In the News: CoQ10 Linked to Better Liver Enzyme Levels

 Ultraprocessed foods boost cancer risk; CoQ10 improves liver enzyme levels; glucosamine reduces risk of vascular dementia; higher B12 levels linked to lower inflammation.

Scientifically reviewed by Amanda Martin, DC, in March 2024.

Eating Ultraprocessed Foods Increases Risk of Cancer and Other Diseases

A review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials concluded that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was significantly associated with better, reduced levels of the liver enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT).* These enzymes are often elevated in people with liver disorders.

The researchers analyzed the find- ings of 15 randomized, controlled trials that administered CoQ10 and reported changes in liver enzymes.

Participants included a total of 712 men and women with conditions such as coronary heart disease, type I or type II diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or elevated lipids.

CoQ10 supplemented participants had beneficial reductions in elevated liver enzymes.

Editor’s Note: Coenzyme Q10 doses ranged from 100 to 400 mg per day consumed for two to 24 weeks.

* Food Sci Nutr. 2023 Jun 7;11(9):4912-4925.

Higher B12 Levels Associated with Less Inflammation

Researchers uncovered a link between higher serum vitamin B12 levels and lower levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which increase during inflammation.*

The study utilized data from a sub- group of 136 participants in the PREDIMED trial who had available data concerning their serum con- centrations of vitamin B12 and CRP, and plasma IL-6. The PREDIMED trial was designed to evaluate the relationship between consuming a Mediterranean diet and cardiovas- cular disease prevention.

Men and women who had higher vitamin B12 levels had lower con- centrations of CRP and IL-6. Similar findings were obtained when the researchers measured these factors in aged mice.

Editor's Note: "Since chronic inflammation is associated with a wide range of diseases, understanding how vitamin B12 status influ- ences inflammation could have significant implications for disease prevention and management," the authors noted.

* J Sci Food Agric. 2024 Jan 30;104(2): 875-882.

Glucosamine May Also be Beneficial Against Vascular Dementia

People with osteoarthritis who used glucosamine, a compound that supports joint health, were also at reduced risk of developing vascu- lar dementia, according to a study published in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy.*

Participants included 214,945 men and women in the UK Biobank, over the age of 60, who did not have dementia at baseline. Their question- naire responses provided informa- tion concerning regularly consumed nutrients. During a median 12-year follow-up, 1,039 individuals developed vascular dementia, 1,774 developed Alzheimer’s disease and 122 developed frontotemporal dementia.

Habitual use of glucosamine was associated with an 18% lower risk of vascular dementia compared with non-use. People who additionally consumed calcium had a 54% lower risk of vascular dementia than those who did not use glucosamine. No association was observed between glucosamine and the development of Alzheimer’s disease or frontotemporal dementia.

Editor’s Note: “If further confirmed, habitual glucosamine use may act as a dietary supplement for primary prevention of vascular dementia in the elderly,” the authors stated.

* Alzheimers Res Ther. 2023 Sep 9;15(1):152.

Eating Ultraprocessed Foods Increases Risk of Cancer and Other Diseases

Consuming ultraprocessed food increases the risk of cancers of the upper digestive tract, which includes mouth, throat, and esophageal cancers, according to a study published recently in the European Journal of Nutrition1 and reported on by CNN and other news media.

Ultraprocessed foods include soda, chips, instant soups, cookies, ice cream, cereal bars, and many others that include ingredients you wouldn’t use in a regular kitchen.

These additives are designed to resist mold and bacteria and to keep ingredients from separating. They also include bulking and bleaching agents, artificial dyes, or added salt and sugar to make the product more appealing.

Participants included 450,111 adults in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. They were recruited from 1992 to 1999 from 10 different European countries and the United Kingdom.

Results showed that people who consumed just 10% more ultra- processed foods than others in the study had a:

• 23% higher risk of head and neck cancers, and a
• 24% increased risk of esopha- geal cancer.

These data were collected in the 1990s, when consumption of ultra-processed food was much lower than it is now, and so the link to health risks is even higher today.

