Abstracts
Entero-Test – Simple and Effective Research Mechanism
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At first sight one may wonder why a paper published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology is being highlighted on this web site.[1] Yet Dr Guiney and his colleagues have evolved a very elegant approach to complex metabolically relevant data collection using a simple, non-invasive test that should be celebrated as an example a combination of science, economics and human/animal care, sometimes assumed not to exist in large research establishments. This paper expanded on a previous study published in 2010.[2]
Ecklonia Cava Beneficially Impacts Body Fat and Lipids
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The use of a standardised sea weed extract by the name of Eckclonia cava has attracted considerable interest in the management of a variety of human health problems, mainly based around its purported long half-life antioxidant capabilities. This paper published in Phytotherapy Research adds further clarification to its potential use in the management of individuals with weight and lipid related problems.[1]
Folic Acid Mediates Post Partum Depression – Eventually
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Does Folic acid during pregnancy have any beneficial effects on the mood state of the mother, during pregnancy, immediately post-partum or later. This study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition[1] implies that it does, but that we have to wait almost 2 years to identify the impact – that seems a very long time to me, and does not indicate that this should be considered a sensible supplementation if post-partum depression management is your goal. Single nutrient therapies, whilst attractive from an intervention study perspective, fail time and again to modify complex disorders. Humans have the annoying reality of multiple points of impact; nutritional supplementation needs to be considered as a therapeutic intervention in line with food intake, body mass, social experiences, competing nutrient stealers, such as alcohol etc.
Anxiety and Fish Oil
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The use of fish oils to mediate anxiety in a selected group of intelligent and healthy young people has suggested a positive correlation. The implications are that other groups, especially the elderly and individuals with complex disorders may also benefit. For over thirty years the relationships between stress and immune function have been explored and this is one of the latest papers published in the leading cross discipline journal Brain Behaviour and immunity.[1]
Microbes Are What You Eat
Most nutritional therapists and others that regard the role of the bacterial populations in the human gut as being a significant part of our capacity to operate and function in health or otherwise, understand that food choice has an effect.
A recent study on mice published in Science raises some very interesting early observations.[1] The same group published an earlier study exploring the same strategy.[2] Aware that food choices alter bacterial colony ratios and may favour certain bacterial species over others, mice were impregnated with a small number of commonly found human bacteria (10) and then were fed, via human pureed baby food concentrations of 4 commonly consumed ingredients. The researchers state that some 60% of the variation in species is attributable to dietary food choice.
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The Appendix – Why We Need It
The term vestigial organ is used to describe tissues that are typically in a degenerate, atrophied, or rudimentary condition, and the appendix has long been characterised as such a tissue. The work of Dr’s William Parker and Randall Bollinger have raised a number of interesting observations that indicate this tissue should be given an updated and relevant title.
To coin a phrase it is a ‘reservoir of dogs bacteria’, providing a safe repository or bank of bacterial species able to re-colonise in the event of a traumatic disruption of the microbial mix, such as that experienced after diahorrea or antibiotic use.[1]
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Review of Role of Probiotics & IBS Resolution
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Functional gut problems, such as those classified by the Rome criteria as IBS are a significant health problem for many people. The use of probiotics as a single or multiple intervention offers a potential route to resolution, but the data is as yet inconsistent and in need of further clarification. This is the opinion of a group from Thames Valley University in a recently published review.[1]
L-Theanine Reduces Anxiety – Quickly
L-theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves. Previous studies of dietary supplements of L-theanine have suggested a therapeutic benefit in reducing stress, promoting relaxation, and improving the quality of sleep.
Akiko Higashiyama, from University of Shiga Prefecture (Japan), and colleagues have found that daily L-theanine supplementation at 200 mg/day helps people with anxiety to focus on their daily activities. The researchers recruited 18 healthy University students and assessed their anxiety levels using a standardised rating scale. Student with high anxiety were put in one group, while students with minimal anxiety were put in another group. Both groups received water or water plus 200 mg of L-theanine per 100 ml of water. [1]
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Vitamin D and Parkinson’s Disease Correlations Identified
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Back in 2008 a team of researchers published a paper in the Archives of Neurology that exposed a striking incidence of Vitamin D deficiency in patients diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease.[1] They compared the Parkinson’s patients with healthy controls and patients with diagnosed Alzheimers disease. In both groups the Parkinson’s patients presented with reduced Vit D status compared to the others.
Allergic to Peanuts? For some eating them may help.
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In one more of the rapidly developing field of immunotherapy in the treatment of allergy by training the oral tolerance mechanisms in our bodies, a group of 22 children (median age 11) with peanut allergies were fed under medical supervision a dose of peanuts made into flour and mixed in chocolate over several months.[1]
The immune system is prone to the same grave misfortunes as any defense system handling weapons: collateral damage that comes with the destruction of the enemy on one’s own territory and friendly fire due to mistaken identity. Whereas the collateral damage is the price we pay for clearance of infections, autoimmunity is a pathological process. Nevertheless, the effector mechanisms involved in both processes are the same. Whether environment can be a cause, a trigger or an amplifier of an autoimmune disease are questions that are being intensively investigated.
