tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60068876324014285092024-02-20T23:30:40.358-05:00Quantum Natural HealthResearch, news, and commentary related to wellness and nutritional therapies by Functional Medicine consultant, Andy Robbins.AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-54798396662393158262021-01-13T17:47:00.007-05:002021-01-14T07:22:44.315-05:00Zinc Ionophore Activity of Quercitin and EGCG<p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">Zinc Ionophore Activity of Quercitin and EGCG</h1><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj921xYuZ1W_FuweILYBG5it30mSmMS7KFdCL_r5qD2MemVDJoVbD3Dit7aoDuJH1Qzxk4YKuaCtRCNur5gE4YC0sxuqB4PH4t5NDhE2heTWRb5COkhuXaGzDckcNMF7CIoy9b9aFcrGyG8/s967/immune-boosters.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="967" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj921xYuZ1W_FuweILYBG5it30mSmMS7KFdCL_r5qD2MemVDJoVbD3Dit7aoDuJH1Qzxk4YKuaCtRCNur5gE4YC0sxuqB4PH4t5NDhE2heTWRb5COkhuXaGzDckcNMF7CIoy9b9aFcrGyG8/w417-h279/immune-boosters.jpg" width="417" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: medium;">As ways to boost immunity and protect against infection continue to be front and center issues in our world, research focused on nutritional support for the immune system continues to progress.</span><div><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: medium;">Zinc has become a major topic of interest of late, since this tried-and-true mineral has been in the news for its ability to prevent viral replication and its role in regulating the inflammasome response that leads to cytokine storms. </span><span style="font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: large;"> </span><p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: medium;">Zinc alone is effective depending on the form. Not all zincs are created equal, however, and forms such as glycinate and arginate appear to be the most bioavailable. That said, there may be ways to enhance the bioavailability of zinc, thus providing an even greater impact on immunity and viral load.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(17, 17, 17); color: #111111;"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: medium;">Getting zinc into the cell is obviously dependent on having adequate levels of zinc outside the cell. With most of us, this is usually not a problem. However, zinc absorption does vary by individual. Physiological stressors, such as infection and inflammation, tend to deplete zinc pretty fast.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #111111;">Zinc is a decidedly anti-viral mineral. High intracellular concentrations inhibit the replication of RNA type viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. Zinc does this by blocking</span><span style="color: #111111;"> </span><span style="border: 0px; color: #111111; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp)</span><span style="color: #111111;">, the core enzyme of the multiprotein replication and transcription complex critical for the copying of viral RNA.</span><span style="color: #111111;"> </span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #111111; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: medium;">That’s the conundrum. In high concentrations, zinc can block coronavirus reproduction, but the cell typically does not tolerate high levels of zinc due to its other actions.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #111111; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: medium;">Enter the zinc ionophores.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #111111; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">An ionophore is any substance which is able to transport particular ions across a lipid membrane in a cell. In the case of zinc, </span><span>there are molecules that can act as facilitators and enhance the entry of zinc into the cell. These are known as</span><span> </span><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">zinc ionophores<span>. </span></strong></span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #111111; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span>Quercetin and EGCG from green tea are zinc ionophores. These </span></span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-style: inherit;">plant polyphenols act as antioxidants and as signaling molecules.</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-style: inherit;"><span>1</span></span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-size: medium; font-style: inherit;">Quercetin plus zinc is being tested as an antiviral in human clinical trials for the treatment of Covid-19. The combination had already made it through animal trials for use against Ebola and SARS-CoV1, and was approved by the FDA for human clinical trials. Plans are underway for a large scale trial in China for patients with Covid-19.</span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #111111; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Playfair Display; font-size: medium;">Using these compounds in combination can be a very powerful option against viral infections. </span></span></p><p style="border: 0px; color: #111111; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(33, 33, 33); color: #212121; font-family: "Playfair Display"; font-style: inherit;">1. Zinc </span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: Playfair Display;">inophore Activity of Quercetin and Epigallocatechin gallate: From Hepa 1-6 Cells to Liposome Model, July 2014, Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, 62(32), PubMed)</span></span></p></div>AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-1067984914147293702020-11-16T17:22:00.001-05:002020-11-17T09:37:53.920-05:00What are Spore-Based Organisms and are they Better than Human-Derived Probiotics?<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; text-align: justify;">Spore-based organisms are not new, as some believe. They have been around since the 1930's, and were debunked in 1939. Yet they have made a resurgence as of late, probably </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; text-align: justify;">because in the nutritional industry companies are aggressively trying to carve out a niche for themselves, attempting to promote things that are "new" and "unique," but really are anything but. </span></span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">“Spore-based” organisms are being misclassified by some manufacturers as probiotics, although this designation is a deviation from the International Scientific Association of Prebiotics and Probiotics (ISAPP).</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">According to the ISAPP, to be classified as a probiotic, bacterial strains must be human in origin. Therefore, spores would not fit that definition, as spores are soil-based.</span></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">"...Bacillus coagulans is a ubiquitous soil bacterium that grows at 50-55 °C [122-133 °F]..." Stand Genomic Sci. 2011 Dec 31;5(3):331-40. Rhee et al.</span></span></i></p><p><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large;">Therefore, soil-based organisms are not typically considered “normal” GI residents. The suggestion of use is often to the hygiene-theory of disease, as it is now being suggested that humans are now “too clean,” and exposure to these various soil organisms may prime the immune system. This is a theory that may not be commonly accepted in conventional medicine or even in holistic medicine circles, however, because it lacks scientific validation.</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">The strains used in high quality probiotics are generally human-microflora – those genus, species, and strains found natively in the human gut. Some probiotics may also offer other strains that are found in dairy and/or fermented plants foods (sauerkraut, as example).</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span></p><p><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Strains are given their designation once the genome is mapped. Spore organisms have not been subjected to DNA mapping.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">We also know there is a massive body of research on the various specific human strains. In theory, spores as probiotics might have some benefit, and there are research articles available, but thus far the research looks very scant compared to the mammoth amount of data regarding human-based organisms. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #990000;">But an important point to consider is that none of the few studies that exist on spores show anything <i>new or better</i> than what standard human-based probiotics have been shown to provide. Thus, the marketing on spore probiotics does not appear to match the research. </span></b><b style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; text-align: justify;"> </b></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">As has been said, "what glitters isn't always gold." </span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large;">The only unique characteristic of spore-based organisms is their</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><i style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">purported</span></i><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large;">(not proven) improved survivability, which is less unique in terms of clinical properties. It is suggested that there is greater survival through the GI tract, as they are in their “inactive” spore state when swallowed and supposedly activated during digestion. However, if this survivability proves valid, some have concerns along these lines as to the safety and potential growth of pathogens as a result of lack of transit. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Regarding survivability in the digestive process, survivability of the more hardy strains of probiotic organisms is not the primary concern anyway. Think about it. When a person eats kefir or any other cultured food, do the organisms survive digestion and colonize? Most of the time, yes, and they are not even encapsulated! This is just another example of companies trying to create a "need" that doesn't really exist and has never been demonstrated in the literature. </span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large;">Recall the definition of probiotics: “Proven clinical efficacy when taken orally.” Human-based probiotics have this track record of clinical efficacy, safety, and reems of research. </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><b style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When in doubt, therefore, it would be advisable to go with the proven track record and research.</span></b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">In summary, there are two very important considerations.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">First, what is the true definition of a probiotic according to the ISAPP? For one, genus, species,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-size: large;">and</span></i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">strain must be listed on the bottle. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">they have to have proven clinical efficacy in humans when taken orally</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">So then, other than supposed unique survivability, what does the literature show regarding these spore-species – in humans – that may not be found with more ‘traditional’ human-microflora? Well, nothing.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; text-align: justify;">In keeping with the standards of scientific research and strains that are accepted as safe and effective, do spore-based strains like lactobacillus sporogenes enjoy this kind of data? No. According to the article, </span><strong style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-weight: normal;">Lactobacillus sporogenes is Not a Lactobacillus Probiotic</span></i></strong><b style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;">,</span></i></b><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;"> </span></i><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;">"No independent panel of experts has evaluated the safety of B. Coagulans for human consumption."<sup>1</sup></span></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Furthermore, Lactobacillus Sporogenes is not even a legitimately recognized strain and is actually a misclassification, as stated above.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;">Let’s close the discussion by quoting again from the same article:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span>"Unlike [true] probiotic species of lactobacilli, members of the genus Bacillus are not considered normal members of the intestinal flora... Published literature supporting the role of Bacillus coagulans in enhancing human health is sparse, especially as compared to literature published on Lactobacillus use as probiotics. To continue to persist using this taxonomically incorrect name leads to speculation about the advantages of <u>willingly mislabeling a product</u>. It is likely that companies hope to benefit from association with the large aggregate of published literature and history of use on the safety and health benefits of the genus Lactobacillus... <u>The perpetuation of intentional mislabeling in the long run will serve to erode consumer confidence and undermine the credibility of the probiotic industry</u>." </span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif;"> </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">Reference:<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><strong><i><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;">“Lactobacillus sporogenes” Is Not a Lactobacillus Probiotic, </span></i></strong><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 10pt;">– Mary Ellen Sanders Dairy and Food Culture Technologies Littleton, Colo; Lorenzo Morelli Instituto di Microbiologia UCSC Piacenza, Italy</span><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 10pt;">; <span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Scott Bush Rhodia Inc. Madison, Wis.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span></p><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="background-color: #f6f6f6; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><br /></span></span></h1><p style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18.399999618530273px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.333332061767578px;"> </span></p><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style>AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-10154971424171253542020-04-16T15:57:00.000-04:002020-04-16T16:01:01.480-04:00NAD Precursors in Anti-Aging & Mitochondrial Support: Filtering out Truth from Marketing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfV8BVWYdamgkJiqoX5UUoZPK5Jm59RBq_6EAD1ghIjNvD2K0FhyhBrhDYsvOa0TGRV2NV7pWyaY8Zc6mErUXPBKwf1X0KFiTgXohxYBFyF7fuGcK9AISAW7RD_Fr36hqICUMqMIHFFan/s1600/Old-Guy-Lifting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfV8BVWYdamgkJiqoX5UUoZPK5Jm59RBq_6EAD1ghIjNvD2K0FhyhBrhDYsvOa0TGRV2NV7pWyaY8Zc6mErUXPBKwf1X0KFiTgXohxYBFyF7fuGcK9AISAW7RD_Fr36hqICUMqMIHFFan/s400/Old-Guy-Lifting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The interest in NAD precursors/boosters is gaining momentum in not only the holistic health care world, but now also in the lay public, particularly those interested in performance and anti-aging. A couple of very well-funded start-up OTC companies have been heavily promoting their products on social media. Hopefully we can get a clearer distinction here between hype and hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">WHAT IS NAD AND WHAT DOES IT DO?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">Without</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> going into a lengthy biochemical diatribe, let's scale this back to a short and simple working definition. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">Nicotinamide </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.05999999865889549px;">adenine</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> dinucleotide (NAD) is a cofactor </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.05999999865889549px;">central</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> to metabolism. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(30, 30, 30); letter-spacing: 0.5px;">A critical coenzyme found in every cell in the body, it’s involved in hundreds of metabolic processes like cellular energy and mitochondrial health. But like everything else, there is not an endless supply of it in the body and declines with age. That's why it is being examined in anti-aging applications, energy, and sports performance.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: 0.5px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">VITAMIN B3 AS A NATURAL NAD-BOOSTING COMPOUND</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em;">The compound being heavily promoted in NAD-boosting supplements is nicotinamide riboside chloride, which is another oral form of vitamin B3 (niacin/niacinamide). </span></span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">Nicotinamide riboside chloride</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> is a very novel-sounding compound not widely known to the masses, and it sounds much more exotic and "new" compared to simply listing the compound as vitamin B3 </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">with</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> the specific form in </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">parentheses, which is common on supplement labels.</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> <b><span style="color: #990000;">The chloride portion, by the way, is not part of the therapeutic benefit. It turns out that nearly any form of B3 will help boost NAD, but especially niacinamide.</span></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Humans metabolize vitamin B3 in its vitamin function specifically to synthesize NAD for energy. NAD is maintained in the body both by recycling of NAD as well as synthesis from vitamin B3. It does not take much oral B3 to maintain NAD due to significant recycling by the body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Vitamin B3 in the form of niacinamide is a precursor to NAD. Therefore, one might consider higher doses oral niacinamide, which is a heck of a lot less expensive compared to some of the "novel" NAD precursor products that contain the </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">nicotinamide riboside chloride form. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">While oral nicotinamide riboside is 'new,' the function of niacin (niacinamide/nicotinamide) has long been well understood associated to energy (NAD) and DNA protection. The riboside is an attachment to the simple sugar ribose, and it should be noted that there is not a suggested ribose deficiency in the diet and is endogenously produced. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>"...In the body, nicotinic acid [niacin] is converted to nicotinamide in hepatocytes and erythrocytes, and nicotinamide can then be transported in plasma to be used by all cells for the synthesis of nicotinamide nucleotides (i.e., nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide [NAD] and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate)...</i></b>" <span style="color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Clin Infect Dis. 2003 Feb 15;36(4):453-60. Nicotinamide: an oral antimicrobial agent with activity against both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus. Murray MF.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; outline: none;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px;">Here's </span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px;">another</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px;"> quote from a study that I particularly like the title of: </span></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px;">"Niacin: an old lipid drug in a new NAD+ dress"</span></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px;"><i>"Niacin can be processed by eukaryotic cells to synthesize a crucial cofactor, NAD+</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px; outline: none !important;">... </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px; outline: none !important;">[Niacin] </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px; outline: none !important;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none !important;">acts as a control switch of NAD</span></span><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px; outline: none !important;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; outline: none;">+</span></sup><span style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px; outline: none !important;">/sirtuin-mediated control of metabolism." </span></span></b></span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30782960" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #5a78e9; letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="Journal of lipid research."><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #660066; outline: none;">J Lipid Res.</span></a><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: -0.04500000178813934px;"> 2019 Apr;60(4):741-746.