News Archive
>> Natural Health Alternatives
>> Pharmaceutical 'Business with Disease'
>> Other News
December 30, 2004
Vitamin D deficiency tied to host of dangers
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the widespread deficiency of vitamin D among Americans is more harmful than once believed, increasing their risk of fractures, muscle weakness, and even cancer as they age. In response, two key scientific panels are considering how to close the nutrition gap without compromising another important health campaign: the fight against skin cancer.
>> Read article at Boston.com
December 19, 2004
Vitamin C May Be Cancer Fighter
The way vitamin C functions in the body may help explain its possible role in prevention of heart disease and cancer, according to an Oregon State University study. The researchers explain how vitamin C can react with and neutralize toxic by-products of human fat metabolism.
>> Read article at RedNova.com
Can Americans trust their medicine?
For Susan Ferris, the drug Celebrex has been "a godsend." The 48-year-old South Florida woman has been taking it for her arthritis pain since 2001. She can't tolerate older remedies, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Since Friday's announcement that Celebrex might be linked to heart attacks and strokes, though, she's not sure what to think. On top of that, she worries about her 58-year-old husband, who has a history of high blood pressure and once had a small stroke. For his arthritis pain, he has taken Celebrex, as well as its cousins Vioxx and Bextra.
>> Read article at USAToday.com
December 17, 2004
Thiamine may protect heart health in diabetics
High doses of vitamin B1, or thiamine, could lower cholesterol in diabetes patients
and help prevent heart disease, say UK researchers. The findings, based on a
rat model of diabetes, may be important in the face of rising incidence of diabetes
around the globe.
>> Read
article at NutraIngredients.com
The Polymeal: a more natural, safer, and probably tastier
(than the Polypill) strategy to reduce cardiovascular disease by
more than 75%
Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity
in Western populations. Although several risk factors for cardiovascular disease
have been identified, its prevention is still suboptimal owing to high costs,
low compliance, and side effects of treatment. In 2003 Wald and Law introduced
the concept of the Polypill. The advocates of the Polypill selected six pharmacological
components that by modifying different risk factors of cardiovascular disease
multiplicatively might reduce the levels of cardiovascular disease in the population
by more than 80%. In general, the medical community has welcomed the concept
but questioned the potential adverse effects and costs of such an intervention.
Our objective was to define a safer, non-pharmacological, and tastier alternative
to the Polypill in the general population: the Polymeal. We also wanted to calculate
the potential effects of the Polymeal in terms of total life expectancy and
life expectancy with and without cardiovascular disease.
>> Read
article at BritishMedicalJournal.com
Fruits May Protect Children from Leukemia
U.S. investigators have found that children who ate oranges and bananas or drank
orange juice most days of the week before age 2 were significantly less likely
than other children to be diagnosed with leukemia before age 14. Previous research
has suggested that diet may influence the risk of certain cancers, including
colorectal, prostate, lung and breast cancers. Before age 15, more children
become sick from leukemia than from any other type of cancer. However, the effect
of diet on the childhood risk of this cancer remains largely unknown.
>> Read
article at Reuters.com
>> An
abstract of the research can be found here
December 15, 2004
Gamma-tocopherol halts cancer cells in lab study
Gamma-tocopherol, a form of vitamin E found in many plant seeds but not widely
available in nutritional supplements, might halt the growth of prostate and
lung cancer cells, say US researchers. Their findings lend
weight to the growing support for a mixture of vitamin E forms, over single
form alpha-tocopherol, in supplements.
>> Read
article at NutraIngredients.com
>> An abstract of the study can be found here
December 14, 2004
Calcium Intake May Reduce Colon Cancer
A recent analysis of data from 10 different studies in five countries revealed
that people who consumed the most calcium had a 20 percent lower risk of colorectal
cancer than those who consumed the least. In another study, women who met or
nearly met current adult calcium recommendations reduced their risk of colorectal
cancer almost 30 percent compared to those who ate half the recommended amount.
>> Read
article at Nubella.com
December 13, 2004
Vitamin E May Stave Off Lou Gehrig's Disease
In a new study, regular users of vitamin E were at decreased risk for death
from Lou Gehrig's disease, also called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),
compared with nonusers.
>> Read
article at Reuters.com
>> An abstract of the study can be found here
Nutrition programme extended to cover schools in Jerash,
Ajloun, northern Jordan Valley
The government's School Nutrition Programme (SNP) is making headway in three
new educational directorates where some 12,000 students are now benefiting from
the nutrition-packed snack handed out daily. Mohammad Ghazi, the programme's
director at the Ministry of Education (MoE), said schools in Jerash, Ajloun
and the northern Jordan Valley were added to the national programme for this
year's second academic term.
>> Read
article at TheJordanTimes.com
High dose vitamin C linked to lower heart attack risk
People who supplement with high doses of vitamin C could be reducing their risk of major heart disease events like heart attack, suggests a new analysis of prospective studies. Epidemiologic research has suggested that higher intakes of fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains can lower risk of coronary heart disease. However it is not yet clear whether the antioxidant vitamins in these foods are responsible for this protection or if other factors are playing a role too, said the researchers.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
December 10, 2004
Puppets aid healthy diet lessons
Finger puppets, story books and a "fruit and veg CD" are being sent
to schools to help educate children about the importance of healthy eating.
Announcing the initiative, the government said two million children in England
now receive a free piece of fruit or veg at school every day. The scheme is
the biggest programme to boost child nutrition since the free school milk scheme
introduced in 1946.
