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Many postmenopausal women are looking for alternatives to hormone therapy, especially in light of research findings in 2003 from the Women's Health Initiative. With major funding from the National Institutes of Health, this initiative studied the risks of combined estrogen and progestin therapy, among other health issues of critical importance to postmenopausal women. Of particular interest are phytoestrogens, which have been gaining popularity because they are marketed as "natural," because of the alleged health benefits they provide, and because they are available in a wide range of foods and supplements. This fact sheet provides an overview of phytoestrogens and discusses their potential role in osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

In 1939, Dr. Abraham Myerson measured initial levels of circulating testosterone in men and exposed their various body parts to UVB light. After five days of chest exposure sufficient to cause reddening, circulating testosterone increased by 120%. After eight days without additional UV exposure, testosterone returned to initial levels. When the genital area was exposed, testosterone levels increased by 200%!

Increased dietary protein consumed at breakfast leads to an initial and sustained feeling of fullness during energy restriction compared to other meal times. Heather J. Leidy, Mandi J. Bossingham, Richard D. Mattes and Wayne W. Campbell British Journal of Nutrition (2009), 101:798-803 Cambridge University Press doi:10.1017/S0007114508051532

"Good research is good for medicine. The only thing more important than good research is ethical research. The February 16th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) had a research paper on vitamin D and colon cancer. Was it good research? Was it ethical research? At stake are the lives of 36,000 older American women who agreed to participate in the Women's Health Initiative. "

Spending most of your night twisting and turning in bed? It may be because of insomnia, a critical sleep condition in which men and women cannot sleep well. It is characterized by the difficulty sleeping, staying asleep or even waking up in between. To help you cure insomnia, ambien pills can work well by reducing anxiety, relaxing mind and body to initiate sleep. Sleepingtabs is leading online store to buy ambien tablets.

In a study of 161,808 women who were part of the government-funded Women's Health Initiative research effort, doctors from 40 centers around the country collected data on multivitamin use. While research shows that people who eat nutrient-rich diets filled with fruits and vegetables have lower rates of heart disease and cancer, it hasn't been clear whether taking a daily supplement results in a similar benefit.

Effects of Atorvastatin on vitamin D levels in patients with acute ischemic heart disease. Pérez-Castrillón JL, Vega G, Abad L, Sanz A, Chaves J, Hernandez G, Dueñas A. Am J Cardiol. 2007 Apr 1;99(7):903-5. Epub 2007 Feb 8. PMID: 17398180 In conclusion, atorvastatin increases vitamin D levels. This increase could explain some of the beneficial effects of atorvastatin at the cardiovascular level that are unrelated to cholesterol levels. The mechanism by which atorvastatin increases vitamin D levels is related to inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3 methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. Cholesterol is synthesized from 7-dehydrocholesterol, which is also a precursor of vitamin D3. For this reason, we initially observed a statistically significant relation between total cholesterol and vitamin D. HMG-CoA enzyme reductase is key to the synthesis of cholesterol, whereas ultraviolet radiation causes the formation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Inhibition of the enzyme may increase levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol and increase the synthesis of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, thereby increasing vitamin D levels,10 although we observed no relation between lower cholesterol and increased vitamin D. In addition, 25-hydroxyvitamin D has been shown to inhibit HMG-CoA enzyme reductase activity in in vitro studies.11 A greater concentration of vitamin D could increase enzymatic inhibition, acting in synergy with the statin in decreasing total cholesterol.

An evaluation of the vitamin D3 content in fish: Is the vitamin D content adequate to satisfy the dietary requirement for vitamin D? Lu Z, Chen TC, Zhang A, Persons KS, Kohn N, Berkowitz R, Martinello S, Holick MF. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2007 Mar;103(3-5):642-4. Epub 2007 Jan 30. PMID: 17267210 doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2006.12.010 Surprisingly, farmed salmon had approximately 25% of the vitamin D content as wild salmon had. The vitamin D content in fish varied widely even within species. These data suggest that the tables that list the vitamin D content are out-of-date and need to be re-evaluated. Little is known about the effect of cooking on the vitamin D content in fish. When farm salmon was baked, almost all of the vitamin D content, i.e. 240 IU of vitamin D3 was recovered from 3.5 oz. of salmon. The initial concentration in the uncooked salmon was 245 IU of vitamin D3. However, when the salmon was fried in vegetable oil, approximately 50% (123 IU of vitamin D3 was recovered.) We also evaluated the vitamin D content in mackerel which is traditionally considered to be an excellent source of vitamin D3 because of its oily content. However, in the one sample that we tested, we only observed 24 IU of vitamin D3 in 3.5 oz.

