Pesticide-monitoring results suggest that a shift in residential pesticide exposure from organophosphorus insecticides to pyrethroid insecticides has occurred. However, pyrethroid insecticides are also potential neurodevelopmental toxicants and have not been evaluated for developmental toxicity. This study investigated the association between prenatal exposure to permethrin (a common pyrethroid) and piperonyl butoxide (a pyrethroid synergist) and neurodevelopment at 36-months. Participants (n=348) were part of a prospective cohort of black and Dominican mothers and newborns living in low-income neighborhoods in New York City. We examined 36-month cognitive and motor development using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development as a function of 1) permethrin levels measured in maternal and umbilical cord plasma collected on delivery and 2) permethrin and piperonyl butoxide levels measured in personal air collected during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to permethrin in personal air and/or plasma was not associated with performance scores for the Bayley Mental Developmental Index or the Psychomotor Developmental Index. Pediatrics. 2011 Feb 14. PMID: 21300677.
Cinnamon in Type 2 diabetic patients
A total of 58 type 2 diabetic patients treated only with oral hypoglycemic agents but with an HbA1c >7% were randomly assigned to receive either 2g of cinnamon or placebo daily for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, mean HbA1c decreased significantly in the cinnamon group (8.22% to 7.86%) compared with placebo group (8.55% to 8.68%, P<0.005). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) were also significantly reduced (P<0.001) after 12 weeks in the cinnamon group (SBP: 132.6 to 129.2 mmHg and DBP: 85.2 to 80.2 mmHg) compared with the placebo group (SBP: 134.5 to 134.9 mmHg and DBP: 86.8 to 86.1 mmHg). A significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) was observed at week 12 compared to baseline in the cinnamon group, however, the changes were not significant when compared to placebo group. There were no significant differences in serum lipid profiles between nor within the groups. Intake of 2g of cinnamon for 12 weeks significantly reduces the HbA1c, SBP and DBP among poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients. Diabet Med. 2010.
Occurrence of Nonceliac Gluten Sensitivity in Patients with Allergic Disease
This study determined the occurrence of gluten sensitivity (GS) in a group of allergic patients and assessed the efficacy of a gluten-free diet (GFD) as treatment for presenting symptomatology in those diagnosed with GS but not celiac disease. A total of 262 unrelated allergic patients with gastrointestinal symptoms of obscure origin were tested for gluten sensitivity through biopsy. All patients were also genotyped for the typical celiac DQ2 and DQ8 molecules and investigated for hematological markers such as antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies. Patients displaying mucosal lesions were invited to follow a GFD. Seventy-seven of the 262 allergic patients were positive for mucosal lesions, but negative to the antiAGA, antiEMA and to DQ2 and DQ8 molecules. The positive patients, who after the GS diagnosis followed a GFD, exhibited control of symptoms as well as stabilization of the hematological parameters even if allergic manifestations were not abated. Authors concluded that a nonceliac gluten-sensitive enteropathy (NCGSE) commonly exists in allergic patients. Based on the high prevalence of NCGSE in allergy, these authors recommended that biopsy should be part of the routine investigation of allergic disease. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2011 Feb 22;155(4):389-394. PMID: 21346369.
Coenzyme Q10 supplementation in early chronic Peyronie’s disease
A total of 186 patients with chronic early Peyronie’s disease (PD) were assigned to either 300 mg CoQ10 daily or placebo for 24 weeks. Erectile function (EF), pain during erection, plaque volume, penile curvature and treatment satisfaction using patient versions of the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS) questionnaire were assessed at baseline and every 4 weeks during study period. EF was assessed using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), and pain was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS, 0-10). After 24 weeks, mean IIEF-5 score, mean VAS score and mean EDITS score improved significantly in patients receiving CoQ10 (all P<0.01). Mean plaque size and mean penile curvature degree were decreased in the CoQ10 group, whereas a slight increase was noted in the placebo group, resulting in a significant difference between groups (both P=0.001). Mean index of IIEF-5 in 24-week treatment period was 17.8 ± 2.7 in the CoQ10 group and 8.8 ± 1.5 in the placebo group (P=0.001). Of the patients in CoQ10 group, 11 (13.6%) had disease progression compared to 46 (56.1%) in placebo group (P=0.01). Int J Impot Res. 2010 Sep-Oct;22(5):298-309. PMID: 20720560.
Effect of Alpha-lipoic Acid on body weight in obese subjects.
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an essential cofactor for mitochondrial respiratory enzymes and improves mitochondrial function. ALA has previously been reported to reduce body weight gain in rodents. This study examined whether alpha-lipoic acid reduces body weight in obese human subjects. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 20-week trial, 360 obese individuals (BMI ≥30 or BMI 27-30 plus hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or hypercholesterolemia) received either ALA 1200 or 1800 mg/d or placebo. The primary end point was body weight change from baseline. After 20 weeks, subjects in the 1800mg ALA group lost significantly more weight than the placebo group (2.1%, 95%CI 1.4-2.8; p<.05). Urticaria and itching sensation were the most common adverse events in the alpha-lipoic acid groups, but these were generally mild and transient. Alpha-lipoic acid leads to modest weight loss in obese subjects, and may be considered as adjunctive therapy for obesity. Am J Med. 2011 Jan;124(1):85.e1-8. PMID: 21187189.
The role of garlic in hepatopulmonary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.
