The Three Dolls

 The illustration of the three dolls goes back to an article written by Jacques May in 1960. It is a beautiful illustration of the human condition. Here is how it was originally written:

"It is as though I had on a table three dolls, one of glass, another of celluloid, and a third of steel, and I chose to hit the three dolls with a hammer, using equal strength. The first doll would break, the second would scar, and the third could emit a pleasant sound."

This is a very simple little illustration pregnant with meaning and significance. What it tells me is that humans have a genetic and developmental difference which can increase or decrease the effects of environmental stressors such as emotional trauma, toxic exposures, or encounters with disease organisms. One size fits all may be appropriate for the size of a football, but it has no place in the practice of nutrition or medicine. There are vast differences in individuals and what "works" for one may not work for another. One of the sages of ancient Greece said, "One man's meat is another man's poison." Thus gluten consumption may build one person's health and destroy the health of another individual. Functional medicine is an effort to find the root causes of disease rather than addressing symptoms which could have a variety of causes.

Francis M. Pottenger, Jr.

The story of the three dolls always makes me think of the work of Francis M. Pottenger, Jr. Pottenger fed cats varying diets and observed the long term effects on health. Animals fed sufficient diets remained in a state of robust health from generation to generation. They were steel dolls. Animals were malnourished simply by cooking their meals. This resulted in a second generation that were celluloid dolls. The signs of malnutrition began to appear including loss of calcium from the bones, bleeding gums, arthritic disorders, and loss of energy and stamina. Offspring of nutritionally inadequate animals were glass dolls. They could not produce healthy offspring and Pottenger could only keep lines of malnourished cats going for three or four generations.

Pottenger found that nutritional degeneration was reversible with great difficulty with healthy foods alone. I have always felt that this is where the value of superior supplementation comes in. It can accelerate the restoration of health by addressing issues such as inflammation or digestive failure.

Sir Robert McCarrison

Sir Robert McCarrison was an English physicial who was head of nutrition for the nation of India. His research studies focused on feeding rats the diets of different people groups in the nation of India. He found that he could replicate the diseases of different people groups in India when rats ate the same diets. His most dramatic experiment was the feeding of rats the standard British diet of his day. The rats began killing and eating each other. He had to separate the animals to complete his experiment. Both mental and physical health are dependent upon an adequate intake of essential nutrients and avoiding environmental toxins.

Plus and Minus

Humans are exposed to many negative contributions to health-- toxic exposures, poor dietary choices, and emotional trauma to name a few. Fortunately, there are also positive contributions that can be made to health--clean environments, positive associations, good diets and nutritional supplementation.

An illustration is a study in which rats were exposed to the levels of air pollution characteristic of Tokyo and Los Angeles years ago. The rats developed bronchitis and bronchopneumonia among other problems. However, when the animals were supplemented with relatively large amounts of vitamin E these health problems did not appear. The positive benefit of vitamin E counteracted the effects of smog.

Years ago I spoke for a group and the head of a research company asked me to visit his company. He shared a study they had conducted with lead poisoning which was in all the gasoline in America at the time. This companies studies showed that lead in the bodies of rats blocked the ability of red blood cells to flow through the smaller capillaries in the body. They had discovered that if they supplemented the animals with vitamin E the red blood cells retained the ability to flow through the smallest of capillaries even if they had been exposed to lead. Lead initiated a process called "tanning" which hardened the membrane of cells so that they were no longer flexible. Simple adding vitamin E blocked the hardening of the cell walls and allowed the red blood cells to continue their nutritional function of delivering oxygen to all the tissues of the body.

The nutritional requirements of the body have been described by Roger Williams as the "Chain of Life." Think of the potential for benefit by providing optimal sources of all of these essential nutrients. This is why I always encourage broad spectrum supplementation with ProVitality+ or some other broad spectrum multiple before adding specific nutrients to address specific conditions. Nutrition can transform a glass doll to a celluloid doll and a celluloid doll to a steel doll! This is done with plants and animals on a routine basis. Why are we so reluctant to do it for human beings?

Reference:

The Diet Dilemma in Dentistry

Pottenger Cat Video

EMF and Oxidative Damage

 Electromagnetic fields can cause serious damage to tissues, especially body tissues rich in lipids like the brain and nervous system. Vitamin E and Carotenoids are fat-soluble antioxidants which can provide some measure of protection against the massive exposure to EMF's people are experiencing today. Note the importance of antioxidants in the following quote from an article on the oxidative damage EMF's can cause in biological tissue.

