5 toxics that are everywhere: Protect yourself - CNN.com

5 toxics that are everywhere: Protect yourself - CNN.com

Is enough being done to protect us from chemicals that could harm us? Watch "Toxic America," a special two-night investigative report with Sanjay Gupta M.D., June 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. ET on CNN.

(CNN) -- A growing body of research is linking five chemicals -- among the most common in the world -- to a host of ailments, including cancer, sexual problems and behavioral issues.
We encounter them every day -- in plastic bottles, storage containers, food wrap, cans, cookware, appliances, carpets, shower curtains, clothes, personal care products, furniture, television sets, electronics, bedding, cushions and mattresses. In short, every room in almost every house in the United States is likely to contain at least one of these chemicals, many of which did not exist a century ago.
They are bisphenol A, or BPA; phthalates; PFOA; formaldehyde; and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PDBEs. Tests reveal most of us now carry them in our bodies, but are they putting our health -- and the health of our children -- in jeopardy?
Here's what you should know about:
BPA - Bisphenol A
What it does: BPA is a building block of a lightweight, clear, heat-resistant and almost unbreakable plastic called polycarbonate. It's also used in epoxy resins.
Where it's found: Water bottles, baby bottles, reusable food containers, plastic tableware, infant feeding cups, linings of infant formula cans and other cans, jar lids, CDs, electrical and electronic equipment, dental sealants.
How we're exposed: Eating food or drinking liquids stored in containers containing BPA. Infants and small children may also be exposed from hand to mouth contact with materials containing BPA. BPA also migrates from dental sealants into patients' mouths. Fetuses are exposed in the womb by their mothers. Almost everyone has been exposed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found BPA in the urine of 93 percent of the people it tested.
Special Report: Toxic America
Health effects: The American Chemistry Council, an industry trade group, says exposure is so low there are no ill health effects. A new five-year Kaiser Permanente study of Chinese factory workers found higher BPA exposure linked to reduced male sexual function. This research joins a growing body of research on animals that suggests BPA poses a potential cancer risk and may mimic the female hormone estrogen and disrupt the extremely sensitive chemical signals in the body called the endocrine system. According to the Food and Drug Administration, these studies suggest BPA could affect "the brain, behavior and prostate gland in fetuses, infants and young children."
Regulation: BPA is an Environmental Protection Agency "chemical of concern," one of five substances the agency has targeted for increased scrutiny and potential new regulation. (The others are phthalates, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, PBDEs, and perfluorinated chemicals including PFOA.)
The Food and Drug Administration allows BPA in flexible food packaging.
What you can do to reduce exposure: Buy stainless steel bottles and glass food storage containers. If you buy plastic, check for the recycle number on the bottom. If there is a number 7, assume the container contains BPA unless it explicitly says otherwise. Switch to fresh or frozen vegetables instead of canned. Other precautions include not microwaving or putting hot liquids in BPA plastic containers and throwing away baby bottles and feeding cups that are scratched.
Phthalates
What they do: This family of chemicals softens plastics. They also are used to bind chemicals together.
Where they're found: Shampoos, conditioners, body sprays, hair sprays, perfumes, colognes, soap, nail polish, shower curtains, medical tubing, IV bags, vinyl flooring and wall coverings, food packaging and coatings on time-release pharmaceuticals.
How we're exposed: Absorbed into the body through personal care products, ingested in drugs, on food, in water and dust. Infants can be exposed through infant care products like baby shampoos, lotions and powders. Fetuses are exposed in the womb. Virtually everyone is exposed to phthalates.
Health effects: A new study by the Mount Sinai Center for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research found a statistical association between prenatal exposure to phthalates and incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder years later. Phthalates are considered endocrine disrupters, and studies have shown a statistical association between phthalate exposure and male sexual development. Research has also shown phthalates disrupt reproductive development of male laboratory animals.
Tell us: Is your town toxic?
Regulation: Phthalates are an EPA "chemical of concern." The FDA allows for plastic containing phthalate in flexible food packaging. The U.S. government last year banned or restricted six phthalates for use in children's toys and children's products.
What you can do to reduce exposure: Avoid shampoos, conditioners and other personal care products that list "fragrance" as an ingredient. These may contain phthalates. (Companies are not required to disclose the ingredients in their scents, and the industry says this phthalate is safe.) The federal government recently ended one source of exposure, banning the sale of toys containing any of six phthalates.
PFOA -- Perfluorooctanoic acid (also called C8)
What it does: PFOA is used to make Teflon and thousands of other nonstick and stain- and water-repellent products.
Where they're found: PFOA is present in Teflon and other nonstick or stain- and water-repellent coatings as a trace impurity. These coatings are used on cookware, waterproof breathable clothing, furniture and carpets and in a myriad of industrial applications. PFOA can also be produced by the breakdown of these products.
How we're exposed: Inhaling contaminated air, eating contaminated food and drinking contaminated water. Some researchers say nonstick pans give off PFOA vapors, which contaminate food.
Health effects: Almost everyone has PFOA in his or her blood. PFOA causes cancer and developmental problems in laboratory animals. The EPA concludes research on PFOA is "suggestive of carcinogenicity but not sufficient to assess human carcinogenic potential."
Regulation: PFOA is an EPA "chemical of concern."
What you can do to reduce exposure: The EPA does not recommend any steps to reduce exposure to PFOA. You can reduce potential exposure by using stainless steel or cast iron cookware. If you use nonstick cookware, do not overheat, which releases toxic gas.
How toxic is your air?
Formaldehyde
What it does: Formaldehyde is an ingredient in resins that act as a glue in the manufacture of pressed wood products.
Where it's found: Pressed wood products such as particle board, plywood, paneling and fiberboard; also, glues and adhesives and durable press fabrics like drapes.
How we're exposed: Breathing "off-gassing" from products containing formaldehyde. Car exhaust and cigarette smoke also contain formaldehyde.
Health effects: Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen, causing cancers of the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract. Formaldehyde fumes can also cause nausea, skin irritation, watery eyes, or burning eyes, nose and throat.
What you can do to reduce exposure: Buying furniture free from formaldehyde eliminates much of the exposure we face from the chemical. One option to reduce "off-gassing": purchase "exterior grade" pressed-wood products, which emit formaldehyde at significantly lower rates. If you have wood products containing formaldehyde, increase ventilation, reduce humidity with air conditioning or dehumidifiers and keep your home cool.
PBDEs - Polybrominated diphenyl ethers
What they do: PBDEs are a group of chemicals used as flame retardants, meaning they reduce the chance of something catching fire and slow how fast it burns when it does catch fire.
Where they're found: PBDEs are found in televisions, computers and wire insulation, and furniture foam. Over time, televisions and other products shed PBDEs, which accumulate in dust. More than 124 million pounds of PBDEs are produced annually worldwide and they do not break down easily.
How we're exposed: Swallowing PBDE-contaminated dust and contact with this dust are the primary routes into our bodies, where they collect in fat tissue. We can also be exposed through food and water. Breast-feeding infants are exposed to PBDEs through their mother's milk and have the highest exposure compared to their body weight, followed by infants and toddlers, according to the data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Levels in humans have been rising rapidly since PBDEs were introduced in the 1960s and '70s.
Health effects: PBDEs accumulate in the body. Toxicology tests show PDBEs may damage the liver and kidneys and affect the brain and behavior, according to the EPA.
Regulation: In December, the EPA named PBDEs "chemicals of concern."

