Insulin Counting: A New Dietary System for Women’s Health

By Dr. Fiona McCulloch BSc ND

Are you living with distressing symptoms of irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain, infertility, acne, hair loss or increased facial hair growth? If you are – high insulin levels might be to blame. We all have heard about insulin and its role in diabetes - but what we don’t hear often is how it can affect female hormones. A new, easy-to-follow dietary method may help manage blood insulin levels, and improve hormonal health for the millions of women suffering from insulin-induced symptoms.

What Does Insulin Do?

Insulin is likely the most well-known hormone that rules our nutritional metabolism. Its main role is to direct the nutrients that we eat into our cells, where they can be stored as energy.

After we eat, our blood sugar levels rise and our pancreas responds by releasing insulin to shuttle the extra energy away. This keeps blood sugar under strict control. Insulin also blocks fat breakdown - after a meal our metabolisms are focused on storing energy, and not on burning fat.

Carbohydrates are well-known for spiking blood sugar levels, so it makes sense that they also cause significant insulin release. What many people don’t know is that some protein-rich foods can spike insulin levels just as much as carbohydrates, or even more.

What is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin resistance is a state where our cells are less sensitive to the actions of insulin. The pancreas makes more insulin to compensate as its main goal is to stop blood sugar levels from becoming too high. The end result is a whole lot more insulin floating around in the bloodstream. Insulin resistance happens naturally with weight gain, or if we have the genes that predispose us to it.

Signs of Insulin Resistance in Women

How do you know if you have insulin resistance? The most typical signs include abdominal weight gain and significant difficulty in losing weight. Weight loss resistance can happen as high levels of insulin block fat breakdown.

Many women’s ovaries overproduce testosterone when they are exposed to excess insulin. These women may experience irregular menstrual cycles and infertility as they can stop ovulating altogether.

When testosterone becomes overly abundant due to insulin resistance, it can also affect a woman’s skin.  Jawline cystic acne, hair loss, and excess facial or body hair growth are troubling testosterone-induced skin issues. Other skin-related signs of insulin resistance include skin tags, and dark pigmentation in the skin folds.

If these symptoms are familiar to you – you’re not alone.  These symptoms are the hallmarks of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which affects 15% of all women worldwide. PCOS is the most common hormonal condition in women, and 50% of women who are affected don’t know they have it.

The Insulin Index

Fortunately, a new dietary scale – the insulin index – is here to help us in our battle against insulin resistance. You’ve all likely heard of the glycemic index, which is a measure of how much a food we eat raises blood sugar levels.

The insulin index does more - it tells us about how much a consumed food raises insulin levels. Most of the research on the insulin index has been conducted by the same team at the University of Sydney who developed much of what we know about the glycemic index.  As a result, evidence for the insulin index sits atop many years of intensive research in nutrition.

Foods That Spike Insulin – Unlikely Culprits

Foods that are high on the glycemic index are also high on the insulin index – which comes as no surprise since insulin is released in response to increases in blood sugar.

The opposite isn’t true – in fact, some of the highest foods on the insulin index are in fact very low on the glycemic index, and don’t raise blood sugar levels much at all.

Dairy foods contain protein building blocks called branched-chain amino acids which enter the bloodstream rapidly and cause a surge of insulin release.

Most people are shocked to learn that low fat yogurt provokes more insulin release than two slices of white bread – FYI, I don’t recommend either of these foods! Some other foods may surprise you as well – beef spikes insulin levels more than chicken, and whey protein powder is one of the highest foods on the insulin index.

The insulin index tells us how much insulin will be released for 240 calories of a food. The food insulin demand (FID), a related index, gives us the amount of insulin that we release after eating a certainquantity of a given food – an exceptionally useful tool we can use to plan meals.

Insulin Counting

In my book, 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS, I’ve created an insulin counting program, an easy-to-follow system based on the food insulin demand. Insulin counting includes a structured lower-carbohydrate plan with a low insulin count for breakfast, and an individually determined count for lunch and dinner to manage post-meal insulin responses. The best foods and portion sizes are discussed in detail, creating an approach to lowering insulin that focuses around the consumption of quality, whole foods.

I’ve been using this method with women at my clinic in Toronto and we’ve been seeing major improvements in stubborn hormonal and metabolic health conditions. It’s a very exciting time for nutrition and women’s health!

Insulin counts of the most commonly consumed foods, healthy and otherwise, in the Standard American Diet.

