Recent Longevity News for the seven days ending 4/28/04:

Low Carb Nation - Time Magazine Cover Story, 5/3/04 - "The bigger issue is the long-term health effects of protein-heavy diets. Very little data is available, but many researchers are worried that such diets can lead to kidney and liver problems. Research also suggests that too much protein can leach calcium out of the body, increasing the risk of osteoporosis"

Fewer Side Effects With Estrogen Replacement Therapy, No Increased Risk of Breast Cancer or Heart Disease - Doctor's Guide, 4/28/04 - "Women taking estrogen-only replacement therapy (ERT) for up to seven years have no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease ... These findings differ from those of the first arm of study in women taking a combination of estrogen and progestin"

Vitamin D Cuts Risk of Falls for Elderly - HealthDay, 4/27/04 - "a daily vitamin D dose of 800 units reduces the incidence of falls in people aged 65 and older by 22 percent ... Previous studies have shown vitamin D reduces the number of fractures caused by falls because it strengthens bones"

Cholesterol Drugs: Cancer Fighters? - WebMD, 4/26/04 - "taking statins appeared to decrease the risk of breast cancer by 30% in postmenopausal women"

Study Favors Premarin for Osteoporosis - HealthDay, 4/26/04 - "three-year study ... Bone density declined by 2 percent in the placebo group, remained stable in the two raloxifene groups, and increased by 4.6 percent in the CEE group"

Soy Could Help Men, Too - HealthDay, 4/23/04 - "consuming soy creates a molecule called equol in the intestine ... Equol is a natural and powerful blocker of a potent male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) involved in prostate cancer and male pattern baldness"

Increased Risk of Common Cancers - Doctor's Guide, 4/23/04 - "The odds ratios of patients in the 75th percentile compared with the 25th percentile of IGF-1 concentrations were 1.49 for prostate cancer, and 1.65 for premenopausal breast cancer, compared with 1.18 for colorectal cancer, 1.01 for lung cancer, and 0.95 for postmenopausal breast cancer" - Note:  hGH therapy increases IGF-1.

FDA Approves Fourth Wrinkle Filler - WebMD, 4/23/04 - "Hyaluronic acid injections work by filling the space between collagen and elastin fibers within the skin, which replenishes the natural volume lost with aging. The body naturally absorbs the gel over time. Repeated injections of Hylaform may be needed to maintain results"

Salmon and Cod Liver Oil Contamination: Key Point - Rely on Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil for Your Omega-3 Fatty Acid Needs - Dr. Murray's Natural Facts, 4/21/04 - "To reduce your chances of eating salmon and other fish that is tainted with chemical toxins: ... Eat wild Alaskan salmon as opposed to farm-raised salmon ... Limit your intake of fresh water fish ... Eat smaller, young fish ... The specific product that I recommend is RxOmega-3 Factors from Natural Factors" - See RxOmega-3 at iHerb.

Carnitine Improves Symptoms of Male Aging - Medscape, 4/14/04 - "Carnitine is more active than testosterone for improving symptoms of male aging such as sexual dysfunction, depressed mood, and fatigue ... In this trial, 120 patients were randomized to receive testosterone undecanoate 160 mg/day, propionyl-L-carnitine 2 g/day plus acetyl-L-carnitine 2 g/day, or placebo for six months" [Abstract] - See iHerb or Vitacost acetyl-l-carnitine products.  Propionyl-L-Carnitine is l-carnitine.  Refs: Healthwell and Genesis.  See iHerb or Vitacost l-carnitine products.

Abstracts from this week's Doctor's Guide Nutrition/Dietetics:

Selenium as an element in the treatment of ovarian cancer in women receiving chemotherapy - Gynecol Oncol. 2004 May;93(2):320-327 - "we conclude that there are beneficial effects caused by ingesting selenium, as a supportive element in chemotherapy" - See iHerb or Vitacost selenium products.

Carnitine versus androgen administration in the treatment of sexual dysfunction, depressed mood, and fatigue associated with male aging - Urology. 2004 Apr;63(4):641-6 - "Carnitines proved significantly more active than testosterone in improving nocturnal penile tumescence and International Index of Erectile Function score"

Daily nighttime melatonin reduces blood pressure in male patients with essential hypertension - Hypertension. 2004 Feb;43(2):192-7 - "In patients with essential hypertension, repeated bedtime melatonin intake significantly reduced nocturnal blood pressure"- See iHerb or Vitacost melatonin products

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