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Recent Longevity News for the seven days ending 2/5/03:

Acetylcysteine for Prevention of Acute Deterioration of Renal Function Following Elective Coronary Angiography and Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial - JAMA, 2/5/03 - "Acetylcysteine protects patients with moderate chronic renal insufficiency from contrast-induced deterioration in renal function after coronary angiographic procedures, with minimal adverse effects and at a low cost" - See iHerb (5% discount code "qc") or Vitacost acetyl-l-cysteine products.

Selenium May Fight Prostate Damage - WebMD, 2/4/03 - "About 80% of the prostate cells in dogs fed a normal diet had extensive DNA damage compared with only about 57% in the selenium-treated dogs ... dogs fed the enriched diet also had a twofold increase in the number of prostate cells that had undergone a process that removes damaged cells, called apoptosis, which is associated with a lower risk of cancer" - See iHerb (5% discount code "qc) or Vitacost selenium products.  I believe the consensus is 200 mcg per day of the organic form, L-selenomethionine.  Related articles:

• Few Vitamins Effectively Prevent or Reverse Skin Damage - Medscape, 3/02 - "Recent animal studies have found that when selenium is taken orally or through the skin in the form of L-selenomethionine, it provided protection against both everyday and excessive UV damage"
• Buyer be Wise - "selenium is a trace mineral that is shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of many cancers. It is interesting to note that selenium may be derived from more than one source. One such source is sodium selenite, the inorganic form of selenium. However, it has a lower toxicity threshold than other forms of selenium and is rendered useless in the presence of vitamin C ... L-selenomethionine, on the other hand, is the organic form of selenium. It possesses a relatively high threshold for toxicity and retains it’s beneficial actions even in the presence of vitamin C. L-selenomethionine is significantly more expensive than sodium selenite, but it is also significantly safer and more effective. Which form is most commonly included in nutritional supplements? The less expensive, less effective and higher risk form, sodium selenite" - Centrum contains the cheap sodium selenate form of selenium.  See the info below on copper.  Centrum also contains the cheap cupric oxide form of copper, which WebMD. calls "totally worthless".
• Selenium May Help Prevent Prostate Cancer - Doctor's Guide, 11/30/01 - "Men with low blood levels of selenium -- a trace element supplied in certain foods and supplements -- are four to five times more likely to contract prostate cancer ... the researchers concluded that the results support the hypothesis that supplemental selenium may reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Because selenium in blood decreases with patient age, supplementation may be beneficial to older men"

Herbal Remedies Can Aid Prostate Health - WebMD, 2/4/03 - "One in three men are treated for BPH with surgery or, more commonly, prescription drugs such as Flomax or Proscar. But growing research suggests that some symptoms may be treated as effectively with over-the-counter herbal remedies -- sometimes less expensively and thus far, with no reported side effects. What's more, some of these treatments claim they may help prevent prostate cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death in men" - My favorite is Nature's Way Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) extract.  It covers pygeum, zinc, copper and selenium.  I also take the Jarrow brand of saw palmetto.

Testim (Testosterone Gel) Gel For Treatment Of Testosterone Deficiency In Men Now Available In US - Doctor's Guide, 2/4/03 - "Testosterone deficiency can lead to a decline in energy, decreased muscle mass, an increase in abdominal fat, reduced bone density leading to an increased risk of osteoporosis, decreased libido, decreased sexual function and impotence, anemia, fatigue, and depression ... patients reported a 59 percent increase in sexual activity and a 78 percent increase in days with a spontaneous erection over a 90-day period. Patients also showed an average increase of 3.5 pounds in muscle mass in 90 days with no weight training and without overall weight gain. Initial analysis of long-term data suggests that Testim improves bone mineral density ... For additional information, visit http://www.auxilium.com" - Related article:

• Newly Approved Drug Therapies (810): Testim, Auxilium Pharmaceuticals - centerwatch.com - "Side Effects ... Gynecomastia" - See my aromatization page.  I've been taking 1/4 mg of Arimidex per day via #1 Drugstore Online.  Another option might be chrysin plus Bioperine to increase absorption.

