In addition, Actos (pioglitazone), a drug used to treat diabetes, also improved many features of NASH but was associated with weight gain.

NASH is a chronic liver disease that is linked to weight gain and obesity and can lead to cirrhosis, or scarring, liver cancer and death. It resembles alcoholic liver disease but occurs in patients who drink little or no alcohol. NASH can occur in children, the elderly, normal-weight, and non-diabetic persons.

The disease is apparently caused by abnormal metabolism of fats, which increases levels of oxidants, compounds that transfer oxygen in the liver. In the Pioglitazone or Vitamin E for NASH Study (PIVENS), investigators from the NASH Clinical Research Network (CRN) compared the two different treatments to placebo.

Vitamin E functions as an anti-oxidant while Actos improves the sensitivity of cells to insulin, a hormone that controls sugar and fat metabolism.

PIVENS is the largest placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial of therapies ever conducted for NASH.

“This is an important landmark in the search for effective treatments for NASH,” said Dr. Pat Robuck, the NASH CRN project scientist. The PIVENS trial randomly assigned 247 adults with NASH and without diabetes into three groups.

Researchers reported that vitamin E and Actos helped certain patients with NASH. After 96 weeks of treatment, vitamin E improved all features of NASH except the degree of cirrhosis in the liver.

Forty-three per cent of participants treated with vitamin E met the primary endpoint of the trial compared to only 19 per cent of those who received a placebo. The primary endpoint was a composite of the scores for several features of NASH—retention of lipids, liver inflammation, and liver degeneration. The scores were used to assess disease activity.

While Actos improved liver inflammation and retention of lipids in 34 per cent of individuals who received it, suggesting a benefit, the improvement fell short of being statistically significant.

Actos also led to an undesirable weight gain of 10 pounds over the 96-week trial. There was an early improvement in liver enzyme tests among participants receiving either Actos or vitamin E.

However, upon stopping the medications, the liver enzymes worsened again suggesting the need for long-term treatment. “This study was conducted in people who had NASH but did not have diabetes. The benefits of either treatment in NASH patients who have diabetes remain unknown. Also, the study lasted only two years and the potential long-term benefits and risks of taking vitaminE or Actos in these doses are still uncertain,” said Dr. Arun Sanyal, NASH CRN co-chair.

Via indiatimes

Where it comes from: Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body—despite the fact that it’s not essential. Most glutamine is stored in muscles followed by the lungs, where much of the glutamine is made. It’s involved in many metabolic processes, and is the principal carrier of nitrogen in the body and is an important energy source for many cells.

What it’ll do for you: “Glutamine has become increasingly popular among athletes, as it is believed that it helps prevent infections following athletic events and speeds post-exercise recovery,” explains registered dietitian and American Dietetic Association spokesperson Jim White. Doctors use glutamine when men are in a catabolic state of injury or after surgeries. In the commercial world, glutamine is also marketed as a supplement used for muscle growth in bodybuilding and demanding sports. Here, a more detailed look at what it can do:

• Ease trauma and burns
  A double-blind study published in 2003 looked at 45 adults with severe burns—some were given glutamine supplements and others were given a control mixture. The researchers reported that glutamine supplementation in adult burn patients reduced blood infections by a factor of three, prevented a certain pathogen and reduced mortality rates.
• Speed wound healing in postoperative patients
  In a 2001, a study looked at patients who underwent elective surgery. Those who were given glutamine supplements intravenously showed improvement in nitrogen balance throughout their body, a corrected decreased glutamine concentration in the skeletal muscle amino acid pool and enhanced protein synthesis. Other randomized blind trials reported a decreased length in hospital stay in postoperative patients receiving glutamine supplementation.
• Halt the breakdown of muscles and stimulate new growth
  Amino acids form the proteins that help build much of the body’s tissue—including muscle. During intense exercise blood and muscle levels of glutamine tend to fall. Additionally, studies have proven that, after a hardworkout, muscles are torn down. To reverse this effect, nutrients must be fed to the muscles and protein synthesis must be stimulated to build new muscle. “If we supplement our body with glutamine before an intense training we allow our body to keep a high supply of glutamine in the muscles and stop them from breaking down,” White explains. “This means the body can use the glutamine in the muscles to synthesize protein and build muscle mass.”
• Helps relieve treatment-related side effects of cancer
  Doctors often prescribe glutamine supplements to cancer patients to help treat diarrhea, inflammation of the mouth lining, sore throats and tingling fingers and toes. Positive results have been found with patients receiving radiation therapy, bone marrow transplants and certain chemotherapies.