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LnRPHCLxuWmZW0Uz3s2Ya-3JwjSkZB2FYY4dQDYQsZaBYosQ_N_QzBTjH83UlICYC7c1ClydZb_X9ycZK8rot_QUEwnOGyiKi7rlkBRBThzEh8LS7_vyvsMAWwnaIjac05wpjJPOIkl4/s1600/_1000x1000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LnRPHCLxuWmZW0Uz3s2Ya-3JwjSkZB2FYY4dQDYQsZaBYosQ_N_QzBTjH83UlICYC7c1ClydZb_X9ycZK8rot_QUEwnOGyiKi7rlkBRBThzEh8LS7_vyvsMAWwnaIjac05wpjJPOIkl4/s640/_1000x1000.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ADDITIONAL SUPPORT</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em;">One might also consider</span><span style="letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> glutathione support with compounds such as N-acetlcysteine and glucoraphanin from broccoli extract. Additionally, CoQ10, magnesium, taurine and creatine to name just a few can be considered for mitochondrial energy support. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: -0.003em;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"SHOULD I BUY </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">NICOTINAMIDE RIBOSIDE CHLORIDE SUPPLEMENTS?"</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">What to buy is up to the consumer's best judgement, of course. But the cost/benefits ratio declines sharply with this form of B3 compared to standard niacinamide, since the latter is much less expensive. Furthermore, there is only a small amount of human data available on the riboside </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">chloride</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> form at this time. It is the </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">opinion</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> of this writer that nicotinamide riboside chloride </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">products</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> are incorrectly hyped as a "new" powerful way to boost NAD differently and better than other nutritional compounds. But the research doesn't bear this out. To my knowledge there have not been any studies comparing the two head-to-head, so any claim that riboside chloride products are somehow more effective doesn't appear to hold up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">There is also a very interesting patent battle going on right now between the two companies that are </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">heavily</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> marketing the riboside chloride form, which tells you a lot about how the nutritional </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">industry</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> works. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: -0.003em;">Therefore, let the buyer beware. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;">Niacin and niacinamide as stand alone supplements or in combination with one another and/or </span></span><a href="https://www.metagenics.com/glycogenics" style="letter-spacing: -0.003em;" target="_blank">with other B-vitamins</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> are common, and as little as 200 mg per day can make a difference. But one could take significantly more without a problem. Just be careful of the "niacin flush" of a burning prickly </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">sensation</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> on the skin that is common with standard high dose niacin. Niacinamide, however, normally does not produce a flushing effect. Likewise, adding N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">broccoli</span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.003em;"> extract to the mix for the glutathione support benefits can be a powerful combination. One such <a href="https://www.metagenics.com/glutaclear" target="_blank">combination</a> provides 750 mg of niacinamide per two tablets, along with 750 mg of NAC, 38 mg of </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(68, 68, 68); letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">broccoli extract, and additional selenium and vitamin C for a big glutathione and NAD support formula. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large; letter-spacing: -0.04800000041723251px;">It should also be noted that being in a state of ketosis also appears to boost NAD according to some research. So intermittent fasting and/or a ketogenic diet for a few weeks to months and re-visited occasionally is an important consideration here as well. </span></span></div>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-13291235453253726882019-11-27T09:48:00.000-05:002019-11-27T10:17:19.136-05:00Pain Management Benefits of Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) <h2>
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Palmitoylethanolamide, or PEA, is a natural substance found in the body that may support pain management. It was discovered in 1957 by scientists extracting it from soybean lecithin, which they referred to at the time as N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-palmitamide. Let’s take a closer look at this breakthrough natural molecule.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 28px;">What is Palmitoylethanolamide?</span></span></div>
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<img alt="Palmitoylethanolamide Structure" src="https://store-cebedmpn.mybigcommerce.com/product_images/uploaded_images/palmitoylethanolamide.png" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; width: 307px;" /></div>
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PEA is an endogenous fatty acid amide, and a member of the N-acetyl-ethanolamine family. Fatty acid amides, as the name suggests, are formed by a combination of a fatty acid and an amine. They are widely distributed throughout the body and play an important role in cell signaling. PEA itself is commonly found in various foods, including eggs and milk. In addition, being an endogenous compound, PEA is found throughout the human body, including the brain and spinal cord. Interestingly, pain hypersensitivity is associated with a significant decrease in the level of endogenous PEA in spinal cord and in brain areas directly or indirectly involved in nociception. This indicates that PEA is may be vital to the body’s pain response.</div>
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In studies, PEA has been shown to bind to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-α) in the nucleus of cells. This receptor is responsible for regulating the gene networks connected to the control of pain. Palmitoylethanolamide also has affinity for the cannabinoid-like receptors GPR55 and GPR119. However, PEA does not have affinity for the classic cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. As such, it does not possess the psychoactivity seen in classic cannabinoids. </div>
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<img alt="Mast Cell Diagram" src="https://nootropicsdepot.com/product_images/uploaded_images/mast-cell-diagram.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
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PEA also has the ability to reduce the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Elevated levels of COX-2 are found during periods of pain. PEA may prevent IkB-alpha degradation and p65 NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, due to its PPAR-alpha agonism. Clinical trials have found that the compound’s action performs numerous biological functions related to chronic pain.</div>
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<img alt="COX Diagram" src="https://nootropicsdepot.com/product_images/uploaded_images/cox-diagram.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 28px;">Palmitoylethanolamide and Endocannabinoids</span></span></div>
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While PEA is not technically an endocannabinoid, it often gets grouped into the family, particularly with anandamide, because PEA operates via similar metabolic and synthetic pathways. Endocannabinoids are chemical compounds that activate many of the same receptors as THC, which is the active component in marijuana. Both humans and animals naturally synthesize endocannabinoids, which play a crucial role in bioregulation. They are mainly involved in cell signaling; producing same cell (autocrine) and cell-to-cell (paracrine) actions rather than full systemic effects. </div>
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The two novel cannabinoid receptors that palmitoylethanolamide binds to, GPR55 and GPR119, are G protein-coupled receptors found in the human body and brain. GPR55 is activated by both the marijuana cannabinoids Δ <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 9.75px; line-height: 0; position: relative; top: -0.5em; vertical-align: baseline;">9</span>-THC and cannabidiol, along with anandamide. The GPR55 receptor was only discovered in 1999, and many have started referring to it as the CB3 receptor. Since both PEA and anandamide bind to the GPR55 receptor, supplementing PEA not only leads to the effects modulated by direct binding to the GPR55 receptor, but it also leads to increased binding of anandamide to the CB1 and CB2 receptors. This is because it competes for the GPR55 receptor, leaving more anandamide available for binding to the other cannabinoid receptors.</div>
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The GPR119 receptor is another G protein-coupled receptor expressed mostly in the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. Activation of the GPR119 receptor have been shown to cause a reduction in food intake and reduction in body weight in rats.</div>
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<img alt="Cannabinoid Diagram" src="https://nootropicsdepot.com/product_images/uploaded_images/cannabinoid-diagram-b.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
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PEA is an endogenous modulator and, as mentioned, it’s already present in many of the foods you already consume. In addition, its novel binding sites make it a unique possible solution for those with chronic pain.</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 28px;">Overall Health Effects of PEA</span></span></div>
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PEA may offer various potential benefits for overall health. However, it is most well known for its ability to support pain management.</div>
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PEA may also support heart health. Studies with mice using PEA found less injury to heart tissue, decreased cell death, and lower levels of cytokines.</div>
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PEA can also potentially support brain health.</div>
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Palmitoyalethanolamide is truly an amazing natural compound, with a variety of potential benefits and positive mechanisms in the body and brain. Research about this compound continues to expand on its new benefits and effects.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Nootropicsdepot.com</span></div>
AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-25285533809067969392018-11-01T14:39:00.000-04:002018-11-01T14:39:25.018-04:00Specialized Pro-Resolving Meditators (SMPs): A New Approach to Inflammation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZobgTIph6FnzFjRfspUjztZE5PL9RD77Sco3MITw6k9cUYj85iWYQkDLYCneXbA7X2n0rsjW7l5kRWj36oR8Vg2WuWXfWjmDrV6WvPZnkR7PTE1tYZLpjU-1WQERBgpALjEnMo-f5Wz7F/s1600/bones+on+fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="960" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZobgTIph6FnzFjRfspUjztZE5PL9RD77Sco3MITw6k9cUYj85iWYQkDLYCneXbA7X2n0rsjW7l5kRWj36oR8Vg2WuWXfWjmDrV6WvPZnkR7PTE1tYZLpjU-1WQERBgpALjEnMo-f5Wz7F/s320/bones+on+fire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 18pt;">“INFLAMMAGING”</span></b><span style="color: white; font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>PAIN AND INFLAMMATION ASSOCIATED WITH AGING</b></span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Inflammation is a natural process in response to injury and infection. </span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">The body’s immune system launches a response when presented with various challenges to help bring healing.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Inflammation, while unpleasant, is actually a necessary part of this response.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">But when the inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to tissue destruction and degenerative changes in the body that can lead to disease.</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="text-align: justify;">Many of today’s most feared chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, etc, are now known to be linked, at least in part, to an underlying inflammatory process.</span></span><div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>The Role of Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators (SPMs)</b><span style="color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The body’s natural inflammatory process is just that – a process. The immune system will respond to various challenges with an initial inflammatory stage, but then it works to resolve the inflammation through natural chemicals such as macrophages that clean up dead cells and Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators, or SPMs, that then work to resolve the inflammation and shut down the inflammatory response.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, as we age our bodies don’t make SPMs as readily as before. Other factors also affect the body’s production of SPMs, such as stress, poor diet, and lack of exercise. When SPMs are deficient, the body cannot resolve inflammation as efficiently as before, and chronic inflammation can set in, leading to conditions such as joint stiffness and pain, and other degenerative changes leading to disease and dysfunction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thankfully, emerging research from Harvard and other prestigious scientific sources has discovered that SPMs are available nutritionally and can be provided as supplemental to the diet, thereby aiding the body in resolving inflammation. </span></span></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Dietary Sources of SPMs</span><span style="color: #5870bb; font-family: "Arial Narrow", sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">Two natural fatty acids from fish oil, </span><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), when metabolized properly, break down into natural chemicals known as </span><span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;">18- hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (18-HEPE) and 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA). These chemicals are known as <i>resolvins</i>, as they play a major role in the resolving phase of inflammation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, various health challenges prevent proper conversion of these chemicals, and even when converted properly the small amounts of 18-HEPE and 17-HDHA are inconsequential in the face of significant inflammation. Eating fish or even taking fish oil supplements would not provide measurable amounts of these resolvins to have any impact on inflammation. In fact, a person would have to take 7 or more high-potency fish oil supplements every day for 6 weeks to even to begin to show any measurable resolvins. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, through collaborative efforts in the scientific community, a revolutionary new fractionation process has allowed scientists to isolate 18-HEPE and 17-HDHA and provide them in amounts in supplemental form in high enough amounts to have a significant impact on the resolution phase of inflammation. </span></span><span style="font-family: Corbel, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.466665267944336px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Applications for SPM Supplementation</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">SPM supplementation can and should be considered for any health condition with an inflammatory component. Research on SPMs have been successfully conducted on the following conditions:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aspiration pneumonia</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Asthma</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cystic Fibrosis</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Colitis </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Periodontitis</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dry Eyes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cornea Inflammation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vascular Disease</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Obesity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Type II Diabetes</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stroke</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alzheimer's Disease</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All forms of Arthritis</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fibromyalgia</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Acute Injuries</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Acute Infections</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Muscle Soreness</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">References: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">1. Recchuiti, A. J Gerontol Geriat Res 2014; 3:151 </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt;">2. Bento et al. J Immunol 2011;187:1957-1969<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-9174006969570852152018-08-02T08:15:00.000-04:002018-08-03T07:28:36.379-04:00High Dose Folate vs. Broad-Spectrum Nutrition for Methylation Support<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #222222;">The issue of high-dose folate has come up a lot lately, as a </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">number of </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">supplement companies </span></span><span style="color: black;">offer folate in excess of 2,000 mcg and sometimes a lot more in products targeted for methylation and homocysteine metabolism. While some references are made to support this, the truth is that </span><b style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: blue;">the literature is sparse on support of such high doses of folate for <i>any</i> application</span></b><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #222222;">. Older data has not been validated at all on high-dose folate in certain women's reproductive health concerns, for example. And, in fact, there appears to be diminishing returns on high-dose folate, as research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed </span><b><span style="color: #38761d;">that doses of folate of 800 mcg and 2,000 mcg had precisely the same effect on reductions of homocysteine</span></b><span style="color: #222222;"> (see my </span><a href="https://quantumhealth1.blogspot.com/2018/03/folate-and-homocysteine-is-there.html" style="color: #222222;" target="_blank">previous post</a><span style="color: #222222;">). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><i>"There are few intervention studies of folic acid or 5-MTHF as a stand-alone treatment." </i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(</span></span><span role="menubar" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "clean" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.004500389099121px;"><a abstractlink="yes" alsec="jour" alterm="Altern Med Rev." aria-expanded="false" aria-haspopup="true" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18950248#" role="menuitem" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; color: #660066;" title="Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic.">Altern Med Rev.</a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , "clean" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.004500389099121px;"> 2008 Sep;13(3):216-26)</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">And there are no studies at all to my knowledge that show superior results in high dose folate vs. multiple nutrients.</span><span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span><span style="color: black;">(</span><b style="color: black;"></b><span style="color: black;">If you know of any, please send them my way.</span><span style="color: black;">)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While the risk of toxicity of high dose folate is low, keep in mind that supplementation with folate can mask a B12 deficiency. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the supplement industry, a <i>"more must be better"</i> approach is often promoted among supplement companies and some practitioners, and this, of course, is the mindset of</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">more </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">conventional practitioners, as this is more consistent with the traditional medical model. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Providing mega-doses of any one substance is closer to a pharmacological approach rather than a holistic or complementary one. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But again, what does the preponderance of literature say? As far as I can tell, </span><b style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">there are no studies showing benefit of high dose folate vs. combining </b><b style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">moderate </b><b style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">folate </b><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">amounts </span><b style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">with other supportive nutrients</b><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Truly holistic practitioners must resist the temptation to always believe that more is better. An older study on vitamin E, for example, showed that mega-doses given to smokers actually seemed to increase the risk of lung cancer. Why? Because certain compounds given in mega doses in isolation of </span>other<span style="color: #222222;"> supportive nutrients may turn out to be pro-oxidants rather than antioxidants. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Thus, the most effective approach may be the one that addresses the potential folate <i>deficiency</i>, along with other deficiencies (B12, for example) while offering a comprehensive plan that takes into account a variety of supportive measures</b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">.</b><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thus, methylation as a whole </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(and hence effective homocysteine metabolism) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">is less a situation of a singular nutrient and more a breadth of supportive accessory nutrients, such as zinc, B6, B12, betaine, molybdenum, N-acetylcysteine, and others. In other words, the more "natural" and effective approach is likely not high-dose folate but </span><i style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">rational</i><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> folate intake coupled with other methylation </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">support nutrients. </span></div>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-9907867610176848762018-03-09T10:01:00.000-05:002018-03-10T14:50:02.268-05:00Folate and Homocysteine: Is There Diminishing Returns?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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By now it is common knowledge that B-vitamins, particularly folate, B6, and B12, are extremely important to metabolize the amino acid, homocysteine, which is an intermediate in the metabolism of methionine and cysteine, and has been implicated in vascular disease.<br />
