Cola and osteoporosis

Cola and osteoporosis

This is important clinical research. With focus on administration of Vitamin

D-3, Vitamin K-2, Strontium, Calcium and Boron, we often pay too little

attention to the dietary factors that may worsen osteoporosis. This is one very

easy step, one very important step in the treatment of osteoporosis.



This is an exerpt from the National Library of Medicine abstract, for your

reading pleasure.





Tucker KL, Morita K, Quiao N, et al: Colas, but not other carbonated beverages,

are associated with low bone mineral density in older women: The Framingham

Osteoporosis Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 Oct;84(4):936-42.



From Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA. katherine.tucker@tufts.edu

Soft drink consumption may have adverse effects on bone mineral density (BMD),

but studies have shown mixed results. In addition to displacing healthier

beverages, colas contain caffeine and phosphoric acid (H3PO4), which may

adversely affect bone.

DESIGN: BMD was measured at the spine and 3 hip sites in 1413 women and 1125 men

in the Framingham Osteoporosis Study by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Dietary intake was assessed by food-frequency questionnaire. We regressed each

BMD measure on the frequency of soft drink consumption for men and women after

adjustment for body mass index, height, age, energy intake, physical activity

score, smoking, alcohol use, total calcium intake, total vitamin D intake,

caffeine from noncola sources, season of measurement, and, for women, menopausal

status and estrogen use.

RESULTS: Cola intake was associated with significantly lower (P < 0.001-0.05)

BMD at each hip site, but not the spine, in women but not in men. The mean BMD

of those with daily cola intake was 3.7% lower at the femoral neck and 5.4%

lower at Ward's area than of those who consumed <1 serving cola/mo. Similar

results were seen for diet cola and, although weaker, for decaffeinated cola. No

significant relations between noncola carbonated beverage consumption and BMD

were observed. Total phosphorus intake was not significantly higher in daily

cola consumers than in nonconsumers; however, the calcium-to-phosphorus ratios

were lower.

CONCLUSIONS: Intake of cola, but not of other carbonated soft drinks, is

associated with low BMD in women. Additional research is needed to confirm these

findings.

Source: Newsletter from Dr. David S. Klein

Nutrition 101 - by Dr. Saleeby

Nutritional Intervention in the Middle-Aged Male Patient

While it is both natural and desirable to grow older, it is neither natural nor
desirable to feel or perform ‘older.’ Only a few short years ago, discussions
of erectile difficulties were unlikely topics for the average middle-aged male
patient. Frankly, few men were at all likely to admit to difficulties, at all.
Only after the introduction of Viagra® did the topic of erectile dysfunction
(ED) become regular or routine. Now, not only are these discussions routine,
but the topic is advertised on the side of a popular NASCAR race car.

Before we had Viagra®, impotence in the younger male was generally
considered to be a psychosomatic dysfunction. It is an interesting commentary
that only after a pharmacological intervention is introduced do many disease
states change from psychosomatic to physiologic in nature. While we now have
several good choices in medications with which to help reduce the symptoms of
ED, little is done to deal with the underlying conditions that lead to ED.
After elimination of the many common causes of iatrogenic and neurovascular
causes of ED, the typical patient is given the option of which pill to take.
This is indeed unfortunate because there are many interventions that the
physician can entertain that deal with the ED on a functional basis.

Male Hormonal Changes with Age
As men age past the age of 25, or so, testosterone levels can be expected
to drop, approximately 2% per year. Men at the age of 25 do not consider that
getting older, on a personal level. By the age of 50, testosterone levels have
dropped by 50%, and many men wonder where their youth and vitality went. This
is a well understood phenomenon, and many well-meaning physicians consider
testosterone replacement in this context. Testosterone will be metabolized into
estradiol. Treatment with testosterone without inhibiting this degradation will
result in elevations in serum estrogen.

What is less well recognized is the elevation in estrogen levels that
result during this same aging time-line. By the age of 40, many men will
demonstrate estrogen levels that exceed those of their spouses. The factor that
results in ED results more from the ratio of testosterone to estrogen than from
either hormone level, alone. That is, without addressing the elevation in
estrogen that is a normal, anticipated result from aging, the treatment of ED
with testosterone is likely to result in temporary, if any positive results. In
order to restore a healthy testosterone to estrogen ratio, the clinician must
inhibit the pathways that involve degradation of testosterone to estrogen. When
combined with enhancement of estrogen elimination, cholesterol levels can be
reduced, and weight loss can be anticipated.

