VITAMINS HAVE NEVER KILLED ANYONE

I am sure everyone is buzzing about the fallacious news stories from the last couple of days that are telling you taking vitamins is risky for your health.  Every time I hear reports on these studies I get mad.  I get more so when I hear the local ABC outlet news anchor say she does fair and balanced reporting.
If her reporting was fair and balanced she would include the following information from Mitch Stargrove an ND I have known over some years:
It is not advisable to make a causal statement of excess risk based on these observational data..." Without proper accounting of and informed choices for form, dose, combination, sequencing of nutrients this data says little of clinical consequence. Moreover, the fundamental premise of natural medicine is personalized and evolving care in concert with a healthcare professional trained and experienced in nutritional therapies. All contemplated supplement usage should be discussed with primary care providers, such as (licensed) naturopathic physicians, who are trained in their appropriate, prudent and proper usage. Lastly, reliance of foods, i.e., fruits and vegetables, is not what it used to be. Solid research shows that the nutrient content of commercially grown foods sold in the USA has declined markedly over the past 30 years; presumably due to industrial/petrochemical agribusiness practices and priorities. Other problematic factors have been mentioned by previous responses to this alarmist declaration which reveals a hostile and prejudiced posture in the conventional medical world that does not serve the patient's best interests nor the methodology of science and discovery.


The only concern I have fore vitamins used by people over 40 is iron unless the person is clearly anemic.  Iron is known to be a higher risk of heart attack in this age group.


Zinc is important for immune support and endocrine health.  If elevated Copper is usually low.  Too much copper is a risk but reputable supplements know the safe limits.


Magnesium is good for the brain and nervous system just like the B vitamins.  Magnesium is usually deficient especially if you are using Rx drugs. 


Many forms of calcium are not well absorbed and yet this "study" tells you to take it.


If you need help deciding on your supplements we offer this service through our Health Forensics programs. Email us for more information.


I'll continue taking my vitamins, Thank you!


From Natural Products Insider


Then consider this from MedPage Today

Readers Say Vitamin Levels Should Be Checked Yearly

By Chris Kaiser

Cardiology Editor, MedPage Today Published: October 07, 2011

Processed foods, mineral-depleted soil, overcooked vegetables, increased stress levels -- all of these increase the chances of having a vitamin deficiency, according to a vocal majority ofMedPage Today readers who commented on last week's poll. We asked readers if and when patients should be assessed for vitamin deficiencies. Of the more than 2,200 votes, 69% said that patients' vitamin levels should be assessed at least annually. "I cannot remember how many patients have been rescued from dementia and psychosis by B12, especially when I have a geriatric focus," said one doctor, who also touted vitamin D, calcium, fish oil, and thyroid testing. "Everybody deserves a look about once a year." But once a year was not enough for some (9% said every visit) and too much for others. One cardiologist said he or she tests vitamin levels every six months with a "pick up rate over 25%." Another commenter said that yearly testing seems too frequent. "Getting a baseline every five years with additional testing as needed seems better." We received several anecdotal accounts about vitamin deficiency being caught, but only when the patient requested the test. "I was diagnosed with severe insufficiency of vitamin D and only had it tested because I requested it," said one woman, who added that her mother and daughter were subsequently found to be vitamin D-deficient. "I have just been rescued from severely low vitamin D levels, and my daughter has been found to have low vitamin levels as well. I wish my doctors had been checking levels all along," noted another MedPage Today reader. And another expressed similar exasperation. "It was not until I was diagnosed with osteoporosis that I had a vitamin D 25-OH test, and found out that despite being outside every day, my level was insufficient. By then it was too late. I am very disappointed that my physician did not order this inexpensive test years ago. Now, I have asked for a B12 test as well." One woman's B12 deficiency mimicked multiple sclerosis and she went through a battery of tests before a neurologist ordered vitamin testing for her. "It baffles me that insurance companies aren't pushing for annual vitamin testing, because so many conditions can be resolved with proper vitamin supplementation," wrote one woman, who also was found deficient in vitamin D after she requested the test. The comments also parsed the meaning of "recommended daily allowance" (RDA). Most agreed that the RDA is not meant to prevent disease states but more to support optimum health. "The original purpose of RDAs was to specify the amounts of various micronutrients needed by the 'average' person to guard against deficiency disease; the fact that a person does not have scurvy or anemia doesn't mean she/he is getting enough vitamin C or B12, respectively, to be as healthy as possible," wrote one commenter. But what is the root cause of vitamin deficiency? "We need to start with nutrition," was how one physician simply put it. Others, as well, chimed in with the notion that vitamin deficiencies and chronic diseases are symptoms of malnourishment, which is symptomatic of poor eating habits. As expressed by one European, "Ultimately, there is simply no substitute for a healthy diet. Sadly, American diets often lean toward processed foods, which tend to be low in nearly every (micro)nutrient other than sodium." "Healthy eating is almost nonexistent today," said another commenter. "Processed and modified foods simply are not as nutrient-dense as their counterparts were perhaps 20 years ago." And, as usual, we had at least one post worthy of going in the X-file. "I wonder how much this 'concern' is being driven by yet more EU 'directives' banning the sale of 'natural' additives and supplements," this commenter wrote. "Whilst the profession should remain wary of too close an 'association' with what is considered as 'Big Pharma,' we should also remain acutely aware of signs and symptoms of deficiencies which have been known and recognized for centuries. The prescribing decisions must always be made as a result of knowledge, not some bureaucratic nonsense from an invisible and unaccountable back-room mandarin with several bees in his bonnet and 'fees' to be earned!" And now the meaningless study - Dec 27, 2009 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – An analysis of "real-world" clinical data indicates that vitamin E, and drugs that reduce generalized inflammation, may slow the decline of mental and physical abilities in people with Alzheimer's ...

