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The Cure for Lyme Disease?
After 13 years of suffering with Lyme disease, a possible cure has been stumbled upon. A cumulative effect of much research has produced the possibility that salt and vitamin C may be all that is needed to beat this elusive illness. Read report



CoQ10 Study
Serum concentration of lipoprotein(a) decreases on treatment with hydrosoluble coenzyme Q10 in patients with coronary artery disease: discovery of a new role.

Singh RB, Niaz MA.
Centre of Nutrition, Medical Hospital and Research Centre, Moradabad, India.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on serum lipoprotein(a) in patients with acute coronary disease.
STUDY DESIGN: Randomized double blind placebo controlled trial.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Subjects with clinical diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, angina pectoris (based on WHO criteria) with moderately raised lipoprotein(a) were randomized to either coenzyme Q10 as Q-Gel (60 mg twice daily) (coenzyme Q10 group, n=25) or placebo (placebo group, n=22) for a period of 28 days.

RESULTS: Serum lipoprotein(a) showed significant reduction in the coenzyme Q10 group compared with the placebo group (31.0% vs 8.2% P<0.001) with a net reduction of 22.6% attributed to coenzyme Q10. HDL cholesterol showed a significant increase in the intervention group without affecting total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and blood glucose showed a significant reduction in the coenzyme Q10 group. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation was also associated with significant reductions in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, malon/dialdehyde and diene conjugates, indicating an overall decrease in oxidative stress.

CONCLUSION: Supplementation with hydrosoluble coenzyme Q10 (Q-Gel) decreases lipoprotein(a) concentration in patients with acute coronary disease

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Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Randomized Controlled Trial
PMID: 10077397 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


Green Tea
Green tea seems to help protect the body from autoimmune disorders, according to a Medical College of Georgia oral biologist.
Dr. Stephen Hsu, a researcher in the MCG School of Dentistry, has amassed a large bank of research helping document green tea's health benefits in everything from oral cancer to wrinkles.
As an added benefit, a green tea-induced protein called p57 protects healthy cells as polyphenols target cancer cells for destruction.
Dr. Hsu's most recent findings, which he will present June 17-20 in Atlanta at the Arthritis Foundation's fifth biennial Arthritis Research Conference, target autoimmune diseases.
These diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjogren's disease, inexplicably prime the body's immune system to attack its own tissues, with often disabling and even life-threatening consequences.
Dry mouth occurs in about 30 percent of elderly Americans, but only in 1 percent to 2 percent of Chinese seniors.
Dr. Hsu is probing green tea's role in producing autoantigens.
Autoantigens are normal molecules in the body with useful functions, but changes in their amount or location can trigger an immune response.
He suspected a link because a polyphenol called EGCG is known to suppress inflammation, which results when the immune system mounts a defense to a real or perceived enemy.
"We were so shocked," Dr. Hsu said of the finding that further highlighted green tea's role in attacking tumor cells while protecting healthy cells.
And because of the low levels of autoantigens in healthy cells, "the immune system now has considerably fewer targets to potentially attack," greatly reducing the risk of autoimmune disease, Dr. Hsu said.
The Medical College of Georgia is the state's health sciences university and includes the Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Studies, Medicine and Nursing.



CW

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. To be removed from this e-mail program, reply back and say unsubscribe.

Study: Extra Folic Acid May Help Memory

By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer
Tue Jun 21, 7:33 AM ET


High-dose folic acid pills — providing as much of the nutrient as 2.5 pounds of strawberries — might help slow the cognitive decline of aging. So says a Dutch study that's the first to show a vitamin could really improve memory.

The research, unveiled Monday at a meeting of Alzheimer's researchers, adds to mounting evidence that a diet higher in folate is important for a variety of health effects. It's already proven to reduce birth defects, and research suggests it helps ward off heart disease and strokes, too.

The new study doesn't show folic acid could prevent Alzheimer's — the people who tested the vitamin didn't have symptoms of that disease.

But as people age, some decline in memory and other brain functions is inevitable. Taking 800 micrograms of folic acid a day slowed that brain drain, reported lead researcher Jane Durga of Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

In the study, 818 cognitively healthy people ages 50 to 75 swallowed either folic acid or a dummy pill for three years.

On memory tests, the supplement users had scores comparable to people 5.5 years younger, Durga said. On tests of cognitive speed, the folic acid helped users perform as well as people 1.9 years younger.

That's significant brain protection, with a supplement that's already well-known to be safe, said Johns Hopkins University neuroscientist Marilyn Albert, who chairs the Alzheimer's Association's science advisory council.

"I think I would take folic acid, assuming my doctor said it was OK," Albert said. "We know Alzheimer's disease, the pathology, begins many, many years before the symptoms. We ought to be thinking about the health of our brain the same way we think about the health of our heart."

Indeed, there's enough research now suggesting that there are ways to gird the brain against age-related memory loss and Alzheimer's that the association has begun offering classes to teach people the techniques.

