A recent review study looked at fish oil supplementation as a primary prevention method of age related macular degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration : An eye disease with its onset usually after age 60 that progressively destroys the macula , the central portion of the retina , impairing central vision . (more…)
A recent studyshowed that swimmers given sodium bicarbonate had better athletic performance over a control group. It is long been believed (and proven by coaches) that there is less lactic acid induced fatigue during exercise when a bicarbonate is used as a supplement. But bicarbonates aren’t only for athletes as many practitioners often give certain ‘acidic’ patients bicarbonates (more…)
Yet another study showing that low levels of Vitamin D are detrimental to health. Amazingly though this research was published in a major psychiatric journal and suggesting that depression may not be caused because of a Paxil deficiency. (OK so I’m being cynical here, but suggesting that nutrition may play a role in depression is fabulous, because so often it is the cause.). (more…)
Omega 3 fatty acids have been in the news quite a bit over the past few years so I’m sure most people know that an adequate amount are necessary during pregnancy. However I’m always surprised when I suggest to women that are trying to get pregnant or are newly pregnant that they need to eat good sources of Omega-3 such as flax (best to use ground seeds rather than oil), walnuts, or brazil nuts. One of the best sources of Omega-3 are the fish oils which are very beneficial during pregnancy. (more…)
There have been many studies showing that the phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin are beneficial for they eyes. There is little doubt that an adequate supply of these phytochemicals can reduce the risk of cataracts. So here is another study showing that these important phytochemicals prevent ocular diseases. (more…)
Here is yet another study looking at administering antioxidants and reducing the onset of AMD. This study was a randomized placebo controlled trial and gave synthetic forms of Vitamin A,C,E, as well as the minerals zinc and copper. The dosages were lower for the vitamins than what you would find in a pill, but the zinc and copper were in line with a standard multi. However one would never want to take these supplements long term for a couple of reasons. (more…)
Folic acid has been added to our white flour, wheat flour and other grain products for about 10 years to offset the poor diets of potential mothers as it was proven last decade that low folate levels at conception can cause neural tube defects (NTDs). Certainly it has been shown to be very beneficial as folate supplementation has considerably reduced the number of NTDs. However, as with just about anything in life there are always two sides to the coins. Where there is yin there is yang. And timing is everthing. It seems that taking folate early in life may prevent cancer, but taking it later in life after there has been cell damage may futher accentuate damage and cause cancer. (more…)
Some vegetarians and vegans use the green algaes as a Vitamin B12 source. I just searched the web and found several websites claiming that both spirulina and blue-green algae are great sources of B12. They are correct. Partially. In fact they do contain adequate amounts of B12, but it is pseudo-B12! It is an analog of the actual cobalamin molecule so it will unfortunately inhibit B12 utilization in the body.
How does it inhibit B12 utilization? It competes with the active B12 and binds itself to the receptor, yet the pseudo-B12 has no active component so the body cannot use it. Thus a vegan or perhaps a vegetarian can develop a B12 deficiency or worse a deficiency by using these ’super-foods’ containing high amounts of pseudo-B12. Vegans and vegetarians should not use blue-green algae or spirulina to supplement their diet. However chlorella and nori have been shown to contain ample amounts of active B12 and can be used as supplementation.
See the following sources:
Pseudovitamin B(12) is the predominant cobamide of an algal health food, spirulina tablets., J Agric Food Chem. 1999 Nov;47(11):4736-41
Purification and characterization of a corrinoid-compound in an edible cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae as a nutritional supplementary food. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec 13;54(25):9604-7
Purification and characterization of corrinoid-compounds from the dried powder of an edible cyanobacterium, Nostoc commune (Ishikurage).J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2007 Apr;53(2):183-6
Characterization and bioavailability of vitamin B12-compounds from edible algae.J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2002 Oct;48(5):325-31.
Dried Green and Purple Lavers (Nori) Contain Substantial Amounts of Biologically Active Vitamin B12 but Less of Dietary Iodine Relative to Other Edible SeaweedsJ. Agric. Food Chem., 47 (6), 2341 -2343, 1999.
In Health,
George Mandler
Licensed Acupuncturist
Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Diplomat Oriental Medicine
Last month we had the JAMA article that created headlines such as “Antioxidant supplements increase mortality”. Now this month we have a study that concludes that antioxidant intake helps attenuate cognitive decline. So what is the truth???? I’m giving a talk on June 26th at the Newton Community Ed on Supplements. There I will be shedding some light on this subject. (more…)
