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Low vitamin D levels linked to metabolic syndrome

 

By Stephen Daniells

 

Increasing blood levels of vitamin D are linked to a lower prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, as well as improved ‘good’ cholesterol levels, says a new study.

According to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, the lowest levels of the sunshine vitamin were associated with a 31 per cent prevalence of metabolic syndrome, compared to only 10 per cent for people wit the highest average levels.

“Although previous surveys have also reported associations between low 25(OH)D concentration and metabolic syndrome components, to our knowledge, the present investigation is the first to report this finding in a sample with a high prevalence of vitamin D dietary supplement users in which frequencies of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were low,” wrote the researchers, led by Kevin Maki from Illinois-based Provident Clinical Research

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition characterised by central obesity, hypertension, and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. The syndrome has been linked to increased risks of both type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

“The most notable finding from the present study was the strong relationship between serum concentrations of 25(OH)D and HDL-C concentrations,” wrote the researchers.

They also observed inverse associations between vitamin D levels and triglyceride levels, body mass index, and waist circumference, meaning that higher vitamin D levels were associated with lower values for these measurables.

Source: Journal of Clinical Lipidology
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2009.07.003
“Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D is Independently Associated with High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and the Metabolic Syndrome in Men and Women”
Authors: K.C. Maki, M.R. Rubin, L.G. Wong, J.F. McManus, C.D. Jensen, J.W. Marshall, A. Lawless

Olive extract may have obesity, diabetes benefits

 

By Stephen Daniells

 

An extract from extra-virgin olive oil may stimulate the function of mitochondria in cells, and prevent diseases associated with dysfunction like diabetes and obesity, says a new study.

Results of a cell study indicate that hydroxytyrosol may influence gene expression, which would influence mitochondrial function. The mitochondria are the 'power plants' of the cell, generating chemical energy by producing adenosince triphosphate (ATP), the body's 'energy currency'.

“Because mitochondrial loss and dysfunction are closely related with obesity and diabetes, these results suggest that supplement with olive oil and/or hydroxytyrosol may have beneficial effect on preventing obesity and diabetes,” he added.

The results are published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

Med diet benefits

“As is known very well, the Mediterranean diet has been associated with a lower incidence of certain cancers and of cardiovascular disease, which is the most common and serious complication of diabetes,” Dr Liu, from the University of Kentucky and the University School of Life Science in Xi'an, told this website.

“Olive oil is the principal source of fats in the Mediterranean diet, and hydroxytyrosol is considered to be one of the most potent determinants of its efficacy.

“We hypothesised that the Mediterranean diet or supplementation with HT could stimulate mitochondrial function and prevent diabetes and obesity-related mitochondrial dysfunction, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease,” he added.

“This mitochondrial targeting property may provide a possible mechanism for the efficacy of the Mediterranean diet for lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and also suggests that hydroxytyrosol may be used as a therapeutic intervention for preventing […] type-2 diabetes and obesity,” they concluded.

This may be found at:

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Publications/Food-Beverage-Nutrition/NutraIngredients.com/Research/Olive-extract-may-have-obesity-diabetes-benefits/?c=hpORIm6dEDtifQx0j%2BmGXg%3D%3D&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily

Why Use Resveratrol For Weight Loss?

 

This was recently published in the Alternative Health Journal: 

By now you've probably heard of resveratrol and all that it has to offer in terms of extraordinary health benefits. One health benefit in particular is resveratrol's ability to act as a natural aid to weight loss. This is what is being advertised anyway. However, as you know sometimes what is advertised isn't always what you can expect from a product especially when concerning the weight loss industry.

1) Increased Metabolism

The first way in which this organic supplement can help you lose those pounds is by speeding up your metabolism. If you don't already know, metabolism plays a HUGE role in determining your overall weight loss success. A faster metabolism means that your body is processing and breaking anything you consume at a fast rate. Basically, you metabolism dictates how much energy and fat your body burns while you aren't doing anything.

2) Increased Energy Levels

The second way in which resveratrol helps with weight loss is by increasing your energy levels. By taking this organic aid you will be left feeling much more energized and ready do more. While this can help the most with exercise it can also help tremendously with your overall lifestyle. If you aren't feeling energized then you aren't going to be willing to do much of anything. You know what I am talking about, that feeling of "bla".

