articles; snake oil salesmen; my favourites

[Guest guest]

The Role of Inflammation in Chronic Diseases

ACAM

These seemed apropos - someone mentioned Perlmutter in FL, and

several of you had interest in supplements and the like. I've

included a list of what I actually find helpful.

___________________________________________________________________________________-

Medical Conference Report

October 2000

Salt Lake City

by Ivy Greenwell

Introduction

Several years ago I heard a holistic practitioner say, “If we prevent

inflammation, we can prevent Alzheimer's disease.” I was stunned. The

mainstream view was, “If you live long enough, you will develop

Alzheimer's.” The same went for cataracts and cardiovascular disease.

Then last June Ridker, MD, a Harvard cardiologist, publicly stated,

“We have to think of heart disease as an inflammatory disease, just as we

think of rheumatoid arthritis as an inflammatory disease.” He asserted

that it's inflammation that leads to pieces of arterial plaque breaking

off and causing heart attacks, even in people with normal or low

cholesterol. Recently headlines announced that men regularly taking

non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen lowered

their risk of prostate cancer by 66%; some risk reduction with NSAID use

has also been reported for breast cancer and colon cancer. On a minor but

important note, Dr. Perricone, an innovative dermatologist, is

now saying (or at least implying) that if we prevent inflammation, we can

prevent a lot of skin aging.

Because of our new awareness of the importance of inflammation, it is not

surprising that the most recent conference of the Academy for the

Advancement of Medicine (ACAM) had inflammation and infection as its main

theme. Only by understanding the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis

of diseases such as AIDS, cancer or Alzheimer's disease can we develop

effective therapies. The growing understanding of the major role that

oxidative stress and inflammation play in the development and progression

of various pathologies has brought progress in devising more effective

treatment protocols. In addition, the conference also included lectures

and workshops dealing with updates in hormone replacement. Here are some

of the highlights.

“The brain on fire”—Inflammation as the key to neurodegenerative diseases

[]

The brain in a state of chronic inflammation is, in Perlmutter's colorful

phrase, " the brain on fire. " Current therapies " treat the

smoke, but not the fire. "

Perlmutter, a neurologist and director of the Perlmutter Health

Center in Naples, Florida, and the author of BrainRecovery.com — Powerful

Therapy for Challenging Brain Disorders, delivered an exciting lecture on

the nature, prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such

as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. He concentrated on two factors:

inflammation and glutathione depletion. Once we understand the critical

importance of inflammation and glutathione depletion in brain diseases,

we can take steps to prevent or even reverse the damage.

First, Dr. Perlmutter presented evidence that the current mainstream

drugs such as Aricept are “essentially useless” in actually treating

Alzheimer's disease. Their effectiveness is minimal at best, while their

side effects include vomiting, dizziness and insomnia. These drugs do not

correct the underlying inflammation. The brain in a state of chronic

inflammation is, in Perlmutter's colorful phrase, “the brain on fire.”

Current therapies “treat the smoke, but not the fire.”

The first real breakthrough in the understanding and treatment of

Alzheimer's disease has been the discovery that the use of aspirin and

NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil) has a very significant protective

effect. In one large study of those who used aspirin, NSAIDs or

acetaminophen, NSAIDs reduced the risk of Alzheimer's disease to only 40%

that of nonusers. Aspirin reduced the risk to 74%. Acetaminophen,

however, raised the risk by 35% (this may have something to do with a

toxic metabolite of acetaminophen, which depletes glutathione).

This finding is of tremendous importance to arthritis sufferers—they must

become aware that their choice of a pain reliever is crucial in

determining their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The

effectiveness of ibuprofen is likely to stem from its superior ability to

inhibit Nuclear Factor kappa B (NFkB), a transcription factor that

switches on the production of inflammatory cytokines that initiate the

process of cell death. It also supports Dr. Perlmutter's thesis that

inflammation (“fire”) is at the core of Alzheimer's disease, and may turn

out to be far more important than the beta-amyloid plaque.

We need to put out the fire in the brain—that is, reduce inflammation.

Fortunately, we have some knowledge about how to accomplish this goal.

For instance, we know that simply by taking nonsteroidal

anti-inflammatories on a preventive basis, we can cut the risk of

developing the disease by as much as 60%.