"In brief, EMF exposure has been shown to cause high oxidative stress-induced biological damage, manifested by a substantial increase of peroxidized lipids, oxidized proteins and fragmented/nicked DNA. Substantial decrease has been also documented in the antioxidant defense mechanisms, i.e., in the activity of crucial antioxidant enzymes and in the concentration of endogenous antioxidants. Exogenous antioxidants and inhibitors of certain ROS/RNS-producing enzymes reversed all these effects, which is another strong evidence for the causative relation between oxidative stress and EMF exposure. EMF-induced oxidative stress.

References:

Georgiou, Christos, Oxidative stress-induced biological damage by low-level EMFs: mechanism of free radical pair electron spin-polarization and biochemical amplification, Eur. J. Oncol. Library, vol. 5 63. In Non-thermal effects and mechanisms of interaction between electromagnetic fields and living matter.  

Vitamin E Complex and Nitric Oxide

 NeoLife has always maintained that vitamin E should be supplemented as a complete complex. There are 8 members of the family. Each member has an affinity for different tissues and functions differently. Nitric oxide is a chemical produced by the immune system to fight cancer and infectious agents. The only problem is that this compound is so unstable that is is converted to nitrate or nitrite within 10 seconds. Both of these can be a source of dangerous nitrogen based free radicals.

Gamma-tocopherol and gamma-tocotrienol, two lesser known members of the vitamin E family prevents the conversion of NO to these dangerous cancer promoting chemicals. Alpha-tocopherol does not. This may explain why Stephan Christen found that supplementing laboratory animals with large amounts of synthetic vitamin E increased the incidence of tumors by depleting the body of gamma-tocopherol. Nature knows best when she combines nutrients into complexes and vitamin E is one of the clearest examples of this important nutritional principle.

References:

Papas, Andreas, The Vitamin E Factor, New York:HarperPerennial, 1999, p.37.

Christen, Stephan, γ-Tocopherol, the major form of vitamin E in the US diet, deserves more attention, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 74, Issue 6, December 2001, Pages 714–722, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/74.6.714

Vitamin E Deficiency

Vitamin E has been called the vitamin without a disease. Dramatic cures as one sees with scurvy when vitamin C is added to the diet were not seen. Early research showed that deficiencies of the vitamin developed slowly and symptoms generally tend to appear only after extensive and often irreversible damage has taken place.

It takes a long time to increase tissue levels of vitamin E. This reminds me of the story of Earl Pearson who was diagnosed with emphysema. After supplementing with large quantities of vitamin E for five years under his doctor's supervision he was told he no longer had the disease.

The following warning by Papas should encourage us to make sure the vitamin E intake is adequate: "We have learned...that vitamin E deficiency may go unnoticed for years without clinical symptoms....unnoticed muscle and nerve damage can pile up...depleted tissues get replenished slowly and the nerve tissue even more slowly. When clinical symptoms appear it is usually too late for repair!"

References:

Papas, Andreas, The Vitamin E Factor, New York:HarperPerennial, 1999, p.14-15.

 Lung Inflammation and Smoke Exposure

A number of years ago while I was lecturing in Los Angeles I became acquainted with an attorney. He shared with me that he was involved in a case in which he learned that children were experiencing severe lung damage from breathing the polluted air in the city at that time.

The West Coast is experiencing some of the worst fires in history and the lungs can not help but be affected. Where there is fire there is often smoke and the smoke has been unusually bad this year. Research indicates that certain nutrients can protect the lungs from smoke and the serious lung inflammation which can result from exposure.

Vitamins C and E

In one study mice were exposed to different levels of cigarette smoke (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, or 15 cigarettes a day). Some of the mice were supplemented with vitamin C, vitamin E, or both. Inflammatory markers indicating oxidation of fats increased in all the mice exposed to the smoke. Vitamin C or vitamin E reduced lung inflammation. The combination of vitamins C and E was most protective against lung inflammation and oxidative damage. In this study the vitamins were administered 12 hours prior to exposure to the smoke. Smoke inhalation tends to be very suppressive of vitamin E levels. In animal studies vitamin E is moved into lung tissue when the animals are exposed to smoke.

