NUTRIGENOMICS

Magnesium Effects Gene Signaling (Am J of Clinical Nutrition)

We observed that magnesium treatment significantly decreased fasting C-peptide concentrations (change: ?0.4 ng/mL after magnesium treatment compared with +0.05 ng/mL after placebo treatment; P = 0.004) and appeared to decrease fasting insulin concentrations (change: ?2.2 ?U/mL after magnesium treatment compared with 0.0 ?U/mL after placebo treatment; P = 0.25). No consistent patterns were observed across inflammatory biomarkers. Gene expression profiling revealed up-regulation of 24 genes and down-regulation of 36 genes including genes related to metabolic and inflammatory pathways such as C1q and tumor necrosis factor–related protein 9 (C1QTNF9) and pro-platelet basic protein (PPBP). Urine proteomic profiling showed significant differences in the expression amounts of several peptides and proteins after treatment.

Conclusion: Magnesium supplementation for 4 wk in overweight individuals led to distinct changes in gene expression and proteomic profiling consistent with favorable effects on several metabolic pathways. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00737815.

The Power of Herbs on Your Biochemistry (Mercola)

Boost your Immunity, Fight off Cancer, Decrease Inflammation, Aid your Brain, & Help Your Blood Sugar with the herbs highlighted in this article.

A couple of spices deserve further review; one of which is turmeric. It was already mentioned twice above, both as an immune booster and potent anti-inflammatory. But perhaps its greatest value lies in its anti-cancer potential.

In India where turmeric is widely used, the prevalence of four common U.S. cancers — colon, breast, prostate and lung — is 10 times lower. In fact, prostate cancer, which is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in U.S. men, is rare in India and this is attributed, in part, to the curcumin in turmeric.

Dr. William LaValley from Austin Texas is one of the top natural medicine cancer physicians I know and he recently shared this important information with me. Interestingly, curcumin—the active ingredient in turmeric—actually has the most evidence based literature backing up its anti-cancer claims of any other nutrient!

Numerous studies have looked into this potential cancer-fighting link, with promising results. For instance, curcumin has been found to:

Inhibit the transformation of cells from normal to tumor, as well as inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells already existing	Help your body destroy mutated cancer cells so they cannot spread throughout your body
Decrease inflammation	Enhance liver function
Inhibit the synthesis of a protein thought to be instrumental in tumor formation	Prevent the development of additional blood supply necessary for cancer cell growth (known as anti-angiogenesis)

Curcumin affects over 100 different pathways once it gets into a cell. Interestingly, this also applies to the metabolite of curcumin and its derivatives, which also have anti-cancer properties. According to researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, curcumin blocks a key biological pathway needed for development of melanoma and other cancers.

The spice actually stops laboratory strains of melanoma from proliferating and pushes the cancer cells to commit suicide by shutting down nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), a powerful protein known to induce abnormal inflammatory response that leads to an assortment of disorders such as arthritis and cancer.

Best of all, curcumin appears to be safe in the treatment of all cancers!

To get the full benefits that curcumin has to offer, you will want to look for a turmeric extract with at least 95 percent curcuminoids that contains only 100 percent certified organic ingredients.

Methylate your Body to Health (Dr. Hyman)

Methylation is a key biochemical process that is essential for the proper function of almost all of your body’s systems. It occurs billions of times every second; it helps repair your DNA on a daily basis; it controls homocysteine (an unhealthy compound that can damage blood vessels); it helps recycle molecules needed for detoxification; and it helps maintain mood and keep inflammation in check.

To keep methylation running smoothly you need optimal levels of B vitamins. Without enough B vitamins methylation breaks down, and the results can be catastrophic. In these cases we see more birth defects like spina bifida (as with the Chinese babies), more cases of Down’s syndrome, and more miscarriage.

A breakdown in methylation also puts you at higher risk for conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes, cervical dysplasia and cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, depression, pediatric cognitive dysfunction ( mood and other behavioral disorders), dementia, and stroke. And like Mr. Roberts and Mr. McNally, you may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease.

DRUGS

Benzocaine Products Linked to Methemoglobinemia (Drugs.com)

FDA notified healthcare professionals and patients that FDA continues to receive reports of methemoglobinemia, a serious and potentially fatal adverse effect, associated with benzocaine products both as a spray, used during medical procedures to numb the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, and benzocaine gels and liquids sold over-the-counter and used to relieve pain from a variety of conditions, such as teething, canker sores, and irritation of the mouth and gums.

