Selenium May Protect Against Prostate Cancer

A team of researchers from Harvard Medical school analyzed data from 1163 men who had participated in the Physician's Health Study. Before starting the study, the participants had been cancer-free and had their blood tested for selenium. Initial selenium levels of 586 men who later developed prostate cancer were compared with the initial selenium level of 577 men who did not develop the disease. The researchers found that men with higher selenium levels were less likely to develop prostate cancer. Ongoing randomized trials of selenium supplementation may help to further evaluate its role in prostate cancer risk.

Vitamin supplements lower diabetic retinopathy risk

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness. It occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels inside the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

A new study published in the May 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports an association between the use of vitamin C and E supplements and a reduced risk of diabetic retinopathy.

The study examined data from 1,353 subjects with type 2 diabetes diagnosed from 1993 to 1995. The data revealed no association of retinopathy with vitamins C and E from food alone, but a decreased risk was found among those who reported long-term (> 3 years) use of vitamin C, vitamin E or multi-nutrient supplements. Compared to those who did not report supplement use, long-term supplement users experienced a two-fold reduction in the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

Although there is evidence from in vitro, animal, and short-term research, this was the first epidemiologic study on retinopathy to show the protective effect associated with vitamin C and vitamin E in supplement form.

Antioxidants and Asthma Prevalence

A recent study published in the February 2004 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine found that children who are exposed to improved levels of dietary antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, and selenium, have a lower risk of developing asthma later in life. Researchers from Cornell University analyzed the nutritional data of over 7,500 youth (4-16 years old) obtained from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Results show that children with a greater dietary intake of beta-carotene had a 10% reduction in asthma risk, and children with a greater dietary intake of selenium were 20% less likely to develop asthma. Among children exposed to second-hand smoke, the risk reduction for beta-carotene and selenium was 40% and 50%, respectively. Higher doses of vitamin C showed similar results.

High Homocysteine and Bone Fracture Risk

Homocysteine is an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body. High levels are considered a risk factor for coronary artery disease. New evidence suggests that homocysteine may also be a marker for bone fracture risk. Several studies published in the May 13 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine support a strong association between high homocysteine levels and bone fracture risk in the elderly. The studies, conducted in the U.S. and Netherlands, compared data from thousands of people aged 55 and older. The researchers found that when compared to people with the lowest homocysteine levels, men with the highest homocysteine levels had a fourfold increase in the risk of bone fracture, and women with the highest homocysteine levels doubled their risk of bone fracture. Although not conclusive, it appears that homocysteine may cause bone loss by interfering with new bone formation. While experts continue to study the effects of homocysteine, one point is clear: a diet containing a generous amount of folic acid, B vitamins, vitamin D, and calcium, combined with regular exercise, is essential to help reduce your risk of bone fracture.

Dietary calcium and fracture risk

A study published in the September 17, 2003 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that forearm fractures are on the rise among both adolescent boys and girls. While experts believe that most forearm fractures occurring in adolescence are related to the fact that bones become more porous during growth spurts, the 42 percent increase documented during this study raises concerns about whether bone-mass development in today's children may be impaired by lifestyle and dietary factors such as increased soft drink consumption, decreased milk consumption, or changing patterns of physical activity. The researchers theorize that increasing rates of forearm fractures in children could mean a dramatic increase in the risk for hip fractures and other more serious fractures when children become older adults. Adequate bone-mass development during childhood is critical to preventing osteoporosis and the related bone fractures that can occur later in life.

Fiber intake linked to lower prostate cancer risk

A recent study published in the March 2004 edition of the International Journal of Cancer suggests that men who eat their veggies may be less likely than others to develop prostate cancer. Results from the study, conducted in Italy from 1991 to 2002, assessed the diets and lifestyles of 1,745 men. The researchers found that the subjects who consumed the most fiber, especially from vegetable sources, had a decreased risk of prostate cancer, compared to those who consumed the least. Fiber from fruit or grain products was not specifically related to a lower prostate cancer risk, but soluble fiber (from vegetable sources) did appear to provide protection against the disease. Fiber comes in two main forms, soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber partially dissolves in water, and its food sources include vegetables, fruit, oatmeal, and legumes. Insoluble fiber, which passes through the digestive system largely intact, is found in foods like whole grains, seeds, and the skin on fruit.

Lack of vitamin D is associated with insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction

The role of vitamin D in type 2 diabetes is well recognized, however, its relevance to glucose metabolism is not well studied. In a recent study of 126 healthy, glucose-tolerant subjects living in California, the role of vitamin D and glucose metabolism was analyzed. Subjects with low vitamin D levels had a greater prevalence of health risks associated with metabolic syndrome than did subjects whose vitamin D levels were in the normal range. The data showed a positive correlation of vitamin D concentration with insulin sensitivity and a negative effect of low vitamin D on beta cell function. The researchers concluded that those with poor vitamin D status are at a higher risk of developing insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and conceivably type 2 diabetes.

A Fast Food Breakfast Triggers Inflammatory Response

A new study published in the April 2004 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that consuming a typical fast-food breakfast dramatically increases inflammatory markers in the blood stream up to four hours after eating. The researchers conclude that the influx of high levels of fat, carbohydrates, and protein caused by eating a typical fast-food breakfast, temporarily flood the blood stream with inflammatory components that can overwhelm the body's natural inflammation-fighting mechanisms. This reaction alters the behavior of cells and activates mechanisms that produce powerful enzymes capable of damaging the lining of blood vessels.

Repeated temporary periods of inflammation, as a result of eating a high- calorie, unhealthy fast-food breakfast, may contribute to chronic inflammation of blood vessels, a primary factor in the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease.