A new study reveals that a higher intake of calcium may reduce the overall risk of cancer for women and also reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and other digestive cancers for both men and women. The study appears in the February 23 edition of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) analyzed data from nearly 500,000 people who participated in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study that began in 1995. Participants between the ages of 50 and 71 filled out a questionnaire reporting how often and in what quantities they consumed dairy products and a wide variety of other foods, and whether they took supplements. Their records were then linked with state cancer registries to identify new cases of cancer.

After an average of seven years of follow up, nearly 50,000 cases of cancer had occurred. Calcium intake was associated with a decrease in the overall risk for all cancers in women and the more calcium women got, the more the risk decreased. Beyond 1,300 milligrams of calcium per day, no further reduction occurred.

While men did not display the same overall reduction in cancer risk, calcium intake was associated with reduced risk of cancers of the digestive system for both men and women. The top 20 percent of men who consumed the most calcium through food and supplements (about 1,530 milligrams per day on average) had a 16 percent lower risk of digestive cancers than the bottom 20 percent who consumed the least calcium (526 milligrams per day).

For women, those in the top 20 percent of calcium consumption (1,881 milligrams per day) had a 23 percent lower risk of these cancers than those in the bottom 20 percent (494 milligrams per day). This risk reduction was particularly pronounced for colorectal cancer. The study found no relationship between calcium and prostate cancer, breast cancer or other cancers.

The researchers believe that calcium may help prevent digestive system cancers by reducing abnormal growth in cells in the gastrointestinal tract or by reducing damage to the mucous membrane in the large intestine.

Calcium has long been known to be associated with bone health and calcium intake is critical in preventing osteoporosis. However, previous research into the role of calcium in cancer prevention has produced mixed results. The present study is one of the largest ever undertaken, but it relied on interviews instead of blood tests and can therefore only estimate the amount of calcium each participant had consumed.

Does this mean you should run out and buy calcium supplements? Perhaps, but the researchers found that the benefits of calcium were mostly associated with calcium-rich foods rather than supplements, although calcium from supplements alone was still effective in reducing colon cancer risk in men. Foods with lots of calcium include dairy products such as milk and yogurt and leafy green vegetables. The recommended daily calcium intake for older people is 1,200 milligrams, while for younger adults it is 1,000mg. Adolescents should get 1,300 milligrams per day of calcium.

For more information about nutrition or dietary supplements, join the Healia Health Community for Diet and Nutrition or the Healia Health Community for Dietary Supplements. Find out more about colorectal cacner at the Healia Health Community for Colorectal Cancer.

_{Photo (adapted): erix!, Flickr, Creative Commons}

A new study shows that about one third of U.S. kids take supplements containing essential vitamins and minerals, but they are not the kids who could benefit most from their use. The children who take vitamin and mineral supplements tend to be the ones who are already in good health, while those who do not take supplements include the children with the poorest health and the worst eating habits.

Researchers at the University of California-Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento analyzed data from 10,828 children ages 2 to 17 who participated in the 1999 to 2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study, published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, found that 34 percent of children and adolescents had taken vitamin or mineral supplements in the past month, and almost half of those reported taking such supplements daily. This is a decline from the 1970s, when vitamin use in children was around 50 percent.

The children who were the largest users of vitamins and minerals tended to be those with higher dietary fiber intake, higher milk intake, lower total fat and cholesterol intake, lower computer use, greater physical activity, lower obesity, good health insurance coverage, good health care access, and whose parents reported that they were in good health; exactly the group least likely to benefit from the use of such supplements. Only children who were underweight were both likely to take vitamins/minerals and to benefit from their use.

According to the study, the children at the highest risk for deficiencies, including those with less healthy and varied diets, lower levels of physical activity, greater obesity, lower income and food security, poorer health, and less access to health care, seem to be the least likely to use vitamin and mineral supplements.

It may surprise some the learn that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend vitamin and mineral supplements for healthy children older than 1 year who consume a varied diet. Instead, supplemental vitamins and minerals are only recommended for certain groups of children, including those with chronic diseases, eating disorders, problems absorbing nutrients or liver disease, or obese children in weight-loss programs

The researchers suggest that one possible explanation for healthier kids being more likely to take vitamins and minerals is that vitamin/mineral use made them healthy in the first place. Another likely explanation is that vitamin-using kids simply have greater access to factors correlated with good health such as health-conscious parents, healthy schools, and walkable neighborhoods.

