Health Wise - Michele Sevier

Multiple Sclerosis Risks Greater for Canadians

Northern climates including Canada, fail to deliver adequate sunshine during many months of the year, negatively impacting vitamin D levels. Recent research reveals the need for supplementation of this important vitamin to reduce the risk of MS, especially in those genetically predisposed individuals.

Check out the following article from the Globe and Mail

Vitamin D helps control gene implicated in MS

Too little during pregnancy may increase child's risk of developing disease

By SHERYL UBELACKER
The Canadian Press

For the first time, researchers have found a direct link between vitamin D deficiency and the risk of developing multiple sclerosis in people with a genetic predisposition for the disease.

The study by a team of Canadian and British researchers suggests that too little of the "sunshine vitamin" in a mother during pregnancy and a child's early years may boost the risk of that child developing MS later in life.

The researchers found that proteins activated by vitamin D in the body bind to a particular stretch of DNA that lies next to a gene implicated in MS - called DRB1-1501 - and regulate what the gene does.

If there is a lack of vitamin D in the body, the gene may not function properly, the researchers say.
"We have known for a long time that genes and environment determine MS risk," said George Ebers, a neurologist at Oxford University in England. "Here we show that the main environmental risk candidate - vitamin D - and the main gene region are directly linked and interact."

MS, a degenerative neurological condition that causes the destruction of the myelin sheath that protects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, is most common in people who live in northern climes with low average sunlight levels.

Canada, with an estimated 55,000 to 75,000 people affected by the disease, has one of the highest MS rates in the world. More than 2.5 million people worldwide are thought to suffer from the condition.

Dr. Ebers and colleagues, whose research is published in this week's issue of the journal PLoS Genetics, believe vitamin D deficiency in mothers, or even in a previous generation, may lead to altered expression of the DRB1-1501 gene in children.
The team showed in a previous study that environmental factors can alter the gene region, increasing the risk of developing MS. Such changes are known as "epigenetic" effects and can be passed from one generation to another.

The effects of too little vitamin D could lead to such an alteration in genetically susceptible people, so Dr. Ebers advises that all Canadians take vitamin D supplements, especially in winter.

"If this is an epigenetic modification, then it's possible it could have occurred very early in life, it might have occurred in gestation, it could even have occurred in a previous generation," the Canadian-born Dr. Ebers said.
"So what you do may have absolutely no impact, but it might have an impact on your children or grandchildren."

Paul O'Connor, director of the MS program at the University of Toronto, called the study findings "significant and potentially important."
"What the paper actually says is that there's a receptor in the gene, this particular gene, which binds to vitamin D," he explained, "and that vitamin D affects the function of what we call this susceptibility gene."

But Dr. O'Connor, scientific and clinical adviser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, advised caution in interpreting the findings in relation to taking vitamin D supplements.

"That theory of taking vitamin D in that preventive way is an interesting theory, and it may well be true," he said. "And there's nothing in these findings that contradicts that theory, but there's nothing in these findings that supports that theory either."
Dr. O'Connor said more research is needed to prove any cause-and-effect relationship.
Still, he believes those starved for sunlight because of geography should supplement their diet with vitamin D, which is safe, inexpensive and appears to have numerous health benefits. Among those benefits is a suggestion that the nutrient can reduce the risk of some cancers.

"So I think every Canadian, including MS patients, should make sure they're taking enough vitamin D," he said. "And this should start early in life."

More Proof Environmental Toxins Negatively Impact Health

Processed food may be convenient for modern day schedules but detrimentally impacts health as a new study found. Check out this recent article from the Ivanhoe Newswire at www.ivanhoe.com.

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Diabetes Linked Directly to Environment

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study by researchers at Rhode Island Hospital found a substantial link between increased death rates from certain age-related diseases and increased exposure to nitrates, nitrites and nitrosamines in processed foods and in the environment.

The researchers note that the role of nitrosamines has been well-studied, and their role as a carcinogen has been fully documented. The investigators propose that the cellular alterations that occur as a result of nitrosamine exposure are fundamentally similar to those that occur with aging, as well as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Suzanne de la Monte, M.D., M.P.H., of Rhode Island Hospital, who is also a professor of pathology and lab medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, led the researchers. "We have become a 'nitrosamine generation," she was quoted as saying.
The authors state that the time course of the increased prevalence rates of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and diabetes cannot be explained on the basis of gene mutations. They instead mirror the classical trends of exposure-related disease.

Because nitrosamines produce biochemical changes within cells and tissues, it is conceivable that chronic exposure to low levels of nitrites and nitrosamines through processed foods, water and fertilizers is responsible for the current epidemics of these diseases and the increasing mortality rates associated with them.

