PCOS Review Newsletter #59

A free health newsletter for women with polycystic ovary syndrome or polycystic ovaries.

Issue #059      June 7, 2008
Nancy Dunne, N.D., Naturopathic Physician
Bill Slater, Research Associate

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Laughing Burns Calories

2) Metformin Increases Vitamin B12 Deficiency Risk

3) Vegetables: Your Secret Weapon against PCOS

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1) Laughing Burns Calories

When's the last time you had a good laugh?

Actually, it's an important question. Dealing with PCOS-related problems is not a lot of fun. Stress and depression can occasionally intrude into your daily life. Weight loss difficulties, hair problems, acne or inability to become pregnant may also weigh upon you.

In spite of it all, please make sure to have some fun. Do something to make you laugh or be with people who make you laugh and feel good.

Laughter provides a basketful of benefits. It increases your energy level, which helps you to burn off excess calories. It lowers your blood sugar (a problem for many PCOS women). It strengthens your immune system, lowers your blood pressure, improves circulation, reduces stress, and create pleasurable brain chemicals (endophins).

Polycystic ovary syndrome is not something that can be taken care of effectively over the long term with physical therapies alone, such as metformin or birth control pills.

The mental and emotional component of this disorder also plays a central role. Your emotions create hormones and biochemical messages that can help you…or harm you.

Please take time today to have a good laugh. Make it a daily habit. Better yet, find a reason to laugh several times a day…the more, the better.

Sources:
Buchowski MS et al Energy expenditure of genuine laughter, Int J Obes (Lond). 2007 Jan;31(1):131-7
Hayashi K et al Laughter lowered the increase in postprandial blood glucose, Diabetes Care. 2003 May;26(5):1651-2

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2) Metformin Increases Vitamin B12 Deficiency Risk

Did you know that metformin (Glucophage) interferes with vitamin B12 absorption and increases your risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency? We hope your doctor has warned you about this.

A recent study has shown that the higher the dose of metformin, and the longer you take it, the more likely it is you will develop a vitamin B12 deficiency.

A substance formed in the stomach called "intrinsic factor" combines with B12 so that it can be transferred into the blood. Metformin interferes with the ability of your cells to absorb this intrinsic factor-vitamin B12 complex.

Over the long term, vitamin B12 insufficiency is a significant health risk. B12 is essential to the proper growth and function of every cell in your body. It's required for synthesis of DNA and for many crucial biochemical functions. There is also a link between B12 insufficiency and cardiovascular disease.

At least one study raises the concern that even if metformin is withdrawn, the vitamin B12 malabsorption may continue in some people.

If you are taking metformin, consider taking supplemental vitamin B12. You may also need other nutrients to offset various side effects of metformin. A high-quality B-complex vitamin or a high-quality multi-vitamin/mineral formula is advisable.

Source:
Ting RZ et al Risk factors of vitamin B(12) deficiency in patients receiving metformin, Arch Intern Med, 2006; 166(18): 1975-9

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3) Vegetables: Your Secret Weapon against PCOS

Did you have your five servings of vegetables today? That's what the U.S. government's new food guidelines recommend. We agree 100% with that.

There are volumes of research clearly indicating that eating more vegetables will greatly improve your health. Better vegetable nutrition has also been shown to reduce polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms and its related consequences such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and premature death.

An example is a recent study of 64,000 women. The researchers found that the women who consumed the most vegetables were the least likely to develop diabetes later on. Conversely, those who consumed the least amount of vegetables were the most likely to get diabetes.

Interestingly, fruit had no effect.

So don't be fooled into thinking that eating fruit is the same as eating vegetables. You may think that fruit is more convenient and tasty than vegetables. If so, you'll need to shift your perspective a bit and find creative, tasty ways to increase your consumption of vegetables.

We emphasize the consumption of vegetables in our PCOS diet book. The book also contains some recipes.

Sources:
Villegas R et al, Vegetable but not fruit consumption reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese women, J Nutr, 2008; 138(3): 574-80

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Thought for Today: "Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." -- Auguste Rodin