Gary’s Daily Health News - Vol. 3

Boosting magnesium levels found to help reverse conditions like diabetes and heart disease

Erasmus University (Netherland), August 16, 2021

Magnesium is an essential mineral that’s necessary to maintain good health. It is involved in many important bodily processes, such as muscle contraction and blood sugar and blood pressure regulation. Because it is important for many bodily functions, having low magnesium levels can lead to serious conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

On the other hand, recent studies show that boosting your magnesium levels can help reduce risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, such as inflammation and high blood pressure.

Low magnesium levels linked to diabetes, heart disease

Low magnesium levels have been linked to high blood pressure and a high risk of stroke and heart disease. A study by researchers from the Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam in the Netherlands also revealed that magnesium deficiency can increase a person’s risk of dying due to coronary heart disease (CHD) and sudden cardiac arrest. Meanwhile, even a small increase in one’s magnesium levels could lower this risk .

The findings of the study, which appeared in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA), suggest that magnesium supplementation could help protect people from CHD, sudden cardiac death (SCD) and other cardiovascular events. 

Experts believe that magnesium helps protect against heart disease by reducing inflammation, which is associated with atherosclerosis, or the hardening of the arteries. Magnesium also helps improve blood circulation by regulating blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease.

When it comes to diabetes, researchers have observed that diabetics tend to have low magnesium levels or are more prone to magnesium deficiency than non-diabetics. A study by researchers from Brazil’s Federal University of Bahia found that 75 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes have magnesium deficiency.

Some studies indicate that magnesium plays a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes by affecting insulin sensitivity. According to clinical trials, low magnesium levels are linked to a higher risk of insulin resistance, a precursor to Type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance occurs when there is too much blood sugar circulating inside the body. The pancreas respond to this by releasing more insulin to induce cells to take up sugar from the blood. But over time, cells become resistant to insulin and stop responding to it.

Magnesium is required for both glucose utilization and insulin signaling. This is why metabolic alterations in cellular magnesium can lead to insulin resistance which, in turn, contributes to the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

In addition, a recent study published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice found that low serum magnesium is linked to diabetes and high blood pressure. Both these conditions can severely increase your risk of developing heart disease.

 

 

How chlamydia might increase cancer and ectopic pregnancy risk

University of Bristol and University of Edinburgh, August 16, 2021

A review of evidence by researchers at the University of Bristol and University of Edinburgh has suggested a possible new means by which chlamydia could lead to an increased risk of cancer and ectopic pregnancy. The hypothesis also provides a possible explanation for how pelvic inflammatory disease may be triggered in some women.

The review, published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, looked at evidence from lab-based studies, animal models and clinical studies on the role of chlamydia in diseases of the reproductive tract.

The researchers' analysis of the studies' findings suggests that chlamydia induces a particular type of change in reproductive tract cells known as 'epithelial to mesenchymal transition' (EMT), which can lead to inflammation and cell growth. Their hypothesis is that this chlamydia-triggered cell change contributes to the development of further disease.

"Chlamydia is a bacterial infection that stimulates EMT, which may persist after the chlamydia infection has cleared," explains Dr. Paddy Horner from the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at University of Bristol, who led the review.

"We think that the association of chlamydia with ovarian and cervical cancer could be explained by the persistence of EMT changes in combination with DNA damage caused by chlamydia following chlamydia infection," he said.

"Also, we know that EMT cells impair the integrity of the lining of the infected reproductive tract cell, making it more susceptible to invasion by other bacteria. This increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease from those invading bacteria.

"Furthermore, epithelial (barrier) cells in the fallopian tube that have previously been infected with chlamydia have more receptors on their surface, which are associated with an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. There is evidence that these cell surface receptor changes could be caused by EMT.

"If our hypothesis about the role of EMT following chlamydia infection in women is correct, it could help explain some of the recent epidemiological observations about chlamydia and reproductive disease which are difficult to account for using current concepts about the immune response to chlamydia.

"It would also support the English National Chlamydia Screening Program's shift to earlier testing of women, as the shorter the duration of infection, the lower the risk of developing EMT changes. Further down the line, this could lead to the development of new tests for identifying women at increased risk of ovarian cancer and ectopic pregnancy and interventions that could reduce these risks.

"Obviously a lot more research is needed before we can be sure that our hypothesis is correct, but the evidence from this review suggests that further research in this area would be fruitful and could have important benefits both for patients and in the prevention of chlamydia-induced disease in the long-term."

