HealthBeat News

Author: Wellness Club

  • Vitamin D And Prostate Cancer: A New Connection

    By Nurse Mark

     

    We’ve written about Vitamin D so much that you might have become jaded about the subject. But Vitamin D is an amazing vitamin – hormone that almost daily has new studies showing its value in treatment of an ever-widening array of diseases.

    For all you men out there “of a certain age” who must be concerned with prostate health and the very real specter of prostate cancer, Vitamin D just earned itself  a whole new level of respect.

    Scientists at this year’s 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) in Denver learned about research showing that taking vitamin D supplements could slow or even reverse the progression of less aggressive, or low-grade, prostate tumors without the need for surgery or radiation.

    In his lecture before the ACS, Dr. Bruce Hollis of the Medical University of South Carolina detailed his new research suggesting that vitamin D supplementation  may improve low-grade prostate cancers by reducing inflammation, perhaps lessening the need for eventual surgery or radiation treatment. “We don’t know yet whether vitamin D treats or prevents prostate cancer,” says Hollis. “At the minimum, what it may do is keep lower-grade prostate cancers from going ballistic.”

    This new information reinforced findings of his previous research which showed that men with low-grade prostate cancer who took vitamin D supplements for a year had a 55 percent decreased Gleason score or even complete disappearance of their tumors compared to their biopsies a year before.

    And what about other cancers? Is it just prostate cancer? Here is an excerpt from Dr. Hollis’ paper:

    Vitamin D is metabolized, activated and acts through the vitamin D receptor expressed in a variety of human tissues, including cancer tissue of various origin. Basic research has revealed that vitamin D has anti-cancer potentials including pro-differentiation, anti-proliferation, and anti-inflammatory, to name a few. Epidemiological studies have revealed that low circulating 25(OH)D levels are a risk factor for a variety of human cancers.

    Are you getting enough Vitamin D?

    Dr. Hollis and many other experts are encouraging much higher levels of Vitamin D that conventional Medicine or the FDA. But each person is different, and an adequate or even generous supplemental dose of Vitamin D for one person may be nowhere near enough for someone else. Vitamin D testing is required to know for sure.

    So, what are the “numbers”?

    The Vitamin D test tells us blood levels of vitamin D measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) and the results can be grouped like this:

    • Deficiency: less than 20 ng/ml
    • Insufficiency: 20 to 32 ng/ml
    • Sufficiency: 32 to 100 ng/ml
    • OPTIMAL (per Dr. Myatt): 40 to 80 ng/ml
    • Excess (toxicity risk): greater than 150 ng/ml

    The Vitamin D test is a simple “Blood Spot” test, very much like the “finger poke” that diabetics do multiple times daily to check their blood sugars. A drop of blood is placed onto a test strip and sent off to the lab in a pre-paid mailer; the results come back in a few days. Then you can get started replenishing your Vitamin D levels, because chances are good that they are low – since overall, 41.6 % of Americans are Vitamin D deficient, and that number skyrockets to 82.1% of African Americans and 69.2% of Hispanics.

    Learn more about the Vitamin D Spot Test here:

    For additional information in our past articles about Vitamin D please review:

    The Surprising Importance Of Vitamin D

    Vitamin D – For Successful Dieting?

    Vitamin D – An Old Friend Finding New Respect

    Vitamin D and Liver Cancer: More Reasons Love Vitamin D

    Vitamin D Special Report

     

    References:

    1) http://www.newswise.com/articles/vitamin-d-may-keep-low-grade-prostate-cancer-from-becoming-aggressive

    2) J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 2012, DOI: 10.1210/jc.2012-1451

  • The Myth of "Multi Nutrient" Formulas

    The "Lots of Stuff" Formula Hoax

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

     

    There are a lot of "Pixie Dust" formulas on the market. There are formulas for a specific condition like "eye health" or memory that contain long lists of ingredients. Nutritional supplement insiders know that laymen will favor products with "a lot of stuff."

    So, in order to increase sales, it is popular to create formulas and put in a little bit of everything that has ever been suggested to be beneficial for a particular condition. Then the formula is marketed as being the next great miracle by describing the wonderful results claimed for each individual ingredient.

