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Pharmacological intervention with one inflammatory path yet again exasperbates problems with another inflammatory path......
Promising Target for New Atherosclerosis Therapies Linked to Leukemia
In recent years, scientists studying inflammation and atherosclerosis
have seen their respective fields converging, with research findings
showing chronic inflammation as a driver of the atherosclerotic process.
Now, in a new study, scientists at The Wistar Institute pursuing a
promising new immune-system target for anti-atherosclerosis therapies have
discovered another convergence: An unwanted potential side effect of any
such therapies is a dangerous blood cancer called chronic myelogenous
leukemia, or CML.
J. of Experimental Medicine, 31-Oct-2006
--Wistar Institute
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524887/?sc=dwtp
Stress Hormones May Play New Role In Speeding Up Cancer Growth
New research here suggests that hormones produced as during periods
of stress may increase the growth rate of a particularly nasty kind of
cancer. (Embargo expired on 01-Nov-2006 at 00:00 ET)
Cancer Research, 1-Nov-2006
--Ohio State University
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524668/?sc=dwtp
Scientists Spot Mechanism Behind Promising New Sleep Drug
An experimental drug called gaboxadol may soon help millions of
bleary-eyed insomniacs get to sleep, and a multi-center team of U.S.
scientists believes they've pinpointed just how the drug works.
PNAS
--NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell
Medical College
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524866/?sc=dwtp
Study Shows Strong Link Between Uric Acid/hypertension in Blacks
New research shows that higher levels of uric acid are strongly
associated with high blood pressure in blacks, suggesting that a simple
blood test could predict risk and that treatments to lower uric acid may
be a novel way to reduce hypertension-related complications in this
population.
Hypertension, Nov-2006
--Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524894/?sc=dwtp
Single Molecule Makes Obese Mice Healthy
Researchers have used a single compound to increase the lifespan of
obese mice, and found that the drug reversed nearly all of the changes in
gene expression patterns found in mice on high calorie diets--some of
which are associated with diabetes, heart disease, and other significant
diseases related to obesity. The research is the first time that the small
molecule resveratrol has been shown to offer survival benefits in a mammal.
(Embargo expired on 01-Nov-2006 at 13:00 ET)
Nature, online, Nov-2006
--Harvard Medical School
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524785/?sc=dwtp
Bioidentical Hormones Lack Evidence for Safety and Effectiveness
The Endocrine Society issued a position statement calling for
increased regulatory oversight of bioidentical hormones, which have been
touted as safer and more effective than traditional hormone therapies.
--Endocrine Society
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524782/?sc=dwtp
Oral Contraceptives Increase Risk for Breast Cancer in Some Women
A meta-analysis published in the October issue of Mayo Clinic
Proceedings indicts oral contraceptives as putting premenopausal women at
significantly increased risk for breast cancer, especially women who use
them prior to having a child.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Oct-2006
--Mayo Clinic
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524776/?sc=dwtp
Study Offers New Perspective on Nitric Oxide Signaling in Rheumatoid
Arthritis
Scientists at the University of Michigan Medical School have found
evidence that challenges current thinking about the cause of rheumatoid
arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease that damages joints, causes
pain, loss of movement, and bone deformities in 2.1 million Americans.
Arthritis & Rheumatism, (54)11, Nov-2006
--University of Michigan Health System
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524779/?sc=dwtp
Key Brain Reward Region Not Activated By Positive Emotional Stimuli in
Depression
Brain imaging researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have
demonstrated dysfunction in a key brain region in major depression. Major
depression, a mood disorder affecting millions of people, causes
tremendous suffering with a large impact on public health. Brain imaging
has recently produced significant advances concerning brain circuitry in
major depression, mostly focusing upon negative emotion and mood
regulation.
Am. J. of Psychiatry, Oct-2006
--NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell
Medical College
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524817/?sc=dwtp
Potential for First Diagnostic DNA Test to Guide Antidepressant Treatment
In a paper just published in the journal Science, researchers
describe work that may lead potentially to the first diagnostic test to
guide the treatment of depression. The test would involve sampling the
patient's DNA and looking for a variant of the gene coding a protein
called "Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor" (BDNF).
Science
--NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell
Medical College
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524826/?sc=dwtp
Psychological Approaches Can Help Some Skin Conditions
Considerable data suggest that in some people, psychological factors
can activate or worsen certain skin conditions. Recognizing and treating
these psychological issues might help the skin, too, reports the November
2006 issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch.