Dietary Supplements Linked to Higher Death Risk

By Todd Neale, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Published: October 10, 2011 Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner In postmenopausal women, the use of several common vitamin and mineral supplements was associated with an increased risk of death, researchers found. After adjustment for multiple potential confounders, use of multivitamins and vitamin B6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc, and copper supplements was associated with greater all-cause mortality through 19 years of follow-up (HRs 1.06 to 1.45), according to Jaakko Mursu, PhD, of the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, and colleagues. Use of a daily calcium supplement, on the other hand, was associated with a lower risk of death (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.94), the team reported in the Oct. 10 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

"Based on existing evidence, we see little justification for the general and widespread use of dietary supplements," they wrote, citing a body of literature generally supporting no association with mortality, with some suggestions of harm. "We recommend that they be used with strong medically based cause, such as symptomatic nutrient deficiency disease." "We cannot recommend the use of vitamin and mineral supplements as a preventive measure, at least not in a well-nourished population," they wrote. "Those supplements do not replace or add to the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables and may cause unwanted health consequences." Taking dietary supplements to improve health and prevent diseases is widespread, with about half of U.S. adults using one or more in 2000, according to Mursu and colleagues. Annual sales top $20 billion. The long-term impact of supplementation is unknown, however, and some studies have suggested a relationship between supplements and increased mortality. As Rita Redberg, MD, of the University of California San Francisco, wrote in an editor's note, "manufacturers are not required to disclose to the FDA or to consumers the evidence they have regarding their products' safety, nor must they empirically back up claims of purported benefits." In light of this uncertainty, Mursu and colleagues examined the use of vitamin and mineral supplements among 38,772 postmenopausal women participating in the Iowa Women's Health Study. The mean age of the women at baseline in 1986 was 61.6. The participants reported their use of supplements in 1986, 1997, and 2004. The percentage who reported using at least one supplement daily increased from 62.7% to 85.1% during the study. In 2004, more than one-quarter of the women (27%) said they used four or more. The most commonly used supplements were calcium, multivitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Through 2008, 40.2% of the women died. After adjustment for demographics, dietary and lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and use of hormone replacement therapy, the following supplements were associated with a greater risk of death during follow-up: Multivitamins: HR 1.06 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.10) Magnesium: HR 1.08 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.15) Zinc: HR 1.08 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.15) Iron: HR 1.10 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.17) Vitamin B6: HR 1.10 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.21) Folic acid: HR 1.15 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.32) Copper: HR 1.45 (95% CI 1.20 to 1.75) Absolute increases in risk ranged from 2.4% with multivitamins to 18% with copper. After multivariate adjustment, use of calcium supplementation was associated with a lower risk of death (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.94). The absolute risk reduction was 3.8%. To account for the multiple comparisons made, however, the researchers set a P value of less than 0.003 to establish significance. Only the increase associated with multivitamins, calcium, and copper remained significant using this threshold. "However, many