Updating its recommendations, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend that women have breast cancer mammography screenings every two years between ages 50 to 74. In 2002, the USPSTF recommended that women have mammograms every one to two years at age 40. Now they warn that the risks of mammography may outweigh the benefit for many women. Women ages 40 to 49 at high risk for breast cancer should talk to their physicians about...Read More
Women's Health
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Updating its recommendations, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend that women have breast cancer mammography screenings every two years between ages 50 to 74. In 2002, the USPSTF recommended that women have mammograms every one to two years at age 40. Now they warn that the risks of mammography may outweigh the benefit for many women. Women ages 40 to 49 at high risk for breast cancer should talk to their physicians about...Read More
There are some concerns that soy isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein, contain phytoestrogens that may stimulate breast cell growth and increase the risk of breast cancer. Research now reports that soy isoflavones do not stimulate breast or uterine cell growth and other markers for cancer risk.Read More
A pilot study published in Alternative Medicine Review (2005;10(2):123-127) showed that a topical cream containing lysine, zinc and botanicals can be effective in treating oral herpes outbreaks.Read More
Canadian physicians in urban Toronto noticed the prevalence of symptoms of B12 deficiency in patients of South Asian descent (from India or Pakistan) and lactovegetarians.Read More
In the U.S., about 455,000 women and 410,000 men die from heart disease every year. However, women are more likely than men to die from a heart attack and be hospitalized for heart failure. Experts have proposed that there may be sex differences in heart disease. Now a review reports that up to 50 percent of women with heart disease have ischemic heart disease, rather than coronary heart disease typically seen in men. Ischemic heart...Read More
Obesity is a major risk factor for a long list of chronic and potentially deadly diseases. Now research reports that pre-pregnancy obesity may increase the risk of having babies with congenital heart defects. "Congenital heart defects are the most common types of birth defect, and among all birth defects, they are a leading cause of illness, death, and medical expenditures," states Edwin Trevathan, MD, MPH, director of the CDC′s National Center on Birth Defects and...Read More
Experts estimate that about 16 to 18 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is considered a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm). However, the link between diabetes and atrial fibrillation has not been determined. Now research reports that diabetes significantly increases the risk of atrial fibrillation in women. The study, published in Diabetes Care, investigated the relationship between diabetes and atrial fibrillation in women. Researchers at Kaiser Permanente analyzed data of 17,372 members...Read More
A study published in the March issue of Cancer Research measured the effects of genistein against metastasis of breast cancer cells after surgical removal of the primary tumor.Read More
High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as systolic blood pressure of 140 or higher and/or diastolic blood pressure of 90 or higher. High blood pressure is known to increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Vitamin D deficiency can increase the risk of osteoporosis, some cancers and inflammatory diseases. Now research reports that low vitamin D levels in premenopausal women is linked to an increased risk of hypertension 15 years later. The study, presented...Read More
Researchers at Columbia University set out to investigate the levels of homocysteine in men and women from Bangladesh and to determine if in fact the vegetarian diet of this region has an impact on levels of homocysteine in the blood.Read More
A study from the University of Milan investigated the antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation levels in human milk and formula.Read More
Vitamin B6 is needed for mineral transport across cell membranes and for the conversion of homocysteine to cysteine. Homocysteine is a toxic amino acid that can damage blood vessels. It's a biomarker for cardiovascular disease when elevated in the blood. Now research reports that high blood levels of vitamin B6 may lower the risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction) in women. The study, published in Circulation, investigated the relationship between blood levels of vitamin B6 and...Read More
Researchers in London investigated the effects of supplementation with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and Vitamin E on heart function and functional decline in patients with Friedreich ataxia.Read More
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (November 2004 80(5):1299-1307) shows in women who are pregnant, both zinc and B-carotene are necessary for proper levels of Vitamin A.Read More
Previous research has suggested that Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a naturally-occurring compound of the Brassica genus of vegetables (such as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts), may have anticancer benefits. Research reports that I3C may, in fact, protect against breast cancer.Read More
Previous research has shown that soy may lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease, and prevent certain cancers. Now research reports that soy may also reduce the risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the uterine lining).Read More
The study, published in Nutrition Research (2004, vol. 24, no. 5), investigated smoking's effect on plasma vitamin C and vitamin E concentrations on LDL oxidation susceptibility.Read More
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (January 2005;81(1):122-129) shows that Green Tea may lower various measures of body fat, as well as being associated with lower MDA-LDL cholesterol (an oxidized form) levels. Read More
Previous studies have shown that iron deficiency without anemia decreases iron-containing muscle oxidative enzymes and reduces endurance. One particular study reports that supplementation with iron improves exercise training in women who are tissue-iron deficient without anemia.Read More
Previous research has suggested that resveratrol, an antioxidant compound found in grapes, wine, and other botanicals, may have anticancer benefits. Now, research reports that resveratrol may protect against cancer by inhibiting nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) found in cell nuclei, which controls cell survival and inflammatory responses.Read More