Should We Worry About Vaccine Reactions-the Importance of Informed Consent (NVIC) 

Barbara L. Fisher discusses her side to the arguement of vaccine safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics deems vaccines safe.

Lifestyle Modifications Better Than Drugs For High Triglycerides (VitalChoice)

Here’s the key sentence from the AHA’s press release: “Diet and lifestyle changes that include substituting healthy fats for unhealthy saturated and trans fats, engaging in regular physical activity and losing excess weight can reduce triglycerides – a blood fat – by 20 percent to 50 percent.” (AHA 2011)

 

As the full statement makes clear, by “healthy fats”, they mean polyunsaturated fats … especially the omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) that abound in oily fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines.

 

We take issue with the implication that saturated fats are inherently unhealthful, or that unsaturated fats are always healthful.

 

 

PUFA are precursor molecules for eicosanoids such as leukotrienes and prostaglandins and may influence immune function through other mechanisms involving membranes, cell signaling, and gene expression. Immune-modulating properties of diets containing different oils [sunflower oil, rich in linoleic acid; linseed oil, rich in ?-linolenic acid; salmon oil, rich in marine (n-3) PUFA; and beef tallow, rich in SFA] were investigated in an influenza-vaccination model, in which the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was studied in C57BL/6 mice, and an ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitization model for experimental allergy in BALB/c mice.

 

 I’ve been seeing more than several patients a month who have been sent over with questions about what antibiotic to use after having failed several courses, or perhaps acquiring a fairly resistant organism in the hospital.Typically there are fewer and fewer oral antibiotic choices, and the question is: What compounds might we have at hand to use, or do we need to resort to intravenous antibiotic therapy? This is an increasingly frequent problem. David Livermore just published a nice series on Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase^[1] (KPC) organisms and found that less than a quarter of them are still susceptible to either ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, or nitrofurantoin. (Paul G. Auwaerter, MD, MBA, Posted: 04/15/2011)

HEALTH

Is Your Gut the Cause of Your Fat? (Dr. Mercola and Neurogastroenterology & Motility Volume 23, Issue 3, pages 255–e119, March 2011)

Changes in your gut flora alter your neurotransmitters and effect behavior such as food choices and reactions to stress.

Abstract: Background There is increasing interest in the gut-brain axis and the role intestinal microbiota may play in communication between these two systems. Acquisition of intestinal microbiota in the immediate postnatal period has a defining impact on the development and function of the gastrointestinal, immune, neuroendocrine and metabolic systems. For example, the presence of gut microbiota regulates the set point for hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity.

Methods: We investigated basal behavior of adult germ-free (GF), Swiss Webster female mice in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and compared this to conventionally reared specific pathogen free (SPF) mice. Additionally, we measured brain mRNA expression of genes implicated in anxiety and stress-reactivity.

Key Results Germ-free mice, compared to SPF mice, exhibited basal behavior in the EPM that can be interpreted as anxiolytic. Altered GF behavior was accompanied by a decrease in the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR2B mRNA expression in the central amygdala, increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression and decreased serotonin receptor 1A (5HT1A) expression in the dentate granule layer of the hippocampus.

Conclusions & Inferences We conclude that the presence or absence of conventional intestinal microbiota influences the development of behavior, and is accompanied by neurochemical changes in the brain. (Neurogastroenterology & Motility Volume 23, Issue 3, pages 255–e119, March 2011).

Eating Right For Your Allergy (D’damo Newsletter)

Type O

• Lean, organic, grass fed red meat
• Richly oiled cold-water fish (halibut, cod)
• Flax (linseed) oil

Type A

• Soy based foods
• Richly oiled cold-water fish (salmon, sardines)
• Flax (linseed) oil

Type B

• Lean, organic, grass fed red meat (lamb or mutton)
• Richly oiled cold-water fish (halibut, sardines)
• Cultured dairy (kefir, yogurt)

Type AB

• Soy beans and soy-based products
• Richly oiled cold-water fish (salmon, sardines)
• Cultured dairy (kefir, yogurt)

Herbal Strategies for All Types: Quercetin Plus and Collinsonia Plus work together to reduce inflammation and stabilize the lining of the sinus cavities. Rose hip concentrate and stinging nettle tea have also proven useful to reduce symptoms associated with seasonal allergies.

