Vitamin B3 Helps Prevent Visual Loss
Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (Australia), March 15, 2023
Researchers are hoping a simple vitamin B3 supplement could one day be used to prevent glaucoma. A world first clinical trial is underway at the Center for Eye Research Australia (CERA), at Melbourne’s Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, to test the effectiveness of Vitamin B3 in glaucoma patients. CERA Researcher Dr. Flora said that used in conjunction with other therapies, the vitamins produce the energy needed to extend the life of the cells. “So essentially the cells at the back of the eye that are sick is a bit like having an engine that’s running a bit rough. And adding the vitamin B3 to it is like adding some engine oil,” the researcher added. The trial follows a successful study on mice in the United States, which found high doses of Vitamin B3 prevented the onset of the devastating eye disease. Rosemary Workman, 61, noticed a defect in her peripheral vision three years ago. “There’s a little bit of my visual field missing. If you think of a picture, there’s a little bit that’s not there, the brain usually fills in the gaps but there are occasions can notice it,” she said. Workman was diagnosed with glaucoma. Workman is part of Dr. Lui’s clinical trial, taking Vitamin B3 alongside eye drops twice a day, to help lower the pressure on nerve cells at the back of her eye. The clinical trials run for six months per patient, and results are expected by the end of the year. “If we can actually show Vitamin B3 actually is helpful to patients, people can go out in the near future to buy it from pharmacies,” Dr. Lui said.
Low-dose radiation linked to heart disease
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, March 28, 2023
People exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation have an extra, but modest, risk of developing heart disease during their lifetime, according to a new study published by an international consortium of researchers. “The study suggests that radiation exposure, across a range of doses, may be related to an increased risk of not just cancer, as has been previously appreciated, but also of cardiovascular diseases,” says Andrew Einstein, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and one of the study’s senior authors. It’s well known that exposure to high doses of radiation, from cancer therapy for example, can damage the heart. But firm evidence linking heart disease with low-dose radiation—encountered by workers in the nuclear industry or from diagnostic medical imaging—is less clear. The researchers used data from 93 studies covering all ranges of radiation exposures to find a relationship between dose and heart disease. They found an increased excess lifetime risk of 2.3 to 3.9 cardiovascular deaths per 100 persons exposed to one Gy of radiation. (In the United States, about 25 out of every 100 people die from cardiovascular disease; a person exposed to 1 Gy of radiation will have a slightly higher, 27% to 29%, risk of dying from cardiovascular disease). Few people other than those receiving radiation therapy will receive 1 Gy during their lives. But the researchers also found a higher risk of heart disease at low dose ranges (<0.1 Gy) more commonly experienced by the public and also for protracted exposures to low doses. “The effect of lower doses of radiation on the heart and blood vessels may have been underestimated in the past,” Einstein says. “Our new study suggests that guidelines and standards for protection of workers exposed to radiation should be reconsidered, and efforts to ensure optimal radiation protection of patients should be redoubled.”
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Chinese exercises may improve cardiovascular health
Shanghai University (China), March 9, 2023
Traditional Chinese exercises such as Tai Chi may improve the health and well-being of those living with heart disease, high blood pressure or stroke, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
“Traditional Chinese exercises are a low-risk, promising intervention that could be helpful in improving quality of life in patients with cardiovascular diseases—the leading cause of disability and death in the world,” said Yu Liu, Ph.D., study co-author, and dean of the School of Kinesiology, at Shanghai University of Sport in China. “But the physical and psychological benefits to these patients of this increasingly popular form of exercise must be determined based on scientific evidence.” Chen Pei-Jie, Ph.D., the study’s lead author reviewed 35 studies, including 2,249 participants from 10 countries. They found, among participants with cardiovascular disease, Chinese exercises helped reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number) by more than 9.12 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by more than 5 mm Hg on average. They also found small, but statistically significant drops in the levels of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) and triglycerides. Chinese exercises also seemed to improve quality of life and reduce depression in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, traditional Chinese exercises did not significantly improve participant’s heart rate, aerobic fitness level or scores on a general health questionnaire. The review only analyzed studies which randomly assigned participants to groups performing traditional Chinese exercises (most commonly Tai Chi, Qigong and Baduanjin), engaging in another form of exercise or making no change in activity level.
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Can mindful eating help lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease?
University of California at San Francisco, March 9, 2023
Given the high stress levels, extended periods of screen time and regular social outings many Americans experience day-to-day in environments where high-calorie foods are readily available, it can be easy to fall into the habit of mindless eating — where we’re too distracted to pay attention to how much, what and why we’re eating. Research suggests that practicing mindfulness — or taking the time to bring awareness to present-moment experiences with an open attitude of curiosity and non-judgment — can be effective in allowing us to make more thoughtful food choices and recognize when we are hungry, satisfied or full. The latest research in this area led by Jennifer Daubenmier, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that the impact of mindful eating could be even greater. “Whether eating snacks while watching the game or grazing by the dessert tray at the office event, we often find ourselves overeating not because we’re hungry, but because the food looks delicious, we’re distracted, or we wish to soothe away unpleasant feelings,” explains Dr. Daubenmier. “Our study suggests that mindful eating can go further than making healthy food choices and recognizing when we’re full; it could improve glucose levels and heart health to a greater extent than behavioral weight-loss programs that do not teach mindful eating.” Dr. Daubenmier and her colleagues evaluated the effects of a mindfulness-based weight-loss intervention on adults with obesity, and although no statistically significant differences in weight loss were found compared to the control group, the mindfulness intervention showed greater improvements in certain cardiometabolic outcomes tied to Type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular disease up to one year after the intervention ended. To conduct the study, the researchers randomized nearly 200 adults with obesity to a mindfulness intervention or an active attention control group over a five-and-a-half month period, with a subsequent one-year follow up. Both groups were given identical diet and exercise guidelines. Participants in the mindfulness intervention received added training on mindfulness meditation and how to practice awareness of their thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations during eating and exercise. At 18 months after the start of the intervention, participants in the mindfulness program lost an estimated 4.3% of body weight on average, which was 3.7 pounds more than those in the control group but not enough to reach statistical significance. Nevertheless, the authors found that the mindfulness program had more positive effects on fasting blood glucose at 18 months and a ratio of triglycerides to HDL-cholesterol levels at 12 months (a difference of -4.1 mg/dL and -0.57, respectively), both of which are linked to Type 2 Diabetes and cardiovascular disease. “Most behavioral weight-loss interventions do not place as much emphasis on managing mindless eating, and previous studies on the topic have not included attention controls or long term follow-up to better study the contribution of mindfulness components over time,” said Deborah Tate, PhD, spokesperson for The Obesity Society. “This research points to some of the potential benefits of enhancing the mindfulness components of behavioral weight loss.”
