nutritional supplements Archives

Lutein and Zeaxanthin may protect against cataracts

May 23, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

A new study appearing in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that increased blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of cataracts by about 40% in older individuals. Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness among the elderly.

For the study, 1,689 participants between the ages of 61 and 80 were followed for a period of four years. There was a 42% lower risk of being diagnosed with cataracts among those whose lutein levels were among the top one-third of participants, and a 41% lower risk for those whose zeaxanthin levels were among the top third, as compared to subjects whose blood levels were in the lowest third.

Studies have repeatedly shown that these two powerful antioxidants are beneficial for eye health. Most of the research in the past has been directed toward lutein and zeaxanthin’s role against age-related macular degeneration, but this analysis shows that they are equally effective against cataract formation.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are found together in many foods. Dark green leafy vegetables are the primary source of these antioxidants, but they are also present in other colorful fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli, peppers, carrots, oranges corn and peas.

For more information about Vitamin Science supplements that contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin, visit http://www.visivite.com/lutein-zeaxanthin.html.

Can Vitamin D3 and curcumin help prevent Alzheimer’s?

April 3, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

According to a new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, scientists have identified the particular mechanism regulated by vitamin D3 that helps clear the brain of the plaques that cause this brain-wasting disease.

In the past, both vitamin D and curcumin, the main component in turmeric, have been shown to help fight Alzheimer’s disease separately, but research now shows they may be even more effective when used together.

To test their hypothesis, scientists took blood samples from Alzheimer’s patients and healthy controls. They then isolated the macrophages – the part of the white blood cells known to target and eliminate plaque and other cellular debris that build up in the brain and can cause disease. Researchers found that the activity of the macrophages improved significantly by the synergistic action of the vitamin D3 and curcumin collectively.

“It is too early to recommend a definitive dosage of vitamin D3 to help with Alzheimer’s disease and brain health,” the researchers said; however, obtaining optimal vitamin D3 levels in the blood is simple and inexpensive to do. If one isn’t able to get their vitamin D from the sun, supplementing with vitamin D3 would be prudent. Adding curcumin to the diet using curry-enriched foods or supplementing with turmeric may be a safe way to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

Magnesium supplements lower blood pressure

February 23, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

Magnesium supplements have a small but clinically significant effect on lowering blood pressure, according to data collected from 22 trials and published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined as having a systolic pressure above 140 and a diastolic pressure above 90. Magnesium supplementation was able to reduce the systolic number by 4 points and the diastolic number by 3 points. These might seem like insignificant numbers, but past data from pharmaceutical trials have found that a reduction of even 0.8 to 2 points is “clinically significant in reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke.” The most favorable outcomes were found in those who took over 370 milligrams of magnesium per day.

Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral, and is involved in more than 300 biochemical processes, including aiding in the formation of bones and teeth and regulating blood sugar levels. Even though it is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, very little actually circulates in the blood or other tissues. Most of the body’s store of magnesium is confined to the hard outer layer of the bones.

Scientists think magnesium is able to help lower blood pressure because it may play a role in dilating the blood vessels. When blood vessels are constricted, the heart works harder to pump blood through the body, causing blood pressure to increase. Magnesium also helps to dissolve blood clots and prevent spasms in the heart muscle and blood vessel walls.

Can AVOIDING the sun INCREASE your risk for stroke?

February 22, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

Most people think that sitting in the sun is detrimental, especially in terms of skin cancer, but findings from a new study presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference indicate that there may be positive results related to being in the sun. The research suggests that the amount of sunlight one is exposed to might play a part in determining one’s risk for a stroke.

The research team focused on 16,000 patients who had no past history of stroke or heart disease at the time of the study. The scientists verified that the participants who lived in areas with the least amount of sun exposure had a 50% increased risk of stroke. However, no protective benefit from sunlight was found in some of the Southeastern coastal plains regions of Georgia as well as North and South Carolina, “How do we resolve this paradox that increased sunlight leads to decreased stroke risk, but in the stroke belt where there is lots of sunlight, there is also an increase of stroke?” The scientists asked.

