With federal legalization of cannabis in Canada and hemp in the USA, there is much interest in consumer demographics and use patterns. The objective of this study was to examine gender differences in cannabis use patterns and demographics in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. A 31 question, online market research survey was conducted on past and present cannabis use from March 2018 to October 2019, including Canadian respondents before and after federal cannabis legalization. The associations between gender and self-reported use reason and frequency, route of administration, cannabinoid, and life stage when starting were assessed. Possible differences were assessed by the Chi Square test and two sample t-test (age only). There were 2264 male and 1830 female respondents to the survey, with an average age of 34 ± 13 years. Across genders, the majority of users first started in high school (59.5%). Gender was associated with frequency of use (P < 0.001), higher proportions of males (73.9%) than females (61.1%) were daily users. Males more often reported using inhalation routes of administration, both vapour (43.6% M vs. 30.7% F) and smoking (85.3% M vs. 77.9% F) (P < 0.001). Interestingly, there were no significant differences in the use of sublingual (13.5% total), oral (47.0%) or suppository (0.6%) products between the groups. A greater proportion of males reported recreational cannabis use (79.6% M vs. 72.7% F) (P < 0.001). This agrees with an association between gender and reason for use for which a greater proportion of males reported using cannabis to socialize/relax (68.5% M vs. 54.8% F) and to receive a high (33.0% M vs. 22.6% F) (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the psychoactive component of cannabis, THC, was the most frequently consumed cannabinoid among a greater proportion of males (38.3%) than females (25.7%). Interestingly, there were equal proportions of males and females using cannabis for digestion, controlling pain, and reducing seizures. There are significant associations between gender and cannabis use in central Canada. Males and females report using cannabis for different reasons and in different ways and frequencies. With further research there is great potential for cannabis in health and wellness and these data are essential components to inform study design and progress this research area forward. KGK Science Inc.

Cannabis (also known as marijuana) is the most frequently used psychoactive substance globally. Cannabis exerts therapeutic functions for many indications and has vast potential as a health and wellness product. Advances in our understanding of the composition and pharmacological properties of cannabis have revealed interactions between cannabis, an individuals' circadian rhythms and and their endocannabinoid signaling. Exogenously administered cannabinoids can bidirectionally entrain central and peripheral clocks that comprise circadian rhythms, and malfunctions in the endocannabinoid system are reported to impact neurological processes. Therefore, it is necessary to account for the circadian rhythm when designing clinical trials examining the pharmacological properties of cannabis-based products for health and wellness to limit its potential confounding impact on results. Consideration of the entrainment capabilities of the endocannabinoid system is warranted when designing clinical trials.

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, parallel, 8-week study, the efficacy of a daily dose of 1200 mg of protein hydrolysate from Coldwater Shrimp (Pandalus borealis) on ambulatory and office blood pressure was investigated in 144 free-living adults with mild to moderate hypertension. The primary outcomes of the study were daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure and office blood pressure. During the 8-week intervention period and in the intention-to-treat analysis (n=144), there were significant reductions in the group consuming the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate relative to the placebo group in daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure at 4 weeks (p=0.014) and at 8 weeks (p=0.002), and in office systolic blood pressure at 2 weeks (p=0.031) and 4 weeks (p=0.010), with a trend toward significance at 8 weeks (p=0.087). By 8 weeks, significant and favourable improvements in the group consuming the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate relative to the placebo group were also observed for several secondary outcomes, including 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure, daytime ambulatory diastolic blood pressure, and daytime and 24-hour ambulatory mean arterial pressure. Also by Week 8, there was a statistically significant difference between groups in the distribution of subjects across National Institutes of Health-defined blood pressure categories (i.e., Normotensive, Prehypertensive, Stage 1 hypertension, and Stage 2 hypertension), with a more favourable distribution in the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate group than in the placebo group (p=0.006). Based on exploratory analyses conducted only in participants in the shrimp-derived protein hydrolysate group, angiotensin II levels were significantly reduced relative to baseline. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01974570.

