Monthly Archives: March 2012

Atkins Diabetes revolution is a book written by Dr. Robert Atkins and Dr. Mary Vernon, with nurse Jacqueline Eberstein. This post has notes mentioning some of the studies included in the book.

• A study following 51,000 men found that men with a BMI of 35 of greater were 42 times more likely to develop diabetes compared with men at their ideal weight with a BMI of 23 or less.

• A study that examined more than 114,000 women found that women with a BMI of 35 or greater were 93 times more likely to develop diabetes.

• A study of more than 12,000 men found that men with metabolic syndrome developed heart disease at nearly twice the rate as that of men without metabolic syndrome.

• A high-carbohydrate diet causes high triglycerides.

• Decreased dietary carbohydrates and increased protein can enhance muscle mass.

• A study in Sweden of patients hospitalized for heart attack found that 31 percent had diabetes and 35 percent had prediabetes.

• A study found that over a six-year period, 64.5 percent of those who had both impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance became diabetic.

• A study in 2004 found that only 7 percent of adults with type 2 diabetes were meeting treatment goals for their blood sugar, their blood pressure, and their blood lipids combined.

• A high-carbohydrate diet and high insulin levels are more likely to cause fluid retention than salt does.

• Beta-blockers and thiazide diuretics can raise blood sugar.

• The combination of insulin and a beta-blocker can cause dangerously low blood sugar.

• The Nurses’ Health Study found that women with both diabetes and prior heart disease were 20 times more likely to die from any cardiovascular disease such as a stroke and 25 times more likely to die from coronary heart disease.

• A study of 17,000 men found that those who fell into the top 20 percent of the normal blood sugar range had an overall risk of death 1.6 times higher than the men whose blood sugar was in the lower 80 percent of the normal range.

• The combination of lowering triglycerides and raising HDL reduces the risk of heart disease.

• Statins can cause liver and muscle damage.

• Controlling carbohydrate intake can help control inflammation.

• A study in Finland found that elevated risk for heart diseaes began at homocysteine levels of 15 ummol/L or higher.

• In the Physicians’ Health Study, men who had higher levels of C-reactive protein were much more likely to have a heart attack over the next ten years than men who had normal CRP levels. Results were similar for women in the Nurses’ Health Study.

• Research found that eating a diet high in total fat or high in any particular type of fat (including saturated fat) has little or no effect on the risk of stroke.

• The Nurses’ Health Study found that total fat intake wasn’t associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

• A study found that a low-fat/high-carb diet had the undesirable effect of lowering HDL cholesterol and sharply increasing triglycerides.

• A meta-analysis of 26 studies showed that fish oil supplements lower triglycerides by almost 30 percent.

• A study of postmenopausal women found that large amounts of cholesterol in the diet had little effect on the total or LDL cholesterol level.

• A study found that the A1C number in people with type 2 diabetes dropped 0.8 percent (a significant improvement) on a higher protein diet, compared to only 0.3 percent on the American Diabetes Association diet.

• A study found that women on a moderate-protein/reduced-carb diet had better results on an oral glucose tolerance test and on a test for fasting blood sugar.

• A study of 80,000 women found that women in the group with the highest protein intake had the smallest number of heart attacks.

• A study of 10,000 people found that those with the highest protein intake had lower blood pressure than those with the lowest protein intake.

• A study showed a much greater survival rate in patients with severe diabetic kidney disease who decreased their carbohydrate intake.

• A study of women found that calcium absorption from food was much lower on a low-protein diet.

• Results from the Framingham Osteoporosis Study showed that the women who ate the most protein had the strongest bones and the ones who ate the least protein had the weakest bones.

• A study found that replacing carbs with protein in the diet has a favorable impact on the skeleton.

• The Nurses’ Health Study found that women whose diets were made up of foods with the highest glycemic load had the highest risk of heart disease.

• A study of nearly 300 women found that the women whose diets were made up of foods with the highest glycemic load had the lowest HDL and the highest triglycerides compared with the women whose diets were made up of foods with the lowest glycemic loads.

• A study of obese teenage boys found that low glycemic index meals reduced hunger and led them to eat 81 percent fewer calories from snacks.

• A study found that patients who ate a low glycemic index diet had blood sugar numbers that were 30 percent lower. The level of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (a measure of clotting and heart attack risk) was also lower.

• Research suggests that the calcium and protein in dairy products may help with weight loss.

• A study found that participants who drank at least 1 cup of tea a day had a 44 percent lower risk of a heart attack than those who drank no tea.

• A study of over 1,200 older British women found that those who drank tea had higher bone mineral density levels in their spines and hips than those who drank no tea at all.

• A diet rich in vitamin C lowers risk of death from all causes.

• Vitamin E lowers inflammation levels.

• Biotin may be helpful in lowering blood sugar by improving insulin sensitivity.

• A study found that chromium supplements led to significant improvements in blood sugar levels.

• Low magnesium levels are a strong independent predictor of diabetes.

• A study found that coenzyme Q10 supplements can help improve blood pressure and blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes.

• A study found that amino acids can stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin, even in people who have diminished insulin production as a result of having had type 2 diabetes for a long time.

• A study showed that lowering homocysteine improves blood sugar control.

• Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 contribute to lowering homocysteine levels.

• Having magnesium deficiency can cause heart arrhythmias and make blood more likely to form clots.

• Taurine acts as a natural diuretic, which helps the body excrete excess fluid.

• The results of 14 studies found that exercise led to significant improvements in blood sugar control as measured by the A1C test.

• The Nurses’ Health Study found that the most active women had half the risk of developing diabetes as the least active women.

• A study of high school girls showed that those who drank the most soft drinks were three times more likely to have a bone fracture than those who drank the least.

• A study found that children who were overweight at ages 12 or 13 were five times moire likely to be severely obese as adults than those were were not overweight at those ages.

• A study of 227,000 Norwegian teens found that among the men whose BMI-for-age in adolescence was above the 95th percentile, the death rate was 80 percent higher than that for the men who were of normal weight. For women, the death rate was 100 percent higher for those above the 95th percentile.

• A study found that 25 percent of obese children ages 4 to 10 were glucose intolerant and 21 percent of obese teens were glucose intolerant.

• Overweight children are more likely to suffer from asthma and have bone and joint problems.

• A study found that severely obese children rated their quality of life as low as that experienced by children going through chemotherapy for cancer.

• A study of overweight teens showed that those who went on a controlled carbohydrate diet lost more weight and had a lower triglyceride level than those who followed a low-fat diet.

Maximize Your Vitality and Potency is an incredibly informative guide to men’s health written by Dr. Jonathan Wright. This post has notes on some of the studies listed in the book.

• Studies in both animals and humans have shown that L-arginine supplements can lower blood pressure by enhancing dilation of arteries.

• L-arginine supports growth hormone release, faster wound healing, and enhanced immune function.

• L-arginine supplements have been shown to inhibit atherosclerosis and strengthen weakened heart muscles.

• Studies in lab rats have demonstrated that ginseng resulted in an increase in testosterone levels.

• Vitamin C, vitamin E, and B-vitamins have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

• One study found that 91 of 100 patients with angina pectoris showed improvement when treated with testosterone.

• A study found that testosterone treatment resulted in highly significant decreases ins post-exercise ST segment depression of 32% after four weeks and 51% after eight weeks.

• A study in China of elderly men diagnosed with heart disease found that self-reported anginal symptoms were reduced by 77% in the group receiving testosterone.

• A study found that men with low testosterone had a greater tendency for their blood to clot, abnormal glucose metabolism, and lower levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol.

• A study found that estrogen levels were significantly higher in male heart attack patients and that they had been elevated prior to the attack.

• Research shows that a decrease in dietary fat consumption reduces levels of total testosterone, free testosterone, and androstenedione.

• DHEA replacement is associated with beneficial effects such as: feelings of energy and well-being, improved insulin sensitivity, improved glucose tolerance, reduced death from coronary heart disease, lower obesity/waist-to-hip ratio, slowed progression of atherosclerosis, enhanced libido, reduced depression, enhanced cognition

• A study found that, of 23 high-risk men who took finasteride, eight developed tumors within a year despite post-treatment levels of DHT 67% lower than baseline. By comparison, only one man out of the 25 who got no treatment at all developed cancer.

