Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Aspirin increases risk of Crohn's fivefold
People who take aspirin regularly for a year or more may be at an increased risk of developing Crohn's disease, according to a new study presented at the annual Digestive Disease Week conference. Though there are likely to be many causes of the disease, previous work on tissue samples has shown that aspirin can have a harmful effect on the bowel. To investigate this potential link further, the UEA team followed 200,000 volunteers aged 30-74 in the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Italy. The volunteers had been recruited for the EPIC study (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) between 1993 and 1997. The volunteers were all initially well, but by 2004 a small number had developed Crohn's disease. When looking for differences in aspirin use between those who did and did not develop the disease, the researchers discovered that those taking aspirin regularly for a year or more were around five times more likely to develop Crohn's disease. Further work must now be done in other populations to establish whether there is a definite link and to check that aspirin use is not just a marker of another risk factor which is the real cause of Crohn's disease. The UEA team will also continue its wider research into other potential factors in the development of Crohn's disease, including diet.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Urinary Tract Infections Becoming Harder to Treat
Researchers writing in the Journal of Medical Microbiology will help health experts to assess how using antibiotics in food-producing animals can affect the treatment of common human infections. Scientists examined Escherichia coli bacteria responsible for causing human urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacteria in fecal samples from humans and food-producing animals. They found an identical gene for antibiotic resistance was present in all the samples in similar proportions and locations, suggesting that the gene is likely to be transferred between bacteria residing in different hosts. Surveys in recent years have shown that antibiotic resistance in this bacterium is increasing, making infections increasingly difficult to treat. The ability of antibiotic resistance genes to transfer between human and animals could make the problem harder to control. "These resistance genes may possibly spread to the human gut via the food chain, through direct contact with animals or by exposure to contaminated water sources.
Steve - we have seen this in our clients well. We find that the patented cranberry extract in pill or syrup form usually does the trick without having to resort to antibiotics. If not enough, GSE (grapefruit seed extract), in addition the cranberry extract, has proven successful in most cases.
Steve - we have seen this in our clients well. We find that the patented cranberry extract in pill or syrup form usually does the trick without having to resort to antibiotics. If not enough, GSE (grapefruit seed extract), in addition the cranberry extract, has proven successful in most cases.
Caffeine May Slow Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
Although caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive drug worldwide, its potential beneficial effect for maintenance of proper brain functioning has only recently begun to be adequately appreciated. Substantial evidence from epidemiological studies and fundamental research in animal models suggests that caffeine may be protective against the cognitive decline seen in dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). A special supplement to the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, "Therapeutic Opportunities for Caffeine in Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases," sheds new light on this topic and presents key findings.
Key Findings:
Key Findings:
- Multiple beneficial effects of caffeine to normalize brain function and prevent its degeneration.
- Caffeine's neuroprotective profile and its ability to reduce amyloid-beta production.
- Caffeine as a candidate disease-modifying agent for Alzheimer's disease.
- Positive impact of caffeine on cognition and memory performance.
- Identification of adenosine A2A receptors as the main target for neuroprotection afforded by caffeine consumption.
- Epidemiological studies corroborated by meta-analysis suggesting that caffeine may be protective against Parkinson's disease.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Vitamin E preventative for CPOD
Long-term, regular use of vitamin E in women 45 years of age and older may help decrease the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by about 10 percent in both smokers and non-smokers, according to a study presented by researchers at Cornell University and Brigham and Women's Hospital at the ATS 2010 International Conference in New Orleans. "The findings from our study suggest that increasing vitamin E prevents COPD," said researchers. "Previous research found that higher intake of vitamin E was associated with a lower risk of COPD, but the studies were not designed to answer the question of whether increasing vitamin E intake would prevent COPD.
Data was compiled from the Women's Health Study, a multi-year, long-term effort ending in 2004 that focused on the effects of aspirin and vitamin E in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in nearly 40,000 women aged 45 years and older. Study participants were randomized to receive either 600 mg of vitamin E or a placebo every other day during the course of the research.
Data was compiled from the Women's Health Study, a multi-year, long-term effort ending in 2004 that focused on the effects of aspirin and vitamin E in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer in nearly 40,000 women aged 45 years and older. Study participants were randomized to receive either 600 mg of vitamin E or a placebo every other day during the course of the research.
Pesticides' link to development disorders
A new analysis of U.S. health data links children's attention-deficit disorder with exposure to common pesticides used on fruits and vegetables. While the study couldn't prove that pesticides used in agriculture contribute to childhood learning problems, experts said the research is persuasive. "I would take it quite seriously," said Virginia Rauh of Columbia University, who has studied prenatal exposure to pesticides and wasn't involved in the new study.
Children may be especially prone to the health risks of pesticides because they're still growing and they may consume more pesticide residue than adults relative to their body weight. In the body, pesticides break down into compounds that can be measured in urine. Almost universally, the study found detectable levels: The compounds turned up in the urine of 94 percent of the children. The kids with higher levels had increased chances of having ADHD, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a common problem that causes students to have trouble in school. The findings were published in Pediatrics.
Researchers said people can limit their exposure by eating organic produce. Frozen blueberries, strawberries and celery had more pesticide residue than other foods in one government report. A 2008 Emory University study found that in children who switched to organically grown fruits and vegetables, urine levels of pesticide compounds dropped to undetectable or close to undetectable levels.
Steve - but didn't the pundits say organic produce was a complete waste of money?
Children may be especially prone to the health risks of pesticides because they're still growing and they may consume more pesticide residue than adults relative to their body weight. In the body, pesticides break down into compounds that can be measured in urine. Almost universally, the study found detectable levels: The compounds turned up in the urine of 94 percent of the children. The kids with higher levels had increased chances of having ADHD, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a common problem that causes students to have trouble in school. The findings were published in Pediatrics.
Researchers said people can limit their exposure by eating organic produce. Frozen blueberries, strawberries and celery had more pesticide residue than other foods in one government report. A 2008 Emory University study found that in children who switched to organically grown fruits and vegetables, urine levels of pesticide compounds dropped to undetectable or close to undetectable levels.
Steve - but didn't the pundits say organic produce was a complete waste of money?
Friday, May 14, 2010
Eating Nuts Improves Lipid Levels
The consumption of nuts of nearly any type improves blood lipid levels, lowering total- and LDL-cholesterol levels, and improves important lipid ratios. The cholesterol-lowering effects of nuts are dose related and more pronounced in individuals with higher baseline LDL-cholesterol levels and in those with a lower body-mass index (BMI), according to investigators in the May issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The authors add that a recent summary of these previous epidemiological studies suggested that the risk of coronary heart disease was nearly 40% lower among individuals who ate at least four servings of nuts per week, compared with those who rarely or never ate nuts. In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration issued a qualified claim stating that the consumption of specific nuts--almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, and peanuts--might reduce the risk of heart disease.
There was no significant effect on HDL-cholesterol levels and no effect on triglycerides.The effect of consuming nuts was similar in men and women and across different age groups and was observed regardless of the specific nut consumed and regardless of the study funding source.
Bonnie - theseresults should not come as a surprise to my clients. Nuts are a staple not only of my Circle of Health, but the Mediterranean Diet.
The authors add that a recent summary of these previous epidemiological studies suggested that the risk of coronary heart disease was nearly 40% lower among individuals who ate at least four servings of nuts per week, compared with those who rarely or never ate nuts. In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration issued a qualified claim stating that the consumption of specific nuts--almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, and peanuts--might reduce the risk of heart disease.
There was no significant effect on HDL-cholesterol levels and no effect on triglycerides.The effect of consuming nuts was similar in men and women and across different age groups and was observed regardless of the specific nut consumed and regardless of the study funding source.
Bonnie - theseresults should not come as a surprise to my clients. Nuts are a staple not only of my Circle of Health, but the Mediterranean Diet.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Breast vs. Formula? It's in the Genes.
Is breast milk so different from infant formula? The ability to track which genes are operating in an infant's intestine has allowed University of Illinois scientists to compare the early development of breast-fed and formula-fed babies. They say the difference is very real. "For the first time, we can see that breast milk induces genetic pathways that are quite different from those in formula-fed infants. Although formula makers have tried to develop a product that's as much like breast milk as possible, hundreds of genes were expressed differently in the breast-fed and formula-fed groups," said Sharon Donovan, a U of I professor of nutrition.
Although both breast-fed and formula-fed babies gain weight and seem to develop similarly, scientists have known for a long time that breast milk contains immune-protective components that make a breast-fed infant's risk lower for all kinds of illnesses, she said. "The intestinal tract of the newborn undergoes marked changes in response to feeding. And the response to human milk exceeds that of formula, suggesting that the bioactive components in breast milk are important in this response," she noted. "What we haven't known is how breast milk protects the infant and particularly how it regulates the development of the intestine," she said.
Many of the differences found by the scientists were in fundamental genes that regulate the development of the intestine and provide immune defense for the infant. In this small proof-of-concept study, Donovan used a new technique patented by Texas A&M colleague Robert Chapkin to examine intestinal gene expression in 22 healthy infants -- 12 breast-fed, 10 formula-fed. The technique involved isolating intestinal cells shed in the infants' stools, then comparing the expression of different genes between the two groups. Mothers in the study collected fecal samples from their babies at one, two, and three months of age. Scientists were then able to isolate high-quality genetic material, focusing on the RNA to get a gene expression or signature. Donovan said that intestinal cells turn over completely every three days as billions of cells are made, perform their function, and are exfoliated. Examining the shed cells is a noninvasive way to examine intestinal health and see how nutrition affects intestinal development in infants.
Understanding early intestinal development is important for many reasons, she said. "An infant's gut has to adapt very quickly. A new baby is coming out of a sterile environment, having received all its nutrients intravenously through the placenta. At that point, babies obviously must begin eating, either mother's milk or formula. "They also start to become colonized with bacteria, so it's very important that the gut learns what's good and what's bad. The baby's body needs to be able to recognize a bad bacteria or a bad virus and fight it, but it also needs to recognize that even though a food protein is foreign, that protein is okay and the body doesn't want to develop an immune response to it," she said. If anything goes wrong at this stage, babies can develop food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and even asthma. "We're very interested in frequent sampling at this early period of development," she added.
Donovan also would like to learn how bacteria in the gut differ in formula- and breast-fed babies, and this technique should make that possible. "Now we'll be able to get a complete picture of what's happening in an infant -- from the composition of the diet to the microbes in the gut and the genes that are activated along the way." Of potential clinical importance: The study will appear in the June 2010 issue of the American Journal of Physiology, Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.
Steve - incredible work from this group (they just happen to be from my alma mater). What a great concept to consider when trying to discern the differences between formula and mother's milk. While it confirms what we already know, it taps into to the epigenome and affects how it will be expressed later in life.
Although both breast-fed and formula-fed babies gain weight and seem to develop similarly, scientists have known for a long time that breast milk contains immune-protective components that make a breast-fed infant's risk lower for all kinds of illnesses, she said. "The intestinal tract of the newborn undergoes marked changes in response to feeding. And the response to human milk exceeds that of formula, suggesting that the bioactive components in breast milk are important in this response," she noted. "What we haven't known is how breast milk protects the infant and particularly how it regulates the development of the intestine," she said.
Many of the differences found by the scientists were in fundamental genes that regulate the development of the intestine and provide immune defense for the infant. In this small proof-of-concept study, Donovan used a new technique patented by Texas A&M colleague Robert Chapkin to examine intestinal gene expression in 22 healthy infants -- 12 breast-fed, 10 formula-fed. The technique involved isolating intestinal cells shed in the infants' stools, then comparing the expression of different genes between the two groups. Mothers in the study collected fecal samples from their babies at one, two, and three months of age. Scientists were then able to isolate high-quality genetic material, focusing on the RNA to get a gene expression or signature. Donovan said that intestinal cells turn over completely every three days as billions of cells are made, perform their function, and are exfoliated. Examining the shed cells is a noninvasive way to examine intestinal health and see how nutrition affects intestinal development in infants.
