Latest news with #JamieAlan
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
These 7 Everyday Household Items Could Increase Your Risk Of Health Issues, Including Heart Disease
A new study suggests hundreds of thousands of deaths globally are linked to a certain phthalate chemical exposure (DEHP) in plastics. Specifically, they've been linked to cardiovascular-related deaths. DEHP is a type of phthalate, that is commonly added to plastics to make them more flexible. Here are some products where you might find them at home. Research has consistently shown that we should be wary of plastics—and that also goes for the chemicals used to make them, like phthalates. And while it's nearly impossible to fully avoid plastics in your day-to-day, a new study suggests you might want to try a little harder to limit how much you interact with the material, because it has been linked with serious heart issues. The study, which was published in the journal eBioMedicine, linked a specific type of phthalate called di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) to cardiovascular-related deaths. Phthalates have been associated with a slew of other serious health complications, including endocrine disruption and fertility issues, by the way. Here's what the latest study found, plus what doctors recommend doing with this info. Meet the experts: Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. Yu-Ming Ni, MD, cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. Cheng-Han Chen, MD, cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA. Yanting Wang, MD, cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. For the study, researchers analyzed data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a global health research center, along with estimates of regional DEHP exposure. The researchers found that, in 2018, an estimated 356,238 deaths globally were linked to DEHP exposure. Those made up nearly 13.5 percent of all cardiovascular deaths in people between the ages of 55 and 64. Of those, 349,113 were linked to people using plastics. People in some areas of the world that have booming plastic industries saw more of an association than others. 'The findings underscore the need for urgent global and local regulatory interventions to [curb] mortality from DEHP exposure,' the researchers wrote in the conclusion. DEHP is a type of phthalate, and it's commonly added to plastics to make them more flexible, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DEHP is a colorless liquid that is especially prevalent in vinyl materials, which may contain up to 40 percent DEHP, per the CDC. DEHP can also be found in a bunch of common goods you interact with regularly, including certain types of flooring, wall coverings, and even your shoes. It's important to note that the study is observational, meaning it didn't find that exposure to phthalates actually caused these cardiovascular deaths. Instead, it just found a link. 'There may be unknown factors that can explain this rise in death related to phthalates,' says Yu-Ming Ni, MD, cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. Still, it's entirely possible that phthalate exposure may raise the risk of cardiovascular disease and death, says Cheng-Han Chen, MD, cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA. 'Previous studies have linked phthalates found in plastic to increased inflammation in the bloodstream as well as cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity,' he points out. 'These problems could then lead to increased morbidity and mortality from heart disease.' However, Dr. Ni stresses that more research is needed. Some exposure to plastics, phthalates, and DEHP is bound to happen in the world we live in. "As with many chemicals that we are exposed to long-term, it's likely that the totally cumulative exposure over a lifetime is important," says Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. So, she recommends doing that you can to limit your exposure. Experts singled out seven specific items that you should probably try to avoid, if you can: Plastic water bottles. Dr. Ni recommends focusing on reusable containers for liquids, like metal or ceramic water bottles. Certain shampoos. "If you find a phthalate-free shampoo that is affordable and that works, that can decrease exposure," Alan says. Plastic cookware. Putting plastic cookware, like plastic spatulas, in hot items raises the risk that phthalates will end up in your food, per Dr. Ni. Plastic utensils. Putting these products directly into your mouth raises your risk of exposure, Dr. Ni explains. Takeout containers. These are often made with plastic that can leach into your food, per Dr. Ni. Plastic food storage containers. Like plastic takeout containers, these can also result in phthalate exposure for your food, especially if you heat them up, Alan says. Other personal care products. Phthalates show up in a range of personal care products, making it important to look for products like soaps and hairspray without the chemicals, Alan says. (Labels will typically say "phthalate-free.") Of course, this stuff is everywhere, making it hard to avoid entirely. "My best advice is to reduce exposure where it makes sense," Alan says. It's also important to try to cut back on how many plastic products you buy. "Based on the available evidence, it is important we strive to limit the amount of plastic produced and ensure proper disposal for both environmental and biological health," says Yanting Wang, MD, cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What to know about GLP-1 supplements for weight loss
