Health & Fitness

The respected medical journal The Lancet was found to have published a study on the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 that was based on such shockingly fraudulent data it was retracted.¹ The paper, which ran on May 22, 2020, concluded that the malaria drugs hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine had no benefit when used in COVID-19 cases and actually increased death rates.²

The retracted study, "Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine With or Without a Macrolide for Treatment of COVID-19: A Multinational Registry Analysis," also concluded that hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine increased the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias, which are abnormal heartbeats that can cause cardiac arrest by interrupting blood circulation to the brain and body.³

Before its retraction, The Lancet study caused swift termination of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in the COVID-19 protocols of the World Health Organization and different nations and an end to the drugs' trials. They have since been reinstated.⁴

Researchers Doubted the Study From the Beginning

Because of the study's alarming findings, researchers carefully scrutinized its findings. Within a week of publication, 100 researchers sent a letter to The Lancet’s editor, Dr. Richard Horton, conveying their concerns about the origins and validity of the database that the study was based on.⁵ According to The New York Times:

"The experts who wrote The Lancet also criticized the study’s methodology and the authors’ refusal to identify any of the hospitals that contributed patient data, or to name the countries where they were located. The company that owns the database is Surgisphere, based in Chicago."

According to the Times, the researchers wrote in the letter:

“Data from Africa indicate that nearly 25 percent of all Covid-19 cases and 40 percent of all deaths in the continent occurred in Surgisphere-associated hospitals which had sophisticated electronic patient data recording ... Both the numbers of cases and deaths, and the detailed data collection, seem unlikely."

Other researchers also voiced doubt that Surgisphere, a very small company,⁶ could assemble the massive database it claimed to have in a short period of time including from countries where electronic medical records may not exist.⁷ According to the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Surgisphere also used a fraudulent database to promote the anti-parasite drug ivermectin for COVID-19 in Latin America.⁸

A quick look at the retracted Lancet study verifies the concerns of the letter writers. For example, would records from countries with less developed health care systems like Africa and so few electronic records really include pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, histories of congestive heart failure and arrhythmias like U.S. records would be more likely to do?⁹

Would such records show patients' comorbidities like hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as The Lancet study displays, and even obesity and BMI data?¹⁰ It is also unlikely that patients living in poor countries with few drug supplies would have been given antivirals like lopinavir, ritonavir, ribavirin and oseltamivir as the paper says. As the letter writers suggest, the data look too good to be true.

Researchers Had More Concerns About the Study

Researchers who wrote to Horton had additional concerns besides the implausibility of the patient database. According to the Alliance for Human Research Protection (AHRP), researchers in their letter to The Lancet's editor also cite:¹¹

A range of gross deviations from standard research and clinical practices, such as: Patients were prescribed inexplicably high daily doses of hydroxychloroquine — far higher than the FDA-recommended doses.

There was no ethics review.

The number of patients reportedly from Australia far exceeded the number of patients in the Australian government database.

Gross misrepresentation of the numbers of deaths in Australia.

Refusal to identify the hospitals that contributed patient data.

The ratios of patients who received chloroquine (49%) to those who received hydroxychloroquine (50%) are implausible; in Australia chloroquine is not available without special government authorization.

One signatory of the letter, James Watson, senior scientist at the MORU-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit in Thailand, said he doubted that any research organization could have obtained such detailed massive records that quickly. "I just find it very hard to believe," he said.¹²

Dr. Anthony Etyang, a clinical epidemiologist with the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kenya¹³ and a signatory to the letter, also doubted the study. He noted that even private hospitals can have poor medical records making the data very implausible, according to AHRP.¹⁴ The Guardian confirmed that the hospital data contained major inaccuracies:¹⁵

"Guardian Australia revealed glaring errors in the Australian data included in the study ... data from Johns Hopkins University shows only 67 deaths from Covid-19 had been recorded in Australia by 21 April. The number did not rise to 73 until 23 April [as the study states] ...

The Guardian has since contacted five hospitals in Melbourne and two in Sydney, whose cooperation would have been essential for the Australian patient numbers in the database to be reached. All denied any role in such a database, and said they had never heard of Surgisphere."

The Lancet Study Retracted 

The alarming findings of The Lancet study had an immediate chilling effect. WHO and national governments immediately deleted the drugs from their COVID-19 policies and drug trials were stopped.¹⁶ If a drug does more harm than good, a clinical trial would be immediately terminated.

