Natural Standard Blog

Bisphenol Controversy Continues

A preliminary study calls into question what is known about bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and how it is removed from the body. BPA is a chemical commonly used in hardened plastics and is often found in baby bottles, water bottles and eyeglass lenses.

Based on early evidence, researchers suspect that humans are primarily exposed to BPA from food and that the chemical is eliminated from the body in about 24 hours.

However, this latest study suggests that BPA may also be present in other sources and/or remain in the body’s fat tissues. The researchers analyzed data on 1,469 adults living in the United States from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The CDC researchers recorded the participants fasting BPA levels and collected dietary information. Although the participants fasted before having their BPA levels measured, they were allowed to drink water, black coffee and diet soda. 

The authors of this recent study, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, compared the participants’ BPA levels to the length of their fasting period. They hypothesized that people who fasted longer would have lower BPA levels. However, the researchers discovered that participants who fasted only had moderately lower BPA levels than those who had just eaten.

According to the authors, these results suggest that BPA may come from sources other than food, such as water. They also suggest that BPA may enter fat tissue, where it would be released more slowly.

However, the results of this study are limited and open to interpretation. Additional studies are needed to understand how BPA exposure occurs and how it is removed from the body.  

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that BPA is safe, despite early evidence that may be associated with an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. Canada banned BPA from plastic baby bottles in October 2008.

Fitness may Help Prevent Mental Decline in Older Adults

Researchers have discovered that older adults who are in good physical shape may have a reduced risk of mental decline, likely due to healthy blood flow to the brain.

Several earlier studies have shown that taking steps to improve cardiovascular health, such as losing weight, exercising and controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol, may help prevent dementia. However, a clear mechanism has not been identified.

In the latest cross-sectional study, researchers studied 42, healthy postmenopausal women who were 50-90 years old. Some women exercised regularly, while others were sedentary. The women took fitness tests on exercise bikes, and ultrasounds were performed to monitor blood flow to the brain. They also took cognitive tests that measured skills such as memory and reasoning.

The authors found that physically fit women had increased blood flow to the brain during exercise, which was also related to improved measures of cognition.

“This study identified strong associations between physical fitness, vascular function and cognition, and provides new understanding regarding the mechanisms by which fitness positively impacts cognition with aging. The implications of this research are considerable and warrant future investigation,” the authors concluded in the January 2009 issue of Neurobiology of Aging.

For more information about integrative therapies to help treat or prevent age-related cognitive disorders, please visit Natural Standard’s Comparative Effectiveness database.

Webinar Forum: Unstuck - An Integrative Approach to Depression

Guest speakers' viewpoints are not necessarily that of Natural Standard. Natural Standard offers this educational webinar forum as a purely informational public service. Natural Standard remains impartial and unbiased.

Harvard-trained psychiatrist and Founder and Director of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM) in Washington, DC, Dr. Gordon believes that depression is not an end point, a disease over which we have no control. Instead, he believes it is a sign that our lives are out of balance, that we're stuck. In his new book, Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven-Stage Journey out of Depression, and in Natural Standard's webinar, Dr. Gordon discusses how antidepressants should not be a first choice, but a last resort. He shares helpful tips and techniques that he uses in private practice for relieving depression's symptoms. These include food and nutritional supplements, Chinese medicine, movement, (such as exercise and dance), psychotherapy, meditation and guided imagery and spiritual practice and prayer.

All webinars are recorded and archived at www.naturalstandard.com.

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.

Stevia Sweetener Approved

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the use of Truvia™ and PureVia™, zero-calorie sweeteners made from the stevia plant, for use in foods and beverages. These newly approved sweeteners are purified forms of stevia called rebaudioside A.

 

The stevia herb is native to Brazil and Paraguay. For more than 20 years, stevia extracts have been sold as commercialized sweeteners in Japan and Brazil.

