Author Archives: Editor

Playtex Products reports 27% jump in skin care sales – 3 August 2006

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A jump of 27 per cent in sales of its skin care care products helped to boost quarterly profits at Playtex Products, encouraging the company to reiterate its full-year forecasts.

During the latest quarter to July 1, the company said that net sales were up 10 per cent to reach $180.3m, compared to $163.8m in the corresponding quarter for 2005. On the back of this net income rose to $10.3m, compared to the $6.2m recorded for the same period last year.

Including charges and gains net profit totaled $11m, compared to $8.9m in the corresponding quarter of 2005.

Both sales revenue and net profits were up on average analysts’ forecasts, which had estimated that projected sales for the quarter would come in at around $170.8m.

For the full six months to July 1, net sales were up 6 per cent to $356.3m, compared to $335.1m in the same period during 2005, while net income stood at $23.1m, up 8 per cent compared to the $21.5m reported for the same period in 2005.

The company said that its skin care division had led the way, with a 27 per cent jump in sales for the quarter to $85.6m, compared to the same period a year ealier.

The primary driving force behind the jump was double digit sales growth for its Banana Boat sun care products, together with Wet Ones hand and face wipes.

The success of its Banana Boat sales was attributed to new products and increased ad spend. Likewise the company also said that sales were positively impacted by a shift towards consumers buying sun care products closer to the summer season.

The company said that the success of the Wet Ones sales was mainly attributable to successful seasonal retail promotions.

Meanwhile the company reported that sales for its feminine care division rose 7 per cent to reach $53.9m, whereas sales for the infant care division rose 5 per cent to reach $40.8m

Platex Products CEO Neil DeFeo said of the results, ”sales growth is strong, gross profit margins continue improve in spite of higher overall raw material costs, and operating income is growing despite the higher investments in both new products and advertising promotion.”

The company added that the performance gave it reason to reiterate its full year forecasts, stating the sales growth would be down to low-single digit figures compared to last year, to the divested brand sales of $48.6m during the course of 2005.

Net income is estimated to be in the range of $103m – $108m, compared to the $107m recorded in 2005.

An apple a day keeps dementia at bay

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New York: Apples may be effective in preventing ageing of the brain. According to the latest reseach, the juice contains a chemical that boosts an essential neurotransmitter called acetylcholine.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals released by nerve cells to transmit messages to other nerve cells and are critical for good memory and brain health.

Scientists have previously shown that increasing the amount of acetylcholine in the brain can slow the mental decline found in people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Researcher Thomas Shea PhD, director of the Center for Cellular Neurobiology and Neurodegenration Research at the University of Massachusetts Lowell says: “The findings of the present study show that consumption of antioxidant-rich foods such as apples and apple juice can help reduce problems associated with memory loss.”

Nutritionists already advocate eating a diet high in antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, spinach, and strawberries and omega 3 oil to slow age-related mental decline better than using dietary supplements containing purified forms of antioxidants.

In the latest study, researchers looked at the effects on mice. They compared normal adult mice, normal “aged” mice, and special mice that were a genetic model for human Alzheimer’s. Human studies looking at apple consumption are planned.

The study was funded by an unrestricted grant from the US Apple Association and the Apple Products Research & Education Council.

The mice were given either a normal diet, or a diet lacking in essential nutrients, for one month. Some of the mice on the nutrient-poor diet were also given apple juice concentrate mixed in their water.

The results showed that normal adult mice and the genetically-engineered mice on normal diets had the same acetylcholine levels.

In fact, the normal adults had the same acetylcholine levels regardless of diet.

However, the genetically engineered mice on the nutrient-poor diet had lower acetylcholine levels. But this drop was prevented in those given apple juice.

In the aged mice on a normal diet, acetylcholine levels were lower than in the normal adult mice; and their levels were even lower if placed on the nutrient-poor diet. But, again, this decline was prevented by the addition of apple juice to drink.

The mice were also put through maze memory tests. “It was surprising how the animals on the apple-enhanced diets actually did a superior job on the maze tests than those not on the supplemented diet,” says Shea.

The amount of apple juice the mice drank was comparable to drinking about two 8-ounce glasses of apple juice or eating two to three apples a day for humans.

UK government cracks down on cowboy cosmetic clinics

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London: The UK government’s watchdog, The Health Commission is to target unregulated cosmetic surgery clinics.

Unregistered clinics may face prosecution or closure because of the danger they pose to the public. The commission receives around 50 complaints each year from patients whose treatments have gone wrong. These include bothed treatments using lasers to remove hair, blemishes and tatooes.

The clinics are to be targeted by undercover inspectors, posing as clients. All clinics and operators offering aesthetics must be registered by the Health Commission and patients are advised to ask to see their registration certificate before embarking or paying for treatment.

New blood test for breast cancer

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London: A new early warning blood test for breast cancer which is 1000 times more sensitive than any currently in use may cut deaths from the disease.

Breat cancer is the most common female cancer claiming more than 400,000 lives around the world each year.

Doctors diagnose it by physical examination, scanning and biopsy. The new blood test works by detecting small changes in the protein in the blood which change when the body’s immune system begins to fight cancer.

The test was developed by a joint team from University College London, the University of Pennsylvania and Pittsburg and the US company BioTraces Inc. The findings are published in the current issue of the Journal of Proteome Research.

Will you get dementia?

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Stockholm: Scientists have developed a two-minute test that can access the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

There are seven lifestyle questions on age, education, health and exercise yield a personal score out of the highest of 15, which is then translated into a personal risk level. The higher the score, the more likely dementia will develop within 20 years.
The aim of the test is to shock those at risk into making lifestyle changes necessary to reduce the danger.

Accuracy is estimated at around 70 per cent The test. Those who score highest are estimated to have a 16 per cent chance of developing the disease while those at the lower end have one per cent, according to a report in The Lancet Neurology.

The number of cases of Alzheimer’s is on the increase and presently there is no cure and no predictive testing other than a genetic test.

Though it is generally recognised that there are some risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, not taking exercise, poor diet and high levels of the substance homocysteine in the blood. These may combine years before the disease to create an environment for Alzheimer’s to develop.

The doctors looked at the health of more than 1,400 middle-aged people from Finland to device the scorecard. They looked at their health when they were around 50 and then 20 years later examined them for signs of dementia.