However, the situation quickly changed when Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the institution of the lead author, Dr. Mandeep Mehra, issued this statement soon after the controversy began:¹⁷

"Independent of Surgisphere, the remaining co-authors of the recent studies published in The Lancet ... have initiated independent reviews of the data used ... after learning of the concerns that have been raised about the reliability of the database."

Mehra stated that he "eagerly await[ed] word from the independent audits, the results of which will inform any further action" and that such information would be necessary "before any conclusions could be reached."

Soon the researchers discovered that Surgisphere would not be forthcoming with the audits. That moved three of the paper's authors — Mehra, Dr. Frank Ruschitzka of the University Heart Center at the University Hospital Zurich and Dr. Amit Patel of the University of Utah and HCA Research Institute in Nashville¹⁸ — to ask The Lancet for a retraction. They issued this statement.¹⁹

"After publication of our Lancet Article several concerns were raised with respect to the veracity of the data and analyses conducted by Surgisphere Corporation and its founder and our co-author, Sapan Desai, in our publication.

We launched an independent third-party peer review of Surgisphere with the consent of Sapan Desai to evaluate the origination of the database elements, to confirm the completeness of the database, and to replicate the analyses presented in the paper.

Our independent peer reviewers informed us that Surgisphere would not transfer the full dataset, client contracts, and the full ISO audit report to their servers for analysis as such transfer would violate client agreements and confidentiality requirements."

After the Lancet retraction and the fraudulent database was exposed, WHO director general Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.²⁰

"On the basis of the available mortality data, the members of the committee recommended that there are no reasons to modify the trial protocol. The executive group received this recommendation and endorsed continuation of all arms of the Solidarity trial, including hydroxychloroquine."

The Solidarity trial, consisting of 3,500 patients, is investigating a number of possible COVID-19 treatments.²¹

Studies Show Malaria Drugs' Promise Against COVID-19

The retractions restored hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to a place in treatment protocols and investigative trials to determine their usefulness in treating COVID-19. Several scientific studies have suggested the value of the malaria drugs against COVID-19. A 2020 letter in the journal Nature states:²²

"Chloroquine is known to block virus infection by increasing endosomal pH required for virus/cell fusion, as well as interfering with the glycosylation of cellular receptors of SARS-CoV.

Our time-of-addition assay demonstrated that chloroquine functioned at both entry, and at post-entry stages of the 2019-nCoV infection in Vero E6 cells. Besides its antiviral activity, chloroquine has an immune-modulating activity, which may synergistically enhance its antiviral effect in vivo.

Chloroquine is widely distributed in the whole body, including lung, after oral administration."

A 2020 study in the journal European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences states:²³

"Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have antiviral characteristics in vitro. The findings support the hypothesis that these drugs have efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19.

People are currently using these drugs for malaria. It is reasonable, given the hypothetical benefit of these two drugs, that they are now being tested in clinical trials to assess their effectiveness to combat this global health crisis."

A 2020 paper in the Journal of Clinical Medicine states:²⁴

"[T]he mechanism of action of some antimalarial drugs, e.g., the antiviral function, suggests their potential role in the chemoprophylaxis of coronavirus epidemics, despite possible adverse effects (e.g., retinal toxicity).

All these data provide important insights to understand the spreading mechanisms of COVID-19, and to direct scientific research toward the study of some currently available medications."

Antimalarial Drugs Are Not Without Risks

As the Journal of Clinical Medicine paper states, antimalarial drugs are not without risks. Chloroquine raises the pH of vesicles in the cells that are hijacked by the virus. The normally slightly acidic environment facilitates the viral infection.

Both hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine have the side effect of elongating your QT wave in an electrocardiogram. This means the electrical activity in the heart is altered. The most common symptoms of this condition can be seizure, fainting and even sudden death, so the drugs are certainly not risk free.

The Lancet Retraction Is Not an Isolated Instance

Retractions of scientific papers are not rare. According to Science magazine:²⁵

"Nearly a decade ago, headlines highlighted a disturbing trend in science: The number of articles retracted by journals had increased 10-fold during the previous 10 years. Fraud accounted for some 60% of those retractions;

one offender, anesthesiologist Joachim Boldt, had racked up almost 90 retractions after investigators concluded he had fabricated data and committed other ethical violations ... the surge in retractions led many observers to call on publishers, editors, and other gatekeepers to make greater efforts to stamp out bad science."