A total of 41 hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) patients were randomly assigned to receive either oral garlic supplementation (dose not available) or placebo, and were evaluated monthly over a period of nine to 18 months. After nine months, garlic supplementation was associated with a 24.66% increase in baseline arterial oxygen levels (83.05 mmHg versus 66.62 mmHg; p<0.001), compared with only a 7.37% increase (68.75 mmHg versus 64.05 mmHg; p=0.02) among subjects in the placebo group. There was also a 28.35% decrease in alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (21.35 mmHg versus 29.77 mmHg; p<0.001) among patients with HPS who received garlic, in contrast with only a 10.73% decrease (29.11 mmHg versus 32.61 mmHg; p=0.12) among those in the placebo group. After nine months, the arterial oxygen level was significantly higher (83.05 mmHg versus 68.75 mmHg; p<0.001) and the alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient was significantly lower (21.35 mmHg versus 29.11 mmHg; p<0.001) among patients receiving garlic compared with those receiving placebo. Reversal of HPS was observed in 14 of 21 patients (66.67%) on garlic supplementation and in one of 20 patients (5%) on placebo. Two of 21 patients undergoing garlic supplementation died during follow-up in contrast to seven of 20 patients who were on placebo. Can J Gastroenterol. 2010 Mar;24(3):183-8. PMID: 20352147.
L-theanine in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder
A total of 60 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder participated in an 8-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study: 400 mg/d of L-theanine was added to ongoing antipsychotic treatment from Feb 2006 until Oct 2008. Outcome measures were the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) for neurocognitive functioning, and additional measures of general functioning, side effects, and quality of life. 40 of the 60 patients completed the study protocol. Compared to placebo, L-theanine augmentation was associated with reduction of anxiety (P = .015; measured by the HARS scale) and positive (P = .009) and general psychopathology (P < .001) scores (measured by the PANSS 3-dimensional model). According to the 5-dimension model of psychopathology, L-theanine produced significant reductions on PANSS positive (P = .004) and activation factor (P = .006) scores compared to placebo. PANSS negative and CANTAB task scores, general functioning, side effect, and quality of life measures were not affected. L-theanine augmentation of antipsychotic therapy can ameliorate positive, activation, and anxiety symptoms in schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder patients. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;72(1):34-42. PMID: 21208586.
Weight training is safe for pregnant women
Adopting a supervised, low-to-moderate intensity weight-lifting exercise program can be safe for women with a low-risk pregnancy, according to a University of Georgia media release. Despite decades of doctors’ reluctance to recommend weight training to pregnant women, a new University of Georgia study has found that a supervised, low-to-moderate intensity program is safe and beneficial. The research, published in the current edition of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, measured progression in the amount of weight used, changes in resting blood pressure and potential adverse side effects in 32 pregnant women over a 12-week period. The group increased the amount of weight lifted in all of the exercises by an average of 36 percent over the 12-week period. After a total of 618 exercise sessions, none of the pregnant women in the study experienced a musculoskeletal injury. Thirteen incidents of potentially problematic symptoms were reported, all of which involved headache, pelvic pain and dizziness. Some pelvic pain can be expected in pregnant women with back pain, said researcher Patrick O’Connor. “The one thing you have to be a little careful about is dizziness,” he added. Rates of dizziness went down after the first few workouts, as the women learned to lift weights while maintaining proper breathing techniques for exercise, he said. One reason physicians have been reluctant to prescribe weight lifting to pregnant women is that they produce high amounts of a hormone called relaxin, which promotes connective tissue laxity, explained O’Connor. Increased laxity could be associated with orthopedic injury. O’Connor stated “I think that the appropriate conclusion of this study is that the adoption of a supervised, low-to-moderate intensity weight-lifting exercise program can be safe for women with a low-risk pregnancy.”
Interprofessional Dialogue at National Health Sciences Students’ Conference
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine student Marnie LaPlante presented her research and led an interactive workshop on ‘Integration and patient centered medicine – its meaning and implications for a collaborative medicine’ at the National Health Sciences Students’ Association (NaHSSA) Conference recently. The theme of this year’s conference was Crossing the Bridges of Socioeconomic and Cultural Diversity in Healthcare and is an ongoing interprofessional collaborative initiative involving students, faculty and practitioners from University of Toronto and University of Ottawa medical schools, The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, and CCNM. Additional research from CCNM was on display from the work done investigating naturopathic medicine and Aboriginal health care delivery including qualitative research done on the satellite clinic at Anishnawbe Health Toronto.
Organic Consumers Association: The Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) recently reported on a controversial battle in the organic food industry to keep Monsanto’s Genetically Engineered (GE) crops from contaminating the nation’s 25,000 organic farms and ranches. The OCA states that “A self-appointed cabal of the Organic Elite, spearheaded by Whole Foods Market, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield Farm, has decided it’s time to surrender to Monsanto.” Top executives from these companies have publicly admitted that they no longer oppose the mass commercialization of GE crops, such as Monsanto’s controversial Roundup Ready alfalfa, and are prepared to sit down and cut a deal for “coexistence” with Monsanto and USDA biotech leader Tom Vilsack. Organic farmers remain concerned that the massive planting of a GE perennial crop, alfalfa, will result in the spread of its GE genes and seeds, contaminating the alfalfa fed to organic animalsandpotentiallycrossingtonon-GE species through cross pollination.
