Hormone Therapy for Menopause - Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

Women who take combination (estrogen plus progestin) hormone therapy for menopause continue to be at increased risk of breast cancer, even years after stopping therapy. Also, women on combination hormone therapy for menopause are also at increased risk of stroke, blood clots, heart disease and cancer.

WHI Follow-up Study Confirms Health Risks of Long-Term Combination Hormone Therapy Outweigh Benefits for Postmenopausal Women

New results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) confirm that the health risks of long-term use of combination (estrogen plus progestin) hormone therapy in healthy, postmenopausal women persist even a few years after stopping the drugs and clearly outweigh the benefits.

Researchers report that about three years after women stopped taking combination hormone therapy, many of the health effects of hormones such as increased risk of heart disease are diminished, but overall risks, including risks of stroke, blood clots, and cancer, remain high. The WHI is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Results of the WHI three-year follow-up study of the estrogen-plus-progestin clinical trial are published in the March 5, 2008, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"The good news is that after women stop taking combination hormone therapy, their risk of heart disease appears to decrease," noted Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D., NHLBI director. "However, these findings also indicate that women who take estrogen plus progestin continue to be at increased risk of breast cancer, even years after stopping therapy. Today's report confirms the study's primary conclusion that combination hormone therapy should not be used to prevent disease in healthy, postmenopausal women."

The FDA recommends that hormone therapy never be used to prevent heart disease, and, when hormone therapy is used for menopausal symptoms, it should only be taken at the smallest dose and for the shortest time possible.

The new findings are from a follow-up study of 15,730 postmenopausal women with an intact uterus, ages 50 to 79 years (average age of 63) at enrollment, who participated in the WHI estrogen-plus-progestin clinical trial.

Participants were randomly assigned to receive a combination of estrogen (0.625 milligrams of conjugated equine estrogens per day) plus progestin (2.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate) or placebo (inactive pill). The main estrogen-plus-progestin study was stopped in 2002 after an average of 5.6 years of treatment due to an increase in breast cancer. Women on combination hormone therapy were also at increased risk of stroke, blood clots, and heart disease, while their risk of colorectal cancer and hip fractures was lower, compared to women who did not take hormone therapy.

The follow-up study began in July 2002 after women in the study were instructed to stop taking combination hormone therapy, and continued through March 2005, with participants followed for an average of 2.4 years.

All study participants were examined at least once a year by a WHI clinician and received an annual breast examination and mammogram, with biopsies performed as needed.

During the follow-up study, the numbers of heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots were not significantly different between the two groups (overall, 343 cardiovascular events among those who initially received hormone therapy versus 323 among those who did not).

In addition, the number of deaths was not significantly different (233 women who had been in the hormone therapy group died, versus 196 women who had been in the placebo group).

"After being on combination hormone therapy for several years, the women's risk of cardiovascular disease was significantly higher – from a 29 percent increase in heart attacks to a 41 percent increase in strokes and nearly twice the risk of serious blood clots – compared to the women who did not take hormones," said Michael S. Lauer, M.D., director of the NHLBI Division of Prevention and Population Sciences.

"While it is reassuring that heart attack risk decreased and that the risks for stroke and blood clots did not grow after the women stopped taking hormones, this study provides further evidence that five years of combination hormone therapy is harmful. All the accumulated risks do not simply disappear."

The study also found that other effects of combination hormones, such as decreased risk of colorectal cancer and hip fractures, also stopped when therapy ended.

"We continue to encourage women to use hormones only if needed for menopausal symptoms, and for the shortest time possible, and to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle, that is, engage in regular physical activity, maintain a healthy body weight, consume a diet low in saturated fat, and to not smoke, to reduce their risks of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases," said Marcia Stefanick, Ph.D., professor of medicine at Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., and a coauthor of the paper, as well as chair of the WHI Steering Committee.

She added that women should know their cholesterol and blood pressure levels and other health risks and take preventative measures, as needed.

In contrast to the other effects, the risk of breast cancer continued at a rate similar to that seen during treatment. Women who had stopped taking estrogen plus progestin were about 27 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than the women who didn’t take hormones during the study, with 79 women in the post-treatment group developing breast cancer during the three-year follow-up study, compared to 60 women in the non-treatment group.

"The hormones’ effects on breast cancer appear to linger," noted Leslie Ford, M.D., associate director for clinical research in the Division of Cancer Prevention of the NIH's National Cancer Institute. "These findings reinforce the importance of women getting regular breast exams and mammograms, even after they stop hormone therapy."

Researchers also report a 24 percent increased risk of developing any form of cancer among women who had been in the treatment group. Overall, there were 63 more diagnoses of cancer during the follow-up study, or three per 1,000 participants per year, among women who had taken combination hormone therapy compared to women who did not take hormones during the study (281 diagnoses compared to 218). A more detailed analysis on the cancer findings is underway.

"The continued increased risk of breast cancer clearly plays a role in the increased overall risk of cancer years after stopping long-term estrogen plus progestin therapy, and it is important that we continue to follow these women," added Stefanick, noting that the new results provide further evidence that the health risks of long-term combination hormone therapy outweigh the benefits.

The WHI is a major, 15-year research program designed to address the most frequent causes of death, disability, and poor quality of life in postmenopausal women: cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. The principal findings from the two WHI hormone therapy trials, which studied 27,347 postmenopausal women on estrogen plus progestin, estrogen-alone, or placebo, found that the overall risks of long-term use of hormone therapy outweigh the benefits.

Both of these trials were stopped early because of increased health risks and failure to prevent heart disease, a key question of the studies.

In addition to NCI, NHLBI collaborates on the WHI with the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the National Institute on Aging, and the Office of Research on Women’s Health, all parts of the NIH. Wyeth-Ayerst Research provided the medication and placebo for the hormone study.