As the Food and Drug Administration cracks down on compounded versions of popular weight loss drugs Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), Americans who rely on these cheaper medications may be drawn to a dicey sector of the dietary supplement market. From colorful patches and fruit punch-flavored gummies to prebiotic powders and under-the-tongue tinctures, dietary supplements that claim to 'complement' or 'supercharge' the body's levels of the gut hormone GLP-1 are a dime a dozen. While compounded drugs require at least a virtual consultation with a clinician to get a prescription, supplements are available over the counter. At best, such products are misleading, said Jamie Alan, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. So-called GLP-1 supplements, named to echo the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist drugs that includes Wegovy and Zepbound, are likely to be ineffective for weight loss. 'If you can buy it without a prescription, it's not an actual GLP-1 drug,' Alan said. 'It is something else that's marketed to support your endogenous GLP-1 production. These things are just older weight loss [supplements] that are rebranded, and there's really no scientific evidence for these.' Ashwagandha and green tea extract are among the natural ingredients that have been recycled in diet products for decades, Alan said. Ashwagandha is often advertised as a stress reliever, and though the stress hormone cortisol is tied to weight gain, there's little proof the evergreen shrub directly helps shed pounds. Green tea and green tea extract may have a 'possible modest effect on body weight,' according to mixed research cited by the Office of Dietary Supplements, some of which links the extract to liver damage. 'We're coming back to these products that have been ineffective in the past,' Alan said. Ingredients popping up on GLP-1 supplement labels include everything from berberine to chromium to saffron extract, which have a minimal body of research supporting their effects on weight loss. What's missing from the ingredient lists is also of note. The brand Kind Patches indicates its GLP-1 adhesive 'does not contain synthetic GLP-1 and is not a GLP-1 agonist drug.' Lemme, Kourtney Kardashian Barker's wellness brand, features an identical disclaimer for its GLP-1 Daily Support Capsules. Trim Biome GLP-1, manufactured by Inno Supps, boasts 'clinically studied ingredients' but not the hormone in the product's name. Lemme declined to comment; Inno Supps and Kind Patches didn't respond to a request for comment. Jeff Ventura, the vice president of communications for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade group for the supplement industry, said in a statement that there are 'no direct comparators' for GLP-1 drugs in the dietary supplement industry. 'While some supplement ingredients have shown promise in limited studies related to metabolic health and weight management, they do not have the same effects as GLP-1 drugs,' Ventura said. 'It is very tricky, because they'll put that big 'GLP-1' on there and it makes you think, 'Well, maybe this is the drug,' if you're not thinking about how to read these labels or if you don't know how to read these labels,' Alan said. The FDA doesn't regulate dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they hit the market, whether they're a daily multivitamin or a post-workout protein powder. For that reason, the agency advises consulting a health care provider before adding any supplement to your regimen. 'There could be harm in some of these,' Alan said. 'There are going to be some people who might have a significant drug interaction, who might have a significant medical condition. In most people there's probably minimal risk of harm, but that's not true for everyone.' GLP-1 drugs aren't new, having been used to treat Type 2 diabetes since 2005. Demand soared after the FDA approved Wegovy and Zepbound for weight loss in 2021 and 2023, respectively. The ensuing shortages made it legal for compounding pharmacies to step in. Compounding pharmacies typically mix, alter or combine drug ingredients to meet a patient's specific needs. For example, a pharmacy may make a liquid version of a drug that only comes in pill form for a patient who has trouble swallowing. During drug shortages, they're also authorized to craft medications that are 'essentially copies' of commercially available drugs. Compounded versions of Wegovy and Zepbound skyrocketed in popularity — in part because they were generally sold for far less than their brand-name counterparts. Wegovy, for instance, has a list price of $1,349.02 for a four-week supply, though some insurance plans cover it. Meanwhile, WeightWatchers offers compounded semaglutide starting at $129 a month. That's coming to an end: The