Together, the earlier data and the data of Heaney et al indicate that an oral dose of vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 would lead to a comparable increase in circulating 25(OH)D concentrations in children and adults when the initial 25(OH)D3 concentrations in the groups are similar and when equivalent oral vitamin D doses expressed per kilogram body weight/d are given. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D response to oral vitamin D intake in children. Zittermann A. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Sep;78(3):496-7. PMID: 12936937

Simultaneously Blocking Glycolysis and Fat Metabolism Can the use of DCA and a fatty acid metabolism blocker together force more cancer cells into using aerobic metabolism? Tim McGough used green tea extract, which contains EGCG, in his fantastic response. DCA works by reactivating mitochondria and shifts metabolism from glycolysis to glucose oxidation. Hopefully the cancer cell will then undergo apoptosis. However, cancer cells have an alternate energy source: fat metabolism. This page explores to possibility of blocking fat metabolism to help force the cell into apoptosis. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer that does not respond well to DCA. This study, Head and Neck Cancer Cell Lines Are Resistant to Mitochondrial-Depolarization-Induced Apoptosis states: "Results: ΔΨm in head and neck cell lines started to show slight loss of ΔΨm, while HL-60 showed significant loss of ΔΨm after 30 min of treatment. All cell lines demonstrated complete mitochondrial depolarization within 24 h, however, only the control cell line HL-60 underwent apoptosis. In addition, HNSCC cell lines did not demonstrate cytoplasmic cytochrome c release despite significant mitochondrial membrane depolarization, while HL-60 cell initiated apoptosis and cytochcrome c release after 24 h of treatment. Conclusions: Head and neck cancer cell lines exhibit defects in mitochondrial-membrane-depolarization-induced apoptosis as well as impaired release of cytochrome c despite significant mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Proximal defects in the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway are a feature of HNSCC.(head and neck squamous cell carcinoma)" Note that although the cell lines were depolarized, apoptosis did not occur. So I checked to see if fatty acid metabolism is used by squamous cell carcinoma.

Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of breast cancer. Chlebowski RT, Johnson KC, Kooperberg C, Pettinger M, Wactawski-Wende J, Rohan T, Rossouw J, Lane D, O'Sullivan MJ, Yasmeen S, Hiatt RA, Shikany JM, Vitolins M, Khandekar J, Hubbell FA; Women's Health Initiative Investigators. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2008 Nov 19;100(22):1581-91. Epub 2008 Nov 11. PMID: 19001601

Relation of body fat indexes to vitamin D status and deficiency among obese adolescents. Lenders CM, Feldman HA, Von Scheven E, Merewood A, Sweeney C, Wilson DM, Lee PD, Abrams SH, Gitelman SE, Wertz MS, Klish WJ, Taylor GA, Chen TC, Holick MF; Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Research Network Obesity Study Group. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Sep;90(3):459-67. Epub 2009 Jul 29. PMID: 19640956 RESULTS: The mean (+/-SD) age of the adolescents was 14.9 +/- 1.4 y; 38 (66%) were female, and 8 (14%) were black. The mean (+/-SD) body mass index (in kg/m(2)) was 36 +/- 5, FM was 40.0 +/- 5.5%, and VAT was 12.4 +/- 4.3%. Seventeen of the adolescents were vitamin D deficient, but none had elevated PTH concentrations. Bone mineral content and bone mineral density were within 2 SDs of national standards. In a multivariate analysis, 25(OH)D decreased by 0.46 +/- 0.22 ng/mL per 1% increment in FM (beta +/- SE, P = 0.05), whereas PTH decreased by 0.78 +/- 0.29 pg/mL per 1% increment in VAT (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, our results show for the first time that obese adolescents with 25(OH)D deficiency, but without elevated PTH concentrations, have a bone mass within the range of national standards (+/-2 SD). The findings provide initial evidence that the distribution of fat may be associated with vitamin D status, but this relation may be dependent on metabolic factors

Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements Editors: Paul Coates; Marc R. Blackman; Gordon Cragg; Mark Levine; Joel Moss; Jeffery White; ISBN: 978-0-8247-5504-1 (hardback) 978-0-8247-5503-4 (electronic) Original Publication Date: 28 January 2005 Last Updated: 23 April 2007 Subjects: Dietetics; Natural Products; Publisher: Informa Healthcare Subscribe Sign In Viewing the Encyclopedia: Select the initial letter of your research topic from the list below, or enter your search term on the left.

