Metabolism

Black Pepper Extract Benefits: Boost Nutrient Absorption and More

The black pepper plant produces a unique fruit that is harvested and used to create black pepper, a substance used all over the world daily. In fact, many people add black pepper to their foods so frequently that they don’t even think about it. This has made it one of the most valued spices in the world for generations. After harvesting, the fruit of the plant is dried, resulting in what we know as the peppercorn — a tiny seed-like ball with potent anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The fruit of the black pepper plant is of such interest to scientists because its primary element is piperine. The piperine in black pepper is what gives it its powerful scent and flavor, but it does much more than simply improve the taste of food. The piperine in black pepper can help the body in a number of ways, from helping to better absorb nutrients to alleviating dental discomfort.

Science Takes a Deeper Look at Black Pepper

One of the newest discoveries is that black pepper extract benefits include helping the body process nutrients more efficiently. It does this by slowing down processes in the liver and intestines, allowing certain compounds to be held in the intestines longer. This gives the body more time to absorb nutrients, which allows the digestive system an opportunity to make better use of the foods we eat. Specifically, a process called “glucuronidation” is inhibited when piperine is added to the system. Under normal circumstances, glucuronidation helps the liver process medications and dietary supplements more rapidly. This process causes the beneficial properties of these substances to be flushed out with our urine prematurely. By arresting this process, the black pepper extract gives the body a longer period during which it can absorb these helpful properties of nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are ingested.

Black pepper extract benefits are particularly beneficial where curcumin is concerned. Curcumin is another natural substance, found in spices like turmeric, that provides a wealth of health benefits. However, our bodies can’t absorb curcumin quickly enough and many of the beneficial properties are flushed out of the system as waste. When black pepper extract is added to the mix, it slows down the digestive system long enough to allow the body to absorb more of the healthy properties found in curcumin. Taking black pepper extract with curcumin can improve the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000 percent or more.

More Black Pepper Extract Benefits

Supports Healthy Cells

One way that black pepper can benefit us is by helping to support healthy cell growth. It does this by releasing antioxidants into our bloodstream, which can help protect against free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive particles that can cause cell damage when left to roam within our bodies. This may be why people who consume more black pepper may experience fewer skin anomalies, such as wrinkles and liver spots.

Improves Digestion

Consuming black pepper also increases the amount of hydrochloric acid released into the stomach. A higher acid content helps the stomach digest foods more efficiently, which may be adding black pepper to food regularly can help reduce instances of colic, diarrhea and constipation. The spicy nature of black pepper also promotes sweating and more frequent urination, which helps flush toxins and excess fluids from the body. The flushing of toxins helps reduce the risks of developing more severe gastrointestinal problems.

Helps Maintain a Healthy Weight

In addition to helping the body flush excess water and toxins from the body, black pepper plants assist in maintaining a healthy weight in another way. Black pepper possesses an outer layer that works to help support the breakdown of fat cells in the body when it’s ingested. Fat cells that are broken down are more easily digested, making it more efficient for the body to process those cells. This means they will be used for energy and the waste will be flushed rather than having the whole cells stored to cause weight gain.

May Aid in Cases of Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a type of skin condition that inhibits pigmentation and gives some people a paler or whiter skin tone. A study conducted at Oregon Health & Science University found that pepperine helps the body produce melanocytes, which help to produce melanin. In turn, melanin makes it easier for the skin to darken and tan. In fact, a topical solution derived from piperine and used in combination with UV light therapy can help reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.

Improves Respiration

If you’re a fan of spicy foods, you already know that strong dishes help clear the sinuses and improve breathing. this is because the pepper acts as an expectorant, which breaks up mucus and phlegm in the sinus cavities. As you’re prompted to sneeze or cough, you expel those contaminants, which helps clear out the respiratory tract. Additionally, by removing these substances from the body, you may also be reducing the risk of illness or infection. If you’re easily congested or experience breathing difficulties, ingesting more black pepper may help.

