What are the dangers of false positives/negatives?
Screens that have clinical diagnostic relevance such as pap smears, mammography, PSA, and regular comprehensive physical exams have been shown, with excellent scientific evidence, to provide early warning for diseases that are curable when caught in early stage.
However, screening tests are not infallible, and there is a danger of false positive/false negative. As a result, a person may go through emotional anguish thinking that they have a malignancy, and will undergo a more invasive test such as a biopsy. On the other hand, a false negative will allow a cancer to go undetected, thus allowing a tumor to grow larger and possibly spread -- thus rendering the need for more intensive therapy.
Do the risks outweigh the potential benefits?
Most current screening techniques are relatively non-invasive and carry minimal risk to the patient.
If a woman started mammograms in her 20s, for example, and she had no risk factors to speak of, the accumulative risk of radiation would be more dangerous, but that's not what the recommendations say.
Even if an unnecessary biopsy is done, the benefits to them outweigh the risks. And technology has advanced to the point where most biopsies are minimally invasive and take only a few minutes to perform.
Some of the screening techniques, such as Pap smears, can pick up changes in cells before they even become cancerous. These results can alert a doctor to follow a patient more closely, or to remove the cells. Detecting potential cervical is far less intrusive and traumatic to the patient, than if full blown -- and possibly lethal disease -- developed.
In a perfect world, everyone would have access to these screens along with competent counseling to understand what the results mean and what they don't mean. When the screen introduces some risks of its own, such as the small amount of radiation inherent with radiographic procedures, we take steps to reduce that risk with adjunctive care.
What should a person base his/her decision on?
Women have been hearing many news reports about mammography lately, and many seem to contradict each other. What this means is that while mammography may not be as accurate as once thought, it is still the best tool we have for early detection of breast cancer.
The current American Cancer guidelines are very reasonable. You don't want to overdue the current recommendations, but as there currently outlined, they're reasonable.
Discussing all test options with your doctor, and weighing in your own personal risk factors, is the best way to make a decision about testing, he adds.
Screens with limited diagnostic, clinical relevance, such as genetic screening, must be approached with caution. These tests may only raise unwarranted fears with the patient for a disease they may never experience.
There are some persons who will benefit from genetic screening, but their numbers are definitely limited at this point in understanding of their implications, he adds. The decision for genetic testing should be made on an individual basis with providers who are sensitive to the risks and benefits of these tests.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Improving Prostate Cancer Radiation
Doctors looking for new ways to reduce the dangerous effects of prostate cancer treatment may have a new option. Calcitriol, an active metabolite of vitamin D, when combined with radiation, could reduce some of the side effects.
Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in men in the United States. For those with the disease contained in the prostate, radiation appears to be an effective treatment. The most common complications involve the bowel and bladder. Therefore, researchers are continually searching for improved treatments that do not carry as many side effects.
Doctors from Wake Forest University School of Medicine conducted all of their work in the laboratory environment. The doctors report calcitriol, combined with Zemplar and radiation, works to stop the growth of prostate cancer cells in the laboratory. Both drugs are currently under study as single treatments for prostate cancer. They say the combination appears to help reduce the negative effects associated With the combination approach, the authors of the study write, “If these findings extend to in vivo models, they would suggest that careful dosage and patient monitoring must be employed if a combination like this one ,,, with IR is administered clinically.
SOURCE: British Journal of Cancer, 2003;0:0-0
Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in men in the United States. For those with the disease contained in the prostate, radiation appears to be an effective treatment. The most common complications involve the bowel and bladder. Therefore, researchers are continually searching for improved treatments that do not carry as many side effects.
Doctors from Wake Forest University School of Medicine conducted all of their work in the laboratory environment. The doctors report calcitriol, combined with Zemplar and radiation, works to stop the growth of prostate cancer cells in the laboratory. Both drugs are currently under study as single treatments for prostate cancer. They say the combination appears to help reduce the negative effects associated With the combination approach, the authors of the study write, “If these findings extend to in vivo models, they would suggest that careful dosage and patient monitoring must be employed if a combination like this one ,,, with IR is administered clinically.
SOURCE: British Journal of Cancer, 2003;0:0-0
Drug could help for dry eye
A drug commonly used to prevent rejection of kidney, liver and heart transplants could also help the millions of Americans who suffer from dry eye, according to new research.
Cyclosporine is a commonly used immunosuppressive drug, meaning it stops the body from producing certain antibodies. These types of drugs are frequently used to prevent the body from rejecting organ transplants. Researchers say a topical form of the drug has significantly improved tear production in patients with dry eye associated with Sjogren’s syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. In Sjogren’s syndrome, white blood cells attack the body’s moisture-producing glands. It affects between 1 million and 4 million Americans, and it can cause dry eyes, dry mouth, or fatigue.
During the trials, researchers tested the efficacy and safety of topical cyclosporine in patients with moderate to severe dry eye. Some of the patients suffered from an autoimmune disease, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, and some did not. Researchers used two different strengths of cyclosporine and found even when the smallest dose was administered, the drug was shown to significantly improve tear production in most of the patients, whether they suffered from an autoimmune disease or not.
Dry eye is a persistent dryness of the cornea and the conjunctiva -- the thin, transparent tissue that covers the outer surface of the eye. Decreased function of the tear glands or increased evaporation of tears causes the condition. Nearly 10 million Americans suffer from dry eye, and it can be a symptom of Sjogren’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, certain medications, or even a Vitamin A deficiency. For many sufferers, over-the-counter eye drops do not work sufficiently. Researchers say cyclosporine will dramatically change the way dry eye disease is treated.
“Unlike artificial tears, topical cyclosporine treats the underlying cause of dry eye and leads to increased tear production in the majority of patients in our clinical studies,” says Scott Whitcup, M.D., senior author of the study from Allergan.
SOURCE: American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 23-28, 2003
Cyclosporine is a commonly used immunosuppressive drug, meaning it stops the body from producing certain antibodies. These types of drugs are frequently used to prevent the body from rejecting organ transplants. Researchers say a topical form of the drug has significantly improved tear production in patients with dry eye associated with Sjogren’s syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. In Sjogren’s syndrome, white blood cells attack the body’s moisture-producing glands. It affects between 1 million and 4 million Americans, and it can cause dry eyes, dry mouth, or fatigue.
During the trials, researchers tested the efficacy and safety of topical cyclosporine in patients with moderate to severe dry eye. Some of the patients suffered from an autoimmune disease, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, and some did not. Researchers used two different strengths of cyclosporine and found even when the smallest dose was administered, the drug was shown to significantly improve tear production in most of the patients, whether they suffered from an autoimmune disease or not.
Dry eye is a persistent dryness of the cornea and the conjunctiva -- the thin, transparent tissue that covers the outer surface of the eye. Decreased function of the tear glands or increased evaporation of tears causes the condition. Nearly 10 million Americans suffer from dry eye, and it can be a symptom of Sjogren’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, certain medications, or even a Vitamin A deficiency. For many sufferers, over-the-counter eye drops do not work sufficiently. Researchers say cyclosporine will dramatically change the way dry eye disease is treated.
“Unlike artificial tears, topical cyclosporine treats the underlying cause of dry eye and leads to increased tear production in the majority of patients in our clinical studies,” says Scott Whitcup, M.D., senior author of the study from Allergan.
SOURCE: American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 23-28, 2003
Friday, November 26, 2010
Brain Exercise to Preserve Memory
More than 4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease -- a number that’s more than doubled since 1980 and that continues to climb as the U.S. population ages. So, what can you do now to make sure you don’t become a statistic later?
By 2050, more than 13 million Americans could be living with Alzheimer's. But what you do today could keep you from becoming a statistic.
Registered dietician Tavis Piattoly, from Ochsner Clinic’s Elmwood Fitness Center in New Orleans, says, “I’m just a true believer … you make time for nutrition and exercise now, or you make time for disease later.”
Piattoly says one step to preserve brain power is exercise. “The brain basically works just like, you know, the rest of the body or the heart. You know, we exercise the brain. We can preserve how well it functions.”
Also, try niacin. A recent study shows people who had 22 milligrams of niacin a day had an 80-percent lower risk of Alzheimer's than those who had half that much.
Phytonutrients in leafy greens can also help. “There may be a strong link of just eating more fruits and vegetables to not only prevent risk of developing Alzheimer's but also to slow the progression of the disease,” Piattoly says.
Go for vitamin B12 and folic acid, too. In one Swiss study, those with low levels of these vitamins had four-times the rate of dementia than those with recommended levels. Fish oil also helps. Piattoly says, “Fish oil supplements decrease brain plaque by 40 percent and also decrease something called an amyloid protein by 70 percent.” Amyloid plaque is a known marker of Alzheimer’s.
“Our brain uses nutrition for energy. If we’re not getting the proper nutrition, things are not going to work properly,” Piattoly says. The bottom line? Treat your brain well, and it’s more likely to stick around.
A challenging job is another way to protect your brain. One study found people who had mentally challenging jobs in their 30s, 40s and 50s were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than their less-stimulated counterparts.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
USANA Vitamins Supplementation BiOmega fish oil supplement has all the benefits of fish oil in a convenient gel capsule and is also greatly recommended for pregnant women. USANA BiOmega fish oil contains an additional dose of vitamin D.
By 2050, more than 13 million Americans could be living with Alzheimer's. But what you do today could keep you from becoming a statistic.
Registered dietician Tavis Piattoly, from Ochsner Clinic’s Elmwood Fitness Center in New Orleans, says, “I’m just a true believer … you make time for nutrition and exercise now, or you make time for disease later.”
Piattoly says one step to preserve brain power is exercise. “The brain basically works just like, you know, the rest of the body or the heart. You know, we exercise the brain. We can preserve how well it functions.”
Also, try niacin. A recent study shows people who had 22 milligrams of niacin a day had an 80-percent lower risk of Alzheimer's than those who had half that much.
Phytonutrients in leafy greens can also help. “There may be a strong link of just eating more fruits and vegetables to not only prevent risk of developing Alzheimer's but also to slow the progression of the disease,” Piattoly says.
Go for vitamin B12 and folic acid, too. In one Swiss study, those with low levels of these vitamins had four-times the rate of dementia than those with recommended levels. Fish oil also helps. Piattoly says, “Fish oil supplements decrease brain plaque by 40 percent and also decrease something called an amyloid protein by 70 percent.” Amyloid plaque is a known marker of Alzheimer’s.
“Our brain uses nutrition for energy. If we’re not getting the proper nutrition, things are not going to work properly,” Piattoly says. The bottom line? Treat your brain well, and it’s more likely to stick around.
A challenging job is another way to protect your brain. One study found people who had mentally challenging jobs in their 30s, 40s and 50s were less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than their less-stimulated counterparts.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
USANA Vitamins Supplementation BiOmega fish oil supplement has all the benefits of fish oil in a convenient gel capsule and is also greatly recommended for pregnant women. USANA BiOmega fish oil contains an additional dose of vitamin D.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
House Dust Protects Against Allergies
House dust -- called endotoxin, which is released when bacteria dies or is damaged -- may protect children against asthma and allergies. In a new study, Arizona Respiratory Center researchers found the lower amount of endotoxin in young children's homes, the more likely they were to have wheezing or asthma by age 3. The higher amount of endotoxin in their homes, the less likely they were. Factors that contributed to homes having higher levels included: having a home older than 30 years, substandard home conditions, carpeting, a musty smell and interior wall leaks
The Hotter the Better to Kill Dust Mites During Laundry
Washing laundry in hot water -- 140 degrees Farenheit (60 degrees Celcius) -- kills all house dust mites, compared to just 6.5 percent of dust mites in laundry washed at 104 degrees Farenheit (40 degrees Celcius), or warm water, according to researchers from South Korea presenting a new study. They found hotter water temperatures are also more effective in removing dog dander and pollen. Don't want to use hot water? The researchers say an alternative is washing at a temperature between 86 and 104 degrees Farenheit, then rinsing the laundry twice with cold water for three minutes each.
The Hotter the Better to Kill Dust Mites During Laundry
Washing laundry in hot water -- 140 degrees Farenheit (60 degrees Celcius) -- kills all house dust mites, compared to just 6.5 percent of dust mites in laundry washed at 104 degrees Farenheit (40 degrees Celcius), or warm water, according to researchers from South Korea presenting a new study. They found hotter water temperatures are also more effective in removing dog dander and pollen. Don't want to use hot water? The researchers say an alternative is washing at a temperature between 86 and 104 degrees Farenheit, then rinsing the laundry twice with cold water for three minutes each.
Apples; Fish During Pregnancy Protect Kids From Asthma and Allergies
Pregnant women who eat apples and fish may protect their children against asthma and allergies. Researchers from the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom found the children of mothers who ate the most apples were less likely to have asthma by age 5 than the children of mothers who had the lowest apple consumption. Children of mothers who ate fish once or more a week were less likely to have had eczema than children of mothers who never ate fish. Researcher Saskia Willers, M.Sc., of Utrecht University in the Netherlands, says previous studies in the same children have found evidence of similar protective effects of vitamin E and D and zinc during pregnancy. She says if the new results are confirmed, "recommendations on dietary modification during pregnancy may help to prevent childhood asthma and allergy."
Sniffing Out Asthma
An "electronic nose" may one day be used to diagnose asthma, say researchers from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. The device contains sensors that react to compounds in a person's exhaled breath that may be used as markers of lung disease. The electronic nose is a newer version of a sensor that has been used in the food, wine and perfume industries. It is also being used as an aid against terrorism, to sniff out explosives or toxic chemicals in the air ... and being used to diagnose lung cancer. In this new study, the nose was used to detect smell prints in asthmatics, but these were people already diagnosed. Researchers say, "The next step is to see whether the nose can diagnose new patients with asthma. It's still a futuristic device -- one day different electronic noses may be built to detect specific diseases."
Inhaled Steroids Not Enough for Kids
Some kids can't control their asthma even with corticosteroids -- the gold standard -- report researchers from Children's Hospital Boston. In fact, they found children who reported consistently using them were actually 20-percent less likely to say their asthma was well controlled compared to kids who didn't use inhaled steroids -- even when asthma severity was taken into account. Researchers say, "Future studies are needed to see what is different about children who don't respond to steroids, to see if there is a way to predict whether a child will respond to inhaled steroids."
Obesity and Asthma
Of people with asthma, those who are obese are 66-percent more likely to report severe symptoms than their thinner counterparts. In this new study, researchers report obese patients were:
6 percent more likely to report having asthma symptoms all the time
7 percent less likely to be in asthma remission
2 percent more likely to have severe persistent asthma
There have been many previous studies on the link between obesity asthma, but researchers say there has been little data on asthma severity and obesity. They add while it's not known for sure how asthma and obesity are linked, it may be from an association between the hormone leptin, which regulates body weight, and inflamed airways in asthmatics.
Source: Ivanhoe Newswire
Sniffing Out Asthma
An "electronic nose" may one day be used to diagnose asthma, say researchers from Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. The device contains sensors that react to compounds in a person's exhaled breath that may be used as markers of lung disease. The electronic nose is a newer version of a sensor that has been used in the food, wine and perfume industries. It is also being used as an aid against terrorism, to sniff out explosives or toxic chemicals in the air ... and being used to diagnose lung cancer. In this new study, the nose was used to detect smell prints in asthmatics, but these were people already diagnosed. Researchers say, "The next step is to see whether the nose can diagnose new patients with asthma. It's still a futuristic device -- one day different electronic noses may be built to detect specific diseases."
Inhaled Steroids Not Enough for Kids
Some kids can't control their asthma even with corticosteroids -- the gold standard -- report researchers from Children's Hospital Boston. In fact, they found children who reported consistently using them were actually 20-percent less likely to say their asthma was well controlled compared to kids who didn't use inhaled steroids -- even when asthma severity was taken into account. Researchers say, "Future studies are needed to see what is different about children who don't respond to steroids, to see if there is a way to predict whether a child will respond to inhaled steroids."
Obesity and Asthma
Of people with asthma, those who are obese are 66-percent more likely to report severe symptoms than their thinner counterparts. In this new study, researchers report obese patients were:
6 percent more likely to report having asthma symptoms all the time
7 percent less likely to be in asthma remission
2 percent more likely to have severe persistent asthma
There have been many previous studies on the link between obesity asthma, but researchers say there has been little data on asthma severity and obesity. They add while it's not known for sure how asthma and obesity are linked, it may be from an association between the hormone leptin, which regulates body weight, and inflamed airways in asthmatics.
Source: Ivanhoe Newswire
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Chocolate Keeps The Doctor Away
Chocolate lovers rejoice! The sweet treat doesn't just taste good … it's also good for you. Why you can indulge the Valentine's Day without feeling guilty.
That piece of chocolate you've been eyeing also packs a healthy punch. The sweet treat is loaded with antioxidants, calcium, potassium and vitamins B2 and E.
The darker you go, the better it is because it means it has more cocoa, an ingredient shown to trigger the release of neurotransmitters that help alleviate depression.
The sweet stuff can also help relieve stress. In a recent study, those who ate about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate every day for two weeks reduced their stress hormones.
The benefits don't end there. Researchers recently found an ingredient in chocolate -- theobromine -- is more effective at stopping persistent coughs than codeine.
Chocolate is also good for your heart. It contains oleic acid -- a monounsaturated fat that helps boost good cholesterol levels. Research also shows the flavanols in chocolate may help prevent arteries from hardening.
That piece of chocolate you've been eyeing also packs a healthy punch. The sweet treat is loaded with antioxidants, calcium, potassium and vitamins B2 and E.
The darker you go, the better it is because it means it has more cocoa, an ingredient shown to trigger the release of neurotransmitters that help alleviate depression.
The sweet stuff can also help relieve stress. In a recent study, those who ate about an ounce and a half of dark chocolate every day for two weeks reduced their stress hormones.
The benefits don't end there. Researchers recently found an ingredient in chocolate -- theobromine -- is more effective at stopping persistent coughs than codeine.
Chocolate is also good for your heart. It contains oleic acid -- a monounsaturated fat that helps boost good cholesterol levels. Research also shows the flavanols in chocolate may help prevent arteries from hardening.
A New Heart Disease Surgical Development
The standard approach for heart valve disease is open-heart surgery, which requires a chest wall incision, a weeklong hospitalization and a four- to six-week recovery. Soon, this may change with a new procedure called percutaneous heart valve repair and replacement.
The new surgical approach is a less invasive procedure performed under local anesthesia and is a breakthrough for patients who are not candidates for surgery. The procedure is a catheter-based (percutaneous) approach for replacing aortic heart valves -- a combination of a percutaneously delivered balloon-expandable stent technology integrated with a tissue heart valve.
Open heart surgery isn’t an option for many high-risk patients. It also doesn’t make sense for low-risk patients to take the risks of open-heart surgery. This new method will be an option for all patients with heart valve disease. Patients will come to the hospital in the morning and leave at the end of a day with just a Band-Aid in place.
The new surgical approach is a less invasive procedure performed under local anesthesia and is a breakthrough for patients who are not candidates for surgery. The procedure is a catheter-based (percutaneous) approach for replacing aortic heart valves -- a combination of a percutaneously delivered balloon-expandable stent technology integrated with a tissue heart valve.
Open heart surgery isn’t an option for many high-risk patients. It also doesn’t make sense for low-risk patients to take the risks of open-heart surgery. This new method will be an option for all patients with heart valve disease. Patients will come to the hospital in the morning and leave at the end of a day with just a Band-Aid in place.
Heart Disease Treatments
Heart diseases are the number one killer of women and men. Although the statistics are staggering, new treatments and prevention techniques are being studied and applied every day. Even if you are a young, healthy person with no signs of heart disease, there are lifestyle changes you can make today to prevent heart disease tomorrow.
For patients who have already developed heart disease, medications to help with blood flow through the arteries are prescribed. These may include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and statins.
Nonsurgical and surgical heart disease approaches may include balloon angioplasty, bypass graft surgery or electrophysiologic devices (pacemakers).
The prevalence of heart disease has led to a large number of research studies. Among these studies, investigators are looking at heart disease drug therapies and developing new surgical techniques.
