February 16, 2004 Research Update

James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com

Dietary phytoestrogens and breast cancer risk

These researchers found no protective effect of dietary phytoestrogens (lignans and isoflavones) on breast cancer. However, if I might recall the research that suggested no protective effect of fiber on colon cancer risk. In both these cases, I could mutate the popular saying into "It's the flora, stupid!!" In neither of these studies were the participants stratified for GI flora. In both situations, the presence of a healthy bacterial flora that converts the protective compound (soluble dietary fiber into short chain fatty acids like butyrate, isoflavones and lignans into equols and enterolactones, respectively) into its active form may be the mechanism by which these compounds protect the body. Just another example of the complex and important interactions between different aspects of human (and, in this case bacterial...) physiology that are many times missed by researchers.

AJCN -- Abstracts: Keinan-Boker et al. 79 (2): 282

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Antioxidants and physical performance in elderly persons

This results of this study are quite interesting. Basically, the better the antioxidant status (in this case measured by alpha and gamma tocopherol, beta carotene and Vitamin C) the stronger the patient's knee extension. Whether this is a marker for overall better health habits (patients who take vitamins may be more active and prone to exercise) or whether these vitamins truly do have a direct impact on muscle strength has yet to be determined.

AJCN -- Abstracts: Cesari et al. 79 (2): 289

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Flaxseed alters estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women greater than supplementation with an equal amount of soy

I am a big fan of both flaxseed supplementation and soy products (NOT supplements) as part of healthy lifestyle. However, I usually recommend grinding your own flaxseed which most patients find difficult to do on regular basis. Remember that the lignans are not present in the oil supplements. So, just because this study suggests that flax may be better than soy as it relates to estrogen metabolism, both have additional health benefits unrelated to their effects on estrogen metabolism and both should be part of a healthy lifestyle.

AJCN -- Abstracts: Brooks et al. 79 (2): 318

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Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 Diabetes

Wow...The effects of as little as 1 gram of cinnamon (not to be confused with cinnamon SUGAR) for 40 days improved several important markers in diabetics. The markers would indicate that the cinnamon is effecting insulin resistance--which is always the best was to go in my book. Surprisingly, no damaging effects on the liver were noted. The effects were pretty dramatic as well. I know that I will be sure to start recommending cinnamon to all my Syndrome X and diabetic patients from now on. (By the way...the liver comment...that was satire)

Dia Care -- Abstracts: Khan et al. 26 (12): 3215

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Maternal Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Use During Pregnancy and Newborn Neurobehavior

Just the idea that anyone would think these drugs would be okay to take during pregnancy amazes me. Forget the fact that no long term studies have been done to identify any effects. In this study we find multiple neurological changes in infants born to mothers taking SSRIs. Geez!! The more I think about this the scarier it becomes. It is entirely possibly that these developing infants will develop in the womb with "overexposed" post-synaptic transmission, with the birth and subsequent withdrawl from the SSRIs leading to serious side effects. Ever talked to anyone trying to get off Paxil?? Magnify this in an infants' brain that has known nothing but a glut of serotonin-mediated activity.

Pediatrics -- Abstracts: Zeskind and Stephens 113 (2): 368

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Risperidone-Associated Diabetes Mellitus in Children

Speaking of psychoactive medication given to developing minds... I was unaware of the potential for development of diabetes in children taking Resperdal, but considering how much of an increased risk we have in our non-medicated children (as hard as they are becoming to find...), this should be a consideration with any script.

Pediatrics -- Koller et al. 113 (2): 421

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Mg citrate found more bioavailable than other Mg preparations

It's always good to know what forms of vitamins and minerals are better absorbed, and it's even better when the studies confirm what you've been telling patients for years, now. Magnesium oxide was no different from placebo. Let me put this simply. Magnesium--important. Magnesium--common deficiency. Magnesium oxide--bad. 80% of multivitamins--avoid. Centrum--bye bye....

Entrez-PubMed

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Is Candida albicans a trigger in the onset of coeliac disease?

This would answer an awful lot of questions. Basically, due to a cross reactivity between a protein found in C. albicans and a protein found in gluten, an infection with candida can initiate the onset of coeliac disease in genetically suseptable patients. T

Entrez-PubMed

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Homocysteine in Relation to Mortality and Morbidity From Coronary Heart Disease

Don't quite hold your breath yet waiting for mainstream medicine to start running standard homocysteine levels. A 5x increase risk of fatal MI and a very cheap and safe method to lower levels (not to mention benefits across other disease states) does not mean we should check levels. Personally, I'm going to wait another 20 or so years until the evidence is so stacked in favor of checking homocysteine levels that we actually see to stories in our local newspapers' health section. THEN will be the appropriate time to start checking.

Circulation -- Abstracts: Zylberstein et al. 109 (5): 601

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Increased DNA fragmentation and ultrastructural changes in fibromyalgic muscle fibres

This article is pretty interesting. We've spent much time trying to determine if fibromyalgia is a physiological problem or psychological. I've never been a fan of the diagnosis and I feel that FM is just a "catch-all" term made by physicians that don't understand physiology. Many of the symptoms of FM can relate to GI complaints, mitochondrial defects or unregulation of the immune system. The findings in this study match what I've always felt. This small study finds damage to the DNA and lowered levels of mitochondria in patients with FM. This could be a result of increased oxidative stress with inability of the cell to keep up. Ultimately, lowered energy production (decreased ATP production) will result in easy fatigueability of the muscles. Further "sickening" of the cell could result in DNA damage from increased oxidative stress. This all points to a global approach to FM--cleaning up the lifestyle, increased intake of fruits and veggies, and targeted nutritional supplementation to support healthy cellular metabolism.

Ann Rheum Dis -- Abstracts: Sprott et al. 63 (3): 245

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