Natural Standard Blog

Water Aerobics may Decrease Pain of Childbirth

Pregnant women who perform water aerobics may experience less pain during delivery, a new study suggests.

Seventy-one pregnant women who did not exercise regularly participated in the study. Thirty-four women were randomly assigned to participate in moderate-intensity water aerobics for 50 minutes three times weekly. Treatment began at about 18 weeks of gestation until delivery. The remaining 37 women performed no exercise and served as the control. 

Throughout the study, all of the participants underwent several ergometric tests on a treadmill to measure their fitness.

The authors found that only 27.3 percent of women in the water aerobics group asked for pain medications during delivery, compared to 64.9 percent in the control group. According to these statistically significant findings, which are published in Reproductive Health, women who undergo water aerobics during pregnancy may require fewer pain medications during delivery.

Although more women in the control group (45.9 percent) underwent Caesarian sections than in the aerobics group (36.4 percent), the difference was not statistically significant. In addition, length of labor and average birth weight and age were similar in both groups.

"We've shown that the regular practice of moderate water aerobics during pregnancy is not detrimental to the health of the mother or the child," co-author Rosa Pereira said in a news release. "In fact, the reduction in analgesia requests suggests that it can get women into better psycho-physical condition."

However, this study is limited by its small sample size. About one-third of the women in the aerobics group dropped out of the study due to family, job and personal constraints.

Other types of water therapy, or hydrotherapy, have been used to treat pregnancy-related conditions, although evidence in this area is limited. For instance, early research suggests that giving birth in water may reduce labor pain, duration of labor, perineal damage to the mother and birth complications.

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

Webinar Forum: Natural Standard Database Overview

Today’s webinar, presented by Natural Standard Chief Editor Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD, provided an in-depth look at Natural Standard’s database.

The research collaboration provides evidence-based, consensus-based and peer-reviewed monographs on a wide-range of health and wellness topics, including herbs, supplements and integrative modalities. With more than seven databases, information can easily be cross referenced, enabling clinicians, patients and healthcare institutions to make more informed and safer therapeutic decisions. A recording of this webinar is available at www.naturalstandard.com.

Ulbricht's webinar is one of many upcoming complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. The next webinar, An Innovative Program in Applied Natural Products, will be presented by Lana Dvorkin-Camiel, PharmD. Dvorkin-Camiel is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Natural Products Division Coordinator at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy. To participate in her lecture, which will take place on December 2, 2008, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., please click here and call (616) 883-8055, access code 458-016-977. 

Natural Standard values the opinions and views of its readers and welcomes feedback and questions about the latest webinar event. Also, if you have any suggestions for future webinar topics, please leave a comment below or send an e-mail to questions@naturalstandard.com.

Study: Placebo Acupuncture Associated with Higher Pregnancy Rate

Acupuncture is often used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, despite the limited evidence of effectiveness. In a recent study, however, placebo acupuncture was unexpectedly linked to a higher rate of pregnancy than real acupuncture.

In the study, 370 women undergoing IVF were randomly assigned to receive 25 minutes of either real acupuncture or placebo acupuncture before and after embryo transfer. During the placebo treatment, an acupuncturist used a needle seemingly identical to a real acupuncture needle. However, the placebo needles did not actually enter the skin. Instead, they retracted back into the handle when pressed on the skin.

Before and after the acupuncture sessions, the authors measured the receptivity of the uterus, cortisol levels in the blood and anxiety levels.

The researchers found that the overall pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the placebo acupuncture group (55.1 percent) than the real acupuncture group (43.8 percent). Both receptivity of the uterus and stress levels decreased significantly in both groups, but these changes were not statistically different between the groups.

The authors concluded that placebo acupuncture may have actual effects on the body. It is also possible that real acupuncture may have a negative effect of pregnancy, although there is a lack of evidence to support this claim. Additional studies are needed in this area. 

Acupuncture has been used to treat many conditions related to pregnancy. For example, there is good evidence that acupuncture may improve nausea and back strain in pregnant women. For more information about acupuncture, please visit Natural Standard’s Health & Wellness database.