What you can do to reduce exposure: Try to find products without PBDE flame retardants and be sure to sweep up dust.

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Study: Belly bulge can be deadly for older adults

This is a fantastic article and study about belly fat and the health consequences.

Study: Belly bulge can be deadly for older adults

If your pants are feeling a bit tight around the waistline, take note: Belly bulge can be deadly for older adults, even those who aren't overweight or obese by other measures.

One of the largest studies to examine the dangers of abdominal fat suggests men and women with the biggest waistlines have twice the risk of dying over a decade compared to those with the smallest tummies.

Surprisingly, bigger waists carry a greater risk of death even for people whose weight is "normal" by the body mass index, or BMI, a standard measure based on weight and height.

"Even if you haven't had a noticeable weight gain, if you notice your waist size increasing that's an important sign," said lead author Eric Jacobs of the American Cancer Society, which funded the study. "It's time to eat better and start exercising more."

Other research has linked waist size to dementia, heart disease, asthma and breast cancer.

Bulging bellies are a problem for most Americans older than 50. It's estimated that more than half of older men and more than 70 percent of older women have bigger waistlines than recommended. And it's a growing problem: Average waistlines have expanded by about an inch per decade since the 1960s.

To check your girth, wrap a tape measure around your waist at the navel. No fair sucking in your bulge. Men should have a waist circumference no larger than 40 inches. For women, the limit is 35 inches.

The new study, appearing in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine, is the first to analyze waist size and deaths for people in three BMI categories: normal, overweight and obese. In all three groups, waist size was linked to higher risk.

About 2 percent of people in the study had normal BMI numbers but larger than recommended waists. Jacobs said the risk increased progressively with increasing waist size, even at waist sizes well below what might be considered too large.

The study used data from more than 100,000 people who were followed from 1997 to 2006. Nearly 15,000 people died during that time.

The researchers crunched numbers on waist circumference, height and weight to draw conclusions about who was more likely to die. Study participants measured their own waists, so some honest mistakes and wishful fudging could have been included, the authors acknowledged.

Four extra inches around the waist increased the risk of dying from between 15 percent to 25 percent. Oddly, the strongest link — 25 percent — was in women with normal BMI.

People with bigger waists had a higher risk of death from causes including respiratory illnesses, heart disease and cancer.

The study was observational, a less rigorous approach that means the deaths could have been caused by factors other than waist size. But the researchers did take into account other risk factors for poor health, such as smoking and alcohol use.

Some older adults gain belly fat while they lose muscle mass, Jacobs said, so while they may not be getting heavier, they're changing shape — and that's taking a toll.

A tape measure, or a belt that doesn't buckle the way it used to, "may tell you things your scale doesn't," Jacobs said.

Fat stored behind the abdominal wall may be more harmful than fat stored on the hips and thighs. Some scientists believe belly fat secretes proteins and hormones that contribute to inflammation, interfere with how the body processes insulin and raise cholesterol levels.

But Dr. Samuel Klein, an obesity expert at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is skeptical about that theory. Removing belly fat surgically doesn't lead to health improvements. That may mean it's simply a stand-in for some other culprit that is causing both belly fat and poor health. Klein wasn't involved in the new research. Klein said the new study, while showing a link between waist size and mortality, doesn't pinpoint exactly how much belly fat is dangerous for normal, overweight and obese people. The 40-inch for men and 35-inch for women cutoff points are irrelevant for many people, he said. What can be done to fight belly fat? It's the same advice as for losing weight. Eat fewer calories and burn more through walking, bicycling and other aerobic exercise. "Sit-ups are useless," Klein said. ___ Online: Archives: http://www.archinternmed.com

Scientists call for global policy change on vitamin D

Scientists call for global policy change on vitamin D

International experts have again called out for an increase in daily recommendations for Vitamin D, which they say is crucial to reduce the risk of a host a diseases.

The latest call comes from scientists in Europe and the US, who say that higher intake levels of the vitamin could help protect against conditions such as childhood rickets, adult osteomalacia, cancer, autoimmune type-1 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity and muscle weakness.

Writing in the July 28 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, the authors propose worldwide policy changes to increase recommended intake levels of the sunshine vitamin. This, they said, would reduce the frequency of certain diseases, increase longevity and reduce medical costs.

"It is high time that worldwide vitamin D nutritional policy, now at a crossroads, reflects current scientific knowledge about the vitamin's many benefits and develops a sound vision for the future," said Anthony Norman, a professor emeritus of biochemistry and biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside.

D Data

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. The former, produced in the skin on exposure to UVB radiation (290 to 320 nm), is said to be more bioactive.

While our bodies do manufacture vitamin D on exposure to sunshine, the levels in some northern countries are so weak during the winter months that our body makes no vitamin D at all, meaning that dietary supplements and fortified foods are seen by many as the best way to boost intakes of vitamin D.

The authors of the current study note that the best sources of unfortified foods naturally containing vitamin D are animal products and fatty fish and liver extracts like salmon or sardines and cod liver oil. Vitamin D-fortified food sources include milk and milk products, orange juice, breakfast cereals and bars, grain products, pastas, infant formulas and margarines.

Typical recommended daily intakes (RDIs) lie between 200 and 600 international units (IU) per day while more and more science shows the above benefits can be better achieved with levels closer to 2000IU per day without safety concerns.

"Currently, more than half the world's population gets insufficient amounts of this vitamin. At present about half of elderly North Americans and Western Europeans and probably also of the rest of the world are not receiving enough vitamin D to maintain healthy bone," said Norman.

Benefits for all major diseases

Together with co-author Roger Bouillon of the Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, Norman stresses that if the daily dietary intake of vitamin D is increased by 600-1000 IU in all adults above their present supply, it would bring beneficial effects on bone health in the elderly and on all major human diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic and immune diseases.

In addition, they note that rickets in children could be eradicated if present guidelines for vitamin D intake were strictly implemented for pregnant and lactating women, newborns and children.

Increasing vitamin D dietary intake to 2000 IU per day – and more for subgroups of the world population with the poorest vitamin D status – could also “favourably impact multiple sclerosis, type-1 diabetes, tuberculosis, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular risk factors and most cancers,” they said.

Deficiency

In adults, it is said vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

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This is the New probiotic chewable from Market America

What Makes Might-a-Mins® Spectrum Probiotics Unique?

There are dozens of children’s probiotic products on the market; however, it is important to know that not all probiotic supplements are created equal. Quality probiotic products must successfully deliver a sufficient number of total bacteria from a diverse range of bacterial strains. They also must ensure that the bacteria are protected and viable both during the shelf life of the product, and throughout the digestive process.

Bacteria are naturally present within the body and are most concentrated within the digestive tract. Both healthy bacteria (probiotics) and potentially unhealthy bacteria populate within the digestive tract. Maintaining a balance of these two types of bacteria is essential in maintain optimal health.

