Basic questions about nutritional supplements

[Guest guest]

Kate23451 -- and other numbers as well :

(1) I understand that borage oil has a higher concentration of GLA

than does evening primrose oil, but are there other differences

between the two? What's the best supplemental form of GLA to take,

from the perspective of safety and convenience?

(2) Like GLA, I know there's much hype about alpha-lipoic acid, but

I'm not reading much hard data, or much about side effects. Anything

to be concerned about from a health/safety standpoint, and what's the

best supplemental/most convenient form to take?

(3) Can you introduce me to resources (preferably online) with the

most accurate content, and recommend companies that sell the best

quality products?

My major concerns with all these potentially useful nutritional

supplements -- niacinamide, EFAs, ALA -- is knowing what I'm buying,

and knowing what I'm doing to my body. I don't see the concern for

quality information, I don't see production controls, and so much of

the health food/supplement industry is not well-informed, biased, or

just plain dishonest, much more so than when I deal with (imperfect,

but not close to the same extent) medical companies and resources. I

struggle to be openminded and thoughtful about non-traditional

medicine when there's so much garbage information that the more

legitimate aspects of the industry doesn't challenge, and when so

many of its followers accept it, seemingly gullible and easily

manipulated.

I've expressed this thought before: in theory I don't see a

distinction between traditional and non-traditional health care. I

see one world -- one in which treatments with well-documentated

safety and efficacy are dispensed in a competent, humane manner by

knowledgable, well-trained practitioners without secondary agendas.

I see how easy it is to get seduced by nutritional supplements and

diets -- so hopeful, so comforting to believe in, how can something

so " natural " be anything but healthy.

But that also doesn't mean there isn't truth nestled here within the

hype, and that's what I'm interested in.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> Hi Jan, I need to find my book on oils, to see if flax and

safflower can be

> interchanged, but I will go ahead and answer your other questions.

EFA stands

> for essential fatty acids. Borage oil comes from a plant, black

current seed

> oil from black currents, and flax from flax seeds, all natural

plants. Some

> products are organic and some are not. There is also a difference

in how the

> oil is pressed out and processed. The Vitamin Shoppe products

which I use

> contain, borage 15 calories, and flax 10 calories. I have a very

healthy diet

> which include tuna, salmon and other fish up to 3-4 times per week.

I rarely

> eat beef, pork or deep fried foods, maybe several times per month,

so the

> calories in the oils dont worry me. To the best of my knowledge

while fish

> oils have been shown to help with inflammation in the body, they

dont have an

> impact on the eyes, in the same way as borage. In general, the low

fat craze

> of recent years has had a down side for many people. Good fats are

necessary

> for the skin and the production of hormones. A few women on the

list have

> reported changes in their cycle when they take the oils.

>

> Taking borage oil did more for my ocular rosacea than any thing

else. I took

> it for 5 years, was having no problems with my eyes and decided I

didn't need

> it anymore. After 5 months of being off the Borage I had major

problems with

> my eyes again. That proved it for me!

>

> I have taken 400 mg of Vitamin E for 15 years, but that does not

do the work

> of borage. It is important to include it in your supplements, and

has many

> other protective aspects for the skin. I also find that Selenium

200mcg is

> important for the eyes and should be taken along with the E.

>

> A woman chiropractor told me about borage about ten years ago. It

seems to

> liquify the oil in the glands in the eyes, allowing the eyes to

again produce

> the natural lubrication. That is how the hot soaks work too,

liquifying the

> secretions that get " stopped up " . An opthalmologist told me to

gently

> massage around the eye, using little circles, before I get out of

bed every

> morning for the same reason. Get a book on acupressure and also

hold the

> acupressure points around the eyes. This stimulates the eye oil

glands.

>

> One other thing which I forgot in my earlier post is watch out for

eye makeup.

> When your eyes are flaring don't use any. Also throw out mascara

every 3-4

> months. I recently used some old mascara for a special event and

was I sorry!

> Had to go back to the antibiotic ointment for several days. I use

Almay

> products when I use mascara but am on the lookout for other good

eye makeup.

>

> I am convinced that skin care is an inside job. Yesterday the girl

at the

> local health food store was reluctant to give me the senior

discount, which

> is very gratifiying! Regards, Kate

>

>

>

>