April 11, 2012
SPRING SALE: Supplements from New York Buyers’ Club
It’s time for our SPRING SALE at the New York Buyers’ Club nonprofit nutritional supplements co-op.You’ll get 10% off the already low prices on NYBC’s extensive catalog of supplements, especially selected for quality and for evidence-based effectiveness in supporting health. Among the products on sale: SuperNutrition multivitamins; Nordic Natural fish oils; Jarrow brand CoQ10, B-right complex, Jarrodophilus, and glucosamine chondroitin; Green Vibrance (Vibrant Health); acetylcarnitine, NAC, and alpha lipoic acid (Montiff); and many others.
Just go to the NYBC online store at
and use coupon code COUP10 when you check out.
Place your order soon–this offer EXPIRES APRIL 30.
Questions? Call us toll-free at 800 650-4983, or email us at contact.nybc@newyorkbuyersclub.org
January 20, 2012
Green foods for immune support
As we pass through the short days of winter, which also brings the cold and flu season to those of us in the northern hemisphere, our thoughts may turn to fortifying ourselves with a good diet, making it as healthy as possible till that day when the arugula sprouts in the garden or the new crop of berries arrives (ok, getting a little poetical here!)
Anyway, here are NYBC suggestions for green foods and green/red foods combinations, which many use to boost the nutritional content of their diet when that boost is most needed:
Organic DAILY 5 (Jarrow). A mix of greens and reds (fruits). Used as directed, it is a 30-day supply, at $23.40/month. It is a blend of high quality, organic (USDA seal) fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidants such as proanthocyanidins.
Each single (6 g) scoop provides 3,240 mg of a blend of organic fruits and vegetables, including apple, carrot, raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, blueberry, beet powder acerola powder, broccoli and spinach. In addition, each scoop includes 1,720 mg of organic flax seed powder as well as 110 mg of a blend of organic barley grass, wheat grass and oat bran powders.
Green Vibrance is a more complex mix of probiotics, greens, and immune supportive nutrients. The list of ingredients is long, so please follow the link to see how this green food supplement is structured. A month’s supply is $38.50, and a 60-day Green Vibrance is also available for the savings-conscious. (The large size will save you about 20% off the one-month version, if our calculations are correct.)
October 11, 2011
Gut microbes important for health
As this story notes, the bacteria in our guts are important for a variety of health issues, including production of vitamins as well as protecting the immune system. They note a study indicating that the use of probiotics (like acidophilus, bifidus and the like) can help reduce the insulin resistance seen with type II diabetes.
The article is a short review of a presentation given by Professor Willem M. de Vos at the fourth Environmental Microbiology Lecture: “Microbes Inside” on October 10, 2011.
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.
January 24, 2011
Florastor/ Saccharomyces boulardii
Here’s the NYBC summary of recent research on Saccharomyces boulardii, which is available under the tradename Florastor:
Saccharomyces boulardii, sometimes abbreviated Sac. boulardii or S. boulardii, is a very well-researched probiotic, with several hundred peer-reviewed studies to its credit, many from the past two decades. It’s now the first choice among probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea, C. difficile colitis, and “traveler’s diarrhea.” It can also help with irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Here are some recent research highlights:
-Harvard Medical School researchers have identified specific pathways by which Saccharomyces boulardii decreases intestinal inflammatory responses; their 2006 report helps explain the broad range of protective effects that this probiotic exerts in a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. (Sougioultzis S, et al. Saccharomyces boulardii produces a soluble anti-inflammatory factor that inhibits NF-kappaB-mediated IL-8 gene expression. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Apr 28;343(1):69-76.)
-A 2006 meta-analysis (combined analysis of multiple individual studies) found that Saccharomyces boulardii was the only probiotic studied that was effective against Clostridium difficile disease, a common form of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. (McFarland L V. Meta-analysis of probiotics for the prevention of antibiotic associated diarrhea and the treatment of Clostridium difficile disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Apr;101(4):812-22.)
-A 2008 study found that Crohn’s patients receiving Saccharomyces boulardii treatment showed significant improvements in intestinal function compared with those given a placebo. (Garcia Vilela E, et al. Influence of Saccharomyces boulardii on the intestinal permeability of patients with Crohn’s disease in remission. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2008;43(7):842-8.)
-An investigation published in 2009 found that, of a variety of probiotics, Saccharomyces boulardii was uniquely able to stimulate production of secretory IgA, the main immunoglobin found in mucus, saliva, and secretions from the intestine and the lining of the lungs, and a main component of the body’s protective mechanism against pathogens. Thus Saccharomyces boulardii may now be credited with an ability to enhance immune function in general. (Flaviano S. et al. Comparative study of Bifidobacterium animalis, Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic properties. Archives of Microbiology, Volume 191, Number 8 / August, 2009.)
See the NYBC entry for more details, including recommended dosages:
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?products_id=217
January 21, 2011
Jarro-Dophilus EPS
Jarrow Formulas advertises this product as the number one selling probiotic supplement on the US market, and, at least in this case, we tend to think that’s a sign that it is a worthwhile supplement, helpful for people dealing with malabsorption or various gastrointestinal disturbances that prevent adequate digestion.
Here’s the product review from the NYBC website:
Jarro-Dophilus EPS (Jarrow) Each bottle, 60 capsules. Each capsule contains 4.4 billion probiotic organisms, including various species of Lactobacillus, Bifidus, Pediooccus acidilactici and Lactococcus diacetylactis. These capsules are enterically-coated to preserve them without refrigeration, which makes this an ideal product for use while travelling. However, if at home, refrigerate anyway, just to preserve them as well. Blister packed. Suggested use is 1-2 capsules per day, if possible, without food. Dairy-free and vegetarian formulation. Also contains potato starch, magensium stearate and ascorbic acid.
