Natural Cholesterol Reduction
How To Naturally Maintain Healthy Cholesterol Levels by Dr.Joseph Asbach, M.D. Good health is directly related to good eating habits. Most food choices are made for taste and convenience, NOT for good health and nutrition. These bad habits increase the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease from consuming dietary fats, which results in high cholesterol levels. High levels of circulating cholesterol is a major factor leading to clogged blood vessels and heart disease. Heart disease is the number one killer in today’s society. Specifically, low-density lipoprotein, "LDL" cholesterol are considered bad because they carry fats out of the liver to the blood vessels. There are actually two types of dietary problems which lead to high cholesterol levels. First foods which are fried or are high in animal fats will directly raise levels of bad cholesterol. Second, diets high in sugar, bread, pasta, sweets and other simple carbohydrates are converted into bad cholesterol by the liver. This explains how some vegetarians have high cholesterol. The liver also makes cholesterol for hormonal purposes as a response to stress. It is possible to decrease cholesterol by decreasing and managing stress. Therefore exercise and stress management are an important part of a cholesterol lowering plan. There are two natural plant extracts, Beta-Sitosterol from soy, sugar cane, or rice and the gugul lipids which, when taken as a supplement, can improve cholesterol metabolism. Beta-Sitosterol is a healthy plant oil, found in all vegetable matter, but in minute quantities, except in sugar cane, soybeans and rice. It can decrease the absorption of cholesterol in the digestive system and decrease the amount of cholesterol produced by the liver. Beta-Sitosterol decreases absorption by locking to the fat molecules eaten and by blocking the fat molecule absorption gates in the intestines. The fats and cholesterol are then excreted rather than absorbed. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed a 42% decease in cholesterol absorbed when taking beta-sitosterol before eating scrambled eggs. The liver actually manufactures more cholesterol than is typically absorbed from food Beta-sitosterol acts on the liver enzymes in a way which inhibits cholesterol production. An important enzyme for the manufacture of cholesterol in the liver is broken down rapidly in the presence of beta-sitosterol. Cholesterol is also better metabolized or broken down by the liver in the presence of beta-sitosterol. The specific liver enzymes which break down saturated fats are significantly more active. There are possibly even more benefits to taking beta-sitosterol including aiding in weight loss, protecting the lining of the digestive tract and decreasing the risk of gallstones. The gugul lipids are plant fibers.The gugul lipds have both cholesterol lowering properties and directly inhibit cholesterol from forming sticky plaque, clogging the walls of blood vessels. Like beta-sitosterol, it has the effects of decreasing cholesterol absorption and decreasing enzymatic cholesterol production in the liver. The fact that the gugul lipds also works at reducing plaque out in the blood vessels is an added bonus. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Cardiology showed gugul ipid supplementation significantly decreased blood cholesterol levels without altering patients diet or lifestyle. Even greater results may be expected with proper diet and lifestyle changes. Beta-sitosterol and gugl lipds should be consumed in equal divided doses, 30 minutes prior to all meals. The plant substances can then disperse throughout the digestive system during that 30 minutes to maximize its effectiveness on blocking cholesterol absorption. Taken regularly before meals containing cholesterol rich foods, can result in a significant decrease in cholesterol absorption and improved processing of cholesterol by the liver. Commonly prescribed drugs which lower Cholesterol are expensive and have many undesirable side-effects. These drugs are very burdensome to the liver and kidneys. In contrast, these safe and natural plant based cholesterol fighters are actually beneficial to the liver. In summary, supplementation with the combination beta-sitosterol and gugle lipids can be a safe and effective part of a healthy plan to naturally lower serum cholesterol levels. The proposed mechanisms of action are; 1) intestinal binding and excretion of free cholesterol 2) blocking of absorption sites in the intestinal walls 3) an enzymatic shift decreasing liver cholesterol production 4) increased liver enzyme functions on the breakdown of fats. Controlling body weight and cholesterol levels are keys to a healthy cardiovascular system. Therefore a consistent health plan to control body weight and cholesterol levels is needed. Beta-sitosterol with citrus pectin can lower cholesterol absorption in the intestine and lower cholesterol production in the liver. This should lead to lower circulating bad cholesterol levels in the blood. Taking beta-sitosterol with gugul lipids pectin before meals is an excellent strategy in any plan to help maintain healthy cholesterol naturally!
OJ Fortified with Plant Sterols Lowers Cholesterol
Sterol-fortified OJ Lowers ‘Bad’ Cholesterol February 20, 2004 — University of California at Davis Plant sterols — recognized for their cholesterol-lowering power when added to margarines, salad dressings and other fats — are just as effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein, or “”bad”" cholesterol”" levels, when added to orange juice, say researchers. The results are based on a 10-week study of 72 healthy volunteers with mildly elevated cholesterol levels.
Orange juice fortified with plant sterols found to lower ‘bad’ cholesterol in healthy volunteers.
(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — Plant sterols — recognized for their cholesterol-lowering power when added to margarines, salad dressings and other fats — are just as effective in reducing low-density lipoprotein, or “”bad”" cholesterol”" levels, when added to orange juice, say researchers at UC Davis School of Medicine and Medical Center.
The results, based on a 10-week study of 72 healthy volunteers with mildly elevated cholesterol levels, are published in the March 8 issue of the American Heart Association’s journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (available online at http://www.atvbaha.org).
“”Lowering LDL cholesterol is a well-accepted means of reducing the likelihood of heart disease,”" said Sridevi Devaraj, an assistant professor of pathology and investigator in the Laboratory for Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Research at UC Davis Medical Center who led the sterol study. “”Fortifying orange juice with plant sterols is an easy and effective way to boost a diet’s LDL-fighting power in individuals with mildly elevated cholesterol levels.
“”Fifty percent of Americans have mildly elevated cholesterol levels, defined as having a total cholesterol reading of more than 200 mg/dL. The inclusion of sterols in orange juice offers an important treatment option without increasing saturated fat and at the same time providing vitamin C, flavonoids and other essential nutrients.”"
The American Heart Association and National Cholesterol Education Program recommend a diet that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and rich in soluble fiber and plant sterols to help individuals reduce their risk of heart disease. Sterols are present in small quantities in a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals and legumes. Chemically similar to cholesterol, sterols are thought to lower LDL levels in the body by limiting absorption of cholesterol in the intestine. The UC Davis study is the first to show the cholesterol-reducing effects of plant sterols in a nonfat beverage.
For the study, the UC Davis researchers enrolled healthy volunteers ages 20 to 73 with mildly elevated cholesterol levels. The volunteers were asked to eat their normal diet but to drink a cup of juice along with whatever they had for breakfast and dinner. Half of the group had the sterol-fortified orange juice while the others drank regular orange juice by the same manufacturer. Fasting blood tests were taken before and after the study to determine total cholesterol, total triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels.
“”Volunteers who drank the sterol-fortified orange juice had a 7.2-percent decrease in total cholesterol, 12.4-percent decrease in LDL cholesterol, and 7.8-percent decrease in non-high-density lipoprotein levels compared to baseline and to the group that received the non-sterol orange juice group,”" she said.
“”Orange juice has wide appeal since it is consumed by individuals of all ages, from early childhood to old age. And for individuals who do not want to take a drug for mildly elevated cholesterol, this may provide a healthy and attractive alternative.”"
Previous studies at other institutions have evaluated plant sterols in yogurt and other low-fat and non-fat foods, with variable results. The UC Davis study may be unique in that it did not place volunteers on a special diet and only asked that they drink the juice with their normal meals.
