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do we actually need vitamin suppliments? you see in boots for instance, a whole range of suppliments with a lot aimed at children.
do children need suppliments?
I can see a case for them in more deprived countries where a balanced diet may not be possible.
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Vitamins are substances that we require in very small doses, and many of them are definitely toxic if overdosed. Overdoses with vitamin A and iron (although iron is not technically a vitamin, but often bundled in with over the counter supplements) can certainly cause serious health problems, whereas water soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C, have much wider tolerances to overdose.
If you are short on a vitamin, you should top up to make up for the shortfall, but if you are not sufferring from a shortfall, then you should regard vitamin tablets with caution.
There have actually been some reports of negative correlation between vitamin supplemets and good health.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6661.0
Although you will see that the report is not without controversy.
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If you are short on a vitamin, you should top up to make up for the shortfall, but if you are not sufferring from a shortfall, then you should regard vitamin tablets with caution.
Although you will see that the report is not without controversy.
This was my thinking, George.
so why do they advertise vitamins for children? in nice colourful packaging, shaped like sweets and animals with wording that could make a parent think their child should be taking them?
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do we actually need vitamin suppliments? you see in boots for instance, a whole range of suppliments with a lot aimed at children.
do children need suppliments?
I can see a case for them in more deprived countries where a balanced diet may not be possible.
Hi paul.fr,
It is just a matter of knowledge, culture, information or family tradition if you like.
We may not be what we eat, but certainly we have to eat to survive, even if we tend not to live only to eat, fortunately.
If the combination of foodstuff we eat from time to time is correct, thanks to our family traditions and culture, for example, we probably won't have any deficiency problem from the cradle to the end of our life. Even if we have to face a period of starvation or a polar expedition, our information, culture, tradition will help.
Over the years, many children had to be reminded: have your orange juice plus scrambled eggs, get your fresh veggies each meal, eat fruits, drink your milk and go play outside, take your 'cod'...
Ignoring the basic principles of our survival on this Planet might lead to dreadful consequences.
At least one young man became irreversibly blind for a badly managed diet.
Here is the story:
Blindness in a Strict Vegan
Vegetarians are at risk for nutritional deficiency if they do not receive vitamin supplementation. We report a case of severe bilateral optic neuropathy in a patient who had been a vegan for many years and who did not take vitamin supplements.
The patient, a 33-year-old man who had started a strict vegetarian diet at the age of 20 years, was referred for evaluation of progressive visual loss. "Improved health" was the reason for the diet, which contained no eggs, dairy products, fish, or other sources of animal proteins. He did not smoke or use alcohol, and his medical history was unremarkable.
Examination showed severe bilateral optic neuropathy with very poor vision (less than 20/400 in both eyes), central scotomata, dyschromatopsia, and atrophy of the optic disks. We found no evidence of a compression of the visual pathway or of a toxic, infectious, or inflammatory cause of the blindness. Mitochondrial-DNA analysis showed no mutation for Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. On neurologic examination, there was a sensory peripheral neuropathy, confirmed by electrophysiologic studies. The cerebrospinal fluid was normal, including the opening pressure. The remainder of the general examination showed no abnormalities.
The plasma level of folate was low (5.4 nmol per liter; normal range, 7.5 to 28), as were the levels of vitamin B1 (4 nmol per liter; normal range, 6 to 40) and vitamin B12 (114 pmol per liter; normal range, 150 to 720). There were also deficiencies of vitamins A, C, D, and E and zinc and selenium, but plasma levels of iron, ferritin, vitamin B6, and nicotinamide were normal. The patient had megaloblastic anemia (hemoglobin level, 10.5 g per liter; mean corpuscular volume, 110 µm3), which was not due to pernicious anemia (there were no anti–parietal-cell or anti–intrinsic-factor antibodies, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed normal findings, and multiple biopsies showed no gastric atrophy) or other causes of malabsorption. After treatment with intramuscular vitamin B12 (1000 µg daily for one week) and oral multivitamin supplementation, the hemoglobin level was normal and the sensory neuropathy had disappeared, but there was no recovery of vision.
Vitamin B12 deficiency in vegetarians may cause neurologic disturbances. Moreover, deficiencies of vitamins B12 and B1 may be responsible for optic neuropathy associated with nutritional factors. Amblyopia and painful neuropathy have been reported in cases of dietary deprivation in prisoners during World War II, and more recently, dietary factors were noted in the Cuban epidemic of optic neuropathy.4 The optic neuropathy in our patient was apparently related to deficiencies of vitamins B12 and B1, but other associated deficiencies may have had a role. Vitamin supplementation is essential in persons who adhere to a strict vegetarian diet, especially because vitamin deficiencies may cause severe, irreversible optic neuropathy.
Dan Milea, M.D.
Nathalie Cassoux, M.D.
Phuc LeHoang, M.D., Ph.D.
Groupe Hospitalier Pitié–Salpêtrière
75651 Paris CEDEX 13, France
New England Journal of Medicine 342:897-898 March 23, 2000.
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so why do they advertise vitamins for children? in nice colourful packaging, shaped like sweets and animals with wording that could make a parent think their child should be taking them?
Would you trust a salesman for medical advice?
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Would you trust a salesman for medical advice?
personally, no. But the way they are marketed at some stores i feel sure some parents do. like i said the way they are packaged and come in inviting shapes and colours, they "appear" to be aimed at children.
on the other hand do you trust your doctor to give you the best medication for your ailment/illness. what if he had recently been visited by a friendly female drug company sales rep with nice legs and a low cut top, who bought some nice stationary, pizza, etc and by chance happened to be reccomending her employers drug as opposed to the one the doctors practice usually dispenced.
is that drug more effective than the one your doctor used to prescribe, does it compare cost wise, are there inducements going to the doctor or his practice to change drugs and drug supplier?
are you not then getting medical advice from a salesman?
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Hi paul.fr,
It is just a matter of knowledge, culture, information or family tradition if you like........
Hello, Iko.
thanks for the info, i understand what you are saying. I just think the way suppliments and multi vitamins are marketed (in the UK) may make people think they need to take them even if they do not.
there are always offers on, buy one get one free, three for the prioce of two, i feel sure people buy the extra ones thinking they need then and wow they are also at a bargain price.
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Well my children never took vitamins because they were pretty well rounded in their choice of diets . I take care of many children who would benefit from a supplement as they don't eat properly. Some children and parents do not know about good nutrition and do not make sure their child is eating properly. Not out of neglect but ignorance about nutrition. Then you have children with parents who struggle to get their finicky eaters to eat and they only pick, and are always naturally skin and bone, to a point it looks unhealthy, these parents take wonderful care of their children and have regular doctor visits to monitor their child's eating and weight. The vitamins can be good for children especially those who won't eat fruit vegetable or meat. Perhaps all they want is bread .. these children end up needing extra supplements and attention from doctors and parents to insure they remain healthy because let me tell you! I have seen some extremely picky children hungry all the time as they only want empty calories and in no time are starving again.. I think a doctor is always a good idea to consult before administering vitamins weather they are over the counter or not!
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on the other hand do you trust your doctor to give you the best medication for your ailment/illness. what if he had recently been visited by a friendly female drug company sales rep with nice legs and a low cut top, who bought some nice stationary, pizza, etc and by chance happened to be reccomending her employers drug as opposed to the one the doctors practice usually dispenced.
is that drug more effective than the one your doctor used to prescribe, does it compare cost wise, are there inducements going to the doctor or his practice to change drugs and drug supplier?
are you not then getting medical advice from a salesman?
I would worry at least as much about political interference with the medical profession.
But, yes, there is a great deal of interference from all sides in medical advice. A goos doctor is meant to provide a buffer between the sales pitch and the patient, but ofcourse, not all doctors are equally good.
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too true, George.
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what if he had recently been visited by a friendly female drug company sales rep with nice legs and a low cut top, who bought some nice stationary, pizza, etc a
I know what you mean paul.fr.
It happens to me every day. And I am not even a doctor. [;D]
Ahaaa! That’s explaining everything. (Klaus Kinski as Doctor Zuckerbrot-in “Buddy Buddy”)
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what if he had recently been visited by a friendly female drug company sales rep with nice legs and a low cut top, who bought some nice stationary, pizza, etc a
I know what you mean paul.fr.
It happens to me every day. And I am not even a doctor. [;D]
Ahaaa! That’s explaining everything. (Klaus Kinski as Doctor Zuckerbrot-in “Buddy Buddy”)
yes, those "big issue" sellers realy know how to generate custom!
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there are always offers on, buy one get one free, three for the prioce of two, i feel sure people buy the extra ones thinking they need then and wow they are also at a bargain price.
paul.fr
Let's forget about marketing for a minute...it is certainly a minor problem ( [;D])
When would you buy a good brand multivitamin for your child?
I think I would when he refuses to eat properly or is not eating at all after a flu or is actually burning so much food doing competitive athletics, gymn, swimming and her/his diet cannot be controlled properly.
And still I would only think that I am doing my best to support a child's growth and health, just a bit of help as far as I know.
When would you give cod liver oil to your child?
This is another story. We should start giving 'cod' to pregnant and breastfeeding women to have more clever children, if those amazing Nowegian data had been confirmed...and after that?
I would recommend it as a nutritional support for kids who cannot tan properly in the fall/winter seasons, in those months with the 'r' (from Sept. to April) when we live in a northern country. But this is a much longer story as all of you know.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=4987.0
Generally speaking, knowing that many people tend to have the strangest diets, is it better to let everybody have a multivitamin each day (they pay for it!) or tell them not to, then wait and see if anybody develops a specific deficiency that most of the times is diagnosed late or never?
This discussion will go on for ages.
ikod
P.S. Sorry, I almost forgot that we actually live on the Planet Earth.
Most of the kids suffer from starvation here: they are craving for cofactors and vitamins that could make the difference between life and death (e.g. Vitamin A and zinc for malaria).
