Dr. Saleeby's Blog Part III

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Protein Series Part V: Peptides

Protein Series PART V

New Form on the Horizon... Peptides

by Jose Antonio, Ph.D.

Peptides. . What does that mean?
Peptides are a simplified fast absorbing derivative from a whole protein.

In conclusion to our series on the comparison and explanation of the best protein sources, we'd like to finish with a form called peptides.

Peptides? Chances are you haven't heard the word yet.

That's because Peptides are a fairly newly used and studied form of protein. One peptide product currently being studied is called PeptoPro®.

What is PeptoPro®?

PeptoPro® is a peptide derived from milk protein. Specifically, it is derived from casein; thus, when casein is 'cut up' into smaller units, you end up with small di-peptides and tri-peptides (two and three amino acids units). The advantage is that they are more likely to be absorbed quickly and therefore assimilated into the body.

You know by now all about the importance of adding protein to your diet, but do you know about the advantages of adding it to the 'traditional' carbohydrate-electrolyte only sports drink?

Recent investigations have indeed shown that cyclists who consumed beverages enriched with a specific type of 'protein' called PeptoPro®, during time trials, had faster times and had less muscle soreness post-activity compared with those drinking traditional, carbohydrate-only sports drinks.

In a study at James Madison University, subjects completed two 60 kilometer (37.2 miles) cycling time trials. Each trial consisted of three simulated laps of a 20 km or 12.4 mile cycling loop, a 407 meter vertical climb, followed by a final 5 km climb. Throughout the trial, participants consumed 200 ml (6.8 ounces) of a sports beverage, either PeptoPro® enriched (CHO+PRO) or carbohydrate-only (CHO) every five km (3.1 miles), plus an additional 500ml (16.9 ounces) immediately after completion.

What did they find?

Post-exercise plasma creatine kinase (CK), which is a measure of muscle damage, and subjective muscle soreness ratings were not significantly different between treatments. Nevertheless, post-exercise increases in CK and muscle soreness were 61% and 93% higher, respectively, in the CHO trial than the CHO+P trial.

Take Home Message

For those of you who participate in intense, prolonged endurance exercise, consuming a sports drink is good, but not good enough. Heck, it's better than water! However, if you consume a beverage that has carbohydrate and protein, recovery is enhanced, performance is better, and soreness is diminished. PeptoPro is a special class of peptides derived from the milk protein casein that when combined with a carbohydrate-containing beverage, may indeed offer these benefits.

Additional Reading and Information
Click Here for supporting evidence.

Source: mysupplementcoarch.com

Resveratrol Redux

As a follow up to my article on Resveratrol (the anti-oxidant in wine) here was an exchange with founder and CEO of Crushpad Michael Brill. When you get a chance check out Crushpad's web site. A very interesting concept in winemaking.

-----
Q:

JP,

What’s your take on the amount of resveratrol required to have a beneficial effect? I’d read that the amount found even in very tannic red wines is modest and there is some skepticism that there is enough concentration to have an impact.

Michael Brill
Crushpad, Inc.
415-902-7097
www.crushpadwine.com

A:

Mike,

In order to understand how much resveratrol is in wine, one must realize that resveratrol is a natural substance made by grapes and other plants (peanuts and others) in response to fungal infection. How much resveratrol is in a glass of wine depends, first, on whether the grapes were grown organically, and, second, how the wine was made. Grapes sprayed with pesticides that prevent fungal infection contain little, if any, resveratrol. Wines grown in dry climates have less resveratrol than those grown in humid areas. Red wines contain more than white because of how red wine is made. The end result of all of this is that organic red wines from certain areas of Europe contain the highest level of resveratrol. But most wines contain either no resveratrol at all, or very little (less than a milligram per glass).

The only sure way to obtain a certain amount of resveratrol daily is to take a standardized extract. Standardization ensures a consistent amount of resveratrol with consistent high quality. The finest resveratrol available comes from Europe. It is made from organic French grapes known for their high resveratrol content. The resveratrol is carefully extracted to retain other compounds (polyphenols) that naturally occur with it. This pharmaceutical wine extract is often enhanced with resveratrol extracted from the roots of a medicinal plant (Polygonnum cuspidatum) used for centuries in Asia for the treatment of inflammation, heart, blood vessel and liver disease, skin and lipid problems. The result is a product that retains the active parts of wine in a natural balance with increased potency and consistent quality. Source: LEF

An effective dose is 180mg/d found in capsules of standardized extract according to the research in mice. The corresonding weight based dose in mice showed cardioprotection. Some animal studies used twice this dose. Source: Bill Sardi

A fluid ounce of red wine averages 160 µg (micro-grams) of resveratrol. Source: Melissa Q.B. McElderry, M.S., R.D.

While reds have more resveratrol (res) than do whites the reason is that res concentrations are in the skins and thus wine with more contact with skins is a better source. As far as varietals go some research shows that the native muscadine grape has the highest levels because unlike Vitis vinifera and Vitis labrusca grapes muscadine berries contain very high concentrations of res in the seeds, the others don't. Thus organically grown muscadines in a humid southern climate can yield the highest res concentrations. Source: Am. J. Enol. Vitic.

Currently anywhere between 40-160mg resveratrol capsules are made by several companies. That is a far greater concentration than the average couple of glasses of red wine that is safe to consume each day. Source: LEF.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

JP Saleeby, MD
(800) 965-8482
www.saleeby.net

From Sparta to Lebanon to America

A Proud Heritage

In the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC, an alliance of Greek city-states fought the invading Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece. There is much interest in this battle this week as the new movie "300" has hit theatres this week. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the Persians in one of history's most famous last stands. A small force led by King Leonidas of Sparta blocked the only road through which the massive army of Xerxes I could pass. After three days of battle, a local resident named Ephialtes betrayed the Greeks by revealing a mountain path that led behind the Greek lines.

Dismissing the rest of the army, King Leonidas stayed behind with 300 Spartans and 700 Thespian volunteers. Though they knew it meant their own deaths, they held their position and secured the retreat of the other Greek forces. The Persians succeeded in taking the pass but sustained heavy losses, extremely disproportionate to those of the Greeks. The fierce resistance of the Spartan-led army offered Athens the invaluable time to prepare for a decisive naval battle. While King Leonidas of Sparta battled the Persians on land, a great Athenian general and statesman named Themistocles did battle at sea. His rather small fleet of triremes halted the great Persian armada in the stalemate battle of Artemisium. The subsequent decisive Greek naval victory at the Battle of Salamis once again led by Themistocles left much of the Persian navy destroyed and Xerxes was forced to retreat back to Asia, leaving his army in Greece under Mardonius, who was to meet the Greeks in battle one last time.

The Greeks assembled at full strength and defeated the Persians decisively at the Battle of Plataea, ending the Greco-Persian War and with it Persian expansion into Europe.

The performance of the defenders at the battle of Thermopylae is often used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain to maximize an army's potential, and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. The heroic sacrifice of the Spartans and the Thespians has captured the minds of many throughout the ages and has given birth to many cultural references as a result. Source: Wikipedia

There is a strong connection between the Saleeby descendants and the Spartans. Our family history goes back some 300 years B.C. to the region of Sparta and the justices that ruled that city state. In the second century A.D. beginning from Prince Petronious Amiries son of Polithictos, son of Epocratos, the Hellinc of the Tibbanous family which ruled in Sparta during that time. This Amiries was born in a ship while his mother Aghrist with his uncle Emofaratis fled from Sparta after his father's death; this was near the shores of Biblous, the city of the Phoenician Gods (now modern day Lebanon).

This Amiries grew to be commander over Caesar's army. As an idolater although his mother, a Christian tried to convert him to her faith, but in vain. She prayed that her desire may be fulfilled. By a miracle he was converted by John, an apostle of Saint Paul, who converted and baptized him during the year 67 A.D. This was the same year when the apostles assembled in Antioch and were called Christians.

Thinking it unwise to return to Rome, he went to Huran in Syria where he knew friends and relatives and lived (in El-Basseer), built a home and moved his family and lived to be 101 years of age. He died and his body was carried back to Sparta and buried.

Amiries' son, Nocalaous, married and begat El-Gouth, a great hero who was called El-Saleeby by an Arabian prince for his wars against the Jews and idolaters, defending the Christian faith. He was born the year of 89 A.D. and died 197 A.D. in Azrah of Huran.

When the Christians lost power and wealth, they began to migrate - leaving their homes. John Ben Bilsarous El-Saleeby gave up Saint Jacobs Monastery to the Moslems. This was built by El-Gouth El-Saleeby during the second century. One Jacob Demitry Saleeby migrated from Huran to El-Kourah in Lebanon. Where after Farris El-Saleeby, son of Acklidis - followed.

Al-Abry Farris' son left to Antioch and from him all the Saleeby's and Saliba's in that section descended. After Farris's death, Tamir, Jacob's son, became the leader who during his days things developed until the 12th century when the Crusaders came from Europe to rescue Jerusalem form the Muslims. But for the bad conduct and mistreatment to the inhabitants of Lebanon by the Crusade Armies these Saleeby's were forced to form an alliance with the Arabs to fight for their safety until 1380 when things were settled. When El-Wardy Ben-Mansour El-Saleeby died, the family began to scatter in all directions of the country where many have been given nicknames, other than Saleeby. About 30 branches were given these various names, as is recorded in our family books.

The Saleeby's who came from El-Koura to Bteghreen during 1625 A.D. are Jacob and his cousins Assad, Joseph and Harun, came to Btalloon, built a home and lived, whereafter Joseph returned to Bteghreen and Harun went to Nebatyeh. Assad and his family stayed at Btalloon, thereafter some of his children moved to Souk-El-Gharb and other towns nearby.

In 1886 migration to the western world began where we find thousands of Saleeby and Saliba families in North and South America, England, Africa, Australia, and all parts of the world. During the Lebanese revolution for independence from the French amidst WWII a young Yusuf M. Saleeby (JP's grandfather) was given a life term appointment as village elder (Mukhtar). He served his village well under the occupation of the Ottomans, early in his life and later the French. During the civil war in the 1970's -80's he continued to remain neutral despite the political forces around him. He kept the peace in Bkhechtay for years amongst the neighboring Druz, Muslims and Christians. Yusuf begat his eldest son Michael who after high school came to American for higher education at Oklahoma City University and later Seton Hall University in New Jersey where he met his wife Phyllis. They wed and returned to Lebanon to raise a family. In 1978 Yusuf (JP) Saleeby, son of Michael Saleeby and Grandson of Yusuf M. Saleeby the mukhtar of Bkhechtay, made his final journey to the shores of America. In the summers of 1992 and 1993 JP embarked on a mission in Greece (then London) to row a trireme. This trireme named "Olympias" was a ship constructed by the Greek Navy and British naval architects. The sea trials of 1992 in Poros as well as the celebration of 2000 year of Democracy in London on the Thames River was an opportunity of a lifetime for a "Saleeby" to return to his roots and row a vessel of his Greek/Spartan heritage. In turn JP had a son Michael (named after his grandfather) in 1999. Source: Saleeby-Saliba Association of Families.

The Trireme "Olympias" at sail in the Aegean Sea
JP was a Zygian (middle) and Thranite (top) rower in a Triad of Rowers on the starboard side
He was also part of the medical staff on board the ship

Protein Series Part IV - Eggs

Protein Series PART IV

Eggs, the perfect protein?

by Jose Antonio, Ph.D.
&
Melinda Mergen
Source: Supplementcoach.com

Eggs. They seem to get no respect and I must say undeservedly so.

Eggs seem to have fallen off the radar screen as a premier choice of protein lately, but if you look at the facts and want a high quality protein, eggs should be included.

They not only provide "a full compliment of the essential amino acids," in addition, eggs are a rich source of thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, folic acids, vitamin B12, biotin, vitamin D, vitamin E, and phosphorus. Seems like a complete food, right?

Don't throw those yolks away!

How often have you cracked those eggshells and daintily dropped the whites into a mixing bowl only to discard the yolk down your kitchen sink faster than you kick dog droppings off your shoes? Why the visceral disgust towards those bright yellow orbs? Have we been brainwashed by the 'anti-egg' lobby to fear the dreaded egg?

In one of the most extensive studies of egg consumption in the United States, dietary intake, of more than 27,000 individuals, was studied. Egg consumers and non-consumers were compared. (1) According to this study, "the daily nutrient intake of egg consumers was significantly greater than that of non-consumers." For instance, vitamins B12, C, E, and A were consumed in greater quantities in the egg consumers.
And the kicker; those who reported eating four or more eggs daily had lower blood cholesterol levels than those who ate one egg or less daily.

Furthermore, in 24 healthy adults (median age 40 years) who added two boiled eggs to their daily diets for six weeks, found that HDL-cholesterol increased 10%, total cholesterol increased 4% but more importantly, the total cholesterol; HDL cholesterol ratio did not change.(2)

Designer Eggs

Regular chicken eggs are not as bad as the naysayers have claimed, and are in fact chockfull of nutrients and protein. But scientists couldn't leave a good thing alone. So Let's introduce the "Designer Egg." These are eggs that have in some way been fortified with extra vitamin E, lutein (an antioxidant), selenium, and/or omega 3 fatty acids; these are all by the way, good for you. For instance, the prestigious European Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study in which 40 healthy men and women consumed either one "normal" egg or one "designer" egg daily for 8 weeks. The designer eggs won hands down in that blood levels of vitamin E, lutein (more on this later), selenium, (a mineral that works with vitamin E to fight free radicals) and docosahexaenoic acid, (DHA, a type of healthful polyunsaturated fat) were higher in the designer egg-eating group.(3)

Clearly, if you can get all the essential amino acids with a truckload of vitamins and minerals from eggs, then this is a food that you need to incorporate into your diet. Now with designer eggs, you have higher levels of omega 3 fats that are usually found best in fish. So if you live in South Dakota and can't get enough good seafood, then designer eggs may be the way to go. And to reiterate, there is no association was seen between egg consumption at levels up to 1+ egg per day and the risk of coronary heart disease in non-diabetic men and women.

Some 'EGGcellent' Facts for You

Nutrition Information on the EGG

1 large whole egg
Kcals - 77
Protein - 6.3 g
Carbohydrates - 0.6 g
Fat - 5.3 g

1 large egg white
Kcals - 17
Protein - 3.5 g
Carbohydrates - 0.3 g
Fat - 0 g

How many can you consume daily?
There is evidence that consuming 1-2 whole eggs daily does not adversely affect blood lipid parameters. So 1-2 is a safe bet.

Additional Reading and Information
Click Here for related articles.
Please click here for References and additional Reading Material.

Kiss French, Drink American

Kiss French, Drink American

By JP Saleeby, MD

A few years ago an aesthetician I once worked with presented me with a T-shirt that read “Kiss French, Drink American.” It remains one of my favorite shirts to wear in public, as I am expressing my worldview on wine. While not making reference to any right-wing mantra of a few years ago by those disillusioned by France’s participation in the war on terror, it is rather a bit of American schadenfreude in the events of a day in 1976. That year was the start of a revolution. The American wine industry would come out as victors over the often-perceived patronizing French, stepping onto the podium and donning international respect.

The affair was a blind tasting of California and French wines held in France on June 7th, 1976. A day that will live in infamy for the French wine industry. A very well known British wine merchant by the name of Steven Spurrier organized a tasting amongst some highly regarded French wine judges. The caveat here was that unlike tastings in the past where labels were displayed, thus immediately biasing judges, the labels were hidden (what is called a blind tasting). The results? Well to everyone’s surprise the American wines trumped their French counterparts. Of course when news of this reached the shores across the pond, it was a boom for American wines, specifically Californian. Even the father of Napa Valley wine, Robert Mondavi was quotes as saying, “The Paris tasting was an enormous event in the history of California wine making. It put us squarely on the world map of great wine-producing regions. I saw the impact everywhere I went. Suddenly people had a new respect for what we were doing. They saw we could make wines as good as the best in France.”

The news reverberated violently in France. There were stories of vineyard owners and winemakers chastising and berating the judges. There were stories in the French press about a conspiracy. But the fact of the matter is that at the time a $7.20 bottle of Stag’s Leap Cabernet Sauvignon trumped the $25.00 Muton-Rothschild and the $23.00 Haut-Brion.

Geico Cavemen enjoying wine

This tasting was yet another bitter reminder to the French that in fact their highly touted industry was once again at the mercy of the Americans. For in truth wine would not be in existence in Europe today had they not recovered (with the help of the Americans) from the great wine blight of the 19th century.

In the late 1850’s as Europe imported vines from America a little known aphid known as the grape phylloxera hitchhiked along and once on French soil essentially devastated the many famous vineyards of France. Over a fifteen-year period the aphid (which affects are minimal on native American vines) would cause the sudden death of European rootstock. Some 40% of French grape wines were killed in this period. The Americans brought the great French wine blight to an end. As the French would have to concede (almost a century later as Americans soldiers landed on their shores to save their derriere from the Nazis) American entomologists and viticulturists came to the rescue.

