Is Vitamin E good or bad for your health?

A form of vitamin E found in vegetable oils like corn and canola may worsen lung function, while another form typically found in olive oil may protect it, a new study suggests. The findings may help explain why studies of the health effects of the vitamin have had conflicting results.

Vitamin E comes in various forms called tocopherols, commonly found in fats and oils. Supplements of the vitamin may contain a single type of tocopherol, or a mix.

The new research, published in Respiratory Research, found that a form of the vitamin called gamma tocopherol, the kind in corn, canola and soybean oils, was linked to poor lung function in adults. But another form of the vitamin typically found in olive and sunflower oils, called alpha tocopherol,
seemed to have a beneficial effect on lungs.

“It’s mind-blowing that there’s this disparity,” said Dr Clifford W Bassett, an allergist and assistant clinical professor of medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. “What’s interesting is that most people taking vitamin E never stop to ask where it’s from.”
 
Dr Bassett said the findings suggest that consumers who use the vitamin and doctors who recommend it might need to be “more acutely aware” of its source and formulation. That information is sometimes listed on the labels of supplements, but not always.

Vitamin E, considered a powerful antioxidant, is thought to play a role in cardiovascular and neurological health. There is also some evidence that it may help protect against asthma and other respiratory problems. But studies have also suggested that taking vitamin E has no effect on lung health, or even a potentially harmful one.

In research over the years at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Joan Cook-Mills, an associate professor, has found that in addition being an antioxidant, vitamin E appears to play a role in inflammation. The vitamin influences a protein that allows white blood cells to exit the bloodstream and enter tissues, including cells in the lung, a critical step in the inflammatory response.
But different forms of the vitamin do not have the same effect. Gamma tocopherol increases the activity of the protein, and alpha tocopherol lowers it.

As a result, the two forms of vitamin E can have a drastically different impact on inflammation, Dr Cook-Mills said. For example, gamma tocopherol can set off “hyper responsiveness” in the airways, a common feature of asthma, Dr Cook-Mills said.

In the new research, Dr Cook-Mills and her colleagues at Northwestern analysed data from a nationwide study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, known as Cardia. The study has been tracking adults since 1985 as a way of discovering how genetics and habits affect aspects of their health.
The research, involving 4,526 adults, assessed whether the levels of alpha and gamma tocopherol measured in their bloodstreams were linked to lung health. Ultimately, people with the highest levels of gamma tocopherol had a 10 per cent to 17 per cent reduction in lung function.

Dr Cook-Mills and her colleagues found a higher incidence of asthma associated with higher blood levels of gamma tocopherol. But higher levels of alpha tocopherol — particularly in people with low levels of gamma tocopherol — were tied to better lung function.

Dr Cook-Mills said the findings raised concern because gamma tocopherol is increasingly common in American food products. She pointed out that asthma rates in the United States have risen steadily in the past four decades, which corresponds with the rising use of canola, soybean and other vegetable oils rich in gamma tocopherol.

But she also cautioned that the research is observational. More rigorous studies are needed to see whether giving subjects alpha tocopherol in supplements or food can directly improve lung function, or if gamma tocopherol would have the opposite effect.

Dr Bassett at New York University said there were other unanswered questions about the study, including the extent to which habits and diet may have played a role in the results. But the implications are important, he said. “It may explain why some of the studies on vitamin E have found it counterproductive,” he said.

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Green tea could reduce pancreatic cancer risk

Scientists say they are one step closer to proving green tea's cancer-busting potential.

A study recently published online by the journal, Metabolomics, offers an explanation that researchers say could open a new area of cancer-fighting research. The study reports that EGCG, the active biologic constituent in green tea, changed the metabolism of pancreatic cancer cells by suppressing the expression of an enzyme associated with cancer.

The researchers also found that an enzyme inhibitor disrupted the pancreatic cancer cells' metabolic system.

"Scientists had believed they needed a molecular mechanism to treat cancer, but this study shows that they can change the metabolic system and have an impact on cancer," Dr. Wai-Nang Lee, one of the study's authors, said. "By explaining how green tea's active component could prevent cancer, this study will open the door to a whole new area of cancer research and help us understand how other foods can prevent cancer or slow the growth of cancerous cells.

"This is an entirely new way of looking at metabolism," Lee added. "It is no longer a case of glucose goes in and energy comes out. Now we understand how cancer cell metabolism can be disrupted, and we can examine how we can use this knowledge to try to alter the course of cancer or prevent cancer."

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Cure for dry eye closer to reality

Researchers have said that computer simulations that map the way tears move across the eye's surface could one day lead to the treatment for dry eye - a burning, gritty condition that can impair vision and damage the cornea. 

To understand dry eye, Kara Maki, assistant professor in Rochester Institute of Technology's School of Mathematical Sciences, had to begin with the physics and chemistry of tears. Tear film consists of a layer of water sandwiched between an oily layer of lipids on the outside to prevent evaporation and an inner mucous layer to spread the water over the eye.

Maki developed a mathematical model to simulate the direction tear film travels when entering the eye from the lacrimal glands above the upper eyelid. Using the software program Overture, she recreated the flow of tears on the surface of an open eye, moving from the upper corner and draining through the ducts at the opposite corner.

The tears, Maki explains, climb up the eyelid and join a column of fluid that travels along the lids. Lower pressure sucks the fluid into the meniscus and away from the center, creating the black line and dry spots in the tear film that can compromise vision and irritate the cornea.

