Frontline: Soy & Breast Cancer; Supplement Contents; Rosacea & Alcohol Consumption
Soy Foods Linked With Breast Cancer Benefits
Research suggests that consuming foods and beverages made from soybeans may prolong survival in women with estrogen receptor-negative (ER–) breast cancer. Soy foods, which include tofu, tempeh, soy milk, and edamame, contain isoflavones, compounds that are similar in some ways to the hormone estrogen. The nine-year study examined dietary isoflavone intake in 6,235 women with breast cancer. During follow-up, women with ER– breast cancer who consumed the most isoflavones were 21 percent less likely to die than those who consumed the least isoflavones. The researchers, whose study was published in the journal Cancer, noted that isoflavones have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may affect the growth and survival of ER– tumors. Other research has suggested that consuming foods and beverages made from soy may decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence.
Contents of Supplements Vary Widely
According to research published online June 23, 2017 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, manufacturers of red yeast rice supplements have failed to adhere to FDA directives that call for standard concentrations of the active ingredient, monacolin K, in these supplements. In the study, researchers tested 28 brands of red yeast rice supplements purchased in the U.S. to determine levels of monacolin K, the same ingredient found in lovastatin (Mevacor), a prescription statin drug that lowers cholesterol. Two of the products contained no detectable levels of monacolin K, and, in the other 26 products, monacolin K levels ranged from 0.09 to 5.48 milligrams (mg) per 1,200 mg of red yeast rice—a 60-fold variation in quantity. In six of the products, the dosage exceeded the 4-mg/day limit established by the FDA. These findings serve as a reminder that supplements are not subject to the same stringent regulations for purity, strength, and composition (what’s in the supplement and how much is in it) as medications. Numerous other studies have shown that many supplements contain ingredients that can potentially cause harm. And, supplements may also interact with other drugs, and change their effectiveness.
Risk of Rosacea Rises With Alcohol Consumption
Women who consume alcohol may be more likely to develop the skin disorder rosacea than women who don’t drink, according to a study published April 20, 2017 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. The researchers found that women who drank white wine or liquor were more likely to have rosacea; however, neither beer nor red wine was linked with a higher risk. Rosacea causes a reddening of facial skin that may appear on the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. Some people with rosacea also experience dry, irritated eyes and may have bumps or pimples and visible blood vessels on their faces. Researchers suggested that the link may be due to the widening of blood vessels that occurs with alcohol consumption. Another theory is that alcohol may weaken the immune system, which could contribute to rosacea.
The post Frontline: Soy & Breast Cancer; Supplement Contents; Rosacea & Alcohol Consumption appeared first on University Health News.
Powered by WPeMatico
