EXTREMELY HIGH LEAD LEVELS IN USED CONSUMER PRODUCTS: A study has discovered a widespread problem with lead in used consumer products at levels that are far beyond even the most conservative
safe upper limits. Many recycled, used or older consumer products widely available for sale – such as jewelry, toys, kitchen utensils, window frames, shutters, common dishware, toy teapots, picture frames and home decor items – contain surface lead concentrations more than 700 times higher than the U.S. federal
limit. The researchers purchased the items from antique stores, second-hand shops and junk stores, testing for surface lead with a swab before buying. (Similar items are sold at flea markets.) They then used x-ray fluorescence to determine exact lead content, finding high levels in a number of diverse items. The amount of lead ranged from twice the federal limit in a metal ice cream scoop to 714 times the limit in a salt shaker lid. This study appears in the December, 2010 issue of the Journal of Environmental Health. It is available at http://bit.ly/dERJhL for purchase.

BLOOD SATURATION OF VITAMIN C MAY BE NEEDED TO AVOID SEVERE TISSUE DEFICIENCY: A study has determined that when ascorbate (vitamin C) levels in the blood of mice are below the saturation point, some body tissues can still be severely deficient in this vitamin, including tissues of the liver, kidney and heart. The
study compared tissue levels in lab mice with high, but not saturated, blood levels of ascorbate to tissue levels naturally found in “wild-type mice,” and found the lab mice tissues deficient. This suggests that even high dietary intakes and high blood levels of ascorbate can result in serious tissue shortages.
Also, the study found that consumption of fresh kiwifruit resulted in up to five times more effective delivery of vitamin C to tissues than from ingestion of ascorbate added to water. Although these results may have serious implications for human nutrition, it is important to remember that, so far, this research was conducted only on mice. This just-released study will not be published until a future issue of the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition. However, it is available online now at http://bit.ly/ffRRQQ with subscription or fee payment.

POLLUTANTS MAY INCREASE DIABETES AND OBESITY RISK: A study has found that early life exposure to pollutants leads to higher levels of glucose (blood sugar), greater insulin resistance, and increased inflammation – all risk factors for diabetes – and more abdominal fat, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. At least, that was the finding for mice exposed in early life, five days a week, to pollution seven times greater than ambient air in Columbus, Ohio. (With insulin resistance, insulin does not effectively transfer glucose from the blood into the tissues, where it is used for energy.) The study also found pollution
increased blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, an inflammatory protein. The extra fat produced among mice exposed to pollutants was both abdominal and subcutaneous (under the skin). The fine particulates to which the mice were exposed, mirroring pollution to which humans are exposed, were 2.5 micrometers or less in size, about 1/30th the width of the average human hair, allowing them to reach deep areas of the
lungs or other body organs. Human studies are planned. This study is published in the December, 2010 issue of the journal, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. It is available at http://bit.ly/gL4Pa0 without charge.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Red wine may be touted as beneficial for the heart. But in moderation, white wine may be more
effective at keeping lung tissues in good working order, according to a study presented May 20,
2002 at the 98th meeting of the American Thoracic Society in Atlanta. The lung benefit most
likely stems from the antioxidants in white wine, which counter the creation of harmful
molecules called free radicals that wreak havoc on lung tissues. Antioxidant-rich, fresh fruits and
vegetables have long been linked to improved lung function.

SURGERIES MAY BE SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN GLOBAL WARMING: A study has found that the inhalation anesthetic gases administered in
surgeries every day have a strong global warming potential,
furnishing an Earth-heating effect equivalent to that of a coalfired
power plant or one million passenger cars. And that is just
the effect of surgical gases used in the United States alone. All
three of the regularly used anesthetic gases – isoflurane,
desflurane and sevoflurane – have atmospheric warming effects
that are hundred times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2).
However, desflurane is the most harmful gas. One kilogram of
desflurane has the same environmental warming effect as 1,620
kilograms of CO2. The amount of gas involved in a single surgical
procedure is not high but the total number of surgeries worldwide
can have a significant environmental effect. The National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) collaborated with two
universities to conduct the study. This study is published in the
December, 2010 issue of British Journal of Anaesthesia and is now
available online at http://bit.ly/f4jtKi with subscription or
access fee.

EARLY PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR BACK PAIN PREVENTS LATER SURGERY,
DRUGS: A study has found that those who receive physical therapy
in the acute phase following an episode of lower back pain are
less likely to require medical services than those who seek
physical therapy after a delay. The medical treatments that those
receiving early physical therapy were less likely to need
included epidural steroid injections, lumbar surgery, or frequent
physician office visits. The window for more effective treatment
for low back pain appeared to be the acute phase, classed as
within four weeks; the sub-acute and chronic phases were classed
as four to 12 weeks, and three to 12 months, respectively. The
most common back conditions experienced by patients in the study
were nonspecific backache, sciatica, degenerative disk disease,
and spinal stenosis. Generalist practitioners under-recommend
physical therapies, and their treatment practices may need to
modified, suggested the researchers, who concluded this would cut
overall healthcare costs. Recently released by the journal Spine,
this study will be published in a future issue but is accessible
online now at http://bit.ly/enAMLZ with subscription or fee.

BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS LINKED TO PRENATAL CELL PHONE EXPOSURE: A
study has found that pregnant women who use mobile phones
regularly have a greater risk of having children with behavioral
problems; and children who also start using cell phones early
themselves slightly increase that risk. Children exposed to cell
phone radiation exclusively before birth were found to have a 40
percent higher risk of behavioral problems. Children exposed to
cell phones both before birth and up to age seven, were found to
have a 50 percent greater chance of behavioral problems. And
children who were exposed to cell phones only after birth were
found to have a 20 percent higher risk of behavioral problems.
This large epidemiological study confirmed the similar findings
of earlier research by the same group. Although the influence of
various other sociological factors was taken into account, this
link is not necessarily one of cause and effect. This study was
released December 7, 2010 and will be published in a future issue
of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. It is
available online now at http://bit.ly/i17Bvk with subscription or
access fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
It’s a myth that washing your hands or using an alcohol-based hand rub is largely ineffective
against superbugs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. While superbugs may be resistant to some
antibiotic drugs and therefore difficult to treat after infection, they are still susceptible to washing
prior to infection and are helpless against good hygiene.

SALT REDUCTION LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE IN DIABETICS: A study
concludes that substantially limiting salt (sodium) intake for
about a week lowers existing high blood pressure in both type 1
and type 2 diabetics, which in turn reduces other diabetic risks,
including stroke, heart attack and diabetic kidney disease. This
review noted that a daily salt reduction of 8.5 mg resulted in a
drop in blood pressure similar to that achieved with blood
pressure medications. (Diabetics are more likely to develop high
blood pressure.) The study team recommended that diabetics reduce
their salt intake to at least 5 to 6 grams a day – which is the
current guideline for the general population – and preferably
even lower. (Reducing salt intake can be challenging for anyone.
Few people are aware that the majority of salt intake comes from
processed foods, implying that the focus should be less on the
shaker and more on the supermarket and chain restaurant.) This
study was published in the December, 2010 issue of The Cochrane
Library. It can be read online now at http://bit.ly/gfQxAq with
subscription or fee.

THINKING ABOUT EATING A FOOD DECREASES APPETITE FOR IT: A study
with significant implications for traditional dieting wisdom has
found that imagining the consumption of foods seen as desirable
by a dieter reduce eventual consumption of those food items.
(Dieters have been advised for decades to distract themselves
from thoughts of eating in order to curb cravings.) While some
subjects were distracted, others repeatedly imagined eating, in
one case, 30 M&M candies one at a time; and still others imagined
a non-food topic. The group that visualized eating the 30 M&M
candies was found later to consume significantly less of these
items than the other groups. In later phases of this study, it
was discovered that only imagining actual consumption of a food
reduced later intake of that food; simply thinking about a food
was insufficient to produce this effect; and imagining the
consumption of a food different from the food later consumed also
had no significant effect. Other senses may drive the appetite
but imagining consumption substitutes for actual consumption,
concluded researchers. This study was released in the December
10, 2010 issue of the journal Science. A summary of this study
(and others), aimed at the general public, is available now at
http://bit.ly/egzh94 in an online podcast.

TWO OMEGA-3 FATS MAY ALLEVIATE DEPRESSION: A study concludes that
taking two omega-3 fatty acids together – eicosapentenoic acid
(EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) – has an antidepressant effect
that has not been recognized before, on those with clinical
depression. (Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are
essential to ingest because the body cannot synthesize them.
Greatest sources include cold water fatty fish, such as salmon,
tuna and halibut, and fish oil supplements.) Taking DHA alone had
no effect on depression but taking either EPA alone, or EPA and
DHA together, was linked to reduced depression. Also, results
showed no effect on mood or attitude in those without clinical
depression. Scientists should undertake a larger human trial to
study this effect further, suggested the study team leader, who
also stressed that patients should always talk to their
healthcare providers before taking omega-3 supplements to treat
depression. This study was presented in Miami Beach at the
American College of Neuropsychopharmacology’s annual meeting,
which ended December 9, 2010. It has not yet been published and
is not yet available online.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Exercising a specific area of the body will not remove flab from that area. Spot reducing is a
myth. Exercising your abdominal muscles, for instance, will strengthen and tone the muscles in
the abdomen. But those muscles are underneath the subcutaneous (just under the skin) layer of
fat you carry on your abdomen. Your muscles may be stronger but the fat hiding those muscles
will remain. So how do you drop the excess baggage from wherever you store it? Losing weight
is the only way to reduce fat. And although exercise can burn some calories, it will generate
hunger and a bigger gain can be made simply by using those muscles to push your body away
from the dinner table sooner.

POMEGRANATE JUICE MAY PREVENT CANCER FROM SPREADING WITHIN BODY:
In a study on lab-cultured cancer cells, researchers have that
found that components in pomegranate juice inhibit the migration
of cancer cells within the body, potentially leading to a new
treatment down the road. Cancer cells often metastasize – spread
- within the body by breaking away from the cancer location. But
pomegranate components increased cell adhesion, reducing the
breaking away of cells. They also discovered that pomegranate
components weaken the natural attraction that prostate cancer
cells have to a protein in bone marrow, which is how prostate
cancer cells spread to the bone. (The proteins and genes involved
in the movement of prostate cancer cells are essentially the same
as those involved in the metastasis of other cancers.) The
pomegranate components were identified as phenylpropanoids,
hydrobenzoic acids, flavones and conjugated fatty acids. Research
is still needed to see whether these pomegranate components have
the same effect on live subjects as on the lab culture and
without side effects. This study was presented in Philadelphia on
December 12, 2010 by Canadian researchers at the 50th annual
meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology but is not yet
published or available online.

LOW-SUGAR CEREALS INCREASE CHILDREN’S FRUIT CONSUMPTION: A study
has concluded that when children are served cereals containing
low levels of sugar, instead of high levels, they are more likely
to add fruit to their cereal. Both sugar and fruit were made
available along with their cereal. Children given low-sugar
cereal chose to eat substantially less cereal, more fruit and
less sugar. They also increased overall dietary nutrition.
Children reported that they liked or loved the cereal they were
served, whether they received the high- or low-sugar cereals.
Fifty-four percent of children given low-sugar cereal opted for
fruit as a topping compared with just eight percent of those
given high-sugar cereal. Researchers suggested that despite heavy
marketing of sugar-coated cereals at children, children can and
will make good nutritional decisions if they are given the
chance. This study was released December 13, 2010 by the journal
Pediatrics and is now available online at http://bit.ly/dQPyAy
without subscription or fee.
WINE WITH RICH MEALS SLOWS DIGESTION: Researchers have concluded
that drinking wine with calorie-rich meals retards the digestive
process; and wine was not associated with symptoms of
indigestion, such as bloating, heartburn or belching. (Slower
digestion of a high-calorie meal may help to prevent sudden, and
potentially unhealthy, spikes in blood sugar.) On two different
occasions, the same twenty participants consumed a meal of cheese
fondue along with either black tea or 300 ml of white wine. Each
time, established scientific breath tests conducted over a fourhour
period after meals supplied data about the effect of wine
consumption on digestion. The wine-drinking group showed a fifty
percent slower gastric emptying time; also, appetite level was
suppressed by a third among this group. A shot of cherry schnapps
after the meal reduced appetite, in this case for dessert.
However, drinking wine during this heavy meal did not generate
any indigestion symptoms. One problem with this study was the
inability to hide from participants, whether they were in the tea
or wine group. This study was published in the December 14, 2010
online edition of the British Medical Journal and is available
online now at http://bit.ly/hZ8KjM without subscription or fee.
OMEGA-3 FATS MAY HELP PREVENT AGE-RELATED MUSCLE LOSS: A study
has found that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids can
stimulate muscle synthesis in older adults, possibly preventing
or treating sarcopenia – the loss of muscle mass, strength and
function that occurs with aging. Sixteen, older, healthy
participants received either omega-3 supplements or corn oil for
eight weeks. The rate of the manufacture of muscle protein was
measured immediately after absorption and again during
hyperaminoacidemia-hyperinsulinemia – meaning when amino acids
and insulin levels are very high in the blood. Corn oil had no
effect on muscle production. The omega-3 oil had no postabsorptive
effect on muscle production either but boosted muscle
protein synthesis during these other times, when blood levels of
amino acids and insulin were high. Researchers concluded that
omega-3 fatty acid supplements may offset sarcopenia. This study
was small in size and changes in muscle size and strength were
not measured; further study would be helpful. This study was
released December 15, 2010 but will not appear in print until a
7
future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is
available online at http://bit.ly/gztTnh with fee payment or
subscription.
DID YOU KNOW…?
You should never ignore a fever just because it is not very high. Usually, even a low-grade fever
is a sign that your body is fighting an infection and needs rest. And if your fever is accompanied
by a cough or a rash or vomiting or diarrhea or a rash, your infection is likely contagious and can
be passed easily to others, especially those around you who are elderly or have weakened
immune systems. Ideally, you should stay home, isolate yourself and call your healthcare
provider for advice if symptoms are worrisome.

CHILDLESS COUPLES EAT HEALTHIER DIETS: One study suggests couples
with children have poorer diets; and a second found numerous
deaths could be prevented or delayed by adherence to dietary
guidelines. The first study concluded the presence of children in
a household leads to reduced demand for produce and meat, and
increased demand for cereals and potatoes. Childless couples
consumed two kilograms (4.4 pounds) more produce over two weeks
than households with children. The second study concluded five
portions of fruit and vegetables daily could prevent 15,000 UK
deaths annually – equivalent to 73,000 deaths in the US.
Following UK fiber, fat and salt recommendations could prevent
4,000; 7,000; and 7,500 UK deaths, respectively, annually -
equivalent to 19,500; 34,000; and 36,500 US deaths respectively.
UK recommendations include a minimum 440gm of produce and 18gm of
fiber; a maximum one-third of calories from fats, with saturated
fats comprising only ten percent of fats; and a maximum 6 gm of
salt. These recommendations could save 33,000 UK lives annually -
and 160,000 American lives. The first study appeared in the
December 2010 issue of the European Review of Agricultural
Economics and is available online at http://bit.ly/dP0cDo. The
second study, released December 15, 2010, will appear in a future
issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health and is
available online at http://bit.ly/g5Mf0q.
BEET JUICE LOWERS BLOOD PRESSURE AND OXYGEN NEEDS: Researchers
have concluded that a component of beetroot juice has a two-fold
effect on the body that may be especially beneficial to those
with heart or lung conditions. Previously, whole beetroot juice
caused a stir when it was shown to improve athletic performance
by 16 percent. But this new study concludes its benefits are not
limited to athletes and that a single component in the juice is
entirely responsible for these effects. For six days, some
participants consumed regular beetroot juice while others drank
juice from which the nitrates had been removed. Those drinking
the nitrates-containing juice experienced lower blood pressure
and a reduced need for oxygen when performing low-intensity
exercises such as walking. Nitrates widen blood vessels, lowering
blood pressure, and cause muscle tissues to work on a lower
amount of oxygen. The effort required to walk for instance, was
12 percent less and this effect could boost mobility and exercise
8
ability among the elderly or those with poor heart or lung
function. Released early, this study will appear in a future
issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology. It is now available
online at http://bit.ly/gsyKDF with subscription or access fee.
PHSYICAL ACTIVITY NO GREATER IN DEVELOPING VS DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES: A meta-analysis (where the data from many studies are
combined into one study) has found no difference between the
total energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity level (PAL)
each day of the average person in a developing country and the
daily TEE and PAL of the average individual in a developed
country. There are major implications for the apparent obesity
epidemic in the developed world. Previously, it was assumed that
people in more developed areas performed fewer physical tasks,
using far fewer calories due to a much smaller amount of
exercise, and that this partly explained the wholesale increase
in the number of overweight or obese individuals. However, this
study suggests that something other than reduced calorie
expenditure is at work in developed nations. It may be helpful if
researchers focused on cultural, physiological, psychological and
dietary differences to explain the obesity challenge. This study
was released December 15, 2010 but will not be published until a
future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is
now available online at http://bit.ly/i0DlHW with subscription or
access fee.

HIGHER OMEGA-3 DOSES STUDIED FOR CARDIOVASCULAR BENEFIT: Previous
research has linked the regular nutritional dosage of one gram a
day total of two omega-3 fatty acids – eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) – to a lower mortality rate
from cardiovascular problems. Some evidence has suggested higher
doses may help fight inflammation and have other cardiovascular
benefits. Now a study has assessed some effects of a daily dose
of 3.4 grams a day of omega-3 on healthy subjects with moderately
high triglycerides. Researchers found that, over eight weeks,
this pharmaceutical (higher) dosage does not fight inflammation,
lower cholesterol, or improve the function of endothelials (cells
lining the blood vessel) – but it does reduce triglyceride levels
by 27 percent. The lower gram per day dosage did not produce this
benefit. This study was released early by the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition but will not appear in print until a future
issue; it is available online now at http://bit.ly/haVsRp with
subscription or access fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Although people often blame a brief illness with nausea on the so-called, 24-hour stomach flu,
there is in fact, no such thing. If your stomach and digestive sickness passes in a day, you most
likely had a bout of plain-old, food poisoning, suggest the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The US government agency reported new food poisoning statistics in December 2010 in the
journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases, showing that 48 million Americans get sick each year
from foodborne diseases, caused by poor food handling at home and especially, in restaurants.
Of these, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 eventually die.

HIGH-PROTEIN DIET MAY CAUSE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: A study suggests
that a high-protein diet may boost blood pressure substantially,
as well as cause kidney damage. Researchers placed baby rats on
diets with high, medium or low levels of protein and when they
had matured to 5 to 12 weeks of age, also put them on a high salt
diet. Those fed the high-protein diet developed much higher blood
pressure levels, as well as greater urine albumin-to-creatinine
ratios. (A high albumin-to-creatinine ratio is an indicator of
possible kidney disease.) Also, immune factors known as
infiltrating T lymphocytes began to accumulate in the kidneys of
the rats on high-protein diets; and these T lymphocytes
diminished when an immune suppressing agent was administered. The
study team concluded that excessive protein may damage the
kidneys of rats; and that both high-salt and high-protein diets
result in high blood pressure. Further research would help
translate these findings to humans but this study raises concerns
about the high-protein Western diet and the prevalence of high
blood pressure. This study was released December 20, 2010 and
will be published in a future issue of the journal, Hypertension.
It is available online now at http://bit.ly/gOPEmq with fee or
subscription.

