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September 29, 2002 Dear Friends, Thank you very much for your interest in Body Language Vitamin Company’s Scientific Formulas This is a scientific update as I had promised. It is also to thank you for visiting our website and or benefiting from our state of the art supplements. This update will keep you informed with important new research information. I welcome you to visit our site http://www.bodylanguagevitamin.com/ and use our Body Mass Index Calculator and to take our copyrighted health scan. These health tools are free to you and provide important information regarding your wellness. Folate reduces your risk of all arterial-aging phenomenon such as memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, heart disease, impotence and skin wrinkling (Eikelboom JW et al Ann Intern Med 1999; Rimm EB Et al JAMA 1998; BMJ 1998;316:894-898; Alternative Medicine Alert Sept 2002). It has also been shown to reduce your risk of colon cancer (Freudenheim et al Int J epidemiol 1991) For more than 15 years I have been recommending that my patients consume a supplement rich in folate (folic acid). I have long recommended 400 micrograms (mcg)-800 mcg (and in rare cases 1.2 milligrams (mg) = 1200 mcg). My colleagues did not understand my recommendations until Rimm published his landmark study showing that 400 mcg of folate plus additional B vitamins will significantly reduce homocysteine levels. Reducing homocysteine levels has been known to promote cardiac health for many years, but the large study did not come out until 1998. Additionally, a recent study published in JAMA showed that 553 patients involved in a randomized, double-blinded placebo controlled trial had a significant decrease in the incidence of major cardiac events after angioplasty compared to control. Essentially, the group treated with folate, B12 and B6 had much better outcomes than the placebo group (Schnyder et al The typical American diet has ~ 300 mcg of folate. This has increased more recently as grains have been fortified with 100 mcg of folate per 100 grams of grain, thus yielding approximately 25 mcg in most servings. It has been suggested that even with appropriate fortification and a healthy diet more than 75% of Americans are still not getting enough folate (yet another very important reason to seriously consider our MVI and antioxidant formulas which have the perfect balance of all-natural supplements including folate and the other B-vitamins). Folate facilitates the transfer of carbon methyl units for the production of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and deoxynucleoside triphosphate synthesis. This is necessary to make the building blocks for DNA in our bodies. It has been shown that deficiency of some of these building blocks makes the DNA weaker (more fragile) and can inhibit the P53 tumor-suppressor gene and allow certain cancers to grow with greater ease (Duthie SJ Nutrition 2001; Peters and Jansen Nutrition 2001; Choi and Mason J Nutr 2000 and Freudenheim et al Int J Epidemiol 1991) In 1998 the Nurse’s Health Study showed that the relative risk for colon cancer in the women with the highest intake of folate (>400 mcg/day) was 31% lower than those consuming the lowest amount of folate (<200 mcg/day). Interestingly men had a 60% lower risk for colon cancer when consuming higher amounts of folate. This information is based on a study of more than 88,000 people (Giovcannucci et al J Natl Cancer Inst 1993; Su and Arab Ann Epidemiol 2001). How about risks? There are always potential risks, however, no human toxicity, with folate, has been reported with intakes of less than 2000 mcg/day. However, high intake of folate can mask a B-12 deficiency, so we account for this in our supplements, by being sure to provide enough of an absorbable form of B-12. Another word of caution is for people who are taking phenytoin (an anti-seizure medicine). Folate may result in lower phenytoin levels. Also patients taking methotrexate (an anti-cancer drug, but also used for severe cases of arthritis) may find that folate reduces the efficacy of methotrexate. Having said this, many physicians will still recommend extra folate for their patients who are taking methotrexate. Moral of this story should be clear, but in case I have not been specific enough, we have provided compelling information, based upon the latest science, that you should take BLV Co’s MVI and Antioxidant formulas to potentially reduce your risk for many illnesses. Ginkgo shown to be ineffective for memory, what about tinnitus? (ringing in the ear) Does it help? Read on to find out. Gingko biloba, or maidenhair, is the oldest living