"All of these diseases are associated with increased insulin resistance and DNA damage," Dr. De la Monte said. "Their prevalence rates have all increased radically over the past several decades and show no sign of plateau. Because there has been a relatively short time interval associated with the dramatic shift in disease incidence and prevalence rates, we believe this is due to exposure-related rather than genetic etiologies."

Nitrites and nitrates belong to a class of chemical compounds that are harmful to humans and animals. More than 90 percent of these compounds that have been tested have been determined to be carcinogenic in various organs. They are found in many food products, including fried bacon, cured meats and cheese products as well as beer and water. Exposure also occurs through manufacturing and processing of rubber and latex products, fertilizers, pesticides and cosmetics.

The findings indicate that while nitrogen-containing fertilizer consumption increased by 230 percent between 1955 and 2005, its usage doubled between 1960 and 1980, which just precedes the insulin-resistant epidemics the researchers found. They also found that sales from the fast food chains and the meat processing companies increased more than 8-fold from 1970 to 2005, and grain consumption increased 5-fold.

"If this hypothesis is correct, potential solutions include eliminating the use of nitrites and nitrates in food processing, preservation and agriculture; taking steps to prevent the formation of nitrosamines and employing safe and effective measures to detoxify food and water before human consumption," Dr. De la Monte said.

SOURCE: Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, July 2009

Doctor Recommended Supplements

There is more great information in the natural health industry pertaining to the use of supplements, especially multi-vitamins. If you are not already taking a daily multi, then consider beginning. The nutrition house multi’s are a great addition to your day. Whether you are searching for a high potency vitamin for your general health or a specific formula for male or female health, nutrition house has an excellent product line-up to suit your needs.

Check out the following article released by www.nutraingredients.com

Study breaks down supplement use by physicians

By staff reporter, 16-Jul-2009

The majority of physicians and nurses in the US recommend supplements to their patients but also use them personally, finds a new study.

Commissioned by the supplement trade group Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and published in the peer-reviewed Nutrition Journal, the study surveyed 900 physicians and 277 nurses.
“Health professionals including physicians and nurses are just as interested in healthy lifestyles as members of the general public and are just as likely to benefit from rational supplementation,” wrote the authors, Annette Dickinson, Ph.D., past president of CRN, Andrew Shao, Ph.D., CRN vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, and Nicolas Boyon, senior vice president, Ipsos Public Affairs, who conducted the Study on behalf of CRN.

Multivitamins most popular

The online survey, conducted in October 2007, found that 72 percent of physicians and 89 percent of nurses used dietary supplements. In addition, 79 percent of physicians and 82 percent of nurses said that they recommend them to their patients.
Overall, the survey found that multivitamins were the most commonly used supplement. Other popular vitamins and minerals were vitamin C, a B vitamin complex, vitamin D, vitamin E and calcium.

Out of the non-vitamin and mineral products, physicians were most likely to use green tea, followed by fish oil, glucosamine, soy, flax seed and chondroitin. Nurses were most likely to use green tea, fish oil, echinacea, glucosamine and flax seed.

Motivations

Some 40 percent of physicians and 48 percent of nurses said they took supplements for “overall health and wellness”.

Over two-thirds of survey respondents said they had multiple motivations for using supplements, including bone health, flu or colds, heart health, immune health, joint health, energy and musculoskeletal pain.

When it came to recommending supplements to their patients, the most common reason was again overall health and wellness, followed by bone health, joint health, flu or colds, heart health, immune health, musculoskeletal pain, and energy.

“This latest survey adds to the growing body of published data suggesting that healthcare professionals are among the highest users of supplements,” said CRN.
Another study published in 2000 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that 64 percent of female physicians used vitamin or mineral supplements at least occasionally, and 47 percent used a vitamin or mineral supplement at least five days a week.

Source:
Physicians and nurses use and recommend dietary supplements: report of a survey
Nutrition Journal 2009, 8:29
doi:10.1186/1475-2891-8-29
Authors: Annette Dickinson, Nicolas Boyon, Andrew Shao
Link: http://www.nutritionj.com/content/8/1/29

Size Does Matter

Late last week, a news headline caught my eye. And yes once again it is about our expanding waistlines. This time though it is not from a health perspective, but rather a size perspective.

Manufacturer’s are “reducing” the sizes of our clothing. If you were once a size 14, you may now be a size 10. And don’t worry that you may have gained a few pounds this last year, it now appears irrelevant. All for our own benefit. I question whether denial has its benefits.

We are a nation continuing to gain weight. And yes, as we age there are a number of factors that can impede weight loss but I still believe that a reality check on our growing girth often comes in handy in order to keep us on the path to good health. Minimizing the size of our clothing cannot reduce the risk factors for a variety of diseases including cancer and diabetes. It only gives another reason not to engage in a healthy lifestyle and exercise. I guess minimizing the significance with our “battle of the bulge” increases sales and inflates profits. At least the manufacturers are winning.