FDA declared the tirzepatide shortage over in December and did the same for the semaglutide shortage in February. Compounders must now pull their products. The grace period for tirzepatide manufacturers is over, and semaglutide producers have until Tuesday or May 22, depending on whether they're a state-licensed pharmacy or an outsourcing facility. That leaves a huge opening for GLP-1 supplement sellers to flood the $49.3 billion global market — and convince consumers a $15 pack of unproven patches will yield the same results as brand-name drugs that have undergone comprehensive clinical trials, said Dr. W. Scott Butsch, director of obesity medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. Butsch, who has previously consulted for Novo Nordisk (maker of Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (maker of Zepbound), said he was already concerned about the ubiquity of compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide in recent years. 'The FDA states very clearly: These compounded versions are not the same,' he said. 'They don't have the same ingredients. They have not been tested.' Worse still, Butsch said, compounders and now supplement companies are using lower pricing to target an already vulnerable clientele. Walmart, for example, sells a variety of GLP-1 supplements under $50. Blair Cromwell, the director of global communications for Walmart's U.S. Marketplace, said in a statement that dietary supplements are sold by third-party sellers on its Marketplace. 'Our policy allows the sale of dietary supplements if they comply with applicable regulations as well as federal, state and local laws, and FTC guidelines,' Cromwell said, adding that the company would be likely to review products marketed as GLP-1 supplements and 'remove them if found to make inappropriate or inaccurate claims.' '[The wellness market] has continued to prey on the desperate, and these are people who have poor access,' Butsch said. 'Patients with obesity have always had poor access to obesity medications.' He added, 'You have some optimism among people who think that they can save some money and still get the benefit. But it's a bigger carrot that they're carrying in front of the horse now.' Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and the director of Tufts University's Food Is Medicine Institute, said, 'There's no simple dietary fix that's going to do what these drugs do in a short amount of time.' Still, the metabolic mechanism the supplements claim to achieve — boosting natural GLP-1 production — isn't without merit. 'The food I'm eating is biologic information that's activating hormones in my body, including GLP-1,' Mozaffarian said, noting that healthy fats and high-fiber foods have been shown to trigger GLP-1 production. But its natural release into the bloodstream is fleeting; GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking the hormone and keeping it around longer, which can aid in appetite suppression. 'It's too early for [GLP-1 supplements] to have science behind them,' Mozaffarian said. 'But I do think in the future we will be able to give people more clear recommendations on what's a natural, lifestyle way to boost your GLP-1 function.' For now, he said, 'I wouldn't spend money on these supplements, I would spend money on healthy food.' Alan, of Michigan State University, was blunt. 'It's snake oil at this point,' she said. 'You're really wasting your money.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
22-04-2025
- Health
- NBC News
What to know about GLP-1 supplements for weight loss
As the Food and Drug Administration cracks down on compounded versions of popular weight loss drugs Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), Americans who rely on these cheaper medications may be drawn to a dicey sector of the dietary supplement market. From colorful patches and fruit punch-flavored gummies to prebiotic powders and under-the-tongue tinctures, dietary supplements that claim to 'complement' or 'supercharge' the body's levels of the gut hormone GLP-1 are a dime a dozen. While compounded drugs require at least a virtual consultation with a clinician to get a prescription, supplements are available over the counter. At best, such products are misleading, said Jamie Alan, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine. So-called GLP-1 supplements, named to echo the class of glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist drugs that includes Wegovy and Zepbound, are likely to be ineffective for weight loss. 'If you can buy it without a prescription, it's not an actual GLP-1 drug,' Alan said. 'It is something else that's marketed to support your endogenous GLP-1 production. These things are just older weight loss [supplements] that are rebranded, and there's really no scientific evidence for these.' Ashwagandha and green tea extract are among the natural ingredients that have been recycled in diet products for decades, Alan said. Ashwagandha is often advertised as a stress reliever, and though the stress hormone cortisol is tied to weight gain, there's little proof the evergreen shrub directly helps shed pounds. Green tea and green tea extract may have a 'possible modest effect on body weight,' according to mixed research cited by the Office of Dietary Supplements, some of which links the extract to liver damage. 