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A new study indicates that Pycnogenol, a flavonol derived from French maritime pine bark, can reduce jet lag in passengers taking long haul flights.

Pycnogenol, extracted from the bark of the Maritime pine that grows on the southern coast of France, is currently used in over 400 dietary supplements, multi-vitamins and health products. The functional food and cosmeceutical ingredient, contract manufactured in situ by Biolandes, is the branded ingredient of private firm Horphag Research.

This latest study, published in a recent issue of the journal of Minerva Cardioangiologica, contributes to growing research that suggests the potential health benefits of the pine bark extract, Pycnogenol.

The two-part study conducted at G. D'Annunzio University in Pescara, Italy and consisting of a brain CT scan and a scoring system, indicated that Pycnogenol lowered symptoms of jetlag, such as fatigue, headaches, and brain edema (swelling) in both healthy individuals and hypertensive patients.

Passengers, say the researchers, also experienced minimal lower leg edema, a common condition associated with long flights.

"I'm encouraged by the results of the study as Pycnogenol was effective in preventing jetlag related effects without any side-effects," said Dr. Gianni

Belcaro, a lead researcher for the study conducted at G. D'Annunzio University in Pescara, Italy.

"Previous Pycnogenol flight studies have shown a reduction in jetlag; however this was the first study to solely focus on the condition," he added.

The two-part study
Jetlag, also called desynchronosis, is largely caused by the body's inability to immediately adjust to the time in a different zone while travelling. As the body struggles to cope with the new schedule, temporary conditions such as insomnia, fatigue, irritability and an impaired ability to concentrate may set in.

For the study, 133 passengers who took flights between seven and nine hours in length were given 50 mg of oral Pycnogenol three times daily, for seven days, starting two days prior to the flight.

Patients in the first part of the study were evaluated with a rating scale consisting of a scoring system. Thirty-eight Pycnogenol-treated and 30 control patients were rated on the most common complaints of jetlag that included: dehydration and loss of appetite; fatigue; insomnia and/or highly irregular sleep patterns, and an alternation in mental performance (easy crossword) as well as general wellbeing.

Observations were measured and taken within 48 hours after the end of the flights.

The researchers report their results showed a "significantly lower score (56 per cent) in the Pycnogenol group for all items rated", collectively leading to a reduction in jetlag signs and symptoms.

"Moreover, symptoms lasted only for an average of 18.2 hours in the Pycnogenol group as compared to 39.3 hours in the control group," add the researchers.

Second study
In a second group of flight passengers, a brain CT scan was performed after the flight in order to assess brain alterations after flights. The study consisted of 34 Pycnogenol-treated patients and 31 controlled patients.

Jetlag symptoms were evaluated using a rating scale providing scores according to the severity. The first observation was performed within 28 hours from the end of the flight.

According to the scientists a swathe of symptoms "were all significantly lower by on average 61.5 per cent in the Pycnogenol group compared to the untreated control group."

Symptoms included sleep alterations, short-term memory alterations, minor cardiac alterations (heart rate, blood pressure), and lower limb swelling.

"This is the first study describing diffuse subliminal swellings of the brain after long haul flights, which we found to be reduced to less than half in the Pycnogenol group," said Dr Belcaro.

The researchers, while asserting that more science needs to be conducted on this topic, "Pycnogenol is emerging as a natural, yet safe option for long distance travellers."

Source: Minerva Cardioangiologica October 2008, Volume 56, Suppl. 1, no.5, Pages 1-7
Published online ahead of print
"Jet-lag: Prevention with PYCNOGENOL. Preliminary report: Evaluation in healthy individuals and in hypertensive patients"
Authors: G. Belcaro, M.R. Cesarone, R. J. Steigerwalt, A. Di Renzo, M.G. Grossi, A. Ricci, S. Stuard, A. Ledda, M. Dugall, U.Cornelli, M. Cacchio

Daily supplements of multivitamins and minerals may improve the brain function of children, says a new study from British and Australian researchers.

Twelve weeks of supplementation with vitamins and minerals was found to boost the attention scores of children, according to results published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

"This represents the first observation of acute behavioural effects of vitamins/minerals in human subjects," wrote the researchers, led by Professor David Kennedy from Northumbria University in Newcastle.

"Naturally, these observations require replication in larger cohorts, but they do suggest that this matter should be given some priority," cautioned the researchers.

Study details

The Newcastle-based researchers, in collaboration with scientists from Swinburne University in Australia, and the University of Westminster in London, recruited 81 children (average age 11) to participate in the randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel groups investigation.

The children were reportedly all healthy and free from food allergy. In addition, none of the children used other dietary supplements during the three months prior to the study. Participants were randomly assigned to daily multivitamin and mineral supplements or placebo for 12 weeks. The study used Pharmaton SA's Pharmaton Kiddi blend of multivitamins and minerals. The Swiss company also provided funding for the study.

Cognitive performance was measured using a battery of laboratory assessments. Measures were taken before the study, after one and three hours after the first dose, and after 12 weeks.

Kennedy and his co-workers report that the children in the vitamin/mineral group performed more accurately on two tests of attention. Indeed, the researchers noted the first signs of improvement only three hours after the first dose on the first day.

"The most surprising facet of the improvement in attention task performance seen here is that it became evident by three hours post-dose on the first day," they wrote.

"To the best of our knowledge, the possibility that vitamins or minerals could exert behavioural effects after a single dose has not been explored," they added.

