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November 21, 2004 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com
The Link between Selenium and Chemoprevention: A Case for Selenoproteins
I know I covered this article in the last Updates, but just the other day I had a patient come in who had had Hashimoto's thyroiditis--an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own thyroid gland--and underwent typical medical treatment which is to get rid of the thyroid via surgery or radioactive ablation. Kind of like if you had gang members shooting little old ladies--just pack up all the old ladies and take them to south Florida. The problem here is that a large chunk of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis may have their symptoms caused by either low selenium or an allergy to gluten containing grains. This article illustrates one of the major shortcomings of mainstream medicine's approach to disease. Destroy or cover up the symptom while allowing the underlying process that created it to continue. So, if this patient is deficient in selenium, this current article would also suggest that she has a reduced ability to fight off cancer. Do you think this was including in the surgeon's informed consent to the patient?
The Link between Selenium and Chemoprevention: A Case for Selenoproteins -- Diwadkar-Navsariwala and Diamond 134 (11): 2899 -..
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Protein Source, Quantity, and Time of Consumption Determine the Effect of Proteins on Short-Term Food Intake
This is an interesting article that begins to fill in some of the details of healthy lifestyles. We all know that we HAVE to eat breakfast. But, some will not eat right away, or will not always choose the healthiest items to eat. This study found that eating earlier (by 9:10 AM) was much more effective at suppressing appetite than eating a little later. Also, soy and whey protein was much more effective, while egg albumin actually increased caloric intake. So the old eggs for breakfast may not be the best option.
Protein Source, Quantity, and Time of Consumption Determine the Effect of Proteins on Short-Term Food Intake in Young Men -- ..
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Consumption of High-Pressurized Vegetable Soup Increases Plasma Vitamin C and Decreases Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Biomarkers
While not a big surprise, it's always nice to see studies that show an anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin C. Interesting, the levels of vitamin C estimated in the soup given to the study participants was 72 mg/day, a very small dose. It may not be just the vitamin C, but rather the other synergistic nutrients that helped vitamin C lower the inflammatory markers.
Consumption of High-Pressurized Vegetable Soup Increases Plasma Vitamin C and Decreases Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Bio..
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Increased Use of Second-Generation Macrolide Antibiotics for Children
Quite often, I am asked why much of the research does not make it into the hands of clinicians. Sometimes this disparity and transgression is so egregious to be considered malpractice. The issue of using antibiotics when the research is actually AGAINST their use is a perfect example. The only answer that makes any sense is that many physicians do not read their own journals. There is no other answer that makes sense, but I would welcome any other answer that would not be as scary. That being said, the issue of antibiotic overuse always talks about the bad, bad situation of antibiotic resistance, but never addresses the REAL issue of destroying normal flora and disrupting all the positive health benefits they provide.
Increased Use of Second-Generation Macrolide Antibiotics for Children in Nine Health Plans in the United States -- Stille et ..
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/114/5/1206
This is an editiorial talking about the serious overuse for ear infections, but what the heck!! Who's going to read it anyway??
Otitis, Antibiotics, and the Greater Good -- Rosenfeld 114 (5): 1333 -- Pediatrics
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The gut microbiota as an environmental factor that regulates fat storage
Wow...this is a deep one with far reaching ramifications. Now, keep in mind that this is an animal study, but here it goes. The bacterial flora from a conventially grown rat, in this study, has the potential to influence the storage of fat in our adipose cells. Now, it is far too early to draw any conclusions. But picture if destruction/disruption of normal flora by antibiotics is yet another factor contributing to the obesity epidemic in Westernized countries. I still feel that too much worry is put into the development of antibiotic resistance from antibiotic overuse while the long term damaging effects of destroying normal flora is ignored.
The gut microbiota as an environmental factor that regulates fat storage -- Bäckhed et al. 101 (44): 15718 -- Proceedings of ..
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Vitamin D2 Is Much Less Effective than Vitamin D3 in Humans
Given the literal explosion of Vit D research over the past few years, this information is of great importance. Many of the lower quality multivitamins contain the D2 form of Vit D which (ergocalciferol=D2, cholecalciferol=D3) in this study was about 1/3 as potent and its effect was much shorter. Yet another reason why spending a little extra money on a good quality multi is not just "making expensive urine."
Vitamin D2 Is Much Less Effective than Vitamin D3 in Humans -- Armas et al. 89 (11): 5387 -- Journal of Clinical Endocrinolog..
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Dealing in drugs
I'm sure no one reading this Update will be surprised at the influence the drug companies have on physician prescribing behaviors. Ironically, most physicians themselves do not appear to be aware of this same influence... This article notes that between $8,000 and $13,000 is spent on each doctor annually for marketing. Geez...by this standard I guess DSD is at least $56,000 in arrears. I'll take a black BMW M3 instead...
The Journal : Back Issues
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Atenolol in hypertension: is it a wise choice?
I'm thinking we should just scrap the whole "double-blind, placebo controlled" studies. The research that many doctors are told to base their everyday decisions on has been blasted with holes in the past few years. Take this study. Atenolol (Tenormin) was determined to be the "gold standard" for high blood pressure. Over the years, other antihypertensive agents where compared to atenolol to determine if they were effective. Here's the kicker...atenolo may be no more effective than placebo. And they say chiropractic has no research--thank goodness!! (just being facetious--there are volumes of research supporting much of what chiropractic does)
The Journal : Back Issues
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Milk and lactose intakes and ovarian cancer risk
Women who drank more than 4 servings of dairy per day had a twofold increased risk for one type of ovarian cancer. For those of us against dairy this just further supports our position. As an aside, do you ever wonder why some articles never make it to the mainstream press?
Milk and lactose intakes and ovarian cancer risk in the Swedish Mammography Cohort -- Larsson et al. 80 (5): 1353 -- American..
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Acute Hepatitis B Among Children and Adolescents --- United States, 1990--2002
Now, follow the numbers here--it's akin to a very well done shell game. The CDC had 13,829 reported cases of Hep B in children under 19 from 1990-2002. That's an average of 1,152 per year. Of these cases, a mere 19 were followed up and confirmed. Here's were the numbers get even more interesting. Only 11 were born here in the US. At least 3 had at least one Hep B vaccination dose. No mention anywhere of whether mom or another family member was Hep B positive. So, based on these staggering and vaccine-affirming numbers, we force vaccination on brand new babies with a vaccine that has been linked to an increase in MS and doesn't last even 5 years in many cases. At what point to we begin to interject common sense?
Acute Hepatitis B Among Children and Adolescents --- United States, 1990--2002
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