CURRENT HEALTH NEWS
Intake of Fruit, Vegetables, and Fruit Juices and Risk of Diabetes in Women.
A recent April 2008 study led by Lydia Brazzano from the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, suggests that an increased intake of green leafy vegetables may reduce the risk of women developing type-2 diabetes.
A total of 71,346 female nurses ages 38-63 years, who were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes mellitus in 1984 were followed for 18 years and dietary information was collected using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire every 4 years.
During the course of the study, 4,529 cases of diabetes mellitus were documented and cumulative incidence of diabetes mellitus was 7.4%. An increase of 3 servings/day in total fruit and vegetable consumption was not associated with development of type-2 diabetes. When the researchers looked only at whole fruit consumption, there was an 18% lower diabetes risk. An increase of 1 serving a day of green leafy vegetables resulted in a 9% reduction in the risk of diabetes.
A very negative finding of the study was that increased consumption of fruit juices increased the risk of developing diabetes
CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of green leafy vegetables and fruit was associated with a lower hazard of type-2 diabetes, whereas consumption of fruit juices may be associated with an increased hazard among women.
Diabetes Care. 2008 Apr 4. Bazzano LA, Li TY, Joshipura KJ, Hu FB.
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Vitamin D Can Reduce Your Risk of Hypertension and Cancer
A recent 2008, study, of 7500 mixed-racial subjects, demonstrated an inverse relationship in nonhypertensive white persons in the United States between serum Vitamin D concentrations and systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels. Concentrations of serum vitamin D levels greater than 80 nmol/L decreased the age-related increase in SBP by 20% compare with participants that had serum vitamin D levels less than 50 nmol/L. Conversely Only 8% of the African-Americans in the study had vitamin D concentrations greater than 80 nmol/L.
The number of recent vitamin D studies have clearly demonstrated that the FDA standards are too low and as a result vitamin D deficiency is widespread. Furthermore, several recent studies have shown that women with breast cancer have low levels of vitamin D, suggesting that the risk of breast cancer increases in those women with deficient serum levels of vitamin D. It would seem appropriate to try and increase serum vitamin D levels as a part of the treatment protocol for cancer.
According to Robert Jay Rowen, MD “Almost everyone needs to take a daily dose of 5000 IU per day. If your levels are substantially below 75 nmol.L, then take 10,000 IU daily until your levels move into the sufficient range.”
The important thing is to get your vitamin D levels checked so you know exactly what your status is.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Jan;87(1):136-41 Optimal vitamin D status attenuates the age-associated increase in systolic blood pressure in white Americans: results from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Judd SE, Nanes MS, Zieglefr TR,, Wilson PW, Tangpricha V
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WE WIN--FDA MUST CLASSIFY DENTAL AMALGAM
We have won our ten-year battle to get the Food and Drug Administration to comply with the law and set a date to classify mercury amalgam.
On Monday, we settled our lawsuit, Moms Against Mercury et al. v. Von Eschenbach, Commissioner, et al. FDA will finish classifying within one year of the close of the public comment period on its amalgam policy, that is, by July 28, 2009.
There’s more good news. During a several hour negotiation session, FDA agreed to change its website on amalgam -- dramatically. Gone, gone, gone are all of FDA’s claims that no science exists that amalgam is unsafe, or that other countries have acted for environmental reasons only, or that the 2006 Scientific Panel vote affirmed amalgam’s safety. Instead -- see http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/consumer/amalgams.html -- FDA has moved to a neutral course, while recognizing the serious health concerns posed by amalgam in particular for children and unborn children, for pregnant women, for those with mercury immuno-sensitivity or high mercury body burdens. FDA now states, for example:
“Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetus.”>br>
“Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their health practitioner.”
Perfect? No. A 180-degree reversal from FDA’s 30-year policy of protecting mercury fillings? Absolutely.
To change FDA policy, we tried petitions, Congressional hearings, state fact sheet laws, Scientific Advisory Committee hearings, and letters galore -- to no avail. So in the great American tradition, we sued. The case came to a head this spring. On April 22, working with Johann Wehrle and Gwen Smith, I filed a motion for an injunction before Judge Ellen Huvelle. Three sets of briefs later, the government and I presented our oral arguments on May 16. In a crucial ruling, Judge Huvelle ruled that our 11 plaintiffs -- the diverse group listed below -- have standing. She said FDA should classify, and invited the two sides to mediate. On May 30, before Magistrate Judge John Facciola, Bob Reeves (who flew in from Lexington KY) and I hammered out an agreement with FDA officials and lawyers.
