Vegetarianism

Bill, taking your last notes first ...

The Tarahumara Indians from Northern Mexico didn't get a heart disease risk increase -- as measured by the gold standard TOTAL : HDL ration (3.78 both before -- and after -- dietary change). In fact, according to another highly-relevant indice of heart disease risk, the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio -- they IMPROVED (from 2.84 to 2.57)!

Here's more ...

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J Nutr. 2006 Feb;136(2):384-9.

Carbohydrate restriction alters lipoprotein metabolism by modifying VLDL, LDL, and HDL subfraction distribution and size in overweight men.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.

In contrast plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations were increased by 12% (P<0.05). Changes in plasma TG were positively correlated with reductions in large (r=0.615, P<0.01) and medium VLDL particles (r=0.432, P<0.05) and negatively correlated with LDL diameter (r=-0.489, P<0.01). Changes in trunk fat were positively correlated with medium VLDL (r=0.474, P<0.0) and small LDL (r=0.405, P<0.05) and negatively correlated with large HDL (r=-0.556, P<0.01).

We conclude that weight loss induced by CR favorably alters the secretion and processing of plasma lipoproteins, rendering VLDL, LDL, and HDL particles associated with decreased risk for atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.

PMID: 16424116 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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Recap:
Restricting carbs (even if it means an increase in saturated fat intake -- and it almost universally does) is heart-healthy.

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JAMA. 2005 Nov 16;294(19):2455-64.

Effects of protein, monounsaturated fat, and carbohydrate intake on blood pressure and serum lipids: results of the OmniHeart randomized trial.

Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md 21205-2223, USA. lappel@jhmi.edu

Compared with the carbohydrate diet, the unsaturated fat diet decreased systolic blood pressure by 1.3 mm Hg (P = .005) and by 2.9 mm Hg among those with hypertension (P = .02), had no significant effect on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 1.1 mg/dL (0.03 mmol/L; P = .03), and lowered triglycerides by 9.6 mg/dL (0.11 mmol/L; P = .02). Compared with the carbohydrate diet, estimated 10-year coronary heart disease risk was lower and similar on the protein and unsaturated fat diets.

CONCLUSION: In the setting of a healthful diet, partial substitution of carbohydrate with either protein or monounsaturated fat can further lower blood pressure, improve lipid levels, and reduce estimated cardiovascular risk.

Clinical Trials Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00051350.

PMID: 16287956 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Recap:

Lower carbs = lower risk.

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Metabolism. 2005 Sep;54(9):1133-41.

Weight loss associated with reduced intake of carbohydrate reduces the atherogenicity of LDL in premenopausal women.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.

Likewise, apolipoproteins B and E decreased by 4.5% and 15% (P<.05) after 10 weeks. The LDL mean particle size was increased from 26.74 to 26.86 nm (P<.01), and the percent of the smaller LDL subfraction (P<.05) was decreased by 26.5% (P<.05) after 10 weeks. In addition, LDL lag time increased by 9.3% (P<.01), and LDL conjugated diene formation decreased by 23% (P<.01), indicating that the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation was decreased after the intervention.

This study suggests that moderate weight loss (<5% of body weight) associated with reduced caloric intake, lower dietary carbohydrate, and increased physical activity impacts the atherogenicity of LDL.

PMID: 16125523 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Recap:

Lower carbs = lower risk.

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Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005 Oct;59(10):1142-8.

A low-protein diet exacerbates postprandial chylomicron concentration in moderately dyslipidaemic subjects in comparison to a lean red meat protein-enriched diet.

School of Public Health, Australian Technology Network Centre for Metabolic Fitness, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia. j.Mamo@curtin.edu.au

However, subjects who consumed a low-protein diet for 6 weeks had a substantially exaggerated postprandial chylomicron response, indicated as the area under the apo B48 curve following a fat challenge. The change in postprandial chylomicron kinetics could not be explained by changes in insulin sensitivity, which appeared to be similar before and after intervention with either diet.

CONCLUSIONS: Daily moderate consumption of a lean red meat protein-enriched diet attenuates postprandial chylomicronaemia in response to ingestion of a fatty meal.

PMID: 16015257 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Recap:
Lean red meat is "health-food."

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Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jun;81(6):1298-306.

Effect of an energy-restricted, high-protein, low-fat diet relative to a conventional high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet on weight loss, body composition, nutritional status, and markers of cardiovascular health in obese women.

CSIRO Health Sciences and Nutrition, Adelaide, Australia. manny.noakes@csiro.au

Serum vitamin B-12 increased 9% with the HP diet and decreased 13% with the HC diet (P < 0.0001 between diets). Folate and vitamin B-6 increased with both diets; homocysteine did not change significantly. Bone turnover markers increased 8-12% and calcium excretion decreased by 0.8 mmol/d (P < 0.01). Creatinine clearance decreased from 82 +/- 3.3 to 75 +/- 3.0 mL/min (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION: An energy-restricted, high-protein, low-fat diet provides nutritional and metabolic benefits that are equal to and sometimes greater than those observed with a high-carbohydrate diet.

PMID: 15941879 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Recap:

High-protein diets are "healthier" than high-carbohydrate diets are.

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Diabetologia. 2005 Jan;48(1):8-16.

Comparison of high-fat and high-protein diets with a high-carbohydrate diet in insulin-resistant obese women.

Edgar National Centre for Diabetes Research, Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. kirsten.mcauley@stonebow.otago.ac.nz

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In routine practice a reduced-carbohydrate, higher protein diet may be the most appropriate overall approach to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. To achieve similar benefits on a HC diet, it may be necessary to increase fibre-rich wholegrains, legumes, vegetables and fruits, and to reduce saturated fatty acids to a greater extent than appears to be achieved by implementing current guidelines. The HF approach appears successful for weight loss in the short term, but lipid levels should be monitored. The potential deleterious effects of the diet in the long term remain a concern.

PMID: 15616799 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Recap:

High-protein diets appear to be the most appropriate types of diets for heart disease and diabetes.

