D-ficiency Can Lead to Depression

A number of previous studies have linked vitamin D with a number of diseases, from cardiovascular to neurological. E. Sherwood Brown and colleagues from The Cooper Institute in Texas examined the results for 12,594 men and women who were seen at the Cooper Clinic from late 2006 to late 2010. The team observed that higher vitamin D levels were associated with a significantly decreased risk of current depression, particularly among people with a prior history of depression.

“We found that low vitamin D levels are associated with depressive symptoms, especially in persons with a history of depression,” the researchers report. “These findings suggest that primary care patients with a history of depression may be an important target for assessment of vitamin D levels.”

Hoang, M.T., et al. (2011). Association between low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and depression in a large sample of healthy adults: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study. Mayo Clin Proc. 86(11):1050-1055.

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Moderate Red Wine Consumption May Lower Breast Cancer Risk

Drinking red wine in moderation may reduce one of the risk factors for breast cancer, providing a natural weapon to combat a major cause of death among American women. Chrisandra Shufelt and colleagues from the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in California studied 36 women who were randomized to drink either cabernet sauvignon or chardonnay daily for almost a month and then switched to the other type of wine. Blood was collected twice each month to measure hormone levels. The researchers wanted to know whether red wine mimics the effects of aromatase inhibitors, which play a key role in managing estrogen and which are currently used to treat breast cancer. The team found that chemicals in the skins and seeds of red grapes slightly lowered estrogen while elevating testosterone in premenopausal women who drank eight ounces of red wine nightly for about a month. “These data suggest that red wine is a nutritional [aromatase inhibitor] and may explain the observation that red wine does not appear to increase breast cancer risk,” the authors conclude, submitting that the data challenge the widely held belief that all types of alcohol consumption heighten the risk of developing breast cancer.

Shufelt, C., et al. (2011). Red versus white wine as a nutritional aromatase inhibitor in premenopausal women. Journal of Women’s Health. December.

—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.