To interview Dr. Lauer, call the NHLBI Communications Office at (301) 496-4236. To speak with Dr. Ford, please contact the NCI Office of Media Relations at (301) 496-6641. To speak with Dr. Stefanick, please contact Susan Ipaktchian at 650-725-5375

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute News Room.

Related articles:
Menopause Symptoms Return after Hormone Therapy

Celiac Disease Diet: Oats Intolerance Does Exist

Most patients with celiac disease can eliminate their symptoms by life-long adherence to a gluten-free diet. This means no wheat, rye, barley, and, until recently, no oats in their diet. Some recent studies suggested that oats did not cause the intestinal inflammation characteristic of celiac disease, and therefore oats are now often included in the celiac disease diet.

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages part of the gut (the small intestine) and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. Patients with celiac disease do not tolerate a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley.

When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. The disease is quite serious in some patients, but eating a strictly gluten-free diet can eliminate all of the symptoms.

Unfortunately, wheat, barley, and rye products like flour are found in many common foods, and patients have to avoid them for the rest of their lives.

A study by Ludvig Sollid and colleagues in the October 2004 issue of PLoS Medicine suggests that oats are not safe in all cases.

The researchers applied the current understanding of celiac disease and a range of molecular pathology tools to studying the response to oats of nine patients with celiac disease.

The nine patients were not a random sample: all of them had been eating oats, and four of them had shown clinical symptoms after oats ingestion. All patients were on a gluten-free diet and ate oats that were free of contamination by other cereals.

The goal of the study was to characterize the intestinal T cell response to oats in these patients, and to relate it to clinical symptoms and intestinal biopsy results.

Three of the four patients who had reported problems after eating oats showed intestinal inflammation typical of celiac disease.

Contrary to other studies, this one demonstrates that oats intolerance does exist in some people with celiac disease. These patients have an immune reaction to oats that is similar to the reaction most celiac disease patients have to wheat, barley, and rye.

However, identical reactions were also seen in two of the patients who were clinically tolerant to oats. They had oats-reactive intestinal T cells which may or may not lead to enhanced susceptibility to oats intolerance.

Oats are not safe for all people with celiac disease, but future studies are needed to determine the frequency of oats intolerance.

Patients who eat oats as part of a gluten-free diet should discuss their diet and any symptoms with their doctors; doctors should keep in mind that patients might develop symptoms when they eat oats.

References:
(2004) Oats Intolerance in Celiac Disease. PLoS Med 1(1): e23 doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.. Copyright: © 2004 Public Library of Science. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Arentz-Hansen H, Fleckenstein B, Molberg O, Scott H, Koning F, et al. (2004) The Molecular Basis for Oat Intolerance in Patients with Celiac Disease. PLoS Med 1(1): e1 doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.. Copyright: © 2004 Arentz-Hansen et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Related articles:
Stilnox, Ambien Side Effects

Women Benefit More From Quitting Smoking Than Men

Quitting Smoking - Lung Health Benefits - Women benefit more from quitting smoking than men.

New findings from the Lung Health Study (LHS) indicate that, in general, women’s lung function improves significantly more than men’s after sustained smoking cessation.

LHS researchers previously published results showing that both men and women benefit from smoking cessation; this new analysis indicates that the benefits to the lungs are greater in women than in men. The results are published in the June 1 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the study followed more than 5,300 middle-aged smokers for five years. All participants had mild or moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In the first year after quitting, women’s lung function improved more than twice that of the men’s. Among those who quit, improved lung function remained greater for women than for men throughout the study, although the differences between the genders narrowed over time. The decline in lung function in those who continued to smoke was on average similar for men and women.

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of COPD, a slowly progressive disease of the lung that is characterized by a gradual loss of lung function. COPD is the fourth most common and the most rapidly increasing cause of death in the United States. Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive bronchitis, or a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis are forms of COPD.

Dr. Gail Weinmann, a lung specialist with the NHLBI, is available to comment on the study and on the health benefits of smoking cessation. To arrange an interview with Dr. Weinmann, please call the NHLBI Communications Office at (301) 496-4236.

Source: NHLBI. Used with permission.

Related articles:

Smoking and Lung Damage and Emphysema - The Vitamin A Link
Smoking - Vitamin A and Emphysema

Can Grapes Prevent Type 1 Diabetes?

Researchers have for the first time determined that some component of table grapes prevented the progression of type 1 diabetes in mice and increased their survival. Susan Zunino’s experiment apparently is the first to show a link between eating grapes and preventing progression of type 1 diabetes. That was in contrast to diabetic mice that were not fed grapes.

Susan J. Zunino, an Agricultural Research Service molecular biologist, working with Storms and Charles Stephensen, a physiologist at the Davis research center, conducted the research.

Scientists provided the fruit in the form of a freeze-dried powder made from table grapes, the kind sold fresh in the produce section of supermarkets.

The powder, provided by the California Table Grape Commission, made up 1 percent of the chow fed to some of the mice. That’s the human equivalent of about six servings of grapes per day.

At present the researchers don’t know which grape compounds provided the protective effect.

Similarly, the exact sequence of steps that led to the protection is also not yet proven. But the scientists think that the grape phytochemicals may have prevented unwanted entry of immune cells into the pancreas.

Mice fed the grape powder had fewer immune cells in the pancreas than did the other mice in the experiment.

But what’s the relation between immune cells in the pancreas and type 1 diabetes?
Immune cells in the pancreas can mistakenly attack specialized cells known as “beta cells.” Beta cells produce insulin, which is needed to help regulate the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. If immune cells in the pancreas attack and kill beta cells, the pancreas can run out of beta cells. When that happens, type 1 diabetes can result.