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http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/nutrition/factsheets/copper.html
Although severe copper deficiency is rarely observed, marginal copper status is not uncommon. High dose supplements of zinc, vitamin C, and iron are contributing causes of marginal copper deficiency. Microcytic hypochromic anemia in the presence of normal serum ferritin is the primary clinical feature of marginal copper deficiency. This anemia, which is hematologically identical to iron-deficiency anemia, develops as a result of abnormalities in iron utilization. Skeletal abnormalities, reproductive difficulties, impaired nervous tissue function, and changes in hair and skin pigmentation have been observed in severe copper deficiency. A role for copper in the maintenance of bone mass has been determined from observations of osteoporosis in preterm infants born with inadequate copper reserves.
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High dose supplements of zinc, vitamin C, and iron are contributing causes of marginal copper deficiency
Hi George,
I think we are talking about moderate/normal dose supplements that, at worst lead to vitamin enrichment of our urine. No megadoses, we already discussed that in the case of vitamin D from cod liver oil: a little bit may do a miracle, a bit more may be dangerous in many cases.
As I mentioned in a previous vitamin topic, putting together all the vitamins and minerals as 'supplements' or 'anti-oxidants' is too vague and leads to confusion and no conclusive result, even in a discussion.
We should try to be more specific.
Quality of available products could be a matter of concern: I cited somewhere (cod topic?) the recent finding that the cheaper veggie-derived vitamin D2 is 25% effective compared with the more expensive vitamin D3. They had been considered equivalent for decades! The lack of results in preventing fall-fractures in the elderly led to this great 'discovery'...but the initial conclusions where that vitamin D was useless as a whole.
I was very disappointed then, having given 'cod' for years to my mum to prevent osteoporosis! Now everything is sound again and hopefully she is doing fine not only for a 'placebo' effect.
ikod
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The point I was trying to make was that what we need is the right balance. Potassium and sodium need to be in balance, so unless you know which you have too much of and which you have too little, you don't know which to reduce and which to increase. The same is for iron/zinc/copper/vitamin C - unless you know which you are short of, you could end up exacerbating an existing imbalance.
The problem is that the present tendency is just to pile stuff on, without thinking about whether it draws you closer or away from a position of balance.
I accept that the body is actually quite tolerant to quite a wide range of imbalance (after all, in the real world, nobody can ever have a high precision balance in their diet), but if you are in imbalance, and want to correct for that, then you should at least be aware of which direction you are out of balance, rather than just snatching the first set of pills you see on the shelves.
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That's a fair point but what about the fact that twice the recomended intake of most vitamins probably won't do you any harm. You might not know intelectually which nutrients you are short of but the body is quite good at both restricting uptake and increasing excretion of those things it has lots of.
I know that, since I don't like fresh fruit, I probably miss out on some vitamins and minerals. I take multivitamin pills. I think it's easy enough for my body to sling out the excess of those which it doesn't need, but impossible for it to create them if I take too little.
With an excess it can maintain the balance; with a shortage it's a bit stuck.
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That's a fair point but what about the fact that twice the recomended intake of most vitamins probably won't do you any harm. You might not know intelectually which nutrients you are short of but the body is quite good at both restricting uptake and increasing excretion of those things it has lots of.
I know that, since I don't like fresh fruit, I probably miss out on some vitamins and minerals. I take multivitamin pills. I think it's easy enough for my body to sling out the excess of those which it doesn't need, but impossible for it to create them if I take too little.
With an excess it can maintain the balance; with a shortage it's a bit stuck.
I agree 100%, Bored chemist.
You know what I miss in this hightech Era, since my interest in cofactors started a couple of decades ago? A quick and inexpensive full vitamin-cofactor screening test for peripheral blood, a tiny strip of thermal paper with little names and digits, to exclude in seconds a deficiency issue and go on with all the other possible diagnostic hypotheses.
These days nutritional deficiencies are relatively rare and their treatment quite cheap, so there is no research interest. Nevertheless I cannot accept the idea to rely only on clinical signs, diet and social histories to exclude -for example- a beriberi diagnosis. This disease was described 120 years ago and the cure is an inexpensive vial in the drawer (thiamine 100mg) plus a sterile syringe. Sometimes it could be too late anyway: it takes approx. 6 hours to restore vital functions.
There are technical problems too: not in all the vitamin deficiencies you can count on the plasma concentrations for a proper diagnosis, and some cofactors still need sophisticated tests.
Basically there is no commercial and cultural interest.
Times are changing a bit now, and you find reports of B12 and folate deficiency in the elderly (not to mention the ongoing vitamin D3 'tsunami') that could have been done at least 20 years ago.
I remind you B12 deficiency as particularly insidious and tricky.
We discussed this recently with Dr. Beaver in the 'Pneumonia and dementia' topic:
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6820.0
I tried to explain how much this issue seems to be neglected by most.
George seems too much worried to umbalance a natural condition, but I insist in saying that at the recommended doses it might be only a waste of money at worst.
BTW George, I am still waiting for your comments on the 'Shanghai report' and the engineers versus docs issue...where everything started from, last August.
When you get bored of vitamin intoxication issues, of course.
ikod
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That's a fair point but what about the fact that twice the recomended intake of most vitamins probably won't do you any harm. You might not know intelectually which nutrients you are short of but the body is quite good at both restricting uptake and increasing excretion of those things it has lots of.
Extracts from a docomentary, interviewing Professor Melhus.
Professor Melhus: When we look at known risk factors for osteoporosis, such as age, smoking, physical activity, they can partly explain why it's so common with osteoporosis and bone fractures in Sweden, but that can not explain everything. And then, even more surprising, is that we have a diet rich in calcium, which should protect our bones.
Narration: So Professor Melhus began to look for another explanation. And there was something in particular about the Swedish diet that made him suspicious. It was exceptionally high in vitamin A.
Professor Melhus: We eat dairy products, oily fish, such as herring and salmon, we consume cod liver oil, vitamin supplements, all which contain high levels of vitamin A, and on top of that we are the only European country which fortifies low fat dairy products with vitamin A.
Narration: This triggered an alarm for Professor Melhus. Because there was evidence that huge doses of vitamin A damaged animal bones.
Professor Melhus: Since we knew about these harmful effects of vitamin A on animal bones, we wanted to see if this also could be occurring in humans.
Narration: So Professor Melhus launched his own investigation. From a database of sixty six thousand women aged over forty, he looked for cases of bone fracture. He then checked the diet of these women to see if their vitamin A intake was particularly high. And the results seemed to confirm his suspicions.
Professor Melhus: When I saw the results from our study I was really surprised, although I knew the experiments done in animals, it was hard to accept the fact that vitamin A, a vitamin, had negative effects on bone in humans.
Narration: Professor Melhus then went further. He did a series of bone scans to work out what level of vitamin A was linked to weaker bones. His results suggested that long term consumption of even relatively small quantities of vitamin A were having a dramatic effect.
Professor Melhus: What we saw was that a vitamin intake above 1.5 milligrams per day, which is approximately twice the recommended daily intake, there was a reduction in bone density about ten per cent, and the risk of hip fracture had doubled.
Narration: If Professor Melhus was right then the implications were staggering. An intake of 1.5 milligrams per day is a level that can be reached from food alone. And it will be exceeded by taking just a single capsule of some high strength vitamin A supplements. So, tablets that people take every day to improve their health might actually be slowly, silently, weakening their bones. For Professor Melhus, the implication is clear.
Professor Melhus: Based on our research I think people should continue to eat a healthy, normal balanced diet. But since supplements containing high levels of vitamin A may have adverse effects, I cannot recommend people to take them routinely.
Narration: Professor Melhus has now done another study that suggests the same risk also applies to men. And since his original work, studies from America have supported his findings, but there has been some other research which has not found the same link.
Professor Andrew Renwick: I am concerned, although the, the evidence is not totally consistent, there have now been a number of studies showing a link, and I'm convinced that a high intake of vitamin A will give an increase risk of bone fracture.
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Hi paul.fr,
Good point for a discussion.
I checked prof. Melhus's report in the NEJMed:
Serum retinol levels and the risk of fracture.
Michaelsson K, Lithell H, Vessby B, Melhus H.
Dept. Surgical Sci., Section of Orthopedics, Univ. Hosp. Uppsala, Sweden. karl.michaelsson@surgsci.uu.se
BACKGROUND: Although studies in animals and epidemiologic studies have indicated that a high vitamin A intake is associated with increased bone fragility, no biologic marker of vitamin A status has thus far been used to assess the risk of fractures in humans.
METHODS: We enrolled 2322 men, 49 to 51 years of age, in a population-based, longitudinal cohort study. Serum retinol and beta carotene were analyzed in samples obtained at enrollment. Fractures were documented in 266 men during 30 years of follow-up. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the risk of fracture according to the serum retinol level.
RESULTS: The risk of fracture was highest among men with the highest levels of serum retinol. Multivariate analysis of the risk of fracture in the highest quintile for serum retinol (>75.62 microg per deciliter [2.64 micromol per liter]) as compared with the middle quintile (62.16 to 67.60 microg per deciliter [2.17 to 2.36 micromol per liter]) showed that the rate ratio was 1.64 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.12 to 2.41) for any fracture and 2.47 (95 percent confidence interval, 1.15 to 5.28) for hip fracture. The risk of fracture was further increased within the highest quintile for serum retinol. Men with retinol levels in the 99th percentile (>103.12 microg per deciliter [3.60 micromol per liter]) had an overall risk of fracture that exceeded the risk among men with lower levels by a factor of seven (P<0.001). The level of serum beta carotene was not associated with the risk of fracture.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings, which are consistent with the results of studies in animals, as well as in vitro and epidemiologic dietary studies, suggest that current levels of vitamin A supplementation and food fortification in many Western countries may need to be reassessed.
N Engl J Med. 2003 Jan 23;348(4):287-94.
