October 29th, 2010
Yesterday we reported on how PCOS-linked excess weight may increase the risk of developing kidney stones. Women are especially vulnerable to developing this painful condition.
Higher BMIs (body mass index, which measures weight in relation to height) and the hormonal imbalance called insulin resistance, which often underlies PCOS, may increase the amount of calcium and other substances in the urine, leading to the formation of kidney stones.
In an analysis of three three large study groups – the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and the Nurses’ Health Study I and II, which included nearly 250,000 men and women – researchers found obesity was strongly linked to kidney stone development.
Findings included:
Women up to the age of 34 who weighed more than 220 pounds had a 92% higher risk of developing kidney stones than women of a similar age who weighted 150 pounds. Females aged 34-59 who weighed more than 220 pounds had an 89% higher risk of kidney stones.
Women who gained 35 pounds since the age of 21 had a 70% higher risk of developing kidney stones compared to females whose weight did not change. Women had an 82% higher risk if they gained the extra weight from the age of 18.
October 28th, 2010
The classic PCOS symptom of excess weight may increase the risk of developing painful kidney stones.
Researchers found women who weighed more than 220 pounds were 90% more likely to develop kidney stones than those who weighed less than 150 pounds. Women who gained more than 35 pounds since they were 21 years old also had a 39% to 82% higher risk of kidney stones.
Kidney stones are made of salts, minerals, and other substances normally found in urine. When the normal balance of water and other substances is out of balance, such as from dehydration, these substances stick together and build up to form stones. As the stones pass through the urinary system, they can cause sudden, intense pain, nausea and vomiting, and blood in the urine.
Researchers estimate that 5% of women develop kidney stones during their lifetime, and over $2 billion is spent each year in the U.S. on treating the painful condition.
More on this weight-related risk tomorrow.
October 27th, 2010
Yesterday we reported on how L-Carnitine may play a part in improving the symptoms of PCOS.
L-Carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid which has a vital role in the metabolism of fat. It functions as a transporter of fatty acids into the mitochondria – the metabolic furnace of the cell which creates energy.
Researchers at Sapienza University in Italy recently studied two groups of individuals who had blood sugar and insulin metabolism problems, which are classic symptoms of the PCOS-linked hormonal imbalance called insulin resistance.
One group was on a low-calorie diet. The other group was on a low-calorie diet, but also took 2 gms of L-Carnitine twice a day for 10 days.
By the end of the study, both groups showed improvement in their blood sugar levels. However, only the group taking the L-Carnitine also had an improvement in their insulin function.
L-Carnitine is available in supplement form. Ask your doctor if adding it to your healthy PCOS diet would be right for you.
October 26th, 2010
Insulin resistance is often a key underlying cause of PCOS. Reversing the hormonal imbalance caused by insulin resistance can help to improve the symptoms of PCOS and evidence is growing that L-Carnitine may play a role in bringing about that improvement.
Never heard of L-Carnitine? Well, it’s is a naturally occurring amino acid which plays a vital part in the metabolism of fat. It functions as a transporter of fatty acids into the mitochondria, the metabolic furnace of the cell.
L-Carnitine is synthesized in the liver and kidneys, from two essential amino acids, lysine and methionine, and aids in the release of stored body fat, called tryglycerides, into the bloodstream for energy.
An important side effect of a healthy level of L-Carnitine and how it boosts PCOS health is the influence it can have on maintaining normal levels of blood glucose and insulin that insulin resistance can disrupt.
Tomorrow we’ll report on a new study that showed the difference L-Carnitine can have on two classic symptoms of PCOS.
