Association of vitamin B-6 status with inflammation, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammatory conditions: the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study1,2,3

Jian Shen, Chao-Qiang Lai, Josiemer Mattei, Jose M Ordovas and Katherine L Tucker

1 From the Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University Boston MA (JS C-QL JM JMOKLT)the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University Boston MA (KLT).

2 Supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging grant 01AG023394-02 and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant HL54776; and the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service contracts 53-K06-5-10 and 58-1950-9-001.

3 Address correspondence to J Shen, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111-1524. E-mail: jian.shen@tufts.edu.

Background: Low vitamin B-6 status has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The cardioprotective effects of vitamin B-6 independent of homocysteine suggest that additional mechanisms may be involved.

Objective: Our objective was to examine the cross-sectional association of vitamin B-6 status with markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Design: We measured plasma pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and an oxidative DNA damage marker, urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), in Puerto Rican adults who were living in Massachusetts (n = 1205, aged 45–75 y).

Results: There was a strong dose-response relation of plasma PLP concentration with plasma CRP. Increasing quartiles of PLP were significantly associated with lower CRP concentrations (geometric means: 4.7, 3.6, 3.1, and 2.5 mg/L; P for trend < 0.0001) and with lower urinary 8-OHdG concentrations (geometric means: 124, 124, 117, and 108 ng/mg creatinine; P for trend: 0.025) after multivariate adjustment. These negative associations persisted after plasma homocysteine was controlled for. Plasma PLP concentrations were significantly correlated with plasma fasting glucose (r = –0.1, P = 0.0006), glycated hemoglobin (r = –0.08, P = 0.006), and homeostasis model assessment of β cell function (r = 0.082, P = 0.005). Metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes were also significantly associated with low plasma PLP concentrations (P = 0.011, 0.0007, and 0.004, respectively).

Conclusions: Low vitamin B-6 concentrations are associated with inflammation, higher oxidative stress, and metabolic conditions in older Puerto Rican adults. Our data suggest that vitamin B-6 may influence cardiovascular disease risk through mechanisms other than homocysteine and support the notion that nutritional status may influence the health disparities present in this population.

Source: American Journal Clinical Nutrition  www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/91/2/337

What is sustainable healthcare?

Sustainability is a robust concept that has proven its worth across a range of different industries including energy, agriculture, forestry and even construction and tourism.

Contemporary healthcare in western countries is presently dominated by use of pharmaceutical drugs—and most indicators would suggest that these approaches have had very limited value in dealing with some of the greatest scourges facing human health, including chronic diseases, psychiatric diseases and even certain infectious diseases.

From a cost/benefit perspective, pharmaceutical-based approaches to healthcare do not fare favourably and a sea change is required if mainstream western healthcare is to deal with the ever increasing burden on the healthcare system, particularly given that this burden will be exacerbated by an ageing population.

The dichotomy between complementary & alternative medicine (CAM) and orthodox/allopathic healthcare approaches has led to increased vilification of protagonists of each approach. The use of scientific methods of evaluation that do not lend themselves well to CAM approaches have meant that the ‘medical establishment’ has been able to increasingly marginalise CAM approaches. This has occurred while the establishment has provided no significant improvement in its offering to the majority of the population that is either forced to accept or choose to accept pharmaceutical-based medicine as the most effective and scientifically-validated form of medicine.

Encouraging a paradigm shift that requires all forms of healthcare to be bound by principles of sustainability is one of the surest means of providing a level playing field for all healthcare modalities which encourages those approaches that are compatible with the complex biological and energetic systems of which are bodies are comprised.

Sustainability principles, including those applying to engineering and design, should also be applied to healthcare facilities. To read an evaluation of the state-of-the-art on this subject, read an article by Dominic Stalker, a work experience science student who worked with the ANH during the summer of 2008 entitled Engineering sustainability into hospitals.
Definition of Sustainable Healthcare

The ANH first defined sustainable healthcare in 2006 in the UK practitioner journal Nutrition Practitioner. The definition is as follows:

“A complex system of interacting approaches to the restoration, management and optimisation of human health that has an ecological base, that is environmentally, economically and socially viable indefinitely, that functions harmoniously both with the human body and the non-human environment, and which does not result in unfair or disproportionate impacts on any significant contributory element of the healthcare system.”

Read Dr Robert Verkerk’s article published by the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM).

The article was written following an inaugural lecture at the National Institute for Integrative Medicine, hosted by Australian associations ACNEM and AIMA.

Looking through the window—the paradigm shift is the other side of the wall…

Executive Summary of the ANH Sustainable Healthcare Campaign

For more than two decades the orthodox (allopathic or western) healthcare establishment has vigorously attacked the scientific basis, efficacy and safety of the diverse range of modalities befitting approaches that are commonly placed under the banner of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Simultaneously, the CAM community, the natural products industry, health freedom organisations and large numbers of consumers and protagonists of CAM, have argued that these attacks are unjustified and have reciprocated by exposing the apparent lack of efficacy and poor safety record of orthodox healthcare.

These differences of opinion are so deep-seated that the polarity between the two contrasting approaches has become increasingly reinforced. The relative lack of resources within the CAM community, the natural products industry and the health freedom movement, by comparison with the pharmaceutical industry and orthodox medical system which it supports, means that it is by and large proving very difficult to improve the acceptability of CAM modalities in mainstream healthcare.

All the available indicators suggest that orthodox healthcare, which is dominated by interventions with new-to-nature pharmaceutical drugs, is not sustainable. ‘Evidence-based medicine’ (EBM) is increasingly being used both as a means of justifying pharmaceutical intervention as the world’s dominant approach to healthcare and its ever-wider application to discredit or even outlaw particular CAM approaches.

