Resveratrol is a chemical found in the skin of red grapes, berries, plums and peanuts. It is being widely promoted as the latest antiaging wonder drug. Fortunately, to separate research from hype, this issue of The Medical Letter reviewed the current knowledge on Resveratrol.
Resveratrol has shown some interesting benefits in animal experiments. In obese mice, it increased insulin sensitivity and longevity. In non-obese mice it did not improve survival but increased other markers of good he...
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A New Blood Thinner May Outperform Coumadin
Atrial fibrillation is a very common abnormal heart rhythm affecting 3 million Americans. The most dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation is stoke, which can happen when a blood clot forms in the fibrillating heart chambers and travels to the brain.
Blood thinners have been the mainstay of treatment for atrial fibrillation. They reduce the risk of stroke by preventing blood clots. Warfarin (marketed under the brand name Coumadin) is the most effective available oral blood thinner, but...
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The Facts on Red Yeast Rice
Many of my patients ask me whether they should take red yeast rice to lower their cholesterol. This week’s issue of The Medical Letter has a very handy review of red yeast rice which I summarize below.
Red yeast rice is a food that is produced by fermenting rice with a specific species of yeast. It has been used in Chinese cooking and medicine for centuries. It contains many molecules that are similar to statins, the family of medicines including Liptor, Zocor and Crestor. In fact one of it...
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National Cholesterol Education Month
The CDC says that September is National Cholesterol Education Month, and who am I to argue? So here is a dollop of education about cholesterol.
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- High cholesterol is a major risk factor for strokes and heart attacks. Other risk factors include
- smoking,
- age,
- high blood pressure,
- diabetes and
- having a first-degree relative who had a heart attack in middle age or younger.
- High cholesterol doesn’t feel like anything. ...