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE MAY HELP FIGHT ALS: A study has found
preliminary evidence that supplementing with spirulina may
protect dying motor neurons in mice with amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This may
translate into clinical benefits for humans. (Motor neurons are
nerve cells that control muscles. Spirulina are nutrient-rich
blue-green algae.) Earlier research suggests spirulina exerts
dual protection, reducing both oxidation and inflammation.
Current ALS treatments help relieve symptoms but previous studies
by this group and others, suggested the causes of ALS might be
treated by plant antioxidants, such as those in blueberries and
ginkgo. Spirulina contains several types of a potent antioxidant
group known as phycocyanins, as well as large amounts of betacarotene.
In the mouse study, spirulina reduced the death of
motor neurons, lessened indicators of inflammation, and delayed
the onset of ALS symptoms. Research on actual human motor neuron
counts, and on whether spirulina supplementation extends the
lifespan of human ALS patients, will determine its effectiveness
as an ALS therapy, the team concluded. This study was published
in the current issue of the Open Tissue Engineering and
Regenerative Medicine Journal. It is available online now at
http://bit.ly/hG8vWV without subscription or cost.

FRIED FISH LINKED TO RISK OF STROKE: A study has concluded that
the racial and geographical differences in the incidence of
strokes may be linked to the frying of fish. African-Americans,
as well as people living in the so-called stroke belt – an area
of the United States that reports a much higher rate of strokes –
have a much higher consumption of fried fish than Caucasians
living outside of the stroke belt. This may explain, in part,
their greater risk of stroke, researchers suggest. (The stroke
belt includes the states of North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, and
Louisiana. People living in the stroke belt are more likely to
die from a stroke than people living in other parts of the
country.) African-Americans were more than three-and-a-half times
more likely to eat two or more servings of fried fish per week
than Caucasians. Studies have shown that the beneficial omega-3
fatty acids in fish, especially in fatty fish, may reduce the
risk of stroke; but research also has shown that frying fish
leads to the loss of the natural fatty acids. This study was
released December 22, 2010 but will not be published until a
future issue of the journal, Neurology. It is available online
now at http://bit.ly/dOU4KQ with subscription or access fee.

VEGETARIAN DIET CUTS ADVERSE EFFECTS OF KIDNEY DISEASE: A study
has found that the source of protein is important in the diets of
kidney disease patients and that a vegetarian diet can reduce the
phosphorus-caused risk of heart disease and death in these
patients. The systems of people with kidney disease cannot
adequately get rid of phosphorus, a mineral found in dietary
proteins and also used as a food additive. As a result, kidney
patients must struggle to navigate low-phosphorus diets to avoid
developing toxic levels of this mineral. Phosphorus levels were
measured in kidney disease patients during a vegetarian diet and
during a meat-based diet. Protein and phosphorus intakes were
equal in each diet; but blood and urine levels of phosphorus in
patients on vegetarian diets were lower than when they were on a
meat-based diet. The reason for the reduction was not clear but
researchers concluded that it may prove beneficial to advise
kidney disease patients to consume grain-based vegetarian sources
of protein instead of meat. This study was released December 23,
2010 but will not be published until a future issue of the
Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology. It is
available online now at http://bit.ly/gL9Chn with subscription or
access fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Exercise is not a miracle weight-loss solution. People assume exercising drops pounds quickly
by burning up calories but in fact, very few calories are burned. For instance, running a mile will
use up about 100 calories but just sitting on the sofa for the same length of time will burn about
60 calories. But if you say no to just one buttered bagel, you save yourself 495 calories. That
does not mean dieters should skip exercise because it helps ensure that more of the calories you
lose will be in the form of fat instead of lean tissue. Also, exercise reduces the risk of diabetes by
increasing the ability of insulin to enter cells; and exercise lowers the risk of heart disease by
improving blood clotting mechanisms and lowering triglycerides.

GREEN LEAFIES AND OLIVE OIL REDUCE CARDIOVASCULAR RISK:
Researchers have found that higher consumption of leafy
vegetables and olive oil may reduce the risk of cardiovascular
disease. Only women participated in the eight-year study, which
was designed to rule out any interference in the outcome from
specific other factors, such as alcohol consumption, smoking,
high blood pressure, education, menopause, physical activity, and
body type. Cardiovascular events were reduced by almost half,
among women who consumed the greatest amount of leafy vegetables,
as well as among those who consumed the most olive oil. A higher
fruit intake showed no effect on cardiovascular risk. Recently
released, this study will be published in a future issue of the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is available online
now at http://bit.ly/fKsJrN with subscription or payment of an
article access fee.

VITAMIN E AND SELENIUM SUFFICIENCY INHIBITS ESOPHAGEAL CANCER: A
new study on rats shows that supplementation that treats vitamin
E and selenium deficiencies can inhibit a specific type of
esophageal cancer and increase survival rates, if started before
late stages. This echoes the results of a previous trial on
humans, reporting fewer deaths from esophageal squamous cell
carcinoma, or ESCC, among younger patients who received vitamin E
and selenium supplementation but not among older patients. In the
rat study, some subjects were deprived of adequate dietary
selenium and vitamin E. Then, ESCC was inhibited in various ways
by maintaining regular levels of vitamin E and selenium during
early disease stages. The multiplication of esophageal cancer
cells decreased; the creation of new blood vessels to feed
esophageal tumors was reduced; and the activities of various
enzymes associated with inflammation and tumor creation were
lowered. It is important to note that this effect stemmed from
supplementation of vitamin E and selenium to maintain normal
levels and not from mega-dosages. This study was released
December 24, 2010 and will be published in a future issue of the
journal, Carcinogenesis. It can be accessed online now at
http://bit.ly/eOjtLn with subscription or fee payment.

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN NEWBORNS LINKED TO RESPIRATORY
INFECTIONS: Babies born with a vitamin D deficiency have a
greater risk of developing respiratory infections during infancy,
and experiencing wheezing during early childhood, a new study
suggests. Previous studies found that the infants of mothers who
took vitamin D supplements during pregnancy were less likely to
experience wheezing during childhood but this would not predict
accurately, the actual blood levels of newborns. (Wheezing can be
a symptom of many respiratory infections and not just asthma.)
The new study examined actual blood levels of vitamin D in
newborns by testing umbilical cord blood samples. Researchers
found a reduced wheezing incidence among infants whose umbilical
cord showed sufficient vitamin D levels. Vitamin D has been
associated traditionally with bone development but newer research
suggests a role for this sunshine vitamin in the immune system.
This study was posted online at http://bit.ly/dMoFA0 on December
27, 2010 by the journal, Pediatrics, but will not be published
until a future print issue. Online access requires subscription
or fee payment.

MEDITERRANEAN DIET MAY SLOW COGNITIVE DECLINE: New research
suggests that older adults who adhere most closely to the socalled
Mediterranean diet may experience a slower rate of ageassociated
cognitive decline. Subjects were classified according
to their adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and to the
Healthy Eating Index-2005 (HEI-2005). (The MD is a dietary
pattern abundant in olive oil, vegetables, fruits and legumes;
moderate in poultry, dairy and fish; and low in red meat and
animal fat. The HEI-2005 is a measure of diet quality used to
assess compliance with the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans.)
Researchers noted that black participants scored higher in
adherence to the HEI-2005, while whites scored higher in
adherence to the MD. Adjustments were made to eliminate the
influence of potentially confounding factors, such as age, sex,
race, education, and participation in cognitive activities. Over
a 7.6 year period, those who most closely followed the MD showed
slower rates of cognitive decline. However, adherence to the HEI-
2005 showed no link to cognitive decline. This study was released
early by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and will not
be published until a future issue. It can be read online now at
http://bit.ly/fGFEfH with subscription or fee payment

FISH CONSUMPTION MAY REDUCE STROKE RISK: A new study has helped
resolve the apparent contradictions in previous research on the
link between increased consumption of fish and the risk of
stroke. Researchers found that the overall incidence of stroke
was lower among women who consumed the greatest amount of lean
fish. The women were free of any indications of cardiovascular
risk or cancer at the outset of the study. Fatty cold-water fish
are known for their high content of omega-3 fatty acids, which
are linked to cardiovascular benefits; but this study found an
overall protection against stroke only with lean fish. The total
risk of stroke was reduced about 15 percent among those who ate
more than three servings of lean fish per week, although the
risks of two types of stroke – hemorrhagic stroke and cerebral
infarction – were not lowered. This study was released December
29, 2010 by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and will
be published in a future issue. It can be read online now at
http://bit.ly/gagulw with subscription or fee payment.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Allergies are less common in children exposed during infancy to farm animals and bacteria. In
fact, children of mothers who were exposed during pregnancy to cats or farm animals are born
with an immune system protection against atopic dermatitis, reports a study released November
26, 2010 by the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology. (Atopic dermatitis is an itchy and
painful skin rash caused by an inherited hypersensitivity to allergens.) These facts reinforce the
well-accepted hygiene hypothesis, which suggests that the modern-day obsession with sanitized
environments, and early-life protection against bacteria, deprives a child’s immature and stilldeveloping
immune system from experiencing an appropriate level of bacterial exposure. This
may cause immune system over-reactions, or autoimmune disorders, throughout life.

FIVE FOODS ACCOUNT FOR A THIRD OF SODIUM INTAKE: A large analysis
of the sodium content of foods purchased has found that five food
categories taken together account for over a third of all sodium
consumption. The study assessed 44, 372 food products purchased
by 21,108 UK households to determine the key sodium contributors.
Bacon, bread, milk, cheese and sauces account for a total 37
percent of sodium intake. Table salt and processed meats
contribute 23 and 18 percent of sodium consumption, respectively.
Bread and bakery products account for a significant 13 percent,
while dairy products contribute 12 percent. Sauces and spreads
alone represent 11 percent of sodium intake. The researchers
concluded that targeting sodium reduction in a small number of
foods would lead to large decreases in the sodium available for
consumption. This study, along with a chart of the sodium content
of the main contributing foods, has been made available online at
http://bit.ly/i0egpd by the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition, although the study will not appear in print until a
future issue of the journal.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Drinking too much water in a short period of time can cause hyponatremia, which can be fatal,
especially if it occurs within 48 hours after heavy exercise. Some marathon runners have died
after downing very large amounts of water immediately after a race. Hyponatremia involves low
sodium levels and water-induced swelling of cells; while most body cells can withstand this,
brain cells cannot. Symptoms of hyponatremia include vomiting, loss of appetite, headache,
restless fatigue, abnormal mental status (such as hallucinations or confusion), muscle weakness
and even convulsions. Often people are advised simply to consume lots of water or specific
volumes per day; however, research shows thirst is your best guide to how much to drink; and
water intake after heavy exercise and sweating should be moderate.

PHYSICAL FITNESS CUTS FREQUENCIES OF COLDS, URTIs: A study has
found that those who get aerobic exercise more often have a
reduced frequency of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs),
such as colds. The effect also was seen in those who perceive
themselves as physically fit; the severity of cold symptoms was
41 percent less for those who believed they were fit and 31
percent reduced for those who were, in fact, the most active. The
total number of days with cold symptoms was about half for those
who reported getting aerobic activity five days a week or more,
compared to those with the most sedentary lifestyles. Researchers
speculate that the effect works this way: bouts of aerobic
exercise boost immune system cells but they fall back a few hours
later; but each exercise round may increase surveillance by the
immune system, of harmful viruses and bacteria. Regardless of
exercise, honorable mention for getting fewer URTIs went to those
who were male, older and married. This study was released
November 1, 2010 and will be published in a future issue of the
British Journal of Sports Medicine. It can be read online now at
http://bit.ly/cJ4bSB but this requires a subscription or payment.

BLACK RASPBERRIES CUT COLON CANCER RISK: A study has concluded
that consumption of black raspberries is highly effective in
reducing the risk of colorectal cancer. In a mouse study,
researchers fed two groups a Western-style diet (high in fat and
low in calcium and vitamin D). They then altered the diet of the
test group so that 10 percent of its food intake was comprised of
freeze-dried black raspberry powder, which continued for 12
weeks. In the test group, the raspberry supplement produced a
broad range of protective effects in the intestine, colon and
rectum, and inhibited tumor formation. The black raspberries
inhibited tumor development by suppressing a protein, known as
beta-catenin. Tumor incidence was reduced by 45 percent and the
number of individual tumors was reduced by 60 percent. Because
black raspberries also reduce inflammation, this food may also
help prevent a variety of inflammatory diseases, including heart
disease. This study was released November 2, 2010 by the journal,
Cancer Prevention Research. Although it will not be published in
the journal until a future issue, it is available online now at
http://bit.ly/cPTaWC for subscribers or those who pay the fee.

FURTHER EVIDENCE OF RESVERATROL’S CANCER PREVENTIVE EFFECT: A
study has found further evidence that resveratrol contributes to
cancer chemopreventive activity (helps prevent cancer). In
previous research on rodents, this polyphenol found in plants,
notably in red grape skins and wine, has been shown to reduce
levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a hormone similar
to insulin. Researchers studied 40 human volunteers to assess
effects of repeated dosing with resveratrol on two hormones: IGF-
1 and IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). A reduction in these
factors is associated with anticancer activity. Subjects ingested
resveratrol for 29 days, in dosages of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0
grams. There was a decrease for all volunteers in circulating
IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 hormones but the greatest decrease was noted
for those on 2.5 grams a day. Also, resveratrol was found to be
safe, except that the higher dosages (2.5 and 5.0 grams) caused
mild to moderate gastrointestinal problems. The study team
concluded high resveratrol dosing contributes to cancer
preventive activity in humans. This study was released November
2, 2010 by the journal, Cancer Research but will not be published
until a future issue. It can be read online now at
http://bit.ly/dyDfqs with subscription or fee payment.

DID YOU KNOW…?
As many as twenty to fifty percent of all recurrent cases of anaphylaxis – a severe, all-body,
allergic reaction – may be caused by an allergy that was only uncovered in 2009: an allergy to
meat. This diagnosis may go undetected because a meat allergy typically develops only in
adulthood and only causes allergic symptoms three to six hours after meat consumption. Most
allergies are a reaction to proteins but meat allergy has been found to be a reaction to a meat
sugar, called galactose-a-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), which is found in beef, lamb, pork and other
mammalian meat. The delayed reaction usually begins as skin itching and progresses from there.
It should be noted that chickens and turkeys are not mammals.

VITAMIN D LINKED WITH REDUCED SYMPTOMS IN MS PATIENTS:
Associations between vitamin D and brain tissues in multiple
sclerosis (MS) patients have not been investigated previously.
But a new study has found that vitamin D metabolites (the
products of vitamin D metabolism) have a protective effect
against the degree of both disability and brain atrophy in MS
patients. For 193 MS patients, researchers determined brain
tissue injury using MRI scans; assessed degree of clinical
disability using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and
the MS Severity Scale (MSSS); and measured blood levels of
vitamin D metabolites. (The metabolites measured were 25-
hydroxyvitamin D3; 25-hydroxyvitamin D2; 1•, 25-dihydroxyvitamin
D3; and 24(R), 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.) The study team concluded
that higher levels of vitamin D metabolites in the blood provide
protection against brain atrophy and disability in MS patients.
(In particular, the study found strongest protection with the
metabolite 24, 25(OH)2VD3.) Although further study is needed, the
outcome suggests that higher vitamin D intake reduces MS symptoms
and progression. This study was released November 3, 2010 by the
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry with Practical
Neurology but it will not be published until a future issue of
the journal. It is available online at http://bit.ly/9hdQR0 with
subscription or fee payment.

VITAMIN D SUFFICIENCY CUTS LEUKEMIA (CLL) MORTALITY BY HALF: A
deficiency of vitamin D has been linked previously to a higher
risk of cancer generally but studies have never looked at the
vitamin’s relation to leukemia. Now, a study has concluded that
patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who had
sufficient levels of vitamin D at the time of initial diagnosis,
experienced slower progression of the disease and were about half
a likely to die from it. Researchers also found that increasing
vitamin D levels in CLL patients produced longer survival times;
and decreasing vitamin D levels resulted in shorter intervals
between diagnosis and cancer progression. CLL is normally a
slower progressing cancer and typically, treatment for CLL
patients, even they are diagnosed at an early stage, is not
initiated until symptoms develop, leaving patients feeling there
is nothing they can do. Further studies may prove that the
patients can use this period to boost their levels of vitamin D
and have levels monitored by their health practitioner. Vitamin D
is available from sunlight, certain foods such as fatty fish and
eggs, and from supplements. This study was released November 3,
2010 but will not be published until a future issue of the
journal, Blood. It is available online at http://bit.ly/cqyfP6
with subscription or fee payment.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Going outside in cold weather with wet hair, or without a coat, won’t increase your risk of
catching cold or any other infection. The risk of getting a cold has nothing to do with actually
being cold. In a number of studies of cold transmission, people who were chilled were no more
likely to get sick than those who were not. So why do we get more colds in the winter? Cold
weather means we spend much longer periods of time indoors, around others, where viruses are
more likely to catch up with us.

SAFETY OF DIETARY CHOLESTEROL QUESTIONED: Increasingly, people
view dietary sources of cholesterol, such as eggs, as harmless.
But a study suggests cholesterol-rich foods should be eaten
rarely, especially patients at risk of cardiovascular disease.
Research had shown moderate egg consumption to have little effect
on fasting cholesterol, indicating low risk. However, this new
review found long-term risks from mealtime increases in
cholesterol, saturated fats, oxidative stress and inflammation,
following cholesterol consumption. After meals, dietary
cholesterol increases susceptibility of LDL (bad cholesterol) to
oxidation, raises post-meal blood fats, and increases the adverse
effects of dietary saturated fat. Moreover, diabetics who
consumed one egg a day doubled their risk compared to those who
ate less than one egg weekly. Researchers confirmed earlier
recommendations that dietary cholesterol be limited to 200mg a
day, pointing out that a single large egg yolk contains 275mg of
cholesterol, 125mg more than a KFC Double Down. Researchers
suggested that eliminating egg yolks from the diet after a
serious stroke or heart attack is akin to quitting smoking after
getting lung cancer. The study was published in the November,
2010 issue of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology and is available
online free at http://bit.ly/dveu1A.

SMOKING INCREASES RISK OF FATAL BREAST CANCER: A study has
clarified a link between smoking and breast cancer that is
independent of socioeconomic, clinical and lifestyle factors.
Women who are current smokers, or who have a history of smoking,
have a greater risk of breast cancer progression and a 39 percent
higher rate of dying from breast cancer. Smoking has been linked
strongly to lung cancer and several other cancers but the
association with breast cancer has been unclear. Smokers, or
previous smokers, who were diagnosed with breast cancer also
showed double the risk of subsequently dying from non-breastcancer-
related causes compared to women with the disease who had
never smoked. The nine year study enrolled 2,265 multi-ethnic
women. The researchers presented their findings on November 8,
2010 at the ninth annual Frontiers in Cancer Research hosted by
the American Association for Cancer Research, in Philadelphia. It
has not yet been published in any of the association’s seven
journals and it is not available online.

TAI CHI RELIEVES ARTHRITIS PAIN: The largest study to date on the
Arthritis Foundation’s Tai Chi program has found that
participants – including those with rheumatoid arthritis,
osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia – showed moderate improvement in
pain, fatigue, stiffness and well-being. While some received no
tai chi intervention, others took the eight-week, twice-weekly
tai chi course. All were assessed after the eight weeks by
physical measures, such as walking speed and balance testing, as
well as by self-reported differences. Individuals were recruited
from urban and rural areas and from a southeastern state, North
Carolina, and a northeastern state, New Jersey. Participants were
included even if they were unable to stand so long as they could
perform tai chi movements. Results proved consistent across these
different groups. This study was presented November 8, 2010 at
the annual scientific meeting of the American College of
Rheumatology in Atlanta. It has not yet been reported in a
journal and is not available online.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Medical negligence is responsible for up to 98,000 deaths each year in the United States. A study
in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2003, as well as a 1999 report
from the prestigious Institute of Medicine, supported this figure. Another study by HealthGrades
Patient Safety in American Hospitals put the figure at 198,000 a year. However, some
researchers questioned the legitimacy of these statistics because they are based on subjective
judgments about how many patients victimized by medical negligence would have survived if
optimal care had been provided. Or as the subtitle of a 2001 study in the JAMA put it,
“Preventability is in the eye of the reviewer.”

