XTEND-15sec-NEWSt
22nd October 2004
Please click on the summary link of interest:
Beta Glucan speeds up immune response...n1
The team from the Department of Surgery at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University has discovered that the natural component of oats and other cereals can enhance the ability of certain human immune cells to navigate to the site of a bacterial infection.
They report in the August issue of Surgery (136(2), pp 384-9) that soluble beta glucan, supplied by the US firm Biopolymer Engineering, binds to receptors (CR3) on neutrophils, the most abundant type of innate immune cell in the body. This both increases the killing capacity of the neutrophils and benefits migration or chemotaxis to the site of an infection or challenge.
To read the full article from Nutraingredients US please click here.
Warren Matthews comments: Beta Glucan is indeed an excellent substance for building up immunity…an important consideration at this time of the year for folks living in the northern hemisphere. There are several forms of Beta Glucan with variable properties. We use the most potent one for immunity within Total Balance. However, we enhance it considerably by combining it with a special fraction of Aloe Vera polysaccharides and also further complement those two ingredients with specialized fractions of other ingredients.
These are a major factor why so many of our customers have found they are no longer susceptible to common virus's, flu's and colds. In case you don't know about Total Balance as yet please click here.
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Child's leukaemia risk lowers if mother eats well...n2
Women who eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruit and protein before pregnancy may lower the risk of having a child who develops leukaemia, the most common childhood cancer in the United States, suggests recent research.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkley compared 138 women who each had a child diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with a control group of 138 women whose children did not have cancer. The children of all the women in the study were matched by sex, age, race, and county of residence at birth.
After comparing the women's diets in the 12 months prior to pregnancy, researchers found that the higher the intake of vegetables, fruit and protein-rich foods, the lower the risk of having a child with leukaemia. For the full article please click here.
Warren Matthews comments: The evidence linking the future health of a child to that of the health of the mother prior to conception and during pregnancy is truly overwhelming and cannot be ignored. A good diet is paramount in order to give the child a 'good start'. Mind you that is easier said than done given the depletion of nutrients from fruit and vegetables. (In case you are a new subscriber refer to the archives of Xtend-Your-Life by clicking here and go back to an article dated 21st August 2002.)
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Americans must up calcium and vitamin D intake...n3
Americans were warned last week that unless they up their consumption of calcium and vitamin D, the number of people suffering from osteoporosis and low bone mass is likely to jump, and advised that supplements could be the answer.
The Surgeon General Richard Carmona said in the report that by 2020, half of all American citizens older than 50 will be at risk for fractures from osteoporosis and low bone mass if no immediate action is taken by individuals, doctors, health systems and policymakers.
The study added that 10 million Americans over the age of 50 already have osteoporosis, while another 34 million are at risk of developing what is now America's most common bone disease. Around 1.5 million people suffer a bone fracture related to osteoporosis each year. To read the rest of the article click here.
Warren Matthews comments: Agreed that many people over 50 do need perhaps to increase their intake of calcium and Vitamin D. However, doing so via fortified foods and dairy products is not the answer. The calcium and Vitamin D in these types of products are not the ideal forms. If you eat plenty of green vegetables you should get enough calcium in your diet and if you expose yourself to some sunshine on a regular basis you will enable your body to make adequate Vitamin D.
Supplementation is an option which is why we developed our calcium/phytonutrient product which has been very successful in increasing customers bone mass. For details click here.
Total Balance also helps with improving bone density even though it does not contain a lot of calcium. This is because most calcium deficiencies are not due to lack of calcium intake but the leaching of calcium from the bones due to other nutrient deficiencies. Sadly, this biological fact is very rarely mentioned. Balance other nutrient deficiencies and your bones will improve.
Also, don't overlook the critical importance of weight bearing exercise for your bones... no matter how old you are. Studies have shown that even 90 year olds can significantly improve their bone density just by having three short sessions a week of weight bearing exercise.
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Important notice: All material provided within XTEND-15sec-NEWS is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this publication. Consult your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health and wellbeing or on any opinions expressed within this newsletter. The information provided in this newsletter is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the editor but the reader is responsible for consulting with their own health professional on any matters raised within.
Beta glucan shown to speed up immune response (Full Article)f1
10/4/2004 - Beta glucan appears to help speed up response to infection, which may result in faster healing, report researchers in a new study. The team from the Department of Surgery at Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University has discovered that the natural component of oats and other cereals can enhance the ability of certain human immune cells to navigate to the site of a bacterial infection.
They report in the August issue of Surgery (136(2), pp 384-9) that soluble beta glucan, supplied by the US firm Biopolymer Engineering, binds to receptors (CR3) on neutrophils, the most abundant type of innate immune cell in the body. This both increases the killing capacity of the neutrophils and benefits migration or chemotaxis to the site of an infection or challenge.
