These attacks on supplementation are getting to be so old hat, I almost didn't react to this one.  But I know some people must be wondering whether to give up vitamins, or give up reading, so I am posting a rebuttal which I hope will lay those fears at rest.

Bad science+ bad media+vested interests=confused consumers 

And on the positive side:

Health Impact Study Shows Dietary Supplement Usage Could Save Billions in Health Care Costs

Health Impact II Study Finds Seniors Who Take Certain Dietary Supplements Live Longer, More Independent Lives - posted by a Senior who is living a long, independent life taking LOTS of vitamins! Moi-meme.

Health Impact Study IV Updates Previous Studies, Shows Select Dietary Supplements Could Save $24+ Billion In Health Care Costs

In 2008, a study at P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center showed for the first time that a natural antioxidant found in grape skins and red wine can help destroy pancreatic cancer cells by reaching the cell's core energy source, or mitochondrion, and crippling its function. The study is published in the March  2008 edition of the journal, Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology.

The study also showed that when the pancreatic cancer cells were doubly assaulted (pre-treated with the antioxidant, resveratrol, and then irradiated) the combination induced a type of cell death called apoptosis, an important goal of cancer therapy.

Mounting evidence shows red wine antioxidant kills cancer

This information is so important, and has received so little attention, that I amposting it in its entirey here without further comment.

Dr. Ralph Moss, of the Newsletter THE MOSS REPORT at www.cancerdecisions.com writes a carefully structured last-word-on-the subject report.  He has a more detailed report available for purchase here: https://webssl.cancerdecisions.com/list/optin.php?form_id=29

 NEW STUDY CLARIFIES ROLE OF ANTIOXIDANTS
 DURING RADIATION TREATMENT

An important paper on the interaction of antioxidants and radiation
therapy was recently published in the International Journal of Cancer.
Interestingly, despite the significance of its findings, this study has
received virtually zero attention from the scientific community or the
media.

 As background, in April 2005, Isabelle Bairati, MD, PhD, and her
colleagues at the Hôtel-Dieu de Quebec Research Centre and the Universite
Laval completed a ten-year study on the interaction of antioxidants and
radiation therapy. This was hailed as the first placebo-controlled,
double-blind, randomized trial assessing the effect of supplementation with
antioxidant vitamins during radiation therapy. The study concluded that
supplements of synthetic beta-carotene (30 mg per day) or alpha tocopherol
(400 IU per day) had a harmful effect on cancer patients. In particular, the
authors claimed that the cancer recurrence rate was 40 percent higher among
patients who had been randomly assigned to the supplementation arm of the
trial. They therefore called on patients and physicians to exert caution in
using antioxidants until new evidence could be provided by future trials.

 Kedar Prasad, PhD, and other proponents of the concurrent use of
antioxidants during cancer treatment criticized the Bairati paper. They were
disappointed that Bairati and colleagues had used ordinary alpha tocopherol
as their choice of vitamin E when Prasad's previous work had shown that it
was not just alpha tocopherol but alpha tocopherol succinate that had the
anticancer efficacy. They also felt that natural forms of the vitamin were
more effective than synthetic, drug store-type vitamins. But, by and large,
the medical world accepted the Bairati trial as definitive proof that
antioxidants interfered with radiation therapy. Word spread like wildfire in
oncology circles, confirming a long-held belief that antioxidants interfered
with standard cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. The take
away message, as stated in a Universite Laval press release, was that
"Supplements May Speed Up Development of Cancer." Advocates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) were confounded by this large and impressive study.

 But now the other shoe has dropped.

 In December 2007, Dr. Bairati and her Quebec colleagues published a major
modification of their previous conclusions. Further analysis revealed, they
said, that the danger of synthetic antioxidants was limited to one
particular sub-population: cigarette smokers - specifically, those who
continued to smoke during radiation treatment. The authors analyzed the
outcome in 540 patients who had been given radiation for head and neck
cancers. During the follow-up period, 119 patients had a recurrence of their
disease and 179 died. Smokers were the group with the worst prognosis.
However, astonishingly, smoking in the period leading up to or following
radiation therapy did not modify the effects of the two supplements. It was
only smoking during the course of radiation therapy that led to a
statistically significant increase in the risk of a recurrence. It was a
large enough increase to skew the statistics for the group as a whole,
leading to the erroneous conclusion that antioxidants interfered with
radiotherapy in the general patient population.

 Statistically, increased risk is generally expressed as a "hazard ratio"
(abbreviated HR). In this study, current smokers had an HR of 2.41 for
recurrence, in other words more than double the chance of a recurrence
compared to the rest of the patient population. The HR for death from any
cause was a similar 2.26. But the hazard ratio for dying of their initial
head and neck cancer was a whopping 3.38 in patients who got radiation,
smoked and also received a single synthetic antioxidant.

