ENDOMETRIOSIS AND LUNG CANCER

Welcome back to another session with Dr. Bob.  Two articles especially interested me this month that I would like to share with you.

Endometriosis--this article published March 27 is from turkey.  Laboratory rats were surgically implanted with endometrial cells resulting in an experimentally induced endometriosis.  Half of the group had been pretreated with low-dose resveratrol and the other half with saline.  There was a significant reduction in the size of the implants in the resveratrol group along with decreased levels of the growth factor that drives the endometrial cells to multiply and the microscopic appearance of the endometrial cells in the resveratrol group appeared much more normal. “ Resveratrol appears to be effective on the development of endometriosis through its anti-inflammatory properties and the blocking of growth of new capillaries”.  No human studies yet but certainly a safe option for those who are suffering in silence.

Lung cancer--this is a study published from the Medical University of South Carolina on March 22 looking at lung cancer cells in a cell culture media.  All cells are programmed with a life expectancy and natural death at some point.  Some were shorter than others.  They mixed a low-dose Resveratrol with half of the lung cancer cells. This resulted in accelerating the pre-programmed date and the cancer cells died a natural death sooner.  This is called apoptosis,resulting in an inhibition of the lung cancer cell growth and earlier cell death.  Again there are no human studies, but another study that looks promising.

I hope these NEW STUDIES are of interest to you as well.  I will continue to search the literature and bring new information to the public. 

I still believe that VIVIX   is still the best source of Resveratrol on the market today.  

 Until next time, Dr. Bob

BREAST CANCER

We are back this month with another article that has fascinating potential.  This comes from the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Parma in Italy.  They were looking at the connection between resveratrol and human breast cancer cells.  When consumed, resveratrol is broken down into different components.  One of them is resveratrol–3–0–sulphate.  This metabolite binds with the receptor sites on the cancer cells and prevents estrogen from binding with the cancer cell.  This antiandrogen effect is similar to that of tamoxifen and has the potential of giving breast cancer patients an option to taking a prescription medication with its potential side effects.  More research needs to be done but this is an interesting First Step.

Our best source continues to be: 

RESVERATROL-VIVIX

Until next time, Dr. Bob

INFERTILITY

Dear Reader,

INFERTILITY

This past month I came across an article that seemed important enough to get it out there sooner rather than later.  Rather than wait for another 4 or 5 interesting studies I wanted to share with you a report from China which was published this month.  They were looking at age-associated infertility and a mouse model.  The question was whether resveratrol would protect against the reduction in fertility in aging mice.  This seemed important in the light of the fact that there is a rise in the level of infertility in this country along with women waiting until later in life to begin families.  Half of the female mice had resveratrol added to their drinking water and the other half did not.  The mice were fed for up to 12 months and the results were that the resveratrol treated mice had a larger follicle pool and the ovaries resembled those of young mice.  They retained the capacity to reproduce while age-matched controls without resveratrol produced no pups.  Human studies have not been done yet.  On the other hand, consumption of resveratrol is safe and has other positive health benefits with regard to its antioxidant, anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.  In the meantime the research will continue.

Thank you for continuing to follow this blog.  More to follow.

Dr. Bob

COPD, PREGNANCY, HARDENING OF ARTERIES, PROSTATE CANCER

Welcome.  Thank you for investing a bit of your valuable time to this blog on resveratrol.  I will try to be brief but concise so that you will leave feeling it was worth your time.  This is already free so you can't say it was not worth your money, but you can say it was not worth your time. 

#1 COPD The researchers at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom looked at gero protectors (protecting from aging) and COPD (the lung condition also known as chronic bronchitis or emphysema).  COPD is a disease of aging which presents more and more problems as you get older.  They reviewed a variety of articles of COPD and aging and concluded that slowing aging will slow the progression of COPD.  They also reviewed the antiaging properties of resveratrol.  Their conclusion was that resveratrol "might be an attractive approach for the treatment of COPD  by preventing premature aging of the lung.”

Int J Chron Obstruct Pulm Dis 2012:7; 641–52

#2 Pregnancy: Protection of the fetus from Kusturba Medical College in Mangalore, India comes a  study of the known neuroprotective effects of resveratrol on a fetus whose mother is subjected to stress.  Pregnant rats were restrained to induce stress.  Half were given resveratrol and the other half not.  The babies were born and they were put through learning tests such as the open field test and the Morris water maze.  Gestational stress affected spatial learning and memory.  Resveratrol  reversed these learning deficits.  There was a “neuroprotective  efficacy of resveratrol  against prenatal stress induced cognitive impairment.”  It is safe.  Think about resveratrol in stressful pregnancies. 

