Vitamin C may prevent bone loss in men

New research suggests that eating a diet containing plenty of vitamin C may help older men to keep their bones strong and healthy.

Katherine L. Tucker and colleagues monitored 231 men and 393 women over a four-year period to examine the relationship between vitamin C intake – from food and supplements – and bone mineral density (BMD). The average age of participants at the start of the study was 75.

The results showed that men with the highest intake of vitamin C – approximately 314 mg per day – did not lose BMD during the study. In comparison, men with the lowest intake of vitamin C – approximately 106 mg per day – lost 5.6% of their BMD. Vitamin C was also shown to protect against BMD loss in women, however the finding was not statistically significant.

The researchers conclude: “These results suggest a possible protective role of vitamin C for bone health in older men.”

Sahni S, Hannan MT, Gagnon D, Blumberg J, Cupples LA, Kiel DP, Tucker KL. High Vitamin C Intake Is Associated with Lower 4-Year Bone Loss in Elderly Men. J Nutr. 2008;138:1931-1938.

Food packaging plastic linked to diabetes, liver abnormalities, and heart disease

The results of the first human study of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical commonly found in plastic food and drink packaging, suggest that high levels of the chemical increases the risk of diabetes, liver abnormalities, and heart disease.

The study of 1,455 men and women was designed to examine associations between urinary BPA concentrations and adult health status. Results showed that participants with the highest concentrations of BPA were nearly three times more likely to have cardiovascular disease than those with the lowest levels, and 2.4 times more likely to have diabetes. Higher BPA levels were also associated with “clinically abnormal” concentrations of the liver enzymes γ-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase.

In August this year the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a draft report by FDA scientists concluding that the amount of BPA humans typically consume in food and drinks does not pose a health risk. However, in light of the recent controversy surrounding the chemical the FDA, which has been heavily criticized because of its stance on this issue, held a meeting on Tuesday September 16th to discuss BPA and its alleged deleterious effects upon health. “Right now, our tentative conclusion is that it’s safe, so we’re not recommending any change in habits,” said Laura Tarantino, head of the FDA’s office of food additive safety.

Lang IA, Galloway TS, Scarlett A, Henley WE, Depledge M, Wallace RB, Melzer D. Association of urinary bisphenol a concentration with medical disorders and laboratory abnormalities in adults. JAMA. 2008;300:1303-1310.

 

Audio relaxation combats hypertension

Regularly listening to a calming voice and the sound of ocean waves lapping against the shore can help to lower blood pressure, new research has shown.

Jean Tang, an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at Seattle University, and colleagues studied the effects of a relaxation CD on 41 elderly men and women with hypertension. 20 participants were asked to listen to the 12-minute-long relaxation CD, whilst the remaining 21 participants were asked to listen to a 12-minute-long CD of a Mozart sonata. Both groups were asked to listen to their CD three times a week for four months.

Results showed that blood pressure dropped by an average 6.4% in those listening to the relaxation CD, compared with nearly 5% in those who listened to the Mozart CD. The reduction in systolic blood pressure was statistically significant in both groups; however the reduction in diastolic blood pressure was not statistically significant in either group.

“A 3-5% change has been used as the cutting point in clinical research. It has been suggested that a 5 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure would result in a 9% reduction in coronary heart disease related death and 14% reduction in stroke related death,” Tang said in a news release issued by the American Heart Association. “Higher systolic blood pressure is very prevalent in the elderly population. This program may provide yet another way to help manage hypertension in conjunction with medication, lifestyle changes, exercise, diet and stress management.”

Study presented at the American Heart Association’s 62nd Annual Fall Conference of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research.

News release: Audio relaxation program may help lower blood pressure in elderly. American Heart Association website. September 17th 2008.

Cholesterol: “Is the lesser really better? “

That is what wondered Science et Vie, a french magazine, which notes in a file that, “the some 6 million French who regularly statins [...] the would do so for nothing. “

“Worse, these products as any medication side effects, [...] they would do more harm than good,” says the magazine, which notes that, “the link between cholesterol and cardiovascular disease is not so firmly established that the claims “.

Science et Vie write about the “French paradox”, noting that “at equal level of cholesterol and risk factors, the French [...] have less cardiovascular disease than other Europeans.”
Science et Vie also notes that “clinical trials show the struggle to bring down interest too heavily on” bad “cholesterol,” and observes that it “not necessarily consume too [of statins], but evil.”

That’s a good news that a popular magazine write that!!

4 tricks to increase the “good” cholesterol

1. Stop smoking. This is an evidence !!
2. Healthy Eating. Especially avoid Trans fats that foul the body by increasing the bad cholesterol.
3. Sports. No need to exercise violently. 30 minutes 5 times a week is sufficient to increase good cholesterol by 5 to 10%.
4. Lose weight. Lost 10 kilograms increase good cholesterol 1mg/dl.