Can anti-inflammatories be used not only for prevention of

neurodegenerative diseases, but also as treatment? Indomethacin, a

well-known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, has been found to produce

improvement in Alzheimer's patients, Perlmutter pointed out. The

improvement was modest, but dramatic in the light of the fact that over

the six-month course of the study the placebo group continued to

deteriorate. Currently there is also great interest in the effect of

selective COX-2 inhibitors (Celebrex, Vioxx) on the prevention of

Alzheimer's disease, Perlmutter said. A few participants were concerned

that “we may discover the price later on,” but for now we simply have to

wait for more research findings. The main point is there has been a

revolution in medical thinking. The gloomy dogma that nothing can be done

to prevent Alzheimer's is giving way to an increasing awareness that

reducing inflammation is powerful prevention. And now that we have those

expensive COX-2 inhibitors, with more underway, the drug companies are

certainly interested.

Pharmacological NSAIDs are not the only way to reduce inflammation. Fish

oil has been shown to be an effective natural anti-inflammatory. The

consumption of fish oil results in a different composition of cell

membranes, with less arachidonic fatty acid available for the production

of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Animal studies showed that diets

containing fish oil profoundly reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory

chemicals such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and various

interleukins. Flax oil, a rich source of short-chain omega-3 fatty acids,

also appears to be anti-inflammatory, though to a lesser degree.

Epidemiological studies have amply demonstrated that frequent fish-eaters

enjoy much better health, including less cognitive impairment and lower

incidence of Alzheimer's disease, than those who eat little or no

fish.

In addition, all antioxidants are also anti-inflammatory. Alpha lipoic

acid and various flavonoids (such as those found in green tea and

blueberries) may be particularly effective. A diet that emphasizes fish

and seafood rather than meat, along with antioxidant-rich fruits and

vegetables, can be useful in preventing degenerative brain disorders.

This type of anti-inflammatory diet can make all the more difference with

the right supplementation.

Perlmutter, however, placed special emphasis not on reducing inflammation

once it has already started, but on trying to prevent it in the first

place. “It's best to prevent inflammation from starting, rather than use

drugs to dampen it,” he said. He emphasized that inflammation in the

brain is particularly difficult to control. Cerebral inflammation tends

to be self-perpetuating. We know that head injury and strokes (including

mini-strokes), as well as various toxins and infections, produce

inflammation and increase the risk of neurodegenerative disease. But few

people know about the role of excess blood sugar in producing

inflammation and thus contributing to the death of neurons. Perlmutter

observed that Reagan's notorious sweet tooth might have

contributed to the pathogenesis of his Alzheimer's disease.

[]

A diet that emphasizes fish and seafood rather than meat, along with

antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, can be useful in preventing

degenerative brain disorders.

Perlmutter cited a Dutch study that found a more than quadruple risk of

dementia in type II diabetics who use insulin. On the other hand, calorie

restriction, which profoundly reduces blood sugar and insulin, is perhaps

the best dietary protection against age-related brain damage. Consuming

fewer calories translates into lesser production of free radicals. In

addition, glucose can damage proteins, modifying them to pro-inflammatory

compounds called AGEs (Advanced Glycosylation End Products). AGE

-modulated beta-amyloid is extremely pro-inflammatory. One way or

another, Perlmutter kept returning to the theme of reducing inflammation

as a means of preventing, and possibly even treating, Alzheimer's

disease.

Apart from anti-inflammatory supplements, magnesium may also prove a

useful neuroprotector. One cause of neuron death is excess influx of

calcium ions. If magnesium is present in sufficient concentration, the

resulting “magnesium block” (magnesium is a natural calcium channel

blocker) can save the neurons.

People who have suffered head trauma, small strokes or infections

affecting the brain are especially likely to have the kind of low-grade

cerebral inflammation that makes them more susceptible to developing

Alzheimer's disease. These high-risk individuals should be made aware

that they can reduce their risk with fish oil, NSAIDs, lipoic acid,

flavonoids and through calorie restriction.

Those protective measures should be practiced by all of us. The dismal

prediction is that by the year 2030 there will be nine million

Alzheimer's victims in the United States. Some even predict that the

economic burden of Alzheimer's disease alone will be enough to bankrupt

the medical system. Such disaster can be averted through relatively

simple means. It is time to educate the public about the prevention of

brain diseases.

