Gary‘s Daily Health News - Vol. 9

The benefits of royal jelly for menopausal women

Hormozgan University of Medical Science (Iran), September 2, 2021

A recent study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice revealed that supplementing with royal jelly can help alleviate menopausal symptoms. In their report, researchers from the Hormozgan University of Medical Science in Iran noted that the severity of menopausal symptoms was significantly lower in women who had been given a royal jelly supplement.

Menopause and its accompanying symptoms

Clinically speaking, menopause refers to the end of the menstrual cycle. It’s diagnosed after a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period. In the U.S., the average age for menopause is 51; however, it has been reported in women as early as 40. It’s worth noting that menopause is a natural biological process. But physical and mental changes that come with menopause can impact a woman’s quality of life.

There are signs and symptoms that signal menopause, called perimenopause. These can occur in the months or years leading up to menopause.

• Irregular periods. During perimenopause, a woman may experience either shorter or longer periods than usual. It could also cause unexpected bleeding during periods, or missed periods altogether.
• Hot flashes. A hot flash is defined as a sudden feeling of heat in the chest and face. Hot flashes are very common in perimenopause, but their frequency and severity may differ for each woman. A night sweat, on the other hand, refers to a hot flash that occurs during sleep. While night sweats can interrupt a woman’s sleep cycle and cause daytime fatigue, there are cases where it can be debilitating.
• Mood swings. Changes in mood are fairly common among perimenopausal women; these may include symptoms of irritability, depression and anxiety. However, women experiencing persistent mood changes, or those that affect their quality of life, should talk to a healthcare professional.
• Vaginal atrophy. Perimenopausal women also have reduced estrogen production. This can lead to a condition called vaginal atrophy, or vaginal dryness. A woman with vaginal atrophy has thinning, drying or inflamed vaginal walls caused by reduced estrogen levels in the body. This makes sexual intercourse painful, often accompanied by feelings of itching and burning. This also increases a woman’s risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
• Loss of libido. Women in perimenopause — and later, menopause — experience a loss of interest in sex due to hormonal fluctuations.

Royal jelly intervention reduced menopause symptoms

For the study, the team looked at whether royal jelly can help in alleviating the symptoms that come with menopause. Royal jelly is a gelatinous substance produced by honey bees to feed queen bees. It’s often sold as a dietary supplement. It’s long been used in traditional medicine; however, there are few studies that explore its effectiveness in managing symptoms of menopause.

The team enrolled women in menopause from Bandar Abbas, Iran, for an eight-week study. During this time, the participants were assigned to take either a capsule of royal jelly or a placebo every day. At the beginning of the study, they were asked to score their menopausal symptoms, which they revisited after completing the study.

Based on the findings, the women treated with royal jelly reported significant reductions in their menopausal symptoms, compared to those who took the placebo. In addition, they also reported a significant reduction in the severity of their symptoms after the intervention. 

“[Daily] consumption of oral royal jelly (1,000?mg) for eight weeks was effective in alleviating the menopausal symptoms,” the researchers concluded in their report. “However, further research is necessary to confirm the effects.”

 

 

First Ground Breaking Study Shows How Rhodiola Rosea Protects People From Viral Infections

 

Appalachian State University  August 26, 2021

 

Also known as arctic root or golden root, Rhodiola Rosea has already been clinically shown to stimulate serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine activity, and support healthy neurotransmitter balance, but human trials have now shown the the herb protects against viral infection.

 

Arctic Root is a plant indigenous to Siberia, where it thrives in high altitudes and dry arctic climate. The primary medicinal compounds of Arctic Root are derived from the root of the plant. In Russia, Scandinavia and much of Europe, Arctic Root has been traditionally recognized for itsadaptogenic properties. An adaptogen is a physiological agent that naturally increases the body’s resistance to physical and emotional stress. Rhodiola Rosea has been clinically shown to stimulate Serotonin, Norepinephrine and Dopamine activity, and may help to support healthy neurotransmitter balance. 

Ground breaking studies led by David Nieman, DrPh, FACSM, director of the Appalachian State University Human Performance Laboratory at the NC Research Campus (NCRC) in Kannapolis, are building on previous human trials that demonstrate the anti-viral activity of blueberry and green tea polyphenols. 