Those who are obese or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol are twice as likely to develop dementia. Scoring badly on all three fronts raises the risk sixfold.

Swedish neurologist Dr Miia Kivipelto, who developed the scorecard, said it could change the face of dementia treatment and gave doctors and patients a better chance in intervention.

TV makeover shows drive growth in cosmetic dentistry

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London: A quarter of the UK population has undergone cosmetic dentistry according to new statistics from the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and Mintel.

They show that just over a quarter (26%) of the population have had some type of cosmetic dentistry procedure, of which teeth whitening and white fillings are the most widely experienced.

The national representative sample of over 2,300 adults participated in the online survey which identified the incidence in cosmetic treatments, a market estimated to be worth in excess of £280 million, within the UK population. The survey also examined levels of awareness among the public, as well as the most popular vehicles currently used for the promotion of aesthetic procedures.

Highlights:

Over a quarter (26%) of the population have had cosmetic dental treatments
Teeth whitening is the most popular treatment (31%), followed by white fillings (30%), requested crowns or bridges (21%) and veneers (18%)
Just under a third of women admit to having had cosmetic dental treatment compared with one in five men

The age analysis shows that people in the 25-34 age group are the most likely to have had teeth whitening, people 35-44 opting for white fillings

Makeover shows are a popular vehicle to gauge cosmetic treatments, with almost half of women (49%) occasionally tuning in

According to Dr. Christopher Orr, President of the BACD and Lead Clinician at a Harley Street cosmetic dentistry group:

“With the increase of effective non-surgical and non-invasive procedures such as teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry has become a more attractive option for people by providing an acceptable and more subtle approach to cosmetic procedures. The survey also reveals that people who start with teeth whitening are more likely to progress to more complex cosmetic dental treatments.”

The study also highlights a low public awareness of the availability of cosmetic dental treatments. Previous studies by the BACD show over 93% of practices offer cosmetic procedures, yet only 17% of the population think their dentists can provide these.

Further Results:

Women aged 25-34 are the most likely to have undergone teeth whitening, with 17% of women in this age group claiming to have done so, vs. 12% of men. Over three quarters of teeth whitening is through the use of at-home whitening trays

Women aged 35-44 are again most likely to have requested white fillings, while crowns and bridges for cosmetic purposes are most prevalent amongst women aged over 45, but significantly lower amongst the older male population.

Usage among these age groups suggests cosmetic dentistry is being sought to enhance appearance, and not merely ward off the deterioration of teeth as a result of the ageing process.

Over one in ten (11%) of adults appears to have an interest in cosmetic dentistry, either having discussed or interested in discussing cosmetic dentistry with practitioners and friends.

Television makeover shows are a popular genre, with just over half of the respondents (51%) claiming to watch these programmes as a way of judging the results of cosmetic treatments. Just over one in ten (12%) claimed to be regular viewers, with a further 39% reporting that they watched them occasionally.

Women are the main viewers of TV makeover shows, with 17% of women claiming to be frequent viewers and 49% occasional viewers, demonstrating their huge reach amongst women, compared with only a third of men.

According to Dr Orr:“With the natural curiosity that people feel towards cosmetic procedures, it is essential that safety be foremost in practitioners’ minds. At the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, we will continue our efforts to promote an ethical delivery of dentistry and further public education in this area.”

About the BACD

The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry www.bacd.com is a not-for-profit, inclusive organisation for the advancement and ethical delivery of cosmetic dentistry, open to all dental professionals including dental technicians and hygienists. Their aim is to create a dynamic, active group of members from all areas of the dental team. The BACD, which has over 400 members, is affiliated with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the world’s largest organisation for cosmetic dental professionals

Life expectancy leap by decades

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LONDON: Lifespan will increase by decades within thirty years because of scientific developments, a leading scientist has predicted.

In 2004, the UK Government’s Actuary Department statistics predicted that the average British male who lived to 65 could expect to reach 84.

But Cambridge-based biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey says that decades-longer lives may change traditional patterns of family life, careers, retirement, education and child-raising and force radical changes to pensions.

Life expectancy has already risen sharply in Britain. On average, a man aged 65 could expect to live for another 12 years in 1950. This is expected to rise to 21.7 years by the middle of the century. Although life expectancy is higher for women, its increase is slower, possibly due to the fact that women are adopting male lifestyles including drinking and smoking.

Arthritis more likely for women smokers

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San Francisco: Smoking increases the chance of developing rheumatoid arthritis in women who otherwise lack genetic risk factors for the disease, according to new published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory disease in which the patient’s immune system attacks the joint linings. It is the most serious and debilitating form of arthritis.

Interaction between genes and environmental factors is considered to be fundamentally important in complex autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

The authors base their findings on a comparison of 115 postmenopausal women with the disease and 466 women without.

All the women were taking part in the Iowa Women’s Health Study, a long term research project tracking participants’ lifestyles, such as smoking, and included the ages at which a woman started and gave up smoking and how many cigarettes she smoked every day.

The results showed that smoking almost doubled the odds of developing rheumatoid arthritis in women who had not inherited the most well established genetic risk factor for the disease, HLA-DRB1 SE.

However, among those women who had inherited the genetic risk factor HLA-DRB1 SE, exposure to tobacco smoke was not associated with an increased risk of the disease.

The authors point out that this research was limited to older white women, so it is not yet clear if other age groups and ethnicities would be similarly affected.

Breastfed babies cope better with stress

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London : Breastfed babies cope better with stress in later life than bottle fed babies, suggests new Swedish research to be published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood

The findings are based on almost 9000 children, who were part of the 1970 British Cohort Study, which regularly monitors a sample of the British population from birth onwards.

Relevant information was obtained at the children’s birth, and at the ages of 5 and 10 years, from midwives and health visitors, parents, and teachers. This included how much the child weighed at birth and whether s/he was breastfed.

It also included factors that might influence or be linked with a child’s reactions to stress and coping mechanisms, including maternal depression, parental education levels, their social class, and smoking habits.

When the children were 10 years old, their teachers were also asked to rate the anxiety of their pupils on a scale of zero to 50, while parents were interviewed about major family disruption, including divorce or separation, which had occurred when their child was between 5 and 10 years of age.

Unsurprisingly, when all the data were analysed, the findings pointed to a greater likelihood of high anxiety among children whose parents had divorced or separated.

