Health & Corona News 4/27-5/3 UPDATED DAILY

Lemon balm helps improve gut motility, says research

Bretagne Loire University (France), April 30, 2020

Melissa officinalis, more commonly known as lemon balm, is a culinary herb known for its lemon scent. It belongs to the mint (Lamiaceae) family and is native to Europe, West Asia and South Africa. Besides its many uses in the kitchen, lemon balm is also well-suited for various medicinal purposes. In fact, this herb has long been used in traditional medicine for relieving stomach-related complaints, improving mood and enhancing cognitive performance.

Despite its widespread use, particularly for treating digestive disorder, very little is known about how lemon balm affects the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Hence French researchers decided to determine the herb’s mechanism of action by testing it on different segments of the GI tract of mice. They also determined the chemical composition of lemon balm. They reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

Lemon balm is a natural antispasmodic

According to the researchers, the European Medicines Agency acknowledges lemon balm as a natural remedy for the symptomatic treatment of mild GI complaints, such as bloating and flatulence. The European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy, meanwhile, recognizes the herb as a valid treatment for symptoms of digestive disorders, such as minor spasms.

Research suggests that functional disorders that affect the GI tract mainly have something to do with motility and acid production. However, while numerous studies have explored lemon balm’s decades-long use as a digestive remedy, its effects on gut motility is scarcely documented. The few reports that exist on the subject are also often contradictory.

Upon reviewing these studies, the researchers found that their results were influenced by various factors, such as the parts of the gut used for testing, the species from which the gut specimens were extracted and the extract used. In particular, the researchers noted that most of the studies used lemon balm extract that is a constituent of a marketed fixed combination of nine herbal extracts.

Hence for their study, the researchers obtained a hydroethanolic leaf extract (HLE) from fresh lemon balm, which they used for their experiment. They tested this extract on different segments of the GI tract of mice. They also analyzed the phytochemical content of the HLE to identify which compound is responsible for its beneficial effects.

The researchers reported that the HLE had site- and dose-dependent effects on the contractile activity of the GI tract. Specifically, the HLE influenced the motility response in the jejunum, the middle segment of the small intestine where nutrients from food are absorbed, and the ileum, the last part of the small intestine that connects it to the large intestine. The HLE, however, had no effect on the antrum, the lower part of the stomach that holds broken-down food, and the colon.

On the other hand, chemical analysis of the HLE suggested that lemon balm’s effects on the intestines may be due to certain phenolic compounds, especially rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinic acid is commonly found in herbs from the mint family, such as rosemary and common sage. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of rosmarinic acid is said to be effective for asthma and allergic disorders like allergic rhinitis, otitis media, chemical sensitivity and other allergen-induced responses.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the spasmolytic properties of lemon balm are what helps it relieve symptoms of digestive disorders.

Calcium and vitamin D help maintain bone structure in older rats

Capital Medical University (China), April 28, 2020

According to news reporting out of Beijing, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “Senile osteoporosis (SOP) is a related disease of systematic degenerative changes in bones during natural aging. Increasing age is an important factor in its pathogenesis.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Capital Medical University, “This experiment was to evaluate the comprehensive effect of calcium with vitamin D3 (CaD) on SOP based on multilayer perception (MLP)-artificial neural network (ANN) methods. 15-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered CaD for 2 months, while 3-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 15-and 17-month-old rats were used as the mature or aging control groups. We detected the bone mass and bone mineral density (BMD), performed biomechanical testing and measured micro-CT properties to evaluate the degree of osteoporosis. Levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP), and the ratio of ALP to TRACP both in serum and bone were measured for the evaluation of the bone turnover rate. The bone mRNA and protein expression of ATP6v0d2, IGF-1, BMP2, M-CSF, Wnt5a and TGF-b1 were detected by western blotting (WB), immunofluorescence (IF) and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for evaluating bone metabolism in the bone microenvironment. The MLP-ANN model was constructed and used to evaluate the importance of related parameters and the comprehensive action of CaD. Our data showed that bone mass, BMD, maximal load, ultimate displacement, ALP and TRACP in serum and tibia, and the protein and mRNA expressions of ATP6v0d2, IGF-1, BMP2, M-CSF, Wnt5a and TGF-b1 in tibia reached a peak in 6 m rats, and then were gradually decreased with the increase of age to the lowest in 17 m rats. This study demonstrated the degeneration of the bone structure and bone metabolism in SOP rats during the aging process of rats aged 3 to 17 months. CaD could effectively increase bone mass and bone strength, alleviate the degradation of the bone microstructure and rebalance bone remodeling.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “In addition, the MLP model was a comprehensive method for evaluating the effects of drugs on SOP, which provided a new direction for future drug and nutrition evaluation.”

Link identified between dietary selenium and outcome of COVID-19 disease

University of Surrey (UK), April 29, 2020

An international team of researchers, led by Professor Margaret Rayman at the University of Surrey, has identified a link between the COVID-19 cure rate and regional selenium status in China.

Publishing their findings in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers using data (up to 18 February), investigated possible links between selenium levels in the body and cure or death rates of those with the COVID-19 virus in China.

Selenium is an essential trace element obtained from the diet (i.e. fish, meat and cereals) which has been found to affect the severity of a number of viral diseases in animals and humans. For example selenium status in those with HIV has been shown to be an important factor in the progression of the virus to AIDs and death from the condition. China is known to have populations that have both the lowest and highest selenium status in the world, due to geographical differences in the soil which affects how much of the trace element gets into the food chain.

Margaret Rayman, Professor of Nutritional Medicine at the University of Surrey, said; “Given the history of viral infections associated with selenium deficiency, we wondered whether the appearance of COVID-19 in China could possibly be linked to the belt of selenium deficiency that runs from the north-east to the south-west of the country.”

Examining data from provinces and municipalities with more than 200 cases and cities with more than 40 cases, researchers found that areas with high levels of selenium were more likely to recover from the virus. For example, in the city of Enshi in Hubei Province, which has the highest selenium intake in China, the cure rate (percentage of COVID-19 patients declared ‘cured’) was almost three-times higher than the average for all the other cities in Hubei Province. By contrast, in Heilongjiang Province, where selenium intake is among the lowest in the world, the death rate from COVID-19 was almost five-times as high as the average of all the other provinces outside of Hubei.

Most convincingly, the researchers found that the COVID-19 cure rate was significantly associated with selenium status, as measured by the amount of selenium in hair, in 17 cities outside of Hubei.

Kate Bennett, a medical statistician at the University of Surrey, said; “There is a significant link between selenium status and COVID-19 cure rate, however it is important not to overstate this finding; we have not been able to work with individual level data and have not been able to take account of other possible factors such as age and underlying disease.”

Ramy Saad, a doctor at Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, currently taking an MSc degree in Nutritional Medicine at the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Surrey, commented; “The correlation we have identified is compelling, particularly given previous research on selenium and infectious diseases. As such, a careful and thorough assessment of the role selenium may play in COVID-19 is certainly justified and may help to guide ongoing public-health decisions”.

Older adults enjoy the heart-healthy benefits of beetroot juice more than younger adults, study says

Massey University (New Zealand), April 30, 2020

A recent study showed that consumption of beetroot juice led to improved heart and brain functions in both young and old adults.

The study, published in Nutrients, also revealed that beetroot juice improved certain biomarkers for heart disease like plasma nitrite levels and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Beetroot juice as a heart-healthy beverage

Beetroot, a deep-red bulb vegetable native to many countries across Central and Eastern Europe, is an excellent source of nitrate, a type of compound that the body naturally produces. Nitrate plays an essential role in blood pressure control and blood circulation. It dilates constricted blood vessels, a key indicator of high blood pressure. Nitrate also increases brain blood flow, which can help delay cognitive decline and prevent dementia.

Several clinical trials on beetroot and beetroot juice consumption have proven the heart-healthy benefits of the vegetable. Often, these trials were conducted on individuals who were at risk of chronic diseases due to old age. For this reason, researchers from Massey University in New Zealand and Thai Union Group PCL, a Thailand-based food company, hypothesized that beetroot would provide a greater improvement in cardiovascular and cognitive functions in older adults than in younger adults.

