From:

Joan E. Baumann

Database Administrator

www.Nutrisearch.ca

At the bottom of the abstract there was a clinical trials Identifier Number: Trial Registration Number NCT0000611.

The identifying number gave a clearer picture of the criteria.  Here is what the Government Trials website stated as to eligibility:

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:         50 Years to 79 Years

Genders Eligible for Study:    Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:  No

Criteria

Postmenopausal women ages 50 to 79.

The Trial Criteria allowed for Postmenopausal Women Ages 50 – 79 BUT excluded healthy volunteers! http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00000611/

The women were asked if they took multivitamins, and a detailed record of their vitamin of choice was kept.  The Data regarding their vitamin use was accepted even if they took their multivitamin as infrequently as once a week!

Some BIG IFS became apparent:  if they took one of the heavier advertised  brands, with their minimal amounts of basic nutrients, if their vitamin contained nutrients that were not optimal in quality, such as synthetic vitamin E instead of the natural form, if it contained very low levels of vitamin C, if it did not include nutrients such as inositol, choline, alpha lipoic acid, quercetin, flavonoids, n-acetyl L-cysteine, coenzymeQ10, beta-carotene instead of vitamin A, optimal levels of Folic Acid ……..then one would expect the outcome the study announced.  Too many IFS! There was no apparent baseline for either levels or quality of nutrients.

Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Natural Products Association, a non-profit organization, had a few interesting comments on the study.

Fabricant said it is “unprincipled” that the authors arbitrarily lumped supplement types into generalized categories that do not represent nutrient intake accurately. And when coupled with the fact that nutrient intake through the diet was not accounted for, Fabricant explained, the study has no means of establishing a baseline for which to draw any comparisons or eliminate bias.

He further stated: “ Taken as whole, the research on dietary supplements in the prevention of chronic diseases, is strong and consistent.  To suggest that taking vitamins and minerals with a demonstrated health benefit is unnecessary sends the wrong public health message.”

http://www.naturalproductsassoc.org/site/News2?abbr=pc_&page=NewsArticle&id=10409

There are literally thousands of research studies which have shown the benefits of many nutrients, from food and/or supplements.  To ignore such a large body of research and depend solely upon our food supply to provide the level of nutrition that can keep us healthy makes absolutely no sense.

“Get nutrients from food. Whole foods are better than dietary supplements” the lead researcher states.

Okay…hold on here.  Let’s step back and look at the facts behind the sensationalism.

• Firstly, this study is published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.  A little biased towards the pharmaceutical industry?
• Secondly, the cohort was taken from the Women’s Health Initiative study.  So we’re not solely dealing with the intake of multivitamins, but also other factors such as hormone replacement therapy and dietary modification.  If you’ve been keeping up with my articles, you’ve seen that the WHI was cut short because the majority of the cohort developed cancers linked to hormone replacement therapy.  So let’s throw in multivitamins to see if it will prevent cancers from developing due to HRT (because really, that’s the cause of these cancers), but it doesn’t so let’s publish an article saying that multivitamins don’t work!!!
• Thirdly, the study fails to state what multivitamins these people were taking.  Were they all taking the same ones?  What about dosage?  How bioavailable were the supplements?  Were the people even absorbing the supplements?
• Fourthly, the study states that only 41% of the cohort were taking multivitamins.  Hmmm….

The lead researcher does make a good point, however, when she states that people should use supplementation as ‘insurance’ and that they should eat whole foods rather than relying solely on supplements for nutrition.  Exactly!  That’s why they’re called ’supplements.’  They add on to what you’re already getting from your diet.  To prevent cancer and other degenerative diseases, you must take a multi-factorial approach.  Proper diet, exercise, rest, stress management, detoxification, supplementation are all basic parts to optimize your health.

Your take away: don’t buy into the media hype…do your research and be informed!