American entomologist Charles Valentine Riley (1843-1895) announced in 1870 that the aphid D. vitifoliae was responsible for the European root form and the American leaf form of the blight. French winegrower Leo Laliman discovered that French vinifera vines would resist the grape phylloxera if grafted to American plants (rootstock).

The term “reconstitution” was what the French used to describe grafting vinifera shoots to pylloxera-resistant American rootstock. Of course this cure was not too palatable for the French. There were two camps in France: those who wanted to treat with insecticides such as carbon bisulphide and potassium sulphcarbonate called the “chemists” and those that pushed for grafting called the “Americanists.” This latter group was also referred to as the “wood merchants”, and they pretty much won the day.

A Texan by the name Thomas Volney Munson (1843-1913) was instrumental in supplying American rootstock to the French and Europeans. Reconstitution was eventually widely accepted by France and other European countries as well. All over the world with few exceptions vines are now planted on phylloxera-resistant rootstocks.

Pope chooses American wine

With the French, when wine is concerned, passions run high as do egos and nationalism. For years the French wine industry dominated as the best of the best. Along came the lowly colonialists in the mid-70’s from across the pond and with surprising quality wines that continue today. As California wines prices soared in the last two decades, wine drinkers are looking for the baton to be passed to yet another wine producing region such as South America, South Africa or Australia.

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JP Saleeby, MD is medical director of the ED at Marlboro Park Hospital, Bennettsville, SC. He writes medical and wellness articles for numerous regional and national magazines and sits on the advisory board of AFAA. He was a co-founder of the Savannah Wine Club in the mid-90’s.
© 2007

An Apple a Day....

"One cannot live well, love well or sleep well unless one has dined well."

- Virginia Woolf





Follow the anti-fast food movement of:

www.slowfoods.com

www.oldwayspt.org

Protein Series Part III: Whey Protein

Whey Protein, Impressive & Versatile

by Jose Antonio, Ph.D.
&
Melinda Mergen

Whey Protein proves itself to be a unique and impressive contender.

Whey is a unique (and impressive) protein in that it has shown to confer both performance-enhancing effects as well as an ability to help improve 'health' under selective clinical conditions.

It's one of the most widely consumed and studied proteins on the market. On the exercise side of things, Whey has been a long time favorite for many athletes.

In one study, researchers from McGill University in Montreal Canada gave 20 young adults (10 men, 10 women) a whey protein supplement, (10g twice daily) or a casein placebo for three months. Subjects were monitored for activity (via questionnaires).(1) The time spent in moderate (i.e. walking) and intense (i.e. running, cycling) exercise was calculated for each time period. Also, the percentage of awake-time spent being active was determined. They also performed before and after measures of lymphocyte glutathione levels; 30-second work capacity on a bicycle and percentage fat.

After 3 months of consuming their respective supplements, they found that the whey protein group was superior to the casein group in the following categories:

Percentage fat: -4.8% (whey), +5.1% (casein)
Peak cycling power: +13.3% (whey), +1.6% (casein)
30 second cycling work capacity: +12.7% (whey), +0.9% (casein)
Lymphocyte glutathione: +35.5% (whey), -0.9% (casein)
Time spent in activity: +13.7% (whey), +4.7% (casein)

So what does this all mean? Well, perhaps the most important change is the increase in lymphocyte glutathione activity, which is an indirect measure of tissue glutathione levels. This is important because glutathione, a compound produced from three amino acids (cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine) is one of the most important anti-oxidants in our bodies. You'll find glutathione in the watery portion of the cell (known as the cytosol or cytoplasm) as opposed to vitamin E, which is in the fatty portion of each cell. So Whey protein increases cellular glutathione, which in turn improves the free-radical fighting ability of your body. This should theoretically improve muscle recovery and overall health. Thus, what may have happened is that the whey-protein, fed subjects may have felt better, and thus were more active, and could consequently recover more quickly from activity or exercise. This would in turn lead to better exercise performance and decreased, percentage fat. So did the whey protein itself improve exercise performance and body composition? Or was it an indirect effect in that it helped promote expeditious recovery and overall health? From a lean body mass accruement standpoint, keep in mind that there are other studies which suggest that casein may be better. However, another unique aspect of whey is its effect on the immune system. For instance, supplementation with whey proteins persistently increased plasma glutathione levels in patients with advanced HIV-infection.(2) And in a prospective double-blind clinical trial in 18 HIV-infected children (1.98-6.37 years), whey protein, concentrate supplementation stimulated glutathione synthesis and, possibly, decreased the occurrence of associated co-infections.(3)

Whey is a pretty impressive source of protein. In addition to application in sports, there's some pretty impressive evidence that it can help various clinical conditions.

Additional Reading and Information

Whey protein on plasma glutathione levels.

Whey protein affects muscular performance.

Please click here for References and additional Reading Material.

Source: Supplementcoarch.com

Olympian Willye White Dies

Willye White dies this year at age 67. She was a five-time Olympian and two-time Olympic silver medalist in track and field. At the age of 16 in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia she won a silver in the long jump. She competed in 5 consecutive Olympic Games between 1956 and 1972. Willye is the only American to have done this in track and field.

In 1981 she was inducted into the USA Tack & Field Hall of Fame. After her athletic career she dedicated her life to underprivileged children.

Physician's Money Digest publishes Dr. Saleeby's article on Tea Plantation

Dr. Saleeby's Article on the Charleston Tea Plantation appears in the Feb. 2007 issue of Physician's Money Digest magazine (Physician LifeStyle section)
http://www.pmdlive.com/Article.cfm?ID=4556

Olympic Wrestler with 9-lives

Olympic Champion Survives Plane Crash
Wrestler Gardner, Two Others Rescued by Fisherman

SALT LAKE CITY (Feb. 25) - Olympic wrestling champion Rulon Gardner and two Utah men were rescued by a Lake Powell fisherman Sunday after surviving a small plane crash near Good Hope Bay the day before.

Gardner was a passenger in the Cirrus SR 22 along with pilot Randy Brooks and his brother Leslie Brooks, according to a news release from Becki Bronson, public information officer for Garfield County. The plane was flying low when it struck the water and all three men were able to get out of the plane before it sank.Authorities are uncertain of the exact location of the crash, but the three men swam for more than an hour in 44 degree water before reaching shore and then spent the night without shelter, according to the release. None suffered life-threatening injuries, authorities said."It takes only about 30 minutes for someone swimming in 44 degree water to start suffering the effects of hypothermia, so the fact that they swam in it for an hour, not to mention surviving the plane crash and the night without fire or shelter, is pretty amazing," said Steven Luckesen, a district ranger at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. "If these guys were a cat with nine lives, they just used up three of them."

[ Rulon Gardner at 2000 Olympic Games receives Gold medal defeating Russian Greco-Roman great Alexander Karelin]

Gardner and the Brooks called a relative to take them for medical attention in American Fork.The cause of the crash is still under investigation, Bronson said.Gardner pulled one of the most stunning upsets in Olympic history at the 2000 Games, winning the gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling by ending Alexander Karelin's 13-year international winning streak. In the 2004 games in Athens, Gardner won the bronze medal, and in wrestling tradition, left his shoes on the mat as a symbolic way of announcing his retirement.This is not the first time, he's survived a life-threatening accident. In 2002 he became stranded while snowmobiling in the Wyoming wilderness and lost one of his toes to frostbite, and in 2004 he was struck by an automobile while riding his motorcycle.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-02-25 22:20:12

Protein Series Part II: The Science of Soy

Protein Series Part II

by Jose Antonio
Source: Supplementcoach.com

Science proves the positives on Soy

Soy's reputation among a growing number of questioning minds isn't exactly sterling, particularly with fitness and physique athletes. In fact, asking a recreational bodybuilder to use soy protein would be like asking the French military to go battle without wine.

Nonetheless, when you take a cursory look at the recent data on soy, perception is in fact not reality. The true scientific translation is that soy is probably the only non-animal source of protein that is of high quality.

For instance, one study examined 27 healthy, untrained subjects, ages 18 to 35, who were randomly assigned (double blind) to supplement with whey protein, soy protein or, a sugar placebo. Results showed that protein supplementation during resistance training, independent of source, increased lean tissue mass and strength over isocaloric placebo and resistance training.(1) Thus, both soy and whey are better than sugar.

Another study compared soy versus whey. Lean body mass gain, was examined in males from a university-level weight training class. They were given daily servings of micronutrient-fortified protein bars containing soy or whey protein (33g protein/day, 9 weeks). Training included workouts with fairly low repetitions per set. And again, both the soy and whey treatment groups showed a gain in lean body mass, but the training-only group did not. In conclusion, both soy and whey protein products promoted exercise training-induced lean body mass gain. Interestingly, soy consumption had the added benefit of preserving two aspects of antioxidant function.(2) Another recent study found that differences in weight loss and body composition changes, between casein and soy treatments, were not significant.(3)

Does soy affect female hormone levels? Well, yes and no. The data can be a little confusing. For instance, we know that eating soy protein has been associated with altered risk of developing endocrine-regulated cancers. One study looked at the effect of soy relative to animal protein and soy-derived isoflavones on circulating estrogen and androgen concentrations in both postmenopausal women and older men. In postmenopausal women, concentrations of estrone were higher and its precursor DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), lower after consuming the soy compared with animal protein diets. Estrone is one of the three naturally occurring estrogens, the others being estradiol and estriol. There was no significant effect of soy-derived isoflavones on any of the hormones measured. This study shows that relatively large amounts of soy protein or soy-derived isoflavones had modest and limited sex-specific effects on circulating hormone levels.(4) However, another study in healthy postmenopausal women showed that dietary soy isoflavones do not have an effect on biological indicators of estrogenicity. This suggests that soy isoflavones have little relevance or biological estrogenic effect on vivo in postmenopausal women.(5)

A moderate amount of soy containing foods should not be a problem. But if you are someone who is sensitive to the effects of soy, either cut the dose or eliminate it completely from your diet! It should be apparent that soy is a good source of protein for most. If you are a vegan, than it would be wise to use soy protein, particularly during your pre-exercise and/or post-exercise window.

Tea Prevents Ventricular Arrhythmias post AMI

Moderate Tea Consumption Linked to Lower Prevalence of Ventricular Arrhythmias among Patients Hospitalized for Acute Myocardial Infarction

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION, VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS, ISCHEMIA - Tea, Coffee, Diet, Caffeine, Polyphenols, Antioxidants, Catechins

"Tea consumption and infarct-related ventricular arrhythmias: the determinants of myocardial infarction onset study," Mukamal KJ, Alert M, et al, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2006; 25(6): 472-79. (Address: Kenneth J. Mukamal, MD, MPH, MA, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of General Medicine and Primary Care Research Program, 1309 Beacon Street, 2nd floor, Brookline, MA 02446, USA. E-mail: kmukamal@bidmc.harvard.edu ).

In a study involving subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), moderate tea consumption was found to be associated with a lower prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction, as compared to non-tea drinkers and heavy tea drinkers. The tea and coffee consumption of subjects in the one year prior to infarction was assessed via questionnaire. The study involved 2 phases. 1,912 patients were involved in the first phase. In this group of patients, moderate consumption of tea (less than 14 cups per week) was found to be associated with an 11% prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias, compared to 16% among tea abstainers and 14% among heavy tea drinkers (14 or more cups per week). The second phase of the study involved 1,791 patients. Among this group, an 8% prevalence was found among moderate tea drinkers and heavy tea drinkers, compared to 11% prevalence found among tea abstainers. The adjusted odds ratios for ventricular arrhythmia when data from both groups was combined were 0.7 among moderate drinkers and 0.9 among heavy tea drinkers. A similar trend was found for odds of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. While tea consumption appeared to have a protective effect, coffee consumption (> 14 cups/week) on the other hand was associated with an increased odds ratio of ventricular arrhythmia (1.3). The authors conclude, "This study provides a different dimension to the proposed cardioprotective effects of tea consumption, which include a lower risk of mortality following AMI. If confirmed, our results suggest that catechins and perhaps other polyphenolic antioxidants could play a role in preventing arrhythmic complications of AMI." Source: Vitagram.com

Birthday Boy's Wish

If I could indulge...

...would love to have this 1983 Lancia 037. A stunningly gorgeous car she is.

Pomegranate Extract fights gingival disease

Potential for Pomegranate Extract as an Alternative Treatment for Dental Plaque Bacteria

Keywords:
DENTAL PLAQUE, DENTAL HYGIENE - Pomegranate, Punica Granatum, Chlorhexidine, Diet, Fruit

Reference:
"Punica granatum (pomegranate) extract is active against dental plaque," Menezes SM, Cordeiro LN, Viana GS, J Herb Pharmacother, 2006; 6(2): 79-92. (Address: Faculty of Medicine of Juazeiro do Norte, Ceara, Brazil. E-Mail: osorio@roadnet.com.br ).

Summary:
In a randomized, controlled study involving 60 healthy patients aged 9-25 years, results suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) from Punica granatum (pomegranate) is effective against dental plaque. The participants were randomized to 1 of 3 groups - (1) control group (n=20) used distilled water as mouth rinse; (2) standard group (n=20) used chlorhexidine as mouth rinse; (3) (n=20) used HAE as mouth rinse. Dental plaque was collected from participants without oral hygiene for 24 hours both before and after a 1-min mouth rinse. Mouth rinse with HAE was found to decrease dental plaque microorganisms by 84%, compared to 79% for chlorhexidine, and only 11% for distilled water. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "The HAE presented also an antibacterial activity against selected microorganisms, and may be a possible alternative for the treatment of dental plaque bacteria."

Source: Vitagram.com

Anna Nicole Smith (1967-2007) - Go Trim Spa!!!

http://journals.aol.com/thecoolerblog/AOLNewsCooler/entries/2007/02/08/police-say-anna-nicole-smith-dead/1659
Written by thecoolerblog . Link to this entry Blog about this entry

Anna Nicole Smith was the epitome of trailer park white trash. Caught up in a fast paced dangerous self serving lifestyle that finally caught up with her and did her in. She is the example I teach my daughter to NEVER become. I don't feel sorry for Anna Nicole, I feel sorry for the young child she left behind. Hopefully that child will be placed in a loving nurturing environment and grow up to be a solid productive citizen and break that white-trash red-neck cycle.

JP

Comment from jpsaleeby - 2/8/07 8:30 PM

Analytical Chemistry Professor Wins Award

Professor Wins $1 Million for Arsenic Filter

FAIRFAX, Va. (Feb. 2) - A professor who developed an inexpensive, easy-to-make system for filtering arsenic from well water has won a $1 million engineering prize - and he plans to use most of the money to distribute the filters to needy communities around the world.

The National Academy of Engineering announced Thursday that the 2007 Grainger Challenge Prize for Sustainability would go to Abul Hussam, a chemistry professor at George Mason University in Fairfax. Hussam's invention is already in use today, preventing serious health problems in residents of the professor's native Bangladesh. After moving to the United States in 1978, Hussam got his citizenship and received a doctorate in analytical chemistry. The Centreville, Va., resident has spent much of this career trying to devise a solution to the arsenic problem, which was accidentally caused by international aid agencies that had funded a campaign to dig wells in Eastern India and Bangladesh. The wells brought fresh groundwater to farmers and others who previously had been drinking from bacteria- and virus-laced ponds and mudholes. But the aid agencies were unaware that the groundwater also had naturally high concentrations of poisonous arsenic.

As infectious diseases declined, arsenic-related skin ailments and fatal cancers began to increase - a problem that attracted much attention in the 1990s. "I myself and all my brothers were drinking this water," said Hussam, who added that his family did not get sick, possibly because they had a good diet, which can help stem the effects of digesting arsenic. Allan Smith, an epidemiologist at the University of California at Berkeley, said arsenic poisoning affects millions of people worldwide and it has been difficult to convince people that what seems to be good water might be toxic. "You can't see it or taste or smell it," Smith said. "The idea that crystal-clear drinking water would end up causing lung disease in 20 or 30 years is a little weird. It's unbelievable to people."

Hussam spent years testing hundreds of prototype filtration systems. His final innovation is a simple, maintenance-free system that uses sand, charcoal, bits of brick and shards of a type of cast iron. Each filter has 20 pounds of porous iron, which forms a chemical bond with arsenic. The filter removes almost every trace of arsenic from well water.

About 200 filtration systems are being made each week in Kushtia, Bangladesh, for about $40 each, Hussam said. More than 30,000 have been distributed. Hussam said he plans to use 70 percent of his prize so the filters can be distributed to needy communities. He said 25 percent will be used for more research, and 5 percent will be donated to GMU. The 2007 sustainability prize is funded by the Grainger Foundation of Lake Forest, Ill., and the contest was set up to target the arsenic problem. Among the criteria for winning was an affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly solution to the arsenic problem that did not require electricity. Hussam's award will be presented Feb. 20 at Union Station in Washington.



Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
2007-02-02 22:50:40

Protein in our diet

Protein Series PART I

Understanding the Importance & Differences in Proteins.

by Jose Antonio, Ph.D. & Melinda Mergen
Source: www.supplementcoach.com

Protein is needed by every kind of every cell in your body to replicate, repair and often times grow. Learn the basics on the different kinds, how it works, the effects it has on the human body, and why it is so important to understand the true facts about protein.