A 2002 review in HerbalGram, the journal of the American Botanical Council, reported that numerous studies of rhodiola in both humans and animals have indicated that it helps prevent fatigue, stress, and the damaging effects of oxygen deprivation. Evidence also suggests that it acts as an antioxidant, enhances immune system function, and can increase sexual energy. Rhodiola's efficacy was confirmed in a 2011 review of 11 placebo-controlled human studies. The reviewers considered studies that all had study designs rated as moderate to good quality, and the analysis of their combined data concluded that rhodiola might have beneficial effects on physical performance, mental performance, and certain mental health conditions. 

Testing For Anti-Viral Defense

Nieman’s study "Rhodiola rosea exerts antiviral activity in athletes following a competitive marathon race," which was published in Frontiers in Nutrition, is the first to show anti-viral activity.

 

In his study, 48 marathon runners participating in the 2012 Thunder Road Marathon in Charlotte were randomly divided into two groups that ingested either 600 milligrams of Rhodiola rosea or a placebo for a month before the race. Blood samples were collected the day before the marathon and 15 minutes and 1.5 hours post-race. Initial studies found no impact on inflammation and oxidative stress. Additional studies used an in vitro assay to measure the ability of the polyphenolic compounds to protect the cells against Vesicular stomatitis virus. The results demonstrated that Rhodiola rosea delayed viral infection for up to 12 hours after the marathon.

 

Nieman was the first scientist to find that marathon runners are prone to viral illnesses such as upper respiratory tract infections after competing. This discovery motivated him to research plant-based compounds that could prevent infection and enhance recovery and overall athletic performance.

Since Rhodiola rosea administration appears to impact central monoamine levels, it might also provide benefits and be the adaptogen of choice in clinical conditions characterised by an imbalance of central nervous system monoamines. It also suggests that research in areas such as seasonal affective disorder, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome, among others, is warranted.

 

"Basically after heavy exertion, bacteria and viruses can multiply at a higher rate than normal due to factors in the serum like stress hormones and inflammatory cytokines," Nieman said. "This is why runners are six times more likely to get sick after a marathon. We showed that in those who used Rhodiola rosea the viruses could not multiply, meaning it was acting as a countermeasure."

 

The in vitro assay used in the study was developed by Nieman and Maryam Ahmed, PhD, an associate professor of biology at Appalachian who is a virology expert and study co-author.

 

"A lot of these types of compounds, you cannot test in humans," Ahmed said. "So the really unique aspect of this study is that we gave these individuals the supplements, and we were able to test their blood in the lab using the experimental procedures that we developed to find out whether the compounds in the blood can protect cells against viruses."

 

Using the specially developed assays, Ahmed and Nieman also identified a mix of polyphenolic compounds from green tea and blueberries that is even more effective than Rhodiola rosea at preventing viral replication in athletes after intense competition. Those findings were reported in the 2014 study "The Protective Effects of a Polyphenol-Enriched Protein Powder on Exercise-Induced Susceptibility to Virus Infection" that was published in the journal Phytotherapy Research. The study was led by Nieman in collaboration with the Dole Nutrition Institute and the NC State University Plants for Human Health Institute, both at the NCRC.

 

Anybody Can Benefit

Rhodiola both stimulates and protects the immune system by reinstating homeostasis (metabolic balance) in the body. It also increases the natural killer cells (NK) in the stomach and spleen. This action may be due to its ability to normalise hormones by modulating the release of glucocorticoid into the body. 

Both Nieman and Ahmed assert that the anti-viral effects of polyphenols are beneficial to more than athletes. In a 2012 study published in the journal Nutrients, Nieman lead a 1,000 person community study that demonstrated people who eat three or more servings of fruit per day substantially reduced their incidence of upper respiratory tract infections.

 

"These compounds that we are looking at are not only for athletes," Ahmed said. "They are also anti-oxidant and anti-cancer and have other properties that can benefit the general public."

 

Nieman added, "We are producing some of the first human studies showing plant polyphenols -- the naturally occurring chemicals in fruits and vegetables that give them their colors like purple, red and yellow -- work with the immune system to help clear viruses and keep their ability to multiply under control."

