Category Archives: Nutritional Supplements

Monthly Nutrition Update

Starting today, I will be reviewing the most important papers each month (in my opinion) from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . The first issue, Volume 85, Number 1, has a number of excellent studies.

Risk Assessment for vitamin D by Hathcock, Shao, Vieth, and Heaney – In this review article, the authors believe that vitamin D is much safer than previously thought. While high doses are dangerous, 800 I.U.’s daily for adults and 400 for children seem to be safe (higher levels were deemed safe but I like to keep things a little saner).

Normal-weight obese syndrome: early inflammation? by De Lorenzo, et al – The authors of this study propose that people with normal weight but high fat content (>30%) are at a higher risk of becoming obese than those with lower fat levels. They further report that adipose tissue (fat tissue) harbors more pro-inflammatory cytokeines which leads to a greater risk of being obese later in life. This seemingly makes the case that an increase in exercise and a lowering of body fat is protective against obesity especially among younger people.

Supplementation with calcium + vitamin D enhances the beneficial effect of weight loss on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations by Major, et al – When going on a weight loss program, the addition of calcium and vitamin D helps to improve your lipid profile (cholesterol, HDL and LDL).

Folate and vitamin B-12 status in relation to anemia, macrocytosis, and cognitive impairment in older Americans in the age of folic acid fortification by Morris, Jacques, Rosenberg and Selhub – This excellent study shows that when vitamin B-12 is deficient, high folic acid was associated with anemia and cognitive impairment. When B-12 was normal, folic acid was associated with protection against cognitive impairment. This means that a balance between the two nutrients is as important as having enough of either one. Two assess your levels of these two nutrients, I suggest a urine Organix test from MetaMetrix . The two markers are FIGLU (folic acid marker) and Methylmalonate (B-12).

Carbohydrate intake and HDL in a multiethnic population by Merchant, et al – Basically, the bottom line of this study was the suggestion that decreasing the intake of sugar-containing soft drinks and juices as well as snacks would be highly beneficial to improving you blood fat profile.

Are Multivitamins Really Dangerous?

Last week, MSNBC.com, headlined a study published on the website ConsumersLab that had found that a few popular multivitamins were not up to snuff. Instead of publishing a fair and honest headline that reported what had really been found, the writers decided to make up a sensational headline questioning whether vitamins were safe.

What really was found was that one multivitamin actually contained 15 milligrams of lead!!! That is way more than should ever be found in any supplement but only the women’s multi from Vitamin Shoppe contained lead. Also, a couple of children’s vitamins contained twice the levels of vitamin A claimed on the label. These findings are why the industry needs to better police itself against poor quality supplements.

Shame on the manufacturers of these poor quality supplements. Those of us in the industry don’t need this type of garbage. To the general public, demand that the supplements you buy are being tested for purity and quality and ask for the reports.

Antidepressants and Bone Health

In a recent study published in this past Monday’s Archives of Internal Medicine , researchers report that people taking antidepressant drugs like Zoloft have more than double the risk of bone fracture than people not taking the drug. This is just one of many studies showing the potential problems with this class of drugs.

What interests me is why many physicians refuse to look at alternatives that are well researched such as amino acids. There is ample science behind the use of these basic building blocks of life. One book I highly recommend to anyone interested in using amino acids to improve their health is “The Healing Nutrients Within ” b Dr. Eric Braverman. This is the third edition of an important work first authored by the legendary Dr. Carl C. Pfeiffer which I recommended earlier today.

Other nutrients like zinc, magnesium, potassium and many B-complex vitamins are also helpful in restoring brain health. With all of the risks surrounding antidepression drugs, why not try other, cheaper and safer alternatives?

The Healing Nutrients Within – A Must Have Book

This highly informative book in its third edition, is a veritable treasure trove of information about amino acids, the basic building blocks of life. I believe that everyone interested in their personal health and well being must have this book on their shelves. It is well-written, easy to understand yet based in science. Orignally authored by the legendary Carl C. Pfeiffer, this book was recently updated by Dr. Eric Braverman, M.D.

The Healing Nutrients Within: Facts, Findings, and New Research on Amino Acids

This Weeks Nutrition Update

Inverse Association between Serum Methylmalonic Acid Levels and Cognitive Function in the Elderly – Elevated methylmalonate in urine is a strong marker for vitamin B12 deficiency. In this study, there was a strong relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency and poor cognitive function in elderly subjects. Due to poor gut performance as we get older, it is not surprising to see this outcome. Supplementation with a good multivitamin/mineral is recommended.

