July 17, 2011
Maca Root Powder
NYBC recently decided to stock this form of the traditional botanical, which has a long history of use and some newer research as well to support its use. Below is our take on MACA (excerpted from our catalog description).
Read more, and purchase from the buyers’ co-op, at
Royal Maca (Whole World Botanicals) Each bottle, 180 maca root gelatinized capsules. Each capsule, 500 mg Royal Maca Root Extract along with 2.49 mcg of selenium. This is certified organic by BIO LATINA in Lima, Peru, which so far as we have reviewed here at NYBC appears to be a legitimate certification institution for organic products from this region.
Whole World Botanicals obtains its root from a farm in the high Central Sierra of Peru. Maca, from the root of Lepidium peruvianum / meyenii, has a nutty, malty flavor and is used in traditional medicine to address hormonal imbalances in both women and men. Consider it for managing PMS or menopausal symptoms, for low energy related to hypothyroidism (low function) and may help improve bone strength. Men also use it for libido, erectile function, mood, mental clarity, focus and energy (especially over age 40).
This product is a fair trade product, according to the manufacturer, however it is not labeled as such (yet).
Suggested use varies. For men, 2-6 capsules every day or every other day. For women, if young and peri-menopausal, 2 caps daily. If needed, increase to 3 caps per day in the second month. For women who are not menstruating, 2-3 caps per day for hot flashes is suggested. Evaluate after 5 days and increase by 1-2 caps per day every five days until symptoms are 80% better. Do NOT take with estrogen or estrogenic herbs (may increase hot flash symptoms!). Also do not take with estrogen or if you have any hormone-related cancer.
December 13, 2010
Bone Up & BioSil
NYBC stocks Jarrow Formulas’ Bone Up, which is a comprehensive formula to support bone health. Its essential components are calcium in a form readily usable for bone building in the body, Vitamin D and Vitamin K. By the way, here’s the Health Claim regarding bone health which the FDA allows for Calcium and Vitamin D:
Adequate calcium and vitamin D as part of a healthful diet, along with physical activity, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.
Jarrow also recommends using Bone Up together with its product BioSil, a bioavailable silicon solution that is helpful in maintaining nails, bones, joints, hair and skin. (Silicon is important for tissue strength and elasticity.)
See the NYBC entries for more information on Bone Up:
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=53&products_id=241
Jarrow
and BioSil:
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=50&products_id=234
December 10, 2010
Resveratrol and Resveratrol Synergy
Recent well-regarded research has provided evidence that resveratrol can decrease the kinds of inflammation associated with heart disease, and can improve motor coordination, reduce cataract formation and preserve bone mineral density in aging laboratory animals. (See, for example, the report on an NIH-funded study published in the journal Cell Metabolism in August 2008.) In short, resveratrol may counteract many typical types of age-related deterioration in the body. As the researchers have noted, these anti-aging effects mimic the effect of drastically reducing (by 30-50%) food intake—but without requiring such a near-starvation diet.
That’s the recent research background on resveratrol. We’ll also note that resveratrol as a compound with potential health benefits was originally isolated as a component of red wine. Of course, in supplement form resveratrol can provide its health benefits without requiring the user to drink alcohol. That’s a practical advantage to supplementation that can’t be ignored.
Note that in addition to “Resveratrol,” NYBC also offers a compound supplement from Jarrow called “Resveratrol Synergy.” This product includes includes resveratrol, grape seed extract, and green tea extract. Grape seed extract has been studied mostly for cardiovascular support, while green tea has recently accumulated some interesting research supporting its anti-cancer and anti-aging effects.
To read more about these two supplements, see the NYBC entries:
Resveratrol: http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=50&products_id=330
and
Resveratrol Synergy: http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=50&products_id=245
November 17, 2010
Nelson Vergel: “Survivor Wisdom”
A Talk by Nelson Vergel: “Survivor Wisdom: Advances in Managing Side Effects, Living Well, and Aging with HIV” – New York City, November 9, 2010
How could you not be impressed by the schedule HIV treatment activist Nelson Vergel keeps? A few days before he arrived in New York to share his “Survivor Wisdom” with New York Buyers’ Club members and guests, he was an invited participant at the 12th International Workshop on Adverse Drug Reactions and Co-morbidities in HIV in London. The founder and moderator of the “pozhealth” group on Yahoo—the largest online discussion group for HIV issues–Nelson also finds time to answer questions on a forum hosted by thebody.com. In addition, he serves as a community member of the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services HIV treatment guidelines advisory board. And did we mention that he’s the author of a new book, “Testosterone: A Man’s Guide,” especially useful for people with HIV who are considering testosterone therapy to address fatigue and other problems?
