Health and Corona News 12.06.20 - 12.12.20

Study can orient use of melatonin in the treatment of breast cancer

Sao Paulo State University (Brazil), December 8, 2020

A Brazilian study published in the Journal of Pineal Research describes a group of genes potentially regulated by the hormone melatonin in some types of cancer, especially breast cancer. According to the authors, the results can be used to guide future personalized therapies for the disease.

“Certain types of tumor appear to correlate directly with the amount of melatonin produced by cells. It’s essential to understand how the hormone influences molecular signaling at the genetic level as a guideline for personalized therapies based on melatonin,” Luiz Gustavo Chuffa, a professor at São Paulo State University’s Botucatu Institute of Biosciences (IBB-UNESP), told Agência FAPESP.

The study was supported by FAPESP and conducted in collaboration with researchers at the University of North Paraná (UENP) and São José do Rio Preto Medical School (FAMERP) in Brazil and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in the United States.

Known as the “sleep hormone” because its functions include regulating the sleep-wake cycle, melatonin has been shown to have anti-tumor properties in laboratory trials. Evidence presented in the scientific literature suggests that low levels of melatonin are associated with a heightened risk of cancer. A possible explanation is that the hormone contributes to the modulation of gene expression and may intensify the activity of tumor suppressor genes, for example.

“Most tumor cells have low levels of melatonin, but laboratory trials have shown that treatment with the hormone increases tumor cell death and reduces tumor cell proliferation, both of which are important to avoid progression of the cancer and metastasis,” Chuffa said. “Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating the use of melatonin to treat cancer. Specific therapies for the different subtypes of breast cancer already exist, and some patients will probably respond well to alternative treatments based on melatonin, while others may not.”

In search of target genes

To identify molecular markers that serve as guides for cancer treatment, the researchers first conducted a study based on meta-analysis to find out how melatonin regulates microRNA expression in breast, head and neck, liver, stomach, prostate, central nervous system, and colorectal cancer.

Meta-analysis entails a systematic review of the literature using statistical methods to integrate the results of published research on the same subject. MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules that do not encode proteins but perform a regulatory function in the genome, controlling gene expression and hence several cellular processes.

“In this first stage, we found 14 quite recent studies that associated melatonin with altered microRNA expression. For the seven cancers on which we focused, we found 46 microRNAs with altered expression,” Chuffa said.

Next, the researchers used bioinformatics to identify pathways associated with the hormone’s action on tumor cells, basing their analysis on the association between these microRNAs and their regulatory targets. Regulatory and molecular networks were generated and analyzed in collaboration with researchers Robson Francisco Carvalho, Luis Antonio Justulin, and Sarah Santiloni.

“When we cross-referenced the information with The Cancer Genome Atlas [TCGA], a public database, we identified the target genes for these 46 microRNAs with altered expression,” Chuffa said.

As a result, they were able to understand how melatonin works in several cellular signaling pathways. “These genes targeted by melatonin relate to important biological processes in cancer, such as cell cycle regulation, cell death, and cell migration and senescence,” he explained. “Melatonin appears to act more strongly on breast, oral, and stomach cancer. Prostate and colorectal tumors, as well as glioblastoma, showed few changes induced by the microRNAs concerned.”

Breast cancer was associated with the most genes and microRNAs in this first stage of the study, so the researchers compared the target genes for the microRNAs concerned with the data obtained by RNA-seq analysis of breast tumors in mice treated with melatonin.

RNA-seq uses next-generation sequencing technology to study the expression of several genes at the same time and hence to obtain the entire transcriptome, i.e. the complete set of RNA molecules expressed in a tissue.

These analyses were performed in partnership with FAMERP researchers Débora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari and Bruna Victorasso Jardim-Perassi.

“In the animals treated with 40 milligrams of melatonin, there was an enrichment of signaling pathways related to the immune system and apoptosis, and a reduction of pathways associated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis,” Chuffa said.

The group also investigated certain proteins (transcription factors and kinases) that are active in such processes as transcription and the cellular cycle. “The goal of this part of the study was to find common targets in cellular processes and the breast cancer public database,” he said.

According to Chuffa, genes regulated by melatonin in breast cancer are potential targets for the treatment of the disease. “Melatonin is a multitasking molecule and acts on various cellular substrates, so we’re now taking the study deeper to find out how the hormone influences microRNA expression and hence the regulation of the cellular mechanisms identified,” he said.

Herbal amentoflavone protects against cell-disrupting bacterial toxin

Jilin University (China), December 5, 2020

In this study, researchers at Jilin University in China investigated the ability of amentoflavone (AMF), commonly found in Ginkgo biloba and St. Johns Wort, to reduce the hemolytic and cytotoxic effects of pneumolysin (PLY). Their findings were published in the journal Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin.

PLY is a harmful bacterial protein produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a well-known and widespread human pathogen.
PLY is said to puncture the cell membrane, which leads to pathological reactions, such as cell disruption and inflammation.
Medications that can antagonize this toxin are considered to be beneficial for the treatment of bacterial infections.
AMF is a phytochemical extracted from traditional Chinese herbs.
According to previous studies, AMF has multiple pharmacological properties but its effects on PLY-induced cell toxicity have not been explored.
Using A549 human lung epithelial cells, the researchers tested the effect of AMF on PLY-induced hemolysis and cytotoxicity in vitro.
They also used mice to determine the effect of AMF on lung injury caused by S. pneumoniae infection.
The researchers found that AMF interacts with PLY at Ser254, Glu277 and Arg359 and effectively weakens the oligomerization of the wild-type toxin.
AMF also provides considered protection against PLY-mediated lung damage.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that AMF from Chinese medicinal herbs can be used to treat PLY-induced cell injury.

The Microbiome In Your Body Thrives With Regular Physical Contact

Oxford University, December 11, 2020

Hugging helps the immune system, cures depression, reduces stress and induces sleep. Gut bacteria also appears to thrive with regular physical contact, suggests new sata that shows ‘huddling’ actions lead to a synchronised microbiome.

Beneficial bacteria ns the gut are known to attack pathogens, manufacture vitamins and even act as anti-cancer agents. Recent research has strengthened the scientific understanding that the microbes that live in your gut may affect what goes on in your body.

“”‘When people with different gut microbiomes interact, they share their symbiotic bacteria through touch,” said Aura Raulo, lead author and graduate student at Oxford University’s department of zoology.

“I might host a bacteria in my gut that is well-behaved, and fits my symbiotic gut community, but might turn out to be an invasive pathogen in another person who is not accustomed to it.”

The animal data, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, have implications for human health as microbes refine immune defence. By sharing microbial allies and enemies infections are reduced by opportunist pathogens in a show of cooperative immunity, the team from Oxford University suggest.

“Understanding that social environment and stress are directly linked to gut microbiome, could go some way to explaining why the western world experiences so many epidemics of autoimmune diseases, and help us to better treat people with them,” she said.

“The microbiome is the link between our internal physiology and the external ecosystem. When tackling modern epidemics of autoimmune disease, we cannot ignore the environmental problems our ecosystem is facing, nor the social problems our culture is facing.’

Recent work has found that frequent intimate kissing enhances mutual transmission of mouth microbiota in humans.

Social proximity is also considered a good predictor of gut microbial composition in howler monkeys and baboons (Papio cynocephalus ) regardless of shared environment, diet or relatedness.

Study details

Collaborating with scientists from the University of Arizona and the City University of New York (CUNY), the team looked at the gut microbiota within a social network of red-bellied lemurs.

Data were collected from family groups at a time of the year when infants were born and fruit availability was generally low.

Eight groups were observed on a rotating basis with age, sex and identity noted. Data was also collected on behavioural states at five minute intervals.

Social behaviours, such as mutual grooming and huddling were recorded with more than 40 hours of behavioural data used to investigate questions related to social behaviour (total 19 individuals from 5 groups). Faecal samples were also collected from all focal individuals.

Results showed that the gut microbiota of red-bellied lemurs were dominated by the phyla Bacterioidetes , Proteobacteria and Firmicutes.

The lemurs were found to have gut microbiota with slight temporal fluctuations and strong social group-specific composition.

Surprisingly, individual sociality was negatively associated with gut microbial diversity. However, position within the social network predicted gut microbial composition.

“The gut microbiome of red-bellied lemurs most closely resembles that of their group members,” said Andrea Baden, co-senior author of the research and assistant professor of anthropology at Hunter College.

“They are extremely cohesive and in contact a great deal, and rarely if ever interact with other groups, so this makes sense.

‘This explains a great deal of individual variation, but genetic kinship might explain some as well. We know that infants inherit a suite of microbes from their mother, during birth. Red-bellied lemurs leave their natal groups to form their own groups when they become adults. They might retain some bacteria from their natal family group.”
Stress coping mechanisms

The research was unable to answer some key questions such as determining whether the bacteria were good or bad, or even their identity.

The effect of stress on gut microbiome also required further investigation as Raulo acknowledged that “social contact, stress physiology and gut microbiome are all intensely related”.

“Your social contact defines how much stress you interact with, and both can influence the cocktail of microbes in your gut.”

“People find social situations, such as competition stressful,” she added. “People cope with stress through social means, by seeking and giving affection, grooming and touching each other.”

“This way, social contact also balances stress. Regardless of whether they are blood relatives, people that live in close quarters, also come to share similar gut bacteria. Synchronized physiological systems make us work more ‘as one’.”

Youth depression tied to higher risk of 66 diseases and premature death

Karolinska Institute (Sweden), December 9, 2020

Depressed children and teenagers have an increased risk of suffering from premature death and a wide range of illnesses later in life. That is according to a large observational study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The findings highlight the need to look for other potential diseases following childhood or adolescent depression. Other psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and substance misuse, can explain part of the association. The study is published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

“Our study shows that children and teenagers diagnosed with depression have a significantly higher risk of premature death, self-harm, and suffering from other diseases later in life” says Sarah E. Bergen, senior researcher at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, and corresponding author of the study. “It underscores how important it is that these children and teenagers receive the help they need and that medical personnel monitor for subsequent psychiatric and somatic diseases.”

Depression is rarely diagnosed in young children but increases in prevalence through the teenage years. Previous studies have linked depression in adolescents to an increased risk of several adverse outcomes, including atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and premature death. Other psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety and substance use disorder, are also commonly linked.

In this study, the researchers wanted to examine whether depression at an early age might be associated with a wide spectrum of diseases diagnosed later in life. They also examined how other psychiatric conditions affected the association and whether youth depression heightened the risk of premature death.

The researchers followed almost 1.5 million Swedish girls and boys, of whom more than 37,000 were diagnosed with depression at least once between the ages of 5 and 19. When the research concluded, they were between 17 and 31 years old.

The study found that children and teenagers with depression had a higher risk of being diagnosed with 66 out of 69 examined medical conditions, including sleep disorders, type 2 diabetes, viral hepatitis, and kidney and liver diseases. Compared to those without depression, they also had a significantly higher risk of injuries, especially injuries inflicted by self-harm, and an almost six-fold higher risk of premature death.

The findings also revealed sex differences. For example, women with early onset depression were more likely to suffer injuries as well as urinary, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Men, on the other hand, were more likely to have obesity, thyroid gland problems, coeliac disease, connective tissue disorders and eczema.

