| Nutrition In The News
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Michaud DS, et al., Dietary sugar,
glycemic load, and pancreatic cancer risk in a prospective
study, J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002 Sep 4; 94(17): 1293-300.
A diet high in starchy foods such as potatoes, rice
and white bread may increase the risk of pancreatic
cancer in women who are overweight and sedentary, according
to a new study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham
and Women's Hospital and Harvard School of Public Health
researchers. Published in the September 4, 2002 issue
of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the
study suggests that excess insulin (a hormone used by
the body to process carbohydrates) can promote the development
of pancreatic cancer.
Each year nearly 30,000 men and women in the United
States develop pancreatic cancer in which only four
percent are alive 5 years after the diagnosis. The good
news is we are now gaining insight on how this disease
can be prevented through lifestyle and diet. Several
studies have demonstrated that excess insulin can encourage
the growth of cancer cells in the pancreas. It has also
been shown that people who are obese, physically inactive
or have adult-onset diabetes mellitus tend to be insulin
resistant (produce larger than normal amounts of insulin
to process excess calories from carbohydrates) and at
great risk for pancreatic cancer.
This particular study showed that women whose diets
are heavy in foods that increase insulin production
are also at increased risk for pancreatic cancer. Data
for the study came from the Nurses' Health Study, a
project at Brigham and Women's Hospital that tracks
health information on female nurses across the United
States. The researchers reviewed the dietary records
of nearly 89,000 nurses to measure their intake of sucrose
(the type of sugar in candy), fructose (the sugar in
fruit juices and honey) and carbohydrates. The researchers
also calculated the amount of glucose-stimulating foods
(known as the glycemic load) every study participant
consumed. Each type
of food increases glucose levels by a different amount.
The ability of
carbohydrate-containing foods to boost glucose-and thereby
insulin-levels is
known as the glycemic index. Starchy foods such as potatoes,
white rice,
and white bread have high glycemic indexes.
The researchers in this study found that women who were
significantly overweight and
physically inactive (and whose levels of glucose and
insulin were therefore
already above normal) were more than 2.5 times more
likely to develop pancreatic cancer if they had a high
glycemic load compared to a low glycemic load. One of
the conclusions of this study is that both men and women
can take some simple steps to help reduce their risk
of pancreatic cancer by being physically active, maintaining
ideal body weight, and choosing low glycemic foods.
Barnett KT, et al., Vitamin E
Succinate Inhibits Colon Cancer Liver Metastases, Journal
of Surgical Research Vol. 106, No. 2, August 1, 2002
In this study, the promising Vitamin E succinate (VES)
anti-cancer micronutrient was tested to see if it could
promote colon cancer tumor dormancy and inhibit liver
metastases in colon cancer. It was concluded that VES
inhibits the growth of colon cancer cells in vitro and
in vivo. This is the first report of VES inhibition
of colon cancer tumor
metastases. The mechanism of VES anti-tumor and anti-metastatic
activity in
vivo appears to involve promotion of tumor apoptosis
and inhibition of cell
proliferation. VES may serve to be useful in the prevention
and treatment of colon cancer, particularly in the spread
of this disease to other areas of the body, such as
the liver.
Matsui Y, et al. Improved prognosis
of postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma patients when
treated with functional foods: a prospective cohort
study. J Hepatol 2002; 37:78-86.
Two hundred twenty-two patients (57 to 70 years old)
with histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma
(liver cancer) participated in this study over a 10-year
period that included follow-ups every 3 months. All
of the patients underwent resection of the liver tumor.
Of the 222 patients, 113 received 3.0 grams per day
of Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC), an extract
of Basidiomycotina that contains a hybridization of
several types of medicinal mushrooms. The group that
received AHCC had improved liver function tests, less
recurrence, and survived longer than compared to group
that did not receive AHCC. This study, which started
on February 1, 1992 and ended on December 31, 2001,
concluded that AHCC improves the prognosis for patients
with hepatocellular carcinoma following surgery.