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Diabetes. 2004 Sep;53(9):2375-82.

Effect of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet on blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes.

Metabolic Research Laboratory (111G), VA Medical Center, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA. ganno004@umn.edu

We refer to this as a low-biologically-available-glucose (LoBAG) diet. Eight men were studied using a randomized 5-week crossover design with a 5-week washout period. The carbohydrate:protein:fat ratio of the control diet was 55:15:30. The test diet ratio was 20:30:50. Plasma and urinary beta-hydroxybutyrate were similar on both diets. The mean 24-h integrated serum glucose at the end of the control and LoBAG diets was 198 and 126 mg/dl, respectively. The percentage of glycohemoglobin was 9.8 +/- 0.5 and 7.6 +/- 0.3, respectively. It was still decreasing at the end of the LoBAG diet. Thus, the final calculated glycohemoglobin was estimated to be approximately 6.3-5.4%. Serum insulin was decreased, and plasma glucagon was increased. Serum cholesterol was unchanged.

Thus, a LoBAG diet ingested for 5 weeks dramatically reduced the circulating glucose concentration in people with untreated type 2 diabetes. Potentially, this could be a patient-empowering way to ameliorate hyperglycemia without pharmacological intervention. The long-term effects of such a diet remain to be determined.

PMID: 15331548 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Recap:

Lowering glucose availability (ie. eating more protein and fat -- and less carbs) improves diabetic outcomes.

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Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2004 Sep;65(3):235-41.

Beneficial effect of low carbohydrate in low calorie diets on visceral fat reduction in type 2 diabetic patients with obesity.

Center of Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolism, Sakura Hospital, School of Medicine, Toho University, 564-1 Shimoshizu, Sakura-City, Chiba 285-0841, Japan.

There was a larger decrease in visceral fat area measured by computed tomography in the low carbohydrate diet group compared to the high carbohydrate diet group (-40 cm(2) versus -10 cm(2), P < 0.05). The ratio of visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area did not change in the high carbohydrate diet group (from 0.70 to 0.68), but it decreased significantly in the low carbohydrate diet group (from 0.69 to 0.47, P < 0.005).

These results suggest that, when restrict diet was made isocaloric, a low calorie/low carbohydrate diet might be more effective treatment for a reduction of visceral fat, improved insulin sensitivity and increased in HDL-C levels than low calorie/high carbohydrate diet in obese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PMID: 15331203 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Recap:

Low-carbs is better than high-carbs -- even when controlling for total calories.

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J Nutr. 2003 Sep;133(9):2756-61.

An isoenergetic very low carbohydrate diet improves serum HDL cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations, the total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio and postprandial pipemic responses compared with a low fat diet in normal weight, normolipidemic women.

Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-1110, USA. jvolek@uconnvm.uconn.edu

Compared with the low fat diet, the very low carbohydrate diet increased (P <or= 0.05) fasting serum total cholesterol (16%), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) (15%) and HDL-C (33%) and decreased serum triacylglycerols (-30%), the total cholesterol to HDL ratio (-13%) and the area under the 8-h postprandial triacylglycerol curve (-31%). There were no significant changes in LDL size or markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha) after the very low carbohydrate diet.

In normal weight, normolipidemic women, a short-term very low carbohydrate diet modestly increased LDL-C, yet there were favorable effects on cardiovascular disease risk status by virtue of a relatively larger increase in HDL-C and a decrease in fasting and postprandial triaclyglycerols.

PMID: 12949361 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Recap:

Low-carb dieting decreased CVD risk -- as measured by the gold standard TOTAL : HDL ratio -- over-and-above that risk associated with low-fat dieting.

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N Engl J Med. 2003 May 22;348(21):2082-90.

A randomized trial of a low-carbohydrate diet for obesity.

University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104-3309, USA. fosterg@mail.med.upenn.edu

CONCLUSIONS: The low-carbohydrate diet produced a greater weight loss (absolute difference, approximately 4 percent) than did the conventional diet for the first six months, but the differences were not significant at one year. The low-carbohydrate diet was associated with a greater improvement in some risk factors for coronary heart disease. Adherence was poor and attrition was high in both groups. Longer and larger studies are required to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat diets.

PMID: 12761365 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Recap:

Low-carb dieting was associated with greater improvement in some risk factors (than conventional dieting was).

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J Nutr. 2003 Feb;133(2):411-7.

A reduced ratio of dietary carbohydrate to protein improves body composition and blood lipid profiles during weight loss in adult women.

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. d-layman@uiuc.edu

Both groups had significant reductions in serum cholesterol ( approximately 10%), whereas the Protein Group also had significant reductions in triacylglycerols (TAG) (21%) and the ratio of TAG/HDL cholesterol (23%). Women in the CHO Group had higher insulin responses to meals and postprandial hypoglycemia, whereas women in the Protein Group reported greater satiety. This study demonstrates that increasing the proportion of protein to carbohydrate in the diet of adult women has positive effects on body composition, blood lipids, glucose homeostasis and satiety during weight loss.

PMID: 12566476 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Controlled-carb diets are better for chicks.