To examine this hypothesis, the researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind crossover trial on 24 healthy and recreationally active participants who volunteered for the study. The participants were divided into two groups based on a set age range. Thirteen participants were aged 18 to 30, while 11 were between 50 to 70 years old. None of the participants smoked, exercised intensely, or had a history of a chronic disease like dementia and cardiovascular disease.

Participants were asked to visit the laboratory on three separate occasions. The first visit involved the collection of baseline measurements. For the second and third visits, each participant was randomly allocated either a 150 mL beetroot juice or placebo prior to a 30-minute treadmill walk. Prior to and after the consumption of either beetroot juice or placebo, the researchers collected each participant’s blood sample and recorded their blood pressure and heart rate.

Upon analysis, the researchers found that supplementation of beetroot juice significantly improved plasma levels in both age groups. However, they observed a greater increase in plasma in older adults than in younger adults. This finding suggests that nitrate supplementation may help minimize the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in later years.

The older adults also showed significant improvements in diastolic blood pressure compared to the younger adults, although the latter experienced improvements as well. However, beetroot juice supplementation caused no significant difference in terms of cognitive performance, mood and overall cognitive health. According to the researchers, the lack of difference may be due to the small sample size.

Coffee polyphenol ameliorates cognitive decline and reduces amyloid beta deposition in mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

KAO Corporation (Japan), April 28, 2020

According to news reporting originating in Tochigi, Japan, research stated, “The accumulation of amyloid beta (A beta) in the brain is a major pathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In our previous study, we demonstrated that coffee polyphenols (CPP) prevent cognitive dysfunction and A beta deposition in the brain of an APP/PS2 transgenic mouse AD model.”

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from KAO Corporation, “The underlying mechanisms, however, remain to be elucidated. Here, we investigated the effects of the chronic administration of 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), the most abundant component of CPP, on cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS2 mice to identify the role of CPP in A beta elimination. Relative to the untreated controls, the mice fed a 5-CQA-supplemented diet showed significant improvements in their cognitive function assessed by Y-maze and novel object recognition tests. Histochemical analysis revealed that 5-CQA substantially reduced A beta plaque formation and neuronal loss in the hippocampi. Moreover, 5-CQA upregulated the gene encoding low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1, an A beta efflux receptor, and normalized the perivascular localization of aquaporin 4, which facilitates A beta clearance along the paravascular pathway. These results suggest that 5-CQA reduces A beta deposition in the brain by modulating the A beta clearance pathways and ameliorating cognitive decline and neuronal loss in APP/PS2 mice.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Thus, 5-CQA may be effective in preventing cognitive dysfunction in AD.”

Ayurveda And Yoga May Be Useful For COVID-19 Prevention

Savitribai Phule Pune University (India), April 30, 2020

Experts in Indian traditional medicine, including the chair of the Government of India’s committee charged to lead that nation’s efforts on the potential uses of traditional medicine relative to COVID-19, describe how the approach of Ayurveda and yoga may help strengthen host immunity and provide an effective, accessible, and affordable means of prophylaxis of COVID-19 infection.

A well-referenced description of how Ayurveda can support local and systemic prophylaxis of COVID-19 is published in JACM, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers, dedicated to paradigm, practice, and policy advancing integrative health.

The paper, entitled “Public Health Approach of Ayurveda and Yoga for COVID-19 Prophylaxis” is co-authored by Girish Tillu, PhD and Bhushan Patwardhan, PhD, AYUSH Center of Excellence, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Sarika Chaturvedi, PhD, DrDY, Patil University, and Arvind Chopra, MD, Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Pune, India.

During the article’s production, Patwardhan, the article’s anchor author, was named by the Indian Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy and Naturopathy) as chair of the 18-member Interdisciplinary Ayush Research and Development Taskforce for initiating, coordinating and monitoring efforts against COVID-19.

Ayurveda focuses on the host response and includes herbal preparations as well as measures for a healthy lifestyle to better cope with various stressors, including infection. This concept of stimulating immune function is a cornerstone of Ayurvedic practice.

The authors discuss local prophylaxis, including use of Ayurvedic practices to help block virus entry to the body and passage to the lungs. This may include consumption of hot water, hot food and herbal drinks, gargling with medicated water, and steam inhalation.

Systemic prophylaxis focuses on overall health and includes factors such as diet, sleep, mental relaxation, lifestyle behaviors, and yoga. The authors describe the science supporting Rasayana therapies, a specialty of Ayurveda that deals with rejuvenation and can stimulate immunity. They note botanicals that have been found to be effective in immunomodulation and restoration of immune homeostasis.

JACM Editor-in-Chief John Weeks, johnweeks-integrator.com, Seattle, WA, states: “In COVID-19 we are seeing a collision of the acute (the virus) — and the chronic (the host conditions that increase susceptibility). The authors assemble a well-referenced argument from biomedical research and some traditional texts to make a compelling case for more increased clinician and research attention to integrating Ayurveda and Yoga with biomedical approaches as prophylactic, host-supporting measures.”

Moderate to severe mid-life anxiety may be linked to later life dementia

University of Southampton (UK), April 30, 2020

Moderate to severe mid-life anxiety may be linked to dementia in later life, suggests an analysis of the available published evidence in the online journal BMJ Open.

But as yet, it’s not clear whether active treatment could curb this risk, and whether non-drug therapies, such as mindfulness and meditation, which are known to reduce anxiety might help, say the researchers.

A mounting body of evidence suggests that mental illness may be associated with dementia in older age, but it’s not clear if it represents initial (prodromal) symptoms before the advent of fully fledged disease or if it acts as an independent risk factor.

To probe this further, the researchers trawled research databases for studies looking at the association between mid-life anxiety, in isolation or combined with depression, and the development of dementia.

Only four out of more than 3500 studies met these criteria, but they involved a total of nearly 30,000 people.

All of the studies accounted for a range of potentially influential demographic, physical, and psychological factors, and all found an association between moderate to severe anxiety and future dementia, with a gap of at least 10 years in between diagnoses.

Because the study design differed so much, pooled analysis of the data couldn’t be undertaken, but the studies were all of high quality, strengthening the findings, say the researchers.

The findings back up recent evidence pointing to a link between anxiety and risk of mild cognitive impairment, and lend weight to the known association between depression and dementia, they say.

An abnormal stress response, which is typical of moderate to severe anxiety, may speed up brain cell ageing and degenerative changes in the central nervous system, so increasing vulnerability to dementia, they suggest.

“Whether reducing anxiety in middle age would result in reduced risk of dementia remains an open question,” they write. But approaches other than anti-anxiety drugs may be worth testing, they say.

“Non-pharmacological therapies, including talking therapies and mindfulness-based interventions and meditation practices, that are known to reduce anxiety in midlife, could have a risk reducing effect, although this is yet to be thoroughly researched,” they caution.

But they suggest that given the prevalence of anxiety, it may be worth doctors considering anxiety a risk factor for dementia as well as depression.

Flaxseed Versus Fish Oil Supplementation for People With Diabetes

Kashan University of Medical Science (Iran), April 28th 2020

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study finds flaxseed oil equally beneficial to fish oil supplementation in reducing myocardial disease risk in patients with Type 2 diabetes. This research is beneficial for those looking for plant-based supplements with benefits similar to the well-studied benefits of fish oil

New research found the effects of flaxseed oil are comparable to those of fish oil supplementation in diabetic patients with coronary heart disease.[i]

While fish oil supplementation has long been considered the gold standard of natural remedies in supporting cardiovascular health, flaxseed oil supplements are often used for other ailments including diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and neurological and autoimmune disorders.[ii]

Although fish oil supplements have no serious adverse effects, some users find that fish oil causes bad breath, belching, upset stomach, acne, and loss of appetite, while other users complain about the strong taste.[iii] Others may prefer a plant-based option from which to obtain valuable omega-3 fats.

