Friday May 8, 2009

Lack of Food Variety Puts Kids With Autism at Risk for Poor Nutrition---Two Studies at PAS Suggest Food Variety and Cognition-Related Fatty Acid are Important to Well Being of Affected Children

PR Newswire 05-06-09
CINCINNATI, May 5, 2009 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The strong preference kids with autism have for certain foods places them at risk for nutritional deficiencies because their diets lack sufficient variety, according to research from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center at this year's Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in Baltimore.
After presenting their findings on May 4, the researchers said screening children for the amount of variety of food in their diets may be a good clinical marker to predict which children might be at risk for nutrition problems. Kids with low food variety scores who are at risk could then be referred to dieticians or therapists to help them expand food choices and improve nutrition, said Michelle Zimmer, M.D., lead investigator and a pediatrician in the division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's.
The study is one of two presented by Dr. Zimmer and colleagues this year at PAS that deal with autism, the second one showing that the red blood cells of children with autism have low levels of a fatty acid linked to cognitive function. This finding, the researchers report, warrants further research into how the low fatty acid levels may trigger biochemical changes in the brain linked to autism.
The team found that levels of docosahexanoic acid and total omega-3 fatty acids were significantly lower in the red blood cells of autistic children than in normally developing children. Omega-3 fatty acids are nutritionally important substances considered vital to the normal development of children.
Evidence of abnormal fatty acid metabolism in children with autism runs counter to at least one previous study that suggested no difference between normally developing and autistic children. The different results between studies may be explained by the current research focusing on an older group of children, Dr. Zimmer said.
"The fatty acid docosahexanoic is linked to other mental health issues, and this raises questions about whether there are functional issues in neural cells involving a deficiency of essential fatty acids," said Dr. Zimmer. "The main point of the study is we cannot rule that fatty acids are part of the story of what is going on with kids who have autism."
Dr. Zimmer said its possible older children with autism have had more time to use up their bodies' stores of omega-3 fatty acids and are unable to replenish those stores. The 21 children with autism in this study were between the ages of 3 and 18 years, as were the 20 age-matched normally developing children and 10 of their siblings who served as control subjects.
The research team is conducting a larger study with more children to verify its PAS findings. Dr. Zimmer said another study is also under design to give essential omega-3 fatty acids, such as docosahexanonic acid, to children with autism to see what impact it has on brain chemistry and/or the disorder.
Increasing foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids in the diets of autistic children has been suggested by some researchers as potentially beneficial, Dr. Zimmer said. Although doing so would not have a negative impact on the children, until studies are conducted it isn't known what affect, if any, it might have, she added. Also, given the findings of the previous study on the lack of food variety among kids with autism, augmenting their diets could be challenging.
Most of the 19 autistic children in the food study had much lower food variety scores in their diets than typically developing children. A majority of the children with autism also suffered from nutritional deficiencies. The researchers concluded children with autism and low food variety scores are at risk for mild and serious nutritional deficiencies.
Researchers participating in studies were from the division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and division of Neurology at Cincinnati Children's. Researchers from the department of Pathology at the University of Cincinnati participated in the study on food variety.
The PAS meeting is the largest international meeting focused on research in child health. It is sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Pediatric Society, the Society for Pediatric Research, and the Ambulatory Pediatric Association.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is one of America's top three children's hospitals for general pediatrics and is highly ranked for its expertise in digestive diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care and neurosurgery, according to the annual ranking of best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. One of the three largest children's hospitals in the U.S., Cincinnati Children's is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health. For its achievements in transforming healthcare, Cincinnati Children's is one of six U.S. hospitals since 2002 to be awarded the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize (R) for leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. The hospital is a national and international referral center for complex cases, so that children with the most difficult-to-treat diseases and conditions receive the most advanced care leading to better outcomes. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org.
SOURCE Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8229&Section=Nutrition