Higher Total Folate Intake May Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Older Persons – This study looked at the relationship between dietary intake of vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid and found that only folate intake was related to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. While there may be no causative relationship, I would certainly hedge my bet by supplementing with a high-quality B-complex.

Long-Term Folic Acid Supplementation Improves Cognitive Function in Older Subjects – Another well done study that seems to suggest the real value of folic acid and brain function in the elderly.

Higher Dietary Intake of Heme Iron and Red Meat May Increase Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Women with Type 2 Diabetes – Women with Type 2 Diabetes should think twice before having that steak or hamburger. Lowering your dietary intake or red meat to once or twice a week seems highly prudent. Also, make sure any supplements you take contain less than 15 mg of iron in a daily dose. In addition, the next time you go to your physician for a checkup, make sure he looks at your iron level when he orders a blood test for you.

High Dose Zinc Supplementation May Negatively Affect Certain Aspects of Urinary Physiology – While zinc is an important trace mineral, this study suggests, and I concur, that over supplementation may not be beneficial. 40 milligrams a day is adequate but testing your levels would be the smartest thing to do. an RBC mineral test from Doctor’s Data or MetaMetrix is the best way to assess your mineral levels.

Serum Uric Acid Levels Associated with Risk of Incidence of Hypertension – Uric acid is one of your body’s top antioxidant compounds. When it becomes elevated, I believe that your body is telling you it needs help in protecting itself from oxidative stress which can lead to hypertension. Adding a broad spectrum of antioxidants like vitamin C, E, selenium or Acai (OptiAcai only) is the best way to go.

Supplementation with the Probiotic Lactobacillus Reuteri May Improve Colicky Symptoms in Breastfed Infants – Adding probiotics are an excellent way of helping colicky babies get relief. You can get it in a powder form from your local health food store (make sure it is refrigerated).

For more information about these studies and others like it, go to the Clinical Pearls Database .

Weekly Nutrition Update

Dietary Sodium Intake and Asthma: An Epidemiological and Clinical Review – In this paper, the researchers from Indiana University suggest that lowering sodium intake would be beneficial to asthma sufferers. This is not surprising to me as sodium is known to constrict tissue, in this case the lungs, which is one of the problems people with asthma have. I would be interested in seeing whether an increase in the intake of potassium would also be beneficial as that mineral is helpful in relaxing tissue.

Effects of a Low-Carb Diet (with and without soluble fiber supplementation) on LDL Cholesterol Levels and Other Markers of Cardiovascular Risk – Thirty study subjects in who were put on a low carbohydrate diet were found to reduce body weight, percentage of body fat, systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, plasma glucose, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels among both subjects given a soluble fiber supplement as well as those given a placebo. LDL cholesterol levels reduced more significantly and more rapidly among subjects taking the soluble fiber supplement. Another excellent reason to try a low carb diet if you are obese or overweight.

Curcumin – the active ingredient in Turmeric – May Help Correct Cystic Fibrosis – I have to tell you, curcumin is quickly becoming my favorite herb. Aside from the flavor it provides to many foods, it has been extremely beneficial in a number of different inflammatory conditions and here, the study authors suggest it may be helpful in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis. While the study represents research in the earliest stages (animal model), it is worth trying as this herb has very few known side effects.

Risk of Mortality due to Cardiovascular Disease Increases as Blood Glucose Levels Increase – Controlling your blood sugar is always important but as this study suggests, it may be even more important if you are at risk or, or already have cardiovascular disease. In other words, cut out the extra sugar and especially high-fructose corn syrup which I feel is the number one food additive that needs banning.

Supplementation with Ginger May Benefit Diabetics – The herb ginger was found to be beneficial in lowering lipid peroxidation, a common problem amongst diabetics as well as increasing plasma antioxidant capacity.

Long-Term Supplementation with Vitamin D and BMD in Adults and Adolescents on Anti-Epileptic Drugs – As some of you may know, my daughter Tasya has epilepsy and based upon this study, increasing her vitamin D intake should decrease the risk of developing low bone density when she gets older. Vitamin D is increasingly becoming one of the most important nutrients to take on a daily basis.

Food Alone May Not Provide Sufficient Micronutrients to Prevent Deficiency in Athletes and Non-Athletes – With our nutrient depleted food supply, this study does not surprise me one bit. In my 21+ years in the field of health and nutrition, and the 38,000 lab tests I’ve reviewed, rarely do I see anyone who would not benefit from the addition of nutritional supplements.

