Health News Tidbits –
July 2006
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Kevin"
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Drugs/Meds
Dietary Supplements
Food/Diet
Lifestyle
Public Health
Dietary Supplements -
Women taking the pill could benefit from CoQ10, vitamin E -
Women taking oral contraceptives have lower levels of the antioxidants coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E, and could possibly benefit from supplements,
suggests a new study.
“If our findings are confirmed by larger studies, women who receive oral contraceptives may be considered for coenzyme Q10 and/or alpha-tocpherol
supplementation,” wrote lead author Prabhudas Palan from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Coenzyme Q10 and alpha-tocopherol (a
form of vitamin E) are both lipid-soluble antioxidants found in cell membranes. They are capable of mopping up free radicals that can lead to
oxidative stress, linked to a variety of disease including Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease and cancer. The new study, published in the American
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Vol. 194, e35-e38), recruited 55 pre-menopausal women (average age 33) with regular menstrual cycles. 15
women were taking an oral contraceptive (OC) (norgestimate/ethinylestradiol) while the other 40 were not taking any (OC). Women taking multivitamins
or Co-Q10 supplements were excluded. Non-fasting blood samples were taken randomly during the menstrual cycle and serum levels of a variety of
antioxidants measured. Gamma-tocopherol, alpha- and beta-carotene, and lycopene levels were similar between the groups. However, serum levels of
Co-Q10 were 37 per cent lower in the OC group, and alpha-tocopherol levels were 24 per cent lower. “The results clearly show that the use of OC
significantly lowered the serum levels of coenzyme Q10 and alpha-tocopherol, compared with levels in non-OC users,” wrote the researchers. A
study published in 2004 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Vol. 80, pp 649-655) reported that Co-Q10 together with alpha-tocopherol
could reduce levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) a pro-inflammatory protein linked to CVD.
Omega-3 could reduce dementia risk -
Elizabeth J Johnson, Carotenoid & Health Laboratory, and Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on
Aging at Tufts University, wrote a piece in the American College of Clinical Nutrition suggesting that at least 1 gram of fish oil daily or 2.7
servings of fatty fish weekly can reduce dementia risk by 50%. Their findings, yet to be officially published, are based upon the presitigous
Framingham Heart Study.
Folic acid as cancer preventive -
Folic acid supplements may prevent cancer progression and promote regression of disease, according to a new study.
Published in the July 15, 2006 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the small study found that 31 of 43 patients
with the precancerous laryngeal lesion called leucoplakia demonstrated 50 percent or greater reduction in the lesion size after six months of taking
folate supplements. In 12 of 31 responders, there was no evidence of the original lesion. Folate levels in the patients' blood also increased
significantly from baseline while homocysteine levels decreased significantly. This study provides data to support the hypothesis that folate
insufficiency is a risk factor for cancer progression. Animal and human studies have increasingly demonstrated associations between folate deficiency,
serum homocysteine elevations, and a variety of cancers. Some studies have suggested folate supplementation or at least a high folate dietary intake
may protect against some cancers. This body of evidence suggests folate to be an effective chemopreventive drug. Other chemopreventive drugs are being
tested, and while the retinoids demonstrate the most promise, they are highly toxic.
These results suggest, according to the researchers, "folate supplementation, alone or in combination with other chemopreventive drugs, could
effectively reduce the risk of progression in an already genetically altered mucosa, especially in patients with hypofolatemia."
Omega 3 for ADHD -
Supplements of omega-3 and omega-6 improved the attention span and hyperactivity scores of young Australians, and was rated better than the common
medication Ritalin.
The study adds to a growing number of studies looking at the effect of fish oils on the behaviour and learning of kids, and reports in the UK suggest
the British government may even be considering omega-3 and omega-6 food supplements in schools. The new study from the University of South Australia
recruited 132 kids with ADHD aged 7 to 12 for the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention trial. For the first 15 weeks of study,
the kids were given daily supplements of either polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6, 3000 milligrams per day), PUFAs plus multivitamins
and minerals, or placebo capsules (palm oil). After 15 weeks the placebo group crossed-over to the PUFA plus multivitamins and minerals supplement,
and the other groups remained constant. “Supplementation with PUFA over 15 weeks resulted in significant improvements compared to placebo in parent
ratings of core ADHD-related behavioural and cognitive difficulties, namely inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, with medium to large effect
sizes, and also in ratings of oppositional behaviour,” reported the researchers, led by Natalie Sinn. After 30 weeks (placebo group switching to
eyeq supplements) the parental ratings of behaviour improved significantly in 10 out of 14 scales. “The fish oil groups continued to improve after
taking the supplement for a further 15 weeks. According to the data the multivitamin/mineral supplement had no additional effects,” said Sinn. The
researchers also compared the effects of Ritalin to the effects observed by fish oil supplements. Using a comparison figure from a meta-analysis (CMAJ,
2001, Vol. 165, pp.1475-1488), Sinn and her co-workers calculated that the Ritalin had a total effect on the ADHD index of 0.54. A larger effect value
of 0.59 was calculated for the group that took the fish oil supplements for the whole 30 weeks, while the placebo group that switched to fish oil
after 15 weeks had an effect value of 1.03. “There is no known evidence that medication provides any benefits beyond four weeks, whereas in the
present trial symptoms continued to improve after 15 weeks of supplementation,” said the South Australian team.
