Poor Diet Linked to Multiple Sclerosis Relapse in Children

Fatty diets increase the risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses in children, according to a study published online in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, & Psychiatry. Researchers tracked dietary intake data and assessed relapse rates for 219 participants with pediatric relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) at 11 MS centers across the United States.

Higher fat intake increased the risk for relapse by 56 percent while every 10 percent increase in saturated fat intake tripled the risk of relapse. Vegetable intake showed a protective effect, with a 50 percent decreased risk for every one- cup of vegetables consumed. Saturated fat, notably from animal sources, often increases calorie intake and promotes inflammation linked to MS relapse. The authors suggest dietary interventions promote vegetable intake to decrease inflammation and promote healthy gut microbiota associated with lower relapse rates.

Steele CB, Thomas CC, Henley SJ, et al. Vital Signs: trends in incidence of cancers associated with overweight and obesity — United States, 2005–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Published online October 3, 2017.

High Blood Pressure in Mothers Linked to Childhood Obesity

Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy affect children’s obesity risk, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Researchers followed 88,406 mother-child pairs and tracked blood pressure measurements. Mothers with higher blood pressure readings during the second and third trimesters increased overweight and obesity risk in their children by 49 percent and 14 percent, respectively. The authors suggest clinicians monitor blood pressure throughout pregnancy, as results also showed changes in blood pressure between the first and third trimesters affected children’s obesity risk.

Zheng JS, Liu H, Ong KK, et al. Maternal blood pressure rise during pregnancy and offspring obesity risk at 4-7 years old: the Jiaxing Birth CohortJ Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published online September 27, 2017.

Leafy Greens Lower Risk for Heart Disease in Adolescents

Children and adolescents with low intakes of phylloquinone, a form of vitamin K, may be at risk for enlarged heart valves, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Researchers followed diet records for 766 participants aged 14-18 and monitored vascular structure and functionality. When compared to those with the highest intake of vitamin K from foods such as spinach, cabbage, and other leafy green vegetables, those with the lowest intake were more likely to experience vascular enlargement. This type of enlargement, normally observed in adults, typically results in elevated blood pressure and other cardiac complications. The authors suggest these findings may develop treatment and prevention initiatives aimed at improving cardiovascular function in children and adolescents.

Douthit MK, Fain ME, Nguyen JT, et al. Phylloquinone intake is associated with cardiac structure and function in adolescents. J Nutr. 2017;147:1960-1967.

Human-Relevant Model of Rare Genetic Disorder Offers Insights into Brain Development

Researchers used brain cell cultures derived from reprogrammed skin cells of patients with lissencephaly, a rare inherited brain disorder characterized by severe developmental delay and a smooth rather than folded brain surface structure, to identify the developmental defect in the brain cells harboring the genetic mutation that causes the disease.

The researchers found the patient-derived brain cells carrying the mutation matured more slowly and had problems with mobility, which impairs their ability to reach the correct brain site. This study provides novel insights into the disease mechanism, which is potentially important for developing therapeutic strategies for lissencephaly.

Animal models with the genetic mutation do not mimic the human disease, and donor tissue is scarce due to the rarity of the disease. Thus, this cellular model of lissenchephaly derived from patients increases the opportunity to study and find human-relevant insights about mechanisms of the disease and brain development in general. This technique can be adapted to study other human genetic diseases of the brain.

Shahsavani M, Pronk R, Falk F, et al. An in vitro model of lissencephaly: expanding the role of DCX during neurogenesis. Mol Psychiatry. Published online September 19, 2017. doi: 10.1038/mp.2017.175.

 

Do not let your fire go out ~

“Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not quite, the not yet, and the not at all.

Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach.

The world you desire can be won. It exists. It is real. It is possible. It is yours.”