Suggested intake: “The body can make enough glutamine for its regular needs,” says White. Because the body synthesizes it, glutamine deficiency is not very common. Glutamine is also found in plant and animal proteins such as beef, pork and poultry, milk, yogurt, ricotta and cottage cheese, tofu, beans, eggs, raw spinach, raw parsley and cabbage.

For those looking to take glutamine for muscle mass, note that adults should avoid ingesting more than 40 grams per day.

Supplements are available in powder or capsule form. The powder form is often preferred by customers because the dosage is bigger in one small scoop compared to a few capsules. When mixed with liquids, glutamine powder is virtually tasteless.

There are two types of glutamine supplements—glutamine peptides and L-glutamine. L-glutamine is “free form” and not bonded to other amino acids. Most supplement takers prefer glutamine peptides, which are bonded to other amino acids and are more stable and better assimilated by the body. However, most studies showing the benefits of glutamine supplements use L-glutamine and not peptides.

Associated risks/scrutiny: Glutamine supplements are considered possibly safe for most men when taken orally, but the potential side effects of glutamine are unknown.

Via mensfitness

Recent studies suggest that modifiable risk factors such as cigarette smoking and fructose consumption can worsen nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). With NAFLD, fat accumulates in the liver of overweight individuals despite drinking little alcohol, causing in some cases liver scarring that can lead to liver failure. Identifying modifiable factors that contribute to disease severity and progression is essential in improving patient outcomes. Details of these studies are published in the May issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

NAFLD is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide and research suggests the number of cases will climb given an increasing trend toward higher fat diets, obesity, decreased physical activity, and a rise in diabetes. Past studies indicate that more than 30 million Americans have NAFLD and approximately 8 million may have nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

In the first study, Ramón Bataller, M.D., and colleagues from the Hospital Clínic in Barcelona, Spain investigated the effects of cigarette smoking (CS) in obese rats. Rats were divided into 4 groups (n=12 per group): obese smokers, obese non-smokers, control smokers and control non-smokers. Smoker rats were exposed to 2 cigarettes/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks. Researchers found that obese rats exposed to CS showed a significant increase in ALT serum levels (indicating liver disease), while this effect was not observed in control rats.

“Our results show that CS causes oxidative stress and worsens the severity of NAFLD in obese rats,” said Dr. Bataller. “Further studies should investigate longer exposures to CS, and assess whether this finding also occurs in patients with obesity and NAFLD.”

In her editorial, also published in Hepatology this month, Claudia Zein, M.D., from the Cleveland Clinic, noted that “the importance of these results is that taken together with other experimental and clinical data, they support that cigarette smoking appears to aggravate liver injury in patients with liver disease”. Dr. Zein added, “Studies characterizing the effects of cigarette smoking in human NAFLD will be crucial because of the vast number of patients that may benefit from modification of this risk factor.”

Additionally, prior studies suggest an over consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), primarily in the form of soft-drinks, have contributed to weight gain and the rise in obesity, particularly in children and adolescents. Table sugar (sucrose) and HFCS are the two major dietary sources of fructose. Over the past 40 years, consumption of dietary fructose has increased 1,000% according to Bray et al, and doctors believe it to be a major cause of NAFLD.

Researchers from Duke University studied 341 adults enrolled in the NASH Clinical Research Network who responded to a Block food questionnaire within 3 months of a liver biopsy. Fructose consumption was estimated conservatively by including that found in beverages, which accounts for 50% of dietary fructose intake. Results showed that 27.9% of participants consumed at least 1 fructose-containing beverage per day, 52.5% had 1 to 6 beverages with fructose per week, and 19.7% drank no beverages with fructose.

“In patients with NAFLD, daily fructose ingestion was associated with reduced fatty liver (steatosis), but we found increased fibrosis,” noted Manal Abdelmalek, M.D., M.P.H, and lead author of the study. “Further dietary intervention studies are needed to evaluate whether a low-fructose diet improves metabolic disturbances associated with NAFLD and improves patient outcomes for those at risk of disease progression,” concluded Dr. Abdelmalek.

A second fructose study led by Ling-Dong Kong, M.D., from Nanjing University in China investigated the effects of curcumin on fructose-induced hypertriglyceridemia and fatty liver in rats. Curcumin, a compound derived from turmeric (curcuma root), is sold as an herbal supplement and is believed to have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-viral properties. Researchers observed a hyperactivity of hepatic protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), which is associated with defective insulin and leptin signaling, in fructose-fed rats.

For the first time this study demonstrated that curcumin inhibited hepatic PTP1B expression and activity in fructose-fed rats. “Our results provide novel insights into the potential therapeutic mechanisms of curcumin on fructose-induced hepatic steatosis associated with insulin and leptin resistance,” said Dr. Kong.

These studies indicate modifying risks such as smoking and fructose consumption offer potential benefits for those with liver diseases. Further studies are needed to explore these benefits in preventing the progression of liver disease.

