Alternative Health Blog

In a study involving adults living in North America with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) but without diabetes or cardiovascular disease, results indicate a high prevalence of low vitamin D levels in MetS patients. 30% of MetS patients showed vitamin D deficiency (less than 20 ng/mL) compared with only 8% of controls. Additionally, serum vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with fasting glucose levels and HOMA. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Future studies of vitamin D supplementation in these subjects on subsequent risk of diabetes will prove instructive with respect to potential health claims in these high risk patients with MetS."

In a study involving 45 patients with COPD acute exacerbation and 45 healthy smokers who served as a control group, levels of coenzyme Q10 and the copper/zinc ratio was significantly lower in the patient group than the control group. In addition, the patient group was found to have lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) and higher C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and sedimentation rate. The authors conclude, "The decrease in CoQ10 level and Cu/Zn ratio and elevation in Cu and Zn levels observed in the patients probably result from the defense response of organism and are mediated by inflammatory-like substances."

In a randomized study involving 77 patients with mild-to-moderate idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), treatment with acupuncture (8 treatments in 4 weeks) was found to be associated with significant lasting improvements in global symptom score (GSS) assessments, distal motor latencies, and distal sensory latencies, when compared to subjects who received treatment with steroids (20 mg/d prednisolone for 2 weeks, followed by 10 mg/d for 2 weeks), over the course of a 1-year follow-up. Moreover, the changes in GSS were associated with improvements in electrophysiological assessments. Comparing the two groups, the acupuncture group was found to have lesser percentages of treatment failure (10.5% vs. 33.3% at month 7 and 15.8 vs. 51.3% at month 13) lesser percentages of moderate improvement (2.6% vs. 7.7% at month 7 and 2.6 vs. 0 at month 13), and great percentages of showing good improvement (86.8% vs. 59% at month 7 and 81.6% vs. 48.7% at month 13), as compared to subjects who were treated with steroids. The authors conclude, "This article demonstrates that short-term acupuncture treatment may result in long-term improvement in mild-to-moderate idiopathic CTS. Acupuncture treatment can be considered as an alternative therapy to other conservative treatments for those who do not opt for early surgical decompression."

In a study involving a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, administration of a 'medical food cocktail' containing curcumin, piperine, epigallocatechin gallate, alpha-lipoic acid, N-acetylcysteine, B vitamins, vitamin C, and folate, for a period of 6 months, was found to improve learning and memory (cortical- and hippocampal- dependent learning) and decrease soluble amyloid-beta, including amyloid-beta oligomers, suggesting that, "...combination diet consisting of natural dietary supplements improves cognitive functioning while decreasing AD neuropathology and may thus represent a safe, natural treatment for AD."

In a study involving subjects aged 60 years or more, results suggest that folate supplementation may have a beneficial role to play in persons with age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Subjects with hearing loss had significantly lower serum folate levels than subjects with normal pure tone average (PTA) in the speech and high frequencies. Additionally, after adjusting for potential confounders, an inverse association was observed between serum folate concentration and increasing hearing threshold in the high frequencies. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Serum folate was significantly lower among elderly with ARHL. Trials on nutritional supplementation may substantiate the role of serum folate in ARHL."

In a prospective pilot study involving 10 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with mild to moderate lung disease and Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization, results indicate that supplementation with probiotics may reduce pulmonary exacerbations rate. The patients received supplementation with probiotics for 6 months. At intervention end, the rate of pulmonary exacerbations was significantly reduced compared with rates 2 years prior to study and 6 months after intervention end. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Probiotics reduce pulmonary exacerbations rate in patients with CF. Probiotics may have a preventive potential for pulmonary deterioration in CF patients."

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 94 patients with Crohn's disease in remission, results indicate that supplementation with vitamin D3 may have potential in reducing the risk of relapse. The patients were randomized to 1,200 IU vitamin D3 (n = 46) or placebo (n = 48) once daily for 12 months. Vitamin D3 supplementation was found to significantly increase serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and reduce the relapse rate (13% in vitamin D3 group, compared with 29% in placebo group). Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Oral supplementation with 1,200 IE vitamin D3 significantly increased serum vitamin D levels and insignificantly reduced the risk of relapse from 29% to 13%."

In a case-control study involving 656 cases of colorectal adenomas and 648 controls, results indicate that higher levels of circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels (25(OH)D) in winter season may be associated with a lower risk of colorectal adenomas, particularly in the distal sites. Plasma or serum levels of 25(OH)D were measured in subjects. After adjusting for confounders, and restricting analysis to the winter season, the highest quartile of circulating levels of 25(OH)D were associated with a 42% reduced risk of colorectal adenomas, compared with the lowest quartile. Additionally, the inverse association was stronger for the rectum (78% reduced risk) and distal colon (53% reduced risk). Thus, the authors conclude, "The present study adds to evidence that high levels of circulating vitamin D measured during darker season is associated with decreased prevalence of adenomas in the distal sites of the colorectum."

In a controlled study involving 27 women aged 65-90 years with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, results indicate that DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) supplementation may exert beneficial effects on cognitive function and basic activities of daily living (ADL). 12 women were assigned to receive DHEA 25 mg/day for 6 months, while 15 women did not receive DHEA supplementation. At 6-month end, women in the DHEA group showed increased cognitive scores and steady ADL scores (using MMSE and Hasegawa Dementia Scale-Revised, and Barthel Index). DHEA supplementation was also improved verbal fluency. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "DHEA supplementation in older women with cognitive impairment may have beneficial effects on cognitive function and ADL."