What is protein anyway?
Just as glucose is the building block of glycogen; amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Proteins are arguably the most important component of every cell in the human body. They're involved in the formation of contractile tissue and muscle and, they make up a large part of the structural component of cells. They are a part of enzymes, antibodies, blood; the list goes on. You name it, protein is a part of it. The main function of protein is to provide the necessary amino acids for maintaining an anabolic growth or a weight-stable state. Recent data shows that additional protein also promotes recovery and performance during exercise.(1,2)

How much protein should you consume?
Suffice it to say that the RDA of 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day is grossly inadequate for anyone whose activity levels exceed that of a La-Z-Boy recliner. Even though muscle protein degradation or breakdown increases during exercise, there is a significant increase in muscle protein synthesis for at least 24 hours after either resistance or endurance exercise. If you are not getting adequate protein during this time, then it would make sense that you will probably not gain lean body mass. We suggest 1 gram of protein daily per pound of body weight should be consumed daily, spread throughout the day's meals.

How Much protein can I consume at 1 sitting?
Great question! Unfortunately, the scientific answer is not known. But I'll give you Midwestern, common sense answer. Would your 75-year-old grandma and the 250 lb, 25-year-old mixed martial arts fighter have the same limitations when it comes to digesting and absorbing protein. Obviously, the fighter needs more protein to assist with recovery and repair of muscles.

In all fairness though, there are studies in which 30 grams of protein are fed to subjects; and this amount produces a tremendous rise in blood amino acid levels. I'd imagine that 30 grams of protein per meal is a good starting point. If you eat 30 grams at each meal and you eat 6 times daily, that's about 180 grams of protein. For most 'average-weight' individuals, that should suffice. But imagine if you're a 300lb football player or a bodybuilder? You would either have to eat more protein per sitting or just eat more meals.

Now most of us are probably wondering how to fit all of that in? There is an answer to this problem. Consume meal replacement powders as a protein supplement when you can not get a high quality serving of 4 to 8oz (or between 20g to 40g) of protein from the foods you eat at a meal.

Protein and bone healthAccording to one study, protein intake does not contribute to the wide variability in calcium absorption efficiency.(3) Or put another way, eating protein probably has no effect on bone mineral content. Another investigation stated verbatim that, "several recent epidemiological studies demonstrate reduced bone density and increased rates of bone loss in individuals habitually consuming low protein diets."(3-5) So one might argue that low protein intake is the culprit. Either way, it would be wise to consume both adequate protein and calcium to maintain lean body mass and reduce body fat.

Adding Protein to Sports Drinks
In a study that compared a traditional sports drink (water, carbohydrates, and electrolytes) versus a sports drink that contained protein, they found that cyclists rode 29% to 40% longer when they consumed the sports drink with protein than the one without. Also, peak, post-exercise plasma (CPK or creatine phosphokinase) levels, an indirect measure of muscle damage, were 83% lower after consuming the sports drink plus protein. So don't believe the baloney about protein dehydrating you; if it did, these cyclists would not have performed better! Even a small amount of 3 to 6g during exercise may do wonders for you.(1)

Which Types of Protein are Good?

Are amino acids a sufficient replacement for protein? Stay tuned for future newsletters when we discuss the pros and cons as well as different sources of soy, whey, casein, and other protein sources!

Additional Reading and Information
Effects of a Carbohydrate-protein Beverage on Cycling Endurance and Muscle Damage.
Protein, Calcium Metabolism, and Skeletal Homeostatis
Please click here for References and additional Reading Material.

Green Tea & Diabetes

Green Tea may Alleviate Diabetes in Rodents

Keywords:
DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE 2 - Green Tea, EGCG, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Catechins, Polyphenols, Glucose, Insulin, Triglycerides, Cholesterol, Gluconeogenesis

Reference:
"Epigallocatechin Gallate Supplementation Alleviates Diabetes in Rodents," Wolfram S, Raederstorff, et al, The Journal of Nutrition, 2006; 136(10): 2512-2518. (Address: DSM Nutritional Products Ltd, Department of Human Nutrition and Health, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland. E-mail: Swen Wolfram, swen.wolfram@dsm.com ).

Summary:
In a study involving rodent models of type 2 diabetes mellitus and H4IIE rat hepatoma cells, ingestion of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) - the most abundant green tea catechin - was found to significantly enhance glucose tolerance in the rodents, and beneficially modify glucose and lipid metabolism in the cells. Mice were divided into four groups and given either a placebo or one of three doses of EGCG (2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 g/kg of diet). After 5 weeks, EGCG was found to improve oral glucose tolerance and blood glucose most significantly among food-deprived mice in a dose-dependent manner. Plasma levels of triglycerides and the stimulation of insulin secretion by glucose were enhanced as well.

In ZDF rats, supplementation with EGCG for a period of 10 weeks was found to improve oral glucose tolerance, lower levels of free fatty acids, and increase concentrations of insulin in plasma. In the livers of mice given EGCG, mRNA expression of glucokinase increased in a dose-depend ent manner. In the cells, EGCG supplementation led to a downregulation of genes involved in gluconeogenesis and the synthesis of fatty acids, triglyceride, and cholesterol.

The authors conclude, "Our data suggest that supplementation with EGCG could potentially improve glucose tolerance in humans with T2DM. This hypothesis should now be investigated in randomized placebo-controlled trials."

Source: Vitagram/Vitasearch

American Fitness [Jan/Feb 2007 Issue]

Dr. Saleeby & Sharon Coopersmith-Saleeby, RRT's article on RLS appears in Jan/Feb 2007 Issue of American Fitness magazine (AFAA)

Oolong - Wu Long Tea

Dragon Tea Pot

Tea by any other name…

Oolong (aka: Wulong, or Wu Long) tea has a literal translation to 'black dragon' tea, some claim the name has nothing to do with dragons, but was rather named after Wu Liang the man who first prepared this type of tea.

Legend has it that a man named Wu Liang was out picking tea one day. After collecting his leaves for the day his eye was caught by a river deer. He stopped to slay for food and was distracted by the preparation of his kill that he allowed the recently picked tea leaves to go without drying.

A day or two went by before Wu Liang realized he neglected his precious tea leaves. When he checked on them they had already started to change color. Not wanting to waste the leaves he decided to finish processing them without regard to the color change.

After he finished the process of firing the tealeaves he made himself a cup only to discover to his amazement that he had accidentally stumbled onto a sensational tasting tea. It was aromatic, yet mellow and was not like anything else he ever tasted. Sharing his new discovery with neighbors, word spread about this amazing tasting tea throughout the province and he was happy to share his new processing technique. Throughout history it finally became known as Wu-Long cha or Black Dragon tea.


Techniques of brewing oolong tea…

Oolong tea should be made with water which is just shy of boiling, around 90°C. The traditional Chinese method of making it is known as gongfu cha, where gongfu (the same as 'kung fu', just spelt differently) roughly interpreted as 'a lot of work' and 'cha' is of course 'tea'.

To get started one must fill a small teapot (traditionally made of unglazed yixing clay) about 1/3 full with the dry leaves. Filling the pot with the hot water for a few seconds then immediately pouring off the water to “wake” the tea and remove any impurities. It is refilled with fresh hot water and left to steep for a short time before being poured into tiny cups which are served. The pot may then be filled with subsequent portions of hot water which produces a subtle change in flavor from the first to the last brew. Some people prefer the second brew to the first.

Gongfu cha is sometimes described as 'the Chinese tea ceremony', and although it is nothing like as formalized as its famous Japanese tea ceremony, there is a bit more to it than this writing describes.

Of course you can brew Oolong tea in a much simpler and time efficient manner. Since oolong tea is a bit more stable than green tea it can tolerate boiling water. Oolong tea (much like black tea) can stand up to higher temperatures than green tea which is often ruined by very hot steeping water. A teaspoon of the loose tea in each cup with boiling water steeping for a couple of minutes is all it takes.


Source: http://oolong.co.uk/oolong.htm

The Nice Folks at AMS (Medical CMEs in Sarasota, FL)

Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome: The frontal and lateral radiographs (see Images 1-2) demonstrate scoliosis of the thoracic spine and evidence of previous orthopedic repair. The thorax is elongated in the craniocaudal dimension, and the lateral radiograph additionally demonstrates a striking pectus carinatum, or pigeon chest, a deformity in which the sternum is protruded in a convex shape. Taken together, the skeletal abnormalities suggest Marfan syndrome. This connective tissue disorder primarily affects the skeleton, the cardiovascular system, and the eye and occurs in 1-2 per 10,000 persons. Marfan syndrome is a primarily inherited genetic defect with autosomal dominant transmission, though approximately 30% of all cases result from spontaneous mutations. Classic Marfan syndrome results from mutations in the FBN1 locus on the fibrillin gene on chromosome 15. The skeletal manifestations of Marfan syndrome can vary. Individuals with Marfan syndrome are characteristically tall and thin, with limbs that are disproportionately long in relation to their trunk (dolichostenomelia). The patient's arm span can be greater than his or her height. Arachnodactyly is a classic finding on physical examination and is defined as long fingers and toes and chest deformities. Such deformities often include pectus carinatum, or pectus excavatum, which is funnel chest characterized by concave depression of the sternum. Ligamentous laxity may result in pes planus and angular deformities of the joints. Scoliosis, or lateral curvature of the spine, may be present as a result of the same mechanisms that produce the pectus deformity. Ocular abnormalities include ectopia lentis and a displaced or malpositioned lens. The most common ocular findings in Marfan syndrome are superior or lateral dislocation, myopia, retinal detachment, and cataracts. Cardiovascular manifestations are due to cystic medial necrosis, which can result in catastrophic aneurysm and/or dissection of the aortic and pulmonary arteries. Insufficiency of the aortic valve can result from aortic dilation. Mitral valve disease with prolapse is also encountered. In 1990, Flanagan et al first described the association of iliac artery aneurysm with Marfan syndrome. They postulated that the weakness of the arterial tree caused by cystic medial necrosis is more widespread than initially appreciated. Savolainen et al (1993) later supported this hypothesis. In the current patient, thrombus is present in an aneurysm of the left common iliac artery. It measures a maximum of 2.8 cm, as identified on the contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis (see Image 3). As a result of the extensive thrombus in the aneurysm, the patient underwent open repair rather than endoluminal graft placement. At the time of this report, no complications occurred. Of interest, CT scanning also revealed enlargement of the dorsal aspect of the thecal sac (see Image 4) in the lumbosacral region of the spine. Another major diagnostic criterion of Marfan syndrome is a dilated, CSF-filled area known as lumbosacral dural ectasia. Pectus deformities of the chest occur in approximately 1 of 1000 of the general population, they are more frequent in men than in women, and they vary in severity. The cause of these disorders is thought to be excessive growth of the costal cartilages that results in inward or outward buckling of the sternum. This buckling is often noticeable at birth, but the characteristic chest deformity manifests as the patient enters adolescence. Many patients have additional asymmetry and rotational deformity of the chest and sternum, which may lead to scoliosis. Two conditions associated with pectus deformities are Marfan syndrome, as in this case, and Poland syndrome. For more information regarding the genetics of Marfan syndrome, including a full discussion of the major and minor diagnostic criteria, see the eMedicine article Marfan Syndrome (within the Orthopedic Surgery specialty). Resnick D, Kransdorf MJ. Bone and Joint Imaging. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Saunders, 2005:1279-80. Flanagan PV, Geoghegan J, Egan TJ. Iliac artery aneurysm in Marfan's syndrome. Eur J Vasc Surg 1990 Jun;4(3):323-4. Savolainen H, Savola J, Savolainen A. Aneurysm of the iliac artery in Marfan's syndrome. Ann Chir Gynaecol 1993;82(3):203-5. Channell K, Washington ER. eMedicine Journal [serial online]. 2004. Available at: http://www.emedicine.com/orthoped/topic414.htm.

BACKGROUND of this case: A 51-year-old man presents to the vascular surgery clinic for repair of an iliac artery aneurysm that was incidentally discovered on abdominal and pelvic CT (image to follow). The patient did not have previous trauma that required surgical intervention. Review of the rest of his medical history is temporarily postponed. On physical examination, the patient's vital signs are normal. In terms of general appearance, the patient is a well-developed, well-nourished, tall, and thin man. Respiratory examination yields normal findings, but the chest examination reveals a tall, narrow thorax with outward protrusion of the chest wall. Abdominal findings are normal. Musculoskeletal examination reveals long, thin fingers and toes. The patient has good (2+) pulses in the bilateral dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries. Chest radiography is performed as part of the routine preoperative evaluation (see Images 1-2).

Author: Adam W. Chandler, MD, University of New Mexico Hospital Residency, Department of Radiology, Albuquerque Gautam Dehadrai, MD, Department of Radiology, Norman Regional Hospital, Norman, Okla eMedicine Editor: Rick G. Kulkarni, MD, Assistant Professor, Yale School of Medicine, Section of Emergency Medicine, Department of Surgery, Attending Physician, Medical Director, Department of Emergency Services, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Conn

Source: eMedicine.com - http://master.emedicine.com/email/radio/radio120/radio120answer.html

Selenium treatment for thyroid disorder - Another thank you to Dr. Hames

Yet another "Thank-you" to Dr. Hames for his work on the health benefits of Selenium. He brought this mineral to international attention with research on the positive effects on cardiovascular health.

Today researchers are finding how valuable this mineral is to the treatment of other disorders, namely thyroid autoimmune disorders (see below). The Medical College of Georgia announced recently that in Feb. 2007 it will dedicate a portion of the Robert B. Greenblatt, M.D. Library to house a permanent exhibit of the research manuscripts and articles of the late Dr. Curtis Hames as a memorial to his pioneering work. A fantastic example of an unassuming small country doctor impacting the world of medicine.

Topic:	Selenium Treatment in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Keywords:	AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS, HYPOTHYROIDISM, HASHIMOTO'S DISEASE - Selenium, Selenomethionine
Reference:	"Selenium treatment in autoimmune thyroiditis: 9-month follow-up with variable doses," Turker O, Kumanlioglu K, et al, J Endocrinol, 2006; 190(1): 151-6. (Address: Thyroidology Unit, Department of Nuclear Medicine, GATA Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Turkey. E-mail: otturker@yahoo.com ).
Summary:	In a 9-month study involving 88 women with autoimmune thyroiditis, supplementation with L-selenomethionine in doses higher than 100 microg/d was found to suppress serum concentrations of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb), though the rate of suppression was found to decrease over time. All study subjects were receiving L-thyroxine, which kept their TSH levels at or below 2 mIU/l. The study involved 3 stages. In the first stage, which lasted 3 months, subjects were divided into 2 groups - one group (S2) received 200 microg/d L-selenomethionine and the other group received a placebo (C). In the second 3-month stage, 40 subjects from Group S2 were divided into 2 groups. One group (S22) continued to receive 200 microg/d L-selenomethionine, while the other group (S21) received a lower dose of 100 microg/d. In the third 3-month stage, 12 subjects from Group S22 continued to receive 200 microg/d L-selenomethionine (S222), while 12 subjects from Group S21 increased their dos e from 100 microg/d back to 200 microg/d (S212). Results found significant decreases in serum titers of TPOAb and thyroglobulin antibody titers among subjects in Group S2 (those who received 200 microg/d for the first 3 months). Subjects in Groups S22 (those who received 200 microg/d for the first and second 3 month periods), and S212 (those who received 200 microg/d for the first period, 100 microg/d for the second period, and 200 microg/d for the third period) experienced significant reductions in serum titers of TPOAb. Subjects who received placebo experienced no significant changes and subjects who received 200 microg/d for all three stages of the study (S222) also did not experience any significant changes in TPOAb titers. Increases in TPOAb titers were found among subjects who received 200 microg/d for the first stage and then reduced their dose to 100 microg/d for the second stage (S21). The authors of this study conclude that, "L-selenomethionine substitution suppresses serum concentrations of TPOAb in patients with AIT, but suppression requires doses higher than 100 microg/day which is sufficient to maximize glutathione peroxidase activities. The suppression rate decreases with time." Vitasearch Comment: The doses of selenomethionine studied refer to micrograms of elemental selenium supplied as L-selenomethionine

Source: Vitagram.com

What is Influenza

What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.

Every year in the United States, on average:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and;
• about 36,000 people die from flu.

Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.

Symptoms of Flu

Symptoms of flu include:

fever (usually high) headache extreme tiredness dry cough sore throat

runny or stuffy nose muscle aches Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults

Complications of Flu

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

How Flu Spreads

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Preventing the Flu: Get Vaccinated

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. There are two types of vaccines:

• The "flu shot" – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 5 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.

When to Get Vaccinated

October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but getting vaccinated in December or even later can still be beneficial since most influenza activity occurs in January or later in most years. Though it varies, flu season can last as late as May.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.

People who should get vaccinated each year are:

1. People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:

• Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
• Pregnant women,
• People 50 years of age and older,
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, and
• People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.

2. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:

• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)
• Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
• Health care workers.