Sometimes the retractions stem from medical journals publishing research revealed to have been funded and written by drug makers or authors they pay. Such publications carry a built-in bias because they are skewed toward positive results and are usually thinly disguised sales pieces.

Such Pharma-supplied studies can be lucrative to medical journals because they often sell reprints of the articles, which pharmaceutical salespeople use in marketing to doctors.²⁶ A study published in a reputable journal provides instant credibility in sales efforts.

In recent years, journals have instituted disclosure policies wherein authors must reveal any financial links they have to drug makers, including stock holdings. Unfortunately, the disclosures are almost always hidden behind pay walls so that only subscribers to the journals can see them. Furthering the opacity, the authors are often only referred to by their initials and it is difficult to determine who is who.

What was the motive of Surgisphere in its deliberate and brazen tarnishing of possible hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine treatments for COVID-19 through a fraudulent database leading to The Lancet retraction? The Alliance for Human Research Protection speculates the Surgisphere scheme was all about money:²⁷

"Why are very powerful corporate-government stakeholders so intent on killing a drug with a 70 year track record? Because the drug works against the pandemic; it is readily available, and costs very little.

Therefore, it poses a financial threat to both pharma companies and their partners in government and academia, those who are intent on profiting from the COVID-19 pandemic."

The authors are no doubt right. A readily available, low-priced medication already approved and in use will not make the billions a new COVID-19 vaccine or treatment would — for example, Gilead’s answer to hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir, can cost up to $4,460 per patient,²⁸ while a generic version of hydroxychloroquine is around $20.²⁹

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Everyone has the potential to catch the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.¹ You can significantly affect your risk of infection and severity of disease by taking simple steps. Symptoms for COVID-19 can range from mild to devastating.

There are factors that increase the risk a person may experience severe disease. These include underlying medical conditions such as obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.²

In one evaluation of COVID-19 patients from six hospitals in Atlanta, researchers found independent factors that raised the risk of hospitalization included being male, smoking, having Type 2 diabetes, being of advanced age and being obese.³

The data also showed that African-Americans had a higher incidence of hospitalization, which correlates with lower levels of vitamin D, a significant risk factor for COVID-19 severity.⁴ In one estimation published just months before the announcement of COVID-19, researchers found that 40% of U.S. adults are deficient in the vitamin. However, that number rose to 76% for black Americans.⁵

There are also factors that may reduce your risk of severe disease. These can include maintaining your vitamin D level at 60 ng/mL to 80 ng/mL, addressing any underlying medical conditions, getting plenty of quality sleep, exercising and staying hydrated.

Clotting Complications With COVID-19 Raises Risk of Severity

James DiNicolantonio, Pharm.D, and Mark McCarty published a follow-up to a paper they released February 12, 2020. DiNicolantonio is a cardiovascular research scientist;⁶ McCarty is a biomedical theoretician and an applied nutritionist.⁷

In the first article, published in Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, they made an argument for specific nutraceuticals that may provide relief for those infected with COVID-19.^8,9 The second paper was recently published in Open Heart BMJ.¹⁰ In it, proposed a pathway that may result in severe disease.

The essay, which they clearly expressed as a hypothesis they believed to be credible, was intended to stimulate conversation and propose studies of the interactions between the virus and vascular endothelial cells.

The basis of the proposal focused on the high rate of clotting complications in those with severe COVID-19. DiNicolantonio and McCarty believe the pathway seems to reflect infection of the vascular endothelial cells. These cells have a high expression of ACE2 protein, which the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses to invade.

Patients with severe COVID-19 demonstrate hypercoagulability, which leads to acute respiratory failure. In one study, patients who were admitted to Padova University Hospital in Italy for acute respiratory failure showed "markedly hypercoagulable thromboelastometry profiles." The researchers concluded:¹¹

"In conclusion, COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure present a severe hypercoagulability rather than consumptive coagulopathy. Fibrin formation and polymerization may predispose to thrombosis and correlate with a worse outcome."

