I am proud to say I still have my appendix - and since my 71st birthday was yesterday, I think I am probably going to hang on to it on a life long basis.

I remember how they used to casually whip out tonsils when I was a child, assuming (such hubris!) that nature had hiccuped and tonsils had no function to speak of in the human body.

Despite the debunking of the "useless tonsils" theory, the same attitude has prevailed for appendixes (I know - it should be appendices, but this is English as she is spoken).

Now, finally, the function of the appendix may have been discovered:

The Appendix Has a Purpose After All: Repopulating the Gut with Friendly Flora

"The Scientist"has published interesting new research connecting the neurotransmittor Serotonin to aspects of Autism.

While the research appears to have been done with a view to promoting Prozac as a treatment for autism, I  find it valuable because it is another example of the importance of homeostasis in the brain, a state which is encouraged by the presence of sufficient Omega 3 fatty acids, in particular DHA.   This is apparently true of the developing brain as well as the ageing brain.

Prozac for Autism

The Vitamin lady writes about ADD and Autism

Lipid Homeostasis .... in the development of Alzheimer's Disease

In recent years, I believe Doctors and Dentists have become more accepting of the fact that some people genuinely DO feel pain at higher levels than others.  Not so in the past!  I recall only too clearly the impatience of various health professionals who were not willing to consider the fact that I needed almost 3 times the usual level of anesthetic to be rendered  painless. Even so, I was partly conscious during one operation - not a pleasant sensation, i can assure you!

So for me it is doubly interesting to come across this recent research from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, which shows definite changes in the brain of people who have migraines - as I did for many years - changes which result in a greater sensistivity to pain, and to noise (count me in on that one, too) . 

Brain Differences Found In People With Migraine

"What we’re talking about is a single pill that you can take every day that would ward off most diseases," says David Sinclair, Ph.D., a pathologist at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Sirtris Pharmaceuticals.

What new mighty drug is this? What strange chemical rising on our horizon?  What magnificent new discovery?

Ta dah!  Resveratrol.  But not as we know it, no - a PATENTABLE form of the extra-condensed synthetic molecule, which as we know is where the money is.  And also, all too often, the side effects ... the developers point out that it would take 1,000 glasses of red wine to equal the resveratrol found in just one pill. ...  let's wait and see what the hangover is like.

Develop wisdom, health and age together:  drink red wine or take Resveratrol, the plant.

Eliminating Disease

More about Resveratrol

A lengthy study in the August 13, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine found that vitamins E and C, when taken together, result in a significant reduction in the risk of strokes (31 percent) and heart attacks (22 percent).  This even though the doses used were pretty low.

When I saw the results of this study, I was very happy.  Now, I thought to myself, the media will HAVE to acknowledge the connection between supplements and heart health.

It feels a bit strange to be antiquated and naive at the same time!

No-one who follows the news can have missed the headlines that state unequivocally there is no connection between antioxidant use and better heart health for women.  Though a few of them did grudgingly add that there appeared to be some benefit for stroke.

Well, I confess willingly that I could not unravel the truth from the deception better than Mike does at News Target, so here is his take on the situation.

Unraveling the lies about the antioxidant study on vitamins E and C

When one is diagnosed with a serious disease such as cancer, that is when the pedal meets the mettle. Nothing brings one face to face with life as she is lived, and one's place in the universe, like a possible death sentence.

This is a wonderful word for it: MINDFULNESS.  Yes, the mind becomes full, but it seems that filling it with worthwhile, valuable thoughts about the meaning of life and how precious it is, rather than with fear and disturbance, can contribute  significantly to a positive outcome. Not only that - for those who have advocated this approach all along, how empowering to finally see actual scientific validation. 