Getting Outdoors to Stay Fit (Ecotherapy)

We  that getting physical activity every day is good for both the body and the mind, but are there any forms of exercise that are better than others? Or maybe it’s not the exercise itself, but where you do it.A recent British study has found that “green exercise” (walking, bicycling, boating and fishing, or any other activity that is done outside and in the presence of nature) is beneficial for mental health, especially those who are generally inactive or stressed.

Vitamin E, Selenium, and Sperm (Vitasearch)

Summary# 48585: In a study involving 690 infertile men (mean age: 28.5 years) with idiopathic asthenoteratospermia, presenting with male factor infertility for at least 1 year, daily supplementation with selenium (200 microg/d) in combination with vitamin E (400 IU) for a period of at least 100 days was found to be associated with significant total improvements in sperm motility, morphology, or both (in 52.6% of cases), and spontaneous pregnancy (10.8% of cases), as compared to no treatment. After 14 weeks of treatment, only 36.6% of subjects were found to have no response to treatment. The authors conclude, “Supplemental Se and vitamin E may improve semen quality and have beneficial and protective effects, especially on sperm motility. We advocate their use for the treatment of idiopathic male infertility diagnosed with asthenoteratospermia or asthenospermia in semen analysis.

Soda, Fructose, Sugar & Blood Pressure (American Heart Association)

The obesity epidemic has focused attention on relationships of sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to cardiovascular risk factors. Here we report cross-sectional associations of SSBs, diet beverages, and sugars with blood pressure (BP) for United Kingdom and US participants of the International Study of Macro/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure. Data collected include four 24-hour dietary recalls, two 24-hour urine collections, 8 BP readings, and questionnaire data for 2696 people ages 40 to 59 years of age from 10 US/United Kingdom population samples. Associations of SSBs, diet beverages, and sugars (fructose, glucose, and sucrose) with BP were assessed by multiple linear regression. SSB intake related directly to BP, with P values of 0.005 to <0.001 (systolic BP) and 0.14 to <0.001 (diastolic BP). SSB intake higher by 1 serving per day (355 mL/24 hours) was associated with systolic/diastolic BP differences of +1.6/+0.8 mm Hg (both P<0.001) and +1.1/+0.4 mm Hg (P<0.001/<0.05) with adjustment for weight and height. Diet beverage intake was inversely associated with BP (P 0.41 to 0.003). Fructose- and glucose-BP associations were direct, with significant sugar-sodium interactions: for individuals with above-median 24-hour urinary sodium excretion, fructose intake higher by 2 SD (5.6% kcal) was associated with systolic/diastolic BP differences of +3.4/+2.2 mm Hg (both P<0.001) and +2.5/+1.7 mm Hg (both P=0.002) with adjustment for weight and height. Observed independent, direct associations of SSB intake and BP are consistent with recent trial data. These findings, plus adverse nutrient intakes among SSB consumers, and greater sugar-BP differences for persons with higher sodium excretion lend support to recommendations that intake of SSBs, sugars, and salt be substantially reduced.

^{Just Say No to Aspartame (Dr. Mercola)}

Aside from very large and obvious tumors, Victoria also observed a wide range of other adverse effects in her aspartame-fed rats, including:

• Neurological effects: difficulty walking, falling over
• Paralysis
• Torticollis (also known as wryneck: neck stiffness associated with muscle spasms, resulting in tilting your head to one side)
• Symptoms of cerebral palsy
• Eye disorders: infected eyes, bleeding, blindness, bulging eyes
• Skin disorders: lesions, thinning and yellowing of fur
• Obesity

Interestingly, she also found evidence suggesting genetic damage.

“In the generational studies that I mentioned earlier (which I never completed because I realized that I wasn’t doing it properly), two of the rats were born with only a single eyeball,” Victoria says. “They had two eye sockets each, but each of them had just one eyeball. That’s when I finally started believing in how bad aspartame really is. It affects the genetics.”

This is an important consideration as aspartame was approved about 30 years ago, which is about one generation in human terms. So we’re only now beginning to see the offspring of the people who have been consuming aspartame for most of their life.

Gluten on the Brain (Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Jul 1;68(1):100-4. Epub 2010 May 14).

Markers of gluten sensitivity and celiac disease in recent-onset psychosis and multi-episode schizophrenia.