July 18, 2002 Research Update

James Bogash, D.C. Mesa, AZ
info@lifecarechiropractic.com
www.lifecarechiropractic.com

Vitamins Use in a Male Physicians and Subsequent CVD

This article found no protective effect for multivitamins or vitamins C or E on cardiovascular disease. Before you run to the cabinet and throw away your Centrum multis (on second thought...if you are taking Centrum....) consider a few things. These articles rarely look into the type of multivitamin that the participant is taking. Multi quality varies incredibly, and my biased opinion would be that the researchers would have a hard time identifying characteristics of a high quality multivitamin. Just because a multi has 100% of the RDA does not mean it will be absorbed. Many nurses in the past have referred to Centrums as "bedpan bullets." And ask any radiologist if they have identified intact vitamins on Xray. (see Dr. Bogash - vitamins & Herbs http://www.lifecarechiropractic.com/vitaminsherbs.html for additional information on this topic) My guess would be that a good, high quality multivitamin WILL lower risk of many diseases, CVD included.

Vitamin Supplement Use in a Low-Risk Population of US Male Physicians and Subsequent Cardiovascular Mortality

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The Hospital Water Supply as a Source of Nosocomial Infections

I've always said that hospitals are a dangerous place to be!! Chalk up yet another reason. I have to relay a recent experience. I had one of my oldest patient fall and break her hip. Hip replacement surgery followed and she was placed into a rehab/nursing facility. I gave her daughter Vitamin C and zinc (both are excellent for wound healing -- vitamin C can be a limiting factor for formation of connective tissue; without it healing can slow down). The nursing staff went apoplexic and took them away and said they needed to ask the doctor. Of course, the doctor denied them and wrote a prescription for multivitamin (which are notoriously low quality). The ignorance of this situation is astounding and all too familiar.

The Hospital Water Supply as a Source of Nosocomial Infections: A Plea for Action

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Outbreak of Multiresistant A. baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Combine this article with the previous one and we can begin to see why some patients never leave the hospital. Patients enter there immunocomprimised in the first place, are given nutritionally devoid (and in some cases harmful) food and on top of all of this are exposed to some strong bugs. Remember that a healthy immune system, NOT antibiotics, does not care about "multiresistant" bugs. The human immune system, when optimally functioning, can take care of these invaders quite readily. The bottom line? We need to support the immune systems of patients at risk; not destroy it with poor food and nutritional deficiencies.

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Sunlight and breast, ovarian, colon, prostate, non-melanoma skin cancer

We have such fears these days of sunlight exposure and have forgotten that sunlight is actually healthy for us (in moderation, of course). This article shows a protective effect of sunight exposure on many types of cancer. Recently, much press was given here in AZ on the increasing rates of melanoma in children. So of course we heard from "experts" on how properly apply sunscreen and stay out of the sun. A few things to consider here. Do you think that kids today have less actual sun exposure now than 20 years ago? The push for sunscreen, kids staying indoors to play video games... I would bet total sunlight exposure is down and yet melanoma is up. How?? Gosh forbid we should consider a overall health and nutritional impact on melanoma. I would like to see further studies comparing overall sun exposure as well as looking into dietary considerations now versus 20 years ago.

Occup Environ Med -- Abstracts: Freedman et al. 59 (4): 257

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Predisposition to Atherosclerosis by Infections

This article adds further weight to the contribution of infections to cardiovascular disease. There is a growing list of factors that contribute to risk, and many, if not most, can be managed with lifestyle changes...CRP, cholesterol, homocysteine, HDL cholesterol and now infections. Maintaining a lifestyle that supports healthy immune function (avoiding refined carbs, lots of fruits and veggies..) can help lower risk of infections and possibly lower CVD risk.

Circulation -- Abstracts: Prasad et al. 106 (2): 184

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A Controlled Trial of Arthroscopic Surgery for Osteoarthritis of the Knee

This study really explodes another very common procedure in mainstream medicine. Arthroscopy of the knee is very common, and yet the research to support its validity has never been done. Well, this article does some of this research and shows no benefit over placebo (the issue of a placebo surgery is an another topic entirely...). Articles like this always bring to mind the critics of chiropractic care who say what we do is not founded on research. Well, those doctors in incredibly fragile glass houses on foundations of cards should not shoot anti-aircraft missles....

NEJM -- Abstracts: Moseley et al. 347 (2): 81

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Can flossing teeth foil heart disease?

This short review supports further the notion that healthy gums means healthy heart. This may refer back to a few articles ago--the gums can be a route of infection into the human body; thus increasing the exposure to bacteria. Flossing is of course a very good idea, but I would also add to that the use of xylitol gum. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar that seems to have an effect on the normal flora of the oral cavity--changing it to a less invasive phenotype.

The Journal : Back Issues

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Hip abductor activation with clinical unilateral hip osteoarthritis

While this article seems blatantly obvious to those of us in manual medicine that use alot of soft tissue techniques, we appearantly needed a study so others could share in the obvious. Consider a tent with one of the tethering lines pulling way too hard--of course there would be long term effects on the health and durability of the main pole. Stretching, mobilization of the hip joint, orthotics, trigger point therapy and techniques aimed at eliminating scar tissue (i.e. NMR, ART) are important components of a therapeutic approach to hip pain.

Ann Rheum Dis -- Abstracts: Sims et al. 61 (8): 687

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Very Early Exposure to Erythromycin and Infantile Pyloric Stenosis

So many times we consider antibiotic use with blinders on. We just look at long term side effects as antibiotic resistance without looking at how we destroy normal flora and here, how this drug alters stucture to create a condition that requires surgical intervention. All clinicians need to come to terms with the long term detrimental effects of antibiotic use and use only when absolutely necessary.

Very Early Exposure to Erythromycin and Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

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