September 27, 2000 [Volume 1, Issue 23]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Too Much Knee Pain
• Does Cow's Milk Contribute to Diabetes?
• Nutritional Influences on Pregnancy
• The Power of IRON

If you're over the age of 30, you're probably starting to realize that your body won't always work the way it did in days past. You used to run and jump on the basketball court for hours - no need to stretch, no need to worry. Now, every so often, you feel something "pop" or "crack" and wonder what happened to those carefree days gone by.

As we get older, our bone and muscle structure changes, putting us at increased risk for a variety of injuries. One of the most common complaints, particularly in the elderly population, is knee pain, a point emphasized in a recent study published by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

As part of the Third National Health and Nutrition and Examination Survey (NHANES III), 6,596 elderly U.S. adults (60 years of age and older) were asked to report on whether they had experienced knee pain on "most days" in the six weeks preceding their exam. The same subjects were also asked to report on their ability to perform several activities involving use of the knee joint.

Overall, 18.1% of the men and 23.5% of the women reported knee pain; the highest reports were among African-American women and the eldest subjects. Levels of difficulty performing activities also increased with reported intensity of knee pain.

Osteoarthritis is the most common chronic articular disease among U.S. adults, with the knee being one of the most commonly affected joints. Knee pain, especially in the elderly population, represents a significant problem because it can limit mobility and independence and lead to deconditioning. Your doctor can tell you more about knee pain and about how exercise and dietary considerations can help prevent osteoarthritis and other conditions affiliated with age.

Reference: Andersen RE, Crespo CJ, Ling SM, et al. Prevalence of significant knee pain among older Americans: results from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 1999: Vol. 47, pp1435-38.

For more information on senior health issues, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/senior.html

Does Cow's Milk Contribute to Diabetes?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be fed breast milk or iron-fortified formula during the first year of life. The rationale behind this recommendation is based in part upon the observation that cow's milk contains inadequate amounts of vitamin E, iron, and essential fatty acids and excessive amounts of protein, potassium and sodium. This recommendation is probably also based upon numerous studies documenting the benefits of exclusive breast-feeding.

Previous studies have suggested that infant consumption of cow's milk may also contribute to the development of diabetes. A study in the June 2000 issue of Diabetes examined this relationship by gathering data on infant feeding patterns and childhood diet using children who progressed to clinical diabetes during a followup period. Data collected included duration of overall breast-feeding and age of introduction of cow's milk products.

The authors concluded that high consumption of cow's milk may influence the development of diabetes, particularly in siblings of children with type I diabetes, and call for additional research to further clarify this relationship. Talk to your doctor about the potential dangers of cow's milk consumption, and the many potential benefits of exclusive breast-feeding, to ensure the healthy growth of your child.

Reference: Virtanen SM, Laara E, Hypponen E, et al. Cow's milk consumption, HLA-DQB1 genotype, and type I diabetes: a nested case-control study of siblings of children with diabetes. Diabetes, June 2000: Vol. 49, pp912-17.

Nutritional Influences on Pregnancy

Unless this is your first time reading a nutrition article, you're probably well aware of the importance of adequate folic acid intake before and during pregnancy. Previous studies have demonstrated that folate deficiency can contribute to serious birth defects such as spina bifida or anencephaly. Babies with spina bifida are born with a defect in the spinal column that can lead to paralysis and/or mental retardation; those afflicted with anencephaly never develop a brain and are stillborn or die shortly after birth.

Evidence also suggests that folic acid deficiency may contribute to spontaneous abortion, and other reports have shown that elevated plasma homocysteine (an amino acid produced when the body breaks down meat and dairy products) may exert a similar influence. A study in Obstetrics & Gynecology examined these potential associations further in 123 women with an average of three pregnancy losses.

Significantly lower average serum folate concentrations, and elevated homocysteine concentrations, were noted in the study group compared with a control group (104 premenopausal, unrelated women who were similar to the study group in age, geographical location and social class). The increased risk for recurrent early pregnancy loss seen in the study group was the same when adjusting for either variable, suggesting that folate (low levels) and homocysteine (high levels) are independent risk factors for early pregnancy loss.

These findings add to the considerable evidence linking folic acid deficiency with negative birth outcomes. Consult with your team of health care professionals during pregnancy to ensure the health of you and your child.

Reference: Nelen WLDM, Blom HJ, Steegers EAP, et al. Homocysteine and folate levels as risk factors for recurrent early pregnancy loss. Obstetrics & Gynecology 2000: Vol. 95, pp519-24.

For additional information on women's health, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/women.html

The Power of IRON

Iron is the mineral that is found in the greatest concentrations in the blood. Two of iron's most important functions are the production of hemoglobin (the oxygen-transport protein that gives blood its color) in muscle tissues, and the oxygenation of red blood cells. An estimated 11-13% of women without anemia suffer from iron deficiency. Evidence suggests that regular aerobic exercise may deplete the body's iron stores, placing a significant number of women at risk for iron deficiency.

A study in the Journal of Applied Psychology examined this relationship between iron levels and aerobic exercise in 42 iron-depleted women without anemia. Specifically, the authors sought to determine whether iron supplementation could improve aerobic endurance in this group of women. Subjects received 50 mg of iron or placebo twice daily for six weeks, and trained five days per week on a cycle ergometer. The intensity of the aerobic workout was increased each week until subjects were training at 75-85% of maximum heart rate in the final four weeks of the study.

Results showed that women given the iron supplement had faster times in a 15-km "time trial" (in which each woman attempted to cycle 15 km in as fast a time as possible). The authors conclude that iron supplementation may enhance adaptation to endurance training, as reflected by increased endurance capacity in iron-depleted, nonanemic women.

Are you getting enough iron and other essential minerals and vitamins necessary for good health? Your chiropractor can evaluate your current health status and outline a diet and exercise program suitable to your needs.

Reference: Hinton PS, Giordano C, Brownlie T, et al. Iron supplementation improves endurance after training in iron-depleted, nonanemic women. Journal of Applied Physiology 2000: Vol. 88, pp1103-1111.

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