Guest guest Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 " HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch Searching for Willard Scott Mon, 29 Nov 2004 08:47:57 -0500 Searching for Willard Scott Health Sciences Institute e-Alert November 29, 2004 Dear Reader, Here we go again. Earlier this month, a widely reported study concluded that high doses of vitamin E supplements might increase the risk of death (see the e-Alert " The Purest Bunk " 11/16/04). This flawed research was followed just days later with a study that delivered a disturbing conclusion about vitamin C supplements. Did I say " disturbing " ? Actually the conclusion is disturbing only until you look at the details. So stop the presses, hold the scare headlines, and whatever you do, don't toss out your vitamin C. --------------------------- Stretching the point --------------------------- If you're one of the millions of women who have diabetes, you might have been alarmed to come across media reports stating simply that vitamin C may increase mortality in diabetic women. But it turns out that there's a lot more to it than that. And a lot less too. Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers at the University of Minnesota (UM) observed that under " certain circumstances " vitamin C may have prooxidant properties (the opposite of antioxidant), and may glycate protein (which can cause tissue damage in diabetics). Their hypothesis: A high intake of vitamin C in diabetics might promote atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries). The UM team collected 15 years of data on about 1,900 women who participated in the Iowa Women's Health Study. All of the women were postmenopausal and diabetic, but none had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) at the outset of the study. Researchers examined the relation of vitamin C intake to mortality from CAD, stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Their conclusion: Postmenopausal, diabetic women with a high vitamin C supplement intake had an increased risk of CVD mortality. So... What's wrong with this picture? Plenty. --------------------------- Back up the sludge truck --------------------------- Once again I turned to HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., for his take on this most recent attack on one of the most important vitamins we need for optimal health. Dr. Spreen started off by quoting the UM study: " Vitamin C acts as a potent antioxidant. " But the researchers go on to say that the vitamin might be bad because " it can also be a prooxidant under certain circumstances in vitro. " Dr. Spreen: " Let's be clear here, 'in vitro' means in a laboratory test tube, not in humans, and 'under certain circumstances' means you have to work at it, even in the tube. " But, true to their concern, they generated a study. Remembering that the best designed studies are those that keep everything the same except for the one thing being studied so that distorting factors don't muddy the water, we find that our intrepid investigators had just a thing or two to 'adjust' for. Specifically: '...cardiovascular disease risk factors, type of diabetes medication used, duration of diabetes, and intakes of folate, vitamin E, and beta-carotene.' " I mean, that's not muddying the water, that's sludge. " I guess it's always possible that the nutrient could be doing something none of us has ever seen before, but then, why not in young men?... older men?... diabetic men?... young women?... non- diabetic older women?... diabetic young women? " Sorry, not impressed. " --------------------------- Ruling out possibilities --------------------------- And there are even more reasons to be unimpressed. For instance, CVD is the leading cause of death among diabetics, no matter what supplements they may or may not be taking. The UM team also noted that the only other study of vitamin C supplements among diabetics used data from the Nurse's Health Study and found supplements of the vitamin to have a beneficial effect. And finally, the researchers admit that, " we cannot totally rule out the possibility that our findings occurred by chance because of the small number of cases in some subgroups. " When our medical researchers start to make our weathermen look accurate, we know we're in trouble. ************************************************************** ....and another thing There's no better time than the holiday season to make an extra effort to support our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. A colleague sent me an e-mail this week with this message: " I've come across a service designed to send care packages to troops who don't get much mail from home. They have pre-made baskets you can send. Apparently there are only a couple of weeks left to send something in order to get it over there by Christmas. " The service referred to is called Any Soldier Inc. But don't let the " Inc. " fool you – this is a grassroots organization started by one soldier – Sgt. Brian Horn, an Army Infantry Soldier from LaPlata, Maryland, who launched an effort to distribute mail to soldiers who weren't receiving any. Any Soldier Inc. now has more than 700 contacts in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines who help get mail and care packages through to as many soldiers as possible. So the contacts are in place – all that's needed now is support from home. If you'd like to participate, just go to anysoldier.com and follow the easy steps to send items that soldiers need. And don't forget to spread the word to your friends. It's a perfect way to remind our soldiers just how grateful we are for the sacrifices they make. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** Sources: " Does Supplemental Vitamin C Increase Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Women With Diabetes? " American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 80, No. 5, November 2004, ajcn.org " Vitamin C May Increase Mortality in Diabetic Women " NutraIngredients.com, 11/16/04, nutraingredients.com Copyright ©1997-2004 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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