from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's
Hospital, and other institutions evaluated the relationship between
fat, fiber, antioxidant and caffeine intake in benign breast disease
in the Nurses' Health Study II. Benign breast disease, especially
with atypical hyperplasia is a marker for increased risk of developing
breast cancer. There was no association between increasing fat intake
and increased benign breast disease; rather increased intake of
vegetable fat was associated with decreased risk of benign breast
disease without atypical hyperplasia. High caffeine intake increased
the risk of developing atypical hyperplasia in benign breast disease.
Using a multiple vitamin supplement cut the risk of developing benign
breast disease with atypical hyperplasia almost in half. The study
appears in the July 2004 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers
and Prevention.
Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph
Atypical hyperplasia in benign breast disease means that cells have
proliferated and are unusual. The atypical hyperplasia is found in
3% of benign breast disease biopsies and having atypical hyperplasia
increases the risk of developing breast cancer by about 13%. Besides
a multiple-vitamin and mineral supplement, other nutrients that are
beneficial for breast tissue include Green Tea EGCG, natural Lycopene,
a complete version of vitamin E used over time in conjunction with
vitamin C, Soy Isoflavones, Indole-3-Carbinol, and Resveratrol.
Selenium Lowers Homocysteine
Researchers found that selenium levels in the blood were associated
with Homocysteine levels and that individuals with the highest level
of selenium in the blood had a 63% decreased risk of having high
Homocysteine levels. The study appears in the July 2004 issue of the
Journal of Nutrition, a journal of The American Society for
Nutritional Sciences.
Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.
Elevated Homocysteine levels have been linked to the following;
increased risk of stroke, increased risk of heart failure,
hardening of the arteries even at a younger age, poor memory,
increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's
disease, and an increased risk of bone fracture in the elderly.
Homocysteine levels are only controlled by nutrition especially
the following four B-complex vitamins - folic acid, vitamin B12,
vitamin B6 and vitamin B2. Other supplements also help control
Homocysteine levels including NAC, TMG, Aged Garlic and now
Selenium.
Low Calcium Intake increases the risk of Being Heavy
In the Heritage Family Study, a low intake of calcium was associated
with a higher body mass index, a higher percentage of body fat versus
being lean, having abdominal fat in most adults. The study appears
in the July 2004 Journal of Nutrition.
Vitamin K and Liver Cancer
In a Japanese population of women with virus caused cirrhosis of
the liver, giving vitamin K supplementation on a daily basis greatly
reduced the risk of developing liver cancer. Only 2 women out of 21
supplemented with a 45 mg daily dose of vitamin K2 developed liver
cancer, where 9 out of 19 non-supplemented women developed liver
cancer. The study appears in the July 21st issue of the Journal
of the American Medical Association.
Fish Oil Fatty Acids Decrease Levels of many Inflammatory Factors
In a study of 727 women aged 43 to 69 in the Nurses' Health Study I,
intake of fish oil fatty acids decreased levels of a cross section
of inflammatory-destructive immune system chemicals. The following
were lower with higher levels of fish oil fatty acid intake
C-reactive protein - elevations cause blood vessel damage (29% lower)
Interleukin-6 - elevations seen in many conditions including MS (where it damages brain-nerve tissue), blood vessel damage, inflammatory intestinal diseases, and a number of cancers (23% lower)
E-selectin levels - elevations seen in inflammatory skin conditions and cardiovascular tissue damage (10% lower)
Soluble Intracellular Adhesion Molecule - elevations seen in heart and cardiovascular damage (7% lower)
Soluble Vascular Adhesion Molecule - elevations seen in heart and cardiovascular damage (8% lower).
The study is published in the July 2004 issue of the Journal of Nutrition.
Vitamin C Deficiency Common in the United States
The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
(NHANES III) states that many Americans do not get enough vitamin
C and are truly deficient. Many more suffer from vitamin C depletion,
or marginally low levels. Researchers investigated vitamin C levels
in almost 16,000 Americans aged 12 to 74. The intake and serum levels
of vitamin C were assessed. 14% of men and 10% of women were truly
deficient. Smokers had the highest risk of being deficient, while
people who do not take vitamin C supplements also had a great increase
in vitamin C deficiency. 23% of all men were depleted as were 20% of
all women. The study is published in the May 2004 issue of the American
Journal of Public Health.
