HEALTH BULLETIN .CO: Study Finds

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Monday, March 2, 2015

You CAN be sensitive to gluten without having coeliac disease, study finds

Wide ranging debate over whether non-coeliac gluten sensitivity exists

Coeliac disease is a serious digestive condition triggered by gluten

New study examined 59 participants with suspected gluten intolerance

Found those given low dose of gluten had worse symptoms than those given a placebo over the course of a two-week trial

Gluten intolerance is a legitimate health condition, a new study has concluded.

The subject has provoked long-raging debate among scientists, with experts divided over whether gluten sensitivity is a real health concern.

At one end of the spectrum there is coeliac disease, a serious but common illness, affecting one in every 100 people in both the US and UK.

But in their shadow are a group of people not thought to have the serious digestive condition, yet present similar albeit more mild symptoms.

For those diagnosed with coeliac disease, eating foods containing the protein triggers uncomfortable and painful symptoms.

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A new study has contributed to the debate over whether gluten sensitivity exists. Scientists examined two groups of participants with suspected non-coeliac gluten sensitivity - one group taking a low dose of gluten and the other on a placebo

They include diarrhoea, bloating, abdominal pain, weight loss, and feeling tired.

Despite many people complaining of an intolerance to gluten, studies have failed to prove a conclusive link.

In their new study, researchers from the National Institute for Health in the US performed a random, placebo-controlled trial involving patients thought to be suffering non-coeliac gluten sensitivity.

Those people chosen to take part did not have coeliac disease or a wheat allergy, but believed eating gluten was the cause of their intestinal symptoms.

They were randomly divided into two groups.

The first group was given a low dose of gluten each day, while the others were fed a rice starch placebo for one week.

After a week the participants switched groups.

The scientists noted their main finding was the change in overall symptoms between those who received gluten doses and those on the placebo.

Of the 59 patients that took part, intake of gluten significantly increased the severity of their symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating and depression.

The researchers note 'the extra-intestinal symptoms were significantly more severe when subjects received gluten than placebo'.

And they found that when switching the groups around, participants' suspected non-coeliac gluten sensitivity became worse with symptoms 'increasing significantly' during the one week of gluten intake, compared with their week on the placebo.

The results showed the participants' symptoms worsened when they were given a low dose of gluten compared with a week on the placebo rice starch. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system - the body's defence against infection - mistakenly attacks healthy tissue in the gut

However the small size of the study is unlikely to sway the consensus view.

In a recent article for the MailOnline, Dr Sally Norton warned those who are not coeliacs could be risking higher sugar and fat intake in their diets by switching to gluten-free foods.

She said: 'While only a small proportion (around one in 100) of us actually have coeliac disease, many more are concerned that they have an intolerance to gluten which is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

'These people may experience similar symptoms to coeliac disease - such as bloating, wind and diarrhoea - without actually having the intestinal damage found in coeliac disease.

'Gluten intolerance, in people who do not have coeliac disease, is really a type of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that seems to improve if gluten-containing products are avoided.'

Dr Norton warned: 'For those with coeliac disease, these products are indeed healthier, as they don’t cause the same damaging effects that ingesting gluten does.

'However, many pre-packaged gluten-free products make up for their lack of gluten by including more sugar or fat to make the product more appetising, but may actually make the gluten-free products less healthy than the standard versions.

'They may also contain a much lower level of fibre and minerals, which can be stripped during the production process.'

WHAT IS COELIAC DISEASE AND HOW CAN SUFFERERS AVOID GLUTEN?

With a rise in coeliac disease sufferers there has been an explosion in gluten-free foods in supermarkets and health food stores

Coeliac disease is a common digestive condition where a person has an adverse reaction to gluten.

Gluten is found primarily in wheat, but also in rye, barley, and to a lesser extent, oats.

It makes up the protein part of these grains, nourishing the plant embryos during germination.

It affects the elasticity of dough, so is used to make baked wheat products more or less chewy.

It is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system - the body's defence against infection - mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.

For sufferers, eating food containing gluten can trigger a range of painful symptoms including:

diarrhoea
bloating and flatulence
abdominal pain
weight loss
feeling tired all the time, resulting from malnutrition
children not growing at expected rates

Coeliac disease is not an allergy, nor an intolerance.