Nutrition News for the Week

Folic Acid Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis – In this study the authors found no conclusive evidence that folic acid supplementation reduced cardiovascular disease because they steadfastly refuse to understand or address the concept of biochemical individuality. While the population as a whole may not show statistically significant benefits, individuals with certain characteristics may show massive reductions in cardiovascular disease by supplementing folic acid. Another reason why scientific research into nutritional supplementation is so poor.

Leading an Active Lifestyle Substantially Lowers the Risk of Future Coronary Heart Disease in Apparently Healthy Men and Women – From the University of the Obvious, these authors conclude that an active lifestyle equates to a healthier one. Also, they determined the sky was blue and the oceans are wet.

Drinking Coffee May Lower Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma – For you coffee drinkers out there (caffeinated only) it seems that 28 cups a week reduced the risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by 60% over 2 cup a day drinkers. Still, that much coffee will demineralize you and potentially cause a whole lot of other health problems.

L-Carnitine Attenuates Oxidative Stress in Hypertensive Rats – As if we needed more research showing the enormous benefits to L-Carnitine supplementation, this study clearly illustrates the benefits both cardiovascularly and hepatically (liver) of the use of this remarkable nutrient.

Mixture of Micronutrients May Enhance Immunity in Healthy Persons, While Bovine Colostrum Concentrate Found to Have No Such Effect – In this study we see that adding vitamins C and E, beta carotene (A) and zinc improved immune function while bovine colostrum did not. While the benefits were small, it seems to be another reason to take a good broad spectrum multimineral/vitamin supplement every day.

Supplementation with Melatonin May Benefit Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome – In this somewhat small study, it looks like melatonin supplementation may have a number of benefits to IBS patients, especially in improving their quality of life.

Consumption of Fructose May Lead to Elevated Triglyceride and Glucose Concentrations – High-fructose corn syrup is a food item I would love to see banned from our store shelves right after trans fats and this study suggested that this sweetener may increase the risk for coronary heart disease. We should all make a concerted effort to stop buying products containing high-fructose corn syrup.

Supplementation with Ginkgo biloba May Protect Against Ovarian Cancer – This study showed a major reduction in the risk of developing ovarian cancer among regular ginkgo biloba users and non-users. The reduction was 67% which is quite staggering. If your a women concerned about ovarian cancer, start taking ginkgo today.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids May Stimulate and Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Inhibit Prostate Cancer Growth – Since the western diet is high in Omega-6 fatty acids (despite the insane ravings of a so-called expert in the field of fatty acids), this study makes the case that we need to seriously change our dietary patterns to reduce men’s risk of developing prostate cancer. Regular Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may be very beneficial in reducing the risk of developing this common cancer.

First Nutrition Update of 2007

Long-Term Supplementation with Zinc May Exert a Beneficial Effect – This study was done on the effects of zinc on macular degeneration. While somewhat poorly designed, this study does seem to suggest once again that zinc supplementation is beneficial in preventing macular degeneration.

Inadequate Intake of Vitamins and Minerals May Lead to Mitochondrial Decay and Degenerative Diseases of Aging – Basically, Dr. Bruce Ames, on of the world’s foremost biochemists shows that nutritional supplementation is critical in slowing down the aging process. His opening comment in the abstract says: “Inadequate dietary intakes of vitamins and minerals are widespread, most likely due to excessive consumption of energy-rich, micronutrient-poor, refined food. Inadequate intakes may result in chronic metabolic disruption, including mitochondrial decay.”

Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Benefit Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis – Another excellent study showing the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.  Remember to get your fatty acids from a reliable source (e-mail me for more info at schauss at carbonbased dot com).

Effects of Folic Acid Supplementation on the Development of Breast Cancer – This provocative study suggests that excessive folic acid supplementation may increase the risk of breast cancer. This finding may be why green tea has been found to be beneficial in breast cancer prevention as it blocks a folic acid enzyme.

Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Serum Markers of Cardiovascular Disease – This review suggests that the major cardiovascular marker benefited from Omega-3 fatty acids is triglycerides. This fat went down an average of 27 mg/dL which was quite significant. HDL, LDL and total cholesterol showed far less change.

Use of Cod Liver Oil Inversely Associated with Symptoms of Depression – Maybe Mom was right in telling you to take your cod liver oil. The authors of this study conclude, “The findings indicate that regular use of cod liver oil is negatively associated with high levels of depressive symptoms in the general population.”

