Alternatives to NYBC

Alternative Resources to NYBC

In the vacuum created for our members by the closing of the store, we wanted to make available a list of some alternative resources.

Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids

Some of our featured vendors include Jarrow, Super Nutrition, Montiff, TwinLabs, Douglas Labs and Source Naturals. Of these, the best quality consistently has been from Super Nutrition, Jarrow and Montiff. The others have either not been tested or occasionally come up with minor problems according to our own testing (very limited), and Consumerlab upon whom we have relied for assuring identity, potency and purity.

Perhaps rather unfortunately in some respects, you can find most Jarrow products now online through Amazon.com. Often the prices are as good as what NYBC offered and in a few cases, better (which is largely why we are closing the store.)

Over the years, Michael Mooney’s family, through Super Nutrition, has been providing excellent information about and high quality products and formulas that are some of my favorite multis. They use excellent and bioavailable forms of vitamins and minerals. Lately, I’m using their one-a-day multi, Simply One for Men over 50.

Montiff, Inc., headed by Don Tyson who did early work in assessing blood levels of amino acids among people living with HIV, has products online. This site will allow you to review their list of products. If you call their toll-free number and indicate that you were an NYBC member, they will offer a substantial discount (1-877-820-4883).  They have been our source for N-acetylcysteine (NAC), alpha lipoic acid, glutamine (in bulk as well), and acetyl-carnitine.  Montiff also was the company we used to contract manufacture NYBC’s ThiolNAC combo of NAC and alpha lipoic acid, now no longer available.

For those using our Mac Pack version of Jon Kaiser’s K-PAX, get the original! It’s a good blend and many states have it available through Medicaid or ADAP, sometimes as an “enteral” product (the powder), while others also have the tablets available.

Douglas Labs unfortunately is only available on the net at their VERY high internet fixed prices. You’ll have to find a practitioner who has them available and maybe get a better price. Otherwise, much of what they make is available from other vendors at lower cost.

Our other vendors, like TwinLab and Nature’s Way, are also general available online at sites like amazon.com.  One good aggregate one-stop shop for most vendors is Swanson, that some swear has some of the best prices on the internet. For those in New York shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, Westerly is a good option. VitaminShoppe often has good sales and sometimes 2-for-1 sales; their own brand products seem to be fairly good quality as well. And if you are interested in joining Park Slope Food Coop, they also have an extensive supplements section (including Bach Flower Remedies and homeopathic remedies) at their usual steep discount (though not as good as NYBC was for many items.)

Of course, don’t forget about getting some supplements covered by health insurance, where possible. For that, you need a doctor’s prescription, and for our members in New York, we can highly recommend Vani Gandhi, M.D. at the Spencer Cox clinic on the Upper West Side.

Herbs and Botanicals

For our friends in New York City, we wish to point you to practitioners of Chinese medicine who have long been friends of NYBC and helped us in very material ways. Each has also access to some of the Chinese herbal formulas so many have found helpful over the years. These include:

Mark Kuebel, LAc

Alex Brameier, LAc

Jackie Haught, LAc

One member noted trying to obtain Natura-mune through a website called Health Designs, but had some difficulty. So he called Pacific Biologic—this may be a good way to get the best possible price:

Health Concerns also has a long history of working with the HIV community. Some of their formulas were developed by Misha Cohen, LAc, in San Francisco. You can contact them through their website but again, probably better to get via a practitioner—and this assures you get a formula tailored for YOUR personal symptoms and situation.

Many practitioners have these brands, and other great ones like Seven Forests, available. As noted above,  it makes a great deal of sense to see a good practitioner, particularly one knowledgeable about HIV or hepatitis, to get a formula designed specifically for your needs. With Chinese, Ayurvedic and other traditional systems of medicine, this formula can change as your body is brought back into a better balance.

Quality

As we mentioned, NYBC relied on consumerlab.com to provide information on their testing results. You should also look closely at capsules and tablets to see if there is any sign of mold, or if it smells or looks funny. This and piercing a gel cap of fish or other oil to smell for rancidity are at-home tests you can perform.

You can also check out the Food & Drug Administration, though we should advocate for them to do far more testing than they already do. Also, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health can provide information.

However, both of these sites have rather significant limitations and a degree of caution that is unhelpful for those of us who have had to fly by the seat of our pants. At the end of the day, remember that you are your own n-of-1:  try to understand what you expect any supplement to do, and see if you can follow that by assessing blood work changes, symptoms and effects.

