Tiny vitamin in milk found to have remarkable health benefits

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Researchers have discovered a small,  hidden vitamin in milk that has remarkable health benefits. The finding comes from mouse studies. Scientists discovered that high doses of a novel form of vitamin B3 that is present in small quantities in milk, and possibly other foods, makes mice stronger, faster and leaner without dieting and without exercise.

Hidden milk vitamin could prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes

Though the researchers aren’t sure about the human effects of the form of vitamin B3 -nicotinamide riboside or NR - which is a cousin to a precursor of the B vitamin Niacin, they now understand there are some potential benefits for preventing obesity and even type 2 diabetes.

In the mouse study, nicotinamide riboside offered the same benefits for health as eating a low-calorie diet and exercise, but the mice didn’t have to do either.

Dr. Anthony Sauve, associate professor of Pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medical College where the study was conducted explained in a press release:

“The bottom line is that NR improves the function of mitochondria, the cell's energy factories. Mitochondrial decline is the hallmark of many diseases associated with aging, such as cancer and neurodegeneration, and NR supplementation boosts mitochondrial functioning."

In 2007, Suave who is a pharmacologist and organic chemist found that NR increases nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) levels in mammalian cells, which regulates energy metabolism. NAD converts sugars, proteins and fats into energy. Stanford researcher and 1959 Nobel Laureate, Arthur Kornberg studied NR 60 years ago.

The scientists say the effect of the ‘hidden’ vitamin are ‘nothing short of astonishing’ and the researchers believe it’s present in many other foods, but difficult to detect.

Suave called the evidence ‘encouraging”, but says there is ‘much more work to do”. He has developed a synthetic form of NAD for further study and the Cornell Lab. If  human studies show the milk vitamin is safe at high doses, it could mean new treatment for obesity, diabetes and other metabolic disorders.

The potential of the tiny ‘hidden vitamin’ found in milk might someday be used to help humans. Mice in the study were given high doses of nicotinamide riboside and lost 60% more weight than a control group, even though they were fed the same high-fat diets. They also had more energy, lower cholesterol levels and increased insulin sensitivity.

Source:

New York- Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medical College 

June 14, 2012

How sleep deprivation alters the brain to raise anxiety

Too little sleep
can lead to high anxiety
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New information from sleep experts links too little sleep to higher anxiety levels. People who are already nervous have trouble sleeping. Conversely, lack of sleep can make already nervous people even more anxious, supercharging emotional responses from altered brain processes.

Lack of sleep triggers emotional brain centers

Researchers from the Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley used MRI's of the brain to find how lack of sleep triggers emotional centers in the brain; in particular, the amygdala that reacts to unpleasant events.

For the study, investigators performed functional MRI (fMRI) on 16 subjects: once after sleep deprivation and once after a good night’s sleep. They were shown either an unpleasant or neutral image while scientists looked at what happened in the brain.

For some of the study participants, sleep deprivation increased the anticipation of a negative event as much as 60 percent.

"Anticipation is a fundamental brain process, a common survival mechanism across numerous species," said Andrea Goldstein, lead author of the study and a graduate student in the Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory, in a media release.

The researchers also noted sleep deprivation had the biggest impact on people who were naturally anxious.

The study is presented at SLEEP 2012, the 26th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

Goldstein said, "Our results suggest that just one night of sleep loss significantly alters the optimal functioning of this essential brain process, especially among anxious individuals. This is perhaps never more relevant considering the continued erosion of sleep time that continues to occur across society."

Source: 

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

June 10, 2012

Ginseng gives cancer patients an energy boost in Mayo Clinic study (VIDEO)

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Ginseng boost energy for cancer patients in Mayo Clinic findings

Ginseng has long been used in Chinese medicine to boost energy. Now researchers at Mayo Clinic have found high doses of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) can give cancer patients suffering from fatigue that accompanies chemotherapy an energy boost.

For their study, the researchers tested primarily breast cancer patients (60 percent of participants).  Included were 340 patients who were either receiving cancer treatment or who had completed therapy.

Ginseng improves cancer patient's fatigue after 8 weeks

The study groups either received a placebo or 2,000mg of pure American ginseng root, which is an important note for women being treated for breast cancer.

Debra Barton, Ph.D., of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center explained in a press release that ‘off the shelf’ ginseng is often processed with ethanol; giving it estrogen like properties that could pose dangers for breast cancer patients.

It took 8 weeks to see improvement in fatigue and symptoms of exhaustion, ‘feeling pooped’, ‘wore out’, ‘sluggish’ and ‘run down’, but the change was substantial.

There was a 20 point improvement on a standard 100-point fatigue scale reported by the cancer patients; with no apparent side effects.

The study is important because 90 percent of cancer patients experience fatigue that can disrupt normal routines, destroy quality of life and cause general debilitation.

Based on animal studies, the researchers believe the active ingredients in Ginseng -  called ginsenosides – calm inflammatory chemicals known as cytokines, in addition to stabilizing cortisol, which is a stress hormone.

Barton said, “Cancer is a prolonged chronic stress experience and the effects can last 10 years beyond diagnosis and treatment.

 If we can help the body be better modulated throughout treatment with the use of ginseng, we may be able to prevent severe long-term fatigue."

The findings shows ginseng is a natural energy booster that can help cancer patients overcome fatigue. The Mayo Clinic researchers are planning on continuing their studies into exactly how ginseng affects specific biomarkers in the body to give cancer patients an energy boost. Speak with your doctor before taking any supplements or over the counter medications.

Source: 

Mayo Clinic

June 4, 2012