Friday, December 1, 2017

Kidney Disease—All Things Considered

Source: [36]


A national survey found that only 41% of Americans tested had normal kidney function, a drop from 52% about a decade earlier.[1]

If your kidneys do not function property, metabolic waste products can accumulate in the blood and eventually lead to such symptoms as weakness, shortness of breath, confusion, and abnormal heart rhythms.  If your kidneys fail completely, you will either need a new one or have to go on dialysis. However, the average life expectancy of a person on dialysis is less than 3 years.[3]

So, it's better to keep your kidneys healthy in the first place.

Video 1.  Treating Chronic Kidney Disease with Food (YouTube link)


Kidney Problems


Healthy kidneys work hard to retain protein and other vital nutrients, preferably filtering toxic or useless wastes out of the blood stream via your urine.  Patients with kidney problems can range from experiencing no symptoms to leaking protein into urine or to end-stage renal disease.
  • Poor kidney function is not just a kidney disease
    • Kidney malfunction can be so damaging to the rest of the body that most people don't live long enough to reach end-stage kidney failure.
    • Poor kidney function is associated with diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
      • For instance,  your kidneys are so critical to proper heart function that patients under age 45 with kidney failure can be 100 times more likely to die of heart disease than those with working kidneys.[3]
  • Each year, 64,000 Americans are diagnosed with kidney cancer, and about 14,000 die from it.[29]
  • Most kidney disease is characterized by a gradual loss of function over time.
    • Common signs of kidney problems include frequent urination, problems urinating, and constant thirst
  • Kidney Stones
    • Read the companion article "Types of Kidney Stones "
    • Approximately one in eleven Americans are affected today, compared with one in twenty less than two decades ago.[20]
Video 2.  How Not to Die from Kidney Disease (YouTube link)

Renal Function Test


Creatinine is removed from the blood chiefly by the kidneys. Little or no tubular reabsorption of creatinine occurs. If the filtration in the kidney is deficient, creatinine blood levels rise. Therefore, creatinine levels in blood and urine may be used for kidney function tests.
  • Creatinine Clearance
    • A decreased creatinine clearance indicates poor renal function. Normal creatinine level is between 80 - 120 μmol/L. 
  • Serum Creatinine
    • Serum creatinine may be more useful clinically when dealing with patients with early kidney disease.
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
    • Blood creatinine levels may also be used alone to calculate the estimated GFR (eGFR).
    • A normal eGFR for adults is greater than 90 mL/min/1.73m2, according to the National Kidney Foundation. (Because the calculation works best for estimating reduced kidney function, actual numbers are only reported once values are less than 60 mL/min/1.73m2).

Reference Range for eGFR


What are the stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

There are five stages of kidney disease.[40] Your healthcare professional determines your stage of kidney disease based on the amount of kidney damage shown by your eGFR or mGFR.
  • Over 90 mL/min/1.73m²: This indicates normal kidney function.
  • 60-89 mL/min/1.73m²: Considered mild to moderate decrease in kidney function, also known as stage 2 chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • 30-59 mL/min/1.73m²: Indicates moderate to severe decrease in kidney function, corresponding to stage 3 CKD.
  • 15-29 mL/min/1.73m²: Suggests severe decrease in kidney function, also known as stage 4 CKD.
  • Below 15 mL/min/1.73m²: Indicates very severe decrease in kidney function, corresponding to stage 5 CKD or kidney failure.
What is a normal eGFR number?

The reference range for estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) varies depending on factors like age, sex, and ethnicity. In adults, the normal eGFR number is usually more than 90. eGFR declines with age, even in people without kidney disease. See chart below for average estimated eGFR based on age.

Source: kidney.org

Note that eGFR is a key tool for diagnosing and monitoring CKD, but it's not the only factor considered. Additional tests and assessments might be needed for a complete picture.



Risk Factors of Kidney Diseases


  • Animal Products[4]
    • Researchers at Harvard University found three specific dietary components associated with declining kidney function:  animal protein, animal fat, and cholesterol.
    • And they found no association between kidney function decline and the intake of protein or fat from plant sources.
  • Kidney Stones
    • Read the companion article "Risk Factors of Kidney Stones"
    • When urine is more alkaline, stones are less likely to form and vice versa.
    • A high intake of zinc was associated with a higher risk.[21]
  • Lipid Nephrotoxicity
    • Fat and cholesterol in the blood stream could be toxic to the kidneys.[5,6]
  • "Meat-Sweet" Diet[7]
    • Excess table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup consumption is associated with increased blood pressure and uric acid levels, both of which can damage the kidney.
    • The saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol found in animal products and junk food are associated with impaired kidney function, and meat protein increases the acid load in the kidneys, boosting ammonia production and potentially damaging our sensitive kidney cells.[8,14]
  • Excess Phosphorus Intake
    • Having too much phosphorus in the blood may increase the risk of kidney failure, heart failure, heart attacks, and premature death.[24]
    • Phosphate (in animal foods) vs Phytate (in plant foods)[26]
      • Phosphorus in meat is present within the cells as organic phosphates, which is easily hydrolyzed and absorbed. 
      • Because mammals lack the degrading enzyme phytase, bioavailability of phosphorus from plant-derived foods is relatively low, despite their high phosphorus content.
    • Inorganic phosphate vs organic phosphate[26,27,28]
      • Inorganic phosphate from additives is readily absorbable and the worst offenders.
  • Inheritance
    • Approximately 4% of kidney cancer are hereditary.[30]
  • Tobacco Use (hint: nitrosamines)[30]
    • Similar to tobacco carcinogens, you can find both nitrosamines and nitrosamides in processed meats
    • Nitrites themselves are not carcinogenic.  However, if they turn into nitrosamines and nitrosamides, then they are.
      • With amines and amides, which are abundant in animal products, nitrites can be transformed to carcinogen.
      • In the case of plant foods, the vitamin C and other antioxidants that are found naturally in them block the formation of these carcinogens in your body.[31]
  • Medications
    • Long-term use of blood pressure drugs may cause kidney damage, one study suggests.[38]
  • Dietary Acid Load[8,14]
    • Dietary acid load is determined by the balance of acid-inducing foods (such as meats, eggs, and cheese) and base-inducing foods (such as fruits and vegetables).
    • A higher dietary acid load was associated with significantly higher risk of protein leakage into the urine, an indicator of kidney damage.[14]