Elevated Homocysteine Levels Associated with Erectile Dysfunction – Instead of taking expensive drugs to improve erectile dysfunction, maybe taking B-complex nutrients in order to lower homocysteine is a better idea.

Vitamin E Supplementation May Benefit Athletes – This study suggested that athletes would benefit greatly from additional vitamin E supplementation. I would further suggest that they would have seen better results if they used a mixture of gamma- as well as alpha-tocopherol.

Turmeric Supplementation Holds Potential for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis – The more I look into tumeric and circumin, the more I believe in these herbs in the treatment and control of inflammatory disorders. After my Achilles tendon surgery, I have had great results with tumeric and circumin.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Prevent Sudden Death – In this remarkable study, it was determined that Omega-3 fatty acids are more beneficial than many other, more traditional treatments and medical devices. The authors said that: “Based on central values of candidacy and efficacy, raising omega-3 fatty acid levels would have about eight times the impact of distributing AEDs (automated external defibrillators) and two times the impact of implanting ICDs. Raising omega-3 fatty acid levels would also reduce the rates of sudden death among the subpopulation that does not qualify for ICDs (implanter cardioverter defibrillators).”

Please go to www.Vitasearch.com to get more details and the full information about all the studies in today’s blog.

Supplements Aren’t Going Away

There are a few chicken little fear mongerers who are claiming that the Dietary Supplement and Non-Prescription Drug Consumer Protection Act (the “AER bill”), S. 3546, just passed by Congress, will somehow cut back on our ability to access nutritional supplements. These are the same crackpots who claimed Codex Alimentarus was going to do the same thing in January, July, August, September, October and December of 2004.  Guess what?  It didn’t happen.  The fear mongers are looking for handouts and attention and care little about the truth.

The utter stupidity of their claims sounds more like conspiratorial theorists who claim alien domination of world governments. They claim that because the Natural Products Association, uses the same law firm as a couple of pharmaceutical companies, that they are nothing more than a front for Big Pharma. So I guess if you use a lawyer from a firm that defended a murderer, you too are implicated in that crime.  Pretty pathetic argument wouldn’t you say?

The fact of the matter is, the nutritional supplement industry needed this bill to be passed to show that we can govern ourselves and protect the public from sham artists and other quacks in our industry. The bill simply states that in case of severe adverse reactions to supplements a reporting mechanism needs to be in place for the manufacturers of the products, not the retailers. For more details and the true story, go to the Natural Products Association website and learn what really is going on.

Weekly Nutrition Update

Beta-Carotene May Help to Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease in People with a Certain Genotype – This interesting report suggests that people with the ApoE4 allele (arginine versus cysteine) would benefit from adding beta-carotene to their daily regime.  The protection is against developing Alzheimer’s disease.  Given this research I would certainly test for the gene.

Intake of Whole Grains and Fish Linked to Lower Risk of Asthma in Children – With the high rates of asthma in today’s world, this study suggests that children fed more whole grains and fish versus refined carbs and red meat have a lower rate of developing asthma. This common sense study should make the parents of all children sit up, take notice and change their childrens diet right away.

Curcumin Protects Against Gamma-Radiation Induced DNA Damage – The more and more I read about this herb, the more I am convinced that it should be part of everyones daily regime.

High-Dose Folic Acid Improves Endothelial Function in Coronary Artery Disease, Independent of Its Homocysteine Lowering Effect – If you aren’t taking a minimum of 400 mcg of folic acid a day, go get a big stick and whack yourself in the head.  Then, get in your car and go to the health food store and get some folic acid right away.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine May Benefit Patients with HIV and AIDS through Antioxidant Action – Carnitine is another essential nutrient that should be taken on a regular basis.  If you need more convincing, go get the book “The Carnitine Miracle” by my good friend Robert Crayhon,  It is a true timeless gem of a book.

Intake of Fruits and Vegetables Protects Against Oxidative Damage – Yes, your mother was right; eat your veggies. Is more research really needed to drive home the need for the addition of more fruit and vegetable into our diet?

Diagnosis and Treatment of Vitamin B12 Deficiency – This study clearly suggests that 1 mg of B12 daily over a 2-3 month period is quite successful in treating B12 deficiency. If you are a vegetarian, you should be aware that you are likely not to get enough B12 from your diet so you absolutely need to supplement this essential vitamin.