Health is Wealth | "Doctor's Orders" Blog

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 ).

Alpha-lipoic Acid Benefits Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

2012-05-11T17:04:11+00:00

Summary: In a randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 38 outpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, supplementation with alpha-lipoic acid (300, 600, 900, and 1200 mg/d) for a period of 6 months was found to be associated with reductions in fasting blood glucose and HbA1c in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, an increase in urinary PGF2?-Isoprostanes was only found in the placebo group and not the ALA-treated group, suggesting ALA may suppress lipid peroxidation. Levels of 8-OHdg, urinary microalbumin, and serum creatinine were similar in both ALA and placebo groups. The authors conclude, "Results from this study reflected the benefits of ALA in glucose status with slight efficiency on oxidative stress-related deterioration in DM patients."

Reference: "Glycemic and oxidative status of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus following oral administration of alpha-lipoic acid: a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled study," Porasuphatana S, Suddee S, et al, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2012; 21(1): 12-21. (Address: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand. E-mail: psupatra@kku.ac.th ).

Statin Patients May Benefit From Omega-3 Fatty Acids

2012-05-11T17:02:50+00:00

Summary: Combination of statins and omega-3 fatty acids may inhibit symptoms associated with high cholesterol. Study followed patients (n=32), 30-70 years old, with hypercholesterolemia controlled by statins. Subjects received sequential treatments with placebo followed by 1.9 g/day of omega-3 fatty acids for 23 weeks. Physical examination, 24-h blood pressure measurement, endothelial function, platelet function, inflammation markers, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and oxidative stress parameters were undertaken at baseline, after placebo treatment, and after 6 and 20 weeks of omega-3 fatty acid intake. Researchers found that platelet aggregation was significantly inhibited, inflammation was decreased, oxidative stress remained unaffected and daytime blood pressure significantly decreased. Researchers assert that the combination of statins and omega-3 fatty acid may inhibit platelet aggregation, alter inflammatory status, and positively affect daytime blood pressure.

Reference: "Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to routine statin treatment inhibits platelet function, decreases patients' daytime blood pressure, and improves inflammatory status," Doenyas-Barak K, Berman S, et al, Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 2012 Feb 25; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Research & Development Unit and Nephrology Division, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Tel- Aviv University, Zerifin, Israel. E-mail: kerendoenyas@gmail.com ).

Vitamin D Supplementation Relieves Depression in Adolescents

2012-05-11T17:01:50+00:00

Summary: In this study, vitamin D supplementation was found to improve symptoms of depression in adolescent subjects with vitamin D deficiency. Subjects (n=54) were depressed adolescents and/ vitamin D deficient (n=48). Well-being and symptoms related to depression and vitamin D status were evaluated with WHO-5 well-being scale, The Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ-S), and a vitamin D deficiency scale. Results of vitamin D supplementation included increased well-being, improvements in depressed feelings, irritability, tiredness, mood swings, sleep difficulties, weakness, concentration and pain. Findings suggest supplementation of vitamin D may be useful in ameliorating of symptoms of depression in adolescents.

Reference: "Depressed adolescents in a case-series were low in vitamin D and depression was ameliorated by vitamin D supplementation," Högberg G, Gustafsson SA, et al, Acta Paediatr, 2012 Feb 28; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: gor.hogberg@gmail.com ).

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation May Improve Endothelial Function

2012-05-11T16:59:58+00:00

Summary: In a meta-analysis of 16 randomized, placebo-controlled trials including 901 subjects, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was found to significantly improve endothelial function without affecting endothelium-independent dilation. Researchers assessed the effect of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on endothelial function, as measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and endothelium-independent vasodilation (EIV). Results suggest a protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids on endothelial function.

Reference: "Effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on endothelial function: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials," Wang Q, Liang X, et al, Atherosclerosis, 2012 Jan 20; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Evidence Based Medicine, Fuwai Hospital & National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. E-mail: gudf@yahoo.com ).