Might-a-Mins Spectrum Probiotics contains five billion colony forming units from five carefully selected bacterial strains. This product was formulated using the patented LiveBac® tableting process to help ensure the viability of the bacteria so your child receives the full benefits of the selected probiotics. Your children will look forward to taking their Might-a-Mins Spectrum Probiotics because of the delicious flavor of this fruit-flavored, chewable tablet.

Each bacterial strain within Might-a-Mins Spectrum Probiotics has a unique purpose, and the strains work synergistically to support numerous areas of health from immunity to stomach comfort and bowel regularity. The digestive tract is home to 400-500 different types of microbes. With such tremendous diversity, it is important to supplement with not just one strain, but numerous strains, so that the most comprehensive benefit is received. Your child’s body is a bacterial battlefield. As with a true battle, there may be lots of different types of good guys and lots of different types of bad guys. On “The Good Guys Team” (Might-a-Mins Spectrum Probiotics), you have the Army, Navy, Marines and Air Force. When your good guys are outnumbered, you don’t want to just bring in more Navy – you need some of each. That is the most sure-fire way to win the battle.

Might-a-Mins Spectrum Probiotics, “The Good Guys Team”, are five carefully selected bacterial strains – four lactobacilli strains and one streptococcus strain – each with a proven role to help support children’s health.

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus – highly resilient bacteria which plays a role in immune health
• Lactobacillus salivarius – helps to balance bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract
• Lactobacillus paracasei – acid and bile resistant bacteria, which supports immune health
• Lactobacillus plantarum – helps to preserve nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins
• Streptococcus salivarius – supports dental health, especially in children

Might-a-Mins Spectrum Probiotics delivers complete immune support by helping to maintain optimal bacterial balance within the digestive tract. Maintaining a healthy digestive system is critical in maintaining optimal overall health because approximately 70 percent of the immune system resides within the digestive tract. Keep your kids healthy with Might-a-Mins Spectrum Probiotics.

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Vitamin K Slashes Risks of Cancer of Lymphatic System | Worldhealth.net Anti-Aging News

Vitamin K Slashes Risks of Cancer of Lymphatic System | Worldhealth.net Anti-Aging News

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in the lymphatic system, and the disease actually is comprised of 29 different forms of lymphoma. Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) is a fat soluble vitamin found mainly in green leafy vegetables, with smaller amounts found in other vegetables, vegetable oils, and some fruits. In that Vitamin K compounds have been found to affect proteins involved in coagulation, inhibit inflammatory cytokines, and contribute to cellular processes that inhibit the pathways that promote lymph cancer, James Cerhan, from Mayo Clinic (Minnesota, USA), and colleagues studied 603 men and women who were newly diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, surveying their dietary habits and ascertaining daily Vitamin K intake levels, comparing the data to 1,007 healthy control subjects with no cancer. The team found that the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma was approximately 45% lower in people with a vitamin K intake of at least 108 micrograms a day, as compared with people with an intake of less than 39 micrograms per day. The researchers conclude that: “Higher intake of vitamin K from the diet was inversely associated with risk of [Non-Hodgkin lymphoma] overall and for the major subtypes … suggest[ing] that the coagulation pathway or other biologic effects of vitamin K may play a role in lymphomagenesis.”

Here is the actual article

Supplements beat sun for vitamin D boost: Study

Supplements beat sun for vitamin D boost: Study:

"Adequate vitamin D levels are best achieved by supplements because of the side-effects of UV exposure, says the results of a new computer simulation model from the US."


Supplements beat sun for vitamin D boost:

Study By Stephen Daniells, 18-Jun-2010

Related topics: Research, Vitamins & premixes

Adequate vitamin D levels are best achieved by supplements because of the side-effects of UV exposure, says the results of a new computer simulation model from the US.

We can produce vitamin D in our skin on exposure to sunlight, but the merits of getting the supplement via sunlight or supplements is a source of ongoing debate.

In the US, where over 1.5 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year, experts are pushing supplements, claiming recommendations for sun exposure are "highly irresponsible".

Computer science

Scientists from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research in Tromsø used a computer model to determine optimal sun exposure times to produce blood levels of vitamin D3 equivalent to 400 or 1000 IU of vitamin D.

The researcher chose two geographical sites – Miami, FL, and Boston, MA – for their simulation and selected four months – January, April, July, and October.

Data showed that in summer in Boston, people would need between three and eight minutes of sunlight exposure to about 25 per cent of their body surface to synthesise 400 IU of vitamin D. In winter, the simulation indicated that it would be difficult to produce any vitamin D in Boston. No such problems were calculated in Miami, however, with between three and six minutes needed to produce 400 IU at all times of the year.

“There are many limitations to these models, and clearly the estimates are only rough approximations,” said the researchers. “Although it may be tempting to recommend intentional sun exposure for a few minutes several times a week, cutaneous vitamin D synthesis is an intricate process and depends on numerous variables.

“Even in a simplified model such as the one used here, it can be seen to vary considerably by geography, season, and skin type. Furthermore, even if a more accurate and practical model were developed, titrating one’s own exposure to sunlight is difficult, if not impossible.

“Because of these practical difficulties combined with the detrimental side effects of UV exposure, we endorse the IARC assessment that even if it is ultimately demonstrated that increasing vitamin D levels impacts cancer and chronic disease, oral supplements of vitamin D would probably represent the safest way to increase vitamin D status,” concluded the researchers.

D details

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. Both D3 and D2 precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form that is tightly controlled by the body.

An ever growing body of science supports the benefits of maintaining healthy vitamin D levels. In adults, it is said vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases. There is also some evidence that the vitamin may reduce the incidence of several types of cancer and type-1 diabetes.

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
June 2010, Volume 62, Issue 6, Pages 929.e1-929.e9
“Estimated equivalency of vitamin D production from natural sun exposure versus oral vitamin D supplementation across seasons at two US latitudes”
Authors: V. Terushkin, A. Bender, E.L. Psaty, O. Engelsen, S.Q. Wang, A.C. Halpern

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Best places to shop for everything - Yahoo! Finance

Best places to shop for everything - Yahoo! Finance

Best places to shop for everything
According to Consumer Reports


On Tuesday June 15, 2010, 3:00 am EDT

Illustration of a couple with a shopping cart filled with bags and boxes from different stores
Illustration by John Pirman

Last year shoppers spent $405 billion at Walmart, the world’s largest retailer. But according to a new study by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, they might be better off if they switch stores.

For all the talk about Walmart’s low prices, 30,666 subscribers we surveyed said the prices at 10 other retailers, including JCPenney, Sears, Dillard’s, and Meijer, were at least as good. And bigger wasn’t necessarily better when it came to the overall shopping experience. Almost three-quarters of respondents who shopped at Walmart found at least one problem to complain about, and half had two or more complaints about the store or its staff.

Walmart and Kmart scored notably lower than the other chains, but Costco stood tall. In addition to citing the warehouse club’s rock-bottom prices, survey respondents praised its bang for the buck: It was the only store judged much better than average for value. In our surveys over the years, Costco has earned high marks as a source of a surprisingly large selection of goods, including mattresses, electronics, small appliances, groceries, and books. In recent years, the chain’s Kirkland Signature products have often performed well in our tests.

