LifeCare Chiropractic

The Best Chiropractic Care in Mesa, Arizona

dietary supplements

Kidney Damage From Aristolochic Acid in Dietary Supplements – (07-17-00)

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Kidney Damage From Aristolochic Acid in Dietary Supplements

I always recommend consulting a physician knowledgeable in natural medicine before taking any herbal products. Don’t trust the commissioned employee at the big chain stores with only a few hours of training with your health.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sent letters to healthcare professionals and industry officials warning them of the possibility that certain botanical products, including some dietary supplements, contain aristolochic acid and may cause kidney toxicity. “Aristolochic acids,” the FDA said, “are potent carcinogens and nephrotoxins that are present, primarily, in plants of the family Aristolochiaceae.” These types of plants are used in traditional Chinese medicines and may be found in some dietary supplements.

Content versus label claims in ephedra-containing dietary supplements – (05-20-00)

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Content versus label claims in ephedra-containing dietary supplements

Being that ephedra has lead to numerous deaths as a weight loss method, the finding that levels of ephedra in various supplements do not match the label, with the actual levels being many times higher in some cases.

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Fish or Fish Oil Supplements? 4 Things to Know

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At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I’ll say it again: NOTHING is as powerful as lifestyle changes for lowering your risk of chronic disease.

That being said (again…), I do believe that supplementation plays a role in health, but it can never replace a poor quality lifestyle.  Which brings us to this fish story in this particular study.  Researchers looked at a small group of overweight and obese participants and looked to see how much fish intake and fish oil supplements could affect the levels of high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin (a hormone that has anti-diabetic properties).  Here are the details:

  • The supplements contained 1.8 g of EFAs and the diet was matched to contain the same amount in fish.
  •  Adiponectin increased by 0.29μg/mL in the fish group.
  • Adiponectin decreased by 0.60μg/mL in the fish oil ‘supplement.

Basically, there was a distinct difference in the supplement versus the dietary group.  The fish eating group moved away from diabetes (at least as far as adiponectin levels were concerned) while the supplement group moved towards diabetes.

Confusing, huh?

Here are my thoughts:

  1. First, much like anything else, supplements are not designed to work in a vacuum.  In other words, a crappy, processed lifestyle loaded with omega-6 fats will not be counterbalanced by any amount of fish oil supplementation.
  2. The processing of fats in our bodies is complex and requires balance between omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids.  Mother Nature provides the best balance.  Make sure your fish oil supplement contains the omega 6 GLA (black currant, borage oil or evening primrose).  If not, you may generate inflammation rather than protect against it.
  3. Fish oils can become oxidized in our bodies if we are burdened by oxidative stress from a poor quality lifestyle.  A diet loaded with protective phytonutrients from a large array of fruits, veggies and spices will help protect the fats that you take in, whether from a supplement or fish.
  4. Fish does not just contain “fish oil.”  For example, the pink color of salmon comes from the protective carotenoids they eat (the carotenoid most of us are aware of is beta-carotene, that gives carrots their orange color).  These additional protective compounds will help you avoid situation “3” above.

So, before you run to the cabinet and toss the fish oil supplements, don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater.  Consider all of the factors noted above and make sure that you are taking your fish oils in the proper context.  That means a good quality fish oil with a blend of omega 3, 6 and 9 as well as an overall good quality lifestyle loaded with protective compounds from your diet.  Feel free to download a free copy of my Lifestyle Recommendations ebook by clicking here.

Awareness of the Risks of Heatstroke and Dietary Supplements – (08-22-02)

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Awareness of the Risks of Heatstroke and Dietary Supplements

This article points to the finding that amphetamine derivatives and creatine may contribute to dehydration and heatstroke in football players. Although creatine does appear to be one of the few “wonder meathead supplements” (as opposed to whey protein, chromium, DHEA and androstenedione) that actually have research supporting their use in athletic and fitness training, caution should always be observed. I am strongly against their use in anyone younger that 18 (i.e. out of high school). Prior to this age the system is still growing and potentially more sensitive to insults and/or abnormal muscle growth that may affect tendons and ligaments in the future.

The Neurosurgeon in Sport: Awareness of the Risks of Heatstroke and Dietary Supplements

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EFFECTS OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS – (03-17-08)

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Effects of dietary supplements on depressive symptoms in older patients

As such a simple and cost effective approach, I am continually surprised at how many new patients coming into my office do not take a multi. I’ve even had patients bring in bags of supplements they are taking, but no multi. Seems a little backwards to me..the MVM should be the first supplement on the list to be taken. How to differentiate good MVM from poor quality ones is a topic for another Update, however.

In this study, a simple approach like taking a MVM is a very sick older population resulted in positive changes in depression scores, regardless of how severe the depression was. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Read entire article here