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Study shows vitamin D deficiency could increase older people’s risk of losing muscle strength by as much as 78%
Federal University of São Carlos (Brazil) & University College London, December 13, 2022
Researchers at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) in Brazil and University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom have now shown that vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of dynapenia in older people by 78%. Dynapenia is an age-associated loss of muscle strength. It can be partially explained by muscle atrophy and is a major risk factor for physical incapacity later in life. People with dynapenia are more likely to fall, need to go to hospital, be prematurely institutionalized, and die. The researchers analyzed data for 3,205 non-dynapenic individuals aged 50 and over who were followed for four years by the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA), a long-term multi-cohort study that began in 2002 and has had more than 15 years of follow-up. Bone and muscle tissue are interconnected not just mechanically and physically, but also biochemically. “Endocrine disorders such as vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency can lead to loss of bone mineral density as well as a reduction in muscle mass, strength and function,” he said. The study sample included individuals aged 50 and over without dynapenia. Grip strength (considered a good proxy for overall muscle strength) was 26 kg or more for men and 16 kg or more for women. The main conclusion was that individuals with vitamin D deficiency, defined as less than 30 nanomoles per liter in the blood, had a 70% higher risk of developing dynapenia by the end of the four-year study period than those with normal levels of vitamin D, defined as more than 50 nmol/L. “This is itself an important finding as it shows that vitamin D deficiency heightens the risk of muscle weakness by 70%. However, because we knew there are many worldwide cases of people with osteoporosis who take vitamin supplements, we needed to try to measure the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation,” said Maicon Luís Bicigo Delinocente, first author of the article. When individuals with osteoporosis and those taking vitamin D were excluded from the analysis, he explained, “we found that the risk of developing muscle weakness by the end of the four-year period was 78% higher for subjects with vitamin D deficiency at the start of the study than for subjects with normal vitamin D levels, and 77% higher for those with vitamin D insufficiency [30-50 nmol/L].”
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PQQ and CoQ10 reverse mitochondrial dysfunction plus chronic disease symptoms
Monasch University (Australia), December 8, 2022
We all know that chronic degenerative diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and stroke are a leading cause of death and disability – throughout the world. For example, in the United States, almost half of all adults suffer from one form or another of chronic disease – and a quarter of all adults suffer from two or more. Yet, we almost never hear Western medicine talk about a major contributor to poor health – mitochondrial dysfunction. In fact, research has clearly shown that mitochondrial dysfunction – a product of aging (or overexposure to toxins, even inside the womb) – is a common thread uniting all of these deadly conditions. The good news is that a pair of nutrients – CoQ10 and PQQ – can effectively combat these health problems by protecting and even regenerating the body’s store of indispensable mitochondria. Research has so far revealed two ways to boost mitochondrial health: rigorous physical exercise and calorie restriction of the type achieved by intermittent fasting. Unfortunately, not everybody has the inclination, willpower or physical ability to do this consistently.
As it turns out, there just might be an easier and more practical way to support mitochondrial health. And, a substance called PQQ is the key. Coenzyme pyrroloquinone quinone, or PQQ, is a vitamin-like essential micronutrient with powerful antioxidant capabilities. PQQ not only assists mitochondria in creating bioenergy, but it protects them from destructive oxidative stress. In addition, it is a powerful growth factor, working with other enzymes to promote the growth, development, differentiation, and longevity of cells.
In addition to protecting mitochondria from oxidative damage caused by free radicals, PQQ actually promotes mitochondrial biogenesis. This means that the nutrient is capable of helping the body regenerate fresh mitochondria, thereby reversing cellular aging and theoretically prolonging life – an amazing benefit. Studies have shown that PQQ protects memory and cognition, while helping to shield the brain against the effects of environmental toxins such as mercury. In fact, PQQ has been shown to reverse cognitive impairment caused by oxidative stress. A double-blind clinical trial published in Functional Foods in Health and Disease showed that 20 mg a day of PQQ improved cognition in middle-aged and elderly participants – as well as increasing vigor and reducing fatigue, tension, anxiety, depression and confusion. CoQ10, another vitamin-like enzyme that helps to convert fuel into energy, has long impressed researchers with its beneficial effects. Like PQQ, CoQ10 is credited by scientists with the ability to optimize and facilitate mitochondrial function – and it is often used to reduce risk of heart attack and heart failure. When combined, the two enzymes are synergistic – meaning each potentiates the effects and benefits of the other. For example, in one study, researchers noted significant improvements in cognition for participants given 20 mg of PQQ a day. But when a dosage of 300 mg of CoQ10 was added, the results went from “significant” to “dramatic.” Foods that are particularly rich in PQQ include organic fruits and vegetables such parsley, papaya, kiwi fruit, tofu and green peppers – to the tune of 2 to 3 micrograms per 100-gram serving. You can also obtain roughly the same amount from a 4-ounce serving of green tea. CoQ10 is found in grass-fed beef, sardines and organ meats such as liver – as well as in organic cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower.
