June 30th, 2008
Reuters on MSNBC.com
Brain chemical is key for keeping aggression in check, study finds
LONDON – Serotonin, the brain chemical linked to mood, plays a key role in regulating emotions such as aggression, British researchers said on Thursday.
Serotonin, the nerve-signaling chemical targeted by many antidepressants, appears to keep aggressive social responses in check, Molly Crockett, a psychologist at the University of Cambridge and colleagues reported in the journal Science.
The chemical’s precise role in impulse control has been controversial but this study is one of the first to actually show a causal link, Crockett said.
“Because we directly manipulated serotonin levels and observed an effect on behavior we can say there is a causal link between serotonin and aggressive responses,” Crockett said in a telephone interview.
Their research also helps explain why some people become combative or aggressive when hungry because the essential amino acid needed for the body to create serotonin is only obtained through diet.
The team used this knowledge to manipulate serotonin levels in 20 healthy volunteers who were then asked to play a situation game that tested their responses to fair and unfair offers of money.
People with lower serotonin levels were far more likely to deprive other players of money, even though they lost out as well, as a way to punish the person who made the offer, the researchers said.
“It is an anger-driven response,” Crockett said.
This knowledge could help doctors treat people with depression and anxiety disorders by teaching them ways to regulate emotions during decision making, especially in social situations, she added.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24992222/
June 27th, 2008
Real Simple on CNN.com/Health
June 27, 2008
Certain foods play well with others, while others lose strength in pairs.
Toothsome twosomes to watch out for:
DO mix grilled steak and Brussels sprouts
It turns out that certain compounds in Brussels sprouts (and other cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower) may help rid the body of carcinogens that can form on meat during high-heat cooking.
That said, loading up on these vegetables doesn’t give you license to char meat, chicken, or fish on the barbecue. “It’s always best to cook meat or fish at low temperatures until it’s done,” says Kristin E. Anderson, Ph.D., a cancer epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and Cancer Center, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “And if there are burned pieces, trim them off.”
DO mix avocado and tomato
Tomatoes, which contain the antioxidant lycopene, are a super food. Eat some avocado at the same time and you’ve got a super super food — the fat in the avocado helps the body absorb seven times more lycopene.
“Eating a steak or any fatty food with any vegetable can release its antioxidants,” says Steven J. Schwartz, Ph.D., professor of food science at Ohio State University in Columbus. “But small amounts of healthy unsaturated fats are a better choice.”
So add a little extra-virgin olive oil to your zucchini, spinach, and other dark green vegetables to unleash the carotenoid lutein, an antioxidant that may help protect against age-related macular degeneration. And instead of using fat-free dressing on your salad, drizzle on an olive oil–based one.
DO mix spinach and oranges
Although spinach has lots of iron, your body doesn’t absorb it well when spinach is eaten alone. (Sorry, Popeye.) But with vitamin C by its side, this vegetable becomes a true standout.
That’s because vitamin C converts the iron in spinach into a form that is more available to the body, says Liz A. Applegate, Ph.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of California, Davis.
This holds true for other vegetarian sources of iron, too, such as broccoli and tofu. It doesn’t take a lot of C, either. One medium orange will do. You could also add to a spinach salad half a red pepper, several thick slices of tomato, or 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries — all good sources of C.
“Eating a steak or any fatty food with any vegetable can release its antioxidants,” says Steven J. Schwartz, Ph.D., professor of food science at Ohio State University in Columbus. “But small amounts of healthy unsaturated fats are a better choice.”
So add a little extra-virgin olive oil to your zucchini, spinach, and other dark green vegetables to unleash the carotenoid lutein, an antioxidant that may help protect against age-related macular degeneration. And instead of using fat-free dressing on your salad, drizzle on an olive oil–based one.
DO mix spinach and oranges
Although spinach has lots of iron, your body doesn’t absorb it well when spinach is eaten alone. (Sorry, Popeye.) But with vitamin C by its side, this vegetable becomes a true standout.
That’s because vitamin C converts the iron in spinach into a form that is more available to the body, says Liz A. Applegate, Ph.D., director of sports nutrition at the University of California, Davis.
This holds true for other vegetarian sources of iron, too, such as broccoli and tofu. It doesn’t take a lot of C, either. One medium orange will do. You could also add to a spinach salad half a red pepper, several thick slices of tomato, or 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries — all good sources of C.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/06/27/rs.food.pairings/index.html
June 26th, 2008
Endocrine Today
By Eric Raible
June 25, 2008
Women with obesity who desire bariatric surgery often present with reproductive complications prior to surgery, results from a prospective study suggested.
