Soy may cause goiters in healthy people, especially the elderly

This study was published in Nihon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi 1991 May 20;67(5):622-9

Study title and authors:
The effects on the thyroid gland of soybeans administered experimentally in healthy subjects.

Ishizuki Y, Hirooka Y, Murata Y, Togashi K.
Ishizuki Thyroid Clinic.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1868922

This study investigated the effects of soy consumption on thyroid function. The study included 37 healthy subjects who were given 30g of soybeans everyday and divided into 3 groups.

(i) Group 1 were given soybeans for one month.
(ii) Group 2 (average age 29 years old) were given soybeans for three months.
(iii) Group 3 (average age 61 years old) were given soybeans for three months.

The study found:
(a) In all groups thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels rose significantly (high TSH levels may indicate an underactive thyroid gland).
(b) TSH levels in group 3 increased more significantly than that in group 2.
(c) Symptoms such as malaise, constipation, sleepiness and goiters appeared in half the subjects in groups 2 and 3 after taking soybeans for 3 months, but they disappeared 1 month after the cessation of soybean ingestion.

The author of the study, Dr. Yoshimochi Ishizuki of Aichi Medical University in Japan, concludes: "These findings suggested that excessive soybean ingestion for a certain duration might suppress thyroid function and cause goiters in healthy people, especially elderly subjects".

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Actos increases bladder cancer risk by 30.5%

This study was published in Diabetes Care 2012 Feb;35(2):278-80

Study title and author:
Pioglitazone and bladder cancer: a population-based study of Taiwanese.

Tseng CH.
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. ccktsh@ms6.hinet.net

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22210574

The study investigated the association between pioglitazone (Actos) and bladder cancer. The study included 54,928 patients with type 2 diabetes who were followed for four years.

The study found those who had used Actos had a 30.5% increased risk of bladder cancer compared to those who had never used Actos.

For more information on the side-effects of Actos click here.

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Low-fat diets have harmful health effects on diabetic patients who have high blood pressure

This study was published in the American Journal of Hypertension 1990 Jul;3(7):527-32

Study title and authors:

Effect of low fat-high carbohydrate diets in hypertensive patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Fuh MM, Lee MM, Jeng CY, Ma F, Chen YD, Reaven GM.

Department of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2194509

The effects of variations in dietary fat and carbohydrate content were evaluated in 11 patients with high blood pressure, who also had diabetes.

The diets, which lasted for 15 days were either:
(i) 60% carbohydrate, 20% protein, 20% fat (low fat diet).
(ii) 40% carbohydrate, 20% protein, 40% fat (high fat diet).

The study found:
(a) Blood glucose and insulin concentrations were significantly higher throughout the day when patients consumed the low fat diet, which may lead to adverse health effects.
(b) Levels of the harmful triglycerides increased by 30% after 15 days on the low fat diet.

This study reveals that a low-fat diet has harmful health effects on diabetic patients who have high blood pressure.

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Beneficial effects of the high fat ketogenic diet in obese diabetic patients

This study was published in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 2007 Aug;302(1-2):249-56

Study title and authors:
Beneficial effects of ketogenic diet in obese diabetic subjects.

Dashti HM, Mathew TC, Khadada M, Al-Mousawi M, Talib H, Asfar SK, Behbahani AI, Al-Zaid NS.
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, PO Box 24923, 13110 Safat, Kuwait. info@drdashti.com

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17447017

Dashti notes that obesity is closely linked to the incidence of type II diabetes.

The objective of this 56 week study was to examine the effects of the high fat ketogenic diet on 64 obese diabetic subjects who had either high blood sugar levels or normal blood sugar levels.

The ketogenic diet had the following effects:
(a) Patients lost a significant amount of weight.
(b) Harmful high blood sugar levels decreased significantly.
(c) Harmful high triglyceride levels decreased significantly.
(d) Beneficial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels increased significantly.
(e) These changes were more significant in subjects with high blood sugar levels as compared to those with normal blood sugar levels.

This study shows the beneficial effects of the high fat ketogenic diet in obese diabetic patients.

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Actos and avandia are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer among people with type 2 diabetes

This study was published in the British Medical Journal 2012 May 30;344:e3645

Study title and authors:
The use of pioglitazone and the risk of bladder cancer in people with type 2 diabetes: nested case-control study.

Azoulay L, Yin H, Filion KB, Assayag J, Majdan A, Pollak MN, Suissa S.
Centre for Clinical Epidemiology, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte Sainte-Catherine, H-425.1, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3T 1E2. laurent.azoulay@mcgill.ca

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22653981

Pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) are types of thiazolidinediones, (also known as glitazones), are a class of medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

The objective of the study was to determine if the use of pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer in people with type 2 diabetes. The study included 115,727 type 2 diabetics, average age 64 years, who were followed for 4.6 years.

The study found:
(a) Actos users had an 83% increased risk of bladder cancer compared to non users of thiazolidinediones.
(b) Actos users with a cumulative duration of more than 24 months had an 99% increased risk of bladder cancer compared to non users of thiazolidinediones.
(c) Actos users with a cumulative dosage of more than 28,000 mg had a 154%% increased risk of bladder cancer compared to non users of thiazolidinediones.
(d) Avandia users had an 14% increased risk of bladder cancer compared to non users of thiazolidinediones.
(e) Avandia users with a cumulative duration of more than 1,022 days had an 34% increased risk of bladder cancer compared to non users of thiazolidinediones.
(f) Avandia users with a cumulative dosage of more than 5,152 mg had a 27%% increased risk of bladder cancer compared to non users of thiazolidinediones.

The results of the study show that the use of actos and avandia are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer among people with type 2 diabetes.

For more information on the effects of actos visit drugwatch.

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Low cholesterol levels associated with slow mental processing in students

This study was published in Psychosomatic Medicine 1995 Jan-Feb;57(1):50-3

Study title and author:

Do low cholesterol levels slow mental processing?

Benton D.

Department of Psychology, University College, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7732160  

The study investigated the relationship between cholesterol levels and mental processing. Reaction times were assessed in 279 students, aged 18 to 25, by subjecting them to a series of tests that measured their decision times and movement times.

The study found that lower cholesterol levels were associated with slower decision times and slower movement times.

The data from this study suggests that higher cholesterol levels are related to higher cognitive efficiency.

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Low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher incidence of stroke

This study was published in Stroke 1982 Jan-Feb;13(1):62-73

Study title and authors:

Risk factors for cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction in a Japanese rural community.

Tanaka H, Ueda Y, Hayashi M, Date C, Baba T, Yamashita H, Shoji H, Tanaka Y, Owada K, Detels R.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7064181

The study investigated the influence of cholesterol levels on the rates of stroke. The study included 1,673 participants aged 40 years and older who were followed for ten years.

The study found:
(a) Those with the lowest cholesterol (under 129 mg/dL or 3.33 mmol/L) had a 184% increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage (ruptured blood vessel in the brain) compared to those with the highest cholesterol over 230 mg/dL (5.9 mmol/L).
(b) Those with the lowest cholesterol (under 129 mg/dL or 3.33 mmol/L) had a 27% increased risk of cerebral infarction (blocked blood vessel in the brain) compared to those with the highest cholesterol over 230 mg/dL (5.9 mmol/L).

The data from the study shows that low cholesterol levels are associated with a higher incidence of stroke.

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