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| | December 2007 Â | Â Â
Top 5 picks to keep vision strong!  
Sight is an important convenience and one of life's greatest pleasures. For both reasons, keeping our vision healthy as we age - in particular, to prevent cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) - deserves our attention.
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With one herb, researchers noted a marked improvement after only four weeks.
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Here are some natural products shown in recent scientific research to protect and enhance vision health:
. Omega-3 fatty acids: Consuming omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of developing AMD, an eye disease causing loss of central vision; as well as a particular kind of cataract. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) in the US used photography to assess the eyes of more than 4,500 people between ages 60 and 80. The study also assessed their diets, concluding that omega-3 fatty acid intake was associated with a 39% reduction in neovascular (or wet) AMD. In Australia, the Blue Mountains Eye Study associated a higher dietary intake of omega-3 with reduced incidence of nuclear cataract: a type of cataract involving only the inner, dense portion of the lens of the eye.
. Lutein and zeaxanthin: The AREDS research mentioned above, a major clinical trial sponsored by the National Eye Institute, associated a higher dietary intake of the nutrients lutein and zeaxanthin with decreased risk of both wet and dry AMD. Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids found in such foods as leafy green vegetables, corn, egg yolks, squash, broccoli and peas. They are also available as supplements and as part of vision health formulas.
. Ginkgo: German researchers reported that an extract of the herb ginkgo biloba can help treat dry AMD. About 100 patients received the extract daily for six months. "Marked improvement" in vision was noted already after four weeks, with more pronounced improvements in a subgroup of patients who had received a higher dose. Ginkgo biloba extract, prepared from the dried leaves of the gingko tree, contains flavonoids, a type of antioxidant that may contribute to vision health.
. Vitamin D: Increased levels of this vitamin may be associated with reduced prevalence of early AMD, American researchers suggest. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the researchers focused on almost 8,000 people considered representative of the entire US population. Individuals with the highest blood levels of vitamin D had a 40% lower risk of early AMD than those with the lowest levels.
In summary, nature can help prevent and alleviate vision problems. Increasing your intake of vision-friendly nutrients through supplements, diet or both can help you achieve your best vision possible.
Low B12 linked to digestive ills Â
Vitamin B12 deficiency may be a concern among patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and children infected with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
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B12 abnormalities were more common among Crohn's patients.
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A University of Washington study reviewed the medical records of 201 patients with CD, a type of inflammatory bowel disease, to determine the prevalence of B12 deficiency. The prevalence of B12 deficiency in a control group of 40 patients with ulcerative colitis was also assessed. Vitamin B12 abnormalities were common among the CD patients, with 18.4% of them showing atypical blood levels compared to 5% of the controls. CD patients with a previous ileal or ileocolonic resection were found to be at particular risk.
H. pylori infection, another digestive condition, also appears to be associated with vitamin B12 deficiency. Researchers in Turkey studied 50 youths age five to 18 who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy because of upper abdominal symptoms. Thirty-two of the patients were found to be H. pylori-positive and 18 were H. pylori-negative.
Nine, or 28%, of those who were H. pylori-positive were also B12-deficient, compared to two, or 11%, of those who were H. pylori-negative. H. pylori infection was also found to negatively impact blood levels of ferritin, an iron-carrying protein that reflects the body's long-term iron status.
H. pylori is a bacterial organism that weakens the protective coating of the stomach and duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), allowing digestive juices to irritate the sensitive lining below.
Add omega-3 to cholesterol drugs Â
Adding Omega-3 fatty acids to standard medication for high cholesterol can significantly enhance the effect, new research indicates.
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Patients with high cholesterol had better results adding omega-3 to a drug regimen.
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The study by Radiant Research in Chicago involved more than 250 adults who had received eight or more weeks of treatment with simvastatin, a drug used to control elevated cholesterol and prevent heart disease.