Part of the association may be explained by other co-existing psychiatric conditions, especially substance use disorder and anxiety, which have previously been linked to risk increases for certain medical outcomes. These psychiatric conditions often appear in the same patient and therefore more studies are needed to examine the specific effect of each condition, according to the researchers.

“We need more research to understand the causality between depression and other diseases,” says Marica Leone, PhD candidate at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Karolinska Institutet, and first author of the study. “Currently, we cannot say whether depression leads to an increased risk of negative health effects or whether there are other underlying factors that lead to increased risks for both depression and the diseases examined in this study. Therefore, it is important to investigate how these processes affect each other and whether we, through discovery of these disease mechanisms, can find targets for intervention and treatment to improve overall health.”

New compound related to psychedelic plant Iboga could treat addiction, depression

University of California at Davis, December 8, 2020

A non-hallucinogenic version of the psychedelic drug ibogaine, with potential for treating addiction, depression and other psychiatric disorders, has been developed by researchers at the University of California, Davis. A paper describing the work is published Dec. 9 in Nature.

“Psychedelics are some of the most powerful drugs we know of that affect the brain,” said David Olson, assistant professor of chemistry at UC Davis and senior author on the paper. “It’s unbelievable how little we know about them.”

Ibogaine is extracted from the plant Tabernanthe iboga. There are anecdotal reports that it can have powerful anti-addiction effects such as reducing drug cravings and preventing relapse. But there are also serious side-effects, including hallucinations and cardiac toxicity, and the drug is a Schedule 1 controlled substance under U.S. law.

Olson’s laboratory at UC Davis is one of a few in the U.S. licensed to work with Schedule 1 substances. They set out to create a synthetic analog of ibogaine which retained therapeutic properties without the undesired effects of the psychedelic compound. Olson’s team worked through a series of similar compounds by swapping out parts of the ibogaine molecule. They engineered a new, synthetic molecule which they named tabernanthalog or TBG.

Models of anxiety, depression and addiction

Unlike ibogaine, the new molecule is water-soluble and can be synthesized in a single step. Experiments with cell cultures and zebrafish show that it is less toxic than ibogaine, which can cause heart attacks and has been responsible for several deaths.

TBG increased formation of new dendrites (branches) in rat nerve cells, and of new spines on those dendrites. That’s similar to the effect of drugs like ketamine, LSD, MDMA and DMT (the active component in the plant extract ayahuasca) on connections between nerve cells.

TBG did not, however, cause a head twitch response in mice, which is known to correlate with hallucinations in humans.

A series of experiments in rodent models of depression and addiction show that the new drug has promising positive effects. These animal models – conducted in accordance with NIH regulations and reviewed and approved by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees – remain vital to investigating complex psychiatric disorders.

Mice trained to drink alcohol cut back their consumption after a single dose of TBG. Rats were trained to associate a light and tone with pressing a lever to get a dose of heroin. When the opiate is taken away, the rats develop signs of withdrawal and press the lever again when given the light and sound cues. Treating the rats with TBG had a long-lasting effect on opiate relapse.

Olson thinks that TBG works by changing the structure of neurons in key brain circuits involved in depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction.

“We’ve been focused on treating one psychiatric disease at a time, but we know that these illnesses overlap,” Olson said. “It might be possible to treat multiple diseases with the same drug.”

Indeed, psychedelic therapies have been attracting new interest in recent years. But taking patients on individual ‘trips’ is time consuming and costly, requiring hours of close medical supervision apart from the possible negative effects.

“We need a drug that people can keep in their medicine cabinet and this is a significant step in that direction,” Olson said.

Study findings suggest omega 3 fatty acids as add-on therapy for periodontitis

University of Freiburg (Germany), November 6, 2020

A recently published review and meta-analysis and two clinical trials reveal significant effects for omega 3 fatty acid supplementation against the common gum disease known as periodontitis. Periodontitis is the sixth most prevalent human disease worldwide and is characterized by inflammation of the gums that can result in bone and tooth loss, as well as associations with chronic diseases that include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and respiratory diseases.

A review and meta-analysis published in Lipids in Health and Disease included six studies that involved the use of the omega 3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the treatment of periodontitis. Dosages of EPA and DHA and duration of treatment varied. Studies reported data concerning clinical attachment level of the teeth, probing depth, gingival index, bleeding on probing and plaque index.

Meta-analysis of clinical attachment level and probing depth revealed significant improvement in association with omega 3 supplementation compared to a placebo in four of the six studies. Three studies found an association between omega 3 supplementation and gingival index. Plaque index was also reduced in association with omega 3 in three studies. “Supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids might be an easy way to improve treatment in the short and long term in patients with periodontitis,” Anne B. Kruse and her associates wrote. “The intake of fish oil capsules during periodontal therapy is easy and not too expensive to generally include it in a regular regimen. It might be harder for patients to obtain the same amount of DHA and EPA only by changing the composition of their meals.”

A randomized trial reported on May 19, 2020 in the Indian Journal of Dental Research evaluated the effects of omega 3 supplementation in 90 men and women with chronic moderate periodontitis. Forty-eight participants received 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA twice daily for a month in addition to subgingival scaling and root planing, while a control group received scaling and root planing only. Clinical attachment level, probing depth and plaque and gingival indexes were assessed at the beginning of the study and at one and three months.

Clinical attachment level improved at both one and three months among participants who received omega 3 in comparison with the control group and compared to levels measured at the beginning of the study. While the gingival index was reduced in both groups, the reduction was significant at the study’s conclusion among those who received omega 3.

And in another randomized trial, published on August 27, 2020 in the journal Nutrients, 30 patients with stage III and IV periodontitis received scaling and root planing while 16 of the subjects additionally received 2.6 grams EPA and 1.8 grams DHA per day. Periodontal examination conducted at the beginning and end of the study documented significant improvement in clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing and probing depth in the group that received omega 3. Proinflammatory cytokines were lower and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly higher in salivary samples of supplemented participants than those who did not receive the supplements.

These studies provide growing evidence that omega 3 supplementation could be a promising adjunct to standard periodontitis therapy. As the authors of the review and meta-analysis noted, an alternative to antibiotics used in periodontal therapy could help solve, in part, the potential problem of antibiotic resistance in this group of patients.

Increased social media use linked to developing depression, research finds

A study of young adults who use social media more are also more likely to develop depression within six months, a U of A study shows.

University of Arkansas, December 9, 2020

Young adults who increased their use of social media were significantly more likely to develop depression within six months, according to a new national study authored by Dr. Brian Primack, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions and professor of public health at the University of Arkansas.

Compared with participants who used less than 120 minutes per day of social media, for example, young adults who used more than 300 minutes per day were 2.8 times as likely to become depressed within six months.

The study, which will be published online Dec. 10 and is scheduled for the February 2021 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, is the first large, national study to show a link between social media use and depression over time.

“Most prior work in this area has left us with the chicken-and-egg question,” said Primack. “We know from other large studies that depression and social media use tend to go together, but it’s been hard to figure out which came first. This new study sheds light on these questions, because high initial social media use led to increased rates of depression. However, initial depression did not lead to any change in social media use.”

In 2018, Primack and his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh sampled more than 1,000 U.S. adults between 18 to 30. They measured depression using the validated nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire and asked participants about the amount of time they used social media on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, and SnapChat. Their analyses controlled for demographic factors like age, sex, race, education, income and employment, and they included survey weights so the results would reflect the greater U.S. population.

“One reason for these findings may be that social media takes up a lot of time,” said Dr. Cesar Escobar-Viera, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and co-author on the study. “Excess time on social media may displace forming more important in-person relationships, achieving personal or professional goals, or even simply having moments of valuable reflection.”

The authors suggest that social comparison may also underlie these findings.

“Social media is often curated to emphasize positive portrayals,” said Jaime Sidani, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and co-author of the study. “This can be especially difficult for young adults who are at critical junctures in life related to identity development and feel that they can’t measure up to the impossible ideals they are exposed to.”

The findings are of particular importance given that depression was recently declared to be the leading global cause of disability by the World Health Organization and accounts for more disability-adjusted life years than all other mental disorders.

“These findings are also particularly important to consider in the age of COVID-19,” Primack said. “Now that it’s harder to connect socially in person, we’re all using more technology like social media. While I think those technologies certainly can be valuable, I’d also encourage people to reflect on which tech experiences are truly useful for them and which ones leave them feeling empty.”

Astaxanthin shows potential for inhibition of breast cancer

Pusan National University (South Korea), December 8, 2020

According to news reporting out of Busan, South Korea, research stated, “Astaxanthin (AST) is a product made from marine organisms that has been used as an anti-cancer supplement.”

The news editors obtained a quote from the research from Pusan National University: “It reduces pontin expression and induces apoptosis in SKBR3, a breast cancer cell line. Using Western blotting and qRT-PCR analyses, this study revealed that in the T47D and BT20 breast cancer cell lines, AST inhibits expression of pontin and mutp53, as well as the Oct4 and Nanog cancer stem cell (CSC) stemness genes. In addition, we explored the mechanism by which AST eradicates breast cancer cells using pontin siRNAs. Pontin knockdown by pontin siRNA reduced proliferation, Oct4 and Nanog expression, colony and spheroid formation, and migration and invasion abilities in breast cancer cells. In addition, reductions in Oct4, Nanog, and mutp53 expression following rottlerin treatment confirmed the role of pontin in these cells. Therefore, pontin may play a central role in the regulation of CSC properties and in cell proliferation following AST treatment.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Taken together, these findings demonstrate that AST can repress CSC stemness genes in breast cancer cells, which implies that AST therapy could be used to improve the efficacy of other anti-cancer therapies against breast cancer cells.”

Melatonin: finally, a supplement that actually boosts memory

Tokyo Medical and Dental University (Japan), December 10, 2020

Researchers at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) in Japan show that melatonin and its metabolites promote the formation of long-term memories in mice and protect against cognitive decline.

Chiba, Japan — Walk down the supplement aisle in your local drugstore and you’ll find fish oil, ginkgo, vitamin E, and ginseng, all touted as memory boosters that can help you avoid cognitive decline. You’ll also find melatonin, which is sold primarily in the United States as a sleep supplement. It now looks like melatonin marketers might have to do a rethink. In a new study, researchers led by Atsuhiko Hattori at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) in Japan have shown that melatonin and two of its metabolites help memories stick around in the brain and can shield mice, and potentially people, from cognitive decline.

One of the easiest ways to test memory in mice is to rely on their natural tendency to examine unfamiliar objects. Given a choice, they’ll spend more time checking out unfamiliar objects than familiar ones. The trick is that for something to be familiar, it has to be remembered. Like in people, cognitive decline in mice manifests as poor memory, and when tested on this novel object recognition task, they behave as if both objects are new.

The group of researchers at TMDU were curious about melatonin’s metabolites, the molecules that melatonin is broken down into after entering the body. “We know that melatonin is converted into N1-acetyl-N2-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK) in the brain,” explains Hattori, “and we suspected that they might promote cognition.” To test their hypothesis, the researchers familiarized mice to objects and gave them doses of melatonin and the two metabolites 1 hour later. Then, they tested their memory the next day. They found that memory improved after treatment, and that AMK was the most effective. All three accumulated in the hippocampal region of the brain, a region important for turning experiences into memories.