The main metabolic pathways of testosterone to estrogen conversion involve
the enzymes 5-alpha reductase and aromatase. Both of these enzymes can be
effectively inhibited with inexpensive, available nutriceuticals. The
thoughtful balance of enzymatic inihibition with hormonal supplementation
results in restoration of healthy testosterone to estrogen ratios, and the
result is improvement or abatement of the symtoms of ED, reduction or
elimination of the problems seen with prostatic hypertrophy, and reduction in
serum cholesterol.

As with most other areas of interventional medicine, it is best to know
baseline hormonal levels before entertaining empiric intervention. Elevations
in estrogen can be treated with di-indol methane and indole-3 carbinol. When
combined with agents that stimulate biliary excretion, estrogen levels can be
lowered in a matter of a few weeks. The addition of saw palmetto and nettle
extract increases testosterone levels, relative to estradiol through the
inhibition of the 5 alpha reductase and aromatase enzymes. The reduction of
serum (total) estrogens can result in weight loss, and results in reduction in
depressive symptoms.

None of this is particularly difficult, and it is affordable to the vast
majority of the patient population. Sadly, the patient population has seen need
for these sensible approaches to health, but these same patients turn to lay
magazines, catalogues and self-serving marketers to provide the guidance that
they need. The general medical community has not taken the necessary steps to
educate ourselves in this vital area of preventive medicine. Until such time as
we collectively arm ourselves with the necessary understanding of functional &
nutritional medicine, the public will turn, in large numbers, to the clerk at
the vitamin store, the pharmacy technician and well-meaning neighbor for vital
(mis)information on the value of nutritional & nutraceutical maintenance of
health.

Source: newsletter@suffernomore.com

For male Natural Hormone Replacement Therapies contact Dr. Saleeby via www.saleeby.net

"And that's the way it is..."

Walter Cronkite (1916 - 2009)

A Plan Comes Together: The Sheep Obey

On May 1, 2009, the LA Times reported some amazing occurrences:

• Hospitals on New York’s Long Island were scrambling to bring extra workers in to handle a 50% surge in visitors to emergency rooms.
• In Galveston, Texas, the local hospital ran out of flu testing kits after being overwhelmed with patients worried about having contracted swine flu
• At Loma Linda University Medical Center near San Bernardino, California, emergency room workers set up tents in the parking lot to handle a crush of similar patients.
  In Chicago, ER visits at the city’s biggest children’s hospital are double normal levels, setting records at the 121-year-old institution.

So far, few of the anxious patients have had more than runny noses. The most disturbing revelations about these scenarios? They knew this was the way we would respond. What was published in 2006 has become fact in 2009.

A study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health confirmed that public health officials could easily convince most people to alter their daily lives to stem the spread of influenza. “The Pandemic Influenza Survey” documented our willingness to do what we are told after only a little hyping that a deadly global pandemic was eminent. The 2006 survey included 1,700 Americans. More than 90 percent said they would [willingly] comply with government orders to postpone air travel, avoid public places such as movie theaters and shopping malls, and would keep their children home from school in the event of a flu pandemic. A full 94 percent said they would stay home from work for up to 10 days to help authorities control disease spread

How Soon We Forget

The word pandemic simply means a certain type of virus seems to be infecting persons over a wide area, in this case, several states and a few countries. The word “pandemic” is not synonymous with “massive death,” although the media would have us believe that the two are equal. In fact, most persons over 50 years of age experienced the last two documented pandemics and the pandemic scare of 1976. And according to a 2008 report by the CDC, “even those who experienced [the 1957 and the 1968] pandemics do not recall them as particularly memorable events.”

Most persons at least 43 years of age will no doubt recall the Swine flu hype of 1976. Starting from a single, infected military recruit, the threat of a pandemic and global death turned into a full-scale media and government circus. For many, the “Pandemic that Never Was” created havoc, death and long term disability. But the mayhem was not the work of a microscopic particle of replicating RNA. The carnage was created by the misguided steps our government and the overzealous drive from CDC officials to vaccinate.

The absolute belief in the effectiveness of vaccines resulted in the disability of 532 people who contracted Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a life-threatening form of paralysis. While many recovered in the ensuing months, at least 33 died and up to 10 percent remained paralyzed to varying degrees for the rest of their lives. While vaccine manufacturers reaped the rewards of government handouts to make vaccines, and secured legislation to protect them from liability (the Swine Flu Act of 1976), more than $1.3 billion of tax payer dollars were released to compensate those who had been injured by the swine flu vaccine.