In the introduction you find this phrase:
"In a study of dietary patterns in Europe, the intake of vitamin A in Scandinavia was up to six times as high as the intake in southern Europe (3)".
This is a huge difference compared to normal diets, so a risk of toxicity in terms of bone metabolism can be expected.
Unfortunately, vitamin D levels were not evaluated in such a large study (2322 men). It's a real pity, because vitamin D interacts closely with retinol (similar receptors) that seems to prevent vitamin D toxicity in terms of calcium metabolism.
A chance of a deeper look in this complex phenomena has been missed.
We are used to learn things from little bits here and there.
ikod
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George seems too much worried to umbalance a natural condition, but I insist in saying that at the recommended doses it might be only a waste of money at worst.
BTW George, I am still waiting for your comments on the 'Shanghai report' and the engineers versus docs issue...where everything started from, last August.
When you get bored of vitamin intoxication issues, of course.
ikod
That was a long while back – had to search for it – did not even remember whether I had read it at the time or not (may have done, but just forgotten about it).
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=4987.0
It covers a number of issues, but if you want to start with the comparison between the engineering issue and the medical one. I was going to list all of the differences between the medical profession and the engineering profession that might explain those apparent differences, but then realised that actually, in this context, there is not that much difference between the way the medical profession and the engineering profession react. The difference rather arises from the nature of the two incidents you report.
The flight safety issue is a negative issue (the engineers are warning what not to do, they are not saying what should be done). If you look at the usage of drugs today, it is much more difficult to introduce a new drug to the market than it is to have a drug withdrawn from the market as soon as there are any negative side effects found amongst the users of the drug (this is even true for those drugs that have many users who are totally happy with the drug – but fear of litigation from the minority will rapidly cause the drug to be removed from the market).
The aircraft industry is somewhat smaller than the medical industry, so things can happen more rapidly in the aircraft industry than in the medical industry, but it is still the case that getting a new component for an aircraft accepted takes much longer than getting one banned from use.
With regard to the Shanghai report itself (I have only seen the abstract, not the actual report), it provides a wide list of correlations, but as I have often pointed out, correlation does not equate to a causal link (I am not trying to argue against a link between vitamin D and leukaemia, it is merely that the report does not appear to be looking for specific causative agents, only to interesting correlations that would provide directions for future research). It seems that the report found quite a spectrum of correlations, but the mere breadth of that spectrum would mean that any one single correlation would only be one amongst many.
Clearly, given your own particular interest, the report speaks to you in a particular way; but such a wide (and apparently shallow) report could easily give very different messages to somebody looking for another message to read from it.
Why did the authors not shout louder about the cod liver oil aspect of their report? It seems to me they were more concerned with looking for environmental risk factors rather than protective factors, and in that context, a protective factor was merely a distraction (although it does seem strange why they even recording something that they were not interested in, unless they were simply trying to discount for it so that they effect did not distort their other results).
One serious problem with cod liver oil is the total collapse of the cod sticks and the cod fishing industry – it is in no position to try to satisfy new and expanding markets for its products. This, if nothing else, demands that in the long run only a synthetic substitute for cod liver oil could be sustainably sold to an expanding marketplace.
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Thank you so much for your reply!
I think I'm going to copy into the topic,
for the next weeks 'viewers'
One serious problem with cod liver oil is the total collapse of the cod sticks and the cod fishing industry – it is in no position to try to satisfy new and expanding markets for its products. This, if nothing else, demands that in the long run only a synthetic substitute for cod liver oil could be sustainably sold to an expanding marketplace.
George
There should be no major problem in the next few years.
Supplying leukemic patients won't do a great change in that market...I wouldn't talk of an expanding market.
Cod liver oil is too cheap and we need small doses: many people are busy trying to prove it is potentially toxic and packed with any pollutant you can imagine.
My doubts about synthetic compounds come from the fact that the so called 'evidence' is for the natural mixture and only an epidemiological one.
Different substances and their complex interactions may be involved.
I hope that some parent finds it through the web. We'll see.
Thanks to this forum.
ikod
Wow! I just noticed that in this very day we made 160: most on line than ever...
a good sign? ...and Neil was not even around!
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Whether our elderly relatives need vitamin B12 or not,
to keep their brain in good shape is still a matter of
debate. Negative reports prevailed in the past, now
times are changing a bit.
This is a positive report from Israel.
I find it sharp and encouraging indeed...
If only a few patients respond to a treatment, we have
to identify their 'size and shape', instead of throwing
the whole research in the garbage bin.
Neuropsychology of vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly dementia patients and control subjects.
Osimani A, Berger A, Friedman J, Porat-Katz BS, Abarbanel JM.Kaplan Hospital, Rehovot, Israel and the Department of Behavioral Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Cobalamin deficiency may cause cognitive deficits and even dementia. In Alzheimer's disease, the most frequent cause of dementia in elderly persons, low serum levels of vitamin B12, may be misleading. The aim of this work was to characterize the cognitive pattern of B12 deficiency and to compare it with that of Alzheimer's disease. Nineteen patients with low levels of vitamin B12 were neuropsychologically evaluated before treatment and a year later. Results were compared with those of 10 healthy control subjects. Final results suggest that there is a different pattern in both diseases. Twelve elderly patients with dementia improved with treatment. Seven elderly demented patients did not improve; they deteriorated after 1 year although their levels of cobalamin were normal. Analysis of the initial evaluation showed that the 2 groups of patients had a different neuropsychological profile. The group that improved had initially more psychotic problems and more deficits in concentration, visuospatial performance, and executive functions. They did not show language problems and ideomotor apraxia, which were present in the second group. Their memory pattern was also different. These findings suggest that cobalamin deficiency may cause a reversible dementia in elderly patients. This dementia may be differentiated from that of Alzheimer's disease by a thorough neuropsychological evaluation.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2005 Mar;18(1):33-8.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcontent.answers.com%2Fmain%2Fcontent%2Fimg%2FMcGrawHill%2FEncyclopedia%2Fimages%2FCE734300FG0010.gif&hash=fa0d28d058b1a40cfe731a9b2409ca84)
http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/McGrawHill/Encyclopedia/images/CE734300FG0010.gif
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May I be so bold and hark back somewhat to the original question about wether we need supplements or not?
For I think there is also another important issue here to consider which has not been addressed.
If the combination of foodstuff we eat from time to time is correct, thanks to our family traditions and culture, for example, we probably won't have any deficiency problem from the cradle to the end of our life.
That would indeed be great but we also have to take into account that much produce (veg & fruit)seem to have 'lost' quite a bit of their mineral/vitamin content vs e.g. 70 years ago.
We conclude that the average concentrations of Cu, Mg and Na in vegetables and the average concentrations of Cu, Fe and K in fruit available in the UK have decreased significantly between the 1930s and the 1980s.
article link (http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/project_data/DocumentLibrary/HH3720SX/HH3720SX_2237_FRP.doc)]
... and that's just one example. There are many more.
(and if you know of any more links I'd appreciate your input)
Promoters of supplements (and I might stress that I'm NOT one of them) say we need to replace what we cannot get naturally.
And then there is the 'fortify' craze [::)] which sometimes makes it impossible to choose anything...
I say we need to rethink our production methods and our consumption.... and get better legislation in place for 'organic'
and yes, the ready availability of some easy tests would be fabulous too.
It's hard to believe that there is not enough support for this...
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May I be so bold and hark back somewhat to the original question about wether we need supplements or not?
For I think there is also another important issue here to consider which has not been addressed.
If the combination of foodstuff we eat from time to time is correct, thanks to our family traditions and culture, for example, we probably won't have any deficiency problem from the cradle to the end of our life.
That would indeed be great but we also have to take into account that much produce (veg & fruit)seem to have 'lost' quite a bit of their mineral/vitamin content vs e.g. 70 years ago.
Hi Alandriel,
of course yours is a good question and no proper answer is available right now.
If we refer to recommended doses for 'perfect health' instead of deficiency-preventing needed daily amount we get lost and no simple and practical suggestion is available.
Sometimes the easier way is chosen if a scientist has got enough authority to push his theory and show the right 'evidences': Linus Pauling tried to convince his collegues that we need at least 2grams of ascorbic acid per day because that is the average amount that monkeys get from their natural diets, and they 'lost' the enzyme to make vitamin C by themselves million years ago (like we humans).
I see tiny black spots and a lot of unknown things in this issue.
The major problem is that as humans, we are all unique and different (fortunately!), and our biological diversity and enzyme defects could make different diets sort out huge differences in the resulting 'state of health'.
We all know about gluten intolerance (celiac disease) and other food intolerances and allergies, but those diet-related ailments had been properly studied and evaluated only in the last few decades. So we may see a longer list in the future.
As far as cofactors and vitamins are concerned, I'll mention just one recent example for many to come, to underline how an invisible genetic defect and consequent enzyme abnormality with metabolic impairment can be adjusted by a proper diet:
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rondellen.net%2Fmetab_eng.gif&hash=06742bfa7e4c6ed4204842df0fb8c051)
http://www.rondellen.net/metab_eng.gif
Look at the MTHFR enzyme in this picture. Imagine that this molecule, a complex protein with catalytic properties, in a certain human had a defect, due to an inherited genetic mutation, resulting in a wrong aminoacid close to its active site. This genetically abnormal protein will not be able to work at regular speed and produce enough 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate to form methionine from homocysteine. Homocysteine will accumulate inside and outside the cells with toxic effects. Tiny vessels may be damaged by toxic levels of homocysteine and a stroke may result from those lesions.
But cofactors can help in some enzyme defects: in this particular case, increasing folic acid, vitamin B12 and B6 in the diet (look at the homocysteine crossroad in the diagram), higher cofactors availability is able to speed up enzyme activity and normalize this particular metabolic pathway. So homocysteine is efficiently transformed and cannot accumulate anymore in the body, tiny vessels are happy again and the probability of a sudden vascular catastrophe will fall down.
