Category Archives: Vitamins&Supplements

Green Algae Lowers Cholesterol

September is designated National Cholesterol Education Month, and in recognition of this today’s post will review a study of the effects of cholrella on lipid parameters.

Chlorella is a single cell green algae, which is spherically shaped. Research began on chlorella as a potential food source in the late 1940s. Most of the original studies on this particular algae were conducted in labs, and when studies began to be performed in the field chlorella was not found to be quite as easy to propagate as previously thought.

A research group from the Republic of Korea performed a double-blind, random-controlled trial to examine the effects of daily chlorella supplements on serum lipid parameters. After an initial screening and two week lead in phase 68 subjects were randomized into either the chlorella group or the placebo group. The subjects were advised to maintain their usual diet and activity levels. The chlorella group took 4 tablets after each meal, a total of 12 each day, equivalent to about 5 grams of chlorella each day. This continued for four weeks. Food diaries were completed at the beginning and end of the study.

The results of the study showed significant reductions from baseline in non-HDL-C (2.6% reduction), total cholesterol (1.6% reduction), and triglycerides (10.3% reduction).

Some folks develop gastrointestinal problems such as nausea with chlorella, but in this particular study no one withdrew due to adverse side effects. Supplementation might be a way to lower cholesterol in those with mildly elevated cholesterol.

“Algae is the perfect plant food. It doubles cell mass every twelve hours, depending on the strain.”– Homaro Cantu

(Source- Nutrition Journal 2014, 13:57)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

 

Vitamin D and Erectile Dysfunction

June 10-16 is designated Men’s Health Week, and so several posts this week will address men’s health concerns. Today’s post will examine vitamin D and it’s potential association with erectile dysfunction (ED).

Data from the CDC indicate that approximately 25% of Americans are at risk for vitamin D inadequacy, while 8% are at risk for deficiency. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES)  shows over 41% to be vitamin D deficient in their sample of nearly 4500 adults, with African-Americans and Hispanics generally having worse levels of vitamin D deficiency.

Original research from Italy shows a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in a group of men with vascular ED, compared to men without vascular ED. 143 men were enrolled from a hormone clinic in Milan, Italy. The participants were divided into vascular ED, non-vascular ED, and borderline ED groups, based on penile doppler results. These groups were then compared based on various lab tests, including Vitamin D, lipids, and testosterone levels, among others.

The results showed a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the men with vascular ED, compared to men with non-vascular ED. Vitamin D levels were also lower in the men with more severe ED.

It is believed that normal vitamin D levels are important to healthy functioning of the endothelium, which lines the blood vessels. The results of this study indicate that low vitamin D levels are a potentially modifiable risk factor for ED of a vascular cause. If you are developing ED, you may want to get your vitamin D level checked.

“You take the healthiest diet in the world, if you gave those people vitamins, they would be twice as healthy. So vitamins are valuable”–  Robert Atkins MD

(Source- Journal of Sexual Medicine 2014;11)

This blog is a review of published and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone.

 

Vitamin D May Prevent Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

February is AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month and in recognition of this, today’s post will examine recently published research regarding vitamin D intake and progression to advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

A group of researchers from France and the US published a study in 2017 in which they examined the relationship between vitamin D intake and progression from early or intermediate AMD to advanced disease. All participants were part of a longer term longitudinal study of AMD, which began in 1998.

Over 2100 subjects were enrolled in this particular study. Average follow-up period was over nine years. Dietary intake was assessed from food frequency questionnaires which were completed by each participant. Ocular imaging was used to determine baseline AMD grade.

Upon conclusion of the study, researchers found that high dietary vitamin D intake was associated with a 40% lower risk of progression to advanced AMD.

It should be emphasized that the key element of the study was dietary vitamin D intake, and not supplements. Foods high in vitamin D include fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and herring. Other sources include egg yolks, oysters, and shrimp. Mushrooms are the only plant source of vitamin D. Wild mushrooms are an excellent source of vitamin D, while commercially grown mushrooms which are raised in the dark may not contain much vitamin D, unless they are treated with UV light. 

