Joint Repair

"Effect of Glucosamine Hydrochloride in the Treatment of Pain of Osteoarthritis of the Knee," Houpt JB, McMillan R, et al, J Rheumatology, 1999;26:2423-2430. Glucosamine hydrochloride at 1,500 mg/day in 58 osteoarthritic subjects resulted in pain reduction, as measured by a daily diary and knee examination, with minimal side effects. In a review of short-term, randomized, controlled trials, glucosamine sulfate, frequently in a dose of 500 mg, 3 times daily, was shown to be efficacious and very safe in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

"Glucosamine, Chondroitin and Manganese for Degenerative Joint Disease of the Knee or Low Back: A Randomized, Double-blind Placebo-controlled Pilot Study," Leffler, et. al., Military Medicine, 02/99:164 (2):85-91. 34 men from the U.S. Navy diving and special warfare team who had been diagnosed with degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the knee or low back were in a 16 week randomized double-blind study. The authors concluded that the combination therapy (glucosamine, chondroitin, and manganese) was effective in relieving the symptoms of DJD. 

Chondrosamine Plus: 90 capsules. It is the most comprehensive formulation of its kind, supplying a wide array of important nutrient synergists to Glucosamine and Purified Chondroitin Sulfate. Included are Manganese, MSM, Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Folic Acid, B12, Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase and Saccharum Officinarium (cane fiber) extract, a botanical source of silicon superior to Horse Tail or Bamboo. All reasonable agents to take singularly are now in combination. Early feedback on the product is very positive.

Some special things to note: a serving of 3 capsules of Chondrosamine Plus contains 1,000 mg of elemental glucosamine (not glucosamine salt). Other brands label the amount of the entire compound, such as Glucosamine Sulfate. What they don't tell you is that Glucosamine sulfate can contain as little as 40% glucosamine. Another plus is that Biotics Research's 500 mg of chondroitin sulfate is purified making it water soluble to provide proper bioavailability.

Biotics Research supplied the enclosed technical literature on the product in order to answer the many questions we receive from those trying to make sense of all the various aspects and products available. As a result they have also put together the very best of what is best for functional nutritional support of damaged joints. Samples for testing are available to be placed in with your next order.

 

Thermoregulation

"How Significant is Magnesium in Thermoregulation?" Stendig-Lindberg G, et al, Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 1998;9(1):73-85. Nine healthy males, mean age of 22.8 years were exposed 2 hours daily for 10 consecutive days to a temperature of 40 degrees C and 40% relative humidity while walking on a treadmill level by 3 degrees at a speed of 5 km/h. Serum magnesium decreased while mononuclear magnesium increased after the heat exposures, suggesting a shift of serum magnesium to mononuclear cells. The reduction of serum magnesium was sustained at the end of the acclimation process. Erythrocyte magnesium increased up to day 5 and decreased gradually, approximating the baseline by day 10. Magnesium appears to play a significant role in heat acclimation.

Summers still too hot and winters too cold? Vitamin C also thermoregulates.

Monkeys at very cold temperatures were found to suffer tissue damage (frozen tails, digits, etc) only when they were vitamin C deficient. Humans are unable to metabolically make vitamin C so it is essential to the diet. Maybe because the typical diet lacks sufficient amounts of minerals and vitamins such as magnesium and vitamin C, more and more are finding the winters colder and summers hotter than they actually are. Without sufficient natural thermal regulating, they suffer discomfort in what are actually their normal temperature acclimation ranges. Though thyroid function and other factors figure in, the obvious is to begin supplementing with a good multiple such as Bio-Multi Plus with the vitamin C, magnesium, etc.

 

Vitamin C does not cause kidney stones.

"Dietary Influence on Serum and Urinary Oxalate in Healthy Subjects and Oxalate Stone Formers," Butz M, et al, Urol Int, 1980:35:309- 315. In 32 healthy subjects and 51 oxalate stone formers, 2 doses of sodium oxalate at 130 and 400 mg daily were given. Hyperoxaluria resulted with the high dose. Urinary oxalate excretion did not increase upon ingestion of large amounts of ascorbic acid (1-6 g daily), but serum oxalate levels were significantly elevated. The literature does not reveal an increase of urinary oxalate due to excessive ingestion of Vitamin C. In 67 volunteers tested by ascorbate loading, only 3 of them showed hyperoxaluria. The authors conclude that Vitamin C should no longer be discussed as a risk factor for oxalate stone formation, yet the myth has perpetuated to this day that vitamin C causes kidney stones.

"Stability of Ascorbate in Urine: Relevance to Analyses for Ascorbate and Oxalate," Chalmers AH, et al, Clinical Chemistry, 1985;31/10:1703-1705. Vitamin C is unstable in urine at room temperature at pH values ranging from 1-12. At pH 7 and above, oxalate is generated in amounts directly proportional to the vitamin C concentration. In 12 different urines adjusted to pH 12 and incubated for 20 hours at room temperature, there was a significant correlation between the amount of oxalate formed and the initial vitamin C concentration. Disodium EDTA at 10 mmol/l stabilized vitamin C in urine and inhibited its conversion to oxalate at pH values of 4.4 to 7.0 during a 24-hour period. The authors suggest that urine specimens for vitamin C and oxalate evaluation be collected with disodium EDTA present. Ascorbate is most stable in the urine between a pH of 4.5 and 5.0. It has been debated whether vitamin C can cause kidney stones by the enhanced production of oxalate. This study showed that the conversion of vitamin C to oxalate could be artificially altered by lack of an appropriate antioxidant such as disodium EDTA and consequently give false results of increased oxalate from vitamin C. Therefore, whenever vitamin C and oxalate studies are done, there should be disodium EDTA utilized in the urine sample which helps stabilize vitamin C levels. It is noted that vitamin C consumption studies have not shown increased oxalate in the urine. The argument for vitamin C being a risk factor for kidney stones does not appear valid.
 

Prostate Problems

"The Pharmacology of Saw Palmetto in Treatment of BPH," Barrett M, JANA, Jan, 2000;2(3):40-43. Clinical trials of saw palmetto have shown significant improvement in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms. BPH is associated with increased activity of 5-alpha reductase, which is the enzyme that converts testosterone to - 5-Alpha- dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an active metabolite of testosterone. Inhibition of 5- alpha reductase activity by saw palmetto has been demonstrated. Decreases in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPPS) have been reported following administration of 320 mg/day of extract for 1 to 2 months, with further improvement after 3 months or longer. Biotics Research Palmetto Plus contains 500 mg saw palmetto per serving of 3 capsules.

Lycopene helped confine prostate cancer to the prostate and resulted in smaller tumors. In 13 of 26 men with localized prostate cancer who received 25 mg of lycopene, twice daily, for 3 weeks prior to radical prostate surgery, there was an inverse relationship between lycopene levels and prostate cancer growth. The prostate glands of the intervention subjects showed higher levels of lycopene than those of the control subjects, as was expected. In the lycopene group, 73% of the patients were found with cancer confined to the prostate, compared with only 18% in the control group. Twelve of the 15 tumors of patients treated with lycopene were smaller than the tumors of patients in the control group. Lycopene supplements can protect against the occurrence or spread of prostate cancer. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings. Experts recommend having 7 tomato-rich meals per week or a quarter cup of tomato sauce a day to meet a dietary goal of 5-10 mg/day of lycopene. "Pigments in Fruits, Vegetables Fight Cancer, Aid Vision," Colchamiro R, Medical Tribune, Dec 1999:8. Biotics Research Palmetto Plus has 3 mg lycopene.