Health News Tidbits

Health News Tidbits – October 2004

ALERT: Vioxx Pulled Off the Market by FDA -
Due to safety concerns, the Food and Drug Administration has pulled the popular Arthritis drug off the market. Consult your physician immediately if you are taking this medication.

Nine Factors Predict Heart Attacks -
A study of 29,000 people in 52 countries from every inhabited continent of the world has shown that most heart attacks can be predicted by nine easy-to-measure factors, which are the same in every region and ethnic group worldwide. Cholesterol levels were not one of the nine. The two most important factors were found to be cigarette smoking and an abnormal ratio of apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-1, which predicted two-thirds of the risk of heart attack. Additional risk factors were high blood pressure, diabetes, abdominal obesity, stress, a lack of daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, a lack of daily exercise, and a lack of regular consumption of small amounts of alcohol. These nine factors together predicted more than 90% of the risk of heart attack. The Lancet 9/11/04

Eggs Do Not Increase Bad Cholesterol -
Intake of two eggs by 29 girls and 25 boys aged 8-12 resulted in maintenance of LDL:HDL and in generation of a less atherogenic LDL in this population of children. Amer J Clin Nutr, 10/ 2004

McDonalds Called Out for Broken Promise -
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) claims that McDonald's has not upheld their promise to remove partially hydrogenated vegetable oil from its cooking oil. Trans fats, promoters of heart disease more than any other fat, were to be removed according to McDonald's 2002 PR campaign which claimed, "America's favorite French fries are about to get even better." Although, in 2003, the company backtracked and would "extend the timeframe" for the change. To this date, the change has not occurred.

Supplementation May Reduce Side Effects in Breast Cancer Patients -
Breast cancer patients who took a nutritional supplement, a multivitamin or supplement with vitamin E experience a smaller decrease in important immune cells. Of the 49 women in the study, women who took the aforementioned experienced a smaller decrease of neutrophils during chemotherapy. However, women with relatively high levels of B-vitamin folate had a larger-than-average drop in neutrophils.
Cancer, 9/2004

Red Wine May Keep Prostate Cancer Away -
Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center say that drinking a glass of red wine may cut a man's risk of prostate cancer in half. Of 753 newly diagnosed prostate-cancer patients as well as 703 healthy controls who served as a comparison group, those who consumed four or more 4-ounce glasses of red wine per week saw about a 60 percent lower incidence of the more aggressive types of prostate cancer. If, as researchers believe, the antioxidant reservatrol is associated with the chemo preventive results, more studies should be conducted for its effect on other cancers.
International Journal of Cancer, 9/23/2004

Scientist Pushed Into Stance on Drug Use -
A government epidemiologist said that his superiors at the Food and Drug Administration asked him to soften his recommendation that antidepressant use by children be discouraged because of increased suicidal behavior among young people who took the drugs. According to Andrew Mosholder, "alternative conclusions were offered to me, which I declined to incorporate into my written document." Instead of discouraging the use of all but one antidepressant, Prozac, for children, he was told to suggest that children use such medication "with caution," Mosholder told a House subcommittee. Associated Press 9/23/04

Benefits of Mediterranean Diet -
According to a European study, people aged 70 to 90 who adhered to a Mediterranean-style diet lowered their risk of death by 23 percent. People who drank alcohol moderately lowered their risk by 22 percent. Physical activity lowered the risk by 37 percent. Nonsmoking lowered the death risk by 22 percent. And people who had all four of these healthy lifestyle factors lowered their risk of death from any cause by 65 percent. JAMA 9/22/04

Prostate Cancer Tests Deemed Useless -
Stanford researchers warn that thousands of men may have had needless surgery because the test commonly used to diagnose prostate cancer is flawed. According to the researcher who developed it 17 years ago, the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test was "all but useless" for predicting the risk of disease becoming serious. PSA indicates nothing more than the size of the prostate gland. Experts have increasingly believed the test led to needless treatment when men could be monitored and live with the cancer without it ever causing a problem. Journal Urology 9/13/04

Vitamin D Linked to Periodontal Disease -
Two recent studies come from researchers at Tufts University. Both the first (11,000 subjects) and second study (4,100 subjects) show that vitamin D intake may be an essential element in keeping muscles strong and gums healthy as we age. The first study showed a significant association between low levels of vitamin D and an elevated risk of tooth loss due to periodontal disease. The second study showed that of both active and inactive subjects aged 60 to 90, those with the highest levels of vitamin D had better musculoskeletal function in the lower extremities, compared to those with the lowest levels of vitamin D. Amer J Clin Nutr 9/2004

Vitamin B May Prevent Migraines -
According to researchers, supplementing with high doses of vitamin B2 (riboflavin) may help prevent migraines. Each participant received 400mg of riboflavin per day for three months and kept a diary recording the number of migraine attacks, duration of each migraine, headache intensity and the use of pain relievers during a migraine. Participants suffered significantly fewer migraines while taking riboflavin. The average number of headaches decreased from four per month prior to the study, to two per month. Participants also used significantly less pain-relieving medication, and headache duration also decreased. Mild adverse reactions were reported, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and facial redness. Euro J Neurology 9/10/04

HbA1c Test Indicator of Heart Disease -
While it is widely recognized that diabetes is associated with heart disease risk, researchers have been seeking the best way to assess risk. Based on two recent studies, researchers believe the HbA1c blood test offers the clearest indication of associated risk. Because daily fluctuations of blood glucose do not affect HbA1c, it provides a more accurate overall indicator of hypoglycemia. The researchers conclude that a level higher than seven is a red flag, signaling the possibility of type 2 diabetes. Every time HbA1c increases by one percentage point, the risk of heart disease or stroke raises by nearly 20 percent. Likewise, as HbA1c drops, so does the heart disease risk.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 9/21/2004

EPA/DHA Now Considered Heart Healthy -
The Food and Drug Administration says that products that contain two types of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, can be marketed as heart-healthy. The language is as follows: "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary artery disease." fda.gov

CoQ10 Boosts Vitamin E's Anti-Inflammatory Action -
US and Australian researchers fed baboons a high fat, high cholesterol diet for seven weeks. After vitamin E supplementation, their C-Reactive Protein levels (the most accurate indicator of inflammation) were reduced by 53 percent. With an additional 2 grams of CoQ10, there was a further CRP reduction of 70 percent. Human trials are expected in the near future. Amer J Clin Nutr 9/2004

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