On April 26, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) released draft legislation that would “clarify” the FDA’s ability to regulate both compounding pharmacies and the compounded medications themselves.

It’s our understanding that the draft bill was written with the specific intent of giving the FDA broad authority to remove compounded medications from the market in one of two ways: either by putting bulk ingredients on a list of “banned” compounded drugs, or by redefining compounded variations of approved drugs as illegal “copies.”

The way the bill is written, a compounded medication—like the low-cost pregnancy medicine 17P (similar to KV Pharmaceutical’s hugely expensive drug Makena), or a bioidentical estriol that can be used instead of Pfizer’s dangerous (and not bioidentical) Prempro—could be banned.

We don’t yet know who is pushing the specific language of this bill, but it is interesting to note that Pfizer gave campaign contributions to eight out of the twenty-two members of the HELP Committee.

There’s a silver lining, however: the bill will cost Medicare and Medicaid billions of dollars, because these programs rely on the more cost-effective compounded versions of these drugs, so there may be some serious push-back on it.

It’s possible that this bill would not only federalize compounded medications dispensed by prescription, but give the FDA authority over the state regulation of the practice of medicine! It would require that a practitioner certify on the prescription that the compounded variation produces “a significant difference from the marketed drug version.”

Of course, the mere fact that the doctor is prescribing the medicine in the first place should be justification enough—the federal government should not interfere with the practice and prescription of medicine. The FDA already tries to meddle in the practice of medicine as we have pointed out before, and certainly does not need more authority to do so!

The bill bans compounded drugs that are a “copy of a marketed drug,” but defines it so broadly that most compounded drugs could be removed from the market, thereby increasing healthcare costs and limiting patient access to important medications.

For example, as we reported in 2011, KV Pharmaceutical considered compounded 17P to be a “copy” of their drug Makena and tried to ban its production. Fortunately, after pressure from Congress, grassroots activists, and the media, the FDA finally relented. Under this new bill, 17P could be banned. Millions of women depend on access to bioidentical hormones. Critical (complete) thyroid medications that millions of American women and men depend on would also be at risk.

The bill would also ban certain veterinary medicines. Compounding pharmacies sometimes create a convenient, topical version of a marketed drug that is only available in oral form, for use on the many pets who don’t like taking pills.

Even worse, the bill would give FDA the power to disallow entire categories of drugs that could be compounded, such as “extended release products.” Compounding pharmacies currently offer time-release, complete, desiccated thyroid compounds, which can be difficult to find elsewhere. Most thyroid medications made by drug companies are not complete, and some of these important thyroid medications are never available in time-release versions.

The FDA has in the past attempted (unsuccessfully) to ban bulk bioidentical estriol at the request of a pharmaceutical company. With this bill, the ban would be much more likely. If the pharmaceutical industry were to come up with a wish list, we’d imagine banning compounded medicines would be at the very top.

It seems clear that this legislation will be presented as a response to the problems at the New England Compounding Center we told you about last October. Poor quality controls at the facility led to some steroid injections becoming tainted with a fungus—an outbreak which FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg conceded last month was due to lack of FDA action despite many complaints they had received about the facility coupled with “a confusing legal landscape.”

Hamburg asked for a consistent set of safety regulations that would require compounding pharmacies to report any problems associated with their drugs. Instead, it seems the bill does little to increase the safety of compounded medicines or improve facility inspections, but rather makes it easier for FDA to ban many compounded drugs altogether.

Action Alert! If you are a resident of Alaska, Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, or Wyoming, please contact your member of the Senate HELP Committee and ask him or her to strike the extreme language in this bill that has nothing whatsoever to do with safety. Please take action immediately!

This article is republished with permission from the Alliance for Natural Health USA, May 7, 2013. Please take action and help support their cause.

And is it possible to overly restrict salt? What are the effects of a severely restricted salt diet?

Scientific debate rages on over the salt issue.

Until the past few years the prevailing mindset within the medical community on salt was that the less a person consumes, the better off they will be. However, several studies emerged in 2011 that failed to show a clear benefit of the low salt diet; and some studies even suggested that it is harmful. This apparent contradiction has created confusion in the minds of patients as well as debate among researchers who are seeking the truth.

Interestingly, the debate that is raging about salt among scientists does not divide the opposing sides into neat, tidy categories. In other words, the dispute cannot be characterized as a battle between mainstream traditional advocates and a few marginal dissidents. Instead, respected scientists who are not ideologues are on both sides of the issue.

A study provides some clarity.

What exactly is the truth? Although the debate is far from over, a November 22, 2011 study published in the online Journal of the American Medical Association seems to provide some clarity. The findings indicate that those who consume a high salt diet have the highest risk of cardiovascular problems; however, those who consume a low salt diet have a greater risk than those whose diet includes a moderate amount of salt. Surprisingly, the moderate salt users had the lowest incidence of cardiovascular disease.

These results explain European studies conducted earlier in 2011 that suggest a low salt diet has unhealthful effects and can even raise the risk of heart related deaths. At the time of the November 2011 study, the release of the findings met with strong dissenting views from prominent members of prestigious American medical institutions who discounted the validity of the conclusions. But the lead author, Martin O’Donnell, states that the study’s outcome actually helps clarify the issue. He explains that the results showing lowest risk for moderate salt users but greater risks for both low and high salt users account for the conflicting conclusions drawn from the entire body of salt related research.

O’Donnell believes the preponderance of the scientific evidence supports the premise that those who consume a high sodium diet should lower their salt intake. On the other hand, he contends that current salt intake guidelines should be altered to advise a safe range, instead of an upper recommended limit. O’Donnell advocates that further studies be performed to determine what this safe range should be.

Sources:

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-cutting-salt-skeptics-20130212,0,7950618.story

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-cutting-sodium-projections-20130211,0,1738486.story

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/22/us-salt-tied-heart-risks-idUSTRE7AL2GA20111122

Come summertime, gooseberries are a common sight at farmers markets and roadside fruit stands. The fruit has many minute seeds and comes in a variety of colors, such as green, white (gray-green), yellow and shades of red from pink to dark purple.

Most Common Culinary Uses

Gooseberries are used in a variety of ways. Either on their own or mixed with berries such as raspberries, strawberries or blueberries, gooseberries are used often in pies, fruit fools and crumbles. They are also used to flavor beverages such as sodas and flavored waters, and can be used to make fruit wines and teas.

Gooseberries can easily be preserved as jams, jellies, and dried fruit or stored in simple syrup to be used as a topping. Many enjoy using homemade gooseberry syrup as a topping for oatmeal, ice cream, cottage cheese and more recently, Greek yogurt.

While gooseberries are typically used in sweet desserts and libations, they also work well as an ingredient for sauces where the acidity balances the flavors of proteins such as meats, fatty fish such as trout or mackerel, and fowl such as goose.

Health Benefits

Like all plant foods, gooseberries are loaded with phytonutrients, compounds found in plants that impart many health benefits like reducing inflammation. They contain a decent amount of vitamin C, 45 mg per cup, in fact, and they are also a good source of fiber with a whopping 6.5g per one cup!

Fun Facts

• Gooseberries belong to the species Ribes which includes currants.
• Fruits of the European gooseberry may be quite large, not unlike a small plum but typically 1 inch in length.
• American gooseberries are smaller, about ½ inch and perfectly round.
• Most gooseberries are far too tart to be eaten out of hand.
• Depending on when summer arrives in the northeastern United States and Canada, gooseberries are available from late May to August.

Gooseberry Pie, GastronomersGuide.com

Roast Chicken and Sage with Gooseberry Sauce

Gooseberry Fool with Garibaldi Fingers

Doug Cook is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist and a Certified Diabetes Educator. He practices a holistic and integrative approach providing science-based guidance on food and diet along with nutritional supplements and natural health products where appropriate. He is regularly called upon by the media to help make sense of the latest nutrition and food issues and other hot topics making the news. He writes a popular newspaper column where he deconstructs the manufacturers’ marketing angle, nutritional and health claims of various food products. He also co-authored Nutrition for Canadians for Dummies (Wiley 2008).

A research team from McGill University in Canada has published new findings in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that explain the molecular basis for the potential cancer preventive effects of vitamin D. The team discovered that the active form of vitamin D (D3) acts through multiple mechanisms to inhibit both the production and function of a special protein identified as ‘cMYC’. cMYC is known to drive cell division and is active at elevated levels in more than half of all cancers.