Research zeroing in on more potential causes of asthma

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News 05-06-09
May 6--Millions of children and adults have asthma, the most common form of lung disease. The problem is medical experts know there is no one trigger or cause for asthma, said Dr. Todd Mahr, Gundersen Lutheran pediatric allergist and asthma specialist. Asthma is characterized by excessive sensitivity of the lungs to various stimuli. Triggers range from viral infections to allergies, to irritating gases and particles in the air.
According to Mahr, each person reacts differently to the factors that may trigger asthma, including respiratory infections; colds; allergic reactions to allergens such as pollen, mold, animal dander, feathers, dust, food and cockroaches; exposure to cold air or sudden temperature change; and cigarette smoke.
But Mahr, a member of the leadership committee for the American Lung Association of Wisconsin, said more research is uncovering new potential causes. He said he finds interesting some new research that suggests a decline in aspirin use, a lack of vitamin of D and exposure to household cleaners and sprays may play a role in asthma.
"It's not really a decline in aspirin use, but the increase in the use of acetaminophen because we stopped prescribing aspirin for children due to the increased risk of Reye's syndrome," Mahr said.
A European study of 20,000 6- to 7-year-olds found a 46 percent increase in asthma symptoms if they were given acetaminophen, the ingredient in Tylenol, in the first year of life, Mahr said. Children using higher doses of acetaminophen had three times the risk of asthma, he said He said apparently the drug lowers levels of the antioxidant glutathione, which can protect against lung damage caused by oxidants.
"It was a large study, and it is intriguing, but we need at least another study," Mahr said. "But I might be more inclined to use ibuprofen rather than acetaminophen."
The problem with household cleaners is the spray mist can be inhaled and irritate the lung, increasing the risk of adult asthma, Mahr said. A major European study found cleaning products, especially glass cleaners and air fresheners, used four days a week doubled the risk of asthma, and once-a-week use raised the risk by 50 percent, he said.
Mahr suggests using liquid cleaners or pump sprays that don't generate a fine mist.
Boston researchers reviewed a study in Costa Rica that found a link between low vitamin D levels in mothers and childhood asthma, he said. The vitamin D deficiency, especially in pregnant women, may result in more allergies and asthma in their children, Mahr added.
Mahr said the popular hygiene hypothesis -- which suggests the Western world has less exposure to bacteria, viruses and parasites, changing the immune system and raising the risk for allergies -- doesn't alone explain why asthma has doubled in the United States since the 1980s.
"The hygiene hypothesis doesn't apply to everybody, and I think it is clear that asthma is a disease caused by many factors," Mahr said.
Source: American Lung Association
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=8228&Section=Disease

Greater intake of several nutrients combined with low glycemic foods linked to reduced risk of macular degeneration

LIFE EXTENSIONS, May 06, 2009
The May, 2009 issue of the journal Opthalmology published the finding of researchers at Tufts University in Boston of a protective effect of several nutrients combined with a low glycemic index diet against age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration is a major cause of blindness among older adults in western nations, and is characterized by the accumulation of drusen in the eye’s macula, which can lead to a loss of central vision.
For the current research Chung-Jung Chiu, PhD of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and colleagues analyzed data from 4,003 participants in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS). Dietary questionnaires completed by the subjects were scored for the intake of nutrients tested in AREDS: vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc, and AREDS2: lutein/zeaxanthin, and the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Glycemic index, which measures how fast a particular food raises blood glucose, was calculated for consumed food items. Fundus photographs of the macula of the eye taken upon enrollment were graded for severity of drusen or type of macular degeneration.
Participants whose compound diet scores of both groups of nutrients as well as low glycemic index foods were higher were determined to have the lowest risk of early as well as advanced macular degeneration, compared to the risk experienced by those with lower scores. When single nutrients were analyzed separately, only vitamin E emerged as significantly protective against the disease.
The study is the first to analyze the combination of the two nutrient groups and a low glycemic index diet. “Although the compound score may be a useful new tool for assessing nutrients in relation to AMD, specific dietary recommendations should be made only after our results are confirmed by clinical trials or prospective studies,” Dr. Chiu stated.
http://www.lef.org/whatshot/
2009_05.htm#greater-intake-several-nutrients-combined-low-glycemic-foods-reduced-
macular-degeneration