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Recently I had the opportunity to review a nutritional product that was touted as a supreme homocysteine support product. It looked good, actually, but something stood out to me that is apparently not common knowledge among practitioners and supplement manufacturers.<br />
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The more-is-better idea is a common mindset among holistic pill poppers and those recommending them. However, the idea that more is better does not apply to many things, and folate's role in homocysteine metabolism is one of them.<br />
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The supplement I reviewed has over 2,000 mcg of folate, which impresses many casual observers. However, it must be noted that according to a study on homocysteine and folate published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, even very low dose folate supplementation of 200 mcg lowers homocysteine significantly, and most notably, <b>there was no difference in high dose folate supplementation and moderate dose supplementation in lowering homocysteine levels.</b> (See chart below.) <b>Moderate dosing of 800 mcg lowers homocysteine by 23%, but pushing the dose up to 2,000 mcg did not show any additional benefit.</b> Even very high dosing at 5,000 mcg showed only minimal additional benefit of a mere two percentage points. <br />
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What might make more sense in achieving the perfect formula for homocysteine metabolism is to keep the folate levels moderate in order to keep the cost down and make room for other important nutrients that aid in the methylation cycle and renal clearance of homocysteine -- nutrients such as molybdenum, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), manganese, betaine, etc. <br />
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NAC, in particular, is an important antioxidant that serves many roles in the body. For example, it is an amazingly powerful antioxidant that supports liver detoxification and glutathione levels in the body, but it is also important for renal clearance of homocysteine. Therefore, significant amounts of NAC (500 mg or more) should be considered to support those with elevated homocysteine or who have had a history of issues along these lines.<br />
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Consider supplementation that supports all four levels of homocysteine clearance (see below).<br />
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<br />AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-46563352873359989432018-02-03T17:59:00.001-05:002018-02-03T21:49:32.462-05:00Colostrum vs. 2'FL: What you Need to Know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Colostrum is being touted by some sources as the "best" thing for gut health. But there are some things to be aware of.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First of all, colostrum products are not derived from human sources, but bovine. Cows, of course, have radically different GI function compared to humans, and bovine colostrum is different in its composition compared to human colostrum. While there is some evidence that bovine colostrum can have some benefit in humans, it also must be pointed out that commercially available colostrum products also typically contain milk proteins, which would rule them out for people with milk allergies. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is also an ethical consideration to "true" colostrum pertaining to mother's "first milk." Some feel an ethical consideration whereby that "first milk" be saved for the feeding calf and not harvested for commercial use. This is an animal rights issue, as well as ultimately a human health issue, since beef raised without the benefit of colostrum can be less healthy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Therefore, some companies have chosen to avoid this kind of product and go instead with products that are colostrum-like or contain ingredients that provide some of the same healing properties, but without the milk proteins and without the ethical concerns.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.metagenics.com/biopure-protein" target="_blank">Biopure Protein</a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">TM</span>, for example, is not colostrum, but colostrum-like in that there is higher immunoglobulin content and special processing to preserve these immunoglobulins. These milk-derived immune proteins are as high in concentration as colostrum, and, in some cases, can be even higher, because the immunoglobulins can vary with the seasons.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another choice is the human milk oligosaccaride (HMO), 2' fucosyllacstose, or 2'FL. This new and novel ingredient is considered an HMO because it is an oligosaccaride bioidentical to the ones found in HUMAN breast milk. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Colostrum is the first secretion of milk produced by the mammary glands in late pregnancy and a few days after giving birth, used as ‘first feeding’ of the infant. 2’FL is found in human colostrum as it is a naturally occurring component of human breast milk (one of the most abundant HMOs). It is an important prebiotic and anti-adhesion compound. (Human colostrum, by the way, is not available as a dietary supplement. At least we hope not!)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The researh on 2'FL is piling up, showing that it has potent antimicrobial properties, as well as providing fuel for the growth and proliferation of probiotic bacteria, thus helping to establish a healthy microbiota. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A 6-week study on the functional food product, <a href="https://www.metagenics.com/ultragi-replenish" target="_blank">UltraGI Replenish</a>, studied on patients with a history of IBS and IBD (but not acute during the time of the study) showed that 7 of 8 pathogenic bacteria were no longer detectable at the end of the six weeks, and bifidobacteria went wild, increasing 19-fold! SCFAs also increased significantly, in addition to the improvements of several other gut biomarkers. Symptoms and quality of life scores also improved dramatically.<span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span> </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is no shortage of players in nature's pharmacy for gut health, and 2'FL appears to be one of the most promising ingredients on the market to emerge in a long time. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1.</span> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica"; font-weight: 700;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A Medical Food (UGIR) Reduces
Gastrointestinal Symptoms and
Beneficially Alters Gut Microbiota
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A Multi-Clinic, Open-Label Study, </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 7pt;">MET2151 070516 © 2016 Metagenics, Inc. All Rights Reserved</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 8pt;">.</span><br />
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-82842410870434933012018-01-30T14:05:00.001-05:002018-01-30T14:33:54.798-05:00VITAMIN C: Still a Superstar and Growing in Fame Even More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Since the 1970s, Vitamin C has enjoyed superstar status, partly due to Dr. Linus Pauling's Nobel Prize winning work. But for the past several years, good ole' ascorbic acid has been making a rebound in the research, as this "old news" vitamin has been showing great promise for a number of health applications other than just immunity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">For example, research has shown that vitamin C protects against endothelial dysfunction, high blood pressure, and the blood vessel changes that precede heart disease.</span><span class="wwwMagTextRefNumber" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: 33%; white-space: nowrap;">1-3</span><span style="font-size: large;"> Additional research is discovering that vitamin C can be helpful in preventing asthma,</span><span class="wwwMagTextRefNumber" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: 33%; white-space: nowrap;">4</span><span style="font-size: large;"> protecting against cancer,</span><span class="wwwMagTextRefNumber" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: 33%; white-space: nowrap;">5</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and supporting healthy blood sugar levels in diabetics.</span><span class="wwwMagTextRefNumber" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: 33%; white-space: nowrap;">6</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While often taken for granted, vitamin C is a critical supplement in improving cardiac health and avoid degenerative diseases. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">British researchers, for example, studied the effects of vitamin C supplementation (250 mg/day) on atherosclerosis in 40 healthy adults.</span><span class="wwwMagTextRefNumber" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: 33%; white-space: nowrap;">7</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"> Before the study, subjects with low pre-supplementation levels of vitamin C had 30% greater monocyte adhesion than normal, putting them at higher risk for atherosclerosis. Impressively, after six weeks of supplementation, the rate of this dangerous monocyte adhesion actually fell by 37%! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C IN THE RESEARCH</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is a potent antioxidant with increasingly diverse uses in health promotion and disease prevention. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every step in the progression of atherosclerosis can benefit from the antioxidant power of vitamin C, from preventing endothelial dysfunction and altering lipid profiles and coagulation factors to preventing blood vessel changes that can lead to strokes and other vascular catastrophes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vitamin C supplements reduce cellular DNA damage that is the vital first step in cancer initiation and also reduce the inflammatory changes that allow a malignant cell to grow into a dangerous tumor. Additionally, vitamin C has been shown to be chemoprotective, showing protection from both the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs, but also increasing the anti-tumor activity of chemotherapy, while perhaps reducing the risk of getting cancer in the first place. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">8,9,10,11,12,13,14</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vitamin C supplements enhance the health-promoting effects of exercise and reduce exercise-induced oxidative damage. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">15</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vitamin C supplements also dramatically combat the oxidative damage caused by smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">16</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In respiratory conditions, vitamin C supplements help avert or shorten the duration of common colds and may mitigate the risk of serious respiratory conditions like asthma.<span style="font-size: xx-small;">17, 18,19</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Vitamin C supplements can speed the clearance of the stomach disease-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori and cut the risk of gastric cancer it causes. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">20,21</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While all the above benefits can be obtained by taking basic ascorbic acid, the effects may be enhanced by either adding other antioxidants to the mix, or providing a buffered and better absorbed forms. Vojdani et al at Drew Medical College showed in 1993 that an admixture of vitamin C metabolites, presursors, and asorbates, along with a more bioavailable form of vitamin C, ascorbyl palmitate, was able to not only provide better uptake into the white blood cell, but the effect on leukocyte activity and overall immunity was profoundly better than ascorbic acid alone.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">22</span> </span>This exact formula used in the Drew Medical College study is patented and available commercially in only one place. Ascorbic acid products are typically not patented and are bountiful on the market. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">Still another study showed that a buffered admixture vitamin C supplement increased the natural killer (NK) cell activity 10-FOLD in 78% of patients who had decreased NK, T and B cell function due to chemical exposure! T and B cells also returned to normal.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">23</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yes, while vitamin C is sort of yesterday's news in a market of trendy supplements now too long to list, it remains one of the most powerful and effective vitamins in the world for overall health. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">1. Rossig L, Hoffmann J, Hugel B, et al. Vitamin C inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis in congestive heart failure. Circulation. 2001 Oct 30;104(18):2182-7.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">2. Fotherby MD, Williams JC, Forster LA, Craner P, Ferns GA. Effect of vitamin C on ambulatory blood pressure and plasma lipids in older persons. J Hypertens. 2000 Apr;18(4):411-5.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">3. Salonen RM, Nyyssonen K, Kaikkonen J, et al. Six-year effect of combined vitamin C and E supplementation on atherosclerotic progression: the Antioxidant Supplementation in Atherosclerosis Prevention (ASAP) Study. Circulation. 2003 Feb 25;107(7):947-53.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">4. Romieu I, Sienra-Monge JJ, Ramirez-Aguilar M, et al. Antioxidant supplementation and lung functions among children with asthma exposed to high levels of air pollutants. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002 Sep 1;166(5):703-9.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">5. Guz J, Dziaman T, Szpila A. Do antioxidant vitamins influence carcinogenesis?. Postepy Hig Med Dosw.(Online.). 2007;61:185-98.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">6. Afkhami-Ardekani M, Shojaoddiny-Ardekani A. Effect of vitamin C on blood glucose, serum lipids & serum insulin in type 2 diabetes patients. Indian J Med Res. 2007 Nov;126(5):471-4. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">7. Woollard KJ, Loryman CJ, Meredith E, et al. Effects of oral vitamin C on monocyte: endothelial cell adhesion in healthy subjects. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 Jun 28;294(5):1161-8.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">8. Bast A, Haenen GR, Bruynzeel AM, Van d, V. Protection by flavonoids against anthracycline cardiotoxicity: from chemistry to clinical trials. Cardiovasc Toxicol. 2007;7(2):154-9.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">9. bdel-Latif MM, Raouf AA, Sabra K, Kelleher D, Reynolds JV. Vitamin C enhances chemosensitization of esophageal cancer cells in vitro. J Chemother. 2005 Oct;17(5):539-49.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">10. Chen J, Kang J, Da W, Ou Y. Combination with water-soluble antioxidants increases the anticancer activity of quercetin in human leukemia cells. Pharmazie. 2004 Nov;59(11):859-63.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">11. Chen J, Wanming D, Zhang D, Liu Q, Kang J. Water-soluble antioxidants improve the antioxidant and anticancer activity of low concentrations of curcumin in human leukemia cells. Pharmazie. 2005 Jan;60(1):57-61.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">12. Correa P, Fontham ET, Bravo JC, et al. Chemoprevention of gastric dysplasia: randomized trial of antioxidant supplements and anti-helicobacter pylori therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000 Dec 6;92(23):1881-8.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">13. Maramag C, Menon M, Balaji KC, Reddy PG, Laxmanan S. Effect of vitamin C on prostate cancer cells in vitro: effect on cell number, viability, and DNA synthesis. Prostate. 1997 Aug 1;32(3):188-95.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">14. Wei DZ, Yang JY, Liu JW, Tong WY. Inhibition of liver cancer cell proliferation and migration by a combination of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate and ascorbic acid. J Chemother. 2003 Dec;15(6):591-5.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">15. Thompson D, Williams C, McGregor SJ, et al. Prolonged vitamin C supplementation and recovery from demanding exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2001 Dec;11(4):466-81.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">16. Block G, Jensen C, Dietrich M, et al. Plasma C-reactive protein concentrations in active and passive smokers: influence of antioxidant supplementation. J Am Coll Nutr. 2004 Apr;23(2):141-7.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">17. Romieu I, Trenga C. Diet and obstructive lung diseases. Epidemiol Rev. 2001;23(2):268-87.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">18. Trenga CA, Koenig JQ, Williams PV. Dietary antioxidants and ozone-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness in adults with asthma. Arch Environ Health. 2001 May;56(3):242-9.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">19. Tecklenburg SL, Mickleborough TD, Fly AD, Bai Y, Stager JM. Ascorbic acid supplementation attenuates exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in patients with asthma. Respir Med. 2007 Aug;101(8):1770-8.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">20. Correa P, Fontham ET, Bravo JC, et al. Chemoprevention of gastric dysplasia: randomized trial of antioxidant supplements and anti-helicobacter pylori therapy. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2000 Dec 6;92(23):1881-8.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">21. Chuang CH, Sheu BS, Kao AW, et al. Adjuvant effect of vitamin C on omeprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication. Hepatogastroenterology. 2007 Jan;54(73):320-4.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">22. Vajdoni, A, et al. In Vivo Effect of Ascrobic Acid on Enhancement of Human Natural Killer Cell Activity. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Published in Nutritiona Research, Vol. 13, pp. 753-764, 1993.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">23. </span></span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Enhancement of natural killer cell
activity and T and B cell function </span></span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: xx-small;">by buffered vitamin C in patients exposed to toxic chemicals: </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: italic;">Immunopharmacol</span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: italic;">
</span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "calibri"; font-style: italic;">Immunotoxicol</span><span style="color: #404040; font-family: "calibri";">.
1997 Aug;19(3):291-312 </span></span></div>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-17461254945696419892017-12-28T22:31:00.000-05:002018-01-30T13:07:49.051-05:00How Detoxification Can Change Lives (Kenny and Julia Loggins)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXQNjiDPNLnrhafnfXgp4VOnmT5kBHHb2p1G7Gkkd4-bnABVeBF2dZirdmwQkVw-U1GsuU_cCL9deNrxtkORGDjomzaBMJ6hyphenhyphen1Lj4oKC-SUXNYGUr0y7q1hxi_kOGdRJ9f1LqhC5sQwfi/s1600/4495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="432" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXQNjiDPNLnrhafnfXgp4VOnmT5kBHHb2p1G7Gkkd4-bnABVeBF2dZirdmwQkVw-U1GsuU_cCL9deNrxtkORGDjomzaBMJ6hyphenhyphen1Lj4oKC-SUXNYGUr0y7q1hxi_kOGdRJ9f1LqhC5sQwfi/s320/4495.jpg" width="235" /></a></div>
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Singer/songwriter, Kenny Loggins, who has become known as the king of movie hits, has sold over 40 million records over a span of more than 30 years and won two Grammys. If you are my age, some of you might know him for hits like, I'm Alright, Meet Me Halfway, and numerous others. </div>
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Several years ago, Julie Katke, the daughter of Metagenics founder, Jeffrey Katke, was walking on a southern California beach, when who did she bump into? You guessed it. Kenny Loggins and his wife Julia were walking on the same beach, and Julie decided to introduce herself. It turned out that the Loggins' were very nice and approachable people, and they stopped to talk with Julie for a few minutes. They asked her what she did for a living, and she mentioned her career with Metagenics. When she said the word, "Metagenics," suddenly the eyes of the couple got wide. Kenny said, "You've got to be kidding!" And he turned to his wife and unzipped her backpack and pulled out a container of Ultra Clear. He excitedly informed Julie that the product had saved his wife's life.</div>
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They went on to tell the story of Julia's long and extended illness for which they could find no help, and the Ultra Clear was the only thing that had helped her, and had ultimately helped to restore her health. </div>
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I have seen stories like this over and over for the last 24 years of my career, and one of those stories is my own, which I will share in a different post.</div>
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If you have not yet experienced the life-changing benefits of nutrient-tailored metabolic detoxification, look into the <a href="https://www.metagenics.com/metabolic-detoxification" target="_blank">Metagenics detox products</a> such as the Ultra Clear line, or the Clear Change Detox Kits. </div>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-37925033195186240422017-10-26T12:56:00.002-04:002018-01-06T09:22:59.865-05:00Magnesium L-Threonate: New Weapon for Brain Protection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It has been lately discovered that magnesium is vital in the activation of nerve channels that are involved in synaptic plasticity, meaning that magnesium is a critical player for the physiological events that are fundamental to the processes of learning and memory.</div>
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<span style="color: #707070; font-family: , sans-serif;">One form of magnesium in particular, magnesium L-threonate, has the unique ability to permeate the brain and enhance the receptors that are involved in this process. </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many forms of magnesium do not effectively cross the blood brain barrier. The magnesium threonate is a chelated magnesium (similar to magnesium Glycinate) which binds the magnesium with a carrier molecule, in this case the amino acid, L-threonate. This chelation provides a form or magnesium that effectively crosses the blood brain barrier and positively impacts synapses. </span></div>
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<span style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #666666;">As reported in the Journal,<i> </i></span><a href="http://www.drperlmutter.com/study/enhancement-learning-memory-elevating-brain-magnesium/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: none; box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Neuron</span></a><i>,</i></span> <span style="color: #707070;">researchers demonstrated in laboratory animals actual enhancement in the learning abilities, working memory, as well as short and long-term memory, and even quality of sleep when given magnesium magnesium threonate.</span></div>
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One of the most aggressively studied forms of magnesium L-threonate is a patented version by the trade name, Magteinä, developed by researchers at MIT, including a Nobel Prize winner. Their research has demonstrated actual restoration of function in aging neurons in laboratory animals. Further, it appears that Magteinä may, in fact, be the only form of magnesium that significantly increases the levels of magnesium within the brain.</div>
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Anecdotal reports in humans are showing benefits for PTSD, anxiety, and depression as well. </div>
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<span style="color: #707070; font-family: , sans-serif;">Magnesium is involved in over 300 biochemical processes in the body, including </span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">binding to neurotransmitter receptors and as a co-factor for neuronal enzymes. The Magnesium L-Threonate appears to be a form preferable for cognitive decline and neuron protection. </span></div>
AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-72691042453536453282017-09-12T19:00:00.001-04:002017-09-12T19:00:55.376-04:00Breaking Down the Evaluation Criteria (or lack thereof) of a Popular Online Guide for Multivitamins<div class="h7 hn " role="listitem" style="clear: both; max-width: 100000px; outline: none; padding-bottom: 0px;" tabindex="-1">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently it was brought to my attention that a self-proclaimed resource for evaluating multivitamins, a source I will leave nameless in print but that the reader is free to ask me about, gave a not-so-good evaluation of some products that I passionately believe in, but glowing recommendations for products that might be considered questionable. So I wanted to respond by evaluating the "evaluators."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps I should start by showing the faulty evaluation method in the multivitamin that they ranked at the top of their list, which I will leave nameless for this post. Most doctors by now know that if a form of a certain nutrient isn't listed, it's probably the cheap, junky stuff. The reader should take note of several important micronutrients listed in their #1 ranking that do not have the forms listed: iron, magnesium, vitamin E, B6, B12, calcium, etc. Nearly 100% of the time, when a product line does not list the forms, it is most likely the cheapest and least-effective forms on the planet. In evaluating any vitamin supplement, it is vital to consider the forms of the ingredients -- ones that are clinically-proven to be effective. (B</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TW: listing a </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">source</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, such as algae, is not the same as listing the FORM.) </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It is equally important to look at the company's commitment to full disclosure on the labels. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, the product in question lists an enzyme blend on their label. Those who are in-the-know understand that enzymes mixed into a multivitamin is a dead ringer that the product line doesn't know what they're doing. You cannot add enzymes in with a laundry list of other ingredients like this and have any enzymes left by the time the product is brought to market. Enzymes gobble things up. That's what enzymes do. The enzymes thus denature themselves when they start that process so that in no time there's nothing left. In doing so they also diminish the levels of many other ingredients in the product. If a third-party laboratory assay was performed to measure the amount of live enzymes this product, I would be willing to bet that they aren't there. Most likely the company in question does not perform third-party or even in-house assays since the FDA does not require them, and since doing so would most likely show that the product in question has no live enzymes as the label claims. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this same product there is also CoQ10 listed on the label. The consumer should be aware that CoQ10 is very unstable and denatures very easily when combined with several other ingredients. Even if it was stable, the fact that it's in a powder/capsule form diminishes its effectiveness, since research shows that oil-based CoQ10 is 3-FOLD more bioavailable than dry forms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And <i>THIS</i> is the product that this self-proclaimed evaluator of quality multivitamins ranks number one??? </span></div>
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<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additionally, here's some very inaccurate statements made about <span style="color: #333333;">Cyanocobalamin (B12)</span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span>on the site, and my short response:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Most manufacturers go with the synthetic cyanocobalamin form because it is cheaper to make and has a longer shelf life." </span></span></li>
<ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WRONG - Cyanocobalamin is used because it is the most clinically validated, with reams of data involving MILLIONS of patients. </span></b></span></li>
</ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Unfortunately, it cannot be readily absorbed by the body."</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WRONG AGAIN. The research shows the exact opposite.</span></b></span></li>
</ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It also contains trace amounts of cyanide..."</span></span></li>
<ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"INFINITELY WRONG. Who is writing this stuff, anyway? B12 in any form does not contain cyanide. The "cyano" part of cyanocobalamin has nothing to do with cyanide. </span></b></span></li>
</ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">"...making it slightly toxic <b>[wrong]</b> if taken over a long period of time <b>[wrong]</b>...."</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When writing content on health-related topics, it really helps to consult the research first. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(By the way, our multi/phytonutrient blend contains the methylcobalamin form of B12, but not because it's better than cyano. This was only in response to doctor requests who didn't want to continue answering questions having to do with this unfortunate misunderstanding of this topic. Having this form of B12 in the product makes these questions go away. Both forms are very good, but the idea that cyano is an inferior form is categorically false. Feel free to ask me for references.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #444444;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">n looking closely at the quality assessment criteria of the site in question<div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
, it becomes obvious </div>
that it is based on the number <div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
of nutrients </div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
</div>
and the amounts, <div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
which is </div>
a subjective label review<div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
, not objective.</div>
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Can one define and determine quality based on a label review of ingredients?<div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
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Absolutely not! </div>
It is a qualitative opinion of the individuals and not one of particular value to a practitioner or consumer in trying to determine which supplement to purchase. <br /><br />Does the author include an understanding of herb manufacture as a measure of quality? <div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
No. </div>
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Do</div>
they provide a quality assessment of the listed actives in the standardized herb proving they survive manufacture so that they can provide clinical value to the consumer<div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
?</div>
No. <div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
Do they reference any bioactive profiles to prove the herbs are alive, effective, and that the active constituents are maintained at high levels? Nope. </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
And what about </div>
clinical proof<div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
?</div>
Did the <div class="gmail_default" style="display: inline;">
website's </div>
author include published clinical validation as part of their quality analysis? No. And why not? Here's an article showing the importance of this kind of evaluation:</span></span><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4010963/pdf/gahmj.2013.098.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1505338179638000&usg=AFQjCNG5JWZMyE70s1xIEOXdVid5DkjlTg" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4010963/pdf/gahmj.2013.098.pdf" rel="noopener" style="color: #1155cc; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4010963/pdf/gahmj.2013.098.pdf">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p<wbr></wbr>mc/articles/PMC4010963/pdf/gah<wbr></wbr>mj.2013.098.pdf</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not certain, but the site in question might be related in some way to the book, <span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements. The criteria looks very similar. </span><span style="color: #333333;">That book has been around for many years. The author is a former board member for a multilevel supplement company. While everyone has to read for themselves and draw their own opinions, close scrutiny of the book -- as well as the website in question -- suggests the authors (along with a small committee) decided for themselves what nutrients and at what levels should be found in what a 'quality' supplement is, in </span><span style="color: #333333;">THEIR OPINION</span><span style="color: #333333;">. Then, in essence, they said, "Let’s compare and see who gets closest." One has to decide if this is really a marker of quality. Or, </span><span style="color: #333333;">for our phytonutrient/multivitamin blend as an </span>example<span style="color: #333333;">, is quality ORACfn a much better measurement of phytonutrient 'freshness' and activity? Is COMET assaying a measure of quality? Is peer-journal publication a mark of </span>multivitamin<span style="color: #333333;"> quality</span><span style="color: #333333;">? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="color: #333333;" /></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have not even gotten to GMP, third-party gluten-free certification, GMO status, and on-and-on. Everyone just has to answer for themselves what true quality is, I guess. Is it, "We think quality is specific ingredients at these specific levels," or the kind of standards found in the published research? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b><u>HERE'S AN IMPORTANT QUESTION TO YOUR PATIENTS WHO MIGHT BE USING THE SITE IN QUESTION AS A WAY TO GUIDE THEIR SUPPLEMENT PURCHASES:</u></b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b><i>"On what, if any, standards are these scoring systems based?"</i></b> </span></span></div>
<div class="gmail_default">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">The patient won't be able to tell you, of course, because the site itself can't tell you. As far as I can tell, again, it's someone's opinion, because they certainly didn't consult the research. Everybody has an opinion...and a belly-button. "I devised a scoring system..." is not based on fact or objectivity. Remember that old Wendy's commercial where the old lady demanded, "Where's the beef!?" That's the same question people should be asking when it comes to research. Anyone can SAY anything! I can SAY that our multi grows hair on the heads of 8 out of 10 bald men, and you know what -- if I put that on a website, a lot of people would believe it and buy the product on the basis of that statement. But where's the beef? Where's the research to validate my claims? Without that, the claims on the product are not worth the paper they're printed on. </span><br style="color: #333333;" /><br style="color: #333333;" /><span style="color: #333333;">Now, if you want <i>research</i> and an <i>objective</i> way to evaluate a multi, it may interest you to know that a study published in </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GLOBAL ADVANCES IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE showed that our phytonutrient/multivitamin blend effected improvements in </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">several health parameters, including cardio markers MPO, LDL, CRP, and PAI-1, as well as the Comet Assay, and an antioxidant level evaluation in the </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PERSON after taking the product</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, not just the product itself. </span></div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4010963/pdf/gahmj.2013.098.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1505338179638000&usg=AFQjCNG5JWZMyE70s1xIEOXdVid5DkjlTg" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4010963/pdf/gahmj.2013.098.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p<wbr></wbr>mc/articles/PMC4010963/pdf/gah<wbr></wbr>mj.2013.098.pdf</a><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How come the "evaluators" of this site (and I use that term very loosely) didn't use this kind of criteria? Good question, Sherlock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, if I go any further I'm gonna start getting really snarky or start preaching like a Pentecostal evangelist at a tent revival. So I better quit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But here's another very short tidbit I will leave you with: <span style="color: black;">The site in question denigrates folic acid, yet their #2 recommendation for multis uses straight folic acid. How is it possible that they gave that product the number two ranking, then? They aren't even consistent with their own standards. Someone is greasing someone's hand here. OR, they aren't even really paying attention to what they are saying versus the products they are recommending. One or the other. In either case, even a cursory analysis of this site shows they are totally unreliable as a scientific source. </span></span></div>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-71102945921211632192017-07-28T15:49:00.002-04:002017-07-28T15:49:23.827-04:00CONSEQUENCES OF ACID BLOCKING DRUGS, AND NATURAL ALTERNATIVES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGPsLYN1TubC96XXSjEUZkxcQVlwD6tMSni3ymOU-M6UUFiqkddsdvs_sGrCE6sJJoGFUfzW9NdtJs2cW_X3tXW39HCJ5pjthJQZlP6iJbj6jvgCRqGT4eypsMcDUkwKm_Ck84-3r5ofP/s1600/AcidReflux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGPsLYN1TubC96XXSjEUZkxcQVlwD6tMSni3ymOU-M6UUFiqkddsdvs_sGrCE6sJJoGFUfzW9NdtJs2cW_X3tXW39HCJ5pjthJQZlP6iJbj6jvgCRqGT4eypsMcDUkwKm_Ck84-3r5ofP/s1600/AcidReflux.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The topic of proton pump inhibiting drugs, or PPIs, otherwise known as acid blockers, has been a topic near and dear to my heart recently because my father, who is very medically indoctrinated, has been on a PPI for YEARS, and is now very sick with some of the side effects, such as extreme fatigue, stomach distension, and small intestine bacterial overgrowth, or SIBO. He was also diagnosed with bladder cancer, and a 2011 study showed that PPIs are linked to cancer, although the form of cancer analyzed in that study was esophageal cancer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So in researching this topic for the benefit of my father, I discovered that PPI’s were never intended to be used long term anyway, even by the standards of the drug companies who make them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet my Dad and countless other PPI users have been on them for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you know even basic physiology, it’s not really rocket science to know that suppressing the stomach acid <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">at all</i>, especially for stretches of years, is a really, really bad idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stomach acid is the first line of defense against pathogenic bacteria, it stimulates peristalsis, it initiates bile secretion, and of course it helps to assimilate important nutrients like B-vitamins, minerals, and protein, just to name a few. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s just consider SIBO for a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If stomach acid is suppressed, it allows some pathogens to survive in the stomach that would otherwise be eliminated, leading to infections of the stomach like H. Pylori.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then that pathogenic bacteria gets transported into the small intestine, and later the bowel, and can also go systemic, leading to all different kinds of potential maladies related to that circulating bacteria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Likewise, suppressing the stomach acid can lead to putrefaction of food in the stomach, leading to halitosis, distension, and more problems with indigestion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And actually, this is where the whole maddening thing about using acid blockers in the first place needs to be addressed, because the whole idea about acid reflux being a manifestation of too much acid represents a lack of understanding, in some cases, of stomach physiology.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our stomachs have these cool little muscles at the top called the esophageal sphincter, which pinches off and blocks the acid from reaching the esophagus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That muscle is activated by, guess what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stomach acid!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a patient has hypchlorhydria, or low stomach acid, that muscle’s action can be inhibited, and it might not activate like normal, resulting in what little stomach is there reaching the esophagus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, even a little acid in the esophagus is very irritating, and the medical interpretation is, “Oh! You have too much stomach acid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s block it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, that patient probably has too LITTLE stomach acid, but the manifestation is burning in the chest and throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here’s an example that I think will be helpful and applicable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One Thanksgiving my older sister was at our house sharing the Thanksgiving meal with us, and afterward she sat down on my couch holding her stomach and moaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I asked what was wrong, she said she had been struggling with indigestion and acid reflux for a long time, and she was having another episode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I gave her three tablets of a product containing betaine HCl and pepsin, or stomach acid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In about 20 minutes she felt so much better that she had to ask me what it was that I gave her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes if the problem is mild you can accomplish the same thing with apple cider vinegar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had some success with that approach as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, having a patient go off a PPI can be tricky, because the parietal cells in the stomach have been suppressed for so long that sometimes it can trigger a strong rebound effect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So to fight that, I would recommend having a combination powder containing DGL, aloe, and glutamine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That combination is great in helping to soothe the discomfort associated with acid reflux while the patient is weaning off the drug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also had a practitioner just this past week tell me that she gives magnesium to patients coming off long term PPIs because it helps get peristalsis going again, so I thought that was good insight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Feel free to reach out me if you need some product guidance.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-15973069127474825452017-07-12T18:20:00.001-04:002017-07-12T18:20:13.903-04:00Weight Control, Glucose Sensitivity, and the other Benefits of B. Lactis B420<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxUQvCofeoLAjSoN9cX14pKLAVqELfiduJyho6Wt7HPLIMt43z6NO9bwoaIIrt3KCJrK8DcR8ghCALR6aXSy75P40ot9hp_1LfleGYininJOtTz3rw8SYE68Z_qWkHjFOwlJ6R2_M1xrN/s1600/intestinal-wall-membrane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1000" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtxUQvCofeoLAjSoN9cX14pKLAVqELfiduJyho6Wt7HPLIMt43z6NO9bwoaIIrt3KCJrK8DcR8ghCALR6aXSy75P40ot9hp_1LfleGYininJOtTz3rw8SYE68Z_qWkHjFOwlJ6R2_M1xrN/s320/intestinal-wall-membrane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the research on probiotics continues to mushroom, some very compelling applications are being shown that would not have previously been attributed to the microbiome. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Along those lines, then, there's some very interesting research surrounding a new probiotic strain called, Bifidobacterium Lactis B420.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, before we examine the research on this strain, let's first note that medical science is beginning to make a connection between body weight and gut microbiota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was first discovered by accident with fecal implant patients.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doctors began to notice that recipients of fecal implants would take on the characteristics of the donor in terms of body composition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So a study was done on mice to try to reproduce this, and indeed they found the same thing in the laboratory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fecal sample was taken from an obese person and implanted into a mouse, and the mouse gained weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So enter, then, the research on B. Lactis B420.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before we look at the research specific to body weight, let’s first look at the various other benefits of this impressive strain on other health paramters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Experimental research has indicated that:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">B420 increased tight junction integrity of epithelial cells, and therefore protected gut epithelial cells from the harmful effects of pathogenic microbes.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">B420 protected against NSAID-induced GI side effects in a rat model by reducing an NSAID-induced inrease in stomach permeability</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">B420 reduced mucosal dysbiosis, bacterial translocation, expression of major pro-inflammatory cytokines in various tissues, and improved glucose metabolism in mice fed a high fat diet (HFD).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In HFD-fed mice, B420 modulated gut microbiota and improved glucose intolerance. Further, the combination prevented the impairment of intestinal immunity due to metabolic abnormalities induded by the HFD.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a mouse model of diabetes, B420 enhanced concentrations of ileum GLP-1, a protein involved in both insulin secretion and satiety signaling.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In an obese mouse model, increases in body weight and fat mass in mice fed with HFD for 12 weeks were significantly reduced if the mice were co-administered B420. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In a diabetes mouse model, mice receiving both HFD and B420 had decreased fat mass compared with mice receiving only HFD. B420 also improved glucose metabolism in this mouse model.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So this is already a very impressive list of benefits even without the benefits of weight control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But now let’s turn our attention to that aspect, which is human data.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The goal here was to determine if the B420 could make a change in the incremental body weight that many people experience over time as they age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The untreated group of overweight individuals gained 3.1% of bodyweight in six months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The overweight group receiving 10 billion units per day of the B420 probiotic strain, however, did not gain any extra body weight in that same period of time, and they observed no dietary or lifestyle changes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All they did was add the probiotic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The probiotic group also showed a slight decrease in waist circumference of 2.4%, AND they ate less, showing improved satiety with the use of the probiotic strain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another very positive benefit was the improvement in short chain fatty acids over that period of time, a huge benefit to gut health.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, as we know, many people tend to gain weight as they age, some a little, and some a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s too early to tell if the B420 can legitimately be called a weight LOSS probiotic, but it can certainly be called a weight CONTROL probiotic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With that in mind, remember that those in the study didn’t change anything about their lifestyles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it could be, perhaps, that if this probiotic strain was added to a weight loss plan, it may amplify the effects of the other weight loss efforts….maybe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, there’s not enough information to go on yet to verify that statement, but I think it’s a fairly good assumption that this could be the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ll close by saying that weight gain with age is multi-factorial, and can be attributed to shifts in hormones and other factors. However, we cannot and should not rule out the changes in the microbiome that occur with age as well. And weight issues aside, there are enough other benefits with this remarkable strain that it should be considered for use with leaky gut and autoimmune patients, those with gut dysbiosis, and even glucose and insulin intolerance. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">References available upon request</span></div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-22547258612556199602017-04-27T07:48:00.000-04:002017-04-27T08:43:01.499-04:00The Emerging Understanding of Probiotics and Colonization<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-F9or9DUrNf_TwxvzZ4oMald4kcAaPOBDCie47LXNWlGSHlnnVKB3AAH7XvHKBxikqT910XGzhGLtZ6dYXHIK-dcUpJtbH-EnsnzSS36O7v3LOthd08NhTK920aj2hAkLxRjbx5mc9ce/s1600/gut-flora-bacteria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-F9or9DUrNf_TwxvzZ4oMald4kcAaPOBDCie47LXNWlGSHlnnVKB3AAH7XvHKBxikqT910XGzhGLtZ6dYXHIK-dcUpJtbH-EnsnzSS36O7v3LOthd08NhTK920aj2hAkLxRjbx5mc9ce/s320/gut-flora-bacteria.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently I was asked a good question by a doctor about oral probiotic supplements and whether they survive transit in the GI, particularly very acidic stomachs, and whether or not there are studies confirming colonization of various probiotics strains. Since this question represents the more widespread thought process of probiotics -- a thought process that is becoming antiquated -- I thought I would pass the answer on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">To answer this question, let's consider the strain studied in weight control. The genus, species, and strain are: B. Lactis B420. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">B420 is not a human-strain. It was first identified in dairy. However, as fermented dairy foods are common in human diets, B420 can be grown from a stool sample from non-supplemented humans <i>(proof of survival in GI transit</i>). </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also, in the current study, B420 was cultured from stool samples of the treatment arms as proof of survival in GI transit. So i</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">s this same culturing required for all human-strain probiotics? Not really. If they are human-strains, how did they get there in the first place? Orally, through foods, through the gut. Non-protected, no 'encapsulation' was needed naturally. And one would assume that this is the case even with very low pH (high acidity), since probiotics from fermented foods appear to still colonize the guts of people in all pH ranges. (i.e. People with very high acid stomachs with a pH of, say, 1 or 2, do not have sterile GI tracts. They are still colonized with all kinds of bugs.)</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Regarding survivability of stomach acid, then, what is well understood is that the stomach is acidic pretty much all the time (while food may actually act as an acid buffer), </span><span style="background-color: white;">and that human-strain probiotics should 'naturally' be able to survive GI transit (i.e. </span><span style="background-color: white;">how did they get their in the first place?).</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"><br />Now, here's the biggie: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Colonization. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It used to be thought that the rationale for use of oral probiotics was to repopulate the gut. That is out of date. The current understanding of probiotics is strain-specific </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">activity. In other words, residency in the gut microbiota seemed to be the marker of a strain's hardiness/survivability in times past. But not anymore. <b>The modern understanding is that oral probiotics are not about colonization.</b> </span></span><b><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Oral probiotics are about their transient effects, helping to make the neighborhood a better place</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"><b>.</b> A healthy gut is a diverse one, made up of hundreds, even thousands of species. How can one create diversity through oral probiotics of one, two, or even eight strains? It likely cannot be accomplished with so few strains. </span><span style="background-color: white;">The oral probiotic stays for a little while, does its job, and then leaves. Job done. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Part of the definition of oral probiotic</b></span></span><b style="color: black;">s </b><b style="color: black;">is proven efficacy in humans </b></span><b style="color: black;">proven by reams of research</b><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">, which, by the way, is why you want the genus, species, AND strain -- all three -- identified so that you can correlate the strain with the research. Said another way, according to sources like the </span><i style="color: black;">International Scientific Association of Prebiotics and Probiotics</i><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">, a TRUE probiotic must have two things in particular in order to be legitimately called a probiotic: 1) genus, species, and strain identified, and 2) </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">they must have proven oral benefit - <u>including survival through the GI tract</u>. If a product simply says on the label, for example, lactobacillus acidophilus, but no strain, then you cannot connect it to specific research, and thus, you don't know if it survives digestion or not, and you don't know what, if any, benefit it has in humans. A product without the strain identified can probably rightly be called a bacteria, but NOT a probiotic. <b>If the strain is not identified on the label it is absolutely impossible to make any claim of being orally effective</b></span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Typically, part of the evaluation of a probiotic is observation of its traits (phenotype). <b>The probiotic strain is tested for acid and bile tolerance</b>. If tolerant, this is recorded. Once understood it is no longer necessary to test each generation of this proven strain trait. What is necessary is to test the DNA to ensure that each generation is the same as previous (genotype). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The third factor to GI survival is the use of human microflora. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As stated above, t</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">hese species/strains ‘natively’ survive passage through the GI tract</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">as this is their normal abode. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once again</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="color: black;">how do the hundreds of species of good flora get to the gut in the first place? </b><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">Nearly </span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold;">a</span><b style="color: black;">ll orally. </b><b style="color: black;">Ninety-percent of the bacteria that enters the body does so through the mouth</b><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. The genus/species of bacteria that live in our gut survive and thrive, as they are inherently adapted to do. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As an example, consider the genus and species of one common probiotic family, </span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;">Lactobacillus acidophilus.The latter term</span><span style="color: black;">, acidophilus, is </span><span style="color: black;">from the Latin</span><span style="color: black;">, and refers to "</span><span style="color: black;">acid</span><span style="color: black;">-</span><span style="color: black;">loving.</span><span style="color: black;">"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">So, in short, yes, most probiotics </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">survive digestion (some strains much better than others), even in very acidic stomachs. And yes, part of the research in identifying a true probiotic is its effectiveness in humans. But again, colonization is not the true marker of a probiotic's effectiveness: strain-specific activity is. And that is another reason why the genus, species, and strain listed on the bottle is so important.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">closing, I should add that some companies choose to list the strain in their promotional literature, but not on the bottles. This, too, is a quality issue because by not listing it on the label of each bottle, companies don't have to prove that the strains are in THAT bottle or lot. Companies who do random batch assays and then list the strains in their promotional literature are not proving anything in regards to all the different batches and bottles. If a company lists the strains on the bottle, however, they have bound themselves to being able to provide documentation of the presence of those strains in that bottle and batch.</span></span></div>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-18088866928585561492016-11-30T17:15:00.000-05:002016-12-01T09:22:09.511-05:00Lipid Management with Niacin: nicotinic acid vs. IHN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The question has come up a few times lately about straight niacin (nicotinic acid) vs. slow release niacin, or inositol hexanicotinate (IHN). Some claim that there is conclusive evidence that IHN does not work at all for managing lipids. Well, that's not really the case.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Straight niacin is less expensive than IHN and has been the subject of a lot of very impressive research on lipid management. In some circles it is considered the gold standard, in fact, for cholesterol management, and is </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">d<span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: -0.5in;">eclared
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</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.5in;">treatment of choice </span><span style="background-color: transparent; text-indent: -0.5in;">for
reducing blood lipids by the Expert Panel of the National Cholesterol Education
Program (NCEP).</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, the beef against niacin is that some people flush with it. I am one of those people, and let me tell you, a strong niacin flush is NO FUN! The "flush" is a burning, tingling sensation on the skin that is due to a </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">temporary increase in prostaglandins</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> leading to cutaneous vasodilation when too much is taken too soon. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The flush is very temporary, but WOW! It can be very uncomfortable for some people who are sensitive to it. And some people like myself can't seem to get to the point where they eventually don't flush when using nicotinic acid. </span></div>
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Enter, then IHN, which does not reach maximum serum levels for 10 hours after ingestion and has practically zero flushing potential. </div>
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There is indeed some evidence that IHN has very little impact on overall cholesterol or LDL/HDL ratios. That evidence is by no means conclusive, however, especially when you compare it to the evidence showing that it <i>does</i> have benefit. (There is also "evidence" that fish oil and herbs have no benefit, after all, so...) </div>
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IHN consists of six molecules of niacin and one molecule of inositol. It is metabolized in the body into its component parts, allowing for the positive benefits associated with high doses of niacin without the many side effects. When administered orally, IHN results in a sustained increase in serum levels of free niacin and, in human studies, is better tolerated than regular niacin.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">Studies
showing that IHN improves lipid profiles date </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">as </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">far back </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">as </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">the early </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">1960s.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1,2,3</span> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">An </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-indent: -0.2in;">in vitro </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">study showed that IHN was <i>more effective than niacin</i>
in reducing </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">hypercholesterolemia.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">4 </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">When </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">given to
rabbits on a fatty diet, IHN resulted in normalization of all lipid fractions,
including </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">cholesterol.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in; vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">5 </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">In </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">humans, IHN
has been shown by two research groups to produce a reduction in cholesterol
that was even more profound than that produced by </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in;">niacin.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; text-indent: -0.2in; vertical-align: sub;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">1</span></span></div>
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I have worked with practitioners for over two decades now who have used IHN extensively in their practices and have the lab results to prove that it does indeed work for many people. It might not be a 100% effective, but neither is straight niacin, and neither are statins. </div>
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Niacin supports healthy blood lipid levels via its inhibition of catecholamine stimulated lipolysis in adipose tissue, its affect on hepatic lipoprotein synthesis, and its support of healthy high-density lipoprotein levels. So whether by nicotinic acid or by IHN, niacin appears to be a great option in the battle against cardiovascular disease. </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">References:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">1</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">. Welsh AL, Ede M. Inositol </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">hexanicotinate</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
for improve nicotinic acid therapy. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Int</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
Record Med. 1961;174:9-15. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">2. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Sommer</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
H. Nicotinic acid levels in the blood and fibrinolysis under the influence of
the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">hexanicotinic</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
ester of m-inositol. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Arzneim</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Forsch</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">.