Omega 3 for depressive kids -
Increasing omega-3 intake from the diet or supplements may help depressive kids, reports a pilot study for the first time. Researchers from Ben Gurion
University of the Negev in Israel have reported for the first time that omega-3 fatty acids could also help children suffering from depression, a
condition that “may be more common than previously thought”. 28 randomly depressed children, aged between 6 and 12, received either an omega-3
fatty acids or placebo for one month. Twenty of the children completed the study. At the end of the trial the researchers found that seven out of ten
children in the omega-3 group and none of the children in the placebo group had depression score reductions of 50 per cent or more. Belmaker and his
colleagues report in the American Journal of Psychiatry (Vol 163, pp. 1098-1100) that four of the children taking the omega-3 supplements achieved
remission.
Drugs/Meds -
New advice on blood pressure drug -
A class of drugs called beta-blockers should no longer be used as routine to treat high blood pressure, says the NHS drugs watchdog for England
and Wales. Other drugs are better at treating the condition, also known as hypertension, which affects 40% of adults, it says. The guidance from the
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence says using beta-blockers can also increase the risk of diabetes. But patients on the drugs are
urged to keep taking them until seeing their GP. E SF The guidance, developed in conjunction with the British Hypertension Society, is an update of
NICE guidance published in 2004 - but only the section on drugs for managing hypertension has been republished.
The drugs are also used to treat heart failure and angina and should still be used for these problems. But NICE now says the evidence suggests they
perform less well than other drugs in treating high blood pressure, particularly in the elderly, and there is increasing evidence that they carry an
"unacceptable risk" of provoking type 2 diabetes. NEW RECOMMENDATIONS
In patients under 55, first drug should be an ACE inhibitor, followed by a calcium channel blocker or a diuretic, then all three.
In patients over 55, or black patients, first choice should be a calcium channel blocker or diuretic, followed by an ACE inhibitor, and then all three
if necessary.
Beta-blockers should no longer be used for hypertension except in patients who need them for other reasons such as heart failure. Bonnie - keep in
mind that these are recommendations for British citizens. Although, it couldn't hurt to discuss these new guidelines with your physician.
Food/Diet -
Commercial diets alike for weight-loss - what about nutrition? -
Commercial weight loss programs all result in about the same levels of weight loss, says a new study in the British Medical Journal, but not all are
based around the principles of healthy eating.
It is estimated that most adults in the UK and the US will undertake a diet at some time, but long-term success rates are reported to be poor with
half of the weight lost being regained within one year. The market for commercial diets is estimated to be worth about £11bn (€16bn) by 2007 in the
UK, with speciality products, functional foods, and meal replacers taking centre stage. A new article in the British Medical Journal (Vol. 332, pp.
1309-1314) compared the effects of four commercial diets – Dr. Atkins’ new diet revolution, Slim-Fast plan, Weight Watchers pure points programme,
and Rosemary Conley’s eat yourself slim diet and fitness plan. The researchers, based at five different centres around the UK, recruited 240 mildly
obese 40-year old volunteers following one of the four commercial weight loss programmes. A further 60 volunteers with similar characteristics were
recruited to eat their normal diet and act as a control for the others. No standardisation of energy intake was attempted so that the study was a
reflection of the volunteers’ interpretation of the diet programmes. After six months, the results indicated that all four programmes resulted in
similar weight loss (5.9 kg), fat loss (4.4 kg), and a reduction in waist circumference (7 cm). The researchers also measured total cholesterol levels
every two months, and found that in all groups except the Atkins group experienced a small but significant drop in total cholesterol levels. After six
months, only the Weight Watchers group had sustained reduced cholesterol levels (0.55 millimoles per litre). “The Atkins diet had no detrimental
effects on total cholesterol concentrations or renal functions, although the overall safety of the diet was not tested,” stressed lead
researcher Helen Truby from the University of Surrey. Rachel Cooke from the British Dietetic Association said that the diets worked merely by lowering
the calorie intake overall. However, “from a dietetic perspective emphasis should continue to be on consistent messages [about] healthy
lifestyle, which includes healthy eating and healthy activity,” said Clarke. Both the study authors and Clarke noted that the results of the
study highlight the need for realistic weight loss targets. Many dieters have unrealistic targets, said Truby.