One thing that was not mentioned in the study was suntan lotion use among the study participants. Could increased risk of stroke in sunny climates be due to the fact that very little vitamin D is absorbed through the skin in the presence of sunscreen?

It was however confirmed that those who had higher blood levels of vitamin D obtained from food and supplements had an 11 per cent decreased risk of stroke and a 24 per cent reduction in cognitive impairment.

There have been studies linking vitamin D to heart health, low blood pressure and inflammation reduction, so it makes sense to conclude that it can also offer protection for the brain.

A “sweet” treatment for wounds

February 15, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

For thousands of years, honey was revered for its medicinal properties. It was used to help treat wounds, before the discovery of drugs like penicillin and other antibiotics. Since antibiotics were invented, honey has taken a back seat. But all that might be about to change, according to a new study published in Microbiology.

Scientists found that a particular type of honey called manuka honey was able to heal chronic wound infections and even prevent them from developing in the first place. This honey is made from flowers of the manuka bush found in New Zealand. All honey possesses hydrogen peroxide that bees add to nectar, but in manuka honey, something else is added. Scientists have not been able to isolate what this other ingredient is, but they’ve named it unique manuka factor (UMF), and they have been able to measure its antibacterial efficacy.

Life-threatening skin infections like Methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become resistant to antibiotics and often fail to respond to treatment. This is mostly due to the development of “biofilms” which prevent antibiotics from gaining access to the wound. Theoretically, biofilms are the environments that contain the bacteria. Researchers found that only very small concentrations of manuka honey were required to prevent biofilm development, and that using the honey for two hours killed up to 85% of bacteria within the wounds.

These findings provide further evidence for the clinical use of manuka honey to treat leg ulcers, pressure sores, or any other type of bacterial infections that may be resistant to antibiotics. Applying manuka honey directly to the skin to treat serious wounds would appear to be a safer alternative to systemic antibiotics and may well complement antibiotic use in the future.

Tree bark extract helps counteract clinical signs of aging

February 14, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

Daily supplementation of Pycnogenol, an antioxidant plant extract from the French maritime pine bark tree, may boost skin elasticity by 25 per cent according to a new study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology.

Twelve weeks of supplementing with this extract caused the skin to become more elastic and hydrated by increasing the production of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is found in the connective tissue of the body and plays a part in the skin’s elasticity. Because of hyaluronic acid’s ability to bind to large numbers of water molecules and bring them into the cells of the skin, it is capable of improving the skin’s appearance. Pycnogenol has been found to be the only natural supplement that promotes hyaluronic acid production in human skin.

For this small study, twenty women between the ages of 55 and 68 received 75 mg of Pycnogenol per day for 12 weeks. Researchers measured “skin hydration, skin elasticity and skin fatigue using non-invasive biophysical methods.” Pycnogenol decreased skin wrinkles by three percent, and improved the smoothness of the skin by six percent. The scientists concluded that supplementing with Pycnogenol may help lessen the signs of aging in older women by increasing skin hydration and elasticity.

Vitamin C extract cuts heart disease risk

February 8, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

Overweight people who consumed rose hips, an extract of vitamin C, for six weeks had a 17 per cent decrease in blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thereby reducing their risk for cardiovascular disease.

For the study published last month in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, thirty-one obese men and women drank a mixture made with 40 grams of rose hip powder to see if it would decrease their risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Rose hips are the tiny berries of the rose plant that form in the spring and ripen in late summer. They contain more vitamin C than grapefruit and oranges. Rose hips also contain vitamins A, D, E and iron, and are known to be high in polyphenols (a type of antioxidant).

Scientists measured the study participants’ weight, blood pressure, blood fat levels and glucose tolerance. After six weeks, total cholesterol dropped nearly five per cent, LDL levels decreased six per cent and blood pressure dropped almost three-and-a-half per cent. This blood pressure reduction alone can result in a decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease by 15 per cent and stroke by 25 per cent, according to the risk assessment score used in the study. These results were impressive when compared to results obtained with drugs that are commonly used to treat these disorders.