The Alliance for Natural Health (ANH) proposes that the application of the principles of sustainability to healthcare may be one of the most effective ways of altering the perception of established and emerging CAM modalities from the vantage point of government authorities and the current medical establishment. In addition, such an approach could significantly assist a transition in mainstream healthcare that is characterised by improved take up of biologically compatible modalities, as found within CAM. Such a transition would, among other things, allow for much greater use of preventative approaches, especially among children, young adults and non-diseased sub-populations, better diagnosis of disease, widespread adoption of lifestyle and nutrition-based approaches, greatly reduced dependence on new-to-nature medications and marked changes in medical training. With the identification of scientifically established criteria for sustainability in healthcare, only those approaches meeting the criteria stipulated would be accepted. Sustainability has become one of the key technological drivers in a range of other industries where social or environmental degradation has been implicated, and it is incongruous that the principles of sustainability have yet to be applied to healthcare.

The ANH, its affiliates and strategic partners are well set to help trigger the transition towards sustainable healthcare. The transition will continue to require funding of independent research in academic institutions, extensive public and government-targeted awareness campaigns and the establishment of scientifically monitored pilot programmes designed to demonstrate both feasibility and sustainability.

A transition towards sustainability would also help to eliminate the existing polarity between orthodox healthcare and CAM approaches and would inevitably prefer those approaches that function harmoniously with biological systems and human metabolism, rather than those that oppose them.

** Sustainable Health aritcles on this page provide by ANH-Europe.

Green Tea May Be Useful at Preventing Prostate Cancer

Johnson JJ, Bailey HH, Mukhtar H. Green tea polyphenols for prostate cancer chemoprevention: a translational perspective. Phytomed. 2010;17: 3-13.

It was estimated that in 2008, approximately 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer (PCa) would be diagnosed, resulting in roughly 30,000 deaths. Worldwide, the highest rates of PCa occur in “the West” (i.e., the United States, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe), and the lowest rates occur in Asia. A variety of genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to the development of PCa. It has become increasingly evident that dietary constituents have the ability to “target multiple deregulated signaling pathways while allowing normal processes to continue.” Furthermore, migratory studies have shown that Asian men who move to the United States and adopt a western diet have a greater incidence of PCa than do their native Asian counterparts. Thus, many epidemiologists have suggested that lifestyle and dietary factors play a role in the development of PCa. Asian populations are known to consume large quantities of green tea (Camellia sinensis), and a major constituent of green tea—epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)—has been shown in cell culture models to decrease cell viability and to promote apoptosis in PCa cell lines but not in noncancerous cell lines and in animal models, to delay the development and progression of PCa. The objective of the present study was to review the available data on the effects of green tea on PCa chemoprevention.

Conflicting results have been observed in epidemiologic studies. Of 6 epidemiologic studies of green tea reviewed, the majority showed a significant decrease in the risk of developing PCa with increasing intakes of green tea; however, other studies showed no significant decrease. EGCG is the most abundant catechin in green tea and has been studied extensively. In preclinical studies, several mechanisms of action for the chemopreventive effects of EGCG have been observed. For example, EGCG has been shown to target inflammatory pathways (e.g., nuclear factor-kappa B and cyclooxygenase-2), MAP kinases, insulin-like growth factor, androgen receptors, and detoxification enzymes. Preclinical pharmacokinetic studies of green tea have shown that the availability of green tea catechins (GTCs) is low (from 2% to 13%) after oral consumption. Many of these studies used a standardized pharmaceutical-grade preparation known as Polyphenon E® (200 mg of EGCG, 37 mg of epigallocatechin, and 31 mg of epicatechin per capsule; Mitsui Norin, Ltd.; Tokyo, Japan); Polyphenon E has been granted investigational new drug (IND) status by the FDA, with each capsule containing 80-98% total catechins by weight, standardized to EGCG that comprises 50-75% of the substance.

N.B. The structure of epicatechin-3-gallate provided in this publication has been inadvertently misrepresented as identical to that of EGCG.

Thus far, three clinical trials on the role of different forms of green tea on the prevention (n = 1) or treatment (n = 2) of PCa have been published.1-3 Two of these trials were conducted in patients with hormone-refractory PCa. The patients were treated with green tea powder (1 g 6 times daily; n = 42) in the study by Jatoi et al1 and with capsules of green tea extract (250 mg twice daily; n = 19) in the study by Choan et al.2 Both studies showed little to no therapeutic effect, although one patient in the study by Jatoi et al had a significant decrease from baseline in his prostate specific antigen (PSA) level, although this effect was not sustained beyond 2 months. Bettuzzi et al3 conducted a randomized clinical trial of the safety and efficacy of green tea in a chemoprevention trial in patients with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Patients received either placebo (n = 30) or 600 mg GTCs (n = 30) daily (three 200-mg capsules); each capsule contained 5.5% epigallocatechin, 12.2% epicatechin, 51.9% EGCG, 6.1% epicatechin-3-gallate (a total of 75.7% GTCs), and <1% caffeine. After 1 year of treatment, 1 patient in the green tea group and 9 patients in the placebo group developed PCa. The total PSA level was not “noticeably” different between the 2 groups of patients. A 2-year follow-up in a subset of these participants showed that the chemopreventive effect of green tea catechins was “long lasting.” The authors conclude that the results of this clinical trial “are encouraging and provide rationale for additional clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of green tea polyphenols as a cancer chemoprevention agent.” A very recent study of the effects of short-term supplementation with the active compounds in green tea (EGCG; Polyphenon E) on serum biomarkers in men with prostate cancer showed a significant reduction in serum levels of PSA, hepatocyte growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor and no elevation in liver enzymes.