Note: A 2006 consumerlab.com report evaluated several brands of acidophilus-containing products. This Jarrow product passed all of their tests!
Further information on this and other probiotic supplements can be found on the NYBC website:
December 2, 2010
Supplements for Diarrhea and Malabsorption
We’re reprinting below the NYBC recommendations
for supplements that address the common gastrointestinal
problems of people with HIV:
Diarrhea. This is one of
the most common side effects of
antiretroviral drugs–especially protease
inhibitors. When it occurs, make
sure to drink plenty of (healthy) fluids
to replace electrolytes (potassium,
sodium, and magnesium ions) and
prevent dehydration. Avoid sugary
and/or caffeinated beverages.
One of the simplest remedies: bananas!
Adding a yogurt with active
cultures to your regular diet can also
improve diarrhea. In addition to adding
beneficial flora to your gastrointestinal
tract, yogurt is nutritionally
rich in protein, calcium, riboflavin,
vitamin B6 and vitamin B12.However, for some, dietary changes may
not be enough to control the diarrhea
Supplements to consider in treating
diarrhea associated with protease
inhibitors include calcium, and glutamine
(up to 20-40 grams daily for
diarrhea while it persists). There are
some clinical data to support these
interventions. A note of caution: calcium
carbonate works fine but should
be avoided if you are using atazanavir
[Reyataz].If diarrhea is associated with the use
of antibiotics, go probiotic! Use acidophilus,
bifidus or Saccharomyces
boulardii (Florastor) to control C.
difficile (a problem frequently encountered
with antibiotic use) and to improve gut function.
Use of digestive enzymes may also help to improve
digestion (e.g., lipase, protease, amylase, and
lactase).Malabsorption is the difficulty in digesting or
absorbing nutrients from food. It’s a widespread
problem among HIVers, and a serious
one at that. HIV disease damages the
guts, where it is estimated that 80%
of the disease “lives,” hindering the
digestive tract’s ability to absorb nutrients
(or meds). Additionally, many
HIVers actually have too little acid
in their stomachs – a little-discussed
condition. This can cause the sphincter
at the opening of the stomach to
fail to close properly, resulting in
GERD: gastro-esophageal reflux disorder.
In general, gut function can be
improved with probiotics such as
acidophilus and bifidus, as well as
2-5 grams of glutamine, taken daily.
Further, digestive enzymes that help
break down fats, carbs and proteins
may be useful in promoting better
absorption. Again, a good diet and
a potent multi are important starting
points!
See the NYBC entries for more detailed
recommendations regarding these supplements:
Glutamine Powder:
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=128
or Glutamine Caps:
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=127
Douglas Vegetarian Enzymes:
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=264
Jarro-Zymes Vegetarian Enzymes:
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=335
Ultra Jarro-Dophilus (probiotic):
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=354
Jarrodophilus EPS (No refrigeration needed):
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=27&products_id=199
Saccharomyces boulardii (Florastor):
http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?products_id=217
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.]
October 14, 2010
Mayo Clinic’s Guide to Alternative Medicine 2011
This is an easy-to-read, magazine-style guide created by the Mayo Clinic, the world-famous healthcare facility which also happens to have a long-standing receptiveness to alternative and complementary therapies for wellness and prevention. (That’s one of the reasons why it has recently been cited as an example of best practices in American healthcare–the kind of practices that need to be more widely imitated.)
The section on dietary supplements provides capsule reviews of the scientific evidence for the safety and effectiveness of several dozen popular products, from botanicals like ginseng, echinacea and St. John’s Wort, to vitamins C, D, E, B-3 (niacin), and B-9 (folate or folic acid), as well as minerals like selenium, calcium and zinc. Also discussed are fairly well-known categories of supplements, including probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids (these often obtained with fish oil supplements).
The guide rates these supplements with a green, yellow or red light symbol, depending on the strength of the evidence for their use and their safety profile. We weren’t too surprised by most of the ratings. For example, green for niacin, folic acid, Vitamin C and Vitamin D, but a yellow caution light for Vitamin E, which has shown no effectiveness in several good studies dealing with cardiovascular health and cancer, leading some researchers to wonder if the standard “alpha-tocopherol” form of the vitamin is a good format for supplementation. Also, a yellow light for St. John’s Wort, not because it isn’t effective for mild/moderate depression, but because it can interact with a lot of other medications.
Other supplements getting the green light from the Mayo Clinic editors: SAMe (for depression); saw palmetto (for enlarged prostate); green tea (for cardiovascular health, possibly for cancer prevention, and apparently–according to a large epidemiological study–for longevity); gamma linolenic acid (for peripheral neuropathy); CoQ10 (for cardiovascular health, for which it’s used by millions in Japan); glucosamine chondroitin (for osteoarthritis).
Also getting the green light, a supplement most have probably never heard of, but which is featured in the Health Concerns formula Cold Away, available from NYBC: the botanical Andrographis (a cold remedy, showing promise where many other products have disappointed).
See the NYBC entries for more details on how best to take supplements:
http://www.newyorkbuyersclub.org/
August 26, 2010
Green Vibrance at NYBC
NYBC is now stocking the “green foods” supplement Green Vibrance, which has a medley of nutrient dense foods, high fiber nutrients and prebiotics, immune supportive nutrients, and probiotics.
For complete ingredients list, see NYBC entries for
Green Vibrance – 30 day supply
and
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.