For patients who have already developed heart disease, medications to help with blood flow through the arteries are prescribed. These may include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and statins.
Nonsurgical and surgical heart disease approaches may include balloon angioplasty, bypass graft surgery or electrophysiologic devices (pacemakers).
The prevalence of heart disease has led to a large number of research studies. Among these studies, investigators are looking at heart disease drug therapies and developing new surgical techniques.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Holiday Survival Pack
USANA Vitamins - Holiday Survival PackThe holidays are all about giving. Give yourself the gift of good health first with five USANA products that will help you survive the holidays with plenty of good cheer.
Ginkgo-PS™—With a packed schedule of running here and there, it’s easy to lose focus. Stay sharp and make sure you remember everyone and everything on your list. USANA Ginkgo-PS can help support acute memory function and cognition.
USANA Hepasil DTX™—Office parties. Family gatherings. Friendly get-togethers. Let’s face it, during the holidays, revelry reigns and indulgence is often part of the fun! Bolster your body’s natural detoxification processes so you can keep making merry the whole season long.*
USANA® Probiotic—With so many treats everywhere, your diet might be less than wonderful during the holidays, which can wreak havoc on your belly in more ways than one! Keep your digestion on track with a dose of probiotics every other day. It will also help you maintain your immune defenses, which is so important when you’re out and about with holiday crowds.
USANA Visionex®—Winter daylight hours are short. But that doesn’t mean your to-do list is any shorter. Don’t let all the glare from headlights during nighttime driving make you nervous. Lutein and zeaxanthin, two key ingredients in Visionex, have been shown to “improve visual performance in glare for most healthy subjects,” meaning your eyes can recover more quickly when oncoming cars’ high-beams shine in your eyes. And with 500 mg of vitamin C in a daily dose, you’ll also get a great boost of antioxidant protection.
FREE! Pure Rest™—If planning holiday menus, cataloging everyone you need to send holiday cards, and decorating ideas are running through your head instead of sleepy-time dreams, a melatonin supplement can help you get the sleep you need. Pop an orange-flavored dissolvable Pure Rest into your mouth an hour before bedtime, and you’ll be able to wake up the next morning feeling festive.*
1. Richer S, Stiles W, Statkute L, et al. Double-masked, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of lutein and antioxidant supplementation in the intervention of atrophic age-related macular degeneration: the Veterans LAST study (Lutein Antioxidant Supplementation Trial). Optometry 2004;75:216-30.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Aspirin Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes
Scientists believe that type 2 diabetes develops as a result of the body's inability to produce and use insulin correctly. Type 2 patients frequently have more insulin than is normally required, but because the body's cells are resistant to insulin, the insulin is not able to work as needed. As a result, type 2 patients may exhibit both high glucose levels and high insulin levels.
Researchers published the results of their study to treat type 2 diabetes with aspirin. They reported that high doses of salicylates, such as aspirin, reversed high blood sugar, high insulin and high blood fat levels in animal models by influencing a pathway in cells to use the body's own insulin more effectively.
Previously, aspirin had not been considered as a treatment for diabetes because of the potential serious side effects of aspirin therapy delivered in the high doses necessary to lower glucose levels. The risks of long-term aspirin therapy include dizziness, ringing sensation in the ears, and gastrointestinal problems.
However, as a result of this study, scientists believe that this cell pathway is a new target for drug development to treat type 2 diabetes.
If a drug could be developed with this capacity to lower blood sugars, but without high-dose aspirin's side effects, we could potentially have a potent new treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Source: Ivanhoe News
Researchers published the results of their study to treat type 2 diabetes with aspirin. They reported that high doses of salicylates, such as aspirin, reversed high blood sugar, high insulin and high blood fat levels in animal models by influencing a pathway in cells to use the body's own insulin more effectively.
Previously, aspirin had not been considered as a treatment for diabetes because of the potential serious side effects of aspirin therapy delivered in the high doses necessary to lower glucose levels. The risks of long-term aspirin therapy include dizziness, ringing sensation in the ears, and gastrointestinal problems.
However, as a result of this study, scientists believe that this cell pathway is a new target for drug development to treat type 2 diabetes.
If a drug could be developed with this capacity to lower blood sugars, but without high-dose aspirin's side effects, we could potentially have a potent new treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Source: Ivanhoe News
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes, often linked to obesity, affects about 90 percent of the cases in the United States and has been rapidly growing among children and adults. In type 2 patients, the body does produce insulin but becomes resistant to it leading to high levels of glucose in the blood. Although many type 2 patients are treated with diet, exercise and oral medications, many also take insulin injections. In contrast, type 1 patients must take insulin injections to survive.
Recently, researchers have been making great strides in finding new treatments and making progress toward a cure for diabetes.
Recently, researchers have been making great strides in finding new treatments and making progress toward a cure for diabetes.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The future of weight control
We are seeing the future of weight control right now. The pharmaceutical companies will continue to develop more sophisticated drugs. Food manufacturers will more aggressively market fat and carbohydrate replacers that receive FDA approval. The medical community will routinely use less invasive methods of altering the intake of food. The scientific community will conduct more studies to determine the metabolic processes that make weight control an individual matter. In addition to those general expectations, there are some specific trends to monitor.
Genetic Research
Expect the scientific community to demonstrate even stronger links between genetics and weight management. One of the most promising breakthroughs involves the discovery of a gene that may explain why some people can eat whatever they want and not gain weight, while others eat the same amount and add pounds.
Research teams working independently at the University of California/Davis, Duke University and the French National Center of Scientific Research, identified UCP2, a protein gene that appears to be responsible for burning excess calories as body heat, rather than storing them as fat. One of the reseachers, has described activating the gene as "like running an additional motor off your gas tank. You are burning more gas, but the tank is not connected to the drive wheel and has nothing to do with how far you go."
Nutritionist at the University of California/Davis, adds this explanation: "If you can activate a protein that will raise the body's temperature by one-half degree and burn energy that would have been stored as body fat, that could mean a difference of five pounds in weight. This will be a target for the development of a drug to increase body temperature."
Even with this development, scientists still don't know what turns the gene on and, in effect, establishes the body's use of energy. But the study represents another piece of the obesity puzzle. Finding a drug to stimulate the protein could take five years.
The role of genetics underscores the fact that difficulty in managing weight is part of a cycle. While our genetic makeup may predispose us to being overweight, the physiological, emotional and cultural conditions in which we live can influence us to make the right or wrong nutritional decisions. In other words, genetics plays a role, but these predisposing factors can lead to obesity. When these conditions are present, there are usually events that trigger overeating or that keep us from exercising. Finally, some of us have behavior patterns that perpetuate obesity and allow the genetic tendencies to take over.
Fat and Carbohydrate Replacements
Olestra has gotten most of the publicity, but Z-Trim, Oatrim, Simplesse, Avicel, Maltrin, STA-SLIM, polydextrose, N-Flate, Dur-Lo and Caprenin are either out there or will be. The time will come when there are as many processed products on store shelves containing these kinds of substances as there as products without them. Reading food labels will become more important than ever. A positive note: More than 1,000 lower-fat and fat-free food products have been introduced to the market every year since 1990. Watch for more.
Alternative Medicine Strategies
A New England Journal of Medicine survey showed that one in three Americans used at least one non-traditional treatment during a one year period. Another study revealed that 70 percent of physicians have referred patients to non-physicians for diet and exercise therapy. Clearly, there is a move toward alternative medicine and there is every reason to believe that therapies to lose weight will lead the way.
One of those alternative methods may be the use of herbs to control weight. Herbs are used much more widely in Europe and the East than here. The medical communities in those two parts of the world have embraced herbs for a long time. One reason it has not happened here is because the pharmaceutical companies don't promote or sell them. You can't patent an herb. As a result, the recommendations that we do get are frequently from unreliable sources. People are trying herbs in increasing numbers, but most of them don't know what they are doing. Perhaps with more education and research, herbs will become an important nutritional tool.
Some researchers are not convinced that alternative medicine has provided a viable, effective approach for weight management. "I haven't seen anything in the way of botanicals or vitamin supplements that I would recommend. There are combinations of substances like aspirin, caffeine and ephedrine that may have some potential for weight loss. But in the United States, they are not controlled and you don't know what you are getting. Drugs are being sold as food supplements."
This diversity of opinion and lack of research will remain a permanent part of the alternative medicine landscape. There will be anecdotal evidence, trendy movements and testimonials of dramatic weight loss remedies, but even the strategies that work for one person or group probably won't yield the same results for others. In the end, weight management -- mainstream or alternative -- will be complex and individual.
THE SOLUTION
There will never be a single solution to the weight control problem. For twenty years, there has been this 'one-size-fits-all' approach for people trying to lose weight. That approach has been a failure. There is no magic pill.
Weight control is a highly individual process, what works for one person may be totally inappropriate for another. The approach to weight management has to be customized for each person, and the individual shares the responsibility for finding that approach with health care professionals, food manufacturers and government agencies."
Source: Ivanhoe Newswire
Genetic Research
Expect the scientific community to demonstrate even stronger links between genetics and weight management. One of the most promising breakthroughs involves the discovery of a gene that may explain why some people can eat whatever they want and not gain weight, while others eat the same amount and add pounds.
Research teams working independently at the University of California/Davis, Duke University and the French National Center of Scientific Research, identified UCP2, a protein gene that appears to be responsible for burning excess calories as body heat, rather than storing them as fat. One of the reseachers, has described activating the gene as "like running an additional motor off your gas tank. You are burning more gas, but the tank is not connected to the drive wheel and has nothing to do with how far you go."
Nutritionist at the University of California/Davis, adds this explanation: "If you can activate a protein that will raise the body's temperature by one-half degree and burn energy that would have been stored as body fat, that could mean a difference of five pounds in weight. This will be a target for the development of a drug to increase body temperature."
Even with this development, scientists still don't know what turns the gene on and, in effect, establishes the body's use of energy. But the study represents another piece of the obesity puzzle. Finding a drug to stimulate the protein could take five years.