But children who had been breastfed were significantly less anxious than their peers who had not been breastfed.

Breastfed children were almost twice as likely to be highly anxious, while children who had been bottle fed were over 9 times as likely to be highly anxious about parental divorce/separation.

The findings held true, irrespective of other factors likely to influence the results.

The authors emphasise that their research does not prove that breastfeeding itself makes children cope better with life stress; rather, it may be a marker of some other maternal or parental factors, they say.

But they cite animal research, which suggests that the quality of physical contact between mother and baby during the first few days of life may influence the development of the offspring’s neural and hormonal pathways that are involved in the stress response. Babies with more of the type of contact experienced during breast feeding coped better with stress when older.

Breastfeeding may also affect the quality of the bonding between mother and child, and the way in which the two relate to each other. And this may have a lasting impact on the child’s anxiety levels in response to stressful life events, the authors suggest.

Omega 3 may slow prostate cancer

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Los Angeles: Increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids and reducing omega 6 fatty acides could slow the progression of prostate cancer, according to a new study by the UCLA School of Medicine.

In the study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, mice were implanted with human prostate cancer cells and then divided into two group. One group, fed on a typical Western diet with an omega 6 to omega 3 ratio of 15 to 1, while the intervention group was fed the fatty acids in ratio of 1 to 1.

The cancer cells in the intervention group grew 22 per cent slow than the others. In addition the rate of growth in tumours, the final size and PSA levels were all lower

Senior author, Dr Willian J Aronson said that the study showed that altering the fatty acid ratio found in the typical Western diet to include more omega-3 fatty acids and decreasing the amount of omega-6 fatty acids reduced prostate cancer tumor growth rates and PSA levels in mice. He said more research was needed before any clinical recommendations could be made for human.

Hyperbaric oxygen rejuvenation arrives at Beauty Works West

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London: Beautyworkswest in the heart of London’s Nottinghill, has become the second spa in the UK to offer the oxygen rejuvenation treatment, favoured by stars such as Madonna.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Technology delivers therapeutic grade oxygen, offering a calming environment for the skin. In the O2 Intraceuticals rejuvenation infusion a serum is infused into the skin with oxygen, stimulating the regeneration of new cells and plumping the skin’s surface to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The treatment is gentle, relaxing and soothing and is suitable for all skin types and is perfect used in conjunction with a course of photo rejuvenation.

In just one treatment the skin will feel and look years younger, smoother, clearer, fresher, healthier, plumperMadonna has her own 02 machine at home. Check out her personal facialist’s comments on www.intraceuticals.com/press

This new treatment is now available at Beautyworkswest:

1 X 55 minute Rejuvenation Treatment – £100
Buy a course of 6 x 55 minute Rejuvenation Treatments and get 10% off – £500 which includes a homecare kit. wwwbeautyworkswest.com

Elixir mushroom boosts effect of cancer drug

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Boston: An Oriental medicinal mushroom, the Phellinus linteus, has been found to boost the potency of a drug used in the treatment of prostate cancer.

The mushroom, used in Oriental medicine is called “Song gen” in China, “Sang-hwang” in Korea and “Mesimakobu” in Japan was studied by researchers at the University of Boston School of Medicine.

They discovered that combined with the chemotherapy treatment drug doxorubicin, it increased the number of cancer cells killed.

The findings, published in the British Journal of Cancer, mean that the effectiveness of treatment could be boosted at the same time as using lower drug doses.

The mushroom has previously been proven to have anti carcinogenic effects by boosting the human immune system. In previous clinical tests it has been shown to be effective in the treatment and preventive treatment of liver cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, and other cancers, as well as AIDS, diabetes, high blood pressure and loss of energy.

Oily fish can help obesity

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Adelaide: Oily fish, such as sardines, mackerel, salmon and herrings, can help you loose pounds, a new study from the University of Adelaide has discovered.

The secret ingredient is omega 3, a beneficial oil contained in the fish. These oils have already been linked to a healthier brain, eyes and arthritis. It is thought that these oils work by helping people who are insulin-resistant which they eat more sugary foods, leading to obesity and diabetes.

Researchers found that patients who ate oily fish daily and exercised lost weight even though they did not give up their usual foods. They lost more than four pounds on average over three months.

Fatty acids, such as omega 3, increase the ability of cell membranes to use up blood glucose, meaning there is less left over to turn into excess fat.

The new research was presented at the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids Lipids’ annual conference in Australia.

Amino acid improves heart function, says new study

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Strasbourg: The dietary supplement, L-arginine, has been shown to improve heart health ina new study fromthe Institut de Physiologie in France.

L-arginine, is an amino acid and a precursor of nitric oxide, which supports the arteries. Dysfunction of this pathway reduces blood flow and limits physical activity.

The researchers gave L-arginine to six patients with chronic heart failure for a period of six weeks. The patients were subjected to endurance exercise tests. It was found that those taking the amino acid had a significant decrease in their average heart rate. But their blood pressure and respiratory parameters remained unchanged.

New longevity study

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Boston: A new study is trying to determine the secret to living to age 100 by looking at genetic and environmental characteristics common to people in families who live longer.

Dr Thomas Perls of the Boston University Medical Centre which is carrying out the study says: “Exceptional longevity runs very strongly in families. Where people have a markedly increased chance of living longer so we want to find out what these family members have in common, as in environment, behavior and genes.”

One such person is Tony Pierro, who is 110-years-old and credits diet.

“Three good meals,” he said. “Nothing to worry about.”

His brother, Nick Pierro said: “The secret is to learn early in life to have peace of mind.”

Nick’s son, Rick, 57, who’s also taking part in the study, agrees.

“I think you have to go with their outlook – have no problems, no worries, keep headaches to a minimum, good eating. Your health is very important,” he said.

Researchers conducting the study are looking for families with at least two siblings who are 90 or older to take part in the study.

Scientists turn fat into muscle

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Los Angeles: Scientists have turned fat cells into muscle cells in an experiment published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers said that although they would not be able to use the cells to turn fat tummies into flat ones the experiment showed how fat can be a source of master cells which could be used to repair organs. These cells are of a type that help the heart beat and blood flow, push food through the digestive system and make bladders fill and empty.

Assistant Professor Larissa Rodriguez from the Department of Urology at the University of Los Angeles medical school said the cells may prove a source to regenerate and repair damaged organs.