LOWER FOLATE LEVELS LINKED TO AN INCREASED RISK OF DEPRESSION: A
study has found that boosting folate, or folic acid, intake
should be considered as a means to ward off the onset of clinical
depression. The study looked at depressive symptoms as measured
by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and at blood levels of
folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine for 2,524 adults aged 20 to
85 years. Overall, women showed a higher score than men on the
PHQ, indicating a greater incidence of depression. Also, blood
levels of vitamin B12 and homocysteine showed no apparent
association with depression generally, although older adults did
show a higher risk of depression if they had higher homocysteine
levels. However, people in the lowest third of blood levels of
folate, compared with those in the highest third of folate
status, showed a 37 percent greater risk of having significant
depression symptoms (having a higher PHQ score). The researchers
concluded that mental health outcomes might be improved if health
practitioners took into account the dietary and supplement
folate, or folic acid, intake of patients. The study was
published in the November/December 2010 issue of Psychosomatic
Medicine, Journal of Biobehavioral Medicine. It is available
online at http://bit.ly/9IrbXc with subscription or access fee.

BRAIN CHEMICAL MAY BE BEHIND MOOD BENEFITS OF YOGA: Research has
suggested that yoga has a greater effect on mood and anxiety
levels than walking and other forms of exercise. But the
mechanism for this effect has been unclear. However, a new 12-
week study ties together, on the one hand, the yoga-induced
increase in the thalamus, of the antidepressant, nerveregulating,
brain chemical known as GABA; and on other hand, and
the effect of improved mood and lessened anxiety. GABA activity
often is reduced in patients with mood or anxiety disorders and
drugs commonly are prescribed to increase GABA levels and treat
these conditions. Yoga postures appear to have the same
therapeutic effect as GABA activity-boosting medications but
without any negative side effects. This may provide an objective
basis for yoga’s effect but the study team wrote that “the
possible role of GABA in mediating the beneficial effects of yoga
on mood and anxiety warrants further study.” This study was
published in the November, 2010 issue of the Journal of
Alternative and Complementary Medicine and is available online at
http://bit.ly/aLU3WU without subscription or fee.

DHA IMPROVES AGE-RELATED COGNITIVE DECLINE: A new, six-month
study has found that the omega-3 fatty acid called
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves learning and memory function
in healthy, older adults with age-related cognitive decline
(ARCD). Fish oils are rich in DHA, which is the most abundant
omega-3 fat in the human brain and retina. In previous research,
higher DHA intake has been associated with a reduced risk of
Alzheimer’s disease. This study – which was reported in the
November 2010 issue of the journal, Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The
Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association – underscores the
importance of early intervention with DHA. Another study –
reported in the November 3, 2010 issue of the Journal of the
American Medical Association (JAMA) – found DHA did not improve
cognitive function in those already diagnosed with mild to
moderate Alzheimer’s disease. But researchers behind the
Alzheimer’s & Dementia study concluded that the key benefit may
be seen only when DHA is taken over time and before Alzheimer’s
has developed; and the lead author of the JAMA study suggested
results may have been different if DHA had been administered
before the disease had progressed. The Alzheimer’s & Dementia
study is available online now at http://bit.ly/9Y556k with
subscription or fee payment.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Yogurt might be a factor in reducing bladder cancer risks by up to 40 percent. According to a
study published in the October, 2008 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, those
who consume two yogurt pots or yogurt mini drinks a day are less likely to develop bladder
cancer than those that eat no or little yogurt. It is important to keep in mind that this association
may be due to other unseen factors and is not necessarily one of cause and effect.

POOR OR INSUFFICIENT SLEEP INCREASES HEART RISK: Researchers have
found that insufficient or poor-quality sleep causes higher
levels of inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a risk factor
for heart disease and stroke. The study team recorded sleep
quality, using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index survey, as well
as the number of hours of sleep. Subjects regularly getting fewer
than six hours of sleep, as well as those regularly getting a
poor quality of sleep, had higher levels of three inflammation
markers: fibrinogen, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). People in
the highest third of CRP levels have been shown to have roughly
twice the risk of heart attack, compared to those with lower
levels, according to the American Heart Association and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous studies have
shown that people getting between seven and eight hours of sleep
live longer, while those getting more than eight, or less than
seven, are more likely to have high blood pressure, obesity, or
psychological stress. Inflammation may be the mechanism by which
poor sleep quality increases heart disease and stroke risk. This
study was presented in Chicago on November 14, 2010 at the
Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association. It has not
yet been journal-published.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS CAUSE THREE PERCENT OF ROAD CRASHES: A study
examining at-fault statistics from car accidents in France has
found that, over an almost-three-year period, prescribed
medicines played a role in 3.3 percent of all crashes. France has
a drug-risk classification system that assigns a risk number to
all drugs, based on each medicine’s odds of negatively affecting
driving ability. The classification numbers run from level zero,
meaning no driving risk, to level 3, which represents a major
risk. The study found that the risk of being the cause of an auto
accident was 31 percent greater for those taking level 2 drugs,
and 25 percent higher for level 3 drugs, while level zero drug
users showed no increased risk. This shows that the system is a
fairly accurate means of predicting driving risk. It also
clarifies the overall proportion of accidents caused by
prescription drugs: a significant three percent. The study
authors suggested that if any new warning label system is
instituted, a follow-up study should be done to confirm its
overall effect on outcomes. (Roughly 1.3 million people die in
road accidents each year, worldwide.) Published November 16, 2010
by the journal PLoS Medicine, this study is available online at
http://bit.ly/a1aiFS, free of charge.

DID YOU KNOW…?
A study found that copper fittings – copper door handles, door push plates, taps, light switches
and even toilet seats – rapidly kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as the super-bugs MSRA
(methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) and C. difficile, which resist the strongest
disinfectants and antibiotics. Copper surfaces tested in a hospital setting remained germ-free
even after many days of public touching, while steel fixtures did not have this effect. Lab tests
confirm that copper kills the deadly MRSA and C. difficile super-bugs, the flu virus, E. coli, and
other germs. Copper ions separate on contact with bacteria and it is believed the metal ions
suffocate germs, preventing them from breathing. Also, copper ions can stop bacteria from
feeding and may destroy their DNA. The copper-fixture study was announced at a US
conference on antibiotics in November, 2008.

PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO NICOTINE AFFECTS NEWBORNS: A new study may
explain why children born to mothers who smoke have a greater
risk of learning disabilities. Unborn babies exposed to nicotine,
cocaine, or other addictive drugs, end up with a decreased number
of cells in the hippocampus, a brain area important in learning
and memory. These findings further suggest that pregnant women
should seek help in refraining from smoking very early in
pregnancy, as well as avoiding other addictive drugs. A second
study points to an increased risk of drug dependency among
children who suffered brain inflammation very early in life.
Brain inflammation is most often due to head injury or a viral
infection, such as encephalitis or meningitis. Such inflammation
early in life, suggests this study, may lead to long-lasting
changes to the brain’s reward system that increase the risk of
developing drug addiction during adulthood. Both of these studies
were presented in San Diego on November 17, 2010 at Neuroscience
2010, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Neither
study has been published in a journal yet; so far, neither is
available online.

DIM LIGHT AT NIGHT LINKED TO DEPRESSION: Researchers have found
that exposure to even a dim light while sleeping is sufficient to
cause physical changes in an area of the brain that is associated
with clinical depression. This is the first study to find that
light at night, by itself, leads to a lower density of dendritic
spines in the hippocampus region of the brain. (Dendritic spines
are hair-like growths on brain cells, which are used to send
chemical messages from one cell to another.) One previous study
found that bright light during sleep periods causes depressive
symptoms and another found light at night is linked to weight
gain. But the new study focused on the dim light of 5 lux, which
is similar to a switched-on television in an otherwise darkened
room. The researchers speculate that exposure to light during
sleep suppresses secretion of melatonin, the hormone that lets
the body know when it is nighttime. This study was presented
November 17, 2010 in San Diego at the annual meeting of the
Society for Neuroscience. It has not yet been published in a
journal and is not yet available online.

POMEGRANATE JUICE FIGHTS CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, INFECTION: A new
study has concluded that drinking pomegranate juice three times
daily for one year reduces the incidence of infections,
inflammation, and oxidative stress in chronic kidney disease
dialysis patients. (Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the
production of chemically-reactive molecules containing oxygen and
the body’s ability to detoxify them; oxidation is implicated in
numerous diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and heart
failure.) This means that pomegranate juice wards off a number of
common complications of kidney dialysis, including a higher
mortality rate due to infections and cardiovascular disease.
(Cardiovascular disease can result from inflammation.) These
findings support other studies that found pomegranate juice has a
potent antioxidant effect. Pomegranate juice consumption could
produce similar benefits in people with healthy kidneys but
further research would be required. The study team stressed the
need to monitor potassium levels in any juice taken by kidney
patients, especially those with dietary potassium restrictions.
This study was presented in Denver on the evening of November 18,
2010 at the 43rd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition of the
American Society of Nephrology. It has not yet been published and
is not available online.

DID YOU KNOW…?
All potatoes contain a toxic substance, called glycoalkaloid (GA). When given to animals in
large quantities, GA causes cancer. But don’t throw out that sack of spuds. In the quantities we
encounter in taters, GA is harmless. In fact, some of the health benefits from produce are
believed to come from the plants own toxins, which also act as natural, built-in pesticides.

HIGH-SODIUM DIET LINKED TO ACUTE HEART FAILURE: For the first
time, a study has found that, among heart failure patients who
are capable of walking, those in the upper third of sodium intake
experienced a 46 percent greater risk over three years, of
developing acute decompensated heart failure, or ADHF. (ADHF
occurs when a stable heart failure condition deteriorates as a
result of an added stress such that the body can no longer
compensate for its heart-related deficiencies.) The average
sodium intakes for each third were 1.4gm, 2.4gm, and 3.8gm of
sodium per day; the cumulative three-year rates of ADHF for these
groups were 12, 15 and 46 percent for the low, medium and high
sodium consumption groups, respectively. The highest sodium group
also exhibited a 39 percent greater chance of hospitalization for
whatever reason, and 3.5 times the odds of dying. The study
authors called for more stringent sodium intake guidelines than
those currently recommended for heart failure patients. This
study was released November 17, 2010 but will not be published
until a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition. It is available to read online at http://bit.ly/cOxMvB
with subscription or fee payment.

HIGH-PRODUCE DIET CAN IMPROVE KIDNEY FUNCTION: In kidney
patients, the Western diet produces an acidic environment, which
has numerous negative effects that worsen with age and kidney
functional decline. A new study has concluded that adhering to a
diet high in fruits and vegetables, which counteracts this
acidity, improves kidney function in patients with moderately
reduced kidney function due to high blood pressure. Thirty days
on a high-produce diet resulted in lower levels, in the urine, of
three common indicators of kidney injury, which are known as
albumin, transforming growth factor, and N-acetyl-beta-Dglucosaminidase.
Researchers suggested that further studies be
conducted to determine whether a diet high in fruits and
vegetables could be a relatively inexpensive and natural
intervention to prevent the worsening of kidney function in
patients with high-blood-pressure-associated kidney disease. This
study was presented November 20, 2010 in Denver at Renal Week
2010, a conference of the American Society of Nephrology. It has
not yet been published in a journal and is not yet available
online.

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY EFFECTIVELY MANAGES DIABETES 1 AND 2: A new
review has concluded that medical nutrition therapy “is an
effective and essential therapy in the management of diabetes”
types 1 and 2. (The study looked specifically at the American
Dietetic Association Nutrition Practice Guidelines for Type 1 and
Type 2 Diabetes in Adults, as being representative of nutritional
therapy for diabetes.) Researchers assessed nutritional therapies
for diabetes in terms of various factors: carbohydrates (intake,
sucrose, non-nutritive sweeteners, glycemic index, and fiber),
protein intake, cardiovascular disease, and weight management.
Evidence was strong, wrote the study authors, that attention to
these factors results in effective diabetes management. Also, the
researchers suggested that practitioners should recommend to
patients: consistency in daily carbohydrate intake for type 2
diabetes; adjusting insulin to match carbohydrate intake for type
1 diabetes; focusing on total carbohydrate intake rather than the
type of carbohydrate; cardio protective nutrition interventions;
weight management strategies; regular physical activity; and
self-monitoring of glucose to determine if goals are being met.
This study will be published in the December 2010 issue of the
Journal of the American Dietetic Association. By December, it
will be available at the journal site at
http://www.adajournal.org/ with subscription or fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Popcorn contains surprisingly large amounts of polyphenols, which are healthful antioxidants.
And so do some breakfast cereals. Many people are aware of the high fiber content of whole
grain snacks, such as popcorn and some cereals, but few are aware of their high levels of
polyphenols, which can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and other disorders. A study
finding high polyphenol levels in these foods was presented August 19, 2009 in Washington,
DC, by scientists at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

SMOKING INCREASES ARTHRITIS RISK: Researchers have concluded that
cigarette smoking doubles the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA),
at least among African-Americans. Both current and previous
smokers are at greater risk. Also, smokers who have a genetic
risk factor for RA – because they have the genetic factor known
as “HLA-DRB1 shared epitope” – are four times as likely to
develop the autoimmune disease. (RA is a chronic inflammatory
disease that affects the joint lining, called the synovial
membrane, and causes pain, swelling and redness in the joints.
Seventy percent of those diagnosed with RA are women.) Heavy
smoking was found in 54 percent of RA patients. These findings
are generally consistent with previous studies suggesting a link
between smoking and rheumatoid arthritis. However, this study
specifically shows the link also applies to African-Americans and
to what extent. This study will be published in the December 2010
issue of the journal, Arthritis & Rheumatism. It will be
available online in December at the journal website at
http://bit.ly/ikiA85 with subscription or access fee payment.

SOME FLAVONOID TYPES LOWER HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE RISK: A large, 14-
year study has found that regular intake of anthocyanins and some
flavones, including apigenin, may help to prevent hypertension,
or high blood pressure. (Anthocyanins are flavonoid pigments
found in abundance in red or purplish fruits and vegetables,
including purple cabbage, beets, blueberries, cherries,
raspberries, strawberries and purple grapes. Flavones are yellow
pigments mainly found in cereals and herbs. Apigenin is a citrus
bioflavonoid, found in citrus fruits such as oranges and
grapefruit.) The reduction in high blood risk varied from six
percent to 12 percent depending on the specific anthocyanin or
flavone. These compounds appeared to exert a protective effect,
among individuals who habitually ingested them, against
hypertension through their ability to dilate arteries. This study
was released November 24, 2010 by the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition but will not be published until a future issue
of the journal. It is available now online at
http://bit.ly/eZrseJ with journal subscription or access fee
payment.

POLLUTANT MAY CAUSE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A new study has found the
first strong laboratory evidence that an environmental pollutant
may play a key role in the development of multiple sclerosis
(MS). This toxic compound, acrolein (pronounced a-KRO-le-in), is
found in tobacco smoke, as well as in some other pollutants such
as auto exhaust. It is also produced by the body following
serious nerve damage. Acrolein is a neurotoxin (damages nerve
tissue) and the researchers believe that acrolein is what
degrades the myelin in MS patients. (In multiple sclerosis, the
myelin insulation surrounding nerve cells is destroyed and the
nerve fibers themselves are damaged.) Also, acrolein induces the
production of free radicals, which further injure tissues.
Previous studies have shown this compound damages liver cells.
Further research will be conducted by the same team, which has
identified several compounds that may be able to bind with
acrolein and remove it from the body. The group is also working
to improve detection methods that can measure acrolein levels in
MS patients. This recently-released study will be published in a
future issue of the journal, Neuroscience, but is available
online now at http://bit.ly/eNCHq1 with subscription or fee
payment.

HIGH-ANTIOXIDANT DIET MAY LOWER RISK OF ONE TYPE OF STROKE: A
study has found that a diet with a high total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) may reduce the risk of a cerebral infarction, a
type of ischemic stroke in the brain. (Ischemic strokes involve a
restriction of the blood supply.) Prior studies have suggested
that inflammation and oxidative stress play a role in ischemic
strokes; and a high-antioxidant diet has been linked to a
reduction of stress and higher levels of circulating antioxidants,
suggesting a high TAC diet may help prevent ischemic
strokes. This study of 41,620 men and women found only a minor
reduction in the risks of strokes generally, with a high TAC
diet. However, looking only at ischemic strokes, the study found
a 59 percent reduction in this risk among those on a high TAC
diet. Examining specific antioxidants, vitamin C itself was
linked to a 42 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke; but high
doses of vitamin E were linked to a three times higher risk of
hemorrhagic stroke, a different type of stroke altogether.
(Hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel bursts inside the
brain.) The researchers concluded that a high-antioxidant diet
significantly reduces the risk of ischemic stroke. Just released,
this study will not be published until a future issue of the
Journal of Nutrition but is now available online at
http://bit.ly/fMQAqm with fee payment or subscription.

DID YOU KNOW…?
If everyone took 2,000 IU (international units) of vitamin D every day – an amount
recommended as the maximum safe dosage, at least in Canada – it could save an estimated
200,000 cases of breast cancer and 250,000 cases of bowel cancer around the world. That was
the conclusion of a report in the June 2009 issue of the Annals of Epidemiology.

——————————————————————————–

DID YOU KNOW…?
A study found that copper fittings – copper door handles, door push plates, taps, light switches and even toilet seats – rapidly kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as the super-bugs MSRA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) and C. difficile, which resist the strongest disinfectants and antibiotics. Copper surfaces tested in a hospital setting remained germ-free even after many days of public touching, while steel fixtures did not have this effect. Lab tests confirm that copper kills the deadly MRSA and C. difficile superbugs, the flu virus, E. coli, and other germs. Copper ions separate on contact with bacteria and it is believed the metal ions suffocate germs, preventing them from breathing. Also, copper ions can stop bacteria from feeding and may destroy their DNA. The copper-fixture study was announced at a US conference on antibiotics in November, 2008.

HIGH HEELS RAISE RISK OF OSTEOARTHRITIS AND JOINT DEGENERATION: A study has found that knees and heels may be at greater risk from high heels – stilettos, wedges, pumps and kitten heels – and those who regularly wear these shoes for prolonged periods exhibit a greater risk of developing joint degeneration and osteoarthritis. (Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis caused by the breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of one or more joints.) The higher the heel, the greater the risk, the researchers found. As the heels got higher, they also saw an increase in the compression on the medial, or inside, of the knee. Heels higher than two inches especially alter body posture by changing joint positions at the ankle, knee, hip and trunk, which can also create strain on the lower back. High heels also showed a negative effect on posture. The greatest impact was on the ankle. The main researcher suggests moderation instead of abstinence. The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB), which ran from August 18 to 21, in Providence. However, it has not yet been submitted to a professional journal and details are not yet available.

