Category Archives: Womens Health

Pro-Inflammatory Diet Associated With Depression Among Women

This week is designated Mental Illness Awareness Week. In addition, October 10th is World Mental Health Day. In recognition, our post today will examine research on the effect of diet upon depression in women.

Data from the NIH from 2017 estimate 11 million U.S. adults had at least one episode of major depression with severe impairment, which represents 4.5% of all U.S. adults. Even more alarming are the statistics on U.S. adolescents aged 12-17 years. For 2017 it is estimated that 3.2 million adolescents had at least one major depressive episode, representing 13.3% of the U.S. adolescent population.  

An international research group including researchers from Harvard University, Canada and Germany performed a prospective analysis of the relationship between dietary pattern and risk of depression. The researchers looked at participants from the Nurses Health Study (NHS). The NHS included nearly 122,000 U.S. female registered nurses, who were age 30-55 years at enrollment in the study in 1976. At two year intervals, the participants were asked to provide updated information about their health. The subjects diets were assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire. Inflammatory markers such as c-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were also measured.

The researchers looked at what they termed an “inflammatory dietary pattern” (IDP). The high inflammatory dietary pattern included high intake of such things as diet soft drinks, margarine, refined grains, and sugar-sweetened soft drinks.

The researchers discovered that worsening IDP scores were associated with an increased risk of developing depression.

A pro-inflammatory diet has been shown to be associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It should probably be no surprise that a pro-inflammatory diet would also be associated with an increased risk of depression. Given the alarming statistics above regarding depression, particularly among adolescents in the U.S., all potential therapeutic strategies should be considered. Incorporating a diet low in inflammatory foods seems a simple way to lower one’s risk of developing depression.

“If you are in a bad mood, go for a walk. If you are still in a bad mood go for another walk.”–  Hippocrates

(Source- Brain, Behavior, and Immunity 36 (2014)46-53)

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.

 

 

Olive Oil Decreases Blood Pressure in Young Women

August is designated as National Olive Oil Month, and today’s post is the second in recognition of this healthy food. Today we examine the effect of a polyphenol-rich olive oil on blood pressure and the markers of inflammation in young women.

A group of researchers from Spain performed a double blind, randomized dietary intervention trial, to examine the effects of a polyphenol-rich olive oil diet on blood pressure, as well as markers of endothelial function and oxidative stress. The subject group was young women (average age 26 years) who had recently been diagnosed with either high-normal blood pressure, or Stage 1 hypertension.

The subjects began with a four month run-in period, during which a set Mediterranean-style diet was provided to all the participants to follow. After the four month run-in, the women were randomized to either a polyphenol-rich olive oil diet, or a polyphenol-poor olive oil diet, which was then followed for two months. After two months there was a 4 week wash out period, after which the groups were reversed and followed for an additional two months. While in the polyphenol-rich group, participants consumed about 30 mg/day of polyphenols from olive oil. 24 women completed the study.

The researchers discovered that the polyphenol-rich diet let to a significant decrease in both systolic (7.91 mm Hg) and diastolic (6.65 mm Hg) blood pressures. In addition, markers of oxidative stress (ADMA, ox-LDL) and inflammation (CRP) were significantly reduced.

The drop in blood pressure seen with the polyphenol-rich diet is profound, in that it is comparable to the drops in blood pressure one might see with some of the first line anti-hypertensive medications.

This study is important in that it studies a dietary intervention in women, a group that is often underrepresented in medical research. Also, this was a group with high-normal or the earliest stages of hypertension, not a group with more significant disease. It’s possible that in a population with much worse hypertension there may be even more profound improvement in blood pressure.

Incorporating olive oil into your daily diet appears to be a low-risk way to help lower blood pressure and improve vascular health.

“People with high blood pressure, diabetes- those are conditions brought about by lifestyle. If you change the life style, the conditions will leave.”–  Dick Gregory

(Source- American Journal of Hypertension, Volume 25 Number 12, December 2012)

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.

 

Sugary Drinks Increase Risk of Cancer

In a study published three weeks ago, researchers from France looked at the relationship between the consumption of sugary drinks and the risk of cancer.

The average American consumes about 45 gallons of soda each year. An average 12 ounce can of soda contains upwards of 40 grams of total sugar, or about nine teaspoons of sugar.

A population-based prospective cohort study was completed with over 100,000 subjects from the French NutriNet-Sante study. Participants were 18 years of age and older, with a predominance of women (79%) to men (21%). Mean age at baseline was 42 years.

The sugary drink group consisted of energy drinks, fruit drinks, sodas, sports drinks, 100% juice drinks, among others. Consumption of sugary beverages was assessed by 24 hour dietary records. Association of beverage intake and risk of overall, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer was assessed.

The researchers found that there was a positive association between the amount of sugary drink intake, and risk of overall cancer and breast cancer. Also, when looking specifically at 100% fruit juices these were also positively associated with risk of overall cancer.

Interestingly, the researchers did not find an association between artificially sweetened beverage consumption and the risk of cancer.

The researchers suggest several possible mechanisms by which sugary drinks may increase cancers risks. These include obesity, increased visceral fat, higher glycemic index, and increased pro-inflammatory markers.

This is a solid study, which included nearly 80,000 women. This study demonstrates how a simple dietary intervention, in this case limiting sugary beverages including 100% juices, may potentially have a meaningful impact on our health. Perhaps next time you are reaching for a soda, grab a glass of water instead.

“I can remember a reporter asking me for a quote, and I didn’t know what a quote was. I thought it was some kind of soft drink.” –  Joe DiMaggio

(Source- BMJ 2019; 365:12408)

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.

 

 

Blueberry Juice May Lower Blood Pressure

July 8th is National Blueberry Day, and out of respect for this tasty fruit today’s post will review a study which examined the effects of wild blueberry juice in a group of adult women at high risk for diabetes mellitus type 2.

Both wild and cultivated blueberries are native to North America. Depending on altitude, latitude and weather the peak of the blueberry crop can vary from May to August. In the US there are many blueberry festivals which celebrate this delicious fruit. In places like Bethlehem PA, Burgaw NC and South Haven MI, among many others, blueberry lovers gather to celebrate.

The skins of the blueberries contain anthocyanins, which have anti-oxidant properties. Wild blueberries have one of the highest levels of anti-oxidants among fruits and vegetables. In the U.S., Maine is the largest producer of lowbush or wild blueberries, and produces over 100 million pounds annually.

A group from Canada and the U.S. performed a study examining the effects of wild blueberry juice on various cardiometabolic markers. The study population had at least two risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and thus were higher risk.

The study design was a randomized trial, with a placebo control. The subjects drank 240 ml of juice made from lowbush (wild) blueberries, while the control group drank a placebo beverage which was color and flavor matched to the blueberry juice. The blueberries were harvested from Prince Edward Island, Canada. Participants drank the blueberry juice daily for a week, followed by an eight day washout period. Following that workout period, the study group became the control group and vice versa.

Several cardiometabolic markers were monitored during the course of the study, such as serum cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose, endothelial function, c-reactive protein, serum amyloid, among others. Vital signs included blood pressure were also monitored.

19 participants, all women, completed the study. The researchers discovered that while the wild blueberry juice did not significantly change cardiometabolic markers, it did lower systolic blood pressure 4.8 mm Hg (4%) compared to the placebo group. While a 4.8 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure may not sound substantial, it is estimated that a reduction of only 3 mm Hg may reduce mortality from heart disease and stroke by 5-8%. 

Drinking the blueberry juice for only 7 days was probably not long enough to effect any significant change on metabolic markers. A longer study seems reasonable given the promising results of this study. This does appear to be a low-risk way to improve one’s health. 

“The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness.”– Henry David Thoreau

(Source- BMC Nutrition 2017 3:45)

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.

 

 

 

Physical Activity Lowers Women’s Heart RIsks

This week is National Women’s Health Week, and in recognition of this important week today’s post will look at a study in older women, examining the effect of physical activity on coronary heart disease.

A research group performed a prospective cohort study from subjects participating in the Women’s Health Initiative. Nearly 6000 women with an average age of 78 1/2 were enrolled, and were followed for up to five years. These were women without a history of heart attack or stroke.

The activity level of the women was measured by the use of a accelerometer that was worn on the right hip. This device is designed to capture measures of subject activity and mobility. Researchers found that light physical activity was associated with a dose-responsive reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease in this cohort of older women. The results were considered to be statistically significant.

