adverse events. Angiology 2003 Jan;54(1):25-38

Paxil Not for Kids, Teens -
According to research presented to regulatory agencies around the world by the manufactures of Paxil, the risk of suicidal thoughts and self harm is higher in youngsters under 18 taking the drug.
GlaxoSmithKline

Another Study Showing Turmeric's Anti-Cancer Benefit -
Adding to the growing body of research lauding the cancer fighting properties of turmeric, a substance found in the spice curry, a study recently showed positive response with blood cancer multiple myeloma. According to scientists, adding curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) to human cells with blood cancer multiple myeloma stopped the cells from replicating, and the cells that were left died. Scientists recommended that people with cancer should try to eat or supplement with more curcumin.
Journal Blood 2003;101:1053-1062

Low Plasma Vitamin B-6 Levels Correlate With Rheumatoid Arthritis -
"Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have low levels of plasma B-6 and elevated plasma homocysteine responses to a methionine load." says Tufts researchers. The study shows a correlation between low plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (B6) and high Sed Rate and C-Reactive Protein levels (both markers that can determine the severity of a patients rheumatoid arthritis). Researchers believe that inability to break down B6 into P-5-P or simply not enough intake are to blame.
Am J Med 2003;114:283-287

Antioxidants May Prevent Brain Damage From Alcohol -
Rats fed a liquid diet containing alcohol for six weeks found a 66% decrease in the number of new cells in crucial parts of the brain and increase in cell death of more than 227%. But, in rats that received antioxidant injections, damage to developing cells did not occur. Those rats had the same brain characteristics as those not given alcohol.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 6/2/03

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