Vozarova B, et al., High Alanine
Aminotransferase Is Associated With Decreased Hepatic
Insulin Sensitivity and Predicts the Development of
Type 2 Diabetes, Diabetes 51:1889-1895, 2002
This particular study set out to determine if there
was a relationship between poor liver function and the
development of type 2 diabetes. The focus was on whether
elevated hepatic enzymes (alanine aminotransferase [ALT],
aspartate aminotransferase [AST], or -glutamyltranspeptidase
[GGT]) are associated with prospective changes in liver
or whole-body insulin sensitivity and/or insulin secretion
and whether these elevated enzymes predict the development
of type 2 diabetes in Pima Indians.
The results showed that higher ALT concentrations were
associated with obesity and whole-body and hepatic insulin
resistance and prospectively associated with a decline
in hepatic insulin sensitivity and the development of
type 2 diabetes. It was concluded that high ALT is a
marker of risk for type 2 diabetes and that poor liver
function plays a significant role in the disease progression
of type 2 diabetes.
Liljeberg EH, Bjorck I, Milk
as a supplement to mixed meals may elevate postprandial
insulinaemia, Eur J Clin Nutr 2001 Nov; 55(11): 994-9
Ten healthy volunteers, seven men and three women,
aged 22-30 years, with normal
body mass indices, were recruited for this study. The
objective was to evaluate the impact of milk versus
water when added to a high-glycemic index (GI) white
bread meal vs. a low-GI spaghetti meal, respectively,
on postprandial glucose and insulin responses in these
healthy subjects. The addition of milk to the low GI
meal significantly raised insulin levels and thus negated
the beneficial effect of low GI meals; where as the
addition of water did not. The mechanism for the insulin
raising effects of milk is not known. However, since
elevated levels of insulin leads to insulin resistance,
which is a major factor in type 2 diabetes and its related
complications (hypertension, obesity, heart disease,
and stroke), the daily consumption of milk may not be
a good strategy in the prevention or treatment of type
2 diabetes and its related diseases.
Fulghesu AM, et al., N-acetyl-cysteine
treatment improves insulin sensitivity in women with
polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2002 Jun;
77(6): 1128-35.
There is a significant relationship between elevated
insulin levels, insulin resistance, and the development
and progression of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
in women. In this particular study, obese women who
suffer from PCOS and had elevated levels of insulin
were given N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), an amino acid supplement.
When compared to the placebo-controlled group, the women
who took NAC showed lower insulin levels and better
insulin action. It was concluded that because NAC improves
insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS and elevated
insulin levels, that this amino supplement represents
a new treatment that addresses one of the primary causes
of PCOS.
Leeds AR, Glycemic index and
heart disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 Jul; 76(1): 286S-9S.
Review.
The author of this review article provides evidence
to show that excessive consumption of carbohydrates,
especially ones with a high glycemic index (GI), increase
well known risk factors responsible for the development
of heart disease. For instance, one large prospective
study showed a diet high in carbohydrates with high
glycemic indexes (GI) and glycemic load were linked
to risk of coronary heart disease development in women.
Other studies have shown that low-GI diets are associated
with high HDL-cholesterol concentrations, especially
in women. HDL is the good type of cholesterol protective
against heart disease. Furthermore, in a tightly controlled
study of patients with type 2 diabetes, serum total
cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and
plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 concentrations, which
are factors that lead to heart disease, fell significantly
after a low-GI diet than after a high-GI diet.
Davy BM, et al., High-fiber oat
cereal compared with wheat cereal consumption favorably
alters LDL-cholesterol subclass and particle numbers
in middle-aged and older men, American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, Vol. 76, No. 2, 351-358, August 2002
Thirty-six overweight men aged 50-75 were randomly
assigned to consume daily for 12 weeks either oat or
wheat cereal providing 14 grams of dietary fiber per
day. The oat compared with the wheat cereal produced
lower concentrations of small, dense LDL cholesterol
and LDL particle number, which are both known to be
major risk factors for heart disease. These beneficial
effects of oat fiber make a significant contribution
in the protection against heart and cardiovascular disease.