As NYBC moves forward into its new mission as an educational resource, we will endeavor to keep abreast of best practices, practitioners and resources.

NYBC: Store Closing Announcement

We are sad to announce that NYBC will be closing our members’ purchasing cooperative by the end of July. The world of internet commerce has changed drastically since we began NYBC in the spring of 2004 in the wake of the closure of DAAIR (Direct AIDS Alternative Information Resources).

The good news is that over the last 11 years, many new online sources of low-cost nutritional supplements have become available. While this has created significant market competition for NYBC’s co-op, it means as good or better prices are available. We will be preparing a list of resources for our members to consider for their ongoing and future needs.

As a result of our decision to close the co-op, we will not be replenishing our current inventory. Please see our website–what is online is what we have left–and it is going fast! So please place all orders by July 31, after which time our online shopping cart will no longer be functional.

There is other good news: NYBC is not going away!  While there is a vast amount of information about nutritional supplements on the internet, much of it can be of dubious quality. We plan to continue our mission to continue providing unbiased, evidence-based information on ways people living with chronic diseases such as HIV and hepatitis can continue to survive and thrive using supplements.

We are proud of the work we have been able to accomplish since our founding. And we are especially grateful and honored to have come to know so many of you: our members, patrons, well-wishers, and funders. Your journeys with us have touched us all deeply, and we look forward to continuing our relationships into the future.

With our deepest thanks and appreciation for your membership and support,
The Staff and Board of
The New York Buyers’ Club

MSM in HAND

HIV-Associated Neurolocognitive Disorders (HAND), as well as peripheral neuropathy, affects a significant number of people with HIV. It may manifest mildly or progress to more serious conditions. These include peripheral nerve pain (neuropathy), coordination problems, cognitive and memory trouble to dementia—and this sometimes in spite of antiretroviral therapy.

Research is uncovering how this disease manifests—and some ideas about how to intervene. These data underscore aspects of HIV disease that contribute significantly to the progression of the disease, resulting in damage to the neurological system manifesting as cognitive defects and/or peripheral neuropathies. Part of what happens with HIV is that the body’s response is excessive, causing increased oxidative stress.

HIV proteins like tat can damage cells by inhibiting a regulator gene of redox reactions and detoxification known as nrf2. Normally, when this gene is induced (activated) in response to increased amounts of free radicals, it in turn activates other genes like SOD and catalase, the body’s system of transforming potentially damaging free radicals into water or other innocuous substances. This helps protect healthy cells–and often neurons, not infected by HIV directly, are damaged by the release of excessive amounts of free radicals.

Maintaining an appropriate redox balance is key, as these free radicals are also part of the bodies immune defenses that help to kill infected cells. One problem in HIV is that many cells that die, most CD4 T-lymphocytes and neurons, for example, aren’t infected. But they die due in part to oxidative stress

So what to do? There are data on ways to manage neuropathy, including using 3 grams per day of acetylcarnitine or the judicious use of Cannabis sativa. A drug derived from Tripterygium wilfordii called Celastrol has shown some early promise. In addition, the Men Who Have Sex with Men supplement can help! Woops, wrong acronym. MSM here represents methylsulfonylmethane, often used in formulae to help join function or on its own. Unfortunately, these are only animal studies so we don’t have information on how or if it will help in offsetting HIV-related cognitive disorder.

Could we ever get a clinical trial?

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Abstracts:

Am J Transl Res. 2015 Feb 15;7(2):328-38. eCollection 2015.

MSM ameliorates HIV-1 Tat induced neuronal oxidative stress via rebalance of the glutathione cycle.

Kim SH¹, Smith AJ², Tan J³, Shytle RD², Giunta B⁴.

Abstract

HIV-1 Tat protein is a key neuropathological element in HIV associated neurogcognitive disorders (HAND); a type of cognitive syndrome thought to be at least partially mediated by increased levels of brain reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a sulfur-containing compound known to reduce oxidative stress. This study was conducted to determine whether administration of MSM attenuates HIV-1 Tat induced oxidative stress in mouse neuronal cells. MSM treatment significantly decreased neuronal cell NO and ROS secretion. Further, MSM significantly reversed HIV-1 Tat mediated reductions in reduced glutathione (GSH) as well as HIV-1 Tat mediated increases in oxidized glutathione (GSSG). In addition, Tat reduced nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key nuclear promoter of antioxidant activity, while MSM increased its translocation to the nucleus in the presence of Tat. These results suggest that HIV-1 Tat reduces the resiliency of neuron cells to oxidative stress which can be reversed by MSM. Given the clinical safety of MSM, future preclinical in vivo studies will be required to further confirm these results in effort to validate MSM as a neuroprotectant in patients at risk of, or who are already diagnosed with, HAND.

