*New* - In a small, double blind, clinical trial, Astragalus extract restored the immunological balance in strenuously trained athletes (members of the Polish Rowing Team) through a stabilisation of natural killer and regulatory T cells. Click here to read more

*New* - Atrophic vaginitis is a common problem in postmenopausal women due principally to decreased levels of circulating oestrogen. Typical symptoms are itching, burning, dyspareunia, and postmenopausal bleeding. A randomised, controlled clinical trial in 60 postmenopausal women found that a total fenugreek extract (as a vaginal cream) could be helpful in treating signs of atrophic vaginitis, and was close to, but not as effective as, ultra-low-dose oestrogen. Click here to read more

*New* - Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs, also known as ventricular extrasystoles) are extra heartbeats that begin in the ventricles. These extra beats disrupt the regular heart rhythm, sometimes causing a fluttering or a skipped beat. They are relatively common, and in most cases are benign, although they can cause distress and worry. In specific patients they could worsen the morbidity of cardiovascular events, particularly when concurrent with other risk factors. In a 12-week, randomised, controlled trial in 60 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of moderate to low-grade PVCs, lemon balm teabags (containing 2 g dried leaves/250 mL hot water) two times a day significantly reduced the frequency of PVCs (2142 per 24 hours, versus 3126 in the control group; p = 0.017). Click here to read more

*New* - Can the phytochemical berberine help to prevent colon cancer? We know that the risk of colon cancer is related to a person’s diet and resultant gut microbiome, and berberine might favourably influence this. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis located three randomised, controlled clinical trials with 1076 patients. It found that 1-year and 2-year supplementation with berberine was associated with lower recurrence rate of colorectal adenoma (relative risk (RR) of 0.69, p = 0.0001 for 1 year; RR 0.75, p = 0.0004 for 2 years). Click here to read more

*New* - Many people have a natural decline in memory and thinking as they get older, but people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) experience difficulties greater than expected for their age. However, this is not to the extent that it impairs their daily lives. MCI can be caused by a range of underlying conditions (such as depression, low vitamin levels and thyroid problems) and may not progress or might even reverse. But it might also be the early stages of dementia; an estimated 5 to 15% of people with diagnosed MCI progress to dementia each year. In patients with MCI, walking (gait) instability, particularly in dual-task situations, has been associated with impaired executive function and an increased risk of falls. Fifty patients aged 50 to 85 years with MCI and associated dual-task-related gait impairment participated in a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory trial. Standardised Ginkgo extract for 6 months at 240 mg/per day improved dual-task walking. Click here to read more

*New* - Many stroke survivors have long-lasting cognitive and functional deficits, and few effective treatments are available to prevent or reduce these debilitating effects. In a randomised clinical trial, pomegranate polyphenol pills or a placebo were given twice a day for one week to adult inpatients in a comprehensive rehabilitation setting, starting approximately 2 weeks after stroke. The pills contained 1 g of polyphenols derived from whole pomegranate, equivalent to levels in approximately 8 oz (240 mL) of juice. Of the 163 patients that were screened, 22 were eligible and 16 were randomised into the trial (8 per group). Pomegranate-treated patients demonstrated more neuropsychological and functional improvement and spent less time in the hospital than placebo controls. Click here to read more

*New* - Australian clinical research using a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, multi-dose design found that a saffron extract one hour before bed led to significantly greater improvements in sleep quality and mood after awakening. Compared to the placebo, saffron treatment was associated with increases in evening melatonin concentrations but did not affect evening cortisol. It was well-tolerated, with no reported significant adverse effects. Click here to read more 

 *New* - Children with marked attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms but who do not meet the full diagnostic criteria for this disorder are considered to have subthreshold ADHD. Harsh drugs are generally inappropriate for this group, leading researchers to investigate alternatives. In a recent clinical trial, 120 children aged from 6 to 12 years with subthreshold ADHD were enrolled in a 12-week, double blind, randomised, placebo-controlled study. Daily treatment consisted of 500 mg of omega-3 (294 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 206 mg docosahexaenoic acid) and Korean red ginseng extract (combination of ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1 and Rg3, 3 mg). After 12 weeks, parents’ reports revealed a greater improvement in the ADHD rating scale total scores in the treatment group compared with the placebo group. Inattention scores showed greater improvement in the active group, but the hyperactivity/impulsivity scores did not show any significant change. Among the subscales of the Child Behavior Check List (CBCL), the attention problem, social problem, aggressive behaviour, rule-breaking and withdrawal/depression subscales showed greater improvement in the active group compared with the placebo group. Click here to read more

*New* - Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is considered an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, many individuals with LDL-C within the normal range still develop CVD. One reason for this might be the role played by the presence of small dense LDL particles (sdLDL). In a double blind, randomised clinical trial, participants were assigned to Plantago psyllium or placebo (10 g/day for 7 weeks). Trial participants were 100 adolescents (50 in each group), 15 to 19 years old, with a body mass index of 29 to 34. Results demonstrated that small dense LDL and the inflammatory marker IL-6 reduced in these adolescents with obesity while consuming the psyllium husks. Click here to read more

*New* - Many websites extol the health virtues of consuming vinegar, especially apple cider vinegar. But this is proving to be valid in a number of ways, although it is best to consume vinegar using a straw to avoid any damage to dentine from the low pH. For starters, vinegar is a dietary source of the short chain fatty acid acetate, which now has an impressive portfolio of health benefits. One example is daily vinegar ingestion has been linked to improved glycaemic control. Recent data suggest a separate unexplored role for vinegar in mental health. Utilising a placebo-controlled, parallel arm study design, a 4-week trial examined the impact of daily vinegar ingestion on mood and urinary metabolites in healthy college students. Participants were randomised to the vinegar group (VIN: n = 14; 1.5 g acetic acid/day as liquid vinegar) or the control group (CON: n = 11; 0.015 g acetic acid/day as a pill) with no change to customary diet or physical activity. The change in both Profile of Mood States (POMS) depression scores and Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) scores differed significantly between groups, favouring the VIN group. Metabolomics analyses pre and post-intervention suggested metabolite alterations associated with vinegar ingestion that are consistent for improved mood, including less enzymatic dysfunction in the hexosamine pathway as well as significant increases in glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. Click here to read more

*New* - A 7-day, single blind clinical trial aimed to assess the efficacy of a liquid herbal preparation from the root of Pelargonium sidoides in improving the symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in 164 children. The median age of the study group was 4.8 years; 93 (56.7%) patients were male, and 71 (43.3%) were female. Daily dosing of the study herb (given as a 1:9 tincture) was 3 × 10 drops (patients 1 to 5 years old), 3 × 20 drops (patients 5 to 12 years old), or 3 × 30 drops (patients > 12 years old). Median total scores of all symptoms (TSS) showed a significant decreasing trend in the group treated with Pelargonium, compared to the placebo group from day 0 to day 7. "Cough frequency" showed a significant improvement from day 0 to day 3 (p = 0.023). A significant improvement in "sneezing" on day 3 was observed, and herbal extract administration given in the first 24 hours of the onset of symptoms led to a significant improvement for days 0 to 3. However, all these improvements were mild, suggesting that relying on a single herb during URTIs is not the optimal approach and that perhaps the trial dose should have been higher. Click here to read more 

This timely review has noted that since the late 1990s, several epidemiological studies have suggested that the regular consumption of green tea decreases influenza infection rates and some cold symptoms, and that gargling with tea catechin may protect against the development of influenza infection. Click here to read more