Summary This study examined whether vitamin C levels, fruit and vegetable intake are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes. Participants were men and women aged 40 to 75 years. Food intake was evaluated by means of a questionnaire. Vitamin C levels and the habitual intake of fruit and vegetables were then assessed. It…
Summary Oxidative stress (imbalance between free radicals production and the body´s antioxidant defenses) is one of the major mechanisms involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy. This study examined the link between quercetin (antioxidant), diabetes and diabetic nephropathy (renal dysfunction). Quercetin (10 mg/kg per day) was given for 4 weeks in both control and diabetic…
Summary This study was performed to test the effects of two Mediterranean diets on the incidence of diabetes. 418 non-diabetic adults aged 55-80 years were randomly assigned to a control group or to one of two Mediterranean Diets, supplemented with either free virgin olive oil or nuts. The researchers found that Mediterranean Diets were effective…
Summary This study examined associations between the intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish and shellfish and the risk of diabetes. Data from 51,963 men and 64,193 women free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer were analyzed. The results highlighted a reduced diabetes risk in women with a high fish and shellfish intake. Further details…
Summary The objective of this study was to examine the association between vitamin D levels in the blood and diabetes mellitus. Analyses were carried out on 5787 Korean adults (2453 men and 3334 women) who were 20 years or older. The results showed that low vitamin D blood levels were associated with a high risk…
Summary This review evaluated over 200 scientific studies on the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and cancer. People with low fruit and vegetable intake had a double risk to develop cancer, compared to those who had high intake of these foods. The protective effects of fruits and vegetables were confirmed in a large number…
Summary This review article analyzed 137 studies on the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and cancer. In these studies, the consumption of higher levels of fruits and vegetables was associated with a reduced risk of cancer. This association was found for a wide variety of vegetables and fruit. Furthermore, the protective effects were more…
Summary This study evaluated the beneficial effects of vitamin E in head and neck cancers. The findings suggest that a sufficient intake of vitamin E reduces the risk of cancer. Vitamin E was also found to protect against the toxic effects of bleomycin, a drug used in conventional cancer treatment. Further details can be found…
Summary This study analyzed the link between a diet high in low-fat dairy products and diabetes risk in women after menopause (postmenopause). 82,076 postmenopausal women who did not report diabetes at enrollment were involved in the study. The intakes of dairy products were evaluated by means of a questionnaire at the start of the study…
Summary This study investigated the effects of resveratrol in regulating hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), pro-inflammatory factors, insulin secretion and antioxidant defenses in diabetes. Oral resveratrol was administered (5 mg/kg body weight) to diabetic rats for 30 days. The results of the present investigation demonstrated that resveratrol exhibited significant anti-diabetic effects by attenuating hyperglycemia, enhancing…
Summary The present study was designed to examine the effect of curcumin on kidney (renal) function and oxidative stress (imbalance between free radicals and the body antioxidant defenses) in diabetes. Diabetic rats were divided into four groups, namely control rats, diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated with curcumin (15 and 30 mg/kg) for 2 weeks.…
Summary This study was conducted to evaluate the benefit of high-dose vitamin D supplementation in diabetic patients with cardiovascular complications. 47 patients with type 2 diabetes were assigned into two groups: Group 1 received a vitamin D supplement at a dose of 1000 U (units) per day for 12 months. Group 2 received matching placebo…
Summary This study analyzed the protective effect of turmeric and curcumin (the plant turmeric is a source of curcumin) on oxidative stress, i.e. an imbalance between free radicals production and the body’s antioxidant defenses. Oxidative stress is associated with diabetes complications. Diabetic rats were fed either only their normal diet or a diet containing curcumin…
Summary This study determined whether vitamin D supplementation improved the function of the pancreas in adults at high risk of diabetes. The pancreasis important for the insulin production and the regulation of blood sugar levels. 92 adults received either vitamin D or calcium for 16 weeks. The researchers found that participants receiving vitamin D supplements…
Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…