Theoretically, patients can regularly check their homocysteine and test special diets rich in those cofactors, without taking any supplement.
Many more examples of metabolic defects like this will probably be defined in the near future, so the final answer to your question will be: "Each of us needs his own cofactors".
And the lot of us need cod liver oil! [;D]
Take care
ikod
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fd2993411.u58.surftown.nu%2Fimages%2FAalesund2.jpg&hash=174d855ac2ffcf882ab22ebcbe4a34f1)
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Attention News/Assignment/Health Editors:
Vitamin D Deficiency Drains $9 billion From Canadian Health Care System
Vitamin D Society Declares November 'Vitamin D Awareness Month' in Canada
KELOWNA, BC, Oct. 31 /CNW/ - Research this year has left no doubt that
vitamin D deficiency - which affects an estimated 97 per cent of Canadians in
the winter - is nothing less than a Canadian crisis and a worldwide problem.
This is why Canada's Vitamin D Society is recognizing the month of
November as the world's first Vitamin D Awareness Month.
<<
Consider:
- Vitamin D deficiency in Canada is a multibillion-dollar contributor to
skyrocketing health care costs, according to a soon-to-be published
report commissioned by the Vitamin D Society. Dr. William Grant, whose
Sunlight, Nutrition and Health Research Center is a leading vitamin D
advocacy group worldwide, is the study's author. Dr. Grant
conservatively calculates the cost of vitamin D deficiency on the
Canadian health care system to be no less than $9 billion annually,
based on established disease risk reduction in individuals with
natural vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency is now associated with
higher risks of 22 forms of cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis,
osteoporosis, flu and many other disorders.
- A landmark Creighton University study this year - the first-ever
clinical trial to confirm the results of hundreds of epidemiologic
studies on this topic - showed that people rich in vitamin D have up
to a 77 per cent lower overall cancer risk. Published in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition in June, the four-year clinical trial
followed 1,200 women who took high levels of vitamin D and matched
them against a control group who did not take the vitamin. Those rich
in vitamin D had up to 77 per cent fewer cancers as compared to the
control group. That's twice the impact on cancer risk attributed to
smoking.
- The Canadian Paediatric Society in September recommended that pregnant
women consult their physicians about getting 2,000 international units
(IU) of vitamin D daily - 10 times the current government
recommendation - based on the avalanche of new pro-vitamin D research.
Breast milk is believed to be a poor source of vitamin D only because
mothers typically are deficient in vitamin D, according to Dr. John
Godel, principal author of the Canadian Paediatric Society's
statement.
- The Canadian Cancer Society in June called for all Canadian adults to
get 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily. In a bold move in October, the group
called for major medical institutions in North America to organize
more clinical trials to further substantiate the vitamin D case.
>>
Long known only as the body's catalyst for proper calcium absorption,
vitamin D plays a key part in cell growth regulation in the body - a recent
discovery which explains how researchers in the past five years have
quantified the vitamin's role in the prevention of 22 forms of cancer as well
as heart disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and several other
disorders.
Because of the profound effects of vitamin D deficiency, the Vitamin D
Society is recognizing November in Canada as the world's first Vitamin D
Awareness Month. The message is simple:
<<
- Canadians especially are at risk for Vitamin D deficiency because of
the country's relatively weak sunshine most of the year and the fact
that vitamin D is rare in diet, occurring naturally only in fatty
fish. Milk typically is supplemented with vitamin D.
- The Vitamin D Society recommends asking your doctor for an annual
blood test to check your vitamin D levels. More important than your
daily intake of vitamin D is your actual vitamin D blood level, which
can be measured with a calcidiol test (also known as a
25-hydroxyvitamin D test). Optimal vitamin D blood levels are
50 ng/mL (125 nmol/L), according to The Vitamin D Council.
For more information on vitamin D visit:
- www.vitaminDsociety.org
- www.vitaminDcouncil.com
- www.Direct-ms.org.
- www.sunarc.org
>>
The Vitamin D Society is a Canadian non-profit group organized to:
increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to vitamin D
deficiency; encourage Canadians to be proactive in protecting their health and
have their vitamin D blood levels tested annually and fund valuable vitamin D
research.
MEDIA: Canadian vitamin D expert Dr. Reinhold Vieth is available for
interviews. To arrange an interview, contact Olga Petrycki at 416-360-6522
ext. 226.
For further information: Olga Petrycki at (416) 360-6522 ext. 226
VITAMIN D SOCIETY - More on this organization
News Releases
(2)
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If you are unsure if a vitamin especially multivitamin is doing you any good try this test..
Take an apple and cut it in fourths. Place it in a glass of water to cover it. Drop in the suspect vitamin. Record how long it takes to dissolve, should be less than 1/2 hour. Anything left after that will just be wasted. Then after 4 days see what the condition of the water and the apple is. If the apple looks healthy enough to eat the antioxidants n your vitamins are working. If not, your cells aren't getting the level of support they need. There are supplements out there that do protect the apple, I have seen them with my own eyes.
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CoEnzyme Q10 protects nerve cells
CoEnzyme Q10 has shown the ability to protect nerve cells and potentially lower the risk of various degenerative diseases.
Cells in the brain and nervous system depend on optimal mitochondrial function for energy. A research study published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease showed that oxidative stress causes mitochondria to produce excessive free radicals, leading to nerve cell damage and destruction. Due to its function in the mitochondrial energy process and its role as an antioxidant, researchers evaluated CoEnzyme Q10 for its ability to protect nerve cells.
The results of this study revealed that CoEnzyme Q10 inhibits the production of free radicals by the mitochondria and stabilizes the mitochondrial membrane when nerve cells are subjected to oxidative stress. CoEnzyme Q10 may therefore have a potential benefit in reducing the risk of various neurodegenerative diseases.
Neurobiol Dis. 2005 Apr;18(3):618-27
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Attention News/Assignment/Health Editors:
Vitamin D Deficiency Drains $9 billion From Canadian Health Care System
Vitamin D Society Declares November 'Vitamin D Awareness Month' in Canada
KELOWNA, BC, Oct. 31 /CNW/ - Research this year has left no doubt that
vitamin D deficiency - which affects an estimated 97 per cent of Canadians in
the winter - is nothing less than a Canadian crisis and a worldwide problem.
This is why Canada's Vitamin D Society is recognizing the month of
November as the world's first Vitamin D Awareness Month.
...
For more information on vitamin D visit:
- www.vitaminDsociety.org
- www.vitamindcouncil.com
- www.Direct-ms.org.
- www.sunarc.org
Up with Melinda1958 and her wonderful
vitamin D update...Oct.31!!!
It's gonna be tough anyway: vitamin D3
is cheap, already classified as a 'generic'
drug, even toxic when badly used, cod
liver oil seems a relic from the past.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fjmachdutton.com%2Fimages%2F00218uncorkedelixirs356.jpg&hash=c8a02b734c197a1a1935b180afa36583)
http://jmachdutton.com/images/00218uncorkedelixirs356.jpg
But new, wonderful and properly priced
vitamin D3 analogues are on the way...
it seems that we have to wait just a
minute for a real,"effective" and
powerful commercial DRUG.
Fortunately, old cod liver oil is still
commonly used as a nutrient for pets,
dogs, horses, iguanas ...lucky beasts!
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=5065.75
ikod [^]
...for your horses (if you have any):
BONE, HOOF, JOINT & MUSCLES
COD LIVER OIL
This non-heating oil for energy and mobility is high in fish Omega 3 & 6 essential oils (strictly speaking it is only suitable for carnivores as we do not often see horses fishing!) but it has been used for many years as an additive to equine feeds. Any oil helps lubricate the joints of veterans of any species and Cod Liver Oil also promotes a sleek coat and healthy skin as well as nutritional support for bones and hooves.
Quality: ******* Health Cod Liver Oil is 100% pure and contains no heavy metals, it is important to find out if a cheaper version does.
Feeding: 10 to 20ml (20ml is about 1 tablespoon) per 100kg bodyweight (16.2hh is about 500kg) best divided between 2 feeds daily. Feed the lower rate for general maintenance and the higher for pregnant or lactating mares, breeding stallions, young stock and very hard working animals (eg. racehorses & highly competitive animals) 1Lt will last a general maintenance 500kg horse about 20 days and a high category 500kg horse about 10 days.
more from: http://www.pegasushealth.com/productinfo.php?product_id=48
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pegasusfirstaid.com.au%2Fimages%2Fsnuggle.jpg&hash=bffbb5feb569633d327c0fafb2985677)
http://www.pegasusfirstaid.com.au/images/snuggle.jpg
********* COD LIVER OIL is a high energy oil which is palatable to all animals. The oil is derived from a cod's liver (fish), making it a pure natural product. It contains two essential fatty acids and important stabilised vitamins A and D. It is also widely known for its nutritional and therapeutic value and is used extensively on thoroughbred studs, racing, trotting and greyhound establishments and for birds.
VITAMIN A is an essential nutrient for all horses, dogs and cattle. It is necessary for general growth, bone formation and for the formation of visual purple in the eye. A deficiency of it leads to drying of mucous membranes, which makes them more susceptible to bacterial invasion. This also results in increased susceptibility to diseases in the respiratory tract. For females, during gestation and lactation, there is an increased need for vitamin A. For animals that are fed a high concentration of dry, prepared diets, vitamin A is essential as it may be lost during the food processing.
Suggested Dose Rates:
Large Animals ie. horses, cattle Age Small Animals ie. dogs, cats
15 ml Baby 1 ml
30 ml Yearling 3 ml
60 ml Adult 5 ml
VITAMIN D is important for growth of bones and teeth and it ensures the bodies right utilisation of calcium and phosphorus. A daily intake of ******** COD LIVER OIL will provide your animal with a fine healthy coat and skin. Animals housed and rugged are not able to intake natural vitamin D derived from the sunlight. Cod Liver Oil with vitamin D and two essential fatty acids helps overcome this deficiency.
more from: http://www.equinade.com/products/facts-cod_liver_equinade.html
...it's for the birds!
