CAOH News Letter - February 1, 2010

Liquid Power Multi-V is an excellent source of B vitamins

Mind/Body medicine is based on the fact that our health and well-being depends on all the individual parts working together effectively. So it should come as no surprise that healthy eyesight is also dependent upon our total well-being, which is affected by our genetic makeup, the food we eat, our work environment and exposure to airborne toxins, as well as our general belief systems about ourselves and the world we live in.

Each of us is unique, and we literally take the world in through our senses, primarily through our vision. Many believe the way we take in the world is, to some degree, a reflection of who we are and which symptoms we might manifest. The integrative approach evaluates the person's lifestyle, habits, diet, exercise routine, and stress management, along with the family history, in determining a therapeutic approach. It attempts to bring in the patient as an active partner in the program to improve or maintain eye health. Specific habits have been identified in studies to be very damaging to eye health, including smoking, excessive alcohol, coffee, excess sugar and refined foods, and hydrogenated oils (like margarines).

Nutrition and nutritional supplementation could play a key role in helping to prevent vision loss and keeping our bodies strong. More and more peer review studies are identifying specific nutrients that are lacking in patients with eye conditions such as the following:

Vitamin C - in parts of Europe and Asia, vitamin C is considered part of routine treatment for glaucoma. It lowers eye pressure through a combination of decreasing fluid production and improving the outflow of aqueous humor. It also improves collagen metabolism which may be one of the underlying reasons for the development of glaucoma. Nutritional sources include citrus fruits, red peppers and tomatoes.

Recommended Dosage: 3000 mg per day

Omega 3 fatty acids - these may help reduce the chronic inflammatory processes that is found in many patients with glaucoma. Fish and unrefined fish oils are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids. Studies have shown that Eskimos, who have a high intake of Omega 3, have a very low incidence of open-angle glaucoma. Some studies on animals further indicate that fish oil can reduce fluid pressure within the eyes. The best sources are the flesh of cold water fish (example; salmon, mackerel, cod) as well as black currant seed oil, and flax seed oil. Consider eating fish three times a week.

Recommended Dosage: 1500 mg per day

Ginkgo biloba - may increase the circulation of blood to the eyes. It has been shown in some cases to help lower intraocular pressure in the eyes. There is no natural food source. It is directly derived from the ginkgo tree.

Recommended Dosage: 120 mg per day - Note: if using blood thinner reduce by 40 mg

Magnesium - is a mineral that relaxes smooth muscles, which regulates the outflow of aqueous humor from the inner eye. Natural sources include most nuts, seeds, vegetables, seafood and soy products.

Recommended Dosage: 500 mg per day Magnesium should be taken with calcium in a 2:1 ratio (calcium to magnesium).

Lutein/zeaxanthin - these two carotenoids have been shown to be low in people with macular degeneration. Increasing intake of Lutein/zeaxanthin either by foods or by supplements has been found to prevent and even improve macular degeneration in many cases. Natural sources are green leafy vegetables including spinach, kale and collard greens.

Recommended Dosage: 6 mg per day, optimally in a sublingual (under the tongue) form. It should be taken with a little fat, such as vitamin E to increase absorption.

Bilberry - strengthens the structural integrity of blood vessels throughout the body and promotes healthy circulation, particularly to the small capillaries that deliver oxygen and nutrients to the eyes. Bilberry also helps prevent free radical damage to the delicate structures within the eye. Natural sources are blueberries and huckleberries.

Recommended Dosage: 240 mg per day

Taurine - this amino acid is important for the regeneration of worn out tissues of the retina. Taurine helps protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation. Natural sources include eggs, meats and fish.

Zinc - the macular can degenerate when zinc is deficient. It is found naturally in meats, oysters, and whole grains.

Vitamin C - the normal healthy lens of the eye contains a higher level of vitamin C that any other organ of the body except the adrenal glands. Studies have shown a decreased level of vitamin C in the aqueous humor as well as in the overall body when cataracts are forming. Vitamin C has also been shown to control sugar imbalances that often play a role in cataract formation. Natural sources include citrus fruits, red peppers and tomatoes.

Glutathione - could be very effective in preventing cataract formation, and is crucial in possibly altering free radical damage. Some studies have shown that many lenses with cataracts contain approximately 1/5th the amount of glutathione as compared to normal lenses. Glutathione is produced by the body and is composed of three amino acids: cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid. All the following nutrients could help increase glutathione levels: N-Acetyl Cysteine, Alpha Lipoic Acid, vitamin C, selenium, vitamin E, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, zinc, and other nutrients. Natural sources include eggs, broccoli, avocados, garlic, onions and cauliflower.

Recommended Dosage: 500 mg of N-Acetyl Cysteine, 100-200 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid, 1500 mg of vitamin C, 200 mcg of selenium, 400 I.U.’s of vitamin E, 50 mg of vitamin B2 and B6, 30 mg of zinc.

However, nothing replaces a positive, healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, daily meditations or walks in nature and a healthy diet. The rapid pace of our lives often interferes with us taking the time to really take care of ourselves. Caring for ourselves helps to keep our bodies healthy, and maximizes the mind/body's inherent healing potential.

Marc Grossman, O.D., L.Ac., optometrist and licensed acupuncturist, has been helping people preserve their vision in his private practice for over 20 years. He is the co-author of Natural Eye Care - An Encyclopedia (Keats, 1999) and Greater Vision - A Guide to Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Clarity in Everyday Life (McGraw Hill Publishers, 2001). Dr. Grossman is currently the Eastern Region Director of the Optometric Extension Foundation program, and lectures internationally on natural eye care, nutrition and Chinese medicine.

Recently, Niacin has got publicity for reducing cholesterol. It has also been found effective in reducing the incidence of second heart attack by 30 percent. Higher levels of Niacin can lead to hot flushes and liver damage. So, be very careful when taking therapeutical doses of this vitamin. Consult a qualified person before starting this treatment.

Caution: Do not take niacin if you have a liver disorder, gout, or high blood pressure.

Recommended Dosage: 40 and 50 mg daily. Do not exceed a total of 200 mg daily if you have a history of rheumatic heart disease or other valvular heart problem.

Note: Niacin can have an uncomfortable flushing/prickly affect when you take it. This reaction varies by person. Niacinamide is a form of Niacin that is a non-flush niacin, which has all the benefits without the uncomfortable rush. Both our Liquid Complete B and our Power Multi-V contain niacinamide.

Pyridoxine deficiency has been linked to heart disease. Pyridoxine is extremely important for formation of red blood cells and neurotransmitters. Animal studies have shown that diets deficient in B6 can lead to hardened, narrowed arteries. This may be because B6 helps to prevent the unnecessary blood clots that can block arteries. B6 is also necessary to control homocysteine that appears to damage artery linings and encourage heart disease.

Recommended Dosage: 20 and 50 mg daily. B6 is found in whole grains, lentils and sweet potatoes.

Recent studies have shown that folic acid can ward off heart attacks and strokes. A deficiency of folic acid can increase the risk of heart disease 200 to 300 percent. Folic acid was shown to break down homocysteine, an amino acid. Homocysteine was shown to increase the risk of heart attack by 300 percent. Higher levels of homocysteine were found to cause significant blockages in the carotid arteries. (Carotid arteries are found in the neck and deliver blood to the brain.) Ten percent of all heart disease in the United States is believed to be from high levels of homocysteine. Hence folic acid, which breaks down homocysteine, is a very important deterrent to heart disease. It is found in foods such as navy beans, broccoli, orange juice, green leafy vegetables, fruits and legumes.

Shortage of Vitamin B-12 has been associated with elevated levels of dangerous homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine can damage the inner surface of arteries. This can be treated and/or prevented with vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and folic acid. Many cardiologists are now using B-vitamins to help prevent coronary artery disease.

It is a little known fact that a deficiency in B Vitamins can contribute to depression. Especially if you're older than 50 or you're a vegetarian, taking a daily supplement that includes vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins may be helpful in making sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs. Doctors have long known of the relationship between low levels of vitamin B-12 and depression. Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins, such as folate, play a role in the production of certain brain chemicals that are important in regulating mood and other brain functions. Our Liquid Complete B contains all the Vitamin B you need!

Heart Disease Patients With High Omega-3 Fatty Acids Age More Slowly on Cellular Level.

Jan. 19, 2010 -- Heart disease patients with the highest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids appear to age more slowly than those with the lowest blood levels, according to a new study.

Previous studies have shown that heart disease patients with a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids -- found in fish and in dietary supplements -- have higher survival rates.

The new study may help explain why. ''We've shown an entirely new effect of omega-3 fatty acids, which may be to slow down the biological aging process in patients with coronary heart disease," says lead author Ramin Farzaneh-Far, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco.

Farzaneh-Far and his colleagues looked at a marker of biological age -- the rate of shortening of telomeres, structures at the end of a chromosome involved in its replication and stability. As the telomeres shorten over time, the eventual result is cell death, scientists believe.

In previous research, Farzaneh-Far says, his team looked at the same group of heart disease patients and found that telomere length was ''a powerful predictor of death and bad outcomes [from heart disease]. In that [study], we found the shorter your telomeres, the greater your risk of death."

In the new study, the higher the blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the patients evaluated, the slower the rate of telomere shortening.

"We looked at the biological effects of higher blood levels," Farzaneh-Far tells WebMD, "not supplement intake."

Ultra Omega 3 6 9 is an excellent source of Omega 3's

Omega-3s and Aging Study Details

For the study, the researchers evaluated 608 patients with stable heart disease, recruited from the Heart and Soul Study from September 2000 and December 2002, following them up for a median of six years (half were followed more, half less).