There is some evidence that infection of the endothelial cells by SARS-CoV-2 virus leads to cell injury, which plays a role in organ failure.¹²

Pathogenic Role of NADPH

According to DiNicolantonio and McCarty, "It has been suggested that the thrombotic diathesis associated with COVID-19 reflects an endotheliopathy induced by viral infection of endothelial cells."¹³

He proposes the clotting complications in a COVID-19 infection may be triggered when infected cells use the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) signaling pathway. That's a mouthful to read, but NADPH is a key factor in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during oxygen metabolism.¹⁴

It's also an active communication component during viral and bacterial infections. The key takeaway here is that intracellular buildup of reactive oxygen species may inhibit viral replication. However, an excess amount increases cellular stress, which may lead to cell death.

Before SARS-CoV-2, researchers had demonstrated how some RNA viruses activate NADPH oxidase.¹⁵ COVID-19 is also a single strand RNA virus with intracellular uptake. DiNicolantonio and McCarty hypothesized that after being incorporated into endosomes in the endothelial cells, SARS-CoV-2 could also activate NADPH.

This would result in an increased local production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Superoxide is a reactive oxygen species in which an electron is added to an oxygen molecule. The addition of another electron results in hydrogen peroxide.

As I've written before, superoxide plays a crucial role in the oxidative stress that occurs in chronic illnesses identified as comorbidities for COVID-19, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

Pulmonologist Dr. Roger Seheult from MedCram.com hypothesizes that when SARS-CoV-2 attaches to and reduces an ACE2 receptor, it increases the amount of superoxide produced, which in turn causes oxidative stress leading to endothelial cell dysfunction and thrombosis.¹⁶

Selenium May Reduce Oxidative Stress and Cytokine Storm

DiNicolantonio and McCarty wrote that it was difficult to locate clinical studies measuring biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with SARS-CoV-2. However, they noted that "provinces of China where soil selenium is deficient is compatible with the view that oxidant stress plays a key pathogenic role in this syndrome, and selenium is required for function of multiple antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione peroxidases and thioredoxin reductases."¹⁷

DiNicolantonio suggests that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which is commonly used for systemic lupus erythematosus, may help reduce the clotting risk with COVID-19 as it does with systemic lupus erythematosus. He postulates:¹⁸

"… that HCQ can likewise prevent endosomal NADPH oxidase activation in SARS-CoV-2-exposed endothelial cells, thereby reducing risk for the thrombotic complications associated with COVID-19 infection.

This is of particular interest in light of the ability of HCQ to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, and of preliminary evidence that administration of HCQ early in the course of COVID-19 may improve therapeutic outcomes, likely by slowing cell-to-cell spread of the virus."

A potential nutraceutical with a powerful effect on reducing NADPH is spirulina, which he writes may explain the effect on reducing inflammation in animals when administered by mouth:

"In addition, phycocyanobilin (PCB), a biliverdin metabolite prominently expressed as a light-absorbing chromophore in cyanobacteria (such as spirulina) and many blue-green algae, has been found to mimic the ability of its chemical relative unconjugated bilirubin to inhibit NADPH oxidase complexes."

Others have contemplated that spirulina may also support the type 1 interferon response and thus lower the potential for a cytokine storm, which is the hallmark symptom of severe COVID-19. Raising levels of glycine may also help suppress NADPH. Glycine may also help control thrombotic complications as it has a direct effect on platelets.

The authors hypothesize that using glutathione may help mediate the expression of enzymes that reverse cysteine oxidation. The expectation would be that this reaction would counteract the hydrogen peroxide signaling. The benefits could also be achieved using sulforaphane, lipoic acid or ferulic acid plus N-acetylcysteine (NAC):

"Measures that quell endothelial oxidative stress while supporting effective eNOS activity might not only help to control the thrombotic complications of COVID-19, but also be expected to blunt the exuberant influx of neutrophils that promote respiratory distress in this syndrome."

Nutraceutical Therapeutic Interventions Lower Severity

The biochemical reactions leading the authors to these conclusions can get a little confusing. For a quick primer, see "Potential Roles of NAC and Glutathione in COVID-19 Treatment." In that article, I go on to explain how NAC has antiviral properties and how it can help with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This is a serious complication associated with lung injury.

I also list some studies that have shown how NAC is beneficial to the treatment of lung-related problems and how it can protect against blood clots and strokes. Each of these factors play a significant role in the treatment of COVID-19.

DiNicolantonio and McCarty give specific recommendations for supplements that may help reduce thrombotic effects and subsequently reduce the severity of disease. These include:

Molecular Hydrogen — This is one of the absolute best strategies to improve pathology in diseases like COVID-19 as it selectively decreases oxidative stress if it is needed. One of the routes is by inhibiting NOX which subsequently decreases NADPH consumption thus increase NADPH.