Researchers with the six-center Longitudinal Assessment for Bariatric Surgery II (LABS-2) study reported that reproductive disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome, abnormal bleeding and menstrual cycles, and infertility were prevalent in the study cohort of obese women prior to undergoing bariatric surgery.
The researchers provided a self-administered 20-item reproductive health questionnaire to 1,024 women, according to Gabriella G. Gosman, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She presented the results at the 25th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery in Washington.
“Among women presenting for bariatric surgery, there was a high prevalence of PCOS and abnormal menstrual function,” Gosman said. “Both of these have serious health consequences, including endometrial cancer.”
Gosman reported a higher prevalence of PCOS in the cohort compared with that of the general population (15.9% vs. 7%), as well as abnormal menses (32.2% vs. 18%). About 45% of the women in the cohort were reported as using estrogen-based contraceptives in the year leading up to bariatric surgery.
“We propose that clinicians determine whether future pregnancy is desired, and stratify women get counseling and care for the interaction between bariatric surgery and pregnancy, or for long-term reliable contraception,” she said. “Regardless of future pregnancy plans, all of these women would need reliable contraception from the decision to undergo surgery until the time that rapid weight loss has ceased.”
PERSPECTIVE
We are excited that the LABS data are starting to come out. I am concerned about the validation of this questionnaire. For it to be a reliable research tool, any questionnaire has to be validated. We have to be confident that it accurately measures what it is expected to measure in different populations and in different ways by different people. To draw data from it unless it has been validated and each component has been validated leaves us feeling uncertain of what we are looking at.
– Paul E. O’Brien, MD, Director, Center for Obesity & Education Monash University, South Yarra, Australia
For more information:
* Gosman G. #PL 39. Reproductive health characteristics of women undergoing bariatric surgery. Presented at: the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery’s Annual Scientific Meeting; June 15-20, 2008; Washington D.C.
http://www.endocrinetoday.com/view.aspx?rid=29129
June 23rd, 2008
By Kate Winship
June 20, 2008
Clomid Pharmacy Blog
http://sochoc.blogspot.com/2008/06/help-for-pcos-in-nutritional-supplement.html
Medical research is discovering that selected nutritional supplements can be helpful for some women who have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). PCOS is a complex glandular and metabolic disorder that affects 6%-10% of women of reproductive age.
Symptoms of PCOS include infertility, weight gain, acne, excess hair, hair loss, and depression. There is an increased risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease and possibly some cancers.
Conventional therapy for polycystic ovary syndrome includes birth control pills, medications and surgery. However, these methods do not provide a conclusive cure for PCOS.
Fortunately, there are natural therapies available that any woman can use such as a healthy diet, plentiful exercise, stress management and nutritional supplementation. One of the nutritional supplements worth considering is NAC (n-acetyl-cysteine).
NAC is a derivative of cysteine, an amino acid found in high protein and other foods. NAC is not found in the diet but is available as a nutritional supplement. It is also available as a FDA-approved prescription drug.
Some medical studies suggest that NAC could have the following health benefits for PCOS women.
It is also available as a FDA-approved prescription drug. Some medical studies suggest that NAC could have the following health benefits for PCOS women.
1) NAC reduces undesirable insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the inability to efficiently utilize the hormone insulin and is now thought to be a primary cause of PCOS. So anything you can do to reduce insulin resistance helps to relieve PCOS symptoms, improve fertility odds, and reduce future risk of diabetes and heart disease.
2) NAC lowers homocysteine. Homocysteine is a blood protein. A normal amount is OK. But women with polycystic ovary syndrome tend to have higher levels. An excessive level of homocysteine is toxic and is associated with heart disease and other health problems.
3) NAC improves the effectiveness of Clomid, a fertility drug. Clomid is often the first thing your doctor will give you if you are trying to conceive.
4) Acting as an antioxidant, NAC may provide reproductive support and improve egg quality.
NAC is considered safe. Consult with your doctor before taking NAC, especially if you are taking the drug metformin. If you are taking a substantial dose of NAC, you may need to reduce the dosage of metformin. Although NAC has not been shown to have any adverse effect on the fetus, you should check with your doctor before taking NAC if you are pregnant. Do not take NAC while also taking nitroglycerin.
How much NAC should you take? The answer to that question depends on your unique health profile and needs. It’s best to consult with a qualified health professional for the dose most appropriate for you.
Bill Slater and Dr. Nancy Dunne are co-authors of The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility.Visit http://www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/nac.html to get more information about NAC.Bill Slater is the former co-founder of an integrative medicine clinic and consultant to naturopathic physicians. He has 25 years experience in the holistic health field. Dr. Nancy Dunne is a licensed primary care physician in Missoula, Montana. Since 1989, her specialty is natural medicine for improving women’s health, especially PCOS and infertility.