The immune system mistakes substances found inside gluten as a threat to the body, and attacks them.

This damages the surface of the small bowel, disrupting the body's ability to absorb nutrients in food.

Scientists still do not know exactly what it is that causes the body to act in this way, but a person's genetic make up and the environment appear to play a part.

There is no cure for coeliac disease, but following a gluten-free diet can help control symptoms and prevent the long-term consequences of the disease.

Even for sufferers whose symptoms are mild, or non-existant, a gluten-free diet is advised, because continuing to eat gluten can cause serious long-term problems.

Complications include osteoporosis, and iron deficiency anaemia.

Less common and even more serious complications include some cancers, include bowel cancer.

Gluten is found in beer, breads, pasta, cakes and pies. It is also found in cereals, chips, croutons, cookies and processed meats. It can be found in salad dressings, sauces such as soy sauce and soup or soup bases.

Source: NHS Choices

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Green tea DOES help you lose weight but you need to drink seven decaff cups a day, study finds

Scientists tested the effects of decaffeinated green tea extract on weight

14 men divided into two groups were asked to cycle three times a week

Seven given capsule of green tea extract, while others were given placebo

Group taking green tea reduced their body fat by 1.6% compared to control

Green tea really can help with weight loss, a new study has found.

The debate has long raged over whether the drink has an impact on people's waistlines.

But a new study by a team of scientists at Anglia Ruskin University revealed when combined with exercise, green tea does help shed fat.

To test their theory, the researchers tested a capsule of decaffeinated green tea extra on 14 active men.

Decaffeinated green tea extract has been found to help people lose weight. Scientists said you would need to drink six to seven cups a day and exercise to see the benefits

Seven of the volunteers, who had an average age of 21, took the green tea capsule, while the other seven men were given a placebo.

The capsules contained 571mg of decaffeinated green tea extract.

It is thought to be the first time a study has used the decaffeinated version of the tea in tests focusing on weight loss and performance.

As a result, any question over the potential stimulating effects of caffeine were removed.

The team's findings revealed those who took the green tea extract reduced their body fat by 1.63 per cent, compared with those in the placebo group.

Meanwhile fat oxidation rates increased by 25 per cent. This is important because fat oxidation aids weight loss.

The 14 volunteers were asked to cycle for one hour, three times a week.

Those taking the capsule noted their performance increased by 10.9 per cent over a four-week period, increasing the distance they covered from an average of 20.2km to 22.4km.

Dr Justin Roberts, who led the study, said: 'It is known that green tea as a drink can have numerous health benefits as it contains a relatively high amount of an ingredient called EGCG.

'However, to get the dosage required may require close to six or seven cups of green tea a day.

'The 571mg capsules tested contained a daily EGCG dose of 400mg.

'In essence, our study showed that the use of a green tea extract could potentially help people to lose weight, if combined with exercise.

'However, we recognise that a larger scale study is now required.'

The study was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

Fourteen men took part in a study at Anglia Ruskin University. Seven were given the green tea extract and reduced their body fat by 1.6 per cent. All 14 men were asked to cycle for an hour a day, three times a week

COMPOUND IN GREEN TEA 'KILLS CANCER CELLS'

A compound in green tea has been found to kill mouth cancer cells while leaving healthy cells undamaged.

While it was known the drink could help fight the disease, scientists say they have now worked out why.

The breakthrough involved identifying the process by which the substance attacks cancer cells.

This, it is hoped, will lead to new treatments for oral cancer, as well as other forms of the disease.

Scientists at Penn State University, in the US, explored the specific mechanism by which the green tea compound is able to target the diseased cells.

The compound EGCG, found in green tea, kills mouth cancer cells (pictured) while leaving healthy cells undamaged, past studies have found

Earlier studies have shown that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a compound found in green tea, killed mouth cancer cells without harming normal cells.

But researchers did not understand the reasons behind the substance's ability to kill the cancer cells.

Scientists now believe EGCG may trigger a process in the mitochondria - the powerhouse of a cell that produces energy - that leads to cell death.

