OCTOBER NEWSLETTER 2006

In this newsletter:

Is dairy good or bad for you and is butter better than margarine?

Is caffeine beneficial?

Genetic polymorphism update

Multiple sclerosis update

Anti-aging update

Q & A segment: Your questions answered

Is dairy good or bad for you and is butter better than margarine?

The case for and against dairy is raging once again.  On the positive side those who enjoy their milk can take comfort from a recent review in the August edition of the British Journal of Nutrition 2006 which shows that dairy consumption protects against high blood pressure, stroke, osteoporosis and bowel cancer.  The downside reveals a connection between high fat dairy products and prostate cancer. In other words men should limit their milk drinking habits.

There is a huge debate concerning the influence of dairy consumption on heart disease.  Early research suggested that the milk consumed in the west, which is mostly the Beta-casein A1 variety, might contribute to heart disease whereas A2 milk is thought to be less harmful.  Subsequent studies have refuted this and while some experts claim that there is now no link between heart disease and milk consumption others warn of a connection between dairy consumption and increased homocysteine levels, a tendency to develop clotting, raised levels of inflammation and depleted magnesium and B vitamin stores, which are all risk factors for heart disease.   If you are a dairy lover if would be worthwhile having these factors evaluated by means of a comprehensive health evaluation.

Some experts even claim that we should revert to raw milk, which is not freely available, as it is the pasteurization and homogenization process together with current methods of rearing cattle that is thought to be responsible for the harmful effects of dairy consumption.

With regard to the butter vs. margarine controversy, butter can be used for frying and has less of the harmful trans fatty acids found in margarine which are thought to increase the risk of heart disease making butter a better proposition.

Is caffeine beneficial?

Coffee lovers can take heart. Caffeine consumption reduces your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, protects against kidney stones, heart disease, bowel cancer and Parkinson’s disease while stimulating mental function.  However excessive consumers beware.  This substance is also a diuretic and can diminish your reserves of magnesium and B vitamins leading to cramping and fatigue.

Genetic polymorphism update

Have you ever thought why some can take a stressful event in their stride while others crumble at the mere hint of a curveball? It might have much more to do with genes than resilience.  Genetic polymorphisms are variations which determine the way you function and new studies have revealed that certain polymorphisms increase sensitivity to the hormone cortisol which escalates during times of stress leading to heightened states of arousal and apprehension.  For those who have this polymorphism minor stressful events might be physically and psychically overwhelming which might be some comfort for those who struggle to marshal their resources.  ‘You have the power’ provides lots of useful suggestions for those who are finding it difficult to deal with stress including a host of natural solutions.

Multiple sclerosis update

While modern science is still attempting to unravel this disorder experimental research indicates that vitamin D which is derived from sunlight and depends upon a fully functioning liver and kidney to manufacture the final product and an anti-inflammatory chemical found in the bloodstream called interleukin-10 might reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. It is possible that a genetic defect which renders interleukin-10 dysfunctional plus a lack of vitamin D might just be one of the risk factors for this disease.  As indicated in ‘You have the power’ in mice the administration of vitamin D has been shown to reduce disease activity.  For more information on the natural management of multiple sclerosis see ‘You have the power’

Anti-aging update

With aging the power of the immune system diminishes.   Research indicates that one of the vitamins that can be used to boost the immune system is vitamin E.  There is also evidence that Vitamin E can switch on the genes the heighten immune system response while diminishing the activity of the genes that promote inflammation, a process that adversely affects the aging process.

Q & A segment

Question:  Dear doctor with regard to your discussion about prostate cancer on page 216 of   ‘You have the power’  I was wondering if I could also take selenium and niacin? What is your view on this?

Answer:  I agree there is some evidence that selenium might be beneficial as evidenced by the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study of 51,529 men over 8 years that showed that when the 181 case subjects with advanced prostate cancer were segregated into five groups based on baseline selenium levels, those men in the study in the highest quintile of selenium level had a 51% lower risk of advanced prostate cancer than those men in the lowest quintile of selenium.  Most of the work on selenium deals with preventing prostate cancer rather than treating it with this nutrient.  While niacin might be helpful I could not find any evidence that this is the case.

Question:  I have a furry tongue in the morning and find it hard to lose weight.  One week before my period I suffer from insomnia.  Would a detox and cleanse help or do I need something else?

Answer:  While a detoxification programme might bring some relief in my opinion it would be more beneficial to have an assessment of all your hormone levels including oestrogen, progesterone, DHEA and cortisol as well as your thyroid  hormones and blood glucose and insulin levels, one week before your period.  Oestrogen, progesterone, DHEA and cortisol can be assessed by means of blood tests or salivary hormone assays. This will allow your health practitioner to determine where you hormone imbalances lie which can then provide the basis for structuring a programme of hormonal correction in order to assist you with your weight loss and to help you manage your insomnia better.  You might also be suffering from the inadequate production of digestive acids or mouth breathing which can lead to a furry tongue and once again this can be assessed by your physician.

Question:  I have pain in my right hip and back and take Cosamin DS as well as Mobic.  Would these raise my cholesterol and triglyceride levels?

Answer:  Cosamin DS is a dietary supplement that contains a combination of glucosamine, chondroitin  and manganese while Mobic is Meloxicam a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to relieve the symptoms of arthritis.  My suggestion is to have your liver function assessed as diminished liver capacity might be associated with elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Question:  What are the primary benefits of Gerovital GH3 (Procaine Hcl) and what is the dosage information for the vials of injectable product?

Answer:  This drug consists of primarily procaine (the familiar dental anaesthetic) stabilized with small amounts of benzoic acid, potassium metabisulphite and disodium phosphate. The active ingredient, procaine hydrochloride, breaks down in the bloodstream into two nutrients that naturally occur in the body but become deficient with aging, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and diethylaminoethanol (DEAE). Unfortunately there is no strong data that support the use of stimulants like Gerovital H3.

Question:  I had a hysterectomy performed Nov. 2003 @ the age of 24 due to massive haemorrhage.  Not sure of how to keep myself healthy after the hysterectomy.  I take calcium with vitamin D and iron supplements.  I discontinued the estrogen patch because it was cancer related.  Do I need the estrogen patch for survival?  I haven't had the patch on in 2 years.  Am I going to be ok in the long run?  I also had 2 blood transfusions during the bleeding before the hysterectomy and I was pregnant at the time.  I am developing weird sores on my skin since the blood transfusion and hysterectomy.  Is that connected?  My doctor has no idea what the marks on my body are and the first time I got it, the marks were on my abdomen.  This time they are on my lower legs.

Answer:  Without seeing the marks you are talking about it is very difficult to comment.  Zinc deficiencies can lead to skin lesions and I would recommend that you have your zinc status assessed.  As far as your hormone status is concerned my suggestion is to have your hormone levels assessed as your adrenals might be providing you with sufficient hormones at the present time.  The concern is that you don’t develop osteoporosis and one way that you can assess your bone status is to have a urine test which assesses resorption or indicators of bone breakdown like deoxypyridinoline.  This is discussed on page 141 of ‘You have the power’.

Question:  I have developed an allergy to citrus, or a citric acid intolerance that causes an ulcer or pimple inside my nose if I eat any lemon, lime, orange, too many apples or tomato.  It seemed to coincide with starting Lipitor. Could this be a drug interaction and is there an alternative? I also take actigal daily.  Could it be a reaction to this?

Answer: The relationship is unlikely although some connection with liver function might be involved.  I would suggest that you bring this to the attention of your physician and if necessary have your liver function assessed.