Vitamin D Inhibits a Protein Mechanism Used by Tumor Cells to Drive Cancer Growth

Vitamin D deficiency is running at epidemic levels, as millions of unsuspecting children and adults are at significantly increased risk of illness and early death. As we age, the normal conversion of ultraviolet rays in the skin from sun exposure becomes limited, and coupled with a never ending barrage of senseless warnings to avoid sun contact, many individuals sustain dangerously low vitamin D blood levels throughout the year.

Researchers worked to gain a better understanding of how vitamin D squelches the activity of the cMYC protein to halt tumor growth and metastatic progression. Lead study author, Dr. John White commented “We discovered that vitamin D controls both the rate of production and the degradation of cMYC. More importantly, we found that vitamin D strongly stimulates the production of a natural antagonist of cMYC called MXD1, essentially shutting down cMYC function.” Working with a special strain of mice that exhibit similar metabolic similarities with humans, the team applied vitamin D to the skin to assess cMYC activity.

Supplement with Vitamin D Daily to Raise Blood Levels and Stop Cancer in its Tracks

The researchers observed a drop in the level of cMYC and found evidence of a decrease in its function. In addition, certain mice lacked specific receptors for vitamin D due to genetic susceptibility and had highly elevated levels of cMYC in a number of tissues including skin and the lining of the colon. This inherited predisposition to certain forms of cancer is also believed to exist in humans. Those individuals would benefit from vitamin D supplementation to lower the cMYC protein activity and lower cancer risk.

Dr. White concluded “Taken together, our results show that vitamin D puts the brakes on cMYC function, suggesting that it may slow the progression of cells from premalignant to malignant states and keep their proliferation in check.” Most nutritionists and alternative health practitioners now understand that maintaining a blood saturation level of 50 to 70 ng/mL (using the standard 25(OH)D test) provides optimal protection against many chronic conditions including cancer, as it blocks a specific protein that encourages cellular proliferation.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/channels/news/newly-discovered-effects-vitamin-d-cancer-219089
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/253198.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/253177.php
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/mu-nde112212.php

In an effort to investigate this relationship, a recently published study examined the impact of antioxidant supplements on exercise performance in mice.

The Design of the Study

In addition to examining exercise performance, the study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, also evaluated muscle function in the mice as well as training adaptation. One group of mice was given an antioxidant cocktail consisting of alpha lipoic acid, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10, while the other group received placebo-control diets.  The two groups of mice were divided further into those that were trained through eight weeks of running on a treadmill, and those that were untrained. The mice were then evaluated based on their running performance, respiratory capacity, and muscle adaptation.

The Study’s Findings

Interestingly, the study found the trained mice that were given the antioxidant cocktail did not demonstrate any exercise performance changes following their supplement. However, the untrained female mice that received these antioxidant supplements demonstrated improved running performance, increased respiratory capacity and an increased expression of mitochondrial proteins. The results of the study, therefore, indicated some gender specificity.

The public continues to consume large quantities of dietary antioxidant supplements to compensate for their diet, treat disorders, prevent diseases, and improve overall health and wellness. Now, in light of the findings of this study, there is reason to consider antioxidants as a potential source of improving exercise performance, particularly in women. Specifically, the consumption of antioxidants during endurance training could result in beneficial muscle adaptations and ultimately improve performance.

While the outcome of this study is encouraging, it is clearly only a first step toward a better understanding of the role of antioxidants in exercise performance and muscle function. Much more research and information is needed in order to better understand this relationship. Nevertheless, a potential improvement in exercise performance adds yet another benefit to consider in our ongoing understanding of antioxidants.

Derek is a technical writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the health care field, having first earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Delaware. He is a contributing author on a number of textbooks in the medical field, ran a nuclear cardiology licensing course, and has written a variety of other pieces from online training courses to medical software manuals. Derek pursues his personal interest in health and wellness by playing multiple sports and running marathons. An insatiable traveler, he spent 16 months working and living abroad while traveling through South America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

The stress hormone norepinephrine, for example, inhibits the release and use of insulin in the body, temporarily spiking blood sugar and forcing the body to find a means of compensation. Another stress hormone, cortisol, negatively impacts the immune system and suppresses the digestive system. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, “[t]he long-term activation of the stress-response system — and the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones — can disrupt almost all your body’s processes.”

Here’s a great infographic we recently found on dailyinfographic.com that explains how stress can affect various systems in the body.

Looking for ways to reduce stress? Check out a few articles from our archives.

Researchers from the University of Chicago published the result of a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine that explains how not getting enough shut-eye has a harmful impact on fat cells, reducing their ability to respond to insulin by 30 percent.

In past research works, scientists found that sleep deprivation has long been associated with impaired brain function, causing decreased alertness and reduced cognitive ability. In this study, researchers describe a molecular mechanism directly connecting lack of sleep to the disruption of energy regulation in humans, a process which, over time, can lead to weight gain, diabetes and other health problems.

Sleep Seven to Nine Hours Every Night in a Dark Room to Cut the Risk of Insulin Resistance

Lead researcher, Dr. Matthew Brady, noted that “[m]any people think of fat as a problem, but it serves a vital function… in storage mode, fat cells remove fatty acids and lipids from the circulation where they can damage other tissues. When fat cells cannot respond effectively to insulin, these lipids leach out into the circulation, leading to serious complications.” The team recruited seven young volunteers, six men and one woman. Each slept soundly for 8 ½ hours on four consecutive nights, and then thirty days later, sleep was limited to 4 ½ hours. Foods was carefully monitored and controlled.

After testing for cellular insulin resistance, the researchers found that after four nights of short sleep, total-body insulin response decreased by an average of 16 percent, and insulin sensitivity decreased by 30 percent. The authors concluded “[s]leeping four to five hours a night, at least on work days, is now a common behavior… we found that seven out of seven subjects had a significant change in insulin sensitivity. They are not tolerating the metabolic consequences.” Short sleep schedules, especially as experienced by many during a busy work week, is detrimental to health and is a mitigating factor in metabolic syndrome leading to diabetes.

Sources:

http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1379773
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121015170822.htm
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=16312&Section=Disease

John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and diet, health and nutrition researcher and author with a passion for understanding weight loss challenges and encouraging health modification through natural diet, lifestyle and targeted supplementation. John’s passion is to research and write about the cutting edge alternative health technologies that affect our lives.
Discover the latest alternative health news concerning diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia and weight loss at My Optimal Health Resource

Recommended for you:

Telomeres are the portion of DNA that is joined to the ends of each of the 46 human chromosomes in cells. Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, one of the three Nobel Prize winners of 2009, has found a link between shorter lengths of telomeres and risk of diabetes, some cancers and cardiovascular disease, in addition to depression, dementia and osteoarthritis.

So does this mean we are helpless victims of these biological tyrants in the form of telomeres? No.  Although the structures shorten as a person ages, research indicates that abstaining from certain practices and engaging in others may influence the lengths of telomeres. Here are some factors that may slow the shortening process.

1. Lead a healthful lifestyle.

In 2008, scientist evaluated the effect of a healthful lifestyle on telomerase levels. Telomerase is an enzyme that plays a vital role in the maintenance of telomeres. Without adequate levels of this enzyme, telomeres become progressively shorter.

The participants in the study were requested to make several lifestyle changes, including eating a diet plentiful in whole foods, fruits and vegetables but low in refined sugar and fat. Additionally they were to regularly engage in moderate workouts, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques. The healthful lifestyle caused the blood levels of telomerase to increase by 29 percent.

2. Consider calorie restriction.

This practice may lessen the natural telomere shortening process that occurs over the years, says Dr. Theodore S. Piliszek of King’s College School of Medicine of the University of London.

3. Enjoy a glass of non-alcoholic red wine daily.

A 2011 study showed resveratrol, a component of red wine, increased telomerase, which delayed the deterioration of cells. In addition, a 2012 study showed the compound increased the lifespan of mice. A daily glass on non-alcoholic red wine could be helpful.

4. Incorporate plenty of fish into your diet.

In 2010, a study published in JAMA found that individuals with the highest level of dietary omega-3s had the lowest rate of telomere shortening, while those with the least levels had the fastest rate of telomere shortening.

5. Eat dark chocolate.

Some studies suggest that the polyphenols contained in dark chocolate may slow telomere shortening.

6. Drink three cups of tea a day.

A Chinese study in 2009 found that those who drank three cups of tea per day had significantly longer telomeres than those who drank only a small amount. Green tea has a much higher percentage of valuable nutrients called polyphenols than black tea.