Probiotics may help women regain their figures after pregnancy

Nutraingredients.com, 07-May-2009

Probiotic supplements during the first trimester of pregnancy may help women lose weight after the infant’s birth, say new findings presented today at the European Congress on Obesity.
Finnish researchers report that supplements containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were associated with less central obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more or a waist circumference over 80 centimetres.
“The results of our study, the first to demonstrate the impact of probiotics-supplemented dietary counselling on adiposity, were encouraging,” said researcher Kirsi Laitinen from the University of Turku in Finland. “The women who got the probiotics fared best. One year after childbirth, they had the lowest levels of central obesity as well as the lowest body fat percentage.”
“Central obesity, where overall obesity is combined with a particularly fat belly, is considered especially unhealthy,” added Laitinen. “We found it in 25 per cent of the women who had received the probiotics along with dietary counselling, compared with 43 per cent in the women who received diet advice alone.”
According the FAO/WHO, probiotics are defined as "live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host".
The researchers used Lactobacillus LGG (provided by Valio) and Bifidobacterium lactis (provided by Chr Hansen). Neither company provided funds for the study, with financial support coming from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, the Academy of Finland and the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, a Finnish medical research charity.
Study details
Laitinen told attendees that 256 women were randomly divided into three groups during the first trimester of pregnancy. Two of the groups received dietary counselling consistent with current recommendations. One of those groups also received the daily probiotic capsules, while the other group received dummy capsules. The third group received placebo capsules and no dietary counselling. Supplementation continued until the women stopped exclusive breastfeeding, up to 6 months.
At the end of the study, central obesity was recorded in 18 per cent fewer women in the probiotic group than in women who received placebo plus dietary counselling, and 15 per cent fewer women in the control group.
Average body fat percentage was 28 per cent in the probiotic group, compared to 29 and 30 per cent in the diet advice only group and the control group, respectively.
Laitinen told NutraIngredients.com that future research will follow the women and their babies to see whether giving probiotics during pregnancy has any influence on health outcomes in the children.
“Based on previous experiments, we hypothesise that the maternal diet may influence both glucose metabolism and weight in the children,” she said.
Gut health and body weight
A breakthrough paper published in Nature in December 2006 reported that microbial populations in the gut are different between obese and lean people, and that when the obese people lost weight their microflora reverted back to that observed in a lean person, suggesting that obesity may have a microbial component.
At a scientific symposium organised by the Beneo Group last year, Dr. Kieran Touhy from the University of Reading noted that obese animals have significantly lower bifidobacteria levels than their lean counterparts, which suggests potential for prebiotic fibres since the growth of these bacteria is selectively promoted by inulin and fructooligosaccharides.
Dr. Nathalie Delzenne from the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium and Dr. Robert Welch from the University of Ulster presented results from animal and human studies, respectively, which indicated the potential of prebiotic supplementation to regulated food intake.
A study involving scientists from Nestle, the Catholic University of Louvain, and the Institute of Molecular Medicine Rangueil in Toulouse, reported last year that direct modulation of the gut microflora using could directly affect metabolism, as well as influencing the maintenance of whole body glucose equilibrium, independent of food intake or obesity (FASEB Journal, doi:10.1096/fj.07-102723).
“The advantage of studying pregnant women to investigate the potential link between probiotics and obesity is that it allows us to see the effects not only in the women, but also in their children,” said Laitinen. “Particularly during pregnancy, the impacts of obesity can be immense, with the effects seen both in the mother and the child.
“Bacteria are passed from mother to child through the birth canal, as well as through breast milk and research indicates that early nutrition may influence the risk of obesity later in life. There is growing evidence that this approach might open a new angle on the fight against obesity, either through prevention or treatment.”
Source: European Congress on Obesity
Thursday, 7 May 2009
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/
Probiotics-may-help-women-regain-their-figures-after-pregnancy

Hydrolysed collagen may boost beauty from within: Rousselot studies

Nutraingredients.com, 07-May-2009

Daily supplements of a hydrolysed collagen may improve skin hydration by 28 per cent, and reduce the wrinkles by 30 per cent, say two new studies from Rousselot.
The company presented the results at PalExpo in Geneva at Vitafoods, with skin suppleness also reported to be reduced by 19 per cent.
Speaking to NutraIngredients at Vitafoods, Caroline Negre, RHC Marketing Manager for Rousselot, said that the findings would be published in a peer-review journal before the end of the year. NutraIngredients.com has not seen the full data.
Negre confirmed that the company had received a lot of interest at the show for the ingredient. “Rousselot is very optimistic because there are only a few skin health ingredients with clinicals to support them,” she said.
The results tap into the growing awareness of the link between diet and health, and by extension physical appearance, means that many consumers are receptive to the concept of 'beauty from within'.
There is a growing body of science focusing on the potential benefits of nutrients to boost skin health from within, with lutein, lycopene, flavanol-rich chocolate, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) having been reported to improve skin health.
Study details
Using the company’s Peptan hydrolysed collagen, researches in France and Japan performed two double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical studies. The French study involved 47 European women aged between 35 and 55, while the Japanese study involved 33 Asian women aged between 40 and 59.
The European study lasted for 12 weeks in winter, while the Japenese study occureed at the same time and lasted for 8 weeks. In both studies, women ingested 10g of Peptan hydrolysed collagen every day, and their skin conditions were assessed by dermophysiological measures and self-assessment questionnaire.
According to the company, women receiving the collagen supplement experienced a 28 per cent improvement in the skin hydration levels, compared to placebo, with 91 per cent of these women reporting increased skin hydration levels after eight weeks.
Furthermore, the number of micro-relief furrows and deep wrinkles decreased by 26 and 30 per cent, compared with the placebo group, said the company
The company confirmed that the peptan ingredient is available in powder or liquid forms.