Understanding early intestinal development is important for many reasons, she said. "An infant's gut has to adapt very quickly. A new baby is coming out of a sterile environment, having received all its nutrients intravenously through the placenta. At that point, babies obviously must begin eating, either mother's milk or formula. "They also start to become colonized with bacteria, so it's very important that the gut learns what's good and what's bad. The baby's body needs to be able to recognize a bad bacteria or a bad virus and fight it, but it also needs to recognize that even though a food protein is foreign, that protein is okay and the body doesn't want to develop an immune response to it," she said. If anything goes wrong at this stage, babies can develop food allergies, inflammatory bowel disease, and even asthma. "We're very interested in frequent sampling at this early period of development," she added.
Donovan also would like to learn how bacteria in the gut differ in formula- and breast-fed babies, and this technique should make that possible. "Now we'll be able to get a complete picture of what's happening in an infant -- from the composition of the diet to the microbes in the gut and the genes that are activated along the way." Of potential clinical importance: The study will appear in the June 2010 issue of the American Journal of Physiology, Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology.
Steve - incredible work from this group (they just happen to be from my alma mater). What a great concept to consider when trying to discern the differences between formula and mother's milk. While it confirms what we already know, it taps into to the epigenome and affects how it will be expressed later in life.
This Bacteria a Silent Killer
Bonnie - while the bacteria, C. Difficile, is presently the "bug du jour" in the media, and its devastating effects should not be taken lightly, there is another bacteria that flies under the radar because its effects are more cumulative than acute, yet can be just as devastating. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a microaerophilic Gram-negative bacterium, infects the stomach of more than 50% of the human population worldwide and is a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, gastric cancer, and is also associated with coronary artery disease and its risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, atherogenic lipids and low-grade inflammation. A clinical review in the April issue of the New England Journal of Medicine provides information on how to detect, diagnose, treat, and manage Helicobacter pylori infection.
Methods of Testing
Routine testing for H pylori infection is not recommended because the vast majority of patients with this infection do not have any associated clinical disease. However, confirmed gastric or duodenal ulcers and gastric MALT lymphoma are definite indications for detecting and treating H pylori infection. After surgical removal of early gastric cancers, it may also be reasonable to test for and eradicate H pylori infection.
Bonnie - I disagree with this. While H.pylori is something I focus on after many other gastrointestinal issues are ruled out, it surely has its merits as a preventative screening tool. I have discovered and help eradicate H. pylori in many of my clients, including my own husband, well before ulcers and cancer occurred.
For younger patients with upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms but without alarm symptoms such as weight loss, persistent vomiting, or gastrointestinal tract bleeding, it is reasonable to use a noninvasive test-and-treat strategy for H pylori infection.
Options for noninvasive testing include the urea breath test, fecal antigen test, and serologic test. Patients with positive test results should undergo eradication therapy. For patients with alarm symptoms, or for older patients with new-onset dyspepsia, endoscopy is recommended.
Treatments
Antibiotics (twice per day for 7-14 days) with short-term Proton Pump Inhibitor therapy is the standard treatment to eradicate H. pylori. However, a percentage of H. pylori strains have become antibiotic-resistant.
Bonnie - while the NEJM recommends treating with two specific antibiotics, I always recommend that your physician cultures your H. pylori strain against several classes of antibiotics to discover which will be the most effective for eradication.
After Eradication Therapy: What Next?
Retesting to make sure the treatment was successful may include a urea breath test or fecal antigen test performed at least 4 weeks after treatment is completed, so that false-negative results from suppression of H pylori are avoided.
When treatment fails to eradicate H pylori infection, therapeutic options include empiric acid-inhibitory therapy, endoscopy to detect underlying ulcer or another cause of symptoms, and subsequent use of the noninvasive test-and-treat strategy. Clinicians should also consider another cause for the symptoms, such as biliary tract, pancreatic, musculoskeletal, or cardiac disease or psychosocial stress. Poor compliance with initial treatment may also be implicated and mandates adherence to the second treatment regimen.
Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes
Many studies have revealed a close relationship between H, pylori (HP) infection and insulin resistance. The aim of this study in the April issue of Southern Medical Journal was to investigate the effects of H. pylori eradication on insulin resistance, serum lipids and low-grade inflammation. The study confirms the beneficial effects of H. pylori eradication on insulin resistance, atherogenic lipid abnormalities and low-grade inflammation, and in turn, may prevent coronary artery disease and metabolic syndrome.
H. pylori in the Elderly
Eradication of H. pylori infection improved gastric muscle atrophy (gastritis) and prevented the progression of intestinal metaplasia (the transformation of mucosa, particularly in the stomach, into glandular mucosa resembling that of the intestines, although usually lacking villi.) in the elderly population during the long-term follow-up periods. H. pylori eradication for the elderly population is effective according to this study in the April issue of Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Bonnie - if conventional treatment is not effective, zinc carnosine is a dietary supplement with 24 research studies behind it. I have found it to be effective in limiting the effects of H. pylori in those who have it, have had it in the past, or have a family history of it and want to be proactive.
Have you had H. pylori? If so, feel free to share your experience below.
Methods of Testing
Routine testing for H pylori infection is not recommended because the vast majority of patients with this infection do not have any associated clinical disease. However, confirmed gastric or duodenal ulcers and gastric MALT lymphoma are definite indications for detecting and treating H pylori infection. After surgical removal of early gastric cancers, it may also be reasonable to test for and eradicate H pylori infection.
Bonnie - I disagree with this. While H.pylori is something I focus on after many other gastrointestinal issues are ruled out, it surely has its merits as a preventative screening tool. I have discovered and help eradicate H. pylori in many of my clients, including my own husband, well before ulcers and cancer occurred.
For younger patients with upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms but without alarm symptoms such as weight loss, persistent vomiting, or gastrointestinal tract bleeding, it is reasonable to use a noninvasive test-and-treat strategy for H pylori infection.
Options for noninvasive testing include the urea breath test, fecal antigen test, and serologic test. Patients with positive test results should undergo eradication therapy. For patients with alarm symptoms, or for older patients with new-onset dyspepsia, endoscopy is recommended.
Treatments
Antibiotics (twice per day for 7-14 days) with short-term Proton Pump Inhibitor therapy is the standard treatment to eradicate H. pylori. However, a percentage of H. pylori strains have become antibiotic-resistant.
Bonnie - while the NEJM recommends treating with two specific antibiotics, I always recommend that your physician cultures your H. pylori strain against several classes of antibiotics to discover which will be the most effective for eradication.
After Eradication Therapy: What Next?
Retesting to make sure the treatment was successful may include a urea breath test or fecal antigen test performed at least 4 weeks after treatment is completed, so that false-negative results from suppression of H pylori are avoided.
When treatment fails to eradicate H pylori infection, therapeutic options include empiric acid-inhibitory therapy, endoscopy to detect underlying ulcer or another cause of symptoms, and subsequent use of the noninvasive test-and-treat strategy. Clinicians should also consider another cause for the symptoms, such as biliary tract, pancreatic, musculoskeletal, or cardiac disease or psychosocial stress. Poor compliance with initial treatment may also be implicated and mandates adherence to the second treatment regimen.
Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes
Many studies have revealed a close relationship between H, pylori (HP) infection and insulin resistance. The aim of this study in the April issue of Southern Medical Journal was to investigate the effects of H. pylori eradication on insulin resistance, serum lipids and low-grade inflammation. The study confirms the beneficial effects of H. pylori eradication on insulin resistance, atherogenic lipid abnormalities and low-grade inflammation, and in turn, may prevent coronary artery disease and metabolic syndrome.
H. pylori in the Elderly
Eradication of H. pylori infection improved gastric muscle atrophy (gastritis) and prevented the progression of intestinal metaplasia (the transformation of mucosa, particularly in the stomach, into glandular mucosa resembling that of the intestines, although usually lacking villi.) in the elderly population during the long-term follow-up periods. H. pylori eradication for the elderly population is effective according to this study in the April issue of Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Bonnie - if conventional treatment is not effective, zinc carnosine is a dietary supplement with 24 research studies behind it. I have found it to be effective in limiting the effects of H. pylori in those who have it, have had it in the past, or have a family history of it and want to be proactive.
Have you had H. pylori? If so, feel free to share your experience below.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Will USDA doom locally produced meat?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service recently proposed a set of new regulations that will require all meat processors to submit their products to a new series of tests, a procedure that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for even a modestly scaled operation, enough to cripple many small processors.
What worries fans of small farms and locally produced food is that the closing of small processors will mean the closing of small farms. Slaughter and processing is the biggest challenge for small-scale meat; they're operations simply too costly and complex for farms to handle themselves. As it is, farmers have few options for meat processing without selling their animals to massive feedlot-meat operations, and without that piece of the puzzle, many farmers may quit.
Why is the USDA considering the new testing regime? Some producers wonder if the machinations of Big Food are in play. The rest of this piece can be found at the following link:
http://www.salon.com/food/feature/2010/04/26/usda_testing_end_local_meat/
Steve: this sounds very much like Monsanto's intent to corner the market on all seeds, making it impossible for small growers to use their own.
If you would like to respond to the USDA, here is your recourse:
THE DEADLINE for COMMENTS is June 19, 2010
What YOU can do NOW:
OPTION 1: Contact FSIS via email at:
DraftValidationGuideComments@fsis.usda.gov
Cut and paste the following letter (making sure to fill in the highlighted areas and edit as you see/feel fit)
OPTION 2: Make your changes and send off the hard copy of the following letter to the address at the top
Docket Clerk, FSIS
Room 2-2127
5601 Sunnyside Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705
Re: Comments – Draft Guidance on HACCP System Validation
Dear Mr. Almanza:
I respectfully submit these comments regarding the Draft Guidance on HACCP System Validation that were publically released on March 19, 2010.
As a consumer of livestock products who depends upon local, small independent meat processors, my concern regarding the process validation in inspected establishments HACCP programs has prompted me to submit these comments. I am not an industry big-wig; I am only one person who is concerned with the damage that I foresee these new validation requirements causing my local, independent meat processors. When HACCP was implemented, the meat industry saw a decrease in establishments. This initiative and new interpretation has the potential to decimate the remaining very small to small establishments, upon which so many Americans, including myself, depend. There is nothing wrong with the current HACCP system, whereas independent, small processors are concerned – nor is there any reason to believe the extraneous requirements would produce a safer end product. It has been estimated that the potential cost to validate a processors entire food safety system could easily run upward of $500,000 initially and over $100,000 for ongoing validation. No food safety problem has been identified to require this shift in agency interpretation of validation; I don’t understand why this is necessary when there is a system in place that is working. All I see this shift in interpretation accomplishing is:
Devastating the remaining small meat processors (hinders commerce)
Large decrease in the variety of products available
Discouraging the introduction of new products, therefore reducing the number of employees (increased unemployment)
Increasing the cost of production, therefore increasing what I have to pay
None of these sound like they would be for the good of the American consumer. I know, believe in and trust my local meat processors; therefore, I respectfully request that the Draft Guidance on HACCP System Validation be revised to clearly state that no in-plant microbial testing is required when an establishment is following the long-standing, safe processes of HACCP.
I appreciate the chance to comment on the Draft Guidance on HACCP System Validation. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
(Name and Address)
cc: [Your State Legislators- Congressmen and Senators]
What worries fans of small farms and locally produced food is that the closing of small processors will mean the closing of small farms. Slaughter and processing is the biggest challenge for small-scale meat; they're operations simply too costly and complex for farms to handle themselves. As it is, farmers have few options for meat processing without selling their animals to massive feedlot-meat operations, and without that piece of the puzzle, many farmers may quit.