***

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2014 Oct 1;280(1):42-52. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2014.07.010. Epub 2014 Jul 23.

Celastrol ameliorates HIV-1 Tat-induced inflammatory responses via NF-kappaB and AP-1 inhibition and heme oxygenase-1 induction in astrocytes.

Youn GS¹, Kwon DJ¹, Ju SM¹, Rhim H², Bae YS³, Choi SY¹, Park J⁴.

Abstract

HIV-1 Tat causes extensive neuroinflammation that may progress to AIDS-related encephalitis and dementia. Celastrol possesses various biological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we investigated the modulatory effects of celastrol on HIV-1 Tat-induced inflammatory responses and the molecular mechanisms underlying its action in astrocytes. Pre-treatment of CRT-MG human astroglioma cells with celastrol significantly inhibited HIV-1 Tat-induced expression of ICAM-1/VCAM-1 and subsequent monocyte adhesiveness in CRT-MG cells. In addition, celastrol suppressed HIV-1 Tat-induced expression of pro-inflammatory chemokines, such as CXCL10, IL-8, and MCP-1. Celastrol decreased HIV-1 Tat-induced activation of JNK MAPK, AP-1, and NF-κB. Furthermore, celastrol induced mRNA and protein expression of HO-1 as well as Nrf2 activation. Blockage of HO-1 expression using siRNA reversed the inhibitory effect of celastrol on HIV-1 Tat-induced inflammatory responses. These results suggest that celastrol has regulatory effects on HIV-1 Tat-induced inflammatory responses by blocking the JNK MAPK-AP-1/NF-κB signaling pathways and inducing HO-1 expression in astrocytes.

Micronutrient Article Error

One of the figures in our micronutrient article is wrong–and in fact, it is perhaps the most important one of the paper. The correct figure is attached below and is the one that we originally submitted. The error doesn’t change our findings–these figures have the effect of showing what we found in a graphic. The wrong one tells the story that we found nothing important! The correct one shows how robust our findings actually are.

We are in the process of correcting the error with PLoSOne and will be preparing a more formal response. In the process of re-sizing the figure for editing purposes this past February, an earlier figure was used. This version appears to show no effect from the intervention.

Some might presume that this means we merely cherry-picked the data to find a palatable solution. That would be incorrect as the initial analysis was faulty. Further, the frequentist analysis underscores by comparison our findings of a robust effect.

Our team had, in setting up the analysis, initially used a VERY flat prior probability. This had the effect of squashing the data and distorting such that it no longer reflected the original findings of the studies we were analysing. The reason we can be sure this is the case is that the result did not resemble the original data. I.e., the original data was in fact, for example, Fawzi 0.56 (0.32, 0.98). You can see that clearly in the frequentist analysis (supplementary figure 1).

Upon adjusting to a more accurate scale factor, the result was a strong effect for the impact of a simple multi on the rate of HIV disease progression.

S1 Fig. Forest plot of rate of HIV disease progression, frequentist analysis.

A frequentist analysis yielded a similar 40% reduction in the rate of progression to clinical disease stages (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.46, 0.78; p = 0.00008) for subjects on MNS, when including supplement arms that included a MNS alone or MNS plus either zinc or selenium.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0120113.s001

This underscores also the importance of scrutinizing closely the way data are handled and analyzed. As I have learned over the years in doing this work, a preferred answer may indeed be produced. But in this case, the answer reflects the actual data of the original studies.

George M. Carter

Fig. 2 Bayesian Analysis

Multi Slows Disease Progression

A meta-analysis has been published that reviewed the clinical studies that looked at the use of a multivitamin in people with HIV. There was enough data of people not yet on antiretrovirals and we showed a significant effect on how fast AIDS develops after HIV infection (the progression rate).

CONCLUSIONS: MNS significantly and substantially slows disease progression in HIV+ adults not on ARV, and possibly reduces mortality. Micronutrient supplements are effective in reducing progression with a posterior probability of 97.9%. Considering MNS low cost and lack of adverse effects, MNS should be standard of care for HIV+ adults not yet on ARV.

