A new clinical trial investigating the health benefits of acai, the antioxidant and vitamin-rich berry, is adding to the emerging scientific evidence of the fruit's ability to potentially reduce some metabolic risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. The latest study won top honors during the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine on January 23 and revealed promising initial results for using Sambazon acai to improve vascular health, and lower fasting blood sugar levels.
"This pilot study demonstrated the ability of the Sambazon acai pulp product to significantly lower several markers of cardiovascular risk in a relatively short period of time. Given these promising results, and the biologically active components in the acai fruit, further study is merited," said Dr. Jay Udani, MD, CEO and Medical Director of Medicus Research, a leading contract research organization with functional food experience.
Medicus Research recently conducted a pilot study with 10 slightly overweight, but healthy adult male and female participants (representing 1/3 of the American population). Each study participant consumed 100 grams of Sambazon(R) acai frozen fruit pulp twice daily for one month. Researchers measured participants' baseline fasting plasma glucose, plasma insulin levels, lipid levels (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), high sensitivity C-reactive protein and blood pressure. After 30 days of consuming Sambazon(R) acai, participants' fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad cholesterol) were significantly reduced, as compared to the baseline. In addition, post-prandial (between meals) increases in blood glucose levels were significantly reduced.
"While additional research is needed, this pilot study suggests that in otherwise healthy, overweight adults, daily consumption of acai reduces several markers of metabolic syndrome associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke," said Jack F. Bukowski, MD, Ph.D., a former Harvard professor and currently Director of the Nutritional Science Research Institute.
This study follows a recently published study showing that acai consumption lowers cholesterol and raises antioxidant activity in rats. Sambazon(R) is committed to scientific and nutritional research about acai and supported the Medicus clinical trial. Sambazon(R) Acai Pure Pulp Packs, which were used in the Medicus study, are a top selling frozen fruit item and available in finer grocery and natural food stores.
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Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Concern over prostate cancer test
One in eight men screened for prostate cancer will test positive when they do not have the disease, a major European trial has shown.
A positive result can mean undergoing invasive tests such as biopsy as well as potentially unnecessary treatment.
Screening with prostate specific antigen (PSA) is not routinely offered in the UK but government experts are reviewing evidence from the study.
Cancer Research UK said men should talk about the pros and cons with their GP.
Early data from the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer, which is being conducted in seven countries, showed in March 2009 that deaths could be cut by 20%.
But other recent evidence has cast doubt on the long-term benefits of screening, suggesting some men may end up being "over-treated" for slow-growing disease that would never cause a problem in their lifetime.
Now data from the Finnish part of the European trial has shown that for every eight men screened - tests are being done on a four-yearly basis - one ended up with a false positive result, even with a fairly high PSA threshold.
Those men who tested positive but were later found not to have cancer were twice as likely not to agree to screening in the future even though they were at risk of developing the disease later, the British Journal of Cancer reported.
'Adverse effects'
The researchers have said more research is needed to make screening more accurate and to help pick out those who are most likely to have a true positive result.
Study leader, Dr Tuomas Kilpelainen, said: "I don't think routine screening should be advised until more is known on the adverse effects and costs of screening.
"If a man has urinary tract symptoms and is concerned he could have prostate cancer, the most important thing is to consult a GP or a urologist."
There is currently no organised screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK but men can request a PSA test if they want and demand is increasing.
Professor Julietta Patnick, director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said: "While the European trial, of which this Finnish study is a part, showed for the first time that prostate screening with PSA can save lives, it also suggested that 48 men would have to be treated in order to save one life.
"False positives are an issue for any screening programme, and this Finnish paper is very helpful at gaining an understanding of how they might figure in the context of prostate screening."
Results from both the European trial and a large study being carried out in the US are due this year, Cancer Research UK said.
Professor Peter Johnson, Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, said the paper showed there were "two sides" to using PSA for prostate cancer screening.
"Although for some men detecting prostate cancer early through screening can be life-saving, on the other hand the test will be abnormal for around one man in eight without cancer being detectable at that time.
"For this reason, it is important that men in their 50s and 60s can to talk to their doctor about the pros and cons of having a PSA test and only have the test if they feel it is right for them."
Read full story here
A positive result can mean undergoing invasive tests such as biopsy as well as potentially unnecessary treatment.
Screening with prostate specific antigen (PSA) is not routinely offered in the UK but government experts are reviewing evidence from the study.
Cancer Research UK said men should talk about the pros and cons with their GP.
Early data from the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer, which is being conducted in seven countries, showed in March 2009 that deaths could be cut by 20%.
But other recent evidence has cast doubt on the long-term benefits of screening, suggesting some men may end up being "over-treated" for slow-growing disease that would never cause a problem in their lifetime.
Now data from the Finnish part of the European trial has shown that for every eight men screened - tests are being done on a four-yearly basis - one ended up with a false positive result, even with a fairly high PSA threshold.
Those men who tested positive but were later found not to have cancer were twice as likely not to agree to screening in the future even though they were at risk of developing the disease later, the British Journal of Cancer reported.
'Adverse effects'
The researchers have said more research is needed to make screening more accurate and to help pick out those who are most likely to have a true positive result.
Study leader, Dr Tuomas Kilpelainen, said: "I don't think routine screening should be advised until more is known on the adverse effects and costs of screening.
"If a man has urinary tract symptoms and is concerned he could have prostate cancer, the most important thing is to consult a GP or a urologist."
There is currently no organised screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK but men can request a PSA test if they want and demand is increasing.
Professor Julietta Patnick, director of the NHS Cancer Screening Programmes, said: "While the European trial, of which this Finnish study is a part, showed for the first time that prostate screening with PSA can save lives, it also suggested that 48 men would have to be treated in order to save one life.
"False positives are an issue for any screening programme, and this Finnish paper is very helpful at gaining an understanding of how they might figure in the context of prostate screening."
Results from both the European trial and a large study being carried out in the US are due this year, Cancer Research UK said.
Professor Peter Johnson, Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, said the paper showed there were "two sides" to using PSA for prostate cancer screening.
"Although for some men detecting prostate cancer early through screening can be life-saving, on the other hand the test will be abnormal for around one man in eight without cancer being detectable at that time.
"For this reason, it is important that men in their 50s and 60s can to talk to their doctor about the pros and cons of having a PSA test and only have the test if they feel it is right for them."
Read full story here
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