People with type 1 diabetes have to carefully monitor the amounts of sugar-containing foods they eat, including sweet, fresh table grapes. How ironic that this luscious fruit might actually hold a key to preventing the progression of type 1 diabetes. This may be a perplexing riddle of Nature - perhaps one that Zunino’s team will soon solve.

According to the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 1 in every 400-600 children and adolescents in the U.S. population has type 1 diabetes.

If the results from this study of 30 laboratory mice hold true for humans, the research could offer new options for protection against this chronic autoimmune disease.

Reference:
By Marcia Wood, Agricultural Research Service Information Staff, USDA-ARS. Photo courtesy USDA, ARS.

Related articles:
Type 1 Diabetes - Gymnema significantly lowers insulin usage

Macular Deterioration and Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Macular Deterioration and Age-Related Macular Degeneration - When you can't see well enough to jot down a grocery list, or to drive, you lose your independence. Carol Ann Holcomb, Kansas State University associate professor of human nutrition, knows these challenges from her work researching age-related macular degeneration. She has studied both the physical and emotional changes in people who develop this disease.

According to Holcomb, age-related macular degeneration is a common eye disease that results in the loss of central vision. As a person ages, the risk of developing the problem increases.

Twenty percent of people ages 65-74 and 35 percent of people ages 75-84 are at risk of developing some form of age-related macular degeneration. Data are limited for those over age 85.

"For the population 65 and over, age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of visual impairment," she said. "The National Eye Institute predicts that by the year 2010, the disease will be more common than the two other eye diseases that affect the older population, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, combined."

Age-related macular degeneration occurs when the macula is damaged or deteriorates in one or both eyes. The macula, not much larger than a capital "O" on a typewriter, is a small region on the retina where light is focused.

"You need it to see fine details for everyday tasks such as writing, driving, reading and sewing," she said.

There are two types of age-related macular degeneration - "dry" and "wet." About 90 percent of people who are diagnosed with macular changes have the dry form. With the dry form, the light-sensing cells in the eye break down and the tissue thins. Vision loss is gradual and painless.

"Early signs are the increased time it takes to adapt to light/dark environments, blurred vision and increased sensitivity to glare," Holcomb said.

About 10 percent of people with the dry form will progress to the wet form. New blood vessels develop in the macula in an effort to supply blood and nutrients to the thinning tissue and damaged light-sensing cells. These new blood vessels are fragile and often leak blood and fluid, resulting in a greater and more rapid loss of central vision.

"There will be a very rapid loss of the ability to read or to recognize another person's face, to drive, to do anything that involves detailed vision straight ahead. If your vision is changing rapidly, for example if you're looking at a telephone pole and instead of that pole being straight, it's wavy, it means that there's some hemorrhaging occurring."

Hemorrhaging can be stopped in only 15 to 20 percent of the cases, and only after a series of treatments, she said.

"They can use what they call a photo coagulation process - they use a laser beam to seal off those blood vessels so they don't leak," Holcomb said. "Unfortunately, after a series of treatments, it may leave scar tissue that further damages a person's eye sight."

While the disease causes a loss primarily in central vision - a person can still see peripherally - complete blindness is not associated with age-related macular degeneration. However, a person may meet the criteria for legal blindness and receive services from programs designed for people with low vision.

Holcomb said making lifestyle changes can help ease the psychological changes in people with the disease. Learning to use sharp color contrasts - a white cup for coffee or a light plate with dark foods, for example, and using talking devices such as clocks and modifying furniture placements all can help ease the psychological effects.

"Right now, the levels of depression, discouragement and embarrassment are very high," she said. "People were embarrassed by spilling things, having to ask for help and not being able to use their favorite recipes," she said. "Adapting your lifestyle early on can help you deal with having it."

Unless something is discovered to prevent this disease, low-vision will continue as a major problem for older adults, Holcomb said.

"And it's not a pretty picture as far as what can and cannot be done right now," she said. Studies have shown certain foods may reduce a person's risk of developing age-related macular degeneration. Foods high in antioxidants, food sources of lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and zinc are recommended in addition to a low-fat diet.

According to Holcomb, there are other ways to reduce the risk of developing the disease, including having annual eye exams by professionals, protecting eyes from sunlight exposure by wearing a brimmed hat and sunglasses; eliminating smoking; controlling high blood pressure; and getting regular physical activity.

Prepared by April Blackmon. For more information contact Carol Ann Holcomb at 785-532-0152. Used with permission.

Related articles:

Age Related Macular Degeneration – The Link to Fast-Acting Carbohydrates
Cataracts: High Carbohydrate Diets Increase Risk
Age-related Macular Degeneration - Tips to Reduce Your Risk
The Benefits of Beta Carotene & Lutein – From Cancer to Macular Degeneration
What Causes Cataracts?

Age-related Macular Degeneration - Tips to Reduce Your Risk

Macular Deterioration - Tips to reduce your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration

While the cause of age-related macular degeneration is unknown, there are several risk factors that have been associated with changes in the eye and ways to reduce the risk of developing the disease, according to Kansas State University researcher Carol Ann Holcomb.

Risk factors associated with age-related macular degeneration include age, eye color, ethnicity and a family history of the disease, she said. According to Holcomb, age has been the most significant risk factor in all major population-based studies.

"The lighter a person's eyes early in life or as a result of aging the more prone they are to develop degenerative changes in the macula," she said. "The prevalence of the disease is also highest in Caucasians, compared to Blacks and Hispanics in the United States. Twin studies and studies of siblings with the disease have shed light recently on a potential role for heredity or family history."

While nothing can be done to decrease those factors, other risks can be tackled, such as high blood pressure, sunlight exposure and smoking.

• Protect your eyes from damaging sun light, particularly UVB rays. Wear tinted glasses and a cap, hat or visor with a brim. About 37 percent of the exposure of the eyes to sun light can be blocked by wearing a hat with a wide brim on it.
  