In a randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 92 children (7-12 years) with ADHD, results indicate that supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may improve symptoms. The children were randomized to 0.5 g EPA or placebo for 15 weeks. EPA supplementation was found to improve inattention/cognitive subscale in the Conners' Teacher Rating Scales (CTRS). EPA supplementation improved CTRS total scores more than 25% in 48% of oppositional children (n=48), compared with only a 9% improvement observed in the placebo group. Similarly, among less hyperactive/impulsive children 36% of children in the EPA group showed more than a 25% increase in CTRS total score, compared with 18% of children in the placebo group. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Two ADHD subgroups (oppositional and less hyperactive/impulsive children) improved after 15 weeks EPA treatment. Increasing EPA and decreasing omega-6 fatty acid concentrations in phospholipids were related to clinical improvement."

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 33 recreational athletes (average age: 25 years; 20 men, 13 women), treatment with acupuncture was found to significantly improve strength performance, as compared to placebo laser acupuncture (a deactivated laser device). Subjects received either a) real acupuncture; b) placebo laser acupuncture; c) sham acupuncture (needling at non-acupuncture points). Immediate changes in maximum rebound height and quadriceps maximum isometric voluntary force (MIVF) associated with bipedal drop jumps, surface EMG activity of the rectus femoris muscle during 30 second sustained MIVF of knee extensors, and muscular endurance were assessed. Results found that immediately following real acupuncture the mean change in MIVF from baseline was 46.6 N, as compared to sham laser acupuncture (19.6 N) and sham acupuncture (28.8 N). The authors conclude, "The present study shows that a single acupuncture treatment was efficacious for improving isometric quadriceps strength in recreational athletes. These results might have implications not only for athletic performance enhancement, but also for rehabilitation programs aimed at restoring neuromuscular function."

In two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studies involving 34 and 40 subjects, respectively, results indicate that daily consumption of raw and heat-treated ginger may alleviate muscle pain induced by eccentric exercise. The participants were randomized to placebo and 2 g of raw ginger (study 1) or heated ginger (study 2) daily for 11 days. The subjects performed 18 eccentric actions of the elbow flexors to induce pain and inflammation. 24 hours post-exercise, subjects in the ginger groups showed significant pain reductions (23-25%) compared with subjects in the placebo groups. Thus, the authors conclude, "This study demonstrates that daily consumption of raw and heat-treated ginger resulted in moderate-to-large reductions in muscle pain following exercise-induced muscle injury. Our findings agree with those showing hypoalgesic effects of ginger in osteoarthritis patients and further demonstrate ginger's effectiveness as a pain reliever."

In a case-control study involving 60 subjects with male infertility (oligozoospermia (n=32), azoospermia (n=22), and asthenozoospermia (n=6)) and 39 healthy controls, results show that the mean seminal plasma CoQ10 levels were significantly lower in infertile men compared with controls. Additionally, a significant inverse association was observed between seminal plasma CoQ10 and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Elevated seminal plasma CoQ10 levels are associated directly with good semen parameters and inversely with the oxidative stress."

In an animal study involving rats with a pentylenetetrazol(PTZ)-induced kindling model of epilepsy, treatment with curcumin (2 g/kg orally), along with piperine (20 mg/kg orally administered to enhance the bioavailability of curcumin up to 20-fold), was found to decrease cerebrum and cerebellum levels of MDA (transiently), catalase, and GST. When curcumin was administered along with the antiepileptic drug, carbamazepine (3.6 mg/kg orally), similar results were found. These results suggest that curcumin holds potential as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of patients with epilepsy.

In a clinical study involving 10 healthy adult volunteers, results indicate that drinking green tea may exert a protective effect against ultraviolet and visible radiation-induced DNA damage. Blood samples were obtained from the volunteers at baseline and 30, 60, and 90 minutes following ingestion of three cups of green tea (540 mL total). Peripheral leucocytes were isolated from each blood sample and exposed to increasing periods of UVA/VIS irradiation in the laboratory. Results showed that green tea intake significantly reduced the genotoxic effects observed in peripheral blood cells. Thus, the authors conclude, "Further investigation should consider whether this dietary-induced protection could be extended to cells of the skin."

In a randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 80 elderly patients admitted to a Geriatric Intensive Rehabilitation Center, results indicate that supplementation with essential amino acids (EAAs) may lower risk of infection. The patients were randomized to placebo or EAAs (8 g/day) for a period of 1 month. General infection rate was observed to be 82.5% in the placebo group, compared with 52% in the EAA group. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "EAAs supplementation may lower the risk of infection by 30% in the rehabilitative elderly population."

In a prospective, randomized, controlled study involving 66 patients with idiopathic SSNHL (sudden sensorineural hearing loss, results indicate that supplementation with zinc may enhance hearing recovery. The patients were randomized to oral supplementation with zinc gluconate or corticosteroid. A significantly larger hearing gain and rate of successful recovery was observed in the zinc group. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Zinc supplementation may enhance the hearing recovery of SSNHL patients. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may help reduce the oxidative stress of the cochlea in SSNHL, implying a new direction in the treatment of this disease."

In a prospective cohort study involving 762 patients undergoing dialysis, results indicate that vitamin D deficiency may be associated with an increased risk of short-term and long-term cardiovascular mortality. 51 patients and 213 patients died during 6 months and 3 years of follow-up. After adjusting for potential confounders, patients with 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels less than or equal to 10 ng/mL showed more than a two-fold increased risk of short-term cardiovascular mortality and a 70% increased risk of long-term cardiovascular mortality, compared with patients with 25(OH)D levels above 10 ng/mL. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Vitamin D deficiency in dialysis patients is associated with an adverse health outcome, in particular with short-term cardiovascular mortality. Intervention studies are urgently needed to evaluate whether vitamin D supplementation improves health outcomes of dialysis patients."