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Sunday, November 17, 2002
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By Darin Ingels, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (November 14, 2002)—Postmenopausal women with adult-onset diabetes (type 2) may be able to reduce their total cholesterol and insulin levels by consuming soy protein enriched with isoflavones, according to a study in Diabetes Care (2002;25:1709–14). Since high cholesterol and elevated insulin levels are known risk factors for heart disease, these findings suggest that consumption of isoflavone-enriched soy protein may reduce the risk that a person with diabetes will suffer a heart attack or stroke.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include obesity, smoking, consuming excess alcohol, and sedentary lifestyle. Uncontrolled diabetes is a serious health problem that can lead to several complications, such as heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney failure. Conventional treatment for type 2 diabetes includes oral medications that increase the release of insulin from the pancreas or enhance the blood sugar-lowering action of insulin; however, these medications may cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, whereas soy protein is not associated with any adverse side effects.
This 24-week study examined the effect of soy protein (30 grams per day; providing 132 mg per day of isoflavones) or placebo in 32 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes. The study was designed as a crossover study, so that participants received both treatments during two separate 12-week periods. Several measurements of blood sugar control and heart diseases risk factors were taken at the beginning and end of each treatment period.
Consumption of soy protein had a statistically significant impact on blood sugar control and lipid levels. Compared with the pretreatment values, fasting insulin and insulin resistance were reduced by 8% and 6.5%, respectively, after consumption of the soy protein. These improvements were significantly greater than those seen during the placebo period. Total cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol were also significantly lowered after eating soy.
The authors point out that the results of this study are comparable to those of studies on oral hypoglycemic medications, suggesting that isoflavone-enriched soy protein may be as effective as conventional medications in controlling insulin levels. However, since this study did not compare soy protein with a conventional medication, it is unknown if this speculation is true.
Other nutritional supplements that have been used improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes include chromium, biotin, and vitamin E. Because some nutritional supplements and herbal remedies can interact with diabetes medications, potentially resulting in dangerously low blood sugar levels, people taking such medications should consult a doctor knowledgeable in natural medicine before taking any supplements or herbs.
Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP), received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. Dr. Ingels is the author of The Natural Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He currently is in private practice at New England Family Health Associates located in Southport, CT, where he specializes in environmental medicine and allergies. Dr. Ingels is a regular contributor to Healthnotes and Healthnotes Newswire.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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11:14:40 PM 
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By Matt Brignall, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (November 14, 2002)—A strict vegetarian diet led to improvement in symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a clinical trial published in Rheumatology (2001;40:1175–9).
Thirty-eight people with rheumatoid arthritis were assigned to consume a vegan diet (a vegetarian diet that also excludes dairy products and eggs) and also to avoid gluten-containing grains (wheat, oats, barley, and rye) for one year. Twenty-eight other people with RA were assigned to eat a more typical unrestricted diet, including meat (control group).
Only 22 of the 38 people assigned to eat the vegan diet completed at least nine months of the dietary intervention. Of those, 40% (nine people) experienced improvement in the symptoms of RA compared with only 4% (one person) in the group eating the standard diet.
RA is one of a group of conditions called autoimmune diseases. In autoimmune disease, the body’s immune system, which is designed to fight off infectious agents and other foreign substances, mistakenly attacks its own tissues. In RA, the autoimmune damage is to the joints, but other tissues and organs are frequently affected as well. Conventional therapy includes drugs that reduce inflammation or suppress the immune system. Surgery may also be recommended, if the joint damage is severe. While these treatments are often helpful, many individuals with RA continue to experience symptoms. Moreover, drugs used to treat RA can cause significant side effects, ranging from bleeding peptic ulcers to bone marrow damage. Any safe treatment that might help relieve symptoms of RA would, therefore, be welcomed.
There are several possible explanations for the improvements seen in this study. Meat is high in a specific fatty acid (arachidonic acid) that is believed to promote inflammation in the body. Because vegetarian diets contain less arachidonic acid than omnivorous diets, consuming a vegetarian diet might produce an anti-inflammatory effect. Another possible explanation for the improvement is that plant-based diets are high in certain anti-inflammatory compounds such as essential fatty acids and enzymes. Finally, the results may be attributable in part to the avoidance of common food allergens, such as wheat and dairy products. Although the relationship between food allergy and arthritis remains controversial, a growing body of evidence suggests that allergy is a contributing factor, at least in a minority of individuals with RA.