of the additional statistical tests were confirmatory, strengthening confidence that findings were not explainable by chance," Mursu and colleagues noted. In particular, the findings related to iron and calcium remained consistent when the analysis was restricted to follow-up from 1986 to 1996, from 1997 to 2003, and from 2004 to 2008. In addition, the mortality risk associated with iron supplementation increased in a dose-response fashion. The relationship was not significant for doses of 200 mg/day or less, but was significant for a dose of 201 to 400 mg/day (HR 1.35) and for a dose of 400 mg/day or more (HR 1.57). "Iron is suggested to catalyze reactions that produce oxidants and thus promote oxidative stress," the authors noted, acknowledging that they did not examine possible mechanisms in the current study. "However, we cannot rule out the possibility that the increase in total mortality rate was caused by illnesses for which use of iron supplements is indicated," they wrote. "Chronic disease, major injury, and/or operations may cause anemia, which is then treated with supplemental iron. However, we could find no evidence for such reverse causality." In their commentary, Bjelakovic and Gluud said that "one should consider the likely U-shaped relationship between micronutrient status and health," with risks associated with both insufficient and excessive intake. "Therefore, we believe that politicians and regulatory authorities should wake up to their responsibility to allow only safe products on the market," they wrote. Added Redberg, "A better investment in health would be eating more fruits and vegetables, among other activities. Because commonly used vitamin and mineral supplements have no known benefit on mortality rate and have been shown to confer risk, this article has been given our 'Less Is More' designation." Mursu and colleagues noted that their study was limited by the possibility of residual confounding and changes in supplement use during the study, the inability to exclude the chance that some supplements were taken in response to symptoms or clinical disease, the lack of data on nutritional status or detailed information on the supplements used, and the study sample comprised of white women, which limits the generalizability of the findings. The study was partially supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute and the Academy of Finland, by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and by the Fulbright program's Research Grant for a Junior Scholar. One of Mursu's co-authors is an unpaid member of the scientific advisory board of the California Walnut Commission. Bjelakovic and Gluud reported that they had no conflicts of interest. Primary source: Archives of Internal Medicine Source reference: Mursu J, et al "Dietary supplements and mortality rate in older women: the Iowa Women's Health Study" Arch Intern Med 2011; 171: 1625-1633. Additional source: Archives of Internal Medicine Source reference: Bjelakovic G, Gluud C "Vitamin and mineral supplement use in relation to all-cause mortality in the Iowa Women's Health Study" Arch Intern Med 2011; 171: 1633-1634. Selections from Natural Health News

Natural Health News: Vitamins for Alzheimer's

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: More Vitamins Please

Oct 13, 2008

More Vitamins Please. In the long ago days of the youth of my children our pediatrician rather naturally had us offer liquid vitamin drops daily from infancy onward. Back then it was common to find 400 to 800 IU 0f ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: Good News About Vitamins

May 25, 2010

Good News About Vitamins. That TV Doctor Lisa Masterson would just love you to believe her propaganda force fed to medical students and reinforced by mainstream media that all you need for good nutrition is a healthy ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: Vitality from Vitamins

Jul 03, 2008

Fatty meals may cloud the brains of people with type 2 diabetes, but antioxidant vitamins can help clear the fog, Canadian researchers demonstrated in a study they conducted. The findings suggest, the researchers say, ...