While there are many more benefits of ingesting black pepper extract, the benefits listed here may be the most advantageous. By slowing down the digestive process, black pepper helps us gain the benefits of other foods we eat and the natural supplements we rely upon to stay healthy. By adding black pepper to more foods, we’re likely making those foods even more useful to our bodies.

Exercise Affects Gut Bacteria, Regardless of Diet

Nov 14 by Ewcopywriting

In the past year, scientists have examined how exercise alone has the power to alter the bacterial balance of the gut. Now, a group of researchers taking a poke at further unpacking the mechanisms behind how exercise affects gut bacteria have focused their research efforts on endurance exercise in particular. According to a new study, irrespective of changes to one’s diet, endurance training increases the production of metabolism-boosting microbes while decreasing the presence of those known to cause inflammation. The new study has been published and is now available in the scientific journal Frontiers in Microbiology.

Exercise Changes the Microbial Composition of the Gut

In late 2017, researchers from the University of Illinois conducted a pair of studies that were designed to help isolate changes in gut bacteria that were caused by exercise as opposed to other factors like antibiotic consumption or dietary intake. The two studies provided first-time evidence of exercise’s ability to change the microbial composition of the gut on its own accord. Their research successfully demonstrated in both mouse and human trials that exercise alone was enough to alter the types of bacteria present within the gut in a beneficial manner.

The team’s research shown exercise to increase the number of microbes that produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). In particular, it created a significant increase in a particular SCFA — butyrate — that is known to boost energy, encourage the health of intestinal cells and reduce inflammation. According to their data, exercise may also increase the body’s resistance to inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis. The levels again declined when the subjects returned to sedentary lifestyles.

One interesting observation was that the lean subjects were found to have the largest increase in their SCFA levels, likely because their levels were significantly lower at the start of the study. The ratios of microbes present in the guts of obese participants and lean participants differed throughout the entire duration of the study, a clear demonstration that the gut microbiota of a lean person versus an obese person will respond very differently to exercise.

Narrowing in on Endurance Exercise’s Effects on Gut Bacteria

In a collaborative effort among institutions, scientists from the University of Jyväskylä, the University of Turku and nonprofit research organization FISABIO came together to delve deeper into how exercise affects the gut microbiota. In order to conduct their experiments, the team of researchers developed a six-week exercise program for overweight women who were previously sedentary but otherwise healthy. Over the six-week window, the participants took part in three separate endurance training sessions each week utilizing a bicycle ergometer. The researchers controlled the endurance training intensity by monitoring the heart rates of the participants. The women were asked not to make any lifestyle changes — such as dietary intake or alcohol consumption — during the study in order to zero in on the effects of exercise.

Throughout the study, the researchers analyzed gut composition and changes in gene activity utilizing 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing technology. The team observed that overall, after only six weeks of endurance training, there was a notable decrease in microbes known to cause inflammation (Proteobacteria) and an increase in those known to boost metabolism (Akkermansia).

In regards to gene functionality, there was little change observed over the course of the study. Pekkala commented, “The abundance of the functional genes did not change much, which was perhaps to be expected because the diet did not change during training. If the training period had been longer, greater effects probably would have been seen.”

The Cardiometabolic Benefits of Endurance Exercise: Could Akkermansia Microbes Be the Driving Force?

While there was no significant weight loss from the endurance training alone, there were other notable health benefits of the activity. According to research fellow Satu Pekkala from the University of Jyväskylä, “We found that phospholipids and cholesterol in VLDL particles decreased in response to exercise.” She explains, “These changes are beneficial for cardiometabolic health because VLDL transports lipids from the liver to peripheral tissues, converts into ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol in the circulation, and thus has detrimental cardiovascular effects.”

The endurance training regimen also decreased the activity of what is referred to as “vascular adhesion protein-1”, a molecule whose presence is associated with increased inflammation, though the authors report they were unable to determine the underlying mechanism for this in their study.

