Recent Longevity News for the seven days ending 7/14/04:

Broccoli May Prevent Blindness - WebMD, 7/13/04 - "sulforaphane, the naturally occurring antioxidant in broccoli and broccoli sprouts, protects the eye from damage caused by the sun's ultraviolet light"

Plant sterols impact absorption of other nutrients - Nutra USA, 7/13/04 - "both of the milks enriched with plant sterols reduced cholesterol absorption by 60 per cent ... Both also reduced the bioavailability of beta-carotene by around 50 per cent and that of alpha-tocopherol by around 20 per cent but the reduction in beta-carotene bioavailability was significantly less with plant free sterols than with plant sterol esters"

Target LDL Lowered for Highest Risk Patients - WebMD, 7/12/04 - "The report, released today by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), reduces target LDL levels from 100 mg/dL to 70 mg/dL for those at the very highest risk for heart disease"

Study Identifies Genetics Of Fat Metabolism, Red Wine Link - Science Daily, 7/9/04 - "When cells were exposed to resveratrol, our studies showed a pretty dramatic reduction in the conversion to fat cells and a lesser but still significant increase in the mobilization of existing fat, or the rate at which the cells metabolized stored fat" - See iHerb or Vitacost resveratrol products.

Supplement Speeds Wound Healing - WebMD, 7/8/04 - "Those getting InflammEnz healed 17% faster, and experienced less redness and swelling at the site of the biopsy ... InflammEnz, an herbal product, contains seven different nutrients and enzymes, including calcium and potassium ... Vitamin C ... Bromelain ... Rutin ... Grape seed extract"

Depression Ups Risk of 'Metabolic Syndrome' - Yahoo, 7/8/04 - "women who had experienced an episode of major depression were twice as likely to have metabolic syndrome as women with no history of depression"

Eating Eggs Daily May Not Be Risky for Heart - WebMD, 7/8/04 - "adding up to three eggs per day does raise some types of LDL cholesterol, but it didn't significantly raise levels of the types of LDL known to clog arteries"

Europe Approves Nebido (Testosterone Depot), Treatment of Hypogonadism - Doctor's Guide, 7/8/04 - "Testosterone deficiency can lead to severe health problems and considerably impair quality of life. Various symptoms can be observed, depending on the man's age and how long the hormone deficiency has persisted. These include for example: fatigue, loss of energy, impotence and loss of libido, anemia and osteoporosis"

Healthy Lifestyle Can Lower Cancer Risk - WebMD, 7/7/04 - "The nine guidelines to better ensure a cancer-free life are:"

Valerian review - ConsumerLab.com, 7/7/04 - "After two weeks of use, Valerian did not provide any immediate benefit. However, after four weeks, significant improvements in sleep quality were reported as compared to those who were given a placebo" - See iHerb or Vitacost valerian products.  My favorite is Nature's Way Valerian Nighttime.

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

Supplementation with oral vitamin d3 and calcium during winter prevents seasonal bone loss: a randomized controlled open-label prospective trial - J Bone Miner Res. 2004 Aug;19(8):1221-30 - "Supplementation with oral vitamin D(3) and calcium during winter prevents seasonal changes in bone turnover and bone loss in healthy adults. It seems conceivable that annually recurring cycles of low vitamin D and mild secondary hyperparathyroidism during the winter months contributes, at least in part and over many years, to age-related bone loss. Supplementation with low-dose oral vitamin D(3) and calcium during winter may be an efficient and inexpensive strategy for the primary prevention of bone loss in northern latitudes"

Why the optimal requirement for Vitamin D(3) is probably much higher than what is officially recommended for adults - J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2004 May;89-90:575-9 - "If 70nmol/L is regarded as a minimum desirable target 25(OH)D concentration, then current recommendations of 15mcg per day do not meet the criterion of an RDA"

Association between serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and periodontal disease in the US population - Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jul;80(1):108-13 - "Low serum 25(OH)D(3) concentrations may be associated with PD independently of BMD. Given the high prevalence of PD and vitamin D deficiency, these findings may have important public health implications" - See iHerb or Vitacost vitamin D products.  Vitamin D can be toxic in high doses.

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