Post 121

Monday, August 28, 2006 - 7:59pm

August 21, 2006

Moores UCSD Cancer Center Study:
Decrease in Progression of Prostate Cancer
With Plant-based Diet and Stress Reduction
By Nancy Stringer

One out of six American men will develop prostate cancer at some point in their life, and more than a third of them will experience a recurrence after undergoing treatment, putting them at high risk to die of the disease. New research from the Moores Cancer Center and School of Medicine at University of California, San Diego suggests that diet changes, reinforced by stress management training, may be effective in slowing or halting the spread of the this deadly cancer.
The 6-month study, published in the September issue of Integrative Cancer Therapies, focused on the change in the levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), an indicator of the cancer, in response to a plant-based diet and stress reduction. Patients were taught to increase consumption of plant-based foods such as whole grains, cruciferous and leafy green vegetables, beans and legumes, and fruit, and to decrease the intake of meat, dairy products and refined carbohydrates. They were also provided with stress management training, which included meditation, yoga and t�ai chi exercises.
The plant-based diet and stress reduction intervention was effective in significantly reducing the PSA rate, indicating a reduction in the rate of progression of the prostate cancer. Ten patients with recurrent, invasive prostate cancer completed the pilot clinical trial. Rates of PSA rise were determined for each patient from the time of disease recurrence following treatment up to the start of the study (pre-study), and from the time immediately preceding the study intervention to the end of the intervention (0-6 months).
By the end of the intervention, four of 10 patients experienced an absolute reduction in their PSA levels, and nine of 10 experienced a decrease in the rate of further PSA rise. The median time it took for the men�s PSA levels to double increased from 11.9 months at pre-study to 112.3 months (intervention).
�The magnitude of effect of these findings is the strongest observed to date among dietary and nutritional interventions in this patient population,� said Cancer Center member Gordon Saxe, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of family and preventive medicine at UCSD School of Medicine. �These results provide preliminary evidence that adoption of a plant-based diet, in combination with stress reduction, may slow, stop, or perhaps even reverse disease progression and have therapeutic potential for management of recurrent prostate cancer. Further research is needed to validate these findings and establish the long-term effectiveness of this intervention.�
Co-authors on the paper are Jacqueline M. Major, M.S., Jacquelyn Y. Nguyen, M.D., Karen M. Freeman, MPH, Tracy M. Downs, M.D., and Carol E. Salem, M.D. The study was supported by grants from the American Cancer Society and the National Institutes of Health.
The article �Potential Attenuation of Disease Progression in Recurrent Prostate Cancer Progression With Plant-based Diet and Stress Reduction� can be accessed at no-charge for a limited time on the SAGE Publications� Integrative Cancer Therapies web site.
Media Contact: Nancy Stringer, 619-543-6163

Post 122

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 1:07am

Rev',

By the end of the intervention, four of 10 patients experienced an absolute reduction in their PSA levels, and nine of 10 experienced a decrease in the rate of further PSA rise. The median time it took for the men�s PSA levels to double increased from 11.9 months at pre-study to 112.3 months (intervention). �The magnitude of effect of these findings is the strongest observed to date among dietary and nutritional interventions in this patient population,� said Cancer Center member Gordon Saxe, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of family and preventive medicine at UCSD School of Medicine.

Recap: 40% (4 out of 10) of the patients experienced disease regression (as measured by the blood indicator, PSA). And 90% experienced decreased disease progression -- resulting in net progression of disease, but at one-tenth the rate (as measured by the log-fold increase in PSA doubling-time). However, the magnitude of effect of these findings is not "the strongest observed to date" -- as is conjectured by the MD, PhD spokesman ... ================================== JAMA. 1996 Dec 25;276(24):1957-63. <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2> <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2>

Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma of the skin. A randomized controlled trial. Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Study Group.

Arizona Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a nutritional supplement of selenium will decrease the incidence of cancer.

DESIGN: A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cancer prevention trial.

SETTING: Seven dermatology clinics in the eastern United States.

PATIENTS: A total of 1312 patients (mean age, 63 years; range, 18-80 years) with a history of basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin were randomized from 1983 through 1991. Patients were treated for a mean (SD) of 4.5 (2.8) years and had a total follow-up of 6.4 (2.0) years. INTERVENTIONS: Oral administration of 200 microg of selenium per day or placebo. MAIN

OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end points for the trial were the incidences of basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. The secondary end points, established in 1990, were all-cause mortality and total cancer mortality, total cancer incidence, and the incidences of lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers.

RESULTS: After a total follow-up of 8271 person-years, selenium treatment did not significantly affect the incidence of basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer. There were 377 new cases of basal cell skin cancer among patients in the selenium group and 350 cases among the control group (relative risk [RR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.28), and 218 new squamous cell skin cancers in the selenium group and 190 cases among the controls (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.93-1.39).

Analysis of secondary end points revealed that, compared with controls, patients treated with selenium had a nonsignificant reduction in all-cause mortality (108 deaths in the selenium group and 129 deaths in the control group [RR; 0.83; 95% CI, 0.63-1.08]) and significant reductions in total cancer mortality (29 deaths in the selenium treatment group and 57 deaths in controls [RR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.31-0.80]), total cancer incidence (77 cancers in the selenium group and 119 in controls [RR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.47-0.85]), and incidences of lung, colorectal, and prostate cancers.

Primarily because of the apparent reductions in total cancer mortality and total cancer incidence in the selenium group, the blinded phase of the trial was stopped early. No cases of selenium toxicity occurred.

CONCLUSIONS: Selenium treatment did not protect against development of basal or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. However, results from secondary end-point analyses support the hypothesis that supplemental selenium may reduce the incidence of, and mortality from, carcinomas of several sites. These effects of selenium require confirmation in an independent trial of appropriate design before new public health recommendations regarding selenium supplementation can be made.

pmid>PMID: 8971064 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

pmid>================================== Recap: This study was stopped early, because selenium supplementation worked too well to allow the double-blindedness to continue (selenium cut cancer deaths in half -- something no intervention has ever done before). ================================== Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1998 Apr;7(4):335-40. <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2> <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2>

The association between baseline vitamin E, selenium, and prostate cancer in the alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene cancer prevention study.

Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7326, USA.

The association between prostate cancer and baseline vitamin E and selenium was evaluated in the trial-based cohort of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study (n = 29,133). During up to 9 years of follow-up, 317 men developed incident prostate cancer. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models that adjusted for intervention group, benign prostatic hyperplasia, age, smoking, and urban residence were used to evaluate associations between prostate cancer and exposures of interest. There were no significant associations between baseline serum alpha-tocopherol, dietary vitamin E, or selenium and prostate cancer overall.