Summary An irregular heartbeat or “arrhythmia” is an abnormal heart rhythm, caused by problems with the heart’s electrical conduction system. Arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or with a skipping rhythm. Arrhythmias can be caused by a heart attack or other (organic) damage to the heart muscle. The most…
Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…
Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…
Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…
Summary Studies of whether polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil–in particular, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids–lower blood pressure have varied in design and results. We conducted a population-based, randomized, 10-week dietary-supplementation trial in which the effects of 6 g per day of 85 percent eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were compared with those of 6 g per…
Summary Both n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fats have been suggested to lower blood pressure, an effect ascribed to altered biosynthesis of eicosanoids. To test these hypotheses, we studied blood pressure and eicosanoid production during supplementation of dietary fat for four weeks in 32 men with mild essential hypertension. Supplementation was preceded and followed by four-week…
Summary Normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women participated in a study to determine the effects of calcium supplementation on blood pressure. Subjects were randomly assigned to control or supplemented groups (1000 mg Ca/d). Blood pressure and serum total and ionic calcium were measured during the 20-wk supplementation period. Calcium supplementation had a significant lowering effect on…
Summary We investigated the vitamin C (ascorbic acid) status in 1077 eastern Finnish men aged 54 years of age examined in the “Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study” in 1984-86. Dietary intake of ascorbic acid had a strong linear correlation to plasma ascorbic acid, and we found a clear seasonal variation in the plasma…
Summary Dartigues JF, Dabis F, Gros N, Moise A, Bois G, Salamon R, Dilhuydy JM, Courty G. Dietary vitamin A, beta carotene and risk of epidermoid lung cancer in south-western France. Eur J Epidemiol. 1990 Sep;6(3):261-5. References J F Dartigues, F Dabis, N Gros, A Moise, G Bois, R Salamon, J M Dilhuydy, G Courty Link to article >>
Summary Knekt P, Aromaa A, Maatela J, Alfthan G, Aaran RK, Hakama M, Hakulinen T, Peto R, Teppo L. Serum selenium and subsequent risk of cancer among Finnish men and women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1990 May 16;82(10):864-8. References P Knekt, A Aromaa, J Maatela, G Alfthan, R K Aaran, M Hakama, T Hakulinen, R Peto, L Teppo Link to article >>
Summary Haag JD, Lindstrom MJ, Gould MN. Limonene-induced regression of mammary carcinomas. Cancer Res. 1992 Jul 15;52(14):4021-6. References J D Haag, M J Lindstrom, M N Gould Link to article >>
Summary We examined the effects on blood pressure, plasma lipoproteins, and platelet function when marine oil supplements (rich in n-3 fatty acids) or vegetable oil supplements (rich in n-6 fatty acids) were added to the usual diets of patients with mild essential hypertension. In a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study, patients received 50 g of either…
Summary This review evaluated studies on the role of natural compounds and micronutrients in cancer prevention. Carotenoids (i.e. beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A), vitamins C and E, selenium and other compounds derived from plants (dithiolthiones, glucosinolates, indols, isothiocyanates, flavonoids, phenols, protease inhibitors, plant sterols, allium compounds and limonene) were found to have anti-cancer effects.…
Summary Thompson HJ. Effect of deficiencies of selenium and vitamin E alone or in combination on the induction of mammary carcinogenesis by 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea. Carcinogenesis. 1991 Nov;12(11):2175-9. References H J Thompson Link to article >>
Summary Howe GR, Hirohata T, Hislop TG, Iscovich JM, Yuan JM, Katsouyanni K, Lubin F, Marubini E, Modan B, Rohan T. Dietary factors and risk of breast cancer: combined analysis of 12 case-control studies. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1990 Apr 4;82(7):561-9. References G R Howe, T Hirohata, T G Hislop, J M Iscovich, J M Yuan, K Katsouyanni, F Lubin, E Marubini, B…
Summary The heart is the “motor” of our body, contracting about 80,000 times a day to pump the blood through our circulatory system. It is the mechanically the most active organ of our body. The actual “work” is performed by billions of muscle cells that contract at the same time to form the heartbeat. And…
Summary The heart is the “motor” of our body, contracting about 80,000 times a day to pump the blood through our circulatory system. It is the mechanically the most active organ of our body. The actual “work” is performed by billions of muscle cells that contract at the same time to form the heartbeat. And…
