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Plant Power: Green Superfoods
GREEN FOODS USED TO BOOST IMMUNITY,
FIGHT HIGH CHOLESTEROL & BLOOD PRESSURE, CANCER
“Green foods” are supplements derived from nutrient-dense plant foods, such as young cereal grasses like barley grass and wheatgrass, or forms of algae like spirulina or chlorella. Nutritionally, these supplements are close relatives to dark green leafy vegetables such as Swiss chard, spinach, and kale, but provide very concentrated amounts of the healthful compounds found in the whole foods. Yes, one ounce of these concentrated green foods can contain more beneficial nutrients than an ounce of green vegetables!
Green foods have been investigated for their beneficial effects on cholesterol levels, blood pressure, immune response and cancer prevention. For example, chlorella, a green food supplement derived from algae, has been shown to have an anti-hypertensive effect for people with high-normal blood pressure or borderline hypertension.
In recent years, green food supplements have tended to enhance their ingredients beyond just the cereal grasses and algae to include concentrates of other types of vegetables, such as tomatoes, broccoli, spinach, and beets. That’s because of growing research interest in the nutrients in these garden vegetables—nutrients that, when taken in high enough concentrations, can have significant health benefits. For example, a study published in 2007 found that a diet rich in broccoli and tomatoes was more effective in inhibiting prostate cancer growth than the leading FDA-approved drug for prostate cancer, Finasteride, marketed by Merck. (Score one for Big Veg—as opposed to Big Pharma!) And in the last decade, some of the National Cancer Institute’s star investigators have focused on the potential of plants such as cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts to provide protection against hormone-dependent cancers (e.g. breast cancer and prostate cancer).
You’ll see a great deal of this recent scientific research reflected in the ingredient lists of the green food supplements stocked by NYBC, including Green Defense, Green Vibrance, and ProGreens. Note that these three products also include various types of probiotics for digestive health—a way of helping to ensure that the vital nutrients in the greens and the veggies are effectively absorbed.
MAC Pack & Opti-MAC Pack for Immune Support
New York Buyers’ Club continues to make available two important supplement combination packs for immune system support:
MAC Pack (Multivitamin Antioxidant Combination), which uses Added Protection multivitamins (more info)
Opti-MAC Pack, which uses SuperNutrition’s Opti-Pack multivitamin (more info)
Both the MAC Pack and the Opti-MAC Pack include a comprehensive multivitamin, plus B12 and B6, together with three key antioxidants: alpha lipoic acid, acetyl-l-carnitine, and n-acetyl-cysteine. These two supplement combination packs were designed by NYBC as low-cost alternatives to K-PAX®, developed by Dr. Jon Kaiser following his breakthrough study that found an increase in CD4 count among HIV+ individuals using a multivitamin-multimineral-antioxidant mix. After the publication of that study in 2006, Medicaid and ADAP formularies of many states adopted the K-PAX® formula, testifying to the value of these nutritional supplements in supporting immune system health.
Unfortunately for those who don’t have access to these formularies, the cost of K-PAX® remains a factor, even though the product has recently been streamlined and its price somewhat reduced.
BOTH THE MAC PACK AND THE OPTI-MAC PACK
INCLUDE 50% MORE NEUROPATHY-FIGHTING
ACETYL-L-CARNITINE THAN K-PAX®
At $75 per one-month supply (MAC Pack), or $68 per one-month supply (Opti-MAC Pack), the NYBC alternatives are still less expensive. Furthermore, it’s important to note that both the MAC Pack and the Opti-MAC Pack include 50% more acetyl-l-carnitine than K-PAX® —not a bad idea, in our judgment, given the effectiveness of this nutrient for immune support, and especially considering its benefit for those with neuropathy.
NYBC’s alternatives also have an iron-free option, which may be advisable for those with liver impairment.