Courtesy of nutraingredients.com
Bonnie - as we have said many times before, fad diets come and go. We have never been proponents of them. While sometimes not the most popular stance,
we have always stuck to our guns to promote individualized dietary balance based upon human genetics, clinical and research data. Our goal with each
of you is not just short-term gain, but long-term dietary and lifestyle improvement.
Consumer Reports comments on tuna -
According to Consumer Reports, pregnant women should not eat canned tuna because it contains harmful levels of mercury.
Taking a more cautious approach than the U.S. government, Consumer Reports claims that due to the FDA findings that 6% of canned light tuna tested
exceeded maximum limits of mercury allowed, pregnant women should avoid all forms of tuna.
Bonnie - Whole Foods does a very good job of testing their canned tuna for mercury safety. There are other brands that also list mercury-safe on the
label. These should be, not only okay for pregnant women, but recommended as good sources of omega-3 fats. To err on the side of caution, however, I
recommend no more than 12 oz. weekly. Pregnant women should never eat raw fish, and sushi tuna and shark/swordfish are the worst from a mercury
perspective.
Med diet good for people with heart problems -
The Mediterranean diet, already linked as a way to protect against heart disease, could help people with
established heart problems says a population-based study from Greece.
The Med diet, rich in olive oil, fruit and vegetables and fish, has long been linked to lower incidence of heart disease, obesity and certain types of
cancers. However, studies into the severity and prognosis of people with heart disease is lacking. The new article, published on-line in the journal Nutrition
(doi:10.1016/j.nut.2006.04.005), reports the results of the Greek Study of Acute Coronary Syndrome (GREECS) of 2172 patients (76 per cent men) who had
been hospitalised with myocardial infarction (MI) or unstable angina (UA) and their adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Dietary assessment was
performed using validated, semi-quantitative 156-item food frequency questionnaires, and correlated to the Mediterranean diet using a 55-point scale.
The higher the score, the closer to the Med diet. Diet score was also linked to biological markers of heart disease and heart attack, such as cardiac
troponin I, creatine phosphokinase, and creatine phosphokinase-MB, and an inverse association was observed. Lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet,
linked to younger patients, smokers, or people with a family history of coronary heart disease (CHD), was associated with a higher degree of severity
of CHD. “A five-unit increase in diet score [increased adherence to the Med diet] was associated with 15 per cent lower odds of having MI, after
controlling for confounders,” said Greek researchers.
Delaying cereal in diet may increase allergy risk -
By Nicholas Bakalar, NY Times
Waiting to expose a baby to cereal grains until after the age of 6 months may increase the risk that the infant will become allergic to wheat, a new
study suggests. Researchers followed 1,612 children from birth until an average age of about 4½. The prevalence of wheat allergy among the 958
children exposed to cereal grains before 6 months was 0.41 percent. But among the 654 who were not exposed to grains before that age, it was 1.8
percent, more than four times as high. Of the 16 children who developed the allergy, 12 had not received cereal grains until they were older than 6
months.
The authors conclude that the age at which a baby first tastes cereal is significant. "The common sense out there is that delaying the
introduction of cereals would be beneficial," said Jill M. Norris, the senior author of the study and a professor of epidemiology at the
University of Colorado School of Medicine. "But actually it may not protect against allergies."
The results, published in the June issue of Pediatrics, held true after controlling for the presence of other allergies and for a family history of
allergy. The scientists are unsure of the reason for the findings, but they suggest that immune tolerance develops in a specific time interval, and
not later, or that larger portions given to older children may provoke allergy rather than tolerance. "This is something to consider when making
decisions about infant diet," Dr. Norris said.
Bonnie - We've already seen this before. This is a ridiculous study - are we going to give wheat to a 4 month old child who cannot digest it? This is
an association study. What was the amount of grain give? Also, how do we know that parents did not avoid giving their child wheat or other grains
because someone in the family had evidenced problems with it. So, of course, if there was a family history of grain intolerance, there would be an
increased amount of those children reacting no matter when they introduced it!