Age-related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss in the US. It is estimated that approximately 1.75 million Americans age 40 and older suffer with macular degeneration. The World Health Organization ranks AMD as the third leading cause of blindness worldwide, after cataracts and glaucoma. AMD is characterized by the loss of the central field of vision. Risk factors for AMD include advanced age, smoking, high blood pressure, and a diet low in fruits and vegetables. Family history is also a factor.

Given the results of this interesting study, a diet with more vitamin D rich foods may be a consideration in those with early AMD.

(Source- Investigational Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Sept. 2017, Vol. 58, No. 11)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

 

Glucosamine May Help Prevent Colorectal Cancer

Glucosamine is a popular supplement, and thought to have anti-inflammatory properties, which may be helpful for osteoarthritis. In our second post in honor of World Cancer Day we will examine a study which looked at the use of glucosamine supplements and the risk of colorectal cancer.

Researchers from the US combined data from the Nurses Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS). They examined the use of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements and subsequent development of colorectal cancer. The NHS is an ongoing prospective cohort study, which began in 1976, and initially included nearly 122,000 RNs. On the other hand, the HPFS is an ongoing prospective cohort study of over 51,000 male health professionals.

This study began in 2002, and included over 68,000 women, and nearly 28,000 men. Data was collected until 2010. Questionnaires were completed at the initiation of the NHS and HPFS studies, and re-assessed every two years afterwards.

What researchers found was that any glucosamine use was associated with a significant 30% reduced risk of colorectal cancer, and any use of chondroitin was associated with a 31% reduced risk, in age-adjusted models. The combined use of glucosamine+chondroitin yielded a 32% reduced risk of colorectal cancer. All of these results were statistically significant. The results did not vary greatly by gender.

Given these profound results, consideration of glucosamine and/or chondroitin supplements would seem a low risk way to prevent colorectal cancer.

(Source- International Journal of Cancer: 139, 2016)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

 

Curcumin Helps With Depression- Part Two

Today’s post is the 4th in a series covering topics in mental health, in recognition of National Mental Health Month.

A group of researchers from Murdoch University in Western Australia examined the use of curcumin, as well as a curcumin/saffron combination, in treating major depression. Curcumin is an active ingredient of the Asian spice turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family. Turmeric is a widely used spice in South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking and is grown in India, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and elsewhere. Turmeric is also used in Ayurvedic Medicine, and is currently being studied in Western Medicine for possible uses. Curcumin has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The study was a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial, which ran for 12 weeks. There were 123 participants in the trial, all of which were diagnosed with major depression. There were four different groups- a placebo group, a low-dose curcumin group, a high-dose curcumin group, and a low-dose curcumin/saffron combination group. The score on the Inventory of Depressive Symtomatology was the primary outcome measure.

After 12 weeks researchers found that the 3 groups treated with curcumin all had significantly greater improvements in depressive symptoms compared to the placebo group. The response rate in the groups treated with curcumin was 28% versus only 13% in the placebo group. 

Interestingly, the addition of saffron to the curcumin did not seem to improve the efficacy of the curcumin. Also, a comparison of the high and low doses of curcumin did not appear to show any major differences in efficaciousness.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence indicating potential benefits of curcumin for depression.

(Source- Journal of Affective Disorders 207 (2017))

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a  physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

Black Cumin Helps With Symptoms of Metabolic Syndrome

blackcumin1

Today’s post is about metabolic syndrome and lipids, another in our series of blogs for Cholesterol Education Month.

Black cumin (Nigella Sativa) is an annual flowering plant found in southern Europe, southwest Asia and north Africa. The black cumin seeds have long been used as a spice in both Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Written references to black cumin appear in ancient texts, and the Book of Isaiah (28: 25,27) references cumin seeds. Modern research has focused on the pharmacologic properties of black cumin.

A group of researchers in Pakistan recently performed an interesting study in which they looked at black cumin to treat the symptoms of metabolic syndrome (also known as insulin resistance). There are five metabolic risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome, these include large waistline, high triglyceride level, low HDL (“good cholesterol”), high blood pressure, and high fasting blood sugar. Having at least three of these five symptoms is considered to be a diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. Recent data estimates from 2011-2012 show that 35% of all U.S. adults and 50% of those 60 years and older meet the criteria of metabolic syndrome. As metabolic syndrome is very often a precursor to diabetes this is a national health issue of first order.