>> Read
article at BBCNews.co.uk
>> The
Department of Health press release can be found here
>> Details of the Fruit and Vegetables scheme can be found
here
Capsules better delivery form for tea benefits than beverage
Tea polyphenols are more bioavailable when delivered as encapsulated green tea
extract than when taken as a traditional beverage, according to a small trial.
In a randomized, crossover study on 30 adults, researchers from the University
of California, Los Angeles compared the antioxidant effects on plasma eight
hours after subjects had consumed green tea, black tea or a green tea extract
supplement.
>> Read
article at NutraIngredients.com
>> An abstract of the study can be found here
Cancer link to folic acid played down: 'No evidence' of supplements'
risk to health
Women in the early stages of pregnancy were last night advised to continue taking
folic acid supplements despite tentative research suggesting they might raise
the risk of mothers later dying from breast cancer. Checks on women 35 years
after they took part in trials using different doses of the synthetic vitamins
revealed higher mortality rates for those who took supplementation than those
who did not. But the numbers involved were small and researchers said the differences
might be explained by chance. In addition, the timing and size of the supplementation
now recommended are significantly different from those used in the trial of
expectant mothers in Aberdeen in the 1960s.
>> Read
article at NetDoctor.co.uk
December 7, 2004
Herbal medicine makes better prognosis for kidney transplant patients
A People's Liberation Army (PLA) hospital has used traditional herb alongside Western medicine to treat kidney transplant patients of acute reactions and infections after the operation.
>> Read article at Xinhuanet.com
December 6, 2004
Antioxidant, B vitamin combo to slow dementia?
Combining B vitamins with a powerful antioxidant could lower blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine enough to prevent dementia, claims a UK research firm preparing to test the theory in clinical trials.
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
December 3, 2004
Nutritional supplement could delay ARV requirement
Nutritional supplements, if given, with regular diet could protect people living with HIV/AIDS from opportunistic infections and also delay their requirement of Anti Retro Viral (ARV) Drugs, experts said here today.
>> Read article at TeamIndia.net
Antioxidants can help prevent cataracts
A new study from Ohio State University provides the first laboratory evidence that certain antioxidants found in dark leafy green vegetables can indeed help prevent cataracts. Vitamin manufacturers often add the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin to their products, but until now there has been no biochemical evidence to support the claim that these substances help protect the eyes, said Joshua Bomser, a study co-author and an assistant professor of nutrition at Ohio State University.
>> Read article at News-Medical.net
December 2, 2004
Lack of folate, carotenoids raising heart disease levels in CEE
Diets low in foods containing folate and carotenoids may be a major contributing factor to the high rate of heart disease in Central and Eastern Europe, say researchers. A dramatic increase in heart disease in this region is responsible for the strong decline in life expectancy in many newly independent states in Central and Eastern Europe.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
December 1, 2004
Green Tea Seems to Stem Spread of Prostate Cancer
Green tea appears to inhibit the spread of prostate cancer in a number of ways, says a study in the Dec. 1 issue of Cancer Research. In research with mice, scientists from the University of Wisconsin and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland found green tea polyphenols (GTP) target molecular pathways that control the proliferation and spread of prostate tumor cells. The polyphenols also inhibit the growth of blood vessels that feed prostate tumors.
>> Read article at HealthDay.com
Nutrition and diet are key factors
Building the body's immunity to HIV/AIDS can materially assist in cutting the long-term costs of treatment. Now the importance of correct nutrition in helping to build immunity is being recognised. "Research has shown that there is a close relationship between HIV/AIDS and the nutritional status of the infected individual," says Rachel Warren, inland dietician for Fedics.
>> Read article at BDay.co.za
Pomelit cuts LDL cholesterol
An Israeli fruit called the pomelit appears to lower blood cholesterol levels and increase blood antioxidant activity, making it a useful food to protect heart health, according to a researcher. Dr Shela Gorinstein from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem says the fruit, a cross between a grapefruit and a pomelo, could help people prevent blocked arteries and heart attacks.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
November 30, 2004
Ministry to distribute vitamin A to underprivileged
schools
The ministries of heath and education have set Dec. 6 as the start of the campaign
to distribute vitamin A capsules to fourth grade students and below at underprivileged
schools. Head of the nutrition department at the ministry, Wisam Qaqish, said
the decision to provide this category of students with vitamin A came after
a scientific study conducted on these areas indicated that the targeted students
suffer malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency. The capsule is important in fighting
infectious diseases, enhancing immunity systems and improving mental agility,
Qaqish added, stressing that the capsule is totally safe and has no side effects
or negative impacts on health.
>> Read
article at JordanTimes.com
Citrus shows promise for certain childhood cancer
Orange juice and cancer don't mix. In fact, the popular citrus drink could become a cocktail to prevent or stop the deadly disease in humans. Research by Texas Agriculture Experiment Station scientists has shown that citrus compounds called limonoids targeted and stopped neuroblastoma cells in the lab. They now hope to learn the reasons for the stop-action behavior and eventually try the citrus concoction in humans.
>> Read article at AGNews.Tamu.edu
November 29, 2004
OPTIFORD: Can fortified foods or supplements have an impact on
bone health?
Having confirmed links between solar exposure, vitamin D intake and bone health,
the OPTIFORD project is assessing how varying lifestyles and environments across
Europe will affect health recommendations, for both younger and older populations.
>> Read
article at MedicalNewsToday.com
November 28, 2004
Criminals to be fed vitamins to improve behaviour
Criminals are to be given vitamin supplements in an unusual attempt
to reduce anti-social behaviour which will test the effect of diet on
the brain. The proposals being drawn up within the Home Office reflect
a growing interest in the potential link between junk diets laced with
additives and disturbed or hyperactive behaviour.
