From Psychiatry Source

Celiac disease increases a patient’s risk of subsequent depression but not bipolar disorder, study findings indicate.

“Celiac disease is characterized by mucosal atrophy in the small bowel, but is also associated with extraintestinal complications, including neuropsychiatric disorders,” explain Jonas Ludvigsson, from rebro University Hospital in Sweden, and colleagues.

The researchers investigated the risk of subsequent mood disorders in 13776 individuals with celiac disease and 66,815 age- and gender-matched individuals from the general population.

Patients with celiac disease were 1.8 times as likely to develop subsequent depression as those without the gastrointestinal disorder.

However, the condition did not increase the risk of subsequent bipolar disorder, with a hazard ratio of 1.1.

Both prior depression and bipolar disorder increased the risk of celiac disease, however, at odds ratios of 2.3 and 1.7, respectively.

The investigators suggest in the Journal of Affective Disorders, that this increased risk of celiac disease may be due to increased screening for the condition among patients with mood disorder compared with healthy individuals.

Ludvigsson and co-workers suggest that the positive associated between CD and subsequent depression may be due to “malnutrition or active bowel inflammation in individuals with celiac disease.”

For example, folate deficiency is implicated in both celiac disease and depression. The team notes that red cell folate levels are significantly lower in people with depression than those with bipolar disorder, potentially explaining why celiac disease is associated with subsequent depression but not bipolar disorder.

Tryptophan levels, which are reduced in patients with celiac disease and those with depression, may also explain the association between the conditions.

The investigators add that although their study contained no information on dietary compliance, “it is reasonable to assume that good dietary compliance in such individuals will influence overall celiac disease remission.”

The team concludes: “Diagnosis and treatment of depression in individuals with celiac disease is important since depression may itself result in lower dietary compliance.”

Dr. Perlmutter’s comment:

Again, a manifestation of celiac disease not related to the gut. Some have called celiac disease the most common disease of humanity, affecting 1% of humans. And screening for celiac is a simple matter of a blood test at the doctor’s office, the antiGliadin antibody test. Wouldn’t it make sense to at least screen for this test before staring on antidepressent medications?

From USATODAY.com

An international group of scientists sounded a warning Thursday that exposure to even extremely low doses of some chemicals while a fetus is developing can cause major changes in its future growth, health and ability to reproduce.

The warning, dubbed the Faroes Statement, came from 200 chemists, biologists, toxicologists, epidemiologists and pediatricians at a conference in the Faroe Islands, between Norway and Iceland. It was funded in part by the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health and the European Environment Agency.

While numerous recent research conferences have focused on the topic, this is the first time a group of respected scientists have publicly called for a full-court press to research the extent of the problem and to focus on prevention.

The amount of a chemical that can affect an adult may be “orders of magnitude” different from what can seriously interfere with the development of a baby, said Philippe Grandjean, a professor of environmental health at Harvard University’s School of Public Health and a conference co-chairman. “Both prostate cancer and breast cancer can be generated by exposure to very low concentrations of some chemicals early in life,” he said.

Paracelsus, “the father of toxicology” in the 16th century, first advanced the paradigm that “the dose makes the poison.” That still holds true, but “equally important is that ‘the timing makes the poison,’ ” the Faroes Statement said.

Examples discussed at the conference included the link between hormone-mimicking chemicals, some of which are used to make pesticides and plastics, and the increasing occurrence of testicular cancer and poor semen quality, as well as changes in puberty development. Low doses of chemicals that affect the immune system have been linked to increased susceptibility to allergies.

The message is not a new one, but scientists have tended to quietly suggest more research was needed, rather than shouting there’s a problem that needs to be dealt with.

“What’s important is that they’re saying it,” said Andrea Gore, professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Texas, who has helped organize previous meetings on the topic.

“This says ‘Wake up!’ ” said Brenda Eskenazi, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Berkeley who attended the conference. “This is not about us any more, this is about future generations.”

Dr. Perlmutter’s comment:

This is the central theme of Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten . The developing brain is exquisitely sensitive to the damaging effects of toxins. Now comes the hard science to support this view.

From Web MD

Moderate amounts of regular exercise might delay Alzheimer’s disease in older adults. The finding is based on more than 1,700 adults aged 65 and older who didn’t have dementia at the study’s start. Those who reported exercising at least three times per week were nearly a third less likely to develop dementia — primarily Alzheimer’s — over six years. The brain benefits didn’t require being in tip-top shape or doing grueling daily workouts.

“Even those elderly people who did modest amounts of gentle exercise, such as walking for 15 minutes three times a week, appeared to benefit,” researcher Eric Larson, MD, MPH, says in a news release. If confirmed, the findings could be yet another reason for elders to exercise, even if they’re not in great physical shape, write Larson and colleagues. Their study appears in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Larson directs the Center for Health Studies at Group Health Cooperative, a Seattle HMO.