I recommend the Essentials by Usana Health Sciences as the most bio-available and complete multi-vitamin on the market.  They are rated to be the #1 multi-vitamin/mineral complex on the market, so it makes sense to go with the best.  If you would like more information about theses supplements…please fill out the form below and I will get back to you.

A powerful combination of protein, antioxidants, greens, sprouts, and healthy nutrition. Supports energy, protein balance, detox, inflammation, weight, cholesterol levels, a strong immune system, intestinal homeostasis/bowel function, cell repair, and overall good health!

The typical American diet contains a large amount of low-fiber, high fat (mostly saturated/trans), overly processed foods, and sugar, but an increasingly small amount of the fruits and vegetables that The American Cancer society tells us can lower our risk for disease (recommended at least 5 a day). The Department of Agriculture reported that the most consumed substance taken in by a typical American in a year was carbonated drinks, taking the lead at over 400 pounds per year. Those drinks are high in sugar, usurp B vitamins, leech minerals such as calcium, lower the immune system, and displace healthier choices, such as fruits and/or vegetables.

Are people getting 5 a day? Unfortunately not, and children get the least of all. It is estimated that children are not even getting 1-2 servings of vegetables per day, and this is considering that food surveys even count potatoes (hence french fries) as a vegetable. Green beans, the most widely consumed “vegetable”, is high in vitamin C and fiber, but it is a bean (legume) and does not possess the protective nutrients of the cruciferous vegetables or fruits.

Fruits and vegetables (especially the dark-colored ones) are rich in protective phytochemicals (plant nutrients) and enzymes. Phytochemicals are believed to be associated with the prevention or treatment of at least four of the leading causes of death in the United States (Bloch A et al, 1995). Processed food is stripped of these nutritious elements that help fight disease and prevent cell damage; it is also stripped of the valuable enzymes present in whole foods that aid digestion. The decrease in nutritious elements such as the phytochemicals found in fruits and veggies can affect the immune system and lower defenses against disease. The decrease in the presence of crucial food enzymes has correlated with digestive problems, gall bladder surgery, and many ailments due to the malabsorption of precious, integral nutrients. Protective nutrients in vegetables and fruits include, “phytochemicals such as dithiolthiones, flavonoids, glucosinolates, and allium compounds, as well as carotenoids, other antioxidants, vitamins, folate, and minerals such as selenium and calcium” (Oliveria SA et al, 1997; Block, G. 1992).

It is well-established that ideally the diet would contain more of these nutrients than it does. Protein drinks, that contain not only amino acid building blocks for constructing hormones, enzymes, cell receptors, neurotransmitters, etc. BUT also contain many other beneficial nutrients, can provide a healthful addition to the diet. Protein drinks can also provide needed rest and support for inflammatory conditions, along with providing additional nutrients to boost support for inflammation, such as glycomacropeptides, beta-sitosterol, rosemary, etc. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) are often used in nutritionally compromised situations and can provide energy and nutritional support, along with decreasing gut inflammation in conditions such as inflammatory bowel (Cabre F. & Gassul MA. 2003) and playing “an important role in the regulation of body fat development” (Han J. et al. 2003).

Total Green Protein: Whey Protein (Glyco-macro peptide content (18%) 5460 mg; Certified Organic sprouts: Wheat Grass sprouts 63mg, Cauliflower sprouts 63mg,Broccoli 63mg, Asparagus 63mg, Parsley 84mg, Carrot 63mg, Caprylic Acid med chain triglyceride 63mg, Cloves 8.4mg, Papaya 42 mg, Xylitol 42mg, Acidophilus and Bulgaricus 37,000 units each, Spirulina 126 mg, Chlorella 21 mg, Kelp 21 mg, Chia Seed 21 mg, Beta Sitosterol 42mg, Apple Pectin 168 mg, Rosemary 42 mg, Protease veg 42 mg, Luo Han guo 42mg Lecithin 126 mg, Rice Bran 840 mg, Rose Hips 252 mg, Calcium citrate 84 mg, Magnesium citrate 84mg, Yellow Dock 63mg, Milk Thistle 63mg, Cellulase 186 mg, Contraindications: Should not be used with blood thinning drugs.