Via healthnewsdigest

Research on pregnant women has found that taking vitamin and mineral supplements may reduce the risk of underweight babies.

A clinical trial conducted on 400 newly pregnant women from a disadvantaged area of London is a first of its kind and was led by a lecturer in the University’s Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Dr Louise Brough.

The findings, recently published in the British Journal of Nutrition, are that a multiple micronutrient supplement during pregnancy improves the nutritional status of mothers and may reduce the risk of small-for gestational-age babies.

Dr Louise Brough says the study, which was double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled, initially found significant levels of vitamin and mineral deficiency amongst the mothers during early pregnancy, which was of concern to the researchers. “It is especially important to have good nutrient levels during early pregnancy as this is a critical time for development of the fetus,” Dr Brough says. At the commencement of the study, 72 per cent had low levels of vitamin D in their blood, 13 per cent were anaemic and 12 per cent were thiamin deficient.

“This research highlights the concerning fact that a number of women, even in the developed world, are lacking in important nutrients during pregnancy,” Dr Brough says. “Of course, a good diet during pregnancy is important for a healthy pregnancy, but for those who do not have a good diet, multivitamin and mineral supplements will help to reduce the risk of deficiency.”

Women who took the multiple micronutrient supplements during the trial rather than the placebo benefited in two ways: a reduction in small-for-gestational-age infants relative to the placebo, and an improvement in the mothers’ nutrient status relative to the placebo.

Markers of iron, folate, thiamin and vitamin D status were all higher during the third trimester in the vitamin group. Dr Brough says this shows that “nutrient deficiencies are correctable and they may influence birth outcomes”.

Of particular note was the effect of the supplement on iron deficiency. Iron levels fell as the pregnancies progressed, but the decrease was less in those receiving the supplement. In late pregnancy, 55 per cent of women taking the placebo were anaemic compared to only 36 per cent of women taking the supplement. This suggests that even women with good initial iron status may benefit later in pregnancy from low level iron supplementation.

“A baby’s health can be adversely affected if it is too small at birth, both in early and later life,” Dr Brough says. “Being small for gestational age implies intra-uterine growth restriction and a degree of poor fetal nutrition. This study shows that supplementing with a specific multivitamin supplement may help to reduce this. Although the numbers are small, the data is statistically significant and consistent with what is known about maternal-fetal nutrition and justifies a larger study.”

Via sciencealert

COMPLEMENTARY medicine can help to treat many problems, but it’s important to be aware of underlying conditions and potential interactions with prescription medication.

Before you swallow that herbal supplement with your juice tomorrow morning, or head off for some natural therapy, ask yourself, could this be making me more sick?

In most cases the answer will be a resounding no, but occasionally there could be adverse side effects, especially if you’re being treated for a medical condition.

For instance, echinacea, one of the most popular supplements used to combat colds and flu, may also cause allergies and is not recommended for people with conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and, in some cases, asthma.

Even the humble multivitamin can cause nerve toxicity if not taken correctly (see box, right).

Similarly, if you suffer from depression, stroke, heart disease or cancer, you need to consider carefully the supplements you are swallowing.

A recent survey of cancer patients at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital found that more than half of them were using a mixture of complementary and alternative therapies which, according to the hospital’s safe medicines specialist, could interfere with the anti-cancer medication they had been prescribed.

Natural takeover

Fifty years ago this would not have been an issue, but today Australians are embracing complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in droves.

About 70 per cent of us look to alternative solutions to medical problems each year, spending up to four times more on CAM than we do on orthodox medical treatment, according to the Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia.

Self-prescribed vitamins, herbal medicines and mineral supplements are the most common forms of CAM.

For the most part, it is with good reason. Numerous credible studies show that complementary medicine can aid in the prevention or treatment of various medical conditions, from vitamin D for osteoporosis and glucosamine for osteoarthritis, to St John’s wort for depression and folic acid for birth defects.

One US study found that daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids was doing more than reducing the occurrence of coronary heart disease; it was saving the hospital system almost a billion dollars a year.

CAM is also relatively harm-free, at least according to the Complementary Healthcare Council of Australia. The council says a 2002 survey found that 23 per cent of Australians who were recently ill had suffered from a medical or pharmaceutical drug error in the past two years. By comparison, there were just 483 adverse reports regarding CAM in 2002.

Even the orthodox medical world is beginning to accept that CAM has a role in maintaining wellness and preventing illness, and today most medical schools incorporate it into their curriculum, while up to 80 per cent of all GPs use some form of complementary medicine to varying degrees in their treatment.

Exercise caution

But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise some caution, warns Dr Vicki Kotsirilos, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ Australasian Integrative Medicine Association joint working party.