1975;15:1337. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">3. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Dorner</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
VG, Fischer FW. The influence of m-inositol </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">hexanicotinate</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
ester on the serum lipids and lipoproteins. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Arzneim</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Forsch</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">.
1961;11:110-113. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">4. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">El-</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Eneim</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
AMA, Hafez YS, Salem H, Abdel M. The role of nicotinic acid and inositol </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">hexanicotinate</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
as </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">anticholesterolemic</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">antilipemic</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
agents. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">Nutr</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri";">
Reports Int. 1983;28:899-911. </span></span></div>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-50485306017860782202016-10-14T08:29:00.000-04:002016-10-14T08:29:25.453-04:00Confessions of a Supplement Junkie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yes, I admit it. I'm a supplement junkie. But I could think of worse things to be maniacal about.<br />
<br />
I sometimes get asked what supplements I take personally. I often wonder if people ask me these questions to see if I really believe in all this stuff I market. Well, the truth is that I believe in it so much that I spend a ridiculous amount of money per month on supplements for me and my family. <br />
<br />
And here's why.<br />
<br />
I eat at least one meal in a restaurant nearly every day of my life because of my travels. I realize that restaurant food is not the best in the world, although I do always make good choices and never eat in fast food restaurants, unless you factor in places like Chipotle and such. But "food" from McDonalds and Burger King never touches my lips. When I eat at home, we make very good choices, but it's not always organic, and I do get concerned about the pesticides and other chemicals on my food and how much nutrition is lacking in commercial produce. <br />
<br />
I also don't exercise as much as I should, although exercise was once a big part of my life. But being a father, and now a grandfather, a busy businessman, an author, and a pastor have gotten in the way of exercising as much as I would like. <br />
<br />
So since I often have to compromise in the areas of diet and exercise, supplements is something where I don't have to cut corners. Yes, I do have to make a financial sacrifice to supplement like I do, but I feel like my health and the health of my loved ones is worth it. <br />
<br />
<b>What I Take and Why</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
My day usually begins around 6:30 am when I get up to read, pray, and meditate before I start the business part of my day. I fire up my Bullit blender and throw in a raw egg, a little almond milk, water and ice, and then pack in a scoop of Ultra Clear Plus (medical food for detoxification), a scoop of Meta Fiber, a half teaspoon of spirulina, and a half scoop of Perfect Protein. Believe it or not, it doesn't taste too bad, although the spirulina powder turns the drink green. <br />
<br />
But it doesn't stop there.<br />
<br />
Then I open up the cupboard to start popping open bottles, as follows:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Ultra Potent C powder - half teaspoon</li>
<li>Celapro (phytochemical blend) </li>
<li>Concentrated Ultra Prostagen (Prostate support; yes, I'm at that age.)</li>
<li>D3 5000</li>
<li>Adreset (Adrenal and HPA support for my morning giddyup!)</li>
<li>OsteoVantiv (Joint support. Stop laughing at my age, I'm a former athlete. I ache sometimes!)</li>
<li>CoQ10 ST 100 (more energy, cardio, and antioxidant support)</li>
<li>Ultra Flora Spectrum (multi-strain probiotic)</li>
</ul>
That's just my Phase 1 supplement regime. After a couple of hours I'm ready for a full breakfast before I leave the house, and Phase 2 kicks in. With breakfast I take...<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>PhytoMulti (micronutrient and phytochemical blend)</li>
<li>EPA DHA 720 (fish oil)</li>
<li>Spectrazyme Complete (plant-based enzymes)</li>
</ul>
In the evening I repeat Phase 2 at dinner and may add a Cal Apatite w/ Magnesium sometimes to make up for the mineral loss when I drink coffee. But since I don't drink that much coffee, Cal Apatite is not a daily thing. <br />
<br />
Sometimes I wonder if I'm not overdoing it, and I suppose you could make that case. But then I have to look at my health at almost 51 years of age, and I have believe I'm doing something right. In spite of not eating a "pure" diet by some people's standards, and in spite of not getting the exercise I would like, and in spite of a workload and stress level that I wish were a little lighter, I'm still very fit, I'm almost never sick, I'm energetic, and I'm somehow able to manage a crazy schedule without imploding. And when the younger family members or friends come come calling wanting to play some basketball or frisbee or touch football, I can keep up with them! <br />
<br />
I have attended the funerals of school mates -- people my age -- who have died of cancer. I have visited hospital rooms where people my age went down with heart attacks and nearly died. I have counseled with people with all kinds of health problems that really come down to nutrition -- what they put in their bodies and what they DON'T put in their bodies. It saddens me to see people suffer so needlessly when they could change a few things about their lifestyles and completely turn around their health. I realize that lifestyle is not the only reason people sometimes get sick, but lifestyle is a BIG part of the picture. In fact, a Surgeon General Report back in the 90s stated that 7 out of 10 leading causes of death in America are preventable because they are diet and lifestyle related. SEVEN OUT OF TEN! <br />
<br />
So when I see all the suffering around me, I do believe that my maniacal supplement regime is worth it. If I lived 100 years ago when the environment was much cleaner, the stress levels were not as high, and the food was pure and nutritionally sound, then I probably wouldn't need to supplement at all. But that's not the world we live in now. When you consider that over 6 BILLION pounds of chemical toxins are released out into our environment every year, on top of the immense amount of stress our culture piles upon us, and add the horribly flawed food we are forced to ingest, then we have a health picture that is very different that in times past. Yes, I believe that supplementation can make up for some of that. <br />
<br />
Now if only there was a supplement for hair loss that really worked, I would be set! ;-) <br />
<br />
<br />
AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-53988062940942808922016-09-30T09:13:00.001-04:002016-09-30T13:45:55.081-04:00Amazing Novel Ingredients for Gut Healing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More than 70 million Americans suffer from chronic digestive disorders, and gastrointestinal issues are the most common reason for hospitalization. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While there are a number of health promoting natural agents in nature's pharmacy, health science continues to uncover new and novel ingredients to heal the gut in unique ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2-Fucosyllactose</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enter, then, 2-fucosyllactose (2-FL). 2-FL is a nature-identical Human Milk Oligosaccharide, the most abundant prebiotic found in human breast milk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Several functions have been attributed to 2-FL, including the ability to support the growth of beneficial microbiota and significant increased production of short chain fatty acids, including butyrate, and the ability to increase and normalize motility. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2-FL also works by blocking potentially harmful pathogenic bacteria from adhering to host cell receptors by acting as a decoy molecule. In other words, instead of adhering to intestinal epithelial cells, pathogens will be attracted to the 2-FL, binding to it and hence being escorted out of the body in the stool. In research, 2-FL has been shown to act as an anti-adhesive antimicrobial to <i>campylobacter jejuni, vibrio cholera, E. coli, </i>and<i> norovirus</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In fact, in a 6-week trial at the Functional Medicine Research Center (FMRC) in Gig Harbor, Washington, a functional food drink mix containing 2-FL was given to patients with previously diagnosed IBS, IBD, and celiac disease. In that study, 8 potentially harmful bacteria were identified at baseline. At the end of the study, 7 of the 8 total pathogen species were no longer detected. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Butyrate and Short Chain Fatty Acids</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Interest has been recently rekindled in short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) with the emergence of prebiotics and probiotics aimed at improving colonic and systemic health. SFCAs include the sum of butyrate, acetate, and propionate. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Butyrate is the major energy source for colonocytes and is considered an anti-inflammatory fat. Butyrate also helps to support apoptosis of the cells lining the gut, and is the most important source of energy for those cells. (More on butyrate <a href="http://paleoleap.com/butyrate-anti-inflammatory-fat/" target="_blank">here</a>.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Specific SCFA may reduce the risk of developing gastrointestinal disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Acetate is the principal SCFA in the colon. Propionate, a gluconeogenerator, has been shown to inhibit cholesterol synthesis.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In that same study at the FMRC featuring the functional food containing 2-FL, total SCFA increased by a mean of 72.2%, and butyrate alone increased by a mean of 72.7%, an amazing increase in these health-promoting fatty acids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Huge Bifidobacteria Proliferation </b></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's one thing to give probiotics to help supply the GI with beneficial bacteria, and that is always a good thing. But helping the bacteria that is already there to multiply is also extremely helpful for the microbiota. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMOs) are a prebiotic soluble fiber and help to increase the growth of bifidobacteria, which 2-FL also does. In the aforementioned study on patients with previously diagnosed celiac, IBD, and IBS, bifidobacteria increased by an astounding 1900% in 6 weeks! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is no surprise, then, that patients in this study showed significantly improved quality of life scores.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A Better Form of L-Glutamine</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Glutamine is an important amino acid for epithelial cell repair and function. What is not as widely known is that L-glutamine in the free form, which is the most commonly used form, is not as well absorbed as the dipeptide version. "Sustamine" is an L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine dipetide that is designed to be absorbed faster and with less energy than a single amino acid. Dipetides and amino acids require a transporter to carried across the cell membranes. This helps to facilitate absorption. In fact, Sustamine has been shown to be absorbed 224% better than free from L-glutamine, possibly demonstrating better clinical outcomes at lower doses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This form of dipeptide L-glutamine is also featured in the functional food studied at the FMRC, and this, combined with the 2-FL, IMOs, and other supportive macro and micronutrients, makes it a very good choice for nutritional support for health conditions related to intestinal permeability, as well as providing excellent nutrition for celiac, IBD, and IBS patients.</span>AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-6352574991727297792016-08-25T15:51:00.001-04:002016-08-25T22:10:23.281-04:00Natural Interventions for Strep B <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoaVqw0gprz8RGkHEfQ7-NoOfnAjK1qpA0XTrJSsOesUZnSoA6Zuq-irYeJfh-Btnj-U8V12xOlOT6_C6n_q6vbrQQZ_p6D5WBTHZLn1SKC_HsGk3GucPWS35zcg2t6z667vWL09ec1VJ/s1600/pregnant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoaVqw0gprz8RGkHEfQ7-NoOfnAjK1qpA0XTrJSsOesUZnSoA6Zuq-irYeJfh-Btnj-U8V12xOlOT6_C6n_q6vbrQQZ_p6D5WBTHZLn1SKC_HsGk3GucPWS35zcg2t6z667vWL09ec1VJ/s320/pregnant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm about to be a grandpa! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And my daughter, Hannah, who is due in two short weeks, has recently been diagnosed with Strep B, and her Ob-Gyn wants to put her on antibiotics during labor, which is the typical procedure. Of course, wanting to avoid the antibiotic route, I started doing some studying on the subject, and here's what I found. Hopefully this will be of interest to all my holistic-minded readers.</span></div>
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What is Strep B?</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Group Beta Streptococcus (GBS), otherwise known as Strep B, is a colonization that affects many people and around 1/4 to 1/3 of women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Many people carry this bacteria in their digestive systems with no problem, but it can cause complications in newborns of mothers who are colonized. In some rare cases babies have actually died when exposed to high levels of GBS during labor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mothers are often tested for Group B Strep in the third trimester of pregnancy and, if they are positive, are usually given Penicillin or other antibiotics during labor. While antibiotics might indeed be necessary if the bacteria cannot be eradicated, antibiotics, of course, carry their own risks for newborns and mothers alike, such as a higher risk of candida. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">When a baby is born its GI is sterile, and the microbiota must be colonized by the mother when the baby passes through the birth canal and when mother holds the child. This colonization process is important to ward off the chances of digestive and immune issues later in life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">For example, C-section babies, who bypass the birth canal and are therefore not colonized by the mother sufficiently, have a 75% higher risk of developing autoimmune disease later in life because the early biodiversity of the intestinal tract is negatively effected. </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(See, <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://jn.nutrition.org/content/138/9/1796S.long" target="_blank">Cesarean Delivery May Affect the Early Biodiversity of Intestinal Bacteria</a>, Journal of Nutrition.)</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #2f2f2f;">For reasons of proper colonization, then, it is important to either try to eradicate the GBS bacteria before labor, or </span><span style="color: #990000;"><b>be sure to <i>aggressively</i> colonize mother and baby with probiotics after the birth if antibiotics become necessary</b></span><span style="color: #2f2f2f;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thankfully, there are natural ways to deal with GBS that can yield very good results.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: 700;"><i>The following suggestions do not represent documented research, but is compiled from anecdotal evidence, and is not intended to be medical advice.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Natural Remedies for GBS</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, let me state emphatically that GBS <i>does</i> have the potential to be serious and shouldn’t be ignored. But just as emphatically I will state again that antibiotics carry their own risks and can be problematic as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The good news is, at least in some cases, GBS can be avoided with natural remedies.</span></div>
