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Friday, January 24, 2003
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Stress is mounting at work and at home for U.S. women, so much so that many lack the energy to pay attention to themselves or their relationships, a new study has found. Article
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12:41:42 PM 
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By Darin Ingels, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (January 23, 2003)—Children prone to mood swings and outbursts of anger may benefit from taking a high potency multivitamin-multimineral (MVM) supplement, according to a study in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology (2002;12:205–19). The findings of this study suggest that increasing the intake of certain nutrients may help normalize brain function in children who display signs of altered brain chemistry.
In this pilot study, nutritional intervention with a proprietary high potency MVM (E.M. Power) was evaluated on two children with a prolonged history of mood and anger problems. The first child was an 8-year-old boy diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit disorder, mood lability, and explosive rage. He demonstrated angry outbursts at least twice a day and was aggressive toward other children at school. His parents reported he was obsessed with guns and knives.
The second child was a 12-year-old boy with pervasive developmental disorder (a condition similar to autism in which social interactions and learning are impaired), plus severe attention-deficit, mood swings, and obsessive thoughts. Both children took 32 capsules per day of the MVM for four months. Measurements of mood and behavior were recorded daily by their parents, with periodic evaluations by their healthcare provider.
After four months of treatment, both boys had more stable moods, fewer and shorter angry outbursts, and a decrease in obsessive thoughts. However, the second child continued to have attention difficulties and was treated with methylphenidate (Ritalin®), which helped him maintain his focus in the classroom.
Both children’s parents discontinued treatment after several weeks of stable symptoms, but found that symptoms returned to initial levels shortly after stopping the therapy. After the MVM was started again, both boys’ symptoms significantly improved and a maintenance amount of eight capsules a day of the MVM was continued thereafter. Although both children improved significantly, neither child had complete resolution of their symptoms. No adverse side effects were reported in either child.
Several studies have shown a link between nutritional deficiencies and mood disorders. One study found that some people with depression have low blood zinc levels and that the severity of depression correlated with the severity of zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency has also been associated with attention deficit disorder in some children and aggressive behavior in male adults. Iron deficiency may contribute to irritability and aggression, as well. Other studies suggest that deficiencies in selenium or chromium may also play a role in mood and behavior problems.
Although this pilot study does not prove that nutritional supplementation will benefit all children with mood or behavior disorders, it suggests that some children may have an underlying nutritional deficiency or metabolic defect that can be overcome by taking the MVM complex. Taking 32 capsules a day of this specific product may be the greatest limitation, since many children may be unable to swallow that many pills. It is also unknown whether these boys would have had similar results if they had taken fewer capsules. Powder forms of the MVM may be more palatable for some children and could increase compliance. Since this was a proprietary formula, it is unknown whether these benefits would be seen with other types of high potency MVMs, especially at such high amounts. Taking 32 capsules of other MVMs could be potentially toxic and should therefore be avoided. Children taking conventional medications should consult a physician before taking high amounts of a MVM, to ensure that no drug-nutrient interactions risks exist.
Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP), received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. Dr. Ingels is the author of The Natural Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He currently is in private practice at New England Family Health Associates located in Southport, CT, where he specializes in environmental medicine and allergies. Dr. Ingels is a regular contributor to Healthnotes and Healthnotes Newswire.
Copyright © 2003 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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12:09:38 PM
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By Alan R. Gaby, MD
Healthnotes Newswire (January 23, 2003)—Supplementation with an extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) can relieve symptoms and improve lung function in people with asthma, according to a report in the European Respiratory Journal (2002;20:596–600).
In this double-blind study, 46 individuals with asthma who had never been treated with steroids were randomly assigned to receive two capsules of a lipid extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Lyprinol®) twice a day or a placebo for eight weeks. Compared with the placebo group, the group receiving Lyprinol experienced a significant decrease in daytime wheezing and a significant improvement in the ability to move air through the bronchial passages (peak expiratory flow rate). Participants receiving the mussel extract also had fewer nighttime awakenings and required less asthma medication than did participants in the placebo group, although these differences were not statistically significant.
