Leptin Supplements & Weight Loss

By Kevin Flatt

Since the discovery of leptin in 1994, many have hoped that the hormone would be a promising weight-loss treatment for humans. Leptin acts as a signal to help the body decide when it has eaten enough food to feel full. The amount of leptin in the blood has been directly linked to body fat.

After receiving leptin replacement therapy, research subjects with a recessive mutation in the obesity (ob) gene - a population both deficient in Leptin and morbidly obese - lost about half of their body weight while regulating their own food intake. (Medical news Today 4/5/2005).

If you take it at face value, it seems as if the research is saying that more leptin will help you lose weight. This research refers to subjects with a genetic basis for obesity who were deficient in leptin. But obese individuals tend to have more and larger leptin-producing fat cells than thinner people. They simply are not getting vital chemical signals to their brains that tell them to stop eating.

To illustrate my point:

Despite an assiduous search, scientists have found only a half-dozen people in the world who make no leptin. These people eat voraciously - one 3-year-old girl consumed 2,000 calories at a sitting. When several of these people were treated with leptin, they lost their appetites and their weight plummeted. (The New York Times 31/10/1999).

Don’t get me wrong, if it helps those who cannot make leptin, then this is a major breakthrough for them.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, goes a long way toward proving to me that more leptin does not equal less weight in very overweight people in the general population.

To make things worse, a hormone called leptin that was supposed to be the magic bullet for obesity, making people effortlessly lose fat while retaining muscle, looks like a bust. In a preliminary study reported last week, most people who took leptin lost little or no weight - one fat person who took the highest dose actually gained 20 pounds. (The New York Times 31/10/1999).

Researchers at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston say lean, physically active people have low levels of leptin, which is produced by the body’s fat cells and is believed to be a major culprit in causing obesity. The study finds that when couch potatoes start exercising regularly, their leptin levels decrease.

“As you get fatter, your body makes more leptin,” says Eric B. Rimm, Sc.D., associate professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, and a co-author of the study. “But when you exercise, the amount of leptin in the blood decreases. Most of the time, you also lose weight, which means your risk of heart disease decreases too.” (Science Daily 7/3/2000).

Normally, when leptin levels in blood go up, the brain signals us to stop eating. But since obesity isn’t the result of a lack of leptin, it is a lack of response to leptin, and obese individuals tend to have more and larger leptin-producing fat cells (leptin is a hormone secreted by fat cells) than thinner people, their leptin levels increase substantially with every pound of additional weight gain.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but there appears to be no logic in the idea of taking more leptin to reduce weight if you have an impaired response to leptin.

It is important to keep in mind that the study that showed that raising leptin levels in people who have already lost weight helps them to keep the weight off. It does not help people to lose weight in the first place. It prevents the yo-yoing that most dieters go through as their leptin levels drop and the brain tries to compensate by increasing hunger.

Weight loss lowers levels of leptin, which in turn can restore an impaired response to leptin signaling.

Flaxseed Slows Prostate Cancer Growth

By Kevin Flatt

Duke University Medical Center carried out a study involving 25 patients with prostate cancer who were awaiting prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate). The patients were placed on a low-fat, flaxseed-supplemented diet for an average of 34 days. Finely ground flaxseed was used in the study which equated to three rounded tablespoons a day.

At the end of the study, the researchers observed that the men on the diet had significant decreases in cholesterol, and both total and free testosterone. There was a trend toward a decrease in PSA levels in men with early-stage prostate cancer but in men with advanced prostate cancer PSA levels continued to rise.

“It’s not surprising that a diet therapy that was only taken for an average of 34 days had little effect on men with aggressive disease,” lead author Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, associate research professor in the department of surgery at Duke said. “But what we did see was that for the men on the diet, their tumor cells did not divide as quickly and there was a greater rate of apoptosis (tumor cell death) in this group.” (Kevin Lees, Duke University News & Communications 20/7/2001).

The researchers were uncertain if the low fat diet or the flaxseed, or a combination of the two, was the active component in the prostate tumor reductions.

The answer? Flaxseed.

On November 12, 2002 Duke University Medical Center reported that their researchers found that a diet rich in flaxseed seems to reduce the size, aggressiveness and severity of tumors in mice that have been genetically engineered to develop prostate cancer. And in 3 percent of the mice, the flaxseed diet totally prevented them from getting prostate cancer.

