December Research Updates

Dear Reader:

In this issue, there were a number of studies that dealt with supplements and other complementary therapies. For instance, Cooney and colleagues found an association between low levels of Coenzyme Q10 and breast cancer in Chinese women. Also, Rostock and colleagues found that black cohosh helped women with symptoms such as hot flashes, sweating, and anxiety that were being treated with Tamoxifen for breast cancer. Hu and associates reported that a diet low in transfatty acids may prevent several different types of cancer. Pala et al. found that high yogurt consumption decreased the risk of colorectal cancer. Walter and associates reported that garlic and grape seed may reduce the risk of hematologic malignancies. As well, Clement and colleagues reported that vitamin D helped decrease musculoskeletal pain in a man with multiple myeloma, and Sato et al. found that brushing your teeth more than once per day may help prevent oral cancer.

In other news, Wen and colleagues found that 15 minutes a day of moderate intensity exercise was associated with a lowered risk of mortality when compared to people who didn’t exercise. Zeliadt and associates found that healthcare providers were instrumental in facilitating shared decision-making for patients with prostate cancer and their partners, and that this was beneficial for both the patients and their partners. In our study of the month, Matousek and colleagues reported that women with breast cancer who participated in a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program had changes in their cortisol levels, and consequently that the changes in cortisol levels might be useful biological markers of the disease. As well, in our “for further reading on the web” section there are even more studies on breast cancer, other complementary therapies, ovarian cancer, and spiritual well-being.

Happy Holidays to all of you from all of us here at InspireHealth.

Click here to read December’s Research Updates

Enjoy,

Jan.