"Costco surprises consumers with great products and brands at exceptional prices," says Will Ander, senior partner in McMillanDoolittle, a retail-consulting firm in Chicago. "They don’t promise to have everything, but they do offer a true treasure hunt where everyone seems to find that exceptional item at an unbelievable price. Most customers will give you great satisfaction marks if you exceed their expectations, and Costco is light-years ahead of the other discount competitors in that respect."

Among our other findings:

* Four chains earned outstanding scores for merchandise quality: Costco (watches and jewelry, personal-care items, hardware, home décor, kitchenware, electronic entertainment such as music and DVDs, and sporting goods and toys), Dillard’s (men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing; personal-care items; home décor; and kitchenware), Macy’s (home décor and personal-care items), and Sears (hardware).

* Target’s "cheap chic" goods didn’t wow everyone. Despite its high-profile partnerships with fashionistas Cynthia Vincent, Eugenia Kim, and Zac Posen, survey respondents judged the quality of Target’s women’s clothing and watches and jewelry below average, and the store’s kitchenware, home décor, and men’s and children’s apparel average.

* When it came to service, Dillard’s stood out from the pack. According to Jack Abelson, president of Jack Abelson & Associates, a retail-consulting firm in Leawood, Kan., service is deteriorating industry-wide because of retailers’ fixation on low prices. "The trouble today," Abelson says, "is that the staff is not trained to be anything but glorified cashiers and security guards." Shoppers at Kmart, Walmart, and Sam’s Club (Walmart’s warehouse club spin-off) were more likely than others to complain about the staff.

* In addition to a lack of sales help, the most prevalent problems were that desired items were out of stock and that checkouts were jammed. In fact, 29 percent of shoppers we surveyed complained about long lines. The problems were much worse than average at Kmart, Walmart, and Meijer, a Midwestern chain of superstores.


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Eating Plenty of Protein Reduces Hip Fracture Risk | Worldhealth.net Anti-Aging News

Eating Plenty of Protein Reduces Hip Fracture Risk | Worldhealth.net Anti-Aging News

Eating Plenty of Protein Reduces Hip Fracture Risk

Posted on 2010-05-13 06:00:00 in Bone and Dental | Nutrition |

Eating a protein-rich diet can significantly reduce seniors risk of hip fracture, say researchers from the Hebrew SeniorLife Institute for Aging Research, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Marian T. Hannan, D.Sc., M.P.H., co-director of the Musculoskeletal Research Program at the Institute for Aging Research, and colleagues examined the daily protein intake of 946 seniors involved in the Framingham Osteoporosis Study. Results showed that seniors with the lowest daily protein intake sustained 50% more hip fractures than those who ate more protein. Furthermore, participants who suffered hip fractures ate less than 46 grams of dietary protein each day - the recommended daily amount for adults. Previous studies have found that a higher dietary protein intake is associated with a higher bone mineral density, however Dr Hannan believes that dietary protein may also protect against hip fracture by helping to build stronger leg muscles. She recommends that older women consume at least 46 grams of protein per day, and that older men consume at least 56 grams of protein daily.

Continue reading…

Misra D, Berry SD, Broe KE, McLean RR, Cupples LA, Tucker KL, Kiel DP, Hannan MT. Does dietary protein reduce hip fracture risk in elders? The Framingham osteoporosis study. Osteoporos Int. 2010 May 5. [Epub ahead of print]

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A Huge Number of Illnesses are Caused by Inflammation

A Huge Number of Illnesses are Caused by Inflammation

(NaturalNews) There is a surprising link between Heart Attacks, Cancer, Alzheimer's and other diseases. These other diseases include all forms of Autoimmune disorders including Arthritis and MS, Parkinson's, Osteoporosis, Diabetes, Obesity, Allergies including Asthma and Food Intolerances, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and many other pain disorders. And there is much evidence to suggest that the link is inflammation. The modern diet and lifestyle is likely to cause inflammation in the body, and this can lead to a variety of illnesses.

Inflammation is now the hottest area of medical research, as drug companies rush to find remedies for this modern day epidemic. Unfortunately, these drugs are generally dangerous and don't get to the root of the problem.

Inflammation is the age-old immunological defense mechanism that causes the area of tissue of an injury to become red, hot and swollen. Most of the time, inflammation is a lifesaver that enables our bodies to fend off various disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites. The inflammatory response should subside after it has fought off any invaders to an injury site and has allowed the healing to begin. However in certain circumstances, the inflammatory response fails to shut down and becomes chronic.

This is often due to poor dietary and lifestyle factors which promote chronic inflammation. Immune cells use "free radicals" to kill off pathogens and other foreign invaders. Free radicals (also known as reactive oxygen species) are unstable particles which puncture and damage cells around them. This is great for killing bacteria, but it can also damage healthy cells if allowed to become out of control. In a body with chronic inflammation, there is therefore increased free radical or "oxidative" stress in the body. Free radicals damage blood vessels, joints, cell membranes, nerves and just about any other part of the body - this is why chronic inflammation is so bad for us. Free radical stress is also essentially how we age.

The body has an army of natural defense against free radicals; these are known as anti-oxidants. In states of chronic inflammation, the body can become depleted of anti-oxidants, and hence free radical stress does a lot of damage. This in turn causes more inflammation and more free radicals! It is essential to break this cycle of damage by lowering factors which promote inflammation, and by boosting our anti-oxidant status through dietary and lifestyle changes.

One last point - do we want to "boost" our immune system if it is already "over-active" due to inflammation? The answer is yes and no! There is only one PART of the immune system which gets over-active and begins to create problems with inflammation. Another part of the immune system works along a different line of attack; it does not create inflammation, but does a very important job fighting off bacteria, parasites, cancers cells and viruses. Many people today have signs of inflammation, yet also come down with yeast infections, viruses, dental infections and so on. In a sense their immune system needs modulation, reduction of the pro-inflammatory side, and a boost to the other side which fights off the baddies without inflammation.

Risk factors which promote inflammation:

-A poor diet can create micro-nutrient deficiencies. Type "B" malnutrition is rampant in the Western countries. This is a diet high in calories but deficient in nutrients, resulting in obesity and poor health. Micro-nutrient deficiencies make us more susceptible to low grade infections such as helicobacter pylori (the cause of stomach ulcers), gum disease, recurrent urinary tract infections, and Chlamydia. All low grade chronic infections can set up a chronic inflammation in the body.

-Poor gut health. A significant part of the immune system is found in the gut. The immune system in the gut is one of the most important first lines of defense against the outside world; after all, it is the area where matter from the outside is brought inside the body. The gut contains many billions of bacteria; most of them are good and help promote good immunity as well as good digestion, and they help with the absorption of nutrients. However, if there is an over-growth of "bad bacteria", these produce toxins and trigger the immune system. This is known as gut dysbiosis and can trigger a systemic low grade inflammation throughout the body's immune system. A symptom of poor gut health are food intolerances. A diet low in fiber and high in saturated fat and sugar promotes gut dysbiosis. Constipation is very bad for your health!

-Stress causes inflammation through worsening gut health, makes the body more susceptible to chronic low grade infections and lowers the immunity to bacteria, viruses, parasites and so on. All of this can trigger inflammation. Stress can also reduce cortisol hormone levels if adrenals are exhausted, which is a natural anti-inflammatory hormone.