Indeed, as of 2019, ultraprocessed food made up approximately 71% of the food supply in the United States.2

Many studies over the past two years have demonstrated the alarm- ing link between ultraprocessed foods and cancer and other serious health problems. Here are a few examples of the findings:

• Men who consume ultraprocessed food have a higher risk of colorectal cancer, heart disease, and early death.3
• For every 10% increase in ultraprocessed food, there is a 2% increase in developing any kind of cancer, and a 19% increased risk of ovarian cancer.4
• Eating higher amounts of ultra- processed animal foods and sweetened beverages increases the risk of having multiple chronic conditions like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.5
• Consuming more ultraprocessed foods is connected to depression in women.6
• Consuming about 20% of daily calories in ultraprocessed foods is linked to 28% increased risk of dementia.7

In the most recent study, researchers dug deeper to determine if excess weight accounted for the increased cancer risk.

Ultraprocessed foods are calorie dense and can contribute to obesity, and being obese or overweight is connected to an increased risk of 13 different types of cancer.

However, results showed that weight alone did not account for the increased cancer risk. Increased hip-to-weight ratio accounted for 5% of the 23% increased risk of head and neck cancer.

And increased body mass index (BMI) accounted for 13% of the 24% increased risk of esophageal cancer.

This indicates that factors other than obesity contribute to the increased cancer risk.

Editor’s Note: According to a large number of recent studies, ultraprocessed foods are associated with an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, dementia, and more.

References

1. Eur J Nutr. 2023 Nov 22.
2. Nutrients. 2019 Jul 24;11(8).
3. BMJ. 2022;378:e068921.
4. EClinicalMedicine. 2023 Feb;56:101840.
5. The Lancet Regional Health.2023;0(0):100771.
6. JAMA Netw Open. 2023 Sep 5;6(9):e2334770.
7. JAMA Neurol. 2023 Feb 1;80(2):142-50.

https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2024/3/coq10-linked-to-better-liver-enzyme-levels-in-the-news

World's leading cause of blindness could be treated with a new fish oil pill, study claims

 A fish oil supplement may hold the key to treating one of the world's leading cause of blindness, a study suggests.

• Researchers developed a new kind of omega-3 fatty acid able to reach the retina
• The supplement increased DHA in mice subjects’ retinas, reducing vision harms
• Omega-3s, commonly found in fish oils, benefit cognition, vision and stiff joints  

By CASSIDY MORRISON SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

UPDATED: 23:43 BST, 27 March 2023

A fish oil supplement may hold the key to treating one of the world's leading cause of blindness, a study suggests.

Researchers have created a new form of omega-3 fatty acid that is capable of crossing into the eye’s retina to ward off vision loss related to Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and other diseases.

In a study on mice, the supplement was able to first be absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream and then cross from the bloodstream into the retina. This prevented age related macular degeneration (AMD).

The mice that were fed the new type of supplement showed nearly 100 percent improvement after six months in the amount of crucial omega-3 known as DHA in their retinas. 

The lab-made version of the omega-3 known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was able to be absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream and then cross from the bloodstream into the retina, unlike the type that makes up common fish oil supplements currently on the market. 

The omega-3 the team developed could be packaged in a dietary supplement much like the ones that line pharmacy shelves, potentially helping more than 20 million Americans with vision problems liked to aging and diabetes

Scientists have been investigating for years whether dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids can slow vision loss, primarily AMD, a common cause of severe vision loss in older people.

There are currently no treatments for AMD, and doctors will be relegated to provide elderly patients with glasses or other vision aids.

The substance, commonly found in fish and krill oil supplements typically comes in a form called triacylglycerol (TAG) DHA which cannot travel from the bloodstream into the retina.

Professor Sugasini Dhavamani in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago and lead author of the report said: ‘Dietary LPC-DHA is enormously superior to TAG-DHA in enriching retinal DHA and could be potentially beneficial for various retinopathies in patients.’

‘This approach provides a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention or mitigation of retinal dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.’

