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Does elderberry benefit intercontinental air travellers?
RESEARCH ABSTRACTS / Advances in Integrative Medicine 2 (2015) 115–118
Aim: To explore stressors faced by junior doctors in Australia and the impact on their health and well-being, and To summarise best practice and latest evidence in assisting junior doctors to be mindful of their own wellness. Discussion: Junior doctors face enormous stress and are often reluctant to seek help. Some key stressors to which junior doctors are exposed, including medical error and negative workplace culture will be explored. Barriers to junior doctors ensuring the priority of their own wellness will be examined. The importance of ‘healthy’ specialty training programs and ‘healthy’ workplace for our junior clinicians will be critically discussed. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that Specialty Colleges, hospitals, medical schools and all clinical workplaces need to examine their processes to ensure struggling clinicians are identified and are helped to access self care. Furthermore, junior doctors need to be able to find joy and meaning in their work. Efforts are needed to proactively instil in trainees the importance of their own self care. The curriculum of Specialty Colleges and hospital education programs should include wellness and healthy workplace culture. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2015.07.007 Does elderberry benefit intercontinental air travellers? E. Tiralongo 1,2, S. Wee 2, R.A. Lea 3 1 School of Pharmacy Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland 4222, Australia 2 Molecular Basis of Disease Program, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland 4222, Australia 3 Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, QUT, Queensland, Australia
Background: Air travel, especially on intercontinental flights can be stressful. Various studies have reported nasal dryness, an increased risk of developing allergic rhinitis and attracting virus or bacteria induced respiratory infections. Aim: Here we report on a randomised, double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial with 312 economy class passengers travelling from Australia to an overseas destination. The study investigated if capsules containing 300 mg of a standardised membrane filtered Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) extract have beneficial effects on physical, especially respiratory, and mental health. Elderberries are well known as supportive agents against the common cold. Research detected effects against human pathogenic bacteria as well as influenza viruses in vitro. In this trial, cold episodes, cold duration and symptoms were recorded in a daily diary and assessed using the Jackson score. In addition, participants completed 3 surveys; at baseline, just before travel and at 4 days after travel. The surveys included questions about upper respiratory symptoms and quality of life. Discussion: Most cold episodes occurred in the placebo group, however the difference between groups was not significant. The placebo group had a significantly higher collective duration of cold episode days and the symptom score in the placebo group over these days was significantly higher, suggesting that elderberry reduces the duration and severity of the cold, but not the rate of cold occurrence. Overall, significant effects on mental health were
117
not detected, but physical health seemed to be stabilised by elderberry. Conclusion: The results indicate some benefit for air travellers and may be due to the high anthocyanidin and magnesium content of the tested elderberry extract. Disclosure of interest statement: The trial was funded by Iprona AG, Italy. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2015.07.008 Paleo diets: The contemporary dilemma in Australia Clare-Louise Brumley Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia Introduction: What is the optimal human diet? ‘Paleo’ is increasingly becoming a common response to this question. The pioneering work of Loren Cordain and Boyd Eaton among others, invite us to look through an evolutionary lens and suggest a ‘Paleoprescription’ for optimal health. The framework utilises the most basic premise of biology – that living organisms function optimally when their life circumstances, including food supply, most closely match the conditions to which they were selected and became adapted to over the course of evolution. For over 99 percent of human evolution, we hunted and gathered wild foods in an exercise-dependent way. Research in the field continues to develop and the way data is interpreted into the modern-day context requires ongoing integration work. Aim: To interpret the evolutionary nutrition data in the context of the modern Australian food supply and examine inherent dilemmas. Methods: The evolutionary aspects of modern-day nutrition and health have been documented in the scientific literature over the past 30 years. This literature has been reviewed and critiqued, and in some instances re-analysed. This was combined with an analysis of wild food distribution patterns and their nutritional properties, an examination of Australia’s food production environment and a review of the current science examining the biological consequence of various dietary characteristics on health. Discussion: Significant discordance now exists between our genetically determined biology and the bio-behavioural circumstances of our contemporary lives. This is hypothesised to underpin chronic degenerative diseases and loss of wellbeing. The dilemma lies in the fact that we no longer have access to the nutrient-dense wild food supply that underpinned our evolution. The way in which the evolutionary nutrition data is translated into the present-day food supply is critical. Issues include the role of aquatic foods in brain health, fish and heavy metal exposure, the impacts of other contaminants, the inclusion of starchy root vegetables and cereal grains, vegetarian diets, protein levels and use of supplements. How to best navigate this terrain in the context of the current Australian food supply is outlined. Conclusion: Interpretation of the evolutionary nutrition data is challenging owing in part to a lack of conclusive historical evidence, but more significantly, because of the confounding issues involved in the way food is now grown and produced. Modern ‘Paleo diets’ are commonly defined by the exclusion of recently introduced agrarian and industrial food groups (i.e. cereal grains, dairy, fatty domesticated meats, and refined and processed foods); along with the replication of specific hunter–gatherer dietary characteristics (e.g. macronutrient composition, plant-to-animal subsistence ratios and fatty acid balance). These factors however do not alleviate the dilemma. Instead, it is argued that the full
