Author Archives: Editor

EU vitamin ban – UK should opt out, says Elixir News

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Elixir News joins doctors and natural health experts who want the British public to have the right to choose which vitamins and minerals they may take.

The European Court of Justice recently decided to uphold the EU’s Food Supplements Directive which bans the sale of these supplements even though they are considered safe by the UK’s Food Safety Act.

Elixir News says: “More people have been harmed by the pharmaceutical industry than by supplements. So one wonders in whose interests this ban is?

“Elixir News supports those doctors and other medical professionals against this ban. The UK government already has an excemption as far as the EU’s Working Time Directive is concerned, so a precedent has already been set. What would be acceptable to British consumers is to be left to make decisions about their own health.”

Elixir News supports the continued lobby against the EU directive and urges consumers to write to their MP, MEP and the Government’s Health Minister in support.

A full list of the banned supplements can be viewed at www.food.gov.uk or at www.alliance-naturalhealth.org

Elysees Spa at La Samanna

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BP97064 St Maartin Cedex

A first class hotel built in Spanish hacienda style, with all rooms having a Caribbean view. The spa overlooks a private garden set in 55 acres of grounds on Bale Longue beach. There is a gym, Pilate’s studio, tennis courts and water sports. Speciality massage Food is a combination of Caribbean and classic French cuisine. Rooms cost about $400 a night. Reservations through Leading Hotels of the world on 0800 032 4254 or www.lasamanna.com

The Best Kept Secrets of the Women’s Institute

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One of the recipes from Best Kept Secrets of the Women’s Institute published by Simon & Schuster at £7.99.

Beetroot and Orange Salad

Serves Four
Preparation time 15 min
Per Serving: 57 cal, 1g fat

2 beetroots
2 oranges
1 tbsp white wine or wine vinegar
black pepper
1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

1. Put beetroot in a pan of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20-25 min till tender. Drain and leave to cool. Wearing rubber gloves, gently rub beetroots until skin peels off. Slice to 3mm thick.

2. Peel and segment the oranges, removing pips and as much pith as possible. Retain any juice.

3. Mix together orange juice and the wine or vinegar to make dressing. Season with pepper.

4. Arrange the beetroot slices and orange segments on a plate. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds.

Dietary supplements among first lines of defense in treating menopause symptoms

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Stamford, Conn: Eight internationally renowned women’s health experts, lead by Lila Nachtigall, MD, recommend over-the- counter dietary supplements among the first lines of defense in the treatment of the symptoms of menopause.

Isoflavones derived from the red clover plant, which are marketed under the brand name Promensil, were deemed as one of the dietary supplements acceptable due to its efficacy and safety in treating the symptoms of menopause as demonstrated in numerous clinical trials. These findings were presented by Nachtigall to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada at its Annual Clinical Meeting on June 19, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

“Due to a number of factors, many women have increasingly turned to alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms in recent years,” said Nachtigall, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University’s School of Medicine.

“Because of the proliferation of products, it is imperative that healthcare professionals and patients understand which ones are credible and substantiated by scientific research in terms of efficacy, safety and ancillary benefits and which ones aren’t. What’s more, there needs to be a well-defined method to using both alternative and traditional treatment methods wisely. We believe this algorithm is a conservative and effective clinical approach to achieving that.”

The algorithm prescribes a hierarchy of treatment options to be utilized over time based on whether the patient is mildly, moderately or severely symptomatic. Treatments include changes in lifestyle, including exercising, avoiding caffeine and quitting smoking among others; complementary alternative therapy using dietary supplements, particularly red clover, which is marketed under the brand name Promensil; HRT and non-HRT medicines; and regimens where several therapies are used in conjunction with one another.

The symptoms of menopause — hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and others — are caused by a decrease in the hormone estrogen. Women generally enter menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. This hormonal change can also contribute to loss of bone density, diminished cardiovascular health and other ailments.

In the last 10 years, more than 100 over-the-counter products for the treatment of menopause have hit the shelves, and use of these botanicals by midlife and older women has increased 380 percent, the largest of any other demographic, according to a study in the January issue of Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society.

“The algorithm is a good guide for clinicians even though most menopausal women don’t fit into tight categories,” said Susan Wysocki, RNC, NP, FAANP, a co-author of the algorithm and president of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health. “There are women who have menopausal symptoms who would rather skip the alternatives and use hormone therapy to be guaranteed relief. There are other women with more severe symptoms who would rather try alternatives first before they go to hormone therapy. The bottom- line is when they try an alternative treatment they should try one that has been clinically tested.”

The algorithm treatment method represents the first time scientists have come to a consensus suggesting dietary supplements as among the first lines of defense in the treatment of the symptoms of menopause.

For more information on the algorithm treatment method, visit www.promensil.com.

Novogen, Ltd., is the world leader in research and development of isoflavones for human health. Isoflavones derived from the red clover plant, marketed under the brand name Promensil, have been clinically proven safe and effective in treating the symptoms of menopause and improving cardiovascular and bone health.

Phenoxodiol, the Company’s leading anti-cancer compound, has received Fast Track designation for recurrent ovarian cancer as well as for hormone refractory prostate cancer from the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. The rights to commercialize this drug are licensed to the Company’s majority owned subsidiary, Marshall Edwards, Inc., (NASDAQ:MSHL) (LSE-AIM: MSHL). More information can be found at www.novogen.com and www.marshalledwardsinc.com

New hair-loss clinic for women opens

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New York: A new clinic offering state-of-the-art hair restoration techniques for women has opened in New York.

The clinic is fronted by Dr. Jeffrey S. Epstein MD, FACS, board- certified facial plastic surgeon and one of the foremost experts in the field of hair restoration. The Women’s Center for Hair Loss in New York City www.womenscenterforhairloss.com offers specialised hair care and treatments for women suffering from hair loss.

Epstein, is a recognized leader in the hair restoration field and founded the Foundation for Hair Restoration in 1994, which currently has offices in Miami, Boca Raton and Tampa, Florida. The New York City office marks the fourth addition to his growing practice.

The Women’s Center for Hair Loss, like its counterpart the Foundation for Hair Restoration, offers specialized care and expertise to patients suffering from hair loss. The Women’s Center for Hair Loss provides women with a destination where they can discuss their hair restoration options in a non- intimidating environment and under the direct care of Dr. Epstein. The center will also offer the latest information on the various types of hair loss that occur in women such as genetic, medical and temporary types of hair loss, and address the most widely recognized treatments. Using exclusively the all- microscopic technique of follicular unit grafting, in addition to treating pattern genetic hair loss, procedures in which Dr. Epstein specializes include: reparative procedures for patients who have had prior procedures with less-than-aesthetic results, body and facial hair transplants including particular expertise in eyebrow restoration, and the repair of scarring and hairline distortion from prior plastic surgery.

“With ten percent of the female population experiencing cosmetically bothersome hair loss, I felt it was best to showcase my expertise in treating these different types of hair loss through a specialized practice. The Center is the only office I know of specifically designed to meet the special surgical requirements of women seeking to treat hair loss,” says Dr. Jeffrey S. Epstein. “Opening the Women’s Center for Hair Loss was a natural extension of the care I have been providing for both men and women suffering from hair loss.”

Sifting and sorting through the thousands of web sites in cyberspace to find a respected physician who can answer questions on hair loss can be a tiresome and endless task. However, key in the words “hair loss” on any competitive search engine and you will eventually be directed to various sites endorsing the work of Dr. Epstein and the Foundation for Hair Restoration.

“I personally respond to every e-mail,” says Dr. Epstein. “I believe in trying to educate as many of those I can about hair loss and treatment options. There is so much inaccurate information disseminated out there, and I realize how appreciative individuals are when provided trustworthy advice by an expert. The great majority of my surgical patients travel to me to make sure they have their procedure performed properly, and online communication is the first step in the process. The decision to have a hair restoration procedure is a major decision, eclipsed only by the choice of a surgeon.”

For further information on Dr. Epstein’s practice, please contact Paula Conway at (203) 557-3301. The Women’s Center for Hair Loss can be reached directly at (212) 759-3484 or toll free at 800-370-2883.

About Dr. Epstein

Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD, FACS, is a diplomate of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is considered one of the foremost specialists in the field of hair restoration, and is one of fewer than 40 doctors worldwide to be accepted into the International Alliance of Hair Restoration Surgeons.

A graduate of Swarthmore College and the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Dr. Epstein then trained for five years in head and neck surgery and otolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat) at the University of Miami. He was then awarded a fellowship by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to train in surgical hair restoration and facial plastic surgery in the San Francisco area. For attaining the highest score in the nation on his board exams, Dr. Epstein was awarded the Jack Anderson Memorial Award by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Upon completion of his training, Epstein established the Foundation for Hair Restoration in Miami in 1994. Over the past 11 years, he has treated thousands of men and women for hair loss. His unique area of expertise amongst hair replacement physicians as a board-certified facial plastic surgeon provides him with an invaluable aesthetic background. This aesthetic approach is combined with the state of the art technique of microscopic follicular unit grafting.

Information can be found on the following web sites:

www.foundhair.com
www.womenscenterforhairloss.com
www.eyebrowtransplantation.co
www.bodyhairtransplants.com

French women don’t get fat?

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New York: A new book, championing the diet lifestyle of French women has become a best seller amongst New York’s social “X-rays”. French Women Don’t Get Fat which champions a gourmet eating regime is now set to go on sale around the world

“French Women Don’t Get Fat has become something of a phenomenon,” says Sonny Mehta, Chairman of Knopf, the book’s publisher. “Americans are tired of fad diets, counting calories, and living within restrictive guidelines about carbs and fat. They are turning to Mireille Guiliano, the author (pictured right). for her sensible and admittedly contrarian advice on eating well.”

In her book, Guiliano champions a new approach to food — one that embraces pleasure, not deprivation — in the quest for achieving and maintaining an ideal weight. “Nearly a million readers have already signed on to Mireille’s regimen,” Mehta observes, “and the popularity of her book has, in turn, created a shortage of yogurt makers, kitchen scales, dark chocolate and leeks.”

Guiliano’s book has already been the subject of Op-Ed pieces in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Los Angeles Times, among others. But perhaps the most telling proof that FRENCH WOMEN has entered the American vernacular is the fact the New Yorker Magazine has twice featured the book in its most indelible form of cultural commentary: its cartoons.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then FRENCH WOMEN DON’T GET FAT could hardly be more admired. New and soon-to-be-published books jumping on the “French” bandwagon include The French Diet: Secrets of Why French Women Don’t Get Fat; French Cats Don’t Get Fat; and even Japanese Women Don’t Get Old or Fat.

FRENCH WOMEN DON’T GET FAT went on sale December 28, 2004 with a first printing of 60,000 copies. After appearances by the author on NBC’s “Dateline” and “Today”, CBS’s “The Early Show” and features in USA Today, the book began appearing on bestseller lists in January and has been the lifestyle book par excellence ever since. In May, Guiliano appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show, prompting Knopf to return to the presses for a twentieth time, bringing the total number of copies in print to 1,024,200. On June 5, the book will re-appear on the New York Times Advice, How-To Hardcover bestseller list in the number-two spot.