Each capsule of Lyprinol contains a total of 50 mg of various omega-3 fatty acids. Some omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are found in fish oil, which has also been reported in some, but not all, studies to be beneficial for asthma sufferers. However, the amount of EPA and DHA needed to relieve asthma is far greater than the amount of omega-3 fatty acids used in the new study. That observation suggests that the beneficial effect of Lyprinol is due primarily to a lesser-known fatty acid, eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA), which occurs naturally in the green-lipped mussel.
Asthma is caused in part by inflammation of the airways, and some compounds that have anti-inflammatory activity are effective against asthma. ETA is said to be a more potent anti-inflammatory compound than EPA and DHA, the fatty acids present in cod-liver oil and other fish-oil supplements. In the new study, people receiving the mussel extract had a reduction in the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in their expired breath, indicating a decrease in the severity of airway inflammation.
Because of its anti-inflammatory effect, New Zealand green-lipped mussel extracts have also been used successfully to treat rheumatoid arthritis, although not all studies have found this treatment to be beneficial.
Side effects that have been reported with the use of green-lipped mussel extracts include dyspepsia, gout, skin rashes, and one case of hepatitis. These side effects were reported in the 1980s with other green-lipped mussel products that, conceivably, might have been contaminated with organisms or toxins from the ocean. While no significant side effects were reported with Lyprinol in the new study, additional research is needed to determine the long-term safety of this preparation.
Alan R. Gaby, MD, an expert in nutritional therapies, testified to the White House Commission on CAM upon request in December 2001. Dr. Gaby served as a member of the Ad-Hoc Advisory Panel of the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine. He is the author of Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis (Prima, 1994), and co-author of The Natural Pharmacy, 2nd Edition (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), the A–Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), Clinical Essentials Volume 1 and 2 (Healthnotes, 2000), and The Patient’s Book of Natural Healing (Prima, 1999). A former professor at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, in Kenmore, WA, where he served as the Endowed Professor of Nutrition, Dr. Gaby is the Chief Medical Editor for Healthnotes, Inc.
Copyright © 2003 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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12:07:52 PM
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A Healthnotes Newswire Opinion
By Alan R. Gaby, MD
Healthnotes Newswire (January 23, 2003)—A recent report from 11 poison control centers in the United States concluded that the use of dietary supplements is associated with a wide range of adverse side effects, ranging in severity from mild to life-threatening or even fatal (Lancet 2003;361:101–6). The report also suggested that the incidence of adverse reactions to supplements may be greater than is generally believed, because the surveillance systems that are in place to identify and record these reactions is inadequate. While there is no doubt that significant side effects can result from the use or abuse of some natural substances, particularly ones such as ephedra and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), the Lancet article has misrepresented and exaggerated the dangers of taking nutritional supplements.
The study was based on a review of telephone calls made in 1998 to 11 poison control centers, which serve a total of approximately 35 million Americans. During that year, 784 individuals reported symptoms after ingesting one or more nutritional supplements, herbs, or other natural substances. Of these callers, 489 (66%) were judged by the researchers as probably having had an adverse reaction to one or more dietary supplements. Some 71% of the reactions were considered mild, 22% were judged as moderate, and 6% were rated severe; 4 deaths occurred. Adverse events included heart attack, liver failure, bleeding, seizures, and coma. Supplements frequently associated with negative events included ephedra, ginseng, St. John's wort, chromium, melatonin, zinc, and GHB.
After reading this report, one might be left with the impression that an epidemic of unrecognized and sometimes dangerous side effects is emanating from the health food store; however, a careful review of the study suggests that, with a few exceptions, the situation is not that serious.
With regard to the majority of the substances discussed in the report, the poison control researchers have not made a convincing case for toxicity. For example, one case is described of a person who developed anemia after taking a multi-ingredient arthritis formula for an unspecified period of time. The investigators concluded that the zinc in this formula was the likely cause of the anemia. To support their opinion, they cited a published case report in which the ingestion of hundreds of milligrams of zinc per day for more than 18 months resulted in anemia. However, the product assessed by the poison control center almost certainly contained 50 mg or less of zinc, and was probably taken for a short period of time (the current study defined "long-term" use as greater than 8 hours). Short-term consumption of zinc does not cause anemia; nor has long-term ingestion of less than 100 mg of per day been reported to cause anemia. Moreover, the product evaluated by the researchers also contained copper, which is known to prevent zinc-induced anemia.
The investigators attributed nine skin rashes to the use of chromium supplements; however, nearly all chromium products they evaluated contained other ingredients besides chromium. To support their conclusion that chromium causes rashes, the authors cited a single published case report, in which a man developed dermatitis while taking a wide range of supplements, including chromium.1 The case report provided no credible evidence that the dermatitis was, in fact, caused by chromium. The patient described in that report did show a positive allergy skin test to industrial (hexavalent) chromium, a known cause of dermatitis. However, hexavalent chromium is a completely different compound than the nutritionally essential trivalent chromium, and the latter has not been associated with dermatitis in any other reports.
In another case, Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) was blamed for an epileptic seizure. The basis of that conclusion was a study in which a compound present in ginkgo seeds was found to inhibit the action of vitamin B6. Since severe vitamin B6 deficiency can cause seizures in infants, the researchers concluded that ginkgo was the probable cause of the seizure. However, there are two important problems with that reasoning: First, compounds that inhibit vitamin B6 are present naturally in some foods and are used widely in agriculture as herbicides and to accelerate the ripening of fruits and vegetables.2 These compounds do not appear to be inducing seizures in the general population. Second, the leaves of the ginkgo tree, not the seeds, are used in herbal products, and no evidence was presented that the leaves contain the vitamin B6 inhibitor. There is an extensive body of literature on the safety of ginkgo, and seizures have not been reported as a side effect.
Poison control centers have little access to the medical records of people who call with questions and concerns; nor do they typically have an opportunity to obtain follow-up information on people who have contacted them. Therefore, they would not know if the anemia they attributed to zinc turned out to be due to a tumor, or if the skin rash they blamed on chromium was really caused by a new brand of soap. These limitations appear to have been compounded by their admitted lack of familiarity with, and apparently poor understanding of, nutritional and herbal medicine.
The study did appropriately call attention to the potential dangers of ephedra and GHB. Ephedra, an herb that is frequently used to promote weight loss and as a stimulant, can cause serious problems when used in excessive amounts. On the other hand, ephedra appears to be relatively safe when used at the recommended doses. To be on the safe side, individuals wishing to take ephedra should be supervised by a doctor. Although GHB occurs naturally in the human body in small amounts, it is an addictive, psychoactive substance that has high abuse potential, and can cause serious and sometimes fatal reactions when taken in large amounts. This compound was banned from over-the-counter sale in 1998 and is currently a tightly regulated prescription medication (used to treat narcolepsy and alcoholism).
The study also correctly points out the need for better quality control in manufacturing (particularly in parts of the herbal industry), and better methods of surveillance and reporting of adverse events. The report also reminds us that not everything is safe, just because it is "natural." However, in some instances the researchers appear to have forayed beyond their area of expertise, and many of their conclusions are questionable.
References:
1. Fowler JF Jr. Systemic contact dermatitis caused by oral chromium picolinate. Cutis 2000;65:116.
2. Toth B. Actual new cancer-causing hydrazines, hydrazides, and hydrazones. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 1980;97:97–108.
Alan R. Gaby, MD, an expert in nutritional therapies, testified to the White House Commission on CAM upon request in December 2001. Dr. Gaby served as a member of the Ad-Hoc Advisory Panel of the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine. He is the author of Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis (Prima, 1994), and co-author of The Natural Pharmacy, 2nd Edition (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), the A–Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), Clinical Essentials Volume 1 and 2 (Healthnotes, 2000), and The Patient’s Book of Natural Healing (Prima, 1999). A former professor at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, in Kenmore, WA, where he served as the Endowed Professor of Nutrition, Dr. Gaby is the Chief Medical Editor for Healthnotes, Inc.
Copyright © 2003 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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12:06:39 PM
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There is nothing more annoying than false modesty. When someone compliments you for a job well done or a good quality you have, don't embarrass both of you by denying it. Say "thank you" and, if you want to return the favor, "Coming from you, that means a lot." [ via www.earlytorise.com ]
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11:51:05 AM
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© Copyright
2003
Rick@Leaders.net.
Last update:
2/5/2003; 2:57:32 PM.
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