Rodriguez and colleagues incubated adipose-derived stem cells in a nourishing mixture of growth factors, human proteins that encouraged the cells to become smooth muscle cells.

The researchers said scientists have been looking for sources of smooth muscle for organ repair and treating heart disease, gastrointestinal diseases and bladder dysfunction. Previous studies that used cells from a patients own organ failed because the organ was damaged or diseased.

But transplants grown from a patient’s own fat could be used with no need for anti-rejection drugs. Smooth muscle cells have been produced from stem cells found in the brain and bone marrow, but acquiring stem cells from fat is much easier.

The stem cells found in fat are known as multipotent stem cells. They can produce a variety of cell and tissue types, but are not as flexible as embryonic stem cells.

Last week, President George W. Bush vetoed a bill that would have broadened federal funding of human embryonic stem cell research, saying he preferred that researchers pursue so-called adult stem cells, such as those used at UCLA.

Many groups have been looking to fat as a source of stem cells. In April, Cytori Therapeutics Inc. said it was starting a clinical trial to test whether stem cells derived from fat can be used to regenerate breast tissue.

Other researchers have been trying to get stem cells from liposuction specimens.

In a second study published in the same journal, British researchers said they found one important protein that keeps stem cells in a quiescent and non-dividing stage.

Fiona Watt of Cancer Research UK and colleagues studied stem cells from human skin and found a protein known as Lrig1 kept the skin cells from proliferating. When Lrig1 production was silenced, the stem cells began growing and dividing.

The finding may not only offer important information to stem cell researchers, but may also offer insights into cancer, Watt’s team said. In cancer, cells ignore the normal signals from the body and proliferate uncontrollably. The protein is also involved in psoriasis.

TV’s Anne Diamond launches obesity helpsite

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Lonson: TV personality Anne Diamond today announced the launch of www.fathappens.com – a site for people who want to lose weight through mutual support and encouragement – believing that more will be achieved through BUDDYing not BULLYing.

Anne Diamond says: “Fat isn’t a sin – and it doesn’t deserve punishment. You know what they say when things go wrong? Don’t beat yourself up about it – “s### happens”! It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, it doesn’t mean you deserve it. s### happens – it’s part of life. So…fat happens. It just happens. Whose fault is it? Who cares? Beating yourself up won’t help, that’s for sure. Just find a way to deal with it.

That’s why I have set up a new website – called FatHappens.com. It’s for the millions of us to whom fat has happened – and who spend so much time trying to do something about it. It’s not for those who like being fat, or who reluctantly accept it. It is a site for men and women who are going to battle the bulge in their own way, in their own time – and not according to the fat fascist attitudes of the outside world.

I was moved to set up this forum by the thousands of viewers, listeners and readers who’ve been following my progress in the media over the past few years. Time and again I was struck by their own stories. And, like me, they’re furious that they become the focus of such prejudice, backstabbing and spite from the thin world. I wanted to provide a new environment, a meeting place and a living magazine for them all to contribute, share views, inspire and entertain with collected stories and experiences.

Once you’ve put it on, losing weight is a much, much bigger battle than thin people can even countenance. Sometimes you feel you’re climbing a sheer rockface whilst others are throwing stones at you. In that sort of environment, it’s little wonder so many fall. When fat happens to you, you need friends to give you the encouragement and support you deserve – on Posted in Diet, News | Tagged , , ,

Heart charity calls on Government to act over obesity and food industry

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London:The British Heart Foundation has called on Government to act on food industry and obesity following Tony Blair’s speech on the nation’s health in Nottingham yesterday.

Dr Mike Knapton, Director of Prevention and Care at the BHF, said: “It’s great to see the spotlight on prevention but these aren’t just individual lifestyle problems.

“If millions of children are not eating the right food and not getting enough exercise then it’s not just a million individual problems. It’s a collective problem that will require us all to work together, including Government.

“Yes. Our lifestyle choices make a huge difference to our health, but it’s not easy for many people – it is the Government’s responsibility to create an environment that enables each and every one of us to make choices for a longer and healthier life.

“Tony Blair has said the Government is prepared to act. Industry had its chance and failed to regulate itself effectively in areas such as food advertising and labelling.

“The time for Government to act is now. Requiring the food industry to adopt one sensible system for front pack labels and banning junk food advertising before the watershed would be a good next step.”

Arthritis impotence warning highlights natural alternatives to drugs

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Men who take painkillers, known as NSAID’s. for arthritis are twice as likely to suffer impotence, according to new research from the University of Finland.

The research, published in the Journal of Urology, is the first to make a link between NSAID’s and impotence. Previously it was widely known that arthritis sufferers experience a higher incidence of impotence, but the new study is the first to reveal the possible underlying cause of why this is the case.

Approximately 1 in 10 men suffer from impotence at some point during their lives, 30% of cases are sue to psychological problems but the remaining 70% are due to underlying physical causes. Last month another report linked painkillers to increased risk of heart attack.

A new breakthrough treatment for arthritis has been shown in published research to deliver effective pain relief to stiff, painful joints within just 30 minutes of application, making it 15% faster and more effective than any oral or topical NSAID’s (Non-Steroid Anti Inflammatory Drugs) currently available.

The new treatment, called Celafen™, contains a unique clinically tested patented ingredient called celadrin ®, which is made from a special complex of esterified fatty acids (EFA’s). Celafen™ has the further advantage of having no dangerous side effects, such as those linked to NSAIDs. In addition research suggests that NSAID’s may actually inhibit the growth of cartilage in joints and so in the long term be detrimental to arthritis sufferers.

The most common symptoms of arthritis are pain, stiffness, reduced joint range of movement and limitations to normal daily activities, such as getting up from a chair, walking, balance and ascending/descending stairs.

Several pieces of published research, including two recent studies in the prestigious Journal of Rheumatology, have measured the effect that celadrin® has on all of the arthritic symptoms listed above with convincing results. The researchers found that celadrin ® improved each symptom just 30 minutes after the topical cream was applied, which is significantly faster than any other topical or oral form of pain relief for joint pain and stiffness.

