Micronutrients-Coach^® - The grand BIOGENA compendium of nutrients. 4th edition. Verlagshaus der Ärzte

Publisher: Dr. Christina Schmidbauer and Georg Hofstätter MSc.

The entire Micronutrient Coach is available in printed form as a compendium with additional nutrient interaction overviews and lifestyle recommendations. This comprehensive work offers a useful addition to basic medical knowledge, ready to hand at any time and attractive for any shelf.

Available at www.biogena.com or you place your order at worldwide@biogena.com

The positive effect of probiotics on excess body weight

Overweight and obesity is a serious health problem due to the excessive accumulation of fat in the body and, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), has already affected 1.9 billion (overweight) and 650 million (obesity) adults worldwide in 2016. Probiotics and their gut health benefits are well known, but their impact on overweight and obesity remains a matter of research. In this context, a new study from South Korea has shown that taking a certain probiotic has a positive effect on excessive body weight. 100 overweight and obese male and female subjects aged 19-65 years with a body mass index (BMI) between 25.0 and 31.9 kg/m2 took part in this randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. They were given 500 mg of a probiotic consisting of two probiotic strains including Limosilactobacillus fermentum MG4231 and MG4244, each 2.5 x 10⁹ CFU, or a placebo once a day, and the inhibitory effect on obesity was examined. After the 12-week study period, subjects taking the probiotic showed a significant reduction in body fat mass and percentage of body fat, body weight, and a reduction in waist circumference, hip circumference, BMI, visceral fat percentage and abdominal fat compared to those taking the placebo.
All about probiotics and adiposity

Improving muscle function in type 2 diabetes with BCAAs

The widespread disease type 2 diabetes is not only associated with far-reaching consequences for the health of those affected, but also carries the risk of sarcopenia (age-related muscle atrophy). Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) may not only have positive effects on knee muscle strength, but also on depression in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a recent study from Japan. For this randomized study, scientists compared the intake of 7.5 g of soy protein with supplementation of 8 g of BCAAs in 36 participants aged 65 to 80 years over a period of six months and then evaluated not only the muscle strength of the subjects but also the effect of amino acid intake on the psyche. For this purpose, those subjects in the BCAA group received an amino acid supplement containing 4 g of leucine, 2 g of valine, and 2 g of isoleucine, and all others received soy protein with an unknown amino acid composition. Although the researchers found no change in skeletal muscle mass in those subjects taking BCAA, there was still an improvement in knee extension muscle strength. Furthermore, BCAA supplementation led to a significant increase in serum tryptophan levels, which resulted in an improvement in the subjects' depressive symptoms. All about branched-chain amino acids and muscle building
All about branched-chain-amino acids and muscle building

Alleviate depression with vitamin D

The link between low levels of vitamin D and the onset of depression is still a matter of research. A recent meta-analysis by Chinese researchers shows that vitamin D supplementation not only has a positive effect on the occurrence of depression and its prognosis, but also generally supports women's health. The meta-analysis included 29 studies, 18 of which dealt with the association between vitamin D and the onset of depression and 11 between vitamin D and the development of depression. The various studies include vitamin doses between 200 and more than 10,000 IU daily and a total of 4504 participants between the ages of 13 and 85 years. Vitamin D supplementation was found to be associated with a reduction in the incidence of depression and poorer management of the condition. With regard to gender, a subgroup analysis showed that regardless of whether the female study participants were depressed or not, everyone benefited from the administration of vitamin D. In terms of duration and dosing, an intervention duration of 8 weeks or longer and a supplemental dose greater than 2,800 IU daily were found to be most appropriate to elicit a response.
All about vitamin D and depression

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Pycnogenol for Restless legs syndrome

Abnormal sensations such as tingling and pulling in the legs, as well as an agonizing urge to move – Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is often very difficult for those affected and can therefore also impair the quality of life of the individual. A new study has found that Pycnogenol, a Pinus pinaster extract from the bark of the French maritime pine known for its positive effects on blood circulation, can alleviate the symptoms of RLS. For the study, published in the journal Panminerva Medica, 45 subjects with RLS were examined. While 21 of the 45 participating subjects received 150 mg Pycnogenol per day in addition to standard treatment, 24 other subjects in the control group received only standard treatment. Four weeks after the start of the study, the Pycnogenol group showed a significant improvement in their RLS-specific symptoms using a Visual Analogue Scale Line, including a decrease in aching, a decrease in throbbing, and generally less pain, itching and resulting sleep problems - without side effects with very good tolerability. In addition, after the end of the study, the need for painkillers was lower in the group taking Pycnogenol. The link between RLS and venous insufficiency and associated edema is still under investigation, but this study found that 81 % of subjects in the Pycnogenol group improved their minimal edema status.
All about Pycnogenol and Restless Legs Syndrome