Munira Oza, director of the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust, said: "This analysis helps to further our understanding of one of the possible risk factors for ectopic pregnancy and we would welcome more research in this area.

"It also highlights the importance of the change of focus of the National Chlamydia Screening Program to opportunistically making proactive offers of a chlamydia test to young people without symptoms to reduce the risk of reproductive harm.

"With early detection through the screening program and much-needed education to reduce the stigma of chlamydia, we hope that many women and families might be spared the health risks and heartache of ectopic pregnancy. We encourage young women to screen when given the opportunity."

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection worldwide. If left untreated, it can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, tubal factor infertility, and chronic pelvic pain due to tubal scarring.

 

Whey protein associated with improved microvascular function in patients with heart failure

National Institute of Cardiology (Brazil), August 13 2021. 

 

The June 2021 issue of the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research reported a randomized pilot trial that revealed improvement in systemic microvascular circulation in heart failure patients who were supplemented with whey protein. 

The endothelium is the lining of the body’s arteries, whose function may be impaired in cardiovascular diseases, thereby reducing the arteries’ ability to relax, which adversely affects circulation. “It is important to note that macro- and microvascular dysfunctions are defined as the impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation and/or increased arterial stiffness, which are related to several cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and heart failure,” explained authors A. De Lorenzo and colleagues. 

The trial included 19 men and 6 women aged 52 years and older who had New York Heart Association class I or II heart failure. Participants received whey protein or a placebo for 12 weeks. Endothelial microvascular function was evaluated by measuring cutaneous microvascular flow and reactivity using acetylcholine to assess endothelial-dependent vasodilation and sodium nitroprusside to assess endothelium-independent vasodilation. 

At the end of 12 weeks, significant increases were observed in both endothelial dependent and endothelial independent vasodilation among participants who received whey protein. The authors of the report suggested that whey’s endothelial-dependent vasodilatory effect may be the result of its arginine content. Modulation of premature senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells and ACE inhibition by whey were suggested as endothelial-independent vasodilatory mechanisms.

“Our results suggested that dietary supplementation with whey protein improved microvascular endothelial function and possibly smooth muscle structure in patients with heart failure,” the authors concluded. “It showed new findings regarding the vascular effects of whey protein, which may turn this nutrient into another constituent of therapeutic regimen of patients with heart failure in the future and after larger trials.”

 

 

Eating Yogurt Everyday May Help Cure Alzheimer’s Disease Finds New Study

University College Cork (Ireland), August 17, 2021

According to a new study, eating yogurt everyday may help cure Alzheimer’s disease.

In a recent study, memory problems were reversed after old mice were given “friendly” bacteria. This research suggests gut-boosting yogurts could help to ward off Alzheimer’s disease, which opens the door to the development of probiotics that treat or even prevent dementia.

This study is published in Nature Aging.

“It’s a potential game-changer. We’ve now established the microbiome can be harnessed to reverse age-related brain deterioration. We also see evidence of improved learning ability and cognitive function,” says corresponding author Professor John Cryan, of University College Cork in Ireland, per South West News Service.

A staggering 100 trillion microorganisms live in the human gut – both good and bad. The immune system is impacted by the balance. The research team from Ireland showed that lab rodents experienced increased memory and cognitive function by introducing specific species.

Aging-associated changes in the immune system were reversed with fecal transplants from younger mice, including quicker deciphering of maze patterns and better memory afterward. 

They were also less prone to anxiety, another common symptom of dementia. Scans later showed their brains had been rejuvenated, containing metabolites and patterns of gene regulation resembling those of adolescents.

“It should be said we are not advocating fecal transplants for people who want to rejuvenate their brain. Instead, these studies point towards a future where there will be a focus on microbiota-targeted dietary or bacterial-based interventions. They will promote optimum gut health and immunity in order to keep the brain young and healthy,” explains Cryan.

The study suggests such therapies could combat cognitive decline. It adds to evidence that probiotics sold in supermarkets as diet supplements boost concentration, decision-making, and understanding.

“Microorganisms that live on and in the human body have an impact on health and vary with age. Friendly bacteria have beneficial effects on the metabolic and immune systems. They can be gradually replaced with bacteria that drive chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and disease,” notes Cryan.