--Harvard Women's Health Watch
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524642/?sc=dwtp
Massage May Help Dementia Patients With Agitation
Massage could offer a drug-free way to treat agitation and depression
among dementia patients, but there are still too few studies about the
practice to know for sure, according to a review of recent research.
Cochrane Library
--Health Behavior News Service
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524768/?sc=dwtp
Mother/Daughter Body Image Perception Differs
Childhood obesity is an urgent and growing problem in the United
States. A recent study out of the Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition
at Columbus Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, asked young girls a
simple question - "What do you think of your body?" First, they asked the
young girls. Then they asked their mothers. The answers were very
different and could shed light on one reason why children are getting
bigger.
--Columbus Children's Hospital
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524760/?sc=dwtp
Why the Squeeze on Fruit Juice?
A glass of fruit juice has long been thought of as a healthy daily
habit. Recently, people have been confused about how much juice to drink,
partly because of the natural sweet taste of fruit juice. Parents should
be confident serving their children appropriate amounts of 100 percent
fruit juice.
--Juice Products Association
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524732/?sc=dwtp
LWW Announces Partnership with American Society of Addiction Medicine
Leading healthcare publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW),
part of Wolters Kluwer Health, is pleased to announce a new publishing
partnership with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the
world's largest addiction medicine society devoted to improving the
treatment of people with addiction disorders.
--Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524740/?sc=dwtp
Key Signaling Switch Identified in Allergic Disease
A research team has identified a key enzyme responsible for
triggering a chain of events that results in allergic reaction, according
to new study findings published online this week in Nature Immunology.
(Embargo expired on 29-Oct-2006 at 13:00 ET)
Nature Immunology, Oct-2006
--Virginia Commonwealth University
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/524748/?sc=dwtp
Comprising four volumes this new edition provides comprehensive
coverage of not only human nutrition, but now also clinical nutrition.
It is a credible, wealth of information in the field of human nutrition
with a 20% increase in new research. Also available online via
ScienceDirect.
http://books.elsevier.com/enutrition J. Nutr. -- Future Table of
Contents Alert
A new future TOC for Journal of Nutrition
has been made available for the issue:
1 December 2006; Vol. 136, No. 12
URL: http://jn.nutrition.org/future/136.12.shtml
STORY LEAD:
Berry Compound Thwarts Enzyme Linked to Cancer
__________________________________________________
ARS News Service
Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Luis Pons, (301) 504-1628, luis.pons@ars.usda.gov
November 2, 2006
--View this report online, plus any included photos or other images, at www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr
__________________________________________________
Recent research by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators has fortified the standing of pterostilbene, a berry and grape compound cited for its health benefits, as a cancer inhibitor.
During tests employing cell fragments from mice livers, ARS chemist Agnes Rimando and colleagues in Poland found that the compound strongly suppresses a type of an enzyme that activates cancer-causing processes.
Rimando, who works at the ARS Natural Products Utilization Research Laboratory in Oxford, Miss., and her collaborators targeted an enzyme called cytochrome P450, which sets off a variety of compounds--known as “procarcinogens”--that can turn substances such as cigarette smoke and pesticides into cancer-causing agents. Cytochromes are a factor in people’s varying responses to drugs and toxins entering their bodies.
Rimando has led numerous animal studies that focused on pterostilbene (pronounced "tare-o-STILL-bean") and its potential benefits to human health. This includes work showing that pterostilbene can help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease, and that the compound is present in a genus of shrubs that includes many types of berries, including blueberries.
She also led studies that found that the compound is a powerful antioxidant that shows cancer-fighting properties similar to those of resveratrol. Indeed, pterostilbene is a derivative of resveratrol, a compound found in large quantities in the skins of red grapes that's known for its cardiovascular and cancer-fighting benefits.
In the most recent study, Rimando and scientists led by Renata Mikstacka at Poland's University of Medical Science in Poznañ tested pterostilbene and other resveratrol derivatives.
Pterostilbene showed strong inhibitory activity--much more than resveratrol--against a particular form of cytochrome P450, according to Rimando. She added that the results may explain the cancer-preventive property the compound demonstrated in a mouse mammary gland culture assay.
However, Rimando cautioned that more studies are needed to explain this process, as well as the activity of other trans-resveratrol compounds.
Read more about this research in the November/December 2006 issue of Agricultural Research magazine, available online at:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/nov06/health1106.htm
ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.