• A study fond that the highest risk of prostate cancer occurred in families with the lowest plasma levels of androgens.

• An experiment found that giving DHT to aging Lobund-Wistar rats actually reduced their risk of developing prostate tumors by 50%.

• An experiment on prostatic tissue demonstrated that BPH was associated with elevated estradiol, decreased androgens, and increased SHBG.

• A trial of saw palmetto extract found that the maximum urinary flow rate increased by 25% after 90 days of treatment. Residual urinary volume was 20% lower and prostatic volume was reduced by 10% after treatment. The International Prostate Symptom Score was reduced by 22% after 45 days and by 35% after 90 days.

• A double-blind placebo-controlled study found that those taking saw palmetto extract experienced large, statistically significant improvements in the frequency of nighttime trips to the toilet, urinary flow rate, and residual urine volume.

• A study found that saw palmetto extract led to improvements in prostate symptoms that were essentially equivalent to those seen in patients treated with finasteride.

• A study found that pygeum led to statistically significant improvements in such measures as residual urine, urinary flow rates, and nighttime frequency.

• A study in Poland of men with BPH found that pollen extract was significantly more effective than pygeum.

• Laboratory experiments have shown that omega-6 fatty acids stimulate human prostate cancer cells in vitro, whereas omega-3 fatty acids inhibit these cells.

• A study of 19 men with BPH who took zinc supplements demonstrated shrinkage of the prostate in 14 of the men.

• In vitro studies show that adding selenium to prostate cancer cells rapidly inhibits their proliferation.

• When people with skin cancer took selenium supplements, death rates from many other cancers declined.

• A Czech study linked vitamin D deficiency with prostate cancer.

• Research has demonstrated that vitamin D can suppress the growth of prostate cancer cells.

• A study of elderly men found that 59% of the men with hip fractures had low testosterone, compared with only 18% of the controls.

• A study found that 68% of men with hip fractures had subnormal testosterone.

• A study of healthy men aged 50 to 59 years found that ashwagandha caused a significant increase in hemoglobin and red blood cell count, and also significantly increased seated stature and hair melanin content (less graying).

• A study at Stanford found that the less testosterone men had, the more depressed they were.

• A review of 11 studies involving 187 hypogonadal men treated with testosterone noted brief increases in aggression in only two of the men.

The Dark Triad is a personality style made up of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. The paper that notably promoted this line of research is titled “The dark triad of personality: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy” (PDF). Here are some findings from studies about people with the dark triad personality structure:

They have low levels of the five-factor personality trait of agreeableness.

Men with Dark Triad traits pursue more short-term mating opportunities.

The Dark Triad traits are significantly heritable.

There is also a vulnerable Dark Triad involving borderline personality disorder.

Dark Triad individuals are more extraverted and open with lower levels of neuroticism and conscientiousness.

People with Dark Triad traits engage in more mate poaching behavior.

Dark Triad subjects are more impulsive and have low self-control.

The amygdala activates when people look at individuals with Dark Triad traits.

Dark Triad personalities have lower levels of empathy.

The Dark Triad trait of psychopathy correlates most strongly with bullying.

People with Dark Triad traits may have lower job performance.

References:

• A behavioral genetic investigation of the Dark Triad and the Big 5. (Link)

• A behavioral genetic study of the dark triad of personality and moral development. (Link)

• A life history approach to understanding the Dark Triad. (Link)

• A meta-analysis of the dark triad and work behavior: A social exchange perspective. (Link)

• A protean approach to social influence: Dark Triad personalities and social influence tactics. (Link)

• Acquisitive or protective self-presentation of dark personalities? Associations among the Dark Triad and self-monitoring. (Link)

• Beyond the big five: the Dark Triad and the supernumerary personality inventory. (Link)

• Comparing the Measured and Latent Dark Triad: Are Three Measures Better than One? (Link)

• Discriminating the dark triad of personality. (Link)

• Facing a psychopath: Detecting the dark triad from emotionally-neutral faces, using prototypes from the Personality Faceaurus. (Link)

• I just cannot control myself: The Dark Triad and self-control. (Link)

• Mate-selection and the Dark Triad: Facilitating a short-term mating strategy and creating a volatile environment. (Link)

• Mating Strategies among the Dark Triad: Relationship Focus, Retention, and Infidelity. (PDF)

• Relations between humor styles and the Dark Triad traits of personality. (Link)

• Relationships between bullying behaviours and the Dark Triad: A study with adults. (Link)

• Relationships between the Dark Triad and humor styles: A replication and extension. (Link)

• Searching for a Vulnerable Dark Triad: Comparing Factor 2 Psychopathy, Vulnerable Narcissism, and Borderline Personality Disorder. (Link)

• The affective and cognitive empathic nature of the dark triad of personality. (Link)

• The costs and benefits of the Dark Triad: Implications for mate poaching and mate retention tactics. (Link)

• The dark side of love: Love styles and the Dark Triad. (Link)

• The Dark Triad and an expanded framework of personality. (Link)

• The Dark Triad and Interpersonal Perception: Similarities and Differences in the Social Consequences of Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy. (Link)

• The dark triad and normal personality traits. (Link)

• The Dark Triad at work: How toxic employees get their way. (Link)

• The dark triad: Facilitating a short-term mating strategy in men. (Link)

• The dirty dozen: A concise measure of the dark triad. (Link)

• The role of impulsivity in the Dark Triad of personality. (Link)

• The Self-Loving Self-Leader: An Examination of the Relationship Between Self-Leadership and the Dark Triad. (Link)

• Trait Emotional Intelligence and the Dark Triad Traits of Personality. (PDF)

• Trustworthy? The Brain Knows: Implicit Neural Responses to Faces that Vary in Dark Triad Personality Characteristics and Trustworthiness. (PDF)

• Who is James Bond?: The Dark Triad as an Agentic Social Style. (PDF)

Natural Health Bible is a book by Dr. Steven Bratman and Dr. David Kroll. This post has notes from the book on supplements to treat certain medical conditions. The use of these supplements is backed up by studies cited in the book. Here is a list of medical conditions and the supplements that can help in preventing or treating them.

Acne: zinc

Acute Viral Hepatitis: taurine

Allergies: nettle leaf

Alopecia Areata: khellin

Altitude Sickness: ginkgo

Alzheimer’s Disease: ginkgo, phosphatidylserine, huperzine A, vinpocetine, vitamin E

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: creatine

Angina: L-carnitine

Asthma: tylophora, vitamin C

Atherosclerosis: garlic, vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, aortic glycosaminoglycans

Athlete’s Foot: tea tree oil

Attention Deficit Disorder: DMAE

Autism: vitamin B6, magnesium

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: saw palmetto, pygeum, sitosterols, grass pollen extract

Bipolar Disorder: fish oil

Bladder Infection: cranberry

Brittle Nails: biotin

Cancer Prevention: vitamin E, selenium, garlic, lycopene, green tea, folate

Canker Sores: DGL licorice

Cardiomyopathy: Coenzyme Q10

Cataracts: vitamin C, vitamin E

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: N-acetyl cysteine

Cold and Flu: echinacea, andrographis, zinc, ginseng

Congestive Heart Failure: coenzyme Q10, hawthorn, taurine, L-carnitine, arginine

Cyclic Mastalgia: evening primrose oil, ginkgo

Depression: St. John’s Wort, ginkgo

Diabetes: chromium, fenugreek, gymnema, ginseng, aloe, lipoic acid, evening primrose oil, acetyl-L-carnitine, vitamin E, niacinamide, bitter melon

Diarrhea: probiotics

Dysmenorrhea: fish oil, magnesium

Dyspepsia: curcumin, peppermint oil, banana powder

Ear Infection: xylitol

Easy Bruising: citrus bioflavonoids, vitamin C, proteolytic enzymes

Fibromyalgia: SAMe, 5-HTP

Gallstones: peppermint oil

Hemorrhoids: citrus bioflavonoids, aortic glycosaminoglycans

Herpes: lemon balm, eleutherococcus, propolis

HIV: glutamine, arginine, HMB, N-acetyl cysteine, zinc, B vitamins, multivitamin

Hypertension: garlic, coenzyme Q10, glucomannan

Insomnia: valerian, lemon balm, melatonin, passionflower

Intermittent Claudication: ginkgo, L-propionyl-carnitine, arginine

Interstitial Cystitis: arginine

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: probiotics

Kidney Failure: chitosan

Kidney Stones: potassium magnesium citrate

Liver Cirrhosis: milk thistle, phosphatidylcholine

Lupus: DHEA

Macular Degeneration: vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, beta-carotene