FOOD CHART INSERT: Insulin count is adjusted for quantity. For example, if you have 14 shrimp instead of 7, the count will double from 4 to 8.

Fiona McCulloch, N.D., founder and owner of White Lotus Integrated Medicine, is a naturopath practitioner having worked with thousands of people seeking better health over the past fifteen years. She is a data-junkie who specializes in evidence-based therapies for PCOS, thyroid health, autoimmunity, weight management and infertility among other unique conditions that can all benefit from a system reboot.

Dr. McCulloch is also a medical advisor for IVF.ca: Canada’s premier fertility community and is on the medical advisory committee for the PCOS Awareness Association. As a woman with PCOS herself, she is dedicated to increasing both awareness and research of this important condition that has far reaching effects on the lives of so many women. When she was a young girl, Dr. McCulloch would spend hours “compounding” mixtures made from plants and trees in the woods near her house.  Today, Dr. McCulloch is a graduate of the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (2001) and the University of Guelph (biological science).  She is married and the mother of three boys.  She can be reached on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

Dr. McCulloch’s new book, 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS, will be available on September 21, 2016 on Amazon and all fine booksellers. 

www.drcalapai.net 

An estimated 45 million Americans go on a diet each year, and Americans spend $33 billion each year on weight loss products. Yet, nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. With all of this money expended, why are so many people unable to lose weight?  Dr. Christopher Calapai is, a New York City Osteopathic Physician board certified in family and anti-aging medicine. He says that, “People are dealing with dieting information overload. It is hard to know what is sound weight loss advice and what is a myth.”   He sets the record straight on some of our most commonly held diet and weight loss myths. You can eat whatever you want if you workout.

Unfortunately, a half hour on the treadmill isn’t going to help you lose weight if you reward yourself by downing a few slices of cake and an order of French fries. The treadmill told you that you burned off 500 calories, but those estimated machine readouts are not always accurate.  It’s near impossible to out-exercise a bad diet unless you plan to spend half your day in the gym. You must workout and eat smart to see results.

Organic food is diet food.The word organic is enticing, but it’s also misleading. Organic means a food is grown without pesticides or other chemicals and is not genetically modified. But it says absolutely nothing about the nutrient value of the food itself, or whether it’s a good dietary choice, or whether it has excessive fat, sugar, or starch. Organic sugar is still sugar. Organic white flour is still white flour. Organic butter is still butter and organic lard is still lard.

You Can Lose 10 Pounds in 2 Weeks.You probably can lose 10 pounds in two weeks if you crash-diet, but that pace is rarely sustainable.  Most of the weight will return once you start eating normally. To truly lose 1 pound, you need to “eliminate” 3,500 calories—the amount stored in a pound of fat—by eating less and moving more. If you cut 500 calories (or cut 300 and burn 200 through exercise) every single day of the week, you’ll lose about a pound a week. And that’s real weight loss.amount stored in a pound of fat—by eating less and moving more. If you cut 500 calories (or cut 300 and burn 200 through exercise) every single day of the week, you’ll lose about a pound a week. And that’s real weight loss. 

Cleanses and detoxes are a good way to jump-start a diet. Nobody needs to detox.Unless you've been poisoned, you have a built-in, super-efficient system for filtering out most of the harmful substances you eat. It's made up of two toxin-bashing organs: the liver and the kidneys. Our kidneys filter our blood and remove any waste from our diet, and our livers process medications and detoxify any chemicals we ingest. Paired together, these organs make our bodies natural cleansing powerhouses.  

You can’t eat after 8pmIt doesn't matter what time of day you eat. It is what and how much you eat and how much physical activity you do during the whole day that determines whether you gain, lose, or maintain your weight. No matter when you eat, your body will store extra calories as fat. If you want a snack before bedtime, think first about how many calories you've eaten that day.

You must keep your blood sugar topped up, and eat little and often to achieve it  This is one of the least accurate bits of advice. Every time you eat a carbohydrate, and your blood glucose levels rise, the body needs to release a substance called insulin (from the pancreas) to return your blood glucose levels to normal. Any “topping up” simply places a demand on the body to get the blood glucose levels back down again. This might be the  reason for the explosion in type 2 diabetes – the body is asked to release insulin too much, too often and has no way of recognizing some of the foreign substances we consume in modern man-made food. 

Wait Until You're Hungry to Eat.Myth!: By waiting to eat until you're very hungry, your hunger simply builds and builds until it's all consuming, causing your appetite to spiral out of control. In fact, new research reveals that by skipping breakfast, you'll end up eating more calories in total and making less healthy food choices throughout the day than you would have otherwise. Research also shows that forgoing breakfast activates your body's insulin response, triggering fat storage and weight gain.