• Quit smoking.
  


• Eat the daily recommended levels of fruits and vegetables, and include green leafy vegetables for their anti-oxidant properties. A pigment called lutein has the most promise and may even be protective. Lutein is prevalent in green vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli and can also be found in certain yellow vegetables, such as corn and squash, and egg yolk.
  


• Get an annual eye examination.
  


• Participate in a regular physical activity.
  

For more information, Holcomb recommends "Macular Degeneration: The Complete Guide to Saving and Maximizing Your Sight," a book by Dr. Lylas G. and Marja Mogk.

Prepared by April Blackmon. For more information contact Carol Ann Holcomb at 785-532-0152.

Related articles:
Age Related Macular Degeneration – The Link to Fast-Acting Carbohydrates
Cataracts: High Carbohydrate Diets Increase Risk
What Causes Cataracts?

Portobello and Other Mushroom Facts

Portobello and Other Mushroom Facts: Americans love mushrooms, now more than ever. Per capita mushroom consumption in the United States increased from 3.7 pounds in 1993 to 4.2 pounds in 2000. Sales of the U.S. mushroom crop totalled 851 million pounds, and consumers spent $912 million on them. Mushrooms are a good source of selenium, potassium, and copper, and some types have significant amounts of three B-complex vitamins.



Little-Known Mushroom Facts

• One portabella mushroom has more potassium than a banana; white and crimini mushrooms are also good sources. Potassium helps the human body maintain normal heart rhythm, fluid balance, and muscle and nerve function.
  
  
• Mushrooms contain significant amounts of selenium, which plays an important role in the immune system, thyroid system, and male reproductive system. It also works closely with vitamin E to produce antioxidants that help the body fight cell-damaging free radicals.
  
  
• Mushrooms are an excellent source of copper, a mineral that the body needs to produce red blood cells and for other functions.
  
  
• Mushrooms have significant amounts of three B-complex vitamins—riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid—particularly riboflavin. The B vitamins help release energy from the fat, protein, and carbohydrates in food.
  
  
• Truffles, or subterranean mushrooms, are the world's most expensive vegetable. One variety, Tuber melanosporum, can cost between $800 and $1,500 a pound.
  
  
• The largest living organism ever found is a honey mushroom, Armillaria ostoyae. It covers 3.4 square miles of land in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, and it's still growing.
  
  

Source: USDA, Agricultural Research Service. Photo courtesy of USDA, ARS. Used with permission.

Related articles:
Mushrooms Nutrition Facts

Foods That Increase Leptin and Foods That Decrease Leptin

Study finds more fat in the diet reduces leptin levels while a diet higher in carbohydrates raises leptin levels.

Intent on helping Americans fight obesity, Agricultural Research Service scientists are probing the role that leptin - a protein - plays in regulating appetite and weight gain...Read full article


Related articles:
Leptin and Weight Loss – Leptin Resistance
Leptin Supplements & Weight Loss
Leptin to be added to Formula Milk and Other Foods

Facts about Food Irradiation

Facts about Food Irradiation: The irradiation process involves passing food through an irradiation field; however, the food itself never contacts a radioactive substance. Also, the ionizing radiation used by irradiators is not strong enough to disintegrate the nucleus of even one atom of a food molecule.

Radioactivity in foods can occur by two routes: contamination of foods with radioactive substances or by penetration of energy into the nuclei of the atoms that make up the food. (Idaho State University).

The following is an overview of irradiation, and some the findings over the years of chemist Donald W. Thayer at the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.

He was the first to discover that irradiation could control the meat-contaminating pathogen E. coli 0157:H7. He has also found that irradiation kills the Cyclospora parasite on raspberries and strawberries.

Irradiation passes through food in the form of radiant energy, without leaving any residue. Ionizing radiation, which produces enough energy to kill bacteria and other pathogens in food, involves the use of gamma rays produced by cobalt or cesium, or X-rays or electrons from machine sources. The Food and Drug Administration has declared that low-dose irradiation of food presents no health risk.

In the 1920's, a French scientist discovered that irradiation could preserve food. During World War II, the U.S. Army tested irradiation on fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meat. Irradiated food has been routinely used for years by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Donald W. Thayer, a research chemist with USDA's Agricultural Research Service, and colleagues at ARS' Food Safety Research Unit of the Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, have been testing irradiation on food for 16 years.

Not only does irradiation extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, but it also kills pests. Thayer likens irradiation to pasteurization. "When used with the proper handling and processing techniques, irradiation greatly reduces the risk that contaminated meat, poultry and other foods will reach consumers," he says."

"Irradiation reduces the chance of foodborne pathogens reaching the consumer," says Thayer. "Scientific studies conducted worldwide over the past 40 years have shown irradiation to be a wholesome process."

According to Thayer, during the irradiation process, food never comes in contact with any radioactive material. The gamma rays, X-rays, or electrons used in the process do not make food radioactive.

Irradiation, he says, is similar to exposure to sunlight or being X-rayed for medical reasons. Specific doses of radiation can kill rapidly growing cells, such as those of insects or spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. But the process has little effect on the food itself because there is no cellular activity in the food. The changes that do occur are similar to the effects of canning, cooking or freezing food.

One concern raised with irradiation is that it may affect the nutritional aspect of food. Thayer reports that irradiation can minimally affect some very sensitive vitamins like B1 in pork.

"But it has been estimated that if all the pork in the United States were to be irradiated, Americans would lose only 3.2 percent of the vitamin B1 in their diets," Thayer says. "Irradiation converts small amounts of vitamin C in fruit to another equally usable form, so nothing is lost. In fact, multigenerational studies of animals fed irradiated foods show that not only is it safe, but the nutritive value remains virtually unchanged."

