Guggulsterones

Briefly, guggul is an extract from the resin of the mukul myrrh tree Commiphora mukul. It has been used, medicinally, since 600 BC for obesity, atherosclerosis, and inflammatory conditions. It is believed that the plant sterols, E- and Z-guggulsterone, are the bioactive compounds, the parts of the extract that interact with the body.

The Claims

Obviously, when use of a plant extract goes back 2600 years, there's bound to be a great deal of anecdotal evidence related to its medicinal properties. The idea of completely dismissing such information, out of hand, is as foolish as blindly accepting it. However, throwing in a little common sense and science is never a bad idea.

Now for the claims from one product [emphasis mine]:

Guggulsterones have been shown in studies to maintain normal blood lipid levels ¹⁰, support a fine skin texture by decreasing the appearance of blemishes, and optimize thyroid gland function (thus supporting ideal fat loss and body weight). And the best part… [product name] won’t strip away your muscle like other weight loss products.

We'll start with the study¹ that supposedly supports these claims. Luckily, for a change, I was able to access the full study on JAMA. (The documentation for the supplement references the abstract from the same study.)

Cholesterol

Recent research indicates that the guggul compounds affect two specific hormone receptors. One of those receptors is related to cholesterol metabolism, leading researchers to question whether guggulsterones might be an effective treatment for high cholesterol. Hence the purpose of the study.

While not large, only 103 people in the Philadelphia area, it was a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants in this 8 week study were divided into three groups: low dose, high dose, and placebo. The low dose group was given 1000 mg tablets containing 2.5% standardized extract; the high dose group, 2000 mg tablets at the same concentration.

At the end of the trial, not only had the guggulsterones not reduced cholesterol levels, LDL-C (bad cholesterol) levels actually increased 4% and 5%, respectively. Additionally, HDL-C (good cholesterol) levels were depressed in both groups. With the placebo group, however, LDL-C decreased by 5%.

(A review of scientific evidence on the use of guggul for hyperlipidemia, performed by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration and published in 2005², agreed that the effects of guggulipid on cholesterol were not clear and there was "not enough scientific evidence to support the use of guggul for any medical condition.")

Thyroid Function

It was noted in the research, as in the claim for this supplement, that guggulsterones are reputed to have a positive impact on thyroid function. Within this clinical trial, due to its relationship with cholesterol, thyroid function was monitored and tested. "There were no significant changes in thyroid function as assessed by a sensitive third-generation TSH assay."

An article³ from the American Thyroid Association on thyroid and weight offers some guidance. The more active the thyroid, the higher a person's metabolism and, consequently, weight loss. It is possible to increase activity in the thyroid with hormone therapy. However, increasing thyroid function also increases appetite, potentially negating any benefit.

Furthermore, there may be significant negative consequences from the use of thyroid hormone to help with weight loss, such as the loss of muscle protein in addition to any loss of body fat. Pushing the thyroid hormone dose to cause thyroid hormone levels to be elevated is unlikely to significantly change weight and may result in other metabolic problems.

Muscle Loss

While, undoubtedly, dietary supplements do not (or should not) contain prescription-grade hormones, clearly the American Thyroid Association believes (see above quote) that altering thyroid function can lead to changes in muscles. It has been my experience that loss of muscle protein equals loss of muscle.

Conclusions

I'm no medical professional, although I do spend a good portion of my time studying health and wellness articles.

In the case of this diet pill ingredient, I have tried to use and review the supporting documentation. It seems to me that even the research cited doesn't support these claims.

What do you think?

1. Guggulipid for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
   Philippe O. Szapary, Megan L. Wolfe, LeAnne T. Bloedon, Andrew J. Cucchiara, Ara H. DerMarderosian, Michael D. Cirigliano, Daniel J. Rader
   JAMA. 2003;290(6):765-772.
   doi:10.1001/jama.290.6.765
2. Guggul for hyperlipidemia: A review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration
   Catherine Ulbricht, Ethan Basch, Philippe Szapary, Paul Hammerness, Serguei Axentsev, Heather Boon, David Kroll, Levi Garraway, Mamta Vora, Jen Woods, Natural Standard Research Collaboration
   Complementary Therapies in Medicine - December 2005 (Vol. 13, Issue 4, Pages 279-290, DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2005.08.003)
3. Thyroid and Weight: <http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Thyroid_and_Weight.pdf>

Just so we're all on the same page here, we're not talking about a case of nerves. This isn't sweaty palms or butterflies in the stomach over a first date. Although it can begin that way.

The kind of anxiety we're talking about is crippling, all out of proportion to the situation. Most everyone gets a little jumpy over new situations. But when it devolves into heart palpitations, shortness of breath, shaking, dizziness, and fight-or-flight reactions; when the physical and mental manifestations make it impossible to function - then, it's time to get help.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is not, in and of itself, therapy. Rather it is an umbrella term for therapies "based on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events.^[1]"

Cognitive-behavioral therapy doesn't say thoughts are wrong or tell people how to think. It begins with the premise that people who seek this form of therapy don't like the way they feel and want to do something to change those feelings. CBT therapists teach their clients how to do that. How to unlearn damaging reactions and behaviors.

For Example:

Years ago, I was married to a man who had issues with working every day and paying his portion of the bills. This caused me great anxiety, as we couldn't survive solely on my income. A natural anxiety, all things considered, that imagined starvation and homelessness.

The problem was, in my mind the situation magnified to such a point that spending any money caused intense panic. I simply 'knew' that the minute I paid out anything, something would happen and we'd be out on the street, living in our cars. Those thoughts became so internalized, so completely ingrained, that I couldn't pay bills.

Credit counseling, in this case, wasn't the answer. I had to change my thought process; recognize that I was way over the top and doing myself serious financial damage. It took time, and counseling, but I got there. (Sadly, not before I did some serious damage to my credit rating.)

Medications

There are a number of medications that are effective for anxiety. As with any other condition, not everyone responds to all treatments. Sometimes, the side effects override the benefits.

Rather than attempt to describe all forms of medications that are prescribed for anxiety disorders, let's look at what the medications (when they work) accomplish. In a nutshell, they reduce the physical symptoms of panic attacks. By eliminating or reducing these crippling mental and emotional reactions, medications offer patients time to calmly and rationally assess the situation and manage their response to the trigger.

For Example:

In my I-can't-pay-the-bills-cuz-I'll-end-up-homeless scenario, just opening a credit card bill was enough to make my heart pound, my palms sweat. I'd get dizzy and have trouble catching my breath. Once these symptoms kicked in, there wasn't much I could do but hold on for the ride.

With medication, the extreme physical fight-or-flight didn't happen. This aborted the roller coaster ride, before it even got started. Or, more accurately, lowered the peaks and raised the valleys of the anxiety.

