I had a question about the efficacy of The Fertility Diet and flax seed oil as an aid to conception.
I have not found any solid, replicated studies on flax seed oil being effective in aiding with conception but this doesn't mean it isn't good for you. Anything that is good for your health can't hurt when trying to conceive.
From my initial review of The Fertility Diet, some of the studies have shown it to be effective in aiding with conception. It uses the principles of the glycemic index for "good carbs" and "bad carbs" and would be effective in helping those with insulin resistant fertility issues. I don't know how effective it would be in assisting those without insulin resistant issues in conceiving but, there again anything that contributes to overall health, contributes to conception.
Here are a few links for a little more info:
Flax Seed Oil
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/flaxseed/index.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flaxseed/NS_patient-flaxseed
http://www.homeherbs.co.uk/0/product/0/524-Flaxseed_Oil.html
http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/cimer/display.cfm?id=0D86E843-44DF-4766-9D743BA1FE8B9877&method=displayFull
The Fertility Diet
http://www.newsweek.com/id/73354
http://www.wsbtv.com/family/14939197/detail.html
Monday, March 24, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Is Nutra-Sweet Safe When TTC ......or Ever?
If you really want to know the answer to that question, here are the links to the timeline/memos regarding aspartame approval as well as the FDA report.
http://www.sweetpoison.com/articles/fda-report-on-searle1.html
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/history.faq
I had a question about the FDA and why some things are approved and others are not. The two examples I was asked about were marijuana and stevia. I'm going to lump both of them together.
It is well known within the medical community why and it boils down to what it ALWAYS boils down to, money. GENERALLY SPEAKING, If you want to know the why of something or understand someone's motivation.........follow the dollar sign.
How many billions of dollars are generated by artificial sweeteners?
How many billions of dollars would be generated by stevia, a plant that you can grow in your backyard and requires no processing to extract the sweetness other than crushing or chopping it? Why is it ok to be sold as an herbal supplement but not as a sweetener?
How many billions of dollars are generated by anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) drugs?
How many billions of dollars would be generated by marijauna, a plant you can grow in your backyard and requires no processing to get the anti-emetic effects except drying it and eating it?
Why is alcohol and tobacco, the number 1 and number 2 contributing factors for all 4 of the top 10 cause of death in the US still legal?
Why is alcohol still legal when it is the number 1 contributing factor in auto accidents?
Yes, it really is that simple. Sad isn't it?
Side Note: Is there any particular reason why spell check is still down? Blogger can't get something as simple as spell check fixed? How long has it been now?
http://www.sweetpoison.com/articles/fda-report-on-searle1.html
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/history.faq
I had a question about the FDA and why some things are approved and others are not. The two examples I was asked about were marijuana and stevia. I'm going to lump both of them together.
It is well known within the medical community why and it boils down to what it ALWAYS boils down to, money. GENERALLY SPEAKING, If you want to know the why of something or understand someone's motivation.........follow the dollar sign.
How many billions of dollars are generated by artificial sweeteners?
How many billions of dollars would be generated by stevia, a plant that you can grow in your backyard and requires no processing to extract the sweetness other than crushing or chopping it? Why is it ok to be sold as an herbal supplement but not as a sweetener?
How many billions of dollars are generated by anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) drugs?
How many billions of dollars would be generated by marijauna, a plant you can grow in your backyard and requires no processing to get the anti-emetic effects except drying it and eating it?
Why is alcohol and tobacco, the number 1 and number 2 contributing factors for all 4 of the top 10 cause of death in the US still legal?
Why is alcohol still legal when it is the number 1 contributing factor in auto accidents?
Yes, it really is that simple. Sad isn't it?
Side Note: Is there any particular reason why spell check is still down? Blogger can't get something as simple as spell check fixed? How long has it been now?
Friday, February 1, 2008
Do Herbal Supplements Really Work?
The only scientific research I was able to find was on FertilityBlend. All studies have limitations and this was a pilot study (larger study is ongoing, scroll down for details) but, read and judge for yourself:
http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2004/april/fertilityblend.htm
A researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine says a small study shows promise for a nutritional supplement that may help boost fertility in women who have difficulty conceiving. Initial results indicate that of the women who took the supplement, one-third became pregnant after five months.