 

In the United States, Coca-Cola Co. and Pepsico are among the first companies to market new beverages containing stevia. They are working with Cargill Inc. and Merisant Co.'s Whole Earth Sweetener, respectively, to develop products made with the natural sweetener. Both manufacturers have also developed tabletop versions of the sweetener.

 

This month, Coca-Cola launched Sprite Green®, a reduced-calorie, sparkling beverage made with Truvia™. It is currently available in New York and Chicago. Sprite Green® contains some natural sugar and has 50 calories per 8.5 ounces. Coca Cola also plans to develop some Odwalla® juices with the sweetener.

 

Pepsico launched three flavors of SoBe Lifewater® (Fuji Apple Pear™, Black and Blue Berry™ and Yumberry Pomegranate™) that contain PureVia™. In March, they also plan to release an orange juice containing PureVia™ called Trop50®.

 

Aside from having no calories, stevia may also have some health benefits. The herb has been widely used to treat diabetes in South America, and animal studies have shown promising results. Human studies have reported decreases in blood sugar levels when stevia was taken in healthy volunteers, but there is currently a lack of conclusive evidence of effectiveness when used in patients with diabetes. Additional research is needed in this area to confirm these findings.

 

In addition, stevioside, a natural plant glycoside in the stevia plant, has demonstrated blood pressure-lowering effects. Despite evidence of benefits in some human studies and support from laboratory and animal studies, more research is warranted to compare stevia's effectiveness with the current standard of care.

 

Reported side effects of stevia include muscle pain, muscle weakness, dizziness, nausea and abdominal fullness. These effects resolved after the first week of treatment. Higher doses of stevia may affect kidney activity.

 

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

Phosphates Possibly Linked to Lung Cancer Risk

A diet rich in phosphate accelerated the growth of lung cancers in mice and may increase the risk of tumors in those predisposed to the disease, a preliminary study reports. 

Phosphate is found in many natural foods, such as meats, fruits and leafy vegetables. Although phosphates are essential nutrients, dietary intake has significantly increased over the years. They are increasingly used as food additives in processed foods, such as baking powder, meats, sausages, cheeses and sodas. Phosphate helps increase shelf life, improves taste and texture and helps retain water in meats.

The researchers studied two groups of mice. One group was genetically predisposed to develop lung cancer, while the other had induced lung cancers. The mice ate a diet containing 0.5 percent phosphate (normal) or one percent phosphate (high) for four weeks and were monitored for the development of lung cancer. At the end of the study, the mice that received high amounts of phosphates had larger tumors that progressed faster than those receiving normal amounts of phosphates. According to the authors, phosphates may activate a pathway that promotes the growth of lung tumors.

However, because the study was performed in mice, it is unclear if the same effects would occur in humans. In addition, lung cancer is considered a multifactorial disease because several factors (such as smoking) are involved. Therefore, additional studies are warranted in this area.

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

Mind-Body Therapy May Improve Pelvic Pain

A new study suggests that a mind-body therapy called Mensendieck somatocognitive therapy may reduce long-term (chronic) pelvic pain in women. The effects lasted several months after the treatment ended.

 

Mensendieck therapy emphasizes body awareness. During treatment, patients learn how to correct their movements, breathing patterns and posture. This therapy is commonly used in Europe, especially Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands.

 

Last year, Norwegian researchers found that Mensendieck therapy reduced pain and restored normal movement in 40 women with chronic pelvic pain with no known cause. The researchers reported their findings after a one-year follow up in the latest issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

 

In the study, the participants were randomly assigned to receive either standard care alone or standard care plus 10 weeks of Mensendieck therapy.

 

At the beginning and end of the study, the authors measured the motor function (including movement, posture, gait and respiration), pain and psychological stress and well being. All of the women in the Mensendieck therapy group experienced significant improvements in all areas compared to the control group.

 

One year later, the authors found that the women in the therapy group experienced additional improvements in their symptoms. During the one-year period, their pain scores improved by 64 percent, and they experienced significant improvements in psychological distress. In contrast, pain scores in the control group did not change appreciably.