However, no effects were observed on measures of the children's mood, they added.

Science behind the claims?

The researchers noted that the study was aimed at testing the claims of the manufacturer that the multivitamin and mineral could improve the physical development and neural performance of the children.

"The combination of vitamins, minerals and amino acids present... in the present study does not allow the results presented to be attributed to any one component," wrote the researchers.

"Further work in this area could examine the constituent parts of this treatment in more detail, perhaps focusing on attentional measures and including acute, as well as chronic, assessment," they added.

Researchers from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center report that intakes of vitamin E in the alpha-tocopherol form were associated with consistent and independent reductions in lung cancer risk. Other forms of the vitamin did not have any effects on their own, they added.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to compare dietary intakes of the different forms of tocopherols (alpha-, beta-, gamma and delta-tocopherol) and lung cancer risk," wrote lead author Somdat Mahabir in the International Journal of Cancer.

"Our large lung cancer case-control study adds meaningful data on alpha-, gamma-, beta- and delta-tocopherol to the literature,"

There are eight forms of vitamin E: four tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta) and four tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Alpha-tocopherol is the main source found in supplements and in the European diet, while gamma-tocopherol is the most common form in the American diet.

Study details
Mahabir and co-workers report results from an ongoing study involving 1,088 patients with lung cancer (average age 61.7) and 1,414 healthy controls (average age 60.8). Dietary intakes were assessed using a modified version of the 135-item National Cancer Institute's Health Habits and History Questionnaire Food Frequency Questionnaire. Demographic and lifestyle data were also collected, including smoking habits.

The researchers calculated that the highest average intakes of alpha-tocopherol (more than 7.73 mg per day) were associated with a 53 per cent reduction in lung cancer risk, compared to the lowest average intakes (less than 4.13 mg per day). This result took into account the other forms of tocopherols.

When the researchers accounted for the other tocopherols they observed no significant associations on lung cancer risk for beta-, gamma, and delta-tocopherol.

Considering all the tocopherols together, the highest average intake (more than 12.95 mg per day) was associated with a 55 per cent reduction in the risk of lung cancer, compared to the lowest average intakes (less than 6.68 mg per day), said the researchers.

"We found consistent independent associations for increased dietary alpha-tocopherol intake and risk reduction but did not find independent associations for gamma-, beta- and delta-tocopherol in lung cancer risk," wrote Mahabir.

"Our data should be useful in stimulating additional epidemiologic and basic science research in the relationship of different forms of vitamin E and cancer."

No mechanistic study was performed by the researchers, and they make no discussion of it in their article.

Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer worldwide with over 1.2m new cases diagnosed annually, according to the European School of Oncology. It has one of the lowest survival rates with only 25 per cent of patients surviving more than one year after diagnosis (England and Wales).

Source: International Journal of Cancer
Volume 123, Pages 1173-1180
"Dietary alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols in lung cancer risk"
Authors: S. Mahabir, K. Schendel, Y.Q. Dong, S.L. Barrera, M.R. Spitz, M.R. Forman

Daily supplements of extracts from green tea (Camellia sinensis) may reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and markers of oxidative stress, and all within three weeks, says a new study.

Reductions of systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 5 and 4 mmHg, respectively, were observed following daily supplements of green tea extracts, while total cholesterol levels were reduced by 10 mg/dL, according to findings of a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study.

The study adds to an ever growing body of science reporting the potential health benefits of green tea and its extracts, which already range from reduced risks of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, and certain cancers.

Researchers from the University of Florida, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and the Nutritional Science Research Institute, Boston, report their findings in Nutrition.

Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, while black tea (green tea that has been oxidized by fermentation) contains between 3 and 10 per cent. Oolong tea is semi-fermented tea and is somewhere between green and black tea.

The four primary polyphenols found in fresh tealeaves are epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), and epicatechin (EC).

Study details
Meri Nantz and co-workers recruited 52 healthy men and 72 healthy women with an average age of 29 and randomly assigned them to receive daily supplements of green tea extract (Cardio Guard, containing 100 mg of L-theanine (Suntheanine, Taiyo International) and 200 mg of a decaffeinated catechin green tea extract (Sunphenon 90DCF, Taiyo International)) or placebo for three weeks.

At the end of the supplementation period the researchers found that total and LDL cholesterol levels had decreased by 10 and 9 mg/dL, respectively.

In addition to the blood pressure improvements, improvements in malondialdehyde (a marker of oxidative stress) and amyloid-alpha (a marker of chronic inflammation) were also recorded. Specifically, 12 and 42 per cent reductions, respectively, were observed.

"Camellia sinensis compounds may be an option for people who have mild to moderate high BP, elevated LDL cholesterol, elevated markers of inflammation, or a combination of these three CVD risk factors," wrote the researchers.

"It may be helpful for individuals whose health care providers suggest a trial of diet and exercise before resorting to prescription medication," they concluded.

High blood pressure (hypertension), defined as having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) greater than 140 and 90 mmHg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) - a disease that causes almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe, and reported to cost the EU economy an estimated €169bn ($202bn) per year.

Source: Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, 9 October 2008, doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2008.07.018
"Standardized capsule of Camellia sinensis lowers cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study"
Authors: M.P. Nantz, C.A. Rowe, J.F. Bukowski, S.S. Percival

Taking vitamin supplements could help to guard against the leading cause of blindness. People with higher levels of antioxidants are less likely to suffer eye damage caused by the sun, suggests a study.

