Digestion, health and nutrition: Dr. Anil Minocha, a gastroenterologist and nutritionist

Broccoli versus selenium for cancer protection

2009-01-16T05:47:00-06:00

Data suggests the efficacy of selenium for prevention of colon cancer in humans. The source of selenium may be an important factor as well since selenium in broccoli does not accumulate in the body as fast as other forms of Selenium.

Ine one experiment, rats (n = 45) were assigned to torula yeast-based diets supplemented with the following: 1) no Se; 2) selenium as selenate; 3) selenized broccoli. In another experiment, rats were assigned to same basal diet supplemented with the following: 1) no added Se; 2) selenium as selenite; 3) selenium as as selenite + low Selenium broccoli; and 4) selenized broccoli.

Rats were also fed a chemical carcinogen or control vehicle. Supranutritional amounts of selenium ingested as high selenium broccoli significantly reduced the incidence of preneoplastic aberrant crypts and aberrant crypt foci as compared to other groups.This was despite controlling for the presence or absence of broccoli and for the total amount of selenium ingested.

The authors concluded that the decrease in preneoplastic lesions was due to selenium in high selenium broccoli and not a result of broccoli alone or selenium alone.

This suggests that selenium dervived from high selenium broccoli is metabolized such that it diverts much of the selenium into a pool that protects against against colon cancer.

Do you prefer taking supplements as opposed to fresh vegetables and fruit? Please share your thoughts on this article in context of your dietery habits.

Green tea and colon polyps cancer prevention

2009-01-01T05:31:00-06:00

Evidence for beneficial effects of green tea continues to grow. Experimental data suggests that green tea is helpful in chemoprevention. Studies in Japanese shows that people who drink greater than 10 cups were day have a decrease in risk of colon cancer.

A recent randomized controlled trial examined the effect of green tea on precancerous colon polyps (adenoma) in patients with history of polyps but cleared on subsequent colonoscopy.

The investigators (Dr. Shimizu and colleagues) used supplemental green tea extract tablets equivalent to increase green tea ingestion from an average of 6 cups (1.5 g green tea extract) daily to 10 cups equivalent (2.5 g green tea extract) by supplemental green tea extract tablets. The controls did not get any supplementation. Follow up colonoscopy was performed after 1 year.

At the end point colonoscopy, colon polyps (adenomas) were detected in 15% of the green tea extract group as compared to 31% in the controls. The size of the adenoma detected in the green tea extract group was also smaller than the ones in controls suggesting that even the polyps detected may have less potential for colorectal cancer.

Are you a fan of green tea or for that matter tea? If not, would news like this lead you to increase your intake of green tea?

Intestinal sleeve for obesity placed by upper GI scope endoscopy

2008-12-11T05:46:00-06:00

UGI scope or upper endoscopy and then eat whatever you want without checking calories. No need for weight loss surgery or drugs for weight control. No more overweight, obesity, and the diabetes gets cured! Too good to be true? Perhaps not....

The answer may be the Endobarrierunal bypass sleeve or endoscopic duodenal-jejunal bypass sleeve (DJBS) . DJBS is placed in the small intestine during endoscopy. It is designed to mimic intestinal bypass effects of Roux-en-y gastric bypass without the need for any surgery stapling etc. and is designed to produce weight loss in morbidly obese. The technical feasibility has been tested in pigs.

It has actually been placed in a woman with BMI of 45. The Endobarrierunal bypass sleeve device was placed while the obese subject was under anesthesia. After 3 months, the device was removed by endoscopy again. The obese patient's weight loss was a total of 9 k over this period. Remember, this weight loss occurred over this short period and even a modest weight loss in overweight patients can have substantial health benefits

Sure seems easy treatment of obesity using this device. If this works out, this may be an easy treatment for this curse of obesity and its ssociated diseases like diabetes, heart disease etc.

What do you think about this treatment? Would you want to get this device even if you slightly overweight? please share your thoughts.

Toileting posture constipation

2008-11-24T05:53:00-06:00

Wonder what toileting posture implies? Think it is important for good bowel function? While the toileting posture may be non-issue for some, it could be crucial for those with constipation.

Toileting posture is a modifiable factor that can be used as aprt of an overall management strategy. The use of traditional toilet seats has potential to make recto-anal angle more acute contributing to difficult passage of stools and constipation. This is particularly an issue in kids who sit with their legs dangling the air as well as the physically challenged subjects who need to use higher chairs in order to be able to get up after defecations. Constipation as kids has potential to persist throughout life. Appropriate toilet posture coupled with abdominal exercises may help in some cases of difficult defecation and constipation.

Regular physical activity, along with appropriate toileting posture (bending forward), support of the feet while seated on toilet and simple pelvic floor exercises, should be as part of an overall treatment plan for constipation.

Do you or someone you know have constipation? How is your toileting posture? Do you think the issue of toileting posture makes sense? Please share your thoughts.

Eating disorders spirituality

2008-11-19T05:08:00-06:00

Spirituality for eating disorders? Believers and non-believers, read on the importance of spirituality in eating disorders. Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulemia nervosa etc.

A randomized, controlled trial compared the effectiveness of a spirituality group with Cognitive and Emotional Support groups in subjects receiving inpatient eating disorder treatment [Richards 2006]. Authors compared the effectiveness of a Spirituality group with Cognitive and Emotional Support groups. Patients in the spirituality group scored higher on spiritual well-being and lower on psychological disturbance and eating disorder symptoms at the conclusion of treatment compared to patients in the other groups. Thus spiritual therapy during inpatient treatment may help reduce depression and anxiety, relationship distress, social role conflict, and eating disorder symptoms.

Do you or someone you know suffer from eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulemia etc? Have you used spirituality for treatment in your life for any reason? please share your thoughts.