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Mesa, AZ 85210
(480) 839-2273
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PAINFUL COMBINATION – STATINS FOR CHOLESTEROL AND ARTHRITIS
I just left a meeting where I found out one of our members had been hospitalized for kidney failure following rhabdomyolysis (muscle damage). The first thought to pop into my mind was statins. This may or not have been the case, but it is a well known association with taking statins to lower cholesterol.
Since their introduction, the statin class of drugs (think Lipitor, Crestor) has been on a pedestal. By 2003, Lipitor was the best selling drug in history. Just like every drug, the statin class of drugs has a dark side and contributes to conditions such as muscle damage, heart damage, liver and kidney problems, diabetes and cancer.
The sad part about all this is that basically, statins absolutely suck at preventing a first heart attack (the data is somewhat better for 2nd heart attacks, but still trumped by dark chocolate…). There is no other way to describe it. I have review the absolute effectiveness of statins in previous posts. Compare this to the effects of natural approaches:
- Nuts to lower cholesterol
- Berries to improve and protect your heart
- Honey helps to protect the heart
The bottom line is that statins are a very ineffective at preventing a first heart attack (overall, lowers absolute risk of having a heart attack about 1%, the risk of dying from a heart attack even less) and there are natural approaches that are much more effective and safer and cheaper. Worse, there are side effects that are high prevelant and occasionally life threatening.
However, if none of the above side effects really concern you, here’s a new one to add: Damaging rheumatoid arthritis.
In this particular study, researchers found a strong association (absolute 7.3% increase–that means an extra 7 cases of RA for every 100 patients treated with statins) between statin use and rheumatoid arthritis. Keep in mind that RA is one of the most debilitating forms of arthritis.
All because of the use of a drug that will make your numbers look better, but don’t actually fix anything. Lifestyle is the ONLY thing that can do that.
TONING UP OR DOWN THE ENTIRE BODY’S IMMUNE RESPONSE – (01-15-07)
The gut-joint axis: cross reactive food antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis
While the research has supported this for some time, clinicians have been slow to catch up. Bottom line is that the GI tract has a strong ability to tone up or tone down the entire body’s immune response. Insult the GI tract too much with food allergies and a signal will go out to the rest of the body that we’re under attack, raising our overall defense and increasing likelihood of our body mistakenly attacking our own cells. An elimination diet is absolutely essential for anyone with an autoimmune disease.
Additionally, our view of autoimmune disorders is changing. While we have always viewed AI conditions as dysfunctions of the immune system that need to be surpressed, evidence is increasing that the immune system is actually doing what it’s supposed to be doing, but that the tissues themselves (DNA in Lupus, myelin sheat in MS, Type II collagen in RA…) are being excessively damaged. This is what needs to be fixed, not the immune system.
HOW DO WE SAVE MASS AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR MEDICARE??
HOW DO WE SAVE MASS AMOUNTS OF MONEY FOR MEDICARE?? We make sure that the surgeries we do on seniors with lumbar spine arthritis are not merely to make money for the surgeons.
In a study spanning 5 years on seniors with lumbar spinal stenosis (an advanced degenerative condition of the lumbar spine), the number of complex (multilevel) fusions went up FIFTEEN times!! Sounds great if this was a better surgery than a simpler one, but unfortunately this is not even close–there was triple the risk of life threatening complications with the complex fusion. The price tag for this fiasco? $50,000 more for the complex surgery. Wow.
Good thing they need to hammer down on chiropractic claims. Wouldn’t want some evil chiropractor to rip Medicare off for $250…especially since our office uses Flexion Distraction which can be very successful for treatment of stenosis.
IS THE ARTHRITIS IN MY SPINE THE CAUSE OF MY PAIN?
IS THE ARTHRITIS IN MY SPINE ON MY MRI THE CAUSE OF MY PAIN? This article finds little correlation between arthritis on CT scan and pain. The concept of arthritis causing pain is something I deal with every day. Having a patient tell me “my doctor said I have arthritis” is common.
