Nutraceutical: Berberine (goldenseal)

Indication: Type 2 diabetes/high cholesterol

Source: J Clin Endocrinol Metab, Apr 8, 2008 [Epub ahead of print]

Research: Researchers in China conducted a study on 116 subjects with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia. They were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or berberine (1 gram daily) for a period of 3 months. Researchers were looking for changes in plasma glucose and changes in serum lipid concentrations.

Results: The results revealed that fasting blood glucose levels decreased from 7.0 to 5.6 mm/L, post load sugar levels decreased  from 12.0 to 8.0 mm/L, and HbA1c (a measure of long-term diabetes control) decreased from 7.5% to 6.6% in patients receiving berberine. It was also noted that triglyceride levels decreased from 2.5 to 1.6 mm/L, total cholesterol decreased from 5.3 to 4.4 mm/L, and LDL (bad) cholesterol decreased from 3.2 to 2.6 mm/L during the course of the study in patients receiving berberine. This led the authors to conclude that berberine may be a safe and effective treatment option for type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, although larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Nutraceutical: Folate

Indication: Healthy sperm

Source: Human Reproduction, May 2008;23(5):1014-22.

Research: Because little is known about the effect of paternal nutrition on aneuploidy in sperm—abnormal sperm in which a chromosome is lost or gained—researchers set out to investigate the association of normal dietary and supplement intake of folate, zinc and antioxidants and the frequency of aneuploidy in human sperm. Sperm samples were taken from 89 healthy, non-smoking men and analyzed for aneuploidy using fluorescent in situ hybridization with probes for chromosomes X, Y and 21. Daily total intake (diet and supplements) for zinc, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene were determined via a food frequency questionnaire.

Results: Men with high folate intake had lower frequencies of sperm aneuploidy compared with men with lower intake. The higher the intake, the lower the frequency of aneuploidy. No consistent associations, however, were found between antioxidant or zinc intakes and sperm aneuploidy. This is one of the first studies to connect paternal nutrition with conception and the development of a healthy offspring.

Nutraceutical: Folic acid and B vitamins

Indication: Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

Source: JAMA, May 7, 2008;299(17):2027-2036

Research: The objective of this study was to test whether a combination of folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 could lower the risk of CVD among high-risk women with and without CVD. Within an ongoing randomized trial of antioxidant vitamins, 5442 women who were U.S. health professionals aged 42 years or older, with either a history of CVD or three or more coronary risk factors, were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to receive a combination pill containing folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 or a matching placebo, and were treated for over 7 years, from April 1998 through July 2005.

Results: Compared with placebo, a total of 796 women experienced a confirmed CVD event (406 in the active group and 390 in the placebo group). According to these results, patients receiving the active vitamin treatment experienced similar risk for CVD, as well as for myocardial infarction, stroke and CVD mortality. In a blood sub-study, however, plasma homocysteine level decreased by almost 19% over that observed in the placebo group. Researchers concluded that after more than 7 years of treatment and follow-up, a combination pill of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events among high-risk women, despite significant homocysteine lowering.

Nutraceutical: Magnolia and phellodendron extract (Relora)

Indication: Stress

Source: Nutr J, April 21, 2008;7:11.

Research: This study measured the effects of a proprietary blend of extracts of Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense (Relora) on anxiety, stress and sleep in healthy premenopausal women. This randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted with healthy, overweight (BMI 25 to 34.9), premenopausal female adults, between the ages of 20 and 50 years, who typically eat more in response to stressful situations and score above the national mean for women on self-reporting anxiety. Subjects took either Relora (250 mg capsules) or an identical placebo three times daily for 6 weeks.

Results: The intent-to-treat population consisted of 40 subjects, with 26 participants completing the study. There were no significant adverse events. Relora was effective, in comparison to placebo, in reducing temporary, transitory anxiety as measured by the Spielberger STATE anxiety questionnaire. It was not effective, however, in reducing long-standing feelings of anxiety or depression as measured using the Spielberger TRAIT questionnaire. Other assessments conducted in this study, including salivary cortisol and amylase levels, ap­petite, body morphology and sleep quality/latency, were not significantly changed by Relora in comparison to placebo. Investigators believe this pilot study indicates that Relora may offer some relief for premenopausal women experiencing mild transitory anxiety.

Nutraceutical: Vitamin D

Indication: Depression

Source: Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 2008;65(5):508-512.

Research: In this study, researchers set out to determine whether there is an association between depression and vitamin D levels in a group of 1282 senior citizens between the ages of 65 and 95. According to researchers, depression has incidentally been related to altered levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and parathyroid hormone (PTH), but this relation has never been studied systematically. Depression was measured using self-reports and diagnostic interviews. Levels of 25(OH)D and PTH were assessed. Potentially confounding factors (i.e., age, sex, smoking status, body mass index, number of chronic conditions and serum creatinine concentration) and explanatory factors (i.e., season of data acquisition, level of urbanization and physical activity) were also measured.

Results: Researchers found that levels of 25(OH)D were 14% lower in 169 persons with minor depression and 14% lower in 26 persons with major depressive disorder compared with levels in 1087 control individuals. Levels of PTH were 5% and 33% higher, respectively. This led researchers to conclude that there is definitely a link between depression status and severity with decreased serum 25(OH)D levels and increased serum PTH levels in older individuals.


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