Dr. Arturo M. Volpe

Inflammation has been linked with heart disease and cancer, the two major killers of our time. Now, a recent study (Nature Med. 2000;6(9):973-974) has found that people who took a daily dose of ibuprofen had a reduced incidence of Alzheimerís disease as compared to the general population.

Since ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug, this study suggests that inflammation, probably of the brain, can lead to senile dementia and, therefore, that controlling such inflammation can have a protective effect.

The question is then whether a drug like ibuprofen is a wise choice for long-term protection from inflammation since its side effects include an increased risk of stomach ulcers.

Future research is likely to show that a complex set of causes interact to trigger inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease. In the meantime, avoiding allergic foods, eating a diet low in sugar and junk food, and balancing body chemistry through a targeted supplement program may be our best plan of action. If needed, dietary supplements – such as fish oil and the pineapple enzyme bromelain – are strong natural anti-inflammatories that have no adverse side effects.

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A recent study (Environmental Health Perspec, June 2000;108 (Suppl 3): 433-438) reveals that certain common environmental chemicals can alter thyroid function by acting directly on the thyroid or by affecting centers in the brain that regulate thyroid function. These chemicals, known as PCBs and dioxins, are widespread in today’s environment. This may explain why low thyroid function and many related disorders, including depression and weight gain, have become so common.

A far more disturbing finding of the study is that, in animal models, these chemicals impaired brain development in early life. In humans, adequate thyroid function is essential for brain development starting several months before delivery through the first two years after birth. Based on this information, thyroid deficiencies could be a contributory factor in today’s epidemic of neurological disorders in children such as ADD and ADHD.

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BSE, commonly known as Mad Cow Disease, has recently spread to several European countries and led to widespread avoidance of beef and beef products by consumers. However, it may be that this disease is not transmitted by eating infected meat but rather through exposure to organophosphate pesticides. This theory, and the compelling evidence that supports it based on the research of Cambridge University scientist David R. Brown, can be reviewed in a December 13, 2000 article posted on the Irish website http://www.eionews.com.

Interestingly, exposure to these same pesticides has also been linked to the increasing incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, although this link has not yet been proven. In humans, exposure to organophosphates occurs through some head lice shampoos, often used in children, and through anti-flea products for pets. However, organophosphate-free substitutes for these products can be found.

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In a 1997 study (Neuropsychobiology, 1997;35:16-23) the effects of the drug Amantadine on patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were compared with L-carnitine. While Amantadine is a commonly prescribed anti-viral drug, L-carnitine is a natural amino acid derived from protein. It plays a vital role in energy production and fatty acid metabolism. Results revealed that, while Amantadine was poorly tolerated and did not lead to improvements, carnitine had virtually no side effects and led to clinical improvements in 12 of 18 parameters studied.

In an unrelated study (Cardiovascular Drugs Ther, 1999;13:537-546), 20 patients suffering from class II or III cardiac insufficiency received L-carnitine supplements for 120 days. After 60 days of supplementation, the group achieved significant improvements in performance, and these improvements were still maintained at 180 days, or 60 days after supplementation was discontinued.

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A group of newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients were given fish oil, a multiple vitamin and basic dietary advice. Results proved that these measures led to a significant reduction in exacerbation rates of the disease (Acta Neurol Scand, 2000; 102:143-149).

Although outside the scope of this study, testing the stool for certain types of “unfriendly” bacteria, and ordering a simple hair analysis to check for toxic metals, can also be of value in the natural management of MS.

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A recent study (Environmental Health Perspec, June 2000;108 (Suppl 3): 433-438) reveals that certain common environmental chemicals can alter thyroid function by acting directly on the thyroid or by affecting centers in the brain that regulate thyroid function. These chemicals, known as PCBs and dioxins, are widespread in today’s environment. This may explain why low thyroid function and many related disorders, including depression and weight gain, have become so common.
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A report recently published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (Vol. 20, No. 1, February 2000; 84-89), reviewed seven randomized double-blind studies and found that, overall, kava extract significantly reduced anxiety when compared to a placebo.

In addition, researchers pointed out that, in all the studies, very few side effects were reported. Two of the largest studies reported no side effects at all. By contract, drugs commonly prescribed to treat anxiety, including Buspar and Xanax, have been found to cause dangerous side effects.

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It is standard practice for many pharmaceutical companies to use Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative, in childhood vaccines. Exposure to mercury is known to cause various symptoms, including sensory disturbances, movement abnormalities and cognitive impairments. Children who receive the full range of recommended vaccines may take in a cumulative amount of mercury that exceeds the federal limits on exposure for adults.

A May 2000 study in the Journal of Pediatrics (Vol. 136, No. 5, pp. 679-681) showed that it is possible to measure a significant increase in mercury in the blood of vaccinated infants.

