Eggs may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes by increasing the levels of lutein and zeaxanthin

This study was published in Food and Function 2013 Jan 31;4(2):213-21

 

Study title and authors:

Egg intake improves carotenoid status by increasing plasma HDL cholesterol in adults with metabolic syndrome.

Blesso CN, Andersen CJ, Bolling BW, Fernandez ML.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. maria-luz.fernandez@uconn.edu.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23128450

The lead researcher of the study, Christopher Blesso from the University of Connecticut, notes that

metabolic syndrome is associated with reductions in levels of the carotenoids; lutein and zeaxanthin.

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of eggs (including the yolk) with yolk-free egg substitute on carotenoid levels in participants with metabolic syndrome. The study included 37 patients who consumed as part of a carbohydrate-restricted diet for 12 weeks either:
(i) Three whole eggs per day (yolk group).
(ii) The equivalent amount of yolk-free egg substitute (yolk free group).

The study found:
(a) The yolk group had significant increases in levels of lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, while the yolk-free group had increases in levels of beta-carotene only.
(b) In the yolk group, levels of lutein and zeaxanthin were significantly increased in high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol.

In patients with metabolic syndrome, egg yolks may represent an important food source to improve their carotenoid levels and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes.

Statins may cause nightmares

This paper was published in the British Medical Journal 2006 Apr 22;332(7547):950

 

Study title and author:

Atorvastatin may cause nightmares.

Gregoor PJ.

Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, PO Box 444, 3300 AK Dordrecht, Netherlands. p.smakgregoor@asz.nl

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16627511

This case report relates atorvastatin to the occurrence of nightmares.

(i) A 72 year old woman was prescribed 10 mg atorvastatin once a day.
(ii) Five days after starting atorvastatin, she had extreme nightmares each night for two and a half weeks.
(iii) She stopped taking the statins for five days and no nightmares occurred.
(iv) She restarted the atorvastatin again, which promptly resulted in nightmares; these dreams again disappeared after discontinuation.

The author of this paper, Dr Peter J H Smak Gregoor an internist-nephrologist at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Holland, speculates that the nightmares could be a direct effect of atorvastatin on the central nervous system.

Beef fat increases the absorption of beta-carotene compared to sunflower oil

This study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2000 May;71(5):1170-80

Study title and authors:
Intestinal absorption of beta-carotene ingested with a meal rich in sunflower oil or beef tallow: postprandial appearance in triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins in women.

Hu X, Jandacek RJ, White WS.
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and the Center for Designing Foods to Improve Nutrition, Iowa State University, Ames 50011-1120, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10799380

The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of sunflower oil and beef tallow (dripping) on (i) intestinal beta-carotene absorption and (ii) triglycerides content in lipoproteins (chylomicrons and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol. The study included 11 women who each ingested two different vitamin A-free, fat-rich meals that were supplemented with beta-carotene (47 micromol) and contained equivalent amounts (60 g) of sunflower oil or beef tallow.

The study found:
(a) The appearance of beta-carotene in chylomicrons and in VLDL cholesterol was lower after ingestion with the meal containing sunflower oil than after ingestion with the meal containing beef tallow.
(b) The appearance of triglycerides in chylomicrons and in VLDL cholesterol was higher after ingestion with the meal containing sunflower oil than after ingestion with the meal containing beef tallow. (High levels of triglycerides are associated with heart disease, see here).

The study reveals that beta-carotene absoption is higher in meals rich in beef tallow as compared with a meal rich in sunflower oil. 

Statins are associated with erectile dysfunction

This study was published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice 2006 Feb;60(2):141-5

 

Study title and authors:

Erectile dysfunction and statin treatment in high cardiovascular risk patients.

Solomon H, Samarasinghe YP, Feher MD, Man J, Rivas-Toro H, Lumb PJ, Wierzbicki AS, Jackson G.

Department of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Centre, St. Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London, UK.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16451283

This study investigated the relationship between statins and erectile dysfunction.  In this study, International Index of Erectile Function (a measure of erectile functioning, where higher scores indicate better functioning) scores were measured in 93 men attending cardiovascular risk clinics.

The study found:
(a) Prior to statin therapy, the average International Index of Erectile Function score was 21.
(b) After statin therapy, International Index of Erectile Function scores were reduced to 6.5.
(c) After statin therapy 22% of the men experienced new onset erectile dysfunction.

This study reveals that statins are associated with erectile dysfunction.

An association exists between low cholesterol, suicide, and depression

This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1994 Jun;55(6):252-4

 

Study title and authors:

Serum cholesterol levels and suicidal tendencies in psychiatric inpatients.

Modai I, Valevski A, Dror S, Weizman A.

Gehah Psychiatric Hospital, Petah-Tiqva, Israel.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8071280

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cholesterol levels and suicide in psychiatric inpatients. The study include 584 psychiatric inpatients who were divided into three groups:
(i) Patients who had attempted suicide at least once.
(ii) Patients who expressed a suicidal wish or plan during hospitalization or the month before hospitalization.
(iii) Patients who had neither made suicidal gestures nor expressed suicidal thoughts.

The study found:
(a) Patients who had attempted suicide had significantly lower cholesterol levels than nonsuicidal patients.
(b) Patients who were depressed had significantly lower cholesterol levels than patients who were not depressed.

The findings of the study may imply that an association exists between low cholesterol, suicide, and depression.

Statins induce a decline in cognition

This paper was published in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2006 Oct;40(10):1880-3

Study title and authors:
Simvastatin-induced decline in cognition.

Padala KP, Padala PR, Potter JF.
Geriatrics Section, Department of Internal Medicine, 981320 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-1320, USA. kpadala@unmc.edu

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16940411

This paper describes a case of new-onset cognitive difficulties in an older patient after initiation of simvastatin therapy.

(i) A 64-year-old man developed cognitive difficulties (short-term memory loss, long-term memory loss, and item misplacement) within one week after starting simvastatin 40 mg/day.
(ii) Simvastatin was discontinued, and the patient's cognition improved to normal within six weeks.
(iii) He again tried simvastatin, this time at half the original dose and his cognition deteriorated over a two week period.
(iv) Simvastatin was stopped, and his normal cognition returned within four weeks.

This case shows that statins can induce a decline in cognition.

Suicide attempters have low cholesterol levels

This study was published in European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2010 Jul;19(7):615-9

 

Study title and authors:

Total serum cholesterol levels and suicide attempts in child and adolescent psychiatric inpatients.

Plana T, Gracia R, Méndez I, Pintor L, Lazaro L, Castro-Fornieles J.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology Department, Neurosciences Institute, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Centro Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBER-SAM), C/Villarroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. mtplana@clinic.ub.es

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20047063

This study investigated the association between cholesterol levels and suicidal behavior in adolescent patients. The study included 66 patients (aged 8 to 18 years) admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit following attempted suicide, who were compared with 54 patients with no history of suicide attempts.

The study found that cholesterol levels were significantly lower in attempted suicide patients than in those with no history of suicide attempts.