Parkinson's disease and “The glutathione miracle”

Perlmutter went on to discuss his approach to Parkinson's disease. It is

more than a brain disease, he said. Parkinson's is a systemic disease as

well, with the whole body involved. More specifically, Parkinson's

patients tend to be poor detoxifiers. They show low levels of glutathione

not only in the brain (especially in the dopamine-producing region of

substantia nigra), but also in the liver. This may be why exposure to

pesticides and herbicides can be so damaging to individuals with a

genetic vulnerability to Parkinson's. We all have to deal with a

tremendous toxic burden, but those who happen to be poor detoxifiers are

at a special risk.

The central feature of Parkinson's is the progressive destruction of

substantia nigra, resulting in a profound deficiency of the

neurotransmitter dopamine. Mainstream treatment centers on the use of

l-dopa, a precursor of dopamine. This approach to increasing dopamine

works for a limited time, though not without severe side effects,

including further brain damage. “The very drug that's used to treat the

smoke increases the fire,” Perlmutter stated. It turns out that l-dopa

reduces detoxification. L-dopa also increases the conversion of

S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) to homocysteine, and thus promotes vascular

disease. At the same time, it's sometimes not possible to take patients

with advanced Parkinson's off l-dopa. It may be possible, however, to

counteract the drug's side effects and increase the patient's motor

ability through a relatively simple alternative treatment.

[]

Within less than an hour of the injection, Parkinson's patients

experienced an almost complete restoration of the ability to walk, turn

around and move their arms.

Perlmutter's holistic approach is based chiefly on the need to increase

detoxification, and thus enhance glutathione levels. The most dramatic

part of Perlmutter's presentation consisted of slides showing a profound

improvement in Parkinson's symptoms after intravenous glutathione. Within

less than an hour of the injection, Parkinson's patients experienced an

almost complete restoration of the ability to walk, turn around and move

their arms. Perlmutter calls this “the glutathione miracle.” He uses 1200

mg of injectable glutathione at first, then lowers the dose to 600 mg per

injection. The injections are given two days apart. The effectiveness of

the treatment has been validated in a controlled study. Many holistic

physicians already use intravenous glutathione as part of their treatment

for Parkinson's disease.

If the treatment is discontinued, its benefits last for up to four months

after the end of the treatment. Besides acting as a detoxifier and

lowering oxidative stress, glutathione may also enhance the sensitivity

of dopamine receptors in Parkinson's patients, Perlmutter speculated. He

also mentioned that intravenous glutathione is immediately effective

against irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea.

Is there a more convenient way to increase glutathione levels, for

longevity in general and as part of a preventive neuroprotective

protocol? It turns out that lipoic acid is the most effective supplement

for raising glutathione—especially if it is taken together with

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and vitamins C and E. In addition, the amino acid

glutamine is, like NAC, an important precursor of glutathione. Silymarin

(milk thistle extract) has also been shown to increase glutathione in the

liver.

In addition, lipoic acid is known to chelate iron. The elevated levels of

free iron in Parkinson's patients increase free-radical damage and the

destruction of neurons. And, like ibuprofen, lipoic acid inhibits NFkB

and thus the production of inflammatory cytokines.

Perlmutter mentioned other helpful supplements, including CoQ10, which

enhances mitochondrial function and is known to be low in the cerebral

mitochondria of Parkinson's patients (and, interestingly, also of their

spouses). Ginkgo biloba was also discussed. Ginkgo has been shown to have

many neuroprotective properties, including the protection of brain

mitochondrial glutathione against oxidation. Ginkgo also inhibits the

enzyme monoamine oxidase B (MAO-, and thus helps protect dopamine

against quick degradation. The drug seleginine (Deprenyl) also acts as a

MAO-B inhibitor.

Predictably, there also arose some controversy over coffee, recently

shown to be protective against the development of Parkinson's disease.

Raising cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP—a “second messenger”

that amplifies the hormonal message) has been shown to protect against

Parkinson's.

“Caffeine dramatically increases cyclic AMP and decreases the risk of

Parkinson's,” Perlmutter said. Caffeine also competes for receptors with

adenosine, an inhibitory compound. By displacing adenosine, caffeine

indirectly increases the action of dopamine.

