the-psoriasis-treatment

Alpha tocopherol is a type of vitamin E that exists naturally as d-alpha tocopherol, but supplement manufacturers also market synthetic "mirror image" l-alpha tocopherol as well as a mixture of d- and l-alpha tocopherol. The synthetic kind and the mix are cheaper, but l-alpha tocopherol has little or no actual vitamin E activity in the body. It may interfere with d-alpha tocopherol activity and there's no long-term safety data. When buying vitamin E supplements, be sure to choose d-alpha tocopherol along with other natural tocopherols such as beta-, gamma- and delta-. Reference 1. Gaby, A. Does high-dose vitamin E kill people? Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. Available at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_259-260/ai_n10299312/pg_2. Accessed on Oct. 25, 2008.

You may or may not remember last year's landmark four-year study related to Alzheimer's disease sponsored by the Italians. The study appeared in December's issue of Neurology . I found a link to an article about it below. In summary it showed that elderly people (over 65) who regularly walk significantly lower risk of vascular dementia.(1) Thus there is a lot of talk about physical activity, like walking, as having a potential effect for reducing risk of Alzheimer's disease.(1) Because walking and other activity increases oxygen in the brain, it may be directly improve memory.(1) Suggestion: Walk a mile or two before taking Anatomy and Physiology tests! Reference 1. American Academy of Neurology. Walking and moderate exercise help prevent dementia. ScienceDaily. Available at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071219202948.htm. Accessed on Oct. 18, 2008.

According to an article in the Scandinavian Journal of Nutrition (Scandinavia being where much of our purified fish oil supplements comes from), there is "mounting evidence" showing that fish oil DHA/EPA omega-3 fatty acids can be used in clinical treatment of ADHD.(1) Several studies have reported that supplementation with fish oil at high dosages (16g per day - that's really high) was shown to provide significant results in behavioral patterns.(2) References 1. Richardson, A.J. The importance of omega-3 fatty acids for behaviour, cognition and mood. Available at: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/tandf/ssnu/2003/00000047/00000002/art00008. Accessed on Oct. 18, 2008. 2. Sorgi, P.J., Hallowell, E.M., Hutchins, H.L, & Sears, B. "Effects of an open-label pilot study with high-dose EPA/DHA concentrates on plasma phospholipids and behavior in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder." Journal of Developmental & Behavioural Pediatrics; 2007

Many of us will remember the scene in Kindergarten Cop when detective John Kimble (Arnold Schwarznegger) said he had a headache. "It might be a tumor," said Lowell, one of the kids. "It's not a tumor!" said John. Actually it may have been a tumor, or more correctly a brain tumor, since one of the symptoms is a headache.(1) Other symptoms would be poor balance and coordination, dizziness, double vision, slurred speech (still Arnold?), nausea and vomiting, fever, abnormal pulse, breathing rates, personality changes, numbness and weakness of the limbs (definitely not Arnold), and seizures.(1p518) What is a brain tumor? A brain tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue in the brain that could be malignant or benign, which are both equally serious because the tumor compresses adjacent tissues and causes a build-up of pressure in the skull.(1p518) Treatment Treatment for brain turmors, which can include surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, can vary depending on

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is a carboxylic acid derivative while Tylenol (acetaminophen) is an amide derivative.(1p478, 506) Both act as analgesics for relieving pain and reducing fever. By inhibiting the enzyme cyclooxygenase in prostaglandin synthesis, aspirin reduces inflammation making it a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.(1p478) In the stomach environment, the carboxylic acid derivative reacts directly with the stomach lining and can potentially cause bleeding.(2 & 3) Tylenol acts on nerve endings to suppress pain, but is not a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.(3 & 1p506) In the stomach environment, because of its structure as an amide derivative, it doesn't react with the stomach lining and causes no bleeding.(2) References 1. Denniston, KJ, Topping, JJ & Caret, RL. General, Organic, And Biochemistry, 5th ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2007. 2. Kleiner, K. Fatty molecules make aspirin easier to stomach. Available at: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg14

Pregnant women need additional iron intake, but if the body controls absorption and uptake, then why is diet not enough? While it may be true that the diet doesn't provide enough, it may also include other factors beyond iron intake that may also affect women pre- and post-pregnancy. There are many dietary factors that can inhibit iron absorption.(1) Among these factors are: - polyphenols of gallic acid that are found in coffee and tea, - oxalic acid of spinach, chard, berries, chocolate and tea, - phytates found in legumes, - preservatives like EDTA, - phosvitin found in egg yolks; - and other minerals such as calcium, calcium phosphate salts, zinc, manganese, and nickel.(1p422) In addition, there are factors that enhance iron absorption. These include: - acids like ascorbic, citric, lactic and tartaric acid - sugars - meat, poultry and fish - and mucin.(1p422) When iron deficiency is a problem, thus, wisdom would suggest considering what is inhibiting absorption and what could be