The problem is it that just because you have arthritis (spinal or otherwise), it does NOT mean you have to have pain or that the arthritis is even causing the pain. Can’t tell you how many times an “arthritic knee” was completely pain free in 3-4 visits. Did the arthritis get fixed? Of course not–it just wasn’t what was causing the pain in the first place. Before anyone has anything done because they “have arthritis” I would strongly recommend they find someone adept at soft tissue manipulation work on the problem spot. You might be surprised at the results.
LUMBAR DISC PROBLEMS? YOU MAY HAVE THIS…
Nothing in the body happens in a vacuum. Every single systems interacts with every other system. People at increased risk for heart disease are at increased risk of colon cancer. Diabetes increases the risk for Alzheimers and Parkinsons. So what about disc degeneration / arthritis of the lumbar spine?
First of all, we need to understand what contributes to disc degeneration in the lumbar spine. Several factors have been identified. Genetics may play a role, but it’s likely to be the smaller role.
There are some strong associations between cardiovascular disease and disc degeneration. The inside 2/3 of the disc does not have its own blood supply, but rather gets its nutrients from small blood vessels in the bone of the vertebral body above and below. These small blood vessels may very likely be what links heart disease and disc degeneration.
Early atherosclerosis (plaquing of the arteries) due to cardiovascular disease, will reduce blood flow through these small blood vessels and thereby reduce nutrient delivery to the inside of the discs. In addition, the outer 1/3, which does have its own direct blood supply, will also be affected by this plaquing.
Less nutrients means less ability to heal which means a greater likelihood of breaking down faster. This leads to early onset disc degeneration. So what does this really mean?
It means that disc degeneration, because it is occuring throughout the body, is not going to be limited to only one area of the spine. Supporting this, this study finds links between lumbar disc degeneration and cervical disc degeneration. As a matter of fact, in those patients who had lumbar disc degeneration, almost every one (98%) had cervical disc degeneration.
However, in the control group who had neither low back or neck pain, 88.5% had disc degeneration in the cervical spine. Wow! That’s a really high number. Keep in mind these people were pain free, and yet the vast majority had “problems” found on MRI. Consider this next time your primary care doctor orders an MRI and refers you for a surgical consult…
MY DAD HAD LOW BACK PAIN, SO I GUESS I’LL GET IT
It is not an uncommon belief for a person to think that, because one or both of their parents suffered from low back pain that they, too, will suffer from low back pain. While genetics may play a role, it is nowhere near the most critical one.
This particular study on twins finds that genetics only play about a 11-13% role for patients who have both low back pain and lumbar disc degeneration. This means that there are other factors at play in the risk for developing low back pain.
In general, the better we take care of ourselves, the lower our risk of developing disc degeneration. This means adopting a lifestyle that avoids diabetes, exercising and maintaining flexibility through things like yoga.
You see, the discs of our spine do not have their own blood supply. Rather, they are fed nutrients through smaller blood vessels. So what happens if plague begins to form on these important blood vessels bringing nutrients to the disc? You guessed it–reduced nutrient delivery and the disc cannot keep up with physiological demands so it begins to break down.
So, protecting your heart will also protect these important blood vessels which will, in turn, protect the discs of your spine. Certainly other factors like imbalance, poor posture and past trauma play a role as well, but I do not feel that the role is as great as protecting the blood vessels that feed nutrients to our discs.
The lucky thing is that an anti-diabetic lifestyle just so happens to also be an anti-heart disease / pro blood vessel health lifestyle. See how nicely that works out? Just when you thought you were going to have to pick a disease you wanted to avoid with lifestyle..
Research Updates September 6, 2005
***Plasma Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein, a Strong Predictor for Acute Coronary Heart Disease Events in Apparently Healthy, Middle-Aged Men***
I frequently have patients come in with cholesterol that is just slightly elevated–maybe 210 or 220. There have been times that these patients have been doing everything else right and their cholesterol is just a little elevated. We need to remember that cholesterol does not do its damage until it gets damaged itself. This damage to LDL cholesterol creates a compound called an oxysterol and THIS is what does the damage. High intakes of fruits and veggies with lots of antioxidants can protect this cholesterol from becoming oxidized. We can see from this current study that these oxidized cholesterols really do increase risk greatly (up to 4x the risk).
