CDC Study Finds Decreased Blood Levels of Trans-Fatty Acids in White Adults
Blood levels of trans-fatty acids (TFAs) in white adults in the US population decreased by 58 percent from 2000 to 2009 according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study published in the Febuary 8 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association. This is the first time CDC researchers have been able to measure trans fats in human blood.
CDC researchers selected participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), years 2000 and 2009, to examine trans-fatty acid blood levels before and after the Food and Drug Administration’s 2003 regulation, which took effect in 2006 and required food and dietary supplement manufacturers to list the amount of TFAs on the Nutrition Facts panel of the product label. During this period, some local and state health departments took steps to help consumers reduce their daily consumption by requiring restaurants to limit their use of TFAs in food and increase public awareness campaigns about the health risks associated with TFAs.
“The 58-percent decline shows substantial progress that should help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in adults,” said Christopher Portier, PhD, director of CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health. “Findings from the CDC study demonstrate the effectiveness of these efforts in reducing blood TFAs and highlight that further reductions in the levels of trans fats must remain an important public health goal.”
The current study provides information for white adults only, and additional CDC studies are underway to examine blood TFAs in other adult race/ethnic groups, children, and adolescents, Dr. Portier added.
This research is a part of the CDC’s larger National Biomonitoring program, which currently measures more than 450 environmental chemicals and nutritional indicators in people.
Unlike other dietary fats, trans fats are not essential to human health and do not promote good health. Research indicates that high consumption of trans-fatty acids is linked to cardiovascular disease in part because TFAs increase LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol). Changing to a diet low in TFAs may lower LDL cholesterol levels and decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease.
For more information on the CDC’s study, please visit jama.ama-assn.org. For more information on the CDC’s work in the National Biomonitoring program, visit cdc.gov/nceh/dls/nbp.html.
Third Peer-Reviewed Study Proves Botanical Formula Fights Prostate Cancer Without Toxicity
Scientists at Indiana University, Methodist Research Institute, study a botanical formula that kills aggressive prostate cancer tumors. Their findings, based on experiments in mice using a human prostate cancer tumor model, appear online in The International Journal of Oncology. This is the third published study from a major university to show significant results of this specific multinutrient prostate formula against the invasive behavior of aggressive prostate cancer cells, tumor growth, and metastasis. The formula combines botanical extracts, phytonutrients, botanically-enhanced medicinal mushrooms, and antioxidants.
Lead researcher, Dr. Daniel Sliva says, “Multiple studies demonstrate that this prostate formula is a possible treatment for hormone refractory (androgen independent) prostate cancer.”
Suppresses Aggressive Tumor Growth Without Toxicity
Results of the study show this prostate formula significantly suppressed tumor growth in aggressive, hormone refractory (androgen independent) human-prostate cancer cells. This study also analyzed the formula for potential toxicity, demonstrating it to be safe with no signs of toxicity at the highest dosages.
Researcher and formulator, Dr. Isaac Eliaz says, “This study is a milestone in the research of this formula, demonstrating its safety and effectiveness in treating human prostate cancer in an animal model. These positive results offer a significant contribution to the field of prostate cancer research, and add to the growing body of published data substantiating the role of natural compounds in the treatment of prostate cancer.”
Results of the study show that the oral administration of the formula produced a statistically significant 27 percent suppression of tumor growth, compared to controls. The study was performed using a xenograft tumor model of human prostate cancer in mice.
Inhibits Genes Involved in Tumor Growth and Metastasis
Even more important, in addition to significant reduction in tumor volume, results showed inhibition of the expression of several genes involved in cancer proliferation and metastasis. Three prostate cancer-related genes (IGF2, NRNF2 and PLAU/uPA) that were suppressed by this formula not only control aggressive prostate tumor growth, but also relate to the metastatic potential. It is metastasis that makes prostate cancer deadly. The formula also significantly increased the expression of a gene that fights against prostate cancer, CDKN1A, which works by specifically inhibiting other cancer-promoting cellular mechanisms.
By suppressing specific genes related to aggressive prostate cancer growth and proliferation, and increasing the expression of cancer-fighting genes, this integrative formula demonstrated multiple anti-cancer mechanisms and genetic targets. This pre-clinical in vivo study confirms previously published in vitro data, which also shows the ability of this formula to decrease the expression of PLAU/uPA genes in aggressive, hormone-independent prostate cancer cells.
Study Further Validates Earlier Results
This formula was previously studied at research laboratories at Columbia University, New York, New York, and at the Cancer Research Laboratory, Methodist Research Institute, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana. These published studies showed significant results in this formula’s ability to inhibit prostate cancer growth and proliferation.
“In summary, this dietary supplement is a natural compound for the possible therapy of human hormone refractory (independent) prostate cancer,” says Dr. Sliva.
Ongoing research on this formula in prostate cancer models continues to show encouraging results, and additional studies are forthcoming.