Mediterranean diets

It's that time of year when thoughts naturally gravitate to the Med - sun, sea and tomatoes, aubergines, olive oil, red wine, etc.
Here's some more interesting information about all that, this time collected from the BMJ.

Salubrious Components of Mediterranean Diet Identified


A population-based cohort study in BMJ highlights the individual components of the Mediterranean diet that appear to have the greatest effect on mortality.


Researchers interviewed some 23,000 healthy Greek adults about their dietary habits and followed them for 8.5 years. They found that the following elements of the Mediterranean diet contributed the most to a mortality risk reduction:


-- moderate consumption of alcohol;
-- low intake of meat;
-- high consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, monounsaturated fats, and legumes.


In contrast, high intake of cereals, fish, and seafood -- and low consumption of dairy products -- showed little effect on mortality.

Statins and muscle aching

For those of you on statins, and who have suffered myalgia (muscle pain) as a result, this may be of interest. It comes from Physician's First Watch. Our patients fairly commonly complain of muscle pain or aching in the legs in particular.
Red Yeast Rice -- Treatment Option for Patients Who Can't Tolerate Statins?
Red yeast rice lowers LDL cholesterol in patients who cannot tolerate statins, reports Annals of Internal Medicine.
Some 60 patients who had discontinued statins owing to myalgia were randomized to receive red yeast rice supplements (1800 mg twice daily) or placebo for 24 weeks. (Red yeast rice contains naturally occurring lovastatin.) All patients also participated in a 12-week lifestyle change program focused on nutrition, exercise, and relaxation techniques.
Mean LDL cholesterol levels at 12 and 24 weeks fell by 27% and 21% respectively, with red yeast rice, and by 6% and 9%, respectively, with placebo. The differences between groups were statistically significant. The supplement appeared safe in terms of new-onset muscle pain, as well as creatinine phosphokinase and liver enzyme levels.
The authors acknowledge the study's limitations, including the small sample size and short duration. Still, they conclude that their intervention "may provide a therapeutic lipid-lowering option for the large cohort of patients" with statin-associated myalgia.
These are the links:
http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227%3B67221979%3BkWKrd7DBzHFe5ubIRY%2B7fMo4KRD2U6vTAlwXtPn6im4%3D
Annals of Internal Medicine editorial (Subscription required) http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227%3B67221979%3BkWKrd7DBzHFe5ubIRY%2B7fNJpnnMaymyoAlwXtPn6im4%3D
Annals of Internal Medicine patient summary (Free) http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227%3B67221979%3BkWKrd7DBzHFe5ubIRY%2B7fIrRYuze0SGdAlwXtPn6im4%3D

Ask your GP if this is relevant to you.

NICE recommendations

Readers may have noticed that the new NICE guidance for the treatment of chronic back pain on the NHS included a recommendation for manipulation or mobilisation amongst other protocols.
You can read their full guidance here.
As in all things in health care, notably when things have a cost implication, change happens slowly. So don't expect your GP practice to fund your osteopathic care just yet. But in the future, who knows... Here's hoping.
And... who knows if it helps - always ask.