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July 12, 2001 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Isoflavone-Free Soy Diet and Ovarian Hormones
There are two things to consider here. First, that despite its bad press, soy unquestionably has health benefits. The cultures with the highest intakes of soy typically have lower rates of many chronic conditions. But they consume soy in its unprocessed form. Here in a Western culture we need the active component hammered down into a small pill to give us the same health benefits. Well, this article shows that, without the isoflavones that are typically given most of the health-containing benefits, that soy still has the potential to positively affect a woman's circulating hormone levels. JCEM -- Abstracts: Lu et al. 86 (7): 3045 http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/7/3045
Soy Has Both Beneficial & Potentially Adverse Cardiovascular Effects
This is another research article pointing to the beneficial effects of soy. This one does point out some of the potentially adverse effects, noting that Lp (a) increased and a decline in endothelial function in males. First of all, when looking at these adverse effects, we can consider it two steps backward for three forward. Also, this study once again looked at portions of soy, not the whole food. And, in a complete and balanced diet with fruits and vegetables other factors may mediate these adverse effects. JCEM -- Abstracts: Teede et al. 86 (7): 3053 http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/7/3053
Reactive Oxygen Species in Skeletal Muscles From Heart Failure
This article looks at the dysfunction in skeletal muscle following a heart attack in mice. This dysfunction is believed to come from free radical damage. This leads to a very wide variety of new approaches to heart attacks. Research already shows strong benefits to magnesium application to reduce infarct size; now it may be possible to prevent damage to skeletal muscle with an antioxidant cocktail--possibly Vit C, Vit E and CoQ10 just to name a few. Although prevention is always the best approach, this is evidence piling up on how to potentially reduce the damage to the heart and the rest of the body during a heart attack. Circulation -- Abstracts: Tsutsui et al. 104 (2): 134 http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/104/2/134
Black Tea Reverses Endothelial Dysfunction in Coronary Artery Disease
I don't remember seeing tea on Dr. Dean Ornish's program to reverse heart disease, but maybe it should be added! Remember that the flavonoids present in tea have shown many other beneficial effects as well, ranging from anticancer to antidiabetic properties. This study was done only on black tea, but typically, whatever black tea does, green tea does better. If it hasn't been already, tea should be replacing all the soft drinks and coffee in everyone's lifestyle itinerary. Circulation -- Abstracts: Duffy et al. 104 (2): 151 http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/104/2/151
T Helper Cell 1 Immune Responses and Atherogenesis
Remember from previous Updates that the body has two types of immune responses where T cells are concerned: Th1 is the attack mode designed to attack foreign things in the body and Th2 is the guard dog mode designed to keep stuff out of the body. We need a healthy balance between the two to avoid autoimmune diseases and atopy. This article looks at the contribution of Th1 to atherogenesis. Although looking at heart disease as an inflammatory condition is nothing new, viewing heart disease as having an autoimmune component is a new concept to me. Circulation -- Abstracts: Laurat et al. 104 (2): 197 http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/104/2/197
Development of a strong Th2 profile in high-risk children w/ atopy
Looking at another aspect of healthy Th1/2 balance, this article suggests that the first 6 months of an infants' development is essential to creating a healthy balance. Maybe the studies that looked at antibiotic use connected to asthma should only look at it's use in the first six months. It would be surprising if the data shifted even more convincingly towards being causative. Also, in the first six months of life, just how many vaccines do you think a newborn is exposed to? How about hep B? Hep B is mainly transferred through blood-blood contact in IV drug users and unprotected sex, and also in health care workers exposed to blood. Know many 3 month olds that partake in this behavior? No...? So why do we need a sweeping mandate to vaccinate them all? Synergy : Clinical & Experimental Allergy 31 (7), 997-1006 http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/Journals/content/abstracts/cea/2001/31/7/abstract_cea1176.asp?journal=cea&issueid=6293&artid=118511&cid=cea.2001.7& ftype=abstracts
Nuclear PPARs and Have Opposing Effects on Monocyte Chemotaxis in Endometriosis
Sorry for the long scary title, but PPARs are truly one of the hot buttons in disease research today. I really do believe that many of today's chronic disease really stem from a relatively few biochemical defects that branch out in different directions and cause each branch's respective disease. It does seem that the PPARs family is a large branch on this disease tree, and the more we understand what each receptor does, the more we can learn how altered functions create disease. Although the pharmaceuticals are spending lots of money on drugs that try to alter or control PPARs function, remember that nature usually got there first...we just have to find them. JCEM -- Abstracts: Hornung et al. 86 (7): 3108 http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/86/7/3108