HealthBeat News

Category: Health Questions

  • Atkins-Bashers Are Still Hard At Work!

    The Atkins-Bashers Are Still Hard At Work – Even After He’s Been Gone This Long They Feel They Must Discredit His Work.

     

    By Dr. Dana Myatt (with preamble and comment by Nurse Mark)

     

    Even though Dr. Robert Atkins died over seven years ago and his diet empire has been subverted and no longer recommends or practices anything of the ketogenic, low-carbohydrate teachings of the late doctor, his detractors will not allow themselves to rest – they endlessly trot out paper after paper, study after study, and book after book, all breathlessly enumerating what they claim to be the failures, the risks, and the -well- the wrongness of “The Atkins Diet.”

    Unfortunately, for most of these detractors “The Atkins Diet” has become synonymous with any reduced carbohydrate, protein rich, high fat diet – which in fact is not what Atkins was all about. The anti-Atkins crowd conveniently forgets that “The Atkins Diet” was and is a ketogenic diet – an entirely different and far healthier metabolic state that just happens to quickly result in weight normalization along with a host of other health benefits.

    Those opposed to Atkins have a variety of reasons – and often a moral or political axe to grind. Many are rabid vegetarians or vegans who are appalled that Atkins’ plan encouraged the consumption of animal fats and protein. Some cannot imagine a life without carbohydrates. Yet others spout biochemical and medical nonsense that merely demonstrates how many lectures they must have skipped during their medical training.

    The latest broadside directed at Atkins came from Dr. Dean Ornish who writes for a news publication called The Huffington Post – Amanda wrote to share his article “Atkins Diet Increases All-Cause Mortality” with us, and to ask about it.

    Hi, Dana – after all the positive things I have been reading lately about low carb eating, now this comes out. I would like to get your opinion on it since Paul and I are pretty die-hard low carb eaters. Thanks! Amanda

    And Dr. Myatt replied:

    Amanda:

    “Consider the source.” Dean Ornish is and always has been HIGHLY anti-low-carb and PRO high-carb, plant based diets.
    So of course everything he sees and reads will filter through this bias. Also remember that just because something appears in print doesn’t make it true.

    Low-carb diets are PROVEN to prevent and even control cancer. (See our page here regarding Dietary Ketosis  in The Treatment of Solid Tissue Malignancy).

    Low-carb diets are PROVEN to be one of the best methods of “girth control.” (See our page here regarding Dietary Ketosis in the Treatment of Overweight, Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome).

    The study cited by Dean Ornish is a rat study. Rats do not typically eat the same diet as humans to begin with. The full study is not available for view without paying, so no one will really be verifying what was said. But reading the abstract, the rats were deliberately fed an “atherogenic” (i.e.: trying to cause atherosclerosis) diet. That’s not the same thing as most humans eating low carb for weight control. Here is the link to the New England Journal of Medicine where the article can be found:  http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcibr0908756

    Further, the diet was “low carb” but NOT ketogenic. This makes all the difference in the world.

    A lot of people eating high animal fat foods are in fact “kinda low carb” but not ketogenic. What this means is that they are simply eating a high-fat diet, and yes, this can have negative repercussions. “Close” only counts in horse shoes, hand grenades and slow-dancing!

    Eating low carb without at least a mild degree of ketosis, especially if the diet is high in fat, can cause problems. But a diet high in animal fats that is also mildly ketogenic is a whole different ball game.

    In addition to the above articles on our website, here are a few medical papers I just happen to have open on my desk-top from some research I am doing. They are just three of several hundreds of medical references, most in people not in rats, that prove the safety and efficacy of a ketogenic diet.

    Medical Reference 1

    Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2008 Dec;58(4):323-9.
    [Ketogenic diets: additional benefits to the weight loss and unfounded secondary effects] [Article in Spanish]
    Pérez-Guisado J. Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, España.