Studies of the specific omega 3 acid in humans have yet to begin. But the promising early results suggest that more than 23 million people – the total number of Americans with either retinopathy linked to diabetes or age-related macular degeneration – could benefit from a newly formulated dietary supplement.

People with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as those with diabetes, a group of rare eye diseases called retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and peroxisomal disorders that affect the metabolism often have abnormally low levels of retinal DHA, resulting in visual impairments.

While omega-3s come in supplement form, they are also found naturally in many foods including salmon and other fish, leafy vegetables, wholewheat bread and walnuts. 

The researchers tested their LPC-DHA supplement in mice bred to exhibit processes similar to those found in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. 

After six months, mice that were fed LPC-DHA daily showed a 96 percent improvement in retinal DHA content as well as preserved retinal structure and function. 

Meanwhile, TAG-DHA supplements had no effect on retinal DHA levels or function. 

In healthy eyes, DHA is concentrated in the retina, where it helps maintain photoreceptors, the cells that convert light into signals that are sent to the brain. Healthy levels of DHA in the retinas protect against damage from bright light exposure and oxidative stress.

Recent research has also shown that people with a higher blood DHA level have higher protection against Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Professor Dhavamani said: ‘Increasing the retinal DHA at clinically feasible doses has not been possible until now because of the specificity of the blood–retinal barrier that is incompatible with the specificity of the intestinal barrier.

‘This study uses the novel approach of dietary LPC-DHA that overcomes both intestinal and blood–retinal barriers and improves retinal function.’

The dosage of their LPC-DHA was equivalent to about 250 to 500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids per day in humans, roughly the same range recommended by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.

The researchers, who will present their findings this week at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, said that further studies would be needed to confirm that LPC-DHA is safe and effective for use in humans.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11908715/Worlds-leading-cause-blindness-treated-new-fish-oil-pill-study-claims.html

Omega-3s have been shown to boost brain power in children, reduce inflammation of the arteries which can lead to heart attacks, and strengthen the part of the brain responsible for memory and protect against dementia, among other positive claims.  

This doctor reversed heart disease. Now he wants to do it for Alzheimer's

By Sandee LaMotte, CNN

Updated 0704 GMT (1504 HKT) July 30, 2022

 https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/30/health/dean-ornish-lifestyle-study-alzheimers-wellness/index.html

Dr. Dean Ornish says intense lifestyle changes may be able to slow or reverse cognitive decline.

(CNN)In 1990, internal medicine specialist Dr. Dean Ornish did what no other doctor had been able to do: He published results of a randomized clinical trial that used advanced imagery scans to show coronary artery disease could be reversed with nothing more than diet, exercise, stress reduction and social support.

Long life comes from eating right, studies say. Here's how to begin

"I think our unique contribution has been to use these very high-tech, expensive, state-of-the-art scientific measures to prove how powerful these very low-tech and low-cost interventions can be," said Ornish, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

Today, Ornish is trying to do for the brain what he did for the heart. At his nonprofit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in California, he's using the same four lifestyle interventions to see if early-stage Alzheimer's can be "slowed, stopped or even reversed" without the use of drugs, devices or surgeries.

"What's good for your heart is good for your brain and vice versa," Ornish said. "Prior studies have shown moderate changes in lifestyle can slow the rate of progression of dementia and Alzheimer's. So, my hypothesis is that more intense lifestyle changes could stop or even reverse the decline."

Aggressive lifestyle changes

The original study on heart disease was small -- 28 people were in the experimental group Ornish then followed for five years. Some skeptics criticized the program for its small sample size and said there was no way people could remain on the program's stringent plant-based diet without supervision.

In the Ornish meal plan, no more than 10% of one's daily calories can come from fat. To accomplish that, all animal products besides egg whites and one cup of nonfat milk or yogurt each day are banned. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes are the basis of the diet, along with a few nuts and seeds. Refined carbohydrates, oils and excessive caffeine are avoided, but up to two cups a day of green tea are allowed.