See also: ”MAC Pack Comparisons & Considerations”
MAC Pack Comparisons & Considerations
K-Pax recently came out with a new formulation that does a number of great things. It reduces the cost substantially and lowers the price. However, there have been some significant changes to the formula originally used in the study published in the Journal of AIDS. That original study was intended to assess the effects of a micronutrient/antioxidant approach to managing neuropathy (tingling/pain in the feet) that arose from the use of Bristol-Myers Squib drugs, ddI (didanosine/Videx) or d4T (stavudine/Zerit). The study found an increased number of CD4 cells among the micronutrient recipients not seen among those receiving placebo…but no effect on neuropathy unfortunately.
Two micronutrients that may help offset neuropathy include vitamin B6 (pyridoxine or the P-5-P forms) and vitamin B12 (also known as methylcobalamin as one preferred form). In these newer formulations, the amount of these vitamins has been substantially reduced.
Will this have an effect on the increased CD4 count? Our guess here is probably not. But we want people to have awareness and be able to make their own decisions as best we can. A study going on in Canada now may help to answer these questions.
Also, our friends, Lark Lands, PhD, and Michael Mooney have alerted us that in some very rare cases, people taking 600 mg or more of alpha lipoic acid per day over several years began to see trouble with their thyroid functioning. This seems to be a rare side effect and it is unclear if the link is strong. However, if you are on higher dose lipoic and having thyroid trouble, consider cutting back. Indeed, we at NYBC are contemplating reducing the amount in the ThiolNAC formulat to provide 400 mg of lipoic per day.
Meantime, we’re considering a version of our MAC Pack that takes these lower doses into consideration. This will help to reduce our pill count. And we are still seeking to raise the funds needed to get our ThiolNAC back! (We are about a third of the way there…anyone with deep pockets??)
Below is a comparison of things as they stand now.
Number of pills
A number of issues arise. K-PAX requires now 8 tablets a day for a full strength.
Mac Pack – is 19 pills without ThiolNAC, 17 with ThiolNAC
Opti Mac Pack Alt – 14 pills w/o ThiolNAC, 12 with
Cost
Original K-Pax Price: $129.95 /60 packets
The new lower pill count K-PAX has a price for a bottle of 60 tablets of about $39.95. The monthly cost of this K-PAX is now $80.
Our MAC-PACK costs more without ThiolNAC at $75
OptiMac Pack Alt is $68 (and this is looking like the better formula)
[NOTE – In the KPAX column, if there is a number following a / (e.g,. vitamin B6, 250 mg/60), this indicates the dosage provided in the double-strength 8 tablet/day formula.] Click the link below for a pdf document that contains a comparison chart.
*Other ingredients in AP: Vanadium – 39 mcg; PABA – 50 mg; L-cysteine HCl – 250 mg; Methioinine – 62.5 mg
** Other ingredients in Opti-Energy Pack – catalase – 3 mg; L-cysteine HCl – 150 mg; Fatty acid (stearic) – 240 mg; hesperidin – 30 mg; Kelp – 60 mg; Methioinine – 100 mg; Octacosanol (from spinach) – 2,000 mcg; PABA – 100 mg; Rose hips – 70 mg; rutin – 15 mg; SOD – 10 mg; sea trace minerals – traces; silica – 30 mg; Vanadium – 1 mcg; High ORAC Fruit and Berry blend —- 250 mg: blueberry, pomegranate, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry and cherry; organic greenfood blend —- 250 mg: Alfalfa and spirulina
CoQ10: Something To Smile About
CoQ10, GUM DISEASE, AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK
Yes, your dentist is right: brushing with a good toothpaste (such as one with baking soda), flossing, and regular checkups can keep your smile bright – and also, very importantly, can help prevent gum disease. But did you know that the supplement CoQ10 has also been found effective in fighting gum disease?
First, a few words about gum disease: the most widespread form, afflicting up to 30% of adults, is gingivitis, an inflammation and bleeding around the teeth that accompanies plaque buildup. If left unchecked, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which is characterized by more severe infection and abscesses around the teeth, and tooth loss.
