Natural Standard Blog

Drinking Hot Tea may be Linked to Esophageal Cancer

According to a new study published in the British Medical Journal, drinking hot black tea may increase the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of esophageal cancer. 

In the latest study, researchers studied the tea-drinking habits of 300 people diagnosed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 570 healthy people (controls). The participants were from northern Iran's Golestan province. This area has a very high rate of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma even though smoking and drinking, two major risk factors for the disease, are not common.

The researchers found that nearly all participants (98 percent) regularly drank black tea. On average, they drank a little more than a liter daily. People who drink hot tea (140-147 degrees Fahrenheit) or very hot tea (hotter than 149 degrees Fahrenheit) were about two and eight times more likely to develop cancer, respectively, than people who drank warm or lukewarm tea (140 degrees Fahrenheit or less). 

The speed with which people drank their tea also affected cancer risk. People who drank a cup of tea in less than two minutes after it was poured were about five times more likely to develop cancer than those who took longer than four minutes. The amount of tea consumed did not affect cancer risk.

The researchers went on to study 48,582 residents in the same area. Participants in the cohort study were served tea and asked their preferred tea temperature, which was checked with a digital thermometer. They found that 39 percent drank warm or lukewarm tea, 39 percent drank hot tea and 22 percent drank very hot tea.

However, because this is an observation study, it does not prove cause and effect. It is unclear if hot tea actually causes esophageal cancer or if other hot drinks may have this same effect. Additional studies are warranted in this area.

For more information about black tea, please visit Natural Standard’s Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Maggot Therapy Studied as Treatment for Leg Ulcers

New evidence suggests that maggot therapy, a technique that uses live maggots to clean non-healing wounds, may be more painful and less effective for leg ulcers than standard treatment.

During maggot therapy, also called maggot debridement therapy, fly larvae (maggots) debride wounds by dissolving the dead infected tissue. They may also stimulate wound healing and disinfect the wound by killing bacteria. Researchers often use Phaenicia sericata (green bottle fly) larvae because this species has been used successfully in maggot therapy for many decades.

This latest study included 267 patients with difficult-to-treat leg ulcers that were at least 25 percent covered with dead tissue. The participants were randomly assigned to receive treatment with loose maggots, maggots contained in a net bag or standard treatment with a hydrogel product.

The researchers found that maggot therapy removed more dead tissue than standard therapy. However, patients in the maggot therapy groups reported about twice as much pain and healed more slowly than those who received standard treatment. Maggot therapy also did not significantly reduce the amount of bacteria on the wounds compared to hydrogel. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings.

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

Webinar Forum: Lipid Disorders Integrative Care Cases (2 hours)

Natural Standard Chief Editor Catherine Ulbricht, PharmD, discusses adjunct and alternative herbal treatments for the treatment and prevention of lipid disorders. The presentation includes treatment goals, an integrative care plan and patient care cases.

Complimentary access is available until March 31, 2009. To log in, please visit www1.gotomeeting.com/register/744929447.

Natural Standard values the opinions and views of its readers and welcomes feedback and questions about the latest webinar. Individuals are invited to leave comments below and/or e-mail to questions@naturalstandard.com.

Oxygen Therapy Studied in Autistic Children

A new study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may offer some benefit to children with autism.

During HBOT, the patient sits in a special chamber and breathes in oxygen at a level that is higher than the atmospheric pressure. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) has approved HBOT for several medical conditions, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness and thermal burns. HBOT was first suggested as a potential treatment for autism in the 1990s when it was discovered that autistic adults may have decreased blood circulation in the brain.

This latest study included 62 children with autism who were two to seven years old. They were randomly assigned to receive two hourly treatments of HBOT daily for five days a week or a sham treatment. Treatment lasted for four weeks.

At the beginning and end of the study, the participants’ symptoms were evaluated using the Clinical Global Impression scale, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist and the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist.

The authors found that Clinical Global Impression scores improved significantly in the treatment group (an average of 1.13 points) compared to the control group (0.38 points).

The total Aberrant Behavior Checklist scores were similar among both groups. However, irritability was significantly improved in the treatment group compared to the control.

The total scores from the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist were also not statistically different between the two groups.

This study is limited by the high placebo response. About 73 percent of children in the control group reported some clinical improvement, which was similar to the treatment group. In addition, the study was funded by the International Hyperbarics Association, and the authors are practitioners in private autism or hyperbaric treatment clinics.

