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October 1, 2001 Research Update |
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiro.com
www.lifecarechiro.com
Caffeine Ingestion Decreases Glucose Disposal
Not that coffee is a part of any healthy lifestyle, but this is another reason to avoid it. This study finds that coffee inhibits insulin's ability to clear glucose from the bloodstream. This ties in with the fact that caffeine is known to prod the adrenal glands (need that 6th cup in the morning before you can face the day???...), and adrenal hormones like epinephrine (adrenaline) are designed to keep glucose in the bloodstream for rapid energy use as we run from the sabre-toothed tiger... Diabetes -- Abstracts: Greer et al. 50 (10): 2349 http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/50/10/2349
Lifestyle, reproductive, environmental exposures and RA
This article brings many things out into the open. First and foremost is the hopes that clinicians will begin to view RA, not as a disease locked into our genes, but rather one heavily dependent upon lifestyle factors that are indeed modifiable. And, if the presence of RA is indeed linked that environment, than changing that environment would have an impact. And many times for most patients it does. Lastly, look at some of the environmental factors...drinking well water, exposure to hair dyes...sounds like a hair analysis for heavy metals would be warranted in all RA patients. Ann Rheum Dis -- Abstracts: Olsson et al. 60 (10): 934 http://ard.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/60/10/934
Maternal Glucose Influences Pregnancy Complications
Regular readers of the Updates will hopefully now realize that the root of much of the evil in civilized nations is refined carbs. Pick a disease and insulin resistance is linked somehow. We need so focus much of our efforts into educating the public about the difference between whole grains and refined carbs. This article looks at NORMAL levels that are on the high end and finds links with several serious complications of pregnancy. Am. J. Epidemiol. -- Abstracts: Scholl et al. 154 (6): 514 http://www.aje.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/154/6/514
Children, behavioural problems and lead
This article finds an association with lead and behavioural problems in children. Once again we see a link between environmental factors and psychological health in children, and yet the concept of making changes in the child's environment as a portion of therapy is foreign to many clinicians. Avoiding processed foods with no intake of preservatives, artificial coloring or flavors is a key to beginning to address these problems. The child with ADD does not have a Ritalin deficiency--they have a biochemical imbalance somewhere that may be able to be fixed with non-pharmacological means. eADC -- Abstracts: Lewendon et al. 85 (4): 286 http://adc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/archdischild;85/4/286
Insulin Resistance in Teenage Boys Linked to Elevated Systolic BP
Remember from past Updates that hyperinsulinema affects the cells lining the arteries and because of this may be the answer behind supposedly "essential" hypertension. This article supports that hypothesis. On the scarier side, how many of our young people now have increased insulin resistance because of the nutrient poor, highly processed dietary patterns that are all too common?
55th Annual Fall Conference of the AHA Council for High BP Research In 15-year-old males, insulin resistance correlates with systolic blood pressure. Dr. Alan R. Sinaiko of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and colleagues from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina used euglycemic insulin clamp studies to measure insulin resistance in 159 boys and 128 girls enrolled in Minneapolis Public Schools. Measurements were collected at age 13 and again at 15. Half of the volunteers came from the top 25% of the school population based on socioeconomic status. Fifty-three students were black, Dr. Sinaiko said. On average the boys had a higher body mass index (BMI) than girls at both age 13 and age 15. Results of the studies done at age 13 did not indicate an association between insulin resistance and systolic blood pressure, but "in 15-year-old males there was a significant association." For both males and females, higher insulin resistance was also associated with higher triglycerides and lower HDL. There was no correlation with diastolic blood pressure. Moreover, as in adults, "insulin resistance and systolic blood pressure was influenced by total body fatness," Dr. Sinaiko said.
Leptin-Induced Hypertension Linked to Adrenergic Activation
As a quick review, leptin is a hormone released by fat cells that help to control appetite and metabolism. More fat = more leptin = less hunger and faster metabolism. However, in some patients a leptin resistance occurs and leptin levels increase in the bloodstream. This study identifies that leptin, which has the ability to raise blood pressure, does so by the adrenergic system (fight or flight response). While this may lead the way for new pharmacological interventions, remember that leptin resistance and insulin resistance are linked, and things like exercise and attention to type of fat intake can modify these hormones w/o drugs.
55th Annual Fall Conference of the AHA Council for High BP Research Researchers at the University of Mississippi, Jackson, report that leptin's effect on blood pressure appears to be mediated through the hormone's activation of the adrenergic system, and counteracted by beta blockade. Dr. John E. Hall noted that excess weight accounts for about 70% of all hypertension in humans. "What we've been searching for," said Dr. Hall, "is the link between weight gain and how the sympathetic nervous system...is triggered to raise blood pressure and heart rate." The investigators implanted catheters into the abdominal aortas and vena cavae of Sprague-Dawley rats. They then infused the animals with leptin, followed by a placebo, the alpha-blocker terazosin, or the beta-blocker propranolol. Leptin infusion reduced food intake and fasting plasma insulin levels in all animals, the investigators observed. Adrenergic blockade effectively inhibited increases in mean arterial pressure and heart rate. "This mouse experiment was designed to determine whether it was through the sympathetic nervous system that leptin does raise blood pressure," Dr. Hall told meeting attendees. "And what we showed here was that the effect of leptin to raise the blood pressure and heart rate is caused entirely by the sympathetic nervous system, because after blocking this system, we find that leptin no longer raises the blood pressure." Dr. Hall said this study shows that not only might leptin be a major link in the chain of events leading to obesity, but also that "the increased nervous system activity is the key mechanism by which leptin does raise blood pressure." Assuming these findings apply to humans, said Dr. Hall, it is much too early to talk about therapies to block this leptin-induced sequence of events. For now, overweight people with hypertension can reduce leptin levels only by losing weight.