Sunday, February 24, 2008

Chlorella Supplement decreases Dioxin in Breast Milk

This is MAJOR! BCF are you out there?

Nakano et al., 2007. Chlorella ( Chlorella pyrenoidosa ) Supplementation
Decreases Dioxin and Increases Immunoglobulin A Concentrations in Breast
Milk. Journal of Medicinal Food 10 (1): 134–142

ABSTRACT

In addition to meeting nutritional requirements, breast milk plays
important roles in biodefense for nursing infants. Dioxins have been
detected at high concentrations in breast milk, raising concerns about
disorders in nursing infants caused by breast milk containing dioxins in
Japan.

We analyzed dioxin levels in breast milk and maternal blood samples
from 35 pregnant women in Japan. We also measured immunoglobulin (Ig) A
concentrations in breast milk and investigated correlations with dioxin
concentrations. In addition, 18 of the 35 women took Chlorella pyrenoidosa (
Chlorella ) supplements during pregnancy, and the effects on dioxin and IgA
concentrations in breast milk were investigated.

Toxic equivalents were significantly lower in the breast milk of women taking Chlorella tablets than in the Control group ( P = .003). These results suggest that Chlorella supplementation by the mother may reduce transfer of dioxins to the child through breast milk.

No significant correlation was identified between dioxin and IgA concentrations in breast milk in the Control group. It is unlikely that normal levels of dioxin exposure via food have a remarkable influence on IgA in breast milk.

IgA concentrations in breast milk in the Chlorella group were significantly higher than in the Control group ( P = .03). Increasing IgA levels in breast milk is considered to be effective for
reducing the risk of infection in nursing infants. The present results suggest that Chlorella supplementation not only reduces dioxin levels in breast milk, but may also have beneficial effects on nursing infants by increasing IgA levels in breast milk.

Soy and Breast Cancer Risk

The University of Ulster reports that eating more soy foods could prevent cancer risk. The use of soy is controversial for a few reasons. 80% of soy in the USA is genetically modified. Many people eat soy as a meat replacement, but it is still highly processed. Processing foods add preservative and food additives that may have their own health risks. Soy is not eaten as a main course in the traditional asian diet. It is most commonly used in it's fermented form.

Therfore eating soy bacon or having even a 4 - 6 ounce soy burger is still not the way soy has been used for centuries. siting the asian diet as evidence for a soy based diet is tricky. This comment by Jeanne Wallace is a favorite resource. We hope it is helpful. It is from our website.

Animals with mammary cancer were fed soy from differing sources—from unprocessed soy foods to highly processed soy protein isolates—all at the same dose level of genistein. While unprocessed soy posed no risk, highly processed soy appeared to promote cancer growth.

With all the focus on the “phytoestrogen” effects of soy, the other beneficial effects of soy against cancer are often overlooked. Soy compounds have been shown to:

• Arrest the cell cycle of cancer cells (induce cytostasis)
• Promote differentiation
• Induce programmed cell death (apoptosis)
• Modify gene expression, down-regulating oncogenes (like Her2neu) and increasing tumor suppressor genes (like p53 and p21)
• Have Anti-angiogenesis actions
• Help inhibit invasion and metastasis

Putting all this together: I favor intake of Tradiational whole soy foods (miso, tempeh, tofu and soymilk), particularly in women who have eaten soy earlier in life and whom are likely to have excess estrogen or significant xenoestrogen exposure. Supplements of high dose soy isoflavones, or processed soy protein isolates, are best avoided.

Vitamin D and Breast Cancer Risk

The studies about Vitamin D and breast cancer risk keep coming out. This study published in Nutrition Reviews claims that up to 600,000 cancer deaths could be prevented with higer Vitamin D serum levels.

At a recent cancer conference we attended the clinicians that spoke repeatedly spoke of Vitamin d levels and cancer risk. All the clinicians recommended supplements in addition to natural sun exposure. Most of them recommended levels at least 3 times higher than the recommended daily allowance of 400IU.

Here are some more articles.

And another.

Black Cohosh and Breast Cancer

This article from Phytomedicine used the common herbal remedy for menopausal symptoms to induce cell death in breast cancer cells. This study was invivo which some will argue is not relevent. the study was conducted by a company which makes Black Cohosh which is also a factor in considering the results. The actual study was conducted by Columbia University.

There are favorable results for using Black Cohosh for menopause so there may be some evidence that can lend itself in that arena. Here is another article that says women who use Black Cohosh have a lower risk of breast cancer.

Diet just does not matter?!?

The results of a large study - Women's Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) were presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer conference in December. They found that eating more vegetables and lowering fat intake to 15/20% just does not matter in terms of mortality rates in breast cancer survivors.

The actual results that make the headline in the papers are not always what the study indicates. The study showed a change in estrogen levels that seems to be due to the amount of fiber in the diet.

The recommend fat intake was apparently very hard to cpmly with. most women were at about30% fat intake. The study does not seem to differentiate between healthy fats and toxic fats. Here is another article.

Don't give up and grab the twinkies. Diet does make a difference, Keep reading!