Natural Standard Blog

Alcohol and Rheumatoid Arthritis

A recent study suggests that rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may be less severe in people who consume alcohol compared to non-drinkers.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body's immune system attacks itself. Unlike other forms of arthritis, which mainly affect the bones and cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis may also cause swelling in other areas of the body.

The study, published in the journal Rheumatology, included 873 people with rheumatoid arthritis and 1,004 people without the disease. The participants answered questions about their alcohol consumption during the previous month. The researchers also assessed their symptoms with X-rays, blood tests and pain questionnaires.

According to the findings, non-drinkers were about four times more likely to have rheumatoid arthritis than people who drank alcohol at least 10 days per month. Alcohol consumption was also inversely linked to fewer and milder symptoms.

However, this study does not prove that alcohol has a protective effective against rheumatoid arthritis. The details of this potential relationship are unclear, and other factors may be involved.

This study is also limited because it relied on the participants’ memory of their alcohol consumption. Additional research that closely monitors blood alcohol levels is needed to confirm these early findings.

Alcohol may interact with some drugs, herbs and supplements that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, alcohol may increase the risk of liver damage when taken with methotrexate or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

For more information about integrative therapies for rheumatoid arthritis, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

Whole Grains for Heart Health

Eating three servings of whole-grain foods daily may help reduce the risk of heart disease, researchers report.

In a study published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 233 middle-aged healthy adults first followed a four-week control diet. Then, they were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group, a wheat group or a wheat plus oats group for 12 weeks. The researchers assessed heart disease risk factors, including inflammatory markers, insulin sensitivity, cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

A total of 205 participants completed the study. The researchers found that systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure were significantly reduced by 6 and 3mmHg, respectively in the whole-grain groups compared to the control group. Overall, systemic markers of heart disease risk were similar between the two groups.

The researchers concluded that whole-grain foods may significantly lower the risk of heart disease, mainly due to blood pressure-lowering effects. The results support earlier evidence that a low-calorie diet rich in whole grains may help prevent heart disease.

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

Natural Standard Training Sessions

Natural Standard subscribers are invited to attend online training sessions to learn more about the resources available to them.

The summer training sessions are designed to help clients understand Natural Standard's mission, methodology and Evidence-based Validated Grading Rationale™. These guided tours will also demonstrate how to navigate the various databases and cross reference medical conditions and therapies.

The manufacturing/regulatory training sessions are specifically tailored for branded ingredient manufacturers, brand owners, pharmaceutical companies and law firms. Natural Standard provides custom research reports, white papers, clinical trial protocol design and grant writing services. Featured topics will include: GRAS certification, cGMP compliance initiatives, product compliance and submission, litigation, advertising claims, efficacy claims, health maintenance and structure function claims, functional ingredient claims, FDA/FTC warning letters and ingredient identification supporting health maintenance claims.

To sign up for a complimentary session, please click the links below.

Natural Standard Summer Training Sessions:

• Tue, Aug 17, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Aug 19, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:40 PM EDT
• Tue, Aug 24, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Aug 26, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:40 PM EDT
• Tue, Aug 31, 2010 2:00 PM - 2:40 PM EDT

Manufacturing/Regulatory Training Sessions:

• Thu, Aug 19, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Aug 26, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Sept 2, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Sept 9, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Sept 16, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Sept 23, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Sept 30, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Oct 7, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Oct 14, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Oct 21, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT
• Thu, Oct 28, 2010 1:00 PM - 1:40 PM EDT

For more information, please e-mail questions@naturalstandard.com.

Vitamin B6 and Arthritis

High doses of vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, may reduce inflammatory markers associated with rheumatoid arthritis, researchers report in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when the body's immune system, which normally fights against disease and infection, attacks itself. Unlike osteoarthritis, which only affects the bones and cartilage, rheumatoid arthritis may also cause swelling in other areas of the body.

In the 12-week study, 35 adults with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to take either 100 milligrams of vitamin B6 plus 5 milligrams of folic acid or 5 milligrams of folic acid alone daily. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin B6 is 1.3 milligrams for adults who are 19-50 years old.

At the beginning and end of the study, the researchers measured the patients’ blood levels of pro-inflammatory markers, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The researchers also measured immune responses by recording the number of immune cells present in the blood.

IL-6 and TNF-alpha levels significantly decreased in the vitamin B6 group after supplementation, while no significant changes were noted in the folic acid group. However, the number of immune cells was generally similar between the two groups.

Additional research is needed to determine if vitamin B6 is beneficial for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Many other integrative therapies have been studied as potential treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis. For instance, borage seed oil may be beneficial in treating rheumatoid arthritis because it is high in gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which has known anti-inflammatory effects. Several human studies suggest that fish oil supplements may improve morning stiffness and joint tenderness. Group therapy has also been reported to improve joint pain.

For more information about integrative therapy options for rheumatoid arthritis, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

Webinar Forum: Eating for Health

Natural Standard is offering a series of upcoming 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.

This month, Ed Bauman, M.Ed., Ph.D., discusses healthy eating habits. Dr. Bauman is the Executive Director of the Bauman College: Holistic Nutrition & Culinary Arts.

To listen to the webinar, please click here. Complimentary access to the webinar is available July 1-31, 2010.

High-Glycemic Diet Linked to Pancreatic Cancer

A new study suggests that a diet rich in simple carbohydrates may be linked to an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.

Although pancreatic cancer is a relatively uncommon type of cancer, it is often fatal because symptoms do not usually occur until the disease is advanced and has spread to other areas of the body.

In the study, researchers reviewed the diets of nearly 1,000 Italian adults with and without pancreatic cancer. The authors found that total carbohydrate consumption was not related to pancreatic cancer risk.