“The good news is that overall complementary medicine is relatively safe,” she says.

“However we also know there is significant under-reporting [of adverse reactions]. We know that half of all patients who are taking complementary medicines don’t tell their GPs because they fear they’ll be dismissed or jumped on.

This is a real concern because of the risk of interactions with pharmaceutical medicine and because if they’ve had side effects [from the complementary medicine], and their doctor is wondering why they’re unwell, that’s a problem.”

It should also be remembered that not all CAM has sound scientific evidence behind it. “Some areas of complementary medicine have been proven to be helpful for cancer patients, for instance, such as music therapy, meditation, acupuncture and gentle reflexology,” Dr Kotsirilos says.

“These therapies can improve quality of life and work alongside an orthodox approach.

But if you Google ‘cancer therapy’ you will come across hundreds of therapies, from shark cartilage to ozone therapy, which carry little evidence and are negative and risky, not just in terms of the side effects, but also [in terms of] the financial cost and the time wasted in not getting proper treatment.”

Be informed

The first step to using CAM safely is to get informed. “People think because they’re herbs, we use them in cooking and they’ve been around for thousands of years, that they’re natural and therefore safe,” Dr Kotsirilos says. “But they do carry pharmacological activities and they can interact and have side effects.”

Sydney-based naturopath Jennifer McLennan agrees. “People often think that if one tablet is good, two is better,” she says.

“Yet this isn’t necessarily the case. My opinion is that problems occur when people are self-managing and self-medicating with complementary medicines and not managing this with a healthcare professional.

“We always refer people to their doctor or health professional.”

Even if you’re buying a simple multivitamin, have a chat with your pharmacist, read the label carefully and always see a trained and accredited allied practitioner. You also need to keep your GP in the loop about what you’re taking.

Open disclosure

“If you’ve got a health problem I would always start with your trusted GP because they know your history,” Dr Kotsirilos says.

“Tell them what you’re taking, what you’d like to do and see if you can do it as a team. They might say, ‘Yes, we’ve got time, try the natural approach and we’ll monitor you and make sure you’re safe’.”

And if they’re not sympathetic or informed, find a GP who is, says McLennan.

“Problems occur because people are either too scared to tell their doctor, or realise that their doctor has no idea whether a herb or nutrient is contraindicated with their meds, therefore the public are left with no choice but to wing it.”

While a third of all GPs now describe themselves as practising “integrative medicine”, Dr Kotsirilos says it’s important doctors are respectful and open with patients.

“It’s also really important that doctors have access to good resources and databases to obtain factual information about complementary medicine and to quickly check on interactions, risk factors, side effects and efficacy.”

Spotlight on…

Please note this is not a comprehensive list of herbal medicines. In all cases, consult your GP before taking a herb, especially if you are pregnant or have a medical condition.

• St John’s wort Used for: treating depression, healing wounds and burns. May help treat infections, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), eczema, haemorrhoids, social phobia and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Avoid if: you are taking antidepressants, the contraceptive pill, antihistamines, cough medicines, drugs that suppress the immune system and sedatives or are pregnant. Possible side effects: gastrointestinal symptoms, allergic reactions, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth and photosensitivity.
• Vitamin B6 Used for: brain development and function, to influence mood, regulate the body clock and relieve stress. May also reduce risk of heart disease, morning sickness, depression, PMS, carpal tunnel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.
Avoid if: taking certain antibiotics and antidepressants. High doses over a long period may cause B6 toxicity, resulting in nerve toxicity and neurological disorders. Other side effects: allergic skin reactions, sensitivity to sunlight, nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite.
• Ginseng Used for: treating fatigue, stress and illness. May also help with Alzheimer’s, cancer and menopause.
Avoid if: taking heart medications, blood thinners, psychiatric medications and morphine, drinking lots of caffeine, are about to have surgery or are pregnant. High doses may cause insomnia, high blood pressure, vomiting, headaches, bleeding and breast pain.
• Black cohosh Used for: common menopausal symptoms.
Avoid if: you develop liver pain, look yellow, have dark urine, abdominal pain or nausea. High doses may cause diarrhoea, headaches, dizziness, joint pain and vomiting. It may interfere with some breast cancer treatments.
• Echinacea Used for: boosting the immune system and warding off colds.
Avoid if: you suffer from diabetes, leukaemia, tuberculosis, connective tissue disorders, multiple sclerosis, HIV or AIDS, autoimmune diseases or liver disorders. It may also cause allergic reactions in people who have asthma or plant allergies.
• Dong quai Used for: treating menstrual disorders and symptoms. May help reduce pain, dilate blood vessels and stimulate and relax uterine muscles.
Avoid if: you’re on blood-thinning medication, have cardiovascular problems and low blood pressure or are at risk of hormone-related cancers.

