News for Power System

DHA for Children May possibly Help Cut Heart Disease Risk When They Mature June 2003 Supplementing with DHA (docosaheaxaenoic acid) could help children with inherited high cholesterol lower their risk of developing heart illness later in life, according to a study carried out at the University of California, San Francisco.Twenty children, ages 9 to 19, all with hereditary high cholesterol, were first fed a stabilizing low-fat diet for six weeks, and then either a everyday dose of 1.2 g of DHA or a placebo. In children taking the DHA supplements, the number of large, buoyant LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and HDL (high-density lipoprotein) particles was significantly increased, while the number of the dangerous small, dense, more atherogenic LDL particles was reduced by 48%.The American Journal of Cardiology 95(7):869-871, 2005

DHA Boosts Psychomotor Skills in Breastfed Children October 2005 Mothers in a study conducted at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston passed docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) along to their breast-feeding children, who in turn saw a significant increase on psychomotor skills.The study, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, involved 227 breastfeeding mothers who were given a 200 mg capsule of DHA or placebo everyday for four months, beginning five days after delivery.At two and one-half years, 160 of the children were tested for psychomotor development (physical actions, body movements). The children of DHA-supplemented mothers scored significantly higher on the Bayley Psychomotor Development Index (PDI), when compared to the children of non-supplemented moms. The Bayley PDI assesses fine and gross motor skills (hand-eye coordination) in infants and children.The study also confirmed that DHA supplementation while breastfeeding effectively increases DHA levels in the mother’s milk, as well as in the infant’s blood. The mothers supplemented with DHA had 75% more DHA in their breast milk than the control group and their infants had 35% higher DHA blood levels than the control group infants.American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 82:125-132, 2005

Did You Know? Children Might be Able to Tolerate up to 2,000 IUs of Vitamin D October 2008 Raising current vitamin D levels from 200 IU to 2,000 IU could provide even greater support for healthy bones amongst children and have long-term wellness rewards, according to new research. Only children given the equivalent of 2,000 IUs a day of vitamin D-3 showed blood levels of the vitamin at a level considered optimal for adults. ??Our research reveals that vitamin D, at doses equivalent to 2,000 IUs a day, is not only safe for adolescents, but it is actually necessary for achieving desirable vitamin D levels,?? said lead researcher Chada El-Haff Fuleihan from the American University of Beirut-Medical Center, Lebanon. Calls to increase the current recommendations of 200 IU of vitamin D per day for children and adults up to 50 years of age to 800-1,000 IU vitamin D-3 have become more frequent in recent years. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, published online ahead of print

Health Insite Can Prenatal Supplements Make Babies Smarter? September 2003 Most people are familiar with the old adage “you are what you eat.” As simple as the saying is, it gives a reasonably accurate representation of the importance of good nutrition for well being and well being. But when it comes to fetal development and nursing infants, “you are what your mother eats” might be more accurate. Research indicates that the maternal diet plays a vital role in normal infant development, both prenatal and (in breast-fed babies) neonatal, and that supplements can be an important factor, especially in the central nervous system. It??s well established that taking folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy can reduce a woman??s risk of having a child with neural tube defects. Now, new research suggests that maternal intake of fish oil supplements containing the omega-3 essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both during pregnancy and while nursing, can have a significant impact on early mental development.The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition of the central nervous system (CNS) consists almost entirely of DHA and the omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid, both of which are dietarily essential, meaning they cannot be manufactured by the body. For the fetus and nursing neonate, this means that these PUFAs must be present in the mother??s diet for normal CNS development. In the case of arachidonic acid, this is not a problem because it is abundant in a wide variety of foods. Dietary intakes of DHA, however, vary widely among pregnant and nursing women, depending primarily upon the amount of fish they consume. Because pregnant women are often advised to limit fish consumption out of concern for high mercury levels, achieving adequate DHA intake through dietary sources alone can be difficult. Consequently, many nutritionists recommend DHA supplements to pregnant and nursing mothers to ensure sufficient levels for normal fetal and neonatal CNS development. A recent Norwegian study conducted at the University of Oslo appears to support this recommendation.In the randomized, double-blind study, pregnant women were given either 10 mL/day of cod liver oil (supplying 1,183 mg of DHA) or corn oil (placebo) starting in the 18th week of pregnancy and continuing for three months after delivery. Four years later, 48 children of women in the cod liver oil group and 35 children of women in the placebo group underwent a series of tests designed to gauge intelligence in children 21/2 -121/2 years of age. Children of women in the cod liver oil group scored significantly higher on the intelligence tests than children of women in the placebo group. After adjusting for other variables, maternal intake of DHA was the only variable of statistical significance for the children??s mental processing scores at age 4.Although further research will be needed to confirm the findings of this small Norwegian study, this is not the first study to indicate that maternal DHA intake may possibly play an important role in early CNS development.2 In other research, maternal DHA status has been associated with longer gestation3 and the development of normal vision.4 Taken together, these studies make a strong case for women to consider supplementing DHA during pregnancy and lactation.Pediatrics 2003; 111 (1): e39-44.Am J Clin Nutr 2002; 76 (3): 608-13.Obstet Gynecol 2003; 101 (3): 469-79.Am J Clin Nutr 2001; 73 (2): 316-22.

Did You Know? Breastfeeding Cuts Infant Deaths September 2004 It has been known for a long time that mother??s milk contains protective substances that help newborns to stay healthy. Now more supportive evidence for the benefits of breastfeeding has emerged??a 20% reduction in risk of infant deaths. Researchers conducted a survey of nearly 9,000 mothers in 48 states to correlate breast feeding with mortality. They found that infants who were breastfed were less likely to die in their first year of life compared to those who were not. It was noted that approximately 70% of U.S. mothers breastfeed their babies when they leave the hospital, but only one-third continued the practice six months later. Other studies have shown that breastfed infants are less likely to be overweight or have behavioral problems.Pediatrics 113:e435-e439, 2004

Blueberries Might Reduce Childhood Cancer RiskMarch 2009Extracts from blueberries may reduce the size of tumors primarily found in infants and children, and improve survival, a new study with mice suggests.According to results from Ohio State University, mice fed a blueberry extract doubled their lifespan and had tumors 60% smaller than those in control mice.Writing in the journal Antioxidants & Redox Signaling, the researchers reported their findings against tumors in walls of blood vessels called hemangionendotheliomas (HE), which affect about three percent of children. Such tumors usually occur within four weeks of birth and more often affect premature infants. Although such tumors are often resolved naturally, they could reoccur and cause deformity, and can be life-threatening if they obstruct the airways.”This work provides the first evidence demonstrating that blueberry extract can limit tumor formation by inhibiting the formation of blood vessels and inhibiting certain signaling pathways,” said lead author Gayle Gordillo. “Oral administration of blueberry extract represents a potential therapeutic strategy [against] endothelial cell tumors in children.”The research could boost further the healthy image of the berry, already firmly engrained in consumers?? minds for its apparent cholesterol-lowering abilities, as well as indications that the fruit could offer protection from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer??s.Gordillo and her co-workers investigated if oral consumption of blueberry extracts could be effective in managing HE and, if so, what the mechanism could be.Mice received different doses of the extract, with a dose-dependent decrease in HE tumor size recorded, in addition to “significantly enhanced survival,” said the researchers.”Our hope is that if we feed blueberry juice to a child with this type of tumor, we can intervene and shrink the tumor before it becomes a big problem,” said Gordillo. “Our next step is a pilot study with humans to see if we can measure response to the treatment using imaging techniques and the monitoring of chemical changes in the urine.”Antioxidants & Redox Signaling 11(1):47-58, 2009

Did You Know? Positive aspects to Breastfeeding November 2004 It has been known for a long time that mother’s milk contains protective substances that help newborns to stay healthy. Now more supportive evidence for the advantages of breastfeeding has emerged??a 20% reduction in risk of infant deaths. Researchers conducted a survey of nearly 9,000 mothers in 48 states to correlate breastfeeding with mortality. They found that infants who were breastfed were less likely to die in their first year of life compared to those who were not. It was noted that approximately 70% of U.S. mothers breastfeed their babies when they leave the hospital, but only one-third continued the practice six months later. Other studies have shown that breastfed infants are less likely to be overweight or have behavioral problems.Pediatrics 113:e435-e439, 2004