For those X-Gens and Y-Gens under-40, ask your parents, grandparents and other senior relatives and friends what they recall about these Public Health panics. Surely they can shed some light about those moments in American history and their stories will help abate your fears of a “coming pandemic.” After all, they are alive to talk about it.

More Vaccines On The Way

Lessons about bad vaccines are rarely learned and the race to make more experimental doses has never been hotter. In 2005, Congress allocated $3.8 billion to developers with the stated goal of being able to “distribute a vaccine to every American within six months of the onset of a pandemic.” In 2006, our elected representatives went even further to ensure we are vaccinated: They created incentives for manufacturers by funding the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005, nicknamed BioShield II. (see previous article: Swine flu: The New Bird flu)

Along with BioShield II, legislation was passed to amend the Public Health Service Act and establish a division called Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency, or BARDA. The BARDA is responsible for coordinating and overseeing activities that support and accelerate research and development of countermeasures [i.e.vaccines] and other products that qualify as pandemic or epidemic products. The BARDA has budgetary authority to award contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements that will advance the research and development of drugs and vaccines. The creation of vaccines is big, serious business. To see the list of all agencies and federal legislation involved with creating pandemic vaccines and drugs as a countermeasure, spend some time website for the Center for Biosecurity.

On March 18, 2009, the BARDA requested $1.7 billion for FY 2010 to fund research and development of additional vaccines and drugs. Interestingly, just this week, President Obama released $1.5 billion of appropriations for pandemic planning. Although the funds were not specifically earmarked, it is probable that a portion of your tax dollars will go to fund BARDA. On May 1, 2009, the Working Group of the Infectious Disease Society of America chimed in and requested more funding for the current swine flu outbreak. Commending the President for releasing emergency appropriations for H1N1, the Working Group appealed to Congress for an additional $1.9 billion to fund the following:

• $870 million requested to expand cell and egg-based vaccine capacity. This money was requested from the previous Administration, but not funded in FY 2008. The money will also be used to purchase antivirals for the federal stockpile and to accelerate the R&D of rapid diagnostic tests;
• $350 million for States and localities to purchase equipment; funding staff and maintain 24-hour disease-reporting hotlines; increase public and clinician education about vaccines; distribute medical countermeasures [vaccines and antivirals], and refill staff positions lost to budget cuts;
• $122 million for State antiviral stockpiles for the treatment of people who become ill; and
• $563 million for States and localities to purchase personal protective equipment and antivirals for prophylaxis of healthcare and critical infrastructure workers.

This is amazing. A billion here, a billion there. A close look at these requests and it is apparent where the money flows: Directly into the pockets of the drug companies who make antivirals like Tamiflu and Relenza. The research and development funds will go toward new, novel flu vaccines, shots that much of the public has confirmed it would refuse.

On October 5, 2006 a survey reported by Reuters News service posted an article called, “Americans doubt need for flu vaccine: survey,” by Maggie Fox. The survey documented that fewer than half of Americans planned to get the flu vaccine that year, mostly because they do not worry about flu. The survey of 1,000 adults found that just 48 percent planned to get immunized that year. Of those who did not plan to get the vaccine, 43 percent said they did not think influenza was serious enough to warrant vaccination and 38 percent felt they were not at risk. Flu experts called the findings “disappointing,” and from that point forward, a full-court press has been on to increase the uptake of annual flu shots. No doubt the fear generated by the potential swine flu pandemic is part of the Play Book to make the flu seem serious enough for everyone to get vaccinated. However, it appears the latest Swine flu buzz is fading away as fast as it materialized. Scientists are coming to the conclusion that the new swine flu strain may actually be less dangerous than garden-variety, seasonal influenza. Even though there are positive cultures from 331 people in 11 countries, and 10 have died, even the WHO admits the numbers are “extremely small.” It is estimated that globally between 3 and 5 million people experience some level of the flu each year. One has to wonder why this has even made the news.

Something Bigger?

In January, 2009, the out-going Secretary of HHS, Michael Leavitt, released a report called “Pandemic Planning VI,” a summary of all the steps that have been completed to date in preparation for the next global pandemic. That document has become a suggested a check list for Janet Napolitano, President Obama’s Secretary of HHS, to complete. If you haven’t seen it, it is worth reading, even though it may keep you up at night, knowing what is coming in the form of vaccines, vaccine types and new vaccine adjuvants.