Drug Company Money is Top Factor in Publication of Vaccine Studies
David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com  May 7, 2009

(NaturalNews) Flu vaccine studies that are funded by industry are significantly more likely to be published in prestigious journals and to later be cited in the scientific literature than studies without such funding, according to a survey of 274 studies conducted by researchers from the Cochrane Vaccine Field in Italy, and published in the British Medical Journal.

A good methodology, in contrast, had little impact on such factors. The study also found few studies providing good evidence that the flu vaccine is actually effective.

In principle, a higher quality study should be published in a more prestigious journal and should be cited more frequently than a low quality study. But the researchers found no relationship between study quality and either of those factors. Instead, having a study partially or fully funded by industry was the best way to boost the prominence of a study.

Overall, the authors also found that most flu vaccine studies were of poor quality, with only 18 percent of them reporting conclusions that were actually supported by their findings (concordance).

"The study shows that one of the levers for accessing prestigious journals is the financial size of your sponsor," said researcher Tom Jefferson. "Pharmaceutical sponsors order many reprints of studies supporting their products, often with in-house translations into many languages. They will also purchase publicity space on the journal. Many publishers openly advertise these services on their Web site."

"It is time journals made a full disclosure of their sources of funding," Jefferson concluded.

The researchers also found that studies supporting the effectiveness of flu vaccines tended to be more poorly designed than studies not supporting their effectiveness. Concordance was also significantly lower in studies supporting vaccine effectiveness than in those refuting it -- meaning that most studies failed to support the effectiveness of the flu vaccine.

Government-funded studies were significantly less likely to find the flu vaccine effective than industry-funded studies.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026214.html

Harvard Medical School Professors are Paid Big Bucks by Big Pharma to Push Meds
David Gutierrez, NaturalNews.com  May 7, 2009

(NaturalNews) Pressure is building on Harvard Medical School to better regulate the massive gifts and consulting fees that faculty members regularly receive from drug companies, with increasing attention being drawn to the great potential for conflict of interest in such relationships.

"Before coming here, I had no idea how much influence companies had on medical education," said first-year medical student David Tian. "And it's something that's purposely meant to be under the table, providing information under the guise of education when that information is also presented for marketing purposes."

A student movement has recently taken form at Harvard Medical School, demanding widespread reform of the school's conflict-of-interest policies. The movement was sparked by a number of high-profile scandals in which Harvard medical faculty were revealed to have concealed hundreds of thousands of dollars in pharmaceutical company gifts, sparking a Senate investigation. This was followed by the American Medical Student Association giving the school an F grade for its conflict-of-interest disclosure policies.

The University of Pennsylvania, in contrast, received an A, while Columbia, Stanford and New York Universities received Bs.

The student movement has had at least one victory so far, with the school agreeing to require all professors and lecturers to tell students of any financial ties to the drug industry. In one case, a professor was required to disclose 47 financial relationships. A full 1,600 of 8,900 teachers have reported at least one financial relationship in an area related to their teaching, research or medical practice.

Other student demands, however, have met more resistance. Harvard does not own its affiliated teaching hospitals, for example, making it harder to impose regulations on them. Meanwhile, medical school Dean Jeffrey S. Flier says that given the current economic downturn, he does not want to jeopardize one of the school's major sources of funding.

The students are not giving up, however.

"Harvard needs to live up to its name," said first-year student Kirsten Austad. "We are really being indoctrinated into a field of medicine that is becoming more and more commercialized."
http://www.naturalnews.com/026223.html

New Studies Reveal the Medicinal Benefits of Honey
Sheryl Walters, NaturalNews.com  May 7, 2009

(NaturalNews) For centuries honey had been known as nature's medicine. Both the Greeks and Egyptians used honey as one of their main healing tools, with the famous Greek thinker Aristotle saying that pale honey was "good as a salve for sore eyes and wounds". But despite its long history within the healing community honey is now seen as something of a fad, another money making scam from the natural health industry that actually has no medical benefits at all. But there are new studies being conducted that could see us all adding honey not to our toast, but back into our medicine cabinets.