For more information on the article go to”

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/07/10/attitudes.overweight/index.html

The Benefits of Fish Oil and Pregnancy

Women often wonder about the health benefits for themselves and especially their baby if they take omega 3 fish oil supplementation during pregnancy. There is a growing amount of evidence that consuming omega 3 DHA found in fish oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding offers many advantages to the mental and visual development of their infant.

Now, recent research from Sweden provides evidence that supplementing during pregnancy and lactation with these healthy fats may reduce the risk of food allergy and eczema in their children.

The study published in the journal Acta Paediatrica reveals the occurrence of eczema and food allergies was lower in infants of mothers who received the fish oil supplements by 16 and 13 percent respectively than compared to the placebo group.

Drinks Can Pack a Wicked Caloric Punch

Most of us are very aware of what we eat each day, but do we give the same amount of attention to what we drink? A recent US study reveals that beverages account for almost 25 percent of calories in the average American diet while nearly 50 percent of those aged four and above consume sugary soft drinks on any given day.

Many of the specialty drinks (iced cappucionos, frappuchino, chillers etc) can contain anywhere from about 275 calories to well over 600!

Summer drink sensations can be a great treat, but the added sugar can deplete the immune system and pack on the calories. Opt for unsweetened flavoured waters, carbonated mineral waters or add your own flavourings using a slice of real lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange. Consider other options including mint and ginger. Water is important to help ward off dehydration. Get creative this summer and lose the calories.

Dietary Interventions for Cockroaches?

We know that dietary choices can greatly influence our weight and a diet filled with refined, pre-packaged and foods high in sugar will pack on those extra pounds. But did you know that recent research shows that even cockroaches gain weight on bad food?

Check out this article from Live Science

http://www.livescience.com/animals/090703-cockroach-fat.html

Even Cockroaches Get Fat on Bad Food

Cockroaches may be tiny enough to slip through the smallest of cracks, but just like humans, these eternal pests can get fat on an unhealthy diet.

As part of a decade's worth of research on cockroaches, Patricia Moore of the University of Exeter studied how female cockroaches change their mating behavior in response to their diet, specifically what they eat when they are young.
"We already knew that what they eat as adults influences reproductive decisions," Moore said. But just how the food they consumed early in life shaped these decisions wasn't known.

To find out, Moore and her colleagues picked young female cockroach nymphs and divided them into two dietary groups. Half were fed a good-quality balanced diet of protein-rich fish food and high-carbohydrate oatmeal, while the rest were raised on fish food only.

Both groups were allowed to eat as much as they wanted. The difference in diets "was not quantity but variety," Moore said.

After the last molt, when the nymphs became adults, the team switched the diets of some animals. Half of the cockroaches raised with good quality diet lost their oatmeal, while half of the bugs fed poorly were promoted to a good-quality diet.

Eighteen days after the switch, the diet control ended and some of the surviving cockroaches were dissected. The rest were allowed to live on and reproduce.

The results: While the lifespan of the members of both groups was about the same, the cockroaches on the poor diet were fatter and took longer to mature.
Moore suggests that the poorly fed bugs were storing up excess fat at the expense of their growth in case their dietary options got even worse.
"This was a surprising result," Moore said, "but it shows the importance of a balanced diet for healthy development."

The effects of unbalanced meals continued throughout the cockroaches' lives, even for the few that were switched to good-quality food.
Females that ate a poor-quality diet were less willing to mate and less likely to produce offspring. They were also more picky and spent more time considering possible mates.

The findings, detailed in the June 24 issue of the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, found, that "poor diets [during early life] have an effect on the way cockroaches respond to their environment and cannot be reset later on," Moore said.

Acetaminophen and Liver Risks

In the last few days there have been various news articles on the dangers of acetaminophen. The FDA is currently discussing new restrictions for this popular OTC pain medication - and for good reason for the health of the general public.

147 deaths from acetaminophen have been reported by the American Association of Poison Control Centers in 2003 along with the approximate 41,000 unintentional overdoses. Acetaminophen being an over the counter drug is assumed safe yet liver toxicity from acetaminophen poisoning is by far the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States.

And that’s not all. Mixing acetaminophen and drinking alcohol can be a dangerous combination. The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that liver damage may occur with as little as 2.6 grams of acetaminophen (about four extra-strength pills) taken over the course of the day in persons consuming varying amounts of alcohol (NIAAA, Seeff). The damage caused by alcohol-acetaminophen interaction is more likely to occur when acetaminophen is taken after, rather than before, the alcohol has been metabolized.

Look before you leap, even when it comes to the use of any over the counter pain medication. Understanding the risks and proper use of any medications is essential. Become fully informed for your better health.