(These articles have been accepted for this issue. Change in issue
composition is possible before publication. Please note:
revisions to manuscript title and/or author string made after submission
will be included in published article but will not
be included in the advance table of contents provided below.)
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Articles
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Supplemental Dietary Inulin Affects the Bioavailability of Iron in Corn and
Soybean Meal to Young Pigs
K. Yasuda, K. R. Roneker, D. D. Miller, R. M. Welch, and X. Lei
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Hepatic Phosphatidylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase Expression is
Increased in Diabetic Rats1
C. S. Hartz, K. M. Nieman, R. L. Jacobs, D. E. Vance, and K. L.
Schalinske
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Pref-1, a Preadipocyte Secreted Factor that Inhibits Adipogenesis
Y. Wang, K. Kim, J. Kim, and H. Sul
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Docosahexaenoic Acid Inhibits Adipocyte Differentiation and Induces
Apoptosis in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes
H. Kim, M. Della-Fera, J. Lin, and C. A. Baile
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Chili but not Turmeric Inhibits Iron Absorption in Young Women from an Iron
Fortified Composite Meal
S. Tuntipopipat, K. Judprasong, C. Zeder, E. Wasantwisut, P.
Winichagoon, S. Charoenkiatkul, R. Hurrell, and T. Walczyk
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
The National Research Council's Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs
can be used to Strengthen Doctoral Programs in Nutrition
J. L. Greger
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Differential Biliary Excretion of Genistein Metabolites Following
Intraduodenal and Intravenous Infusion of Genistin in Female Rats
J. K. Prasain, J. Xu, M. Kirk, M. Smith Johnson, J. Sfakianos, and
S. Barnes
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Dietary Flavonoids and Flavonoid-Rich Foods are not Associated with Risk of
Type 2 Diabetes in Postmenopausal Women
J. A. Nettleton, L. J. Harnack, C. G. Scrafford, P. J. Mink, L. M.
Barraj, and D. R. Jacobs, Jr.
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Use of the Affinity/HPLC Method for Quantitative Estimation of Folic Acid
in Enriched Cereal Grain Products
R. Poo Prieto, D. B. Haytowitz, J. M. Holden, G. Rogers, S.
Choumenkovitch, P. F. Jacques, and J. Selhub
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Adipose Fatty Acid Composition and Rate Of Incorporation Alpha-Linolenic
Acid Differ between Normal and Lipoprotein Lipase-Deficient Cats.
B. C. Veltri, R. C. Backus, Q. R. Rogers, and E. J. EdPeters
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Carotenoid and Tocopherol Estimates from the NCI Diet History Questionnaire
are Valid Compared with Multiple Recalls and Serum Biomarkers
L. B. Dixon, A. F. Subar, L. Wideroff, F. E. Thompson, L. L. Kahle,
and N. Potischman
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Dietary Phytoestrogen Intake is Associated with Reduced Colorectal Cancer
Risk
M. Cotterchio, B. A. Boucher, M. Manno, S. Gallinger, A. Okey, and
P. Harper
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Almonds Decrease Postprandial Glycemia, Insulinemia and Oxidative Damage in
Healthy Individuals
D. J. Jenkins, C. W. Kendall, A. R. Josse, S. Salvatore, F.
Brighenti, L. S. Augustin, P. R. Ellis, E. Vidgen, and A. Rao
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Dietary Folate and APC Mutations in Sporadic Colorectal Cancer
S. de Vogel, M. van Engeland, M. Luchtenborg, A. P. de Bruine, G.
M. Roemen, M. H. Lentjes, R. A. Goldbohm, P. A. van den Brandt, A.
F. de Goeij, and M. P. Weijenberg
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Daily Intake of Heat-killed Lactobacillus Plantarum L-137 Augments Acquired
Immunity in Healthy Adult Subjects
Y. Hirose, S. Murosaki, Y. Yamamoto, Y. Yoshikai, and T. Tsuru
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Accelerated Transferrin Degradation in HFE-Deficient Mice is Associated
with Increased Transferrin Saturation.
C. Chaudhury, J. Kim, S. Mehnaz, M. A. Wani, T. M. Oberyszyn, C. L.
Bronson, S. Mohanty, W. L. Hayton, J. M. Robinson, and C. L.
