Recent Longevity News for the seven days ending 4/23/03:

Vitamin D: New Weapon in Battle Against Breast Cancer? - HealthScout News, 4/23/03 - "Other studies have shown vitamin D interferes with tumor growth in both cell cultures and animals ... this has been shown for both breast and prostate cancer ... when they treated breast cancer cells in a laboratory setting with normal doses of a vitamin D analog (ILX 23-7553) before radiation, the response to radiation was enhanced"

Niacin Extended-Release/ Lovastatin Combination Effective in Patients with Multiple Lipid Disorders - Doctor's Guide, 4/23/03 - "Treatment by niacin ER/lovastatin was found to be more effective than each of its components, showing improved levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG)" - Note:  Niacin usually increases HDL (the good cholesterol) much more than statins.  From my own experience and from taking to others, it seems like many physician's may ignore low HDL.

Bright Light Therapy May Boost Testosterone - WebMD, 4/22/03 - "early morning light therapy caused a surge in a pituitary hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH) that raises testosterone levels in men ... Previous studies have shown that bright light therapy of daily exposure to specially designed, high-intensity light boxes can alleviate many symptoms of depression, especially among people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) during winter months" - I did a lot of research on lighting for our home owners association.  See http://qualitycounts.com/fp/lights.htm.  The closest fluorescents to actual sunlight are the ones with 5000 or 6500 Kelvin rating.  The lights advertised as "cool white" are around 2700 Kelvin.  I've always felt that the "cool white" phrase was just a gimmick to sell what was cheap to make.

CDC Issues SARS Travel Alert for Toronto - WebMD, 4/22/03 - "The CDC has issued a new travel alert for travelers to Toronto, which is the epicenter of the Canadian outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) that has infected 139 people and caused 13 deaths in that country" - That's a 9.4% fatality rate.  Related articles:

• The Long Shadow Of SARS - CBS News, 4/22/03 - "And it gets worse. There are some researchers who think the virus can mutate - indeed, it may already have done so. That means any treatment that works today could be useless tomorrow. And because it's a virus, like the common cold, there is no "cure.""
• Ribavirin May Be Treatment of Choice for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, For Now - Doctor's Guide, 4/17/03 - "it is likely ribavirin will be the recommended treatment choice for now" - That's expensive stuff .
• Experts Predict Spread Of Mystery Illness - Intelihealth, 4/7/03 - "many experts reluctantly conclude it is likely if not inevitable that it eventually will spread everywhere ... While many are infected through face-to-face contact, evidence is mounting that the virus may also spread through the air or be picked up from contaminated surfaces ... it could grow less virulent as it reproduces inside the human body and then passes on, or it might grow worse"
• Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), What To Do If You Become Infected - Life Extension Foundation, 4/22/03

Statins May Cut Alzheimer's Risk - HealthScout News, 4/21/03 - "taking statins lowered their brain cholesterol levels by 21.4 percent. Brain cholesterol contributes to the formation of waxy buildups called amyloid plaques -- a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease -- that damage brain cells ... the three statin drugs reduced brain cholesterol levels by at least 20 percent, while the extended-release niacin reduced brain cholesterol levels by 10 percent" - Note: Red yeast rice is a non-prescription statin but you should still check with your physician.  See VitaminShoppe or Vitacost red yeast rice products.

Ginkgo Biloba Analysis: Few Pills Pass Quality Test - WebMD, 4/21/03 - "Brands that flunked random quality tests include ginkgo biloba products sold under the labels of Rite Aid and Longs drug stores.  Only two of nine randomly tested products passed -- Maxi Ginkgo Biloba and Nature's Way Ginkgold.  Nutrilite Ginkgo Biloba, whose manufacturer paid for quality assurance, also passed the tests ... Many people taking ginkgo are not getting the effect they expected. This may be why ... ConsumerLab also tested four off-the-shelf brands of huperzine A ... One of these products -- Solaray Dietary Supplement -- contained unacceptably high levels of lead" -  I get the paid version of ConsumerLab and they started naming the brands that failed.  They used to just name the ones that passed.  I've always been against bargain supplements.  That's how I came up with the name for my web site.  The PhD at the end of the WebMD article is one of those people that has the attitude that "everything is junk except the stuff I prescribe".  I'll bet he hasn't even read most of the studies on ginkgo. - Ben

Study Supports Eight Glasses of Water a Day Advice - Yahoo, 4/21/03 - "Drinking only half of the recommended eight glasses of water a day may result in mild dehydration, a small study of college students has found ... Water makes up more than 70 percent of solid body tissue and helps regulate body temperature, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, removes waste, cushions joints and protects organs and tissues.  Lack of adequate water intake leads to headaches, grogginess and dry, itchy skin.  Severe dehydration affects blood pressure, circulation, digestion, kidney function and nearly all body processes" - Remember the following?  I never bought it:

• Nutritional Value Of Water Studied - Intelihealth, 8/20/02 - "Drink at least eight glasses of water a day" is an adage some obsessively follow, judging by the people sucking on water bottles at every street corner - but the need for so much water may be a myth"

Tea for Immunity - HealthScout News, 4/21/03 - "The infection-fighting ability of tea, however, is attributed to a substance found in some tea, called L-theanine, which is broken down into a group of chemicals called alkylamine antigens. Antigens are substances that produce antibodies to fight infections ... Not all teas contain L-theanine ... Green, black, oolong, or pekoe teas do ... Besides being present in tea, the alkylamine antigens are found in lower concentrations in apples and mushrooms as well as red and white wine" - See iHerb theanine products.  Related articles:

• Stress, Cortisol and Health - Supplement Watch Newsletter, 10/02 - "several lines of evidence have converged to solidify the concept that stress makes us fat (because of cortisol), thins our bones (because of cortisol), shrinks our brains (because of cortisol), suppresses our immune system (because of cortisol), saps our energy levels (because of cortisol), and kills our sex drive (because of cortisol) ... Chief among the supplements with documented cortisol-controlling effects are ... Theanine"
• The Ultimate Relaxant - Life Extension Magazine, 1/02 - "Theanine is an amino acid found in green tea. It helps to produce a calming effect in the brain and induces a feeling of relaxation and well-being. Best of all, it does all of this without causing drowsiness. In fact, studies have shown that theanine enhances the ability to learn and remember. One of the other benefits of this amino acid is that it helps to lower blood pressure naturally, by enhancing GABA in the brain"
• A New Natural Relaxant - Life Extension Magazine, 10/01 - "Theanine readily crosses the blood-brain barrier of humans and exerts subtle changes in biochemistry. An increase in alpha waves has been documented, and the effect has been compared to getting a massage or taking a hot bath. Theanine is different than kava-kava in that it doesn’t cause drowsiness. And unlike tranquilizing drugs, it doesn’t interfere with the ability to think ... Theanine increases GABA, while caffeine decreases it. GABA doesn’t just relax, it also creates a sense of well-being. Theanine’s ability to increase this brain chemical can put you in a better mood by changing biochemistry. Theanine also increases levels of dopamine, another brain chemical with mood-enhancing effects"

Searching for ideal diet in sea of conflicting food advice - USA Today, 4/20/03 - "Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the nutrition department at Harvard School of Public Health ... Willett has assembled an "ideal" diet of his own that relies on healthier plant oils instead of animal fats, and whole grains and high-fiber carbohydrates (think brown rice and wheat pasta) over refined grains like white rice ... It emphasizes plenty of vegetables and fruits, and healthy protein sources — such as fish, poultry, nuts and legumes — instead of red meat and high-fat dairy products. Willett also recommends a daily multivitamin, moderate alcohol consumption and regular physical activity"

Ramipril Reduces Advanced Glycation End Products In Non-Diabetic Nephropathy - Doctor's Guide, 4/21/03 - "Ramipril also mildly decreased levels of advanced glycation end products" - See my AGE page for other ways to reduce them.  AGEs are believed to be a major cause of aging.

Adding Folates Alters Methotrexate Treatment In Rheumatoid Arthritics - Doctor's Guide, 4/21/03 - "The researchers found the addition of folates to MTX treatment was strongly linked with lack of hepatotoxicity" - See iHerb folic acid products.

Low-Carb Diets Work Without Boosting Heart Risk - HealthScout News, 4/18/03 - "after six months, the 22 women on the low-carb plan averaged an 18.7-pound loss, while the 20 women on the low-fat plan averaged an 8.5-pound loss ... The low-carbohydrate group, at the three-month mark, was averaging 15 percent of calories from carbohydrates, 28 percent from protein and 57 percent from fat. At the six-month mark, they were eating 30 percent carbs, 23 percent protein and 46 percent fat ... The low-fat group was averaging 54 percent of calories from carbohydrates three months into the study, 18 percent from protein and 28 percent from fat. At six months, the totals were 53 percent carbs, 18 percent protein and 29 percent fat ... Average calorie intake was similar for both groups -- 1,302 a day for the low-carb group after six months and 1,247 for the low-fat group" - The link went dead but there was a study a few years ago the results of which claimed greater weight loss with a low fat diet. - Ben

Antipsychotics Effective for Elderly Patients With Dementia - Psychiatric News, 4/18/03 - "atypical antipsychotics have been used to alleviate deteriorating behavioral symptoms in dementia patients, such as agitation and aggression. New research that she cited shows some atypical antipsychotics can actually improve cognition through activating the release of acetylcholine in the cortex. Clozapine, olanzapine, and risperidone, she reported, robustly increased acetylcholine release in the cortex, while ziprasidone only moderately increased levels, compared with haloperidol and thioridazine, which did not elevate acetylcholine levels at all ... atypical antipsychotics increase cortical dopamine and cholinesterase inhibitors at the very least increase cortical acetylcholine action, leading to an improvement in memory and thinking, as well as improvement in psychosis and behavior"