HBOT has been associated with a serious and life threatening type of seizure called a grand mal seizure. However, in this study, no serious adverse effects were reported. One child experienced a worsening of asthma symptoms and was withdrawn from the study. Another child dropped out because of anxiety during the first treatment.

Additional research is needed to fully understand how HBOT may affect autism.

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

Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to Colds

Individuals with low levels of vitamin D may be more likely to catch colds or the flu, a new study suggests.

Vitamin D is found in many foods, including milk, eggs, cheese and beef. Exposure to sunlight also helps the body produce vitamin D. Recommended daily intakes range from five to 15 micrograms, depending on a person's age and health.

Preliminary evidence suggests that vitamin D may play a role in immune function. However, these earlier studies have not been conclusive.

In this latest study, researchers analyzed data on vitamin D levels and respiratory infections in 18,883 individuals (aged 12 and older) who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) from October 1988 to October 1994.

The researchers found that cold and flu infections were significantly more common among those with the lowest vitamin D levels (less than 10 nanograms per milliliter of blood) compared to those with the highest levels (30 or more nanograms per milliliter of blood). On average, they were 36 percent more likely to develop upper respiratory tract infections.

These results were consistent throughout spring, summer and fall and were strongest among those with histories of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

However, additional research is needed to determine if vitamin D supplementation can help prevent infections. The authors call for randomized controlled trials in this area.

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

Many Cancers may be Preventable

According to a new report from the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), about one-third of the 12 most common adult cancers may be preventable by making healthy lifestyle choices. The report did not include cancers that could be prevented by not smoking.

Cancer is the second-leading cause of death among Americans, surpassed only by heart disease. Based on projections by the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer deaths will likely continue to rise, with an estimated nine million deaths from cancer in 2015 and 11.4 million deaths from cancer in 2030.

The panel of 23 experts concluded that being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a nutritious diet may help prevent various types of cancer. In the United States, endometrial cancers, esophageal cancers and cancers of the mouth, pharynx and larynx were found to be the most preventable.

These estimates do not represent an individual person's risk of developing cancer. Instead, they reflect the general population's estimated chance of developing the disease. WCRF/AICR also emphasizes that there is no way to completely eliminate the risk because many factors beyond a person's control (such as family history) may affect cancer risk.

The report also includes recommendations for governments, schools, workplaces media and other organizations to encourage healthy lifestyles. For instance, the panel recommends that schools and workplaces promote walking and bicycling and eliminate unhealthy foods in cafeterias. They also stress the need for food and beverage companies to reduce the cost of healthy products and to stop promoting unhealthy products to children.

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

Working Long Hours Linked to Mental Decline

In a recent study, working long hours was associated with decreased cognitive function in middle-aged adults.

The study examined 2,214 middle-aged British civil servants who were working full-time. The researchers performed various tests to measure the participants' cognitive function at the time of study enrollment (1997-1999) and again at follow up (2002-2004).

According to the authors, working more than 55 hours a week was linked with poorer mental skills, including impaired short-term memory and recall, compared to those who worked a standard 40 hours. Individuals who worked the most hours experienced the greatest decline in cognitive function.

These results were similar after adjusting for potential confounding factors, including age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, income, physical diseases, psychosocial factors, sleep disturbances and health-risk behaviors.

In addition, participants who worked overtime slept fewer hours, reported more symptoms of depression and drank more alcohol than those who worked just 40 hours.

The potential mechanism for these negative effects remains unknown. It is also unclear if the effects may be long-term. Additional research is warranted in this area.

For more information about cognitive decline, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

B-Vitamins may Help Prevent AMD

A recent study suggests that supplementation with B-vitamins may help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in older Americans.

The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, included 5,205 women older than 40 years of age who did not have signs of AMD. The women were part of a large study looking at the effects of vitamins in women with heart disease or at least three risk factors for heart disease.

In April 1998, the participants were randomly assigned to receive supplementation (2.5 milligrams of vitamin B9 (folic acid), 50 milligrams of vitamin B6 and one milligram of vitamin B12) or placebo daily. Therapy continued through July 2005, and participants were monitored for the development of AMD through November 2005.

The authors found that women in the supplementation group had a 34 percent lower risk of developing AMD and a 41 percent reduced risk of developing AMD with significant vision loss compared to those in the placebo group. According to the authors, these protective effects were observed about two years after treatment started.

While the potential mechanism of action for these effects is unclear, these B-vitamins have been shown to lower blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) and have been suspected of damaging blood vessels. However, it is unclear if reducing homocysteine levels would have beneficial effects on the heart.

Although these preliminary results are promising, additional studies are needed before conclusions can be made.

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