If your child has a well-balanced diet and does not have a health conditions that require supplemental vitamins/minerals, there may be no need for them to take vitamin or mineral supplements. However, as one of the researchers involved with the study notes, giving children daily multivitamins in the dose recommended on the label probably is not harmful. The present study did not determine use of specific vitamin or mineral supplements, but some researchers believe that children need higher levels of some specific nutrients (such as vitamin D) than they tend to get in their diet, especially children living in certain parts of the country. Talk with your child’s doctor or pediatrician to find out more about your child’s individual nutritional needs.

For more information relevant to your child’s nutrition, join the Healia Health Community for Child Health or the Healia Health Community for Diet and Nutrition. For information about nutritional supplements, see the Healia Health Community on Dietary Supplements.

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Complementary and alternative medicine and therapies have existed for centuries and continue to be practiced today. Treatments include a range of health practices and products from dietary supplements to acupuncture. Some people use these medicines and therapies to treat specific diseases and health conditions, and others use them for holistic or spiritual reasons. Although studies have shown that some complementary and alternative medicine and therapies are effective for certain indications, the effectiveness of most of these therapies has not yet been shown scientifically.

The top 6 complementary and alternative medicines and therapies among American adults in 2007 are:

1. Dietary supplements (17.7% of people): These include a range of herbs, botanicals, vitamins, and minerals such as fish oil, glucosamine, and Echinacea.


2. Deep breathing exercises (12.7%): These exercises involve slow and deep inhalation and exhalation. Deep breathing is believed to relieve stress and provide relaxation.


3. Meditation (9.4%): This ancient discipline has its origins in Eastern spiritual teachings. People are taught to focus their minds to achieve a heightened sense of awareness, tranquility, and balance.


4. Chiropractic treatment (8.6%): Chiropractors attempt to modify the spine and joints to help relieve pain and improve well-being. Common indications are for the back, headaches, and other injuries.


5. Massage (8.3%): Massage therapists knead muscles and tendons to improve function of connective tissues and to promote calmness and pain relief.


6. Yoga (6.1%: Many types of yoga involve controlled breathing, stretching, and meditation to achieve balance physically, mentally, and spiritually.

For additional information, join the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Support Group on Healia Communities


_{Source: CDC, National Health Statistics Reports, No. 12, based on data from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey conducted by the CDC; http://nccam.nih.gov/news/2008/nhsr12.pdf}

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If you are looking for a little help with your upcoming New Year’s resolution to shed those extra pounds, the U.S.Food and Drug Administration recommends that you stay away from the computer. Yesterday the FDA issued a warning to consumers to avoid 28 weight loss products sold online because they contain unlisted ingredients that may be dangerous.

The pills are mostly promoted and sold on various Web sites but some are also sold in retail stores. They are sold under names such as Perfect Slim, 2 Day Diet, and Zhen de Shou. Most of the diet pills appear to be coming from China, but for others the provenance is unknown.

Many of the products are touted as “natural,” or “herbal,” or as new versions of "ancient Eastern remedies,” but actually contain potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the product labels or in advertisements. FDA testing found that the pills contained high doses of a powerful anti-obesity drug, as well as a suspected carcinogen and a pharmaceutical that has not been approved by the FDA.

Many of the pills contain sibutramine, a powerful appetite suppressant that is related to amphetamine. Sibutramine is the active ingredient in the prescription drug Meridia, which is used to treat obesity. But FDA testing found that some of the diet pills contain nearly three times the recommended daily dose.

Even at recommended doses, possible side effects of sibutramine include high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia, palpitations, heart attack, and stroke, especially in people with a history of heart problems. Sibutramine can also interact with other medications but since it is not listed as an ingredient, people taking the pills are unlikely to be aware of these risks.

Rimonabant, another ingredient found in some of these products, was evaluated, but not approved by the FDA for marketing in the United States. The drug, which is approved in Europe, has been associated with increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and has been linked to five deaths and 720 adverse reactions in Europe over the last two years.

Several of the pills also contain phenolphthalein, a solution used in chemical experiments and as a laxative that is being withdrawn from the market because it increases the risk of cancer.

