Published December 23, 2010

Protect your brain with gingko biloba? Maybe not...

For years the herb gingko biloba has enjoyed the status as an effective way to prevent dementia, including Alzheimer’s. But in 2008 the Gingko Evaluation of Memory study changed all that. It was the largest, completely randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled study if its kind. And it found that people taking 120 mg of gingko biloba extract twice a day in no way reduced their chances of eventually developing dementia.

However, many experts criticized the study because it didn’t assess whether or not taking gingko biloba prevented normal memory loss. This is the normal decline in mental function that occurs in many people as they get older, but that does not lead to dementia. Nor did it determine whether or not taking gingko biloba slowed down the progression toward dementia in those doomed to get it.

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Published December 22, 2010

Lower two major heart attack risk factors with one nutrient

You probably heard a lot about cholesterol as a risk factor for heart attacks. But cholesterol isn’t nearly as important as two other major risk factors. These risk factors are high levels of C reactive protein and high fibrinogen levels. Fortunately, you can help both of them with one powerful supplement.

C reactive protein is a strong marker for inflammation. And fibrinogen thickens your blood. It often becomes elevated with inflammation.

A study in the journal Renal Failure followed 36 patients on dialysis. The researchers assigned them to take carnitine (100 mg daily) or a placebo for 12 weeks. Those taking carnitine had lower C reactive protein levels and lower plasma fibrinogen levels.

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Published December 17, 2010

Is this the cheapest way for diabetics to prevent kidney disease?

If you have type-2 diabetes, your risk of developing kidney disease is much higher than the average person. But an inexpensive vitamin may be all you need to prevent the problem.

A research team found that you can protect yourself with high doses of vitamin B1, thiamine. In their study, they gave participants 300 mg daily (100 mg, three times daily). To determine how well the nutrient works, they measured how much microalbuminuria (albumin) the patients lost during the three-month study. Diabetics develop kidney disease when they begin to lose molecules of this protein.

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