Why is the USDA considering the new testing regime? Some producers wonder if the machinations of Big Food are in play. The rest of this piece can be found at the following link:
http://www.salon.com/food/feature/2010/04/26/usda_testing_end_local_meat/
Steve: this sounds very much like Monsanto's intent to corner the market on all seeds, making it impossible for small growers to use their own.
If you would like to respond to the USDA, here is your recourse:
THE DEADLINE for COMMENTS is June 19, 2010
What YOU can do NOW:
OPTION 1: Contact FSIS via email at:
DraftValidationGuideComments@fsis.usda.gov
Cut and paste the following letter (making sure to fill in the highlighted areas and edit as you see/feel fit)
OPTION 2: Make your changes and send off the hard copy of the following letter to the address at the top
Docket Clerk, FSIS
Room 2-2127
5601 Sunnyside Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705
Re: Comments – Draft Guidance on HACCP System Validation
Dear Mr. Almanza:
I respectfully submit these comments regarding the Draft Guidance on HACCP System Validation that were publically released on March 19, 2010.
As a consumer of livestock products who depends upon local, small independent meat processors, my concern regarding the process validation in inspected establishments HACCP programs has prompted me to submit these comments. I am not an industry big-wig; I am only one person who is concerned with the damage that I foresee these new validation requirements causing my local, independent meat processors. When HACCP was implemented, the meat industry saw a decrease in establishments. This initiative and new interpretation has the potential to decimate the remaining very small to small establishments, upon which so many Americans, including myself, depend. There is nothing wrong with the current HACCP system, whereas independent, small processors are concerned – nor is there any reason to believe the extraneous requirements would produce a safer end product. It has been estimated that the potential cost to validate a processors entire food safety system could easily run upward of $500,000 initially and over $100,000 for ongoing validation. No food safety problem has been identified to require this shift in agency interpretation of validation; I don’t understand why this is necessary when there is a system in place that is working. All I see this shift in interpretation accomplishing is:
Devastating the remaining small meat processors (hinders commerce)
Large decrease in the variety of products available
Discouraging the introduction of new products, therefore reducing the number of employees (increased unemployment)
Increasing the cost of production, therefore increasing what I have to pay
None of these sound like they would be for the good of the American consumer. I know, believe in and trust my local meat processors; therefore, I respectfully request that the Draft Guidance on HACCP System Validation be revised to clearly state that no in-plant microbial testing is required when an establishment is following the long-standing, safe processes of HACCP.
I appreciate the chance to comment on the Draft Guidance on HACCP System Validation. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
(Name and Address)
cc: [Your State Legislators- Congressmen and Senators]
Many of those with lactose intolerance mistaken?
Researchers found that in fact, more than half the patients who thought they couldn't digest lactose were mistaken. When they drank a lactose solution corresponding to an entire quart of milk in the lab, their gut absorbed the sugar normally and they experienced less cramping, gas and other bowel trouble than at home. The journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology explains that the ability to digest lactose depends on an enzyme in the gut called lactase. When there isn't enough of this enzyme, bacteria feast on the leftover sugar, producing lots of gasses in the process. In contrast to this so-called lactose malabsorption or maldigestion, lactose intolerance refers to the symptoms -- for instance, flatulence and stomach pain -- that occur after ingesting lactose. The new study adds to a body of evidence showing that perceived lactose intolerance may actually not be rooted in a biological inability to absorb the sugar. Of 353 individuals referred to specialists for suspected lactose maldigestion, as many as 189 turned out to absorb the sugar normally, with fewer symptoms than at home. It's not entirely clear why people who have no trouble digesting lactose would get symptoms.
Bonnie - the reason why people who do not have lactose intolerance yet still have digestive issues is because of casein, a main dairy protein. For my clients, if it is not the lactose, then it is usually the casein. The fact that experts don't know this is shocking.
Bonnie - the reason why people who do not have lactose intolerance yet still have digestive issues is because of casein, a main dairy protein. For my clients, if it is not the lactose, then it is usually the casein. The fact that experts don't know this is shocking.
Govt. panel acknowledging food intolerance?
A report appearing in The Journal of the American Medical Association, is part of a large project organized by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to try to impose order on the chaos of food allergy testing. An expert panel will provide guidelines defining food allergies and giving criteria to diagnose and manage patients. They hope to have a final draft by the end of June.
A new report, commissioned by the federal government, finds the field is rife with poorly done studies, misdiagnoses and tests that can give misleading results. While there is no doubt that people can be allergic to certain foods, with reproducible responses ranging from a rash to a severe life-threatening reaction, the true incidence of food allergies is only about 8 percent for children and less than 5 percent for adults, said Dr. Marc Riedl, an author of the new paper and an allergist and immunologist at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Bonnie - I totally agree.
Yet about 30 percent of the population believe they have food allergies. And, Dr. Riedl said, about half the patients coming to his clinic because they had been told they had a food allergy did not really have one.
Bonnie - he is correct about this as well. However, most of these people have food intolerances (IgG responses or missing enzymes). I am going to send a complementary copy of our Conquering Allergy and Intolerance Action Plan to this panel, which explains the differences in detail.
People who receive a diagnosis after one of the two tests most often used — pricking the skin and injecting a tiny amount of the suspect food and looking in blood for IgE antibodies, the type associated with allergies — have less than a 50 percent chance of actually having a food allergy, the investigators found. One way to see such a reaction is with what is called a food challenge, giving people a suspect food disguised so they do not know if they are eating it or a placebo food. If the disguised food causes a reaction, the person has an allergy. But in practice, most doctors are reluctant to use food challenges, Dr. Riedl said.
“We were approached as in a sense the honest broker who could get parties together to look at this question,” said Dr. Matthew J. Fenton, who oversees the guidelines project for the allergy institute. Part of the confusion is over what is a food allergy and what is a food intolerance, Dr. Fenton said. Allergies involve the immune system, while intolerances generally do not. For example, a headache from sulfites in wine is not a food allergy. It is an intolerance. The same is true for lactose intolerance, caused by the lack of an enzyme needed to digest sugar in milk.
Bonnie - bingo! I just hope beyond hope that they include this in their final draft.
A new report, commissioned by the federal government, finds the field is rife with poorly done studies, misdiagnoses and tests that can give misleading results. While there is no doubt that people can be allergic to certain foods, with reproducible responses ranging from a rash to a severe life-threatening reaction, the true incidence of food allergies is only about 8 percent for children and less than 5 percent for adults, said Dr. Marc Riedl, an author of the new paper and an allergist and immunologist at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Bonnie - I totally agree.
Yet about 30 percent of the population believe they have food allergies. And, Dr. Riedl said, about half the patients coming to his clinic because they had been told they had a food allergy did not really have one.
Bonnie - he is correct about this as well. However, most of these people have food intolerances (IgG responses or missing enzymes). I am going to send a complementary copy of our Conquering Allergy and Intolerance Action Plan to this panel, which explains the differences in detail.
People who receive a diagnosis after one of the two tests most often used — pricking the skin and injecting a tiny amount of the suspect food and looking in blood for IgE antibodies, the type associated with allergies — have less than a 50 percent chance of actually having a food allergy, the investigators found. One way to see such a reaction is with what is called a food challenge, giving people a suspect food disguised so they do not know if they are eating it or a placebo food. If the disguised food causes a reaction, the person has an allergy. But in practice, most doctors are reluctant to use food challenges, Dr. Riedl said.
“We were approached as in a sense the honest broker who could get parties together to look at this question,” said Dr. Matthew J. Fenton, who oversees the guidelines project for the allergy institute. Part of the confusion is over what is a food allergy and what is a food intolerance, Dr. Fenton said. Allergies involve the immune system, while intolerances generally do not. For example, a headache from sulfites in wine is not a food allergy. It is an intolerance. The same is true for lactose intolerance, caused by the lack of an enzyme needed to digest sugar in milk.
Bonnie - bingo! I just hope beyond hope that they include this in their final draft.
Two very different Vitamin D outcomes for the elderly
Daily dose needs to be increased
Daily recommended intakes for older adults should be increased to 1,000 IU in order to ensure bone health and help reduce the risk of falls, says the International Osteoporosis Foundation. A new position statement by the foundation, published in Osteoporosis International, examined all available evidence to support new recommendations for optimal vitamin D status, and found that older adults should consume between 800 and 1,000 International Units (IU) per day in order to ensure sufficient blood levels of the vitamin. “Global vitamin D status shows widespread insufficiency and deficiency,” said the statement’s lead author Professor Bess Dawson-Hughes of Tufts University. “This high prevalence of suboptimal levels raises the possibility that many falls and fractures can be prevented with vitamin D supplementation. This is a relatively easy public health measure that could have significant positive effects on the incidence of osteoporotic fractures.”
The influential Institute of Medicine (IOM) in the US is conducting a review of the available vitamin D science and is due to deliver its findings this summer. Many expect the IOM to recommend RDIs much above the current levels of 400 IU.
• The estimated average vitamin D requirement of older adults to reach a serum 25OHD level of 75 nmol/l (30ng/ml) is 20 to 25 micrograms per day (800 to 1,000 IU per day).
• Intakes may need to increase to as much as 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) per day in individuals who are obese, have osteoporosis, limited sun exposure (e.g. housebound or institutionalized), or have malabsorption.
• For high risk individuals it is recommended to measure serum 25OHD levels and treat if deficient.
The dangers of a single annual dose
The findings of study in the high-profile Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that concluded that a once-a-year high dose of vitamin D may increase an elderly woman’s rate of falls and fractures compared to women who received placebo. The trial randomly assigned 2,256 community-dwelling women over the age of 70 to receive either placebo or an annual oral dose of 500,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholocalciferol) for between 3 to 5 years. Australian researchers found that women in the vitamin D group experienced 15 per cent more falls than women in the placebo group. Furthermore, women in the vitamin D group had 26 per cent more fractures and a 31 per cent higher incidence of falls than women in the placebo group. “This is the first study to demonstrate increased risk of falls associated with any vitamin D intervention and the second study to demonstrate an increased fracture risk associated with annual high-dose vitamin D therapy in elderly women,” wrote the researchers. “Thus, it is reasonable to speculate that high serum levels of vitamin D or metabolites resulting from the large annual dose, subsequent decrease in the levels, or both might be causal.
Bonnie - 500,000IU! I'm surprised there were not other major health issues associated with this high of a dose. Some of my clients take 50,000IU as a loading dose for a short period of time to ramp up their levels quickly. I am horrified that a study would be performed using this high of a dose.
NASA Studies Find Omega-3 May Help Reduce Bone Loss
NASA-sponsored studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may play a role in mitigating bone breakdown that occurs during spaceflight and in osteoporosis. Ongoing research for decades has looked for ways to stop bone density loss in astronauts. The solution could have significant implications for space travelers and those susceptible to bone loss on Earth. The studies' results are published in the May issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
The paper reports on four types of studies using cell culture, ground-based bed rest, and data from both space shuttle and International Space Station crew members. NASA studies bone density loss because it is one of the main effects of exposure to the weightlessness of space.
During the study, higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with less bone loss. Based on these studies, the investigators evaluated bone loss in astronauts and compared their findings to reported fish intake during spaceflight. Researchers found that astronauts who ate more fish lost less bone mineral after four-to-six-month spaceflights. The data provides evidence that inflammatory processes may be involved in some of the adaptation to microgravity and suggest that reducing NFκB activation could serve as a countermeasure to bone loss.
Steve - some of the most vital information on bone loss have come from the study of astronauts. This is not the first to focus on omega-3.
The paper reports on four types of studies using cell culture, ground-based bed rest, and data from both space shuttle and International Space Station crew members. NASA studies bone density loss because it is one of the main effects of exposure to the weightlessness of space.