BACKGROUND:Anthocyanins and prebiotics impact overall health and wellness, likely through modulation of the microbiota and the intestinal ecosystem.OBJECTIVES:An 8-week open-label study in male and female volunteers with uncomplicated obesity was designed to study the efficacy of an anthocyanin and prebiotic blend in modulating intestinal microbiota and intestinal inflammation.RESULTS:After 8 weeks of daily supplementation, participants had a significant decrease in Firmicutes (p < 0.001) and Actinobacteria (p < 0.001) and a significant increase in Bacteroidetes (p < 0.001). Bowel habits were improved as evidenced by reductions in the severity of bloating (p < 0.05), gas (p=0.035), and abdominal pain (p=0.015) as well as significant improvements in stool consistency (p < 0.05). Finally, a nonsignificant decrease in the inflammatory marker fecal calprotectin was seen (p=0.107). The supplement was safe and well tolerated.CONCLUSIONS:The results suggest that regular consumption of the anthocyanin-prebiotic blend positively modulated the intestinal ecosystem and provided insights into the mechanisms of action and its impact on health benefits.

The original version of the published Article contained an incorrect citation for reference 20 “Hubbard, B. P. & Sinclair, D. A. Measurement of sirtuin enzyme activity using a substrate-agnostic fluorometric nicotinamide assay. Methods Mol. Biol . 1077, 167–177 (2013).” The citation for reference 20 has been changed to “Cheng, Y. et al . SIRT1 activation by pterostilbene attenuates the skeletal muscle oxidative stress injury and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by ischemia reperfusion injury. Apoptosis 21 (8), 905-916 (2016)”. The original version of the published Article did not list a source for the placebo pills or the investigational product NRPT in the Intervention section of Methods. The last sentence of the Intervention section of Methods now lists the source for the placebo pills and the investigational product NRPT as follows: “The matched placebo pills and the investigational product (NRPT) were provided by Elysium Health (New York, NY)”. This has now been corrected in the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Rapid uptake of vitamin C into blood and retention in tissues are important indicators of the efficacy of vitamin C supplementation and its immune-supporting role. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of vitamin C in plasma (reflective of recent intake) and leukocytes (reflective of tissue stores and influences on immune function) from a novel vitamin C formulation, Ester-C®.

Anthocyanins and prebiotics have been shown to impact overall health and wellness. One mechanism for the health benefits has been through modulation of the microbiome and the intestinal ecosystem. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a supplement containing both anthocyanins and prebiotics on modulating the intestinal environment, including the microbiome and intestinal inflammation. Fifty‐one healthy, obese male and female participants with BMI from 29.2 to 40.6 kg/m2 and between 20 and 60 years of age were enrolled in an 8‐week long open‐label single‐cohort study. Participants maintained their normal dietary and lifestyle habits and abstained from consuming anthocyanin‐rich foods and prebiotic supplements from four weeks prior to enrollment and for the duration of the study. The supplement, in powder form, contained an anthocyanin blend from black rice, black currant, and blueberry extracts (total of 215 mg anthocyanins) and a blend of prebiotic fibers (2.7 g) and was consumed once daily. Clinical chemistry and hematology and vital signs were documented for safety measurements at baseline and after 8‐weeks of supplementation. Participants completed a daily bowel habits diary commencing seven days prior to enrollment and the duration of the study. Stool samples were collected within 48 hours prior to baseline and end‐of‐study visits to measure microbiome diversity and fecal calprotectin, a marker of intestinal inflammation. After 8 weeks of consuming the supplement daily, participants had a significant decrease in the phylum Firmicutes (p<0.001) and Actinobacteria (p<0.001), a significant increase in the phylum Bacteroidetes (p<0.001), a significant decrease in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio (p<0.001) to be more similar to lean individuals, and a trend toward decrease in fecal calprotectin (p=0.107), compared to baseline. Bloating (p<0.05), gas (p=0.035), and abdominal pain severity (p=0.015) were significantly reduced and Bristol Stool Form Scale score was significantly improved during the study (p<0.05). The supplement was found to be safe and well tolerated based on vital signs and blood parameters. We found that consumption of a supplement containing a blend of anthocyanins and prebiotics positively modulated the intestinal ecosystem, including the microbiome, and provided insights into the mechanisms of action of the anthocyanin prebiotic formulation and its impact on health benefits. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (#NCT02743195).Support or Funding InformationSupported by Nu Skin Enterprises, Provo, Utah