So, you might ask, who IS this woman, and what makes her such an expert? Mireille Guiliano was born in France, came to America as an exchange student, returned home resembling (in her father’s words) “a sack of potatoes”, consulted her family physician, and eventually regained not only her slim figure but her self-respect, too. Oh. She also happens to be the President of Clicquot, Inc.

Clearly, Guiliano has become the goodwill ambassador for the French way of life. But how does someone who dines out about 300 times a year — and naturally consumes a fair amount of champagne — manage to stay so thin? Doubting Thomases can find out for themselves, starting June 1st, by logging onto www.askthefrenchwoman.com” And if you haven’t made plans for Bastille Day, you might want to visit your local bookseller in July, when stores will be taking part in a special champagne promotion in which one lucky reader will win an all-expense-paid trip for two to Paris to enjoy dinner with the author.

With America well on its way to discovering what the French have really always known — the secret of eating for pleasure — the rest of the world will soon be catching on, too: FRENCH WOMEN is due to be published in more than thirty foreign editions.

For more information www.askthefrenchwoman.com

Fears over safety of new “nano” anti-ageing cosmetics

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New York: Health watchdogs in the UK and US are calling for more research into the new “nano” anti-ageing creams.

The US’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK’s most prestigious scientific body, the Royal Society, want further research into the use of tiny “nano” particles in creams. Not enough is understood about their effects on the body, particularly whether they eventually slip into the blood stream.

Cosmetic manufacturers are using the nanotechnology to deliver the latest miracle anti-ageing nutrients deep into the skin where their effects are more effective in promoting skin renewal.

Cosmetic giant, L’Oréal recently launched Revitalift which the company says contains “nanosomes of Pro-Tetionol A” to give “an immediate lifting effect” with actress Andie MacDowell, fronting their global advertising and marketing campaign. And has launched new versions of Vichy Reti C and Biotherm Age Fitness Nuit, facial moisturisers. Other companies such as Estée Lauder and Johnson & Johnson are developing similar products.

But the effects of these particles in the body is not fully understood and both the FDA and Royal Society believe more research should be carried out.

The Royal Society said there were concerns that these particles may be carried further into the body and what the long-term effects of this were.

L’Oréal said that its nanotechnology research kept the company at the leading edge of developments so that it could bring the best products to its customers.

Cosmetic Dentistry

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What is cosmetic dentistry by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

There have been plenty of movie stars, models, even media personalities who have used cosmetic dentistry to help enhance their image.

But cosmetic dentistry is not just for “high profile” people, it’s for individuals like you and me, our families, our co-workers and neighbors. And, being more affordable than it was a decade ago, more people like you and me are having cosmetic dental work done.

Cosmetic dentistry is one of dentistry’s fastest growing areas. Eighty-four percent of dentists now offer cosmetic procedures as part of their practices and half of these report a steady increase in the amount of cosmetic procedures performed over the last three years, according to an American Dental Association survey.

Cosmetic dentistry can help people just like you:

An adult who has suffered through their teens too embarrassed to smile because of discolored teeth.
Seniors wanting a more youthful, healthier appearance.
A child who chipped teeth in a playground accident.
Survivors of domestic violence.
Victims of automobile or sporting accidents.
Cosmetic dentists can correct these problems and improve a person’s smile and overall appearance through a variety of techniques, including veneers, crowns, bridges and tooth whitening.

Veneers – can be used to correct crooked, chipped or worn teeth.

Crowns & Bridges – are an option for general bite dysfunction and missing teeth.

Tooth Whitening – is an effective means of whitening stained, discolored or dull teeth.

While, at first glance these may seem to offer primarily esthetic benefits, cosmetic dentistry can also help provide many emotional and health benefits.

An improved smile can boost a person’s self image, making them more confident in their daily lives. Higher self-esteem, for example, could help motivate a person to pursue a new career, a career they had previously ruled out because of a lack of self-confidence.

An AACD survey revealed that 74% of adult Americans who responded believe an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success, while 92% say an attractive smile is an important social asset.

Experts say oral health also benefits when a person has their smile improved. “People are more concerned about maintaining their teeth after cosmetic dentistry because they are proud of the way they look. Once they have seen the benefits of a healthy, natural smile, oral health becomes a priority,” says AACD Accredited Member Dr. Dean Lodding. For information about cosmetic dentistry, please contact the AACD at:

American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry®
5401 World Dairy Drive
Madison, WI 53718
Phone: (800) 543-9220

Professional bodies

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These professional bodies have dentists and cosmetic surgeons as members and can assist with references:

www.aacd.com
American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

www.ada.org
American Dental Association


European Academy of Aesthetic Dentistry

New ephedra diet warning

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San Francisco: The banned diet supplement ephedra is still being bought by consumers. And experts warn that it can cause dangerous changes to the heart.

According to an article in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics these changes, including increased heart rate, could be harmful in people with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), or glucose intolerance, both of which are stronglylinked to obesity.

Even though the US Food and Drug Administration banned ephedra as a dietary supplement for weight loss, it is still obtainable as a traditional Chinese medicine, ma huang. Synthetic ephedrine is also available in convenience stores and over the Internet, along with guarana, a herb containing caffeine.

Dr. Christine A. Haller and her colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco tested the effects of Xenadrine RFA (a multi-component supplement containing 25.4 mg ephedra alkaloids and 185 mg caffeine) and ephedra extract (23.2 mg total ephedra alkaloids) plus guarana (167 mg caffeine), compared with placebo, in 16 healthy adults.