Summary This study was undertaken to clarify the mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Ten patients with essential arterial hypertension were treated with oral CoQ10 50 mg twice daily for ten weeks. Plasma CoQ10, serum total and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, serum sodium and potassium, plasma clinostatic and orthostatic renin activity, urinary…
Summary An irregular heartbeat or “arrhythmia” is an abnormal heart rhythm, caused by problems with the heart’s electrical conduction system. Arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or with a skipping rhythm. Arrhythmias can be caused by a heart attack or other (organic) damage to the heart muscle. The most…
Summary Lipid disorders are characterized by imbalanced levels of fatty substances (i.e. cholesterol and triglycerides) in the bloodstream. These lipids are carried in the blood stream in form of microscopic round particles, called lipoproteins. Thus, these conditions are also called lipoprotein disorders. There are, generally speaking, two types of cholesterol-transporting lipoproteins: a) the “bad cholesterol”…
Summary The heart is the “motor” of our body, contracting about 80,000 times a day to pump the blood through our circulatory system. It is the mechanically the most active organ of our body. The actual “work” is performed by billions of muscle cells that contract at the same time to form the heartbeat. And…
Summary Coronary bypass operation. A coronary bypass operation becomes necessary if one or more coronary arteries have developed severe atherosclerotic deposits that threaten to clog the arteries and cause a heart attack. In order to avoid a heart attack, a coronary bypass operation is frequently performed. Surgically, a bypass is constructed around the atherosclerotic deposits…
Summary The heart is the “motor” of our body, contracting about 80,000 times a day to pump the blood through our circulatory system. It is the mechanically the most active organ of our body. The actual “work” is performed by billions of muscle cells that contract at the same time to form the heartbeat. And…
Summary Lipid disorders are characterized by imbalanced levels of fatty substances (i.e. cholesterol and triglycerides) in the bloodstream. These lipids are carried in the blood stream in form of microscopic round particles, called lipoproteins. Thus, these conditions are also called lipoprotein disorders. There are, generally speaking, two types of cholesterol-transporting lipoproteins: a) the “bad cholesterol”…
Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…
Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…
Summary In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study the effect of vitamin D and calcium on colon polyps (colorectal adenoma) was examined, i.e. benign neoplasms in the intestinal region. For a 6 month period calcium and/or vitamin D or a placebo were administered to the patients. It turned out that the formation of new tumor tissue…
Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…
Summary Coronary bypass operation. A coronary bypass operation becomes necessary if one or more coronary arteries have developed severe atherosclerotic deposits that threaten to clog the arteries and cause a heart attack. In order to avoid a heart attack, a coronary bypass operation is frequently performed. Surgically, a bypass is constructed around the atherosclerotic deposits…
Summary As in coronary artery disease, the underlying disease process for cerebrovascular disease –the narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the brain – is arteriosclerosis. Here too, the process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads…
Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…
Summary An irregular heartbeat or “arrhythmia” is an abnormal heart rhythm, caused by problems with the heart’s electrical conduction system. Arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or with a skipping rhythm. Arrhythmias can be caused by a heart attack or other (organic) damage to the heart muscle. The most…
Summary A total of 109 patients with symptomatic essential hypertension presenting to a private cardiology practice were observed after the addition of CoQ10 (average dose, 225 mg/day by mouth) to their existing antihypertensive drug regimen. In 80 per cent of patients, the diagnosis of essential hypertension was established for a year or more prior to…
Summary The underlying disease process of coronary artery disease (CAD) is called arteriosclerosis. This process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads to an underproduction of collagen and other reinforcement molecules in the artery walls and to the…
Summary As in coronary artery disease, the underlying disease process for cerebrovascular disease –the narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the brain – is arteriosclerosis. Here too, the process starts with a weakening of the blood vessel walls, most frequently caused by an insufficient dietary intake of vitamins and other micronutrients. This leads…