C-reactive protein (CRP), Folate

[Guest guest]

C-reactive protein (CRP) is once again in the news, and it looks like vitamin C

may help reduce dangerous levels of CRP in the blood.

 

CRP is a special type of protein produced by the liver that is present during

episodes of acute inflammation. A couple of months ago I reported on research

that discovered having a high CRP reading in a blood test increases your risk of

suffering a heart attack or stroke twice as much as having a high cholesterol

reading. I also noted a study that said multivitamins appear to lower dangerous

CRP levels. A third study showed that critically ill patients with high CRP

levels also have low carotenoid concentrations in their bodies.

 

Now, according to a University of California study, vitamin C may also play a

vital role in helping manage CRP in the blood. Read about it below.

 

Also, be sure to read the second research report listed below and find out how

folate may help cut the risk of ovarian cancer.

 

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/include/newsletter/emailRU_061804/RUa1_061804.htm\

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Vitamin C reduces CRP levels

 

 

Vitamin C appears to reduce levels of C-reactive protein (CRP); a marker of

inflammation, which some researchers now say is a better predictor of heart

disease than cholesterol levels. Researchers at the University of California

found that participants who took about 500 mg of vitamin C supplements per day

saw a 24% drop in plasma CRP levels after two months.

 

Going into the study, researchers noted that “C-reactive protein (CRP) may

directly affect the progression of atherosclerosis, and therefore, may be a

target for reducing disease risk. The objective (of the study) is to determine

whether antioxidant supplementation reduces plasma CRP in active and passive

smokers.”

 

The study, which used 160 healthy individuals who either smoked or were exposed

to secondhand smoke, is reportedly the first to demonstrate this benefit of

vitamin C. In fact, vitamin C on its own was more successful at lowering CRP

levels than a mixture of antioxidants including vitamin C.

 

The exact mechanism through which the vitamin lowers serum CRP levels is not

known, although the researchers theorized that vitamin C might suppress the

production of cytokines. The study concluded, “Plasma CRP itself may serve as a

potential target for reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, and antioxidants,

including vitamin C, should be investigated further to confirm their

CRP-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects.”

 

Journal of the American College of Nutrition 23(2):141-147, 2004

 

http://www.swansonvitamins.com/include/newsletter/emailRU_061804/RUa2_061804.htm\

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Folate may reduce ovarian cancer risk

 

 

A diet high in folate intake may help reduce the risk of ovarian cancer,

especially among women who consume alcohol, report Swedish researchers.

 

Why a study linking folate and ovarian cancer? Researchers stated: “Mounting

evidence suggests that a low intake of the water-soluble B-vitamin folate is

associated with breast and colorectal carcinogenesis, especially among alcohol

drinkers. However, epidemiologic data specifically linking folate intake to

ovarian cancer risk are limited.”

 

Researchers from Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute, analyzing data gathered from

the Swedish Mammography Cohort, showed that women who consumed the highest

amount of folate reduced their risk of ovarian cancer by 33% compared to women

who consumed the least amount of the vitamin.

 

The Swedish Mammography Cohort involved 61,084 women, aged 38-76 years, who were

cancer-free at the beginning of the cohort, when they filled out food-frequency

questionnaires. At the end of the follow-up in 2003, 266 incident cases of

invasive epithelial ovarian cancer were diagnosed.

 

An interesting sidelight to the study is that the benefits of high folate intake

may be greater in women who consume more than two alcoholic beverages per week.

These reduced their risk of ovarian cancer by 75% compared to women consuming

lesser amounts of alcohol if they also had high levels of folate.

 

A team of researchers at Harvard last year showed that the increased risk of

major chronic disease associated with heavy drinking was greatly diminished

among women with a higher intake of folic acid.

 

Swedish researchers concluded: “A high dietary folate intake may play a role in

reducing the risk of ovarian cancer, especially among women who consume

alcohol.”

 

Journal of the National Cancer Institute 96(5):396-402, 2004