Maki saturated the eye with liquid to penetrate the black line. She wanted to know if the fluid would travel down the front of the eye and relieve the thinning of the tear film.

She said they found that they had to really flood the eye in our simulations. The fluid would rather travel in the meniscus.

Maki said it splits traveling along the upper lid and the lower lid and confirmed that blinking is necessary to stop this thinning from happening. Every time they blink, the tear film gets repainted on the front of the eye.

The study has been published in the journal Physics of Fluids.

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Can Earlobe Creases Be a Sign of Heart Disease?

Could that small vertical mark on your ear have something to do with heart disease? Here is a simple test that could protect you from serious damage to your health.

 In 1973, a doctor named Sanders T. Frank conducted a number of studies to determine whether an earlobe crease, known as "Frank's sign", could be an indicator of coronary artery disease. He found that patients who had creases running at an angle from the bottom of their ear opening to the edge of their ear lobe were at higher risk for heart disease.  
 
But before you start worrying, here are some basic statistics and background on the test. Since Dr. Frank's studies were published, more scientists have looked into the correlation between the earlobe crease and heart disease.

Researchers found that the earlobe crease "may identify a subset of patients prone to early ageing and to the early development of coronary artery disease, whose prognosis might be improved by early preventative measures." Others like Dr. Sarah Samaan clarify that, "Heart disease doesn't cause earlobe creases, nor do the creases cause heart disease, but they seem to be a marker for an unhealthy lifestyle."

Biologically, ear creases result when the elastic tissue around the small blood vessels in the ear begins to degenerate. This is the same type of change that occurs in the blood vessels when one has coronary artery disease. Therefore, scientists concluded that the visible change in the earlobe could be an indication of more serious changes occurring in the blood vessels around the heart.

To provide you with some numbers, a more recent study in 2006 found the predictive value of the ear crease to be about 80 percent in individuals 40 years and younger. That said, it appears that ear creases can predict certain aging diseases like heart disease and possibly even diabetes, but there are still some scientists that are unconvinced.

One study conducted in 1980 found that there was no significant relationship between earlobe creases and coronary artery disease in American Indians, suggesting that "Frank's sign" may not have the same level of indication in other ethnic groups. Another study on Japanese Americans also found no correlation between earlobe creases and heart disease.

Yet other scientists propose that because the studies are usually conducted on patients over the age of 50, the results may be biased as individuals naturally have a higher risk for these diseases as they age. It could be that earlobe creases are simply a sign of the natural aging process.

Despite these doubts, most scientists and doctors agree that the appearance of an ear crease at the age of 50 and below could be a good indication that the body is not as healthy as it should be. For this reason, if you have an earlobe crease, or know someone with one, it is important to consult a doctor who can test your blood and determine if this odd indicator holds any truth. 

 And remember, heart disease can be treated and even stopped in its tracks, and once it has disappeared, so too will the earlobe crease!

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Natural wonders – Yoghurt (curd)

Produced by bacterial fermentation of the milk, yoghurt makes for a healthy and easy addition to your daily diet. This dairy product is a good source of protein, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, vitamins, zinc and potassium. Added to that, the good bacteria present in yogurt, makes it even better.

Yoghurt has additional benefits when compared to its source – milk. It is more safe for those with lactose intolerance, the active cultures in yogurts are easier to digest, and thereby are less likely to cause lactose problems. (However, some people might experience lactose intolerance symptoms even when they consume yoghurt).

Health benefits of yoghurt

There a host of indispensable benefits associated with yoghurt, they are:

• Good for the stomach: Yoghurt is known to have a soothing effect on the stomach, which is why eating yoghurt is one of the most common gharelu nuskha (home remedy).  The good bacteria found in yoghurt are extremely beneficial to our digestive system, especially the colon and the stomach. An effective way to digest spicy food is to consume some yoghurt along with it. Cow’s milk contains low fat and is the preferred choice for preparing yoghurt.
• Boosts immunity: The nutrients in yoghurt helps strengthen our body’s defence mechanism, thereby proving more protection against seasonal cold, cough and such.
• Good for your skin: Regular consumption of yoghurt hydrates the skin and improves skin texture and complexion. In fact, applying yoghurt on the face or mixing it in a facepack will help reduce blemishes and strengthen the collagen in the skin.
• For a healthy heart: Yoghurt lowers blood pressure. It helps lower bad cholesterol and reduces risk of heart attacks.
• A super-healthy source of proteins: Yoghurt is a wonderful source of natural proteins and thus extremely beneficial for vegetarians. It is also safer for those with lactose intolerance to eat yoghurt.
• For healthy bones and teeth: Being rich in calcium, it protects the bones against osteoporosis and arthritis. It promotes bone growth and strengthens the teeth. So, start consuming one cup of yoghurt daily.
• Increases life span: Bulgarians are known for their longevity, this is attributed to yoghurt consumption. So it can be said that yoghurt is responsible for their longevity.
• Discourages vaginal infections: Diabetic women are more prone to yeast infections. A study trial that included diabetic women found that, on consumption of yoghurt, the women did not develop yeast infections.
• Aids weight loss: Yoghurt is known to make one feel fuller and therefore helps in cutting down calorie intake in the next meal. In fact, some studies also suggest that yoghurt helps in burning fat. So if you’re trying to lose weight, you know what you should do!
• Protection against colon cancer: Regular consumption of yoghurt cleans the colon, flushing out harmful disease causing bacteria. This helps in prevention of colon cancer.

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