Many of these studies have been aimed at one particular type of honey, Manuka Honey. Each beehive will produce a different type of honey depending on which flower the bees get their nectar from. Manuka honey comes from the flower of the Manuka bush that is native to New Zealand and has been found to have amazing anti bacterial properties. Bandages are now being made that contain traces of Manuka honey; this helps stop the growth of harmful bacteria even when wounds are badly infected. The Manuka honey's amazing healing properties come from a chemical reaction that takes place while the honey is being made. This reaction produces hydrogen peroxide, which is a well known antiseptic. "Since Manuka Honey is a natural ingredient, it has been found to have no negative side effects when used for medical purposes," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International.

While Manuka honey aids healing another type of honey has been found to ease children's colds, sooth their chesty coughs and promote sleep. The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine recently published the results of a study that seemed to confirm this fact. The study included 105 children between the ages of 2 and 18. In a partially blind test some of the children were given buckwheat honey, some honey flavored syrup and some nothing. Short surveys filled in by the children's parents showed that when their children were given just a little bit of honey before bed they slept better and coughed less than when they took the syrup or nothing at all. "This is the first time honey has been actually proven as a treatment," says lead study author Dr. Ian Paul, a researcher at Penn State College of Medicine.

Research in to the healing properties of honey is ongoing, but with many bacteria now becoming immune to prescribed antibiotics honey is being seen by many as an amazing natural alternative.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026221.html

Sexual Functioning in Men can be Fully Restored Naturally
Barbara Minton, NaturalNews.com  May 7, 2009

(NaturalNews) Men who have taken the time to get their hormone levels in balance never have to consider popping a Viagra. Even men who still produce plenty of testosterone can find themselves in need of hormone balancing when things start to go wrong in the bedroom. This is because processes are at work preventing testosterone from doing the work it was meant to do. When these processes are corrected, most men can again perform as they did in their primes.

Conversion of testosterone to estrogen siphons virility and leaves men vulnerable

As men leave their 30s behind, they often find their testosterone is being converted to estrogen, in a process known as aromatization. As the aromatase enzyme steals their testosterone, many men find themselves developing characteristics of low testosterone levels. These include decreased libido and inability to perform sexually, fatigue, lack of motivation, poor concentration, depression, decreased muscle mass, and increased body fat. Breasts may enlarge as extra estrogen begins to promote female body characteristics.

In a recent study, researchers found that low testosterone levels are associated with higher risk of death from all causes. One of the main causes is the increase in heart attacks seen in men who have entered middle age. The heart is the most important muscle in the body, and its health is in jeopardy as aromatase drives the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, thereby reducing all muscle mass. As muscle mass is lost, men may try to regain it with exercise, putting more stress on their weakened hearts.

Testosterone is an anabolic hormone that naturally promotes muscle growth. Estrogen, on the other hand, is catabolic, and promotes the breakdown of muscle tissue. In order to maintain muscle mass throughout the body, it is essential to normalize the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. This becomes a vicious circle. Estrogen increases body fat, and body fat increases production of aromtase leading to the production of more estrogen. To put and end to the expanding waistline and the health problems that go with it, the conversion of testosterone to estrogen must be returned to the rate men had when they were young and virile.

Only free testosterone is bioactive

In order for testosterone to be active in the body it must exist in a free, unbound state. The binding of testosterone to a glycoprotein known as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) reduces the amount of active testosterone. When testosterone is bound, it is still there in the body, but it is handcuffed to SHBG and is unable to produce any benefits. Useless, bound testosterone cannot prevent heart attack, aid in sexual function, build muscle, create red cell mass, or contribute to bone density. When testosterone has lost its ability to be bioactive, many of the complaints of older women become the complaints of older men, such as memory loss and osteoporosis.

Chrysin inhibits the conversion of testosterone to estrogen

Chrysin is a bioflavonoid from Passifllora incarnate, commonly called the passionflower. It inhibits the aromatase process in men just like it does in women. Body builders have a history of using chrysin as a testosterone booster, since inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to estrogen leaves more testosterone to power muscle building. Body builder use of chrysin swung into high gear in 1999 when a study found that bioavailability of chyrsin could be boosted by the addition of an extract from black pepper called piperine. Researchers have found that when chrysin is combined with piperine, also known as bioperine, men see reductions in serum estrogen levels and increases in total and free testosterone in as little as 30 days.

