supplements Archives - MyMedicPlus

Can Supplements Boost Your Immunity This Winter?

mymedicplus — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:12:42 +0000

Source – https://www.webmd.com/

Nov. 17, 2020 — With COVID-19 cases on the rise and cold and flu season well underway, people are seeking ways to boost their disease defenses. Sales of immune health supplements are projected to grow from $16 billion in 2019 to $29 billion by 2027, spurred in part by the pandemic, according to research from Fortune Business Insights.

But could a supplement give you an extra edge against illness?

“There’s no magic bullet to bolster the immune system,” says Barry Fox, MD, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Experts say that a good diet, plenty of sleep, and regular exercise will get you started in the right direction, along with practices like meditation or yoga for stress relief.

But some supplements may have some infection-fighting benefits. “If people are taking vitamin C or D or another supplement and not having any side effects, it may be of help,” Fox says.

Keep in mind that supplements are an unregulated industry. That means that even if a vitamin or botanical has shown promise, the bottle you buy might contain too little or too much of the desired substance. For most supplements, research is limited at best. Plus, research suggests it’s better to get your vitamins from foods rather than

supplements.

That said, here’s what to know about popular vitamins and botanicals often advertised as immune boosters:

Vitamin C

Long touted as a cold cure, vitamin C doesn’t appear to prevent respiratory illnesses. But it may help shorten colds, according to a review of studies in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. When study participants took 1 gram of vitamin C every day (not just when illness struck), colds that did occur were 8% shorter in length in adults and 14% shorter in children, says Harri Hemilä, MD, PhD, an adjunct professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki in Finland.

Could vitamin C work against COVID? There’s no evidence yet that it will help. But Hemilä says there’s little harm in giving it a try. Be careful to avoid overdoing, it though. Large doses of vitamin C above 500 milligrams daily can cause digestive upset and may increase the risk for cataracts and the risk of kidney stones in some people.

Vitamin D

Among vitamins that may help ward off illness, vitamin D is a sure bet. A Cochrane review showed that the “sunshine vitamin” cut the number of colds people caught if they took it every day or at least every week. And the incidence of colds was slashed in half among people who started out deficient in the vitamin, according to the study.

Recent research shows that people with low levels of vitamin D are more likely to have a severe case of COVID-19. But so far, no one has studied whether a supplement can help, although research is underway. Excess doses — taking more than 60,000 international units a day for several months — can be toxic. This causes calcium to build up in your blood, leading to nausea, vomiting, weakness, bone pain, and kidney problems.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E shows particular promise for improving immune function in seniors. A large study of nursing home residents in TheJournal of the American Medical Association found it could make a big difference in staying healthy this winter. “We showed that supplementation with 200 IU/day of vitamin E for a year resulted in significant reduction in respiratory infection –particularly upper respiratory infections, including common colds,” says Simin Nikbin Meydani, DVM, PhD, a senior scientist and director of the Nutritional Immunology Lab at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University.

Echinacea

This popular cold remedy has a mixed record. But the variation between studies could be due to the dose, the part of this flower used to make the supplement, and even the time of year it was grown, research suggests.

A study shows that echinacea is somewhat effective at preventing colds if taken three times a day during the cold season as a preventive measure and five times a day when you’re actually battling a cold. Using an extract of echinacea in drop form lowered the incidence of colds by 26% and also cut how long the colds lasted. And those taking it used less pain medication when they had colds.

But a newer study did not find it prevented the common cold or cut short how long a cold lasted.

Zinc

There isn’t good data to show that zinc prevents colds. “However, there are half a dozen randomized trials that found that zinc lozenges can shorten the duration of colds when started after the onset of symptoms,” Hemilä says.

Recovering from a cold was three times higher and colds were shortened by 30%-40% among people taking high-dose zinc lozenges, according to data in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. You need 80-100 milligrams of the supplement daily to get the effect. Zinc gluconate and zinc acetate are equally effective.