3) Appetite Suppressant

The last important characteristic which helps make resveratrol and perfect solution for weight loss is its ability to suppress your appetite. Appetite suppressants have been around for years and to this day remain to be one of the best natural weight loss supplements. Why? Because by curbing your appetite you will be a lot less likely to binge. Even better, you are going to eat less in general which means you will be consuming less calories in general.

Resveratrol supplements have been shown in numerous resveratrol reviews to benefit the human body.
They are also will help the immune system which is another reason that people have been taking them to promise great health.

Melon extract may help against obesity

By Stephen Daniells

Daily consumption of an antioxidant-rich melon extract may prevent obesity, according to a study with hamsters fed a high fat diet.

Consumption of the commercially-available patented extract Extramel, produced by France’s Bionov, in combination with a high-fat diet resulted in 29 per cent lower body weight compared to animals fed only the high-fat diet, according to findings published in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

“The major novel finding in our experimental conditions, and in comparison to HF, is that Extramel prevented obesity in high-fat fed hamsters by decreasing body weight, abdominal fat, triglyceridemia, insulinemia, insulin resistance, liver lipids, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and preventing adipokine imbalance,” wrote the researchers, led by Jean-Max Rouanet from the University of Montpellier.

The melon-extract is a rich source of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). Dubbed 'the enzyme of life' when first discovered in 1968, it is the first antioxidant mobilised by the cell for defence. It is thought to be more powerful than antioxidant vitamins as it activates the body's production of its own antioxidants, including catalase and glutathione peroxidase.

The researchers also report a 41 per cent reduction in insulin resistance, and a 25 per cent reduction in abdominal lipids.

“The extract triggered a remarkable decrease of liver lipids (73 per cent),” wrote the researchers.

Potential for obesity

“To summarize, Extramel prevented obesity in high fat-fed hamsters by decreasing body abdominal and liver fat and by preventing adipokine imbalance,” wrote the researchers.

Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
Published online ahead of print, 25 June 2009, doi: 10.1021/jf900504g
“Preventive Effect of a Melon Extract Rich in Superoxide Scavenging Activity on Abdominal and Liver Fat and Adipokine Imbalance in High-Fat-Fed Hamsters”
Authors: K. Décordé, A. Agne, D. Lacan, J. Ramos, G. Fouret, E. Ventura, C. Feillet-Coudray, J.-P. Cristol, J.-M. Rouanet

The entire article may be found at:

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Publications/Food-Beverage-Nutrition/NutraIngredients.com/Research/Melon-extract-may-help-against-obesity-Study/?c=hpORIm6dEDuu1c0x%2Fos16w%3D%3D&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily

Weight Loss

Study backs diabetes benefits of Indian plant extract

A patented extract of the Gymnema sylvestre plant has been found to stimulate insulin secretion in lab tests, opening the way for further research into its diabetes benefits

Vitamin D linked to successful weight loss with dieting

Increased intakes of vitamin D may improve weight loss while following a calorie-restricted diet, according to new findings from the US.

For every increase of 1 ng/mL in level of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol – a measure of vitamin D status - subjects ended up losing almost 0.2 kg more on their calorie-restricted diet, suggest findings presented at the Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.

Furthermore, for each 1-ng/mL increase in the active form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol), subjects lost 0.107 kg more.

“Our results suggest the possibility that the addition of vitamin D to a reduced-calorie diet will lead to better weight loss,” said the study's lead author, Shalamar Sibley, MD, from the University of Minnesota.

With obesity rates still high – not only in developed countries but also, increasingly, in newly wealthy emerging markets, there is considerable attention to ways to trim down waistlines.

The details on D

Vitamin D refers to two biologically inactive precursors - D3, also known as cholecalciferol, and D2, also known as ergocalciferol. The former, produced in the skin on exposure to UVB radiation (290 to 320 nm), is said to be more bioactive.

While our bodies do manufacture vitamin D on exposure to sunshine, the levels in some northern countries are so weak during the winter months that our body makes no vitamin D at all, meaning that dietary supplements and fortified foods are seen by many as the best way to boost intakes of vitamin D.