 

 

Rhodiola significantly improves mental health and promotes a calm state of mind

University of Wein (Austria), September 3, 2021

Rhodiola rosea is a potent herb commonly grown in the wild Arctic region. Also known as arctic root and golden root, rhodiola is used in traditional medicineto treat anxiety, fatigue and weakness, and improve endurance, work performance and tolerance of high altitudes. Nowadays, it is commonly used to boost energy levels, improve athletic performance and treat depression, anxiety and other symptoms.

Rhodiola is considered an “adaptogen,” meaning it helps your body adapt to stress. Read the studies below to learn more about the adaptogenic effect of rhodiola.

Studies show rhodiola improves mental health

In a study published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Treatment, Austrian and German researchers found that rhodiola promotes a calm state of mind and helps reduce symptoms of burnout, an “occupational phenomenon” caused by chronic workplace stress.

Austrian and German researchers recruited 118 burnout patients and asked them to take 400 milligrams (mg) of rhodiola daily over a period of three months. The researchers assessed the participants’ symptoms using various burnout screening tests as well as language and sleep quality tests. Assessment occurred before starting supplementation and on weeks one, four, eight and 12.

The team found that the participants slept better and experienced rapid improvements in all measures of fatigue and burnout, including overall stress levels, fatigue, irritability, anxiety and depression. They also displayed improvements in high-level cognition and decision making and reported increased frequency of sexual activity and increased overall satisfaction with their sex life. These improvements occurred during the first week and continued to increase for the duration of the study, according to the researchers.

In a 2012 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research, British researchers recruited more than 100 individuals that exhibit stress symptoms and had them take 200 mg of rhodiola extract twice a day for four weeks.

Using various stress and fatigue questionnaires, the researchers found “clinically relevant improvements” in regard to stress symptoms, disability and functional impairment. All participants reported experiencing relief from stress and fatigue and 83 percent of them reported that their symptoms were either “much improved” or “very much improved.” These improvements were observed as early as day three of treatment and continued after weeks one and four.

Rhodiola has several mechanisms of action that can explain these findings. For one, it helps balance amounts of the stress hormone cortisol and increase levels of a stress-resisting protein called Hsp70. It also stimulates serotonin and dopamine activity and boosts the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate, the main source of energy for most cellular processes. In addition, compounds in rhodiola like rosavin and salidroside can help fight oxidative stress and inflammation.

 

Being positive linked to lower chance of dying, study says

University of Oxford, September 8, 2021 

 

Being positive, marrying and getting a degree are each significantly associated with a lower chance of dying, a new study says Christopher Jacobi, of the University of Oxford, studied survey responses and medical records of 28,662 people in the U.K. to find out whether their chance of dying was associated with their mental health.

 

Mr Jacobi told the British Sociological Association's Medical Sociology conference in Birmingham today  that people with high positive mental health were less likely to die than average, though a longer follow-up period would be needed to see the long-term effects.

 

Those in the top sixth group of scores for positive mental health experienced a relative risk of dying that was 18% lower in the four years after the survey, he found.

Mr Jacobi, of Nuffield College, said that the strength of this effect was similar to the effect of having a degree or being married.

In his research, he analysed people with similar physical health, income and other life characteristics to exclude the effects of these and isolate those of mental health, marriage and education.

 

Other factors, such as religious belief and income, did not have a statistically significant role.

 

Factors linked to a greater chance of dying were, as expected, being older and having physical health problems.

 

"The results indicate that better positive mental health seems to have a somewhat protective effect against mortality," Mr Jacobi told the conference.

 

"In research literature the most frequently stated ways in which positive mental health is likely to affect mortality are via direct physiological responses such as lowered blood pressure, capacity to cope with stress, less drinking and smoking, an active lifestyle, and better sleep quality.

 

"Likewise, people with high positive mental health might not be affected as severely by potentially negative symptomatic and physiological effects of life events like divorce or unemployment."

 

The interviewees' mental health was evaluated by scoring them for how optimistic they were about the future, how useful and relaxed they were, how close they felt to other people and how decisive they felt.

 

Steps every day could lead to longer life

University of Massachusetts, September 3, 2021

Miami publicist Robin Diamond is "step-obsessed."