Type 2 diabetes and Mediterranean diet

It is accepted that the Mediterranean diet reduces cardiovascular mortality and reduces the risk of metabolic syndrome.

A Spanish study cohort type on 13,380 subjects, followed over four years shows that it also reduces the risk of diabetes among healthy subjects.

The mediterranean diet, also sometimes called the Cretan diet, is a diet rich in plants, vegetables, fruits, oil seeds, grains, olive oil, with a little wine, some fish and relatively little meat. Such a diet provides protection cardiovascular well established. This protection is due to the richness of the food bowl in fiber and vegetable fats, ingestion of alcohol in moderate quantities and low consumption of trans fatty acids. Furthermore, consumption of olive oil, used for seasoning and cooking, can increase the ratio of mono-unsaturated fatty acids and saturated fats, whose responsibility in atherosclerosis is recognized, any such as cholesterol. Such a system improves the lipid profile and blood glucose control in diabetics.

It was shown that it is associated with a reduction in coronary mortality and was inversely associated with risk of metabolic syndrome and the elevation of markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, predictive occurrence of type 2 diabetes. The Lyon’s study in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease had also found the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, reducing frequency of the events and cardiovascular mortality, at subjects with coronary heart disease evident.

Regarding the risk of type 2 diabetes, MA Gonzalez-Martinez et al. (Pamplona, Spain) have implemented a prospective cohort type which is particularly ambitious. It has indeed brought about 13 380 graduates of higher education without diabetes at baseline who were followed for a median of 4.4 years.

The dietary habits of these subjects were determined using a semi quantity of 136 food products, validated since 1993. The quantities of each product ingested in the previous year were classified into 9 categories, from the total or almost to capture at least 6 times a day.

The products, with their quantities ingested, were grouped by categories (vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy products …). The food at Mediterranean diet has been noted a score of 0 to 9 for costing the observance of each participant in this mode of feeding. The observance was finally classified into three categories, low, medium or high, depending on this score.

The results of this work showed that among study participants who ate the most regularly “Mediterranean”, the incidence of new cases of diabetes was low. Compared with the subjects of the study with low adherence to this regime, the relative risk of diabetes was 0.41 (confidence interval 95%: 0,19-0,87) among participants with adherence average, and has even been only 0.17 (confidence interval 95%: 0,04-0,75) among those whose observance was the best. These excellent results of the Mediterranean diet were observed after adjusting for sex, age, the armies of higher education, food intake, body mass index, physical activity levels, physical inactivity, tobacco use, family history of diabetes and personal history of hypertension.

An increase of two points score of adherence to Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes by 35%. This trend was confirmed by multivariate analysis (p = 0.04).

A Mediterranean diet is well observed not only associated with a reduction in coronary mortality, but is also correlated in order to reverse the incidence of type 2 diabetes among healthy subjects.

Sophrology? What’s ?

Sophrology is a term created by the Spanish Professor Alfonso Caycedo , to designate a discipline that examines the conscience and values of life.

As originally Professor Alfonso Caycedo had no precaution to protect the legal term Sophrology he has created. Many schools, institutions and organizations have used this name for different processes, some of them in total contradiction with the real objectives of the authentic Sophrology. They coming sometimes invent false training programs and to alter the method with hazardous psychiatric processes. Because of this, Professor Alfonso Caycedo was under an obligation to protect the legal term ” Caycedian Sophrology®” to save the authenticity of his work.

These applications have been scientifically tested and verified by Professor Alfonso Caycedo and collaborators for several years and have been described in many publications:

• In medical practice of course.
• In the training and competition of every sports.
• In the Prevention and Control of Stress and personal development as human beings living in society today because of the mass disease that attacks the human values which constitute the immune system of society, in the same way that AIDS attacks the immune system of humans.
• In personal development as strengthening and activation of positive structures of the human being.
• The vivantiel training of healthy people to enhance their capabilities and existential values .
• As vivantiel training since childhood to death, reinforcing the different stages of life.
• For managers and employees in different companies, factories, banks and industries.
• For capacity building to be such as memory, concentration, etc.
• For gerontological and memory training groups.
• In tobacco control and anti-drug control.
• In training groups of the army and high-risk groups.
• As individual or groups in collaboration with organizations of prevention own social major cities
  In large communities of the Third World, …

30-year-long study reveals long-term benefits of good glucose control

A 30-year-long study has revealed that many of the complications associated with type 2 diabetes are avoidable if patients manage to keep glucose levels under control from as soon as they are diagnosed with the disease.

