In a study involving seniors (age 60-80 years), vitamin K1 supplementation has been noted to help reduce the development of insulin resistance, and subsequently, diabetes, in men. Such supplementation benefits were not seen among the elderly women included in the study.

These observations build on previously published reports that vitamin K may have an effect on diabetes development via the vitamin K-dependant protein osteocalcin:

By “knocking out” these genes in mice so that they could not function, the animals lacking a functional osteocalcin gene gained fat, showing that osteocalcin helps regulate the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas and release it into the bloodstream.

These osteocalcin deficient mice also became glucose intolerant. Both conditions are considered “pre-diabetic.”

Osteocalcin was also shown to signal fat cells to release a hormone called adiponectin that increases insulin sensitivity (Cell, 2007 Vol. 130, pp. 456-469).

Vitamin K1, also called phylloquinone or phytonadione, (as opposed to Vitamin K2, also termed menaquinones) is found in green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli and spinach.

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I’ve written a post on the probiotic properties of Yakult some time ago and I see that it has generated some interest. For those of you who prefer to watch rather than read, here’s a video featuring Yakult– what it is and what its health benefits are.

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We already know that pistachios can help lower your cholesterol levels and reduce your risks for heart disease. But how? Penn State researchers offer an explanation:

The researchers report in the most recent issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that “Inclusion of pistachios in a healthy diet beneficially affects cardiovascular disease risk factors in a dose-dependent manner, which may reflect effects on Stearoyl CoA Desaturase (SCD). ” The researchers used the ratio of two fatty acids, 16:1 and 16:0 in plasma as a marker for SCD, an enzyme that is involved in the body’s synthesis of fatty acids.

However, the researchers note that the reduction in LDL cholesterol observed was seven times greater than would be expected from only the fatty acid profile of pistachios. They suggest that the lipid lowering effects not only reflect the fatty acid profile of the diet, but also are the result of other bioactive substances in pistachios, perhaps phytosterols and fiber.

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You just have to type “fiber” in the search box on the upper right side of this blog to find all the good reasons why you should incorporate more fiber in your diet. It just not good for your digestive system, it’s also documented to help reduce heart disease.

Quaker, a trusted name for anything oatmeal, has come up with Oatmeal To Go, a snack bar that provides 40% of the Daily Value of fiber (10g of dietary fiber)!

It’s like having a bowl of oatmeal in a snap! It’s the convenient choice, especially for you busy bees, snacking on the go… or on your desks!

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Once again,new data suggests that vitamin D may help lower breast cancer risks.

…Canadian researchers analysed the vitamin D intakes of 759 women with breast cancer, and compared this to the vitamin D intakes of 1,135 healthy controls.

Increased intakes of the vitamin were associated with a 24 per cent reduction in the risk of developing ER+ and PR+ tumours, said the researchers. Moreover, increased intakes were also associated with 26 and 21 per cent reductions in the risk of receptor-negative (ER/PR) and mixed receptor (ER+/PR) tumours. However, these last two associations were not significant, said the researchers.

For further reading you may want to refer to the manuscript published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, doi:10.1093/aje/kwn198, entitled, Vitamin D From Dietary Intake and Sunlight Exposure and the Risk of Hormone-Receptor-Defined Breast Cancer.

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