During the study, higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with less bone loss. Based on these studies, the investigators evaluated bone loss in astronauts and compared their findings to reported fish intake during spaceflight. Researchers found that astronauts who ate more fish lost less bone mineral after four-to-six-month spaceflights. The data provides evidence that inflammatory processes may be involved in some of the adaptation to microgravity and suggest that reducing NFκB activation could serve as a countermeasure to bone loss.
Steve - some of the most vital information on bone loss have come from the study of astronauts. This is not the first to focus on omega-3.
Soy beans negatively affect sperm production
According to the Asian Journal of Andrology, scientists in China have found that genistein, a naturally-occurring ingredient of soy beans, interferes with a part of the production of vital enzymes involved in sperm production.
"Excessive exposure to agents that exhibit estrogenic activity may affect male reproductive tract developments and functions." the researchers said, "With regard to this concern, it has been estimated the genistein and daidzein can reach high concentrations in infants who consume large amounts of soy-based products," they added.
The concentrations of genistein used in the study are roughly equivalent to the levels that can build up in the human body following a diet rich in soy products.
Further research is needed to develop a consensus because while some studies have shown adverse effects, other studies have shown no adverse effects.
Bonnie - it is unknown if organic soybeans were used in this study. Conventional soy is loaded with estrogenic pesticides that could skew these results.
"Excessive exposure to agents that exhibit estrogenic activity may affect male reproductive tract developments and functions." the researchers said, "With regard to this concern, it has been estimated the genistein and daidzein can reach high concentrations in infants who consume large amounts of soy-based products," they added.
The concentrations of genistein used in the study are roughly equivalent to the levels that can build up in the human body following a diet rich in soy products.
Further research is needed to develop a consensus because while some studies have shown adverse effects, other studies have shown no adverse effects.
Bonnie - it is unknown if organic soybeans were used in this study. Conventional soy is loaded with estrogenic pesticides that could skew these results.
Genetic tests about to hit stores
Coming soon to a drugstore near you, alongside the aspirin and greeting cards, will be the promise of answers to some of life's most personal mysteries: Am I at risk for Alzheimer's disease? Or breast cancer? Or obesity?
Starting Friday, Walgreens will begin selling Insight personal genetic testing kits, becoming the first major retail chain in the U.S. to offer home tests that say they assess the risk of developing one of dozens of different health conditions. CVS plans to have it in stores by August. The product's introduction raises immediate concerns among scientists, bio-ethicists and genetic counselors. They worry that consumers will misuse or misunderstand the results of a test so open to interpretation it is potentially meaningless, or frightening, especially without a full medical assessment.
Bonnie - I am vehemently opposed to these tests as of now. There are so many variables involved that are not included in these test kits. The foremost geneticists, who figured they would have had all the answers by now, admit that their knowledge is in its infancy.
UPDATE - Walgreens has decided to hold off on selling the kits until further notice.
Starting Friday, Walgreens will begin selling Insight personal genetic testing kits, becoming the first major retail chain in the U.S. to offer home tests that say they assess the risk of developing one of dozens of different health conditions. CVS plans to have it in stores by August. The product's introduction raises immediate concerns among scientists, bio-ethicists and genetic counselors. They worry that consumers will misuse or misunderstand the results of a test so open to interpretation it is potentially meaningless, or frightening, especially without a full medical assessment.
Bonnie - I am vehemently opposed to these tests as of now. There are so many variables involved that are not included in these test kits. The foremost geneticists, who figured they would have had all the answers by now, admit that their knowledge is in its infancy.
UPDATE - Walgreens has decided to hold off on selling the kits until further notice.
Pregnant women not getting enough vitamin D
Seven out of every ten pregnant women in the United States are not getting enough Vitamin D according to a study in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While prenatal vitamins do raise Vitamin D levels during pregnancy, the study shows that higher doses may be needed for many women.
"Prenatal vitamins do help raise vitamin D levels, but many women start taking them after becoming pregnant. Although research is ongoing, I think it's best for women to start a few months before becoming pregnant to maximize the likely health benefits," said the researchers.
The best strategy is measuring Vitamin D levels through a simple blood test and choosing supplementation doses according to those levels." researchers added, "This tailored approach is common in preventive care for people with high cholesterol, and safer and more effective than a one-size-fits-all solution." The study team analyzed nationally representative data from 928 pregnant and 5,173 non-pregnant women of childbearing age collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Steve - the researchers were spot-on in their recommendations. First, all women of childbearing age should be on a good multivitamin/mineral at the bare minimum. Second, women who are optimizing fertility for possible pregnancy should take a prenatal, and based upon individual need, add specific vitamins and minerals, especially folic acid and vitamin D. Third, a vitamin D3 blood test during an annual physical will deem the correct dosage to optimize levels.
"Prenatal vitamins do help raise vitamin D levels, but many women start taking them after becoming pregnant. Although research is ongoing, I think it's best for women to start a few months before becoming pregnant to maximize the likely health benefits," said the researchers.
The best strategy is measuring Vitamin D levels through a simple blood test and choosing supplementation doses according to those levels." researchers added, "This tailored approach is common in preventive care for people with high cholesterol, and safer and more effective than a one-size-fits-all solution." The study team analyzed nationally representative data from 928 pregnant and 5,173 non-pregnant women of childbearing age collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Steve - the researchers were spot-on in their recommendations. First, all women of childbearing age should be on a good multivitamin/mineral at the bare minimum. Second, women who are optimizing fertility for possible pregnancy should take a prenatal, and based upon individual need, add specific vitamins and minerals, especially folic acid and vitamin D. Third, a vitamin D3 blood test during an annual physical will deem the correct dosage to optimize levels.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Folic Acid Improves Vascular Function in Certain Runners
Oral folic acid may provide a safe and inexpensive treatment to improve vascular function in young female runners who are amenorrheic (not menstruating). The study is published in the May 2010 issue of Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.
While the benefits for women leading an active lifestyle, including running, are profound and well-known, there are serious exercise-associated health risks. Young female athletes who do not eat enough to offset the energy they expend exercising can stop menstruating or develop irregular menses as a consequence. Their resulting estrogen profile is similar to that of postmenopausal women who have low estrogen levels placing the young women at higher risk for early onset heart disease.
There are nearly three million girls in high school sports and approximately 23 million women who run at least six times a week. The prevalence of athletic-associated amenorrhea among these runners is now estimated at 44 percent.
The researchers recruited 20 female college or recreational runners, ages 18 to 35, who were not on birth control pills and had been running at least 20 miles a week for the past 12 months. At the start of the study, women who were amenorrheic had reduced blood vessel dilation similar to postmenopausal women. Women who were menstruating were included in the control group. Both groups were given 10 mg. of folic acid per day for four weeks. Vascular function returned to normal in the amenorrheic women after folic acid supplementation. Despite supplementation, vascular function remained at normal levels in the control group.
Bonnie - a dose this large should only be used under the supervision of a physician.
While the benefits for women leading an active lifestyle, including running, are profound and well-known, there are serious exercise-associated health risks. Young female athletes who do not eat enough to offset the energy they expend exercising can stop menstruating or develop irregular menses as a consequence. Their resulting estrogen profile is similar to that of postmenopausal women who have low estrogen levels placing the young women at higher risk for early onset heart disease.
There are nearly three million girls in high school sports and approximately 23 million women who run at least six times a week. The prevalence of athletic-associated amenorrhea among these runners is now estimated at 44 percent.
The researchers recruited 20 female college or recreational runners, ages 18 to 35, who were not on birth control pills and had been running at least 20 miles a week for the past 12 months. At the start of the study, women who were amenorrheic had reduced blood vessel dilation similar to postmenopausal women. Women who were menstruating were included in the control group. Both groups were given 10 mg. of folic acid per day for four weeks. Vascular function returned to normal in the amenorrheic women after folic acid supplementation. Despite supplementation, vascular function remained at normal levels in the control group.
Bonnie - a dose this large should only be used under the supervision of a physician.
Infections, Fractures Linked to Acid Reflux Drugs
The popular class of antacids that includes Aciphex, Dexilant, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix increases the risk of C. difficile infection and bone fracture, new studies find. The drugs all are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the most powerful class of antacid drugs. It's the third highest-selling class of drugs in the U.S. Each year, doctors write 113.4 million prescriptions for the drugs. Two, Prevacid and Prilosec, are available without prescription.
C. Diff
PPIs are supposed to be used only for serious conditions, but often they are taken for simple heartburn. Moreover, doctors tend to overprescribe PPIs for hospitalized patients, according to a series of articles in the May 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Perhaps the scariest PPI risk is serious infection with C. difficile bacteria, a hard-to-cure infection that causes severe diarrhea. Stomach acid does a great job of keeping C. diff down. PPIs, however, keep stomach acid below the levels that protect against this bad bug. Hospital patients treated for C. diff infections are 42% more likely to have their C. diff infection come back if they take PPIs. About 60% of U.S. hospital patients get antacids. This translates into tens of thousands of extra C. diff cases each year.
PPIs Increase Fractures
Data from more than 130,000 women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative who reported current PPI use were 47% more likely to have had a spine fracture, 26% more likely to have a forearm or wrist fracture, and 25% more likely to have any kind of fracture. The benefits of PPIs may not justify their risks for many people, suggests certain researchers. "PPIs have been over-prescribed," one researcher notes in an editorial accompanying the studies. "Between 53% and 69% of PPI prescriptions are for inappropriate indications." Moreover, the researcher suggests that for most patients, the PPI risks outweigh their benefits. He recommends that doctors offer other treatments for heartburn, including non-drug treatments such as stress reduction, weight loss, and smoking cessation. When PPIs are used, Katz advises doctors to use shorter courses and lower doses when possible.
Bonnie - I have been screaming from the mountaintops over the gross misuse of PPIs over the last 10-15 years, especially in colicky babies and and infants that spit up. There are proven nutritional methods that can address reflux without medication.
C. Diff
PPIs are supposed to be used only for serious conditions, but often they are taken for simple heartburn. Moreover, doctors tend to overprescribe PPIs for hospitalized patients, according to a series of articles in the May 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Perhaps the scariest PPI risk is serious infection with C. difficile bacteria, a hard-to-cure infection that causes severe diarrhea. Stomach acid does a great job of keeping C. diff down. PPIs, however, keep stomach acid below the levels that protect against this bad bug. Hospital patients treated for C. diff infections are 42% more likely to have their C. diff infection come back if they take PPIs. About 60% of U.S. hospital patients get antacids. This translates into tens of thousands of extra C. diff cases each year.
PPIs Increase Fractures
Data from more than 130,000 women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative who reported current PPI use were 47% more likely to have had a spine fracture, 26% more likely to have a forearm or wrist fracture, and 25% more likely to have any kind of fracture. The benefits of PPIs may not justify their risks for many people, suggests certain researchers. "PPIs have been over-prescribed," one researcher notes in an editorial accompanying the studies. "Between 53% and 69% of PPI prescriptions are for inappropriate indications." Moreover, the researcher suggests that for most patients, the PPI risks outweigh their benefits. He recommends that doctors offer other treatments for heartburn, including non-drug treatments such as stress reduction, weight loss, and smoking cessation. When PPIs are used, Katz advises doctors to use shorter courses and lower doses when possible.
Bonnie - I have been screaming from the mountaintops over the gross misuse of PPIs over the last 10-15 years, especially in colicky babies and and infants that spit up. There are proven nutritional methods that can address reflux without medication.
Vitamin A supps improve child lung function
Supplements of vitamin A during pregnancy may improve lung function in infants by about 3 per cent, according to a new study from New England Journal of Medicine. Children of mothers who received beta-carotene supplements did not experience any benefits, relative to placebo, however. “The greater bioefficacy of preformed vitamin A as compared with beta carotene may stem from differences in absorption and metabolism,” explained the researchers, led by William Checkley, MD, PhD from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “The lower bioefficacy of the beta-carotene supplement as a source of vitamin A in the mothers and their offspring in our trial was also evident in the finding that serum retinol concentrations in mothers at mid-pregnancy and post partum and in their infants at 3 months of age were lower among those in the beta-carotene group than they were among those in the preformed–vitamin A group,” they added.