Spirulina — This is a form of blue-green algae that grows in freshwater and saltwater. It's a simple, one-celled organism that is technically a form of cyanobacteria that offers a number of health benefits. Spirulina may help fight inflammation, provide allergy relief, enhance brain health and control high blood pressure. It comes in capsules, tablets, powders and flakes. DiNicolantonio recommends 15 g (rounded tablespoon of powder), one time per day.

Glycine powder — DiNicolantonio and McCarty write that "Supplemental glycine … has been found to exert anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, cytoprotective, platelet-stabilizing and antiangiogenic effects in rodent studies that may be of clinical relevance."19 The powder is "inexpensive, highly soluble and has a pleasant sweet flavor"20 DiNicolantonio recommends taking 5 g, two to three times per day. You can use it as a healthy sweetener in tea or coffee.

Lipoic acid — This is a naturally occurring compound and a direct antioxidant. Some evidence suggests it can help with glucose utilization and IV administration may help reduce diabetic peripheral neuropathy.21 He recommends taking 600 mg, two to three times per day.

Broccoli sprout powder — This delivers sulforaphane, a compound that augments glutathione.22 DiNicolantonio recommends 5 g, one to two times per day.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) — This has been described as "a precursor to glutathione."23 It is a powerful antioxidant and is used in IV to treat acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose. As an inhalant, it helps break up mucus obstructions in the bronchial tree. Orally, it can help preserve kidney function and has been used to treat psychiatric disorders and substance abuse. He recommends taking 600 mg, two to three times per day.

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The fact that most olive oils on the market are fraudulently diluted with less expensive (and more harmful) oils has been known for years. Now, a report^1,2,3 in the journal Food Control warns that the purity and quality of avocado oil sold in the U.S. is questionable at best, and that standards to protect consumers and genuine producers are urgently needed.

Adulterated Avocado Oil Is Commonplace

According to the Food Control report,⁴ a vast majority of commercially available avocado oils labeled as “extra virgin” and “refined” are in fact adulterated and of poor quality; 82% were found to have gone rancid before their expiration date.⁵

Three of 22 oils were not even avocado oil but something else entirely (likely soybean oil). Co-author Selina Wang told Olive Oil Times⁶ that while she expected “some percentage of adulterants,” she was shocked to find several cases of 100% adulteration. As noted in the report:⁷

“This study analyzed avocado oils currently on the market in the US to evaluate their quality (e.g., free fatty acidity, peroxide value, UV absorbances, vitamin E) and purity (e.g., fatty acids, sterols, triacylglycerols).

Our results showed that the majority of commercial samples were oxidized before reaching the expiration date listed on the bottle. In addition, adulteration with soybean oil at levels near 100% was confirmed in two ‘extra virgin’ and one ‘refined’ sample.”

How Purity and Quality Are Assessed

As explained in the Food Control report,⁸ an oil is considered authentic and pure when no additives or other oils have been added, and when the content matches that listed on the label.

Quality includes consideration of the raw material (the quality of the avocado used), the extraction process used and storage, but is “mostly related to the level of hydrolysis of the fruit and oxidation of the oil.” With this report, the authors have begun compiling a database “to support standards development for this industry.”

In all, 22 avocado oil samples were obtained from six grocery stores and two online sources, covering the major brands and types of oils, which include extra virgin/unrefined and refined. Countries of origin included California, Mexico, Brazil and Spain.

While previous researchers have proposed a healthy level of free fatty acidity (FFA) should be between 0.1% and 0.55% for refined avocado oils, three of the 22 samples had FFA values close to 2.5%. Extra virgin avocado oils had an FFA range between 0.03% and 2.69%, with an overall average of 1.31%. 

According to the authors, these elevated FFA levels may be due to poor-quality fruit and/or poor handling during processing.⁹

“Unhealthy fruits that are damaged, bruised, overripe, insect infested; prolonged time between harvest and processing; overheating during processing are all factors that can contribute to a rise in FFA,” the authors note.

To put this into an easier to understand perspective for you, I am sure you have opened an overripe avocado in the past to see the ripe green avocado color turn to very dark, nearly black. Can you imagine the entire avocado being black when you open it up and processing it and turning it into oil? Well, that is precisely what you do when you purchase rancid avocado oil.