One of the Afflicted 25 Million? How to Keep Your Obstructive Sleep Apnea from Ruining Your Life

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a devastating health condition that affects nearly 25 million adults in the United States. When left untreated, it will increase one’s risk of many secondary complications including obesity, depression, severe mood swings, high blood pressure, and heart disease. If you have recently been diagnosed with OSA or believe that you might have this condition, then you need to start making some lifestyle changes to improve your quality of sleep.

Schedule a Sleep Study

Just because an individual snores or has an unusual breathing pattern while they are sleeping doesn’t necessarily mean that they have sleep apnea. In order to make an accurate diagnosis, a sleep study must be carried out. During one of these studies, you will sleep in a quiet room while your vital signs are tracked. Doctors will then use that information to determine exactly what is taking place while you are sleeping and how it can be treated.

Stay at a Healthy Weight

Obesity is the single biggest risk factor for sleep apnea, and anyone who has been diagnosed with this condition should immediately make changes to their dietary habits. Filling your plate with lean protein sources and fresh produce will make it easier to safely and consistently lose weight. Those who are having a tough time losing weight should speak with a registered dietitian. These specialists can help you come up with a personalized diet plan that meets all of your nutritional needs.

Alter Your Sleep Mechanics

Obstructive sleep apnea takes place when the airways are blocked by the nearby soft tissue. For some people, that is caused by the position they are sleeping in. Many of those who have this condition will benefit from sleeping on adjustable beds, like those from Dreamland, that straighten their breathing passages. Some of these beds even have indentations that allow you to sleep on your side with your head slightly raised.

Avoid Stimulants and Depressants

Any foods or beverages that impact your heart rate or breathing pattern could exacerbate your sleep apnea is well. Most specialists agree that those who have sleep apnea must avoid alcohol and tobacco products entirely. You will also need to limit how much caffeine you consume later on in the day. If you have been prescribed any medications that could potentially affect your sleep patterns, then you should speak with your doctor about alternative prescriptions.

This particular type of sleep apnea can’t always be reversed with lifestyle changes. There may come a point when you need to consider professional treatments or services such as a CPAP machine or nasal surgery. Overcoming sleep apnea isn’t always easy, but getting better sleep will improve almost every other facet of your life.

Revolutionary New Breast Imaging Technology Comes to Canada 

St. Joseph’s Health Care London is the first medical centre in Canada to install the new Senographe Pristina from GE Healthcare, which allows women to control their own comfort level during a mammogram.

London, ON - On Tuesday August 15, St. Joseph's Health Care London will unveil the first Canadian installation of the Senographe Pristina, a groundbreaking new breast imaging platform from GE Healthcare, designed by women for women.

“The new Pristina mammography unit offers a totally different mammography experience for women. It’s a complete departure from the mammogram exam as we know it,” said Dr. Anat Kornecki, Medical Director, Breast Imaging, at the Breast Care Program located at St. Joseph’s Hospital, part of St. Joseph’s Health Care London. “I believe the innovative design of the Pristina will be more inviting for women and help us improve the screening rates so vital to cancer prevention.”

Women can take breast health into their own hands with the Pristina’s first in-industry patient-assisted compression tool, a remote that allows patients to personally control and adjust the rate of compression during the exam. Designed with a woman’s comfort in mind, all parts in contact with the patient's breasts have gentle, rounded corners designed to help reduce discomfort and anxiety. With more comfortable patients, technologists can focus on precise positioning, making the exam more accurate and efficient.

The Pristina also allows patients to enjoy a soothing ambiance with various scenes and music available. 

Media are invited view the Senographe Pristina, talk with the first Canadian patients to use the unit, and interview St. Joseph’s and GE Healthcare leaders.

What: The first Canadian installation of revolutionary breast cancer technology, the Senographe Pristina.

Where: St. Joseph's Hospital | 268 Grosvenor St | London, ON | Diagnostic Imaging Centre, Zone C, Level 0, Room C0-200 (closest entrance is Cheapside Entrance 4)

When: Tuesday, August 15 | Interviews start at 3:30 PM | Tour of machine at 4:30 PM

Who: Interviews are available with:

• Dr. Anat Kornecki, Medical Director - Breast Imaging, St. Joseph’s Breast Care Program, and Regional Breast Imaging Lead, South West Regional Cancer Program
• Heather Chalmers, General Manager, GE Healthcare Canada
•  First Canadian patients to use Pristina

Race Day Reason: 3 Necessary Race Day Preparations To Help You Succeed

The last few days leading up to a big race can be just as important to the outcome as what happens when the gun finally goes off. If you don't take the time to properly prepare yourself ahead of the race, you could end up consigning yourself to defeat long before the race actually starts. For this reason, we'll now look at some of the most important race-day preparations you should make to give yourself the best chance of success.