The magnitude of effect observed in this study is slightly greater than that associated with preventing exposure to parental smoking in school-age children.” “Improved lung function was likely specific to supplementation received in utero because this population of children was subsequently exposed beyond six months of age to semiannual vitamin A supplementation with high coverage as part of a national program during their preschool years,” said co-author Keith West from the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health. “This benefit was limited to children whose mothers received vitamin A and not to those whose mothers received beta-carotene. Early interventions with vitamin A in communities where undernutrition is highly prevalent may have long-lasting consequences in lung health.”
Bonnie - this is another reason why a prenatal with sufficient amounts of retinol vitamin A or Cod Liver Oil is crucial. Certain supplement manufacturers have decided to provide beta carotene as the only form of vitamin A, which I believe is a big mistake.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Over-the-counter sleep meds not effective: FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had data 15 years ago showing over-the-counter sleep aid products such as Tylenol PM and Excedrin PM don't offer a significant benefit to patients, according to a letter obtained by Canadian Broadcasting Company News. The products use a combination of the painkiller acetaminophen and diphenhydramine citrate, which is a sleep aid. The letter was written by the director of the Office of Nonprescription Products at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA.
In the February 16, 2010, letter to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association, which represents the nonprescription drug industry, Dr. Charles Ganley rejects an industry sponsored study submitted to the Food and Drug Administration in 1995. "FDA has reviewed the submission and concluded the study results do not demonstrate a contribution of both ingredients to the efficacy of the combination for OTC relief of occasional sleeplessness when associated with minor aches and pains," Ganley says in the letter. According to the FDA, combination products such as the sleep aids must show a benefit over any single ingredient.
It's not clear why the FDA took 15 years to evaluate the industry's research. Dr. Ganley's letter appears to be the first response from the FDA since the data was submitted on March 17, 1995. The study was a multi-centre, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in the early 1990s. An analysis of the data suggests the combination products are statistically better than a placebo but not by much. "We conclude that there is an insufficient basis to support the combination of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine as a nighttime sleep aid for the relief of occasional sleeplessness when associated with minor aches and pains," the letter goes on to tell drug makers.
The U.S. authority has not raised any concerns about the safety of the medications. It has, however, invited the drug companies to conduct further research. The FDA says it needs two studies showing efficacy of the combination products.
Triglycerides and heart disease
A type of blood fat different from cholesterol may play a key role in heart disease. Cambridge University researchers looked at the role of triglycerides, which is produced in the liver. The analysis of 350,000 people from 101 previous studies found those with higher levels of the blood fat were more likely to have heart disease. The analysis centerd on a specific gene which is known to influence the levels of triglycerides, the Lancet medical journal reported.
The latest study found those with the variation in the gene which boosted triglyceride levels had an 18% greater risk of heart disease than those that did not.
Bonnie - clients of ours should not be surprised by this finding. High triglycerides are directly correlated with excess carbohydrate consumption, usually in the form of refined grains and sugars. Once this is under control, the triglycerides usually return to within range.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Facial Aging More Than Skin Deep
Let's make on thing clear. We are no skin care experts when it comes to beauty products and the like. However, we came across two interesting tidbits that could inexpensively assist with making the face more vivacious.
Changes in Facial Bones Occur as People Age
Facelifts and other wrinkle-reducing procedures have long been sought by people wanting to ward off the signs of aging, but new research suggests that it takes more than tightening loose skin to restore a youthful look. A study by physicians at the University of Rochester Medical Center indicates that significant changes in facial bones -- particularly the jaw bone -- occur as people age and contribute to an aging appearance. Published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the study suggests that the future approach to facial rejuvenation may be restoring structure underneath before performing skin-tightening procedures. Reviewing a collection of 120 facial CT scans, researchers found the angle of the jaw increases markedly with age, which results in a loss of definition of the lower border of the face. Jaw length decreases significantly in comparisons between the young and middle age groups, whereas the decline in jaw height from the middle to old group was noteworthy.
This loss of bony volume may contribute sagging facial skin, decreased chin projection, and loss of jaw-line definition. As jaw volume decreases, soft tissue of the lower face has less support, resulting in a softer, oval appearance to the lower face and sagging skin, which also affects the aging appearance of the neck. "Physicians have long been taught that facial aging is caused by soft tissue descent and loss of elasticity," researchers said. "Though we have always known that bones change over time, until now, the extent to which it causes an aged appearance was not appreciated."
Bonnie - while plastic surgeons may look at this study as an opportunity to seize upon new surgical procedures, I look at it from a preventative perspective.
Our facial muscles need as much exercise as much as the rest of our body. As facial skin and muscles lose elasticity and start sagging over time, regularly exercising our facial muscles ensure that they will stay firm, support the skin on our face against gravity and have good circulation so that we can decrease wrinkles and droopiness in old age.
Thankfully, facial muscle exercises don't require any equipment or gym memberships, and can be done pretty much anywhere in just a few minutes. Many facial exercises work just like regular muscle exercises, where you are working against resistance and building strength over time for greater fitness and of course, to feel fabulous. These facial muscle exercises to start doing on a regular basis, all of them which can be repeated five to ten times in the mornings when you wake up and in the evenings before you go to bed.
Changes in Facial Bones Occur as People Age
Facelifts and other wrinkle-reducing procedures have long been sought by people wanting to ward off the signs of aging, but new research suggests that it takes more than tightening loose skin to restore a youthful look. A study by physicians at the University of Rochester Medical Center indicates that significant changes in facial bones -- particularly the jaw bone -- occur as people age and contribute to an aging appearance. Published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the study suggests that the future approach to facial rejuvenation may be restoring structure underneath before performing skin-tightening procedures. Reviewing a collection of 120 facial CT scans, researchers found the angle of the jaw increases markedly with age, which results in a loss of definition of the lower border of the face. Jaw length decreases significantly in comparisons between the young and middle age groups, whereas the decline in jaw height from the middle to old group was noteworthy.
This loss of bony volume may contribute sagging facial skin, decreased chin projection, and loss of jaw-line definition. As jaw volume decreases, soft tissue of the lower face has less support, resulting in a softer, oval appearance to the lower face and sagging skin, which also affects the aging appearance of the neck. "Physicians have long been taught that facial aging is caused by soft tissue descent and loss of elasticity," researchers said. "Though we have always known that bones change over time, until now, the extent to which it causes an aged appearance was not appreciated."
Bonnie - while plastic surgeons may look at this study as an opportunity to seize upon new surgical procedures, I look at it from a preventative perspective.
- This should confirm the importance of properly absorbed calcium at a dosage specific to the individual. It has never been about taking huge amounts of supplemental calcium. It is about how well calcium is absorbed and if it is properly balanced with magnesium intake.
- The value of optimal vitamin D levels is crucial in reducing degeneration.
- Inflammation, a major factor is bone loss, needs to be addressed in any person with an inflammatory condition.
- A relatively unknown, yet major concern is necrosis of the jaw (degeneration), a major side effect of bisphosphonates (osteoporosis drugs). It is believed that limited blood flow to the jaw contributes to the necrosis.
- Excess sugar consumption and constant exposure to environmental toxins appreciably accelerate facial aging.
Our facial muscles need as much exercise as much as the rest of our body. As facial skin and muscles lose elasticity and start sagging over time, regularly exercising our facial muscles ensure that they will stay firm, support the skin on our face against gravity and have good circulation so that we can decrease wrinkles and droopiness in old age.
Thankfully, facial muscle exercises don't require any equipment or gym memberships, and can be done pretty much anywhere in just a few minutes. Many facial exercises work just like regular muscle exercises, where you are working against resistance and building strength over time for greater fitness and of course, to feel fabulous. These facial muscle exercises to start doing on a regular basis, all of them which can be repeated five to ten times in the mornings when you wake up and in the evenings before you go to bed.
- Raise your eyebrows as high as you can and hold them for five seconds.
- Open your mouth as wide as possible and stick your tongue out as far as you can and hold for a few seconds.
- Using your three center fingers, press down on your cheeks and smile as hard as you can to raise your cheek muscles against your fingers.
- Move your nose as much as you can from side to side.
- Lift your eyebrows as high as you can, open your eyes as wide as possible and frown at the same time.
- Pucker your lips out as far as possible into the shape of an "O." Then change your expression into a wide smile. Repeat several times.
- Sit in a comfortable chair and look up at the ceiling. Pucker your lips and stick your tongue out as far as possible to exercise your neck muscles.
- You can also simulate a chewing motion or chew gum. However, almost all gum is awful. See this month's Brand Buzz Video for our favorite gum
- Regularly massage your face, too! Press your fingers into your facial muscles and give yourself a mini-massage in gentle, circular motions from top to bottom. This increases circulation and also helps your facial muscles relax if you have been looking really stressed.
Courtesy if intent.com
Bonnie - what techniques do you use to keep your face looking fresh? We encourage you to comment below.
Blood Pressure and Lifestyle
Steve - you might think that the following commentary would have come from us. Surprisingly, it came from the journal U.S. Pharmacist. The advice could not be any more straightforward. It makes one wonder: are any of the health professionals qualified to administer this advice following through?
Current Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure classification and treatment of BP for adults.
Various lifestyle risk factors have been identified that elevate blood pressure and lead to HTN. Many of these risk factors have been well documented, and according to recent trials or new research awaiting publication, others have recently been postulated to affect BP
A healthy lifestyle is essential to preventing HTN and managing it successfully. Lifestyle modifications should be incorporated into every treatment regimen for prehypertension and HTN. Implementation of a healthy lifestyle decreases BP, reduces cardiovascular disease risk, and increases the efficacy of antihypertensive medications.
Lifestyle Risk Factors for the Development of Hypertension
-Cigarette smoking
-Obesity
-Lack of physical activity
-Increased sodium intake
-Excessive alcohol consumption
-Fructose-rich diet
-Vitamin D deficiency
-Sleep deprivation
-Residing near significant traffic noise
-Military combat exposure
Hypertension can also develop because of medication regimen, underlying health conditions, genetic history, or a combination of these factors.
Medications that may cause HTN include caffeine, chronic steroid therapy, oral contraceptives, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, amphetamines and other stimulant drugs, cocaine, decongestants, weight loss drugs, cyclosporine and other immunosuppressants, erythropoietin, and OTC supplements (e.g., ephedra, licorice, ma huang).
Lifestyle Modifications for the Treatment of Hypertension
-Smoking cessation
-Weight loss
-Regular physical activity
-DASH eating plan (salt restriction)
-Limiting alcohol consumption
-Reduce fructose intake
-Adequate vitamin D levels
-Dark chocolate consumption
-Pet Ownership
A person's way of life can have substantial effects on his or her health, including the risk of developing HTN. Numerous lifestyle risk factors have been implicated in the development of HTN; likewise, several lifestyle modifications effectively lower BP. Alterations in lifestyle are essential to prevention and treatment of HTN and can decrease the need for one or more prescription medications.
Lifestyle changes to lower BP can additionally correct obesity, lower cardiovascular risk, decrease insulin resistance, improve drug efficacy, and enhance antihypertensive effect. Greater BP reductions are achieved if two or more lifestyle adjustments are made concurrently. Assisting and motivating patients to make lifestyle changes to lower their BP to goal levels is recommended yet is often underutilized by health care clinicians. It is imperative that pharmacists be knowledgeable in risk factors and treatments for HTN and express interest in having patients reach their BP goals.
