Health News Tidbits

Health News Tidbits – May 2004

Drug Company Experts Advised Staff to Withhold Data About Antidepressant Use In Children -
The Canadian Medical Association Journal obtained an internal document from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the makers of the antidepressant Pail, in which staff were told to withhold clinical trial findings in 1998 that indicated protein (Pail in North America and Seroxat in the UK) had no beneficial effect in treating adolescents. The Central Medical Affairs Team stated in the memo, "It would be commercially unacceptable to include a statement that efficacy had not been demonstrated, as this would undermine the profile of paroxetine." The entire analysis can be read in pdf format at http://www.cmaj.ca/pdfs/page783.pdf. CMAJ 3/2/04, Lancet 4/24/04

CDC Will Not Urge Mercury-Free Shot -
The Environmental Protection Agency considers mercury the second most toxic substance on earth. Despite the Center for Disease Control twice (in the 1970's and 1990's) declaring that vaccine makers remove thimersol (methyl mercury) from vaccines because it has no efficacy as a preservative, they will not urge parents to ask for mercury-free vaccines. The CDC has been under increasing pressure to require vaccine makers to remove thimersol completely from vaccines. Houston Chronicle, April 2, 2004

Kaprex Lowers CRP Levels -
Metagenics Kaprex, an herbal product consisting of hops extract, rosemary, and olive leaf has been shown to significantly reduce C-Reactive Protein levels, the most accurate marker for inflammation. As much as eighty percent of all heart attacks occur when smaller plaques, destabilized by inflammation, rupture and attract a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the heart.
Health and Healing May 2004

Artery Thickening Found in Obese Children -
Using ultrasounds to monitor children's blood vessels, results showed that some obese Australian children's as young as ten years old had thickened arteries resembling those of adult smokers. This increases their risk of heart attack or stroke in their 40s or 50s. International Journal of Obesity May 2004

Study Links ADHD Drugs to Growth Delays -
A National Institutes of Health study involving 540 children ages 7-9 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and took stimulants, grew more than half an inch less and gained over eight pounds less than those who were not medicated.
Pediatrics April 2004

Hardening of Arteries Linked to Depression -
The greater the degree of hardening of the arteries, the more strongly it is tied to depression late in life. A study based on 4,019 Danish men showed the more severe the atherosclerosis, the more risk for depressive disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, April 2004

Chocolate Good During Pregnancy -
A Finnish study of 300 women recorded their chocolate consumption and stress levels during pregnancy. Those that treated themselves regularly reported more smiling and laughter in their babies when questioned six months after birth.
Early Human Development February, 2004

FDA Makes Qualified Health Claim for Walnuts -
The Food Drug and Administration announced that information will soon be appearing on labels linking walnut consumption and the reduced risk of coronary artery disease. The claim is as follows: "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that eating 1.5 oz of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. USDA 3/31/04

Small Benefit Seen from Alzheimer's Drugs -
At a meeting at Johns Hopkins University between Alzheimer's researchers and doctors and health professionals, prospects for better treatments before real progress is made in reducing the toll of the disease may be decades away. One expert said that "there was just one chance in 10 that Alzheimer's drugs would have an effect and that patients should try them for six to eight weeks and then quit if there is no improvement." Another expert said "the drugs are symptomatic, mildly effective medications. They are not the silver bullets to stop the disease or slow it down. They do not restore anybody's memory to what it was in the past. Geriatrics Journal, May & June 2004;89(3):1217-21

Link Between Low B12 Levels and Alzheimer's -
Low levels of vitamin B12 and folate are associated with poorer memory in older people with high risk for Alzheimer's according to a Swedish study of 167 elderly people. Those carrying a specific genetic defect associated with dementia showed higher cognition when levels of folate and B12 were normal as opposed to those who were deficient. Neuropsychology, April 2004