There was also evidence that it could reduce the risk of dying (mortality). There weren’t enough studies to assess the effect of a multi among those on ARV, though these studies are also discussed.

The first author of the study was NYBC’s George Carter, who was working as part of an NIH grant with colleagues at Mount Sinai in New York.

 

NYBC’s HIV+Aging Series Continues, Now Online!

Jackie Haught offered personal insights into healing from her 30 years as an acupuncture practitioner.

In recognition of World AIDS Day 2014, New York Buyers’ Club hosted another installment in our ongoing free public seminar series, HIV+AGING. Held Tuesday December 2nd at City University of New York’s Graduate Center in Manhattan, the workshop was a great success and – like any good show – left folks craving more.

This thirst can now be slaked online – on NYBC’s new YouTube page, now featuring excerpts from the December 2 event – with more to come in the future!

 

HIV+AGING: What Can Complementary & Alternative Medicine Do for You? featured three outstanding and personable speakers presenting valuable information and insights gleaned from their years of experience in the field of health and HIV.

Panelists included: Dr. Vani Gandhi, Director of Integrative Medicine at Spencer Cox Center for Health at Mount Sinai’s St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals; Jackie Haught, Founder of Blue Lotus Acupuncture Center in NYC and an acupuncture practitioner for more than 30 years; and NYBC’s own Treatment Director, George Carter, also President of Foundation for Integrative AIDS Research.

Presentations were followed by a hearty and heartfelt Q&A session: attendees not only posed pertinent questions to the panelists, but also opened up with one another about their own personal “CAM” experiences, both positive and frustrating.

We are already planning the next event and welcome collaborators!

Tune in to New York Buyers Club’s new YouTube channel for excerpts from our latest HIV+AGING event and more.

New @ NYBC – February 2015

These New Products and More
Available Through NYBC’s Newly-Redesigned Website & Co-Op Store

Mega PC-35 Lecithin – (Jarrow Formulas, 120 x 1200 mg; $9.75) Each softgel contains 1200 mg lecithin with choline 57 mg (from 35% PC lecithin) and 420 mg of phosphatidylcholine derived from soy. Phosphatidylcholine is a compound containing different types of fatty acids, glycerin, phosphorus and choline (a nitrogen-containing base). This may be an excellent product for people with hepatitis B or C, according to one well-designed study using 3 grams per day. Other benefits may be for mood enhancement for those with neurological disorders, to enhance cardiovascular health (in the context of a better diet), and possibly preventing or treating gallstones.

For digestive health, NYBC is now carrying Twinlab’s Betaine HCL Caps (100 caps $9.50). Each capsule contains betaine (as betaine hydrochloride) – 648 mg plus pepsin, 130 mg.

The addition of pepsin is thought to significantly improve the ability of the betaine to help the stomach lower the pH, that is, make the stomach more acid. That first amount of hydrochloric acid that your food hits arriving in the stomach is a crucial part of digestion. Betaine is typically used for people with a condition of low stomach acidity known as hypochlorhydria. This may actually be the problem even though one has reflux. It is a fairly common finding, for example, among people living with HIV, among a range of other conditions. Supplementing with betaine can help to improve digestion IF this is the case. Getting properly diagnosed before trying this is critically important. A 2013 study among healthy adults who had chemically-induced reduction in gastric acid (e.g., through proton-pump inhibitors) saw a reduction in stomach pH when given betaine supplements.

Uridine-5-monophosphate, 60 capsules for $22.20 from Jarrow. Each capsule contains 250 mg Uridine-5’-monophosphate disodium salt. Uridine is one of the nucleotides that is used by the RNA molecule. It is found in abundance incorporated in the phospholipid membranes of neural (especially brain) tissue. Data are limited but suggestive of benefits for memory and liver function. This is not dissimilar to an intervention utilized to help minimize mitochondrial toxicity associated with some antiretroviral drugs. One study suggested this could reduce damage to AZT or d4t (stavudine or Zerit)-related mitochondria, however, markers of inflammation were worsened. So this one should probably be used in the context of an anti-inflammatory protocol such as including carnitine, NAC, alpha lipoic, curcumin, omega-3 fatty acids and the like, which are a good idea anyway to keep TNF, IL-6 and hsCRP in check.

