Health Newsletter

Health in the News

Vegetables May Prevent Hardening of the Arteries
A US study found that after 16 weeks, mice being fed vegetables they had 38 percent less fatty deposits in their arteries than mice with a vegetable free diet. While it's been known for some time that eating vegetables is good for the body, this discovery proves that it can prevent atherosclerosis.
High vegetable consumption also reduced by 37 percent the serum amyloid, the cause of inflammation in mice. Researcher Adams told the BBC, "It is well known that atherosclerosis progression is intimately linked with inflammation in the arteries." A spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation reportedly said this study confirms the recommendation of at least five servings of fruits and vegetables (especially green and yellow vegetables).
Dr. Ornish has also published research demonstrating the reversal of atherosclerosis in humans following a low fat diet high in vegetables.

Antacids Boost Chances of Hip Fracture
The University of Pennsylvania reports that people taking strong antacids, known as proton pump inhibitors, have an increased risk of hip fracture. These include Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix and Aciphex. They are usually prescribed for gastro-esophageal reflux. This study was based on data collected in the United Kingdom on 135,386 healthy people and 13,556 people with hip fractures.
Using a proton inhibitor for one year increased the risk of fracture by 44 percent, compared with people not taking medication. The risk was 2.6 times higher in those who took high doses over a long period. The risk of hip fracture rose with increasing duration and dosage.
Study author Yang speculated that the drugs inhibit calcium absorption by slowing down the production of stomach acid (that is needed to help absorb the calcium, as well as other minerals).
In a related study researchers found that Prilosec reduced blood levels of vitamin C by one-eighth after just 28 days.

To Drink or not to Drink!
Kaye Fillmore of the University of California San Francisco School of Nursing and her team analyzed 54 previous studies on alcohol use and mortality. They found that the studies, mostly from the 1980's and 1990's, had systematic errors in their designs that exaggerated the boon to the health of alcohol.
Most studies divided groups into "drinkers" and "abstainers" and abstainers included people who had reduced or quit for medical reasons. The studies seemed to be stating that abstainers were at higher risk for heart disease because they didn't drink alcohol. In fact, Fillmore says that those in the abstainer category were often already unwell and predisposed to disease and death. When seven studies were examined without this error, it was found that both groups were at equal risk.
Some experts believe that the positives of moderate alcohol intake (raising HDL, reducing overactive blood clotting and helping insulin sensitivity) can be supplied with less risk with a healthy diet and exercise. Moreover, drinking purple grape juice will likely supply as much benefit as wine. Recent studies show that purple grape juice lowers cholesterol, improves arterial function and inhibits the formation of the internal blood clots that trigger heart attack and most strokes. The primary benefit is primarily obtained from the antioxidants and anthocyanidins in the grapes.

Trans Fats Decrease Fertility
Trans fats are liquid vegetable oils that are put through a process called hydrogenation, and used in margarine and many packaged foods to extend shelf life. They are linked to increased cholesterol levels, and to coronary heart disease.
New US research shows that for every 2 percent of calories a woman got from trans fats instead of carbohydrates, her risk of infertility rose by 73 percent. In eating 1,800 calories a day, 2 percent of energy intake in trans fats would equal just 4 grams. In cases where trans fats replaced healthier omega 6 polyunsaturated Fats, the figure rose to 79 percent.

Slouch - it's the safest way to sit
Your mother probably told you, as her mother told her: sit up straight. Whether at table, in class or at work we have always been told that sitting stiff-backed and upright is good for us.
Now research suggests that we would be far better off slouching and slumping. Today's advice is to let go and recline. Using a new form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a team of radiologists have found that sitting up straight puts unneccesary strain on the spine and could cause chronic back pain because of trapped nerves or slipped discs.
Dr. Bashir, lead author of the study, said: "We were not created to sit down for long hours, but somehow modern life requires the vast majority of the global population to work in a seated position." The ideal angle for office workers who sit for long periods is about 135 degrees. It will put less pressure on the spine than a hunched or upright position, the researchers say.
The study at Woodend Hospital involved 22 healthy volunteers who had no history of back pain or surgery. They adjusted their posture while being scanned by a movable MRI machine, assuming three sitting positions. The radiologists found that the 135-degree body-thigh slouched sitting posture was the best biomechanical sitting position, as opposed to a 90-degree posture, which most people consider normal.

Antidepressants Linked To Increased Fracture Risk
Commonly used antidepressants may increase the risk of osteoporotic fractures among patients 50 and older, reported David Goltzman, M.D., of McGill University, in the Jan. 22, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The researchers analyzed 137 patients (average age 65.1) who reported daily SSRI use. Bone mineral density was measured at the start of the study and was followed for 5 years. The SSRIs in the study included Celexa, Prozac, Luvox, Paxil, and Zoloft. Participants were sent yearly questionnaires for five years regarding fractures.
The researchers found daily use of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) doubled the risk of a fracture. Doubling the dose resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in the risk of falling.
Previous studies have shown that serotonin plays a potentially important role in bone physiology and if you alter the system, you can get low bone density.

Vitamin D Supplements May Reduce Risk Of Cancer
People in the northern US are at risk of Vitamin D deficiency as they make almost no Vitamin D during winter months and sunscreen users are at risk because the sunscreen keeps the body from producing the vitamin.
Researchers analyzed 63 published articles on Vitamin D and cancer risk. It was found that higher levels of Vitamin D in the blood seemed to lower the risk of colon, breast, ovarian and prostate cancers.
Vitamin strengthens bone because of its role in calcium absorption. It can also improve muscle strength, help people with MS, and reduce diabetes symptoms.
Garland CF,et al. American Journal of Public Health,2006;96(2);252-61

Painkillers Can Raise Heart Disease Risk
Millions of people use NSAID anti-inflammatory pills (like Motrin) every day for headaches, arthritis and other aches and pains. Researchers of Brigham and Women's Hospitals looked at the use of these popular painkillers over a four-year period in a continuing study of 16,000 male health professionals. Their findings were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, and reinforced an earlier study that found these drugs raised blood pressure in women.
They found that men who took these drugs were about one-third more likely to develop high blood pressure than men not taking them. Frequency was a factor, and men who took 15 or more NSAID pills a week were 48 percent more likely to have high blood pressure than non-users. The Heart Association was particularly concerned with the use of COX-2 inhibitors (prescription arthritis drugs), as many have been found to raise heart disease risk and cause strokes.