Infections & Cancer, Finasteride Side Effects, Blueberry Benefits, Vitamin D & Fertility, and CoQ10 : 1552

Infections Were Linked to About 1 in 8 Cancer Cases Worldwide A new global analysis estimates that infections were responsible for roughly 2.3 million new cancer cases in 2024, about 12% of all cancers worldwide. H. pylori and HPV were the largest contributors, followed by hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr virus, and hepatitis C. Host Dave Asprey explores how persistent infections can contribute to cancer through chronic inflammation, DNA damage, altered immune surveillance, and other biological pathways. He explains why this does not mean cancer is contagious or that infection inevitably leads to cancer, but argues that identifying, preventing, and treating infections such as H. pylori, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C can be an overlooked part of a long-term prevention strategy. Sources: -IARC: Global Burden of Cancer Attributable to Infections in 2024 -PubMed: Global Burden of Cancer Attributable to Infections in 2024 ~~~~ What We Really Know About Persistent Finasteride Side Effects Finasteride reduces the conversion of testosterone into DHT by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, but that enzyme also participates in pathways involved in neuroactive steroids. Some former users report persistent sexual, cognitive, mood, and physical symptoms after stopping the drug, a collection of symptoms commonly called post-finasteride syndrome. Small studies have reported differences in neurosteroids, gene expression, androgen signaling, and peripheral nerve function among symptomatic former users, but these studies cannot establish that finasteride caused those changes or determine how common persistent symptoms are. Host Dave Asprey examines the evidence between the two extremes, neither dismissing persistent symptoms nor assuming that finasteride permanently damages everyone who takes it. European regulators have also recognized suicidal ideation as a possible adverse effect of oral finasteride, although its frequency remains unknown. Sources: -EMA: Finasteride and Dutasteride Safety Review -PubMed: Neuroactive Steroids After Finasteride Discontinuation PubMed: Neuroactive Steroids and Features in Post-Finasteride Patients PubMed: Differential Gene Expression in Post-Finasteride Syndrome ~~~ One Cup of Blueberries a Day Improved Measures of Vascular Function In a six-month randomized controlled trial involving 115 adults with metabolic syndrome, consuming the equivalent of one cup of blueberries per day improved endothelial function and a measure of arterial stiffness, while a half-cup dose did not produce the same effects. Host Dave Asprey explains why describing blueberries simply as “antioxidants” misses much of their biology. Anthocyanins and other polyphenols can interact with gut microbes and influence vascular, inflammatory, and nitric oxide-related signaling. He also examines a small smoothie experiment showing that the polyphenol oxidase found in bananas sharply reduced the circulating metabolites of certain flavan-3-ols, while emphasizing that the experiment did not prove bananas erase the benefits of blueberries. Sources: -American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Blueberries and Cardiometabolic Function -Food & Function: Polyphenol Oxidase and Flavan-3-ol Bioavailability ~~~ Vitamin D Matters to Male Reproductive Biology, But It Is Not a Fertility Treatment Vitamin D receptors are present throughout the male reproductive system, and vitamin D signaling may influence processes involved in sperm motil