As you might expect, Nelson also covered a lot of territory in his NYBC talk, which was co-hosted by the City University of New York’s Graduate Center. He briefly updated the audience on new treatments and guidelines, then reviewed the exceptional case of the HIV+ “Berlin patient,” whose apparent cure following a bone marrow transplant has opened up, at least tentatively, some new lines of research about curing HIV.
Most of Nelson’s talk, however, dealt with familiar issues in managing HIV symptoms and medication side effects: cardiovascular health challenges, lipoatrophy (facial wasting especially) and body fat accumulation (lipohypertrophy), aging with strong bones, fighting off fatigue, minimizing the risk of anal cancer.
Amid this discussion of symptoms and side effects, Nelson spent time on the topic of supplements. His first point, which NYBC would certainly agree with, is that a lot of good evidence has accumulated about the benefit of multivitamin supplementation, and a multivitamin plus antioxidant combination, for people with HIV. These “micronutrients,” as they’re called in the scientific literature, can enhance survival, delay progression of disease in people not yet on HIV meds, and increase CD4 counts in people taking the meds. We have to admit we were pleased when Nelson also took a moment to praise NYBC (and especially our Treatment Director George Carter) for making available an inexpensive, “close equivalent” of the multivitamin/ antioxidant combination that was the subject of Dr. Jon Kaiser’s well-known research and that led to the development and marketing of K-PAX. New York State residents, as Nelson pointed out, have access to many such supplements through formularies. But for residents of other states, this half-price version of the multivitamin/antioxidant combination (MAC-Pack or Opti-MAC-Pack) can provide welcome relief in the budgetary department.
Our speaker then ran through a list of about a dozen supplements that have reasonably good evidence to support their use by people with HIV. He chose to focus more closely, however, on just a few:
Niacin. Despite “flushing” that makes it difficult for some to use, niacin can be very effective in bringing up levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol in people with HIV. Since cholesterol control is a major long-term health issue for many people on HIV meds, and since recent research suggests that raising HDL cholesterol levels may be an extremely important factor in reducing cardiovascular risk, niacin may be a top choice for many. (Fish oils/omega-3 fatty acids, plant sterols, pantethine, carnitine, and CoQ10 are other supplements that NYBC and many others put in the category of “supports cardiovascular health.”)
Vitamin D. Seems that, even at the London conference Nelson had just attended, the “sunshine vitamin” was a hot topic. Partly that’s because people with HIV have recently been found to have a high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency, and then because Vitamin D, calcium and other mineral supplementation is a logical approach to addressing long-term challenges to bone health in people taking HIV meds. (Look on the NYBC blog for a whole host of other recent studies about Vitamin D’s potential benefits, from reducing cardiovascular risk to cancer prevention—even as a way of warding off colds and flu.)
Carnitine. This is a supplement, Nelson told the audience, that he’s taken for many years. Reported/perceived benefits: to improve fatigue, lipids, brain function and neuropathy. (NYBC Treatment Director George Carter put in that “acetyl-carnitine”—a form of the supplement that crosses the blood/brain barrier–has shown the most promise for dealing with neuropathy.)
Probiotics. The vulnerability of the gut in HIV infection, and the well-documented problems people with HIV experience in absorbing nutrients, make probiotics a very helpful class of supplements for long-term health maintenance. (Probiotics, good or “friendly” bacteria residing in the gut, are available in a variety of products, from yogurt to supplements. There’s quite a bit of research about the effectiveness of different varieties, and note as well that there are some newer formats that don’t require refrigeration.)
Above and beyond the treatment issues involving supplements, meds, and other strategies, Nelson referred several times to areas where there’s a need for advocacy. He mentioned the cure project, for one, but also a national watch list to help people follow and respond to the devastation created by recent funding cuts and the resultant waiting lists in the ADAP programs of many states, such as Florida.