According to the FDA, if a product sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you are taking one of the diet pills on the list, the FDA recommends you taking these pills stop immediately and consult your healthcare professional right away.

The list of tainted pills can be found here on the FDA’s Web site.

For information on healthy ways to lose weight, see the Healia Health Guide on Weight Management. If you want to connect with others interested in losing weight and exchange stories of weight loss successes and frustrations, join the Healia Health Community for Weight Management.

Related blog post: Quick Tips for Eating Healthy and Making Your New Year’s Resolution Come True


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A large study examining the effects of the medicinal herb Ginkgo biloba concludes that it does not prevent Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. The findings, presented in the Journal of the American Medical Association, cast serious doubt on the future of ginkgo as a preventative measure for dementia, a disorder that affects more than 5 million people in the United States.

The eight year long Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study involved over 3,000 patients age 75 and older, some of whom had a condition that can be an early harbinger of dementia called mild cognitive impairment. The results showed that among both healthy and mildly impaired participants, taking two 120 milligram doses of ginkgo a day had no effect on the development of dementia in general or Alzheimer’s disease specifically, which is the suspected cause of the vast majority of dementia cases.

Extract from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which suggested that it might help protect the brain from the processes that lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier lab tests also demonstrated that ginkgo can protect brain cells from the same problems that occur in Alzheimer’s disease. Despite this, the study appears to demonstrate conclusively that ginkgo is not helpful in preventing Alzheimer’s disease in older adults.

While the study did not find any positive effects of ginkgo, there did not appear to be any significant negative effects either. Taking the supplement did not affect the rate of coronary artery disease, stroke, or mortality. The study did not examine this possibility that ginkgo could have an effect on the development of dementia if people started taking it earlier, such as in middle age. There may also still be role for ginkgo in treating, rather than preventing, dementia.

Earlier research on ginkgo and memory has provided mixed results. Still, annual sales of the supplement in the U.S. reached an estimated $107 million in 2007.

If you take Ginkgo biloba, it is a good idea to do so under the supervision of a medical professional. People on the blood thinner warfarin shouldn't take ginkgo because of the risk of increased bleeding. Previous studies have also suggests an association between ginkgo and increased risk of “mini strokes” known as TIAs.

For more information, see the Healia Health Guide on Alzheimer’s Disease or visit the Healia Health Communities for Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.  You can also get answers to your questions about ginkgo at the Healia Health Communities for Dietary Supplements or the Healia Health Community for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

 

 ^{Photo (adapted): colros, Flickr, Creative Commons}

According to a study published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), taking folic acid, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12 supplements does not reduce (or increase) the risk of invasive cancer or breast cancer in women. This study was conducted because previous studies had suggested a protective effect for B vitamins against cancer.

In the JAMA study, the researchers examined the incidence of invasive cancer and breast cancer among 5,442 female health professionals who took daily supplements of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 and those who took a placebo. There was no real difference in cancer rates between the groups of women studied. Women in this study had preexisting heart disease or several risk factors for heart disease.  

B vitamins are important for growth and other cellular functions. Leafy green vegetables and fortified cereals are a good source of folic acid and other B vitamins. Folic acid is added to cereals and breads to prevent serious birth defects.  The March of Dimes recommends that women take a daily multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid before and during early pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects in babies.

At least for now, there appears to be little benefit for women who take folic acid or other B vitamin supplements in order to prevent cancer.  

Have a question about vitamins or other dietary supplements? Ask our Dietary Supplements Health Community.

 

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Vitamin E and the mineral selenium do not prevent prostate cancer, according to a large study funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) was halted early after a preliminary analysis of the data showed that these supplements, taken alone or together, did not reduce prostate cancer risk among more than 35,000 men age 50 and older who were studied.

Of more concern, the study suggested that the two supplements may carry an increased risk to men’s health: men who were taking only vitamin E showed a small increase in the number of prostate cancer cases, and those taking only selenium had a slight increase in the incidence of diabetes. However, these findings are still preliminary and they were not statistically significant, meaning that they could have been caused by chance.

Study participants are being notified by a letter that they should stop taking the supplements but will continue to have their health monitored for about three more years.