The role of genetics underscores the fact that difficulty in managing weight is part of a cycle. While our genetic makeup may predispose us to being overweight, the physiological, emotional and cultural conditions in which we live can influence us to make the right or wrong nutritional decisions. In other words, genetics plays a role, but these predisposing factors can lead to obesity. When these conditions are present, there are usually events that trigger overeating or that keep us from exercising. Finally, some of us have behavior patterns that perpetuate obesity and allow the genetic tendencies to take over.
Fat and Carbohydrate Replacements
Olestra has gotten most of the publicity, but Z-Trim, Oatrim, Simplesse, Avicel, Maltrin, STA-SLIM, polydextrose, N-Flate, Dur-Lo and Caprenin are either out there or will be. The time will come when there are as many processed products on store shelves containing these kinds of substances as there as products without them. Reading food labels will become more important than ever. A positive note: More than 1,000 lower-fat and fat-free food products have been introduced to the market every year since 1990. Watch for more.
Alternative Medicine Strategies
A New England Journal of Medicine survey showed that one in three Americans used at least one non-traditional treatment during a one year period. Another study revealed that 70 percent of physicians have referred patients to non-physicians for diet and exercise therapy. Clearly, there is a move toward alternative medicine and there is every reason to believe that therapies to lose weight will lead the way.
One of those alternative methods may be the use of herbs to control weight. Herbs are used much more widely in Europe and the East than here. The medical communities in those two parts of the world have embraced herbs for a long time. One reason it has not happened here is because the pharmaceutical companies don't promote or sell them. You can't patent an herb. As a result, the recommendations that we do get are frequently from unreliable sources. People are trying herbs in increasing numbers, but most of them don't know what they are doing. Perhaps with more education and research, herbs will become an important nutritional tool.
Some researchers are not convinced that alternative medicine has provided a viable, effective approach for weight management. "I haven't seen anything in the way of botanicals or vitamin supplements that I would recommend. There are combinations of substances like aspirin, caffeine and ephedrine that may have some potential for weight loss. But in the United States, they are not controlled and you don't know what you are getting. Drugs are being sold as food supplements."
This diversity of opinion and lack of research will remain a permanent part of the alternative medicine landscape. There will be anecdotal evidence, trendy movements and testimonials of dramatic weight loss remedies, but even the strategies that work for one person or group probably won't yield the same results for others. In the end, weight management -- mainstream or alternative -- will be complex and individual.
THE SOLUTION
There will never be a single solution to the weight control problem. For twenty years, there has been this 'one-size-fits-all' approach for people trying to lose weight. That approach has been a failure. There is no magic pill.
Weight control is a highly individual process, what works for one person may be totally inappropriate for another. The approach to weight management has to be customized for each person, and the individual shares the responsibility for finding that approach with health care professionals, food manufacturers and government agencies."
Source: Ivanhoe Newswire
Friday, November 19, 2010
Folic Acid and Down Syndrome
The investigation of families with a history of neural-tube birth defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, and those with a history of Down syndrome, suggests both may arise from a lack of folic acid.
Investigators embarked on the research project after previous studies suggested folic acid impacts the chromosomal abnormality known to cause Down’s. Since abnormal metabolism of folic acid has been established as a risk factor for neural-tube defects, researchers wondered if it might also play a role in Down’s.
The study involved about 490 families with a history of neural-tube defects and about 500 with a history of Down syndrome. The goal was to see if families with neural-tube defects also had more Down’s births than would be expected and vice versa.
An analysis of the families showed just that. Researchers found more than five-times the number of Down syndrome births in the families at high risk for neural-tube defect and a similar increased incidence of neural-tube defect births in the families at high risk for Down’s.
Study author Howard Cuckle concludes, “This study provides direct evidence of a link between Down syndrome and NTD. Folate supplementation before conception has the potential to reduce the frequency of Down syndrome.”
In an accompanying editorial, other scientists encourage caution before prescribing these supplements to prevent Down syndrome, noting the current study may have overestimated the connection. Still, they, too, believe it holds promise. The authors write, “...Although the report is somewhat provocative, it may well be the first epidemiological indication of the existence of a mechanism which could be used at a later stage in the primary prevention of Down syndrome.”
SOURCE: The Lancet, 2003;361:1331-1335,1316
Investigators embarked on the research project after previous studies suggested folic acid impacts the chromosomal abnormality known to cause Down’s. Since abnormal metabolism of folic acid has been established as a risk factor for neural-tube defects, researchers wondered if it might also play a role in Down’s.
The study involved about 490 families with a history of neural-tube defects and about 500 with a history of Down syndrome. The goal was to see if families with neural-tube defects also had more Down’s births than would be expected and vice versa.
An analysis of the families showed just that. Researchers found more than five-times the number of Down syndrome births in the families at high risk for neural-tube defect and a similar increased incidence of neural-tube defect births in the families at high risk for Down’s.
Study author Howard Cuckle concludes, “This study provides direct evidence of a link between Down syndrome and NTD. Folate supplementation before conception has the potential to reduce the frequency of Down syndrome.”
In an accompanying editorial, other scientists encourage caution before prescribing these supplements to prevent Down syndrome, noting the current study may have overestimated the connection. Still, they, too, believe it holds promise. The authors write, “...Although the report is somewhat provocative, it may well be the first epidemiological indication of the existence of a mechanism which could be used at a later stage in the primary prevention of Down syndrome.”
SOURCE: The Lancet, 2003;361:1331-1335,1316
Reduce Wrinkles Without Surgery
More than 6.5 million Americans had a cosmetic procedure last year. The majority of those people chose a non-surgical procedure like chemical face peels or laser hair removal. Botox was the most popular procedure by far, with more than 1 million customers -- mostly women -- lining up for the injections. Here are some other ways to turn back time without surgery.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Olivia Luft says, “I, like probably a lot of ladies, see the wrinkles more than anything.” “I’ve always wanted to have beautiful skin,” says Mindy Wolfson. Mary Jane Mason says, “I’m not vain. I just want to feel good about me.”
Millions of women spend billions of dollars trying to stop the hands of time. Skin-care specialists say anti-aging creams and moisturizers, not make-up, should be your first line of defense.
Skin care specialist Debra Kerr says, “You can’t conceal a wrinkle. That will only kind of fill it in like a putty or something.”
Dermatologist Michelle Chambers, M.D., says you don’t have to spend a lot of money to see results. “You could probably find things at the drug store that work just as well as the hundred-dollar creams,” she tells Ivanhoe.
For those willing to spend the money, there are more aggressive options. Dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., of the University of Miami Cosmetic Center in Florida, performs a procedure called coblation. It uses radio waves to remove the top layer of skin. She says, “The radio waves move through saline, cause electrons in the saline to vibrate, and that causes the cells in the skin to vibrate and separate from each other.” The machine stimulates your own cells to make new collagen -- which helps smooth out wrinkles.
Dr. Baumann says coblation is better than plastic surgery because it’s less painful, the recovery time is shorter, and it’s cheaper.
Wolfson says, “So this was easy. It was, there was no suffering involved. There was no blood and gore.” Something so simple made a world of difference for her.
This past May, the FDA-approved Thermage, another procedure that uses radio waves to erase wrinkles. Treatments typically cost between $1,800 and several thousand dollars, and results will usually last about 18 months. If you are not interested in such an extreme makeover, Kerr says vitamin supplements and vitamin creams can help your own skin produce more collagen and reduce fine lines.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Olivia Luft says, “I, like probably a lot of ladies, see the wrinkles more than anything.” “I’ve always wanted to have beautiful skin,” says Mindy Wolfson. Mary Jane Mason says, “I’m not vain. I just want to feel good about me.”
Millions of women spend billions of dollars trying to stop the hands of time. Skin-care specialists say anti-aging creams and moisturizers, not make-up, should be your first line of defense.
Skin care specialist Debra Kerr says, “You can’t conceal a wrinkle. That will only kind of fill it in like a putty or something.”
Dermatologist Michelle Chambers, M.D., says you don’t have to spend a lot of money to see results. “You could probably find things at the drug store that work just as well as the hundred-dollar creams,” she tells Ivanhoe.
For those willing to spend the money, there are more aggressive options. Dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., of the University of Miami Cosmetic Center in Florida, performs a procedure called coblation. It uses radio waves to remove the top layer of skin. She says, “The radio waves move through saline, cause electrons in the saline to vibrate, and that causes the cells in the skin to vibrate and separate from each other.” The machine stimulates your own cells to make new collagen -- which helps smooth out wrinkles.
Dr. Baumann says coblation is better than plastic surgery because it’s less painful, the recovery time is shorter, and it’s cheaper.
Wolfson says, “So this was easy. It was, there was no suffering involved. There was no blood and gore.” Something so simple made a world of difference for her.
This past May, the FDA-approved Thermage, another procedure that uses radio waves to erase wrinkles. Treatments typically cost between $1,800 and several thousand dollars, and results will usually last about 18 months. If you are not interested in such an extreme makeover, Kerr says vitamin supplements and vitamin creams can help your own skin produce more collagen and reduce fine lines.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
Calcium-rich Diet Doesn’t put on Pounds
Young girls who forego calcium-rich foods because they think they're fattening are mistaken, report investigators publishing in the current Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
They report 9-year-old girls who consumed diets high in calcium were no more likely to put on additional pounds than kids the same age who ate typical diets. Instead, girls with diets high in calcium significantly improved their intake of essential nutrients. According to the researchers, girls on the high-calcium diet -- about 1,500 milligrams per day -- consumed more protein, vitamins A and D, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium than those on the normal diet. Conversely, girls on the normal diet consumed more iron and zinc.
Eating foods rich in calcium is especially important for growing girls, continue the investigators, because about 40 percent of bone mass is formed during adolescence. Girls who increase their calcium intake may protect themselves from bone loss and osteoporosis later in life, and they could even help ensure they reach their full potential in terms of height.
Most girls ages 9 to 13, report the investigators, only take in about 70 percent of the daily recommended amount of calcium. Older girls -- those age 14 to 18 -- do even worse, consuming just 55 percent of the recommended amount.