In the long term, experts now believe it could protect against age-related macular degeneration, a common condition which causes loss of sight. Research by a team in London found that vitamins C, E, carotenoids and zinc all seemed to help the eyes stay healthy well into old age.

Writing in the Archives of Opthalmology, a team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine conclude that middle-aged people could cut their risk of AMD by protecting their eys from harsh sunlight and taking vitamin supplements.

Daily Express 14th October 2008

The minister responsible for public health has sought to reassure industry the Government is listening to its concerns.

Dawn Primarolo MP was guest speaker at Consumers for Health Choice's annual Parliamentary Reception, attended by retailers and suppliers.
During the event, the MP was challenged by CHC's Michael Peet to be forthright when setting the Government's proposals.
Peet raised the organisation's concerns surrounding both the Food Supplements Directive and the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive.

"Despite two years of campaigning, the problems that concerns CHC supporters have not gone away," he said, adding that it was now moving into the end game with the setting of maximum and minimum permitted levels under the Food Supplements Directive.
Primarolo responded, saying the Government would always be forthright in its proposals, adding that a continued collaboration between industry and agencies such as the Food Standards Agency was important.

"Let me make it absolutely clear I don't want either directive to stifle consumer choice and I don't believe if implemented correctly it necessary will," she told the audience.

"Food supplements that are safe and properly labelled should be freely marketed and we intend to pursue energetically that view."

She said consumer choice was of paramount importance, adding: "It is important that the industry should have and will have and does have robust controls in place to safeguard the consumer but I don't believe those proposals have to be a threat to the industry.

"We will continue to push for a measured and proportionate approach. Quite simply the stronger the evidence, the stronger our position in future negotiations."

Turning her attention to the THMPD, Primarolo added: "I know some of you are worried about the registration scheme, though others actually support it. The concern is that this will restrict choice as there won't be enough products on offer for consumers."

She believed the directive offered benefits, such as giving "people reassurance the products they have are safe, high quality and come in the right information for safe usage".

Primarolo added she was confident a competitive market will develop and explained that the MHRA had been asked to explore ways to aid companies to meet the challenges of registration.

More than 50 per cent of Europeans are classified as "overweight" so there is a desperate need for ways to control food intake. One useful strategy could be supplements of the trace element chromium. In a recent US study published in the journal Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, food intake was reduced by 25 per cent among weight-troubled adult women who took chromium on a daily basis, compared with an eight per cent reduction in the placebo group where study participants were given identical "dummy" pills. In addition, self-reported hunger levels and fat cravings were also reduced with help from chromium.

Supports glucose metabolism

While it is fairly unknown that chromium affects the desire for high-fat foods, earlier studies have linked the nutrient to a decreased craving for sweets and sugary foods in general. The human body uses chromium to convey sugar from the bloodstream to the cells where it is processed to make energy. A Czech study from the University of Plzen, which was published a few years ago, showed how chromium supplements given to type-2 diabetics improved their glucose clearance and several other diabetes markers.

Useful for weight management

The new study is conducted by researchers from Pennington Biomedical Research Centre at Louisiana State University, and the University of Florida, and includes 42 healthy, non-smoking, overweight women with self-confessed carbohydrate cravings. The women were randomly assigned to either 1,000 micrograms of chromium, or placebo for eight weeks. Their food intake at breakfast, lunch, and dinner was measured at the beginning of the study, after one week, and finally after eight weeks. Besides a significantly reduced food intake and lower cravings for fat and sugar in the chromium group, a slight weight reduction was noted. In comparison, women in the placebo group had gained weight during the eight-week period.

Source:  Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics October 2008, Volume 10, Issue 5, Pages 405-412

Chromium helps you stay off the sugar
Many people have a craving for sweets and sugary foods and find, for the same reason, that it is difficult to manage their weight. Being chromium-deficient may explain their insatiable desire for sugar, as the body needs chromium to convey sugar from the bloodstream to the cells of the body, where sugar is converted into energy. If you lack chromium, an essential trace element found in brewer's yeast, organ meats, mushrooms, nuts and shellfish, sugar (glucose) tends to pile up in the blood instead of reaching the cells.

When too little sugar reaches the cells, your energy levels drop, causing symptoms like fatigue, irritability plus an overwhelming urge for a quick "carbohydrate fix" in the form of sugar. This constant feeding on sugar will of course contribute to an existing weight problem.

A natural solution is to take a supplement with organic chromium such as Bio-Chromium and make sure the body's chromium requirement is taken care of.

Diabetics could benefit from chromium tablets
According to research carried out by scientists with the Charles University in Plzen, the Czech Republic, chromium supplementation may play a crucial role in the management of type-2 diabetes. "Chromium is known to improve metabolism and has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity about eight times," Professor Jaroslev Racek recently explained.

Heading the research, Racek and colleagues demonstrated in a study of 36 male and female type-2 diabetics, that those of the patients who were given 2 x 100 micrograms of organic chromium (ChromoPrecise®) for a period of three months lost 1.3 kilos on average, had reduced glucose levels (levels increased in the control group) and increased insulin sensitivity.

Besides reduced blood sugar levels the diabetics supplemented with chromium had lower levels of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is known to promote complications such as atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Source

Influence of chromium-enriched yeast on blood glucose and insulin variables, blood lipids, and markers of oxidative stress in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Racek J, Trefil L, Rajdl D, et al.