For young mice, exposure to an object three times in a day is enough for it to be remembered the next day on the novel object recognition task. In contrast, older mice behave as if both objects are new and unfamiliar, a sign of cognitive decline. However, one dose of AMK 15 min after a single exposure to an object, and older mice were able to remember the objects up to 4 days later.

Lastly, the researchers found that long-term memory formation could not be enhanced after blocking melatonin from being converted into AMK in the brain. “We have shown that melatonin’s metabolite AMK can facilitate memory formation in all ages of mice,” says Hattori. “Its effect on older mice is particularly encouraging and we are hopeful that future studies will show similar effects in older people. If this happens, AMK therapy could eventually be used to reduce the severity of Mild Cognitive Impairment and its potential conversion to Alzheimer’s disease.”

Glutamine depletion disrupts mitochondrial integrity

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (Dept of Defense), December 4, 2020

According to news originating from Bethesda, Maryland, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Glutamine and glucose are both oxidized in the mitochondria to supply the majority of usable energy for processes of cellular function. Low levels of plasma and skeletal muscle glutamine are associated with severe illness.”e Nivel Superior, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico.

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, “We hypothesized that glutamine deficiency would disrupt mitochondrial integrity and impair cell function. C2C12 mouse myoblasts were cultured in control media supplemented with 5.6 mmol/L glucose and 2 mmol/L glutamine, glutamine depletion (Gln) or glucose depletion (Glc) media. We compared mitochondrial morphology and function, as well as cell proliferation, myogenic differentiation, and heat-shock response in these cells. Glc cells exhibited slightly elongated mitochondrial networks and increased mitochondrial mass, with normal membrane potential (DPSm). Mitochondria in Gln cells became hyperfused and swollen, which were accompanied by severe disruption of cristae and decreases in DPSm, mitochondrial mass, the inner mitochondrial membrane remodeling protein OPA1, electron transport chain complex IV protein expression, and markers of mitochondrial biogenesis and bioenergetics. In addition, Gln increased the autophagy marker LC3B-II on the mitochondrial membrane. Notably, basal mitochondrial respiration was increased in Glc cells as compared to control cells, whereas maximal respiration remained unchanged. In contrast, basal respiration, maximal respiration and reserve capacity were all decreased in Gln cells. Consistent with the aforementioned mitochondrial deficits, Gln cells had lower growth rates and myogenic differentiation, as well as a higher rate of cell death under heat stress conditions than Glc and control cells.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “We conclude that glutamine is essential for mitochondrial integrity and function; glutamine depletion impairs myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and the heat-shock response.

Aloe vera found to be more effective against diabetic complications than conventional medicine

KIET School of Pharmacy (India), December 5, 2020

In this study, Indian researchers investigated the effect of aloe vera treatment in rats with diabetic nephropathy. They reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.

Diabetes-induced hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress are implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Meanwhile, aloe vera (300 mg/kg), when taken orally, has been found to have renoprotective effects by many studies.
To determine if the cholesterol-lowering and antioxidant properties of aloe vera can protect the kidneys from diabetic nephropathy, the researchers obtained whole leaf extracts of aloe vera.
Using streptozotocin (STZ), they induced diabetes in rats and confirmed the development of diabetic nephropathy using biochemical and histological examinations.
They also assessed the lipid profile and renal oxidative stress status of the diabetic rats.
The researchers noted that STZ successfully induced diabetes in rats by triggering renal oxidative stress and altering their lipid profile.
After eight weeks, STZ-induced diabetes caused nephropathy in rats by increasing serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels, as well as promoting proteinuria and glomerular damage.
On the other hand, aloe vera treatment (300 mg/kg/day orally) reversed the effects of STZ and was found to be more effective against diabetic nephropathy and renal oxidative stress than lisinopril, a known ACE inhibitor that was used as the reference drug.
These results suggest that diabetes-induced oxidative stress and lipid alterations are involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that aloe vera can be used to prevent diabetes-induced nephropathy, thanks to its hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties.

Study details how aerobic exercise reverses degenerative process that leads to metabolic diseases

University of Campinas Institute of Biology (Brazil), December 8, 2020

Experiments with mice and humans showed that exercise training increased the expression in adipose tissue of a key enzyme for the organism’s metabolic health, combating the harmful effects of aging and obesity. Credit: Danilo Ferrucci and Bruna B. Brandão

Adipose tissue is not just a simple reservoir of energy for periods of food scarcity. It contributes significantly to regulation of the metabolism, releasing various molecules into the bloodstream, including microRNAs that modulate the expression of key genes in different parts of the organism, including the liver, pancreas, and muscles.

Research has shown that both aging and obesity can impair the production of these regulatory microRNAs by adipose tissue and favor the development of diseases such as diabetes and dyslipidemia. The good news is that this degenerative process can be reversed by practicing regular aerobic exercise, according to a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

“Experiments with mice and humans have shown that aerobic exercise stimulates expression of an enzyme called DICER, which is essential to the processing of these microRNAs. We, therefore, observed an increase in production of these regulatory molecules by adipose cells, with several benefits for the metabolism,” said Marcelo Mori, a professor at the University of Campinas’s Institute of Biology (IB-UNICAMP) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, and one of the principal investigators for the project, which was supported by FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation) and conducted in partnership with groups at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and Harvard University in the United States.

The experiments were performed during the postdoctoral research of Bruna Brasil Brandão, formerly Mori’s Ph.D. student and now at Harvard Medical School working as a research fellow in the laboratory of Professor C. Ronald Kahn.

The results showed the occurrence of communication between muscle and adipose tissue during aerobic exercise via signaling molecules secreted into the bloodstream. This exchange of information makes energy consumption by adipose cells more efficient, enabling the metabolism to adapt to exercise and enhancing the performance of the muscles.

The mice were subjected to a 60-minute treadmill running protocol for eight weeks. As they became fitter, treadmill speed and inclination were increased. At the end, in addition to the improvement in performance, the scientists found a significant elevation in adipocyte levels of DICER expression, which was accompanied by a reduction in body weight and visceral fat.

When they repeated the experiment with mice that were genetically modified not to express DICER in adipose cells, the researchers found that the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise were far smaller. “The animals didn’t lose weight or visceral fat, and their overall fitness didn’t improve,” Mori said. “We also observed that adipose cells used the energy substrate differently in these GM mice than in wild mice, leaving less glucose available for muscles.”

In humans, six weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) were sufficient to yield a fivefold increase in the amount of DICER in adipose tissue on average. The effect was observed in both younger volunteers, aged about 36, and older subjects, aged about 63. The response varied considerably between individuals, however, with DICER increasing as much as 25 times in some, and very little in others.

Detailed mechanism

The role of DICER and microRNA processing in adipose tissue was first described in 2012 in an article published in Cell Metabolism, reporting a study led by Mori and Khan in collaboration with an international group of researchers. The main finding here was that expression of DICER in the adipose tissue of mice declined as the animals gained weight and that this reduced their lifespan. The study also showed that caloric restriction could reverse the deleterious effects of obesity.

In another study, published in 2016 in the journal Aging, Mori and his group showed that caloric restriction in mice prevented the aging-related decline in microRNA production by adipose tissue and the development of type 2 diabetes. In a study reported in 2017 in Nature, they proved that the microRNAs produced by adipose tissue entered the bloodstream and acted on distant tissues, regulating gene expression.

“In this latest study we found that aerobic exercise, like caloric restriction, can reverse the drop in DICER expression and microRNA production thanks to the activation of a very important metabolic sensor, the enzyme AMPK [adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase],” Mori said.

The sensor is activated, he explained, when the cell consumes ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the molecule that acts as an energy substrate for cells) and creates an energy deficit. In experiments with mice, the researchers found that aerobic exercise activated AMPK in muscle cells and that this somehow induced DICER expression in adipose cells.

“The obvious conclusion is that the effect on gene expression occurs in the same cell in which the energy deficit occurs, which is indeed the case, but here the sensor is also activated in muscles and controls the response that occurs in adipose tissue,” he said.

To confirm communication between tissues, the scientists collected blood serum from a trained animal and injected it into a sedentary animal. This “treatment” increased DICER expression in adipose tissue. In another experiment, they incubated cultured adipocytes with serum from trained mice and observed the same effect.

“This finding suggests trained individuals have one or more molecules in their bloodstream that directly induce a metabolic improvement in adipose tissue,” Mori said. “If we can identify these molecules, we can investigate whether they also induce other benefits of aerobic exercise, such as cardioprotection. Moreover, we may think about converting this knowledge into a drug at some stage.”

To obtain an even more detailed understanding of the metabolic regulation mechanism, the researchers analyzed all of the thousands of microRNAs expressed in the organism of the trained mice and compared them with those found in sedentary mice.

“We identified a molecule called miR-203-3p, whose expression increases with both training and caloric restriction,” Mori said. “We showed that this microRNA is responsible for promoting metabolic adjustment in adipocytes. When muscles use up all their glycogen during prolonged exercise, molecular signals are sent to adipose tissue and miR-203-3p fine-tunes the adipocyte metabolism. We found this metabolic flexibility to be essential to good health as well as performance enhancement.”

Absent this modulation, adipocyte consumption of glucose during exercise increases, leaving less energy substrate available to muscles, he added. This can lead to hypoglycemia, one of the main performance limitations for athletes.

“In GM mice that don’t express DICER in adipocytes, this conversation between adipose tissue and muscles doesn’t happen. It’s a model that mimics aging and obesity. So when DICER declines, metabolic health is poor and degenerative processes accelerate” Mori said.

Possible bittersweet effects of stevia uncovered by researchers

Ben Gurion University (Israel), December 7, 2020

According to a new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers, the natural sweetener stevia may lead to a gut microbial imbalance. The findings were just published in Molecules, a leading international peer-reviewed journal of chemistry.

Stevia is a natural low-calorie sweetener that is growing in popularity in food and beverage products and is generally considered safe. However, emerging scientific evidence has implicated the sweetener in gut microbial imbalance, which can lead to a variety of gastrointestinal health issues.

According to the new study, stevia may disrupt communications between different bacteria in the gut microbiome. While the team found that stevia inhibited these pathways, it did not kill off the bacteria.

“This is an initial study that indicates that more research is warranted before the food industry replaces sugar and artificial sweeteners with stevia and its extracts,” says lead researcher Dr. Karina Golberg, of the BGU Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering.

How poor oral hygiene may result in metabolic syndrome

Tokyo Medical and Dental University (Japan), December 8, 2020

Periodontal or gum disease is known to be a significant risk factor of metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions increasing the risk for heart disease and diabetes. In a new study, researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) discovered that infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis, the bacterium causing periodontal disease, causes skeletal muscle metabolic dysfunction, the precursor to metabolic syndrome, by altering the composition of the gut microbiome.

Periodontal bacteria have long been known to cause inflammation within the oral cavity, but also systemically increase inflammatory mediators. As a result, sustained infection with periodontal bacteria can lead to increases in body weight and lead to increased insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes. The function of insulin is to help shuttle glucose from the blood into tissues, most importantly to skeletal muscle, where one quarter of all glucose in stored. Unsurprisingly, insulin resistance plays a key role in the development of metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions including obesity, altered lipid metabolism, high blood pressure, high blood glucose levels, and systemic inflammation. Although skeletal muscle plays a key role in decreasing blood glucose levels, a direct connection between periodontal bacterial infection and the metabolic function of skeletal muscle has not been established yet.