Migraine Headaches: feverfew, magnesium, 5-HTP, fish oil

Minor Burns: honey, ornithine

Minor Injuries: proteolytic enzymes, oligomeric proanthocyanidins

Minor Wounds: propolis

Nausea: ginger, vitamin B6

Nosebleeds: citrus bioflavonoids

Osteoarthritis: glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, SAMe, niacinamide, devil’s claw, green-lipped mussel, MSM

Osteoporosis: calcium, vitamin D, ipriflavone, isoflavones, genistein

Parkinson’s Disease: CDP-choline

PMS: calcium, chasteberry, ginkgo, magnesium

Psoriasis: aloe

Raynaud’s Phenomenon: fish oil

Restless Legs Syndrome: magnesium, vitamin E

Rheumatoid Arthritis: fish oil, devil’s claw, MSM, boswellia

Seborrheic Dermatitis: aloe

Shingles: proteolytic enzymes

Stress: ginseng

Surgery Support: bromelain, oxerutins, oligomeric proanthocyanidins

Tinnitus: ginkgo

Ulcerative Colitis: probiotics

Ulcers: DGL licorice, colostrum

Varicose Veins: horse chestnut, oxerutins, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, gotu kola, bilberry, red vine leaf

Vertigo: ginkgo

Viral Hepatitis: milk thistle

Vitiligo: khellin

Solve it with Supplements is a book by Dr. Robert Schulman and Dr. Carolyn Dean. This post has some notes from the book that describe the results of medical studies of certain supplements. As always, use PubMed to search for updated information on these supplements and their role in treating medical conditions.

5-HTP: can treat depression, migraines, obesity, insomnia, and fibromyalgia

Aloe: regulates blood sugar, treats ulcerative colitis

Alpha lipoic acid: may preserve cognitive function

Arginine: enhances recovery in hospitalized patients, may treat infertility, may enhance the immune system, may decrease insulin resistance

Astragalus: enhances the immune system in dialysis patients, boosts immune function in cancer patients, suppresses the immune response in lupus patients

Bee pollen: may treat chronic prostatitis, may reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Beta-sitosterol: may prevent weakening of the immune system

Bilberry: has anticancer properties

Biotin: strengthens hair and nails, may help treat diabetes

Black Cohosh: treats menstrual discomfort

Boric acid: treatment for vaginal yeast infection

Boswellia: has anti-inflammatory properties, treats ulcerative colitis, treats Crohn’s disease

Bromelain: treats acute sinusitis

Calcium: prevents fractures, may promote weight loss

Calendula: prevents acute dermatitis during radiation treatment of breast cancer

Carnitine: increases exercise duration in angina patients, may reduce triglyceride levels, may treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Cat’s claw: anti-inflammatory agent to treat rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis/carpal tunnel syndrome, boosts the immune system, speeds wound healing

Cayenne: relieves excess gas, helps reduce appetite, may promote weight loss

Chamomile: may reduce inflammation, speeds up wound healing, reduces muscle spasms, acts as a mild sedative, has antimicrobial properties

Chasteberry: relieves physical symptoms of PMS

Choline: helps treat Alzheimer’s disease

Chondroitin: helps relieve the pain and joint stiffness of osteoarthritis

Chromium: lowers blood sugar levels, lowers triglyceride levels, reduces carbohydrate craving, reduces the risk of heart attack

Coenzyme Q10: reduces symptoms of congestive heart failure, may prevent the recurrence of strokes, may have an effect against prostate tumors, may reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia, may help treat gum disease

Conjugated linolenic acid: may burn fat, may build muscle, may reduce the risk of cancer

Copper: may prevent osteoporosis, may reduce hardening of the arteries

Cordyceps: improves lung function, improves memory and cognitive ability, improves liver function, improves kidney function, boosts the immune system, may lower blood pressure, reduces the risk of clotting, helps counteract irregular heart rate, inhibits the growth of cancer cells

Cranberry: prevents urinary tract infection, may inhibit tumor growth

Creatine: maintains muscle mass

Dandelion: increases the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, may have anti-inflammatory properties

Devil’s claw: may reduce pain in osteoarthritis, may treat rheumatoid arthritis, may fight malaria

DHEA: increases muscle mass, improves sexual function, may reduce lupus symptoms, may prevent osteoporosis, improves the effectiveness of medications for schizophrenia

Dong quai: helps treat symptoms of menopause, may treat heart problems, may inhibit tumor growth, helps treat ulcerative colitis

Echinacea: shortens the duration of cold symptoms, may treat herpes virus sores when applied topically

Elderberry: reduces susceptibility to the flu, may relieve symptoms of sinusitis

Evening primrose oil: may reduce symptoms of arthritis and bursitis

Fenugreek: reduces blood sugar, may prevent colon cancer

Feverfew: may have anti-inflammatory properties

Folic acid: reduces the risk of heart disease, reduces the risk of stroke, may reduce the risk of colon cancer, enhances the effectiveness of antidepressants

Garlic: helps prevent heart attacks, reduces the risk of catching a cold, may kill Helicobacter pylori bacteria

Ginger: stops nausea, reduces inflammation

Ginkgo biloba: improves cognitive performance, helps treat intermittent claudication, may reduce symptoms of tinnitus, may improve eye health

Ginseng: improves blood glucose control, strengthens the immune system, improves cognition, helps treat HIV, helps treat gout, helps treat fibromyalgia

Glutamine: maintains muscle mass and boosts the immune system of critically ill patients, may help reduce side effects of chemotherapy, reduces the oral inflammation seen in pediatric stem cell patients.

Glutathione: may help treat AIDS

Goldenseal: has antibiotic properties, increases bone mineral density

Gotu kola: treats varicose veins, may treat diabetic circulatory problems, may enhance memory and learning, reduces anxiety

Grape seed extract: helps treat melasma, may treat chronic venous insufficiency, may reduce systolic blood pressure

Green tea: may help prevent cancers, improves bone mineral density

Guarana: improves task performance, may protect against liver cancer

Gymnema: helps lower blood sugar, reduces insulin requirements in type 1 diabetes

Hawthorn: may reduce arterial plaque formation, may improve blood flow to the heart, improves heart function in patients with congestive heart failure

Honey (Manuka): has antibacterial properties

Horse chestnut: helps treat chronic venous insufficiency, helps reduce hemorrhoids, helps treat edema, has antiviral properties

Huperzine A: improves memory and mental function

Ipriflavone: may prevent bone loss

Lactobacillus acidophilus: suppresses Helicobacter pylori, helps the intestines absorb foods, enhances the effects of vaccinations

Lemon balm: helps cold sores heal more rapidly, improves sleep quality, may treat hyperthyroidism, may have activity against HIV and herpes simplex virus type 2

Licorice: treats stomach ulcers, lowers triglycerides

Lutein: reduces the risk of cataracts, reduces the risk of macular degeneration, protects against certain cancers

Lycopene: reduces the risk of several cancers, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

Magnesium: regulates blood sugar in patients with diabetes, lowers the risk of cancers, increases bone density

Mastic: prevents and treats ulcers

Melatonin: reduces anxiety in people undergoing surgery, may reduce tardive dyskinesia, helps treat tinnitus, may prevent some types of cancer

Milk thistle: counteracts mushroom toxins, may slow the growth of cancer cells

N-acetylcysteine: decreases cough severity, may prevent the progression from HIV infection to AIDS, protects against certain cancers, may reduce cocaine-related withdrawal symptoms

NADH: fights jet lag, alleviates chronic fatigue symptoms

Niacin: lowers triglycerides, slows the progress of atherosclerosis, helps prevent a second heart attack

Omega-3 fatty acids: reduce the risk of developing heart disease, help treat depression, improve cognition, help treat arthritis, help treat ADHD, may suppress cancer growth, may protect the kidneys of organ transplant patients who take cyclosporine, help treat asthma

Peppermint: helps treat irritable bowel syndrome, treats pain associated with neuralgia

Phosphatidylcholine: enhances the effects of interferon, protects the liver

Phosphatidylserine: may improve cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, relieves mild depression, improves exercise capacity

