Higher serum vitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations have been associated with lower risk of multiple cancer types. Researchers investigated whether previously reported inverse association between 25(OH)D and cancer risk could be replicated, and if a 25(OH)D response region could be identified among women 55 and older across a broad range of 25(OH)D concentrations. Data from two…

? In this study, 44 subjects (55-70 yrs) with high oxidative stress were supplemented with Pycnogenol® daily for 12 months. Another group with comparable oxidative stress was followed as a reference group. Cognitive testing, including IQ Code, cognitive function and SBT were conducted using defined scales. Results after 12 months showed significant improvement in the…

EGCG, a bioactive phytochemical found in green tea, was found to regulate transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASF), indicating that TAK1 regulation may be a therapeutic target in RA. EGCG appears to effectively inhibit TAK1 by blocking its phosphorylation. As a mediator of inflammation, TAK1 is integral…

While PPIs are widely used to treat gastrointestinal illnesses, recent evidence suggests they may be related to cognitive decline. A group of German researchers conducted a prospective cohort study to examine the association between the use of PPIs and the risk of incident dementia in the elderly. They used observational data (from 2004-2011) from the…

Gluten sensitivity (GS) may be defined as a state of heightened immunological responsiveness in genetically susceptible people. This definition does not imply bowel involvement. The authors, all affiliated with the Department of Neurology at The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK, suggest that regarding GS as principally a disease of the small bowel is a historical…

Celiac disease (CD) and wheat allergy are the most studied forms of gluten-related disorders characterized by an immune response (autoimmune in CD and IgE-mediated in wheat allergy). Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) apparently is not driven by an aberrant immune response. NCGS is characterized by a heterogeneous clinical picture with intestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms arising after…

Documentation of autoimmunity, while coming to the forefront of research(1), goes back quite some time. Here, researchers report on a 15 year old boy affected by silent Celiac Disease (CD), abnormalities in glycoregulation with autoantibodies specific to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) (ICA: islet cell antibodies) and GAD 65 (autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase)(2). In…

Researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Nova Southeastern and Boston Universities discovered that vitamin B12 levels in the brain are much lower in those with autism or schizophrenia compared to their peers at similar ages, and the elderly. Researchers measured levels of cobalamin in postmortem human frontal cortex samples from 19 weeks fetal development through age 80…

Although it has been suggested that chromium (Cr) has beneficial effects in type 2 diabetes (T2D), it has not been investigated at the population level. Researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Joslin Diabetes Center wished to examine the use and potential benefits of Cr supplementation in T2D using NHANES data. Diabetes was…

A study, partially published in advance in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, reports that fatty acid and phytochemical components found in fish oil and olive oil may affect or block the mechanisms involved in the progression of pancreatitis. The Spanish led study centered on the role that a Mediterranean diet plays in decreasing oxidative-inflammatoryprocesses. The…