Keywords: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE - Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Help Prevent Atherosclerosis

2012-05-11T16:57:15+00:00

Summary: In a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of omega-3 PUFA supplementation on plasma concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules - an indicator of atherosclerotic disease - results from 18 studies were analyzed and omega-3 PUFA supplementation was found to reduce plasma concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, while having no significant effects on soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. According to subgroup analysis, omega-3 PUFAs reduced slCAM-1 concentration in healthy subjects and in subjects with dyslipidemia. The authors conclude that these results support "the hypothesis that n-3 PUFA can be supplemented as a primary or secondary means for preventing the development as well as 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 Feb 29; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Cardiology, Bethune First Hospital of Jilin University, China, and Sino-German Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, Hypertension Division, Fu Wai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China).

Vitamin D Supplementation Found to Reduce Mortality in the Elderly

2012-05-11T16:56:44+00:00

Summary: In a meta-analysis of prospective, population-based, cohort studies, researchers found that an increase in vitamin D levels was associated with a lower mortality rate in the general elderly population. Review and meta-analysis followed studies (n=12) involving elderly participants (n=32,142) whose vitamin D levels were measured. An inverse association was found between vitamin D levels and all-cause mortality in all but two studies. A 20 nmol/l increase in vitamin D levels was inversely associated with all-cause mortality. These findings suggest that an increase in vitamin D levels is associated with an 8% lower mortality in the general elderly population. These results add to the growing data on the importance of attaining adequate vitamin D levels.

Reference: "Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and overall mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies," Schöttker B, Ball D, et al, Ageing Res Rev; 2012 Feb 17; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany. E-mail: b.schoettker@dkfz.de ).

Smoking Reduces The Body’s Reserve of Antioxidants

2012-05-11T16:54:44+00:00

Summary: This study investigated the differing negative effect of smoking on the body's reserve antioxidants and cholesterol metabolism in men versus women, using Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) as a biomarker for systemic oxidative stress and cholesterol levels. Subjects were cigarette smokers (n=55; females=25, males=30) and non-smokers (n=51; females=25, males=26,) 21 to 45 years, with no history of alcohol abuse or chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or obesity. Coenzyme Q(10) plasma concentrations, fasting plasma glucose and lipid levels were determined. Authors observed that CoQ(10) concentrations were more decreased in smokers, especially in females, than in non-smokers, that female smokers exhibited more of a decrease in plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and atherogenic ratios than male counterparts. Both males and females showed increased plasma triglyceride concentrations. Results suggest that adverse effects of smoking on body reserve of antioxidants and cholesterol metabolism are greater in females than in males.

Reference: "Reduced coenzyme Q(10) in female smokers and its association with lipid profile in a young healthy adult population," Al-Bazi MM, Elshal MF, Khoja SM, Arch Med Sci, 2011 Dec 31; 7(6):948-54. Epub 2011 Dec 30. (Address: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. E-mail: skhoja@kau.edu.sa ).

Psoriasis May Be Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency

2012-05-11T16:53:04+00:00

Summary: Researchers analyzed the relationship of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (OHD) status to psoriasis in this case-control study. Patients (n=86; 43 with psoriasis; 43 age- and sex-matched controls) were studied during a single 4-week period. Findings demonstrate that serum 25-OHD levels were lower in psoriatic patients than in control subjects even after adjusting for confounding factors. Low 25-OHD levels were negatively associated with C-reactive protein and body mass index with BMI bearing an inverse relation with 25-OHD levels. Indications suggest that vitamin D insufficiency may be higher in patients with psoriasis, and positively correlated with obesity.

Reference: "Deficiency of serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in psoriatic patients: A case-control study," Orgaz-Molina J, Buendía-Eisman A, et al, J Am Acad Dermatol, 2012 Mar 1; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Dermatology Department, San Cecilio University Hospital, Granada, Spain. E-mail: salvadorarias@hotmail.es ).