Aim: To explore stressors faced by junior doctors in Australia and the impact on their health and well-being, and To summarise best practice and latest evidence in assisting junior doctors to be mindful of their own wellness. Discussion: Junior doctors face enormous stress and are often reluctant to seek help. Some key stressors to which junior doctors are exposed, including medical error and negative workplace culture will be explored. Barriers to junior doctors ensuring the priority of their own wellness will be examined. The importance of ‘healthy’ specialty training programs and ‘healthy’ workplace for our junior clinicians will be critically discussed. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that Specialty Colleges, hospitals, medical schools and all clinical workplaces need to examine their processes to ensure struggling clinicians are identified and are helped to access self care. Furthermore, junior doctors need to be able to find joy and meaning in their work. Efforts are needed to proactively instil in trainees the importance of their own self care. The curriculum of Specialty Colleges and hospital education programs should include wellness and healthy workplace culture. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2015.07.007 Does elderberry benefit intercontinental air travellers? E. Tiralongo 1,2, S. Wee 2, R.A. Lea 3 1 School of Pharmacy Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland 4222, Australia 2 Molecular Basis of Disease Program, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland 4222, Australia 3 Genomics Research Centre, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, QUT, Queensland, Australia
Background: Air travel, especially on intercontinental flights can be stressful. Various studies have reported nasal dryness, an increased risk of developing allergic rhinitis and attracting virus or bacteria induced respiratory infections. Aim: Here we report on a randomised, double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial with 312 economy class passengers travelling from Australia to an overseas destination. The study investigated if capsules containing 300 mg of a standardised membrane filtered Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) extract have beneficial effects on physical, especially respiratory, and mental health. Elderberries are well known as supportive agents against the common cold. Research detected effects against human pathogenic bacteria as well as influenza viruses in vitro. In this trial, cold episodes, cold duration and symptoms were recorded in a daily diary and assessed using the Jackson score. In addition, participants completed 3 surveys; at baseline, just before travel and at 4 days after travel. The surveys included questions about upper respiratory symptoms and quality of life. Discussion: Most cold episodes occurred in the placebo group, however the difference between groups was not significant. The placebo group had a significantly higher collective duration of cold episode days and the symptom score in the placebo group over these days was significantly higher, suggesting that elderberry reduces the duration and severity of the cold, but not the rate of cold occurrence. Overall, significant effects on mental health were
117
not detected, but physical health seemed to be stabilised by elderberry. Conclusion: The results indicate some benefit for air travellers and may be due to the high anthocyanidin and magnesium content of the tested elderberry extract. Disclosure of interest statement: The trial was funded by Iprona AG, Italy. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aimed.2015.07.008 Paleo diets: The contemporary dilemma in Australia Clare-Louise Brumley Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia Introduction: What is the optimal human diet? ‘Paleo’ is increasingly becoming a common response to this question. The pioneering work of Loren Cordain and Boyd Eaton among others, invite us to look through an evolutionary lens and suggest a ‘Paleoprescription’ for optimal health. The framework utilises the most basic premise of biology – that living organisms function optimally when their life circumstances, including food supply, most closely match the conditions to which they were selected and became adapted to over the course of evolution. For over 99 percent of human evolution, we hunted and gathered wild foods in an exercise-dependent way. Research in the field continues to develop and the way data is interpreted into the modern-day context requires ongoing integration work. Aim: To interpret the evolutionary nutrition data in the context of the modern Australian food supply and examine inherent dilemmas. Methods: The evolutionary aspects of modern-day nutrition and health have been documented in the scientific literature over the past 30 years. This literature has been reviewed and critiqued, and in some instances re-analysed. This was combined with an analysis of wild food distribution patterns and their nutritional properties, an examination of Australia’s food production environment and a review of the current science examining the biological consequence of various dietary characteristics on health. Discussion: Significant discordance now exists between our genetically determined biology and the bio-behavioural circumstances of our contemporary lives. This is hypothesised to underpin chronic degenerative diseases and loss of wellbeing. The dilemma lies in the fact that we no longer have access to the nutrient-dense wild food supply that underpinned our evolution. The way in which the evolutionary nutrition data is translated into the present-day food supply is critical. Issues include the role of aquatic foods in brain health, fish and heavy metal exposure, the impacts of other contaminants, the inclusion of starchy root vegetables and cereal grains, vegetarian diets, protein levels and use of supplements. How to best navigate this terrain in the context of the current Australian food supply is outlined. Conclusion: Interpretation of the evolutionary nutrition data is challenging owing in part to a lack of conclusive historical evidence, but more significantly, because of the confounding issues involved in the way food is now grown and produced. Modern ‘Paleo diets’ are commonly defined by the exclusion of recently introduced agrarian and industrial food groups (i.e. cereal grains, dairy, fatty domesticated meats, and refined and processed foods); along with the replication of specific hunter–gatherer dietary characteristics (e.g. macronutrient composition, plant-to-animal subsistence ratios and fatty acid balance). These factors however do not alleviate the dilemma. Instead, it is argued that the full