CAM

Strawberries lower cholesterol
The team set up an experiment in which they added 500 g of strawberries to the daily diets of 23 healthy volunteers over a month. They took blood samples before and after this period to compare data.

The results, which are published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, show that the total amount of cholesterol, the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL or bad cholesterol) and the quantity of triglycerides fell to 8.78%, 13.72% and 20.8% respectively. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL or good cholesterol) remained unchanged. Eurekalert!

Vitamin A may help boost immune system to fight tuberculosis
In findings published in the March 1 issue of the Journal of Immunology, UCLA researchers investigating the role of nutrients in helping the immune system fight against major infections show that vitamin A may play an important role combating TB.  The UCLA team describes for the first time the mechanism by which vitamin A and a specific gene assist the immune system by reducing the level of cholesterol in cells infected with TB. This is important because cholesterol can be used by TB bacteria for nutrition and other needs, the researchers said. Eurekalert!

Soy isoflavones may accelerate progression of breast cancer
The study, published in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, raises troubling questions about the safety and the potential health consequences associated with long-term use of dietary supplements containing soy isoflavones, such as the phytoestrogen genistein. MedicalXpress

Vitamin E, beta-carotene no help for heart disease, cancer
The latest guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force update the 2003 edition by adding Vitamin E to beta-carotene, a supplement that was already known to be ineffective at preventing the two most fatal diseases in America. The findings are based on a systematic review of scientific studies which found that Vitamin E does not help—and that beta-carotene supplements could actually do more harm than good. MedicalXpress

BP May Be Lower Without Meat in the Diet
Blood pressure was an average of 4.8/2.2 mm Hg lower among vegetarians in controlled trials and 6.9/4.7 mm Hg lower in cross-sectional studies (P<0.001 for all differences), according to Yoko Yokoyama, PhD, MPH, of the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center in Osaka, Japan, and colleagues.

The findings -- reported online in JAMA Internal Medicine -- suggest that "such diets could be a useful nonpharmacologic means for reducing blood pressure," they wrote, adding that "further studies are needed to explore the relationships between specific foods and nutrients and blood pressure." MedPage Today

Baseline Selenium Status and Effects of Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation on Prostate Cancer Risk
Selenium supplementation did not benefit men with low selenium status but increased the risk of high-grade PCa among men with high selenium status. Vitamin E increased the risk of PCa among men with low selenium status. Men should avoid selenium or vitamin E supplementation at doses that exceed recommended dietary intakes. Kristal AR, Darke AK, Morris JS, Tangen CM, Goodman PJ, Thompson IM, Meyskens FL Jr, Goodman GE, Minasian LM, Parnes HL, Lippman SM, Klein EA.

J Natl Cancer Inst. 2014 Feb 22. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24563519