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Meditation, Yoga, Relaxation, Cortisol Reference: "One year pre-post intervention follow-up of psychological, immune, endocrine and blood pressure outcomes of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in breast and prostate cancer outpatients," Carlson LE, Speca M, et al, Brain Behav Immun, 2007 May 21; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Linda E. Carlson, Department of Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Centre Holy Cross Site, Alberta Cancer Board, 2202 Second St. S.W., Calgary, Alta., Canada T3B 0W7; Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada). Summary: In a study involving 49 patients with breast cancer and 10 patients with prostate cancer, participation in an 8-week "mindfulness-based stress reduction" (MBSR) program was found to enhance quality of life, reduce stress symptoms, reduce cortisol levels, improve immune patterns, reduce systolic blood pressure and improve mood. The 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program consisted of relaxation, meditation, gentle yoga, and a daily home practice. Various measurements were taken pre- and post-intervention, and at 6 and 12 months follow-up. Results of linear mixed modeling showed significant improvements in overall symptoms of stress after the intervention, which remained over the follow-up period. Reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines, cortisol levels, systolic blood pressure, and mood disturbances were found. Furthermore, heart rate was positively associated with symptoms of stress. The results of this study suggest that participation in activities such as those included in this mindfulness-based stress reduction program may be of great benefit to cancer patients, with beneficial effects lasting well beyond the intervention. The authors conclude, "These pilot data represent a preliminary investigation of the longer-term relationships between MBSR program participation and a range of potentially important biomarkers."

Original here.

Convenience - or the future of the human race?  Where would we be without those handy plastics to wrap our foods in - but previous scientific studies on humans have found that phthalates, found in such materials,  are associated with poor semen quality in men and subtle changes in the reproductive organs in baby boys. 

These changes are brought about by interfering with testosterone levels.  In this new study, Doctors theorized that since low testosterone is also implicated in obesity and syndrome X, there might be a connection with phthalates there, also.

And indeed - there is!

Packaging chemical linked to male fat and insulin resistance

Iron is still a bit of a mystery in the human body:  while too little is a problem, so is too much.  In fact, an imbalance on either side of the spectrum is a disease, anemia (IDA - iron deficiency anemia)  and hemachromatosis.

Generally, when an adult is suffering from anemia, the first suspicion is some form of occult bleeding.  However, often no such cause can be determined.

This study shows a fascinating connection between IDA, and Helicobacter Pylori, the bug which is implicated in many ulcers.  In some of these cases, where previously it had been impossible to raise the patients' iron levels by ANY means, the levels adjusted themselves after H. Pylori was eradicated.

Eradicating H. Pylori May Help to Resolve Unexplained Iron Deficiency Anemia

Since my husband is one of the unfortunate sufferers,  describing it as like having a tribe of crickets living in his ear, I sympathize most profoundly with those who have tinnitus.

Previously, I have heard suggestions that Ginkgo Biloba helps, but it certainly didn't help him: so I am happy to be able to bring this snippet about research on melatonin and ringing in the ears to his attention.  Now, if I can just get him to try it for more than 3 or 4 days - he has (excuse the sexism) a somewhat masculine approach to his health, best described as "what doesn't kill me I'll ignore"

Quieting ringing ears

A Dr. Cannell  triggered the investigation into this new role for Vitamin D, when he put a puzzlingly lower rate of flu in a group of men under his control, together with a report that Vitamin D upregulates white blood cells. "First, the ward below mine was quarantined, then the wards on my right, left, and across the hall," Cannell recalls. However, although the 32 men on his ward at Atascadero (Calif.) State Hospital had mingled with patients from infected wards before their quarantine, none developed the illness.

An enlightened pyschiatrist, he had been correcting a deficiency of that Vitamin in his group with supplementation.

Science News reports in an article headed "The Antibiiotic Vitamin": "On the basis of more than 100 articles that he collected, Cannell and seven other researchers now propose that vitamin D deficiency may underlie a vulnerability to infections by the microbes that cathelicidin targets. These include bacteria, viruses, and fungi, the group notes in a report available online for the December Epidemiology and Infection. "

Krispin Sullivan CN - comprehensive article on Vitamin D - emphasizes the importance of TESTING your levels of D when supplementing or exposing yourself to the sun. Information on which test to request is also given. 

Carlson Labs Vitamin D

Natures Plus Vitamin D

"Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated With Low Mood and Worse Cognitive Performance in Older Adults,"
Wilkins CH, Sheline YI, et al, Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2006; 14(12): 1032-1040. (Address: Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Nutritional Science, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA)

Summary: In a cross-sectional study involving 40 older subjects with mild Alzheimer's disease and 40 nondemented older subjects, vitamin D deficiency was found to be associated with low mood and worse cognitive performance. 58% of the subjects had abnormally low vitamin D levels (less than 20 ng/mL). After adjusting for age, race, gender, and season, vitamin D deficiency was associated with the presence of active mood disorder. Additionally, vitamin D deficiency was associated with worse cognitive function (measured using the Short Blessed Test), and greater dementia severity (using the Clinical Dementia Rating). Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "In a cross-section of older adults, vitamin D deficiency was associated with low mood and with impairment on two of four measures of cognitive performance."