Celafen™ comes as both a topical cream and as oral capsules and is a natural product that works by lubricating the cell membranes and repelling inflammatory chemicals responsible for the pain, stiffness and reduced mobility associated with arthritis

A published double blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial (the most scientifically validated) on 64 participants found that those taking oral capsules containing celadrin ® had more flexibility, fewer aches, less pain and were able to walk further distances than the placebo group after the 9 week trial period.

Taken orally Celafen ™ takes longer to take effect than the topical cream, although it has a more accumulative effect over time. The most effective results have been seen in people using the product both orally and topically.

UK GP Dr Donald Grant comments: “There is good evidence for the efficacy of long chain fatty acids in preparations such as Celafen ™ for the treatment of pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. Obviously Celafen ™ will not be suitable for everyone and as the evidence suggests that results from the cream are seen fairly rapidly (within 30 minutes in many cases), therefore if no results are seen within a month I would suggest people stop using the product as it is clearly not working for them. But in my opinion it is worth trying because if preparations like Celafen help reduce arthritis sufferer’s dependence on NSAIDs, and there is good evidence to suggest that it might, this can only be a good thing.”

Celafen ™ is a natural formulation and is free from all parabens and propylene glycol.

Celafen ™ Cream costs £14.99 for a month’s supply: Celafen ™ Oral Capsules cost £14.99 for a month’s supply. The cost of the two products together in a Celafen ™ Combination Pack is £24.99 for a month’s supply. Celafen ™ is available from www.celafen.co.uk or call: 0871 871 9975

Celafen UK Jan 2006 Trial results

The UK consumer trial on 20 arthritis sufferers using Celafen cream, completed in January 2006, found that for 83% of participants their self – assessed pain rating was reduced from an average of approximately 7 out of 10 to 4 after just 30 minutes. The average pain rating was further reduced to 3 out of 10 after one week of use.

The test also included assessment of stiffness, with 92% of participants experiencing a decrease in stiffness and average stiffness ratings dropping from approximately 7 out of 10 down to 5 out of 10 after just 30 minutes, and then to just 3 out of 10 after one week’s use.

The trial also assessed various functionality tests including timed up and go movements, stair climb, stair descend and distance walking. Approximately 83% of participants experienced improvements in their general functionality within 30 minutes of applying the cream.

Boswellia & Commiphora Cream – a natural anti-inflammatory formulation

Two ancient spices, Boswellia Serrata (Frankincense) and Commiphora Molmol (Myrrh), have been found in combination to be AS successful at reducing pain and inflammation caused by arthritis than conventional NSAID’s, according to a UK trial by a doctor.

The two spices, which have been formulated into a unique cream, have a long medical history of relieving the inflammation associated with rheumatic and osteopathic forms of arthritis as well as other forms of joint inflammation. There have been over 20 published scientific studies carried out in India and China on these two ingredients in the last 15 years for the treatment of arthritis and other joint inflammation conditions.

But the first UK trial in 2004 using this unique combination was carried out by Dr Robert Jacobs, a GP from Devon on 30 of his arthritic patients, who says it’s the first time he’s come across the use of the spices in Europe for the specific treatment of joint inflammation.

Dr Jacobs says: “Both myself and my wife are arthritis sufferers and have been trying the cream for several weeks now and have found it to be as good, if not better, than conventional prescription anti-inflammatory such as Naproxen, Diclofenac, and Celebrex.

“In my limited experience of ‘no-drug’ arthritis creams, such as tiger balm that is very popular, this cream appears to be significantly more effective for the treatment of joint inflammation either from arthritis or from strain or trauma to the joint. I am surprised these spices have not been used already in a cream as their anti-inflammatory effects are well established and extensively researched elsewhere in the world.”

In addition a subsequent larger trial on 80 patients was carried out in Decemeber 2004 on Boswellia and Commiphora cream. It concluded that the cream had a statistically significant effect both on the pain and stiffness caused by arthritis. Of those on the trial 83% stated that they felt the cream helped them with their arthritis.

Finally a human trial published in 2003 found that all those using Frankincense reported reduced knee pain, more knee flexibility, reduced swelling of the knee joint and an ability to walk much further. The scientists behind the study recommended it for osteoarthritis of the knee and saw possible therapeutic uses for other types of arthritis or joint inflammation.

Boswellia and Commiphora cream costs £14.99 (100ml) for a two-month supply. Call: 0871 871 9975 or visit www.skinshop.co.uk

DNA wrinkle buster launches in Europe

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New York: A US company has launched a bespoke anti-wrinkle cream based on each customer’s DNA.

Dermagenetics, uses a testing kit to swab the inside of the cheek. Supposedly many top stars have already handed over samples. The company claims that most creams on the mass market are virtually useless and not suited to the individual genetic makeup of each person which means we are not able to utilise the benefits.

Clients of Dermagenetics are sent a kit to harness cells which are then measured for various factors including collagen breakdown, sun damage, wrinkles, environmental damage and skin health.

The cost of this high-tech beauty is high with the DNA test costing £135 and the cream costs £125 for a bottle that lasts six to eight weeks. Clinical tests are said to show that this ‘genetically guided’ cream is considerably more effective than generic night creams.

The company says that during an eight week, double-blind, randomised and experienced a substantial reduction in the appearance of wrinkles after 14 days of treatment. After 56 days, the number of participants reporting reduction in the appearance of wrinkles rose to 70 per cent.

So what is in this magic formula? No wonder ingredients, just minerals, enzymes, herbal extract and acids that are balanced to meet specific skin care requirements.

The key is that each of the ingredients is tailored to individual requirements, avoiding potential allergies and ingredients that will not be compatible with specific skin types.

The packaging is personalised with the client’s name, and the DNA studies are kept on record so that follow-up courses of creams can be bought without the need for further tests.

The Dermagenetics skin-care system measures single nucleotide polymorphism, which are responsible for DNA variations. SNPs can inhibit the body’s ability to control the build-up of free radicals, which can damage skin cells. These random mutational events that take place within our cells are now considered major contributors to a variety of skin conditions and possibly skin diseases.

But while Dermagenetics is the first organisation to be using DNA research to create skin creams, it is not the only company to believe that controlling the ageing process is made easier if we understand our own DNA.

Surracell is a ‘personal genetic health program’, which claims to identify deficiencies and damage in our DNA and provide exclusive nutraceuticals that promote cell repair and genetic health.

Clients provide a urine sample and mouth swab, which Suracell then use to study an individual’s DNA and establish levels of damage and oxidative stress.