Although the design was not scientific in any way, a British study comparing pupils who were given fish oil capsules with others who were not ended up showing what previous research has demonstrated: it boosts mental performance.

Could fish oil be the future "brain booster" for school pupils? According to a recent British study, that seems to be the case. The study claimed that out of the more than 3,000 students that took part, close to one third showed significant improvements in GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education), a standard for assessing the academic qualifications of students aged 14-16 years. Although the science was ridiculed by an award-winning medical writer for being conducted in a non-scientific manner - which in essence is true, as there was no placebo group - the study does corroborate earlier research linking fish oil consumption to improved cognition.

No laughing matter
The study, which was carried out on pupils in County Durham in England under the surveillance of Dave Ford, from the Council's Children and Young People's Services Department, was labelled "laughably incompetent" and even called unethical, but the harsh reaction may be a bit out of proportion, as we are dealing with fish oil and not some synthetic drug.

The scientists matched students who showed improved test results to those of similar abilities and backgrounds, who did not take the supplements, and that way they found a positive link between fish oil intake and performance. What the scientists failed to do was to make similar analyses of those children who were not given supplements.

Basis for further trials
Interestingly, the critics of the study do not dismiss the fact that fish oil may have certain benefits in terms of mental performance. The only thing they object to is the way in which the research was carried out.

Lead researcher, Dave Ford, is quite positive about the whole thing and said that the study has produced some interesting and possibly exciting issues that could be the basis for future scientific trials. At least, fish oil supplements are extremely safe and have numerous health benefits, so compared with what school pupils are otherwise known to bring to exams for producing better scores - typically caffeine pills, energy drinks and various stimulants - a fish oil supplement definitely seems to be the better choice.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/health/3083228/Fish-oil-makes-children-smarter-study-claims.html

Increased intake of vitamin D from the diet and from sunlight may reduce the risk of breast cancer by over 20 per cent, says a new study.

The potential protective effects of the vitamin were not limited by the hormone receptor status of the tumours, according to research published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

"This study suggests that vitamin D is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer regardless of [oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive and progesterone-receptor (PR)] status of the tumour," wrote lead author Kristina Blackmore from Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Over one million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, with the highest incidences in the US and the Netherlands. China has the lowest incidence and mortality rate of the disease.

Hormone-sensitive oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive and progesterone-receptor (PR) positive tumours are said to be the most common type diagnosed among breast cancer patients in the US. These tumours are stimulated to grow by the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

Study details

"Few epidemiologic studies have considered the association between vitamin D and hormone-receptor-defined breast cancer," wrote Blackmore.

In order to start filling this knowledge gap, the Canadian researchers analysed the vitamin D intakes of 759 women with breast cancer, and compared this to the vitamin D intakes of 1,135 healthy controls.

Increased intakes of the vitamin were associated with a 24 per cent reduction in the risk of developing ER+ and PR+ tumours, said the researchers. Moreover, increased intakes were also associated with 26 and 21 per cent reductions in the risk of receptor-negative (ER-/PR-) and mixed receptor (ER+/PR-) tumours. However, these last two associations were not significant, said the researchers.

"Future studies with a larger number of receptor-negative and mixed tumours are required," they concluded.

D and the big C

The link between vitamin D intake and protection from cancer dates from the 1940s when Frank Apperly demonstrated a link between latitude and deaths from cancer, and suggested that sunlight gave "a relative cancer immunity".

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. Both D3 and D2 precursors are hydroxylated in the liver and kidneys to form 25- hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), the non-active 'storage' form, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), the biologically active form that is tightly controlled by the body.

There is growing evidence that 1,25(OH)2D has anticancer effects, but the discovery that non-kidney cells can also hydroxylate 25(OH)D had profound implications, implying that higher 25(OH)D levels could protect against cancer in the local sites.

The dietary supplements industry has been boosted by a Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) survey results that show 79 per cent of physicians and health care professionals recommend dietary supplements to their patients.

Bone, joint and heart health are among the main health conditions for which US health professionals recommend dietary supplements to patients.

Maintaining overall health and wellness and a healthy cholesterol level also figured highly in the survey that polled around 900 physicians and 300 registered nurses and nurse practitioners.

The results are informing CRN's consumer wellness campaign "Life...supplemented", for which consultant and CRN ex-president Annette Dickinson, Ph.D, filled in some of the gaps between the health conditions favoured by physicians and the dietary supplements commonly used in their treatment.

The physicians were not asked to recommend specific supplements in the poll that was conducted last October but for which data analysis is ongoing.

The top five conditions were:

Bone health 33% (of physicians recommending)
Overall health and wellness 32%
Joint health 29%
Heart health 26%
Maintain healthy cholesterol 22%

For each condition Dickinson highlighted various dietary supplements. These included: -

Bone health - Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Vitamin K and Vitamin C.

Overall health and wellness benefits - a Multivitamin with Minerals "is king", she said. Seventy two percent of physicians said it is a good idea for patients to take a multivitamin. Others included Omega-3 from Fish Oils, Vitamin D, and Antioxidants such as Green Tea and CoenzymeQ10.

Joint health - Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate. "There is a strong body of human clinical trials that supports the safe use of Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulphate, or their combination for significant and long-lasting decreases in joint pain and improvements in mobility," Dickinson said. About 21 million US adults have osteoarthritis.

Heart health - Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). "They reduce inflammation, reduce the tendency to form clots, decrease the likelihood of developing cardiac arrhythmia, and at high levels lower triglyceride levels," Dickinson observed.