Professor Joshua Lambert, a specialist in food science and co-director of Penn State's Center for Plant and Mushroom Foods for Health, said: 'EGCG is doing something to damage the mitochondria.

'That mitochondrial damage sets up a cycle causing more damage and it spirals out, until the cell undergoes programmed cell death.

'It looks like EGCG causes the formation of reactive oxygen species in cancer cells, which damages the mitochondria, and the mitochondria responds by making more reactive oxygen species.'

Reactive oxygen species are chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen.

They play an important role in cell signalling and homeostatsis - the control of internal conditions including temperature.

When reactive oxygen species levels increase dramatically, it can cause significant damage to cell structures - this is known as oxidative stress.

As this mitochondrial demise continues, the cancer cell also reduces the expression of antioxidant genes, further lowering its defences.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Why a hug this Christmas is good for your health: Cuddles relieve stress and protect against infections, study finds

Just a cuddle or squeeze is enough to reduce illness symptoms

The more often we hug, the greater the health benefit, researchers found

Protective effect of hugs may be due to the physical contact or because hugging provoking feelings of support and intimacy

If you're struggling to get your beloved under the mistletoe this year, then help is at hand.

Scientists have revealed that hugging is good for our health, helping to prevent infection and relieve stress.

They say just a cuddle or squeeze is enough to reduce illness symptoms and the more you do it, the greater the effect.

People who feel supported - and receive more hugs - experience less severe illness symptoms regardless of the amount of stress they are under, researchers found

Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in the U.S. quizzed 400 people about their personal conflicts and the sort of support they received.

They then exposed them to a common cold virus and put them in quarantine.

The results showed that people who felt well-supported by family and friends were less likely to fall victim to infection due to stressful situations.

And hugs were responsible for one-third of the protective effect of social support.

Those who felt supported - and received more hugs - experienced less severe illness symptoms regardless of the amount of stress they were under.

Sheldon Cohen, Professor of Psychology, said: 'This suggests that being hugged by a trusted person may act as an effective means of conveying support.

'[It also suggests that] increasing the frequency of hugs might be an effective means of reducing the deleterious effects of stress.'

She added the apparent protective effect of hugs may be due to the physical contact or because hugging provoking feelings of support and intimacy.

'Either way, those who receive more hugs are somewhat more protected from infection,' she said.

The apparent protective effect of hugs may be due to the physical contact itself or because hugging provoking feelings of support and intimacy

Professor Cohen said: 'We chose to study hugging as an example of social support because hugs are typically a marker of having a more intimate and close relationship with another person.

'We know that people experiencing ongoing conflicts with others are less able to fight off cold viruses.

'We also know that people who report having social support are partly protected from the effects of stress on psychological states, such as depression and anxiety.

'We tested whether perceptions of social support are equally effective in protecting us from stress-induced susceptibility to infection.

'And also whether receiving hugs might partially account for those feelings of support and themselves protect a person against infection.'

The results were published in Psychological Science.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

How your breast size affects your mental health: Having uneven or bigger boobs lowers self-esteem and causes eating disorders, study finds

Girls with uneven breasts have more mental health problems than girls with 'normal breasts', in the first study to focus on mental wellbeing

Also found to have issues functioning socially and with attitudes to food

Impact is equally damaging for girls with mild differences in breast sizes

And the negative impact was the same for girls suffering macromastia - a condition which causes abnormally large breasts

Interventions like weight loss, counselling and surgery could help

Teenage girls with uneven or abnormally large breasts should be offered corrective surgery because the issues can significantly affect mental health, experts have warned.

Girls with asymmetric breasts have poorer emotional well-being and lower self-esteem than their peers, researchers discovered.

They also have issues with eating and interacting socially.

And the negative impact on mental health is just as damaging for girls with a relatively mild difference in breast size, as those with severe differences.

In the first study of its kind analysing the mental health implications of breast size, scientists found the negative impact was the same for girls suffering macromastia - a condition which causes abnormally large breasts.

