Combination of nutrients aids men with peripheral vascular disease - improving their walking and circulation

Peripheral vascular disease is hardening of the arteries that supply the arms and legs, decreasing circulation and causing pain when walking or exercising. Intermittent claudication is a condition where the vascular disease can cause pain when walking - it refers to blood vessels being damaged only in the legs. In this study, 60 men with peripheral vascular disease plus intermittent claudication where randomly placed on either placebo or a combination of EPA and DHA (Fish Oil omega-3 fatty acids), oleic acid (omega 9 fatty acid found in olive oil), folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin E. The patients were checked initially, and again after three months, six months, nine months, and at one year. The patients on the vitamin-fatty acid combination had decreased cholesterol, decreased homocysteine (if initially elevated), they could walk further, and had better leg circulation than the patients on placebo after one year. The study is published in the June 2005 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

Recent research shows that Zinc supplementation improves the symptoms of ADHD in children, and also improves the attention span, learning, and test scores of high school students. In studies of fitness, low zinc intake has been associated with poorer muscle strength, a tendency to faster fatigue, and slower speed.

Childhood Leukemia tied to distance from home at birth to high voltage power lines

In examining the records of 29,081 children with cancer in England and Wales, 9,700 of whom had childhood leukemias, it was found that living within 200 meters (about 670 feet) of high voltage power lines at birth increased the risk of childhood leukemia by 69%. Living within 600 meters (about 2,000 feet) of these lines increased the risk by 23%. This risk was significant in trend. There was no increased risk for other types of cancer. The study is published in the June 4th, 2005 issue of the British Medical Journal.