Other options include Vitamin E and B Vitamins. Dickinson: "Observational studies suggest benefits for heart health from taking at least 200 IU of Vitamin E per day-an amount impossible to obtain from diet alone. And observational studies have shown that generous amounts of B vitamins, such as folic acid and Vitamins B6 and B12, can lower homocysteine, which may help prevent heart attacks, although that has not been borne out by recent clinical trials."

Maintain healthy cholesterol. Soluble fibre in foods and supplements, soy protein, phytosterols and stanol or sterol esters are highlighted.

Physician use
Of the 72% of physicians who say they use dietary supplements 87% used a Multivitamin, 78% use Vitamin C, 63% use B vitamins, 59% use Vitamin D, 58% use Vitamin E as well as Calcium.

Female physicians are more likely than male physicians to take single vitamins or mineral supplements (48% versus 35%). They also take more Calcium and Iron.

Male physicians are more likely to take Fish Oil (52% versus 34%). They are more likely to cite heart health and maintaining healthy cholesterol as reasons for taking dietary supplements. 27% of male physicians take supplements for heart health and maintaining healthy cholesterol (22%), while just 14% and 12% of female physicians do the same.

The research forms part of CRN's three-year public relations campaign, "Life...supplemented". CRN wants to encourage a perception that taking dietary supplements is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, in much the same way as it is widely accepted that exercise and a well-balanced diet are pillars of such a lifestyle.

A national campaign to persuade every Scot to take daily supplements of vitamin D is needed if the country's appalling health record is to be reversed, leading scientists believe.

A report, published this week, links poor weather to the lack of the "sunshine vitamin" in Scotland, and urges the Scottish government to launch a nationwide vitamin D programme to lower the incidence of devastating illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer and multiple sclerosis.

The research points to the country's damp, cloudy climate as a significant contributor to its bleak record of ill health and disease.

Vitamin D deficiency - caused by lack of exposure to sunshine - is twice as common among the Scots as it is among the English. The average Scot has a vitamin D level four times lower than their neighbour south of the Border.

A five-year research project by Oliver Gillie, a scientist and writer, demonstrates extensive and remarkable parallels between Scotland's dull weather and indices of disease.

It suggests that the "Scottish effect", the country's hitherto unexplained high mortality rate compared with other industrial countries, is in large part down to lack of sun. Crucially, a shortage of the "sunshine vitamin" is established as a factor in higher rates of multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, several types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and other ailments that together give Scotland one of the worst health records and highest premature mortality rates in Western Europe.

Dr Gillie's study - Scotland's Health Deficit: An Explanation and a Plan - echoes world-wide research on vitamin D deficiency but goes further, showing how the higher rates of disease in Scotland mirror closely the lower amount of available sunlight.

A lack of sunshine in Glasgow and the West of Scotland reflects levels of chronic illness that which cannot be explained by deprivation alone. A lack of sunshine on Orkney and Shetland - only 24 per cent of the maximum number of hours possible - corresponds to the highest prevalence of MS in the world.

By contrast, the South Coast of England, where such diseases are much less common, receives 400 more hours of sunshine a year than Scotland.

Dr Gillie says that successive reports on the state of Scotland's health have failed to recognise that insufficient sunlight and vitamin D are important risk factors, and calls for firm action from the Scottish government on supplementation and the fortification of food.

Last week The Times convened a panel of experts who studied the report and endorsed unanimously the importance of vitamin D as an important ingredient in creating a healthy Scottish population.

Dr Harry Burns, the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, said: "It is important that attempts to improve health in Scotland remain focused on action on the social, economic, behavioural and psychological determinants of health. If vitamin D supplements can be shown to contribute to that agenda then we will make the appropriate recommendations."

Dr Adrian Martineau from Queen Mary's School of Medicine, London, who is working on evidence that vitamin D can reduce cold and flu symptoms, said: "This is a very important initiative. What [Dr Gillie] has highlighted is that 85 per cent of us have lower Vitamin D levels than we should have and 85 per cent of our cells need vitamin D to function properly. It's highly plausible that supplementation would be of great benefit."

Scalpels are no better than physical therapy and painkillers, concludes a new study to be published in the New England Journal of Medicine. A more useful solution, however, is treatment with glucosamine sulphate.

Patients who suffer from knee pain caused by arthritis are no better off by choosing surgery over physiotherapy and painkillers, according to a new study to be published in The New England Journal of Medicine. 86 patients who had the operation did not experience improvements beyond those observed in 86 controls who received physical therapy and took medication to dampen the inflammation.

To add insult to injury, a 2002 study in which patients were assigned to either real knee surgery or a sham operation revealed that there was no difference between real and bogus surgery. This, needless to say, has caused a somewhat heated discussion among different groups of health professionals.

Glucosamine sulphate works

What seems to be a safer bet, however, is the use of glucosamine sulphate, a shellfish extract with a documented effect on knee osteoarthritis. Several studies comparing glucosamine sulphate with NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which are traditionally used to relieve joint pain, clearly show that glucosamine sulphate works every bit as effectively in relieving pain and improving joint functioning. In fact, there are studies that show a better effect of the cartilage-stimulating shellfish extract.

First-line treatment

The effect of glucosamine sulphate has turned out to be that convincing, leading rheumatologists recommend the remedy as first-line treatment for knee osteoarthritis.