However, they found that people who ate carbohydrates with high glycemic indexes were 78 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those who primarily ate foods with low-glycemic indexes.

The glycemic index is a numerical value (0-100) that ranks carbohydrates based on how quickly the body converts them into glucose. A high value indicates that the food causes a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. Pure glucose has a glycemic index of 100. Examples of foods with high glycemic indexes include white bread, potatoes and pretzels.

In contrast, fruits, which have low glycemic indexes, were linked to a lower risk of pancreatic cancer.  

Additional research is needed to fully understand the potential relationship between simple carbohydrates and prostate cancer risk.

Other foods, such as red meat, pork and processed meat, have also been associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Additional risk factors may also include age, smoking history, genetics, obesity, ethnicity, occupational exposure to certain chemicals and preexisting medical conditions (such as chronic pancreatitis and stomach problems).

For more information about pancreatic cancer, please visit Natural Standard’s Medical Conditions database.

Anticancer Effects of Shark Cartilage Questioned

Contrary to popular belief, shark cartilage may not be an effective adjunct therapy for cancer, researchers report in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

With more than 40 brand-name products, shark cartilage has become one of the most commonly recognized supplements in the United States. Primarily used for cancer, shark cartilage became popular in the 1980s after several reports of "miracle" cures in cancers treated with shark cartilage.

Researchers have hypothesized that shark cartilage may have anticancer effects because it may slow the growth of new blood vessels. Since tumors need blood vessels to grow and spread, many new anticancer drugs target blood vessel growth.

In the recent study, nearly 400 adults with inoperable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomly assigned to standard chemotherapy and radiation or standard treatment plus AE-941, a standardized aqueous shark cartilage extract.

The researchers found that shark cartilage did not affect overall survival time. On average, patients in the shark cartilage group lived for 14.4 months, while the standard treatment group lived about 15.6 months. This difference was not statistically significant.

In addition, there were no differences in time to progression, progression-free survival, tumor response rate or toxic effects.

Currently, there is not enough evidence that shark cartilage is beneficial for any type of cancer. Additional research is needed.

Shark cartilage has also been studied as a potential treatment for arthritis, macular degeneration, psoriasis, pain and a range of inflammatory disorders. However, there is also not enough available evidence to support these uses.

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

Webinar Forum: Alopecia

Natural Standard is offering a series of upcoming 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.

This month, Ashley Krause, PharmDc discusses the pathophysiology of alopecia and reviews the available conventional and integrative therapies.

To listen to the webinar, please click here. Complimentary access to the webinar is available June 1-30, 2010.

Behavioral Therapy May Improve IBS

Some patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may experience fast-acting symptom relief from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), with benefits lasting several weeks, researchers report in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

IBS is considered a functional bowel disorder because the gastrointestinal tract is healthy but does not function normally. Lower abdominal pain and bloating associated with constipation and/or diarrhea are the most frequent symptoms. It is unclear what causes IBS, although it has been suggested that diet, neurotransmitter imbalances and/or infections may play a role.

Earlier research suggests that CBT may help alleviate IBS symptoms. During CBT, patients evaluate the relationship between their thoughts and symptoms and learn different strategies to help cope with their conditions.

The recent study included 71 adults (aged 17-70) with moderate-to-severe IBS. They were randomly assigned to 10 weekly sessions of CBT or four sessions spread out over 10 weeks. Each session lasted one hour. A third group received no treatment and served as the control.

About 30 percent of people in the CBT groups were considered "rapid responders" because they reported "adequate relief" of pain and bowel symptoms and a decrease in total IBS severity scores after four weeks of therapy. The number of rapid responders was comparable in both CBT groups.

The researchers found that 95.2 percent of the rapid responders continued to experience beneficial effects for three months after therapy was complete. Even though their symptoms were more severe at the start of the study, rapid responders had much milder symptoms compared to non-rapid responders after 12 weeks.

However, additional research with a larger sample is needed before conclusions can be reached.

Nutritional and lifestyle choices may also help prevent or relieve symptoms of IBS. For instance, eating a diet low in alcohol, caffeine, dairy products, refined sugars and fatty foods may reduce symptoms. Also, some food allergies may aggravate IBS or trigger episodes. Some common food triggers include dairy products, corn, peanuts, citrus, soy, eggs, fish, rye, barley, tomatoes and wheat products (including gluten). Eating sufficient amounts of fiber may alleviate constipation, improve diarrhea and prevent muscle spasms. Soluble and insoluble fiber can be found in foods such as whole-grain cereals and breads, fruits, vegetables and legumes.

Regular exercise (especially abdominal muscle exercises) and brisk walking are recommended according to the age and physical condition of the individual. Regular exercise may help reduce stress and decrease constipation.

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

Innovative Programs in Applied Natural Products

The Applied Natural Products Programs at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) will host a free open house and lecture on April 15, 2010, at 6-8 p.m.

The event will feature Dr. Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, who will present a one-hour lecture on natural cancer prevention. The lecture will be simultaneously cast online, and certificates of attendance will be granted. A reception following the lecture will provide an opportunity to meet MCPHS faculty and students.

The Applied Natural Products Programs at MCPHS feature a blended-learning, part-time format designed for working professionals. A master's degree can be completed in as few as five semesters, or the graduate certificate program can take just two semesters. Featuring online distance learning combined with intensive on-site instruction on the Boston campus, programs highlight a rapidly growing area of research and practice.

For more information and to register for the event, please visit www.mcphs.edu/anpopenhouse. The deadline for registration is April 8, 2010.

If you would like Natural Standard to post your event(s) online, please e-mail news@naturalstandard.com.