3. Anyone who wants to decrease their risk of influenza.

Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine

Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy persons aged 5-49 years who are not pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for those in a high risk group. The one exception is healthy persons who care for persons with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected environment; these healthy persons should get the inactivated vaccine.

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated

Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
• People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.

If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine, consult your health-care provider.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm

Another study supporting Echinacea

Echinacea
Hype or Hero?

by Jose Antonio, Ph.D.
Leading Expert in Sports Nutrition & Supplementation
&
Melinda Mergen
President, Supplementcoach.com

One recent study shows statistically, significant promise
that Echinacea may help us defend against this cold season!

---

One of the most popular herbs used by supplement consumers is the herb Echinacea. The herb is named for the prickly scales in its large conical seed head, which resemble the spines of an angry hedgehog (echinos is Greek for hedgehog). So basically, it's named after the hedgehog.

Historically, Native American Indians may have used Echinacea for over 400 years to treat infections and wounds and as a general 'cure-all.' Ah! Imagine that, a 'cure-all'.

Today, Echinacea is primarily used to reduce the symptoms and duration of the common cold. Like any drug or supplement, individuals respond differently to it. Nonetheless, here is some food for thought regarding this herb.

Scientists performed a meta-analysis of experimental, rhinovirus (cold) infection studies on the efficacy of Echinacea extracts to prevent symptomatic development of an experimentally induced cold. A meta-analysis basically looks at the existing literature and tries to come up with some sort of statistical ‘sound bite’ you might say in drawing a general conclusion based on the examined studies. Accordingly, these researchers conducted a systematic search of English- and German-language literature using the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CAplus, BIOSIS, CABA, AGRICOLA, TOXCENTER, SCISEARCH, NAHL, and NAPRALERT, databases and the search terms Echinacea, black Sampson, coneflower, and Roter Sonnenbut.

What did they find?

Based on the analysis, the likelihood of experiencing a clinical cold was 55% higher with placebo than with Echinacea. And this was a statistically significant difference! They concluded “that standardized extracts of Echinacea were effective in the prevention of symptoms of the common cold after clinical inoculation, compared with placebo. Further prospective, appropriately powered clinical studies are required to confirm this finding.”(1)

So there you have it. When you're starting to feel the sniffles, you may want to consider adding Echinacea to your weapons of defense!

----

Reference: Schoop R, Klein P, Suter A, Johnston SL. Echinacea in the prevention of induced rhinovirus colds: a meta-analysis. Clin Ther, 2006;28:174-83.

Source: www.supplementcoach.com

Health News in the New Year

A few words from my friend Dr. Jose Antonio:

The holidays are over; New Year’s Eve has come and gone. Along the way youv'e perhaps overindulged in too much champagne and rich food. Now it’s time to get back to the business of taking care of your body and following through on your resolutions! Here are some recent studies and information regarding lowering your cholesterol, losing weight or cessation of smoking, to help you get started. Remember, effort counts in grade school. When it comes to taking care of your body, results are all that matters!

Improving your Cholesterol Profile
In this study you can read details of how a substance called policosanol, which is derived from purified sugar-cane wax, helped to improve blood lipid levels when combined with the omega 3 fatty acids! In fact, the omega-3 fatty acid plus policosanol (10 mg/day) significantly decreased total cholesterol and triglycerides while also improving the good cholesterol, HDL. Thus, consuming omega-3 fatty acids plus policosanol could be useful for regulating lipid profile in patients with type II hypercholesterolemia or high blood cholesterol. (1)Another option in combatting high cholesteral is Red Yeast Rice (RYR). RYR significantly reduces total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and total triacylglycerol concentrations when compared with placebo and provides a natural based approach to lowering cholesterol. It should be noted that virtually all of the studies of RYR for lowering cholesterol levels have been conducted on the Cholestin brand of RYR (Pharmanex, Provo, UT). Red yeast rice extract has been sold as a natural cholesterol-lowering agent in over the counter supplements. However, there have been legal and industrial disputes, involving some manufacturers, the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry, as to whether red yeast rice is a drug or dietary supplement. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-yeast-rice/NS_patient-redyeast

Lose Weight and Body Fat
Although its history goes back for thousands of years, Gymnema, is a somewhat newly recognized supplement in the weight management world. When chewed, Gymnema may interfere with the ability to taste sweetness, which explains the Hindi name Gurmar, “destroyer of sugar"; consequently it may help curb our sweet tooths. One study, monitored the effects of bioavailable (-) hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) alone and in combination with niacin-bound chromium (NBC) and a standardized Gymnema sylvestre extract (GSE) on weight loss in moderately obese subjects. They discovered that HCA-SX and, to a greater degree, the combination of HCA-SX, NBC and GSE can serve as an effective and safe weight-loss formula that can facilitate a reduction in excess body weight and body mass index. Furthermore, it can also promote healthy blood lipid levels.(2).
Hoodia is also being recognized recently, for its abilities to help us curb our appetites. The San people, native to the Kalahari desert, have used Hoodia for many centuries to suppress appetite for food and water and to increase energy. (5) In one study Hoodia’s latex and inner flesh, steroidal glycoside (called P57), was able to suppress appetite in animals. This effect was clearly related to effects in the brain as opposed to the stomach.(6) One small clinical study has been completed by Phytopharm, a company that bought the exclusive licenses to develop and market P57 from CSIR. This study involved 19 overweight men using P57 and found that P57 did reduce their food intake significantly compared with a placebo. The details of this study have not yet been published in any medical journal. In our opinions, its conclusions cannot yet be evaluated for accuracy and the proof is still out in the scientific community on its effectiveness and safety.
Read More about supplements that help raise our metabolism.

Smoking Cessation
There are many herbal and nutraceutical formulas that suggest they can help us quit this ugly habit and ease tormenting withdrawal symtoms. But, in truth, we’ve found, there Is very little out there, proven to help.
So be strong, don’t get discouraged or put all your hopes into a magic pill. Be realistic and prepare yourself for those moments that will test your resolve!
What you can try are supplements and herbs that are known to perhaps help ease our nerves and jitters with out making us drowsy. Some of these includechamomile, hops, or kava . Adding other nutraceutical supplements to your diet, such as a good Anti Stress formula or multi B complex, may further help you manage stress naturally. You may also want to try limiting those that may over stimulate and cause jitters, such as caffeine, Ephedra, Yohimbe or bitter orange.
We did find one study on smoking cessation, where 100 human male smokers participated. They ingested a medicinal herbal tea (MHT) and were monitored for its effects on smoking cessation and smoking withdrawl symptoms. Subjects using MHT for 4 weeks experienced reduced smoking withdrawal symptoms in comparison to the non-MHT subjects. Thirty eight percent of subjects taking MHT succeeded in smoking cessation, while only twelve percent of non-MHT taking subjects succeeded in quitting smoking.(3) Twenty one medicinal herb species were screened for their antioxidant and nicotine degradation activity (NDA) for this study, out of which eleven with the highest levels were selected. Two of which are Eugenia Aromaticum and Astragalus Membranaceus Bunge, ( these showing the highest antioxidant activity.) This study may show promise, but we feel it would perhaps benefit, by being replicated.
Our family at SupplementCoach.comwishes you the very best for the New Year& offer’s support and encouragement inhelping you succeed at your healthy resolutions! Good luck and take great care of yourself!

Click here for a great article on Improving Your Cholesterol.

Click here for a great article on Red Yeast Rice.

Click here for a great article Smoking Cessation.

Click here for a great article on Weight Loss.

Please click here for References and additional Reading Material.

Source: SupplementCOACH.com Jan. 5, 2007 Newsletter (E-letter). Your New Year's Resolution& Supplements That May Help Empower You To Succeed!
by Jose Antonio, Ph.D. Leading Expert in Sports Nutrition & Supplementation, & Melinda MergenPresident, Supplementcoach.com

http://www.supplementcoach.com/index.asp?p=professionalTeamDetail&id=6

National Hot Tea Month

January is

National

HOT TEA

Month

Memorial to John S. Morrison

John Sinclair Morrison Founding President of Wolfson College in Cambridge England
&
Driving force behind the research and construction of the Trireme in Greece
will have his ashes buried beneath a commemorative plaque on the campus Jan. 2007.

In 1992 and 1993 I had the pleasure of rowing the Greek Trireme in the Aegean Sea and on the Thames River in London. I meet Mr. Morrison on those occasions.

http://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/

President Ford Dies today at 93

President Gerald Rudolph Ford (born Leslie King, Jr.) 1913-2006 seen here with Presidents George W. Bush, Sr., Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon.

For more: http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/former-president-ford-dies-at-93/20061226235509990004?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Autism Researcher Dies

Dr. Bernard Rimland (1928 -2006)

Dr. Rimland a psychologist who pioneered modern autism research and advocacy and founded the Autism Society of America; died in El Cajon, Calif December 2006.

In 1958, Rimland diagnosed autism in his 2-year-old son Mark with the help of a college textbook. The personal discovery led to a professional crusade. "This was war," he later wrote. In 1964, he published Infantile Autism, a landmark book that argued autism had biochemical roots and upended the then conventional wisdom that it was a child's response to "refrigerator mothers" who didn't show adequate affection.

An adviser to the makers of Rain Man--his son was a model for Dustin Hoffman's Oscar-winning 1988 turn as an autistic savant--Rimland also controversially claimed metals like mercury could trigger autism and vitamins could help treat it.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Rimland at a DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) conference in 2003. He was a researcher in the field of Autism that had an axe to grind and took his research very personal. He helped found and direct the DAN! organization. The conference in Portland, OR was amazing in that it brought together scientists, physicians and parents of autistic children in one forum. Since that time I have embraced much of what DAN! researchers offered as therapies.

For more info visit: www.autismwebsite.com

Source: Time Magazine -Milestones, Jef Chu & Jeninne Lee-St. John (12-11-2006)

Latest from Nutritional Medicine News

Drinking Green Tea Regularly May Lower the Risk of Breast Cancer

Keywords: BREAST CANCER - Green Tea

Reference:
"Green tea and the prevention of breast cancer: a case-control study in southeast China," Zhang M, Holman CD, et al, Carcinogenesis, 2006 Dec 20;. (Address: The School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia).

Summary:
In a case-control study involving 1,009 incident breast cancer cases and 1,009 age-matched controls, results indicate that regular consumption of green tea may exert a protective effect against breast cancer. Data on diet, lifestyle, and tea consumption was collected by face-to-face interviews using a validated questionnaire. Compared to non-tea drinkers, green tea drinkers tended to reside in urban settings, be more educated, and consume more coffee, alcohol, soy, and fruits and vegetables. Using conditional logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounders, higher intake of green tea - assessed by duration of drinking green tea, amount of dried green leaves used, number of cups, and new batches prepared each day - was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. Women who used at least 750 g of dried green tea leaves/year showed a 39% reduced risk of breast cancer compared to women who did not use any dried green tea leaves. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "…regular consumption of green tea can protect against breast cancer. More research to closely examine the relationship between tea consumption and breast cancer risk is warranted."

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Resveratrol found in Red Wine May Improve the Health and Survival of Mice fed a High-Calorie Diet

Keywords: OBESITY, AGING, LIFESPAN, DIABETES, INFLAMMATION - Resveratrol, Red Wine, Diet, Polyphenol, Lifespan

Reference:
"Resveratrol improves health and survival of mice on a high-calorie diet," Baur JA, Pearson KJ, et al, Nature, 2006; 444(7117): 337-42. (Address: Department of Pathology, Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. E-mail: D.S. at david_sinclair@hms.harvard.edu or R.deC at deCaboRa@grc.nia.nih.gov ).

Summary:
In a study involving one-year old mice, supplementation with resveratrol - a polyphenol found in red wine - was found to reverse the negative effects on health and survival brought on through adherence to a high-calorie diet. The mice were divided into 3 groups. Group1 consumed a standard diet, Group2 consumed a high-calorie diet in which 60% of calories were obtained through fat, and Group3 consumed a high-calorie diet plus resveratrol averaging 22.4 mg/kg/day - all for a period of 6 months. Results found that mice fed the high-calorie diet experienced higher plasma levels of insulin, glucose, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (risk factors for diabetes), as compared to both mice fed the standard diet as well as mice fed the high-calorie diet plus resveratrol. Furthermore, mice fed the high-calorie diet had decreased survival rates, as compared to mice fed the standard diet and mice fed the high-calorie diet plus resveratrol. When comparing the groups, it was found that the mice fed resveratrol in addition to the high-calorie diet experienced increased insulin sensitivity, decreased IGF-1, increased AMPK and PGC-1a, decreased organ pathology (e.g., fatty lesions, degeneration, inflammation), increased mitochondria in the liver, improved motor function, and increased lifespan, compared to mice fed the high-calorie diet. These levels were comparable to those found in mice fed the standard diet. Results of a parametric analysis of gene set enrichment (PAGE) found that resveratrol opposed the effects of high-calorie intake in 144 out of 153 significantly altered pathways. The authors conclude, "These data show that improving general health in mammals using small molecules is an attainable goal, and point to new approaches for treating obesity-related disorders and diseases of aging."

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Maternal Fish Oil Supplementation During Pregnancy May Improve Eye-Hand Coordination in Offspring

Keywords: PREGNANCY - Fish Oil, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Eye-Hand Coordination

Reference:
"Cognitive assessment at 2(1/2) years following fish oil supplementation in pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial," Dunstan JA, Simmer K, et al, Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed.,. (Address: University of Western Australia, Australia. E-Mail: jand@ichr.uwa.edu.au ).

Summary:
In a randomized, placebo-controlled study involving pregnant women, results indicate that maternal fish oil supplementation during pregnancy may improve the eye-hand coordination of offspring. The pregnant women were randomized to receive either fish oil (2.2 g/day docosahexaenoic acid + 1.1 g/day eicosapentaenoic acid) or olive oil (placebo) daily, from 20 weeks gestation until delivery. At 2.5 years of age, cognitive performance was assessed in 72 infants. The infants whose mothers received fish oil supplementation during pregnancy (n=33) showed significantly improved eye-hand coordination compared to infants whose mothers had received placebo during pregnancy. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between eye-hand coordination scores and omega-3 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) levels in cord blood erythrocytes, and an inverse correlation was found between eye-hand coordination scores and omega-6 PUFA levels. Among infants, growth measurements were simila r at 2.5 years of age. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Maternal fish oil supplementation during pregnancy is safe for the fetus and infant, and may have potentially beneficial effects on the child's eye and hand coordination. Further studies are needed to determine the significance of this finding."

Source: Vitagram

Keep in Shape.... Kayak

JP & Sharon embark on an adventure to purchase their first set of Kayaks. With a house on the Lake they are sure to make kayaking a part of their exercise program.

Oolong & Green Tea help lower lipids

How Oolong Tea and Green Tea help control Lipids

Good fats. Bad fats. Everyone is concerned and for good reason. Bad fats account as a risk factor for a higher incident of coronary artery disease (heart disease) and stroke. The so-called bad fats are unhealthy dietary lipids. Watching what we eat is a complicated venture in our Western lifestyle. Many Americans fall pray to eating too much fast food or processed foods high in unhealthy lipids. There are medications on the market (e.g. WelChol and Tricor) that prevent the absorption of some of the fats we ingest, however they tend to be plagued with untoward side effects (usually gastrointestinal) and high cost. There are also "statin" (HMG coA reductase inhibitor) drugs (e.g. Lipitor & Zocor) that inhibit biosynthesis of cholesterol by the liver, but they too are complicated by liver toxicity.

A natural alternative well tolerated and palatable is the drinking of oolong tea several times per day. In a recently published double-blinded, placebo-controlled study performed by researchers at the University of Tokushima, Japan (see reference below), 12 healthy adults were asked to consume 19 grams of lipids (in the form of potato chips) after lunch and dinner for twenty days. Some in the group were given polyphenol-enriched oolong tea (750 ml) to drink and the control group was given a placebo beverage. Stool samples from each group were taken to assess fecal lipid concentrations. Lipid excretion into the feces was noted to be much higher in those that consumed the oolong tea. This also held true for the amount of cholesterol that was excreted in the feces.

In another study in Portugal published this year (2006) 29 subjects were given either water or green tea (one liter/day) to consume for four weeks and their LDL-cholesterol & HDL-cholesterol was measured. In the green tea group it was noted that 90% of the participants realized a reduction in LDL-C (8.9% mean) and in 69% a rise in HDL-C (4% mean).

It can be said that oolong tea consumption appears to be an effective way to reduce absorption of our dietary intake of lipids and cholesterol in our typical western high-lipid diets. It can also be noted that green tea is shown as an alternative to "statin" drugs to reduce LDL-C and raise HDL-Cholesterol.


References:

"Polyphenol-enriched oolong tea increases fecal lipid excretion," Hsu TF, Kusumoto A, et al, Eur J Clin Nutr, 2006; 60(11): 1330-6. (Address: International Public Health Nutrition, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima Japan).

"Green tea consumption improves plasma lipid profiles in adults," Coimbra S, Santos-Silva A, et al, Nutrition Research, 2006; 26(11): 604-607. (Address: Faculdade de Farmácia, Serviço de Bioquímica, Universidade de Porto, 4057-040 Porto, Portugal. E-Mail: Susana.coimbra@netcabo.pt ).

--

JP Saleeby, MD is an integrative practitioner, author of "Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens" and medical director of the Emergency Department at Marlboro Park Hospital, Bennettsville, SC. He can be reached for comment at www.saleeby.net.

Sharon Coopersmith-Saleeby, RT is a pediatric respiratory therapist at MUSC in Charleston and co-writes health articles with her husband.

Submitted for publication in The Tea Experience Digest

News from the Luge World

Ashley Hayden was one of Dr. Saleeby's Luge coaches at Lake Placid's York Training Center and goes on to place 7th in the 2006 World Cup in Calgary, Canada and qualifies for a spot at the world championships in early 2007.


Excerpt from USA Luge Online Journal 12-11-06:
Ashley Hayden raced to the best U.S. women’s singles result, seventh, and also qualified for February’s world championships, in Igls, Austria. The Salt Lake City Olympian raced to a two-run time of 1:34.369 and joins Erin Hamlin on USA Luge’s four-sled women’s singles world championship squad. Hamlin, who made the team last weekend in Park City, scored a 14th place result, Friday, and clocked a combined time of 1:35.166. Fellow Americans Courtney Zablocki slid to an 11th place time of 1:34.800, while Samantha Retrosi wrapped up her two runs in a time of 1:35.768 on her way to a 20th place result.

Nutritional News

Drinking Green Tea May Improve Plasma Lipid Profile in Adults

Keywords: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE - Green Tea

Reference:
"Green tea consumption improves plasma lipid profiles in adults," Coimbra S, Santos-Silva A, et al, Nutrition Research, 2006; 26(11): 604-607. (Address: Faculdade de Farmácia, Serviço de Bioquímica, Universidade de Porto, 4057-040 Porto, Portugal. E-Mail: Susana.coimbra@netcabo.pt ).

Summary:
In a study involving 29 healthy Portuguese subjects, results indicate that daily consumption of green tea may improve plasma lipid profile. After an initial 3-week washout period in which the subjects consumed 1 liter of water daily, the subjects were assigned to 1 liter of green tea daily (prepared daily under the same conditions of temperature, infusion time and concentration) for another 4 weeks. At intervention end, a decrease in LDL cholesterol (mean 8.9%) was observed in 90% of subjects, and an increase in HDL cholesterol (mean 4%) was observed in 69% of subjects, as compared to baseline. Additionally, at intervention end, a 6% decrease in the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol was observed in the subjects. No significant differences were observed for triacylglycerol and lipoprotein(a). Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Our data suggest that drinking green tea has a beneficial effect protecting against the risk for cardiovascular disease by impr oving blood lipid levels."


High Dietary Intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Reduce Depressive Symptoms in Older Men

Keywords: DEPRESSION, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE - Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, EPA, Docosahexaenoic Acid, DHA

Reference:
"Depression and cardiovascular mortality: a role for n-3 fatty acids?" Kamphuis MH, Geerlings MI, et al, Am J Clin Nutr., 2006; 84(6): 1513-1517. (Address: Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands).

Summary:
In a 10-year prospective cohort study involving 332 men aged 70-90 years who were free from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes at baseline, high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms were measured at baseline with the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale. Using logistic and Cox regression analyses adjusted for demographics and CVD risk factors, high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids (mean intake: 407 mg/d) was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (odds ratio=0.46), as compared to low dietary intake (mean intake: 21 mg/d). High intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a nonsignificant reduced risk of 10-year CVD mortality (hazard ratio, 0.88), compared to low intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Additionally, dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids could not explain the relation between depressive symptoms and cardiovascular mortality (recent studies indicate that depression plays an important role in the occurrence of CVDs). Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "An average intake of approximately 400 mg n-3 FA/d may reduce the risk of depression. Our results, however, do not support the hypothesis that the intake of n-3 FAs explains the relation between depression and CVD."


Brown Rice Is Much More Beneficial to Diabetics than White Rice

Keywords: DIABETES TYPE 2, INSULIN RESISTANCE, GLYCEMIC INDEX - Brown Rice, Milled Rice, White Rice, Polished Rice, Diet, Carbohydrate, Glucose

Reference:
"Blood glucose lowering effects of brown rice in normal and diabetic subjects," Panlasigui LN, Thompson LU, Int'l Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2006; 57(3-4): 151-158. (Address: Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Home Economics, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines).

Summary:
In a study comparing the effects of brown rice versus milled rice (hulls and bran removed - also called white rice or polished rice), brown rice was found to have a significantly lower glycemic area and glycemic index, as compared to white rice. The rice samples came from the same batch and were the same variety of rice, just the level of processing differed. The study involved 9 subjects with type 2 diabetes and 9 healthy subjects. The first part of the study, involving an in vitro analysis of the starch digestion rate of both types of rice, found that brown rice released 23.7% less total sugar as compared to the white rice. The second part of the study found that consumption of brown rice led to a 35.2% lower glycemic area and 35.6% lower glycemic index than white rice, in diabetic subjects, and a 19.8% lower glycemic area and 12.1% lower glycemic index than white rice, in healthy non-diabetic subjects. The authors cite the higher amounts of dietary fiber, oil, polyphe nols, and phytic acid content in brown rice, in addition to differences in cooking time and degree of gelatinization as possible contributors to this significant difference. These results suggest that subjects with blood sugar abnormalities such as diabetes, and subjects monitoring the glycemic index of the foods they eat, would benefit from consuming brown rice instead of white rice.


Supplementation with Pycnogenol May Reduce Edema in Hypertensive Subjects Taking Antihypertensive Medication

Keywords: HYPERTENSION, EDEMA - Pycnogenol, French Maritime Pine Bark Extract, ACE Inhibitor, Calcium Channel Blocker

Reference:
"Control of edema in hypertensive subjects treated with calcium antagonist (nifedipine) or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors with Pycnogenol," Belcaro G, Cesarone MR, et al, Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2006 Oct;12(4):440-4. (Address: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Irvine Vasc Lab, G D'annunzio University, Italy. E-Mail: Cardres@abol.it ).

Summary:
In a randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 53 hypertensive subjects with edema who were receiving treatment with antihypertensive medications, supplementation with Pycnogenol was found to be effective in controlling the edema. Twenty-three subjects were receiving treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, and 30 patients were receiving treatment with a calcium antagonist (nifedipine). The subjects were randomized to one of two groups for a period of 8 weeks: 1) Pycnogenol group (n=27) - received supplementation with 150 mg Pycnogenol/day; 2) placebo group (n=26) - received treatment with placebo. At intervention end, a 35% decrease in edema was observed among subjects in the Pycnogenol group receiving treatment with an ACE inhibitor, and a 36% reduction in edema was observed among subjects in the Pycnogenol group receiving treatment with nifedipine. No reduction in edema was observed in the placebo group. Thus, authors of this study conclud e, "Pycnogenol controls this type of edema, it helps to prevent and limit long-term damage in the microcirculation in hypertensive patients, and allows the dose of anti-hypertensive drugs to be reduced in most patients."

Source: Vitagram.com

AAFP Guidelines

Ranking of Effective Clinical Preventive Services:

Aspirin Chemoprophylaxis
Childhood Immunization Series
Tobacco-use Screening and Intervention
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Hypertension Screening
Influenza Immunization (adult)
Pneumococcal Immunization (adult)
Problem Drinking Screening and Counseling
Vision Screening
Cervical Cancer Screening
Cholesterol Screening
Breast Cancer Screening
Chlamydia Screening
Calcium Chemoprophylaxis
Folic Acid Chemoprophylaxis
Obesity Screening
Depression Screening
Hearing Screening
InjuryPrevention Counseling
Osteoporosis Screening
Diabetes Screening
Diet Counseling

From AFP Magazine Vol 74, Num 10, 11/15/2006

Am J Prev Med 2006; 31:56 Maciosek MV, et al

In Memory of Milton Friedman

Milton Friedman (1912-2006)

Free Market Economist, Nobel Laureate & Mathematician

A Tribute by Ben Stein (TIME Magazine 11/27/06)

It is simply not possible to adequately describe the importance of Milton Friedman. In the the 1950s and 1960s, most men and women of stature simply assumed that state control of the individual and of the economy was inevitable and desirable. Friedman, then a professor of economics at the University of Chicago, said that it was neither inevitable nor desirable. In books, lectures, articles--wherever he could find a pulpit--Friedman said freedom, specifically individual liberty, was the optimal condition of mankind, both for human satisfaction and for prosperity.

He rewrote our economic memory. The Great Depression had been blamed largely on free markets, underlining the need for draconian government supervision of the economy. Yet Friedman argued that free markets had not caused the Great Depression. Rather, in A Monetary History of the United States, written with the great economist Anna Jacobson Schwartz, Friedman said it was horrifying incompetence by the government, specifically the Federal Reserve, that had caused and prolonged the Depression. He showed in minute detail how failures of monetary policy--occasionally motivated by the anti-Semitism of some Fed governors--had created catastrophe from what could have been a short recession. This analysis was so powerful that it revitalized the monetarist school of economic thought: that the supply of money greatly affects not only prices but economic output. It redeemed the free market.

He was a friend and mentor and inspiration all my life. He and his wife Rose, his constant colleague and support, were lifelong friends of my parents Herbert and Mildred Stein after they met at the University of Chicago in the mid '30s. My father, a distinguished economist himself and chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers under Nixon and briefly under Ford, forever stood in awe of the man. As my pop said many times, "Friedman was like every other economics student at Chicago in those days except twice as smart."
When I was a Columbia undergrad in the early '60s, Friedman taught there for a year and was a good friend to me. He even used applied statistics to save me from romantic desperation when I was worried about replacing a girlfriend. If there were only one right woman for every right man, he advised, they would never find each other. Another time, he stopped me from crossing against the light on Broadway and 116th Street, telling me, "Why risk your whole life to save 10 seconds?"

Friedman, as much as anyone, stood athwart history and cried "Stop" as it seemed headed towards collectivism--only he did it with a masterly, genius-level grasp of mathematics, history and statistics. He proved, inasmuch as it can be proved, that free markets would not impoverish the poor but enrich them, would not ride roughshod over the downtrodden but would empower them. His work with the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile was widely reviled, but Chile is now the free-market powerhouse of the Andes and a democracy. These principles paid off for whole populations in South America, in Russia and in Asia. He was the mentor to Ronald Reagan, to Bush 41, even to Nixon--who did not quite believe just how strong Friedman's arguments were and went ahead and imposed ineffectual price-wage controls in 1971.

Friedman's masterpieces of essays, such as Capitalism and Freedom, advised Americans not to look to the state for either rights or responsibilities but to look to themselves for their strength, and then made his case with numbers. He took on Marxism and with potent logic proved that it did not work. He was perhaps the most impressive combination of mathematician, economist and caped crusader there has ever been.

The world has lost an irreplaceable champion of liberty. And an irascible one. He even warned that the postal service was a threat to freedom. I never bought that one. Nor did I agree with his sangfroid about immense budget deficits, which he thought would restrain federal spending, which in turn would promote liberty. He worked tirelessly for school choice for the poor through vouchers--possibly the most controversial work he ever did.

When I learned he had died, I was despondent, but I also realized you cannot kill Friedman's exaltation of human liberty--not with a gun, not with a tank, not with terrorism--not even with heart disease. His ideas and faith in the human spirit are as implanted in civilization as those of any benevolent economist and social revolutionary since his idol Adam Smith, whom he so worthily followed.

Ben Stein is a writer, an actor and an economist.

Quote from Winston Churchill

"A Fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

Saliba-Saleeby Family Tree

Charlatans in Alternative Medicine

Forget those crystals
A doctor looks at quackery

Published first in Mountain-X Magazine, Asheville, NC (Oct 2, 2002 / vol.: 9 issue: 9)

by J.P. Saleeby, M.D.

As an integrative medical practitioner, I keep my mind open to new modalities for evaluating illness and treating disease. My interest in and exploration of complementary or alternative medical therapies has led me to selectively incorporate into my practice some of what I've come across. For example, I embrace acupuncture for the diagnosis and treatment of certain disease states. Both traditional Chinese herbal medicine and Western herbs have also been quite helpful, producing successful outcomes for many of our patients.

But as one who subscribes to substantiated complementary medical practices while not turning my back on traditional allopathic medicine, I believe I have a license to be a critic.
Many self-proclaimed practitioners of "alternative medicine" prey on the gullible and ignorant. This fact hit home as never before when I attended and participated in a "Holistic Expo" in Atlanta a few weeks ago [sic 2002].

I was a guest speaker; my topic was the role of supernutrients in health and longevity. I also had a booth on the Expo floor to promote my dietary-supplement line and integrative practice in Savannah. But after viewing more than 160 vendor booths and reviewing the list of topics being presented, I was appalled.

To my amazement, the bulk of the "practitioners" present at this supposed health fair were charlatans, fakes and quacks. Even more astonishing was the number of visitors to the expo who were duped into believing that there was actually healing going on. Many of the vendors – whom I view as entertainers, but certainly not as healers – offered their services or wares for sale on the spot.

A typical "divine-psychic reading" could cost up to $35. A channeling session with crystals was $5 per minute. People were lining up for this!

I felt very uncomfortable and out of place amongst this group. To my immediate left were three "healers": one who would sketch your spiritual drawing, plus a psychic and a tarot-card reader. Across from me was a vendor for a distance-learning "institution" that offered "degrees" in nutrition, herbology, spiritual healing and reiki. To my right was a "massage therapist/channeler/healer" who on several occasions had his victims on a table where he would rub them rather aggressively and wave rocks and crystals over their head and chest.
Yet another booth offered "spontaneous healing" in which practitioners pranced around their victim, chanting and waving their hands in an effort to expel the evil forces causing disease. They also repeatedly showed a videotape of a nonsurgical way of extracting tumors from the body, seemingly through the skin, to promote instantaneous healing.

Others, both at booths and in the lecture hall, purported to be able to deliver unbelievable advice "channeled" from celebrities on the other side. Many claimed to be divine psychics, and one booth offered "aromatherapy" for people and pets. One Native American fellow in traditional garb spoke of "meeting your totem animal"; others talked about "sonic angel music" and "turbo tantra." One couple was selling "Chakra Life" – a set of crystal balls in a wooden box that could supposedly diagnose illness. Still others offered means of "accessing the Akashic Records."

My astonishment at seeing such a large number of people interested in miraculous healing claims led me to some basic questions: Where did modern medicine go wrong that it encouraged people to accept or believe in such craziness? What have we done as physicians to push people to embrace such silly notions and odd alternative therapies? Why is the traditional physician despised by these people?

There is genuine dislike of allopathic medicine and its practitioners. The rhetoric one overhears at these booths is ridiculous but nonetheless embarrassing. Many complaints about medical doctors are based on misguided casual observations, anecdotal horror stories with a lot of "spin," or reports from those with an ax to grind. Some complaints are legitimate, I must admit, but they are never bad enough to warrant the alternative.

Have we sold our souls to the pharmaceutical companies, as has been charged? Have we been overly caught up in the pressures placed upon us by the current system of managed care? Have we been embittered by our feelings about governmental and private insurance reimbursements and medical-malpractice litigation? Whatever the answers, I still have faith in our ability to turn this trend around, salvage our reputations, and dissuade those seeking health from wasting their time and energy on quacks and charlatans.

As Libertarian editor Charles T. Sprading once said, "Knowledge consists in understanding the evidence that establishes the fact, not in the belief that it is a fact." And if we ignore our patients, we will only intensify this movement away from what we know to be effective medical care toward the circus of harmful "caregivers."

This is a call to those who are seeking healing and wellness. Don't give up on the medical establishment just yet. Despite the negative press, we still offer the best health/patient care around, with a proven track record. And despite widely disseminated misinformation, many of us do subscribe to and uphold our Hippocratic Oath. A few of us are even open-minded enough to realize that our allopathic education doesn't give us all the answers. We continuously seek new and better ways to take care of our patients. And the consequences of not giving us another chance could be devastating.

*** Don't Be Victimized ***

[Integrative physician J.P. Saleeby, M.D., was the medical director of Saleeby Longevity Institute and the Lowcountry Natural Health Center in Savannah, Ga until 2005. He also co-directs the emergency department at Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville, Ga and was recently named the new medical director for the ED at Marlboro Hospital in Bennettsville, SC. He can be reached for comment at jpsaleeby@aol.com, or www.saleeby.net]

More Nutrition News

Drinking Polyphenol-Enriched Oolong Tea May Help Reduce Dietary Lipid Absorption

Keywords: LIPIDS - Oolong Tea

Reference: "Polyphenol-enriched oolong tea increases fecal lipid excretion," Hsu TF, Kusumoto A, et al, Eur J Clin Nutr, 2006; 60(11): 1330-6. (Address: International Public Health Nutrition, Graduate School of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima Japan).

Summary: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study involving 12 healthy adults (3 men, 9 women; mean age: 22 years) on a high-lipid diet, results indicate that drinking polyphenol-enriched oolong tea may increase fecal lipid excretion. The subjects received about 38 g of lipids from potato chips (19 g each within 30 minutes after lunch and dinner) and 750 ml of a placebo beverage or polyphenol-enriched oolong tea daily for 10 days. After a 7-day washout period, the interventions were crossed over for another 10 days. Fecal excretion of lipids was measured on the last 3 days of each intervention period from collected stool samples. Lipid excretion into feces was found to be significantly higher during the polyphenol-enriched oolong tea intervention period, compared to the placebo period. Additionally, an increase in cholesterol excretion was found in the polyphenol-enriched oolong tea intervention period, compared to the placebo period. Thus, the authors conclude, "The results of this study indicated that polyphenol-enriched oolong tea could increase lipid excretion into feces when subjects took high-lipid diet."

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Source: Vitasearch.com

News from the world of Nutritional Medicine

Topic: Exercising Regularly May Help Prevent Colds
Keywords: COMMON COLD, UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION - Exercise, Physical Activity, Postmenopausal Women

Reference:
"Moderate-intensity exercise reduces the incidence of colds among postmenopausal women," Chubak J, McTiernan A, et al, Am J Med, 2006; 119(11): 937-42. (Address: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Cancer Prevention Program, Seattle, Wash 98109-1024, USA).

Summary:
In a randomized controlled trial involving 115 overweight and obese, sedentary postmenopausal women, exercising at a moderate-intensity for 45 minutes a day, five days a week for a period of one year was found to reduce the risk of colds, as compared to subjects who only participated in 45-minute stretching sessions once/week. Subjects were randomly divided into either the moderate-intensity exercise group, or the control group (once/week stretching), for a period of one year. During the last 3 months of the one year period, subjects in the control group experienced a three times greater risk of colds, as compared to subjects in the group exercising regularly. No significant differences in other upper respiratory tract infections were found, however, this may have been influenced by the difference in number of subjects who had received the flu vaccine in both groups. The results of this study suggest that postmenopausal women may reduce their likelihood of catching colds by exercising regularly (five days/week) at a moderate intensity. The authors conclude, "These findings are of public health relevance and add a new facet to the growing literature on the health benefits of moderate exercise."


----------------

Topic: Beneficial Effects of Eating Almonds
Keywords: CORONARY HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, OXIDATIVE DAMAGE - Almonds

Reference:
"Almonds Decrease Postprandial Glycemia, Insulinemia, and Oxidative Damage in Healthy Individuals," Jenkins DJA, Kendall CWC, et al, J Nutr., 2006; 136: 2987-2992. (Address: Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center and 3Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2T2, Canada).

Summary:
In a study involving 15 healthy subjects, results indicate that consumption of almonds may decrease postprandial glycemia, insulinemia, and oxidative damage. The study assessed the effect of decreasing postprandial glucose excursions (may lower CHD risk) on measures of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. The subjects received 5 meals, balanced in carbohydrate, fat, and protein, using butter and cheese: 2 bread meals (control), 1 bread + almonds meal, 1 parboiled rice meal, and 1 instant mashed potatoes meal. Blood samples were drawn at baseline and 4 hours postprandial. Glycemic indices and postprandial areas under the insulin concentration time curve were less than that for the potato meal. No differences in postprandial total antioxidant capacity were found. However, postprandial serum protein thiol concentrations increased with the almond meal - indicating less oxidative protein damage - and decreased with the control, rice, and potato meals (pooled data). Addi tionally, a negative association was observed between the change in protein thiols with postprandial incremental peak glucose and peak insulin responses. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "… lowering postprandial glucose excursions may decrease the risk of oxidative damage to proteins. Almonds are likely to lower this risk by decreasing the glycemic excursion and by providing antioxidants. These actions may relate to mechanisms by which nuts are associated with a decreased risk of CHD."

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Topic: Moderate Alcohol Intake May Lower Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease in Men with the Metabolic Syndrome
Keywords: ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE, METABOLIC SYNDROME - Alcohol

Reference:
"Moderate Alcohol Consumption Is More Cardioprotective in Men with the Metabolic Syndrome," Gigleux I, Lamarche B, et al, J. Nutr., 2006; 136: 3027-3032. (Address: Institute on Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, Quebec City, QC, Canada. E-Mail: benoit.lamarche@inaf.ulaval.ca ).

Summary:
In a prospective cohort study involving 1,966 men from the Quebec Cardiovascular Study who were initially free of ischemic heart disease (IHD), moderate alcohol consumption was found to exert cardioprotective effects, especially among men with the metabolic syndrome. During 13 years of follow-up, 219 incident cases of IHD were identified. Men who consumed at least 15.2 g of alcohol per day - one drink is usually considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of spirits (hard liquor such as gin or whiskey), where each delivers about 12 to 14 grams of alcohol - were younger, and had higher plasma HDL cholesterol levels and lower plasma insulin, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen levels, than men who consumed less than 1.3 g of alcohol per day. Additionally, after adjusting for potential confounders, including coronary risk factors, consumption of at least 15.2 g of alcohol per day was associated with a 39% reduced risk of IHD, compared to alcohol consumpti on less than 1.3 g per day. In the subgroup of men with the metabolic syndrome, consumption of less than 15.2 g of alcohol per day was associated with a significantly increased risk of IHD (relative risk= 2.24). However, among men without the metabolic syndrome, consumption of less than 15.2 g of alcohol per day was not associated with a significant increased risk of IHD (relative risk= 1.31). Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "These results confirm that moderate daily alcohol consumption has cardioprotective properties and suggest that the effects may be more important in subjects with a deteriorated risk profile, such as those with the metabolic syndrome."

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Topic: Chitosan Dietary Supplement May Facilitate Loss of Excess Body Fat
Keywords: OVERWEIGHT, OBESITY, WEIGHT LOSS, FAT LOSS - Chitosan Dietary Supplement

Reference:
"Evaluating efficacy of a chitosan product using a double-blinded, placebo-controlled protocol," Kaats GR, Michalek JE, et al, J Am Coll Nutr, 2006; 25(5): 389-94. (Address: Health and Medical Research Center, 4940 Broadway, Suite 201, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA. E-mail: gil@hmrcenter.net ).

Summary:
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled dietary intervention study involving overweight subjects, supplementation with chitosan (3,000 mg/d) was found to facilitate greater weight loss, fat loss, percentage of fat, and body mass composition improvement, compared with a placebo group. Of the 150 subjects who enrolled in the study, 134 completed the study and 111 were women who were similarly distributed in the three groups. Subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups. The active group received 6 capsules/day chitosan (each capsule containing 500 mg), and wore a pedometer during waking hours to record total daily steps taken. The placebo group received a placebo and wore a pedometer just like the active group. The control group followed any weight loss program of their own choosing. Results found that subjects in the treatment group experienced greater weight loss (-2.8 lbs vs. +0.8 lbs in the control group and +0.6 lbs in the placebo group), fat mass loss (-2. 6 lbs vs. +0.1 lbs in the control group and +0.6 lbs in the placebo group), and percentage of fat loss (-0.8% vs. +0.4% in the placebo group). Furthermore, compared with the placebo group, subjects in the treatment group were found to have a greater body composition improvement index (+2.4 lbs vs. -1.9 lbs). The results of this study suggest that supplementation with chitosan may be effective in helping overweight persons lose excess body fat and improve body composition under free-living conditions.


Source: Vitagram.com

Dr. Saleeby takes new positions

Dr. Saleeby accepts positions as Emergency Room Physician

Medical Director of Emergency Department

at Marlboro Park Hospital
Bennettsville, SC
http://www.marlboroparkhospital.com/

&

at Ashe Memorial Hospital
Jefferson, NC
http://www.ashememorial.org/


He currently staffs:

Former co-director ED
Liberty Regional Medical Center
Hinesville, GA
http://www.libertyregional.org

Wayne Memorial Hospital
Jesup, GA
http://www.wmhweb.com

Evans Memorial Hospital
Claxton, GA
http://www.hospital-data.com/hospitals/EVANS-MEMORIAL-HOSPITAL-CLAXTON.html

How to Manage Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroid Disease
The better way to manage this often hidden disease.

By JP Saleeby, MD

The thyroid gland and the hormones it secretes play a crucial role in our health and well being. The thyroid hormones act as messengers for body function, performance and metabolism. For example they play a major role in weight gain and loss. Thyroid hormones are a mixture of mono-, di-iodothryonine, T3 (triiodotyrosine) and T4 (thyroxine). The hormones most traditional physicians are concerned with and replace is the singular thyroxine or T4 and usually in a synthetic form (levothyroxine under brand names such as Unithroid, Synthroid and Levothroid). Occasionally traditionally trained physicians (endocrinologists) will prescribe a synthetic T4-T3 drug liotrix (Thyrolar) and very rarely will they add something called liothyronine (Cytomel) a T3 synthetic. These prescribing habits are based on the education of the vast majority of American physicians after the advent of synthetic thyroid preparations. Much money has been spent by pharmaceutical companies who produce the synthetic hormones to promote their products to physicians. Hence, most of the post graduate education on thyroid replacement therapy is obtained from representatives and their “educational” material distributed by these companies. The use of desiccated natural animal thyroid glandulars (usually of porcine tissue) fell out of favor for no other reason than the aledged “new & improved” products emerging in the market place.

Is the synthetic thyroid drug better than the natural? No, just the contrary and I will outline it here very simply. Detractors of natural thyroid bark about the levels of the commercially available products such as Armour Thyroid, Nathroid, and Westhroid as not being reliable and consistent from one pill to the next. This may have been true 40 years ago, but today’s pharmaceutical processing and manufacturing techniques can assure quality and consistency. The problems lie not in the natural, but in the manufacturing practices of the synthetic thyroid hormones. Since Synthroid, manufactured by Abbott Pharmaceutical company (formerly by Knoll), came to market prior to 1962 it was never officially approved by the FDA and consequently had to file for New Drug Approval (NDA) in 1999. If you followed the news back then, the FDA had to step in and demand one manufacturer to cease production until the product was approved. Therefore, the physicians who “banter on” about the pitfalls of Armour Thyroid have no real license to do so. They only need to take a closer look at what they are routinely prescribing and realize what big pharma preaches may not hold it's weight.

Despite the many controversies synthetic thyroid has had over the years, it still remains the 3rd most prescribed drug class in America with over $541 million in sales in 2000. Industry greed can be seen in that from the year 2000 to 2001 there was an increase in the cost of this drug to consumer by eight and a half (8 ½) times the rate of inflation. Never the less, a historically well tolerated and well manufactured “natural” hormone is still available and FDA approved for thyroid disorders and should be embraced by more physicians in this country not just for it's pharmokenetic properties, but for it's low cost.

How is Thyroid disease diagnosed? Hypothyroidism (low levels of circulating thyroid hormone) affects 2% of the American population, women more so then men. It is very important for routine screening to occur. The American Thyroid Association recommends testing Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) at age 35 and every 5 years thereafter especially in women. I tend to test more often.

Traditionalists use the basic TSH and T4 serum tests to diagnose hypothyroidism. However, thyroid dysfunction can occur in individuals with “normal” levels of serum TSH and T4. When a patient exhibits signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism the hunt should go on to diagnose the disease instead of relying on just these two lab tests to rule out dysfunction. In my practice I use a hypersensitive TSH (hsTSH) and check for Free T4 and Free T3 levels (Free indicating non-protein bound hormone). I may also screen for something called reverse T3 or rT3, which may be elevated when T4 is not converted to T3 in the peripheral tissues. Reverse T3 (rT3) is not bioactive and cannot exert the same effect as T3. When the enzyme that converts T4 to T3 is deficient, T4 gets converted to rT3 in greater quantities. The condition where hypothyroidism actually exists with symptomatic patients yet "normal" lab tests is commonly referred to as Sick Euthyroid Syndrome. While levels of TSH and T4 may be normal, levels of Free T3 are low and rT3 tend to be higher. Here is where many with “lab-normal” hypothyroidism are overlooked.

T4 has a longer half-life than the converted T3, but T3 is about four (4) times more potent and exacts much more effect as a “hormone messenger.” Incidentally T3 is better absorbed by the intestines when taken orally than is T4, so a combination of T3/T4 makes even more sense in this setting of hormone replacement.

There are also other thyroid disorders that occur when the body produces antibodies against the hormone or the gland itself. These have to be tested for as well. Women are at more risk for thyroid disease than are men and there are a large number of women who develop thyroid disease 6 to 8 weeks postpartum (after childbirth). Dosing of thyroid in pregnant hypothyroid women is also tricky and may require an increased of 45% of the usual dose to achieve balance. Mothers-to-be are especially important patients to monitor. Those suffering from “acute depression” should also have hypothyroidism ruled out before antidepressant drugs are prescribed. Gross changes in body weight, skin texture, hair loss and energy levels should also alert the physician to test for hypothyroidism.




---------------------
Dr. Saleeby was the medical director for Savannah’s first integrative and preventive medical center, he currently works full time in Emergency Medicine at LRMC, Hinesville, GA. He manages many patients on natural thyroid replacement therapy via telemedicine consultations at www.saleeby.net. He can be reached by email at jpsaleeby@aol.com.

Fibromyalgia Article

FIBROMYALGIA - chronic pain, general fatigue, poor sleep, depression

written by: Dr. Dan Umberger, DO and reviewed by JP Saleeby, MD

written for JIVE Magazine on: 07/16/2004

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome in part characterized by general fatigue, poor sleep, depression, and diffuse muscle and joint aches and pains. Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) affects an estimated 6 million Americans, with a prevalence from 2 – 7%. Women are affected at an incidence approximately 7 times that of men, with peak incidence from ages 45 – 60 (1).

There are no accepted indicators specific for FMS; it remains a diagnosis of exclusion. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) instituted criteria for diagnosis of FMS in 1990. To meet diagnostic criteria, a patient must have 11 of 18 specific sites of tenderness, distributed both above and below the waist. These points are bilateral at the neck, shoulders, chest, ribcage, low back, thighs, knees, elbows, and buttocks. Upon pressure over these sites, a non-radiating pain needs be elicited. In addition, the patient must exhibit at least three of the following: fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, or paresthesia (2).

In using the above criteria diagnosticians were able to separate out FMS patients from a control group consisting of patients with other chronic pain conditions with a specificity of 88% (3). However, the ACR criteria are undergoing critique. There appear to be several subgroups within the designation of FMS, including approximately 29% with significant depressive symptomatology (4) and those with differences in processing pain (5). Studies indicate that treatment programs for FMS patients have no reliable predictors in part due to the heterogenicity of the classification (6). Further studies concerning the pathophysiology of FMS are likely to influence the ACR criteria.

There are no known causative agents for FMS. Among proposed etiologies are viral or bacterial infection, disturbances in the inhibitory control system of pain, neuroendocrine dysfunction, heavy metal exposure, sleep disturbances, and low human growth hormone levels.

Disrupted sleep patterns, in particular disrupted slow wave sleep, was found to give a 24% reduction in pain threshold in otherwise healthy middle aged women after only three days of sleep interference. The subjects also showed an increase in inflammatory flare response of their skin (7).

In a study performed by Berglund et al in Sweden, patients with FMS were shown to have decreased threshold to perceived cold-pain or heat-pain, using significantly more frequent pain related descriptors for cold and tactile stimulation than controls. Additionally, cold was perceived as heat or other dysethesias in the majority of FMS patients, while perception of warmth or tactile stimulation was not misread. They posit that this could be indicative of pathophysiology at a particular level of integration, and may be generic to FMS. FMS patient’s dyasthenic response to cold may prove valuable as an additional criteria (8). Furthermore, Staud et al. reported increased wind-up in FMS patients compared with controls, indicating possible pathology in the processing of central nociceptive pathways (9).

Paiva found a link between FMS and a decreased post exercise rise of human growth hormone. In his study, levels of insulin like growth factor (IGF-1) and cortisol levels were checked in FMS patients and control subjects before, during, and after exercise. One month later, the study was repeated with the FMS patients receiving pyridostigmine – a drug that decreases the level of serum somatostatin, a hormone that in turn inhibits growth hormone secretion. Three findings were reported: 1) FMS patients have a reduced growth hormone response to exercise, 2) pyridostigmine reverses this impaired response, and 3) defective growth hormone secretion in patients with FMS can occur in patients with normal IGF-1 levels. It is surmised that the decreased growth hormone response to exercise in patients with FMS results from increased levels of somatostatin (10).

Treatment options to-date remain palliative. These options include 1) reassurance and education, 2) evaluation and eradication of mechanical stressors, 3) symptomatic analgesic drug therapy, and 4) moderate individually adapted exercises.

NSAIDs and other analgesics have been found to ameliorate pain to varying degrees in various patients, due in part perhaps to the different pathological basis in the various subgroups. Glucocorticoids should be avoided (11).

Sleep disturbances may be addressed by physical exercise, melatonin, or TCAs and muscle relaxants. Fluoxetine was found to decrease pain, fatigue, and depression scores on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) (12).

The new studies by Paiva indicate that medical therapy utilizing either human growth hormone, somatastatin modifying drugs, or a combination of the two may prove beneficial.

Aerobic exercise has been found to improve function, and decrease pain and depression, independent of gains made in aerobic capacity (13). Moderate, non-flare producing exercise has a beneficial impact on FMS patients. One year follow-up of FMS patients who had undergone aerobic exercise conditioning showed that the benefits were either maintained or improved, with fewer patients meeting ACR criteria, with fewer tender points and lower scores on the FIQ.

A study by Berman et al. indicates that acupuncture has a beneficial effect on patients with FMS. They note a lack of high quality studies and state that high quality randomized trials are needed (14).

In conclusion, fibromyalgia is an exclusionary diagnosis with a heterogenous population. Treatment is multi faceted and needs to be tailored to the individual, as different subgroups within the population do not evidence the same symptoms, and those with similar symptoms do not necessarily respond similarly to the same treatment. Additional indicators such as response to thermal input may help in clarifying the existence of these subsets.


Reference:

1) Guler M et al.: Clinical characteristics of patients with fibromyalgia. Isr J Med C 1992,28:20-23.
2) Wolfe F, et al.: The American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia.Arthritis Rheum 1990, 33:160-172.
3) Ibid
4) Ahles T, et al.: Is chronic pain f variant of depressive disease? Pain 1987, 29:105-11.
5) Sorensen J, et al.: Fibromyalgia: are there different mechanisms in the processing of pain? J Rheumatol 1997, 24:1615-1621.
6) King SJ, et al.: Predictors of success of intervention programs for persons with fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol 2002, 29:1034-40.
7) Lentz MJ. : Effects of selective slow wave sleep disruption on musculoskeletal pain and fatigue in middle aged women. J Rheumatol 1999 Jul;26:1586-92
8) Berglund B et al.:Quantitative and qualitative perceptual analysis of cold dysesthesia and hyperalgesia in fibromyalgia. Pain 2002 Mar;96(1-2):177-87.
9) Staud R, et al.: Abnormal sensitization and temporal summation of second pain in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Pain 2001 Mar;91:165-75.
10) Paiva ES et al.: Impaired growth hormone secretion in fibromyalgia patients. Arthritis Rheum 2002, 46:1344-1350.
11) Gordon S, Morrison C: Fibromyalgia and its primary are implications. Medsurg Nursing. 1998, 7:207-216.
12) Arnold L, et al.: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, flexible-dose study of fluoxetine in the treatment of women with fibromyalgia. Am J Med 2002, 112:191-197.
13) Valim V et al.:Aerobic fitness effects in fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol 2003 May:30(5):1060-9.
14) Berman B et al.: Is acupuncture effective in the treatment of fibromyalgia? J FAM Pract 1999 Mar:48(3):213-8.

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Dr. Dan Umberger was an Osteopathic Resident in training (St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, NY) who rotated through The Saleeby Longevity Institute in March 2004 at the time of this writing. Dr. Umberger's interests include FMS and neuromusculoskeletal medicine. For information please call (912) 201-9464.

----
Article Submitted to JIVE Magazine by Health Columnist JP Saleeby, MD, Saleeby Longevity Institute, Savannah, GA. JP Saleeby, MD is medical director of the Saleeby Longevity Institute (www.longevity-institute.com) and Assistant Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville, GA. He can be reached for comment at jpsaleeby@aol.com.

Diversion Magazine (a Hearst Publication)

DIVERSION Magazine's "MY FAVORITE PLACE"

[to be published in Feb. 2006 issue]

What makes South Carolina's Lowcountry your favorite place?

The laid back gentile Southern hospitality. Must see is the downtown historic district of Charleston and the many surrounding Plantations and Gardens. Beaufort's waterfront park, and the sculpture garden at Brookgreen Garden (www.brookgreen.org).

What do you enjoy doing when you're there?

Antiquing on King St. in downtown Charleston (www.charlestonsfinest.com/sc/antiques.htm). Riding our bikes over the Cooper River Bridge (www.cooperriverbridge.org/index.asp), through the streets of Beaufort and the trails of Hunting Island State Park (www.huntingisland.com) and the rustic bike trails of Francis Marion State Park (www.fs.fed.us/r8/fms).

Where do you like to stay?

We stay at the lovely Beaufort Inn (www.beaufortinn.com) while in Beaufort. You can rent a cabin in Hunting Island State Park, but plan & book early as they go fast. And when in Charleston/Mt. Pleasant we like the contemporary comforts in the historic setting at Middleton Place Plantation Inn (www.middletonplace.org).


Where do you like to eat?

Red Drum Gastropub [www.reddrumgastropub.com] at 803 Coleman Blvd., Mt Pleasant, SC (843) 849-0313. Sophisticated southern cuisine in an up-scale casual environment.

Gullah Cuisine at 1717 U.S. 17N, Mount Pleasant, SC (843) 881-9076. Regional specialty dishes with West African influences.

Bateaux Restaurant [www.bateauxrestaurant.net] at 27 Whitehall Landing, Beaufort, SC (843) 379-0777. Formal dining overlooking the waterfront.

Small City Cooking School [http://www.smallcitycooking.com] at 610 Paris Ave. Port Royal (near Beaufort), SC (843) 524-COOK. Fun cooking classes with visiting chefs, best part, you get to eat what you see created. Wine dinners are especially fun. Plan and reserve early.

Do you have any regional dishes to recommend?

The Lowcountry Boil, Shrimp & Grits, and Gullah cuisine.


Is there anything unique to the area you like to shop for?

Hunting for the perfect Sweetgrass Baskets at one of the many roadside stands. Purchasing some fresh tea from the only American cultivated tea garden at the Charleston Tea Plantation (www.bigelowtea.com/act).

Tell us about one of your best travel memories of the Lowcountry.

Walking the serene and undeveloped beaches on Hunting Island. Getting lost in Brookgreen Gardens.

Where are you going next?

Yadkin Valley, NC (North Carolina's wine region)

CIVIL WARS NEED 3RD PARTY INTERVENTION

An Editorial from my father

CIVIL WARS NEED 3RD PARTY INTERVENTION

Remember the war between the Tutsies & Hutus in Africa? Some "Concerned" people and organizations were bellyaching because we/NATO/UN did not intervene to stop the bloodshed. These same people/organizations are now pushing for intervention in the Darfur region of Sudan. These same people/organizations, while admitting that there is a civil/ethnic/sectarian war in Iraq, are demanding that our troops LEAVE Iraq.

During the civil war in Lebanon some sensible Lebanese found it necessary to invite Syrian troops to intervene and stop the bloodshed. The Syrians did and the bloodshed stopped. The Syrians, however, stayed beyond their mission, but that's another story. We had to intervene in the former Yugoslavia in order to stop the civil/ethnic war and are still there. UN troops are still in Haiti and other countries.

Let us not forget that the "Armed" forces of these countries are PART of the problem. After all, these forces are made up of the same factions that are in conflict. One should not expect a certain faction to fight their ethnic brothers. Usually they line up with their bretheren and join the fight just like they did in Lebanon and other places facing the same situation. During the American civil war the armed forces split along North South line. We learn everyday that some Iraqi Police and maybe even Army elements commit ethnic cleansing or vengeance.

The obvious solution is to invite a 3rd party such as US/UN/NATO or a neutral regional force willing to intervene in order to stop the fighting. There is no other way.

Michael Saleeby
Melbourne, Florida
11-15-06

Charleston Tea Plantation -

The Charleston Tea Plantation

By JP Saleeby, MD

As a small town Emergency Room physician in the Lowcountry and the recently christened medical & health writer for the Tea Experience Digest magazine, I felt it my duty to visit the Charleston Tea Plantation. If you have not had the opportunity to visit the area, our Lowcountry simply refers to the coastal region of South Carolina & Georgia. At best Charleston and its surrounding areas are genteel, refined and laid back. In the immortal words of George Gershwin, “Summertime and the living is easy.” At its worst it is hot and humid, hard on us southerners, downright unbearable on our northern visitors, and positively the best environment for tea growing.

The drive was fabulous, a kaleidoscope of shade thrown on the trail by overhanging Spanish moss draped oak trees, so typical of Charleston back roads. What makes this plantation so special is the fact that it is the only tea growing operation in the continental United States. The origins of the plantation, its development, its owners and the tea production are each stories in their own right.

Calling ahead I was promised an interview with the owner. Upon my arrival at plantation on Wadmalaw Island, I were ushered back to a corner office in the main building of the facility. At the doorway a burley old salt of a fellow greeted us. Not quite the image one entertains when told you were about to meet a professionally trained third generation tea taster. William (Bill) Hall, the co-owner of the Plantation (he is partnered with the Bigelow Tea Company), is a commanding figure, with long finger-combed locks of hair and well tanned from days in the field. Bill greeted me with a warm smile putting me at ease. He took a bit of time out of his busy day for an impromptu interview on this locally produced tea (Camellia sinensis), the history and business of tea in America, and what makes American Classic Tea stand out.

The history of the Charleston Tea Plantation goes back to a tea grower by the name of Dr. Charles U. Sheppard. In 1888 he established the Pinehurst Tea Plantation near Summerville, SC. Dr. Sheppard’s farm was maintained by a force of child laborers, who had the arduous task of picking tea leaves by hand. In exchange for their hard work they received an education on the grounds of the plantation. The Pinehurst plantation produced award-winning teas for many years. In fact at the 1904 World’s Fair their oolong tea took home first place awards. Upon his death in 1915, Dr. Sheppard’s plantation became dormant and the tea plants flourished unattended.

In 1963 the Lipton Tea company set up a research site on Wadmalaw Island and transplanted some of the original tea plants from Sheppard’s garden to their new site, a former potato farm. Lipton maintained this research facility due to fears that the third-world tea producing countries would not be politically stable enough to ensure a consistent supply of tea leaves to US markets. It remained in operation until 1987 when Bill Hall and Mack Fleming acquired it from Lipton. They turned the research facility into a working tea producing farm until 2003. The Bigelow Tea company then partnered up with Bill to purchase the plantation at auction in 2003. After a three-year renovation of the plantation by Bigelow, it opened in January of 2006 for tours and full production. The brand American Classic Tea is made up predominately with tea grown from this plantation. This tea besides being home grown is free of pesticides and synthetic chemicals necessary in other tea growing regions. Bill describes this chemical-free gown tea as those produced without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides of any sort. Fortunate for the American grower, there are no know indigenous insects or opportunistic flora that infest or threaten the plants unlike Asia.

The tea plants are propagated by means of cloning plant cuttings. After growing for 3 to 4 years they are ready to give up their top shoots for the production of the tea we drink. I learned that the tealeaves are harvested every 15 days. To keep the cost of the harvest competitive, the plantation mechanized the harvesting process by customizing a tobacco harvester. Lovingly called the “Green Giant” this machine keep labor costs down. Some 5000 pounds of leaves are harvested a day. Once the clippings reach the factory they are loaded on a machine that blows warm-dry air to dry the leaves. From there the leaves move into a Rotovane where they are ground in order to rupture the leaf cells so oxidation can occur. For black tea the leaves are allowed to oxidize for 50 minutes. For oolong tea it requires only 15 minutes. After this process the leaves are dried at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for a half-hour. Then they are placed through sieves to remove stock and fiber. For every 5 pounds of tealeaves harvested from the field this process yields one pound of ready to steep tea. Finally, these leaves of American Classic Tea are sealed and packaged awaiting shipment to retailers and ultimately the hot water of your teapot.

A trip to the plantation is a fun learning experience as well as a chance to enjoy the serenity of the gardens. A few hours sipping freshly brewed tea and walking the grounds will melt away the stress built up from long days at work delivering healthcare.

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JP Saleeby, MD is the current medical writer for the Tea Experience Digest magazine. He is assistant medical director of the Emergency Department at LRMC, Hinesville, GA.. Dr. Saleeby recently authored a book on herbs entitled “Wonder Herbs: A guide to three Adaptogens.”

Submitted for publication in "Physician's Money Digest" Travel Section, editor Lisa Tomaszewski 10/2006.

Dr. Saleeby writes for JIVE Magazine

Dr. Saleeby writes for JIVE Magazine

WAR AND .........

Every time we hear the news from Iraq or Afghanistan describing the ongoing war and the casualties incurred we, rightly so, get very upset. Civilized people throughout history looked with sadness and apprehension at "killings" so much so that the death penalty has been outlawed in many countries and States. War is the very last option that these civilized societies are willing to consider in confronting an enemy that is bent and determined to destroy our civilization. This enemy cannot and will not leave us alone to live our lives our way because they fear we will eventually "infect" them and "corrupt" their way of life. Such people do not recognize freedom. The most intransigent are those who do not subscribe to freedom of religion. Our objective in confronting this particular enemy is based on a two prong solution. First we go to war to stem the tide of these frequent, deadly and unprovoked attacks on us by destroying our "militant" enemy. Second we make ourselves very clear to the rest of the population that we mean them no harm, we respect their beliefs and way of life and expect them to feel the same way about us. That is a very difficult, but necessary, task.

Now the war part. Those who are anti-war at any price are very naive and, I dare to say, ignorant. Consider some lessons from history. The Roman Empire fell mainly because its "civilized" citizens lost the will to fight. Civilized societies have always had "uncivilized", often barbarian people surrounding them and ready to pounce on them whenever an occasion arises such as unwillingness of their perceived enemy to fight back. This was what happened to the Romans and a few other empires throughout history. Are we destined to be one of those empires? I certainly hope not. I, for one, am not a softie and am willing to fight any and all enemies, domestic or foreign, anywhere to preserve our civilization. How about you?

Michael Saleeby
Melbourne, FL
10/29/2006

What is EGCG in Tea?

What is EGCG?

By JP Saleeby, MD

What is EGCG? What was once an esoteric chemical compound know only to a few scientist is now plastered on everything from tea labels to bottle of supplements at the health food store to cover articles in health and medical journals. Google it and you come up with over 600,000 hits. So what exactly is this substance and why is it all the rage these days?

EGCG is the acronym for Epigallocatechin Gallate. It is one of four major polyphenolic substances called catechins found in green tea. A catechin is a substance belonging to the flavan-3-ol class of flavonoids. Catechins are found in higher concentrations in green tea than in black tea for the simple reason that during the oxidation process (where green tea becomes black tea) some of these catechins are converted enzymatically to compounds that give black tea its color namely theaflavin and thearubigen. Unfortunately theaflavin and thearubigen don’t share the same potent health benefits of EGCG.

The catechins found in green tea are responsible for many of the claimed health benefits of the plant. They are antioxidants, with researchers claiming that EGCG the most powerful antioxidant of them all in that class of substances.

Tea contains the four catechins: catechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECg), epigallocatechin (EGC) and EGCG (or EGCg). EGCG is of course the most abundant of the four and makes up some 10% of the dry weight of fresh tealeaves. It so happens that EGCG is an antioxidant with about 25 to 100 times (depending on whose research you believe) the potency of Vitamins C & E.

Epigallocatechin gallate may provide certain health benefits by protecting our cells from free-radical oxidative damage. Cancer, arteriosclerosis, heart diseases and accelerated aging are just a number of diseases that have been associated with oxidative damage. EGCG apparently interferes with certain enzyme systems to exact its effect. It inhibits fast-binding and reversible fatty acid synthase, increases tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, and activation of ornithine decarboxylase. These enzymatic pathways are important chemical reactions that occur in our bodies that are related to disease and health. EGCG has been shown in research protect our DNA from ultraviolet and radiation-induced damage. Some have reported that this substance may be effective in promoting weight loss by a fat oxidation process.

Additionally, researchers have found that catechins block bacteria and viruses from attaching to human cell walls. Catechins also react with toxins released from harmful bacteria and make them inactive or less active. They also seem to reduce the toxic effects of such heavy metals as cadmium, chrome, lead and mercury.

So how does EGCG form in tealeaves? The process begins with a product of glycolysis (the breakdown of sugar by an enzyme named enolase): phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). PEP then enters into the Shikimate enzymatic pathway to yield phenylalanine. Interestingly enough in the pharmaceutical industry this pathway is used to produce shikimic acid from the “star anise” plant that is used as a substrate in the production of the popular anti-flu drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

From Phenylalanine the process continues through the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway from which 4-Coumaryl-CoQ is produced. When this compound combines with Malonyl-CoA it yields the true backbone of the flavonoid group known as the chalcones. Three-ring phenolic structures (what is commonly recognized and hence given the name poly-phenol) are produced when ring-closure occurs within these chalcone molecules. The metabolic pathway continues through a series of several more enzymatic modifications to yield flavanones that yield dihydroflavonols that go on to produce anthocyanins. Along this enzymatic highway other products are formed, including the flavonols, flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins (the tannins) and of course the all-important polyphenolic EGCG.

So next time you are faced with the four little letters E-G-C-G on a box of your favorite tea, you will know from where this compound originates, its health benefits and why so many people are excited about this compound.