Within three weeks, clients are offered a full DNA analysis and then prescribed a vitamin regime designed specifically to suit their genetic make-up.

FOR further information on Dermagenetics, go to www.dermagenetics.com or call 0173 770 0020.

GI diet speeds weightloss

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Sydney: New research has shown that a diet which scores low on the “glycaemic index” (GI) helps overweight people lose body fat and reduce their levels of “bad” cholesterol, which contributes to the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

A study of 189 overweight and obese adults, carried out by the University of Sydney concluded that a diet high in either protein or carbohydrates, but with a low total GI score, brought about the biggest reduction of body fat, and that a high-carbohydrate and low GI diet caused the greatest drop.

The researchers studied men and women aged 18-40 assigned to one of four reduced-calorie and reduced-fat diets for 12 weeks.

The first diet was high in carbohydrates (55 percent of total energy) but low on the GI index. The second was high in carbohydrates and high in GI rating. The third was high in protein(25 percent of total energy) and high in GI score, while the fourth was also high in protein but low in GI score.

After three months, all the volunteers lost a statistically similar amount of weight: between 4.2 and 6.2 percent of their body weight. However, those on the low GI diets lost the most body fat, with those on the high-carb, low-GI diet losing about 80 percent more body fat than those on the high-carb and high-GI diet.

As for cholesterol levels, the researchers said the effects of each diet varied, with those eating the high-protein, high-GI diet seeing their LDL cholesterol level increase, while those on the high-protein, low GI regimen, saw cholesterol levels go down slightly.

The GI measures the impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels. Food with a high GI score, like biscuits, causes sharper peaks in sugar levels than low GI food, such as pasta, which makes people feel fuller for longer, and may promote the breakdown of fat and reduce total and low density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol.

Europeans living longer, says new EU study

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Brussels: A 14-nation study comparing life expectancy and health of Europeans has found that people are living longer across the board, but differences are still notable between countries.

In 2003, Portugal had the lowest life expectancy at birth for men, some four years less than the highest, Sweden. Women’s life expectancy was lowest in Denmark and highest in France. Italy and France were the top two nations for life expectancy among women. Like in the recent World Cup final, Italy again narrowly beat France in term of male life expectancy.

Between 1995 and 2003, life expectancy at birth rose in all 14 European countries surveyed by an average of three months per year for men and two months for women, notes the report from the first year’s work of the European Health Expectancy Monitoring Unit (EHEMU), a project funded by the European Commission’s EU Public Health Programme (2004-2007).

“Whether the extra years of life gained were spent in good or bad health remains a crucial question,” commented Professor Carol Jagger in a statement from the University of Leicester, which co-leads the EHEMU project.

Disability-free life expectancy varied more widely across the EU countries, she continued, “but this may be due to cultural differences in how people report disability”. Ranking countries by the number of years people live without disability is not feasible using current data, the researcher suggested.

“However, the trends between 1995 and 2001 will be less sensitive to such differences so we can compare how disability-free life expectancy is tracking life expectancy between countries,” she confirmed.

The report found that, between 1995 and 2001, Belgium, Italy and Spain appeared to be the healthiest countries as both men and women’s disability-free life expectancy at birth was increasing faster than life expectancy.

In Denmark, Great Britain and Portugal, disability-free life expectancy was increasing at the same rate as life expectancy. Other countries showed differences between men and women: in the Netherlands men’s disability-free life expectancy increased faster than life expectancy but women’s disability-free life expectancy declined over the period, so Dutch women were living longer but the extra years were spent in poor health.

The main aim of EHEMU is to provide a central facility for the coordinated analysis and synthesis of life and health expectancies. The project teams are based at CRLC and the University of Montpellier, France; the University of Leicester, UK; the Scientific Institute of Public Health, Belgium; and the French National Institute of Demography, INED.

“We now have to explore the reasons for these differences through in-depth analyses,” said Professor Jagger. A number of factors could be responsible for the variations, such as smoking and diet, as well as the prevalence of diseases commonly resulting in disability, including stroke and coronary heart disease.

“The new EU structural indicator Healthy Life Years, which will be based on more comparable data, is an important step forward in monitoring the health of our ageing European populations for future planning,” she concluded.

Several research Framework Programme-funded projects are investigating the political implications of key social issues such as ageing and health. The AHEAD ‘Scientific Support to Policy’ project is gauging how an ageing population affects health care demand. Another, called HealthBASKET, is providing policy-makers with high-quality information to inform their decisions on health care services and costs across the Union. In addition, the EU-funded SHARE study presented its first detailed findings on health, ageing and retirement earlier this year. These are discussed in a coming Headlines story ‘Getting old: sharing the burden’.

Daily tipple contributes to longevity

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Miami: Moderate alcohol consumption can help you live to a ripe old age, scientists at the University of Florida have discovered.

A study of the drinking habits of more than 2,400 adults in their seventies found that those who consumed one to seven drinks a week were likely to live longer and have fewer heart attacks.

They were put into different classes of drinking: ‘never or occasional’ drinkers who consumed less than one drink a week, ‘light to moderate’ (one to seven drinks) or ‘heavier’ (more than seven). During a five year period five 397 died and 383 had cardiac trouble, such as a heart attack or heart failure.

It was discovered that those who drank lightly to moderately had a 26 per cent lower risk of death and an almost 30 per cent reduced risk of cardiac trouble. But heavy drinkers were more likely to die or experience cardiac trouble than those who drank the least.

Researchers, who published their findings in the Archive of Internal Medicine concluded that the health effects of alcohol are linked to reduced levels of inflammation.

Phytonutrient therapy in the treatment of hormone-refactory prostate cancer – Dr Ben Pfeifer speaks at Anti-Ageing Conference London

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London, July 2006: Every year in Britain, 32,000 men are disagnosed with prostate cancer, and 10,000 die of the disease. Although surgery and radiotherapy can be successful if it is diagnosed early, for one man in five, the disease has already spread by the time it is detected.

