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…

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…