Herbs, spices and seasonings can introduce bacteria that may cause spoilage or foodborne disease in food that must be stored or transported before reaching consumers. Some commercial food processors treat spices with methyl bromide to kill insects or with ethylene oxide to control bacteria and mold. Both these chemicals are extremely toxic.

But most spices, herbs and dry vegetable seasonings in the United States are treated with ionizing radiation, which was sanctioned for this particular use by FDA in 1986.

In 1963, FDA authorized the first use of irradiation to treat food in the United States. Wheat and wheat flour were irradiated to rid them of insects. An electron beam - a result of collaborative research between ARS and the U.S. Army - is used to kill insects on about 400,000 tons of wheat a year at the port of Odessa, Ukraine. This irradiation treatment is not used in the United States because for the time being we have other fumigants and methods of getting pests out of grain.

It was 23 years later, in 1986, that irradiation was approved to control insects and inhibit growth and ripening in fruits, vegetables, and grain.

Irradiation increases the shelf life of very perishable sweet onions to three months and not only extends the shelf life of tomatoes, but also allows them to be picked when fully ripe. Most flavorless tomatoes taste that way because they're picked green to ensure they get to market before they rot.

Zapped by irradiation, mushrooms can last for three weeks without browning or cap separation and strawberries can stay in the refrigerator for three weeks without decay or shrinkage.

Even the dreaded Cyclospora parasite succumbs to irradiation. Thayer and colleagues have completed four studies of this pest that has recently been found on raspberries and strawberries.

"We used a dose of irradiation that is recommended for fresh fruit on raspberries infected with Cyclospora. Not only does irradiation inactivate the parasite, but it also doubles the raspberries' shelf life," Thayer reports. "More research is planned on irradiating Cyclospora, but it reacts in much the same way as Toxoplasma gondii, a species of organism that continues to sporulate after irradiation but does not multiply in its host."

Most of Thayer's irradiation work has been with meat to rid it of harmful microorganisms that cause foodborne illnesses.

He was the first to discover that E. coli 0157:H7 could be controlled by radiation and he and colleagues have successfully used irradiation against other foodborne pathogens including Bacillus cereus, Clostridium botulinum, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Toxoplasma gondii on meat and poultry.

The FDA's 1990 approval to use irradiation on poultry to eliminate harmful pathogens was, in part, a result of Thayer's research, as was the Dec. 2, 1997, approval to irradiate red meat.

In addition to USDA scientists and the FDA, the list of endorsers of irradiation includes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Public Health Service, U.S. Army, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, American Medical Association, American Dietetic Association, American Meat Institute, Institute of Food Technologists, and National Food Processors Association. The World Health Organization and the Codex Alimentarius Commission sanction the use of irradiation, which is also being used in about 40 countries.

Reference:
Doris Stanley, USDA's Agricultural Research Service. Photo courtesy USDA, ARS. Used with permission.

Related articles:
Decreased Cognitive Brain Function Delayed and Reversed by Blueberries

Exercise, Fitness & Dietary Nutrition – Zinc

Natural & Healthy Anti-Aging Foods

Nutrition - Watermelon is an excellent source of arginine

Lowering Triglycerides: DHA Lowers Triglycerides

Causes of Alzheimer’s and the Role of Blueberries

Cholesterol Lowered with a Diet High in Soy Protein

Vitamin E and Heart Disease

Orange Peels Lower Cholesterol and Triglycerides

Cholesterol Lowering Benefits of Plant Sterols

Natural Cholesterol Remedies – Fruit and Veggies

Mushrooms Nutrition Facts

How Much Folate is in Our Foods?

Creatine Side Effects: Myths and Safety Profile - Part 1 of 5

Facts and Benefits of Creatine - Part 2 of 5

The Best Creatine? Creatine Monohydrate Effectiveness - Part 3 of 5

Medical Safety of Creatine Supplementation - Part 4 of 5

Should Creatine Supplements be Banned? - Part 5 of 5

Skin Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

Eighty to eighty-five percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas and the remaining percentage are squamous cell carcinomas, with the latter being the more invasive of the two and underlying most of the deaths attributable to these tumors. (J Invest Dermatol 1994, 102:6S-9S).

A paper presented in the journal Clinical and Experimental Dermatology reported on five cases of non-melanoma skin cancer occurring in welders, an occupation in which there is potential for intense exposure to non-solar ultraviolet irradiation. (Clin Exp Dermatol. 2000 Jan;25(1):28-9).

A Canadian study found elevated risks for squamous cell carcinomas in people exposed to insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and seed treatments as well petroleum products, grease, and several other exposures.

Elevated risks of basal cell carcinomas were seen in people exposed to fibreglass dust and dry cleaning. Also, prior non-diagnostic X-ray treatment for skin conditions increased risk of both cancers. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1996, 5:419-424).

Several studies have shown an association between cumulative ultraviolet exposure and risk of basal cell carcinoma, although the magnitude of risk conferred has been small.

Other studies have failed to find a significant association between estimated cumulative sun exposure in adulthood and the presence of basal cell carcinoma.

Other non-ultraviolet environmental exposures that have been associated with increased risk of basal cell carcinoma include ionising radiation, high dietary energy (especially fat), low intake of vitamins, and various chemicals and dust. Exposure to arsenic predisposes to multiple basal cell carcinomas. (BMJ. 2003 October 4; 327(7418): 794–798).

Analysis of the major occupational groups showed that, in the context of basal cell carcinoma, professionals and technicians have an increased risk of developing this type of cancer. When all occupations and both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas were analysed jointly, miners and quarrymen, secondary education teachers and masons registered excess risk.

Separate analysis of the results by type showed a higher risk of basal cell carcinoma for railway engine drivers and firemen, farmers and salesmen, in addition to the above three occupations.