Conventional treatment involves hormone therapy: injections of a pituitary down-regulator (which halts production of the male hormone testosterone that stimulates the cancer cells), such as Zoladex, or anti-androgen tablets (which block testosterone reaching the cancer cells), such as Casodex. But in more than 50 per cent of patients, the body stops responding to the drugs after a few years; this is known as hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Professor Ben Pfeifer, director of clinical research at the renowned Aeskulap Clinic in Switzerland, specialises in combining conventional and complementary cancer therapies. His success in treating prostate patients with a phytotherapy (the medicinal use of plants) protocol of four supplements, taken in specifically designed cocktails every day was recently featured in The Daily Telegraph.

These were Prostasol, which contains a range of herbs and dietary supplements with proven efficacy in supporting the prostate; Imupros, containing vitamins, trace elements, ginseng, lycopene, and green-tea extract to aid prostate function; Curcumin Complex, an extract of turmeric, which is a potent antioxidant – to mop up cancer-causing free radicals – and an anti-inflammatory; and Biobran, made from Japanese rice bran, which boosts the immune system.

At Anti-Ageing Conference London, Professor Pfeifer will speak on “Phytonutrient-Therapy and Immune System Support for Patients with Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer”

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This year Anti-Ageing Conference London has the largest gathering of the world’s pre-eminent medical speakers on the subject of anti-ageing health and regenerative medicine ever to be assembled in London.

The 3rd Anti-Ageing Conference (AACL), will be held at the Royal Society of Medicine in London from the 15-17 September 2006. This event offers a unique opportunity to learn from scientists and physicians about the latest medical advances from what some may consider controversial, to the proven and new treatments for the diseases of ageing.

This event is of importance to all medical professionals who wish to be cognisant on the latest medical and scientific developments in anti-ageing and rejuvenatory medicine from around globe. It is of particular importance to scientists, nutritionists, gerontologists, chiropractors, pharmacists, pharmaceutical chemists and research specialists, nursing practitioners, naturopathic doctors, dentists, bariatricians and weight management specialists.

Among the speakers are world-renowned experts who have driven the global debate on anti-ageing medicine including Dr Robert Goldman, Chairman, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and Dr Ronald Klatz, Founding President, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Professor Imre Zs-Nagy, Professor John Ionescu, Dr Michael Klentze. Our keynote speaker on Sunday is Dr Deepak Chopra, endocrinologist and author and a practitioner in the use of conventional and Eastern medicine, as well as mind and body health.

As well as the opportunity to hear from these world experts and put questions to our speaker panel, this event provides a unique networking opportunity for healthcare professionals. All delegates receive a high-quality bound conference manual including speaker presentations and biographical materials. The fee also includes a buffet lunch, on all three days, refreshments and an invitation to the conference cocktail reception. In addition the latest anti-ageing products from around the world will be on show in the exhibition hall.

This prestigious scientific event will be introduced by Heather Bird-Tchenguiz MBA, Chairperson, AACL; Founder and President of HB Health; Director of the World Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine; Board Member, European Society of Anti-Aging Medicine and Director, British Society of Anti-Ageing Medicine.

Heather Bird-Tchenguiz comments: “In most societies around the globe people are living longer so the importance of healthy ageing has never been greater. It is possible for older people to live full and healthy lives well into the latter part of their years but in most cases this does not happen because they and the medical professional are not always aware of the new opportunities that are available to them through anti-ageing medicine. That is what this conference is all about and why this knowledge is so vital.”

The speaker programme for Anti-Ageing London 2006 is as follows:

Friday, 15 September – Regenerative and Preventative Medicine
Heather Bird-Tchenguiz MBA – Welcome
Prof Larry Benowitz – Prospectives on stem cell differentiation in neuro surgery
Prof Geoffrey Raisman: Clinical application of olfactory cells in spinal cord injury
Prof David Naor PhD: Involvement of CD 44 in stem cell differentiation
Prof Stephen Minger – Stem Cells: Future Perspectives
Prof Stefan Krauss PhD: Forbrain development and neural stem cells
Dr Dasa Ciscova PhD: The efficacy of stem cell therapy in animal models of autoimmune diseases
Prof Tomas Ekstrom: Epigentics principles
Dr Tony Pellet: Umbilical Cord stem cells
Dr Miomir Knecevic – Commercialisation of stem cell research
Dr Ralf R Tonjes PhD: Stem Cell signatures as a tool for quality control of Innovative medicinal products
Andreas Junge MBA: Knowledge Management
Dr Octavi Quintana Trias: EU politics
Dr Marco Traub PhD: Symposium Overview

Saturday, 16 September
Heather Bird-Tchenguiz MBA – Welcome
Professor Dr Imre Zs-Nazy: The Theories of Ageing
Dr Ben Pfeifer MD Ph.D: Phytonutrient-Therapy and Immune System Support for Patients with Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer
Dr Mark A Babizayev PhD : Human Cataracts – the role of Lipid Peroxidation and the efficacy of N-acetylcarnosine as a treatment
Phil Micans PharmB: Biological Age Measurement – Practicalities and Issues
Dr Jennifer Krup MD ABAAM: HRT in Women : Questions. answers and more questions
Dr Brian Halvosen BDS LDS, RCS. FRSH: Holistic Dentistry with emphasis on Chelation and Preventative Health.
Dr Robert Goldman MD PhD FAASP DO FAOASM: (TBA)
Prof Dr Alfred Wolf: Chronic stress,burn-out and CFS, A new insight and preventive options
Sarah Noble Lic.Ac, MBAcC, MIMgt, MInstD: The Art & science of Spa Success – How to open a holistic Spa; Integrating spa services into your clinic for profitability
Patrick Holford BSc DipION FBant- Nutrition and Ageing

Sunday, 17 September
Dr Deepak Chopra
Dr Julian Kenyon MD :Photodynamic and Sonodynamic Therapy – An Important adjunct to Anti-Ageing Strategies
Dr John G Ionescu PhD: New Strategies to Slow Down the Photoaging of Human Skin
Dr Paul Clayton: Alzheimer’s Disease: Pharmaco-nutritional strategies to maintain the ageing brain
Dr Bill Cham PhD :Advances in the eradication of skin cancer
Dr Michael Klentze MD PhD ABAAM: New approaches for safe male hormone therapy.
Dr Eric Braverman, MD: Subclinical Hyperparathyroidism: A precursor of Osteoporosis and Dementia
Dr Ron Klatz MD: Closing remarks including ‘New horizons for the clinical specialty of Anti-Aging Medicine: The Future with Biomedical Technologies.