Propolis: may help fight influenza

Proteolytic enzymes: treatment for arthritis, extend the lifespan of pancreatic cancer patients

Quercetin: reduces symptoms of chronic prostatitis, may have an antihistamine effect, may prevent cataracts, prevents breast cancer cells from growing

Red clover: reduces hot flashes

Rhodiola: improves intellectual capacity, improves endurance, may have anticancer properties

Royal jelly: increases lifespan

SAMe: treats depression, helps treat osteoarthritis

Schisandra: may protect the liver

Selenium: may prevent some forms of cancer

Soy: may suppress the hot flashes associated with menopause

Spirulina: may fight HIV, may prevent and treat certain cancers

St. John’s Wort: treatment for depression

Tea tree oil: fights dandruff, fights parasites, may kill Staphylococcus aureus bacteria

Thiamine: may slow the progression of HIV to AIDS

Uva ursi: has antimicrobial properties

Valerian: reduces the time needed to fall asleep, helps treat depression associated with anxiety

Vitamin A: protects cells from dioxins

Vitamin B5: may lower triglyceride levels

Vitamin B6: lowers the chances of developing heart disease

Vitamin C: reduces the duration of colds, may lower blood pressure, may strengthen the effect of nitrate drugs for angina

Vitamin D: may prevent certain cancers, may strengthen teeth, may help treat seasonal affective disorder

Vitamin K: helps prevent osteoporosis

Willow bark: effective in treating osteoarthritis/rheumatoid arthritis/acute pain

Xylitol: reduces the development of cavities

Zinc: reduces the duration and severity of colds, may help prevent macular degeneration, may treat anorexia

The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook is a book written by two specialists in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda (Alan Keith Tillotson and Nai-shing Hu Tillotson) with co-author Dr. Robert Abel, an ophthalmologist. This post has some notes on scientific studies cited in the book that describe the medical benefits of certain herbal treatments. Many of these notes are based on scientific studies in animals in the 1990s and earlier, so it’s a good idea to check PubMed for more recent studies in humans.

Agastache: has antibacterial activity, has antiemetic activity

Aguru wood: reduces allergic reactions, has depressant activity on the central nervous system

American ginseng root: may improve memory, strengthens the heart, calms the cerebral cortex, enhances memory

Alma fruit: reduces oxidative stress, protects against arsenic damage, inhibits carcinogenesis

Andrographis: treats symptoms of the common cold

Anthrapachaka leaf: has antiallergy effects

Arjuna bark: treats angina pectoris, treats cardiac artery disease, reduces hypertension, improves liver mitochondrial function

Ashwagandha root: reduces stress, strengthens the immune system, has anti-inflammatory action

Astragalus root: improves endurance, enhances the immune system, strengthens heart contraction, relieves angina symptoms, treats liver poisoning, strengthens intestinal muscle, prevents heart damage caused by viral myocarditis, relieves chest distress in patients with congestive heart failure, protects the blood-brain barrier, reduces toxic effects of chemotherapy

Beet root: has activity against the Epstein-barr virus, helps fight skin/lung cancers

Bilberry extract: improves wound healing, has antiulcer action, protects against damage to tendons/ligaments/cartilage, maintains the blood-brain barrier

Black tea: reduces ulcer formation, prevents bacterial infections

Boswellia gum: treats asthma, treats ulcerative colitis, stimulates cell death in leukemia cells

Bromelain: improves wound healing, has anticancer effects, increases the effects of antibiotics, treats sinusitis/bronchitis/pneumonia/staph infections

Bupleurum root: has anti-inflammatory activity, may inhibit cancer metastasis, protects the liver, protects blood vessels, inhibits kidney inflammation, reduces liver enzyme levels in hepatitis

Burdock root: protects the liver, has anti-inflammatory activity

Carthamus flower: improves coronary blood flow, reduces angina pain, improves endurance, reduces symptoms of coronary artery disease, improves EEG, improves ECG, protects against brain injury from ischemia

Chaga mushroom: inhibits tumor growth

Chaste tree berry: treats breast pain, restores menstrual cycles to normal, inhibits prolactin secretion

Chyrsanthemum flower: has antibiotic effects, lowers blood pressure

Coltsfoot flower: helps treat bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis

Cordyceps mushroom: enhances the immune system, helps treat nephritis, enhances the cardiovascular and nervous systems, reduces dizziness, reduces urinary frequency, treats leg weakness

Dandelion root: enhances nitric oxide release

Dang gui root: promotes blood growth factors, corrects atrial fibrillation, prevents the formation of abnormal fibrous tissue in pulmonary fibrosis

Deer antler: speeds fracture healing, strengthens heart output, stimulates production of reticulocytes, stimulates production of hemoglobin

Eclipta: stimulates hair growth, may reverse hair graying, protects the liver, helps neutralize toxins in venom and mushroom poisoning

Elderberry: may treat influenza

Epimedium herb: increases sperm production, increases sexual desire, reduces blood pressure, protects the liver, reduces the level of BUN and serum creatinine in kidney disease, improves immune function in patients with kidney failure, promotes bone formation, reverses effects of long-term steroid use

Evening primrose oil: reduces pain and improves motor function in diabetics with neuropathy

Evodia fruit: has antiamnesia action, fights cognitive decline

Feverfew: reduces the number and severity of migraine attacks

Forsythia fruit: treats retinal hemorrhage

Garlic bulb: protects against the development and progression of advanced precancerous gastric lesions, has antiallergy effects, reduces oxidative stress, has antitumor activities, lowers blood pressure, prevents hypertension, strengthens the immune response

Ginger root: treats dyspepsia/nausea/vomiting associated with pregnancy, treats vertigo/dizziness/motion sickness, increases gastroduodenal motility, inhibits the formation of inflammatory prostaglandins, increases the heart’s force of contraction

Ginkgo leaf: improves cognitive function, helps treat depression, neutralizes SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction, treats tinnitus, treats acute cochlear deafness, treats senile macular degeneration, treats diabetic skin lesions, reduces post-surgical leakage of oxygen-carrying muscle proteins, reduces oxidative damage to intestinal membranes after ischemia, inhibits blood levels of radiation-induced chromosome-damaging factors, increases pain-free walking distance in patients with arterial blockage disease, improves pulmonary functions of asthmatic patients, helps reduce negative symptoms of schizophrenia, reduces the intensity and frequency of vertigo, treats swelling and mood changes in PMS, increases blood flow, reduces circulating cells indicative of venous wall damage, improves memory, increases ocular blood flow in glaucoma patients, increases retinal blood flow, treats neuropathy

Ginseng root: decreases heart rate, reduces fasting blood glucose, enhances mental activity

Gotu kola leaf: enhances wound healing, treats cirrhosis of the liver, enhances memory, has anticonvulsant effects, regulates blood sugar

Green tea: inhibits bacterial infections, induces apoptosis in cancer cells, prolongs life span after irradiation, stimulates weight loss, prevents the formation of dental caries

Guggul gum: reduces the chest pain and dyspnea associated with angina, reduces acne lesions, treats psoriasis

Guduchi stem: has anti-inflammatory effects, normalizes phagocytic function, recovers liver function, reduces postdrainage sepsis, protects against bone marrow suppression in chemotherapy

Gymnema: stimulates insulin release, helps control blood sugar

Gynostemma: stimulates nitric oxide release

Haritaki fruit: inhibits salivary bacteria, reduces stress, reduces viral loads in chronic lung infection, strengthens the effect of acyclovir against herpes

Hawthorn: treats rapid heartbeat, treats patients with cardiac insufficiency, treats patients with congestive heart failure, reduces angina symptoms

Isatis root and leaf: treats chronic myelocytic and chronic granulocytic leukemia, reduces lung abscess and decreases the severity of lung pathology, increases the number of white blood cells and lymphocytes

Licorice root: treats ulcers, inhibits the growth and cytopathology of DNA and RNA viruses, enhances liver detoxification of poisons, enhances nitric oxide function, reduces cataract formation

Maitake mushroom: has antitumor activity, lowers blood glucose levels, lowers blood pressure

Milk thistle seed: treats toxic hepatitis/fatty liver/cirrhosis/ischemic injury/radiation toxicity/viral hepatitis, enhances energy, protects against tumor promotion, protects kidneys against chemotherapy toxicity, protects against the kidney toxicity of cyclosporine, protects stomach and intestinal membranes