Visualize The Race

Mental preparation is equally as important as physical preparation in the days leading up to the race. However, mental preparation is even more important on the day of the race. When the race day finally rolls around, there is nothing else you'll be able to do to prepare yourself physically. However, you can still ensure that you're better mentally prepared, and one of the best ways to do so is by visualizing your race from start to finish. Many athletes use visualization as part of their preparation, and it can be a powerful tool for helping you to psychologically prepare for each part of the race and get yourself ready for the pain and fatigue you're sure to experience.

Watch What You Eat

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is obviously important throughout your training regime. However, you'll want to make sure that you begin to adjust your diet in the days leading up to the race. Carb-loading is one strategy that can be effective at ensuring that you have the energy needed for the race without feeling slow or sluggish. One of the best things you can do is to consult with a nutrition professional, like those at Plan 7 Coaching. A nutritionist will be able to fully examine your overall health and conditioning, and then use this information to develop a diet-plan that hopefully provides the best results during training and also leading up to the race.

Avoid Unnecessary Stresses

The importance of mental preparation can't be stressed enough. Unfortunately, even if you take the time to make sure you're psychologically prepared, any potential obstacles or issues that arise in the hours leading up to the race could still end up ruining your mental concentration and taking you out of the zone. Therefore, you'll want to do whatever you can to prevent any unnecessary stress or headaches from interfering with your race preparation. This means making sure to get all of your race gear ready the day before the race and to finalize all of your race day plans in advance to ensure nothing interferes with your routine.

A big race can be incredibly stressful. Even if you physically prepare your body as well as possible, there are still a number of potential issues that could harm your performance or ruin your race. For this reason, it is essential that you do whatever you can and make all of the necessary race-day preparations to give yourself a better chance of putting in a great performance.

Internet of Medical Things Shakes Up the Development of Medical Devices with Analytics and Cloud

 Blockchain technology to mitigate security challenges and help IoMT providers tap growth opportunities, finds Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision team

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – August 10, 2017 – As patients are increasingly asserting their right to choose the therapy that best suits them, demand for better access to their medical data is intensifying. The shift in the balance of power during decision making is compelling healthcare providers to find more efficient ways of extracting meaningful information from medical records to present to patients. This has heightened the need for analytics to process the voluminous data produced by advanced, connected and smarter patient monitoring devices, which, consecutively, has turned the spotlight on the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). Meaningful insights accrued from the range of connected medical devices and monitoring tools can help patients make lifestyle changes or better manage an existing disease, and simultaneously aid clinicians by facilitating decision making.

“Sharing of medical data or transmission of medical data through the cloud is a recent trend and is gaining traction, even in developing nations, with the healthcare industry becoming digitized,” observed Frost & Sullivan TechVision Industry Analyst Bhargav Rajan. “IoMT will accelerate the development of advanced medical devices that can seamlessly transfer structured information to electronic health records more efficiently than existing technologies.”

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) Revolutionizing Healthcare is part of Frost & Sullivan’s TechVision (Medical Devices & Imaging) Growth Partnership Subscription. IoMT is an amalgamation of medical devices and applications that can connect to healthcare IT systems using networking technologies. The analysis covers product-centric and process-centric functions of the technology.

To access more information on this analysis, please click here.

While the benefits are many, IoMT has inherent IT security vulnerabilities that expose highly sensitive data to cyber and phishing attacks. Technologists are attempting to resolve this issue by employing blockchain technology, which enables a highly secure, decentralized framework for data sharing. Using a combination of artificial intelligenceand blockchain technology, companies can keep an audit trail of all transactions. Predictive modeling used in combination with big data analytics can reduce healthcare costs and improve patient experiences and outcomes.

“Blockchain technology in IoMT will allow patient records to be automatically fed with real-time data of the patients, which will subsequently be sent to healthcare providers over a secure network through a web-enabled platform,” noted Rajan. “Through this process, personalized care can be delivered to a patient in a remote location.”