>> Read
article at Guardian.co.uk
Blocking a specific enzyme could be enough to check the spread of cancer in the human body, researchers say.
Researchers believe their work may lead to new life-saving cancer treatments and help cut the amount of chemotherapy required to treat cancer effectively. Researchers believe their work may lead to new life-saving cancer treatments and help cut the amount of chemotherapy required to treat cancer effectively.
>> Read article at BBCNews.com
November 23, 2004
Antioxidant supplementation may reduce risk of cancer in men, not women
Low-dose antioxidant supplementation may reduce the risk of cancer among men, but not in women, according to an article in the November 22 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. According to the article, antioxidants including beta carotene, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc may prevent some of the harmful effects caused by free radicals - reactive molecules produced by metabolism in the body. It has also been suggested that a low dietary intake of antioxidants increases the incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
>> Read article at MedicalNewsToday.com
November 22, 2004
Vitamin D help treat prostate cancer
Thanks to a discovery announced last week, millions of hopeless men around the world suffering from advancing prostate cancer now have reason for hope. A presentation at the conference on vitamin D and cancer, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute, gave them reason to hope. A group from the University of Toronto reported the first human trials of a deltanoid (vitamin D compound) that appears to both help fight prostate cancer and to fight that cancer without causing any side effects.
>> Read article at MedicalNewsToday.com
November 18, 2004
Low dietary intake of folate may be a risk factor for severe
depression
Two studies published in the 2004 November- December issue of Psychotherapy and
Psychosomatics suggest that dietary B vitamin complex has an important role as
to the vulnerability to depression.
>> Read
article at News-Medical.net
>> Abstracts of the two studies can be found here and here.
November 16, 2004
High selenium linked to lower colon cancer risk
Higher blood levels of selenium are associated with lower rates of colorectal
cancer recurrence, according to a new report.
>> Read
article at Reuters.com
>> An abstract of the report can be found here
Will mandatory folic acid fortification prevent or promote
cancer?
The author of the study reported here concluded that folate supplementation
may prevent the progression of certain precursor or preneoplastic lesions to
malignancy but promote the progression of other lesions if too much is taken
or if it is provided after neoplastic foci are established in the target organ.
>> Read
article at AJCN.com
November 15, 2004
Too Much Vitamin C Not Good for Diabetics' Hearts
Older women with diabetes who take high doses of vitamin C for the sake of
their hearts may be doing more harm than good, new research suggests.
The study,
which followed nearly 2,000 postmenopausal women with diabetes for 15 years,
found that those who took heavy doses of vitamin C supplements -- 300 milligrams
(mg) a day or more -- were roughly twice as likely to die of heart disease
or stroke compared with women who took no supplemental C.
>> Read
article at Reuters.com
>> An extract of the study can be found here
November 14, 2004
We spend £1.6bn on them a year. But are they doing us
any good?
Complementary medicines taken to treat ailments from colds to cancer are thriving,
and it is the better-off middle classes who are hooked, a report has revealed.
Herbal preparations such as echinacea, used to ward off flu, and St John's wort,
taken for depression, are walking off the shelves and into the shopping bags
of professional men and women.
>> Read
article at Independent.co.uk
Nutritional imbalance plagues Chinese people
Irrational diets, deficiencies in micro-nutrients such as iodine, iron and vitamins
have already become a nationwide problem (in China) and a vast number of people
suffer from sub-standard health. Incidences of chronic diseases have seen a
sharp rise in some remote regions of the country.
>> Read
article at PeopleDaily.com
November 12, 2004
Review article highlights function of chromium supplementation
in prevention and treatment of diabetes
The review supports the role of the essential mineral chromium in improving
insulin function and glucose metabolism in people with type 2 diabetes and related
conditions.
>> Read
article at FoodIngredientsFirst.com
>> An
abstract of the study can be found here
Malnutrition in early years leads to low IQ and later antisocial
behavior
Malnutrition in the first few years of life leads to antisocial and aggressive
behavior throughout childhood and late adolescence, according to a new University
of Southern California study.
"These are the first findings to show that malnutrition in the early postnatal
years is associated with behavior problems through age 17," said Jianghong
Liu, a postdoctoral fellow with USC's Social Science Research Institute and the
lead author of the study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry's November
issue.
>> Read
article at MedicalNewsToday.com
>> An abstract of the study can be found here
November 10, 2004
High doses of vitamin E supplements do more harm than good
Daily vitamin E doses of 400 international units (IU) or more can increase the
risk of death and should be avoided, researchers reported at the American Heart
Association's Scientific Sessions 2004.
In animal and observational studies, vitamin E supplementation was shown to prevent
cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, other studies suggested that
high doses could be harmful.
>> Read
article at AmericanHeartAssociation.org
November 8, 2004
Multivitamins
before pregnancy may prevent pre-maturity
Women who take multivitamins before becoming pregnant are less likely to give
birth to premature babies, suggests a new study.
It found that women who took multivitamins before conceiving were half as likely
to deliver their babies before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
>> Read
article at NutraIngredients.com
>>
An abstract of the study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology can
be found here
November 5, 2004
FDA Announces Major Initiatives for Dietary Supplements
Today the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced three major regulatory initiatives designed to further implement the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). These initiatives -- a regulatory strategy, an open public meeting, and a draft guidance document for industry -- are significant steps FDA has taken in the implementation of DSHEA.