Professor Rury Holman and colleagues at Oxford University found that improving blood glucose control as soon as possible after diagnosis reaps long-term benefits. Results of the study showed that early blood glucose control significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks and the risk of death from any cause, as well as reducing the risk of other complications of type 2 diabetes, such as kidney disease and eye disease.

“We now know not only that good glucose control from the time type 2 diabetes is diagnosed reduces the rate of diabetic complications but also that this early intervention leads to sustained benefits in the longer term – a legacy effect”, said Professor Holman in a press release issued by Oxford University. “These results emphasise the importance of detecting and treating diabetes at the earliest opportunity and the major benefits that can be obtained with good blood glucose control.”

Holman RR, Paul SK, Bethel MA, Matthews DR, Neil HAW. 10-Year Follow-up of Intensive Glucose Control in Type 2 Diabetes. NEJM. September 10, 2008 (10.1056/NEJMoa0806470).

Press release: 30-year study shows benefits of glucose control. University of Oxford website. September 10th 2008.

Olive Leaf Extract Can Help Tackle High Blood Pressure And Cholesterol

Taking 1000mg of a specific olive leaf extract (EFLA®943) can lower cholesterol and lower blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension (high blood pressure). These findings came from a ‘Twins’ trial, in which different treatments were given to identical twins. By doing this, researchers could increase the power of their data by eliminating some of the uncertainties caused by genetic variations between individual people.

The research is published in the latest edition of Phytotherapy Research.

To test this in humans, researchers from Switzerland and Germany conducted a pilot trial with 20 identical (monozygotic) twin pairs who had an increased blood pressure. Individuals were either given placebo capsules or capsules containing doses of 500mg or 1000mg of olive leaf extract EFLA®943. Pairs of twins were assigned to different treatments. After the subjects had taken the extract for eight weeks researchers measured blood pressures as well as collecting data about aspects of life-style.

“The study confirmed that olive leaf extract EFLA®943 has antihypertensive properties in humans,” says one of the co-authors, Cem Aydogan, General Manager, Frutarom Health.

“This works showed that taking a 1000mg dose has substantial effects in people with borderline hypertension,” says Aydogan.

Full citation: Perrinjaquet-Moccetti T, Busjahn A, Schmidlin C, Schmidt A, Bradl B, Aydogan C. Food Supplementation with and Olive (Olea europea L.) leaf extract reduces blood pressure in borderline hypertensive monozygotic twins. Phtotherapy research 2008; 22. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2455

From Medical News Today

I suppose that the leaf contains antioxidants like resveratrol in grappes. Now the case of an alcoholic extraction, may be it is in fact the action of alcohol and not the leaf!!!

Wait and see…

New Books Suggests ‘Nutraceuticals’ Could Prevent Diabetes

People at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes might be able to delay or prevent the disease by taking certain food supplements and making lifestyle changes, according to a new book by Dr. James W. Anderson, an internationally recognized authority on metabolic diseases and weight loss and professor emeritus of medicine and clinical nutrition at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic, and it is growing at an alarming rate. In 2006, the United Nations declared it an international health threat comparable to HIV/AIDS. However, emerging evidence suggests that risk of diabetes can be reduced by a combination of weight loss, exercise, dietary changes and the use of supplements called “nutraceuticals,” extracts of certain foods purported to have a physiological benefit or provide protection from disease.

Anderson’s book, “Nutraceuticals, Glycemic Health and Type 2 Diabetes,” provides an overview of glycemic health and highlights the use of nutraceuticals in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. Anderson identifies dietary fiber from whole grains as one of the strongest preventive measures for type 2 diabetes. The book also offers an in-depth discussion on certain minerals and herbs that assist in achieving tighter glycemic control.

Anderson collaborated with Vijai K.Pasupuleti, founder of SAI International – a firm engaged in research, consulting and marketing for nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and biotechnolgy companies – to summarize cutting-edge research from all over the world and assemble the outcomes. Thirty-five scientists from nine countries contributed 18 chapters presenting the latest findings on the role of nutrition in diabetes.

This emerging evidence will allow health care providers to offer the latest in nutrition guidance to patients with diabetes. It will encourage producers of foods and supplements to make active ingredients more widely available to consumers, and will enable self-directed individuals to make intelligent choices about nutrition supplements to prevent diabetes.

In the closing chapter Anderson provides practical guidelines based on his clinical experience, his research and the research presented in the book. He gives recommendations for specific amounts of minerals to slow progression of diabetes or reverse diabetes in its early stages. Over 100 herbal supplements are evaluated and 11 are assessed to be of potential value for treatment of early diabetes.

Anderson and his colleagues have been doing research on nutrition and diabetes for 35 years at UK and he has published over 100 research papers on this topic.

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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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I had the chance to listen several times in France Professor Anderson. To be more precise we must consume cinnamon, green Tea and take chromium. But of course you need to see a physician to do that.