'We're coming back to these products that have been ineffective in the past,' Alan said. Ingredients popping up on GLP-1 supplement labels include everything from berberine to chromium to saffron extract, which have a minimal body of research supporting their effects on weight loss. What's missing from the ingredient lists is also of note. The brand Kind Patches indicates its GLP-1 adhesive 'does not contain synthetic GLP-1 and is not a GLP-1 agonist drug.' Lemme, Kourtney Kardashian Barker's wellness brand, features an identical disclaimer for its GLP-1 Daily Support Capsules. Trim Biome GLP-1, manufactured by Inno Supps, boasts 'clinically studied ingredients' but not the hormone in the product's name. Lemme declined to comment; Inno Supps and Kind Patches didn't respond to a request for comment. Jeff Ventura, the vice president of communications for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade group for the supplement industry, said in a statement that there are 'no direct comparators' for GLP-1 drugs in the dietary supplement industry. 'While some supplement ingredients have shown promise in limited studies related to metabolic health and weight management, they do not have the same effects as GLP-1 drugs,' Ventura said. 'It is very tricky, because they'll put that big 'GLP-1' on there and it makes you think, 'Well, maybe this is the drug,' if you're not thinking about how to read these labels or if you don't know how to read these labels,' Alan said. The FDA doesn't regulate dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they hit the market, whether they're a daily multivitamin or a post-workout protein powder. For that reason, the agency advises consulting a health care provider before adding any supplement to your regimen. 'There could be harm in some of these,' Alan said. 'There are going to be some people who might have a significant drug interaction, who might have a significant medical condition. In most people there's probably minimal risk of harm, but that's not true for everyone.' Why are compounded GLP-1 drugs going away? GLP-1 drugs aren't new, having been used to treat Type 2 diabetes since 2005. Demand soared after the FDA approved Wegovy and Zepbound for weight loss in 2021 and 2023, respectively. The ensuing shortages made it legal for compounding pharmacies to step in. Compounding pharmacies typically mix, alter or combine drug ingredients to meet a patient's specific needs. For example, a pharmacy may make a liquid version of a drug that only comes in pill form for a patient who has trouble swallowing. During drug shortages, they're also authorized to craft medications that are 'essentially copies' of commercially available drugs. Compounded versions of Wegovy and Zepbound skyrocketed in popularity — in part because they were generally sold for far less than their brand-name counterparts. Wegovy, for instance, has a list price of $1,349.02 for a four-week supply, though some insurance plans cover it. Meanwhile, WeightWatchers offers compounded semaglutide starting at $129 a month. That's coming to an end: The FDA declared the tirzepatide shortage over in December and did the same for the semaglutide shortage in February. Compounders must now pull their products. The grace period for tirzepatide manufacturers is over, and semaglutide producers have until Tuesday or May 22, depending on whether they're a state-licensed pharmacy or an outsourcing facility. That leaves a huge opening for GLP-1 supplement sellers to flood the $49.3 billion global market — and convince consumers a $15 pack of unproven patches will yield the same results as brand-name drugs that have undergone comprehensive clinical trials, said Dr. W. Scott Butsch, director of obesity medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. Butsch, who has previously consulted for Novo Nordisk (maker of Wegovy) and Eli Lilly (maker of Zepbound), said he was already concerned about the ubiquity of compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide in recent years. 'The FDA states very clearly: These compounded versions are not the same,' he said. 'They don't have the same ingredients. They have not been tested.' Worse still, Butsch said, compounders and now supplement companies are using lower pricing to target an already vulnerable clientele. Walmart, for example, sells a variety of GLP-1 supplements under $50. Blair Cromwell, the director of global communications for Walmart's U.S. Marketplace, said in a statement that dietary supplements are sold by third-party sellers on its Marketplace. 'Our policy allows the sale of dietary supplements if they comply with applicable regulations as well as federal, state and local laws, and FTC guidelines,' Cromwell said, adding that the company would be likely to review products marketed as GLP-1 supplements and 'remove them if found to make inappropriate or inaccurate claims.' '[The wellness market] has continued to prey on the desperate, and these are people who have poor access,' Butsch said. 