>> Read article at MedicalNewsToday.com
November 4, 2004
Novel health food composition proves highly effective
A more than 50 % increase in the life span of Zucker rats, a commonly used animal model for human obesity, was seen by enrichment of unhealthy food with a novel combination of plant sterols and mineral nutrients.
>> Read article at News-Medical.net
Public want alternative therapy
Patients want to discuss complementary medicine with GPs but many do not as they are embarrassed, research shows. Some 71% said they want to talk about therapies such as hypnotherapy and herbal medicine with pharmacists or doctors, a poll of 1,000 people showed.
>> Read article at BBCNews.com
November 2, 2004
Further evidence for vitamin E's protection against Alzheimer's
Vitamin E may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, suggests new research that provides insights into how the disease damages brain cells.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
November 1, 2004
Free Radicals: The Pros and Cons of Antioxidants
This supplement to the November issue contains 23 articles on antioxidants and their effects
>> Read articles at Nutrition.org
PM inaugurates National Vitamin A Plus Campaign
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia yesterday inaugurated the post-flood National Vitamin A Plus Campaign-2004 by administering vitamin capsules to two children at a simple ceremony at her office. Children aged between one and five years will be administered vitamin A plus capsules under the campaign all over the country. Khaleda urged all concerned to make the campaign a success. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Prime Minister's Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury, Health Secretary A F M Sarwar Kamal, Chief of Health and Nutrition, Unicef, Dr Uhaa and Unicef acting Country Director Mrs Roselli were present.
>> Read article at TheDailyStar.net
October 29, 2004
Resveratrol anti-inflammatory action confirmed
Resveratrol, the powerful antioxidant found in wine, and another polyphenol quercetin can act as novel anti-inflammatory agents, conclude UK researchers, although they question the value of offering resveratrol over the counter. The team from Imperial College London, England, confirmed resveratrol’s broad anti-inflammatory action, and found potential for applications in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and possibly even arthritis.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
October 27, 2004
Tea could improve memory, study shows
Drinking regular cups of tea could help improve your memory, new research suggests. Results of laboratory tests by a team from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne found that green and black tea inhibit the activity of certain enzymes in the brain which are associated with memory. The findings, which are published in the academic journal, Phytotherapy Research, may lead to the development of a new treatment for a form of dementia which affects an estimated ten million people worldwide, Alzheimer's Disease.
>> Read article at MedicalNewsToday.com
October 25, 2004
Pycnogenol lowers blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics
Further research shows that the pine bark supplement Pycnogenol lowers blood sugar levels in diabetes patients and improves blood vessel function. The study follows a smaller one earlier this year that also provided evidence of the product’s benefit on certain parameters of type 2 diabetes. Incidence of type 2 diabetes has grown rapidly in recent years and is set to be one of the major chronic diseases of the future, increasing in conjunction with both obesity and ageing populations.
>> Read article at NutraIngredientsUSA.com
October 18, 2004
Vitamin C intake offers protection against stomach cancer
Further evidence shows that vitamin C intake and fruit consumption may be linked to reduced risk of stomach cancer. The study also shows that lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, could have a protective effect against the cancer although the researchers caution that this needs further research.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
3.5 million Nepalese kids given vitamin A
The Nepali "National Vitamin A Capsule Feeding Program" conducted by the Ministry of Health got underway on Monday. 3.5 million kids are being given the drugs. "It is believed that this program has been making important contributions in saving about 30,000 children from dying untimely death every year," an official from the ministry told Xinhua.
>> Read article at Xinhuanet.com
October 16, 2004
Many Britons are suffering from malnutrition, says expert
Many Britons are suffering from malnutrition because of their poor diet, a leading nutritionist has warned. Paul Clayton said there were differences between the type of malnutrition found among starving populations and that found in the UK, but stressed that it could still have devastating effects on public health in this country.
>> Read article at MedicalNewsToday.com
October 14, 2004
Reduced violent behavior following biochemical therapy
Research by the Pfeiffer Treatment Centre in the US has found that eating vegetables may help with behavioural disorders. The research studied 207 people, aged between 3 and 55, with such disorders who were given "biochemical therapy", including extra vitamins, minerals and amino acids, which claims to correct chemical imbalances in the brain. The vast majority of patients became less violent, under-14s responded particularly well.
>> Read article at ScienceDirect.com
October 13, 2004
New tradition for African healthcare
In September, the Ugandan government brought traditional medicine - herbs, animal parts, and minerals, with a dash of prayer - out of the bush and began to integrate it into its health system. The East African nation became among the first on the continent to add traditional healing studies to its university curriculum. The moves underscore the important role that traditional methods play in African healthcare, reflecting their effectiveness, affordability, and the scepticism that many people here have toward modern medicine.
>> Read article at CSMonitor.com
Nation acts to resolve nutrition deficiancy
China is drafting a new national non-communicable diseases prevention and control programme, a senior official has revealed. Drafting of the programme is being hastened by a report of a national survey on the status of nutrition and health of Chinese people, which was released yesterday. The report shows China continues to face the twin challenges of nutrition deficiency and nutrition imbalance, as well as a rapid increase in non-communicable diseases. China will promulgate relevant regulations, guidance about public nutritional intervention, agriculture, food manufacturing, distribution and marketing, said Vice-Minister of Health Wang Longde.