Video 3.  How to Treat Kidney Stones with Diet (YouTube link)

How Not to Die from Kidney Disease[12]


  • Protein restricting diet
    • A renal diet is a diet that becomes increasingly more restrictive as your kidney function declines. 
    • It starts out with having you limit your salt and the amount of protein you eat.[9,39]
  • Eating plant-based diets
    • People eating a plant-based diets appear to have better kidney function.
      • Originally thought to be due to their lower overall protein intake[10]
      • However, we now know that it's more likely due to the fact that the kidneys appear to handle plant protein very differently from animal protein.[11]
    • Half a dozen clinical trials have shown that plant protein replacement can reduce hyperfiltration and/or protein leakage.[12]
      • Why does animal protein cause the overload reaction while plant protein doesn't? Because of the inflammation animal products can cause.[13]
    • Uric acid stones—the 2nd most common type of kidney stones—can apparently be dissolved away completely with a combination of eating more fruits and vegetables, restricting animal protein and salt intake, and drinking at least ten glasses of fluid a day.[23]
    • While nitrite from animal sources was associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer, some of the highest nitrate-containing vegetables, such as arugula, kale, and collards, are associated with significantly reduced risk for kidney cancer.[32]
  • Avoid meat-rich diet
    • The chronic, low-grade, metabolic acidosis attributed to a meat-rich diet helps explain that:
      • Why people eating plant-based diets appear to have superior kidney function.[15]
      • Why various plant-based diets have been so successful in treating chronic kidney failure.[16-19]
    • Oxford University researchers found that subjects who didn't eat meat all all had a significantly lower risk of being hospitalized for kidney stones, and for those who did eat meat, the more they ate, the higher their associated risk.[21]
  • Phosphate (in animal foods) vs Phytate (in plant foods)
    • Most Americans consume about twice as much phosphorus as they need.[25]
    • Phosphate is absorbed into the bloodstream more readily than phytate.[26]
    • Avoid Phosphate additives in cola drinks and meat (for enhancing color)
      • Phosphate additives have been described as "a real and insidious danger" for kidney patients, since they have diminished capacity to excrete it.[27]
      • A supermarket survey found more than 90% of chicken products contained phosphate additives.[28]

