epidemiologic

Ginkgo biloba and ovarian cancer prevention: epidemiological and biological evidence.: Cancer Lett. 2007 Jun 18;251(1):43-52 Authors: Ye B, Aponte M, Dai Y, Li L, Ho MC, Vitonis A, Edwards D, Huang TN, Cramer DW

There is considerable interest in herbal therapies for cancer prevention but often with little scientific evidence to support their use. In this study, we examined epidemiological data regarding effects of commonly used herbal supplements on risk for ovarian cancer and sought supporting biological evidence. 4.2% of 721 controls compared to 1.6% of 668 cases regularly used Ginkgo biloba for an estimated relative risk (and 95% confidence interval) of 0.41 (0.20,0.84) (p=0.01); and the effect was most apparent in women with non-mucinous types of ovarian cancer, RR=0.33 (0.15,0.74) (p=0.007). In vitro experiments with normal and ovarian cancer cells showed that Ginkgo extract and its components, quercetin and ginkgolide A and B, have significant anti-proliferative effects ( approximately 40%) in serous ovarian cancer cells, but little effect in mucinous (RMUG-L) cells. For the ginkgolides, the inhibitory effect appeared to be cell cycle blockage at G0/G1 to S phase. This combined epidemiological and biological data provide supportive evidence for further studies of the chemopreventive or therapeutic effects of Ginkgo and ginkgolides on ovarian cancer.

PMID: 17194528 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Epidemiology of insomnia: Prevalence, self-help treatments, consultations, and determinants of help-seeking behaviors.: Sleep Med. 2006 Feb 1; Authors: Morin CM, Leblanc M, Daley M, Gregoire JP, Mérette C

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of insomnia symptoms and syndrome in the general population, describe the types of self-help treatments and consultations initiated for insomnia, and examine help-seeking determinants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomly selected sample of 2001 French-speaking adults from the province of Quebec (Canada) responded to a telephone survey about sleep, insomnia, and its treatments. RESULTS: Of the total sample, 25.3% were dissatisfied with their sleep, 29.9% reported insomnia symptoms, and 9.5% met criteria for an insomnia syndrome. Thirteen percent of the respondents had consulted a healthcare provider specifically for insomnia in their lifetime, with general practitioners being the most frequently consulted. Daytime fatigue (48%), psychological distress (40%), and physical discomfort (22%) were the main determinants prompting individuals with insomnia to seek treatment. Of the total sample, 15% had used at least once herbal/dietary products to facilitate sleep and 11% had used prescribed sleep medications in the year preceding the survey. Other self-help strategies employed to facilitate sleep included reading, listening to music, and relaxation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the high prevalence of insomnia in the general population. While few insomnia sufferers seek professional consultations, many individuals initiate self-help treatments, particularly when daytime impairments such as fatigue become more noticeable. Improved knowledge of the determinants of help-seeking behaviors could guide the development of effective public health prevention and intervention programs to promote healthy sleep.

Survey of Herbal Use by Kansas and Wisconsin WIC Participants Reveals Moderate, Appropriate Use and Identifies Herbal Education Needs.: J Am Diet Assoc. 2006 Feb;106(2):227-37 Authors: Lohse B, Stotts JL, Priebe JR

OBJECTIVE: To examine herbal use by a sample of low-income, nutritionally vulnerable children. DESIGN: Caregivers completed a survey of child and caregiver herbal usage practices. SUBJECTS/SETTING: A convenience sample of 2,562 caregivers to children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in Kansas and Wisconsin who were attending a WIC clinic was selected. WIC project selection was random, with stratification for geographic and ethnic representation. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Herbal usage profiles were described with measures of central tendency. Groups were compared with a two-tailed independent t test and chi(2) for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. RESULTS: Child herbal use was reported on 917 surveys, representing 1,363 children ranging in age from 1 week to 17.5 years; 820 were younger than age 5 years. Herb use was greater among Latino children (48.4% vs 31.4%) and caregivers (43.4% vs 37.2%). Caregivers had a mean age of 27.8+/-8.32 years and 38.8% (n=994) denoted using herbs. Herbs most commonly used by children were aloe vera, chamomile, garlic, peppermint, lavender, cranberry, ginger, echinacea, and lemon. Reasons for herbal use paralleled recommendations. Family (78.9%) and friends (32.9%) were predominant information sources. Herbs with safety issues, such as St John's wort, dong quai, and kava were used. Herbal use characteristics did not differ between states, but were unique for Latino clients. CONCLUSIONS: Herbal use by WIC children is mostly congruent with known indications; however, practices with potential to harm urge herbal education in WIC clinics, especially for Latinos.

