STROKE & SKIN PROTECTION, BLADDER CANCER

MARCH REVIEW…GREAT STUDIES

Stroke protection--a rat study was done where 2 arteries to the brain of each rat were tied off simulating a stroke and beginning one hour after that blockage of blood flow half of the rats were given Resveratrol for 7 days.  Behavioral testing was then done on days 30 and 45 after tying off the arteries.  At the end of thestudy, the rats were sacrificed and the brains examined.  There was less loss of brain tissue in the Resveratrol  group.  they also performed much more effectively during the memory function testing.  There was a definite neuro protective effect in the rat's on Resveratrol.  PMID 24620966

Skin protection--half of a group of guinea pigs was given as Resveratrol and the other half a placebo.  They were all exposed to ultraviolet B light and the changes in pigmentation were then studied in both groups.  The Resveratrol modified melanin synthesis and acted as depigmentation agent.  This has promise in dealing with ultraviolet  induced skin disorders such as hyperpigmentation and skin photo aging.  PMID 24596619

Bladder cancer--bladder cancer has been as high as a 50% recurrence rate following treatment of the initial cancer.  A variety of treatments to lower the risk of recurrence have been studied including chemotherapy agents placed into the bladder and dietary supplements to include antioxidant vitamins.  In this study a group of my case was divided in half.  Half received short term mesenteric hole placed directly into the bladder daily and all the mice were then exposed to chemical which causes formation of bladder cancer.  The liver is very full treated mice had a much lower rate of cancer onset in those which did develop cancer had tumors which were more slowly and were smaller.  PMID  24587049

DR. BOB

BONE HEALING, CARDIO PROTECTION, ANTIDEPRESSANT

More great research being done...

Bone healing--From Paulista University in Sao Paolo, Brazil comes a study on the healing of bone in a rat on resveratrol.  2 different studies were done on the rats at the same time.  A cut was made through bone in the skull,  and screws were placed into a leg bone.  30 days later the rats were sacrificed and bony healing was examined.  The rats on resveratrol had more rapid and more advanced healing in the skull incision.  The metal screw placed into the leg bone had more complete healing and a stronger formation of bone around the metal implant when compared to the healing in the rats that were not on resveratrol supplementation.  Resveratrol is a safe and readily available supplement and definitely worth consuming by someone anticipating any kind of orthopedic procedure including joint replacement.  It would also be a good supplement for anyone at risk of falling with the possibility of a fracture.  PMID 24530035

Cardio protection--from Tunisia comes a study on the protective effect of resveratrol on heart muscle after loss of blood flow.  Half of a group of rats was given resveratrol and the other half was not.  Each of the rats then had a clamp placed on one of the arteries to the heart muscle simulating a heart attack.  After a fixed period of time the clamp was removed.  This would simulate an angioplasty or a bypass returning blood supply to that portion of the heart.  All the rats were later sacrificed and examined.  Before their death there was improved muscle function of the heart in the rats on resveratrol.  Upon autopsy, the rats on resveratrol had less muscle damage and overall had healthier heart tissue.  This is most likely because of its antioxidant properties and should be seriously considered by cardiac patient's.  Again, this is a supplement that  is safe and available.  PMI D24523766

Antidepressant--a study was published from Pennsylvania State University on the anti- depressive effects of resveratrol.  This was a study done on rats subjected to depression inducing circumstances.  Brain changes were measured in all of the rats.  Half of them were started on resveratrol and all of the wraps were re- subjected to the depression inducing stimuli.  Resveratrol exerted an antidepressant-like effect similar to desipramine.  This is  a prescription antidepressant drugs similar to imipramine (Tofranil) or amitriptyline (Elavil).  This is a benefit which I have not previously reported on.  PMI D 24523766 

There are so many wonderful reasons to take resveratrol (Vivix) on a regular basis!  

Until next time…Dr. Bob Biggers 

PROSTATE CANCER

Welcome back to Dr. Bob's Blog 2014

Prostate Cancer—With the aging population, Prostate cancer will become a growing problem and raises an awareness of the need for chemoprevention.  Two prescription medications lower the risk of the development of prostate cancer.  Natural products are also being tested as a potentially lower priced alternative.  Several have been tested including resveratrol, which have been shown to decrease the progression of high risk patients to the development of full blown prostate cancer.  The results are promising enough that there is new research going on now.  PMID 21629831

Prostate Cancer—There is a strain of rats which get prostate cancer when exposed to a chemical called SV40T.  A group of these rats were given SV40T, half of which were given resveratrol and the other half not.  These are rats who did not already have prostate cancer but put at risk for getting it.   Those taking resveratrol had a lowered rate of prostate cancer showing that it can be prevented in a high risk situation.  People at high risk, such as men with a rising PSA, or high risk pre-cancerous changes on biopsy,  or family history of prostate cancer could benefit now from resveratrol which is safe and available without waiting for definitive proof.   PMID18439064

Until Next Time…Dr. Bob

CANCER (Colon, Breast, Prostate, Lymphoid, Myeloid, and more)

Thank you once again for joining us in our ongoing review of medical articles regarding resveratrol.  This month we are going to concentrate on 3 review articles on cancer and the ongoing research with resveratrol.  Something new to this blog is the PMID number at the end of each article.  If you go to www.pubmed.com you  will be able to put the number into the search block which will then take you to that specific article.

