The results showed that individuals with the vitamin D levels in the highest quartile were 48 percent less likely to die (from any cause, including colon cancer) than those with the lowest vitamin D measurements. The odds of dying from colon cancer specifically were 39 percent lower, the scientists found.

“Our data suggest that higher prediagnosis plasma levels of [vitamin D] after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer may significantly improve overall survival,” the authors wrote. “Future trials should examine the role of vitamin D supplementation in patients with colorectal cancer.”

These data are still preliminary and a clinical trial is being planned to identify the role of other factors such as diet, sun exposure, physical activity and body mass index.

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Vitamin D, Linked to Colon Cancer Survival

McCann & Ames point out that evidence for vitamin D’s involvement in brain function includes the wide distribution of vitamin D receptors throughout the brain. They also discuss vitamin D’s ability to affect proteins in the brain known to be directly involved in learning and memory, motor control, and possibly even maternal and social behavior. The review also discusses studies in both humans and animals that present suggestive though not definitive evidence of cognitive or behavioral consequences of vitamin D inadequacy.

Vitamin D is naturally present in only a few food items. There are food products such as milk and yogurt that are enriched with Vitamin D, and while our bodies can produce Vitamin D upon sun exposure, many still suffer from Vitamin D deficiency as the efficiency of Vitamin D production is also function of skin tone, making populations with darker skin tone at risk for rickets, bone fractures and possibly other diseases including several types of cancer due to a inadequate vitamin D.

Thus, experts conclude that Vitamin D supplementation is warranted for groups whose vitamin D status is exceptionally low, particularly nursing infants, the elderly, and African Americans.

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Vitamin D in Brain Function, Supplementation May Be Necessary

However, nobody knows whether they are really effective, and what dosage is necessary.

Researchers from the University of Arizona set out to determine whether (and how) turmeric works as an anti-arthritic using animal models.

Dr. Funk and her colleagues then tested in animal models a whole extract of turmeric root, only the essential oils, and an oil-depleted extract containing the three major curcuminoids found in the rhizome. Of the three extracts, the one containing the major curcuminoids was most similar in chemical composition to commercially available turmeric dietary supplements. It also was the most effective, completely inhibiting the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.

How does turmeric work?

The researchers found that the curcuminoid extract inhibits a transcription factor called NF-KB from being activated in the joint. A transcription factor is a protein that controls when genes are switched on or off. Once the transcription factor NF-KB is activated, or turned on, it binds to genes and enhances production of inflammatory proteins, destructive to the joint.

Based on this, the researchers say that it appear that turmeric works in the same way as other anti-arthritic pharmaceuticals currently being developed, which target NF-KB.

What about the dosage?

Extrapolated from the data from the animal trials, the effective dose seems to be the equivalent in humans of 1.5 milligrams per day of a portion of the turmeric root that makes up 3% of dried turmeric powder.

Naturally, these will all have to be verified in human clinical trials, before turmeric supplements can be recommended as an alternative therapy and possibly preventative strategy against rheumatoid arthritis. But, at least, this is promising, and an indication that not all alternative treaments are bogus.

The results of the abovementioned study will be published in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism (DOI: 10.1002/art.22180). for an overview, here are the press releases from EurekAlert:

Turmeric prevents experimental rheumatoid arthritis, bone loss, University of Arizona study shows
Turmeric supplements show promise in treating arthritis

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Turmeric Supplements May Treat Arthritis

Well, wrong. A two-year clinical study demonstrated that a dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a compound popularly sold as an antiaging supplement over the past several years, just doesn’t work.

“For almost two years we restored DHEA in older men and women to the high normal levels that are usually observed in young people, but found no beneficial effects on age-related changes in body composition and function,” Dr. Nair says. “No beneficial effects on quality of life were observed. There’s no evidence based on this study that DHEA has an antiaging effect.”

If you’d like to take a closer look at the data, the results have been published in the latest issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. In the accompanying editorial, Aging and Fountain-of-Youth Hormones, it was suggested that DHEA be treated as a regulated drug and not as a dietary supplement.

Somehow, all these should not come as a surprise. The NIH has already released warnings almost a decade ago. Still, DHEA hormone supplements are being sold and obviously there are still lots falling for it.

What is it anyway that makes people seek eternal youth? Vanity?

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Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Anti-Aging Supplement Does NOT Work

You might remember my entry on milk CLA as a potential diabetes therapy. It’s pretty much the same thing. Silkworm powder is already being marketed in Asia (Korea and Japan) as a nutritional supplement to lower blood sugar.

To each his own, I guess. I think I’d rather have milk, thank you.

[Photo Credit: Michael Cook]

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Silkworm CLA Against Diabetes