Low Dose Electromagnetic Radiation Depletes Key Nutrients

For years I have been alerting skeptics to the fact that non-ionizing radiation indeed has a negative impact, and it can take many forms.

This report is enlightening because it looks at important nutrients and the impact on health.

If you're a consumer of EMF in its many forms, you might wish to look too.

Researchers found these key nutrients to be affected -

Calcium is essential for proper bone formation and teeth, as well as certain hormones and muscle contraction. A deficiency of calcium leads to muscle cramps, eye twitching, sleep disorders, and bone disorders like osteoporosis.

Magnesium deficiency has been linked to heart arrhythmias, visual deficiency, anxiety, confusion. agitation, restless leg syndrome (RLS), sleep disorders, irritability, nausea and vomiting, low blood pressure, muscle spasms, and seizures.

Zinc is required for normal immune function, fertility, and protein synthesis. Insufficient zinc can lead to sleep disorders, behavioral problems, diarrhea, skin rashes, hair loss, hyperactivity, allergies, bowel disease, and reduced fertility.

Ulku R, Akdag MZ, Erdogan S, Akkus Z, Dasdag S.  Extremely Low-Frequency Magnetic Field Decreased Calcium, Zinc and Magnesium Levels in Costa of Rat. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Sep 25. [Epub ahead of print]

SOURCE

Why Wait? Boost T-Cells Now with Supplements

Improving your supplement regimen now will do a great deal to boost T-cell function.

Zinc is one of the key minerals that can help your T-cells work much more effectively.

Other supplements include those that support thymus function because this is where T-cells are activated.

Supplements already have a known history of safety, so you won't be playing a "wild card".

T-cell vaccine could treat cancer
NORMAN, Okla., May 28 (UPI) -- Vaccines that activate T-cells in the immune system may someday be used to treat cancer, HIV and other viral diseases, scientists in Oklahoma said.

Researchers at the University of Oklahoma have been working on a T-cell vaccine for West Nile virus that could be applied to other viral diseases, project team leader William Hildebrand said.

"No one has ever done this with a T-cell vaccine, so we're learning; but now we are starting to get some traction. We are finding that a T-cell vaccine can work," Hildebrand told The Oklahoman in a story published Friday.

T-cells kill virus-infected cells in the body, including cells that become cancerous.

Until now, vaccine research has focused on generating antibodies to prevent illness. Many antibody vaccines work well, but are not effective against all viral diseases, Hildebrand and his team wrote in a recent issue of the Journal of Immunology.

T-cell vaccines would activate specific parts of the immune system to target a virus and kill it, said Hildebrand, who worked on the project with scientists at Washington University in St. Louis.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2010/05/28/Report-T-cell-vaccine-could-treat-cancer/UPI-86291275055355/

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2006/09/zinc.html
http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2009/06/benfits-of-zinc.html
http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/2010/05/zinc-benefit-to-people-with-hiv.html

Zinc, A Benefit to People with HIV

It is a good sign to see more reports on the benefits of nutrient supplementation for people with chronic disease. See related Natural Health News 60+ posts - Different-approach-needed-for-HIV/AIDS

May 19, 2010

Daily Zinc Supplements May Slow CD4 Cell Loss and Reduce Diarrhea

Daily zinc supplementation may help slow disease progression, notably in people living with HIV who are unable to maintain viral loads below undetectable while on an antiretroviral (ARV) drug regimen, and reduce diarrhea, according to a new study published in the June 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases (CID).

