Dietary Supplements
Omega-3 May Protect Healthy Men from Chest Pains Says New Cardiovascular Health Study...
Increased Intakes of Omega-3 Fatty Acids EPA, DPA, and DHA May Protect Men Against Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)...
The heart health benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids are well-documented, being first reported in the early 1970s in The Lancet and The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. To date, the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been linked to improvements in blood lipid levels, a reduced tendency of thrombosis, blood pressure and heart rate improvements, and improved vascular function.
A new study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, reported that increased intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)may reduce the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), an all-inclusive term for a range of symptoms including unstable angina and chest pains.
The Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort study involved 57,053 men and women. During an average follow-up time of almost eight years, 1,150 people developed ACS. Men who consumed more than 0.39 grams of PUFAs per day had an associated risk of ACS 27 per cent lower than men who consumed less than 0.39 grams per day.
"We found borderline significant negative associations between the intake of marine omega-3 PUFA and ACS among healthy men," they concluded.
Omega-3 Needed For Heart Benefits...
Earlier this year, a review concluded that the science behind the cardiovascular health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids supports recommended daily levels of 500 mg or more.
Compelling evidence from studies involving almost 40,000 participants supports daily EPA plus DHA intakes of at least 500 mg per day for healthy individuals, while people with known heart disease or heart failure should aim for up to 1,000 mg daily, according to a review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The recommendations for healthy people are double the recommended levels determined by the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA).
Source: British Journal of Nutrition Published online : "Dietary intake of total marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid and the risk of acute coronary syndrome - a cohort study"
Grapefruit Juice May Boost CoQ10 Uptake According to Study
Optimizing CoQ10 is Very Valuable... It Is Known as a Key Nutrient For Cardiovascular Health, Helping Support Immunity, Boosting Energy, Cognitive Function and Mental Performance.
A glass of grapefruit juice may improve intestinal absorption of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) by almost 50 per cent, reports a new study from Japan. The citrus fruit juice appears to inhibit a protein in the membrane of cells called P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which thereby leads to an increased absorption of CoQ10, according to results of a laboratory study published in Food Chemistry.
"We have demonstrated that a higher cellular uptake of CoQ10 was achieved in the presence of grapefruit juice," wrote the Japanese researchers from Hokkaido University.
The formulation of the CoQ10 is known to play a key role in its bioavailability. Since the coenzyme is lipophilic (fat-loving) its absorption is enhanced in the presence of lipids. Therefore, when taken as a supplement apart from meals, the absorption of some formulations is lower.
"It is possible that co-administration of CoQ10 with grapefruit juice constitutes an easily accessible way to improve the intestinal absorption of CoQ10," reported the researchers.
Grapefruit juice is well-known to interact with other compounds in the digestive system. Chemicals in juice and pulp of the fruit are reported to interfere with the enzymes that metabolize certain drugs in the digestive system, including statins to lower cholesterol. This results in potentially toxic quantities of drugs circulating in the blood.
The new study, however, suggests that grapefruit juice's inhibiting effects may actually benefit CoQ10 absorption.
CoQ10 Has Many Valuable Properties...
CoQ10 has properties similar to vitamins, but since it is naturally synthesized in the body it is not classed as such. Our ability to synthesise the compound peaks at the age of 20 and amounts in our body decrease rapidly after we pass the age of 40. It is also known as ubiquinone because of its 'ubiquitous' distribution throughout the human body.
The coenzyme is concentrated in the mitochondria recognized as the "power plants" of the cell structure. It plays a vital role in the production of chemical energy by participating in the production of adenosince triphosphate (ATP), known as the body's "energy currency."
There is an ever-growing body of scientific data that shows substantial health benefits of CoQ10 supplementation for people suffering from angina, heart attack and hypertension. It is also recommended to people on statins to off-set the CoQ-depleting effects of the medication. Other studies have reported that CoQ10 may play a role in the prevention or benefit people already suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.
Study details...
