• complementary medicine

    Folic Acid Supplements Before and After Conception: Prevention of Autism

    In a recent editorial in The Annals of Internal Medicine entitled “Enough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements,” authors make a case that multivitamins are not a good value (Dec 17, 2013 issue).  This editorial was based on new research that demonstrated that there was no association between multivitamin use and rates of mortality, cognitive decline and recurrent cardiovascular events in three different studies.  The assertion that multivitamins are not worth the money was widely reported in the media.

    Novel Approaches to Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Side Effects: Exercise and Acupuncture

    Sexual side effects may occur in 40% to 70% of patients treated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) and is a common reason for poor compliance with treatment and eventual discontinuation. When sexual side effects occur, they tend to emerge early, are persistent, and rarely resolve spontaneously.  A new study, reviewed in Medscape, suggests that exercise may help to reduce sexual side effects:

    Soy Supplements for Menopausal Symptoms: Higher Doses and More Frequent Dosing May Help

    Studies assessing the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) for the treatment of menopause-related hot flashes have yielded conflicting results.  Most studies have demonstrated that treatments such as soy and black cohosh are not likely to be effective in most women; however, a new study suggests that women who take higher doses (100 to 200 mg)of isoflavones and more frequent dosing (2-3 times per day) may experience a greater reduction in the frequency of hot flashes.

    L-Methylfolate for the Treatment of Depression: Can We Use it During Pregnancy?

    Last summer, we posted a blog about using folate to treat (and perhaps prevent) depression in women of childbearing age.  Supporting that recommendation are the several reports indicating that people with lower folate levels are at higher risk of major depression or may experience more severe depressive symptoms.  Other studies have indicated that in folate-deficient patients, antidepressants may be less effective or may take longer to take effect.

    Selenium and Risk of Postpartum Depression

    Women are strongly encouraged to take prenatal vitamins, and there is significant data to indicate multiple benefits to the child, including decreased risk of various congenital defects and certain types of childhood cancers.  Less understood is the impact of these supplements on the mother’s mental status and her risk for mood disorder during the perinatal period.  A group of researchers from Alberta, Canada has recently examined the risk for postpartum depressive symptoms in women enrolled in the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study, specifically examining the nutrients ingested through supplements to determine whether any individual supplementary nutrients may modulate the risk of postpartum depressive symptoms.

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