“Metabolic syndrome has become a widespread health problem in the developed world,” says first author of the study Kazuki Watanabe. “The goal of our study was to investigate how periodontal bacterial infection might lead to metabolic alterations in skeletal muscle and thus to the development of metabolic syndrome.”

To achieve their goal, the researchers first investigated antibody titers to Porphyromonas gingivalis in the blood of patients with metabolic syndrome and found a positive correlation between antibody titers and increased insulin resistance. These results showed that patients with metabolic syndrome were likely to have undergone infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis and thus have mounted an immune response yielding antibodies against the germ. To understand the mechanism behind the clinical observation, the researchers then turned to an animal model. When they gave mice that were fed a high-fat diet (a pre-requisite to developing metabolic syndrome) Porphyromonas gingivalis by mouth, the mice developed increased insulin resistance, and fat infiltration and lower glucose uptake in the skeletal muscle compared with mice that did not receive the bacteria.

But how was this bacterium capable of causing systemic inflammation and metabolic syndrome? To answer this question, the researchers focused on the gut microbiome, the network of bacteria present in the gut and with which the organism co-exists symbiotically. Intriguingly, the researchers found that in mice administered with Porphyromonas gingivalis the gut microbiome was significantly altered, which might decrease insulin sensitivity.

“These are striking results that provide a mechanism underlying the relationship between infection with the periodontal bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis and the development of metabolic syndrome and metabolic dysfunction in skeletal muscle,” says corresponding author of the study Professor Sayaka Katagiri.

Dietary magnesium associated with reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes

Zhejiang and Zhengzhou universities (China) December 8, 2020

A diet rich in magnesium may reduce the risk of diseases including coronary heart disease, stroke and type-2 diabetes according to a new meta-analysis published in the open access journal BMC Medicine. This analysis of the evidence on dietary magnesium and health outcomes is the largest to date, involving data from more than one million people across nine countries.

The researchers, from Zhejiang University and Zhengzhou University in China, found that people in the highest category of dietary magnesium consumption had a 10% lower risk of coronary heart disease, 12% lower risk of stroke and a 26% lower risk of type-2 diabetes compared to those in the lowest category. Their results also indicate that an extra 100mg per day of dietary magnesium could also reduce risk of stroke by 7% and type-2 diabetes by 19%.

Dr Fudi Wang, lead author from the School of Public Health at Zhejiang University, said: “Low levels of magnesium in the body have been associated with a range of diseases but no conclusive evidence has been put forward on the link between dietary magnesium and health risks. Our meta-analysis provides the most up-to-date evidence supporting a link between the role of magnesium in food and reducing the risk of disease.”

Dr Wang added: “The current health guidelines recommend a magnesium intake of around 300mg per day for men and 270mg per day for women. Despite this, magnesium deficiency is relatively common, affecting between 2.5% and 15% of the general population. Our findings will be important for informing the public and policy makers on dietary guidelines to reduce magnesium deficiency related health risks.”

Magnesium is vital for human health and normal biological functions including glucose metabolism, protein production and synthesis of nucleic acids such as DNA. Diet is the main source of magnesium as the element can be found in foods such as spices, nuts, beans, cocoa, whole grains and green leafy vegetables.

In this analysis, data from 40 epidemiological studies covering a period from 1999 to 2016 were used to investigate associations between dietary magnesium and various diseases. In all the studies, levels of dietary magnesium were determined using a self-reported food frequency questionnaire or a 24-hour dietary recall. As the levels of magnesium used to define categories varied widely between the studies, the researchers performed a dose-response analysis for the effect of each 100mg per day increase of dietary magnesium.

This meta-analysis involves observational studies meaning that it is not possible to rule out the effect of other biological or lifestyle factors influencing the results. It is also not possible to determine if magnesium is directly responsible for reducing disease risk. However, the large size of this analysis provides robust data that were stable when adjusting for gender and study location. The authors state that their findings reinforce the notion that increased consumption of magnesium rich foods could be beneficial for overall health.

New study finds fish oil omega-3s EPA and DHA work differently on chronic inflammation

Tufts University, December 7, 2020

The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA work differently against chronic inflammation, according to the results of a small randomized study, suggesting each has its own important role to play in regulating the immune system.

The 34-week trial, led by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (HNRCA), compared the effects of the two omega-3s in a small group of older adults with obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either EPA or DHA supplements twice a day. The results are published today in Atherosclerosis.

EPA and DHA, plentiful in fish and shellfish, have, in some studies, been linked to lower risk of heart disease and are believed to work by reducing inflammation. The results showed that DHA had a stronger anti-inflammatory effect than EPA:

DHA lowered the genetic expression of four types of pro-inflammatory proteins, whereas EPA lowered only one type.
DHA lowered white blood cell secretion of three types of pro-inflammatory proteins, whereas EPA lowered only one type.
DHA also reduced levels of an anti-inflammatory protein, whereas EPA did not.

However, EPA improved the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory proteins:

After being metabolized, EPA produced by-products that were associated with immune function regulation and worked differently from those derived from DHA.

“The jury has been out, so to speak, on how the two major components of fish oil work—and whether one might be better than the other. These results suggest that DHA is the more powerful of the two on markers of inflammation in the body, but that’s not the end of the story,” said Stefania Lamon-Fava, a scientist on the Cardiovascular Nutrition Team at the HNRCA.

Lamon-Fava is also chair of the Division of Biochemical & Molecular Nutrition and an associate professor at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts.

“In our bodies, there is always this balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, and we found EPA was better than DHA at enhancing that balance. For the prevention of cardiovascular disease, previous research tells us that balance is very important,” explained first author Jisun So, who did this work as part of her dissertation at the Friedman School, working on the Cardiovascular Nutrition Team at the HNRCA.

According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, adults should consume at least two servings of seafood (4 ounces per serving) weekly. Salmon, cod, sardines, trout and light, canned tuna are good sources of EPA and DHA.

“Our study gives us a snapshot of how EPA and DHA may work to reduce chronic inflammation, and how each has distinct effects. Our results provide insight for future research to explore why that is the case and who would benefit from one or both of these healthy fats,” Lamon-Fava said.

Methodology

The study was a double-blind trial, meaning neither the participants nor the laboratory workers or scientists knew which supplement each individual received. The 21 participants received EPA or DHA supplements in a sequence that included supplement-free periods to create a blank slate from which to measure the impact of each supplement. During a lead-in phase, participants took supplements containing only high-oleic sunflower oil (similar to olive oil and not containing omega-3 fatty acids), to create a basis for comparison.

Genistein inhibits migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells by regulating signaling pathways

Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, December 2, 2020

According to news originating from Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “Genistein obviously inhibits the migration and invasion of various tumor cells. However, its effects on cervical cancer cells have seldom been referred.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, “We aimed to evaluate the effects of genistein on the proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer HeLa cells, the expressions and phosphorylations of proteins related with FAK-paxillin and MAPKs signaling pathways, as well as the expressions of related key genes. HeLa cells were stimulated with genistein for 24 h and 48 h respectively. After adherence for 2 h, 0 mM, 12.5 mM, 25 mM, 50 mM and 100 mM genistein solutions were added in DMEM. Cell proliferation was tested by the CCK-8 assay. After treatment with 100 mM genistein, the migration ability was detected by the scratch assay. Transwell assay was used to detect cell migration and invasion abilities. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expressions of proteins and mRNAs related with FAK-paxillin and MAPKs signaling pathways respectively. The effect of genistein on the proliferation of HeLa cells was proportional to treatment time and drug dose, and the proliferation was inhibited after 24 h and 48 h at 100 mM. After treatment with 100 mM genistein, the scratch migration rate was significantly lower than that of the control group at 24 h and 48 h (p <0.05). Genistein also inhibited the invasion of tumor cells through the upper chamber and Matrigel. The number of invasive cells was significantly lower than that of the control group (p <0.05). Genistein significantly inhibited the phosphorylations of FAK, paxillin, p38 and p42/44. Compared to the control group, 100 mM genistein significantly suppressed the mRNA expressions of FAK, paxillin, Snail and twist.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Genistein inhibited the migration and invasion of cervical cancer HeLa cells by regulating FAK-paxillin and MAPK signaling pathways in dose-dependent manners.”

Glycine supplementation could help improve NAFLD

University of Michigan and Wayne State University, December 4 2020.

The December 2, 2020 issue of Science Translational Medicinepublished the finding of researchers at the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Technion-Israel Institute of Technology of a potential benefit for the amino acid glycine in people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

“Lower circulating glycine is consistently reported in patients with NAFLD and related comorbidities including diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases,” first author Oren Rom, PhD, RD, noted. “Our studies not only offer a metabolic explanation for defective glycine metabolism in NAFLD, but also uncover a potential glycine-based treatment.”

To verify whether alterations in glycine metabolism contribute to the development of NAFLD, the team induced fatty livers in mice by feeding them a Western diet characterized by high amounts of fat, cholesterol and fructose for 12 weeks. Among all amino acids, plasma glycine was reduced to the greatest extent while its precursor amino acids were increased, suggesting impairment of the animals’ ability to synthesize glycine. Giving mice a Western Diet without glycine exacerbated elevations in lipids, glucose and fatty liver.In livers from mice and humans with NAFLD, genes that synthesize glycine, particularly alanine-glyoxylate aminotransferase 1 (AGXT1), were suppressed.

In light of these and other findings that have associated low glycine levels with unhealthy lipids and diabetes, the researchers examined the effects of treatment with glycine-based compounds, including the tripeptide DT-109, which contains glycine and the amino acid leucine. They found that DT-109 was the only compound that reduced glucose in mice more efficiently than glycine. Mice that received a Western diet supplemented with DT-109 had lower glucose, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol than animals that received glycine, leucine or water.

“Glycine-based treatment attenuates experimental NAFLD by stimulating hepatic fatty acid oxidation and glutathione synthesis, thus warranting clinical evaluation,” the authors wrote.

First meta-analysis shows promise for yoga, meditation, mindfulness in concussion

University of Connecticut, December 4, 2020

When Rebecca Acabchuk was studying mild traumatic brain injuries while working on her doctorate in physiology and neurobiology at UConn, she met a student athlete who had suffered multiple concussions.

“When I started doing research on concussions, people just started coming to me,” Acabchuk says. “Families at my daughter’s school, anytime somebody had a concussion, I would hear about it – I would hear these personal stories and all the struggles of people who had concussions and their symptoms just didn’t resolve.”

So it was for the student athlete, who told Acabchuk that she would experience seizures when a smoke alarm went off in her dormitory.

“All of these symptoms she would have to struggle with – really profound symptoms – are an invisible injury,” says Acabchuk, who earned her PhD in 2016 and is now a post-doctoral fellow with UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy, or InCHIP. “People think you should be better, the injury happened so long ago. Why aren’t you better? And then more frustration comes in when your doctor says just to rest, there’s nothing else that can be done, but you’re still getting headaches or feeling fatigued or depressed.”

Chronic concussion symptoms are notoriously difficult to treat. But Acabchuk – who is also a yoga instructor in Hebron, and has been teaching yoga for 17 years – is hoping that a recently published InCHIP study, the first-ever meta-analysis looking at the use of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness-based interventions for the effective treatment of chronic concussion symptoms, will offer hope to those still struggling with their symptoms. The study was recently published in the journal Applied Psychology: Health and Well-being.

