A new study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology has found that even moderate amounts of dairy milk can increase the risk of breast cancer by as much as 80%.
The study, carried out by the Loma Linda University, evaluated the dietary intakes of almost 53,000 women over nearly eight years. It found that consuming as little as ¼ to 1/3 of a cup of dairy milk per day was associated with an increased breast cancer risk of 30%.
Drinking one cup of milk per day raised the risk 50%, while for women consuming two to three cups per day, the risk increased by 70-80%.
There was minimal variation between full fat and reduced fat milks, and there were no important associations noted with cheese and yoghurt.
The data from the study predicted a reduction in risk when substituting soy milk for dairy milk.
The paper’s authors say the work suggest the urgent need for further research and urges women to balance the positive nutritional qualities of dairy milk with the potential risk.
At PIM we have a particular interest in nutrition and its role in our wellbeing. Contact us to learn more.
Researchers from Boston University have published research suggesting that having adequate levels of vitamin D makes hospitalised COVID-19 patients less likely to develop life-threatening complications.
The researchers were not looking at vitamin D as a treatment, but analysing existing vitamin D levels in patients and comparing the severity of the disease. Looking at more than 600 patients hospitalised with COVID-19, they divided them into two groups – those with sufficient levels of vitamin D and those who were deficient.
They found that having a sufficient level of the vitamin was significantly associated with less severe COVID-19. These patients had higher blood lymphocyte counts and lower levels of C-reactive protein in their blood, indicating a positive immune response. The researcher speculate that this may have reduced the likelihood of developing cytokine storm, which can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19 patients, which can result in death.
Although the study was small and limited in its scope, the researchers say their findings suggest vitamin D supplementation could be prudent, especially as vitamin D deficiency is so widespread.
At PIM we have a particular interest in nutrition and its role in our wellbeing. Contact us to learn more.
Swedish researchers have found that what you eat is more important than what you weigh when it comes to predicting health risks.
The researchers from Uppsala University followed 79,000 people over 20 years to understand any link between body mass index (BMI), the Mediterranean diet, and the risk of death.
BMI is often used to gauge people’s health, but the research found that diet plays a much larger role than body weight. Of those people who followed the Mediterranean diet, people who were overweight had the lowest risk of dying. Those classified as obese but who followed the Mediterranean diet did not have a significantly higher risk of death than people with a ‘normal’ BMI.
However, people with a ‘normal’ BMI who did not follow the Mediterranean diet had a higher risk of death than people of any weight who did follow the diet.
The research shows the importance of good nutrition and dietary habits for all people, regardless of their body size.
At PIM we have a particular interest in diet, nutrition and wellbeing. Contact us to learn more.
A new study from the Australian National University in Canberra has found that older people already experiencing cognitive decline can reduce their risk of Alzheimer’s disease with diet and exercise – if they also get support along the way.
The study, which took place over six months, involved 119 participants. All were over 65 and had experienced some cognitive decline. All participants were prescribed 2-3 hours of moderate exercise per week and were expected to switch to the Mediterranean diet, consisting mainly of fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, legumes and olive oil. Brain training exercises were also given.
Half of the participants were given online education about their lifestyle changes, the other half had the in-person support of specialist coaches. The group that received the extra support had a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and saw an improvement in their cognitive abilities.
At PIM we have a particular interest in diet and wellbeing, and offer ongoing support to patients to support their lifestyle changes. Contact us to find out more.
A new paper published in the British Medical Journal concludes the zinc is a critical factor for antiviral immunity and that zinc supplementation for high risk groups should be considered.
The paper looks at previous studies on zinc and antiviral immunity and finds there is abundant evidence that zinc depletion compromises immune function.
It also notes that high risk groups for COVID-19 – including the elderly, obese individuals and patients with diabetes, among others – are also high risk groups for zinc deficiency.
Other patients at risk of zinc deficiency are those using common hypertension medicines and statins.
The paper, authored by JP Mossink from the Lyme Centre in the Netherlands, suggests that zinc may play a role in prevention and as a treatment for COVID-19 and concludes that large scale studies into micronutrients and antiviral immunity are urgently required.
At PIM we have a particular interest in nutrition and wellbeing. Contact us to find out more.
The Pill is a common and important method of birth control for many women, but it is not without side effects. Along with the well-known risks of strokes and blood clots, the hormonal contraceptive pill can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients such as B vitamins, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C, and zinc.