CoQ10 HAS AN EXCELLENT TRACK RECORD
OF HELPING FIGHT GINGIVITIS
AND PREVENTING
THE PROGRESSION OF GUM DISEASE
As early as the 1970s it was recognized that CoQ10 could counteract gum disease, and quite quickly: in 1976, researchers found that CoQ10 doses of 50 to 75 mg a day halted deterioration of the gums and promoted healing, often within days of beginning therapy. In a carefully controlled trial, 50 mg per day of CoQ10 was notably more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms of gingivitis after three weeks of treatment.
And there’s more: recent research has highlighted a surprising connection between gum disease and cardiovascular disease. One study found that 91% percent of patients with cardiovascular disease also suffered from moderate to severe gum disease (Geerts S.O. et al, 2004). Researchers now believe that the inflammation associated with gum disease triggers the release of pro-inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream, which provokes a systemic inflammatory response. It’s also very suggestive that many of the same factors that increase the risk for heart disease also increase the risk for periodontal disease, including C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and cholesterol (Wu T. et al, 2000).
So here’s your bonus: CoQ10 has an excellent track record of both helping fight gingivitis and preventing the progression of gum disease. But, by fighting off gum disease with this supplement (and by using all the other means promoted by your dentist, as mentioned above), you may also be reducing your cardiovascular risk. Now isn’t that something to smile about?
Restrictions vs. Research
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a proposed new rule, which many believe could unnecessarily restrict consumer access to supplements introduced after 1994. (Access to supplements on the market before 1994 is generally protected by the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act, passed that year.)
INSTEAD OF OVERLY RESTRICTIVE RULES,
CAN WE PLEASE HAVE SOME USEFUL
RESEARCH and EDUCATION
on SUPPLEMENTS
from our FEDERAL AGENCIES?
Perhaps the greatest concern is the form of vitamin B6 known as pyridoxal- 5’-phosphate or P5P. There has been a concerted effort by pharmaceutical companies over the years to turn this vitamin into a drug, thus restricting access to it, and likely raising the price. Other supplements that may have been introduced after DSHEA was enacted may also be in a precarious position. Whether the majority of supplements before the enactment of DSHEA will be threatened remains unclear.
Overall, it is unclear what benefit the proposed new FDA rule would have for supplement users—if any. Certainly we believe there is much the FDA can do for consumers, including a robust program to test supplements for identity, potency and purity and broadcast the results quickly and widely. And, turning to the major health research agency of the federal government, we would welcome the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducting more clinical trials to assess benefits and limitations of supplements. This type of research can answer important clinical questions and truly help consumers.
I am living with hepatitis C and without health insurance, and have relied on a good diet, exercise, supplements – identified through years of personal research – and a healthy lifestyle to help normalize my liver enzymes, slow disease progression and keep my viral load very low. Why can’t our federal agencies promote more clinical trials of supplement combinations like I am using? The results would be very useful to people living with chronic diseases, whereas restricting access to widely used supplements like the P5P seems like a waste of time and resources.
George Carter
Treatment Director,
New York Buyers’ Club
Note: George’s recommendations for using supplements for liver health can be found in the Summer 2010 Special Edition of SUPPLEMENT, 50+ Ways to Love Your Liver (scroll down a little and click on the download pdf button).
Further reading:
Some abbreviations used:
FDA: Food & Drug Administration
NDI: Draft Guidance for Industry: Dietary Supplements: New Dietary Ingredient Notifications and Related Issues
NIH: National Institutes of Health
DSHEA: Dietary Supplement Health Education Act
Nervous About Niacin?
Don’t Be Startled By Recent Study Halt
You may have read worried news reports earlier this year about a study of niacin in combination with a statin drug used to lower cholesterol (lipids). The study was stopped prematurely because researchers detected a small increase in strokes among participants taking the niacin and simvastatin (Zocor) combination. This was quite a surprise to scientists, because niacin (a B-vitamin) has a 50-year history of safe and effective use for normalizing lipid levels, and the suggestion that a statin drug/niacin combination might carry even a slight extra cardiovascular risk was disturbing.
Niacin has a 50-year history of safe and effective use for normalizing lipid levels.
We were therefore glad to see the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE) review and clarify the results of this study, while at the same time reporting on an important new piece of research about niacin, lipid control, and HIV. CATIE’s view, in line with other cautionary voices, stresses that the niacin/statin study data do not show any clear connection between niacin and increased strokes. And it’s also true that, in 50 years of research on niacin and lipids, there has never been any evidence of such a connection. In short: expect more examination of the issue, but don’t jump to any conclusions—there just isn’t the evidence to support dropping niacin for use in lipid control.
Coincidentally, as the niacin/statin study was being suspended, results of another trial involving niacin for lipid control were being published. This research, conducted at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, looked at a combination of niacin, fenofibrate (a prescription drug used to lower cholesterol), diet, and exercise for lipid management among people with HIV. Called the “Heart Positive” study, this investigation found that a combination of high-dose niacin, together with fenofibrate, diet and exercise was clearly the best strategy for managing lipids in a group of more than 100 people with HIV. And, significantly –there were no signs in this research that niacin was unsafe.
We certainly urge all our members who use or are thinking of using niacin as part of a strategy to control lipids to talk to their doctors about the recent research –you may even want to share this article or the CATIE info with them. As we’ve stated above, we’ve seen no clear evidence that niacin poses extra, unexpected risks to users, and, meanwhile, its benefits continue to be documented in research like the Heart Positive study. As always, we need to keep up with research news—and also maintain a bit of healthy skepticism in judging how that news gets reported.
Curcumin: Spice of Life?
Turmeric, the yellow spice derived from the baked and ground rhizome of Zingiberaceae, a relative of ginger, has been used for centuries in the cuisines of India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, among others. Here in the States, it is more widely used as a natural food coloring. Surprisingly, a component of turmeric, curcumin, has now become one of the most researched plant-based supplements in the U.S., with a current tally of twenty-four federally-funded studies.
To quote a summary from a 2007 scientific review, curcumin is an “antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer” compound certainly worthy of all the attention it has been receiving.
Curcumin is an antioxidant,
anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer compound.
One big focus of interest for curcumin researchers has been cancer. As a supplement, curcumin has been shown in lab studies to inhibit growth of skin cancer and to slow the spread of breast cancer; it also decreases levels of carcinogenic compounds formed when meats are cooked. Other research has found that curcumin can delay the kind of liver damage that leads to cirrhosis, and can also improve physical functioning and decrease joint pain in people with arthritis. Another study has pointed to the possibility that curcumin may effectively counteract the development of Alzheimer’s Disease: it found that people in India aged 70 to 79, who use turmeric frequently in their diet, have one-quarter the rate of Alzheimer’s found among the same age group in the U.S.
In traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda), curcumin is ingested with black pepper or honey to improve absorption and efficacy.
Some clinical data supports curcumin’s use for Crohn’s and other inflammatory bowel diseases. It has been studied in pancreatic cancer and may help improve outcomes while reducing the dose needed for some chemo drugs, as it can boost their levels in the blood. It also may have some antiviral effect for HIV, with test tube studies showing effects on HIV’s integrase and protease enzymes, as well as against the long-terminal repeat of HIV’s genome (blocking transcription of new viral RNA). Clinical trials in people with HIV had mixed results; either a modest viral load reduction or no benefit (but AZT alone didn’t work very well either).
Precautions: Supplementing with curcumin may not be advisable for people who have high stomach acid or are at risk for kidney stones. Curcumin is also metabolized by the liver and so caution is advised when taking certain cancer meds; it does not appear to interfere with HIV meds.
A True Fish Tale: The Ever-Amazing Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Our story begins in the 1960s with Dr. Jørn Dyerberg, a young Danish doctor who was intrigued by an odd fact he came across in a newspaper article about the Inuit (Eskimo) people of Greenland. The Inuit diet centered on fatty seal meat and oily fish, and yet they had very low rates of death from heart disease—only about one-tenth that of Americans or Europeans. Everywhere else in the world, a high-fat diet was associated with high rates of cardiovascular disease and its related mortality—so what was the special factor that allowed the Greenlanders to avoid a similar fate?
As a working physician, Dr. Dyerberg had a chance to visit Greenland several times on medical missions, and eventually he identified that special factor within the Inuit diet: the two omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which are abundant in fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, anchovies. (Yes, they are also found in seal and whale meat!)
Since the Danish doctor’s original detective work, thousands of scientific papers have been published on the health benefits of these compounds, which are now understood as supporting not only cardiovascular health, but also cognitive and mental health. More recently, researchers have even uncovered links between intake of omega-3 fatty acids and reduced risk of certain cancers.
Here are some of the main research findings on omega-3 fatty acids, with the year of study publication in parentheses:
Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids reduced by 45% the risk of sudden death in people who had already suffered a heart attack. (1999)
A review of the scientific literature on EPA and DHA found that their cardioprotective effects are broadly based, going beyond cholesterol reduction. The omega-3 fatty acids act against dangerous heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmia), lower the level of triglycerides, prevent blood clots, relax blood vessel walls, and have anti-inflammatory properties. (2004)
Data from a large survey showed that higher blood levels of DHA were associated with a 45-50% lower risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s over time. (2006)
Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation significantly reduced triglyceride levels in people with HIV taking antiretroviral medications. (2007)
A review of multiple studies indicated that supplementing with fish oil reduced by up to 90% the risk of sudden cardiac death in people with arrhythmia. (2008)
A large survey of postmenopausal women found that those who took fish oil supplements had a 32% lower risk of developing the most common form of breast cancer (ductal breast cancer) over a six year period. (2010)
Omega-3 fatty acids support a key aspect of healthy cell division, which suggests that they may protect against the aging process in general and against the development of some cancers. (2010)
A study of healthy adults, aged 35-54, found that those who registered higher blood levels of DHA performed better on tests of nonverbal reasoning and working memory than those who had lower blood levels of this omega-3 fatty acid. (2010)
With all the evidence that’s accumulated, plus endorsements from organizations like the American Heart Association and recognition of effectiveness from the FDA, it’s not surprising that fish oil has become the most widely sold supplement in the U.S., more or less even with multivitamins.
Nowadays there are two basic approaches to fish oil supplementation: the first recommends specific dosages for those with cardiovascular conditions or risk (see the NYBC product descriptions for such dosage information); the second looks at omega-3 fatty acids as something that should always be included in the diet in order to maintain and optimize health. Dr. Dyerberg, for example, has suggested that people supplement with 400-500/mg per day of EPA + DHA for optimum health, and he has advocated for the establishment of daily recommended intakes by government agencies, much like the recommended daily allowances (RDAs) for vitamins.
Fish oil supplements have blood-thinning effects, so if you’re on a blood-thinning medication it’s very important to check with your doctor before using fish oil.
One concern has surfaced in recent years regarding fish oil supplements: the presence of mercury and PCBs in some fish populations. Fish oil supplements are typically refined to eliminate those contaminants, but it’s best to check carefully to see that the vendor can provide an independent third-party certificate of analysis documenting that their supplements do not contain any significant levels of these contaminants.
Hemp – for Eating!
Hemp has many uses, from the medicinal forms for nausea, appetite and pain to clothing and paper (without the THC or other chemicals that get us a buzz). Hemp protein also has a number of uses. Here’s an interesting blog entry that highlights some of the values of hemp.