After an initial eight weeks of simvastatin therapy plus dietary counseling, participants were randomly assigned into two groups. One group received 40 mg of simvastatin plus four grams of a prescription omega-3. The other group received the same amount of simvastatin and a placebo daily.
At the end of treatment, the median percentage change in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or non-HDL-C, was significantly greater with omega-3 compared to placebo."In these adult, mainly white patients with persistent hypertriglyceridemia, [omega-3] plus simvastatin and dietary counseling improved non-HDL-C and other lipid and lipoprotein parameters to a greater extent than simvastatin alone," the researchers concluded.
Elderly healthier, happier with multi Â
Taking multivitamins may contribute to healthy aging, new research suggests. Similarly, dietary supplements can ease depressive symptoms in older patients.
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In a Brazilian study, 80 elderly volunteers were randomly assigned to receive a multivitamin capsule or placebo daily for four weeks. The participants were all healthy and did not use other supplements or medication.
Taking the vitamin complex was found to "significantly decrease the levels of DNA damage" in lymphocytes, white blood cells that help protect the body against infections. "Our data suggest that the consumption of some vitamins may reduce the effects of oxidative DNA damage and may be useful for attaining healthy aging," said the researchers.
If multivitamins help healthy elderly people, oral nutritional supplements appear to make a difference among hospitalized, acutely ill older patients.
A study from the UK and United Arab Emirate focused on 225 such patients who received either a normal hospital diet and placebo daily for six weeks, or a normal hospital diet and 400 mL of oral nutritional supplements daily.
At the end of a six-month follow-up phase, patients who had received nutritional supplements showed significant improvements in depressive symptoms compared to placebo. The effects were evident among all patient groups including those with no symptoms of depression, mild depression and severe depression.
"Oral nutritional supplementation of hospitalized acutely ill older patients led to a statistically significant benefit on depressive symptoms," said the researchers.
Herb helps erectile dysfunction Â
Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who don't want to take Viagra have an alternative: Korean red ginseng. This traditional Asian remedy for sexual dysfunction can effectively treat ED, new research from Brazil and Korea suggests.
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Researchers say ginseng can be "an effective alternative" for men dealing with ED.
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In Brazil, researchers studied 60 men with mild or mild to moderate ED. The men received either 1,000 mg of Korean red ginseng three times daily or a placebo.
After treatment, the Korean red ginseng group scored significantly higher than before treatment on the International Index of Erectile Function. The placebo group showed no difference before and after treatment.
"Our data show that [Korean red ginseng] can be an effective alternative to the invasive approaches for treating male ED," the researchers concluded.
A Korean study also points to Korean red ginseng as an effective alternative for treating ED. In this study, 45 men with ED were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or 900 mg of Korean red ginseng three times daily. After treatment, scores on the International Index of Erectile Function were significantly higher in the Korean red ginseng group than in the placebo group.
The Journal of Family Practice describes Korean red ginseng as "a safe, widely available alternative remedy that improves patients' ability to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for intercourse, even in a population with severe erectile dysfunction. It is a reasonable, nonprescription treatment, especially for men with reservations about taking [Viagra]."
Majority of doctors take supplements Â
The landmark "Life...supplemented" Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Impact Study found that more than three quarters of US physicians (79 per cent) and nurses (82 per cent) recommend dietary supplements to their patients.
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The study also shows that an almost equal number personally use vitamin, mineral, herbal and other supplements either regularly, occasionally or seasonally - a higher percentage than the 68% of adults who report they take nutritional or dietary supplements.
"This survey, which is a first for our industry, shows that healthcare professionals believe that dietary supplements are part of a healthy lifestyle," said Steve Mister, president and CEO of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). "Not only are they taking supplements for their own benefit, but they're also recommending them to their patients.Of the 72% of physicians who use supplements, 85% also recommend them to their patients; and of the 28% of physicians who do not use supplements, 62% still recommend them. Most physicians and nurses say it is a good idea for patients to take a multivitamin.
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