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Probiotics</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As GBS occurs naturally in the digestive tract for some people, it is important to treat the intestinal tract as a whole instead of simply focusing on the vaginal area. A probiotic-rich diet is beneficial for overall health, and may also be beneficial in eradicating GBS. A probiotic-rich diet can be accomplished both dietarily and by taking probiotic supplements, preferably both.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eating a probiotic-rich diet including things like <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2673/kombucha-recipe/" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; -webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-color: rgb(134, 134, 134); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4fb369; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;">Kombucha</a>, <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/2261/water-kefir-soda/" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; -webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-color: rgb(134, 134, 134); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4fb369; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" title="water kefir">Water Kefir</a>, Yogurt, <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/663/homemade-sauerkraut/" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; -webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-color: rgb(134, 134, 134); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4fb369; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;">Sauerkraut</a> and other fermented foods to help create a healthy gut environment, and t<span style="font-size: medium;">aking aggressive amounts of probiotic supplements orally </span><i>and</i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: , sans-serif;"> vaginally may cause the colonization to occur much faster. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Taking oral probiotics does work for bacterial vaginosis, depending on the strains used, but it takes some take to migrate to the vaginal area -- two weeks in some cases. Using the capsules as suppositories will colonize the vagina immediately. Two strains in particular, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuters RC-14, have been studied extensively in bacterial vaginosis and possess anti-fungal and bacteriocin-like compounds, and even produce hydrogen peroxide. In short, these are powerful antimicrobial probiotic strains that can ward off numerous different kinds of urogenital issues, including, perhaps, GBS, although GBS has not been specifically studied with respect to these strains as of yet. There are, however, over 175 scientific publications on these strains for bacterial vaginosis and yeast vaginitis, and other colonization studies by oral and vaginal application showing impressive results. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A List of Antimicrobials that can be Complementary </span></span></h2>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/supergarlic-6000" target="_blank">High potency garlic</a> supplements (2-3 caps between meals) or raw garlic cloves daily.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: museo-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://wellnessmama.com/go/tropical-traditions/" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; -webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-color: rgb(134, 134, 134); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4fb369; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank">Coconut Oil</a> for its naturally antiviral properties.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: museo-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plain organic yogurt vaginally to help balance bacteria. May add the <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/ultraflora-womens" target="_blank">GR-1 and RC-14 probiotic</a> supplement to the mix, and or other strains if desired.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: museo-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taking <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/ultra-potent-c-1000" target="_blank">high potency vitamin C</a> daily.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: museo-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Using a Chlorhexidine rinse vaginally before and during labor. (<a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2009/09/chlorhexidine-hibiclens-protocol-for.html" sl-processed="1" style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: objects; -webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; border-bottom-color: rgb(134, 134, 134); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4fb369; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;" target="_blank" title="GBS hibiclense protocol">This is the usual protocol</a>.) This might considered a last resort, as the emerging evidence about the bacterial transfer during labor brings this practice into question.</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: museo-sans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Raw apple cider vinegar consumed orally daily and using it as a diluted rinse.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The above protocol is what has been working out there according to midwives. Some anecdotal evidence I found suggests that GBS can be eradicated in 2 weeks using this protocol. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The jury is still out for me, so I will let you know what ends up happening with my daughter. </span><span style="color: #2f2f2f; font-family: , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div>
AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-13753872308186920512015-11-12T17:12:00.000-05:002015-11-12T17:12:13.799-05:00Is Commercial Yogurt a good Source of Probiotics?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENR9pA0QmLshuGEpyOmMMVMZJMenIQ3AG8SA96OidE99ZFXd4l_qUufE6YYBFEeUgwC2mTQwLY2qjWmOw7uHAYsZ1bjxCblWVsfelCuLPIMhiMNJuJHcZHVtYqMDA9SpxspbX0BKAKe9u/s1600/yogurt-woman.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENR9pA0QmLshuGEpyOmMMVMZJMenIQ3AG8SA96OidE99ZFXd4l_qUufE6YYBFEeUgwC2mTQwLY2qjWmOw7uHAYsZ1bjxCblWVsfelCuLPIMhiMNJuJHcZHVtYqMDA9SpxspbX0BKAKe9u/s1600/yogurt-woman.gif" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Back in 2010<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Dannon's hugely successful Activia drew fire from the FDA. The charges included making unsubstantiated health claims. While we know there is good data on the health benefits of probiotics, Dannon failed to show their product (at their suggested dose) accomplished what they claimed. That cost them $21 million.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">In addition to this, </span><span style="color: black; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">we also know that yogurt is not usually clinically beneficial because of poor potency and lack of beneficial strains. The most effective strains taste bitter when put in yogurt, and since yogurt must taste good to sell, the proper bacterial strains and beneficial amounts may not be preferred. Then there is adulteration with huge amounts of sugar, which promotes BAD bacteria.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Futhermore, another ploy used in the yogurt industry is the use of phoney names for bacterial species. <i>Regularis</i> and <i>immunitas</i> are examples of names that have been used that are not even true bacterial species, but are there for window dressing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The beneficial results seen in true identity-certified probiotics are due to reliance upon university strains (as with NCFM acidophilus, for example), as well as the scientific community's third-party research in isolating and identifying bacteria strains. But this standard is not used in the yogurt industry. In fact, it is rarely seen even in most probiotic </span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">supplements.</span><span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), a third-party research group that does not sell products, states that the definition of a probiotic must include identification on the strain. In other words, if a label reads, Lactobacillus Plantarum, this would not qualify as a true probiotic. It must list the <i>strain</i>, which is a series of letters and numbers at the end, like this: Lactobacillus Plantarum 299.v, or Lactobacillus Acidophilus NCFM, or Bifidobacterium Lactis Bi-07. The series of letters and numbers at the end provides information on the specific characteristics of that strain based upon the research performed for use in humans and the <i>specific</i> health benefits associated with it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">This is similar to how minerals and antioxidants are identified. If the label of a calcium-containing product reads simply <i>calcium</i> and no form, the label provides no information on the specific characteristics of the calcium and, therefore, no information regarding the expected health benefit. When a label reads calcium and no form, or Vitamin E with no form, it is generally regarded as subpar because manufacturers that do not list forms are usually using cheaper and less effective ingredients. And this is no less true of probiotics because <b>some forms of acidophilus, for example, do nothing in humans</b>. The consumer has to know a form to be able to predict the health benefit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Another important point about this is that the label of the bottle itself should list the strain of probiotic, not just supportive literature or a page on a website. This is because the bottle itself is supposed to be associated with a specific batch and accompanying lot number, and thus it has to contain exactly what the label reads. Some manufacturers that do not list specific strains on their bottle labels will sometimes provide that information in a catalog, website, or other support materials. This is NOT a good standard of quality, because <b>by doing this the manufacturer has no responsibility to provide information on specific batches, and the consumer could actually be using a batch of the product that does not contain what the support materials claim.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">I have seen only two product lines in the entire professional niche of supplements that lists the genus, species, AND strain on the bottle itself. <b> </b></span><br />
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<br />AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-40041595224997534392015-09-29T10:33:00.003-04:002015-09-29T10:39:12.085-04:00What are Biofilms and Why Should You Care?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been getting a lot of questions about biofilms lately. So what is a biofilm, and should it be an issue in a functional medicine practice?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A biofilm is any group of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other on a surface. Microbes form a biofilm in response to many factors, not the least of which is nutritional cues. The questions I have been getting are usually in regard to the pathogenic kind and their impact on the gut microbiota, because biofilms, like any microorganism, can be both beneficial to human health or harmful, depending on the nature of the microorganism. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's some basic facts about biofilms:</span></div>
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<ul><span class="im" style="color: #500050;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: black;">ALL bacteria live in a biofilm.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: black;">Good bacteria themselves – regardless of strain – produce a healthy biofilm.</span></li>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All good bacteria produce various bacteriocins – such as the strains used in <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/ultraflora-womens" target="_blank">Ultra Flora Women's</a> and <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/ultraflora-integrity" target="_blank">Ultra Flora Integrity</a> and <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/ultraflora-acute-care" target="_blank">Ultra Flora Acute Care</a>, etc – to aid in restoring microbial balance.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bad biofilms are due to the bad bacteria themselves. To reduce pathogenic biofilm focus less on specific probiotic strains and more on overall good biosis (i.e. 5R Gastrointestinal restoration program).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Since biofilms are colonies of organisms, most all intestinal organisms, including good flora, reside in a biofilm. These biofilms also allow organisms to attach to the intestinal wall. Enzyme type oral ‘biofilm’ disruptors are often suggested as a counter to pathogenic biofilm formation. Along these lines, <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/spectrazyme-complete-formerly-spectrazyme" target="_blank">Spectrazyme Complete</a> is a broad spectrum enzyme formula that could be useful as a pathogenic biofilm disrupter. Of course, Spectrazyme Complete is not labeled for biofilms, but the effectiveness of this</span><span style="color: black;"> type of ‘biofilm buster’ is a strong possibility, albeit a bit more theoretical (Petri dish). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Petri dishes are often like Las Vegas. At times what happens in a Petri dish stays in a Petri dish and is not necessarily applicable in the complex human digestive tract. That being said, there may be merit nevertheless in using enzymes for helping to support healthy GI microbiota. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />If desiring a comprehensive approach, consider that a biofilm is more driven by dysbiosis itself (is produced by the dysbiotic organisms themselves). A 5R program utilizing GI-active herbals such as the berberine complex in <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/candibactin-br" target="_blank">CandiBactin BR</a> or bacteriocin production products like <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/ultraflora-restore" target="_blank">Ultra Flora Restore</a> or <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/ultraflora-womens" target="_blank">Ultra Flora Women's</a>, and/or prescriptive antimicrobials followed by the remainder of the program seems applicable. Colostrum-like support (whey immunoglobulins and prebiotics -- think <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/probioplex-intensive-care" target="_blank">Probioplex Intensive Care</a>) can further support proper biosis by decreasing the adherence of these pathogenic organisms to the GI wall (lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase). Also, part of 5R includes the use of enzymes mainly to support proper digestion.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Of particular interest is the evidence showing that those more susceptible </span>to pathogenic biofilm colonization had reduced numbers of probiotic strains in the gut. <span style="color: #222222;"> <u></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">“...Biofilms are communities of [established] microorganisms residing within a self-produced matrix of exopolymers. Microbes prefer living within biofilms, which protect them from dislodgement, predation, host immune responses, and antimicrobial agents...Macfarlane noted that microbes inhabiting biofilm are more efficient at fermenting long-chain polysaccharides than are free-living luminal bacteria, which appear to chiefly ferment oligosaccharides. Microorganisms within biofilms in the mucus layer overlying the intestinal mucosa are more likely to interact with the host's immune system, and these interactions may be healthful or harmful depending on the organisms involved. She noted <b>data showing that microbial gastrointestinal biofilm communities in patients with ulcerative colitis contain significantly fewer bifidobacteria and higher numbers of anaerobic gram-positive cocci, peptostreptococci, enterococci, and enterobacteria. </b>Macfarlane reviewed both in vivo and in vitro evidence that the prebiotic inulin [FOS] can significantly increase intestinal biofilm bifidobacterial populations while simultaneously decreasing biofilm populations of Clostridium, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, and Enterobacteraceae species, and at the same time inhibit pathogen activity and reduce C. difficile toxin concentrations...” <a href="http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMarch2009/probiotic0209.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" title="http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMarch2009/probiotic0209.htm">http://www.<wbr></wbr>townsendletter.com/<wbr></wbr>FebMarch2009/probiotic0209.htm</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While the use of the term "biofilm" seems novel and cutting edge, actually, it is simply another way of describing dysbiosis. The approaches that experienced functional medicine and nutritionally-based holistic practitioners have been using for healthy GI microbiota all along are effective in establishing a GI environment that is antagonistic to unhealthy biofilms and encouraging of the healthy biofilms, because at the end of the day it's still about good bugs vs. bad bugs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-69851831076864268022015-02-28T14:16:00.000-05:002015-02-28T14:18:05.860-05:00Turmeric: Surprising Benefits for Brain Health<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkaLIaVT8Z5BWP-Qn0AlLbzK30Db14WblflQu474Vg3vc34THtZ6a-LwNPfk89JWJSk2UvLtaYcVN0IVzkD6Heoolt2lWS7g6sF50Fb7r3KA7IdT4KG-8KqRWEbNoNVeRlVy-Ki5mQ-AM/s1600/turmeric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkaLIaVT8Z5BWP-Qn0AlLbzK30Db14WblflQu474Vg3vc34THtZ6a-LwNPfk89JWJSk2UvLtaYcVN0IVzkD6Heoolt2lWS7g6sF50Fb7r3KA7IdT4KG-8KqRWEbNoNVeRlVy-Ki5mQ-AM/s1600/turmeric.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The common spice, turmeric, has been used in various types of treatments for dementia and traumatic brain injury. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Research is also showing surprisingly powerful effects of turmeric on Alzheimer's disease (AD)</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">A growing body of evidence indicates that oxidative stress, free radicals, beta-amyloid plaque, metal toxicity, and abnormal inflammatory reactions contribute to AD pathology. Due to the various effects of turmeric, including </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipophilic (an affinity for fats) properties, decreased amyloid plaque, metal-chelation, and decreased microglia formation, the overall memory in AD patients using turmeric in studies has improved.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In one 2013 study in particular</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">2</span><span style="font-size: large;">, older rats experienced a "remarkable restoration" of brain function when given turmeric, especially the ability of vessels in the brain to relax and allow blood to flow freely. The treated rats also experienced a reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is associated with decreased oxidative stress and cell damage.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The effects of turmeric on AD were also demonstrated in a 2012 case study</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">3</span><span style="font-size: large;"> on three patients with "very severe" manifestations of the disease: irritability, agitation, anxiety, apathy, incontinence, and wonderings. The patients were given 764 of turmeric every day for 12 weeks. The results were that "behavioral symptoms improved remarkably as a result of the turmeric treatment." In two of the tree patients, "they came to recognize their family within 1 year treatment." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Turmeric is a common spice that can be added to food. However, therapeutic levels such </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">as the ones used in the studies are easier to obtain via <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/mp/products/inflavonoid" target="_blank">turmeric-containing food supplements</a>. Additional good news is that even higher levels in supplement form are not usually expensive.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ann
Indian </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acad</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Neurol</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
2008 Jan-Mar; 11(1): 13–19.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cell
Physiol Biochem. 2013;32(5):1167-77. doi: 10.1159/000354516. Epub 2013 Nov 11.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ayu</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
2012 </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oct-Dec</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">;