Topping the list:

_Exercise your brain. Using it in unusual ways increases blood flow and helps the brain wire new connections. That's important to build up what's called cognitive reserve, an ability to adapt to or withstand the damage of Alzheimer's a little longer.

In youth, that means good education. Later in life, do puzzles, learn to play chess, take classes.

_Stay socially stimulated. Declining social interaction with age predicts declining cognitive function.

_Exercise your body. Bad memory is linked to heart disease and diabetes because clogged arteries slow blood flow in the brain.

Experts recommend going for the triple-whammy of something mentally, physically and socially stimulating all at once: Coach your child's ball team. Take a dance class. Strategize a round of golf.

Diet's also important. While Alzheimer's researchers have long recommended a heart-healthy diet as good for the brain, Monday's folic acid study is the first to test the advice directly.

Previous studies have shown that people with low folate levels in their blood are more at risk for both heart disease and diminished cognitive function.

Durga said it's not clear how folic acid might work to protect the brain. Some studies suggest folate lowers inflammation; others suggest it may play a role in expression of dementia-related genes.

Folate is found in such foods as oranges and strawberries, dark-green leafy vegetables and beans. In the United States, it also is added to cereal and flour products. The recommended daily dose here is 400 micrograms; doctors advise women of childbearing age to take a supplement to ensure they get that much.

CW

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. To be removed from this e-mail program, reply back and say unsubscribe.

OK, HERE YOU GO LADIES - HOW TO LOOK 6 YEARS YOUNGER OVERNIGHT

Grapefruit May Make Women Seem Younger

A study of smells shows that the scent of grapefruit on women make them seem younger to men — about six years younger

However, a grapefruit fragrance on men does nothing for them.

The study by the Smell and Taste Institute in Chicago was conducted to determine what makes a women smell young — but not too young, like pink bubble gum.

Institute director Alan Hirsch said he smeared several middle-aged woman with broccoli, banana, spearmint leaves, and lavender but none of those scents made a difference to the men.

But the scent of grapefruit changed men's perceptions. Hirsch said that when male volunteers were asked to write down how old the woman with grapefruit odor was, the age was considerably less than reality.

cw

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. To be removed from this e-mail program, reply back and say unsubscribe.

Chromium picolinate significantly reduces weight gain associated with common antidiabetic medication

Chromium picolinate significantly reduces weight gain associated with common antidiabetic medication, according to a study released today. Researchers at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC), who conducted the study, also found that chromium significantly improved blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.
These findings are important because more than 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are also overweight and chromium picolinate is easily available as a nutrition therapy in retail stores. People with diabetes who are overweight face an increased risk of disease-related complications including cardiovascular disease. PBRC researchers presented their findings at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 65th Annual Scientific Sessions in San Diego, CA.

The randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study, which was performed in collaboration with the University of Vermont College of Medicine, was designed to examine the effect of adding daily chromium picolinate supplementation to regimens consisting of oral antidiabetic medications, i.e. sulfonylureas. Specifically, a sulfonylurea, a commonly prescribed first line of treatment for type 2 diabetes, was given to 27 subjects initially for a three-month period. The subjects were then randomized to continue taking the medication alone for 6 additional months with or without chromium picolinate. The study participants who took 1,000 mcg of Chromax chromium picolinate in combination with the antidiabetic medication experienced significantly lower body fat accumulation (0.12%) than the group taking medication and placebo (1.1%), particularly in the abdomen area. The study also found those taking chromium gained less weight (0.8kg versus 2.2 kg) and experienced an increase in fat free mass, when compared with the placebo group.

"It would be very advantageous, from a clinical perspective, to have a regimen to improve glucose levels and minimize weight gain in our subjects with diabetes associated with the chronic administration of prescription medications. The impact of chromium picolinate on weight gain, particularly weight gain in the abdominal area, is important as research shows that increased abdominal fat is associated with a greater risk for health complications, such as cardiovascular disease," said study investigator, William Cefalu, MD, chief of the Center's Division of Nutrition and Chronic Diseases.

The study also found that chromium picolinate taken in combination with antidiabetic medication significantly improved both insulin sensitivity (assessed with hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamps using stable isotopes) and glucose control. Blood sugar levels of study participants taking chromium picolinate in combination with antidiabetic medication dropped significantly (0.7%-greater point drop in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), a marker for long term blood sugar control) compared to the placebo group. Additionally, subjects taking chromium picolinate had significant increases in glucose disposal.

"The results add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that chromium may serve as a safe and effective adjunct therapy to medication in helping to better manage blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Cefalu.

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is a campus of the Louisiana State University System and conducts both clinical and basic research. It is the largest academically based nutrition research center in the world, with the greatest number of obesity researchers on faculty. The Center's nearly 600 employees occupy several buildings on the 234-acre campus.

