United Press International
03-08-11

An epigenetic eating regimen uses specific food compounds to prevent cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers said.

Study co-author Trygve Tollefsbol said epigenetics research worldwide, including numerous studies conducted at the University of Alabama, have identified specific food compounds found in food such as broccoli and cabbage inhibit negative epigenetic effects that can help reverse or help prevent cancers and other aging-related diseases.

“Your mother always told you to eat your vegetables, and she was right,” Tollefsbol said in a statement. “But now we better understand why she was right — compounds in many of these foods suppress gene aberrations that over time cause fatal diseases.”

The epigenetics diet includes such foods as soybeans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, green tea, fava beans, kale, grapes and the spice turmeric, Tollefsbol said.

“The epigenetics diet can be adopted easily, because the concentrations of the compounds needed for a positive effect are readily achievable,” lead author Syed Meeran said.

Meeran said sipping tea compounds called polyphenols in daily amounts that are equivalent to approximately three cups of green tea has been shown to reverse breast cancer in laboratory mice by suppressing the gene that triggers the disease. A daily cup of broccoli sprouts, which has sulforaphane as an active compound, has been shown to reduce the risk of developing many cancers, Tollefsbol said.

The review is published in the journal Clinical Epigenetics.

Copyright United Press International 2011

PRNewswire-USNewswire
03-09-11

WASHINGTON, March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — To help the general public better understand the relationship between vitamin D and the sun, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has updated its position statement on vitamin D, sun protection and skin cancer prevention. The National Council recommends that vitamin D be obtained from a combination of dietary sources and supplements and not through intentional exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

“For those who are concerned about vitamin D inadequacy, diet and vitamin D supplementation are the most appropriate methods to obtain adequate vitamin D - it is not appropriate to seek exposure to ultraviolet radiation,” says dermatologist Henry W. Lim, MD, FAAD, National Council co-chair and chairman of dermatology at Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI.

UV radiation, a known carcinogen, can cause a range of health problems, including skin cancer, cataracts, premature aging, and immune suppression. With more than two million skin cancers diagnosed annually, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Each year, there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined number of new cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer.

While UVB radiation is one source of vitamin D, the benefits of exposure to UVB radiation cannot be separated from its harmful effects. For this reason, the safest way to obtain adequate vitamin D is through a combination of diet and vitamin D supplements.

On November 30, 2010, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its recommendations on vitamin D. IOM recommended that for individuals between the ages of 1 and 70 years to take 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day. It should be emphasized that the recommendations were based on data on bone health, and IOM indicated that data on the relationship between vitamin D and other health conditions are inconsistent and as such are insufficient to be used to make public health recommendations. The recommendations were also based on an assumption of minimal or no sun exposure, recognizing the harmful effects of UV exposure.

Because sufficient vitamin D can be acquired through diet and vitamin supplements, the National Council recommends that adults and children practice comprehensive sun-protection behaviors and avoid intentional exposure to natural sunlight and artificial UV radiation (tanning beds) as a means to obtain vitamin D.

Practicing a comprehensive sun-protection regimen to avoid the risk of skin cancer is essential. The National Council’s prevention guidelines include: seeking the shade between 10 am and 4 pm, generously applying sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher, and wearing sun-protective clothing, including wide brimmed hats and UV-protective sunglasses. For the full guidelines and the position statement, visit www.skincancerprevention.org. For a list of vitamin D sources in a typical diet, visit the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements website: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp.

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention is the united voice of 45 organizations, associations, and agencies dedicated to reducing skin cancer morbidity and mortality in the United States. The National Council members represent some of the nation’s premier researchers, clinicians and advocates for melanoma and skin cancer prevention. To learn more about the National Council, visit:www.skincancerprevention.org.

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention

CONTACT: John Antonishak, National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention,+1-301-801-4422

Web site: https://www.skincancerprevention.org/

Copyright PRNewswire-USNewswire 2011

Stroke prevention is a subject of much debate. Approximately 25 percent of people who recover from a first stroke will have a second within five years. While the chance of death and disability increases with each stroke, risk of another stroke appears to be greatest within the first year (National Stroke Association 2005).

Using measurements such as the degree of artery occlusion (how much of the carotid artery is blocked by atherosclerotic plaques), medical experts have sought to establish firm guidelines to help physicians choose between the various options, including medication, angioplasty, and surgery. Common prescription drugs used to help prevent stroke include antihypertensive agents (Gorelick PB et al 1999; Goldstein LB et al 2001), cholesterol lowering agents (statins), and antiarrhythmics to help control irregular heartbeats that might contribute to stroke risk. Angioplasty is a procedure in which a balloon is threaded into the artery and inflated rapidly, crushing the plaque against the arterial wall and opening the artery. The most common surgery used to prevent stroke is called carotid endarterectomy, in which the surgeon opens the arteries in the neck and strips away the inner lining of the artery.

While these strategies have been shown to work in specific circumstances, a common flaw also unites them: they are often used only after stroke risk has reached an unacceptable level. We prefer a much more proactive approach. By using advanced early screening tests to determine risk, then taking action to improve endothelial function and reduce blood risk factors (such as homocysteine and fibrinogen) and blood pressure, our practice seeks to maintain the lowest possible risk profile.

Multiple studies have found that a diet high in fruits and vegetables lowers risk of cerebrovascular disease and both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke (Gariballa SE 2000; Sauvaget C et al 2003). Two major reviews recommended that public health policy promote increased dietary intake of antioxidant vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin E, B vitamins (including folate), potassium, calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids to reduce risk of stroke (Gariballa SE 2000; Johnsen SP 2004). These vital nutrients can also be obtained through dietary supplements in conjunction with a healthy diet.