Pharmacal Biochem Behav  2012 October 5: 270–5

#3 Hardening of the arteries The Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola New York looked at prevention of vascular disease.  Arterial plaques, or hardening of the arteries leading to stroke, heart attack, or peripheral vascular disease is caused by cells lining the arteries, called macrophages, eating cholesterol and growing and blocking blood flow.  In cells given resveratrol they took up less cholesterol, slowing the growth of plaques and arteries.  A safe way to prevent problems, especially in high-risk patients.  Eur J Pharmacol 2012, October 736–44

#4 Prostate cancer The University of Missouri published a study on prostate cancer cells which continued to grow after the patient had radiation and failed.  These cells were exposed to resveratrol and reradiated (the original owner had died but the cells lived on).  Exposure to radiation after resveratrol resulted in cell deaths.  There are no known studies on prostate cancer and patients on resveratrol before radiation therapy,  but again, it is safe and has a potential benefit in men considering radiation for prostate cancer.  Cancer side 2012 June 1 09 0–8

#5 Prostate cancer From the University Hospital at Leuven, Belgium comes a review study on resveratrol and prostate cancer.  Several studies have shown a protective effect on preventing prostate cancer.  Patients with high-grade PIN, a pre cancerous change in prostate cells at high risk for progression to prostate cancer as well as patients with increased PSA or positive family history of prostate cancer were followed.  The risk of recurrence decreased for those on resveratrol .  Do you see a pattern here?  Cancer Manag Res 2011:3; 91–100

#6 Prostate cancer and chemotherapy A study from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston looked at chemotherapy drugs and prostate cancer.  A variety of cancer drugs were used against cell cultures of prostate cancer cells, half of which were  given small amounts of resveratrol.  Those exposure to resveratrol had better cancer killing results in combination with chemotherapy than without.  Ann NY Acad Sci 2011 Jan 150–60

Several examples of situations where a safe addition to your daily intake (resveratrol) could help improve or prevent a variety of different health issues.  I think this is worth considering and worth sharing with others.  Until next time.

Dr. Bob 

MEMORY, SUPPLEMENTS, AGING, BREAST CANCER, FOOD ALLERGIES, OVARIAN CANCER

Blog 15

Not to beat a dead course but if you are new to us or new to blogs, the early ones are at the very bottom.  Feel free to scroll all the way down and start at the beginning.  For those who have been here already, please look at the current choices from medical journals on resveratrol.  The articles could be found at pubmed.com.

Memory--from the People's Republic of China comes a study on learning in old mice.  A group of mice was bred to age quickly.  Three quarters were fed resveratrol at 3 different doses and one fourth none.  They were then subjected to tests requiring learning.  The resveratrol fed mice did better on the Morris water maze test along with coordination and strength in a tightrope test.  Resveratrol can help in the learning ability that is normally lost with aging. 

Life Sci  2012 September 12

Disrespect of  Supplements--this paper comes from the Medical University of Vienna.  Many scientists love to talk about how food supplements are a waste of money because they do not help in any way.  This article is looking at whether resveratrol can stabilize DNA in healthy humans.  They  gave people resveratrol as a supplement and measured DNA stability after one and 5 days on resveratrol.  Each subject received 6 mg per day.  There was no difference between resveratrol subjects and control subjects with regard to DNA stability.  Shaklee's resveratrol product Vivix recommends taking the product for months or even years and the recommended dose is 100 mg per day.  This is not really a fair experiment on the effectiveness of resveratrol on DNA. 

Mutat Res 2012 September

Blood Flow in the Aging--from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine comes a study on resveratrol and blood flow in aging mice.  Of the same rapidly aging mice with hypertension,  one half were given resveratrol and the other half not.  After 6 weeks there was a significant increase in blood flow in the resveratrol group and a biopsy of the arteries showed that there was less in the way of aging changes in the arteries of the resveratrol mice.

 Atherosclerosis 2012 September

Breast Cancer--food scientists from Dongseo University in Seoul, Korea looked at breast cancer in mice.  A group of mice had breast cancer cells injected intravenously and then one third was given resveratrol, one third was given a double dose of resveratrol and one third was given none.  After 14 weeks they were killed and autopsied.  Cancer cellular activity and the number of metastases were measured.  Both resveratrol groups had "significantly decreased" cancer growth and activity.  Resveratrol inhibited cancer metastasis. 

Nutr Res Pract 2012 August 2 194–300

Food Allergies--immunologists at the University of Yamanashi  in Japan studied mice for food allergies.  When mice are fed Cholera toxin, they develop food allergies.  As you can already guess, half were given resveratrol and half were not.  They were then challenged with different foods commonly associated with food allergies.  As you might also guess, the resveratrol fed mice had fewer mice who developed food allergies.  In kids who are already food sensitive, resveratrol would be worth adding to their diet.  Are there human studies to support this?  No.  Is it safe?  Yes.  It is worth considering. 

