Health News Tidbits

Health News Tidbits – March 2002

Low Magnesium Linked to Heart Disease Deaths -
According to MS Seelig, Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, correction of magnesium inadequacy might reduce prevalence and severity insulin resistance and heart disease. However, current American nutrition doctrine emphasizes increasing calcium intake to as much as 1500-2000mg daily, without regard to the influence of such intakes on the dietary cal/mag ratio, which might reach 6/1. A 4/1 dietary cal/mag ratio is blamed, in part, for the high ischemic heart disease rate of middle aged men in Finland (Finland also has highest osteoporosis rate in the world). In contrast, the high mag/cal ratio of healthy centenarians in Italy suggests that elevated mag might even prolong life. Nutrition Week Abstracts, 2002 (abstract 76)

Basikol Found Effective in Pilot Study -
In a recent small, pilot study with her patients, medical director of the Cholesterol Management Center at the New England Heart Institute, Mary MCGowan, M.D., recorded significantly lower cholesterol levels when using Basikol™ cholesterol-reducing supplement. The study subjects regimen was based on taking 800mg twice daily with a meal. Two of the five subjects were also on statins (lipid-lowering medications). Dr. McGowan recorded an average reduction of 18% in cholesterol levels for the group. Patients experienced decreases between 8% and 32%, which suggests a considerable variation in the response from person to person.

HRT Use By Older Women Questioned -
A recent study in February's Journal of the American Medical Association found HRT may actually worsen physical functioning in postmenopausal women. The 2,763 women whom participated in the trial showed a decline in physical functioning, energy and mental health. HRT increases the risk of blood clots, gall bladder disease, uterine cancer and breast cancer.

Probiotics Beneficial During Pregnancy & Breastfeeding for Eczema -
Probiotics administered during pregnancy and lactation appear to promote the immune system protective potential of breast feeding. Probiotics also were shown to protect infants against eczema during the first two years. Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, 2002 Vol 109 No1 (119-121)

Drinking Tea Fights Cancer-
Research published by the National Foundation for Cancer and the University of Kansas show that green, black, and oolong teas have cancer-fighting properties called flavanoids, which are powerful antioxidants that quench harmful free radicals.

How Vitamin C Prevents Cancer -
Scientists at Cornell University and Seoul National University explain that Vitamin C's anti-cancer activity works by blocking hydrogen peroxide's (a tumor promoter) effect on intercellular communication. The scientists go on to say that Quercetin, a phytochemical found in apples and eucalyptus, has even stronger anti-cancer activity than Vitamin C. The Lancet Vol. 359, No. 9301

CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) Reduces Body Fat -
A recent Journal of International Medical Research (2001:29;392-296) study showed significantly reduced body fat in participants taking 1.8 grams CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) as opposed to the placebo. The double-blind, randomized study of 20 participants is the most recent of several studies showing positive reduction of body fat associated with CLA.

Diet and Exercise More Effective Than Medication for Diabetes Prevention -
A study recently published in New England Journal of Medicine 2002;346(6):393-403 from 3234 nondiabetic individuals with high blood sugar showed the lifestyle and exercise group were 39% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than the medication group.

Phytoestrogens May Reduce Heart Disease in Older Women -
A diet rich in phytoestrogens may help stave off heart disease in postmenopausal women. Among 939 postmenopausal women, women who consumed the highest amount of isoflavones and lignans had significantly lower trigylceride (fatty material found in the blood). Journal of Nutrition 2002;132:276-282

Researchers Find Wine-Heart Link-
Researchers have discovered polyphenols, the key component in red wine that aids heart health. Polyphenols inhibit the production of a peptide that contributes to hardening of the arteries, researchers report in the journal Nature. They believe the polyphenols come from red wine skins. White and rose wine have little polyphenol content as their skins are taken out before fermentation.

Daily Soda Intake Increases Obesity Risk 60% -
For every can or glass of soft drink or sugar sweetened beverage a child drank during a 19 month study of 500 school children, their chance of becoming obese increased 60%. The Lancet Vol. 357:505-508

Dietary Supplements Show Promise for Dyslexic & ADHD Children -
A report by Oxford University researchers published in the February issue of Progress in Neuro-Pyschopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry reported that fatty acid administered to 41 symptomatic boys and girls ages 8-12 showed improvement in dyslexia and ADHD symptoms. The fatty acid complex was made of EPA/DHA from fish oil and GLA and linoleic acid from evening primrose oil.

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