For these reasons, it would be helpful to have additional omega-3-rich substances to prescribe in place of fish oil. In this study, researchers found that flaxseed oil significantly reduced insulin levels in diabetic patients, which has significance for multiple ailments including polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Benefits and Efficacy of Flaxseed and Fish Oil Supplementation for Coronary Heart Disease

During the study, participants were given either 1,000 milligrams (mg) of fish oil, 1,000 mg of flaxseed oil or a placebo pill twice daily for 12 weeks. All participants had Type 2 diabetes and were considered at risk for cardiovascular disease. In both the flaxseed and fish oil supplementation groups, patients experienced a significant reduction of insulin and nitrite levels and an increase in antioxidant capacity.[iv]

Additionally, participants taking flaxseed oil experienced a reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a protein marker for inflammation in the body used to measure risk levels for heart disease and stroke.[v],[vi] Based on these findings, researchers believe flaxseed oil to be equally effective in reducing coronary disease risk as fish oil.

his isn’t the first study to find flaxseed oil effective in reducing insulin levels in Type 2 diabetics. In 2017, a similar report found that identical dosages of flaxseed oil (1,000 mg twice daily) not only reduced insulin levels but also improved gene expression levels in overweight diabetic patients compared with placebo following a 12-week period.[vii]

These results suggest that flaxseed oil could be taken instead of fish oil supplements to reduce the risk of heart disease in diabetic patients.

PCOS, Coronary Disease, Diabetes and the Flaxseed Oil Connection

Flaxseed oil has been heavily researched for its effects on numerous diseases and ailments, including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS affects hormone levels in women, causing a higher production of male hormones in women with the condition. These hormonal imbalances cause small cysts to grow on the ovaries, create menstrual irregularities and can lead to infertility in some women.[viii]

PCOS is the most common endocrine abnormality in reproductive-age women in the U.S., and researchers have long held that a reduction in insulin levels could reduce the effects of PCOS disorders.[ix] Long-term PCOS is linked with cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes and is typically treated with anti-diabetic drugs.[x]

Given the results of the study comparing flaxseed oil and fish oil and flaxseed oil’s strong ability to reduce insulin levels, it’s not surprising that researchers have found flaxseed oil to have beneficial effects on insulin metabolism in women with PCOS.[xi]

In a similar study, participants were given 1,000 mg of flaxseed oil omega-3 fatty acid supplements twice a day for 12 weeks and saw a similar reduction in insulin levels compared to the results of the flaxseed/fish oil comparison study, suggesting that flaxseed oil could mitigate the long-term effects of PCOS by preventing diabetes and heart disease as well as reduce the risk of these diseases in Type 2 diabetics.[xii]

How does green coffee bean extract work?

Green coffee bean extract is a popular weight loss and health supplement, but does it work, and is it safe?

Medical News Today, April 29, 2020

Green coffee beans, or raw coffee beans, are coffee beans that are not roasted. Green coffee bean extract is a popular weight loss supplement.

Some research also suggests that green coffee bean extract could have health benefits, such as improving blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This belief stems from the antioxidant properties and other pharmacologically active compounds in the unroasted beans.

Green coffee extract contains chlorogenic acids, which are a group of antioxidant compounds that scientists believe may be responsible for its health effects.

This article looks at what the research says about green coffee bean extract, including its possible health benefits, how it works, uses and dosage, and possible risks.

What are green coffee beans?

Green coffee beans are unroasted coffee beans. Coffee beans are naturally green, but the roasting process turns them brown.

Coffee beans are rich in antioxidants and other pharmacologically active compounds. Researchers believe that chlorogenic acids and caffeine are responsible for many of the health benefits people associate with green coffee beans.

Chlorogenic acids have many possible health effects, according to review studies, including:

antioxidant
anti-inflammatory
antihypertensive

They may also help protect the heart and liver.

Because of the chemical changes during roasting, coffee beans have some different effects on the body when roasted or unroasted.

Unfortunately, most of the chlorogenic acids are lost when people heat coffee beans to very high temperatures. However, roasted coffee still contains many other healthful compounds.

How does the extract work?

Green coffee bean extract contains several bioactive compounds, including caffeine and chlorogenic acids, which may account for its healthful properties.

Weight loss

Consuming caffeine may help promote weight loss. Some review studies have shown that caffeine consumption may help reduce body weight, body mass index (BMI), and body fat.

However, scientists believe the high levels of chlorogenic acids in green coffee bean extract are key to its weight loss effects.

An older 2013 review reports that chlorogenic acid may help lower blood sugar levels and reduce insulin spikes by reducing carbohydrate absorption in the digestive tract.

Chlorogenic acids may also boost fat metabolism, lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and improve obesity-related hormone levels.

Much of the existing research is on rats, however, and more human studies are needed.

Type 2 diabetes

Because they can help regulate glucose and insulin, as this article has discussed, chlorogenic acids could also help prevent or control type 2 diabetes.

A 2020 review reported that green coffee extract could improve blood glucose levels and that at doses of more than 400 milligrams (mg) per day, it could also improve insulin levels.

Blood pressure

Green coffee extract may positively affect blood vessels, which has significant implications for heart health.

Green coffee bean extract may help people control their blood pressure. A 2019 review showed that taking more than 400 mg of the extract for 4 weeks significantly reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people with hypertension.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects

Research shows that green coffee beans have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Chronic inflammation can damage cells and is a key driver in many health conditions, including cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and autoimmune disease.

Because of this, eating foods that contain antioxidants, as part of a healthful diet, can have significant health benefits, including green coffee bean extract.

Acupuncture possible treatment for dental anxiety

University of York, May 1, 2020

Researchers have found evidence that acupuncture could help people who experience dental anxiety.

Dental anxiety affects up to an estimated 30% of the adult population in countries world-wide. Patients can experience nausea, difficulty breathing and dizziness at the thought of going to the dentist, during an examination, and following treatment.

Reasons behind dental anxiety can be various, such as fear of pain, needles or anaesthetic side effects, as well as embarrassment or feeling a loss of control.

In a review of six trials with 800 patients, researchers used a points scale to measure anxiety and studies show that anxiety reduced by eight points when dental patients were given acupuncture as a treatment. This level of reduction is considered to be clinically relevant, which means that acupuncture could be a possibility for tackling dental anxiety.

Previous clinical trials have involved acupuncture for treatment on a range of conditions, including lower back pain, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome. There is, however, limited research detailing its impact on specific cases of anxiety.

More than 120 trials across England, China, Spain, Portugal and Germany were identified as having investigated the effects of acupuncture on patients with dental anxiety, and six trials were eligible for review, with two demonstrating high quality methods.

Professor of Acupuncture, Hugh MacPherson, at the University of York’s Department of Health Sciences, said: “There is increasing scientific interest in the effectiveness of acupuncture either as a standalone treatment or as an accompanying treatment to more traditional medications.

“We have recently shown, for example, that acupuncture treatment can boost the effectiveness of standard medical care in chronic pain and depression.

“Chronic pain is often a symptom of a long-term condition, so to further our understanding of the various uses of acupuncture we wanted to see what it could achieve for conditions that occur suddenly, rapidly and as a reaction to particular experiences.”

Studies that compared anxiety levels between patients that received acupuncture and those that did not, showed a significant difference in anxiety scores during dental treatment. A clinically relevant reduction in anxiety was found when acupuncture was compared with not receiving acupuncture.

No conclusions could be drawn, however, between patients that received acupuncture as an intervention and those that received placebo treatment, suggesting that larger scale controlled trials are needed to increase the robustness of the findings.

Professor MacPherson said: “These are interesting findings, but we need more trials that measure the impact of acupuncture on anxiety before going to the dentist, during treatment and after treatment.

“If acupuncture is to be integrated into dental practices, or for use in other cases of extreme anxiety, then there needs to be more high quality research that demonstrates that it can have a lasting impact on the patient. Early indications look positive, but there is still more work to be done.”

The research is published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine.

