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Health Bits and Pieces
By Michael Janson, M.D.
December 04, 2006
A diet high in refined grains, such as white flour, particularly white bread, increases the risk of kidney cancer. Italian researchers compared the diets of 767 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the two years before their diagnosis with the diets of 1534 controls at the same hospital with non-cancer diagnoses. They used a food-frequency questionnaire to evaluate diets. (Bravi, F. et al., “Food groups and renal cell carcinoma: A case-control study from Italy,” International Journal of Cancer, published online, October 2006.)
Their evaluation showed that white bread increased the risk of RCC by 94%, white rice increased it by 29%, and milk and yogurt increase the risk by 27%. Vegetables lowered the risk by 35 percent. (Surprisingly, chicken and processed meats also lowered risk, but there was no clear explanation of this finding.)
The same researchers earlier showed that refined grains were associated with an increased risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In a study of 1369 patients with BPH compared to 1451 controls, they found that subjects with the highest intake of refined grains had a 50 percent greater risk of BPH than those with the lowest intake. On the contrary, subjects with the highest intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids had a 28% reduction of risk of BPH than those with the lowest intake. In this study, the researchers found that both omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids provided similar benefits. (Bravi F. et al., “Macronutrients, fatty acids, cholesterol, and risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia,” Urology. 2006 Jun;67(6):1205-11.)
Research on 77,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study shows that increasing fruit and vegetable consumption reduces the risk of developing gallstones. Gallstones form when substances in bile precipitate and condense into a hard mass; and these can be painful when passing through the bile ducts, or even life-threatening. Gallstones may require surgery or ultrasonic destruction. (Tsai CJ, et al., “Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of cholecystectomy in women,” Am J Med. 2006 Sep;119(9):760-7.)
A diet rich in citrus fruits, leafy greens, and other foods rich in Vitamin C can reduce the likelihood that patients will require gall-bladder surgery. Those with the highest levels of consumption had a 21% lower risk of needing surgery than those women with the lowest intake of fruits and vegetables. Antioxidant vitamins, fiber, and minerals such as magnesium might all be contributors to the benefits observed in this study.
Eating lots of fruit is also helpful for men. A new study shows that men who eat large amounts of Vitamin C-rich fruits (particularly citrus) have a reduced risk of pre-malignant lesions in the mouth. In the large Health Professionals’ Follow-up Study of 42,311 men, those who consumed the most fruits had a 30-40% lower risk of such lesions, many of which become squamous-cell cancers. The benefit was even seen in smokers.
In laboratory studies, the flavonoids quercetin and EGCG (from green tea) were found to protect retinal cells from oxidative stress. Researchers stressed the cells with oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide. Treatment with the flavonoids blocked production of oxidative by-products (reactive oxygen species), reduced cell death, and induced the production of detoxifying enzymes. Pre-treatment was 80-100% effective in reducing oxidative cell death. Some benefits were seen even if the flavonoids were added after exposure to the oxidative stress. Protecting the retinal cells is important in the prevention of age-related macular degeneration as well as visual deterioration associated with diabetes. (Hanneken A., et al., “Flavonoids protect human retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative-stress-induced death,” Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006 Jul;47(7):3164-77.)
Heart failure is a reduction in the pumping capacity of the heart muscle leading to accumulation of fluids in the lungs and/or legs, shortness of breath, and fatigue. A new study shows that omega-3 oil supplements improve heart function in patients with heart failure, even if they are already on a full dose of typical medications.
In this study of 25 heart-failure patients, 15 were given 2 grams of a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplement with 85% omega-3 oils (EPA and DHA) and 10 were given a placebo. They evaluated the patients after four months. Subjects on the PUFA supplements had improvement in heart rate, heart-rate variability, and cardiac response to blood-pressure changes, all indicators of better heart function, and such improvements are associated with better prognoses. (Radaelli A., et al., “Enhanced baroreceptor control of the cardiovascular system by polyunsaturated fatty acids in heart failure patients,” J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Oct 17;48(8):1600-6.)
Whole grains are known to reduce diabetes risk, and a new study of 41,186 black women, who are more likely to get diabetes than whites, shows that high magnesium and whole grain intake led to a 31% lower risk of diabetes; after adjustment for other healthy habits, including eating less red meat and saturated fat, the benefits of whole grains were the same. (Van Dam RM, et al., “Dietary calcium and magnesium, major food sources, and risk of type 2 diabetes in U.S. black women,” Diabetes Care. 2006 Oct;29(10):2238-43.)
Coenzyme Q10 improves cardiac function in patients with heart failure. A controlled study of 23 patients given CoQ10 with and without exercise, or exercise alone showed that oxygen use improved by 10% and arterial relaxation improved by 38% in the supplement group, and the effects were enhanced by exercise. CoQ10 also improved the heart-muscle contraction ability, which is reduced in heart failure. Subjects received supplements of 300 mg daily, or placebo. (Belardinelli R., et al., “Coenzyme Q10 and exercise training in chronic heart failure,” Eur Heart J. 2006 Aug 1; [Epub ahead of print])
Michael Janson, M.D., is Past President of the American College for Advancement in Medicine and the author of four books, including Dr. Janson's New Vitamin Revolution and the User's Guide to Heart Healthy Supplements. He writes and publishes a free monthly newsletter, Dr. Janson's Healthy Living, available at his website, www.drjanson.com. Dr. Janson does phone and email consults on nutrition, lifestyle, and dietary supplements. He is also a consultant for companies in natural health care. He can be reached at drjanson@drjanson.com.