CHILI PEPPERS REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE: A study has found that while chili peppers may set your mouth on fire, they can also cause blood vessels to relax and widen in the long run, which effectively lowers blood pressure. Previous research on chili peppers has involved short term studies, which have shown mixed results. But this study on rats was long-term and showed a definite reduction in hypertension, or high blood pressure. The active compound is capsaicin, one of the most abundant components of chili peppers. It appears chronically to activate a substance that increases production of nitric oxide, which protects blood vessels from inflammation and dysfunction. Further research is needed to confirm the effect in humans and the number of peppers needed long-term to lower blood pressure. But what if you can’t tolerate spicy foods? An easily-tolerated, mild Japanese pepper contains capsinoids, compounds similar to spicy capsaicin and which limited studies show have a similar effect. The study was published in the August 4, 2010 issue of the journal, Cell Metabolism. It is online at http://bit.ly/cO8vkp but accessible only to subscribers to the journal or those who pay the access fee.

INCREASED WHOLE-GRAIN INTAKE LOWERS CARDIOVASCULAR RISK: It has long been thought that daily consumption of whole-grain foods such as bread could have a positive effect on the risk of cardiovascular disease but until now, no “comprehensive randomized and controlled intervention trial” – a more scientific and conclusive study – had been undertaken. Finally, results of a new study of this type confirm that daily intake of three portions of whole-grain foods significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, at least in middle-aged people, and chiefly through the mechanism of lowering systolic blood pressure (the upper number in your blood pressure reading). In fact, the study pegged the reduction in the risk of developing coronary artery disease at 15 percent and the risk reduction for stroke at 25 percent. After just four weeks on this diet, participants also showed improvements in other risk factors such as insulin sensitivity, cholesterol and internal inflammation. The effect was similar for both those getting three servings of whole wheat and for those getting the same servings of whole wheat and oats. The study was released by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Details are available now online at http://bit.ly/9Ztt9u but only with journal subscription or the payment of an article access fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
A sunscreen with an SPF, or sun protection factor, of 30 does not offer twice the protection from UVB rays of the sun as a sunscreen with an SPF of 15. In fact, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 offers a 93 percent protection from UVB, while a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 offers only a slightly better 97 percent protection from UVB. Double the SPF does not offer twice the protection and does not mean you can stay out in the sun twice as long. Because some ultraviolet light may still get through sunscreens, they should not be used as a way of prolonging sun exposure. For comparison, a white tee shirt has an SPF of only 3.

NATURAL INTERVENTIONS CAN HEAD OFF DEMENTIA: A new study has determined the individual percentages by which a variety of lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of dementia and suggests that these interventions – in the absence of a new treatment for the mind-robbing disease – are likely to have the greatest impact on reducing dementia levels in the future. The study assessed previously identified risk factors such as depression, diet, alcohol consumption, educational level and vascular factors, which include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Results found that three changes together – eliminating depression and diabetes and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption – reduced dementia risk by a full 21 percent. Depression alone accounted for a 10 percent risk. Higher education was linked to an 18 percent lower risk. To illustrate the extent of these factors, the genetic tendency towards dementia accounts for seven percent of cases. The study was released August 5, 2010 and will be published in the British Medical Journal. But the journal already has made the full-text version of this important study available to the public, online at http://bit.ly/c3p7KL without the usual requirement of a journal subscription or access fee.

VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY LINKED TO LUNG DISEASE AND REDUCED LUNG FUNCTION: An early-release study has found a strong correlation between vitamin D deficiency, reduced lung function and interstitial lung diseases (ILD). (Some diseases obstruct the lungs’ airways and are called “obstructive lung diseases”; others affect the tissue and space around the lung air sacs and are called “interstitial lung diseases,” or ILD. The latter are often characterized by excess connective tissue or scarring, known itself as connective tissue disease, or CTD.) Vitamin D deficiency was found in 38 percent of the 118 study subjects and vitamin D insufficiency was found in 59 percent. But vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was strongly associated with ILD generally and CTD specifically, as well as with reduced lung function. The researchers suggested that an insufficient supply of vitamin D may play a role in the development of CTD lung disease. (In addition to being a vitamin, vitamin D is a known steroid hormone, affecting the immune system, bone health and lung tissue.) This study was released August 5, 2010 but won’t be published until a future issue of the journal, Chest. It is available now online at http://bit.ly/crkDn0 to subscribers to the journal or those willing to pay a one-time access fee.

VITAMIN D MAY HELP FIGHT COLDS AND FLU: Vitamin D supplementation may increase the odds of surviving a winter without taking any days off sick. In the small study, 51 percent of those given 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily between October and March – when vitamin D levels drop and flu and cold infections rise – remained “healthy” compared to 36 percent of those given a placebo. Results were not conclusive because both groups were equally likely to report flu-like symptoms during the period. (Previous studies showed a reduction in flu and cold infections but also produced conflicting results.) The study team called for larger studies to ascertain the benefit of vitamin D in warding off infections and to determine appropriate dosages. Experts often suggest people need more vitamin D than health officials recommend, which may require supplements for those not getting enough vitamin D from food sources, which include milk, cereal and some fatty fish such as salmon. This study is published in the September 1, 2010 issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases. It is available online now at http://bit.ly/b4ZEhE to journal subscribers or those who pay the access fee.

CALORIE RESTRICTION CAN CUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: A study has concluded that a substantially calorie restricted, or CR, diet may serve as an effective non-pharmacological treatment for hypertension, or high blood pressure, even in a short-term program. (CR is a dietary regimen that restricts calorie intake substantially below normal levels, while still maintaining normal nutrient levels; it has been shown over many decades to increase median and maximum lifespan in a wide variety of species.) The study also suggested that even a short-term CR diet may help prevent cardiac hypertrophy, which is a thickening of the heart muscle that decreases the size of the chambers of the heart. In just five weeks, a CR diet reduced the systolic blood pressure – the upper number of a blood pressure reading – and reduced ventricular wall thickness. Additionally, this short period of calorie restriction dilated artery walls and improved various other circulatory factors. This study was released August 9, 2010 but will not be published until a future print issue of the journal, Hypertension. It is available online in the meantime at http://bit.ly/9szxLy for journal subscribers or those who pay the article access fee.

POSSIBLE END FOR ANTIBIOTICS: New research concludes a rapidly emerging gene – found in a large and growing number of bacterial samples – makes bacteria immune to all drugs. Bacteria that acquire and reproduce this gene could spread so quickly that they could make all antibiotics redundant and signal the end of modern antibiotics. The gene, known as New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1), was first found in pneumonia and E. coli bacteria taken from a single Swedish patient in 2009. But NDM-1 was found in 73 samples of Enterobacteriaceae (bacteria) taken from patients in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as 37 from the UK, who had traveled to these countries for elective surgery. Importantly, the NDM-1 gene was found on plasmids, DNA structures that can be easily copied and transferred between evolving bacteria, suggesting, wrote the researchers, “an alarming potential to spread and diversify among bacterial populations.” Worse, the infections were community acquired, meaning they exist in the general environment. No drugs, including those in development, are effective against NDM-1. This study was released August 11, 2010 and will be published in the September 2010 print issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Meantime, the full-text version of the study can be accessed online at http://bit.ly/bEGfvg by journal subscribers or to those who register on the site; registration is free.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Fish may be known for health benefits but it’s easy to turn those benefits in a health risk. Frying or sautéing can add excess calories, saturated fat and dangerous levels of free radicals, requiring more antioxidants to mop them up and raising the risk of heart disease, obesity and some cancers. Also, any uncooked seafood carries the risk of coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis and salmonella. Pregnant women who eat high levels of fish containing significant levels of mercury can cause developmental delays and brain damage in their newborns: especially high in mercury are shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Canned light tuna (as opposed to other tuna), shrimp, salmon, pollock and catfish generally have a lower amount of mercury but still should be eaten only in moderation. Baking, broiling, grilling and poaching are the healthiest ways to cook fish. Like any food, fish should be eaten in moderation. Two servings are equal to about seven ounces; eating over 14 ounces may cancel out the substantial health benefits of consuming fish.

ADEQUATE ZINC LEVELS CUT PNEUMONIA RISK IN HALF: A study of 600 nursing facility residents has found that those with adequate zinc levels were about fifty percent less likely to develop pneumonia than those with low body concentrations of zinc. Also, those with sufficient levels of zinc received fewer prescriptions for antibiotics, had shorter durations of pneumonia and had lower mortality rates. The researchers suggested that zinc supplementation for zinc-deficient elderly persons may result in a lower incidence of pneumonia and that further study is required to determine whether zinc supplements may be an effective and low-cost intervention to reduce pneumonia deaths among vulnerable populations who already have low zinc intakes. (An earlier analysis of the same data had shown that those who consumed 200 international units (IU) of vitamin E were less likely to get upper respiratory infections, such as colds.) The study was released August 10, 2010 and will be published in a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In the meantime, it can be read online at http://bit.ly/9FaV0K by subscribers to the journal or those who pay the article access fee.

SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES LINKED TO RISKS OF DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: A new study suggests that sugar-sweetened drinks may play a role in cardiometabolic risk. (Cardiometabolic risk is a constellation of health factors that may raise the risk of diabetes 2 and cardiovascular disease.) Researchers examined the relation between cardiometabolic risk factors and low-fat milk, whole-fat milk, fruit juice and sugar sweetened beverages. Whole milk consumption was associated with a reduced risk of high triglycerides. But sugar-sweetened drinks were linked to high triglycerides; high LDL or “bad” cholesterol; high blood pressure; and high waist circumference – all risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. While the study did not prove a cause-and-effect relation, the study team did suggest that recommendations to limit the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks may help reduce these risk factors. This study was released August 11, 2010 but will not be published in print until a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is available online now to journal subscribers and those who pay an article access fee, at http://bit.ly/aUOxQJ.

TYLENOL LINKED TO ASTHMA IN ADOLESCENTS: A new study has found a dose-related association between current acetaminophen use by adolescents and their experiences with symptoms of asthma. Although researchers said that “it is not possible” to prove this is a cause and effect link, the study was quite large, involving 360,000 adolescents of 13 to 14 years of age in 50 countries. The subjects were surveyed about their use within the last year, of acetaminophen as well as their symptoms of asthma. Those who used the drug at least once a year showed a 40 percent greater risk of asthma; and those who used acetaminophen at least once a month had a 150 percent higher risk of asthmatic symptoms. Rhinoconjunctivitis – an inflammation of the covering of the white of the eye, combined with a stuffy nose – and eczema were also associated with recent use of the drug. The study team suggested that “controlled trials are now urgently required to investigate this relationship further.” This study was released August 13, 2010 but will not be published until a future issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

DID YOU KNOW…? The most prevalent disease in children is tooth decay. It is about five times more common than childhood asthma. What an expectant mother eats affects tooth development in the fetus. Deficiencies in calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, protein and even calories, during the 14-week to four-month period of pregnancy, can cause oral defects. Children with dental problems are more likely to avoid nutritious foods that require chewing, such as fruits and vegetables. Some data also suggest a deficiency of vitamins B6 or B12 could increase the risk of cleft lip and cleft palate formation.

ADVERSITY IN CHILDHOOD CAN WEAKEN ELDERLY IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND SHORTEN LIFE: A study has found that the pain people suffer in childhood, such as abuse or other adversities, can lead to weakened immune systems much later in life and for some more serious cases, can shorten lifespan by seven to fifteen years. The research on 132 healthy adults, averaging 70 years of age, looked at childhood adversities such as the loss of a parent, serious marital problems between parents, or mental illness or alcoholism within the family. It also assessed the length of telomeres – shortened telomeres are often seen as an indicator of biological aging – and the level of inflammatory indicators, with higher levels linked to various health problems such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, cancers and Alzheimer’s disease. Abuse had a greater effect than adversities but generally, those who had suffered significantly during childhood had shorter telomeres and higher inflammatory levels. Those who experienced several kinds of hardship as kids had the shortest telomeres, suggesting a shortened life expectancy. The study was presented August 14, 2010, at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Diego. It has not yet been published.

PAINT STRONGLY LINKED WITH BLADDER CANCER: Working as a painter is strongly associated with a 30 percent increased risk of bladder cancer, according to a new study. Grouped into the general profession of painting were plasterers, glaziers, wallpaper hangers, artists and decorators. A key risk factor for bladder cancer is smoking – a fact of which few people are aware, according to another study in 2008 – and painters are exposed to some of the same chemicals found in cigarette smoke (including aromatic amines). The researchers were able to separate the impact of the occupational exposure from the effect of smoking. The risk increased with the length of time spent as a painter, which further strengthened the link – separate from smoking – between this occupation and bladder cancer. There was also a small amount of evidence that female painters were at an even greater risk. (Bladder cancer is the ninth most common cancer with more than 330,000 new cases and 130,000 fatalities each year, worldwide.) This study was published in the August, 2010 issue of the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine and is available online at http://bit.ly/ahKhU3 with subscription or payment of a fee.

OBESITY RATES DECLINE AMONG SOME ADOLESCENT GROUPS: A new study concludes that obesity has declined among most groups of adolescents, although the disparities have worsened among other groups. Obesity rates for white and Asian boys and girls peaked in 2005 and declined over the next three years, with 2008 obesity rates coming in at 12 and 13 percent for white and Asian youths, respectively. Although obesity rates among male and female Hispanics also peaked in 2005, the 2008 rates were still at 26 percent. However, obesity rates have not peaked and continued to climb for two groups: black and American Indian adolescent females; the percentages of these girls who are obese are 22 and 23 percent, respectively. When it comes to the most obese, those with BMI at the 99th percentile, only white boys and Asian boys and girls showed any signs of decline after 2005; these most obese all other groups peaked in 2005 and remained at a plateau through 2008. The researchers suggest that tailored intervention programs should be targeted specifically at the at-risk groups. This study was released August 16, and is being published in the September 2010 issue of the journal, Pediatrics.

WOMEN WHO DRINK BEER AT HIGHER RISK OF PSORIASIS: A study has found that women who consume 2.3 or more alcoholic drinks per week have a 72 percent higher risk of psoriasis. On closer analysis, it was found that, among the various types of alcoholic beverages, only beer raised the risk of psoriasis. In fact, women who consume five or more beers per week had a 2.3 times greater risk of psoriasis than women who did not drink. Light beer, red wine, white wine and liquor were not associated with psoriasis risk. (Psoriasis is an immune-related skin condition that might be worsened by alcohol consumption.) The researchers suggest that a non-alcoholic component in beer, one not found in wine or liquor, may play a role in the development of psoriasis. Beer is one of few non-distilled alcoholic beverages that use starch, usually barley, as a source of fermentation. Barley and other starches contain gluten, to which some psoriasis patients show sensitivity. Light beer, not linked to higher risk, contains a lower level of starch. This study was released August 16 but will not be published until the December, 2010 issue of the Archives of Dermatology. Meanwhile, it is available online, without charge, at http://bit.ly/cc3FGf.CHOCOLATE MAY LOWER HEART FAILURE RISK IN WOMEN: A nine-year study of 30,000 middle-aged and older Swedish women links moderate consumption of chocolate with a reduced risk of heart failure. (Heart failure is the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body’s needs and occurs in about one percent of Americans over 65.) One to three servings of chocolate per month was found to lower risk by 26 percent compared to women who did not eat chocolate. Similarly, the risk of heart failure was 32 percent lower among women consuming one to two servings a week. However, the risk for heart failure increased by 23 percent among those consuming one or more servings of chocolate daily; this may be due to high-calorie chocolate replacing more nutritious foods. (Previous studies have linked chocolate to reduced risk of high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, possibly due to cocoa’s flavonoids.) The researchers point out that these results apply only to the dark chocolate with a 30 percent cocoa content commonly consumed in Sweden; most of the dark chocolate consumed in the U.S. has a15 percent cocoa content. Released August 16, 2010, the full text of this study will not be available until it is published in a future issue of the journal, Circulation: Heart Failure.

DID YOU KNOW…?
That cold you picked up in hot, muggy weather is not that unusual. Despite common belief, colds are not caused by cold weather, exercise, diet, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or by getting wet, chilled or overheated. Research suggests, however, that susceptibility to the viruses that cause the common cold may increase as a result of psychological stress, allergic disorders affecting the nose and throat and even menstrual cycles. Above all, being in close contact with crowds while not washing your hands regularly raises the risk of viruses entering your body at these susceptible times.

CHINESE HERBAL FORMULA EASES SIDE EFFECTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY: A study has found that a Chinese herbal formula lessens the negative effects of chemotherapy as well as strengthening the effectiveness of the chemo treatment itself. In fact, the formula seemed to work by reducing inflammation and by increasing the creation of new intestinal cells. No drugs are known to provide such an anti-side-effect impact. The Chinese formula used in the experiment consisted of four herbs – collectively called PHY906 – and was based on an herbal recipe called Huang Qin Tang, historically used to treat nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This formulation was described over 1,800 years ago. Although the study was performed on mice, the patients experienced less weight loss and greater anti-tumor activity when the formula was added to chemo treatment. Researchers suggested it may be the perfect marriage of both Eastern and Western approaches to cancer treatment; but challenges exist before the Chinese herbal blend can be tested on humans. This study was released on August 18, 2010 by the journal, Science Translational Medicine. It is available online at http://bit.ly/9dk76B to subscribers and those who pay the study access fee.

SPECIFIC VEGETABLES MAY REDUCE DIABETES RISK: An analysis of numerous past studies has found a tentative link between a higher intake of certain vegetables and a lower risk of developing diabetes type 2. The analysis did not find a lower risk with an equally higher intake of fruits and vegetables overall. From past studies, the pattern emerged that those who consumed an average of about one-and-a-half additional servings from a specific vegetable group – cabbage, spinach, cauliflower and broccoli – showed a 14 percent lower chance of getting diabetes. Although the name may not apply, the authors described these vegetables as “green leafy vegetables,” and noted that one-and-a-half extra daily servings of other vegetables did not show the same effect. The researchers cautioned that further study must be done to assess this limited research; that this positive effect derived from whole foods and not antioxidant supplements; and that the study neither proves these vegetables prevent diabetes nor that other vegetables do not. It is too early to recommend to the public that more of these foods be eaten. The authors noted that beta-carotene, polyphenols and vitamin C may all play a factor. The study may mean that dietary advice can be more beneficial than drugs. The study was released August 19, 2010 and will be published in a future issue of the British Medical Journal. It is, however, available to read online now in its full-text format, without subscription or fee, at http://bit.ly/d2J87P.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Daily doses of fish oil containing omega-3 fats can, when combined with exercise, act as an aid to weight loss. People who took fish oil during the 3-month exercise program lost an average 4.5 pounds. But the exercise group that took sunflower oil – which does not contain omega-3 oil – did not lose any weight despite exercising. This study was presented July 31, 2006 in Cairns, Australia at the Congress of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids.

CIGARETTE SMOKE RISKY AT LOWEST-POSSIBLE DETECTABLE LEVELS: A study has ascertained that even the smallest amount of second-hand smoke, let alone a habit of only “few cigarettes a week,” can put people at risk for future lung disease, such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many past studies have found that second-hand smoke is a health risk but this is the first study to conclude that cigarette smoke – even at the very lowest levels of detection – directly affects the functioning of genes within the cells lining the airways. (Some genes are very sensitive to tobacco smoke and changes within them are the first indication of “biological disease” of the lungs.) Researchers divided people into three groups: nonsmokers, smokers and low-exposure smokers. They then scanned the entire genome of each participant to see what genes were activated or deactivated in airway cells. The study found that there was no detectable level of nicotine or cotinine that was so low that it did not correlate to genetic abnormalities. The author suggested that any degree of public smoking can cause future lung disease; and that this supports public smoking bans. This study was released August 21, 2010 but will not be published until a future issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

ELECTRIFYING POTATOES BOOSTS THEIR ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS: A study has found that two simple methods of “stressing” potatoes increase the antioxidant levels of these vegetables substantially. The methods included immersing potatoes in salt water and adding a small electrical charge between 10 and 30 seconds; and immersing potatoes in water and subjecting them to ultrasound for 5 or 10 minutes. The study team then measured antioxidant activity and the phenolic content and concluded that the stresses increased the amount of these compounds. The 5 minutes of ultrasound, for instance, increased polyphenol levels by 1.2 times and other antioxidants by about 1.6 times. This study indicates that ultrasound or electric treatments can be useful for enriching antioxidant activity of potatoes. (Antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables are considered to be of nutritional importance in the prevention of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, various cancers, diabetes and neurological diseases.) The study was presented August 22, 2010 at the 240th national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Boston. It is not available online at this time.

