Natural Standard Blog

Carrots for Cognition?

A new study found that beta-carotene, found in foods such as green plants, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, apricots and green peppers, may provide long-term cognitive benefits in men.

Beta-carotene is a member of the carotenoids, which are highly pigmented (red, orange, yellow), fat-soluble compounds that are naturally present in many fruits, grains, oils and vegetables. Alpha, beta and gamma carotene are considered provitamins because they can be converted to active vitamin A.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School explained that oxidative stress contributes to brain aging. Antioxidant treatment, especially over the long term, may confer cognitive benefits.

The researchers added cognitive testing to the Physicians' Health Study II (PHSII), a randomized trial of beta-carotene and other vitamin supplements for chronic disease prevention. The PHSII is a continuation of the Physicians' Health Study (PHS), which had randomized male participants to low-dose aspirin and beta-carotene.

The participants included those continuing their original beta-carotene assignments from the PHS, begun in 1982, and newer recruits randomized as of 1998. The beta-carotene arm (50 milligrams, alternate days) was terminated; follow-up is ongoing for the remaining arms.

Near the close of the beta-carotene arm, the researchers interviewed 5,956 participants older than 65 years to assess general cognition, verbal memory and category fluency. The primary endpoint was a global score averaging all tests (using z scores); the secondary endpoint was a verbal memory score combining results of four tests.

The study compared mean cognition among those assigned to beta-carotene versus placebo. New recruits and continuing participants were examined separately.

Among 1,904 newly recruited subjects (mean treatment duration, one year), cognition was similar across treatment assignments. Among 4,052 continuing participants from the PHS (mean treatment duration, 18 years), the mean global score was significantly higher in the beta-carotene group than in the placebo group.

On verbal memory, men receiving long-term beta-carotene supplementation also performed significantly better than the placebo group.

The study authors concluded that although they did not find an impact of short-term beta-carotene supplementation on cognitive performance, long-term supplementation may provide cognitive benefits.

For more information about beta-carotene, please visit Natural Standard’s Herbs & Supplements database. 

No-Carb Diet for Prostate Cancer

Following a diet lacking carbohydrates may slow the growth of prostate cancer, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, explained that recent evidence suggests that carbohydrate intake may influence prostate cancer biology.

Prostate cancer is the uncontrollable growth of cells in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting one out of six men. More than 218,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007.

The study investigated whether a no-carbohydrate would delay prostate cancer growth relative to Western and low-fat diets.

In the study, 75 male mice were fed a no-carbohydrate diet (84 percent fat, 0 percent carbohydrate and 16 percent protein kcal), a low-fat diet (12 percent fat, 72 percent carbohydrate and 16 percent protein kcal) or a Western diet (40 percent fat, 44 percent carbohydrate and 16 protein kcal).

The study found that despite consuming equal calories, no-carbohydrate diet-fed mice lost weight (up to 15 percent body weight) relative to low-fat and Western diet-fed mice and required additional kcal to equalize body weight.

The study authors concluded that, despite consuming more calories, no-carbohydrate diet-fed mice had significantly reduced tumor growth and prolonged survival relative to Western mice. Also, the no-carb diet was associated with favorable changes in insulin and hormones relative to a low-fat or Western diet.

For more information about diets, please visit Natural Standard’s Health & Wellness database.

Thanksgiving...for Health

Although the holidays are often associated with less-than-healthy eating habits, a recent study found that some of the key Thanksgiving dinner staples – corn, beans and pumpkin – may actually help manage blood sugar and blood pressure.

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst explained that levels of obesity-linked diabetes and high blood pressure are highest among native communities in North America. This is linked to changes in dietary pattern towards high calorie foods such as sugar, refined grain flour and sweetened beverages.

The study authors suggested that a return to traditional dietary patterns may help to reduce these disease problems because of the better balance of calories and beneficial nutrients. Substances called phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables appear to fight against diabetes and high blood pressure.

The study found that pumpkin showed the best overall potential and concluded that the early Native Americans had the right idea - traditional plant food combinations can generate a whole food profile that has the potential to promote health by reducing the risk of diseases and complications.

Integrative therapies with good scientific evidence in the treatment of diabetes include beta-glucan, bitter melon, ginseng, gymnema and stevia. Omega-3 fatty acids also have strong scientific evidence for high blood pressure. Both of these conditions should be managed by a qualified healthcare professional.

For more information on the nutritional value of various foods, please visit Natural Standard's Nutrition database.

Church-Based Healthcare Strategies

Three new studies have investigated the effectiveness of church-based healthcare strategies for improving breast cancer screening, combating obesity and increasing physical activity.