One study showed that zinc reduced the risk of pneumonia in older people. People who are older may be deficient in the mineral. Possible side effects include a bad taste in your mouth, loss of smell if used as a spray, indigestion, diarrhea, headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Probiotics

The evidence is mixed for taking probiotics to prevent respiratory infections. A review of 33 studies found that while most research found some benefit, it needed further study. One study found that probiotics might help you cut respiratory infections short, compared to not taking the supplement.

When choosing a product, lead study author Tracey J. Smith, PhD, recommends looking for the strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis lactis. These probiotic microorganisms seem to reduce symptoms by muting the body’s inflammatory response, she says. (But if you have a serious chronic disease, check with a doctor first.)

Glutathione

The antioxidant glutathione, which is produced naturally by the body, boosted an important measure of immunity when given to people as a supplement in one study. These included increases in lymphocytes — white blood cells that are a major part of the immune system, including a subset of lymphocytes known as natural killer cells, says study author John P. Richie Jr., PhD, a professor of public health sciences and pharmacology at Penn State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. But the study was small — only 12 people — and more studies are needed to show that glutathione actually prevents or reduces illness.

Elderberry extract

A folk medicine favorite, elderberry extract was shown to shorten the flu in one study. People with the flu who got the syrup four times a day for 5 days saw their symptoms improve 4 days earlier that those who got a placebo. The dose was 15 milliliters — about 3 teaspoons.

But in a new study, in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, people who came to the emergency room with the flu had no better outcome when given elderberry syrup than those who got a placebo. More research is needed to see if it really makes a difference.

Elderberry has been suggested as a treatment for COVID-19, but no research has investigated how well it works. There is also some concern that this home remedy could increase the risk of a “cytokine storm,” according to one report. This overreaction by the body to the coronavirus can damage the lungs and other organs, research suggests.

Golden root extract

This supplement comes from the rhodiola plant. One strain of the species — R. rosea — was found to increase the percentage of memory T cells and B cells, important parts of the immune system, in a study of 15 men. But whether that gives protection from seasonal colds and the flu — or any other infection — remains to be seen.

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Diet Intervention, Supplements, May Help Relieve Endometriosis Symptoms, Study Suggests

mymedicplus — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 05:14:35 +0000

Source: endometriosisnews.com

Differences in diet may be part of the reason that stomach and gut problems are more common among women with endometriosis, a recent study suggests.

A planned diet by a nutritionist may help relieve disease burden in women with this often painful disorder, in which the tissue that makes up the lining of the womb is present on other organs in the body.

Titled “Different nutrient intake and prevalence of gastrointestinal comorbidities in women with endometriosis,” the study was published in the Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology.

Management of endometriosis symptoms, as for any health condition, doesn’t just involve pharmacological intervention. Lifestyle factors, like diet, can play a major role as well. Indeed, some studies have linked a diet with more trans fats with endometriosis, and others have suggested that supplementation with vitamin C might reduce endometriosis-related pelvic pain.

Most of these findings are preliminary and more research is needed. But these findings raise the possibility that changes in diet could help manage and even prevent the symptoms of endometriosis. However, in order to design diet interventions, it first is necessary to understand what people with endometriosis tend to eat and, consequently, gauge their nutrient intake.

To find out more, researchers at the Friedrich Alexander University in Erlangen-Nuernberg in Germany surveyed 156 people with endometriosis. The women (average age 35.5 years) were questioned about their dietary habits, as well as relevant clinical information. For comparison, a group of 52 women without endometriosis were recruited. The two groups were similar in age and body mass index (BMI). There were, however, significant differences in cycle regularity, bleeding duration, amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) over 6 months, pregnancy, and infertility.

Compared with the healthy participants (controls), a significantly higher percentage of women with endometriosis reported having gastrointestinal symptoms (76.9% vs. 28.8%). These symptoms included heartburn (26.9% vs. 1.9%, pyrosis), diarrhea (18.6% vs. 5.8%), and constipation (42.3% vs. 5.8%). The findings are in line with previous studies that have suggested that gastrointestinal symptoms are common among people with endometriosis.

“Overall study results indicate a possible association of endometriosis and gastrointestinal disorders,” the researchers said.