"It's low-fat, but that's just a small part of the overall diet," Ornish said. "It's essentially a vegan diet, low in fat and sugar, eating foods as close as possible to nature."

Ornish's program includes walking or other aerobic exercise.

The program also includes an hour a day of yoga-based stress management using stretching, breathing, meditation and relaxation techniques. Strength training and walking or other aerobic exercise are required for 30 minutes a day or an hour three times a week. Smoking is not allowed.

"There are also support groups," Ornish told CNN, "not just helping people stay on the diet but creating a safe environment where people can let down their emotional defenses and talk openly and authentically about what's really going on in their lives, warts and all.

"That was the part that surprised me the most -- these support groups are really intimate," he added. "Sharing things like 'I may look like the perfect father, but my kids are on heroin,' or whatever. Even by Zoom, they're getting to the same level of intimacy within one or two sessions because there's such a hunger for that."

Ornish calls that part of his program "Love More." He answers skeptics who wonder why intimacy is such an integral part of a plan to reverse disease by pointing to studies on people who are lonely, depressed or isolated.

Those people are "three to 10 times more likely to get sick and die prematurely from pretty much everything" when compared with people who say they have a sense of love, connection and community, Ornish maintained.

"Why? In part because you're more likely to smoke, overeat, stop exercising and other unhealthy things when you're feeling lonely and depressed," Ornish said.

Impact on other chronic diseases

By 1993, insurance giant Mutual of Omaha began reimbursing policyholders for the cost of Ornish's program, making it the first alternative therapy besides chiropractic to win insurance reimbursement. Medicare began covering lifestyle interventions for heart disease in 2006.

Changing your diet could add up to 13 years to your life, study says

"And in October 2021 Medicare agreed to cover my reversing heart disease program when it's done via Zoom, which is really a game changer," Ornish said. "Now we can reach people at home, in rural areas and food deserts wherever they live, which will help reduce health inequities and health disparities."

In the last two decades, Ornish's research has shown the same four-part program can lower blood sugars and heart disease risk for patients with diabetes, reduce prostate cancer cell growth, improve depression within 12 weeks, reduce "bad cholesterol" by an average of 40%, and more.

"With all this interest in personalized medicine, just how is it that these same lifestyle changes stop, and often reverse, the progression of such a wide spectrum of the most common and costly chronic diseases?" Ornish asked.

"Because they all share the same underlying biological mechanisms: chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, changes in the microbiome, changes in gene expression, overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, changes in immune function and so on," he said.

"And in turn, each one of these is directly influenced by what we eat, how we respond to stress, how much exercise we get and how much love and support we have," Ornish said.

Those lifestyle improvements likely change the body at a cellular level, he said. A 2008 study found the Ornish program affected some 500 genes in the body via epigenetics, chemical reactions that can activate or dismantle how a gene is expressed.

"After just three months on the Ornish lifestyle program, the research found a number of genes that regulate or prevent disease are turned on, and genes that cause many of the mechanisms that cause all these different conditions are turned off," Ornish said.

How to use food to boost your immune system

"You're not technically changing your genes, but you're changing the expression of those genes with chemical switches, turning them on or off," he said. "So, that means it's no longer all in our genes, making us victims of our genetic fate. We're not victims. There's a lot we can do."

Ornish lifestyle interventions have also been shown to lengthen telomeres, the tips of chromosomes that control longevity and shorten as we age. Ornish did a 2013 pilot study with UC San Francisco biochemist Elizabeth Blackburn, who won the 2009 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for her work on telomeres.

"We found that telomerase, the enzyme that repairs and lengthens telomeres, increased by 30% after just three months on the program," Ornish said. "Then we found that people who had been on the program for five years had telomeres that were about 10% longer, a sign that aging is being reversed on the cellular level."

Will these same lifestyle interventions be enough to slow or even reverse cognitive decline in Alzheimer's and other dementias? Time will tell. Ornish's study is still underway, and while preliminary results appear promising, all the data must be gathered, analyzed and peer-reviewed before an outcome can be reported.