Researchers from Colorado, Texas and Kansas generally found positive outcomes when healthcare strategies were approached in a church setting, particularly in Latin and African American communities.

The Tepeyac Project was a church-based health promotion project that was conducted from 1999 through 2005 to increase breast cancer screening rates among Latinas in Colorado. In the study conducted by scientists from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, researchers evaluated the program among enrollees in the state's five major insurance plans.

The study compared the Tepeyac Project's two interventions: the Printed Intervention and the Promotora Intervention. In the first intervention, the researchers mailed culturally tailored education packages to 209 Colorado Catholic churches. In the second, promotoras (peer counselors) in four Catholic churches delivered breast-health education messages personally.

Mammogram claims were compared from the five insurance plans in the analysis at baseline (1998-1999) and during follow-up (2000-2001) for Latinas who had received the interventions.

The mammogram rate for Latinas in the Printed Intervention remained the same from baseline to follow-up (58 percent vs. 58 percent). In the Promotora Intervention, the rate was 59 percent at the start of the study and 61 percent at follow-up. Rates increased modestly over time and varied widely by insurance type. After adjusting for age, income, urban versus rural location, disability and insurance type, the study found that women exposed to the Promotora Intervention had a significantly higher increase in mammograms than did women exposed to the Printed Intervention.

The study authors concluded that for insured Latinas, personally delivering church-based education through peer counselors appears to be a better breast-health promotion method than mailing printed educational materials to churches.

In a related study, researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio explained that obesity has reached epidemic levels, with nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population considered overweight or obese. The study authors suggested that Latinos have some of the highest rates of overweight, obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

The study examined knowledge, attitudes and behaviors about nutrition and exercise among Latinas aged 40 years and older residing in a low-income community in Houston, Texas, and the applicability of an evidence-based church program to promote healthy energy balance.

A qualitative assessment was conducted through 10 focus groups with 75 women recruited through three Catholic churches, community groups and leaders.

Participants identified barriers and enabling factors to healthy nutrition and physical activity. The study found that barriers included lack of awareness about nutrition and physical activity, cultural beliefs and socioeconomic and environmental factors.

Preferred strategies were group activities with direct guidance from qualified individuals and interpersonal contact among participants, social support with positive reinforcement for behavior change or maintenance and a friendly environment for learning and achieving suitable goals. The church was considered a powerful resource to influence Latinas to improve their health, exercise and nutrition practices.

The study authors concluded that using the church environment to reach Latina women aged 40 years and older is a feasible and culturally appropriate strategy. The study authors believe that the church environment provides a safe, comfortable and familiar atmosphere for women that addresses specific cultural barriers and safety concerns of family members.

And finally, a study conducted by researchers at Kansas State University analyzed the outcome of Health-e-AME, a three-year intervention designed to promote physical activity at African Methodist Episcopal churches across South Carolina based on a community-participation model designed to disseminate interventions through trained volunteer health directors.

Researchers used the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) framework to evaluate the intervention through interviews with 50 health directors.

The study found that 80 percent of the churches that had a health director trained during the first year of the intervention, and 52 percent of churches that had a health director trained during the second year, adopted at least one component of the intervention. Lack of motivation or commitment from the congregation was the most common barrier to adoption. Intervention activities reached middle-aged women mainly.

The researchers reported that the intervention was moderately well implemented, and adherence to its principles was adequate. Maintenance analysis showed that individual participants in the intervention's physical activity components continued their participation as long as the church offered them, but churches had difficulties continuing to offer physical activity sessions. The effectiveness analysis showed that the intervention produced promising, but not significant, trends in levels of physical activity.

The study authors concluded that the use of the RE-AIM framework to evaluate this intervention serves as a model for a comprehensive evaluation of the health effects of community programs to promote health.

Previous studies have looked the effects of prayer, spiritual healing and healing touch on various aspects of health. For more information on these, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

 

Plant Polyphenols for Bladder Cancer and Health

A recent animal study showing that plant polyphenols may lower the risk of cancer cell development adds to the existing research on resveratrol and quercetin. Polyphenols are plant-derived chemicals thought to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and skin rejuvenating capabilities.

Resveratrol is found in over 70 plant species including nuts, grapes, pine trees, certain vines and red wine. Some experts believe resveratrol may be a factor in the French paradox that coronary heart disease mortality in France is lower than other similar industrialized countries due to the frequent consumption of red wine.

Resveratrol has been shown in animal and laboratory studies to exhibit antioxidant, anticancer, antiproliferative, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial effects. However, data in humans is lacking.