Adequate zinc levels are critical for immune function. However, according to Marianna K. Baum, PhD, RD, of Florida International University and her fellow CID study authors, zinc deficiency occurs in more than 50 percent of people living with HIV. In turn, Baum’s group set out to determine the safety and efficacy of long-term zinc supplementation as it related to HIV disease progression.
The randomized, controlled trial conducted by Baum’s team enrolled 231 HIV-positive adults with low plasma zinc levels (less than 0.75 milligrams per liter [mg/L]) to receive zinc supplements (12 mg of elemental zinc for women and 15 mg for men) or placebo for 18 months. The primary measurement of the study was immunological failure, defined as a CD4 count below 200 at any time point during the study.
The average age of the study participants was 43. Seventy-seven percent were black, and 73 percent were men. Though 62 percent of the study participants were receiving ARV therapy, 69 percent had detectable viral loads, indicating poor control of the virus with the regimens being used. About 34 percent of the patients had CD4 counts below 200 upon entering the study; 22 percent had CD4s between 200 and 350, and 44 percent had CD4s above 350.
Zinc supplementation for 18 months resulted in a 75 percent reduction in the likelihood of immunological failure, after controlling the data for age, sex, food insecurity, baseline CD4 cell count, viral load and ARV therapy.
Daily zinc supplementation also reduced the rate of diarrhea by more than half.
There was no evidence that taking zinc supplements actually reduced the risk of death, though the study was not designed or powered to examine this aspect. A total of 11 patients in the treatment arm died compared with eight in the placebo arm.
Baum’s group also reported that daily zinc supplementation was safe. Her group reported no serious side effects.
“The results of this study can be generalized primarily to HIV-infected populations with prevalent zinc deficiency, such as drug users, children, men who have sex with men, and populations in developing countries, as well as those with poor viral control while receiving [antiretroviral therapy],” the authors conclude. “This evidence supports the recommendation of zinc therapy as a safe, simple and cost-effective tool to improve the immune response and to reduce morbidity and should be considered as an adjunct therapy for HIV infection.”

There's a Dent in Denture Care Consumer Products

ABC News Coverage May 2009

UPDATED 6 May
The issue of toxicity in denture cream products recently met with a critical mass when Good Morning America discussed this issue on a very recent program.

You can find that information here...

Originally posted 17 April
Health Considerations of Consumer Products: Zinc and other Issues with Denture Adhesive Creams

Several years ago complaints began to surface regarding the use of dental adhesives and the development of neuropathy as an adverse effect of using denture adhesive creams.

The reports came from people who were thought to be suffering with hypocupremia (copper deficiency) and hyperzincemia (excess zinc) which may have resulted from chronic excessive use of denture adhesive creams. Most recently, denture cream lawsuits are being investigated regarding adhesive creams such as Super Poligrip and Fixodent. There are, however, other health problems that may be associated with ingredients found in denture adhesive creams.

According to available ingredient information on popular dental adhesives they may include some or all of the following ingredients: Polymethylvinylether Maleic Acid Calcium-Zinc Salt, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Cellulose Gum, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Saccharin, Flavor, Red 27 Aluminum Lake and Yellow 6 Aluminum Lake. Combinations of this group of chemicals raise concern.

Consumers are well advised to read product labels carefully to evaluate if any ingredient may lead to an adverse event.

Both Calcium and Zinc are essential minerals. Calcium is most commonly known to be stored in bone and teeth, and is important to skeletal and muscle health. One of many of zinc’s functions is in the health of the immune system and assisting vitamin A use in forming bone and teeth.

Copper is also an essential mineral, however in sufficient amounts, copper can be poisonous and even fatal. Zinc may act to cause heavy metal poisoning similar to lead when the body stores excess amounts. Zinc and copper are antagonists to each other; as one rises in the blood, the other decreases. Excessive zinc has been linked to neuropathy.

Unidentified is “Flavor” and it is well established that this category may include MSG, a flavor enhancer and neuro-excitotoxic substance. Synthetic flavorings may be petroleum based. Mineral oil and petrolatum are petroleum based ingredients. Petroleum based products have been reported to effect lung function and other mucous membrane function in the gastrointestinal tract.

Cellulose gum is often used either as a bulking agent, an emulsifier, stabilizer and thickener. It is known chemically as Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

Silicon Dioxide is a commonly used ingredient often used as a flow agent or hydration factor. Since it takes on water, extended exposures may cause drying of the skin or other tissue, and may be an abrasive when used in a hydrated form. It is known as a gastrointestinal irritant and may be connected with GI obstructions.