They report that repeated dosing of ephedra and guarana produced elevated ephedrine blood concentrations, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and had unfavorable effects on glucose and potassium homeostasis.

These effects could exacerbate obesity-related conditions such as insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, the authors note.

This study, they conclude, provides further evidence that dietary supplements containing ephedra and guarana or like-compounds could have unfavorable cardiovascular effects, especially in susceptible individuals such as those with high blood pressure, glucose intolerance or hardening of the arteries.

Heart failure patients report dramatic improvement in stem cell trials

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New York: Patients with advanced heart failure significantly improved after receiving stem cell therapy, according to results of a small clinical trial.

The study showed, 30 days after receiving the stem cells by injection into their hearts, patients improved an average of 41 percent in their hearts’ pumping efficiency and the distance they could walk nonstop increased by 72 percent in a standard test widely used to assess heart patients. After 90 days, the heart-pumping improvements were sustained and patients further improved the distance they could walk in the standard test, by an additional 16 percent compared to 30 days and doubled compared to baseline.

The study is the first to use human fetal-derived stem cell therapy in patients with heart failure. The surgical procedure was performed by Drs. Federico Benetti, Luis Geffner, Yuliy Baltaytis and Teodoro Maldonado at Luis Vernaza Hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Advanced heart failure is an incurable and usually fatal condition; other than heart transplantation, current medical treatments cannot reverse the course of the disease, and only slow its progression or help control its symptoms.

“This is the first-ever study to use human fetal-derived stem cell therapy in patients with heart failure and, though from a small group of patients, the results are very compelling and demand additional research,” said Valavanur Subramanian, MD, Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City and the study’s senior investigator. “It was especially gratifying to see these patients, many of whom couldn’t walk more than a short distance without losing their breath, improve their ability to perform physical activities that are a part of everyday living,” he said.

Study and Findings

In the study, 10 patients with advanced-stage heart failure underwent open chest surgery during which human fetal-derived stem cells were injected into their hearts. Before and 30 and 90 days after the procedure, patients were assessed for the severity of their heart failure (stage 1-4), based on standard New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria; their hearts’ “ejection fraction,” the portion of blood pumped out of a filled ventricle as a result of a heartbeat and a measure of heart pumping efficiency, measured by echocardiography; their performance on the standard “six-minute walk test,” a widely used clinical measure of functional capacity and endurance which predicts mortality in patients with heart failure; and their performance on a standard treadmill exercise tolerance test.

One patient had to drop out of the study as she had a stroke 3 days after the surgery and was unable to perform the 30-day follow-up tests, and another non-compliant patient who failed follow-up was excluded from analysis.

The study showed the eight analyzed study patients demonstrated significant improvements at 30 and 90 days vs. baseline measures:

An increase of 72.5 percent at 30 days and an additional 16.8 percent at 90 days in the distance completed while performing the six-minute walk test (275.0m to 553.8m)
Treadmill exercise tolerance test increase from 2.5 METs at baseline to 5.6 METs at 90 days (no 30-day follow-up was performed)
42.9 percent improvement in NYHA class (32.1 percent at 30 days and further 15.8 percent at 90 days, from 3.5 to 2.0)
41 percent increase in ejection fraction (26.6 percent to 37.5 percent at 30 days and sustained at 90 days)

“These results suggest a potential for changing the trajectory of heart failure,” said Barnett Suskind, CEO of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which provided the unrestricted grant for the study. “We are committed to supporting and performing stem cell research to move to therapeutic applications. We will follow these patients to obtain additional, longer-term data, as well as perform variations of the procedure in new patients as part of an extension of this study. In addition, we are currently evaluating stem cell therapy in a variety of other disease conditions, and we will begin additional studies in diabetes, neurological disorders, spinal cord injuries and other conditions over the next year.”

This was the first reported study involving human fetal-derived stem cells in heart failure patients. Researchers have reported on the use of adult stem cells from the patients themselves (autologous) to treat heart failure. Fetal- derived stem cells also have been used to treat other conditions, including blood and immune system disorders, spinal cord injuries, stroke and other neurological and eye disorders, and diabetes. Fetal-derived stem cells are thought to be able to develop into a wider range of specialized cells than are adult stem cells.

The stem cells used in the study were provided by the Institute for Regenerative Medicine and prepared from fetal tissues from legally consenting, non-compensated donors outside the U.S. who underwent terminated ectopic pregnancies, elective abortions or spontaneous miscarriages. Prior to use, the cells were screened for viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens, similar to but more rigorous than screening tests used for human blood and organs. Each patient received 60-80 million cells.

Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Anti-aging doctors launch campaign against DHEA youth hormone ban

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Chicago: Anti-ageing doctors are calling on the public to join a campaign to prevent a prosposed banning of the key longevity hormone DHEA, being sold over the counter in the US. The hormone is produced naturally by the adrenal glands but declines with age. It is considered critical in anti-aging and preventative medicine programmes.

On May 26, 2005, Senators John McCain (R-Arizona), George Allen (R-Virginia), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced a new Senate bill, S. 1137, which seeks to add DHEA to the list of federally controlled anabolic steroids.

The Chicago-based American Acamdemy of Anti-Aging Medicine calls on the public to oppose any proposed ban of DHEA sales to the public by reclassifying it as a federally controlled anabolic steroid. A petition has been posted on www.saveoursupplements.org. The AAAM also advises the public to email their own Senators to protest.