In adults, it is said vitamin D deficiency may precipitate or exacerbate osteopenia, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, fractures, common cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases. There is also some evidence that the vitamin may reduce the incidence of several types of cancer and type-1 diabetes.

This article may be found at:

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Publications/Food-Beverage-Nutrition/NutraIngredients.com/Research/Vitamin-D-linked-to-successful-weight-loss-with-dieting/?c=hpORIm6dEDs7yRMMwfJrxg%3D%3D&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily

The FDA certified it as safe and effective

FDA investigates weight loss drug Alli for liver damage FDA is investigating the only over-the-counter weight loss drug – Alli – following signals that it could be linked to liver damage.

Weight Loss

 

By Dan Sevigny

If you are serious about weight loss, following this simple guide to shredding weight can help you to get the body you want.

 
What is a Diet?
Dieting is the process of consciously controlling one’s intake of food and nutritional supplements in order to achieve a specific result.  Some diets promote health and encourage the body’s natural healing processes, but some erode health by limiting substances that the body needs to thrive. 

A Proper Diet…
A good diet will include a wide variety of foods in order to provide the body with enough protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, fiber and other essential nutrients.  Proper nutrition and diet should focus on limiting “bad” or “unhealthy” substances, rather than avoiding specific nutritional groups. It is often advisable to introduce all-natural fat shredding supplements into your diet as well. One of the most popular supplements for fat burning today is Resveratrol - it has been shown to increase all of the body's functions, including the matabolism that helps get you slim.

Many nutritionists advise limiting the intake of trans fats, artificial sweeteners, saturated fats, excessive sugar, artificial chemicals and other chemical additives.  Over time, a person with a normal metabolism will achieve an optimum state of body health and weight balance by following a healthy diet and exercise program.

 

This article may be found at:

http://www.alternativehealthjournal.com/article/weight_loss/3371

Stevia

Most people would be amazed or mystified or maybe even outraged when regarding the facts surrouding stevia. I'm not talking about the nutritional facts, but the political facts. Most folks have no idea that until earlier this year it was ilegal to use stevia as a sweetener.

Here's part of an article some of you may find interesting and maybe enlightening.

The Food and Drug Administration agreed in December that rebaudioside A, an extract from the leaves of the stevia plant, is safe to add to food and drinks.

The stakes are high. Despite nagging health concerns and flavors that are about as much like sugar as margarine is like butter, almost half of all American households use some kind of no-calorie sweetener, according to 2007 figures compiled by Packaged Facts, a market research firm. Although finding a no-calorie sweetener that tastes exactly like sugar remains the holy grail, the street fight is getting people loyal to the distinct flavors of one fake sugar to jump to another.

The stevia products that are coming on the market now are not without problems. They cost five times as much as Sweet’N Low, the oldest and least expensive of tabletop brands. And unless the new sweetener is extracted from the right part of the leaf, processed correctly and mixed with bulking agents that soften its flavor, stevia can have a lingering taste of licorice or menthol.

But stevia has one distinct advantage over all the rest. Because it comes from a plant, marketers can call it a natural sweetener. And that allows companies that have invested millions in new stevia products to tap into two powerful markets at once: natural ingredients and low-calorie products.

“The question is, do people feel strongly enough about a natural sweetener versus the sweeteners they have been using for however many years and have a strong affinity to, based on certain flavor profiles,” said Gary Karp, executive vice president of Technomic, a market research firm. It’s anybody’s guess, he said.

Stevia has long been popular as a sweetener in Japan and other countries, but for years the United States Food and Drug Administration has blocked it. In 1995, after pressure from the American Herbal Products Association, a trade group, the government allowed its sale as a dietary supplement, not something that could be used as an ingredient in food. But some large food and drink manufacturers, sensing an eager audience for a sugar substitute perceived as healthier than the rest, began investing in research and lobbying the government.

Two of the biggest backers, Cargill and Whole Earth Sweetener Company, earlier this year began rolling out packets of stevia-based sweeteners, called Truvia and PureVia respectively. The extract is in the companies’ drinks, too. Among the new stevia products marketed as naturally sweetened are Sprite Green from Coca-Cola and Trop50, from the PepsiCo subsidiary Tropicana. It’s essentially half water and half orange juice doctored with stevia.

To read the entire article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/15/dining/15sweet.html?th&emc=th