medical news that affects you and your patients: an archive of our "breaking news"

Vitamin D Levels May Affect Blood Pressure
The health benefits of maintaining an adequate serum level of 25'hydroxy vitamin D are numerous. A recent article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition hypothesized that systolic blood pressure levels might be influenced by serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, or 25(OH)D. In this cross-sectional study, data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1992) was evaluated, and the authors found a significant association between age-associated blood pressure increase and serum 25(OH)D in white subjects.....more

Increased EPA Blood Levels Seen With DHA Supplementation
There are a multitude of studies demonstrating the benefit of the combined essential fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) markers. A paper by Kelley et al focused on the benefits delivered by supplemental DHA and its sole influence on CVD markers in hypertriglyceridemic men....more

Vitamin D Protects Against Colds & Flu
It has long been observed that incidence of colds and influenza rises in the fall and winter months and wanes in the spring and summer. This is the opposite of serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, which increase in the summer and decrease dramatically as the amount of daylight diminishes. Research has shown adequate blood levels of vitamin D stimulate the genetic expression of antimicrobial peptides in human monocytes....more

Folate Status in Mexican-American Men Is Dependent On Genetics
Previous studies have indicated that individuals with the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C to T gene variant might have an insufficient folate status, as the aforementioned enzyme is responsible for converting folic acid to the active form, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF). These individuals therefore have depleted methylation capabilities and elevated serum homocysteine....more

N-Acetylcysteine Reduces Desire For Cocaine
Animal studies and pre-clinical trials have suggested that supplementation with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can benefit withdrawal in cocaine dependent subjects. In a recent pilot study 23 individuals were given NAC in doses of 1200 mg, 2400 mg, or 3600 mg daily for four weeks...more

Vitamin C Supplementation Improves Exercise-Induced Asthma
Previous studies have shown supplementation with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) improves lung function and reduces bronchoconstriction in individuals with exercise-induced asthma. Researchers at the Human Performance and Exercise Biochemistry Laboratory at Indiana University placed eight asthmatic subjects on 1500 mg/day of ascorbic acid or placebo for two weeks, then crossed the groups over to the other substance for another two weeks...more

High-Dose Vitamin D Shows Excellent Safety in MS Patients
Epidemiological studies have shown a significantly increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in people who are vitamin D deficient, and have correlated increased symptomatology in MS patients with lower serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D. To test the tolerability and safety of high doses of vitamin D in MS patients, researchers from the University of Toronto and two hospitals in Toronto gave 12 MS patients 1,200 mg elemental calcium along with increasing doses of vitamin D for 28 weeks....more

Adequate Vitamin D Could Save Thousands of Lives, Say Researchers
Thousands of cases of cancer could be averted if people in colder climates increased their blood levels of vitamin D, according to authors of a paper in the August 2007 journal Nutrition Reviews. Numerous epidemiological and ecological studies have shown increased cancer rates in higher latitudes around the world, especially colon, breast, and prostate cancers. With higher latitude comes a lower exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun - a critical component of adequate vitamin D levels in the blood. Pre-vitamin D is activated in skin cells via UV light into active vitamin D3. ...more

Vitamin D Analysis Shows Reduced Overall Mortality
Authors of a recent journal article in the Archives of Internal Medicine found a significant reduction in all-cause mortality in people who supplemented with vitamin D. The meta-analysis studied 18 randomized, controlled studies involving over 57,000 individuals over a mean of 5.7 years. With an average daily supplemental dose of 528 IU, people who took vitamin D for at least three years had an eight-percent reduction in mortality. ...more

Vitamin D Supplementation Cuts Cancer Risk
In a related study, in which participants were supplemented with vitamin D, there was a significant decrease in cancer incidence over a three-year period. Researchers at Creighton University gave 1,179 women over 55 years of age either calcium (1,400-1,500 mg/day), calcium and vitamin D (same dose calcium plus 1,100 IU/day vitamin D), or placebo. The number of individuals in the calcium plus vitamin D group had a significantly reduced incidence of cancer during the study. ...more

Meta-Analysis: Folic Acid Supplementation Prevents Stroke
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and other developed countries. High levels of plasma homocysteine are a significant independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including stroke. A recent meta-analysis analyzed eight folic acid supplementation studies, with a total of 16,841 participants, and found a significant decrease in risk for stroke with folic acid supplementation. ...more

Food Additives Provoke Hyperactive Behavior
In a study that many parents of kids diagnosed with ADHD might consider old news, researchers at the University of Southampton, England, found that some common food additives stimulated ADHD symptoms in children. Many CAM practitioners already advise elimination of artificial colorings and preservatives from the diet of kids diagnosed with ADHD; however, the recent article, published in the Sept. 6, 2007, issue of The Lancet, confirmed this common practice. ...more

Meta-Analysis - Folate Status Linked to Depression
A recent meta-analysis, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, analyzed 11 studies (with 15,315 participants) and found a significantly increased risk of depression in individuals with low folate levels. ...more

Low-Dose L-Arginine Supplementation Not Beneficial For Peripheral Artery Disease - Study Uses Ineffective Dose
Numerous studies have shown the amino acid L-arginine is an essential nutrient for optimal cardiovascular functioning. L-arginine is biochemically converted in vascular endothelial cells (the one-layer-thick lining inside blood vessels) into nitric oxide (NO), which causes vascular relaxation. This increases blood flow, makes the vessel less likely to be blocked with cholesterol plaques, and can lower blood pressure.

