Issues of further contention exist, most notably because FDA is choosing not to list a % Daily Value (%DV) for trans fat. Although it admits that scientific reports show a link between trans fat and coronary heart disease, FDA states that none of these studies have provided a specific reference value. This has enraged anti-trans fat advocates, who consider decision not to list daily values a cop-out due to pressure from food industry, not to insufficient evidence of harm (check out http://bantransfats.com/ for a comprehensive and excellent review of latest trans fat advocacy issues).

Unlike FDA's specific daily requirements for both saturated fat and cholesterol already in place, some experts feel this lack of specificity for trans fat allotment in our diet is akin to allowing consumer to believe that any amount is acceptable. Thus, possibility of a veritable free-for-all on trans fat consumption is feared.

The race is now on for food manufacturers to produce foods free of trans fat In April 2004, Kraft Foods announced introduction of three new brands of popular Oreo cookie containing zero grams of trans fat. Other manufactures will surely follow suit and it is likely that we will be seeing an explosion of trans fat-free (although not necessarily nutritious) products, particularly snack foods.

Since we have a while to wait until all manufacturers are required to change their product labels, consumers need to know how to recognize trans fat in products to reduce intake. Read every ingredient label before a product is purchased. If list contains words "partially hydrogenated," you know it contains trans fat. Shortening and margarine almost always contain trans fat. This knowledge is particularly important with regard to processed foods, since they usually contain a large amount of ingredients, most with long, odd looking and hard to pronounce names. For further guidance on how to avoid trans fat in products, check out Dr. Gabe Mirkin's website (http://www.drmirkin.com/nutrition/N185.html), an excellent resource on nutrition and trans fat info.

Conflicting as it may be, we'll always be inundated with media attention on latest focus on nutrition. But we still need to be aware of facts concerning our health. Coverage on fats was all rage in 80's. For last decade all we've heard about is carbs. What's next? Well, there's always protein.

Selenium is a co-factor of enzyme glutathione peroxidase [GSH-P(x)] and was found to significantly increase activity of GSH-P(x) in patients reciving supplement.

A previous clinical study by same researchers recommended administration of selenium in patients with ovarian cancer undergoing multi-drug chemotherapy. (5)

Another interesting study by researchers in Texas showed that your chances of surviving a type of brain cancer, called primary malignant glioma, could depend on type of glutathione-s-transferase (GST) gene you were born with.

Having a combination of a two specific variants of GST (germ-line GSTP1*A/*A and GSTM1 null genotype) confers a survival advantage in some types of brain cancers, but also comes with an increased risk of adverse events related to chemotherapy. (6)

There is compelling evidence to suggest a crucial role for glutathione and substances that target glutathione metabolism in prevention and treatment of cancer.

Undenatured whey protein is one of natural foods known to selectively deplete cancer cells of their glutathione, thus making them more susceptible to such cancer treatments as radiation and chemotherapy.

For a complete report on research on undenatured whey protein and cancer see report Glutathione (GSH) and Whey Protein in Cancer. http://www.1whey2health.com/cancer_glutathione.htm

Disclaimer: The information here is not provided by medical professionals and is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your physician before beginning any course of treatment.

References:

1. Friesen C et al. [Cell Death and Differentiation advance online publication, 23 April 2004] 2. Tormos C et al. [Cancer Lett. 2004 May 10;208(1):103-13.] 3. Findlay VJ et al. [Mol Pharmacol. 2004 May;65(5):1070-9.] 4. Sieja K et al. [Gynecol Oncol. 2004 May;93(2):320-327.] 5. Sieja K. [Pharmazie. 1998 Jul;53(7):473-6.] 6. Okcu MF et. al. [Clin Cancer Res. 2004 Apr 15;10(8):2618-25.]