Anderson
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
History of the Calorie in Nutrition
J. L. Hargrove
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Predicted Serum Folate Concentrations Based on in Vitro Studies and Kinetic
Modeling Consistent with Measured Folate Concentrations in Humans
M. Verwei, A. P. Freidig, R. Havenaar, and J. P. Groten
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Socio-Economic Factors, Lifestyle and Gender Differences in Body Mass Index
in Rural India
M. Barker, G. Chorghade, S. Crozier, S. Leary, and C. Fall
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
The Effects of Fat and Protein on Glycemic Responses in Nondiabetic Humans
Vary with Waist Circumference, Fasting Plasma Insulin, and Dietary Fiber
Intake
E. Moghaddam, J. A. Vogt, and T. M. Wolever
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Visceral Adiposity, Liver Steatosis and Systemic Oxidative Alterations in
Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
V. O. Palmieri, I. Grattagliano, P. Portincasa, and G. Palasciano
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Alcohol Consumption, the Metabolic Syndrome and the Risk of Ischemic Heart
Disease in the Quebec Cardiovascular Study
I. Gigleux, J. Gagnon, A. St-Pierre, B. Cantin, G. R. Dagenais, F.
Meyer, J. Despres, and B. Lamarche
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Pinto Beans are a Source of Highly Bioavailable Copper
J. T. Saari, P. G. Reeves, W. T. Johnson, and L. K. Johnson
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Belgrade Rats Display Liver Iron Loading
K. Thompson, R. M. Molina, J. D. Brain, and M. Wessling-Resnick
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
Preliminary Investigation into the Absorption of Genistein and Daidzein by
Domestic Cats (Felis catus)
K. Bell, P. Pearce, C. Ugarte, and W. Hendriks
J. Nutr. 2006 136 (12)
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Curry spice extract may have anti-arthritis potential
By Stephen Daniells
30/10/2006 - Extracts from turmeric, the yellow spice used extensively in curries, reduced the destruction of joints associated with arthritis to similar levels to pharmaceuticals, says a new animal study from the US.
The new study, published in the November issue of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism (Vol. 54, pp. 3452-3464), is said to be the first to document the efficacy of curcumin-containing extracts for anti-arthritis activity in vivo, as well as demonstrating that the extracts studied are analogous with commercially available turmeric dietary supplements.
"Just as the willow bark provided relief for arthritis patients before the advent of aspirin, it would appear that the underground stem (rhizome) of a tropical plant [turmeric] may also hold promise [against] joint inflammation and destruction," wrote lead author Janet Funk from the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Approximately seven million people in the UK alone are reported to have long-term health problems associated with arthritis. Around 206 million working days were lost in the UK in 1999-2000, equal to £18bn (€26bn) of lost productivity.
The researchers compared the chemical composition of experimental extracts (from turmeric powder, San Francisco Herbs, Spices and Teas) with those of commercially available over the counter turmeric dietary supplements. Two experimental extracts were prepared – a crude extract with 34 per cent curcuminoids and containing essential oils, and an extract with 41 per cent curcuminoids and no essential-oils.
Funk and her co-workers report that the majority of the over-the-counter supplements were also free of essential oils and had curcuminoids contents ranging from 1.8 to 33.7 per cent.
Female rats were used to test the efficacy of the extracts in vivo. The rats were injected with either a saline solution or an arthritis-inducing solution. The animals were then injected with one of the turmeric extracts or a control solution, and joint inflammation measured.
Initial results showed that a version of turmeric extract that was free of essential oils had the most significant impact on arthritis and most closely matched the composition of commercially available supplements.
Cartilage destruction in the tibia of the rats was reduced by 66 per cent, and thigh bone mineral density (BMD) destruction was also reduced by 57 per cent, compared to the control solution.
The researchers, funded by the Office of Dietary Supplements and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine of the National Institutes of Health, reported that an effective dose in rats that would be equivalent in humans to 1.5 milligrams per day of a portion of the turmeric root that makes up three per cent of dried turmeric powder.
A mechanistic study showed that the turmeric extracts appeared to work by inhibiting the protein, NF-kappaB, known to be play a key role in some inflammatory pathways.
“Given the critical role of NK-kappaB as the ‘master switch' in innate immunity, these in vivo experiments… provide proof-of-concept for the us of this botanical in other diseases triggered by inappropriate activation of NF-kappaB–regulated inflammatory pathways, including inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and multiple sclerosis,” said the researchers.
They noted, however, that the research did not exclude the possibility that the spice extract may also block other inflammatory processes that are parallel to the NF-kappaB process.
"Before turmeric supplements can be recommended for medicinal use, clinical trials are clearly needed to verify/determine whether… adequate doses of well-characterized turmeric extracts can indeed prevent/suppress disease flares in RA [rheumatoid arthritis] patients, as well as to explore any potential benefits of turmeric dietary supplements in the prevention or treatment of more common forms of arthritis in the general population," concluded the researchers.