She aims for 10,000-plus steps every day using her Apple watch and even bought a treadmill during the COVID-19 quarantine to make sure she reaches her daily goal. The 43-year-old has lost 15 pounds since April 2019 and feels better than ever before.

"Walking saved my sanity and restored my body," she said.

Now, a new study suggests that all those steps may also add years to her life.

Folks who took about 7,000 steps a day had a 50% to 70% lower risk of dying from all causes during after 11 years of follow-up when compared with people who took fewer steps each day. These findings held for Black and white middle-aged men and women.

And quicker steps weren't necessarily any better, the study showed. Step intensity, or the number of steps per minute, didn't influence the risk of dying.

The study, led by Amanda Paluch, an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts' department of kinesiology, appears in the Sept. 3 issue of the journal JAMA Network Open.

"Step-counting devices can be useful tools for monitoring and promoting activity in the general public and for patient-clinician communication, Paluch said. "Steps per day is a simple, easy-to-monitor metric and getting more steps/day may be a good way to promote health."

She added, "7,000 steps/day may be a great goal for many individuals who are currently not achieving this amount. We also found in our study that accumulating a greater number of steps/day was associated with an incremental lower risk of mortality until leveling off at approximately 10,000 steps/day."

Two physicians with no ties to the study looked favorably at the findings.

"This is a very nice study with a great message: "Live longer, walk more," said Dr. Guy Mintz, Northwell Health's director of cardiovascular health at the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y. "There's no need to join a gym, no need to purchase equipment, just start walking."

The research wasn't designed to say how, or even if, taking more steps reduced the chances of dying.

But "exercise can reduce cardiovascular risk by improving blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, improvement of hyperglycemia [blood sugar] in diabetes, and contributing to weight reduction," said Mintz.

Dr. Michael Massoomi is a big fan of step counting. He is a clinical assistant professor of medicine within the division of cardiology at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

There is no one-size-fits-all magic number, he said. "Instead of focusing on 10,000 steps per day, as many groups call for, focus on doing more than you did the day before," he said. "If you get less than 5,000 steps a day, try to increase it to 6,000 in the next few weeks."

This can mean adding a 20-minute walk into your daily schedule, said Massoomi.

You don't need anything fancy or expensive to help count steps either, he said. There are many free apps for smartphones that work extremely well.

In an accompanying editorial, Nicole Spartano, a research assistant professor of medicine in endocrinology, diabetes, nutrition, and weight management at Boston University School of Medicine, pointed out that the step counter used in the new study isn't commercially available.

"It is unclear the extent to which steps measured on these activity monitors compare with steps measured by common consumer devices, including smartwatches, pedometers and smartphone applications," she wrote.

The new study looked at the risk of dying, but other outcomes matter, such as quality of life and mental health. "I hope to encourage investigators and research funders to focus on these understudied topics that will provide evidence to support a national step guideline," Spartano wrote.

 

Taurine and vitamin E protected against pulmonary toxicity in those exposed to cigarette smoke

University of Ilorin (Nigeria), September 3, 2021

According to news originating from Ilorin, Nigeria, research stated, “Cigarette smoke (CS) contains toxicants causing pathological derangements. The effects of taurine and/or vitamin E (TAOV) on the lungs of rats exposed to CS were evaluated.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from University of Ilorin: “Five groups (each containing randomly selected five albino male rats) were formed. Rats in Group 1 were not exposed to CS. Group 2 was exposed to CS without administration of TAOV. Prior to CS exposure, rats in groups 3, 4 and 5 were administered 50 mg/kg b.w. taurine, 30 mg/kg b.w. vitamin E, and a combination of both, respectively. The level of reduced glutathione and activities of Na+/K+-ATPase (SPA), Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPase (CMA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), catalase and superoxide dismutase in the lungs of rats were analyzed. Activities of SPA and CMA in the lung of untreated rats exposed to CS significantly decreased when compared with control (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the activities of SPA and CMA in the lungs of treated rats and control group. The ALT, AST and ALP activities in the lungs of untreated rats reduced significantly relative to control (p < 0.05). Contrastingly, no significant difference was recorded for ALT, AST and ALP activities in the lungs of rats administered taurine and vitamin E prior to CS exposure when compared to the control.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Results showed taurine and vitamin E protected against damage that were otherwise observed in untreated rats. Thus, the administration of TAOV may mitigate CS-induced damage in the lungs of rats.”

