Micronutrient Health Blog | SpectraCell Laboratories - January 2017

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News that matters for your health.

Can High Dose Vitamin E Reduce Kidney Inflammation?

A recently published study in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology suggests a possible relationship. In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial (the gold standard for medical publications), sixty diabetics with confirmed kidney disease were divided into two groups:  one group (n=30) took 1200 IU/d of vitamin E, while the other group (n=30) took placebo. After 12 weeks, the group taking vitamin E showed a significant reduction in several biomarkers of kidney  inflammation... Read More
Posted by Elissa Rodriguez at Monday, January 30, 2017

Folic Acid Deficiency Exacerbates Damage From Stroke

Previous studies have linked low folic acid with an increased risk of ischemic stroke (stroke caused by oxygen deprivation) but new research sheds light on how damage occurs. In this animal study, scientists demonstrated that after a stroke, brain tissue is damaged both from lack of oxygen and through the prolonged activation of autophagy, a process whose function is to degrade dysfunctional parts of a cell. When folic acid is deficient, autophagy is accelerated to the point where nerve cells... Read More
Posted by Elissa Rodriguez at Tuesday, January 24, 2017

NUTRIENT OF THE MONTH - Lipoic Acid

When it comes to micronutrient name recognition, vitamins and minerals typically get the spotlight (think vitamin C, vitamin D, Magnesium). Less well known are antioxidants, the superstars when it comes to protection from oxidative stress and free radicals. Lipoic acid (AKA thioctic acid) is one such nutrient. This particular substance is unique in that it has antioxidant properties in both water and lipids (most antioxidants protect only one, but not the other). Its unique chemical structure... Read More
Posted by Elissa Rodriguez at Friday, January 20, 2017

Shedding Some Light on Cholesterol

Did you know that everything you’ve learned about cholesterol and its association with heart attacks is only partly correct? Consider this startling statistic: 50% of people who have suffered a heart attack, have "normal" cholesterol. Another way of saying this is that among heart attack victims, standard cholesterol testing would have detected “normal” ranges in half of this population had it been performed on the day of their event. This begs the question: why do so many practitioners use a... Read More
Posted by Elissa Rodriguez at Thursday, January 19, 2017

Metabolically Speaking, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Is Like Hibernation

Chronic fatigue syndrome (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis) is notoriously difficult to diagnose since it manifests with esoteric symptoms that often overlap with other disorders such as fibromyalgia, depression, and hormone imbalances. However, new research from the University of California sheds light on the metabolic abnormalities seen in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), regardless of cause. Although several factors can trigger its onset (viral infection, illness, traumatic injury, s... Read More
Posted by Elissa Rodriguez at Friday, January 13, 2017

Micronutrients: The Key to Effective Weight Loss

We’ve all heard the proverbial advice for achieving a healthy body and maintaining our weight: exercise and “eat right.”  But for those who really want to delve further into the science behind an enviable metabolism, we offer a list of vitamins with an explanation of their role in the body’s ability to burn fat and build muscle. Vitamin A: This vitamin is particularly good at regulating how genes are expressed. Although genes do determine to an extent how the body stores or burns fat, o... Read More
Posted by Elissa Rodriguez at Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Why Is Alzheimer's Disease Sometimes Referred to as Type 3 Diabetes?

Did you know that these two chronic diseases are similar? Both conditions are characterized by a loss of insulin sensitivity at the cellular level. This means that cells (regardless of whether they are muscle, liver, fat, nerve, or brain cells) are no longer responsive to the hormone insulin (they have become insulin resistant). In other words, these cells have become unable to use glucose effectively as a source of metabolic fuel. As a result, glucose remains in the bloodstream because the ... Read More
Posted by Elissa Rodriguez at Friday, January 6, 2017

Three Important (but Overlooked) Strategies for Weight Loss in the New Year

Every January, many of us are inspired by the prospect of a healthier self to begin important lifestyle and behavior changes. In the United States, losing weight is among the most common of New Year’s resolutions. Here, we outline some tips for achieving and maintaining a healthy BMI (body mass index). We won’t go on to describe the mechanics of doing a proper push-up, or offer healthy recipes, but we will offer you practical information to help you achieve more optimal health, of which fitne... Read More
Posted by Elissa Rodriguez at Thursday, January 5, 2017