CCH Health Review
Ideas & Strategies to Improve Your Health
April 2005
Vitamin E May Ease Menstrual Cramps
Women may find some relief from menstrual cramps by taking vitamin E a few days a month, according to a new study of 278 teenage girls in Iran. Half the teenagers were given 200 mg of vitamin E twice a day, starting two days before they expected their periods and continuing through the third day of menstruation. The other half received a placebo pill. Both groups were allowed to take ibuprofen as needed.
After four months, the girls who took vitamin E had cramps for less than two hours, on average, during their periods. That compared with 17 hours for those who did not take the vitamin. In addition, only 4% reported using ibuprofen, compared with 89% of girls in the placebo group.
Common menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea) are thought to result from the release of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins cause the uterus to contract in order to expel the uterine lining, resulting in menstrual blood flow. Vitamin E can inhibit the formation of prostaglandins -- and, potentially, menstrual cramps.
Source: British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, April 2005
Omega-3 Fats Benefit Babies in Womb
Dietary fats called omega-3 fatty acids may start protecting a woman from breast cancer before she is even born. Unfortunately, most Americans eat far too much omega-6 and too little omega-3 fat, which tends to cancel out the benefits of omega-3s.
Most vegetable oils and products made from common vegetable oils are big sources of omega-6 fatty acids, while the omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oil, green leafy vegetables, flax seeds, walnuts and cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines.
A dramatic drop in mammary cancer risk among mice whose mothers ate diets rich in the omega-3s while pregnant and nursing was detected in a study presented at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research this month.
The researchers worked with mice bred to develop breast cancer. Female mice were fed diets high in either omega-6 fatty acids or omega-3 fatty acids, both during the gestation period and while nursing pups.
After the daughters were weaned, one group was placed on a high omega-6 fatty acid diet, while the other was fed predominantly omega-3 fatty acids.
All female pups exposed only to omega-6 fatty acids had mammary gland tumors by 6 months of age. But fewer than 60% of the female offspring nourished with omega-3 fatty acids either before birth or while nursing formed mammary tumors by the age of 8 months.
Those exposed to omega-3 fatty acids both before and after birth had a tumor incidence rate of just 13%.
It appears that diets high in omega-6 fatty acids raise maternal estrogen levels, which in turn are linked to an increased incidence of breast cancer among female offspring.
"Inadvertently, we may be setting up our daughters to develop breast cancer 50 years from now," the lead researcher said.
If you plan to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are nursing, omega-3 fatty acids are a valuable component of your diet. Visit our web page to find out more about fish oil.
Source: 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 20, 2005
Nutrients Prevent Prostate Cancer
A study released last month showed that high blood levels of major vitamin E components, alpha- and gamma- tocopherol, appear to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by roughly 50%.
The findings were based on an analysis of 100 men who developed prostate cancer and 200 who remained free of cancer. Men with the highest levels of alpha-tocopherol at the beginning of the study, before anyone had developed prostate cancer, were 51% less likely to develop prostate cancer compared to those with the lowest levels. Also, men with the highest levels of gamma-tocopherol were 43% less likely to develop prostate cancer vs. those with the lowest levels.
A supplement that contains natural vitamin E, which has all of the various tocopherols, is advisable for any male. Read supplement labels carefully. Many cheap vitamin E supplements do not contain all of the tocopherols that you need.
Another study released in March showed that consumption of dietary carotenoids reduces the incidence of prostate cancer. Carotenoids are pigments that give plant foods their distinctive colors. The carotenoids noted as protective in this study were lycopene, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and other carotenoids. Consumption of tomatoes, spinach and citrus were associated with a lower rate of prostate cancer. If you're not eating 5-7 servings of vegetables and fruits every day, you may wish to consider supplementation with a "mixed carotenoids" supplement formula.
Green tea has been shown in numerous studies to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. A paper presented at the recent American Association for Cancer Research meeting analyzed two groups of men at a high risk for developing prostate cancer. One group of 32 men took a green tea extract for one year. Another group of 30 men took a placebo. After a year, only one man in the tea extract group got prostate cancer, whereas nine men in the placebo group got prostate cancer.
The green tea extract used in the study contained a component of green tea called EGCG. EGCG appears to specifically target prostate cancer cells for death, without damaging normal cells.
You can obtain vitamin E with mixed tocopherols, a mixed carotenoid formula, and a green tea extract containing EGCG from our clinic dispensary. To place an order by phone, please call toll-free 877-347-8600. If you have a concern about prostate cancer, consult with one of our physicians.
Sources: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, March 2, 2005; International Journal of Cancer, March 1, 2005; 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 20, 2005