Fluoride is known to react with silicon dioxide to form hexafluorosilicic acid which is considered to be corrosive and may cause fluoride poisoning or swelling of lung tissue. Fluoride is also considered to be a thyroid suppressive substance with many health risks. Impaired thyroid function may be associated with immune suppression and other health concerns.

In addition, silicon dioxide reacts chemically with zinc salts.

Sodium saccharin has a controversial history as an artificial sweetener. This substance is banned in many countries, including Canada, but was allowed in the United States as long as the product is labeled to contain saccharin which may increase the risk of cancer. In 2000 the labeling requirement was discontinued by Congress. Older research showed an increase risk of bladder cancer when using saccharin.

Both Red 27 and Yellow 6 are Aluminum Lake colorings. Some research has proposed that aluminum is a factor in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. These are naphthalene-azo dyes.

The gum like paste that forms the base material for these adhesive creams is Polymethylvinylether Maleic Acid (PVM/MA). This is a synthetic polymer used as a film forming or thickening agent. Ingestion of excessive amounts of these substances may cause nausea, abdominal pain, burning sensations, vomiting or diarrhea. They may also be drying to skin.

Authors of a study at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
involving people using dental creams found very large and varied amounts of zinc concentrations in the products. They concluded that use of the creams in excessive and chronic use patterns may result in trace element imbalance and serious neurologic disease.

Should you have questions about using these products, contact your dental or other health care provider.

This article is part of a consumer health education series written by Gayle Eversole, DHom, PhD, MH, NP, ND, of Creating Health Institute, in collaboration with Bernstein Liebhard, LLP, who sponsors the consumer advocate website, www.ConsumerInjuryLawyers.com.

You can follow this link to read more about a denture cream lawsuit, Fixodent lawsuit or Poligrip lawsuit. 12/11/08

Supplements 'reduce malaria toll'

UPDATE: Stephen Fisher, a missionary in Zambia is very successful using iodine to treat people with malaria. He used 20 drops of Iodine in a half glass of water given 4 or 5 times during the first day and then decreased the dose to 10 drops of Iodine 4 times a day for 3 more days. Higher dosages can be administered for much longer since iodine is a nutritional medicine that is needed by the body. Such a protocol can be used for the swine flu or any other type of influenza. Many natural and integrative providers use higher dosages of other iodine forms, namely Lugol’s and Iodoral for cancer treatment.
------------------------------------------------------------
Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Quincy Jones, Oprah, Ryan Seacrest, Ted Turner and CNN all chipped in to purchase mosquito nets. Nets have been known for a very long time to be very useful in the prevention of malaria. The One World Campaign against malaria is underway, yet there is an important missing piece.

In addition to mosquito nets, two inexpensive vitamin and mineral supplements reduce the incidence of malaria by one-third.

Think of how much impact mosquito nets along with vitamin A and zinc could have.

Note that vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin and it is rare that it is taken in large enough quantities to be poisonous to the human body. In certain instances very high doses of vitamin A are used to fight lung infections and pneumonia or other similar health issues. This can actually be up to 250,000 units daily over no more than 3 days. In excess, zinc may have untoward effects. Because it is a difficult mineral to absorb, it is best taken with food and in frequent small doses, usually up to about 50-60 mg a day.

Originally posted February 2008

This report caught my interest because we are sponsoring a Veteran's Resource project and one of the items we report is that Lariam, a fluoride based drug our young men and women in Iraq are forced to take.

We also read about how Bill Gates is spending millions on vaccines that are really worthless in this fight, yet makes no allowances for the real science behind supplements for health, including the ones that help in HIV/AIDS.

Wouldn't it be great if we gave all our military folks vitamins instead of deadly drugs...and the same for the children of Africa.

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes
Cheap dietary supplements could protect young children from malaria, research suggests.
The study, published in Nutrition Journal, found giving children vitamin A and zinc cut incidence of illness by a third.