“”The fat in the meals may have helped to emulsify the sterols, but further research will need to be done to determine the meal’s relevance,”" said Ishwarlal Jialal, professor of pathology and internal medicine and director of the Laboratory for Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Research at UC Davis Medical Center. “”We also would like to investigate whether sterols can add to the LDL-reducing effects of statin drugs in higher-risk individuals. Sterol-fortified orange juice could potentially enable more patients to meet cholesterol level goals as outlined by the National Cholesterol Education Program.”"
SupplementSpot offers several supplements containing cholesterol lowering plant sterols. Learn more about them by clicking on the following links:
Soy Isoflavones Overview
Stay Healthy With Isoflavones There has been a great deal of discussion lately about the benefits of adding Soy products to our diet. The FDA has even issued a statement encouraging the use of soy products as a means of preventing heart disease. The general impression is that these foods are beneficial to women. While this statement is true, it is only the tip of the iceberg.
The specific ingredients in Soy that have generated interest and research are the phytochemicals (plant chemicals) called isoflavones and, specifically, genistein, daidzein and glycetin.
There are a few key plant sources of isoflavones: Soy, plant lignans (plant fiber such as Flax meal) and Red Clover.
Isoflavones are incredibly gentle and very intelligent. How can a plant substance be intelligent? Isoflavones are adaptogens which means that they adapt to each individual’s physical needs and restore balance. This is a very important quality to have when it comes to certain health challenges.
HORMONAL BALANCE - In addition to natural hormonal changes throughout our lives, both men and women are affected by external environmental hormones. Pesticides and herbicides can trigger higher estrogen levels. Commercial animal feeds promote accelerated growth with estrogen-mimicking hormones. Plastic food packaging and plastic cooking films also release pseudo-estrogens into our foods.
How is a body to cope? Eating non-genetically modified (non-GMO) Soy and Flax products provide the body with isoflavones which send chemical messages for cells to behave in specific ways. If the body’s estrogen levels are too high or too low, the message is to bring the levels into balance. In women, this may reduce pre-menstrual or menopausal symptoms. In men, it may reduce benign prostate enlargement or block environmental estrogens from reducing androgen and testosterone levels.
CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH - Recent studies have shown that isoflavones reduce cholesterol (LDL) and inhibit the hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Consumption of soy products specifically reduced serum levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in studies. One of the isoflavones, genistein, has been shown to reduce the damage to cells that line our blood vessels.
REDUCE ESTROGEN RELATED CANCERS - Keeping the body’s estrogen levels in check reduces the risk of estrogen-related cancers such as breast cancer. It has also been linked to reducing prostate, colon and skin cancers. One of the isoflavone mechanisms studied is the ability to reduce new blood vessel growth, which is a powerful deterrent to cancers that need excessive blood flow to support growth.
OSTEOPOROSIS - The blueprint for this condition is often created early in life. A diet deficient in Calcium, together with excessive amounts of caffeine, salt and carbonated beverages, can seriously undermine bone structure. The addition of Soy and Flax products into the diet helps suppress osteoclast cells which rob Calcium from the bone.
FREE RADICAL DAMAGE - Isoflavones are powerful antioxidants. Like the flavonoids in many colourful fruits and vegetables, these plant chemicals are extremely effective in neutralizing free radicals in the body.
ADDING ISOFLAVONES TO YOUR DIET - It is becoming easier to integrate isoflavone-rich foods into our Western diet, even if you don’t like the taste of tofu. One of the most available sources are Soy products. In addition to tofu, there are a variety of delicious Soy milk products, including ice cream, yogurts and Soy protein. Soy protein isolates are also easy to integrate into familiar foods. It is important to choose a water-processed Soy protein isolate which retains the isoflavone content.
Atkins Diet Exposed!
John McDougall Exposes Atkins Diet HIGH-PROTEIN DIETS High-protein Diets: Trading Your Health for Temporary Weight Loss Once again, medical doctors and the paperback book industry advocating high-protein and fat- laden diets are grabbing the attention of millions of desperate people. “”Lose 20 pounds in 30 days!”" “”Eat all the bacon you want and be thin as a breadstick!”" The truth about these types of fad “”diets”" is that people can temporarily lose large amounts of weight, and can even lower their blood cholesterol, sugar, and triglycerides — but the method is unhealthful. The only study published on the most popular high-protein diet, Dr. Atkin’s diet, shows the cholesterol goes up and LDL “”bad”" cholesterol goes up significantly, and HDL “”good”" cholesterol goes down significantly in women. Free fatty acids levels, which when elevated are associated with heart arrhythmias, are doubled. (J Am Diet Assoc 77:264 - 270, 1980). Hyperinsulinism and Insulin Resistance Advocates of high-protein diets explain the reason people are fat is not because of the fat they eat, but because of hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance. Insulin, the major regulator of fuel storage and release, is synthesized by the pancreas and secreted into the blood stream after we eat. Insulin stimulates the synthesis of fat, proteins, and glycogen (the storage form for sugars). It encourages fat cells to store fat and prevents the release of fat from these cells. Therefore, high levels of insulin, known as hyperinsulinism, would be expected to promote obesity. Eating simple sugars (including too much fruit), flours, and drinking alcohol stimulate insulin production and release. Eating all kinds of fat raises insulin levels (Diabetes Care 16:1459, 1993; Am J Clin Nutr 73:878, 2001). Exercise, eating whole grains, and small frequent meals (grazing), as opposed to gorging, lower insulin levels. Eating less food and a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet can also lower insulin levels (Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord20:1067, 1996). One of the greatest distortions of the truth promoted by high-protein diet advocates is that protein causes little or no increase in production of insulin. However, research shows just the opposite. When fed in equal amounts (calories), beef raises insulin more than whole grain pasta, cheese more than white pasta, and fish more than porridge (Am J Clin Nutr 66:1264, 1997). Maybe as important is the fact that carbohydrates are very satisfying for our hunger drive. Potatoes produce twice the level of appetite satisfaction as beef or cheese (Eur J Clin Nutr 49:675, 1995). Insulin resistance is one of the reasons for hyperinsulinism. This condition is strongly associated with obesity; and in general the fatter you become the more insulin resistance you will demonstrate, for one important reason. Insulin resistance is an adaptation that keeps fat people from becoming even fatter — reducing the effectiveness of the insulin molecules causes less efficient fat storage. The underlying cause is the high-fat, high-sugar American diet, lack of physical exercise, and resulting obesity (Cent Eur J Public Health 7:122, 1999). However, recent research suggests that it is really the diet that causes insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia rather than the resulting obesity being the cause (J Appl Physiol 84:1311, 1998). Restoring Your Metabolism The healthiest way to reduce insulin resistance and lower insulin levels is with a diet high in complex carbohydrates and low in fat, and exercise — this approach corrects the underlying causes of the resistance. In 1992, James Barnard published a study on the effects of a high complex carbohydrate diet and exercise on hyperinsulinemia (Am J Cardiol, 69:440, 1992). After three weeks, insulin levels in adult-type diabetics and people identified with insulin resistance were reduced by one-third. This study also showed a significant reduction in blood pressure (6/8 mm Hg), triglycerides (26%), cholesterol (22%) and weight (body mass index — 4%). The “”Ketogenic”" High-Protein Diets There are two kinds of high-protein diets popular today: Those that limit calorie intake by causing the body to develop a metabolic state known as ketosis; and those that make stringent rules which limit the dieter’s intake of food. The “”ketogenic diets”" cause the body to produce ketones by severe restriction of carbohydrate intake while allowing unlimited fat and protein intake. With insufficient intake of the body’s primary fuel, carbohydrate, the body turns to fats from foods and from body fat for fuel. Byproducts of this metabolism are acidic substances called ketones (acetacetic acid, B-hydroxybuteric acid, and acetone). The metabolic condition is known as ketosis. Ketosis is associated with loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, and hypotension (lower blood pressure). The result is a decrease in food (calorie) intake. Ketosis is the key to the diet’s success, by allowing the body to starve while reducing the suffering of severe hunger pangs. This same condition, ketosis, occurs naturally when people are literally starving to death or seriously ill. During starvation this metabolic state is a kindness of nature allowing the victim to suffer much reduced pains of hunger while dying. During illness the suppression of the appetite frees the person to rest and recuperate, rather then be forced by hunger to gather and prepare food. Because ketogenic diets simulate this metabolic state seen with serious illness, I refer to them as “”the make yourself sick diets.”" As we will see below, another reason low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets deserve this title is they contain significant amounts of the very foods — the meats — that the American Cancer Society and the Heart