White Not Quite Right

[Guest guest]

" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch

HSI e-Alert - White Not Quite Right

Wed, 01 Jun 2005 07:30:00 -0400

 

 

HSI e-Alert - White Not Quite Right

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

****************************************************

June 01, 2005

 

****************************************************

 

Dear Reader,

 

When an infection arises, your body sends in the WBCs.

 

White blood cells, that is.

 

WBCs (also known as leukocytes) are an indispensable element of the

immune system; WBC count rises when the body is fighting infection

from bacteria or viruses. Now a new study shows that white blood cell

count may provide doctors with an accurate and easy-to-use tool for

predicting heart disease.

 

-----------

The new red flag

-----------

 

Over the past few years, research has revealed the significant role

inflammation plays in the development of atherosclerosis (narrowing of

the arteries). In previous e-Alerts I've told you about C-reactive

protein (CRP), a key marker for inflammation that many mainstream

researchers now regard as a far more reliable predictor of

atherosclerosis than elevated LDL cholesterol. But now CRP may have

met its match - literally.

 

Researchers led by Karen L. Margolis, M.D., examined data collected

from the Women's Health Initiative, an ongoing study from the National

Institutes of Health. More than 72,000 women participated, aged 50 to

79, who had no history of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

 

After an average of six years of follow up, researchers found that

women with the highest WBC counts at the outset of the study were more

than twice as likely to die from coronary heart disease compared to

women with the lowest WBC counts. Those with the highest counts also

had a significantly increased risk of stroke and nonfatal heart attack.

 

The researchers noted that the highest WBC counts in the study were

considered to be only at the upper end of normal, which is not an

extremely high count. They also believe the results demonstrate that

WBC count may be just as reliable as CRP in predicting cardiovascular

events linked to coronary heart disease. A CRP test generally costs

about $75; three times the cost of a white blood cell test.

 

Writing in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr. Margolis and her

team conclude that an elevated WBC count is a dependable predictor of

CVD events in postmenopausal women, even when there are no other

indications of CVD.

 

-----------

Egg rolling

-----------

 

Inflammation presents a chicken-or-egg dilemma. Researchers are not

yet sure if atherosclerosis triggers inflammation, or if inflammation

sets the stage for atherosclerosis. In either case, inflammation

presents a problem that won't be solved with a one-size-fits-all quick

fix. But that doesn't mean drug companies won't try.

 

In the e-Alert " Putting the C in CRP " (4/28/04), I told you how drug

companies have started positioning some of their products to treat

patients with elevated CRP, even though CRP is considered a MARKER,

not the CAUSE of inflammation.

 

According to a report from Internet Broadcasting Systems (IBS),

researchers for AstraZeneca (AZ) are currently testing the effects of

their cholesterol-lowering statin drug Crestor on CRP. This study is

titled JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Primary

prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin). And the

title is revealing: " Justification for the use... " It would seem that

the desired conclusion of the study is already written. Now if the

results will just cooperate and " justify " the use of statins, the

study will provide AZ with a useful marketing tool.

 

In a side note, the IBS report states that, " there are currently no

guidelines to treat high CRP levels. " What they're saying here, of

course, is that there are currently no drugs that have been approved

to treat high CRP levels. This is a typical mainstream reaction: If we

can't treat it with drugs, there's nothing we can do.

 

So if further studies confirm the results of the Margolis research, we

certainly won't be surprised to hear that a drug company has launched

a study to test statins on elevated WBC count. In fact, I fully expect it.

 

In the meantime, if either your WBC count or CRP is elevated, talk to

your doctor and examine all aspects of your health profile. Somewhere

in there - among chronic problems, family history or subtle symptoms -

lies the spark that sets off a potentially dangerous flame.

 

****************************************************

/

....and another thing

 

Yogurt Tic-Tacs anyone?

 

A Japanese study suggests that bad breath may be reduced by eating a

little yogurt every day - if it's the right kind of yogurt.

 

Researchers at Tsurumi University (TU) in Yokohama started their study

by instructing 24 subjects with halitosis to avoid eating yogurt and

any other foods with living cultures for two weeks. For the following

six weeks all subjects ate 45 grams of yogurt (about two ounces) twice

daily: once between breakfast and lunch, and again between lunch and

dinner.

 

At the end of the trial 80 percent of the saliva samples collected

were found to have lower levels of sulfide compounds (which can cause

halitosis) compared to saliva samples taken at the outset of the

study. Subjects also considerably reduced plaque and gingivitis. The

mechanism that creates these benefits is unknown, but the results

complement another study that found a lower risk of cavities among

people who regularly eat yogurt.

 

The yogurt used in the TU study was sugar-free and fermented with

living lactobacilli and streptococci cultures. At the International

Association for Dental Research annual meeting, the TU team noted that

yogurt made with sugar or without the living cultures would not

produce the same beneficial effects.

 

These benefits can only be expected in cases where bad breath is

related to dental conditions. Halitosis can also be caused by sinus or

lung infections and even cirrhosis of the liver.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

Health Sciences Institute

 

****************************************************

 

 

Sources:

 

" Leukocyte Count as a Predictor of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality

in Postmenopausal Women " Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 165, No.

5, 3/14/05, archinte.ama-assn.org

" Test Could Be Predictor of Heart Disease " Carla K. Johnson, The

Associated Press, 3/15/05, ap.org

" Forget the Breath Mints, Eat Yogurt Instead " Reuters Health, 3/15/05,

reutershealth.com