Health in the News
The ultimate heart exercise — laughter
In a study of 20 healthy volunteers, 19 of 20 experienced an increase in blood flow while watching funny films (e.g. Something About Mary). When the same volunteers watched sad films, 14 of 20 experienced a decrease in blood flow similar to what occurs with anger or doing math. The authors of this small study said that while watching the movie, laughter had an effect equivalent to starting a statin drug — without the side–effects. In this study the researchers measured blood flow in the brachial artery in the arm, which is a good indicator of blood flow for the entire body.
Miller, M., Mangano, C., et al. (2006). Impact of cinematic viewing on endothelial function. Heart, 92(2), pp. 261–2.
Varnish tree may help vanish breast cancer
A food additive and herbal remedy widely used throughout Asia, Rhus verniciflua, has been found to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells in the lab. The isolated substance tested was butein, a plant polyphenol. This substance may prove to suppress the growth of micrometastases (spread) of breast cancer. The butein is derived from the stems of the varnish or lacquer tree native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas.
Samoszuk, M., Tan, J., & Chorn, G. (2005). The chalone butein from Rhus verniciflua inhibits clonogenic growth of human breast cancer cells co–cultered with fibroblasts. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 5(5).
Love sunshine? Protect your eyes with omega–3 fatty acids
The list grows for the benefits of the omega–3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Dr. Bazan at LSU found that DHA “in retinal pigment epithelial cells is a precursor to a compound called neuroprtectin D1.” This substance is made in response to the oxidative stress caused by sunshine, trauma, and stress.
Article published online April 3, 2006 in Trends in Neuroscience.
At risk for liver cancer — something IS fishy
Once again omega–3 fatty acids are good for us. They are known to inhibit certain types of cancer cells. Tong Wu, M.D., Ph.D., found an inhibition of cell growth dose–dependently associated with EPA and DHA, but that is not seen with arachadonic acid, an omega–6 fatty acid. Another experiment looked at the cells found in cholangiocarcinoma, an aggressive form of liver cancer, in which the omega–3 fatty acids also inhibited cell growth.
Dye, D. (2006). Liver cancer cell growth prevented by omega–3 fatty acids. Retrieved April, 2006, from www.lef.org/whatshot/index.html#ofai.
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Eat Indian food to lower risk of cancer?
The bright yellow color of curry comes from the curcumin in tumeric. This spice has “broad anticarcinogenic and cancer chemopreventative potential.” What dose is needed? Many formulations have 350 to 500 mg in a capsule. The authors of a recently released study determined that healthy subjects tolerated 500 to 12,000 mg in a single dose. Low levels were detected in the blood of subjects receiving 10,000 or 12,000 mg only. They speculated that for colorectal cancer, high blood levels of curcumin or a metabolite may not be essential.
Mohanty, I., Arya, D., & Gupta, S. (2006). Effect of Curcuma longa and Ocimum sanctum on myocardial apoptosis in experimentally induced myocardial ischemic–reperfusion injury. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 6(10). Published online March 17, 2006. doi: 10.1186/1472–6882–6–10. Retrieved April 11, 2006.
Fat blocking ginseng
In Asia Panax japonicus (Japanese ginseng) has been used traditionally as a folk medicine for elevated cholesterol, arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), diabetes, and high blood pressure. A component of the rhizome portion of the plant, chikusetsusaponins, has been found to have anti–obesity effects in mice studies. These studies support the traditional usage as reduction, or prevention, of obesity lowers the risk of the traditional indicators for usage.
Han, L.K., Zheng, Y.N., Yoshikawa, M., Okuda, H., & Kimura, Y. (2005). Anti–obesity effects of chikusetsusaponins Isolated from Panax japonicus rhizomes. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 5(9).
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