Flaxseed is a source of lignan, a specific family of fiber-related compounds that appear to play a role in influencing both estrogen and testosterone metabolism. Since testosterone may be important in the progression of prostate cancer, lignan could help inhibit the growth and development of the disease. (Duke University 12/11/2002).

Dr Wendy Demark-Wahnefried said: “Our previous studies in animals and in humans had shown a correlation between flaxseed supplementation and slowed tumor growth, but the participants in those studies had taken flaxseed in conjunction with a low-fat diet.” She then went on to explain that this most recent study revealed that it was flaxseed that provided the protective benefit. (Healthypages 4/6/2007).

In the study, the researchers examined the effects of flaxseed supplementation on 161 men who were scheduled to undergo prostatectomy - surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. The men took 30 grams of flaxseed daily for an average of 30 days prior to surgery.

Men taking flaxseed, either alone or in conjunction with a low-fat diet, were compared to men assigned to just a low-fat diet, as well as to men in a control group, who did not alter or supplement their daily diet. Men in both of the flaxseed groups had the slowest rate of tumor growth. Each group was made up of about 40 participants. (Duke University Medical Center 2/6/2007).

“We are excited that this study showed that flaxseed is safe and associated with a protective effect on prostate cancer,” study author Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, Ph.D., a researcher in the Duke University School of Nursing, was quoted as saying.

Now the investigators plan more studies to see if flaxseed supplements can help prevent prostate cancer recurrence or even reduce prostate cancer risk among healthy men without the condition. (Ivanhoe Newswire 4/6/2007).

Copyright 2007 Kevin Flatt. Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is presented for information purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment.

ADHD Medications Stunt Growth

By Kevin Flatt

A new review of past studies on the effect that attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs have on children's growth concludes that the drugs do, in fact, suppress growth to some degree.

Referring to parents of children on stimulant treatment, Dr. Omar Khwaja, an instructor in neurology at Children's Hospital Boston, said: "Their physicians need to pay attention and monitor growth in these children, and if it falls off of what is expected, think about lowering the dose or changing the dosing schedule."

Dr. David W. Goodman, an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine said: “What parents need to consider is the quality of life improvement great enough to assume the possible risk of slight growth suppression? For most, it's my impression that parents and kids would accept that risk." (Serena Gordon, HealthDay News May 2).

The ADHD drug manufacturers have been instructed to produce Patient Medication Guides that tell patients about possible risks of adverse cardiovascular and psychiatric symptoms and the precautions they should take. The new instruction affects 15 products, including various forms of Adderall, Concerta, Daytrana, Dexedrine, Focalin, Metadate, Methylin, Ritalin, and Strattera. The FDA has been criticized for failing to notify the public sooner. (Medical News Today 22 Feb 2007).

We also have an appalling system for monitoring medication side effects - so it’s hard from random reporting to ascribe cause and effect. Governments need to insist that post marketing surveillance- watching drugs once they’re on the market - is the rule rather than the exception. (abc.net.au/health/minutes 6 April 2006).

The pharmaceutical industry and psychiatrists are making this condition of ADHD a diagnosable disease, like pneumonia. It is not a disease, but a multifactorial condition and nutrition can help these children function in the over-controlled classrooms. The only diagnostic criterion we prescribing pediatricians and psychiatrists have is: "If the Ritalin works, the child needs it." It suggests that the child has a Ritalin deficiency. (Dr Lendon H. Smith M.D.).

Copyright 2007 Kevin Flatt. Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is presented for information purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment.

ADHD Improved When Tonsils Removed

By Kevin Flatt

Tonsils may be one cause of ADHD. New research suggests a surprising potential treatment for at least some children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - surgical removal of the tonsils. Children in the study who had their tonsils removed showed improvements in both behavior and sleeping, and half of those diagnosed with ADHD prior to surgery no longer had the diagnosis a year later. (WebMD 03/4/2006).

Before going into this research further, some earlier facts are presented:

A child’s snore may sound cute, or even funny, but habitual snoring in children may contribute to problems ranging from bed-wetting to poor school performance. In fact, some children with sleep disorders associated with snoring are mistakenly diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), when what they really need is a good night’s sleep. The most common reason children snore is enlarged tonsils and adenoids. (WorldNetDaily.com 21/8/2003).