Malaria remains a major killer in many parts of the world - in sub-Saharan Africa it is estimated to account for a million child deaths a year.

Resistance to drug treatments is an increasing problem.

And efforts to kill the infected mosquitoes that spread the disease have been hampered by the use of ineffective insecticides.

Many people living in malaria endemic areas suffer from malnutrition so researchers in Burkina Faso experimented with adding vitamin A and zinc supplements to the diets of children aged from six months to six years.

Half of the children were given a placebo. After six months the scientists observed a 34% decrease in incidence of malaria in those children taking the supplements.

Among those children who did catch the illness, those taking supplements were more resistant to the disease and suffered fewer fever episodes.

The researchers, from Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé, believe the combined supplements boosted the children's immune system, making them more naturally resistant to malaria.

They believe the supplements could be an effective long term strategy to reduce the impact of malaria.

Caution required

Dr Ron Behrens, an expert in tropical diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said zinc supplementation had also been shown to have a positive impact on respiratory disease and cholera.

However, he said use of supplements might only work in communities with specific nutritional deficiencies - and those deficiencies might only exist at certain times of year.

For instance, vitamin A deficiency was a problem in West Africa during the rainy season, but not when palm oil was in plentiful supply.

Dr Behrens also warned that too much zinc could have a negative impact on the body's ability to make use of other minerals, such as copper and selenium.

Vitamin A in excess had been shown to be toxic, he said, causing brain swelling and other complications.

"Neither of these micro-nutrients is totally safe. They should be used like pharmaceuticals, and not seen as cure alls," he said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7231096.stm

Early on use of immune boosting mineral fights cold and flu bug

Just when some researchers are manipulating T cells to try and fight off cancer it seems they over looked the benefit of zinc which is known to improve the function and number of these immune "Kung Fu Fighters".

Zinc lozenges do provide an aid to your boost in vitamin C intake in the cold and flu season. Zinc tends to be difficult to absorb so its best used in lower doses, more frequently. I like the zinc lozenges with vitamin C and Elderberry.

When purchasing lozenges, read the pagkage label carefully to make sure you aren't getting a prodcut containing aspartame, acesulfame K or sucralose.

Zinc helps boost the number and strength of T-Cells, differentiated in the thymus gland.

Remember to use natural lotion to keep the skin on your hands lubricated when using hand sanitizers. Most contain alcohol which is drying to the skin.

The Next Best Thing to a Cure for the Common Cold?
As cold and flu season heats up, good news comes in form of a lozenge. A study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases suggests that taking zinc lozenges at the first sign of a cold could lead to milder symptoms and quicker recovery.

In the study, within 24 hours of contracting a cold, 50 people were given either lozenges containing 13 mg of zinc (in the form of zinc acetate) or a matching placebo to be taken every two to three hours while awake for as long as they had cold symptoms.

People who took the zinc lozenges had cold symptoms for a significantly shorter time than the people taking placebo (four days versus seven days). Compared with the placebo group, the zinc group's coughs, runny noses, and muscle aches lasted significantly less time, and symptoms were significantly less severe. Side effects were mild and similar between both groups.

The common cold may be caused by more than 200 different viruses, with rhinoviruses leading the pack. The average adult experiences two to four colds per year, while children may suffer as many as ten. The viruses are spread in the droplets of coughs and sneezes and can be passed from person to person by handling objects such as telephones, door knobs, and toys that an infected person has touched.

Runny nose, sore throat, body aches, cough, congestion, sneezing, and low-grade fever are some of the uncomfortable symptoms that herald a cold's onset, and these may last for a couple of weeks. Until now, there wasn't much to do for a cold besides getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and gargling with salt water. The American College of Chest Physicians discourages use of cough suppressants or expectorants and cautions that these medications shouldn’t be used by anyone younger than 14 years old.

Some studies have suggested that zinc might help relieve cold symptoms, but the evidence hasn't been conclusive. On these promising new results, the authors proposed "that the beneficial clinical effects seen in the zinc group were due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of zinc." The zinc acetate used in new study is easily released in the mouth in a cherry-flavored lozenge.