According to the authors, it has become evident over time that standardized green tea polyphenols should be used, as opposed to green tea infusions, for interventional purposes to ensure the content of polyphenols being investigated. Evidence collected thus far on the effects of green tea polyphenols on PCa prevention and treatment “suggests that green tea may be a promising agent for PCa chemoprevention and further clinical trials of participants at risk of PCa or early stage PCa are warranted.”

—Brenda Milot, ELS

References

1Jatoi A, Ellison N, Burch PA, et al. A phase II trial of green tea in the treatment of patients with androgen independent metastatic prostate carcinoma. Cancer. 2003;97:1442-1446.

2Choan E, Segal R, Jonker D, et al. A prospective clinical trial of green tea for hormone refractory prostate cancer: an evaluation of the complementary/alternative therapy approach. Urol Oncol. 2005;23:108-113.

3Bettuzzi S, Brausi M, Rizzi F, Castagnetti G, Peracchia G, Corti A. Chemoprevention of human prostate cancer by oral administration of green tea catechins in volunteers with high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia: a preliminary report from a one-year proof-of-principle study. Cancer Res. 2006;66:1234-1240.

4McLarty J, Bigelow RL, Smith M, Elmajian D, Ankem M, Cardelli JA. Tea polyphenols decrease serum levels of prostate-specific antigen, hepatocyte growth factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor in prostate cancer patients and inhibit production of hepatocyte growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in vitro. Cancer Prev Res. 2009;2(7):673-682.

Source: American Botanical Council, 6200 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723
Phone: 512-926-4900 | Fax: 512-926-2345 | Email: abc@herbalgram.org

Consumption of Flavanol-Containing Cocoa Reverses Vascular Dysfunction in Diabetic Patients

Balzer J, Rassaf T, Heiss C, et al. Sustained benefits in vascular function through flavanol-containing cocoa in medicated diabetic patients: a double-masked, randomized, controlled trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;51(22): 2141-2149.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasing worldwide and is accompanied by an increasing risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Prescription medications are often used extensively in an attempt to prevent and/or treat complications of type 2 diabetes; however, they are often inadequate. Observational studies have shown that lifestyle modification (e.g., increased physical activity, weight loss, and dietary changes) can prevent diabetes and its associated complications. Epidemiologic studies have recently shown an inverse correlation between flavanol consumption and mortality from cardiovascular disease and the incidence of diabetes. Flavanols are predominantly found in fruit, vegetables, tea (Camellia sinensis), red wine (Vitis vinifera), and especially cocoa (Theobroma cacao). The results of dietary intervention trials have shown beneficial effects of flavanols on low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, platelet aggregation, insulin sensitivity, endothelial function, and blood pressure. The objective of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of a dietary intervention with flavanols from cocoa on improving vascular function in diabetic patients.

Men and women aged 50-80 years on hypoglycemic medication with a history of stably treated type 2 diabetes for at least 5 years were screened for eligibility. Ten patients were enrolled in a feasibility study, and 41 patients were enrolled in an efficacy study. Both studies had a randomized, double-masked design. In the feasibility study, the subjects consumed a single cocoa drink providing 75 mg (control), 371 mg (medium content), or 963 mg (high content) flavanols on 3 separate occasions (crossover design). Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a measure of endothelial function, was measured an hour before and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 hours after ingestion of the cocoa drink. Blood samples were collected 2 hours after ingestion for the measurement of plasma flavanol concentrations. In the efficacy study, the subjects consumed 3 doses daily of either 321 mg flavanols (treatment group; 963 g/day total) or 25 mg of flavanols (control group; 75 mg/day total) for 30 days. FMD, blood pressure, heart rate, clinical variables, and plasma flavanol metabolites were measured at baseline and again on the same day 2 hours after ingestion of the day’s first amount of cocoa on days 0, 8, and 30. The cocoa drinks were prepared from a dry cocoa beverage mix (made using CocoaPro® cocoa powder; Mars Inc.; Hackettstown, New Jersey), and all of the cocoa drinks were similar in other macro- and micro-nutrient, caloric and alkaloid content, taste, and appearance. The primary outcome measure was endothelial function, which was determined on the basis of FMD of the brachial artery. Secondary outcome measures included changes in plasma flavanol metabolites 2 hours after ingestion of cocoa, blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose, plasma lipid, and glycated hemoglobin concentrations.

In the feasibility study, the mean FMD of the study population was 3.8 ± 0.3%. A dose-dependent increase in FMD was observed after consumption of 371 and 963 mg flavanols, but not after ingestion of 75 mg flavanols (control). The highest FMD (5.5 ± 0.4%; P < 0.001 compared with baseline) occurred 2 hours after ingestion of the highest flavanol intake (963 mg). Plasma flavanols and FMD increased significantly in all of the subjects who ingested 963 mg flavanols. In the efficacy study, fasting FMD in the treatment group increased significantly from 3.3 ± 1.1% at baseline to 4.1 ± 1.1% on day 8 (P < 0.001) and to 4.3 ± 1.2% on day 30 (P < 0.0001). Significant acute-on-chronic increases (increases after consumption of the day's first amount) in FMD after flavanols ingested continued throughout the duration of the study (P < 0.0001). Plasma flavanol metabolites did not increase significantly in the control group but did increase significantly in the treatment group, from 1473.2 ± 670.9 nmol/L at baseline to 2177.7 ± 995.1 nmol/L (P = 0.0027) on day 30. No significant changes in blood pressure or in fasting plasma glucose and plasma lipid concentrations were observed in either the treatment or the control group on day 30, except for a significant decrease (P = 0.0063) in the LDL concentration in the treatment group. Glycated hemoglobin on day 30 was significantly lower than that at baseline in both the treatment (P = 0.0480) and control (P = 0.0038) groups. The authors conclude that their study "clearly establishes improvements of endothelial function after regular consumption of flavanol-containing cocoa in patients with type 2 diabetes." Flavanol consumption was well tolerated with no evidence of tachyphylaxia (desensitization to the treatment). The findings indicate the therapeutic potential of flavanols for helping reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetics on medication. —Brenda Milot, ELS American Botanical Council, 6200 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723

Vitamin D and intervention trials in prostate cancer: from theory to therapy.