The findings are a major disappointment after previous studies suggested that Vitamin E might lower prostate cancer risk by more than 30 percent and selenium by over 50 percent. A drug called finasteride that is currently used to treat an enlarged prostate and male pattern baldness was recently shown to reduce the incidence of prostate cancer by 25 percent, but is not currently approved by the FDA as a preventative agent.

The doses involved in the study were higher than what is found in a typical multivitamin: 400mg/day vitamin E (the recommended daily intake is 15mg) and 200mcg/day selenium (U.S. RDI is 50-75mcg).

If you are currently taking daily vitamin E or selenium supplements, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of continuing their use. Or ask the health experts on Healia Health Communities.

 

_{Photo: Twenty Questions, Flickr, Creative Commons}

 

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have published an article warning consumers to limit consumption of energy drinks that contain high levels of caffeine. The researchers reported that some energy drinks can contain many times the amount of caffeine as a regular cola drink. As a result, they recommend energy drinks carry a warning label that shows their caffeine content and includes information about possible health risks.

Because caffeinated energy drinks are marketed as supplements and not as regular soft drinks, they are not required to display their caffeine content and are not subject to the Food and Drug Administration's regulations regarding caffeine content in beverages.

Excessive caffeine consumption may result in fast heart rates (tachycardia), nausea and vomiting, difficulty sleeping, increased urination, anxiety, tremors, and depression.

Given that many high energy drinks are being marketed to children and young people, it’s important to be aware of how much caffeine your children are consuming. In addition, because caffeine acts as an appetite suppressant, children may not be getting proper nutrition.

Join Healia’s Diet and Nutrition Community to learn more about this and other nutrition issues.

The Federal Trade Commission has issued a warning to consumers to watch out for unsupported health claims in the marketing of cancer treatments by unscrupulous companies.

Lydia Parnes, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, stated: "Many of these products are scams, and let's face it, when you're battling cancer, the last thing you need is a scam."

The FTC also announced a new consumer Web site that provides information about how to evaluate health product claims spot and to report bogus claims to the FTC. The following is an excerpt from the FTC Website about what to keep in mind as you evaluate products with dubious health claims:

• No one treatment works for every cancer or every body. All cancers are different. Even two people with the same diagnosis may need different treatments. That’s one reason it's best to be skeptical of any website with ads for products that claim to treat cancer.
• Natural doesn't always mean effective. Scammers take advantage of the feelings that can accompany a diagnosis of cancer. They promote unproven – and potentially dangerous – remedies like black salve, essiac tea, or laetrile with claims that the products are both “natural” and effective. But “natural” doesn’t mean either safe or effective when it comes to using these treatments for cancer. In fact, a product labeled “natural,” can be ineffective and even downright harmful.
• Bogus marketers often use trickery and vague language to take advantage of people. Testimonials on websites with ads for products that claim to cure or treat cancer can seem honest and heart-felt, but they can be completely fake: in fact, they may not disclose that actors or models have been paid to endorse the product. Even when testimonials come from people who have taken the product, personal stories aren’t reliable as evidence of effectiveness.
• Lots of technical jargon may sound impressive, but by itself, doesn’t prove effectiveness. Big words from a medical dictionary are no substitute for the plain-language facts from your doctor.
• A money-back guarantee doesn't prove that a product works. Even if the money-back guarantee is legitimate, it isn't a reliable substitute for scientific evidence that a treatment is safe or effective.

So be an informed consumer. If a product claim seems too good to be true, ask your healthcare provider or ask our Health Experts at Healia Communities. Also, the Healia Search Engine provides only credible sources of health information.

New research shows that people with Alzheimer’s disease who consume very high levels of vitamin E seem to live longer than those who do not. The findings stem from a 15-year study of the survival rates of 847 men and women already diagnosed with various stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Are high levels of Vitamin E safe? This has been a major research topic as some studies have suggested that high doses may also carry unwarranted health risks. The American Heart Association has stated that high amounts of vitamin E may be harmful for the average person and that taking 400 IU or more per day may increase the risk of death.

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect the body’s tissue from damage caused by unstable substances called free radicals. Free radicals can harm cells, tissues, and organs. They are believed to play a major role in certain conditions associated with aging.

Do you have a question about vitamin E or Alzheimer’s disease? Ask an Expert at Healia Communities or connect with others in the Alzheimer’s Disease Community.

vitamin E Alzheimer’s Disease antioxidants