Menopausal women should eat more blackcurrant to prevent bone lossUniversity of Connecticut, December 11, 2022

Hormonal changes are one of the leading causes of bone loss or osteoporosis. Menopausal women, in particular, are more likely to experience bone loss because they are deficient in estrogen, a hormone in women that protects the bones. The amount of estrogen drops when women reach menopause. To lower the risk of bone loss, researchers at the University of Connecticut suggested menopausal women should eat more blackcurrant. The researchers conducted an animal study to look at the effect of blackcurrant on bone mass in an estrogen-deficient mouse model. Earlier studies have reported that the anthocyanins in blackcurrant have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could potentially improve bone mass.For their study, which was published in the Journal of Medicinal Food, the team removed the ovaries of the mice to mimic estrogen deficiency in menopausal women. Then, they gave the mice either a basal diet alone or a basal diet that contains anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract. They measured bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume, and serum bone markers. Ovariectomy resulted in a significant reduction in bone mineral density and trabecular bone volume. However, the treatment of blackcurrant reduced ovariectomy-induced bone loss. In addition, the treatment decreased osteoclast-like cell formation and bone resorption activity. These outcomes suggest that blackcurrant may mitigate postmenopausal bone loss. Adequate estrogen level is important for maintaining the rhythm of bone remodeling. Since estrogen levels decline after menopause, this causes an imbalance in bone production and breakdown. Osteoclasts are cells that break down bone and are responsible for bone remodeling. With the decline of estrogen levels, osteoclasts become more active and break down more bone than it can form. With these findings, the researchers concluded that blackcurrant may help prevent bone loss in postmenopausal women. Improving your gut microbiome is also a way to prevent and reduce your risk of age-related bone loss. A study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine suggested that taking probiotic supplements daily can cut age-related bone loss by half. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden gave elderly women a probiotic supplement to be taken twice a day for one year. The supplementation resulted in lower bone loss compared to those who did not take the supplement.

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Long-term antacid use linked to vitamin B12 deficiency

Kaiser Permanente in California, December 16, 2022

Antacids are commonly used to neutralize the acid in the stomach, helping many individuals who have acid reflux. But a new study suggests that using this medication consistently for 2 years or more is linked to a deficiency of vitamin B12, which can have adverse effects for the nervous system. The research, published in JAMA, is among the first to show associations between long-term exposure to antacids and vitamin B12 deficiencyin a large population-based study. The investigators say that antacids, including proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), are some of the most commonly used pharmaceuticals in the US.However, because they suppress the creation of gastric acid, the team says antacids may lead to malabsorption of vitamin B12. This vitamin helps to keep the nervous system - consisting of the brain, nerves and spinal cord - healthy."Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common," say the researchers, "especially among older adults; it has potentially serious medical complications if undiagnosed." "Left untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to dementia, neurologic damage, anemia and other complications, which may be irreversible."The study found a link between 2 years' use of antacids or more and a deficiency of vitamin B12.Similarly, 4.2% of the vitamin-deficient patients had a 2-yea