Participants gave blood samples at the beginning of the study, which were evaluated for omega-3 fatty acid levels. The researchers also isolated DNA from the blood and evaluated the length of the telomere of the leukocyte, a type of blood cell.

Over the follow-up period, "patients with the lowest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids exhibited a rate of telomere shortening 2.6 times faster than patients with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids," Farzaneh-Far tells WebMD.

How does that relate to aging? "We don’t have enough data to be able to convert the changes of telomere shortening into years of aging," he says. "This may be one of the first studies to look at the change in telomere length over time."

There was no association found between omega-3 fatty acid levels and telomere length at the study start. The researchers aren't sure why, but state that omega-3 fatty acid levels is one of many influences on the length of the telomeres, with other factors including inflammation in the body, obesity, oxidative stress, and lack of physical activity.

Would high omega-3 blood levels help those without heart disease? Farzaneh-Far can't say. ''Whether this effect of omega-3 fatty acids on telomere length is present in those without coronary heart disease, I just can't say," Farzaneh-Far says, noting it was beyond the scope of the study. However, he adds, ''it could be.'' Telomere shortening occurs in everyone, he says.

Omega-3s May Slow Aging in Heart Patients

Heart Disease Patients With High Omega-3 Fatty Acids Age More Slowly on Cellular Level

Omega-3 Fatty Acids & Aging: Other Opinions

''This is very exciting news, to show how fish oil works on a cellular level," says Ravi Dave, MD, a cardiologist at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center & Orthopedic Hospital and an associate professor of medicine at the University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine.

The new finding, he tells WebMD, builds on previous research. "There has been a strong association found that if you take marine omega-3 fatty acids, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease."

Researchers have been trying to pin down why. Several proposed mechanisms have been found, including reduction of inflammation in the body or reducing the risk of abnormal heart rhythms, Dave says. With the new finding, he says, "it's no longer a hypothesized mechanism. It has some basis behind how it works." But, he adds, "fish oils are only one of the things that affect telomere length." Many other factors, he says, such as oxidative stress on the cells, play a role. Eventually, Dave says, if the telomere research bears out, a test to check a person's telomere length may be one way to predict the risk of heart disease.

The new research demonstrates a protective effect of fish oil on the aging clock, adds Robert Zee, PhD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of molecular epidemiology at the division of preventive medicine of Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston. He has reported a link between shorter telomere length and heart attacks. But the new findings need replication, he says.

Omega-3s and Health: Advice

What should healthy people and those with heart disease do in terms of omega-3s?

Farzaneh-Far points to the existing American Heart Association guidelines. "The American Heart Association already recommends at least a gram a day" of omega-3 fatty acid intake for those with documented heart disease, he says. Preferably it should come from oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, or albacore tuna, according to the AHA, but supplements could be considered if a patient's doctor agrees.

For those who don't have heart disease, the AHA recommends eating a variety of fish, preferably oily types such as salmon, at least twice a week, and including in the diet healthy oils such as flaxseed, canola, and soybean.

One of the researchers, William S. Harris of the University of South Dakota, reports receiving research grants from companies with interests in omega-3 fatty acids. Another co-author, Elizabeth H. Blackburn, PhD, shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase.

Enzyme-blocking chemicals in pomegranates (phytochemicals) may reduce the risk of estrogen-fueled breast cancers, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

An acid found in pomegranates appears to block aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgen to estrogen, a hormone that plays a role in the development of breast cancer, the researchers wrote in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

"We identified some of these chemicals in pomegranates that actually have properties that can suppress aromatase," researcher Shiuan Chen, of the City of Hope cancer research and treatment center in Duarte, California, said in a telephone interview.

Many women who have had breast cancer take medicines called aromatase inhibitors -- such as Pfizer's Aromasin, Novartis' Femara and AstraZeneca Plc's Arimidex -- to keep estrogen from feeding tumors.

Chen and colleagues studied whether compounds, or phytochemicals, in pomegranates can suppress aromatase and ultimately block cancer growth. They found that 10 natural compounds in the fruit may potentially prevent estrogen-related breast cancer.

"We do not recommend people start taking this as a replacement for the AI's," Chen said. "They (pomegranate compounds) are not as potent as the real drugs so we think that the interest probably is more on the prevention end rather than in a therapeutic purpose."

Other researchers not associated with the study told the journal that the results are promising, and suggested more studies involving animals and humans were needed to confirm the findings.

"It's not clear that these levels could be achieved in animals or in humans because the (compounds) are not well absorbed into blood when provided in the diet," said Gary Stoner of Ohio State University.

Dr. Powel Brown, an oncologist at the University of Texas, said in a statement that future studies should focus on testing pomegranate juice for its effect on estrogen levels, menopausal symptoms, breast density or even as a cancer preventive agent.

More than 400,000 women die from breast cancer globally every year. About 75 percent of breast cancers are estrogen-receptor positive, meaning they are fed by estrogen.

Previous research has shown that pomegranate juice is rich in antioxidants -- vitamins and other substances -- that may help prevent diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.

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