'Patients with obesity have always had poor access to obesity medications.' He added, 'You have some optimism among people who think that they can save some money and still get the benefit. But it's a bigger carrot that they're carrying in front of the horse now.' 'No simple dietary fix' can match GLP-1 results Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and the director of Tufts University's Food Is Medicine Institute, said, 'There's no simple dietary fix that's going to do what these drugs do in a short amount of time.' Still, the metabolic mechanism the supplements claim to achieve — boosting natural GLP-1 production — isn't without merit. 'The food I'm eating is biologic information that's activating hormones in my body, including GLP-1,' Mozaffarian said, noting that healthy fats and high-fiber foods have been shown to trigger GLP-1 production. But its natural release into the bloodstream is fleeting; GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking the hormone and keeping it around longer, which can aid in appetite suppression. 'It's too early for [GLP-1 supplements] to have science behind them,' Mozaffarian said. 'But I do think in the future we will be able to give people more clear recommendations on what's a natural, lifestyle way to boost your GLP-1 function.' For now, he said, 'I wouldn't spend money on these supplements, I would spend money on healthy food.' Alan, of Michigan State University, was blunt.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Discover How Much Toxic Metal Used in MRI Scans Invades Human Tissue
New research suggests that MRI with contrast may create nanoparticles that infiltrate your tissues. The research is preliminary, and more work needs to be done. Doctors stress that MRI with contrast is a generally safe procedure. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an important tool to help doctors see what's happening inside your body. But new, preliminary research suggests that a contrast agent used in some MRIs could spark a chain reaction that ends up with nanoparticles of metal embedded in your tissues. Meet the experts: Jamie Alan, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University; Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., a toxicologist at MedStar Health; Richard Reitherman, M.D., Ph.D., a radiologist and medical director of breast imaging at MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA; Jeffrey Luci, Ph.D., research assistant professor of biomedical imaging physics at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research The research is in early stages, and there's a lot more work that needs to be done before drawing any major conclusions. Still, it's fair to have questions. Here's what the study found, plus what two toxicologists, a radiologist, and a biomedical researcher want you to know about the safety of MRIs. The study, which was published in the journal Magnetic Resonance Imaging, conducted test tube experiments to look for the presence of oxalic acid, a compound found naturally in many plant-based foods, that binds with metal ions. The researchers looked at the impact of oxalic acid on gadolinium, a metal that's used as an MRI contrast agent. (In case you're not familiar, MRI contrast is a substance injected into the body that changes the presence of water molecules to create better-quality images.) The researchers discovered that oxalic acid caused small amounts of gadolinium to seep out of the contrast and create nanoparticles that then infiltrated the cells of different organs. Again, the research was done in a test tube, so the researchers didn't find that getting an MRI with contrast would actually cause this. But it definitely raises the possibility. Gadolinium is a rare earth metal that is used in MRI contrast, explains Richard Reitherman, M.D., Ph.D., a radiologist and medical director of breast imaging at MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA. It's found naturally in the earth's crust, although it's usually in minerals like bastnasite. Gadolinium is usually tightly bound to other molecules and is excreted from the body after the MRI (usually through urine), Dr. Reitherman says. As a result, it doesn't typically cause any bad health effects in most people. However, some studies have found gadolinium lingering in the kidney and the brain after MRI with contrast, and it can also be detected in blood and urine years after someone is exposed to it. Gadolinium isn't used in every MRI. 'In general, it is not used for musculoskeletal MRIs,' Dr. Reitherman says. 'However, it is used for brain, breast, pelvic, and abdominal MRIs.' Meaning, if your healthcare provider suspects that you ruptured a disc in your spine, you're unlikely to get an MRI with contrast. But if you have a suspected case of appendicitis or a tumor, you'll often get an MRI with contrast. 'Contrast is used for a lot of things and millions of people have had millions of doses of this with no issue,' Dr. Reitherman says. This is a little complicated. The gadolinium atom on its own is toxic, says Jeffrey Luci, Ph.D., research assistant professor of biomedical imaging physics at the Rutgers Center for Advanced Human Brain Imaging Research. 