The impact of the re-writing of its position on amalgam can hardly be understated. FDA’s website will no longer be cited by the American Dental Association in public hearings. FDA shows awareness of the key issues involved. As it prepares to classify amalgam, FDA has moved to a position of neutrality. Indeed, having repeatedly raised the question of amalgam’s risk to children, young women, and the immuno-sensitive persons in its website, I find it inconceivable that FDA will not in some way protect them in its upcoming rule.
Charlie Brown
3 June 2008
PS 1: Our talented (and pro bono publico) legal team includes Consumers for Dental Choice president Sandy Duffy, Bob Reeves, Johann Wehrle, Sandra Keech, Mike McClory, and Gwen Smith; Larry Pilot served as legal advisor on the FDCA.
PS 2: Great appreciation to our gutsy plaintiffs, a team of four nonprofit groups, two public officials, three dental professionals, and two consumer victims: Moms Against Mercury (Amy Carson and Angela Medlin), Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice (Dr. Mark Mitchell), Oregonians for Life (Mary Starrett), mercury expert Michael Bender (in his capacity as Commissioner of a Vermont advisory board on mercury), Arizona Senator Karen Johnson, Dr. Andy Landerman, Dr. Corrie Crowe, dental assistant Karen Palmer, consumer advocates Linda Brocato and Anita Vazquez Tibau, and (of course) Consumers for Dental Choice.
Charles G. Brown, National Counsel
Consumers for Dental Choice
316 F St., N.E., Suite 210, Washington, DC 20002
Ph. 202.544-6333; fax 202.544-6331
charlie@toxicteeth.org, www.toxicteeth.org
SPECIAL NOTE FROM NATURAL FORMULATIONS: PLEASE VISIT THEIR WEBSITE www.toxicteeth.org AND READ ALL THE LINKS TO THE PRESS REPORTS AND ALSO VISIT THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ORAL MEDICINE & TOXICOLOGY www.iaomt.org TO FIND A DENTIST TRAINED IN THE PROPER WAY TO REMOVE AMALGAM/MERCURY DENTAL FILLINGS
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Pomegranate extract shows joint health potential
Although consumption of dietary supplements containing pomegranate extract (POMx) by patients with arthritis is on the rise, the efficacy of such preparations in suppressing joint inflammation and damage is not known The present study was designed to evaluate a standardized preparation of POMx using collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice, a widely used animal model of rheumatoid arthritis.
"The results of these translational studies and studies reported previously together provide strong and compelling evidence to support further clinical testing of pomegranate extract for the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis," wrote lead author Meenakshi Shukla from Case Western Reserve University and the University Hospitals of Cleveland.
The study CONCLUDED: “Our studies suggest that inhibition of a spectrum of signal transduction pathways and the downstream pathogenic cellular response by POMx or compounds derived from it may be a useful approach for the prevention of the onset and severity of inflammatory arthritis.”
Nutrition. 2008 May 17. [Epub ahead of print]
Consumption of hydrolyzable tannins-rich pomegranate extract suppresses inflammation and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis.
Shukla M, Gupta K, Rasheed Z, Kahn KA, Haggi TM
Division of Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
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Omega-3 (DHA) supplementation helps in atopic eczema
BACKGROUND: The increasing prevalence of atopic eczema has been linked to the alteration of the Western diet, namely the reduced consumption of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and an increased omega-6 (n-6) PUFA intake.
To investigate whether supplementation with Omega-3 would help in atopic eczema, we recruited 53 patients suffering from atopic eczema aged 18-40 years tto participate in a double-blind, controlled trial. One group received either 5.4 grams of DHA daily or a control of saturated fatty acids with an equal caloric value for eight weeks.
RESULTS: DHA, but not the control treatment, resulted in a significant clinical improvement of atopic eczema in terms of a decreased severity scoring of atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) reduced from 37.0 to 28.5 in the DHA group, and by 35.4 to 33.4 in the control group.
CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that dietary DHA could be bioactive and might have a beneficial impact on the outcome of atopic eczema, but our results need to be confirmed in a larger study.
Br J Dermatol. 2008 Apr;158(4):786-92. Epub 2008 Jan 30 Koch C, Dolle S, Metzger M, Rasche C, Jungclas H, Ruhl R, Renz H, Worm M. Allergy-Center-Charité, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
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Vitamin D levels should be multiplied by ten for children: study
By Stephen Daniells, NutraIngredients-USA
5/28/2008- Raising current vitamin D levels from 200 International Units (IU) to 2,000 IU could boost bone health amongst children and have long-term health benefits, says new research.
