http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/ en Copyright 2007 Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:29:23 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment: These findings suggest that gastric acid secretion is necessary for effective absorption of thyroxine. Patients who develop conditions that result in reduced acid secretion (such as H. pylori infection or atrophic gastritis) and patients who take antacids or acid-blocking drugs may require an increase in their thyroxine dose to maintain a euthyroid state. Conversely, an increase in gastric acidity (as would result from discontinuation of antacids or acid blocking drugs, from treatment of a hypochlorhydric patient with hydrochloric acid, and possibly from the eradication of H. pylori) may require a decrease in their thyroxine dose. Patients being treated with thyroxine should be monitored more closely during periods in which their gastric acidity is expected to change. Centanni M, et al. Thyroxine in goiter, Helicobacter pylori infection, and chronic gastritis. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:1787-1795. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/stomach_acid_interacts_with_th.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/stomach_acid_interacts_with_th.php Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:29:23 -0500 Comment: Policosanol is a mixture of long chain (C24 to C34) primary alcohols, originally isolated from sugar cane wax. These long-chain primary alcohols are also found in bee's wax, rice bran, and wheat germ. A number of studies have found that sugar cane policosanol lowers serum cholesterol levels as effectively as various statin drugs. However, all published studies demonstrating a beneficial effect of sugar cane policosanol have been authored by a single research group from Cuba. The results of the present study, as well as those of a similar study using wheat germ policosanol that I cited a few months ago in this column, suggest that policosanol is not an effective treatment for hyperlipidemia. In my review of the wheat germ policosanol study, I requested feedback from readers about their experiences with policosanol. So far, I have received one correspondence, from a doctor who has observed that sugar cane policosanol, usually in doses of 20-40 mg/day, is very effective for lowering lipid levels. Berthold HK, et al. Effect of policosanol on lipid levels among patients with hypercholesterolemia or combined hyperlipidemia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2006;295:2262-2269. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/cane_is_not_able.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/cane_is_not_able.php Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:28:21 -0500 Comment: Daflon is a commercial preparation that contains two flavonoids, diosmin and hesperidin. A number of different flavonoids have been shown to improve capillary integrity, which appears to be impaired in some women with idiopathic menorrhagia. Studies conducted a half-century ago found that supplementation with citrus flavonoids in combination with vitamin C was frequently beneficial in the treatment of menorrhagia or metrorrhagia (bleeding between menstrual periods). However, these studies attracted little interest, and this simple treatment is virtually unknown to the conventional medical community. Hopefully, there will be greater interest this time around. Mukherjee GG, et al. Treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding with micronized flavonoids. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2005;89:156-157. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/flavonoids_for_menorrhagia.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/flavonoids_for_menorrhagia.php Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:26:56 -0500 Comment: Clomiphene citrate is frequently used to induce ovulation in women with PCOS. Approximately 70% of women treated with this drug experience a return of menstruation and ovulation and 30% become pregnant within three months of treatment. The results of the present study suggest that the combination of NAC and clomiphene citrate is beneficial for some women with PCOS who have failed to respond to clomiphene citrate alone. While the mechanism of action of NAC is not known, it may work by improving the insulin resistance that is frequently associated with PCOS. Rizk AY, et al. N-acetyl-cysteine is a novel adjuvant to clomiphene citrate in clomiphene citrate-resistant patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2005;83:367-370. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/nacetylcysteine_for_polycystic.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/nacetylcysteine_for_polycystic.php Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:26:09 -0500 Comment: Iodine deficiency remains an important problem in some parts of the world, and iodine intake should be increased in people whose intake is inadequate. High-dose iodine therapy also has a role in clinical medicine, particularly in the treatment of fibrocystic breast disease. However, people taking large amounts of iodine should be monitored for the development of thyroid abnormalities. Teng W, et al. Effect of iodine intake on thyroid diseases in China. N Engl J Med. 2006;354:2783-2793. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/high_iodine_intake_associated.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/high_iodine_intake_associated.php Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:25:20 -0500 Comment: One theory to explain the beneficial effect of lithium in the treatment of mania is that the drug depletes inositol by inhibiting inositol monophosphatase. If that theory is correct, than consumption of a low-inositol diet might also be beneficial. Wheat contains large amounts of inositol, so a low-inositol diet would presumably be wheat-free, and also free of other common allergens such as legumes and nuts. It is possible that some of the improvement observed in this study was due to the avoidance of allergenic foods, rather than to inositol depletion. I have worked with several bipolar patients in whom consumption of allergenic foods was a clear trigger for their psychiatric symptoms. In a previous study, supplementation with 6 g/day of inositol improved lithium-induced psoriasis without apparently interfering with the beneficial effects of lithium. In another study of 14 patients with various lithium-related side effects, administration of 3 g/day of inositol relieved the side effects in the majority of cases, while appearing to aggravate psychiatric symptoms in only one of the 14 patients. Thus, it is not clear to what extent inositol exacerbates the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Whether the improvement observed in the present study is due to inositol depletion or to the avoidance of allergenic foods, the results suggest that some patients with bipolar disorder respond to dietary modifications. Shaldubina A, et al. Inositol deficiency diet and lithium effects. Bipolar Disord. 