The occupations that registered a higher risk of squamous cell carcinomas (though not of basal cell carcinoma) were those involving direct contact with livestock, and the groups encompassing other construction workers and stationary engine and related equipment operators. (BMC Public Health 2007, 7:180doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-180).

It has also been reported that 2% of such tumours could be associated with exposure to radon in the UK. (Health Phys 2003, 85:733-739).

The results of our study show a strong association between the occupation of miner and both types of non-melanoma skin cancer, with the strength of association for basal cell carcinomas being double that for squamous cell carcinomas.

The explanation for this result might partly lie in the above-mentioned exposure to radon in the case of basal cell carcinomas; and possibly lie in exposure to arsenic in the case of squamous cell carcinomas. (BMC Public Health 2007, 7:180doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-180).

Overall, an increased risk of both basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas was found in relation to therapeutic ionizing radiation and were most pronounced for those irradiated for acne exposure.

For squamous cell carcinomas, an association with radiotherapy was observed only among those whose skin was likely to sunburn with sun exposure. (Arch Dermatol. 2000 Aug;136(8):1007-11).

In our study, farmers/animal husbandry workers were observed to register an increased risk of developing both basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, despite our efforts to adjust for exposure to solar radiation.

It is well known, however, that farmers suffer from multiple exposures, ranging from pesticides to hazardous air pollutants, due to their use of different types of machinery and plants.

Among workers in direct contact with livestock, risk is apparently higher for squamous cell carcinomas. Although there is a slight possibility of false diagnoses of squamous cell carcinomas in the case of viral warts, such a problem would seem unlikely, in view of the fact that the cases were reviewed by a panel of pathologists who verified the diagnoses. (BMC Public Health 2007, 7:180doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-180).

In Conclusion: This study shows the association between non-melanoma skin cancer and certain occupations. For non-melanoma skin cancer as a whole, miners and quarrymen, secondary education teachers, and masons register excess risk, regardless of exposure to solar radiation and phenotype (such as skin, hair or eye color).

Basal cell carcinomas prove more frequent among railway engine drivers and firemen, farmers and salesmen, in addition to the above-mentioned 3 occupations.

The occupations that register a higher risk of squamous cell carcinomas (though not of basal cell carcinomas) are those involving direct contact with livestock, other construction workers not elsewhere classified and stationary engine and related equipment operators not elsewhere classified.

Exposure to hazardous air pollutants, arsenic, ionizing radiations and burns might well explain a good part of the associations observed in this study. (BMC Public Health 2007, 7:180doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-180).

Reference:
Berta Suárez, Gonzalo López-Abente, Carmen Martínez, Carmen Navarro, Maria José Tormo, Stefano Rosso, Simon Schraub, Lorenzo Gafà, Hélène Sancho-Garnier, Janine Wechsler and Roberto Zanetti. Occupation and skin cancer: the results of the HELIOS-I multicenter case-control study. BMC Public Health 2007, 7:180doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-180. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.

Alternative to Skin Cancer Surgery

Dermatologists at Royal London Hospital and nine other United Kingdom skin cancer treatment centres have supported claims that Curaderm-BEC cures skin cancer and is a viable alternative to conventional surgery, chemotherapy and laser treatments.

Dermatologists applied the topical cream twice daily to the cancer lesion and within weeks, laboratory biopsies confirmed the BEC cream eliminated all traces of cancer.

This discovery is a major medical breakthrough, as skin cancer is quickly becoming a health epidemic.

Skin cancer management usually involves surgery, and the risks of surgical intervention are well known. Excision of skin cancer, such as a Basel Cell Carcinoma (BCC), from the facial area often involves reconstructive surgery, which can be both time consuming and costly.

Dr. Sangeeta Punjabl of the Royal London Hospital concluded the Curaderm-BEC evaluation by stating, "We consider that this rate of treatment success more than justifies the physician considering BEC as an alternative to currently predominant treatment such as surgical excision or cryotherapy.”

The product consists of a patented biochemical (BEC) which is extracted from plants and a specialised cream formulation.

Keratolytic and other agents in the cream soften and peel of the first layer of skin allowing the anti-cancer bio-chemical BEC to reach deep into the affected skin tissue.

This active ingredient has an incredible capacity to select between cancerous and healthy cells. Once inside a cancer cell, the phytochemicals proceed to digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates, resulting in the destruction and sudden death of the cancer cell.

Over the past decade, similar successful claims have also been observed in independent studies by practicing doctors in the USA and Australia.

In Australia, the skin cancer capital of the world, over 50,000 consumers have chosen Curaderm-BEC to eliminate cancer lesions. The independent skin cancer clinics positive conclusions are expected to provide further comfort to medical practitioners and consumers, proving that Curaderm-BEC is a safe skin cancer care alternative to surgery. (PRWeb March 17, 2005).

Clinical research and more information is available online at http://www.cura-care.com.

Natural Remedies for Diabetes Management

Natural Remedies for Diabetes Management: Cinnamon, Gymnema, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Chromium and Cloves have all proven very useful remedies in diabetes management.

Studies Show that Gymnema sylvestre is a Natural Remedy for Diabetes Management.

Studies show that Gymnema Sylvestre helps control both type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Gymnema is a well-proven natural treatment for diabetes, and it has been used for this purpose for over 2,000 years and has proved to be very effective in type 1 diabetes.

In human studies, the most common doses of Gymnema sylvestre used for blood sugar control were 400 mg to 600 mg per day.

Gymnema sylvestre is commonly added to many different herbal combination products, but the majority of studies used GS4, a standardized product that contains only gymnema sylvestre. Standardization by the manufacturer should assure the same amount of active ingredient in every batch of the commercial preparation. (DrugDigest).