Recent Prostate Studies -
In men with high PSA levels and negative biopsy results, a test for protein may reveal undetected cancer. Researchers are beginning to look at the protein EPCA to serve as an adjunct to the current diagnostic approach, when they found that positive staining for EPCA was significantly associated with the presence of prostate cancer. Journal of Urology, April 2004

Men with high levels of alpha tocopherol from vitamin E were 53% percent less likely to develop prostate cancer. Scientists looked at 100 men who had prostate cancer and 200 who did not and compared amounts of vitamin E in the bloodstream. Men with the highest levels of gamma tocopherol, which represents about 20% of the vitamin E in the blood, had a 39% lower chance. Another study found similar results with regard to bladder cancer. American Association of Cancer Research 3/28/04

UCLA researchers assigned twenty men, all scheduled for prostate removal due to cancer, to drink either black tea, green tea or soda, five cups a day for five days before surgery. The aim was to see if substances called polyphenols (EGCG) in tea might slow prostate cancer cell growth. After surgery, researchers sampled tissue from each man and found there was a decrease in how fast new cancer cells appeared for men who had consumed either black or green tea, but not in those who drank soda. Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, April 18, 2004

Amount of Fat Cell Hormone May Cut Heart Attack Risk -
Men with high levels of adiponectin, a hormone secreted by fat cells, are 40% less likely to have heart attacks. The study involved 18,225 men ages 40 to 75 and researchers believe the hormone helps keep fats from accumulating in arteries may help reduce inflammation. JAMA 4/13/2004

Estrogen No Overall Benefit in Disease Prevention -
Estrogen replacement therapy after menopause does not improve long-term health. The statement came from researchers of the government funded Women's Health Initiative. JAMA 4/14/2004

Vitamin C Reduces CRP -
Vitamin C appears to reduce levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation and a better predictor of heart disease than cholesterol. Participants who took about 500 mg of vitamin C supplements per day saw a 24% drop in plasma C-reactive protein levels after two months.
J Amer Coll Nutr 4/04

CLA Effective as Cold Fighter -
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), commonly found in grass-fed beef and dairy products, has been found to increase antibody protection in healthy people. Participants who were intentionally exposed to rhinovirus (most closely associated with the common cold), then given two grams of CLA derived from safflower oil, experienced an overall reduction of cold symptoms compared to those taking the placebo.
17th Annual Conference on Antiviral Research, May 2004

Nutritional Concepts Unveils Heart Health Protocol -
Heart Disease is the number two cause of death for people living
in the United States. New research shows that even children as
young as ten years old have arteries resembling heavy smokers.
Thus, prevention and natural treatments are not a luxury, but a
necessity. Nutritional Concept's Heart Health Protocol provides
you with the screening tools and preventive turnkeys to unlocking
your optimal heart health. Highlights include, Serum Heart Screening Checklist, Genetic Heart Screening, Heart Health Tidbits “On the Horizon,” Other Cardiac Health Clues, Ten Dietary Improvement Tips, Dietary Supplement Suggestions, Heart Healthy Pantry, and Lifestyle Suggestions.

Cholesterol Highest in Winter -

According data from 517 healthy people of the course of a year, researchers found that cholesterol levels changed throughout the year depending on the season, by as much 3.9mg/dl in women and 5.4mg/dl in men. Levels were at their highest in the winter and lowest in the summer. Arch Int Med 4/04

Strict Diets Cut Heart Disease -
A Washington University study examined people who had curbed their calorie intake and avoid processed foods for a number of years. They were found to have the health of people decades younger. The study also mentioned that small adjustments to diet can improve people's health. The 18 individuals who joined the study had been following a dietary regime between 3 and 15 years consisting of nutrient-dense foods consisting of 10-25% fewer calories than the average American.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (UK) 4/04

High-Fat, High-Carb Meals Damage Blood Vessels -
High fat/carb meals cause a rush of inflammatory factors, the primary factor in the development of atherosclerosis. In addition for creating an inflammatory cascade three to four hours after a meal, a 129% mean increase in free radicals occurred. Am J Clin Nutr 4/04

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