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November 29, 2005
[Volume 6, Issue 25]
In this issue of To Your Health:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects Men
and Women Alike
- Mediterranean Diet Good for the
Heart
- Higher Folate Levels May Protect
You From Alzheimer's Disease
Rheumatoid
Arthritis Affects Men and Women Alike
 Rheumatoid
arthritis (RA) is one of the most common forms of arthritis in the
United States, affecting approximately two million Americans.
According to the American College of Rheumatology, women are
almost three times as likely to suffer from RA as men. While it is
well-known that women are at a much higher risk of developing RA,
it is unclear as to whether a person's sex determines the severity
of the disease.
In this study, a
team of scientists compared the records of 133 male rheumatoid
arthritis patients with an identical number of female rheumatoid
arthritis patients, all of whom had been suffering with the
disease for approximately the same length of time (7.4 years).
Among the data they collected were the number and type of joints
affected, episodes of surgery to treat RA, and scores on a health
assessment questionnaire.
Women experienced a
condition called sicca syndrome (an inflammation of the glands and
other tissues of the body) more than twice as often as men. In
addition, tests revealed that 21 percent of the women carried two
RA-associated genes, compared to only 11 percent of the men. Aside
from these findings, there were no significant differences in the
severity of the disease.
While there is no
cure for rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor of chiropractic can
help manage the pain and stiffness associated with the disease.
Your chiropractor can also help create an exercise program that
will increase flexibility and improve overall fitness levels.
Gossec L, Baro-Riba
J, Bozonnat MC, et al. Influence of sex on disease severity in
patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Journal of Rheumatology,
August 2005;32:1448-51.
Mediterranean
Diet Good for the Heart
 The
health benefits of the Mediterranean diet (which emphasizes whole
grains, large amounts of fruits and vegetables, fish and olive
oil, and low amounts of red meat and alcohol) are well-known.
Interestingly enough, few studies have documented what happens
when relatively healthy people switch their eating patterns to a
Mediterranean-style diet. The purpose of this study was to
determine what types of benefits healthy people can get from a
Mediterranean diet, and to see how it compared to a traditional
low-fat diet.
In the study,
researchers assigned 212 men and women who were moderately at risk
for cardiovascular disease into one of two diet groups. One group
switched to eating a Mediterranean diet for three months, while
the other group stayed on a low-fat diet (also for three months).
The guidelines for the Mediterranean diet were as follows:
-
high levels of
nuts, whole-meal bread, cereals, and raw, cooked, fresh or dried
fruit, vegetables and legumes;
-
intake of at
least seven milligrams of carotenoids each day from fruits and
vegetables;
-
consumption of
fish four times per week;
-
consumption of
red meat only one time per week;
-
intake of 25
grams of fiber per day;
-
a maximum calcium
intake of 800 milligrams per day; and
-
a maximum of two
glasses of red wine per day for men (one glass per day for
women).
Patients in both
groups consumed fewer calories than they had on their previous
diets, and showed small - but significant - decreases in body mass
index over the course of the study. Among people on the
Mediterranean diet, total cholesterol levels dropped by an average
of 7.5 percent, compared to 4.5 percent among low-fat diet
patients. Based on this reduction, the researchers estimated that
the overall risk of cardiovascular disease fell 15 percent for
Mediterranean diet patients.
If you are
considering losing weight or are thinking about going on a diet,
the Mediterranean-style diet appears to be a safe, healthy option
that provides a wealth of advantages. In addition, ask your doctor
of chiropractic about crafting a dietary plan that can provide you
with the benefits you're looking for.
Vincent-Baudry S,
Defoort C, Gerber M, et al. The Medi-RIVAGE study: reduction of
cardiovascular disease risk factors after a 3-month intervention
with a Mediterranean-type diet or a low-fat diet. American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Nov. 1, 2005;82(5):964-71.
Higher Folate
Levels May Protect You From Alzheimer's Disease
Also known as folic
acid, folate is a type of B vitamin found in a variety of foods.
It is often considered a "brain food" - and with good reason.
Previous research has shown that folate can help reduce the risk
of certain serious and common birth defects called neural tube
defects, which affect the development of the brain and the spinal
cord. Whether it can protect against conditions that affect the
brain later in life, however, remains uncertain.
In this study,
scientists examined the eating habits of 579 elderly people to
determine what role folate may play in the development of
Alzheimer's disease. Each person was asked to complete a seven-day
"dietary diary" that tracked the intake of several vitamins and
minerals, including folate. Patients submitted similar diaries
approximately every two years, and were tracked an average of 9.3
years.
After adjusting for
age, caloric intake and other factors, the researchers found that
people who consumed the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) or
greater of folate were 59 percent less likely to be diagnosed with
Alzheimer's than those who consumed less than the recommended
dietary allowance. They suggested that folate may reduce the risk
of Alzheimer's by lowering levels of homocysteine, an amino acid
that is found in the blood and can cause severe damage to nerve
cells.
How can you
increase your intake of folate? Simple - eat large amounts of
fortified cereals and breads, beans, green vegetables (such as
spinach and asparagus), and other foods that are naturally high in
folate. In addition, talk to your doctor of chiropractic about
foods and supplements that have high folate levels. Your brain
will thank you later!
Corrada MM, Kawas
CH, Hallfrisch J, et al. Reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease with
high folate intake: The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.
Alzheimer's & Dementia, July 2005;1(1):11-18.
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