October 2008

        October 2008

Naturalflu fighters: What's new?

Now that cold and flu season is near, you've likely begunhearing a lot about popular immune system helpers like echinacea, goldenseal, zinc and vitamin C - andfor good reason. Years of solid research show that these natural remedies canhelp prevent a viral infection taking hold, and ease symptoms when one doesslip by. However, a few lesser known remedies are now joining the ranks ofpowerful cold and flu fighters due to impressive research in the area of immunesystem health.

Quercitin

A new study reveals that quercetin, a substance found infruits and vegetables, can lower the chances ofcontracting the flu, even for those under physical or psychological stress."Quercetin was used because of its documented widespread health benefits,which include antiviral activity, abundance in the diet and reported lack ofside effects when used as a dietary supplement or food additive," said J.Mark Davis of the University of South Carolina.

Using an animal model, he and colleagues examined groupsof mice exposed to a common flu virus. The researchers found that mice thatexercised to fatigue were more likely to develop the flu (and develop itsooner) than mice that did not exercise, but that those who exercised and tookquercitin had nearly the same rate of flu as those that did not exercise. Inother words, quercetin canceled out the negative effect of stressful exercise. Quercetin alsohad protective effects for the mice that did not exercise. A recent human studyfound similar results.

Elderberry

New research on elderberry backs up years of use in folkmedicine to treat influenza, colds and sinusitis. It has been reported to haveantiviral activity against influenza and herpes simplex, the virus that causescold sores.

Researchers investigated the safety and effectiveness oforal elderberry syrup for treating influenza A and B infections in 60 adultpatients suffering from influenza-like symptoms for 48 hours or less. Patientsreceived 15 ml of elderberry or placebo syrup four times a day for 5 days, andrecorded their symptoms. Researchers found that symptoms were relieved onaverage 4 days earlier, and use of medication to relieve symptoms wassignificantly less in those receiving elderberry extract compared with placebo.

"Elderberry extractseems to offer an efficient, safe and cost-effective treatment forinfluenza," the researchers conclude.

Pelargonium sidoides

German scientists at the University Hospital Freiburgreport that a preparation of the roots of Pelargoniumsidoides (EPs 7630, or Umcka) can significantly improve symptoms ofacute bronchitis. Acute bronchitis, commonly associated with cough, ispredominantly caused by viral infections.

The researchers tested the herbal preparation on 217adult outpatients with acute bronchitis. Compared with placebo, a markedimprovement was seen for the herb group for all disease symptoms (cough,sputum, rales, dyspnoe, pain on coughing, hoarseness, headache, fatigue, feverand limb pain). Patients in the herb group were sooner able to return to work andspent less time confined to bed. The herbal preparation was well tolerated andno serious adverse events were observed.

Sources: American PhysiologicalSociety, Sep 3, 2008; J Int Med Res. 2004 Mar-Apr;32(2):132-40;Planta Med. 2008 May;74(6):686-92

B vitamins key for elderly

Two recent studies underscore the importance of adequateB vitamin levels for aging people, both for brain and bone health.

In the first, University of Oxford researchersfound that vitamin B12 may protect against brain volume loss in older people,and ultimately reduce the risk of developing dementia.

"Many factors that affect brain health are thoughtto be out of our control, but this study suggests that simply adjusting ourdiets to consume more vitamin B12 [may] prevent brain shrinkage and so perhapssave our memory," said lead author Anna Vogiatzoglou.

Over five years of study, the researchers noted a greaterdecrease in brain volume among people with lower vitamin B12. The studyfollowed 107 community-dwelling volunteers aged 61 to 87 years. It is importantto note that none of the volunteers were vitamin B12 deficient.

In a second study, researchers found that low levels ofvitamins B6 and B12 and high levels of homocysteine were associated withincreased risk of hip fracture. In this study, 714 senior men and womenunderwent tests to measure bone density and blood levels of homocysteine and B vitamins,folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12,at the outset and after 4 years. The data showed that those with low vitamin B6levels experienced more bone density loss than people with normal B6 levels,and people with B6 deficiency lost the most bone. Low and deficient levels ofvitamins B6 and B12, as well as high levels of homocysteine were also allindependently associated with more hip fractures.

Sources: Neurology 2008, Volume 71,Pages 826-832; J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008;93:2206â€"12

Herb helps postmenopausal anxiety, sex drive

Postmenopausal women experiencing anxiety, depression orlow sex drive may find help from the herb maca. Australian researchers at Victoria University report on a recent study inwhich 14 postmenopausal women supplemented with powdered Maca. The dose was 3.5grams per day for a period of 6 weeks. They found that the herb significantlyreduced psychological symptoms, including anxiety and depression, and alsoreduced sexual dysfunction in the women, independent of estrogenic andandrogenic activity.

Unlike some other herbs that affect hormone levels, macaappeared to exhibit no significant effects on serum concentrations ofestradiol, FSH, LH, and sex hormone-binding globulin. The researchers concludethat "supplementation with the herb, maca, may reduce anxiety, depressionand sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women" and that additionalresearch is warranted.

Research on men, backed by animal studies, indicates thatmaca is also effective for improving male sexual function. A 12-week study in2002 aimed to determine if reports of increased sexual desire were due toeffect on mood or on serum testosterone levels. At the 8-week mark, researchersnoted a marked improvement in sexual desire; however, serum testosterone andestradiol levels were not different in men treated with maca and inthose treated with placebo. The researchers were not able to determine theexact mode of action for maca.

Sources: Menopause, 2008 September 6[Epub ahead of print]; Andrologia, 2002 34(6):367-372

Low D linked with chronic pain

A recent review of 22 clinical studies involving patientswith varied chronic pain and fatigue syndromes found almost all patients lackedvitamin D. Stewart B. Leavitt, author of the report, said that when sufficientvitamin D supplementation was provided, the aches, pains, weakness and relatedproblems in most of the patients either vanished or were at least helped to asignificant extent.

Other findings from the panel of eight experts includethe fact that a majority of people in many parts of the world do not getadequate vitamin D from sun exposure or diet. They say the currentlyrecommended dose of vitamin D (up to 600 IU per day) is outdated and far toolow. Most children and adults need at least 1,000 IU per day, and people withchronic musculoskeletal pain would benefit from 2,000 IU or more per day ofsupplemental vitamin D, say the researchers. They also point out that vitamin Dsupplements interact with very few drugs and are usually not harmful unless extremelyhigh doses (50,000 IU or more) are taken daily for an extended period.

In an earlier study involving 150 children and adultswith unexplained muscle and bone pain, almost all were found to be vitamin Ddeficient; many were severely deficient. Gregory A. Plotnikoff, MD, of theUniversity of Minnesota Medical School found a muchhigher incidence of vitamin D deficiency in the patients with unexplainedmuscle and skeletal pain than expected, regardless of their ages.

"The message here is that unexplained pain may verywell be linked to a vitamin Ddeficiency," Plotnikoff said. "My hope is that patients withunexplained pain will be tested for vitamin D status, and treated, ifnecessary."

Source: UPI, Jun 23, 2008; Mayo ClinicProceedings, Dec 2003

Nutrition Wise

Nutrition questions answered by Karen Collins, MS, RD,CDN of the American Institute for Cancer Research

Q: Do vegetarian children need any specialsupplements?

A: Children who are growing normally while eatingwell-planned vegetarian diets generally meet all of their nutritional needswith food, especially when dairy products are included. Diets that eliminateall animal products, including eggs and dairy products, however, need fortifiedmilk alternatives or supplements of calcium and vitamins B12 and D. Childrenhave high calorie and nutrient needs, but their stomachs are small. Since avegetarian diet's higher fibre content can make it more filling, thesechildren, especially, need several nutritious snacks throughout the day. Goodchoices include concentrated sources of calories, such as: seeds and nuts,beans, nut or bean spreads, juice and dried fruits, along with enough addedhealthy fats. Fortified cereals can also help provide vitamin B12, iron andzinc.

Q: Do calcium supplements cause constipation?

A: In some people, calcium supplements may have a mildconstipating effect. Some experts suggest that problems occur most often inpeople who are also taking a medication that has a constipating effect. If youexperience constipation and are relying on supplements to provide the calcium youneed, be sure you're not taking more than 500 mg of calcium at one time; spreaddoses out through the day if you have higher calcium needs. Next, follow theadvice typically given to anyone suffering from constipation: eat morehigh-fibre vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans; drink more water; andmake sure you're getting a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity each day.If these suggestions don't resolve the problem, experiment with othersupplement brands, especially those that contain calcium citrate instead of themore common calcium carbonate. Finally, if constipation persists, talk to yourdoctor or health care provider to discuss other possible causes and solutions.

Source: American Institute for CancerResearch

Homeopathic remedy proven for post-op pain

Homeopathic arnica is a popular remedy for pain, bruisingand swelling after injury or trauma. A recent study compared the effects oftaking arnica after a common foot operation (bunion removal) with a commonlyused painkiller, diclofenac. Arnica D4 (a 4Xdilution) was given at a dose of 10 pills taken three times a day. In total, 88people took the arnica or the diclofenac for four days after having surgery.