Association tell us contribute to our most common causes of death and disability. Initial Rapid Weight Loss The initial weight loss is rapid, and therefore very rewarding, for the desperate dieter. Most of this loss, however, is water loss, rather than fat loss. With little carbohydrate in the diet the body resorts to using its glycogen stores of glucose. Glycogen, stored in the liver and muscles, can meet the average person’s glucose needs for about 12 to 18 hours. With each gram of glycogen is stored 2.7 grams of water. The average body stores 300 grams of glycogen. Depletion of the body’s glycogen would result in an almost overnight weight loss of 1110 grams (37 ounces or over 3 pounds). The ketones also cause a strong diuretic effect on the kidneys, resulting in losses of large amounts of fluid. The carbohydrate ceiling for weight loss may be as low as 15 grams, depending on the individual. This is only 60 calories of carbohydrate, which means 1/3 of a baked potato, 1/3 cup of rice, or one orange daily could be your limit of carbohydrate intake in order to remain in sufficient ketosis to suppress your appetite. The Second Phase of Weight Loss People who manage to stay on high-protein diets also lose weight because these diets restrict carbohydrate calories such as fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, and legumes. Think about Thanksgiving on a high-protein ketogenic diet. You can have turkey, ham, butter, mayonnaise, and sour cream; but you can’t have potatoes, yams, bread dressing, cranberry sauce, breads, corn on the cob, hot cider, or pumpkin pie. By eliminating so many foods from your diet, you automatically reduce your calorie intake, resulting in a negative calorie balance and therefore weight loss. Doris Bosnyack of San Bernardino says, “”I stayed on it about 3 weeks. After a while I couldn’t eat; the taste of the food was terrible. I didn’t enjoy it — just meat, meat, meat. I wasn’t a big meat eater to begin with. I got constipated and lethargic. I looked terrible. I looked like someone ran over me. My eyes got sunken in and blackened. I just felt sick.”" As you reach your desired weight on these diets you are allowed more carbohydrate. A maintenance diet prescribes levels generally between 30 and 90 grams of carbohydrates daily. However, if you start to regain weight as would be expected as you leave the appetite-suppressing advantages of ketosis, then you must immediately go straight back to the strictest carbohydrate-restrictive diet. However, living with ketosis gets old fast for most people. Any benefits are usually temporary because it is too unpleasant to be in a state of ketosis seen with sickness — so people go back to their old way of eating to feel better and to enjoy their diet more, and they regain their lost weight and then some. A telling example of this is Dr. Atkins, the most famous advocate of ketogenic diets, who admits to being 20 pounds overweight; however, my eyeball of the situation leads me to believe that he’s easily wearing 40 extra pounds of fat or more. (Since his cardiac arrest and near death experience in April 2002, he appears to have lost some weight - maybe he is now on the McDougall diet? See the June 2002 McDougall Newsletter for details on this event.) Ketogenic Diets Are Not for Humans I have had Dr. Atkins on my radio show twice in the past and there are only two things we could agree on: first, his patients are constipated (there is no dietary fiber in meat, fish, poultry, cheese, butter, or eggs); and second, all major health organization make dietary recommendations opposite to his approach. Major professional health organizations, including the American Heart Association, the National Cholesterol Education Program, and the American Cancer Society endorse a diet that is composed of 10% to 15% protein, 55% to 60% carbohydrates, and 25% to 30% fat. The Atkins Diet can be more than 80% protein or fat, and less than 6% carbohydrate depending upon the low-carbohydrate foods selected. High-fat, high-protein diets are believed to be the underlying cause of our major diseases, including heart disease, strokes, adult-type diabetes, and obesity. In a report in the October 9, 2001 issue of the journal Circulation, the Nutrition Committee of the American Heart Association wrote “”High-protein diets may also be associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease due to intakes of saturated fat, cholesterol, and other associated dietary factors”" (Circulation 104:1869, 2001). “”High-protein diets are not recommended because they restrict healthful foods that provide essential nutrients and do not provide the variety of foods needed to adequately meet nutritional needs. Individuals who follow these diets are therefore at risk for compromised vitamin and mineral intake, as well as potential cardiac, renal, bone, and liver abnormalities overall.”" Dr. Atkins recommends you eat all you can eat of roast rack of lamb, lobster dripping in butter, and bacon and eggs. He believes human beings are carnivores — an observation contradicted by all aspects of our anatomy and physiology. Our teeth are not like a cat’s, we have no claws for tearing apart meat, our intestine is designed for digesting plant foods, not meat, and our livers have a limited capacity to metabolize cholesterol, which is one big reason our cholesterol levels rise on the Western diet. Food-restricting High-protein Diets The second form of high-protein diets employs stringent rules for choosing foods in order to limit calorie intake. For example, The Zone Diet asks you to limit your protein intake to about 100 grams a day of protein, then distribute the rest of the calories as 30% protein, 30% fat, and 40% carbohydrate. Following these rules a man would be eating about 1300 calories a day, when he actually needs 2300 calories a day. You’re not supposed to feel hunger because you are in “”the Zone”" of properly-balanced insulin levels - right! The Carbohydrate Addicts Diet reduces your calorie intake by asking you to eat two severely carbohydrate-restricted meals and one well-balanced “”Reward Meal”" containing carbohydrates (limited to one hour of eating). The carbohydrate-restricted meals severely limit your food choices to meats, poultry, fish, oils and most high-fat dairy products; as a result you take in fewer calories. The Reward Meal has been modified over the years from 1991, when “”All foods are allowed on the Reward Meal and quantities are not limited”" with unlimited amounts of alcohol; to 1999, when a Reward Meal begins with two cups of fresh salad followed by equal portions of 1/3 protein, 1/3 low-carbohydrate vegetables, and 1/3 high-carbohydrate foods, and modest amounts of alcohol. Is It the Fat or the Carbohydrates? The resurgence of high-protein diets is based primarily on the misconception that carbohydrates alone induce weight gain. Actually the fat in the American diet is the biggest culprit. Fat is already in the chemical form for storage and is almost effortlessly moved from the fork and spoon to the body’s fat cells (costing only 3% of the calories of the fat). In fact, this transfer is performed so easily that the chemical structure of the dietary fat remains largely unchanged as it is stored; so that chemically analyzed body fat reflects a person’s diet. If one eats large amounts of cold-water fish then the body fat is filled with omega-3 fats, and margarines and shortenings result in the storage of trans fats. To convert carbohydrate into fat is expensive, costing 30% of the calories, and therefore this conversion is relatively limited on the Western diet (Ann N Y Acad Sci 819:44, 1997). Carbohydrates in their simple and refined forms do raise insulin levels and as a result when combined with fat, as they are on the Western diet, they promote obesity. One definite improvement in the diet made by advocates of the low-carbohydrate regimes is their consistent recommendation to avoid sugar, white flour, milk, ice cream, cakes, pies, soft drinks, and low-fat diet products which contain large amounts of highly-refined carbohydrates. Also to their credit they all do recommend a high intake of healthful green and yellow vegetables, like asparagus, cauliflower, and onions. But they fail the dieter by restricting healthful complex carbohydrates, like rice, corn, beans and potatoes, and by recommending butter, eggs, meats and other very high-fat, high-cholesterol, and/or high-protein foods. Osteoporosis and kidney stones are caused primarily by a diet rich in animal foods. Such a diet provides an abundance of acid that must be neutralized in order for the body to function properly and health to be maintained. The body’s primary buffering system is its bones. The bones dissolve as the first step to osteoporosis. The second step involves changes in the kidneys’ physiology caused by animal foods that results in the loss of this bone material into the urinary system. During its passage through the ureters some of the calcium solidifies into calcium kidney stones and the rest is lost from the body, leaving the bones porous (J Nutr 128:1051, 1998; J Pedriatr 117.743, 1990). Mental Function Impaired by Ketosis Mental health seems to be impaired by ketosis. Performance on the “”Trail-making Task,”" a neuropsychological test which requires higher order mental processing and flexibility was found to be adversely affected by the ketogenic diet (Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 19:811, 1995). Maybe this reduced mental capacity is one reason some people on the Atkins Diet profess to feeling so great. Val Johnson of Lakeland, Florida, summarizes his experiences on a ketogenic diet: “”Our family doctor recommended the Atkins Diet to us. We got on it and we got sick, especially when we followed the bacon recommendation, where he says you can eat all the bacon you want. We stayed on the diet a week and a half. I believe the diet affected my thinking. I made some real bad mistakes on the job. One of them cost me a considerable amount of money. The most costly was when I ordered
10 Grams of Fiber Daily Cut Heart Attack Risk by 27%
Ten Grams of Fiber a Day Cuts Heart Risks Cereals and fruit are healthiest choices, study finds February 23, 2004 Eating at least three apples a day or other sources of dietary fiber such as cereals significantly cuts the risk of death from heart disease, researchers said on Monday.
