PCOS Review Newsletter #69

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

Issue #069      November 15, 2008 Bill Slater, Research Associate

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Vitamin D Important for Health as Well as PCOS

2) Is D-Pinitol an Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer?

3) Reduce Your Kid's Infections with Fish Oil

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1) Vitamin D Important for Health as Well as PCOS

We can hardly stress enough how important vitamin D is for you. Some of you may be wondering why there is so much vitamin D in our d-pinitol formula.

But before we reveal some new research, let's recap some articles from past newsletters:

• Young Women Are Low in Vitamin D - we reported research showing they found that a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among young women.
• Link Between Liver Disease and Low Vitamin D? - we reported that an amazing 55% of women with PCOS may have fatty liver disease., and that people with liver disease have lower vitamin D levels.
• Is Vitamin D a "Missing Link" in PCOS? - we reported vitamin D is a "forgotten vitamin" that can play a very important role in dealing with PCOS.
• Vitamin D for PCOS - we reported a study that showed vitamin D and calcium dysregulation contribute to the development of follicular arrest in women with PCOS, resulting in reproductive and menstrual dysfunction.
• Help Prevent Insulin Resistance with Vitamin D - we reported that vitamin D reduces insulin resistance, which is one of the root causes of PCOS.

We recently came across some new research data about vitamin D. Several studies indicate a correlation between low levels of vitamin D and an increased incidence of breast cancer. One study from the University of California (San Diego) suggested that intake of 2,000 IU of vitamin D could increase vitamin levels in your body enough to reduce the incidence of breast cancer by 50%. Fifty percent is a very big drop in risk!

The other interesting study, from the University of Tromso in Norway, showed large doses of vitamin D for one year were useful for depression in people who were overweight. They concluded: "It appears to be a relation between serum levels of 25(OH)D [vitamin D] and symptoms of depression. Supplementation with high doses of vitamin D seems to ameliorate these symptoms, indicating a possible causal relationship."

In summary, there are multiple health benefits from making sure your vitamin D levels are optimal. You may need to take a significant amount of supplemental vitamin D to reach an optimal level. This is why there is so much vitamin D in the d-pinitol product.

Sources:
Garland CF et al Vitamin D and prevention of breast cancer: pooled analysis, J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2007 Mar;103(3-5):708-11
Jorde R et al Effects of vitamin D supplementation on symptoms of depression in overweight and obese subjects: randomized double blind trial, J Intern Med. 2008 Sep 10. [Epub ahead of print]

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2) Is D-Pinitol an Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Cancer?

D-pinitol is becoming increasingly well known among PCOS women for its role in reducing insulin resistance and normalizing blood sugar problems. A new report from the University of Texas has shown that d-pinitol also has anti-inflammatory properties.

This is important because women with polycystic ovary syndrome are more likely to have chronic inflammation. As we discuss in our PCOS diet book, there is a vicious linkage between body fat, inflammation, insulin resistance and leptin resistance -- which is one reason why PCOS is so challenging to manage. Chronic inflammation also plays a role in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. (Read Section 16 of our book for details).

A new report from the University of Texas has shown that d-pinitol suppresses an inflammatory pathway in the body called NF-kappaB. Suppression of NF-kappaB not only suppresses inflammation but also appears to make normal cells less likely to turn into cancer cells.

Source:
Sethi G et al, Pinitol targets nuclear factor-kappaB activation pathway leading to inhibition of gene products associated with proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and angiogenesis, Mol Cancer Ther. 2008 Jun;7(6):1604-14

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3) Reduce Your Kid's Infections with Fish Oil

If you have children, you know this is the time of year when they catch everything that's going around, from the sniffles to the flu or some other illness.

A very interesting study from Silpakorn University in Thailand came to our attention. In this study, one group of schoolchildren took fish oil five days a week for six months. The other group took a placebo.

The children taking the fish oil had fewer episodes and shorter duration of illness (mainly infections of the upper respiratory tract).

Not only is it good for kids, fish oil is good for you too!

Source:
Thienprasert A et al Fish Oil N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Selectively Affect Plasma Cytokines and Decrease Illness in Thai Schoolchildren: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Intervention Trial, J Pediatr. 2008 Oct 17. [Epub ahead of print]

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Thought for Today: "Learn to smile at every situation. See it as an opportunity to prove your strength and ability." -- Joe Brown