At this time, there are no high-quality human trials available supporting the efficacy of resveratrol for any indication. However, there are several observational studies that correlate the consumption of wine with a decrease in cancer and/or cardiovascular disease risk. There are multiple possible contributing factors to these conditions, and studies of resveratrol are difficult to design and implement. Too much alcohol intake can actually be dangerous. Further research is needed before a firm recommendation can be made.

Quercetin is a major flavonol, one of the almost 4,000 flavonoids (antioxidants) that occur in foods of plant origin, such as red wine, onions, green tea, apples, berries and brassica vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and turnips). It is also found in Gingko biloba, St. John's wort and American elder. It mainly occurs in plants as glycosides, such as rutin (quercetin rutinoside) in tea.

Quercetin and rutin are used in many countries as vasoprotectants (for blood vessel health) and are ingredients of numerous multivitamin preparations and herbal remedies. They occur mainly as glycosides or molecules in which a sugar part is bound to some other part. It is uncertain to what extent dietary flavonoid glycosides are absorbed from the gut. Flavonoids, dietary components in vegetables, fruits and beverages, may protect against coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer. However, the ability of the body to absorb these compounds is questionable.

Quercetin and other flavonols have a wide variety of biological effects, but the scientific evidence for use in prevention or treatment of disease is weak. Quercetin has been considered as a therapy for cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol, cancers, diabetic cataracts, inflammation, ischemic injury, chronic prostatitis, chronic venous insufficiency, gastrointestinal ulceration, hepatitis, allergies, asthma, viral infections and hay fever.

Review of the literature shows several studies on the association with risk reduction for coronary heart disease and stroke, cancers and a few studies on other medical conditions. However, there is not strong evidence to support for any of these associations.

For more information on polyphenols, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Acupressure for Broken Wrist Pain

Acupressure may be effective at reducing pain in patients with wrist fractures en route to the hospital, a new study reports.

Acupressure is the practice of applying finger pressure to specific acupoints throughout the body. It has been used in China since 2000 BC, prior to the use of acupuncture.

Acupressure techniques are widely practiced internationally for relaxation, wellness promotion and the treatment of various health conditions. Multiple human studies suggest effectiveness of wrist-point acupressure for treating nausea. Additionally, acupressure has been deemed effective for pain management by the National Institutes of Health.

Researchers from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria explained that pain during transportation is a common phenomenon in emergency medicine.

The study evaluated the effectiveness of acupressure in prehospital patients with isolated distal radial fracture (a broken wrist). In the prospective, randomized, double-blind study, 32 patients were enrolled. Acupressure was performed either at "true" points or at "sham" points. Vital signs and pain and anxiety scores were recorded before and after the acupressure treatment.

The study found that pretreatment scores for pain and anxiety were similar in the two groups. At the hospital, patients in the true-points group had significantly lower pain and anxiety scores.

The study authors concluded that acupressure in the prehospital setting effectively reduces pain and anxiety in patients with distal radial trauma.

Several traditional Asian medical philosophies consider health to be a state of balance in the body, which is maintained by the flow of life energy along specific meridians. A disease state is believed to occur when energy flow is blocked, is deficient or in excess. A goal of acupressure is to restore normal life energy flow using finger and palm pressure, stretching, massaging and other bodywork techniques. It is believed that there are 12 primary channels and eight additional pathways circulating life energy throughout the body, maintaining the balance of yin and yang.

The mechanism of action may be similar to other techniques such as acupuncture (stimulation of acupoints with needles), moxibustion (burning with a stick including dried mugwort leaves) or other forms of manual stimulation. Techniques that involve soft tissue manipulation may have similar effects on the body as therapeutic massage.

For more information on acupressure, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database. 

EPA for Psychiatric and Neurodegenerative Diseases

A new review found controversial results from studies on the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, on psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are neurological disorders marked by the loss of nerve cells. Examples include Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are both contained in fish oil. Oily fish, such as salmon, tuna, and herring, are good sources of EPA. Fish, liver, and egg yolks are good sources of DHA. In addition, the body converts alpha-linolenic acid, which is commonly found in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils, into EPA and DHA.

There is evidence from multiple large-scale population (epidemiologic) studies and randomized controlled trials that intake of recommended amounts of DHA and EPA in the form of dietary fish or fish oil supplements lowers triglycerides, reduces the risk of death, heart attack, dangerous abnormal heart rhythms and stroke in people with known cardiovascular disease, slows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques ("hardening of the arteries") and lowers blood pressure slightly. However, high doses may have harmful effects, such as an increased risk of bleeding.