Pooling the results of 10 U.S. and European studies with more than 330,000 adult subjects, the report said people who consumed 10 grams of fiber daily reduced their risk of heart attack by 14 percent and cut their risk of dying from coronary heart disease by 27 percent.
A medium-sized apple contains roughly 3 grams of fiber, while a slice of whole wheat bread contains 1.5 grams and a stalk of broccoli about 2.7 grams of fiber.
“”The recommendations to consume a diet that includes an abundance of fiber-rich foods to prevent (coronary heart disease) are based on a wealth of consistent scientific evidence,”" wrote study author Mark Pereira, formerly of Harvard University in Boston, and now at the University of Minnesota.
The report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine said 5,249 of the subjects developed heart disease and 2,011 died from the disease during the six to 10 years of follow-up.
The health benefit was strongest when the dietary fiber came from cereals and fruit, rather than vegetables. The reason may be because common starchy and heavily processed vegetables such as corn and peas are poor in nutrients but high in sugars that can lead to diabetes and heart disease.
Fiber in the diet has been found to lower blood pressure, cut blood levels of artery-clogging lipids and improve insulin sensitivity.
SupplementSpot has several products that will decrease your cholesterol without drugs. You can find them by clicking on the links below or searching our extensive library under the subject “”cholesterol”":
Grapefruit Lowers Cholesterol
Studies Show Grapefruit Fights Battle of the Bulge and More; Three Published Reports Coincide with National Nutrition Month(R)
March 3, 2006 Genetic Engineering News From weight loss to heart health to disease protection, three recent studies confirm the multiple health benefits of grapefruit. With March designated as National Nutrition Month(R), it’s an opportune time to highlight the benefits of the tangy nutrient-packed fruit, which unlike some citrus fruits is available year round.
Human Study Confirms Grapefruit Promotes Weight Loss
A study published in the March 2006 issue of the Journal of Medicinal Foods supports the long-held belief that grapefruit is useful in the battle of the bulge. Dr. Ken Fujioka from Scripps Clinic in San Diego conducted a 12-week study of 100 obese men and women and found that consuming one half grapefruit before meals resulted in an average weight loss of 3.6 pounds with some participants losing up to 10 pounds. Individuals who ate the grapefruit had significantly lower levels of insulin in their blood, which the researchers speculate resulted in the weight loss. The smaller the amount of insulin in the blood after a meal, the more efficiently the body uses food for energy rather than storing it as fat. The researchers further speculated that a natural plant compound in grapefruit, not the fiber content, was responsible for the weight loss since those who consumed grapefruit juice also lost weight despite the lack of fiber.
Grapefruit Lowers Cholesterol Levels Researchers in Israel found that red and white grapefruit contain powerful antioxidants that may help reduce the risk of heart disease. Published in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry(1) scientists found that serving heart bypass patients the equivalent of one grapefruit a day significantly reduced cholesterol levels. The study included 57 patients, both men and women, who recently had coronary bypass surgery and failed to respond to cholesterol-lowering medication. Red grapefruit was especially effective, reducing cholesterol by 15 percent and triglycerides (a type of fat that increases the risk of heart disease) by 17 percent. Compound in Grapefruit May Protect Against Prostate Cancer A laboratory study conducted by researchers at UCLA and Zhongshan University in China discovered that naringenin — a beneficial plant compound in grapefruit and oranges — helped repair damaged genetic material (DNA) in human prostate cancer cells. DNA repair is an important factor in cancer prevention since it stops cancer cells from multiplying. The research was published in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry(2). Scientists noted that DNA repair by naringenin might contribute to the cancer-fighting effects associated with a diet high in fruits and vegetables. At only 60 calories, one half a grapefruit is an excellent source of Vitamin C and fiber and also offers Vitamin A, potassium and folate. Grapefruit and other citrus fruits are included in the dietary programs of some of the world’s leading nutrition organizations including USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Produce for Better Health (PBH) Foundation’s 5 A Day Program, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. About Sunkist Growers As one of the world’s oldest and largest citrus marketing cooperatives, Sunkist Growers is owned by more than 6,000 citrus growers in California and Arizona, most of whom are small family farmers harvesting oranges, lemons and grapefruit. For more citrus information, nutrition tips and healthy recipes, visit www.sunkist.com. (1) Gorinstein S, Caspi A, Libman I, et al. Red Grapefruit Positively Influences Serum Tryglyceride Level in Patients Suffering from Coronary Atherosclerosis: Studies in Vitro and in Humans. J. Agric Food Chem. ASAP Web Article released Feb. 3, 2006. (2) Gao K, Henning SM, Niu Y, et al. The citrus flavonoid naringenin stimulates DNA repair in prostate cancer cells. J of Nutr Biochem 2006;17(2):89-95. *T
MSM Research Summary
Research on MSM Aspirin and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): a search for common mechanisms, with implications for cancer prevention.
Anticancer Res. 2003 Jan-Feb;23(1A):453-8. Ebisuzaki K.
