Over the course of approximately seven years, researchers monitored the health of 930 men who had been diagnosed with coronary artery heart disease. The team then took tissue samples from the participants, which allowed them to measure bioavailable testosterone (bio-T) or total testosterone (TT). As a result, one in four of the individuals were found to have low testosterone levels.

Throughout the trial, approximately 42 percent or one out of every five participants who had low levels of testosterone died. However, among those with normal hormone levels, an estimated 12 percent or one out of every eight men had passed away.

While patients with irregular testosterone levels may benefit from hormone replacement therapies, the investigators determined that further research will be needed to prove if cardiovascular problems could affect the effectiveness of these treatments.

In addition to heart problems, low testosterone levels can lead to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in men, according to a study conducted at Saint Louis University.

This is because the nutrient removes toxins from the body that can lead to inflammation of the brain, which speeds up developing memory problems. Foods that produce this nutrient include carrots, celery, chamomile, olive oil, peppermint, peppers and rosemary.

During a one-month study, mice, which were aged 3-to-6 months and 2 years, were fed a luteolin-enriched diet. The team then measured the animals' memory function and monitored inflammatory molecules in their brains.

When the older mice consumed the luteolin diet, "it reduced inflammation in the brain and at the same time restored working memory to what was seen in young cohorts," said Rodney Johnson, lead author of the study. He concluded that "a healthy diet has the potential to reduce age-associated inflammation in the brain, which can result in better cognitive health."

Blueberries, the highest fruit source of antioxidants, can also remove toxins from the body that can cause memory problems. 

Over the course of seven years, blood samples were taken from a total of 271 individuals aged 65 to 79 years who showed no signs of memory complications at the start of the study.

The researchers monitored the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is linked to vitamin B12, and holotranscobalamin, an active nutrient found in the vitamin, in each sample. The team followed the concentration of this amino acid because unhealthy levels can lead to brain complications and stroke.

The results showed that unhealthy levels of homocysteine increased one's risk of Alzheimer's disease by 16 percent, but also found the active form of vitamin B12 slowed the brain's aging process by 2 percent.

According to researchers, these findings "show the need for further research on the role of vitamin B12 as a marker for identifying people who are at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease." They added that "low levels of vitamin B12 are surprisingly common in the elderly, however, the few studies that have investigated the usefulness of vitamin B12 supplements to reduce the risk of memory loss have had mixed results."

Individuals who are interested in increasing their vitamin B12 intake can benefit from eating eggs, fish, poultry and shellfish. 

During the four-year trial, researchers monitored more than 2,100 heart patients using medical equipment that locates plaque deposits found in major arteries. Also, the technology measures the fat surrounding the heart and coronary arteries.

The investigators discovered that individuals who showed no signs of cardiovascular disease, but had large deposits of fat around the heart, still suffered heart complications compared to participants in a control group. The results also showed that people with these fat deposits had an increased risk of narrow coronary arteries.

The authors of the study stated that "the measurement of pericardial fat from cardiac CT appears primed to ultimately become a routine complement to the information gained from plaque evaluation." They added that "this assessment could generate CT information regarding the activity of the atherosclerotic (plaque buildup) process, potentially adding meaningfully to clinical risk assessment."

The most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease and it was the cause of more than 445,000 deaths in the United States in 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Previous reports have found that an estimated 80 percent of all deaths among people with diabetes are caused by heart disease. Among the different types of these illnesses, cardiomyopathy—which leads to heart muscle damage—is the leading heart-related cause of deaths among diabetics.

During the recent trial, groups of rats with diabetes were either given a diet that contained garlic or corn oil. The researchers then observed the two animal groups to see which oil led to better prevention of cardiomyopathy.

The team of investigators discovered that because garlic oil contained a high amount of antioxidants, it reduced the risk of cardiovascular complications in the rats that consumed it as opposed to the animals that were fed corn oil.

The authors of the report concluded that "garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy."

Individuals who wish to find other natural alternatives to treating diabetes and protecting themselves against heart disease can benefit from eating grapes, according to a study conducted at the University of Michigan Health System. 