Hormonal contraception can affect gut permeability, and liver function, which affects how your body metabolises nutrients. This can lead to deficiencies, even in people with healthy dietary intakes.
Given that many women take the Pill over extended periods, even over decades, there is potential for these deficiencies to lead to a variety of negative effects.
At PIM we have a particular interest in the effects of diet and nutrition on all aspects of health and wellbeing. Contact us to learn more.
Do you ever wake from a vivid dream only to find it slipping away without a trace?
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have published a study showing that taking high-dose vitamin B6 supplements before bed helped people remember their dreams.
The study involved 100 people. Half took the B6 supplements while the other half took a placebo: neither group knew what they were taking.
The group that received vitamin B6 found their dreams were clearer and easier to remember. The supplements did not affect how vivid or bizarre their dreams were and it had no effect on their quality of sleep. There were no significant adverse reactions in the study.
The author of the study, Denholm Aspy from the university’s School of Psychology, said that the findings could benefit people by enabling them to control their dreams.
“Lucid dreaming, where you know that you are dreaming while the dream is still happening, has many potential benefits,” he said. “For example, it may be possible to use lucid dreaming for overcoming nightmares, treating phobias, creative problem solving, refining motor skills and even helping with rehabilitation from physical trauma.”
At PIM we have a particular interest in the role of vitamins and the influence of diet on all aspects of our health and wellbeing. Contact us to learn more.
Your immune system is always active, scanning for threats from viruses, bacteria and other pathogens. When a threat is detected, it ramps up its activity level to respond to the attacker.
To fuel this higher level of activity, the immune system needs more energy and more raw materials.
Studies have shown that vitamins A, B6, B12, folate, C, D and E, and trace elements including zinc, copper, selenium and iron all play important roles in supporting your immune system and reducing risk of infections. Zinc and selenium appear to be especially important in fighting viral infections.
Your gut microbiome also contributes to immune health.
The key source for all of these nutrients and trace elements is your diet.
A recent article in the British Medical Journal reviews the current state of understanding of the roles played by these nutrients and their possible connections with COVID-19. The article recommends that nutrition should be at the forefront of any strategy to ensure your immune system is well supported.
At Professional Integrative Medicine we have a particular interest in the role of diet and nutrition in your health and wellbeing. Contact us to find out more.
New research shows that high dose vitamin C supports immune function in diabetic patients who have poor sugar control.
A new study from Khon Kaen University in Thailand has found that vitamin C supplements in high doses increases the function of a type of white blood cell that is involved in a range of immune processes.
Polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) are a type of white blood cells that eat and destroy pathogens and infected cells, among other functions. This is especially important for patients with type 2 diabetes, whose immune systems are compromised.
Patients in the trial were given 1000mg per day of vitamin C for six weeks. Their PMN cells were able to increase their uptake of the circulating vitamin C, protecting them from extreme damage. The increased function of PMN cells was especially notable in patients with poor glycemic control.
Dr Lesley Braun said that the results were promising: “Type 2 diabetes affects more than 400 million people worldwide, so it is encouraging to see the potential health benefits of an affordable and widely accessible nutritional supplement like vitamin C. With further research, vitamin C supplementation may become an important part of a treatment plan for type 2 diabetes.”
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Good news for parents – researchers have found that probiotic treatment with a form of Lactobacillus helps reduce the symptoms of colic.
Babies with colic were given Lactobacillus rhamnosus and their breast-feeding mothers avoided cow’s milk in their diet for 28 days. The treatment reduced crying time and levels of faecal calprotectin, which indicates mucosal inflammation and can be used as a marker for inflammatory bowel disease.
It is believed that colic is a result of impairments in the baby’s gut microbiota, with subsequent gut inflammation.
Supplementing with the probiotic has also been reported to induce tolerance in infants with a suspected allergy to cow’s milk.
There is still much more to learn about our microbiome, and this research is another encouraging step.
At Professional Integrative Medicine we have a particular interest in the gut microbiome and how it, in conjunction with diet, influences our overall health and wellbeing. Contact us to find out more.
At PIM we have a particular interest in diet and nutrition, and how these factors affect our immune response.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it especially important to provide optimal support for the immune system, especially at a time when many people are confined to their homes.