-Obesity. Fat cells behave like immune cells, spewing out messages to increase the inflammatory immune response. Therefore a sedentary lifestyle and a diet high in fat and sugar promote inflammation.

- Environmental pollution such as pesticides, heavy metals and other toxic chemicals from things like exhaust fumes and electrical appliances.

-Excessive sunlight since sun burn is free radical stress.

-Excessive exercise since the process of energy production produces free radicals as a by-product. Some exercise is good for you but overdoing it at the gym every day is very bad for you.

-Trans and hydrogenated fats made from over-heating vegetable oils. These are also found in processed and refined foods and deep fried foods.

Apple expected to unveil new iPhone in June - CNN.com

Apple expected to unveil new iPhone in June - CNN.com

Apple expected to unveil new iPhone in June

By Brian X. Chen, Wired

April 28, 2010 6:07 p.m. EDT

Apple CEO Steve Jobs announcing the iPhone's new operating system earlier this month.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Apple has announced its Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off June 7
  
• The company is expected to introduce a new iPhone at the WWDC, as it did last year
  
• We can also expect more details about the next iPhone operating system, iPhone OS 4

(Wired) -- Apple on Wednesday announced the dates of its Worldwide Developers Conference, where the company is expected to introduce a new iPhone (even though tech blog Gizmodo may have spoiled the surprise).

Taking place June 7 to June 11 at San Francisco's Moscone West, the five-day conference includes hands-on sessions for software developers to become familiar with iPhone OS 4 and Mac OS X.

In previous WWDC events, Apple has announced new products during a keynote presentation that kicks off the conference.

Apple has announced new iPhones during both WWDC 2008 and WWDC 2009, so we expect the introduction of a fourth-generation iPhone. Because the conference is software-centric, we can also expect more details about the next iPhone operating system, iPhone OS 4, which was previewed in early April.

Meanwhile, the tech community is still bubbling with a mixture of excitement and anger over Gizmodo's publication of a lost iPhone prototype, which many believe is a near-final version of the fourth-generation iPhone.

Video: New iPhone drama unfolds

RELATED TOPICS

• Apple Inc.
• Apple iPhone
• Cellular Phones

Apple engineer Gray Powell reportedly left the iPhone in a bar, which was retrieved by an individual who later sold the device to Gizmodo. The tech blog published photos and videos of the device and later returned it to Apple.

Police have since launched an investigation on the case of the missing iPhone, which involved raiding the house of Gizmodo editor Jason Chen and seizing his electronic equipment -- an action whose validity is being disputed.

Wired.com reported Tuesday that police have identified the finder of the phone, but a name has not yet been disclosed to the public.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta praises fish oil supplements |

Dr. Sanjay Gupta praises fish oil supplements |

It’s always good to know that doctors take the supplements they’re recommending. It’s even better when the most famous doctor on the planet is recommending them.

Enter Dr. Sanjay Gupta, he of CNN fame and the man President Barack Obama initially tabbed to be Surgeon General of the United States. In a recent post on his blog “Paging Dr. Gupta,” the world-renowned medical correspondent called fish oil supplements “one of the few vitamins and supplements I take,” adding that “there’s plenty of scientific evidence to show [they] can be a powerful tool in preventing disease.”

Fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to reduce a person’s risk of heart attack and heart disease and protect against stroke, dementia and other cognitive problems.

Dr. Gupta goes on to say that people should consult their physicians, since increased levels of fish oil can have side effects and do impact certain medications. Good to know, though, that the world’s most famous doc understands how combining a healthy diet with proper supplementation is a benefit to all.

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Vitamin D may play key role in immune system activation

Vitamin D may play key role in immune system activation

By Stephen Daniells, 08-Mar-2010

Related topics: Research, Vitamins & premixes, Immune system

Insufficient levels of vitamin D may reduce our immune system’s ability to react to infection, says new research from Denmark.

Vitamin D is necessary to trigger T cells – the immune system’s killer cells – into action, and insufficient levels of the vitamin mean the cells remain dormant and inactive, according to findings published in Nature Immunology.

“Scientists have known for a long time that vitamin D is important for calcium absorption and the vitamin has also been implicated in diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis, but what we didn't realize is how crucial vitamin D is for actually activating the immune system – which we know now,” said scientists from the University of Copenhagen.

The study adds to an ever growing body of science supporting the benefits of maintaining healthy vitamin D levels.

In adults, it is said vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases. There is also some evidence that the vitamin may reduce the incidence of several types of cancer and type-1 diabetes.

According to the Copenhagen-based researchers, activated T cells can become one of two types of immune cell: Killer cells that attack and destroy all cells carrying traces of a foreign pathogen; or helper cells that assist the immune system in acquiring "memory". If the cell is not activated it is known as a naïve cell.

For their research, researchers led by Professor Carsten Geisler examined the expression of a specific molecule (PLC-gamma1) that would enable the cell to deliver an antigen specific response. They found that naïve T cells had very low expression of PLC-gamma1 and that triggering of the T cell led to a 75-fold increase in PLC-gamma1 expression. Their data also showed that induction of PLC-gamma1 was dependent on vitamin D.

“When a T cell is exposed to a foreign pathogen, it extends a signaling device or 'antenna' known as a vitamin D receptor, with which it searches for vitamin D,” explained Prof Geisler. “This means that the T cell must have vitamin D or activation of the cell will cease. If the T cells cannot find enough vitamin D in the blood, they won't even begin to mobilize.”

The findings could help us combat infectious diseases and global epidemics, said Prof Geisler. Indeed, last year the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed that it will be investigating the role of vitamin D in protection against swine flu.

Source: Nature Immunology
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1038/ni.1851
“Vitamin D controls T cell antigen receptor signaling and activation of human T cells
Authors: M.R. von Essen, M. Kongsbak, P. Schjerling, K. Olgaard, N. Odum, C. Geisler

Health: Fat-Burning Drink - cbs3.com

Try this out

Health: Fat-Burning Drink - cbs3.com

Health: Fat-Burning Drink

Reporting
Stephanie Stahl

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―

numSlides of totalImA AA drink that burns calories and fat to speed up weight loss now has some new flavors.

"I thought I looked good in these pants," said Lisa Valentino-Pinto.

Lisa Valentino-Pinto says these used to be her favorite jeans, a size 28.

"I could fit my son in there," she shows us.

Lisa has lost 170 pounds over the last year, topping the scale at 300 pounds.

"I just totally started working out, made better choices when I go out to eat and totally got rid of a lot of fattening foods in my house," she told us.

She also started drinking Celsius, an energy drink. On the label that claims to burn an additional 100 calories.

"It gives you a boost of energy, it makes you workout to your fullest," Matt Triboletti, her trainer.

Trainer Matt Triboletti is now recommending it to all his clients.

They work out at peak performance the whole session rather than burning out half way through.

Some of the energy boosting ingredients in Celsius include chromium, b vitamins, caffeine and green tea.

"They work together to create this longer calories burning effect in your body," said inventor Janice Haley.

Janice Haley, one of the inventors of Celsius, says they've paid for peer reviewed studies showing it works.