>> Read article at Xinhuanet.com
October 11, 2004
High Folate Intake Lowers Women's Blood Pressure
Upping the daily intake of folate has been widely promoted in recent years to reduce women's risk of having a baby with spina bifida, but it also seems to have another benefit. Women consuming 800 micrograms per day or more of folate are significantly less likely to develop high blood pressure than women consuming lesser amounts, according to a report presented Monday at the American Heart Association's annual conference on high blood pressure research in Chicago.
>> Read article at Reuters.com
October 8 , 2004
Vitamin E analogue fights cancer
A compound derived from vitamin E reduces the size of tumours in mice, say researchers. They treated mice with a novel non-hydrolysable ether derivative of RRR-a-tocopherol and found that the compound was capable of reducing the primary tumour mass by greater than a half.
>> Read article at EBMonline.org
Vitamin deficiency hobbles Africa's economic development
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies have caused loss of productivity to baffle economic development in Africa, international organizations said, urging governments to take actions such as fortifying staple foods. It is estimated that vitamin and mineral deficiencies are costing sub-Saharan economies more than 2.3 billion US dollars a year in lost productivity, said a report of the World Health Organization, the Macronutrient Initiative, the United Nations Children's Fund, the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
>> Read article at Xinhuanet.com
October 3, 2004
Study showed vitamin D inadequacy highly prevalent among women treated for osteoporosis
More than half of (US) women currently treated for osteoporosis have suboptimal levels of vitamin D, according to new research presented today at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) meeting in Seattle. Study results demonstrated that despite routine physician recommendations that women diagnosed and treated for osteoporosis take over-the-counter (OTC) vitamin D supplementation, vitamin D inadequacy is still highly prevalent in this population.
>> Read article at MedicalNewsToday.com
October 1 , 2004
PR coup for herbal cancer drug
M any an oncologist must have been spluttering on their cornflakes while perusing the Daily Telegraph last week. Indeed, any doctor with a passing interest in scientific rigour might have wondered why the country's biggest selling and generally level headed broadsheet had devoted nearly the whole of a news page to an alleged miracle cure for cancer. Headlined "I've seen herbal remedy make tumours disappear, says respected cancer doctor," the piece gave extraordinary coverage to Dr Rosy Daniel's belief in the efficacy of Carctol, an Indian herbal preparation, and was accompanied by testimonies from Carctol's "walking miracles."
>> Read article at BMJ.com
September 27, 2004
Folic acid food fortification works
A recent study in Canada showed that the proportion of babies born with neural tube defects in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador dropped by 78 per cent after the Canadian government ruled that folic acid must be added to flour, cornmeal and pasta.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
September 23, 2004
Careful supplementation may reduce chemotherapy side-effects
Breast cancer patients who take a multivitamin or supplement with vitamin E experience a smaller decrease in important immune cells, a common side effect of chemotherapy, new research suggests.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
September 22, 2004
New Study Finds Use of Calcium and Folic Acid Could Save $15 Billion in Health Care Costs
A study released today shows that daily use of calcium would prevent 734,000 hip fractures and save $13.9 billion in health care costs over the next five years. Daily use of folic acid by women would prevent 600 cases of neural tube birth defects yearly, saving $1.3 billion in lifetime medical costs over five years. Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine and saw palmetto supplements showed substantial promise for improving health and quality of life and potentially reducing health care costs.
>> Read article at Supplementinfo.org
September 7, 2004
Green tea extract fights liver damage in mice
A team from the University of Hong Kong examined the effect of EGCG on mice treated with carbon tetrachloride, a model of liver injury. Two different doses of EGCG were tested on measures of free radical production and increases in lipid peroxidation and compared with a control group. “Green tea polyphenols can be a useful supplement in the treatment of liver disease and should be considered for liver conditions in which proinflammatory and oxidant stress responses are dominant,” they concluded.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
September 1, 2004
Vegetable compound stops breast cancer cell growth
The broccoli compound sulphurophane disrupts the growth of breast cancer cells in later stages, a US team has found. They say their study reveals for the first time a possible explanation for the compound’s well-known anti-cancer activity.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
August 20, 2004
Nutrient deficiencies double risk of malaria in deaths in children
Nearly 550,000 annual malaria deaths are attributable to underweight in children less than five years of age, according to global burden of disease data published earlier this year. Mildly malnourished children are twice as likely to die from malaria than children who are not undernourished, with the risk increasing with greater malnutrition.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
August 19, 2004
Vitamin B12 may also prevent birth defects
Mothers with low levels of vitamin B12 in their blood may be at increased risk
of having a child with the birth defect spina bifida, Dutch researchers report.
>> Read
article at NutraIngredients.com
August 17, 2004
Adding cancer-fighters to increase protection
The broccoli compound sulphoraphane and apigenin, a flavonoid found in fruits
like apples and cherries as well as tea, appear to work together against cancer
cells, according a new research to be published next month. The in vitro study
is part of a growing investigation into the potential synergy between different
natural compounds to achieve greater protection against cancer than from one
nutrient alone.
>> Read
article at NutraIngredients.com
Vitamin E Wards Off Colds in Elderly, Study Says
Vitamin E supplements ward off colds in the elderly and may help some seniors
avoid upper respiratory tract infections that can prove deadly, researchers
said on Tuesday.
>> Read
article at Reuters.com
August 6, 2004
Supplementation could replace hormone therapy
Vitamin A and iron supplementation is as effective as hormone therapy for enhancing
growth and promoting puberty in children, according to a new study.
>> Read
article at NutraIngredients.com
August 4, 2004
Babies exposed
to iron have reduced asthma risk
Babies exposed to high level of iron and selenium in the womb are less likely
to develop wheezing and eczema in early childhood according to the Avon Longitudinal
Study of Parents and Children.