The group with the highest quartile of light physical activity was associated with a 42% reduced risk of heart attack or coronary death, compared to the group with the lowest quartile of light physical activity. Similarly, there was a 22% reduced risk of cardiovascular events in the highest quartile of light physical activity, compared to the lowest quartile of light physical activity group.

This was a well-designed study among a group of older women, a group that is often neglected in medical research. This was also a diverse population, including substantial numbers of black (33.5%) and Hispanic (17.6%) women. It is impressive that encouraging more activity, even of the “light” variety, yielded some very substantial results.

“If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.”– Hippocrates

(Source- JAMA Network Open, 2019, 2(3))

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.

Mediterranean Diet Good for Women’s Heart Health

May 12-18 is celebrated as National Women’s Health Week, and in recognition of this important week today’s post will examine research studying the effects of a Mediterranean-style diet on cardiovascular risk factors in women.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Mediterranean Diet, it is loosely based on the traditional cooking styles of those countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the important tenants of the diet include eating lots of vegetables and whole grains, using olive oil as a substitute for butter and margarine, eating more fish and less red meat, and choosing nuts as a healthy snack.

In a recently published paper, researchers affiliated with Harvard Medical School examined the effects of a Mediterranean-style diet upon cardiovascular risk factors in a group of women participants. This particular study involved nearly 26,000 women. To assess the women’s dietary habits, a food-frequency questionnaire which included 131 items was administered at enrollment in the study. The researchers then calculated what they termed the “Med Score” for each participant. The Med Score ranged in scale from 0 to 9, with a higher score indicating better adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. The subjects were then placed into three different categories (Low, Medium, High) based on their Med Score. Multiple lab markers were taken as well, including LDL, HDL, CRP, fibrinogen, and lipoprotein (a).

This group of women was then followed for about 12 years. They were monitored for cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke. The researchers discovered that the subjects in both the Medium Med Score group and the High Med Score group had significant cardiovascular risk reduction, compared to the Low Med Score group. The risk reduction was 28% in the High Med Score group, and 23% reduction in the Medium Med Score group, compared to the Low Med Score Group.

This is a very well done study, which adds to previous research on the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet. This is a large group of women, who were considered healthy at baseline, which is important to note. Here we have a relatively simple dietary modification that had a profound positive impact on women’s cardiovascular health. The Mediterranean Diet seems to be a low-risk diet, that is worthy of consideration by women, and men as well.

“No disease that can be treated by diet should be treated with any other means.”– Moses Maimonides

(Source- JAMA Network Open, 2018:1(8))

This bog 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.

 

 

Acupuncture Helps With IBS

April is designated IBS Awareness Month, and in recognition of this today’s post will review a recently published study which examined acupuncture for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

IBS afflicts up to 12% of Americans, with women nearly twice as likely to be affected, according to data from the NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms include abdominal pain and bloating. IBS is often subdivided into either a constipative variety (IBS-C) or a diarrhea predominant variety (IBS-D). The cause of IBS is not clear, but what is clear is that IBS can become quite debilitating.

Medications that are often prescribed for IBS may be minimally effective, and/or have bothersome side effects, so patients with IBS are often considering alternative therapies, including acupuncture.

An international research group including researchers from China, Hong Kong, the UK and Australia recently performed a meta-analysis of the existing research studies regarding acupuncture for IBS. They included a total of 27 random controlled trials in their analysis, encompassing over 2100 subjects, ages 18-77 years. Therapies included in the studies were acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion and Geshanxiaoyao (a Chinese herbal formula), and a combination of these. The period of follow-up of the various trials ranged from two to seven weeks.

After performing the meta-analysis researchers discovered that the combination of needle acupuncture and Geshanxiaoyao formula had the highest probability of being the best choice for improving global IBS symptoms. The sensitivity analysis indicated that moxibustion, followed by needle acupuncture plus moxibustion, had the highest probability for improving global IBS symptoms. In addition, importantly, no adverse side effects from acupuncture or the other alternative therapies was noted.

Given that many who suffer from IBS do not do well with conventional treatments or do not tolerate them, perhaps in those cases acupuncture or moxibustion should be given consideration.

