Holistic Health Show

In a report in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology researchers concluded that smokeless tobacco not only has adverse affects on the mouth but also affects the normal functioning of a key family of enzymes found in most organs of the body and DNA. Functions of these enzymes include production of hormones including estrogen and testosterone, production of cholesterol and vitamin D, assisting with breakdown of prescription drugs and potentially toxic substances. The smokeless tobacco also damages genetic material in the liver, kidney and lungs. These conclusions were a result of changes observed in enzymes and genetic material in laboratory rats using extracts of smokeless tobacco.

Researchers for a paper published in the May issue of the Journal of Applied Physiology studied 7 men with an average age of 70 who performed 4 minutes of low-resistance leg extension exercises both with and without inflatable cuffs that reduce blood flow out of the muscles. The researchers found that when the men put the cuff on, they responded like a young man to the exercises. The cuffs made light weights feel heavier and produced greater muscle mass in these men.

Researchers know that resistance weight exercises alone are effective against muscle loss that occurs during aging. However, older men receive less of a post exercise benefit than younger men and those with debilitating conditions are often unable to carry out resistant exercises. The researchers think this process (resistanc exercise and restricting blood flow) will help older men who need to bring their muscle mass back. They also say “it could be used for patients who have had surgery and aren’t capable of lifting enough weight to keep their muscles in shape, or for people who have arthritis or other conditions that make lifting heavy weights a problem.” For example, following ACL knee surgery when a person is unable to lift heavy weight, they could use a light weight with a restriction cuff to prevent muscle loss normally seen after knee surgery.

Recently published research in Occupational and Environmental Medicine concluded that women exposed to chemicals and pollutants (namely synthetic fibers and petroleum products) before their mid-thirties could treble their risk of developing breast cancer after their menopause.

There were more than 1100 fifty to 75 year old women in the sample and 556 of these were diagnosed with breast cancer following menopause in 1996 and 1997. The other 613 women matched for age and date of diagnoses had a range of other types of cancer and served as a comparison group.

A team of chemical and industrial hygiene experts investigated the level of exposure of the sample to about 300 potentially causal substances during their work career. After eliminating factors known to be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, a link was found between occupational exposure to several of these substances. When the study sample was contrasted with the comparison group the risk of exposure peaked before age 36 and was magnified for each decade of exposure before that age. Results showed that women exposed to acrylic fibers had a seven-fold risk of breast cancer whereas those exposed to nylon fibers had almost a double risk.

When tumors were divided into those responding to different hormones, women whose cancers responded to estrogen but not progesterone were twice as likely to have breast cancer for every 10 year period of exposure to monaromatic hydrocarbons (a byproduct of crude oil) and rayon and acrylic fibers. For the group whose tumors responded to both estrogen and progesterone exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons tripled their risk of cancer.

Although the authors concluded these results could be due to chance they are consistent with commonly used theoretical models. However, more research is needed to validate these findings.

A new study reported in the British Journal of Cancer on March 5, 2010 concluded that women who take some types of bone building drugs to prevent osteoporosis may be at a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
The study included almost 6,000 Wisconsin women betweeen the ages of 20 and 69. Half had been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and half had not (for comparison). Women were interviewed about their bone health-their history of whether they had been diagnosed with osteoporosis, biophosphonate use and fractures. Data also included information on breast cancer risk factors such as first-degree family history of the disease, age at first birth, postmenopausal hormone use and body mass index. Results showed that women who used bisphosphonate drugs, such as Fosamax, Boniva and Zomita, for more than two years were almost 40% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who did not. This protection was not afforded women who were obese.