Milky oat seed: reduces cigarette usage, helps treat opium addiction

Millettia stem: increases white blood cell function in cancer patients

Muira puama: enhances libido

Myrrh gum: improves glucose tolerance

Oldenlandia herb: inhibits Yoshida’s sarcoma, Ehrlich’s ascites sarcoma, sarcoma-180, ascitic lymphocarcoma, and uterine cancer

Oregano oil and leaf: has action against yeast and fungi, protects against food-borne pathogens, stimulates appetite

Peppermint oil: treats irritable bowel syndrome

Phellodendron bark: has antiulcer activity, has anti-inflammatory properties, has antibiotic effects, suppresses graft-versus-host reactions

Pinellia tuber: suppresses gastric vagus nerve activity, reduces inflammation

Poria mushroom: stimulates the immune system, slows tumor growth, prevents pathological changes in nephritis, prevents vomiting

Prickly ash bark: reduces platelet sticking, has antimlalarial activity

Rauwolfia root: lowers blood pressure, treats chronic hives

Red clover blossom: helps maintain the elasticity of arteries

Rehmannia root: reduces inflammation in the central nervous system, helps treat nephritis and its complications, protects blood cells and organ function during chemotherapy

Reishi mushroom: treats chronic bronchitis

Rhubarb root: reduces obesity, stops chronic upper digestive bleeding, prevents the progression of chronic renal failure, stops renal hypertrophy

Salvia root: helps treat coronary artery disease, reduces the development of adhesive intestinal obstruction, reduces alcohol craving, inhibits fibrosis, prevents memory deficits, may prevent arterial restenosis, may help prevent damage to the optic nerve

Saptamrita lauha: treats retinal hemorrhage

Sarsaparilla root: treats syphilis, may treat Lyme disease

Schisandra berry: protects the liver, promotes learning ability, enhances cognitive performance, enhances nitric oxide function

Scute root: has hypotensive effects, restores normal blood cell production, restores T-lymphocytes and immunoglobulines in patients undergoing chemotherapy, preserves mitochondrial function, treats chronic hepatitis, inhibits JTC-26/sarcoma-37/Ehrlich’s ascites sarcoma/cerbroma-B22

Shalaparni: fights parasitic protozoal diseases, inhibits the release of allergic and inflammatory bronchoconstrictive chemicals

Shilajatu: has anti-inflammatory activity, has cardiotonic action, has antiulcer activity, stabilizes mast cells, has protective effects on the liver and pancreas, reduces symptoms of swollen prostate

Shou wu root: prevents heart injury, reduces tumor incidence, inhibits lipid peroxidation

Siberian ginseng root bark: enhances the immune system, increases endurance, reduces illness

St John’s wort: has antidepressant activity

Stevia leaf: improves glucose tolerance

Stinging nettle: reduces inflammation, reduces prostate swelling

Tea tree oil: treats fungal infections, reduces acne lesions

Teng li gen root: treats recurrent herpes-caused keratitis

Tien chi root: speeds recovery from wounds, has antitumor activity on skin tumors, improves lest ventricular diastolic function, improves postburn cardiac function, has antiarrhythmic activity

Tulsi: protects against radiation damage, has antifungal action, has anti-inflammatory activity, protects against ulcer formation, inhibits cancer formation, protects against stress

Turmeric root: has anti-inflammatory action, protects against cancer/radiation/toxins, reduces chronic eye inflammation, enhances wound repair in diabetics, reduces diabetic kidney damage

Valerian root: relieves smooth muscle spasms, reduces angina symptoms, improves sleep quality

Varuna: treats urinary tract infections

Vibhitaki fruit: has activity against malaria and fungal strains, demonstrates antihistamine action

Vilwa fruit: treats irritable bowel syndrome, effective against hookworm and Raniket disease virus

White atractylodes rhizome: increases secretion of gastric juices, increases muscle strength

White peony root: has muscle-relaxing effects, enhances cognition, improves memory, reduces aortic lesions, increases blood vessel lining relaxation, protects against liver damage

White sandalwood: treats coronary artery disease, enhances liver function, may protect against skin cancer when used topically

Wild asparagus root: inhibits immune system suppression, protects against stressors, has anticancer effects, has cardioprotective effects, reduces adhesions after surgery, stimulates breast milk production, inhibits breast cancer

The Forever Young Diet and Lifestyle is a book written by cardiologist Dr. James O’Keefe and registered dietitian Joan O’Keefe. This post has notes on some of the studies mentioned in the book.

• A study found that avocado enhances nutrient absorption.

• A study found that dark chocolate reduces blood pressure.

• A study of over 31,000 people found that those who reported eating nuts more than four times per week had a 50 percent lower risk of coronary heart disease.

• A study of 86,000 women found that those who ate nuts frequently decreased their risk of heart disease by 50 percent.

• A study of 8,000 vegetarians followed for sixteen years showed no difference in mortality rates or risk of heart disease, cancer, and stroke between vegetarians and meat-eaters. The study also showed that the risk of breast cancer and degenerative brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease was higher in the vegetarian populations. The vegetarians had twice the risk of developing fatal brain diseases.

• A study that followed 17,000 vegetarians for ten years showed that the vegetarians had the same overall mortality rate as meat-eaters.

• A study found that people who eat breakfast regularly have lower BMI, reduced risk of metabolic problems and obesity, better long-term weight loss maintenance, and improved mental alertness.

• A study found that three or more servings of vegetables a day reduced the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma by 40 percent.

• A study found that a component of green tea suppresses the proliferation of viruses that are believed to predispose to adult leukemia.

• A study found that black and geren tea inhibited the activity of enzymes associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

• A study found that green tea improved exercise endurance.

• Two large studies found that coffee reduced the risk of developing diabetes.

• A study in 2005 found that alcohol causes about 4 percent of worldwide deaths (compared to 4.1 percent for tobacco and 4.4 percent for high blood pressure).

• A study showed that those who drank five or more glasses of water daily had half the heart disease deaths and fatal strokes than those who drank less water.

• A study found that metabolism began to rise within just ten minutes of drinking water.

• A study found that calories consumed in sweet liquid form predisposed subjects to eating more than did solid food.

• A study involving rats found that the use of a sugar substitute impaired the rats’ natural ability to compensate for the calories in a sweet snack.

• A study found that obesity accelerates aging by destroying telomeres.

• A study found that weight lifting and aerobic exercise prevented the development of osteoporosis after menopause.

• A study found that 98 percent of people admitted for hip fractures were vitamin D deficient.

• A study comparing the low-fat American Heart Association diet to a low-glycemic load program found that those consuming the low-glycemic-load diet did not slow their metabolism down as their weight fell, whereas those consuming more sugar and starch but still losing weight had an 11 percent fall in their resting metabolic rate.

• A study found that overweight individuals who focused their efforts in controlling the portion sizes of what they ate were more successful in losing weight and keeping it off than people using other strategies.

• An anlysis of thirty-nine different animal and human trials concluded that more food choices compel individuals to eat more.

• Studies indicate that hunter-gatherers typically obtained approximately half to two-thirds of their calories from animal sources.

• Research found that the omega-3 content of cells in the body is the most accurate blood test for predicting who will die of cardiac arrest.

• A study found that eating fish five times weekly reduced stroke by 31 percent.

• A study found that people who ate fish more than once a week had a 60 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

• A study found that a combination of omega-3 flavonoids, and vitamin E helped speed the healing process in sore muscles.

• A study of women with lupus found that omega-3 supplementation significantly improved their symptoms.

• A study showed a 7 to 14 percent increase in fat burning during exercise in people who received a fish oil supplement.

• A study of Canadians with high fish intake found that those who drank tea frequently had the lowest blood mercury levels.

• A study found that whey protein blunts the spike in blood sugar when added to a high-carbohydrate meal.

• A meta-analysis found that chondroitin showed a large benefit and glucosamine showed a moderate benefit in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

• A study of 130,000 men and women showed that magnesium protected against the development of type 2 diabetes.

• Studies involving about 100,000 men and women show that aspirin lowers the risk of heart attack in men by 32 percent and lowers the risk of stroke in women by about 19 percent.

• Adding one-quarter to one-half of a teaspoon of cinnamon daily to the diets of people with diabetes reduced blood sugar and triglyceride levels by about 25 percent.