Perlmutter condemned the use of long-term antibiotics. Certain

antibiotics are mitochondrial inhibitors. “If you increase antioxidants,

you don't need long-term antibiotics,” he stated. He also suggested that

if a patient is put on statins, s/he ought to take supplemental CoQ10 to

try to compensate for the CoQ10 deficiency induced by the drug.

(Incidentally, a recent British study has found that statins appear to

reduce the risk of dementia. As in the case of heart disease and stroke,

this may be due to the anti-inflammatory properties of statins.)

One conference participant, an MD from England, suggested that

supplementing with Vitamin B12 can be of enormous importance in treating

dementia. He described a patient of his whose dementia virtually

disappeared after treatment with B12. Many elderly are deficient in this

vitamin, crucial for brain function. B12 also increases the

oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells, and helps lower

homocysteine. Dr. Perlmutter agreed that B12 should be an important part

of the treatment. He also discussed magnesium as protective against

excess calcium ion influx.

In summary, current research findings suggest the following: take lipoic

acid and other antioxidants, eat fish and/or take fish oil, drink coffee

(unless you can't tolerate it) and be happy. And forget about dessert.

Calorie restriction still appears to be the most potent brain

saver.

Oxidative stress and chronic fatigue syndrome

Another speaker, Christian Renna, DO, presented an interesting thesis

that without sufficient serotonin and antioxidant defenses, the brain

decides that it's not safe to produce dopamine and norepinephrine—hence

chronic fatigue and related neurosomatic disorders. A central feature of

chronic fatigue-like disorders is a deficiency of norepinephrine. But

simply increasing norepinephrine through pharmacological means is not

appropriate, since the brain is already overwhelmed with stress, and thus

with free radicals. In Renna's view, both stress reduction and

antioxidant supplements are absolutely necessary to help the brain

produce and maintain inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters in

proper ratios. This applies not only to those diagnosed with chronic

fatigue, but to all of us, especially as we age.

In the presence of excess free radicals, the brain seeks to protect

itself by lowering its activity. This means lower production of

excitatory neurotransmitters such as dopamine, and less energy production

in the mitochondria. Every neuron has an excitatory threshold beyond

which it will not fire, Renna explained. Instead, the overstimulated

neuron shifts to an “escape pathway,” preventing the synthesis of

dopamine and norepinephrine. In chronic fatigue, the neuroexcitatory

threshold is set too low. Raising it requires increasing the brain's

safety mechanisms: serotonin and antioxidants. “If the cell doesn't need

to fear oxidative stress, the mitochondria light up like Las Vegas,”

Renna said.

He also pointed out that many chronic fatigue patients responded well to

fen/phen, which was a combination of a serotonin-raising drug and an

amphetamine analogue. “Overcoming serotonin deficiency allows the brain

to tolerate more norepinephrine,” Renna said. He didn't favor long-term

use of antidepressants, however. He felt such use prevented the patient

from achieving a more complete recovery. The point is to help the brain

produce more of its own serotonin. Thus, we need to address the necessity

of lowering stress—not only emotional stress, but also stress coming from

chronic low-grade infections, toxins (including endotoxins [toxins

produced within the body] originating in the gut under conditions of

dysbiosis, meaning an overgrowth of harmful intestinal flora), excess

calories, insufficient sleep or any other source. “The more gentle the

stimulation, the better,” Renna said. “So don't rush.”

In addition, we must make sure the patient's antioxidant defenses are

adequate before we use any kind of stimulant. “If a person is not

energetic, maybe it's not safe for them to be energetic,” Renna said,

again reinforcing the point about low serotonin and depleted antioxidant

defenses. Both need to be corrected through stress reduction, diet, the

right exercise and supplements. The brain will produce more dopamine when

it becomes safe to do so.

Dopamine is a very energizing, feel-good neurotransmitter; in addition,

dopamine stimulates the release of nerve growth factors. But dopamine has

its dark side. “Dopamine is the most dangerous of all neurotransmitters

because the brain needs to defend itself against overstimulation,” Renna

explained. When serotonin is low, the threshold for what constitutes

overstimulation is also set low. Low serotonin, low dopamine, and low

energy production in cerebral mitochondria all lead to a cascade of

harmful consequences. Since the brain is in constant chemical

communication with the rest of the body, including the endocrine system

and the immune system (in fact Renna calls the immune system “morcelized

brain”), the whole body suffers. We see this not only in the chronic

fatigue syndrome, but above all in aging.