Mediterranean diet shown to reduce biomarkers of inflammation in NAFLD patients

Harokopio University (Greece), April 22, 2020

Greek researchers studied the effects of the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) on the clinical, biochemical and inflammatory profile of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with simple steatosis. Their findings were published in the Journal of Medicinal Food.

Diet is a modifiable key factor targeted in the prevention and management of NAFLD.
To measure the effects of MedDiet on NAFLD, the researchers investigated potential associations of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) rs2293152 genotype to diet composition and NAFLD patients’ profile.
They conducted a non-randomized, open-label, 24-week prospective intervention study involving 44 untreated NAFLD patients with non-significant fibrosis.
These patients received nutritional counseling to increase their adherence to MedDiet, which was estimated with MedDietScore.
The researchers then genotyped STAT3 rs2293152 single nucleotide polymorphism and performed clinical and inflammatory measurements.
They reported that in all patients, MedDietScore increased and anthropometric indices improved.
Compared with baseline, the MedDiet significantly ameliorated liver imaging results, liver fibrosis score, blood pressure, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP), visfatin and oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels in the NAFLD patients.
On the other hand, the researchers found no association between STAT3 polymorphism and diet composition.
Comparisons of mean differences between G- and C-carriers at the end of the trial showed that only visfatin was significantly associated with the STAT3 genotype.
Having the G-allele was linked to an increase in visfatin levels.
STAT3 rs2293152 G-carriers experienced more beneficial changes at the end of the intervention compared with baseline.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that following the Mediterranean Diet ameliorates clinical, biochemical and inflammatory biomarkers in NAFLD patients.

High-fat diet consequences include mental fatigue, researchers say

Southern Illinois University, April 24, 2020

-Obesity has been shown to place physical stress on the body, but new research suggests that excess weight may also cause mental fatigue. The research, originally slated for presentation at the APS annual meeting at Experimental Biology (canceled due to the coronavirus), is published in the April issue of The FASEB Journal.

Obesity can increase the risk of high blood sugar (glucose), which may develop into type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders if untreated. Impaired exercise capacity or physical stamina may also be a problem for people who are overweight. Compromised cognitive function, however, has not been associated as strongly with obesity as physical limitations.

Researchers at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville aimed to learn more about the onset of obesity and its impact on both physical and mental abilities by studying two groups of rats. One group was fed a high-fat diet, and the other ate a standard diet for six weeks. The research team measured the rats’ weight, blood glucose and ketone levels twice a week. Ketones are chemicals made by the liver when there is not enough insulin in the body to convert glucose into energy. In the fifth week, the researchers administered an open-field test, which measures speed and distance as the animals move through a maze in a given time frame and determines physical exhaustion. A novel object recognition test, which measures mental exhaustion by analyzing the time the rats spend examining new and familiar objects, was given in the final week of the trial.

Both rat groups gained weight during the trial, but the high-fat diet group, not surprisingly, gained more than the control group. Blood glucose levels fluctuated more in the high-fat diet group as well. There was no significant difference in the average glucose levels or ketones between the two groups.

The high-fat diet group performed poorly on the novel recognition test when compared with the control group. “Although we were not fully surprised by this finding, this is the first study, to our knowledge, to be reporting mental exhaustion in high-fat diet-induced obese rats,” explained Chaya Gopalan, PhD, principal investigator of the study.

“One message from this study is to avoid [a] high-fat diet, which not only makes one become obese, but also has consequences on cognitive capability,” the authors wrote.

Gopalan’s team was slated to present “The effects of diet-induced obesity in male Sprague Dawley rats on blood glucose, ketones and markers of mental and physical fatigue” at the APS annual meeting at Experimental Biology. Although the meeting was canceled in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the research team’s abstract is published in this month’s issue of The FASEB Journal.

Research suggests accelerated aging disease could be slowed by NAD+ supplementation

National Institutes of Health, April 27, 2020

“BackgroundCockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare premature aging disease, most commonly caused by mutations of the genes encoding the CSA or CSB proteins. CS patients display cachectic dwarfism and severe neurological manifestations and have an average life expectancy of 12 years. The CS proteins are involved in transcription and DNA repair, with the latter including transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER).

“However, there is also evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction in CS, which likely contributes to the severe premature aging phenotype of this disease. While damaged mitochondria and impaired mitophagy were characterized in mice with CSB deficiency, such changes in the CS nematodes and CS patients are not fully known. ResultsOur cross-species transcriptomic analysis in CS postmortem brain tissue, CS mouse and nematode models show that mitochondrial dysfunction is indeed a common feature in CS. Restoration of mitochondrial dysfunction through NAD+ supplementation significantly improved lifespan and healthspan in the CS nematodes, highlighting mitochondrial dysfunction as a major driver of the aging features of CS.

“In cerebellar samples from CS patients, we found molecular signatures of dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics and impaired mitophagy/autophagy.

“In primary cells depleted for CSA or CSB, this dysfunction can be corrected with NAD+ supplementation. ConclusionsOur study provides support for the interconnection between major causative aging theories, DNA damage accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and compromised mitophagy/autophagy. Together these three agents contribute to an accelerated aging program that can be averted by NAD+ supplementation.”

Exploring the potential of acupressure in treating migraines and sleep issues

Birjand University of Medical Sciences (Iran), April 22, 2020

In this study, Iranian researchers examined the impact of self-administered acupressure on sleep quality and fatigue among patients with migraine. Their results were published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.

Poor sleep quality and fatigue are two of the most common complaints associated with migraine. These problems contribute to the development of severe headaches.
This double-blind, randomized controlled trial involved 76 patients from the neurology clinic of Valiasr (PBUH) teaching hospital, all of whom suffered from migraine without aura.
The researchers randomly assigned these patients to either an acupressure group or a sham acupressure group.
They used a demographic questionnaire, the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index and the Fatigue Severity Scale to collect data from the patients.
Both groups were trained for four consecutive weeks to apply acupressure on acupoints and sham points, respectively, three times weekly at bedtime.
The researchers analyzed the data using Chi-square, independent-sample t, paired-sample t and ANCOVA tests at the significance level of less than 0.05.
After controlling sleep quality mean scores at baseline, the researchers found no significant difference between the sleep quality of the two groups after intervention.
On the other hand, the mean scores for fatigue significantly decreased in both the acupressure and sham acupressure groups.
The decrease in the acupressure group was significantly greater than the decrease in the sham acupressure group.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that acupressure is a non-invasive and non-pharmacological therapy that can significantly reduce fatigue in patients with migraine.

CBD shows promise for fighting aggressive brain cancer

Study shows that CBD isolate and extract can slow growth and kill cancer cells

Colorado State University, April 24, 2020

Findings from a new study examining human and canine brain cancer cells suggest that cannabidiol could be a useful therapy for a difficult-to-treat brain cancer. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a non-psychoactive chemical compound derived from marijuana.

The study looked at glioblastoma, an often-deadly form of brain cancer that grows and spreads very quickly. Even with major advancements in treatment, survival rates for this cancer have not improved significantly.

“Further research and treatment options are urgently needed for patients afflicted by brain cancer,” said Chase Gross, a student in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine/Master of Science program at Colorado State University. “Our work shows that CBD has the potential to provide an effective, synergistic glioblastoma therapy option and that it should continue to be vigorously studied.”

Mr. Gross was scheduled to present this research at the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics annual meeting in San Diego this month. Though the meeting, to be held in conjunction with the 2020 Experimental Biology conference, was canceled in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the research team’s abstract was published in this month’s issue of The FASEB Journal.

Mr. Gross and colleagues examined human and canine glioblastoma cells because the cancer shows striking similarities between the two species. They tested the effects of CBD isolate, which contains 100 percent CBD, and CBD extract, which contains small amounts of other natural occurring compounds such as cannabigerol and tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.

“Our experiments showed that CBD slows cancer cell growth and is toxic to both canine and human glioblastoma cell lines,” said Mr. Gross. “Importantly, the differences in anti-cancer affects between CBD isolate and extract appear to be negligible.”

The new work revealed that the toxic effects of CBD are mediated through the cell’s natural pathway for apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death. The researchers also observed that CBD-induced cell death was characterized by large, swollen intracellular vesicles before the membrane begins to bulge and breakdown. This was true for all the cell lines studied.

The researchers believe that CBD’s anti-cancer actions target mitochondria–the cell’s energy producing structures–by causing the mitochondria to dysfunction and release harmful reactive oxygen species. Their experiments showed that cells treated with CBD exhibited significant decreases in mitochondrial activity.

“CBD has been zealously studied in cells for its anticancer properties over the last decade,” said Mr. Gross. “Our study helps complete the in vitro puzzle, allowing us to move forward in studying CBD’s effects on glioblastoma in a clinical setting using live animal models. This could lead to new treatments that would help both people and dogs that have this very serious cancer.”

Next, the researchers plan to transition from cell cultures to animal models to test CBD’s effects on glioblastoma. If the animal studies go well, the work could progress to clinical trials on dogs that are being treated for naturally occurring glioblastoma at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Salt substitution could prevent almost half a million deaths from CVD in China

Georgia Institute for Global Health, April 24, 2020

A nationwide intervention to replace regular household salt with potassium-enriched salt substitutes in China could prevent nearly half a million cardiovascular deaths per year, according to a new modelling study published in the British Medical Journal.

They were also estimated to prevent some 743,000 non-fatal CVD events each year, including 365,000 strokes and 147,000 heart attacks, and decrease rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by around 120,000 each year, or almost seven percent of new cases.

Dr. Jason Wu, one of the study’s senior authors and Program Head of Nutrition Science at The George Institute said that replacing regular salt with potassium-enriched salt substitutes combines the blood pressure lowering effects of reduced sodium and increased potassium intake.

“While potassium intake in China is low, intake of sodium is well above recommended levels, mainly coming from salt used at home, in cooking or at the table,” he said.

“Salt substitution is therefore a promising strategy to reduce blood pressure and related diseases like CVD and CKD in China, where over two million deaths were attributed to elevated blood pressure in 2015. Our findings suggest that a nationwide intervention to encourage use of potassium-enriched salt substitutes could prevent nearly one in nine CVD deaths in China.”

An important part of this study was to look at the potential benefits of blood pressure reduction at the same time as the possible risk to people with CKD from increased potassium intakes. Lead author, Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute and now research assistant professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, Matti Marklund, Ph.D., said that concerns about the potential risk of increased potassium intakes in people with CKD were particularly relevant in China where most people with CKD are unaware of their condition.

“Our modelling study suggests that with this type of intervention, the benefits greatly outweigh the harms in the overall population. In fact, even among individuals with CKD, there are substantial net benefits,” he said.

Among an estimated 17.2 million people with CKD, the blood pressure lowering effects of the intervention could prevent around 32,000 CVD deaths, but the increased potassium intake and higher blood potassium levels could potentially cause some 11,000 additional CVD deaths, resulting in an estimated 21,000 deaths avoided overall.

“The finding of net cardiovascular benefits in those with CKD suggests that encouraging them to avoid potassium-enriched salt substitutes in a national intervention could result in overall harm as they would then miss the benefits of reduced blood pressure. However, alternative approaches like improving screening for CKD and closer monitoring of potassium levels in diagnosed patients should be evaluated to minimize potential risks,” added Dr. Marklund.

Eating too much salt increases blood pressure, which is one of the biggest contributors to premature death from stroke or heart disease. Worldwide, excess salt intake is estimated to cause about three million deaths each year.

In China, sodium intake is more than double the WHO-recommended limit, and nearly half of Chinese people aged 35-75 have high blood pressure. Almost 30 percent of fatal strokes in Chinese people aged under 70 are attributable to high sodium consumption.

In contrast to most Western countries the largest contributor of dietary sodium in China is discretionary salt (i.e., salt added in the home during cooking or at the table), contributing to about two thirds of sodium intake.

“Our study suggests that a national program to replace regular salt with lower-sodium ‘salt substitutes’ for home cooking, could have a large impact on the burden of CVD in China.” said Dr. Marklund.

Ginger Helps Relieve Inflammation Caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis

Iran University of Medical Sciences, April 23, 2020

Medicinal herbs such as turmeric, cardamom and ginger have long been found to have therapeutic and healing effects on illnesses that target the bones in the feet and knees, including osteoarthritis.[i] In a new study, however, researchers observed the effects of ginger on rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes pain and swelling of joints in the wrists, hands and feet. There is an approximately 2% incidence rate of rheumatoid arthritis around the world, with at least 1.3 million Americans affected by this painful disorder.[ii]

To understand how ginger can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, researchers from Iran University of Medical Sciences ran a randomized, double-blind, placebo–controlled clinical trial and administered ginger powder to rheumatoid arthritis patients for 12 weeks.[iii]

Study: Ginger Can Help Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis

In the 12-week study, researchers from Iran assigned participants into two groups that would either receive 1,500 milligrams (mg) of ginger powder in capsules or a placebo. They measured disease activity score and the gene expression of immunity and inflammation factors such as NF-κB, PPAR-γ, FoxP3, T-bet, GATA-3 and RORγt before and after the intervention. They concluded:

“In RA as an autoimmune disease, the immune system is impaired and it seems that ginger can improve immune function in patients with this disease and other autoimmune diseases. The results showed that ginger decreased the expression of T-bet gene significantly.”

The results of the study showed that ginger reduced manifestations of the disease via increasing FoxP3 gene expression alongside decreasing RORγt and T-bet gene expression. The T-bet gene was shown to trigger the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis among patients.

Researchers conclude that ginger is effective in reducing the manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis and improving immune system function. They recommend conducting further studies on the effects of ginger consumption on autoimmunity, inflammation and clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis.

Additional Evidence-Based Therapeutic Effects of Ginger

Ginger root (Zingiber officinale) is a medicinal herb that contains bioactive terpenes, which is only one among various components that make it a plant powerhouse.

In the early spice trade, ginger was exported from Southeast Asia and India and delivered to Europe. Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine consider ginger a “digestive fire” because the root is warm and stimulating.

Because of its therapeutic effects, ginger has been known to have “anti-emetic, antifever, anti-cough, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-cancer properties.”[iv]

A 2016 study revealed that ginger is effective in treating knee osteoarthritis [v] when combined with echinacea extract. In fact, patients who received 25 mg of ginger and 5 mg of echinacea showed significant improvements in swelling, with a decrease in knee circumference. Ginger oil can also be used to provide short-term knee pain relief.[vi]

Likewise, ginger can treat the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.[vii] In a 2014 study, patients with premenstrual syndrome received two ginger capsules and took it daily from seven days prior to menstruation to three days after menstruation for three cycles.

After up to three months of treatment, researchers found ginger effective in treating the symptoms of menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Other research that studied the effects of ginger within the first three to four days of the menstrual cycle supported this claim

A bit of dark chocolate might sweeten your vision

University of the Incarnate Word (Texas), April 26, 2018

It may not replace prescription glasses, but a few bites of dark chocolate might offer a slight and temporary bump up in vision quality, new research suggests.

Heart-healthy compounds in chocolate called flavanols appeared to sharpen eyesight for a group of 30 healthy young adults in the new study.

The observed change in vision was small, but significant. However, the study authors stressed that it’s too early for ophthalmologists to recommend chocolate as medicine for the eyes.

“The duration of these effects and their influence in real-world performance await further testing,” said a team led by Dr. Jeff Rabin of the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. His team published its results online April 26 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

As Rabin’s team explained, there’s been evidence in prior studies that the antioxidant flavanols in dark chocolate might help boost blood flow to the nervous system, boost heart function and even help preserve the aging brain.

So, the investigators wondered if the eyes might reap some sort of benefit from chocolate, too.

To find out, the researchers had 30 healthy adults, averaging 26 years of age, eat either a 1.5-ounce Trader Joe’s 72 percent Cacao Dark Chocolate bar or a similar-sized Trader Joe’s Crispy Rice Milk Chocolate bar. Labels were removed from each bar so participants didn’t know what type of chocolate they were eating.