Whey Protein is an excellent source of protein to provide all the precursors for enzymes, cell receptors, hormones, and other biologically active compounds. Whey protein is believed to increase glycogen content in liver and skeletal muscle, which has implications for energy production and fitness capacity (Morifuji M. et al. 2005). Whey protein has even demonstrated antibacterial and antiviral effects (Sitohy M. et al. 2005). Whey contains one of the most bioavailable sources of calcium, and its beneficial effect on bone metabolism has been shown in adult humans, and is also believed to affect bone metabolism in earlier life (Kelly O. et al. 2003).

Whey protein also has high anti-inflammatory potential and has been utilized to help reduce the inflammation in critically ill trauma patients receiving enteral nutritional support; C-reactive protein concentrations (marker of inflammation) and total inflammatory index dramatically fell in one study (Vehe KL et al. 1991).

The whey protein source used for Total Green Protein has an 18% glycomacropeptide content (GMP). The biological activity of GMP “has received much attention in recent years. Research has focused on the ability of GMP to bind cholera and Escherichia coli enterotoxins, inhibit bacterial and viral adhesion, promote bifidobacterial growth and modulate immune system responses” (Brody E.P. 2000). In describing GMP, the Journal of Nutrition reports that the “magnitude of the anti-inflammatory effect was comparable to that of sulfasalazine, an established drug used in the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel disease”, and that GMP “acts as an anti-infectious factor, promoting the growth of bifidobacteria while inhibiting the proliferation of pathogens. In addition, GMP may combat infection by binding to lectins, viruses, and mycoplasma” (J Nutr 2005).

Certified Organic sprouts: All sprouts in Total Green Protein are certified organic and free of toxic residues. Sprouts are one of the richest source of food enzymes, vitamins, mineral and phytochemicals available to us. As powerful and as protective as the cruciferous vegetables are, the sprouts are even more potent – researchers at Johns Hopkins University reported that sprouts from cruciferous vegetables can exhibit 10-100 times higher levels of the protective ingredients than the corresponding mature plants (Fahey J. et al. 1997). “Small quantities of cruciferous sprouts may protect against the risk of cancer as effectively as much larger quantities of mature vegetables of the same variety”…. (Fahey 1997). The healthful phytochemicals in sprouts include carotenoids, flavonoids, chlorophyll, indoles (indole-3-carbinol; DIM), glucosinolates, dithiolthiones, isothiocyanates, isoflavones, glycosides, phenols, glucoraphanin and sulphoraphane).

Broccoli Sprouts contain many of the beneficial phytochemicals, but are particularly high in sulforaphane, one of the key phytochemicals that induces key protective enzymes in tissues, especially the liver, that “enhance an already present capacity to detoxify carcinogens” (Fahey, J. 2003). Researcher Jeff Fahey also points out that the broccoli seed, and therefore the sprout, is the most concentrated source of the phytochemical sulforaphane, because the compound becomes diluted as the plant matures. Research has found the sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts to be a potent anti-bacterial agent effective in inhibiting the highly resistant stomach bug, Helicobacter pylori, and is also effective in “blocking gastric (stomach) tumor formation” (Fahey JW, et al. 2002)

Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable high on the list of recommended foods compiled by the American Cancer society that contain the protective sulforaphane. Cauliflower sprouts contain high amounts of sulforaphane, unlike the mature plant that is relatively low in sulforaphane. Total Green Protein contains organic cauliflower sprouts, even though, as researcher Jeff Fahey comments: “Cauliflower sprouts are exceedingly expensive to produce (Jeff W. Fahey, Ibid, p. 2). The indoles in cauliflower sprouts are believed to be responsible for strengthening the immune system, enhancing detoxification, and protecting the GI tract.