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JP Saleeby, MD is assistant medical director of the emergency department at LRMC in Hinesville, GA. He practices preventive integrative medicine throughout the southeastern United States and writes for the Tea Experience Digest magazine. He maintains a blog at www.saleeby.net

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicatechin
http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/epigallocatechin-gallate.php
http://greenteanation.com/blogs/egcg/archive/2006/09/06/1819.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavonoid
http://www.chem.qmul.ac.uk/iubmb/enzyme/reaction/misc/shikim.html
http://www.botany.ubc.ca/douglas/phenylpropanoid.htm

© 2006

Oxalate & Tea

Appearing in the next issue of The Tea Experience Digest Magazine

in the "Ask the Expert" Section.

Q: Tim asked: I have had kidney stones and have been advised to avoid food and beverages with oxalic acid. Does tea contain oxalic acid?


A: Tim, Oxalic acid or oxalate is found mostly in foods from plants. Some examples are star fruit, black pepper, parsley, rhubarb, spinach, swiss chard, summer squash, sweet potatoes, chocolate, nuts, beans, and tea.

Leaves of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) are known to contain among the greatest measured concentrations of oxalic acid relative to other plants. However the infusion beverage typically contains only low to moderate amounts of oxalic acid per serving, due to the small mass of leaves used for brewing. Tea brewed in the usual fashion contains about 55 mg of oxalic acid, as tall glass of iced tea contains about 20 mg. It takes a dose of 22,000 mg of oxalate to be potentially fatal in the average human.

Health folks can safely consume oxalate containing foods, but those with kidney disorders, gout, rheumatoid arthritis and a history of kidney stones should be careful. The gritty "mouth feel" one experiences when drinking milk with a rhubarb pie is caused by precipitation of calcium oxalate (CaOx). The calcium in the milk reacting with the oxalic acid in the rhubarb. Interestingly enough, calcium supplements taken along with foods high in oxalic acid can cause oxalic acid to precipitate in the gut and drastically reduce the levels of oxalate absorbed by the body.

About 5% of American women and 12% of men will develop a kidney stone at some time in their life. Calcium oxalate accounts for approximately 80% of stones. High intake of oxalate can induce calcium oxalate stones. Mega doses of Vitamin C can also precipiate these types of stones. Moderate intake of tea should not be a problem in the health individual. However, consuming foods high in oxalate is cumulative. In certain cases of patients who produce calcium oxalate stones, the physician may recommend reducing oxalate intake along with a slight increase in oral calcium intake. It is recommended that these patients have no more than 50 mg of oxalate/day in their diet.

References:

http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1258212
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxalic_acid
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ J. Clin. Invest.2005 Oct;115(10):2598-608
http://www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs29.htm
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W N V

West Nile Virus

Authored by Jennifer Quick & reviewed by JP Saleeby, MD

History/Demographics

Protecting ourselves against those pesky mosquitoes could save you not only from an annoying bug bite, but also from transmission of a nasty virus introduced into the United States fairly recently. West Nile Virus (WNV) was first isolated from a female patient presenting with fever like symptoms in Uganda in 1937. It is, however, a relatively new disease to the Western Hemisphere, presenting itself in 1999 when the first cases in America were documented in New York City. The outbreak resulted in 62 infections causing serious illness and seven deaths. Since then, the virus has spread to multiple areas including the mid-west, southern and western states, resulting in a steady increase in the number of infections annually. According to the Center for Disease Control, as of August 22, 2006 there were already 581 reported cases of West Nile Virus infection, with 18 of those cases resulting in the death of the victim. Not only are humans targeted by this virus, WNV infects birds as well as other mammals. Researchers continue to study the pathways of infection, trends in immunity, and signs and symptoms of the illnesses in order to more effectively combat this spreading pathogen.

Bird Infection

Although WNV can be a fatal infection in humans, it is primarily a detrimental disease in birds. The virus is transmitted to other birds through different species of mosquitoes including Aedes, Culex, or Anopheles. These mosquitoes carry and amplify the virus in their salivary glands and subsequently, during a blood meal, the virus is transfered to the bird. The transmission cycle continues as the birds transmit the virus to other feeding mosquitoes and those mosquitoes go on to infect more birds or other mammals. As of September 2000, WNV has been isolated in at least 70 different species of dead birds found throughout the United States.

There are some differences in WNV infection among various species of birds. Dr. Richard Bowen, a researcher at the Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory at Colorado State University, has explored some of these differences in various birds such as crows, chickens, and pigeons. He comments that, “There are a lot of differences among birds. Very few American crows survive WNV and typically circulate at 10^8 to 10^9 pfu's of virus/ml of blood. Fish crows, on the other hand, have only a 25-50% mortality rate.” When studying chickens, Dr. Bowen found that, “Chickens greater than 1 week of age that become infected have low viremia levels and usually never get sick. On the other hand, baby chicks infected at less then one week of age do get higher viremias causing illness and death.” Additionally, Dr. Bowen has studied the effects of WNV immunity and immunosupression in chickens. His findings conclude that when immune hens (female chicken) give birth, they transfer their antibody to the chick, thereby protecting the chick with this maternal antibody for approximately one month. After that time, the chicks become susceptible to viremia but do not show signs of illness. Also, it was found that immunosuppression of the chickens increased the magnitude of viremia, but did not make them susceptible to illness. Pigeons, on the other-hand, are “sort of between non-susceptible chickens and highly susceptible American crows.” They show moderate viremia levels with very low mortality rates. As for future research, Dr. Bowen is working on trying to understand what is so lethal about the NY99 strain of West Nile Virus. He is also working on determining whether immunity to WNV makes birds immune to other related viruses such as Japanese encephalitis.

Human Infection

The virus affects not only birds but humans as well. Twenty percent of infected individuals will develop symptoms and one out of 150 of those infections results in encephalitis or meningitis. Additionally, the mortality rate from severe illness is 3-15% depending on who is collecting the data. The severity of infection depends on the degree of central nervous system (CNS) invasion, exposure to multiple bites, and age of the victim. Morbidity and mortality increase with ages over 50 and prove to be especially significant in people over the age of seventy-six. High-risk areas include the Midwest, accounting for 55% of cases, as well as the Southern and Western states. Symptoms in patients usually appear in June and taper off in November.




2006 West Nile Virus Activity in the United States(Reported to CDC as of August 22, 2006*)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/Mapsactivity/surv&control06Maps.htm




Infectious Agent

The West Nile Virus is a member of the family Flaviviridae. It is an enveloped, spherical, positive sense single stranded RNA virus that contains one open reading frame. The (+) ssRNA serves as the mRNA template that is then translated into one polypeptide and subsequently processed by cellular and viral proteases producing various proteins. These proteins include a capsid protein (C), an envelope protein (E), a premembrane protein (preM), as well as seven non-structural proteins. The E and M proteins are thought to give the mature virion it’s rough appearance.

In order to gain entry into host cells, WNV attaches to a yet unknown receptor on the host cell and undergoes clathrin-mediated endocytosis. More research must be done to verify the actual mechanism of entry, but it has been observed that there is an interaction of the virus with toll-like receptors as well as an increase in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) before penetration of the virus into the CNS. Toll-like receptors (TLR's) are transmembrane proteins that were first identified in the fruit fly and later found to be present in various types of mammals and even in plants. There are various types of TLR's and when activated, these proteins begin a cascade of events that alert the immune system to begin combating a pathogen such as a virus. In order to better understand the entry of WNV after supposed interaction with TLR's, it is imperative to know a bit about it's entrance into host cells via clathrin- mediated endocytosis. This process starts when the virus binds to its receptor which then causes a clathrin coat to build up inside the membrane below this binding. The clathrin forms around the pit that is to eventually be endocytosed into the cell (It is thought that clathrin drives the process of endocytosis as well as stabilizes the whole process). Once endocytosed, the vesicle containing the virus loses its coat. Then, vesicles join other vesicles uniting to become what is known as an early endosome. After a series of steps in which the early endosome transforms into a late endosome, the late endosome is then fused with a lysosome. A drop in pH within this lysosome causes a conformational change in the E surface protein thus causing the hydrophobic domain of that protein to insert itself into the lysosome membrane. This fusion allows the nucleocapsid of the virus to be inserted into the cytoplasm of the host cell and begin its replication. This ends the whole process of entry into the host. At this point, host cell ribosomes translate the (+) ssRNA into the mRNA template going on to the Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to be translated into various proteins. These proteins are cleaved by viral and host proteases and directed to their corresponding places within the cell by host direction. For instance, the E and preM proteins are synthesized in the membrane of the ER and are translocated by host interaction into the lumen of the ER. Similarly, host cell machinery directs the C protein as well as additional proteins such as N2A through N5 into the cytoplasm of the cell.

In order to make more virions it is imperative that more (+) ssRNA be made. Synthesis of this vital component is accomplished in part by the protein N5 which is thought to be the viruses' RNA dependent RNA polymerase. Along with the help of N3 it is able to synthesize (-) RNA from the (+)RNA . This allows more (+)RNA to be made which can then function as an additional template for mRNA synthesis or go on to be packaged in virions that will exit the cell and go on to infect other cells.

Once enough protein and (+)RNA has been made, the virus is ready to package these items and export them out of the cell in the form of new infectious particles. A nucleocapsid is formed from multiple copies of the C protein. (The C protein is one of the three structural proteins encoded by the (+)RNA.) Shortly thereafter, all components are gathered. As the virion is exiting the host cell, the E and preM proteins complex, rendering E ineffective. This critical step is important so membrane fusion does not occur and the virion is able to exit the cell without reentry. Exit of the virion continues with budding through the ER membrane and final departure via the secretory pathway. On exiting the cell, host proteases cleave the preM protein that was once in complex with the E protein, thereby rendering the E protein effective so that the new virus is capable of entry into new cells.

Pathogenesis / Symptoms


After infection by a mosquito vector, the virus incubates in mammals for around 5-15 days. In the 20% of individuals that show signs of infection, symptoms will usually only last for about 3-6 days. Those showing symptoms are classified as either having WNV encephalitis, in which neurological signs of disease are seen, or classified as having WNV fever, ill victims but showing no signs of CNS malfunction. Neurological signs of disease include muscle weakness, flaccid paralysis, photophobia, seizures, mental status changes, respiratory symptoms, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. WNV fever symptoms include fever, nausea, anorexia, malaise, myalgia, headache, rash, eye pain, and vomiting. Those infected who never show symptoms may never know they were infected unless tested for antibody to the virus.


Diagnosis

The most effective way to diagnose West Nile Virus infection involves serologic testing to detect IgM antibodies specific for WNV. This is done with the use of the IgM antibody capture Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (MAC-ELISA). This test can, however, provide false positives due to the close relation of WNV to other Flaviviruses and should therefore be confirmed with a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT). Also helping in diagnosis is a detailed history from the patient including information about visits to high exposure areas as well as information on exposure to outdoors during peak times of mosquito prevalence. Information about histories involving organ transplants, breast feeding in mothers, as well as blood transfusions is also imperative as contraction the virus has been observed via these routes as well.

Prevention / Deterrence

There is no known medical treatment (pharmaceutical or vaccine) for West Nile Virus infection at this time aside from supportive care. Avoiding mosquitoes is thus the primary way of preventing this disease. This can be done with the use of insect repellents containing N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET, 10-30% is considered effective) and ethyl hexandiol, using clothing to cover exposed areas of the body, and staying indoors from dusk till dawn can help in reducing the risk of infection. There is even a clothing manufacturer with the trade name Buzz Off that uses a permethrin compound incorporated in the clothing material.

An alternative to DEET is Picaridin, also known as KBR 3023, an ingredient found in many mosquito repellents used in Europe, Australia, Latin America and Asia for some time. Evidence indicates that it works very well, often comparable with DEET products. Still another “natural” alternative is Oil of lemon eucalyptus (also known as p-menthane 3,8-diol or PMD) is a plant-based mosquito repellent that provided protection time similar to low concentration DEET products in two recent studies.

Also, reporting dead birds to the proper health officials is important in early detection of this virus in your area. Other deterrence mechanisms include picking up garbage and draining standing water from vacant areas and parks in order to hinder breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Researchers on intently studying ways to develop a human vaccine and antiviral drugs to treat WNV for the years to come.


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Reference:

Childs, Gwen V. “Receptor Mediated Endocytosis.” Text copyright 1996.
http://www.cytochemistry.net/Cell-biology/recend.htm. Accessed September 15, 2006.


Hayes, Edward B. et al. “Virology, Pathology, and Clinical Manifestations of West Nile Virus Disease.” Emerging Infectious Diseases. National Center for Infectious diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 2005. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0GVK/is_8_11/ai_n14920182. Accessed August 27, 2006.

Microbiology and Bacteriology. “The West Nile Virus.”
Timothy Paustian. 1999-2006. http://www.bact.wisc.edu/Microtextbook/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=206&page=1. Accessed August 25, 2006.

“New York State West Nile Virus Response Plan – Guidance Document.” May 2001.
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/westnile/2001/responseplan/2001wnv_responseplan.pdf
Accessed August 26, 2006.

Salinas, Jess D. et al. West Nile Virus. www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic236.htm. Accessed August 26, 2006.

“Statistics, Surveillance, and Control.” Center for Disease Control.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/surv&controlCaseCount06_detailed.htm.
Accessed August 26, 2006.

“West Nile Virus Transmission Cycle.”
http://environmentalrisk.cornell.edu/WNV/WNVEducDocs/WNVTransCycle.pdf.
Accessed August 26, 2006.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/repel.htm, Accessed October 2, 2006.

http://www.buzzoff.com/ Accessed October 2, 2006

Jennifer Quick interview with Dr. Richard Bowen, DVM, PhD, Professor & Researcher Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, 3801 W. Rampart Road
Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA, ARBL@colostate.edu.
http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/bms/ARBL/index.htm

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Jennifer Quick received her BS degree (2006) in Microbiology from Colorado State University. Also obtaining a minor in Biomedical Sciences (Anatomy and Neurobiology). She has experience as a research assistant in a West Nile Virus lab (2003-2005) as well as an HIV lab (2005-2006); Jen is acknowledged in a publication titled "Derivation of phenotypically and functionally normal macrophages from lentiviral vector transduced human embryonic stem (hES) cells for HIV-1 gene therapy.”

JP Saleeby, MD is assistant medical director of the Emergency Department at Liberty Regional Medical Center in Hinesville, GA. He held a faculty position at Georgia Southern University in the department of nursing. He is a medical and health writer for several online and print journals. He has authored a book entitled “Wonder Herbs: A Guide to Three Adaptogens”, published in 2006.

© 2006

Pictures of the kids.

Madison the Birthday Girl

Michael Playing soccer with the Golden Dragons in Durham, NC 2005
Ok. A proud dad has to open his new blog (Part II) with some pictures of the kids.....

Dr. Saleeby's Bio

Dr. Saleeby is an Emergency Room Physician covering rural ERs in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Dr. Saleeby held a post as Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Nursing at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia.

Dr. Saleeby is a regional speaker on topics of integrative and preventive medicine and has been published in a peer review medical journal for research in reproductive endocrinology while attending MCG. He was senior editor of the quarterly newsletter Complementary Medicine News, an integrative medicine newsletter. Most recently he has published articles related to health and wellness in local Georgia & South Carolina publications such as: Savannah Out Front, Coastal Health and Fitness Magazine, CARE Magazine, Connect Savannah. He has also been published in MountainX magazine, Asheville, NC, Enigma Magazine, Chattanooga, TN, JIVE magazine, Atlanta, GA (staff writer), DEEP Magazine, Southeastern USA. The journal American Fitness recently published articles as did Cortlandt Forum Medical Journal & Diversions Magazine.

He has been quoted in the New York Times, American Fitness Magazine and on regional TV and radio stations. He was the health/medical writer for the Tea Experience Digest magazine until it went out of print.
Formerly a Masters level National Olympic Style Weightlifter awarded medals in 2003 and a Silver in his age and weight class in 2004.

He published his first book in April of 2006.... "Wonder Herbs: A guide to Three Adaptogens" [Xlibris, 2006]

He sits on the medical advisory board for AFAA (Aerobics & Fitness Association of America) and medical advisory board for BeachBody.

He was chief formulator for the neutraceutical line Vita Sanus Nutraceuticals (VSN) and most recently worked as chief formulator for AdapTx Labs of California on their CardioFactor and PreFight dietary supplements. In the past he worked on the PreGame formulas for Tennis and Golf with SSN in Atlanta. Currently he is working on a sub-fertility formulation with an upstart company in California (Parhelion Labs).

Most revently he reviewed the formula and research study on Shakeology, the new meal replacement by BeachBody and presented his findings in a lecture to the coaches at their 2009 Summit in California.

He and his wife founded Saleeby Medico-Legal Consultations in 2006. For more information please visit www.saleeby.net

Welcome

Due to the enormous amount of information on www.docsaleeby.blogspot.com it was necessary to construct a 2nd blog page. The download time was so long that folks were inconvenienced by the wait. Here I continue where I left off with my first blog site. Enjoy.

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Looking for more? Visit www.DocSaleeby.blogspot.com
www.DocSaleeby2.blogspot.com
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