About two hours later, each participant underwent vision testing using standard letter-based eye charts.

The result? Compared to people who’d eaten the milk chocolate bar, those who’d snacked on the dark chocolate showed “small enhancements in visual acuity and large-letter contrast” on the vision test, the researchers reported.

Dr. Mark Fromer is an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He explained that visual acuity is a key component in the standard eye-glasses prescription test, where patients “specifically identify the letters on the eye chart.”

And contrast sensitivity is “the ability to distinguish an object as the lighting is altered in intensity,” said Fromer, who wasn’t involved in the new study.

The San Antonio researchers stressed that the vision improvements experienced by the dark chocolate eaters “were small, and the [real life] functional relevance is unclear.”

Just how might chocolate give eyesight a boost?

According to Fromer, “The [study] authors suggest that this [improvement] may be a result of increased blood flow to the retina, visual pathways or [the brain’s] cerebral cortex.”

But “there is currently no direct evidence to substantiate this claim,” he said. So it’s too early to prescribe a dose of chocolate to help preserve failing eyesight, Fromer explained.

“Further investigation will be necessary,” he added.

Association between higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and lower incidence of dental caries in US adults

Central South University (China), April 27, 2020

Dental Caries. According to news reporting out of Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “We investigated whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration is independently associated with dental caries among adults in the US. This investigation was a cross-sectional study.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, “A total of 4244 participants (aged 20-80 years old) were enrolled through 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was categorized into four groups based on previous studies: normal (75 nmol/mL), insufficient (50-74.9 nmol/mL), deficiency (25-49.9 nmol/mL), and severely deficiency (<25nmol/mL). The dependent and independent variables included dental caries, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, respectively. The data was analyzed using univariate, multivariable-adjusted analyses, and sub-group analyses. The fully adjusted model showed that 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were negatively associated with dental caries after adjusting for the confounders (OR=0.93, 95%CI 0.89 to 0.98). Compared with the normal group, the likelihood of dental caries was 2.48, 1.29, and 1.43 times higher in the severely deficient group, deficient, and insufficient groups, respectively.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Our findings suggest that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are significantly associated with the occurrence of dental caries among US adults.”

Holistic approach best for tackling nonmedical drug use, study finds

University of Illinois, April 24, 2020

Health practitioners are constantly developing new ways to help those with drug and alcohol addictions wean themselves from their substance of choice. Most such programs have limited success, however. A new study finds that interventions that take a multidimensional approach – tackling the biological, social, environmental and mental health obstacles to overcome while also addressing a person’s substance use – work best for those hoping to stop using drugs.

The study, reported in the journal Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, also found that those with alcohol addiction do best with simple interventions that focus only on their alcohol use.

“We analyzed 69 studies that measured outcomes from single- or multirecommendation approaches,” said Dolores Albarracín, a professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who led the study with Ph.D. student Wenhao Dai. “Our aim was to determine the optimal number of interventions for intervention efficacy. We found that targeting multiple behaviors is necessary for changing drug-use outcomes, but less so for alcohol-use outcomes.”

According to published reports, deaths from overdoses of heroin, methadone, opioids and cocaine are at an all-time high in the U.S., and alcohol use accounts for tens of thousands of deaths each year.

However, “the efficacy of behavioral interventions aimed at reducing substance use has often been underwhelming,” write the authors of the new study. Decades of research into behavioral methods have yielded no obvious improvements. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 40-60% of patients who engage in medication-assisted treatment programs for substance-use disorder will relapse. Reviews of alcohol treatment suggest only that “treatment is better than no treatment, but … methodological problems render it difficult to conclude that any specific treatment is more effective than any other.”

“Many programs treat drug or alcohol use as relatively independent of other related behaviors or contextual factors,” Albarracín said. “But research reveals that substance use often stems from a variety of biological, psychological and social factors, all working in tandem.”

Some studies of drug and alcohol treatment have looked at also targeting other behaviors to help reduce the harm associated with drug and alcohol use. These include methods to promote a healthy lifestyle, prevent transmission of infections, seek social support or make better use of community services.

“We wanted to know if these other behaviors facilitate the drug- or alcohol-treatment goals,” Albarracín said. “If they do, that would mean that more recommendations lead to better outcomes. However, it could also be true that adding too many objectives could overwhelm a person and reduce the mental and physical resources they have available to reduce substance use.”

The researchers found a positive association between the number of interventions a drug-treatment or prevention program included and its effectiveness in combatting nonmedical drug use, but not alcohol use. Addressing a person’s alcohol use was better than not, but there were no further gains from adding other recommendations.

“We also found that interventions were more efficacious when they targeted a population diagnosed with substance- or alcohol-use disorder, when they were delivered by experts and when they included a behavioral contract,” Albarracín said.

“Overall, we learned that we can employ more economical approaches to reducing alcohol use,” Albarracín said. “Other challenges require an arsenal of approaches. Previous studies from my lab showed that lifestyle modifications are more successful when addressing three or four behaviors in combination. For example, a person who wants to quit smoking might also have a goal of walking every day and eating more fruits and vegetables. Now we have evidence that curbing substance use also works best when addressing the problem holistically.”

Albarracín also is a professor of business administration and an affiliate of the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the U. of I.

Dietary supplements an important weapon for fighting off COVID-19

Oregon State University, April 24, 2020

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Supplements containing vitamins C and D and other micronutrients, sometimes in amounts exceeding the federally recommended levels, are a safe, effective and low-cost means of helping your immune system fight off COVID-19 and other acute respiratory tract diseases, an Oregon State University researcher says.

Findings were published today in the journal Nutrients.

Adrian Gombart of OSU’s Linus Pauling Institute and collaborators at the University of Southampton (United Kingdom), the University of Otago (New Zealand) and University Medical Center (The Netherlands) say public health officials should issue a clear set of nutritional recommendations to complement messages about the role of hand washing and vaccinations in preventing the spread of infections.

“Around the world, acute respiratory tract infections kill more than 2.5 million people every year,” said Gombart, professor of biochemistry and biophysics in the OSU College of Science and a principal investigator at the Linus Pauling Institute. “Meanwhile, there’s a wealth of data that shows the role that good nutrition plays in supporting the immune system. As a society we need to be doing a better job of getting that message across along with the other important, more common messages.”

Specific vitamins, minerals and fatty acids have key jobs to play in helping your immune system, he says. In particular vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish, docosahexaenoic acid, also known as DHA, are critical for immune function.

“The roles that vitamins C and D play in immunity are particularly well known,” he said. “Vitamin C has roles in several aspects of immunity, including the growth and function of immune cells and antibody production. Vitamin D receptors on immune cells also affect their function. This means that vitamin D profoundly influences your response to infections.

“The problem is that people simply aren’t eating enough of these nutrients. This could destroy your resistance to infections. Consequently, we will see an increase in disease and all of the extra burdens that go along with that increase.”

That’s why the researchers are urging not only a daily multivitamin, but doses of 200 milligrams or more of vitamin C (higher than the suggested federal guidelines of 75 milligrams for men and 50 for women) and 2,000 international units of vitamin D, rather than the 400 to 800 recommended depending on age.

The stakes are huge, Gombart notes. Every year, influenza alone hospitalizes millions and kills several hundred thousand worldwide.

“A number of standard public health practices have been developed to help limit the spread and impact of respiratory viruses: regular hand washing, avoiding those showing symptoms of infection, and covering coughs,” Gombart said. “And for certain viruses like influenza, there are annual vaccination campaigns.”

There is no doubt that vaccines, when available, can be effective, but they’re not foolproof, he says.

Gombart emphasizes that current public health practices – stressing social distancing, hygiene and vaccinations – are important and effective but in need of complementary strategies. A nutritional focus on the immune system could help minimize the impact of many kinds of infections.

“The present situation with COVID-19 and the number of people dying from other respiratory infections make it clear that we are not doing enough,” he said. “We strongly encourage public health officials to include nutritional strategies in their arsenal.”