Carotenoids

Carotenoids have been shown to reduce risk of lung cancer. In one study of 207 cases the third with the highest levels of carotenoids had a 55-76% reduced risk of lung cancer. One study suggested an inverse relationship between intake of vitamins C, E, and carotenoids.

Herbal Formulas

NeoLife has developed specific herbal formulas to promote easy breathing. Herbal Respiratory Formula is specifically targeted to aid breathing in the lower respiratory tract. It contains elecampane root which can help relieve coughing, stimulate bronchial secretions, and help ward off infections of the lower respiratory tract. Nettle leaf and elder flower have been added to help fight symptoms of allergies and hay fever and reduce congestion. The product also contains thyme and aniseed which assist and clear uncongested airflow, especially in the bronchial area and lungs.

NeoLife has also developed Resp-X. This is a comprehensive, broad spectrum, synergistic combination of ten herbs targeted to the upper part of the respiratory tract. It supports sinus decongestion and comfortable breathing. Horseradish supports normal airflow in the sinuses and lungs and a healthy immune response to air pollutants. Thyme and hyssop promote clear, open airways. Cayenne stimulates respiratory tissues and promotes healthy circulation in lung tissues.

Summary

For best protection against smoke supplementation of these nutrients morning and evening would seem to be a prudent protective measure while exposed to smoke or other air pollution. The intake of omega-3 fatty acids would also tend to release the inflammatory response in the lungs.

References:

Silva Bezerra F, Valenca SS, et al, "Alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid supplementation reduced acute lung inflammatory response by cigarette smoke in mouse," Nutrition, 2006; 22(11-12): 1192-1201.

Epplein M, Le Marchand L, et al, "Association of plasma micronutrient levels and urinary isoprostane with risk of lung cancer: the multiethnic cohort study," Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2009; 18(7): 1962-70. 

Shekelle, R.B., et al, "Dietary Factors and the Risk of Lung Cancer: Total Body of Evidence", American Journal of Epidemiology, September 1, 1991;134:471-479.

Naoki Morita, et al., "Vitamin E attenuates acute lung injury in sheep with burn and smoke inhalation injury," Redox Report, 2006;11:2, 61-70, DOI: 10.1179/135100006X101020

Asthma and Carotenoids

Those with asthma often have reduced levels of carotenoids when compared to controls. Epidemiological evidence indicates that carotenoids and carotenoid-rich foods are protective against asthma. Supplementation has also been shown to improve some of the problems associated with asthma. Asthmatics tend to be low in carotenoids in general and particularly low in lycopene, the red carotenoid that colors tomatoes, watermelon, and pink grapefruit.

The intake of omega-3 fats appears to be inversely associated with the development of asthma in one fairly recent study.

References:

Wood, Lisa, "Lycopene-Rich Treatments Modify Noneosinophilic Airway Inflammation in Asthma: Proof of Concept," Free Radic Res, 2008; 42(1): 94-102. 

Li J, Xun P, et al, "Intakes of long-chain omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs and fish in relation to incidence of asthma among American young adults: the CARDIA study," Am J Clin Nutr, 2013 Jan; 97(1): 173-8. 

Cancer and Tocotrienols

     Natural vitamin E complex has been attacked by some in the medical community since the Shute brothers first used it to successfully treat heart disease. One of the arguments which was voiced to me by a physician a number of years ago was that the synthetic was just as effective and DL alpha tocopherol was available for a fraction of the cost of the natural vitamin E complex which includes four tocopherols and four tocotrienols.
     A recent study found that the four tocotrienols all have anti-cancer properties. The effectiveness against lung and brain cancers was demonstrated to be associated with total quantity of the tocotrienols and also the period of time they are in contact with cancer cells. The tocotrienols both killed cancer cells and also triggered them to commit suicide. Delta-tocotrienol was shown to be the most effective anti-cancer agent of the four tocotrienols in this study. The researchers concluded, "Tocotrienols in particular the delta isomer can be an alternative chemotherapeutic agent for treating lung and brain cancers." These unrecognized nutritional factors, a natural part of the vitamin E complex, can not be that unimportant if researchers are suggesting that they be used as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of brain and lung cancers!
     NeoLife Vitamin E Complex has always contained the entire family of vitamin E factors including all the tocotrienols and tocopherols. It is just the way nature does things!
Reference:
Lim, S.W., et al., Cytotoxicity and apoptic activities of alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienol isomers on human cancer cells, BMC Complement Altern Med, Dec. 6, 2014;14(1):469.

