New mechanism of cancer protection found for EGCG - the most important Green Tea Polyphenol

The chromosome is the component in the cell that contains genetic information and each chromosome contains numerous genes. A chromosome can contain hundreds, even thousands of the genes that form our inherited blueprint. Chromosomes appear in pairs and each human cell has 23 pairs (other than red blood cells); one chromosome per pair obtained from the mother and the other from the father. If a chromosome is damaged by radiation or some other event, the resulting genetic instability can lead to cancer.

The significance of EGCG is being increasingly recognized with regard to cancer prevention. In this study cells were treated with EGCG and the nucleic acids were extracted (RNA and DNA). As it turns out the EGCG binds to both RNA and DNA, stabilizing the DNA and preventing it from being damage due to assault. It was found that DNA in the presence of high temperatures existed as a double strand only if it was attached to EGCG. Otherwise, with exposure to high temperatures the double stranded DNA melted to single stranded DNA. Both RNA and DNA apparently have receptor sites for EGCG. This helps intensify the understanding of EGCG and its effect on DNA and cancer prevention. The study is published in the April 25th, 2006 issue of The Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.

Yesterday we reported that taking a combination of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and ibuprofen prevented the onset of Alzheimer's disease in patients who inherited a gene from their parents that puts them at high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Calcium builds bone and prevents fracture in elderly women

A total of 1,460 women with an average age of 75 years were randomly assigned to take either 600mg of Calcium twice daily or an inactive placebo for 5 years. In the women who were on calcium and actually took it (at least 80% of the dosage; only 56.8% of the women actually took their calcium plus some of the women on placebo were taking an outside source of calcium) there was a 34% decreased risk of fracture anywhere in the body. Bone strength improved on Calcium and measurements of the heal, femoral neck (the upper part of the thigh bone near the hip joint; it is prone to osteoporotic fractures), and whole-body all improved in regard to the thickness of the bone. The study appears in the April 24th, 2006 issue of the journal Archives of Internal Medicine; a journal of the American medical Association.