Lowering
Cholesterol
Raising
HDL
Organic
Strawberries
Better
Grape
Juice Equals
Red Wine
Benefits
Telling
Doctors
about Alternatives
Probiotics
for Infant
Colic
Folic
Acid for
Hearing
and Cognition
Exercise
and Diet
for Obese
Elderly
A recent
article in
the New York
Times (An
Old Cholesterol
Remedy Is
New Again,
January 23,
2007) reported
that a highly
touted new
drug designed
to raise
HDL-cholesterol
levels failed
in research
studies,
leading to
increased
cardiac disorders
and higher
mortality
in those
given the
drug (torcetrapib)
than those
on placebo.
The article
went on to
note that
raising HDL
is a very
desirable
goal, and
the only
way to do
it has been
known since
1975 – by
taking high
dose supplements
of a simple
vitamin – niacin
(vitamin
B3). (Other
ways that
they did
not mention
include aerobic
exercise
and supplements
of policosanol,
derived from
sugar cane.)
The article
pointed out
that the
particular
beneficial
effect of
this versatile
vitamin has
been shunned
by the medical
profession,
even though
it is extremely
safe and
has a variety
of other
benefits.
It lowers
triglycerides
and total
cholesterol,
and in that
earlier study
reduced heart
attacks and
strokes by
26 and 27
percent respectively.
Perhaps the
problem with
medical acceptance
of niacin
is that it
is safe,
cheap, and
effective.
Berries
are known
to be high
in antioxidants
that protect
against heart
disease and
cancer. Strawberries
are among
the most
nutritious
foods, but
conventionally
grown strawberries
have some
of the highest
levels of
pesticide
contamination.
Recent research
shows that
the antioxidant
capacity
of organically
grown strawberries
is higher
than conventional
berries.
This is in
part due
to more vitamin
C content.
(Olsson ME,
et al., Antioxidant
levels and
inhibition
of cancer
cell proliferation
in vitro
by extracts
from organically
and conventionally
cultivated
strawberries.
J Agric Food
Chem. 2006
Feb 22;54(4):1248-55.)
The researchers
incubated
colon and
breast cancer
cells with
extracts
of the different
strawberries.
They found
that the
extract from
organic berries
inhibited
the cell
growth more
effectively
than extracts
from conventional
fruit. This
might be
due to the
vitamin C
content or
synergistic
action with
other antioxidants
contained
in strawberries,
such as ellagic
acid, anthocyanidins,
procyanidins,
phenolic
compounds,
and flavonoids.
These chemicals
also reduce
excessive
blood clotting
and improve
circulation.
Although
most people
know about
the potential
benefits
of red wine
for the heart,
they are
not aware
that some
grapes provide
the same
apparent
benefits
without the
risks of
consuming
the alcohol
in the wine.
A new study
from France
shows that
Concord grapes
also contain
the beneficial
polyphenols
found in
wine (Anselm
E, et al.,
Grape juice
causes endothelium-dependent
relaxation
via a redox-sensitive
Src- and
Akt-dependent
activation
of eNOS.
Cardiovasc
Res. 2007
Jan 15;73(2):404-13).
The lining
cells of
the arteries
(endothelium)
produce nitric
oxide (NO),
a relaxing
factor that
improves
blood flow
by opening
up the blood
vessel. Synthesis
of NO is
dependent
on an enzyme,
and the polyphenols
in grape
juice enhance
the activity
of that enzyme.
This was
a lab study
on artery
tissue, and
it showed
that the
benefits
were likely
due to antioxidant
function
of the grape
polyphenols.
A recent
survey by
the AARP
showed that
most Americans
over 50 use
some form
of alternative
medicine,
but they
do not discuss
it with their
other doctors
(Reuters
Health, January
26, 2007).
The authors
noted that
it is unwise
not to inform
a doctor
of other
therapies
that you
might be
using, and
this is true,
but telling
them may
not be so
simple.
Often when
a patient
does tell
the doctor
about their
other therapies,
they are
met with
resistance,
disdain,
and sometimes
mockery.
I know of
many examples.