Questions to ask

What to consider before you pop that herbal supplement or sign up for that therapy…

• Do you have an underlying medical condition?
• Have you discussed it with your GP?
• Have you consulted an accredited practitioner?
• Are you taking the proper dosage or getting the correct treatment?
• Do you really need it or can you get the same health benefits through lifestyle (sleep, exercise, diet…)?

Via herldsun

It may be a good idea for men to incorporate more omega-3 fatty acids into their diet as a new study is suggesting that a lack of thenutritional supplements could potentially lead to infertility.

According to researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, male infertility can be treated with omega-3 fatty acids. The scientists found that mice that were lacking docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), were basically infertile. However, upon introducing DHA to the mices’ diet, fertility was completely restored.

The body creates DHA from dietary acids that are found in omega-3 fatty acids, which is why adding more of the supplement to the diet could be beneficial to fertility.

“We get hints from looking at sperm in the DHA-deficient animals about what type of pathology we may be looking at and why these polyunsaturated fatty acids are important,” said Manabu Nakamura, a U of I associate professor of food science and human nutrition.

The scientists concluded that more research needs to be done in order to understand all of the benefits that come from the nutritional supplement. It has previously been discovered that omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial to heart health.

Via oromoindex

Two studies released this week reach contradictory conclusions on the value of B vitamins and folic acid (or folate in its naturally occurring form) in reducing the risks of heart disease. What are doctors and their patients to make of this?

“Not much,” says Dr. Steven Woloshin of Dartmouth University’s Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice.

“One study is very weak and the conclusions can’t be believed and the other’s results don’t add much for practitioners or their patients,” Woloshin told Reuters Health.

In the first study, Japanese researchers wanted to know if folate and vitamins B6 and B12 in the diet would have any affect on deaths due to heart disease.

Foods that are rich in B vitamins and folate include beans, lentils, potatoes, peanuts, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and some fruits such as bananas, strawberries, and oranges.

Using data from the large observational Japan Collaborative Cohort Study, Dr. Renzhe Cui and colleagues calculated the nutrients eaten daily by 23,119 men and 35,611 women by analyzing their answers given in food “frequency” questionnaires.

After 14 years of follow-up, 3815 deaths related to heart disease were recorded in the study population of 58,730: 986 from stroke, 424 from coronary heart disease, 318 from heart failure, and 2087 from cardiovascular disease.

In a nutshell, the results suggested that eating a diet high in folate and vitamin B6 was associated with reduced risk of death from heart failure in men and with reduced risk of death from stroke, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular disease in women.

In the American Heart Association’s journal Stroke, the researchers conclude that greater folate and vitamin B6 in the diet may be useful in preventing cardiovascular disease.

Woloshin questions the validity of such a claim, because of the study’s design. The researchers can’t tell from the data what factors may be responsible for the observed differences, Woloshin said: “There’s nothing to hang your hat on.”

“For instance, women were more likely to smoke if they ate less folate. Maybe they have other less healthy habits and that’s why they are more likely to die of heart failure,” Woloshin said. The data gathered in the observational study doesn’t say.

A randomized controlled trial, such as the study by the other research group, is needed to make such claims, he said.

Researchers at the University of Bergen in Norway looked at data gathered in the Western Norway B Vitamin Intervention Trial, which included 3,090 patients suspected of having coronary artery disease.

Participants had angiograms to look at restricted blood flow in the coronary arteries. Blood was also collected to measure levels of an enzyme, homocysteine. High blood levels of homocysteine have been associated with increased risk of heart disease.

Study subjects were randomly assigned to take one of three supplement formulations of folic acid, B6 and B12, or a placebo. One hundred eighty-three patients, with a total of 309 lesions in their coronary arteries, were included in this study’s analysis. After 10 months, blood was tested, follow-up angiograms were performed and blockages measured again.

Even though homocysteine in the blood was reduced an average of 22 percent in the patients who got a folic acid/B12 supplement, “overall disease progression was not affected,” the researchers found.

Writing in the American Journal of Cardiology, Kjetil Loland and colleagues reported detecting “no statistically significant results from treatment.” Coronary artery disease had progressed unabated, they note. In fact in one subgroup, CAD appeared to progress more rapidly for those getting the supplement.

“It must be noted that this was in a post-hoc analysis of a subgroup of patient. We felt however obliged to report this finding,” Loland told Reuters Health in an email.

Otherwise, “the results support a growing amount of evidence that B-vitamin treatment of cardiovascular disease is ineffective” in patients with established cardiovascular disease,” Loland added.