The programme may be subject to change

Full details of the speaker programme and speaker biographies can be viewed at www.antiageingconference.com
There are various categories of registration for this event:
Full registration £350;
Day 1 Only £200;
Day 2 only £200;
Day 3 £200.

Book on-line on the registration page at www.antiageingconference.com Membership of certain medical societies may qualify for a discount. Further information may also be requested from conference@antiageingconference.com
Telephone: +44 (0) 2075816962

The events sponsors and supporters include HB Health, the British Society of Anti-Ageing Medicine; the European Society of Anti-Aging Medicine; the World Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and The Trans European Stem Cell Therapy Consortium.

EastEnders star reveals how surgery restored his hair

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London: EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson who played Barry Evans, the hapless car dealer, had it written into his BBC contract that he had to remain bald and overweight – so whether he liked it or not, he couldn’t do anything to improve his looks without getting the sack.

Shaun, aged 40, has suffered from male pattern baldness for 19years. It is a genetic condition in which an overabundance of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a highly active form of the male hormone testosterone, causes gradual hair loss. It is the most common reason for baldness in men, with about 60% suffering from this form of hair loss.

At the moment there is no known cure for baldness, aside from medications that may slow down or prevent future hair loss or wearing a wig. However, a new and superior surgical technique known as Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT), in now being carried out in the UK. Shaun underwent this procedure recently and now has a head of healthy hair making him look at least ten years younger.

Shaun says: “When I thought there was nothing I could do about it, I kidded myself that going bald didn’t matter. But I can’t tell you how chuffed I feel now when I look in the mirror and see the Shaun I remember from 20 years ago.”

The technique, carried out by only a few specialist surgeons in the UK, has become so popular that there is currently a three month waiting list. In FUT, a microscopic surgical technique is used to transplant thousands of healthy follicles from the sides and back of the head and retransplanted to the balding area. This results in a higher density of hair follicles – about 90 per square centimentre – being transplanted. These hair roots are not affected by DHT and their density allows for a far more successful and natural outcome that the “rows of trees” in early transplant surgery such as that carried out on celebrities like Elton John.

The pain-staking operation in which the patient is given a local anaesthetic and a sedative may take between two and eight hours depending on the size of the area being treated.
It also requires not only great surgical expertise but artistry to place the hairs in a way to produce a natural growth pattern. From the day of the treatment it takes about two to four months for the new hair to start to grow and about six to eight months before substantial hair is seen and a year before the full result matures. Patients who want a denser look may want more than one treatment.

Shaun’s operation was carried out by Dr Bessam Farjo, formerly a general surgeon in the NHS, who studied the procedure in Canada. He does more than 300 similar operations each year at his Manchester clinic and also sees patients in London’s Harley Street. They include footballers, media people, City types, fund managers and even builders. The procedure costs between £2-3000.

He says: “Our patients are not necessarily wealthy people. They simply feel psychologically that they will be happier with a full head of hair and they make a choice, for example, between buying a new car or having this procedure.”

The majority of those wanting FTS are older and it is not recommended for younger people who may continue to suffer hair loss.

“Our oldest patient was 83 and there is no upper age limit. Most are men and about 10% are women. We do not recommend this procedure for younger people, say those aged 20 to 25 because they may suffer more hair loss and we advise medication to slow hair loss down,” says Dr Farjo.

The procedure is also used to disguise scarring and high hair lines from face-lifts, to recreate eyebrows and eyelashes, to establish moustaches and beards following gender reassignment and cover unsightly scars.

For those whose hair is starting to thin there are medications which may slow down the process and prevent future hair loss in both men and women. These are sold under various brand names and only available by prescription. These include Regaine which contains a drug called minoxidil and this is applied as a lotion twice daily to the scalp; Propecia or Proscar contains finasteride and is taken as a tablet and works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT and Avodart, also taken as a pill and similarly blocks DHT.

Whilst few women go bald, they may suffer hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy and at menopause which can cause hair loss. Stress, psoriasis, crash diets and eating disorders can damage hair dramatically as can some medicines such as the contraceptive pill. It is advisable to seek specialist advice from a qualified trichologist who can arrange various tests, including blood to determine the cause and recommend treatments, including hormone replacement therapy, nutrition and lifestyle changes.

According to the Institute of Trichologists iron deficiency is increasingly responsible for general hair loss in women.

“More and more cases of thinning hair in women are attributable to iron deficiency. This is more probably common among vegetarians and those with eating disorders. It is not always appreciated that iron deficiency can occur even when a patient is not clinically anaemic and has normal haemoglobin levels. As with thyroid problems, with which the symptoms of iron deficiency can be confused, a blood test is essential to correct diagnosis. Thinning of the hair should not be ignored, it can be an early manifestation of other conditions,” it says.

Like glowing skin and strong nails, healthy hair is largely the result of a nutritious diet. As well as iron, vitamin C is required for it to be absorbed into the body and an amino acid called lysine (also found in meat). Hair food includes fresh vegetables, salads and fruit, live yogurt, cold-pressed oils (olive, sunflower, sesame, flax), pulses (peas, beans, lentils), whole grains (brown rice, oats, buckwheat, millet), seeds (sunflower, pumpkin,, sesame and linseeds), almonds, figs and dates, fresh oily fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines)

Often damage results from over-treating or roughly treating the hair or pulling too tightly such through braiding, which is known as traction alopecia. Usually the hair recovers when the mistreatment stops. Colouring, perming, combing and harsh shampoos can damage the hair.

There are specialist supplements such as Nourkrin, which is made of shark cartilage which contains glucosamine which stimulates the growth of new tissue, the mineral silica and vitamin C. It costs almost £50 for a month’s supply and can be purchased at health food shops and pharmacies. Another hair food supplement is Vita Tress by Nexxus which treats fragile contains B vitamins and minerals to treat fragile and thinning hair which costs £18 for a month’s supply.

Contacts:
Farjo Medical Centre
Manchester and London
T: 0870 7555 495
Email: info@farjo.com www.farjo.com

Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic
54 Green Street
London W1K 6RU
England
T: 0207 629 4004
Email: Clinic@philipkingsley.co.uk

Institute of Trichologists at www.trichologists.org.uk has a full list of clinics and practitioners

Nourakin information and current special offer – 0845 3990022

Nexxus VitaTress Hair Food Supplement available from www.salonlines.co.uk or by phoning 0870 027 3353