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Get the Lead Out!
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: MedPage Today ~ May 13, 2013
By Nancy Walsh, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
When the FDA finally got around to testing 324 multivitamin-mineral products that target children and pregnant women, they found that only 4 of them were lead-free.[1]
Well, new research now suggests that even low levels of lead in a supplement can have adverse effects on your children. Why not use a supplement made correctly, so you can protect your family?
Here’s the Bad news from MedPage Today:
Even Low Lead Exposure Hinders Kids’ Reading
Young children exposed to lead — even at low levels — are at risk for not meeting reading readiness benchmarks in kindergarten, a large study of urban children found.
On tests of reading readiness, children with blood lead levels between 5 and 9 µg/dL scored 4.5 points (95% CI −2.9 to −6.2) lower than those with levels below 5 µg/dL, according to Pat McLaine, DPH, of the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and colleagues.
And those with lead levels of 10 µg/dL and higher had scores 10.1 points (95% CI −7 to −13.3) lower, the researchers reported online in Pediatrics.
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 By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Acupuncture on April 2nd, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Updated Reference Guide to Dr. Richard C. Schafer’s Articles
The Chiro.Org Blog
There are now 62 different Chapters from Dr. Schafer’s various best-selling textbooks for your review, available exclusively at Chiro.Org
These learned articles by Dr. Schafer can also be found again easily by selecting the EDUCATION Category, on the right-hand side of this page, just below Recent Comments. We hope you will find them of interest.
Our thanks to ACAPress for access to these materials!
A Practical Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: Nutrition Review ~ October 2011
By Hyla Cass, MD
A little known, but potentially life-saving fact is that common medications deplete your body of a host of vital nutrients essential to your health. This practical guide will show you how to avoid drug-induced nutrient depletion and discuss options for replacing nutrient-robbing medications with natural supplements.
America has been called a pill-popping society, and the statistics bear this out. Nearly 50 percent of all American adults regularly take at least one prescription drug, and 20 percent take three or more. [1] Our increasing reliance on prescription medications has contributed to the growing problem with nutrient depletion. The truth is that every medication, including over-the-counter drugs, depletes your body of specific, vital nutrients. This is especially concerning when you consider that most Americans are already suffering from nutrient depletion. Additionally, many of the conditions physicians see in their everyday practice may actually be related to nutrient depletion. The good news is that, armed with information and the right supplements, you can avoid the side effects of nutrient depletion, and even better, you may be able to control and prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
There is more info like this at our:
Nutrient Depletion Page
A Common Scenario
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The Use of Botanicals During Pregnancy and Lactation
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 2009 (Jan); 15 (1): 54-58 ~ FULL TEXT
Tieraona Low Dog, MD
Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson
Women are the largest consumers of healthcare, and this extends to their utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Researchers have attempted to uncover the reasons why women turn to CAM in general and to botanical medicine in particular. Desire to have personal control over their health has been cited as the strongest motive for women to use herbal medicine. Second was dissatisfaction with conventional treatment and its disregard for a holistic approach, as well as concerns about the side effects of medications. [1]
These concerns may explain, in part, the fact that many women use herbal remedies during pregnancy. A survey of 578 pregnant women in the eastern United States reported that 45% of respondents had used herbal medicines, [ 2] and a survey of 588 women in Australia revealed that 36% had used at least 1 herbal product during pregnancy. [ 2] Women probably feel comfortable using herbal remedies because of their perceived safety, easy access, and the widespread availability of information about them (ie, Internet, magazines, books).
While it is true that many botanicals are mild in both treatment effects and side effects, the data regarding safety during pregnancy are very limited. Given the small sample sizes in clinical trials studying botanicals in pregnant women, only large differences in measures of pregnancy outcomes would likely be detected. For example, if an herb were thought to increase the rate of spontaneous abortion from 6% to 7%, a sample size of more than 19,000 women would be needed (to actually demonstrate that effect). It is highly unlikely that there will be any studies of a botanical (or any drug for that matter) with this large a sample size.
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By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Health Promotion on April 17th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Brain Atrophy
in Mild Cognitive Impairment
The Chiro.Org Blog
The Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA) published the results of a key aspect of their study in the online journal Public Library of Science ONE in 2010. In this arm of the study, they investigated the effect of B-vitamin supplementation on various parameters of brain aging and associated cognitive function. The study group consisted of 168 individuals over the age of 70 with mild cognitive impairment.
You may also enjoy our page on:
Vitamin B Complex
The treatment group was given daily supplementation of the following B vitamins: folic acid (800 mcg), vitamin B12 (500 mcg) and vitamin B6 (20 mg). The main outcome measured was change in rate of whole brain atrophy on MRI investigation after 24 months of supplementation compared to the placebo group.