Because I didn't have to deal with the immediate panic, I was able to (literally) take a deep breath and do the right thing. It didn't solve the problem of a husband who was financially irresponsible. But it did keep me from giving in to damaging behavior patterns.

Bottom Line

Anxiety and panic disorders are potentially crippling conditions. They keep people from functioning and, often, lead to additional problems because of the dysfunction. Untreated, life becomes a series of ever more crippling thoughts and irrational behaviors.

Therapy or medication alone is, frequently, insufficient to combat the combination of physical and mental processes that comprise anxiety and/or panic disorders. Reducing physical symptoms and retraining thought patterns is, from my experience, the best management option.

1. Source: National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists, What is CBT?

A parental poll, cited in the article, was specifically asking about Fragile X Syndrome. An incurable genetic condition, FXS is caused by a change in the FMR1 gene which makes a protein that is required for proper growth of the brain. The mutation makes the gene produce little, or none, of this protein.

Symptoms include delayed motor skills (crawling and/or walking), hand clapping or biting, hyperactivity, mental retardation, speech and/or language delay, and avoidance of eye contact. Only about 1 in 4,000 boys and 1 in 6,000 girls develop Fragile X Syndrome.

Yes

There are those who want to know; who want to be prepared for possibilities. All possibilities.

As rare as the syndrome is, parents feel the need to know.

No

Some parents don't believe in testing infants unnecessarily. Others believe, as one mother put it, "Knowing can cause anxiety. The chances of it happening are very small; don't know how it will unfold. Not knowing will not make you treat your child a certain way."

Me (and You?)

Personally, I don't think I'd want to know. Being a chronic worrier, I'd drive myself and my child crazy looking for signs and symptoms that probably weren't there. And, heaven forbid, my child should develop FXS - would knowing sooner have any positive effect?

What about you? Would you want your child tested? Why or why not?

Compelling Findings

According to this study, published May 4th, "... low-salt diets actually increase the risk of death from heart attack and stroke -- and in fact don't prevent high blood pressure." And this isn't the first research to point out the disparity between dietary dogma and cold, hard facts.

Back in 2006, a report published in the American Journal of Medicine  found that "Lower sodium {emphasis mine} has been associated with stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, that, in turn, has been associated with adverse [cardiovascular disease] and mortality outcomes. Sodium restriction may also influence insulin resistance."

Going back further, a 1998 article in Science , The (Political) Science of Salt, discusses the controversy. It mentions a Perspective: Biomedicine article which states: "Salt has little effect on blood pressure, and the most effective diet-induced changes in blood pressure can be achieved with a menu low in fat but high in calcium, fruits, and vegetables."

Salt and Fluid Balance

The body needs sodium. As Grist author, Kristin Wartman, explains:

Sodium is important for maintaining blood volume, it works in concert with potassium ... and ... calcium. ... [It] exists in all of the fluids in our body and is essential to water balance regulation, nerve stimulation, and proper function of the adrenal glands. It is also crucial to maintaining mental acuity ... This is part of the reason sodium deficiency (sunstroke, heat exhaustion) leads to confusion and lethargy as the human brain is extremely sensitive to changing sodium levels in the body.

Truth About Table Salt

Not to say that refined salt, the form that hits our french fries, is good for you. The article in Grist points out how salt is manufactured for the table. It's a tad scary.

In a nutshell, all trace elements are removed and the salt is heated to 1200° F. This leaves 100% sodium chloride, plus industrial additives like anticaking agents, dextrose, and aluminum. The additives turn the salt purple, so it's bleached to make it pretty and white.

Wouldn't call this a good food. (Unrefined sea salt is the best option.)

Bottom Line

I find all of this incredibly interesting. Early research indicated that salt was bad for blood pressure. That research stuck and, despite years of more accurate studies, those in charge of dietary recommendations refuse to change.

The potential correlation between sodium restriction and serious health issues is worth noting. As a society, we are suffering an increase in diabetes diagnoses that is nearly epidemic. Is this societal increase in insulin resistance a direct result of the push to limit salt intake? The timing is certainly intriguing.

Also interesting timing: milk and fresh fruits and vegetables are being priced right out of the diet of most American households. Yet, we put the blame for obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease on sodium and fast food.

But that's a fight for another day.

Take creatine supplements. (Actually, don't.)

Recently, I ran across a review on ConsumerLab.com that added some scientific weight to my worries. The summary information^[1] explained some of the quality problems they'd found with, what they call, muscle enhancers. (Note: While I love my readers, I chose to not pay out copious amounts of cash to read the full report.)

Not every brand was a problem - several actually passed the testing. A couple, however, didn't do as well. They were found to contain mostly creatinine ^[2] - not creatine.

And one of the two actually had more contaminant than creatine. Which is what scares the crap out of me. Supplements aren't regulated and, without testing like this, heaven only knows what's really in them.

Current Treatment Options

The best options, currently, for patients with HCV are pegylated interferon and ribavirin – a shot and a pill. But the side effects are horrendous - Alopecia, Anemia, Anorexia, Cough, Depression, Erythema, Fatigue, Myalgia, Nausea, and Pruritus; bad enough that many patients are forced to stop treatment before realizing full benefits.

Why? Because treatment is not quick – minimum 24 weeks, up to 48 weeks (or more) for resistant genotypes. Can you imagine a weekly shot that you know will hurt like the devil, make you sick to your stomach and achy (at least) all over? That will exhaust you and cause a level of over-all itching that would make a saint scream?

Add in the rarer, but more serious: "angina, arrhythmias, autoimmune conditions, blindness from optic neuritis or retinal ischemia or thrombosis, bronchiolitis obliterans, bronchoconstriction, cardiomyopathy, diabetes, gout, hepatic dysfunction, injection site necrosis, myocardial infarction, pancreatitis, pericardial effusion, pneumonia or pneumonitis, psychosis, relapse of drug addiction, renal failure, sarcoidosis, suicide attempt, thyroid dysfunction, and urticaria."^[1] It becomes obvious – quite quickly – that anything which shortens the treatment period would be a god-send.

New Treatment Options

The new medications – the first released in 10 years, I must mention – work by, basically, starving HCV. They block a protein, protease, that the virus needs in order to reproduce.

Neither Incivek nor Victrelis are designed to replace current treatments; they are taken in conjunction with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The addition of these new drugs, is expected to shorten treatment periods and dramatically improve outcomes.

Unlike current treatment options, these new medications will be made available, not only to patients who have never been treated, but to patients who failed earlier treatments. This is huge as with interferon and ribavirin, once a patient fails to reach a "sustained viralogic response" - little or no measurable virus in the bloodstream - the treatment is considered a failure.

Rarely is a second course of treatment considered.

Bottom Line

There are millions of people in need of an effective treatment option.

Statistics: "About 170 million people around the world are infected with hepatitis C, some 3.2 million of them in the United States. The blood-borne disease can lead to liver cancer, cirrhosis, liver transplants and death."