In an open letter the AAAM says:

“DHEA – or dehydroepiandrosterone – is secreted by the adrenal glands and is the most abundant natural steroid-like compound in the human body. It is involved in the manufacture of testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and corticosterone. DHEA declines with age, so by age 65, our bodies make only 10 to 20% of what they did at age 20. DHEA has been an enormously popular anti-aging supplement for middle-aged and elderly Americans. Many anti-aging specialists believe that replacing DHEA in later life will have multiple beneficial effects. Anti-aging physicians recommend DHEA to patients because it can enhance immune resistance against infection, reduce the risk of age-related diseases, including cancer, coronary artery disease, and osteoporosis, improve blood sugar control and help prevent type II diabetes, facilitate weight loss and help convert fat to lean muscle, control Alzheimer’s disease, lupus, AIDS, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and chronic fatigue syndrome, treat! herpes, menopause, depression, memory, and erectile dysfunction, and increase life expectancy.

The suggestion that DHEA can cause adverse side effects such as liver damage, stroke, heart disease, cancer, etc. in humans has, to-date, failed to be proven by scientific study. Indeed, its daily use by millions of people for general health benefits argue strongly to the contrary. The careful use of DHEA in a controlled setting, monitored by a physician, is both and safe and efficacious. To strip Americans of their access to DHEA without demonstrated public health risks is unwarranted.

Senate Bill 1137 seeks to ban the over-the-counter availability of DHEA, effectively criminalizing those who rely on this supplement for its life enhancement benefits. DHEA will move from a current safe supplement to the list of controlled substances classifying it as an anabolic steroid if opposition is not mounted against this new bill.

Please take action today to oppose S.1137 or DHEA will no longer be obtainable. To write your elected officials and tell them that you support the continued freedom of availability of DHEA supplements, go to www.saveoursupplements.org. Just put your ZIP code into the designated box in the top left corner and click to send an e-mail to your Senators and Representative letting them know you oppose any legislation that would make DHEA illegal.

Freedoms must be fought for and protected, if we are to preserve our right of an individual’s right to choose – including continued access to options in healthcare. Your health depends on your taking action today!

Thank you for your prompt action.”

Sincerely,

Medical Education Committee
World Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine
Michael Klentze, MD, PhD
Vittorio Calabrese, MD, PhD
Giovanni Scapagnini MD, PhD
Dato Harnam MD, PhD

Exercise strengthens hips says new research

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New York: Exercise that targets a weak region of the hipbone may help prevent fractures, but simple walking will not, new research indicates.

As people age, the outer “cortical” layer of bone in the hipbone or upper femur thins, making the hip more prone to fracture, says a report in The Lancet medical journal.

The findings are based on a CT scan analysis of 77 femurs from people between 20 and 95 years of age after their death from non-bone related causes.

Substantially thinning of the cortical layer in the neck of bone that connects the hip “ball” to the rest of the thighbone was observed with aging, Dr. Jonathan Reeve, from Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, UK, and colleagues found.

After 60 years of age, bone thickness in this zone fell by 6.4 percent per decade, the report indicates.

Regardless of whether the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis was present or not, thinning in the cortical layer impaired the femur’s ability to absorb energy, making it more likely to break, the researchers note.

“Because walking does not sufficiently (condition the upper femur), the fragile zones in healthy bones may need strengthening, for example with more well targeted exercise,” the authors conclude.

They point out that while walking does not put a significant load the fragile area, other exercises that basically flex the hip joint do “involve extension of the upper femur under load.” These include cycling, sculling, gymnastics and weights.

In a related editorial, Dr. Charles H. Turner, from Indiana University in Indianapolis, notes that the present report provides “a compelling argument for more diligent assessment of the regional patterns of bone loss in the (upper femur) and point to the need for targeted interventions that strengthen bone” in this area.

American Heart Association launched first diet guide

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New York: The American Heart Association has launched its first diet book with a three-pronged approach to weight-loss.

Entitled “No-Fad Diet: A Personal Plan for Healthy Weight Loss” it recommends eating more fruits, vegetbles, whole grains and lean proteins and becoming more physically active.

Nearly two thirds of adults are overweight in many developed countries, putting them at risk from a number of life-threatening illnesses and diseases inlcuding diabetes, cancers and heart disease.

Dr Robert Eckel, president-elect of the American Heart Association and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine says: “This book is a commonsense approach that can be applied to everyday life. “

The book is the result of an analysis of research into diet, exercise and behaviour and bears in mind that no single diet works for everyone.

For more information visit the American Heart Association

New implant for cataract suffers

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London: A new eye implant, a hinged lens which allows the eye to focus naturally, has been developed by scientists for use in cataract surgery.

Cataracts, more common in the elderly, causes a clouding of the eye’s lens, leading to blurred images and eventually loss of sight.

In the past surgeons replaced the eye lens with an artificial one fixed for distance vision, whch meant that glasses were still needed for reading and other close work.

The new implant allows the eye muscle to move forwards and backwards, enabling it to focus close and on distance. Basically it gives older people the vision they had 25 years previously. The procedure takes 20 minutes to perform under local anaesthetic and is only available privately at a cost of around $5,000.

In the US, the FDA carried out trials of the Crystal Lens implant with an 80% success rate. In the trials, carried out on 497 eyes, there were no major complications from the operation. A slight drawback experienced by some patients is some glare at night while driving, but this tends to settle down.

New DIY test for bad cholesterol

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London: A new ten-minute blood test that can be done at home can determine whether a person has good or bad cholesterol in their body.

The new do-it-yourself test is different from others already available on the UK market in that it tests both kinds of choleserol – healthy and unhealthy. High levels of unhealthy cholesterol are often associated or a precursor to heart disease.

Bad cholesterol(Low Density Lipoprotein) clings to arteryy walls, narrowing the gap for blood supplies. Once the artery gets completely blocked, a heart attack occurs.

