In episode 195, Mike and James go all PREMIUM yet again and discuss the latest Mediterranean diet study for primary prevention. We also review a study that re-looks at niacin for cardiovascular disease prevention. At the end we slather the entire podcast in extra-virgin olive oil and toast its completion with an elegant Merlot.

Show notes

1) Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet

N Engl J Med 2013
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1200303

2) Niacin – a combined analysis

Am J Cardiol 2013;111:352-5

In episode 194, Mike and James invite our good friend and colleague David Gardner to layout the evidence for folic acid and Vitamin D for depression. Because there isn’t a lot of definitive evidence we discuss how to make recommendations in the face of limited evidence. We decide that decisions often come down to the chance of harm and what other alternatives are available. At the end, Mike and David decide to take Vitamin D and folic acid just to deal with all the snow they are under. James just goes outside in the sun and gardens.

Show notes

1) Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Major Depressive Disorder in Adults

J Aff Disorders 2009;117:S1–S64

2) Enhancement of fluoxetine with folic acid

J Affect Disord 2000;60:121-30 

3) Folic acid with fluoxetine

Neuroimmunomodulation 2008;15:145-52

4) Methylfolate and depression

Lancet 1990;336:392-5

5) L-methylfolate for depression

Am J Psychiatry 2012;169:1267-74

6) Vitamin D as adjunctive therapy to fluoxetine

Aust N Z J Psychiatry 0004867412465022 2012

7) Medication Info Share

8) Effect size illustrator

In episode 193, James and Mike talk about giving iron supplementation to non-anemic women complaining of fatigue. We grow very weak as the podcast gets close to the end and so we try eating an iron dumbbell with mixed success. However, tons of hilarity ensues.

Show notes

1) Tools for Practice

Is iron supplementation a reasonable option in treating non-anemic, menstruating women with unexplainable fatigue? 

2) Very low dose iron

Am J Med 2005;118:1142-7

In episode 192, Mike and James deliver yet more PREMIUM content, in a PREMIUM way to our PREMIUM listeners. We talk about new data on dosing warfarin, using inhaled steroids intermittently, and exercise in patients with heart disease.

Show notes

1) Warfarin dosing

Cochrane CD008685 

2) Intermittent Inhaled corticosteroids

Cochrane CD009611 

3) 10-year study of exercise in CHF

J Am Coll Cardiol 2012;60:1521–8

4) HF-ACTION

JAMA 2009;301:1439-50 

4) Exercise based rehabilitation for heart failure –

Cochrane CD003331

5) Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease

Cochrane CD001800