LifeCare Chiropractic

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Vit E

VITAMIN E PROVIDES LONG LASTING PROTECTION – (11-07-05)

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A transient treatment of hippocampal neurons with alpha-tocopherol induces a long-lasting protection against oxidative damage via a genomic action

While this is a rat study, it does illustrate the potential problems that the recent attempt to scare everyone away from Vit E may have. Thousands of studies have shown a benefit for Vit E (normally given as alpha tocopherol) for a variety of conditions, and yet a recent review of a handful of studies reviewing ONLY alpha tocopherol supplementation (which is not recommended anyway–should give a mixed tocopherol product along w/ additional antioxidants such as Vit C) showed a very small potential increase in harm.

In this study, Vit E actually provided long lasting protection by changing the way the genes were being expressed.

Read entire article here

DOES VITAMIN E HAVE POWERFUL HEALTH EFFECTS? – (07-11-05)

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Cardioprotection with palm tocotrienol: antioxidant activity linked w/ its ability to stabilize proteasomes

As you all remember, tocotrienols are essentially vit E’s big cousin with some powerful health effects.  The tocopherols and tocotrienols hang out in the same circles and most of the best quality vit E supplements contain both of these substances.

But now, with all the negative attention on vit E, might we be trowing the baby out with the bathwater by telling everyone to avoid vit E?

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STRESS CAUSES GASTRIC MUCOSAL DAMAGE – (06-20-05)

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H pylori and stress on the augmentation of gastric mucosal damage and its prevention with á-tocopherol

Regular readers of the Updates will know that I feel that H. pylori infection is merely opportunistic as a result of predisposing factors such as stress, hypochlorhydria (which is a frequent side effect of chronic stress), reduced vit C intake, etc…

This article further supports my position, finding that mice subject to chronic stress have drastically worsened ulcers.  This situation was remedied with the addition, of Vit E (which, ironically, many would now believe will kill us as result of unbalanced media attention on slightly increased mortality rates from Vit E which I have addressed in prior Updates).  As an aside, I’m not sure I like the idea of immersing mice in water for up to 8 hrs just to see if the stress will make their ulcers worse; something they could’ve just asked me…

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HOW VITAMIN C CAN PROTECT THE BODY? – (01-17-05)

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VITAMIN C CONJUGATES OF GENOTOXIC LIPID PEROXIDATION PRODUCTS: STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION AND DETECTION IN HUMAN PLASMA

This is a perfect example of needing to get the whole story before we jump to conclusion. Compare this with recent media exposure of the Vit E increasing mortality review.

In this study, the authors looked further at the process by which Vit C has been shown to cause lipid peroxidation products (not a good thing…). Looking more into detail, these authors found that Vit C then went on to complex with the lipid peroxidation products to get them out of the body and keep them from doing damage.

Read entire article here

WHAT ARE THE ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF LOWERING CHOLESTEROL – (02-21-05)

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Tocotrienols: Constitutional Effects in Aging and Disease

Tocotrienols are Vit E’s more powerful cousin and usually kept in the closet.  However, they are present in some of the higher quality vitamins as well as a wide variety of foods like rice bran and certain oils like palm.

We have known that they have some powerful antioxidant properties for awhile, but this review suggest additional benefits of lowering cholesterol and, as a wonderful bonus considering the increase in neurodegenerative disorders, reducing glutamate-induce neurotoxicity.

This would suggest that those people with seizures or at increased risk of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s should put this one on the protective list.

Read entire article here

HOW TO REDUCE NOISE TRAUMA? – (12-03-07)

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Free radical scavengers vitamins A, C, and E plus magnesium reduce noise trauma

Sometimes the breadth of health related conditions that can be affected by nutrition really astounds me.

In this study, it reviews that noise related hearing loss actually occurs as a result of free radical production in the cochlea. The combination of these antioxidants, but not each individually, resulted in strong protection to hearing loss. So, next time you go to your Iron Maiden concert or Nascar.

Read entire article here

CALORIE RESTRICTION HAS A POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE MITOCHONDRIA FUNCTION – (08-13-07)

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Calorie restriction up-regulates the plasma membrane redox system in brain cells and suppresses oxidative stress during aging.

Calorie restriction has a definite, positive effect on the functioning of mitochondria.

This study adds to our understanding, and finds that CR also helps to increase the efficiency of the enzymes in the cell well of neurons that recycle antioxidants such as CoQ10 and Vit E. CR or alternate day CR needs to be a tool in the treatment box of neurodegenerative disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinsons.

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DIFFERENT FORMS OF VITAMIN E – ALPHA AND GAMMA TOCOPHEROL – (03-05-07)

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A pecan-enriched diet increases gamma-tocopherol/cholesterol and decreases thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in plasma of adults

While the addition of any type of nuts to the diet improving health is not surprising, the blood levels of the tocopherols were interesting. Recall that most supplement forms of Vit E are in the alpha tocopherol form. While the alpha form was initially thought to be the most potent of the tocopherols, research has since shown that the gamma tocopherol is much more protective for heart disease.

This study found a very nice 10% increase in serum gamma tocopherol when pecans were added to the diet and well as lowered markers of oxidative stress. Interestingly, levels of alpha tocopherol dropped. This illustrates why some of the higher quality Vit E supplements will have mixed tocopherols–because supplementation of one form may lower the levels of another form (it is known that supplementation of the alpha form will lower levels of gamma in the blood).

Read entire article here