Astaxanthin 12 mg – 30 softgels $16.25 from Jarrow Formulas. Astaxanthin is one of the many varieties of carotenoids (beta-carotene being one of the longest known and best characterized). Studies are somewhat mixed on the benefits of this agent to offset oxidative stress induced by exercise, with some benefit seen among soccer players and none for cyclists. One study using a mix of carotenoids showed an enhancement of visual acuity. Other small studies suggest benefits for increasing HDL, skin tone, and reflux frequency.

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Garlic & Allicin  Sadly, NYBC no longer carries Dr. Zhang’s popular Allicin supplement, however we have found these two excellent substitutes that indicate the amount of allicin and other components on the label. GarliPure from Natrol (120 “odor controlled” caps for $17). Each capsule contains 750 mcg of allicin along with 7.5 mg gamma glutamyl-cysteine, 5 mg allicin, 4 mg sulfur and 800 mcg of thiosulfinates, and GarliCell.
Source Naturals’ GarliCell features “no after-odor.” Each $14 bottle has 90 tablets; each tablet contains 6 mg (6000 mcg) of allicin along with 4.2 mg sulfur and 6 mg of thiosulfinates. Allicin is thought to possess the greatest activity of garlic’s various components. Early studies showed some pretty robust effects on cryptosporidiosis. Aside from anti-infective activity, there may be some benefit for maintaining a healthy blood lipid profile.

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New Strengths + Sizes…

NYBC is now carrying a few new strengths and sizes of customer favorites. Our ever-popular “house brand” of CoQ10, Jarrow’s CoQ10 Q-Absorb, now is available in a very economical 120 x 100 mg softgel size for only $29. For those seeking a higher dose, we now also have CoQ10 400 mg (60 softgels) from Protocol for Life at $44.50.

NYBC has also picked up Jarrow Formulas‘ new Curcumin Phytosome (each cap 500 mg curcumin phytosome-phosphatidylcholine complex with 18-22% curcuminoids), a formulation that may further improve the absorption of curcumin. In the Ayurvedic tradition, recipes often include honey or black pepper, today known to enhance the body’s ability to absorb this increasingly important and well-researched anti-inflammatory agent.

Also new at NYBC…

A very moderately priced B100 (B Complex) from Twinlab for $11.75 that contains  100 mg of eachof the B-vitamins (and 100 mcg of B12). Each bottle, 100 capsules… Borage (Jarrow Formulas; 120 sg for $16.25) Provides one gram of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the Borago officinalis plant, including 240 mg of gamma linolenic acid (GLA/omega-3) and other fatty acids. This is a good source of GLA, especially in combination with flaxseed oil … New variation on SuperNutrition‘s Calcium Blend, an iron-free, easy-swallow formulation, same price ($14.25) and strength – just smaller (and more!) tablets.

In The News: CoQ10 Proves Its Worth Again

Heart To Heart: News & Tips For A Healthy Heart

New research on the supplement CoQ10, recently published in American and European medical journals, shows that it increases survival rates and decreases hospitalizations for people being treated for heart failure. CoQ10 (also called Coenzyme Q10, among other names) is a powerful antioxidant and acts as an essential factor in the heart’s energy production. In the past, clinical studies have provided evidence of its value as an adjunct treatment for angina, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, and hypertension (high blood pressure). In addition, researchers have found that statin drugs deplete CoQ10, and so it has been suggested that people taking these cholesterol-lowering drugs should also use CoQ10 to support healthy heart function.

CoQ10 (also called Coenzyme Q10 and ubiquinone, among other names) is a powerful antioxidant and acts as an essential factor in the heart’s energy production. A naturally occurring and powerful antioxidant nutrient, it retards free radical formation in biological systems, and resembles vitamin E and vitamin K in chemical structure. Biochemically, it functions much like vitamin E in that it participates in antioxidant and free radical reactions. 

NOW AVAILABLE FROM NYBC’S ONLINE CO-OP:
Jarrow Formulas’ Q-Absorb, available in two strengths, utilizes a “completely natural proliposome lipid soluble delivery system clinically shown in humans to increase Co-Q10 levels up to 400% – three to four times better absorbed than chewable Co-Q10 tablets.” Price: $21- $29.

Douglas Labs’ Cardio Edge* employs plant sterols (phytosterols) from soy, Sytrinol (a proprietary extract of polymethoxylated flavones and tocotrienols from citrus and palm fruits), and pomegranate extract. Their Ultra Coenzyme Q10 ($121.60) has 60 chewable tablets with 200 mg CoQ10 combined with 500 mg lecithin.