 

 

What Is the Liver Powerhouse Silymarin?

GreenMedInfo, September 7th 2021

Here's what science has found most beneficial about silymarin, extracted from milk thistle and known to be a friend of your liver mainly through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

When it comes to treating liver and gallbladder disorders, there is one name that stands out: silymarin. As a group of flavonolignans extracted from milk thistle, silymarin has been traditionally used for various protective benefits, from reinvigorating liver function to promoting breast milk production.

The milk thistle plant, scientifically known as Silybum marianum, is a prickly plant with purple flowers and milky white veins present on the leaves, thus its name. Silymarin is the group of plant compounds that act as its active ingredient.[i]

Silymarin is the main bioactive component of this medicinal plant. It is a mix of various flavonolignans, includings silybinin A and B, isosilybinin A and B, silychristin and silydianin.[ii] Milk thistle extract has a high silymarin content of approximately 65% to 80%.

Silymarin is famed for its antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory components,[iii] as well as its traditional use or treating the liver and restoring its health. In addition, milk thistle itself is generally considered safe to take. Side effects are rare, and in an oral form standardized to contain 70% to 80% silymarin, it appears to be safe for up to 41 months of use.[iv]

Silymarin's Liver-Protective Effects

• Fights liver inflammation and liver damage. Mounting evidence shows improvements in liver function among people with liver diseases who have taken a milk thistle supplement.[v] This suggests protection against flavanone silibinin liver inflammation and liver damage through use of the natural -- silymarin's primary active component -- which was combined with phosphatidylcholine in a specific study to enhance its solubility and bioavailability.
• Protects from toxins such as amatoxin, produced by Amanita mushroom, which can cause death if ingested. Two cases in the U.S. were treated with N-acetylcysteine, high-dose penicillin, cimetidine and silibinin.[vi]

Uncontrolled trials and case reports cited successful treatment with intravenous silibinin, a flavonolignan isolated from milk thistle extracts, in nearly 1,500 cases.[vii] Overall mortality in those treated with the formula was less than 10%, compared to more than 20%when using penicillin, or a mix of silibinin and penicillin.

• Reduces liver fibrosis. In a randomized trial of 99 patients, the team administered silymarin in 700-milligram (mg) doses, or a placebo, given three times daily for 48 weeks.[viii] Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score was reduced by 32.7% in the silymarin group compared to 26% in the placebo group.

Among the secondary outcomes were reductions in inflammation and fibrosis score in the silymarin group, leading the researchers to conclude that silymarin may decrease liver fibrosis, to be confirmed in larger trials. Fibrosis is the formation of abnormally large amounts of scar tissue in the liver.

• Helps prevent liver cancer. Studies have concluded that the long-term use of silymarin significantly increases survival time among patients with alcohol-induced liver cirrhosis, a risk factor for liver cancer. Silymarin can also significantly reduce tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis or new blood vessel formation, as well as insulin resistance.[ix]

The chemopreventive effects "have been established in several studies using in vitro and in vivo methods," according to the researchers, and combine well with anti-inflammatory and inhibitory effects on the metastasis or spread of cancer.

• Contributes to liver regeneration. An animal study suggested that silymarin played a crucial role in accelerating liver regeneration after liver resection, a kind of surgery designed to remove cancerous tumors from the liver.[x] Liver regeneration is thought to evolve to protect animals from loss of liver due to toxins or tissue injury.

Silymarin for Breastfeeding, Neurological Support

Not to be ignored is silymarin's formidable list of other health benefits, such as boosting milk production in lactating mothers. A randomized trial found that mothers taking 420 mg of silymarin for 63 days produced more breast milk than subjects who took a placebo.[xi] Silymarin combined with phosphatidylserine and galega also increased milk production in moms of preterm infants, without any significant side effects.[xii]

Milk thistle is also a traditional remedy for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer'sand Parkinson's diseases. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action mean it may be neuroprotective and help prevent the brain decline experienced with aging.