About TechVision

Frost & Sullivan's global TechVision practice is focused on innovation, disruption and convergence, and provides a variety of technology-based alerts, newsletters and research services as well as growth consulting services. Its premier offering, the TechVision program, identifies and evaluates the most valuable emerging and disruptive technologies enabling products with near-term potential. A unique feature of the TechVision program is an annual selection of 50 technologies that can generate convergence scenarios, possibly disrupt the innovation landscape, and drive transformational growth. View a summary of our TechVision program by clicking on the following link: http://ifrost.frost.com/TechVision_Demo.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community.

SMD Cosmetics night cream unlocks power of ancient herbs, enhances natural effects of “beauty sleep” –

Finally a Night Cream that will Brighten Your Day

SAN FRANCISCO, California – (August 10, 2017): Following the tremendous success of their celebrity-coveted Inhyunjin collection, award-winning skin care company SMD Cosmetics’ breakthrough night cream enhances the body’s own natural processes to restore beauty and reverse signs of aging. The first of its kind, the Inhyunjin Cream Intensive Night Repair harnesses the herbal medicinal benefits of over 30 patented ingredients; 6 of which have been processed 9 times over 50 days for a uniquely potent formula that absorbs easily, and works exactly when skin needs it most…at night.

While you sleep, skin enters recovery mode. Body temperature lowers, making the skin more permeable, and natural hormones go to work boosting collagen production, detoxifying and reconstructing cells, and counteracting damage from UV rays, pollution, and free radicals. Scientifically formulated to penetrate deep into cells and restore radiance, Inhyunjin Cream Night Intensive Repair has unique and powerful active ingredients that boost the recovery and renewal process while maintaining skin’s essential moisture to prevent signs of aging.

Packed with amino acids that protect skin from damage and improve cell reconstruction, SMD’s patented night cream contains herbal to medicinal anti-inflammatory tannins to reduce redness and irritation, while strengthening capillaries to improve skin texture and tone. Upon waking, skin is healthier, firmer, and silky smooth. For best results, use with complete Inhyunjin skin care ritual, massaging cream on face and neck in an upward and outward motion following Inhyunjin Emulsion. A little goes a long way with this powerful formula, and one jar can last up to 6-8 months with nightly use. Visit http://www.SMDCosmetics.com to learn more about the Inhyunjin collection, and to purchase Inhyunjin Cream Intensive Night Repair.

About SMD Cosmetics:

SMD Cosmetics offers a premium line of award-winning, natural skincare products from South Korea. Founded over 20 years ago, SMD Cosmetics has perfected their patented formulas by using the most advanced natural skincare technology in combination with Asian herbal medicinal wisdom that is truly authentic. SMD Cosmetics is one of Korea’s most prestigious, top-selling skin care lines formulated by a team of researchers and chemists to revive, replenish and rejuvenate your skin using the power of nature and innovative technology. For more information, visit the site at: www.SMDcosmetics.com.

Top 5 Back to School Stressors and How to Bust Them

By Dr. Sanam Hafeez, NYC Licensed Neuropsychologist and School Psychologist

While the start of a new school year comes with excitement for kids, it also comes with stress. It’s common for kids to feel overwhelmed this time of year especially as they navigate the challenges that crop up with a new school year. This stress can manifest itself in stomach aches, headaches, loss of appetite, even depression. Here are 5 common top back to school stressors and how parents can help their kids to bust them.

1. Facing the bully.

For kids who are bullied, summer break also means a break from the relentless verbal and at times physical abuse that can be crushing to a kid’s self-worth. Oftentimes kids won’t tell parents that they are being bullied because they are embarrassed or fear telling school administrators will only escalate the bullying. As the school start date approaches, pay attention to your kid’s anxiety level. Communicate and ask them what they are looking forward to this school year. Ask them who are they most excited to see when they return to school. Listen for any negativity and seek to understand where it comes from. Ask if they ever witnessed bullying and what they would do if they did. If your child reveals that they don’t want to see a certain group of kids ask why and get as much information as you can. You want to show your kid that they have your support without judgement.

2. Extra work!

Kids who once did great may enter the new year and feel overwhelmed with the additional school work. Perhaps they aren’t grasping the material as quickly as they once did. This is common especially in math at the junior high level. Once parents can no longer help kids with homework, they may want to invest in tutoring. Before selecting a tutor it’s wise to have your child be evaluated to get clarity on how they learn best. Some kids are visual learners making a math tutor who helps the student to “see” how the equations play out in visual analogy are tremendously helpful. Another solution that can benefit the whole family is hiring a time management or accountability coach to help the entire family to manage schedules effectively.