* Note: Prices on Douglas Labs’ products are considerably lower for NYBC members!

The study lasted for two years and compared heart failure patients taking 100mg CoQ10 three times per day with patients who were not taking the supplement. By the end of the two-year period, the CoQ10 group showed a significantly lower rate of hospitalization for heart failure, significantly better functional capacity, and a significantly lower rate of death from cardiovascular disease.

NYBC has stocked CoQ10 since our founding, and has recently expanded its offerings. We’re happy that we’ve been able to provide this important supplement at discounted prices to our members over the years, and we’re happier still to see this new research strengthening the case for a supplement that already had a considerable amount of evidence demonstrating its benefit for heart health.

Here are some additional NYBC suggestions for cardiovascular health. All are based on our reading of the always-evolving research on nutrition and nutritional supplements:

Eating fatty fish (such as wild salmon) once or twice a week is an excellent approach to maintaining cardiovascular health; however, regular supplementation with fish oil can also provide the omega-3 fatty acids (called DHA and EPA) that have been closely linked to cardiovascular benefit. Note that supplements, when properly purified, avoid the problem of mercury contamination, a concern for those who eat sea food regularly.

Niacin, a B vitamin, is still one of the best agents for supporting cardiovascular health. In a long-term study, it was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death related to cardiovascular disease. (Don’t be misled by some recent reports about Niacin’s lack of effect, which only appeared in a study using a particular form of the supplement together with a statin drug.) The main drawback of Niacin is that it may cause flushing and itching, which make it difficult or impossible for some to take. Starting with a low dose of about 100 mg and working up to about 1,000 mg per day may minimize this reaction.

Other helpful agents include carnitine (which may lower triglycerides), pantethine (a B vitamin) and phytosterols, such as those in Douglas Labs’ CardioEdge.

Acetylcarnitine Gets Credit

Don’t let the icky generic packaging fool you! All NYBC products and vendors are carefully vetted and hand-picked. The manufacturer here, Montiff, produces our “house brand,” N-Acetyl-L-Carnitine (90 capsules; 500 mg ea acetyl-L-carnitine), as well as our proprietary ThiolNAC (which we unfortunately just ran out of stock of).

 

Longtime NYBC Favorite for Neuropathy Gets Its Due

A 2013 review by neurology experts found confirmation of the benefits of acetylcarnitine (also called N-acetyl-L-carnitine) supplementation for diabetes-related neuropathy (=nerve pain and damage), for HIV and antiretroviral therapy-related neuropathies, for neuropathy caused as a side effect of chemotherapy, and for neuropathy caused by compression (like sciatica). According to the review, acetylcarnitine “represents a consistent therapeutic option for peripheral neuropathies.”

Furthermore, recent research on acetylcarnitine has provided new insights into how the supplement works to diminish the pain of neuropathy and promote the regrowth of damaged nerve tissue.  That’s why the authors of the review conclude that the recently expanded knowledge about acetylcarnitine’s mechanism of action can open up “new pathways in the study of peripheral nerve disease management.”

We’re glad to see confirmation of earlier findings about the value of this supplement for conditions like the peripheral neuropathy experienced by people with HIV—NYBC has been recommending it for that purpose for many years.

We hope that this review will lead to even wider recognition in the medical community of the value of acetylcarnitine as a therapy for neuropathy.  It’s time this supplement got its due!

 

Want to know more about amazing acetylcarnitine?
This blog has 26 related articles about acetylcarnitine!

Over 50 And Poz? Join The Club!

Insights on HIV+Aging From Our Resident Expert

Bette Davis was famous for her quip that “Old age ain’t no place for sissies.” Well, many of us, sissies or not, are getting there anyway, and Bette had no idea what kind of challenges would arise with HIV added to the mix.

NYBC is for anyone, with any chronic condition, who wants to maintain health. As a gay man living with hepatitis C, it has helped me enormously to keep my liver in good shape, bloodwork normal, and viral load extremely low. But we formed in the era of HIV. Members of NYBC’s Board of Directors and many in our membership are living with HIV and that remains a priority. Those who survived that era, and a new generation, are now all in mid-life or later, and rightfully full of questions.