“Much work is needed to translate the findings for clinical use in humans. We know that microorganisms in the gut shape local immunity, but can also affect brain aging and increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Now, there is a growing appreciation of the importance of the microbes in the gut on all aspects of physiology and medicine.”

Previous research has found that a daily dose of probiotics over 12 weeks can produce significant improvement in elderly patients.

 

Wash your hands for 20 seconds: Physics shows why

Hand-washing model uses fluid mechanics to track harmful particles.

Hammond Consulting, August 17, 2021 

Though hand-washing is proven effective in combating the spread of disease and infection, the physics behind it has rarely been studied. But in Physics of Fluids, by AIP Publishing, researchers from Hammond Consulting Limited describe a simple model that captures the key mechanics of hand-washing.

By simulating hand-washing, they estimated the time scales on which particles, like viruses and bacteria, were removed from hands.

The mathematical model acts in two dimensions, with one wavy surface moving past another wavy surface, and a thin film of liquid between the two. Wavy surfaces represent hands because they are rough on small spatial scales.

Particles are trapped on the rough surfaces of the hand in potential wells. In other words, they are at the bottom of a valley, and in order for them to escape, the energy from the water flow must be high enough to get them up and out of the valley.

The strength of the flowing liquid depends on the speed of the moving hands. A stronger flow removes particles more easily.

"Basically, the flow tells you about the forces on the particles," said author Paul Hammond. "Then you can work out how the particles move and figure out if they get removed."

He likens the process to scrubbing a stain on a shirt: the faster the motion, the more likely it is to come out.

"If you move your hands too gently, too slowly, relative to one another, the forces created by the flowing fluid are not big enough to overcome the force holding the particle down," said Hammond.

Even when particles are removed, that process is not fast. Typical hand-washing guidelines, like those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggest at least 20 seconds under the faucet.

Results from Hammond's model agree. It takes about 20 seconds of vigorous movement to dislodge potential viruses and bacteria.

The model does not consider chemical or biological processes that occur when using soap. However, knowing the mechanisms that physically remove particles from hands may provide clues to formulating more effective, environmentally friendly soaps.

"Nowadays, we need to be a bit more thoughtful about what happens to the wash chemicals when they go down the plughole and enter the environment," said Hammond.

Hammond said this is not the whole story of hand-washing, but it does answer important questions and lay the foundation for future research.

 

Vitamin C may encourage blood cancer stem cells to die New York University Langone Health. August 16, 2017 

Vitamin C may "tell" faulty stem cells in the bone marrow to mature and die normally, instead of multiplying to cause blood cancers. This is the finding of a study led by researchers from Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, and published online in the journal Cell.

Certain genetic changes are known to reduce the ability of an enzyme called TET2 to encourage stem cells to become mature blood cells, which eventually die, in many patients with certain kinds of leukemia, say the authors. The new study found that vitamin C activated TET2 function in mice engineered to be deficient in the enzyme.

"We're excited by the prospect that high-dose vitamin C might become a safe treatment for blood diseases caused by TET2-deficient leukemia stem cells, most likely in combination with other targeted therapies," says corresponding study author Benjamin G. Neel, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Medicine and director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center.

Changes in the genetic code (mutations) that reduce TET2 function are found in 10 percent of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 30 percent of those with a form of pre-leukemia called myelodysplastic syndrome, and in nearly 50 percent of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Such cancers cause anemia, infection risk, and bleeding as abnormal stem cells multiply in the bone marrow until they interfere with blood cell production, with the number of cases increasing as the population ages.

Along with these diseases, new tests suggest that about 2.5 percent of all U.S. cancer patients - or about 42,500 new patients each year - may develop TET2 mutations, including some with lymphomas and solid tumors, say the authors.

Cell Death Switch

The study results revolve around the relationship between TET2 and cytosine, one of the four nucleic acid "letters" that comprise the DNA code in genes. Every cell type has the same genes, but each gets different instructions to turn on only those needed in a given cellular context.

These "epigenetic" regulatory mechanisms include DNA methylation, the attachment of a small molecule termed a methyl group to cytosine bases that shuts down the action of a gene containing them.

The back- and-forth attachment and removal of methyl groups also fine-tunes gene expression in stem cells, which can mature, specialize and multiply to become muscle, bone, nerve, or other cell types. This happens as the body first forms, but the bone marrow also keeps pools of stem cells on hand into adulthood, ready to become replacement cells as needed. In leukemia, signals that normally tell a blood stem cell to mature malfunction, leaving it to endlessly multiply and "self-renew" instead of producing normal white blood cells needed to fight infection.