A study in the July 2007 journal Circulation (the official journal of the American Heart Association) reports that a group of 133 individuals with peripheral artery disease did not benefit from dosing with L-arginine. The study participants, who were an average 73 years of age, suffered from leg pain and restricted walking capacity. Researchers gave the participants one gram L-arginine three times daily for six months. Blood arginine levels rose significantly during the study; however, NO levels did not. Both the arginine group and the placebo group experienced significantly increased walking distance at six months, but the placebo group had a greater improvement. Blood flow in the L-arginine group actually decreased at six months, while the placebo group improved. ...more

Study on Multivitamin Use and Prostate Cancer Risk Creates Confusion and Fear
A study published in the May 16, 2007, Journal of the National Cancer Institute has many people concerned about the use of "multivitamins" and the incidence of prostate cancer. The researchers enrolled 295,344 men in an observational prospective study (as opposed to an interventional study), followed them for 5-6 years, and noted incidence of prostate cancer, incidence of advanced prostate cancer, and death from prostate cancer. They came to the conclusions that men reporting "excessive use of multivitamins (more than seven times per week)" were at a greater risk for developing advanced prostate cancer or dying from prostate cancer. Upon analysis of this study, it sends up a number of red flags that make us doubt the accuracy of its findings. ...more

Calcium Supplementation Has Lasting Effect On Risk of Colon Polyp Formation
It is known that calcium supplementation lowers the risk of colorectal cancer. New findings from a study published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute¹ have determined the duration of the protective effect of this supplementation.

The researchers found a four-year intake of 1,200 mg of elemental calcium per day given to subjects with previous colorectal adenomas reduced their risk of recurrence of adenomas for a period of five years. The findings were consistent even in the absence of continued supplementation. ...more

Vitamin D May Lower Multiple Sclerosis Risk
The incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is significantly greater in higher latitudes, whether north or south of the equator. This striking fact has lead researchers to investigate if the lower exposure to ultraviolet light from sun exposure in these latitudes, and a resultant seasonal vitamin D deficiency, contributes to the higher risk of MS. In a recent issue of the Journal of The American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers reported "high circulating levels of vitamin D are associated with a lower risk of multiple sclerosis." ...more

JAMA Strikes Again!

In typical JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) fashion, the February 28, 2007, issue featured an article trashing antioxidants, titled, "Mortality in Randomized Trials of Antioxidant Supplements for Primary and Secondary Prevention."

The print and electronic media were all over it immediately, with dramatic headlines, designed to scare rather than inform:

• Death by Vitamins
• Antioxidants May Kill
• Vitamins Could Be Killing You
• Some Antioxidant Supplements Linked to Lethality
• Study Says Antioxidant Pills Can Kill

First of all - this is not a new study. It is merely a new look at numerous, previously conducted studies - a meta-analysis. Not to be deterred by a paucity of negative studies on nutritional supplements, the authors of this study offer up a masterpiece in statistical manipulation. In the first place, they appeared to have a preconceived notion of the outcome they were looking for, judging by this sentence from the Comments section of the study: "Our findings support and extend our previous findings regarding antioxidant supplements and increased mortality." ...more

With the hubbub over prescription NSAIDs - namely Vioxx® and Celebrex® - leading to increased risk for heart attacks and strokes, both physicians and patients are scrambling to find alternatives for the relief of pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. Against this backdrop, the report of an NIH-sponsored study on the affect of acupuncture for osteoarthritis couldn't have been more timely....more

The Annals of Internal Medicine recently published an article entitled Meta-Analysis: High-Dosage Vitamin E Supplementation May Increase All-Cause Mortality. This is a very dramatic statement, to say the least. The problem, however, is that there is no substantial basis for it. As is the case in many studies, this incompetent and shoddy work has garnered the attention of a news media that usually takes press releases from journals such as the Annals of Internal Medicine at face value, rather than delving into the specifics of the article. Consequently, the media attention created by the report has stirred up unnecessary fear regarding the safety of vitamin E supplementation....more

An article published in the November 4 issue of Nature reported a decline in the krill biomass in the Antarctic. As Thorne Research carries a krill oil product, some of our customers may be concerned about how harvesting krill may affect the environment.....more

Bursting The Analytical Bubble
Alternative Medicine Review, Volume 9, Number 4.
And you thought when you learned the truth about Santa Claus it ruined your day. Read on. . . .
Practitioners, retailers, and the public are currently suffering through an unrelenting barrage of claims and certifications from companies who claim they meet "cGMP" (current Good Manufacturing Practices) and all their products are "independently" tested. It makes for great press, and the official "independent" analyses look very impressive and oh-so reliable.....more

