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Thursday, November 07, 2002
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By Darin Ingels, ND
Healthnotes Newswire (November 7, 2002)—People with adult-onset (type 2) diabetes may gain better control over their diabetes by taking an herbal compound from India, known as cogent db, in addition to their oral diabetes medications, according to a new study in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2002;8:445–57). This is promising news for the millions of people with type 2 diabetes for whom prescription medications do not adequately control blood sugar.
In this study, 60 people between the ages of 30 and 70 who had type 2 diabetes were divided into two groups. One group took conventional blood sugar-lowering medications plus 6 tablets a day of cogent db for three months, while the other group took only the conventional medications (control group). The combination of nine traditional Indian herbs in cogent db has been reported anecdotally by physicians in India to help control diabetes. Measurements of blood sugar (both fasting and after a meal), insulin, total cholesterol, kidney and liver function, and long-term blood sugar control (hemoglobin A1c) were taken initially and at the conclusion of the study.
After three months of treatment, those taking cogent db had significantly lower fasting blood sugar and post-meal blood sugar and insulin levels than those taking conventional medications only. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and long-term blood sugar markers were also improved in this group. None of the people taking cogent db had completely normal blood sugar levels at the conclusion of the study, but the severity of diabetes had improved substantially and participants reported feeling better. No adverse side effects were seen in those taking cogent db.
Uncontrolled diabetes is a serious health problem that can lead to several complications, such as heart disease, blindness, nerve damage, and kidney failure. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include obesity, smoking, consuming excess alcohol, and a sedentary lifestyle. While eating a diet low in simple carbohydrates and exercising regularly can help prevent and possibly reverse type 2 diabetes, adding cogent db to conventional medical treatment may help improve blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of diabetic complications.
Because some nutritional supplements and herbal remedies can interact with diabetes medications, potentially resulting in dangerously low blood sugar levels, persons taking such medications should consult a doctor knowledgeable in natural medicine before taking any supplements or herbs.
Darin Ingels, ND, MT (ASCP), received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA. Dr. Ingels is the author of The Natural Pharmacist: Lowering Cholesterol (Prima, 1999) and Natural Treatments for High Cholesterol (Prima, 2000). He currently is in private practice at New England Family Health Associates located in Southport, CT, where he specializes in environmental medicine and allergies. Dr. Ingels is a regular contributor to Healthnotes and Healthnotes Newswire.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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4:29:59 PM 
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By Alan R. Gaby, MD
Healthnotes Newswire (November 7, 2002)—Two United States congressmen recently introduced a bill that would ban over-the-counter sales of so-called steroid precursors, which are claimed to build muscles and enhance physical performance. According to a report from Reuters Health, this bill would reclassify androstenedione and androstenediol—which are currently sold as dietary supplements—as controlled substances, making them available only with a doctor's prescription. These compounds, collectively known as “andro,” have become popular among body builders and teenagers, particularly since baseball star Mark McGwire revealed he had taken andro during the season in which he hit 70 home runs.
Steroid precursors are converted by the body into testosterone, a naturally occurring muscle-building hormone (anabolic steroid). Testosterone deficiency, which sometimes occurs in elderly men or in association with certain diseases, can lead to muscle wasting, loss of bone mass, decreased libido, and depression. Testosterone deficiency also occurs in woman (particularly those who have had their ovaries removed), and may cause symptoms similar to those seen in men. The problems that result from testosterone deficiency can be prevented or reversed by testosterone supplementation, which is typically prescribed by a doctor.
Testosterone can also cause significant side effects, particularly if taken by someone whose levels are not low, such as teenagers and young adults. Adverse effects of this hormone include excessive hair growth, aggressive behavior, acne, and sludging of the blood, which can be severe enough to cause a stroke. Although the adverse effects of steroid precursors have not been as well studied as those of testosterone, neither has their safety been adequately demonstrated. Furthermore, there is evidence that andro can be converted in the body into estrogen, possibly causing breast enlargement in males.