When dealing with colds, prevention is still the best medicine. Remember to wash hands frequently and use and dispose of tissues promptly. When washing isn't possible, try a natural hand sanitizer.

(J Infect Dis 2008;197:795–802)

simple, inexpensive ways to beat cold and flu
The common cold can be one of the most fatiguing features of winter, often lasting weeks. The flu is another situation that can move from a viral to a debilitating infection, often more serious and may be accompanied by a high fever, body aches, and chills. Here are some good ways to help you shorten the life of a cold or flu:

Stay hydrated—Noncaffeinated drinks, including water and low-sugar juices, may help loosen and clear out mucus, soothe a sore throat, and replace fluid loss due to a fever or runny nose. Warm liquids, like herbal teas or soups, not only hydrate but their heat may also help fight off the infection and relieve congestion.

Take it easy—Lie down, stay warm, and sleep if you feel tired. This keeps all the body's energy available for combating the virus. If you have trouble relaxing, dim the lights, watch your favorite movie, or take a bath (add a few drops of lemon and or eucalyptus pure essential oil and you'll add virus fighting foes).

Don’t dry out—Because the cold and flu thrive in cold, dry environments, you can help boot out the virus infection by staying warm and raising humidity levels. Also, at very low levels of humidity, the nose mucus dries up and isn’t able to defend as well against harmful viruses and bacteria. Try using a nasal mist to keep your nose mucus moist. Or try this comforting stand-by: warm your hands and put your face over the rising steam as you sip your herbal tea.

portions courtesy DSIB

Scientists turbo-charge immune cells to fight cancerSun Nov 2, 2008
PARIS (AFP) – Scientists in the United States have created super-charged immune cells that helped beat back cancer tumours in half of a small group of patients tested, according to a study released Sunday.

Adding an artificial receptor to T-lymphocytes immune cells boosted their ability to fight a deadly form of cancer called neuroblastoma, the researchers reported.

Neuroblastoma attacks the nervous system. While fairly rare, it accounts for seven percent of all childhood cancers, and 15 percent of non-adult cancer deaths.

In two-thirds of cases, it is not diagnosed until it has already spread to other parts of the body.

In their natural state, T-lymphocytes do not survive very long and lack the molecules that would target cancer cells in tumours.

To overcome this double deficiency, a team of researchers led by Malcolm Brenner at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas first selected immune cells naturally stimulated by a common but harmless virus called Epstein-Barr.

They then modified these cells to express a receptor keyed to specific proteins found in human neuroblastoma cells.

"In effect, the T-lymphocytes trampoline off the virus and onto the tumor," said Brenner.

In tests on 11 neuroblastoma patients aged three to 10, the re-engineered immune cells -- stimulated by the Epstein-Barr virus -- lasted for as long as 18 months, the study reported.

In five cases, tumours regressed and in a sixth the disease receded completely.

"For the first time, we started to see tumour responses," Brenner said. "We have one complete remission and others who have had stable disease for more than a year."

In future research, Brenner and his team plan to add receptors for other cancers to see if they get the same cancer-fighting effect, he said.

The study was published online in the Nature Publishing Group's journal Nature Medicine.

ZINC

ZINC - Common use: Supports the immune system; maintains healthy vision; supports prostate health; essential mineral for proper insulin activity and wound healing.

Zinc Improves Mental Performance in 7th Graders

The results of a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed seventh graders given 20mg Zinc, five days per week for 10-12 weeks, demonstrated improvement in mental performance, responded more quickly and accurately on memory tasks and with more sustained attention, than their classmates who received no additional Zinc.

A risk of Zinc deficiency is particularly high in adolescents because they're undergoing rapid growth and often have poor eating habits.

Previous studies have show that Zinc is needed for growth and immune function, and may be important for eye-hand coordination and reasoning in young children.

Zinc is also necessary for memory, muscle strength and endurance in adults.