Departments of Microbiology and Immunology and of Biochemistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A-5C1, Canada. kebisuza@julian.uwo.ca
BACKGROUND: Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), a prototypic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and MSM, a “”nutritional supplement”", are both used in the treatment of arthritis and described as cancer chemopreventive agents. Initial experimentation indicating that aspirin and MSM also induced the differentiation of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cells led to a search for common mechanisms involving these two agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since the major mechanism of action attributed to aspirin is the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX), prostaglandin (PG) production was examined under differentiation-inducing conditions in MEL cells. RESULTS: Aspirin at low, nontoxic concentrations induced differentiation leading to terminal cell division. Aspirin had no effect on PGE2 production and minimal inhibitory effect on COX activity. Furthermore, salicylate, a major metabolite of aspirin and an ineffective COX inhibitor, induced differentiation at concentrations comparable to aspirin. Similar experiments with MSM indicated that MSM had no effect on PGE2 production or on COX activity under differentiation–inducing conditions and at concentrations reported in other studies. CONCLUSION: These experiments indicated that aspirin and MSM induced differentiation by a COX-independent mechanism(s) and suggested that a common mechanism for the chemopreventive action invoked by both agents might be the activation of gene functions leading to differentiation and thereby dismantling the cellular capacity for proliferation. PMID: 12680248 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Methylsulfonylmethane observed by in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a 5-year-old child with developmental disorder: effects of dietary supplementation. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2002 Sep-Oct;26(5):818-20. Cecil KM, Lin A, Ross BD, Egelhoff JC. Department of Radiology/MC 5031, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA. cecil@athena.chmcc.org Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) revealed a distinct resonance at 3.15 ppm in the brain of a 5-year-old male diagnosed with autism. The resonance assignment is attributable to ingestion of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) as a dietary supplement. Glucosamine with MSM is marketed as a source of dietary sulfur and treatment of joint pain. Recognition of this chemical on brain proton MRS as an exogenous compound is necessary to avoid confusion as a pathologic metabolite of pediatric metabolic disease. PMID: 12439321 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Sulfur in human nutrition and applications in medicine. Altern Med Rev. 2002 Feb;7(1):22-44. Parcell S. American Institute for Biosocial and Medical Research (AIBMR), Tacoma, WA, USA. steveparcell@attbi.com Because the role of elemental sulfur in human nutrition has not been studied extensively, it is the purpose of this article to emphasize the importance of this element in humans and discuss the therapeutic applications of sulfur compounds in medicine. Sulfur is the sixth most abundant macromineral in breast milk and the third most abundant mineral based on percentage of total body weight. The sulfur-containing amino acids (SAAs) are methionine, cysteine, cystine, homocysteine, homocystine, and taurine. Dietary SAA analysis and protein supplementation may be indicated for vegan athletes, children, or patients with HIV, because of an increased risk for SAA deficiency in these groups. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a volatile component in the sulfur cycle, is another source of sulfur found in the human diet. Increases in serum sulfate may explain some of the therapeutic effects of MSM, DMSO, and glucosamine sulfate. Organic sulfur, as SAAs, can be used to increase synthesis of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), glutathione (GSH), taurine, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). MSM may be effective for the treatment of allergy, pain syndromes, athletic injuries, and bladder disorders. Other sulfur compounds such as SAMe, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), taurine, glucosamine or chondroitin sulfate, and reduced glutathione may also have clinical applications in the treatment of a number of conditions such as depression, fibromyalgia, arthritis, interstitial cystitis, athletic injuries, congestive heart failure, diabetes, cancer, and AIDS. Dosages, mechanisms of action, and rationales for use are discussed. The low toxicological profiles of these sulfur compounds, combined with promising therapeutic effects, warrant continued human clinical trails. PMID: 11896744 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Toxicity of methylsulfonylmethane in rats. Food Chem Toxicol. 2002 Oct;40(10):1459-62. Horvath K, Noker PE, Somfai-Relle S, Glavits R, Financsek I, Schauss AG. Pharmaceutical Control and Development Laboratory Ltd, Budapest, Hungary. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a popular dietary supplement used in a variety of conditions including pain, inflammation, allergies, arthritis, parasitic infections and the maintenance of normal keratin levels in hair, skin and nails. Despite its popularity, there is little published toxicology data on MSM. The objective of this study was to evaluate the acute and subchronic toxicity of MSM in rats at a dose five to seven times the maximum recommended dose in humans. MSM administered in a single gavage dose of 2 g/kg resulted in no adverse events or mortality. MSM administered as a daily dose of 1.5 g/kg for 90 days by gavage resulted in no adverse events or mortality. Necropsy did not reveal any gross pathological lesions or changes in organ weights. Renal histology of treated animals was normal. It is concluded that MSM is well tolerated in rats at an acute dose of 2 g/kg and at a subacute chronic dose of 1.5 g/kg. PMID: 12387309 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– A multicentered, open-label trial on the safety and efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. J Altern Complement Med. 2002 Apr;8(2):167-73. Barrager E, Veltmann JR Jr, Schauss AG, Schiller RN. GENESIS Center for Integrative Medicine, Graham, WA, USA. BACKGROUND: Seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) affects more than 23 million Americans annually, and current epidemiologic studies indicate that its prevalence within the United States is increasing. Numerous clinical observations and case studies have led researchers to hypothesize that methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) may help ameliorate the symptoms associated with SAR. OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of MSM in the reduction of SAR-associated symptoms. This study also examined possible adverse reactions associated with methylsulfonylmethane supplementation. Finally, this study attempted to elucidate the method of action by which MSM elicits its effect on allergy symptoms. DESIGN: Fifty-five (55) subjects were recruited for the study. All met the criteria for participation in the study. 50 subjects completed the study. Those subjects completing the study consumed 2,600 mg of MSM orally per day for 30 days. Clinical respiratory symptoms and energy levels were evaluated by a Seasonal Allergy Symptom Questionnaire (SASQ) at baseline and on days 7, 14, 21, and 30. Immune and inflammatory reactions were measured by plasma immunoglobulin E (IgE) and C-reactive protein at baseline and on day 30. An additional inflammatory biomarker, plasma histamine, was measured in a subset of subjects (n = 5). RESULTS: Day 7 upper and total respiratory symptoms were reduced significantly from baseline (p < 0.01 and p < 0.005, respectively). Lower respiratory symptoms were significantly improved from baseline by week 3 (p < 0.001). All respiratory improvements were maintained through the 30-day visit. Energy levels increased significantly by day 14 (p < 0.0001); this increase continued through day 30. No significant changes were observed in plasma IgE or histamine levels. The results of this study are promising. It would be worthwhile to conduct a larger, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to establish further if MSM would be a useful agent in the treatment of symptoms associated with SAR. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that MSM supplementation of 2,600 mg/day for 30 days may be efficacious in the reduction of symptoms associated with SAR. Furthermore, few side effects are associated with the use of this compound. Recent acute and subacute chronic toxicologic data on the same source of MSM as used in this study, further validate the safety of this product. PMID: 12006124 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Accumulation of methylsulfonylmethane in the human brain: identification by multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Toxicol Lett. 2001 Sep 15;123(2-3):169-77. Lin A, Nguy CH, Shic F, Ross BD. MR Spectroscopy Unit, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, 660 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105, USA. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a widely available ‘alternative’ medicine. In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to detect and quantify MSM in the brains of four patients with memory loss and in three normal volunteers all of who had ingested MSM at the recommended doses of 1-3 g daily. MSM was detected in all subjects at concentrations of 0.42-3.40 mmole/kg brain and was equally distributed between gray and white matter. MSM was undetectable in drug-naive normal subjects (N=25), patients screened for ‘toxic exposure’ (N=50) or patients examined with 1H MRS for the diagnosis of probable Alzheimer Disease (N=520) between 1991 and 2001. No adverse clinical or neurochemical effects were observed. Appearance of MSM in significant concentrations in the human brain indicates ready transfer across the intact blood-brain barrier, of a compound with no known medical benefits. PMID: 11641045 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Calcium, sulfur, and zinc distribution in normal and arthritic articular equine cartilage: a synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray emission (SRIXE) study. J Exp Zool. 1995 Sep 1;273(1):82-6. Rizzo R, Grandolfo M, Godeas C, Jones KW, Vittur F. Dipartimento di Biochimica, Universita di Trieste, Italy. Calcium, sulfur, and zinc content in normal and arthritic equine cartilage have been studied by synchrotron radiation-induced X-ray emission (SRIXE). Ranging from the superficial to the columnar zone of the normal tissue, calcium and zinc concentrations are increasingly higher, whereas sulfur is at its highest concentration in the transitional zone. In the arthritic tissue, calcium concentration is at its maximum in the transitional zone, whereas zinc and sulfur distributions are relatively homogeneous. Sulfur concentration in arthritic cartilage is reduced to about one-third with respect to that in normal tissue. The possibility that zinc concentration reflects the distribution of the zinc-containing enzyme alkaline phosphatase is presented. PMID: 7561728 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Pharmacodynamic effects of inhaled dry powder formulations of fenoterol and colforsin in asthma. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1993 Jan;53(1):76-83 Bauer K, Dietersdorfer F, Sertl K, Kaik B, Kaik G. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria. The airway and tremor response and cardiovascular and hypokalemic effects of single doses of inhalative fenoterol dry powder capsules (0.4 mg) were compared with the fenoterol metered dose inhaler (0.4 mg) and colforsin (forskolin) dry powder capsules (10.0 mg), a direct activator of the adenylate cyclase system, in 16 patients with asthma. Subjects (FEV1 < or = 60% predicted) were investigated in a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, four-period, crossover trial for a 120 minute period. All active drugs caused a significant increase in specific airway conductance (p < 0.05); the order of potency (mean +/- SEM maximum increase from baseline) was fenoterol metered dose inhaler (0.51 +/- 0.06 sec-1 x kPa-1), fenoterol dry powder capsules (0.49 +/- 0.07), and colforsin dry powder capsules (0.30 +/- 0.03). A marked increase in finger tremor amplitude resulted after fenoterol metered dose inhaler only (62.93% +/- 10.21%; p < 0.05) in contrast to fenoterol dry powder capsules (15.84% +/- 4.35%; p 0.05). A decrease in plasma potassium was found after fenoterol (metered dose inhaler > dry powder capsules; p < 0.05). In conclusion, fenoterol dry powder capsules caused less tremor response and hypokalemic effects than the metered dose inhaler, although the bronchodilator capacity was similar. Colforsin dry powder capsules resulted in a measurable bronchodilatation in patients with asthma. PMID: 8422745 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) blocks conduction in peripheral nerve C fibers: a possible mechanism of analgesia. Neurosci Lett. 1993 Feb 19;150(2):145-8. Evans MS, Reid KH, Sharp JB Jr. Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is readily absorbed through skin, and relieves musculoskeletal pain when applied topically to painful areas. We studied the effects of DMSO on C-type nerve fibers, which mediate pain sensation. DMSO was applied directly to exposed cat sural nerves. C fiber conduction velocity was slowed by DMSO, even in low concentrations (5-7% v/v). Higher concentrations completely blocked C fiber conduction, with a minimum blocking concentration of 9%. Onset of nerve block was almost immediate with 15% DMSO or higher concentrations. C fiber blockade may account for analgesia with DMSO. PMID: 8469412 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Prolongation of response to DMSO by heparin maintenance. Urology. 1993 Jan;41(1 Suppl):64-6. Perez-Marrero R, Emerson LE, Maharajh DO, Juma S. Department of Urology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is an effective treatment of symptomatic patients with detrusor mastocytosis but it is associated with frequent relapses. A group of patients (N = 25) followed for twelve months showed a relapse rate of 59 percent. Our experience with a combination of DMSO and heparin has suggested that the relapse rate may be lower. Heparin is a glycosaminoglycan that may afford protection to the urothelium and may reduce the relapse rate. It is better tolerated than DMSO or a combination of DMSO and heparin and does not produce garlic halitus. It is not associated with coagulation anomalies when administered intravesically. To determine whether or not maintenance therapy with intravesical heparin may reduce relapses we have treated a similar cohort of 25 patients with monthly instillations of 10,000 IU of heparin over a twelve-month period. Both groups were comparable in age, duration of symptoms, severity of symptoms, and response to DMSO. At twelve months only 20 percent of the heparin-treated group had relapsed versus 52 percent of the control group. Furthermore 6 patients (24%) in the follow-up group failed to respond to retreatment with DMSO while all of the heparin maintenance group continued to respond to one or more treatments with DMSO. Thus, it seems that heparin maintenance produces a significant reduction in the relapse rate of patients who respond to DMSO and reduces the number of patients requiring alternative therapy. PMID: 8420097 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Effect of dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl sulfone on a destructive process in the joints of mice with spontaneous arthritis Patol Fiziol Eksp Ter. 1991 Mar-Apr;(2):37-9. Murav’ev IuV, Venikova MS, Pleskovskaia GN, Riazantseva TA, Sigidin IaA. The authors used the blind method for evaluation of the morphological picture of the joints and the level of circulating immune complexes to study the effect of prolonged oral administration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and its main metabolite dimethyl sulfone on the development of spontaneous arthritis in 36 Mrl/Mn/lnr female mice. It was found that DMSO and dimethyl sulfone lessen the destructive changes in the joints, while DMSO also inhibits the manifestation of immune disorders, i. e. produces a “”basal”" effect on the course of spontaneous chronic arthritis in experimental animals. PMID: 1881708 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Dimethyl sulfoxide modulation of diabetes onset in NOD mice. Klandorf H, Chirra AR, DeGruccio A, Girman DJ. Diabetes. 1989 Feb;38(2):194-7. Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a hydroxyl radical scavenger, is known as an immunosuppressive agent and can reduce autoantibody levels in experimental autoimmune diseases. Because classic diabetogens damage the DNA and membrane of the beta-cell by the generation of free radicals, the purpose of these investigations was to determine whether the intake of DMSO or its derivatives methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) and dimethylsulfide (DMS) could prevent the expression of autoimmune diabetes in the spontaneously diabetic NOD mouse. DMSO (2.5%), MSM (2.5%), and DMS (0.25%) were added to the drinking water of female NOD mice immediately after weaning. Control animals were maintained on regular drinking water. The presence of overt diabetes was monitored from the age of 2 mo by weekly urinary glucose testing until the animals either became overtly glucosuric or were greater than 240 days of age. In contrast to what we expected, DMSO (2.5%) markedly increased the rate at which the animals expressed overt diabetes (P less than .0004, log-rank test). MSM had no effect, whereas DMS reduced the incidence and rate of diabetes onset. When DMSO (2.5%) was administered to male NOD mice and control strains of mice (BALB/c and ICR), the control group did not develop glucosuria or insipidus, whereas DMSO increased the incidence of diabetes in the male NOD mice from 21 to 79%. In contrast, when DMSO was fed to female NOD mice on a purified AIN-76 diet, diabetes onset was reduced to 36%. We conclude that DMSO accelerates the uptake of dietary diabetogens into the beta-cell of genetically susceptible animals (NOD mice). The protective effect of the purified diet in such animals may be due to a lack of putative diabetogens in purified diet, or alternatively, the diet itself contains factor(s) that protect the beta-cell from autoimmune attack and/or destruction. PMID: 2914623 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– A controlled study of dimethyl sulfoxide in interstitial cystitis. J Urol. 1988 Jul;140(1):36-9. Perez-Marrero R, Emerson LE, Feltis JT. Department of Urology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. To evaluate the effectiveness of dimethyl sulfoxide in the treatment of patients with biopsies suggestive of interstitial cystitis, 33 patients underwent a controlled crossover trial. Patients were allocated randomly to receive 50 per cent dimethyl sulfoxide or placebo (saline). The medication was administered intravesically every 2 weeks for 2 sessions of 4 treatments each. Response was assessed urodynamically and symptomatically. Thirty women and 3 men (mean age 48 years and mean duration of symptoms 5.5 years) were entered into the study. No significant side effects to dimethyl sulfoxide were noted. When assessed subjectively, 53 per cent of dimethyl sulfoxide treated patients were markedly improved compared to 18 per cent of the placebo treated patients. Of the dimethyl sulfoxide group 93 per cent had objective improvement versus 35 per cent of the placebo group. Thus, dimethyl sulfoxide proved to be superior to placebo in the objective and subjective improvement of patients with interstitial cystitis. PMID: 3288775 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Growth inhibitory effects of dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl sulfone on vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells in vitro. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol. 1987 Jun;23(6):422-8. Layman DL. The growth of bovine aortic smooth muscle and endothelial cells was studied after exposure to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or its major metabolite, dimethyl sulfone (DMSO2). Both compounds caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth as determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation and by counting the number of cells with time of exposure in culture. The IC50 of DMSO (concentration which produces 50% inhibition of growth) was 1% for smooth muscle cells and 2.9% for endothelial cells. Similarly, the IC50 of DMSO2 was also 1% for smooth muscle cells, but was 1.8% for endothelial cells. After a 4-d exposure to either compound, the growth inhibition of smooth muscle cells was completely reversible at 1%, partially reversible at 2 to 3% and completely irreversible at 4%. By comparison, inhibition of endothelial cell growth was completely reversible up to 4% of either compound. It is concluded that the growth of smooth muscle cells was similarly inhibited by DMSO and DMSO2, but that smooth muscle cells were more susceptible than endothelial cells to the growth inhibitory effects of these compounds. In addition, DMSO2 was a more potent inhibitor of cell growth than DMSO and its growth inhibition was less reversible than that produced by DMSO. PMID: 3597282 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Effects of oral dimethyl sulfoxide and dimethyl sulfone on murine autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1986 Nov;183(2):227-30. Morton JI, Siegel BV. The results from several studies examining the effects of DMSO on autoimmune phenomena have been inconclusive, possibly because of differences in experimental models, treatment regimens and doses employed. In the present investigation, autoimmune strain MRL/lpr, C3H/lpr, and male BXSB mice were placed on a continuous treatment regimen with 3% DMSO or 3% DMSO2 in the drinking water, ad libitum, commencing at 1 to 2 months of age, before spontaneous disease development could be detected. This represented doses of 8-10 g/kg/day of DMSO and 6-8 g/kg/day of DMSO2. Both compounds were observed to extend the mean life span of MRL/lpr mice from 5 1/2 months to over 10 months of age. All strains showed decreased antinuclear antibody responses and significant diminution of lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and anemia development. Serum IgG levels and spleen IgM antibody plaque formation, however, did not differ from control values. There was no indication of involvement of systemic immunosuppressive or antiproliferative effects, and treated animals were observed to remain healthy and vigorous with no signs of toxicity. These results demonstrate that high doses of both DMSO and its major in vivo metabolite, DMSO2, provide significant protection against the development of murine autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease. Possible mechanisms of protection are discussed. PMID: 3489943 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Pharmacology of DMSO. Cryobiology. 1986 Feb;23(1):14-27. Jacob SW, Herschler R. A wide range of primary pharmacological actions of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been documented in laboratory studies: membrane penetration, membrane transport, effects on connective tissue, anti-inflammation, nerve blockade (analgesia), bacteriostasis, diuresis, enhancement or reduction of the effectiveness of other drugs, cholinesterase inhibition, nonspecific enhancement of resistance to infection, vasodilation, muscle relaxation, antagonism to platelet aggregation, and influence on serum cholesterol in experimental hypercholesterolemia. This substance induces differentiation and function of leukemic and other malignant cells. DMSO also has prophylactic radioprotective properties and cryoprotective actions. It protects against ischemic injury. PMID: 3007027 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] ——————————————————————————– Incorporation of methylsulfonylmethane sulfur into guinea pig serum proteins. Life Sci. 1986 Jul 21;39(3):263-8. Richmond VL. Methionine, an essential amino acid, and cysteine are the major sulfur-containing amino acids in the body and both are thought to be synthesized predominantly in plants and micro-organisms. Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a natural constituent of the environment in which it is found in plants, in milk and urine of both bovines and humans, is a normal oxidation product of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) also in the natural environment and may be part of the natural global sulfur cycle. To determine whether sulfur from methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is incorporated into sulfur amino acids, I fed 35S-MSM to guinea pigs. 35S was incorporated into peptidyl methionine and cysteine of guinea pig serum proteins. The specific activity of 35S-methionine was 30% greater than for 35S-cysteine, suggesting a precursor-product relationship. Total specific activity of serum proteins was increased by only 30% with a 100% increase of administered 35S-MSM, suggesting a limiting step in synthesis. Approximately 1% of the radioactivity was recovered in serum proteins, none in the feces and most was excreted in the urine. Microorganisms of intestinal lumen may be responsible for the incorporation of the 35S of MSM into sulfur amino acids. MSM may provide a source of sulfur for essential animal methionine by mechanisms not yet elucidated in either animals or micro-organisms. PMID: 3736326 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
IP6 with Inositol: Questions and Answers
Frequently Asked Questions about IP6 with Inositol What exactly is IP6?
IP6 (inositol hexaphosphate) is a component of fiber primarily found in whole grains and legumes. It appears that the cancer protective effects of high fiber diets are due to the presence of higher levels of IP6 in the fiber. However, although IP6 is found in substantial amounts in the fiber component of whole grains and beans, supplementation with purified IP6 and the correct amounts of inositol offers several advantages. Firstly, in grains and beans the IP6 exists primarily as a poorly absorbed form because it is complexed with protein and minerals like calcium, magnesium or potassium to form a salt. Therefore, in its natural state IP6 is poorly absorbed. Studies have shown that pure IP6 is significantly more bioavailable that the IP6 found in whole grains and beans. This action is important as IP6 exerts significant beneficial effects within cancer cells - turning off their ability to multiply.
Why is IP6 combined with inositol?
The remarkable combination of IP6 with inositol was originally discovered by Dr. Shamsuddin, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Maryland, USA. When combined with IP6 inositol dramatically increases the anticancer and immune enhancing effects of IP6. Dr Shamsuddin discovered that when properly combined with inositol, IP6 forms two molecules of IP3 in the body. Inositol, the backbone structure of IP6, has six carbon atoms that are capable of binding phosphate molecules; when all six carbons are occupied by six phosphate groups IP6 is formed. When only three of the carbon groups are bound by phosphate it is called IP3. This chemistry is important because although IP6 is gaining all the attention, it is really IP3 that is doing all the work. IP3 plays an important role inside the cells of our bodies. It basically functions as an on/off switch for human cancers according to experimental studies in cell cultures (in vitro studies). When IP3 levels are low (as in cancer cells), the cells replicate out of control. That basically is what occurs in cancer. When cancer cells are bathed in a broth of IP3, they literally turn themselves off. This action reflects the central role that IP3 plays in controlling key cell functions, including replication and the communication between cells. Dr Shamsuddin has discovered the correct ratio of IP6 and inositol to ensure the formation of IP3 within the body.
Is the combination of IP6 with inositol more powerful that IP6 alone?
The simple answer is yes! Dr Shamsuddin has proven that the combination exerts much greater effect than IP6 alone. This potentiation has demonstrated in animal models for breast cancer, lung cancer and colon cancer. For example; in one study (Shamsuddin A., Ulah A., Chakravarthy A: Inositol and inositol hexaphosphate suppresses cell proliferation and tumor formation in CD-1 mice. Carcinogenesis 10:1461-1463. 1989) mice were given a compound (DMH) to induce cancer formation. Of these, one group was additionally treated with IP6 and inositol. The results indicate that the mice treated with IP6 alone or inositol alone have lower occurrences of tumors per animal. This benefit was greatly enhanced when IP6 and inositol were given in combination. The table below clearly illustrates the superiority of the combination.
