A review in Naturopathic Currents looked at SAMe and its impact on mental health(1). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), the most frequently prescribed antidepressant, are frequently the first line treatment for depression. SSRI often provide inadequate symptom relief for mild-to-moderate depression, or a high relapse rate. Common side effects include fatigue, worsening mood, insomnia, poor…

Zinc is an essential trace mineral with a wide range of biological functions. Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is a key regulator of cell growth and development that helps to establish the body plan of all animals with bilateral symmetry. In many diseases, zinc deficiency and elevated level of Hh ligand co-exist, including prostate cancer, lung cancer,…

In order to understand the causes of autistic-like behaviors, researchers from the University of Sao Paulo evaluated maternal serum metal concentrations involved in intra uterine development and infection/inflammation. They identified reduced maternal levels of zinc, magnesium, selenium and manganese after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in prenatal rats. They selected zinc as the prenatal treatment to prevent…

According to a study published in 2012, Migraines affect 12% of the US population. While the number of studies related to migraine pathophysiology have increased in recent years, the exact aetioloty is not well understood. Wishing to compare the levels of trace elements and heavy metals in patients with acute migraine and healthy controls, researchers…

A gluten-free diet (GFD) is commonly adopted as an effective treatment for celiac disease, and is often followed to alleviate GI complaints. While we know there is an important link between diet and the gut microbiome, how a switch to a GFD affect the human gut microbiome is largely unknown. Twenty one healthy human volunteers…

Sodium-to-potassium ratio (Na:K) is shown to be strongly associated with an increased risk of Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD related mortality, more than either Na or K intake alone. Researchers from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Department of Nutrition Science at Purdue University, and the USDA Agricultural Research Service set out to estimate the…

Researchers from Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Karolinska Institute (Stockhilm) and Brinham and Women’s Hospital (Boston) investigated how multivitamin use is associated with the risk of CVD in men who were initially (as baseline) healthy. They studied over 18,500 male physicians (≥40 yrs) from the Physicians’ Health Study 1 cohort who were free…

As we age, we typically experience a decrease in muscle mass and metabolic rate and an increase in fat mass, thereby predisposing older adults to chronic disease and functional impairment. The result is an eventual decrease in the quality of life. Researchers from the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences at the University of…

Increased adiposity is linked to altered levels of biologically active proteins, including the hormones adiponectin and leptin. Adiponectin is negatively correlated with obesity, with lower levels associated with increased risk of death or myocardial infarction (MI). Conversely, leptin levels are positively correlated with obesity, with higher levels identified as an independent risk factor for CVD.…

Vitamin D deficiency is common among older adults.  Researchers from the University of Leeds designed the Vitamin D Treating Patients with Chronic Heart Failure (VINDICATE) study, involving 163 older patients already being treated for heart failure using standard accepted treatment, to learn whether vitamin D supplementation would benefit heart failure patients. They focused on patients…