Integrative Medicine Alert – November 1, 2009
November 1, 2009
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Red Yeast Rice Extract: Will Positive Results Lead to Round 2 of Regulatory Controversy?
A subgroup analysis on elderly Chinese patients with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) revealed beneficial effects of Xuezhikang, a red yeast rice extract. Risk of coronary and all-cause deaths were significantly lowered, total cholesterol and LDL- cholesterol levels were reduced, and HDL-cholesterol levels were increased significantly compared to placebo. -
Religious Faith and Health After Cancer
This survey study assessed religious behavior, affective state, and health behaviors in a group of 167 adult cancer survivors. A measure of religious experience was associated with self-confidence, while religious struggle was associated with feelings of guilt, and all were associated with some health behaviors. After controlling for affective state, associations with the religion variables were no longer statistically significant, though a measurable indirect effect, mediated by affective state, could be detected. -
CVD, CHO, and Uh-oh: Low-carb Diets and CVD
In a mouse model of atherosclerosis, researchers showed that a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet with a macronutrient profile that approximates the maintenance phase of well-known low-carbohydrate diets in humans significantly worsens the development and severity of aortic atherosclerosis in the absence of significant changes in well-established biomarkers for cardiovascular disease. In addition, such a diet appears to impair neovascularization in response to ischemia. -
Cranberry Juice Cocktail and Two Antibiotics
The oral absorption and clearance of either amoxicillin or cefaclor was tested in women who also ingested cranberry juice cocktail. Although there was modest slowing of absorption (amoxicillin and cefaclor) and decreased maximum serum drug concentration (cefaclor) when the cranberry groups were compared to control groups (water), the overall clinical effect seemed to be negligible. -
When Pollen Is Good: Prostatitis
There is no agreed upon standard therapy for men experiencing inflammatory chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). The results of this strong clinical trial suggest that a 12-week course of therapy with a specific pollen extract is significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the symptoms of CP/CPPS, especially pain. -
Meta-ALAlysis: ALA and Prostate Cancer
Concerns about the potential increased risk of prostate cancer associated with high intakes of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3) were re-assessed by the authors of this systematic review, but the aforementioned concerns could not be completely allayed. -
A Little Tipsy with a Case of Vestibular Dysfunction
One-third of adults older than age 40 has vestibular dysfunction.