Last June, a Congressional report1 charged that both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the FDA had allowed members with financial ties to drug companies to play prominent roles in making decisions about vaccine approval.

After claiming for decades that vaccines are completely safe, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reported that a new preliminary, large-scale study indicates that there is a statistically significant association between mercury from vaccinations and neurological disorders, including tics, ADD, language and speech delay, and other non-specific neurodevelopmental delays. This study is available from http://www.vaccinesafety.edu/ACIP-thim-0621.htm.

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A report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest published in October 1999 concluded that diet plays a fundamental role in ADHD. The report also charged that government agencies, physicians and the food industry have disregarded strong research evidence pointing to a link between diet and hyperactivity.
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A recent study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (August, 2000; 42: 777-782) reveals that perchlorate, a chemical found in the water supply of some Arizona cities, may be to blame for thyroid disease in newborns. Apparently this chemical made its way into these citiesí municipal water from the Colorado River system. Current water treatment plants cannot remove the chemical.

This study underscores the importance of drinking reverse-osmosis filtered, spring or distilled water and avoiding all tap water. In the long run, we may discover many more dangerous chemicals that have found their way into our drinking water.

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Contrary to what many women have been told, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (August 24, 2000; 343:522-529, 530-537) reveals that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) does not protect against heart disease.

Researchers studied the effects of two forms of HRT on women with existing coronary artery disease. The two forms of HRT studied were horse-derived estrogen (found in Premarin) and the same estrogen plus synthetic progesterone (progestin). At the end of the 3.2-year study, researchers observed that neither treatment had altered the progression of the disease.

The authors concluded that women with established disease “should not use estrogen replacement with an expectation of cardiovascular benefit.” An accompanying editorial states:

“Evidence is mounting that current postmenopausal hormone preparations may not be effective as secondary prevention for some women. For example, the Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study (HERS) (7) found that 4.1 years of treatment with conjugated estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate had no overall effect on the rate of nonfatal myocardial infarction or death among women with established coronary artery disease. However, an increased risk of cardiovascular events was associated with the study regimen in the first year.”

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Type II diabetes is also known as ìadult onsetî diabetes, occurring mostly among older individuals. A recent study published in the September 2000 issue of Diabetes Care reveals that the overall rate of this form of diabetes increased 33% from 1990 to 1998. Among young adults the rate increased nearly 70% over the same period.

This dramatic increase is a direct consequence of our preference for a high-sugar, high-refined carbohydrate diet. Type II diabetes can be a life threatening condition, leading to cardiovascular and kidney disease, among other complications. It can, however, be effectively controlled and often reversed with diet changes and by replenishing deficient minerals and other nutrients.

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Many people have found glucosamine and chondroitin to help substantially in controlling the pain and stiffness of arthritis. The medical profession, however, has remained skeptical and continues to rely exclusively on anti-inflammatory drugs that have undesirable side effects and may actually aggravate the condition in the long run.

A review of existing studies was published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association (March 15, 2000; 283 11: 1469-75). The authors concluded that there is substantial evidence that these substances have “moderate to large (beneficial) effects”. The authors cautioned that quality standards in the dietary supplement industry remain poor and this may lead to inconsistent results.

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A recent review article published in the highly respected medical journal The Lancet (August 2000; vol. 1356: no. 9229) reveals some of the dangers of hysterectomies. The authors found that 1 in 10 women have serious complications, including death in 6 out of 10,000 women. The risk of developing incontinence (due to nerves damaged during surgery) increases by 60%, although the problem may only manifest itself years after the fact and is rarely recognized as a consequence of the hysterectomy.

In the United States 600,000 hysterectomies are carried out each year. It is estimated that 40% of American women will have a hysterectomy by age 60. This rate far exceeds that of other industrialized nations, raising questions about standards of care. Women are rarely informed of the dangers or of the alternatives, including natural hormones, that can sometimes obviate the need for surgery.

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Antioxidants include the vitamins A, E and C; the minerals selenium and zinc; and other products like lipoic acid, bioflavonoids, coenzyme Q10, and melatonin. Cancer patients tend to have low blood levels of antioxidants and conventional treatments further deplete them.

It was therefore theorized that antioxidant supplements could be helpful in an integrated approach to cancer, but experts cautioned that not enough was known about their effects and that they could possibly prevent medications from working.

An in-depth analysis of existing studies can be found in the Alternative Medicine Review (2000; 5 (2): 152-163). The authors evaluated more than 100 previously published studies and concluded that, in almost all cases, antioxidants either did not interfere with medical treatments or actually helped them by reducing side effects while at the same time enhancing the medical treatment’s therapeutic effects.

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