The authors write, “We conclude that calcium-rich diets do not cause excessive weight gain in pubertal girls but do contribute positively to overall nutrition.” They call for programs aimed at promoting a calcium-rich diet among youngsters.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Sept. 2004
They report 9-year-old girls who consumed diets high in calcium were no more likely to put on additional pounds than kids the same age who ate typical diets. Instead, girls with diets high in calcium significantly improved their intake of essential nutrients. According to the researchers, girls on the high-calcium diet -- about 1,500 milligrams per day -- consumed more protein, vitamins A and D, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium than those on the normal diet. Conversely, girls on the normal diet consumed more iron and zinc.
Eating foods rich in calcium is especially important for growing girls, continue the investigators, because about 40 percent of bone mass is formed during adolescence. Girls who increase their calcium intake may protect themselves from bone loss and osteoporosis later in life, and they could even help ensure they reach their full potential in terms of height.
Most girls ages 9 to 13, report the investigators, only take in about 70 percent of the daily recommended amount of calcium. Older girls -- those age 14 to 18 -- do even worse, consuming just 55 percent of the recommended amount.
The authors write, “We conclude that calcium-rich diets do not cause excessive weight gain in pubertal girls but do contribute positively to overall nutrition.” They call for programs aimed at promoting a calcium-rich diet among youngsters.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Sept. 2004
Vitamins for birth defects
Imagine a vitamin so powerful it reduces the risk of heart disease, colon cancer and even certain birth defects. Such a vitamin does exist, but most people don't get enough of it.
Even before Dietitian Elizabeth Ward got pregnant with baby Emma, she ate a diet rich in folic acid -- a "B" vitamin that prevents certain birth defects. "The recommendation is that all women in their child-bearing years, which are technically 14 to 50 years, who are capable of becoming pregnant, get 400 micrograms of folic acid every day," she says.
Folic acid works its magic during the first four weeks after conception, a time many women don't know they're pregnant, a time many don't pay attention to diet.
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and two dozen other groups have begun a nationwide campaign to promote the power of folic acid.
Whether from multivitamin pills, grain products or foods like asparagus and orange juice, health experts say folic acid can reduce most cases of spina bifida and other serious birth defects.
Elizabeth says, "It's much better to have a fortified cereal than it is to grab a bagel in the morning, and this is something women do all the time. Who knows if that bagel was made with enriched flour that contained folic acid?"
Besides birth defects, folic acid appears to lower the risk of heart disease and colon cancer. Edward Giovannucci, M.D., a nutritional epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Mass., says, "We did a study of 90,000 women and found that women who had been taking a multivitamin with folic acid for 10 or 15 years or longer had a 75 percent lower risk of colon cancer."
Eating right and taking a multivitamin pill for good measure are simple ways to get the folic acid you need every day.
Not all vitamins supplements are optimal for pregnant women. So women who are pregnant or anticipating getting pregnant should consult their physician about taking a supplement.
Source: Ivanhoe News
Even before Dietitian Elizabeth Ward got pregnant with baby Emma, she ate a diet rich in folic acid -- a "B" vitamin that prevents certain birth defects. "The recommendation is that all women in their child-bearing years, which are technically 14 to 50 years, who are capable of becoming pregnant, get 400 micrograms of folic acid every day," she says.
Folic acid works its magic during the first four weeks after conception, a time many women don't know they're pregnant, a time many don't pay attention to diet.
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention and two dozen other groups have begun a nationwide campaign to promote the power of folic acid.
Whether from multivitamin pills, grain products or foods like asparagus and orange juice, health experts say folic acid can reduce most cases of spina bifida and other serious birth defects.
Elizabeth says, "It's much better to have a fortified cereal than it is to grab a bagel in the morning, and this is something women do all the time. Who knows if that bagel was made with enriched flour that contained folic acid?"
Besides birth defects, folic acid appears to lower the risk of heart disease and colon cancer. Edward Giovannucci, M.D., a nutritional epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Mass., says, "We did a study of 90,000 women and found that women who had been taking a multivitamin with folic acid for 10 or 15 years or longer had a 75 percent lower risk of colon cancer."
Eating right and taking a multivitamin pill for good measure are simple ways to get the folic acid you need every day.
Not all vitamins supplements are optimal for pregnant women. So women who are pregnant or anticipating getting pregnant should consult their physician about taking a supplement.
Source: Ivanhoe News
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Oxygen Therapy Helps Blood Pressure Disorder
People with pulmonary hypertension may benefit from long-term oxygen therapy regardless of whether they also suffer from hypoxemia, or deficient oxygenation of the blood.
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare lung disease characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. It can occur either independently, or as a result of other lung disorders. Doctors know people with smoking-related lung diseases who also suffer from hypoxemia benefit from long-term oxygen therapy, whether or not their disease is complicated by pulmonary hypertension. However, they're not sure if Medicare covers this therapy for many of these patients. Oxygen therapy also helps people with pulmonary hypertension who do not suffer from hypoxemia, and these patients have not qualified for therapy under Medicare guidelines. However, treatment options for these patients are limited, and many eventually become candidates for lung transplantation.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital studied 23 adult patients with pulmonary hypertension, some of whom did not qualify for oxygen therapy under Medicare, to find out whether the therapy could help them. In a report published in this month's CHEST, researchers studied the effect of long-term oxygen therapy for these patients.
Study results show treatment with 100 percent oxygen increased the amount of oxygen in the patients' blood, decreased pulmonary artery pressures, and increased their cardiac index. The effect of the therapy declined only with regards to patient age, with older patients responding less favorably than younger patients.
The investigators conclude 100 percent oxygen therapy may be an effective treatment for people with pulmonary hypertension, regardless of the patient's specific diagnosis, and should be considered for coverage by Medicare.
SOURCE: Chest, 2001;120:1547-1555
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare lung disease characterized by high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. It can occur either independently, or as a result of other lung disorders. Doctors know people with smoking-related lung diseases who also suffer from hypoxemia benefit from long-term oxygen therapy, whether or not their disease is complicated by pulmonary hypertension. However, they're not sure if Medicare covers this therapy for many of these patients. Oxygen therapy also helps people with pulmonary hypertension who do not suffer from hypoxemia, and these patients have not qualified for therapy under Medicare guidelines. However, treatment options for these patients are limited, and many eventually become candidates for lung transplantation.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital studied 23 adult patients with pulmonary hypertension, some of whom did not qualify for oxygen therapy under Medicare, to find out whether the therapy could help them. In a report published in this month's CHEST, researchers studied the effect of long-term oxygen therapy for these patients.
Study results show treatment with 100 percent oxygen increased the amount of oxygen in the patients' blood, decreased pulmonary artery pressures, and increased their cardiac index. The effect of the therapy declined only with regards to patient age, with older patients responding less favorably than younger patients.
The investigators conclude 100 percent oxygen therapy may be an effective treatment for people with pulmonary hypertension, regardless of the patient's specific diagnosis, and should be considered for coverage by Medicare.
SOURCE: Chest, 2001;120:1547-1555
At USANA, Quality is King
There’s that old adage, “No news is good news.” And if you’ve been paying attention to reports in the media about nutritional supplements, you may get the feeling that all news is bad news. There have been a lot of questions raised about the quality of the products produced by the supplement industry as a whole.
Don’t worry. Here’s some news that’s definitely good news: When it comes to the quality of USANA’s products, you have nothing to fear.
The science-based nutritional products you love remain the highest quality possible. And there’s no compromising on that, because quality is the focus of every step of the manufacturing process at USANA. It starts with the purest of ingredients and the perfectly balanced formulas that are combined in a state-of-the-art, in-house manufacturing facility to produce the highest-rated nutritional supplements in the world—just take a look at our Gold Medal of Achievement and Editor’s Choice rating in the NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements™ if you need proof.
USANA assures its quality by following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) used for the pharmaceutical industry. This strict adherence is necessary to produce the kind of products USANA is proud to put its name on, and you can trust with the health of your family.
When your products are made to be the highest quality possible, you don’t need to make outlandish claims about what they can do. All the claims USANA makes about its products are based, like everything else we do, on solid science.
Don’t let it get you down when questions about quality in the supplement industry come up. In reality, it’s the perfect opportunity to talk to your prospects about all the reasons why, at USANA, Nutritionals You Can Trust is more than just a slogan. Make sure to mention:
The USANA Difference, which is evident in every step of the manufacturing process
Comparative Guide ratings
The Potency Guarantee that says what’s on the label is in the bottle
ConsumerLab.com approval and NSF certification
An unprecedented Athlete Guarantee, which means USANA is trusted by Olympic and professional athletes, alike
For more information about USANA’s dedication to producing the highest-quality products, read the High-Quality Manufacturing page on USANA.com, and download the new Quality flyer.
Don’t worry. Here’s some news that’s definitely good news: When it comes to the quality of USANA’s products, you have nothing to fear.
The science-based nutritional products you love remain the highest quality possible. And there’s no compromising on that, because quality is the focus of every step of the manufacturing process at USANA. It starts with the purest of ingredients and the perfectly balanced formulas that are combined in a state-of-the-art, in-house manufacturing facility to produce the highest-rated nutritional supplements in the world—just take a look at our Gold Medal of Achievement and Editor’s Choice rating in the NutriSearch Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements™ if you need proof.
USANA assures its quality by following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) used for the pharmaceutical industry. This strict adherence is necessary to produce the kind of products USANA is proud to put its name on, and you can trust with the health of your family.
When your products are made to be the highest quality possible, you don’t need to make outlandish claims about what they can do. All the claims USANA makes about its products are based, like everything else we do, on solid science.
Don’t let it get you down when questions about quality in the supplement industry come up. In reality, it’s the perfect opportunity to talk to your prospects about all the reasons why, at USANA, Nutritionals You Can Trust is more than just a slogan. Make sure to mention:
The USANA Difference, which is evident in every step of the manufacturing process
Comparative Guide ratings
The Potency Guarantee that says what’s on the label is in the bottle
ConsumerLab.com approval and NSF certification
An unprecedented Athlete Guarantee, which means USANA is trusted by Olympic and professional athletes, alike
For more information about USANA’s dedication to producing the highest-quality products, read the High-Quality Manufacturing page on USANA.com, and download the new Quality flyer.
Monday, November 15, 2010
What you eat coule impact your vision
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Chances are if you don’t already wear ’em, you will need glasses some day. The Vision Council of America reports 75 percent of adults either have glasses or contacts. Now, studies show what you eat could impact how well you see.
