Nutrition Q&A
with Linda White, M.D.
Question:
Can ipriflavone prevent osteoporosis?
Answer:
Ipriflavone is a semisynthetic isoflavonoid structurally similar to the isoflavonoids in soy—compounds that appear to be responsible for increasing bone density in postmenopausal women.1 Ipriflavone is used in Italy, Hungary and Japan and only recently became available in the United States.
Osteoporosis develops after menopause because more bone is lost than made. Ipriflavone can inhibit such bone loss and may directly stimulate new bone formation.2Three Italian studies, each lasting two years, showed that 200 mg of ipriflavone three times a day reduced postmenopausal bone loss.
In the first study, 56 postmenopausal women with low vertebral bone density who had gone through menopause within five years took 1 g of calcium plus either placebo or ipriflavone. After two years, vertebral bone density declined by almost 5 percent in the placebo group but remained stable in the ipriflavone group.3
For the second study, 198 postmenopausal women with reduced vertebral bone density took 1 g calcium with or without the ipriflavone. Again, vertebral bone density decreased in the placebo group but increased by 1 percent in the ipriflavone group. The difference was significant.4
A third study compared estrogen replacement therapy—shown to reduce osteoperosis—to ipriflavone. A standard dose of ipriflavone and a lower dose (400 mg/ day) combined with a low dose (0.3 mg/day) of conjugated estrogens similarly decreased bone turnover and increased bone density. Placebo treatment and low-dose conjugated estrogens alone did not slow bone loss.5 All subjects took 500 mg calcium as well.
Most holistic practitioners would recommend women eat more soy, which is rich in the isoflavonoids genistein and daidzein, before investing in ipriflavone. A preliminary study in postmenopausal rats found a 2 percent soybean protein diet was just as effective as estrogen therapy at halting bone loss.6 Plus, soy foods have the added benefit of reducing breast cancer risk and menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.
Question:
Are there natural alternatives to antibiotic drops for pinkeye?
Answer:
Absolutely. Pinkeye (conjunctivitis) can usually be nipped in the bud with an herbal eyewash. Bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Hemophilus influenza, most often cause pinkeye. The plant constituent berberine kills staph and strep species.11
One study found that berberine eye drops effectively treated 32 people infected with C. trachomatis, and was superior to the antibiotic eyedrop sulfacetamide.12 Berberine-containing plants include Oregon grape root (Berberis aquifolium), gold thread (Coptis species) and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). Goldenseal, however, is endangered and alternate herbs should be used whenever possible.
Other traditional infection-fighting, soothing herbs to add to an eyewash blend include eyebright leaves (Euphrasia officinalis), yarrow (Achillea millefol- ium) and mullein flowers (Vebascum thapsus), and rose petals (Rosa spp.). Make a tea using 1 teaspoon dried herb blend per cup boiling water. For rose petals, use cool water. Steep 10 minutes, strain through a coffee filter, and let cool until comfortably warm. Apply herbal solution with an eyecup four times a day.
Question:
Does drinking cranberry juice stop bladder infections?
Answer:
Studies do show that cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) help prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). In a study of 153 elderly women, those who drank 300 mL (10 oz) of commercial cranberry drink each day had less than half the risk of developing an infection and were more likely to clear an already present infection.7
Cranberry extract also seems to work. A crossover study of 10 young women troubled by recurrent bladder infections found that, compared with placebo, taking a capsule containing 400 mg of solid cranberry concentrate daily for three months significantly reduced new infections. Of the 21 bladder infections that arose, only six occurred among women taking cranberry.8
Initially, people thought cranberry juice worked by acidifying urine. However, a person would have to drink about 1.5 L (1.3 qt) a day to get this effect. Cranberries seem to work instead by preventing E. coli, the bacteria responsible for most bladder infections, from adhering to the urethra and bladder.9 Bacteria must adhere to tissue before they can infect it—if they can't adhere, they get washed out during urination. Blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) also have this inhibiting effect.10
Linda B. White, M.D., is a freelance writer and editor and the co-author of Kids, Herbs and Health (Interweave Press, 1999).
References
1. Potter SM, et al. Soy protein and isoflavones: their effects on blood lipids and bone density in postmenopausal women. Am J Clin Nutr 1998;68(6 Suppl):1375S-9S.
2. Benvenuti S, et al. Effects of ipriflavone and its metabolites on a clonal osteoblastic cell line. J Bone Miner Res 1991;6:987-96.
3. Gennari C, et al. Effect of ipriflavone—a synthetic derivative of natural isoflavones—on bone mass loss in the early years after menopause. Menopause 1998;5:9-15.
4. Agnusdei D, et al. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of ipriflavone for prevention of postmenopausal spinal bone loss. Calcification Tissue Int'l 1997;61:142-7.
5. Gambacciani M, et al. Effects of combined low-dose of the isoflavone derivative ipriflavone and estrogen replacement on bone-mineral density and metabolism in postmenopausal women. Maturitas 1997;28: 75-81.
6. Harrison E, et al. The effect of soybean protein on bone loss in a rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. J Nutr Sci Vitamin 1998 ;44:3257-68.
7. Avorn J, et al. Reduction of bacteriuria and pyuria after ingestion of cranberry juice. JAMA 1994;271:751-4.
8. Walker EB, et al. Cranberry concentrate: UTI prophylaxis. J Fam Prac 1997;45:167-8.
9. Azfriri D, et al. Inhibitory activity of cranberry juice on adherence of type 1 and type P fimbriated Escherichia coli to eucaryotic cells. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1989;33:92-8.
10. Ofek I, et al. Anti-escherichia activity of cranberry and blueberry juices. NEJM 1991;324:1599.
11. Brinker F. Eclectic Dispensatory of Botanical Therapeutics. Vol. 2. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications; 1995. p. 131.
12. Khosla PK, et al. Berberine, a potential drug for trachoma. Rev Int Trach Pathol Ocul Trop Subtrop Sante Publique 1992;69:147-65.