"This was a small, pilot study but if the findings hold up in a larger trial, the supplement may be a feasible treatment for some women," said Lynn Westphal, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, whose study results appear in the April issue of the Journal of Reproductive Medicine.
One in six couples in the United States has trouble conceiving, Westphal said. The possible culprits include endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, male factor infertility and irregular menstrual cycles, among others. Treatments vary, and she said a growing number of patients have expressed interest in pursuing alternative therapies before taking more aggressive routes such as in vitro fertilization.
Despite this, little research has been done on the benefit of a pre-pregnancy supplement to optimize fertility health. "There's not a lot of work in this area but it's an important one," she said. "Many women are interested in avenues aside from aggressive infertility treatment. If we can find an effective way to treat patients less invasively, it would be a great benefit."
The supplement she studied, marketed as "FertilityBlend," contains:
Chasteberry (an herb that has been shown to improve ovulation and restore progesterone balance, which can be skewed in women having difficulty conceiving),
L-arginine (an amino acid that improves circulation to the reproductive organs),
green tea and numerous vitamins and minerals.
To study the effects of FertilityBlend, Westphal recruited 30 volunteers who had tried unsuccessfully to conceive for six to 36 months. The women ranged in age from 24 to 46; some had been tested and diagnosed with a particular disorder that hindered their fertility while others fell into the category of "unexplained" infertility. During the double-blind study, the women were randomly assigned to take the supplement or a placebo three times a day.
Changes in progesterone levels, basal body temperatures and menstrual cycles were then monitored. After three months, the supplement group had an increased progesterone level and a significant increase in the average number of days in their menstrual cycle in which they had basal temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius, which indicates better ovulation, Westphal said.
The placebo group, meanwhile, showed no notable changes. After five months, five of the 15 supplement participants were pregnant and none of the 15 women on placebo were. The pregnancies resulted in four healthy babies; one woman miscarried.
"I was definitely skeptical before the study, but the results are promising," said Westphal, adding that she believes the chasteberry component of the supplement most likely played the biggest role in boosting fertility. Westphal said she considers the supplement a good option for younger women who choose to forego or postpone aggressive treatment.
However, she encouraged women over the age of 35 who have been trying to get pregnant for more than six months to get a full evaluation from their physicians.
Based on its promising findings, Westphal's pilot study has been expanded to a larger multicenter study. She is currently enrolling women ages 18 to 43 who have been trying to get pregnant for six to 36 months and have abnormal menstrual cycles. She is also looking for men to enroll in a separate study on FertilityBlend for Men, a supplement containing L-carnitine (an amino acid that can improve sperm function) and ferulic acid (an antioxidant that has shown to improve sperm quality).
Interested volunteers should call (650) 498-7911. The study was funded by the Asian Cultural Teaching Foundation and the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Daily Wellness Co., which manufactures FertilityBlend.
Westphal's Stanford colleague on the study was Mary Lake Polan, MD, PhD, who serves on the scientific advisory board of Daily Wellness. Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions - Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.
http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/viewCV?facultyId=4716&name=Lynn_Westphal
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-158574396.html
http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2004/april/fertilityblend.htm
For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.
http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2004/april/fertilityblend.htm
Fertility Herbal Supplement Promising Results
STANFORD, Calif.
A researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine says a small study shows promise for a nutritional supplement that may help boost fertility in women who have difficulty conceiving. Initial results indicate that of the women who took the supplement, one-third became pregnant after five months.
"This was a small, pilot study but if the findings hold up in a larger trial, the supplement may be a feasible treatment for some women," said Lynn Westphal, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, whose study results appear in the April issue of the Journal of Reproductive Medicine.
One in six couples in the United States has trouble conceiving, Westphal said. The possible culprits include endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, male factor infertility and irregular menstrual cycles, among others. Treatments vary, and she said a growing number of patients have expressed interest in pursuing alternative therapies before taking more aggressive routes such as in vitro fertilization.
