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March 22, 2001 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Chlorogenic acid, present in coffee, & black tea increases homocysteine
Chlorogenic acid and heavy black tea consumption was shown to increase homocysteine levels. Now, before you run and toss out all your black tea bags, the amount consumed in this study was equal to 2 liters of black tea, and it was given as a solid. You can ask any herbalist their opinion on this and I'm sure they would agree...properly preparing teas is an incredibly important step in obtaining optimal therapeutic effect. I firmly believe that, if the patients in this study had drank the 2 liters of tea, the results would have been different. AJCN -- Abstracts: Olthof et al. 73 (3): 532 http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/73/3/532
Green tea, rosemary extract in foods reduces nonheme-iron absorption
A few things to consider here. First, in most men and post-menopausal women, excess iron is believed to be a contributor to overall oxidative stress. If this is the case, then the reduced absorption from foods may not be a bad thing. On the other hand, so many of us are hypochlorhydric (not enough stomach acid) and absorption of iron is a problem. I would not let this study defer anyone from drinking green tea, which has many other documented health benefits. AJCN -- Abstracts: Samman et al. 73 (3): 607 http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/73/3/607
CRP–Mediated Low Density Lipoprotein Uptake by Macrophages
I may need to clarify what this article is talking about. First, it is current theory that macrophages become foam cells once they take up LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. These foam cells are what lead to the buildup of plaque on the arteries. This article is suggesting that CRP (a marker of chronic inflammation) increases the attraction ("opsonizes") between the LDL and the macrophages. Low level chronic inflammation can come from so many different sources; and can in turn lead to a multitude of chronic diseases. Circulation -- Abstracts: Zwaka et al. 103 (9): 1194 http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/103/9/1194
Osteoporosis: Part I. Evaluation and Assessment
This is obviously a review on osteoporosis. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it serves as only a very general overview of the topic. Prevention of osteoporosis can be done on many fronts; only a portion of which are noted in the article. Avoidance of animal proteins with replacement with plant and soy proteins, avoidance of carbonated beverages, addition of fruits and vegetables and a high quality calcium supplement. In addition, always mysteriously absent is the urine test for the breakdown products of bone. This simple, non-invasive test has been used for decades in research to determine whether a therapy was having an effect on bone. Any bone density test is incomplete without this test to find out the rate at which you are breaking down bone. Osteoporosis: Part I. Evaluation and Assessment - March 1, 2001 - American Family Physician https://eval.bizrate.com/popup.pl?id=23777
Ergogenic Aids: Counseling the Athlete
In no place is a molehill turned into a mountain than in the arena of sports nutrition. Fads ranging from chromium to whey protein to creatine have created a large and profitable market. Unfortunately, most often the fact is not quite as large as the fiction. Of all the current and past agents, creatine has shown some limited promise in adding muscle mass. Whey protein, while wonderful for cachexic patients who need to add muscle mass or patients with weakened immune systems needed support, little research is available to justify the widespread use and high cost of this "muscle building" supplement. Ergogenic Aids: Counseling the Athlete - March 1, 2001 - American Family Physician http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010301/913.html
Time Trends in Autism and in MMR Immunization Coverage in CA
This suspected link has become quite the hot topic lately; with many researchers rapidly producing reviews suggesting no link between autism and MMR vaccination. This study summarizes the results by comparing the increase in autism rates (up 373%) to increase in immunization rates (up 14%). Since autism rates went up much higher than immunizations, then the immunizations could not be to blame. Could it be that all these researchers are viewing the data with the same blinders that we view chronic diseases today? The one cause, one cure syndrome again. It could very well be possible that the development of autism is a multifactorial event, and the administration of the MMR vaccine is merely the final straw on the proverbial camel's back. For those of you that may think I'm reaching, please look back in the updates and review Dr. Andrew Wakefield's research into ileonodular hyperplasia. Time Trends in Autism and in MMR Immunization Coverage in California http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v285n9/abs/jbr00284.html
Urban living environments in atopy and enhanced eosinophil activity
An interesting point brought up in this article is that the use of electric air conditioners increased risk of atopy (allergic symptoms). The bottom line here is that our kids are no longer getting the fresh air they used to. We're so stuck on computers and TV that we forget to go out and enjoy the sunshine; and it's having a negative impact on our health. Synergy : Allergy 56 (3), 224-230 http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/Journals/content/abstracts/al/2001/56/3/abstract_all670.asp?journal=al&issueid=4726&artid=91861&cid=al.2001.1& ftype=abstracts
Low Microparticle Diet Shows Promise in Crohn's Disease
This study took patients with Crohn's disease off of all inorganic molecules, with titanium dioxide being one of the chemicals (titanium dioxide is a commonly used food additive). So, basically, these patients were put on a whole-food, low processed diet. This is ALWAYS a recommendation for just about any health condition; and in Crohn's disease other nutrients like glutamine and probiotics would be added into the mix.
Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2001;13:101-106 A diet low in microparticulate contaminants may promote remission in patients with Crohn's disease. Dr. Jonathan J. Powell and colleagues, from St. Thomas' Hospital in London, note that they have recently identified inorganic microparticles within intestinal phagocytes, and that microparticles may induce inflammation in susceptible individuals. To examine the effect of reducing microparticle intake, the investigators randomized 20 patients with active Crohn's disease to receive a low microparticle diet or a control diet for 4 months. In keeping with current thoughts about Crohn's disease, fibrous fruit and vegetables were avoided in both groups. The intervention diet excluded foods that could contain microparticles of titanium dioxide and aluminosilicates. Fresh fruit and vegetables were peeled and washed to minimize soil contamination. Filtered water was used for all activities where ingestion might occur and toothpastes and pharmaceuticals that might contain titanium dioxide were avoided. Except for a diminished calcium requirement, the diet met UK standards for energy and nutrient intake. Over the 4-month period, the Crohn's disease activity index decreased significantly in the trial group and seven patients achieved disease remission, Dr. Powell and colleagues report. This beneficial result did not occur in the control group and none of these patients achieved disease remission. The trial group also showed a trend toward a greater reduction in corticosteroid intake compared with the control group. "This is the first study of the tolerability and efficacy of a diet that is low in inorganic microparticles," the investigators point out. The beneficial results achieved with this diet may "explain the efficacy of elemental/polymeric diets, although, compared to [the low microparticle] diet, they are more expensive, less palatable and patients would probably be less compliant," the researchers emphasize.