Natural Standard Blog

Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Not Reduce Heart Disease Risk

Contrary to previous findings, a new study suggests that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may not reduce the risk for heart disease.

Dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish oil and certain plant and nut oils. Fish oil contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), while some nuts (such as English walnuts) and vegetable oils (such as canola, soybean, flaxseed, linseed and olive oils) contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Several well-conducted randomized controlled trials have reported that in people with a history of heart attack, regular consumption of oily fish or fish oil or omega-3 supplements reduces the risk of nonfatal heart attack, fatal heart attack, sudden death and all-cause mortality (death due to any cause). Most patients in these studies were also using conventional heart drugs, suggesting that the benefits of fish oils may add to the effects of other therapies.

Several large studies of populations have also examined the effects of omega-3 fatty acid intake on stroke risk. Some studies suggest benefits, while others do not. Effects are likely on stroke risk, and very large intakes of omega-3 fatty acids may actually increase the risk of hemorrhagic (bleeding) stroke. At this time, it is unclear if there are benefits in people with or without a history of stroke, or if effects of fish oil are comparable to other treatment strategies.

In a new study, researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search for well-designed clinical trials evaluating the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on death due to heart disease, sudden death, heart attack, stroke and death from any cause. Twenty studies assessing 60,680 individuals were ultimately identified for inclusion.

From the 20 studies, 7,044 deaths from any cause, 3,993 deaths due to heart disease, 1,150 sudden deaths, 1,837 heart attacks and 1,490 strokes were identified.

Through data analyses, the researchers found that a significant association between omega-3 fatty acid intake and risk for death from any cause, death due to heart disease, sudden death, heart attack or stroke, was lacking.

The authors concluded that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may not reduce the risk for heart disease or stoke. However, additional research is necessary to further evaluate these findings.

For more information about integrative therapies for heart disease prevention, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness Database.

For more information about fish oil, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements Database.

Natural Standard Presenting at TSU Continuing Education Conference

Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder of Natural Standard, will be presenting a lecture on Dietary Supplement Interactions at the upcoming Annual Fall Preceptor Conference, hosted by Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

The conference will take place on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at the Texas Southern University Medical Center Campus. The conference provides 2.0 contact hours (0.20 CEU) of general pharmacy education credit in Knowledge and 2.0 contact hours (0.15 CEU) of general pharmacy education credit in Law.

The learning objectives of the program include discussing evidence-based information on dietary supplements as well as potential interactions with diagnostic/laboratory tests, food/nutrients and drugs/OTCs. Dr. Ulbricht will be speaking from 10:30am to 12:30pm.

Iona Grant, R.Ph, will also present on the Texas State Board of Pharmacy Law Updates from 8:10am to 10:10am.

For more information or to register for this event, please visit www.tsu.edu.

Natural Standard Featured CE/CME: Guggul

Natural Standard's featured CE/CME for the month of September is Guggul: Safety & Effectiveness.

Guggul (gum guggul) is the common name for the mukul myrrh tree (Commiphora mukul). Guggul is also the name of the sap-like product produced by the tree. Guggulipid, which is extracted from guggul, contains guggulsterones, which may have health benefits for humans..

Natural Standard offers CE/CME modules for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals. Students and other users may take courses for training purposes without generating credit certificates. Continuing Education requirements differ based on discipline, license and location. If you are unsure of your specific needs, please contact your local agency.

Acupuncture May Reduce Chronic Pain

Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for chronic pain, according to a new study.

There are many different varieties of the practice of acupuncture, both in the Orient and in the West. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) usually combines acupuncture with Chinese herbs. Research on the effectiveness of acupuncture has special challenges. These include the diversity of approaches, the practice of individualizing treatment for each patient, differing skill levels between practitioners, and difficulty separating out the effects of acupuncture from placebo effects.

In a recent study, researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search of well-designed clinical trials evaluating the effects of acupuncture on four different types of chronic pain, including back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache and shoulder pain. Twenty-nine studies evaluating 17,922 patients were ultimately identified for inclusion.

The researchers found that when compared to sham acupuncture or no acupuncture treatment, true acupuncture was significantly more effective in reducing all four types of chronic pain. Pain scores were significantly reduced for all pain types when true acupuncture was compared to sham acupuncture and the effect sizes were greater when true acupuncture was compared to no acupuncture treatment at all. The authors noted that the significant differences between sham and true acupuncture indicate that the effects of acupuncture may be more than a suggested placebo effect.

The authors concluded that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for chronic pain. Additional research is warranted.

In addition to acupuncture, there is evidence that suggests acupressure using aromatic essential oils (lavender) may reduce pain intensity, stiffness and stress in patients with neck pain for up to one month.

For more information about integrative therapies for chronic pain, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness Database.

For more information about acupuncture, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness Database.

Marijuana Use Linked to Testicular Cancer

A new study supports previous findings that suggest marijuana use may be linked to an increased risk for testicular cancer.

Marijuana, hemp and cannabis are common names for plants of the genus Cannabis. The term hemp is often used for cannabis strains grown specifically for production of paper, rope and cloth. Other cannabis strains are used to make recreational and medicinal drugs. The major difference between the main types of cannabis plants is the amount of the psychoactive compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) they contain.

Cannabis has been studied for the treatment of a number of conditions, including eczema, epilepsy, chronic pain, insomnia and symptoms of multiple sclerosis. The most significant benefits have been found in the treatment of chronic pain and symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

In a recent study, researchers analyzed data on 163 men diagnosed with testicular cancer and 292 men of similar characteristics without cancer to evaluate the potential association between recreational drug use and testicular cancer risk.

The researchers found that compared to men who had never used marijuana, men who had used marijuana at least once had twice the risk of developing testicular cancer. Conversely, cocaine use was linked to a decreased risk for cancer.

Testicular cancer may be identified as seminoma or non-seminoma. Non-seminoma turmors may be further identified as embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac carcinoma, choriocarcinoma and teratoma. Tumors are also often mixed with various types. When evaluated for tumor type, marijuana use was specifically linked to increased risk for non-seminoma and mixed tumors.

The authors concluded that marijuana use may be linked to an increased risk for testicular cancer. A study published in 2009 reported similar findings; however, this only suggests a potential association and does not prove a cause and effect relationship. Further research is necessary.

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

Coffee May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

A recent study suggests that drinking coffee may reduce the risk for colon cancer.

Coffee is a popular source of caffeine. However, it also contains many other components that are believed to have health benefits, such as lowering blood sugar levels. These components include chlorogenic acid, quinides, lignans and trigonelline.

Studies suggest that caffeinated coffee consumption may increase blood pressure and potentially increase the risk of heart disease. However, these results were not found to be true of decaffeinated coffee, and some trials found that chlorogenic acid may actually lower blood pressure.

In a new study, researchers analyzed data on 489,706 individuals from the NIH AARP Diet and Health Study to assess the potential relationship between coffee and tea consumption and colon and rectal cancer. Data on diet and lifestyle were collected through questionnaires. Over an average of 10.5 years, 1,993 distal colon cancers, 2,863 proximal colon cancers and 1,874 rectal cancers were identified.

The researchers found that when compared to individuals who drank no coffee at all, those who consumed four to five cups daily and those who consumed over six cups daily had a 15 and 26 percent reduced risk of colon cancer, respectively. A significant association with tea consumption was lacking.

The authors concluded that drinking coffee may reduce the risk for colon cancer. Additional research is warranted.

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

Natural Standard Attending Career Fairs

Individuals interested in learning more about evidence-based integrative medicine are invited to visit Natural Standard's at one of several upcoming college career fairs. Natural Standard's will be recruiting for all departments, including marketing and outreach.

Tufts University Career Fair: The event will take place September 28, 2012 at the The Gantcher Center on the Medford Campus. For more information, please visit http://careers.tufts.edu.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) Career Fair: The event will take place October, 2, 2012 at the Fennell Building Student Lounge on the Boston Campus. For more information, please visit www.mcphs.edu.

Northeastern University Fall Career Fair: The event will take place October 3, 2012 at the Cabot Gym on the Boston Campus. For more information, please visit www.northeastern.edu/careerservices.

Complimentary Webinar

Natural Standard is offering a series of complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. Natural Standard offers these impartial webinars as an informational public service. All webinars are recorded and archived at www.naturalstandard.com/webinars.

Q & A with Fabien Cousteau: Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder of Natural Standard, interviews ocean explorer and documentary filmmaker Fabien Cousteau. Fabien is the grandson of noted oceanographic explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and recently launched an ambitious initiative called Plant A Fish, to take an aggressive grassroots approach to ocean restoration. Complimentary access will be available starting October 1, 2012.

