April 2, 2011
NYBC’s BrainPower Multi-Pak – low-cost “Ultramind Solution”
NYBC’s Low-Cost Alternative to the Pricey “Ultramind Solution”
The UltraMind Solution by Dr. Mark Hyman is one of many recent books that attempt to translate the piles of research from the last few decades about nutrition and brain function into useful guidelines for improving and maintaining good mental functioning and psychological well-being.
The Ultramind Solution contends that changing your diet–your “nutritional intake”–can often make a huge difference with conditions like depression, memory impairment, or “brain fog.” Dr. Hyman’s recommendations focus both on weeding out elements that harm the system (too much sugar, poorly chosen carbs, alcohol, cigarettes), and sticking to a menu of what’s good, especially what’s good for brain function: 1) omega fatty acids (found in salmon, sardines, flaxseed); 2) amino acid sources (nuts, lean meats); 3) high-quality carbs (for example, beans, peas, and lentils); 4) phyto-nutrients (plant foods containing antioxidants and other helpful substances, like blueberries, cilantro, etc.).
Finally, Dr. Hyman observes that, since more than 90% of Americans don’t get adequate nutrients from food (a finding from an often-cited US government survey), many people realistically will need to supplement in several key categories: 1) a multivitamin; 2) fish oil (omega fatty acids); 3) Calcium/Magnesium; 3) Vitamin D; 4) B complex vitamins; 5) probiotics (for good absorption of nutrients).
And yes, you can even go to the ”Ultramind” online store, where you can purchase a kit containing these supplements. The problem is that, at $121.50 for a month’s supply, this package is way overpriced. But never fear—NYBC, as a nonprofit supplements co-op, can offer an alternative that’s a close equivalent (or slightly better), but at only $90 for a month’s supply ($80 if you sign up for a $5 minimum annual membership in the co-op).
Here’s NYBC’s BrainPower Multi-Pak:
Multivitamin: Added Protection without Iron (Douglas)
Fish oil: Max DHA (Jarrow)
Calcium/magnesium/Vitamin D: Ultra Bone Up (Jarrow)
B: Methyl B-12 (other B vitamins included in the multi)
Probiotic: Ultra JarrodophilusBy the way, you can purchase any of these items individually at NYBC if you like. Again–at lower prices than in the “Ultramind” store.
February 9, 2011
Supplements as alternatives to benzodiazepines
Here’s an update on this topic:
In her 2007 book, Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About Nutrition, Dr. Hyla Cass has an interesting section (pp. 139-140) dealing with supplement alternatives to benzodiazepines and other drugs such as Ambien. (These drugs are generally prescribed as anti-anxiety agents and as sleep aids.)
Dr. Cass is a practicing physician and an expert on integrative (“holistic”) health, and one of her main concerns is to present ways to counter prescription medication side effects, or to identify supplement alternatives to prescription drugs.
Of benzodiazepines (the best-known tradenames in this category are Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Librium, Halcion), Dr. Cass writes that a principal problem is that these drugs develop dependence, and so can require steadily increasing dosages as time goes on. (Ideally, she says, they are intended as short-term therapies, but in fact many patients end up being prescribed them for a much longer time.) Withdrawal from these drugs can be quite hazardous, and should be done only under medical surpervision. Moreover, the effect of this class of medications is often a dulling of response, so their use can be associated with accidents.
Since benzodiazepines deplete needed nutrients, Dr. Cass advises supplementing as follows if you take them:
1000-1200mg Calcium/day, plus 400-600mg/Magnesium
400-800mg Folic acid/day
1000 IU Vitamin D/day
30-100mcg Vitamin K/day
She also states that in her own practice she has often successfully substituted supplements for these prescription drugs. Among the calming supplements that she has used:
5-HTP: 100-200mg at bedtime
Melatonin: 0.5-3.0mg at bedtime
L-theanine: 200mg, one to three times daily, as needed
In Dr. Cass’s view, supplements such as these, sometimes used in combinations, can provide a good alternative to the addictive benzodiazepines and their side effects (which, she says, are also characteristic of the newer drug Ambien).
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See the following NYBC entries for additional information on the supplements mentioned above:
Melatonin 1mg and Melatonin 3mg
Theanine Serene (includes L-theanine)
NYBC also stocks 5-HTP and the closely related Tryptophan.
Also note that the Jarrow supplement Bone Up very closely matches the set of supplements recommended by Dr. Cass to offset the nutrients depleted by taking benzodiazepines (Calcium, Magnesium, Folic acid, Vitamin D, Vitamin K).
January 7, 2011
Raltegrivir (Isentress) and Antacids/Minerals
A recent discussion on the excellent PozHealth listserve has alerted us to a potential problem with the relatively new HIV medication, raltegravir (brand name, Isentress). This drug inhibits an enzyme used by HIV called integrase.
As with many medications, it needs to be absorbed properly by the body after being taken. Some drugs can interact with this, blunting its benefit in lowering viral load to undetectable. In particular, antacids (that often come in the form of calcium carbonate) appear to reduce the drug’s efficacy when they are taken at the same time.
One contributor to the list noted that he now takes the drugs separately from any antacids as WELL as his K-PAX. This is prudent. We strongly urge you to separate any multi or other minerals that may inhibit the benefit of this medication by taking them about 4 hours apart.