 

Although these early results are promising, additional studies are needed before a firm conclusion can be reached.

 

For more information about mind-body therapies, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

Vitamin C May Affect Blood Pressure

Researchers have found a possible link between high levels of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and lower blood pressure in women.

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is commonly found in fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, grapefruits, lemons, limes, oranges, peppers and tomatoes. It has antioxidant effects and is needed for the body to form cartilage, muscle, blood vessels and collagen in bones. It also helps the body absorb iron.

The authors studied 242 women, between the ages of 18 and 21, who participated in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study. The participants were 8-11 years old at the start of the 10-year-long study. Their blood pressure and vitamin C levels were measured throughout the trial.

After adjusting for race, body mass, education and dietary intake of fat and sodium, the authors found that higher vitamin C levels were associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels. People with the highest vitamin C levels (about 1.83 milligrams of ascorbic acid per deciliter of blood) had 4.66mmHg lower systolic blood pressure and 6.04 lower diastolic blood pressure compared to those with the lowest vitamin C levels.

However, diets high in vitamin C may also contain other nutrients that affect blood pressure, such as fiber. Therefore, additional research is needed to determine if vitamin C has blood pressure-lowering effects.

For more information about vitamin C, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

HRT may be Linked to Decreased Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in women, especially after therapy is completed, a new study suggests.

HRT is medication containing one or more female hormones, commonly estrogen plus progestin (synthetic progesterone). The hormones are available in a variety of forms: pills, vaginal creams, vaginal ring inserts, implants, injections and patches worn on the skin. HRT is typically prescribed to treat menopausal symptoms, but it may also protect against osteoporosis.

Early studies have shown that HRT may increase the risk of breast cancer, heart problems and stroke. For this reason, doctors generally prescribe the lowest possible dosage for the shortest period of time when treating symptoms of menopause.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health evaluated the association between HRT and colorectal cancer risk in 56,733 postmenopausal women participating in the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project follow-up study. The women were followed for about 15 years.

According to the findings, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, women who previously took a combination of estrogen and progestin at least five years earlier had a 45 percent reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer. 

The authors also found that women who had previously taken estrogen alone had a 17 percent decreased risk of developing the disease. Women who were currently taking estrogen had a 25 percent reduced risk, while those using estrogen for 10 year or longer had a 26 percent reduced risk.

It is unclear exactly how HRT may influence the risk of colorectal cancer. Additional research is warranted in this area.

For more information about HRT and menopause, please visit Natural Standard’s Medical Conditions database.

Antioxidants may Improve Pain in Patients with Chronic Pancreatitis

In a recent study, antioxidant supplementation improved pain and reduced levels of oxidative stress in patients with chronic pancreatitis, an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. The main symptom of chronic-pancreatitis is abdominal pain, which can last anywhere from hours to days. However, effective pain-relieving medication for this condition is currently lacking. 

Researchers compared the effects of antioxidants to placebo in 127 patients with chronic pancreatitis for six months. Antioxidants are molecules that help prevent cellular damage caused by both normal bodily processes and exposure to some chemicals.

Participants in the antioxidant group experienced significantly fewer painful days compared to the placebo group. By the end of the study, 32 percent of people in the antioxidant group were pain free compared to 13 percent in the placebo group. In addition, participants who received antioxidants required fewer pain-relieving medications.

Measures of oxidative stress initially increased and subsequently decreased after supplementation with antioxidants. According to the authors, these findings suggest that chronic pancreatitis causes heightened free radical-mediated damage that is reversible.

"We are encouraged by our findings, as significant improvement was noted with antioxidants in respect to all the parameters of pain in this study. In addition, reduction in pain resulted in fewer man-days lost, thus providing functional employment gain to the patients. The findings should spur further research in this exciting area,” said Pramod Kumar Garg, MD, DM, of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, and lead author of the study.

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