Medical News You Can Use
Medical News Use Can Use - August 2010
Anxiety in Adolescents; Vitamin D and Cancer; Behaviors and Death compiled by Henri Roca, MD, Medical Director
Watch for Anxiety in Adolescents The National Institute of Mental Health reported that up to 39% of adolescents screened in an emergency room department were positive for anxiety. The screening also found that those students with anxiety were more likely to have recurrent episodes of school absenteeism and a greater number of medical visits to providers. The most common complaints were pain of any kind, especially headache. In addition to sleep, concentration, and behavior problems, pain should be a warning sign of potential anxiety issues, which are becoming more prevalent.
Low Vitamin D Raises Colon Cancer Risk In a study comparing risk of colon and rectal cancer with dietary factors, researchers found that those individuals with a Vitamin D level that was less than 25 had a substantially increased risk of colon cancer, but not rectal cancer, according to a report from the medical resource group BMJ. Those with Vitamin D levels of 75 or greater experienced a protective effect relative to colon cancer, but not rectal cancer. Dietary calcium has a protective effect for colon cancer as well. Bottom line? Vitamin D levels should be optimized far above minimal levels unless there is a problem with calcium metabolism. This optimization requires serial blood tests and an understanding of how your body processes calcium and Vitamin D. Physicians at the Center for Integrative Medicine can help you manage this.
Early Childhood Stress Management Creates Healthier Adult Behaviors A long-term study of civil servants in London over 24 years has revealed that the socioeconomic status of an individual did not result in increased ill health and death because of poverty alone. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that poor health behaviors in this group contributed significantly to ill health and death. At the beginning of the study, unhealthy behaviors (lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking, alcohol intake) explained 29% of death related to cardiovascular disease, 61% of death not related to cardiovascular causes, and 42% of overall death. By the end of the study the percentages were 45%, 94%, and 71% respectively. Overall across the 24 years, the contribution of smoking, poor diet, and inactivity rose. Moderate alcohol intake was neutral with an increased death rate in those who did not drink as well as in those who drank excessively. Poor health behaviors do not start in adulthood. In summary, children who have healthy stress management capacity tend to manifest healthy behaviors. Those with high stress begin the long process of developing unhealthy behaviors that can contribute up to 71% of their risk for untimely death.
Medical News Use Can Use - July 2010
compiled by Henri Roca, MD, Medical Director
Persistent inflammation can worsen depression. Previous findings have shown that proinflammatory molecules, especially those found in rheumatoid arthritis, some other autoimmune diseases, and cancer, can increase the activity and the number of receptors that help to regulate serotonin balance in the brain. This is yet another example of how every system in the body interrelates with every other system in the body. This relationship was first hypothesized because those affected with the aforementioned diseases had a greater likelihood of becoming depressed. Pharmacologic treatment that blocks the proinflammatory molecules also had an effect that reduced the depressive symptoms in patients. At the Center for Integrative Medicine, we have long practiced with this understanding and pursue the same effects using anti-inflammatory nutrients and supplements. Bottom line: know your essential fatty acid profile in order to optimize your omega 6 to omega 3 ratio. Consider medication for severe disease.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids may prevent endometriosis. In a study of over 70,000 women, those who ate the greatest amount of Omega-3s generally from fish, mayonnaise, and eggs had a significantly lower rate of diagnosis for endometriosis. Some of the women reported taking fish oil supplements as well. Those who had high levels of trans-fats (processed foods) and saturated fats from animal sources had higher rates of diagnosis. While some question exists as to whether fish oil supplements alone would mimic these results, the conclusion reinforces the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids. Unfortunately we are challenged by how to achieve a high enough intake without becoming mercury-toxic due to excessive fish consumption. I recommend eating sardines (watch for Bisphenol A in sardine cans), herring, and wild Alaskan salmon as your fish source while supplementing with fish oil.
Obesity predicts diabetes independent of insulin resistance. This study looked at men who were obese (BMI > 30) at age 50 and then again at age 60 and 70. The study found that obesity was associated with at least a 10-fold increase in the likelihood of developing diabetes in the next 10 years. Those who were just overweight (BMI between 25 and 30) have a 3-times increase in getting diagnosed with diabetes. After 20 years the increases were startling. In men who were obese and had insulin resistance there was a 30-fold increase in developing diabetes. Among those who were not insulin resistant there was a 15-fold increase. Bottom line: There is no safe obesity at any age. Anyone who is obese should actively engage in nutrition counseling, health coaching, and exercise training to reduce their BMI. If this doesn’t work, then supplements and possibly even medication may be in order.
Medical News Use Can Use - June 2010
compiled by Henri Roca, MD, Medical Director
Obesity is much more than a cosmetic issue even in our youth. A recent study indicated that 19 percent of obese youth have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (read more) This disease describes a process through which the liver is converted to fatty diseased tissue and predicts future development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition a small subset of these children can develop cirrhosis (hardening of the liver) and liver failure. Non alcoholic liver disease was a rare unrecognized entity only 15 years ago. Rates have sky rocketed as more of our children – both the obese and the overweight (especially those with poor cholesterol profiles) – fall into this cycle of energy and glucose imbalance.
While medications may be necessary, supplements and botanicals may be especially useful in treating or preventing this syndrome. Most importantly the affected young personal should have intense nutritional education and coaching.
Another indication that Vitamin D is important comes from a study of multiple outcomes across a large cohort of patients. This study of 9,491 patients showed that those whose Vitamin D levels were greater than or equal to 44 ng/ml had the lowest rates of death, new onset diabetes, renal failure, depression, heart failure, coronary artery disease, or heart attack. The moral of this story is to have your Vitamin D levels checked an optimized even if you may not think that you are in a group at high risk for bone related disorders. The Center for Integrative Medicine routinely checks Vitamin D levels and sets as a routine optimized goal levels between 40 and 80 ng/ml.
For Vitamin B, More is not always better. In yet another example that you should know your actual levels of nutrients before supplementing with large doses, a study reported recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that high dose supplementation with B Vitamins actually worsened kidney function and increased stroke and heart attacks. Individuals should understand their vitamin levels before increasing doses in general. Those with lower B vitamins, especially B 12 and folate, would be reasonable candidates for supplementation particularly if their homocysteine is high. Those who have genetic inefficiencies (MTHFR) in how B Vitamins are used may also need greater levels of the B Vitamins. If you have plenty of B Vitamins by virtue of excellent diets and effective digestion and assimilation of nutrients, more B Vitamins are not better.
(Information summarized from Family Practice News, V40, N9)