Fish Oil Prevents Aging

A study from the American Journal of Medicine demostrates an association between blood levels of Omega 3 fatty acids and a lower rate of DNA ‘wear and tear’.

Antidepressants work…if you really need them

A new meta-analysis was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that suggests that antidepressants might only be effect for moderate to severe depression.  The study used only studies that used the Hamilton rating system to determine depression severity.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy May Not Work

A popular treatment for tendon injuries is still under question as to whether it works or not.  This latest study compared it to salt water injections – another study that suggests that the injects alone may be what is therapeutic, not the actual agent injected.

MMR Vaccine and Autism – The Lancet takes back the 12 year old paper

The Lancet medical journal had finally taken back its 12-year old paper that suggested links between the MMR vaccine and Autism.  The backlash to this article is significant, with authorities considering legal action against the physician responsible for the article.  The avoidance of the MMR vaccine due to fears of Autism has led to an increased incidence of measles infections worldwide.

Is the Jury Still Out on a Low Sodium Diet?

This NYT article talks about the hot debate over whether ‘anti-salt’ campaigns should be increased or decreased.  Too much salt is probably bad, but too little salt is also bad.  For now, keep checking your blood pressure from time to time and watch your salt intake if your numbers start to climb.

Fitter Students do Better on Exams

A group of researchers showed that students who had better cardiorespiratory fitness also did better academically.  Reportedly, more studies need to be done to prove a causal relationship before schools start to bring back physical education into their curriculum.  In the meantime, more than 1/3 of our children are overweight or obese…but, I guess we need more proof!

Stress EKG’s Help, but Who Wants to Pay for it?

Electrocardiograms can save lives in young athletes by alerting them that they may have an unknown heart condition.  Because these heart conditions are fairly rare, screening is not advocated because it would not be cost effective.  If you perform regular, intense physical activity, the test deserves serious consideration.

Interesting Research Ties Appetite to Your Gut Bacteria

Altering the bacteria in your intestines may lead to better digestion, lower appetite, and weight loss…some day.

A Good Review of Reasons to Exercise

Jane Brody of the NYT reviews the scientific evidence that supports the use of exercise for good health.

Vit D – More Evidence

Every month or two another study comes out to reinforce the importance of having adequate Vit D.  This article highlights the mechanisms through which Vit D may be helping to prevent cancer and autoimmune disease.

PSA – Should it be Used to Screen for Prostate Cancer?

The PSA test is costing the US billions of dollars per year with limited success in fighting prostate cancer.  The author of this NYT article does a good job at reviewing the evidence.   Click here to view some of the follow up from this article.

Breast Cancer Screening Works – Rarely

“Evidence now suggests that for every 2,000 women who are screened over 10 years, only one stands to have her life saved by the mammogram program, he said, whereas the risk of getting an unnecessary breast cancer diagnosis is 10 times that”.

Following the adjustments to the recommended screening age for mammography in the US (from 40-50 years of age), some are questioning the use of mammography altogether.

Statins Become Preventive Medicine

The FDA has approved the use of Crestor, a medication used to lower cholesterol, for preventive medicine uses.  It has been long been known that statins can act like anti-inflammatories in the body with can theoretically help to prevent a heart attack or a stroke.  Crestor’s main mechanism of action is to block the body’s production of cholesterol, an essential lipid that the body uses to make cell membranes, hormones, and other things in the body.  Time will tell if this drug will do more harm than good in patients with normal cholesterol levels.

Weak Preventive Medical Screening Policies Lead to Debate

Why is there so much debate about cancer screening tests like the PSA and Mammogram?  Because they don’t seem to be very effective.  So what’s the solution?

Hormone Therapy Protects Against Colon Cancer

Another study confirms that hormone replacement therapies can protect against colon cancer.  Long term users experience over a 50% reduction in cancer rates.

Diet Prevents 40% of Alzheimer’s Cases

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, olive oil, nuts, seeds and fish is shown to lead to less cases of Alzheimer’s disease.

Processed Meats, not Red Meats are Associated with Cancer

A new harvard study had found an association between eating processed and developing cancer.  The same study was not able to show a significant association between those that ate unprocessed meats like beef, pork or lamb and those that developed cancer.

The 2 supplements that I recommend the most are Fish Oil and Vitamin D. Lately, its seems that the evidence for supplemental Vitamin D is mounting at a rapid rate, and I thought it would be appropriate to write about it.

Vitamins are called vitamins because our body’s cannot function without them – they are vital to life. Almost all of them have to be consumed in the food we eat, or we will get deficiency syndromes and die. Vitamin D is different; our primary source of vitamin D is from the sun.

Vitamin D functions as a hormone in the body, which makes it unique from other vitamins. The human body can make it, but unfortunately it needs a little help to be switched on. This is the where sunlight comes in; circulating vitamin D close to the surface of the skin is altered by the sun’s radiation, converting it from D2 to D3, the active form of the vitamin.

The active form of Vitamin D governs the absorption and metabolism of Calcium in the body, and calcium is used by all cells in the body. Thus it allows for proper functioning of the entire body, but in particular the immune system, the nervous system and the skeletal system allowing for strong bones and teeth.

Right now, research is demonstrating that lower levels of Vitamin D are associated with a variety of problems. For instance, experts agree that the increased incidence of Multiple Sclerosis and other autoimmune conditions at higher latitudes is at least partly due to a lower supply of Vitamin D from the sun. People with darker skin who live in higher latitudes are more susceptable to deficiency because dark skin acts as natural sunblock, and prevents the activation of Vit D. It is no coincidence that people with lighter skin live at higher latitudes.

It’s a catch 22: direct sunlight can lead to skin cancer, and the lack of direct sunlight can lead to more cancer, weak bones, insomnia, dementia, autoimmune disease and who knows what else. I don’t recommend tanning beds because it is too easy to burn your skin with them. Dietary sources of Vitamin D are usually not adequate on their own.

The solution is to either supplement your sunlight or supplement your diet. You would need at least 30 minutes of direct sunlight sunlight on at least 3 days of the week to get it from the sun, and even with that amount you are not guaranteed optimal intake. Because I live in Vancouver, where sun is hard to find in the winter, I recommend supplementation for most patients. Walter Willet from Harvard’s school of public health recommends 1000 IU for all people, regardless of where they live, and he says that the recommendation may increase pending further research. I recommend 1500 IU per day during the dark winter months and 1000 IU per day during the brighter/ sunnier months. When in doubt with your dosage, you can have your blood tested to fine tune your optimal dosage. I shoot for 60-100 pmol/L with my patients.

Review:

Supplement 1000 IU – 1500 IU Vit D per day, or ensure > 30 minutes of direct sunlight on 3 or more days of the week.

If in doubt, have your Vit D levels tested to see what your optimal intake is.