03.31.09
Supplements studied for diabetes: multivitamins, fish oil, lipoic acid, chromium and biotin
We were at a health fair in Brooklyn recently, and, because there is a high rate of diabetes in this area of NYC, we decided that we should produce a short list of the most important supplements that have been studied for diabetes:
Multivitamin/multimineral
Regular use of a multivitamin/multimineral supplement helps people with diabetes maintain good health (for example, by reducing the number of infections they experience).
Reference: Barringer, et al. Effect of a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement on Infection and Quality of Life. Annals of Internal Medicine. 3/4/2003.
Omega-3 fatty acids (Fish Oil)
Many people with diabetes have high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. (Two out of three people with diabetes die of heart disease or stroke.) Omega-3 fatty acids have shown benefit for cardiovascular health in recent randomized controlled clinical trials. The FDA has also approved a health claim for fish oil: “supporting but not conclusive evidence shows that the consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”
Alpha-Lipoic Acid
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) has the ability to assist with glucose metabolism, and also promotes healthy nerve function. A recent study concluded that ALA (600mg) could be useful in helping to treat the symptoms of diabetes-related neuropathy (= generally, pain, tingling, numbness in feet and hands).
Reference: Ametov et al. The sensory symptoms of diabetic polyneuropathy are improved with alpha-lipoic acid: The SYDNEY Trial. Diabetes Care. 2003, 26 (3)
Chromium
See entries under Chromium on this blog for additional information about this mineral and its potential benefit for people with diabetes.
03.26.09
MMS Botanicals at NYBC
NYBC carries selected botanicals from the manufacturer “MMS Pro,” which has been a supplier of “phytomedicines” (=plant-derived remedies) for 80 years. We like the fact that this supplier subscribes to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), an industry-recognized standard for quality control, and that its botanicals have been used in numerous clinical trials. MMS Pro also posts on its website independent certificates of analysis for many of its products. (Certificates of analysis provide evidence of independent verification of the purity and potency of a botanical.)
Here are the MMS Pro botanicals currently stocked by NYBC. Please
read carefully the descriptions on the NYBC website.
03.19.09
Mushroom and green tea: parts of a diet that may protect against breast cancer
The International Journal of Cancer has published a study by an Australian researcher that found green tea and mushroom consumption was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer, and less severe cancer in those who did develop it.
The research examined the diets of about 2,000 women from the southeastern Chinese city of Hangzhou — half of whom had breast cancer — over a 14-month period. Higher consumption of mushrooms was related to decreased risk of breast cancer; and those women who consumed mushrooms and green tea were found to have the most reduction in breast cancer development.
The main reason for focusing this study on Chinese women’s diets is that, while breast cancer is the most common type of cancer for women worldwide, the rate of this cancer in China is four to five times lower than that generally found in developed countries. Since both mushrooms and green tea are commonly part of Chinese diets, consumption of these foods might explain this strikingly low incidence of breast cancer. Furthermore, there have been previous studies of green tea and mushrooms and their nutritional components as potentially possessing anti-cancer properties.
We read about this study at
http://www.physorg.com/news156610089.html
03.18.09
Reviewing “Resveratrol Synergy” from Jarrow
Jarrow Formula’s supplement “Resveratrol Synergy” is a combination of several plant-derived nutrients that have been intensively researched in recent years, including resveratrol (the famous component of red wine), grape seed extract, and green tea. This phytonutrient blend provides the body with antioxidants, anthocyanins, polyphenols and catechins, which are generally acknowledged to support cardiovascular health, as the Jarrow label states.
But there is more to these plant-derived nutrients, as you may know from hearing news reports, especially about resveratrol. Typically found in the skin of red grapes and in red wine, resveratrol has been the subject of scientific investigations suggesting that it possesses unique life-extending and anti-aging properties. Some of the recent studies draw a causal connection between gene protection and high levels of resveratrol consumption; other research has focused on how resveratrol may switch on a particular “survival gene” that offers a whole host of health benefits, from cardiovascular support to diabetes prevention.
As far as product quality goes, NYBC noted that a recent Consumer Labs report found that the ingredients matched the label claim–one good measure of integrity for “Resveratrol Synergy.”
For more information, see the NYBC entry:
03.12.09
Berries and cancer prevention
You may have caught some recent reports about new research findings on berries and cancer prevention. For example, our hometown newspaper, The New York Times, featured an interesting piece entitled “The Power of Berries,” on Jan. 22 2009, which detailed the accumlating evidence for the efficacy of these fruits in warding off development of cancers of the colon, esophagus, and mouth.
This article paid special attention to investigations conducted by Prof. Gary D. Stoner of the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Professor Stoner’s research, like that of others in the field, has built on the well-studied general association between consumption of berries (including black and red raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and elderberries) and lower rates of cancer. It has also been widely recognized that certain compounds within berries, such as anthocyanins (which give berries their color), may be responsible for their most significant cancer prevention effects.