Biondi B, et al., Subclinical
hypothyroidism and cardiac function, Thyroid 2002 Jun;
12(6): 505-10
The cardiovascular system is sensitive to the action
of thyroid hormone. However, although a wide spectrum
of cardiac abnormalities has long been recognized in
patients with overt thyroid dysfunction, the question
of cardiac involvement in patients with sub clinical
thyroid dysfunction has been investigated only in the
last two to three decades. Most clinical studies have
shown that sub clinical hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
is associated with changes in several cardiac parameters,
including high blood pressure and poor exercise tolerance.
Considering this wealth of data, patients should be
screened and where appropriate treated for sub clinical
hypothyroidism in order to prevent or treat existing
cardiac disease.
Ridker PM, et al., Comparison
of C-Reactive Protein and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
Levels in the Prediction of First Cardiovascular Events,
The New England Journal of Medicine Volume 347:1557-1565
November 14, 2002
C-reactive protein (CRP) and LDL cholesterol were measured
at base line in 27,939 apparently healthy American women,
who were then followed for a mean of eight years for
the occurrence of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke,
coronary revascularization, or death from cardiovascular
causes. The generated data suggests that the C-reactive
protein level is a stronger predictor of cardiovascular
events than the LDL cholesterol level and that it adds
prognostic information to that conveyed by the Framingham
risk score.
Lowering total cholesterol and LDL levels are steps
in right direction in the prevention of cardiovascular
disease. However many individuals with normal levels
of both of these blood fats go on to develop heart attack
and stroke. Since elevated CRP is a marker for inflammation
in the circulatory system it provides support that heart
disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder. This study
suggests for those at risk for heart disease or who
presently have it that CRP levels should be routinely
screened. Furthermore, this study also suggests multidimensional
treatments targeted to lower CRP and other markers of
chronic inflammation would provide greater benefit in
addition to current medical therapies.
American Journal Clinical Nutrition
January 2003 77: 43-50
When humans consume more carbohydrates than can be
stored, the excess carbohydrate energy is converted
to fat by the liver. This process may maintain blood
sugar control and prevent diabetes in the short-term,
however it may also increase triglyceride concentrations,
which may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In the last decade, researchers established that fat
production by the liver varies depending on dietary
habits and health status.
The typical Western diet has a high fat content, which
means that only a limited amount of carbohydrates are
available for liver fat production, and liver fat production
tends to be very low among individuals who eat this
type of diet. However, when too many carbohydrates were
consumed, both liver fat and sugar production were increased.
A very low-fat (10 percent of energy) and very high-carbohydrate
(75 percent of energy) diet also leads to increased
liver fat production, with the increase being even more
pronounced when more than half of the carbohydrate was
consumed as simple sugars. This points to the importance
of carbohydrate quality, as another study using 68 percent
of energy from complex carbohydrate resulted in minimal
liver fat production.
However, it was found that obese individuals with high
insulin levels who consume a high-fat (40 percent of
energy) diet had a liver fat production rate three to
four times higher than that of lean individuals with
normal insulin levels. But, both normal and high insulin
groups had lower liver fat production on the high-fat
diet than on a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet.
Moreover, the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet caused
an increase in triglyceride concentrations, a risk factor
for coronary heart disease, which was associated with
the liver fat production in both normal and high-insulin
individuals.
Researchers concluded that the low-fat, high-carbohydrate
diet might not be ideal, as it can induce liver fat
production and insulin resistance. This is especially
true when most of the carbohydrate is in the form of
simple sugars.
Liu S, et al., Relation between
a diet with a high glycemic load and plasma concentrations
of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in middle-aged
women, Am J Clin Nutr 2002 Mar; 75(3): 492-8
Current data suggests suggest that intake of rapidly
digested and absorbed carbohydrates with a high dietary
glycemic load is associated with an increased risk of
ischemic heart disease. In 244 apparently healthy women,
this study measured plasma high sensitive C-reactive
protein (hs-CRP) concentrations and determined average
dietary glycemic load through food questionnaires. It
was concluded that a high dietary glycemic load is significantly
and positively associated with a high plasma hs-CRP
in healthy middle-aged women that was independent of
conventional risk factors for ischemic heart disease.
