March 1, 2004 Research Update

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

Antibiotic Use in Relation to the Risk of Breast Cancer

While the author does not suggest this as a possible mechanism, I would offer that destruction of normal flora by antibiotics is the key. Normal flora is known to convert isoflavones in soy and flax into compounds like equol and enterolactone that then confer lowered risk of estrogen dependent cancers. These bacteria are also a source of B12. They also have detoxification systems that can break down certain toxins before the toxins get a chance to be absorbed. Maybe one day we will begin to look beyond antibiotic resistance and see that the true negative effect of antibiotic overuse is detruction of normal flora.

JAMA -- Abstracts: Velicer et al. 291 (7): 827

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Effect of procalcitonin-guided treatment on antibiotic use and outcome in lower respiratory tract infections

This study evaluated the ability of a biomarker (procalcitonin) that could be rapidly checked to indicate whether bacteria were the primary culprit for lower respiratory tract infections. The study found that procalcitonin use was very effective at identifying those presenting with symptoms caused by bacteria and would be responsive to antibiotic therapy.

The Journal : Back Issues

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Coeliac disease and schizophrenia

I firmly believe that schizophrenia has a strong physiological component that can be responsive to natural approaches. Mauve factor is one marker that may result from increased oxidative stress on fatty acids. In this study we see a relationship with coeliac disease. With evidence of other neurological effects (such as ataxia and increased risk of Alzheimer's) this should not be a big stretch for many. However, I do disagree with the author's conclusion that coeliac disease is rare--it has been estimated to be upwards of 1-2% of the general population. That is not rare.

bmj.com Eaton et al. 328 (7437): 438

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How strong is the evidence of a link between environmental chemicals and adverse effects on human reproductive health?

For those concerned about environmental toxicity this is a good review article. The take home message is that these chemicals from our environment have a definate impact on our health, and reproductive effects are only one type. Many of these chemicals have estrogen-like activities and contribute to many women in our society being estrogen dominant. Dr. John Lee's strong push for use of natural progesterone would help lower the impact of these xenoestrogens.

bmj.com Sharpe and Irvine 328 (7437): 447

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Urinary 8-iso-Prostaglandin F2alpha as a Risk Marker in Heart Disease

Not to go too greatly into detail here, but are we all getting the idea that inflammation is a major player in cardiovascular disease?? I hope so because all the evidence points to it. So, instead of looking for the hundreds of markers we could use to monitor inflammation, how about kicking some money in to evaluate natural approaches to lower the body's overall burden of inflammation??

Circulation -- Abstracts: Schwedhelm et al. 109 (7): 843

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Why do doctors use treatments that do not work?

Just so you don't think I'm the only one that notices that much of what mainstream medicine does these days is not supported by medical evidence (the same evidence they chastise natural medicine for not having)...

bmj.com Doust and Del Mar 328 (7438): 474

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Intakes of Antioxidants in Coffee, Wine, and Vegetables Are Correlated with Plasma Carotenoids

Coffee was found to have contribute the highest levels of dietary antioxidants in this study was coffee. Now, the author does not describe just how much coffee the study participants took in, but this still goes to show that some things just get a bad rap without having done anything bad (kindof like the minivan...). However, I might add that Starbucks' iced white chocolate mocha is probably not loading with these same polyphenols as fresh brewed straight-up coffee. The same goes for tea brewed at home versus those teas found in bottles and drink dispensers at the local convenience store.

nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Svilaas et al. 134 (3): 562

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CLA Blocks Estrogen Signaling in Human Breast Cancer Cells

We have been seeing some mixed results on whether CLA has the same beneficial effects in the human body as we see in the lab. Personally, I do believe that CLA will be shown to be a safe and effective natural therapeutic agent for insulin sensitizing as well as preventing certain types of cancer.

nutrition.org -- Abstracts: Tanmahasamut et al. 134 (3): 674

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Vitamin D: importance in the prevention of cancers, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis

I've heard the author, Dr. Michael Holick, interviewed before and might I just say that needed a very tall ladder just to keep his knowledge in this area from totally flying over my head. Sunlight exposure has gotten a bad rap lately and yet its' contribution to serum Vitamin D is unquestionable. Every cell in the human body has a receptor for Vitamin D--that means that it plays a role in the health of every type of cell. You can bet that we haven't even identified a small fraction of the role that Vitamin D plays in each of those cells.

AJCN -- Abstracts: Holick 79 (3): 362

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Fiber (Glucomannan) Is Beneficial in the Treatment of Childhood Constipation

First, let me state that the idea that fiber can help with constipation could probably been affirmed by talking to anyone on the street. With that being said, what does concern me is the high incidence of constipation that we see in our young kids. I don't know of any studies that give an exact incidence, but I do know that I have many patients that ask me for help with their children's constipation. There is something, or some combination of things, that we're doing to our kids that is setting up this scenario. I would suggest vaccinations, poor dietary habits and heavy antibiotic use are significant contributors.

Pediatrics -- Abstracts: Loening-Baucke et al. 113 (3): e259

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