In a study at the University of Minnesota, published in 1993, chrysin and several other bioflavonoids were compared to an aromatase inhibiting drug used to treat hormone sensitive cancers. Chyrsin was found to be the most effective of all the compounds tested at inhibiting aromatase in human fat cell cultures, and was declared to be equal in potency to the drug. Follow-up studies have identified specific mechanisms by which chrysin inhibits aromatase in human cells.

Another property of chrysin that can help out in the bedroom is its ability to reduce anxiety and stress. Performance anxiety that can be spawned during an inadequate experience tends to snowball with each subsequent encounter until it can be a significant negative. Researchers in Argentina injected mice with diazepam (Valium), chyrsin, or a placebo to determine the effects of these compounds on anxiety and performance levels. Chrysin was found to lower anxiety on a par with diazepam, but without the side effects of motor impairment and sedation.

Chrysin is also a potent antioxidant with vitamin-like effects in the body. It has an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the COX-2 and 5-lipoxygenase enzymes. Substances that inhibit inflammation may protect against the diverse array of diseases that characterize the aging process.

There is more to the passionflower than chrysin

Another bioflavonoid, benzoflavone moiety (BZF), has been recently isolated from the passionflower. Most of the research on BZF has been conducted at the University of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Panjab University in India. In 2002, scientists there studied the potential usefulness of chrysin and BZF against the effects of aging on male sexuality in older rats for a period of 30 days. After treatment, there was a significant improvement in overall sexual functions in the rats given the bioflavonoids, compared to control rats.

Rats receiving chrysin (1 mg/kg) and BZG (10 mg/kg) exhibited increased libido when they were allowed to interact with ready female rats. According to these researchers, BZF was even more potent than chrysin as an anti-aromatase agent and exhibited better effects on the sexual systems of the rats. They concluded that bioflavonoids from the passionflower had great potential against the physiological and biochemical effects of aging. (Journal of Medicinal Food, May, 2002)

In another study, decreased libido, fertility and mating efficiency in healthy male rats was studied. Rats were given either ethanol, nicotine, or a combination of the two, which are known to be depressants of libido, fertility and sperm count. Some of the rats were also given 10 mg/kg of BZF concurrently for 30 days.

At the end of the treatments, it was observed that the rats receiving only ethanol, nicotine, or the combination had virtually no libido as measured by mounting behavior. Their sperm counts had declined, and there was no mating efficiency or fertility when paired with ready female rats. However, the rats which were given BZF along with the libido depressants exhibited significant libido-oriented mounting behavior, significantly increased sperm count, and increased fertilization potential.

Finally, the rats that did not have BZF were divided again and given the identical dose of BZF for 7 days. This treatment confirmed that BZF speeds up the restoration of sexuality, fertility and vigor upon the cessation of ethanol and nicotine consumption. (Life Science, November 15, 2002)

In 2003, the Panjab group treated healthy male rats with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound found in hemp plants. Half of the rats were then treated with BZF over a period of 30 days. The THC rats had a significant loss of libido, decreased sperm count, and reduced number of impregnated female rats. Those treated with BZF were observed to be significantly protected against the chronic THC induced decrease in libido, mating performance, and fertility during the experimental period. Upon discontinuation of the THC treatment, the rats that had received only THC were treated with BZF for seven days following which their libido, sperm count and sexual fertility was completely restored. (British Journal of Pharmacology, January, 2003)

Also in 2003, this group evaluated an extract of leaves from the passionflower on mice by observing their mounting behavior. Male mice given the extract exhibited significant sexually stimulated behavior at all administered doses (75, 100, 150 mg/kg). The highest activity was observed with the 100 mg/kg dose when the mountings were calculated about 95 minutes after administration of the extracts. (Phytotherapy Resources, April, 2003.

The Panjab team reported that passionflower is used in several parts of the world as a traditional medicine for the management of anxiety, insomnia and epilepsy and as a morphine addition. In their work, BZF has exhibited significantly encouraging results in the tolerance and dependence on several addiction-prone psychotropic drugs, including morphine, nicotine, ethanol, diazepam (Valium) and THC. (Addiction Biology, December, 2003)

Nettle root liberates bound testosterone

Since testosterone bound by SHBG is no longer available to cell receptor sites, it fails to induce libido. It has lost its biological activity and is no longer free to perform the functions of testosterone in the body. As men enter their 40s, the capacity of SHBG to bind testosterone increases dramatically by an average of 40% and coincides with age-associated loss of libido. Studies have shown that declining sexual interest and performance that is associated with age is not necessarily due to the amount of testosterone produced, but to what happens to it after it is produced. There are older men who have received testosterone replacement and who have failed to gain the anticipated benefits. This is because their administered testosterone is being quickly bound by SHBG.