“Work hard, trust in God, and keep your bowels open.”–  Oliver Cromwell

(Source- Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, 2019, Vol. 12)

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 and health concerns with your personal physician.

 

 

Poor Dental Health Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Disease in Women

March 20th is World Oral Health Day, and in recognition of this our post today will examine the relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women.

Statistics from the CDC indicate that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., accounting for nearly 1 in 4 female deaths. It is estimated that heart disease costs the U.S. about $200 billion annually.

For this study, researchers enrolled 57,000 females from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study, between the years 1993-1998. The women were from 40 health centers nationwide, between the ages of 50 to 79. The participants periodontal status was assessed by a questionnaire at five years. There was also annual follow-up through 2010.

Results of the study demonstrated that total mortality risk was significantly higher in women with either edentualism or periodontitis. Also, women who were edentulous had a significantly higher risk of coronary vascular disease and coronary heart disease. These higher risks held even after data was adjusted for potential confounding factors.

This is a very robust study- a large group of post-menopausal women, a cohort that is generally underrepresented in medical research. Given the results of the study, good oral hygiene may be worthy of consideration as a way to potentially lower risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

On World Oral Health Day, please remember to thank your dentist and hygienist for all their efforts on behalf of your health!

“You don’t have to brush your teeth- just the ones you want to keep.”– Anonymous

(Source- Journal of the American Heart Association, 2017)

This bog 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.

 

Eat Your Veggies- Help Your Heart

In recognition of registered dietician nutritionist day, our post today will look at how some dietary factors impact cardiovascular health.

A recent study examined a group of Swedish women and their dietary habits. Nearly 39,000 women completed a 96 item food frequency questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about how certain food or beverages had been consumed over the prior year. Researchers then calculated estimates of the total antioxidant capacity of each respondents diet. Four categories including fruit and vegetable consumption, whole grain consumption, and coffee consumption were used. The participants in the study were followed for approximately ten years. Women in the highest ranking group of total antioxidant capacity of diet, compared to the lowest ranking group, had a 20% lower risk of a heart attack.

This study is an interesting one as it examines a group of women. Women have been typically underrepresented in medical research. This was also a large study of nearly 39,000 subjects, and large is better in this regard.

Finally, which one of us has not encouraged our children to “eat more vegetables”? Now we can add that it is good for their heart as well!

“I eat more vegetables than the average vegetarian.”– Dr. Robert Atkins

(Source- American Journal of Medicine, Vol 125, No. 10, Oct. 2012)

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.

 

 

 

Let’s Help Prevent Diabetes in Women-Just Say No to Soda for 2018 Part 3

On Wear Red Day 2018, we will review a recently published study that examined the relationship between beverages, both artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened, and subsequent development of diabetes, in a group of menopausal women. This is our third recent post regarding the ill effects of drinking soda.

The research group examined data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a massive study of more than 90,000 women spread out at over 40 clinical centers throughout the US. Nearly 65,000 women were eventually part of this prospective observational study, with over 8 years of follow-up on average.

Participants were queried about their intake of artificially sweetened beverages, sugar-sweetened beverages, and plain water, via questionnaires. Subjects were assessed for diabetes at enrollment, and at annual follow-up.

Even when researchers controlled for other risk factors such as body mass index or total energy intake, their analysis showed both artificially sweetened beverages and sugar-sweetened beverages were associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, in this group of post-menopausal women.

Both artificially sweetened and sugar-sweetened beverages showed a dose-dependent increase risk of diabetes. The more soda one drank, the higher the risk of developing diabetes.

One of the most interesting “take-home messages” from this study was that while the risk of developing diabetes was a bit lower in the artificially sweetened group, compared to the sugar-sweetened group, there still was an increased risk. This casts doubt over whether or not artificially sweetened beverages are a safer alternative to the sugar-sweetened ones. Both should be avoided.

Data from the American Heart association show that adults with diabetes are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than those without diabetes. In addition, of those 65 and older with diabetes, 68% will die from some sort of heart disease. So on Wear Red Day 2018 let’s take a step in avoiding diabetes and heart disease by eliminating or avoiding entirely soda, both the artificially and sugar-sweetened varieties.

(Source- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2017; 106)

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.