Only children given the equivalent of 2,000 IUs a day of vitamin D3 increased their blood levels of the vitamin to the level considered optimal for adults, according to results of a placebo-controlled study to be published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
"Our research reveals that vitamin D, at doses equivalent to 2,000 IUs a day, is not only safe for adolescents, but it is actually necessary for achieving desirable vitamin D levels," said lead researcher Ghada El-Haff Fuleihan from the American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Lebanon.
The researchers recruited 10 to 17 year-olds to take part in two studies to test the effects of short-term and a long-term supplementation with vitamin D3. For the short-term study, 25 students (10 girls) were given a weekly dose of 14,000 IU for eight weeks. This study was conducted during the summer and early autumn, when the highest vitamin D levels are reached naturally.
For the long-term, 340 students (168 girls) were given either a low dose of vitamin D (1,400 IUs each week) or a high dose (14,000 IUs each week) for one year. Fuleihan and co-workers report that only children receiving the equivalent of 2,000 IU a day of vitamin D showed the necessary increases in 25(OH)D levels to the 30 nanogram per millilitre level considered optimal for adults. Moreover, no evidence of vitamin D intoxication was reported in either the short- or long-term trial.
"This report provides a substantial database establishing the long term safety of weekly high doses of vitamin D at a critical time for bone mass accretion," wrote the authors in the JCEM.
"The high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D worldwide across all age groups, the fact that many diseases of adulthood are rooted in the pediatric age group, and the safety data available to-date render it quite compelling to modify the current recommendations regarding adequate vitamin D intake not only for adults but also for children," they concluded.
Both the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommend an adequate daily intake of 200 IUs of vitamin D for children.
Calls to increase the current recommendations of 200 IU per day for children and adults up to 50 years of age for vitamin D up to 800 - 1000 IU vitamin D3, have become more frequent in both scientific and public circles.
Reports in prestigious journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have called for raises to the recommendations.
Because of the low dietary amounts, and lack of sunshine in northern climates, some estimates claim that as much as 60 per cent of northern populations may be vitamin D deficient.
In adults, vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Published online ahead of print 29 April 2008, "Short-term and long-term safety of weekly high-dose vitamin D3 supplementation in school children" Authors: J. Maalouf, M. Nabulsi, R. Vieth, S. Kimball, R. El-Rassi, Z. Mahfoud, G. El-Hajj Fuleihan Source: newsletter@nuraingrenidents.com
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Grapefruit naringenin helps curb hepatitis C
Naringenin, a compound found in grapefruit and other citrus fruits, may help curb the spread of hepatitis C virus by 80%, according to preliminary lab tests. Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver disease. By helping curb the spread of hepatitis C, the treatment might give healthy cells a chance to regenerate and stem the tide of hepatitis C’s spread. In the recent study published in the journal Hepatology, researchers said: “Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects over three percent of the world population and is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. HCV has long been known to associate with circulating lipoproteins, and its interactions with the cholesterol and lipid pathways have been recently described. In this work, we demonstrate that HCV is actively secreted by infected cells through a Golgi-dependent mechanism while bound to very low density lipoprotein (vLDL).” Since the researchers knew that naringenin counters vLDL cholesterol (a form of “bad” cholesterol), they suspected that HCV may “hitch a ride” on cholesterol. That theory held up in test tube experiments. Naringenin curbed vLDL cholesterol, which made it harder for the HCV to spread. The researchers concluded: “These results suggest a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of HCV infection.” (article provided by "Swanson Health Products") Hepatology 47(5):1437-1445, 2008********************
Red wine keeps liver healthy, suggests new study
22/05/2008- Fresh evidence that supports the potential protective health properties of wine with a US study suggesting a glass of red wine a day could actually protect against liver disease.
People who drank up to one glass of wine a day saw the risk of liver disease due to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) cut in half, report researchers at California university's San Diego School of Medicine, who carried out a study of nearly 12,000 individuals.
NAFLD, almost unknown over two decades ago, is the most common liver disease in the US. Affecting over 40 million adults in the US alone, its prevalence is expected to grow worldwide as nations become increasingly obese.
Previous research has linked the potential health benefits of wine to resveratrol, a powerful polyphenol and anti-fungal chemical that occurs naturally under the skin of red wine grapes.