tree on earth. Gingko biloba leaves have been used therapeutically by the Chinese for centuries for the treatment of asthma and bronchitis. The important components of Ginkgo are flavonoids and terpenoids. These have been shown to inhibit the action of Platelet Activating Factor (PAF). This means that Ginkgo can and does thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding. This effect is similar to aspirin, however the effect of aspirin is for the life of the platelet (7-10 days) whereas Ginkgo’s effect is for approximately 24 hours. The putative active ingredient has been isolated as EGB761 and there have been many studies related to its effectiveness in a variety of medical disorders. It has been shown to increase circulation throughout the body. Numerous studies have shown the efficacy of ginkgo on intermittent claudication, cerebral insufficiency, and tinnitus. However, a recent randomized double-blind placebo controlled study found no effect after a six-week trial. This study had 203 participants and there was no improvement in neuropsychological tests of learning, memory, attention etc. Interestingly, they provided 40 mg of Ginkgo three times per day (Solomon et al JAMA 2002). In my opinion (and based upon fact), this dose is much too low to have a strong effect. Typical dosages range from 120-480mg per day, divided equally at mealtime. In western countries a standardized 50:1 concentrate of 24% gingko flavonoids is used, either in liquid or capsule form. Most studies showed that between 30-70% of subjects had improved cognitive abilities over a 6-12 week period (Gruenwald J, Brendler t, Jaenicke C, editors. Physicians Desk Reference for Herbal Medicine, 1st edition. Medical Economics Company, Inc, 1998; In terms of tinnitus, a study by Hobbs in 1986 provided statistical significance for the effectiveness of treatment with ginkgo extract for tinnitus; the ringing completely disappeared in 35% of the patients tested, with a distinct improvement in as little as 70 days. Similarly, when 350 patients with hearing defects due to advanced age were treated with ginkgo extract, the success rate was 82%. Furthermore, a follow-up study of 137 of the original group of elderly patients 5 years later revealed that 67% still had better hearing Holgers KM, Axelsson A, Pringle. Ginkgo Biloba Extract for the Treatment of Tinnitus. Audiology 1994; 33 (2): 85-92). The results of the first large-scale double-blind randomized prospective study (1121 volunteers at One of the appealing aspects of Ginkgo biloba with regard to the treatment of tinnitus, has been the fact that it is relatively inexpensive, and has negligible side effects, such as increase risk for epistaxis. There has been one report of a woman who used Ginkgo for approximately 2 years who developed a subdural hemorrhage (Letter to the Editor. Tinnitus Today. Pages 5-6, September 1998, December 1998, January 1999, March 1999). However, this substance has been used for more than 2000 years without severe side effects. As with any medication, the physician should take a careful history before recommending Gingko as it may potentiate hemorrhage in people taking coumadin or heparin. The German Commission E, which is considered an excellent reference for the medicinal use of therapeutic herbs, rates Ginkgo as positive and recommends 240 mg twice per day for tinnitus and vertigo (Blumenthal, Busse, Goldberg editors. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Integrative Medicine Communications, The variable response to herbs including Gingko raises the concern of whether all preparations are the same. It is clear that some of the less expensive brands were ineffective and had a higher rate of gastrointestinal upset. When these patients were then changed to a more respected or well-known brand, these side effects were ameliorated and the patients’ response was typically better. Over the past several years, we have been recommending Arches Tinnitus Relief Formula (www.tinnitusformula.com), as their formulation is highly standardized and appears to be effective for some patients. Ginkgo is not effective in every patient with tinnitus or memory loss, but the risk to benefit ratio would suggest that a trial with Ginkgo is reasonable. Up coming editions to talk about natural anti-cholesterol agents.
I hope you have found this information valuable and helpful. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I answer all of my emails; please allow 24-72 hours as we get many questions. You can also find many other interesting studies and articles by clicking on Educational Resources (the top left task bar) at Body Language Vitamin Company. Michael D. Seidman, MD., FACS |