The results also suggest, Loland said, that high homocysteine levels are not a cause of heart disease and treatments aimed at reducing them won’t reduce the heart disease risk itself.

Loland said that by using two measurements of arterial blockage, he and his colleagues were, for the first time, able to look at “clinically silent disease progression.”

Woloshin believes significant research now has settled the question of whether folic acid and B vitamin supplementation help reduce the risks of heart disease. “It doesn’t,” he said.

Via reuters

Herbal supplements company Blackmores Ltd is expecting a healthy increase in annual profit after posting a strong rise for the nine months to March 31.

Chief executive Christine Holgate said the company was confident about upcoming marketing activity and expected full year net profit to be higher than the previous year’s $20.8 million.

“However, we are mindful of some weakening in the retail sector and the impact of the Australian dollar on sales from Asia,” she said on Thursday.

“Fourth quarter sales last year were exceptional as a result of public health concerns about swine flu and were also supported by the government stimulus packages in Australia.”

In the three months to March 30 Blackmores posted a net profit of $6.2 million, up 68 per cent on the previous corresponding period.

That took net profit for the nine months to March to $19 million, up 21 per cent on the previous corresponding period.

The vitamin and herbal supplement distributor’s sales for both periods were significantly higher than the previous corresponding periods, Ms Holgate said.

In Australia, $135.5 million in sales for the nine months to March was 13 per cent higher than the corresponding previous period.

The most prominent sales growth in Asia came in Thailand, where sales were up 40 per cent on the previous corresponding period, while in Malaysia sales were up 16 per cent.

Revenues from Asia were weaker however due to the stronger Australian dollar.

New Zealand sales were up three per cent on the previous corresponding period.

Via smh

Researchers in China say studies in rats indicate substances in green tea may protect against eye diseases such as glaucoma.

Scientists led by Chi Pui Pang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Eye Hospital confirmed green tea substances — known for antioxidant and disease-fighting properties — were absorbed in the lens, retina and other eye tissue.

The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, suggested until now it was not known if green tea substances actually passed from the gastrointestinal tract into eye tissue.

The researchers analyzed the eye tissue of laboratory rats that drank green tea and found several “catechins” in green tea that contain antioxidants — including vitamin C, vitamin E, lutein and zeaxanthin — were absorbed by the eye in significant amounts.

The researchers said green tea catechins reduced harmful oxidative stress in the eye for up to 20 hours.

“Our results indicate that green tea consumption could benefit the eye against oxidative stress,” the study researchers said in a statement.

Via upi

Providing vitamin supplements to poorly nourished women during pregnancy may reduce the risk of them giving birth to underweight babies, a study has shown.

A trial of 400 women in Hackney, east London, found the number of “small-for-gestational age” babies was reduced among those who took a multi-vitamin supplement compared with those given a placebo.

The findings suggest diet in pregnancy may affect the health of babies later in life. Babies who are underweight at birth have a higher incidence of heart and other problems in adulthood.

The women in the study, conducted by the Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition at London Metropolitan University and published in the Journal of Nutrition, had higher levels of vitamin and mineral deficiency than the general population, indicative of a poor diet.

More than two thirds (72 per cent) had low levels of vitamin D in their blood, 13 per cent were anaemic (low levels of iron) and 12 per cent were deficient in thiamin. Lead researcher Dr Louise Brough said although the study was small, its findings were “statistically significant and justify a larger study”. Eight of the 88 babies (9 per cent) born to mothers using the supplements were underweight compared to 13 of the 61 women (20 per cent) in the placebo group.

Professor Michael Crawford, the study’s co-author and director of the Institute, said the study “blows out of the water the idea that all women in the UK are adequately nourished”.

Attempts to encourage better diets as a way of improving the nutritional status of mothers in socially deprived areas were often hampered by lack of money, differing cultures and hectic lifestyles, the researchers said.

Consultant obstetrician Pat O’Brien, of University College London, said: “Small babies are more likely to have breathing problems, develop jaundice and [have] difficulties with temperature control in the short-term but even more problems in the long-term.

“If a baby is short of nutrients in the womb, then they are more likely later in life to suffer from obesity, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. What happens to a baby in the womb can almost programme the baby for life.”

Mr O’Brien said it was important to take specially tailored multi-vitamins during pregnancy. “You have to be cautious about taking random vitamins in pregnancy, they may cause harm,” he added. Previous research suggested vitamins A, C and E might make babies smaller. He added that it would be much cheaper to give out supplements than look after small babies in intensive care.

Via independent

Vitamin K — found in green leafy vegetables — may protect against non-Hodgkin lymphoma, U.S. researchers said.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma — cancer of the immune system — was approximately 45 percent lower for those whose vitamin K intake was in the top quarter, vs. those whose intake of the vitamin was in the bottom quarter.