Study results showed that the group taking the B-vitamin cocktail experienced a 30-percent slower rate of brain atrophy, on average, and in some cases patients experienced reductions as high as 53 percent. Greater rates of atrophy were associated with lower cognitive test scores.
The authors also observed that, in the control group, the the degree of atrophy was directly related to elevated homocysteine levels.
Homocysteine-lowering by B Vitamins Slows the Rate of Accelerated Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial
PLoS One. 2010 (Sep 8); 5 (9): e12244
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By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Cancer on March 28th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Regular Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation Lowers Colon Cancer Risk More Than Eighty Percent
The Chiro.Org Blog
Source: Natural News
Researchers, just publishing in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology (CJPP), have found that a diet enhanced with vitamin and mineral supplementation can lower the risk of developing precancerous colon cancer lesions by up to 84%. Colon cancer is the second most common form of the disease affecting men and women in the US, with nearly 150,000 new diagnoses each year.
The Full Text article describes how animals that were fed a high-fat, low fiber diet, while also being exposed to a carcinogen, developed pre-cancerous lesions of the colon along a pathway similar to that found in humans.
The group of animals that underwent a similar treatment and diet, but were also provided a daily vitamin and mineral supplement, demonstrated an 84% reduction in the formation of pre-cancerous lesions which did not develop into tumors.
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By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in ADHD on February 21st, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies for Children With Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
The Chiro.Org Blog
Altern Med Rev. 2011 (Dec); 16 (4): 323–37
Janice Pellow, M.Tech (Hom), Elizabeth M. Solomon, HD, ND, DO, BA, Candice N. Barnard, M.Tech (Hom), B.Phys.Ed
University of Johannesburg, Department of Homeopathy, Johannesburg, South Africa. jpellow@uj.ac.za
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a commonly diagnosed childhood disorder characterized by impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. ADHD affects up to 1 in 20 children in the United States. The underlying etiologies of ADHD may be heterogeneous and diverse, and many possible risk factors in the development of ADHD have been identified. Conventional treatment usually consists of behavioral accommodations and medication, with stimulant medication most commonly being prescribed. Parents concerned about the side effects and long-term use of conventional medications are increasingly seeking alternatives to pharmacologic treatment. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) offers parents various treatment options for this condition, including dietary modifications, nutritional supplementation, herbal medicine, and homeopathy. CAM appears to be most effective when prescribed holistically and according to each individual’s characteristic symptoms. Possible etiologies and risk factors for the condition also need to be considered when developing a treatment plan. This article serves to highlight the latest research regarding the most commonly used CAM for children with ADHD.
Table 1. Risk Factors for ADHD
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By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Diagnosis on November 13th, 2011 at 9:31 pm
General Factors Involved in Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
The Chiro.Org Blog
We would all like to thank Dr. Richard C. Schafer, DC, PhD, FICC for his lifetime commitment to the profession. In the future we will continue to add materials from RC’s copyrighted books for your use.
This is the Appendix from RC’s best-selling book:
“Symptomatology and Differential Diagnosis”
These materials are provided as a service to our profession. There is no charge for individuals to copy and file these materials. However, they cannot be sold or used in any group or commercial venture without written permission from ACAPress.
General Factors Involved in Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies
Several general factors are involved in vitamin and mineral deficiencies. For example, abnormal loss and utilization or subnormal absorption, intake, storage, or transport, singularly or in combination, may readily lead to symptoms of nutritional deficiency.
See Table A.1.
You may also find value reviewing the:
Nutrient–Drug Depletion Charts
Agents Contributing to Vitamin, Mineral, and Other Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Drugs and nutrients often have adverse interactions. Drugs usually interfere with normal cellular nutrition by:
(1) depressing the central appetite center,
(2) decreasing normal blood levels (eg, excessive excretion),
(3) interfering with the nutrient’s storage or metabolism,
(4) developing a chemical antagonism (eg, inactivate),
(5) increasing the action of ingested antivitamins or antiminerals, or
(6) destroying intestinal bacteria necessary to synthesize the nutrient.
See Tables A.2, A.3, and A.4.
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By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Nutrition on October 31st, 2011 at 10:35 am
Why You Should Not Stop Taking Your Vitamins
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: The Huffington Post ~ 10-20-2011
By Mark Hyman, M.D.
Do vitamins kill people?
How many people have died from taking vitamins?
Should you stop taking your vitamins?
