Acetaminophen Linked to Asthma
March 10, 2010
Natural News
By David Gutierrez
The common painkiller acetaminophen may increase the risk of asthma and other allergies in both children and adults, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of British Columbia-Vancouver and published in the journal CHEST.
Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, is the active ingredient in the painkillers Tylenol, Anacin, Panadol, and others. Because it does not increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding the way aspirin, ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do, it has become the favored analgesic and fever-reducer used in young children.
Researchers reviewed 19 prior studies on a total of 425,000 children and adults. They found that children who had been treated with the drug in the past year were 60 percent more likely to suffer from asthma than children who had not, while adults who had used the drug in the past year were 75 percent more likely to suffer from the condition. People who had taken higher doses of the drug had a higher risk of asthma than people who had taken lower doses. The data also showed a connection between acetaminophen use and wheezing, eczema, runny nose and itchy eyes.
The study was not designed to prove cause and effect, however.
Researchers have been looking for causes of the significant increase in asthma rates over the past 20 years. Suggested culprits have included air pollutants and overly sterile living environments, but the current study points to another potential contributor.
According to co-author Mark FitzGerald, it was roughly 20 years ago that doctors began to recommend acetaminophen rather than aspirin for the treatment of fevers and pain in children.
“There was a change in practice and in the succeeding 20 years or so the prevalence of asthma has increased also,” he said.
Although ibuprofen does not appear to increase the risk of asthma, it may cause liver and brain damage in some children.
“For adults, ibuprofen is probably the safer of the two in terms of asthma risk,” co-author Mahyar Etminan said. “For kids, pediatric guidelines still point to acetaminophen use — at least until we have a more definitive study.”
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Mom’s Diet Affects Health and Future Allergies of Baby
February 22, 2010
Reuters
By Joene Hendry
Greater intake of green and yellow vegetables, citrus fruit, and veggies and fruits high in beta carotene (generally those colored red and orange) may lessen the risk of having a baby with eczema (itchy, dry, red patched skin), Dr. Yoshihiro Miyake at Fukuoka University and colleagues found.
Foods high in vitamin E, found in some green vegetables, similarly may lessen the risk of having a wheezy infant, they report in the journal Allergy.
Beta carotene and vitamin E are two of many vegetable and fruit antioxidants thought to benefit health. But prior investigations of maternal antioxidant intake and childhood allergies offered conflicting findings. This area of research “is still developing,” Miyake noted in an email to Reuters Health.
In the current study, Miyake’s team evaluated vegetable and fruit intake during pregnancy of 763 women and their offspring’s early-age eczema or allergic wheeze.
The women were 30 years old on average and about 17 weeks pregnant when they reported personal and medical history. When their babies were between 16 and 24 months old, the women provided birth and breastfeeding history, number of older siblings, and exposure to smoke.
The team found that 21 percent of the youngsters wheezed or had a “whistling in the chest in the last 12 months,” and fewer than 19 percent had eczema.
According to the investigators, moms who ate greater amounts of green and yellow vegetables, citrus fruits, or beta carotene while pregnant were less apt to have an infant with eczema.
For example, after allowing for other eczema risk factors, eczema was more common among infants of moms who ate the least versus the most green and yellow vegetables – 54 and 32 infants, respectively.
Likewise, higher intake of vitamin E during pregnancy was associated a reduced likelihood of having a wheezy infant — a finding that supports previous investigations from the U.S. and
U.K.
Boosting intake of green and yellow vegetables, citrus fruits, and antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamin E among moms-to-be “deserves further investigation as measures that would possibly be effective in the prevention of allergic disorders in the offspring,” the researchers conclude.
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HRT and Asthma Linked
February 12, 2010
Guardian
By BMJ Group
Taking oestrogen-only HRT might increase women’s short-term risk of developing asthma for the first time, especially for women with allergies, according to a big new study from France.
What do we know already?
Previous studies have suggested that the hormone oestrogen plays a part in making women susceptible to asthma. Although we tend to think of asthma as a disease that starts in childhood, quite a lot of people first get asthma as an adult.
Asthma is more common in girls once they’ve started their periods, and it tends to become less common after women go through the menopause.
However, asthma has become more common in all age groups in recent years. So, doctors are interested to know whether hormonal treatments – like the contraceptive pill and HRT– have an effect.
The new study looked at a group of more than 57,000 French women who were around menopausal age, none of whom had been diagnosed with asthma at the start of the study. Researchers followed the women for an average 10 years, recording what medicines they took during that time and whether they were diagnosed with asthma.