"This last study shows that when you drink Celsius 15 minutes before you exercise, you're going to burn 93.8 more fat and gain 50 percent more muscle," she told us.

Becky Dilks, a dietician at Temple, says the drinks ingredients, especially the caffeine, comparable to two cups of coffee.

"Nothing is going to work like a miracle. There is no one solution to weight loss," she said.

For Lisa, Celsius was an extra boost she needed to lose that last 50 pounds, with revved up work outs and there's an added benefit for her.

"It totally curbs my appetite," Lisa told us.

It was hard work going from this to this just in time for her 40th birthday.

"It's a great feeling. I turned all my friends on to it," she said.

Celsius works best with exercise - but Janice says it will burn extra calories - even if you don't work out.

It costs about $2 a can and is available in some health stores and online
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Tap water contaminant 'castrates' frogs - USATODAY.com

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Tap water contaminant 'castrates' frogs - USATODAY.com

By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY

An herbicide that contaminates the tap water consumed by millions of Americans has been found to produce gender-bending effects in male frogs, "chemically castrating" some and turning others into females, a study shows.

Frogs in the experiment were exposed to amounts of the weedkiller atrazine that are comparable to the levels allowed in drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency, says lead researcher Tyrone Hayes of the University of California-Berkeley.

The study was released Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

In Hayes' earlier studies, atrazine caused male frogs to begin growing eggs in their testes. In this experiment, 10% of the males exposed to atrazine — one of the most commonly used herbicide in the world — actually changed sex; some were able to breed and lay eggs. Nearly all of the other males had low testosterone and sperm levels, which made them unable to reproduce, Hayes says.

The experiment can't tell scientists whether atrazine affects humans in a similar way, Hayes says. But it does raise new questions about the safety of atrazine, which other studies have linked to human birth defects, low birth weight, prematurity and low sperm count.

The EPA said in October that it planned to reassess atrazine's safety, including its cancer risk. The European Union has banned the chemical.

About 75% of stream water samples and 40% of groundwater samples contain atrazine, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, detected atrazine in 90% of tap water samples from 139 water systems. Inexpensive faucet-top water filters can remove the chemical, says Jennifer Sass, a scientist with the group.

Several water systems in Illinois, where atrazine is commonly used on corn and other crops, are suing the chemical's manufacturers, asking them to pay the cost of taking the herbicide out of drinking water.

The principal scientist for Syngenta Crop Protection, the leading manufacturer of atrazine, says the chemical is safe. Company-sponsored studies that met rigorous EPA standards found atrazine has "no effect on frog sexual development," Tim Pastoor says.

He criticized the new study and notes that Hayes tested only one dose of atrazine. A stronger study would have exposed frogs to several doses and noted any trends, he says.

Given that atrazine has survived years of scrutiny by the EPA, Pastoor says, he sees no reason to re-examine atrazine's safety now. "As far as we're concerned, it's unnecessary," he says.

Although scientists still have many questions about atrazine, Sass says, the chemical should be phased out as a precaution.

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Vitamin D Found To Stimulate A Protein That Inhibits The Growth Of Breast Cancer Cells

Vitamin D Found To Stimulate A Protein That Inhibits The Growth Of Breast Cancer Cells

Science News

Vitamin D Found To Stimulate A Protein That Inhibits The Growth Of Breast Cancer Cells

ScienceDaily (Feb. 5, 2009) — Calcitrol, the active form of vitamin D, has been found to induce a tumor suppressing protein that can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, according to a study by researcher Sylvia Chistakos, Ph.D., of the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School.

---

Chistakos, a professor of biochemistry, has published extensively on the multiple roles of vitamin D, including inhibition of the growth of malignant cells found in breast cancer. Her current findings on the vitamin D induced protein that inhibits breast cancer growth are published in a recent issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry.
Previous research had determined that increased serum levels of vitamin D are associated with an improved diagnosis in patients with breast cancer. Prior to the current study, little was known about the factors that determine the effect of calcitrol on inhibiting breast cancer growth, she said.
During the study, Christakos and co-author Puneet Dhawan, Ph.D., examined the protein involved in the action that can reduce the growth of vitamin D in breast cancer cells. “These results provide an important process in which the active form of vitamin D may work to reduce growth of breast cancer cells,” said Christakos. “These studies provide a basis for the design of new anticancer agents that can target the protein as a candidate for breast cancer treatment.”

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Breast cancer virtually 'eradicated' with higher levels of vitamin D

Breast cancer virtually 'eradicated' with higher levels of vitamin D

(NaturalNews) In a gathering of vitamin D researchers recently held in Toronto, Dr. Cedric Garland delivered a blockbuster announcement: Breast cancer can be virtually "eradicated" by raising vitamin D levels.

Vitamin D is "the cure" for breast cancer that the cancer industry ridiculously claims to be searching for. The cure already exists! But the breast cancer industry simply refuses to acknowledge any "cure" that doesn't involve mammography, chemotherapy or high-profit pharmaceuticals.

Vitamin D is finally gaining some of the recognition it deserves as a miraculous anti-cancer nutrient. It is the solution for cancer prevention. It could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year in the U.S. alone. Even Dr. Andrew Weil recently raised his recommendation of vitamin D to 2,000 IU per day.

This is the vitamin that could destroy the cancer industry and save millions of women from the degrading, harmful cancer "treatments" pushed by conventional medicine. No wonder they don't want to talk about it! The cancer industry would prefer to keep women ignorant about this vitamin that could save their breasts and their lives.

Below I'm reprinting the full statement from Dr. Cedric Garland following the Vitamin D conference recently held in Toronto.

Statement from Dr. Cedric Garland

Breast cancer is a disease so directly related to vitamin D deficiency that a woman's risk of contracting the disease can be 'virtually eradicated' by elevating her vitamin D status to what vitamin D scientists consider to be natural blood levels.

That's the message vitamin D pioneer Dr. Cedric Garland delivered in Toronto Tuesday as part of the University of Toronto School of Medicine's "Diagnosis and Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency" conference - the largest gathering of vitamin D researchers in North America this year. More than 170 researchers, public health officials and health practitioners gathered at the UT Faculty club for the landmark event.

Garland's presentation headlined a conference that reviewed many aspects of the emerging vitamin D research field - a booming discipline that has seen more than 3,000 academic papers this calendar year alone, conference organizers said. That makes vitamin D by far the most prolific topic in medicine this year, with work connecting it with risk reduction in two dozen forms of cancer, heart disease, multiple scleroses and many other disorders.

Dr. Reinhold Vieth, Associate Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at University of Toronto, and Director of the Bone and Mineral Laboratory at Mount Sinai Hospital, organized the event in conjunction with Grassroots Health - an international vitamin D advocacy group founded by breast cancer survivor Carole Baggerly.

Baggerly implored the research group to take action and encourage Canadians to learn more about vitamin D and to raise their vitamin D levels.

An estimated 22,700 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, according to the Canadian Cancer Society's latest figures.

As much as 97 percent of Canadians are vitamin D deficient at some point in the year, according to University of Calgary research - largely due to Canada's northerly latitudes and weak sun exposure. Sunshine is by far the most abundant source of vitamin D - called 'The Sunshine Vitamin' - with salmon and fortified milk being other sources. Vitamin D supplementation helps raise levels for many as well.