Louise M. O'Brien, Ph.D., Research Fellow in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Louisville studied 87 children, ages 5 to 7, and found that children who snored performed significantly worse on tests of attention, language abilities and overall intelligence. “We found that snoring alone in the absence of any disease is associated with increased risk of cognitive problems in children,” she said. She suggested that children who snore frequently and have learning or behavioral issues should be evaluated by a sleep specialist to see whether they suffer from sleep apnea. (Science Daily 20/5/2003).

Children who have problems breathing during sleep tend to score lower on tests of mental development and intelligence than do other children their age, according to two studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Results of one of theses studies show that 5-year-old children who had frequent snoring, loud or noisy breathing during sleep, or sleep apneas observed by parents scored lower on intelligence, memory, and other standard cognitive tests than other children their age. They were also more likely to have behavioral problems. (Science Daily 8/10/2004).

"Unfortunately, the effects of poor sleep are often overlooked or misinterpreted in children. Rather than appearing sleepy like adults who are sleep deprived, children may in fact seem to be more active or even hyperactive," commented Carl E. Hunt, M.D., director of the NIH National Center on Sleep Disorders Research (NCSDR).

"One of the more remarkable findings in this study was that the neurocognitive effects were significant even among the children who had mild symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing but no actual sleep apneas," said Daniel Gottlieb, M.D., M.P.H., lead author of the study. "Parents need to be aware that their child's snoring could signal serious problems." (NIH News, National Institutes of Health 7/10/2004).

ADHD and Tonsillectomy

The following headline was published by Medical News Today on 08 Apr 2006:

Hyperactivity, Sleepiness, And ADHD Often Improved After Tonsillectomy.

The article went on to state: In fact, about half of the children in the study who were found to have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder before tonsil surgery no longer met criteria for this diagnosis one year later. Other cognitive and behavioral issues also improved. On the whole, the 78 children who had their tonsils out were much more likely than a comparison group of 27 children to have had behavior and sleep problems at the start of the study. But by the end of the study, tests showed little difference between the two groups. (Medical New Today 8/4/2006).

The research was published online in the April issue of the journal Pediatrics by a team from the University of Michigan Health System.

Tonsils and adenoids are in the back of the throat, and if infected or enlarged, they may affect one’s ability to breathe at night. In fact, most of the children in the study who were having their tonsils removed had also been diagnosed with symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep problem caused by frequent awakenings at night because of trouble breathing. Also, 11 of these children who were previously diagnosed with ADHD no longer met the criteria for diagnosis. (WorldNetDaily.com 25/4/2006).

Copyright 2007 Kevin Flatt. Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is presented for information purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment.

ADHD Ritalin - Depression and Brain Damage

By Kevin Flatt

A new study conducted in rats by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School suggests that the misdiagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) combined with prescription drug use in children may lead to a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms in adulthood.

These findings are critical because they suggest that Ritalin can have long-term consequences on normal-functioning brains. The study is particularly relevant when considering the difficulty in correctly diagnosing children with ADHD. There is increasing evidence to suggest that correct diagnosis of ADHD is of the highest importance - children who are misidentified as having ADHD and subsequently placed on prescription drug therapy could face possible impaired brain performance as adults. (American College Of Neuropsychopharmacology 29 December 2004).

Dr Joan Baizer and colleagues from the University at Buffalo, State University of New York have found that relatively high doses of the drug methylphenidate, the generic form of Ritalin, changed the expression of a gene involved in brain function in laboratory rats. The same gene is known to be affected in humans by other psychoactive drugs, such as amphetamines and cocaine. According to Dr Baizer, the dose used was comparable to the high end of the dose used to treat children with ADD and ADHD, after taking into account differences in metabolism between rats and humans. (Anna Salleh, ABC Science Online 12/11/2001).

It has also been known since 1986 that methylphenidate, the generic term for Ritalin, causes shrinkage of the brain. A study that appeared in Psychiatry Research (Vol. 17, 1986) states: "The data in this study are suggestive of mild cerebral atrophy in young male adults who had a diagnosis of HK/MBD during childhood and had received stimulant drug treatment for a period of time."

