VOLUME 2008 issue 5

Coffee Reduces Ovarian Cancer Risk

Women who drink three or more cups of coffee per day may significantly reduce their risk of ovarian cancer. Shelley Tworoger, from Harvard Medical School (USA), and colleagues analyzed data from more than 121,000 female registered nurses participating in the nurses’ Health Study, and found a 20% risk reduction in ovarian cancer among women whose daily caffeine intake was 500 milligrams or more daily, compared to women with a daily intake of less than 136 milligrams. Among postmenopausal women, the highest intake of caffeine was associated with a 43% reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer. This protective effect was not observed with consumption of either decaffeinated coffee or tea. [Tworoger SS, Gertig DM, Gates MA, Hecht JL, Hankinson SE. “Caffeine, alcohol, smoking, and the risk of incident epithelial ovarian cancer.” Cancer. 2008 Jan 22; [Epub ahead of print].’

Dr Klatz remarks: “Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality of all the cancers of the female reproductive system. The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance (ONCA) estimates that 1 in 69 women will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 95 women will die from it. This study suggests the potential role of a simple dietary substance, caffeine, in modulating estrogen concentrations thus resulting in a cancer protective effect.”

Exercise Sharply Reduces Death Rate Among Older Men

Peter Kokkinos, from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (USA), and colleagues, have completed a study involving 15,000 military veterans that is one of the largest yet to demonstrate the broad population-wide benefits of exercise. In this study of men ages 50 to 70, older men who were classified as “highly fit” died at half the rate of those who were not fit. Additionally, men who were “very highly fit” had a 70% lower risk of death as those in the “low fit” category. The researchers observe that just 30 minutes of brisk walking 5 to 6 days a week would be enough to raise a middle-aged or older man from the “low fit” to “very highly fit” category in a matter of months.
[Kokkinos P, Myers J, Kokkinos JP, Pittaras A, Narayan P, Manolis A, Karasik P, Greenberg M, Papademetriou V, Singh S. “Exercise Capacity and Mortality in Black and White Men.” Circulation. 2008 Jan 22; [Epub ahead of print].’

Dr. Goldman observes: “Because the study covered 6,749 black men and 8,911 white men and monitored them for an average of 7.5 years, this work is a significant contribution to the body of scientific data on the role of exercise in extending longevity. The study’s take-home message is clear: exercise works on anybody, regardless of race or income. It also shows it is never too late for someone to begin a regular exercise routine and still reap the life-extending benefits.”


Low Vitamin E Correlates to Physical Decline in Elderly

Older adults with low levels of vitamin E are likely to see a steeper deterioration in physical function than those with higher vitamin E levels. Bbenedetta Bartali, from Cornell University, and colleagues studied 698 men and women ages 65+ who resided in Tuscany, Italy. Over the course of a 3-year study period, the team monitored micronutrient levels of vitamins (folate, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, vitamin E, and vitamin D) in blood, and physical function (walking speed, standing balance, and other physical abilities). Vitamin E was the only micronutrient associated with reduced physical function (after other factors were adjusted). Compared to people with the highest levels of vitamin E, those with the lowest amount were 62% more likely to experience a drop in their physical capacities.
[Bartali B, Frongillo EA, Guralnik JM, Stipanuk MH, Allore HG, Cherubini A, Bandinelli S, Ferrucci L, Gill TM. “Serum micronutrient concentrations and decline in physical function among older persons.” JAMA. 2008 Jan 23;299(3):308-15.’

Dr. Klatz comments: “This study demonstrates how vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, may be of value in preventing physical decline as we age. This study suggests that 15 to 30 milligrams per day of alpha tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, is needed a day to achie4ve the protective effect. Elevate your vitamin E levels by boosting consumption of foods high in this vitamin, such as almonds, tomato sauce, and sunflower seeds.

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