Recently,
a friend
went to a
compassionate
group of
doctors who
usually understand
the importance
of patient
communication.
When she
said she
preferred
to avoid
statins,
and that
she was able
to lower
her cholesterol
in the past
with nutrients,
she was met
with icy
dismissals
from both
of the doctors
she saw there.
This was
in spite
of the fact
that she
had had past
side effects
from statins.
These reactions
do not encourage
further communication.
I suggested
that she
take supplements
of policosanol
and red yeast
rice and
follow her
diet and
have her
cholesterol
rechecked
in a few
months. Even
with a strong
family history,
supplements
along with
the healthy
diet and
exercise
are likely
to make a
significant
difference
in reducing
her risks
or cardiac
disease.
It is still
important
to tell your
doctor of
any alternative
therapies
you are doing,
especially
supplements,
but you should
not be put
off your
own program
without specific
and documented
objections.
It is highly
unlikely
that you
will harm
yourself
with nutrition
and supplements.
New research
shows that
friendly
bacteria
known as
probiotics
(such as
lactobacillus)
can help
infants with
colic (Savino
F, et al.,
Lactobacillus
reuteri…versus
simethicone
in the treatment
of infantile
colic...
Pediatrics.
2007 Jan;119(1):e124-30).
Although
the infants
can’t
clearly report
their symptoms,
it appears
that their
crying and
distress
may be due
to excessive
gastro-intestinal
gas.
In this research,
an anti-stomach
gas drug,
simethicone,
was compared
to Lactobacillus
supplements.
For 28 days,
95 percent
of the infants
on the Lactobacillus
were better
compared
with only
7 percent
of those
on simethicone.
By the end
of the 28
days, the
infants on
Lactobacillus
cried only
51 minutes
per day,
compared
with the
simethicone
group with
145 minutes
of crying.
This treatment
could bring
great relief
to numerous
infants,
to say nothing
of their
parents.
Supplements
of folic
acid help
to reduce
hearing loss
associated
with aging.
In a study
in the Netherlands,
728 participants
between 50
and 70 years
old received
either supplements
of 800 mcg
daily or
a placebo.
After three
years, hearing
loss was
significantly
less in the
group receiving
the supplements.
Because foods
were not
fortified
in Holland
at the time,
baseline
folate levels
were lower
among the
participants
than in a
comparable
US population,
so it is
unclear whether
the same
benefits
would be
seen here.
However,
folate is
safe, inexpensive,
and has many
other health
benefis,
so it would
not hurt
to take supplements.
(Durga J,
et al., Effects
of folic
acid supplementation
on hearing
in older
adults: a
randomized,
controlled
trial. Ann
Intern Med.
2007 Jan
2;146(1):1-9.)
In a related
study, the
researchers
also evaluated
cognitive
function
in participants
on folate
supplements
compared
with a placebo.
After three
years, sensorimotor
speed and
infor-mation
processing
were significantly
better in
the supplemented
group. In
both studies,
homocysteine
levels were
reduced by
supplementation.
It is well
known that
age and obesity
increase
heart disease
risks. In
the obese
elderly,
a new study
shows that
it is never
too late
to benefit
from starting
lifestyle
changes to
reduce those
risks. Researchers
studied 27
adults over
65 years
old with
body mass
index (BMI)
over 30 (indicating
obesity)
for six months
(Villareal
DT, et al.,
Effect of
lifestyle
intervention
on metabolic
coronary
heart disease
risk factors
in obese
older adults.
Am J Clin
Nutr. 2006
Dec;84(6):1317-23).
Compared
with the
10 controls,
the 17 patients
put on a
diet and
exercise
program had
an 8.4 percent
loss of weight,
a decrease
in waist
circumference,
a drop in
blood sugar,
lowered serum
triglycerides,
and improvement
in both systolic
and diastolic
blood pressures.
The inflammatory
markers,
C-reactive
protein (CRP)
and interleukin-6
(both risk
factors for
heart disease)
were also
significantly
reduced.
It is never
too late
to benefit
from starting
a health
program.
Of course,
it is also
never too
early to
start taking
better care
of yourself.