7. Abstain from smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Shorter telomeres correlate with both of these practices.

8. Deal with stress.

Some research suggests stress accelerates the telomere shortening process. Practices such as massage, exercise and relaxation techniques can help siphon off anxiety.

Sources:

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Tea-drinkers-may-have-younger-biological-age

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121108141018.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111123133522.htm

http://www.news-medical.net/health/Telomere-Lengthening.aspx

http://orthopedicsportsdoctor.com/2012/03/17/telomeres-resveratrol-and-anti-aging-studies-sports-medicine-physician-richmond-tx/

http://extremelongevity.net/2012/06/15/resveratrol-found-to-reduce-senescence-and-activate-telomerase/

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=185234

http://www.antioxidantalley.com/blog/2009/12/30/dark-chocolates-effect-on-dna/

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501134209.htm

Mary West is a natural health enthusiast, as she believes this area can profoundly enhance wellness. She is the creator of a natural healing website where she focuses on solutions to health problems that work without side effects. You can visit her site and learn more at http://www.alternativemedicinetruth.com. Ms. West is also the author of Fight Cancer Through Powerful Natural Strategies.

However, there is one downside to the consumption of fish and fish products — the potential exposure to methylmercury, an environmental contaminant found to some degree in most seafood.

Mercury exposure has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and higher blood pressure in those who have been highly exposed to it. So, ironically, the very foods that are rich in heart-protective essential fatty acids are often also high in a toxin that has been linked to cardiovascular problems — completely offsetting the amazing benefits of essential fatty acids.

Fortunately, most of us are only minimally exposed to mercury, but still, not much research has been done on the relationship between mercury and blood pressure in people with low to moderate exposure. Are those of us who have had minimal to moderate mercury exposure at higher risk of cardiovascular problems, especially high blood pressure? Researchers in Finland set out to get an answer.

The participants in this study were part of Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study, an ongoing population-based study investigating risk factors for cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older people in eastern Finland. For purposes of their study, the researchers followed 396 men and 372 women who met all of their specific inclusion criteria.

In addition to having their blood pressure measured and providing blood samples to determine serum concentrations of essential fatty acids, participants provided hair samples to test for mercury exposure.

The mean concentrations of essential fatty acids in the study participants were:

• 1.63% for EPA
• 0.77% for DPA
• 2.73% for DHA

After adjusting for factors like age and gender, higher serum concentration levels of these three polyunsaturated fatty acids were significantly associated with a lower systolic (top number) blood pressure and lower pulse pressure, but not with diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure.

The participants’ mean hair mercury concentration was 1.42 μg g, which is considered moderate exposure. Researchers found that this moderate exposure was not associated with increased blood pressure. So, while high levels of exposure to mercury have been found to cause increased blood pressure, low to moderate levels of exposure seem to have no effect. As a result, the researchers suggest that continuing to eat fish may help in controlling blood pressure.

Controlling Your Mercury Exposure

While there’s little doubt that occasional fatty fish consumption is good for your heart and health, it is important to choose seafood that tends to be lower in mercury. You can (and should) continue eating fish twice a week. Just make sure you avoid or drastically limit your intake of the types that tend to be high in mercury. These include marlin, orange roughy, tilefish, swordfish, shark, sea bass, grouper and tuna (the ahi, yellowfin and albacore varieties).

Lower mercury seafood that you can enjoy more often includes carp, cod, halibut, lobster, mahi mahi, snapper, sea trout and canned chunk light tuna.

The seafood with the lowest mercury levels, which you can feel confident eating twice a week, includes anchovies, butterfish, catfish, clam, flounder, haddock, herring, oysters, sardines, scallops, shrimp, sole, squid, freshwater trout, whitefish, and probably the healthiest and most robust source of essential fatty acids — wild salmon. (Just be sure to avoid farm-raised fish, particularly salmon, which are raised in unsanitary conditions, fed commercial feed, and aren’t nearly as healthy for you as wild-caught fish.)

Of course, fish oil is also an option if you want to get sufficient levels of essential fatty acids without eating fish. If you prefer to take fish oil supplements, make sure the packaging says that the product has been tested to be free of contaminants like mercury, heavy metals and dioxins. If you are looking for a high-quality fish oil supplement, click here.