Another study published in Archives of General Psychiatry (July 1996) found that "Subjects with ADHD had a 4.7 percent smaller total cerebral volume." Fifty-three of the 57 subjects with ADHD had been previously treated with psycho-stimulants. Apparently, these drugs constrict the flow of blood. (Dr. Samuel L. Blumenfeld, WorldNetDaily.com January 3, 2003).

Several drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder must include new warning information about the risk of heart problems and psychotic behavior, U.S. health officials said on Monday. The drugs, which include GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Dexedrine and Novartis AG's Ritalin, must include a warning about the possible risk of sudden death and serious heart problems, Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Susan Bro told Reuters. The drugs, stimulants that can raise blood pressure, must also include warnings about the risk of behavioral problems such as aggression and mania, she said. (Daily mail (UK) 22nd August 2006).

Dr Alasdair Vance of Melbourne's Alfred Hospital said: "Yes, there are studies that show Ritalin is effective, but they only look at single doses, or what happens in the first three to six weeks. The vast majority of children are on it for months to years. The handful of longer-term studies of Ritalin use had only looked at symptoms, not brain physiology”, he cautioned. (Anna Salleh, ABC Science Online 12/11/2001).

The ADHD drug manufacturers have been instructed to produce Patient Medication Guides that tell patients about possible risks of adverse cardiovascular and psychiatric symptoms and the precautions they should take. The adverse psychiatric events include hearing voices, becoming manic, or becoming suspicious for no reason. These events have even happened to people with no history of psychiatric conditions. (Catharine Paddock, Medical News Today 22 Feb 2007).

Copyright 2007 Kevin Flatt. Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is presented for information purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment.

ADHD Drug Treatment and Hallucinations

By Kevin Flatt

Stimulants like Ritalin lead a small number of children treated for ADHD to suffer hallucinations that usually feature insects, snakes or worms, according to federal drug officials, and a panel of experts said on Wednesday that physicians and parents needed to be warned of the risk. The panel members said they hoped the warning would prevent physicians from prescribing a second drug to treat the hallucinations caused by the stimulants, which one expert estimated affect 2 to 5 of every 100 children taking them. Instead, they said, the right thing to do in such cases was to stop prescribing the stimulants. (The New York Times March 23, 2006).

Current labelling for the ADHD drugs - Adderall, Focalin, Concerta, Metadate, Methylin, Ritalin and Dexedrine - does not mention the possibility of hallucinations in patients who had no history of them and had taken the usual dose. "We read case upon case of these children who do experience these hallucinations," Rosemary Johann-Liang of the FDA's Office of Drug Safety told the committee. "That is something that really struck all the reviewers." (USA Today March 23, 2006).

Dr. Kate Gelperin, an F.D.A. drug-safety specialist, told the committee that the agency had discovered a surprising number of cases in which young children given stimulants suffered hallucinations. Most said that they saw or felt insects, snakes or worms, Dr. Gelperin said. (The New York Times March 23, 2006).

"New Englanders buy more of the stimulant Ritalin and its generic equivalents per capita than residents of any other part of the country." Believe it or not, New Hampshire is the nation's leading consumer of methylphenidate, the generic name for Ritalin. Next in consumption is Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine.

Why such high consumption in New England? The region has more doctors per capita, and therefore more children are likely to be prescribed medication for so-called attention disorders. Also, New England has a high concentration of liberals who love the public schools and are more inclined to be cooperative when educators recommend drugging their children. (Dr. Samuel L. Blumenfeld, WorldNetDaily.com January 3, 2003).

The ADHD drug manufacturers have been instructed to produce Patient Medication Guides that tell patients about possible risks of adverse cardiovascular and psychiatric symptoms and the precautions they should take. The adverse psychiatric events include hearing voices, becoming manic, or becoming suspicious for no reason. These events have even happened to people with no history of psychiatric conditions. (Catharine Paddock, Medical News Today 22 Feb 2007).

We also have an appalling system for monitoring medication side effects - so it’s hard from random reporting to ascribe cause and effect. Governments need to insist that post marketing surveillance – watching drugs once they’re on the market - is the rule rather than the exception. (abc.net.au/health/minutes 6 April 2006).

Copyright 2007 Kevin Flatt. Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is presented for information purposes only and is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. It cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment.