PreDisease.com Blog

Fosamax (alendronate sodium) is one drug in a class of drugs known as biphosponates. Biphosphonates are medications prescribed to prevent or treat osteoporosis. More and more, physicians are also prescribing biphosphonates to patients who have osteopenia, the precursor to osteoporosis.

There is new information coming to light that suggests that women taking biphosphonates for longer than five years may be at increased risk for bone fracture. This may seem odd, considering that Fosamax and others in this drug class are supposed to make bones stronger, but there have been several reports of women on long-term therapy experiencing fractures with little provocation.

Merck, the company that makes Fosamax, has included a warning on the drug information material stating that bone fractures are a possible effect of the drug, but there are no prescribing instructions as to how long women should take Fosamax. As a result of these reports of bone fractures, many physicians are recommending that their patients only stay on the drug for a maximum of five years.

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and are more susceptible to fracture. Fractures commonly occur in the wrist, spine, and hip. Older women are at the highest risk for osteoporosis. Smoking, menopause, a sedentary lifestyle and small size (being thin) can also contribute to the development of the condition. Prevention is aimed at ensuring a diet that is rich in calcium and vitamin D and weight-bearing exercise. Avoiding smoking and excessive use of alcohol can also help in prevention of the disease.

PreMenora+ is a formulation of all-natural botanicals to help reduce the symptoms of perimenopause. In addition, PreMenora+ also contains oyster shell calcium and vitamin D, both of which can help to prevent osteoporosis.

Source: Osteoporosis

Fosamax: Is Long Term Use of Bone Strengthening Drug Linked to Fractures?

Part of President Obama’s health care reform plan is to increase comparative effectiveness research. This type of research can reduce health care costs by determining the most effective medications to treat certain conditions, as well as comparing drug therapy against other forms of treatment to determine which is best. This type of research is aimed at finding the most cost-effective treatments available.

Generally, pharmaceutical companies have a vested interest in funding studies that show that the drug they supply is better than a drug from another rival company. Billions of dollars are spent on researching new drugs that will earn pharmaceutical companies millions in revenues, but drug companies are less interested in funding research that may not show their product in a favorable light.

Non-commercial and government entities support most of these comparative studies; 1.1 billion dollars was earmarked by Congress last year to fund comparative effectiveness studies as part of the government’s stimulus program. It has been suggested that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) should demand these studies from drug companies before granting approval of new drugs. At this point in time, this is not a requirement for gaining approval status for new medications.

Many new medications are not necessarily better but may be more expensive, a fact that is sometimes forgotten in the hype and media blitz that often occurs with the release of a new drug. People are lulled into a sense of security and may be unaware that the expensive new drug that has been hailed as the “wonder drug” of the month may not be any more effective that the “old” one that did virtually the same thing.

Is it any wonder that many cannot afford their medications? Comparative effectiveness research may be one tool in the arsenal of health care reform that can help to reduce the runaway costs of prescription drugs.

Source: Few U.S. studies compare one drug to another: report

It seems that researchers can’t get enough of vitamin D. There have been many studies in the past few years which have yielded evidence that vitamin D may provide a protective effect against heart disease, multiple sclerosis, premature birth and other conditions.

Now, researchers from Denmark have studied the effects of vitamin D on the immune system and have come to the conclusion that vitamin D plays an important role in marshalling the immune system’s defenses against infectious diseases, such as colds and influenza.

Their research has shown that vitamin D helps to signal “dormant” white blood cells to become active, in order to seek out and destroy invading organisms. White blood cells can be thought of as front-line soldiers in the immune system’s response to bugs. Specifically, vitamin D triggers T-cells, the cells that contain a memory for bugs that the body has been exposed to before. T-cells also target infectious agents that the body has never been exposed to. This research could have implications for the development of new methods to combat old enemies, such as cancer and certain auto-immune diseases.

We get most of our vitamin D from exposure the sun. Our body absorbs ultraviolet rays and converts them into vitamin D. We also obtain vitamin D from foods such as fish, milk, liver, eggs, and foods that have been fortified with vitamin D.

Source: Vitamin D crucial to activating immune defenses

The benefits of breastfeeding for infants have been well documented. These benefits include a reduction in the risk of allergies, eczema, ear infections, gastrointestinal problems, respiratory illnesses and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), to name but a few. But what of the benefits to mothers who breastfeed?

Research in the past has shown that mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of developing some conditions, such as ovarian and breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and postpartum depression. The latest research shows that breastfeeding can reduce amounts of abdominal fat for years after breastfeeding has ceased. Many women are aware that breastfeeding can help them to lose weight after pregnancy, but now there is proof that breastfeeding can decrease abdominal girth, and that this benefit can last for decades.

Abdominal fat is known to be a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease in women, as well as contributing to the development of metabolic syndrome. Breastfeeding moms will be happy to know that breastfeeding their infants not only conveys a protective health benefit to their infant, but may also help prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes in themselves in later years.

Source: Breast-Feeding Helps Mom Stay Slimmer Later in Life

Most people would rather not think about colorectal cancer, but the fact remains that colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth in females. Here’s what you need to know about this disease, which is very treatable when diagnosed in the early stage:

• Risk factors for the disease include polyps, hereditary factors and ulcerative colitis
• Colorectal cancers often arise from polyps, and removal of polyps can help prevent the disease
• Early colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms, but regular screening can catch the disease in its early stages
• Diagnosis of the disease is most often made by barium enema or colonoscopy; a biopsy confirms the diagnosis
• Surgery is often the first-line treatment for colorectal cancer
• Western diets are thought to contribute to colorectal cancer (this type of cancer is rare in Africa and Asia)
• About 20% of cases of colorectal cancer are associated with a family history of the disease
• Colon cancer can be present for many years before symptoms are noticed; weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, weakness and abdominal pain may be symptoms of colon cancer
• Anyone over the age of 40 should have yearly exams for colorectal cancer, including a digital rectal exam and testing for occult blood in the stool

Colorectal cancer is best treated by preventing the disease in the first place. When caught early, colorectal cancer can be treated and cured.

Source: Colorectal Cancer

High-density lipoprotein (HDL), or good cholesterol, acts by carrying cholesterol out of the body. It does this by binding with cholesterol in the intestines so that it is excreted as waste. For this reason, having higher levels of HDL can mean a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

HDL also exerts its protective effects by:

• increasing blood vessel’s ability to expand, or stretch
• reducing the production of harmful chemicals which can damage blood vessels
• repairing existing damage to the walls of blood vessels

Research has shown that the protective effects of HDL are not as evident in people who have diabetes. Researchers compared 10 healthy people with 33 people who had diabetes and who were taking cholesterol-lowering medications and found that the protective benefits of HDL in the diabetic patients were not as effective.

Although this was a very small study, the research shows a possible reason why people with diabetes are also more prone to cardiovascular disease, besides that fact that diabetics often have lifestyle risk factors for heart disease.

Source: Good Cholesterol Not As Protective In People With Type 2 Diabetes

It is a well-known fact that people with the condition known as prediabetes can reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a condition in which fasting blood sugar levels and glucose tolerance test levels are elevated but are still within “normal” range, by modifying risk factors such as weight, diet and exercise.

A new study from researchers at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) found that almost 30% of Americans over the age of 20 had prediabetes, but only a small percentage of these individuals (7.3%) were aware that they had the condition and less than half of these had had their blood tests repeated in the previous three years.

Those with prediabetes were more likely to:

• be male
• older in age
• have a first-generation family member with type 2 diabetes
• be overweight
• have high blood pressure and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease

The take-home message of the research is that there needs to be an increased awareness of what prediabetes is and greater measures to prevent diabetes from developing, including greater promotion and support of healthy lifestyle choices.

PreCrea is a twice-a-day botanical formula designed to help reduce blood sugar levels and promote weight loss.

Source: Diabetes Risk Reduction Behaviors Among U.S. Adults With Prediabetes, Geiss et al, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, April 2010

Spring is upon us, and with the reemergence of the sun and longer days comes unhealthy behavior that can increase your risk of skin cancer. Many people mistakenly believe that tanning is safe in small doses, despite evidence to the contrary.

Essentially, a tan is the result of damage to the skin. Exposure to ultraviolet light results in the darker colororation of the skin that many people seek, believing that they appear healthier or more attractive when they have a tanned appearance. The reality is that a tan is the result of damage, and damage to cellular DNA may result in melanoma or other skin cancers. Tanning beds are believed by many to be safer than the sun, a belief that is false according to cancer experts. There has been much controversy over the past few years, with tanning bed owners vigorously defending their product while scientists refute the claim that tanning beds are safe to use.

To lower the risk of skin cancer, you should avoid the sun as much as possible. If you plan to be in the sun, you should use an approved sunscreen with an SPF (sun protective factor) of at least 30. Cover your skin as much as possible, and wear a hat to shield both your head and your eyes. Children should have sunscreen applied by a responsible adult and should have sunscreen reapplied if they enter water. Using these simple measures can help you avoid both skin cancer and premature aging of the skin, which is accelerated by sun exposure.

New research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has discovered that women who take HRT (hormone replacement therapy) may be at higher risk of developing lung cancer.

The large study, which included 36,588 women taking HRT containing both estrogen and progesterone, found that post-menopausal women taking HRT had a 50% higher risk of lung cancer. Women who took only estrogen without progesterone (unopposed estrogen) did not appear to be at higher risk of developing lung cancer.

The length of time a woman took HRT was related to their risk of developing lung cancer, as well as the later stage at which the disease was diagnosed. Other factors known to contribute to the development of lung cancer were considered, such as age and smoking status.

New recommendations for HRT state that women should take HRT for the shortest time possible, but there may be many women who have taken HRT for long periods of time, before the studies were done which pointed to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease with long-term HRT therapy. These women may be at higher risk for lung cancer and this begs the question: could HRT therapy be part of the reason that lung cancer rates have been increasing in women?

PreMenora is an all-natural botanical formulation that is taken twice daily to ease the symptoms of menopause.

Source: Hormone therapy linked to lung cancer risk

Knowing your genotype for low-fat or low-carb diets could significantly increase your chances of dieting success. Researchers followed 133 women for a year after they submitted to a genetic test to determine which type of diet their body would respond best to.

The test, which involved obtaining a sample from the inside of the women’s cheeks, was able to differentiate those women who would respond well to a low-carb diet versus women who would do better on a low-fat diet. By following the diet that their genes were naturally programmed for, the women were able to lose as much as 2 ½ times the weight of women without the genetic predisposition.

For years scientists have wondered why, when two people strictly follow the same regimented diet, one person would lose weight and one would not. The answer, according to this study, lies in our genes. Knowing which way your body is programmed might mean that dieting will prove more successful for those who diet according to their needs.

Researchers caution that further study with larger groups is necessary, but state the findings from this study had statistical relevance, and the genetic test may provide another weapon in the fight against obesity.

Source: Genes Point to Best Diets