Group items tagged

Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in women.

This is a short interview of the author on a recent retrospective review that revealed no increase in cardiovascular events in men.  The author rightly points out his data, which is quite different than the previous JAMA and PLOSone publications which showed an increase in cardiovascular events.   However, the lead author points out the main problem with comparisons:  his study group was younger and healthier.  So, the comparison is apples to oranges.  Studies still point to increased risk of Testosterone therapy in men with pre-existing CVD.  This new study does not refute this point at all.   Another serious flaw here, is that only Testosterone was followed.  This logic is seriously flawed as I have previously documented.  The author points out the flaw in the levels in the JAMA study post treatment.  But he fails to account for the the lack of adequate pathway assessment i.e.aromatazation.  Also, no inflammatory cytokine evaluation was performed in that study.  Both of these should have been highlighted.    In contrast, a positive was the length of follow.

elevated homocysteine associated with ischemic heart disease, DVT, and stroke

ED in men precedes cardiovascular disease by 3-5 years.

It does appear that medicine is moving in the direction of a non-linear approach to disease.  This brief review discusses the early analysis of the relationship of psychiatric conditions, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease.

Testosterone therapy, injected intracoronary, resulted in vasodilation and improved blood flow in men with CAD.

In this study, flu vaccine is found to reduce MI risk by 45%.  Now, the take home point here is that those with cardiovascular compromise need to avoid the flu--not, that the flu vaccine by itself reduces the risk. The authors of this study fail to state the low success of the flu vaccine in the prevention of the flu.  They also fail to state the increased inflammation as a result of the vaccine itself.  A better approach would be to use natural therapies i.e.. vitamin D that have been shown to prevent the flu. 

4 year study finds that 200 mg CoQ10 and 200 mg Se reduced NT-proBNP and cardiovascular mortality.  

Women with hot flashes and night sweats have increased cardiovascular risk compared to women that do not.

Cortisol:Testosterone ratio associated with statistical increase risk of ischemic heart disease. This was mediated through the insulin resistance.

low Estradiol and high Total Testosterone associated with high risk of ischemic heart disease.  This study looked at endogenous levels in women.  This data as well as others really brings into question the massive prescription Testosterone push in women.

low serum testosterone associated with increased mortality in men with coronary disease. This study used "bio-available" testosterone and total testosterone.

Wow.  How your stress contributes to your heart disease risk

Only abstract available here, but EDTA chelation found to reduce risk of death, reinfarction, stroke, hospitalization, angina in individuals with diabetes and prior MI from 38% to 25%.

good, well referenced discussion of how Testosterone support for those with low T can improve Diabetes, insulin function, improve energy balance, and reduce cardiovascular disease risk. The discussion discusses many of the moving parts in how testosterone improves CVD risk.

Melatonin helps weight loss and improves cardiovascular disease risk factors

good review article of the growing body of evidence supporting low Testosterone and CVD.

heart failure improved with copper supplementation.

Taurine safe and effect in CHF.

BNP and NT-proBNP associated with HF and worsening HF.  Also, in the same setting, elevated BNP and NT-proBNP is found to be associated with increased cardiovascular events and mortality.