The good news is that more and more people with HIV are living into old age. But, as our 2013 HIV+Aging event with ACRIA’s Dr. Stephen Karpiak underscored, there are many challenges that may arise. Some of these are familiar to older folks, but may appear earlier or more aggressively for those who are HIV+.

Much can be done to address these issues, especially by preventing them from arising in the first place. Prevention and mitigation strategies can start when you note risk factors in bloodwork or changes in your physical or mental and emotional condition. At our HIV+Aging event on December 2, NYBC presented comprehensive and holistic methods and means you may use to make life more livable. The information from the presentations available online and through printed summaries.

As always, the first step is you. How are you? How is your weight? Energy? Sexual energy (libido)? Muscle strength and tone? Thinking? Feeling and emotional state? Is there any pain? How is your bloodwork? 

Of course, it is becoming abundantly clear how vital diet and exercise are at the outset. There’s no one simple answer here, and that fact can be a big barrier or challenge for many people. Find help if you need it – but this can also be a place of great self-empowerment. Not just in the things you try to avoid (processed foods, soda, etc.), but in the things you choose to eat. And the good news is that there are many delicious and healthier choices.

A good rule of thumb is just to eat more fruits and vegetables, preferably fresh (or frozen, rather than canned). Fruits such as apples and berries are incredibly high in good phyto-nutrients, as are green and leafy vegetables such as kale and broccoli, and red, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables such as beets, carrots, and winter squash. These veggies are also a great source of the all-important fiber you need for good digestive function! You might think that watery fruits and veggies, such as watermelon, cucumber, and celery, are lower in nutrients, but on the contrary – they are among the most nutritious. Be sure to include legumes in your diet: beans of all kinds are among the healthiest foods you can eat.

Exercise is also something each of us needs to work on. Walking whenever possible, for example. Cycling, swimming or just doing exercises at home can make a very big difference not just for energy and lean tissue, but all the way down to the cellular level, helping your cells’ powerhouses, the mitochondria.

More and more research is pointing to an underlying common problem: inflammation. This is tested for in a variety of ways, mostly by bloodwork. Even when you are on a good regimen of antiretrovirals (ARV) that suppresses the viral load below detectability, the virus is still there and active. It is causing the body to respond in ways that continue to send out inflammatory signals.

These inflammatory processes have been associated with liver and kidney problems, gut trouble (where most of the HIV virus resides), digestive problems, neurological disease (from neuropathy to cognitive impairment), sugar control (diabetes), hormonal problems (low testosterone), and heart and cardiovascular risks.

Indeed, the cardiovascular risks that people with HIV face are heightened and significant. This is where bloodwork plays a key role. Get complete copies. and work with your doctor to understand it. Is your cholesterol high? What is your LDL (“bad cholesterol”) level? Is your “good cholesterol” (HDL) high enough? What is your vitamin D level? There are some other tests your doctor may consider that can help you understand how your blood moves, such as d-dimer and CRP (or hsCRP).

There’s a wide array of dietary supplements that may help you to address underlying inflammation, and data for some of these agents has been accumulating over the years and show good benefit. The very first is the use of a good, potent multivitamin/mineral formula to provide the essential building blocks your body needs. Even for people who are not on ARV, this simple intervention has been shown to significantly reduce the rate of disease progression to AIDS.

Other elements of a core anti-inflammation protocol include: fish oils (for blood fats and also, perhaps surprisingly, depression), niacin (for LDL and HDL), alpha lipoic acid and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for inflammation, and acetylcarnitine for neuropathy.

More and more data are coming out on how important the “good” bacteria in our guts are and the value of using probiotics (like acidophilius or bifidus) in helping to heal the lining of the gut. Low Vitamin D levels in HIV have been linked to a wide range of problems, including more rapidly thinning bones. Having not just the D3 and calcium, but a good formula to help bone function, along with resistance exercise, can help keep your skeleton strong.

There’s much more than we can cover here. Crafting a regimen and approach that works for you, allowing that to evolve and develop over time will help to assure that you are, and remain, in the best health possible… so that you can get on with your life! And we hope that our summary of the key nutrients and agents that show benefit will help you on your way.

We are happy to discuss any questions you have to help you in making treatment choices. Consultations are free. Email us questions via the form below, or schedule a time to speak on the phone by leaving a message at (800) 650-4983.

George Carter
Treatment Director, New York Buyers’ Club

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New York Buyers’ Club Unveils Revamped Website and Blog, Launches 2015 Revitalization Campaign

Donate to NYBC’s Indiegogo Campaign by Feb 21!