Although a slow-growing, asymptomatic virus – it is possible to have HepC for decades without symptoms – eventually, HCV will begin to seriously damage the liver. And, due to this liver damage, cause all manner of related health issues. It is irreversible (without treatment) and is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.

Thousands of patients have been putting off treatment, waiting and hoping for the release of these new medications. Having gone through the current standard treatment regimen with Mark, I can certainly understand why.

Here's hoping that a cure just hit the market.

1. ©Am Fam Physician. 2005 Aug 15;72(4):655-662.

Depression

Two studies, one British and one American, have found a link to depression in the same DNA region: chromosome 3p25-26. Genetic studies of depression, historically, have a lot of trouble repeating results. For two research groups, working separately, to reach the same conclusion is pretty amazing.

This is an incredible leap forward toward, at the very least, potentially more effective treatments. With major depression hitting up to 20 percent of the population at some point and recurring depression affecting nearly 4 percent, treatment is critical. And although there are a lot of medications on the market, they're only helpful to about half of the patients who take them.

Obesity

Another British study, published in Nature Genetics, is looking at KLF14. This gene is already linked to type 2 diabetes and cholesterol, but it wasn't clear what it did. Until now.

Researchers believe that KLF14 is a type of master switch, controlling other genes found in fat tissue. Those other genes are linked to a number of metabolic functions, including body mass index, insulin, and glucose levels. In addition, there may be a connection to changes in muscles and the liver that are related to development of conditions such as diabetes.

Lots of exciting news, the impact of which will (probably) take years to realize. There will never be a 'skinny' pill or a 'happy' pill (at least I hope not), but anything that could reduce the risk of related conditions would be incredible.

Helical Gears

Gearboxes in cars have what are called helical gears . They provide a smoother, quieter ride and better accommodate the increased turning force (torque) of high-speed engines. But they generate more energy (thrust) along the gear axis and, due to their design, more friction.

This increased friction is why thrust bearings are needed. These bearings reduce the friction, increase lubrication between the gear teeth. (I think that's about the simplest way I can say it; hope it makes sense.)

There are a lot of other bearings and thrust bearings in an engine. The 'throw-out bearing' in a standard transmission comes to mind. But, my brain hurts; I think I'm going to have a lie-down until the gears stop spinning.

Stress

We're not talking about "Oh, crap! The store's out of Joe's favorite chip dip!" here. (Well, unless Joe starts throwing punches if he doesn't get it.) Or, maybe, in a sense, we are.

It's the kind of stress that makes someone physically and emotionally ill. And it isn't the same from person to person. I hate crowds - with a passion; the thought of December in a mall sends me into a panic. But I have friends who love it.

And - it's not (generally) a one-off deal. For example, if I were married to dip-loving-Joe, the first tantrum probably wouldn't overly stress me. But, after a couple of years, the idea of shopping and risking his wrath would send me over the edge - every time I had to go to the store.

Causes aside, the symptoms of being stressed are pretty similar, across the board.

Physical Effects

Looking at it, this is a fairly consistent list:

Headaches, neck and back pain, shaky or sweaty hands, drymouth, dizziness, frequent colds or allergy attacks - just start the list. Some people eat more, stutter and stammer, blush a lot, sleep more. Personally, I suffer stomach problems, loss of appetite, heart palpitations, insomnia, ringing in my ears, and grind my teeth more. (Wow, that's a lot of misery.)

Mental/Emotional Effects

There is an even longer list of stress-induced problems:

Forgetfulness, nightmares, depression or mood swings, confusion, anxiety, inability to make decisions, frustration, paranoia, and feeling overwhelmed are not uncommon. I tend to become more uncoordinated, irritable, withdrawn, insecure, unfocused, and jumpy. When I'm stressed, loud noises nearly do me in.

Basically, unrelieved stress makes functioning a real challenge. And increases the difficulty level of ... life, the universe, and every single day - a hundred-fold, or more.

Now, imagine trying to convince your body to let sperm meet egg; to let that chance at new life attach itself and grow into a new, wonderful person.

Frankly, if I were that life -- waiting to happen? I'd just sit back, whistle softly, and wait for the next bus. This one's way too toxic.

And if Joe's driving the bus? Fuhgeddaboudit!

Historians and theologians have, historically, assumed that all of the timelines in the Gospels were based on the same calendar. However, if (as this article explains) there are 2 calendars at play - things get a little clearer.

It also indicates, if I'm understanding the information, that (like Christmas) Easter could now have a fixed date - the first Sunday in April.

On the other hand, the crucifixion took place on the eve of Passover (Yom Shishi, that year) and the resurrection on the following Sunday (Yom Rishon) - making it logical (okay, stay with me) that Easter would be the second full day of Passover. Given the nature of the Hebrew calendar, Easter would frequently fall on a day other than Sunday.

Then, we have the Christian Church calendar, based on a formula from the Nicaean Council of 325AD. "In this system, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox," which corresponds to the timing of the first Easter.

I'm beginning to get a serious headache and regret having read that first article. Just tell me when we're dying eggs and donning our bonnets. K?

Creatine Basics

What Is It?

Simply put (we're protecting that last brain cell, after all), creatine is an organic acid found in vertebrates, made from amino acids in the kidney and liver, and located mostly in skeletal muscle. Existing in fish and meat, creatine is not found vegetables. Because the body can make it, it's considered a non-essential (not needed in the diet) nutrient.

What Does It Do?

Naturally occuring creatine is transported in the blood to tissues, like the brain and muscles, that demand lots of energy. In those muscles, creatine combines with a phosphate to become phosphocreatine (creatine phosphate) and making rapid energy production possible. In other words, it helps feed the muscles during brief, high-intensity exercise such as sprinting and resistance training.

Creatine Supplements

Creatine has become a very popular supplement with athletes, leading to many research studies into its effectiveness. Reviews are decidedly mixed.

Do They Work?

Several studies report an increase in muscle mass with creatine use. However, because creatine tends to raise fluid levels in muscle tissue, some experts question whether this is true muscle building. In addition, many of the studies have been small (40 participants or less), so the results are generally deemed insufficient to draw conclusions.

It's interesting to note that there is no evidence that creatine provides any benefit for a) aerobic exercise, b) people over 60, and c) endurance athletes. Which, given how creatine aids in rapid energy creation, makes a great deal of sense.

Are They Safe?

Heads? They might be. Tails? They might not.

Most of my sources mentioned some level of concern about kidney and liver damage. Those sources also indicate that people with underlying kidney or liver disease should probably not take creatine supplements. At the same time - often in the same paragraph - they state that no significant changes in kidney function markers or liver enzymes were noted.

Are There Side Effects?