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Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. To be removed from this e-mail program, reply back and say unsubscribe.

Low-glycemic may be better than low-fat

By Alison McCook

Mon Jun 6, 2:46 PM ET


Foods with a low-glycemic index, which are digested relatively slowly and cause smaller increases in blood sugar, may protect the heart and blood vessels better than low-fat fare, according to the findings of a small study.

Researchers in Boston found that when obese people consumed as many carbohydrates with a low-glycemic index as they wanted, they lost just as much weight in 12 months as people who stuck with a conventional, calorie-restricted low-fat diet.

Carbohydrates with a low-glycemic index include foods such as nonstarchy vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts and diary products, according to the report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Dieters who watched their glycemic indices also experienced a larger decrease in fatty substances in the blood linked to heart disease and had a drop in levels of a protein that interferes with the body's ability to break down blood clots. In contrast, low-fat dieters had an increase in levels of the same protein, which may put them at higher risk of heart attack.

"Reducing (glycemic index) may be more effective than cutting back on fat over the long-term, both for weight loss and also for reducing risk of heart disease," study author Dr. David S. Ludwig told Reuters Health.

"Based on our results, and several dozen other clinical trials and epidemiological studies, I would recommend" eating foods with a low-glycemic index, added Ludwig, who is based at Children's Hospital.

The glycemic index measures how efficiently the body can metabolize carbohydrates. It ranks carbohydrates by how much a person's blood sugar rises immediately after eating, and tends to favor high-fiber foods that take longer to digest.

Ludwig and his team asked 23 obese young adults to follow either a low-fat diet or a diet in which they ate low-glycemic index foods for one year. As part of the low-glycemic index diet, people could eat as much as they wanted of foods with a low index, and got roughly 45 to 50 percent of calories from carbohydrates, and 30 to 35 percent from fat.

Low-fat dieters cut their daily intake by 250 to 500 calories, limited fat to less than 30 percent of their total calories, and got between 55 and 60 percent of calories from carbohydrates.

Ludwig noted that even though low-glycemic index dieters had no calorie limits, they likely didn't overeat because they felt less hunger after eating foods that take longer to digest.

"Numerous previous studies by our group and by others have shown that individuals feel less hunger and greater (sense of fullness) after low-glycemic index compared to high-glycemic index meals," he added.

SOURCE: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 2005.

Comment: This study only supports what we have known and experienced for many years. Increasing blood sugar fast, causes too much insulin release, and insulin changes excess sugar into fat, increases inflammation, and increases our hunger so we eat more of what's bad for us. This issue is epidemic today globally, and is called Syndrome X, Hyperinsulinemia and or Metabolic Syndrome. Learn more.

CW

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. To be removed from this e-mail program, reply back and say unsubscribe.

Low zinc may impact physical performance

06/06/2005 - Low zinc levels may impact physical performance, suggests a small study.

The role of zinc during exercise is not well understood but some zinc-containing enzymes are thought to regulate energy expenditure.
The new trial, although small, suggests that more research should be done on the mineral and its impact on the cardiorespiratory function. It may be an important nutrient for sports nutrition.

A team from the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service tested the effects of low zinc intake on the physical performance of 14 men aged 20 to 31 years old.

They looked in particular at the effects on the carbonic anhydrase enzyme, found in red blood cells and influential on the body's removal of carbon dioxide, and cardiorespiratory function during exercise.

The men were split into two groups and fed either a diet containing only 3.8mg of zinc per day, or a diet supplemented with 18.7 mg of the mineral. They followed the diet for nine weeks, and after a six-week washout period, switched to the alternative diet.

The researchers tested physical performance on two types of exercist tests on a cycle ergometer.

They report in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (vol 81, No. 5, 1045-1051) that peak oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output, and respiratory exchange ratio were lower when the men had a restricted zinc intake than during the supplement phase.

Blood tests showed that when the men were on the low-zinc diet, the activity of the carbonic anhydrase enzymes in red blood cells was reduced.

This could explain the poorer muscle strength and increased tiredness seen in previous studies on zinc.

“These findings indicate that low dietary zinc is associated with significant reductions in zinc status, including red blood cell carbonic anhydrase activities, and impaired metabolic responses during exercise,” conclude the authors.

Comment: Zinc is also believed to play an important role in preventing or treating the following conditions:

Acne
Acrodermatitis enteropathica
Childhood intelligence (for deficiency)
Common cold (using lozenges with 15 to 25 mg of zinc glucanate, glycine or acetate)
Contact dermatitis (using zinc sulfate)
Down’s syndrome
Infertility (male) (for deficiency)
Improve studented growth in children (usually in developing countries)
Night blindness (for deficiency)
Wilson's disease (by interfering with body's ability to use essential mineral copper)
Wound healing (oral and topical)

NSI L-Optizinc

cw

Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. To be removed from this e-mail program, reply back and say unsubscribe.