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A Mediterranean diet not only boosts health, but also improves fertility
Monash University & University of South Australia, December 12, 2022
With an emphasis on fruits, vegetables and legumes, the Mediterranean diet has long been applauded for its multiple health benefits. Now, new research shows that it may also help overcome infertility, making it a non-intrusive and affordable strategy for couples trying to conceive. Conducted by Monash University and the University of South Australia, the review found that the Mediterranean diet can improve fertility, assisted reproductive technology (ART) success, and sperm quality in men. Specifically, researchers identified that the anti-inflammatory properties of a Mediterranean diet can improve couples’ chances of conception. “Research shows inflammation can affect fertility for both men and women, affecting sperm quality, menstrual cycles, and implantation. So, in this study we wanted to see how a diet that reduces inflammation – such as the Mediterranean diet – might improve fertility outcomes. The Mediterranean diet is primarily plant-based, and includes whole grains, extra virgin olive oil, fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes, nuts, herbs, and spices. Yoghurt, cheese, and lean protein sources such as fish, chicken, or eggs; red and processed meats are only eaten in small amounts. Monash University researcher, Simon Alesi, says understanding the association between anti-inflammatory diets such as the Mediterranean diet, and fertility, could be a gamechanger for couples hoping to start a family.
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Study reveals how racism takes its toll on the brain and body
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, December 13, 2022
Structural racism has not only psychosocial but also biological consequences. Discrimination has been shown to contribute to mental and physical disorders including obesity, depression, and addiction, but the biological pathways from a social experience to its impacts on the body remain unknown. A new study examines the role of the brain-gut microbiome (BGM) system in discrimination-related health issues. The study appears in Biological Psychiatry. The new study, led by Tien S. Dong, MD, Ph.D., and Gilbert C. Gee, Ph.D., at UCLA, tests the hypothesis that discrimination influences the central and enteric nervous systems, thus altering the bidirectional signaling between the brain and gut microbiome as mediated by inflammation. Recognizing that past research exploring discrimination and illness predominantly compared Black and White individuals, the authors investigated multiple racial and ethnic groups. The study included 154 adults in the Los Angeles community who self-reported their race or ethnicity as Asian American, Black, Hispanic, or white. Participants completed questionnaires to assess experiences of discrimination. Participants of all ethnic and racial backgrounds reported experiences of discrimination, although they reported a variety of reasons for discrimination, ranging from race to sex to age. “These different reasons were associated with different changes in the Brain-Gut Microbiome system across the different racial and ethnic groups,” explains Dr. Dong. “Our research suggests that for Black and Hispanic individuals, discrimination leads to changes that include increased systemic inflammation,” explained Dr. Dong. “For Asian individuals, the patterns suggest [that] possible responses to discrimination include somatization, or the production of multiple medical symptoms with no discernible known cause. Among white individuals, discrimination was related to anxiety but not inflammation. But just as importantly, for all races, discrimination also had an increase in the emotional arousal and limbic regions of the brain, which are associated with the stress response of fight or flight. We also saw elevations in pro-inflammatory microbes such as Prevotella copri.” John Krystal, MD, editor of Biological Psychiatry, said, “This new study sheds light on the broad impact of exposure to racism on emotions, brain activity, inflammatory markers in the blood, and the composition of the gut microbiome.
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Frequent Cell Phone Use Linked to Anxiety, Lower Grade, Reduced Happiness in Students
Kent State University, December 6, 2022
Today, smartphones are central to college students’ lives, keeping them constantly connected with friends, family and the Internet. Kent State University researchers Andrew Lepp, Ph.D., Jacob Barkley, Ph.D., and Aryn Karpinski, Ph.D. surveyed more than 500 university students. Daily cell phone use was recorded along with a clinical measure of anxiety and each student’s level of satisfaction with their own life, or in other words happiness. Finally, all participants allowed the researchers to access their official university records in order to retrieve their actual, cumulative college grade point average (GPA). All students surveyed were undergraduate students and were equally distributed by class (freshman, sophomore, junior and senior). In addition, 82 different, self-reported majors were represented. Results of the analysis showed that cell phone use was negatively related to GPA and positively related to anxiety. Following this, GPA was positively related to happiness while anxiety was negatively related to happiness. Thus, for the population studied, high frequency cell phone users tended to have lower GPA, higher anxiety, and lower satisfaction with life (happiness) relative to their peers who used the cell phone less often. The statistical model illustrating these relationships was highly significant. Earlier this year, a team led by Lepp and Barkley also identified a negative relationship between cell phone use and cardiorespiratory fitness. Taken as a whole, these results suggest that students should be encouraged to monitor their cell phone use and reflect upon it critically so that it is not detrimental to their academic performance, mental and physical health, and overall well-being or happiness.
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Berry compounds’ heart health benefits linked to impact on platelets
Sun Yat-sen University (Taiwan), December 12, 2022
The potential cardiovascular benefits of anthocyanins may be associated with their ability to influence the expression of chemicals by platelets in the blood, says new data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The study, published in Nutrition & Metabolism , deepens our understanding of the heart health benefits of anthocyanins, pigments found in many fruit like black raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and blackcurrants. Chinese scientists report that 320 mg per day of purified anthocyanins, equivalent to about 100 g of fresh blueberries and blackcurrants, for 24 weeks were associated with significant reductions in platelet chemokine levels, which correlated to lower levels of inflammatory markers in people with elevated cholesterol levels.