The Japanese researchers used Caco-2 cells, a cell line used to model the lining of the human intestine. Cells were cultured in the presence of CoQ10 (10 micromoles) and grapefruit juice (diluted to a concentration of 1 per cent).
Results showed that CoQ10 uptake in the presence of grapefruit juice was increased by almost 50 per cent. "These results indicate that the combined administration of CoQ10 and grapefruit juice could enhance CoQ10 absorption," said the researchers. "Taking these findings into consideration, it is possible that co-administration of CoQ10 with grapefruit juice will be an easily accessible way to improve the pharmacological effects of CoQ10," they added.
The researchers concluded that additional studies are required in order to investigate the pharmacological effects of CoQ10 when administration with grapefruit juice. "Such investigations will provide important information for improving the pharmacological effects of CoQ10," they concluded.
Source: Food Chemistry 2010, Volume 120 (2010) 552-555
The Healthy Resources Below Have Agreed to Connect With Kat's Herbs.
- Noni Supplement
Pure Whole Noni Concentrate Capsules for Easy Daily Supplementation...
http://katsvitaminherbs.com/noni.php
- Acai Fruit
MonaVie is a unique and delicious nutritional beverage.
http://www.monavie.com/
- Herbalife Distributor - HerbalDietShop
Herbalife Products for weight loss, health, and nutrition. USA Distributor.
http://www.herbaldietshop.com
Blueberries Help Counteract Intestinal Diseases
It is well known that blueberries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins. New research from the Lund University Faculty of Engineering in Sweden shows that blueberry fiber are important and can alleviate and protect against intestinal inflammations, such as ulcerative colitis. The protective effect is even better if the blueberries are eaten together with probiotic foods such as yogurt.
The project originated as an attempt to determine whether various types of dietary fibre and health-promoting bacteria, known as probiotic bacteria such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria from yogurt, can help alleviate and prevent the risk of ulcerative colitis and colorectal cancer. In recent years, the research community has been recognizing that our health is governed to a great extent by the activities in our large intestine.
The researchers tested various types of diets of blueberry husks, rye bran and oat bran with or without a mixture of probiotic bacteria. The results showed that the protective effect of blueberries was reinforced if they were eaten together with probiotics. "The probiotics proved to have a protective effect on the liver, an organ that is often negatively impacted by intestinal inflammations." they explained.
Blueberries are rich in polyphenols, which have an antimicrobial and antioxidative effect. The combination of blueberries and probiotics reduced inflammation-inducing bacteria in the intestine at the same time as the number of health-promoting lactobacilli increased.
The researchers also noted that if blueberries are eaten together with probiotics, the content of butyric acid and propionic acid increased in the blood, two substances that are formed when fiber are broken down and that have previously been known to be important energy sources for intestinal cells. In recent years they have also been shown to favourably impact the immune defence. According to their findings, it seems as if the absorption of these beneficial components is effectively facilitated by the presence of probiotics. A large portion of the butyric acid not only was taken up by the intestinal cells but was also transported onward to the blood.
"A further explanation for the extremely positive effect of blueberries may be that the blueberry fiber are not degraded to such a high degree in the large intestine. This means that inflammation-inducing substances do not come into contact with the mucous lining of the intestine but are embedded in the fibre instead. Then these substances are transported out of body together with the regular evacuation."
The researchers also found that rye bran was broken down in the large intestine, in the same place that ulcerative colitis and large-intestine cancer often occur, and that the rye bran provided a rich supply of butyric acid and propionic acid. On the other hand, the fiber in oat bran were degraded earlier in the large intestine. The most striking result, however, was that blueberries themselves had such a favourable effect compared with both rye bran and oat bran.
For individuals who suffer from stomach pains, diarrhea, or constipation, complaints resulting from intestinal disorders and more undefined intestinal problems, these readily available foods should be a regular part of their dietary intake. The disease ulcerative colitis is one of the inflammatory intestinal diseases included under the general name IBD, inflammatory bowel diseases.
Select a Book about Dietary Supplements
