Nutraceuticals research.

Nutraceutical: Antioxidants

Indication: Lung and prostate cancers

Source: Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 2003;2003:518-526.

Research: Researchers analyzed data from the Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET). They focused on blood samples from 278 subjects with lung cancer, 205 subjects with prostate cancer and 483 matched subjects without cancer. They analyzed blood levels of several carotenoids, including vitamin A and vitamin E (alpha and gamma tocopherols), then identified correlations between those levels and the risk of lung and prostate cancer.

Results: In the overall population, the highest intakes of lutein, zeaxanthin and alpha-tocopherol were associated with a significantly lower risk of lung cancer. Women with the highest blood levels of lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin had the lowest risk of developing lung cancer. The risk reduction associated with these nutrients was 69% for lutein and zeaxanthin and 66% for beta-cryptoxanthin. Men with the highest blood levels of alpha-tocopheral were 41% less likely to develop prostate cancer.

Nutraceutical: B vitamins

Indication: Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Source: J Nutr, September 2003;133:2863-2867.

Research: PAD causes morbidity and is associated with mortality. B vitamin intake has been inversely associated with coronary heart disease, but the effects on PAD are not known. Researchers examined prospectively the relationships between dietary folate, vitamin B6 and B12 and PAD risk in 51,529 male U.S. health professionals aged 40 to 75 years old, who answered a detailed 131-item questionnaire to assess diet and vitamin supplement use. The study population consisted of 46,036 men free of PAD, cardiovascular disease and diabetes at baseline.

Results: The participants were followed up for 12 years during which researchers documented 308 incident PAD cases. For every 400 [micro]g per day increment of folate intake, the multivariate adjusted PAD risk decreased by 21%. Men in the top category of folate intake (median = 840 [micro]g) were at 33% lower risk of PAD than men in the bottom category (median = 244 [micro]g) after multivariate adjustment. There were weak inverse associations between intake of vitamin B6 and PAD risk and B12. According to researchers, the study results suggest that higher consumption of folate may contribute to the prevention of PAD.

Nutraceutical: B vitamins

Indication: Homocysteine levels (in elderly women)

Source: Am J Clin Nutr, 2003;78(4):765-772.

Research: Prior investigations have found that elderly persons are at higher risk than are younger persons for B vitamin deficiency, which leads to elevated plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations, which are associated with an increased risk for certain diseases such as coronary artery disease. To date, published data have shown decreased vitamin status and elevated tHcy among the elderly. Taking this into consideration, researchers examined the dietary intake and blood status of various B vitamins and homocysteine and methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations in 178 women aged 60-70 years old.

Results: According to researchers, indexes of thiamine, pyridoxine and cobalamin indicated insufficient status in one-third of the women, whereas tHcy and MMA concentrations were elevated in approximately 17% and 10% of the women, respectively. An association between vitamin intake and vitamin concentration in the blood was found only for folate. The mean tHcy concentration in subjects in the lowest quartile of serum folate concentration was 23% higher than that in subjects in the highest quartile. There was no association between riboflavin and tHcy concentrations. MMA was positively correlated with age and inversely correlated with serum cobalamin concentration. Researchers concluded that even in younger, well educated, female seniors the prevalence of low B vitamin status and elevated plasma tHcy concentration is high. As a result, they said thiamine, pyridoxine, folate and cobalamin supplementation should be considered.

Nutraceutical: Multivitamins

Indication: Heart attack

Source: J Nutr, 2003;133:2650-2654.

Research: Researchers investigated whether taking low-dose multivitamin supplements reduced the risk of heart attacks. They studied 1296 Swedish men and women who had survived a heart attack and 1685 control subjects who had never suffered a heart attack. Subjects ranged in age from 45 to 75 years old. Of the people taking supplements, the majority (80%) took multivitamins rather than individual vitamins. Although the multivitamin supplements varied, they generally contained low dosages of vitamin C, E and B complex vitamins and the mineral selenium. Also, this population consumed relatively few fruits and vegetables and did not eat any foods fortified with folic acid, factors that increased the overall risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Overall, 42% of the women and 27% of the men who had suffered a heart attack had used dietary supplements compared to 57% of the women and 35% of the men in the control group.

Results: Participants in the study who took multivitamin supplements were less likely to experience a heart attack compared with those who did not. Regular use of a multivitamin was associated with a 34% reduction in heart attack risk in women and 21% in men.

Nutraceutical: SoyLife[R]

Indication: Bone loss in postmenopausal women

Source: J Clin Endocrinol Metabolism, 2003;88:4740-4747.

Research: Researchers preformed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study for one year on 203 Chinese postmenopausal women between the ages of 48-62 years old. The women received either one of two isoflavone dosages (40 or 80 mg aglycones daily) or a placebo (corn starch). In addition, all women were given 500 mg of calcium and 125 IU of vitamin D3. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral concentration (BMC) of the whole body, lumbar spine and hip were measured at baseline and after one year of treatment.

Results: Analysis showed that women taking the high-dose isoflavone treatment (80 rag) had a significant favorable change rate in BMC at total hip and the trochanter and intertrochanter, compared to placebo. This effect was independent of calcium and vitamin D3. An increase of 1 mg of isoflavones per day was associated with a yearly increase of .018-.028% of BMC at these bone sites. The researchers concluded that isoflavones have a mild, but statistically significant effect on the maintenance of BMC in the hip in postmenopausal women with low initial bone mass.

Nutraceutical: Magnesium

Indication: Coronary heart disease (CHD)

Source: Am J Cardiol, 2003;92(6):665-669.

Research: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dietary magnesium intake and the future risk of CHD. Reported findings are based on dietary magnesium intake in 7172 men in the Honolulu Heart Program. Intake of magnesium was recorded at baseline examinations, which took place from 1965 to 1968 when the men were aged 45 to 68 years.

Results: In 30 years of follow-up, 1431 incident cases of CHD were identified. Within 15 years after dietary assessment, the age-adjusted incidence decreased significantly from 7.3 to 4.0 per 1000 person-years in the lowest (50.3 to 186 mg/day) versus highest (340 to 1183 lag/day) quintiles of magnesium intake. When adjustments were made for age and other nutrients (singly or combined), there was a 1.7- to 2.1-fold excess in the risk of CHD in the lowest versus highest quintiles. The excess risk ranged from 1.5- to 1.8-fold after further adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors. Associations between dietary magnesium and coronary events occurring after 15 years of follow-up were modest. Researchers concluded that the intake of dietary magnesium is associated with a reduced risk of CHD. Whether increases in dietary magnesium intake can alter the future risk of disease, however, warrants further study.

Nutraceutical Vitamin E and beta-carotene

Indication: Diabetes

Source: Am J Clin Nutr, 2003;77:1434-1441.

Research: Researchers studied 81 men and 101 women who were close relatives of people with type 2 diabetes. Although the subjects were not diabetic, they were considered at increased risk of eventually developing diabetes. Their levels of antioxidants were assessed by dietary intake of blood levels of vitamin E and carotenoids.

Results: In men, higher dietary intake of mixed carotenoids (alpha- and beta-carotene and lycopene) was associated with lower fasting glucose levels. Their blood levels of beta-carotene were associated with a lower risk of insulin resistance, a prediabetic sign. In women, higher dietary vitamin E intake was associated with lower fasting glucose levels.

NCCAM Develops New Research Partnerships

The national Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), Bethesda, MD, has initiated funding for the three new research program to investigate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). This will take shape through the Development Centers for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (DCRC), the Centers of Excellence for Research on complementary and alternative medicine and Planning Grants for International Center for Research on CAM (PICRC). Each program has awarded funding to various universities and institutions worldwide to further research in the area of CAM.

The purpose of the DCRC is to increase the level and quality of CAM research by assisting CAM institutions, researchers and practitioners in conducting high-quality research; promote research expertise and infrastructure within the CAM community and support enhanced communication and partnerships between CAM and conventional medical research institutions, so that established researchers will gain the clinical and cultural perspectives needed to undertake CAM research.

The impetus behind the Centers of Excellence for Research on CAM is to bring the highest level of scientific rigor to research and effectiveness. These centers will help address this critical public health nee."

Lastly, NCCAM has created PICRC to establish global collaborations and cross-cultural exchange among foreign and U.S. institutions to design and implement research on CAM approaches that have emerged from traditional, indigenous medical systems. These partnerships, NCCAH said, will allow investigators to conduct, research in the unique environments in which the practices originated. In total, NCCAM is funding almost $19 million for 14 projects. The research projects are investigating a variety of practices as well as supplements, from the safety and efficacy of acupuncture to the mechanisms of antioxidants.