Although steroid use is banned in professional football and basketball and among Olympic athletes, there have been allegations that such compounds are being widely used by Major League baseball players. Concerns have been raised that the use of steroids by professional athletes sends the wrong message to children: that taking drugs is a legitimate, or even desirable, way to improve athletic performance. Professional athletes have a large influence on children, and reports indicate that as many as one in eight high school boys has used steroid precursors or anabolic steroids.
Another supplement that has been touted as a muscle builder is chromium (in the form of chromium picolinate). Chromium is an essential trace mineral that enhances the action of insulin in the body. As insulin is an anabolic hormone, it is possible that chromium deficiency would reduce a person's capacity to build muscle. On the other hand, there is little or no evidence that people who are not deficient in chromium can put on muscle by taking a chromium supplement. Chromium is not a steroid precursor and is not a subject of the new proposed legislation.
Alan R. Gaby, MD, an expert in nutritional therapies, testified to the White House Commission on CAM upon request in December 2001. Dr. Gaby served as a member of the Ad-Hoc Advisory Panel of the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine. He is the author of Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis (Prima, 1994), and co-author of The Natural Pharmacy, 2nd Edition (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), the A–Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), Clinical Essentials Volume 1 and 2 (Healthnotes, 2000), and The Patient’s Book of Natural Healing (Prima, 1999). A former professor at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, in Kenmore, WA, where he served as the Endowed Professor of Nutrition, Dr. Gaby is the Chief Medical Editor for Healthnotes, Inc.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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4:28:23 PM
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By Alan R. Gaby, MD
Healthnotes Newswire (November 7, 2002)—Supplementing with a large amount of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can slow disease progression in people with early Parkinson's disease, according to a study in Archives of Neurology (2002;59:1541–50). This finding offers new hope in the search for effective treatments for a debilitating disease that affects more than two million Americans.
In this double-blind study, 80 people with Parkinson's disease that had not yet become severe enough to require medical treatment were randomly assigned to receive one of three doses of CoQ10 (300, 600, or 1200 mg per day) or a placebo for 16 months. The effect of treatment was monitored using the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, a research tool that assesses disease severity. After 16 months of treatment, the average score had increased (worsened) by 49.8% in the placebo group, 36.9% in the 300-mg-per-day group, 47% in the 600-mg-per-day group, and 29.6% in the 1200-mg-per-day group. The difference between placebo and 1,200 mg per day of CoQ10 was statistically significant. CoQ10 was well tolerated and no serious side effects were seen.
The amount of CoQ10 that was found to be effective was considerably larger than that used in most other CoQ10 studies. At current retail prices, 1,200 mg per day of CoQ10 costs about $8.00 per day. The study also showed a tendency toward improvement with lower amounts of CoQ10, but the results were not statistically significant, possibly because not enough people were enrolled in the study.
Earlier research has shown that taking large amounts of vitamin C (up to 3,000 mg per day) and vitamin E (up to 3,200 IU per day) also can slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. In addition, animal studies have shown that supplementing with vitamin E increases the effects of CoQ10 in the body. These findings raise the possibility that taking all three of these nutrients in combination would increase the effectiveness of CoQ10.
Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive disorder of the brain that leads to symptoms such as tremor, rigidity of the body, slurring of speech, and depression. There is no known cure for the disease, although certain drugs can be used to reduce symptoms.
Researchers became interested in the relationship between CoQ10 and Parkinson's disease because of reports that the disease is associated with a defect in the production of energy by mitochondria. The specific component of the energy-producing apparatus that was found to be impaired (known as Complex I) depends on CoQ10 for its activity. In addition, reduced concentrations of CoQ10 have been found in the blood of people with Parkinson's disease.