• A study found that 85 percent of people who complained of muscle pain while taking statins improved when they were given 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 daily.

• A study found that oral infections were more powerful predictors of who would develop coronary heart disease than traditional risk factors like cholesterol.

• A study found that continuous bed rest for three weeks was as detrimental to the heart and overall health as three decades of aging.

• A study found that next to age, the best predictor of survival was performance on a treadmill test.

• A study found that subjects who did more physical conditioning during their life showed less age-related shrinkage in brain size compared to that noted in sedentary people.

• A study found that women taking less than 6,000 steps daily had 44 percent body fat, those taking 6,000 to 10,000 steps had 35 percent body fat, and those who averaged 10,000 or more steps per day had 26 percent body fat.

• A study found that men were able to bench press an average of forty-one pounds more when spectators were present than when they were lifting alone.

• A study found that a person’s chances of being obese go up 23 percent for every two hours of TV viewing per day.

• A study found that regular physical activity helps keep the heart young by preventing age-related stiffening of the cardiovascular system.

• A study showed that stretching before athletic contests worsens maximal performance in activities such as weight lifting, jumping, and sprinting.

• A trial evaluating four months of regular sauna therapy showed a 40 percent reduction in toxic pesticide levels in the fat tissue of farmers.

• A study in Japan showed that men who slept five hours or less per night were more than twice as likely to suffer a heart attack as men who slept eight hours nightly.

• A study that restricted healthy men and women to six hours of sleep per night found that the level of cytokines rose significantly.

• A study that restricted the sleep of healthy young adults to five hours over a period of just three days found a 50 percent increase in insulin resistance.

• A study found that heart attack patients were three times more likely to have been driving or riding in traffic the hour before their attack.

• A study found that hostility increased blood sugar, inflammation, blood pressure, and triglycerides.

• A study of 2,300 men who survived a heart attack found that those who were socially isolated and emotionally stressed had four times the risk of death.

• A study found that men with stronger social networks had lower levels of inflammation.

• A study of 3,000 men and women found that men who reported the highest levels of social relationships and activities lived the longest. The most protective activities were those that involved regular volunteer work.

Younger Thinner You Diet is a book by Dr. Eric Braverman. This post has some notes on studies mentioned in the book.

• Studies suggest that many women have impaired dopamine levels, regardless of their age.

• A study found that fat cells can be rejuvenated just like well-maintained skin.

• The number of dopamine receptors decreases as an individual becomes more obese.

• The body increases production of the hormone cortisol when there is a dopamine imbalance.

• Restful sleep increases metabolism and lowers cortisol levels.

• Tyrosine increases resistance to stress and acts as a natural pain reliever.

• Pregnenolone restores the body’s hormones to youthful levels.

• Obesity and insulin resistance cause cellular death in the brain.

• A study found that many features of Alzheimer’s disease are linked to abnormalities in insulin signaling.

• Omega-3 fats can stimulate metabolism.

• Calcium helps reduce obesity.

• Turmeric helps unclog amyloid protein in the brain.

• Hoodia suppresses hunger and thirst signals.

• A study found that people who frequently eat fish that have high concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids are 31% less likely to suffer from depression.

• A study found that saffron is useful as an antidepressant.

• A study found that nutmeg extract works as an antidepressant

• A study found that turmeric may improve mood.

• Antidepressants help grow new brain cells.

• Using a smaller plate can trick the body into thinking you’re eating more food than you actually are.

• A study found that cinnamon reduced blood glucose significantly.

• A study found that red pepper flakes led subjects to decrease their calorie intake.

• A study found that oolong tea may increase the number of calories burned by 10%.

• A study showed significant abdominal fat reduction following calcium supplementation.

• A study found a link between low levels of vitamin C and obesity.

• A study linked increased consumption of EGCG with improved vascular functioning and reduced cardiovascular risk.

• A study found that tea drinkers had stronger bones than non-tea drinkers.

• A study showed that men 65 to 87 who used testosterone transdermal patches for one year improved their memory and concentration abilities.

The Longevity Project is written by Dr. Howard Friedman and Dr. Leslie Martin, two psychology professors who analyzed an extensive longitudinal study of Californians across eight decades. This post has some notes from the book.

• The best childhood personality predictor of longevity was conscientiousness.

• Conscientiousness was also the best personality predictor of long life when measured in adulthood.

• Participants who scored high in conscientiousness in both childhood and adulthood had the lowest risk of dying at any age. Those who scored low at both points had the highest risk of dying. And those who had changed their level of conscientiousness were in between.

• A meta-analysis of twenty studies involving about nine thousand participants found that people ranking higher in conscientiousness were less likely to die at any given age.

• A sample of thousands of Americans found that unconscientious people were more likely to be clinically depressed, feel anxious, smoke cigarettes, have high blood pressure, and have sciatica. They were also more likely to have tuberculosis, diabetes, joint problems, and strokes.

• There was no association between being sociable as a child and having a long life.

• Only two-thirds of nonscientists but almost three-quarters of scientists lived to reach age seventy.

• Cheerful and optimistic children were less likely to live to an old age than their more staid and sober counterparts.

• Women who were worriers in young adulthood were more likely to die at a younger age. If they were conscientious, then their worrying was less of a health threat.

• Men who were worriers in young adulthood were less likely to die. Men who were conscientious and neurotic had longer lives.

•  A study found that elderly men who were neurotic were less likely to die.

• A study of elderly Medicare patients found that neuroticism was health protective.

• Catastrophizers died sooner, and the difference was especially large for the men.

• Catastrophizers were more likely to die from accidents or violence, but they were only slightly more likely to die from the various other causes of death.

• There was a strong predominance of regretting inactions (opportunities lost) over regretting actions.

• Children who had been more conscientious were less likely to commit suicide.

• Education was not an important factor compared to other personal and social predictors of health and long life.

• The death of a parent during one’s childhood had no measurable impact on life-span mortality risk.

• Parental divorce during childhood was the single strongest social predictor of early death.

• Only a quarter of the men from divorced families never smoked, compared to over a third of the men from intact families.

• Women from intact families were more than twice as likely to avoid smoking as those whose parents divorced.

• Boys from a positive family environments whose parents divorced lived shorter lives. The effect was smaller for boys from a troubled family whose parents divorced.

• Men who felt a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at midlife were protected from the effects of their parents’ divorce.

• Being active in middle age was an important predictor of health and longevity.

• Divorced men were at a much higher mortality risk.

• Men who never married outlived the remarried group and way outlived the divorced men. They did not, on average, live as long as the steadily married men.

• Women who had gotten divorced and not remarried usually lived long lives.

• The children who grew up to be in the steadily married group were less likely to have faced parental divorce than those in the remarried group.

• People who later became consistently married individuals had been more conscientious as children.

• People who get married tend to be happier several years before marriage. People who get divorced tend to be less happy before they are married.

• The marital happiness of the husband predicted happiness for both men and women.

• A wife’s well-being is much more affected by a difficult, hostile husband than a husband’s well-being is affected by a difficult, hostile wife.

• Women who had a higher frequency of achieving orgasm during intercourse tended to live longer.

• Those with the most career success were the least likely to die young. On average, the most successful men lived five years longer than the least successful.

• Men who were both unconscientious and unsuccessful were especially likely to die before reaching even age sixty.

• Ambition, coupled with perseverance, impulse control, and high motivation, was not only good for achievement but was part of the package of a resilient work life.

• Subjects who were less critical of others, tried to avoid arguments, and didn’t always try to get things their own way tended to be healthier and live longer.

• Those who had always been more ambitious and liked the challenges of work were more satisfied as they approached their retirement years.

• People who have meaningful and important jobs and who are especially productive are much happier than others.

• Religious involvement did not matter much for men, but religiously inclined women lived longer lives.

• A study involving over ninety thousand women found that women who were more religiously involved were less likely to die during the period of the study.

• People who had a large social network lived longer.

• Those who helped their friends and neighbors, advising and caring for others, tended to live to old age.

• More masculine men and more masculine women had an increased mortality risk, while the more feminine women and the more feminine men were relatively protected.

• When men who had lost their wives were also highly neurotic, their subsequent mortality risk was reduced by half.