Girls with different-sized breasts have poorer emotional well-being and lower self-esteem than their peers. They also have borderline issues with functioning socially and eating behaviours (file picture)

The team of doctors at Boston's Children's Hospital found early medical interventions, including weight control, mental health counselling and even surgery, could help young women struggling with asymmetrical breasts.

Dr Brian Labow, who carried out the research said: 'These findings suggest that patients suffering from breast asymmetry have poorer emotional well-being and lower self-esteem than their female peers.'

He argued medical intervention could be beneficial at a young age to help minimise the negative mental health affects.

As part of the study researchers analysed 59 young women aged 12 to 21 years, who all had breast which differed by at least one bra cup size.

About 40 per cent of girls also had tuberous breast deformity, a condition in which the breasts don't develop normally.

Researchers carried out tests to ascertain how well the girls functioned psychologically and socially, as well as carrying out tests to score their health-related quality of life.

Similar tests were carried out on a group of girls without breast asymmetry, and in girls with macromastia – a condition in which the breasts are abnormally enlarged.

They found several aspects of mental health and wellbeing were lower for girls with different-sized breasts, compared to those with 'normal' breasts.

They also had significantly lower scores for emotional wellbeing and self-esteem, after researchers adjusted for differences in body weight.

The impact was similar to girls with macromastia – a condition with a known mental health impact - as well as in boys with enlarged breasts and even women with differences in the breasts related to breast cancer surgery.

Having asymmetrical breasts was also associated with borderline issues in social functioning – a person's ability to interact normally in society.

They also showed borderline issues with eating behaviours and attitudes.

Doctors carrying out the research said having asymmetric breasts should not be dismissed as a cosmetic issue. Interventions like weight loss, mental health counselling and surgery could be beneficial

In the U.S., where the study was carried out, Dr Labow noted that although there is insurance coverage for surgery to correct asymmetry in breast cancer survivors because the impact on mental health is well understood, no provision exists for young women born with different-sized breasts.

As a result, treatment is often not reimbursed by insurance, with the justification that there is 'no functional impairment'.

He argues that medical interventions could be beneficial.

He said: 'The observed impaired psychological well-being of adolescents with breast asymmetry may indicate the need for early intervention to minimise negative outcomes.'

This doesn't necessarily mean surgery - especially for younger girls - 'consultation and support' may be appropriate, he said.

However, for girls who are finished growing and still have different-sized breasts, corrective surgery may have important emotional benefits, he added.

He said: 'Though substantial barriers to care exist, early evaluation and intervention for these patients may be beneficial, and should include weight control and mental health counselling.'

The research was published in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Smoking during pregnancy 'may impact on grandchildren's growth': Effects of the habit can span generations, study finds

Smoking in pregnancy can affect growth of future grandchildren, study finds

Teenager boys heavier when maternal grandmother smoked while pregnant

But they may also have better cardiovascular fitness, researchers claim

Girls whose mother and maternal grandmother smoke had reduced height and weight, British scientists found

Smoking during pregnancy can affect the growth of a woman’s future grandchildren, a new study has warned.

Researchers have found that if a maternal grandmother smoked during pregnancy, her grandsons became heavier than expected during adolescence,

But the study also found those grandsons had better cardiovascular fitness.

However when both the maternal grandmother and the mother had smoked, girls had reduced height and weight compared with girls whose mothers, but not grandmothers, smoked.

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Smoking during pregnancy can affect the growth of a woman’s future grandchildren, according to a new study (file picture)

In non-smoking mothers whose paternal grandmothers smoked during pregnancy, granddaughters tended to be taller, the report claims.

And both granddaughters and grandsons tended to have greater bone mass and lean muscle mass.

The study was carried out in Britain and published in the American Journal of Human Biology and suggests the effects of smoking during pregnancy can span generations.

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Senior author Professor Marcus Pembrey said: ‘These likely transgenerational effects from the grandmothers' smoking in pregnancy need to be taken into account in future studies of the effects of maternal smoking on child growth and development.

‘If replicated, such studies could be a useful model for the molecular analysis of human transgenerational responses.’

NHS guidelines warn that smoking during pregnancy can increase the risk of a baby being stillborn, make it more likely that it will be born early and make it less able to cope with any birth complications.

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