    This sounds good in theory — put in “everything but the kitchen sink" — but it is more beneficial for the sellers than it is for those taking the supplement. If you’re smart, you won’t fall for this marketing ploy.

    First, most multiple formulas don’t contain enough of the individual ingredients to do much good –– the capsules just aren’t big enough –– and that is why we refer to them as "Pixie Dust." (This used to be called "Fairy Dust" but has been updated in the interest of continuing political correctness). For example, if ginko has been found to help memory at a minimum of dose of 240mg per day and the "formula" contains only 20mg, we have no reason to think this dose of ginko will be beneficial.

    Secondly, many of these products are "proprietary," meaning they don’t disclose the amount of each ingredient on their label. This means that educated consumers who are looking for dosing amounts cannot do so.

    Also, just because ten natural substances have been mentioned for one condition doesn’t mean their level of proof or efficacy is the same. For example, someone recently asked about a "formula" for brain health that included a long list of ingredients — ginkgo, bacopa, vinpocetine, Acetyl-l-carnitine, phosphatidylserine and more. Several of these nutrients have shown to be helpful IF taken in particular doses. But all of these ingredients together do not have as much research as the single nutrient citicholine that we have written about. Still, people tend to gravitate toward products "with more stuff."

    I recommend going with products that have the most good human research, not necessarily the longest ingredient list. The uneducated crowd looks for "more stuff"; the savvy consumer looks for products with "more proof."

  • How Do YOU Get Clean Hands?

    By Nurse Mark

     

    It may be summertime as this is written, but fall and back-to-school and cold and flu season are just around the corner.

    There is no question that hygiene, as in hand washing, goes a long way toward preventing the spread of colds and flu.

    But what is best? It’s really not practical to wash hands as often as we should – like after every time we touch anything that anyone else could have possibly touched…

    So, what about the ubiquitous "hand sanitizers" that contain ‘antibacterial" ingredients?

    Is there anything else? Maybe something better, or at least a more effective strategy?

    There is no doubt that good ‘ol soap and water is king when it comes to controlling the spread of disease-causing microorganisms – germs, viruses, fungal spores, you-name-it; they all are out to get us.

    A good brisk soap and hot water scrub removes visible dirt, and either removes or attenuates or kills a very wide variety of baddies.

    But there are some problems:

    The "clean" doesn’t last – it is not ‘persistent." The instant you touch anything with those nice clean hands there is a strong likelihood that they are not so clean anymore. That’s why when you see depictions of surgeons "scrubbing for surgery" they engage in such gyrations to avoid touching anything unsterile with those nice clean hands: turning off the taps with an elbow, holding hands up to await a sterile towel to dry, and then carefully donning sterile gloves.

    Surgeons know that they can get their hands squeaky clean with soap and water, but if they touch anything not known to be sterile then all bets are off and they have to start all over.

    Soap and water is good, but it can be hard on the skin – very drying and often irritating – just as any surgeon, or nurse, or anyone who must scrub many times in a day. "Dishpan hands” is a very real thing…

    What about "Hand Sanitizers"? After all, the ads for them make it sound like they are the answer to our prayers. Gels, sprays, liquids, foams, all claiming to be "the best."

    Well, some may be better than others – but they all work the same way: they contain some sort of antibacterial/antimicrobial/virucidal ingredient.

    Most commonly that ingredient is good ol’ alcohol. Cheap and effective, alcohol has been used as a disinfectant for as long as man has known about alcohol.

    Alcohol disinfects by denaturing proteins. It may be effective, but it must be in contact with pathogens for longer periods of time (i.e.: up to 20 minutes or more) to be really any more effective than soap and hot water and scrubbing. Isopropyl alcohol is thought to be more effective than ethanol.

    So, for a quick "spritz ‘n’ rub" skin cleanse, maybe not so effective- who is going to soak their hands in it for even 2 minutes, much less 20 minutes? But for a quickie hand cleanse when nothing else is available? Better than nothing!

    Further, alcohol can be very drying and irritating to the skin, and if you have any little breaks in the skin (Paper cut anyone? Hangnail?) you’ll know all about it!

    Oh, and by the way: alcohol is highly flammable… yep, people have set themselves alight with their hand sanitizers!

    What about non-alcohol sanitizers?

    A new kid on the block is actually an old name in the antimicrobial business: Benzalkonium chloride. I’s main claim to fame is that it is "persistent": that it’s antimicrobial effects continue for some time after it’s application because the chemical remains on and in the skin.

    A synthetic chemical in the family of quaternary ammonium cations (also known as quats) Benzalkonium Chloride is a fairly effective disinfectant found in a number of "non-alcohol" hand sanitizer products. It has also long been used in medical settings as a disinfectant soak for such things as oral thermometers and instruments.

    Benzalkonium chloride is effective against gram positive (such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumonia – “staph” and “strep”) and some gram negative bacteria (e-coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas) and some viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

    It is effective, but also toxic – benzalkonium chloride is considered to be  highly toxic to fish, very highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates, moderately toxic to birds, and slightly toxic to mammals. Keep it away from your aquarium and your pet birds!

    There is also a growing body of evidence that long term human exposure to benzalkonium chloride and related chemicals is associated with significant health risks. These include asthma, chronic dermatitis and other immune system disorders. They are no longer recommended for use around infants or children, and their safety in the elderly is being called into question.

    Also becoming popular as a non-alcohol sanitizer is another old friend, triclosan.

    Triclosan was first registered with the EPA as a pesticide in 1969 and While it is effective as an antimicrobial, it is being found to have thyroid and hormone-disruptive effects.

    Triclosan-containing hand cleansers also boast of their "persistence" – meaning that this chemical stays on the skin after being applied. Hmmm… this sounds like a good thing; it continues to protect for a period of time after use. But it also means that this toxic chemical – originally developed as a pesticide – is being allowed to remain in contact with your skin for an extended period of time. And your skin is the largest absorptive organ of your body… Oops…

    Is there nothing really effective and safe?

    We think that there is: Silver – “colloidal silver”

    We have praised the effectiveness and safety of silver before: see our article “Is There A ‘Silver Bullet’ For Disease?” to learn more.

    Colloidal silver is highly effective, and persistent if allowed to remain on surfaces. We have written often in praise of the benefits of colloidal silver. It is usually not recommended for generalized cleaning as there are more economical choices – though there are researchers who have verified it’s effectiveness as a general surface disinfectant.

    But in a hand sanitizer colloidal silver is highly effective against a very wide range of bacteria, viruses, and even fungi, and silver-containing gel formulations soothe and heal damaged skin. Since the colloidal silver is rubbed into the skin and not washed off, it has very good "persistence."

    We offer our version of a "Hand sanitizer" that we feel is both safe for frequent use, and is highly effective.

    ASAP 365 – 24 ppm Silver Gel is effective, safe, and inexpensive – Dr. Myatt and I carry this with us whenever we travel and use it often – and we don’t use chemical-laden “hand sanitizers”! Colloidal silver is safe even for internal use – there are some people who use this as "toothpaste" and swear by it!

    This gel rubs in quickly and easily, is non-greasy, and contains no perfumes or dangerous chemicals. It is a valuable addition to a natural first-aid kit for treating minor burns, wounds, fungal and bacterial infections – there are even those who swear by colloidal silver for the treatment of “Cold Sores” and “Fever Blisters”, and scientific research supports their belief in it’s effectiveness. One ecstatic customer even wrote to tell of it’s effectiveness as a deodorant!

    So, the short course on clean hands?

    1. Soap and water as often as possible and practical – and don’t forget to do the "surgeon thing" using a paper tower to shut off the water and to open the door so that you aren’t touching possibly (likely) contaminated surfaces with those nice clean hands.
    2. Colloidal silver-containing hand sanitizer immediately after that soap and water hand scrub – you got them clean, now use the silver to make sure of it and to provide that valuable "persistence" that will help protect you when you inevitably touch something that dozens, hundreds, even thousands of people have touched and contaminated before you. (door handle? menu? escalator hand rail? you get the idea…)
    3. Avoid the toxic chemical laden "alcohol-free" hand sanitizers. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be useful when hand washing is not an option – just use it liberally to ‘clean’ and then follow up with a colloidal silver gel sanitizer for persistent effects.

