Hello!
It’s Nick, Lead Researcher at Examine. Here are a couple new page updates we’ve completed since the month began:
Major Updates (Considerable updates to the FAQs, database, or both.)
- Beta-glucans are a type of fiber derived from cereals (e.g., oats, barley), seaweed, bacteria, and fungi. Their biological effects are influenced by their structure, which varies depending on the source. Cereal beta-glucans can lower cholesterol, while fungal beta-glucans may boost immunity.
- Choline is an essential nutrient present mainly in animal foods like eggs, meat, poultry, and dairy. Choline is the precursor to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. During pregnancy, choline is crucial for healthy fetal neurodevelopment, and higher choline intakes are associated with better cardiovascular health, cognitive function, and skeletal muscle function.
- Ecdysteroids are a type of steroid hormone found in arthropods, where they are responsible for reproduction and molting. Evidence for the use of ecdysteroids in humans is lacking, but they are often used to improve athletic performance and to stimulate muscle growth and are purported to have multiple other health benefits.
- Ibutamoren is an investigational drug that stimulates the secretion of growth hormone and is currently being studied for use in growth hormone deficiency. There’s no evidence that ibutamoren is beneficial in people without growth hormone deficiency. Furthermore, there is concern that it worsens the risk of heart problems in older adults.
- Molecular hydrogen is a naturally occurring gas that is usually supplemented through hydrogen-rich water or inhaling hydrogen gas. Preliminary research suggests that it may provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell-protective effects, which could be especially useful in conditions associated with high levels of oxidative stress.
- Panax notoginseng, commonly referred to as Chinese ginseng, may have some cardioprotective properties. However, further research is required to fully understand its potential effects and side effects.
Minor Updates (Small additions, changes, or corrections.)
- Tribulus terrestris is a plant whose root and fruits are used in Ayurvedic medicine for male virility and general vitality. It is also used in traditional Chinese medicine. It appears to reduce symptoms of sexual dysfunction (but not improve testosterone levels) in men and women and might also improve metabolic health.
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As always, I love hearing from you, so please reply if you have any suggestions for studies or topics we should cover. And if you’re ready to see all the content we have to offer, you can try out Examine+ for free for 7 days.
Until next time!
Nick Milazzo, MS, MPH
Examine Lead Researcher
Quiz of the week
Question:
Answer: Choline
In a 7-year follow up of a randomized controlled trial in 18 children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, supplementation with choline improved cognitive performance when compared to placebo, highlighting the neuroprotective potential of choline in the context of alcohol exposure. The findings of this study should be interpreted as exploratory, given the small sample size and statistical methods that inflated the possibility of a type 1 error (detecting a difference between groups even when no difference existed). Nonetheless, choline does play an important role in brain health and cognition. Read more about choline.