Monthly Archives: March 2015

Vitamin E: Don’t Forget the Tocotrienols

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Robert Barrington
Posted in Antioxidant, Tocopherols, Tocotrienols, Vitamin E | Comments Off on Vitamin E: Don’t Forget the Tocotrienols

Is Hydroxycitric Acid Useful in Weight Loss?

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a compound found in certain species of plant. Commercially hydroxycitric acid is most commonly extracted from the fruits of the Garcinia cambogia, Garcinia indica and Garcinia atroviridis plants. Hydroxycitric acid is interesting nutritionally because it may … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbs, Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA), Weight Loss | Comments Off on Is Hydroxycitric Acid Useful in Weight Loss?

Vitex: A Monk’s Brew

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) is an Asian and Mediterranean deciduous shrub also known as the chaste tree, chasteberry, monk’s pepper tree, Abraham’s balm and wild pepper. Vitex grows to between six and seven meter tall and medicinally the peppercorn-like berries of … Continue reading →

Posted in Flavonoids, Iridoids, Reproduction, Terpenes, Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) | Comments Off on Vitex: A Monk’s Brew

Vitamin C and Copper Interactions

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Supplementation with vitamins and minerals can have useful health benefits. In some cases, essential elements can be absent from the diet and supplements are a useful adjunct to support proper growth and development. However, supplementation is a double edged sword … Continue reading →

Posted in Copper, Micronutrients, Trace Minerals, Vitamin C | Comments Off on Vitamin C and Copper Interactions

DHA, Choline And Phosphatidylcholine

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 (n-3)) is a long chain fatty acid required for eicosanoid synthesis, and in this capacity can inhibit inflammation and platelet aggregation. In addition DHA is preferentially incorporated into the brain tissue, where it may function to … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain, Choline, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish, Fish Oils, Pregnancy | Comments Off on DHA, Choline And Phosphatidylcholine

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Genes Play A Role

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition is increasingly being linked to poor diet. In particular, increased consumption of fructose may overload the liver with energy, and this increases the rate of fatty acid synthesis through the de novo … Continue reading →

Posted in Fatty Acids, Fructose, Genes, Metabolic Syndrome, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease | Comments Off on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Genes Play A Role

More On vitamin D Insufficiencies

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Robert Barrington

In humans vitamin is activated to 25-hydroxyvitamin D in the liver. Plasma levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are the accepted marker for vitamin D status. Levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are increasingly being reported as being insufficient for human health. Vitamin D … Continue reading →

Posted in 25-hydroxyvitamin D, Calcium, Fibre, Parathyroid Hormone, Vegetarian, Vitamin D | Comments Off on More On vitamin D Insufficiencies

Essential Fats, Breast Feeding and Infant Brain Development

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Robert Barrington

A group of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are known to be important to human health. Two such fats, alpha linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3 (n-3)) and linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (n-6)) are essential to health as they are required for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Brain, Breastfeeding, Children, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acids, Fish, Fish Oils, Gamma Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid | Comments Off on Essential Fats, Breast Feeding and Infant Brain Development

Hypnotic Valerian

Posted on March 15, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a perennial herb growing to about 1 meter tall. The plant is found in most parts of the United Kingdom (figure 1). Other species of of valerian include Valeriana jatamansi (Indian valerian) and Valeriana edulis (Mexican … Continue reading →

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The Leptin Story

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Robert Barrington

Leptin is a peptide hormone that was discovered in 1994 by a Scientist called Friedman. Fat cells produce leptin and this signal is used in a feedback loop to allow the maintenance of correct body weight. Mice missing the leptin … Continue reading →

Posted in Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Leptin, Leptin Resistance, Obesity, Weight Loss | Comments Off on The Leptin Story