2006;8:152-159. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/low_inositol_diet_for_bipolar.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/low_inositol_diet_for_bipolar.php Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:04:24 -0500 Comment: Numerous studies over the past 10 years have shown that vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent than most doctors realize. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include musculoskeletal pain and weakness that may be confused with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. The main contributing factor to vitamin D deficiency is inadequate sunlight exposure. Some people purposely avoid the sun because of fear of skin cancer and photoaging. Others fail to obtain adequate amounts of sunlight exposure because they spend most of their time indoors or because they live in areas where insufficient amounts of sunlight reach the earth's surface (e.g., northern latitudes or cities with tall buildings). Some women cover themselves for religious reasons. Most people do not require a large amount of sun exposure to achieve adequate vitamin D status. According to Dr. Michael Holick, a vitamin D expert, exposure of the arms and legs or the hands, arms, and face to sunlight for five to 15 minutes two to three times a week between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. during the spring, summer, and autumn is usually enough for adequate vitamin D production. People who are obese, elderly, or black have a reduced capacity to synthesize vitamin D in the skin. Vitamin D deficiency should be considered in patients with fatigue or musculoskeletal symptoms who do not obtain adequate sunlight exposure. de Torrente de la Jara G, Pecoud A, Favrat B. Musculoskeletal pain in female asylum seekers and hypovitaminosis D3. BMJ. 2004;329:156-157. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/musculoskeletal_pain_due_to_vi.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/musculoskeletal_pain_due_to_vi.php Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:01:48 -0500 Comment: Previous studies have suggested that consuming adequate amounts of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (i.e., eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from fish oil) during pregnancy may reduce the incidence of preterm delivery and enhance the development of the brain and visual system of the fetus. The results of the present study suggest that fish oil may also be useful for treating (and presumably preventing) postpartum depression. It is important for pregnant and nursing women to use fish oil products that are low in mercury, so as not to expose the fetus and infant to excessive amounts of this toxic metal. Supplementing with alpha-linolenic acid from flaxseed oil or other vegetable oils may not be as effective as using fish oil, because the capacity of the body to convert alpha-linolenic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid is limited. Other treatments that have been successful in my experience for treating postpartum depression include 1) intramuscular injections of vitamin B12 (1,000 mcg) and folic acid (2.5 mg) once or twice a week for several weeks and 2) low doses of thyroid hormone when the clinical or laboratory picture is suggestive of hypothyroidism. Freeman MP, et al. Randomized dose-ranging pilot trial of omega-3 fatty acids for postpartum depression. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006;113:31-35. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/fish_oil_for_postpartum_depres.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/fish_oil_for_postpartum_depres.php Fri, 21 Jul 2006 14:01:07 -0500 Comment: These results indicate that supplementation with vitamins C and E after preterm premature rupture of membranes resulted in a longer latency before delivery. The additional week of gestation afforded by the administration of these vitamins would allow for better development of the lungs and other vital tissues, and could mean the difference between a positive and negative birth outcome. In a previous study, supplementation with 100 mg/day of vitamin C, beginning in the 20th week of gestation, reduced the incidence of premature rupture of membranes by 74% among women with borderline-low dietary vitamin C intake (approximately 60 mg/day). Borna S, e al. Vitamins C and E in the latency period in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2005;90:16-20. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/vitamins_c_and_e_for_premature.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/vitamins_c_and_e_for_premature.php Fri, 26 May 2006 19:41:02 -0500 Comment: Some people have argued that organic foods provide little advantage over pesticide-sprayed foods, because of the drift of pesticides from non-organic to organic farms through the air and water. They point out that traces of pesticides can be found even in remote areas far from civilization. However, the results of the present study strongly suggest that there is a major difference in the amount of pesticides present in organic and non-organic food. Consumption of an organic-foods diet appears to result in rapid clearance of recently consumed pesticides from the blood. Long-term use of such a diet would also presumably aid in the gradual removal of pesticides stored in organs and adipose tissue. While the debate continues about the safety of these neurotoxins in the human diet, more and more people are "just saying no" to pesticides, as evidenced by the fact that organic foods are now being sold at WalMart. Lu C, Toepel K, Irish R, Fenske RA, Barr DB, Bravo R. Organic diets significantly lower children's dietary exposure to organophosphorus pesticides. Environ Health Perspect. 