>> Read
article at NutraIngredients.com
Antioxidants prevent lung cancer
Smokers taking a wide range of antioxidants through their diet, reduce their risk of getting lung cancer. This is demonstrated by a follow up study from a world famous research study (ATBC). The ATBC study has been the source of the opposite interpretation for ten years.
>> Read article at Vitalraadet.dk
July 29, 2004
Selenium link to heart disease marker
The trace mineral selenium should be considered as a potential factor to lower one of the markers of heart disease, homocysteine, say Spanish researchers. A team at the University of Oveido report that in a group of elderly people, those with the highest selenium intake had a 63 per cent decreased risk of higher total homocysteine concentrations.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
July 26, 2004
Drinking Tea Keeps Blood Pressure Down — Study
Drinkers of green and oolong tea are less likely to develop high blood pressure than nondrinkers, a Taiwanese study has found. The risk of hypertension, a condition that can lead to heart disease and stroke, declined the more green or oolong tea was consumed regularly.
>> Read article at Reuters.com
July 23, 2004
Scientists call for calcium, vitamin D fortification
A US cancer prevention expert says that if government required calcium and vitamin D to be added to foods, it could achieve a 20 per cent reduction in colon cancer deaths and osteoporosis-related fractures.
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
July 16, 2004
Vitamins may reduce birth defect rates
A birth defect intervention project began on Tuesday in North China's ShanxiProvince, targeting a reduction in the high rate of birth defects in some parts of the province. Experts believe the high rate of birth defects there is related to a lack of basic vitamins for women in the early stages of their pregnancies. An ample vitamin supply has been shown by scientists to be important to proper embryonic development, which can reduce the rate of some birth defects and improve the quality of births.
>> Read article at CHINADaily.com
Vitamin may ward off Alzheimer's
A vitamin found in a range of common foods could protect against Alzheimer's disease, researchers have claimed. A team from the Chicago Institute for Healthy Aging found niacin - vitamin B3 - was also linked to a reduced risk of age-related mental decline.
>> Read article at BBCNews.com
July 15, 2004
Broccoli compound may protect against AMD
Sulphoraphane, an indirect antioxidant found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts, protected eye cells from damage caused by UV light, which can lead to the increasingly common condition macular degeneration, reported researchers in the 13 July issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
>> Read article at NutraIngredients.com
July 1, 2004
What we have been saying all along:
Vitamins can stop Aids
A simple daily vitamin pill can delay the progress of AIDS in H.I.V.-infected women, an eight-year study by Harvard researchers has found. The study found that daily doses of multivitamins
slow down the disease and cut the risk of developing Aids in
half.
The researchers who conducted the study in Tanzania suggested that vitamin supplements could be used in developing countries to delay the need for Aids drugs, saving them for use at more advanced stages and avoiding their side effects.
>> Read the Study
>> Read article at NYTimes.com
>> Read article at MSNCB.com
>> Read article at IOL.co.za
June 14, 2004
Major study backs carotenoids' protective effects on heart
Further evidence to support the inclusion of carotenoids in food formulations comes from the blue with a new study showing that high blood levels of carotenoids, a family of disease-beating antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables, might reduce the risk of the most common type of stroke, ischaemic.
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
June 10, 2004
High vitamin C intake may protect against rheumatoid arthritis
A high vitamin C intake may protect against the development of painful widespread rheumatoid arthritis indicates research published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The findings are based on 23,000 men and women taking part in the ongoing European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC).
>> Read article at News-Medical.net
June 2, 2004
Vitamins help Vietnamese to greater heights
Every baby and toddler in Vietnam is to receive large regular doses of vitamin A as part of a plan to combat malnutrition and make the population taller.
>> Read article at Telegraph.co.uk
May 25, 2004
Vitamins enhance benefits of exercise for heart
Taking vitamin supplements appears to have a synergistic effect on the benefits of exercise for heart health, according to new research on mice.
>> Read article at NutraingredientsUSA.com
Green tea could prevent cancer of the oesophagus
Green tea may help to lower the prevalence of oesophageal adenocarcinoma, one of the fastest growing cancers in western countries, said researchers speaking at a meeting on digestive disease in the US last week.
>> Read article at Foodnavigator.com
May 18, 2004
Folic acid may cut bone fracture risk
Folic acid - the B vitamin found commonly in supplements is already known to prevent severe birth defects and to lower risk of death from heart disease. But it could also help to prevent broken bones in the elderly, suggest two major studies.
>> Read article at Foodnavigator.com
May 14, 2004
Folic acid and vitamin B may be a way to combat osteoporosis
Scientists may have found a new natural treatment in the fight against osteoporosis, allowing sufferers to avoid controversial hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which is commonly used to prevent and control the disease. Two major studies released yesterday found folic acid and other B vitamins can help reduce risk of broken bones in osteoporosis sufferers. The vitamins are used to treat severe birth defects and heart attacks.
>> Read article at TheHerald.co.uk
May 13, 2004
Novel vitamin discovery offers clues for cancer chemotherapy and lipid disorders
Dartmouth Medical School cancer researchers, in a fusion of biochemistry and genetics, have discovered a new vitamin in a molecular pathway central to such vital processes as gene regulation, metabolism and aging. And, they found that milk contains this nutrient. The work, published in the May 14 issue of Cell, defines another metabolic route to a compound called NAD and suggests that therapeutic approaches for cancer or heart disease may depend on the enzymes discovered.