Schwartz GG.

Departments of Cancer Biology and Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. gschwart@wfubmc.edu

Studies of vitamin D and prostate cancer have advanced rapidly from the hypothesis that vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of prostate cancer to intervention trials of vitamin D administration in clinical cancer. The hormonal form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)(2)D, exerts prodifferentiating, antiproliferative, anti-invasive, and antimetastatic effects on prostate cells. Moreover, normal prostate cells synthesize 1,25(OH)(2)D from serum levels of the prohormone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D. The autocrine synthesis of 1,25(OH)(2)D by prostatic cells provides a biochemical mechanism whereby vitamin D may prevent prostate cancer. Many prostate cancer cells have lost the ability to synthesize 1,25(OH)(2)D but still possess 1,25(OH)(2)D receptors. This suggests that whereas vitamin D (e.g., cholecalciferol) might prevent prostate cancer, existing prostate tumors likely would require treatment with 1,25(OH)(2)D and/or its analogs. The major obstacle to the use of 1,25(OH)(2)D in patients therapeutically is the risk of hypercalcemia. Several maneuvers to reduce this risk, including pulse dosing and the use of less calcemic 1,25(OH)(2)D analogs, have been explored in Phase I-III clinical trials. Once merely a promise, vitamin D-based therapies for prostate cancer may soon be medical practice.

PMID: 18619854 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]

Anti Oxidant Activity of Tumeric

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a major culinary spice of India and other Asian countries, and has been shown to have anti-cancer, anti-coagulative, and anti-hepatotoxic properties. As an anti-oxidant, it is sometimes added (at 0.5-1.0% levels) to ground nut oils to reduce the formation of peroxides and to increase shelf-life. This study was conducted to determine the nature of the anti-oxidant principle in turmeric. From an aqueous extract of powdered turmeric tubers, a heat-stable protein with anti-oxidant properties was isolated. This turmeric anti-oxidant/protein (TAP) was found to inhibit lipid peroxidation in both of the environments in which it was incubated: in vitro in rat brain tissue, and in cod liver oil.

In previous studies, turmeric has been shown to be as effective an anti-oxidant as butylated hydroxy anisole, which is used in the preservation of foods. But whereas high concentrations of butylated hydroxy anisole have been shown to be toxic, high concentrations of turmeric have been reported to be non-toxic. These findings, therefore, are significant in areas where turmeric is consumed in the diet. The ability of TAP to protect tissues from peroxidation merits further study.

January 8. 1996

Selvam, R., Lalitha Subramanian, R. Gayathri, and N. Angayarkanni. The anti-oxidant activity of turmeric (curcuma longa) Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Vol 47, 1995:.

Source: The American Botanical Council

Monograph on Scientific and Clinical Research of Pycnogenol®

(Austin, TX) January 21, 2010. The nonprofit American Botanical Council (ABC) has just published a monograph summarizing selected scientific and clinical studies of Pycnogenol^®, a patented dietary ingredient from French maritime pine bark.

Seventeen human clinical studies of Pycnogenol are reviewed in the monograph, evaluating the extract’s potential benefits in numerous areas. These include its cardiovascular benefits, such as its ability to reduce difficulties associated with chronic venous insufficiency and problems related to thrombosis (formation or presence of blood clots in blood vessels).

Based on the review of scientific and clinical trials, the monograph notes that Pycnogenol has been shown to have a wide range of potential applications, including the ability to improve blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes and improve endothelial function (the ability of blood vessels to widen through relaxation of the muscular wall of the vessels). Current clinical trial data suggest that Pycnogenol may also help decrease edema formation (swelling) in the lower legs, benefit children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), be a useful adjunct therapy for patients with asthma, reduce pain associated with menstrual disorders, and improve subjective symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee.

“Pycnogenol is an excellent example of a natural plant-based product which is the subject of extensive clinical research,” said ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal. “ABC acknowledges Horphag Research, the manufacturer, for its singular focus and for its commitment to funding continued clinical trials to investigate and document the beneficial role Pycnogenol might have in selfcare and healthcare.”

Horphag Research of Geneva Switzerland invests about $1.5 million annually in new scientific and clinical research on the special extract.

“The ABC monograph on Pycnogenol presents one of the most comprehensive and detailed monographs ever published on a dietary ingredient,” said Victor Ferrari, CEO of Horphag Research. “Consumers, health professionals, and industry members alike are looking for comprehensive and evidence-based information, and as such, the monograph provides an excellent detailed view of the versatility of this natural product.”

The monograph is published in three parts: The full monograph, a clinical overview (i.e., executive summary) containing condensed information from the monograph, and a consumer/patient information sheet, consisting of essential information for consumer education about the responsible use of the product. Each of these elements is accessible separately on the ABC website.

The full monograph contains an overview of Pycnogenol’s production and chemistry, uses of the product, dosage information, summaries of the product’s pharmacology and mechanisms of action, safety data, and summaries of selected clinical trials. A table includes synopses of the clinical trials profiled within the monograph’s text, plus summaries of several additional studies. The monograph also includes how Pycnogenol is regulated in 10 countries and regions around the world.

Pycnogenol’s manufacturer Horphag Research has extensively studied the extract over the past 40 years to assure the safety and efficacy of Pycnogenol as an ingredient in dietary supplements and conventional foods. More than 220 studies and review articles have been published on the extract, and Horphag Research earned the Frost & Sullivan North American Health Ingredients Excellence in Research of the Year Award for 2008.