Other studies have observed a higher prevalence of Akkermansia bacteria in people who are more physically active, with some researchers looking to prove how Akkermansia may be a viable preventative against diabetes and obesity. But whether the alteration in gut microbes is the force behind all the beneficial changes observed here is a matter for future investigations. As Pekkala notes, “[More] studies are needed to prove that Akkermansia might mediate some of the health benefits of exercise.”

Increasing Prebiotics in Your Diet Improves Digestive Health, Sleep and More

Oct 22 by Ewcopywriting

Confused about the difference between probiotics and prebiotics and how they work together? Here, we will take a brief look at what probiotics and prebiotics are, break down the differences between these important digestive helpers and learn how increasing the prebiotics in your diet not only improves digestion but also supports immune function, promotes sleep, lowers stress and provides many other benefits.

What Are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics are types of nondigestible fibers and sugars found in certain foods. Because your body can’t break them down completely, these substances pass undigested through the upper parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Once the prebiotic compounds reach the colon, they’re fermented by the bacteria residing in the gut. There, they feed the communities of bacteria that make up the gut’s microbiota.

So, what exactly is the difference then between prebiotics and probiotics? The term “probiotics” typically refers to foods and supplements that contain live microorganisms known to be beneficial to gut health. Conversely, “prebiotics” are compounds that serve as food for the microorganisms that live in the gut. The also-related but less well-known “postbiotics” are the byproduct that occurs as a result of gut bacteria fermenting the prebiotic compounds. Individually, each of these components possesses a number of health benefits while also working together to improve digestive health and overall well-being.

Why Are Prebiotics Important?

The human body is a host to trillions of bacteria, the vast majority of which live within our large intestines. Many of these bacteria are critical to bodily functions. The bacteria in our guts not only aid in the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients but also help to regulate hormone production and neurotransmitter release, with a direct effect on the immune system and the body’s ability to cope with stress.

Because our guts are so integral to many bodily functions, the abundance and diversity of the good bacteria in our guts is important to our overall health. Prebiotics act as a food source for these bacterial colonies that reside within our GI tracts. Working together, prebiotics and probiotics have been shown to significantly improve health outcomes.

What Are the Benefits of Prebiotics?

Prebiotics improve digestion and promote a healthy gut. Acting as food for good bacteria, prebiotics encourage the growth of the beneficial microbes residing in our guts. When these otherwise nondigestible fibers are metabolized by friendly gut bacteria, the byproduct is another group of beneficial compounds known as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). SCFAs strengthen the intestinal lining, aid digestion, improve the symptoms of inflammatory bowel conditions and may even lower the chances of developing colorectal cancer.

Prebiotics reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that combining prebiotics and probiotics helps to regulate insulin signaling, lower “bad” cholesterol, balance electrolyte levels and reduce blood pressure, all factors that greatly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

Prebiotics aid weight loss and the chances of obesity. Numerous studies have indicated that gut dysbiosis can be a contributing factor to weight gain and obesity-related disorders. Increased fiber intake is known to help curb weight gain. Researchers have found that prebiotic fiber regulates the stimulation and suppression of gastrointestinal hormones that control the feelings of hunger and satiation and is associated with a lowered BMI.

Prebiotics can help to reduce inflammation. Inflammation is believed to be a contributing factor for chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and even some cancers. Studies have demonstrated that increased intake of prebiotic fiber lowers systemic inflammation. Research indicates that this association may be due to the production of SCFAs that occurs during prebiotic fermentation.

Prebiotics improve the body’s immune system response. A healthy gut is key to a strong immune system.Recent findings have shown that adding more prebiotics into your diet elevates SCFA levels and increases the expression of antibodies and antioxiants, important for helping the body to fight off illness and disease.

