Health is Wealth | "Doctor's Orders" Blog

Probiotics Reduce Symptoms of Vaginal Infection

2012-05-29T15:54:03+00:00

Summary: In a study involving 30 subjects, evidence suggests that supplementation with probiotics (UB-01BV) may help to reduce the risk of vaginal infection. Subjects (n=30) were women diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis (BV) presenting white discharge, pH > 4.7, increased discharge, odor, pruritus. Each subject received two capsules of UB-01BV per day, for 7 days. Subjects showed reduction in vaginosis symptoms post-treatment. Researchers conclude that UB-01BV may be able to reduce the effects of vaginal infection.

Reference: "Effect of oral supplementation of the probiotic capsule UB-01BV in the treatment of patients with bacterial vaginosis," Ratna Sudha M, Maruya AK, Benef Microbes; 2012 Mar 20:1-5. (Address: Centre for Research & Development, Unique Biotech Limited, Shameerpet, Hyderabad, India. E-mail: sudha.ratna@gmail.com ).

Anthocyanin-rich Fruit Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

2012-05-29T15:53:10+00:00

Summary: Eating foods rich in anthocyanin, like blueberries, may lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Researchers evaluated the relationships between intakes of different flavonoid subclasses and type 2 diabetes. Subjects were women (n=70,359) in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS; 1984-2008), women (n=89,201) in the NHS II (1991-2007), and men (n=41,334) in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (1986-2006) who were free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer at baseline. Researchers found higher intakes of anthocyanin-rich food were associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly blueberries and apples/pears.

Reference: "Dietary flavonoid intakes and risk of type 2 diabetes in US men and women," Wedick NM, Pan A, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2012 Apr; 95(4):925-33. (Address: Departments of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. E-mail: nwedick@hsph.harvard.edu ).

Vitamin B May Alleviate Symptoms Associated with Chronic Work Stress

2012-05-29T15:52:56+00:00

Summary: High doses of vitamin B complex may reduce mood and psychological strain associated with chronic work stress. Participants (n=60) completed the 3-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in which personality, work demands, mood, anxiety and strain were assessed. Vitamin B complex treatment groups reported lower personal strain and reduction in confusion and depressed/dejected mood after 12 weeks. Treatment did not effect mood or anxiety. Findings that vitamin B may be a cost-effective treatment for the mood and psychological strain effects of occupational stress.

Reference: "The effect of 90 day administration of a high dose vitamin B-complex on work stress," Stough C, Scholey A, et al, Hum Psychopharmacol, 2011 Oct; 26(7):470-6. (Address: Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia. E-mail: cstough@swin.edu.au ).

Flaxseed May Reduce Cholesterol and Hyperglycemia in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

2012-05-29T15:50:58+00:00

Summary: Flaxseeds may have a therapeutic role to play in the management of diabetes mellitus. Subjects in this study were assigned to the flaxseed consumption (FS)(n = 18) or a control group (n = 11) on the basis of their desire to participate in the study. Treatment group received daily 10 g of FS powder for 1 month. The control group received no supplementation or placebo. Results indicated that supplementation with FS reduced fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These results suggest flaxseed powder may benefit diabetics.

Reference: "An Open-Label Study on the Effect of Flax Seed Powder (Lignum usitatissimum) Supplementation in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus," Mani UV, Mani I, et al, J Diet Suppl, 2011 Sep; 8(3): 257-65. (Address: Department of Foods and Nutrition, Faculty of Family and Community Sciences, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research & Training in Promoting Nutrition in Health & Development, M.S. University of Baroda, Fatehgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat, India. E-mail: smriti.nutrition@gmail.com ).

Protein Lowers Blood Pressure in Overweight Adults

2012-05-29T15:49:22+00:00

Summary: Increased protein was found to be associated with reductions in blood pressure in overweight adults in this study. A randomized, double-blind, parallel study compared consumption of protein (20% pea, 20% soy, 30% egg, and 30% milk-protein isolate/ 20g 3xp/d) with maltodextrin (20g 3xp/d) over a 4 week period. Subjects were men and women (n=99; 20-70 y; BMI (in kg/m2): 25-35) with untreated elevated blood pressure (BP). Primary outcomes were office and daytime BP. Results showed lower office systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the protein group. Daytime SBP lower in the protein group but daytime DBP did not differ between groups. Urinary sodium excretion was higher in the maltodextrin group. Increased protein intake, at the expense of maltodextrin, may lower BP in overweight adults with upper-range prehypertension and grade 1 hypertension.

Reference: "Protein supplementation lowers blood pressure in overweight adults: effect of dietary proteins on blood pressure (PROPRES), a randomized trial," Teunissen-Beek KF, Dopheide J, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2012 Apr; 95(4):966-71. (Address: Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, Netherlands. E-mail: kfm.teunissen@maastrichtuniversity.nl ).

Beet Juice May Help Reduce Blood Pressure

2012-05-29T15:48:18+00:00

Summary: In two studies involving normotensive men, beetroot was found to reduce blood pressure. Researchers conducted two separate, randomly controlled, single-blind, cross-over, postprandial studies in normotensive volunteers. Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) was measured over a 24 h period following consumption of either beetroot juice (0, 100, 250, 500 g; n=18) or bread products (control bread (0 g beetroot), red beetroot- or white beetroot-enriched breads (n=14)). Total urinary nitrate/nitrite (NOx) was measured at baseline, and at 2, 4 and 24 h post-ingestion. Beet juice (BJ) consumption lowered systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) over a period of 24 h, compared with water control. Bread products enriched with 100 g red or white beetroot lowered SBP and DBP over a period of 24 h. Total urinary NOx increased following the consumption of BJ and red beetroot-enriched bread but for white beetroot-enriched bread. Results demonstrated potential hypotensive effects of a low dose (100 g) of beetroot and suggest evidence for cardioprotective BP-lowering effects of dietary nitrate-rich vegetables.

