Alpha-Lipoic Acid may protect against pancreatitis

In this study, rats were administered Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) as a protective agent and then were injected with a pancreatic irritant one, three and five hours after the ALA. This whole procedure was repeated for 5 days. The injection caused swelling, cellular damage, and inflammation in the pancreas of rats not protected by the ALA. However, in the rats protected by ALA there was significantly less swelling of the pancreas and markers of pancreatitis, including blood amylase and lipase levels were much lower. The study is published in the August 2005 issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

We recently reported a study where pomegranate polyphenols decreased thickening of the carotid artery intima- media thickening by up to 30% after one year in patients with carotid artery stenosis (narrowing) whereas the intima-media of the control group increased by 9% during the same time period. The study was published in the June 2004 issue of the journal Clinical Nutrition.

Sulforaphane may protect the aging brain

Sulforaphane, a nutrient found in cabbage vegetables, especially broccoli, increases the activity of the all important phase 2 detoxifying enzymes. It is the job of these enzymes to rid the body of very dangerous chemicals. In rats that develop high blood pressure spontaneously and that are also stroke prone, it has been demonstrated that their brain ages very early in life. There is a great deal of inflammation and free radical damage taking place in their quickly aging-deteriorating brain. Giving a high sulforaphane broccoli sprout preparation significantly decreased age related, age causing degenerative changes associated with inflammation and free radical pathology in the brain of these animals. The study is published in the April 2005 issue of the journal Nutritional Neuroscience.