The Effect of IP6, inositol and the combination of IP6 and inositol on intestinal tumors in mice Combination Tumor Prevalence* Tumor Frequency** DMH 63% 116% DMH + IP6 47% 62% DMH + Inositol 30% 45% DMH + IP6 + Inositol 25% 25% Control 0% 0% * Percent of mice with tumors** Percent of tumors per mouse IP6’s anti cancer effects
Based on extensive experimental studies in animals and cell cultures, the combination of IP6 and inositol exerts anticancer effects against virtually all types of cancers including cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, skin and brain as well as lymphomas and leukemia. The table below lists some of the cancer cells that IP6 has shown activity against.
Tissue of Organ Type Cell Line Brain tumor SR.B10A Breast tumor MCF-7, MDA-MB-321 & -435 Colon carcinoma HT-29 Fibroblast (immortalized) BALBc-3T3 Leukemia K-562, HL-60 Liver carcinoma Hep G2 Lung carcinoma HTB-119, RTE Prostate carcinoma PC-3 Skeletal muscle sarcoma RD Skin JB6
To learn more about the ability of IP6 to assist tumor regression click here.
How does IP6 work to fight cancer?
In addition to its antioxidant and immune enhancing effects, IP6 exerts a number of interesting anticancer actions. Dr Shamsuddin believes that the central pathway of IP6 action involves taking control of cell division. Cancer cells are out of control , dividing uncontrollably. What IP6 does in the cancer cell is literally turns off the switch that is telling the cell to divide. Dr Shamsuddin and others have shown that IP6 reduces the rate of cancer cells in both animal and cancer cell studies by reducing the manufacture of new DNA. Since it does not exert the same inhibition in normal cells, IP6 is dramatically different from conventional anticancer agents. Chemotherapy drugs, for example, work by literally killing cells rather indiscriminately, and as a result, are quite toxic because they are killing the good as well as the bad. IP6 is dramatically different because it’s helping the cell function normally, without damaging healthy cells.
How much IP6 should I take?
Dr Shamsuddin recommends taking a daily dose of 800 - 1,200 mg of IP6 along with 200-300 mg inositol as a general preventative measure. In patients with cancer or at high risk for cancer Dr Shamsuddin recommends a dose in the range of 4,800-7,200 mg IP6 along with 1,200-1800 mg inositol. This should be taken on an empty stomach. The correct balance of IP6 and inositol is contained in the two IP6 products available through this site or through one of our official outlets.
Can IP6 and inositol be used along side conventional treatments?
Studies have shown that this combination can be used with conventional cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. In fact, according to Dr Shamsuddin, IP6 and inositol has been shown to potentate these therapies.
Is there any side effects from IP6 therapy?
IP6 is extremely safe, based upon extensive animal testing and human studies. In fact, no side effects have been reported even at higher doses.
Statin Alternatives
Statin alternatives February 6, 1005 By: Ivanhoe Broadcast News
Cholesterol-lowering drugs like Lipitor and Zocor have become household names, but is there a more natural way to lower cholesterol? Many experts say yes, and it may be easier than you think. One natural way to lower cholesterol is the Portfolio diet. Registered Dietician Sheah Rarback from the University of Miami School of Medicine says the diet works because of its cumulative effect. “”They’ve taken foods that have been known individually to lower cholesterol levels and put them all together in an eating plan to see ho dramatic a decrease in cholesterol you an get, and the results were pretty amazing,”" Rarback said. A study in The Journal of the American Medical Association shows patients who followed the Portfolio diet had a 30 percent reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol. That’s about the same reduction as those on statins had. The Portfolio diet includes almonds, beans, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It replaces meat with soy and focuses on fiber. Citrus is another natural alternative to statin drugs. Research chemist John Manthey from the Agricultural Research Service in Winter Haven, Fla., and colleagues conducted a study and found compounds in orange and tangerine peels lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels by about 40 percent in animals. Now those same compounds are in human trials, and the results look encouraging. “”So, it just offers another way that people will be able to control these blood lipid profile problems. I think citrus, overall, has a very strong cardio-protective effect,”" Rarback said. The supplement version of the compound Manthey is studying is currently available under the brand name Sytrinol. Manthey says a person would have to eat between 10 and 20 orange peels a day to get the same benefit that the compound offers. Exercising frequently can also lower cholesterol by up to 20 percent. However, you’ll have to burn 1,500 calories a week to reap that benefit. That’s about three to four hours of moderate activity. Some other ways to lower cholesterol include consuming Walnuts Garlic Omega-3 fatty acids Soy milk Red wine Chocolate
Flax Seed Supplementation Reduces Risk of Prostate Cancers
New Study Suggests Flaxseed And Low-Fat Diet Protective Against Prostate Cancer
DURHAM, N.C. — A low-fat diet supplemented with flaxseed may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer, researchers from Duke University Medical Center report in the July issue of Urology.
The researchers said dietary fat and fiber can affect hormone levels and may influence cancer progression. Flaxseed is high in fiber and is the richest source of plant-based, omega-3 fatty acids. Studies suggest that dietary fiber reduces cancer risk, and omega-3 fatty acids also have shown a protective benefit against cancer. Flaxseed is also a rich source of lignan, a specific family of fiber-related compounds that appear to play a key role in influencing both estrogen and androgen metabolism.
“”We thought flaxseed would be the perfect food for prostate cancer patients,”" said lead author Wendy Demark-Wahnefried, associate research professor in the department of surgery at Duke. “”It’s full of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and lignan. Testosterone may be important in the progression of prostate cancer, and lignan in the flaxseed binds testosterone, so we thought the flaxseed might suppress the growth of prostate cancer cells. By pairing a low-fat diet with the flaxseed supplement, we also thought we could maximize the effect of the omega-3 fatty acids, since studies in animals show that the kind of fat we eat may be important for cancer progression.”"
The pilot study involved 25 patients with prostate cancer who were awaiting prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate). Baseline levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), testosterone, free androgen index and total serum cholesterol were determined at the beginning of the study. The tumors of those on the diet were then matched with 25 historic cases, equal in age, race, PSA level at diagnosis and biopsy Gleason sum (a scoring system used to grade prostate tumors) to compare tumor progression and biomarkers after the dietary intervention.
The men were on the low-fat, flaxseed-supplemented diet for an average of 34 days. Finely ground flaxseed was used in the study because, in its natural form, flaxseed is a pointy, tough seed that can puncture the intestines when consumed in the amounts used in this study (three rounded tablespoons a day). The ground flaxseed in the study was vacuum-packed (ground flaxseed can quickly go rancid) and had added emulsifiers for ease of mixing. The men were instructed to sprinkle the flaxseed on their cereal or mix it into juices, yogurt or applesauce. Researchers reported good compliance with the diet and said it was tolerated well.
At the end of the study, the researchers observed that the men on the diet had significant decreases in cholesterol, and both total and free testosterone. While there was a decrease in testosterone levels, they noted that none of the participants in the study suffered decreased libido or sexual dysfunction. There was a trend toward a decrease in PSA levels in men with early-stage prostate cancer (Gleason sums of six or less), but in men with advanced prostate cancer (Gleason sums of more than six) PSA levels continued to rise.
“”It’s not surprising that a diet therapy that was only taken for an average of 34 days had little effect on men with aggressive disease,”" Demark-Wahnefried said. “”But what we did see was that for the men on the diet, their tumor cells did not divide as quickly and there was a greater rate of apoptosis (tumor cell death) in this group.”"
With such a short-term dietary intervention, the researchers said they did not expect to see a difference in tumor biology between the diet-treated patients and the control patients, but were encouraged by the lower proliferation rates and significantly higher rates of apoptotic cell death. However, they said the results should be interpreted with caution, stressing that randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the results of the pilot study. Research on mice models is currently under way, and preliminary results support the findings in humans.
Demark-Wahnefried said it is still unknown if the low fat diet or the flaxseed — or a combination of the two — is the active component in the tumor reductions, adding more studies examining these elements independently are needed.