The fat-soluble vitamin known for its effect on blood clotting seems to play a role in inhibiting inflammatory cytokines which may play a role in the disease, the researchers said.

“These results are provocative, since they are the first work we have done on the connection between vitamin K and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and this is a fairly strong protective effect,” lead investigator Dr. James Cerhan said in a statement. “However, as with all new findings, this will need to be replicated in other studies.”

Cerhan and colleagues surveyed the diets and supplements for the last two years of 603 newly diagnosed Non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients as well as 1,007 matched cancer-free controls.

The researchers cautioned vitamin K can interact with certain drugs — such anti-coagulants or seizure medications — and patients taking them need to follow their physician’s recommendations on diet.

Via officalwire

A PRAHRAN clinic is conducting an Australian-first study into how Chinese herbal medicine might help treat osteoarthritis.

Researchers Associate Professor Peter Ryan (Monash University), PhD candidate Bin Hua (Victoria University), and practitioner Kylie O’Brien are running the Centre for Clinical Studies trial.

It is investigating the alternative medicine’s effectiveness on the common joint disorder, specific to symptoms of the knee.

Alternative medicines have long been used to treat the ailment, but Dr O’Brien said Australia’s ageing population meant it was the right time for a “high-quality scientific study” into the herbal approach.

“There’s a lot of evidence that we are already big users of complementary medicines,” she said.

The researchers hope that if the herbal method proves effective, it could provide an alternative treatment without the side effects of some Western medications.

“Many, many studies have already been conducted in China and the treatment has established itself there,” Dr O’Brien said.

The study started last year and is expected to run for another six months.

People with knee osteoarthritis keen to volunteer can call the centre on 1800 243 733.

Via Leader

An herbal product known as “K2,” “spice” or simply “legal pot” is readily available and in high demand in Chicago head shops, despite warnings from health and drug-enforcement officials that smoking the herb may be dangerous.

For now, K2 is completely legal in Illinois. Since about 2006, it has been marketed as either incense or potpourri, but the herbs in the product are sprayed with a synthetic chemical similar to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is found in marijuana. Many say that when K2 is smoked, it’s similar to smoking a joint.

“You have these products that were not meant for human consumption that are being used for human consumption because they reportedly have effects similar to THC,” said Will Taylor, public information officer for the Chicago office of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “Some of it is even more potent than THC. What has happened is a lot of these products aren’t produced in the U.S. but in foreign countries. They’re uncontrolled and unregulated, so they may have unknown effects on the human body.”

Last month, lawmakers in the Illinois House passed legislation that would classify K2 as a controlled substance. That bill awaits Senate approval. Kansas was the first state to ban the product, and Missouri lawmakers are considering a similar prohibition.

“We’ve got to get out ahead of the curve,” said state Rep.Raymond Poe, a Springfield Republican who sponsored the Illinois legislation. “We’re just trying to protect people a little bit against themselves.”

The most common active ingredient in K2, JWH-018, was first synthesized in the 1990s by Clemson University scientist John Huffman. The researcher said he believes the federal government should ban the substance because of the dangers it presents.

Anthony Burda, chief specialist for the Illinois Poison Center, said the center started getting calls about K2 late last year. He said that in the last six to eight weeks, the center has fielded 20 to 30 calls, mostly from emergency room doctors.

Burda said the patients, typically in their late teens or early 20s, experienced anxiety, agitation and nausea and needed four to eight hours to recover.

“We consider it a drug of concern,” said Taylor, of the DEA. “We’re aware that it’s out there and it’s an issue, but at this time we don’t have any regulatory authority over it.”

In Chicago, K2 can be found for about $60 per 3-gram packet. Chicago police say that’s about three times the street value of marijuana.

Via chicagotribune

The term eczema encompasses a number of red, itchy skin conditions. Eczema may appear as a dry, scaly rash or weepy, oozing blisters. It is a type of dermatitis that literally means “inflamed skin.” Chronic eczema causes dry, red, flaky patches on the skin, most frequently involving the face, neck, scalp, arms, elbows, wrists, and knees. Overall, eczema is estimated to affect up 20 percent of Americans.

Eczema is divided into two main types. The first is contact dermatitis (contact eczema), which occurs when an irritating substance comes into contact with the skin. The offending irritant may be a chemical, cosmetics, wool, lanolin, or rubber shoes. Nickel in jewelry is a common cause. Poison ivy is a form of contact eczema.

Atopic eczema, the second type of eczema, is usually caused by inhaled or ingested allergens, such as foods, pollen, dust, or animal dander. Some experts indicate that intestinal dysbiosis (disruption of the normal bacterial flora of the gut with a disproportionately high concentration of unfriendly bacteria) can promote atopic eczema, as supplementation with probiotics has been shown to improve this condition in some cases. Thus, the approach to eczema needs to be personalized to the unique circumstance of the individual.

