LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

inflammation

RISK OF CVD BY HYSTERECTOMY STATUS – (05-01-05)

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Risk of CVD by Hysterectomy Status, With and Without Oophorectomy

This exemplifies what I have a problem with–many times women have hormonal dysfunctions that lead to gynecological problems.  These problems could be caused by estrogen dominance, insulin resistance, increased inflammation via poor dietary supply of omega 3 fatty acids…

But these women undergo hysterectomies without ever fully evaluating what the actual cause of the problem was!  Quite frustrating considering that whatever the imbalance, it is allowed to reign unchecked after one of the body’s smoke detectors (the problem leading up to the hysterectomy) is plucked out.

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VAGINAL VAULT INFECTION INCREASES RISK OF PRETERM BIRTH – (05-08-05)

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Is a change in vaginal flora associated with an increased risk of preterm birth?

While clinicians are slow to recognize it, inflammation in the vaginal vault during pregnancy is not a good thing and increases the risk of miscarriage or preterm birth.  So, chalk up another negative with our culture’s overuse of antibiotics.  I still contend that the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria is the small problem–destruction of normal flora and the resultant negative health effects far outweigh the resistance issue.

Regardless, the use of probiotic douche would be a good idea to put in protective flora and reduce the risk of inflammation occurring in the vaginal vault from infection.

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METABOLIC RISK FACTORS IN OBESE WOMEN – (05-08-05)

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Metabolic risk factors in formerly obese women-effects of a pronounced weight loss by gastric band operation compared with weight loss by diet alone

Some interesting observations here.  First, while no one should be surprised, I am NOT a fan of any type of gastric bypass.  Mother Nature put it there for a reason. I’m sure that, when all the long term data are in, we will see much greater risks of chronic diseases in these patients due to malabsorption of any number of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

That being said, the patients undergoing surgery lost more weight than those choosing the diet route, however, their insulin sensitivity was better than their dietary counterparts prior to surgery–suggesting that they may not have been as metabolically “bad off” as the diet group.

What I find VERY interesting was that, after surgery, this group of patients had elevated levels of TNF-apha, a marker of inflammation that begins a cascade of further inflammation in the body.  Not a good sign, at all.  Even more interestingly, this data were mentioned in the conclusion but no importance was given to this finding.

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HOW TO PROTECT BONE HEALTH? – (11-05-07)

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n–3 Fatty acids are positively associated with peak bone mineral density and bone accrual in healthy men

This raises some interesting questions. It is well accepted (in the research, anyway…) that inflammation is a major player in bone loss. Increased inflammation (notably increased levels of TNF-alpha, a key player in inflammation) increases the number of osteoclasts–the cells that break down bone. This leads to an increase in the breakdown in bone without balanced building up of bone.

But this study evaluated the fatty acids of younger men. I would generally consider breaking the “inflammation cascade” as being effective in an older population, and would think that increased bone breakdown would be less of an issue in younger patients. So either my thinking is off, and inflammation is a player much earlier then we would think (which is scary in and of itself) or there is another mechanism at work. Either way, increased intake of healthier fats coupled with solid Vit D intake (supplemental or sun) will go a long way towards protecting bone health.

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CONCEPT OF CALORIE RESTRICTION WITHOUT NUTRIENT RESTRICTION – (09-17-07)

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Alternate day calorie restriction improves clinical findings and reduces markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in overweight adults with moderate asthma

The concept of calorie restriction without nutrient restriction really intrigues me. While I have not used it clinically, the research supporting this type of approach is rapidly growing, and almost everything I’ve read is positive.

The problem with calorie restriction is that most patients would not be willing to partake in this as a lifestyle choice. The drug companies are trying to find out how to mimic it with a pharmaceutical compound and the researchers are trying to figure out how to make a CR approach more appealing to the masses. The idea of restricting calories every other day is definitely do-able.

Initial research suggests that calorie restriction increases both the efficiency and number of mitochondria. Basically, the body becomes very effective in utilizing all calories that come into the body and does this by making more and “stronger” mitochondria.

In this particular study, researchers found that alternate day CR in 10 obese patients with asthma had positive effects as soon as 2 weeks. Pretty strong findings for such a safe approach.

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LOWER LEVELS OF IL-10 EQUALS LESS INFLAMMATION – (02-11-07)

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Vitamin D supplementation improves cytokine profiles in patients with congestive heart failure

This study found that Vit D was able to lower the levels of a compound called IL-10.  While IL-10 is not the queen of all inflammatory mediators, it is very high up on the hierarchy.  This means that IL-10 turns on a bunch of other enzymes involved in inflammation.  So, lower levels of IL-10 equals less inflammation.

While this study was done on congestive heart failure patients, it has ramifications for every other type of autoimmune disease as well.  Also, the levels used, 50 micrograms (about 2,000 IU), is definitely a good dosage.

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OBESITY INCREASES RISK OF UV RADIATION INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS – (07-30-07)

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Obesity increases the risk of UV radiation-induced oxidative stress and activation of MAPK and NF-B signaling

Chronic disease from alterations in physiology does not happen in a vacuum. Every alteration impacts all systems. This study, done in mice, finds that obese mice exposed to UV B light experienced greater oxidative damage. Given that obesity generates increased systemic inflammation which drains anti oxidant reserves, the inability to protect against another source of oxidative stress makes complete sense.

Take this in the context of the increased rates of melanoma in our kids. Is it from sun exposure as public health officials would have us believe–leading to recommendations for sun avoidance and Vit D deficiency? Or is a part of the picture relating to poor overall health?

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INFLAMMATION IS A MAJOR PLAYER IN BONE LOSS – (07-30-07)

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High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Risk of Nontraumatic Fractures

As a way of background, an odds ratio gives you an idea of whether an intervention or condition increases or decreases risk of a disease. OR of 1 means no effect, less then 1 protects, more then 1 increases. So an OR of 2 means doubling of risk. With this as background, consider osteoporosis.

It is pretty much a lock that inflammation is a major player in bone loss. Higher levels of TNF-alpha, a mediator of inflammation, will end up producing greater numbers of osteoclasts–the cells that break down bone. So, more inflammation = more osteoclasts = more bone loss. But this association seems to have escaped the standard of care for osteopenia or osteoporosis. I just have never had a patient come in that was counseled in anything other then antiresorptive agents like Fosomax and maybe some extra calcium.

Back to this study. In the Archives of Internal Medicine, a relatively high level journal, we see that comparing the lowest levels of hs CRP (a lab marker of inflammation) to the highest level produced an OR of 9.3. That’s a staggering 9 X risk for osteoporosis of an already high risk disease. This makes inflammation the major player in bone loss. And yet it is ignored when it comes to prevention and treatment. Inexcusable.

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