Lynn says:  Vitamin D is certainly in the news recently -cancer, bone loss, now Alzheimer's among other conditions it is related to.

I have written before about the reverence I have for the instinctive knowledge some women had about protecting their families' health before the dawning of the age of nutritional science, and the Grandmotherly spoonful of Cod Liver Oil ranks high on that list. 

Remember, though, all Vitamin D is not created equal!  Look for D from fish oil,  or for Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol.

You can get the best Cod Liver Oil here

For the faint of heart - here are capsules of Cod Liver Oil

And here is Vitamin D3 in a 2000 i.u. formulation

If you go to my article on Oligoprocyanidins, written in about 2000, you will see that I was already advocating Resveratrol as an anti-cancer strategy and over-all health support.  In fact, 2 years ago I found an absolutely wonderful small company making capsules and powder of the Muscadine Grape, grown right here in the USA.

I picked up the products immediately, and began using it myself.  It turns out that the Muscadine Grape has about 3 times the amount of Resveratrol as other kinds of grapes, as the website www.resveratrol.com points out. 

Red Wine compound may extend life - mouse study

Resveratrol - protecting against vascular alteration and aging

Jarrow makes an excellent Resveratrol product, with 16 mg of Resveratrol.

While I am very uncomfortable with feeding soy to infants  because of the possibility of hormone disruptions, preliminary studies are suggesting that food based sources of soy during early childhood and adolescence may protect against breast cancer.

"By comparing the highest and lowest soy intake values for soy-based foods such as tofu, miso and natto, Korde and co-workers at the National Cancer Institute calculated that women with the highest soy intake during childhood (ages 5 to 11) had a 58 per cent lower risk of breast cancer as adults as the women with the lowest soy intake as children.

The corresponding reductions for adolescent and adult intake were about 25 per cent, they said.

The underlying mechanism is not known, said the researchers, but they hypothesized that the oestrogenic effects of soy isoflavones cause changes in breast tissue during childhood that may decrease sensitivity to carcinogens later in life. A similar protective effect has been found in studies of overweight girls, perhaps because fat tissue also secretes oestrogens, said Korde."

Soy during childhood linked to lower risk of breast cancer

The Vitamin lady writes about protecting against breast cancer

In a previous blog entry  I drew attention to the fact that pelvic irradiation for cancer resulted in a greatly increased risk of subsequent hip fractures. (http://weblog.vitaminlady.com/blog/_archives/2005/11/25/1421442.html)

New research has resulted in facts about radiation and bone loss that may actually threaten its future as therapy. 

Dr. Moss's esteemed newsletter lays it out in detail.  As he points out, "In 1903, just a few years after the 1895 discovery of X-rays, the German surgeon Georg Clemens Perthes (1869-1927) exposed one wing of a day-old chicken to X-rays. Just 12 days later he noted that growth of the irradiated wing was retarded and that the feathers were abnormally formed. In 1905, two French scientists, Joseph Recamier and Louis Mathieu Tribondeau (1872-1918), described similar growth retardation in kittens. "

The conclusion?  "Exposing bone to radiation can result in four major types of complications: necrosis (a type of cell death), fractures, severe alterations in bone growth, and radiation-induced cancers.

Read his article here - you will need to scroll down the page a bit to access it (and when you do, my title will be explained!):

http://www.cancerdecisions.com/102906.html

This is a most intriguing study.  B6 is a fascinating nutrient, involved as it is in almost every metabolic function. It is easily depleted through use of alcohol and drugs, medicinal or other, and also high consumption of simple sugars.

Add to that the catch-22 loop that not only is B6 essential for the production of Hydrochloric Acid, but B6 also needs HCL to be absorbed, and you can see that  deficiencies are going to be common. In fact, using the P-5-P form of B6, which is more absorbable, is a strategy I highly recommend.

It has always stood to reason that B65 deficiencies are going to lead to trouble, since it is part of DNA synthesis, but this is the first study to actually document the process.

High daily intake of B6 cuts colon cancer risk by 58%