It depends. To be exact, it depends on the quality of the science, and the very nature of scientific research. It is very hard to know things exactly through science. The waste bin of science is full of fallen heroes like Premarin, Vioxx and Avandia (which alone was responsible for 47,000 excess cardiac deaths since it was introduced in 1999).
That brings us to the latest apparent casualty, vitamins. The recent media hype around vitamins is a classic case of drawing the wrong conclusions from good science.
Remember how doctors thought that hormone replacement therapy was the best thing since sliced bread and recommended it to every single post-menopausal woman? These recommendations were predicated on studies that found a correlation between using hormones and reduced risk of heart attacks. But correlation does not prove cause and effect. It wasn’t until we had controlled experiments like the Women’s Health Initiative that we learned Premarin (hormone replacement therapy) was killing women, not saving them.
A new study “proving” that vitamins kill people is hitting front pages and news broadcasts across the country. This study does not prove anything.
This latest study from the Archives of Internal Medicine of 38,772 women found that “several commonly used dietary vitamin and mineral supplements may be associated with increased total mortality”. The greatest risk was from taking iron after menopause (which no doctor would ever recommend in a non-menstruating human without anemia).
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By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Nutrition on February 17th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Essential Fatty Acids Eases Premenstrual Syndrome
The Chiro.Org Blog
SOURCE: NHI OnDemand
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the journal Reproductive Health evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a supplement containing essential fatty acids and vitamins for the treatment of PMS and to assess effectiveness on prolactin and total cholesterol levels.
The researchers recruited 120 women with PMS and were divided into 3 groups that received either 1 or 2 grams of the supplement or placebo for six months using the Prospective Record of the Impact and Severity of Menstruation (PRISM) calendar. The actual dosage per one-gram serving included 210 mg of gamma linolenic acid, 175 mg of oleic acid, 345 mg of linoleic acid, 250 mg of other polyunsaturated acids, and 20 mg of vitamin E.
The results were the group treated with 2 grams of supplement experienced the most significant reduction in the PRISM score the next significant reduction was in the group taking 1 gram of supplement. The placebo group experienced the least reduction in PRISM score. There were no statistically significant differences in prolactin or total cholesterol levels after six months of treatment.
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By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in ADHD on February 10th, 2011 at 1:01 am
New Study Ties Processed Foods To ADHD in 78% of Children
The Chiro.Org Blog
According to a new study, just published in Lancet Journal, a diet free of processed foods significantly reduces the symptoms of ADHD in 78% of 4-8 year old children. This 5-week study involving 100 subjects found that 63% of them experienced a relapse in ADHD symptoms upon re-introduction of problem foods into the diet.
This randomized crossover study was titled the Impact of Nutrition on Children with ADHD (INCA). Patients in the Netherlands and Belgium were enrolled via announcements in medical health centres and through media announcements. In the open-label phase (or first phase), children aged 4—8 years, who were diagnosed with ADHD, were randomly assigned to either 5 weeks of a restricted elimination diet (diet group) or to instructions for a healthy diet (control group). [1]
In the second phase, those children who responded positively (with an improvement of at least 40% on the ADHD rating scale) proceeded into the second phase, with a 4-week double-blind crossover food challenge, in which they were exposed to either a high-IgG or low-IgG food diet (classified on the basis of every child’s individual IgG blood test results).
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By Steve Vaitl in Nutrition on February 6th, 2011 at 11:27 am
Randomized trials have suggested that folic acid may not have any beneficial effects for preventing heart attacks especially a second episodes. However in a meta-analysis published Wednesday (2/2/11) Wald,et. al. suggest that previous studies have failed to account for the use of aspirin by study participants. The authors suggest folic acid could be a part of a preventative measure to reduce first attacks but not second due to the use of aspirin by those suffering from a previous attack.
The study was published online as part of the PLoS site, an open access peer reviewed site. You can download the study in its entirety here;
Wald DS, Morris JK, Wald NJ (2011) Reconciling the Evidence on Serum Homocysteine and Ischaemic Heart Disease: A Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE 6(2): e16473. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0016473
By Frank M. Painter, D.C. in Nutrition on August 19th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
The Nutrition Page
The Chiro.Org Blog
The Nutrition Page provides non-solicitous nutrition information, including articles and research abstracts supporting the benefits of vitamins, minerals and herbals for the restoration and maintenance of health. The Nutrition Section is divided into several convenient sections.
The Supplements Section contains 38 sub-sections covering nutrients from Acidophilus Pre/Probiotics to all the vitamins and minerals. If you happen to be using any prescription drugs then the Nutrient Depletion Charts will show you which nutrients a particular drug depletes from your body.
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