[]

Tofu has recently come under suspicion as deleterious to the brain. In an

ironic reversal of our previous beliefs, coffee and tea are now seen as

neuroprotective, while tofu is increasingly under attack.

[]

Renna also discussed neuroprotective supplements. His special emphasis

was on flavonoids as particularly effective antioxidants and

neuroprotectants. Flavonoids (such as those present in blueberries and

bilberries, green tea, grape seed extract, and various fruits and

vegetables) not only raise glutathione levels, but also help prevent

inflammation by inhibiting the enzymes in the lipoxygenase family (LOX),

which NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors cannot do. Renna added folic acid, SAMe

and acetyl-l-carnitine to the list of essential neuroprotective

supplements. As for the so-called smart drugs, such as deprenyl and

piracetam, these too are worth looking into, according to Renna. They

increase energy production while reducing oxidative stress

(acetyl-l-carnitine works the same way).

Tofu has recently come under suspicion as deleterious to the brain. In an

ironic reversal of our previous beliefs, coffee and tea are now seen as

neuroprotective, while tofu is increasingly under attack. Renna takes his

patients off tofu, at least until there is some solid new evidence of its

safety.

Both Perlmutter and Renna covered a huge territory, at times overwhelming

the audience. Permutter focused on the “anti-inflammatory breakthrough”:

preventing and fighting inflammation in the prevention and treatment of

Alzheimer's disease, as well as on the use of intravenous glutathione,

the body's chief detoxifying compound, as a new and potentially

revolutionary treatment for Parkinson's disease. Perlmutter also touched

on the production of energy in the cerebral mitochondria, a subject

developed more fully by Renna. The main message was clear: we already

know a great deal about preventing and treating brain diseases and

age-related cognitive and motor dysfunction. Relatively simple measures

such as reducing caloric intake and taking fish oil, NSAIDs, lipoic acid

and CoQ10 could save millions from terrible brain diseases. It is high

time to start implementing this knowledge on a much broader scale.

Antioxidants against vitamins: lipoic acid and selenium improve the

survival of AIDS patients

The excitement over the new anti-retroviral drugs designed to fight the

AIDS virus is yielding to a sober assessment of their limitations. By now

it has been shown that these drugs do not fully restore immune function.

They are not the long-awaited cure. Their side effects are so severe that

many AIDS patients drop out of treatment. In addition, the majority of

the virus is in the latent stage in the nuclei of T cells, and antiviral

drugs cannot affect latent viruses.

Are there effective alternative treatments? An affirmative answer was

compellingly presented by two speakers: Raxit Jariwalla, PhD, a research

scientist at California Institute for Medical Research in San , and

Lynn , ND, medical director of HIV Wellness Program in Tucson,

Arizona. The speakers cited study after study showing improved survival

rate for AIDS patients who used certain critical supplements known to

reduce oxidative stress (a major factor in the progression of the

disease) and, in some cases, to significantly suppress viral

reproduction.

Both presenters singled out lipoic acid as particularly important. All

antioxidants are also anti-inflammatory agents, but lipoic acid is

regarded as an especially effective anti-inflammatory.

It has been known for almost a decade that lipoic acid effectively

inhibits the replication of the AIDS virus in vitro. This is not

surprising in view of our knowledge that lipoic acid inhibits the

activation of Nuclear Factor kappa B (NFkB), which is believed to play an

important role in the activation of the HIV virus. Essentially, the

latent virus is activated by certain inflammatory cytokines that result

from the activation of NFkB. These cytokines include Tumor Necrosis

Factor alpha (TNF alpha)—hence the goal of reducing TNF alpha, and the

similarity between alternative treatments against AIDS and hepatitis, Dr.

pointed out. Both protocols emphasize lipoic acid, selenium and a

combination of various other antioxidants. In addition, many AIDS

patients are co-infected with Hepatitis C. “All AIDS patients need liver

support,” said. In addition to 500 mg of lipoic acid/day, she

also uses silymarin, shown to be remarkably effective in restoring liver

health.