What does the new study say?
Women who took oestrogen-only HRT were more likely to get asthma during the study. Women who took combined HRT, which includes oestrogen plus another hormone called progestogen, didn’t have an increased risk.
During the study, tabout one woman in 1,000 was diagnosed with asthma each year. Of these women, 56 percent had taken HRT within the past two years, and 36 percent had never taken HRT. When the researchers looked at all the factors affecting the women’s health, they found women who’d taken oestrogen-only HRT had about a 67 percent increased risk of getting asthma, compared with women who never used HRT.
Looking at other factors, the researchers said that having had an allergic disease before (for example, hay fever or eczema) increased the risk when combined with HRT. Never having smoked also increased the risk when combined with HRT, but this could be because it was hard to untangle the increased risk of asthma from smoking, from the effects of HRT.
The increased risk from HRT seemed to wear off a couple of years after women had stopped taking it.
How reliable are the findings?
This is a big, well-conducted study with interesting results. However, this type of study can never prove that one thing (HRT) caused another (asthma). It can only show that there’s an association, which might have been caused by something else. For example, women taking long-term medication like HRT need to visit their GP for prescriptions, so might be more likely to mention problems with their breathing and be diagnosed with asthma. We can’t be sure that HRT itself caused the asthma.
Where does the study come from?
The study was done by researchers from France and Mexico. It was published in Thorax, a medical journal that is part of the BMJ Group. It was funded by grants from three French research institutions.
What does this mean for me?
If you’re considering taking HRT for menopausal symptoms, there are a lot of pros and cons to take on board. HRT has previously been linked to a slightly increased risk of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, and blood clots. This is one more factor to take account of when deciding whether to take HRT to relieve the symptoms of menopause.
What should I do now?
If you have concerns about the medicine you are taking, make an appointment to speak to your GP.
Click here for the full report
Parasites In Your Body Can Help Your Immune System
February 11, 2010
Natural News
By David Gutierrez
Humans and gastrointestinal parasites might have co-evolved in such a way that the parasites actually help regulate to human immune system to prevent against allergies, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Nottingham.
Researchers believe that over the course of millions of years, gastrointestinal parasites have evolved an ability to suppress the human immune system as a survival mechanism. Because parasitic infestation has been so common throughout human evolutionary history, the human immune system has in turn evolved to compensate for this effect.
This means that if the parasites are removed, the immune system may actually function too strongly, resulting in maladaptive immune responses such as asthma, eczema and other allergies.
To test this hypothesis, researchers used drugs to eliminate hookworm infection in a 1,500 children between the ages of six and 17 who were living in a rural village in central Vietnam. This region was selected for its very low rates of allergies and high parasitic infestation rate. Two-thirds of all children in the area are infested with hookworm or other gastrointestinal parasites.
The researchers found that once the children were no longer infected with parasites, their rates of dust mite allergies significantly increased. This supports the hypothesis that parasites help regulate immune responses.
“The next step is to understand exactly how and when gut parasites program the human immune system in a way that protects against allergies, and for such studies, follow-up from birth will be essential,” said researcher Carsten Flohr.
Researchers hope that understanding the relationship between parasites and the human immune system could lead to a better overall understanding of allergies.
“The prospects of further studies in this area are very exciting, as we could see groundbreaking treatments for asthma and other allergies developed as a result,” said Elaine Vickers of Asthma UK, which funded the study.
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Organic Milk Linked to Lower Rates of Allergies, Asthma, and Eczema
December 28, 2009
Natural News
By David Gutierrez
Young children who consume exclusively organic dairy products are significantly less likely to develop allergies, asthma or eczema by the age of two, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Louis Bolk Institute in the Netherlands and published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
“This is the first example of a definite health impact of organic food consumption being published in a peer-reviewed journal,” said Carlo Leifert of Newcastle University, who is leading a study into the connection between organic food consumption and health.
Researchers followed 2,500 pregnant women until their children were two years old, recording information on their health and their lifestyle and dietary habits. They found that the rate of allergies was 36 percent lower among children who drank or ate organic milk, cheese and yogurt and whose mothers had consumed these products while breastfeeding than among children and mothers who had eaten either only non-organic dairy products or a mix of organic and non-organic products.
“There was a clear relationship between organic dairy use and less eczema,” said researcher Machteld Huber. “The difference was significant but only for children exclusively eating organic dairy products.”
“We didn’t find a relationship if they had [both] organic and conventional dairy products.”
Researchers do not know whether the increased allergy risk from non-organic dairy is caused by extra toxic ingredients, such as antibiotics, by lower levels of key nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids, by some combination of the two, or by some other factor.