Good cholesterol(High Density Lipoprotein) absorbs bad cholesterol and takes it to the liver where it is broken down.

Recently scientists have discovered that the right combination of LDL and HDL is important. Earlier this year, U.S. researchers found that when they gave patients medicine to boost levels of HDL – the good cholesterol – it reversed damage to arteries and halved the risks of a heart attack.

The HomeChec test, which costs £19.99, involves two checks. The first measures total fat levels, the second just the HDL. From this, it’s easy to work out what the LDL is.

A tiny pinprick is made in a fingertip and a drop of blood applied to a strip of material on a six-inch piece of plastic. A chemical reaction makes it change to purple. The higher up the scale it changes colour, the higher the cholesterol.

Professor Philip Poole-Wilson, from the National Heart and Lung Institute in London, said: ‘Most people are unaware they can have good cholesterol as well as bad.

‘In simple terms, HDL takes cholesterol away from the arteries and LDL delivers to them. So, for example, if your total cholesterol is

5.5mmol per litre — which is above the recommended level — but your HDL is 2mmol per litre, there’s nothing to really worry about.

‘It’s important to remember that LDL will always be the bigger number and that HDL usually measures between 0.8 and 2mmols. But even small changes in HDL levels can make a big difference.’

ï HomeChec: tel. 0871 871 0691 or go to www.homechec.co.uk

Good friends help you live longer

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Adelaide: A 10-year study of nearly 1,500 people aged over 70 has discovered that those with a network of good friends live longer than those who don’t.

The findings are based on data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ALSA), which began in 1992 in Adelaide, South Australia. ALSA addresses the impact of economic, social, behavioral and environmental factors on the health of people 70 and up. Participants in the study and provided information on their direct and phone contact with social networks including children, relatives

“Survival time may be enhanced by strong social networks,” said Lynne Giles, one of the researchers.Among older Australians, these may be important in lengthening survival.”

Contact with children and other family members had little impact on the 10-year survival, the report found. A network of good friends was, in statistical terms, equivalent to a 22 per cent reduction in the risk of dying during this period when compared to those who had close ties with their children or relatives.

The positive effect of having the support of friends was evident even if the person had been through major changes such as the death of a spouse or close family members, and the relocation of friends to other parts of the country.

Ms Giles and her colleagues assessed how economic, social, behavioural and environmental factors affected the health of elderly people.

The researchers monitored the participants annually for the first four years of the study and then at three-year intervals. They also considered the impact of other factors such as health, lifestyle and socioeconomic status.

“We have shown that greater social networks with friends and confidants had significant protective effects against mortality over a 10-year follow-up period,” said Ms Giles.

The scientists suspect friends help to increase longevity by influencing behaviour such as smoking and drinking and providing friendship during difficult times.

Estee Laudee in class action over anti-wrinkle claims

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Miami: Cosmetics giant, Estee Lauder is being sued by a retired US woman who is accusing the company of making false “anti-aging” and “youth-inducing” claims about its skin care products.

Estee Lauder ‘s skin-care products promise to control the visible signs of aging, but Diane Hutto claims the costly creams and lotions didn’t deliver.

“These things really don’t live up to what they claim,” said Hutto, 62, a former flight attendant. “I’ve never been looking for a fountain of youth. I just want to hold back the ravages of time as much as possible,” says Diane Hutto who wants the U.S. District Court in Miami to certify her lawsuit as a class action, allowing other consumers to join her in the suit.

Howard M Rubinstein, her lawyer said that although the damage per plaintiff likely is less than $300 based on the products’ purchase price, the total claim in a class action could exceed $5m. The case so far has 30 plaintiffs.

New York-based Estee Lauder spokeswoman Janet Bartucci who said she was unable to discuss the action added: “We stand behind the products 100 percent.”

The exact products are not named in the action but Hutto says she has used Future Perfect Anti-Wrinkle Radiance Lotion and DayWear Plus to “tighten the skin” around her neck and Unline Total Eyecare to prevent wrinkles around her eyes.

“I don’t think they do anything,” Hutto said. She paid $65 and $45 each for 1.7-ounce jars of Future Perfect and DayWear Plus.

The case has attracted the attention of the US regulators, Food and Drug Aministration, who believe that these creams fall under drug regulation because of their claims. The FDA recently warned the makers of Strivection-SD, Basic Research LLC, that the claims it was making for this anti-wrinkle cream put into the category or a drug.

Scientists a step closer to producing human eggs and sperm from stem cells

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Copenhagen: Scientists at a British university have created cells that could eventually become human sperm and eggs. The results of research at the University of Sheffield’s Centre for Stem Cell Biology has been revealed to a meeting of fertility experts in Copenhagen.

The findings of the study, led by Professor Henry Moore, presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s annual conference in Copenhagen could help infertile couples to have their own children.

The researchers used stem cells – the body’s master cells that have the potential to turn into any tissue – from human embryos donated by couples undergoing IVF treatments. Though this use does have ethical problems over the use of human embryos.

Althought the researchers did not produce egg or sperm the cells displayed some of the characteristics in their development.

Stem cells can also be harvested from adult adult bone marrow which means it could be possible for infertile women and men to eventually ‘grow’ their own eggs and sperm.

Professor Moore said more research was needed to find out if the technique was viable.

Stem cells could delay menopause

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New York: Researchers from the University of Tennessee have developed early stage human eggs have been developed from stem cells for the first time that could that it could lead to the natural menopause being delayed by up to 12 years.

The team led by Antonin Bukovsky took ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) cells from the outside of the ovaries of five women aged 39 to 52 and grew them in a lab for five to six days. Some were exposed to a growth-stimulating oestrogen medium called phenol red.

