Lignans lower the risk of estrogen and progesterone positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women
May
08,
2007
Studies in Asian populations show that consumption of soy foods rich in Isoflavones is connected to a lower risk of breast cancer.
Yet Western populations do not typically consume soy; but they do eat sources of Lignans (a major component of flaxseed hulls). Like Isoflavones, Lignans are protective Phytoestrogens in both men and women.
These researchers compared the level of Lignan intake in women and the risk of invasive breast cancer. The study covered 58,049 postmenopausal French women not taking soy isoflavone supplements.
The women were followed for almost 8 years on average. Women with the highest versus the lowest intake of Lignans had a 28% drop in the risk of sex hormone associated breast cancer (estrogen or progesterone driven breast cancer). The study is published in the March 21st, 2007 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Acetyl-L-Carnitine successful in decreasing pain caused by HIV-cocktail of drugs
Protease inhibiting drugs are used in combination to inhibit the AIDS virus. These drugs frequently cause nerve damage and severe nerve pain.
In this study, scientists at Royal Free Hospital in London placed 90 HIV positive patients with severe nerve pain caused by their antiretroviral medicine on either placebo or Acetyl-L-Carnitine (hereon referred to as ALCAR).
hey first received the ALCAR by injection for 14 days at a dose of 500mg twice a day. They then took ALCAR supplements at 1,000mg twice a day for an additional 42 days.
By injection ALCAR was significantly better than placebo at reducing pain. The oral supplement also was able to reduce pain and it also improved symptoms in general. The study is published in the M