High Oxidation Is Common

When an oil is exposed to oxygen, peroxides and other oxidation products form, thereby giving the oil undesirable odors and flavors. While not as conspicuous as the FFA values, the trend toward high oxidation was also evident. In other words, many of the oils were rancid well before their “best by” date.

Extra virgin avocado oil had the highest oxidation values, which is expected, as the refining process removes peroxides. Still, many of the refined oils also had higher than expected peroxide levels. In fact, all but three samples were above Mexico’s CODEX cap.

Not surprisingly, the three samples with the highest peroxide levels were stored in clear, rather than tinted, packaging. This makes sense, as tinted bottles protect against photooxidation.

Storage time also contributes to higher oxidation. The longer the oil sits, the more likely it is to be oxidized, so always be sure to check the best by date. Sadly, higher price does not guarantee quality, as the most expensive oil assessed in this review also had the highest peroxidation value.

Exaggerated Vitamin E Content Suggests Adulteration

The vitamin E content was also measured, and exaggerated levels in some of the samples suggest adulteration with cheap soybean oil. As explained in the Food Control report:¹⁰

“There are eight compounds that make up vitamin E content, four tocopherols (ɑ-tocopherol, β-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol) and four tocotrienols …

This study shows multiple samples (EV3, EV6, R1, U4, U5, U6) had total tocopherol contents over 400 mg/kg, which is interesting as the highest documented total tocopherol content in literature, to our knowledge, is 282 mg/kg.

In particular, there are three samples with a notably high total tocopherol content, EV3, EV6 and U6 at 645.4 mg/kg, 906.2 mg/kg, and 692.9 mg/kg, respectively. These samples had significantly higher levels of gamma and delta tocopherols compared to the other samples in this study and to values seen in literature for avocado oils.

A study that reported on the tocopherol content in fruits and vegetables, showed soybean oil has similar tocopherol levels and distributions to those seen in EV3, EV6 and U6, therefore, it is possible these samples contain soybean or had soybean tocopherols added after processing for preservation.”

Industry Standards Are Urgently Needed

The Food Control report is the first to demonstrate there are serious problems in the avocado oil industry. Just like olive oil, much of what’s being sold is adulterated and of inferior quality. As concluded by the authors:¹¹

“The majority of the samples were of low quality with five of the seven oils labeled as ‘extra virgin’ having high FFA values and six of the nine ‘refined’ oils had high PV [peroxidation value]. FFA, PV, and specific extinction in UV data demonstrated that these oils have undergone lipolysis and oxidation, respectively.

This likely resulted from improper or prolonged storage, using damaged or rotten fruits, or extreme and harsh processing conditions. Extra virgin oils often are more expensive and distinguished from lower grades such as virgin or crude oils using the above quality parameters.

Adulteration with soybean oil was found in two samples labeled as ‘extra virgin’ avocado oil (EV3 and EV6) and one labeled as ‘pure’ avocado oil (U6).

Tocopherol, fatty acid, sterols, and TAGs data show this adulteration is occurring at or near 100% for all three samples. This not only is a potential health hazard for consumers but creates unfair competition in the market …

In the case of samples EV3, EV6, and U6 the adulteration was confirmed in addition to the adulteration percent and adulterant oil. However, the need for standards is also demonstrated by the samples R1, U4, and U5.

The variance seen in their fatty acid, sterols, TAGs, and tocopherols profiles could be due to natural variance of the avocado fruits, processing conditions, or unnaturally, economic adulteration with high oleic sunflower or safflower oils.”

Benefits of Authentic Avocado Oil

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I personally have never used avocado oil as I typically avoid processed oils, with the exception of our own Solspring biodynamic olive oil. I think it is far better to eat the whole food. That is precisely what I do — I have half an avocado every day in each of my collagen protein powder smoothies.

As detailed in “An Avocado a Day Keeps the Doctor Away,” avocados are loaded with healthy fats your body can easily use for energy. They’re also rich in fiber, protein and essential vitamins and minerals such as B vitamins, potassium, folate and vitamin K, and have been shown to counteract metabolic syndrome.

Considering the excellent nutritional profile of avocados, it’s no wonder avocado oil has risen in popularity in recent years. However, extracting the oil and putting it into a bottle allows plenty of opportunity for fraud, as the Food Control report demonstrates.