U.S. Pharmacist, April 2010
Current Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure classification and treatment of BP for adults.
| BP Classification | SBP (mmHg) | DBP (mmHg) | Lifestyle Modification | Initial Drug Therapy If No Compelling Indicationsa | Initial Drug Therapy If Compelling Indicationsa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | <120 | and <80 | Encourage | None | Drug(s) for compelling indications |
| Prehypertension | 120–139 | or 80–89 | Yes | None | See above |
| Stage 1 hypertension | 140–159 | or 90–99 | Yes | Thiazide diuretics for most | See above |
| Stage 2 hypertension | ≥160 | or ≥100 | Yes | Combination of 2 drugs for most | See above |
A healthy lifestyle is essential to preventing HTN and managing it successfully. Lifestyle modifications should be incorporated into every treatment regimen for prehypertension and HTN. Implementation of a healthy lifestyle decreases BP, reduces cardiovascular disease risk, and increases the efficacy of antihypertensive medications.
Lifestyle Risk Factors for the Development of Hypertension
-Cigarette smoking
-Obesity
-Lack of physical activity
-Increased sodium intake
-Excessive alcohol consumption
-Fructose-rich diet
-Vitamin D deficiency
-Sleep deprivation
-Residing near significant traffic noise
-Military combat exposure
Hypertension can also develop because of medication regimen, underlying health conditions, genetic history, or a combination of these factors.
Medications that may cause HTN include caffeine, chronic steroid therapy, oral contraceptives, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, amphetamines and other stimulant drugs, cocaine, decongestants, weight loss drugs, cyclosporine and other immunosuppressants, erythropoietin, and OTC supplements (e.g., ephedra, licorice, ma huang).
Lifestyle Modifications for the Treatment of Hypertension
-Smoking cessation
-Weight loss
-Regular physical activity
-DASH eating plan (salt restriction)
-Limiting alcohol consumption
-Reduce fructose intake
-Adequate vitamin D levels
-Dark chocolate consumption
-Pet Ownership
A person's way of life can have substantial effects on his or her health, including the risk of developing HTN. Numerous lifestyle risk factors have been implicated in the development of HTN; likewise, several lifestyle modifications effectively lower BP. Alterations in lifestyle are essential to prevention and treatment of HTN and can decrease the need for one or more prescription medications.
Lifestyle changes to lower BP can additionally correct obesity, lower cardiovascular risk, decrease insulin resistance, improve drug efficacy, and enhance antihypertensive effect. Greater BP reductions are achieved if two or more lifestyle adjustments are made concurrently. Assisting and motivating patients to make lifestyle changes to lower their BP to goal levels is recommended yet is often underutilized by health care clinicians. It is imperative that pharmacists be knowledgeable in risk factors and treatments for HTN and express interest in having patients reach their BP goals.
U.S. Pharmacist, April 2010
Celiac associated with psoriasis
According to a new study from British Journal of Dermatology, patients with psoriasis have a greater prevalence of Celiac Disease than matched controls. Recent studies showed a possibility of undiagnosed CD among patients with psoriasis. Therefore, physicians treating patients with psoriasis should be aware of this possible association.
Steve - this should not come as a surprise to anyone. Celiac creates inflammation and psoriasis is an inflammatory condition.
Steve - this should not come as a surprise to anyone. Celiac creates inflammation and psoriasis is an inflammatory condition.
Study: no prevention of cardiovascular events with aspirin
According to Journal Watch, no benefit was observed in a group at high risk for vascular disease. A total of 3350 adults with ABI were randomized to receive aspirin (100 mg daily) or placebo. During a mean follow-up of >8 years, no between-group differences were observed for any adverse CV event, revascularization, or stroke (about 13.5 events occurred per 1000 person-years in each group), or for mortality. Risk for major hemorrhage was higher in the aspirin group than in the placebo group (2.0% vs. 1.2%) — a nearly significant difference.
Bonnie - this is about the fourth or fifth study in the last few months showing the lack of benefits of aspirin.
Bonnie - this is about the fourth or fifth study in the last few months showing the lack of benefits of aspirin.
Probiotics may lower infections in hospitalized children
Probiotics may lower the risk for infections in hospitalized children, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial reported in the May issue of Pediatrics. "The incidence of nosocomial infections, predominantly gastrointestinal and respiratory, in children in developed countries is high, ranging from 5% to 44%," write the researchers. "There is no effective strategy for preventing these infections. The objective of our study was to investigate the role of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) in preventing nosocomial gastrointestinal and respiratory tract infections at a pediatric hospital." In this study, 742 children aged 1 to 18 years were randomly assigned to receive LGG (n = 376) or placebo (n = 366) during their hospitalization. Compared with the placebo group, the LGG group had a significantly lower risk for nosocomial infections including gastrointestinal, respiratory, vomiting, and diarrheal episodes.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Insufficient evidence for Alzheimer's prevention?
Many preventive measures for cognitive decline and for preventing Alzheimer's disease -- mental stimulation, exercise, and a variety of dietary supplements -- have been studied over the years. However, an independent panel convened by the National Institutes of Health determined that the value of these strategies for delaying the onset and/or reducing the severity of decline or disease hasn't been demonstrated in rigorous studies.
The panel recommended that the research community and clinicians collaborate to develop, test, and uniformly adopt objective measures of baseline cognitive function and changes over time. Although many non-modifiable risk factors have been examined, age is the strongest known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, a genetic variant of a cholesterol-ferrying protein (apolipoprotein E), has strong evidence of association with the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Although it is hoped that improved understanding of genetic risk factors may ultimately lead to effective therapies, currently these associations are primarily useful in the clinical research setting.
The panel determined that there is currently no evidence of even moderate scientific quality supporting the association of any modifiable factor -- dietary supplement intake, use of prescription or non-prescription drugs, diet, exercise, and social engagement -- with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. The evidence surrounding risk reduction for cognitive decline is similarly limited. Low-grade evidence shows weak associations between many lifestyle choices and reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline.
The panel made a variety of recommendations to shape the future research agenda and fill identified gaps, while acknowledging that advancing our understanding of these complex conditions in order to develop conclusive, evidence-based prevention recommendations will require considerable time and resources.
Bonnie - you've got to be kidding me? This reeks of a pitch for more donations for Alzheimer's research because donors have soured on the lack of progress. All the money that has flowed into Alzheimer''s organizations has brought us where exactly? The drugs don't work, the lifestyle modification doesn't work. Will the Alzheimer's Association go the way of the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, who have raked in billions over the years, and have gotten us where exactly with those diseases?
The message of this panel is different from what many researchers are saying. Lifestyle makes ALL the difference. If I have Alzheimer's in my family history, am I going to just throw up my hands after hearing this panel's message and say why bother? Absolutely not. I'm not going to wait twenty years for them to figure it out. As we have seen with the AHA and ACS, we've waited many decades with no "cure." I am going to continue recommending that my clients optimize their diet, take dietary supplements, limit environmental toxic exposure, do physical and mental exercises, stress management, etc., etc., etc. With this protocol, I'll take my chances on beating Alzheimer's.
The panel recommended that the research community and clinicians collaborate to develop, test, and uniformly adopt objective measures of baseline cognitive function and changes over time. Although many non-modifiable risk factors have been examined, age is the strongest known risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, a genetic variant of a cholesterol-ferrying protein (apolipoprotein E), has strong evidence of association with the risk for developing Alzheimer's disease. Although it is hoped that improved understanding of genetic risk factors may ultimately lead to effective therapies, currently these associations are primarily useful in the clinical research setting.
The panel determined that there is currently no evidence of even moderate scientific quality supporting the association of any modifiable factor -- dietary supplement intake, use of prescription or non-prescription drugs, diet, exercise, and social engagement -- with reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. The evidence surrounding risk reduction for cognitive decline is similarly limited. Low-grade evidence shows weak associations between many lifestyle choices and reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline.
The panel made a variety of recommendations to shape the future research agenda and fill identified gaps, while acknowledging that advancing our understanding of these complex conditions in order to develop conclusive, evidence-based prevention recommendations will require considerable time and resources.
Bonnie - you've got to be kidding me? This reeks of a pitch for more donations for Alzheimer's research because donors have soured on the lack of progress. All the money that has flowed into Alzheimer''s organizations has brought us where exactly? The drugs don't work, the lifestyle modification doesn't work. Will the Alzheimer's Association go the way of the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, who have raked in billions over the years, and have gotten us where exactly with those diseases?
The message of this panel is different from what many researchers are saying. Lifestyle makes ALL the difference. If I have Alzheimer's in my family history, am I going to just throw up my hands after hearing this panel's message and say why bother? Absolutely not. I'm not going to wait twenty years for them to figure it out. As we have seen with the AHA and ACS, we've waited many decades with no "cure." I am going to continue recommending that my clients optimize their diet, take dietary supplements, limit environmental toxic exposure, do physical and mental exercises, stress management, etc., etc., etc. With this protocol, I'll take my chances on beating Alzheimer's.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Increased carbon dioxide's effect on plants
Trees and other plants help keep the planet cool, but rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are turning down this global air conditioner. According to a new study by researchers at the Carnegie Institution for Science, in some regions more than a quarter of the warming from increased carbon dioxide is due to its direct impact on vegetation. For scientists trying to predict global climate change in the coming century, the study underscores the importance of including plants in their climate models.
"Plants have a very complex and diverse influence on the climate system," says study co-author Ken Caldeira of Carnegie's Department of Global Ecology. "Plants take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, but they also have other effects, such as changing the amount of evaporation from the land surface. It's impossible to make good climate predictions without taking all of these factors into account."
Plants absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis through pores (called stomata). When carbon dioxide levels are high, the leaf pores shrink. This causes less water to be released, diminishing the tree's cooling power. "There is no longer any doubt that carbon dioxide decreases evaporative cooling by plants and that this decreased cooling adds to global warming," says researchers. "This effect would cause significant warming even if carbon dioxide were not a greenhouse gas."
The researchers also found that their model predicted that high carbon dioxide will increase the runoff from the land surface in most areas, because more water from precipitation bypasses the plant cooling system and flows directly to rivers and streams.
Steve - as this effect further stresses plants, they emit more pollen to compete for survival. This is why pollen counts get progressively worse every year.
"Plants have a very complex and diverse influence on the climate system," says study co-author Ken Caldeira of Carnegie's Department of Global Ecology. "Plants take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, but they also have other effects, such as changing the amount of evaporation from the land surface. It's impossible to make good climate predictions without taking all of these factors into account."
Plants absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis through pores (called stomata). When carbon dioxide levels are high, the leaf pores shrink. This causes less water to be released, diminishing the tree's cooling power. "There is no longer any doubt that carbon dioxide decreases evaporative cooling by plants and that this decreased cooling adds to global warming," says researchers. "This effect would cause significant warming even if carbon dioxide were not a greenhouse gas."
The researchers also found that their model predicted that high carbon dioxide will increase the runoff from the land surface in most areas, because more water from precipitation bypasses the plant cooling system and flows directly to rivers and streams.
Steve - as this effect further stresses plants, they emit more pollen to compete for survival. This is why pollen counts get progressively worse every year.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Magnet therapy for depression: few side effects
A new treatment for depression, rTMS, helps some patients, a rigorous government-funded study finds. The treatment is called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. It's basically an electromagnet. When applied to the skull just behind the left forehead, the device induces a tiny electric current in a part of the brain linked to depression. Because the device carries little risk, the FDA in October 2008 cleared the device for treatment of major clinical depression in adults who got no relief from first-line antidepressant treatment.
190 people who had failed to get relief from at least one antidepressant medication were recruited. Many had tried several different treatments. They received either rTMS or the sham treatment for three weeks. The result: 14% of those treated with rTMS had remission of their depression, compared with only 5% of those getting the sham treatment. Those whose depression did not get better after three weeks entered a continuation trial in which the sham treatment was discontinued and everyone got rTMS. Thirty percent of the patients in this continuation study had remission of their depression with few side effects.The findings in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Steve - we recommend this as a therapy in our Improve Your Mood Action Plan.