Professor Robert Moots, from Liverpool University and spokesman for the British-based charity, Arthritis Research Campaign said that it was not surprising that naturally occurring compounds had similar effects to drugs.
"I do not think there is any evidence that countries that eat a lot of turmeric have a lower frequency of rheumatoid arthritis. So simply eating more spices is not likely to be effective clinically.
"What is more likely is these results will lead to the targeted development of new compounds,” he said in a statement
Milk thistle extract could help diabetes control
By Stephen Daniells
30/10/2006 - A daily supplement of extracts from Milk Thistle significantly lowered fasting glucose levels by 15 per cent, says a randomized clinical trial from Iran published in an international, peer-reviewed journal.The herbal supplement was also found to have significantly beneficial effects on glycosylated haemoglobin levels, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels on the diabetics who took part in the trial.
“The results are very encouraging, and we now need to do further large multi-centre studies,” said lead author Fallah Huseini, from the Institute of Medicinal Plants, in Tehran, Iran.
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has been used for a long time as a food in Europe. Young leaves are used in salads, the stalks eaten like asparagus, and the heads boiled like artichoke.
According to the Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (Canada) milk thistle ranked 12th among the top selling herb supplements in the U.S. mass market, with sales of over $3m (m) in 1997.
The researchers recruited 51 people with type-2 diabetes to take part in the four-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Subjects were assigned to receive either a daily milk thistle supplement (200 milligrams three times per day) or a placebo (three times per day).
The patients continued their conventional oral hypoglycaemic treatments and were examined at monthly.
The researchers, writing in the journal Phytotherapy Research on-line ahead of print (doi:10.1002/ptr.1988), reported that fasting glucose levels of the supplementation group decreased from 156 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) of blood to 133 mg/dL, while the placebo group's fasting glucose levels increased from 167 to 188 mg/dL.
Average glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels also decreased in the milk thistle extract-supplemented group, by 1.04 per cent after four months, compared to the 1.16 per cent increase in the placebo group.
Blood levels of total cholesterol (12 per cent), LDL cholesterol (12 per cent) and triglyceride levels (25 per cent) were also significantly reduced as a result of the milk thistle extract supplements. No significant change in the placebo groups' total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol levels was measured, while triglyceride levels increased by 12 per cent.
“The results show that although there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients at the beginning of the study, silymarin [milk thistle extract] significantly lowered HbA1c and fasting blood glucose levels in diabetic patients at the end of the study,” wrote the researchers.
The researchers could not say however what the actual mechanism behind the effects was, and called for more large multi-centre studies to further investigate the potential role of milk thistle extracts in type-2 diabetes.
“We don't know the exact mechanism of action for this effect, but this work shows that silymarin could play an important role [against] type II diabetes,” said Huseini.
An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU 25, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.
In the US, there are over 20 million people with diabetes, equal to seven per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $132 bn, with $92 bn being direct costs from medication, according to 2002 American Diabetes Association figures.
Walnut’s healthy snack image boosted by study
By Catherine Boal
31/10/2006 - Health conscious snackers could soon be driving up walnut sales following more research into the nut’s role in protecting against heart disease.
A study has shown that hamsters fed on a diet of ground walnuts had reduced levels of the protein endothelin which can cause cardiovascular disease as it inflames arteries and clogs blood vessels.
According to product trackers Mintel's Global New Product Database, (GNPD) , walnuts have been appearing globally as a functional snack food on the back of a growing body of research linking them to reduced rates of heart disease.
In May, Turkish company Demirciler Sanayi Sitesi launched a ‘walnut sausage' on to the market.
The Beypa walnut sausage is made from walnuts coated in jelly and grape syrup and claims to be high in protein, vitamin B, phosphorus and potassium.
The company is hoping to target the health market, saying the product reduces the risk of chronic heart disease and cancer while acting as an energy-booster.
Recent research provides further evidence of the health-boosting properties of nuts and follows on from previous studies establishing walnuts as a means of lowering LDL ‘bad' cholesterol and praising their antioxidant content.
100 laboratory hamsters were used in the study and fed a daily diet of the equivalent of three to eight adult handfuls of walnuts over six months. The rodents were subsequently found to have lower levels of endothelin in their arteries.
Further research is required before a similar effect is definitively measured in humans.