Webinar Forum: Diabetes Integrative Care Cases

Today’s webinar presented information about adjunctive and alternative herbal treatments for diabetes. Natural Standard Chief Editor Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD discussed treatment goals, integrative care plans and three patient care cases.

Several herbs and supplements were mentioned. For example, gingko has been shown to be beneficial for diabetic retinopathy due to its antioxidant properties. In addition, natural products such as beta-glucan, beta-sitosterol, niacin, omega-3 fatty acids, soy and psyllium have strong supportive evidence in lowering lipid abnormalities commonly seen with diabetes. However, Ulbricht cautioned that these herbal supplements are only to be used as integrative therapies rather then replacing western medicine as the patients’ primary treatment.

Ulbricht's webinar is one of many upcoming complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. The next webinar, A Natural Standard Database Overview, will take place on November 18 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. This upcoming presentation will provide a general overview of the database. To participate in the next webinar, please click here and call (616) 883-8055, access code 625-144-811.

Natural Standard values the opinions and views of its readers and welcomes feedback and questions about the latest webinar event. Also, if you have any suggestions for future webinar topics, please leave a comment below or send an e-mail to questions@naturalstandard.com.

Study: Selenium, Vitamin E may be Ineffective for Prostate Cancer Prevention

The government halted a major study that was testing whether vitamin E and selenium, either taken alone or together, may help prevent prostate cancer. An early review of the data showed that the supplements were ineffective and may possibly lead to health risks.

Two trends were found: slightly more men who took vitamin E alone developed prostate cancer, and slightly more men who took selenium alone developed type 2 diabetes. However, the results were not statistically significant, meaning they could just be coincidental.

More than 35,000 men aged 50 and older were taking supplements or placebos as part of the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT). But now the participants are being informed about the findings and told to stop taking their supplements.

Although the participants will no longer take the supplements, the researchers will still monitor their health for the next three years.

The study was double-blinded, which means neither the researchers nor the participants knew which supplements (if any) they were taking. Those who want to know what supplements they were taking can ask the doctors. But according to the researchers, the data will be more accurate if the men wait to find out until the end of the follow-up period.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), which provided most of the funding for SELECT, is sponsoring many other studies that are investigating the effects of different agents on prostate cancer. These agents include polyphenon E, green tea extract, lycopene, soy and di-indolylmethane (DIM), which is a compound found in Brassica vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower.

Currently, there is a promising drug called finasteride that may help prevent prostate cancer. In 2003, the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial found that finasteride reduced the risk of prostate cancer by 25 percent. However, finasteride has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for this use.

For more information about integrative therapies for prostate cancer prevention, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

Heavy Metals Found in International Wines

According to scientists, red and white wines from various countries contain potentially harmful amounts of at least seven heavy metals, including vanadium, chromium, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc and lead. The authors suggest that these metals may pose health risks in people who consume wine frequently over an extended period of time.

Declan Naughton and Andrea Petróczi from Kingston University, South West London, did not measure the amounts of metals in wine. Instead, they analyzed data published in scientific journals.

After collecting the data, they estimated the potential safety of 15 wines from Europe, South America and the Middle East by calculating their target hazard quotients (THQs). The THQ formula, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is used to estimate the potential risks associated with long-term exposure to environmental pollutants. A THQ score below one is considered safe.

"The THQ is a risk assessment designed to avoid underestimation. It therefore incorporates several assumptions, such as maximum absorption of ingested metal ions and lifetime exposures. In contrast, bolus dosing (e.g., drinking) and cross effects with other potential toxins (e.g., alcohol) are not accounted for, nor are the effects on the elderly, the young or those with a clinical condition," the authors wrote.

Italy,Brazil and Argentina produced wines that had safe levels of heavy metals. However, wines from Hungary and Slovakia each had a total THQ level above 350, while wine from the remaining 10 countries, including France, Austria, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Greece, Czech Republic, Jordan, Macedonia and Serbia, each had a total THQ value above 100.

