HealthBeat News

Category: Health Questions

  • But Consumer Lab says…

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Whenever we publish an article about supplements we invariably get questions and challenges to our statements and information.  We think that’s a good thing – it proves that our HealthBeat News readers are a sharp bunch.

    When it comes to vitamins and supplements there are a lot of opinions out there – everything from “vitamins are worthless; they’ll just give you expensive urine,” to “you can get everything you need from a healthy diet,” to “megadose vitamins will cure all illnesses.”

    We believe that the truth resides somewhere between these two extremes and that no, you cannot “get everything you need’ from a healthy diet – since it is almost impossible to find and follow a healthy diet these days, given the sorry state of our food supply, and given the stresses of our modern lives that deplete us of many essential nutrients more quickly than our ancestors were depleted.

    Most of our readers recognize that, too, which is why they are our readers – they are seeking solid, reliable information they can use to protect and improve their health.

    So it is both natural and good that our readers like to cross-check our information with other sources.

    One of the sources we hear about often is a company called "ConsumerLab.com", a company that holds itself out as an impartial judge of what is good and bad in the supplement industry. They promote themselves as being above reproach and beyond outside corporate influence because they accept no advertising. And impartial evaluation is good, right? Just like the “Consumer Reports” that they model themselves after, Consumer Lab says they derive income through the "subscriptions” and “reports" they sell to people like you and me.

    And they must be really good, right? After all, the mighty Dr. Oz has had them on his show, and that is a Really Big Deal.

    Let’s take a closer look at Comsumer Lab.

    First off, Consumer Lab is NOT a laboratory service. They do not do their own testing. They use outside labs for testing, and they won’t identify the labs they use and don’t tell us anything about their auditing of those labs for quality. Hmmm.

    How does  Consumer Lab decide what supplements to test? They contact dietary supplement makers and ask them to enroll in a “voluntary” testing program ­ for a fee.  We don’t know for sure how much as they won’t disclose their fees, but we heard of one company that was charged over $4,000 to test a single product. Companies that pay the fee are guaranteed that if one of their products passes the testing under their “Voluntary Certification Program,” they will be listed on the Consumer Labs website and may carry the “CL Seal of Approval.” If the product fails testing, the product will never be identified publicly because the results are “proprietary to the manufacturer”!

    On the other hand, companies that do not agree to pay risk having their products tested anyway through the CL “product review program.” If they “fail” the testing, negative results will be publicized on ConsumerLab.com’s website and in the media, with complete details for sale in CL’s Product Review Technical Reports.

    Doesn’t this sound a little bit like, “Pay up, and you won’t have to worry about the results, good or bad. Don’t pay up, and you might get some bad publicity…”?

    Does it remind you of “protection” rackets?

    Well then, what’s the point of all this? Is Consumer Labs bad? No, not necessarily. Do we mistrust them? No and yes. We take their “reports” with not one but two grains of salt. The point is that you need to be aware of what influences what you read and trust.

    You also need to be very careful when accepting editorial writings as fact. What is the research used to back up the article? Are there references offered for you to check? Do the references offered really substantiate the "facts" of the article? Do the studies quoted refer to clinical human studies, lab rat studies, Petri dish experiments, or armchair theorizing?

    We recently wrote about Vitamin D for prostate and other cancers. That prompted one of our readers to send us this question:

    “Consumer Lab calls blood levels of 20 ng/ml vit. D sufficient, 25-35 perhaps beneficial, but then says to NOT go over 39 ng/ml…?”

    Dr. Myatt was familiar with the CL article about Vitamin D and replied:

    Double Check Everything, Trust Nobody… Not Even Me…
    The CR article and cited study didn’t say over 39 was problematic, it said in one study they didn’t find benefit. But there are numerous studies that we cite in our Vit D paper that show positive benefit from the levels I put forth as optimal. We always provide the medical references so you can do your own due diligence.
    I stand by my recommendations.

    The moral of this story? Always check the references yourself – and be sure that you understand exactly what those references are saying. Even more important, make sure you know and trust WHO is saying them.

  • CoQ10: The Marketing Wars Continue

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient vital to the energy processes of all our cells. It is also known as ubiquinone, ubidecarenone, and coenzyme Q, and is commonly abbreviated as CoQ10.

    CoQ10 is one of the more popular supplements and there is a lot of confusion about just what it is and what is the best form of CoQ10.

    We have written often about CoQ10, and I encourage you to review those articles to get ‘up to speed’ on the ins and outs of CoQ10:

    Ubiquinone, Ubiquinol, CoQ10: What’s Real, What’s Not.

    Ubiquinone (CoQ10) versus Ubiquinol: Which Is Better?

    This Supplement Slashes Cardiac Death Risk By Half

    Here is a recent question sent in to us by a reader:

    There are SO many CoQ-10 products out there. I would like to hear your take on Qunol. Specifically the liquid, pharmaceutical Grade Ubiquinone. I’d also like to hear your (hopefully slams) on Ubidecarenone which I’m told is a synthetic form.

    Many supplement sellers take advantage of all the confusion in order to hype their own particular brand of CoQ10 over everyone else’s. A page taken directly from the Big Pharma playbook – you know the ads; “Fall asleep faster with liquid Druginex!” or “Headmax is better for headaches – it’s gelcap formulation goes to work on pain right away!” There seems to be always some new wrinkle that makes drugs better, faster, stronger – and makes for bigger sales.

    So it is with CoQ10. Micronized, water soluble, liquid microspheres, softgels, nanoparticles, chewables, capsules, you-name-it, it has all been hyped as “the Best!”

    Others like to tout their product as “pharmaceutical grade.” Just what the heck is “pharmaceutical grade,” anyway? Is that like “professional strength” or “contractor quality” or “heavy duty” or “trusted by doctors”? Let’s put it this way – it had better be “pharmaceutical grade” if I am going to take it or if The Wellness Club is going to sell it – we have a Quality Control Audit process that makes our suppliers cringe!

    Then there are the three forms of CoQ10: fully oxidized (ubiquinone,) partly reduced (semiquinone or ubisemiquinone,) and fully reduced (ubiquinol.) Confused yet? You are not alone – and there are sellers of each of these forms that will gladly tell you that their form is the very best.

    What they don’t tell you is that your body happily cycles CoQ10 through all of these forms, over and over again as it uses each form for it’s specific purposes.

    And then, to add more confusion, there is a synthetic analog of CoQ10 called Idebenone – that is claimed to have far better absorbability from the gut. That much is true – unfortunately it also undergoes significant “first-pass” metabolism in the liver, and research has shown that 1% or less actually reaches the circulation. Oops… But don’t dismiss it entirely, there is research underway for it’s use in some specific medical conditions, it is thought to be effective as a part of an anti-aging program, and it is used topically for wrinkles.

    And Qunol? This is a brand name for a “solubilized” form of CoQ10. The company claims that it is both water and lipid soluble, and is better than all other forms of CoQ10 – a tall claim indeed. Is it really better, or is this just another sales wrinkle? Who knows – they aren’t offering any scientific evidence to back up their claim to being “the gold standard”…

    So there you have it – the marketing wars rage on for CoQ10, with each seller vying for a larger share of “the market.” How to pick the best? Do your homework, and be careful to not fall for marketing hype – if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. And remember, when it comes to CoQ10, price is often a good indicator of quality and purity and potency – shop carefully and avoid the “bargain brands.” A “bargain” that doesn’t work is no bargain at all – it is a waste of money!

  • Is Kavinace Safe?

    By Nurse Mark

     

    We often get questions asking whether this or that or another supplement is “safe.”

     

    These are really tough questions: Safe for who? And in what dose? And whose brand? And what other health conditions, drugs, or supplements are involved?

    Even natural supplements can cause problems if overused or misused…

    Kavinace is one of our more popular supplements, for very good reason – it is an excellent sleep aid. We have written often about Kavinace – here is one of our recent articles: Kavinace or the Lunesta Moth – You Decide.

    Kavinace is a proprietary blend of taurine and phenibut.

    Phenibut (β-phenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid) is a derivative of the naturally occurring inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. It tends to function as a CNS (Central Nervous System) depressant – which is part of the reason it is so effective as a sleep aid. It has also been shown to increase dopamine levels – and dopamine is considered to be one of the “feel-good” neurotransmitters.

    We have never encountered legitimate reports of  persons becoming physically addicted to phenibut or to Kavinace – though it is possible to become psychologically addicted to anything, especially if that thing is misused or overused. There are anecdotal reports of people using very large doses of phenibut on a regular basis (it is often used by people who feel socially awkward or anxious) who have found that very large repeated doses of pure phenibut have caused addictive effects – that stopping the very high doses led to feelings of anxiety returning.

    How to avoid any danger of tolerance or addiction? Easy – never use more than the recommended amount!

    Here is a recent question, and Dr. Myatt’s reply:

    Subject: Is kavinace safe?
    Message: Hello, I had a neurotransmitter urine test and it was suggested I use Kavinace. I am apprehension of the Phenibut causing addiction. I am sixty four and having horrible panic and do not want to use pharmaceuticals. Is Kavinace safe?
    Thank you so much, Peggi

     

    Hi Peggi:

    Sorry for your travails. Panic attacks are no fun, although on a positive note, I’ve never lost a patient to a panic attack. Remind yourself of this when you are in the throes.

    Use of a neurotransmitter test before starting neurotransmitter treatment has largely been discredited by actual research, although several companies including Neuro Science (makers of Kavinace) still promote this. One could just have easily suggested Kavinace to you based on your complaint of panic attacks.

    Phenibut is effective and as far as I can see, safe when used moderately. I have not seen dependence in anyone although I know this is a concern.

    Please keep in mind that panic attacks are not caused by a phenibut deficiency! Which means, even if it helps, it doesn’t get to the root of the problem.

    The most common causes of panic attacks include hormone imbalances or deficiencies, neurotransmitter imbalances and — the big one — unstable blood sugar levels. Do you wake up in the middle of the night, say between midnight and 3 a.m., filled with anxiety?

    I would like to review the "rule out" list with you and we can do this on a brief phone consult. Here’s the link on how to schedule: https://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/BriefConsults.htm

    Panic attacks are correctable but drugs and even natural substances, though they may provide relief, don’t really cure the problem.

    Whatever you do, I’m wishing you a complete resolution from this most annoying problem.

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

  • Which Neurochemical Causes Depression?

    By Nurse Mark

     

    I remember some of the classes that we took in Nursing School vividly – and no wonder; they were lectures on subjects that were so dense and incomprehensible that we looked forward to them the way one might look forward to having dental work done without freezing. Neuroanatomy and the endocrine system were a couple of my most dreaded subjects – at that time my only hope of surviving and graduating as a Nurse was to memorize enough to pass the exams…

    Well, fast-forward thirty years, and I have come to make peace with these and other complicated subjects. That is not to say that I am any kind of expert, but rather that I understand that everyone struggles to understand these subjects about as much as I do.

    I actually kind of enjoy the endocrine system – it is the chemical computer of hormones that controls and regulates almost every function of our being.

    And neuroanatomy? Well, let’s just say that we have reached a peace since I know how to look stuff up when I need it…

    The point here is that even after 30 years of Nursing and being exposed to these two subjects frequently (even daily) they are still complicated – there is nothing simple about either of them even after all these years. How very, terribly complicated and confusing must they be for laypeople?

    It is no wonder that modern conventional medicine has done such a good job of making folks demand simple, one-pill solutions to medical problems.

    We get questions every day from people who are looking for simple answers to complicated subjects: “Which hormone is making me fat?” “What herb will cure my (insert complaint here)?” “Which neurochemical is responsible for depression?”

    Dave recently wrote us. I am guessing that he found some information of interest on our Neurotransmitter information pages.

    I tried to write Dave back, but his email was returned to me as “undeliverable” – so here is Dave’s question:

    Subject: neurotransmitter imbalance

    Message: If a person already has clinical depression does the loss of a loved one affect the same neurochemicals ? I was told it creates a deficit however in which neurochemicals ?

     

    And my answer to Dave:

     

    Hi Dave,

    First, please do not confuse depression with sadness. The loss of a loved one is tragic and can be a terrible sadness, but it not necessarily lead to or exacerbate a depression. One can be depressed and not sad, or sad and not depressed, or both sad and depressed depending on the person and the circumstances.

    Secondly, there is no one or two neurotransmitters that we can point to and say "those are the chemicals responsible for depression" – we look for balance in relative amounts of neurotransmitters. Deficits may indeed be a problem, but so also can be relative excesses.

    Neurotransmitter testing offers a great deal of valuable information, but must be interpreted very carefully by someone skilled in that assessment.

    You may want to consider a Brief Consultation with Dr. Myatt who can help your understanding of this complex subject.

    Hope this helps,

    Cheers,

    Nurse Mark

     

    Neurotransmitters are just another way of saying “Brain Hormones,” and they are another part of that miraculous, amazing bio-computer that we call the endocrine system. When it comes to questions about neurotransmitters, the very best way to get answers is through a Brief Consultation with Dr. Myatt.

  • Doctors Say The Dumbest Things!

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Sometimes it’s hard to believe that medical doctors actually had to go to school for all those years and then pass big exams in order to get a license to practice medicine. Maybe they get credit for nap-time –what else can explain it when it looks like they slept through some of their most basic classes?

    Here’s an example that we see over and over again – that makes it look like classes in basic nutrition must be optional in some medical schools…

    Cathy wrote recently to ask:

    Question for you. My doc is telling me now that taking vitamins have no health effect since they don’t contains lignens. Also recent reports have shown krill oil is worthless. Would like your comments on this.

    Wow – there is so much wrong with this doctor’s statement that Dr. Myatt and I just looked at each other in amazement when we read it. My first thoughts were “where would a doctor get such silly notions?”, but Dr. Myatt had a more rational explanation – “this doc probably attended a weekend conference and was pitched on the wonders of lignans by some slick sales rep…” and so now any product that doesn’t shout about containing lignans for health benefits must surely be of no value.

    Never mind that Big Pharma profit-darlings like statins for cholesterol and z-drugs for sleep and acid blockers for GERD don’t contain lignans – they’re drugs after all, so that’s a whole different thing… they must be good!

    I was tempted to send out a snappy, smarty-pants answer to this doctors silly statement – but Cathy deserves better than that

    Here is what we did write for her:

    Hi Cathy,

    I think your doctor might do well to review his biochemistry and nutrition textbooks. This sounds like a new spin on the old “Vitamins are useless – you’ll just pee ‘em out and have expensive urine!” line that is still used by a lot of doctors. Lignans are a very important and valuable form of fiber. Vitamins are, well, vitamins – not fiber. Your doctors statement makes no sense.

    Here is one of many articles we have written about the worth of vitamins: Do Vitamins Really Make Any Difference?

    And here is an excerpt from another article we wrote, discussing lignans.

    Lignans are a special type of fiber found in certain plants including flaxseed, pumpkin, sunflower and poppy seeds, whole grains (rye, oats, barley), fruits (especially berries) and vegetables. Flax seed is one of the highest sources of lignans.

    Lignans inhibits estrogen production, blocks estrogen receptors in a manner similar to tamoxifen, increases 2-OH estrone (considered a “good” kind of estrogen because it does not stimulate the growth of breast cancer), and lowers the risk of metastasis.(1,2)

    An easy way to get high lignans in the diet is to consume ground flax seeds (flax seed meal). Try Dr. Myatt’s Bread recipe or Dr. Myatt’s Blueberry muffins for a quick, delicious way to get a big dose of nutrients, including flax seed meal, into your diet.

    Regarding Krill Oil: Krill Oil is far from “worthless”! While in many cases “Krill Oil” is hyped or marketed as being somehow better or more pure or “more powerful” and it’s true, krill oil may contain more of an important antioxidant called astaxanthin than other marine oils, these numbers are often inflated for marketing purposes. The magic in marine oils is the Omega 3 fatty acid content. Eskimo oil, Arctic oil, krill oil, etc.: Can you say “fish oil”? Be sure to get the good stuff – molecularly (cold process) distilled and free of heavy metal contamination… Try Dr. Myatt’s Maxi Marine for a good product at a good value.  Omega 3 fatty acids, as found in marine (fish) oils, are called essential fatty acids – meaning that we must consume them in order to stay healthy and even alive since our bodies cannot make them. Looking at the labels of marine oils can be confusing – because it is the amount of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that is important – not just the mg amount of “lipid concentrate” or “marine oils” or whatever other way they call them. For example, Maxi Marine contains Marine Lipid Concentrate of 1000 mg, which contains EPA 420mg and DHA 280mg.

    Hope this helps!

    Cheers,

    Nurse Mark

     

    Silly doctors…

     

    References:

    1.) Marina S. Touillaud, Anne C. M. Thiébaut, Agnès Fournier, Maryvonne Niravong, Marie-Christine Boutron-Ruault and Françoise Clavel-Chapelon. Dietary Lignan Intake and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk by Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Status. JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst (2007) 99 (6): 475-486.

    2.) American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2008 Annual Meeting: Abstract 4162. Presented April 15, 2008.