PLOS 2012 (9)

Ovarian Cancer--out of the University of Sydney in Australia comes a study on ovarian cancer cell cultures.  Researchers are constantly looking for ways to increase the effectiveness of the chemotherapy agents we already have.  Human ovarian cancer cells were used.  Half of the cultures were mixed with platinum based  chemotherapy.  The other half were given resveratrol followed 2 weeks later with a platinum-based chemotherapy.  The chemotherapy with resveratrol showed that the cancer cells suffered more cell depths offering a safe and affordable way of increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy. 

Anticancer Research 2012 January 53–59

This has been a real potpourri, or something for everyone.  I continue to be a believer and user of resveratrol in the form of Shaklee’s Vivix and continue to get good results.  See you next time. 

Dr. Bob

HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, COLORECTAL CANCER, ADHESIONS

Heart Disease, Diabetes, Colorectal Cancer, Adhesions

I salute your interest in Resveratrol and clinical studies associated with it.  If you are fairly new to this site, I would suggest scrolling down to the very first posting which is at the very bottom or end of this blog.  It gives background to this site.  For the record, there are now 4919 scientific articles on Resveratrol published in medical journals in the National Library of Medicine.  That is where the following articles come from, www.pubmed.com.

HEART DISEASE  From the Russian Academy of Medical Science in Moscow comes a review article on dietary polyphenols, of which Resveratrol is a part.  They showed that several studies link a decrease in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rate with certain diets.  Diets rich in vegetables, fruits, unrefined cereals, legumes, nuts, garlic, olive oil and red wine.  Mediterranean diets incorporate the above and are associated with lower CVD mortalities. Resveratrol is a part of this cardioprotective action.

Bratisl Lek Listy 2012: 476-80

DIABETES  A study from a pharmacy college in India was published using human subjects with Type II diabetes on oral medications.  Half of the 62 patients were given their usual oral medications and the other half received 250 mg per day along with their regular medications for three months.  The Resveratrol group had a significant improvement in Hemoglobin A1c (a measure of blood sugar control), decreased blood pressure, and decreased total cholesterol.  There was no change in body weight or HDL (the good cholesterol).  The conclusion was that “Resveratrol is thus found to be effective in improving glycemic control” and may “provide  a potential adjuvant for the treatment and management of diabetes”.

Nutr Res 2012 July 537-41

COLORECTAL CANCER Another human study. A researcher from St James University Hospital in West Yorkshire, UK published his study of patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis  (FAP).  This a group of people who have inherited a gene which causes multiple polyps in the colon which in turn increases the risk of getting full-blown colorectal cancer.  Half of a group of these people were given supplemental Resveratrol and the other not.  The group treated with with the nutriceutical product had fewer and smaller polyps on colonoscopy than the untreated group.  Phase III trials are starting on this subject.

Recent Results Cancer Res 2012: 143-56

COLORECTAL CANCER  Colon cancer ranks third in cancer related mortalities, and certain phytochemicals including Resveratrol are being studied to prevent the onset of colon cancer.  A group from Meharry Medical Medical College in Nashville, TN took a group of mice and fed half with a chemical (benzo-a-pyrene) which causes colon cancer, for 60 days.  The other half was fed the chemical along with Resveratrol for 60 days.  The mice were then killed and the number of tumors in each animal was counted.  The Resveratrol group had fewer tumors.  They also had fewer areas of pre-cancer changes and under the microscope Resveratrol sped up cancer cell deaths  and decreased cell growth

J Nutr Biochem 2012 Aug.

ADHESIONS  At the Ankara Education and Research Hospital in Turkey, post-operative adhesions were studied.  This formation of troublesome scar tissue is a common problem after pelvic surgery.  A group of of rats was divided into thirds.  One third got Resveratrol 10 days before and 20 days after surgery.  The second third received Resveratrol orally for 20 days after surgery and the remainder received nothing.  They all were operated on in the pelvic area.  The rats were then killed 3 weeks later and studied for the number of adhesions and the severity of the adhesions.  Both Resveratrol groups did much better than the non- Resveratrol group.  The first group did much better with Resveratrol given before and after surgery than the second group.  Giving Resveratrol before and after pelvic surgery is an effective way to prevent or minimize adhesions after pelvic surgery in rats.

Hum Fertil 2012 Aug 9

Hopefully something in these articles was of interest.  We are starting to see more human studies and Resveratrol research is looking at a wider variety of places where it can be beneficial.  As always, I still believe Shaklee’s Vivix to be the most potent, purest,and most effective source of Resveratrol.

