Tag Archives: study

Ingestion of only five grams of fish oil daily combined with a diet low in fat is in just 4-6 weeks able to reduce the growth of prostate cancer cells compared with the ingestion of a traditional Western diet, says new study.

Researchers from the University of California (UCLA) wanted to investigate whether a change in dietary fat and the ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 in the diet alter biomarkers for cancer. Biomarkers are biological substances and constituents of our body that can say something about our health.

The study included a group of 55 men diagnosed with prostate cancer who were about to have removed their prostate gland and some surrounding tissue. It was a so-called phase II study which evaluates the biological effects of a substance and possible side effects. 48 men completed the study.

The ratio between omega 6 and omega 3
The men were divided into two groups for 4-6 weeks before their planned surgery. They were given either a standardized Western diet or a diet low in fat with a daily supplement of 5 g of fish oil. The reason that fish oil supplementation was combined with a low fat diet was that you in this way achieved an omega 6/3-ratio of 2:1, meaning two parts omega 6 for each part omega 3 For comparison, a typical Western diet have an omega 6/3-ratio of 15:1, (15 parts omega 6 for each part omega 3). There were 21 people who completed the trial in the Western diet group and 27 who completed the low fat / fish oil diet.

Quick results
In the group who ate a low-fat diet combined with fish oil the content of omega-3 fatty acids in cell membranes of the prostate was significantly higher than in the group who ate the Western diet. This was true both for the sick and the healthy prostate cells. Omega-6-content was also lower. The content of cholesterol in the blood were lower than in the group on Western diet, but particularly interesting it turned out that cancer cells had reduced their cell division – and mind you in just one month.

This study is especially important for those who have been previously treated for prostate cancer. With this knowledge they can reduce their risk of relapse.

Ref. Aronsom WJ, et al. Phase II Prospective Randomized Trial of a Low-Fat Diet with Fish Oil Supplementation in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2011, Oct. [Epub ahead of print]

Facts about prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. Most men with prostate cancer are over 65 years. Overweight and obesity provides an increased risk. The risk that the cancer returns after treatment is quite high. A high antioxidant intake may further reduce the risk for the development and return of this kind of cancer.

About omega 6:3
A dietary ingestion of omega 6 and 3-fatty acids approaching 2:1 is important to reduce disease-promoting inflammation in the body.

About Movember
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. Marketing coordinator Thomas Laursen-Arons, Pharma Nord Denmark whose image decorates this article is not suffering from any illness but has decided to grow a moustache this November to raise funds for men’s health, and especially when it comes to prostate cancer. You can read more on the website: movember.com

Vitamin D in oil has better absorption

Supplements with vitamin D in oil are absorbed more easily by the body than those in powder or ethanol form, according to American researchers. The Bio-Vitamin D3 800IU  D-Pearls supplement from Pharma Nord uses oil for this exact reason.

More and more people are taking a daily supplement of vitamin D, a nutrient that is touted for its huge impact on human health. They may be doing themselves a favour by choosing a supplement with vitamin D in oil, as this appears to increase the absorption of the vitamin.

Better absorption in oil
According to American scientists who have reviewed four clinical studies of different vitamin D formulations, supplements that use oil as a transport vehicle have better bio-availability than products that use powder or ethanol. Their research is published ahead of print in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research.

Tiny capsules of vitamin D
Bio-Vitamin D3 800IU from Pharma Nord contains 20 micrograms of biologically active D3-vitamin in cold-pressed olive oil in soft gelatine capsules.  RRP £6.95 for 120 caps.  Blister-packed for quality and bio-availability.

Source: Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, April 2010.

Taking supplements of Ubiquinol, the active form of coenzyme Q10, significantly reduces plaque adhesion and bleeding gums, a Japanese study shows.

Japanese researchers from Nihon University School of Dentistry confirmed the effects of Ubiquinol, the reduced form of coenzyme Q10, in improving oral health in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ubiquinol is commonly known as active Q10, since this form of the substance is the one used in the energy production of the cells (ATP).

Forty five volunteers with mild to middle degree of periodontal disease (37 men, 8 women, average age: 39.4 years old) were given ubiquinol (150 mg/day) or placebo for 2 months. Plaque adhesion, pocket depth, bleeding, gingival recession, foul breath and antioxidative activity in saliva were examined before and after one and two months of supplementation.

As a result, after two months of supplementation, statistically significant improvements in plaque adhesion and bleeding by probing were observed in the ubiquinol group. A tendency to increase saliva antioxidant activity was also observed in the ubiquinol group and the members of this group also had less foul breath.

Ref.  The results were presented at “The 63rd Meeting of the Vitamin Society of Japan” held in Hiroshima on June 4th and 5th, 2011.

What is peridontal disease?
Periodontal disease (pyorrhea alveolaris) is an inflammatory disease caused by periodontal bacteria living in plaque, and it is known that oxidative stress in saliva is increased by periodontal disease. The degree of periodontal disease is evaluated by measuring periodontal pocket depth, bleeding, gingival recession, foul breath, etc.

Q10 facts
Coenzyme Q10 is a vital component in th energy production of the cells. There are two forms of coenzyme Q10 – oxidized coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) and reduced (ubiquinol) coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 is converted from one form to the other inside the body. The active form is available as BioActive Q10 Uniquinol.

Coenzyme Q10 is found in food, but the human body is also able to synthesize it.
Our endogenous coenzyme Q10 synthesis declines from our mid-twenties
A study showed that 65% of those who were unable to feel the effect of using ubiquinone observed an effect when they shifted to ubiquinol.

A study of 386 Swedish adolescents aged 15-years suggests that a high intake of folic acid improves young people’s achievement in school. The result is independent of socioeconomic status.

The background for the study is that we are vulnerable to high levels of the harmful substance homocysteine in the blood, which among others can lead to reduced cognitive functions. Homocysteine is produced in the body as a result of the normal metabolism, but if we get enough vitamin B2, B6, B12 and in particular of folic acid, homocysteine will be transformed into healthy amino acids.

In the study the levels of homocysteine in the blood of the young people were measured, and dietary levels of folate were assessed using interviews. The young people’s academic performance after nine years of schooling were measured on ten subjects. Details of current health status, lifestyle, including smoking and familial, educational and economic status was collected using a questionnaire.

Results
Girls and boys were statistically analysed separately. The girls showed better academic results than boys but this is attributed to the teaching method being better suited for girls. The boys had, despite a higher intake of folate also higher homocysteine levels than girls.

Smoking did not affect homocysteine levels, but as expected smokers did perform worse than non-smokers.

Having an educated mother gave a positive influence on student academic achievement, while mother’s income and father’s education did not affect the result. It also helped the result to go to a good school.

Important information
Overall, the results show that students’ academic performance was significantly better with low homocysteine in the blood and a high intake of folic acid. Both students and their parents should know about this research result, which is also worthwhile to include in the debate about school meal provisions.

Ref
Nilsson TK, et al. High Folate Intake Is Related to Better Academic Achievement in Adolescents svensk. Pedriatrics the 2011th E-pub ahead of print.

About Folic Acid

The B vitamin Folic acid may also be called folate. Folic acid is a fragile vitamin, easily destroyed by light and heat. In the diet folic acids is found in green vegetables, some fruit, in beans, nuts, almonds, whole grains and meat and fish. The vitamin is probably best known for its ability to prevent congenital malformations of the brain and spinal cord of expectant mothers.

EFSA
is the EU agency for food safety. They are very critical concerning what can be achieved by using dietary supplements such that folic acid. Yet they recognize that folic acid is important for normal metabolism of homocysteine in the body, for our mental functioning, for normal cell division in the body, for a normal pregnancy, for our immune system, for normal blood formation and the formation of amino acids in the body and not least that it can help to reduce fatigue and exhaustion.

Good sources of folic acid from Pharma Nord

• Bio-Multi Pharma Nord includes a complex of B vitamins including 200 micrograms of folic acid.
• Bio-Marine Plus. Two capsules daily provide 200 mg folic acid and also the essential omega-3     fatty acids, which also benefits the brain function.

Products from Pharma Nord are manufactured to the highest standards for tablet and capsule production and comes in hygienic blister pack.