Calcium plus vitamin D supplementation and the risk of colorectal cancer. Wactawski-Wende J, Kotchen JM, Anderson GL, Assaf AR, Brunner RL, O'Sullivan MJ, Margolis KL, Ockene JK, Phillips L, Pottern L, Prentice RL, Robbins J, Rohan TE, Sarto GE, Sharma S, Stefanick ML, Van Horn L, Wallace RB, Whitlock E, Bassford T, Beresford SA, Black HR, Bonds DE, Brzyski RG, Caan B, Chlebowski RT, Cochrane B, Garland C, Gass M, Hays J, Heiss G, Hendrix SL, Howard BV, Hsia J, Hubbell FA, Jackson RD, Johnson KC, Judd H, Kooperberg CL, Kuller LH, LaCroix AZ, Lane DS, Langer RD, Lasser NL, Lewis CE, Limacher MC, Manson JE; Women's Health Initiative Investigators. N Engl J Med. 2006 Feb 16;354(7):684-96. Erratum in: N Engl J Med. 2006 Mar 9;354(10):1102. PMID: 16481636 Conclusions Daily supplementation of calcium with vitamin D for seven years had no effect on the incidence of colorectal cancer among postmenopausal women. The long latency associated with the development of colorectal cancer, along with the seven-year duration of the trial, may have contributed to this null finding. Ongoing follow-up will assess the longer-term effect of this intervention.

Combination immunotherapy of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: a phase 2 trial. Barrera JL, Verastegui E, Meneses A, Zinser J, de la Garza J, Hadden JW. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2000 Mar;126(3):345-51. PMID: 10722007 The natural cytokine mixture is a collection of natural human cytokines induced from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. It contains IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor , and granulocyte-macrophage and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in nanogram quantities. It lacks IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-7. [...] This IRX-2 strategy uses perilymphatic local administration along with contrasuppression with low-dose cyclophosphamide and indomethacin and with zinc replacement therapy (as an immunorestorative). The data presented herein demonstrate that H&N SCC can respond very well to immunotherapy: there was a response rate of 100% in this series of 15 patients, with clinical reduction in tumor (1 complete response, 7 partial responses, and 7 minor responses) and histological evidence of tumor regression of 42%. Overall, the average combined estimated tumor reduction exceeded 70%. Also, patients with oral cancer noted marked analgesic and hemostatic effects from this therapy, with healing of oral lesions. [...] It is important to note that adjuvant chemotherapy is not used at INCAN. Many studies23 indicate that treatment with fluorouracil and cisplatin, the combination most in use, is effective for reducing tumors in the majority of patients; however, with no meaningful impact on survival, their routine use in the United States has recently been questioned.24-25 The expense, toxic effects, and lack of effectiveness of both drugs has made their use in other less affluent countries unwarranted. The current data on the use of IRX-2 in this and other protocols8-10 hint at improved survival, and a phase 3 randomized controlled study comparing this protocol with chemotherapy arm is to be initiat

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Tufts OpenCourseWare is part of a new educational movement initiated by MIT that provides free access to course content for everyone online. Tufts' course offerings demonstrate the University's strength in the life sciences in addition to its multidisciplinary approach, international perspective and underlying ethic of service to its local, national and international communities.

"Possible effects of berberine, a chemical found in small amounts in goldenseal, include headache, slow heart rate, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, and low white blood cell count. It is not clear if the amount of berberine in goldenseal products is enough to cause these reactions. Toxic doses of berberine may cause seizures or irritation of the esophagus and stomach when taken by mouth. Berberine used intravenously (through the veins) may cause abnormal heart rhythms. Based on laboratory and animal studies, berberine may increase blood concentrations of bilirubin. Berberine theoretically may cause low blood pressure, although a different chemical in goldenseal, hydrastine, may actually cause increased blood pressure. There is limited study of the blood pressure effects of these agents in humans. Based on laboratory and animal studies, the use of goldenseal or berberine could increase the risk of bleeding. However, there are no reliable published reports of bleeding in humans. Caution is advised in patients with bleeding disorders or taking drugs that may increase the risk of bleeding. Dosing adjustments may be necessary. Based on an initial report, goldenseal or berberine may cause increased sun sensitivity, although this is not a commonly reported symptom. Based on laboratory studies, berberine may lower blood sugar. Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Serum glucose levels may need to be monitored by a healthcare provider, and medication adjustments may be necessary. "

"The diet-heart hypothesis is the idea that saturated fat, and in some versions cholesterol, raises blood cholesterol and contributes to the risk of having a heart attack. To test this hypothesis, scientists have been studying the relationship between saturated fat consumption and heart attack risk for more than half a century. To judge by the grave pronouncements of our most visible experts, you would think these studies had found an association between the two. It turns out, they haven't. The fact is, the vast majority of high-quality observational studies have found no connection whatsoever between saturated fat consumption and heart attack risk. The scientific literature contains dozens of these studies, so let's narrow the field to prospective studies only, because they are considered the most reliable. In this study design, investigators find a group of initially healthy people, record information about them (in this case what they eat), and watch who gets sick over the years."