This is also based on some research, as discussed on the HIV Insite website. They note: “: ”It appears that polyvalent cations (such as magnesium, calcium, and iron) bind integrase inhibitors and interfere with their activity against integrase. A pharmacokinetic study showed that administration of antacids containing divalent cations at the same time as elvitegravir (an investigational integrase inhibitor) lowered serum elvitegravir concentration by more than 40%. This effect was minimal if antacids were taken 4 hours apart from the integrase inhibitor.(5) The interaction of raltegravir and antacids has not been studied; pending further investigation, antacid medications and other agents with polyvalent cations should be used cautiously with (and taken separately from) raltegravir.”
(If you would like to join the POZHealth group, send a blank email to PozHealth-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and you will get an email with instructions to follow. It is a terrific group!)
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 7, 2010
Higher Vitamin D Recommendations
You may have heard reports about a scientific advisory panel that recently called for increasing the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of Vitamin D and calcium. The same panel also revised upward the “tolerable upper limit,” or highest advisable daily dose, for D and for calcium.
The new guidelines, issued by the Institute of Medicine, are summarized as follows:
Vitamin D; Ages 1-70: 600 international units (IUs) per day. Older than 71:800 IUs. The IOM previously said 200 IUs was adequate for people aged 50 and younger, 400 IU for people aged 51-70, and 600 IUs for people older than 70.
The tolerable upper limit (UL) is 4000 IUs for ages 9 and above (up from 2000 IU in the IOM’s previous guidance).
Calcium: based on age, ranges from 700 to 1300 milligrams (mg) daily with a tolerable upper limit range of 1000-3000 mg.
Note that the recommended daily allowances are basically for the sake of maintaining health. When deficiencies are identified in individuals or groups (such as people with HIV), then higher dosages may be recommended.
See NYBC’s entry on Vitamins and Minerals for further details about multivitamins, Vitamin D, calcium, and other vitamins and minerals:
July 15, 2010
Tenofovir (Viread, Atripla) and Severe Bone Loss
Sean Strub, founder of POZ, notes on his blog the evidence for severe osteopenia or osteoporosis arising from the use of this drug. And unfortunately, from his own personal experience.
The comprehensive issues arising from ARV clearly require more diligence from physicians HEARING what people using these meds are experiencing, and acting more aggressively to mitigate the problems. This can include encouraging (prescribing??) resistance exercise, use of appropriate mineral supplements and extra Vitamin D.
One case study is reported here–we’re beginning to investigate the issue more closely.
Brim NM, Cu-Uvin S, Hu SL, O’Bell JW. Bone disease and pathologic fractures in a patient with tenofovir-induced Fanconi syndrome. AIDS Read. 2007 Jun;17(6):322-8, C3.
Comment in: * AIDS Read. 2007 Jun;17(6):326-7.
We report the case of an HIV-positive patient with preexisting bone disease who developed tenofovir-induced Fanconi syndrome and subsequently sustained pathologic fractures. We suggest that tenofovir treatment may have contributed to the patient’s pathologic fractures through its effects on phosphorus balance and vitamin D metabolism. This case highlights the importance of monitoring not only for renal impairment but also for bone disease in patients receiving tenofovir treatment, especially given the high prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV-positive patients.
May 24, 2010
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY USE IN HIV-POSITIVE PEOPLE: AN ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEY
An online survey conducted by our friend, Nelson Vergel and published in Antiviral Therapy. Here is the abstract:
COMPLEMENTARY THERAPY USE IN HIV-POSITIVE PEOPLE: AN ONLINE COMMUNITY SURVEY Antiviral Therapy 2009; 14(Suppl. 2):A34 (abstract no. P-11)
NR Vergel
Program for Wellness Restoration, Houston, TX, USA
OBJECTIVES: To assess the use and types of complementary therapies (CT) and their perceived benefits in a sample of HIV-positive members of a community online health listserve.
METHODS: Members of pozhealth at yahoogroups.com were sent a link to a 13 point questionnaire related to demographics, length of HIV infection, type of CT use, and reasons and perceived benefits of CT use.
RESULTS: The majority of the 135 survey participants were white males over 40 years of age who live in the USA and with least 15 years of HIV infection. The top reported CTs and their perceived benefits were exercise, nutritional supplements, herbs, massage, prayer/ spirituality, meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic and yoga. The most popular supplements and their perceived or studied benefits were fish oils (improved lipids), coenzyme Q-10 (stamina), multivitamins (general health), selenium (immune system protection), N-acetyl cysteine (immune system protection), alpha lipoic acid (improved insulin sensitivity and neuropathy), niacin (improved lipids), whey protein (lean body mass enhancement), acetyl-l-carnitine (improved lipids, neuropathy and cognitive function), DHEA (stamina and sexual function), probiotics (gastrointestinal health and diarrhoea), calcium (bone health and diarrhoea), vitamin D (bone health) and milk thistle (liver protection). A total of 84% believed that they were benefitting from CTs, and 87% informed their physicians about their CT use. CTs were personally funded by 72% of patients, whereas the rest had access to them via community programmes.
CONCLUSION: The majority of this sample of HIV-positive people used CTs and derived perceived benefits. Unfortunately, there are little to no efficacycontrolled data available for most CTs. Also lacking are interaction studies between most nutritional/herbal supplements and HIV antiretrovirals (ARVs). As CT use seems to be common and pervasive in the self-management of adverse events and quality of life, the HIV-positive community would benefit from more controlled studies on popular CTs and supplement interaction data with ARVs.
DISCUSSION: There are obvious limitations to this survey. The majority of participants were long-term survivor/white males over 40 years of age, which might represent those who access HIV-related health listserves on the internet. It is suggested that more information is obtained from other HIV patient populations via other outreach venues. A larger survey sample will be available at the conference.
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
March 5, 2009
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:
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.