Low Estrogen Linked to Heart Disease - WebMD, 2/4/03 - "The[y] found that 69% of the premenopausal women who actually had coronary artery disease (CAD) had low estrogen levels due to abnormal functioning of the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls hormone production. These women also had low levels of the hormone estradiol and of follicle-stimulating hormone, which stimulates the ovary to produce estrogen. Less than a third of the women without CAD (29%) had low estrogen levels ... stress can lead to significant reductions in estrogen levels. She adds that the women with low estrogen levels in this study tended to be more anxious and reported higher levels of stress ... it is now believed that older women do not benefit because they have lost the estrogen receptors that allow them to respond to estrogen"

Berries a Good Source of Plant Antioxidant - Yahoo, 2/4/03 - "berries popular in Finland--lingonberries, which are closely related to cranberries; blueberry-like bilberries and blackcurrants--translated into higher levels of a flavonoid called quercetin in the blood ... Quercetin is one of the most potent dietary antioxidants, according to lab research, and most studies performed so far indicate that it may protect against cardiovascular diseases"

2 drinks a day may cut stroke risk - MSNBC, 2/4/03 - "Two alcoholic drinks a day may reduce the risk of the most common kind of stroke by nearly 30 percent but downing five drinks or more daily raises the risk by about 70 percent"

Inadequate Copper Intake Reduces Serum Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I and Bone Strength in Growing Rats Fed Graded Amounts of Copper and Zinc - J. Nutr. 133:442-448, 2/03 - "In summary, growing rats fed low and marginal Cu had lower serum IGF-I than those fed high dietary Cu. Bone strength was also reduced with low dietary Cu, despite compensatory changes in the bone matrix" - So maybe a copper deficiency is a reason that many aren't getting an IGF-1 rise from growth hormone.  A copper deficiency can be caused by taking too much zinc.  See:

• Zinc -- The Immune System's Missing Link? - Health & Nutrition Breakthroughs, 12/97 - "Supplementing with zinc is quite safe--its only significant side effect is lowered copper levels in the body tissues, since the two minerals compete for absorption. Considering zinc's safety, people should consider taking zinc supplements, especially as they age--being sure to include copper in the proper balance. Most practitioners who supplement their patients' diets with zinc also recommend taking copper at a ratio of 10 mg to 15 mg zinc for each milligram of copper."
• Most Supplemental Copper 'Worthless' - WebMD, 1/28/00 - "The type of copper found most often in vitamins and supplements, called cupric oxide, is not a type the body can absorb easily ... Studies on animals have shown conclusively that cupric oxide is totally worthless" - Cupric oxide is in popular supplements such as Centrum.  Centrum also has the cheap, non organic sodium selenate form of selenium.
• Increasing the Good Cholesterol - Health & Nutrition Breakthrough, 1/99 - "Low copper levels, which can be induced by taking more than 25 mg/day of zinc, may increase triglycerides as well as reduce HDL levels. Zinc/copper ratios should be monitored."
• Diet and Hair Loss - ABC News, 11/8/01 - "Copper is a trace mineral that is essential for the formation of hemoglobin and is needed to carry oxygen in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is necessary for the maintenance of an adequate supply of blood to the hair shaft. A deficiency of copper can weaken the hair shaft and cause increased hair shedding. A deficiency rarely comes from not getting enough copper in the diet; instead, it usually comes from genetic problems or from too much zinc in the diet. Excess zinc from dietary supplements can inhibit the absorption of copper in the body"
• Increasing the Good Cholesterol - Health & Nutrition Breakthrough, 1/99 - "Low copper levels, which can be induced by taking more than 25 mg/day of zinc, may increase triglycerides as well as reduce HDL levels.25 Zinc/copper ratios should be monitored."

Low Dietary Copper Increases Fecal Free Radical Production, Fecal Water Alkaline Phosphatase Activity and Cytotoxicity in Healthy Men - J. Nutr. 133:522-527, 2/03 - "One possible dietary factor that may increase susceptibility to colon cancer is inadequate copper intake ... Low dietary copper significantly (P < 0.01) increased fecal free radical production"

70 Percent Of Cancer Is Preventable - thesandiegochannel.com, 2/4/03 - "We have good evidence that breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer are related to increased dietary fat and too many calories ... As far as something to add to your lifestyle -- physical activity. This can cut your risk of colon and other cancers by as much as a half"

European Men Get New Pill to Rival Viagra - Yahoo, 2/3/03 - "The new, yellow pill stays active in the system for 24 hours, against three or four hours for Viagra ... Viagra, Levitra and Cialis all work by blocking an enzyme known as PDE-5 ... Both Cialis and Viagra have been priced in Britain at the same level of 19.34 ($31.68) for a pack of four pills" - I'm sure overseas pharmacies will be selling it in a week or two. - Ben

Evista: Major Cardiovascular Benefits? - Physician's Weekly, 2/3/03 - "Evista, a drug widely used to treat osteoporosis, was associated with a 62% reduction in the risk of all strokes in postmenopausal women at high risk for heart disease"

Pre-Diabetic Condition Linked to Memory Loss - Yahoo, 2/3/03 - "when people become resistant to insulin--a condition also known as impaired glucose tolerance--they have trouble getting glucose (blood sugar) out of the blood and into the tissues that need it ... people who had more trouble clearing glucose from their blood also tended to perform less well during tests of short-term memory. Brain scans also revealed that the size of the hippocampus tended to be smaller in people with insulin resistance"

Seizure Medication Turns Down Hot Flashes - Yahoo, 2/3/03 - "Among women who receive gabapentin, hot flashes dropped 45%, as compared to 29% among the women treated with a placebo"

Statins may preserve health of heart valves - MSNBC, 2/3/03 - "Yet in almost four years, the statin users were half as likely to see their valves worsen ... If cholesterol didn’t matter, why would statins help heart valves? They’re thought to fight inflammation, one key to stiffening heart tissues, and to increase bones’ calcium absorption. That leaves less calcium floating in the blood to deposit in the wrong spot" - Note:  Red yeast rice is a non-prescription statin and is available at VitaminShoppe.

Vitamin A Safety - Dr. Janson's Newsletter, 2/03 - "what they did not mention was that those in the next to highest and middle ranges had a significantly lower risk than those with lower blood levels. The amounts in normal vitamin supplements appear to be quite safe  ... One problem with the latest study is that they measured blood levels just once at the beginning of the study 30 years ago. They assessed dietary intake with a questionnaire in only half of the subjects, when they were 20 years into the study. While this study gives cause for some concern, other studies are contradictory, so we have to be careful before drawing firm conclusions"

Preserving Clear Vision - Life Extension Foundation, 2/03 - "It is likely that glycation plays a role in aging in non-diabetics as well, especially those who eat diets high in sugars and refined carbohydrates or those who have blood sugars higher than normal but not high enough to merit a diabetes diagnosis ... Carnosine's best-known effect, however, is its ability to prevent the formation of advanced glycated end products (protein crosslinks). Carnosine competes with proteins for the binding sites they would occupy on sugar molecules, making it the best glycation preventative currently recognized in the world of nutrition research" - See iHerb (5% discount code "qc") or Vitacost carnosine products.

Herbs and Supplements for Prostate Health - Natural Foods Merchandiser, 2/03 - "Saw palmetto ... Stinging nettle ... Pygeum ... Lycopene ... Zinc"

Does a Daily Aspirin Really Help? - Dr. Weil, 1/31/03 - "Joe Alpert, MD chairman of the Department of Medicine here at the University of Arizona, notes that any dose from 81 to 325 mg daily can be effective but that the current consensus is 162 mg . Those with a history of gastrointestinal bleeding should be cautious about taking aspirin" - See Drugstore.com aspirin products.

Diglyceride-Rich Foods May Promote Weight Loss - New Hope Natural Media, 1/30/03 - "79 obese men and women from ages 19 to 75 were assigned to incorporate specific food products that contained high amounts of diglycerides (from rapeseed oil, also known as Canola oil) or triglycerides (from rapeseed, soybean and safflower oils) in their diets for 24 weeks. All participants were put on a low-calorie diet that contained 30% to 35% of energy as fat, 45% to 50% of energy as carbohydrate, and 15% to 20% of energy as protein ... Body weight and total fat mass decreased significantly in the group consuming diglycerides by almost 4% and 8%, respectively, compared with those consuming triglycerides"

Hormone Replacement Therapy Boosts Visual Function In Women - Doctor's Guide, 1/30/03 - "Overall, at one year after the start of treatment, contrast sensitivity function was significantly improved in all spatial frequencies (1.5, 3, 6 and 12 cycles per degree) with the exception of 18 cycles per degree in the HRT group. However, the women in the control group demonstrated significant impairment at the lowest spatial frequencies ... In the HRT versus control group, tear production was also significantly improved at one year after beginning the treatment"

Toxic chemicals common in body - MSNBC, 1/30/03 - "On average, the nine participants had traces of 53 chemicals known to cause cancer in human or animal tests. In addition, they had an average of 62 chemicals toxic to the brain or nervous system, plus 55 associated with birth defects ... the study’s authors suggest eating organic produce, minimizing fatty foods since chemicals concentrate in body fat, minimizing the use of beauty products, avoiding stain removers and avoiding seafood known to be high in mercury"

Insulin Resistance Profoundly Effects Lipoprotein Size And Subclass Concentrations - Doctor's Guide, 1/30/03 - "Overall, more marked insulin resistance was associated with increases in the size and concentration of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) as well as decreases in the sizes of both low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). The subgroups of insulin-sensitive and insulin-resistant subjects without diabetes also showed the association"

Companies fight employee fat - MSNBC, 1/30/03 - "overweight and obese people have medical bills up to $1,500 greater a year than those of people of healthy weight"