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/112/5/651
***Docosahexaenoic acid: A positive modulator of Akt signaling in neuronal survival***
While this may get a little too deep into biochemistry for most of us, the bottom line is that certain types of healthy fats are protective to our brain. This is yet another reason to believe that many of our neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinson’s are indeed diseases of lifestyle. Less intake of healthy fats over a lifetime leaves brain cells more suseptable to damage and cell death.
http://www.pnas.org/cgi/content/abstract/102/31/10858
***Prenatal Anxiety Predicts Differences in Cortisol in Pre-Adolescent Children***
The implications for this are staggerring. Consider a few scenarios: pregnant mother told antidepressants are okay in the 3rd trimester, a pregnant mother under abnormal levels of stress, or an insulin resistant mother with abnormally high levels of cortisol. All of these scenarios lead to differing levels of neurotransmitters in the bloodstream. The developing fetus is bathed in these hormones. So, take the antidepressants–the developing fetus becomes used to abnormally high effectiveness of serotonin. Baby gets born, no more drugs and their brain now detects a serotonin deficiency, even though their is no true physiological deficit. Run the same scenario for a stressed out mom with high cortisol levels. Not a good situation for the child, and this is one of the reasons I am a little pessimistic about our future generations’ risk of chronic diseases. I think we have yet to have scratched the surface of chronic diseases and shortened lifespans.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632230500377X
***Oxidative stress levels are raised in chronic fatigue syndrome and are associated with clinical symptoms***
There are probably many CFS patients out there that were convinced that their symptoms were “all in their head.” The common fault in this type of situation is thinking that, because a doctor ordered all the tests he or she were familiar with, the condition has no physical basis. What physicians should be thinking instead, would be what type of tests might explain some of the feelings that this patient is experiencing? The measurement of isoprostanes appears to be one of those tests..
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0891584905002121
***High Circulating Thyrotropin Levels in Obese Women Are Reduced after Body Weight Loss Induced by Caloric Restriction***
The fact that TSH levels increase with improper weight loss is nothing new–just thought I’d add it here as a reminder. Our physiology is incredible, and if you attempt weight loss by just cutting back calories, our bodies think starvation is at hand, and will reduce the metabolism in an effort to conserve energy. A weight loss program CANNOT focus on calorie restriction alone-you will end up worse than when you started.
http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/90/8/4659
***Cereal fiber and whole-grain intake are associated with reduced progression of coronary-artery atherosclerosis***
While this is not new news and is a quite consistent finding in the research, it does beg the question of how the high protein, “carbs are evil” crowd would respond…
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002870304005071
***Dietary beta-cryptoxanthin and inflammatory polyarthritis***
So we all know that fruits and veggies contain compounds that are good for us. Most noteable are the carotenoids–those compounds that bring the brilliant colors to fruits and veggies (reds, yellows, purples, blues…). But one glass of OJ can fight off rheumatoid arthritis? By half? Sometimes we really forget just how powerful Mother Nature is, but studies like this really bring the concept back home.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/82/2/451
This study finds that the addition of soluble fiber added to the diet increased both the amount of calcium absorption and the amount of bone density at 1 yr. I’m sure there are a multitude of other dietary factors that will also increase calcium utilization. Put this into the picture of cultures that have very low intakes of calcium and yet very low incidence of osteoporosis. We have become so programmed by the dairy industry that calcium from dairy is the end all and be all for bone health, that we have forgotten that there are many other dietary factors that go into bone health. Osteoporosis is a disease of lifestyle, NOT calcium deficiency.
We generally think of medical research as a good thing. Billions of dollars go into new approaches, new treatment, new methods of detection. But do they really change things? In many cases, the answer is no. How many untold billions have gone into AIDS research without anything even resembling a cure? Many cancers still have high mortality rates. This study reviews 50 years of technological advances in renal treatment, but finds no overall change in mortality rates. I’ve said it a thousand times before and I will continue to say it–prevention is infinitly better than a cure. Lets spend even a mere 10% of the large organizations’ budget (Amer Heart, Amer Cancer, Amer Diabetes) for prevention and we would see a huge return on investment in just a few short years. Does everyone know that Tylenol and ibuprofen damage the kidneys? Or that a large chunk of patients on dialysis got there because they took too much Tylenol? Probably not.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002934305002469
***Do drug samples influence resident prescribing behavior?***
Geez!! Does no one in the midst of this travesty see this as a problem? It’s almost laughable if it didn’t affect all of us so much. We’ve done study after study after study that confirms that YES–the drug companies’ advertising that both patients and doctors is effective at changing prescribing behavior. So do we stop it? No. We do another study to confirm the same thing. Is it just me, or is there a problem here. There’s no question that we recognize the problem in it’s illicit form–the drug pusher on the corner gives a small child their first taste of some drug and the child gets addicted. So where are the studies finding that drugs given to children on the playground influence future drug buying decisions on the playground? There are none–we take a strong proactive approach. So how does the behavior and relationship differ between prescribed and illicit drugs? Does it influence your decision to know that death by pharmaceutical is the leading cause of death in the US?
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000293430500197X
October 13, 2004
James Bogash,D.C.Mesa,AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com
Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate Inhibits Nuclear Factor-kappaB-Dependent Transcription in Hepatocytes, Possibly through Antioxidant Effect.
Sorry for the long title, but this one is interesting. NFkappaB is a transcription factor that promotes inflammation. By blocking NF kappa B’s action, the overall burden of inflammation can be lowered. In this study, it was shown that DHEA-s lowers the effect of KF kappa B, essentially producing an anti-inflammatory response. Why is this important? DHEA is produced by the adrenal cortex, but the production of this compound is affected by stress. More stress will produce cortisol instead of DHEA (called the “pregnonalone steal”). Follow the pattern out from there. JCEM — Abstracts: Iwasaki et al. 89 (7): 3449 http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/7/3449.
High Levels of Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products Transform Low-Density Lipoprotein Into a Potent Redox-Sensitive Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Stimulant in Diabetic Patients.
Okay, so maybe I’m on a kick for long titles detailing biochemistry for this Update… Actually, I couldn’t figure out how to shorten the title. When elevated glucose levels are present in the bloodstream they can irreversibly damage protein. Muscle, heart, heme…any protein. This is the idea behind checking hemoglobin A1C/glycosylated hemoglobin–it checks the damage occurring over the course of the 3-month lifespan of a RBC. So, it is becoming of concern that glycosylated proteins from our diet may have a negative impact on our health as well. Circulation — Abstracts: Cai et al. 110 (3): 285 - Click here for more information.
Lactobacillus GG Bacteria Ameliorate Arthritis in Lewis Rats.
Okay, so this is a rat study, but if there is anyone out there who still does not believe that the bacteria in the gut has the ability to modulate the inflammation in the body then they are as out of touch with the research as most clinicians. The bacterial flora (which is considered an organ system by some researchers) has a significant impact on our health through the modulation of the immune system, production of certain vitamins (B12, K), detoxification of xenobiotics, metabolic conversion of dietary compounds and territorial protective effects against pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites… We need to be viewing antibiotic use as a severely long term detrimental effect to overcome a short term problem (in most cases…). Lactobacillus GG Bacteria Ameliorate Arthritis in Lewis Rats — Baharav et al. 134 (8): 1964 — Journal of Nutrition - Click here for more information.
Study suggests hepatitis B vaccine increases risk of multiple sclerosis.
