Health Newsletter:August 2008
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Contents |
[edit] Positives And Negatives Of Folate
Ten years ago folate became the hero among the food additives. The decision was made to make it mandatory to enrich flour, pasta and other foods with folate with the goal to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects in newborn. Folate also was a valuable as a prenatal supplement. A study which involved seven provinces of Canada which was published in July 2007 in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that the supplementation has been a success in this respect, as neural tube defects had been reduced by 46 %. Folate also seems to have been of benefit in the reduction of strokes, as it has the propensity to lower blood homocysteine concentrations. In the meantime not all seems to be well, as there is a darker side to folate. Already decades ago studies warned that folic acid given to leukemia patients hastened the progression of the disease. In a publication of the American Medical Association results from a polyp prevention study were written up. The vitamin was associated with a higher rate of advanced adenomas (tumors of the colon.) these findings cannot be easily ignored. On the one hand about 1,500 children are saved from a devastating birth defect; on the other hand the number of colon cancer cases increases by 15,000 per year. At this point there is no suggestion in Canada or in the US to abandon the food fortification with folate. In the U.K. the implementation of folate fortification has been delayed till more research is available. As food supplementation with folate may be higher than necessary, it seems wise to exercise a measure of caution. Women with a family history of colonic polyps should be advised to take the minimum folic acid dose in their prenatal supplementation. As far as male patients are concerned doctors should excise caution before they advise patients that are over 40 about the perceived benefits of vitamin supplementation. Any of the perceived benefits ought to clearly outweigh the potential risky side effects, which is not only true for any medication but also for any vitamin supplement.
The Medical Post, July 8, 2008, page 1 and 23
[edit] Dietary Habits Help For Clear Skin
Acne can be a bothersome skin condition that is not only a source of embarrassment to adolescents but it can plague adults as well. A lot of foods have been associated with the annoying “zits” from chocolates to French fries or junk food. More research has come up in recent years, and some new facts have emerged. Clement Adebamowo of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston studied 4,000 teenage boys and found a significant association between the intake of skim milk and the development of acne. There are numerous explanations for the dairy-acne connection. According to US doctors Alan Logan and Valori Treloar there are at least 4 precursors of the “acne hormone” dehydroepiandrosterone in milk from pregnant cows. Even though milk has a low glycemic index research has substantiated that milk based foods increase levels of insulin. Insulin in turn seems to be one of the major players when it comes to skin fat production (sebum). This leads to the blockage of skin follicles and the development of blackheads and acne. Lacks of dietary oxidants are also putting fuel on the fire of acne. Acne sufferers demonstrate lower antioxidant blood levels and as a result there is no ammunition to fight the skin inflammation of acne. Other foods contributing to this problem are omega-6 rich oils (sunflower, safflower and soybean). Strong allies to fight the inflammatory process of acne are foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, mackerel or sardines. The intake of fruit and vegetables is beneficial (acne sufferers generally eat fewer fruits and vegetables than those who have a clear skin.) A trial by Robyn Smith of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia showed that acne patients who were instructed to consume a low glycemic diet high in protein had significantly less acne lesions that their counterparts. This dietary approach reduces androgen levels. Beside a dietary approach there is still the need for dermatological input. Using both avenues acne sufferers will reap the most benefits.
The Medical Post, June 24, 2008, page 19
[edit] Iron Intake Lowers Blood Pressure Readings
Various possibilities exist to lower blood pressure. Reducing the intake of sodium is one effective way, exercising is also of importance. Detailed studies on various population groups have shown that the consumption of red meat has a direct relationship to blood pressure readings: a 102.6 gram in 24 hours increase in the consumption of red meat was related to an increase of 1.25 mmHg in blood pressure readings. The numbers may sound small and insignificant, but the fact remains that population groups, such as the Japanese, who traditionally consume little or no red meat have lower blood pressure readings. Red meat is considered a valuable iron source, but the intake of iron containing foods (such as red meat) from animal sources is linked to higher blood pressure readings, based on the "International Collaborative Study on Macro-/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure" (=INTERMAP). Current INTERMAP results suggest that the intake of non-heme iron, which is from non animal sources has a blood pressure lowering effect. Further investigations are needed to detail these findings and to find out more about the reasons of the blood pressure increasing respectively decreasing effect of iron from animal sources and plant sources.
BMJ 2008;337:a258
[edit] Osteoporosis Drug Prevents Breast Cancer Recurrence
Standards in breast cancer treatment have been surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In hormone receptor positive cancer types Tamoxifen has been the drug of choice for many years to achieve suppression of the ovaries in premenopausal women. A new medication under the name of Anastrozole has also been introduced. In the meantime researchers have examined the success of the various approaches. No difference has been found between Anastrozole and Tamoxifen, but a new drug which has been used for osteoporosis patients shows that it can boost disease free survival for breast cancer patients. The medication called zoledronic acid taken in combination with either Tamoxifen or Anastrozole can increase disease free breast cancer survival by 36%. Zoledronic acid can inhibit tumor cell growth and stimulate the immune response, and the lead author of the study, Dr. Michael Gnant concludes that the combination treatment creates a tumor-hostile environment. The benefits are not only a reduction of bone metastasis but others as well. The most concerning side effect is osteonecrosis of the jaw, but the researcher reported that in the trial not a single case has materialized. Other researchers, such as Dr. Martine Piccart-Gebhart , professor at the department of oncology at the University of Brussels caution that this is an important trial, but it should not be seen as a practice-changing trial. More work is needed to establish the best dosage and treatment schedule. More results from other trials investigating the combination treatment with zoledronic acid are expected this summer.
National Review of Medicine, June 2008, page 18 and 19
[edit] Lead Poisoning Down, But Watch For Mercury
The devastating results of lead poisoning in children have put consumers on alert. Lead in paint and in the glaze of ceramic products has gone unrecognized until the 1970’s. Since then stricter regulations have reduced or eliminated lead from paint products in North America. The additional move to unleaded gasoline has contributed to successful lead reduction. Consumer however should not let down their guard and be aware of the fact that there are still possibilities of lead exposure. Sources can be manifold. While most of lead exposure domes from old lead paint that was applied decades ago, especially in older homes. Some exposure can come from imported toys, which just recently made headlines in the news. Some exposure can also come from medications and “nutritional products” imported from overseas. Imported cookware and other products have also been a significant source of lead contamination. The general awareness has paid off, as there is a significant reduction of lead levels since the ‘70’s Public health warnings have been issued about mercury levels in fish, and this has led to concerns in consumer groups whether it is safe at all to consume fish. Blowing the warning whistle alone does not do a service to consumers. It is much more important to inform consumers to recognize which of the fish species are averaging less than one tenth of Canada’s commercial mercury limit if 0.5 parts per million. Dr. Copes, director of environmental health at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control explained at a recent meeting that salmon rainbow trout and tilapia fall into this group of fish that can be enjoyed more frequently, whereas other species, such as halibut, tuna and sablefish have levels of mercury that are five to ten times higher. They are still under the commercial limit, but it means that the consumer could enjoy 10 meals of salmon as opposed to one meal of halibut, tuna or sable fish. The recommendation is not total avoidance but less frequent consumption.
The Medical Post, July 22, 2008, page 17
