Health News Tidbits – June
Nearly One Fifth of Houston School Children Have High Blood Pressure-
When researchers from the University of Texas-Houston Medical School
measured blood pressure and weight in 2460 Houston public school students, they
discovered two disturbing facts: 36% of the students were overweight, and 17%
were hypertensive.
Black Tea Helps Prevent Cavities-
A University of Iowa and Goteborg University joint study showed that black
tea reduced plaque build-up and more importantly, helped control bacteria.
Breast-Feeding Studied in Relation to Obesity-
Two recent studies appeared in the Journal of the American Medical
Association concluding that breast-fed children were 20% less likely to be
overweight than those either exclusively fed formula or those nursed for three
months or less. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that mothers
breast-feed their babies for at least 12 months.
FDA Far Too Cozy With Drug Industry -
In a devastating editorial that recently appeared in The Lancet, Richard
Horton said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has become a “servant of the
drug industry.” Horton uses the IBS drug Lotronex as an example. Last
November, GlaxoSmithKline voluntarily withdrew Lotronex from the US market after
the death of five patients, 49 cases of colitis, 21 cases of severe
constipation, and 34 patients required hospital admission (10 of which needed
surgery). Senior FDA officials are now seeking to reintroduce Lotronex.
Soy Could Help Reduce Alzheimer’s Risk -
A plant-based compound found in soy might mitigate changes in the brain linked
to Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in women who have passed menopause,
according to a University of Alabama-Birmingham researcher. A study on monkeys
showed the a group fed with soy isoflavones, called phytoestrogens, showed fewer
of the disease-linked protein modifications associated with Alzheimer’s, than
the other two groups, which were fed soy without isoflavones, and a group that
received Premarin, a commonly used estrogen-replacement therapy.
Dietary Changes Improve Autistic Symptoms in Some Patients -
Elimination of dairy, gluten, and other food components dramatically improves
the symptoms of children and adults (previous studies show up to 50%
improvement) with autism, according to results presented at the International
Conference on Autism. According to Dr. Ted Kniker from the San Antonio Autistic
Treatment Center, “The theory is that poorly-degraded food proteins leak from
the gut into the blood, and peptides with opoid activity adversely affect brain
function.”
Vitamin E May Help Hot Flashes -
According to experts from the Mayo Clinic, 800IU vitamin E per day is modestly
effective in reducing hot flashes. They also mention the effectiveness of black
cohosh in alleviating hot flashes. This information appeared in The Lancet
Oncology.
Pediatricians Urge Fruit Juice Limits-
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggested limits on daily use and warned
that too much fruit juice can cause nutrition and stomach problems. They
recommend consumption be limited to 4 to 6 ounces a day for children aged one to
six, and 8 to 12 ounces for ages seven to 18. Fruit juice contains a large
amount of carbohydrates (sugar) which if consumed in large quantities can result
in diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, and flatulence.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency linked to infertility and miscarriages -
A report in the Journal of Reproductive Medicine describes 14 women suffering
from apparent infertility or after a series of miscarriages. They were all
deficient in vitamin B-12. The study was carried out at Ha’Emek Medical Centre
in Afula, Israel. 10 of the 14 women conceived after beginning vitamin B-12
treatment.
CoQ-10 Depleted From Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs -
According to noted health advocate Dr. Michael Murray, the class of
cholesterol-lowering drugs known as HMG-CoA (Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor,
Pravachol), deplete the coenzyme known as CoQ10, and should be supplemented at
least 100mg daily. Murray further stated that increasing intake of the essential
fatty acid, EPA, would help reduce the drugs side effects.
Quercetin Shows Potential for Prostate Cancer Treatment -
In the March issue of Carcinogenesis, researchers noted that the flavanoid
quercetin, found in such items as onions, apples, and tea, may prevent and even
treat prostate cancer by inhibiting prostate-specific androgen receptor, which
is involved in the development and progression of cancer.
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