Promote anti-aging with taurine

The amino acid taurine can not only be found in well-known designer drinks and mostly animal foods, it also fulfills different tasks in various biological processes as an amino acid in the human body. In this context, a new study by the University of São Paulo has shown that taurine can have a positive influence on limiting oxidative stress during aging. The researchers examined the effects of taurine supplementation in anti-aging therapy in women between the ages of 55 and 70. In a double-blind, randomized study, 1.5 g of taurine or a cornstarch placebo was administered to 24 women over a 16-week period. Plasma samples taken before and after the intervention were evaluated for taurine and markers of oxidative stress (the hallmark of aging), including the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR). In addition, the food consumed, functional capacity and minerals (zinc, magnesium, selenium and calcium) were also assessed. After the intervention period, taurine supplementation was shown to have a positive impact on markers of oxidative stress and was associated with an increase in SOD and a decrease in a marker of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA).
All about taurine and oxidative stress

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Polyphenols and their beneficial effects on hypertension and arteries

Cocoa is not only a popular beverage, the flavanols contained in it from the group of polyphenols have already been able to prove their cardioprotective effect in numerous studies. Current research results of the University of Surrey show in this connection again the positive effects of cacao flavanols on high blood pressure and the arterial vessel stiffness. In the course of this randomized controlled trial, eleven healthy participants took either six capsules containing 862 mg of cocoa flavanols or placebo capsules alternately over a period of 8 days. Blood pressure was measured during the study period using an upper arm blood pressure monitor and a finger clip to measure pulse wave velocity (PWV), which indicated the degree of arterial vascular stiffness. Both blood pressure and PWV were measured before consumption of the capsule and every 30 minutes for the first three hours after ingestion. For the remaining nine hours, measurements were subsequently taken every hour. The researchers found that cocoa flavanols were able to lower blood pressure and improve arterial stiffness, but only showed a blood pressure-lowering effect when it was too high in the participants. The peaks of this effect could be detected not only three hours later, but also eight hours after consumption. According to the researchers, this second peak could be due to the way the gut microbiota metabolize the flavonols from cocoa in the colon.
All about polyphenols, coronary heart disease & arteriosclerosis

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Diet rich in polyphenols prevents inflammation in the elderly

Polyphenols are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, but what role do gut bacteria play in this context? Researchers at the Universitat de Barcelona have found in a new study that polyphenols alter the composition of the intestinal flora and promote the production of a metabolite with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. This metabolite, with the chemical name indole-3-propionic acid, is produced by the oxidative degradation of tryptophan from food by the bacterial species Clostridium sporogenes, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius and Clostridium cadaveris, among others, and is associated with health-promoting properties, especially with regard to the integrity of the intestinal barrier. Accordingly, high levels of indole-3-propionic acid are positively correlated with the α-diversity of the microbiome and with the butyrate-producing intestinal bacterium Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. In a randomised, controlled crossover study with 51 adults over 60 years of age, the researchers compared an 8-week polyphenol-rich diet with a control diet. The polyphenol-rich diet consisted of green tea, dark chocolate and fruits such as blueberries, pomegranates and apples. After the intervention, the researchers found that a polyphenol-rich diet led to a significant increase in serum indole-3-propionic acid levels in the subjects with normal kidney function, with a concomitant decrease in inflammation levels, as well as changes in the order Bacteroidales in the microbiome, and a higher abundance of Clostridiales.
All about polyphenols (green tea, blueberries, pomegranate) and inflammation

Frankincense and collagen for osteoarthritis

The anti-inflammatory effect of frankincense, also known as Boswellia serrata, has already been proven in studies in the past, also in connection with arthrosis. Collagen, especially native collagen (type II), also shows its effect as a nutritive therapy accompaniment for degenerative joint disease. In a new clinical study, a total of 40 patients with knee arthrosis were given a combination of 40 mg native collagen (type II) and 100 mg Boswellia serrata over a period of three months. As early as the fifth day of the study, the researchers observed a significant improvement on the visual analogue scale (VAS), indicating that the combination of the collagen and Boswellia serrata administered was associated with relief of the pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. The researchers also noted further improvements on the VAS later on days 15, 30, 60 and 90. Furthermore, in addition to significantly reducing pain and stiffness, treatment with Boswellia serrata and native collagen (type II) also led to an improvement in physical function as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), with good tolerability and no side effects. The scientists see the advantage above all in the rapid results of the combination of Boswellia serrata and collagen, compared to studies in which only collagen was used.
All about frankincense, collagen and arthrosis