“This was really a passion project for me in the sense that it combines these two areas of interest, concussion work with yoga and meditation,” says Acabchuk, who is the study’s lead author. “We know from other studies that yoga and meditation may be helpful for reducing systemic inflammation, and we know that they are helpful for increasing self-compassion and reducing rumination if people are dealing with symptoms of depression.”

Most studies looking at the effectiveness of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness on concussions have been small. For their meta-analysis, Acabchuk and her team pulled together data from 22 different studies, including both published and unpublished work, that all together included a total of 539 study participants, and looked at the impact of the three interventions on outcome categories – including mental health, physical health, cognitive performance, quality of life, and social/occupational performance – and on specific health outcomes, like depression, attention, anxiety, and fatigue. The team then applied advanced meta-analytical methods to compile and assess the results of those studies.

“The main results that we saw were significant reductions in depression and fatigue,” Acabchuk says. “Especially with fatigue, it was a large effect size, which is impressive in the sense that fatigue is a difficult symptom for patients to deal with.”

The meta-analysis found that mind-body interventions consistently provided symptom improvement across nearly all measured outcomes. The trends were remarkable, the researchers noted, because of the variety of patients enrolled in the studies, and the known difficulty of relieving chronic concussion symptoms.

Acabchuk says more and larger studies are needed to further investigate the benefits of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness in concussion treatment plans. She also says that more study is needed to help researchers and the general public understand the mechanisms by which these types of interventions promote healing and reduce concussion symptoms.

But importantly, including some sort of yoga, meditation, or mindfulness practice as part of a treatment plan for a mild traumatic brain injury appears to involve no adverse effects for the patient, she says – so there’s little downside to giving it a try.

“Think of the brain almost like an ACL – if you tear your ACL, you’re going to rest it, but you’re also going to take steps to rehabilitate it,” Acabchuk says. “If you think of the brain in that sense, a concussion is also like a rehabilitation injury in that, through rehabilitation, you can strengthen certain pathways in the brain. And we think the tools to help do that are breath-work, meditation, and mindful movement through poses from yoga.”

She continues, “Maybe starting with a meditation app or online meditation group to learn the basics, and setting aside time to meditate 10 minutes a day. If you’re a person who can’t sit still, maybe yoga is better for you. If you’re too tired at the end of the day, maybe a simple body scan with deep breathing exercises would be better for you. It’s not going to be a miracle cure, but more of something that can provide benefits over time by incorporating these tools into daily life. I really do hope that this helps empower people who are struggling with their symptoms.”

Study Shows Strawberries Might Help Combat Osteoarthritis

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, December 5, 2020

A new study suggests you might find a powerful ally in the fight against arthritis in the produce section of your local supermarket.

OMRF scientist Hal Scofield, M.D., and a team of researchers recently completed a human clinical trial that looked at the effects of strawberries as an anti-inflammatory measure to reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis.

“The idea that there are anti-inflammatory compounds in strawberries is not a new one, and preventing free radical damage with berries and other fruits has been around for a while. But applying its benefits directly to osteoarthritis is new,” said Scofield, a physician and medical researcher in OMRF’s Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program.

Osteoarthritis, or OA, is the most common form of disability in the U.S., affecting nearly 27 million Americans. It occurs when the cartilage that cushions bones in the joints breaks down and wears away, leaving the bones to painfully rub against one another.

This form of arthritis is inflammatory in nature and is made worse by oxidative damage caused by free radicals, highly reactive oxygen molecules that can build up in cartilage. The study was designed to examine the effects of strawberries on pain, inflammation and quality of life in obese individuals with OA.

Scofield and the research team found that strawberries showed positive effects in fighting this inflammation and preventing free radical oxidative damage. Surprisingly, it only required a small amount–50 grams or about a quarter cup of berries–to achieve the desired outcome.

That’s just a small handful or roughly 20 calories.

The trial, which was conducted in Oklahoma City, randomized individuals into two groups. One group was given a powdered compound that contained real strawberries to be taken daily. The second group was given a similar substance that was only flavored like strawberries, but contained no real fruit. Neither group knew which compound they had.

After 12 weeks, the people eating the actual strawberry compound showed measurable positive effects, whereas there was no improvement for the other individuals.

In fact, biomarkers of inflammation and cartilage degradation were significantly decreased in the individuals who ate strawberries. This group also reported a reduction in constant, intermittent and total pain.

The findings were published in the scientific journal Nutrients.

Scofield said the next step is to see how the effects of the fruit compare in a head-to-head trial with anti-inflammatory medications. But for now, he said there is no harm in adding a handful of the red berries into your daily routine.

“You’re supposed to eat five servings of fruits and veggies a day anyway, so here’s a good way to get one that effectively fights pain and inflammation,” said Scofield. “Plus they taste great. It’s a win-win, especially for those with OA.”

OMRF researcher Biji Kurien also contributed to the project.

Weekly folic acid boost shows potential to halve birth defects

University of British Columbia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, University of Adelaide, December 7, 2020

SAHMRI researchers have found the risk of birth defects can be greatly reduced if women significantly increase their folic acid intake.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are birth defectslike spina bifida that effect 300,000 babies born annually worldwide. Some of these babies die at birth while others have life-long disabilities.

The study sponsored by Nutrition International with support from the Government of Canada and published in BMJ Global Health, has shown taking weekly iron folic acid supplements (IFA) containing 2.8 mg folic acid can lower the risk of NTDs by up to four times more than the current global standard of just 0.4 mg.

Project leader, Professor Tim Green said during the trial, 70% of women consuming 2.8 mg folic acid per week achieved a red blood cell folate concentration associated with a low NTD risk, compared with just 10% of those taking 0.4 mg.

“A folic acid supplement should be taken not only by those who are planning a pregnancy, but by all women who are sexually active,” Prof Green said.

“We know around half of pregnancies are unplanned globally and in low and middle income countries 10 million of these pregnancies occur each year in adolescents alone. By the time these women realize they’re pregnant it’s too late to get the benefits of IFA.”

Researchers predict the number of NTDs worldwide could be halved if the World Health Organization (WHO) acts on the latest findings.

The WHO currently recommends a weekly supplement for all women aged 15-49 living in countries where the rate of anemia is above 20%. This supplement currently contains the appropriate 60mg of iron but just 0.4mg of folic acid; not enough to provide a benefit.

“It’s our recommendation that the optimal 2.8mg of folic acid formulation be made widely available to women in low and middle income countries as soon as possible,” Prof Green said.

Review adds evidence to ability of antioxidants to reduce severity and slow progression of neurodegenerative diseases

University of Belgrade (Serbia), December 2, 2020

According to news reporting out of Belgrade, Serbia, research stated, “Being characterized by progressive and severe damage in neuronal cells, neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are the major cause of disability and morbidity in the elderly, imposing a significant economic and social burden.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from University of Belgrade: “As major components of the central nervous system, lipids play important roles in neural health and pathology. Disturbed lipid metabolism, particularly lipid peroxidation (LPO), is associated with the development of many NDDs, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), all of which show elevated levels of LPO products and LPO-modified proteins. Thus, the inhibition of neuronal oxidation might slow the progression and reduce the severity of NDD; natural antioxidants, such as polyphenols and antioxidant vitamins, seem to be the most promising agents. Here, we summarize current literature data that were derived from human studies on the effect of natural polyphenols and vitamins A, C, and E supplementation in patients with AD, PD, and ALS.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Although these compounds may reduce the severity and slow the progression of NDD, research gaps remain in antioxidants supplementation in AD, PD, and ALS patients, which indicates that further human studies applying antioxidant supplementation in different forms of NDDs are urgently needed.”

Omega 3 supplementation decreases oxidative stress and inflammation in athletes: a pilot study

University of Pavia (Italy), December 2, 2020

According to news reporting originating from the University of Pavia research stated, “Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may alter oxidative status and immune function after exercise. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the probable association between n-3 supplementation and physical exercise, observing the variations in markers of oxidative stress and inflammation.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from University of Pavia: “Thirty-nine subjects of both sexes aged 17-30 years were divided into two groups: 1) (n = 21) trained Athletes; 2) (n = 18) Sedentary subjects. All subjects were given about 4 g/day of n-3 supplementation, rich in EPA and DHA, for 8 weeks. Blood, saliva and urine samples were collected pre- (T0) and post- (T1) supplementation. Hematological parameters (tryglicerides, total cholesterol, HDL, CPK, LDH, HGH, IGF-1), oxidative markers (MDA, 8-OHdG, PCc), antioxidant parameters (GPx, SOD, CAT, DPPH scavenger), exercise-induced stress markers (testosterone and cortisol) and an inflammatory marker (TNF-a) were measured. All tests were two-sided and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The results showed that MDA and TNF-amean values significantly decreased after supplementation in both Athletes and Sedentary subjects: variation was greater in Athletes than in Sedentary control subjects. Generally, our results suggested that supplementation with n-3 PUFAs created a synergic variation in the parameters from a baseline state (T0) to a treated state after supplementation (T1), in terms of size and modality, which was significantly different in Athletes compared to Sedentary subjects.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “In conclusion, supplementation with about 4 g/day of n-3 PUFAs, rich in EPA and DHA, for 8 weeks, seemed to be effective in counteracting some parameters involved in oxidative stress and inflammation, induced by acute strenuous physical exercise.”

Eating foods that promote inflammation may worsen heart failure

University of Kentucky, December 2, 2020

People with heart failure who eat a diet high in foods that cause inflammation are twice as likely to end up in the hospital or die as those who eat foods known to reduce inflammation, new research shows.

“If people with heart failure can reduce the amount of pro-inflammatory foods that they eat, it might help with their survival,” said lead researcher JungHee Kang, a nursing research assistant and Ph.D. student at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

Diet has been shown to play a role in regulating inflammation, which is associated with many chronic illnesses, including heart disease. Diets high in foods such as red meat, refined grains and high-fat dairy products have been shown to increase inflammation, while foods such as olive oil, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables have been shown to lower it.

Kang looked at data from a previous study in which her team asked 213 heart failure patients to keep diaries of what they ate for four days. They then categorized the diets using an index that scores foods based on whether they increase or decrease inflammation. After following participants for a year, they found those whose diets had higher inflammatory scores were more than twice as likely to die or be hospitalized compared to those whose diets had lower inflammatory scores.

The results were presented at the American Heart Association’s virtual Scientific Sessions earlier this month. The research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

“It’s well known that diet plays a critically important role in the development of heart disease and stroke,” said Dr. Amit Khera, professor of medicine and director of the preventive cardiology program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. “This is a reminder that diet is important. The only surprise to me was the magnitude of the effect.”

Khera said the study also was important because it looked specifically at heart failure outcomes, whereas previous diet studies focused more on heart attacks and strokes. According to AHA statistics, an estimated 6.2 million U.S. adults have heart failure, which occurs when the heart doesn’t pump enough blood and oxygen to support the other organs in the body.

Many diets that are considered heart-healthy “have more in common than they do differences,” said Khera, an author of AHA and American College of Cardiology guidelines for preventing cardiovascular disease.