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Bacillus subtilis CU1 shows immune support for the elderly
University of Bordeaux (France), March 17, 2023
Supplements containing Lesaffre Human Care’s Bacillus subtilis CU1 probiotic strain may reduce the frequency of upper respiratory infections in the elderly, says a new study. Compared with placebo, daily consumption of the probiotic supplement was associated with a 45% decrease in URTI, report researchers from the University of Bordeaux, Biofortis-Mérieux NutriSciences, Paris 7 University and Lesaffre Human Care. Levels of secretory IgA (sIgA) were also significantly increased following 10 days of Bacillus subtilis CU1 consumption at a dose of two billion spores per day. “Production of secretory IgA (SIgA) at the mucosal surfaces decreases with age and can lead to an increased risk of infection,” explained the researchers in Immunity & Ageing . “SIgA, the predominant immunoglobulin class in human external secretions, is a key element in the maintenance of gut microbiota homeostasis and in the protection of gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts against pathogens.” “These results provide evidence that consumption of B. subtilis CU1 may be a safe and effective prevention strategy to stimulate immune responses and provide long-term support to people at risk of sIgA deficiency such as the elderly, people suffering from chronic stress/sleep deprivation, professional athletes, etc.” Bacillus subtilis CU1 is a spore forming bacteria positioned for support immune health, particularly in people with weakened natural defenses like the elderly. Led by Lesaffre’s Marie Lefevre, the researchers recruited 100 healthy volunteers between 60 and 74 years old and with a history of winter infections to participate in their randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Performed during the winter months, the trial involved consuming B. subtilis CU1 or placebo for 10 days, and then the participants were followed for a further 18 days without intervention. Results showed that there were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the mean number of days of reported common infectious disease symptoms. However, in a random sub-group of 44 participants, B. subtilis CU1 decreased the frequency of URTIs by 45% compared with placebo, while a significant increase in sIgA concentrations were also recorded. “Our study provides evidence that B. subtilis CU1 supplementation during the winter period may be a safe effective way to stimulate immune responses in elderly subjects,” they concluded. Study of dietary and nutrition recommendations from worldwide clinical practice guidelines finds close alignment on benefits of plant food groups for treatment and prevention of chronic disease
American College of Lifestyle Medicine & Tufts University, March 27, 2023
The results of a study published in “Advances in Nutrition” that compared dietary and nutrition recommendations from dozens of clinical practice guidelines around the world for treating, managing and preventing major chronic diseases should increase clinician confidence on recommending consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains. The meta-epidemiological study from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) reviewed 78 clinical practice guidelines published between 2010 and 2021 in North America, Europe and Asia and found close alignment in their recommendations for encouraging daily intake of plant food sources, while limiting consumption of alcohol, salt or sodium. “Clinicians depend on clinical practice guidelines developed from the most current and rigorous medical research to help steer their diagnoses, treatment and management of common chronic diseases,” said Beth Frates, MD, ACLM President and Clinical Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. “The results of this comprehensive review of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines are important because they can benefit both clinicians and their patients by reducing the variability in dietary and nutrition guidance that often prevents clinicians from providing optimal care.” Clinical practice guidelines reviewed for the study were developed by governments, major medical professional societies and large health stakeholder associations to improve the health of adults with chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, digestive diseases, weight-related conditions and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Dietary patterns, food groups and food components were of primary interest in the study, with macronutrient and micronutrient recommendations a secondary interest. For food groups, nearly three quarters of clinical practice guidelines recommended including or increasing intake of vegetables, which was the highest percentage of any food group. No guidelines recommended excluding or reducing vegetables. After vegetables, fruit at 69%, whole grains at 58% and legumes at 47% were the most commonly recommended food groups. The food groups most often recommended to limit or reduce among guideline recommendations were red meat at 32%, followed by processed meat at 27% and refined grains at 19%. Among food components, 62% of guidelines recommended excluding, decreasing or limiting alcohol and 56% recommended the same of salt or sodium. The most recommended food components were vegetable oils at 35% and soy protein at 18%.“These findings demonstrate that global dietary and nutrition guidelines support and are aligned with ACLM’s recommendation that, for the treatment, reversal and prevention of lifestyle-related chronic disease, the optimal eating plan is predominantly based on a variety of minimally processed vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds,” said Micaela Karlsenand senior study author.