Exercise and Dementia

Dementia isn’t a normal part of aging, but it becomes more common with age. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia in older adults. Exercise’s general health benefits are well known. But studies have been mixed on whether exercise thwarts dementia, note Larson and colleagues. So they conducted their own study. Participants were followed for six years. None scored poorly on initial tests of mental skills including memory, judgment, and language ability. The researchers were picky about that for a reason. They wanted to make sure that participants weren’t already headed for dementia. Participants were screened for dementia every other year during the six-year study. All were members of the HMO where Larson works.

Active or Idle?

At the study’s start, participants were asked about their exercise habits. The key questions: Do you exercise? If so, how many days per week?

More than three-quarters reported exercising at least three times weekly.

All types of exercise counted, including walking, bicycling, hiking, swimming, aerobics, and weight training. Participants were also asked about their smoking, alcohol use, education, medical history, and other factors that might affect their chances of developing dementia. The participants were not told to work out or change anything else about their lives.

Holding Dementia at Bay

Most participants didn’t develop dementia, but 158 did. Alzheimer’s was their most common type of dementia. People who reported exercising at least three times weekly were 32% less likely to develop dementia than those who exercised less often, the study shows. That figure takes other risk factors into account, like age, sex, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Larson’s team stops short of saying that exercise prevented dementia. Instead, they write that exercise appeared to delay dementia.

“We believe these findings may be useful if they are confirmed because Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most feared illnesses of aging and is frequently cited as a reason for not wanting to ‘get old,’” the researchers write.

“People do not want to lose their independence and quality of life as a consequence of aging,” they continue.

Not Superfit? No Problem

Participants’ physical skills were also checked. They were timed while walking 10 feet and standing up from a chair. They also took tests of balance and grip strength. Those who weren’t great at those tasks but exercised anyway cut their dementia risk most. Fitter seniors also benefited, but not as much. Larson adds, “Even if you’re 75 and have never exercised before, you can still benefit by starting to exercise now.” Of course, you should get a doctor’s approval before doing so.

How Might Exercise Slow Dementia?

If exercise delays dementia, science hasn’t figured out exactly how it happens. Perhaps it’s a perk of better blood flow to the brain, or maybe exercise protects brain tissue, write Larson and colleagues. They call for other studies to check their findings. A journal editorial states, “It is enticing to think that engaging in regular exercise can delay or prevent the development of Alzheimer’s disease,” since the disease’s established risk factors (like age and genetics) won’t budge. That is, you can’t change your age or genes, but you can decide whether or not to exercise. “We are edging closer to placing prevention of cognitive deterioration and of dementia on the long list of health benefits induced by physical activity,” write the editorialists. They included Laura Podewils, PhD, MS, of the CDC.

From Biosingularity

Individuals who have higher dietary intake of foods with omega-3 fatty acids and higher fish consumption have a reduced risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration, while those with higher serum levels of vitamin D may have a reduced risk of the early stages of the disease, according to two reports in the May issue of Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs when the macula, the area at the back of the retina that produces the sharpest vision, deteriorates over time. It is the most common cause of blindness among older adults in the United States, affecting more than 7 million individuals older than 40 years, according to background information in the articles. The prevalence of AMD is likely to increase as the population ages. There is currently no known way to prevent the condition, but research has begun to identify potentially modifiable risk factors and nutrient-based treatments.

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group assessed 4,519 individuals who were age 60 to 80 when they enrolled in 1992 through 1998. At that time, photographs were taken of their retinas to determine if they had AMD, and if so, to which of four stages the condition had progressed. The participants also completed a food frequency questionnaire that measured how often they consumed foods rich in certain vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids commonly found in tuna, salmon and other fish.

A total of 1,115 participants did not have any symptoms of AMD at the beginning of the study, and were compared with those who did, including 658 individuals with neovascular (severe) AMD. Dietary total omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid intake was inversely associated with neovascular AMD, as was docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, a fatty acid that previous evidence suggests affects the retina, the authors write. Higher fish consumption, both total and broiled/baked, was also inversely associated with neovascular AMD. Eating more than two medium (4-ounce) servings of fish per week or more than one medium serving of broiled or baked fish was associated with the lowest risk for advanced AMD.

Omega-3 fatty acids may influence processes involved in the development of blood vessel and nerve-related diseases of the retina, the authors write. For instance, DHA may protect the retina by influencing which genes turn on and off, while fatty acids overall may eventually form compounds that promote cell survival and proper blood vessel function, reduce inflammation and maintain energy balance.