Cells cultured without phenol red differentiated into immature small cells of various different types while the exposed ones completed the first stage of the division needed to become mature human eggs, capable of being fertilised and developing into an embryo.

They went on to become mature human eggs capable of being fertilised and developing into an embryo. The team say the OSE cells can be easily harvested from the surface of the ovaries, using a laparoscope, a flexible telescope-like instrument.

They said the discovery could help those women with poor fertility or who are set to go through an early menopause, who lack follicles in their ovaries, to have a better chance of conceiving through IVF.

“Development of numerous mature oocytes (eggs) from adult ovarian stem cells in vitro (in the laboratory) offers new strategies for the egg preservation, IVF utilisation, and treatment of female infertility,” Bukovsky added.

50 is the new 40, says new medical research

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Vienna: People are not only living longer, but feeling younger, according to new research from the Vienna Institute of Dermography.

As a result of improved nutrition and healthcare people are living longer – average life epectancy has almost doubled in the last century. People also feel younger than their chronological age taking on new challenges when they retire and even starting new careers.

But researchers at the Vienna Institute say that a better way to define age would be our “propective” age – how many years longer we have to live rather than how many we have already lived.

According to Dr Segei Scherbov who carried out the research, looking at how much longer people had to live would solve many of the problems of the ageing society. They said it would help defuse the pensions timebomb if it led to a higher retirement age.

Former Dynasty star fronts marketing campaign for skin rejuvenation.

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New York: Emma Samms, the former Dynasty actress, is the glamorous face of Isolagen, a unique skin rejvenation system, that harnesses a person’s own cells and grows them to rejuvenate wrinkles.

This is the Isolagen process in detail:

Isolagen’s patented autologous (a patient’s own cells) living cell therapy, or ACS, begins with the injection of a local anesthetic to numb a small section of skin behind the ear. This area was chosen because of its vascularity, lack of sun exposure, and the invisibility of any scarring.

A simple punch biopsy is used to obtain a small 3 mm piece of skin tissue, which is packed in an appropriate container and shipped overnight to the Isolagen laboratories. The minimal incision is closed with an adhesive or single absorbable suture.

At Isolagen, the tissue is cultured utilizing Isolagen’s patented ACS process. This process separates collagen-producing cells, called fibroblasts, from the rest of the tissue then stimulates them to multiply into tens of millions of new cells.

After approximately six weeks, 1 to 1.5 ml of cultured fibroblasts are sent back to the doctor for injection into the patient’s wrinkles, lines, and scars.

Generally three sets of injections will be performed, about two weeks apart, with tens of millions of collagen-producing cells being injected during each visit.

Within the patient’s skin, it is believed that the injected fibroblasts will continue to multiply and create new collagen that may fill dermal imperfections and wrinkles, and may reduce the signs of aging.

Cryogenic storage of cultured cells may also permit patients to receive future treatments with cells that were harvested when the patient was younger. It is unknown at this time whether this would represent a benefit to patients.

Benefits of facial rejuvenation

Since the Isolagen Process is an autologous system (exclusively using a patient’s own cells), it is anticipated that there may be a substantially reduced possibility of allergic reaction as compared to bovine collagen and other non-natural fillers.

Isolagen hopes to demonstrate that the use of autologous cells will result in prolonged beneficial effects, as the immune system should not reabsorb or reject them as it might with foreign materials and proteins. Patients may experience gradual and continued improvement as a result of the natural activity of the re-introduced cell structure.

Considering that the standard until recently has been bovine collagen, the three potential benefits below may represent substantial advances in facial rejuvenation.

1. Bovine collagen, a foreign protein derived from cows, is generally fully reabsorbed by a patient’s body within a few months after application, leaving the patient with no visible signs of correction.

2. As additional treatments with bovine collagen are performed, there is a gradual build-up of the body’s antibodies and the development of enzymes that compromise the treatment’s effectiveness.

3. Combined with the expense and the continued intrusiveness of ongoing treatments, the value and benefit of bovine collagen injections is ultimately diminished.

Top clinic warns on anti-ageing therapies

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New York: The advertisement sounds too good to be true: All you have to do is take a pill, and you’ll suddenly find yourself muscle-bound and full of youthful energy. What those ads don’t tell you is you’ll also empty out your wallet and possibly harm your body using an unproven therapy, warns the Mayo Clinic.

The ageing process isn’t fully understood and scientists have yet to find a “magic bullet” that can reverse the effects of aging. To help you sort out the science from the hype, find out what evidence — if any — there is backing these anti-ageing therapies.

Antioxidants

As you process food for energy, your body produces substances called free radicals. Free radicals are believed to contribute to aging and certain diseases.

To neutralize free radicals, your body uses antioxidants — certain vitamins, minerals and enzymes — that come from the food you eat. Proponents believe that antioxidants can prevent chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Some antioxidants you may have heard of include:

Vitamin A
Vitamin B-6
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Beta carotene
Folic acid
Selenium

The best way to give your body the antioxidants it needs is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. If you can’t obtain all the nutrients you need from food, your doctor may recommend using supplements to make up for any deficiencies. Also, if you have certain medical conditions, such as macular degeneration, your doctor may recommend that you supplement your diet with antioxidants.