The only accurate research study would be to randomly sample children who had no family history of grain intolerance. Then, give the exact same grains
and amounts to them before 6 months and after 6 months to see what happens.
Lifestyle -
Danger of belly fat in men -
Bonnie - this was one of the best articles I have read on the subject. It was written by the editors of Men's Health
Magazine and appeared in USA Today Weekend Edition. Here are some of the highlights:
Subcutaneous fat is the kind that gives you "saddle bags" on the hips and "granny arms" around your biceps and triceps. This lies
just under the skin and on top of the muscle and is not an immediate risk.Visceral fat, or central obesity, gives you a "spare tire" or
"beer gut." This fat sourrounds your vital organs and is bad, especially for men. A recent study from the Queen's University in Ontario
showed that body weight alone no longer tells you how big your health risk is. You need to look where you carry your fat: the more that settles in
your midsection, the worse.Visceral fat markedly increases your risk for hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Why? It surrounds and inhibits the
function of the most important organs in your body, especially the liver. As fat increases and insinuates itself into the tissue, it slows down the
liver's response to insulin, a hormone that tells the body to move fuel into cells. As a result, your pancreas must produce more insulin to get the
liver to respond. This is called insulin resistance, which leads to high blood pressure, rising triglycerides and cholesterol, and then metabolic
syndrome (obesity and type 2 diabetes).Even moderate weight loss of 5% to 10% of your total weight can dramatically reduce your risk of type 2
diabetes, because the first fat lost is from the abdomen.Small changes to lose abdominal fat:
Up your fiber intake so your body requires less insulin.
Consume monounsaturated fats like olive oil and avocados to help with insulin resistance.
Avoid anything made with sugar or foods with high sugar content which would spike your blood sugar.
Exercise because it burns energy!
Massage use up in hospitals -
Hospitals are incorporating massage therapy programs at a growing rate; according to a new national survey. The survey shows the number of hospitals
offering massage therapy has increased by more than one third in two years. The bi-annual survey is conducted by Health Forum, a subsidiary of the
American Hospital Association on behalf of the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA) and polls hospitals across the United States on
information on programs they offer, including massage therapy. Of the hospitals that have massage therapy programs, 71 percent indicate they offer
massage therapy for patient stress management and comfort while more than two-thirds (67 percent) utilize massage therapy for pain management.
Fifty-two percent say they provide massage for cancer patients and 67 percent offer massage to their staff for stress management.
According to the survey, hospitals also use massage therapy for: Improving mobility and movement (52 percent) Pregnant women (51 percent) Part of
physical therapy regimen (50 percent) Hospice or end-of-life care (37 percent) Edema (33 percent) Infants (24 percent) Post-operative care (25
percent) Pre-operative care (17 percent) .
The effectiveness of massage therapy in alleviating the symptoms of a number of medical conditions has been demonstrated in on-going research and
clinical studies. Research has shown that massage therapy can be effective in boosting the body’s immune system functioning, reducing blood pressure
in stroke patients, easing post-operative pain], easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, and soothing chronic back pain better than other complementary
therapies. Recent studies have also associated massage therapy with substantive relief of symptoms in cancer patients, such as pain, fatigue, stress,
anxiety, nausea, and depression.
Stress may cause infertility in women -
Research presented at the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology found that simple talk therapies can reverse the effect of stress and
boost a woman's chances of becoming pregnant. The study also said that women with hectic jobs are those most at risk for stress-induced fertility. 16
women who were normal weight but had not had a period for six months were found to have high levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress. Eight of
the women were given cognitive behavorial treatment and the rest no treatment. Twenty weeks later, 80% of those given therapy had started ovulating
again compared with 25% in the other group. Two months later two of the women became pregnant.
Steve - larger studies are needed here for medical legimitimacy, but we do not need to see anymore. It works! We have helped so many women get
pregnant with counseling, and of course, dietary/lifestyle change.