Cancer.   From the University of Wisconsin in Madison comes an article on cancer prevention.  For cancer of the lung, colon, breast or prostate, the outlook for patient in whom the cancer has already spread is grim.  There are four cancers in this country that account for more than half of all cancer deaths in the United States.  One alternative to dealing with metastatic cancer is to prevent them altogether.  They review the use of non-toxic agents as to prevent the cancers.  They then concentrate on resveratrol and its proven ability to protect against several cancer types.  This paper breaks down the research for each of the different cancers.  The authors then urge more human trials for cancer prevention by resveratrol.  PMID 12792772

Cancer.  From M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston comes an article on the prevention and treatment of cancer, concentrating on resveratrol.  Many articles in medical journals shows  the anticancer properties of resveratrol against lymphoid and myeloid cancers, multiple myeloma, cancers of the breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreas, and thyroid, melanoma, head and neck cancers.,  ovarian cancer and cervical cancer.  They aid in stopping cell division of the cancer cells and block the in- growth of new blood vessels to supply increased blood flow to the cancer cells.  This occurs at many different steps in a series of chemical reactions and results in both prevention and therapy against many cancers.  The few human studies that have been done show that resveratrol is safe.  To date, the bulk of research has been done in either lab animals or cell cultures and is promising.  PMID15517885

Cancer.  Also from the University of Wisconsin is an article on the use of resveratrol in combination with traditional chemotherapy agents.  They review several articles showing both the preventative effect and a therapeutic effect of resveratrol against certain cancers.  They also reviewed recent publications suggesting how useful resveratrol is when given in combination with chemotherapy agents.  They have an additive effect resulting in a decrease in the dose of chemotherapy.  This results in decreased side effects and decreased toxicity along with increased effectiveness.  PMID 23855473

Hopefully you find these articles as interesting and useful as I did.  The use of the new p.m. PMID numbers should be of value as well.  Until next month.

Dr Bob

BREAST CANCER

Breast Cancer

#1  Breast cancer  A study from the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore looked at mice who were given resveratrol and then implanted with breast cancer cells.  When compared with the mice not given resveratrol, the study group had a dramatic decrease in the amount of spread of cancer cells to the lungs.  This was done at low doses and could benefit breast cancer patients.

J Immunol 2013 Oct 15: 4141-4151 

#2  Breast cancer  This study from Mexico City looked at breast cancer cells in cell cultures.  These cells were exposed to doxorubicin which is one of the more effective chemotherapy agents against breast cancer.  Half of the cells were previously exposed to resveratrol.  The presence of resveratrol prior to exposure to doxorubicin enhanced the ability of the drug to kill the cancer cells.  Further studies are looking at using resveratrol clinically prior to or with exposure to doxorubicin in breast cancer patients.  PLoS 2013 May 27

#3 Breast cancer Another study on breast cancer comes from Saudi Arabia and is also looking at doxorubicin in the treatment of breast cancer.  This also was a study using cancer cells in cell cultures.  Despite the fact that this is a good drug for breast cancer, one of the major side effects is damage to the heart muscle.  This can limit the use of the drug.  This study was looking at combining resveratrol which increases the ability to kill cancer cells with lower doses of the doxorubicin.  This in turn would lower the potential damage to heart muscle cells without compromising the effect on the cancer cells, making the drug safer and at least as effective.

Cancer Cell Int 2012 Nov 16 

 #4  Breast cancer  A study from the University of Oklahoma is looking at the use of resveratrol in combination with radiation therapy for breast cancer.  Radiation along with chemotherapy and surgery are the three cornerstones of treatment for breast cancer.  The use of radiation can be limited because of side effects from the amount of radiation needed to cause cell deaths.  In the study,  cancer cells in cell cultures were divided in half and half were given resveratrol in advance.  All of the cells were then exposed to radiation.  The resveratrol resulted in sensitizing the cancer cells to radiation resulting in a much more effective induction of cell death in those cells pretreated with resveratrol, making radiation more effective and safer.

Radiat Oncol 2013, Mar 4

  Thank You, 

   Bob Biggers MD