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February 4, 2002 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Marginal biotin deficiency during normal pregnancy
I remember reading in my nutrition text that biotin deficiency was virtually unheard of in actual clinical practice. My how much we've learned since cracking that first book... Much of the medical world still barely accepts that vitamin deficiencies are a remote possiblity, let alone a major health issue. And yet time and again we see conditional deficiencies in the medical literature. We need to accept that the diets we are recieving are deficient in a variety of nutrients and move towards recommending lifestyle changes to increase micronutrient intake. AJCN -- Abstracts: Mock et al. 75 (2): 295
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Postprandial glucose, insulin, and incretin responses to grain products
This article brings to light some important issues. The glycemic index (GI) is the rate at which glucose shows up in the serum following ingestion of a substance. Whole grain foods are considered to be healthy because they generally have a low glycemic index. However, this is not always true and we are starting to see that we may need to look beyond the GI to a substance's direct effect on insulin. This article shows white bread having a more profound effect on insulin than whole grains. Interestingly, a recent article also implicated milk as a strong insulin stimulator. AJCN -- Abstracts: Juntunen et al. 75 (2): 254
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Olive oil & UCP genes in rat brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle
This article gives us an excellent opportunity to address a common misconception amongst the public. This study, done in rats, shows that olive oil has the potential to cause the animal to burn more calories. This would point to olive oil as having a weight regulating ability. I have frequently been asked if this food or that food is "fattening." Generally, patients think that if a food has alot of fat, it must be fattening. This is not at all true, as we see with this study. In truth, healthier fats have little relationship with our body fat. AJCN -- Abstracts: Rodríguez et al. 75 (2): 213
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Passage of Inhaled Particles Into the Blood Circulation
If this article does not wake us up to just how impactful technology is to our health, nothing will. Our bodies are literally bombarded by toxins from the air, water and food. Lest you fall into despair, the human body (and the liver in particular) have a amazing capacity to recognize a new toxins and create enzyme systems to detoxify it. Of course, this process does depend on a healthy lifestyle to support it. Circulation -- Abstracts: Nemmar et al. 105 (4): 411
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Integrative Medicine and Systemic Outcomes Research
This is a very thought provoking article that highlights some concerns that I have with the whole concept of integration or complementation with mainstream and alternative care. I personally believe that, while the paths intersect at various points, the basic belief of alternative vs Western medicine clashes. Alternative views the patient as a whole, looking at how organ systems interact and believe that disease comes from dysregulation from within. Western medicine views the patients' body as merely a battleground on which chemicals and procedures battle against an invader in the patient's body. Integrative Medicine and Systemic Outcomes Research: Issues in the Emergence of a New Model for Primary Health Care
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Xylitol Only During URT Infections Failed to Prevent Acute Otitis Media
It funny how the medical research seems to momentarily swirl around a topic from time to time. This is probably the third article I've seen on xylitol in the past few weeks. Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that is believed to affect the binding of bacterial cells to our cells, most noteably in the oral cavity and upper respiratory tract. Studies have used gum in children to show a drastically lowered incidence of dental caries (which do you think is harder--getting a 4 year old to brush or chew gum??). Other studies have shown that xylitol nasal washes dramatically lower asthmatic symptoms and URT infections. All these with very little cost and no side effects. I strongly encourage many patients to regularly chew natural xylitol gum. Pediatrics -- Abstracts: Tapiainen et al. 109 (2): e19
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Relative importance of genetic effects in rheumatoid arthritis
Actually, this study shows the relatively "un" importance of genetics. While I do believe that genetics plays a role in development of this condition, I feel that (much like most other chronic diseases), it is the environment that we plunge these genes into. Given this study's findings, should we not reconsider the barrage of pharmaceuticals given RA patients (despite lack of impact on long term disease progression) in lieu of lifestyle changes? bmj.com Abstracts: Svendsen et al. 324 (7332): 264
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Garlic Reduces Plasma and Urine Markers of Free Radical Damage
This is an interesting approach to another benefit of garlic. Of interesting note, it took 2 weeks for markers to drop down to pre-treatment levels after 2 weeks of use. This indicates a rather long lasting effect even with limited use. As a side note, as usual I will always push using the whole food instead of supplements, and garlic is no different. nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Dillon et al. 132 (2): 168
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Phytoestrogens Associated w/ Favorable Cardiovascular Risk Profile
Remember research a few weeks back that found that high dose phytoestrogen did not affect blood lipids? I had to comment that the study used high dose phytoestrogen extract, not the whole food. This article addresses phytoestrogen intake as a part of the diet and found favorable outcomes. I firmly believe that soy and other phytoestrogen containing foods are an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. nutrition.org -- Abstracts: de Kleijn et al. 132 (2): 276
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