Digestive system upsets, muscle cramps, heat intolerance and/or dehydration, changes in insulin activity, abnormal heart rhythms, and blood clots in the legs are consistently listed as possible side effects. Less serious issues include headache, dizziness, increased thirst, anxiety, and irritability. Allergic reactions, particularly asthmatic symptoms, were also mentioned.

Conclusions?

Who knows?

From what I've read, there's no definitive proof that creatine supplements are effective, beyond a very narrow group of younger athletes. And there isn't definitive proof that they aren't. {POP!}

Aw, shoot! There went that last brain cell.

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/creatine/NS_patient-creatine
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12184144
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12701815
• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/873.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatine
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creatine_supplements

The culprit is ... wait for it ... Nicotine.

What I found interesting is the phrasing found in of some of the news stories. (Emphasis is mine.)

... their tests showed concentrations of nicotine on the order of what is generally found in smokers causes HbA1c levels to rise.

... found that nicotine, when added to human blood samples, raised levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) by as much as 34%.

Using human blood samples, the scientists showed that nicotine concentrations typical of those in smokers appeared to raise long-term blood sugar levels in diabetics.

I have to say - hmmmm? Either all of the sources I read - or there's an interesting point here.

The study, as best I can surmise, was not done on diabetic or pre-diabetic smokers. Or even on the blood of diabetic or pre-diabetic smokers. It appears that the study involved adding nicotine to blood samples - in an amount that was judged to be "typical of those in smokers." Hmmmm?

Not being a scientist, I can only question what I read. As a curious soul, with a ... questioning ... mind, I do have to wonder. Is adding nicotine - a lab-created solution, I assume - to blood samples, in whatever quantity, the same as what happens to the blood in the body of a smoker?

What do you think?

• http://www.endocrineweb.com/news/type-1-diabetes/5042-researchers-uncover-first-hard-evidence-nicotine-raises-blood-sugar-levels
• http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/27/why-smoking-is-a-bad-idea-for-diabetics/
• http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-specialisms/diabetes/smoking-linked-to-serious-complications-with-diabetes/5027831.article

Cellphones and Brain Cells

I know it seems backwards, but I'm presenting the results before the method. Frankly, because I find the method more interesting.

Study Results

This study showed that the brain reacts to the electromagnetic radiation from a cellphone. With less than an hour of contact, brain activity increased by 7 percent in the area nearest the antenna. Whether that change was good or bad for brain health, was not a goal of the study; so we just don't know.

Study Method

In a randomized study from 2009, forty-seven participants had their brain activity measured after holding cellphones to their left and right ears for 50 minutes. Not too exciting, you say? Just you wait.

(Yeah, I have a picture in my head of a bunch of people, with electrodes stuck to their heads, cellphones on each ear, sitting around doing nothing else for nearly an hour.)

Fearing that if the subjects of the study knew when/if the phone was active, it would stimulate brain activity, researchers created a blind: On the first day, none of the phones were on. The second day, only the right was turned on - and muted. No auditory stimulation.

I think that's pretty cool. But, perhaps, could have been a little ... cooler.

Study Modifications

First, the study could have been larger. The more bodies, the better - when it comes to scientific studies. Surely they could have found a couple hundred people, or more, with nothing better to do for a couple of hours. (Pick me! Pick me!)

Second, just to increase the randomization, why not have some of the phones on the left ear active on the second day. I know, activity is activity - but, again, this is supposed to be science. Randomize the randomization.

Lastly, were certain types of brain cells stimulated? Or all cells within a specific range? The report doesn't say, so we don't know if this was part of the research.

All in all, pretty interesting stuff. (Okay, I've officially become a science nerd.)

I had heard that putting apples in a brown paper bag with unripe fruit would accelerate ripening. Yeah. Sure. Right. Well, ummm, perhaps I was wrong.

We noticed the bananas getting riper, so we moved the apples. 'Nanners' getting more yellow; put the apples in a brown paper bag. Still getting dark - moved the bag of apples.

It was, within recent memory, one of the oddest situations I'd ever witnessed. The closer we placed the apples to the bananas, the more the bananas ripened. While it may not work for all fruit, it certainly appears to work - in spades - with bananas.

Kinda fun, all in all.

One of the last things that the doctor and I talked about was the priority of a renal diet, over a diabetic diet. So, given the 5,000 other options, I decided to focus on food.

Electrolytes

Just as with the liver, electrolyte imbalances seem to be indicative of renal problems. In hepatic conditions, sodium and potassium balances are critical. Apparently, with kidneys, it's a phosphorus and calcium disconnect that triggers red flags.

Source: bettercancersolutions.com

Phosphorus and Calcium

The body needs phosphorus to build and maintain bones and teeth, as well as nerve and muscle function. However, too much phosphorus keeps the body from absorbing calcium. When that happens, the body starts stealing calcium from bones to make up for it.

This leads to weak bones, as well as itchy skin, and bone and joint pain. Eating less peanut butter, cheese, nuts, and ice cream - foods high in phosphorus - is recommended. Non-cola drinks, sherbet, zucchini, broccoli, and non-dairy substitutes for milk products are preferred.

Calcium supplements may be required, with the addition of vitamin D to help maintain proper balance. Cutting out foods that are high in phosphorus may negate the need for calcium pills - something that your doctor should decide, after careful review of lab results.

Sodium and Potassium

Sodium is required by the body to manage fluid levels, regulate blood pressure, and control muscle contractions. Potassium keeps nerves and muscles working properly, especially the heart. Excess of both electrolytes are cleared through the kidneys.

When the kidneys aren't functioning properly, sodium levels may rise; leading to fluid retention in the hands, feet, and face, and an elevation in blood pressure. Excess potassium, found in greens, tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, broccoli, and chocolate, can cause irregular heart rhythms.

It's fairly easy to control salt intake. Simply take away the shaker and carefully read food labels. Obvious items to avoid include bouillon, canned soups and vegetables, salty snacks, bacon, cold cuts, and boxed dinner or side dish mixes. Colas tend to be rather high in sodium, as well.

Proteins and Carbs

This is where diabetes and kidney disease crash - violently.

The body converts carbs, which are hiding everywhere, into sugars. Therefore, a diabetic diet counsels low carbs, more protein. Not too difficult, until you factor in kidney disease.

One of the waste products created when the liver processes proteins is urea, a substance that contains nitrogen and clears through urine. When kidneys don't function properly, excess urea and nitrogen build up in the system. This condition, called uremia, can cause itching, mental impairment, nausea, and fluid build-up in the lungs or around the heart.

(One source indicated a direct correlation between excess urea and muscle loss.)

Obviously, too much protein is detrimental for anyone with kidney disease; just as it is for those with liver disease. But the alternative - carbs - are a no-no for diabetics. As with everything else, a balance between proteins and carbs is critical.

Our Dilemma

With the exception of calcium and phosphorus, these dietary restrictions aren't all that new to us. When Mark was dying from end-stage liver disease, we doled out milligrams of sodium and grams of protein like a miser pinches pennies. It wasn't easy, but we learned and got pretty good at it.