In terms of diet, the two groups were similar in their total energy intake, as well as in their overall intake of macronutrients like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

However, the results showed that participants with endometriosis consumed significantly less vitamin C (137.93 vs 152.92 mg/day), vitamin B12 (4.58 vs. 5.35 µg/day), and magnesium (424.76 vs. 457.81 mg/day) than the controls.

These results are still very much preliminary, but they provide a basis for possibly testing supplementation with these nutrients as a strategy for improving endometriosis symptoms.

Moreover, women with endometriosis also consumed significantly less animal protein than controls, which might explain the vitamin B12 lower values.

The researchers noted that studies related to food intolerances — which occurs when a person has difficulty digesting a particular food — in endometriosis are scarce, and needed.

“In our study the chance for intolerances was about four-times higher in endometriosis patients compared to controls and they were also more prone for multiple intolerances,” the investigators said.

The team also added that they observed a significantly higher proportion of women with endometriosis with a sensitivity to gluten.

This “may explain the positive effects of a gluten-free diet in the management of pelvic pain in these patients,” they said.

Diet alterations may be of help to women with endometriosis who have food intolerances, the study results suggest.

“The altered intake of certain nutrients may also suggest the dietary supplementation of e.g. vitamin C or magnesium to reduce disease burden and oxidative stress in the affected women,” the investigators concluded, while calling for further research.

“In future, controlled and randomized intervention studies are necessary to investigate the effect of certain nutrients on endometriosis with regard of coexisting gastrointestinal disorders and therapy side effects,” they said.

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Best supplements for high blood pressure: This certain supplement helps lower bp readings

mymedicplus — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 11:35:41 +0000

Source: express.co.uk

High blood pressure rarely shows noticeable symptoms so the only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked, either by a GP or pharmacist or using a blood pressure monitor at home. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause the arteries to thicken, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, so doing what you can to lower a reading after a diagnosis or keeping blood pressure in check is very important. A healthy diet low in salt and high in fruit and vegetables, regular exercise and not smoking are three major ways to lower blood pressure, according to the NHS. But research over the years has also suggested a natural supplement can have a positive effect on blood pressure.

Garlic has been used as a spice, food and medicine for over 5000 years and is one of the earliest documented herbs utilised for the maintenance of health and treatment of disease.

Proponents suggest that consuming boric as food or taking garlic extract in dietary supplement form can help treat high blood pressure or stop high blood pressure setting in.

According to the National Institutes of Health, garlic seems to be able to modestly reduce blood pressure.

A lot of research has thrown up exciting possibilities for individuals wishing to take a natural approach to blood pressure control.

One of the best natural remedies for lowering blood pressure is taking a garlic supplement.

It’s recommended that a dose of 600-900mg per day of garlic has been shown to bring about significant reductions in blood pressure in those suffering from hypertension.

A study by the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health looked at the potential of garlic in lowering high blood pressure.

The study examined garlic supplements and how they could help treat uncontrolled hypertension and lowering blood pressure. The conclusion of the study indicates that garlic can have an affect on blood pressure, even in people who have high blood pressure.

The study proved that garlic, in particular in the form of the standardisable and highly tolerable aged garlic extract, has the potential to lower blood pressure in hypersensitive individuals similarly to standard blood pressure mediation.

The available research on garlic and blood pressure includes a report published in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders. In the report, scientists analysed 11 previously published clinical trials and found that garlic was superior to placebo in reducing blood pressure among people with hypertension.

Results revealed that the use of garlic was associated with a decrease in blood pressure among patients with elevated systolic blood pressure. participants without elevated systolic blood pressure.

While increasing your intake of garlic may help enhance your health and protect against high blood pressure, garlic supplements should not be used as a substitute for standard care of hypertension.

In addition to raising your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, uncontrolled high blood pressure may lead to major health issues like kidney damage and vision loss.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is also linked to memory impairment.

If you’re considering the use of garlic in the treatment of high blood pressure, make sure to consult your GP prior to starting your supplement regimen.

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