There’s no proof that antioxidants in pill form can improve your general health or extend your life. In fact, they can have the opposite effect. For instance, smokers who take beta carotene supplements might actually increase their risk of lung cancer. If you’re interested in increasing the amount of antioxidants in your diet, talk to your doctor before you start taking supplements. And remember, there’s nothing harmful about adding a few servings of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Hormones

Hormones are chemicals your body makes to help keep your vital organs working properly. Some hormone levels decline naturally as you age, leading some people to believe this decline is responsible for the aging process. Their theory: Restore those hormone levels and reverse aging. But it might not be that simple. Some hormone supplements you might have heard of include:

DHEA. Your body converts DHEA into the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. Proponents say it also slows aging, increases muscle and bone strength, burns fat, improves cognition, bolsters immunity and protects against chronic diseases.

Testosterone. Declining levels of this male sex hormone have been linked with common complaints of aging, such as decreased energy and sex drive, muscle weakness and osteoporosis. Women’s bodies also make testosterone, though in much smaller quantities than men’s do.

Melatonin. This hormone is produced in your brain. It helps regulate sleep and holds promise as a remedy for insomnia and jet lag. Proponents claim it can slow or reverse aging, fight cancer and enhance sexuality.

Human growth hormone (HGH). This hormone, responsible for growth spurts in children, tapers off after adolescence. Proponents say injections of prescription-only HGH can burn fat, build muscle and renew energy.

None of these hormone supplements has convincing medical evidence to back up the claims made by anti-aging enthusiasts. And they each carry risks. For instance, even short-term use of DHEA or testosterone may cause liver damage.

One type of hormone treatment that has been the subject of extensive research is menopausal hormone therapy. Many women take supplemental estrogen to relieve symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. But hormone therapy also carries significant risks, including an increased risk of blood clots, heart disease, heart attack and breast cancer.

Supplements

Many people are drawn to supplements because they’re usually advertised as “natural” remedies. You might interpret the term “natural” to mean harmless, but that’s not necessarily true. People looking to defy nature sometimes turn to supplements such as coral calcium, ginseng and echinacea as anti-aging therapies. There isn’t any evidence to support the claims for these supplements.

Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement. Ingredients in supplements can cause harmful interactions with your medications and serious side effects. Because the US Food and Drug Administration doesn’t oversee supplements, you can’t be sure of product purity or the amount of active ingredient in any given supplement —even from one package to the next of the same product.

Calorie-restricted diets

Calorie restriction refers to the theory that restricting the number of calories you consume can lead to a longer life. Calorie-restricted diets have about 30 percent fewer calories, but they’re rich in fruits and vegetables so that dieters still get the nutrients they need. The theory is based on studies in animals, including rats, mice, fish, flies and worms. These studies found that the life span of each species could be extended by reducing the number of calories consumed.

But it isn’t clear if the calorie restriction theory applies to humans. Clinical trials are investigating whether eating fewer calories can lead to a longer life for people. Some studies following underweight people — not those specifically on a calorie-restricted diet — show that they have a higher risk of certain diseases and death.

Reducing the number of calories you eat may be a good way to lose weight, but restricting your diet to the point that you aren’t getting enough nutrients is dangerous. Calorie restriction can lead to malnutrition and severe weight loss.

What you can do to live a long and healthy life

Ageing is an intricate, complex process that involves many areas of your body. It’s unlikely that a product, pill or potion could cure all of the ills age can bring. Your best bet for a long and healthy life is to keep yourself healthy and prevent chronic diseases by:

Eating a varied diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables
Maintaining a healthy weight
Exercising every day
Seeking prompt medical care when you’re ill or injured
Using sunscreen
Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke
Getting screened for diseases such as cancer and heart disease
Maintaining close ties to your friends and family

Work closely with your doctor to make sure you’re doing all you can to stay healthy. And if you have any questions about products that claim to slow or reverse aging, ask your doctor for the lowdown. He or she can help you sort through the hype and get the facts.

Young “binge drinkers” will die before parents warning

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London: Young “binge “drinkers” in the UK are likely to die before their parents, a top health official has warned.

National Health Service consultant, Dr Hugh Kennedy said that figures showed a 44 per cent increase for alcohol-related admissions at the Norfolk hospital where he works. And one in ten of the patients was under 18 – the legal age to drink alcohol in the UK.

Dr Hugh Kennedy said the people he was seeing were in their 20s and 30s and had already severaly damaged their bodies through alcohol abuse. He said the cheap alcohol promotions in City centre bars were encouraging the abuse.

These young people are already suffering serious physicial symptoms such as cirrhosis of the liver, heart trouble, strokes, fits, jaundice, internal bleeding and brain damage,he said.

Dr Kennedy’s Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital revealed that its A&E department treated 1,422 patients for alcohol-related injuries and illnesses in the first four months of this year – up from 989 period last year.

The UK’s Institute of Alcohol Studies. said the drinking pattern of these youngers meant they were likely to die before their parents.

Liver specialist Dr Christopher Record backed the findings saying that he was now seeing people with serious liver disease in their late 20s and 30s whereas the average aged used to be 50.

Dr Record, a consultant and Newcastle University lecturer. said: ‘The situation is very serious and it is only going to get worse. People don’t know they are damaging their liver until it is too late.

The warnings come only weeks before new laws allowing 24-hour drinking come into force.

Curvy women live longer

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Copenhagen: Curvacious women are far more healthy than their skinny counterparts, researchers in Denmark discover.

Scientists at the Institute of Preventative Medicine in Copenhagen found that women with a “toned” hour-glass figure are better at warding off the diseases of ageing than those who are very thin.

Lead researcher Professor Berit Heitmann said fat and muscle on curvier women contains a chemical, adiponectin, an anti-inflammatory, which fights heart disease and stops arteries from clogging up with fat.

The Professor stressed that it was fat on the hips rather than fat on the stomach which was beneficial.

The study looked at 50,000 men and woman.