Wheat Grass sprouts are high in many of the beneficial nutrients characteristic of sprouts. Dr. Ann Wigmore, Hippocrates Health Institute, Boston, compares 1 pound of wheatgrass (high in chlorophyll) to the nutritional value of 25 pounds of the best vegetables.

Spirulina, Chlorella and Kelp are beneficial, healthful green algae nutrients. Spirulina is a particularly rich source of proteins, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and other nutrients. Spirulina has been proven to be, “effective to treat certain allergies, anemia, cancer, hepatotoxicity, viral and cardiovascular diseases, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, immunodeficiency, and inflammatory processes, among others” (Chamorro G. et al. 2002 Sep;52(3):232-40. These activities are attributed to some of the components in spirulina, including a recently isolated complex called Ca-Spirulan. Spirulina and chlorella have both been found to have antioxidant and antiproliferative qualities in rigorous scientific testing (Wu, L.C. et al. 2005). Kelp helps to regulate function of the thyroid and pituitary glands, and assists many other organs, such as pancreas, adrenals, and male and female organs; it also has antibiotic properties and is reported to help in weight regulation (Heinerman, John. 1988).

Milk Thistle and Yellow Dock are detoxifying and tonifying herbs. Milk thistle contains silymarin and silybin, powerful antioxidants and cell protectors, especially in the liver (Shalan MG et al. 2005) Silymarin increases glutathione levels (a major detoxifying and conjugating nutrient). Yellow dock cleanses the skin and the blood, two of the major detox routes in the body. Yellow dock is antifungal, and has also exhibited antioxidant capabilities (Kim, JC et al2004; Yildirim A et al 2001.)

Luo Han Guo, or Lo Han Kuo (from the Momordicia grosvenori fruit) is a novel, natural sweetener that has many beneficial, health-promoting properties. The sweet elements, called triterpene glycosides, actually suppress the rise in blood glucose after a meal! (Suzuki YA t. al.. 2005). Researchers have found the natural sweetener to exhibit significant anti-tumor activity by decreasing both initiation and promotion (Ukiya M. et al. 2002). Additionally, it prevents the oxidation of LDL (bad cholesterol) and may reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing the atherogenicity of the LDL (Takeo E. et al. 2002). Researchers have determined that it possesses many advantages, such as having high sweetness capability with low adherence (good news for the teeth!) (Mu, J. 1998; Lee, C. 1975). Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol; we produce up to 15 grams of xylitol from food sources; some of the best sources are fruits and berries. Xylitol can also stimulate saliva, the natural tooth protector. A number of studies have demonstrated that xylitol is antibacterial and anticariogenic (fights cavities) (Sahni PS et al. 2002)

Powerful Plant nutrients:

Chia seed, high in omega 3’s, has many antioxidant and health benefits (Yen WJ et al. 2005). On diets with chia seed included, weight reductions up to 6.2% have been recorded (Averza R. et al 2002).

Cloves possess many medicinal properties, including antibacterial and antimicrobial activity (Bagamboula CF et al. 2001; Lai PK & Roy J.) Cloves also have “antioxidative, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties” (Sengupta A. et al. 2004).

Papaya is rich in phytochemicals, antioxidants, and contains papain, a helpful digestive enzyme. Papaya and rose hips, also rich in phytochemicals, are two of the few plant substances containing high amounts of the potent antioxidant lycopene (Mourvaki E, et al. 2005).

Rice bran is high in fiber, has antioxidant properties, and lowers post-prandial glucose concentrations, making it an excellent candidate for cholesterol and weight support (Seki T et al. 2005).

Gamma oryzanol is derived from rice bran.

Parsley & Carrots( freeze dried powder): These healthful plants are both high in phytochemicals and enzymes. Parsley is an excellent cleanser and assists in digestion. It is well known for being a tonic for the blood vessels and a good blood purifier. Carrot fiber increases and softens stool bulk, improves regularity, and helps keep the colon healthy. Carrot consumption is also connected with lower cholesterol levels. High beta carotene foods, especially carrots, help promote the health of many organ systems (Colditz GA et al, 1987). Apple Pectin contains soluble fiber that releases hormones signaling satiety (fullness), which can reduce hunger. Apple pectin slows absorption of glucose/food from the intestines, binds toxins, supports healthy cholesterol levels and normalizes bowel function. Pectin protects the stomach lining by strengthening the mucus layer and significantly inhibits ulcer formation (Nippon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi 1991). The high fiber content supports normal appetite and weight balance.

Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus (enteric-coated) are probiotics that are helpful in maintaining a healthy balance of good gut flora in the intestines, supporting the immune system. Probiotic administration during remission of inflammatory bowel disease reduces the severity of recurrent colitis by inducing an immunoregulatory response (DiGiacinto C. et al2005).

Protease is a type of digestive enzyme that helps to break down protein so that we can extract an optimal amount from our food. Protease enzymes also optimize digestive processes and reduce allergic reactions (antibodies do not form against individual amino acids) and other problems of incomplete digestion.

Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) are known to have a favorable effect on lipid levels, insulin, and body weight, and gut inflammation. Subjects on a MCT diet demonstrated significant decreases in body fat weight (Nosaka N. 2003). MCT are believed to decrease fat pads, down regulate key fat genes, improve insulin sensitivity/glucose tolerance, reduce enzymes affecting cholesterol and lipid levels (Han J. et al. 2003).

Anti-inflammatory, natural cox-2 inhibitors: Cox 2 is the enzyme that causes inflammatory substances to be produced in the body and is also the enzyme targeted by the cox-2 inhibitor drugs (some of these drugs were pulled from the market). The following nutrients inhibit cox-2 naturally:

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) is one of the major biliproteins of Spirulina, with antioxidant and radical scavenging properties. It exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by selectively inhibiting COX-2 (Reddy MC et al 2003). Phycocyanin “very efficiently inhibited COX-2”; a study demonstrated that “hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-arthritic properties of phycocyanin reported in the literature may be due, in part, to its selective COX-2 inhibitory property, although its ability to efficiently scavenge free radicals and effectively inhibit lipid peroxidation may also be involved” (Reddy, CM et al 2000).

Rosemary reduces pathogenic substances such as bacteria, raises detoxification enzymes in the liver, and decreases inflammation and liver cell injury (Ahn J. et al. 2004; Sotelo-Felix JI, et al. 2002. Carnosol, rosmanol, and epirosmanol, are all components of the rosemary herb and all demonstrate high antioxidant activity (Zeng HH, et al. 2001). Carnasol is a potent inhibitor of cox 2 (Subbaramaiah K. et al. 2002).

Beta Sitosterol is a plant sterol possessing “anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (fever-reducing), antineoplastic, and immune-modulating properties, showing promise in normalizing T-cell function, dampening overactive antibody responses (uncontrolled autoimmune response), and normalizing DHEA:cortisol ratios (abnormal ratios can lead to disease) (Bouic PJ et al. 2001). Beta-sitosterol also decreases the inflammatory PGE2 prostaglandin, with the mechanism believed to be alteration of the cox-2 enzyme (Awad AB et al. 2004). It is one of the ingredients in grape skin extract that gives it its anti-inflammatory properties (Zhang Y. et al. 2004).

Full References available on request

My answer: “Well it depends how much you value your health. If you value your health very much, then yes it is necessary. If you don’t value your health, then don’t worry about supplementing your diet.”

Why you need to supplement your diet:

Let’s take a step back in time to the agri-business boom. During this time we started to see local farms lose ground to larger corporate farms. These larger corporate farms had acres of agricultural land and figured out a way to cut costs on fertilizer. They discovered that you could cut down fertilizers to include only 3 compounds and still have a viable crop. These 3 compounds were: Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (N.P.K.)

Anyone see a problem with this?

By decreasing the fertilizers components to NPK, crops were essentially devoid of vital nutrients. Therefore, by consuming these nutrient devoid crops, you also became nutrient depleted.