 "These results could best be explained by the hypothesis that the combined
exposures reduced the efficacy of radiation therapy," Bairati and her
colleagues now say. "Particular attention should be devoted to prevent
patients from both smoking and taking antioxidant supplements during
radiation therapy" (Meyer 2007).

 According to the National Cancer Institute, 85 percent of head and neck
cancers are linked to tobacco use. (Alcohol use further exacerbates this
trend.) This has been widely known for years, and so it is shocking that
there are still people so hopelessly addicted to tobacco that they not only
continue to smoke after they've been diagnosed with head and neck cancer but
continue to smoke right through their radiation therapy. It was in this
subset of particularly unhealthy individuals that antioxidants were
associated with an increased risk of disease progression. As Bairati and
colleagues suggest, such individuals should definitely not compound their
problems by then taking a synthetic antioxidant.

But the more important lesson for patients and practitioners is that
antioxidants do NOT generally interfere with the effects of radiation
therapy, as was previously suggested. They do NOT increase the risk of a
recurrence, of death from head and neck cancer, or of overall mortality in
the average patient. In this updated study, the harmful effect of synthetic
antioxidants was entirely limited to those relatively few tobacco-addicted
patients who continued to smoke during their radiation therapy. Thus, the
major premise underpinning oncologists' condemnation of antioxidants during
radiation therapy has crumbled, although few seem to have noticed so far.

 

Remember the old saying, that when you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail?  That's what we have to bear in mind when we hear the dermatologists warning against sun exposure:  all they are thinking about is skin.

Now a new study positively states, that the cancer protecting benefits of modest sun exposure generally, far outweigh the particular risks of skin cancer from over-exposure.

Sun Exposure Cuts Cancer Risk at 16 Sites, Study Says

Researchers calculated that given the same amount of time spent outside, people living just below the equator in Australia produced 3.4 times more vitamin D than people in Britain and 4.8 times more than Scandinavians.

Consider also Cod Liver Oil or Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) capsules

I remember getting spanked as a child, for a sin which most people would consider a punishment in itself - drinking the Cod Liver Oil.  Did I know I was deficient in D?  Very possibly!  Certainly in light of all the new research I have added a goodly amount of it to my regimen, and I imagine you will want to as well.

Let me give you a hint:  50% of Americans are deficient in Vitamin D - and 60% off cancers are now considered to be preventable by adequate Vitamin D levels.

I do not find the taste of Cod Liver Oil disagreeable - but it is also available in capsules.  Remember, though, that not all the capsules have the benefit of the Omega 3s which are naturally present in the liquid oil.

Vitamin D and Cancer

A selection of Vitamin D3 formulas

They used to say that only  bad news gets air time, and I would certainly ask how many of us have heard in the Media recently that Vitamin E is helpful in preventing thrombosis?

"Results showed that both groups receiving gamma tocopherol had significantly lower platelet activation after supplementation. Moreover, significant reductions in LDL cholesterol, platelet aggregation, and mean platelet volume were found in "

Less risk of stroke, lower LDL levels - what's not to love?  Note that this is gamma tocopherol rather than alpha that they are investigating here.

Vitamin E May Reduce the Risk of Thrombotic Markers

Gamme-E by Jarrow Formulas

A lengthy study in the August 13, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine found that vitamins E and C, when taken together, result in a significant reduction in the risk of strokes (31 percent) and heart attacks (22 percent).  This even though the doses used were pretty low.

When I saw the results of this study, I was very happy.  Now, I thought to myself, the media will HAVE to acknowledge the connection between supplements and heart health.

It feels a bit strange to be antiquated and naive at the same time!

No-one who follows the news can have missed the headlines that state unequivocally there is no connection between antioxidant use and better heart health for women.  Though a few of them did grudgingly add that there appeared to be some benefit for stroke.

Well, I confess willingly that I could not unravel the truth from the deception better than Mike does at News Target, so here is his take on the situation.

Unraveling the lies about the antioxidant study on vitamins E and C

 

While the study comes hedged about with "more research needed" and "consult your physician", the bottom line is this:

Women who reported taking black cohosh (5 percent of blacks and 2 percent of whites) were at 61 percent lower risk of breast cancer, the researchers found.

Also, those who took an herbal preparation derived from black cohosh called Remifemin had a 53 percent lower risk of the disease.

That is a truly hefty protective finding.  Many breast cancers are detected in the post-menopausal years, the risk rising as we age.  Unless the use of Black Cohosh is contra-indicated for you in some way, I would call this a valuable line of defense.