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seapets.co.uk%2Fgallery%2Fhealthybird-thumb.jpg&hash=46933680bb2212c1e6970ffba7a5627a)
http://www.seapets.co.uk/gallery/healthybird-thumb.jpg
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CoEnzyme Q10 protects nerve cells
CoEnzyme Q10 has shown the ability to protect nerve cells and potentially lower the risk of various degenerative diseases.
Cells in the brain and nervous system depend on optimal mitochondrial function for energy. A research study published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease showed that oxidative stress causes mitochondria to produce excessive free radicals, leading to nerve cell damage and destruction. Due to its function in the mitochondrial energy process and its role as an antioxidant, researchers evaluated CoEnzyme Q10 for its ability to protect nerve cells.
The results of this study revealed that CoEnzyme Q10 inhibits the production of free radicals by the mitochondria and stabilizes the mitochondrial membrane when nerve cells are subjected to oxidative stress. CoEnzyme Q10 may therefore have a potential benefit in reducing the risk of various neurodegenerative diseases.
Neurobiol Dis. 2005 Apr;18(3):618-27
http://www.cholesterol-and-health.com/Coenzyme-Q10.html
Statins Inhibit Coenzyme Q10 Synthesis
Since coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and cholesterol are both synthesized from the same substance, mevalonate, statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, etc) also inhibit the body's synthesis of coenzyme Q10. This is not a "side effect," of statins, but a direct, inherent function of the drugs.
In fact, the use of statins can decrease the body's synthesis of coenzyme Q10 by as much as 40%!
http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/coq10.htm
The widespread use of statin drugs is of special concern because they can lower the endogenous levels of Coenzyme Q10, the naturally-occurring form of ubiquinone in humans. Ubiquinone is widely recognized as an essential component of energy metabolism in the electron-transfer system in mitochondrial membranes. At physiological concentrations it is also recognized as an effective lipid-soluble antioxidant. It is one of the end products of the mevalonate pathway where dolichol (a component of animal membranes) and cholesterol are synthesized. Both ubiqionone and dolichol are released by the liver cells into the blood circulation, but in much lower concentrations than that of cholesterol.
Ghirlanda et al(2) reported in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study a decrease of 50-54% of CoQ10 levels in the statin treatment groups, and similar results were reproduced by Watts et al(3).
Bliznakov and Wilkins reviewed studies of the effect of statins on the biosynthesis of Coenzyme Q10 and the clinical implication of CoQ10 deficiency.(4) The authors report that lovastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin lower the endogenous levels of Coenzyme Q10, as CoQ10 shares the common biosynthetic pathway with cholesterol.
Considering that Coenzyme Q10 is essential for mitochondrial function and antioxidant activity, and since oxidative mechanisms are important in atherogenesis, it can be assumed that a reduction in CoQ10 level may compromise coronary atherosclerosis despite optimal reduction in cholesterol levels by the use of statin drugs.
Furthermore, the reduction of ubiquinone levels might be associated with myopathy, a rare adverse effect associated with statin drugs. This "metabolic" myopathy is related to ubiquinone deficiency in muscle cell mitochondria, disturbing normal cellular respiration and causing adverse effects such as rhabdomyolysis, exercise intolerance, and recurrent myoglobinuria.(5)
It has also been suggested that CoQ10 deficiency can cause mitochondrial encephalomyopathies related to a primary or secondary ubiquinone deficient status, or even to an altered function of ubiquinone in the respiratory chain.(6) It is important to emphasize that Coenzyme Q10 supplementation does not interfere with the cholesterol-lowering effect of statin drugs(7) and therefore may be considered for all patients using such medications for an extended period of time.
Recognizing the importance of dietary supplementation with vitamins (E, C, B6, folate), and essential nutrients (CoQ10, L-arginine, propionyl L-carnitine) as an adjunct in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, we should pay attention to the potential adverse effect of drug-induced nutrient depletion affecting the aforementioned nutrients.
Pharmaceutical companies that market statin drugs should consider including the described CoQ10 potential depletion in their drug information materials provided to physicians and pharmacists, and they should encourage patients to consult their physician and pharmacist for appropriate supplementation.
Integration of nutritional medicine in the clinical practice of medicine can benefit for our patients using prescription medications for disease management and treatment.
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do we actually need vitamin suppliments? you see in boots for instance, a whole range of suppliments with a lot aimed at children.do children need suppliments?
I can see a case for them in more deprived countries where a balanced diet may not be possible.
don't take any myself, I prefer the natural way--juices or superfoods when I can afford them
You could amke a case for Vitamin C as we have a genetic defect blocking our making of it as Irwin Stone proved, and most folk are very defecient given their diet.
Most pills are full of chemicals
Oils are important and you can get that without the pill factor--udos oil was one
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"Most pills are full of chemicals"
That's exactly what I buy them for, but just out of idle curiosity, what exactly could they be made from other than chemicals?
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you know what I meant. Nutrients.
-
Nutrients are exactly the sort of chemicals I usually buy pills for.
If I bought vitamin pills and they didn't have nutrients in them I'd report the sellers for fraud.
OK sometimes I'm after drugs, but most of the pills I swallow are vitamins. (I just don't like all the natural soources much and I want to be sure I'm getting enough)
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I think the idea was that supplements are sometimes full of other things besides what they say on the label. For example, fish oils can have a lot of mercury in them, or PCBs. You have to trust your source... which usually means 'spend more money to get quality'
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do we actually need vitamin suppliments? you see in boots for instance, a whole range of supplements with a lot aimed at children.do children need supplements?
I can see a case for them in more deprived countries where a balanced diet may not be possible.
If you do your homework, you will find supplements out there that aren't full of chemicals that are man made. You have to eat pounds and pounds of food these days to get the equivalent of a good supplement, due to the over-processing and soil depletion. It can be done but personally I can't eat that much.
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Hi Melinda1958,
I certainly agree with you.
I'm only a bit less pessimistic about my 'processed' food:
it is cheap, available where I live...and sometimes with less invisible moulds and aflatoxins of sort.
Plus a squeezed lemon and cod liver oil to fix it! [;D]
ikod
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Now, for the good news about TURMERIC EXTRACT:
Researchers have long been aware of the health benefits of the curry spice turmeric, which is the source of curcumin (or turmeric extract). In fact, in India where turmeric is used daily Alzheimer's disease is nearly absent in a country (per the population size). Curcurmin is the same thing as turmeric extract. It is a powerful antioxidant and it has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is one of the most destructive processes that damages our cells and organs, leading to disease and aging.
Researchers have long studied the turmeric extract's application in fighting cancer, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and reversing the process underlying Alzheimer's disease.
One of the most important activites in the human body is turmeric extract's ability to inhibit chronic inflammation (by inhibiting activation of transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappa B, NF-kB). What's the big deal? Well, NF-kB activation has been implicated in ALL stages of the development and propagation of cancer; and switching off the NF-kB genes, which turmeric extract seems to do has been a huge subject of intense research.
The National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. has funded numerous studies on turmeric extract (curcumin) because of the diverse benefits of this antioxidant spice. It effects virtually every organ of the body. The applications include the treatment of cystic fibrosis (the most common genetic disorder in Caucasians), autoimmune diseases, such as sceleroderma, the prevention and treatment of cancer, the prevention and treatment of heart disease, reverse the damage associated with high blood sugar (diabetes), the prevention and treatment of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, and multiple sclerosis. It may help prevent cataracts; it shows promise as a treatment for skin disorders such as psoriasis; and it helps in the treatment of wounds.
Among other benefits, turmeric extract has antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. This is not said lightly, and should not be overlooked as a minor benefit, particularly in wound healing.
Of all the benefits of curcumin or turmeric extract, it is the prevention and treatment of cancer that has most scientist in awe. One investigator wrote, "Curcumin ...has emerged as one of the most powerful chemopreventative and anticancer agents. It's biological effects range from antioxidant and anti-inflammatory to inhibition of angiogenesis, and is shown to possess specific antitumoral activity." Cancer Res 2007 Mar 1:67(5):1988
Although anticancer drugs weaken the immune system, turmeric extract strengthens the immune system as it fights cancer at every step of cancer development and propagation.
For cancer to develop, it has to initiate ...turmeric extract stops this. It has to propagate (progression and promotion), ...turmeric extract stops this. New blood vessels have to be formed to feed the new cancer cells so they can survive (angiogenesis), turmeric extract stop this, ... and turmeric extract induces apoptosis, the self-destruction of cancer cells. It does all this while protecting the rest of the body from other diseases and inflammation. Turmeric extract seems to be the perfect designer substance. It appears that man could not design or develop a more perfect substance ....but, that doesn't mean it wouldn't stop them from trying.
Interesting, but not suprising to me, pharmaceutical companies are racing to try and come up with patentable compounds that mimic the actions of turmeric extract so they can make huge profits; when interesting enough the compound and benefits obviously already exist! Ah, the greed of mankind never ceases to amaze me. (But, we saw this with the benefits of the safety and effectiveness of grape seed extract and the eventual development of Vioxx and Celebrex, a Cox 2 inhibitor. How did that work out for Big Pharma? More importantly, how did it work out for the benefit of the patients?)
What specific cancers has turmeric extract (curcumin) been shown to benefit?
In 2007, scientists at the Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham published at report in the journal Cancer Research showing how turmeric extract (curmumin) reduced prostate cancer cells' production of a protein MDM2, which is associated with the formation of malignant tumors. Simultaneously, curmumin prompted cells to produce another protein associated with apoptosis (programmed cell death). Cancer Res 2007 Mar 1:67(5):1988
It's interesting that India has has one of the lowest incidence of prostate cancer rates in the world. The annual prostate cancer incidence rate in India is ranges from 5.0 to 9.1 per 100,000/year. In contrast, among white males in the U.S., the incidence is 110.4 per 100,000/year! More than ten times higher. For black males in the U.S., it is even HIGHER! Could it be due to the consumption of turmeric? The average intake of turmeric spice in India is 2 - 2.5 grams per day. Thus, it is to our advantage to obtain turmeric extract that would surpass that in its equivalency by at least 3 to 6 fold.
