Health News

Based on body mass index (BMI), more than 70% of American adults are classified as overweight or obese.6  Unfortunately, this height and weight calculation seriously underestimates the number of middle-aged and older adults who have too much fat and too little muscle.  This is due to the fact that men and women who do not…

Parts of Africa and the Middle East have more than sufficient sunlight exposure to maintain healthy vitamin D status in their population. Assessment of vitamin D status in these populations, though, demonstrates the difficulty in obtaining sufficient vitamin D levels. As high as 80 percent of people, in some areas, fall short of recommended blood…

Zinc deficiency is a common finding in patients with atopic dermatitis (eczema). This study investigated whether supplementing with zinc would have any impact on the condition. After 8 weeks of zinc supplementation in patients with low zinc levels, hair zinc levels increased significantly, along with improvements in EASI scores, TEWL, and visual analogue scales for…

In a 10-week, randomized, controlled trial, 45 participants with mild to moderate acne, participants were given either Omega-3 fatty acids (2,000 mg EPA/DHA), borage oil (400 mg LA), or placebo. In the supplemented groups, both non-inflammatory and inflammatory lesions decreased along self-assessment of disease severity. Jung JY, Kwon HH, Hong JS, Yoon JY, Park MS,…

Ulcerative colitis is a disease where anti-inflammatory molecules are a mainstay of treatment. This study investigated whether resveratrol would improve the quality of life of 50 patients with active ulcerative colitis. After six weeks supplementation with 500 mg of resveratrol, significant reductions in TNF-alfa, CRP, NF-kappaB (all measures of inflammation) was measured, along with improved…

Anemia has long been thought of as a condition of low iron and/or low vitamin B12/folate. New research is suggesting that vitamin A may also have a role in contributing to iron-deficiency anemia. A study was undertaken of 391 iron-deficiency adolescent girls and found that low vitamin A status was a significant predictor for iron…

The risk factors for dementia include insulin resistance (and hyperinsulinemia), high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, depression, cognitive inactivity, low educational attainment, as well as physical inactivity and incorrect diet. One of the most modifiable risk factors appears to prevent dementia may be nutritional interventions. Flavonoids, found in many foods, have been shown to influence many…

A study of 140 menopausal women was undertaken to discover the relationship between flax seed use and the symptoms of menopause. Menopausal symptoms decreased and quality of life increased among women who used flaxseed for three months. Cetisli NE, Saruhan A, Kivcak B. The effects of flaxseed on menopausal symptoms and quality of life. Holist…

Along with low sex hormone-binding globulin and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, a new study reported that low serum calcium and vitamin D levels in 184 randomly selected men 72 to 76 years old were associated with a higher risk for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). J Urol. 2013 Aug;190(2):608-14. PMID:  23399651

A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on seven observational studies that reported a relationship between Parkinson’s disease and blood levels of vitamin D. The review reported a strong relationship between vitamin deficiency and Parkinson’s disease. Those with vitamin D insufficiency (below 75 nmol/l) had 50 percent increase in risk, and those with vitamin D…

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…

A review of the use of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in neuropsychiatry suggests that NAC positively affects such diverse disorders as drug addiction, autism, schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. The authors caution that much of the research is preliminary and requires further study, but that NAC is well tolerated and a potentially novel therapeutic option for people…