March 11, 2001 Research Update

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

Lipoprotein(a) Level Linked to Coronary Events in Middle-Aged Men

I really hate to beat a dead horse, but checking only cholesterol levels with the copious amounts of research on other blood-related risk factors is outdated and a disservice. What is interesting about this study is that the degree of risk from lipoprotein(a) is related to the presence of other risk factors. More support of a global approach to disease management.

J Am Coll Cardiol 2001;37:434-439 Perhaps ending a longstanding controversy, a new population-based study connects elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) with increased coronary risk in middle-aged men, especially those with high LDL cholesterol levels, low HDL cholesterol levels, hypertension and/or other risk factors. Dr. Arnold von Eckardstein, from the Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat Munster, Germany, and colleagues collected data on 788 men, 35 to 65 years of age, who participated in the Prospective Cardiovascular Munster study. Over 10 years of follow-up, the researchers evaluated levels of lipoprotein(a) as well as traditional cardiovascular risk factors. During that period, 44 men experienced myocardial infarctions, while the remaining 744 subjects survived without a major coronary event or stroke, according to the research team's report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology for February. Dr. von Eckardstein's group found a 2.7 times increased risk for coronary events among men whose lipoprotein(a) levels were 0.2 g/L or more, compared with subjects with lower levels. The risk was especially prominent in men with LDL cholesterol levels of 4.1 mmol/L or more (relative risk 2.6), and men with HDL cholesterol of 0.9 mmol/L or less (relative risk 8.3). The risk was also strongly associated with hypertension (relative risk 3.2). "Because lipoprotein(a) increases the risk of coronary events strongly depending on the presence of additional coronary risk factors, it is imperative to strictly control additional risk factors in individuals with elevated lipoprotein(a)," Dr. von Eckardstein and colleagues conclude.

Supplement Recalled for Containing Prescription Anxiety Drug

With all the brands and types of supplements on the market, I realize it can be very confusing to the consumer. Many would like to turn to their doctors, but physicians are uneducated as to these items and their effects and side effects. Compound all this confusion with reports of OTC preparations containing adulterated prescription drugs and the havoc increases. Many people have tried certain supplements only to find them ineffective. It may not be the herb, but the lack of it, in the supplement they took! I know it's easy for me to say, but I strongly recommend sticking with pharmaceutical grade nutritional companies (nutriceuticals) to obtain all your supplements. These companies typically sell only through physician's offices.

(article) A dietary supplement promoted to treat a wide range of conditions, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol, is the subject of a nationwide recall after an investigation revealed that the product contains the prescription anxiety drug chlordiazepoxide. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the California Department of Health Services are warning consumers not to take Anso Comfort Capsules, which were sold by Arcadia, California-based NuMeridian via phone and mail order. Chlordiazepoxide, which is prescribed under the brand name Librium, is classified by the Drug Enforcement Agency as a controlled substance. The drug can have dangerous interactions with other medications, can intensify the effects of alcohol and other central nervous system depressants, and may be habit forming. The presence of chlordiazepoxide was not revealed on Anso Comfort Capsules' label. NuMeridian, formerly Top Line Project USA Group, is conducting a voluntary recall of the product under US Food and Drug Administration monitoring. The company also appears to have violated government regulations by promoting its capsules as a treatment for various illnesses. Dietary supplements are permitted to claim only that they help maintain a structure or function of the body. Cold Comfort Capsules were manufactured in California using raw materials imported from China. NuMeridian purchased its materials for the Anso Comfort capsules from Top Line, which imported the ingredients from China, he said.