These days, we've got to factor in diabetes. That means the foods he ate, in massive quantities, to make up for being denied proteins are now (pardon the pun) off the table.

Frankly, I'm not quite certain how we're going to put all of this information together (and it's only a small part of what we have to consider) to create a diet that will not aggravate Mark's liver and kidneys, or shoot his blood glucose through the roof.

But I'm working on it. Any and all advice is extremely welcome.

Photo: Wikimedia/Michael Haferkamp

The existence of these natural cycles might lead one to believe that the Earth is going through a normal warming period. That man is not contributing, negatively, to the climate changes that we're currently experiencing. Undoubtedly, there are those who use that rationale to attack environmental beliefs.

A logical thought process that might even work, except for one minor detail: The Earth shouldn't be getting warmer.

Scientists have taken samples from a dry lake bed, the Valles Caldera in New Mexico. They developed a technique, analyzing sediment and soil bacteria, to determine temperature changes throughout the ages. Those studies tell them that, without man's intervention, we would be heading into a cooling period right now.

Perhaps we should begin with a few definitions. Just what drugs are antipsychotics and what are the problems?

Antipsychotics

There are, primarily, two 'generations' of antipsychotics: typical (older) and atypical (newer).

Typical or First-Generation

Typical antipsychotics, discovered in the 1950s, weren't considered or called typical until after the development and clinical use of the newer medications. They work by keeping dopamine from attaching to receptors; by keeping dopamine levels down. The problem with this first generation was the almost certainty of extrapyramidal symptoms^[1].

Part of this group, Compazine (prochlorperazine) is a potent antipsychotic, but is only used as a short-term treatment for nausea and vertigo.

Atypical or Second-Generation

These drugs were developed in the 1990s, with the hopes that they would cause fewer extrapyramidal side effects^[1]. They also work by blocking dopamine, but in different ways - not only from typical antipsychotics, but from each other.

Also atypical, but developed more recently: Abilify (aripiprazole) and Saphris (asenapine). Symbyax, a combination of Prozac and Zyprexa (fluoxetine and olanzapine), is also included in this group.

FDA Drug Label Changes

Evidence

Based on a review of adverse events reports, the FDA has concluded that when mothers were treated in the third trimester with any antipsychotic, there was a risk of extrapyramidal signs^[1] and/or withdrawal in their infants.

Symptoms included tremors, agitation, feeding disorders, drowsiness, abnormal changes in muscle tension, and respiratory distress. For many newborns, these effects subsided quickly; others required longer hospitalization.

Actions

Convinced that the risks apply to all antipsychotics, the FDA has modified the Pregnancy section of the labels for every drug in this class and notified healthcare professionals.

The new label offers more detailed information for psychiatrists, OB/GYNs, and their patients. It explains specific symptoms and that onset may be immediate or delayed. It reminds patients to not stop taking medications without consulting their physician and reminds physicians to closely monitor newborns.

1. Extrapyramidal signs/side effects include sustained muscle contractions, causing muscle twisting and repetitive movements (dystonias); inability to sit still (akathisia); muscle rigidity and tremor (pseudoparkinsonism); involuntary repetitive movements, primarily of the mouth and face (tardive dyskinesia).
2. About.com: Typical Antipsychotics and NIMH: Alphabetical List of Medications
3. About.com: Atypical Antipsychotics and NIMH: Alphabetical List of Medications

The site that started this didn't really have any original information. They'd copied, verbatim and without attribution, from several sources: WebMD and Amazon.com, for two. Plagarism notwithstanding, there don't seem to be many issues with acetyl L-carnitine (ALC), and some interesting potential benefits.

What It Is

ALC is an altered (acetylated) form of L-carnitine, a form of an amino acid (lysine) that helps the body make energy. It is naturally produced in the body and, although found in both plants and animals, more concentrated in meat, poultry, fish, and dairy - animal sources. In typical metabolic fashion, the body converts L-carnitine to acetyl L-carnitine, and ... wait for it ... acetyl L-carnitine to L-carnitine.

What It Does

This converted form of L-carnitine helps fatty acids enter skeletal and cardiac muscle cells to produce energy. It also helps move other compounds out of those cells to prevent accumulation. Crossing the blood-brain barrier, ALC has been shown to act as an antioxidant on brain tissue. By relaxing smooth muscle cells, acetyl L-carnitine has the ability to widen blood vessels (vasodilation) and improve blood flow.

What It Means

One study found that, because it acts on skeletal muscle cells, "the major tissue of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal^[1]," ALC may improve insulin-resistance in type 2 diabetics. Increased oxidant production and reduced L-carnitine levels are believed to contribute to negative symptoms of aging, making supplementation with ALC a potential treatment^[2].

Additionally, due to its vasodilation properties, acetyl L-carnitine may benefit patients with conditions or risk factors related to restricted blood flow^[2], such as:

• Angina
• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Peripheral Artery Disease
• Diabetic Neuropathy

Caveats

Most of these studies and the information available are based on research with animals. Research on the effectiveness of acetyl L-carnitine supplementation in humans is limited and the results tend to be mixed. In addition, oral ALC supplements were often less effective than intra-venous injections^[2].

Lastly, due to the impact on blood vessels, ALC has known interactions with clotting medications, such as Acenocoumarol (Sintrom) and Warfarin (Coumadin). This could lead to excessive delays in clotting and an increased risk of bruising and bleeding^[3].

1. Acetyl-l-carnitine inhibits TNF-a-induced insulin resistance via AMPK pathway in rat skeletal muscle cells
   FEBS Letters, Volume 583, Issue 2, Pages 470-474
   Zhaofeng. Zhang, Ming. Zhao, Qiong. Li, Haifeng. Zhao, Junbo. Wang, Yong. Li
2. Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: L-Carnitine
3. WebMD: Acetyl-L-Carnitine

What It Is

Wikipedia says that Phenibut, commonly known as Beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid HCl, is a neuropsychotropic derivative of GABA with nootropic properties and anxiolytic benefits. Yeah, gave me a headache, too.

GABA Derivative

Basically, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a natural chemical that the body manufactures to help nerves communicate. It cannot, however, cross over into the brain or affect the central nervous system.

By altering GABA (I refuse to even attempt to learn how), scientists created Beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid HCl which can cross into and affect the brain and central nervous system. It was synthesized at the I. M. Herzen Leningrad Pedagogical Institute USSR and the Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences USSR.

Because Russian scientists determined that it relieved stress and anxiety, without adversely affecting performance, they made Phenibut part of every cosmonaut's medical kit since Apollo-Soyuz.

What It Does

It's a neuropsychotropic, with nootropic properties and anxiolytic benefits! Weren't you listening? Okay, don't yell; I'm working on it.

