April 5, 2000 Research Update



 

Here is yet another example of the poor quality of many nutritional products…

Among 25 major brands of supplements containing glucosamine and/or chondroitin used for treating osteoarthritis, nearly one third were found not to contain all labeled ingredients. These results were reported by ConsumerLab .com, which conducts the largest independent analysis of dietary supplements sold in the United States. More alarming, almost half (6 of 13) of the glucosamine-chondroitin combination products tested did not pass — all due to low chondroitin levels. Similarly, the 2 chondroitin-only products tested did not pass. In contrast, all 10 of the glucosamine-only products tested passed. One possible explanation for the low pass rate for chondroitin-containing products is economic — chondroitin costs manufacturers approximately 4 times as much as glucosamine.

A drug used for Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis may be strong cause of birth defects when taken by the male. If only these parents knew that there are many non-pharmaceutical methods to handle these diseases.

Paternal use of 6-mercaptopurine shortly before conception may be linked to the development of “startling” congenital deformities, according to findings reported in the March issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

New vaccine for pneumococcal disease, including ear infections. Now, before you go run out and get your little one vaccinated, consider how many drugs and vaccines are pulled off the market for safety reasons in their first few years. Let someone else be the guinea pigs..

A study published in the March issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal confirms that a newly approved vaccine is at least 90% effective in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease in young children. The study also shows that the vaccine, Prevnar, reduced common ear infections by 7%, multiple ear infections by 23%, and the need for ear tubes by 20%.

Major increases in asthma in our children. Could it be the poor diets? The poor quality air? The extensive use of antibiotics when they are not needed?

The prevalence of asthma-associated disability in US children has more than doubled since 1969, according to a report in the March issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. They found that the prevalence of disabling asthma in children has risen 232% since 1969.

Or maybe it’s Tylenol use?? Thorax — Abstracts: Shaheen et al. 55 (4): 266

Yet another marker for heart disease that will go unnoticed for DECADES before someone decides it may be a good idea. Cholesterol levels is not becoming outdated, they ARE ALREADY outdated.

Our current study disclosed that RLP-C (remnant-like particle cholesterol) levels are strongly associated with coronary artery disease, especially in patients with normal total cholesterol levels. Moreover, RLP-C/HDL-C ratio may be even more significantly associated with the presence of coronary artery stenosis in normocholesterolemic patients. Am Heart J 139(2):305-310, 2000.

 

James Bogash

For more than a decade, Dr. Bogash has stayed current with the medical literature as it relates to physiology, disease prevention and disease management. He uses his knowledge to educate patients, the community and cyberspace on the best way to avoid and / or manage chronic diseases using lifestyle and targeted supplementation.







Email: