Health News Tidbits

Health News Tidbits – June 2002

Broccoli Kills a Bacterium Responsible for Stomach Cancer -
Johns Hopkins researchers discovered sulforaphane, a compound found in Broccoli and Broccoli Sprouts, kills helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that causes ulcers and stomach cancer. This is an encouraging study because helicobacter, which could be eradicated by antibiotics in the past, only is successful in 15-20% of the cases today. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: May 28,2002

Fruits, Veggies Lower Blood Pressure -
Seven hundred healthy adults who consumed at least five servings of fruit and vegetables daily had a 17% lower blood pressure than those who had fewer servings over a six month period. Researchers believe the antioxidant activity and potassium, associated with lowering blood pressure, were the reasons for the positive results. The Lancet May 28, 2002

Vitamin E Fights Inflammation in Diabetics -
A University of Texas study done on type 2 diabetics found that vitamin E reduces the activity of monocytes, a white blood cell that causes inflammation in diabetics. Circulation May 2002

Low Vitamin C Levels Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke -
Low vitamin C intake may result in a higher risk of heart attacks and stroke in men and women. Early results in one of the largest studies ever done on vitamin C are showing that even modest increase in fruit and vegetable intake may be associated with large benefits for health. European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition 5/27/02

Body Cannot Handle Dietary Fat in High Volume -
A University of Texas study revels that the body's natural mechanisms are not built to handle lithocolic acid, a toxic byproduct of dietary fat, in the volume generated by high fat diets. This could be reason for the strong association between high-fat diets and colorectal cancer. Science 5/17/2002

How Vitamin D Prevents Colon Cancer -
A University of Texas study revels that Vitamin D detoxifies the body's own digestive products, such as lithocolic acid, a toxic byproduct in fat. Consult with a health professional when choosing to take vitamin D over the RDA. Too much Vitamin D can be toxic. Science 5/17/2002

Statin Drug Side-Effects -
If you experience numbness and tingling while taking a statin drug, let your doctor know. Statins may be associated with peripheral neuropathy, a disorder of the longest nerves in the body that result in tingling, numbness, pain, and sometimes weakness. Most commonly the numbness starts in both feet and extends above the ankles. Howard LeWine, MD, Harvard Medical School.

Breast-feeding May Reduce "Cot Death" -

It is not clear why, but closer contact between mother and child may be a factor. The Scandinavian study showed that breast-feeding for at least four months was linked to a three to five times less risk of sudden infant deaths (SIDS).

Placebo, Antidepressant May Lift Depression Via Common Mechanism -

According to a National Institutes of Mental Health study published this month's American Journal of Psychiatry, in a randomized, double blind trial, 17 middle-aged men, hospitalized for unipolar depression, received either fluoxetine or placebo for six weeks. Rating scales revealed that 4 of the men responded to placebo and another 4 showed improvement with medication. Nine patients failed to get better. The brain activity patterns between placebo and medication showed remarkable concordance. Possible therapeutic benefits of a change in environment and the supportive, therapeutic milieu of an inpatient psychiatric ward could have helped the placebo responders.

Multivitamin Use May Reduce the Risk of Birth Defects -
Beginning three months before conception and continuing through the first trimester of pregnancy may reduce the risk of their babies developing a birth defect called an omphalocele, a protrusion of the intestines through the navel. Pediatrics 2002;109;904-8

CLA May Help Inhibit Proliferation of Colon, Prostate Cancer -

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified molecular components in the dietary supplement conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) as potentially influential in the reduction of colorectal and prostatic cancer cells. Even though CLA is an omega-6 fatty acid, it mimics the action of omega-3 fatty acids, which can inhibit tumor growth and proliferation of human cancer cells. Cancer Letters March 28

Dutch Study Links Tea Drinking to Reduced Heart Attack Risk -

A 4,807 participant study found that those that drank 375ml tea daily had roughly half the risk of heart attack of non-tea drinkers, and less than one-third the risk of fatal heart attack. The flavanoid content in tea has previously shown and is suspected to be the benefit to heart health in this study. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 4/25/02

Tea May Help Survive Heart Attack -

A Harvard Medical School study of 1,900 heart attack victims found that those who drank the most tea before their heart attacks - about 19 cups a week - were 44% less likely than nondrinkers to die in the three to four years afterward. The flavanoid content in tea is believed the be the reason. Circulation 5/6/02

Tea Builds Bone Density -
Habitual tea drinking over several years preserves bone density in both men and women, according to Taiwanese researchers. Flavanoid and phytoestrogens may be the bone density preservers. The effect was most pronounced in the 497 Chinese men and 540 Chinese women who drank tea for more than a decade. Archives of Internal Medicine 5/12/02

Folate Fights Stroke, Heart Disease -
According to data from 9,764 men and women in the US, those who consumed at least 300mcg of folate every day had 20% lower risk of stroke and a 13% lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those consuming less than 136 mcg daily. Stroke 5/3/2002

Folic Acid Could Keep Arteries Healthy -
In a Chinese/UK study, volunteers who took folic acid supplements for a year were found to have reduced homocysteine levels by 12% and promoted healthier arteries. All 29 participants had raised homocysteine levels. A 10mg dosage was administered.

Predatory Fish Health Warning -
Women and children in the UK have been advised against eating, shark, swordfish, and marlin. The Food Standards Agency found high levels of mercury in these fish.

Study Looks at Bronchitis Antibiotic -
Azithromycin (zithromax), an antibiotic prescribed for acute bronchitis, is no better than low-dose vitamin C at treating coughing attacks, according to a new study published in May 11th's The Lancet. The study concludes that doctors should stop prescribing the antibiotic. The study was performed on 220 adults at Cook Country Hospital in Chicago.

Analysis of the Anthrax Vaccine -
The anthrax vaccine was never proved safe. That has now been admitted by the FDA, CDC, and Department of Defense. It is one of the causes of Gulf War illness and recent vaccinees report similar symptoms. Despite acknowledging possible fetal harm, the CDC offered the vaccine to children and pregnant women. Department of Defense later acknowledged the systemic reaction rate to the vaccine was up to 35%, although initially listed at 0.2%. Some military studies have found up to 48% reaction rates. For nondeployed Gulf War veterans who received the vaccine, the rate of Gulf War Illness was 3 times higher than in those not vaccinated. Strong-arm tactics by the DOD, coupled with inadequate oversight and political driven deplorable behavior by CDC and FDA have caused irreparable harm. American Journal of Public Health May 2002, Vol 92, No.5

Fatty Acid Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Learning Disorders -
An Oxford study was done on 41 children between the ages of 8 to 12 with significant reading and writing disabilities. One group of children were given a daily placebo capsule containing olive oil. The other group received a supplement of highly unsaturated fatty acids containing 186 mg EPA, 480 mg DHA, 96 mg GLA, 60 IU vitamin E, and 42 mg AA. After twelve weeks, a ratings scale to assess ADHD symptoms exhibited that the children treated with placebo showed no improvement. The other group showed significant improved scores on a wide range of ADHD symptoms. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2002;26:233-239.

Omega-3s May Improve Antidepressant Effects in Patients With Relapse and Treatment Resistance -
A four-week, double-blind trial conducted on twenty-three patients experiencing a relapse in unipolar depression, the average reduction in depression (based on the Hamilton scale) in patients taking EPA was 12.4 - compared to just 1.6 in patients receiving placebo. Am J Psychiatry 2002;159:477-479.

Breastmilk Boosts Babies Brainpower -
IQs were the highest in those breast-fed for seven months. The longer a baby is breast fed, the more intelligent it is likely to be, according to researchers in US and Denmark. The study was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. JAMA 5/8/02

Ground Flaxseed Lowers Cholesterol in Postmenopausal Women -
Thirty six postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to add 40 grams of either ground flaxseed or a wheat-based product to their regular diet every day for three months. Additionally, women received 1,000 mg of elemental calcium and 400 IU of vitamin D daily. Those who consumed flaxseed had a 6% decrease in cholesterol, and LDL and triglycerides were slightly reduced. Those who consumed the wheat product had no change. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 2002;87:1527-32

Adequate Vitamin C Intake May Reduce Post-Surgical Bleeding -
Over a twelve month period, twelve people between 46 and 90 years old with abnormally low blood levels of vitamin C who had experienced abnormal bleeding while being treated on a hospital surgical unit were studied. Within 24 hours of taking vitamin C, the abnormal bleeding subsided. The study recommends 500 to 1,000 mg per day vitamin C for at least a month following surgery and perhaps longer. Surgery 2002;131:408-12

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