Public Health -
Doctors target unhealthy diets -
Americans' unhealthy eating habits will be the target of the top U.S. physicians' group next week, when it votes on resolutions calling for
reducing salt in food and for taxes on sugary soft drinks. The American Medical Association, or AMA, plans to focus on the contribution of soft drinks
to the nation's obesity epidemic as well as the over-consumption of dietary salt when its 544 doctor-delegates convene the group's annual meeting. One
resolution asks the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to place stricter regulations on sodium in processed foods, fast food, and restaurant offerings
and it recommends cutting salt content in foods by at least half over the next decade.A second resolution supports taxes on sugary soft drinks --
likely at the state and local level -- despite industry opposition. It calls for the revenue to go for public health programs to combat obesity, which
has been labeled an epidemic by U.S. health authorities. A soft-drink tax might also curb consumption somewhat, the AMA said, as with levies on
alcohol and cigarettes. At the meeting, the AMA will likely also hone its campaign against non-physicians treating patients without a doctor's
supervision -- something that has grated on alternative providers such as nurse practitioners, psychologists, and chiropractors. "I think at
times (physicians) feel threatened that there are other practitioners that can provide safe, quality care and they are not the (only) provider of
health care services and would like to maintain that authority," said Rose Gonzalez of the American Nurses Association.Bonnie - have I died and
gone to heaven? The AMA's top target is the American Diet? It can't be. For years and years, all I kept hearing was that diet had nothing to do with
my client's health issues!
What's changed? Copius positive data regarding the diet/health connection, confidence in physicians are at an all-time low and it is hurting their
bottom line, and the American attitude is pointing towards major change in lifestyle.Doctors are scared because they have never been trained to look
at prevention. They have had little or no training in diet and nutrition. Right now, at least they have to show that they are going with the trend.
What really needs to change in the medical profession is the philosophy. Diet and nutrition must be emphasized from pre-med to med school through
continuing ed. We will all be better off.
Sobering statistics about our healthcare system -
Overdosed America, by John Abramson MD, a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School, does not pull any punches:
Our health sytem's performance is ranked 37th among the nations of the world. And when efficiency in improving citizens' health is added in, we drop
to a dismal 72.The debacle of American health care can be laid squarely at the feet of the pharmaceutical industry, which has compromised virtually
every aspect of medicine, medical education, clinical guidelines, and scientific research.According to national guidelines, cholesterol-lowering
statin drugs are recommended for more than 40 million Americans. yet medical literature backs their use in only a limited subgroup of patients, and
even then, the benefits are small. According to one of the studies suporting their use, if 100 men at very high risk of heart attack took a statin
daily for two years (at a cost of $336,000), it would prevent heart attack in just one of them. The remaining 99 men would not only receive no
benefit, they would also suffer adverse effects of the drugs, such as lowered production of coenzyme Q10, a critical nutrient for the heart and
overall health.Modern medicine is now the third leading cause of death in the US, claiming about 225,000 lives each year.
Fish farming with antibiotics under scrutiny -
As was the case with chicken and beef, the fish industry is now being targeted for the overuse of antibiotics at fish farms. Misuse could protmote
bacterial resistance leading to the evolution of resistant strains of bacteria in humans as well as the fish themselves.
Why do they have to use antibiotics on fish? For the same reasons they use them in mass-produced domesticated animal farms. The premises are dirty,
fetid environments that are a breeding ground for disease and pathogens. Fish are not meant to be bred in farmed environments where the water is
contaminated with waste and chemicals, they are overfed grain foods and animal byproducts that is completely different from their natural diet, and
the fish are in such great numbers and in such close quarters that they can barely swim. As this is not a natural environment, the fish are more prone
to disease and sickness.
Choose wild caught whenever possible until the farmed fish industry cleans itself up, literally!
Steve.
Major overhaul needed in dealing with chronic illness -
According to a new study by the Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Dartmouth Medical School, an overhaul for how the U.S. manages chronic
illness is critical. This comes on the heels of a report by Medicare's trustees that the insurance program will exhaust its trust fund in 2018.
Here are some tidbits from the study:
of the 4.7 million chronically ill Medicare enrollees in the study, $40 billion (or nearly one third of what it spent for their care over four years)
could have been saved if all U.S. Hospitals practiced at the high-quality/low-cost standard set by the Salt Lake region.most acute care hospitals have
become first-line providers of services to chronically-ill elderly, whose care would be better managed, safer, and less expensive, outside the
hospital setting.there are no recognized evidence-based guidelines for when to hospitalize, admit to intensive care, refer to medical specialists, or
for most chronic illness, when to order diagnostic or imaging tests.Salt Lake, UT, Rochester, MN, and Portland OR had the best quality and outcomes
even they were considered low cost regions.chronic illness was studied because 30 to 35 percent of Medicare dollars are spent on people with these
conditions during the last two years of their lives.the report speaks clearly to redirect resources away from acute care and invest in an
infrastructure that can better coordinate and integrate care outside of hospitals, such as home health and hospice care.
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