A recent review of existing research highlights the importance of various nutrients in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, strengthening the immune system.
Protein intake is essential for antibody production, while low levels of micronutrients such as vitamin A and zinc are associated with increased risk of infection.
Vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids and polyphenols have high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity. Vitamin D may interrupt the process of viral infection of cells in the body.
Dietary fibre may also have a role to play – when fibre is fermented by gut microbes into short-chain fatty acids, these have been shown to produce anti-inflammatory effects.
Contact us to find out more about how your diet affects your health and wellbeing.
Australian researchers are about to carry out world-first research, using intravenous zinc against the damaging symptoms of coronavirus.
The virus that causes COVID-19 can cause severe respiratory symptoms, leading to multiple organ failure due to lack of oxygen. Previous studies have shown that zinc can slow the replication rate of similar viruses such as SARS and the common cold.
A clinical trial led by Dr Joseph Ischia from Austin Health and Dr Oneel Patel from the Department of Surgery at the University of Melbourne will be fast-tracked to test whether a daily injection of zinc chloride will benefit COVID-19 patients.
Previous published studies from Dr Patel have shown that high doses of zinc can protect vital organs from the damage cause by lack of oxygen.
As there is currently no specific treatment available for COVID-19 patients at high risk of respiratory failure, this study could be a potential life saver. The researchers are hopeful of a successful trial, as zinc is proven to be effective in treating severe pneumonia and other viruses.
Preliminary results are expected in a very short time – as little as seven days.
The researchers warn of the dangers of zinc overdose and stress that it will be carefully administered to ensure patient safety.
A new study published in the British Medical Journal suggest that eating just a little bit more fruit and vegetables can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
A team of European researchers looked at more than 23,000 people and found that those with a higher intake of fruit and vegetables had a much lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The research team, led by the University of Cambridge, examined the levels of vitamin C and carotenoids in 9,754 people who developed new-onset type 2 diabetes and a second group of 13,662 who did not. Measuring the levels of vitamin C and carotenoids is considered more reliable than dietary questionnaires.
Taking into account other factors such as lifestyle, the researchers found the risk of developing type 2 diabetes could be reduced as much as 25% for every 66 gram increase in daily fruit and veg intake.
At PIM we have a particular interest in the connections between nutrition and wellbeing. Contact us for more information.
A project in Melbourne is examining how diverse our oral microbiome is, and how it may be affected by housemates, pets and where we live. Researchers hope to shed some light on any connection between microbiomes and allergies, as Melbourne has become known as the allergy capital of the world.
Preliminary results show that Melburnians eat too much sugar and not enough fruit and vegetables, which reduces the diversity of mouth microbes.
Almost 1500 people participated in the study, providing a saliva sample and filling out a questionnaire at an exhibition at the Melbourne Museum last year. Researchers have used the data to create an interactive map showing how microbiome diversity varies across the city.
While the data is still being analysed, the researchers are cautious about discussing results, but some early findings include that people living with at least one other person had a higher diversity of microbes.
Initial results also showed that Victorians share ‘big chunks’ of similar bacteria to other cities around the world, possibly ruling out the likelihood that people in Melbourne have radically different microbiomes.
Researcher Johanna Simkin says, “It’s more likely to be a combination of microbiome including hyper-cleanliness, diet, cultural factors, and our vitamin D levels.”
At PIM we have a particular interest in how our microbiomes influence our health and wellbeing. Contact us to find out more.
People living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from dementia and more than six times as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, according to new research from Taiwan and the USA.
Previous research has suggested Parkinson’s disease may begin in the gut, and linked changes to the gut microbiome to mental health problems, motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s.
Now, a team led by Dr Bing Zhang from the University of California San Francisco shows that people with IBD – including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis – have a greater risk of being diagnosed with dementia. They also tend to be diagnosed at a younger age.
It is important to note that the study does note prove that IBD causes dementia, however, there are a number of ways they could be linked. Chronic inflammation is linked with blood clots and stroke, as well as Alzheimer’s, while it is also possible that disruptions to the gut microbiome may be involved.
While this study does not prove a causal link, the analysis does suggest that people with IBD are at greater risk of dementia, and the role of inflammation in cognitive conditions warrants further research.
At PIM we have a particular interest in inflammation and the role of nutrition and the gut microbiome in a range of health conditions. Contact us to learn more.