Neutrophils are attracted to the site of an infection by blood proteins called chemoattractants and are among the first cells of the body to respond to a challenge due to infection or injury.
Priming the neutrophils with beta glucan increases their ability to sense complement fragments emanating from the site of an infection, according to study leader Jonathan Reichner. As a result, beta glucan helps neutrophils locate the bacterial mother lode within a infected tissue. This more rapid response to infection results in faster microbial clearance and healing.
Interest in products that can boost the immune system appears to be growing, with last year's SARS epidemic pushing many into the limelight. Dairy ingredients such as colostrum have been popular in Asia since the disease outbreak and others like probiotics have strong growth worldwide.
Indeed consumer research shows that many people are buying functional foods merely because they are concerned about future health risks rather than specific current medical needs.
BioPolymer's WGP Beta Glucan is a patented carbohydrate derived from the cell walls of baker's yeast. It is marketed in Europe by DKSH.
The US firm presented another recent study on the ingredient, published in the July issue of The Journal of Immunology (15;173(2):1284-91).
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Child's leukaemia risk lower if mother eats well (Full Article)f2
9/28/2004 - Women who eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruit and protein before pregnancy may lower the risk of having a child who develops leukaemia, the most common childhood cancer in the United States, suggests recent research.
"This is the first time researchers have conducted a systematic survey of a woman's diet and linked it to the risk of childhood leukaemia," said Dr. Kenneth Olden, director of the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the body that funded the study.
Researchers at the University of California, Berkley compared 138 women who each had a child diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) with a control group of 138 women whose children did not have cancer. The children of all the women in the study were matched by sex, age, race, and county of residence at birth.
After comparing the women's diets in the 12 months prior to pregnancy, researchers found that the higher the intake of vegetables, fruit and protein-rich foods, the lower the risk of having a child with leukaemia.
"The health benefits of fruits and vegetables have been known for a long time," said principal investigator Gladys Block, professor of epidemiology and public health nutrition at U.C. Berkeley. "We found in this study that the protein foods group is also very important."
After further studies, the researchers discovered that glutathione - an antioxidant found in meat and legumes - was the nutrient in the protein group that had a strong link to lower cancer risk.
Moreover, the fruits and vegetables that seemed to be the most closely associated with a lower cancer risk were those that are high in carotenoids, such as carrots, string beans and cantaloupe.
Researchers also studied the use of vitamin supplements, but did not find a statistically significant link to childhood leukaemia risk.
A conference held in London, UK earlier this month similarly drew attention to the potential importance of diet during the early years of a child's life. Organised by the charity Children with Leukaemia heard that plant foods as well as the spice turmeric may have a protective effect against leukaemia.
Dr Marilyn Kwan and her colleagues from U.C. Berkeley found that regular consumption of oranges and/or bananas during the first two years of life was associated with a reduced risk of childhood leukaemia.
Leukaemia and some other childhood cancers in developed nations have been rising at around 1 to 3 per cent each year for the past 50 years.
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Americans must up calcium and vitamin D intake (Full Article)f3
10/18/2004 - Americans were warned last week that unless they up their consumption of calcium and vitamin D, the number of people suffering from osteoporosis and low bone mass is likely to jump, and advised that supplements could be the answer.
The Surgeon General Richard Carmona said in the report that by 2020, half of all American citizens older than 50 will be at risk for fractures from osteoporosis and low bone mass if no immediate action is taken by individuals, doctors, health systems and policymakers.
The study added that 10 million Americans over the age of 50 already have osteoporosis, while another 34 million are at risk of developing what is now America's most common bone disease. Around 1.5 million people suffer a bone fracture related to osteoporosis each year.
To prevent these statistics becoming reality, Carmona said it is imperative people of all ages receive an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D. He noted that for those not getting enough of these vitamins, supplements may be helpful. The average adult under 50 needs about 1000mg of calcium per day and 200 International Units (IU) of vitamin D - one cup of vitamin D fortified milk provides 302 mg of calcium and 50 IU of vitamin D.
"Osteoporosis isn't just your grandmother's disease. We all need to take better care of our bones," said Carmona. "You are never too old or too young to improve your bone health. With healthy nutrition, physical activity every day and regular medical check-ups and screenings, Americans of all ages can have strong bones."
The lack of calcium in the average American's diet had already been highlighted in September when the latest update of the dietary guidelines was released. This noted that although Americans are still generally consuming too much of everything, most should up their intake of vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, potassium and fiber.
The Grocery Manufactures of America (GMA) had commented at the time that it was important for the consumer to be aware of the various sources of calcium, over and beyond the most obvious.
"Calcium-fortified foods and beverages are proven alternatives to dairy products for individuals who are lactose intolerant or who choose not to consume dairy products for religious or personal reasons," said Mark Nelson, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the GMA.
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