If there is someone out there that can give me a rational explanation as to why we are vaccinating newborns just minutes out of the womb for a virus that is transmitted through IV drug use, direct blood exposure or unprotected sex, I would love to be enlightened. (I can understand if the mother is HBV positive) Supporters would probably say that, at least these infants will be protected for the rest of their lives against hepatitis B. Guess again, studies are proving that the hep B vaccination immunity barely lasts five years (http://www.pidj.org/pt/re/pidj/abstract.00006454-200407000-00011.htm;jsessionid=BuBG8KjxfrUJM1AhH2iLt6bt7WvM2FWUeLHuDWv0RQjVbiKdJXSa!113108930!-949856032!9001!-1). Okay, the supporters would say…but at least the vaccine is totally safe…. Recombinant hepatitis B vaccine and the risk of multiple sclerosis: A prospective study — Hernán et al. 63 (5): 838 — Neuro.. Click here for more information.
Teaching dogs new tricks.
Sorry, but as the owner of 5 dogs (blame it on my wife….) I absolutely had to include this one. Read the commentary completely. It is about a dog’s ability to sniff out bladder cancer with consistent results. The results are absolutely staggering and amazing… Teaching dogs new tricks — Cole 329 (7468): 715 — BMJ - Click here for more information.
Mediterranean Diet, Lifestyle Factors, and 10-Year Mortality in Elderly.
I have been a strong supporter of the Mediterranean Diet for a long time and it’s great when studies come out suggesting a FIFTY PERCENT decrease in mortality with persons following a Mediterranean-type diet. Remember that the Med diet comes out of a culture that had a low mortality from many chronic diseases. The national organizations (AHA, ADA…) come up with a diet plan they THINK will help. And don’t think that special interests and the almightly dollar do not play a major role. JAMA — Abstract: Mediterranean Diet, Lifestyle Factors, and 10-Year Mortality in Elderly European Men and Women: The HALE Pr – Click here for more information.
Effect of a Mediterranean-Style Diet on Endothelial Dysfunction and Markers of Vascular Inflammation in the Metabolic Syndrome.
Same concept here applied to insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction (the lining of blood vessels..). JAMA — Abstract: Effect of a Mediterranean-Style Diet on Endothelial Dysfunction and Markers of Vascular Inflammation in the Metabolic Syndrome. Click here for more information.
Caffeine Ingestion Before an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Impairs Blood Glucose Management in Men with Type 2 Diabetes.
Caffeine is known to stimulate the adrenal glands to release medullary products (adrenalin/epinephrine) and this will cause an increase in glucose floating in the bloodstream. It may be by this mechanism that caffeine ingestion in this study blunted the body’s ability to get glucose out of the bloodstream. So, those of you out there that describe “coffee” as your breakfast, you may be doubly shooting yourself in the foot–release of adrenalin to break down lean muscle mass so the brain has fuel to function on, and caffeine to make sure that glucose hangs around in the bloodstream longer–not a good combination. Caffeine Ingestion Before an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Impairs Blood Glucose Management in Men with Type 2 Diabetes — Robi. Click here for more information.
Chronic asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation.
I came across this one in my musings and thought it was interesting. This is one of those issues that is pushed by some DCs but the evidence is not all there yet. This study found a 34% reduction in patient rated severity in their asthmatic symptoms–not something to be discounted lightly. My opinion? I think that there are patients whose asthma is mediated by the nervous system and will respond favorably to manipulation. And, since the safety of CMT is very, very high compared to the medications used to treat asthma, there is no disadvantage to attempting a trial period. However, I would also include a diet free of processed foods and refined carbs as well (which is probably why I won’t be invited to a clinical trial of a single modality any time soon…). Entrez PubMed - Click here for more information.
Randomized controlled open study of sublingual immunotherapy for respiratory allergy in real-life: clinical efficacy and more.
While we’re on the subject…another safe approach to respiratory problems is sublingual immunotherapy. This concept works by inducing oral tolerance via the immune system in the GI tract–the immune system cells lining the GI tract identify the compound being given sublingually, and then send a signal out to the rest of the body that this compound is NOT an invader, thereby lowering the immune response all throughout the body, including the respiratory tract. Randomized controlled open study of sublingual immunotherapy for respiratory allergy in real-life: clinical efficacy and more. Click here for more information.
Lower Toenail Chromium in Men With Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Compared With Healthy Men.
Hair and nails are an effective way to check for heavy metals and certain micronutrient status. Chromium is very effective for helping insulin do its job (chromium’s nickname is Glucose Tolerance Factor or GTF), so the findings in this study are really not a big surprise. But it is nice to see that higher chromium status (as measured by its presence in the nails) protects against diabetes and CVD.) Lower Toenail Chromium in Men With Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Compared With Healthy Men — Rajpathak et al. 27 (9): - Click here for more information.
November 3, 2003 Research Update
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com
Metformin on homocysteine, folate and vitamin B12 in type 2 diabetes.
This study found that metformin lowered folate and B12 levels with subsequent elevation of homocysteine. This is, of course, of concern. Considering diabetes’ strong predilection for CVD, supplementation of B12 and folic acid should be standard with metformin use (heck…even without metformin as well…). Considering that metformin is being used with increasing frequency for polycystic ovaries, this is another condition that supplementation should be included.
Click here for more information.
Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation in macrophages increases atherosclerosis in LDL receptor–deficient mice.
Here is yet another example of how complex the human body is and how screwing with physiology can lead to unexpected consequences. NF-kappaB is an upstream control substance that turns on many other aspects of the immune system, including TNF-alpha. This study finds that inhibition of NF-kappaB, thus suppressing the immune response, leads to INCREASED atherosclerosis in mice. If this is the case, what might the long term side effects of TNF alpha suppression in rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s be doing to a patient’s blood vessels??
JCI — Abstracts: Kanters et al. 112 (8): 1176. Click here for more information.
Comet assay w/ mouse organs: results with 39 currently used food additives.
Sucralose in this study showed DNA damage. Now, in total, many other studies have not shown this finding with sucralose. I do bring this study up to demonstrate that we do not yet know enough about this compound for me to recommend it to patients. For now I recommend avoiding it (and most likely this recommendation will stay…) just as with aspartame. The concern is that this sweetener is being used in more and more foods. Recently heard a commercial for “no sugar added” Ovaltine or something like that. Well–the “no sugar added” was a codeword for sucralose (Splenda). Remember that anytime we try to come up with a compound to avoid the lifestyle changes that we know we need to make (olestra, aspartame, “carb blockers”…) the results are usually less than perfect.
Entrez-PubMed. Click here for more information.
Herbal medicines put into context.
Finally!! An editorial in a major medical journal that brings to light that natural medicine is held to a much higher standard, and that the safety profiles of all natural products put together is incredibly low compared to their pharmaceutical counterparts.
bmj.com Ernst 327 (7420): 881. Click here for more information.
Panax ginseng.
Once again, American Family Physician provides an objective, complete review of a natural product. Ginseng is considered an adaptagen, meaning that is has the potential to brings things back to normal. In this case, “things” refers to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Ginseng has shown benefit in modulating our body’s response to stress. Too much stress and ginseng slows the enzymes that are overworking to produce cortisol; not enough adrenal activity and ginseng speeds up the enzymes to support healthy adrenal function.
Panax ginseng – October 15, 2003 – American Family Physician. Click here for more information.
The effects of fruit juices on drug disposition: a new model for drug interactions.
It’s interesting to note how many foods interact with the absorption and breakdown of certain drugs. It’s always important to note, however, that in all cases the drug is the invader and foreign compound. The food is just doing what Mother Nature intended for it to do–lower the levels and get rid of toxic compounds in the body.
Click here for more information.
“Failed back surgery syndrome”.