These results and those from other observational analytic investigations suggest that modifying diet to include more foods rich in omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids could result in a reduction in the risk of having neovascular AMD, the authors conclude. Clinical trials would provide further information about whether diet changes or supplements could prevent the development of advanced AMD.

In a related study, Niyati Parekh, Ph.D., R.D., of the University of the Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Brunswick, and the University of WisconsinMadison, and colleagues analyzed data from 7,752 individuals (including 11 percent with AMD) who were part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a large study designed to represent the entire U.S. population. Participants were enrolled in the study between 1988 and 1994. They had physical examinations that included blood and urine samples, photographs of the retinas, and interviews and questionnaires regarding sociodemographics, lifestyle habits and food intake.

Levels of serum vitamin D were inversely associated with early AMD but not advanced AMD, the authors write. When participants were split into five groups based on level of vitamin D in the blood, those in the highest group had a 40 percent lower risk of early AMD than those in the lowest group. Milk intake was inversely associated with early AMD. Fish intake was inversely associated with advanced AMD.

Vitamin D may reduce the risk of AMD by reducing inflammation or by preventing the growth of new blood vessels in the retina, which contributes to some forms of AMD, the authors speculate. This study provides evidence that vitamin D may protect against AMD, the authors conclude. However, at this time there is insufficient epidemiologic evidence of the relationship between vitamin D level and AMD to make recommendations regarding optimum serum vitamin D levels or milk and fish intake to protect against AMD or its progression. The results of the present research warrant further investigation for confirmation of the vitamin D-AMD association in other population studies.

Dr. Perlmutter’s comment:

What this report makes clear is the fundamental importance of the omega-3 fat, DHA, in preserving sight. This is the same fat that is associated with enhanced vision in infants as noted in studies comparing visual function in infants with high DHA levels (as in breastfed infants and infants receiving formula enriched with DHA) as compared to infants with low dietary DHA. The point is DHA is a fundamental nutrient throughout our lives for enhancing and preserving visual function as this report describes. And this makes sense when you recognize that DHA is concentrated not only in the brain, but the retina as well. I do not see this report as a call to eat more fish or use fish oils with the risk of contamination with toxins like PCBs and mercury ever present. Rather, we should follow the FDA which approved only algae derived DHA (vegetarian source) for use in infant formulas. This is the source of DHA we use in our supplement. Vegetarian DHA

From Biosingularity

An article published in the August, 2006 issue of the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes reported the findings of Xianwen Yi and Nobuyo Maeda of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that giving alpha-lipoic acid to mice in whom diabetes was induced prevented the increase in cholesterol, atherosclerotic lesions and health deterioration that the disease would otherwise cause. Alpha-lipoic acid is a potent antioxidant nutrient that has been used to treat diabetic neuropathy, however, its effects in diabetic cardiovascular disease have not been completely evaluated.

Drs Yi and Maeda, who are with UNCs department of pathology and laboratory medicine, induced diabetes in a group of three-month-old apolipoprotein E-deficient mice by administering streptozotocin (STZ), while a control group was injected with a buffering solution. After four weeks on a regular diet, diabetic and nondiabetic mice were given a high fat diet enhanced with alpha-lipoic acid or the same diet without alpha-lipoic acid. Body weight, plasma glucose and cholesterol levels were determined at the beginning of the study and every four weeks thereafter up to twenty weeks. Red blood cell glutathione levels and oxidative stress markers were measured at the end of the study, at which time the animals were examined for the development of atherosclerotic plaque and for the treatments effect on pancreatic beta cells.

After twenty weeks, both diabetic and nondiabetic animals supplemented with alpha-lipoic acid had lower markers of oxidative stress and higher levels of red blood cell glutathione compared to mice that did not receive the compound. While many of the diabetic mice who did not receive alpha-lipoic acid began to show signs of lethargy and illness three months of the induction of the disease, all of the diabetic mice who received alpha-lipoic acid appeared healthy throughout the study period. Remarkably, the authors write, alpha-lipoic acid completely prevented the increase in plasma total cholesterol, atherosclerotic lesions, and the general deterioration of health caused by diabetes.

While the initial elevation in glucose levels that occurred after diabetes was induced gradually decreased in both mice who received and did not receive alpha-lipoic acid, glucose levels at 20 weeks were lower in the supplemented mice. The researchers attribute this to partial protection or regeneration of the beta cells in the pancreas by alpha-lipoic acid, due to the finding that mice who received the compound had a greater number of insulin-producing cells.

In summary, our study demonstrates that dietary supplementation of alpha-lipoic acid for 20 weeks completely protects apoplipoprotein E-negative mice from enhancement of aortic atherosclerosis caused by STZ-induced diabetes, the authors conclude. Our results suggest that dietary alpha-lipoic acid is a promising agent for reducing cardiovascular complications of diabetes.