A study published this past August by cancer researchers from Spain suggests that higher levels of Vitamin D (specifically the amount of Vitamin D receptors) can possibly help in early colon cancer cases by blocking a specific colon cancer progression pathway called Wnt/beta-catenin. Higher levels of Wnt/beta-catenin are thought to be responsible for the initiation of many types of colon cancer in humans. The study found that while Vitamin D receptors did not have an effect on the number of colon cancer tumors, higher levels of Vitamin D receptors did decrease overall colon cancer tumor load.

It does appear that in more advanced cases of colon cancers, the Vitamin D receptors are already significantly down-regulated and reduced.

The authors of the study suggest that Vitamin D receptor concentrations may offer addition treatment options in early colon cancers where the amount of vitamin D receptors have not been significantly reduced.

Vitamin D supplementation may also be a way to reduce or limit the growth of early colon cancer tumors by decreasing the overall tumor load of the colon cancer.

Reference:
Larriba MJ, Ordóñez-Morán P, Chicote I, Martín-Fernández G, Puig I, et al. (2011) Vitamin D Receptor Deficiency Enhances Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling and Tumor Burden in Colon Cancer. PLoS ONE 6(8): e23524. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023524

Patients that are trying to quit smoking to low their risk of heart disease such as heart attacks may get more than they bargained for if they use Chantix (varenicline) based on the findings of a new study from John Hopkins University. Reasearchers reviewed 14 double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trials that included over 8,200 patients. The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal

An earlier study found that patients with pre-existing heart disease had a high rate of cardiac events such as myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) while on Chantix. This new study now shifts the focus onto the potential increased risk of serious cardiac events to all patients, even those patients without a prior history of heart disease.

While the FDA has previously required Pfizer, the maker of Chantix (varenicline), to have a balck box warning on the medication regarding the possibility of patients having increased risk for suicidal thoughts whil on the medication, this new revelation may change how often physicians prescribe Chantix to their patients for smoking cessation.

A new medical study published this month in the Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests that the use of Propecia (finasteride) may cause persistent sexual dysfunction and impotence in some men who take the medication. The study, by George Wahington University researchers, demonstrated that a subset of men that took Propecia (finasteride) had continued sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction, decreased sexual desire and libido, even after stopping the medication. This new study is one of the first to look at the long-term effects of the use of Propecia (finasteride) even after patients stop the medication.

What was interesting about the study is that the sexual dysfunction was found in younger men (age 21 to age 46) who were taking the medication for cosmetic reasons (prevention of hair loss). The sexual dysfunction may be due to blockage of the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to the more bio-active form of dihydrotestosterone by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme

Watch some of the comments by Dr. Michael Irwig, the lead researcher from George Washington University discuss some of the study’s findings.

Fine moustachery and immaculate grooming doesn’t grow on trees.You can’t usually find it on sale the day after Thanksgiving. In fact, its often sought after, and rarely obtained…

November is Prostate Cancer month and also Movember, where men (and women if they can) grow mustaches to raise awareness and money for prostate cancer research.

Why is prostate cancer research important? Why is cancer research important?

Here are the facts:

One out of every two men in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage of their life.

One out of every six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer

This is a cause that I feel passionately about and I’m asking you to support my efforts by making a donation to support the great work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the LIVESTRONG foundation. To help, you can either:

- Click this link http://us.movember.com/mospace/1123956/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account
- Write a check payable to Movember, referencing my name or Registration Number 1123956 and mailing it to: Movember, PO Box 2726, Venice, CA 90294-2726

The money raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others, through the world’s most promising prostate cancer research and LIVESTRONG’s programs that support young adults and their families battling and surviving cancer.

For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please visit
http://us.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs/.

Please remember to donate to http://us.movember.com/mospace/1123956/

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected the application of Qnexa, the third weight loss drug this month to be rejected for the U.S. market. The FDA cited concerns about birth defects and heart problems as their reason for rejecting the application, but have asked the drug manufacturer to supply more safety information. Qnexa is a combination of two existing drug, phenteramine and topiramate (Topamax) and both drugs are available in the U.S. in their single formulations.

Read more about the rejection of Qnexa at the N.Y. Times.

Very interesting lecture by Robert H. Lustig, MD from University of California San Francisco on “Sugar: The Bitter Truth”

A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition looked at the effect of a probiotic (lactobacillus gasseri) added to fermented milk on weight loss and abdominal fat area in Japanese men.

The study was published by researchers at a Japanese dairy company and looked at the effect of probiotic supplements (Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055)) on weight loss in obese Japanese men.