Unfortunately, the report does not specify the brands investigated, so it cannot be used as a guide when shopping. Provided you can actually find authentic avocado oil, it can be a very healthy addition to your diet. Health benefits of authentic avocado oil include:^12,13,14

• Normalizing blood pressure, thanks to its high potassium and vitamin E content that supports healthy blood vessel function and combats free radicals¹⁵
• Anti-inflammatory effects, which help lower your risk of heart disease, arthritis and other inflammatory conditions¹⁶
• Detoxification, thanks to its high chlorophyll content (which is also a natural source of magnesium) and glutathione¹⁷
• Enhancing collagen production, thanks to vitamins A and D. High protein and amino acid levels also aids tissue regeneration and cellular renewal¹⁸
• Supporting healthy vision, thanks to the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin¹⁹

Should You Cook With Avocado Oil?

Avocado oil is typically said to have a high smoke point, although just how high differs depending on the source. Masterclass.com cites it between 375 degrees Fahrenheit and 400 degrees F in one chart, while listing it at 480 degrees F for unrefined and 520 degrees F for refined in another.²⁰

Australian researchers, meanwhile, cite a smoke point of about 386 degrees F (196.67 degrees Celsius plus or minus 0.577 degrees C).²¹ Either way, the higher smoke point of avocado oil has been relied on by many for the recommendation to use it during high-heat cooking, baking and frying.

However, the Australian researchers present evidence suggesting this might not be such a good idea after all. The study,²² published in 2018, assessed the correlation between various oils’ smoke point and other chemical characteristics associated with stability and safety.

Importantly, they found that “smoke point does not predict oil performance when heated.” Avocado oil was one of 10 cooking oils investigated. Paradoxically, they found that oils with higher smoke points, such as avocado oil, actually tended to produce higher levels of harmful compounds during heating — including trans fats.

For this reason, I don’t recommend avocado oil for cooking. Chances are, you’re better off using it cold. Without a doubt, your best alternatives for high-heat cooking, baking and frying include lard, grass fed butter and organic ghee. Coconut oil may also be a healthier alternative when cooking than avocado oil, as it’s known to be quite stable at high temperatures. The Australian study appears to support this as well.

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Motherhood takes over the brain's decision-making regions to prioritize caring for offspring, according to new research.

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Researchers have found that dopamine neurons in the brain can represent the decision-making process when making economic choices. As monkeys contemplated whether or not to choose an item, a subset of dopamine neurons transitioned from indicating the item's value to indicating the monkey's ultimate decision. Encoding of the decision into these dopamine neurons happened earlier than it did in other parts of the brain related to economic decision-making.

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Increasing the levels of a chemical found in all human cells could boost a woman's fertility and help select the best eggs for IVF.

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With the rise of globalization, geographic borders are becoming less relevant for making charitable donations, which means nonprofits and charities can make more effective pitches to donors by emphasizing higher-level concepts such as morality and idealistic values, said Carlos Torelli, a professor of business administration and the James F. Towey Faculty Fellow at Illinois.

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Early infections of influenza A can help predict how the virus will affect people across different ages in the future and could impact the effectiveness of flu vaccines, says a new study.

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While researchers have previously identified brain structural signatures associated with individual neurological diseases using techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a team of scientists has now compared data from multiple studies to find brain structural abnormalities shared between four different neuropsychiatric conditions. The researchers also found brain signatures that were unique to individual conditions.

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The molecule influences the insulin signalling pathway and thus prolongs life.

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An analysis of data from more than 1,300 women followed prospectively through pregnancy found that women with lower levels of the essential mineral manganese in early pregnancy were more likely to develop the serious high blood pressure syndrome called preeclampsia in late pregnancy.

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Poor sleep harms children's mental health and emotional stability according to a new study.

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Many animals move their ears to better focus their attention on a novel sound. That humans also have this capability was not known until now. A research team now has demonstrated that we make minute, unconscious movements of our ears that are directed towards the sound want to focus our attention on. The team discovered this ability by measuring electrical signals in the muscles of the vestigial motor system in the human ear.

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People who work in jobs that require less physical activity - typically office and desk-based jobs - are at a lower risk of subsequent poor cognition than those whose work is more physically active, suggests new research.

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Cell reprogramming provides an outstanding opportunity for the artificial generation of stem cells for regenerative medicine approaches in the clinic. As current cell reprogramming methods are low in efficiency, researchers around the globe aim to learn lessons from the early embryo which might lead them to a more efficient and faster generation of high-quality, fully reprogrammed stem cells.