The associations between prostate cancer and vitamin E and some of the baseline dietary tocopherols differed significantly by alpha-tocopherol intervention status, with the suggestion of a protective effect for total vitamin E among those who received the alpha-tocopherol intervention (relative risk was 1.00, 0.68, 0.80, and 0.52 for increasing quartiles; P = 0.07).

pmid>PMID: 9568790 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

pmid>================================== Recap: Though statistically insignificant (p > 0.05), the highest quartile of vitamin E intake had half the risk of prostate cancer as the lowest quartile. ================================== Br J Urol. 1998 May;81(5):730-4. <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2> <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2>

Decreased incidence of prostate cancer with selenium supplementation: results of a double-blind cancer prevention trial.

Arizona Cancer Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson 85716, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To test if supplemental dietary selenium is associated with changes in the incidence of prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 974 men with a history of either a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma were randomized to either a daily supplement of 200 microg of selenium or a placebo. Patients were treated for a mean of 4.5 years and followed for a mean of 6.5 years.

RESULTS: Selenium treatment was associated with a significant (63%) reduction in the secondary endpoint of prostate cancer incidence during 1983-93. There were 13 prostate cancer cases in the selenium-treated group and 35 cases in the placebo group (relative risk, RR=0.37, P=0.002). Restricting the analysis to the 843 patients with initially normal levels of prostate-specific antigen (< or = 4 ng/mL), only four cases were diagnosed in the selenium-treated group and 16 cases were diagnosed in the placebo group after a 2 year treatment lag, (RR=0.26 P=0.009).

There were significant health benefits also for the other secondary endpoints of total cancer mortality, and the incidence of total, lung and colorectal cancer. There was no significant change in incidence for the primary endpoints of basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. In light of these results, the 'blinded' phase of this trial was stopped early.

CONCLUSIONS: Although selenium shows no protective effects against the primary endpoint of squamous and basal cell carcinomas of the skin, the selenium-treated group had substantial reductions in the incidence of prostate cancer, and total cancer incidence and mortality that demand further evaluation in well-controlled prevention trials.

pmid>PMID: 9634050 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ================================== Recap: If you start out with normal risk, supplemental selenium has the potential to reduce future risk of prostate cancer by 74% -- something no other intervention has ever done. ================================== Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2002 Jul;11(7):630-9.

Baseline characteristics and the effect of selenium supplementation on cancer incidence in a randomized clinical trial: a summary report of the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial.

Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, Arizona 85724-5024, USA.

The Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial was a randomized, clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy of selenium as selenized yeast (200 microg daily) in preventing the recurrence of nonmelanoma skin cancer among 1312 residents of the Eastern United States. Original secondary analyses through December 31, 1993 showed striking inverse associations between treatment and the incidence of total [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.46-0.82], lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer and total cancer mortality.

This report presents results through February 1, 1996, the end of blinded treatment. Effect modification by baseline characteristics is also evaluated. The effects of treatment overall and within subgroups of baseline age, gender, smoking status, and plasma selenium were examined using incidence rate ratios and Cox proportional hazards models.

Selenium supplementation reduced total (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.58-0.97) and prostate (HR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.28-0.80) cancer incidence but was not significantly associated with lung (HR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.44-1.24) and colorectal (HR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.21-1.02) cancer incidence.

The effects of treatment on other site-specific cancers are also described. The protective effect of selenium was confined to males (HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.50-0.89) and was most pronounced in former smokers. Participants with baseline plasma selenium concentrations in the lowest two tertiles (<121.6 ng/ml) experienced reductions in total cancer incidence, whereas those in the highest tertile showed an elevated incidence (HR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.77-1.86).

The Nutritional Prevention of Cancer trial continues to show a protective effect of selenium on cancer incidence, although not all site-specific cancers exhibited a reduction in incidence. This treatment effect was restricted to males and to those with lower baseline plasma selenium concentrations.

pmid>PMID: 12101110 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

pmid>================================== Recap: Selenium supplementation cut prostate cancer incidence in half (again). ================================== J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006 Feb 15;98(4):245-54.

Supplemental and dietary vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C intakes and prostate cancer risk.

Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C are micronutrient antioxidants that protect cells from oxidative damage involved in prostate carcinogenesis. In separate trials, supplemental vitamin E was associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer among smokers and supplemental beta-carotene was associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer among men with low baseline plasma beta-carotene levels.

METHODS: We evaluated the association between intake of these micronutrient antioxidants from foods and supplements and the risk of prostate cancer among men in the screening arm of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. At baseline, trial participants completed a 137-item food frequency questionnaire that included detailed questions on 12 individual supplements. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All statistical tests were two-sided.

RESULTS: We identified 1338 cases of prostate cancer among 29 361 men during up to 8 years of follow-up. Overall, there was no association between prostate cancer risk and dietary or supplemental intake of vitamin E, beta-carotene, or vitamin C.

However, among current and recent (i.e., within the previous 10 years) smokers, decreasing risks of advanced prostate cancer (i.e., Gleason score > or = 7 or stage III or IV) were associated with increasing dose (RR for > 400 IU/day versus none = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.12 to 0.68; Ptrend = .01) and duration (RR for > or = 10 years of use versus none = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.09 to 0.96; Ptrend = .01) of supplemental vitamin E use.

Supplemental beta-carotene intake at a dose level of at least 2000 microg/day was associated with decreased prostate cancer risk in men with low (below the median of 4129 microg/day) dietary beta-carotene intake (RR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.33 to 0.81).

Among smokers, the age-adjusted rate of advanced prostate cancer was 492 per 100,000 person-years in those who did not take supplemental vitamin E, 153 per 100,000 person-years in those who took more than 400 IU/day of supplemental vitamin E, and 157 per 100,000 person-years in those who took supplemental vitamin E for 10 or more years.