>> Read article at Eurekalert.org
Million pound study investigates food solutions to health risks
’s food watchdog the Food Standards Agency will inject millions of pounds into a new landmark study that could shed light on specific foods that could reduce heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Western governments are increasingly turning to food choices and consumer diets as a way to tackle rising health concerns. Heart disease kills more people around the world than any other disease, according to the World Health Organisation, and there are currently more than 194 million people with diabetes worldwide.
>> Read article at Nutraintredients.com
May 5, 2004
Study suggests no risk from chromium picolinate
A peer-reviewed analysis of more than 60 studies assessing the safety of chromium picolinate suggests that there is no risk to human health from the product being used as a nutrient supplement.
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
May 4, 2004
NAC may remedy brain cell damage in boys
N-acetyl-cysteine, also known as NAC, enhances the production of the enzyme glutathione, and is thought to both stave off disease and play an important role in boosting the immune system.
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
April 20, 2004
Headway on natural chemotherapy for prostate cancer
A new study suggests that green and black tea polyphenols, already shown to fight other cancers, could slow the growth of prostate cancer cells. And the polyphenols appear to be quickly absorbed in human prostate tissue, according to the researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles. They were able to detect the compounds in prostate tissue after a very limited consumption of tea.
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
April 19, 2004
Polyphenols fight growth of breast cancer cells
Three different polyphenols, compounds found in wine, beer and tea, appear to significantly decrease breast cancer cells, according to new research from Portugal, which goes against previous findings showing that alcohol raises the risk of breast cancer.
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
April 14, 2004
Vitamin C supplement to beat diabetes and heart disease
Vitamin C appears to reduce levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation and possibly a better predictor of heart disease than cholesterol levels, shows research for the first time. The findings could provide tools to beat heart disease and diabetes
>> Read article at NutraingredientsUSA.com
April 12, 2004
Vitamin fights prostate cancer
Vitamin E can protect men from prostate cancer, according to researchers. Men with high levels of the alpha tocopherol form of vitamin E were 53 per cent less likely to develop prostate cancer
>> Read article at BBCNews.com
April 1, 2004
Green tea fights killer disease
The active component in green tea, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), already shown to fight several types of cancer, also appears to kill cells of the most common form of leukaemia, reports a US team this week. The researchers found that EGCG interrupts the communication signals needed by cancer cells to survive, prompting them to die in eight of 10 patient samples tested in the laboratory
>> Read article at Foodnavigator.com
March 30, 2004
Vitamin E has protective role in bladder cancer
A diet rich in vitamin E appears to protect against both prostate cancer and bladder cancer. A case-control study found that diets high in alpha-tocopherol could more than halve the risk of bladder cancer compared to people with a low intake
A diet rich in vitamin E appears to protect against both prostate cancer and bladder cancer. A case-control study found that diets high in alpha-tocopherol could more than halve the risk of bladder cancer compared to people with a low intake
>> Read article at Foodnavigator.com
March 22, 2004
Pycnogenol helps manage diabetes
Type 2 diabetes patients had lower blood sugar and healthier blood vessels after supplementing with French maritime pine tree bark extract Pycnogenol, report scientists in the latest study to investigate a natural product for diabetes management
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
March 19, 2004
Vitamin C gives us breathing space
Vitamin
C may prevent symptoms associated with respiratory diseases such as
cystic fibrosis and asthma by hydrating the airways and clearing them
from potential pathogens, report scientists this month, helping to
explain some of the positive results of previous studies on the vitamin
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
March 18, 2004
Vitamin in
milk offers way to help children
Food
such as milk may have to be fortified with vitamin D because
New Zealand
children, particularly
Pacific
Island
girls, are not getting enough sunlight. Indications are the Government
will likely approve this year the mandatory fortification of bread with
folate to reduce the risk of spina bifida babies
>> Read article at
NZHerald.co.nz
March 16, 2004
Folate may protect against ovarian
cancer too
A
high dietary folate intake may play a role in reducing the risk of
ovarian cancer, especially among women who consume alcohol, report
Swedish researchers
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
Vitamin D Compound Inhibits Breast
Cancer Cells
A vitamin D
formulation, combined with antibodies against a cancer-associated
protein, targets breast cancer cells in mice and inhibits tumor growth,
according to a report in the International Journal of Cancer. Vitamins
and other natural products that inhibit the growth of cancer cells in
the laboratory could be developed to prevent or treat various types of
cancer, Dr. Rajeshwari R. Mehta from
University
of
Illinois
at
Chicago
told Reuters Health.
"Targeted delivery of micronutrients will be safe and
non-toxic."
>> Read article at
Reuters.com
March 05, 2004
Vitamin B12 assay could improve current
methods
A new method to
detect deficiency of vitamin B12, which often goes undetected under
current testing procedures, could make it much easier to identify
malabsorption of the vitamin in patients, which can lead to anaemia and
severe health problems. The body
cannot make its own supplies of B12 yet without an adequate dietary
supply from animal sources or enriched cereals people can suffer
anaemia, risk nerve damage and even death. Vitamin B12 deficiency can go
undetected for several years, remaining invisible to doctors while the
likelihood of irreversible cell damage increases
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
Vitamin
A: Just what the DRC ordered
Democratic
Republic
of
Congo
Vice-President Arthur Zahidi Ngoma has launched a nationwide campaign to
give supplements of vitamin A to children between the ages of six months
and five years
>> Read article at
IOL.co.za
48,000 Lives Saved by Vitamin
Additive
A kind of B vitamin,
folic acid is essential for healthy fetal development. It's so important
that in 1996, the
U.S.