For example, the Mediterranean diet, which describes an eating pattern common in countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, includes olive oil as a primary fat source, a lot of fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, nuts and seeds and low amounts of dairy products, eggs, fish and poultry. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, meanwhile, was designed to help lower blood pressure. It also includes a lot of vegetables, fruits and whole grains and limits foods high in saturated fats. But the DASH diet allows more protein from low-fat dairy, meat and poultry.

The guidelines recommend plant-based and Mediterranean eating patterns, while limiting processed meats, refined carbohydrates, cholesterol, sodium and sweetened drinks.

“There’s a lot of overlap,” Khera said. “It’s like a Venn diagram. The sweet spot is in the middle.”

What’s needed now, Kang said, is research to confirm whether anti-inflammatory diets can be used to reduce heart failure mortality.

Cinnamon compound reduces amyloid beta pathogenesis in of Alzheimer disease

Kyung Hee University (South Korea), December 1, 2020

According to news originating from Seoul, South Korea, research stated, “Abnormal amyloid-b (Ab) accumulation is the most significant feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Among the several secretases involved in the generation of Ab, b-secretase (BACE1) is the first rate-limiting enzyme in Ab production that can be utilized to prevent the development of Ab-related pathologies.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Kyung Hee University, “Cinnamon extract, used in traditional medicine, was shown to inhibit the aggregation of tau protein and Ab aggregation. However, the effect of trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA), the main component of cinnamon, on Ab deposition is unknown. Five-month-old 5XFAD mice were treated with TCA for eight weeks. Seven-month-old 5XFAD mice were evaluated for cognitive and spatial memory function. Brain samples collected at the conclusion of the treatment were assessed by immunofluorescence and biochemical analyses. Additional in vivo experiments were conducted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effect of TCA in the role of Ab deposition. TCA treatment led to improvements in cognitive impairment and reduced Ab deposition in the brains of 5XFAD mice. Interestingly, the levels of BACE1 were decreased, whereas the mRNA and protein levels of three well-known regulators of BACE1, silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor g (PPARg) coactivator 1a (PGC1a), and PPARg, were increased in TCA-treated 5XFAD mice.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “TCA led to an improvement in AD pathology by reducing BACE1 levels through the activation of the SIRT1-PGC1a-PPARg pathway, suggesting that TCA might be a useful therapeutic approach in AD.”

Reiki Improves Heart Attack Outcomes, Yale Study Confirms

Yale University Medical School, December 3, 2020

Researchers from Yale University’s School of Medicine have contributed compelling evidence supporting Reiki, a Japanese technique for relaxation, as a safe adjunct therapy in the days following a heart attack.

Although published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology more than a decade ago, in September 2010, this groundbreaking study laid the groundwork for a path to legitimizing energy work among the conventional medical establishment.

When an individual suffers a cardiac arrest, the largest predictor of a successful outcome is heart rate variability.[i] Heart rate variability (HRV) is the time between heart beats, a key indicator of overall health, signaling both the patient’s cardiovascular fitness and how well their body is handling the stress of being unwell.

Heart rate variability reflects the interplay between the autonomic nervous system (ANS), responsible for unconscious processes within your body such as heartbeat and respiration, and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), responsible for functions like sleep and digestion. Within a conventional hospital setting, this reading is often done with an EKG, or electrocardiogram, machine.

When a patient experiences a myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, the sudden loss of blood flow to the heart can damage or destroy cardiac tissue and impair functioning of the ANS, an effect that is detected in the patient’s HRV readings.

Factors related to the PNS, such as how well a patient is resting and digesting food, also affect heart rate, making HRV highly reflective of the patient’s likelihood of a successful recovery.

Heart Rate Variability: A Marker of Health

In this randomized controlled study, researchers explored the viability of Reiki as a nonpharmacologic adjunct therapy to improve HRV and long-term prognosis for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). ACS is a blanket diagnosis for a range of conditions related to sudden reduced blood flow to the heart, thus heart attack is a symptom of ACS.

Reiki is a simple and easily learned practice of “laying on hands” with the intent to heal.[ii] Practitioners tap into universal life force energy, which is inherent in the cosmos, and transfer it to the patient by serving as an energy conduit. Performed in conjunction with Reiki-trained nurses on cardiac units at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut, participants in this study were inpatients who were within 72 hours of a myocardial infarction event.

The study’s chief aim was to determine whether the relaxation benefits of Reiki could help improve HRV by easing a patient’s stress about their health condition. Stress is a known contributing factor to heart disease[iii] as well as a common side-effect of hospitalization. Stress makes the body less resilient overall and puts the patient at risk for a second cardiac event.

Reiki Harnesses Life Force Energy to Aid Healing

Of 229 patients screened, 49 met the study criteria and were randomized to receive either Reiki, a classical music intervention or bed rest, as a control. Patients’ HRV measurements were taken at baseline, and a 10-point query regarding emotional state was administered. All patients underwent continuous electrocardiographic monitoring via a small, battery-operated EKG device.

Throughout the study period, patients remained in their beds and a quiet environment was maintained. Resting control group patients received no additional stress-relieving intervention. Classical music group patients were played meditative musical selections with tempos slower than a normal resting heart rate. Slow-tempo music is known to decrease heart rate, blood pressure and catecholamines, a hormone made by the adrenal glands.[iv]

For the Reiki group, a Reiki-trained clinical nurse performed a 20-minute energy healing session by placing his or her hands lightly on the subject’s head and torso in seven standardized, noninvasive positions. Reiki was performed only once within the 72-hour period. HRV measurements were repeated, as was the 10-point emotional state assessment. The baseline and final readings were then compared for all three groups.

Reiki Improves Physical and Emotional States, Post-Heart Attack

Results of the study showed that patients who received a 20-minute Reiki treatment within three days of suffering a heart attack experienced improved heart rate variability and mood enhancement as compared to the rest-only and music intervention groups. There were no adverse events associated with Reiki treatment.

The 10-point emotional assessment rated both positive emotions (happy, relaxed, calm) and negative emotions (stressed, angry, sad, frustrated, worried, scared, anxious). Reiki treatment improved all positive emotional states and reduced all negative emotional states.

Across the three treatment groups, the Reiki group showed the most significant positive emotional change, while the resting control had the least positive emotional change, with music intermediate. The mean HRV value increased significantly from baseline in the Reiki group. Mean HRV did not appreciably change in the control group and was decreased slightly overall in the music control group.

The magnitude of Reiki’s effect on heart rate variability was similar to that of propranolol,[v] a commonly prescribed beta-blocker drug used to treat heart problems and help with anxiety. This study demonstrates that Reiki is a safe, viable intervention for cardiac patients in acute-care settings.

The study authors pointed out that, with proper training, this healing modality can be applied by nurses as part of standard hospital care, without additional cost or disruption of the nurses’ workday. They have called for further study on the mechanisms involved in Reiki’s impact on autonomic activity in order to more fully understand the value this innovative treatment can provide.

Reiki Therapy: Safe, Relaxing, Effective

Reiki therapy has a relatively brief history of use as a modern healing intervention. Studied since the mid-2000s, Reiki has delivered demonstrable benefits for sufferers of a variety of health problems.

A 2020 study on women in hospital for obstetric and gynecological conditionsreported that both pain and anxiety levels decreased following a Reiki session, and that those effects were long-lasting for 91 of 101 respondents.[vi] Other studies support the use of Reiki as a form of pain management, including for postoperative pain.[vii]

Since Reiki works to soothe and regulate the nervous system, there are virtually no limits on how or when this safe and accessible therapy can be applied. This includes if you are single or in self-isolation and have no means of accessing a qualified Reiki practitioner.

Self-Reiki has been scientifically validated in a 2015 trial on college students seeking ways to better manage stress. After receiving training on how to self-administer Reiki, there was a significant reduction in stress levels from pre-study to post-study. Of the 20 students who participated in the study, 18 felt that self-Reiki was a viable stress-reduction method by the end of the trial.

Canola oil linked to worsened memory and learning ability in Alzheimer’s

School of Medicine at Temple University, December 7, 2020

Canola oil is one of the most widely consumed vegetable oils in the world, yet surprisingly little is known about its effects on health. Now, a new study published online in the journal Scientific Reports by researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) associates the consumption of canola oil in the diet with worsened memory, worsened learning ability and weight gain in mice which model Alzheimer’s disease. The study is the first to suggest that canola oil is more harmful than healthful for the brain.“Canola oil is appealing because it is less expensive than other vegetable oils, and it is advertised as being healthy,” explained Domenico Praticò, MD, Professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Microbiology and Director of the Alzheimer’s Center at LKSOM, as well as senior investigator on the study. “Very few studies, however, have examined that claim, especially in terms of the brain.”Curious about how canola oil affects brain function, Dr. Praticò and Elisabetta Lauretti, a graduate student in Dr. Pratico’s laboratory at LKSOM and co-author on the new study, focused their work on memory impairment and the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in an Alzheimer’s disease mouse model. Amyloid plaques and phosphorylated tau, which is responsible for the formation of tau neurofibrillary tangles, contribute to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration and memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease. The animal model was designed to recapitulate Alzheimer’s in humans, progressing from an asymptomatic phase in early life to full-blown disease in aged animals.Dr. Praticò and Lauretti had previously used the same mouse model in an investigation of olive oil, the results of which were published earlier in 2017. In that study, they found that Alzheimer mice fed a diet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil had reduced levels of amyloid plaques and phosphorylated tau and experienced memory improvement. For their latest work, they wanted to determine whether canola oil is similarly beneficial for the brain.The researchers started by dividing the mice into two groups at six months of age, before the animals developed signs of Alzheimer’s disease. One group was fed a normal diet, while the other was fed a diet supplemented with the equivalent of about two tablespoons of canola oil daily.

The researchers then assessed the animals at 12 months. One of the first differences observed was in body weight – animals on the canola oil-enriched diet weighed significantly more than mice on the regular diet. Maze tests to assess working memory, short-term memory, and learning ability uncovered additional differences. Most significantly, mice that had consumed canola oil over a period of six months suffered impairments in working memory.

Examination of brain tissue from the two groups of mice revealed that canola oil-treated animals had greatly reduced levels of amyloid beta 1-40. Amyloid beta 1-40 is the more soluble form of the amyloid beta proteins. It generally is considered to serve a beneficial role in the brain and acts as a buffer for the more harmful insoluble form, amyloid beta 1-42.

As a result of decreased amyloid beta 1-40, animals on the canola oil diet further showed increased formation of amyloid plaques in the brain, with neurons engulfed in amyloid beta 1-42. The damage was accompanied by a significant decrease in the number of contacts between neurons, indicative of extensive synapse injury. Synapses, the areas where neurons come into contact with one another, play a central role in memory formation and retrieval.

“Amyloid beta 1-40 neutralizes the actions of amyloid 1-42, which means that a decrease in 1-40, like the one observed in our study, leaves 1-42 unchecked,” Dr. Praticò explained. “In our model, this change in ratio resulted in considerable neuronal damage, decreased neural contacts, and memory impairment.”

The findings suggest that long-term consumption of canola oil is not beneficial to brain health. “Even though canola oil is a vegetable oil, we need to be careful before we say that it is healthy,” Dr. Praticò said. “Based on the evidence from this study, canola oil should not be thought of as being equivalent to oils with proven health benefits.”