Researchers from the University of Prince Edward Island in Canada explained that decreased n-3 fatty acid levels have been reported in patients with depression, schizophrenia or Alzheimer's disease.

The review reported that recently, EPA has been used to treat several psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases due to its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. A total of six out of seven clinical trials have shown that EPA significantly improved symptoms of depression when compared with the placebo-treated populations.

Several investigations have also reported that EPA could effectively treat schizophrenia. A case report and a clinical trial have shown that EPA was beneficial for the management of most symptoms of Huntington's disease, while a more extensive clinical investigation has demonstrated that EPA could only improve motor functions.

The authors concluded that further clinical studies are required to fully explore the effects of EPA on other neurodegenerative diseases. The limitations of previous studies and further research directions were also discussed in the review.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends including fish in the diet for all individuals, and fish oil supplements in those with a history of cardiovascular disease.

Fish oil has been suggested as beneficial in conditions associated with low levels of omega-3 fatty acids (in plasma and/or membrane phospholipids) such as some psychiatric disorders. For mood disorders, Dr. Andrew Stoll of Harvard University has recommended 3-10 grams daily of EPA and DHA, in three divided doses with meals. Dr. Dean Ornish (creator of the Ornish diet ®) has recommended 2 grams per day of fish oil (MaxEPA®) for "cardiovascular improvement."

For more information on EPA and other omega-3 fatty acids, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

New Study on Soy and Breast Cancer

A new study adds to the controversial relationship between soy consumption and breast cancer rates.

Soy and components of soy called "isoflavones" have been studied scientifically for numerous health conditions. Isoflavones are believed to have estrogen-like effects in the body, and as a result are sometimes called "phytoestrogens." In laboratory studies, it is not clear if isoflavones stimulate or block the effects of estrogen, or both.

Several large population studies have asked women about their eating habits and reported higher soy intake (such as dietary tofu) to be associated with a decreased risk of developing breast cancer. However, this type of research can only be considered preliminary, because people who choose to eat soy may also partake in other lifestyle decisions that may lower the risk of cancer. These other habits, rather than soy, could theoretically be the cause of the benefits seen in these studies (for example, lower fat intake, more frequent exercise and lack of smoking).

Researchers from Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan investigated whether soy foods really have protective effects against breast cancer and how their influence on breast cancer is modified according to menopausal status.

In the population-based, prospective cohort study, researchers analyzed the data from the Japan Collaborative Cohort (JACC) Study. From 1988 to 1990, 30,454 women aged 40-79 years completed a questionnaire on diet and other lifestyle features.

In the study, during the mean follow-up of 7.6 years, 145 cases of breast cancer were documented. Researchers found no significant association between the risk of breast cancer and consumption of tofu, boiled beans and miso soup. Additionally, among postmenopausal women, no significant associations between soy foods and the risk of breast cancer were found.

The study concluded that the consumption of soy food has no protective effects against breast cancer. Further large-scale investigations eliciting genetic factors may clarify different roles of various soybean-ingredient foods on the risk of breast cancer.

For more information on breast cancer, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness and Medical Conditions databases.

FDA: $71,000 of Dietary Supplements Seized

Approximately $71,000 worth of dietary supplements were seized at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to a report released by the FDA, U.S. Marshals seized goods from FulLife Natural Options, Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida, which marketed and distributed Charantea Ampalaya Capsules and Charantea Ampalaya Tea.

The FDA explained that although these products are labeled as dietary supplements, they are being promoted by FulLife for use in treating serious conditions, such as diabetes, anemia (low red blood cell count) and hypertension (high blood pressure). These claims are evident in the products' labeling, including promotional literature and FulLife's Internet Web site.

The FDA stated that it takes seriously its responsibility to protect Americans from unapproved drugs. The FDA considers these products to be unapproved new drugs because they make claims related to the prevention or treatment of diseases in the products' labeling. Before a new drug product may be legally marketed, it must be shown to be safe and effective, and approved by the FDA.

The complaint, filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, charges that the products are in violation of the drug and misbranding provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Following an investigation of the firm's marketing practices, FDA officials advised FulLife that the claims related to prevention or treatment of diseases made these products subject to regulation as drugs. Despite the FDA's warnings, the firm failed to bring its marketing into compliance with the law. During subsequent inspections, the FDA found that the offending claims were still being made.

The FDA reported that the seizure at FulLife is the second such enforcement action in two months taken by the FDA against dietary supplements being promoted with drug claims to cure or treat diabetes and other diseases or conditions.