Sources:

Ueshima H et al. Good omega-3 fatty acid intake of individuals (total, linolenic acid, long chain) and their blood pressure: INTERMAP study. Hypertension. 2007 Aug;50(2):313-19.

Virtanen JK et al. Mercury, fish oils, and risk of acute coronary events and cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and all-cause mortality in men in eastern Finland. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2005 Jan;25(1):228-33.

Pedersen EB et al. Relationship between mercury in blood and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure in Greenlanders and Danes. Am J Hypertens. 2005 May;18:612-18.

Valera B et al. Environmental mercury exposure and blood pressure among Nunavik inuit adults. Hyptertension. 2009 Nov;54(5):981-6.

Virtanen J et al. Serum long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, methylmercury and blood pressure in an older population. Hypertens Res. 2012 Oct;35(10):1000-4.

Larissa Long has worked in the health care communications field for more than 13 years. She co-authored a self-care book titled Taking Care, has written countless tip sheets and e-letters on health topics, and contributed several articles to Natural Solutions magazine. She also served as managing editor of three alternative health and lifestyle newsletters — Dr. Susan Lark’s Women’s Wellness Today, Dr. David Williams’ Alternatives, and Janet Luhrs’ Simple Living.
For tips, tools and strategies to address your most pressing health concerns and make a positive difference in your life, visit Peak Health Advocate.

New hope is now offered by scientists from the University of California publishing in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, as they have identified the specific intracellular mechanism regulated by vitamin D3 that may help the body clear the brain of amyloid beta.

There has been scant evidence in the past to show that vitamin D and the curry-derived compound, curcumin help to prevent Alzheimer’s dementia. Researchers now provide solid research-based science to explain the precise pathway used by these two natural substances to help stimulate the immune system to activate key genes involved in clearing the amyloid-beta protein.

Vitamin D3 and Curcumin Works Together to Clear Deadly Brain Plaques

Chief study author, Dr. Milan Fiala noted, “This new study helped clarify the key mechanisms involved, which will help us better understand the usefulness of vitamin D3 and curcumin as possible therapies for Alzheimer’s disease.” Prior research has suggested a synergistic effect between the two compounds and clearance of deadly protein tangles, but no action pathway has ever been postulated until now.

To test their hypothesis, scientists took blood samples from a group of currently diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease patients and a control group of healthy volunteers. They then isolated the immune-stimulating component of the white blood cells called macrophages. These special cells are known to target and eliminate amyloid fibrils and other waste products that accumulate in the brain before they manifest into detectable disease conditions.

Include Regular Sun Exposure or Supplement Vitamin D3 and Curcumin to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers then incubated some of the extracted immune cells for a 24 hour period in a solution containing the active form of vitamin D3 (1a, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3). Other cells were exposed to a standardized curcumin extract. Past studies have shown that there are two types of macrophages, Type I and Type II that independently perform different functions, yet must work together to effectively remove amyloid protein in the brain.

The scientists found that Type I macrophage activity is greatly enhanced with optimal saturation of vitamin D3, and Type II immune cells are supported by the presence of curcumin. Researchers found that the action of both Type I and II macrophages are greatly enhanced by the synergistic application of vitamin D3 and curcumin together. Dr. Fiala concluded, “Our findings demonstrate that active forms of vitamin D3 (and curcumin) may be an important regulator of immune activities of macrophages in helping to clear amyloid plaques.”

Proof positive now exists to support maintaining optimal blood saturation levels (50 to 70 ng/mL) of vitamin D as measured using the simple and inexpensive 25(OH)D test. Most people will need to supplement with 5,000 to 7,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day or rely on sun exposure to obtain ideal levels. Adding curcumin to your regular diet using natural curry-enriched foods or supplementing (300 to 500 mg per day standardized to 95% total curcuminoids) will provide a synergistic effect shown to help clear brain tangles and prevent Alzheimer’s dementia.

Sources:

http://www.j-alz.com/issues/29/mizwicki_supplement.pdf
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/uoc–usp030612.php
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120306131845.htm

John Phillip is a diet, health and nutrition researcher and writer with a passion for understanding weight loss challenges and encouraging health modification through natural diet, lifestyle and targeted supplementation. John’s passion is to research and write about the cutting edge alternative health technologies that affect our lives.

Discover the latest alternative health news concerning diabetes, heart disease, cancer, dementia and weight loss at My Optimal Health Resource