BERRIES CAN ACTIVATE ‘CLEANUP’ MECHANISM IN BRAIN: A study released today concludes consumption of berries, and possibly walnuts, triggers a natural brain mechanism that cleans up and recycles toxic proteins, which are linked to age-related memory loss and dementia. Other studies found that antioxidant-rich foods have anti-aging effects on the brain but this study pinpoints a completely different way that berries stave off the mental effects of aging. In a process called autophagy, “cleanup” brain cells known as microglia, sweep away the debris resulting from inflammation and oxidative damage, debris that can cause memory loss and mental decline. But with age, a protein appears to shut down the autophagy process: the microglia either become less active, allowing harmful debris to accumulate; or become overactive, damaging healthy brain cells. The study team found that berries inhibit the action of this protein, allowing housekeeper brain cells to return to their normal, balanced duties. (This team’s previous research showed berry consumption reversed memory, learning and nerve function.) The study author recommended foods high in polyphenolics, especially as we age. Berries and walnuts are rich in polyphenolics but so are many other fruits and vegetables, especially those with deep red, orange or blue colors. This study was presented in Boston on August 23, 2010 at the 240th annual meeting of the American Chemical Society. It has not yet been published.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Scientists have developed a seven-question assessment tool that, without medical testing, provides a fairly accurate prediction of your risk of already having diabetes type 2. Although a finding of diabetes must later be verified by your health practitioner, an earlier diagnosis of diabetes can lead to more effective treatment. The questions cover ethnicity, sex, family history of diabetes, waist size, body mass index and any history or treatment for high blood pressure. Called the Diabetes Risk score, the test was designed by a team at the University of Leicester in the UK and is available online to the public at http://bit.ly/cB4IUD.

CRANBERRY JUICE’S INFECTION-FIGHTING MECHANISM DISCOVERED: Cranberry juice has been linked to fewer urinary tract infections (UTI) but many see it as a folk remedy. To confirm this infection-fighting association, scientists needed clear insight into possible mechanisms by which cranberry juice works. Now, a study has provided evidence of this mechanism. Researchers cultivated strains of E. coli – the bacteria that are the most common cause of UTI – in urine collected from healthy volunteers both before and after consumption of cranberry juice cocktail. While E. coli grown in ordinary urine were able to produce normal biofilm – the substance that allows bacteria to stick to the urinary tract and to other bacteria, essentially setting up shop – the bacteria grown in urine from those who consumed cranberry juice were unable to adhere to each other or to any surface area. Cranberry juice does not kill bacteria but blocks much of their ability to “stick” around and colonize. Researchers estimated cranberry juice reaches and protects the urinary tract within eight hours of consumption. More women develop a UTI than men. This study was presented at the 240th national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston on August 23, 2010. Details have not yet been published.

WATER BEFORE MEALS RESULTS IN GREATER WEIGHT LOSS: A study has found that drinking two cups of water before meals enhances weight loss for those on a diet. Dieters who drank two eight-ounce cups of water before each of their three meals every day lost an average of 4.5 pounds more within 12 weeks than those who did not increase their normal water intake. On a calorie-reduced diet, the group that took water ahead of meals lost 14.5 pounds on average while those who didn’t drink water before meals lost 11 pounds on average. According to the researchers, the reason that drinking water before mealtime works is simply because water has zero calories and yet, gives the sensation of feeling partly full even before you start eating, resulting in fewer calories consumed during the meal. The study author warns that excess water intake is dangerous and can result in death. Health groups such as the National Academies’ Institute of Medicine advise that thirst should be one’s guide to water consumption. This study was presented on August 24, 2010 at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston. It has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

BLACK RICE BEATS BLUEBERRIES FOR ANTIOXIDANT POWER: A study has found that black rice serves as a highly economical alternative to blueberries and blackberries, touted for their antioxidant punch. The researchers report that a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health-promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of pricey blueberries or blackberries, as well as containing more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants – but with less sugar. Anthocyanin antioxidants show promise for fighting heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Black rice could be consumed in rice form, or the black rice bran could be used as an additive for cereals, beverages or other foods. Also, the pigments in black rice can be used to produce a variety of colors from pink to black and may provide an alternative to artificial food colorants. (Several studies have linked some artificial colorants to cancer, behavioral problems in children, and other health problems.) This study was presented August 26, 2010 at the American Chemical Society’s national meeting in Boston. It has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Two nutritional supplements appear to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease. In one study, those with the highest vitamin D levels showed a 65 percent lower risk of the disease. Also, some research suggests that a regular intake of omega-3 fatty acids, the type of fat found in oily fish such as sardines and salmon also may reduce the risk of Parkinson’s. However, there is no known way to prevent Parkinson’s disease.

MODERATE EXERCISE COMBATS MENTAL DECLINE: Researchers have announced new hope for veteran couch potatoes. Although some experts call for brisk daily exercise, a new study has shown that even a very modest amount of low-level exercise three times a week can improve the connectivity of the brain’s circuitry, combat the mental decline of aging and boost performance of cognitive tasks. Adults aged 59 to 80 were tested and scanned at the start of the study and after six, and after 12, months of walking at one’s own natural pace for just 40 minutes three-times-a-week. Brain imaging techniques showed that these “professional couch potatoes,” as one of the scientists described them, experienced better brain connectivity, as well as improved performance on cognitive tasks. Those who spent time stretching and toning did not alter their brain connectivity or performance – only those who took occasional, leisurely walks. Higher connectivity results in improved ability to plan, schedule, deal with ambiguity, remember and multitask. The study was released August 26, 2010 and will appear in a future issue of the journal, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. The full-text study is available online without fee by clicking on PDF in the upper right corner at http://bit.ly/amGX9c.

MOTHERS WHO DON’T BREASTFEED MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP DIABETES TYPE 2: A study has found that women who do not breastfeed their babies have a significantly higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Diet and exercise are widely known to affect the risk of developing diabetes but few people would guess that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of developing diabetes later in life by decreasing belly fat. The study involved 2,233 women between the ages of 40 and 78 and concluded that women who did not breastfeed were twice as likely to acquire diabetes at some point. The study eliminated potentially confounding factors such as physical activity, age, race, and tobacco and alcohol use. This study is being published in the September 2010 issue of the American Journal of Medicine. The full text version of the study has just been posted online at http://bit.ly/b7MCjG for those who pay the article access fee.

PARENTAL USE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS A RISK TO CHILDREN: A study has found that widespread use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines by parents for fever, coughs and colds places children at serious risk, resulting in a larger number of calls to poison centers and more hospital admissions. Researchers discovered that many parents in the study felt that if a drug was available without a prescription, it must be safe to give to children even in double dosages. Of the 119,000 poison control calls surveyed, 48 percent concerned accidental overdose in children, with 15 percent needing hospitalization. Over 85 percent of all calls regarding accidental overdose in children involved those under five, with almost 80 percent of incidents involving those under age three. Only 14 percent of parents made the correct call when dealing with a child’s fever. “It is vital that parents worldwide should understand the proper usage of medicines so that they do not continue to put their children’s health at risk,” said the study leader. This study was presented August 30, 2010 at the annual conference of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in Lisbon, Portugal. It has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

SMOKING MARIJUANA REDUCES CHRONIC PAIN: A study has concluded that smoked cannabis has the ability to reduce pain in chronic pain sufferers, to lower clinical depression and anxiety levels, and to improve sleep. People with damage or some dysfunction in the nervous system often experience ongoing pain and have few treatment options other than drugs, which include opioids, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, local anesthetics and of course, pain relievers. Many of these cause side effects, prompting patients to discontinue use. Marijuana taken by mouth has been shown to be effective in lowering pain but, according to the researchers, smoked cannabis appears never before to have been tested for this use. The study found reduced pain and improved mood after smoked inhalation, for five days of three-times-a-day, of 25 mg of the herb containing 9.4 percent THC, the bioactive component. They called for more tests and also, for studies on the medical safety of long term use. This study will be published in a future issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. It was released August 30, 2010 and the full text was posted online for free access at: http://bit.ly/98hlrC.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Gram for gram, carbohydrates are lower in calories than either protein or fat, despite the common misconception that starchy carbohydrates promote weight gain. In fact, most of the body’s energy comes from starches. However, refined carbohydrates are linked to health disorders and the risk of diabetes. Always opt for unrefined, also known as whole-grain, versions of rice, grains and pasta.

CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D INCREASE DIET-INDUCED WEIGHT LOSS: A study has concluded that greater intakes of dairy calcium and higher blood levels of vitamin D produce a substantially greater weight loss than the loss experienced by those with lower calcium and vitamin D intakes. (Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found in supplements and in a few foods such as cod liver oil, sockeye salmon, mushrooms, mackerel and tuna fish.) The six-month study used techniques that ruled out the influence of other factors such as age, sex, body mass index, total fat intake and diet type. Blood levels of vitamin D and dairy calcium intake were found to be separate factors affecting increased weight loss; that is, each nutrient had its own specific effect. This study was released September 1, 2010 but will not be published until a future issue of the print version of the journal, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. However, the full-text version is now available online, with subscription or payment of an access fee, at http://bit.ly/coMR3d.

FISH OILS FIGHT INFLAMMATION AND DIABETES: Finally, a study has identified the mechanism by which omega-3 fatty acids appear to effectively fight chronic inflammation, insulin resistance and diabetes. The study found that there is a key receptor in obese body fat and that omega-3 oils – specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) – activate this receptor, which results in broad anti-inflammatory effects and improved systemic insulin sensitivity. (There is a strong connection between obesity and diabetes.) The effect of fish oil was powerful, according to the researchers, and, “The omega-3 fatty acids switch on the receptor, killing the inflammatory response.” The study team warned that more study is required to determine how much fish oil constitutes a safe and effective dose. Researchers suggested that the study could eventually lead to a natural dietary remedy for the more than 23 million Americans who suffer from diabetes. This study was published in the Friday, September 3, 2010 issue of the journal, Cell. The full-text version is now available online without fee at http://bit.ly/9TQ09d.

KIDNEY PROBLEMS LINKED TO VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY: A study has found that kidney dysfunction is associated with a low blood level of vitamin C. Also, low blood levels of vitamin C may cause damage, from greater oxidative stress, among kidney disease patients. It was noted that diabetic patients had consistently reduced levels of vitamin C. Lower blood levels of vitamin C have previously been linked to a greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease. People with higher levels of vitamin C have been found to have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and to have a greater life expectancy. (Vitamin C is an essential nutrient in humans and acts as an antioxidant, protecting the body against oxidative stress. Most species can synthesize vitamin C but humans cannot.) A brief summary of this study was released September 3, 2010 by the journal, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation but the study will not be published in the print journal until a future issue. The full-text version is currently available online, for subscribers and those who pay the article access fee, at http://bit.ly/bPgeer.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Most people think you should never kiss a baby if you have a cold. But in fact, a quick kiss on the lips probably won’t spread a cold or the flu, even to a baby. Of course, you should cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze because this brings forth virus-laden fluids from deep in your airways. But the saliva in your mouth harbors very little cold virus material. So it’s very difficult to pass colds and flu through kisses, even extended kisses. The best way to protect your friends and your baby from catching your cold is so simple that most people scoff at it: the best protection is simply washing your hands.

IRON DEFICIENCY LINKED TO CHRONIC HEART FAILURE: A study has found that iron deficiency is a factor among chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, in poor quality of life, intolerance of exercise and diminished heart function. Researchers showed that, although typically associated with anemia, low iron levels negatively even affect a third of CHF patients who are not considered anemic. (Iron is important for growth, survival and a number of bodily processes. An excess of iron is as risky as a deficiency. Iron levels should be closely controlled because too much of this insoluble mineral can be toxic. However, deficiencies are considered to be relatively common.) Cardiologists, suggested the study team, should become aware of the possible importance of iron deficiency in heart patients. Correction of iron deficiency in CHF patients may lead to important clinical benefits. A key message of the study is that iron deficiency is often present without anemia. (Iron in meat is more easily absorbed than iron in vegetables but this mineral is also found in lentils, beans, poultry, fish, leafy vegetables, tofu, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, blackstrap molasses, fortified bread, and fortified breakfast cereals.) This study was presented September 5, 2010 at the European Society of Cardiology’s Congress 2010 in Stockholm. Details have not yet been published.

MORE BABIES SHOULD BE GIVEN IRON SUPPLEMENTS: A study has shown that giving iron supplements to children with marginally low birth weights (2000-2500 grams) dramatically reduces the risk of developing iron deficiency and anemia, and as a result, lowers the risk of poor brain and neurological development in infants. (Birth weight and infant nutrition are important risk factors for death risk in adulthood. Infants with low birth weight are at risk of developing nutrient deficiencies during their first year of life, including iron deficiency. Iron is necessary for the production of hemoglobin for the blood, and also for the development of the brain. Iron deficiency in infants has been shown to be associated with poor neurological development.) The study found no risks from the administration of iron drops to babies but also found that failure to give iron drops often resulted in anemia and iron deficiency. These findings could have a significant effect on nutritional recommendations for children with marginally low birth weights. The research was released September 6, 2010 and will be published in the October 2010 issue of the journal Pediatrics. In the meantime, full details are available, to journal subscribers and those who pay the article access fee, online at: http://bit.ly/9tcCes.

LOW LEVELS OF VITAMIN D LINKED TO DOUBLE THE RISK OF SCHIZOPHRENIA: Babies with low levels of vitamin D have an increased risk – in fact, double the risk – of developing schizophrenia later in life. That’s the conclusion of a new study of 424 individuals that showed a link between vitamin D (25 hydroxyvitamin D3) sufficiency and healthy brain growth. (Vitamin D is produced by the effect of sunshine on the skin and, although linked to bone health, researchers have previously found that people with schizophrenia are more likely to be born in winter, when sunlight is rare.) “Improving vitamin D levels in pregnant women and newborn babies could reduce the risk of later schizophrenia,” said one of the researchers. It’s important to note that a link between schizophrenia was found with both insufficient and excess levels of vitamin D. The team described as “urgent,” the need for further study to assess best levels of vitamin D. This study was published September 7, 2010 in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The full text of the study is available online now at http://bit.ly/aIcjQp for journal subscribers and those who pay the article access fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Contrary to common belief, even skim milk is not fat-free: five percent of skim milk’s calories come from fat. A full 34 percent of the calories contained in partly skimmed, or “two percent,” milk come from fat. It’s called two percent because the fat content makes up two percent of the total weight. Whole milk is 48 percent fat by calories – lean hamburger runs about 64 percent.

POOR DENTAL HYGIENE LINKED TO HEART DISEASE: A study suggests that without proper brushing of teeth and regular flossing, bacteria from plaque can escape into the bloodstream, where they can initiate blood clots and generally wreak havoc on the body. Researchers stressed that people need to maintain good dental hygiene to help ward off blood clots and heart disease in general. The study showed that, once in the bloodstream, Streptococcus bacteria make blood platelets bind together and completely encase the bacteria, protecting the bacteria from the body’s immune system and from antibacterial drugs. This creates small clots, growths on the heart valves, or inflammation of the blood vessels. This study was released September 9, 2010 at the autumn meeting of the Society for General Microbiology in Nottingham, UK. However, it has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal and is not yet available online.

VITAMIN B SUPPLEMENTS COULD HALT ALZHEIMER’S PROGRESSION: A study has found that supplementing the diet with large doses of vitamin B could cut, by a third to a half, the brain shrinkage that is common in elderly people with early signs of the disease and could slow, or even halt, the memory-robbing disease’s progression. The researchers stressed the need for further study to confirm these results but described the study outcome as “striking” and “dramatic.” Over a two-year period, half of the168 volunteers, all of whom were over the age of 70 and had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), were given high daily doses of the B vitamins folate, B6 and B12, higher doses than normally found in supplements or diet. “Participants were randomly assigned to two groups of equal size, one treated with folic acid (0.8 mg/d), vitamin B12 (0.5 mg/d) and vitamin B6 (20 mg/d), the other with placebo.” On average, compared to the group that received only placebo pills with no active ingredients, B-taking volunteers exhibited an average 30 percent lower degree of brain shrinkage, which is associated with atrophy; but in some cases, the reduced amount of atrophy was lower by as much as fifty percent. The study was released September 8, 2010 by the online journal Public Library of Science ONE and can be accessed free online at: http://bit.ly/btsJCl.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Your body may make better use of supplemental vitamin D if you take it with your largest meal, boosting its uptake over a two- to three-month period, by as much as 56 percent, according to a study at the Cleveland Clinic, detailed in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. Vitamin D is loosely linked with a decreased risk of autoimmune disorders. If you’re considering taking vitamin D supplements, talk to your natural health practitioner about dosages.

SORGHUM FOUND TO BE ANTIOXIDANT-RICH — EVEN RICHER THAN BLUEBERRIES: A study has concluded that sorghum bran contains greater antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory power than known antioxidant-rich superstars, such as blueberries and pomegranates. Researchers tested four varieties of sorghum and found that the two with the highest tannin composition – the black and sumac sorghum varieties – contain a whopping 23 to 62 mg of polyphenolic compounds per gram compared to antioxidant-rich blueberries, which contain 5 mg per gram, or pomegranate juice, which contains 2 to 3.5 mg per gram. Many fruits also contain antioxidants but sorghum bran, suggested the researchers, may prove to be the very richest and cheapest source. High-antioxidant berries and fruits are among the most expensive. Low tannin sorghum is commonly fed to animals or used to make ethanol to fuel cars. Only recently, has high-tannin sorghum bran been added to a few food items; the study team hopes to interest manufacturers in adding the low-cost, high-tannin extract to foods and beverages in order to prevent disease “rather than promote it.” In addition to antioxidants, sorghum also contains fiber. This study was published in the August 2010 issue of the Journal of Medicinal Food. The full-text version of this study is available online at http://bit.ly/cQPqCd with journal subscription or article access fee payment.

DIET-INDUCED OBESITY ACCELERATES LEUKEMIA: A study has found that obesity resulting from diet accelerates – and theoretically, at least, may even trigger – the progression of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Obesity has long been associated with an increased incidence of many cancers, including leukemia; but it has not been clear whether the higher risk was caused by obesity or by some other risk such as lifestyle or genetics. The researchers suggest that obesity may trigger leukemia and that “some hormone or factor in overweight individuals, perhaps produced by the fat tissue itself, may signal leukemia cells to grow and divide.” Not all obesity is caused by diet; weight gain can also be caused by genetics, aging, pregnancy, lack of sleep, some medicines and certain health conditions. This study is important due to the prevalence of obesity in society. Also, leukemia is the most common type of childhood cancer at a time when childhood obesity is at an all-time high. This just-released study will be published in the October 5, 2010 issue of the journal Cancer Prevention Research. It is now available online at http://bit.ly/cIvDkG with a journal subscription or payment of an article access fee.

SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTS MAY DECREASE RISK OF BLADDER CANCER: A study has found that a higher intake of selenium may lower the risk of bladder cancer. Researchers analyzed several previous studies and examined selenium content in toenails and blood and compared these measurements with the incidence of bladder cancer. Although there was a general protective effect for selenium levels, women benefited most in terms of bladder cancer risk. (Selenium is found in plant foods grown in selenium-rich soils, in the meat of animals that grazed on selenium-rich soils, and in selenium supplements. It is an essential micronutrient that is incorporated into about 25 proteins, called selenoproteins, which prevent cellular damage caused by the by-products of oxygen metabolism.) Further study is required to confirm these results and to determine the optimum dose of selenium to provide a protective effect against bladder cancer. This study was released August 31 and published in the September 2010 issue of the journal, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. The full-text version is now available online with a journal subscription or payment of an article access fee at http://bit.ly/cImcWJ.

DID YOU KNOW…?
An “abnormal” body weight prior to a cancer diagnosis is linked to a greater risk of later dying from the cancer; and correcting improper weight after diagnosis might not have any effect on risk because, says one researcher, “at that point, it may be too late.” A study of postmenopausal women found that a greater cancer mortality risk was strongly associated with pre-diagnosis weights that were either “underweight,” or “obese.” Underweight patients had an 89 percent greater mortality risk and obese patients, a 45 percent greater mortality risk, relative to normal-weighted individuals. Also, aside from overall weight, women with a high waist-to-hip ratio before diagnosis had a 30-40 percent higher risk of death. The mechanism behind these links is unknown. The study was reported in the September 2010 issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, an American Association for Cancer Research journal.

ANTIBIOTIC USE ALTERS INTESTINAL FLORA: A study has found that repeated use of antibiotics causes increasing and persistent changes in the composition of the gut’s beneficial bacteria colony. A previous study by the same scientist had shown that friendly bacteria in the gut bounce back fairly quickly after a single, short-term round of Cipro, an antibiotic often used for intestinal, urinary and systemic infections. But this longer study found that as few as two rounds of Cipro six months apart is sufficient to produce subtle, long term effects such as the replacement of an entire species of bacteria with a closely related species; or the complete elimination of some species. The problem with this subtle effect is that an eradicated bacteria species may have performing an important function such as fighting a particular pathogen with the toxin it produces; with those particular bacteria missing, the pathogen could multiply unchecked until, years later, it has invaded the patient’s system. The second administration of antibiotics appeared to have a greater impact than the first, although the effect varied between test subjects. This study was released September 13, 2010 and will appear in a future issue of the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Details have not yet been made available.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Pregnant women who eat a lot of fish containing significant levels of mercury can cause developmental delays and brain damage in their newborns. Especially high in mercury are shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Canned light tuna (vs. other tuna), shrimp, salmon, pollock and catfish generally have lower amounts of mercury but still should be eaten only in moderation while pregnancy. Baking, broiling, grilling and poaching are the healthiest ways to cook fish.

WATERCRESS MAY “TURN OFF” BREAST CANCER: A study has found that a compound in watercress may have the power to suppress breast cancer cell development. Normally, as cancer cells develop, they send out signals that cause new blood vessels to grow into the tumor and these nourish the rapidly growing cancer cells with oxygen and nutrients. But a watercress compound – called phenylethyl isothiocyanate – appears to turn off the tumor signal within the body, effectively starving the breast cancer cells. The amount of watercress consumed by test subjects was 80gm, which is about a cereal bowl full. (This leaf vegetable is known for its tangy, peppery flavor and is a member of the Brassica or cruciferous family, which includes cabbage and broccoli. Previously, watercress has been linked to a lower risk of lung cancer and of low thyroid levels.) The study leader suggested more research is needed on the relation between what we eat and cancer. This study was presented at a September 14, 2010 press conference and will be published in the current issue of the British Journal of Nutrition.

MOST COMMON EXERCISE IS…PREPARING A MEAL: A study has found that the most common “moderate” physical activity regularly pursued by Americans is – brace yourself – preparing meals, and eating and drinking. The five-year study of over 80,000 people found that five percent of respondents engaged in vigorous activity such as running; but the study also found that over 95 percent of subjects cited their most active exercise as eating and drinking. Eighty percent of the subjects reported their main activity was watching television or a movie. Other “light exercise” reported was washing and grooming. Recent studies have shown a strong connection between reported trends of sharply reduced levels of physical activity on the one hand and lowered life spans, reduced years of healthy living and greater obesity rates on the other hand. Obesity rates in the U.S. have soared from 14 percent in 1993 to 27 percent in 2008. The relation between sedentary activity and obesity rates is undeniable, according to the researchers. Perhaps, nothing underscores that more than learning that preparing and consuming meals counts as the most common form of exercise, say researchers. This just-released study will be published in the October 2010 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The full-text version is available online at: http://bit.ly/9OlOfn with a journal subscription or payment of an article access fee.

POOR DIET AND INADEQUATE EXERCISE MAY UNDERLIE CHILDHOOD ASTHMA: A study of 18,000 children aged four to 12 suggests that unbalanced nutrition and lack of exercise may be the major risks of developing childhood asthma, even in those of a healthy weight. These findings challenge the long-held idea that obesity itself is a risk factor for asthma. Instead, despite the fact that obese individuals showed a greater risk of asthma, the study implicated these patients’ metabolic dysfunction in the risk of asthma, such as triglyceride levels and glucose metabolism – and not their obesity itself. The conditions known as dyslipidemia (high triglyceride levels) and hyperinsulinemia (acanthosis nigricans or AN) are very common in both obesity and metabolic syndrome and as a result, suggests the study, obesity has been linked with asthma risk when in fact, these conditions themselves are the most likely risk factor. Metabolic factors, suggests the study, may be the actual cause of the airway inflammation and hyper-reactivity that leads to asthma. In fact, it is the childhood experience of poor nutrition and lack of exercise that may lead to later asthma, according to the research. This study was released September 16, 2010 and will be published in a future issue of the journal, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Details are not yet available to the public.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Floating an egg in plain – not salted – water will let you judge the size of the air-cell at the large end of the egg, which indicates the egg’s age. A fresh egg will settle to the bottom of the container of water and rest horizontally because the air cell is still small. But the larger air cell of a one-week-old egg will cause the large end of the egg to rise up slightly. Eggs that are two to three weeks old will settle to the bottom of the container vertically, large end up. And a very old egg will just float right on the surface. Don’t ever eat eggs that float.

ANXIETY MEDS RAISE MORTALITY RISK: A 12-year study of 14,000 patients has found that patients who take medications to treat insomnia and anxiety, even on an irregular schedule, have a 36 percent greater risk of dying than those who do not. This is considered a small but significant increase in risk. What causes this higher risk of mortality among those taking drugs to treat insomnia and anxiety is not clear but researchers pointed out that these prescriptions affect reaction time, alertness and coordination, making patients subject to falls and accidents. Also, patients on these meds are more prone to breathing problems during sleep; and some drugs of this type increase the risk of suicidal behaviors. The team leader suggested that non-drug cognitive behavioral therapies have been shown to be effective against both insomnia and anxiety and that this type of therapy should be suggested to patients. Also, according to the head researcher, “These medications aren’t candy, and taking them is far from harmless.” This study was published in the September 2010 issue of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry and is available online now in its full-text format at: http://bit.ly/964IPZ.

SPECIAL DIET PREVENTS KIDNEY STONES: A study has found that the DASH diet, a diet designed to combat high blood pressure and also known as Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, also helps prevent kidney stones. This diet is high in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, dairy products, and whole grains, and low in sweetened beverages and red and processed meats. Despite similar fluid intakes, the study observed a greater output of urine among those on the DASH diet, which may stem partly from the fact that DASH foods have higher water content. More important, DASH subjects’ urine held higher concentrations of citrate, an important inhibitor of calcium kidney stones. Researchers suggested that two foods prominent in the DASH diet have potent kidney stone-fighting properties: low-fat dairy products and plant foods. This just-released study will be published in the October 2010 issue of the journal, Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. It is now available online at http://bit.ly/aZu1yY with subscription to the journal or payment of an article access fee.

VIRUS MAY BE BEHIND OBESITY EPIDEMIC: A study has found that a gene in a specific virus can turn adult stem cells into fat cells. The study shows that many cases of obesity can be blamed on a specific virus named “human adenovirus-36 (Ad-36)”. This does not mean that obesity is always the result of a particular virus; but it does suggest that many cases of obesity may stem from infection by this virus. Another aspect of the study suggests that the weight gain effect can continue up to six months after the virus has left the body. The researchers stated that it is possible that other viruses may have a similar effect. Obesity may even be considered, suggests the study team, a complex disease involving many different viruses. Research is needed, says the study team, to determine why some people with the virus develop obesity while others with the same virus do not. Ninety-seven million adult Americans are obese. Obesity increases the risk of many illnesses, including type-2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and osteoarthritis. This study was presented today at the 234th annual meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston. It has not yet been published in a peer reviewed journal.

STRESS BEFORE CANCER THERAPY LEADS TO RECURRENCE: A study has concluded that any form of stress during the one or two days prior to treatment for cancer – even the physical stress caused by intense exercise – activates a stress-sensitive protein known as the Hsp27 protein. This protein in turn protects cancer cells, allowing them to survive the treatment, thus sabotaging therapy and leading to a recurrence of the cancer. Although breast cancer cells were the subject of the study, the researchers said this proves that all types of adenocarcinoma cells – cancer cells that originate in a gland – appear to have found a way to adapt and resist treatment by using this stress-related protein. In the face of stress, the protein is activated by the presence of what is called “heat shock factor-1” and blocks the process that kills cancer cells even after their DNA has been damaged by radiation or chemotherapy. Stress includes physical exercise and even UV radiation from sunlight. This study was released September 21, 2010 by the journal Molecular Cancer Research. Full details are now available online at http://bit.ly/ctzTPU with journal subscription or payment of an article access fee.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Environmental pollutants trapped in fat cells could be released back into circulation when people shed a lot of weight. A study found strong correlation between weight loss and blood levels of six persistent organic pollutants. There is no proof that weight loss leads directly to the release of pollutants from fat cells into the blood but the evidence of the study is consistent with that mechanism, reported the researchers. The study was published in the September 7, 2010 issue of the Journal of Obesity.

MULTIVITAMIN USE MAY PREVENT HEART ATTACKS IN WOMEN: A study of 31,671 women has found that, compared to taking no supplements at all, regular daily use of multivitamins over a minimum ten-year period reduced the incidence of myocardial infarction (heart attack), at least among those women who had no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) at the start of the study. There was no similar benefit for women who had a history of CVD. But among those with no CVD history, supplements other than multivitamins had little effect on heart attack risk; multivitamins alone reduced heart attack risk by 27 percent; and multivitamins taken with other supplements lowered heart attack risk by 30 percent. Multivitamins were estimated generally to contain close to the recommended allowances for vitamins A, C, D, and E, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folic acid. The relationship is not necessarily one of cause-and-effect and further study is needed on the exact contents of multivitamins, the required duration of use, and the reason that supplements had no heart benefit for women with CVD. This study was released September 22, 2010 and will be published in a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It can be read online in the meantime at http://bit.ly/a1wmNr with journal subscription or payment of an article access fee.

HIGHER CALCIUM AND VITAMIN D LEVELS INCREASE WEIGHT LOST THROUGH DIETING: A study has determined that the weight lost on identical weight-loss diets is greater among those with higher intakes of dairy calcium; and separately, among those with higher blood levels of vitamin D. Regardless of the specific diet, those with the highest calcium intake dropped an average of 12 pounds in two years. However, those with the lowest intake of dairy calcium lost only seven pounds on average in the same period. Aside from calcium, individuals who had the highest levels of vitamin D lost the most weight when dieting; and vitamin D levels increased as weight dropped. It did not matter whether the diet was low-fat, low-carb or Mediterranean. This confirms previous research finding that obese people have lower levels of vitamin D. Although the study assessed dairy calcium only, calcium is also available from supplements and other foods. Vitamin D increases calcium absorption and is found in supplements, fatty fish and eggs. It is also manufactured by the body from direct sun exposure. This study was published in the September 2010 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and is now available online at http://bit.ly/aC1RNA for journal subscribers and those who pay an article access fee.

MONTHLY HORMONAL CYCLES LINKED TO ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE: A new study on rats has confirmed a previously suspected, biological link between an individual’s current estrogen level and her ability to pay attention, focus and learn. Women have high estrogen levels when they are ovulating and prior research has shown that these are the times when they have trouble focusing and learning. Until now, it was not known whether the increase in fogginess and the increase in the level of this hormone constituted a cause-and-effect link. But researchers used rats to study how estrogen affects their “latent inhibition,” which is a form of memory formation, which is essential learning. They found that rodents with low estrogen levels learned to associate a stimulus with a specific sound tone far faster than those with high estrogen levels, showing that, even in a different species, estrogen itself has a direct effect on the brain by inhibiting cognitive ability. Further study may explain how it does this. This study was released ahead of print publication in a future issue of the journal Brain and Cognition. It is available at the journal’s site with the payment of a fee.

U.S. CHILDREN DRINK TOO LITTLE WATER, STUDY: A study of 3,978 children aged 2 to 19 years of age has found that a large proportion of American kids drink less water than is recommended as the minimum daily amount. Sugar-sweetened beverages accounted for much of their fluid intake. Also, the researchers concluded that children who do consume the most water each day are less likely to consume sugary drinks and high-calorie foods. Only 15 to 60 percent of boys, and 10 to 54 percent of girls, depending on age, drink the minimum amount of water recommended by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. Dehydration can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, headaches, dry mouth and even impaired cognition and mental performance. The study looked at water intake from all sources, including water itself, water in moist foods, moisture in all beverages, such as milk and juice. As children aged, their water consumption increased while their intake of nutritive beverages such as milk and fruit juice decreased. This just-released study will be published in the October 2010 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is available at http://bit.ly/cIOrCT with journal subscription or access fee.

MS SYMPTOMS EASED BY ‘MINDFULNESS MEDITATION’: A study has determined that learning mindfulness meditation can help Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients with the fatigue, depression and other life challenges that usually accompany the disease. The effect lasted for six months. For the study, 150 MS patients were assigned either to regular medical care alone or to medical care plus weekly classes lasting two and a half hours; the classes included mental and physical exercises aimed at developing nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment, or “mindfulness.” Those who went through the mindfulness training were far better able to cope with fatigue and depression; in fact, mindfulness helped reduce depressive symptoms by over 30 percent. Mindfulness is a concept that might be described as “calm awareness of one’s body functions, feelings, content of consciousness, or consciousness itself.” This study was the largest of its type and is considered to have been well-conducted. The study was published in the September 28, 2010 issue of the journal, Neurology, and is now available online at http://bit.ly/dgV6cb with journal subscription or payment of an article access fee.

STRONG LINK BETWEEN AIR POLLUTION AND DIABETES: A study has found a strong link between particulate air pollution and adult diabetes; and between pollution and inflammation, which may contribute to insulin resistance, which in turn is linked to diabetes. The study focused on a particular size of fine particulates in air pollution (0.1 to 2.5 nanometers in size), the same size associated with a key component of haze, smoke and motor vehicle exhaust. Researchers adjusted the data to rule out the effects of known diabetes risk factors, including obesity, exercise, geographic latitude, ethnicity and population density. But there was still a very strong correlation between air pollution and the incidence of diabetes. The study team did not point to air pollution as necessarily being a cause of diabetes but it came across as a valid predictor of the disease. Even within counties falling within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits for air pollution exposure, those with the highest levels of exposure were 20 percent more likely to develop diabetes. The team suggested EPA standards may not be adequate to protect people from pollution. Released September 29, this study will be published in the October 2010 issue of Diabetes Care. It is online now at http://bit.ly/dqTEPB without charge.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Tea lovers’ beverage of choice lowers blood pressure. Drinking just a half-cup of green or oolong tea per day reduces a person’s risk of high blood pressure by almost 50 per cent. People who drink at least two and a half cups per day reduce their risk even more. Risk is reduced even if tea drinkers have known risk factors for high blood pressure, such as high sodium intake.

ANTIDEPRESSANTS POSE CATARACT RISK: The first major study on this topic has shown an increased risk, among seniors, of developing cataracts as a result of taking SSRIs, the most common type of antidepressant; and a higher risk of corneal damage from amantadine, a Parkinson’s disease drug. SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, alleviate depression by raising low levels of serotonin in the brain. But the eye’s lens also contains serotonin receptors and excess serotonin can make the lens opaque and lead to cataract formation, reports the Canadian research, which included 19,000 patients who were on at least one of these drugs and 190,000 controls, meaning people who were not. The risk was related only to current use, meaning risk disappeared after discontinuation of the antidepressants. Also, some Parkinson’s patients on long-term amantadine therapy were found to have cornea changes that could lead to vision damage. The study appears in the June, 2010 issue of Opthalmology and full details are available only to journal subscribers and media.

HOW ACUPUNCTURE WORKS CONFIRMED: Clarifying how acupuncture may work to reduce pain, a study shows that, at the site applied, acupuncture needles increase levels of a molecule called adenosine, a natural compound that regulates sleep, anti-inflammatory responses – and painkilling. Research previously showed an increase in brain-signaling and painkilling endorphins when the central nervous system is affected by acupuncture. But this study found that stimulation of nerve endings not linked to the brain and spinal cord also increase levels of adenosine. Mice bred to have no adenosine received no pain benefit from acupuncture; mice whose adenosine was “turned on” received benefit without acupuncture; and mice with normal adenosine had pain reduced by two thirds while adenosine levels at the needle site jumped 24 times normal levels. This study will be published in a future issue of Nature Neuroscience and usually, full details would be available before then only with subscription or fee payment. However, this particular full-text study was recently released to the public without charge, at: http://bit.ly/dogW0U.

DID YOU KNOW…?
The notion that green mucus indicates the presence of an infection is false. The relevance of mucus color is a myth that even many doctors believe, according to Drs. Aaron E. Carroll and Rachel C. Vreeman, coauthors of Don’t Swallow Your Gum, who write,” There is no evidence…that antibiotics shorten the duration of an illness when green snot is a symptom.” (The book’s title refers to the often-heard myth that gum will remain in your stomach for seven years.)

SLEEP-RELATED BREATHING DISORDERS FOUND COMMON AMONG CHILDREN: A newly released study has found that as many as 18 percent of pediatric patients were found to be at risk of sleep-disordered breathing disorders (SDBD). Also, SDBD in children could not be associated with particular craniofacial or demographic factors, unlike the case in adults, making SDBD much harder to detect in children. Risk could not be linked with age, race, gender or body mass. Dentists may be able to help diagnose SDBD in children using screening questions such as snoring, sleepiness or behavioral problems. An early diagnosis is important to avoid the condition being misdiagnosed as non-sleep-related clinical disorders such as attention deficit disorder. Details will be published in a future issue of the journal Sleep but a summary of the study was presented June 5, at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine in San Antonio.

VITLIGO’S MYSTERIES START TO UNRAVEL: A study has found slight variations from normal in 10 genes associated with the body’s immune system in people with vitiligo, confirming this mysterious disease’s autoimmune nature and pointing to a better understanding that may one day lead to more personalized treatment for vitiligo patients. Vitiligo is a complex disorder in which patches of the skin’s melanin, or pigment, disappear, leaving white areas on the skin and even hair. Autoimmune disorders are those involving the body’s immune system attacking healthy cells in the body. The findings suggest vitiligo involves multiple pathways, meaning the exact triggers are complicated, involving both genetics and environmental factors together. This implies cures may be complicated and may involve treatments geared to the individual. The study was described in the June 6, 2010 issue of Nature Genetics and is available in its full-text format only with subscription or the payment of a fee at: http://bit.ly/ahBGup.