Among men with low dietary beta-carotene intake, the age-adjusted rate of prostate cancer was 1122 per 100,000 person-years in those who did not take supplemental beta-carotene, and 623 per 100,000 person-years in those who took at least 2000 microg/day of supplemental beta-carotene.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not provide strong support for population-wide implementation of high-dose antioxidant supplementation for the prevention of prostate cancer. However, vitamin E supplementation in male smokers and beta-carotene supplementation in men with low dietary beta-carotene intakes were associated with reduced risk of this disease.

pmid>PMID: 16478743 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

pmid>================================== Recap: Vitamin E and beta-carotene, if low, are important (48-71%) risk-modifiers of prostate cancer incidence. ================================== BJU Int. 2003 May;91(7):608-12.

Selenium supplementation, baseline plasma selenium status and incidence of prostate cancer: an analysis of the complete treatment period of the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial.

Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results (to January 1996, the end of blinded treatment) of the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer (NPC) Trial, a randomized trial of selenium (200 micro g daily) designed to test the hypothesis that selenium supplementation (SS) could reduce the risk of recurrent nonmelanoma skin cancer among 1312 residents of the Eastern USA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Original secondary analyses of the NPC to 1993 showed striking inverse associations between SS and prostate cancer incidence. A subsequent report revealed that this effect was accentuated among men with the lowest baseline plasma selenium concentrations. The effects of treatment overall and within subgroups of baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and plasma selenium concentrations were examined using incidence rate ratios and Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS: SS continued to significantly reduce the overall incidence (relative risk and 95% confidence interval) of prostate cancer (0.51, 0.29-0.87). The protective effect of SS appeared to be confined to those with a baseline PSA level of <or= 4 ng/mL (0.35, 0.13-0.87), although the interaction of baseline PSA and treatment was not statistically significant. Participants with baseline plasma selenium concentrations only in the lowest two tertiles (< 123.2 ng/mL) had significant reductions in prostate cancer incidence. A significant interaction between baseline plasma selenium and treatment was detected.

CONCLUSION: To the end of the blinded treatment the NPC trial continued to show a significant protective effect of SS on the overall incidence of prostate cancer, although the effect was restricted to those with lower baseline PSA and plasma selenium concentrations.

pmid>PMID: 12699469 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

pmid>==================================

pmid>

pmid>Recap:

pmid>Selenium supplementation cut prostate cancer risk in half (again).

pmid>

pmid>==================================

pmid>Int J Cancer. 2005 Aug 20;116(2):182-6.

Antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplementation and prostate cancer prevention in the SU.VI.MAX trial.

Laval University Cancer Research Center, Quebec, Canada. francois.meyer@chuq.qc.ca

Randomized trials have shown, unexpectedly, that supplementation with selenium or vitamin E is associated with a reduction of prostate cancer risk. We assess whether a supplementation with low doses of antioxidant vitamins and minerals could reduce the occurrence of prostate cancer and influence biochemical markers. The SU.VI.MAX trial comprised 5,141 men randomized to take either a placebo or a supplementation with nutritional doses of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium and zinc daily for 8 years.

Biochemical markers of prostate cancer risk such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) were measured on plasma samples collected at enrollment and at the end of follow-up from 3,616 men. Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratio and related 95% confidence interval of prostate cancer associated with the supplementation and to examine whether the effect differed among predetermined susceptible subgroups. During the follow-up, 103 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed.

Overall, there was a moderate nonsignificant reduction in prostate cancer rate associated with the supplementation (hazard ratio = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.60-1.29). However, the effect differed significantly between men with normal baseline PSA (< 3 microg/L) and those with elevated PSA (p = 0.009).

Among men with normal PSA, there was a marked statistically significant reduction in the rate of prostate cancer for men receiving the supplements (hazard ratio = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.29-0.92). In men with elevated PSA at baseline, the supplementation was associated with an increased incidence of prostate cancer of borderline statistical significance (hazard ratio = 1.54; 95% CI = 0.87-2.72).

The supplementation had no effect on PSA or IGF levels. Our findings support the hypothesis that chemoprevention of prostate cancer can be achieved with nutritional doses of antioxidant vitamins and minerals. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

pmid>PMID: 15800922 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

pmid>==================================

pmid>

pmid>Recap:

pmid>Starting from normal risk, selenium supplementation cut prostate cancer risk in half (again).

pmid>

pmid>==================================

pmid>Hinyokika Kiyo. 2002 Apr;48(4):207-11. <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2> <SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.2>

[A low-fat and high soybean protein diet for patients with elevated serum PSA level: alteration of QOL and serum PSA level after the dietary intervention]

[Article in Japanese]

Hitachi General Hospital.

Considerable epidemiological evidence has indicated a relationship between diet and prostate cancer. Many studies have shown positive associations between dietary fat and prostate cancer, and inverse associations with soybean intake. To prevent prostate cancer, we have tried dietary intervention for patients showing an elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) level. A total of 96 patients who did not show any evidence of prostate cancer by transrectal ultrasonography and/or prostate biopsy despite high serum PSA level were placed on a supervised dietary intervention program consisting of a low fat and high soybean protein diet.

The primary endpoint was the alteration of quality of life (QOL) and PSA after 3 months of intervention. Response to the questionnaire indicated that 88% of the patients desired to join such a study, and that 90% of the patients continued the dietary control after 3 months of supervision. About 60% patients adhered strictly to the dietary menus, and 90% of the subject planed to continue.

Less than 20% of the patients complained of deterioration of dietary QOL. The average serum PSA level decreased from 6.9 ng/ml to 5.6 ng/ml after 3 months, which was statistically significant (p = 0.01). This dietary intervention almost maintains the patient's QOL, decreases the serum PSA level, and indicates the possibility of prevention of prostate cancer by dietary intervention.

pmid>PMID: 12048932 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ================================== Recap: Dietary intervention resulted in an average PSA decline (a statistically-significant net regression of disease overall -- rather than merely an overall attenuated progression). ================================== Urology. 2004 May;63(5):900-4.

Pilot study to explore effects of low-fat, flaxseed-supplemented diet on proliferation of benign prostatic epithelium and prostate-specific antigen.

Division of Urologic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.