Dr. Stoner’s research has given him even deeper insights into berries and cancer prevention, as he’s come to conclude that berries may exert a “genome-wide” anti-cancer effect, meaning that, unlike many cancer treatments that target only one cancer-promoting gene at a time, the consumption of berries may target a whole spectrum of cancer-promoting genes, causing them to shut down development of pre-cancerous and cancerous growths. All of which leads him to a recommendation: “We know berries have so many effects on processes related to cancer development. They are one of the food stuffs you probably should consider consuming every day, or at least a few times a week.”
There’s one additional, practical note to these studies of berries and cancer prevention: recent investigations have shown that freeze dried berries and berry powders can be just as effective as fresh fruit in terms of anti-cancer effects. Since it’s not always possible to eat loads of fresh berries several times a week, using a powdered berry supplement would seem to make a lot of sense for anyone interested in cancer prevention.
Here is a low-cost berry powder supplement that NYBC has carried for several years:
Berry High includes powdered forms of fruits rich in antioxidants, as well as ellagic acid, anthocyanins and other polyphenols. Each scoop (1 tablespoon) of 6 grams contains:
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) – 58 mg
Apple juice powder – 3,130 mg
Raspberry – 372 mg
Blueberry – 50 mg
Mountain cranberry – 250 mg
Strawberry – 400 mg
Black currant powder – 200 mg
Grape juice powder – 200 mg
Lemon juice powder – 220 mg
Pineapple juice powder – 150 mg
Guava juice powder – 150 mg
Peach juice powder – 150 mg
Quercetin – 130 mg
Passion juice powder – 100 mg
03.05.09
NYBC’s Quick Guide to Gastrointestinal Health
The latest issue of the NYBC newsletter, THE SUPPLEMENT, includes a “Quick Guide to Gastrointestinal Health.” Here’s the introduction:
Gastrointestinal or gut health is basic to overall health, whether you’re talking about how well you feel on a daily basis (nausea, cramps, diarrhea, etc. being among our least favorite experiences), or the importance of properly absorbing food that you eat and thereby supplying your body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy over the long term.
Gastrointestinal health can also be a complicated issue, since gut disturbances may stem from many different causes, whether it’s a bug picked up from poor food handling practices, a side effect of medications, or one of the symptoms of an underlying disease or infection (such as HIV) that requires treatment in itself. Identifying the root cause or causes of gastrointestinal problems can be a major challenge, and of course we urge you to work with your healthcare provider to sort that question out, especially if your condition lingers, becomes acute, or has an impact on your ability to go about your daily life.
And here are the major topics covered by the guide:
Probiotics: only some types of probiotics, such as lactobacillus and bifidus, have been studied for gastrointestinal health (to prevent diarrhea, for example); Saccharomyces boulardii, available in the US as Florastor, is one of the most researched of the probiotics, and has been shown to be useful for antibiotic-related diarrhea and traveler’s diarrhea
Glutamine and other supplements to maintain body weight: glutamine, calcium carbonate, and other supplements have been investigated for their application to gastrointestinal health, and particularly for minimizing diarrhea and improving absorption in people with HIV, which in turn helps maintain body weight
Traditional botanicals/remedies for GI health: Chinese or Tibetan herbal formulas from Health Concerns and Pacific BioLogic; and Mastic Gum, a traditional remedy for heartburn from the Eastern Mediterranean, now recently studied for additional health benefits
Read the complete “Quick Guide to Gastrointestinal Health” online:
03.04.09
Vitamin D3 supplementation for people with HIV
The annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), which provides a forum for recent HIV/AIDS research, included an interesting study on Vitamin D3 supplementation.
The investigation checked Vitamin D levels in a group of NYC people with HIV (deficiency in this key nutrient having been frequently documented in other recent research), then followed them as they supplemented with D3 and calcium citrate. Different doses were given to those with severe deficiency (2800 IU/day), substantial deficiency (1800 IU/day), and mild-moderate deficiency (800 IU/day). The investigators concluded that “many HIV patients can achieve optimal vitamin D status by using oral V[itamin] D3.”
Note that, while the very high daily doses of Vitamin D3 (2800 IU/day is 14 times the current recommended dose) were deemed “safe” in the conclusion of this study, certainly anyone starting such high dose supplementatiion should do so under medical supervision.
Overall, we believe the study gives encouragement to the idea that through inexpensive supplementation, many people with HIV could improve their Vitamin D3 status and thus potentially benefit their health over the long term. Health benefits of optimal Vitamin D3 status include: lower levels of inflammation and associated health problems; lower risk of developing osteopenia/osteoporosis (a special concern for people with HIV, according to several studies from the last few years).
For further rinformation, see the NYBC entry on Vitamin D3. NYBC also stocks Jarrow’s Bone-Up supplement, which includes D3, calcium, and other nutrients to support bone health.