Bad Medicine or Bad Reportage?
The year 2006 was full of bad news for adherents of alternative medicine. The first 2006 issue of JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) contained a study on L-arginine supplementation in people who had recently had a myocardial infarction - the conclusion: L-arginine doesn't help and may increase the risk of death. In the February 8th, 2006, issue of JAMA we were told that low-fat diets don't help prevent breast or colon cancer or heart disease. That same week, the New England Journal of Medicine (February 9th issue) published a study that found one of the most commonly used herbs, saw palmetto, was no better than placebo for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia or enlarged prostate. The article in the New England Journal kicked off a six-pronged attack on alternative medicine......more

Vitamin D Deficiency "Almost Universal" in Elderly Hip Fracture Patients
Researchers in Scotland report in the September 2005 issue of Current Medical Research and Opinion an "almost universal vitamin D inadequacy" in 548 elderly patients admitted to the hospital for hip fracture. Data was gathered over a four-year period at South Glascow University Hospital, and showed that 97.8 percent of hip fracture patients had low serum vitamin D, one-fourth being so low as to be undetectable...more

Coenzyme Q10 - Effective Migraine Preventive?
Drug therapy for migraine has made improvements in recent years; however, the emphasis has been on treatment of an existing migraine rather than prevention. Another issue for individuals with migraines is that prescription migraine drugs are not without side effects...more

Butterbur Improves Seasonal Allergy Symptoms
A botanical extract that has been extensively studied for its benefits in preventing migraines is proving to be effective against allergies. A standardized extract of the butterbur plant (Petasites hybridus) was recently shown to be as effective as Allegra® (fexofenadine) in the treatment of seasonal allergies...more

JAMA Study Unfairly Attacks Vitamin E
In the typical biased slant of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), an article published in the July 6th edition bashes vitamin E once again. In the latest report from the Women's Health Study - a long-term analysis of the health of female health-care professionals that has been ongoing since 1992 - the authors state that women who took 600 I.U...more

Folic Acid Supplementation Improves Coronary Blood Flow
In a recent doubled-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of individuals with coronary heart disease, researchers found supplementation with high-dose folic acid (30 mg per day) improves blood flow to the heart muscle via the coronary arteries. Using positron emission tomography (PET scanning), researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital noted significant improvement in coronary blood flow with folic acid supplementation compared to placebo...more

Folic Acid Protects The Brain
A certain amount of mental decline is considered a normal component of aging; however, severe cognitive dysfunction related to aging is regarded as pathologic. Many researchers are studying methods to improve memory and other cognitive functions as we age...more

Fatty Acid Supplementation Improves Mental Tasks and Behavior in Children
According to a recent study, fatty acid supplementation improves reading, spelling, and behavior in children. In a study published in the May 3, 2005, issue of the journal Pediatrics, 117 children with a diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD), which affects approximately five percent of children, were supplemented with omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids for three months. ...more

Acupuncture May Offer Alternative to Vioxx® and Celebrex®
With the hubbub over prescription NSAIDs - namely Vioxx® and Celebrex®leading to increased risk for heart attacks and strokes, both physicians and patients are scrambling to find alternatives for the relief of pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. Ag...more

L-Carnitine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine Improve Sperm Motility in Infertile Male Patients
L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine are necessary for mitochondrial beta-oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, providing for their central role in cellular energy production. The highest levels of L-carnitine in the human body are found in the epididymal fluid, reaching 2,000 times the level in circulating blood. To ini...more

Antioxidant Vitamins Combat Age-related Macular Degeneration
Estimates indicate a significant reduction of age-related macular degenerationRecent research by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) group published in the current issue of Archives of Ophthalmology¹ estimates a significant reduction in the number of persons developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) during the next five years in patients supplemented with a high-dose antioxidant/zinc supplement. Th...more

Modified citrus pectin fights resistant cancer cells
Preliminary research published in the December issue of Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Disease has shown that modified citrus pectin (MCP) may fight resistant prostate cancer cells. Thirteen men with prostate cancer that did not respond to conventional treatment, including surgery and radiation, were treated with 14.4 grams MCP daily for one year. ...more

Green Tea component Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) Kills Leukemia Cells
Increased and abnormal angiogenesis have consistently been detected in the marrow of patients with hematological disorders. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key mediator of uncontrolled proliferation of vessels that develop in a chaotic fashion. Lee ...more

Patients Seeking Alternatives after Vioxx® Recall
On September 30, 2004, pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck voluntarily recalled the arthritis drug Vioxx from the market, after results from a clinical trial indicated patients taking the drug had an increased risk of potentially deadly cardiovascular side effects. Vioxx, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), was being studied for its potential effect on colon polyp recurrence in people who had previously been diagnosed with colon polyps; however, researchers found the risk of a heart attack or stroke doubled in patients taking Vioxx for 18 months.

Vioxx, also marketed in other countries as Ceoxx, is a COX-2 inhibitor-a drug that reduces inflammation by specifically inhibiting the cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme. In...more