Other natural treatments that have been reported to be helpful for people with RA include zinc, borage oil, black currant seed oil, and fish oil. Individuals with RA who wish to pursue the dietary or nutritional-supplement approach should consult a doctor knowledgeable in natural medicine.
Matt Brignall, ND is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Bastyr University. He works at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, where he specializes in complementary medicine approaches to cancer. He has been published in several journals, including Alternative Medicine Review, Coping With Cancer, and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Brignall also teaches clinical nutrition at Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. He is a regular contributor to Healthnotes, Healthnotes Newswire, and the Healthnotes Quick!Reference series.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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11:14:13 PM
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By Matt Brignall, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (November 14, 2002)—Supplementation with a type of fatty acid called ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid (E-EPA) can improve symptoms in people with schizophrenia, according to a clinical trial published in the American Journal of Psychiatry (2002;159:1596–8). Schizophrenia is a common and serious mental disorder characterized by an altered sense of reality. Schizophrenics commonly display bizarre or violent behavior. Approximately 1% of the world’s population is affected by this condition.
E-EPA is a derivative of the dietary fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid, commonly abbreviated as EPA. EPA is found in high concentrations in fish, and is thought to be a major contributor to many of the health benefits associated with diets high in fish. EPA is believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body and also appears to enhance brain function. The authors do not discuss why they chose E-EPA over EPA for this clinical trial.
For their study, the authors recruited forty people with schizophrenia who were being treated with antipsychotic medications. Half of this group took 3 grams of E-EPA per day for 12 weeks, while the other half took a placebo. At the beginning and end of the treatment period, participants underwent an assessment to measure the severity of their disease.
The people taking E-EPA experienced greater improvement in a cluster of symptoms called “positive symptoms” (delusions, hallucinations, violent behavior) than did those taking the placebo. In addition, so-called “negative symptoms” (social withdrawal, apathy) improved more in the E-EPA group than in the placebo group. People taking E-EPA also experienced fewer side effects from their antipsychotic medication than did those taking the placebo.
Antipsychotic medications, such as Thorazine® and Clozaril®, are the most common treatments for schizophrenia. While this class of medications is often effective for reducing the most dangerous behaviors in schizophrenics, most of these drugs can cause severe side effects that impede their usefulness. The most dramatic side effect is tardive dyskinesia, a condition marked by involuntary facial and body movements.
In the new study, E-EPA was particularly effective at reducing the severity of tardive dyskinesia. The authors concluded that most or all of the therapeutic benefit of E-EPA was due to reduction of this drug side effect. Prior studies of E-EPA or EPA in conjunction with antipsychotic medication have yielded mixed results, with the best-designed studies showing no reduction in tardive dyskinesia symptoms.
Many studies in relation to schizophrenia have focused on finding a nutritional agent to reduce the side effects from antipsychotic medications. In some, but not all, studies, vitamin E, manganese, branched-chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine), and evening primrose oil have each reduced symptoms of tardive dyskinesia.
Because of the conflicting nature of prior studies, it is perhaps too early to declare E-EPA an effective agent for the prevention of tardive dyskinesia. However, as it is not associated with significant risk of adverse effects, it still may be a worthwhile to consider, in combination with a conventional antipsychotic program for people suffering from schizophrenia.
Matt Brignall, ND is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Bastyr University. He works at the Seattle Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, where he specializes in complementary medicine approaches to cancer. He has been published in several journals, including Alternative Medicine Review, Coping With Cancer, and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Brignall also teaches clinical nutrition at Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. He is a regular contributor to Healthnotes, Healthnotes Newswire, and the Healthnotes Quick!Reference series.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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11:13:48 PM
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"Vision is not enough. It must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs." -- Vaclav Havel
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9:45:40 PM
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David Brinkley. "The one function TV news performs very well is that when there is no news we give it to you with the same emphasis as if there were."
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11:44:17 AM
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Theodore Roosevelt. "No man is justified in doing evil on the ground of expediency."
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11:43:44 AM
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© Copyright
2002
Rick@Leaders.net.
Last update:
12/1/2002; 9:34:31 AM.
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