Study: Black Cohosh may halve breast cancer risk

Enzymatic Therapy's REMIFEMIN

Solaray's Black Cohosh Extract

Alpha Lipoc Acid is an antioxidant with many health benefits - I have a more detailed article  on it here - it is widely used in diabetic problems, and to protect the liver.  However, perhaps its most interesting ability is to regenerate our supplies of Vitamins C and E. Now comes some preliminary research showing it may help in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Alpha-Lipoic Acid May Benefit Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

"Alpha-lipoic acid suppresses the development of collagen-induced arthritis and protects against bone destruction in mice," Lee EY, Lee CK, et al, Rheumatology International, 2007; 27(3): 225-233. (Address: Division of Allergy and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 388-1 Pungnap-Dong, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 138-736, Republic of Korea. E-mail: byoo@amc.seoul.kr ).

In a study involving mice, alpha-lipoic acid was found to attenuate the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in a dose-dependent manner. The mice were divided into three groups. Group1 received alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) 10 mg/kg; Group2 received ALA 100 mg/kg; and Group3 received a placebo. Results found that mice treated with lipoic acid experienced a dose-dependent reduction in CIA. Furthermore, bone erosion and destructive changes were prevented with ALA administration in vivo, and formation of osteoclasts was inhibited in vitro. Levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and synovial NF-kappa B binding were found to be markedly higher among mice with CIA as compared to controls; after treatment with alpha-lipoic acid, these levels decreased significantly. The authors of this study conclude, "…these results indicate that alpha-lipoic acid may be a new adjunctive therapy for rheumatoid arthritis."

My selection of Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements

 

I know - that tag line IS stretching it a bit, but after all, Pycnogenol comes from pine bark!

I have recommended Pycnogenol for many years for menstrual discomfort, and it has been generally extremely effective.  Now comes a study showing it can alleviate the discomfort and pain associated with endometriosis, a condition where the onset of menses produces extra tissue, which attaches outside the uterus causing inflammation and pain .  These adhesions may turn up in the abdomen and on the ovaries where it  causes great pain, and interferes with reproductive processes. 

Endometriosis significantly reduced by Pine Bark

The Vitamin Lady's Pycnogenol

 

Another interesting study in the long list of reasons why Vitamin D is important, pointing out yet again that we are not generally getting enough of it.

Researchers report that among the elderly study participants, of the group taking the high dose (800 IU) vitamin D supplement, only 20% of the participants  fell, versus 44% of the placebo group.

A litle time spent in the sunshine each day enjoying life could make quite a difference, it seems!

More evidence that vitamin D may cut falls amongst the elderly

Since my husband is one of the unfortunate sufferers,  describing it as like having a tribe of crickets living in his ear, I sympathize most profoundly with those who have tinnitus.

Previously, I have heard suggestions that Ginkgo Biloba helps, but it certainly didn't help him: so I am happy to be able to bring this snippet about research on melatonin and ringing in the ears to his attention.  Now, if I can just get him to try it for more than 3 or 4 days - he has (excuse the sexism) a somewhat masculine approach to his health, best described as "what doesn't kill me I'll ignore"

Quieting ringing ears

I have often wondered how some of those low, low prices for supplements happen on auction sites - here is one possible scenario!

Officials Bust Fake Diet Pill Ring

You have to hand it to the Canadians - they have inventive minds!  A new study from a Hospital in Toronto suggests that Chili Peppers may actually CURE diabetes.  This is remarkable news. 

Here is a link to the excellent blog, Diabetes Mine, and its report.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Dr. Hans Michael Dosch, an immunologist at the hospital and a leader of the studies. "In my career, this is unique."

Here is the newspaper report of the breakthrough.

Here is a Capsaicin spray for instant entry into the blood stream

Here are are capsules of Capsaicin, in a form that will not irritate even sensitive stomachs

Vitamin D is definitely in the news at the moment, because deficiencies are turning out to be so common, and the link to various diseases is becoming undeniable.

This is yet another example of extremes causing problems!  The ongoing paranoia about sun exposure, which has led to everyone slathering themselves with sun-blocking lotions,  is leading to the reversal of an interesting observation made many years ago.

Previously it had been noted that the incidence of MS was much lower in the sunbelt states -  I made reference to this in my article on MS as long ago as 1998 - but this protective effect  seems to be evaporating.  The connection between MS and Vitamin D is inescapable.

While it is possible to get D from the diet and from supplementation, exposure to the sun is still the most efficient way to ensure higher levels.  Interestingly, sun exposure was part of the recommendations of Dr. Johanna Budwig for fighting cancer.  I have certainly added some D to my regimen. 

I find it fascinating, too, to remember that the only time I got spanked as a child was for finishing off a whole bottle of Cod Liver Oil.  My body, existing at that time in the Northern latitudes of Sweden, must have known something intuitively! 

I am copying these links from my previous post on Vitamin D

Krispin Sullivan CN - comprehensive article on Vitamin D - emphasizes the importance of TESTING your levels of D when supplementing or exposing yourself to the sun. Information on which test to request is also given. 

Carlson Labs Vitamin D

Natures Plus Vitamin D