Prebiotics promote healthier, stronger bones. Imbalances to the gut microbiota have been tied to cases of disease and loss of density within bones. According to research, upping intake of prebiotics improves bone strength by increasing calcium absorption and bone density.

Prebiotics may improve sleep quality. Every cell in the human body responds to circadian rhythms, and this includes the microbial life within us. Under normal circumstances, subjects with a higher intake of prebiotics tend to spend more time in the restorative sleep phase, except for after stressful events, which observed longer periods of REM sleep, the phase of sleep thought to help recover from stress. This suggests that prebiotics encourage better, more restful sleep and help to ease stress. Prebiotics also alter the release of hormones such as melatonin and serotonin that are known to play a role in or have an effect on sleep and sleep quality.

Prebiotics help to regulate moods and hormone levels. As our knowledge of the gut-brain connection grows, it’s becoming more and more clear that many conditions, including mental health issues, are affected by gut health. Not only does our gut flora affect bodily function, but studies suggest that our gut’s microbial makeup may even be responsible for how bodily systems, such as our stress response system, are actually developed. Increased consumption of prebiotics has been shown to improve stress responses, reduce cortisol levels and alleviate feelings of depression and anxiety.

How to Incorporate More Prebiotics Into Your Diet

Want to know how you can increase your daily intake of prebiotics? There are a handful of prebiotic-rich foods that you can add to your diet. Remember that, as with most foods, cooking changes the nutritional makeup. For the most benefit, try to consume foods that are raw and unprocessed. Here are a few food choices that are packed with health-promoting prebiotics:

asparagus
chicory root
dandelion greens
garlic
jicama
leeks
onions
under-ripened bananas

Dietary supplements are also available for those unable to fit enough prebiotics into their diet. Look for supplements that combine both prebiotics and probiotics for the greatest impact.

The Health Benefits of Losing Weight: Why Every Pound Counts

Sep 10 by Ewcopywriting

Most people want to drop a few pounds to look better in their swimsuits, but a new study indicates losing even just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can result in dramatic health benefits.

Obesity: A Modern Epidemic

Most people understand that weight control is a growing problem in the United States, particularly with the modern propensity to crave sugary, fattening or fried foods. On top of poor diets, Americans get far less physical exercise than they should, so their bodies have no way to burn that excess fat. This has led to nearly half of the population, or 160 million people, to struggle with being overweight. In many cases, people are clinically obese, which exposes them to the risks of developing diabetes, heart disease and many other health problems.

The problem isn’t limited to adults, either. As many as 30 percent of children in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Children struggling with obesity struggle with the same health risks as adults and may develop chronic illnesses sooner, because they live with obesity for a longer period. Including overweight children, these numbers rank the U.S. as the leader in total number of overweight people.

This has led many to become obsessed with fad diets and weight control treatments. Nearly 50 percent of Americans have reported an interest in losing weight and are willing to make lifestyle changes to do it. While most people can drop a few pounds in the beginning and may even reach their target weight, keeping those pounds off becomes problematic. It usually doesn’t take long to regain those pounds and return to the previous unhealthy weight.

Researchers Uncover the Health Benefits of Losing Weight

New studies back up the assertion of the American Heart Association (AHA) that losing up to 20 percent of excess body weight and keeping it off can lead to significant health benefits. Specifically, it can improve cardiometabolic health. Greg Knell conducted the study at the University of Texas Health Science Center and reported that losing just 5 percent of one’s total body weight can enhance metabolic health. The research team led by Knell looked at the responses of 7,670 adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which recorded data about each respondent’s cardiometabolic health. Some questions focused on topics of weight, waist measurements, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

After examining the data, Knell’s team discovered that losing between 5 percent and 10 percent of total body weight reduced the likelihood of developing metabolic syndrome by as much as 22 percent in adults. Metabolic syndrome is a blanket term used to describe a state in which the individual has a significantly increased risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

And the benefits were found to increase as more weight was lost. People who lost 20 percent or more of their total body weight were 53 percent less likely to develop metabolic syndrome. Greg Knell confirmed that supposition, commenting that the greater the weight loss percentage, the more cardiometabolic health improved. He added that losing just a few pounds can benefit those who are overweight or obese, even if losing 5 percent of their body weight seems like an impossible goal.