Research points to quercetin, zinc as natural coronavirus cures

Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, University of Ottawa, University of Melbourne, Apirl 26, 2020

Michel Chrétien, a researcher at the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, and Majambu Mbikay of the University of Ottawa, are now looking into the possibility of using quercetin as a cure for COVID-19, noting that the compound has already been proven successful at treating infections caused by the deadly Ebola and Zika viruses.

According to Chrétien, he and Mbikay are now waiting for approval regarding the start of the drug’s clinical trial in Wuhan, the purported birthplace of the COVID-19 pandemic that, as of this writing, has infected over 2.6 million people and killed 184,235 others across the globe.

“As soon as we receive the OK from China, we are ready to move,” Chrétien said in an interview.

Quercetin as treatment for infectious disease

A type of flavonoid or plant pigment, quercetin is valued not just for its ability to enhance one’s physical performance, combat allergies and maintain one’s general health, but also for its ability to inhibit both A and B types of influenza — including the H1N1 and H3N2 virus strains — and even slow down the replication of several types of coronaviruses.

However, while Chrétien says that the compound’s effectiveness as a treatment option for COVID-19 must first be proven to avoid spreading “false hopes” among the public, Mbikay says he is optimistic for its potential.

He believes that the SARS-COV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — has the same infection mechanism as the viruses that came before it. This could mean that the drug could affect the novel coronavirus the same way it affected other strains.

“We believe that this particular drug interrupts the entry of viruses…so that you can attack several viruses at the same time,” Mbikay, who has worked on the compound with Chrétien since the early days of the SARS outbreak back in 2003, said.

Chrétien, for his part, said he is hoping that the trials for the drug will be quick so that he and his team can immediately confirm whether or not quercetin is safe and effective at treating COVID-19

The trials for the drug, Chrétien explained, will follow the protocol he has developed with his team.

According to Chrétien, he and his team will give quercetin to about 20 to 30 patients, prior to monitoring their reaction. This process will be repeated on new patients the following week.

Chrétien said he and his team will not only gather clinical data during this period but also evaluate those involved on a weekly — if not daily — basis, adding that it is possible that they will have results on quercetin’s ability to treat COVID-19 within 60 days of a clinical trial.

Quercetin: A natural, low-cost COVID-19 cure?

One major reason as to why they are pushing for the development of quercetin as a treatment for COVID-19, Mbikay said, is because of its relatively low-cost nature.

“It is not expensive. It’s a natural product. It’s found in nature and purified from plants,” Mbikay said, noting that the anti-viral drugs used on some COVID-19 patients at the moment, bear price tags of up to $1,000 per injection.

“Compared to what is available now, it doesn’t compare in terms of price,” Mbikay explained, adding that, creating an affordable treatment is key to slowing the now-global outbreak. (Related: Worries mount as coronavirus appears to disable the immune cells that fight it off, reactivating in some people.)

Mbikay added that quercetin would cost only about $2 per day when used as a treatment option for COVID-19 patients.

Zinc: A promising antiviral agent

Another possible cure for COVID-19, according to recent research, is zinc.

Oneel Patel of the Department of Surgery at the University of Melbourne said several studies have shown that zinc — an important trace mineral in the human body — is effective at slowing the rate of proliferation of the viruses causing SARS and the common cold.

This means that zinc has the potential to act as a drug against COVID-19, Patel said. He is now working on a treatment plan for patients involving intravenous zinc chloride.

According to Joseph Ischia, who is working with Patel on the project, they are now in the process of fast-tracking a clinical trial in order to test whether a daily injection of zinc chloride would benefit COVID-19 patients.

“There is currently no specific treatment available for patients who have COVID-19 and are at high risk of respiratory failure, which means this study has the potential to have an enormous positive impact on their clinical outcomes,” Ischia said.

He and Patel will be working in partnership with Phebra Chief Executive Officer Mal Eutick, as they will be using intravenous zinc injections, manufactured at Phebra’s multi-purpose sterile injectables plant in Sydney, during the trial.

“Zinc has been proven to be effective in treating severe pneumonia and other viruses although not COVID-19 to date. This trial is an extraordinary opportunity to discover if IV zinc can help us respond to the current pandemic,” Eutick said. Should their trials prove successful, the treatment could be of great help especially for high-risk elderly patients.

Ischia, Patel and Eutick have acknowledged the risk of zinc overdose for the patients.

“Zinc can be toxic and it will be carefully administered as part of the trial to ensure patients are safe,” Ischia explained.

Simple exercise may protect you from a deadly coronavirus complication

University of Virginia, April 22, 2020

Many places around the world remain in lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic, but some areas are making some exceptions for physical activity. That’s a decision that could end up saving people’s lives as a researcher from the University of Virginia School of Medicine has shown the important role exercise may play in staving off a deadly complication.

One big reason a lot of coronavirus patients are dying is acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. Although it only affects somewhere between 3 and 17 percent of all patients who have COVID-19, that range is 67 to 85 percent for those in intensive care.

Exercise researcher Dr. Zhen Yan said that he found a potent antioxidant that can protect against the illness that is produced by exercising.

According to his studies, exercise may prevent – or at the very least, reduce – the severity of ARDS. This is good news when you consider that research carried out before the pandemic struck indicated that roughly 45 percent of patients who develop a severe form of ARDS will die from it.

In a statement, he said: “All you hear now is either social distancing or ventilator, as if all we can do is either avoiding exposure or relying on a ventilator to survive if we get infected.”

He said that it’s important to figure out why 80 percent of confirmed COVID-19 patients will only experience mild symptoms and won’t need respiratory support. At the heart of his in-depth review of medical research is an antioxidant called extracellular superoxide dismutase, or EcSOD. It’s naturally made by muscles and secreted into our circulatory system, and its production is enhanced when we do cardiovascular exercise.

In people with illnesses like kidney failure, lung disease and ischemic heart disease, a decrease in levels of this antioxidant is often seen. Studies on mice have indicated that blocking the production of this antioxidant makes heart problems worse, while increasing it has the opposite effect.

Lower levels of EcSOD have also been associated with chronic conditions like osteoarthritis.

Interestingly, EcSOD may also be a potential treatment for health conditions like ARDS. Research has already shown that lab rats suffering from chronic kidney disease who are treated with human EcSOD experience less kidney damage. It may also be useful for treating multi-organ dysfunction syndrome and a complication of diabetes known as retinopathy, which can lead to blindness.

Of course, exercise can also help with weight control, which is especially important right now as obesity is believed to be a factor in how well coronavirus patients fare.

So how much exercise do you need to boost your production of this potentially life-saving antioxidant? Yan said that even a single exercise session is enough to raise levels. Therefore, he urges people to look for ways to fit in some movement, even while adhering to social distancing guidelines.

He also points out that protecting against ARDS is just one of the many benefits of regular exercise. In fact, he believes it has more benefits than we know. As long as you’re physically capable of doing so, it’s hard to think of a good reason not to exercise.

Beta-carotene improves cognitive impairment and oxidative stress

Riphah University (Pakistan), April 20, 2020

According to news reporting from Lahore, Pakistan,research stated, “Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a cascade of changes in cognitive, behavioral, and social activities. Several areas of the brain are involved in the regulation of memory.”

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from Riphah International University, “Of most importance are the amygdala and hippocampus. Antioxidant therapy is used for the palliative treatment of different degenerative diseases like diabetes, cirrhosis, and Parkinson’s, etc. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of exogenous antioxidants, in particular, beta carotene (1.02 and 2.05 mg/kg) against intracerebroventricular injected streptozotocin-induced memory impairment in mice. Streptozotocin (3 mg/kg, i.c.v) was administered in two separate doses (on 1st and 3rd days of treatment) for neurodegeneration. Fifty Albino mice (male) were selected in the protocol, and they were classified into five groups (Group I-control, Group II-disease, Group III-standard, Group IV-V-beta-carotene-treated) to investigate the cognitive enhancement effect of selected antioxidants. The cognitive performance was observed following the elevated plus-maze, passive avoidance, and open field paradigms. Acetylcholine esterase, beta-amyloid protein, and biochemical markers of oxidative stress such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase were analyzed in brain homogenates. In silico activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was determined by the molecular modeling of beta-carotene. beta-carotene at a dose of 2.05 mg/kg was found to attenuate the deleterious effects of streptozotocin-induced behavioral and biochemical impairments, including the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. The in silico studies confirmed the binding capacity of beta-carotene with the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. The administration of beta-carotene attenuated streptozotocin-induced cognitive deficit via its anti-oxidative effects, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, and the reduction of amyloid beta-protein fragments.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “These results suggest that beta-carotene could be useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.”