Doses of 400 mg to 600 mg per day correlates to about 8 to 12 grams per day of the dried herb in tablet form. Therefore taking 4 grams in tablet form two to three times a day would give a total daily dose of 8 to 12 grams. Some practitioners find Gymnema works best when taken before meals.

A WebMD Medical News article (9 October 2000) related the story of a 71-year-old woman whose doctor had prescribed a widely used drug glyburide (Micronase) used to stimulate the pancreas to make insulin, which can help control blood sugar in a person with type 2 diabetes.

According to the woman she was frequently hitting blood sugar highs and lows. She had been using the drug for six years but fours years prior to the abovementioned report she had dumped glyburide and started taking the herbal product Beta Fast GXR which contains the herb Gymnema without her doctor’s knowledge for three of those years.

She said her doctor may not have noticed the change because her blood sugar checks always turned out so well. The woman also watches her diet and tests her blood sugar daily. (WebMD Medical News 9/10/2000).

So what is Gymnema?

Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre) is a climbing plant that grows in open woods and bushland at an altitude of m in India, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and South Africa. Gymnema is also known as gurmar, gurmabooti, periploca of the woods, and meshasringi (ram’s horn). The Hindu word gurmar best describes the primary use of gymnema.

“Gurmar” translates in English as “sugar destroyer”. The translation is literal: When Gymnema is applied to the mouth, it prevents the taste buds from perceiving sweet tastes. Chewing chocolate is like chewing butter. Grains of sugar are like grains of sand. Gymnema is a well-proven treatment for diabetes, and it has been used for this purpose for over 2,000 years.

In my own clinical experience, I have found Gymnema to be the best herb available for treating this condition and controlling excessive blood sugar levels. (Kerry Bone, FNIMH, FNHAA, Nutrition and Healing Newsletter, January 2002).

Gymnema is best known for its apparent ability to lower blood sugar levels.

Results from case reports and studies in humans and animals suggest that it may work in several ways to help control both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

First, the acids contained in gymnema sylvestre seem to decrease the amounts of sugar that are absorbed from foods. As a result, blood sugar levels may not increase as much as usual after meals.

Secondly, gymnema sylvestre may promote the production of insulin by the body. It is possible that gymnema sylvestre may even prompt the pancreas to develop more beta cells - the source of insulin. It may also make body cells more responsive to the insulin that is available. (DrugDigest).

The first scientific confirmation of Gymnema’s effects on glucose in human diabetics was in 1926 when it was demonstrated that the leaves of Gymnema reduced urinary glucose. (K.G. Gharpurey, Indian Medical Gazette 1926; 61: 155).

Four years later it was shown that GS (Gymnema sylvestre) had a blood glucose lowering effect when there was residual pancreatic function, but was without effect in animals lacking pancreatic function, suggesting a direct effect on the pancreas.

Despite the promise of these initial results, scientific inquiry into the effect of GS on diabetics was not seriously resumed until 1981 when it was again demonstrated that oral administration of the dried leaves of GS brings down blood glucose and raises serum insulin levels, recorded during an oral glucose tolerance test in diabetic animals and healthy human volunteers. (Parenting Naturally).

An unusual attribute of Gymnema sylvestre of great interest is its ability to lower blood sugar by increasing insulin output by apparently regenerating beta cells which are the cells that manufacture and secrete insulin.

As abnormalities in beta cell number and/or function are directly related to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, it appeared that Gymnema sylvestre was a major discovery in the battle against one of the most common disorders in the world.

In 1990 researchers at the University of Madras in India orally administered Gymnema extract to on group of diabetic rats while another group acted as controls and were not given Gymnema.

A toxic agent was used to chemically destroy the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas of each rat thereby causing diabetes.

In the group of rats receiving Gymnema leaves in any form, whole or extracted, their fasting blood glucose levels returned to normal within 20 to 60 days.

In addition, their insulin levels rose toward normal levels and the number of beta cells in the pancreas (the cells that manufacture and secrete insulin) increased. Their findings were published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. (J Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct;30(3):265-79).

Another 1990 study by researchers at Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan, and published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, concluded that gymnema is useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic rats were divided into two groups and fed either a normal diet or one supplemented with an extract of Gymnema. After four weeks the rats supplemented with the Gymnema extract showed reduced glucose levels in the “fed state” and an improvement in glucose tolerance. (Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1990 May-Jun; 9(2): 143-8).

Of course, what works well in test animals may not work in the same way or at all in humans, but this is not the case with Gymnema sylvestre. There have been numerous human clinical trials that have all had positive results.

In a 1990 study, researchers at the University of Madras in India, 22 patients with type 2 diabetes who were non-insulin-dependent were given 400 milligrams of Gymnema extract daily, in two divided doses, in addition to their normal dose of oral hypoglycemics for 18 to 20 months.

Ages ranged from 40 to 62 years and disease duration from 1 to 12 years. Over the duration of treatment, Gymnema significantly lowered fasting blood glucose levels (average of 174mg/dl to 124mg/dl).

Participants in the Gymnema group also had a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c. (Hemoglobin A1C is tested to monitor the long-term control of diabetes and is increased in the red blood cells of persons with poorly controlled diabetes. From this test clinicians can estimate the average blood glucose level during the preceding two to four months. The target for most people is below 7).

Twenty-one of the 22 diabetic patients were able to reduce their intake of drugs, while five patients were able to stop their conventional drugs completely, maintaining normal glucose levels with the Gymnema supplements alone.

Also, their Insulin levels increased significantly compared to those on drugs alone. The authors suggested that this increase in insulin levels was probably due to regeneration or repair of beta cells facilitated by Gymnema.

All of the above contrasts significantly to the diabetic group on drugs alone. Their fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c had elevated slightly and their drug doses either stayed the same or rose over the trial period. (J. Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct; 30(3): 295-300).