“Horphag Research has incorporated ongoing research into its business model as a necessity to keep the pledge towards its customers and consumers to rely on scientific evidence,” said Ferrari, explaining that this research will also provide the basis for new product development, patents, and new product applications. “To date, we have not come across any other company performing the same amount of research at the same level of quality on a single ingredient. It is critical to investigate nutritional ingredients to the point that one can establish that they are of the highest quality, safe, and that the data shows supporting scientific evidence for their use.”

ABC’s 19-page monograph on Pycnogenol was written by toxicologist Heather S. Oliff, PhD, and it was formally peer reviewed by scientific and medical experts for its accuracy.

ABC emphasizes that the publication of the Pycnogenol monograph is not an endorsement or recommendation of the ingredient or the manufacturer. “ABC has had a long history of documenting the specific herbal products and ingredients that have been clinically tested,” said Blumenthal. “As part of our nonprofit educational mission, we believe it is in the public interest to identify clinically tested natural plant-based products and ingredients which the scientific literature suggests are safe and beneficial.”

ABC’s Pycnogenol monograph is the fourth in a series of product-specific monographs that the organization has initiated. Additional monographs concerning specific researched commercial products and ingredients are being developed by ABC.

About the American Botanical Council

Founded in 1988, the American Botanical Council is a leading international nonprofit organization addressing research and educational issues regarding herbs and medicinal plants. ABC’s members include academic researchers and educators; libraries; health professionals and medical institutions; government agencies; members of the herb, dietary supplement, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries; journalists; consumers; and others within over 70 countries. The organization occupies a historic 2.5-acre site in Austin, Texas where it publishes the quarterly journal HerbalGram, the monthly e-publication HerbalEGram, HerbClips (summaries of scientific and clinical publications), reference books, and other educational materials. ABC also hosts HerbMedPro, a powerful herbal database, covering scientific and clinical publications on more than 220 herbs. ABC also co-produces the “Herbal Insights” segment for Healing Quest, a television series on PBS. Previous product-specific monographs developed by ABC have focused on CVT-E002^® (the active ingredient in the ginseng-based formulation COLD-FX^®), POM^® Wonderful Pomegranate Juice, and the herbal combination product Sinupret^®.

ABC is tax-exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code. Information: Contact ABC at P.O. Box 144345, Austin, TX 78714-4345, Phone: 512-926-4900. Website: http://www.herbalgram.org/.

About Horphag Research

Horphag Research Ltd., founded in 1925 and based in Geneva, Switzerland, is the exclusive worldwide supplier of Pycnogenol, extracted from French maritime pine bark (Pinus pinaster). The company leads the world in Pycnogenol research, and new applications for Pycnogenol are explored every year. Pycnogenol is available in more than 700 dietary supplements, multivitamins and health products worldwide. Pycnogenol is a registered trademark of Horphag Research Ltd and its applications are protected by US and international patents. Natural Health Science, in Hoboken, NJ, is the exclusive North American raw material supplier of Pycnogenol. More information about Pycnogenol is available at the company’s website: www.pycnogenol.com.

Vitamin D supplementation may improve HDL cholesterol levels

MedWire News: Low levels of serum 25(OH)D (vitamin D) are associated with low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and reduced waist circumference, report researchers in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.

Low levels of vitamin D have previously been associated with markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, explain Kevin Maki (Provident Clinical Research, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, USA) and team.

In this cross-sectional study, the investigators recruited 257 men and women to assess links between vitamin D level and selected CVD risk markers including components of the metabolic syndrome such as HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and abdominal obesity.

They also evaluated dietary intake using food frequency and dietary supplement questionnaires.

Maki et al report that HDL cholesterol level significantly increased in a graded fashion, with levels increasing from 48.4 mg/dl to 62.3 mg/dl (1.25 to 1.61 mmol/l) among participants in the lowest and highest tertiles of serum vitamin D, respectively.

Each 10-ng/ml increment in serum vitamin D level was associated with an increase in HDL cholesterol of 3.80–4.20 mg/dl (0.10–0.11 mmol/l) following adjustment for established determinants of HDL cholesterol.

The authors point out that, if confirmed, this finding could have important implications with regard to coronary heart disease, as previous studies have shown that a 1.00 mg/dl (0.02 mmol/l) increase in HDL cholesterol is linked to a 4–6% decrease in risk for the condition.

Of note, each 1-ng/ml increment in vitamin D was associated with a significant 0.31 cm smaller waist circumference. But the researchers say this could be explained by the fact that vitamin D is fat soluble and there is therefore a “greater storage capacity for vitamin D in overweight and obese individuals, which may result in a reduced circulating concentration.”

Other factors such as triglycerides showed a graded inverse relationship with vitamin D level, and metabolic syndrome prevalence decreased significantly from the lowest to the highest tertile.

“These results suggest that clinical trials should be undertaken to assess the impact of increasing vitamin D intake on the metabolic cardiovascular risk factor profile,” concludes the team.

MedWire (www.medwire-news.md) is an independent clinical news service provided by Current Medicine Group, a part of Springer Science+Business Media. © Current Medicine Group Ltd; 2009

© 2010 Current Medicine Group, a trading division of Springer Healthcare Limited.

Source: www.lipidsonline.com

Six Supernutrients That Can Transform Your Health

Imagine sustained energy… a flawless memory… perfect vision and hearing… and the physical endurance of someone half your age—all as you reach fifty, sixty, seventy and beyond.

This may sound like an unreachable fantasy. But there’s no rule that says your health has to fall apart once you reach middle age—especially not when a carefully chosen combination of the right phytonutrients can provide you with comprehensive protection against all of the most common pitfalls of aging …and add years of vitality onto your life in the process.

Take turmeric, for example: This is the spice that gives curry its kick—but it’s also a clinically proven antioxidant powerhouse. Turmeric—and more specifically its primary constituent curcumin—has been tested with great success against of number of inflammation-related conditions, including psoriasis, chronic pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel and eye diseases plus rheumatoid arthritis.1

Green tea is another powerful life-extending nutrient—rich in a number of health-promoting polyphenols, including the powerful antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Extensive research shows that, among other benefits, green tea can help to balance blood sugar and insulin levels, fight inflammation, protect against stroke-related brain damage and increase cognitive function plus help to prevent atherosclerosis resulting from elevated LDL cholesterol.2-8

Grape seed extract is a good source of a class of phytochemicals called proanthocyanidins and has emerged as another key anti-aging staple. Studies show that this antioxidant compound can support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce plaque-causing lipid peroxidation, inhibit clot-forming platelet aggregation and reduce inflammation.9-11 Other notable benefits of grape seed supplementation include accelerating wound healing and supporting skin health.12-13

As the most popular staple of the “French paradox”—that is, the phenomenon of low rates of coronary artery disease paired with a diet rich in saturated fat—there seems to be no limit to the health benefits of red wine… especially where your heart is concerned. Not only is it packed with both polyphenols and stilbenes—powerful antioxidants that can raise “good” cholesterol and protect against artery damage—- it’s also rich in the anti-aging compound resveratrol. Research shows that resveratrol can mimic the beneficial effects of caloric restriction—including improved heart function and bone density, better motor function, delayed cataracts and longer lifespan—without strict dieting.14-19

Your liver is your body’s filter, responsible for pushing out damaging toxins on a daily basis—so keeping this organ in perfect shape is another crucial aspect of longevity. Luckily, numerous clinical trials offer compelling modern-day support for the historical use of milk thistle—and more specifically, its main constituent silymarin—for this very purpose. Research shows that daily silymarin supplementation can improve recovery time dramatically in patients with acute hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other forms of liver disease—while additional studies indicate that it can help to maintain healthy blood sugar and offer critical protection against damaging UV radiation.20-23

Finally, the last few decades have seen the ancient herb Ginkgo biloba emerge as a superstar in the supplement world—most notably for its clinically proven benefits to nerve and cognitive health. Extensive research shows that it can increase blood flow to the brain, reduce memory deficit in Alzheimer’s patients and boost vision.24-25

References:

1. Hsu CH, Cheng AL. Clinical studies with curcumin. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:471-480.

2. Tsuneki H, Ishizuka M, Terasawa M, Wu JB, Sasaoka T, Kimura I. Effect of green tea on blood glucose levels and serum proteomic patterns in diabetic (db/db) mice and on glucose metabolism in healthy humans. BMC Pharmacol, 2004 Aug 26;4(1):18.

3. Lee H, Bae JH, Lee SR. Protective effect of green tea polyphenol EGCG against neuronal damage and brain edema after unilateral cerebral ischemia in gerbils. J Neurosci Res, 2004 Sep 15;77(6):892-900.

4. Kim HK, Kim M, Kim S, Kim M, Chung JH. Effects of green tea polyphenol on cognitive and acetylcholinesterase activities. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem, 2004 Sep;68(9):1977-9.

5. Hussain T, Gupta S, Adhami VM, Mukhtar H. Green tea constituent epigallocatechin-3-gallate selectively inhibits COX-2 without affecting COX-1 expression in human prostate carcinoma cells. Int J Cancer, 2004 Sep 28 [Epub ahead of print].

6. Pezzato E, Sartor L, Dell’aica I, Dittadi R, Gion M, Belluco C, Lise M, Garbisa S. Prostate carcinoma and green tea: PSA-triggered basement membrane degradation and MMP-2 activation are inhibited by (-)epigallocatechin-3-gallate.Int J Cancer, 2004 Dec 10;112(5):787-92.

7. Zhang M, Lee AH, Binns CW, Xie X. Green tea consumption enhances survival of epithelial ovarian cancer. Int J Cancer, 2004 Nov 10;112(3):465.

8. Ouyang P, Peng WL, Lai WY, Xu AL. [Green tea polyphenols inhibit low-density lipoprotein-induced proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells] [Article in Chinese]. Di Yi Jun Yi Da Xue Xue Bao, 2004 Sep;24(9):975-9.

9. Edirisinghe I, Burton-Freeman B, Tissa Kappagoda C. Mechanism of the endothelium-dependent relaxation evoked by a grape seed extract. Clin Sci (Lond). 2008 Feb;114(4):331-7.

10. Freedman JE, Parker C, Li L, et al. Select flavonoids and whole juice from purple grapes inhibit platelet function and enhance nitric oxide release. Circulation. 2001;103:2792-8.

11. Shafiee M, Carbonneau MA, Urban N, Descomps B, Leger CL. Grape and grape seed extract capacities at protecting LDL against oxidation generated by Cu2+, AAPH or SIN-1 and at decreasing superoxide THP-1 cell production. A comparison to other extracts or compounds. Free Radic Res. 2003 May;37(5):573-84.

12. Katiyar SK. Dietary grape seed proanthocyanidins inhibit photocarcinogenesis through prevention of UV-induced suppression of immune responses via induction of interleukin-12 in mice. Presented at the 233rd national meeting of the American Chemical Society, Chicago, March 25, 2007. Abstract: AGFD 011.

13. Hughes-Formella B, Wunderlich O, Williams R. Anti-inflammatory and skin-hydrating properties of a dietary supplement and topical formulations containing oligomeric proanthocyanidins. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2007;20(1):43-9. Epub 2006 Oct 11.

14. Baur JA, Pearson KJ, Price NL, et al. Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet. Nature. 2006 Nov 16;444(7117):337-342.

15. Lagouge M, Argmann C, Gerhart-Hines Z, et al. Resveratrol improves mitochondrial function and protects against metabolic disease by activating SIRT1 and PGC-1alpha. Cell. 2006 Dec 15;127(6):1109-1122.

16. Pfluger PT, Herranz D, Velasco-Miguel S, Serrano M, Tschöp MH. Sirt1 protects against high-fat diet-induced metabolic damage. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2008;105(28):9793-9798.

17. Sun C, Zhang F, Ge X, et al. SIRT1 improves insulin sensitivity under insulin-resistant conditions by repressing PTP1B. Cell Metab 2007;6:307-319.

18. Pearson KJ, Baur JA, Lewis KN, et al. Resveratrol delays age-related deterioration and mimics transcriptional aspects of dietary restriction without extending life span. Cell Metab. 2008 Aug;8(2):157-168.

19. Barger JL, Kayo T, Vann JM, et al. A low dose of dietary resveratrol partially mimics caloric restriction and retards aging parameters in mice. PLoS ONE. 2008 Jun 4;3(6):e2264.

20. El-Kamary SS, Shardell MD, Abdel-Hamid M, Ismail S, El-Ateek M, Metwally M, Mikhail N, Hashem M, Mousa A, Aboul-Fotouh A, El-Kassas M, Esmat G, Strickland GT. A randomized controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of silymarin on symptoms, signs and biomarkers of acute hepatitis. Phytomedicine. 2009 May;16(5):391-400.

21. Huseini HF, Larijani B, Heshmat R, Fakhrzadeh H, Radjabipour B, Toliat T, Raza M. The efficacy of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. (silymarin) in the treatment of type II diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Phytotherapy Research. Published online ahead of print on October 30, 2006.

22. Meeran SM, Katiyar S, Elmets CA, Katiyar SK. Silymarin inhibits UV radiation-induced immunosuppression through augmentation of interleukin-12 in mice. Mol Cancer Ther. 2006 Jul;5(7):1660-8.

23. Svobodova A, Zdarilova A, Maliskova J, Mikulkova H, Walterova D, Vostalova J. Attenuation of UVA-induced damage to human keratinocytes by silymarin. J Dermatol Sci. 2007 Apr;46(1):21-30. Epub 2007 Feb 7.

24. B. Hofferberth. The Efficacy of EGb 761 (Ginkgo biloba extract) in Patients with Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type, A double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study on Different Levels of Investigation. Human Psychopharmacol 1994, vol. 9, 215-222.

25. Wu ZM, Yin XX, Ji L, Gao YY, Pan YM, Lu Q, Wang JY. Ginkgo biloba extract prevents against apoptosis induced by high glucose in human lens epithelial cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2008 Sep;29(9):1042-50.

News Release
Herbal Science Organization Clarifies New Ginkgo Study

(Austin, TX) December 28, 2009. New research findings published this week on a standardized Ginkgo biloba extract are very limited and the public should focus on the well-documented cognitive and cardiovascular benefits of ginkgo, said the American Botanical Council (ABC), an independent nonprofit research and education organization.

A new study of previously published data being published in this week’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has reported that a leading ginkgo extract did not reduce the decline in cognitive impairment in older adults.1,2

“There are many significant limitations of this study”, said Mark Blumenthal, ABC founder and executive director.

First, the data being published this week are drawn from a previous clinical trial which was not designed to determine the decline in cognition.3 Second, about 40% of the subjects dropped out over the 6-year duration of the trial; the statistics reported in the study include the dropouts for which no final data are available. Further, the subjects in the study were not monitored for certain cognitive parameters until several years after the trial began, creating difficulty in determining accurately whether they experienced a decline in cognition or not. Also, the age of the subjects is quite advanced, at an average of 79 years at the beginning of the trial. This age group is not typical of the age of both healthy people and those with mild cognitive impairment who use ginkgo for improving mental performance.

Further, ABC noted that another weakness of this trial is the lack of an active control, i.e., a potential third arm of the trial (i.e., besides the patients on ginkgo or placebo) in which patients would have used a pharmaceutical medication with presumed efficacy, to determine to what extent the particular population being tested would respond. This was not possible for this trial since no conventional pharmaceutical drug has ever demonstrated the ability to prevent the onset of dementia or diminish its progression.

ABC also stated that several recent publications have demonstrated an improvement in cognitive performance in subjects using the same German gingko extract.4,5,6

The new publication, by Beth E. Snits, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist associated with the University of Pittsburgh, and other colleagues, analyzed outcomes from the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory study (GEM, published in 2008 in JAMA) to determine if ginkgo extract slowed cognitive decline in older adults who had either normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment at the beginning of the study. 3

The GEM study previously found that ginkgo extract was not effective in reducing the incidence of Alzheimer dementia or dementia overall. This large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centered clinical trial included 3,069 community-dwelling subjects (aged 72 to 96 years) who received either a dose of 120 mg of ginkgo extract twice daily or an identical-appearing placebo. The trial was conducted at 6 academic medical centers in the United States between 2000 and 2008, with a median follow-up of 6.1 years. Change in cognitive function was evaluated by various tests and measures.

ABC emphasized that the original GEM trial was designed to determine whether taking ginkgo would prevent the onset of dementia. What this new publication has done is attempted to analyze the possible decline in levels of cognitive function – not a primary outcome measure of the GEM study.

“This trial is not conclusive nor should it in any way detract from ginkgo’s reputation as a useful dietary supplement to help support and improve cognitive function and enhance peripheral circulation – conditions for which it has been reported to be effective in numerous clinical trials,” reminded Blumenthal.

At least 16 controlled clinical trials have evaluated various ginkgo extracts for healthy, non-cognitively impaired adults. A systematic review has shown that in 11 of these trials, the ginkgo increased short-term memory, concentration and time to process mental tasks.7

“The results of this new trial must be viewed in proper perspective,” noted Blumenthal. “There is a vast body of pharmacological and clinical research supporting numerous health benefits for ginkgo extracts, particularly for improving various symptoms and conditions associated with declining cognitive performance and poor circulation.”

ABC also emphasized that this publication, and the one published in 2008 on which it is based, both underscore the relative safety of ginkgo extract: the amount of adverse events were basically the same in both the ginkgo and placebo groups, particularly no serious adverse effects, e.g. no statistically significant incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke of any type, and major bleeding.

The trial utilized EGb 761®, the world’s most clinically tested ginkgo extract, produced by W. Schwabe Pharmaceuticals in Karlsruhe, Germany.

About Ginkgo Extract

Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) is the world’s oldest living tree, dating back about 250 million years. Ginkgo leaves have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for about 500 years. For about the past 30 years the leaves of ginkgo have been made into a highly concentrated (50:1) extract, chemically standardized to compounds unique to ginkgo (ginkgolides and bilobalide) as well as other compounds. The leading German ginkgo extract has been subjected to a vast range of clinical trials documenting its ability to improve peripheral circulation and cognitive function, particularly in patients with early stages of mild cognitive impairment, senile dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and memory loss. Clinical trials also support the use of ginkgo extract in assisting elderly patients in walking longer distances without leg pain (peripheral arterial occlusive disease, also known as intermittent claudication). Standardized ginkgo extracts are approved for use as medicines in Germany and numerous other countries.

About the American Botanical Council

Founded in 1988 the American Botanical Council is a leading international nonprofit organization addressing research and educational issues regarding herbs and medicinal plants. ABC’s members include academic researchers and educators, universities and libraries, health professionals and medical institutions, botanical gardens and arboreta, government agencies, members of the herb, dietary supplement, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, journalists, consumers, and other interested parties from over 70 countries. The organization occupies a historic 2.5-acre site in Austin, Texas where it publishes the quarterly journal HerbalGram, the monthly e-publication HerbalEGram, HerbClips (over 4000 summaries of scientific and clinical publications), reference books, and other educational materials. ABC also hosts HerbMedPro, a powerful herbal database, covering scientific and clinical publications on more than 220 herbs.

ABC is tax-exempt under section 501© (3) of the IRS Code. Information: Contact ABC at P.O. Box 144345, Austin, TX 78714-4345, Phone: 512-926-4900. Website: http://www.herbalgram.org/.

References

1. Snitz BE, O’Meara ES, Carlson MC, Arnold A, Ives DG, Rapp SR, Saxton J, Lopez OL, Dunn LO, Sink K, DeKosky ST. Does Ginkgo biloba slow cognitive decline in older adults? JAMA Dec 23/30, 2009.

2. American Medical Association. Ginkgo Biloba Does Not Appear to Slow Rate of Cognitive Decline. [press release]. Chicago, IL: Dec. 23, 2009.

3. DeKosky ST, Williamson JD, Fitzpatrick AL, et al. Ginkgo biloba for prevention of dementia: a randomized controlled trial.[see comment]. JAMA. Nov 19 2008;300(19):2253-2262.

4. QWiG Institut für Qualität und Wirtschaftlichkeit im Gesundheitswesen. IQWiG Reports – Commission No. A05-19B. Ginkgo in Alzheimer’s disease. Executive Summary. Cologne: IQWiG, 2008.

5. Kaschel R. Ginkgo biloba: specificity of neuropsychological improvement – a selective review in search of differential effects. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental 2009;24:345-370.

6. Kasper S, Schubert H. Ginkgo-Spezialextrakt EGb 761® in der Behandlung der Demenz: Evidenz für Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit. [Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® in the treatment of dementia: evidence of efficacy and tolerability.] Fortschritte Neurologie Psychiatrie 2009;77:494-506.

7. Crews W, Harrison DW, Griggin ML, Falwell KD, Crist T, Longest L, Hehemann L, Rey ST. The neuropsychological efficacy of ginkgo preparations in healthy and cognitively intact adults; A comprehensive review. HerbalGram 2005;67:42-62.

Source: American Botanical Council 12/30/09.

Facts About Supplements for Heart Health

Many people take vitamins and supplements to boost their heart health. Which supplements work best? How much should you take? Here are tips to help you shop wisely.

Supplements for Heart Health

Supplements like omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and plant sterols may help lower cholesterol and improve blood flow to the heart.

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 acts like an antioxidant, which helps protect cells from damage. Some studies show that CoQ10 supplements may lower blood pressure slightly and may help heart failure.  NutraMetrix offers a great COQ10 product. Click the link on the home page to learn more or to place an order.

Fiber (Psyllium)

Fiber lowers cholesterol, as well as the overall risk of heart disease, according to many studies. Soluble fiber binds with cholesterol in the intestines and prevents it from being absorbed by the body.

Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed and flaxseed oil may lower cholesterol levels. It’s not yet clear whether it also lowers your overall risk of heart disease.

Folic Acid

Folic Acid and B vitamins lower the amino acid homocysteine, which has been linked to heart disease. But studies have not proven that folic acid reduces the rate of heart attacks and stroke.

Magnesium

Magnesium helps keep blood pressure normal and the heart rhythm steady.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can lower blood pressure and triglycerides, according to research. Omega-3s may also reduce your overall risk of death from heart disease.  NutraMetrix offers a highly potent omega-3 product. Click the link on the homepage to learn more or place an order.

Red Yeast Rice

Red yeast rice may lower total cholesterol and “bad” LDL cholesterol, according to several studies. One ingredient in red yeast rice – monacolin K – is identical as the active ingredient in a cholesterol drug.

Information obtained from WebMD.

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