Natural Standard Blog

Meat Linked to Prostate Cancer

Eating large amounts of red and processed meats may be linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer, researchers report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The authors followed 175,343 men in the United States who were 50-71 years old from 1995 until 2003. They recorded the participants’ meat consumption, including the type of meat they ate and how they cooked it, and monitored their iron levels, nitrite/nitrate intake and the number of prostate cancer diagnoses.

By the end of the study, 10,313 developed prostate cancer, of which 419 died.

After adjusting for various factors known to increase the risk of prostate cancer, the authors found that men who ate the most red meat were 12 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer and 33 percent more likely to develop advanced prostate cancer than those who ate the least amount.

Processed meat was also linked to a higher risk of prostate cancer. However, the authors noted that red processed meats (like hot dogs and bacon) were linked to a greater cancer risk than white processed meats (like turkey sandwich meat).

Grilling was the only cooking method that was linked to an increased risk of prostate cancer. It has been suggested that cancer risk may be increased by compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are formed when meat (especially red meat) is cooked at high temperatures. When heated, the amino acids, sugars and creatinine are converted into HCAs and PAHs, which have been linked to various cancers, including stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancers, in humans.

Nitrate intake was also correlated with an increased risk of the disease. Nitrates are preservatives that are added to processed and cured meats such as cold cuts and bacon. The preservatives have been associated with cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines.

This study supports growing evidence that too much meat may be unhealthy. Earlier studies suggest that red or processed meat may increase the risk of colon cancer and death (particularly from cancer and heart disease) and may be linked to age-related macular degeneration. Red meat also contains high amounts of saturated fats, which have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.

Some other dietary changes may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. For instance, eating fewer dairy products that are high in fat (like ice cream, cheese and sour cream) may be beneficial. Also, cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower) have been reported to contain cancer-fighting phytochemicals that may decrease the chances of developing prostate cancer.

The American Urological Association (AUA) encourages men who are in good health to have annual PSA testing starting at age 50, or at age 40 if they are in high-risk groups, such as African American men or those with histories of the disease. For more information on prostate cancer screening and prevention, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

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

Frequent Nasal Irrigation May Increase Infections

New evidence suggests that daily nasal irrigation may increase the risk of sinus infections.

Nasal irrigation with warm saline has been promoted as way to cleanse the sinuses and help prevent infections. However, using this therapy too often may not be beneficial.

The latest study, presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology (ACAAI) annual meeting, included 68 adults who used nasal irrigation frequently for one year and then stopped therapy for one year. The patients were compared to 24 control patients who did not discontinue nasal irrigation.

The researchers found that number of sinus infections decreased by 62.5 percent after the participants stopped using nasal irrigation. Additionally, after stopping nasal irrigation, they were 50 percent less likely to develop sinus infections than those who continued with daily therapy.

Mucus in the nose contains important immune system molecules that help the body fight against infections. Because nasal irrigation eliminates this mucus, the authors suspect that it may lead to an increased risk of infection.

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

New Herbal Pharmacotherapy Resource

Natural Standard Herbal Pharmacotherapy: An Evidence-Based Approach is now available for purchase. The book provides practical guidance on the use of herbal therapies for medical conditions. This reference tool will be an essential part of herbal pharmacy core curricula for all healthcare disciplines.

Chapters are organized by medical condition and present supportive evidence, including potential mechanisms of action and dosing, for selected herbal therapies. The chapters also include integrative therapy plans to help clinicians quickly assess patient needs and create cohesive treatment plans.

In addition, adjunct therapies, including herbs, supplements and modalities, that are commonly used in combination with primary treatments are discussed. Case studies, which summarize efficacy, safety, dosing and interactions for high-utilization products, help prepare healthcare providers for patient counseling in clinical practice.

Review questions, similar to those on national board exams, allow readers to evaluate their learning and identify areas for further study.

The book also includes several appendices, which provide information about lab values as well as the safety, interactions and pharmacokinetics of select herbs.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1 - Introduction to Herbal Pharmacotherapy
  