Recipe of the Month: Autumn chicken stew

Natural Standard's featured healthy recipe for the month of September is the Autumn chicken stew.

This low calorie, heart healthy, high protein stew is a delicious recipe for fall.

Natural Standard's new Recipe Database features a wide range of healthy recipes in the following categories: Beans & Legumes, Dairy, Eggs, Fruit, Meat, Pasta, Poultry, Rice & Grains, Seafood, Vegetables and Nuts, Fats & Oils.

Natural Standard welcomes submissions of non-copyrighted healthy recipes for inclusion in the Recipe Database. If you would like to submit a recipe, please email recipes@naturalstandard.com.

Yoga May Improve Lung Function

New research indicates that yoga may benefit lung function.

Yoga is an ancient system of relaxation, exercise and healing that has origins in Indian philosophy. As a system of healing, it takes a primary approach of prevention, or keeping oneself well by the daily practice.

Yoga has undergone much scientific study, with various psychological and physical theories suggested. In human research, yoga has been shown to reduce heart rate and blood pressure, increase breath holding time and lung capacity, improve muscle relaxation and body composition, cause weight loss and increase overall physical endurance.

The recent study reviewed data from ten other studies that examined the effect of yoga on lung function. Researchers analyzed data on lung strength and how much air could be expelled in one breath.

Researchers found that lung function improved after ten weeks of yoga practice. Participants who were less fit before the study and participants who practiced more breathing exercises showed the greatest improvement.

For more information about yoga, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

Natural Medicine Journal: New Issue

The latest issue of the Natural Medicine Journal is now available online.

The Natural Medicine Journal is an open-access, peer-reviewed e-journal for integrative healthcare practitioners, as well as students and faculty who focus on the field of natural medicine. The monthly journal and website provide scientifically-valid, clinically-relevant information.

The September issue features the following articles:

Aloe Vera Gel Research Review by Oliver Grundmann, PhD

Women's Health Expert, Tori Hudson, ND, Chooses Her Top 10 Scientifically Substantiated Botanicals by Karolyn A. Gazella

What Went Wrong: The Truth Behind the Clinical Trial of the Enzyme Treatment of Cancer by Greg Nigh, ND, Lac

N-Acetylcysteine in the Treatment of Childhood Autism by Kaycie Rosen

Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Epilepsy by By Barry Ritz, PhD

Ubiquinol for Idiopathic Male Factor Infertility By Setareh Tais, ND

Pelargonium Sidoides Bronchitis in Pediatrics By Jaclyn Chasse, ND

Appreciating Coffee in Its Full Complexity by By Petra Eichelsdoerfer, ND, CN, RPh

Exploring Environmental Medicine with Women's Health Expert Marianne Marchese, ND by Karolyn A. Gazella

To subscribe to the complimentary journal, please visit www.naturalmedicinejournal.com.

Natural Standard on Sharecare.com

Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder and CEO of Natural Standard, authored a new blog for Sharecare.com.

6 Weight Loss Supplements You've Never Heard Of: Dr. Ulbricht reviews the scientific evidence of benefit for six integrative therapies that may promote weight loss. Chitosan, CLA, HCA, glucomannan, mango seed fiber, whey protein are discussed. To read the full blog, please visit, http://blog.sharecare.com.

Natural Standard in Wellness Times

Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder and CEO of Natural Standard, authored a new blog for Wellness Times.

Back-to-School Brain Boost: Dr. Ulbricht reviews diet and lifestyle modifications that may help boost brain and body health for the new school year. She discusses the benefits of exercise, zinc iodine, sleep and eating more fruits and vegetables. To read the full blog, please visit www.wellnesstimes.com.

Uses of Probiotics in Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Natural Standard is offering a series of complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. Natural Standard offers these impartial webinars as an informational public service. All webinars are recorded and archived at www.naturalstandard.com/webinars.

Uses of Probiotics in Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Andrew Shulan, PharmDc, presents Natural Standard's evidence-based systematic review results on probiotics. He provides a basic overview on probiotics and discusses the scientific evidence, dosing, safety and interactions related to its use. Shulan also applies the data to several patient cases that highlight potential interactions and adverse effects. Complimentary access is now available.