"I’ve worn glasses since I was six months old, but, without my glasses I can see a centimeter."
"I do sometimes wear glasses."
"Since I was in fifth grade, so that’s about 58 years."
If you have problems with your eyes, or want to prevent problems, take a close look at what you eat.
Cooked spinach is crammed full of lutein and zeaxanthin…two powerful antioxidants that help protect against retinal damage and the onset of cataracts. Oranges are rich in Vitamin C and helps support blood vessels in the eye. Pop some peanuts to prevent age-related macular degeneration. They’re a good source of Vitamin E. Open your eyes and mouth to kidney beans. They’re full of zinc, a mineral vital to eye health. It also helps your night vision. And don’t forget the salmon. It has two types of omega-3 fatty acids which are important when it comes to preventing eye diseases, including dry eye syndrome. The bonus -- all of these foods are good for not just your eye health -- but your total health.
We’ve all heard about carrots…but is it true? Carrots are high in Vitamin A -- a nutrient essential for good vision. Eating carrots will provide you with the small amount of vitamin a needed for good vision, but Vitamin A isn't limited to rabbit food, it can also be found in milk, cheese, egg yolk, and liver.
"I’ve worn glasses since I was six months old, but, without my glasses I can see a centimeter."
"I do sometimes wear glasses."
"Since I was in fifth grade, so that’s about 58 years."
If you have problems with your eyes, or want to prevent problems, take a close look at what you eat.
Cooked spinach is crammed full of lutein and zeaxanthin…two powerful antioxidants that help protect against retinal damage and the onset of cataracts. Oranges are rich in Vitamin C and helps support blood vessels in the eye. Pop some peanuts to prevent age-related macular degeneration. They’re a good source of Vitamin E. Open your eyes and mouth to kidney beans. They’re full of zinc, a mineral vital to eye health. It also helps your night vision. And don’t forget the salmon. It has two types of omega-3 fatty acids which are important when it comes to preventing eye diseases, including dry eye syndrome. The bonus -- all of these foods are good for not just your eye health -- but your total health.
We’ve all heard about carrots…but is it true? Carrots are high in Vitamin A -- a nutrient essential for good vision. Eating carrots will provide you with the small amount of vitamin a needed for good vision, but Vitamin A isn't limited to rabbit food, it can also be found in milk, cheese, egg yolk, and liver.
Where to store vitamins?
ORLANOD, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Half of American adults take vitamins each day. But did you know where you store them can actually mean how much you are getting out of them?
From your vitamins to your pain relievers -- where you keep your pills could be just as important as what you take.
A new study from food scientists at Purdue University found that bathrooms and the fridge are actually the worst places to store vitamins and other medications, even with the bottle tightly closed. Many medications are water soluble so they can dissolve quickly in the stomach, and water from humidity has the same effect, causing vitamins to lose their nutritional value so it no longer has the same function in our body.
"The best place to keep your vitamins and medications is in a cool, dark dry location…not in the refrigerator. Refrigerators are humid, even though they're cool," Lisa Mauer, Ph.D., food scientist, Purdue University, told Ivanhoe.
Scientists say to look for brown spots in your vitamins. That will give you a hint that it's time to restock your cabinet with new products.
Pay attention! Scientists say just opening a packet in a very humid place can ruin your vitamins. Make sure to store them and open them in a dry environment.
From your vitamins to your pain relievers -- where you keep your pills could be just as important as what you take.
A new study from food scientists at Purdue University found that bathrooms and the fridge are actually the worst places to store vitamins and other medications, even with the bottle tightly closed. Many medications are water soluble so they can dissolve quickly in the stomach, and water from humidity has the same effect, causing vitamins to lose their nutritional value so it no longer has the same function in our body.
"The best place to keep your vitamins and medications is in a cool, dark dry location…not in the refrigerator. Refrigerators are humid, even though they're cool," Lisa Mauer, Ph.D., food scientist, Purdue University, told Ivanhoe.
Scientists say to look for brown spots in your vitamins. That will give you a hint that it's time to restock your cabinet with new products.
Pay attention! Scientists say just opening a packet in a very humid place can ruin your vitamins. Make sure to store them and open them in a dry environment.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Elevated homocysteine levels
Homocysteine is a toxic, plaque-forming amino acid that is produced from the amino acid methionine. Without adequate B vitamins (B6, B12, and folic acid), homocysteine begins building up in the body and triggers plaque formation, oxidation of cholesterol, and potentially blood clots. Elevated homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease as well as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, macular degeneration, depression, headaches, birth defects, and certain forms of cancer.
Mediterranean diet can have a significant effect on the risk factor because it is lower in meat consumption. For other means of lowering homocysteine to an acceptable level, take the following every day:
• Folic acid (800 – 1,600 mcg a day)
• Vitamin B6 (10-40 mg a day)
• Vitamin B12 (200 – 1,000 mcg a day)
• Trimethylglycine (1,000 – 2,000 mg a day)
For most people, taking the above B vitamins or comprehensive multivitamins will be enough to counteract elevated homocysteine levels, but some have trouble converting folic acid to its active form. For those, adding the bioactive folic acid (5-methyltetrahydrofolate [5-MTHF], the active form of folic acid) will go further in reducing homocysteine levels. Researchers have found that giving 5-MTHF to subjects increased the plasma folate concentration 700 percent better than those who took folic acids alone. Trials and tests suggest that a desirable dosage should be 800-1,000 mcg daily. Note as well that this should be added to the above intake of B vitamins and should not replace then.
Those who have a continued problem with excessive homocysteine levels should ask their doctor about having a genomic test done to see if you genetically have a problem with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme production. SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) are genetic side roads that are responsible for the differences between all of us. SNPs can make our genes perform below their optimal level and may lead to disease. One of MTHFR’s main functions is converting folic acid to its active form so that it can be used by our bodies and help reduce homocysteine levels. Thus, wen you hve this genetic deficiency, you will have a surplus of homocysteine. Genomic tests can determine if you have a genetic “erros” or mutation in this gene, which is the most commonly known inherited risk for high homocysteine levels. Although these mutations do impair the regulation of homocysteine, maintaining adequate folic acid levels (through supplements like FolaPro, the bioactive form of folic acid, 5-MTHF) in your system will correct high homocysteine levels.
Mediterranean diet can have a significant effect on the risk factor because it is lower in meat consumption. For other means of lowering homocysteine to an acceptable level, take the following every day:
• Folic acid (800 – 1,600 mcg a day)
• Vitamin B6 (10-40 mg a day)
• Vitamin B12 (200 – 1,000 mcg a day)
• Trimethylglycine (1,000 – 2,000 mg a day)
For most people, taking the above B vitamins or comprehensive multivitamins will be enough to counteract elevated homocysteine levels, but some have trouble converting folic acid to its active form. For those, adding the bioactive folic acid (5-methyltetrahydrofolate [5-MTHF], the active form of folic acid) will go further in reducing homocysteine levels. Researchers have found that giving 5-MTHF to subjects increased the plasma folate concentration 700 percent better than those who took folic acids alone. Trials and tests suggest that a desirable dosage should be 800-1,000 mcg daily. Note as well that this should be added to the above intake of B vitamins and should not replace then.
Those who have a continued problem with excessive homocysteine levels should ask their doctor about having a genomic test done to see if you genetically have a problem with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme production. SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) are genetic side roads that are responsible for the differences between all of us. SNPs can make our genes perform below their optimal level and may lead to disease. One of MTHFR’s main functions is converting folic acid to its active form so that it can be used by our bodies and help reduce homocysteine levels. Thus, wen you hve this genetic deficiency, you will have a surplus of homocysteine. Genomic tests can determine if you have a genetic “erros” or mutation in this gene, which is the most commonly known inherited risk for high homocysteine levels. Although these mutations do impair the regulation of homocysteine, maintaining adequate folic acid levels (through supplements like FolaPro, the bioactive form of folic acid, 5-MTHF) in your system will correct high homocysteine levels.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease - Smoking and Elevated CRP Levels
Smoking
The most important lifestyle modification in preventing atherosclerosis is to get away from the air pollution of smoking. If you’re a smoker, it’s time to stop smoking! Secondly, whether you smoke or not, avoid secondhand smoke. Cigarette smoke fills the air with over four thousand different chemicals, fifty of which have been proven to be cancer causing. Further, these chemicals trigger significant free-radical reactions that may damage the lining of the arteries. They also damage healthy cholesterol and form oxidized cholesterol, which leads to more plaque formation. Smoking also causes blood platelets to clump together and also raises fibrinogen levels, which increases your risk of both heart attack and stroke.
The bottom line is that smoking sets you up for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other degenerative diseases. It is imperative that you take steps to get cigarettes and cigarette smoke out of your life for good – and that includes secondhand smoke.
Elevated CRP Levels
C-reactive protein (CRP) is both a marker of inflammation and a promoter of inflammation. Elevated CRP blood levels create a constant environment prone to inflammation within your entire body. When CRP levels are high, every cell in your body is vulnerable to the damaging effects of inflammation. When this chronic inflammation occurs in the blood vessels, it usually causes the atherosclerosis, which is the first step toward having a heart attack and stroke.
There are now blood tests that determine CRP levels. Numerous recent studies have shown that CRP is likely a better predictor of heart attack and stroke risk than traditional cholesterol tests alone. Those with elevated CRP levels but acceptable cholesterol levels are more likely to have heart attacks or strokes than those with high cholesterol but low CRP. Also, those with high CRP levels are less likely to survive when a heart attack or stroke does occur. We will probably be seeing more in the media in the coming years about testing CRP levels as an important means of detecting chronic cardiovascular risk.
CRP is produced in many cells of the body in response to the presence of the cytokines that promote inflammation. C-reactive protein is mainly produced by fat cells, especially belly fat, and the liver in response to excess interleukin-6 – a cytokine. CRP is released by abdominal fat and then is dumped directly into the liver. As a result, those who are overweight or obese, especially those who have abdominal fat, often have significantly higher levels of CRP in their bloodstream than do lean people.