Although drinking red wine in moderation has been linked to positive effects on the heart, the authors caution that the heavy metal contaminants may diminish possible health benefits. The heavy metals may act as pro-oxidants, possibly canceling out the positive antioxidant effects of the wine.

For more information about the antioxidant compounds found in wine, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Hydrogen Sulfide may Regulate Blood Pressure

Researchers have discovered that hydrogen sulfide, a common gas that smells like rotten eggs, may help regulate blood pressure.

 The researchers tested two groups of mice. One group was genetically modified so that they were unable to make an enzyme called cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE). Researchers suspected that CSE controls the production of hydrogen sulfide. The second group of mice was not genetically altered.

The genetically modified mice could not produce hydrogen sulfide. These mice also experienced increases in blood pressure and diminished blood vessel relaxation. But when the scientists supplemented these mice with hydrogen sulfide, their blood pressure dropped. The authors concluded that hydrogen sulfide may help regulate blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels.

Many foods, including garlic, onions and broccoli, are high in sulfur, which can be used to make hydrogen sulfide in the body. In fact, several early studies have shown that garlic and onion may lower blood pressure in humans. Although promising, additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.

For more information about high blood pressure, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

High-Fat Diet Linked to Alzheimer's

A high-fat diet may play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease, a new animal study suggests. A diet rich in animal fat and low in omega-3 fatty acids reportedly increased brain markers linked to Alzheimer's disease.

The researchers genetically altered mice to produce two proteins that are found in the brains of Alzheimer's patients: tau proteins and amyloid-beta proteins. Tau proteins prevent nerve cells (called neurons) from functioning properly, while amyloid-beta proteins have been linked to the formation of abnormal deposits in the brain called senile plaques. The mice received either a regular diet or a high-fat diet low in omega-3 fatty acids for nine months.

The mice that ate high-fat diets had 1.5 times more tau protein and 8.7 times more amyloid-beta protein than mice in the control group. The high-fat diet also decreased levels of drebrin protein in the brain, which is another sign of Alzheimer's disease.

"Our findings lead us to believe that a diet containing more omega-3s and less saturated fat could prevent the development of Alzheimer's, at the very least among people genetically predisposed to the disease," said lead author Dr. Frédéric Calon. "We cannot state with any certainty that what we have observed among transgenic mice also occurs in humans, but there is no harm in eating less fat and more omega-3s," he added.

Some of the most recent research indicates that taking steps to improve heart health, such as losing weight, exercising and controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol, may also help prevent Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, strong evidence suggests that ginkgo may be beneficial in people with early-stage Alzheimer's disease. In fact, some research has shown that it may be as effective as acetylcholinesterase inhibitor drugs such as donepezil (Aricept®).

For more information about integrative therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

Purple Tomatoes Increased Lifespan of Cancer-Prone Mice

A new study suggests that tomatoes genetically altered to be rich in antioxidants may increase the life span in mice that are predisposed to cancer. 

Using genes from the snapdragon flower, researchers in Europe modified tomatoes so they would contain high amounts of anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants commonly found in dark berries like blackberries and blueberries. The new genes also caused the tomatoes to become purple in the process.

Anthocyanins have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and age-related degenerative diseases. However, many of the most commonly eaten fruits and vegetables may not contain enough anthocyanins to gain health benefits. 

Mice genetically altered to be prone to cancer ate diets rich in the purple tomatoes or a standard diet with or without normal tomatoes. Those that ate the purple tomatoes lived significantly longer (182 days on average) than mice that ate standard diets (142 days on average). 

Although the findings, published in the journal Nature Biotechnology, are promising, more studies are needed to confirm these results. 

Tomatoes naturally contain high levels of other antioxidants called lycopene and flavonoids. Lycopene is most abundant in highly processed tomatoes. Also, cooking tomatoes in oil helps the fruit release more lycopene. Flavonoids can be water soluble and fat soluble, so eating foods with water or fat is thought to increase the beneficial effects of these antioxidants. 

For more information about tomatoes and their antioxidants, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Foods, Herbs & Supplements database. For more information about genetically modified foods, please visit Natural Standard's Genomics & Proteomics database.