  • Nutrient Deficiencies You Can’t Fix with Food

    By Dr. Myatt

     

    Getting a full complement of vitamins, minerals and trace minerals — all the "essential" nutrients — from food alone is tough for a number of reasons.

    First, many people don’t consistently eat a well-balanced, highly nutritious diet. "On again, off again" healthy eating does not provide the same caliber and quantity of nutrients as a true daily fare of good foods. See our recent article about how small choices add up to have big effects.

    Secondly, many foods today are not what they were even ten or twenty years ago. Modern agricultural practices have resulted in vegetables with lower nutrient values and higher levels of contaminants. That, plus our daily exposure to environmental pollutants increases the requirements for certain nutrients especially antioxidants.

    So, a good multiple vitamin/mineral supplement is highly recommended. (Remember, a "One-a-Day" multiple is "pixie dust," with not enough of anything to help except to prevent severe deficiency disease. We wrote about this in last week’s HealthBeat News.

    Even with a decent diet and a good quality multiple supplement program, there are still four nutrients that almost no one gets enough of without additional supplementation.

    The Four Missing Nutrients That Can Scuttle Your Good Health

    There are four nutrients that numerous studies show we do not get enough of from diet. Even if you take a great "multiple," you still aren’t getting enough of these four critical nutrients. Here they are; why you need them, and how much to take.

    VITAMIN K1 and K2: Normal Blood Clotting, Healthy Bones and So Much More

    There are more than a dozen subtypes of Vitamin K; one of the most important of the subtypes for good health is known as menaquinone or vitamin K-2.

    Vitamin K-1 is found in plant foods primarily vegetables. Vitamin K-2 is found in meat, eggs and dairy.

    Vitamin K2 is a fat-soluble micronutrient. Together, K2 and K1, known as phylloquinone, are necessary for normal blood coagulation. A deficiency of either K1 or K2 can lead to uncontrolled bleeding. However, K2 also has other significant health benefits beyond the coagulation process.

    New research has found that vitamin K2 participates in many functions beyond the clotting process including normal bone formation, cancer prevention, healthy brain function and prevention of calcification of arteries. Vitamin K2 has so many additional functions not associated with vitamin K1 that some researchers recommend that K1 and K2 should be considered two different vitamins.

    Vitamin K-2 helps put calcium into bone — thereby strengthening bone — while simultaneously keeping it from building up in the arteries. It does this by activating osteocalcin, a protein that binds calcium to bone. Without osteocalcin, calcium doesn’t stay in bones and instead deposits in arteries where it increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

    In a large epidemiological study from the Netherlands, it was found that people with the lowest blood levels of vitamin K-2 had a 57% greater risk of dying from heart disease than those with the highest levels. People with the highest vitamin K2 levels were 52 percent less likely to develop severe calcification of the arteries, 41 percent less likely to develop heart disease, and 57 percent less likely to die from it heart disease.(1) The intake of vitamin K1 did not affect cardiovascular disease outcomes – Vitamin K1 is most important for normal blood clotting where Vitamin K2 is important for preventing osteoporosis and coronary heart disease.

    How to Take: I personally take and recommend Life Extension’s Super K, one soft gel capsule per day taken with a meal that contains fat. Remember that vitamin K-2 is fat soluble.

    Caution: If you take warfarin (Coumadin), consult with your doctor before taking vitamin K-2 because it can alter the drug’s effectiveness. Vitamin K-2 is safe to take with other more modern blood thinners.

    COENZYME Q10 – A Source Of Cellular Energy

    Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) is needed for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main "energy currency" of the body. Although produced internally, CoQ10 levels tend to drop with age. Other causes of lowered CoQ10 levels include statin drugs, exposure to air pollutants and chronic disease states. Decreased levels of CoQ10 are linked to heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, fibromyalgia and infertility to name just a few.

    Although CoQ10 is found in such foods such as broccoli, nuts, beef and fatty fish, it is present only in small amounts.

    How to Take: I personally take 100-mg of CoQ10 daily. Higher doses are recommended if you take a statin drug, have a chronic disease such as heart disease. Please see our page on CoQ10 for a full list of health concerns associated with CoQ10 deficiency.

    As to the "ubiquinone" versus "ubiquinol" controversy, we’ve interviewed several leading CoQ10 researchers and written about this question here: CoQ10 – Fact, Fiction, Hype, And Hocus-Pocus.

    OMEGA-3 Essential Fatty Acids (Fish OIl) – The Oil That Reduces Inflammation

    Omega-3 essential fatty acids—found in fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel and tuna, and in oil-rich plant foods, such as walnuts and flaxseeds—are anti-inflammatory. Chronic, low-grade inflammation is believed to contribute to many chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, obesity, arthritis, autoimmune disease, and Alzheimer’s.

    In contrast, omega-6 essential fatty acids—found in most vegetable oils (corn, cottonseed, sunflower, canola, peanut oil) and therefore in most processed foods which contain these oils—are pro-inflammatory. The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is quite high in omega-6 and typically deficient in omega–3 fatty acids.

    NOTE: Although plant products such as walnuts and flax seed contain a "plant version" of Omega-3, this is not the same as fish oil. This is because a conversion is required. Assuming normal conversion, a dose comparison would be 14 grams of flax oil = 1 gram of fish oil.

    How to Take: Based on current best scientific evidence, a dose of 750-1500mg per day seems prudent. Take this with a fatty meal. Also note that this dose is the amount of EPA and DHA in the capsule, NOT just the total amount of oil (which will be higher) in the capsule.

    MAGNESIUM The Calming Mineral

    According to the U.S. government, eight of 10 Americans are deficient in magnesium. This is an extreme problem because magnesium is part of over 300 enzymes in the human body. Magnesium deficiency is associated with fatigue, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, asthma, anxiety, stroke, diabetes, glaucoma, hearing loss, kidney stones, gallbladder stones, migraine, muscle cramps, pregnancy complications (toxemia, premature delivery), premenstrual syndrome, heart disease (arrhythmia, CHF, angina, acute MI), osteoporosis, cancer and insomnia. Whew!

    How to Take: Women take 400 mg to 500 mg daily and men 500 mg to 600 mg daily. NOTE: Maxi Multi contains 500mg of magnesium when taken at the recommended dose of 9 caps per day. Or, supplement with additional magnesium.

    Also, magnesium oil is a fast-acting way to get magnesium. This is especially good for muscle cramps.

    References

    1.) Geleijnse JM1, Vermeer C, Grobbee DE, Schurgers LJ, Knapen MH, van der Meer IM, Hofman A, Witteman JC. Dietary Intake of Menaquinone Is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: The Rotterdam Study. J Nutr. 2004 Nov;134(11):3100-5.

    See linked product pages for additional references and related information.

  • The Myth Of The One-A-Day Multiple Vitamin

    By Nurse Mark

    “But it’s so many pills…”

    We hear that refrain so often… People call us to bargain and wheedle and negotiate over how often and how many Maxi Multi capsules they can take and still get all the benefits.

    Believe me – if we could cram all the vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and other ingredients that go into making Maxi Multi the best available Optimal Dose daily multiple vitamin into fewer, smaller capsules, we sure would!

    But folks, there is no way that a full compliment of optimal-dose vitamins and minerals and trace minerals can be made to fit into one single tablet or capsule of any size that could possibly be consumed by you or me – it’s just not possible, no matter how hard you squeeze it! An Optimal Daily Dose multiple vitamin will require from six to nine capsules daily.

    To learn more about what an Optimal Dose Daily Multivitamin formula should look like please check out Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Multi – a standard by which you can judge your current multiple vitamin.