To reduce CRP levels, you should follow a Mediterranean diet and avoid foods high in saturated fats and trans fats. You should also avoid fried foods and foods that are high glycemic – or raise the blood sugar rapidly. Sweets, white bread, white rice, and instant potatoes are prime examples of high-glycemic foods. Instead, you can choose to eat foods high in fiber, such as raw almonds, lentils, beans, peas, seeds, nuts, apples, berries, and so forth. Again, eating a Mediterranean diet is one of the simplest ways to lower CRP as well as many other risk factors.
USANA RESET has low-glycemic ingredients providing a source of sustainable energy to help control carbohydrate cravings. USANA Vitamins Supplements RESET provides balanced nutrition including everything you need for weight-loss success.
A superantioxidant found in French maritime pine bark or made from combination of grape seed, pine bark, and red wine extract has been shown to lower CRP levels. Studies have shown oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) can lower CRP by 50 percent. Most studies have used doses of 120 to 300 mg daily.
Another way to address CRP levels is by taking daily supplements that include
• Fish oil, pharmaceutical grade (1,000 mg, two to three times a day) - USANA’s BiOmega™ supplement is produced from cold-water, deep-sea fish oil and contains a balanced, concentrated daily dose of two important omega-3 fatty acids
• Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol) (100-200 mg a day) - USANA Vitamins Supplements CoQuinone 30 contains a full 30 mg of CoQ10 and 12.5 mg of alpha lipoic acid per soft gel capsule. USANA’s unique formulation provides these important antioxidants in a natural mixture of lecithin and vegetable-derived glycerin monooleate in a base of medium chain triglycerides
• Pine bark extract and grape seed extract, or OPCs (120-300 mg a day) -
• Red yeast rice, or LipiControl (1,200 mg, twice a day with food)
• Irvingia extract (150 mg, twice a day)
Made with no artificial flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, or colors, each USANA Rev3 Energy Drink is low glycemic to provide longer lasting energy and a natural boost. USANA Rev3 uses powerful, energy-producing ingredients to improve the body’s response to stress and fatigue and support efficient cellular energy production. Important antioxidants and phytonutrients also provide free-radical defense to help maintain optimal cellular health. USANA Rev3 products use caffeine derived from all-natural teas. Research shows that caffeine may also have positive effects on weight loss and maintenance and mental function.
The most important lifestyle modification in preventing atherosclerosis is to get away from the air pollution of smoking. If you’re a smoker, it’s time to stop smoking! Secondly, whether you smoke or not, avoid secondhand smoke. Cigarette smoke fills the air with over four thousand different chemicals, fifty of which have been proven to be cancer causing. Further, these chemicals trigger significant free-radical reactions that may damage the lining of the arteries. They also damage healthy cholesterol and form oxidized cholesterol, which leads to more plaque formation. Smoking also causes blood platelets to clump together and also raises fibrinogen levels, which increases your risk of both heart attack and stroke.
The bottom line is that smoking sets you up for cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other degenerative diseases. It is imperative that you take steps to get cigarettes and cigarette smoke out of your life for good – and that includes secondhand smoke.
Elevated CRP Levels
C-reactive protein (CRP) is both a marker of inflammation and a promoter of inflammation. Elevated CRP blood levels create a constant environment prone to inflammation within your entire body. When CRP levels are high, every cell in your body is vulnerable to the damaging effects of inflammation. When this chronic inflammation occurs in the blood vessels, it usually causes the atherosclerosis, which is the first step toward having a heart attack and stroke.
There are now blood tests that determine CRP levels. Numerous recent studies have shown that CRP is likely a better predictor of heart attack and stroke risk than traditional cholesterol tests alone. Those with elevated CRP levels but acceptable cholesterol levels are more likely to have heart attacks or strokes than those with high cholesterol but low CRP. Also, those with high CRP levels are less likely to survive when a heart attack or stroke does occur. We will probably be seeing more in the media in the coming years about testing CRP levels as an important means of detecting chronic cardiovascular risk.
CRP is produced in many cells of the body in response to the presence of the cytokines that promote inflammation. C-reactive protein is mainly produced by fat cells, especially belly fat, and the liver in response to excess interleukin-6 – a cytokine. CRP is released by abdominal fat and then is dumped directly into the liver. As a result, those who are overweight or obese, especially those who have abdominal fat, often have significantly higher levels of CRP in their bloodstream than do lean people.
To reduce CRP levels, you should follow a Mediterranean diet and avoid foods high in saturated fats and trans fats. You should also avoid fried foods and foods that are high glycemic – or raise the blood sugar rapidly. Sweets, white bread, white rice, and instant potatoes are prime examples of high-glycemic foods. Instead, you can choose to eat foods high in fiber, such as raw almonds, lentils, beans, peas, seeds, nuts, apples, berries, and so forth. Again, eating a Mediterranean diet is one of the simplest ways to lower CRP as well as many other risk factors.
USANA RESET has low-glycemic ingredients providing a source of sustainable energy to help control carbohydrate cravings. USANA Vitamins Supplements RESET provides balanced nutrition including everything you need for weight-loss success.
A superantioxidant found in French maritime pine bark or made from combination of grape seed, pine bark, and red wine extract has been shown to lower CRP levels. Studies have shown oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) can lower CRP by 50 percent. Most studies have used doses of 120 to 300 mg daily.
Another way to address CRP levels is by taking daily supplements that include
• Fish oil, pharmaceutical grade (1,000 mg, two to three times a day) - USANA’s BiOmega™ supplement is produced from cold-water, deep-sea fish oil and contains a balanced, concentrated daily dose of two important omega-3 fatty acids
• Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol) (100-200 mg a day) - USANA Vitamins Supplements CoQuinone 30 contains a full 30 mg of CoQ10 and 12.5 mg of alpha lipoic acid per soft gel capsule. USANA’s unique formulation provides these important antioxidants in a natural mixture of lecithin and vegetable-derived glycerin monooleate in a base of medium chain triglycerides
• Pine bark extract and grape seed extract, or OPCs (120-300 mg a day) -
• Red yeast rice, or LipiControl (1,200 mg, twice a day with food)
• Irvingia extract (150 mg, twice a day)
Made with no artificial flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, or colors, each USANA Rev3 Energy Drink is low glycemic to provide longer lasting energy and a natural boost. USANA Rev3 uses powerful, energy-producing ingredients to improve the body’s response to stress and fatigue and support efficient cellular energy production. Important antioxidants and phytonutrients also provide free-radical defense to help maintain optimal cellular health. USANA Rev3 products use caffeine derived from all-natural teas. Research shows that caffeine may also have positive effects on weight loss and maintenance and mental function.
Friday, November 5, 2010
B Vitamins, Iron, Glucosamine and Chondroitin, Ginkgo biloba, St. John’s wort and Vitamin K
B Vitamins
Because B vitamins help extract energy from food, supplement marketers would like you to believe that getting more through pills or fortified drinks will give you a power boost. Truth is, most people get plenty of B vitamins in their diet; more won’t necessarily make you more energetic. Other benefits of extra Bs need to be confirmed by further research. Evidence suggests that taking a combo of B6, B12, and folic acid might cut the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Researchers were once hopeful that B12 and folate could protect the heart, but recent research has proved disappointing. What’s more, some women take biotin to combat hair loss, a symptom of severe biotin deficiency, but we couldn’t find studies that showed it helps prevent or treat the problem.
Vegetarians, since B12 is found largely in animal derived foods, and people older than 50, because the stomach acid needed to absorb B12 diminishes with age. The amount of B12 in a typical multivitamin, 6 micrograms, is usually sufficient. Many pregnant women opt for the high levels of folic acid found in prenatal vitamins to help prevent neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Some preliminary evidence suggests that biotin might increase nail thickness in those who have brittle nails. If you want to try it, take 2.5 to 3 milligrams daily for four to six months.
Iron
Adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and athletes are at risk of iron deficiency. Women might need to compensate for iron lost through menstrual bleeding. And as we get older, we don’t always absorb the mineral well. Women who have lengthy or heavy periods and / or symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating should consider taking iron supplements. Get tested before you take supplemental iron. The amount found in some multivitamins formulas is fine for most people, but extra iron could be dangerous if you don’t need it. If your doctor gives you the green light, start with one of the inexpensive iron salts – ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumerte, or ferrous gluconate. If those leave you constipated or nauseated, two possible side effects, try a slow-release version or try iron-polysaccharide complex. Also keep in mind that iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach, but if you can’t tolerate that, you can take it with food. A small serving of meat and a vitamin C-rich food such as spinach or turnip greens is best.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
If you have join pain and stiffness, you might have osteoarthritis, which occurs when cartilage breaks down. Evidence is mixed on whether those supplements effectively alleviate symptoms. In one big trial they didn’t work any better than a placebo for people with just mild symptoms but did provide significant relief for those with moderate to severe pain. Those who suffer from moderate to severe osteoarthritis pain should consider taking it. Record your symptoms and stop in three months if you don’t improve. Glucosamine is made from shells of sea creature,s so talk to your doctor if you have a seafood allergy. The study used 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine and 1,200 milligrams of chondroitin sulfate, split into three doses. Your best choice is probably glucosamine sulfate alone (also called glucosamine sulfate salt).
Ginkgo biloba
This herb is used by people to enhance memory and mental focus and stave off cognitive decline. But we haven’t seen conclusive scientific evidence that it really works. It’s also worth emphasizing that ginkgo can cause bleeding and interact with other medications.
St. John’s wort
It’s widely considered a natural antidepressant. A recent review involving 29 trials and almost 5,500 patients showed that it improved symptoms better than a placebo and worked about as well as prescription antidepressants. The results are promising, but the studies were of short duration and some were of questionable quality, and the makeup of supplements varied. If you have mild or moderate depression, St. John’s wort might be beneficial. But it can cause side effects, such as stomach problems and possibly a decreased enjoyment of sex. It can also interfere with a long list of medications, including certain antidepressants, birth-control pills, and drugs for high cholesterol and migraine. Talk to your doctor before you start taking St. John’s wort. Most studies used 500 milligrams to 1,200 milligrams of extract daily.