“Organic milk doesn’t contain any pesticides, added hormones or antibiotics,” said Stuart Martin of the Scottish Organic Milk Producers Association. “When an organic cow becomes sick our farmers are encouraged to treat it homeopathically first and only use antibiotics as a last resort. Meanwhile, the milk from that cow is removed from the milk stream and is not used at all.”
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Prevent Heart Disease with Vitamin D
December 7, 2009
Natural News
By Mike Adams
Vitamin D is best known for its anti-cancer effects, but suddenly, following a flurry of recent research, it’s becoming increasingly recognized for its ability to prevent diseases like diabetes and depression. Now heart disease is also emerging as a chronic health condition that vitamin D can help prevent.
Here, we’ve assembled a collection of relevant research quotations on vitamin D and heart disease from authors like Phyllis Balch, Dr. James Dowd, Dr. Joel Fuhrman and many more. Enjoy this unique collection!
Vitamin D in the prevention of heart disease
Diabetes, both type-1 and type-2, are profoundly linked to low vitamin D levels. Obesity, heart disease, hypertension and stroke are inversely related to sunlight exposure and vitamin D levels. Psoriasis, eczema, and periodontal disease are lessened by sunlight exposure and high serum vitamin D. Fertility is positively influenced by sunlight exposure and high vitamin D levels. Sunlight enhances immune system function by producing vitamin D. Dozens of disorders other than those mentioned in this summary are related to vitamin D deficiency.
- Solar Power For Optimal Health by Marc Sorenson
Vitamin D supplements are likely to be useful in preventing diabetes in areas where vitamin D deficiency is common. In a 1997 study looking at the links between environmental factors and Type II diabetes, vitamin D levels were assessed in 142 Dutch men aged from 70 to 88 years of age. Thirty-nine per cent were found to have low vitamin D levels and tests showed that low vitamin D levels increased the risk of glucose intolerance. Heart disease: Low vitamin D levels may also increase the risk of atherosclerosis.
- The New Encyclopedia of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements and Herbs by Nicola Reavley
Osteoporosis is closely correlated to heart disease. Vitamin D deficiency could certainly be a factor in both, because there is a strong inverse relationship between vitamin D levels and artery calcification; the more D in the blood, the less the calcification. Artery cells have vitamin D receptors (VDR), which when stimulated by vitamin D, inhibit the incursion of calcium.
- Solar Power For Optimal Health by Marc Sorenson
“I think vitamin D is an important ingredient in the longevity recipe,” he said enthusiastically, as if just struck by an epiphany. “Your skin manufactures vitamin D when it comes into contact with the sun. Without that vitamin D, we increase our risk for nearly all age-related diseases including many types of cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and even autoimmune diseases like MS (multiple sclerosis).” Insufficient vitamin D markedly accelerates heart disease in kidney patients.
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Preventing Heart Disease with Vitamin D
November 25, 2009
Natural News
By Mike Adams
The fact that vitamin D prevents cancer is now so well known that even some conventional physicians are beginning to recommend it. Vitamin D prevents 77% of all cancers, after all. That’s as close to a “cure” for cancer as you’ll ever get (and it’s free, too, since you can make it yourself!).
But did you also know that vitamin D prevents heart disease? In fact, most people suffering from heart disease are chronically deficient in vitamin D. By correcting their vitamin D levels (through sunlight exposure or by taking vitamin D3 supplements), people can simultaneously halt cancer and prevent heart disease, too.
Here’s a collection of research revealing the amazing power of this “miracle” vitamin to eliminate heart disease. I’d like to add, though, that the previously recommended daily intake of 400 IUs of vitamin D is now considered hazardously low. Most nutritionally-aware doctors and naturopaths are now recommending anywhere from 1,000 – 4000 IUs per day of vitamin D supplementation. Of course, you don’t need any vitamin D supplements if you get sufficient sunlight on your skin on a regular basis.
Vitamin D prevents heart disease
Diabetes, both type-1 and type-2, are profoundly linked to low vitamin D levels. Obesity, heart disease, hypertension and stroke are inversely related to sunlight exposure and vitamin D levels. Psoriasis, eczema, and periodontal disease are lessened by sunlight exposure and high serum vitamin D. Fertility is positively influenced by sunlight exposure and high vitamin D levels. Sunlight enhances immune system function by producing vitamin D. Dozens of disorders other than those mentioned in this summary are related to vitamin D deficiency.
How Many Chemicals Do You Put on Your Face Daily?