References

  1. Coresh J, Selvin E, Stevens LA, et al.  Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the United States.  JAMA, 2007;298(17):2038-47.
  2. Stokes JB.  Consequences of frequent hemodialysis: comparison to conventional hemodialysis and transplantation.  Trans Am Clin Climatol Assoc.  2011;122:124-36
  3. Kumar S, Bogle R. Banerjee D. Why do young people with chronic kidney disease die early?  World J Nephrol. 2014;3(4):143-155.
  4. Lin J, Hu FB, Curhan GC.  Associations of diet with albuminuria and kidney function decline.  Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010;5(5):836-43.
  5. Moorheaqd JF, Chan MK, El-Nahas M, Varghese Z. Lipid nephrotoxicity in chronic progressive glomerular and tubulo-interstitial disease.  Lancet.  1982;2(8311):1309-11.
  6. Hartroft WS.  Fat emboli in glomerular capillaries of choline-deficient rats and of patients with diabetic glomerulosclerosis, Am J Pathol.  1955;31(3):381-97.
  7. Odermatt A.  The Western-style diet: a major risk factor for impaired kidney function and chronic kidney disease.  Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, 2011; 301(5):F919-31.
  8. van den Berg E, Hospers FA, Navis G, et al.  Dietary acid load and rapid progression to end-stage renal disease of diabetic nephropathy in Westernized South Asian people.  J Nephrol. 2011; 24(1):11-7.
  9. Piccoli GB, Vigotti FN, Leone F, et al.  Low-protein diets in CKD: how can we achieve them? A narrative, pragmatic review.  Clin Kidney J. 3015;8(1):61-70.
  10. Wiseman MJ, Hunt R, Goodwin A, Gross JL, Keen H, Viberti GC.  Dietary composition and renal function in healthy subjects.  Nephron.  1987;46(1):37-42.
  11. Nakamura H, Takasawa M, Kashara S, et al.  Effects of acute protein loads of different sources on renal function of patients with diabetic nephropathy.  Tohoku J Exp Med. 1989;159(2):153-62.
  12. How Not to Die (Dr. Michael Greger), Chap 10;Ref 24-30.
  13. Fioretto P, Trevisan R, Valerio A, et al.  Impaired renal response to a meat meal in insulin-dependent diabetes:  role of glucagon and prostaglandins.  Am J Physiol, 1990;258(3 Pt 2):F675-83.
  14. Banerjee T, Crews DC, Wesson DE, et al.  Dietary acid load and chronic kidney disease among adults in the United States.  BMC Nephrol. 2014 Aug 24;15:137.
  15. Wiseman MJ, Hunt R, Goodwin A, Gross JL, Ken H, Viberti GC. Dietary composition and renal function in healthy subjects.  Nephron. 1987;46(1):37-42.
  16. Kempner W. Treatment of heart and kidney disease and of hypertensive and arteiosclerotic vascular disease with the rice diet.  Ann Intern Med. 1949;31(5):821-56.
  17. Barsotti G, Morelli E, Cupisti A, Meola M, Dani I., Giovannetti S.  A low-nitrogen low-phosphorus vegan diet for patients with chronic renal failure.  Nephron.  1996;74(2):390-4.
  18. Goraya N, Simoni J, Jo C, Wesson DE. Dietary acid reduction with fruits and vegetables or bicarbonate attenuates kidney injury in patients with a moderately reduced glomerular filtration rate due to hypertensive nephropathy.  Kidney Int. 2012;81(1):86-93.
  19. Uribarri J, Oh MS.  The key to halting progression of CKD might be in the produce market, not in the pharmacy.  Kidney Int. 2012;81(1):7
  20. Scales CD Jr, Smith AC, Hanley JM, Saigal CS; Urologic Diseases in America Project, Prevalence of kidney stones in the United States.  Eur Urol. 2012;62(1):160-5.
  21. Turney BW, Appleby PN, Reynard JM, Nobel JG, Key TJ, Allen NE.  Diet and risk of kidney stones in the Oxford cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).  Eur J Epidemiol. 2014;29(5):363-9.
  22. Siener R, Hesse A.  The effect of a vegetarian and different omnivorous diets on urinary risk factors for uric acid stone formation.  Eur J Nutr. 2003;42(6):332-7.
    • Removing all meat from a standard Western diet appears to reduce the risk of uric acid crystallization—the 2nd most common type of kidney stones—by more than 90% within as few as five days.
  23. Kim JW, et al. Increased fluid intake and adequate dietary modification may be enough for the successful treatment of uric acid stone.  Urolithiasis. 2013;41(2):179-82.
  24. Ritz E, Hahn K, Ketteler M, Kuhlmann MK, Mann J. Phosphate additives in food—a health risk.  Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2012;109(4):49-55.
  25. Calvo MS, Uribarri J. Public health impact of dietary phosphorus excess on bone and cardiovascular health in the general population.  Am J Clin Nutr. 2013;98(1):6-15.
  26. Fukagawa M, Komaba H, Miyamoto K. Source matters: from phosphorus load to bio-availability. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;6(2):239-40
  27. Benini O, D'Alessandro C, Gianfaldoni D, Cupisti A.  Extra-phosphate load from food additives in commonly eaten foods: a real and insidious danger for renal patients.  J Ren Nutr. 2011;21(4):303-8.
  28. Sullivan CM, Leon JB, Sehgal AR.  Phosphorus-containing food additives and the accuracy of nutrient databases: implications for renal patients.  J Ren Nutr. 2007;17(5):350-4.
  29. American Cancer Society.  Cancer Facts & Figures 2014.  Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2014.
  30. Kirkali A, Cal C. Renal Cell Carcinoma: Overview. In Nargund VH, Raghavan D, Sandler HM, eds.  Urological Oncology. London, UK: Springer; 2008:263-80.
  31. Bartsch H, Ohshima H, Pignatelli B. Inhibitors of endogenous nitrosation.  Mechanisms and implications in human cancer prevention.  Mutat Res. 1988;202(2):307-24.
    • Such inhibitors of nitrosation include vitamins C and E, phenolic compounds, and complex mixtures such as fruit and vegetable juices or other plant extracts
  32. Liu B, Mar Q, Wang X, et al.  Cruciferous vegetables consumption and risk of renal cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis.  Nutr Cancer.  2013;65(5):668-76
    • Our findings supported that cruciferous vegetables consumption was related to the decreased risk of renal cell carcinoma.
  33. How to Prevent and Treat Kidney Problems With Food (Dr. Mercola) 
  34. 7 Secrets to Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy
  35. How Not to Die from Kidney Disease
  36. Current insights toward kidney injury: Decrypting the dual role and mechanism involved of herbal drugs in inducing kidney injury and its treatment
  37. Proton pump inhibitors associated acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease: data mining of US FDA adverse event reporting system
    • The present study identified six PPIs-associated AKI (acute kidney injury) and CKD (chronic kidney disease) signals based on the FAERS data.
  38. Long-term use of blood pressure drugs may cause kidney damage, study suggests
  39. What Are the Best Foods for Kidney Health?
  40. Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)

Monday, November 27, 2017

Prostate Cancer—All Things Considered

Nearly 200,000 cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each year, and nearly 28,000 men die.[19] In a prostate cancer patient's testimony, he describes the disease as:[20,32]
"This is serious, life-changing stuff: There’s blood in your urine, a catheter snaked up your penis, scars stitch your gut, and you might be impotent and incontinent for a few months, a couple of years, or the rest of your life."
Scary! Isn't it?

Prostate Problems


The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and base of the penis, just in front of the rectum. It surrounds the urethra, the outlet from the bladder, and secretes the fluid portion of semen. Just as glandular tissue in the breast can become cancerous, so can glandular tissue in the prostate.

If the cancer is caught while still localized with the prostate, the chances of it killing you within the next five years are practically nil. However, if the cancer spreads far enough, your chances of surviving five years may be as low as one in three.[18,29]

Prostate Cancer Screening


Prostate Cancer Screening measures the level of PSA in the blood.  As a rule, the higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely a prostate problem is present. But many factors, such as age and race, can affect PSA levels.

Also, noted that PSA test could have two potential issues:
  1. Prostate cancers—detected or undetected—may never have led to harm[49]
    • Autopsy studies show that about half of men over the age of 80 have prostate cancer.[18]
    • Most men die with prostate cancer without ever knowing they had it.
  2. PSA screening can result in a high percentage of false positives
The latest recommendation suggests that, overall, PSA-based screening offers men aged 55 to 69 a small potential benefit of reducing the chance of dying from prostate cancer. However, for men 70 and older, the advisory panel advises against such testing due to the slow-growing nature of prostate cancer in this age group and the high 10-year survival rate. If further investigation is necessary, an MRI or MRI-ultrasound guided prostate biopsy can be used to confirm a diagnosis and guide personalized treatment options.

US Preventive Services Task Force


Risk Factors of Prostate cancer


  • Environmental quality
    • The risk of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women seemed most susceptible to bad environmental quality (i.e., rural vs urban living areas), the research team observed.[12]
  • Higher calcium and/or dairy intakes
    • There is some evidence to suggest that higher calcium (ranging from 600 mg to >2000 mg of calcium) and/or dairy intakes (>2.5 servings) may be associated with the development of prostate cancer.[43-46]
      • However, these studies are observational in nature rather than clinical trials and cannot establish a definite causal relationship between calcium and prostate cancer.
    • At the present time, it is recommended that men ages 19 and over consume a "modest" intake of calcium ranging from 1000-1200 mg per day and maintain an intake below the upper tolerable limit (2500 mg).[47]
  • Alcohol consumption
    • A large amount of alcohol makes the detrusor muscle contract less efficiently and may make any prostate problem worse
  • Milk consumption
    • Growth hormones used in livestock raising
      • A lifetime of human exposure to these growth factors in milk may help explain the connections found between dairy consumption and certain cancers.[24]
      • Experimental evidence suggests that dairy could also promote the conversion of precancerous lesions or mutated cells into invasive cancers.[25]
    • Naturally produced sex steroid hormones
      • Today's genetically "improved" dairy cows are milked throughout their pregnancies when their reproductive hormones are particularly high.[21]
      • Which may lead to hormone-related conditions, including acne, diminished male reproductive potential, and premature puberty.[21-24]
    • A combination of case-control studies and cohort studies concluded that cow's milk consumption is a risk factor for prostate cancer.[26-27]
    • A 2015 meta-analysis found that high intakes of dairy products—milk, low-fat milk, and cheese, but not nondairy sources of calcium—appear to increase total prostate cancer risk.[28]
  • IGF-1
    • The more IGF-1 you have in your bloodstream, the higher your risk for developing cancers, such as prostate cancer[39]
    • The release of IGF-1 appears to be triggered by the consumption of animal protein.[40-41]
Video 1.  The Role of Soy Foods in Prostate Cancer Prevention and Treatment (YouTube link)

How Not to Die from Prostate Cancer[42]


  • Eat plant-based whole foods (especially cruciferous vegetables)[41]
    • The blood of people eating plant-based diets was shown to fight cancer about eight times better.[30]
    • Dr Ornish et al. were able to demonstrate that a full-time plant-based diet allowed for an apparent reversal in cancer growth.
    • Both the historic rarity of BPH and prostate cancer in Japan and China have been attributed to the countries' traditional plant-based diets.[36]
    • Eating garlic and onions has been associated with significantly lower risk of BPH.[37]
    • A UCLA research team compared three groups of men: a plant-based diet-and-exercise group, an exercise-only group, and a control group of sedentary people eating standard fare.[31]
      • The blood of control group killed off 1-2% of cancer cells
      • The blood of exercise-only group killed 2,000% more cancer cells than that of the control groups'
      • However, the winner is the blood from the plant-based diet-and-exercise group, which wiped out 4,000% more cancer cells than that of the control groups'
    • In general, cooked vegetables may work better than raw ones, and legumes—beans, chickpeas, split peas, and lentils—have also been associated with lower risk.[38]
  • Cranberry
    • Cranberry removes purines, uric acid, and toxins from the bladder, kidneys, testicles, and prostate—which means a healthier prostate and less risk of prostate cancer.
  • Watermelon
    • Watermelon contributes to a healthy prostate and its lycopene may reduce risks of prostate cancer.[1,58]

Source: [59]

  • Green tea or coffee
    • Based on a meta-analysis, it suggests that regardless of tea type, tea consumption might be a potential protective factor for the prostate caner, especially in China and India.[50]
      • Tea consumption might play a protective role in low-grade prostate caner.
    • But, you might need to drink 6 cups a day to have an impact[52]
      • In Japan, the high tea-drinking group can be five or more cups a day, which appeared to cut the risk of aggressive prostate cancer about in half. 
    • A meta-analysis study found that higher coffee consumption was significantly associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer.[57]
    • Lignans (hint: flaxseeds)[10]
      • Higher levels of lignans tend to be found in the prostate fluids of populations of men with relatively low rates of prostate caner[33]
      • Lignans have been shown to slow the growth of prostate cancer cells in a petri dish.[34]
      • The evidence suggests that flaxseed is safe, low-cost source of nutrition and may reduce tumor-proliferation rates.[48]
        • Ground flaxseed seems to be quite helpful not just for preventing prostate cancer, but also for men who already have prostate cancer.
        • As well as the phytoestrogen effect, the lignans in flaxseed adhere to hormone receptors and promote the removal of testosterone.
        • In men having prostate cancer, a low fat diet supplemented with 30 grams of ground flaxseed reduces serum testosterone by 15 %, slows down the growth rate of cancer cells, and increases the death rate of cancer cells.
    • Drink almond milk instead of cow milk
      • In a petri dish environment, Japanese researchers have found that cow milk produced an average increase in cancer growth rate of more than 30%. In contrast, almond milk suppressed the growth of the cancer cells by more than 30%.[25]
    • Avoid eggs (hint: choline)
      • Compared with men who rarely ate eggs, men who ate even less than a single egg a day appeared to have twice the risk of prostate cancer progression.[29]
    • Avoid poultry (hint: HCA)
      • Men with more aggressive cancer who regularly ate chicken and turkey had up to four times the risk of prostate cancer progression.[29]
    • Avoid fried foods
      • In men, a larger intake of fried food was associated with a 35% increased risk of prostate cancer.[62]
    • Avoid commercially raised animals fed estrogenic hormones to make them gain weight faster and antibiotics to increase growth rate.
      • Residues of these drugs in meat can impact human health adversely.
      • The hormones may promote the development of prostate cancer in men.
      • Antibiotics in meat certainly contribute to the escalating problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which are becoming prevalent in the world.
    Video 2.    Tomato Sauce vs. Prostate Cancer (YouTube link)

    References

    1. "Juiceman's Power of Juicing" by Jay Kordich
    2. Pancreatic Cancer Biomarkers Could Be Detected In Saliva, Mouse Study Shows
    3. New Test for Prostate Cancer (UCSF Medical Center)
    4. Prostate Cancer Symptoms
    5. Prostate Cancer: A Family Affair
    6. Tough Medicine — A disturbing report from the front lines of the war on cancer
    7. The Most Common Prostate Cancer Screening Method Is Obsolete
    8. Prevention Tips for Common Cancers (The Asian Fund for Cancer Research, Ltd.)
      • Don’t overeat. Drink green tea
      • Know your family history of cancer
      • Quit smoking
      • Eat more fruits, vegetables, and lean protein
      • Meet with your doctor to develop a plan for physical activity
      • Limit alcohol intake: 2 drinks/day
    9. US panel issues new guidance on prostate cancer screening
    10. Pilot study to explore effects of low-fat, flaxseed-supplemented diet on proliferation of benign prostatic epithelium and prostate-specific antigen.
    11. Bone health and bone-targeted therapies for prostate cancer
    12. Cancer Risk: Rural areas a bit safer than urban ones
    13. Manipulating Diet May Impact Prostate Cancer Risk, Progression
    14. Treating Advanced Prostate Cancer with Diethttps://nutritionfacts.org/video/treating-advanced-prostate-cancer-with-diet-part-1/
    15. Jackson MD, Walker SP, Simpson-Smith CM, Lindsay CM, Smith G, McFarlane-Anderson N, Bennett FI, Coard KC, Aiken WD, Tulloch T, Paul TJ, Wan RL. Associations of whole-blood fatty acids and dietary intakes with prostate cancer in Jamaica. Cancer Causes Control. 2012 Jan;23(1):23-33.
      • To our knowledge, our study is the first to report an association between avocado consumption and prostate cancer.
      • Whole-blood and dietary MUFA reduced the risk of prostate cancer. The association may be related to avocado intakes. High blood linolenic acid was directly related to prostate cancer.
    16. Prostatic Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) Is Positively Associated with Aggressive Prostate Cancer: A Relationship Which May Depend on Genetic Variation in ALA Metabolism
      • We found that while flaxseed supplementation resulted in significantly higher levels of ALA in the diet, this consumption did not translate into higher prostatic levels of ALA. This was an important finding because in additional analyses, prostatic ALA was associated with significantly higher PSA and tumor proliferation rates.
    17. Prostate Cancer Related Videos on NutriionFacts.org
    18. Jahn JL, Giovannucci EL, Stampfer MJ. The high prevalence of undiagnosed prostate cancer at autopsy: implications for epidemiology and treatment of prostate cancer in the Prostate-specific Antigen-era. Int J Cancer. 2014; Dec 29.
    19. Cancer for Disease Control and Prevention. Prostate Cancer Statistics.
    20. Person, Patient, Statistic
    21. Maruyama K, Oshima t, Ohyama K. Exposure to exogenous estrogen through intake of commercial milk produced from pregnant cows. Pediatr Int. 2010; 52(1): 33-8.
    22. Danby FW. Acne and milk, the diet myth, and beyond. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005; 52(2):360-2.
    23. Afeiche M, Williams PL, Mendiola J, et al Dairy food intake in relation to semen quality and reproductive hormone levels among physically active young men. Hum Reprod. 2013; 28(8):2265-75.
    24. Ludwig DS, Willett WC. Three daily servings of reduced fat milk: an evidence-based recommendation? JAMA Pediatr. 2013; 167(9):788-9.
    25. Tate PL, Bibb R, Larcom LL. Milk stimulates growth of prostate cancer cells in culture. Nutr Cancer. 2011;63(8): 1361-6.
    26. Qin LQ, Xu JY, Wang PY, Kaneko T, Hoshi K, Sato A. Milk consumption is a risk factor for prostate cancer: meta-analysis of case-control studies. Nutr Cancer. 2004;48(1):22-7.
    27. Qin LQ, Xu JY, Wang PY, Tong J, Hoshi K. Milk consumption is a risk factor for prostate cancer in Western countries: evidence from cohort studies. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2007;16(3):467-76.
    28. Aune D, Navarro Rosenblatt DA, Chan DS, et al. Dairy products, calcium, and prostate cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;101(1):87-117.
    29. Richman EL, Stampfer MJ, Paciorek A, Broering JM, Carroll PR, Chan JM. Intakes of meat, fish, poultry, and eggs and risk of prostate cancer progression. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010;91(3):712-21.
      • Our results suggest that the postdiagnostic consumption of processed or unprocessed red meat, fish, or skinless poultry is not associated with prostate cancer recurrence or progression, whereas consumption of eggs and poultry with skin may increase the risk.
    30. Ornish D, Weidner G, Fair WR, et al. Intensive lifestyle changes may affect the progression of prostate cancer. J Urol. 2005;174(3):1065-9.
    31. Barnard RJ, Ngo TH, Leung PS, Aronson WJ, Golding LA. A low-fat diet and/or strenuous exercise alters the IGF axis in vivo and reduces prostate tumor cell growth in vitro. Prostate. 2003;56(3):201-6.
    32. Frey AU, Sonksen J, Fode M. Neglected side effects after radical prostatectomy a systematic review. J Sex Med. 2014;11(2):374-85.
    33. Morton MS, Chan PS, Cheng C, et al. Lignans and isoflavonoids in plasma and prostatic fluid in men: samples from Portugal, Hong Knong, and the United Kingdom. Prostate. 1997;32(2):122-8.
      • Isoflavanoids (from soy) and lignans have many interesting properties and may, in part, be responsible for lower incidences of prostate cancer in men from Asia and also some Mediterranean countries
    34. Lin X, Switzer BR, Denmark-Wahnefried W. Effect of mammalian lignans on the growth of prostate cancer cell lines. Anticancer Res. 2001;21(6A):3995-9.
    35. Leite KR, Camara-Lopes LH, Cury J, Dall'oglio MF, Sanudo A, Srougi M. Prostate cancer detection at rebiopsy after an intial benign diagnosis: results using sextant extended prostate biopsy. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2008;63(3):339-42.
    36. Gu F. Epidemiological survey of benign prostatic byperplasia and prostatic cancer in China. Chin Med J. 2000;113(4):299-302.
    37. Galeone C, Pelucchi C, Talamini R, et al. Onion and garlic intake and the odds of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urology. 2007;70(4):672-6.
    38. Bravi F, Bosetti C, Dal Maso L, et al. Food groups and risk of benigh prostatic hyperplasia. Urology. 2006;67(1):73-9.
    39. Rowlands MA, Gunnell D, Harris R, Vatten LJ, Holly JM, Martin RM. Circulating insulin-like growth factor peptides and prostate cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Cancer. 2009;124(10):2416-29.
    40. Allen NE, Appleby PN, Davey GK, Kaaks R, Rinaldi S, Key TJ. The associations of diet with vegetarians, and vegans. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2002;11(11):1441-8.
    41. Soliman S, Aronson WJ, Barnard RJ. Analyzing serum-stimulated prostate cancer cell lines after low-fat, high fiber diet and exercise intervention. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:529053.
    42. How Not to Die (Dr. Michael Greger)
    43. Janelle KC, Barr SI. Nutrient intakes and eating behavior scores of vegetarian and nonvegetarian women. J Am Diet Assoc 1995;95:180-6
      • Vegans' calcium and vitamin B-12 intakes may need attention
    44. American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada. Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: vegetarian diets. J Am Diet Assoc 2003;103:748-65
    45. Appleby P, Roddam A, Allen N, Key T. Comparative fracture risk in vegetarians and nonvegetarians in EPIC-Oxford. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Dec;61(12):1400-6.
    46. National Institutes of Health. Osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, and therapy. NIH Consensus Statement Online 2000:1-45
    47. Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and Calcium, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2010.
    48. Flaxseed Supplementation (not Dietary Fat Restriction) Reduces Prostate Cancer Proliferation Rates in Men Presurgery
    49. Zlotta AR, Egawa S, Pushkar D, Govorov A, Kimura T, Kido M, Takahashi H, Kuk C, Kovylina M, Aldaoud N, Fleshner N, Finelli A, Klotz L, Sykes J, Lockwood G, van der Kwast TH. Prevalence of prostate cancer on autopsy: cross-sectional study on unscreened Caucasian and Asian men. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Jul 17;105(14):1050-8.
    50. Fei X, Shen Y, Li X, Guo H. The association of tea consumption and the risk and progression of prostate cancer: a meta-analysis. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2014 Nov 15;7(11):3881-91.
    51. Hastak K, Gupta S, Ahmad N, Agarwal MK, Agarwal ML, Mukhtar H. Role of p53 and NF-kappaB in epigallocatechin-3-gallate-induced apoptosis of LNCaP cells. Oncogene. 2003 Jul 31;22(31):4851-9.
    52. Preventing Prostate Cancer with Green Tea (NutritionFacts.org)
    53. Breakthroughs in understanding the genetic basis of aggressive prostate cancer
    54. New Prostate Cancer Imaging Tracer Improves Detection
    55. Biomarkers Build Confidence in Choosing Active Surveillance Over Treatment
      • “Our study demonstrated that the genome is an independent indicator of more or less aggressive cancer,” explains Dr. Stephenson. “Although it’s not perfect, genomic biomarkers help us distinguish cancer behavior, which influences our decisions regarding surveillance and treatment.”
    56. Combinatorial treatment with natural compounds in prostate cancer inhibits prostate tumor growth and leads to key modulations of cancer cell metabolism
    57. Coffee consumption and risk of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
    58. A prospective study of tomato products, lycopene, and prostate cancer risk
    59. The Science of How the Body Heals Itself with William Li, M.D.
    60. MAOA inhibitor phenelzine efficacious in recurrent prostate cancer
    61. Natural diversity in health related phytochemicals in Turkish tomatoes
    62. The Carcinogen Glycidol in Cooking Oil

    Thursday, November 23, 2017

    Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Regenerative Therapies

    Video 1.  Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for Facial Rejuvenation and Hair Growth (YouTube link)


    Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment is one of the most cutting-edge and potentially beneficial types of prolotherapy available today.

    What's Prolotherapy


    Prolotherapy is short for "proliferation therapy", which can be described as follows:
    • Is an alternative medicine practice
    • Is a nonsurgical treatment which stimulates healing
    • Is also known as regenerative (injection) therapy
    • Works by stimulating the body's own natural healing mechanisms to repair injured musculoskeletal, skin or connective tissues
    Types of Prolotherapy include:

    In this article, we will focus on the use of PRP in regenerative medicine.

    Use of PRP in Regenerative Therapies


    Regenerative therapy uses a patient's own tissues to initiate the healing process. With PRP, it uses our platelet-rich plasma to initiate the healing in different treatments:
    Video 2.  Platlett Rich Plasma Therapy (YouTube link)


    Growth Factors Released from PRP


    Platelets constitute a reservoir of critical growth factors (GFs) and cytokines which may govern and regulate the tissue healing process. The bioactive molecules secreted by platelet α-granules are involved in several cellular activities such as stem cell trafficking, proliferation, and differentiation, with a complex effect on pro/anti-inflammatory and anabolic/catabolic processes.[26]

    Moreover, with respect to purified individual GFs, platelets have the theoretical advantage of containing various bioactive molecules with a natural balance of anabolic and catabolic functions, possibly optimizing the tissue environment and favoring the healing process.[26]

    Based on this rationale, PRP is an easy, low-cost, and minimally invasive procedure to deliver high concentrations of autologous GFs and cytokines into injured tissues in physiological proportions. This blood-derived product, placed directly into the damaged tissue, either surgically or through injections, has been widely experimented in different fields of medicine.[27-34]

    A variety of growth factors can be released from PRP, which could include:[11,12]


    Harvesting Platelets

    Figure 1.  Developments in the production of platelets from stem cells 


    Platelets are very rare as they take up only 0.4% of our blood cells. With the process of PRP harvesting, we can concentrate those platelets in plasma, which we then put platelet-rich plasma in the areas that need regeneration and rejuvenation. Below are the steps of harvesting PRP:
    1. Collecting blood 
    2. Separating the platelets 
      • By using a centrifuge with proprietary tubes 
      • Separate the contents of our blood from the plasma and the platelets. Among the platelets, which areas are higher concentration or lower concentration 
    3. Extracting platelet-rich plasma
    There are different techniques that can be used in the process:[11,12]
    • One spin technique
    • Two spin technique
    • Platelet rich fibrin matrix[23]


    Activating Platelets


    Among the several variables affecting PRP  lysates (or releasates), platelet activation is a crucial step that might influence the availability of bioactive molecules and therefore tissue healing.[35-36]

    The term “activation” refers to 2 key processes that are initiated during PRP preparation:
    1. Degranulation of platelets to release GFs from α-granules
    2. Fibrinogen cleavage to initiate matrix formation
      • A clotting process which allows the formation of a platelet gel, and therefore to confine the secretion of molecules to the chosen site.[26]
    In our body, platelets will be activated by the injuries or surgeries. Outside our body, platelets can be exogenously activated by:
    • CaCl2 (or Calcium Gluconate)
    • Thrombin
    • Or a mixture of the above

    An activation step before PRP administration is included in many of the protocols used, commonly by adding thrombin and/or calcium chloride (CaCl2), but some physicians prefer to inject PRP in its resting form, relying on the spontaneous platelet activation occurring after exposure to the native collagen present in the connective tissues.[37]


    References

    1. 6 Major PRP Treatment Benefits, Including for Pain, Injury & Arthritis
    2. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) AAOS
    3. Dr PRP USA
    4. Platlett Rich Plasma Therapy
    5. Harvest® SmartPrep® Multicellular Processing System
    6. Platelet-Rich Plasma: Pain Relief for Knee OA (Cleveland Clinic)
    7. Efficacy of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review
    8. The anti-inflammatory and matrix restorative mechanisms of platelet-rich plasma in osteoarthritis
    9. PRP & Stem Cell Injections
    10. These Injections Can Help Your Chronic Muscle and Joint Pain
    11. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for Facial Rejuvenation and Hair Growth - Dr. Vishad Nabili | UCLAMDCHAT
    12. To Fill or Not to Fill: Aesthetic Surgery of the Aging Midface | UCLAMDCHAT Webinars
    13. Sanchez-Avila, R.M., et al., Treatment of patients with neurotrophic keratitis stages 2 and 3 with plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF-Endoret) eye-drops. Int Ophthalmol, 2017.
    14. Anitua, E., et al., PRGF exerts more potent proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects than autologous serum on a cell culture inflammatory model. Exp Eye Res, 2016. 151: p. 115-21.
    15. Merayo-Lloves, J., et al., Autologous Plasma Rich in Growth Factors Eyedrops in Refractory Cases of Ocular Surface Disorders. Ophthalmic Res, 2015. 55(2): p. 53-61.
    16. Alio, J.L., A.E. Rodriguez, and D. WrobelDudzinska, Eye platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of ocular surface disorders. Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 2015. 26(4): p. 325-32.
    17. Burnouf, P.A., et al., A novel virally inactivated human platelet lysate preparation rich in TGF-beta, EGF and IGF, and depleted of PDGF and VEGF. Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 2010. 56(4): p. 151-60.
    18. Burnouf, T., et al., A virally inactivated platelet-derived growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor concentrate fractionated from human platelets. Transfusion, 2010. 50(8): p. 1702-11.
    19. Burnouf, T., et al., Human blood-derived fibrin releasates: composition and use for the culture of cell lines and human primary cells. Biologicals, 2012. 40(1): p. 21-30.
    20. Burnouf, T., et al., Solvent/detergent treatment of platelet concentrates enhances the release of growth factors. Transfusion, 2008. 48(6): p. 1090-8.
    21. Shih, D.T., et al., Expansion of adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal progenitors in serum-free medium supplemented with virally inactivated allogeneic human platelet lysate. Transfusion, 2011. 51(4): p. 770-8.
    22. Su, C.Y., et al., Quantitative assessment of the kinetics of growth factors release from platelet gel. Transfusion, 2008. 48(11): p. 2414-20.
    23. Su, C.Y., et al., In vitro release of growth factors from platelet-rich fibrin (PRF): a proposal to optimize the clinical applications of PRF. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 2009. 108(1): p. 56-61.
    24. Platelet-Rich Plasma: The Choice of Activation Method Affects the Release of Bioactive Molecules
    25. A. S. Wasterlain, H. J. Braun, and J. L. Dragoo, “Contents and formulations of platelet-rich plasma,” Operative Techniques in Orthopaedics, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 33–42, 2012
    26. M. Tschon, M. Fini, R. Giardino et al., “Lights and shadows concerning platelet products for musculoskeletal regeneration,” Frontiers in Bioscience-Elite, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 96–107, 2011
      • When talking about PLTs and their products, a great number of variables have to be considered. 
      • These variables are mainly related to PRP preparation methodsthe type of activatorsintra- and inter-species variabilitytypes of pathology to be treatedthe ways and times of administration and the association of PRP or PG with other treatments
    27. L. Andriolo, B. Di Matteo, E. Kon, G. Filardo, G. Venieri, and M. Marcacci, “PRP augmentation for ACL reconstruction,” BioMed Research International, vol. 2015, Article ID 371746, 15 pages, 2015.
    28. M. Del Fabbro, G. Gallesio, and M. Mozzati, “Autologous platelet concentrates for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw treatment and prevention. A systematic review of the literature,” European Journal of Cancer, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 62–74, 2015
    29. G. Filardo, E. Kon, A. Roffi, B. Di Matteo, M. L. Merli, and M. Marcacci, “Platelet-rich plasma: why intra-articular? A systematic review of preclinical studies and clinical evidence on PRP for joint degeneration,” Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, vol. 23, no. 9, pp. 2459–2474, 2015
    30. E. Lopez-Vidriero, K. A. Goulding, D. A. Simon, M. Sanchez, and D. H. Johnson, “The use of platelet-rich plasma in arthroscopy and sports medicine: optimizing the healing environment,” Arthroscopy, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 269–278, 2010
    31. A. Roffi, G. Filardo, E. Kon, and M. Marcacci, “Does PRP enhance bone integration with grafts, graft substitutes, or implants? A systematic review,” 
    32. J. A. Textor, J. W. Norris, and F. Tablin, “Effects of preparation method, shear force, and exposure to collagen on release of growth factors from equine platelet-rich plasma,” American Journal of Veterinary Research, vol. 72, no. 2, pp. 271–278, 2011
    33. F. Vannini, B. Di Matteo, G. Filardo, E. Kon, M. Marcacci, and S. Giannini, “Platelet-rich plasma for foot and ankle pathologies: a systematic review,” Foot and Ankle Surgery, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 2–9, 2014
    34. Y. Zhu, M. Yuan, H. Y. Meng et al., “Basic science and clinical application of platelet-rich plasma for cartilage defects and osteoarthritis: a review,” Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, vol. 21, no. 11, pp. 1627–1637, 2013
    35. T. E. Foster, B. L. Puskas, B. R. Mandelbaum, M. B. Gerhardt, and S. A. Rodeo, “Platelet-rich plasma: from basic science to clinical applications,” The American Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 37, no. 11, pp. 2259–2272, 2009
    36. B. Di Matteo, G. Filardo, E. Kon, and M. Marcacci, “Platelet-rich plasma: evidence for the treatment of patellar and Achilles tendinopathy—a systematic review,” Musculoskeletal Surgery, vol. 99, no. 1, pp. 1–9, 2015.
    37. Heath Effects of Iron Overload and Benefits of Blood Donation (Travel to Health)
    38. Regenerative medicine: Current therapies and future directions
    39. Schnabel LV, Mohammed HO, Miller BJ, McDermott WG, Jacobson MS, Santangelo KS, Fortier LA (2007) Platelet rich plasma (PRP) enhances anabolic gene expression patterns in flexor digitorum superficialis tendons. J Orthop Res 25(2):230–240
    40. Editorial Commentary: The Promise of Platelet-Rich Plasma
      • On the basis of this most recent Level I evidence review, PRP results in “significant clinical improvements” in patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee.
    41. Campbell, K.A., Saltzman, B.M., Mascarenhas, R. et al. Does intra-articular platelet-rich plasma injection provide clinically superior outcomes compared with other therapies in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis? A systematic review of overlapping meta-analyses. Arthroscopy. 2015; 31: 2213–2221
    42. Autologous serum eye drops reduce ocular surface disease symptoms
    43. Hair Loss Got You Down? Platelet-Rich Plasma May Regrow It
    44. Inhibiting Platelet Activation with Garlic & Onions
    45. Researchers find drug that enables healing without scarring
    46. Regenerative eyedrops tap blood for tears
    47. REGENERATIVE MEDICINE THERAPEUTIC SUITES (Mayo Clinic)
    48. Developments in the production of platelets from stem cells

    Saturday, November 18, 2017

    Dr. Greger's Superfood Bargains


    Video 1.  Superfood Bargains (YouTube link)


    Superfood Bargains


    As shown in the video, the following antioxidant-rich foods are best bargains based on their antioxidant units per dollar:
    1. Purple cabbage
      • Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, also potent Nrf2 activators. 
      • It is proposed that fermented cabbage may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, which is helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.[3]
    2. Cinnamon 
    3. Cloves
    4. Acai
    5. Artichoke
    6. Cranberries
    7. Goji berries
    8. Apple
    9. Pecan




    See Also:

    1. NutritionFacts.org
    2. Which Food Fights Cancer Better?
    3. Cabbage and fermented vegetables: From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

    Saturday, October 21, 2017

    Which Food Fights Cancer Better?

    Video 1.  Which Nut Fights Cancer Better? (YouTube link)


    Below rankings are based on the food's capability to stop the proliferation of cancer cells.  So, the lower the reading is, the better it fights the cancer.

    Which Vegetable Fights Cancer Better?


    If you're concerned about a specific cancer type, you can choose vegetables known to help with that. For example, In the event of a family history of breast cancer, it is advisable to increase your consumption of foods belonging to the allium genus. But overall, the best way to protect against cancer is to eat a wide variety of vegetables every day. This ensures you're getting all the different nutrients and antioxidants that can help fight many types of cancer.
    1. Garlic family (best)
    2. Broccoli family
    3. Radish
    4. Kale
    5. Yellow Onion
    6. Rutabaga
    7. Green bean
    8. Red Cabbage

    MCF-7, a famous line of human breast cancer cells, came from a patient in 1970. It was Dr. Herbert Soule and his team at Michigan Cancer Foundation (now called Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute) who discovered it.


    Which Fruit Fights Cancer Better?


    Apples beat bananas when it comes to stopping liver cancer cell growth, but cranberries are the real star.
    1. Cranberry (best)
    2. Lemon
    3. Apple
    4. Strawberry
    5. Red grape
    6. Banana
    7. Grapefruit
    8. Peach


    Which Nut Fights Cancer Better?


    We covered veggies and fruits (broccoli, garlic, cranberries, lemons), but what about nuts? Turns out, walnuts and pecans pack the most antioxidant punch. Just 25 walnuts have the antioxidant equivalent of eight grams of vitamin C!
    1. Walnut (best)
    2. Pecan
    3. Peanut
    4. Almond
    5. Pine Nut, Cashew, Macadamia Nut
    6. Hazel Nut, Pistachio, and Brazil Nut 

    Anti-Angiogenic Foods


    Cancer cells are commonly present in the body, but cannot grow into tumors without hooking up a blood supply.  Angiogenesis inhibitors in plant foods may help prevent this from happening.