• Men who had severed overseas were more than one and a half times as likely to die in any given year (after the war) than were those veterans who served only on the home front.

• Combat veterans were less likely to go on to live long lives.

• A study involved over two thousand men and women who had suffered a heart attack. Depression was assessed in all of the participants and half of the depressed participants were treated. Those who had their depression treated did not live longer or have a lower risk of another heart attack.

• People who did better were the ones who avoided drowning their sorrows and instead turned to sports, social clubs, and productive hard work.

This is a list of organizations and foundations that are pursuing medical research. This list tends to focus on private institutes rather than those that are within universities. For information on research taking place at medical schools, please see my post University and Hospital Medical News Sites.

1000 Genomes: catalog of human genetic variation

A*STAR: oversees biomedical research institutes in Singapore

Abigail Alliance: works to create wider access to developmental cancer drugs

Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure: developing cures for brain cancer

Addgene: plasmid repository

Aging Research Network: organization that collaborates on aging research

Alcor Life Extension Foundation: cryonics organization

Allen Institute for Brain Science: neuroscience research organization

Alliance for Aging Research: accelerates research into aging

Alliance for NanoHealth: promotes nanotechnology in medicine

ALS Association: fights amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Alzheimer Research Forum: provides information on Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation: seeks to prevent Alzheimer’s disease

American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine: promotes anti-aging medical treatments

American Academy of Family Physicians: research in family medicine

American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine: promotes research in end-of-life care

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: surgical organization

American Academy of Sleep Medicine: association for sleep medicine professionals

American Aging Association: promotes studies of aging

American Association of Neurological Surgeons: association of neurosurgeons

American Board of Medical Specialties: assists medical specialty boards

American Board of Physician Specialties: provides board certification expertise

American College of Emergency Physicians: information on emergency medicine

American College of Hyperbaric Medicine: promotes hyperbaric oxygen therapy

American College of Medical Genetics: organization for the medical genetics profession

American College of Neuropsychopharmacology: furthering research in neuropsychopharmacology

American College of Surgeons: dedicated to improving surgical quality

American Council on Science and Health: promotes peer-reviewed health research

American Federation for Aging Research: promotes research into aging

American Institute for Cancer Research: promotes cancer research

American Institutes for Research: behavioral and social science research organization

American Osteopathic Association: organization for osteopathic medicine

American Red Cross: largest supplier of blood and blood products

American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: organization of cosmetic surgeons

American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy: promotes gene therapy

American Society of Human Genetics: genetics society

American Society of Plastic Surgeons: organization for cosmetic surgeons

American Surgical Association: organization of surgeons

American Telemedicine Association: research between healthcare and telecom

Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine: military organization that researches tissue engineering

Army Medicine: U.S. Army medical command

Association for Psychological Science: psychology research organization

Beckley Foundation: promotes research on drugs and consciousness

Bedford Stem Cell Research Foundation: conducts stem cell research

Behring Institute for Medical Research: develops methods for improving public health

Beijing Genomics Institute: genetics research institute in China

Benaroya Research Institute: conducts research on autoimmune conditions

Best Answer for Cancer: promotes integrative cancer care

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: extensively funds medical research

Bio-Identical Hormone Society: promotes research and usage of bioidentical hormones

BioBricks Foundation: advancing synthetic biology

BioCurious: open source biology organization

BioFab: biological design facility

Biogerontology Research Foundation: organization for research on aging

Biomimicry Institute: organization that researches projects inspired by nature

Bionic Vision Australia: consortium developing artificial eyes

Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research: researches targeted cancer therapy

Boston Biomedical Research Institute: conducts biomedical research on a variety of human diseases

Boston Open Source Science Lab: lab for open source biology

Boys Town National Research Hospital: pediatric research hospital

Brain and Behavior Research Foundation: studies treatments for mental illnesses

Brain Preservation Foundation: promotes effective preservation of neural tissue

Brain Trauma Foundation: researches treatments for traumatic brain injuries

British Longevity Society: researches medicine and techniques for longevity

British Neuroscience Association: U.K. neuroscience organization

Broad Institute: transforming biomedical research

Broda O. Barnes Research Foundation: researches thyroid disorders

Buck Institute: researches aging and longevity

California Institute for Medical Research: conducts biomedical research

California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences: bioscience research consortium

California Institute for Regenerative Medicine: promotes regenerative medicine research

Canadian Stem Cell Foundation: supports stem cell research

Canary Foundation: focuses on early detection of cancer

Cancer Research UK: leading cancer research organization

Carboncopies Project: promotes research on substrate-independent minds

Cedars-Sinai: medical research institution

Cell Society: advances regenerative therapies

Center for Behavioral Neuroscience: neuroscience research consortium

Center for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine: supports commercialization of stem cell therapies

Center for Connected Health: researches advanced healthcare delivery

CHDI Foundation: works to discover treatments for Huntington’s disease

Children’s Medical Research Institute: researches pediatric treatments

Children’s Memorial Research Center: pediatric research institute

Children’s Neurobiological Solutions: researches brain regeneration

China Medical Board: advances public health in Asia

Chinese Academy of Sciences: conducts life science research

Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation: researches treatments for spinal cord injuries

City of Hope: cancer research center

Clusterbusters: researches the treatment of cluster headaches

Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research: promotes research on better treatments and cures

Cochrane Collaboration: researches evidence-based medicine

Cognitive Neuroscience Society: neuroscience research organization

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory: conducts biomedical research

Commonwealth Fund: promotes health system improvement

Congress of Neurological Surgeons: neurosurgery organization

Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine: integrative medicine consortium

Coriell Institute for Medical Research: researches personalized medicine and tissue engineering

Cottonwood Research Foundation: researches human consciousness

Council of European BioRegions: consortium of biotechnology research organizations in Europe

Council on Health Research for Development: promotes medical research for developing countries

Cryonics Institute: cryonics organization

CSIRO: research agency in Australia

Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute: funds cystic fibrosis research

Dana Foundation: promotes neuroscience research

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: supports biomedical research

Diagnostics for All: developing inexpensive and effective diagnostic devices

DIYbio: open source science organization

Draper Laboratory: researches biomedical systems

Ellison Medical Foundation: supports biomedical research

Environmental Working Group: researches the safety of products

ESCOP: phytotherapy research organization

EURAC: conducts life sciences research

European Bioinformatics Institute: conducts bioinformatics research

European Brain and Behavior Society: neuroscience organization

EuroStemCell: connects regenerative medicine organizations

FasterCures: works to accelerate the development of medical treatments

Federation of European Neuroscience Societies: European neuroscience organization

Federation of State Medical Boards: medical certification authority

Feinstein Institute for Medical Research: biomedical research organization

Foundation Fighting Blindness: promotes research into cures for blindness

Foundation for Alternative and Integrative Medicine: integrative medicine organization

Fox Chase Cancer Center: cancer research center

Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology: biotechnology research organization

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center: cancer research organization

Garvan Institute: biomedical research organization

Genetics Policy Institute: promotes stem cell research

Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation: conducts biological and drug discovery research

Genspace: community biolab

Gerontology Research Group: longevity research organization

Glenn Foundation for Medical Research: conducts research on aging

GroupHealth Research Institute: researches healthcare delivery and disease prevention

Guidelines International Network: supports evidence-based healthcare

Guttmacher Institute: researches reproductive health

Heffter Research Institute: conducts research on psychedelics

HL Snyder Medical Research Institute: supports biomedical research

Howard Hughes Medical Institute: advances biomedical research

Human Connectome Project: organization focused on mapping the brain

Human Proteome Organisation: promotes proteomics research

Hunter Medical Research Institute: promotes medical research in Australia

Huntington Medical Research Institute: conducts biomedical research

Huntington’s Disease Society of America: promotes research into treatments for Huntington’s disease

iGEM: synthetic biology organization

Institute for Functional Medicine: functional medicine research organization

Institute for Healthcare Improvement: researches improvements in healthcare delivery

Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada: multinational medical research organization

Institute for Systems Biology: biology research organization

Institute of Medicine: medical research organization

International Agency for Research on Cancer: international cancer research collaboration

International Aging Research Portfolio: tracks progress in aging research

International Association for Cannabinoid Medicines: promotes research on cannabinoids

International Behavioral Neuroscience Society: encourages research in behavioral neuroscience

International Behavioural and Neural Genetics Society: promotes research in neurobehavioural genetics

International Brain Research Organization: neuroscience research organization

International Cancer Genome Consortium: cancer genetics research organization

International Cellular Medicine Society: stem cell research organization

International College of Integrative Medicine: organization of integrative medicine practitioners

International Consortium of Stem Cell Networks: consortium of stem cell research organizations

International Neuromodulation Society: neuroscience research organization

International Society for Cellular Therapy: cell therapy organization

International Society for Stem Cell Research: regenerative medicine organization

International Society for the Study of the Aging Male: research organization studing male aging

Interstate Alliance on Stem Cell Research: promotes stem cell research

Irish Stem Cell Foundation: regenerative medicine organization in Ireland

Iron Disorders Institute: studies iron imbalances and associated medical conditions

J. Craig Venter Institute: conducts genomics research

Jackson Laboratory: genetics research institute

Joint Commission: health care accreditation organization

Kaiser Family Foundation: researches health care improvement

Kaiser Permanente Division of Research: conducts research in multiple medical areas

Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation: researches the use of radio waves in oncology

Keogh Institute for Medical Research: researches reproductive medicine

Kronos Longevity Research Institute: research organization focusing on aging and longevity

Lakenau Institute for Medical Research: hospital research organization

Larry L. Hillblom Foundation: supports medical research

Lasker Foundation: gives awards for medical research

LeadingAge: a group of organizations focused on aging research

Leapfrog Group: focuses on improving healthcare quality

Let There Be Hope: researches treatments for HIV and cancer

Life Extension Foundation: longevity organization

Lifeboat Foundation: supports research in preventing biological risks

Lifestar Institute: promotes research into longevity

London Project: a project to cure blindness

London Regenerative Medicine Network: U.K. regenerative medicine organization

Longer Life Foundation: conducts longevity research

L.V. Prasad Eye Institute: conducts research in ophthalmology

Lybba: open source health care organization

LymeMD: Lyme disease research organization

Malaghan Institute of Medical Research: studies immune system therapies

Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund: regenerative medicine organization

Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics: neuroscience research organization

Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing: conducts research on aging and longevity

Max Planck Institute for Brain Research: neuroscience research organization

Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine: biomedical research organization

Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences: neuroscience research organization

Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology: biomedical research organization

Max Planck Institute for Medical Research: medical research institute

Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine: biomedical research organization

Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry: psychiatric research organization

Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Genetics: biomedical research organization

Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics: biomedical research organization

Maximum Life Foundation: supports projects to extend lifespan

McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine: regenerative medicine research organization

Medical Research Council: medical research organization

Medical Research Institute of New Zealand: medical research organization

Melanoma Research Alliance: supports research into melanoma treatments

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: cancer research institute

Methuselah Foundation: researches technologies to extend lifespan

Michael J. Fox Foundation: supports Parkinson’s disease research

Military Health System: U.S. Department of Defense health research

Mind: mental health organization

Mind Science Foundation: conducts research into consciousness

Molecular Sciences Institute: biomedical research organization

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies: researches the use of psychedelics for treating medical conditions

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation: supports research into treatments for multiple myeloma

Muscular Dystrophy Association: supports research to find treatments for muscular dystrophy

Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation: the largest tissue bank in the USA

My Microbes: studies human gut bacteria

Myelin Repair Foundation: researches treatments for neurological diseases

Nashville Medical Research Institute: conducts clinical investigations

Nathan Kline Institute: conducts psychiatric research

National Center for Regenerative Medicine: regenerative medicine organization

National Comprehensive Cancer Network: network of cancer centers

National Health Service: the U.K. health organization

National Institutes of Health: health research agency

National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable: coalition of organizations fighting hepatitis

Neural Stem Cell Institute: regenerative medicine organization

Neurosciences Institute: neuroscience research organization

New York Stem Cell Foundation: regenerative medicine research organization

North American Neuromodulation Society: promotes research on neurological devices

North Carolina Research Campus: medical research collaboration

North East England Stem Cell Institute: regenerative medicine research collaboration

Northwest Institute of Genetic Medicine: genetics research organization

O’Brien Institute: researches microsurgery

Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership: researches drug safety monitoring

Ontario Genomics Institute: promotes genomics research

Open Bioinformatics Foundation: supports open source bioinformatics programming

Open Cures: promotes longevity research

OpenPCR: makes equipment for open source biology

OpenWetWare: open source biology organization

Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine: researches nutrition and preventive medicine

Organization for Human Brain Mapping: promotes brain mapping research

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute: medical research hospital

Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research: research institute in Papua New Guinea

Parkinson’s Disease Foundation: supports research into curing Parkinson’s disease

Parsemus Foundation: supports neglected medical research

Partners in Health: supports health care in developing countries

Personal Genome Project: advances personalized medicine

PHG Foundation: promotes biomedical research

Pink Army Cooperative: open source medical research organization

Prevent Cancer Foundation: works to prevent cancer

Pritzker Consortium: researchers psychiatric disorders

Prize4Life: dedicated to discovering treatments and cures for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Public Citizen Health Research Group: promotes health safety initiatives

Queensland Children’s Medical Research Institute: pediatric research organization

Queensland Institute of Medical Research: biomedical organization in Australia

Regenerative Medicine Foundation: promotes research in the field of regenerative medicine

Reproductive Health Technologies Project: promotes fertility research

Retina Australia: seeks cures for blindness

Retina International: seeks cures for retinal problems

Rick Hansen Institute: works to accelerate cures for spinal cord injuries

RIKEN: natural science institute

Robarts Research Institute: researches treatments for human diseases

Roskamp Institute: biomedical research center

Roswell Park Cancer Institute: cancer research center

RTI International: research organization that studies biomedical topics

Sabin Vaccine Institute: researches vaccines for neglected tropical diseases

Salk Institute: biological research facility

Samueli Institute: researches complementary and integrative medicine

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute: studies the biological mechanisms of health and disease

Sansum Diabetes Research Institute: researches type 2 diabetes

Science for Life Extension: life extension organization in Russia

Scottish Stem Cell Network: regenerative medicine network

Scripps Research Institute: biomedical research facility

SENS Foundation: researches rejuvenation biotechnology

Sexual Medicine Society of North America: promotes research into sexual function

Singularity University: advised by medical researchers

Skoll Global Threats Fund: funds research into preventing pandemics

Society for Biological Engineering: global organization of biological engineers

Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics: encourages research in brain mapping

Society for Neuroscience: neuroscience professional organization

SRI International: pursues health research

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: pediatric research organization

Stanley Medical Research Institute: researches schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Stem Cell Network: Canadian stem cell research organization

Stem Cell Network Asia Pacific: promotes stem cell research

Stem Cells for Safer Medicines: stem cell collaboration

Stowers Institute for Medical Research: houses 22 independent research programs

Student Society for Stem Cell Research: promotes stem cell research

Supercentenarian Research Foundation: studies people over 100 years old

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: promotes breast cancer research

Texas Biomedical Research Institute: specializes in genetics and virology

Texas Medical Center: conducts medical research through multiple institutions

Thiel Foundation: funds longevity research

Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Society: promotes regenerative medicine research

Translational Genomics Research Institute: focuses on developing genetic diagnostics and treatments

Tropical Disease Initiative: open source drug discovery project

U.K. Stem Cell Bank: provides stem cell lines

United Health Foundation: supports healthcare research

Universities Allied for Essential Medicines: promotes access to medicines in developing countries

U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory: researches soldier health and safety

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: administers grants and health insurance

U.S. Food and Drug Administration: tests medical products for safety

U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention: sets standards for medications

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: focuses on prevention and evidence-based medicine

Virtual Physiological Human: project to simulate the human body

Vision CRC: researches solutions to vision problems

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research: medical research institute in Australia

Weizmann Institute of Science: multidisciplinary research institution

Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute: investigates the role of genetics in health and disease

Western Australia Institute for Medical Research: investigates the genetic and environmental causes of disease

Westmead Millennium Institute: medical research institute in Australia

Whitehead Institute: biomedical research institute

WiCell Research Institute: stem cell research organization

Wistar Institute: cancer research institute

Woolcock Institute of Medical Research: sleep and breathing research

World Cancer Research Fund International: leads a global network of cancer charities

X PRIZE Foundation Life Sciences: competitions in life sciences research