OBJECTIVES: Dietary factors may influence the prostate and have an impact on prostatic growth and disease. A small number of studies have suggested that flaxseed-supplemented, fat-restricted diets may thwart prostate cancer growth in both animals and humans. Unknown, however, is the potential effect of such a diet on benign prostatic epithelium.

METHODS: We undertook a pilot study to explore whether a flaxseed-supplemented, fat-restricted diet affects the proliferation rates in benign epithelium. We also explored the effects on circulating levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), total testosterone, and cholesterol. Fifteen men who were scheduled to undergo repeat prostate biopsy were instructed to follow a low-fat (less than 20% kcal), flaxseed-supplemented (30 g/day) diet and were provided with a supply of flaxseed to last throughout the 6-month intervention period. The PSA, total testosterone, and cholesterol levels were determined at baseline and at 6 months of follow-up. Reports from the original and repeat biopsies were compared, and proliferation (MIB-1) rates were quantified in the benign prostatic epithelium.

RESULTS: Statistically significant decreases in PSA (8.47 +/- 3.82 to 5.72 +/- 3.16 ng/mL; P = 0.0002) and cholesterol (241.1 +/- 30.8 to 213.3 +/- 51.2 mg/dL; P = 0.012) were observed. No statistically significant change was seen in total testosterone (434.5 +/- 143.6 to 428.3 +/- 92.5 ng/dL). Although 6-month repeat biopsies were not performed in 2 cases because of PSA normalization, of the 13 men who underwent repeat biopsy, the proliferation rates in the benign epithelium decreased significantly from 0.022 +/- 0.027 at baseline to 0.007 +/- 0.014 at 6 months of follow-up (P = 0.0168).

CONCLUSIONS: These pilot data suggest that a flaxseed-supplemented, fat-restricted diet may affect the biology of the prostate and associated biomarkers. A randomized controlled trial is needed to determine whether flaxseed supplementation, a low-fat diet, or a combination of the two regimens may be of use in controlling overall prostatic growth.

pmid>PMID: 15134976 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

pmid>================================== Recap: A flaxseed-supplemented fat-restricted diet dropped overall PSA levels almost a third (ie. a net regression of a key marker of disease). ==================================

Urology. 2004 Sep;64(3):510-5.

Effects of a diet rich in phytoestrogens on prostate-specific antigen and sex hormones in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

International Health and Development Unit, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of diets rich in soy and linseed compared with a control diet on biochemical markers of prostate cancer in men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

METHODS: Twenty-nine men diagnosed with prostate cancer and scheduled to undergo a radical prostatectomy were randomized to one of three groups: soy (high phytoestrogen), soy and linseed (high phytoestrogen), or wheat (low phytoestrogen). A bread was specially manufactured to incorporate 50 g of heat-treated (HT) soy grits or 50 g of HT soy grits and 20 g of linseed as part of the study participant's daily diet. Baseline and preoperative levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), free PSA, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, free androgen index, and dihydrotestosterone were measured.

RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were detected between the HT soy grits group and the control wheat group for the percentage of change in total PSA (-12.7% versus 40%, P = 0.02) and the percentage of change in free/total PSA ratio (27.4% versus -15.6%, P = 0.01); and between the HT soy grits group and the HT soy grits and linseed group for the percentage of change in free androgen index (16.4% versus -15.5%, P = 0.04) and the percentage of change in free/total PSA ratio (27.4% versus -10%, P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS: The data from this study indicate that a daily diet containing four slices of a bread rich in HT soy grits favorably influences the PSA level and the free/total PSA ratio in patients with prostate cancer. This work provides some evidence to support epidemiologic studies claiming that male populations who consume high phytoestrogen diets have a reduced risk of prostate cancer development and progression.

pmid>PMID: 15351581 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

pmid>================================== Recap: Net reversal of disease was achieved with soy and flax -- rather than mere attenuated progression. Ed

Post 123

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 6:27pm

Ed, what you are posting doesn't seem to make sense to me, it seems like you got them here: http://www.elsewhere.org/pomo

Post 124

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 8:30pm

Dustin, your obsession with where Ed gets his material is irrelevant to the discussion. If you don't have anything relevant to add, shut the fuck up.

Post 125

Tuesday, August 29, 2006 - 11:47pm

If you're going to use scientific studies to back up an argument, they should at least be able to be validated. It's completely relevant to the discussion.

Post 126

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 1:38am

Thanks for the moral support, Teresa, it is welcomingly acknowledged.

Dustin, you do seem to be taking pot-shots at me -- never addressing anything particular. While this is a "safe" way to hold an internet discussion -- it is not a "fruitful" way to hold one.

I asked you before whether, or not, you had any specific criticisms of the primary investigations which I've marshalled. I'll assume from your response that you don't -- and presume that the reason for this is that you could care less to look at the relevant evidence.

In short, I will -- until further notice -- presume that you are not the type of person that integrates relevant evidence, before coming to a conclusion on a matter (ie. I will presume that you are nothing but a pitiful, pomo-wanker).

Ed

Post 127

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 9:01am

You might be twice my age, but I know you're wrong. Heck, you don't even cite any credible sources. This discussion is over to me. By the time I'm your age, I'll be more then seasoned to tell neo-Objectists how it is when it comes to my diet.
(Edited by Dustin
on 8/30, 9:04am)

Post 128

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 9:40am

Dustin,

By the time I'm your age, I'll be more then seasoned ...

This presumes that you even MAKE IT to my age -- while foregoing animal products. Like I said before, if you don't supplement B-12, then you'll be crazy by age 22 (and it's debatable whether you're crazy ALREADY!), and you'll be dead by age 25.

;-)

Good luck, Veg-head. I wish you no ill.

Ed

Post 129

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 10:59am

From "Road to Wellville:"

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg: "He that killeth the ox is as if he slew a man." Each juicy morsel of meat is alive, and swarming with the same filth as found in the carcass of a dead rat. Meat eaters, sir, are drowning in a tide of gore. What is a sausage? A sausage is an indigestible balloon of decayed beef, riddled with tuberculosis. Eat and die! For I have seen many a repentant meat glutton his body full of uric acid and remorse, his soul adrift on the raft in the ocean of poisonous slime, sloshin' against the walls of the body's kitchen.