Rose hips consumption can be utilized as an alternative therapy for patients who are unable to take anti-cholesterol drugs (statins) due to possible side effects, such as muscle pain. The extract can be eaten raw, but they have a very bitter taste. The most practical way to consume rose hips would be in supplement form.

Can preventing colon cancer be as easy as sipping a cup of tea?

February 7, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

In a recent study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, scientists demonstrated that colon cancer cells die when they are exposed to the active compounds present in one cup of yerba mate tea.

Yerba mate, an herb derived from the holly family, is higher in polyphenols than any other tea. Polyphenols are capable of helping the body’s immune system by protecting it from various diseases. The caffeine components in mate tea not only caused the colon cancer cells to die, but they also decreased important markers of inflammation, which is significant because inflammation can initiate the progression of cancer.

For the study, researchers isolated, filtered, and then added caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) to human colon cancer cells. CQA is a naturally occurring derivative of mate tea. As the scientists increased the CQA concentration, they found that cancer cells died.

The researchers feel that yerba mate is most useful in diseases of the colon because that is where absorption and metabolism of caffeine and its related compounds take place.

The results of this study indicate that the caffeine derivatives in yerba mate tea show promise as anti-cancer agents and could also be beneficial in other diseases related to inflammation.

Are depression drugs causing the elderly to fall and injure themselves?

February 6, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

Falls are the main cause of accidental death in the elderly. And a recent study published in The British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that older people who experience dementia are more apt to fall if they take anti-depressant drugs.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like Prozac and Paxil, are commonly prescribed to elderly patients who may also suffer from depression. These drugs are capable of causing unpleasant and oftentimes dangerous side effects such as dizziness and unsteadiness. The study showed that the risk of falling was three times higher in those taking anti-depressants compared to those not taking the drugs.

For the study, SSRI use was recorded in 250 nursing homes over a two-year time period. The average age of the participants was 82 years old and 152 of them experienced a total of 683 falls. A third of the falls resulted in hip fractures and other broken bones.

There are safer alternatives to manage depression that aren’t associated with an increased risk of falls or fractures. Regular exercise, sunshine therapy to increase the body’s vitamin D level, music therapy and dietary changes can offer help. There are also many safe supplements one can try, like Omega-3 fatty acids, St. John’s wort, red clover, SAMe and folic acid, to name a few. It is advisable to consult a qualified health-care practitioner when treating any medical conditions like depression.

Once again, Vitamin D is a superstar when it comes to eye health

February 3, 2012 by Nancy Hirsch, Certified Nutritionist Leave a Comment

Supplementing with vitamin D has been shown to be very effective in helping with a wide variety of health conditions including eye health. And in a recent study published in the European journal Neurobiology of Aging, it was confirmed that vitamin D was able to reduce the effects of aging in mouse eyes and improve the vision of older mice significantly.

The retina of the eye demands a lot of energy to detect light and send messages to the brain. Our ability to supply this energy diminishes as we age, because cellular debris collects on these layers of tissue. Eventually, this can result in a 30 percent decline in the number of light receptor cells we have and lead to poor vision. The research scientists in this study found that when aging mice were given vitamin D for six weeks, some of the debris was removed and the inflammation was reduced, creating improved vision.

Based on these findings in mice, giving vitamin D supplements to people who are at risk of developing macular degeneration is a simple and effective way to help prevent a disease that is the largest cause of blindness in the aging population. When supplementing with vitamin D, a baseline blood test should be performed to assess one’s vitamin D level. Because it is a fat-soluble vitamin, vitamin D can be stored in the body for long periods of time. One can safely take 2,000 IU’s per day without running the risk of overdosing, however higher amounts are often required to reach ideal levels in the blood. It is advisable to work with a knowledgeable health care provider to track vitamin D levels.