2006;114:260-263. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/detoxifying_with_organic_food.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/detoxifying_with_organic_food.php Fri, 26 May 2006 19:34:07 -0500 Comment: Previous randomized controlled trials have shown that supplementation with synthetic beta-carotene (which differs somewhat from naturally occurring beta-carotene) increased the incidence of lung cancer in smokers. The results of the present study are consistent with those clinical trials, but also suggest that beta-carotene supplements reduce the risk of certain cancers in nonsmokers. It is possible that chemicals in cigarette smoke react with beta-carotene, causing the formation of compounds that have deleterious effects on human health. Such a toxic interaction has previously been demonstrated between beta-carotene and alcohol: supplementation with beta-carotene increased the severity of ethanol-induced liver disease in rats. In most cases, the best way to consume beta-carotene is by eating fruits and vegetables, which contain a wide array of different carotenoids. Supplementation with beta-carotene by itself might deplete other carotenoids that have health benefits. There are a few instances in which beta-carotene supplementation is indicated, such as for the treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria and oral leukoplakia. Beta-carotene supplements may also help prevent sunburn and slow the progression of HIV disease. Touvier M, et al. Dual association of beta-carotene with risk of tobacco-related cancers in a cohort of French women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005;97:1338-1344. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/betacarotene_and_cancer_good_f.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/betacarotene_and_cancer_good_f.php Fri, 26 May 2006 19:26:16 -0500 Comment: These results suggest that supplementing with green tea polyphenols can prevent the progression of high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia to prostate cancer. The results of this study and of the study cited above are consistent with are large body of animal research and in vitro data that demonstrated an anticancer effect of green tea. While green tea and black tea are both derived from the same plant leaves (Camellia sinensis), the former contains a higher concentration of the polyphenols that are believed to inhibit cancer development. Other research suggests that green tea consumption can help prevent cardiovascular disease and dental caries. Bettuzzi S, et al. Chemoprevention of human prostate cancer by oral administration of green tea catechins in volunteers with high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia: a preliminary report from a one-year proof-of-principle study. Cancer Res. 2006;66:1234-1240. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/for_prostate_cancer_prevention.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/for_prostate_cancer_prevention.php Fri, 26 May 2006 19:23:28 -0500 Comment: Gentamicin-induced ototoxicity results from apoptosis of auditory and vestibular sensory cells and is irreversible. An increasing number of pregnant women are being treated with gentamicin during the perinatal period, and their offspring are therefore being exposed to this drug in utero. The results of the present study suggest that treatment with L-carnitine can prevent gentamicin-induced ototoxicity. A previous study in guinea pigs found that vitamin B12 also reduced the ototoxic effect of gentamicin (Acta Otolaryngol. 2001;121:351-354). Kalinec GM, et al. Pivotal role of Harakiri in the induction and prevention of gentamicin-induced hearing loss. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2005;102:16019-16024. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/preventing_gentamicininduced_h.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/preventing_gentamicininduced_h.php Fri, 26 May 2006 15:08:25 -0500 Comment: The reason this study was performed is that many physicians fear that if they do not prescribe antibiotics their patients will go to other doctors or they will have to spend time explaining to patients why the antibiotic is unnecessary. While the results of the new study should allay such fears, the fact that these fears exist at all is disturbing. Are there doctors who would prescribe an antibiotic that is not indicated and that costs money and that might cause adverse effects and that might promote the development of resistant organisms, just because they don't want to spend time explaining why the drug is not necessary? Would some doctors rather practice bad medicine than risk losing their patients to other doctors? It has always seemed to me that doctors who look out for the welfare of their patients and respect their intelligence and judgment will have satisfied patients, regardless of whether or not the doctor agrees with the patients' preconceived notions about what treatments are appropriate. Coco A, et al. Relation of time spent in an encounter with the use of antibiotics in pediatric office visits for viral respiratory infections. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159:1145-1149. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/is_this_what_doctors_worry_abo.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/is_this_what_doctors_worry_abo.php Fri, 26 May 2006 15:05:31 -0500 Comment: Certain chemotherapy drugs produce a neuropathy that can be disabling and persistent. Previous studies have shown that acetyl-L-carnitine is beneficial in the treatment of both diabetic neuropathy and the neuropathy induced by antiretroviral drugs such as stavudine, zalcitabine, and didanosine. The results of the present study suggest that acetyl-L-carnitine may also be effective for preventing or treating neuropathy induced by paclitaxel or cisplatin. Bianchi G, et al. Symptomatic and neurophysiological responses of paclitaxel- or cisplatin-induced neuropathy to oral acetyl-L-carnitine. Eur J Cancer. 2005;41:1746-1750. ]]> http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/acetyllcarnitine_for_chemother.php http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/acetyllcarnitine_for_chemother.php Fri, 26 May 2006 15:03:02 -0500