The mechanism was postulated to be exacerbation of the
pro-inflammatory process whereby a high intake of rapidly
digested and absorbed carbohydrates increases the risk
of ischemic heart disease, especially in overweight
women prone to insulin resistance. This study provides
further evidence that the focus of treatment for heart
disease needs to go beyond cholesterol management to
include factors such as carbohydrate intake, insulin
resistance, and managing the chronic inflammatory process,
which all are involved in the progression of this disease.
Madsen T, et al., C-reactive
protein, dietary n-3 fatty acids, and the extent of
coronary
artery disease, Am J Cardiol 2001 Nov 15; 88(10): 1139-42
The inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) has
emerged as an independent risk factor for coronary artery
disease. The anti-inflammatory effects of Omega 3 fatty
acids derived from fish have been well established in
various experimental and clinical studies. The effect
of the Omega 3 fatty acids on CRP levels was studied
in 269 patients who were suspected of having coronary
disease. All patients were asked to fill food questionnaires
in order to determine fish intake. Tissues levels of
Omega 3 fatty acids and CRP levels were also determine
for each patient. In patients with stable coronary disease,
high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids were directly correlated
with low levels of CRP. Due to the anti-inflammatory
effects and lower levels of CRP seen, this study suggests
that the consumption of fish mat decrease the risk of
heart disease.
Prins ND, et al, Homocysteine
and Cognitive Function in the Elderly: The Rotterdam
Scan Study, Neurology, November 2002; 59(1 of 2): 1375-1380.
High levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which is
a by-product of protein metabolism, can be toxic, as
it has been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular
disease. Now elevated levels homocysteine are emerging
as marker for poor cognitive function. In 1,077 non-demented
elderly subjects, the mean total homocysteine level
was 11.5 umol/l. Increasing levels of total homocysteine
were associated with lower scores for psychomotor speed,
memory function, and global cognitive function, with
the greatest association with total homocysteine levels
in the upper quintile (>14 umol/l). Since certain
levels of B6, Folic Acid, B12, Magnesium, and Zinc are
required to dispose of homocysteine, this study suggests
that insufficient levels of these nutrients maybe an
underlying factor for those elderly subjects with the
lowest scores of cognitive function.
Westman EC, et al., Effect of
6-month adherence to a very low carbohydrate diet program.
Am J Med 2002 Jul; 113(1): 30-6
Fifty-one overweight or obese healthy volunteers who
wanted to lose weight were placed on a very low carbohydrate
diet (<25 g/d), with no limit on caloric intake,
for a 6-month period. They also received nutritional
supplementation and recommendations about exercise,
and attended group meetings at a research clinic. At
the end of study on average there was 10% reduction
in body weight and 3% in body fat for 40 out the 51
participants who choose to complete the study. Also,
all the participants experienced a reduction in total
cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and cholesterol/HDL
cholesterol ratio, which are all risk factors for heart
disease. Furthermore, HDL-cholesterol levels were either
moderately or significantly increased for all the participants.
It was concluded from this study that a very low carbohydrate
diet program led to sustained weight loss during a 6-month
period and lowered the risk of heart disease.
Clifford W. Shults CW, et al., Effects of Co enzyme
Q10 in Early Parkinson Disease Evidence of Slowing of
the Functional Decline, Arch Neurol. 2002; 59:1541-1550
This study concluded that supplementation of the fat-soluble
vitamin, Coenzyme Q10, was safe and well tolerated at
dosages of up to 1200 mg per day. Less disability developed
in Parkinson’s subjects assigned to coenzyme Q10
than in those assigned to placebo, and the benefit was
greatest in subjects receiving the highest dosage. Coenzyme
Q10 appears to slow the progressive deterioration of
Parkinson’s disease. Coenzyme Q 10 therapy represents
a major advance in the treatment of Parkinson’s
disease because no other current treatment to date has
been shown to slow down the progression of this disease.
