CCNM Research
1255 Sheppard Avenue East M2K 1E2 Toronto, ON, Canada

Dr. Elise Cogo, ND and Dr. Mohamed E. Elsayed, ND will be presenting their methodology and findings from 2 large systematic reviews on the use of natural health products during the oncological surgical period. Specifically, 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were evaluated in a meta-analysis of Branched-Chain Amino Acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine); and 37 RCTs were included in a systematic review of Probiotics. An interactive question and answer session will follow the presentations. Visit the CCNM Research Club section in Moodle to access the Zoom link.

Have you heard of a Scoping Review? Cochrane has resources explaining what they are and how to conduct one! https://training.cochrane.org//scoping-reviews-what-they-a #methodologymonday

The Mediterranean diet is widely recommended for the prevention of chronic disease, but evidence for a beneficial effect on bone health is lacking. This RCT found that a year-long intervention with a Mediterranean diet and 10 g vitamin D3 per day reduced the rate of femoral neck bone loss, but not total body or spinal BMD loss, in elderly people with osteoporosis.

The ISCMR Scientific Article Prize competition is open - nominate a published article in traditional complementary alternative and integrative medicine for this prestigious award https://www.iscmr.org/content.aspx

#FunnyFriday: Osteoporosis Edition

: An observational retrospective study conducted in Italy set out to evaluate the impact of antiosteoporotic drugs and calcium/vitamin D treatments in osteoporosis patients with recent fractures. They included 3475 patients and compared the incidence of subsequent fracture and all-cause mortality. Results: -41.5% of patients did not receive any specific anti-fracture treatment.... -Among treated patients (N = 2032), the majority (83.6%) received calcium/vitamin D supplementation. -Over a mean follow-up of 3 years, the risk of subsequent fractures was 44.4% lower in treated patients compared to untreated ones and 64.4% lower in those receiving calcium/vitamin D supplementation compared to osteoporosis treatment only. Full text: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12020-018-1824-9

#FunnyFriday: Diabetes Edition

: , & Although chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the leading cause of global disability, safe, effective therapies have not been established. As such, researchers from the University of Michigan conducted a systematic review with the aim of establishing the utility of acupressure for CLBP. Six studies were included in the analysis, amounting to 468 patients who were nonpregnant adults 18 years or older with CLBP lasting 3 months or long...er and did not have comorbid medical conditions that could exacerbate or contribute to their chronic pain condition. All studies found: 1. A clinically significant reduction 30% in pain for the treatment groups. 2. All clinically significant and/or statistically significant improvement in disability in at least one of the treatment groups. 3. A statistically significant improvement in sleep. No study found significant adverse events. As such, the researchers concluded that acupressure is a non-invasive, low cost, and effective CLBP treatment option. Full text https://www.sciencedirect.com//artic/pii/S1744388120302668

Meet a member of the CCNM Research Team: Valentina Cardozo Valentina joined Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine as a Research Fellow this February. Her research interests include: health inequalities, #preventativehealth care, program evaluation and knowledge translation, and various topics within the #publichealth spectrum. If you are interested in engaging in research or have any questions for her don’t hesitate to reach out at [email protected]. #CCNMResearch #naturopathicmedicine

Happy Mental Health Awareness Week! #MIAW20

#CCNM and KGK Science are seeking people between the ages of 30 to 70 to participate in a study investigating how a natural digestive enzyme may target triglycerides, lower cholesterol and improve digestion. Participants will receive an honorarium on completion of the study. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3eQ5Obn. CCNM Research #triglyceridestudy

A metareview of lifestyle psychiatry: the role of exercise, smoking, diet and sleep in the prevention and treatment of mental disorders https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wps.20773 Lifestyle medicine can play an important role in #mentalhealth! #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

! Check out 3rd-year student Midori Barker's summary of an RCT exploring if pravastatin reduces plasma sFlt-1 levels in pre-eclampsia. ' ! The results of this study found no evidence to indicate that pravastatin lowers maternal plasma sFlt1 levels or sFlt-1:PIGF ratio ... during early preterm pre-eclampsia. Is there benefit to using pravastatin, despite not eliminating pre-eclampsia? What naturopathic therapeutics would be beneficial alongside the pharmaceutical treatments for pre-eclampsia? CCNM students, want to become a study of month author? Find out more at: shorturl.at/jpyDL

: Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) is an annual national public education campaign designed to help open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness. One of MIAW’s major initiatives is the Faces of Mental Illness campaign, a national outreach campaign featuring the stories of Canadians living in recovery from mental illness. The goal is to raise awareness and end the stigma associated with mental illness.

#FridayFunny: Viral Infection Edition

: Vitamin D is an important regulator of immune function and modulates the inflammatory response to infection. In addition, vitamin D is an important regulator of the renin-angiotensin system, whose dysregulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ARDS. In this single-center, retrospective cohort study of 489 patients who had a vitamin D level measured in the year before COVID-19 testing, the relative risk of testing positive for CO...VID-19 was 1.77 times greater for patients with likely deficient vitamin D status compared with patients with likely sufficient vitamin D status, a difference that was statistically significant. These findings appear to support a role of vitamin D status in COVID-19 risk; randomized clinical trials are needed to determine whether broad population interventions and interventions among groups at increased risk of vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 could reduce COVID-19 incidence. Full article: http://ow.ly/WBfd50BES14

Just a reminder that the Research's Club first meeting is tomorrow 1-2pm on Zoom. Hope to see you there!

: Check out this evidence map on the contributions of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine for health care in times of COVID-19 developed by Schlechta Portella et al., (2020). It organizes information about symptom management (especially on dimensions related to mental health and mild viral respiratory infections, as well as immune system strengthening and antiviral activity) from 126 literature reviews and controlled trials. ... Which intervention-outcome group combination would you like to learn more about? Full text: https://www.sciencedirect.com//artic/pii/S2213422020301050

Have you heard of Rapid Reviews? They are a form of secondary research that is rigorous and transparent, like a systematic review, but are completed faster when a timely answer is needed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBB5Q7VkTq4&t=1s #methodologymonday

#FunnyFriday: Skin Health Edition