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Shiitake for HPV infections

According to the WHO, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide and is almost exclusively due to high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The proven medicinal mushroom Shiitake (Lentinula edodes), above all the AHCC (Active Hexose Correlated Compound) obtained from it, can be of scientific relevance in this context. This is a cultured extract obtained from the cell wall of Shiitake mycelia and is rich in alpha-gucans and other immune-modulating polysaccharides. A new randomized controlled trial from UTHealth Houston in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health shows that daily intake of AHCC for six months has been associated with markers of improved immune function and detection of HPV. 34 women with a history of more than two years of persistent high-risk HPV infection received either AHCC or placebo on a daily basis for six months. Of the 22 test subjects who were treated with AHCC, 63.6% were able to cure the infection without any undesirable side effects. In comparison, only two of 19 patients in the placebo group had a negative HPV result at the end of the treatment period.
All about Shiitake and Cancer Prevention in Women

Vitamin D deficiency and dementia

Dementia is a degenerative disease with signs of thinking and behavior that affects 55 million people around the world, according to the WHO. A study by the University of Australia, which is unique in the world, in collaboration with the National Health and Medical Research Council, has shown that there is a direct link between dementia and vitamin D deficiency using genetic tests with data from 294,514 participants from the UK Biobank. A team of scientists used the method used in epidemiology called "Mendelian Randomization (MR)" to investigate the link between low vitamin D levels (25 nmol/L), neurological characteristics and the risk of developing dementia. This showed that low levels of vitamin D could be associated with a lower brain volumes and at the same time an increased risk of dementia and stroke. At the same time, genetic analyzes suggest a causal effect of vitamin D deficiency and dementia. Also, according to the researchers, in some populations, up to 17 % of dementia cases could be prevented if everyone had normal vitamin D levels of 50 nmol/L. Apart from the general health relevance of an adequate vitamin D supply, these results could be of particular relevance in future dementia prevention.
All about vitamin D and Dementia

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Cranberries and their positive effect on memory and LDL cholesterol

Due to their high polyphenols and antioxidants, cranberries have various health benefits and can also have a positive effect on memory and lowering LDL cholesterol levels - this is the result of a recent study by the University of East Anglia in England. For this randomized, placebo-controlled study, the scientists examined how the daily consumption of a small cup of cranberries over a period of 12 weeks affects the age-related decline in cognitive performance and blood lipid levels. For this purpose, cognitive performance tests (e.g. to record memory functions) and neuroimaging and blood tests were carried out before and after the intervention. At the end of the study, the 60 subjects aged between 50 and 80 showed a significant improvement in the performance of episodic memory and neural functioning. As a possible mechanism of action, the researchers are likely to have an increased blood flow to various areas in the brain of the subjects in the cranberry group. In addition, the scientists found that those subjects who consumed the freeze-dried cranberry powder in the study also saw a significant reduction in LDL cholesterol levels after the 12 weeks. These study results show that cranberries can be relevant not only in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, but also in the prevention of atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular diseases.
All about cranberry, age-related drop in performance and dyslipidemia

Krill oil beneficial for muscle function and size in the elderly

Omega-3 rich krill oil ingestion may beneficially alter muscle function and size in healthy people over the age of 65 – This is shown by new research results from the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences (ICAMS) at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. This randomized, double-blind, controlled study included 102 relatively inactive women and men over the age of 65 who exercised less than an hour a week during the study. After randomly dividing the participants into two groups and given 4 g of krill oil daily, the scientists measured a number of parameters relating to the muscles and factors such as body fat and blood lipid levels. After six months, those participants who took the krill oil on a daily basis had a 9.3% increase in thigh muscle strength, 10.9% in grip strength, and 3.5% in thigh muscle thickness compared to that group who took a placebo. It was also found that the red blood cell fatty acid profile increased by 214% in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), 36% in DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and 61% in the omega-3 index compared to the control group. These findings support the researcher's previous studies that have shown the positive effects of EPA and DHA on muscle protein synthesis, muscle volume and muscle strength.
All about omega-3 fatty acids and muscle building