According to data published by the Life Extension Foundation, European researchers have identified constituents of nettle root that bind to SHBG in place of testosterone, leaving testosterone to remain in the body in its free state. The authors of one of the studies stated that these constituents of nettle root "may influence the blood level of free, i.e. active steroid hormones by displacing them from the SHBG binding site."

Nettle root and chrysin combined with piperine were found to be safe as well as effective in studies sponsored by the Life Extension Foundation.

Physical exercise supports higher testosterone levels

Several studies have shown that high-intensity exercise done on a regular basis keeps testosterone at optimal levels. One study examined how the effects of heavy resistance training in both young and older men affected their testosterone levels. Both groups were found to have a statistically significant increase in testosterone levels after exercise. Another study revealed that strength training in middle-aged men increased free testosterone levels.

Getting plenty of omega 3 fats helps keep SHBG in check

In a study done in Japan, essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, found in high concentrations in cold water fish and fish oil products, affected SHBG levels in men aged 43 to 88 years of age. After controlling for variables, the researchers concluded that both EPA and DHA decreased levels of SHBG in middle-aged and older men. EPA and DHA are available in vegetarian form from high quality, organic flax oil that can be purchased from the refrigerated case in health food stores. The alpha linolenic acid that naturally occurs in flax oil can be converted to EPA and DHA in the body.

Zinc is essential for optimal production of testosterone

Zinc is the man's mineral. It is involved in almost every aspect of male reproduction, including testosterone metabolism, sperm formation, and sperm motility. Low levels of zinc have been linked to prostate enlargement. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of zinc in treating low testosterone levels. In an older study, dietary zinc intake was restricted for 24 to 40 weeks in male volunteers with a mean age of 57 years. Low sperm count resulted in all subjects, but was reversed after zinc supplementation of physiologic amounts. However, 6 to 12 months was needed to return sperm count to normal following deprivation of zinc. Leydig cells in the testes, believed to be involved in the production of androgens, were also reduced by zinc deprivation.

Men can get their mojo back naturally

Viagra may temporarily take care of the bedroom blues, but it can't take care of the health deterioration that produced them. Inability to perform sexually is a symptom of serious underlying health issues that need to be addressed before heart attack or degenerative disease sets in.

Men with difficulties performing sexually may have low levels of testosterone and need bioidentical testosterone replacement. However, many men with adequate testosterone levels also need help. Whether testosterone is produced naturally in the body or is replaced with bioidenticals, what happens to that testosterone in the body needs to be addressed before good overall health and sexual performance can be restored.

Optimal hormone balance can't be obtained by swallowing a pill. It takes a little bit of work. A visit to a doctor who specializes in integrative or anti-aging medicine can tell you where you stand. Through simple blood or saliva testing, the levels of natural testosterone in the body and how that testosterone is being processed can be quickly revealed. Once testing is done, men know exactly what must be done to bring themselves into optimal hormone balance.

For those preferring the do-it-yourself approach, there are products on the market that combine chrysin, piperine, nettle root and zinc. Some have added other ingredients. Each of these compounds is also available separately. When bought separately, there is the added benefit of being able to adjust the amounts of each and fine-tune the regimen to what works best for you. BZF is not sold as an isolated compound. Since both crysin and BZF have shown potent aromatse inhibiting action, buying supplements of passionflower may be the better choice. With passionflower, the full range of bioflavonoid benefits is available.
http://www.naturalnews.com/026219.html