Grassroots Health's "D-action" panel - 30 of the world's leading researchers on vitamin D and many other vitamin D supporters - recommend 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily and vitamin D blood levels of 100-150 nanomoles-per-liter as measured by a vitamin D blood test.

Vieth pointed out that natural vitamin D levels of mammals who live outdoors in sunny climates is higher than that - up to 200 nanomoles-per liter. And Garland, whose presentation was entitled "Breast Cancer as a Vitamin D Deficiency Disease" presented data showing that raising one's vitamin D status near those levels decreased breast cancer risk more than 77 percent.

'The Sunshine Vitamin' was once thought of only for bone health, helping the body process calcium. But more recent work has shown that all cells in the body have "vitamin D receptors" which help control normal cell growth. Additionally, Garland presented new evidence that low vitamin D status compromises the integrity of calcium-based cellular bonding within tissues, which when eroded allow rogue cancer cells to spread more readily.

Grassroots Health is trying to raise vitamin D awareness among Canadians. Despite epidemic-level vitamin D deficiency in Canada, fewer than nine per cent of Canadians have ever had their vitamin D levels checked by a professional and most who have do not know their vitamin D blood level.

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Market America - Built on Product. Powered by People

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Celebrity Make-Up Artist Scott Barnes to Announce his partnership with Loren Ridinger

Celebrity Make-Up Artist Scott Barnes to Announce his partnership with Loren Ridinger


2010-01-25 22:54:05 - Motives by Loren Ridinger, a world leader in customized cosmetics, announced today it has partnered with celebrity makeup artist Scott Barnes to create The Present, a limited edition collection of cosmetics designed by Barnes and sold exclusively on motivescosmetics.com

Motives® by Loren Ridinger Partners with Scott Barnes to Bring The Present to motivescosmetics.com
The Present and Body Bling will be unveiled to a sold out crowd at the American Airlines Arena in Miami

MIAMI (Jan. 21, 2010) – .

Ridinger and Barnes will unveil the products to 25,000 attendees at Market America’s annual World Conference event in Miami on Thursday January 28 at 3:45 PM. The Present is an essential makeup kit that gives consumers all the products they need for any day or night look. The Present is designed to work well with all skin tones and contains four lip-glosses, four eye shadows, two blushes, translucent powder and four concealers.

“I am excited to partner with Scott and add some amazing new and exclusive products to motivescosmetics.com,” said Ridinger. “Scott is one of the most talented people this industry has ever known and Market America’s over 180,000 Customer Managers and 6 million customers are going to love the versatility and beautiful looks The Present delivers.”

“I am looking forward to being on stage with Loren to present these beautiful new products at Market America’s World Conference,” said Barnes. “Since Loren launched Motives the line has certainly caught the cosmetic industries attention with its amazing customized color combinations and formulations. The Present is going to be an amazing product line that millions of consumers world-wide are going to love.”

In addition to The Present, Ridinger and Barnes will also announce that Barnes most coveted product, Body Bling, will also be available for purchase on motivescosmetics.com. Body Bling is a moisturizing, shimmering body lotion with a bronze base and golden highlights designed to give users an instant glow. Created to give the look of a tan without the harmful effects of the sun, Body Bling rinses off easily in the shower and is best used for any skin type.

For more information on Motives by Loren Ridinger visit www.motivescosmetics.com and be sure to check out Loren’s blog myfashioncents.com where readers can learn about the best shopping deals on the Internet, get fashion and beauty advice, and stay updated on all the latest Loren Ridinger and Motives news. For more information on Scott Barnes visit scottbarnes.com/.

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Motives by Loren Ridinger through revolutionary cutting edge technology is a world leader in the customized cosmetics industry. Motives is worn by some of today’s hottest celebrities and is a favorite of makeup artists, models and photographers. Motives by Loren Ridinger strives to empower people everywhere to look and feel beautiful inside and out, while providing thousands of consultants worldwide with an opportunity to live the lifestyle they have always dreamed of. For more information visit www.motivescosmetics.com and Creative Director Loren Ridinger’s blog at www.myfashioncents.com.

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Pine bark extract may ease haemorrhoid problems

Pine bark extract may ease hemorrhoid problems

Pine bark extract may ease hemorrhoid problems
By Stephen Daniells, 12-Jan-2010

Related topics: Botanicals, Research, Antioxidants, carotenoids, Phytochemicals, plant extracts

Supplements of French maritime pine bark extract may reduce the intensity and duration of hemorrhoidal pain and bleeding, says a new study.

A daily supplement of the pine bark extract, Pycnogenol, for seven days reduced pain around the anus from an initial average of 3.2 points on a four-point pain scale to about 0.8 at the end of the study, according to findings published in Phytotherapy Research.

Considering that over 50 per cent of the population will suffer from hemorrhoids at some point in their lives, the potential of the French maritime pine bark extract to ease the condition would indicate a major market opportunity.

“This study clearly indicates that Pycnogenol is an effective, natural solution in controlling this common, disabling problem and may contribute to relieve hemorrhoid attacks and offer pain relief,” said lead researcher Professor Peter Rohdewald from the University of Munster in Germany.

"Individuals never affected by hemorrhoids cannot imagine what people go through. Hemorrhoids can affect every aspect of your daily routine; it represents a tragedy most people don't realize. Our study suggests that Pycnogenol may help with all major symptoms,” he added.

Prof Rohdewald said that further studies are in progress with the focus on preventing new attacks and the general management of hemorrhoids.

Study details

In collaboration with Italian scientists from G D’Annunzio University, the researchers recruited 84 people suffering from external hemorrhoids to participate in their randomized, controlled, comparative study.

Subjects were divided into three groups: Group 1 received a daily oral dose of 300 mg of the pine bark extract for four days, followed by 150 mg a day another three days; Group 2 received the same oral doses as Group 1, plus a topical cream containing 0.5 per cent Pycnogenol; and Group 3 received a placebo.

Improvements in both groups 1 and 2 were observed at the end of the study. No hemorrhoid bleedings was observed in the two Pycnogenol groups after seven days, said the researchers. Bleeding was still observed in the placebo group, they added.

In addition to the decreases in peri-anal pain in group 1, group 2 participants reported a decrease from an initial score of 3.3 out of four to 0.3 at the end of the study. The placebo group reported a decrease from 3.4 to 1.2.

Finally, a decrease in the number of lost working days was recorded by the subjects, while there was also a reduction in the recurrence of complications and overall costs in both groups receiving the pine bark extract.

What’s happening?

Commenting on the possible mechanism, the researchers noted that the flavonoid profile of the pine bark extract may be behind the effects. “Unlike other flavonoid species, Pycnogenol significantly improves endothelial function which could contribute to the decreased ischemia (inadequate blood supply) and intravascular thrombus (clotting) found in our study,” they stated.

The study was funded by Horphag Research, manufacturers of Pycnogenol. The company has been very active in sponsoring and supporting studies into the potential health benefits of the pine bark extract. The first research was conducted on the ingredient 35 years ago.