There are essential vitamins and minerals that your cells need to function at optimum:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Zinc
• Chromium
• Selenium
• Molybdenum
• Copper

These vitamins and minerals act as co-factors in cellular processes.  Without the presence of these vitamins and minerals, many cellular processes cannot occur.

Read the complete MedWatch 2008 safety summary, including a link to the FDA News Release, at:
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2008/safety08.htm#TotalBody

Dr. Mike’s comments:

It really bothers me that there are supplement companies out there who do not take adequate quality control measures. I mean come on 200 times the indicated amount of the label!

I’ll write another post about how to choose a good nutritional supplement, because obviously you cannot trust how these companies advertise their products.

“We tested green tea in combination with antibiotics against 28 disease-causing microorganisms belonging to two different classes,” Dr Mervat Kaseem, of the university’s pharmacy faculty, said in a prepared statement. “In every single case, green tea enhanced the bacteria-killing activity of the antibiotics. For example, the killing effect of chloramphenicol was 99.99 percent better when taken with green tea than when taken on its own in some circumstances.”

In almost every case and for all types of antibiotics they tested, the researchers found that drinking green tea at the same time as taking the antibiotics appeared to increase the action of the antibiotics and reduce drug resistance in bacteria. In certain cases, even low concentrations of green tea were effective.

What exactly is Green Tea?

Green tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis a native shrub to South and Southeast Asia. The leaves of the Camellia plant contains an active ingredient called “Catechins” which have shown antimicrobial properties in various laboratory studies. It was found that catechins cause a disruption in the bacterial DNA replication process. If the bacterial cannot multiply, they die.

Green tea has been used for centuries in Asian countries and most Westerners are familiar with it being served at Japanese restaurants in tea or ice cream form. Many beverages like lipton iced tea now offer a “green tea” version.

Other uses for Green Tea

Traditional forms of medicine (like Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda) use green tea to treat asthma, angina pectoris, heart disease, skin diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol and low immune function.

The main reasons for its popularity in treating these diseases is due to the chemical compounds called Polyphenols (epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG – you might remember the commercial for it). These polyphenols are super potent antioxidants that prevent your body from “rusting” from the inside out.

Dr. Mike’s Additional Comments:

In the study conducted by the researchers at Alexandria University (Egypt) I found it interested when they made this comment:

“Our results show that we should consider more seriously the natural products we consume in our everyday life,” Kaseem said. “In the future, we will be looking at other natural herb products such as marjoram and thyme to see whether they also contain active compounds which can help in the battle against drug resistant bacteria.”

I highly agree that more research needs to be done with natural herbs (being that’s where we get most, if not all, of the active ingredients for our medications). These herbs have been used for centuries in traditional healing methodologies. We need to get back to our roots. We need to realize that there are natural alternatives.

Can I get Green Tea or Polyphenols in a supplement form?

The answer is Yes. I carry a few supplements in my office that contains green tea extract and other polyphenols:

Email me for more information about the products I carry in my office.

I also recommend some pure herbal encapsulations:

Resources:

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Green Tea

University of Maryland Medical Center on Green Tea

Green Tea Wikipedia Entry

Camellia sinensis Wikipedia entry

Technorati Tags: Green tea,polyphenols,catechins,antibacterial,heart health,camellia sinensis

The interesting finding from this article was that they studied the bioavailability of the two different forms of these fish oils (ethyl-esters vs. re-esterified triglycerides). Re-esterified triglycerides showed increased bioavailability in comparison to the ethyl-ester form.

The question then becomes…what form is your fish oil in? Ethyl-ester (EE) or Re-esterified Triglyceride (r-TG)?

So why are so many people taking fish oil supplements? I found an article that gives a brief synopsis of the benefits of fish oil.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids – MSN Health & Fitness

Email me if you want to learn more about your fish oil supplement: mike@akdocmike.com