Algorithm-Based Treatment Shows High Lack Of Response To Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - Doctor's Guide, 4/17/03 - "When the clinicians added T3, they found it was effective among 10 out of 16 women patients (62.5%), but was not effective in any of the 9 male patients who received it. Although values were within the normal range, patients who responded to T3 had higher serum thyroid-stimulating hormone levels than those who did not ... The effect of T3 may be related to thyroid function even within the normal range"

Mirtazapine Attenuates Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical Axis Hyperactivity in Depressed Patients - Doctor's Guide, 4/17/03 - "it has been shown to have an acute inhibiting effect on cortisol secretion in healthy subjects ... Apparently, mirtazapine rapidly attenuates HPA axis hyperactivity in depressed patients via direct pharmaco-endocrinological effects. However, this amelioration of HPA system dysregulation is not necessarily related to clinical improvement" - Click here for a previous study.

Selenium Reduces Risk of Some Cancers: FDA Approves Claim - New Hope Natural Media, 4/17/03 - "Companies that manufacture selenium supplements will now be permitted by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to claim that selenium supplements may reduce the risk of some cancers, according to a statement by the FDA. Although the FDA does not permit manufacturers to list specific types of cancer in the health claim, studies suggest selenium supplementation may reduce the risk of colon, prostate, lung, liver and esophageal cancers" - See iHerb and Vitacost selenium products.

Zinc Reduces the Severity of Tinnitus - New Hope Natural Media, 4/17/03 - "The current study examined the prevalence of zinc deficiency and the effect of zinc therapy in people with tinnitus. Forty-one people with tinnitus participated in the study, and more than 31% of them were found to have zinc deficiency. All of the participants were randomly assigned to receive either 50 mg of zinc or placebo daily. At the end of two months, 46% of the people in the zinc group had clinical improvement, defined as a ten-decibel or greater decrease in loudness of tinnitus" - See iHerb or Vitacost zinc products.  Also, see my zinc page for reasons you should not take it without copper.

Air Pollution May Damage Brain, Heart - HealthScout News, 4/16/03 - "Air pollution breaks down the vital blood-brain barrier that usually keeps toxic substances away from the brain ... Exposure to air pollution raised levels of certain peptides in the bloodstream that can constrict blood vessels and decrease blood flow to the heart muscle, the researchers found"

Magnesium Supplement Helpful in Diabetes Control - Medscape, 4/16/03 - "it is unfortunate that the "magnesium ion is a typically overlooked electrolyte." ... At the end of the 16-week treatment period, compared to the placebo group, those who received the supplement had significantly higher serum magnesium concentration (0.74 versus 0.65 nmol/L) and lower values (3.8 versus 5.0) for the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). There was also a reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels ... oral magnesium could be a useful therapeutic tool for achieving metabolic control in subjects with diabetes" - See iHerb or Vitacost magnesium products.

Serum insulin-like growth factor I regulates brain amyloid-beta levels - Nat Med 2002 Dec;8(12):1390-7 - "Because IGF-I treatment of mice overexpressing mutant amyloid markedly reduces their brain Abeta burden, we consider that circulating IGF-I is a physiological regulator of regulator of brain amyloid levels with therapeutic potential" - Growth hormone increases IGF-1. - Ben

From this week's Doctor's Guide Nutrition/Dietetics:

Effects of cis-9, trans-11 and trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers on immune function in healthy men - Eur J Clin Nutr 2003 Apr;57(4):595-603 - "Seventy-one healthy males aged 31-69 y received one of the following treatments: (1) mixture of 50% c9,t11 CLA and 50% t10,c12 CLA isomers (CLA 50:50); (2) mixture of 80% c9,t11 CLA and 20% t10,c12 CLA isomers (CLA 80:20); and (3) sunflower oil fatty acids (reference) ... Almost twice as many subjects reached protective antibody levels to hepatitis B when consuming CLA50:50 fatty acids (15/24, 62%) compared with subjects consuming the reference substance (7/21, 33%, P=0.075). In subjects consuming CLA 80:20 glycerides this was 8/22 (36%)" - See iHerb or Vitacost CLA products.

Plasma vitamin C, cholesterol and homocysteine are associated with grey matter volume determined by MRI in non-demented old people - Neurosci Lett 2003 May 8;341(3):173-6 - "We found that lower grey matter volume was associated with lower plasma vitamin C and higher homocysteine, cholesterol and LDL. Lower blood cell folate was also associated with lower grey matter volume ... These data are consistent with the putative benefits of dietary vitamin C and folate intake and the role of cholesterol in age related neurodegeneration"

C-reactive protein is independently associated with fasting insulin in nondiabetic women - Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2003 Apr 1;23(4):650-5 - "increasing levels of CRP were associated with a stepwise gradient in odds for elevated fasting insulin among both lean and overweight women" - See my inflammation page for ways to reduce it.

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