Despite this, little research has been done on the benefit of a pre-pregnancy supplement to optimize fertility health. "There's not a lot of work in this area but it's an important one," she said. "Many women are interested in avenues aside from aggressive infertility treatment. If we can find an effective way to treat patients less invasively, it would be a great benefit."
The supplement she studied, marketed as "FertilityBlend," contains:
Chasteberry (an herb that has been shown to improve ovulation and restore progesterone balance, which can be skewed in women having difficulty conceiving),
L-arginine (an amino acid that improves circulation to the reproductive organs),
green tea and numerous vitamins and minerals.
To study the effects of FertilityBlend, Westphal recruited 30 volunteers who had tried unsuccessfully to conceive for six to 36 months. The women ranged in age from 24 to 46; some had been tested and diagnosed with a particular disorder that hindered their fertility while others fell into the category of "unexplained" infertility. During the double-blind study, the women were randomly assigned to take the supplement or a placebo three times a day.
Changes in progesterone levels, basal body temperatures and menstrual cycles were then monitored. After three months, the supplement group had an increased progesterone level and a significant increase in the average number of days in their menstrual cycle in which they had basal temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius, which indicates better ovulation, Westphal said.
The placebo group, meanwhile, showed no notable changes. After five months, five of the 15 supplement participants were pregnant and none of the 15 women on placebo were. The pregnancies resulted in four healthy babies; one woman miscarried.
"I was definitely skeptical before the study, but the results are promising," said Westphal, adding that she believes the chasteberry component of the supplement most likely played the biggest role in boosting fertility. Westphal said she considers the supplement a good option for younger women who choose to forego or postpone aggressive treatment.
However, she encouraged women over the age of 35 who have been trying to get pregnant for more than six months to get a full evaluation from their physicians.
Based on its promising findings, Westphal's pilot study has been expanded to a larger multicenter study. She is currently enrolling women ages 18 to 43 who have been trying to get pregnant for six to 36 months and have abnormal menstrual cycles. She is also looking for men to enroll in a separate study on FertilityBlend for Men, a supplement containing L-carnitine (an amino acid that can improve sperm function) and ferulic acid (an antioxidant that has shown to improve sperm quality).
Interested volunteers should call (650) 498-7911. The study was funded by the Asian Cultural Teaching Foundation and the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Daily Wellness Co., which manufactures FertilityBlend.
Westphal's Stanford colleague on the study was Mary Lake Polan, MD, PhD, who serves on the scientific advisory board of Daily Wellness. Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions - Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.
http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/viewCV?facultyId=4716&name=Lynn_Westphal
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-158574396.html
http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2004/april/fertilityblend.htm
For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Miscarriage Risks
This topic hits way too close to home but.......it may help someone who here are a few clips from here and there to address miscarriage. If you want to know the sources, Google it. Like the disclaimer says, this is just for info.
A new Kaiser Permanente study shows stronger evidence that caffeine consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.
The study showed women who consume 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day (two or more cups of regular coffee or five cans of caffeinated soda) had twice the miscarriage risk as women who consumed no caffeine.
Even women who consumed less than 200 milligrams of caffeine increased their miscarriage risk by more than 40 percent compared to women who consumed no caffeine.
Mayo Clinic:
What increases the risk of miscarriage?
Various circumstances increase the risk of miscarriage, including:
A new Kaiser Permanente study shows stronger evidence that caffeine consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.
The study showed women who consume 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day (two or more cups of regular coffee or five cans of caffeinated soda) had twice the miscarriage risk as women who consumed no caffeine.
Even women who consumed less than 200 milligrams of caffeine increased their miscarriage risk by more than 40 percent compared to women who consumed no caffeine.
Mayo Clinic:
What increases the risk of miscarriage?
Various circumstances increase the risk of miscarriage, including:
- Age. Women older than age 35 have a higher risk of miscarriage than do younger women. Paternal age also may play a role. In a 2006 study, women whose partners were age 40 or older had a higher risk of miscarriage than did women whose partners were younger than age 25.