Research suggests that switching to grass fed animal
products, which are very similar to wild game, could
reduce the risk of diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular
disease, and even cancer.
Products from free-range and grass fed animals as opposed
to grain fed and confined animals have been shown to
be ideal for human health in a number of important ways.
First of all, they are lower in total fat than the meat
from animals fattened in a feedlot. For example, a sirloin
steak from a grass fed steer has about one half to one
third as much fat as a similar cut from a grain fed
steer. In fact, grass fed meat has about the same fat
content as skinless chicken or wild deer or elk. (1)
When meat is this lean, it actually helps to lower LDL-cholesterol
levels. (2)
Grass fed meat is not only leaner but is also lower
in calories. Fat has 9 calories per gram, compared with
only 4 calories for protein and carbohydrates. Therefore,
the greater the fat content, the greater the number
of calories. For instance, a 6-ounce steak from a grass-finished
steer has almost 100 fewer calories than a 6-ounce steak
from a grain fed steer. If you eat a typical amount
of beef (66.5 pounds a year), switching to grass fed
beef will save you 17,733 calories a year-without requiring
any willpower or change in eating habits. If everything
else in your diet remains constant, you'll lose about
six pounds a year.
Although grass fed meat is low in total fat and saturated
fat, it has two to six times more omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids play a vital role in every cell
and system in your body. For example, they are beneficial
for the heart and circulatory system. People who have
ample amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in their diet are
less likely to have high blood pressure or an irregular
heartbeat. Remarkably, they are 50 percent less likely
to suffer a heart attack. (3)
Omega-3s are essential for your brain as well. People
with a diet rich in omega-3s are less likely to be afflicted
with depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder
(hyperactivity), or Alzheimer's disease. (4)
Another benefit of omega-3s is that they may reduce
your risk of cancer. In animal studies, these essential
fats have slowed the growth of a wide array of cancers
and also kept them from spreading. (5) Although the
human research is in its infancy, researchers have shown
that omega-3s can slow or even reverse the extreme weight
loss that accompanies advanced cancer and also speeds
up recovery from surgery. (6,7) They may also enhance
the response to chemotherapy. (8)
It is well known that omega-3 fatty acids are most
abundant in cold-water fish and certain nuts and seeds
such as flaxseeds and walnuts, but they are also found
in significant amounts in free-range animals raised
on grass. The reason is that 60% of the fatty acids
in grass are omega-3s. When cattle are taken off omega-3
rich grass and shipped to a feedlot to be fattened on
grain, they begin losing their store of this beneficial
fat. Each day that an animal spends in the feedlot,
its supply of omega-3s is diminished. (9)
The same case as been shown to be true for chickens.
When chickens are housed indoors and deprived of greens,
their meat and eggs also become artificially low in
omega-3s. Eggs from pastured hens can contain as much
as 20 times more omega-3s than eggs from factory hens.
(10)
The switching of our livestock from grass to grain
is one of the reasons our modern diet is deficient in
the essential omega 3 fatty acids. It has been estimated
that only 40 percent of Americans consume a sufficient
supply of these nutrients. Twenty percent have levels
so low that they cannot be detected. (11) Switching
back to grass fed animal products is one way to restore
this vital nutrient to your diet.
Meat and dairy products from grass fed animals are
the richest known source of another type of good fat
called conjugated linoleic acid or CLA. When animals
are allowed to roam and fed off of only grass there
is a 3 to 5 time higher level of CLA than compared animals
raised and fed on conventional diets. (12)
CLA may be one of our most potent defenses against
cancer. In laboratory
animals, a very small percentage of CLA (a mere 0.1
percent of total calories) greatly reduced tumor growth.
(13) There is new evidence that CLA may also reduce
cancer risk in humans. In a Finnish study, women who
had the highest levels of CLA in their diet had a 60
percent lower risk of breast cancer than those with
the lowest levels. Switching from grain fed to grass
fed meat and dairy products places women in this lowest
risk category. (14) Many researchers have also suggested
that for both and women the overall risk for the major
age-related cancers may be reduced by incorporating
more grass fed animal products high in CLA.