The study was undertaken by the US Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in collaboration with the University of California-Davis and the University of Padova in Italy and funded in part by the California Walnut Commission. Results were published in full in the Journal of Nutrition (vol 135).
Coenzyme Q10: Should You Take This Supplement?
Newswise — You may have heard claims that the supplement coenzyme Q10 can lower blood pressure, boost the immune system and improve certain heart diseases. There are also claims it can help fight cancer, Parkinson’s disease, wrinkles, diabetes, gum diseases and many other problems.
It appears that taking a coenzyme Q10 supplement should be beneficial. Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like compound found in the energy-producing center of each cell in the body. It plays a vital role in producing energy in cells. It’s also an antioxidant, a natural compound thought to protect against disease. And, concentrations of coenzyme Q10 decline with age and are low in people with diseases such as heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and diabetes.
But according to the November issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, scientific evidence doesn’t support most of the health claims. So far, it’s not known if low coenzyme Q10 levels cause disease or if taking supplements can prevent or treat disease. Of the many coenzyme Q10 studies, most have been small. Many have not been “controlled,” where some participants take a placebo.
However, some coenzyme Q10 studies appear to have scientific merit. There has been some evidence of benefit for people with Parkinson’s disease, migraine and high blood pressure, but more studies are needed. So far, there’s not enough evidence to make medical recommendations.
Talk with your doctor about the pros and cons before taking coenzyme Q10 to help treat a disease. The role for this supplement in any therapy is supportive at best. It’s not a substitute for proper medical care.
www.newswise.com/articles/view/524847/?sc=dwtp
Relax and Refocus with Yoga
Newswise — The essence of optimal health is a healthy mind in a health body. Yoga, which has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, is a way to achieve both.
The November issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource offers an overview of yoga and its health benefits.
Rooted in ancient India, today’s yoga is broadly understood as a system of relaxation, postures and breathing. Over the centuries, different forms of yoga have evolved. Some focus more on spirituality, others on mediation and mastering the conscious mind. Some are more physically challenging than others.
A number of research studies have been conducted on the potential health benefits of yoga. Some commonly acknowledged benefits include:
Relaxation and stress relief. Yoga’s quiet precise movements focus your mind less on your busy day and more on movement as you breathe deeply and progress through a series of poses.
Increased flexibility and balance. As you learn and practice new poses, you’ll find that each time you can reach a little farther.
Although evidence isn’t definitive, studies have also shown that yoga may help manage certain chronic health conditions, such as:
Depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders Asthma Cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol Chronic pain Diabetes
If you’d like to try yoga, look for classes in your area. You also can learn from books and videos, but an instructor can help you adjust poses to your needs. Ask about the instructor’s training and experience in working with your particular needs or health concerns.
At the end of the yoga class, you should feel invigorated yet calm. If that’s not the case, talk to the instructor for suggestions. Otherwise, another yoga class may be better suited to your needs.
www.newswise.com/articles/view/524842/?sc=dwtp
LSU Strength Trainer Arrested For Setting Up Agent With Student-Athletes
October 24, 2006 4:15 p.m. EST
Christopher Cornell - All Headline News Staff
Baton Rouge, LA (AHN) - An assistant strength coach for the football team at Louisiana State University committed a major no-no that has landed him and the program in hot water. Travelle Ernest Gaines, 26, was arrested and accused of violating state law by having student-athletes come to his home to meet a sports agent. During the athletes' time at his home, Gaines suggested that the athletes should hire the agent to represent them once they turned pro.
The University said in a statement on Tuesday that Gaines surrendered to University police and was taken to East Baton Rouge Parish prison and booked.
Gaines' arrest was the second in two weeks that related to the school's violations of the law regulating sports agents in Louisiana.
Gaines had been employed by LSU since July.
The University also said in its statement that the student-athletes didn't know an agent would be present when they were invited to go to Gaines' house. The University stated that there was no evidence that suggested the student-athletes committed any wrong doing or law breaking on the night in question.
Charles Taplin, a sports agent out of Houston, was arrested by University police earlier this month when he attempted to contact student-athletes. The University said that notes and a cell phone gathered during the arrest of Taplin, along with interviews with student-athletes, linked Gaines with Taplin.
LSU chancellor, Sean O'Keefe, said in a statement released by the school, "At LSU, we will not tolerate this predatory behavior, and in particular we will not abide those who seek to infiltrate our athletic department. Our student-athletes and coaches provided authorities with the information they needed to make this arrest," O'Keefe said.
Dave Ellis, RD, CSCS
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