Alan R. Gaby, MD, an expert in nutritional therapies, testified to the White House Commission on CAM upon request in December 2001. Dr. Gaby served as a member of the Ad-Hoc Advisory Panel of the National Institutes of Health Office of Alternative Medicine. He is the author of Preventing and Reversing Osteoporosis (Prima, 1994), and co-author of The Natural Pharmacy, 2nd Edition (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), the A–Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Healthnotes, Prima, 1999), Clinical Essentials Volume 1 and 2 (Healthnotes, 2000), and The Patient’s Book of Natural Healing (Prima, 1999). A former professor at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, in Kenmore, WA, where he served as the Endowed Professor of Nutrition, Dr. Gaby is the Chief Medical Editor for Healthnotes, Inc.
Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Healthnotes and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks of Healthnotes, Inc.
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4:26:17 PM
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Study: Lengthy computer use saps energy. Japanese researchers publish a study showing that prolonged daily computer use can make you sore and deplete your strength, energy and motivation. [CNET News.com]
Researchers in Japan have scientifically documented what dwellers of Dilbertville have known for years: Prolonged daily computer use can make you sore and sap your strength, energy and motivation.
In a three-year study of more than 25,000 workers, Japanese researchers discovered that people who sat in front of computer screens were more likely to experience physical pain such as eye and shoulder strain, and to suffer from motivational symptoms such as lethargy.
Although workers are spending an increasing amount of time in front of their computers, no consistent guidelines exist about how long is safe to sit at a computer screen.
The study, led by Dr. Tetsuya Nakazawa and published in the November issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, found that workers who spent more than five hours per day in front of a computer screen reported significantly higher complaints of sleep-related symptoms and mental stress.
Such symptoms included lethargy, anxiety, "difficulty getting along with co-workers," and a "reluctance to go out to work."
There was no time limit that triggered complaints of physical pain--the most commonly documented symptoms associated with computer use in the study. Workers most often reported symptoms such as eyestrain, headaches and stiff shoulders.
"Our results suggest that physical symptoms increase with duration of daily VDT (visual display terminal) use without threshold, while mental- and sleep-related symptoms increase with VDT work of more than five hours per day," the researchers wrote.
The researchers urged more studies of the link between computer use and physical and mental symptoms.
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2:53:39 PM
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From the State where drink driving is considered a sport,comes a true
story from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. Recently a routine police
patrol parked outside a local neighbourhood tavern. Late in the
evening the officer noticed a man leaving the bar so intoxicated that
he could barely walk. The man stumbled around the car park for a few
minutes, with the officer quietly observing. After what seemed an
eternity and trying his keys on five vehicles, the man managed to
find his car which he fell into. He was there for a few minutes as
a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off. Finally he
started the car, switched the wipers on and off (it was a fine dry
night), flicked the indicators on and off, tooted the horn and then
switched on the lights. He moved the vehicle forward a few inches,
reversed a little and then remained stationary for a few more minutes
as more patrons left in their vehicles. At last he pulled out of the
car park and started to drive slowly down ! the road. The police officer,
having patiently waited all this time, now started up the patrol car,
put on the flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and carried
out a Breathalyzer test. To his amazement the breathalyzer indicated
no evidence of the man having consumed alcohol at all! Dumbfounded,
the officer said "I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the Police
station this Breathalyzer equipment must be broken." "I doubt it,"
said the man, "Tonight I'm the designated decoy."
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10:54:04 AM
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Jacob age 85, and Rebecca age 79 are all excited about
their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to
discuss the wedding, and on the way go past a drugstore.
Jacob suggests that they go in. He addresses the man
behind the counter:
"Are you the owner?"
The pharmacist answers, "Yes."
Jacob: "Do you sell heart medication?"
Pharmacist: "Of course we do."
Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"
Pharmacist: "All kinds."
Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?"
Pharmacist: "Definitely."
Jacob: "How about Viagra?"
Pharmacist: "Of course."
Jacob: "Medicine for memory?"
Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety."
Jacob: "What about vitamins and sleeping pills?"
Pharmacist: "Absolutely."
Jacob: "Perfect! We'd like to register here for our
wedding gifts."
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10:52:09 AM
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© Copyright
2002
Rick@Leaders.net.
Last update:
12/1/2002; 9:34:17 AM.
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