I couldn't imagine why anyone would supplement with sodium. We do so much "supplementation" already with our salt shakers. All that shaking is linked to hypertension, but overall, when food is salted lightly, the salting may not be all bad. When you eat salt, it guards you against sodium deficiency. The deficiency is not as likely now, but in earlier days it may have been an issue and continues to be a problem with anorexia.(1) The deficiency's symptoms include nausea, muscle atrophy, poor growth and weight loss.(1p380) Plus, if the salt is iodized, then it helps guard against iodine deficiency. Iodine is extremely variable in foods so having it as part of salt is beneficial.(1p468) The thyroid collects the iodine, in its ionic form iodide, and uses it for genesis of hormones.(1p418) Reference 1. Gropper, S.S., Smith, J.L. & Groff, J.L. Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism, 4th ed; 2005. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Vitamin supplementation may have its place in clinical nutrition, but confusion of how or when to supplement can ultimately harm the consumer.(1) The confusion arises from "extreme" views of healthcare practitioners who say supplementation is not necessary at all and those who push for too much supplementation.(1p119) Non-credentialed experts and vitamins manufacturers interested in making profits may also lead consumers in the wrong paths.(1p119) Pros of Supplementation As a person ages or changes his or her diet or environment, vitamin needs can change resulting in a potential need for help from vitamin supplementation.(1p119) Supplementation can remove the guesswork out of making sure enough of a certain vitamin is in the diet. A woman, for example, who has a need for additional folic acid during times of pregnancy may choose supplementation rather than attempting to make significant changes to diet.(1p119) A child or adolescent can also be given supplements to be sure o

Going in with the gut, I'm led to deduce that health begins exactly there. The gut and other parts of the gastrointestinal system make up the basic conduit of nutrition.(1) Food eaten is broken down by the system into simpler substances, nutrients are absorbed and transported to cells, and then are metabolized for creation of new body substances or for energy. (1p58) Clinical Applications of Digestion, Metabolism and Absorption Clinical application begins with the knowledge of how the process of digestion works. A nutritionist can then begin applying solutions.(1p67) To help a patient limit burping, a nutritionist can suggest he or she avoid nervously gulping down carbonated beverages through a straw.(1p67) To limit flatulence in a patient, the nutritionist can recommend he or she limit fiber and slowly reintroduce it in the diet or take a lactase supplement before consuming milk.(1p67) Nutritionists can use diet therapy to also encourage absorption and metabolism of nutrients. An

An incredibly risky one? If you happen to drink methanol, then you'll end up in the emergency room with an IV intended to get you drunk as fast as possible.1 2 If the treatment isn't applied immediately you could end up blind or worse.1,2p426 Methanol may be good for certain racing cars, but it's toxic to human beings because the body's liver oxidizes it to produce formaldehyde.2p387,426 This particular aldehyde is highly reactive in the body, damaging cells and their vital proteins including DNA.2p426,4 Even the fumes of formaldehyde may be cancerous.1,3 Formaldehyde in the body will lead to loss of eyesight, respiratory failure, convulsions and death.2p426 To keep the liver from oxidizing methanol to formaldehyde, the ER personnel will use ethanol as a distraction.2p426 Ethanol, the by-product of yeast found in alcoholic drinks, is oxidized by the liver using the same enzyme that oxidizes methanol.2p387,426 In fact, it is preferred by the enzyme, which helps minimize

If you thought it interesting that women have less of aldehyde dehydrogenase, then you'll no doubt be interested to know that many Asians have a deficiency.(1) This is why Chinese, Japanese and Koreans can be much more sensitive to alcohol than Europeans and Americans of European ancestry.(1) You'll notice that Asians with this deficiency are susceptible to alcohol-induced flushing.(1) The adaptation that those of European ancestry have to be able to handle alcohol may be due differences of water intake in the continents, according to Sharon Moalem, Ph.D.(2) To reduce disease by avoiding pathogens in the water, early Asians boiled water for drinking tea.(2) Early Europeans, however, may have used fermentation so the alcohol would kill the pathogens.(2) 1. Wall, TL, Peterson, CM, Peterson, KP, Johnson, ML, Thomasson, HR, et al. Alcohol Metabolism in Asian-American Men with Genetic Polymorphisms of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase. Annals of Internal Medicine; September 2007:127(5)376-379.