All in all, NYBC members and guests would doubtless agree: a very thought-provoking presentation, with much helpful information to take away. For more on these and other issues, be sure to check out the NYBC website at:
http://www.newyorkbuyersclub.org/
[A version of this article also appears in NYBC's free e-newsletter, THE SUPPLEMENT, along with additional reporting on a new Mayo Clinic guide to supplements, and a look at the current state of regulation and research on supplements in the US.]
February 22, 2010
Vitamin D deficiency in people with HIV/AIDS
The website aidsmap.com has featured a piece on Vitamin D deficiency among people with HIV in its top stories from this year’s annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI, San Francisco, Feb. 2010), one of the main yearly meetings for scientific research on HIV/AIDS. Here’s an excerpt from the report, authored by Derek Thaczuk and published 2/19/2010:
Vitamin D deficiency extremely common among HIV-positive patients in diverse regions
[...]
New analyses have found widespread vitamin D insufficiency among American, Italian and Swiss cohorts of HIV-positive patients. [Note: also reported at CROI was a study looking at health outcomes in Tanzanian women with low vitamin D levels.] These data were presented in a poster session and related discussion at the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI).Vitamin D deficiency was consistently less frequent in Caucasians than in other races. Otherwise, the studies were not entirely consistent as to other risk factors, such as duration or type of antiretroviral treatment.
At the CROI discussion session on Wednesday, moderator Peter Reiss from the University of Amsterdam began by noting that vitamin D deficiency can result in bone density loss, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and insulin resistance, kidney disease, and other metabolic conditions commonly seen in patients with HIV.
[...]
ConclusionsThese studies add to a growing body of evidence that insufficient or deficient vitamin D levels are extremely prevalent among persons with HIV. While prevalence figures (and the cutoff values used to define them) vary, these studies reported insufficiency rates of 54% to 72%; figures which are generally consistent with other reports. Studies in women linked vitamin D deficiency with risk of bacterial vaginosis, thrush, and other health problems.
The single factor invariably associated with insufficiency or deficiency was non-Caucasian race. Otherwise, reported risk factors were not entirely consistent, although several studies identified NNRTI and/or efavirenz use.
Investigators agreed that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among HIV-positive individuals, has harmful effects on health, and is easily addressable through supplementation. Remaining research questions include the link between deficiency and clinical health outcomes, the impact of supplementation, the best doses for supplementation, and closer comparisons of deficiency rates in people with HIV and in the general population, where deficiency is also common.
Read the full story at
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/A17781D3-3857-455D-B13B-D7628DF427C7.asp
October 22, 2009
Recommendations from the Vitamin D Council
The Vitamin D Council is a California non-profit that promotes education about the health benefits of Vitamin D, and advocates for wider use of supplementation, at a much higher dose than the current RDA, to ward off a variety of diseases, including several types of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Here are some highlights from the Council’s home page, as accessed by us 10/22/2009:
Current research has implicated vitamin D deficiency as a major factor in the pathology of at least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more.
Vitamin D’s influence on key biological functions vital to one’s health and well-being mandates that vitamin D no longer be ignored by the health care industry nor by individuals striving to achieve and maintain a greater state of health.
…
Sunshine and Your HealthIf well adults and adolescents regularly avoid sunlight exposure, research indicates a necessity to supplement with at least 5,000 units (IU) of vitamin D daily. To obtain this amount from milk one would need to consume 50 glasses. With a multivitamin more than 10 tablets would be necessary. Neither is advisable.
The skin produces approximately 10,000 IU vitamin D in response 20–30 minutes summer sun exposure—50 times more than the US government’s recommendation of 200 IU per day!
On this website, we also noted with interest a letter from a Wisconsin doctor/long-term care facility manager on the apparent protective value of Vitamin D during a spike in the state’s swine flu rate in June 2009. The doctor had mandated Vitamin D supplementation for the long-term care facility’s residents, whereas staff at the facility were under no such requirement. During the June swine flu peak, less than 1% of the facility residents developed swine flu, while at least 7% of the staff did–a significant variation in outcomes.
