J Nutrition Dec, 2009 –– SUMMARY – See this, longer synopses, and links to published articles at http://campus.beloit.edu/nutrition/aln/1209jnutr. Coming in your email soon: my recently accepted peer-reviewed scientific paper reviewing many scientific studies about the health benefits of taking 500 mg of vitamin C twice a day.
Fish and fish oil are not perfect, but have great health benefits –
1. Tremendous benefits of fish oil are measured
2. Most people need more fish and less 4-legged meat and dairy in their diets
3. In this study fish oil did not prevent cognitive decline
Nutrition is key to health of you and your offspring
4 . Soy protects your heart
5. SAMe and folate deficiency promote obesity
6. Inflammatory index is developed for diet and lifestyle – Tables show what is beneficial and hazardous
7. How diet regulates DNA of you and your offspring – For instance, compounds in cruciferous vegetables kill cancer cells. All 4 presentations were videotaped and can be viewed online (www.nutrition.org)
SYNOPSES OF ARTICLES THIS MONTH
1. Tremendous benefits of fish oil measured – Obesity is often associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension. Together, these metabolic perturbations greatly increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes…Taken together, our data suggest that fish oil reduces hepatic steatosis in both lean and obese mice, has potent plasma lipid lowering effects in lean mice, and exerts insulin sensitizing effects in obese mice.
2. Most people need more fish and less 4-legged meat and dairy in their diets – Ratio of (n-6):(n-3) [Omega-6 to Omega-3] fatty acids (essentially 4-legged animal products to fish) in the diet is too high. Pregnant women require more than 101 g fish/week or fish oil to avoid distorted dietary (n-6):(n-3) fatty acid balance. Major changes in the availability, cost, or acceptance of fish are needed.
3. Study where fish oil did not prevent cognitive decline – While there are lots of studies indicating fish oil prevents age-related cognitive decline, this one is an exception. Longitudinal analyses, over 6 y of follow-up, also did not show any significant associations between fatty fish or (n-3) PUFA intake and cognitive change. Why this study of 68 year old veterans is different is unclear, though the authors claim they used more precise testing methods.
4. Soy protects your heart – Obesity is an epidemic condition strongly associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality…Thus, soy protein consumption may be considered as a dietary therapeutic approach for lipotoxic cardiomyopathy prevention.
5. SAMe and folate deficiency promote obesity – B vitamin deficiencies lead to moderate hyperhomocysteinemia, which has been associated with health and disease. However, concomitant derangements in cellular methylation, reflected by altered plasma S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) or S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) concentrations, may be the primary cause.
6. Inflammatory index developed for diet and lifestyle – Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is an excellent marker of inflammation. Most people currently have high levels of CRP under normal dietary and behavioral conditions, causing cancer and cardiovascular disease. The results of this study are consistent with the ability of the Inflammatory Index to predict hs-CRP and provide additional evidence that diet plays a role in the regulation of inflammation, even after careful control of a wide variety of potential confounders. Tables 2 and 3 reflect dietary and personal characteristics affecting the index. For instance, energy, carbohydrate, fat, and vitamin A raise hazardous score, garlic, fiber, and alcohol lower it.
7. How diet regulates DNA of you and your offspring – Symposium on Nutritients and Epigenetic Regulation of Gene Expression – The goal of this symposium was to highlight the interactions among nutrients, epigenetics, and disease susceptibility. The symposium featured 4 speakers, each presenting novel insights into mechanisms by which nutrients participate in gene regulation…especially biotin, niacin, folate, and bioactive foods. They explored the interrelationships among 1-carbon metabolism, DNA methylation, gene silencing, and their influence in the etiology of folate- and other DNA expression-related pathologies. For instance, compounds in cruciferous vegetables kill cancer cells. All 4 presentations were videotaped and can be viewed online (www.nutrition.org).
*To review the disclaimer. *To ask Nutrition Investigator (Roc) a question.
The more power you give away, the more you gain…the most powerful leaders are those who give up leadership opportunities and are selfless in their title and rank. – Dick Couto KNFP3