Teach Your Children Well: Focused, Happier Kids Grow Up To Be Healthier Adults, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (May 7, 2009) — Children who can stay focused and don't sweat the small stuff have a better shot at good health in adulthood -- and this is especially true for girls, according to a new study.
"Certain characteristics already evident early in life are likely to spark positive or negative emotions, and also influence biological and behavioral responses to stress," said lead author Laura D. Kubzansky, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health. "Some traits may contribute to developing healthier behaviors and better social relationships, and ultimately more resilience in mid-life.
"Supporting this idea, we found that children who were able to stay focused on a task and react less negatively to situations at age 7 reported better general health and fewer illnesses 30 years later.
Kubzansky and co-authors tracked 569 individuals from the National Collaborative Perinatal Project from age 7 to their mid-30s to see if certain personality traits influenced later health. Trained observers rated the 7-year-olds on 15 different behaviors. These behaviors were then assigned to three different personality attributes: attention (the ability to stay focused on a task and persist in solving a problem), distress-proneness (the tendency to react negatively to situations), and behavior inhibition (the tendency toward shyness, acting withdrawn and having difficulty communicating).
To determine adult health, the participants rated their health and reported whether they had any of the following illnesses: heart disease, diabetes, cancer, asthma, arthritis, stroke, bleeding ulcer, tuberculosis or hepatitis.
For all the participants, superior attention spans and having a more positive outlook in youth affected health the most. These effects were greater for women, the researchers found. The authors suggest that women may be more sensitive to interactions among emotion, behavior and biology and, therefore, be more predisposed to certain health risks, such as heart disease, although additional research is needed to understand this more completely.
The authors found no differences in these effects across race or ethnicity; they also controlled for childhood health and socicoeconomic status.
The sample consisted of 60 percent men and 40 percent women; 80 percent of participants were white and 20 percent were black. Of the sample, 76 percent reported good or excellent health and 18 percent reported illnesses.
"This longitudinal study provides more evidence that behavior and emotions generally linked to certain temperaments play a crucial role in long-term health," Kubzansky said. "Fortunately, early childhood characteristics can be shaped and guided by social, family and peer interactions. Interventions can focus on altering certain ways of responding and behaviors that frequently accompany particular traits to prevent certain diseases."
Laura D. Kubzansky et al. Early Manifestations of Personality and Adult Health: A Life Course Perspective. Health Psychology, Vol. 13, No. 1
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090506144320.htm

A potential anti-ulcer herb medicine: Rocket 'Eruca sativa'
World Journal of Gastroenterology, May 7, 2009
Gastric ulcer is an illness that affects a considerable number of people worldwide. Although the introduction of proton-pump inhibitors to the classic anti-ulcer therapy has revolutionized treatment of peptic ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders, there is still no complete cure for this disease. It has been shown that long term use of these drugs leads to various adverse and side effects. Relapses of the malady, ineffectiveness of different drug regimens and even resistance to drugs are emerging. Thus, there is an urgent requirement to identify more effective and safe anti-ulcer agents. In recent years, Rocket "Eruca sativa L." (EER), a member of the Brassicacae family, has gained greater importance as a salad vegetable and spice, especially among Middle Eastern populations and Europeans. It is believed that plants belonging to the Brassicacae family possess diversified medicinal and therapeutic properties including inhibition of tumorigenesis, anti-ulcer, and hepatoprotective activities.
A research team led by Dr Syed Rafatullah from Saudi Arabia validated the gastric anti-ulcer properties of EER on experimentally-induced gastric secretion and ulceration in albino rats. Their study will be published on April 28, 2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology.
In this study, gastric acid secretion studies were undertaken using pylorus-ligated rats. Gastric lesions in the rats were induced by noxious chemicals including ethanol, strong alkalis, indomethacin and hypothermic restraint stress. The levels of gastric wall mucus (GWM), nonprotein sulfhydryls (NP-SH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured in the glandular stomach of rats following ethanol administration. The gastric tissue was also examined histologically. The extract was used in two doses (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) in all experiments.
They found that the ethanolic extract of EER significantly and dose-dependently reduced the basal gastric acid secretion, titratable acidity and ruminal ulceration. Rocket extract significantly attenuated gastric ulceration induced by necrotizing agents (80% ethanol, 0.2 mol/L NaOH, 25% NaCl), indomethacin and hypothermic restraint stress. The anti-ulcer effect was further confirmed histologically. On the other hand, the extract significantly replenished GWM and NP-SH levels, as well as the MDA level significantly reduced by extract pretreatment.
They concluded that EER extract possesses antisecretory, cytoprotective, and anti-ulcer activities against experimentally-induced gastric lesions. The anti-ulcer effect is possibly through prostaglandinmediated activity and/or through its anti-secretory and antioxidant properties.
Reference: Alqasoumi S, Al-Sohaibani M, Al-Howiriny T, Al-Yahya M, Rafatullah S. Rocket "Eruca sativa ": A salad herb with potential gastric anti-ulcer activity. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15(16): 1958-1965
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/15/1958.asp