We’ll stay tuned to the Vitamin D Council’s website, which seems to us a useful clearinghouse of information on a supplement that holds a great deal of promise, if we’re to judge by the flood of positive new research results coming out in just the past few years. On the practical side, we also note that Vitamin D supplementation is inexpensive; that blood levels of the vitamin are easily monitored; and that overdose is rare (though we certainly recommend checking with your doctor if you plan to supplement at the levels advocated by the Vitamin D Council).
SEE ALSO THE NYBC ENTRY:
D3 – 2500IU (This format provides a convenient way to supplement for those wishing to follow the recommendations of the Vitamin D Council; other strengths are also available at NYBC.)
April 7, 2009
Vitamin D and bone loss in people with HIV
Here’s still more research on Vitamin D and its particular importance for people with HIV, who experience low levels of the vitamin and also appear more susceptible to bone loss (osteopenia and osteoporosis), possibly leading to increased risk of fractures. (See other entries under Vitamin D on this blog for details.)
The recent piece of research was reported at a British HIV conference, and focused especially on supplementing with Vitamin D to counter tenofovir-related bone hormone deficiency. (The “bone hormone” in question is parathyroid hormone, or PTH, which causes loss of calcium from the bones.) The research team measured Vitamin D and PTH levels in 45 men who were taking HIV drugs. They found sub-optimal vitamin D levels in 71% of the men and higher-than normal levels of PTH in 41%. All the patients with high PTH were taking tenofovir, and no subject whose levels of vitamin D were normal or above had high PTH.
A small study followed some of these participants as they supplemented with Vitamin D. Supplementation increased D levels, and also showed considerable effectiveness in reducing high PTH. Although this research is preliminary, it does certainly suggest that further
study of Vitamin D supplementation to counter bone loss in people with HIV is warranted.
Reference: Childs K et al. Vitamin D and calcium supplements reverse the secondary hyperparathyroidism that commonly occurs in HIV patients on TDF-containing HAART. Fifteenth BHIVA Conference, Liverpool. Poster P89. 2009.
We found information on this study at
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/news/AA992216-3C05-4F6F-93EB-3423DEC33FA9.asp
February 5, 2009
High Frequency of Vitamin D Deficiency in People with HIV
A number of reports in recent years have suggested an increased prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis (moderate and severe bone loss) in HIV-infected patients. In 2008, moreover, a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reported a higher rate of fractures in HIV-infected individuals compared with uninfected individuals. So there is reason for concern that osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures will become major health problems for people with HIV as they age.
Here, we’re reporting on another study, released at the start of 2009, which fills in more pieces of information about bone health in people with HIV–and also provides guidance on supplementation strategies that could counteract bone loss and increased bone fracture rates associated with HIV. This research looked at fairly healthy (“ambulatory”) people with HIV visiting a Boston clinic in mid-winter and early spring months, and found a high frequency of vitamin D deficiency. Further tests linked this deficiency to a diminished ability to absorb and use calcium, the central ingredient in bone mass.
Based on their study, the investigators suggested that many people with HIV could benefit from daily vitamin D intake of at least 700-800 IU taken with 1200-1500mg of calcium, especially during the winter months, when the body does not have the opportunity to produce Vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.
Our conclusion: studies are now filling in the details that allow us to conclude that osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related fractures may become an increasingly important health concern for people with HIV as they age. However, there is also growing evidence that supplementing with Vitamin D and calcium can reduce this risk to bone health. It’s therefore important for people with HIV to check their multivitamin to see if they are getting appropriate levels of these two nutrients, or add a specific Vitamin D – Calcium supplement to their diet.
NOTE: NYBC stocks Vitamin D3 (the form most readily used by the body) and Calcium Blend (a food-based vegetarian supplement which includes Vitamin D3). Also available: Bone Up (Jarrow), a supplement containing calcium, Vitamin D and other components specifically for bone health.
Reference: M. Rodriguez, B. Daniels, S. Gunawardene, and G.K. Robbins. High Frequency of Vitamin D Deficiency in Ambulatory HIV-Positive Patients. AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES, Vol 25, 1, 2009.