Until next time,

Dr Bob

PREGNANCY, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, BREAST CANCER, VERTEBRAL DISC DISEASE, DIABETES, LEARNING, CORN SYRUP, COLON CANCER

Welcome back to those who are not new to this post.  In these blogs, I review articles publishes on Resveratrol from around he world.  As mentioned previously, they are posted by the National Library of Medicine found at www.pubmed.com.  Some of my blogs are on specific subjects.  This one is on randomly selected subjects.  As they say on IRON CHEF AMERICA, “enjoy”.

PREGNANCY  From the University of Alberta, comes a study on hypoxemia, which is low oxygen in the blood, during pregnancy.  This can result is serious negative effects on the fetus.  Pregnant rats were put on Resveratrol and then allowed to breathe air with half of the oxygen levels as normal air.  The pregnant rats had almost a complete reversal of miscarriages compared to a group of hypoxemic pregnant rats not on Resveratrol.  Resveratrol crosses the placenta and has a beneficial effect on the fetus directly.

Placenta 2012 Feb

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE  From the Xuzhou Medical College in China comes a study on coronary artery disease.  A group of pigs was divided into three smaller groups--Resveratrol,  nitroglycerin and a control group.  Each pig then had a coronary artery blocked by a balloon, simulating a heart attack.  After the heart attack, the coronary which had been blocked was injected either with Resveratrol, or Nitroglycerin.  The blood flow in the heart muscle was then measured and was much greater in the Resveratrol treated heart.  The conclusion was that Resveratrol could significantly improve blood flow through heart through alternative vessels.  The logical extension would be to inject Resveratrol into the heart of a person having a heart attack.  It appears to be safe but we may never see this done in our lifetime.

Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi 2011 Oct pp946-9

BREAST CANCER  The University of North Dakota School of Medicine published a complex paper on the chemical causes of breast cancer and how Resveratrol at different doses can prevent some of the chemical changes that can result in less breast cancer.  I include this study because there was a benefit from Resveratrol and it is a human study.

Nutr Cancer 2012 Feb

VERTEBRAL DISC DISEASE  From Rush University Medical Center in Chicago comes a study of bovine (cow) and spinal cartilage (discs).  This was a cell culture study where cells from the spinal discs of cows were exposed to Resveratrol.  There was a potent stimulation of ceil growth which could slow the progression of the degeneration of discs.  This suggests “Resveratrol may have considerable promise in the treatment of disc degeneration.

Spine 2008 Nov pp 2586-95

DIABETES  The College of Medicine at Chang Gung University looked at muscle wasting in diabetics.  Rats became diabetic after being exposed to streptozotocin. Resveratrol was then given to half of the rats and muscle mass was compared to diabetic rats not on Resveratrol.  There were multiple pathways in which there was loss of muscle mass in the diabetic rats on Resveratrol, along with improved energy metabolism.

Am J Phyiol Endocrinol Metab 2011 July

AGE RELATED LEARNING DISORDERS  The Miami VA Hospital researched the subject of learning disorders in the elderly.  There are a variety of causes of the condition called dementia, but one of them was a poor blood supply to the brain.  There is a chronic inflammation of blood vessels that can change the blood supply to brain cells.  A variety of berries and grapes were studied and there was a common beneficial compound in all of the natural products, which improved blood supply—Resveratrol.  In several studies, learning in elderly rats improved on Resveratrol.  It worked best if rats were started on it before learning difficulties began.  We have seen the neuroprotective effects of Resveratrol in a variety of brain problems.

Br J Nutr 2012 Apr

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP  At the Gazi Institute in Ankara, Turkey, high fructose corn syrup was studied because it is a common food additive in a large number of food products.  It turns out that high fructose corn syrup consumption causes increased triglycerides, increased VLDL, and increased insulin and blood pressure. Resveratrol restored the high fructose corn syrup changes to normal. Resveratrol “has a protective potential against the harmful consequences of high fructose corn syrup consumption.”

Food Chem. Toxicol 2012 Mar

COLON CANCER  Finally, from the University of Barcelona, came a review article on the protective effects of Resveratrol from the changes that cause colon cancer. Resveratrol will slow the growth of cancer cells and increase the death rate of these same cells.  It is also effective in preventing the onset of colon cancer in lab animals exposed to chemicals that cause colon cancer.  It also decreases pre-cancerous changes, and in lab animals on Resveratrol which get colon cancer, the cancers are smaller and fewer in number.  Again, a natural product exists to offset the risk of one of the more common cancers.

Pharmacol Res 2012 Mar

I know this is a real hodge podge but it is also a tasting from a variety of different issues. Resveratrol, the active ingredient in Shaklee’s VIVIX can improve your health in a variety of different ways.