Curcumin (turmeric extract) has been shown to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy agent, gemcitabine, in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This chemotherapy agent loses it effectiveness as the cancer progresses, curmcumin (turmeric extract) helps prevent the tumors resistance to the drug.
Curcumin (turmeric extract) interferes with the proliferation of various types of colon cancer, and it enhances the efficacy of existing an existing chemotherapeutic agent, oxaliplatin in the fight against colon cancer.
Curcumin's effect against breast cancer is nothing short of amazing; both against a common variety of breast cancer cells, as well as a mutant line of breast cancer cells that have developed resistance to chemotherapy drugs. Turmeric extract exerts its effects on cell proliferation, cycling and death. Turmeric extract (or curcumin) seems able to adapt its anticancer activity according to need, including in multi-drug resitant tumors of the breast, prostate, and leukemia cell lines.
Lastly, turmeric extract is particlurly beneficial in preventing cognitive decline, in the prevention or treatment of major disabling age-related neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and stroke. Adv Ex Med Biol 2007;197
A few mechanism of action may account for such benefits. Turmeric extract appears to reduce lead toxicity by raising levels of the antioxidant glutathione, as well as bind to (chelate) heavy metals and remove them. Furthermore, turmeric extract is an antioxidant, protecting oxidative damage to neurons of the brain by promoting production of a protective enzyme hem oxygenase-1 (HO-1). This is a fundamental defense mechanism for neurons exposed to oxidation. (And, to think Pfizer wants us to use high-dose Lipitor to protect everyone from Alzheimer's disease.)
Memory loss begins by age 50, and by age 80, it predicted that half of us will advance to some form of dementia (Alzhemier's or not). Asian epidemiological studies found that those who consumed curry (with the turmeric spice) showed strong evidence of "better cognitive performance" and "less age-related dementia." Am J Empidemiol 2006 Nov 1;164(9):898
Okay, as always, "what about safety?"
Given that turmeric is a food that has been safely consumed for millennia (even by pregnant women), curcumin, or turmeric extract, would appear to be a perfect dietary supplement. Altern Med Rev. 2001 Sep'6 Suppl S62-6 In fact, one researcher wrote, "Curcumin has an outstanding safety profile and a number of multifunctional actions ..." Phase I clincal trials, using massive doses of curcumin, or turmeric extract (up to 8 grams/day for four months "did not result in discernable toxicities." Adv Exp Med Biol 2007;565:471
The myriad of benefits to be obtained from turmeric extract are emerging with a clear safety margin. Last week I wrote about the amazing benefits of obtaining at least 1,000 IU/day of vitamin D.
This week, I am going to suggest that you look to obtain at least 60 mg per day of turmeric extract, but may I suggest, that the benefits I am suggesting in this e-newsletter are going to be realized in the neighborhood of 600 to 1000 mg per day.
Personally, between the number of antioxidants per day, the number of "liver health maintenance product" I take per day (I take a few extra), and the product I take to help "maintain the health of my joints," I am obtaining well over 700 mg of turmeric extract per day.
Add that to the 1,200 IU/day of vitamin D I am obtaining, plus the full-range of antioxidants I get, along with my omega-3 fatty acids, and I think I doing pretty well.
No nutritional supplement program is a guaratee against any disease, or even death. It's all about protecting our cells, helping them operate at their optimum, avoiding toxic substances as best we can, and then doing our best to live the best lifestyle we can.
I hope to see you on tomorrow night's webcast.
Until the next e-newsletter .....
To see past newsletters (like the one on vitamin D), please visit:
http://mcnamaraupdates.blogspot.com
Thanks, and good health.
Ladd McNamara, M.D
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In a study of adults followed for 10 years, those with higher plasma carotene concentrations had a lower overall risk of death, and a lower risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease specifically.
Beta-carotene linked to reduced mortality risk in the elderly
In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers have demonstrated an association between plasma carotene levels and lower death rates among the elderly. This prospective study involved 1168 elderly men and women who were followed for 10 years. After the follow-up period, researchers looked at causes of mortality in the study population. The subjects with higher plasma carotene concentrations had a lower overall mortality risk, and a lower risk of mortality from cancer and cardiovascular disease specifically. To put the results in context, researchers performed a meta-analysis of 5 studies on plasma antioxidants and all-cause mortality in elderly populations.
These findings are somewhat surprising since some of the previous supplemental trials have been negative or inconclusive. The researchers suggested that the confusing evidence so far may indicate that beta-carotene needs to be taken in concert with other antioxidants to have a beneficial effect on health.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 82, No. 4, 879-886, October 2005
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Hi CurcuMelinda1958! [;)]
I personally "curcuminized" this forum quite a lot in the recent past...
if you run a quick search here, I'm sure that you'll enjoy those bits!
ikod [^]
...talking about garlic and 'kitchen medicine'...
Curcumin as "Curecumin": From kitchen to clinic.
Goel A, Kunnumakkara AB, Aggarwal BB.
Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Internal Medicine, Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center and Baylor Research Institute, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.
Although turmeric (Curcuma longa; an Indian spice) has been described in Ayurveda, as a treatment for inflammatory diseases and is referred by different names in different cultures, the active principle called curcumin or diferuloylmethane, a yellow pigment present in turmeric (curry powder) has been shown to exhibit numerous activities. Extensive research over the last half century has revealed several important functions of curcumin. It binds to a variety of proteins and inhibits the activity of various kinases. By modulating the activation of various transcription factors, curcumin regulates the expression of inflammatory enzymes, cytokines, adhesion molecules, and cell survival proteins. Curcumin also downregulates cyclin D1, cyclin E and MDM2; and upregulates p21, p27, and p53. Various preclinical cell culture and animal studies suggest that curcumin has potential as an antiproliferative, anti-invasive, and antiangiogenic agent; as a mediator of chemoresistance and radioresistance; as a chemopreventive agent; and as a therapeutic agent in wound healing, diabetes, Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, and arthritis. Pilot phase I clinical trials have shown curcumin to be safe even when consumed at a daily dose of 12g for 3 months. Other clinical trials suggest a potential therapeutic role for curcumin in diseases such as familial adenomatous polyposis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, hypercholesteremia, atherosclerosis, pancreatitis, psoriasis, chronic anterior uveitis and arthritis. Thus, curcumin, a spice once relegated to the kitchen shelf, has moved into the clinic and may prove to be "Curecumin".
Biochem Pharmacol. 2007 Aug 19;
...more reading from: http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=5041.0
Curcumin seems to be a real 'panacea' these days...
Think of the massive impact on our lives and society
severe brain injuries have, either from strokes or
heavy head traumas.
Dietary curcumin counteracts the outcome of traumatic brain injury
on oxidative stress, synaptic plasticity, and cognition.
Wu A, Ying Z, Gomez-Pinilla F.
Dept. Physiological Science, Univ.of California at Los Angeles, 621 Charles E. Young Drive, 90095, USA.
The pervasive action of oxidative stress on neuronal function and plasticity after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is becoming increasingly recognized. Here, we evaluated the capacity of the powerful antioxidant curry spice curcumin ingested in the diet to counteract the oxidative damage encountered in the injured brain. In addition, we have examined the possibility that dietary curcumin may favor the injured brain by interacting with molecular mechanisms that maintain synaptic plasticity and cognition. The analysis was focused on the BDNF system based on its action on synaptic plasticity and cognition by modulating synapsin I and CREB. Rats were exposed to a regular diet or a diet high in saturated fat, with or without 500 ppm curcumin for 4 weeks (n = 8/group), before a mild fluid percussion injury (FPI) was performed. The high-fat diet has been shown to exacerbate the effects of TBI on synaptic plasticity and cognitive function. Supplementation of curcumin in the diet dramatically reduced oxidative damage and normalized levels of BDNF, synapsin I, and CREB that had been altered after TBI. Furthermore, curcumin supplementation counteracted the cognitive impairment caused by TBI. These results are in agreement with previous evidence, showing that oxidative stress can affect the injured brain by acting through the BDNF system to affect synaptic plasticity and cognition. The fact that oxidative stress is an intrinsic component of the neurological sequel of TBI and other insults indicates that dietary antioxidant therapy is a realistic approach to promote protective mechanisms in the injured brain.
Exp Neurol. 2006 Feb;197(2):309-17.
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Neuroprotective effect of curcumin in middle cerebral artery occlusion induced focal cerebral ischemia in rats.
Thiyagarajan M, Sharma SS.
Dept.Pharmacol.Toxicol., Natl.Inst.Pharmaceutical Edu. and Res.Sector 67, S.A.S. Nagar-160 062, Punjab, India.
Free radical induced neuronal damage is implicated in cerebral ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury and antioxidants are reported to have neuroprotective activity. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have proved the antioxidant potential of curcumin and its metabolites. Hence, in the present study the neuroprotective potential of curcumin was investigated in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) induced focal cerebral IR injury. 2 h of MCAO and 22 h of reperfusion resulted in the infarct volume of 210.39 +/- 31.25 mm3. Administration of curcumin 100 and 300 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min. after MCAO produced 37.23 +/- 5.10% and 46.39 +/- 10.23% (p < 0.05) reduction in infarct volume, respectively. Ischemia induced cerebral edema was reduced in a dose dependent manner. Curcumin at 300 mg/kg, i.p. produced 50.96 +/- 6.04% reduction in edema (p < 0.05) volume. Increase in lipid peroxidation after MCAO in ipsilateral and contralateral hemisphere of brain was observed, which was reduced by curcumin (300 mg/kg, i.p.)-treatment. Decrease in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity was observed in ipsilateral hemisphere of MCAO animal. Curcumin-treatment (300 mg/kg, i.p.) prevented IR injury mediated fall in glutathione peroxide activity. Peroxynitrite measured using rhodamine123 fluorescence and anti-nitrotyrosine immunofluorescence indicated increased peroxynitrite formation after IR insult. Curcumin-treatment reduced peroxynitrite formation and hence the extent of tyrosine nitration in the cytosolic proteins. These results suggest the neuroprotective potential of curcumin in cerebral ischemia and is mediated through its antioxidant activity.
Life Sci. 2004 Jan 9;74(8):969-85.
Soon curcumin preparations will be quite common
in any Intensive Care Unit of this Planet and
a heady scent of curry will invade all the
hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.
Maybe.
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I couldn't agree more..
I am also thrilled my supplement contains this wonder element, and CoQ10 also.
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According to a new study from Harvard, men who supplement with beta-carotene long-term may experience a slower rate of age- related cognitive decline.
Beta-carotene supplementation long-term may delay mental decline
In a newly published study, researchers tested the cognitive function of participants in the Physicians' Health Study II (PHSII), a continuation of the Physicians' Health Study (PHS) trial looking at the effects of beta-carotene and other vitamin supplements on chronic disease. The subjects included participants from the original PHS (started in 1982) and newer recruits from 1998.
The researchers tested the general cognition, verbal memory, and category fluency of 5,956 participants, including 4,052 participants from the PHS with a minimum supplementation period of 18 years.
Among the 1,904 newly recruited subjects (average supplementation of 1 year) no differences in cognition were evident whether they took beta-carotene or the placebo.
However, among the long-term supplement users from the PHS, the mean global score (average of all tests) was significantly higher in the beta carotene group than in the placebo. On verbal memory, men receiving long-term beta carotene supplementation also performed significantly better than the placebo group. The potential mechanism for the protective effects could be related to the role of vitamin A and beta-carotene on beta-amyloid protein production in the brain. The build-up of plaque from beta-amyloid deposits is associated with oxidative stress, cell death, and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
The study is the first to look at long-term antioxidant supplementation in relation to a decline in cognitive function that occurs naturally with age, and that precedes diseases such as Alzheimer's.
Arch Intern Med. 2007;167(20):2184-2190.
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...beta-carotene has no taste or flavour.
Go for smelly stuff to get major results! [;D]
Antisocial effects compensated by anti-Alzheimer properties?
Anti-amyloidogenic activity of S-allyl-l-cysteine and its activity to destabilize Alzheimer's beta-amyloid fibrils in vitro.
Gupta VB, Rao KS.
Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570020, India.
Alzheimer's disease involves Abeta accumulation, oxidative damage and inflammation and there is currently no clinically accepted treatment to stop its progression. Its risk is known to reduce with increased consumption of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. Fibrillar aggregates of Abeta are major constituents of the senile plaques found in the brains of AD patients and have been related to AD neurotoxicity. It is reported that SAC (S-allyl-l-cysteine), a water-soluble organosulfur component present in garlic is known to prevent cognitive decline by protecting neurons from Abeta induced neuronal apoptosis. Hence, we investigated the effects of SAC on Abeta aggregation by employing Thioflavin-T, transmission electron microscopy, SDS-PAGE, size exclusion-HPLC. Under aggregating conditions in vitro, SAC dose-dependently inhibited Abeta fibrillation and also destabilized preformed Abeta fibrils. Further, Circular dichroism and fluorescence quenching studies supported the binding ability of SAC to Abeta and inducing a partially folded conformation in Abeta. The 3D structure of Abeta-SAC complex was also predicted employing automated docking studies.
Neurosci Lett. 2007 Sep 29 [Epub ahead of print]
Garlic Festival 2003.
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http://karribellydancer.com/Garlic%20Festival.html
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New research indicates that low serum vitamin D may be associated with an increased incidence of endometrial cancer.
Vitamin D and endometrial cancer
The November 16, 2007 issue of the journal Preventive Medicine reported an association between ultraviolet light exposure and a reduced risk of endometrial cancer. Two previous investigations have already linked a lower rate of kidney and ovarian cancer with greater UV exposure, which increases the formation of vitamin D3 in the body.
Researchers analyzed data made available through GLOBOCAN, a database of cancer incidence and mortality in 175 countries. In general, the incidence of endometrial cancer was highest at the highest latitudes in both hemispheres. The correlation between low UV exposure and low vitamin D levels and endometrial cancer incidence remained strong even after adjusting for variables such as fat intake, weight, cloud cover, skin pigmentation and others.
Most previous studies have focused on hormone levels and dietary fat intake and their role in the development of the disease. This is the first study linking low serum vitamin D levels to an increased risk of endometrial cancer. Along with other preventive measures, vitamin D adequacy should be considered as part of a comprehensive program for prevention of endometrial cancer.
Prev Med 2007 Nov;45(5):323-4.
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Iko,
The garlic thing sounds very promising. Have there been clinic studies or just in vitro. Beta- Carotene my not be smelly but it has shown evidence in human beings to work it's magic and how easy is it to find in easy to take, not to mention, dosage controlled form. There are garlic supplements but according to the FDA the dosage is approximate unless you find a manufacturer that uses pharmaceutical standards. I know there is at least one that has beta-carotene but I don't think I have seen one for garlic supplements.
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Hi Melinda1958,
evidence of beta-carotene benefits in humans seems
to be a matter of debate, still far away from a well
defined scientific demonstration:
Persistence of contradicted claims in the literature.
Tatsioni A, Bonitsis NG, Ioannidis JP.
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece.
CONTEXT: Some research findings based on observational epidemiology are contradicted by randomized trials, but may nevertheless still be supported in some scientific circles.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the change over time in the content of citations for 2 highly cited epidemiological studies that proposed major cardiovascular benefits associated with vitamin E in 1993; and to understand how these benefits continued being defended in the literature, despite strong contradicting evidence from large randomized clinical trials (RCTs). To examine the generalizability of these findings, we also examined the extent of persistence of supporting citations for the highly cited and contradicted protective effects of beta-carotene on cancer and of estrogen on Alzheimer disease.
DATA SOURCES: For vitamin E, we sampled articles published in 1997, 2001, and 2005 (before, early, and late after publication of refuting evidence) that referenced the highly cited epidemiological studies and separately sampled articles published in 2005 and referencing the major contradicting RCT (HOPE trial). We also sampled articles published in 2006 that referenced highly cited articles proposing benefits associated with beta-carotene for cancer (published in 1981 and contradicted long ago by RCTs in 1994-1996) and estrogen for Alzheimer disease (published in 1996 and contradicted recently by RCTs in 2004).
DATA EXTRACTION: The stance of the citing articles was rated as favorable, equivocal, and unfavorable to the intervention. We also recorded the range of counterarguments raised to defend effectiveness against contradicting evidence. RESULTS: For the 2 vitamin E epidemiological studies, even in 2005, 50% of citing articles remained favorable. A favorable stance was independently less likely in more recent articles, specifically in articles that also cited the HOPE trial (odds ratio for 2001, 0.05 [95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.19; P < .001] and the odds ratio for 2005, 0.06 [95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.24; P < .001], as compared with 1997), and in general/internal medicine vs specialty journals. Among articles citing the HOPE trial in 2005, 41.4% were unfavorable. In 2006, 62.5% of articles referencing the highly cited article that had proposed beta-carotene and 61.7% of those referencing the highly cited article on estrogen effectiveness were still favorable; 100% and 96%, respectively, of the citations appeared in specialty journals; and citations were significantly less favorable (P = .001 and P = .009, respectively) when the major contradicting trials were also mentioned. Counterarguments defending vitamin E or estrogen included diverse selection and information biases and genuine differences across studies in participants, interventions, cointerventions, and outcomes.
Favorable citations to beta-carotene, long after evidence contradicted its effectiveness, did not consider the contradicting evidence.
CONCLUSION: Claims from highly cited observational studies persist and continue to be supported in the medical literature despite strong contradictory evidence from randomized trials.
JAMA. 2007 Dec 5;298(21):2517-26.
When you rely mostly on epidemiological evidences,
I think there are good reasons to be skeptical in
considering selected, purified substances instead
of the natural nutrients containing them:
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffilaman.ifm-geomar.de%2Fimages%2Fspecies%2FGamor_u7.jpg&hash=340b7cd55459d2b0a90b943f9a52ff9e)
Speaking of why giving stinky "cod" instead of specific synthetic substances, let's borrow this note from the anti-oxidant topic of the Forum:
quote:
A quote from the article is "Just because a food with a certain compound in it is beneficial to health, it does not mean a pill with the same compound in is"
That's exactly right. A pill sometimes works better than the original food and viceversa.
Scientists versus Mother Nature and her tricks
In the late '70s researchers opened their enormous freezers where thousands of serum samples from blood donors had been stocked since over 10yrs before. They wanted to test vitamin A concentration (knowing that it is well preserved in frozen samples) and look for a correlation with cancer incidence in those individuals. Experimental data in animals had demonstrated a positive effect of retinoic acid on precancerous lesions.
They found a strong inverse relation between vitamin A concentration and risk of tumor. All the media started recommending vitamin A to prevent or even fight cancer.
Few years later a proper RCT (randomized clinical trial) was started: a group of nurses and doctors took either a certain dose of vitamin A or a placebo every day for years. The conclusion of the study was disappointing: no difference in cancer incidence with or without vitamin A.
Some clever mind offered an explanation for this: vitamin A had been found increased in blood donors who had lower risk of cancer because it had been eaten together with some other more effective anticancer compounds.
Here we go with all the broccoli, cabbage, cauliflowers and so on...they are rich of vitamin A and probably have other mysterious anticancer factors.
iko
Addendum:
Vitamin A instead of cod liver oil would play the same trick...if you gave vit.A to patients because the ones taking 'cod' had higher levels of retinoic acid in their blood and were doing better (hypothesis!), you could get poor results because you are not giving together Vit.D and a bit of omega-3 fatty acids, the original recipe.