'But when used in a contrast agent for MRI, it is basically wrapped up in a large organic molecule that's designed to prevent it from becoming free,' Luci says. 'The purpose of that is so it can be excreted out of the body so it doesn't degrade and turn into something bad,' Dr. Reitherman says. 'The stuff that's injected is not toxic.' People can experience side effects from gadolinium-based contrast agents, including a burning or cool feeling around the injection site, headache, or nausea, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. However, people can have more severe complications of contrast agents, including kidney injury, brain damage, and 'significant' changes to the skin, says Jamie Alan, Ph.D., an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University. Just keep in mind that this is rare, with one older study suggesting that serious complications happen in just 0.03% of gadolinium-based contrast injections. Some people are more susceptible to complications than others, though. 'Although gadolinium is used as an MRI contrast agent on a daily basis in hospital settings and is generally considered to be safe when used as directed, it is associated with adverse effects in certain patient populations,' says Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., a toxicologist at MedStar Health. 'In people with chronic kidney disease, exposure to certain types of gadolinium contrast agents is associated with an increased risk of developing a condition called nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). NSF is a disease characterized by skin swelling, thickening, and pain.' As for whether these gadolinium nanoparticles will build up in your body over time and cause health issues, that's not clear at this point. 'No one has been able to show that gadolinium [accumulation in the body] is doing anything bad,' Luci says. 'But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking for reasons to make sure it's safe.' However, this is different from heavy metal poisoning, which is when metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium can build up in the body and cause symptoms. (As of right now, there are no symptoms linked with these nanoparticles.) 'This is a preliminary study,' Alan agrees. 'This was not done in humans and may not translate. We really need more research to completely understand the long-term health effects and potential treatments.' If your doctor orders an MRI with contrast, experts agree that it's really best to get it done. 'This might be very important for diagnosis of your condition,' Alan says. 'Typically, MRIs are not scheduled unless they are absolutely needed because of cost and availability.' Dr. Reitherman agrees. 'Contrast is only used when it's necessary,' he says. But he also adds that potentially life-threatening health issues like tumors need gadolinium to be used in order for it to show up in imaging. Still, Dr. Reitherman says that more work is needed to learn about these nanoparticles, the potential impact they have on the body, and if they even form in humans. 'This is the basic science, and it's where we start,' he says. 'But it needs to move on to human experimentation and prove that this actually causes disease. Right now, the conclusions are theoretical.' If you have questions, Alan recommends talking to your doctor. 'Generally, this imaging is safe,' she says. 'Serious adverse reactions are rare.' Luci also stresses that you shouldn't be scared to get an MRI if your doctor says it's medically necessary. 'We really don't want to give people the wrong message and make them think that this is indicative of a risk or danger level that really isn't there,' he says. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Popular Sleep Supplement Has A Surprising Extra Health Benefit, Per A New Study
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." America just can't seem to get enough of melatonin. The popular "sleep" supplement has an ever-growing fanbase of people (use of the supp quintupled between 1999 and 2018, per NIH research) who use it to fall asleep at night, combat jet lag, and even help calm anxiety before medical procedures. These days, roughly two in 100 people say they take melatonin. But new research suggests that melatonin may do more than just help you conk out when you're too wired. A study, which was published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, found that melatonin seems to help actually some people repair DNA damage while sleeping. As you may know, melatonin is a hormone that your brain creates naturally in response to darkness, per the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Melatonin can help with the timing of your circadian rhythms (a.k.a. your internal clock), and can help you fall asleep. But the DNA repair element is a totally new health perk. Here's what the study found, plus what could be behind this, according to doctors. Meet the expert: W. Christopher Winter, MD, is a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast; Jamie Alan, PhD, is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University; Parveen Bhatti, PhD, is a study co-author and cancer control researcher at BC Cancer Research Institute For the study, researchers recruited 