- Previous miscarriages. The risk of miscarriage is higher in women with a history of two or more previous miscarriages. After one miscarriage, your risk of miscarriage is the same as that of a woman who's never had a miscarriage.
- Chronic conditions. Women with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid disease, have a higher risk of miscarriage.
- Uterine or cervical problems. Certain uterine abnormalities or a weak or unusually short cervix may increase the risk of miscarriage.
- Smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs. Women who smoke or drink alcohol during pregnancy have a greater risk of miscarriage than do nonsmokers and women who avoid alcohol during pregnancy. Illicit drug use also increases the risk of miscarriage.
- Caffeine. ** See recent KP study results above**
- Invasive prenatal tests. Some prenatal genetic tests, such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis, carry a slight risk of miscarriage.
Does using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of adverse events? - NSAIDs
Congenital abnormality, low birth weight, and preterm birth incidence were not higher in offspring of women who had taken a NSAID during pregnancy. Miscarriages were significantly higher in women who had filled a prescription for an NSAID the week before miscarriage (odds ratio=6.99; 95% confidence interval, 2.75-17.74). Miscarriage was not associated with prescriptions filled 10 to 12 weeks before the date of miscarriage.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
This study contributes valuable information for physicians and their pregnant patients contemplating use of NSAIDs. Women who have used NSAIDs before or during pregnancy may be reassured that there is no evidence of increased risk of congenital abnormality, low birth weight, or preterm birth. Also, women contemplating pregnancy should be warned about the association of miscarriage with NSAIDs. It seems prudent for women with a history of recurrent miscarriage to avoid NSAIDs.
Hot Tubs and Jacuzzis
A study published in the November 15, 2003, issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology found that women who used hot tubs or Jacuzzis in early pregnancy were twice as likely to have a miscarriage as women who did not.
"Based on our findings I would say that women in the early stages of pregnancy -- and those who may have conceived but aren't sure -- might want to play it safe for the first few months and avoid hot tubs or any exposure to hot water that will significantly increase body temperature," says Dr. De-Kun Li. "
Although the finding is still preliminary, it is prudent for women to take such precautionary measures to reduce unnecessary risk of miscarriage."The study, "Hot Tub Use during Pregnancy and the Risk of Miscarriage," found that the miscarriage risk went up with more frequent hot tub or Jacuzzi use, and with use in the early stages of a pregnancy. Furthermore, among women who remembered the temperature settings of their hot tubs or Jacuzzis, the study found some indications that the risk of having a miscarriage may increase with higher water temperature settings.
Menarcheal age and spontaneous abortion: Further evidence for a connection
Lorena Madrigal
Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620
Abstract
This paper examines the association between menarcheal age and risk of spontaneous abortion with a data set collected in Limon, Costa Rica. The Limonense sample differs from those previously reported in terms of age, socioeconomic and ethnic background. Thus, the sample is excellent to test whether menarcheal age and risk of miscarriage are associated in a nonindustrialized group as they appear to be in industrialized samples. Females who experienced one or more miscarriages have a significantly earlier age at first menses than those who did not. The results also indicate that a possible reason for this association is that early maturers tend to experience first pregnancy at an earlier age than do late maturers.
Factors that do not increase the risk of miscarriage (that we know of)
Date updated: July 09, 2007 Kathe Gallagher, MSW
It is normal to wonder whether you have done something to cause a miscarriage. It may be reassuring to know that miscarriage is not caused by:
- The mother's emotional state or a sudden fright.
- Sexual intercourse.
- Exercise.
- A single diagnostic X-ray or total radiation exposure of less than 5 rad (discuss this with your radiologist or health professional).1
- Working or lifting heavy objects.
- A fall or a blow to the abdomen, unless severe.
- Diet. There is no conclusive evidence that a diet moderately lacking in nutrients causes miscarriage. Also, the nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) of early pregnancy do not cause miscarriage.
- High folic acid intake. Despite initial concern among experts about miscarriage risk, research has shown that folic acid may actually help prevent miscarriage.2
- Exposure to computer monitors.3
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