The above study demonstrates that the use of Gymnema may result in the need for smaller doses of oral diabetes drugs to control the disease. However, it is important that people with this disease don’t abandon proven ways to manage it, from a healthy diet to regular exercise and medications when needed.

In another study in 1990 carried out by the same research group at the University of Madras, India, 27 participants with insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes, ages from 10 to 50 years and with varying disease duration, were supplemented with 400 milligrams of Gymnema extract daily in two divided doses.

All were using daily insulin injections. After 6 to 8 months of treatment with the Gymnema extract the average insulin requirements were decreased from 60 to 45 units per day and fasting blood glucose levels were lowered.

In fact, one patient with a type 1 diabetes duration of 10 years and another with a lesser duration were able to discontinue insulin usage completely. These improvements continued through out the trial till its completion.

One has to find it remarkable that, compared to conventional treatment, patients with type 1 diabetes for 25 years responded equally as well as those who had been diagnosed for only one year when given the Gymnema extract supplement. So, there appears to be no time limitation on Gymnema use to still receive benefits.

This contrasts significantly to the diabetic group not taking Gymnema and receiving insulin alone for a year. Their insulin requirements either remained the same or increased and their average insulin usage was almost double that of the Gymnema group. Also, the drop in fasting blood glucose was statistically insignificant in this group.

In addition, cholesterol levels also returned to near normal levels and triglycerides were lowered in the group taking Gymnema. (J. Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct; 30(3): 281-94).

In 1997 Japanese researchers at the Nippon Veterinary and Animal Science University, Tokyo, Japan, decided to test Gymnema inodorum, since it has an advantage that it does not suppress sweetness nor is it bitter in taste.

Their conclusions, published in The Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, was that their studies suggested Gymnema inodorum inhibits the increase in the blood glucose levels by interfering with the intestinal glucose absorption process. (J Vet Med Sci. 1997 Sep; 59(9): 753-7).

In a study, published in the Diabetes In Control Newsletter (30/10/2001), conducted by Diabetes Educators, under the protocols established by Diabetes in Control and Informulab of Omaha, NE, the makers of Beta Fast GXR®, Gymnema Sylvestre was found to lower HbA1c from 10.1% to 9.3%.

HbA1c or Hemoglobin A1C is tested to monitor the long-term control of diabetes and is increased in the red blood cells of persons with poorly controlled diabetes. From this test clinicians can estimate the average blood glucose level during the preceding two to four months. The target for most people is below 7.

The study included 65 participants with type 2 diabetes, some diet controlled others insulin dependent, ages 18 to 73 and was conducted for a ninety day period. Patients were given Beta Fast GXR® brand of Gymnema Sylvestre containing 400mg leaf extract per tablet twice daily.

An interesting observation made by the researchers was that the higher the participants initial HbA1c values (and therefore the less controlled their diabetes) the more significant the results.

In the group of participants that started with an HbA1c above 10% the Gymnema Sylvestre supplementation lowered HbA1c from 11.1% to 9.9% (1.2% decrease) compared with the group that started at 9% or above, HbA1c was lowered from 10.1% to 9.3% (0.8% decrease). (Diabetes In Control Newsletter, Issue 76 (1) : 30 Oct 2001).

The reduction of HbA1c in this study is of great importance as an improvement in glycemic control reduces the risk of complications from diabetes.

Glycemic control is a medical term referring to the typical levels of blood sugar (glucose) in a person with diabetes type 2.

Much evidence suggests that many of the long-term complications of diabetes, especially the microvascular (smaller blood vessels) complications, result from many years of hyperglycemia (elevated levels of glucose in the blood). Good glycemic control, in the sense of a “target” for treatment, has become an important goal of diabetes care. (Wikipedia).

In 2003 researchers, reporting in the journal Pharmacological Research, found that Oral administration of 200 mg of Gymnema montanum extract per kg of body weight to diabetic rats for 3 weeks resulted in a significant reduction in blood glucose levels and an increase in insulin levels.

There was also a decrease in free radical formation in the blood of the diabetic rats.

Supplementing with Gymnema montanum resulted in an increase in glutathione (which has many functions in a cell include activating certain enzymes and destroying toxic compounds and chemicals that contain oxygen). Vitamin C and vitamin E levels were also increased thereby clearly showing the antioxidant properties of Gymnema montanum.

These effects were compared with glibenclamide, an anti-diabetic drug (Diabeta®, Glynase® Micronase® Daonil®, Semi-Daonil® Euglucon®. Also sold in combination with metformin under the trade name Glucovance®.) The researchers concluded that the results suggest that Gymnema montanum extract was more effective than the drug glibenclamide. (Pharmacological Research. 2003 Dec; 48(6): 551-6).

Why is this antioxidant activity of Gymnema so important in diabetes management?

The above study shows that Gymnema appears to recycle available vitamin C and E.

The prevalent long term depletion of vitamin C, common in diabetes, may contribute to depressed immune function, compromised wound healing ability and reduced blood vessel integrity. These and other related aliments can possibly be arrested and reversed by vitamin C supplementation. (Dr. Brian Jakes, Jr. Diabetes In Control July 2002).

C-reactive protein is linked to cardiovascular disease in people with diabetes.

“Having both diabetes and an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level compounds one’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease, for which people with diabetes are at particularly high risk,” scientists writing in the American Journal of Nursing report in their review. (Life Extension Foundation Daily News 10/04/06).

Vitamin C supplements can reduce levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation and chronic disease risk in humans, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

Participants who took about 500 milligrams of vitamin C supplements per day saw a 24 percent drop in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels after two months.

“C-reactive protein is a marker of inflammation, and there is a growing body of evidence that chronic inflammation is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s disease,” said Gladys Block, UC Berkeley professor of epi