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"But I believe that it's not one diet and lifestyle intervention for heart disease, another for diabetes or prostate cancer, and yet a different one for Alzheimer's. It's really the same for all these different conditions," Ornish told CNN.

"To reverse the disease, you need to follow the interventions nearly 100%. If you're just trying to prevent disease, then the more you change, the more you improve. But what matters most is your overall way of eating, living and loving so that we can all die young as old as possible."

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/30/health/dean-ornish-lifestyle-study-alzheimers-wellness/index.html

Lacking Vitamin D Can Lead to Dementia, Says New Study

 Lacking This Vitamin Can Lead to Dementia, Says New Study

Your brain needs healthy habits too.

By Michael Martin 

Published on June 24, 2022 | 7:01 AM

FACT CHECKED BYEMILIA PALUSZEK

Shutterstock

You know the healthy habits you need to adopt to protect your heart, but were you aware certain lifestyle changes can keep your brain healthy, reducing your risk of age-related disorders like dementia? They include diet, exercise, and according to a new study, making sure you're getting enough of this vitamin on a daily basis. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

1

What The Study Found

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According to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, having a low vitamin D level is associated with smaller brain volume and an increased risk of dementia and stroke, and almost 20 percent of dementia cases could be prevented by keeping vitamin D level in a healthy range.

2

How the Study Was Conducted

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Researchers from the University of Australia analyzed health data from more than 290,000 people in the UK Biobank, comparing vitamin D levels with brain imaging that measured the size of gray matter, white matter, and the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for executive functions like memory.

The scientists found that participants who had a genetically higher level of vitamin D had a decreased dementia risk, with the odds of dementia decreasing with higher concentrations of the vitamin, up to 50 nmol/L, after which the benefits were less marked.

3

Vitamin D's Benefits Widely Recognized

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Scientists have long known about vitamin D's importance to overall health, including the immune system and bones. But less research has been done on the vitamin's effect on the brain.

"Vitamin D is a hormone precursor that is increasingly recognized for widespread effects, including on brain health, but until now it has been very difficult to examine what would happen if we were able to prevent vitamin D deficiency," said Elina Hyppönen, the study's lead author. "Our study is the first to examine the effect of very low levels of vitamin D on the risks of dementia and stroke, using robust genetic analyses among a large population."

She added: "In some contexts, where vitamin D deficiency is relatively common, our findings have important implications for dementia risks. Indeed, in this UK population, we observed that up to 17 percent of dementia cases might have been avoided by boosting vitamin D levels to be within a normal range."

4

Low Levels of Vitamin D Common

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Both low levels of vitamin D and dementia are not uncommon in the U.S. It's estimated that 40% of Americans have insufficient levels of the vitamin. And about 5.8 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease and dementia-related conditions, a number that's expected to increase as the population ages. 

"Dementia is a progressive and debilitating disease that can devastate individuals and families alike," said Hyppönen. "If we're able to change this reality through ensuring that none of us is severely vitamin D deficient, it would also have further benefits and we could change the health and well-being for thousands."

"Most of us are likely to be OK, but for anyone who for whatever reason may not receive enough vitamin D from the sun, modifications to diet may not be enough, and supplementation may well be needed."

5

What to Do About Your Vitamin D Level

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It's a good idea to get your vitamin D level checked by your doctor annually. If your levels are low, they might recommend a supplement. According to the National Institutes of Health, adults are advised to get at least 600 IU of vitamin D each day, between food and supplements (although that number is somewhat controversial, and some doctors believe it should be higher). The NIH notes that the safe upper limit of vitamin D for adults is 4,000 IU a day.

And to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Michael Martin

Michael Martin is a New York City-based writer and editor whose health and lifestyle content has also been published on Beachbody and Openfit. A contributing writer for Eat This, Not That!, he has also been published in New York, Architectural Digest, Interview, and many others. Read more

Source: https://www.eatthis.com/news-lacking-vitamin-can-lead-to-dementia/

ALSO: https://healthticket.blogspot.com/2022/06/sure-signs-youre-lacking-vitamin-d-say.html