190 people who had failed to get relief from at least one antidepressant medication were recruited. Many had tried several different treatments. They received either rTMS or the sham treatment for three weeks. The result: 14% of those treated with rTMS had remission of their depression, compared with only 5% of those getting the sham treatment. Those whose depression did not get better after three weeks entered a continuation trial in which the sham treatment was discontinued and everyone got rTMS. Thirty percent of the patients in this continuation study had remission of their depression with few side effects.The findings in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Steve - we recommend this as a therapy in our Improve Your Mood Action Plan.
Glaxo 'red wine' drug study suspended
A GlaxoSmithKline company spokeswoman said on Tuesday that the trial of SRT501 in patients with multiple myeloma had been suspended after a number of them developed a complication generally associated with the disease, which is a type of blood cancer. The mid-stage Phase II study, conducted in Britain and Denmark, was assessing the safety and tolerability of SRT501 with or without the established cancer drug Velcade from Takeda Pharmaceutical. SRT501 is a proprietary formulation of resveratrol, a substance found in grapes and in red wine. The clinical trial was started in March 2009 and was due to run until December 2010. It was suspended prematurely following "unexpected safety events," according to an update to the clinicaltrials.gov database.
Bonnie - this is another example of trying to "chemicalize" nature. Red wine and it's powerful phytochemical, resveratrol, has beneficial properties as nature intended. However, resveratrol is not for everyone. Now, when you start to remove specific chemicals and make them synthetic, the human body is not always going to recognize them as beneficial substances.
The human body has harmoniously evolved with plants and plant substances in their natural state. Once synthesized into something that our epigenetic code does not recognize, you have situations such as this Glaxo trial, especially when testing on sick individuals.
Bonnie - this is another example of trying to "chemicalize" nature. Red wine and it's powerful phytochemical, resveratrol, has beneficial properties as nature intended. However, resveratrol is not for everyone. Now, when you start to remove specific chemicals and make them synthetic, the human body is not always going to recognize them as beneficial substances.
The human body has harmoniously evolved with plants and plant substances in their natural state. Once synthesized into something that our epigenetic code does not recognize, you have situations such as this Glaxo trial, especially when testing on sick individuals.
Olive oil protects from ulcerative colitis
Eating more olive oil could help prevent ulcerative colitis, according to a new study presented at the Digestive Disease Week conference. People with a diet rich in oleic acid, which is present in olive oil, are far less likely to develop ulcerative colitis. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil, peanut oil and grapeseed oil, as well as in butter.
The researchers studied more than 25,000 people aged 40-65. They found that those with the highest intake of oleic acid had a 90 per cent lower risk of developing the disease. "We estimate that around half of the cases of ulcerative colitis could be prevented if larger amounts of oleic acid were consumed. Two-to-three tablespoons of olive oil per day would have a protective effect," said researchers.
Bonnie - another amazing endorsement for this Mediterranean diet staple.
The researchers studied more than 25,000 people aged 40-65. They found that those with the highest intake of oleic acid had a 90 per cent lower risk of developing the disease. "We estimate that around half of the cases of ulcerative colitis could be prevented if larger amounts of oleic acid were consumed. Two-to-three tablespoons of olive oil per day would have a protective effect," said researchers.
Bonnie - another amazing endorsement for this Mediterranean diet staple.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Research Highlights - May
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Food and Chemical Toxicology
- The overall effect of adding the spice mixture (in this case, oregano) to hamburger meat before cooking was a reduction in malondialdehyde concentrations in the meat, plasma, and urine after ingestion. Therefore, cooking hamburgers with a polyphenol-rich spice mixture can significantly decrease the concentration of
malondialdehyde, which suggests potential health benefits for atherogenesis and carcinogenesis.
- In comparison with the steamed diet, 1 mo of consuming the high-heat-treated diet induced significantly lower insulin sensitivity and plasma concentrations of long-chain n–3 (omega-3) fatty acids and vitamins C and E, respectively. However, concentrations of plasma cholesterol and triglycerides increased. A diet that is based on high-heat-treated foods increases markers associated with an enhanced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in healthy people. Replacing high-heat-treatment techniques by mild cooking techniques may help to positively modulate biomarkers associated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases.
- Vitamin D3 supplementation during the winter may reduce the incidence of influenza A, especially in specific subgroups of schoolchildren.
- Higher protein intake does not have an adverse effect on bone in premenopausal women. Cross-sectional analyses suggest that low vegetable protein intake is associated with lower BMD.
- Coffee contains various compounds that have recently been reported to exert beneficial health effects. 37,742 participants (18,287 men and 19,455 women) aged 40–64 y without a history of cancer, myocardial infarction, or stroke at baseline in our analysis, based on the Miyagi Cohort Study initiated in 1990, were studied. The outcomes were mortality due to all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. During the 10.3 y of follow-up, our results suggest that coffee may have favorable effects on morality due to all causes and to CVD, especially CHD, in women.
- Every 5 years for the past several decades, the USDHHS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have issued and updated the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which form the basis of federal nutrition policy and have shown remarkable consistency across various editions among the major themes. This paper examines whether the U.S. food supply is sufficiently balanced to provide the recommended proportions of various foods and nutrients per the amount of energy, whether this balance has shifted over time, and which areas of the food supply may have changed more than others.
The Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005) was used to measure the dietary quality of the U.S. food supply, from 1970 to 2007. Sources of data were the USDA's food availability data, loss-adjusted food availability data, and nutrient availability data, and the U.S. Salt Institute's data on salt sold for human consumption.
Total HEI-2005 scores improved by about 10 points between 1970 and 2007, but they never achieved even 60 points on a scale from 0 to 100. Although meats and total grains were supplied generally in recommended proportions, total vegetables, total fruit, whole fruit, and milk were supplied in suboptimal proportions that changed very little over time. Saturated fat, sodium, and calories from solid fat, alcoholic beverages, and added sugars were supplied in varying degrees of unhealthy abundance over the years. Supplies of dark-green/orange vegetables and legumes and whole grains were entirely insufficient relative to recommendations, with virtually no change over time.
Deliberate efforts on the part of policymakers, the agriculture sector, and the food industry are necessary to provide a supply of foods consistent with nutrition recommendations and to make healthy choices available to all.
- In 1998, the IOM recommended all women capable of becoming pregnant consume 400 μg of folic acid daily to prevent neural tube defects. This paper aims to describe how different sources of folic acid contribute to achieving the recommended usual daily intake. Overall, 24% of nonpregnant U.S. women of childbearing age consumed the recommended usual intake. Intake was highest among non-Hispanic white women (30%), followed by Mexican-American (17%) and non-Hispanic black women (9%). Among women who used supplements with folic acid, 72% consumed the recommended usual intake. Use of supplements was the strongest determinant of recommended intake, mediating associations of other characteristics. Among the 68% of women who did not use supplements, consumption of cereals with folic acid and having diabetes were the strongest determinants of recommended usual intake. Given that consumption of folic acid is an important public health goal to prevent NTDs, an evaluation of strategies, beyond recommendations that women consume supplements, is needed. Health education programs for promoting a healthful diet have shown limited success in clinical trials.
- This paper aims to examine whether an innovative educational course focused on societal-level issues related to food and food production would promote healthful eating among college students. The students who took the Food and Society course reported significantly improving their healthful eating, with greatest improvements in increased vegetable and decreased high-fat dairy intakes relative to the comparison group. The results suggest that it may be possible to change dietary behaviors in college students by focusing on social, ethical, cultural, and environmental issues related to food and food production.
- Lp-PLA2 activity and mass each show continuous associations with risk of coronary heart disease, similar in magnitude to that with non-HDL cholesterol or systolic blood pressure in this population. Associations of Lp-PLA2 mass and activity are not exclusive to vascular outcomes, and the vascular associations depend at least partly on lipids.
Food and Chemical Toxicology
- Curcumin mitigates the genotoxic effects of the two well known water contaminants (Arsenic and Fluoride) effectively and efficiently at the given concentration in vitro.
- This study investigated effects of 6-week consumption of whole grain wheat sourdough bread in comparison to white bread on fasting serum lipids in normoglycemic/normoinsulinemic and hyperglycemic/hyperinsulinemic adults. HGI participants had significantly higher body weight, waist circumference, body fat, and fasted glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, glucagon, triacylglycerols and TAG:HDL-cholesterol, compared to NGI participants. However, none of these in addition to none of the other serum lipids, differed between bread treatments, within either participant group.
In summary, 6-week consumption of whole grain wheat sourdough bread did not significantly modulate serum lipids in NGI or HGI adults. However, it significantly increased LDL-cholesterol, TAG and TAG:HDL-cholesterol in participants with the APOE E3/E3 genotype.
- Corticosteroid use and worsening airflow limitation are associated with lower VitD serum levels in asthmatic patients. VitD enhances glucocorticoid action in PBMCs from asthmatic patients and enhances the immunosuppressive function of DEX in vitro.
- Infants with likely milk/egg allergy are at considerably high risk of having increased peanut-specific IgE levels (potential allergy).
Gastric problems prevalent in autistic kids
In a new study by Autism Treatment Network (ATN), researchers have show that GI symptoms occur in nearly half of children with ASD, and the prevalence increases as children get older.
The ATN enrolls patients ages 2-18 years with a diagnosis of autism, Asperger’s syndrome or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified.
In the study, researchers wanted to find out how frequently parents of children enrolled in the network reported GI symptoms and what factors might be associated with these symptoms.
Families filled out a battery of questionnaires, including a GI symptom inventory tailored to the needs of nonverbal children, a behaviour checklist, sleep questionnaire and quality of life survey.
Data from 1,185 children showed that 45 per cent had GI symptoms at the time of enrollment, with abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea reported most commonly.
Reports of symptoms were more common in older children (39 per cent of children under 5 years of age vs. 51 per cent of children 7 and older).
In addition, children with GI symptoms had a higher rate of sleep problems than those without GI issues (70 per cent vs. 30 per cent), more behaviour problems and an overall lower health-related quality of life.
No relationship was found between GI symptoms and type of autism, gender, race or IQ.
"These findings suggest that better evaluation of GI symptoms and subsequent treatment may have benefits for these patients. Primary care physicians and specialists should ask families about these symptoms and address these as part of the overall management plan for the child or adolescent with ASD," said Daniel Coury, medical director of the ATN and professor of paediatrics and psychiatry at The Ohio State University.
Results of the study will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Steve - so what now say the naysayers who think diet has nothing to do with developmental disorders?
The ATN enrolls patients ages 2-18 years with a diagnosis of autism, Asperger’s syndrome or pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified.
In the study, researchers wanted to find out how frequently parents of children enrolled in the network reported GI symptoms and what factors might be associated with these symptoms.
Families filled out a battery of questionnaires, including a GI symptom inventory tailored to the needs of nonverbal children, a behaviour checklist, sleep questionnaire and quality of life survey.
Data from 1,185 children showed that 45 per cent had GI symptoms at the time of enrollment, with abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea reported most commonly.
Reports of symptoms were more common in older children (39 per cent of children under 5 years of age vs. 51 per cent of children 7 and older).
In addition, children with GI symptoms had a higher rate of sleep problems than those without GI issues (70 per cent vs. 30 per cent), more behaviour problems and an overall lower health-related quality of life.
No relationship was found between GI symptoms and type of autism, gender, race or IQ.
"These findings suggest that better evaluation of GI symptoms and subsequent treatment may have benefits for these patients. Primary care physicians and specialists should ask families about these symptoms and address these as part of the overall management plan for the child or adolescent with ASD," said Daniel Coury, medical director of the ATN and professor of paediatrics and psychiatry at The Ohio State University.
Results of the study will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Steve - so what now say the naysayers who think diet has nothing to do with developmental disorders?