Reference: "Blood pressure-lowering effects of beetroot juice and novel beetroot-enriched bread products in normotensive male subjects," Hobbs DA, Kaffa N, et al, Br J Nutr, 2012 Mar 14:1-9. (Address: Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy, The University of Reading, Reading, UK. E-mail: j.a.lovegrove@reading.ac.uk ).

Omega-3 Supplementation May Help Prevent Atherosclerosis

2012-05-29T15:46:07+00:00

Summary: The effects of omega-3 supplementation on plasma concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules were assessed in this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (n=18). Researchers found that omega-3 supplementation reduced plasma concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1), but had no significant effects on soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, in healthy subjects and in subjects with dyslipidemia. Researchers conclude that omega-3 supplementation can reduce plasma concentrations of sICAM-1, and may be effective as a primary or secondary means for preventing the development and the progression of atherosclerosis.

Reference: "Effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation on plasma soluble adhesion molecules: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials," Yang Y, Lu N, et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 2012 Apr;95(4):972-80. (Address: Department of Cardiology, Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University, China. E-mail: huirutai@sglab.org ).

Vitamin D Supplementation May Decrease Risk for Diabetes in Prediabetic Individuals

2012-05-29T15:43:41+00:00

Summary: Vitamin D supplementation may be effective in the prevention of type 2 diabetes in prediabetic individuals (participants were 2,378 subjects; 980 women and 1,398 men; aged 35-56 years without known type 2 diabetes). Baseline was set using OGTTs, vitamin D and IGF peptide measurements, and anthropometric and lifestyle data. Participants who had prediabetes or type 2 diabetes at follow-up 8-10 years later were selected as cases. Researchers found that men but not women in the highest quartile of vitamin D level had a decreased OR for developing type 2 diabetes after adjustment for confounders. In both sexes, progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes was reduced by about 25% per 10 nmol/l increase in vitamin D. A high IGFBP-1 value was a better predictor of a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes than high vitamin D for both sexes, whereas high IGF-1 concentrations predicted a decreased risk only in men. High serum vitamin D concentrations predict a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in individuals with prediabetes, but not NGT. No significant interactions between vitamin D and IGFBP-1 or IGF-1 in terms of risk of diabetes. Data suggests that vitamin D supplementation may prevent type 2 diabetes in prediabetic individuals.

Reference: "Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level predicts progression to type 2 diabetes in individuals with prediabetes but not with normal glucose tolerance," Deleskog A, Hilding A, et al, Diabetologia, 2012 Mar 17; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: anna_deleskog@ki.se ).

Arachidonic Acid Added to DHA May Ameliorate Social Impairment in Individuals With Autism

2012-05-11T17:10:01+00:00

Summary: Larger arachidonic acid (ARA) doses added to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may improve impaired social interaction in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Researchers examined the efficacy of large doses of ARA added to DHA in a 16-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects (n=13) (mean age: 14.6 years) were examined for plasma levels of the antioxidants, transferrin and superoxide dismutase and on the Social Responsiveness Scale and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community. Results include significantly improved Aberrant Behavior Checklist-Community-measured social withdrawal and Social Responsiveness Scale-measured communication and a differential change in plasma transferrin and superoxide dismutase levels. Findings suggest that supplementation with larger ARA doses added to DHA may mitigate impaired social interaction in individuals with autism spectrum disorder by up-regulating signal transduction.

Reference: "Effects of Large Doses of Arachidonic Acid Added to Docosahexaenoic Acid on Social Impairment in Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Trial," Yui K, Koshiba M, et al, J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2012 Feb 24. [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Research Institute of Progressive Developmental Disorders, Ashiya University Graduate School of Education, Ashiya, Japan. E-mail: yui16@bell.ocn.ne.jp ).

Leucine May Improve Muscle Protein Synthesis in the Elderly

2012-05-11T17:08:47+00:00

Summary: Leucine supplementation may improve muscle protein synthesis in an older population. Over a 2 week period, researchers supplemented meals of older individuals with leucine (4 g/meal; 3 meals/day). Metabolic studies were performed on Days 1 and 15. Leucine was not provided on metabolic study days. Venous blood and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained. Mixed muscle fractional synthesis rate (FSR), body composition and markers of nutrient signaling (mTOR, 4E-BP1 and p70S6K1 phosphorylation) were measured before and after a low protein/carbohydrate simulated meal. Researchers found two weeks of leucine supplementation increased postabsorptive FSR. Changes in FSR were mirrored by increased phosphorylation of mTOR, 4E-BP1 and p70S6K1. No change in fat free mass was observed. In older adults, leucine supplementation may improve muscle protein synthesis in response to lower protein meals.

Reference: "Leucine supplementation chronically improves muscle protein synthesis in older adults consuming the RDA for protein," Casperson SL, Sheffield-Moore M, et al, Clin Nutr. 2012 Feb 20. [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. E-mail: djpaddon@utmb.edu ).