A Series of Unfortunate Events

[Guest guest]

" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch

 

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Mon, 17 Jan 2005 08:55:43 -0500

 

 

 

A Series of Unfortunate Events

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

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January 17, 2005

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Dear Reader,

 

Here's a series of events that would cause Lemony Snicket to have even

more dismay than usual:

 

A poor diet is combined with a lack of exercise... which takes its

toll in the form of type 2 diabetes... which prompts health problems

such as microvascular disease... which damages tiny blood vessels in

the eye... which obstructs blood flow to the retina... which causes

gradual vision loss.

 

But bad as all that is, that's not the end of it.

 

A new study shows that the cascading health situation described above

might be a tip off that the heart is also in danger.

 

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The eyes have it

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Scientists have theorized that microvascular disease could be a risk

factor for congestive heart failure (CHF). To test this theory,

researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia examined the

relationship of CHF and retinopathy; a disorder (common to diabetes)

that blocks blood flow to the eyes and kidneys, and is a marker for

microvascular disease.

 

The Melbourne team drew on the health records of more than 11,000

middle-aged subjects who participated in a U.S. trial called the

Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. All of these subjects had

retinal photographs taken to detect symptoms of retinopathy.

Researchers used follow up medical records over a period of seven

years to determine rates of CHF.

 

Results showed that subjects with retinopathy had a heart failure rate

of more than 15 percent, while those without retinopathy had a CHF

rate of less than five percent. This difference was even more

pronounced among subjects who had retinopathy symptoms, but at the

outset of the study showed no symptoms of heart disease, diabetes or

high blood pressure.

 

Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the

researchers conclude that retinopathy " is an independent predictor of

CHF " even if a patient has none of the accepted risk factors of the

disease.

 

In short: Any patient who is diagnosed with retinopathy should be

monitored for the development of congestive heart failure.

 

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To the rescue

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There are no early warning signs for diabetic retinopathy - when the

first symptoms are detected (such as blurred vision), the condition is

usually well underway. So in a sense, anyone who is diagnosed with

diabetes should consider the diagnosis itself to be an early warning sign.

 

Fortunately there are steps you can take to minimize your risk of

retinopathy, whether or not you have type 2 diabetes.

 

In the e-Alert " Seeing the Light " (6/7/04), I told you about a

multiyear study of more than 1,300 subjects that examined the effects

of dietary and supplemental sources of vitamins C and E on diabetic

retinopathy. Researchers found no association between intake of

vitamin C or E from food sources and a reduced risk of retinopathy.

But those who reported taking supplements of vitamins C or E for three

years or more were shown to be significantly less likely to develop

retinopathy compared to subjects who didn't use supplements.

 

Researchers couldn't explain why food sources of the vitamins weren't

as effective as supplements. Nevertheless, this study confirms

previous animal trials that have shown positive associations between

vitamin C and E intake and retinopathy prevention.

 

Beyond supplementing with vitamins C and E, dietary measures can be

taken to help prevent retinopathy. Studies have shown that a

deficiency of vitamin B-6 contributes to the condition. B-6 is found

in a wide variety of foods including beef, poultry, fish, beans,

bananas, spinach, avocados, walnuts and sunflower seeds.

 

The most effective prevention of retinopathy is the control of glucose

and insulin levels. Beyond that, a yearly, dilated eye exam is

essential. Pregnancy can also raise retinopathy risk, so some doctors

recommend several eye exams throughout pregnancy for diabetic women.

 

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....and another thing

 

It might be too early to say we've spotted a trend, but something

unusual is going on, and you've got to like the way it's headed.

 

Just last week, in the e-Alert " Attention Paid " (1/12/05), I told you

about a study that found a clear association between iron deficiency

and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adolescents.

 

Now this week I've come across yet another study that focuses on

dietary causes of ADHD.

 

As reported in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, a

team of French researchers examined the effects of magnesium and

vitamin B6 supplements on more than 50 subjects under the age of 15

who had been diagnosed with ADHD. Supplement dosage varied according

to body weight, but on average, each child received 100 mg of

magnesium and 13 mg of B6 per day for three to 24 weeks.

 

The researchers found a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms in ALL

of the subjects, including improvements in physical aggressiveness and

hyperexcitability.

 

And while it's remarkable that I've come across two trials in as many

weeks that studied ADHD without the use of drugs, the results are not

surprising, thanks to HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., who has made it

clear that (in his own words) " ADHD is fixable without drugs of any

kind in the VAST majority of cases. "

 

But one of the observations Dr. Spreen made about the iron deficiency

study also applies to this second study: If a child is deficient in

one nutrient, that's a good indication that his overall nutrition

picture needs improving. So in addition to adding supplements and

making sure the diet consists of a good balance of fresh, whole foods,

Dr. Spreen offers this ADHD rule of thumb: " If food allergies are not

dealt with, if sugar and refined white flour are not massively

lowered, if artificial additives are not eliminated (colors, flavors,

MSG, preservatives, etc.), the changes from supplements could still

fail to work properly. "

 

Meanwhile, here's hoping that these studies are just the first in a

long line of trials that will help make parents aware that there's an

alternative to the quick fix of ADHD drugs.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

Health Sciences Institute

 

 

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Sources:

 

" Retinopathy and Risk of Congestive Heart Failure " Journal of the

American Medical Association, Vol. 293, No. 1, 1/5/05, jama.ama-assn.org

" Eye Disease Predicts Heart Failure " Reuters Health, 1/4/05,

reutershealth.com

" Magnesium VitB6 Intake Reduces Central Nervous System

Hyperexcitability in Children " Journal of the American College of

Nutrition, Vol. 23, No. 5, October 2004, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

" Supplements a Natural Treatment for ADHD " Kimberly Beauchamp, N.D.,

Healthnotes Newswire, 12/23/04, pccnaturalmarkets.com

 

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