33(4): 499–504</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-57009918178198577192015-02-03T21:17:00.002-05:002015-02-03T21:22:25.065-05:00Fraudulent Labeling Common in Supplement Industry<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3aYMPNmreoRTQmLElNFMC5xg_ti6nCwpqcQ9cslJugx7iuykcWuCd9VqioTVUfz5VW60K1SyXEHITqr1wG5AXuppTSZOGLAfsbm57GLjUYpQuZkfEb4ZdrVUuNrHuPoVCbGcMnKTn79w/s1600/supplement+shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3aYMPNmreoRTQmLElNFMC5xg_ti6nCwpqcQ9cslJugx7iuykcWuCd9VqioTVUfz5VW60K1SyXEHITqr1wG5AXuppTSZOGLAfsbm57GLjUYpQuZkfEb4ZdrVUuNrHuPoVCbGcMnKTn79w/s1600/supplement+shelves.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today the New York Times <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/new-york-attorney-general-targets-supplements-at-major-retailers/?_r=0" target="_blank">reported</a> that the New York state's attorney general's office investigated over-the-counter supplement lines sold at GNC, Walgreen's, Walmart, and Target, and found that nearly all of them were fraudulent. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tests showed that products labeled as medicinal herbs did not actually contain ANY of the herb, but instead cheap fillers like powdered rice and house plants! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 23px;">As part of its investigation, the attorney general’s office bought up 78 bottles of the leading brands of herbal supplements from a dozen Walmart, Target, Walgreens and GNC locations across New York State. Then the agency analyzed the products using a type of genetic fingerprinting known as DNA bar coding that the agency has used to root out labeling fraud in the seafood industry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 23px;">Unfortunately, the problem of fraud and tainted and/or outright contaminated products is not terribly uncommon in the supplement industry. </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.4375rem;">In 2013, for example, an outbreak of hepatitis that affected at least 72 people in 16 states was traced to a tainted supplement. Three people required liver transplants, and one woman died.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.4375rem;">Hospitals have been affected as well. In December 2014, an infant at a Connecticut hospital died when doctors gave the child a popular over-the-counter probiotic supplement that was later found to be contaminated with yeast. After the child’s death, the FDA issued a warning to the public that reiterated its limited control over supplements.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 1.4375rem;">While the FDA's limited control over supplements is a good thing in that it prevents consumers from having to obtain a prescription to get high-potency vitamin C, for example, the downside is that all kinds of shlocky supplement manufacturers are selling fraudulent products to consumers because there is no accountability in the industry. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;">This is a wake-up call to be very scrutinizing in what supplements to buy and from whom. Here, then, is a very brief checklist of things to ask </span><span style="line-height: 23px;">about</span><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;"> and look for when buying supplements.</span></span></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.4375rem; text-align: justify;">1. GMP Certification</b><span style="color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;">: GMP stands for Good Manufacturing Practices, and it is one of the most important standards of elite quality supplements. GMP represents the stamp of approval of 1 of 3 </span><span style="line-height: 23px;">independent</span><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;"> entities: Natural Products Association (NPA), Therapeutic Good Association (TGA), and the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). These organizations are reliable third-party sources of gold standard analysis on the quality of supplement manufacturing. While many companies claim to be operating at or above the quality standards of GMP, the only way to know for sure is if the company has been audited at random by one or all of these organizations and have been passed and certified to be operating according to GMP standards. Similar to how a doctor must acquire a license in </span><span style="line-height: 23px;">order</span><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;"> to claim to be a health professional, elite quality supplement manufacturers must be willing to have their feet held to the fire by having their quality control standards analyzed and scrutinized by GMP organizations before they can honestly claim to be in the health business.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;"><b>2.</b> </span><b style="line-height: 1.4375rem;">Assays and Bioactive Profiles:</b><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;"> An assay is a laboratory analysis of finished products and their individual ingredients. Bioactive profiles analyze the DNA and chemical structure of plant extracts to determine if the actives are still present in the raw material and to what level. Most companies do not perform these delicate analyses because they are not required by the FDA and they are very expensive. But these tests are the only way to determine if a batch of raw material is fit for human consumption, both in the way of validating label claim of herbs and other active ingredients, but also in the way of screening for contamination with molds, fungus, </span><span style="line-height: 23px;">heavy metals, pharmaceutical agents, or other foreign materials. </span><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;"> Many companies that do perform assays do them randomly, perhaps one batch out of every 10 or 20 at best. However, responsible quality control demands that assays be performed on EVERY BATCH because purity is not guaranteed with every batch of raw material, as actives and contamination can change radically from batch to batch.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><b style="line-height: 1.4375rem;">3. Human Evaluations on Finished Products for Determining Safety and Efficacy:</b><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;"> Research on finished products is almost never done in </span><span style="line-height: 23px;">the</span><span style="line-height: 1.4375rem;"> supplement industry. I know of only <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/metagenics-difference/breakthrough-research" target="_blank">one company</a> </span><span style="line-height: 23px;">performing human trials on finished products in a real clinical setting. Seriously. One company. It's just too expensive for all other companies to do human trials. And since the FDA does not require human research on finished nutritional products, nearly all companies opt to not do them, but to simply rely on borrowed research on individual ingredients. But it's vitally important that there be a system in place that provides human safety and efficacy studies on the finished product to be able to provide a high level of predictability. This is, after all, the standards that the FDA holds pharmaceutical companies to because in the drug world consumers want nothing left to chance. And while the world of supplements may not appear to pose the kinds of health threats that contaminated drugs would, we are beginning to see that that may not always be the case. In a world where we now see herbal supplements tainted with drugs or contaminated with yeast, molds, funguses, heavy metals, etc, which can have, in some cases, devastating effects on one's health and even lead to death, consumers should be as concerned about the herbs and vitamins that they put into their bodies as the drugs they take. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 23px;">The list you have just read is a very partial one. The previous three points represent a much longer list of standards too lengthy to discuss here. But you get the point. Elite quality safety and efficacy standards are rare in the supplement industry. Very rare! And consumers would be well advised to buy supplements only from practitioners who actually practice holistic and integrative medicine in their clinics and who rely on products created for the clinical setting and that are created by companies that adhere to these standards. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 23px;">For a more protracted discussion on quality control standards in elite supplement manufacturing, see <a href="http://www.quantumhealth1.blogspot.com/search/label/determining%20quality%20in%20supplements" target="_blank">Determining Quality in Supplements</a>, right here at Quantum Health. </span></span></h4>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-91018647940588389702015-01-30T12:21:00.000-05:002015-01-30T13:07:39.939-05:00Who to Trust in the Age of Media Marketing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gPup2r-wBBajcMr-hi_-1a6nCTIabv1uAUExFJ1yWGcy5M0_YT7W64pmJrxoYIlP1mKspo49IUibXv1qDbnDPD03nu4T_PUPiwlA_r5ciYv351F7NV-G-kcCGcF6LZdhalperGL7KUZb/s1600/money+hungry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gPup2r-wBBajcMr-hi_-1a6nCTIabv1uAUExFJ1yWGcy5M0_YT7W64pmJrxoYIlP1mKspo49IUibXv1qDbnDPD03nu4T_PUPiwlA_r5ciYv351F7NV-G-kcCGcF6LZdhalperGL7KUZb/s1600/money+hungry.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This past September, a guest on the Dr. Oz show claiming that green coffee bean caused rapid and dramatic weight loss without diet or exercise was ordered to pay out $9 million for false claims. As you'll see in this <a href="http://patch.com/california/banning-beaumont/makers-green-tea-weight-loss-pills-featured-dr-oz-must-pay-9-million-false-claims" target="_blank">news article</a>, Dr. Oz’s guest, Lindsay Duncan, and his two companies were manufacturers of said products. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the one hand, the FTC’s witch hunt doesn’t always discriminate against those in the industry who are doing things right and those who aren’t. They are, after all, a government entity closely related to the FDA, and the FDA is partially funded by drug companies. However, in this case, I think they got it right. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, many patients and lay people are trusting online marketers and media darlings for their health information, not realizing that <b>media personalities are entertainers mostly</b>, even the ones whose titles are "doctor." They have shows to do and audiences to attract. And not only do they get paid handsomely for hosting those shows, but <b><i>they also sometimes get kickbacks on the products they promote</i></b> (not <i>necessarily</i> referring to Dr. Oz). </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These marketeers and media personalities do the same thing as the entire media and news industry does, which is promote hype in order to sell a program and/or a product.</span></b><br />
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If you don't believe that statement, let me share a statement that a news anchor shared with me once. I was at dinner with her and her husband, and I asked her a pointed question. I said, "Why is it that the news is mostly bad news?" She answered in surprisingly honest fashion: <i style="font-weight: bold;">"Because we have a saying in our industry: Bad news is good news, and good news is no news."</i><b> Translation? The media can hype bad news and make it sell. But good news can't be sensationalized like bad news, so it's usually ignored. </b>(Not to mention the strong and obvious worldview slant of most of the news media, but that's a subject for another day.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So then, can we trust the media with reporting responsibly about health-related issues? Probably not. And can we trust media superstars who are being paid to sell programs that sell? Same answer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The embarrassing Dr. Oz incident with his guest, Lindsay Duncan, is a glaring example of the truth of my statements above. People with significant health challenges will self-diagnose based upon misleading and questionable statements made on these programs and are disappointed and disillusioned when the claims don't pan out, or, worse yet, worsen their problems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Any physician reading this post would do well to educate their patients on the danger of trusting the media, Hollywood, and online resources with their health. That's what doctors are for. </b>(Holistic and complementary medicine practitioners, which would include chiropractors, medical doctors, nurse practitioners, naturopaths, osteopaths, and some compounding pharmacists, etc, would be my recommendation here.)<b> Doctors do an examination, provide a report-of-findings, and then prescribe products or protocols that are in keeping with the personalized needs of each patient.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lastly on this subject, it was determined by the FTC that the "research" cited by Lindsay Duncan on green coffee bean extract to promote rapid and effortless weight loss was flawed. Again, no surprise, as this goes on all the time in our industry and in the drug world. <b><span style="color: blue;">I will remind my readers that any product manufacturer can make all kinds of impressive claims and create all kinds of impressive-looking marketing material and product packaging. But that does not equate to real science. </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Better to trust product lines who are pioneering real research on <i>finished</i> products with <i>real people</i> in a <i>real clinic</i> and publishing reliable scientific papers in trusted publications. I only know of one <a href="http://www.metagenics.com/" target="_blank">product line</a> doing that. :-) </span><br />
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(<a href="http://quantumhealth1.blogspot.com/search/label/determining%20quality%20in%20supplements" target="_blank">Go here</a> for more on determining quality in supplements.)</span></div>
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AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6006887632401428509.post-35553416591527017232014-07-23T15:41:00.001-04:002014-07-28T09:09:22.262-04:00New Advances in Support for Joint Pain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jyurW2xtyLwmv0v9OmrFsJiLAXo05O7R_jx3NgkRg5Y0cAld2m-mkhNby7YxToHnpNjN6Cc3jUqGvk6AoKvfkBGbz9RlGmkKlrMVbFR_WfQcIHV7yPGtW8yaXmII8vgD5Lls_hfDKEHo/s1600/arthritic+knee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jyurW2xtyLwmv0v9OmrFsJiLAXo05O7R_jx3NgkRg5Y0cAld2m-mkhNby7YxToHnpNjN6Cc3jUqGvk6AoKvfkBGbz9RlGmkKlrMVbFR_WfQcIHV7yPGtW8yaXmII8vgD5Lls_hfDKEHo/s1600/arthritic+knee.jpg" height="200" width="175" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Arthritis effects 43 million Americans. It is estimated that by the time the average person reaches age 70 nearly 100% will have developed some form of arthritis. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For years the nutritional industry has touted the use of glucosamine and chondroition for joint support. And while many do indeed experience some relief from these two compounds, the results are inconsistent. Some people do very well with glucosamine and chondroiton, and some experience no appreciable results. Others cannot use glucosamine-based products at all because of sulfur and shellfish allergies. Since glucosamine has a sulfur component and is derived from shellfish, allergies to glucosamine are a significant concern for some.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With the above in mind, alternatives to glucosamine and chondroiton are being explored in the scientific literature with some promising results. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Enter, then, undenatured type-II collagen (UC-II). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">UC-II is not sulfur based and is not derived from shellfish, so the potential for allergies are significantly lower. UC-II is derived from chicken collagen, and actually seems to work better than glucosamine and chondroiton for joint pain by nourishing and supporting chondrocytes (cartilage cells).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In a trial comparing the results of UC-II against a glucosamine/chondroiton (G/C) mix, UC-II outperformed G/C by more than double in terms of pain relief at 90 days (see figure 1 below). While the G/C produced some pain relief in the first 30 days, the progress leveled off at that point and did not continue to improve past 30 days, whereas the UC-II continued to produce pain relief that progressed to 90 days and beyond.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o8LbpXiBJIRSrP-KXQOUj8PZzYhMa8dFsF_L84Lk017-i5ou_saqFns6vZtKqxU-5nb-dcnDXIwBR7qABO9e85CuOWEYgBiVpl0AGkTw2NwZqDZj_N3Ge9P7wdILAKX3N5qoQcundhPn/s1600/UC2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o8LbpXiBJIRSrP-KXQOUj8PZzYhMa8dFsF_L84Lk017-i5ou_saqFns6vZtKqxU-5nb-dcnDXIwBR7qABO9e85CuOWEYgBiVpl0AGkTw2NwZqDZj_N3Ge9P7wdILAKX3N5qoQcundhPn/s1600/UC2.png" height="184" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">UC-II also improved joint flexibility and enabled the test subjects to undergo strenuous exercise for longer periods of time compared to placebo. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Most subjects in these trials began experiencing relief in as little as two weeks, with the most significant pain relief and joint function improvement being seen at 90 days. No liver, kidney, GI, or cardiovascular toxicity was observed. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Furthermore, all but three of the test subject were able to discontinue pain medications after 90 days, and the three who remained on the medications were able to reduce the dosage. Since nearly all pain relief medications carry significant side effects, including GI bleeding and risk of death due to heart attacks, discontinuing or reducing these medications is an important health benefit. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Some studies have shown that UC-II is also effective support for those suffering from autoimmune-related rheumatoid arthritis. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Since there is more than one type of supplemental collagen on the market, it must be emphasized that the Undenatured Type-II collagen is the kind used in these studies. Denatured collagen or Type-I collagen would likely not produce the same results.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Also of note in the battle against joint pain is a natural anti-inflammatory compound from hops called, tetra-hydro iso-alpha acids (THIAA). THIAA may also improve joint function and provide a different mechanism of pain relief by reducing inflammatory chemicals, thereby possibly accelerating the pain relief process when combined with UC-II. </span></div>
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<br />AndrewGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17155796482108765628noreply@blogger.com