Plasma ascorbate reflects recent intake, whereas leukocyte ascorbate more closely reflects cellular stores and total body pool.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) is believed to play a role in the progression of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD) and the development of diabetes complications. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a novel insoluble fiber derived from the mycelium Aspergillus niger , chitin-glucan (CG) (ARTINIA™), evaluated 135 patients with fasting LDL-cholesterol 130-189.9 mg/dl and fasting glucose <=125 mg/dl. Participants were randomly assigned to receive CG (4.5 g/day; n=34), CG (1.5 g/day; n=33), CG (1.5 g/day) plus olive extract (n=33), or matching placebo (n=35) for 6 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the between-group difference in OxLDL. Secondary outcome measurements included effects upon lipid, glucose, insulin, and F2-isoprostane levels. After 6 weeks, CG 4.5 g/day (CG-4.5) significantly reduced mean OxLDL 3.8 U/L compared to baseline (58.0 U/L vs 61.8 U/L, respectively; P =0.006), and reduced OxLDL 4.97 U/L compared to placebo (P=<0.05). Other treatment groups generally had no significant effect upon OxLDL. CG treatment groups reduced LDL-cholesterol levels 3.2–;6.5% compared to placebo (P<0.05). In this study population without diabetes mellitus or elevated glucose levels, CG did not significantly affect high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, F2-isoprostanes, or the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Treatments were well tolerated and with adverse experiences comparable to placebo. These results suggest that chitin-glucan, a novel insoluble fiber, may significantly reduce OxLDL and LDL-cholesterol levels, which may have therapeutic implications for patients at risk for CHD or other diabetes complications.

Serum cholesterol (C), LDL‐C, non‐HDL‐C, and apolipoprotein B (apo‐B) are well established risk markers for CV disease. The effect (and safety) of Pantesin (Daiichi Fine Chemicals) versus placebo on these risk markers was studied in 120 subjects (n=60/group) who were low to intermediate CV disease risk (NCEP ATP III) at screening. All subjects completed a 4 week diet lead‐in (TLC – Therapeutic Lifestyle Change) prior to randomization (baseline). Results for LDL‐C: LDL‐C (mg/dL) Screening Baseline 4‐weeks 8‐weeks 16‐weeks Placebo 115±26 108±25 112±28 114±29 115±27 Pantesin 112±24 (NS) 112±31 (NS) 104±27* 104±28* 108±30* = p≤0.005 NS = non‐significant; data are mean±SD ConclusionPantesin supplementation for 16 weeks (600 mg/d for 8 weeks then 900 mg/d for 8 weeks) significantly lowered LDL‐C as well as apo‐B (p=0.010) and non‐HDL‐C (p<0.001) over and above the effect of TLC diet alone. Pantesin was well tolerated with no differences between groups in adverse events. These results are noteworthy as prior studies have shown each 1 mg/dL reduction in LDL‐C lowers CV risk by 1%.