How Did Study Participants Shed Weight?

The University of Texas Health Science Center study also found that losing weight proved problematic for many participants in the survey. Of those who admitted trying to lose weight, as many as 62 percent reported that their efforts were unsuccessful. Nutrition experts suggest this type of weight loss failure has more to do with false beliefs about nutrition than with insufficient attempts.

For instance, people often assume maintaining a healthy weight means eating less food. To the contrary, nutritionists recommend adding more foods to your diet and simply changing the foods you eat. Replace prepackaged foods with fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. These foods can help you stay full without adding excess sugar and fat to your diet.

Avoid viewing physical activity as a chore, as well. Instead of trying to maintain a workout routine, it’s a better idea to engage in physical activities you enjoy. That can include going for walks, mountain climbing, swimming or taking a martial arts class. For the best results, fitness experts recommend doing a variety of activities, so you can work out different muscle groups and maximize the body’s ability to burn calories.

Another good recommendation for making dietary changes is to alter the ingredients in your favorite foods. For instance, eating more foods rich in fiber will help you feel full for longer and the fiber will aid in digestion. Switching to low-fat dairy products, low calorie drinks, and more natural foods can also help you lose weight without sacrificing taste.

Timing is Everything: Maintaining Healthy Weight with the Chronodiet:

If you’re eager to experience the healthy benefits of losing weight for yourself, the times you eat can be just as important as the foods you eat. Studies have found that chronobiology and the circadian rhythm play a part in the processing and digestion of foods, leading to the development of a system called the Chronodiet. Part of the Chronodiet involves eating bigger meals and less healthy foods at a time of day when the body can more easily break those compounds down.

As a general rule, you should eat heavier meals between noon and 2:00 p.m., because the body will store less fat during these times. Earlier in the morning and later in the evening, it’s much more important to be health conscious and eat more nutritiously. Additionally, snacks and sweets should be avoided entirely between meals and you should go 12 hours without any calorie consumption, between dinner and breakfast.

By watching what you eat, adding more physical activity to your routine, and timing your meals with better precision, your ability to lose weight will be improved. As you begin to shed pounds, you’ll feel better, but, more importantly, you’ll reduce the risks of developing metabolic syndrome. Dedicating yourself to losing weight can help you become healthier in addition to helping you look better.

Recent Breakthroughs in Dementia and Cognitive Decline

Sep 07 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

Recent research has brought to light a few key factors that can significantly contribute to your risk of dementia. Here, we highlight some of the newest findings regarding dementia and cognitive decline.

A Healthy Brain Starts With a Healthy Heart: How Improving Your Heart Health Could Lower Your Risk of Dementia

In a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a team of researchers demonstrated that steps taken to improve heart health have the added benefit of lowering one’s risk of experiencing dementia or cognitive decline in late life. Using the seven heart health metrics defined by the American Heart Association, the team assessed a combination of modifiable health behaviors and biological components and their link to cognitive decline. According to the team’s findings, each individual parameter reduces the risk of developing dementia by 10 percent, for a total risk reduction of 70 percent if all metrics are kept in check.

Seven Steps to Improve Cardiovascular Health and Lower Dementia Risk

Eat a healthful diet.
Stay physically active.
Maintain a healthy weight and BMI.
Keep cholesterol levels under control.
Maintain a healthy blood pressure.
Reduce blood sugar levels.
Don’t smoke cigarettes.

