Antioxidant Therapy for Chronic Pancreatitis

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Every so often I like to post the information about the Manchester

Royal Infirmary's research with antioxidants that help lessen the

pain with chronic pancreatitis. This study was done several years

ago, and Antox was proven successful for all the patients who were

in the research.

The repeat of this information is for the benefit of any newcomer's

who question about the antioxidant therapy that I frequently mention.

I've been taking the antioxidants discussed in this article for over

4 years, and do believe that they have been very beneficial for my health.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Drug Watch: Antioxidant Therapy for Recurrent Pancreatitis

There is little to offer patients with recurrent pancreatitis in way

of treatment. These patients suffer considerable pain, and about the

only measure that will guarantee long-term pain relief is near-total

pancreatectomy - which carries the penalties of malabsorption and

brittle diabetes. Though the number of patients with chronic

pancreatitis will be small across the UK, there may be pockets of

relatively high prevalence, largely in deprived areas. These patients

will consume significant amounts of health service resources - even

more if near-total pancreatectomy is carried out. Any therapy which

can be shown to be effective in chronic pancreatitis will therefore

have an impact on healthcare provision.

Causes of pancreatitis

There is accumulating evidence that oxidant stress resulting from

an excess of pro-oxidant over antioxidant has a key role in acute

oedematous pancreatitis as well as painful exacerbations of chronic

disease. Cytokines like platelet activation factor (PAF) have also

been shown to be involved with development of the acute disease in

animal models, but it is likely that the prime insult which triggers

pancreatitis is oxidant stress.

Antioxidant therapy?

From this, it would seem likely that therapy with antioxidants

should help to prevent pancreatitis - especially recurrent

pancreatitis. A randomised, controlled, double-blind, double dummy,

crossover study from the Manchester Royal Infirmary has shown this

to be the case. Twenty patients with chronic pancreatitis (8

idiopathic, 7 alcoholic and 5 idiopathic acute) entered the study in

which micronutrient antioxidant therapy was compared with placebo,

each for a 20-week period. Patients took six tablets of selenium Ace

(Wassen International) and eight tablets of methionine ( Medical

Ltd) in divided doses, giving a daily total of:

• 600 µg organic selenium

• 9000 IU beta-carotene

• 0.54 g vitamin C

• 270 IU vitamin E

• 2 g methionine

Results

This was a thorough and detailed study. The bare-bones of the

results were that while six patients had an attack while on placebo,

not one had an attack while on active medication. Pain scores were

significantly lower on active treatment than on placebo and at

baseline. The blood concentrations of a free radical 'marker' - the

percentage molar ratio of 9,11-linoleic acid to 9,12-linoleic acid -

were elevated at baseline and in patients on placebo, but was

normalised by active treatment.

Benefits and costs

Treatment would entail a maximum cost of about £15 a month (1990

prices), with possibly a 50% reduction after six months. This

financial outlay is small compared with the cost in terms of the

mortality, morbidity, narcotic use, malnutrition and brittle diabetes

of near-total pancreatectomy.

Reference:

S Uden et al. Antioxidant therapy for recurrent pancreatitis:

placebo controlled trial. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

1990 4: 357-71.

Questions to be Answered

Q: What need is met by this therapy?

A: Treatment of patients with chronic or recurrent acute pancreatitis.

Q: What happens now?

A: Patients are treated with analgesics, or may go on to near-total

pancreatectomy resulting in malabsorption and diabetes.

Q: Is quality improved?

A: Yes - patients on this treatment do not have pain.

Q: What does the treatment cost?

A: Less than £15 per month per patient.

Q: Can cost savings be made?

A: Yes - though not quantified, the cost of treatment with

antioxidants is likely to be much less than present treatments.

Advice to Health Authorities and GPFHs

• Will increase quality and effectiveness.

• May result in reduced costs.

• Worth considering in specification.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I hope this helps anyone with questions.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

hhessgriffeth@...

SC and Southeastern Regional Rep.

Pancreatitis Association, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice is based on personal experience or

opinion only, and should not be substituted for consultation with

your medical professional.

[Guest guest]

Awesome article Heidi. Just the kind of thing I am looking for.

Anyone know of a USA version of the supplement they used that I can

buy?

Eileen

[Guest guest]

Eileen,

You can not buy a US supplement, because no one makes them. You can

either order from Pharmanord, or buy each of the vitamins and minerals in

separate containers and take specific amounts of each. I've done both, but

am currently using Solgar brand vitamins and minerals that equal the same

amount.

It means taking quite a handful of pills, but it's worth it!

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

hhessgriffeth@...

SC and Southeastern Regional Rep.

Pancreatitis Association, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice is based on personal experience or

opinion only, and should not be substituted for consultation with

your medical professional.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Heidi. Would you mind putting up your antioxidant " cocktail

recipe up for me? :-)

Thank you

Eileen

>

> Eileen,

>

> You can not buy a US supplement, because no one makes them. You

can

> either order from Pharmanord, or buy each of the vitamins and

minerals in

> separate containers and take specific amounts of each. I've done

both, but

> am currently using Solgar brand vitamins and minerals that equal

the same

> amount.

>

> It means taking quite a handful of pills, but it's worth it!

>

> With love, hope and prayers,

> Heidi

>

> Heidi H. Griffeth

> hhessgriffeth@g...

> SC and Southeastern Regional Rep.

> Pancreatitis Association, Intl.

>

> Note: All comments or advice is based on personal experience or

> opinion only, and should not be substituted for consultation with

> your medical professional.

[Guest guest]

Eileen wrote:

> Thanks Heidi. Would you mind putting up your antioxidant " cocktail

recipe up for me? :-)

Eileen,

My " antioxidant cocktail " is the list that was posted in the article

about the antioxidant therapy. I buy the vitamins, minerals and amino

acid here at a health food store, buying the Solgar brand, and take

amounts that approximately equal that of the formula. It ends up

being 12 pills, since I have to take more of some due to the fact that

they are only sold in specific dosages.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

hhessgriffeth@...

SC and SE Regional Rep

Pancreatitis Association, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinions only, and should not be substituted for consultation with

your medical professional.