The protective properties of compounds found in red wine are the focus of numerous studies today as industry and academia investigate dietary mechanisms to stem the growing tide of diseases such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
A recent study in California, for example, found low doses of freeze-dried grape powder could inhibit the development of colorectal cancer thanks to the polyphenol resveratrol and synergistic effects between the grape compounds.
Previous studies have also linked resveratrol to bearing a positive effect on extending survival rates of mice and preventing the negative effects of high-calorie diets. It has also been linked to diabetes, heart health and obesity.
In red wine, the amount of resveratrol in a bottle can vary between types of grapes and growing seasons, and can vary between 0.2 and 5.8 milligrams per litre. But nearly all dark red wines - merlot, cabernet, zinfandel, shiraz and pinot noir - contain resveratrol.
The scientists warned that "because this effect was only seen with wine, not in beer or liquor, further studies will be needed to determine whether the benefits seen were due to the alcohol or non-alcohol components of wine."
The study was funded in part with grants from the National Institutes of Health National Research Service Award (NIH NRSA) and from the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health for the General Clinical Research Center at UC San Diego.
Source: newsletter@nuraingrenidents.com ********************Green tea extracts show promise for sleep-disordered breathing
Supplements of green tea extracts may counter the cognitive deficits that may occur, suggests a new study with rats, published in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is characterized by sleep-disordered breathing, also commonly referred to as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This is a condition that occurs when people stop breathing while they are sleeping. Common symptoms include loud snoring, restless sleep, and sleepiness during the daytime. Diagnostic tests include home oximetry or polysomnography in a sleep clinic. The individual with sleep apnea is rarely aware of having difficulty breathing, even upon awakening. It usually takes someone else witnessing the individual during episodes of sleep apnea to identify the problem. It is not a condition to be taken lightly. The medical profession increasingly recognizes OSA as a serious health condition with potential for learning and psychological disabilities. Some treatments involve lifestyle changes, such as avoiding alcohol or muscle relaxants, losing weight, and quitting smoking. Many people benefit from sleeping at a 30 degree angle or higher, as if in a recliner. Sleeping on your side, as opposed to sleeping on your back, is also recommended as a treatment for sleep apnea, largely because the airway-collapsing effect of gravity is not as strong to collapse the airway in the lateral position. Some people benefit from various kinds of oral appliance such as a mandibular splint that is a device worn in the mouth that is used to treat OSA.and snoring, or a breathing machine that helps maintain positive airway pressure.. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when people stop breathing while they are sleeping, often for a minute or more, and this may many hundreds of times during a single night's sleep. It is usually caused when the soft tissue in the rear of the throat collapses and closes during sleep, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association. The researchers had hypothesized that green tea catechin polyphenols (GTPs) might lessen the IH-induced neurobehavioral deficits by reducing IH-induced NADPH oxidase expression, lipid peroxidation, and inflammation. Human OSA was modelled in rats by intermittently depriving the animals of oxygen during 12-hour "night" cycles for 14 days - intermittent hypoxia (IH). The researchers divided the 106 male rats into two groups, with one group assigned to receive drinking water containing green tea polyphenols. The University of Louisville researchers, in collaboration with scientists from Soroka University Medical Center, then tested the animals for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, in addition to using a water maze to test their performance in spatial learning and memory tasks. They report that rats that received the green tea polyphenol (GTP)-supplemented water performed significantly better in a water maze than the rats that drank plain water.
If the results of the study can be repeated in humans, green tea and its extracts may offer a potential interventional strategy for people with the disorder, reported to be in the region of 12 million or so people in the US, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2008 May 15;177(10):1135-41. "Green Tea Catechin Polyphenols Attenuate Behavioral and Oxidative Responses to Intermittent Hypoxia"
Authors: I.C. Burckhardt, D. Gozal, E. Dayyat, Y. Cheng, R.C. Li, A.D. Goldbart, B.W. Row
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FDA Approves Health Claim For Brown Rice
Brown rice has been added to the FDA-approved list of whole grains that may make health claims including reducing the risk of heart disease and some cancers.
Brown rice, along with many other grains was previously excluded because its dietary fiber content was considered too low, but this requirement has been relaxed.
The health claim means brown rice products will be able to bear a whole grains logo and information pointing out the benefits of consuming whole grains.
The package labels of brown rice will now be able to include the claim. The claim states: "Diets rich in whole grain foods and other plant foods and low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease and some cancers."