Vitamin K
Research is conflicting, but two large studies, the Framingham Heart Study and Nurses’ Health Study, have linked lower intakes of vitamin K to a higher risk of fractures. Most people get plenty of vitamin K, but consider supplements if you seldom eat K-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables and soybean, canola, or olive oils. Rather than taking a separate pill, you can take a multivitamin or calcium supplement that includes K. for optimum bone health, some experts think women should get more than the currently recommended 90 micrograms daily.
Supplements to support your overall health but not to treat your disease:
USANA Vitamins Supplements Procosa II has ground-breaking formula that supports optimal joint health. To help support healthy joints, USANA created Procosa® II supplement, a product with a blend of glucosamine, manganese, vitamin C, and silicon—building blocks for healthy cartilage.
Because B vitamins help extract energy from food, supplement marketers would like you to believe that getting more through pills or fortified drinks will give you a power boost. Truth is, most people get plenty of B vitamins in their diet; more won’t necessarily make you more energetic. Other benefits of extra Bs need to be confirmed by further research. Evidence suggests that taking a combo of B6, B12, and folic acid might cut the risk of age-related macular degeneration. Researchers were once hopeful that B12 and folate could protect the heart, but recent research has proved disappointing. What’s more, some women take biotin to combat hair loss, a symptom of severe biotin deficiency, but we couldn’t find studies that showed it helps prevent or treat the problem.
Vegetarians, since B12 is found largely in animal derived foods, and people older than 50, because the stomach acid needed to absorb B12 diminishes with age. The amount of B12 in a typical multivitamin, 6 micrograms, is usually sufficient. Many pregnant women opt for the high levels of folic acid found in prenatal vitamins to help prevent neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Some preliminary evidence suggests that biotin might increase nail thickness in those who have brittle nails. If you want to try it, take 2.5 to 3 milligrams daily for four to six months.
Iron
Adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and athletes are at risk of iron deficiency. Women might need to compensate for iron lost through menstrual bleeding. And as we get older, we don’t always absorb the mineral well. Women who have lengthy or heavy periods and / or symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating should consider taking iron supplements. Get tested before you take supplemental iron. The amount found in some multivitamins formulas is fine for most people, but extra iron could be dangerous if you don’t need it. If your doctor gives you the green light, start with one of the inexpensive iron salts – ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumerte, or ferrous gluconate. If those leave you constipated or nauseated, two possible side effects, try a slow-release version or try iron-polysaccharide complex. Also keep in mind that iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach, but if you can’t tolerate that, you can take it with food. A small serving of meat and a vitamin C-rich food such as spinach or turnip greens is best.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin
If you have join pain and stiffness, you might have osteoarthritis, which occurs when cartilage breaks down. Evidence is mixed on whether those supplements effectively alleviate symptoms. In one big trial they didn’t work any better than a placebo for people with just mild symptoms but did provide significant relief for those with moderate to severe pain. Those who suffer from moderate to severe osteoarthritis pain should consider taking it. Record your symptoms and stop in three months if you don’t improve. Glucosamine is made from shells of sea creature,s so talk to your doctor if you have a seafood allergy. The study used 1,500 milligrams of glucosamine and 1,200 milligrams of chondroitin sulfate, split into three doses. Your best choice is probably glucosamine sulfate alone (also called glucosamine sulfate salt).
Ginkgo biloba
This herb is used by people to enhance memory and mental focus and stave off cognitive decline. But we haven’t seen conclusive scientific evidence that it really works. It’s also worth emphasizing that ginkgo can cause bleeding and interact with other medications.
St. John’s wort
It’s widely considered a natural antidepressant. A recent review involving 29 trials and almost 5,500 patients showed that it improved symptoms better than a placebo and worked about as well as prescription antidepressants. The results are promising, but the studies were of short duration and some were of questionable quality, and the makeup of supplements varied. If you have mild or moderate depression, St. John’s wort might be beneficial. But it can cause side effects, such as stomach problems and possibly a decreased enjoyment of sex. It can also interfere with a long list of medications, including certain antidepressants, birth-control pills, and drugs for high cholesterol and migraine. Talk to your doctor before you start taking St. John’s wort. Most studies used 500 milligrams to 1,200 milligrams of extract daily.
Vitamin K
Research is conflicting, but two large studies, the Framingham Heart Study and Nurses’ Health Study, have linked lower intakes of vitamin K to a higher risk of fractures. Most people get plenty of vitamin K, but consider supplements if you seldom eat K-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables and soybean, canola, or olive oils. Rather than taking a separate pill, you can take a multivitamin or calcium supplement that includes K. for optimum bone health, some experts think women should get more than the currently recommended 90 micrograms daily.
Supplements to support your overall health but not to treat your disease:
USANA Vitamins Supplements Procosa II has ground-breaking formula that supports optimal joint health. To help support healthy joints, USANA created Procosa® II supplement, a product with a blend of glucosamine, manganese, vitamin C, and silicon—building blocks for healthy cartilage.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Scleroderma (systemic Sclerosis) and Sjogren’s Syndrome
Scleroderma (systemic Sclerosis)
Scleroderma is a chronic, degenerative disease that causes excess buildup of collagen – a protein chemical that strengthens connective tissue. It is then deposited throughout the skin or other organs. The collagen buildup usually appears as small white lumps under the skin that burst and become white fluid.
There are three types of scleroderma. Limited scleroderma is a localized disorder. The skin, particularly of the extremities, becomes hard and thick, and may also appear red and scaly. Although it can affect the muscles as well as the skin, the disease travels slowly and does not usually spread to the organs. Diffuse scleroderma, (also called systemic sclerosis and CREST syndrome), a generalized disorder, spreads quickly through the body and can affect many of the body’s organs. It is the most serious and potentially fatal type of scleroderma. Morphea scleroderma, or linear scleroderma, can affect different parts of the skin but does not interfere with the body’s other organ.s
People with scleroderma may experience a wide array of symptoms. Their skin may appear shiny, discolored, or hard, and may be itchy. They may feel fatigued, short of breath, pain in their joints, or numbness in their toes or fingers. They may also lose weight or experience damage to the affected organs. There is no cure for scleroderma, but there is much that can be done to alleviate many of the symptoms. Your doctor can suggest therapy for your specific ailments. You should also moisturize your skin, refrain from smoking, get good sleep, avoid strong detergents, and reduce as much stress from your life as you can. These safeguards, as well as the following list of nutrients, will help reduce the effects of scleroderma.
• Carnitine
• EPA/DHA 9 (fish oil)
• Flaxseed oil
• Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)
• Glucosamine
• Glutamine
• Probiotics
• Selenium
• Vitamin B10 (para-aminobenzoic acid) – Use with caution if you have renal diseases. Stop taking immediately if anorexia results fromusage
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Sjogren’s syndrome is a common autoimmune disease which affects several million people in the United States. It occurs when the body’s white blood cells attack the exocrine glands that produce moisture. The eyes, mouth, nose, skin, and vagina can become dry, the voice can become hoarse, and major organs can be damaged. Some people experience milk symptoms, while others become severely ill from the disease. Like many other autoimmune diseases, Sjogren’s syndrome can be difficult to diagnose because of the wide range of symptoms as well as the similarity of these symptoms to those of other disorders.
A large majority of people with this illness are women. In 50 percent of cases, Sjogren’s syndrome occurs alone. The other 50 percent of cases affect people who also have one of the following autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diffuse scleroderma, or dermatomyositis.
There is no cure for Sjogren’s syndrome. Care focuses on treating the symptoms. There are various moisture replacement therapies that are quite effective. Your doctor will be able to recommend the appropriate course of action for your treatment. There are also immunosuppressive medications that hinder the immune system’s function.
Scleroderma is a chronic, degenerative disease that causes excess buildup of collagen – a protein chemical that strengthens connective tissue. It is then deposited throughout the skin or other organs. The collagen buildup usually appears as small white lumps under the skin that burst and become white fluid.
There are three types of scleroderma. Limited scleroderma is a localized disorder. The skin, particularly of the extremities, becomes hard and thick, and may also appear red and scaly. Although it can affect the muscles as well as the skin, the disease travels slowly and does not usually spread to the organs. Diffuse scleroderma, (also called systemic sclerosis and CREST syndrome), a generalized disorder, spreads quickly through the body and can affect many of the body’s organs. It is the most serious and potentially fatal type of scleroderma. Morphea scleroderma, or linear scleroderma, can affect different parts of the skin but does not interfere with the body’s other organ.s
People with scleroderma may experience a wide array of symptoms. Their skin may appear shiny, discolored, or hard, and may be itchy. They may feel fatigued, short of breath, pain in their joints, or numbness in their toes or fingers. They may also lose weight or experience damage to the affected organs. There is no cure for scleroderma, but there is much that can be done to alleviate many of the symptoms. Your doctor can suggest therapy for your specific ailments. You should also moisturize your skin, refrain from smoking, get good sleep, avoid strong detergents, and reduce as much stress from your life as you can. These safeguards, as well as the following list of nutrients, will help reduce the effects of scleroderma.
• Carnitine
• EPA/DHA 9 (fish oil)
• Flaxseed oil
• Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)
• Glucosamine
• Glutamine
• Probiotics
• Selenium
• Vitamin B10 (para-aminobenzoic acid) – Use with caution if you have renal diseases. Stop taking immediately if anorexia results fromusage
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
Sjogren’s Syndrome
Sjogren’s syndrome is a common autoimmune disease which affects several million people in the United States. It occurs when the body’s white blood cells attack the exocrine glands that produce moisture. The eyes, mouth, nose, skin, and vagina can become dry, the voice can become hoarse, and major organs can be damaged. Some people experience milk symptoms, while others become severely ill from the disease. Like many other autoimmune diseases, Sjogren’s syndrome can be difficult to diagnose because of the wide range of symptoms as well as the similarity of these symptoms to those of other disorders.
A large majority of people with this illness are women. In 50 percent of cases, Sjogren’s syndrome occurs alone. The other 50 percent of cases affect people who also have one of the following autoimmune diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, diffuse scleroderma, or dermatomyositis.
There is no cure for Sjogren’s syndrome. Care focuses on treating the symptoms. There are various moisture replacement therapies that are quite effective. Your doctor will be able to recommend the appropriate course of action for your treatment. There are also immunosuppressive medications that hinder the immune system’s function.
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