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Bursts of exercise for diabetes patients improves heart health

31/10/2015

Researchers found patients with type 2 diabetes had significantly larger reductions in HbA1c and cholesterol levels three months after participating in high-intensity bursts of exercise, compared with those in the conventional sustained-exercise program group. The findings, presented at the 2015 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress and based on 76 patients with newly diagnosed diabetes, also showed that the burst-exercise group had better adherence to the program than the sustained exercise group.

Thyroid function no better with combination T4/T3 compared to T4 alone.

02/11/2015

A double-blind study, presented last week at the 2015 International Thyroid Congress and Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association which involved 32 adults with primary hypothyroidism, showed that the combination of T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (liothyronine) was of no significant clinical benefit compared to thyroxine alone. However, there is still need for future studies with longer follow-up to evaluate the effects of T3 in select patients who have ongoing symptoms of hypothyroidism.

World Osteoporosis Day – Love Your Bones!

October 20th annually is world osteoporosis day which brings awareness to this condition which affects 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over 50 years of age. Fragile or thin bones are common and can lead to fractures and other health complications. To improve bone health, a healthy diet full of calcium, protein and vitamin D can certainly help and regular weight-bearing exercise is very beneficial. Sunshine is the main source of vitamin D, however caution should be taken to prevent over-exposure. For more information see

Denosumab Treatment For Osteoporosis Remains Beneficial Over 10 Years

New research presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2015 Annual Meeting shows that aging postmenopausal women who received denosumab (Prolia) over 10 years continued to gain bone mineral density and had low incidences of fracture. Particularly “striking” was the lumbar spine bone density which increased 21.7% over the 7 year study.

 

Heart Disease in Type 2 Diabetes – New Stent Superior

The New England Journal of Medicine reports that a new stent to treat heart attacks, the XIENCE stent containing the drug everolimus is a better treatment for heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes than the commonly used TAXUS paclitaxel-eluting stent. In patients with diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease requiring a stent insertion, those receiving the XIENCE stent had lower rates of myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis (blockage) and reduced need for a repeat stent procedure.

WWW.NEJM.ORG

 

Dietary Supplements Send 23,000 people to Emergency Departments Each Year

Leading research demonstrates that in the US, 23000 people visit hospital emergency departments and more than 2100 are hospitalized due to dietary supplements, particularly weight loss and sexual enhancement supplements. Vitamins, dietary supplements and herbal medications have no monitoring of their safety and are not in any way regulated. Supplements do not require rigorous research trials to prove efficacy like pharmaceutical medications, which puts consumers at significant risk, who often believe that such produces are “natural and safe”. Ingredients in such supplements vary significantly and may contain hidden ingredients and untested chemicals that are often different to the packaging.  Whilst many are safe, it is important to discuss any supplements with your doctor. The Food and Drug Administration has “repeatedly warned about the dangers of such products”.

WWW.NEJM.ORG