Neuropsychotropic

For those of us who don't have a degree in psychiatric medicine, Phenibut changes brain chemistry. It crosses into the brain and, by definition, alters how we see, feel, understand, and react to life. So do Zoloft, marijuana, and LSD.

Nootropic

Nootropics are also called 'smart drugs' because they are reputed to improve, or enhance, concentration and memory. Initially, the definition from Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea included the very important qualification of 'very few side effects'. Unapproved drugs or supplements may not be able to make the same claims.

Anxiolytic

Okay, this is actually a word I know! Woohoo! It's a class of drugs that work on brain chemistry to relieve symptoms of anxiety. They include Valium, Xanax, and Librium.

What It Means

Phenibut (by the above definitions) 1.) crosses into the brain; 2.) changes how we perceive and react to life, the universe, and everything; and 3.) makes us really, really relaxed about it. Doesn't sound all that bad, right? That's what Timothy Leary said, too.

Clinical Toxicology

Then, we have that scientific article about Phenibut withdrawal. Remember - The "Novel 'Nutritional Supplement'"?

The patient from this report used Phenibut for months, because he liked the way it made him feel. Three days before he came to the hospital, he stopped using (I can't think of a better term). His symptoms on arrival included agitation, psychosis (loss of touch with reality), and hallucinations.

According to the report, the patient required intubation^[1] and sedation with benzodiazepines^[2].

After 4 days, the breathing tube was removed; the sedatives were discontinued. He had "a normal mental status and his psychosis had resolved. He never developed seizures."

Why Should Anyone Care?

Okay. This patient used Phenibut. Some would say, he abused it. People intentionally use chemicals all the time - alcohol, marijuana, cocaine; even caffeine or tobacco.

Choice

If someone decides to indulge, it's a personal choice. They choose the chemical they're putting in their system. Right or wrong, they know what they're taking and do so intentionally.

It's an informed, if potentially foolish, decision.

No Choice

What if you just want to sleep through the night? Or lose a few pounds? Those Internet supplements claim to hold the solution to your problem. But what, exactly, are you taking? You can't always tell what - or how much of it - is in those magic little pills.

You aren't making an informed decision.

Knowledge

The more you know about ingredients, the more safe your decisions. We're all different; what works for me, might make Mark sick. That's why we let our doctors prescribe.

And read - a lot - about everything we take.

1. Intubation, inserting a plastic tube into a patient's airway, isn't only used when patients aren't breathing on their own. It is also used to protect the airway when the body is in, or might slip into, a coma.
2. Benzodiazepines are the opposite of anti-depressants. They are, chemically, designed to tranquilize.

Which brings me to Eureka. In an episode from Season 2, while in the midst of a crisis (when aren't they), members of the town of geniuses start to get ... stupid. This leaves the sheriff (when doesn't it), not the sharpest of the residents, to save everyone.

It turns out that the woman who supplies chicken to the town cares just a little too much for her bird. Yup, bird. She only has one rooster that she is very, very attached to.

Rather than raise animals and have to kill them, she clones her rooster and grows 'chicken' in a building on her property. Turns out that one of the chemicals she uses in the cloning process interacts with the human brain - making everyone into idiots.

And that, boys and girls, is why we shouldn't try to 'grow' meat.

Okay, it wasn't real. But ... it could happen.

These pill pushers (and I mean that in the kindest possible way) truly believe that enough people are willing to choke down 6 pills a day. Six pills with more than 30 ingredients and no documented health benefits, just hoping that - "You, too can lose a miraculous 24 pounds in 7 days." Good grief!

Every time I look at one of these clean-your-colon-and-lose-50-pounds supplements, I discover new and, heretofore, unknown (to me) leaves and seeds populating a 'new' cure-all pill. Just what good are Buchu leaves, anyway? Heck what are Buchu leaves?

Okay, I looked it up - couldn't stand it: Buchu is one common name for Agathosma species, a genus of more than 100 fragrant shrubs native to southern Africa. Two - Agathosma betulina and Agathosma crenulata - are cultivated for their essential oils. However, if a pill bottle only lists 'Buchu leaves' as an ingredient - how do you know what you're getting?

A. betulina has a history of use for gastrointestinal and urinary ailments and adds a black currant flavor and smell to cosmetics, soaps, and foods. Agathosma crenulata , also prized for its fragrant oils, is not a popular food additive due to high levels of a compound (pulegone) that may be toxic. I repeat - how do you know what you're getting in that detox/diet pill?

There's also the question of whether you're getting enough - or too much. What is the RDA for potassium or, for that matter, chromium? What, exactly, happens to the kidneys when you take so many herbs that have diuretic properties?

Frankly, there are a lot of questions that I can't answer. And, for me, if I can't answer why and how, I can't see swallowing 6 mystery pills every day.

Pantothenic Acid Basics

As with any vitamin or mineral treatment (for any condition), the assumption is that an underlying deficiency is to blame. Correct the deficiency; correct the condition. However, vitamin B₅ is found in so many foods that it's difficult to imagine deficiency is common.

For example: wheat germ, whole-grain cereals and breads, brewer's yeast; legumes, lentils, peanuts, split peas, soybeans, sunflower seeds; avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, kale, sweet potatoes, tomatoes; egg yolks, milk; organ meats (such as beef liver and kidney), chicken, duck, turkey; lobster, and salmon are all good sources of this vitamin.

Take out the sweet potatoes and (ewwww! ) organ meat, and I could easily see this as my regular diet.

Pantothenic Acid and Acne

From where I sit, I can actually see a couple of reasons why vitamin B₅ would/could be considered helpful with acne.

1. Stress: I've done a couple of posts (at least) about me, stress, and acne. In my system, if you combine the first two (me & stress), you get the third (acne). As B vitamins, especially B₅, are frequently touted for their (as yet, unproven) anti-stress properties, I can see the rationale for a benefit to acne sufferers.
   
   Doesn't mean it's true, just that I can see the logic behind the argument.
2. Hormones: This one is even more compelling. Acne begins in puberty, as hormones (generated by the adrenal glands) increase dramatically. Sebum production explodes, hair follicles clog up, and acne blooms. (A simplified and not exactly complete description, but sufficient for this discussion.)
   
   It could be presumed that Pantothenic acid's impact on adrenal hormones would translate to an ability to reduce breakouts. Only one small study, from the 1990s, proposes vitamin B₅ as an acne treatment/cure. (Search: Lit-Hung Leung)

Pantothenic Acid Safety

Safe doses and levels, not surprisingly, is where things get a little sticky and where opinions begin to diverge. Thankfully, recommended daily intakes (RDIs) of vitamin B₅ are fairly standard from source to source: Ages 14-18, 5mg; 19 and up, 5mg; pregnant women, 6mg; and nursing mothers, 7mg. (The EU RDA is 6mg; UK has no RDA for this vitamin, that I could find.)