Thanks to the IMDB as usual.

:-)

Post 130

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 11:43am

Ed,

Luckily there has been something called Cereal invented. It contains B-12. A miracle of science!

Post 131

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 11:53am

Bill D
As the mother of a toddler, I know that my own experience with pediatricians and child nutritionists is to start pushing for low-fat diets at around age 2. Up until then it's a fat free-for-all for the little ones, but by 2 it's apparently okay to start them on as low-fat of a diet as the rest of us.

Post 132

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 12:29pm

When my son was 2, he was underweight and his doctor prescribed a high-fat calory booster diet for him. ;-)

Post 133

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 12:34pm

Deanna,

Some fats (because of essential fatty acids and the effects on satiety) is good for kids even after age 2. Either take my word for it, or I will blast you with some research ...

Your choice.

Ed

Post 134

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 1:49pm

I got blasted with research.

Post 135

Wednesday, August 30, 2006 - 8:00pm

Dustin,

I got blasted with research.

Correction: You got snowballed with research.

Ed
[a snowball is generally -- though not always -- worse than a blast]

Post 136

Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 1:15pm

Ed,
I did specify that I was basing my post on my personal experience. And I meant that quite literally. Unlike Hong's son, mine has never been underweight and is perfectly healthy. He is not a picky eater at all, will eat just about anything including broccolli and brussel sprouts. I know that the information I was given was based on his particular diet and current health. So I trust that low-fat is okay for him, but to be perfectly honest, other than switching him to skim milk I didn't change anything.

So blast on, mister!!! I will readily accept your wisdom and thank you for it!

Post 137

Thursday, August 31, 2006 - 2:54pm

Deanna, ask -- and ye' shall receive ...

Here's research on the importance of fat (essential fatty acid) intakes BEFORE age 2 ...

================================
Am J Prev Med. 2005 Nov;29(4):366-74.

A quantitative analysis of prenatal intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and cognitive development.

Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. cohenj@hsph.harvard.edu

Although a rich source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that may confer multiple health benefits, some fish also contain methyl mercury (MeHg), which may harm the developing fetus. U.S. government recommendations for women of childbearing age are to modify consumption of high-MeHg fish to reduce MeHg exposure, while recommendations encourage fish consumption among the general population because of the nutritional benefits. ...

This paper aggregates eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing cognitive development in controls and in children who had received n-3 PUFA supplementation (seven studies of formula supplementation and one study of maternal dietary supplementation). Our analysis assigns study weights accounting for statistical precision, relevance of three endpoint domains (general intelligence, verbal ability, and motor skills) to prediction of IQ, and age at evaluation.

The study estimates that increasing maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) intake by 100 mg/day increases child IQ by 0.13 points. The paper notes that findings were inconsistent across the RCTs evaluated (although our findings were relatively robust to changes in the weighting scheme used). ...

PMID: 16242603 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

================================

Recap:

Maternal fish oil intake increases offspring intelligence -- dose dependently.

================================

Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2005 Mar;8(2):161-6.

N-3 fatty acids and pregnancy outcomes.

Department of Paediatrics, University of Pecs, Pecs, Hungary.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss new data from the literature on the relationship between the supply of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes, evaluated as the fatty acid composition of blood and breast milk, fetal and infantile development and maternal health.

RECENT FINDINGS: Supplementation of alpha-linolenic acid in high doses or docosahexaenoic acid in low doses did not result in a significant enhancement of the blood docosahexaenoic acid status of the offspring.

In contrast, supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid in relatively high doses led to significant increases in infantile docosahexaenoic acid values and to a significant enhancement of breast milk docosahexaenoic acid content.

Electroretinogram data obtained during the first week of life and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials investigated at 50 and 66 weeks postconception were significantly associated with the docosahexaenoic acid status of the infant at birth.

Children whose mothers received docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and lactation scored better in mental processing tests carried out at 4 years than children whose mothers received placebo.

SUMMARY: Beneficial health outcomes are more likely to result from supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid itself, rather than its precursor alpha-linolenic acid. Trials have shown that a higher maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake during pregnancy may be favourable for the visual and cognitive development of the offspring.

The significant positive association between maternal docosahexaenoic acid intake during pregnancy and the children's mental processing scores at 4 years suggest that optimization of the docosahexaenoic acid status of expectant women may offer long-term developmental benefits to their children.

PMID: 15716794 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

================================

Recap:

Maternal intake of the very long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (like the DHA found in fish oil), but not shorter-chain omega-3 fatty acids (like the alpha-linolenic acid found in flax oil), increases offspring intelligence.

================================

Acta Paediatr. 2004 Oct;93(10):1280-7.

Breastfeeding, very long polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and IQ at 6 1/2 years of age.

Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkoping, Sweden. per.gustafsson@imk.liu.se

AIM: Breastfeeding seems to be favorable for cognitive development. Could levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) explain this?

METHODS: Pregnant mothers were recruited consecutively at maternity care centres. PUFA were analysed in colostrum and breast milk at 1 and 3 mo. The product-precursor ratios of n-6+n-3 PUFA were examined as measures of activity in respective steps in the fatty acid metabolic chain. Also, the quotient between DHA and AA was analysed. The children were tested with the full WISC-III at 6.5 y.

RESULTS: First, the influence of length of breastfeeding was analysed by multiple regression together with relevant cofactors (except for PUFA). In the best models, 46% of the variation in total IQ was explained. Length of breastfeeding contributed significantly to total IQ (beta = 0.228, p = 0.021), verbal IQ (beta = 0.204, p = 0.040) and performance IQ (beta = 0.210, p = 0.056).

There were no significant single correlations between PUFA and measures of cognitive development. However, in multiple regression analysis of colostrum, significant beta-coefficients were found for steps 4+5 in the fatty acid metabolic chain (beta = 0.559, p = 0.002).