The German researchers found that arnica and diclofenacperformed equally well in terms of reducing redness, swelling and heat (signsof inflammation) in the wound. Those taking arnica had better mobility, whilethose taking diclofenac experienced less pain. However, the arnica producedsignificantly fewer side effects: 4.5% reported side effects, while 20% ofthose taking diclofenac reported intolerance to the medication. The arnica alsocost less than half the price of the drug. The authors conclude, "Afterfoot operations, arnica D4 can be used instead of diclofenac to reduce woundirritation."

Sources: J Altern Comp Med 2008;14(1):17-25

Having a soothing cup of chamomile tea with meals may help preventcomplications of diabetes, including loss of vision, nerve damage and kidneydamage, say researchers in Japanand the UK.Scientist Atsushi Kato and colleagues point out that chamomile has been usedfor years as a medicinal cure-all to treat a variety of medical problemsincluding stress, colds and menstrual cramps. In their animal model study,researchers gave chamomile extract to a group of diabetic rats for 21 days.The chamomile-supplemented animals showed a significant decrease in bloodglucose levels compared with a control group. The herb also inhibited ALR2enzymes and sorbitol, both of which are associated with diabetic complications.

Source: MedicalNews Today, Sep 15, 2008

Bottle-fed children of parents with allergies are less likely to develop allergiesthemselves if given prebiotics - supplements that support the growth of healthybacteria in the large intestine. The infants were fed a hypoallergenic infantformula supplemented with either a combination of 90%galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and 10% fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) orplacebo, for the first six months of life, then followed for two years.Researchers found that the two-year-old children who received theprebiotic-supplemented formula were less likely to experience allergies. They werehalf as likely to have had eczema, one-third as likely to have had recurrentwheezing, and one-seventh as likely to have had hives as children in theplacebo group. They also had fewer upper respiratory tract infections such asear, throat, and sinus infections, and fewer prescriptions for antibiotics.

Source: J Nutr2008;138:1091â€"5

Korean researchers noted significant health benefits in 78 seniors who tooka spirulina supplement. The men and women, aged 60-87 years, were randomized toget either spirulina (8 grams per day) or a placebo for 16 weeks. In men,spirulina intake was associated with a significant decrease in plasmacholesterol and a significant increase in plasma interleukin-2 (an immune systemresponder). In women, researchers also noted significant increases in IL-2levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and a significant decrease intotal cholesterol. "The results demonstrate that spirulina hasfavourable effects on lipid profiles, immune variables, and antioxidantcapacity in healthy, elderly male and female subjects," say the authors.

Source: Ann NutrMetab, 2008; 52(4): 322-328

Can chewing gum improve the health of your teeth and gums? Japaneseresearchers say yes, as long as it's spiked with eucalyptus extract. In arecent trial, people who chewed gum with either 0.6% or 0.4% eucalyptus extractover a period of 12 weeks showed significant improvement in plaqueaccumulation, gingival index, bleeding on probing, and periodontal probingdepth, compared with a placebo group.

Source: JPeriodontol, 2008; 79(8): 1378-85

Probiotics reduce and prevent eczema in children under two, say New Zealandresearchers. "Our study has found when you give pregnant women the probiotic supplement, L rhamnosus, during the last five weeks ofpregnancy, and for six months after birth while mothers are breast feeding, andthen you give their infants the same probiotic up to two years of age, there isa 50% reduction in eczema by the age of two," study researcher JulianCrane said.

Source: NZHerald, Sept 9, 2008

Up to two percent of the population has vitiligo, a difficult-to-treat skindisorder in which a loss of pigment-producing cells creates white patches onvarious parts of the body. A recent review of potential natural treatments forvitilago highlights a study using 40 mg of Ginkgo biloba,three times per day for six months. Of those taking ginkgo, disease progressionwas halted in 80%, and 40% experienced complete repigmentation, compared withonly 8% in the placebo group. "Ginkgo's apparent efficacy without the needfor phototherapyâ€"thus eliminating the adverse events inherent with phototherapyâ€"makesit a therapeutic option worth investigating," said the authors.

Source: BMJDermatol 2008;doi:10.1186/1471-5945-8-2

According to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada, half ofCanadian men do not make a point of booking an annual doctor's appointment. A surveyalso found that most men admit that they have been reminded by a woman to visita doctor. "If men aren't getting themselves to the doctor annually, theywon't be screened for prostate cancer and this is worrisome. Our survey clearlyindicates the important role women play as the family's health watchdog andthat they are usually the ones who make sure the men in their lives see thedoctor regularly," explains John Blanchard, the former President and CEOof the Foundation and a prostate cancer survivor.

Source: CanadaNewsWire, Sep 9, 2008

These articles are based upon current scientific studies and professionalopinions; however, they are