July 4, 2001[Volume 2, Issue 14]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Think Twice before Going under the Knife
• Too Much Juice
• Stay Away from the "Andro"
• Close Your Eyes, Open Your Mind

Surgeons perform thousands of procedures each year in hospitals all across the country. In many instances, surgery may be the only option to save one’s life -- but is it always necessary? With recent reports of the alarming (and increasing) percentage of adverse events associated with surgical procedures, you may want to think twice before going under the knife.

Case in point: a study in Spine that compared conservative care vs. surgery for the treatment of a specific type of spinal fracture (called a "burst fracture"). Eighty patients with a diagnosed burst fracture were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Patients in the nonoperative group wore a back brace for three months (at all times except when bathing) and stayed in hospital beds until their pain was "controlled." After three months, patients were allowed activities of daily living and light sedentary work. Patients in the operative group underwent surgery ("posterior fixation") and were evaluated two years later.

Results showed limited differences between the two groups in terms of long-term pain relief and improvement of overall function. The study authors also point out that surgery cost four times as much as conservative care, and recommend early activity "to the point of pain tolerance." If you or someone you know is considering surgery for back pain or other musculoskeletal problems, investigate the value of nonsurgical, conservative care by scheduling a consultation with your local doctor of chiropractic.

Reference: Shen W, Liu T, Shen Y. Nonoperative treatment versus posterior fixation for thoracolumbar junction burst fractures without neurologic deficit. Spine 2001: Vol. 26, No. 9, pp1038-45.

For additional information on back pain, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/backpain.html.

Too Much Juice

By age one, nearly 90% of all children in the U.S. drink some form of fruit juice. Although fruit juice is marketed as a healthy, natural source of vitamins and minerals, the potential drawbacks from regular juice consumption in early childhood are worthy of careful consideration.

This sentiment is echoed by the authors of a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics. The authors suggest that offering juice to infants, especially before solid foods are introduced into the diet, can result in deficiencies in protein, fat, vitamins and minerals found in breast milk. Also, prolonged exposure to the four major sugars found in most fruit juices (sucrose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol) can contribute to early dental problems. In their conclusions, the authors emphasize a number of points for parents to consider:

• Fruit juice offers little or no nutritional benefit for infants younger than six months, and no added benefits over whole fruit for infants older than six months and young children.
  
  
• 100% pure fruit juice or reconstituted juice can be a healthy addition to a well-balanced diet; however, fruit drinks (often containing 10% or less of actual juice and larger quantities of artificial sugar and/or flavor) are not nutritionally equivalent to fruit juice.
  
  
• Juice is not considered appropriate in the management of dehydration or diarrhea.
  
  
• Excessive juice consumption is associated with diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal distention and tooth decay.
  
  
• Calcium-fortified juices provide a bioavailable source of calcium, but lack other important nutrients found in breast, formula or cow’s milk.

Consult your team of health care professionals before, during and after pregnancy to ensure that your child grows up healthy and happy.

Reference: The American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Nutrition. The use and misuse of fruit juice in pediatrics. Pediatrics 2001: Vol. 107, No. 5, pp1210-13.

Stay Away from the "Andro"

"Andro" supplements contain androstenediol and androstenedione, the building blocks for the male hormone testosterone. Proponents of andro claim that it increases testosterone production, fueling corresponding increases in muscle growth and mass. Although andro is classified as a dietary supplement and is readily available on line and in many nutrition stores across the country, the Olympic Committee, the NCCA, the NFL, and the ATP have all banned the controversial substance.

You may remember the furor surrounding baseball slugger Mark McGuire’s use of andro back in 1998. Critics wondered if the supplement gave him an unfair boost in his quest to beat Roger Maris’ "unbeatable" home run record. Doubtful, say the authors of a literature review published in the Journal of Sports Chiropractic and Rehabilitation. According to the authors:

• The literature does not support the claim that androstenedione or androstenediol can elevate testosterone levels, particularly at lower dosages.
  
  
• A large quantity of research has found no performance enhancement benefits when taking recommended dosages of the substance.
  
  
• Numerous side-effects have been attributed to andro supplementation, including increased levels of female hormones (estrogen); decreased high-density lipoproteins (the "good" cholesterol); and adiposity (increased fat retention).

Reference: Bradley-Popovich GE, Mohr CR. Androstenedione and adrostenediol in sport: a brief review of safety and efficacy. Journal of Sports Chiropractic and Rehabilitation 2001: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp20-25.

For information on natural supplementation, visit https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/nutrients.html.

Close Your Eyes, Open Your Mind

Since early childhood, we’ve been told that all kinds of bad things will happen if we don’t get enough sleep. Scientists have long suspected that sleep (or lack thereof) influence learning and memory, but without substantial research to support the specific mechanisms behind such a connection.

In a study designed to test the hypothesis that brain pathways develop and strengthen during certain stages of sleep, researchers recorded the ability of cat brains to adapt/remodel when forced to see out of only one eye. Researchers noted twice the amount of brain changes in cats that slept for six hours after being deprived of light to one eye, compared with those kept awake in a dark room for the same time period. Additionally, cats allowed to sleep (both eyes closed) for the six hours experienced more brain changes than those kept awake and exposed to light.

What’s this all mean? According to the authors of this study, their findings emphasize the importance of adequate sleep. They suggest that sleep, particularly in early life, may play a crucial role in brain development.

Reference: Frank M, Issa N, Stryker M. Sleep enhances plasticity in developing visual cortex. Neuron 2001: Vol. 30, No. 4, pp275-87.

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