Brown rice contains antioxidants, anthocyanins, phytosterols, tocopherols, oryzanol and other nutrients that have been found to help reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers, type II diabetes and aid in weight maintenance. It also possesses 15 vitamins and minerals, including B-vitamins, potassium, magnesium, selenium, iron, and two grams of fiber per one half cup of cooked rice. This article was derived from Nutraingredients-USA.com
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More Proof That Mercury May Be A Prime Cause of Alzheimer's Disease
On the assumption that the regulation of essential metals such as copper, iron, selenium and zinc may be altered in the brain of subjects with Alzheimer�s disease (AD) Swedish researchers conducted a study to find the answer. Concentrations of metals (magnesium, calcium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, selenium, rubidium, strontium, molybdenum, cadmium, tin, antimony, cesium, mercury and lead) were determined in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 173 patients with AD and 87 patients with the combination of AD and minor vascular components. Comparison was made with 54 healthy controls. After evaluating all the data the authors concluded: �Beside the raised plasma mercury concentrations, no consistent metal pattern in plasma or CSF was observed in patients with AD.�Gerharsson L, Lundh T, Minthon L, Londos E. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2008 May 5;25(6):508-515
SPECIAL NOTE: The study findings are just further confirmation concerning the dangers of mercury. It is important for readers to understand that the greatest source of mercury intake in humans is from amalgam dental fillings. Amalgam fillings contain up to 50% mercury and to obscure that fact they are routinely called �silver fillings.�. Once an amalgam filling is placed in the mouth it will continually release mercury vapor which will be inhaled 24 hours a day 365 days a year. In this day and age there is absolutely no reason for a dentist to utilize mercury fillings as alternative non-toxic dental materials are readily available.
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New Study Demonstrates Quercetin Can Lower Blood PressureThis study is the first to report that the use Quercetin, a flavanol commonly associated with onions, lowered blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Twenty two people with high blood pressure were supplemented daily with 730 mg of quercetin which led to a significant reduction in blood pressure. The authors of this double-blind crossover study reported that individuals with high blood pressure receiving the quercetin supplement experienced reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) of 7 and 5 mm hg respectively, compared to placebo. The findings of this study are very important as hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and diastolic BP greater than 90 mm hg affects about 600 million people worldwide and is associated with over seven million deaths. Consequently, the fact that a simple flavanol (without any side effects) can lower blood pressure is of great significance as a preventive measure. Edwards RL, et al. Journal of Nutrition November 2007, Vol 137:2405-2411. ******************** Flavanols and pancreatic cancer risk: the multiethnic cohort study.The US National Cancer Institute states that almost 38,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed every year in the US, with almost 34,000 deaths from the disease. There is a poor prognosis for this disease because it is usually diagnosed quite late. With this background, the authors of this study wanted to investigate flavanols as risk factors for pancreatic cancer. They estimated intakes of three flavanols (quercetin, found in onions and apples; kaempferol, found in spinach and some cabbages; and myricetin, found mostly in red onions and berries) for 183,518 participants in the Multiethnic Cohort Study and examined associations with the incidence of pancreatic cancer. Researchers followed participants for eight years comparing the protection provided from the three flavanols. They found that all three flavanols could decrease your overall cancer risk and slash the risk for pancreatic cancer by 25%. If you were a smoker, the reduction of risk was 59%. Of the three, kaempferol provided the greatest reduction – 22% - across all participants. Quercetin are readily available in supplement form by many different manufacturers. However, kaempferol is extremely difficult to find. The simplest solution is to eat more of the foods containing the flavanols. Nothlings U, Murphy SP, Wilkens LR, Henderson BE, Kolonel LN. Am J Epidemiol. 2007 Oct 15;166(8):924-31. Epub 2007 Aug 9. ******************** Worried About Getting A Blood Clot?A recent Australian (double-blind) study demonstrated how a simple vitamin could protect you from getting a blood clot. Singh I et al, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2007;16(3): 422-8. ******************** DOES VITAMIN D PLAY A ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS?A March 2008 study by Palomer X and colleagues evaluated whether Vitamin D was involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Previous research studies had shown that Vitamin D deficiency could alter insulin synthesis and secretion in both humans and animal models. It had also been reported that a deficiency of Vitamin D may predispose to glucose intolerance, altered insulin secretion and type 2 daibetes mellitus. Correcting Vitamin D deficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with supplemental Vitamin D improves glycemia and insulin secretion, thereby suggesting a role for Vitamin D in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2008 Mar;10(3):185-97 ******************** $86 Billion Spent on Back, Neck Pain!Despite this tremendous increase in spending, this new study concludes there was little improvement in patient health ********************
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