While the authors admit the limitations of the study, it nevertheless demonstrates that steps taken to better heart health are strongly associated with a decreased risk of dementia and cognitive decline, and that addressing even one area positively impacts the risk of cognitive decline. INSERM’s Cécilia Samieri commented, “In practice, this objective appears more realistic, making it possible to reach a larger number of people and therefore have a greater impact. While health promotion is a collective challenge for public authorities and healthcare professionals, it also involves each individual taking ownership of their own health.”

Belly Fat Linked to Cognitive Decline: How Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio Impacts Your Brain

Bearing a direct impact on cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, a person’s body mass index (BMI) affects nearly all facets of cardiovascular health. In fact, obesity is one of the top risk factors for cardiovascular disease and, according to researchers from Trinity College in Dublin, cognitive decline as well. The study, which was published in the British Journal of Nutrition, examined the health data over more than five thousand Irish adults over the age of 60 and found that higher waist-to-hip ratios were associated with a decline in cognitive abilities.

With the number of obese people on the rise around the globe and the prevalence of dementia expected to increase to upwards of 80 million by the year 2040, these findings could have “significant implications” for many. Senior study author Conal Cunningham, an associate professor at Trinity College said in a press release, “While we have known for some time that obesity is associated with negative health consequences our study adds to emerging evidence suggesting that obesity and where we deposit our excess weight could influence our brain health. This has significant public health implications.”

How Pregnancy, Reproductive History, and Hormone Therapy Impact Cognitive Decline

New findings shared at this year’s Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) drew attention to sex differences among dementia and Alzheimer’s patients over the lifespan. “More women than men have Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias; almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women,” said Dr. Maria Carrillo, the Alzheimer’s Association’s Chief Science Officer. According to the 2018 Facts and Figures Report published by the Alzheimer’s Association, 3.4 million out of 5.5 million elderly Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease are women. Here are a few of the top findings on women’s health presented at this year’s conference.

A Woman’s Reproductive History is Linked to Dementia Risk

Researchers from Northern California investigating different facets of reproduction with regards to incurred dementia risk uncovered associations between the risk of dementia and numerous reproductive factors. “Possible causes of dementia in women, in particular reproductive factors, are not well understood,” explained Dr. Paola Gilsanz, a staff scientist at Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California Division of Research. “In our study, we aimed to identify female-specific risks and protective factors impacting brain health, which is critical to diminishing the disproportionate burden of dementia experienced by women.”

According to their findings:

Women who have had three or more children are 12 percent less likely to develop dementia when compared with women who have had only one child.
Each incidence of miscarriage increases the risk of dementia by 9 percent when compared to women who have had no miscarriages.
Women who started their first period at the age of 16 or older are 31 percent more at risk of dementia than those who have their first period at the average age of 13.
Women who experience the onset of natural menopause at the age of 45 or younger have a 28 percent greater risk of developing dementia when compared to women who naturally enter menopause after 45.
The length of a woman’s reproductive period averaged around 34 years. Women whose reproductive periods span 21 to 30 years in length are 33 percent more at risk of dementia when compared to women whose reproductive periods span between 38 to 44 years.

Pregnancy History Affects the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Women

In order to investigate possible associations between Alzheimer’s risk and a woman’s reproductive history, researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles collected pregnancy histories and measures of dementia symptoms and found that the cumulative months of pregnancy could serve as a “significant predictor” for the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. According to their data, women who spend 12.5 percent more months pregnant than an otherwise identical woman are 20 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. The researchers believe that the body’s immune response during the first trimester of pregnancy may be the mechanism underlying the reduced risk.

“We are intrigued by the possibility that pregnancy may reorganize the mother’s body in ways that could protect her against developing Alzheimer’s later in life. These results also suggest that the story might not be so simple as being all about estrogen exposure, as previous researchers have suggested,” said Dr. Molly Fox, an assistant professor at UC Los Angeles.

