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RISK OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE – (08-17-09)
Risk of coronary artery disease associated with initial sulphonylurea treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes
Ok, so the TZDs for diabetes (i.e. Avandia, Actose) have been giving a black box warning for causing heart disease (the number one cause of death in diabetics, I might add). So let’s use the sulfonylureas, right? Well, they’re known to actually damage the beta cells of the pancreas–the very cells we want to protect!!. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, here we see more than a doubling of risk of heart disease with some of the older drugs in this class. Man…if I was an endocrinologist that really wanted to help my patients–I’d burn the prescription pad and open a gym.
TRENDS IN THE PREVALENCE OF CHRONIC MEDICATION USE – (09-01-09)
Trends in the Prevalence of Chronic Medication Use in Children: 2002-2005
If this does not become a wake up call, then our country is missing a pulse. The REAL, REAL scary aspect is that there is likely some type of epigenetic, in uteru IRREVERSIBLE changes that occur as a result of poor nutrition, forced fertilization coupled with environmental toxicants. That means we really haven’t even seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to diseases in children. But where are the parents??? Have we so blindly accepted the wisdom of mainstream medicine that we will put our children on drugs for hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol without making lifestyle changes. I would venture so far as to say that almost ANY child can improve their physiologies with the correct recommendations for lifestyle changes. So why are we doing it????????? Can pediatricians really think this is the best approach?
INCREASE IN VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY DUE TO OZONE – (09-01-09)
Ozone Increases Vitamin D Deficiency among Women with Outdoor Activities during Summer
Air pollution is pretty well accepted to contribute to heart disease and the risk of heart attacks. However, the risk goes deeper and may explain the near epidemic levels of Vit D deficiency in patients.
We’ve got reports of people in studies in high sun exposed areas (like Tucson, AZ) but still with Vit D deficiency in their blood. Given how serious low Vit D levels are, this is a HUGE public health issue.
STUDY ON OCCUPATIONAL STRESS AND RISK OF STROKE (08-24-09)
Prospective Study on Occupational Stress and Risk of Stroke
We all know that stress isn’t good for us. We all have a tendency to stress the MOST about the things we have no control over. So..if we can’t control them, why stress? It’s killing us. Literally. The problem is that so many people seem to get completely caught up in a cycle of stress, with one stressful event giving way to the next event, in an seemingly endless cascade of stress.
Well, in this study we found a doubling of the risk of stroke in men who had the highest stress levels in their workplace.
RISK OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES (08-17-09)
Risk of coronary artery disease associated with initial sulphonylurea treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes
Ok, so the TZDs for diabetes (i.e. Avandia, Actose) have been giving a black box warning for causing heart disease (the number one cause of death in diabetics, I might add). So let’s use the sulfonylureas, right? Well, they’re known to actually damage the beta cells of the pancreas–the very cells we want to protect!!. And, if that wasn’t bad enough, here we see more than a doubling of risk of heart disease with some of the older drugs in this class. Man…if I was an endocrinologist that really wanted to help my patients–I’d burn the prescription pad and open a gym.
STEAM COOKING SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVES IN VITRO BILE ACID (02-23-09)
Steam cooking significantly improves in vitro bile acid binding of collard greens, kale, mustard greens, broccoli, green bell pepper, and cabbage
This is an interesting study that look at how steam cooking effects the ability of certain foods to bind to bile acids. Remember that bile acids are produced by the liver from cholesterol and stored in the gallbladder until needed. When our body needs to make more bile acids, we use cholesterol from the liver, essentially lowering it’s potential circulation in the serum.
So, not only would the binding to bile acids remove this cholesterol from circulation, but these bile acids, if left alone in the GI tract, are irritating to the lining of the GI tract and can increase the risk of certain GI cancers (that’s one of those little gems they NEVER seem to tell patients who have their gallbladders removed…). So, these vegetables, when steamed, actually had a greater ability to bind the bile acids and have the dual effect on circulating cholesterol as well as protecting the GI tract.
RISK OF NEW-ONSET DIABETES MELLITUS (02-23-09)
A Meta-Analysis of 94,492 Patients With Hypertension Treated With Beta Blockers to Determine the Risk of New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
I remain astonished at the results of this study. Beta blockers are given to patients with high blood pressure to presumably lower their risk of both cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, given the concern that this class of drugs may actually increase progression to diabetes (which would dramatically increase the risk of heart disease and stroke), this study looked more deeply into the question.
What did they find in evaluating studies combining 95,000 patients?? A 22% INCREASED risk of diabetes!! Ok, so they get diabetes, but what about protecting against stroke? How well did that work? A 15% increased risk of stroke. Then, for the icing on the cake, the authors found no change in risk for heart attacks or death. And for this our insurance reimburses the cost???
The bottom line is that, any time we try to artificially mutate a value (like blood pressure) with drugs, there will be a price to be paid. As the wizened turtle in Kung Fu Panda say, “one is likely to meet their destiny on the road they take to avoid it.” Lifestyle is the ONLY answer.
USE OF STATINS INCREASES CIRCULATING LEVELS OF VIT E (02-23-09)
Early decrease of oxidative stress by atorvastatin in hypercholesterolaemic patients: effect on circulating vitamin E
Homage to the use of statins for preventing heart disease continues. But research suggests that their protective effect (as questionable as that is) comes not from their ability to lower cholesterol, but likely from some type of antioxidant or anti-inflammatory effect.
This study finds that the use of statins increases circulating levels of Vit E, hinting that statins may have some type of antioxidant effects. However, this can be looked at another way. What if the use of statins increases Vit E levels, and this increase in Vit E levels is one of the ways that the risk of heart disease is lowered? Wouldn’t that be a hoot? The pharmaceutical companies would hate to have their $100 / month drug replaced with $10 of Vit E.
LOW SERUM LEVELS OF 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D PREDICT FATAL CANCER (02-23-09)
Low Serum Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Predict Fatal Cancer in Patients Referred to Coronary Angiography
You almost have to laugh at the direness of studies like this. Here is patient A with heart disease going in for a cardiac procedure that really isn’t going to change their long term risk of needing an open heart surgery and not having the lifestyle factors addressed that contributed to the heart disease. But they will be put on statins for “prevention.”
So, this alone is enough to ruin your day. Then, to know that, in those with the lowest serum levels of 25-OH Vitamin D, there was a much greater risk of dying from cancer. Just don’t let the life insurance underwriters get a hold of this study.
ASSOCIATION OF URINARY BISPHENOL A CONCENTRATION WITH MEDICAL DISORDERS – (05-25-09)
Association of Urinary Bisphenol A Concentration With Medical Disorders and Laboratory Abnormalities in Adults
Interestingly, despite evidence over the years, the EPA’s stance on BPA is that it is safe at levels of normal exposure. You can even find a wonderful website highlighting the joy and benefit that BPA brings to our lives that is funded by the chemical companies that manufacture plastics containing BPA.
Despite this rosy picture, the research disagrees, including this current study in a very prestigious journal finding an increase in CVD, diabetes and elevated liver enzymes (most likely linked to the prediabetic state) in those with the highest exposure to BPA based on urine levels. Now does this sound safe, and safe enough to be used in products our pregnant moms, infants and toddlers are exposed to?
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