Life Extension back issues from April 2009:
Dietary supplements under attack.(AS WE SEE IT)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Near the end of 2008, the media ran headline news stories claiming that vitamins C, D, and E do not prevent heart attack, stroke, or breast cancer. Within five days, we posted a rebuttal on the home page of our website. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When these biased ...
Resveratrol protects against atherosclerosis.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Resveratrol, a phytopolyphenol compound found abundantly in red wine, protects against atherosclerosis by multiple mechanisms. * Atherosclerosis develops from an excess of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the arteries, oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial cell injury and ...
Home blood pressure monitoring more accurate than office measurement.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Continuous blood pressure monitoring at home appears to be more accurate than measurements taken at office visits in predicting heart disease outcomes, according to a recent study. * A total of 556 patients with treatment-resistant hypertension underwent both office measurements ...
Fish oil keeps arteries supple.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Fish oil supplementation improves arterial elasticity compared with placebo in overweight patients with high blood pressure.* Arterial stiffness in hypertensive or elderly patients may predispose to cardiovascular disease. The 52 Chinese patients were randomly assigned to take ...
B vitamin prevents memory loss.(IN THE NEWS)(nicotinamide)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... A recent article in the Journal of Neuroscience reveals a protective effect of nicotinamide, otherwise known as niacinamide, against memory loss in mice bred to develop a condition that mimics Alzheimer's disease in humans. * [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The team from the ...
Endothelial progenitor cells may reduce cardiovascular disease.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which circulate in the bloodstream, play a role in normal blood vessel function and may find application as both a marker of cardiovascular disease and a potential treatment, according to a recent review. (1) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
Vitamin E reduces inflammation.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... A recent issue of the journal Experimental Physiology published the discovery of researchers at the University of Illinois of an anti-inflammatory effect for vitamin E in an animal model of inflammation. * Kinesiology and community health professor Kimberly Huey, PhD, and ...
Pharmaceutical advertising biases journals against non-drug therapies.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... According to a study conducted at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, advertising by pharmaceutical companies in medical journals is clearly associated with bias against "non-drug" therapies in those journals. * Researchers examined a year's worth of issues from 11 ...
Dietary inorganic phosphate linked to elevated risk of lung cancer.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Escalating amounts of inorganic phosphate in the diet may damage lung health and set the stage for lung cancer, according to a new report. * Phosphate is an essential nutrient that occurs naturally in the diet. Escalating amounts of inorganic phosphate have entered the modern ...
Selenium may slash women's bladder cancer risk by one-third.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... A new study by researchers at Dartmouth Medical School suggests that increased levels of the essential micronutrient selenium may play an important role in preventing bladder cancer, at least among women and moderate smokers. Increased selenium intake was also associated with a reduced ...
L-carnitine decreases oxidized LDl in diabetic patients.(IN THE NEWS)(low-density lipoprotein)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Supplementation with L-carnitine significantly reduces levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in patients with diabetes. * Oxidized LDL plays a role in atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, especially when blood sugar is elevated. L-carnitine is a micronutrient with ...
New drug approved for advanced prostate cancer.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new injectable hormone treatment for advanced prostate cancer. (1) The medication, currently known as degarelix, was developed by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. Testosterone suppression ("medical castration") is a major treatment ...
Berry compounds have brain anti-aging effects.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Supplementation with polyphenolic compounds from fruits and vegetables helps prevent age-related declines in cognitive and motor function in adult rats. * The authors fed rats for nine months with a regular diet or a diet supplemented with vitamin E, strawberry extract, or ...
Egg consumption associated with increased mortality, diabetes risk.(IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Men who ate one or more eggs daily were nearly 25% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than men who ate one or fewer eggs weekly, according to newly released results from a study of more than 21,000 American physicians. (1) The results were gleaned from a 20-year study of male ...
New book provides definitive guide to supplement-drug interactions.(IN THE NEWS)(Herb, Nutrient, and Drug Interactions: Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies)(Book review)
Apr 01, 2009; ... The recent release of the landmark textbook Herb, Nutrient, and Drug Interactions: Clinical Implications and Therapeutic Strategies provides the most detailed, complete source of information available on how commonly used herbs and nutrients interact with medications. Using these therapies ...
Quercetin: enhanced antioxidant protection against heart disease, cancer, allergies, and more.(Report)
Apr 01, 2009; ... News of the disease-protective and longevity benefits of red wine has grabbed headlines around the world during the past few years. Red wine contains a number of beneficial polyphenols, such as the much-publicized resveratrol as well as quercetin (1)--a compound that is now also making ...
Life extension responds to misleading article published in journal of the American medical association.
Apr 01, 2009 ... A problem facing researchers today is that by the time human clinical trials are designed, funded, and conducted over multi-year periods, the primary reason for doing the study often turns out to be obsolete. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Based on a number of favorable ...
New strategies for optimizing bone strength.(Report)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Mainstream medicine focuses almost exclusively on prescription drugs to reduce the risk of osteoporosis in aging men and women. What many people do not know is that the most popular class of prescription medications used to treat osteoporosis, bisphosphonates, focus on limiting additional ...
Optimizing muscle health with whey, creatine, and glutamine.(Report)
Apr 01, 2009; ... Many people associate protein supplementation with bodybuilders or professional athletes seeking rapid gains in muscle mass and strength. As we age, however, remaining active and independent also requires strong, healthy muscles, especially since aging increases susceptibility to loss of ...
The link between autism and low levels of vitamin D.(REPORT)(Report)
Apr 01, 2009; ... An epidemic of autism appears to be underway in the United States. According to several respected leaders in child and adult nutrition from across the United States, the current meteoric rise in autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may well be a direct consequence of significant ...
Vitamin D and sunlight: strategies for cancer prevention and other health benefits.(Prostate Health)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide health problem. The major source of vitamin D for most humans is sensible sun exposure. Factors that influence cutaneous vitamin D production include sunscreen use, skin pigmentation, time of day, season of the year, latitude, and aging. Serum ...
Dietary intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids and the risk of prostate cancer.(Prostate Health)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... BACKGROUND: Laboratory studies have shown that n-3 fatty acids inhibit and n-6 fatty acids stimulate prostate tumor growth, but whether the dietary intake of these fatty acids affects prostate cancer risk in humans remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We prospectively evaluated the association ...
Cyclooxygenase-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors in prostate cancer.(Prostate Health)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is over-expressed in prostate cancer (PCa) and involved in its development and progression by facilitating inflammatory response, reducing cell apoptosis, increasing angiogenesis and damaging DNA ...
Multi-targeted prevention of cancer by sulforaphane.(Prostate Health)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Isothiocyanates are found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. Epidemiologic studies suggest that cruciferous vegetable intake may lower overall cancer risk, including colon and prostate cancer. Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate ...
Serum Alpha-Tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol in relation to prostate cancer risk in a prospective study.(Prostate Health)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... The Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study demonstrated a 32% reduction in prostate cancer incidence in response to daily alpha-tocopherol supplementation. We examined baseline serum concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol to compare their respective ...
The effect of alpha- and gamma-tocopherol and their carboxyethyl hydroxychroman metabolites on prostate cancer cell proliferation.(Prostate Health)
Apr 01, 2009 ... It is known that gamma-tocopherol inhibits human prostate cancer cell proliferation via down-regulation of cyclin-related signaling but tocopherol and tocotrienol metabolites with a shortened phytyl chain, carboxyethyl hydroxychromans, were not previously investigated as anti-proliferative ...
Effect of selenium and vitamin E on risk of prostate cancer and other cancers: the selenium and vitamin E cancer prevention trial (select).(Prostate Health)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... CONTEXT: Secondary analyses of 2 randomized controlled trials and supportive epidemiologic and preclinical data indicated the potential of selenium and vitamin E for preventing prostate cancer. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether selenium, vitamin E, or both could prevent prostate cancer and ...
The association of fatty acids with prostate cancer risk.(Prostate Health)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... BACKGROUND: Animal studies indicate that omega-6 fatty acids promote and omega-3 fatty acids inhibit tumor development. This pilot study was designed to evaluate whether these fatty acids are associated with human prostate cancer. METHODS: Levels of erythrocyte membrane omega-3 and omega-6 ...
Involvement of arachidonic acid metabolism and EGF receptor in neurotensin-induced prostate cancer PC3 cell growth.(Prostate Health)(epidermal growth factor)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Dietary fats, which increase the risk of prostate cancer, stimulate release of intestinal neurotensin (NT), a growth-promoting peptide that enhances the formation of arachidonic acid metabolites in animal blood. This led us to use PC3 cells to examine the involvement of lipoxygenase (LOX) ...
Activation of the orphan nuclear receptor RORalpha counteracts the proliferative effect of fatty acids on prostate cancer cells: crucial role of 5-lipoxygenase.(Prostate Health)
Apr 01, 2009 ... The incidence of prostate carcinoma is very low in Eastern countries, such as Japan, suggesting that life style conditions may play a crucial role in the development of this pathology. Dietary omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic (LA) and arachidonic (AA) acids, have been ...
Arachidonic acid stimulates prostate cancer cell growth: critical role of 5-lipoxygenase.(Prostate Health)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Arachidonic acid (5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid), a member of the omega-6 poly-unsaturated fatty acids, was found to be an effective stimulator of human prostate cancer cell growth in vitro at micromolar concentrations. Selective blockade of the different metabolic pathways of ...
Elevated 12-lipoxygenase mRNA expression correlates with advanced stage and poor differentiation of human prostate cancer.(Prostate Health)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... OBJECTIVES. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in males in the United States. The mortality is due mainly to distant metastasis. Therefore, predicting the prognosis of prostate cancer patients is an important clinical ...
Plant-derived polyphenols attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide and tumour necrosis factor production in murine microglia and macrophages.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Lipopolysaccharides released during bacterial infections induce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and lead to complications such as neuronal damage in the CNS and septic shock in the periphery. While the initial infection is treated by antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents would ...
Health effects of quercetin: from antioxidant to nutraceutical.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Quercetin, a member of the flavonoids family, is one of the most prominent dietary antioxidants. It is ubiquitously present in foods including vegetables, fruit, tea and wine as well as countless food supplements and is claimed to exert beneficial health effects. This includes protection ...
Quercetin: potentials in the prevention and therapy of disease.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Quercetin is discussed since several decades as a multipotent bioflavonoid with great potential for the prevention and treatment of disease. In the current review, we present the most recent findings on quercetin with regard to the pharmacology, the in-vitro and in-vivo ...
Quercetin inhibits expression of inflammatory cytokines through attenuation of NF-kappaB and p38 MAPK in HMC-1 human mast cell line.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Mast cell-mediated allergic inflammation is involved in many diseases such as asthma, sinusitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Mast cells induce production of pro-inflammatory cytokines with immune regulatory properties. We investigated the effect of quercetin on the ...
Th1/Th2 balance in a murine model of asthma.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Quercetin is found to be the most active of the flavonoids in studies and many medicinal plants owe much of their activity to their high Quercetin content. Quercetin has demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity because of direct inhibition of several initial processes of ...
Anti-inflammatory activity of quercetin and isoquercitrin in experimental murine allergic asthma.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... OBJECTIVE: Eosinophils and cytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. In the present study, we investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of quercetin and isoquercitrin in a murine model of asthma. METHODS: BALB/c mice were immunized (ovalbumin/aluminum hydroxide, s ....
Quercetin inhalation inhibits the asthmatic responses by exposure to aerosolizedovalbumin in conscious guinea-pigs.(Quercetin regulates)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Effects of quercetin inhalation on immediate (IAR), late-phase (LAR) and late late-phase (LLAR) asthmatic responses by exposure to aerosolized-ovalbumin (AOA) (2w/v% in saline, inhalation for 3 min) were studied in conscious guinea-pigs sensitized with AOA. We measured specific airway ...
Ingestion of quercetin inhibits platelet aggregation and essential components of the collagen-stimulated platelet activation pathway in humans.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... BACKGROUND: Quercetin, a flavonoid present in the human diet, which is found in high levels in onions, apples, tea and wine, has been shown previously to inhibit platelet aggregation and signaling in vitro. Consequently, it has been proposed that quercetin may contribute to the protective ...
Polyphenolic compounds from red grapes acutely improve endothelial function in patients with coronary heart disease.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... BACKGROUND: It has been shown that acute intake of red wine improves endothelial-dependent vasodilatation. It is not clear, however, which constituents of red wine are responsible for this effect. We examined whether acute intake of a red grape polyphenol extract has a positive effect on ...
Quercetin reduces blood pressure in hypertensive subjects.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Epidemiological studies report that quercetin, an antioxidant flavonol found in apples, berries, and onions, is associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Quercetin supplementation also reduces blood pressure in hypertensive rodents. The efficacy of quercetin ...
Pure dietary flavonoids quercetin and (-)-epicatechin augment nitric oxide products and reduce endothelin-1 acutely in healthy men.(Quercetin)(Report)
Apr 01, 2009 ... BACKGROUND: Dietary flavonoids may improve endothelial function and ultimately lead to beneficial cardiovascular effects. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess whether pure dietary flavonoids can modulate nitric oxide and endothelin-1 production and thereby improve endothelial function ....
Quercetin ameliorates metabolic syndrome and improves the inflammatory status in obese Zucker rats.(Quercetin)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of chronic administration of high doses of quercetin on metabolic syndrome abnormalities, including obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance. For this purpose, obese Zucker rats and their lean littermates were used. The ...
Therapeutic applications of whey protein.(Whey protein)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Whey, a protein complex derived from milk, is being touted as a functional food with a number of health benefits. The biological components of whey, including lactoferrin, beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptide, and immunoglobulins, demonstrate a range of immune-enhancing ...
Effect of whey protein isolate on strength, body composition and muscle hypertrophy during resistance training.(Whey protein)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Sarcopenia (skeletal muscle wasting with aging) is thought to underlie a number of serious age-related health issues. While it may be seen as inevitable, decreasing this gradual loss of muscle is vital for healthy aging. Thus, it is imperative to investigate exercise and ...
The effect of whey protein supplementation with and without creatine monohydrate combined with resistance training on lean tissue mass and muscle strength.(Whey protein)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Our purpose was to assess muscular adaptations during 6 weeks of resistance training in 36 males randomly assigned to supplementation with whey protein (W; 1.2 g/kg/day), whey protein and creatine monohydrate (WC; 0.1 g/kg/day), or placebo (P; 1.2 g/kg/day maltodextrin). Measures included ...
Whey protein ingestion in elderly persons results in greater muscle protein accrual than ingestion of its constituent essential amino acid content.(Whey protein)(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... It is recognized that both whey protein (WY) and essential amino acids (EAA) are stimuli for muscle protein anabolism. The aim of the present study was to determine if the effects of WY ingestion on muscle protein accrual in elderly persons are due solely to its constituent EAA content ....
Creatine supplementation improves muscular performance in older men.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... PURPOSE: Creatine supplementation has been shown to enhance muscle strength and power after only 5-7 d in young adults. Creatine supplementation could therefore benefit older individuals because aging is associated with a decrease in muscle strength and explosive power. METHODS: We ...
Effect of a pre-exercise energy supplement on the acute hormonal response to resistance exercise.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... The effect of a pre-exercise energy sport drink on the acute hormonal response to resistance exercise was examined in eight experienced resistance trained men. Subjects were randomly provided either a placebo (P: maltodextrin) or the supplement (S: combination of branched chain amino ...
Therapeutic considerations of l-glutamine: a review of the literature.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... The most abundant amino acid in the bloodstream, L-glutamine fulfills a number of biochemical needs. It operates as a nitrogen shuttle, taking up excess ammonia and forming urea. It can contribute to the production of other amino acids, glucose, nucleotides, protein, and glutathione ....
Glutamine and the immune system.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Glutamine is utilised at a high rate by cells of the immune system in culture and is required to support optimal lymphocyte proliferation and production of cytokines by lymphocytes and macrophages. Macrophage-mediated phagocytosis is influenced by glutamine availability. Hydrolysable ...
Glutamine, exercise and immune function. Links and possible mechanisms.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid in human muscle and plasma and is utilised at high rates by rapidly dividing cells, including leucocytes, to provide energy and optimal conditions for nucleotide biosynthesis. As such, it is considered to be essential for proper immune ...
Plasma amino acid concentrations in the overtraining syndrome: possible effects on the immune system.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... Overtraining and long-term exercise are associated with an impairment of immune function. We provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that the supply of glutamine, a key fuel for cells of the immune system, is impaired in these conditions and that this may contribute to ...
Depression of plasma glutamine concentration after exercise stress and its possible influence on the immune system.(Brief article)
Apr 01, 2009 ... OBJECTIVE: To determine whether plasma glutamine levels can be used as an indicator of exercise-induced stress, and to consider the possible effects of low plasma glutamine concentrations on the immune system. METHODS: We used two exercise regimens: in Trial 1 seven male subjects were ...