This one obviously hits home. Statistics show that 5-10% of patients undergoing back surgery for disc problems experience no relief. While these odds may seem pretty good, the number of back surgeries done in a year make the total number quite high. Roughly 10% of the population utilizes chiropractic services; it is entirely possible, based only on my personal experiences, that if utilization increased the number of patients going to surgery would drop dramatically. While chiropractic care is not always 100% affected, you can bet that, at the very worst, you will be in the same condition you presented with. You can’t say that with surgical procedures.
bmj.com Talbot 327 (7421): 985. Click here for more information.
The statin wars: why AstraZeneca must retreat.
If you would like a small peek into the complex and powerful realm of pharmaceutical manufacturing and marketing, this editorial should give you a taste. We begin to see how data is manipulated around not for the patient’s benefit, but rather for the bottom line of the shareholders.
The Journal : Back Issues. Click here for more information.
Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid inhibits tumour necrosis factor-alpha production by human leucocytes independently of cyclooxygenase activity.
I realize this is a long title, but this article demonstrates a potent anti-inflammatory action of DGLA (found in high levels in borage oil) via reduction in TNF-alpha levels. Recall the newest rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease drugs inhibit TNF-alpha action. I have strong concerns with long term use of these new drugs, especially when we are seeing more and more natural approaches that achieve the same ends without indiscriminate shutdown of an essential portion of the immune system that is known to fight off infections and cancer.
Click here for more information.
Insulin Resistance, Hyperleptinemia, and Impaired Nitric Oxide Release With In-Stent Restenosis.
Many patients have been saved open heart surgery by placing a stent in a blocked artery via a vein in the leg. Unfortunately, these stents have a high likelihood of closing back up in a relatively short period. The medical profession’s approach to this has been to use radioactivity and drug eluding stents (DES) in an attempt to halt or slow restenosis. However, many natural approaches have shown good results. These include B12, folic acid and B6 supplements. This article brings to light some other physiological conditions amenable to lifestyle changes that impact stent restensosis.
Circulation — Abstracts: Piatti et al. 108 (17): 2074. Click here for more information.
October 1, 2003 Research Update
James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com
The dendritic cell: its role in intestinal inflammation & relationship with gut bacteria
Frequent readers of the Updates will not be surprised at this information. However, the idea that the gut controls inflammation (usually too much such as in autoimmune conditions) has never taken hold in clinician’s offices. The use of probiotics, very simple, cheap and safe, is still limited to recommendations to eat yogurt after antibiotic use. We need to understand the the balance of the bacteria in the gut can have a huge impact on our overall health, and take this in context with every decision to pull out the script pad and write for antibiotics.
Gut — Abstracts: Stagg et al. 52 (10): 1522
Click here for more information
Prevalence of Diabetes and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Adults
I hate to keep calling this the “pink elephant in the corner,” but there’s no other way to describe this phenomena. We have a metabolic condition that wreaks havoc on just about every organ system and is very amenable to lifestyle changes, and yet most clinicians, their patients and the general public are total unaware that the Metabolic Syndrome even exists. I can’t even begin to come up with an explanation.
Prevalence of Diabetes and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Adults — United States, 1999–2000
Click here for more information
Long-Term Persistence of Resistant Enterococcus Species after Antibiotics To Eradicate H pylori
Frequent readers of Updates will know that I believe that H pylori, the bacteria that “causes” ulcers is merely an opportunistic bug–growing only because the environment for its growth is ideal. But, with reckless abandon, we have taken to destroying this little bug with a vengeance using triple regimines of antibotics. Now we are seeing some of the long term side effects of this approach. The growth of antibiotic resistant superbugs that can cause their own set of problems. Interestingly, H pylori growth has been shown to be slowed or reversed with probiotic supplementation–an approach that would seem contrary to current accepted approaches.
Ann Intern Med — Abstracts: Sjölund et al. 139 (6): 483
Click here for more information
A crucial role for thiol antioxidants in estrogen-deficiency bone loss
Osteoporosis is, in reality, a disease of lifestyle. Somewhere along the line we managed to convince the masses that it was all about calcium, and that milk was the answer. Well, it ain’t so easy (not to mention the fact that the countries with the highest intakes of dairy have the highest incidence of osteoporosis…). Here we see that heavy duty antioxidants such as glutathione plays a role in protecting bone, and that supplementation (albeit in a rat..) with NAC or vitamin C help regenerate glutathione and protect bone.
JCI — Abstracts: Lean et al. 112 (6): 915
Click here for more information
St John’s Wort on Drug Metabolism by Induction of Cytochrome P450
Wow!! What great news!! A natural product that speeds up hepatic detoxification!! Unfortunately, the medical community does not view this with the same enthusiasm. Remember that pharmaceutical drugs are considered toxins by the body and the liver moves quickly to help eliminate them from the body. St John’s Wort helps this process along. However, by speeding up this process the levels of other drugs may be reduced in the bloodstream, reducing their efficacy. Nothing to be alarmed about–just something to be aware of. Incidentally, the article fails to mention that every other antidepressant on the market has similiar effects on hepatic detoxification….
JAMA — Abstracts: Markowitz et al. 290 (11): 1500
Click here for more information
Affective style & in vivo immune response: Neurobehavioral mechanisms
Here we have another article that links mind and body. We already know that the mind and body have major impacts on one another. In this study, the researchers find that patients with a more negative impact on life have a reduced immune response. All the more reason to view each day with happiness and fun–it actually becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
PNAS — Abstracts: Rosenkranz et al. 100 (19): 11148
Click here for more information
Interaction of a selective COX-2 inhibitor w/ aspirin and NO-releasing aspirin in the human gastric mucosa
The dominoes of the newest wonder-drug for arthritis pain continue to fall. They don’t mention on those fairy-tale like commercials that combining the new drugs such as Celebrex and Vioxx with aspirin will accelerate damage to the lining of the GI tract. This is a major concern since many patients self-medicate with aspirin in an attempt to lower risk of heart attacks.
PNAS — Abstracts: Fiorucci et al. 100 (19): 10937
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Prediabetes in obese youth
I hate sounding like a broken record, but this review article stresses severe insulin resistance as a major player in the deterioration of our youth’s health. While genetics plays a small role, I place this blame squarely on the shoulders of parents. Much like an overweight dog, there really is no one else to blame. The programming of a child’s genes begins in the womb, is accentuated by nursing choices (with breast feeding being number one choice) and further worsened by blatant disregard for processed sugars in the diets of our kids. The schools do not help by trading spots in the hallways for pop machines and the “added funding” from the big companies, but these patterns are established long before the child begins school. We need to educate parents on healthy food choices.
The Journal : Back Issues
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Depression in Association With Severe Obesity
I have yet to have a new patient come into my office who was told to use lifestyle changes to address their depression. All were offered antidepressants with very few cases given recommendations for counseling. If clinicians could begin to suggest lifestyle changes, folic acid/B12 and exercise instead of jumping to the prescription pad we might see better management of depression. Ironically, one of the more commone side effects of some of the newer, fancier antidepressants is weight gain–further perputating the cycle. Does this not sound strange to you???
Arch Intern Med — Abstracts: Dixon et al. 163 (17): 2058
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The Metabolic Syndrome
Just so you don’t think I am overreacting to this “insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome” thingee I thought I would throw in yet ANOTHER article on how devastating this condition is to human health. Keep in mind that these 3 articles were all from vastly different medical journals. I say again, “There is absolutely, totally, unmistakably, NO reason for clinicians not to be evaluating for and addressing insulin resistance in every patient that walks through their door.” There is no other single intervention that could have as great of an impact from a societal level on human disease than this.
Circulation — Wilson and Grundy 108 (12): 1422
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C-Reactive Protein
This is a nice review of CRP from a cardiology journal. CRP is a marker of inflammation that has only recently been given the attention is deserves. I have found in my office that exercise and avoiding refined carbs are powerful ways to lower CRP levels. Most of the research now with CRP is focusing on current and new drugs’ abilities to lower CRP. News flash–who needs drugs when lifestyle changes have already been proven to work??
Circulation — Ridker 108 (12): 81e
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