Pre, probitoics help celiac patients
Manipulating the intestinal microbiota with dietary strategies such as probiotics and prebiotics, may improve the quality of life for celiac patients, as well as patients with associated diseases such as type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune disorders, according to a new study published in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology.
Scientists used cultures of human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as in vitro models, as intestinal mucosa monocytes are constantly replenished by blood monocytes and accurately represent an in vivo situation. To simulate the intestinal environment of celiac disease, cell cultures were exposed to Gram-negative bacteria isolated from celiac patients and bifidobacteria, both alone and in the presence of disease triggers. The effects on surface marker expression and cytokine production by PBMCs were determined. The Gram-negative bacteria induced higher pro-inflammatory cytokines than the bifidobacteria. These bacteria also up-regulated expression of cell surface markers involved in inflammatory characteristics of the disease, while bifidobacteria up-regulated the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Scientists used cultures of human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as in vitro models, as intestinal mucosa monocytes are constantly replenished by blood monocytes and accurately represent an in vivo situation. To simulate the intestinal environment of celiac disease, cell cultures were exposed to Gram-negative bacteria isolated from celiac patients and bifidobacteria, both alone and in the presence of disease triggers. The effects on surface marker expression and cytokine production by PBMCs were determined. The Gram-negative bacteria induced higher pro-inflammatory cytokines than the bifidobacteria. These bacteria also up-regulated expression of cell surface markers involved in inflammatory characteristics of the disease, while bifidobacteria up-regulated the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
Cancer Crisis?
Bonnie - I have always admired Dr. Epstein and his tireless effort to "fight the good fight" for cancer prevention.
by Samuel Epstein, M.D.
The National Academy of Sciences has just reported that National Cancer Institute's (NCI) system for judging the clinical effectiveness of cancer treatments is approaching "a state of crisis." As critical, the NCI's system for publicizing avoidable causes of cancer remains virtually non-existent, even though nearly one in two men and more than one in three women now develop cancer in their lifetimes.
On April 24, Nobel Laureate Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) appointed by President Obama on August 2009, delivered the Francis Collins Lecture in Chicago. Dr. Collins lecture focused on his landmark discoveries of the genetic basis of disease, including cancer. In reference to a question on the role of genetics in avoidable causes of cancer, he responded, "I am unaware of any avoidable causes of cancer." Not surprisingly, President Obama still remains unaware of a wide range of avoidable causes of a wide range of cancer as summarized in a press release nearly 18 months ago. January 23, 2009 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- President Barack Obama is the first President to develop a comprehensive cancer plan. While the plan reflects strong emphasis on oncology, the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, no reference is made to prevention.
President Obama's cancer plan should emphasize the many avoidable causes of cancer.
The plan defines and coordinates the responsibilities of four federal agencies: the National Cancer Institute (NCI), for research and clinical trials; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for epidemiological follow up and support of cancer survivors; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, for funding cancer related care; and the FDA, for regulating cancer drugs.
In 1971, Congress passed the National Cancer Act which authorized the National Cancer Program, calling for an expanded and intensified research program for the prevention of cancer caused by occupational or environmental exposures to carcinogens. Shortly afterwards, President Richard Nixon announced his "War Against Cancer," and authorized a $200 million budget for the NCI. Since then, its budget has escalated by nearly 30-fold, to $5.3 billion this year.
Meanwhile, the incidence of a wide range of cancers, other than those due to smoking, has escalated sharply from 1975 to 2005, when the latest NCI statistics were published. These include malignant melanoma (172%), Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (79%), thyroid (116%), testes (60%), and childhood cancers (38%).
In November 2008, the NCI claimed that the incidence of new cancers had been falling from 1999 to 2005. However, this is contrary to its own latest statistics. These show increases of 45% for thyroid cancer, 18% for malignant melanoma, 18% for kidney cancer, 10% for childhood cancers, and 4% for testes cancer.
Disturbingly, the NCI has still failed to develop, let alone publicize, any listing or registry of avoidable exposures to a wide range of carcinogens. These include: some pharmaceuticals; high dose diagnostic radiation; occupational; environmental; and ingredients in consumer products - food, household products, and cosmetics and personal care products.
The NCI has also failed to respond, other than misleadingly or dismissively, to prior Congressional requests for such information.
In March 1998, in a series of questions to then NCI Director Dr. Richard Klausner, Congressman David Obey requested information on NCI's policies and priorities. He asked, "Should the NCI develop a registry of avoidable carcinogens and make this information widely available to the public?" The answer was, and remains, no.
Klausner's responses made it clear that NCI persisted in indifference to cancer prevention, coupled with imbalanced emphasis on damage control - screening, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical trials.
Moreover, NCI's claims for the success of "innovative treatment" have been sharply criticized by distinguished oncologists. In 2004, Nobelist Leland Hartwell, President of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Control Center, warned that "Congress and the public are not paying NCI $4.7 billion a year," most of which is spent on "promoting ineffective drugs" for terminal disease.
It should be further emphasized that the costs of new biotech cancer drugs have increased more than 100-fold over the last decade. Furthermore, the U.S. spends five times more than the U.K. on chemotherapy per patient, although their survival rates are similar.
The Obama Cancer Plan is subject to Congressional authorization, and funding approval by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. These committees will be in a position to require that major priority should be directed to cancer prevention rather than to oncology. Clearly, the more cancer is prevented, the less there is to treat. This will also be of major help in achieving Obama's goal "to lower health care costs."
Samuel S. Epstein, M.D.
Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health,
Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition, www.preventcancer.com
by Samuel Epstein, M.D.
The National Academy of Sciences has just reported that National Cancer Institute's (NCI) system for judging the clinical effectiveness of cancer treatments is approaching "a state of crisis." As critical, the NCI's system for publicizing avoidable causes of cancer remains virtually non-existent, even though nearly one in two men and more than one in three women now develop cancer in their lifetimes.
On April 24, Nobel Laureate Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) appointed by President Obama on August 2009, delivered the Francis Collins Lecture in Chicago. Dr. Collins lecture focused on his landmark discoveries of the genetic basis of disease, including cancer. In reference to a question on the role of genetics in avoidable causes of cancer, he responded, "I am unaware of any avoidable causes of cancer." Not surprisingly, President Obama still remains unaware of a wide range of avoidable causes of a wide range of cancer as summarized in a press release nearly 18 months ago. January 23, 2009 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- President Barack Obama is the first President to develop a comprehensive cancer plan. While the plan reflects strong emphasis on oncology, the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, no reference is made to prevention.
President Obama's cancer plan should emphasize the many avoidable causes of cancer.
The plan defines and coordinates the responsibilities of four federal agencies: the National Cancer Institute (NCI), for research and clinical trials; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for epidemiological follow up and support of cancer survivors; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, for funding cancer related care; and the FDA, for regulating cancer drugs.
In 1971, Congress passed the National Cancer Act which authorized the National Cancer Program, calling for an expanded and intensified research program for the prevention of cancer caused by occupational or environmental exposures to carcinogens. Shortly afterwards, President Richard Nixon announced his "War Against Cancer," and authorized a $200 million budget for the NCI. Since then, its budget has escalated by nearly 30-fold, to $5.3 billion this year.
Meanwhile, the incidence of a wide range of cancers, other than those due to smoking, has escalated sharply from 1975 to 2005, when the latest NCI statistics were published. These include malignant melanoma (172%), Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (79%), thyroid (116%), testes (60%), and childhood cancers (38%).
In November 2008, the NCI claimed that the incidence of new cancers had been falling from 1999 to 2005. However, this is contrary to its own latest statistics. These show increases of 45% for thyroid cancer, 18% for malignant melanoma, 18% for kidney cancer, 10% for childhood cancers, and 4% for testes cancer.
Disturbingly, the NCI has still failed to develop, let alone publicize, any listing or registry of avoidable exposures to a wide range of carcinogens. These include: some pharmaceuticals; high dose diagnostic radiation; occupational; environmental; and ingredients in consumer products - food, household products, and cosmetics and personal care products.
The NCI has also failed to respond, other than misleadingly or dismissively, to prior Congressional requests for such information.
In March 1998, in a series of questions to then NCI Director Dr. Richard Klausner, Congressman David Obey requested information on NCI's policies and priorities. He asked, "Should the NCI develop a registry of avoidable carcinogens and make this information widely available to the public?" The answer was, and remains, no.
Klausner's responses made it clear that NCI persisted in indifference to cancer prevention, coupled with imbalanced emphasis on damage control - screening, diagnosis, treatment, and clinical trials.
Moreover, NCI's claims for the success of "innovative treatment" have been sharply criticized by distinguished oncologists. In 2004, Nobelist Leland Hartwell, President of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Control Center, warned that "Congress and the public are not paying NCI $4.7 billion a year," most of which is spent on "promoting ineffective drugs" for terminal disease.
It should be further emphasized that the costs of new biotech cancer drugs have increased more than 100-fold over the last decade. Furthermore, the U.S. spends five times more than the U.K. on chemotherapy per patient, although their survival rates are similar.
The Obama Cancer Plan is subject to Congressional authorization, and funding approval by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. These committees will be in a position to require that major priority should be directed to cancer prevention rather than to oncology. Clearly, the more cancer is prevented, the less there is to treat. This will also be of major help in achieving Obama's goal "to lower health care costs."
Samuel S. Epstein, M.D.
Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health,
Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition, www.preventcancer.com
Statins can reduce sex drive
Pharmacists' Joe Graedon, Teresa Graedon
The People's Pharmacy
Q: I have taken statins to lower my cholesterol. Decreased libido was one of the many side effects I experienced. As things happened gradually, I hadn't fully taken note of how my normal nighttime erections had virtually ceased.
I figured my lack of sexual interest was due to getting older. My wife felt I wasn't as interested in her anymore.
During the first week after I stopped the statin, I had a sexual awakening like I was a teenager again. I didn't realize how far I had deteriorated until my libido came roaring back. Any comment?
A: We have heard from other readers that statins (Crestor, Lipitor, lovastatin, simvastatin, etc.) may sometimes contribute to sexual difficulties, and research confirms this (Drug Safety, July 2009).
More recently, Italian researchers have reported a link between statin therapy and hypogonadism (reduced testosterone). Interfering with the production of cholesterol seems to alter hormone synthesis (Journal of Sexual Medicine, April 2010).
The People's Pharmacy
Q: I have taken statins to lower my cholesterol. Decreased libido was one of the many side effects I experienced. As things happened gradually, I hadn't fully taken note of how my normal nighttime erections had virtually ceased.
I figured my lack of sexual interest was due to getting older. My wife felt I wasn't as interested in her anymore.
During the first week after I stopped the statin, I had a sexual awakening like I was a teenager again. I didn't realize how far I had deteriorated until my libido came roaring back. Any comment?
A: We have heard from other readers that statins (Crestor, Lipitor, lovastatin, simvastatin, etc.) may sometimes contribute to sexual difficulties, and research confirms this (Drug Safety, July 2009).
More recently, Italian researchers have reported a link between statin therapy and hypogonadism (reduced testosterone). Interfering with the production of cholesterol seems to alter hormone synthesis (Journal of Sexual Medicine, April 2010).
Children's Medication Recall
CLICK HERE FOR RECALL INFORMATION ON CERTAIN INFANTS' TYLENOL® AND CHILDREN'S TYLENOL® PRODUCTS
CLICK HERE FOR RECALL INFORMATION ON CERTAIN INFANTS' MOTRIN® AND CHILDREN'S MOTRIN® PRODUCTS
CLICK HERE FOR RECALL INFORMATION ON CERTAIN CHILDREN'S ZYRTEC® PRODUCTS
CLICK HERE FOR RECALL INFORMATION ON CERTAIN CHILDREN'S BENADRYL® PRODUCTS
CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON ALL RECALLED PRODUCTS FROM APRIL 30, 2010
Read the entire McNeil Product Recall Notice here.
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