Alternative Health Blog

Study authors conducted a retrospective review examining the outcome differences in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comparing treatment with ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) to cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). Electronic medical records of patients with IBD were analyzed; initial and follow-up vitamin D values were recorded; type of vitamin D supplementation, cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol, was documented. Patients (n = 108) with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease and an available 25(OH) vitamin D level were studied. While those who received weekly ergocalciferol had higher subsequent levels than those who received cholecalciferol, especially at a second follow up, those who received cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) were less likely to use laboratory, pharmacy, radiology and fee-based services, and had lower laboratory and pharmacy costs. Data suggests that cholecalciferol replacement might improve outcomes to a greater extent than ergocalciferol, and might be better in limiting health-care costs and expenses in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Study authors examined the effect of oral vitamin C with metformin on type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week study. Subjects (n=70) were patients with type 2 DM. Fasting (FBS,) post-meal blood glucose (PMBG,) glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and plasma ascorbic acid level (PAA) were assessed. Patients were divided randomly into placebo and vitamin C group. Decreased PAA levels were reversed significantly after treatment with vitamin C along with metformin compared to placebo with metformin. FBS, PMBG, and HbA1c levels showed significant improvement after 12 weeks of treatment with vitamin C. Researchers conclude that supplementation of vitamin C with metformin may reverse ascorbic acid levels, reduce FBS, PMBG, and improve HbA1c.

Associations between omega-3 PUFA concentrations and cognitive function in an at-risk sample of older people with previous major depression were examined in this cross-sectional study. Participants (n=132) (mean +/- SD age: 67.8 +/- 6.6 y) had recovered from major depression. Samples and information were taken through questionnaire, cognitive tests and fasting blood samples. Higher EPA and total omega-3 PUFA concentrations and a lower ratio of arachidonic acid to EPA in erythrocyte membranes were associated with a higher cognitive composite score, adjusted for education levels. The strongest and most consistent correlations were found between immediate recall and concentrations of total omega-3 PUFAs and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in erythrocytes, which were observed only in participants with recurrent depression. Findings suggest that total erythrocyte omega-3 PUFA concentrations may be positively associated with cognitive function, immediate recall, in elderly population with previous depression and that lower concentrations of omega-3 PUFAs or ALA in erythrocyte membranes may be good predictors for cognitive impairment in the same population.

Study authors investigated anthropometric measurements, body composition, and serum antioxidant vitamin levels in men with coronary heart disease (CHD). Men (n=35) with CHD and men (n=31) without CHD, aged 40 - 65 years, were included in the study. Fat mass (FM) and the percentage of fat mass (FM%) in men with CHD was higher than in men without CHD. Lipid profiles were found to be similar in both groups, with the exception of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Men with CHD had lower HDL-C levels than men without CHD (p < 0.05). Vitamin E intake in men without CHD was found to be less than in men with CHD. Serum vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin C levels in CHD were found to be lower than without CHD. Researchers conclude that high FM, low HDL-C, and low serum antioxidant vitamin levels could be important risk factors for CHD.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, researchers evaluated the clinical efficacy of supplementation with a probiotic strain (Lactobacillus salivarius LS01) in the treatment of adult patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Patients (n=38) were treated with probiotics or placebo (maltodextrin) for a period of 16 wks. Parameters were assessed based on change in SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) index, dermatology life quality index (DLQI) improvement, cytokine production by PBMCs and ability to modify fecal microbial flora. Probiotic group showed improvement of both clinical parameters at the end of treatment (T16) compared with the placebo group, along with evidence of a reduction of Th1 cytokines (IL-12+IFNgamma) and Th1/Th2 ratio (IL-12+IFNgamma/IL-4+IL-5) only in placebo-treated patients. A decrease of staphylococci in feces of the probiotic group was also observed at the end of treatment. L. salivarius LS01 was well tolerated and was associated with im provement of clinical manifestation and quality of life. The authors conclude that L. salivarius LS01 may be an important adjunctive therapy in the treatment of adult AD.

In a randomized controlled trial involving 155 community-dwelling elderly sarcopenic women aged 75 years and older living in Japan, exercise and amino acid supplementation together were found to be associated with improved muscle mass, muscle strength, and walking speed. Subjects were randomized to one of four groups: exercise plus amino acids; exercise alone; amino acids alone; or health education. Exercise consisted of twice weekly attending a 60 minute training program, and the amino acid supplementation consisted of 3 g of a leucine-rich essential amino acid mixture, twice/daily, for 3 months. Results found that the exercise plus amino acid supplementation group experienced the greatest benefits, particularly in leg muscle mass and knee extension strength. The authors conclude, "The data suggest that exercise and AAS together may be effective in enhancing not only muscle strength, but also combined variables of muscle mass and walking speed and of muscle mass and strength in sarcopenic women."

In a study involving 210 patients with type 2 diabetes with or without diabetic peripheral neuropathy, vitamin D deficiency was found to be an independent risk factor for peripheral neuropathy. Of the 210 diabetic subjects, 87 were found to have diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and these patients were found to have a significantly longer duration of diabetes as well as higher HbA(1c). The mean vitamin D level was found to be significantly lower in subjects with peripheral neuropathy (36.9 nmol/L), as compared to those without neuropathy (58.32 nmol/L). Of patients with neuropathy, 81.5% were found to be vitamin D deficient, as compare to just 60.4% of those without neuropathy. Furthermore, vitamin D levels were significantly associated with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and urine microalbumin:creatinine ratio. According to binary logistic regression analysis, diabetic peripheral neuropathy was significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency (OR=3.47). The authors conclude, "Vitamin D deficiency is an independent risk factor for diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and further studies are required to confirm if Vitamin D supplementation could prevent or delay the onset."

In a study involving an experimental mouse model of type 2 diabetic nephropathy, oral administration of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10, 10 mg/kg/d) was found to have renoprotective effects. Specifically, in diabetic mice not treated with coenzyme Q10, urinary albumin excretion level was elevated as was the albumin:creatinine ratio, which was not the case in mice treated with CoQ10. Furthermore, coenzyme Q10 was found to significantly decrease the diabetes-induced increases in total renal collagen, and to attenuate the excess renal mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production and increased mitochondrial membrane potential found in diabetic mice. The authors conclude, "Our results suggest that a deficiency in mitochondrial oxidized CoQ10 (ubiquinone) may be a likely precipitating factor for diabetic nephropathy. Therefore CoQ10 supplementation may be renoprotective in type 2 diabetes, via preservation of mitochondrial function."