The next step is to carry out a study of shorter duration to determine the minimum extent of exposure necessary to produce observable changes in the ratio of amyloid beta 1-42 to 1-40 in the brain and alter synapse connections. A longer study may be warranted in order to determine whether canola oil also eventually impacts tau phosphorylation, since no effects on tau were observed over the six-month exposure period.

“We also want to know whether the negative effects of canola oil are specific for Alzheimer’s disease,” Dr. Praticò added. “There is a chance that the consumption of canola oil could also affect the onset and course of other neurodegenerative diseases or other forms of dementia.”

Trial finds beneficial cognitive effect for modest amount of DHA in healthy older Japanese

Shimane University (Japan), December 3, 2020

According to news reporting originating from Shimane, Japan, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Recent approaches to the management of dementia have focused mainly on continual preventive treatment. In this study, we investigated whether intake of 297 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 137 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) per day, which is a smaller amount than in previous reports, would maintain higher cognitive function in healthy elderly people.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from Shimane University, “Eighty-seven participants were enrolled in this 12-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Cognitive function test, blood biochemical analysis and anthropometry were conducted at baseline, 6 and 12 months of DHA beverage intake. Intake of DHA-enriched milk beverage for 6 and 12 months significantly increased erythrocyte plasma membrane DHA and EPA levels. Furthermore, intake of DHA-enriched milk beverage for 12 months protected against age-related cognitive decline. The preventive mechanism of this small amount of DHA is not known.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Thus, further investigation is needed to reveal the mechanism underlying its role in cognitive function.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

What Are the Benefits of Moringa Oleifera?

GreenMedInfo, November 5th 2020

Moringa oleifera is a traditional plant celebrated for its range of health uses, from treating skin disorders to curbing disease-causing inflammation. Here’s a closer look at this plant, of which leaf extracts show the highest antioxidant activity of all its parts

Moringa oleifera is a plant with benefits and therapeutic uses that have withstood the test of time and in fact have been hailed for thousands of years.

Chock-full of healthy antioxidants and plant compounds, this large tree is native to North India and known by names such as drumstick tree, ben oil tree and horseradish tree. Nearly all of its parts are consumed or used for herbal medicines, particularly the leaves and pods that are a dietary staple in parts of India and Africa.[i]

There are numerous bioactive components found in moringa, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, isothiocyanates, tannins and saponins, all present in considerable amounts in different parts of the plant.[ii]

Moringa leaves, for instance, provide many vitamins and minerals. A single cup of fresh, chopped leaves, or 21 grams (g), contains 2 g of protein, 19% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin B6, 12% of the RDA for vitamin C, and 11% of the RDA for iron and riboflavin (vitamin B2).[iii] Moringa has a wide range of health benefits that range from skin care to disease prevention and treatment. Here are some of the highlights.

Moringa Provides Antioxidant Protection

Moringa’s leaf extracts show the highest antioxidant activity of all of its parts, with different animal studies highlighting their high degree of safety.[iv] The leaf extracts may also be used as a natural food preservative, increasing the shelf life of meat through reduced oxidation.[v]

Its high antioxidant content makes moringa well-positioned to fight free radicals in the body. These free radicals may cause oxidative stress, which has been linked to chronic conditions such as heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.[vi]

Women taking 7 g, or 1.5 teaspoons (tsp), of moringa leaf powder daily for three months also significantly increased their blood antioxidant levels.[vii]

In a study, its leaf extract modulated oxidative stress, toxicity, sperm changes and testicular damage induced by a synthetic opioid in animal models.[viii] It also lowered high blood pressure by easing vascular dysfunction and reducing oxidative stress in hypertensive rats.[ix]

Moringa May Prevent Inflammation

While it is the body’s natural response to infection or injury, inflammation may occur for a prolonged period of time and cause chronic health problems, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.[x],[xi] In guinea pigs, moringa leaves prevented hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammation by inhibiting the expression of genes involved in fat metabolism.[xii]

Through its role in altering gut bacteria composition, the plant may also effectively regulate weight gain and inflammation.[xiii] In an animal study, those given a high-fat diet showed significantly reduced intestinal levels of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli bacteria, along with increased weight and other markers.

When treated with moringa, their body weight, interleukin 6, and both bacteria levels were significantly restored.[xiv] With its ability to help reduce weight gain, insulin resistance and hepatic gluconeogenesis in studied mice, moringa may be effective in helping to prevent as well as reverse obesity and Type 2 diabetes.[xv]

Moringa May Treat Skin Disorders

Moringa is traditionally used to effectively treat inflammatory conditions as well as skin diseases. A preliminary study showed that fermented moringa leaves reduced the clinical features of atopic dermatitis based on macrography, scratching count and severity scores, as well as the animal subjects’ serum IgE level.[xvi]

Separate research concluded that parts of the plant seeds regulated the expression of Th17-relevant cytokines and improved psoriasis-like skin lesions in animal models.[xvii]“To our knowledge, this is the first report regarding the mechanism and therapeutic application of seeds to treat psoriasis-like lesions in vivo,” the researchers noted.

Moringa leaves also appeared as an alternative therapy to treat skin cancer, with previous studies indicating their anticancer activity against a variety of cell lines.[xviii]

Moringa May Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease

Due to its high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, moringa has been evaluated in studies for its potential to fight Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology in animal models. In Alzheimer’s, naturally occurring phytochemicals with the properties mentioned above could be a useful adjunct to treatment.[xix]

The brain’s monoaminergic systems, which play a role in memory processing, are disturbed in Alzheimer’s cases. Moringa was shown in a separate study to exert its effects in the central nervous system by altering the hormones norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin.[xx]

According to its results, brain monoamines were altered discreetly in various brain areas in a rat model of Alzheimer’s disease.[xxi] After moringa treatment, those levels in brain regions were restored to near-control levels, indicating potential protection by altering brain monoamine levels and electrical activity.

Blackcurrants are favorable for glucose metabolism

University of Eastern Finland, December 4, 2020

Blackcurrants have a beneficial effect on post-meal glucose response, and the required portion size is much smaller than previously thought, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows.

Blackcurrants have a beneficial effect on the blood glucose response after a meal. They balance the glucose response of ingested sugar by attenuating its rise and delaying its fall. The effect is likely associated with berry-derived polyphenolic compounds, anthocyanins, which are rich in blackcurrants.

The beneficial health effect of blackcurrants was supported by a recent study conducted at the University of Eastern Finland. In the clinical meal study (Maqua) the beneficial effect on postprandial glucose response was achieved by 75 g (1.5 dL) of blackcurrants, a remarkably smaller portion size than in earlier studies. Blackcurrants are often consumed with added sugar because of their natural sourness, which may be a cause of concern for health-conscious consumers. However, it seems that sugar consumed with blackcurrants is not as unhealthy as sugar consumed without berries.

The study was conducted in collaboration between the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Eastern Finland and Savonia University of Applied Sciences by utilizing the regional Food Valley ecosystem.

Berries are an important component of a healthy diet, being rich in vitamins, minerals, dietary fibre and polyphenols. So far, however, the EU has not authorised health claims for berries. In recent years, there have been many studies monitoring the effects of berries on glucose metabolism, with the dark berries, such as blackcurrant and bilberry, having the most convincing results. Black-coloured berries, rich in anthocyanins, seem to attenuate the blood glucose response to added sugar, compared to a control product having the same amount of sugar. The same effect is demonstrated by anthocyanins extracted from blackcurrants. Polyphenolic compounds may slow down the absorption of glucose from the small intestine by interacting with carbohydrate-digesting enzymes and glucose transport proteins. In addition, polyphenolic compounds may reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.

In the Maqua study, 26 healthy participants (22 female, 4 male) consumed three different test products and sugar water as a control product at four separate study visits. The test products were a blackcurrant purée with added sugar, a blackcurrant product containing fermented quinoa, and a blackcurrant product base without blackcurrants. Each of them and the control product contained 31 g of available carbohydrates and had a similar composition of sugar components. Blood samples were taken before the meals in fasting state and postprandially in 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes after consuming the meal, and analysed for glucose, insulin, and free fatty acids.

Compared to sugar water, both blackcurrant products had attenuated postprandial glycaemic response, which was seen in reduced maximum glucose and insulin, delayed fall of glucose, and delayed rise of free fatty acids because of hypoglycaemia. The effect was enhanced for the blackcurrant product because of the innovative product base. The results support earlier findings on the beneficial effects of blackcurrant on blood glucose response after a meal, showing the effect with a smaller portion size. Over a longer period of time, smaller variations in the blood glucose and insulin levels, and improved insulin sensitivity, may decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Blackcurrants are an interesting raw material for the food industry because of their high content of anthocyanins and easy availability. Blackcurrants have potential for being developed into new healthy and tasty products.

Exploring the beneficial effects of Rhodiola rosea and Panax ginseng on metabolic parameters

University of Marilia (Brazil), December 4, 2020

In this study, researchers at the University of Marilia in Brazil evaluated the effects of Rhodiola rosea (rose root) and Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) on metabolic profile and muscle damage parameters. Their findings were published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

Adaptogen-based formulations have been used not only in traditional medicine but also in medical practice to increase the resistance of individuals.
R. rosea (RR) and P. ginseng (PG) have adaptogenic properties and are reported to help with restoring homeostasis and strengthening systems impaired by stress.
Using rats that were made to swim, the researchers assessed the effects of R. rosea and P. ginseng treatments on the animals’ metabolic profiles and muscle damage parameters.
They first divided the rats into six groups: G1, or the control group; G2, or the untreated swimming group; G3, or the PG-treated group; G4, or the PG-treated swimming group; P5, or the RR-treated group; and P6,or the RR-treated swimming group.
At the end of the experiment, the researchers reported that G2, G4, and G6 practiced swimming five times longer than they did 30 days prior to treatment.
Treatment with either RR of PG did not cause significant changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters.
On the other hand, PG- and RR-treated rats experienced reductions in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that R. rosea and P. ginseng can minimize stress caused by exercise and improve physical performance.

Less sedentary time reduces heart failure risk for older women

University of Buffalo – SUNY, November 24, 2020

Even with regular physical activity, older women (ages 50-79) who spend more waking hours in sedentary behaviors, such as sitting or lying down, have an increased risk of heart failure serious enough to require hospitalization, according to new research published today in Circulation: Heart Failure.

“For heart failure prevention, we need to promote taking frequent breaks from prolonged sitting or lying down, in addition to trying to achieve guideline levels of physical activity, such as those recommended by the American Heart Association,” said Michael J. LaMonte, Ph.D., M.P.H., lead author of the study and research associate professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health and Health Professions at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. “Very few studies have been published on sedentary time and heart failure risk, and even fewer have focused on older women in whom both sedentary behavior and heart failure are quite common.”

To determine if increased sedentary time raised the risk of increased heart failure in older women, researchers examined the records of almost 81,000 postmenopausal women (average age of 63 years) from the Women’s Health Initiative (Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study). Women participating self-reported the amount of time spent daily, while awake, either sitting, lying down or being physically active.

Researchers divided participants by the total daily sedentary time (sitting and lying down combined): 6.5 hours or less; 6.6-9.5 hours; and more than 9.5 hours. Total number of daily hours spent sitting for each participant was also itemized: 4.5 hours or less; 4.6-8.5 hours; and more than 8.5 hours. None of the participants had been diagnosed with heart failure when the study began, and all were able to walk the distance of at least one block without any assistance.