    Abstract

    It is also necessary to emphasize that as well as the weight loss, ketogenic diets are healthier because they promote a non-atherogenic lipid profile, lower blood pressure and diminish resistance to insulin with an improvement in blood levels of glucose and insulin. Such diets also have antineoplastic benefits, do not alter renal or liver functions, do not produce metabolic acidosis by Ketosis, have many neurological benefits in central nervous system, do not produce osteoporosis and could increase the performance in aerobic sports.

    Medical Reference 2

    Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Aug;86(2):276-84.
    Low-carbohydrate nutrition and metabolism.
    Westman EC, Feinman RD, Mavropoulos JC, Vernon MC, Volek JS, Wortman JA, Yancy WS, Phinney SD. Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27704, USA.

    Abstract

    The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strategies are needed if the epidemic is to be overcome. A promising nutritional approach suggested by this thematic review is carbohydrate restriction. Recent studies show that, under conditions of carbohydrate restriction, fuel sources shift from glucose and fatty acids to fatty acids and ketones, and that ad libitum-fed carbohydrate-restricted diets lead to appetite reduction, weight loss, and improvement in surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.

    Medical Reference 3

    Obes Rev. 2006 Feb;7(1):49-58.
    Low-carbohydrate diets: nutritional and physiological aspects.
    Adam-Perrot A, Clifton P, Brouns F. Cerestar R&D Vilvoorde Center, Havenstraat 84, 1800 Vilvoorde, Belgium.
    Comment in: Obes Rev. 2006 Aug;7(3):297; author reply 297-8.

    Abstract

    Recently, diets low in carbohydrate content have become a matter of international attention because of the WHO recommendations to reduce the overall consumption of sugars and rapidly digestible starches. One of the common metabolic changes assumed to take place when a person follows a low-carbohydrate diet is ketosis. Low-carbohydrate intakes result in a reduction of the circulating insulin level, which promotes high level of circulating fatty acids, used for oxidation and production of ketone bodies. It is assumed that when carbohydrate availability is reduced in short term to a significant amount, the body will be stimulated to maximize fat oxidation for energy needs. The currently available scientific literature shows that low-carbohydrate diets acutely induce a number of favorable effects, such as a rapid weight loss, decrease of fasting glucose and insulin levels, reduction of circulating triglyceride levels and improvement of blood pressure. On the other hand some less desirable immediate effects such as enhanced lean body mass loss, increased urinary calcium loss, increased plasma homocysteine levels, increased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol have been reported. The long-term effect of the combination of these changes is at present not known. The role of prolonged elevated fat consumption along with low-carbohydrate diets should be addressed. However, these undesirable effects may be counteracted with consumption of a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, low-fat diet, because this type of diet has been shown to induce favorable effects on feelings of satiety and hunger, help preserve lean body mass, effectively reduce fat mass and beneficially impact on insulin sensitivity and on blood lipid status while supplying sufficient calcium for bone mass maintenance.

    Bottom-line: Keep eating low-carb and stop reading Dean Ornish!

    In Health,
    Dr. Dana

  • B Vitamins – The Stress Vitamins?

    B Vitamins – Are They Best For Stress?

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    We live in a stressful world – of that there is no doubt. So, what can we do about it? Is there some vitamin or herb that we can take that will help us to handle the daily demands that stress places upon our bodies?

    Many people have heard that the B Vitamins are “Stress Vitamins” and indeed, many vitamin formulas include varying amounts of different B Vitamins and tout themselves  as being “Stress Formulas.”

    So, what’s the scoop?

    Ann recently wrote to ask about this:

    B-12 and B-6 – Would both of these be recommended / helpful during high stress periods?  Thank you

    And Dr. Myatt replied:

    Hi Ann:

    Thanks for your question about B complex vitamins and stress.

    The body needs B vitamins — ALL B vitamins, not just B6 and B12 — every day.

    These are “water soluble” vitamins and they “exit” the body quickly so they need to be replaced through food and supplements every day. And yes, stress increases the body’s need for these important nutrients.

    Do you need more B6 when under stress?

    I don’t recommend taking an isolated B vitamin or two because the entire B complex works together. If a person needs extra B vitamins, take an entire B complex supplement. Learn about the B complex vitamins here.

    If you are taking Maxi Multi as directed (3 caps, 3 times per day), then you are already getting optimal daily doses
    of all B complex vitamins. The potencies of B complex vitamins are generous in Maxi Multi; you shouldn’t have to take
    an extra supplement.

    If you are taking a different multiple, then all bets are off and you might want to add our B complex supplements to your program. I’d take one cap, 2 times per day with breakfast and dinner (minimum), or add a third one in at lunch. Because they are water soluble vitamins, they should be taken several times per day to keep blood levels optimal.

    The one exception to the “don’t take B vitamins separately” rule to consider when under stress is vitamin B12.

    Vitamin B 12 is poorly absorbed orally, which means you probably won’t be getting much of a dose from your multiple or even a B complex formula.

    For B12, I recommend a sublingual (dissolves under the tongue) which goes into the bloodstream directly.

    B-Extreme is a sublingual formula that has all 4 forms of vitamin B12. It is the only B12 product I’ve found that contains the two rarer forms of B12, adenosylcobalamin and hydroxocobalamin in addition to the more common methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin.

    One of these per day will help ensure that your entire B complex vitamin supply is healthy and helping your nerves function properly even when stress is higher.

    The B vitamins will help keep your body healthy during stress, but they don’t usually produce any notice calming effect to help you handle the stress mentally. For calming anxiety during the day and improving sleep at night, my recommended formula is called “Kavinace.”

    Kavinace is an amino acid formula supports the body’s production of the calming neurotransmitters including GABA.

    THIS STUFF WORKS! Start with just one cap. If you don’t notice the desired effect, increase to 2 caps per dose. This can be used during the day to help with stress or at bedtime to improve sleep.

    Hope this helps, Ann. Let me know how it goes!

    In Health,
    Dr. Myatt

  • When Supplements Are Marketed Like Drugs

    When Supplements Are Marketed Like Drugs

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Everyone is constantly bombarded being with advertising and it is often difficult to separate the fact from the fiction and from the hype which can be either. While the Big Pharma marketing departments are the unquestioned masters at this, the natural supplement industries are not immune to the siren song of the advertising and marketing consultancies and agencies either.

    Ethel wrote recently to ask:

    What is your opinion of Amberen, that promotes to be the choice for women experiencing menopause?

    Here are some of my thoughts on this new product:

    This is a supplement that is being given the look of a drug, complete with a Big-Pharma-style website and “free trial” offer. While I respect the right of this supplement maker to market this supplement in any way they like, the amount of “hype” involved makes the B.S. warning lights on my dashboard begin to glow…

    The website relies heavily on the power of the “testimonial” as “proof” of the value and effectiveness of this supplement – and while it is always great to hear of these “success stories” they are not proof of anything other than that these women claim that they feel better. Testimonials are not scientific proof of anything – and my B.S. warning lights are glowing brighter…

    Speaking of scientific proof, the website offers a page detailing “clinical trials”. There they present their one human trial and two lab rat studies. They offer 3 links to journals which have published the human study. Here is the kicker though: the human study was relatively small at 70 women and brief – lasting only 35 days, and it was sponsored (paid for) by the company that makes Ambren. Here is the acknowledgement at the end of the paper:

    The authors’ research in this paper was supported by Mikhail L. Uchitel, The Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of RAS (Pushchino, Russia), and The Scientific-Production Company “Biophysics, Ltd.” (Moscow, Russia). The publication of this article was initiated and supported by “Lunada Biomedical, Ltd” (USA).

    Now my B.S. light is not just glowing brightly – it’s actually beginning to flash. This is a standard technique used by Big Pharma: create a product, pay for a study or trial, and publish the positive results of that trial so that there are “Clinical Trials Proving The Effectiveness” that you can use in your advertising materials.

    They mention a second human trial of 32 women studied over 5 years, but provide no reference where one might actually see the study. I guess we just have to take their word on that one…

    Then there is the classic marketing technique of the “free sample.” Big Pharma has a harder time with this one since their offerings usually require a prescription – so they handle it with ads that encourage you to “Ask your doctor if this drug is right for you!”

