Guest guest Posted July 7, 2005 Report Share Posted July 7, 2005 " HSI - Jenny Thompson " <HSIResearch HSI e-Alert - Go With the Flow Thu, 07 Jul 2005 06:42:00 -0400 HSI e-Alert - Go With the Flow Health Sciences Institute e-Alert **************************************************** July 07, 2005 Dear Reader, " I take saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) daily, and will for the rest of my life. " That quote comes from HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., who, like many men, uses the herb saw palmetto to address problems associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); an enlargement of the prostate gland experienced by more than half of all middle-aged and older men. BPH symptoms include weak urinary flow, frequent urination, painful urination, and difficulty in completely emptying the bladder. Besides being very annoying, these symptoms raise the risk of kidney stones, as well as infections of the bladder and kidney. And that list of risks just got longer (and more worrying) with new research from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, New York. ----------- Toxic dumping ----------- BPH typically hampers urine flow. In the worst cases, impeded flow causes an accumulation of metabolic waste. This sets the stage for toxin build up that can eventually develop into chronic kidney disease; a condition that sharply increases the risk of kidney failure and even cardiovascular problems. Previous studies that looked for a link between BPH and chronic kidney disease have been inconclusive, largely because most of those studies examined only subjects who had symptoms of one or both of these health problems. In this new study - reported in the June 2005 issue of Kidney International - Mayo researchers randomly recruited more than 470 middle-aged and elderly men from the general population. Each subject underwent clinical evaluation that included a detailed questionnaire regarding urinary flow. Ultrasound exams measured prostate size and residual urine volume, while peak urinary flow rates were recorded by uroflometer. Results showed that " chronic kidney disease was associated with diminished peak urinary flow rate, moderate severe lower urinary tract symptoms and chronic urinary retention. " In a Mayo Clinic press release, one of the study authors, Steven J. Jacobsen, M.D., stated: " We were surprised at how much kidney disease can be attributed to BPH. " Dr. Jacobsen hopes further research will determine if BPH treatments can reverse kidney disease development. ----------- Five tips for men ----------- There's no evidence that saw palmetto can " cure " BPH. But a study published last year in the British Journal of Urology International demonstrated just how effective saw palmetto may be in relieving BPH symptoms. Researchers from the University of Chicago reviewed the results of nearly 20 trials that tested a commercial extract of saw palmetto. The conclusions were overwhelmingly positive, with these general outcomes: * Improved urine flow * Reduction of urinary urgency and pain * Improved emptying of the bladder * Reduction in size of prostate gland after two years * Significant improvement in quality of life When I asked Dr. Spreen to share some general advice on saw palmetto supplementation, he offered these five guidelines: 1. It MUST be the " standardized berry extract. " Nothing else counts, as you have no idea what you're getting. 2. The minimum dose for effect is 320 milligrams daily, and it takes from 2-3 months to be really effective for most. So, if urination trouble is acute enough that no urine can be passed, it becomes too late for the easy solution. 3. The extract should be mixed with a second herb (in my opinion) called Pygeum africanum; they tend to augment each other. 4. I don't know of any toxicity problem, but the agent is not to be considered the solution for prostate cancer (though I'd take it anyway, and I've read it may help). 5. A key point is that prostate enlargement is due to deficiencies of zinc, essential fatty acids, and probably 2 or 3 amino acids. Saw palmetto does not supply those, though it does shrink the gland, so a word to the wise would be to decrease the sugar and refined flour intake (they use up zinc), and supplement with those nutrients. Any man who may be experiencing symptoms of BPH should talk with his doctor or health care professional before starting a daily saw palmetto regimen. **************************************************** ....and another thing It's not easy making cookies for the whole world. First, you've got to make a LOT of cookies. And then you have to be careful what you put in them because simple choices about ingredients that seem practical at the time may actually end up harming your customers. You don't want that. Next year, cookie makers and other food producers in the U.S. will be required to list the trans-fatty acid (TFA) content in their products. Trans fats are created by the hydrogenation of vegetable oil; a process that gives the oil a longer shelf life. So as you might suspect, hydrogenated oil is used extensively in the preparation of snack foods, fast foods and many baked goods. The downside: Studies have shown TFA consumption to be associated with artery damage and a high risk of heart disease. (See the e-Alert " Doing the Math " 11/12/03, on our website at hsibaltimore.com.) In a recent article published online by MSNBC, a spokesperson for Kraft foods told writer Gersh Kuntzman that two years and " tens of millions " of dollars have been devoted to developing a TFA-free Oreo cookie that still tastes like an Oreo. Apparently it's hard to get the crunch just right when avoiding TFAs. But in a follow up article that appeared just last week, Mr. Kuntzman admitted feeling like he'd had the wool pulled over his eyes. It turns out that Europeans have been eating Oreos with no TFAs for some time now. When Kuntzman asked a Kraft spokesperson for an explanation, he received what he accurately calls " corporate doublespeak. " Apparently the folks at Kraft are dedicated to delivering " individual market expectations. " And each market has " unique consumer taste preferences " don't you know. Translation: European Oreos (brilliantly dubbed " Euroreos " by Kuntzman) taste different than stateside Oreos. Further translation: We wouldn't really like them. And more importantly, we'd stop buying them. Or that's what Kraft executives seem to believe anyway. So if you love your Oreos just the way they are - cardiovascular risks and all - you'd better stock up. Come 2006, they just might crunch a little differently. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson **************************************************** Sources: " The Association Between Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Chronic Kidney Disease in Community-Dwelling Men " Kidney International, Vol. 67, No 6, June 2005, Blackwell-synergy.com " Mayo Clinic Finds Kidney Disease Associated with 'Benign' Prostate Obstruction " Mayo Clinic in Rochester, 6/28/05, mayoclinic.org " The Role of a Lipido-Sterolic Extract of Serenoa Repens in the Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia " British Journal of Urology International, Vol. 94, No. 3, August 2004, bjui.org " Corporate Cookies " Gersh Kuntzman, MSNBC, 6/28/05, msnbc.msn.com ***************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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