08.04.09

Millions of American Children Have Low Vitamin D Levels, Putting Them at Risk for Bone Problems, Heart Disease, Diabetes, and other Ailments

Posted in Vitamin D, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, diabetes tagged , , , , , , at 4:36 pm by jarebe

This is the lead in a Washington Post story published Aug. 3, 2009, which summarizes findings from two new studies that provide the first national snapshot of a nutrient whose importance to health has been emphasized by a raft of recent investigations. (Check the entry “Vitamin D” in this blog for some of these other research findings.)

The new studies on Vitamin D come as the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine is reviewing official guidelines for daily intake of Vitamin D. Many researchers in recent years have suggested that the recommended daily intake should be increased, particularly to counteract deficiencies detected in certain groups with chronic conditions.

The national studies, which showed millions of American children deficient in Vitamin D, also highlighted worrisome associations between low Vitamin D levels and high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and “metabolic syndrome,” a condition that increases risk of heart disease and diabetes.

One source of Vitamin D is sunlight–the body manufactures the vitamin in response to exposure to the sun. And the recent research suggests that American children, prone to watch TV and play videogames, may not be getting enough outdoor time and sunlight, leading to the Vitamin D deficiency. Others point out that too much exposure to the sun may lead to higher rates of skin cancer, already the leading type of cancer in the US. Of course–we note–supplementing with Vitamin D could address the deficiency, while also avoiding the increased skin cancer risk that comes with exposure to sun.

See the following product entries on the NYBC website for further information on Vitamin D:

D3-1000 (Jarrow)

D3-400 (Jarrow)

Bone-Up (Jarrow) – includes D3 plus other nutrients important for bone health

Bone-Up – Ultra (Jarrow) – additional nutrients compared to the regular “Bone-Up”, plus a larger quantity

10.07.08

Pressure Optimizer from Jarrow Products

Posted in blood pressure, cardiovascular health tagged , , at 12:32 pm by jarebe

NYBC is now carrying the Jarrow Formulas Pressure Optimizer, which is designed to support healthy blood pressure levels for those already within normal range.

The active components of this formula are: AmealPeptide™ a patented extract of hydrolyzed casein containing two tripeptides clinically studied for their effect on blood pressure; Co Q-10, which supports heart function and acts as an antioxidant to protect cholesterol from oxidation (= forming plaques); L-Theanine, an amino acid found in green tea that is known to promote a state of alert relaxation; and Magnesium to help relax blood vessels.

09.16.08

Melatonin for high blood pressure (hypertension)

Posted in blood pressure, cardiovascular health, melatonin tagged , , at 10:29 am by jarebe

There’s a long history of studies of melatonin as a sleep aid, but more recently there has also been research with human participants suggesting that this hormone may be helpful not only in regulating sleep patterns but also in lowering blood pressure.

High blood pressure or hypertension poses a risk over the long term to the cardiovascular system, and it’s now widely agreed that controlling hypertension is one of the most significant steps people can take to prevent adverse events such as heart attack.

Using melatonin as an aid to lowering blood pressure presents some advantages over prescription medications used for this purpose, since the prescription drugs often have unwanted side effects such as decreased sexual performance and fatigue.

Note that when low-dose melatonin was used at bedtime to reduce blood pressure in a Harvard Univ. study, the decrease in blood pressure was not dramatic, but still significant enough to help those with borderline blood pressure problems.

Of course anyone interested in the potential of melatonin supplementation for control of blood pressure should consult with a doctor before using.

For further information on this supplement, including comments on dosing, see the NYBC entries:

Melatonin – 1mg

Melatonin – 3mg

Melatonin – 5mg

03.18.08

Cardio-Edge (Douglas Labs): a plant sterol, Sytrinol and pomegranate-based supplement to maintain cardiovascular health and support healthy cholesterol levels

Posted in Sytrinol, blood pressure, cardiovascular health, cholesterol, pomegranate, sterols tagged , , , , , at 9:47 am by jarebe

The NYBC co-op has recently added this item in the category of cholesterol management. For a while now we have been interested in the potential of plant sterols for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, and we noted that our well-regarded supplier Douglas had formulated a supplement that incorporates both plant sterols and two other plant-based components that show a potential benefit in cholesterol management.

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Cardio-Edge (Douglas Labs). Cardio-Edge is designed to help maintain cardiovascular health and support healthy cholesterol levels. Its significant components are:

Plant sterols (phytosterols) from soy – 200 mg
Sytrinol – 75 mg
Standardized pomegranate extract (fruit; standardized to 40% ellagic acid) – 25 mg

Plant Sterols
Blood cholesterol is derived from the diet and synthesized in the liver. Sterols work by reducing the absorption of both forms of cholesterol–sterols compete with cholesterol for absorption. Sterols and sterol esters can now be found in many foods including orange juice, rice drink, and margarine.

Sytrinol
This is a proprietary extract of polymethoxylated flavones and tocotrienols from citrus and palm fruits. Sytrinol is intended to have the following effects, some of which you can monitor with routine bloodwork to assess its effect for you. These include:

1) Decrease apoprotein B, needed for LDL synthesis
2) Decrease action of an enzyme in the liver that makes triglycerides
3) Inhibit HMG-CoA reductase in the liver

Sytrinol includes a patented combination of citrus PMFs and alpha, delta and gamma tocotrienols derived from palm fruit. Palm tocotrienols have been shown to inhibit HMG CoA reductase, the enzyme responsible for regulating cholesterol synthesis in the liver. Clinical studies in both animals and humans support Sytrinol’s role in reducing total and LDL-cholesterol as well as triglycerides.

In human clinical studies involving hypercholesterolemic subjects, no side effects were observed with four weeks of supplementing with a daily dose of 300 mg of Sytrinol.

Pomegranate
Recent science has been focusing on the cardioprotective aspects of pomegranate. This brightly colored fruit contains numerous cornpounds known for their antioxidant capabilities, including anthocyanidins, catechins, tannins, and gallic and ellagic acids. Research has shown that supplementation with pomegranate juice can decrease macrophage lipid accumulation and cellular cholesterol accumulation in mice. Recently, research in humans has confirmed a beneficial effect of consuming pomegranate juice on parameters such as LDL oxidation, blood pressure, and blood vessel health.

Please let us know if you have questions or comments about this new item on the NYBC list–emails are welcomed at contact@newyorkbuyersclub.org.