New Treatment Reduces Risks in Diabetics - WebMD, 1/29/03 - "It incorporates a "heart-smart" diet, moderate exercise, and the daily intake of several vitamins, aspirin, and pharmaceuticals currently used by millions to lower blood pressure and cholesterol -- all strategies that have long been advocated for reducing risks of heart disease ... Taking 50 mg of either Capoten or Cozaar to lower blood pressure"

Exercise Saves Brain Cells - WebMD, 1/29/03 - "aerobic exercise can help protect brain tissue from age-related damage and mental decline ... the brain loses an average of 15% to 25% of its tissue between the ages of 30 and 90 ... exercise decreased the amount of brain-tissue loss associated with aging"

Statins/Beta Blockers Impact On Certain C-Reactive Protein Levels - Doctor's Guide, 1/29/03 - "Some 93% of the 89 patients who did not use beta-blockers and were in the highest CRP category and had exercise-induced ischaemia, compared with 42% among patients in the lower four categories. Similarly, 94% of the 67 patients who did not use statins and were in the highest CRP category had exercise-induced ischaemia, compared with 44% in the lower four categories"

Vitamins C and E may enhance effectiveness of insulin for diabetes - University of California at Irvine, 1/29/03 - "Boosting insulin with vitamins C and E may improve the drug's effectiveness for treating diabetes ... the popular antioxidant supplements not only enhance insulin's ability to reduce blood sugar, but also lower the risks of organ damage that can occur despite insulin treatments"

Shining a Light on the Health Benefits of Vitamin D - New York Times, 1/28/03 - "His proudest accomplishments, he says, include discoveries that show how activated vitamin D can be used to treat osteoporosis, kidney failure and psoriasis ... this vitamin is critically important for maintaining normal calcium in the blood and for bone health. The vitamin plays a crucial role in most metabolic functions and also, muscle, cardiac and neurological functions ... there is evidence that vitamin D may have subtle but profound effects on regulating cell growth and on our cardiovascular and immune systems ... vitamin D deficiency has been associated with an increased risk for Type 1 diabetes. The converse is also true. Adequate vitamin D equals less risk for diabetes ... up to 50, 60 percent of free-living adults over the age of 65 were severely vitamin D deficient"

CLA Isomer Affects Body Weight, Diabetes Symptoms - Health Supplement Retailer, 1/28/02 - "After eight weeks on this regimen, results indicated that plasma levels of the t10,c12 CLA isomer--but not the c9,t11 isomer--were inversely associated with body weight and serum leptin levels" - [Abstract] - See iHerb (5% discount code "qc") or Vitacost CLA products.

A Prescription for Longevity - Physician's Weekly, 1/27/03 - "Okinawans have no genetic predisposition to longevity but rather benefit from the consumption of vegetables, tofu, seaweed; the pursuit of rigorous activity; and a low stress lifestyle. The authors claim if Americans could adopt the habits of Okinawans, "80 percent of the nation¹s coronary care units, one-third of the cancer wards, and a lot of nursing homes would be shut down.""

Vitamin D for Advanced Prostate Cancer - Physician's Weekly, 1/27/03 - "Calcitriol is an active form of vitamin D. Results from a phase II clinical trial suggest that the combination of calcitriol and the chemotherapy agent docetaxel may be twice as effective as the use of docetaxel alone in men with androgen-independent prostate cancer"

Zinc Spray Shortens Colds - Physician's Weekly, 1/27/03 - "Zicam, an over-the-counter nasal spray, cuts the length of a cold by anywhere between 1.5 to 3 days, according to a new study from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation" - See Drugstore.com Zicam products .

The effect of fiber-rich carbohydrates on features of Syndrome X - J Am Diet Assoc 2003 Jan;103(1):86-96 - "This review indicates that an HCLF [high carb, low fat] dietary pattern such as that used in the DASH trial, with a level of dietary fiber consistent with the recommendations of the American Dietetic Association (eg, 20-35g/day), containing from 3 to 10 g soluble fiber/day, may be beneficial for treating those with Syndrome X" - See Drugstore.com psyllium products.

Calcium & Milk: Nutrition Source - Harvard School of Public Health - "Avoid too much protein. Getting too much protein can leach calcium from your bones. As your body digests protein, it releases acids into the bloodstream, which the body neutralizes by drawing calcium from the bones. Animal protein seems to cause more of this calcium leaching than vegetable protein does"

Carbohydrates: Nutrition Source - Harvard School of Public Health - "Protein intake should be kept at moderate amounts (about 8 grams per day for every 20 pounds of body weight) and should be mainly vegetable protein"

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