VOLUME 2008 issue 12

Vegetable-Rich Diet Slashes Diabetes Risk

In the latest of studies studing the association between dietary food intake and the incidence of Type 2 diabetes, Raquel Villegas, from Vanderbilt Epidemiology Center (Nashville, Tennessee USA), and colleagues followed over 64,000 women residing in China, ages 40 to 70, for nearly 5 years, assessing their daily fruit and vegetable intakes and the onset of diabetes.

Those women who consumed the most vegetables -- averaging 428 grams, or 15 ounces, daily – had a 28% lower risk of developing the disease.
[Villegas R, Shu XO, Gao YT, Yang G, Elasy T, Li H, Zheng W. “Vegetable but not fruit consumption reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese women.” J Nutr. 2008 Mar;138(3):574-80.]

Dr. Klatz observes: “In Europe, 19 mullion people – 4% of the total population – has Type 2 diabetes. The condition affects more than 20 million people, or 7% of the total population, in the United States. Around the world, the number of cases is projected to rise in the coming decades, due to factors such as aging, obesity, and the pervasiveness of a sedentary lifestyle. Vegetable consumption is characterized by higher dietary exposures to fiber, antioxidants, and magnesium. Vegetables are also rich in other diabetes-reducing compounds, such as phytates, lignans, and isoflavones.”

Selenium, In Moderation, Is Beneficial to Longevity

Selenium is a trace mineral involved in numerous functions in the body, including maintaining optimal cardiovascular function. In a study involving over 13,800 participants for 12 years, Joachim Bleys, from Johns Hopkins University of Public Health (USA), and colleagues found that a modest selenium level, between 130 and 150 ng/mL, was associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Selenium levels above 150 ng/mL were correlated to increased risk of death.
[Bleys J, Navas-Acien A, Guallar E. “Serum Selenium Levels and All-Cause, Cancer, and Cardiovascular Mortality Among US Adults.” Arch Intern Med. 2008 Feb 25;168(4):404-10.]

Remarks Dr. Goldman: “Most Americans get adequate selenium from dietary sources, consuming from 60 to 200 micrograms daily. Foods rich in selenium include whole grains, nuts, beef, and tuna.”

Daily Ginkgo Reduces Memory Difficulties

Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), derived from the leaves of the ginkgo tree, has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In a new randomized clinical trial (RCT) conducted by Hiroko Dodge, from Oregon State University (USA), and colleagues, 118 men and women, age 85+, with no memory problems, received either a ginkgo biloba extract (240 mg daily) or placebo for 3 years. In those participants who took the supplement every day as stipulated, the team found a 68% lower risk of the development of memory problems during the study period. Ginkgo contains potent antioxidants called flavoglycosides that have been shown to have neuroprotective effects.
[H. H. Dodge PhD*, T. Zitzelberger MPH, B. S. Oken MD, D. Howieson PhD, ABPP, and J. Kaye MD. “A randomized placebo-controlled trial of ginkgo biloba for the prevention of cognitive decline.” Neurology 2008, doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000303814.13509.db; Published online before print February 27, 2008.]

Comments Dr. Klatz: “A number of previous clinical trials have suggested long-term improvements in cognitive function in older adults with dementia, though several other studies have shown no such benefits. This is the first randomized clinical trial (RCT) to report clear dementia preventive results of ginkgo extract among older study subjects, and as such this study suggests a strong protective benefit for the compound.”

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