November 20, 2009
Telegraph
By Alastair Jamieson
A survey found women typically use up to 13 products, most of which contain more than 20 ingredients, including additives.
Perfumes contain an average cocktail of 250 ingredients, the study found, with some containing as many as 400.
The study, published by company Bionsen which makes deodorants it says are ‘aluminium free’, said some of the additive ingredients in other products have been linked to cancer, hormone problems, skin conditions and allergies.
Lipstick contains on average 33 ingredients, body lotion 32, mascara 29, and the purest product, hand moisturiser, 11, it found.
Charlotte Smith of Bionsen told The Sun: “Beauty regimes have changed dramatically from a simple ‘wash & go’ to daily fake tan applications, regular manicures, false lashes and hair extensions.
“The new ‘wonder treatments’ contain more chemicals to be able to achieve better results, which means that women are more at risk.”
Earlier research found one third of women under the age of 25 are regularly applying products meant for the over-40s, potentially exposing themselves to unnecessary damage through treatments designed for older skin.
Eczema patients who use products that are too greasy often suffer from a condition called occlusive folliculitis – sweat cannot escape from behind clogged pores, causing itchy red lumps.
Click here for the full report
How to Win Against Food and Skin Allergies with Probiotics
November 18, 2009
Natural News
By Paul Louis
Most health conscious people know of the positive effects on digestion from using probiotic supplements. Many take probiotic supplements after using antibiotics to replace the good intestinal flora bacteria indiscriminately killed by antibiotic use.
This practice is so well known that even many MD’s are recommending probiotics during and after antibiotics. But there is new evidence that probiotic benefits go beyond that. One area of investigative research concerns building the immune system’s resistance to allergies that affect the skin. An obvious example of a skin’s allergic reaction is eczema, which tends occur more often with infants and toddlers.
A recent Dutch study gathered over 150 pregnant women with allergic disease histories in their families. During the last six weeks of pregnancy, they were given either three strains of probiotics or an inactive placebo pill. Neither they nor the doctors involved knew who received what.
After those pregnant women gave birth, most of their children were still monitored by the Dutch researchers. The children continued to receive probiotics or placebos for 12 months. After three months, the rate of eczema occurring among the probiotic subjects was less than half of those given placebos.
There were no more probiotics or placebos administered to the children after 12 months. However, many were still observed up until age two. As they approached that age, the eczema occurrence gap between the two groups with eczema narrowed somewhat.
But there was still a substantial difference. The study results provided evidence that probiotics can have an effect on offspring from allergy prone mothers, and the report was written up in the Journal of Allergy.
Another recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition involved probiotics administered to mice, with a focus on food allergies. The mice all had whey intolerances, and they were fed probiotics and prebiotics while drinking milk.
Cure for Eczema and Skin Alergies in Probiotics
November 12, 2009
Natural News.com
By Paul Louis
(Natural News) Most health conscious people know of the positive effects on digestion from using probiotic supplements. Many take probiotic supplements after using antibiotics to replace the good intestinal flora bacteria indiscriminately killed during antibiotic use.
This practice is so well known that MD’s have begun recommending probiotics during and after antibiotics.
But there is new evidence that probiotic benefits go beyond that. One area of investigative research is building the immune system’s resistance to allergies that affect the skin. An obvious example of a skin’s allergic reaction is eczema, which tends occur often with infants.
A recent Dutch study gathered over 150 pregnant women with allergic disease histories in their families. During the last six weeks of pregnancy, they were given either three strains of probiotics or an inactive placebo pill. Neither they nor the doctors knew which was which.
After those pregnant women gave birth, most of their children were monitored by the Dutch researchers. The children continued to receive probiotics or placebos for 12 months. After three months, the rate of eczema occurring among the probiotic subjects was less than half of those given only placebos.
There were no more probiotics or placebos administered to the children after 12 months. However, many were still observed up until age two. As they approached that age, the gap between eczema occurrences between the two groups, probiotic and placebo, narrowed somewhat.
But there was still a substantial difference. The study results were considered evidence that probiotics can have an effect on offspring from allergy-prone mothers, and the report was written up in the Journal of Allergy.
Another recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition involved probiotics administered to mice. This time the focus was on food allergies. The mice all had whey intolerances, and they were fed probiotics and prebiotics while drinking milk. With the help of probiotics, their intolerance to whey showed considerable improvement with almost no skin reactions.
Up to eight percent of children have various chronic food allergies. Extending this study to children may prove probiotics to be a useful natural remedy for eliminating food allergies.
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