    Your local street drug dealer has it a little easier – the pusher can simply say “go on kid, try a hit – it’s free, it’s on the house, and you’ll like it!” He knows you’ll be back for more as soon as you are hooked… The Ambren people have settled on a compromise: they offer to have you “Try Amberen free for 30 days”. But it’s not actually free – they will send you a 90 day supply if you will pay the shipping up front, and they will not charge your credit card for that 90 day supply until the 31st day. Is that a warning horn that I hear along with my flashing B.S. warning light?

    So much for their marketing practices – what about the product?

    Their theory sounds intriguing: Stimulate an aging hypothalamus and encourage it to produce signals that will tell the endocrine glands to produce more youthful hormone levels. And indeed, if their studies are to be believed, this does in fact occur. They claim that Amberen use results in increased estrogen production. This is wonderful if decreased estrogen is the sole cause of a woman’s symptoms.

    I have some concern about some of the ingredients: since this is a “proprietary blend” and is not a drug they are not required to list specifics but one of the ingredients is Monosodium L-Glutamate – good old MSG. This is a substance that can have some not-so-good effects on the nervous system as anyone who is sensitive to it will quickly tell you. Even in those who do not show a “sensitivity” (think “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome”) are affected neurologically by this substance – it functions as an excitatory neurotransmitter which, if taken in excess, can become neurotoxic. (This is what happens when the chef at the local Chinese buffet goes a little too heavy on the MSG and you end up with symptoms like numbness, burning sensations, tingling, facial pressure or tightness, chest pain, headache, nausea, rapid heartbeat, drowsiness, weakness, or difficulty breathing for asthmatics – the MSG becomes an excitatory neurotoxin.)

    Now, I’m not suggesting that the amounts of MSG in Amberen are problematic – their website claims that the product is well-tolerated and that “Animal studies, toxicology and clinical trials with Amberen did not reveal any significant side-effects.”

    I also have some concern any time someone suggests a “shotgun” approach to any health concern, where they’ll just throw something at it, based on the success of someone else, and hope it works for them.

    Unfortunately, while decreasing levels of estrogen can indeed be a part of menopause, this is often not the whole story. Our bodies, both male and female, are a veritable stew of different hormones, none of which work in isolation – they are all interdependent and inter-related. Hormones can be deficient, excessive, or relatively deficient or excessive in that there may be too much or too little of one hormone in relation to another hormone that counteracts or balances it.

    When Dr. Myatt works with menopausal women (and men!) she doesn’t guess – she performs detailed hormone testing and analysis and this allows her to make precise corrections using herbs, nutrition, bio-identical hormones, or more likely, a combination of these. Her patients won’t stand for guess-work – they want results, and they want those results to be provable with lab testing, not just by subjective symptoms.

    You see, Dr. Myatt’s patients are very well-educated about their health – Dr. Myatt insists on that. They know that, to use the now-discredited drug Premarin as an example, it is possible to give a single substance (i.e.: to make an isolated correction) that will improve symptoms – and Premarin was very effective at improving symptoms – but that can result in multiple other problems and even dangers, as Premarin was eventually shown to do.

    So, Ethel, should menopausal women try Aberen?

    Well, maybe: The product looks like it should be safe. The theory behind it looks good. There are limited studies suggesting that it is effective and generally well-tolerated. It is not excessively expensive.

    For me however, the jury is still out. Until I see some additional scientifically-conducted, peer-reviewed studies my advice would be to wait – there are plenty of women out there who will be the testers for this product – the guinea-pigs. Let’s wait until there is some history behind this product and there are no unforeseen or even nasty surprises with it’s use.

    I can tell you with certainty that Dr. Myatt will not likely recommend this to her patients until there is more evidence of it’s safety and effectiveness. She will continue to work with her menopause patients the “old-fashioned” way – one person at a time, individually, uniquely, and based on hormone testing lab results, not guess-work. If a patient were to say to Dr. Myatt “I want to use Ambren” I’m sure she would say “fine – let’s follow your lab results to be sure that it is doing what we want it to, and let’s not forget all the other supportive measures that go along with this too.”

    You see, we firmly believe that in anything as complicated as the human organism there are no one-pill, one-size-fits-all answers or remedies. Every woman is different, and every woman’s menopause will benefit from an approach tailored just for her, based on her own unique needs.

    And that’s our Bottom Line!

  • Are You Really At Risk For Dangerously High Potassium?

    RE: Your “High” Potassium:

     

    By Dr. Dana Myatt

     

    This is the second time in two days that someone has called me about their “high potassium” (and concerned about the supplements they are taking), so I’m going to answer it publicly in HealthBeat. Other people may wrongly believe their potassium is high and may double-wrongly believe that it is caused by one of their supplements. Here’s the REAL scoop.

    Phyllis asked this question:

    “I have taken red yeast rice to reduce cholesterol, 2 capsules a day, not 4. It worked marvelously but my potassium levels spiked way up (5.8).  How much potassium is in red yeast rice?  Perhaps I should only take 1 capsule a day since the drop in my cholesterol was 60 points? Don’t want another issue with high potassium.”

    PHYLLIS: With good results like that, I suggest you stick with your 4 caps per day of Red Yeast Rice. Of course, I don’t know “how high” your potassium was, what other numbers may be “off,” or who’s brand of Red Yeast Rice you are taking. But overall, it sounds like you are doing well with this.

    Earlier this week, Lori called and said her potassium was elevated and her doctor told her to stop Maxi Multi’s. She didn’t know for sure how much the elevation was but thought it was “a little.” A daily dose of Maxi Multi’s contains 99mg of potassium.

    Why You Probably Don’t Really Have “High Potassium”

    Do you have any idea what the normal reference range for potassium is, how high is worrisomely high, or what the recommended daily intake is for same? No? I didn’t think so.

    Problem is, your conventional doctor doesn’t seem to know this, either. In fact, your doctor is probably the true “guilty party” in your misplaced belief that your potassium is “too high.”

    How High Is “Too High”?

    The normal reference range for potassium varies from lab to lab, but it is usually about 3.0-5.8. Even numbers a little bit higher than this don’t usually mean anything unless there are other physical findings or lab values that are “off.”

    Now I’m Going To Spank Your Doctor

    If a modest elevation of potassium is the ONLY “outside-the-range” lab number, then the cause of the elevation is IN VITRO HEMOLYSIS. (Def: “in vitro” = in the test tube and “hemolysis” = breakage of red blood cells)

    That’s right, when blood is drawn, improper drawing technique (like too small a needle), improper mixing and handling, prolonged storage before processing and extremes of temperature can cause  some of the red blood cells to break. Red blood cells contain potassium. This is an extremely well-known and common lab phenomenon — that’s why we have a name for it!

    EVERY DOCTOR IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PHENOMENON. It is baby-doc simple. Unfortunately, it appears that many either didn’t learn it, are seeing patients too fast to remember even the simple stuff, or skipped a couple of days of med school when laboratory medicine was being taught. For shame.

    Why Potassium is Important

    Potassium is needed for normal heart, neurological, muscle, kidney and adrenal function as well as acid-base balance and body-water balance.

    Deficiencies can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, weakness in general, heart rhythm disturbances, irritability, mental confusion and problems with nerve and muscle conduction. Low potassium levels are highly associated with elevated blood pressure.

    Why Your Supplements AREN’T Causing High Potassium

    Recommended daily intake of potassium for adults is 1,900mg to 5,600mg. Deficiencies of potassium are common and are caused by low dietary intakes, excessive sweating (up to 3,000mg per day can be lost) and certain drugs that increase excretion.

    By law, nutritional supplements can only contain a maximum of 99mg of potassium per serving. That’s a minuscule amount compared to the recommended daily adult intake! (Hard as it is to believe, “Lite Salt” contains over 610mg potassium per 1/4 tsp.)

    Because of this crazy and unjustified restriction on the potassium content of supplements, I recommend using potassium salt as a form of supplementation for those who need higher doses. You won’t find meaningful doses in supplement form.

    People with normal kidney function CAN HANDLE almost ANY AMOUNT OF EXCESS POTASSIUM.

    Unless you have something wrong with your kidneys, are on a drug that causes potassium to be retained or have some other medical condition, “too much potassium” from diet and supplements is nearly impossible.

    Bottom Line on “High Potassium”

    In the absence of kidney disease, other health problems or interfering drugs, a mild elevation is caused by — Repeat after me — “in vitro hemolysis.”

    If you have another disease that is elevating potassium, your potassium levels will be more than a “little” elevated AND your doctor will find other lab values and physical signs of a medical problem.

    No kidney disease; no problems from the minuscule amounts of potassium you are getting in your supplements. The potassium intake from many common foods is quite a bit higher than your supplements. http://www.pamf.org/patients/pdf/potassium_count.pdf

    Ask (or more to the point, REMIND) Your Doctor

    If your doc is reviewing your lab work, there are other numbers that will be elevated in addition to potassium if you have a kidney or other health problem. Your doc should know in half a heart-beat that if your only lab abnormality is a wee elevation of potassium in the absence of other abnormalities, the problem was a “lab funk” and means nothing.

    SO… if your doc says your potassium is elevated, ask if there are any other indications of health problems. Ask if any medications you are on could cause this. Ask if the elevation is small or more than small. THEN ask if it could be “in vitro hemolysis.”

    He/she might turn a bit red in the face, but it will save YOU from undue worry, mistakenly stopping a valuable supplement, or having a repeat blood test that you don’t need.

  • Yet More Niacin / Niacinamide Questions!

    Yet More Niacin / Niacinamide Questions!

     

    By Nurse Mark

     

    Wow – who knew that niacin and niacinamide could cause such confusion?

    We have recently written about both of these substances in  Niacin And Niacinamide Confusion! and Amazing Vitamin Helps Alzheimer’s And More! and even as long ago as February of 2008 in  Niacin For Cholesterol Control – Is Flush-Free Or Regular Niacin Better?.

    We still get questions!

    Yes, the B vitamins are a confusing lot – there are just so darn many of them!

    • Vitamin B1 is thiamine
    • Vitamin B2 is riboflavin
    • Vitamin B3 is niacin or niacinamide
    • Vitamin B5 is pantothenic acid
    • Vitamin B6 is pyridoxine, pyridoxal, or pyridoxamine, or pyridoxine hydrochloride
    • Vitamin B7 is biotin
    • Vitamin B9 is folic acid
    • Vitamin B12 is comprised of the various cobalamins; Cyanocobalamin, Methylcobalamin, Adenosylcobalamin, and Hydroxocobalamin

    You can learn more about the B’s and their uses here: B-12 Extreme explains the  4 forms of B-12 and The B Vitamins has a great table showing the functions of the B-complex family of vitamins.

    Here is the letter that prompted this brief article:

    ….dear Dr Myatt. I am a recent addition to your site…re: Niacin and Niacinamide?…any conflict for an otherwise healthy body, mine, by taking 500 mg of Niacin versus 200 mg of Niacinamide hrs apart?….paul  

    And here is Dr. Myatt’s reply to Paul:

    Hi Paul;

    Welcome!

    No problem known with taking both niacin and niacinamide; however, the dose of niacinamide that you are planning to take is much smaller than what is recommended for arthritis or memory improvement. You might want to learn more about niacinamide here: http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/Niacinamide.htm

    For niacin, I recommend the no-flush version. It does not have any uncomfortable symptoms and in my 21 years of clinical experience, it works as well (the same) as regular niacin. DO NOT take time-released niacin (the prescription form of niacin), which has been shown to be much more problematic to the liver. http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/niacin.htm

    Hope this helps and again, welcome to HealthBeat!

    Dr. Myatt