During a recent study, a team of researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health used an animal model to determine which microbes, or damaging bacteria, can lead to IBD.

The investigators found that two types caused the mice to be more susceptible to chronic intestinal inflammation. Also, the results showed that the bacteria can cause the immune system and the intestinal tract to become unbalanced, resulting in the development of IBD.

Wendy Garrett, lead author of the study, stated that her team used "metagenomic and conventional culture techniques that an individual's genetic background influences what bacteria reside within his or her intestine." She added that several studies are currently "examining the intestinal microbial communities of patients with IBD, and exploring the role of [this bacteria] we have identified in patients with IBD."

In 2002, approximately 169,000 people in the United States were hospitalized for IBD, and of these individuals, 62 percent were diagnosed with Crohn's disease, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC).

During the recent trial, patients enrolled had been diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which can lead to developing Alzheimer's diseases or other forms of dementia. Over the course of two years, participants were given oral supplements and injections containing different types of vitamin B—folic acid, B6 and B12.

The results showed that those who had already developed memory problems and had levels of the amino acid homocysteine benefited the most from increasing their intake of these nutrients. Furthermore, the researchers discovered that the group responded better to the injections than the supplements.

Gustavo C. Román, lead author of the study, stated that "I'm not saying that everyone who takes B vitamins will prevent dementia." He added that "but in the right dosage and for the appropriate patients, the vitamin B-12 treatment could be a step toward modifying disease progression."

Individuals who are looking for another natural alternative to improve their cognitive function can benefit from walking five to six miles per week, according to a study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh.
 

During a recent trial, researchers monitored a total of 153 Chinese men aged 55 years and older, including 47 individuals who had already developed some cognitive problems. Over the course of one year, 10 of the people who previously had memory problems had been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.

The investigators discovered that the cognitively impaired group of men also had low levels of testosterone in their body tissues. Those who lacked this hormone also had higher amounts of apolipoprotein in their bodies, which increases one's risk of the memory loss disease and spikes one's blood pressure.

The team concluded that monitoring a man's testosterone levels as he ages may better protect him against Alzheimer's disease. In order to determine the further effect of testosterone on memory loss, the team is currently using replacement hormone therapies on older men who have both memory problems and low hormone levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Alzheimer's disease is the 10th leading cause of death in men.

CD is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes damage to the gastrointestinal system, and is commonly treated with medications. However, as individuals are diagnosed with the illness at an older age, they are more likely to need surgery in order to correct related health problems.

In an effort to determine when the likelihood of surgery could increase, a team of researchers monitored patients aged 16 years and under who had been recently diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). During the trial, the team observed the use of CD-related surgery, and its effectiveness when conducted on patients within 30 days of their diagnoses.

The investigators found that while gender, race and family history didn’t affect surgical risk, IBD patients aged 13 to 16 years were more likely to need surgery. Also, the results of the study showed that the severity of the disease was determined by the patient’s age, resulting in an increased need for surgery.

Of the 169,000 Americans who were hospitalized with inflammatory bowel disease in 2002, approximately 62 percent of these patients were diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, according to the National Digestive Disease Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC).

This is because healthier eating habits and regular exercise helps diabetics properly maintain their blood glucose levels, which is needed to stave off heart and diabetes-related complications.

For the research, a total of 5,145 people who were overweight and had diabetes were enrolled in a four-year trial. Of the participants, approximately 2,570 followed a healthy diet and exercise regimen, while the remaining group participated in diabetes support programs, focused on healthy eating and physical activity.

The researchers discovered that the lifestyle intervention group had better weight, fitness and blood sugar improvements than the support group. Furthermore, these individuals were less likely to suffer from heart-related problems.

The team concluded that further research will be needed to better understand the cardiovascular risks between these two types of groups.

The authors concluded that "there may be long-term beneficial effects from the four-year period in which intensive lifestyle intervention participants have been exposed to lower cardiovascular disease risk factors, as seen in other clinical trials."

Individuals interested in foods that could help prevent cardiovascular and diabetes symptoms may consider eating fruits, whole grains and nuts, which are all high sources of antioxidants. This type of nutrient can help rid the body of free radicals that can complicate these health issues.