If length of breastfeeding and gestation week were added to steps 4+5, this three-factor model could explain 67% of the variation of total IQ. Introducing length of breastfeeding and gestation week together with the quotient DHA/AA (beta = 0.510, p < 0.001) yielded a three-factor model, which explained 76% of the variation in total IQ.

CONCLUSION: Our findings could be interpreted as supporting the importance of high levels of PUFA for cognitive development. However, the sample is small and the results must be interpreted with caution.

PMID: 15499945 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

================================

Recap:

Length of pregnancy, length of breastfeeding, and the docosahexaenoic acid/arachidonic acid quotient (omega-3/omega6 quotient) -- when taken together -- explained 3 quarters of the variation in IQ outcomes.

Implications:

Gestate 'em long, breastfeed 'em long, and get fish fat into them -- in order to maximize their cognitive potential.

And here's research on the importance of fat (as essential fatty acids) intakes AFTER age 2 ...

================================

Biol Psychiatry. 2006 Aug 18; [Epub ahead of print]

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation in Children with Autism: A Double-blind Randomized, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study.

Department of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Medical University of Vienna; Vienna, Austria; and ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that fatty acid deficiencies or imbalances may contribute to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders.

METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 6-week pilot trial investigating the effects of 1.5 g/d of omega-3 fatty acids (.84 g/d eicosapentaenoic acid, .7 g/d docosahexaenoic acid) supplementation in 13 children (aged 5 to 17 years) with autistic disorders accompanied by severe tantrums, aggression, or self-injurious behavior. The outcome measure was the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) at 6 weeks.

RESULTS: We observed an advantage of omega-3 fatty acids compared with placebo for hyperactivity and stereotypy, each with a large effect size. Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated a trend toward superiority of omega-3 fatty acids over placebo for hyperactivity. No clinically relevant adverse effects were elicited in either group.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study provide preliminary evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may be an effective treatment for children with autism.

PMID: 16920077 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

================================

Recap:

840 mg of EPA + 700 mg of DHA -- given to kids age 5-17 -- partially reversed their autism.

================================

J Nutr. 2005 Aug;135(8):1967-73.

Dietary fat intake is associated with psychosocial and cognitive functioning of school-aged children in the United States.

Division of Health and Family Studies, the Institute for Families in Society, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA. bvw2@cdc.gov

Using cross-sectional data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey, 1988-1994, we examined whether dietary fat intake is associated with cognitive and psychosocial functioning in school-aged children. Based upon 24-h diet recall interviews, dietary intakes of total fat, SFA, monounsaturated fatty, PUFAs, and cholesterol were estimated in 3666 participants aged 6 to 16 y. Psychosocial functioning was evaluated in interviews of each child's mother. Cognitive functioning was measured using achievement and intelligence tests.

Overall, total fat and saturated fat were unrelated to measures of cognitive and psychosocial functioning.

Compared with equivalent energy intake from saturated fat or carbohydrate, each 5% increase in energy intake from PUFAs was associated with lower risks of poor performance on the digit span test (replacing SFA, OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.37-0.91; replacing carbohydrate, OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.43-0.88).

Cholesterol intake was associated with an increased risk of poor performance on the digit span test (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.11-1.42 for each 100-mg increment intake of cholesterol).

The associations were independent of socioeconomic status, maternal education and marital status, and children's nutrition status and were consistent across different methods of energy adjustment in regression models.

We conclude that high intake of PUFAs may contribute to an improved performance on the digit span test. In contrast, increased intake of cholesterol may be associated with a poorer performance.

PMID: 16046724 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

================================

Recap:

A higher polyunsaturated fatty acid intake (note: the essential fatty acids are PUFAs) -- if it replaces saturated fat or carbohydrate intake -- is associated better psychosocial and cognitive functioning in kids aged 6-16.

================================

Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6):1650-7.

Cognitive aging, childhood intelligence, and the use of food supplements: possible involvement of n-3 fatty acids.

University of Aberdeen, Department of Mental Health, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Aberdeen, United Kingdom. l.j.whalley@abdn.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: Food supplement use is widely promoted, but little is known about the cognitive effects of food supplements.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the effects of food supplement use on cognitive aging.

DESIGN: This was an observational study of subjects born in 1936 whose mental ability was tested in 1947 and who were followed up in 2000-2001, at which time cognition, diet, food supplement use, and risk factors for vascular disease were assessed. In a nested case-control study, fish-oil users were matched with nonusers, and cognitive function was related to erythrocyte n-3 fatty acid composition.

RESULTS: Childhood intelligence quotient (IQ) did not differ significantly by category of food supplement use (ie, none, fish oil, vitamins, and other). At the age of 64 y, cognitive function was higher in food supplement users than in nonusers before adjustment for childhood IQ. After adjustment for childhood IQ, digit symbol (mental speed) test scores were higher in food supplement users. Fish-oil supplement users consumed more vitamin C and vegetable and cereal fiber than did non-supplement-users.

In a nested case-control study, erythrocyte membrane n-3 content was higher in fish-oil supplement users than in nonusers, but cognitive function did not differ significantly between groups. Total erythrocyte n-3 fatty acids and the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to arachidonic acid was associated with better cognitive function in late life before and after adjustment for childhood IQ.

CONCLUSIONS: Food supplement use and erythrocyte n-3 content are associated with better cognitive aging. If associations with n-3 content are causal, optimization of n-3 and n-6 fatty acid intakes could improve retention of cognitive function in old age.

PMID: 15585782 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

================================

Recap:

Fish oil intake is associated with mitigation of age-related cognitive decline.

Post 138

Friday, September 1, 2006 - 6:57pm

Dustin-
I just found Einsein's original paper on general relativity using google. Is your computer still working(which relies heavily on facts born out of this theory) now that you've refuted Einstein by simply saying-"not true, you found it on google"? Do you even know the importance of "peer-reviewed" when it comes to science?

Post 139

Friday, September 1, 2006 - 9:46pm