November 20, 2008
Advocating for Vitamin D: higher dosages as a preventive measure with wide-ranging health benefits, from reduction of cancer risk to prevention of colds and flus
We took a look recently at the website of the Vitamin D Council, a nonprofit educational organization that advocates for wider use of this supplement, and suggests that the long-accepted dosage recommendations are too low. This is a widely discussed viewpoint, which comes following a flood of interesting research on Vitamin D in the last decade, including a great deal sponsored by the federal government. Here’s the link: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
Some of the website’s main points:
–Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to many varieties of cancer, as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and more.
–A recent federally-funded study found that supplementing with 1100 IU Vitamin D3 plus calcium daily yielded a substantial decrease in cancer rates among post-menopausal women. This daily dosage of D is significantly higher than the 400 IUs traditionally recommended.
–The “flu season” may actually be a “Vitamin D deficiency season,” since a decrease in sun exposure leads to a fall in the body’s Vitamin D levels. Thus one of the most effective preventives for colds and flu may be increasing Vitamin D supplementation during the winter.
–There may be significant benefit to doses of D as high as 5000 IUs daily, especially for those who have a marked deficiency. (This is perhaps one of the more controversial positions endorsed by this website.)
For more, see the NYBC entry:
Note the NYBC also stocks Jarrow’s Bone Up, a supplement that conveniently provides dosages of both D3 (1000 IU) and Calcium (1000mg) closely reflecting those used in the federally-funded study that showed a substantial reduction in cancer rates.
September 18, 2008
Maintaining bone health – recommendations for Calcium and Vitamin D3 supplementation
Calcium and Vitamin D are both important for keeping bones healthy. Calcium is needed by the body every day, and if not enough is taken in, then calcium is lost from the bones. Meanwhile, in order to absorb calcium effectively, the body needs Vitamin D3. So these two nutrients are both necessary, on a very regular basis, for the long-term maintenance of bone health and the prevention of such conditions as osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Recently, there has also been a lot of research and discussion about the optimum intake of Vitamin D3 to maintain bone health. Many investigators now believe that a minimum of 700 to 800 IU of vitamin D3 per day is needed by adults. This is approximately double the daily intake of 400mg that was commonly recommended in the past.
Other lines of recent research have pointed to supplementation with calcium and Vitamin D3 as having benefits in reducing risk of cancer in some populations; and there is also much study now being devoted to Vitamin D3′s role in the health of the immune system. So the old “sunshine vitamin” is definitely one to watch!
References:
Vieth R, Bischoff-Ferrari H, Boucher BJ, et al. The urgent need to recommend an intake of vitamin D that is effective. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007 Mar;85:649-50.
Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, et al. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. AmericanJournal of Clinical Nutrition 2007 Jun;85(6):1586-91.
For special concerns regarding HIV and bone loss, see the CATIE treatment update “Complications and Side Effects – Calcium and Vitamin D”.
For some recommendations on supplementation from NYBC, see the section “Better Bones”.
March 27, 2008
Women’s Blend – multivitamin from Super Nutrition
Some information about Women’s Blend from Super Nutrition, which also produces the Super Blend and Opti-Pack multivitamins.
Here are some excerpts from the Super Nutrition description of this multi:
This is a food-based multivitamin, enriched with organic green foods and herbs.
–Includes a robust B-Complex formula to increase energy throughout the day
–Immune supporting, anti-aging antioxidants
–Bone support – 1,000 mg Calcium, 600 mg Magnesium, 1,000 IU Vitamin D, 3 mg Boron and 1,000 mg Vitamin C
–Heart Healthy – 1,000 mcg Folic Acid, 200 mg Vitamin B6, 200 mcg Vitamin B12 plus 400 IU Vitamin E
–Enriched with 600 mcg Biotin & 100 mg GLA
–Special female herbal blend with Pau d’Arco, Peony, organic Nettles and Rosemary
100 mg 5:1 Vitex extract*
–Special flower petal blend, featuring Red Rosebuds
–200 mg Vitamin B6 to help reduce PMS*
–6 tablets per day
*Here’s some additional information, supplied by Michael Mooney at Super Nutrition in response to our request:
> Vitex for PMS. A placebo-controlled study showed that 20 mg of Vitex extract reduced PMS 28> percent better than placebo. Women’s Blend has 100 mg of 5:1 extract.
> 200 mg B6 reduced PMS 79 percent of the women in a PC study, 100 – 160 reduced it 68 percent.
