Posts Tagged ‘men’

The results of a 20-year-long study has been published in the March 9th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers followed over 45,000 men and assessed their vitamin C intake throughout the length of the study and found that for every 500 milligram increase in vitamin C consumption, men’s risk for gout appeared to decrease by 17 percent. Men in the study who took 1,500 mg per day had a 45 percent less risk of gout, compared to those who took less than 250 mg per day. The researchers conclude that “Given the general safety profile associated with vitamin C intake, particularly in the generally consumed ranges as in the present study…vitamin C intake may provide a useful option in the prevention of gout,”

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Are men and women truly different at heart? Perhaps, when it comes to heart transplants. A new Johns Hopkins University study finds that cardiac transplant patients have better odds of survival and a lower risk of rejection if they receive organs from donors of the same sex. Doctors think that heart size is an important factor. Men’s hearts are bigger and have more pumping capacity than women’s. Researchers believe that hormonal and immunologic differences between the sexes may also play a role. However, at this time it is not feasible for every person in need of a heart transplant to be paired with a perfect match – approximately 2,700 Americans are waiting for a heart, but only 2,200 heart transplants are performed annually.

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A study of the antidepressant Paxil by researchers at Cornell Medical Center show that the drug increases the number of sperm with damaged DNA. Sperm with DNA damage are found in any sperm sample. However, in men who took Paxil for 4 weeks, it was found that almost one-third of their sperm had damage to the DNA. However, the question is whether this has any affect on overall fertility, and whether the remaining healthy sperm would be enough to produce a viable embryo. Since this is a small study, larger studies are needed to answer these questions. Researchers say that individuals who are taking this drug should consult with their doctors if they are concerned about infertility. Full story.

A new study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health reports that low weight and weight loss in middle-aged men could increase the risk of osteoporosis later in life. The researchers hypothesize that weight change can affect the skeleton, as well as the way in which hormones regulate bone metabolism. Although weight increase and elevated weight are beneficial for the skeleton (this is why weight-bearing exercises can strengthen bone and decrease osteoporosis risk), a stable, healthy weight is still recommended as a means for overall good health. Full story.