There are three main objectives in the treatment of eczema: reducing inflammation, relieving itching of the skin, and moisturizing dry patches. As most alternative health practitioners know, certain dietary practices and various supplements can help to accomplish these objectives in many cases of eczema that seem to be resistant to standard medical treatment. The most evidence-based lifestyle, dietary and supplementation strategies shown to improve cases of eczema are as follows:

• Dietary and Lifestyle Considerations
• Avoid any known dietary or environmental irritants or allergens.
• Reduce the build-up of arachidonic acid within skin cells, as arachidonic acid, a polyunsaturated fat, is the direct building block of inflammatory prostaglandin hormones.
• To accomplish this, reduce the intake of the following foods: high-fat meat and dairy products; corn oil, sunflower seed oil, safflower seed oil, and mixed vegetable oils; alcohol, hydrogenated fats (e.g., margarine, commercial peanut butter, shortenings).
• Replace the above foods with the following: chicken, turkey, fish, Cornish hen, 1 percent milk or yogurt, low-fat cheese (3 percent or less milk fat), olive oil, canola oil, or peanut oil (for salad dressings, to saute vegetables or stir fry only).

Important Supplements

Omega-3 fats provide the building block for the production of prostaglandin hormones that reduce inflammatory activity of skin cells. They also reduce the build-up of arachidonic acid in skin cells by blocking the enzyme that converts linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid to arachidonic acid. Examples of omega-3 fats of importance to skin health include EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). EPA is found in fish and fish oils, and ALA is found primarily in flaxseed oil. Clinical trials have shown that omega-3 fats can be effective in the treatment of eczema.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) has been shown to help in cases of eczema. Studies reveal that many patients with eczema lack the enzyme to convert linoleic acid to gamma-linolenic acid. As gamma-linolenic acid is the building block of an important anti-inflammatory prostaglandin hormone, supplementation with an oil that is high in gamma-linolenic acid, such as borage, black currant or evening primrose oil, has been shown to favorably affect cases of eczema. As such, I recommend a supplement that contains 400 mg each of fish oil, flaxseed oil and borage seed oil (borage seed oil is 22 percent GL, whereas evening primrose oil is only 9 percent GLA).

B Vitamins - A number of B vitamins (especially B6 and niacin) are necessary co-factors to speed up the enzymes that produce anti-inflammatory prostaglandins in the skin.

Antioxidants – Vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and zinc are also required to support various enzymes within skin cells that promote the formation of prostaglandins, which reduce skin inflammatory conditions, including eczema. I recommend a high-potency multvitamin/mineral supplement that contains a B-50 complex along with boosted levels of antioxidants.

Detoxification nutrients and immune regulators – Milk thistle and indole-3-carbinol work in the liver to enhance detoxification and purify the blood of toxins and various allergens that can aggravate eczema. Prebiotics (FOS and inulin) and digestive enzymes act in concert to detoxify bowel toxins, regulate immune function and prevent partially digested proteins form entering the bloodstream, where they may otherwise induce immune inflammatory reactions that aggravate eczema. Prebiotics help to increase the concentrations of the friendly gut bacteria at the expense of the unfriendly gut bacteria. Prebiotics such as fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) and inulin are food sources for the friendly bacteria, allowing the friendly gut bacteria to proliferate rapidly, crowding out the unfriendly bacteria. As such, in stubborn cases I recommend a supplement that contains milk thistle and indole-3 carbinol, along with a supplement that contains digestive enzymes and prebiotics.

Recent Studies Suggest Efficacy of Topical Vitamin B12

Most recently, we have seen that another natural agent can be very effective in the treatment of childhood and adult eczema. In this case, treatment of eczema lesions involved the topical application of vitamin B12 (a solution applied to the skin), which was first shown to improve eczema in adults to a significant degree.

In April 2009, publishing in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, R. Januchowski reported results of a study using topical vitamin B12 to treat eczema in individuals between 6 months and 18 years old. This was the first study to test topical vitamin B12 in infants, children and young adults. The study by Januchowski showed that topical vitamin B12 treatment produced significant improvement in eczema lesions compared to the group given the placebo treatment. These results were seen at two weeks and four weeks post-treatment.

Closing Comments

In many cases, once specific allergies have been ruled out, the medical profession is often at a loss to provide eczema sufferers with any meaningful treatment options. For this subgroup of patients, the specific dietary and supplementation practices outlined in this article can provide significant improvement of their condition in many cases. Most recently, we have seen that the addition of topical vitamin B12 to a naturally-based treatment regime may provide even further benefit in these cases.