Some experts add that pantothenic acid is safe at these RDIs, or moderately higher (a rather vague limit), but warn extremely high doses could, among other issues, increase the risk for bleeding. (The National Institutes of Health tell hemophiliacs to not take B₅, as it might increase clotting time.)

Other sources insist that no upper limit has been established and even mega doses (10g/day) may only cause minor intestinal issues or diarrhea. Physician-monitored treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (2,000mg/day) and cholesterol reduction (900mg/day), while exceeding the RDIs, do not approach mega amounts.

There does seem to be a consensus that higher doses of a single B vitamin (no matter which one) can, over time, create an imbalance in the other B vitamins. In a nutshell, the body will pull what it needs from where it can find it to attempt to create balance. If you must take a supplement, B-complex (containing all eight B vitamins) is best.

Bottom Line?

It is somewhat logical, given how pantothenic acid acts on that body, that it could (in theory) have a benefit to acne sufferers - depending on the cause of their acne. However, there is virtually no documented evidence. Not to mention, there are no active or planned studies into B₅ as an acne cure, or even treatment option.

There is also no consensus as to what doses of this vitamin are safe. Common sense would say that tons of anything - good or bad - isn't healthy. And when you start ingesting amounts that are 1,000-2,000 times greater than recommended, I have to believe that the risks are going to outweight any (unproven) benefits.

All of which takes us back to the standards: healthy diet, and keeping skin and hair clean is the best defense against breakouts. And, for pete's sake, keep your hands off your face! (That last one was for me. {wink})

National Birth Defects Prevention Month

The theme for 2011 is "Medication Use Before, During, and After Pregnancy."

Most birth defects can't be prevented because the causes are unknown. However, it is possible for women to reduce the risk to their unborn child. Taking a supplement containing 400mcg of folic acid daily, starting before pregnancy, has been shown to prevent serious defects of the brain and spine.

Just as critical to the health of the fetus is the health of the future mother. Pre-pregnancy check-ups and a careful review of the safety of all current medications cannot be over-emphasized.

National Volunteer Blood Donor Month

This is the month when the Red Cross thanks its blood donors and urges everyone who can donate to help save lives by giving blood. From americasblood.org:

• It only takes about an hour - including registration, blood collection, and refreshments - to donate blood; two hours to donate platelets.
• Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, allowing time for regeneration between donations; platelets, up to 24 times a year.
• While red blood cells can be stored for 42 days (plasma, 5 days; platelets, frozen up to 12 months), most blood centers keep only a 3-day inventory.

Cervical Health Awareness Month

Most cervical cancers, seventy percent, are caused by two human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Any man or woman who is sexually active is at risk for exposure to HPVs. As with other STDs, condoms do offer some protection.

The greatest weapon in the fight against cervical cancer is the Pap test. This is because, unlike many other cancers, when caught early, cervical cancer is almost 100% curable. It helps that cervical cancer is rather slow progressing, so it's easier to catch at an early, treatable stage.

Glaucoma Awareness Month

A group of eye diseases that gradually destroy vision, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world. Although more common in middle-aged and older people, glaucoma can affect persons of any age. The most common forms have virtually no symptoms, until (beginning with peripheral vision) severe vision loss occurs.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans, with older Hispanics at nearly the same risk for this disease. Others at risk include people over 60, diabetics, the severely nearsighted, and relatives of those with glaucoma. Regular eye exams are critical.

The most common forms of glaucoma increase pressure in the eye, causing damage to the optic nerve. Although there is no cure, treatments are available to reduce intra-ocular pressure and, thereby, slow progression of the disease.

However, it is really easy to tell the difference in the two: just leave a receipt (one you don't need for warranty or return purposes - this is important), on the front seat of your car, in the Arizona summer sun. That little gray rectangle? Your thermal receipt.

Yes, you can do the same thing (very carefully) with a cigarette lighter. But that's not nearly as random (and budget-altering) as accidentally ensuring that those really (really) expensive jeans that really (really) didn't fit, are now yours for life.

But I digress.

What I didn't know, and wouldn't have believed, is that some of these little gems actually print in two colors. I figured that the machine applied heat to special, sensitive paper and characters appeared. More heat or less heat, makes darker or lighter letters and numbers.

All true. So, where does color, any color, fit into this equation? Seriously! Because, near as I can tell, these two-color printers don't use any different paper or supplies than the other thermals.

Color me ... confused.

Dyslexia

What It Is

LD.org has a more elaborate explanation, but the basic problem is a neurological condition that interferes with the brain's ability to process and interpret information. One of the first signs seems to be difficulty identifying letters. The most commonly confused are b and d; p and q. This leads to a cascading series of problems.

By being unable to tell letters apart, kids develop problems reading, writing, and pronouncing words. Their communication skills are hampered. As these abilities become more critical to their education, they fall further and further behind their classmates.

What It Isn't

Dyslexia is not a sign of diminished intelligence. It is not laziness on the part of students. This condition is, also, not unique to or more prevalent in any particular socio-economic group.

The Latest Study

"The team used two different imaging techniques, including functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measures oxygen used by the brain during different activities, and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging or DTI, which reveals connections between brain areas." During testing, they found some identified dyslexics had more activity in a specific part of the brain, as well as stronger connections in certain fibers that connect the front and back of the brain.

These results later correlated to improved skills in the students with increased brain activity. Interesting information and researchers are hoping that it will lead to improved teaching methods for dyslexic students.

I must agree with the only comment posted on the article: What does this mean for kids whose brainscans don't have this increased activity? Are programs going to be developed for children who might not improve?

In the study, participants who played a computer game during lunch ate more cookies, when dessert was offered 30 minutes later. Those who paid attention to the meal, and only the meal, indulged in fewer sweets. Additionally, the game players were less able to recall the order and content of their lunch, and reported feeling less full.

For me, doing other things while I'm eating generally causes me to eat less. I start feeling full and quit eating sooner when I'm paying attention to more than my meal. Undistracted, I'll eat everything but the plate.

Even eating the same amount of food, I will agree that I don't end up feeling as full when I'm multitasking. Probably because I tend to eat more slowly; nibbling at the food, while typing or reading a little between bites. My possible response to sweets, offered a half-hour later, did make me stop and think.

Because I nibbled my way through the meal and don't feel over-fed or too full, it is entirely possible that I would be more likely to nibble my way through cookies afterward. But, I am just as likely to decline. I make jokes about cookies and pies and other goodies, but really am not big on desserts or sweets on a regular basis.

What about you? Have you ever noticed that you eat more (or less) if you're doing something else while you're having a meal? (Snacks, for me, don't count. I'd eat a 20lb bag of chips or 10lbs of jelly beans without even thinking, if distracted by work or games.)

To start, I am no health expert. When I find an article on a subject that interests me, I always need to do a lot more reading. For example, before I can even attempt to judge information on omega-3s and depression, I have to educate myself on omega-3s. And - once again - I'm taking all of you with me!