Medicinal plants: historical and cross-cultural usage patterns.: Ann Epidemiol. 2005 Oct;15(9):686-99 Authors: Halberstein RA

PURPOSE: An attempt is made to review the prevalence of medicinal herb use in different societies and the various lines of evidence for its effectiveness for particular health needs and the alleviation of disease conditions. METHODS: Published scientifically collected data and anecdotal reports representing numerous populations are compiled and evaluated. Original research findings from Caribbean, American, and Caribbean-American samples are included in the comparisons. RESULTS: Medicinal plant products have been successfully administered both externally and internally in several different forms for a wide range of health problems cross-culturally since prehistoric times. Certain toxic effects and contraindications have also been recorded. CONCLUSIONS: Many botanical medications contain curative bioactive chemical ingredients which have proven to be valuable as primary or supplemental therapies when carefully applied. Further research will ultimately clarify their appropriate roles in the treatment of diseases and injuries as well as in preventive health maintenance.

Herbs and alternative therapies: relevance to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.: Curr Hypertens Rep. 2005 Aug;7(4):275-80 Authors: Vora CK, Mansoor GA

Herbal remedies, supplements, and alternative therapeutic items are used by many patients with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Scientific knowledge about their efficacy and safety is lacking, and unfortunately, physicians are frequently not aware that patients are using these nontraditional forms of medical care. Patients may anticipate physicians' disapproval of their use, or not realize that it is important for the physician to know what they are taking. Therefore, it is imperative that patients are asked nonjudgmental questions about current and past use of herbals and alternative therapies. Even when physicians are aware of such use, they feel poorly trained to identify the constituents and effects. Although many such therapies are innocuous, several herbal or alternative therapeutic items can significantly elevate blood pressure or cause interactions with cardiovascular drugs. Practitioners in cardiovascular medicine should be competent and know current scientific evidence for the benefits and adverse effects of herbal supplements and provide patients reasonable advice. In this brief article, we review the epidemiology of alternative therapy use, and select several important herbal or other supplements that patients with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases may be taking. We discuss the therapies considered biological in nature as opposed to mind-body interventions or manipulative body or energy therapies.

Multiplicity of garlic health effects and Alzheimer's disease.: J Nutr Health Aging. 2005;9(6):421-32 Authors: Chauhan NB

The epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data have shown that garlic contains many biologically active compounds which are beneficial to human health in general. Among all, one garlic-preparation called aged garlic extract, is proven to be safer. Although additional studies are warranted in humans, compelling evidence supports the health effects attributed to aged garlic extract and its implications in preventing or reducing the risk of cardiovascular ailments, stroke and cancer. Recently, the beneficial effects of garlic and its constituents on neuronal physiology and brain functions are beginning to emerge. However, this field is still in infancy and not yet fully explored. This review encompasses multiple health effects of garlic and its constituents with reference to neuroprotection. Possible potential of dietary garlic as an alternative herbal pharmacotherapy for Alzheimer's disease is discussed.

Tea Consumption and Ovarian Cancer Risk in a Population-Based Cohort.: Arch Intern Med. 2005;165:2683-2686. Authors: Susanna C. Larsson, Alicja Wolk

Background: Substantial evidence from laboratory studies indicates that green and black tea preparations may protect against various cancers. Few epidemiologic studies, however, have examined the relationship specifically between tea consumption and risk of ovarian cancer. Methods: We prospectively examined the association between tea consumption and risk of ovarian cancer in 61 057 women aged 40 to 76 years who were participants in the population-based Swedish Mammography Cohort. Participants completed a validated 67-item food frequency questionnaire at enrollment between 1987 and 1990 and were followed for cancer incidence through December 2004. Results  During an average follow-up of 15.1 years, 301 incident cases of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer were ascertained. Tea consumption was inversely associated with the risk of ovarian cancer after controlling for potential confounders (P for trend, .03). Compared with women who never or seldom (less than monthly) consumed tea, the multivariate hazard ratios for those who consumed less than 1 cup per day, 1 cup per day, and 2 or more cups per day were 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-1.08), 0.76 (95% CI, 0.56-1.04), and 0.54 (95% CI, 0.31-0.91), respectively. Each additional cup of tea per day was associated with an 18% lower risk of ovarian cancer (multivariate hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68-0.99). Conclusion:  These results suggest that tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in a dose-response manner.