SECOND HAND SMOKE INCREASES RISK OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS: A study has found that exposure to second hand smoke causes more than physical health problems. It leads to psychological distress and raises the risk of future mental illness among otherwise healthy adults. Nonsmokers exposed to second hand smoke showed a 50 percent greater likelihood of reporting psychological distress. Smokers were also found to be at risk and both smokers and nonsmokers exposed to frequent second hand smoke showed a higher psychiatric hospital admission rate, in addition to greater distress and psychological problems. Animal studies have previously shown that smoke can raise negativity and is a cause of depression, which is in keeping with the conclusions of this study. The new study was published online on June 7, 2010, ahead of print publication in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The full-text version of this study has been made available by the journal, without subscription or fee, at: http://bit.ly/dt4Eun.

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS REDUCES RISK OF AGE-RELATED HEARING LOSS: A study has determined that there is an inverse association between age-related hearing loss, also known as presbycusis, and the intake of long-chain, omega-3 fatty acids and fish. In other words, greater consumption of fish, fish oil or other omega-3 oils tended to delay or prevent age-related hearing loss. The research included 2,956 subjects who were 50 years of age or older and showed that those consuming an average of two or more servings of fish per week experienced a 42 percent reduced risk of developing presbycusis compared to those consuming less than one serving of fish a week. The study was released today, June 9, 2010 by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in a summary, or abstract, format. The full-text version will be published in a future issue but is now available online with a subscription to the journal or the payment of a fee at: http://bit.ly/b6Y3ZL.

EGG CONSUMPTION CLEARED IN DIABETES RISK: A study has clarified previously inconsistent and limited data on the association between eating eggs and the development of diabetes type 2 among adults. The incidence of type 2 diabetes was noted for 3,898 adult men and women who were divided into groups according to their regular egg consumption patterns: never eat eggs, fewer than one a month, 1-3 per month, 1-4 per week and almost daily. No meaningful association was found between the number of eggs consumed and diabetes risk; nor between dietary cholesterol and diabetes. Further analysis also found no link between egg consumption and fasting glucose, fasting insulin or insulin resistance, all measures of diabetes risk. Released June 9, 2010 as an abstract, or summary, the study will be published in its full-text version in a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. It is currently available with a subscription to the journal or the payment of a fee at: http://bit.ly/cFGR4P.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Long term use of metformin, the commonly prescribed “cornerstone” type 2 diabetes drug, increases the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. A deficiency of this vitamin raises levels of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood; higher levels are considered a risk factor for heart disease. Metformin causes malabsorption of vitamin B12 and this negative effect increases over time. The study establishing this link was posted online at the site of the British Medical Journal on May 20, 2010 and the full-text version is now available without the payment of a fee at: http://bit.ly/aml8wr.

SCIENTISTS DEVELOP LOW-ALLERGY PEANUT: Researchers have created a new, low-allergy peanut that may make life a lot easier and safer for those with severe peanut allergy. The new peanut also is expected to lower the risk of children developing peanut allergies in the first place. Developed with funding from the US Department of Agriculture, the new peanut contains none of the key proteins that are believed to spark allergies and reactions. The question now is whether peanuts missing these proteins can reproduce naturally to produce peanuts that also lack those proteins. The new plant was not genetically modified; it was the product of conventional cross-breeding. The report, which has not been published, was presented in London at the congress of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, which wrapped up June 9.

SPINAL CORD STIMULATION: NEW HOPE FOR PARKINSON’S PATIENTS? A new but very small and preliminary study indicates that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be able to lessen the motor, or walking, symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Previous studies found motor function improvement with SCS in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and this prompted the researchers to test SCS on a single 82-year-old male with PD. Low frequency stimulation produced a noticeable worsening of locomotion symptoms; but when high-frequency stimulation was employed, symptoms and walking time greatly improved. The effect was then replicated in a second human patient. The study is too small to draw hard conclusions but suggests an area of future research. The lead author presented his findings June 14, at the biennial meeting of the American Society for Stereotactical and Functional Neurosurgery (ASSFN) in New York City.

BROWN RICE DECREASES DIABETES RISK: A new study has shown a greater risk of type 2 diabetes in men and women who eat white rice compared to those who do not. Perhaps of surprise to some, the study also found a reduced risk of diabetes 2 in those who eat brown rice compared to those who do not regularly eat rice. Specifically, the risk of diabetes increased with five or more servings of rice per week; and the risk of diabetes was reduced with consumption of two or more servings of brown rice per week. Researchers estimated that replacing just one third of a daily serving of white rice with an equal amount of brown rice would decrease type 2 diabetes risk by 16 percent; replacing one third of the white rice with other whole grains such as barley or whole wheat could decrease the risk by 36 percent. This brief abstract, or summary, was released June 14, 2010 by the Archives of Internal Medicine; however, the full-text version of the study is available only with either journal subscription or the payment of a fee at: http://bit.ly/cT5kvt.

VITAMIN D PROTECTS AGAINST VIRUSES: A new study has found that vitamin D – long associated with good bone health – provides protection against viral respiratory tract infections, reducing their incidence and severity. One example of this type of infection would be influenza. Researchers followed 198 health adults during the fall and winter of 2009 – 2010 and measured each individual’s ongoing blood levels of vitamin D in a seasonal period when these levels tend to fall due to the lack of sunlight. Levels were weighed against the incidence and symptoms of respiratory infections; those with the highest vitamin D levels experienced less illness and significantly reduced days of symptoms. (Vitamin D is also known to support the body’s absorption of calcium to prevent osteoporosis, and has been linked to cardiovascular health.) This study was published June 15, 2010 by the open-access journal PLoS ONE and the full-text version is now available without subscription or cost at: http://bit.ly/aXsUmY.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Despite what some people believe, tanning beds are no safer than outdoor sunlight. A review of seven studies found a 75 percent increase in the risk of melanoma in those who had been exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from indoor tanning before the age of 35. Melanoma is one of the less common forms of skin cancer but is responsible for 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Studies have demonstrated that exposure to UV radiation during indoor tanning damages the DNA, key genetic material, in the skin cells and can lead to premature skin aging, immune suppression and eye damage, including cataracts and ocular melanoma.

SNACKING ASSOCIATED WITH REDUCED RISK OF BEING OBESE: A new study has concluded that adolescents who regularly snack have a lower chance of being overweight or obese and of having excess abdominal weight. The data analyzed covered a five-year period and assessed both the number of snacks and the percentage of overall calories ingested during snacking. Both frequency of snacks and percentage of overall calories from snacks proved to be inversely related to obesity and abdominal weight – that is, the greater the number and caloric intake of snacks, the less the risk of being overweight, obese or having excess abdominal weight. The study was released by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on June 16, 2010 in summary, or abstract, form. The full-text version is available online, with either journal subscription or the payment of a fee, at: http://bit.ly/brx2Cq.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG EMERGENCIES NOW EQUAL ILLEGAL DRUG CASES: A new study shows that for the first time, abuse of prescription or over-the-counter medications results in as many cases of emergency room (ER) visits as those resulting from cocaine, heroin or other illegal drug abuses. In 2008, there were one million ER cases of legal drug abuses, mostly painkillers and sedatives – and that was about the same number of cases of ER visits from illegal drugs. Just five years ago, statistics show, illegal drug ER incidents were double that of prescription drug cases. Some of the increase in legal drug problems may come from mixing several prescription drugs or from combining them with alcohol. The director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy released a statement suggesting that, “the abuse of prescription drugs is our nation’s fastest-growing drug problem.” The report was released June 18, 2010 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and can be read online at: http://bit.ly/d7giwz.

VITAMIN D LEVELS REMAIN LOW IN RHEUMATIC PATIENTS: Three separate studies paint a worrisome picture of vitamin D deficiencies among patients of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic disorders are those of the joints and connective tissue and include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and lupus, among others. Two new studies found deficient vitamin D levels in these patients. But a third new study found deficiencies of vitamin D still remained in most patients even after supplementation for six months, with 800-1000 IU. This suggests that vitamin D is a common finding in rheumatic patients and that supplementation with 800-1000 IU is insufficient to normalize levels. Would higher levels of supplementation work? The researchers report that the answer is not yet clear. All three studies were separately presented June 18 at EULAR 2010, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, in Rome. They have not been published yet.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Pecans are an antioxidant powerhouse. Of all tree nuts, pecans have the highest antioxidant content. They also fall within the top 15 foods overall that hold the greatest antioxidant content. According to a recent issue of Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research, eating just a handful of pecans a day may delay the progression of age-related motor neuron degeneration and such diseases as amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Pecans provide over 19 vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and several B vitamins. They are naturally cholesterol-free and, unless salted, sodium-free.

HOARDING FRIENDS, BEING LONELY AND POOR HEALTH OFTEN GO HAND IN HAND: Two studies by the same team have found that true loneliness is caused by a lack of depth in communication and connection and that it can often be an underlying health problem in people who hoard friends and have a busy social life. Meeting up with numerous friends, following them on Twitter, or staying in touch with former coworkers does not carry much clout in combating true loneliness, which is a lack of depth of one-to-one communication. And lacking this underlying deeper connection affects health in ways that are becoming clearer: it reduces the regenerative effect of sleep, the ability to cope with stress, and individuals’ attention to health. The mere presence of a relationship, even a “close” one, did not affect this tendency towards loneliness and diminished health. One study appears in summary form in the June issue of the journal, Health Communication and the second will appear in a future issue. The first study is now available in full-text format but only with subscription or fee payment at: http://bit.ly/coSuiC.

FLAME RETARDANT AFFECTS THYROID DURING PREGNANCY: A new study has suggested risks to the fetus from a mother’s higher blood levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a family of compounds commonly found in flame retardants. Mothers with the highest levels of these compounds showed as much as 18.7 percent lower thyroid hormone levels (THS), which may have serious health impacts on newborn babies, as well as the mothers’ health. (PBDEs are a class of organobromine compounds found in common household items such as carpets, textiles, foam furnishings, electronics and plastics. U.S. fire safety standards implemented in the 1970s led to increased use of PBDEs, which can leach out into the environment and accumulate in human fat cells.) The exact pathway by which flame retardants influence thyroid hormones is unclear, although they do mimic human hormones. New “safer” brominated and chlorinated retardants are being phased in by 2013 but even their health impact has not been fully tested, suggested the researchers. The study was released in this summary, or abstract, form on June 21, ahead of its subsequent publication in print, by Environmental Health Perspectives. The full-text version will not be available until the study is published.

LACK OF REM SLEEP LINKED TO CHRONIC MIGRAINES: A new study suggests that a lack of sleep, as well as a lack during sleep of the dreaming phases known as REM, can trigger migraines and increase the risk of chronic migraines. Rapid Eye Movement or REM phases of sleep are those brief periods during which we experience dreaming. Regularly losing sleep, or sleeping but without REM periods – as often occurs when alcohol, drugs or stress are involved – increases the expression, or activity, of certain proteins related to lowering our threshold of pain. The proteins are known as p38, PKA, and P2X3 and lower expression of them can cause the pain of migraine. The study was presented in Los Angeles to the attendees of the American Headache Society’s annual scientific meeting on June 25. It has not been published and details are not yet available.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Despite the often-heard notion that habitually cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis, there is simply no evidence to back this up. The noise arises from the movement of air out of spaces in the joints. It seems that knuckle-crackers are no more likely to have arthritis than those who don’t make those potentially-annoying popping sounds with their fingers.

CT SCANS MAY POSE HEALTH RISK: A study suggests that CT scans – because they are so often prescribed, sometimes unnecessary and occasionally, overdosed – may pose a greater cancer risk than previously believed. Generally, the study concludes that patients are unaware of the risks, and how often scans are ordered (or demanded by the patient) when they are not required. What are CT scans? They are basically x-rays that are super-sharp in imagery. However, they involve much higher levels of radiation than ordinary x-rays and too much radiation raises the risk of cancer over time. The study authors believe that the best way for patients to avoid long-term radiation overdoses and potential cancer risks is for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be given the right to set limits on CT scans, as it now does with drug dosages. The study was published in the June 24, 2010 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine and can be read online at: http://bit.ly/dqg3NI.

‘CAUSE’ OF FUNGUS-RELATED ASTHMA ATTACKS FOUND: A study has found that severe asthma attacks requiring hospitalization can result from a combination of two factors: being of a specific genetic type and being exposed to environments heavy with mold or fungus. Preventing asthma attacks is difficult without knowing the exact mechanism by which only some people become so strongly affected. But the study shows that those with certain variants of genes known as chitinases are most susceptible. Chitinase genes break down chitin, a compound in many fungi; and these genes kick into high gear, especially in the lungs, during an allergic inflammation. If researchers can someday find some therapy that blocks the activity of these chitinase genes in those who have them, they may be able to prevent asthma attacks altogether. This study was released June 25 by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine in abstract, or summary, format. The full-text version is not yet available but will be published in a future issue of the journal, by which time it will be made available with subscription or payment of a fee.

NINETY PERCENT OF AMERICANS EXCEED RECOMMENDED SALT INTAKE: A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that only ten percent of American adults manage to keep their dietary sodium intake below the maximum recommended daily intake level. That grim statistic is even worse in light of the sharp recent reduction in the recommended intake level from 2,300 mg daily – which was the level set in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans – to 1,500 mg, the maximum set in the 2010 version, which came out last week. The new study was based on those former, much higher recommendations and adherence to the new guidelines would be even lower. Although found naturally in some foods, sodium is a key element in added salt. Excessive salt intake is linked to high blood pressure, which in turn is linked to increased risks for stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure and kidney disease. The new report was released June 25, 2010 and is available to read online free of charge at: http://bit.ly/aNqHYL.

VITAMIN D MAY BOOST MENTAL AGILITY IN ELDERLY: Cognitive performance is much improved among the elderly who are not deficient in vitamin D, and vitamin D deficiency may be common among shut-in seniors due to limited access to sunshine and other factors, according to a new study. More than 1,000 study participants who were receiving home care were assessed for vitamin D status. Only 35 percent of participants had sufficient vitamin D levels and this group scored higher on cognitive performance tests than those who were deficient or insufficient in vitamin D. Pathways for vitamin D have been identified in the hippocampus and cerebellum areas of the brain; these are regions associated with planning, processing new information and forming new memories, suggesting vitamin D is important to the cognitive process and for independent senior living. The study was released June 26 by the journal, Journals of Gerontology, Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, in a summary format. But it is available in full-text format with a journal subscription or payment of a fee, at: http://bit.ly/d2FtYY.

NATURAL WAY TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE: A study has shown that the nitrate content of beetroot is what lowers blood pressure, an effect discovered in earlier studies. Healthy volunteers took nitrate tablets or beetroot juice and the subsequently reduced blood pressure readings in both groups pinpoint beetroot’s nitrate content as the key cause. The effect was seen within a mere 24 hours after consumption of just 250 ml of the juice, suggesting a natural means to keep blood pressure within normal range, which is important for avoiding cardiovascular disease. Also, the decrease was greater in those who started the trial with the highest blood pressure. This study was released as an abstract, or summary, on June 28 but won’t be published in print until a future issue of the journal Hypertension. The full-text version is available online now with either subscription or the payment of a fee at: http://bit.ly/9dEJXR.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Antibiotics cannot be effective against the common cold. Nor can they have any impact on viral respiratory infections. The reason? Antibiotics target bacterial infections but are completely ineffective against viruses, such as the common cold or other “viral” infections. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, over 18 million courses of antibiotics are prescribed by U.S. doctors every year for the common cold. And over 50 million unnecessary antibiotic courses are prescribed in the U.S. annually for viral respiratory infections. Use of antibiotics where they are not potentially effective can cause a phenomenon known as antibiotic resistance, in which bacteria – normally susceptible to antibiotic drugs – mutate to become immune to our strongest anti-bacterial drugs.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Most dietary sodium comes from salt. But if you think hiding the salt shaker is going to make a big difference, think again. According to a 1991 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, only about 10 percent of sodium intake comes from table salt and at-home cooking. At least 77 percent of the dietary sodium intake in the United States comes from restaurant meals and processed foods. These are the areas you may want to target, not the salt shaken on your veggies at the dinner table.

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ADULT DEATHS ARE NOT DROPPING: While child and maternity death rates have plunged worldwide, a study concludes that premature death rates among adults 15 to 60 years of age have not declined and vary wildly between countries. The US premature death rate exceeded those of all European countries and several other countries. The study was published April 30, 2010 in the medical journal, The Lancet. In a separate study, researchers found that Canadians enjoy an extra 2.7 years of healthy lifetime, compared to Americans. This second study was published in the April 29, 2010 issue of Biomed Central’s journal, Population Health Metrics.

‘GREEN’ EXERCISE BOOSTS MENTAL HEALTH: Exercising in the green, natural environments has long been known to boost – not necessarily the physical health benefit – but one’s mood, self-esteem and odds of avoiding mental illness such as depression and other psychological conditions. But a study has pinpointed exactly how much time spent working out in green environments – not sitting around outside but actually exercising in those parks, gardens, nature trails and nature-heavy environments – is required to achieve maximum mental health benefit. And it’s a mere five minutes. The study conclusions were released on May 1, by the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

DID YOU KNOW…?
A reduced risk of later food allergies might result from delaying the introduction of certain solid foods into an infant’s diet. One 2009 study suggested that delaying the introduction of eggs, oats or wheat until the age of six months lowered the risk of later development of food allergies. And late introduction of potatoes or fish may lower the risk of developing allergies to any inhaled allergens such as pollen, animal pollen and dust mites.

OLIVE OIL MAY PREVENT COLITIS: A higher consumption of oleic acid could prevent half of all cases of ulcerative colitis, suggests a new study. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid found in olive oil, peanut oil, grapeseed oil and supplements. For 11 years, researchers followed 25,000 people who did not have this disease and assessed their diets. Those who consumed the most oleic acid showed a 90 percent lower incidence of getting ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disorder characterized by ulcers or sores. The study’s conclusions were presented today, May 2, at the Digestive Disease Week conference in New Orleans.

ASPIRIN RAISES RISK OF CROHN’S DISEASE: A large study involving 200,000 volunteers has found that people who take aspirin every day for a year or more could be as much as five times more likely to develop Crohn’s disease. The risk of ulcerative colitis was not found to be higher. Crohn’s is characterized by inflammation and swelling of any part of the digestive system. If you take aspirin regularly, or have been advised to do so, consult with your natural health physician. This study was presented May 3, at the Digestive Disease Week conference in New Orleans and has not been scheduled to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE COULD SLASH DEATH RATES: A new study using mathematical models to predict how greater use of preventive health would influence death rates has found that 50,000 to 100,000 deaths in people under age 80 could be prevented each year. The findings came as a surprise to the study team, which looked at the cumulative impact of employing preventive strategies such as smoking cessation; better screening for cholesterol and blood pressure levels and cancer; and earlier treatments. The study was released in early May but will not be published until the June, 2010 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

ALCOHOL IN PREGNANCY COULD CAUSE LEUKEMIA IN CHILDREN: A study released online today by the journal, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, found that women who drink during pregnancy might be increasing the risk of acute myeloid leukemia in their children by 56 percent. The amount of alcohol consumed was not assessed and women were simply designated as yes or no – drank during pregnancy or didn’t. Despite recommendations against drinking during pregnancy, 12 percent of American – and 59 percent of Australian – women still do. The study details will be published in a future, not-yet-decided issue of the journal.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Contrary to common belief, even skim milk is not fat-free: five percent of skim milk’s calories come from fat. A full 34 percent of the calories contained in partly skimmed of “two percent” milk come from fat. It’s called two percent milk because the fat content makes up two percent of the total weight of the milk. Whole milk contains 48 percent fat by calories. (For comparison, lean hamburger runs about 64 percent fat by calories.)