In addition to being higher in omega-3s and CLA, meat
from grass fed animals is also higher in vitamin E.
The meat from the grass fed cattle is four times higher
in vitamin E than the meat from grain feedlot cattle
and interestingly, almost twice as high as the meat
from the feedlot cattle given vitamin E supplements.
(15) In humans, vitamin E is linked with a lower risk
of heart disease and cancer and may also have anti-aging
properties.
1. Fukumoto, G. K., Y.S. Kim,
D. Oduda, H. Ako (1995). "Chemical composition
and shear force requirement of loin eye muscle of young,
forage-fed steers."
Research Extension Series 161: 1-5. Koizumi, I., Y.
Suzuki, et al. (1991).
"Studies on the fatty acid composition of intramuscular
lipids of cattle,
pigs and birds." J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo) 37(6):
545-54.
2. Davidson, M. H., D. Hunninghake,
et al. (1999). "Comparison of the
effects of lean red meat vs lean white meat on serum
lipid levels among
free-living persons with hypercholesterolemia: a long-term,
randomized
clinical trial." Arch Intern Med 159(12): 1331-8.
The conclusion of this
study: "... diets containing primarily lean red
meat or lean white meat
produced similar reductions in LDL cholesterol and elevations
in HDL
cholesterol, which were maintained throughout the 36
weeks of treatment."
3. Siscovick, D. S., T. E. Raghunathan,
et al. (1995). "Dietary Intake and
Cell Membrane Levels of Long-Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated
Fatty Acids and the
Risk of Primary Cardiac Arrest." JAMA 274(17):
1363-1367.
4 Simopolous, A. P. and Jo Robinson
(1999). The Omega Diet. New York,
HarperCollins. My previous book, a collaboration with
Dr. Artemis P.
Simopoulos, devotes an entire chapter to the vital role
that omega-3s play
in brain function.
5 Rose, D. P., J. M. Connolly, et
al. (1995). "Influence of Diets
Containing Eicosapentaenoic or Docasahexaenoic Acid
on Growth and Metastasis
of Breast Cancer Cells in Nude Mice." Journal of
the National Cancer
Institute 87(8): 587-92.
6 Tisdale, M. J. (1999). "Wasting
in cancer." J Nutr 129(1S Suppl):
243S-246S.
7 Tashiro, T., H. Yamamori, et al.
(1998). "n-3 versus n-6 polyunsaturated
fatty acids in critical illness." Nutrition 14(6):
551-3.
8. Bougnoux, P., E. Germain, et al.
(1999). "Cytotoxic drugs efficacy
correlates with adipose tissue docosahexaenoic acid
level in locally
advanced breast carcinoma [In Process Citation]."
Br J Cancer 79(11-12):
1765-9.
9. Duckett, S. K., D. G. Wagner, et
al. (1993). "Effects of time on feed on
beef nutrient composition." J Anim Sci 71(8): 2079-88.
10. Lopez-Bote, C. J., R.Sanz Arias,
A.I. Rey, A. Castano, B. Isabel, J.
Thos (1998). "Effect of free-range feeding on omega-3
fatty acids and
alpha-tocopherol content and oxidative stability of
eggs." Animal Feed
Science and Technology 72: 33-40.
11. Dolecek, T. A. and G. Grandits
(1991). "Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty
Acids and Mortality in the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention
Trial (MRFIT)."
World Rev Nutr Diet 66: 205-16.
12. Dhiman, T. R., G. R. Anand, et
al. (1999). "Conjugated linoleic acid
content of milk from cows fed different diets."
J Dairy Sci 82(10):
2146-56. Interestingly, when the pasture was machine-harvested
and then
fed to the animals as hay, the cows produced far less
CLA than when they
were grazing on that pasture, even though the hay was
made from the very
same grass. The fat that the animals use to produce
CLA is oxidized during
the wilting, drying process. For maximum CLA, animals
need to be grazing
living pasture.
13. Ip, C, J.A. Scimeca, et al. (1994)
"Conjugated linoleic acid. A
powerful anti-carcinogen from animal fat sources."
p. 1053. Cancer 74(3
suppl): 1050-4.
14. Aro, A., S. Mannisto, I. Salminen,
M. L. Ovaskainen, V. Kataja, and M.
Uusitupa. "Inverse Association between Dietary
and Serum Conjugated Linoleic
Acid and Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women."
Nutr Cancer 38, no.
2 (2000): 151-7.
15. Smith, G.C. "Dietary supplementation
of vitamin E to cattle to improve
shelf life and case life of beef for domestic and international
markets."
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1171
Lecrubier Y, et al, Efficacy
of St. John’s Wort Extract WS 5570 in Major Depression:
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Am J Psychiatry,
August 2002; 159(8): 1361-1366.
In a study of male and female subjects with mild to
moderate clinical depression, 186 were randomly assigned
to St. John’s wort (WS 5570) at 300 mg, 3 times
daily, and 189 were given placebo in a double-blind
treatment for 6 weeks. Compared with placebo, St. John’s
Wort resulted in a significantly greater reduction in
total score on the Hamilton depression scale and significantly
more patients with treatment response or remission.
St. John’s wort was more effective in subjects
with higher baseline Hamilton scores, which led to a
global reduction of depression-related core symptoms.
There are minimal side effects to this therapy.
Pavelka K, et al., Glucosamine
Sulfate Use and Delay of Progression of Knee Osteoarthritis:
A 3-Year, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-blind
Study, Archives of Internal Medicine Vol. 162 No. 18,
2113- 2123 October 14, 2002
Conventional symptomatic treatments for osteoarthritis
do not favorably affect disease progression. The aim
of this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled
trial was to determine whether long-term (3-year) treatment
with glucosamine sulfate could modify the progression
of joint structure and symptom changes in knee osteoarthritis.
Two hundred two patients with knee osteoarthritis were
randomized to receive oral glucosamine sulfate, 1500
mg once a day, or placebo. It was concluded that glucosamine
sulfate was a safe and effective therapy in retarding
the progression of knee osteoarthritis.
Colantuoni C, et al., Evidence
that intermittent, excessive sugar intake causes endogenous
opioid dependence. Obes Res 2002 Jun; 10(6): 478-88
The goal of this study was to determine whether withdrawal
from sugar could cause signs of opioid dependence. Because
palatable food stimulates neural systems that are implicated
in drug addiction, it was hypothesized that intermittent,
excessive sugar intake might create dependency, as indicated
by withdrawal signs. Male rats were used in this study
and some of the withdrawal symptoms observed were teeth
chattering, forepaw tremor, and headshakes. These findings
were confirmed by measuring for chemical imbalances,
which were very similar to that seen in the anxious
and wrestle less human brain and to the dependence and
withdrawal created by morphine and nicotine. This study
concluded that exposure to excessive and periodic sugar
consumption caused the rats to become addicted in similar
fashion to morphine and nicotine chemical dependence.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Secondary
Hyperparathyroidism Are Common Complications in Patients
With Peripheral Arterial Disease, Fahrleitner A, Dobnig
H, et al, J Gen Intern Med, September 2002; 17:663-669.
In 29 females and 55 males (median age 69 years) with
stage II peripheral arterial disease and 35 females
and 42 males (median age 66 years) with stage IV peripheral
arterial disease compared with 45 age- and sex-matched
controls, individuals with stage IV peripheral arterial
disease had significantly lower vitamin D3 and calcium
values and significantly higher intact parathyroid hormone,
osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase compared with patients
with stage II peripheral arterial disease. Those patients
who considered themselves severely restricted had lower
vitamin D3 and higher intact parathyroid levels compared
with those who described only a mild or moderate restriction
in daily life. Vitamin D3 deficiency may be due to immobilization
and the subsequent lack of exposure to sunlight. Vitamin
D3 replacement therapy may be an inexpensive way to
reduce pain and the risk of falls with subsequent bone
fractures, and to improve the quality of life in patients
with peripheral arterial disease.
Romieu I, et al., Antioxidant
supplementation and lung functions among children with
asthma exposed to high levels of air pollutants. Am
J Respir Crit Care Med 2002; 166:703-9.
This 12-week study was a randomized, double blind,
and placebo-controlled trial involving 160 children
(age 6 to 17) with asthma that were recruited from an
allergy clinic in Mexico City. The group that received
a combination of 250 mg of vitamin C and 50 mg of vitamin
E per day did much better in terms of symptoms of asthma
that was confirmed through laboratory tests. In the
past couple of decades, there has been a startling increase
in the incidence of pediatric asthma in large cities.
This trial suggests that modest amounts of both vitamins
C and E may help protect these children against the
harmful effects of air pollution and improve lung function.
It should be noted that, according to RDA figures, the
children in this study had normal vitamin C intake and
below normal intake of vitamin E.
Journal American College Nutrition.
December 2002;21(6):495-505
This study reviewed the biological potencies of Omega
Oils from plant sources – ALA – and fish
sources – EPA and DHA. Results indicated that
the Omega-3 fats derived from fish oils are more biologically
potent than the Omega-3 fats found in plant sources
such as flax seeds.
The anti-inflammatory properties of the Omega fats
have been found to be beneficial in managing diseases
such as coronary heart disease, depression and cancer,
and may also help with aging.
Results of clinical trials that supplement with fish
oils have shown a decrease in diseases including rheumatoid
arthritis, Chron’s disease, ulcerative colitis,
psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and
migraine headaches.
American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition 2003, Harris 77 (2): 279
Previous studies have suggested a link between Eskimos’
high intake of omega-3 fats and their reduced risk of
heart disease. Since then, several other studies have
strengthened the association between the intake of omega-3
fats and the reduced risk of heart disease.
In one study, 11,324 post--myocardial infarction patients
were assigned to receive either omega-3 fats eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or vitamin
E, a combination of the two, or neither for a 3.5-year
period. No statistically significant benefit was observed
with vitamin E, however the omega-3 fat group experienced
a 20 percent decreased risk of total mortality, a 30
percent lower risk of cardiovascular mortality, and
a 45 percent lower risk of sudden death.
Another recent study involving the elderly (average
age 78 years) extends the benefits of omega-3 fats to
people of this age group. The study found a highly significant
association between omega-3 fat concentrations and risk
of fatal ischemic heart disease. Also, there was a 48
percent lower risk of fatal coronary heart disease (CHD)
associated with plant-derived omega-3 fat ALA.
However, evidence of benefit from ALA is less clear
than evidence for other omega-3 fats.
In two studies that examined the effects of supplementation
with ALA-rich oils on CHD endpoints, no significant
difference was found between the groups who received
increased doses of ALA and those who did not.
ALA is the metabolic precursor of EPA and DHA, however
the amount of ALA converted to EPA and DHA varies by
study. For example, one study estimated that 15 percent
of ALA is converted to EPA and DHA, whereas a separate
study found an estimate of 0.2 percent. Further research
is needed to determine how much ALA is converted to
EPA and DHA in adults.
The increasing evidence supporting the view that omega-3
fats reduce the risk of death from CHD should not be
ignored. The American Heart Association recommends two
fish meals (preferably fatty fish) per week, however
patients with CHD may need more. One gram of EPA and
DHA per day is recommended in this case. Researchers
note that it is difficult to obtain this amount from
fish alone.
Jama December 25, 2002; 288(24):3130-6
A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical
Association has determined that eating any kind of fish,
as little as once a month, can cut the risk of stroke
among men by 40%.
Unlike studies in the past that noted an increased
benefit with the amount of fish eaten, this study found
that eating even small amounts of fish produced the
maximum benefit. In fact, no further benefits were indicated
from increasing fish consumption.
The recognized association between Omega-3 fats and
the decreased risk of stroke and heart disease was found
to not be a factor in the protection provided. Surprisingly,
fish known to provide more Omega-3 fatty acids did not
provide more protection that fish with less Omega-3
fatty acids. To conclude, the study finds that there
is something in all kinds of fish that is good for the
arteries and it is beneficial to eat fish monthly
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