40 night shift workers and divided them into two groups. One group took a melatonin supplement after work before going to sleep for four weeks. The other group took a placebo pill. During that time, the researchers took urine samples and measured for something called creatinine-adjusted 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) to look for the body's capacity to perform oxidative DNA damage repair. In case you're not familiar with it, oxidative DNA damage is a change in DNA that can happen due to things like exposure to inflammation, toxins, and poor diet, raising the risk of serious health complications, including cancer. Higher concentrations of this molecule in urine suggest that the body is able to overcome oxidative DNA damage more easily, according to the researchers. The participants wore activity trackers to better detect how long they slept. The researchers also measured 8-OH-dG levels in the participants' urine after sleeping periods and during the night shifts. Here's what they found: 8-OH-dG levels were 80 percent higher during the sleeping periods in the melatonin group compared to those who took a placebo, suggesting they experienced better DNA repair during that time. What does this mean? Well, since working at night disrupts the body's circadian rhythms, it has been linked with a slew of serious health issues, including diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. But the findings suggest that taking melatonin may help counteract the harms that can come with staying up all night and sleeping during the day. The participants took three milligrams of melatonin before bed over the four-week study period. The researchers wrote in the study that they chose this dose because it was likely enough to influence most participants' sleep-wake cycles. It's important to point out that the study just found a link between taking melatonin and the production of 8-OH-dG. It didn't actually prove that people who took melatonin had better DNA repair. Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, also points out that you can have "silent" mutations in your DNA that don't actually have an impact on your health. Plus, Alan says the study was small and specific, and that more research is needed on this topic before we can start extolling the supp's DNA-repairing success. Still, the findings are definitely interesting. When you work a night shift, your body suppresses production of melatonin to help you stay awake, the researchers explain. But that makes it harder for your body to repair oxidative DNA damage that naturally occurs in cells. If this is left unchecked, it can raise the risk of developing certain illnesses and diseases. It's possible that by taking melatonin to sleep, the participants counteracted this, boosting DNA repair in the process, says W. Christopher Winter, MD, a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast. 'Our body is constantly monitoring for and attempting to repair cellular damage, even at a DNA level,' he says. 'This is often spoken about in terms of oxidative damage, and certain chemicals facilitate this process. This study is showing evidence that melatonin may aid in this process.' It's hard to say at this point. The study focused on a very specific population, night shift workers, who are vulnerable to issues with DNA repair. "These findings are very specific to night shift workers who are sleeping during the day and have lower circulating levels of melatonin," points out study co-author Parveen Bhatti, PhD, a cancer control researcher at BC Cancer Research Institute. "Non-night shift workers tend to sleep at night and usually produce adequate amounts of melatonin."Based on the findings, it's not clear if melatonin would have the same impact if you usually sleep at night and are awake during the day. Dr. Winter doesn't recommend that most people take a melatonin supplement on a regular basis, since most people produce it naturally. 'Unfortunately, most people use this drug as a sleep aid, which in my opinion is an inappropriate use of the drug,' he says. However, he says there can be a place for using melatonin if you're a night shift worker who has trouble falling asleep or if you are struggling with jet lag. If you are interested in trying it, here are some doctor-approved supps:$15.00 at at at at Keep in mind that supplements generally aren't strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, what the label says and what's actually in the bottle can differ. For example, a 2017 study of 30 popular melatonin supplements found that the amount of melatonin in the bottle didn't match what the label said. The researchers also found that 26 percent of the supplements contained serotonin, a hormone that can be harmful to your health. 'The quality—and even whether the supplement even has melatonin in them—can vary dramatically,' Dr. Winter says. That's why he recommends buying from a reputable source, like a brand name you know and trust. Just be aware that melatonin can make you feel groggy in the morning, per Alan. "Generally, melatonin is only useful to induce sleep and is not useful to maintain sleep," she adds. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
