| There are no demonstrated benefits of supplementation beyond these allowances." But in July 1993, at a hearing convened by the NAS Food and Nutrition Board to solicit expert opinions on the next round of RDA revisions, ADA president Susan Calvert Finn, R.D., spoke in favor of raising many RDAs considerably—to the levels shown to prevent cancer in the Chinese study and heart attack in the two Harvard studies.
"Supplement conservatives continue to warn the public against taking more than 100 percent of the DVs, as if those figures represent the upper boundary of safe consumption," Dr. |
| Currently the RDAs and DVs remain unchanged, however, which leaves many consumers confused about the safe limits of sensible supplementation.
David Sobel, M.D., regional director of patient education and health promotion for the Kaiser Permanente health maintenance organization in Oakland, California. "I take a multivitamin and mineral supplement, plus 20,000 international units of beta-carotene, 1,500 milligrams of vitamin C and 400 international units of vitamin E."
Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, D. |
| Unfortunately, medicine has a long history of looking for 'magic bullets,' and this has carried over to supplementation, with people looking for the one magic nutrient that supposedly helps solve their problems. The big ones now are vitamin E to prevent heart disease and calcium to prevent osteoporosis. But by themselves, vitamin E and calcium are not enough. Vitamin E works better if you take it along with vitamin C. Take calcium alone and bone loss slows. But take calcium with vitamin D, manganese, zinc and copper, and you get increased bone mass. |
| Key elements of osteoporosis prevention include calcium supplementation and regular, weight-bearing exercise, such as walking.
Regardless of calcium intake, weight-bearing exercise—walking, gardening, dancing or anything that puts weight on the hips, knees and ankles—has been shown to increase bone mass and density. In one study, Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., a research scientist at Tufts University in Boston, recruited 36 women in their fifties and sixties and divided them into two groups. Half took brisk 45-minute walks four times a week, the other half did not. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 I suggest that you ask your doctor for a referral to a clinical nutritionist who can help you design the supplementation program that's right for you. Supplements that may help include vitamins B6, C and E, chromium picolinate, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc, plus omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
In addition to exercising and taking supplements, you can try many herbs to help normalize blood sugar levels. The first, jackass bitters, I've already described. Here are the others in the lineup.
VW Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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 DHEA supplementation appears to protect against bone loss (osteopenia). It also improves cognitive function in people who are taking prednisone, the hormone that's most often prescribed by medical doctors to help prevent bone loss.
DOSAGE
The dosage for DHEA should be determined by a doctor well-versed in natural hormone replacement. Although blood tests for DHEA can be done, I have my adult patients undergo a salivary hormone test instead, because I have found that measurement of blood levels is usually not so accurate. |
Earl L. Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 The balance of essential fatty acids in the bodies of depressed people tends to be imbalanced. supplementation with borage oil and evening primrose oil, as well as eating plenty of fish, can help return the body to balance and give some relief. If you're taking drugs to lower your cholesterol levels and are feeling a bit down in the dumps, you should know that drug-induced low cholesterol has been linked with symptoms of depression. Quitting a smoking habit can also bring on a major depression. Both cholesterol-lowering drugs and smoking cessation affect serotonin levels. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Thus, the supplementation of FOS may often be of clinical benefit.54
Spirulina
Another possible way to improve the conditions in the intestine is by the consumption of spirulina. While no human studies appear to have been published, intriguing veterinary research has shown that providing horses with spirulina stimulates the growth of Lactobacillus in the cecum. The researchers suggest that this may be due to the mucopolysaccharides in spirulina.55
TOXICITY
Probiotics are safe and are not associated with any side-effects other than a transient increase in gastrointestinal gas. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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 Folic acid has been demonstrated to bind plaque-derived toxins.47"49 The use of folic acid mouthwash is particularly indicated for pregnant women, birth-control-pill users, and other conditions associated with exaggerated gingival inflammatory response, or for people taking drugs that interfere with folic acid (e.g., chemotherapy agents, epilepsy drugs, and drugs used in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis). |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 Cataracts and Macular Degeneration: The Best Prescription Is Prevention
Dr. Abel's 500 cataract operations are just a fraction of the 500,000 performed annually in the United States. Cataracts affect an estimated four million Americans.
A cataract is a cloudy spot on the part of your eye called the lens. Normally, the lens should be clear to let in light. When a cataract develops, it dims your vision and increases glare.
Cataracts are often associated with diseases that affect the eyes (notably diabetes) and with the long-term use of certain medications (such as corticosteroids). |
Lita Lee, Lisa Turner and Burton Goldberg
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 Patient Health History
Vital Statistics
Sex_Age_ Ht_
Weight_ B/P_/_
Marital History
Married_(yrs.) Divorced (vis.)
Children_Ages_
Single_ No. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| CFS. I'm not quite as convinced, but if I had CFS, I'd give it a try and follow a supplement regimen under the supervision of a naturopathic physician or clinical nutritionist.
I'd pay special attention to folic acid (also known as folate), a B vitamin that seems to be in short supply in most people's diets. The average American gets only 61 percent of the old Recommended Dietary Allowance, which is too low anyway. Extra zinc might also help, especially if you have white spots on your nails, which may signal a deficiency. Naturopathic physicians often prescribe 100 milligrams a day. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
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 Incidence of diarrhea was significantly lower among those receiving the prebiotic, compared with controls (9% and 22%, respectively). These results have been confirmed in other controlled studies.
Lactobacillus GG significantly reduced the severity and duration of rotavirus diarrhea in infants in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Other researchers have demonstrated that the incidence of acute diarrhea and rotavirus shedding can be significantly reduced among infants admitted to the hospital by adding Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus thermophilus to infant formula. |
| Zinc deficiency results in thymic involution, depressed delayed hypersensitivity, decreased peripheral T-lymphocyte count, decreased proliferative T-lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), decreased cytotoxic T-lymphocyte activity, depressed T helper lymphocyte function, depressed natural killer cell activity, depressed macrophage function (phagocytosis), depressed neutrophil functions (respiratory burst, chemotaxis) and depressed antibody production. |
Larry Trivieri, Jr.
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 Be, C, and E, calcium, magnesium, and rutin (a flavonoid antioxidant). Dr. Gaby recommends a diet high in fiber-rich foods that avoids all refined sugars, processed foods, caffeine, and alcohol, as well as medicinal drugs, unless they have been prescribed by your physician. He also cautions against supplementing with high doses of vitamin A.
In cases of severe preeclampsia, pregnant women can be hospitalized and treated with high doses (20 g or more over a 24-hour period) of intravenous magnesium sulfate. "While that treatment is effective to some extent, it is not without risk," Dr. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
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| Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999; 31:1788-1792.
Yesalis III CE. Medical, legal, and social implications of androstenedione use. / Am Med Assoc. 1999; 281:2043-2044.
Arginine Pyroglutamate
DESCRIPTION
Arginine pyroglutamate is the L-arginine salt of pyroglutam-ic acid. It is also known as pirglutargine and arginine pidolate. It is represented by the following chemical structure:
Arginine pyroglutamate
Arginine pyroglutamate is a delivery form of pyroglutamate. |
Dr. Mary Dan Eades
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 The interesting note that this vitamin has proven useful in combating morning sickness in pregnant women certainly seems to indicate that there may be an increased need for the vitamin in this condition.
This vitamin plays a role in cancer immunity and aids in the prevention of arteriosclerosis. It inhibits the formation of a toxic chemical called homocysteine, which attacks the heart muscle and allows the buildup of cholesterol around the heart muscle. It is also helpful in the treatment of asthma, arthritis, and allergies. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
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| For calculation purposes, 1.1 milligrams of sodium fluoride are equivalent to 0.5 milligram of fluoride. Fluoride comprises approximately 45% of sodium fluoride.
The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the U.S. |
Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D.
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 There is also a large assortment of products referred to as "green foods" in health-foods stores. Nature's Plus makes a product called Green Lightning, which is a whole-food concentrate of young barley plants. Some are powdered to be mixed with water, others are sold in tablet form. They range in price from about $.45 a day to $.70 a day, depending on the brand.
Nutrceuticals
Nutraceuticals are any food or part of a food that provides health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease. |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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| Glucosamine Sulfate
Can glucosamine sulfate combat osteoarthritis?
Over 40 million Americans would urgently like to know the answer to that question. That's the number of people—most over the age of 45—who have osteoarthritis, the most common of nearly 100 different forms of this widespread problem.
Fortunately, the answer is yes. Osteoarthritis is the form that glucosamine is tremendously effective in treating.
More than 7 million people visit their doctors every year to seek relief from the swollen and stiffening joints that are caused by arthritis. |
J. E. Williams, O.M.D.
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 Arginine: This amino acid is sometime referred to as a growth hormone enhancer and muscle builder. It is important for cell growth, wound healing, recovery from illness, and during times of stress. It strengthens the immune system by increasing NK cell activity, increasing white cell production, and stimulating white cell response. It promotes resistance against infection and stimulates the thymus gland. It is useful in chronic fatigue syndrome and immune dysfunction. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
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| Diastolic blood pressure does not appear to be affected by calcium, and calcium does not affect blood pressure in normotensives. The mechanism of the possible systolic blood pressure-lowering effect of supplemental calcium is unclear.
Some, but not all, studies have found supplemental calcium to lower serum cholesterol levels. A mechanism of this possible effect may be the binding of calcium ions with bile acids to form insoluble soaps, thus removing cholesterol entering the gut via the enterohepatic circulation. |
Elson M. Haas, M.D.
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 It is possible that these problems of calcium excess are not specifically related to dietary calcium but rather to calcium's metabolism in relationship to the endocrine system. More research is clearly needed in this area. This potential toxicity concern makes me realize that it is important to be very aware of calcium metabolism and individual needs and to not just blindly supplement it as is so common recendy.
Still, though, calcium deficiency is a more common concern in our culture than is excess calcium. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 2Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Folate has been demonstrated to bind plaque-derived endotoxin.46"48 The use of folate mouthwash is particularly indicated for pregnant women and oral contraceptive users, and for other conditions associated with an exaggerated gingival inflammatory response or folate anti-metabolites (e.g. phenytoin, methotrexate).46,47
Epithelial cells of the cervix and the oral cavity appear to suffer from a similar "end-organ" deficiency of folic acid under the hormonal influences of pregnancy and oral contraceptive use. |
| THERAPEUTIC CONSIDERATIONS
From a natural therapeutic standpoint, there appear to be three major approaches:
• dietary therapy
• nutritional supplements
• physical therapy.
Obviously, including all three provides the most comprehensive treatment plan.
Diet
The Swank diet
Dr Roy Swank, Professor of Neurology, University of Oregon Medical School, has provided convincing evidence that a diet low in saturated fats, maintained over a long period of time, tends to retard the disease process and reduce the number of attacks. |
National Women's Health Network
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 The placement of marketing information on the Web sites of groups women trust is an insidious tactic. Women need to be aware that information on the Web may be just as biased as any other—perhaps more so because in some cases procedures for regulatory oversight are not yet established.
Is all information tainted? No, there is reliable information out there. However, it can be tricky figuring out which is tainted and which isn't. Here are some guidelines to help:
• Look for the "virgins. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 2Michael T. Murray, ND
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| Urinary excretion of kynurenic and xanthurenic acids will be increased in patients who will respond to pyridoxine.
Antioxidants
The substantial increase in the prevalence of asthma over the past 20 years can be partially explained by the reduced dietary intake of antioxidant nutrients like beta-carotene and vitamins A, C, and E as well as the mineral cofactors essential for antioxidant defense mechanisms such as zinc, selenium, and copper.33 Antioxidants are thought to provide important defense mechanisms for maintaining the redox state of the lung. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Escherichia coli in one subject, and, in all subjects, enterococci returned to the same level as before enoxacin.
—A. Lidbeck, et al., "Impact of Lactobacillus Acidophilus on the Normal Intestinal Microflora after Administration of Two Antimicrobial Agents," Infection, 16(6), 1988, p. 329-336.
Results of this in vitro study found that Lactobacillus strains employed in fermented milk can be used to inhibit the growth of Shigella sonnei.
—M.C. Apella, et al., "In Vitro Studies on the Growth of Shigella Sonnei by Lactobacillus Casei and Lact. |
National Women's Health Network
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| Is Osteoporosis just a Wo men s Problem?
Maybe not. Most osteoporosis research has assumed that differences in fracture rates between men and women are due solely to menopause. Yet not all women lose significant bone mass during the transitional menopausal years, and both women and men lose bone density steadily as they age.
There are many other differences between men and women that affect bone strength and likelihood of fracture, especially in industrialized nations. For one thing, men develop larger and denser bones as young adults than do women. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| USRDA levels, subjects receiving vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium experienced a 42% reduction in esophageal cancer prevalence as well as a significant reduction in overall cancer mortality.
—P.R. Taylor, et al., "Prevention of Esophageal Cancer: The Nutrition Intervention Trials in Linxian, China: Linxian Nutrition Intervention Trials Study Group," Cancer Research, 54(7 Suppl), April 1, 1994, p. 2029s-2031s. |
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