The enzyme studied in this report, Tet methylcytosine dioxygenase 2 (TET2), enables a change in the molecular structure (oxidation) of methyl groups that is needed for them to be removed from cytosines. This "demethylation" turns on genes that direct stem cells to mature, and to start a count-down toward self-destruction as part of normal turnover. This serves as an anti-cancer safety mechanism, one that is disrupted in blood cancer patients with TET2 mutations, says Neel.

To determine the effect of mutations that reduce TET2 function in abnormal stem cells, the research team genetically engineered mice such that the scientists could switch the TET2 gene on or off.

Similar to the naturally occurring effects of TET2 mutations in mice or humans, using molecular biology techniques to turn off TET2 in mice caused abnormal stem cell behavior. Remarkably, these changes were reversed when TET2 expression was restored by a genetic trick. Previous work had shown that vitamin C could stimulate the activity of TET2 and its relatives TET1 and TET3. Because only one of the two copies of the TET2 gene in each stem cell is usually affected in TET2-mutant blood diseases, the authors hypothesized that high doses of vitamin C, which can only be given intravenously, might reverse the effects of TET2 deficiency by turning up the action of the remaining functional gene.

Indeed, they found that vitamin C did the same thing as restoring TET2 function genetically. By promoting DNA demethylation, high-dose vitamin C treatment induced stem cells to mature, and also suppressed the growth of leukemia cancer stem cells from human patients implanted in mice.

"Interestingly, we also found that vitamin C treatment had an effect on leukemic stem cells that resembled damage to their DNA," says first study author Luisa Cimmino, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology at NYU Langone Health. "For this reason, we decided to combine vitamin C with a PARP inhibitor, a drug type known to cause cancer cell death by blocking the repair of DNA damage, and already approved for treating certain patients with ovarian cancer."

Researchers found that the combination had an enhanced effect on leukemia stem cells, further shifting them from self-renewal back toward maturity and cell death. The results also suggest that vitamin C might drive leukemic stem cells without TET2 mutations toward death, says Cimmino, given that it turns up any TET2 activity normally in place.

"Our team is working to systematically identify genetic changes that contribute to risk for leukemia in significant groups of patients," says corresponding author Iannis Aifantis, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Pathology at NYU Langone Health. "This study adds the targeting of abnormal TET2-driven DNA demethylation to our list of potential new treatment approaches."

 

High fat diet in middle age could raise later malnutrition risk

Uppsala University and the Karolinska Institute , August 17, 2021

A high energy intake from total fat, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat in middle and older age increases the risk of malnutrition ten years later, say Swedish researchers.

The research contradicts previous findings suggesting the opposite effect. 

A high fat diet is is not recommended for the general population, but for frail and sick older adults the greatest nutrition risk they face is malnutrition, rather than overweight or obesity. As people age appetite often decreases, raising the risk of protein-energy malnutrition – meaning inadequate calorie or protein intake.

Past research suggested higher fat diets could help older adults prevent this form of malnutrition.

“Contrary to our expectations, a high energy intake from total fat, SFA [saturated fat] and MUFA [monounsaturated fat] among middle-aged and older adults increased the risk of developing malnutrition ten years later,” researchers from the Uppsala University and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden wrote in the British Journal of Nutrition.

However, these findings only applied to individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25 kilograms per m2 at baseline.

“These findings suggest that preventive actions to counteract malnutrition in older adults should focus on limiting the intake of total fat in the diet by reducing consumption of food with a high content of saturated and monounsaturated fat, such as full-fat dairy foods, solid fats, processed meat and sugar sweetened foods.”

In the follow-up phase, 383 (52.8%) of the participants were at risk of malnutrition and 52 (7.2%) were malnourished.

The chance of being at risk of malnutrition increased for each additional percentage point of energy intake from total fat (by 6.5%), saturated fat (by 11.8%) and monounsaturated fat (by 17.3%).

For the odds of actually being malnourished this increased by 10.6% for total fat, 19.6% for saturated fat and 27.2% for monounsaturated fat.

“[Protein–energy malnutrition] is associated with greater health-care costs, worse quality of life and preterm death. The identification of modifiable risk factors in the diet is thus desirable for taking preventive action before malnutrition develops,” they wrote.