Hormone Therapy is Not Always Linked to Cognitive Decline

Researchers reviewing recent studies regarding cognition and hormone therapy found that only under certain circumstances was hormone therapy associated with cognitive impairment. In particular:

Women who begin hormone therapy between the ages of 50 and 54 encountered no negative cognitive effects.
Women who start hormone therapy between the ages of 65 and 79, however, saw decreased cognition, impaired memory and reduced higher functioning.
Women with type 2 diabetes undergoing hormone therapy were found to have a higher risk of cognitive decline than either diabetic women not on hormone therapy or non-diabetic women who were on hormones.

Dr. Carey Gleason of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center commented, “These findings add to our understanding of the complex effects of hormones on the brain. These data are sorely needed to guide women’s healthcare during and after the menopausal transition and to help women make personalized and informed decisions regarding management of their menopausal symptoms and the prevention of future adverse health outcomes.”

A Woman’s Verbal Memory Advantage Could Mask the Earliest Stages of Alzheimer’s

Data suggests that, throughout the aging process, women possess an advantage when it comes to remembering words and verbal materials. Many of the current tests used for diagnosing Alzheimer’s rely on verbal memory and word recall, story recollection and other verbal items. Researchers hoping to form a better understanding of these sex differences in verbal memory in the aging brain found that, even though their brains presented moderate signs of Alzheimer’s degradation, women indeed maintained higher levels of cognitive performance in the earlier stages of the disease when compared to men, though the advantage diminished as the disease progressed.

“These findings may help to explain why women show a more rapid decline across a wide range of cognitive abilities after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. While the female advantage may be functionally beneficial, it could mask early stages of Alzheimer’s, resulting in a more severe burden of disease at the time of diagnosis, with more rapid deterioration thereafter,” said Dr. Pauline Maki, Senior Research Director at the University of Illinois’s Center for Research on Women and Gender.

The use of diagnostic tests based upon gender improved the accuracy of diagnosis in both men and women, which suggests a need for further research into alternative diagnostic approaches.

Painkillers Used to Treat Chronic Pain in Dementia Patients Can Triple Harmful Side Effects

Also presented at this year’s AAIC were a pair of studies highlighting the effects of opioid painkillers in people living with dementia and the potential mechanisms underlying these effects.

Approximately half of dementia patients in care facilities live with “clinically significant pain,” which is often mismanaged or even undiagnosed. Researchers found that the opioid-based painkillers commonly used to treat pain increased the negative side effects — like confusion, lethargy, and mood swings — by threefold in dementia patients.

“Pain is a symptom that can cause huge distress and it’s important that we can provide relief to people with dementia. Sadly, at the moment, we’re harming people when we’re trying to ease their pain. We urgently need more research in this area, and we must get this dosing right. We need to establish the best treatment pathway and examine appropriate dosing for people with dementia,” commented the University of Exeter’s Professor of Age-Related Diseases, Clive Ballard.

While opioid painkillers are an effective treatment, dementia patients require smaller doses for pain relief and seem to more sensitive to negative side effects of the drugs. Research suggests that this may be because dementia patients’ bodies appear to overproduce its natural endogenous opioids.

Beyond Bone Health: Researchers Uncover New Vitamin D Benefits

Aug 30 by Ewcopywriting Leave a Comment

With old research under fire and new research turning up previously unknown vitamin D benefits, the “sunshine vitamin,” has been an increasingly hot topic among the research community. As the summer draws to a close and the days begin to once again shorten, it’s a good time to take a look back at some of this year’s vitamin D research highlights and evaluate if you should be adding more vitamin D to your diet.

Vitamin D: What is It and What Does It Do?

Vitamin D is both a hormone that our bodies naturally synthesize as well as an essential nutrient that can be found in foods such as beef liver, eggs, mushrooms and certain fatty fish. It is nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” because our bodies are able to produce vitamin D through cholesterol when exposed to sunlight. Because few food sources exist that naturally contain high amounts of vitamin D, the best dietary sources of vitamin D are dietary supplements and fortified foods such as breakfast cereals and dairy products.