• Chapter 2 - Evidence-Based Integrative Care
• Chapter 3 - Psychiatric Disorders
• Chapter 4 - Anxiety and Insomnia
• Chapter 5 - Depressive Disorders
• Chapter 6 - Physical and Cognitive Enhancement
• Chapter 7 - Parkinson’s Disease
• Chapter 8 - Epilepsy
• Chapter 9 - Pain
• Chapter 10 - Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
• Chapter 11 - Hypertension
• Chapter 12 - Congestive Heart Failure and Diuresis
• Chapter 13 - Angina
• Chapter 14 - Ischemic Disease and Heart Rhythm Disorders
• Chapter 15 - Coagulation Disorders
• Chapter 16 - Lipid Disorders
• Chapter 17 - Respiratory Disorders
• Chapter 18 - Diabetes
• Chapter 19 - Pituitary and Thyroid Disorders
• Chapter 20 - Obesity
• Chapter 21 - Menopause
• Chapter 22 - Osteoporosis
• Chapter 23 - Arthritis
• Chapter 24 - Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Chapter 25 - Liver Disorders
• Chapter 26 - Genitourinary Disorders
• Chapter 27 - Bacterial Infections
• Chapter 28 - Parasitic Infections
• Chapter 29 - Viral Infections
• Chapter 30 - Cancer
• Appendix A - Safety: Adverse Effects, Interactions, Pharmacokinetics
• Appendix B - Pregnancy and Lactation
• Appendix C - Therapeutic Class Tables
• Appendix D - Laboratory Values Answers to Review Questions

Several resources, including animations, Appendix C, Appendix D, Chapter 31, Grades A-F Tables and References, are available on the Evolve Web site. To order a copy of the book, please click here.

FDA Warning: Some Zicam Products may Impair Smell

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned Matrixx Initiatives to stop selling three over-the-counter Zicam® products, marketed as cold remedies, after more than 130 people reported developing long-lasting or permanent loss of smell (called anosmia). The warning applies to: Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel®, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs® and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (a discontinued product).

“Loss of sense of smell is a serious risk for people who use these products for relief from cold symptoms,” Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), said in a statement released to the public. “We are concerned that consumers may unknowingly use a product that could cause serious harm, and therefore we are advising them not to use these products for any reason.”

Matrixx Initiatives will need to receive FDA approval in order to continue selling Zicam® products that are administered through the nose.

“Companies have an obligation to the public to demonstrate to the FDA that their products are safe, particularly when there is evidence they may be causing serious adverse events, and they are marketed for minor, self-limiting conditions like the common cold,” Deborah M. Autor, director of CDER’s Office of Compliance, said in a public statement.

Healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events that may be related to the use of these products to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.

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

Hydroxycut® Recalled

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of 14 Hydroxycut® supplements due to reports of serious liver damage in patients who took the recommended dosages. Liver damage linked to Hydroxycut® use has resulted in at least one death and one liver transplant.

The recalled products are marketed as weight-loss supplements under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names.

So far, the FDA has received more than 20 reports of serious health problems ranging from jaundice to liver failure. Symptoms of liver damage may include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain, itching and loss of appetite. Other adverse effects that have been reported include seizures; heart problems and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that may lead to kidney failure.

The FDA has not determined which ingredients or other factors may be associated with the reported health risks.

 

The recalled products include:

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets®
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets®
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets®
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets®
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets®
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets®
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets® (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets®
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots®
• Hydroxycut Hardcore® RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed®
• Hydroxycut 24®
• Hydroxycut Carb Control®
• Hydroxycut Natural®

 

Hydroxycut Cleanse® and Hoodia® products, two other products marketed under the Iovate or MuscleTech brands, are not affected by the recall.

 

For more information about dietary supplements for weight loss, please visit Natural Standard’s Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Warning Against Swine Flu Supplements

Several CAM organizations, including the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the Natural Products Association (NPA) and the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), are warning consumers about products that falsely claim to treat or prevent the H1N1 flu virus (swine flu).

According to a statement released by the organizations, the coalition is “unaware of any scientific data supporting the use of dietary supplements to treat swine flu. Furthermore, federal law does not allow dietary supplements to claim to treat any diseases, including swine flu.” The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved two drugs for the treatment of the flu: oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and zanamivir (Relenza®).

The industry urged marketers and retailers of dietary supplements not to stock or sell any products that are presented as being able to treat or prevent the swine flu.

The industry also said that “there are dietary supplements that have much to offer in terms of enhancing general immune function. However, therapies for the treatment of swine flu should only be recommended by qualified healthcare professionals or public health authorities.”

The warning comes just days after the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alerted the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, treat or prevent the swine flu.

"Consumers who purchase products to treat the novel 2009 H1N1 virus that are not approved, cleared or authorized by the FDA for the treatment or prevention of influenza risk their health and the health of their families," said Michael Chappell, acting FDA Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs. "In conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission, the FDA has developed an aggressive strategy to identify, investigate, and take regulatory or criminal action against individuals or businesses that wrongfully promote purported 2009 H1N1 influenza products in an attempt to take advantage of the current flu public health emergency."