SERVING STRATEGY INCREASES CHILDREN’S VEGETABLE INTAKE: A study has found that serving hungry pre-school children carrots, by themselves, ten minutes before the main course of lunch arrives, results in children voluntarily consuming a far greater quantity of any other vegetables included in the main course. It also decreases calories consumed and increases the nutritional value. One ounce of pre-lunch carrots doubled the amount of broccoli eaten at lunch compared to children given no carrots; two ounces of pre-lunch carrots tripled the broccoli consumed at lunch. The study appears in the May 5, 2010 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

MAGNET THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION: Many treatment-resistant depressed patients do not respond to antidepressant drugs and yet suffer troublesome side effects. But a study suggests some patients suffering from major depressive disorder, or clinical depression, may do better by getting zapped by a large electromagnet. The non-invasive procedure shows patients experienced significant antidepressant effects with few side effects, using the procedure known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Of the patients receiving rTMS, 14 percent achieved remission, compared to 5 percent of patients receiving the control – or simulated – treatment. The study appears in the May, 2010 issue of the journal, Archives of General Psychiatry.

MATERNAL SMOKING LINKED TO ODDS OF ADOLESCENT SMOKING: A US government study shows those aged 12 to 17 who live with mothers who smoke or had a major depressive episode – depression – during the past year, are much more likely to smoke. The adolescents’ were three times more likely to smoke if their mothers smoked; two times more likely if their mothers suffered depression during the past year; and four times more likely if their mothers both smoked and suffered depression. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health report was posted May 7, 2010 on the Office of Applied Studies website and can be read in non-technical detail at http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k10/166/166SmokingMomsHTML.pdf.

STUDY SAVES LAB MICE FROM NEEDLESS SUFFERING: Although human babies can express discomfort and pain through facial expressions, it has never been proven that nonhuman animals can do so. But researchers have discovered precisely measurable expressions in mice exposed to moderate pain; and developed the subtle Mouse Grimace Scale (MGS). The MGS should facilitate human-pain research, improve veterinary care – and prevent unnecessary lab-mice suffering. Experiments could also determine the MGS works for other species. The study was released online May 9, 2010 as a brief abstract but will be published in full-text format in a future issue of the journal, Nature Methods.

BRAN REDUCES DIABETICS’ MORTALITY: A 26-year study on 7,822 diabetic women has found a higher intake of whole grain – but especially of bran, a whole grain component rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber – lowers the risk of death from cardiovascular disease among women with type 2 diabetes by 35 percent. Also, for this group, greater whole grain, and especially bran, intake reduces the overall risk of death from all causes by 28 percent. “Higher intake” means the top 20 percent of average bran consumption. This brief summary was released May 10, 2010 but details won’t be made available until a future issue of the journal, Circulation.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Your body may make better use of supplemental vitamin D if you take it with your largest meal of the day, boosting its uptake over a two- to three-month period, by as much as 56 percent, according to a study at the Cleveland Clinic, detailed in the April 2010 issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. Vitamin D is loosely linked with a decreased risk of autoimmune disorders. If you’re considering taking vitamin D supplements, talk to your natural health practitioner about dosages.

INJECTABLE CURCUMIN CAN RETARD CANCER: A new study suggests a new form of curcumin can treat breast cancer. A compound in the Indian spice turmeric, curcumin contains potentially anti-cancer components called polyphenols. But when taken by mouth, curcumin’s bioavailability, or absorption level, is very limited. Scientists created a special molecular form known as curcumin microparticles, which can be injected under the skin. They found a single injection boosted curcumin levels for almost a month and showed marked anticancer activity in mice. A very brief summary of this study was released May 11, 2010 but the full text won’t be available until a future issue of both the online and print editions of the journal, Cancer Research.

‘GOOD FATS’ BENEFIT: A study suggests foods rich in good fats may partly offset the risk factors for ischemic heart disease (IHD). Smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and aging are risk factors for IHD, a reduced blood supply to the heart. But IHD rates are low in Spain, where risk factors are high. So scientists compared blood levels of unsaturated fats in healthy people with those showing signs of IHD and concluded greater levels of oleic, alpha-linolenic and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids – found in olive oil, walnuts and fish, respectively – protected against IHD. This brief summary was released May 12 but details are withheld until a future issue of the online and print editions of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

MEDITERRANEAN DIET CONFIRMED RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS: A study has concluded that the Greek diet, which is generally similar to the plant-based Mediterranean diet (MD), is a rich source of a variety of antioxidants, including flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and other antioxidant micro-components. The researchers suggest this may be the reason for the health benefits of the MD. Over 200 foods and recipes were involved and their consumption was estimated using dietary statistics on over 28,000 Greeks. Antioxidants are molecules that can stop chain reactions, called oxidation, which potentially can damage cells. A brief summary was released May 12, 2010 and further details, which will appear in a future print issue of the Journal of Nutrition, are now available online – with fee payment or journal subscription – at: http://bit.ly/cBOD1k.

TESTOSTERONE-SLEEP LINK: The level of sleep known as deep sleep, which is about 10 to 20 percent of sleep time in young men, is when recuperation of body and mind is optimal. Men’s deep sleep begins to diminish around age 40; and by age 50, decreases to five to seven percent of total sleep. For men over 60, deep sleep can disappear altogether. Male testosterone drops by one to two percent a year after age 30 and scientists have long suggested sleep loss may cause the hormonal drop. But a new study suggests it’s the other way around: decreases in testosterone lower the high synchronization required between (also diminishing) brain cells, affecting sleep. This brief summary was presented in Montreal on May 13 at the annual conference of the Association francophone pour le savoir (ACFAS); at this time, it is not expected to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

GENES DETERMINE FAT LOCATION: A study explains why men accumulate excess adipose, or fat, tissue on the belly while women accumulate fat on their hips. Genetic composition of the fat stored in these different areas is almost completely different. Almost all of the genes found in male belly fat were different from the genes found in female hip fat. This shocked researchers who had expected the reverse – that almost all the genes in that fat tissue would be the same between the sexes. Given the differences in genetic makeup, a woman’s fat cannot be expected to behave in the same way, or locate in the same place, as a man’s fat tissue. Published in the May 14, 2010 issue of the International Journal of Obesity, further details of this study are available only to subscribers or those willing to pay a fee, at: http://bit.ly/bfe6yc.

ACTIVITY, NOT JUST EXERCISE, IMPROVES COPD: A study has determined that the day-to-day functioning of COPD – or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – patients is much more improved by an increase in the number and variety of daily physical activities such as walking to the bank or doing housework, than by an increase in formal exercise routines. In other words, formal exercise programs can increase physical fitness in COPD patients but the resultant day-to-day functional ability is still very limited by disease severity; but those who had a more active, task-oriented lifestyle – without formal exercise – were better able to rise above their COPD severity. COPD refers to chronic bronchitis and emphysema, in both of which the airways of the lungs become narrowed. This study was presented May 16 at the American Thoracic Society’s 2010 annual conference in New Orleans and will be published online and in print at some future point.

DID YOU KNOW…?
With all the bottled waters on the market today, it’s difficult to tell one type from another. Here are a few of the definitions. Usually, mineral water contains at least 500 parts per million dissolved mineral solids such as sodium, magnesium or calcium. Sparkling water is carbonated water in which the gases dissolved in the water are “captured” in the water by capping the bottle before they can escape. Club soda is artificially carbonated tap water to which minerals have been added. Seltzer is artificially carbonated tap water that frequently is flavored or sweetened, making it high in calories.

PROCESSED MEAT LINKED TO HEART DISEASE: Regular consumption of processed meat such as bacon, sausage, luncheon meats or processed deli meats could result in a 42 percent higher risk of heart disease and a 19 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. The research did not find a greater risk of heart disease or diabetes as a result of greater consumption of unprocessed red meat such as from beef, pork or lamb. Most dietary guidelines recommend a lower intake of red meat but little research focuses on the issue of red meat versus processed red meat. Processed meat was defined as any meat involving smoking, curing, salting or chemical preservatives. The study was released May 17; the full-text version will be published in a future edition of both the online and print editions of the journal, Circulation.

VISUAL TASK REDUCES FOOD CRAVINGS: Developing vivid mental images of nonfood items, or watching them on a screen, can reduce or eliminate food cravings, suggests a new study. Food cravings are different from hunger in that they focus on specific foods. Mental imagery has been found to be a strong component of food cravings and in fact, mathematical and memory performances are reduced when food cravings – and the strong visual imagery of specific foods – are present. New evidence shows that switching the imagery to something else, such as a rainbow or a flickering pattern, and even certain odors, can decrease cravings. The study suggests that smart phones and other devices could be harnessed to reduce cravings for both food and drugs. This study was published in the May 18, 2010 edition of the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science; access to details is limited to registered members of the media or the Association for Psychological Science.

DIET LOWERS RISK OF HEART ATTACK: Portugal and Galacia – a region in northwest Spain – are known for very low rates of death from acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or heart attack. To assess whether diet plays a role, researchers studied what they termed the South European Atlantic Diet (SEAD), which is traditional in these regions. This diet includes fruit, sausage, potatoes, olive oil, legumes, vegetables, whole-grain bread, wine and most notably, a very large intake of cod, other fish and soup. Those subjects who scored in the highest quarter of adherence to the SEAD experienced a 33 percent lower incidence of nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) than the quarter that least adhered to this diet. The team concluded that overall, the SEAD may be behind the lower risk; but added that some SEAD foods could help prevent AMI while others may not. This brief summary was released May 19. Further details won’t be available until a future issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

AB FAT RAISES LATER DEMENTIA RISK: Otherwise healthy adults may be at risk for dementia in later life as a result of excess abdominal fat during middle-age, suggests a new study. Those who had higher obesity measures such as Body Mass Index (BMI) or waist-to-hip ratio showed a greater rate of dementia factors such as brain volume or white matter volume. This study carries more weight because it included 733 subjects while previous studies showing similar results included fewer than 300 people. It also showed a stronger connection between dementia and fat located specifically around the abdomen. Dementia can result from irreversible causes such Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, and Huntington’s disease, or from reversible conditions such as brain tumor, medication reaction or metabolic issues. This brief summary was released May 20, but further details won’t be available until a future edition of the Annals of Neurology.

YOGA HELPS CANCER SURVIVORS: As many as two thirds of cancer patients suffer regularly from fatigue and difficulty sleeping long after their treatments have been discontinued. But a new study offers these people the promise of better sleep and improved quality of life. Researchers found that cancer survivors who perform gentle yoga twice a week report they sleep better, feel less tired and enjoy better quality of life. The regimen included “breathing exercises, gentle Hatha and restorative yoga postures and mindfulness exercises.” The largest study of its type, this brief outline was released May 20. Full details will be available when the study is formally presented at the June, 2010 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Evidence is growing that air pollution, especially fine particulate matter, can trigger cardiovascular death within a few hours of exposure among those who are at risk. Long-term exposure can shorten lifespan by a few months to a few years. To cut the risk of pollution-triggered death, seek treatment for underlying heart risk factors: blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and smoking. Also, those with heart problems should monitor air quality reports and stay indoors or limit activity during high-particulate days. For guidance, speak to your natural health practitioner; for detailed information, visit: http://bit.ly/cQhl4g.

DIABETES 2 RAISES RISK OF VARIOUS CANCERS: A large study of type 2 diabetes patients – so large that it involved half of all type 2 diabetics in Sweden – has found them to be at increased risk of many types of cancer. The reason for the higher risk is still not clear but may result, conclude researchers, from “the profound metabolic disturbances of the underlying disease.” The highest risks were found for liver and pancreatic cancers, which occurred six times and four times more often, respectively, among type 2 diabetics. Risks were also greater for upper aero-digestive tract, esophageal, colon, rectal, lung, cervical, endometrial, ovarian and kidney cancers. Interestingly, there was a lower risk of prostate cancer. This brief summary was released early online, but the full-text version of this study will be published in the June, 2010 issue of The Oncologist.

SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES LINKED TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: A study suggests that reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks results in a reduction of blood pressure readings among adults. In this study of 810 adults, reducing the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages by just one serving a day produced a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic readings – meaning the upper and lower numbers in a blood pressure reading. An analysis of diet drink and caffeine consumption showed no blood pressure effect, suggesting that it is the actual sugar content of these beverages that is producing the higher blood pressure readings. Sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages have previously been associated with a higher risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. A brief summary of this study was released May 24 but details will not be made available until the study is published in the online and print editions of a future issue of the journal, Circulation.

FOLATE MAY PREVENT ALCOHOL DAMAGE IN FETUSES: A study on mice suggests that high levels of the B vitamin folate – folic acid – prevented heart-related birth defects caused by alcohol exposure during early pregnancy, a condition known as fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol-related congenital heart defects often develop in the embryo during a period when a woman may still be drinking because she does not yet know she is pregnant, a period of perhaps 16 to 18 days. The dose of folate required was considerably larger than the standard dietary recommendation of 400 micrograms. The researchers stressed that the protective effect was only seen when folate was taken very early in pregnancy and prior to the time of alcohol exposure. The study was released in brief summary format but the full-text version is available for the payment of a fee at the following web page of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology: http://bit.ly/cP8J7b.

BRUSHING TEETH MAY CUT HEART RISK: Research released today by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) suggests that those who brush their teeth less than twice a day experience a 70 percent greater risk of heart disease. The 8-year study of 11,869 men and women also showed that those with generally poor dental hygiene had higher levels of certain inflammatory markers – such the C-reactive protein – often seen as heart disease risk factors. Despite the pronounced difference in risk between those brushing twice daily and once daily, the overall risk of heart disease from inadequate dental hygiene was still low for both groups. Details of the study appear in the May 29, 2010 issue of the BMJ.

PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO BPA AND DES MAY CAUSE BREAST CANCER: Research now released suggests that exposure in the womb to the chemicals bisphenol-A (BPA) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) can induce genetic changes that increase an offspring’s risk of developing breast cancer as an adult. BPA, DES and similar compounds are known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which are substances in the environment that interfere with the proper functioning of hormones and affect how genes are expressed in breast tissue. Exposure to these compounds before birth increased in mice, levels of a protein called EZH2, which is associated with higher breast cancer risk. It’s important to note that mouse studies do not necessarily apply to humans; but females known to be exposed pre-birth should be monitored for breast cancer as adults, the study authors recommend. The study will appear in a future issue of the journal, Hormones and Cancer but is currently available online free of charge in its full-text version at:
http://bit.ly/9fJcVU.

HOW ACUPUNCTURE WORKS NOW CONFIRMED: Clarifying how acupuncture may work to reduce pain, a study shows that, at the site applied, acupuncture needles increase levels of a molecule called adenosine, a natural compound that regulates sleep, anti-inflammatory responses – and painkilling. Research previously showed an increase in brain-signaling and painkilling endorphins when the central nervous system is affected by acupuncture. But this study found that stimulation of nerve endings not linked to the brain and spinal cord also increase levels of adenosine. Mice bred to have no adenosine received no pain benefit from acupuncture; mice whose adenosine was “turned on” received benefit without acupuncture; and mice with normal adenosine had pain reduced by two thirds while adenosine levels at the needle site jumped 24 times normal levels. This study will be published in a future issue of Nature Neuroscience, no sooner than the July 2010 issue and usually, full details would be available before then only with subscription or fee payment. However, this full-text study was released May 30 without cost at: http://bit.ly/dogW0U.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Personally mixing and applying insecticides just six times a year may be a factor in acquiring autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and especially, rheumatoid arthritis. One 2009 study suggested the risk for those personally handling insecticides on farms may be twice as high compared to those who do not use, or come into contact with, these sprays. Is it skin exposure? Inhalation? This research was preliminary and further studies are needed.

DID YOU KNOW…?
Even at low levels generally considered to pose little or no risk, exposure to environmental lead might increase – by as much as 2.3 times – the risk of depression and panic disorder but not of generalized anxiety disorder. That was the suggestion of a Canadian study appearing in the December, 2009 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. Gender and ethnicity were also factors and the researchers stressed that lead exposure cannot be determined to be a cause of these psychological problems.

What could they do with this white substance with no food appeal? Those ingenious marketeers added yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter.

Let’s compare margarine and butter.

Both have the same amount of calories.

Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical School study.

Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.

Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because they are added.

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years.

There’s more bad news about margarine:
Very high in trans fatty acids.
Triples risk of coronary heart disease when used daily.
Increases total and LDL cholesterol and lowers HDL cholesterol.
Increases the risk of cancers up to five times if eaten daily.
Lowers the quality of breast milk.
Decreases immune response.
Decreases insulin response.

Why is margarine such a problematic fat?
Mostly because it is only one molecule away from being a PLASTIC compound.

Margarine is molecularly similar to paint.

These facts alone should be enough to have us avoiding margarine (and all hydrogenated foods) for life. Hydrogenation is a process in which hydrogen molecules are jammed onto an otherwise “good” fat (all good fats are based on energy-rich carbon chains), breaking apart the carbon chains and depleting the life-giving properties of the oil or fat, while extending its “shelf-life” almost indefinitely.

Which is why, if you were to purchase a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage you will notice a couple of things within a few days:
* no bugs, roaches or flies, not even those pesky fruit flies, will go near it.
* It does not rot or start to smell funny, because it has no nutritional value; nothing will grow on it. Why not? Because it is nearly plastic.

Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on toast?

I now recall some wise words from a favorite nutrition mentor:
“Don’t eat any food that wouldn’t rot; but eat it before it does.”

Breast awareness is critical to the all-important early detection of possible breast disease.  Men get breast cancer also, and it’s not rare in men, although it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women, after lung cancer. Although men should regularly check their breast tissue, this article is aimed more at increasing awareness of female breast tissue.

Check breasts regularly.  This means several times a week.  Once a month is not enough.  You don`t need to lie down or have any props.  You just need your hands and your mental focus.  Please don`t think to yourself  ”I’m checking my breast(s) to make sure I don’t have cancer.”  The optimal mind set is “Hi! How are you doing today gals! Nice to feel you!”

Incorporate breast self-exam into your bathing routine.  As you soap up your armpits, spend 5 extra seconds feeling in the armpits.  Feel for lumps or bumps, which could signify enlarged lymph nodes.  The lymph nodes that drain the breast tissue are located in the armpits, so enlarged armpit (axillary) nodes could signify breast infection or breast disease.

Next, using both hands simultaneously, carefully feel the entire breast tissue, down to the chest wall.  You might use a circular pattern, spiraling in towards the nipple to make sure you cover the whole terrain.  A stripe pattern is fine too.  Just as long as all of the breast tissue is felt.  What you are feeling for is ASYMMETRY.  Breasts are most definitely lumpy and bumpy – this is normal!  This is the nature of fibrocystic tissue, which most women have and which does not predispose to breast disease or cancer.  A lump or bump that is hard (not squishy) and is not felt in the mirror opposite area of the other breast, requires immediate medical attention.

If your breast tissue is already asymmetrical (due to surgery or disease) you cannot rely on feeling the symmetry of the breast tissue.  Feel instead for lumps or bumps that seem to be growing.

If you find a suspicious lump or bump consider follow-up with a mammogram, ultrasound or biopsy.  Regular mammograms are not necessarily the best approach to breast cancer prevention.  Consider the following:

Mammograms deliver ionizing radiation to sensitive breasts tissue.
Mammograms may create complacency in women, and reduce the likeliness of performing regular breast self-exam.
An aggressive breast cancer, especially in a younger, hormonally active, woman could kill her before the next annual mammogram.
Mammograms have not reduced breast cancer deaths according to some sources.
Mammograms produce many false positive results, leading to unnecessary medical intervention including biopsies, which leave scar tissue in the breast.

References
http://www.gotomydoc.com/education/breast_health/learn/false_pos_mammo/
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/wha/wha_selfexam_crs.htm
http://www.ahrq.gov/CLINIC/uspstf/uspsbrca.htm