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March 28, 2002 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids past 6 wks of age
The main findings in this article have to deal with the development of visual acuity in infants beyond 6 weeks of age. I know I typically consider the prenatal period as being important for proper neurological development; and while breastfeeding is unquestionably important, I have typically not viewed breastfeeding as a major player in this department (with the exception of small increases in IQ scores of breastfed infants). Well, this article strongly supports the use of breastfeeding beyond six weeks of age. Of course, breastfeeding until at least 6 months of age would already cover this ground...
AJCN -- Abstracts: Birch et al. 75 (3): 570
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Allergy to soy and extensively hydrolyzed whey formula in infants
As much as I am against dairy, I am not strongly in support of soy formula for infants either. Breastfeeding is unquestionably the best source of nutrition for infants and every effort should be made to keep infants breastfeeding. Too often I hear of patients who stopped breastfeeding due to thrush or GI complaints in the infants. Most if not all of these side effects can be fixed by changing the maternal diet. If formula is needed, I strongly support a hydrolyzed formula. I don't care whether an infant is given cow's milk or soy formula--that much exposure to a developing GI tract is not good. The hydrolyzed formula has less proteins for the infant to react to.
Journal of Pediatrics Online
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Role of isoflavones on estrogen metabolism in premenopausal women
The author of this study concludes that soy products may be an important tool for breast cancer reduction. Remember, however, that nature gave us soy with all the varying components intake, and the isolation, purification and mass production of individual compounds that we think are the most important may not yield similar results. Soy is just one component of a healthy lifestyle.
Article Abstract
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Improved Cardio After 6 Months Resistance Exercise in Elderly
The days of viewing the elderly as "frail" and avoiding resistance training is long over. The benefits of weight/resistance training in the elderly is just short of staggering. Studies of this sort has seen participants leaving the wheelchairs and nursing homes behind, and now we see an indirect benefit on cardiovascular conditioning. The problem, especially in my office, is the motivation factor. I see many elderly patients that would have such an increased quality of life if they would just do 20 minutes of exercise a day.
Improved Cardiorespiratory Endurance Following 6 Months of Resistance Exercise in Elderly Men and Women
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Withdrawal of Statins Increases Event Rates
This study finds that when patients go off of their cholesterol lowering meds, the serum cholesterol bounces right back to pre treatment levels. In other words, in no way, shape, or form did the statin drugs change whatever was biochemically wrong with the patient. On the other hand, lifestyle changes, exercise and avoidance of refined carbs can actually alter the physiological landscape in the patient's favor. It seems very apparent that lifestyle changes should be first line of defense long before medications.
Circulation -- Abstracts: Heeschen et al. 105 (12): 1446
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Vulnerable Atherosclerotic Plaque and Ascorbic Acid
Although this is a study done in mice, it should raise some naysayers of vitamin C for heart disease. This study shows that, although vitamin C does not affect the deposition of the plaque at all, deficiency of vitamin C does make the plaque more likely to rupture. And while this isn't a definative answer to whether vitamin C helps in cardiovascular disease, it sure does make us look at the results of previous studies that did not show a benefit with vitamin C... Circulation -- Abstracts: Nakata and Maeda 105 (12): 1485
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High-dose vitamin therapy stimulates variant enzymes with decreased coenzyme binding affinity: relevance to genetic disease and polymorphisms
Had to leave in the long title for those of you that stayed awake through biochemistry. The impact of this article on RDA is just short of staggering. We have talked about increased need for folic acid in the approximately 25% of the population with MHTFR genetic polymorphisms far beyond that of the RDA. This concept begins to look at the concepts of SNPs, or single nucleotide polymorphisms. SNPs begins to view every patient as an individual with separate genetic variations with different biochemical needs. There are currently lab tests just being offerred that can identify hundreds of these SNPs with a single urine test. Imagine the impact on human health--a urine test that identifies genetic "weaknesses" that can be overcome with certain lifestyle interventions. The ramifications are beyond almost anything we have seen before in medicine and health.
AJCN -- Abstracts: Ames et al. 75 (4): 616
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Intakes of energy, macronutrients & risk of BPH
The article takes a close look at nutrient intake and its impact on prostatic enlargement. The results show that oxidative stress play a role. That would mean that intake of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids are important in preventing BPH. Other studies have suggested that the abnormal estrogen metabolism irritates the cells of the prostate. That would mean that intake of cruciferous veggies, which contain compounds that get converted to indole-3-carbinol, can help promote the breakdown of estrogen into the less toxic 2 hydroxyestrone pathway versus the genotoxic 16-hydroxy pathway.
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