The researchers enrolled 159 subjects into the study, of which there was a black cumin supplemented group, and a non-supplemented group. All subjects were recently diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, and the study included both men and women, ages 25-65 years.  All subjects were on a standard treatment regimen for metabolic syndrome, including pharmaceutical medicines such as atenolol, clopidogrel, enalapril, metformin, and simvastatin. In addition the black cumin group took Nigella seeds in a capsule form 250 mg twice daily. The study ran for six weeks.

Several clinical parameters of metabolic syndrome were measured, both at the start of the study and then again at conclusion. These included body mass index (BMI), circumference of the abdomen and hip, body weight, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL (“bad cholesterol”), triglycerides, and HDL.

At the conclusion of the six-week trial the clinical parameters were again measured. There were improvements in all parameters, both in the standard treatment group as well as in the black cumin supplemented group, as one would expect. In addition, in the black cumin seed group, there was a statistically significant improvement in fasting blood sugar, LDL and HDL, over the standard treatment (non black cumin seed supplemented) group. To see a statistically significant improvement in just six weeks is profound.

Metabolic syndrome is a serious health issue, not only in the U.S., but world-wide. Proper diet and exercise are a mainstay of treatment, as well as medications. Part of the solution may well be use of ancient or traditional foods, such as black cumin.

(Source- African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 11948), June 2012).

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

Pantothenic Acid Helps Lower Cholesterol

vitaminB

September is designated as Cholesterol Education Month. Several of our blogs this month will address issues related to cholesterol.

Pantothenic acid, also known as vitamin B5, is an essential nutrient and water-soluble vitamin. Pantothenic acid is found in many foods, including meats, nuts, whole grains and vegetables such as avocados and broccoli. Pantothenic acid is converted in the body into a related compound called pantethine, which is more biologically active.

A recent study by a multi-national research team looked at using pantethine in a group of subjects who were considered low to moderate risk for cardiovascular disease. This group would ordinarily be considered candidates for statin medications to lower their cholesterol.

This was a randomized placebo controlled trial. Both the placebo group and the pantethine treatment group started the study with four weeks of dietary therapies. After four weeks, patients were placed at random into either a placebo group or a pantethine treated group. Labs were checked at the start of the study, then at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, and finally at week 16, at which time the study was concluded.

Participants in the pantethine group received 600 mg/day from week 1 through week 8, and then 900 mg/day from week 9 to week 16. Subjects received the pantethine in the form of a pharmaceutical grade proprietary product.

At conclusion, the participants who received pantethine had a 6% decrease in total cholesterol and a 11% drop in LDL, compared to baseline levels. In addition, hs-crp an inflammatory marker dropped over the 16 week study period. In general, there were few significant side effects with the pantethine therapy.

This study demonstrates that the commonly available substance pantethine present in a variety of food sources or as by supplement such as used in this study was helpful in lowering cholesterol and appears to be well tolerated.

(Source- Vascular Health and Risk Management 2014:10)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

Melatonin for Migraines?

MigraineMonth2016

In honor of Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, today’s post will discuss recent research regarding the use of melatonin for migraine prevention.

A group of researchers from Brazil designed and completed a randomized placebo controlled study comparing melatonin, amitriptyline, and placebo for migraine prevention. A total of 196 participants were enrolled in the study, which included both men and women, ages 18-65. Patients were experiencing 2-8 migraine attacks per month. Subjects were evaluated by a trained headache specialist at the time of enrollment in the study, and then followed for 12 weeks. The main outcome measure was the number of migraine headache days per month. Secondary outcome measures included migraine intensity and duration.

Participants in the study kept a diary in which they recorded information about their headaches, which in turn was reviewed by the headache specialists at baseline, and at the end of 1, 2, and 3 months of treatment.

Results of the study showed that melatonin was as efficacious as the amitriptyline and superior to placebo, in decreasing the number of headaches per month (primary endpoint). Melatonin was superior to amitriptyline and placebo in headache responders, which were those participants with better than a 50% improvement in headache frequency. Melatonin also demonstrated less side effects than amitriptyline.

Given the results of this study, showing the efficacy of melatonin for preventing migraine headache with a favorable side effect profile, melatonin may be an option for those who find tradition therapies ineffective or suffer intolerable side effects.

(Source- Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2016; 0:1-6)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.