Study finds Tai-Chi-based mindfulness training reduced core ADHD symptoms in children

Findings suggest motor control may be a biomarker that could be targeted by the mindful movement intervention to improve behavior in children with ADHD

Kennedy Krieger Institute and John Hopkins University, April 21, 2020

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder affecting between 8-10 percent of school-age children. In a recent study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, Stewart H. Mostofsky, M.D., director of the Center for Neurodevelopmental and Imaging Research at Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Karen E. Seymour, Ph.D., assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, found that a mindful movement (Tai-Chi)-based training intervention was associated with significant improvements in school-age children with ADHD and improved their ability to regulate hyperactive, impulsive and inattentive behavior. Findings suggest that motor control may be a biomarker that could be targeted by mindful movement intervention to improve behavior in children with ADHD.

“The findings from this study provide support for a promising new avenue of behavioral intervention for children with ADHD and related difficulties, with mindful movement practice associated with improved ability to control attention and behavior. Crucially, the findings also suggest that mindful movement intervention contributes to parallel improvements in motor control, such that motor examination might serve as a valuable biomarker, helping to monitor response to this promising intervention,” said Mostofsky.

Participants ages 8-12 years engaged in an eight-week mindful movement intervention with two 60-minute classes per week. Pre- vs. post-treatment ADHD symptoms were assessed using highly validated parent-ratings. In addition, motor control was assessed using an established objective examination of developmental motor signs. Following the intervention, children showed significant reductions in core ADHD symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention, as well as improvements in associated oppositional-defiant and executive behavior. Children also showed significant improvements on objective measures of motor control. Importantly, there was a robust correlation between these findings, such that the children who showed the largest improvements on motor examination also showed the largest improvements in parent ratings of ADHD behavior.

There have been very few prior studies of mindfulness interventions for children with ADHD, and those prior studies relied exclusively on subjective outcome measures based on self- or parent-report. The findings from this study, revealing improvements in objective measures of motor control that parallel improvements in attention and behavior, provide crucial support for the potential for mindful movement practice for children with ADHD and related difficulties.

An important next step will be to conduct a follow-up clinical trial with a control condition to ensure that efficacy is specific to the mindful movement intervention.

Researchers investigate the effects of Moringa extract on cataracts caused by oxidative stress

Xiamen University (China), April 22, 2020

Chinese researchers investigated the effects of Moringa oleifera stem extract (MOSE) on cataract formation induced by oxidative stress in cultured mouse lenses. The results of their study were published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

M. oleifera, also known as horseradish tree, drumstick tree or simply moringa, has strong antioxidant properties.
To find out if it can prevent cataract formation, the researchers pre-treated mouse lenses cultured in vitro with 0.5 and 1 mg/mL MOSE for 24 hours.
Afterward, they exposed the mouse lenses to 1 millimolar (mM) hydrogen peroxide for 24 hours.
After 48 hours, the researchers measured the lens opacification, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, reduced glutathione (GSH) content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), in the lenses.
They also measured the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARa), a nuclear receptor that helps protect against vision-threatening eye diseases.
The researchers reported that MOSE at a concentration of 1 mg/mL alleviated lens opacification, reduced ROS generation and increased GSH content in cultured lenses.
It also increased SOD and CAT activities and up-regulated the expressions of SOD, CAT and PPARa.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that moringa extracts can alleviate oxidative stress-induced cataract formation by enhancing the endogenous antioxidant system in eye lenses.

Consumption of artificially sweetened beverages during pregnancy impacts infant gut microbiota and body mass index

University of Sherbrooke (Canada), April 19, 2020

Abstract

Artificial sweetener consumption by pregnant women has been associated with an increased risk of infant obesity, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We aimed to determine if maternal consumption of artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) during pregnancy is associated with modifications of infant gut bacterial community composition during the first year of life, and whether these alterations are linked with infant body mass index (BMI) at one year of age. This research included 100 infants from the prospective Canadian CHILD Cohort Study, selected based on maternal ASB consumption during pregnancy (50 non-consumers and 50 daily consumers). We identified four microbiome clusters, of which two recapitulated the maturation trajectory of the infant gut bacterial communities from immature to mature and two deviated from this trajectory. Maternal ASB consumption was associated with the depletion of several Bacteroides sp. and higher infant BMI. As we face an unprecedented rise in childhood obesity, future studies should evaluate the causal role of gut microbiota in the association between maternal ASB consumption, infant development and metabolism, and body composition.

Ginkgo extract ameliorates cell necroptosis by attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species production in Alzheimer models

Nanchang University (China), April 20, 2020

According to news reporting out of Nanchang, People’s Republic of China, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “To investigate the neuroprotective effect of Gingko biloba extract 761 (EGb761) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) models both in vivo and in vitro and the underlying molecular mechanism. Cultured BV2 microglial cells were treated with Ab to establish an in vitro AD model.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, “The in vivo rat AD model was established by injecting Ab. Cells were pre-treated with EGb761, and the proliferation and necroptosis were examined by MTT or flow cytometry assays, respectively. In addition, the membrane potential and oxidative stress were measured. Cognitive function was evaluated by the Morris water maze, and the activation of the JNK signaling pathway was quantified by Western blotting. Cultured BV2 cells exhibited prominent cell death after Ab induction, and this cell death was alleviated by EGb761 pre-treatment. EGb761 was found to relieve oxidative stress and suppress the membrane potential and calcium overload. EGb761 treatment in AD model rats also improved cognitive function deficits. Both cultured microglial cells and the rat hippocampus exhibited activation of the JNK signaling pathway, and EGb761 relieved this activation in cells. Our results showed that EGb761 regulated cell proliferation, suppressed necroptosis and apoptosis, relieved mitochondrial damage, and ameliorated tissue damage to improve cognitive function in AD models.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “All of these effects may involve the suppression of the JNK signaling pathway.”

Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese Skullcap) extract and baicalein inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2 and its 3C-like protease in vitro

Peking University and National Institute for Viral Disease Control (China), April 14, 2020

Abstract

COVID-19 has become a global pandemic that threatens millions of people worldwide. There is an urgent call for developing effective drugs against the virus (SARS-CoV-2) causing this disease. The main protease of SARS-CoV-2, 3C-like protease (3CLpro), is highly conserved across coronaviruses and is essential for the maturation process of viral polyprotein. Scutellariae radix (Huangqin in Chinese), the root of Scutellaria baicalensis has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat viral infection related symptoms. The extracts of S. baicalensis have exhibited broad spectrum antiviral activities. We studied the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of S. baicalensis and its ingredient compounds. We found that the ethanol extract of S. baicalensis inhibits SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro activity in vitro and the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells with an EC50 of 0.74 μg/ml. Among the major components of S. baicalensis, baicalein strongly inhibits SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro activity with an IC50 of 0.39 μM. We further identified four baicalein analogue compounds from other herbs that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro activity at microM concentration. Our study demonstrates that the extract of S. baicalensis has effective anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and baicalein and analogue compounds are strong SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitors.

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University of Sherbrooke (Canada), April 19, 2020

Abstract

Ginkgo extract ameliorates cell necroptosis by attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species production in Alzheimer models

Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese Skullcap) extract and baicalein inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2 and its 3C-like protease in vitro

Peking University and National Institute for Viral Disease Control (China), April 14, 2020

Abstract