    “Well, gimme one good reason I should swallow that many capsules that often!” (Maxi Multi is 3 caps, 3 times daily – this is hard ? )

    Just One? Howzabout A Baker’s Dozen Proven Reasons to take a Good Multiple Vitamin…

    While conventional medicine and newspaper headlines continue to preach that nutritional supplementation isn’t important, the results of medical research shows just the opposite. Here are some medical findings that should convince you to keep taking a high-quality, optimal potency multiple vitamin/mineral supplement. If you’re not sure what an “optimal potency” formula consists of or what you should be taking for your age and sex, refer to The Wellness Club web site’s nutritional supplements page for an up-to-date ingredient list and optimal dose recommendations.

    1. Harvard researchers have found that sub-optimal levels of folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12 are a risk factor for heart disease and colon and breast cancers.
      (Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) June 19, 2002)
    2. A six-month study showing that folic acid, vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 helped prevent recurrence of blocked arteries in patients who have undergone coronary angioplasty.
      (Journal of the American Medical Association, August 28, 2002)
    3. Vitamin K is a critical nutrient for skeletal integrity, with evidence of vitamin K supplementation reducing bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women and a significant positive relationship between vitamin K status and indices of bone health in men.
      (24th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research, September 20 – 24, 2002, San Antonio, Texas)
    4. Alzheimer’s disease: Association with zinc deficiency and cerebral vitamin B12 deficiency.
      (Journal of Orthol. Psychiatry (CANADA), 1984, 13/2 (97-104))
    5. Supplementation of the elderly with vitamin E has been shown to enhance immune response, delay onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and increase resistance to oxidative injury associated with exercise.
      (Proc Nutr Soc. 2002;61:165-171)
    6. Vitamin E intake, from foods or supplements, is associated with less cognitive decline with age.
      (Arch Neurol. 2002;59:1125-1132)
    7. Researchers at Cambridge University in England looked at serum vitamin C and how long people lived. People who had the lowest levels of vitamin C were twice as likely to die compared to those with the highest serum vitamin C levels. This study was based on the findings from over 19,000 people.
      (Lancet 2001; 357:657-63)
    8. 26.4% of esophageal and gastric cancers are attributable to low selenium levels.
      (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Mark et al., 2000)
    9. Calcium supplementation is associated with a significant – though moderate – reduction in the risk of recurrent colorectal adenomas. The effect of calcium was independent of initial dietary fat and calcium intake.
      (N Engl J Med (United States) Jan 14 1999, 340 (2) p101-7.)
    10. Data from the Nurses’ Health Study conducted at the Harvard Medical School showed that long-term supplementation with folic acid reduces the risk of colon cancer by 75% in women! 90,000 women participated in the Nurses’ Health Study, making this an especially significant finding. The authors of this study explained that folic acid obtained from supplements had a stronger protective effect against colon cancer than folic acid consumed in the diet.
      (Annals of Internal Medicine (1998; 129:517-524)
    11. Regarding asthma, the lowest intakes of vitamin C and manganese (a trace mineral not to be confused with magnesium) were associated with more than five-fold increased risks of bronchial reactivity. Decreasing intakes of magnesium were also significantly associated with an increased risk of hyper-reactivity.
      (Thorax (United Kingdom), 1997, 52/2 (166-170))
    12. Antioxidant supplements reduce the risk of cataract. One study evaluated 410 men for 3 years to ascertain the association between serum vitamin E and the development of cortical lens opacities (cataracts). The men with the lowest level of serum vitamin E had a 3.7 times greater risk of this form of cataract compared to men with the highest serum level of vitamin E.
      (American Journal of Epidemiology Sept. 1996)
    13. Encouraging moderate exercise and dietary supplementation with calcium and vitamin D are the major nonpharmacological management measures used to prevent and treat osteoporosis.
      (Drugs and Aging (New Zealand), 1996, 9/6 (472-477)
    14. Nutrient intake of patients with rheumatoid arthritis is deficient in pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), zinc, copper, and magnesium.
      (Journal of Rheumatology (Canada), 1996, 23/6 (990-994))

    OK, OK… a “Baker’s Dozen” is thirteen, and I just listed fourteen good reasons to take an Optimal Dose Daily Multiple Vitamin. So how many good reasons do you need?