Beat Childhood Obesity with the BasicsJanuary 2009Recent studies indicate both good news and bad news about obesity and overweight children in America. The bad news: Youth obesity rates have tripled since 1980. The good news: Youth obesity rates have leveled off this decade. Government statistics indicate that 32% of U.S. children are overweight and 16% are obese.? Unfortunately, these children are at an increased risk for cardiovascular, blood glucose, emotional and joint problems. These sobering statistics remind parents, educators, and community leaders how crucial it is for children and youth to not only engage in physical activity regularly and eat nutritious foods at school and at home, but also to really pay attention to their overall wellness and wellness. Simply starting off each day with a basic multivitamin is just one small step to improving our children’s well being. Incorporating essential fatty acids or omega-3s, the good fats from fish oil and flax seed, helps with increased energy, plus brain, skin and vision support, too. Combine this with a nutritious breakfast and kids are able to have enough energy to participate in physical activity, focus on schoolwork, and just be kids. Fighting childhood obesity is more than just deciding what to have to dinner; it??s part of a much larger campaign to discovering ways to help improve our children’s well being and help them develop into health-conscious adults. ?www.nlm.nih.gov

Antioxidant Supplements Boost Heart Well being in ChildrenNovember 2003Antioxidant supplementation may possibly protect children from heart illness according to a study that appeared in a recent issue of Circulation.Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco enrolled 15 children for the study. The children exhibited either familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) or familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCH).Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited condition that results in markedly elevated LDL cholesterol levels beginning at birth and resulting in heart attacks at an early age. People affected with FH have consistently high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), which leads to premature atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Familial combined hyperlipidemia is an inherited disorder of high serum cholesterol or high blood triglycerides. People with this condition have an increased risk of cardiovascular illness.The youngsters were placed on a cholesterol-lowering dietary regimen. They were also randomly assigned to antioxidant treatment with 500 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E for six months or they were given a placebo.Researchers checked blood flow in the brachial artery of the children and found a marked improvement following the antioxidant and dietary regimen. The study concluded that “antioxidant therapy with vitamins C and E restores endothelial function in hyperlipidimic children. Early detection and treatment of endothelial dysfunction in high-risk children may retard the progression of atherosclerosis.”Circulation 108:1059, 2003

Take Control of Your HealthWhy Refined Carbs Are Among the Worst Out Thereby Joseph Mercola, D.O.Dr. Joseph Mercola of Mercola.comAccording to new research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, women who eat a lot of foods high in blood sugar-spiking carbohydrates, such as white bread and rice, are twice as likely to develop heart diseases. Complex carbohydrates, such as fruit and pasta, were not associated with the increased risk of heart illness. This suggests that the problem is not carbohydrates per se, but rapidly absorbed carbohydrates. The information comes from a study of about 48,000 people who were asked about their diets in detail. Previous studies have also shown a similar link between simple carbohydrates and heart disease risk. Along with the problems with liver fat production, insulin resistance and increased triglycerides, refined carbohydrates are nutritionally devoid foods, meaning they do nothing positive for your well being. For instance, when flour is refined, the most nutritious part of the grain is removed, so the flour essentially becomes a form of sugar. Then it is typically brominated, which produces toxic disinfection by-products. Whenever you eat a slice of toast, a bowl of cereal or a half a bagel made with commercial brominated flours, picture yourself dipping directly into your sugar bowl and gulping down a spoonful or two, because that??s essentially what it amounts to. Most people are consuming far too much bread, cereal, pasta, corn (a grain, not a vegetable), rice, potatoes and baked goods, with very grave wellness consequences. That said, if you are going to eat bread, you should certainly stick with high-quality whole-grain products. You can tell whether the loaf you??re looking at is truly whole grain before you even read the label by first picking it up. Authentic whole-grain breads are dense and relatively heavy??avoid imposters that are light and fluffy.What gets lost in the refining process?

• Half of the helpful unsaturated fatty acids
• Virtually all of the vitamin E
• 50 percent of the calcium
• 70 percent of the phosphorus
• 80 percent of the iron
• 98 percent of the magnesium
• 50 to 80 percent of the B vitamins