Vitamin D has been investigated for a number of actions in the body and a few studies have shown that circulating blood levels of vitamin D are related to the development of asthma and asthma exacerbations. While the molecular mechanisms underlying this relationship a unsure, more studies will help to define the relationship. Ahmed SZ,…
With acute myocardial ischemia (reduced blood flow to the heart) being a major health concern, understanding prevention of the disease is important. A long-established relationship has been reported between flavonoid-rich food consumption and reduction of cardiovascular risk factors. A new review of multiple studies suggests that cardio-protective action of flavonoids may be due to mitochondrial…
In a meta-analysis of eight randomly controlled trials (N=1176), supplementing with lutein/zeaxanthin was associated with significant improvements in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity for patients with established age-related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014 Dec 16;56(1):252-8. PMID: 25515572.
In a review of nine studies (N=726) on the use of peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome, peppermint oils was found to be significantly superior to placebo for reducing both symptoms and abdominal pain. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014 Jul;48(6):505-12. PMID: 24100754.
Zinc is well known as an insulin mimetic, as well as a regulator of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and insulin secretion. Zinc has shown modest improvements in many areas of blood sugar control, including reducing fasting glucose and HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) levels. This review highlights the importance of further, longer studies. Food Nutr Bull. 2013…
Ninety men and women with idiopathic chronic fatigue (ICF) were enrolled in a 4 week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ethanoic extract of Panax ginseng to assess ginseng’s efficacy for reduction of fatigue. Significant improvements in fatigue were noted (on mental numeric and visual analog scales) for participants consuming 2 grams of the extract a…
49 pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia were supplemented with either 500 mg calcium carbonate and 200 IU (n= 25), or placebo (N=24) and followed for nine weeks. Consumption of the calcium/vitamin D supplement resulted in significant reduction in fasting blood glucose (-9.1 mg dL(-1); p = 0.03) and triglyceride levels (-11.7 mg dL(-1); p…
With growing concern over the relationship between folic acid supplementation and cancer risk a meta-analysis was conducted to better elucidate the relationship. The analysis reported no increased risk of total cancer incidence, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, or hematological malignancy, and a significant reduced risk of melanoma. As reported: Total cancer incidence…
The authors of this review suggest chronic systemic inflammation as the linkage point between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and increased cardiovascular dysfunction often associated with RA (see: Solomon DH et al, Circulation. 2003 Mar 11;107(9):1303-7). This review reports on the anti-inflammatory actions of the green tea extract epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) in multiple studies and suggests its…
Topical vitamin D has long been a treatment for psoriasis vulgaris, but a recent review of the literature support oral vitamin D as also efficacious. The literature also suggests a relationship between low serum vitamin D levels and severity of disease, as well as oral vitamin D positively affecting psoriatic arthropathy. J Dermatolog Treat. 2013…