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A new study demonstrates that even when temperatures warm and cold stress is limited, light is still a major factor in limiting carbon uptake of northern high latitudes. The team analyzed satellite observations, field measurements, and model simulations and showed that there is a prevalent radiation limitation on carbon uptake in northern ecosystems, especially in autumn.

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The first thing that came to mind when I heard about COVID restrictions and mitigation strategies was how exceptionally dangerous this time could be for women living with abusive partners. “Self-isolate,” “stay at home,” “practice social distancing,” and “recession” are all words likely to be terrifying to many women who are living with intimate partner violence (IPV). The lives of these women are often filled with fear and danger under normal circumstances, but during this new normal of the global pandemic, the lives of these very often “invisible victims” are at an increased risk for more violence — and even murder.

Prior to the COVID pandemic, epidemiological estimates showed that nearly one in three women experience IPV, and approximately one in four women experience severe IPV. Other data show that nearly half of all female homicides are from a current or past male intimate partner. Although these numbers are already unacceptably high, historical data show increases in rates of IPV during pandemics and times of economic crisis. Other data show that domestic violence tends to increase when families spend more time together, such as over the holidays.

COVID restrictions have caused a spike in IPV

Unfortunately, the realities of COVID-19 and its restrictions have indeed caused a perfect storm for women experiencing IPV. First, there have been numerous media reports indicating huge spikes in calls to IPV hotlines, sometimes doubling and tripling the typical number of requests for help, after stay-in-place orders were mandated.

Second, reports have indicated frightening increases in femicide from IPV. The UK has reported femicide rates higher than they have been in the past 11 years, double the average for a 21-day period. Mexico has reported an 8% increase in femicides, with nearly 1,000 women murdered in the first three months of the year. These data clearly indicate an escalation of more severe forms of violence, likely leading to an increase in the number of IPV-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Repetitive TBIs are some of the most underappreciated dangers of IPV, and have been associated with a range of negative cognitive, psychological, and neural outcomes — which many believe may make escape from an abusive situation even more difficult.

Third, women’s ability to escape abusive situations has been reduced during this time. In many situations, COVID-19 mandates require that women remain locked down with their abuser. Friends who women may have previously been able to turn to may no longer be in a position to help, due to social distancing regulations. Women may also be justifiably afraid to leave for fear of exposing themselves and their children to the virus, including going to a shelter — if shelter beds are even available.

With abusive partners home more frequently due to lack of social outlets, and/or loss of employment or working from home, it may be impossible or more dangerous for women to find a safe space or time to seek help. Reports have shown that the closing of courts has made it more difficult, if not impossible, for women to obtain orders of protection. Consequently, some women may have been planning to leave but are no longer able to carry out that plan.

Weighing the risks and benefits of getting help

Women may want to leave due to escalation of violence — including traumas to the head — but feel they have no place to turn. Faced with two undesirable choices, choosing to weather the abuse and endure the effects of more severe violence may seem a better option than the potential danger of seeking medical help and/or support services and contracting COVID-19.

What can you do?

If you know someone who may be experiencing abuse or who is very isolated, check in with her frequently, ask how she is doing, and provide her an opportunity to let you know things may not be going well. If you are in a position to take her in, be sure she is aware that is a possibility for her if needed.

If you are a medical professional, consider mentioning that family violence has increased since COVID-19, and ask women if they feel safe at home.

If you are experiencing violence within the home, please remember:

• You are not alone; IPV occurs to one in three women!
• This is not your fault, and you should not feel ashamed to seek help.
• If you are injured, do not delay getting critical care because of contamination fears. Reports show that some emergency rooms are less busy than usual, and all medical staff are extensively trained and prepared to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• If you know you are at risk, reach out to The National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 for TTY, or if you are unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522. They are available 24/7 and can work with you to find help in your area.
• Have a safety plan. Even obvious things may not seem obvious when you are in a terrifying situation. Having a safety plan will help with that. You can get help creating a plan here.

The post When lockdown is not actually safer: Intimate partner violence during COVID-19 appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

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Feel like you're in an exercise/gym/general health-slump right now? Sam Briggs is here to help. The ex-firefighter and 2013 CrossFit champion is all about determination and hard work, so you knows a thing or two about getting - and staying - motivated. 

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