Beer May Boost Bone Health

Silicon is present in beer in the soluble form of orthosilicic acid, which yields 50 percent bioavailability, making beer a major contributor to silicon intake in the Western diet. As dietary silicon in the form of soluble OSA may be important for the growth and development of bone and connective tissue, beer may be a significant source of dietary silicon.

Charles Bamforth, from the University of California, Davis, and colleagues studied commercial beer production to determine the relationship between beer production methods and the impact of silicon on the body. They examined a variety of raw-material samples and found little change in the silicon content of barley during the malting process. The majority of the silicon in barley is in the husk, which is not affected greatly during malting. The malts with greater silicon content are pale colored and take less heat stress during the malting process. The darker products, such as the chocolate, roasted barley and black malts, all get substantial roasting and have much lower silicon content than other malts, for reasons that are not yet known.

The hops samples analyzed showed surprisingly high silicon content with as much as four times more than is found in malt. Some studies have suggested that moderate beer drinking may help fight osteoporosis. The finding by these researchers that “beer is a very rich source of silicon” takes on a potential importance for preventative health pending further studies into the underlying mechanisms of the bone-boosting properties of beer.

Casey, T.R., et al. (2010). Silicon in beer and brewing. J Sci Food and Agric. In press.

Nutrient Cocktail Maintains Youth

Declining physical movement, known as bradykinesis, is considered a reliable biomarker of aging and risk of death. David Rollo, from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues formulated a dietary supplement consisting of ingredients such as vitamins B1, C, D, E, aspirin, beta-carotene, folic acid, garlic, ginger root, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, green-tea extract, magnesium, melatonin, potassium, cod liver oil and flaxseed oil. Multiple ingredients were combined based on their ability to offset five mechanisms involved in aging.

Feeding the formula to old mice by administering bagel bits soaked in the supplement, the team found that the formula maintained youthful locomotor activity into old age, whereas old mice that were not given the supplement showed a 50 percent loss in daily movement. In the latter group the researchers also observed a similar dramatic loss in activity of the mitochondria, the cellular furnaces that make energy, and declines in brain-signaling chemicals relevant to locomotion.

The researchers had this comment: “Results provide proof of principle that complex dietary cocktails can powerfully ameliorate biomarkers of aging and modulate mechanisms considered ultimate goals for aging interventions.”

Aksenov, V., et al. (2010). Dietary amelioration of locomotor, neurotransmitter and mitochondrial aging. Exp Biol Med. 235:66-76.

—Dr. Bob Goldman
www.WorldHealth.net

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Dr. Robert M. Goldman MD, PhD, DO, FAASP has spearheaded the development of numerous international medical organizations and corporations. Dr. Goldman has served as a Senior Fellow at the Lincoln Filene Center, Tufts University; as an Affiliate at the Philosophy of Education Research Center, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, He is Clinical Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea Medical University; and Professor, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Central America Health Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Goldman holds the positions of Visiting Professor, Udayana University School of Medicine, Indonesia; Visiting Professor, Huazhong University of Science & Technology Tong Ji Medical School, China; Visiting Professor, The Wuhan Institute of Science & Technology, China; Visiting Professor at Hainan Medical College, China; and Visiting Professor, School of Anti-Aging, Aesthetics and Regenerative Medicine, UCSI University, Malaysia. Dr. Goldman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sports Physicians and a Board Diplomat in Sports Medicine and Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Goldman is a Fellow of the American Academy of Sports Physicians and a Board Diplomat in Sports Medicine and Board Certified in Anti-Aging Medicine. He has overseen cooperative research agreement development programs in conjunction with such prominent institutions as the American National Red Cross, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Defense, and the FDA’s Center for Devices & Radiological Health.

Dr Goldman was awarded the 2012 LifeTime Achievement Award in Medicine &Science. Dr. Goldman is the recipient of the ‘Gold Medal for Science, the Grand Prize for Medicine, the Humanitarian Award, and the Business Development Award. He received honors from Minister of Sports and government Health officials of numerous nations. In 2001, Excellency Juan Antonio Samaranch awarded Dr. Goldman the International Olympic Committee Tribute Diploma for contributions to the development of sport & Olympism.

In addition, Dr. Goldman is a black belt in karate, Chinese weapons expert, and world champion athlete with over 20 world strength records, he has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Some of his past performance records include 13,500 consecutive situps and 321 consecutive handstand pushups. Dr. Goldman was an All-College athlete in four sports, a three time winner of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Physical Fitness Award, was voted Athlete of the Year, was the recipient of the Champions Award, and was inducted into the World Hall of Fame of Physical Fitness. Dr. Goldman was awarded the Healthy American Fitness Leader Award from the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Goldman is Chairman of the International Medical Commission overseeing sports medicine committees in over 184 nations. He has served as a Special Advisor to the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports. He is founder and international President Emeritis of the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the cofounder and Chairman of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M). Dr. Goldman visits an average of 20 countries annually to promote brain research and sports medicine programs.