:mudneddA
Vitamin D instead of cod liver oil would play the same trick...if you gave vit.D to patients because the ones taking 'cod' had higher levels of vitamin D3 in their blood and were doing better (hypothesis!), you could get poor results because you are not giving together Vit.A and a bit of omega-3 fatty acids, the original recipe.
Conclusions:
The reason why only CLO should be recommended in childhood leukemia as a nutritional support is that we have unconfirmed, neglected, and perhaps weak evidence of its efficacy thanks to a study published in 1988.
But we do have it and we should use it for our patients' sake.
The alternative use of one or more components of CLO separately, suggested by anyone's deductions or thoughts, should be considered unsubstantiated and empirical.
This level of evidence is obviously useless in the case of toxic and expensive drugs that require properly arranged experimental tests before being approved and used in patients.
On the contrary, weak evidence should be quite enough in the case of nontoxic and inexpensive nutritional supplements (especially those historically-safe like cod liver oil).
Parents do not need to ask a doctor or get a recipe
before giving a glass of orange juice and/or
cod liver oil caps to their children,
either they are healthy or sick.
iko
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Vitamin suppliments...or supplements, if you prefer.
Talking about nutrients or nutrigenomics, as they call
it these days.
Curcumin research is giving promising results indeed:
A Broadly Neuroprotective Derivative of Curcumin.
Liu Y, Dargusch R, Maher P, Schubert D.
The Salk Institute, Laboratories for Cellular Neurobiology, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037-1099, USA.
The plant polyphenolic curcumin alters the response of nerve cells to some forms of toxic stress. The steroid-like compound, cyclohexyl-bisphenol A, has broad neuroprotective properties that are very distinct from those of curcumin. To incorporate both families of biological activities into a single molecule, a pyrazole derivative of curcumin, called CNB-001, was synthesized. CNB-001 acquires a new activity and is far superior in neuroprotection assays to either parental molecule, but retains some of the properties of both. It is neuroprotective in cell culture assays for trophic factor withdrawal, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity and glucose starvation, as well as toxicity from both intracellular and extracellular amyloid. While the creation of CNB-001 was based upon an uncommon approach to drug design, it has the potential of a lead drug candidate for treating multiple conditions involving nerve cell death.
Neurochem. 2008 Jan 18 [Epub ahead of print]
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A recent study has generated negative headlines worldwide and caused consumers to question the efficacy and safety of antioxidant supplements. Many health professionals and nutrition experts have been highly critical of this study, and they have been quick to respond with refuting analyses and firm rebuttals.
When "recent studies" contradict conventional wisdom
Earlier this month, an updated meta-analysis was published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews entitled Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases. Almost immediately, scores of headlines and articles appeared stating that antioxidant vitamins were not only useless, but that they also shorten life span.
The Cochrane study is not new research. Rather, it is a slightly adjusted version of a meta-analysis published in 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. That JAMA study received very stern criticism at the time of its publishing for many of its methods and conclusions, and this newer version of the study hasn't been any better received.
But unfortunately, with the onslaught of sensationalist headlines and scare tactics it is often difficult for the average person to know what to believe, and even harder to know how to defend those beliefs. To make matters worse, health professionals and physicians are often just as susceptible to these scare tactics, and many seldom get past the headlines, making it even more difficult to discuss nutrition, diet, and preventive health in a reasonable manner.
What follows are links to analyses and rebuttals of the most recent Cochrane study. A greater understanding of this and similar studies should assist you in future discussions with your contacts and health professionals.
Council For Responsible Nutrition (CRN) comments and analysis.
http://www.crnusa.org/CRNPR_08_AntioxidantStudy041608.html
http://www.crnusa.org/pdfs/CRN_Analysis_AntioxidantStudy_041608.pdf
Stephen Daniells, PhD, the science editor for NutraIngredients.com and FoodNavigator.com. Dr. Daniells received a PhD in chemistry from Queen's University of Belfast.
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=84792-meta-analysis-antioxidants-randomised-clinical-trials
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better and better news from 'curcuminized' scientists:
Curcumin inhibits proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis of different cancers through interaction with multiple cell signaling proteins.
Kunnumakkara AB, Anand P, Aggarwal BB.
Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Because most cancers are caused by dysregulation of as many as 500 different genes, agents that target multiple gene products are needed for prevention and treatment of cancer. Curcumin, a yellow coloring agent in turmeric, has been shown to interact with a wide variety of proteins and modify their expression and activity.
These include inflammatory cytokines and enzymes, transcription factors, and gene products linked with cell survival, proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis.
Curcumin has been found to inhibit the proliferation of various tumor cells in culture, prevents carcinogen-induced cancers in rodents, and inhibits the growth of human tumors in xenotransplant or orthotransplant animal models either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents or radiation. Several phase I and phase II clinical trials indicate that curcumin is quite safe and may exhibit therapeutic efficacy. These aspects of curcumin are discussed further in detail in this review.
Cancer Lett. 2008 May 12. [Epub ahead of print]
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Potential therapeutic effects of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory agent, against neurodegenerative,
cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases.
Aggarwal BB, Harikumar KB.
Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.
Although safe in most cases, ancient treatments are ignored because neither their active component nor their molecular targets are well defined. This is not the case, however, with curcumin, a yellow-pigment substance and component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), which was identified more than a century ago. For centuries it has been known that turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory activity, but extensive research performed within the past two decades has shown that the this activity of turmeric is due to curcumin, a diferuloylmethane. This agent has been shown to regulate numerous transcription factors, cytokines, protein kinases, adhesion molecules, redox status and enzymes that have been linked to inflammation. The process of inflammation has been shown to play a major role in most chronic illnesses, including neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. In the current review, we provide evidence for the potential role of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of various proinflammatory chronic diseases.
These features, combined with the pharmacological safety and negligible cost, render curcumin an attractive agent to explore further.
Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2008 Jul 9.
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Vitamins 'could shorten lifespan'...
...may be they don't!
I'll try to read the complete report, then
I might be able to comment on this.
For now I just note that vitamin C didn't
do bad things and vitamin D is not mentioned.
ikod
...I'm not sure, really, that vitamin supplements could 'shorten' lifespan...
at least at the very beginning of life!
Canada rules.
Prenatal multivitamin supplementation and rates of pediatric cancers: a meta-analysis.
Goh YI, Bollano E, Einarson TR, Koren G.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toronto, and The Motherisk Program, Division of Clinical Pharmacology/Toxicology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Prenatal supplementation of folic acid has been shown to decrease the risk of several congenital malformations. Several studies have recently suggested a potential protective effect of folic acid on certain pediatric cancers. The protective role of prenatal multivitamins has not been elucidated. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the potential protective effect of prenatal multivitamins on several pediatric cancers. Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, Toxline, Healthstar, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies published in all languages from 1960 to July 2005 on multivitamin supplementation and pediatric cancers. References from all articles collected were reviewed for additional articles. Two blinded independent reviewers assessed the articles for inclusion and exclusion. Rates of cancers in women supplemented with multivitamins were compared with unsupplemented women using a random effects model. Sixty-one articles were identified in the initial search, of which, seven articles met the inclusion criteria. There was an apparent protective effect for leukemia (odds ratio (OR)=0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.50-0.74), pediatric brain tumors (OR=0.73, 95% CI=0.60-0.88) and neuroblastoma (OR=0.53, 95% CI=0.42-0.68).
In conclusion, maternal ingestion of prenatal multivitamins is associated with a decreased risk for pediatric brain tumors, neuroblastoma, and leukemia. Presently, it is not known which constituent(s) among the multivitamins confer this protective effect.
Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2007 May;81(5):685-91.
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So what about Vitamin D3? The scientific evidence is stacking up that it can prevent cancer and a multitude of diseases and that middle aged and older folks just can't make enough from sun exposure.
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So what about Vitamin D3? The scientific evidence is stacking up that it can prevent cancer and a multitude of diseases and that middle aged and older folks just can't make enough from sun exposure.
You name it! [:D] [;D] [;)]
A little help from the sun, probably working in the long run, in a limited number of patients...why not?
It certainly wouldn't be such a "New!!!" discovery.
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=4987.0
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That was a good article from LEF. I make my own vitamin C serum as well. Can you list the ingredients and amounts for your serum?
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That was a good article from LEF. I make my own vitamin C serum as well. Can you list the ingredients and amounts for your serum?
Uh? [???]
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Now, for the good news about TURMERIC EXTRACT:
This week, I am going to suggest that you look to obtain at least 60 mg per day of turmeric extract, but may I suggest, that the benefits I am suggesting in this e-newsletter are going to be realized in the neighborhood of 600 to 1000 mg per day.
Hello,
I have just discovered about the beneficial effect of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of several phatologies and I have every intention to add this substance as a supplement to my diet. I understand that this extract has low bioavailability, so to avoid having to ingest massive amounts of the turmeric spice, I was thinking that maybe it would be preferable to opt for curcumin-based supplements with high bioavailability? On the Internet I found suggestions about some capsules called "Curcu-Gel", but I am not sure if this product is safe or is the best available option.
Could anyone please advise about the efficacy of the curcumin-based supplements commercially available and maybe suggest some product names, to avoid ending up purchasing any unsafe products from scam online shops?
Thanks a lot in advance for your help.
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Hi AGN,
welcome to this forum: you may search for discussions about curcumin even here...
I am not an expert, but I read periodically clinical reports about curcumin in any sort of disease.
My personal opinion is that we can rely on curcumin powder only, this is what has been used in clinical research so far.
Curcumin is poorly absorbed, but 2-4gr/day is the dosage frequently reported...and it's NOT toxic.
It seems a bit too early to test on ourselves new "manipulations" of the old natural spice.
Take care
ikod
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Hi Ikod!
Time to start looking for curcumin-based recepies on the Internet then!
Thanks a lot!
AGN