—Ayn Rand

Walnut Consumption Suppresses Appetite in Brain

Study in a Sentence: In a well-controlled clinical trial with 10 obese adult volunteers, researchers found that daily consumption of 48 grams of walnuts in a smoothie for five days led to a subjective decrease in appetite correlated with activation of the region in the brain regulating food cravings as shown on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Relative to patients drinking a similarly flavored smoothie without walnuts, patients consuming the walnuts felt fuller and more inclined to make healthier food choices.

Healthy for Humans: The study suggests that promoting walnut consumption can be a potential public health strategy to curb obesity. The study can be adopted to test other foods and compounds for reducing obesity.

Redefining Research: This study demonstrated a human-relevant method to test treatments for human diseases in a well-controlled manner that can rapidly be translated into public health strategies without the use of animal models.

 

Farr OM, Tuccinardi D, Upadhyay J, Oussaada SM, Mantzoros CS. Walnut consumption increases activation of the insula to highly desirable food cues: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over fMRI study. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published online July 17, 2017. doi: 10.1111/dom.13060.

Dancing for Brain Function

In a small clinical trial with 26 elderly adults, researchers found that patients who engage in a regular dancing routine for 18 months showed greater enlargement of the hippocampus—a brain area critical for memory—and better balance control than patients who are engaged in regular endurance exercise.

This study suggests that dancing may serve as an alternative intervention to exercise for limiting cognitive and physical declines associated with aging.

This study uses brain imaging modalities to study changes in human brain structures associated with lifestyle interventions. It demonstrates the use of a noninvasive strategy to characterize human-relevant effects of a readily implementable intervention.

Rehfeld K, Müller P, Aye N, et al. Dancing or fitness sport? The effects of two training programs on hippocampal plasticity and balance abilities in healthy seniors. Front Hum Neurosci. 2017;11:305. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00305.

 

Stem Cell Model Identifies Eating Disorder Gene

Study in a Sentence: Using skin cells isolated from patients with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa, researchers created a new stem cell model of this condition and identified a novel gene (tachykinin 1 receptor) involved in this disorder.

Healthy for Humans: The novel gene implicated in anorexia nervosa by this study can serve as a new drug target for this disorder. This gene was previously found to play a role in the regulation of the metabolic system by the brain, suggesting a new molecular insight into this disorder.

Redefining Research: The study provides a new human-based research tool (i.e., stem cell model of anorexia nervosa) for scientist to further investigate other unknown underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in anorexia nervosa.
Image Credit: http://www.dentalmcqs.com/images/Anorexia-PLR.png

Negraes PD, Cugola FR, Herai RH, et al. Modeling anorexia nervosa: transcriptional insights from human iPSC-derived neurons. Transl Psychiatry. 2017;7:e1060. doi: 10.1038/tp.2017.37.

Statins

Statins were given pre-market approval in 1987.

Interestingly, deaths attributed to heart failure more than doubled between 1989 and 1997. Interference with the production of Co-Q10 by statin drugs has been proposed as the most likely explanation.

Additionally; drugs that are meant to control cholesterol levels may also be damaging your liver. Several studies indicate that statins cause severe liver damage, especially in dosages higher than 50 milligrams per day. Note; often statin dosages climb up to 80 milligrams per day (prescribed when a person has high cholesterol levels).

Atorvastatin, Simvastatin, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, and Pravastatin have all been linked to liver injury.

Are you struggling with high cholesterol?

Would you like help in controlling your cholesterol naturally (without medications)?

If the answer is yes: reach out to LisaMarie.
518-603-0326ln

Dietary – Prostate Health

Additional studies on prostate health conclude that although some prostate health is genetic and perhaps environmental, the largest component to prostate health is food choice.

“It turns out that a diet that is really emphasizing plant-based foods – fruits, vegetables, grains, beans – that’s going to be your most protective diet. It seems that a diet that is heavy in animal products and simple carbohydrates is probably an increased risk factor for prostate cancer, not to mention a whole host of other diseases.” While nothing is all or nothing, a diet rich in veggies can lower your risks, and slow the progression of the disease if you do have prostate cancer.”

Dr. Sptiz, MD