A critical component in the building of bone, vitamin D helps the body to absorb and hold on to calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D’s role in the body, however, goes far beyond our bones and calcium regulation. Many of the organs and tissues in the body have receptors specifically for vitamin D. Aside from bone health, we know that vitamin D is also important to immune function and helping to control infections. Studies have shown that vitamin D may affect the body’s inflammatory response as well. Researchers continue to study vitamin D in an effort to glean its other potential functions.

Research Roundup: Vitamin D Benefits Beyond Bone Health

Vitamin D and Cancer

Because of vitamin D’s role in cell growth and regulation, there’s been increasing research into the link between vitamin D levels and cancer. One study conducted by scientists at UC San Diego and published in the journal PLOS ONE found that postmenopausal women with high levels of vitamin D were one-fifth less likely to develop breast cancer when compared to those who had lower levels of the vitamin.

In another study, which was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, scientists found that individuals with higher concentrations of vitamin D were 22 percent less likely to develop colorectal cancer, while those deficient in the vitamin were 31 percent more at risk. While research may yield mixed results, overwhelmingly, the evidence seems to suggest that higher vitamin D levels could decrease the risk of developing certain cancers.

Vitamin D and Diabetes

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) and published earlier this year in the journal Diabetes found a link between appropriate levels of vitamin D in infancy and childhood and a decreased likelihood of islet autoimmunity in children who are genetically at risk for Type 1 diabetes.

In a decade-long epidemiological study, which was published in PLOS ONE, researchers from Seoul National University and the UC San Diego School of Medicine determined that deficient levels of vitamin D can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by five-fold.

According to a paper published in the journal Cell, scientists from the Salk Institute found that activating pancreatic vitamin D receptors had the potential to repair and protect beta cells, the cells in the pancreas that synthesize, store, and dispense the insulin hormone, posing a potential new method of treatment for diabetics.

Vitamin D and Heart Disease

Clinical studies have associated vitamin D deficiency with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Heart-related diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and hypertension can cause significant damage to the cardiovascular system. In findings that were published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine, a team of researchers from Ohio University investigated the effects of vitamin D on heart health and found that vitamin D3 reduces oxidative stress to the cardiovascular system and “significantly” restores the cardiovascular damage caused by such diseases.

Arterial stiffness is an early indicator of cardiovascular disease. In a study conducted by researchers at Georgia’s Augusta University and published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers found that supplementing with vitamin D improved symptoms of rigid arteries.

In findings that were published earlier this year in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, a team of Norwegian researchers from the University of Bergen revealed that vitamin D reduced the risk of death by 30 percent in patients who are suffering from cardiovascular disease. Supporting research from the Westmead Institute for Medical research and published in the journal Heart, Lung and Circulation found that vitamin D protects heart tissues and decreases the likelihood of heart failure after a heart attack.

Vitamin D and Obesity

According to data presented by the Netherland’s VU University Medical Center and Leiden University Medical Center at this year’s annual meeting European Society of Endocrinology, low vitamin D levels are strongly related to an increased accumulation of belly fat.

Researchers from the University of Southern California reported in Pediatric Obesity that children born to vitamin D-deficient mothers were more likely to be overweight when compared to the children of mothers who had plenty of vitamin D throughout their pregnancies, suggesting that a deficiency of vitamin D during pregnancy “pre-programs” children for obesity.

How Much Vitamin D Do You Need?

The amount of vitamin D needed depends mostly on the individual’s age. According to the National Institutes of Health recommendations, persons between the ages 1-70, including women who are pregnant or nursing, are encouraged to consume 400 IUs of vitamin D daily. It is recommended that individuals over the age of 71 consume 800 IUs of vitamin D daily.

However, many experts agree that a higher intake should be observed. A report issued in The Journal Of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism by the Endocrine Society suggests a significantly higher intake is needed to raise the amount of vitamin D in the blood to therapeutic levels.