ABSTRACT
The effect of vitamin C in cancer has been a subject of great controversy; mainly because of the inconsistent results obtained by oral intakes of ascorbate when used as an anticancer agent. We believe the intravenous application of ascorbate will provide more consistent results in cancer patients since Vitamin C blood levels attained are substantially higher in a range proven cytotoxic to malignant cells. In this article we will present and discuss our proposed mechanism on the chemotherapeutic activity exhibited by ascorbate.
Subject(s)
Humans , Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage , Antioxidants , Neoplasms , Orthomolecular Therapy , Injections, IntravenousABSTRACT
The use of alternative/complementary medicine has been increasing considerably. Conventional medicine must begin to address issues related to the use, safety, regulation, research and education of alternative/complementary medicine. Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine and alternative complementary practices. Integrative medicine is an innovative approach to medicine and medical education. It involves the understanding of the interaction of the mind, body and spirit and how to interpret this relationship in the dynamics of health and disease. Integrative medicine shifts the orientation of the medical practice from disease based approach to a healing based approach. It does not reject conventional medicine nor uncritically accepts unconventional practices. Integrative medicine is an effective, more fulfilling human approach to medicine based on the benefit of the patient by following good medicine practices in a scientific manner.
Subject(s)
Humans , Complementary Therapies , Education, Medical/trends , Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/trends , Holistic Health , Puerto RicoABSTRACT
Ethical issues pertaining research and counseling in nutritional sciences will be arising in this new century. This issue will be of great importance especially in the area of nutraceutical supplementation and disease (pharmacological nutrition). Steps to insure bioethical correctness are discussed in this paper.
Subject(s)
Humans , Counseling , Dietary Supplements , Dietetics/statistics & numerical data , Ethics, Professional , Nutritional Sciences , Dietetics/trends , Forecasting , ResearchABSTRACT
Children with neuromuscular disorders have special health needs that place them at risk of nutritional problems. These needs may have detrimental effects on their development, immune and respiratory system. Identified nutrition-related problems are malnutrition, obesity, food intolerance, food allergies, drug-nutrient interactions, constipation and reflux. In order to improve the nutritional status of these patients, a nutritional assessment is recommended which should include anthropometric measurements and laboratory tests.
Subject(s)
Humans , Child , Neuromuscular Diseases/complications , Nutritional Status , Child Nutrition Disorders/diagnosis , Cerebral Palsy/complications , Neuromuscular Diseases/diagnosis , Starvation/diagnosis , Obesity/diagnosis , Pica/diagnosis , Pseudobulbar Palsy/complications , Gastroesophageal Reflux/etiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: A pilot case-control study was conducted to examine the possible association between dietary fat intake and the development of postmenopausal breast cancer. BACKGROUND: Studies regarding the association between dietary fat intake and the development of breast cancer among postmenopausal women are lacking in Puerto Rico. METHODS: Eighteen cases and eighteen controls were interviewed to obtain sociodemographic information, medical history and dietary fat intake. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire containing 67 food items was used to collect the dietary information. RESULTS: Unadjusted odds ratios (OR) and their 95 per cent confidence intervals (CI) showed a non-significant positive association for total fat intake and the development of postmenopausal breast cancer (OR = 1.57; 95 per cent CI: 0.42-5.90, p = 0.25). The same non significant positive association was found for saturated fat intake (OR = 1.57; 95 per cent CI: 0.42-5.90, p = 0.25). Polyunsaturated fat (OR = 1.25; 95 per cent CI: 0.34-4.64, p = 0.37) and monounsaturated fat (OR = 1.25; 95 per cent CI: 0.34-4.64, p = 0.37) were also positively associated with postmenopausal breast cancer, although the associations were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with other case-control studies that have shown non-significant positive associations between total fat and the different components of dietary fat and postmenopausal breast cancer.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Child , Adult , Middle Aged , Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Dietary Fats/adverse effects , Fatty Acids/adverse effects , Age Factors , Breast Neoplasms/etiology , Case-Control Studies , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Dietary Fats, Unsaturated/adverse effects , Menarche , Postmenopause , Puerto Rico/epidemiology , Risk Factors , SoftwareABSTRACT
Descriptive epidemiologic data suggest a relationship between consumption of high fat diets and breast cancer; although these data can be potentially confounded by other causative exposures. Results of published case-control and cohort studies are inconclusive. Nevertheless, dietary fat significantly affects mammary tumorigenesis in mice and rats in laboratory experiments. We will review current epidemiologic and animal studies, explain the possible mechanisms of how dietary fat may affect breast cancer, and provide preliminary dietary recommendations.
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Female , Rats , Mice , Adult , Middle Aged , Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Dietary Fats/adverse effects , Age Factors , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/prevention & control , Case-Control Studies , Cohort Studies , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Energy Intake , Lipid Peroxidation , Postmenopause , Premenopause , Prostaglandins/biosynthesis , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
Folate deficiency is one of today's most common vitamin deficiencies in women. Women who consume a low level of folate during pregnancy are at risk for poor pregnancy outcomes including neural tube defects (NTD). However, other factors such as heredity, social class, maternal age, birth order, maternal diet, length of time between pregnancies, maternal zinc deficiency, use of anticonvulsant drugs, abnormal homocysteine metabolism and the use of oral contraceptives, have also been implicated as causes of NTD. Animal studies have shown that fetuses are highly dependent on the folate status of the mother. In addition, several retrospective and prospective human studies have provided evidence that folate lowers the incidence of NTD
Subject(s)
Humans , Animals , Female , Pregnancy , Folic Acid/administration & dosage , Pregnancy Complications/prevention & control , Folic Acid Deficiency/prevention & control , Neural Tube Defects , Cebus , Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic , Folic Acid Deficiency/complications , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Neural Tube Defects/etiology , Prospective Studies , Retrospective Studies , Risk FactorsSubject(s)
Humans , Ascorbic Acid/pharmacology , In Vitro Techniques , T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , Ascorbic Acid/adverse effects , Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage , Cytotoxicity, Immunologic , HIV/drug effects , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/drug therapyABSTRACT
El alto consumo de grasa ha sido ligado en forma consistente al cáncer de las mamas en estudios epidemiológicos y experimentales. Esta comunicación revisa los posibles mecanismos envueltos en esta relación. Además revisaremos los efecto de distintas grasas sobre el crecimiento del cáncer mamario en recientes estudios experimentales