For more information about the influenza virus, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

Red and Processed Meats May Be Unhealthy

A recent study supports growing evidence that eating too much meat may be unhealthy. Researchers from the U.S. National Cancer Institute found that a diet rich in red and processed meats increased the risk of death, particularly from cancer and heart disease.

In the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed data from more than half a million people (aged 50-71) who were enrolled in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. Meat intake was estimated through a food questionnaire.

People in the high-intake group for red meat ate an average of 4.5 ounces daily, while those in the lowest-intake group ate a little more than half an ounce daily. For processed meat, people in the high-intake group ate an average of 1.5 ounces daily compared to 0.11 ounces in the low-intake group.

During the 10-year follow-up period, the researchers recorded the number of deaths and their causes. They adjusted for other risk factors, such as age, smoking, obesity and alcohol consumption.

By the end of the study, 47,976 men and 23,276 women died from various causes. In those who ate the most red meat, the overall risk of death increased by 31 percent in men and 36 percent in women, compared to those who ate the least. The risk of fatal cancer increased by 22 percent in men and 20 percent in women, and the risk of fatal heart disease increased by 27 percent in men and 50 percent in women.

In those who ate the most processed meat, the overall risk of death increased by 16 percent in men and 25 percent in women, compared to those who ate the least. The risk of fatal cancer increased by 12 percent in men and 11 percent in women, while the risk of fatal heart disease increased by nine percent in men and 38 percent in women.

In contrast, people who ate higher proportions of white meat, such as turkey, chicken or fish, were less likely to die during the study period than those who ate the lowest proportions.

These results are somewhat limited by the study design because the data relied on the participants' memories of what they ate.

It has been suggested that cancer risk may be increased by compounds called heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which are formed when red meat is cooked at high temperatures. HCAs have been linked to various cancers, including stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancers in humans.

Red meat also contains high amounts of saturated fats, which have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.

In a related study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, diets rich in red meat were linked to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in aging Americans. In the study, 6,734 people (aged 58-69) completed food frequency questionnaires in 1990-1994. During the follow-up period (2003-2006), the participants were monitored for the development of AMD.

The researchers found that people who ate red meat 10 or more times per week were 47 percent more likely to develop AMD than those who ate it less then 4.5 times per week. The authors suggest that these effects may be attributed to compounds in the meat that cause oxidative damage.

Additional research is needed to determine exactly how red meat might increase the risk of AMD.

For more information about different types of diets, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

Drugs Found in Fish

Researchers have found that fish living near waste water treatment plants in urban areas contained trace amounts of chemicals, including drugs used to treat allergies, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and mood disorders.

Pharmaceuticals enter waste water when people excrete medications or when chemicals are poured down the drain. Most conventional sewage plants do not remove these residues, leading to contamination in the treated waste water.

In the study, funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), researchers collected fish from rivers that receive treated sewage in Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Orlando,FL, Phoenix, AZ and West Chester, PA. They tested the fish for 24 different drugs and 12 chemicals found in personal care products. They compared their results to fish from the Gila River in New Mexico, which contains clean, unpolluted water.

Trace amounts of seven drugs and two soap scent chemicals were detected in fish from all of the city rivers, and some fish had multiple pharmaceuticals in their livers. The fish from New Mexico did not contain any of the drugs or chemicals tested.

The amount of drugs and chemicals found in the fish was minute. However, studies have shown that diluted concentrations can harm many aquatic animals, including fish and frogs.

In response to these study results, the EPA plans to expand similar research to include more than 150 areas nationwide. The agency also plans to study the potential long-term effects of humans consuming trace amounts of pharmaceuticals.

For more information about pollution, please visit Natural Standard's Environmental Resources database.

Soft Drinks and Kidney Disease

According to a recent cross-section study, drinking two servings of regular soda daily may increase the risk of kidney damage in women.

The authors evaluated data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES). They analyzed the association between high intake of high fructose corn syrup in soft drinks and kidney damage in 9,358 participants who were 20 years of age or older.

The researchers found that 16.8% of the participants drank at least two sugary soft drinks daily. Women who drank two or more regular sodas daily were 1.86 times more likely to have high amounts of the protein albumin in the urine (called albuminuria), which is an indicator of early kidney disease.

However, this association was not observed in men or in overweight individuals. The authors also concluded that, "moderate consumption of one or fewer sodas does not appear to be harmful."

This study is limited by its cross sectional design. The authors also note that it is unclear if the high fructose corn syrup or excessive sugar in sodas or other factors contributed to these results. Additional research is needed before firm conclusions can be made.

For more information about kidney disease, please visit Natural Standard’s Medical Conditions 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.