Dear Dr. Roach: Years ago, I was told that people with very little earwax have low cholesterol and generally live very long lives. Doctors and nurses that I mention this to have either never heard it before or doubted it was true. Your comments, please! — W.D.M.
Answer: There have been reports that the type (not amount) of earwax you have correlates to risk for heart disease. “Wet” earwax has more fat and less protein, while “dry” earwax has more protein and less fat. A Japanese study from the 1960s identified “dry” earwax as protective against heart disease, but no further studies have confirmed this apparent risk. Wet earwax correlates to high levels of apolipoprotein B more than it does to overall cholesterol levels.
The earlobe crease, a horizontal crease going across the earlobe, has been also associated with heart disease, but again, there remains controversy about its usefulness.
Although the ear may have some clues about cardiac health, the magnitude of the effect is small, and it rarely changes clinical recommendations.
Dear Dr. Roach: What exactly is collagen, and why do I see so many ads supporting its use as a youth supplement? — R.F.
Answer: Collagen is a structural protein found in your skin, bones, tendons and ligaments. Collagen is constantly broken down and replaced by the cells in the connective tissue of the body. We need adequate nutrition and the amino acids necessary to rebuild collagen.
However, I am not a believer in collagen supplements. You get the amino acids you need from a heathy general diet. Collagen supplements will be broken down rapidly into their component amino acids in the stomach and intestine, so the collagen you take can’t just be put into your body. It needs to be broken down and rebuilt in place.
What is currently called “bone broth” — or what our parents’ generation called “stock” — is a much cheaper and effective way of increasing collagen intake.
Vegans should be careful to get the critical amino acids in collagen. Beans and asparagus are a good way to get the amino acid proline, which is low in many vegetable sources and necessary for collagen’s structure.