The 3 month study of 87 men that had a BMI between 24.2 and 30.7 kg/m2 looked at weight loss and abdominal fat loss when given fermented milk either with or without the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055. At the end of the 12 week study, there was a substantial weight loss in the group consuming the fermented milk with the probiotic (1.4% decrease or -1.1 kg) and decrease in BMI (1.5% decrease or -0.4 kg/m2) as well as a 4.6% decrease in the amount of abdominal fat tissue measured by CAT scans before and after the study.

A couple of thoughts on this study; First, its interesting to see that adding a probiotic may have some short term benefit on weight loss as well as decreasing abdominal fat, which can be a risk factor for heart disease. However, the group selected for the study mostly fall within the “Overweight” category on the BMI (Body Mass Index) scale (25 to 29.9 kg/m2). I’d be curious to see this same study done with test subjects that were in the Obese Class I & II(BMI of 30.0 to 34.9 kg/m2 and BMI of 35-39.9 kg/m2) and “Morbidly Obese” (BMI of greater that 40%) to see if the weight loss was similar or greater.

Additionally, I’d also like to see a longer study (6 to 12 months) to demonstrate the long term effectiveness of the probiotics in maintaining the weight loss, and additional results to determine if this weight loss effect would be enhanced by exercise and/or nutrition changes.

The recent announcement by the FDA requesting that the manufacturer of the weight loss drug Meridia (sibutramine) remove it from the U.S. market has been followed by similar requests from the Departments of Health in Australia and Taiwan over the weekend. The European Union had already called for the ban of sales of the weight loss drug Meridia in January 2010.

The FDA sited concerns in a recent study that suggested a significant increase in the incidence of cardiovascular complications such as heart attacks and strokes.

A shorter (6 week long) version of this same study was published in 2007 by the European Heart Journal looked at the use of Meridia in high-risk patients with cardiovascular disease did not find any statistical difference in heart attacks or strokes between the group that took the weight loss drug and those in the control group, however the short time period of the study would not identify the longer-term effects of the weight loss drug on patients at high risk for cardiovascular complications such as strokes, increasing hypertension, heart attacks or congestive heart failure.

According to FDA data, there has been a large decrease in the number of prescriptions for Merdia, with currently only approximately 100,000 patients (80% women) on the weight loss drug in the United States, representing roughly $140 million in annual sales for Abbott (based on average price of $3.80/pill).

The New York Times reports on a Massachusetts program to give food vouchers to low-income families that are redeemable at local farmers markets for fresh fruits and vegetables in an effort to battle the ever expanding epidemic of childhood obesity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/business/13veggies.html?src=me&ref=business

One common question we receive is “How much vitamin D should I be taking…”

And to answer that question honestly, we really don’t know the exact dose of Vitamin D required by each individual since absorption and storage of Vitamin D can differ (as well as how much vitamin D is produced from daily sun exposure – which is an entire post all together).

The current recommendations for vitamin D supplementation in the U.S. are based on the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowances)

Two studies that I use to justify my recommendations to patients for taking at least 2000 IU per day of vitamin D on most days.

The first study looked at researchers in Antartica during the winter when there is essential no or minimal sunlight. This 2009 study looked at the difference in the researchers’ vitamin D levels over 5 months (March through August of 2007) and found that the group that supplemented with 2000 IU/day were able to increase their average serum vitamin D (25-OH) levels from 45 nmol/L to 71 nmol/L while the 1000 IU/daily of vitamin D group only increased their serum vitamin D levels form 44 nmol/L to 63 nmol/L and the 400 IU/day group had a measurable increase of vitamin D (25-OH) levels from 44 to 57 nmol/L.

The second study I use to justify a higher vitamin D supplementation is a 2008 study that looked at Long Island residents (mixed population of Causasians and African-American) that received vitamin D supplementation with close monitoring and adjustment of their vitamin D supplement dosage to try to raise and maintain their blood serum vitamin D (25-OH) levels above 75 nmol/L. This study found that the patients with lighter pigmented skin required on average, about 3000 IU/day of vitamin D and African-American patients required a higher dose of almost 4000 IU/day to reach the target goal of a serum vitamin D (25-OH) level of 75 nmol/L without anyy reported cases of hypercalcemia among the test subjects.

So based on these two studies as well as personal experience with my patients, I typically recommend that they start at a 2000 IU/day vitamin D supplement and then follow their serum vitamin D (25-OH) levels every two to three months until they reach 75 nmol/L or higher of serum vitamin D (25-OH)