required that it be
added to all enriched grain products. By 2001, the Centers for Disease
Control estimates, the enrichment program kept 31,000 Americans from
dying of stroke and 17,000 from dying of heart disease
>> Read article at
WebMDHealth.com
March 04, 2004
Vitamin B12 levels linked to bone loss
Older women with low levels of vitamin B12 are more likely to experience rapid bone loss, according to new research, which helps to establish the importance of the vitamin in bone health. Vitamin B12 is needed to produce red blood cells and maintain a healthy nervous system. But little is known about the vitamin's affects on skeletal health, specifically among ageing women
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
March 02, 2004
Vitamin D supplements for infants may prevent schizophrenia
Giving vitamin D supplements to newborn boys may reduce their risk of schizophrenia, say researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK . Low levels of the vitamin during early life has previously been proposed as a risk factor for the disease but use of supplements to protect against it has not been investigated
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
March 01, 2004
Folate fortification more effective than thought
Folate fortification of flour may have worked better than previously thought to reduce the number of children born with neural tube defects (NTDs), suggests a new study looking at the impact of the recently launched fortification campaign in the US . Significant evidence suggests that the risk of birth defects is higher if the mother's diet lacks sufficient folic acid
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
February 26, 2004
B vitamin may protect against blood poisoning
Vitamin B2 could be used to help treat patients with sepsis, report Japanese researchers at vitamin maker Eisai. The new study, published in the March issue of Infection and Immunity (p 1820-1823, vol 72, no 3), found that mice given a highly purified form of the vitamin were more likely to survive blood poisoning. In the study by Kohtarou Kodama and colleagues from Eisai's Tsukuba Research Laboratories in Japan , 95 per cent of mice injected with the vitamin were still alive one week after being infected with the bacteria Escherichia coli , which causes sepsis. Only 10 per cent of the untreated animals survived however
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
February 24, 2004
Taking Vitamin D Supplements Lowers Risk of Multiple Sclerosis
Women who take vitamin D supplements through multivitamins are 40 percent less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than women who do not take supplements, according to a study published in the January 13 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology
>> Read article at ScienceBlog.com
February 22, 2004
Proper nutrition can eliminate most common diseases
plementing our regular diet with concentrated vitamins, minerals, plant hormones, enzymes and amino acids can help eliminate most of the common diseases, Professor Charles Ssali , director, Mariandina Nutritional Health Products, said at the 2nd International Scientific Symposium on Diabetes and Kidney Disease in Doha
>> Read article at ThePeninsulaQatar.com
February 19, 2004
Pycnogenol reduces need for hypertension drugs
High blood pressure patients can significantly reduce their prescription medication by taking an antioxidant supplement to improve heart health, show the results of a new clinical study p ublished in January's issue of Life Sciences (74(7):855-62). The double-blind, placebo-controlled study demonstrated that 58 participants with high blood pressure medication were able to cut their dosage of prescribed medication in half when they supplemented with the French maritime pine tree bark extract Pycnogenol
>> Read article at NutraingredientsUSA.com
February 17, 2004
Antioxidants may fight type 2 diabetes
A high intake of dietary antioxidants appears to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by Finnish researchers. While the results are not conclusive, they are an important indication of potential for prevention of diabetes, set to cause major public health problems in the future. There are currently more than 194 million people with diabetes worldwide but if nothing is done to slow the epidemic, the number will exceed 333 million by 2025, according to the International Diabetes Federation
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
February 3, 2004
No nutrients please, we're British!
Recent statistics from the National Diet & Nutrition Survey, the largest dietary survey of its kind in the UK carried out by the Department of Health, show that only 14 per cent of people are eating the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. In addition, the majority, especially those aged 19-24, are not meeting the Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) of key essential nutrients. RNI is the amount of a nutrient that is adequate to prevent deficiencies in 97.5 per cent of the population
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
Antioxidants reduce asthma risk in children
Higher levels of the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin C, along with the antioxidant trace mineral selenium, were associated with a lower risk of asthma in a large study on young Americans published this week
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
January 26, 2004
Vitamin D may reduce sclerosis risk
Women who take vitamin D as a food supplement have their risk of developing multiple sclerosis cut by nearly half compared with women who take no supplements, researchers have said. Kassandra Munger, of Harvard School of Public Health, said in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology that women who took high levels of vitamin D from food and a vitamin pill, had a reduced risk. She found that vitamin D derived from food alone did not have the same effect.
>> Read article at Iribnews.com
January 23, 2004
Folate could help prevent stroke
Men with a high intake of folic acid are at significantly lower risk of stroke, finds new research confirming previous studies. The researchers say there could be enough evidence to support advice encouraging men to increase their folate intake to help prevent stroke
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
January 19, 2004
Vitamin E, C Supplements May Prevent Alzheimer's
A study involving more than 4700 participants strongly suggests that the combination of vitamin C and E lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease
>> Read article at Reuters.com
January 13, 2004
Vitamin D reduces risk of MS
Women who take vitamin D supplements through multivitamins are 40 per cent less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than women who do not take supplements, shows a study published today
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com
January 12, 2004
Vitamin D, further evidence of role in autoimmune diseases
Vitamin D intake appears to be inversely associated with rheumatoid arthritis, according to a new study that investigates the link between the vitamin and reduced risk of the disease in postmenopausal women. Rheumatoid arthritis is thought to be caused by a cellular immune response directed at an unknown antigen. Medical care costs for rheumatoid arthritis exceed $6000 per year per patient, according to the World Health Organisation
>> Read article at Nutraingredients.com |