During an average of 9 years of follow-up, 1,402 women were hospitalized due to heart failure. Compared with women who reported spending less than 6.5 hours per day sitting or lying down, the risk of heart failure hospitalization was:

15% higher in women reporting 6.6-9.5 hours daily spent sitting or lying down; and
42% higher in women reporting more than 9.5 hours daily spent sitting or lying down.

Compared with women who reported sitting less than 4.5 hours a day, the risk of heart failure hospitalization was:

14% higher in women who sat between 4.6 and 8.5 hours each day; and
54% higher in women who sat more than 8.5 hours a day.

“These findings are consistent with other studies confirming that people with more daily sedentary time are more likely to develop chronic health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and premature death from heart disease and other causes,” LaMonte said.

The association between sedentary time and heart failure hospitalization risk remained after accounting for known heart failure risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and previous heart attack. An important finding in this study was that the association between more sedentary time and a higher risk of heart failure hospitalization was found even in the subgroup of women who were the most physically active and meeting recommended activity levels.

“Our message is simple: sit less and move more. Historically, we have emphasized promoting a physically active lifestyle for heart health—and we should continue to do so! However, our study clearly shows that we also need to increase efforts to reduce daily sedentary time and encourage adults to frequently interrupt their sedentary time. This does not necessarily require an extended bout of physical activity; it might simply be standing up for 5 minutes or standing and moving one’s feet in place. We do not have sufficient evidence on the best approach to recommend for interrupting sedentary time. However, accumulating data suggest that habitual activities such as steps taken during household and other activities of daily living are an important aspect of cardiovascular disease prevention and healthy aging,” said LaMonte.

Although the analysis only included postmenopausal women, the findings are similar to those reported in a multiethnic study of men in California and are likely to be generalizable to men. Because the study was observational, it cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship between sedentary time and heart failure risk. The study was limited by assessing hours of sedentary time via questionnaire rather than a wearable device to track movement. Researchers do note that they were able to find a significantly elevated risk of heart failure even after statistically controlling for confounding factors, which raises their confidence in the accuracy of the direction and magnitude of association measured.

Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of having another heart attack

University of Cordoba and Queen Sofia University (Spain), December 2, 2020

Heart disease is the main cause of death in developed countries. There is evidence that shows that factors related to lifestyle, such as diet, have an influence on developing these kinds of diseases. But, do they have any effect on patients who are already ill?

A team from the University of Córdoba, Queen Sofia University Hospital and the Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC) has published a study in PLOS Medicine. This study compares the effects of two different healthy diets on the endotheliem, the walls that cover the arteries. 1002 patients who had previously had an acute myocardial infarction took part in the study and were monitored over the course of a year.

The research group had previously worked on a similar study with healthy patients, however, this is the first time it has been done with ill patients, who are more likely to have other heart attacks. “The degree of endothelial damage predicts the occurrence of future cardiovascular events, as in acute myocardial infarctions. If we can take action at the inital stages, prompting endothelium regeneration and better endothelial function, we can help to prevent heart attacks and heart disease from reoccurring”, explains José López Miranda, researcher on the study and coordinator of the “Nutritional Genomics and Metabolic Syndrome” research group at the Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba, made up of researchers belonging to the Internal Medicine Clinical Management Unit at Queen Sofia University Hospital, to the University of Córdoba (UCO) and to CIBERobn, the Online Biomedical Research Centre for Obesity and Nutrition.

During the study, half of the patients were told to follow a Mediterranean diet, based on using plenty of virgin olive oil, eating fruit and vegetables every day, and having three servings of legumes, three of fish and three of nuts a week. In addition, they were told to cut down on eating meat, especially red meat, and to avoid additional fats such as margarine and butter as well as food that is high in sugar.

In contrast, the other group was told to follow a low-fat diet, based on limiting all kinds of fat, both animal and plant, and increasing their intake of complex carbohydrates. They were told to cut down on red meat, to choose low-fat dairy products, to avoid eating nuts and to reduce their intake of sweets and pastries.

In the first place, the vasodilation capacity that the patients’ arteries had was analyzed, which is very important in order to adapt to different circumstances, like exercise or stressful situations. Secondly, the degree of permanent endothelium damage was assessed. Lastly, the reparation ability of the arteries by means of endothelial progenitor cells, or stem cells, was measured.

“We observed that the Mediterranean diet model induced better endothelial function, meaning that the arteries were more flexible in adapting to different situations in which greater blood flow is required. Besides, the endothelium’s ability to regenerate was better and we detected a drastic reduction in damage to the endothelium, even in patients at severe risk”, explains José López Miranda.

Though the Mediterranean diet, rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, had already been proven to be a good strategy in order to improve endothelial function in overweight patients as well as patients with high cholesterol, this is the first time that the benefits of following a Mediterranean diet have been shown among patients with heart disease, helping them to reduce the likelihood of having another heart attack.

Meta-analysis indicates saffron may help improve mild cognitive impairment and dementia

Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (Iran), December 4, 2020

According to news originating from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, “Saffron (stigma of Crocus sativus L.) from Iridaceae family is a well-known traditional herbal medicine that has been used for hundreds of years to treat several diseases such as depressive mood, cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Recently, anti-dementia property of saffron has been indicated.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences: “However, the effects of saffron for the management of dementia remain controversial. The aim of the present study is to explore the effectiveness and safety of saffron in treating mild cognitive impairment and dementia. An electronic database search of some major English and Chinese databases was conducted until 31st May 2019 to identify relevant randomised clinical trials (RCT). The primary outcome was cognitive function and the secondary outcomes included daily living function, global clinical assessment, quality of life (QoL), psychiatric assessment and safety. Rev-Man 5.3 software was applied to perform the meta-analyses. A total of four RCTs were included in this review. The analysis revealed that saffron significantly improves cognitive function measured by the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale-Sums of Boxes (CDR-SB), compared to placebo groups. In addition, there was no significant difference between saffron and conventional medicine, as measured by cognitive scales such as ADAS-cog and CDR-SB. Saffron improved daily living function, but the changes were not statistically significant. No serious adverse events were reported in the included studies.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Saffron may have the potential to improve cognitive function and activities of daily living in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, due to limited high-quality studies there is insufficient evidence to make any recommendations for clinical use. Further clinical trials on larger sample sizes are warranted to shed more light on its efficacy and safety.”

Study finds benefits for CoQ10 supplementation in diabetic kidney disease patients

Kashan University of Medical Sciences (Iran), December 5, 2020

Life Extension Update reports findings from a recent randomized trial that revealed a benefit for supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in participants with diabetic nephropathy, a progressive kidney disease that occurs in approximately 30% of diabetics. “Diabetic nephropathy is associated with several metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress,” authors Tahereh Gholnari and colleagues write. “CoQ10 supplementation due to the effect on glucose metabolism may be useful to control severity of diabetic nepphropathy disease and decrease insulin requirement.”

CoQ10 supplementation improves glucose metabolism, oxidative stress and AGEs levels in patients with diabetic kidney disease

A randomized, double-blind trial reported in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition resulted in improvement in aspects of glucose metabolism as well as a decrease in oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products among individuals with diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage caused by diabetes) who received daily supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) compared to those who received a placebo.

“Decreased insulin sensitivity and hyperinsulinemia in subjects with chronic renal failure (CRF) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, hypertriglyceridemia, arterial hypertension, and increased insulin requirement,” Tahereh Gholnari and colleagues write. “Therefore, CoQ10 supplementation due to the effect on glucose metabolism may be useful to control severity of diabetic nepphropathy disease and decrease insulin requirement.”

The trial included 50 participants with diabetic nephropathy who received 100 milligrams (mg) CoQ10 per day or a placebo for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples collected before and after the treatment period were analyzed for serum insulin, hemoglobin A1C, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA, a marker of lipid peroxidation) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs, which are proteins or fats that become glycated during exposure to glucose, which can damage tissue).

At the end of the trial, participants who received CoQ10 had lower serum insulin, less insulin resistance, less oxidative stress as indicated by lower MDA levels, and lower levels of AGEs compared to levels measured before treatment. In contrast, the placebo group failed to experience improvements in these factors.

“We found that CoQ10 supplementation for 12 weeks among diabetic nephropathy patients had favorable effects on glucose metabolism, MDA, and AGEs levels,” the authors conclude. “To our knowledge, this study is the first evaluating the effects of CoQ10 supplementation on metabolic status in subjects with diabetic nephropathy.”

Trial finds beneficial cognitive effect for modest amount of DHA in healthy older Japanese

Shimane University (Japan), December 3, 2020

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Thus, further investigation is needed to reveal the mechanism underlying its role in cognitive function.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

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Health and Corona News 12.06.20 - 12.12.20

Study can orient use of melatonin in the treatment of breast cancer

Herbal amentoflavone protects against cell-disrupting bacterial toxin

Youth depression tied to higher risk of 66 diseases and premature death

New compound related to psychedelic plant Iboga could treat addiction, depression

Study findings suggest omega 3 fatty acids as add-on therapy for periodontitis

Increased social media use linked to developing depression, research finds

Astaxanthin shows potential for inhibition of breast cancer

Melatonin: finally, a supplement that actually boosts memory

Aloe vera found to be more effective against diabetic complications than conventional medicine

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that aloe vera can be used to prevent diabetes-induced nephropathy, thanks to its hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties.

Study details how aerobic exercise reverses degenerative process that leads to metabolic diseases

Possible bittersweet effects of stevia uncovered by researchers

How poor oral hygiene may result in metabolic syndrome

New study finds fish oil omega-3s EPA and DHA work differently on chronic inflammation

Genistein inhibits migration and invasion of cervical cancer cells by regulating signaling pathways

Glycine supplementation could help improve NAFLD

First meta-analysis shows promise for yoga, meditation, mindfulness in concussion

Study Shows Strawberries Might Help Combat Osteoarthritis

Weekly folic acid boost shows potential to halve birth defects

University of British Columbia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, University of Adelaide, December 7, 2020

Review adds evidence to ability of antioxidants to reduce severity and slow progression of neurodegenerative diseases

Omega 3 supplementation decreases oxidative stress and inflammation in athletes: a pilot study

University of Pavia (Italy), December 2, 2020

Eating foods that promote inflammation may worsen heart failure

Cinnamon compound reduces amyloid beta pathogenesis in of Alzheimer disease

Kyung Hee University (South Korea), December 1, 2020

Reiki Improves Heart Attack Outcomes, Yale Study Confirms

Canola oil linked to worsened memory and learning ability in Alzheimer’s

Trial finds beneficial cognitive effect for modest amount of DHA in healthy older Japanese

Shimane University (Japan), December 3, 2020

What Are the Benefits of Moringa Oleifera?

Blackcurrants are favorable for glucose metabolism

Exploring the beneficial effects of Rhodiola rosea and Panax ginseng on metabolic parameters

Less sedentary time reduces heart failure risk for older women

Mediterranean diet reduces the risk of having another heart attack

Meta-analysis indicates saffron may help improve mild cognitive impairment and dementia

Study finds benefits for CoQ10 supplementation in diabetic kidney disease patients

Trial finds beneficial cognitive effect for modest amount of DHA in healthy older Japanese

Shimane University (Japan), December 3, 2020