Source: Phytotherapy Research
Published online ahead of print, Early View article, doi:
“Pycnogenol treatment of acute hemorrhoidal episodes”
Authors: G. Belcaro, M.R. Cesarone, B. Errichi, A. Di Renzo, M.G. Grossi, A. Ricci, M. Dugall, U. Cornelli, M. Cacchio, P. Rohdewald

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Multivitamins may cut lung cancer risk in smokers

Multivitamins may cut lung cancer risk in smokers

Multivitamins may cut lung cancer risk in smokers
By Stephen Daniells, 13-Jan-2010
Related topics: Research, Antioxidants, carotenoids, Phytochemicals, plant extracts, Vitamins & premixes, Cancer risk reduction

Multivitamins, folate, and green leafy vegetables may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer in current and former smokers, says a new study from the US.

Higher intakes of certain micronutrients may reduce a process called methylation which affects gene signaling. Many genes involved in critical cell functions, including cell division, are methylated in lung tumours, showing the potential of the micronutrients to reduce the risk of lung cancer, according to findings published online ahead of print in Cancer Research.

The role of micronutrients in smokers is controversial with some studies; most notably the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Trial, reporting that beta-carotene supplements may increase the risk of lung cancer.

The new study, supported by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, showed that reduced gene methylation with the intake of multivitamin supplements that are rich in phytochemicals, such as vitamin C, carotenoids, lutein, folic acid, and vitamins A and K. Such micronutrients are also present green leafy vegetables.

“This is the first cohort-based study to identify dietary factors associated with reduced promoter methylation in cells exfoliated from the airway epithelium of smokers,” wrote the researchers, led by Steven Belinsky, PhD, from the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in Albuquerque.

“Novel interventions to prevent lung cancer should be developed based on the ability of diet and dietary supplements to affect reprogramming of the epigenome,” they added.

‘Impressive’ study

Commenting independently on the study, a spokesperson for ingredient supplier DSM told NutraIngredients that the study illustrates how complex micronutrient research is.

“It impressively shows, for example, that supplements containing beta-carotene, conceivably increasing the risk of lung cancer in heavy smokers when taken in extremely high doses over years, have the potential to reduce cancer risk even in smokers,” said the spokesperson.

“Additionally, the study is further evidence that nature-identical, synthetic micronutrients in multivitamins can be effective in disease risk reduction as micronutrients from vegetables and fruits.”



Study details

Just over 1,100 current and former smokers participating in the Lovelace Smokers Cohort submitted sputum samples and completed questionnaires regarding their dietary intake. The sputum samples were used to examine the degree of methylation of eight genes commonly silenced in lung cancer and associated with risk for this disease.

People who ate at least 12 servings of green leafy vegetables per month had a 17 per cent lower risk of methylation, while a daily folate intake of at least 750 micrograms was associated with a 16 per cent lower risk.

Current multivitamin users had a 43 per cent lower risk of gene methylation, added the researchers, although there was no association between the duration of use and methylation..

More research needed

Sudhir Srivastava, PhD, chief of the Biomarkers Research Group at the NCI called for additional research to independently validate the study’s observations, and also to help resolve contradictions between varying studies.

“This particular study used a well-planned design and can serve as a basis for future identification of the mechanistic targets of these dietary factors,” said Srivastava, who was not involved in the study.

“Such studies are important steps for the future success of chemopreventive strategies.”

Source: Cancer Research
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-09-3410
“Multi-Vitamins, Folate, and Green Vegetables Protect Against Gene Promoter Methylation in the Aerodigestive Tract of Smokers”
Authors: C.A. Stidley, M.A. Picchi, S. Leng, R. Willink, R. Crowell, F.G. Flores, H. Kang, T. Byers, F.D. Gilliland, S.A. Belinsky

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Acai benefits cholesterol levels: Rat study

Acai benefits cholesterol levels: Rat study

Acai benefits cholesterol levels: Rat study
By Stephen Daniells, 05-Jan-2010
Related topics: Research, Antioxidants, carotenoids, Phytochemicals, plant extracts, Cardiovascular health

The pulp of açai berries may counter the effects of a high-fat diet and reduce the risk of developing high blood cholesterol levels, says a new study with rats from Brazil.

Animals fed a high-fat diet and supplemented with açai pulp had lower levels of total and non-HDL cholesterol, compared to animals just eating a high-fat diet, according to findings published in Nutrition.

“This is the first study, to our knowledge, addressing the potential benefits of açai intake in the cholesterol profile,” wrote the researchers, led by Maria Lucia Pedrosa from the Federal University of Ouro Preto.

“We observed that the addition of açai pulp in the hypercholesterolemic diet had a hypocholesterolemic effect by reducing cholesterol levels (total and non-HDL), which could be explained by a lower food intake and higher faecal excretion,” they added.

High cholesterol levels, hypercholesterolaemia, have a long association with many diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), the cause of almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe, and reported to cost the EU economy an estimated €169bn ($202bn) per year.

Super fruits from Central and South America

Açai berries (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) have long formed part of the staple diet of Indian tribes. With the appearance of a purple grape and taste of a tropical berry, it has been shown to have powerful antioxidant properties thanks to a high level of anthocyanins, pigments that are also present in red wine.

It is presently being sold in a number of countries, including New Zealand, Australia, South America, Japan, USA, and the Middle East

Commenting independently on the study, açai expert Dr Alex Schauss from US-based contract research organization AIBMR told NutraIngredients that the study does provide in vivo experimental evidence that açai pulp can improve mammalian lipid profiles in response to a high fat diet.

Regarding the safety data, Dr Schauss added that “açai does not appear to cause liver damage as evidenced by the fact that açai does not alter activities of several liver enzymes. This is important since liver damage is a common phenomenon when a drug is taken for a long period of time.”

Study details

Pedrosa and her co-workers used female Fischer rats and divided them into four groups: Two groups consumed a standard diet, and two groups consumed a high fat diet containing 25 per cent soy oil and 1 per cent cholesterol. One standard diet group and one high fat diet group received additional açai pulp at a level of 2 per cent.

After six weeks, the researchers noted an increase in blood levels of total and non-HDL cholesterol and a decrease in levels of HDL cholesterol in the high-fat diet only animals. Such changes were attenuated in the açai-supplemented high-fat diet animals.

The researchers did not directly examine the mechanism behind the effects but noted that the benefits may not be solely due to the polyphenol content of the fruit.

“These results suggest that the consumption of açai improves antioxidant status and has a hypocholesterolemic effect in an animal model of dietary-induced hypercholesterolemia,” concluded the researchers.

Future study

AIBMR’s Dr Schauss noted that future studies should focus on using a better high fat mouse model. “There is a published rodent diet that is close to a typical high fat American diet or McDonald diet that could be used,” he said. He also said that the length of intervention should be increased to six months, while the effects of açai pulp on lipids can be further investigated by looking at both liver and blood vessel morphology, signalling pathways, LDL levels and cardiovascular functions.

Source: Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.09.007
“Diet supplementation with açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp improves biomarkers of oxidative stress and the serum lipid profile in rats”
Authors: M. Oliveira de Souza, M. Silva, M. Eustaquio Silva, R. de Paula Oliveira, M.L. Pedrosa

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