In this issue:

Antioxidants May Help Prevent Miscarriages Are We Taking Enough Vitamin E? Dioxin Cancer Risk Higher Than Previously Thought Homocysteine: A Risk Factor for Heart Disease Elevated Blood Sugar May be Risk Factor for Pancreatic Cancer

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Antioxidants May Help Prevent Miscarriages Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that vitamins A, C and E may reduce the risk of miscarriages. The researchers suggested that a lack of an enzyme called G6PD may cause millions of miscarriages, but consuming antioxidant vitamins may help offset this genetic problem.  It is estimated that at least 15% of all pregnancies end in miscarriages.  G6PD helps protect cells from free radicals which cause cell damage, disease, and birth defects. In pregnant women, lack of this enzyme may allow the action of free radicals to harm the fetus. Therefore, it may be possible to prevent birth defects by taking antioxidants. In addition to vitamins A, C and E, pregnant women should take a multivitamin, at least 1200 mg of calcium, and 800 micrograms of  folic acid.

Are We Taking Enough Vitamin E? Numerous studies have shown that supplementation of vitamin E may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, but many people lack adequate blood levels of this crucial antioxidant.  Researchers analyzed blood levels in 16,000 people nationwide and found that 27% of this population had low levels of vitamin E. The risk of deficiency was greatest in African-Americans. Vitamin E deficiency can increase the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, dementia, macular degeneration, and other degenerative diseases. To prevent vitamin E deficiency and reduce your risk of developing such chronic and devastating diseases, it is usually necessary to take nutritional supplements. Because vitamin E is fat- soluble, it is best absorbed when taken with a fatty meal. Vitamin E should also be taken with water-soluble vitamin C for maximal antioxidant benefit.  Dr. Magaziner and Dr. Greenberg view vitamin E and other nutritional supplements as crucial to obtaining optimal health and wellness.  After several years of measuring blood levels of antioxidants, including vitamin E, they have noted that many patients may be deficient in one or more of these vital nutrients or have excessive free-radical damage. If these deficiencies are not addressed, you may be at increased risk for developing the kind of chronic degenerative diseases mentioned above.

Dioxin Cancer Risk Higher Than Previously Thought A report from the Environmental Protection Agency suggests the cancer risk from dioxin may be greater than previously thought, especially among people who eat lots of animal fats. The EPA assessment would classify dioxin as one of the most potent carcinogens known to man. Dioxin comes from both natural and industrial sources, such as medical and municipal waste incineration and paper-pulp production. The chemical enters the food chain, and then accumulates in the fat of mammals and fish. It has been linked to several cancers in humans, including lymphomas and lung cancer. Environmentalists estimate that dioxin contributes to 100 cancer deaths daily. The report links low-grade exposure to dioxin to a wide array of other health problems, including diabetes, as well as developmental defects in babies and  children. It also concludes that children's dioxin intake is proportionally much higher than adult's because of its presence in dairy products and even breast milk.  Although we are all exposed to dioxin to some degree, the best way to avoid effects from this  dangerous chemical is to eat a low-fat diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, while avoiding high amounts of saturated fats found in meat and poultry.

Homocysteine: A Risk Factor for Heart Disease Evidence continues to mount that elevated levels of homocysteine, an amino  acid in the blood, are associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.  Homocysteine may in fact be a more important risk factor than cholesterol in developing vascular disease. While heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, over half of the patients who suffer from it may not even have elevated cholesterol.  Homocysteine first came under suspicion 31 years ago when Harvard pathologist Kilmer McCully, M.D., discovered that children with severe arteriosclerosis (clogging of the arteries) also had high homocysteine levels. Dr. McCully speculated the substance might also play a role in adult heart disease.  McCully's hypothesis didn't get much attention, though, until the 1990s, when several large-scale studies began implicating homocysteine as the possible cause of heart problems.  A 1992 Harvard study showed that patients with the highest homocysteine levels had up to three times the risk of a heart attack or stroke.  The good news is that homocysteine levels can often be managed with diet. Three nutrients in particular can help lower elevated homocysteine levels: folic acid, which is abundant in green leafy vegetables, oranges and fortified cereals; vitamin B-6, found in meats, whole grains, and fortified cereals; and vitamin B-12, found in meats, potatoes, bananas and fortified cereals. A multivitamin will also supply adequate amounts of these nutrients, which  help metabolize homocysteine into compounds that do not cause damage to blood vessels.

Elevated Blood Sugar May be  Risk Factor for Pancreatic Cancer High blood sugar levels after a meal appear to increase your risk of developing pancreatic cancer.  This finding may help explain the link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer reported in previous studies.  Dr. Susan M. Gapstur and colleagues observed an association between the risk of death from  pancreatic cancer and elevated blood sugar levels among adults who had not been diagnosed with diabetes.  These individuals tend to have higher levels of insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas to help the body process sugar.  The link between blood-sugar level and pancreatic cancer risk was more definite in men than in women, according to the report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Men with the highest body weights also had three times more risk of death from pancreatic cancer than  men who had lower weights. Pancreatic cancer, the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths, is difficult to diagnose. It is often not diagnosed. in fact, until the patient has experienced symptoms of advanced cancer such as weight loss, jaundice and pain.  Therefore, it is best to incorporate preventative strategies such as eating a healthy, whole- foods diet and exercising daily to maintain a healthy blood-sugar level. Please visit our Web site to get more information on our cancer treatment plan.  Doctors Magaziner and Greenberg employ a complete nutrient and supplement support program for patients with cancer.

Homocysteine, continued

DISCLAIMER: The items in this newsletter are intended for informational purposes only.  Nothing in this newsletter is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and advice.