Lyn largely confirmed Dr. Jariwalla's primary emphasis on lipoic

acid, stating that “lipoic acid is of extreme importance for HIV

patients.” She reinforced this with some added details. Studies have

found that lipoic acid inhibits reverse transcriptase (a viral enzyme

needed for replication), and makes AZT significantly more effective.

Another obvious reason for the importance of lipoic acid for HIV patients

is its ability to raise glutathione, our chief detoxifier and a crucial

endogenous antioxidant. Glutathione is low in all serious illnesses. When

the levels of glutathione rise, the result is reduced oxidative stress.

The role of oxidative stress has been neglected in the discussion of

AIDS, with the public getting the impression that the sole factor in the

progression of this disease is the presence of AIDS virus, commonly

referred to as HIV. Yet oxidative stress and consequent inflammation play

a major role in whether symptoms of AIDS will appear at all, and in the

rate of progression. Some people who are HIV positive do not show any

symptoms of AIDS. Interestingly, this group tends to have a higher intake

of antioxidants, from diet or supplements or both. Even merely taking a

multivitamin turned out to reduce the risk of developing the symptoms of

AIDS by 33% in HIV-positive individuals.

While lipoic acid plays a starring role in the alternative treatment for

HIV patients, another thiol (i.e. sulfur-containing) antioxidant, the

acetylated form of cysteine known as NAC, appears to be somewhat helpful

as well. NAC too helps raise the levels of glutathione, but by itself it

is not likely to have enough effect in AIDS patients; lipoic acid is far

more efficient at raising glutathione and blocking NFkB. The special

effectiveness of lipoic acid may derive from the fact that it's a dithiol

(it has two sulfur groups), while NAC is a monothiol.

NAC is more effective when used with other antioxidants. In particular,

it synergizes with high-dose ascorbate. High-dose ascorbate, Dr.

Jariwalla stated, is unique in that it recycles itself to the reduced

state. It also produces “dramatic dose-dependent suppression of viral

reproduction.” It is believed that high-dose ascorbate suppresses viral

replication through a different mechanism than thiol antioxidants (lipoic

acid and NAC) and selenium. Some participants suggested that intravenous

delivery of ascorbate would be most effective, due to the large dose

required (6 to 12 grams if taken orally).

Selenium also plays a starring role in anti-viral regimens. It too

inhibits NFkB. But the main reason that selenium is known as “birth

control for viruses” derives from the fact that many viruses, including

HIV, need selenium to replicate. Interestingly, in a selenium-rich milieu

the viral genes that control replication stay turned off. In addition,

selenium is required by T cells, and potentiates the action of

interleukin-2. An AIDS patient is ten times more likely to die if s/he is

selenium-deficient, according to Dr. . She uses the dose of 400

mcg per day.

Vitamin E is known to play an important part in bolstering immunity and

reducing inflammation. Like lipoic acid, vitamin E also inhibits NFkB,

essential for viral replication. Dr. stressed that only the

succinate form of vitamin E inhibits both the activation of NFkB and the

binding of activated NFkB to DNA, as shown by the research of Dr. Lester

Packer in the early nineties. Vitamin E has also been shown to enhance

the action of AZT. Thus, the form of vitamin E known as

alpha-tocopheryl-succinate (“dry E” in popular parlance) is of crucial

importance for HIV patients. It is possible, however, that

gamma-tocopherol, being a COX-2 inhibitor, is also of value.

Vitamin A and beta carotene have been found helpful, as has zinc—but only

in small doses. Zinc supplements in excess of 10 to 15 mg appear to

increase disease progression. We don't know very much about zinc and HIV,

but we do know that zinc is important for the immune system. Zinc

activates the thymus hormone thymulin, which plays a part in the

differentiation of T cells. Zinc is also involved in protease and

integrase enzymes. It seems that supplementing with 12 mg of elemental

zinc works best, according to .

HIV infection has also been linked to deficiencies in B6, B12 and

folate—the methylating factors. There is a “rampant deficiency” of B12

among AIDS patients, according to Dr. . Such nutritional

deficiencies in patients with full-blown AIDS result mainly from their

poor absorption of nutrients due to gut problems, explained. Thus

doses need to be especially large.

Most HIV patients are also glutamine-deficient, said. This is

true of anyone under chronic severe stress, even though glutamine is

abundant in any protein-rich diet (interestingly, the immune dysfunction

seen in AIDS resembles the symptoms of protein-calorie malnutrition).

Glutamine helps stop diarrhea and prevents muscle wasting. Large doses

are needed ( uses 40 g/day in four divided doses), but the cost is

only $31 per week versus $1000 a week it would take for growth hormone

treatment, another therapy aimed at preventing wasting.

mentioned yet another supplement: acetyl-l-carnitine. AZT is a

mitochondrial toxin. It turns out that the combination of

acetyl-l-carnitine and lipoic acid can reverse this toxicity.

After learning about the effectiveness of lipoic acid, NAC, Vitamin E,

high-dose ascorbate and other supplements in fighting the HIV virus and

improving the survival rate of AIDS patients, it was sad to hear that

AIDS activists have largely lost interest in alternative therapies and

are mostly waiting for the next “miracle drug.” So far, the drugs have

proven highly toxic and not effective in many patients. We need to

seriously consider the preventive and therapeutic use of supplements such

as lipoic acid. In Dr. Jariwalla's words, “nutrients are compelling

candidates for treatment of immune dysfunction underlying AIDS.”

A dramatic moment in the conference happened to underscore the

effectiveness of alternative therapies for AIDS. One of the presenters,

Victor Marcial-Vega, MD, publicly stated that back in the eighties he was

diagnosed as HIV-positive. After undergoing various alternative

treatments, Dr. Marcial-Vega took another blood test. This time, “nothing

showed.” The virus could no longer be found.

Much is to be gained from paying attention to the developments in the

alternative treatment for AIDS. Cellular immunity decreases not only in

the course of AIDS, but also during aging. It is of utmost importance

that we learn how to sustain a healthy immune system that can fight

viruses and bacteria. Thus, the results presented in the lectures on AIDS

are of special interest for anti-aging medicine. Antioxidants, with

special emphasis on lipoic acid and selenium, once again show their

amazing potential.

______________________________________________________________________

I am NOT in any way endorsing everything said here, not by a long

shot. Some points are well worth noting, and others are reminiscent

of 'snake oil salesmen.' Sadly there is never a shortage of people

ready and willing to cash in on the desperate suffering of others, and

some of them sadly are MD's.

What I take from this supports some of my daily regimen which I find

useful, or intuitively incorporate (and I am very fond of

intuition). It gives me a psychological boost (the 20% placebo

effect +) not the least of which is feeling I have some power in my

life. MSA took away the choice of how I will die (perhaps) but not

the way I live.

So then my list:

1. get sleep, whatever you need to do (adjust the bed, de-stress, hot

milk, pharmaceuticals, therapy)

2. eat no more than you need, and make it a delightful tasty and fragrant

experience with colour, flavour, and scent (I never eat more than 4 oz of

anything at once) - mind the nutrient, vitamin and anti-oxidant values

and maximize it - keep calorie intake low as possible (not to be confused

with low-fat) - enjoy your food or don't bother - unles you are deficient

try to get your nutition from food and beverages not supplements

(although and aspirin does seem a good idea - I've been doing that three

years now)

3. take an interest in life (not just your own), gardening, pets observe

and interact with others

4. laugh - often and loudly

5. keep moving, stretching

6. work at supplying your body with what it needs (but is now to stupid

to do automatically) - oxygen (breathing exercises, keep skin health it

absorbes oxygen) - sweat (moisturize, soak in salty water) - sunlight

(keeps you from getting gloomy and supplies vitamin D - in measured

amounts) - blood circulation (drink lots of water, exercise to your

abilities, stretch, laugh) - blood pressure (water, movement,

laughter)

7. keep those neurons firing - think, be creative, learn

8. remain interested and explore the world through a new perspective (and

leave behind resentment for being ill)

9. accept that no-one knows exactly how you feel; but they often think

they do

10. aknowledge the efforts of others and the suffering/triumphs of others

as well as your own; find a doctor you can work with

11. you have choices about how you live, make them don't delegate your

life away

12. change is inevitable and constant, enjoy the adventure

aletta mes

vancouver, bc Canada

web:

http://aletta.0catch.com