3. Tuition bills.

With the skyrocketing cost of education, many kids listen to parents discussing the stress they feel about college tuition and then take on that stress themselves. Money is a stressful topic because it is usually never spoken about openly and honestly. Some students may wonder if college is even a right option for them but fear voicing this opinion. Many feel that higher education leaves them ill prepared for “the real world.” Many parents and kids question the value of the six-figure tuition price tag. There has been a slow shift away from traditional education in favor of entrepreneurship. Perhaps an internship at a small business a few days per week after school can provide them with more hands-on experience on a path that truly interests them and can be even more lucrative. Showing your kids there are many ways to achieve success, presents options they may not have ever known existed.

4. The unknown.

Whether your child is starting school for the first time or entering junior high, high school or even college; anxiety is common when we are uncertain. Anxiety doesn’t discriminate and older kids get anxious about the unknown just the same as the younger kids do. It’s common for small children to have separation anxiety at the start of school and for homesickness to strike college freshman living away for the first time. Touring the school, getting to know teachers in advance, and getting as much information beforehand helps kids to mentally prepare for what they can expect.

5. Social status and drama.

The return to school comes with the return to more kids and more social drama. Usually in the summer, kids stick to their immediate group of best friends. During the school year, they are forced to get along with everyone. The gossip and constant pressure to fit in can cause anxiety. Simple things like choosing clothing, hairstyle and over all appearance can cause a lot of pressure. Teens especially are trying to get a handle on body image and are often feel anxious about being judged by other kids. It’s important to be supportive and understanding while reaffirming your child’s strengths and larger goals. When your kids are busy focused on what they want to achieve and what they enjoy doing, they’re less likely to have time to concern themselves with the opinions of others.

About the expert:

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. 

Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.

Connect with her via twitter @comprehendMind or www.comprehendthemind.com

Increased Endometrial Cancer Rates Found in Women with High Levels of Cadmium

Researcher recommends women limit cadmium intake

COLUMBIA, Mo. (Aug. 9, 2017) ― More than 31,000 new cases of endometrial cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2017. Through a five-year observational study recently published in PLOS One, researchers at the University of Missouri found that women with increased levels of cadmium — a metal commonly found in foods such as kidneys, liver and shellfish as well as tobacco — also had an increased risk of endometrial cancer. It’s an observation the researchers hope could lead to new treatments or interventions to prevent the fourth most common cancer in women.

“Cadmium is an estrogen-mimicking chemical, meaning it imitates estrogen and its effects on the body,” said lead author Jane McElroy, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the MU School of Medicine. “Endometrial cancer has been associated with estrogen exposure. Because cadmium mimics estrogen, it may lead to an increased growth of the endometrium, contributing to an increased risk of endometrial cancer.”

The research team partnered with cancer registries in Missouri, Arkansas and Iowa to identify cases of endometrial cancer. The team enrolled 631 women with a history of endometrial cancer in the study and 879 women without a history of the cancer to serve as a control group. The participants were asked to complete a survey of more than 200 questions about risk factors potentially associated with endometrial cancer. Once they completed the questionnaire, participants were sent a kit to collect urine and saliva samples. Through tests conducted at the MU Research Reactor, the samples were analyzed for cadmium levels.

“When comparing the cadmium levels of the individuals with endometrial cancer to the control group, we found a statistically significant increased risk of the cancer associated with a woman’s cadmium levels,” McElroy said. “We found the rate of endometrial cancer incidence increased by 22 percent in individuals with increased cadmium levels.”

While more research is needed to better understand the risks associated with cadmium, researchers say there are steps individuals can take to limit their cadmium-associated cancer risks.

“We all have cadmium present in our kidneys and livers, but smoking has been shown to more than double a person’s cadmium exposure,” McElroy said. “Also, we recommend being attentive to your diet, as certain foods such as shellfish, kidney and liver can contain high levels of cadmium. You don’t necessarily need to cut these from your diet, but eat them in moderation. This is especially true if women have a predisposition to endometrial cancer, such as a family history, diabetes or obesity.”

The study, “Cadmium Exposure and Endometrial Cancer Risk: A Large Midwestern U.S. Population-based Case-control Study,” recently was published in PLOS ONE, an international, peer-reviewed and open-access publication. Research reported in this study was supported by the American Cancer Society and the National Science Foundation. The researchers have no conflicts of interest to declare related to this study. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.