Modified carbohydrate diets, such as South Beach DietTM (SBD) may be advantageous for obesity treatment & associated dislipidemias. A multi‐center parallel study examined the effect of SBD, including SBD products, on weight loss & lipids compared to Reduced Calorie Diet (RCD). Overweight & obese women (n= 240) were randomized to follow SBD alone, SBD + SBD Products (SBDP), RCD, or RCD + SBD Products (RCDP) for 24 wks. SBDP & RCDP consumed 1‐2 SBD snacks & 1‐2 SBD meals/day. All groups lost weight from baseline to wks, 2, 8, 12, 16, 20 & 24 (p<0.05). SBDP & SBD had mean reductions in weight from baseline of 5.4%±3.0 & 4%±3.6 at 12 wks & 5.3%±5.2 & 4%±4.8 at 24 weeks respectively. RCDP & RCD had mean reductions in weight of 4%±3.9 & 3.5%±3.7 at 12 wks & 4.3%±5.3 & 4%±4.8 at 24 wks respectively. SBD groups had significant (p<0.05) reductions in TG from baseline to wk 12, with SBDP decreasing further to wk 24. HDL was increased by 8% from baseline to wk 24 in SBDP, which was significant for the interaction of diet & product (p<0.001). SBDP reduced TC:HDL from baseline to 24 wks compared to other groups (p<0.01). SBD groups also had significantly lower (p<0.05) diastolic BP than RCD groups at wk 24, with the SBDP group experiencing the greatest reduction (P<0.05). These results suggest that consuming formulated meal & snack products as part of the SBD pattern can promote weight loss & have a beneficial impact on CVD risk markers (Supported by Kraft Foods).

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a safe, high‐purity, non‐plant derived, non‐allergenic, patent‐protected, proprietary genistein (geniVida) in alleviating hot flashes in peri/post menopausal women.Methods84 peri/post menopausal women (minimum 7 hot flashes/day or 40/week) were enrolled in a randomized, placebo‐controlled, parallel, multi‐center ICH/GCP trial and given a 30 mg capsule of geniVida or a 30 mg placebo capsule daily with breakfast for 12 weeks. Measurements included daily hot flashes, FSH, 17 beta‐estradiol, endometrial thickness and adverse events.ResultsWomen on geniVida had fewer hot flashes/day from baseline to 8 and 12 weeks vs. women on the placebo (p=0.045 and p=0.015, respectively). 61.5% of women on geniVida had 50% or greater reduction in daily hot flashes vs. 25.9% of women on placebo. 88.5% of women on geniVida had 25% or greater reduction in duration of daily hot flashes vs. 59.3% of women on placebo. Severity of hot flashes was not different between groups. There were no differences between the groups for FSH, 17 beta‐estradiol, endometrial thickness and adverse events.ConclusionsgeniVida genistein was demonstrated to have a significant benefit in reducing the number and duration of daily hot flashes in peri/post menopausal women and may be used to manage menopausal symptoms without hormone replacement. Supported by DSM Nutritional Products, Inc.

Modified carbohydrate diets, such as South Beach DietTM (SBD) may be advantageous for obesity treatment. A multi‐center parallel study examined the effect of SBD, including commercial SBD products, on weight loss & satiety compared to Reduced Calorie Diet (RCD). Overweight & obese women (n= 240) were randomized to follow SBD, SBD + SBD Products (SBDP), RCD, or RCD + SBD Products (RCDP) for 24 wks. SBDP & RCDP consumed 1‐2 SBD snacks & 1‐2 SBD meals/day along with their respective assigned diet. On four occasions food records & hourly electronic appetite questionnaires were completed on 3 non‐consecutive days. All groups lost significant weight compared to baseline. SBD groups had greater weight loss at wk 2 (SBD ‐3.84 ± 3.92 lbs, SBDP ‐5.16 ±3.55 lbs; p<0.01) than those following RCD (RCD ‐2.70 ± 3.40 lbs, RCDP ‐3.40 ± 3.55 lbs). There was an effect (p<0.05) of product at wk 2. There was a trend (p=0.07) for the diet effect to persist at 12 wks. All had significant reductions in total fat mass from baseline to 24 wks, with SBD groups having the greatest reduction (p<0.05). SBD groups consumed significantly more protein, & tended to consume fewer calories (p=0.098) than CR groups at wk 2. Despite differences in nutrient intake, all groups reported similar overall appetite scores. These results indicate that SBD provides a viable weight loss strategy & the early weight loss differences may increase motivation (Supported by Kraft Foods).