Glucosamine is a building-block involved in the synthesis of joint cartilage. It supports the maintenance of healthy cartilage and has been shown to arrest further progression of the cartilage erosion, which is the underlying cause of the symptoms. Some studies suggest that it may even replace some of the deteriorated cartilage.

In order to work properly, glucosamine depends on the presence of sulphur. Glucosamine sulphate contains sulphur and is therefore the biologically active form of the substance.

Source:

The New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 359:1097-1107

A Randomized Trial of Arthroscopic Surgery for Osteoarthritis of the Knee  

In 1990, Pharma Nord was the first company to introduce coenzyme Q10 (in conventional oxidised form) into the European market. Now Pharma Nord has launched a new product, BioActive Q10, containing the reduced ubiquinol form of coenzyme Q10.

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring vitamin-like substance that plays a vital role in supplying energy to all cells within the body. Coenzyme Q10 is also important as a powerful antioxidant but as people age, the body becomes less able to maintain adequate Q10 levels from normal dietary sources. Lack of coenzyme Q10 is associated with tiredness and muscle weakness. Coenzyme Q10 occurs in two forms; oxidised (ubiquinone) and reduced (ubiquinol). The normal functioning of Q10 requires the inter-conversion of these forms within the body.

Until recently, coenzyme Q10 supplements were only available in the oxidised form, as ubiquinone. Most people are able to absorb supplemental Q10 in this form adequately. However, certain categories of people may be less able to absorb this form of Q10. These include the elderly, as well as people with liver disease, pancreatic disease, digestive disorders such as IBS, and following digestive tract surgery. For such categories of people, Q10 is more easily absorbed in the reduced (ubiquinol) form, as BioActive Q10.

Ubiquinol is extremely sensitive to the effects of air and light. BioActive Q10 contains ubiquinol in a stabilised form, using specially developed light-proof and air-proof packaging to prevent oxidation via a patented process unique to Pharma Nord. Pharma Nord is therefore able to guarantee the stability of this product during the whole of the product shelf life.

As with all Pharma Nord products, BioActive Q10 is produced to pharmaceutical standards, a guarantee of product quality, safety and efficacy. The production of Pharma Nord Q10 products is also guaranteed to be nanotechnology-free.

Large intakes of omega-3 fatty acids from fish may explain the low levels of heart disease in the land of the rising sun, says a new study.

A comparison of blood omega-3 levels and atherosclerosis among Japanese, white American and Japanese American men found that Japanese men had the lowest levels of atherosclerosis and two times higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids than white Americans or Japanese Americans.

The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, adds to an established body of science supporting the cardiovascular benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, first reported by Danish scientists in the early 1970s.

In addition to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, research has also linked omega-3 fatty acids to improved heart rhythms, and a reduced risk of a second heart attack.

"Our study suggests that very high levels of omega-3 fatty acids have strong properties that may help prevent the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries," said lead author Akira Sekikawa, from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

"Increasing fish intake to two times a week for healthy people is currently recommended in the U.S. Our study shows much higher intake of fish observed in the Japanese may have strong anti-atherogenic effect."

Study details

The population-based cross-sectional study examined data from 868 men aged between 40 and 49. Of these, 281 were born and living in Japan (Japanese), 306 were white men born and living in the US (white American), and 281 were Japanese men born and living in the US (Japanese-American).

Results showed that the Japanese men had the lowest atherosclerosis level - hardening of the arteries and a major risk factor for CVD - compared to their Japanese-American and white American counterparts, after accounting for potential confounding factors such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, cigarette smoking, body mass index and diabetes. 

Moreover, blood omega-3 levels were two-fold higher in Japanese men than the other two groups, report the researchers.

"Given the similar levels of atherosclerosis in Japanese Americans and white Americans, it also tells us that lower levels of heart disease among Japanese men are much more likely lifestyle related than a result of genetic differences," said Sekikawa.

To assess the risk of atherosclerosis, the researchers looked at the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery - a lower score indicating a reduced risk. As expected, Sekikawa and co-workers also report that increased omega-3 levels were associated with lower IMT scores.

Fish consumption among the Japanese is reportedly one of the highest in the world, with men consuming an average of 100 grams every day from early in life. On the other hand, Americans eat fish less than two times a week. 

"The Japanese eat a very high level of fish compared to other developed countries," said Sekikawa. "While we don't recommend Americans change their diets to eat fish at these quantities because of concerns about mercury levels in some fish, increasing intake of omega-3 fatty acids in the US could have a very substantial impact on heart disease."

The study was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

Pollution concerns

The risk of pollutants from oily fish, such a methyl mercury, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) have led to some to advocate a reduction in fresh fish intake, despite others advising that the benefits of fish consumption outweigh the risks.

Such conflicting views on fish intake have seen the number of omega-3 enriched or fortified products on the market increase as consumers seek omega-3s from 'safer' sources. Most extracted fish oil are molecularly distilled and steam deodorised to remove contaminants.

Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Volume 52, Pages 417-424, doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2008.03.047
"Marine-Derived n-3 Fatty Acids and Atherosclerosis in Japanese, Japanese-American, and White Men - A Cross-Sectional Study"
Authors: A. Sekikawa, J.D. Curb, H. Ueshima, et al. for the ERA JUMP (Electron-Beam Tomography, Risk Factor Assessment Among Japanese and U.S. Men in the Post-World War II Birth Cohort) Study Group

Recent research reports from consumer organisations or universities within the UK, Europe and the USA have highlighted the variability of the levels and biological effectiveness of the active ingredients found in different brands of nutritional supplements. A UK scientific study highlighted differences in antioxidant activity between Ginkgo Biloba supplements marketed by different manufacturers, with Pharma Nord's Bio-Biloba having the highest antioxidant level.