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Definition

Omega-3s are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that the body cannot make on its own. They have been called 'essential' fatty acids (EFAs) because of their importance in normal growth and brain function. The three most common (and most studied) omega-3s are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Sources

DHA and EPA are found in certain cold-water fatty fish, e.g., sardines, halibut, herring, lake trout, mackerel, salmon, striped sea bass, albacore tuna, and whitefish. ALA, on the other hand, is a plant-based Omega-3 found in soy beans, walnuts, flaxseed, and canola and olive oils. The body converts ALA to EPA, and further to DHA.

Benefits

This is where the waters get a little muddy. Depending on the source (see the Google search results below), omega-3s do everything but the dishes. Proven benefits are a little harder to find, outside cardiovascular research.

There is evidence that EPA and DHA can (especially, when taken together) reduce inflammation, improve cholesterol levels, lower triglycerides, prevent plaque build-up in arteries, and improve blood flow. ALA (the form frequently found in supplements), on the other hand, doesn't seem to offer the same benefits.

Concentrated in the brain, omega-3s are believed to play an important role in cognitive function and behavior. Studies in Great Britain, Australia, and Indonesia showed that children whose diets were higher in omega-3s performed better in school, with fewer behavior problems. Hence, the hope for benefit to people with depression and behavioral disorders.

Omega-3s and Depression

The article that inspired this post is based on an analysis (as yet, unpublished and not peer-reviewed) of previous clinical trials. Paid for by the National Institutes of Health, researchers combined the results of other studies and looked for patterns of omega-3s' impact on depression. They found a lot of information, inspiring further research; but nothing actually provided definitive conclusions.

Part of the problem is that many of the studies involved DHA alone. Few note any benefit to this solo-therapy approach. (My digging into other sources, listed below, showed similar results.) As mentioned, combining DHA and EPA seems to be more effective - regardless of the condition being treated.

Another problem? Although there is an indication that DHA-deficiencies have been linked to depression, the clinical trials failed to note whether any of the participants actually suffered from deficiencies. I quote: "However, it's unknown if the depressed people in the study were DHA-deficient and therefore the supplements were simply returning their DHA levels to normal, or if an added boost of DHA/EPA was helpful even for those with sufficient levels, Davis said."

What bothers me - rereading that last sentence - is casually comparing DHA to DHA/EPA. Over and over, I have read that adding EPA (sometimes in large amounts) to DHA is much more effective than DHA alone. Lumping them together, in the same sentence as though they were interchangeable treatments, is a serious apples-and-oranges comparison that flies in the face of valid methodology.

(Without access to the actual paper being presented this week, it's impossible to tell whether the disconnect is a flaw in the science or in the reporting. In other words, I'm not certain whether the researchers are mixing a lovely fruit salad or if the reporter failed to properly set-up the quote. Common, but frustrating.)

Conclusions

Depression is a serious condition. Improperly managed (or ignored) the implications are literally life-and-death. From where I sit, as a sufferer, any nature-based treatment is exciting. Especially one that offers other health benefits.

Chemical anti-depressants, while immensely improved since the early days, are still chemicals. Often it's a crap-shoot whether any particular drug will be effective for any particular patient. And, even then, the side effects and/or interactions can be serious.

The most, from where I sit, that can be decided by this new information is that we need more information. Hopefully, quality research will follow.

As always, arbitrarily taking supplements - of any kind - is to be avoided. If you feel that adding omega-3s to your diet is a good idea, talk to your physician. Combining these supplements with cholesterol meds or blood thinners increases the effects and carries serious risks.

In addition, know the manufacturer. Just as fish can be contaminated with mercury and other pollutants, so can fish oil supplements.

References

Google Search: Define: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Mayo Clinic: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Fish Oil, Alpha-linolenic Acid

Science Daily: Scientists Learn How Food Affects The Brain: Omega 3 Especially Important

University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Wikipedia: Omega-3 Fatty Acid

A little background: The study involved 4,000 adults, born to mothers who were enrolled between 1959 and 1966. Researchers collected data on the mothers' smoking habits during pregnancy. In 1999, when they were 33 through 40, a review was done of the offsprings' health and criminal records.

It was determined that when the mothers smoked at least a pack (20+ cigarettes) per day during pregnancy, their kids were 30% more likely to have a criminal record. Additionally, those same children were deemed more likely to repeat offend. Did I mention anti-smoking clap-trap?!

Well, maybe and maybe not. Even the researchers admit that they are unable to definitively prove causality - that smoking mothers give birth to future criminals more frequently than non-smoking mothers. At most, they suggest that heavy maternal smoking may present a risk factor. That I can accept.

On the other hand, which is what damaged my 'mad,' maternal smoking has been linked to smaller birth weights and other health issues in kids. Studies on animals suggest that nicotine has a negative effect on the developing brain, especially neurotransmitters. In turn, neurotransmitter malfunction is considered a factor in some disorders, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, and OCD.^[1]

So, if we want to extrapolate:

1. Maternal smoking exposes the fetus' developing brain to nicotine.
2. Nicotine exposure has been shown to negatively impact developing neurotransmitters in the brain.
3. Neurotransmitter problems may contribute to development of certain mental health conditions.
4. Persons with some mental health disorders are more likely to engage in criminal behaviors.
5. Therefore, ergo, and towit - maternal smoking contributes to criminal behaviors in their offspring.

It's a reasonable conclusion, given presumed truths. And, honestly, just one more reason to not smoke.

1. "Information About Mental Illness and the Brain." The Science of Mental Illness. National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health. Web. 15 November 2010. <http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih5/mental/guide/info-mental-a.htm>

Vinegar and Skin Care

Acidity

Vinegar's main component is acetic acid. The amount in commercial distilled white and apple cider vinegars varies slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer. But, by and large, they are slightly less acidic than lemon juice. This makes vinegar a perfect astringent; ideal for reducing surface oil, a common contributor to breakouts.

If you've ever priced 'cosmetic' astringents, you know that a bottle of vinegar is going to be much, much cheaper. Because it's a natural product, without chemicals and preservatives, it's bound to be safer for most all skin types. I know that I have trouble with astringents irritating my face.

Since most natural skin care recipes call for diluting vinegar, I have less concern with burning my skin. And even greater savings.

Bacteria Fighting

Sebum, the substance that moisturizes skin and hair, is a popular 'food' of some bacteria that lives on the skin. As more sebum is produced, primarily during adolescence, the bacteria feeds and multiplies. Increased bacteria means increased white blood cell activity in the follicles. In a nutshell ... breakouts.

The natural disinfecting/antibacterial properties of vinegar make it a perfect treatment for acne. By reducing bacteria on the skin, vinegar also reduces white blood cell activity. This stops the acne cycle. And helps clear existing pimples.

See? Grandma did know what she was talking about.