Advances in treatment for HIV, hepatitis C, and other serious illnesses have been made over the last decade, and that’s good news! Many people also utilize nutritional supplements and other forms of integrative medicine to complement standard medical treatments, ameliorate adverse side-effects, and maintain health and well-being. However, many lack information and evidence about those approaches, and have difficulty affording them, since health insurance doesn’t usually provide coverage.

Two decades ago, in the darkest days of the AIDS epidemic, patients and their allies took action: we researched all kinds of possible treatments that might help – some proved helpful, others not. We also formed “buyers’ clubs” to provide information about and distribute experimental drugs, vitamins, and herbs. Thousands of lives were extended and saved. The award-winning film, “Dallas Buyers Club,” tells a story of one of them. Today, only one of these groups survives: We are New York Buyers’ Club.

NYBC Needs Your Help to Carry Out Our Mission!
Please make a tax-deductible donation
to our Indiegogo Campaign by February 21!

Since 2009, New York Buyers’ Club has been:

• Making available fully vetted, high-quality nutritional supplements at the lowest possible prices, and
• Researching, simplifying, and disseminating the latest on how supplements can be powerful tools to reduce symptoms and drug side effects, and educating people about the most effective ways to use them – information accessible via our website, blog, newsletter, and social media.

NYBC offers online mail orders of more than 200 nutritional supplement products. Over the past decade, thousands worldwide have become Club members and benefited from our purchasing co-op and educational services. Our members especially value our personalized customer service to answer or research anyone’s questions.

New York Buyers’ Club is a vital resource for many people with serious illnesses such as HIV and hepatitis C.  We have much potential to serve many more with other diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. The evidence mounts daily about the power of nutrients to enhance health and well-being, and reduce the adverse side effects of standard medical treatments.

Your support for NYBC’s 2015 Indiegogo campaign will enable us to:

• Compile more of the latest research on using nutrition to support people with chronic illnesses
• Publish our SUPPLEMENT newsletter on complementary care more often
• Mount a national campaign to promote membership in our purchasing co-op
• Continue to improve our use of state-of-the-art digital technologies to put forth clear nutritional info
• Engage various disease groups to build partnerships
• Expand our efforts to attract major donors for new projects
• Develop new efforts to address the crisis in access to affordable hepatitis C medicines

Your contributions are fully tax-deductible. We are the ONLY remaining non-profit buyers’ club in the USA helping people with serious illnesses. Thank you for your support to keep us going and growing!

The Real Story On Niacin: Niacin associated with significant reductions in cardiovascular disease and mortality

You may have heard some recent reports on Niacin (one of the B-vitamins) that seemed to suggest it wasn’t of benefit for cardiovascular disease. Actually, the recent studies fueling these reports only looked at certain special forms of niacin taken together with a statin drug. These studies proved a disappointment to the statin drug makers, because the research didn’t show any additional benefit in adding the niacin. (By the way, some researchers have pointed out problems with the special forms of niacin used in these studies.)

Given the confusion in some news reports about Niacin, we at NYBC think it’s important to repeat what researchers stated about Niacin in a March 2014 article in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. This article reviewed the recent Niacin studies, and also reiterated the well-known and well-documented benefits of Niacin for cardiovascular health:

1. In a long-term study called the Coronary Drug Project, “niacin treatment was associated with significant reductions in cardiovascular events and long-term mortality, similar to the reductions seen in the statin monotherapy trials.”

2. “In combination trials, niacin plus a statin or bile acid sequestrant produces additive reductions in coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality and promotes regression of coronary atherosclerosis.”

3. Niacin is the “most powerful agent currently available” for RAISING levels of HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the so-called “good cholesterol”); and it can also REDUCE levels of triglycerides and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the so-called “bad cholesterol”).

Here’s the reference for these three important points about Niacin:

Boden, W E, Sidhu M S, & Toth P P. The therapeutic role of niacin in dyslipidemia management. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Mar;19(2):141-58. doi: 10.1177/1074248413514481.

NOTE: NYBC stocks Niacin No-Flush (Source Naturals): http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=50&products_id=439; Niacin TR Niatab 500mg (Douglas): http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=50&products_id=249; and
Niacin TR Niatab 100mg (Douglas) http://nybcsecure.org/product_info.php?cPath=50&products_id=252

As always, we strongly recommend that you consult your healthcare provider when using supplements.