In a review of 32 coenzyme Q10 products marketed in the USA, several supplements were found on analysis to contain substantially less ingredient than stated on the product labelling, with one product not containing any active ingredient at all.....

All nutritional supplements marketed by Pharma Nord are produced to pharmaceutical standards, a guarantee of product quality and safety. All Pharma Nord products already conform to new EC regulations relating to nutritional supplement quality and safety, which became effective in 2005.

Dr D Mantle, Newcastle University

Recent research has shown that the levels of a number of important vitamins and minerals have substantially decreased since the 1940's; these include depletions in copper (76%), sodium (49%), calcium (46%), iron (27%), and magnesium (24%). The contect of zinc, an important element for normal immune function and male fertility, was depleted in vegetables by 57% in just a 13-year period from 1978.

Similarly it has been recognised that soils in many parts of the world, including the UK, are deficient in the essential trace element selenium. This deficiency is manifest upwards through the food chain, culminating in man.

Insufficient intake of selenium is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and immune disorders. Government estimates place the average selenium intake for the UK population to be approximatley 50% of their own recommended daily intake figure.

Dr D Mantle - Newcastle University

Interestingly, a report in the Guardian newspaper says that the mineral content of popular meats and milk has fallen over the last 60 years according to a recent analysis of the government records of compositions of everyday food.

The report claims that iron had dropped in everyday meats by up to 47%, (60% in milk),magnesium by up to 7% (21% in milk)and calcium by up to 2%.

One of the studies revealed that modern agricultural methods do not allow the soil to enrich itself.

Also important is that widely used fertilizers may not contain all the nutrients that humans and plants require. Evidence also suggests that the faster the grass grows the more diluted the uptake of elements. Clover, which is higher in nutrients than grass, is less prevalent today and as such cattle may have a different dietary intake. Other evidence suggests that analysis is far better today than sixty years ago which could possibly have an impact on some of the research validity.

If you work in the media, you may be interested in the press release regarding the new Multivits website.

Click here for more information.

You will have noticed that Multivits has changed significantly this week. The reason for this change is to make the site easier to use as well as giving you access to new features such as writing reviews on products, and better highlighting the benefits of each supplement.

We have listened to your concerns with regard to the old Multivits website and we understand that some of you had some problems with it. It is these sorts of issues that we hope the new site has addressed, making your experience of the site as user-friendly as possible.

As with the old site, the updated and refreshed Multivits is secure, so your details will be safe. Naturally, we’ll continue to offer excellent value as well as some offers exclusive to Multivits.

In the near future, we’ll be providing a series of tips on how to make the most of the new Multivits website, whether you’re wanting to find information on a particular product, add a review or check on the special offers.

In the meantime, if you have any comments, questions or concerns about the new website please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The supply of energy within the body is important on two levels.

At the most fundamental level, every cell within the body requires a constant supply of energy to survive and function - without this constant energy supply, the cells die.

At the second level, different tissues within the body may have particular energy requirements to function optimally- a good example is muscle tissue, which has an extremely high energy requirement during physical exertion. Without an adequate energy supply in such circumstances, individuals may feel tired and lacking motivation to undertake physical exercise.

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring, vitamin-like substance that plays a key role in the body’s energy supply process. Coenzyme Q10 is required to convert sugars and fats from food into energy, in the form of a specific molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

This process takes place in specialized structures within cells called mitochondria. Coenzyme Q10 is also important as an antioxidant, helping to protect tissues from the damaging effects of free radicals produced within the body.

Increasing Your Energy

Some coenzyme Q10 is manufactured within the body, with the remainder being obtained from the diet. As individuals age, the body is less able to maintain optimal levels of coenzyme Q10. In addition, coenzyme Q10 levels are depleted by lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption and smoking, as well as by physical exertion or illness.

Dietary supplementation can help to maintain optimal levels of coenzyme Q10 within the body. Coenzyme Q10 supplements can be effective for chronic fatigue, and may also improve athletic endurance. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation also helps to maintain healthy muscles and a healthy heart.

Types of Q10

It is important when choosing a coenzyme Q10 nutritional supplement to look for one manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, as this is a guarantee of the content of the supplement and ensures you get what you pay for. It is also best to look for Q10 in oil based capsule form, for better absorption by the body.

How much should you take?

Multivits stocks Pharma Nord Bio-Quinone Q10, which is a coenzyme Q10 product available in 30 milligram, 100 milligram, or 200 milligram amounts. The pack sizes range from 30 capsules up to 150 (offering a saving on the price).

Pharma Nord Bio-Quinone Q10 is manufactured to pharmaceutical standard, ensuring quality and consistency. Their Q10 product range is one of the most widely used and trusted on the market.

If you would like further information on Bio-Quinone Q10 or any other products offered on Multivits.co.uk please get in touch, we’ll be glad to help.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Multivits

PS: Look out for information in the near future regarding a new supplement from Pharma Nord – Bio-Active Q10.

Bio-Glandin 25 is a product containing borage oil (also known as Starflower oil).  Borage Oil is a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).  GLA is an essential omega-6 (may also be referred to as n-6) fatty acid.  GLA is also found in cell membranes where it acts as an essential component of prostaglandin E1.  This is a hormone type substance that is associated with immune response. 

Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin. It has a number of important functions such as protecting cell membranes by acting as an antioxidant. It may also have a benefit to the immune system.

Bio-E Vitamin (200IU) 60 caps £4.95

evelle Limited Edition is a box set containing two premium products, evelle tablets (60) and natural skin repair cream (40ml). evelle is a combination nutritional product specially formulated to maintain healthy skin, hair and nails. It contains Pycnogenol, vitamin E, selenium, biotin and other powerful antioxidants. These protect skin from damage by free radicals and help maintain the skin.

evelle Natural Skin Repair (40ml) is a unique formulation with natural antioxidants for optimising skin health and supporting the biological processes that rejuvenate skin cells. With natural ingredients of Pycnogenol, Acerola extract (natural Vitamin C), Avocado oil and more, this product is designed to support beauty and is optimised for use with evelle tablets.

Why should you take evelle?

evelle may help to maintain:

• Healthy looking skin, hair and nails
• Collagen levels in the skin
• The biological process that rejuvenate skin cells
• Is a natural, high quality product
• evelle tablets are backed by scientific research

EVELLE LIMITED EDITION £39.50

Contains:

1 x evelle 60 tablets (RRP £34.45)

1 x evelle Natural Skin Repair Cream 40ml (RRP £39.50)

YOU SAVE £34.45

If you have any questions on any of our offers or would like to request further information, please get in touch.

Wishing you health and happiness,

Multivits 

Dear customer,

Please be advised that, due to exceptionally high demand for this product, we only have available 30 capsule boxes of Omega 7 - limited to 1 per customer per order. This is however at a lower price-point of only £6.95.

We expect to have some stock in in the near future and will of course announce this as soon as it is available.

UPDATE: 22/04/08

Please be aware that Omega 7 is now available in 60 and 150 capsules as Multivits now has further stock of this excellent product.

Kind regards,

Multivits

At Multivits, there are a few things we recommend to make sure that you stay at your best. The following are simple lifestyle tips that should keep you feeling great.

• Five different servings of fruit and vegetables per day will give you access to your essential nutrients. If you’re in doubt that you’re receiving your full daily intake, you could always supplement with Bio-Vitamin C or Bio-Vitamin D3. Alternatively, for a good ‘nutrient base’, you could consider Bio-Multivitamin & Mineral.

• Foods lose vitamins and minerals when they are cooked so it is best to try and cook them in the healthiest way possible – steam or poach fish and vegetables and grill or bake meat. Remember, foods such as sardines and mackerel contain high levels of CoQ10 (the same as coenzyme Q10) (extremely important for the body’s energy supply), so if you don’t eat enough of these you may want to consider supplementing with Bio-Quinone Q10. CoQ10 is particularly important for maintaining the efficient functioning of the heart. Carnitine is an amino acid-like substance that is mainly obtained from meat. This is important in the metabolism of fat and for energy production in the body. Vegetarians and those with a high-energy output (such as athletes) may consider this supplement (such as Bio-Carnitine) as it acts in synergy with coenzyme Q10 in the metabolism of fatty acids during energy production.
• Fresh foods are very important to your diet – try to make sure you eat them as much as possible over their processed counterparts. Frozen vegetables can also count toward your five a day.

Beverages

• Too much caffeine can limit the absorption of vitamins and minerals such as iron, and it may also increase the excretion of the water-soluble vitamins through urine. Sugary drinks such as coke may also increase your calories without you realising.
• Alcohol can have a number of effects including dehydrating your body and making you feel poorly after one-too-many. Try to limit your intake and drink a non-alcoholic beverage between drinks.
• A good way to boost your intake of nutrients is with a smoothie or fruit drink. Look out for those with added sugar or very little fruit content however.

Breakfast

• There are a number of ways in which to start the day in a healthy way, but why not try some wholemeal cereal (or porridge) with fresh fruit. This will give you complex carbohydrates to boost your energy through the morning and provide some of your daily intake of vitamins and minerals.
• Fresh fruit juice at breakfast can also help with your five-a-day.

Lunch

• If you make sandwiches for lunch, try to use wholegrain or seeded bread – this will give you more fibre, iron and complex carbohydrates than white bread.
• Limiting fats such as butter will help to keep your cholesterol levels in check.
• Lean cuts of meat such as tuna or salmon go very well with a fresh salad for vitamins, minerals and iron.

Snacks

• A boiled egg will give you the benefit of carbohydrates and protein, along with iron and vitamins A and B.
• A small pack of unsalted nuts will be a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium (which may be deficient in UK soil) and vitamins B and E.
• Various seeds (including sunflower and sesame) can provide extra vitamin E.
• Raw vegetables such as pepper and carrot contain beta-carotene – a precursor to vitamin A.
• Dried fruit can contain vitamin B, iron, magnesium and calcium

Dinner

• A lean cut of meat will provide a good source of protein as part of a meal.
• Including two vegetables (such as carrots and spinach) should make a meal more wholesome
• Potatoes can be substituted for complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, pulses or even lentils

Overall, there are a wide variety of options for a healthy diet that don’t necessarily leave you resorting to ‘rabbit food’ that may taste unappealing. If you try just a few of the above you should find it a wholesome, filling way to add nutrients to your diet. Of course, Multivits has a wide variety of nutritional supplements and we are here to help.

Simply give us a call on 01670 534900 for information on any of our products.

Regards,

Multivits