Guest guest Posted May 27, 2004 Report Share Posted May 27, 2004 Thu, 27 May 2004 08:43:18 -0500 HSI - Jenny Thompson Mind Over Matter Mind Over Matter Health Sciences Institute e-Alert May 27, 2004 ************************************************************** Dear Reader, The number of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been growing at an alarming pace over the past decade. During the same period, type 2 diabetes has become a critical health problem, with more than 40 million people in the U.S. believed to be pre-diabetic. Now the Archives of Neurology reports that the two conditions could be linked. As HSI members know, dietary changes and regular exercise are the keys to curbing diabetes. And according to a recent study in the journal Diabetes Care, appropriate levels of one vitamin may significantly help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. ----------------------------- Tangled up in peptide ----------------------------- Researchers at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago examined data taken from nine years of clinical evaluations conducted on 824 men and women over the age of 55. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in 127 subjects, while 151 subjects developed Alzheimer's disease. (If this total of Alzheimer's cases seems high, it is. In fact, it's more than 5 percent higher than the norm for this age group.) Among those who developed Alzheimer's, 31 also had diabetes. Overall, patients with diabetes were found to have a 65 percent increased risk of AD. In addition, diabetes was associated with a significantly higher rate of decline in perceptual speed. In an interview with the Associated Press, William Thies, the vice president for medical and scientific affairs for the Alzheimer's Association, noted that this long-term study is among the first to track diabetes parallel to the progression of Alzheimer's in subjects with no signs of the disease at the outset. What the study doesn't reveal is why there may be a connection between diabetes and AD. Some researchers believe that high glucose levels may play a role in the abnormal processing of a protein that prompts the accumulation of peptide tangles - typical to Alzheimer's - that can destroy brain cells. ----------------------------- The magnesium factor ----------------------------- In the e-Alert " Sweet Tooth " (11/3/03), I told you about a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Study that revealed a clear association between low serum magnesium levels and an elevated risk of type 2 diabetes. Now a new study, from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (BWH), has confirmed the magnesium/diabetes connection. Researchers evaluated data from Women's Health Study food frequency questionnaires completed by more than 39,000 women over a period of six years. The BWH team also measured insulin levels in 349 of the subjects to examine the relationship of magnesium intake to insulin. Analysis of the combined data showed a significant association between elevated levels of magnesium and a reduced risk of diabetes. And among women with adequate magnesium levels who were also overweight, diabetes risk was more than 20 percent lower when compared to overweight women with low magnesium. ----------------------------- Mineral most wanted ----------------------------- In addition to the many good reasons to avoid type 2 diabetes, there are also many good reasons to keep your magnesium levels high. In e-Alerts and HSI Members Alerts we've told you about the wide range of magnesium benefits, including the promotion of bone health and prevention of heart disease. Fortunately magnesium is easy to get from dietary sources such as leafy green vegetables, nuts and whole grains. The down side: Many factors contribute to magnesium depletion. High stress and menstruation can take their toll on magnesium levels, while a heavy intake of starches, alcohol, diuretics and some prescription drugs (such as antibiotics) can increase urinary excretion of magnesium. If a blood test shows your magnesium levels to be low (a normal range is anywhere between .66 and 1.23 millimoles per liter), HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., recommends 500 mg supplement of magnesium per day, with the added note that magnesium gluconate and chelated magnesium are the preferred forms to look for. ... and another thing Go ahead... pass the salt. Mainstream medicine tells us that patients with hypertension should avoid salt in their diets. But recently this idea has been questioned, and often dismissed by many doctors. For instance, according to the late Robert C. Atkins, M.D., author of " Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution, " the problem for those with high blood pressure isn't sodium, it's a lack of balance between sodium and potassium levels. Dr. Atkins cites the results of 30 separate studies that show how increasing potassium intake (without decreasing the sodium) is an effective way to lower blood pressure. One of those studies demonstrated that with just one daily serving of a potassium-rich food the risk of death by stroke may be cut by as much as half. The good news: It's easy to increase the potassium in your diet. High potassium fruits include apricots, bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon and citrus fruits. Vegetables with good amounts of potassium are asparagus, potatoes, green beans, avocados, lima beans, winter squash, and cauliflower. Other foods high in potassium: grain products, red meat, poultry, seafood and dry beans, such as peas and lentils. It would be difficult to get too much potassium from dietary sources alone. But if you're already getting plenty of potassium in your diet, a potassium supplement would be unnecessary for most people, and in some extreme cases could lead to kidney damage and other complications. As is so often the case, the key here is balance. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit: http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopya.html Or forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up to receive their own copy of the HSI e-Alert. ************************************************************** Sources: " Diabetes Mellitus and Risk of Alzheimer Disease and Decline in Cognitive Function " Archives of Neurology, Vol. 61, No. 5, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov " Diabetes Linked to Increased Alzheimer's Risk " Associated Press, 5/17/04, msnbc.com " Dietary Magnesium Intake in Relation to Plasma Insulin Levels and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women " Diabetes Care, Vol. 27, No. 1, January 2004, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov " Magnesium May Reduce Risk of Diabetes " Karen Collins, R.D., MSNBC Nutrition Notes, 5/7/04, msnbc.com " Potassium and Salt " Alternative Medicine Angel, altmedangel.com Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. ************************************************************** Before you hit reply to send us a question or request, please visit here http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/questions.html ************************************************************** If you'd like to participate in the HSI Forum, search past e-Alerts and products or you're an HSI member and would like to search past articles, visit http://www.hsibaltimore.com ************************************************************** Friends. Fun. Try the all-new Messenger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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