Vitamin E and Alzheimer's

     While media attacks on the use of vitamins mount, research continues to show the benefits of supplementation. A recent study showed that 2,000 IU of vitamin E a day resulted in a clinically meaningful delay in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The progression of the disease was slowed by 6.2 months over a period of 2.3 years.
     The authors of this study noted that there was a decrease in all cause mortality among the group taking the vitamin E in spite of other studies that have suggested that vitamin E increases all cause mortality.
     The dose of vitamin E was very high in this study. A more sensible experiment would probably have been to use smaller amounts of a wide variety of antioxidants since these nutrients work synergistically.

Reference
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270708.php

Does Fish Cause Prostate Cancer?

      The media love any story which is different. A dog biting a man is not news, but a man biting a dog makes the front page.
     Dr. Ala Kristal recently published an article in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in which he found that those with high blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids had a 43% increased risk of prostate cancer.
     There were no controls in his study. In other words, the researchers did not consider factors such as weight gain or toxin accumulation which are known to increase the risk of prostate cancers. Fish and fish oils are known to often carry a toxic load of pollutants which is why NeoLife tests their product for over 200 pollutants with a standard of ZERO.
Another factor which needs to be considered is oxidation. It has been known since 1991 that intake of fish oil can increase the risk of oxidative damage in the tissue if antioxidant intake is low. Small amounts of vitamin E have been shown to prevent this increased oxidative risk.
      Michael Savage, who has a Ph.D. in nutrition has an interview on the topic on his web site. The link is below.
     I am still taking my fish oil. News reports do not mention another study which showed that those with the highest levels of fish oil in the blood lived on average 2.2 years longer than those with lower levels.
References:
 Kramer, T.R., et al., Increased vitamin E intake restores fish oil-induced suppressed blastogenesis of mitogen-stimulated T lymphocytes, Am J Clin Nutr, 1991; 54:896-902.
Meydani, M., et al., Effect of long-term fish oil supplementation on vitamin E status and lipid peroxidation in women, J Nutr, 1991; 121:484-9.
http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/2013/07/dangers-of-fish-oils-and-prostate-cancer-based-on-flawed-science-says-dr-michael-savage/
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/eating-oily-fish-can-extend-lifespan-by-two-years-1.1346395


 

Vitamin E and Fertility

     Infertility is becoming an increasing problem in the United States. Couples often go to extraordinary lengths in attempts to conceive a child. A recent study found that male infertility may be improved by supplementation with natural vitamin E. Intake of vitamin E at dosages of 100 mg three times a day were shown to improve numbers of sperm, mobility and rate of pregnancy.
     Vitamin E was associated with infertility when first discovered. Early animal studies showed that it was difficult to carry a pregnancy to term with vitamin E deficiency.
Reference:
Chen XF, Li Z, et al, Efficacy of natural vitamin E on oligospermia and athenospermia: a prospective multi-centered randomized controlled study of 106 cases, Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue, 2012 May; 18(5):428-31.

Vitamin E and Aging

Vitamin E and Aging

Lack of vitamin E is often an indicator of poor nutrition. The vitamin is readily destroyed by food processing and is not particularly abundant in foods.

Researchers in Tuscany, Italy studied people 65 and older between 1998 and 2003 with regard to blood levels of different micronutrients. The researchers found that levels of vitamin E were most closely associated with physical decline associated with aging. The researchers wrote, "Although the findings from this epidemiological study cannot establish causality, they provide a solid base that low concentration of vitamin E contributes to decline in physical function."

Aging researcher Richard Cutler found that blood levels of two nutrients were predictive of lifespan-- vitamin E and carotenoids.

GNLD Vitamin E Complex has several unique features. It is water miscible which greatly improves absorption. It contains all 8 members of the vitamin E family along with associated factors found in wheat germ oil. It is almost impossible to find a food derived vitamin E complex on the market today.

GNLD Carotenoid Complex is also outstanding. It provides the complete spectrum of carotenoids as found in foods rich in carotenoids. One capsule provides an ideal profile of carotenoids. Testing by the USDA on this product showed a 37% enhancement in immune function in 20 days, a 5-fold increase in antioxidants in cholesterol, a 20% increase in the natural killer cells which help us fight off cancer, and a 44% reduced rate of oxidative damage in the tissues which is associated with aging.

To learn the full story about Carotenoid Complex follow this link to GNLDU.com.