We have had three warm-up rounds: SARS, H5N1 bird flu and now, a “novel swine flu” from Mexico. Is there something bigger in store? There is no way to know for sure, but it is highly suspect. What we can say for sure is that another pandemic test round has passed muster. The media machine did its job, the government handed over billions for more vaccines and vaccine technologies, and, of course, many of the sheep obediently put on masks and fearfully ran off to doctors to be tested. When this has run its course, bureaucratic agencies will be slapping themselves on the back, affirming that all the systems worked ‘as planned.’ They turned the crank; the world danced to their tune.

For those who hope that one day, an informed citizenry will undertake a serious blow back against the continually escalating government propaganda and media manipulation, I hope most of you find the reports of runs on emergency rooms and the optional mask- and glove-wearing to be somewhere between amusing and annoying. Fear runs this country and when the great “What If” boogey man shouts, a large number seem to listen. As I write this, I am on a completely full, 737 airplane about to complete a three-hour flight from Houston to San Diego. Not one person came on the plane with a mask and I have not heard a single sneeze or a sniffle. I’m glad to see that many are going about their lives, business as usual.

The information in my book, FOWL!, is as timely now as when it was written. In 2006, I reported that the Director General of the WHO had said in 2005, “It is only a matter of time before an avian flu virus—most likely H5N1— acquires the ability to be transmitted from human-to-human, sparking the outbreak of human pandemic influenza. We don’t know when this will happen. But we do know it will happen.” (He didn’t say “might” or “maybe” – he said a pandemic “will” occur).

And if he is right and we do see another sizable pandemic –whether the virus is man-made or created by some natural, random reassortment of viral genes – my hope is that everyone will take a deep breath, exercise normal health precautions, increase their Vitamin D, A and E intake, get lots of extra sleep and remember the lessons from history so we do not repeat them.

source: http://drtenpenny.com/a_plan_comes_together.aspx / http://blogs.healthfreedomalliance.org/blog/2009/07/16/a-plan-comes-together-the-sheep-obey

Osteoporosis in our Seniors

Nutritional Factors in Osteoporosis

The incidence of osteoporosis increases with age, and is develops at an earlier
age in woman than in men. About 55 % of Americans, women more so than men, are
at risk of developing osteoporosis. This disease is characterized by a
demineralization of the bones, which become porous and fragile, this causing a
higher susceptibility to fractures.

Bone is largely calcium in nature, but it is only now becoming more obvious that
calcium intake is but one of many nutritional concerns that must be addressed in
order to effectively treat osteoporosis.

FACT #1: The human adult requires approximately 200 mg of elemental calcium per
day, requiring a nutritional allowance is approximately 1,000 mg per day. Too
much calcium causes malabsorption of other nutrients. With calcium intake, more
may be less.

FACT #2: Taking a properly balanced mineral supplement minimizes the danger of
taking too much calcium.

FACT #3: Most commercially available vitamin/mineral supplements are worthless
because they present the minerals in a poorly absorbed, inorganic form. It is
better that you should keep your money in your pocket than to purchase this
junk.


Dietary Phosphoric Acid Accelerates Osteoporosis

Diet influences development of osteoporosis. Intake of phosphoric acid can
dramatically accelerate the development of osteoporosis. Cola beverages are the
greatest dietary/environmental risk in this regard. Phosphoric acid is present
in high concentration in cola beverages, and consuming phosphoric acid will
worsen calcium deficiency and weaken bone.

FACT #4: Phosphoric acid intake, in the form of carbonated soft-drinks can
hasten the development of osteoporosis.

Vitamin K-2

Vitamin K-2 is member of a lesser known vitamin group. Vitamin K-2 stimulates
bone formation by way of hormone-regulation, and Vitamin K-2 reduces the
incidence of vertebral fractures, despite having only modest direct effects on
the bone mineral density. Vitamins K-1 and K-3 are inactive in this regard.

Vitamin K-2 is found in certain vegetables, but it is absorbed best if injested
simultaneously with butter. Further, the production of Vitamin K-2 is
accomplished through ‘normal’ gastro-intestinal bacteria.

NOTE WELL: Supplementation of vitamin K-2 can prevent the development of
osteoporosis and reduce the risk of lumbar compression fractures from
osteoporosis.



FACT #5: GI bacteria are important to the production of Vitamin K-2.
Anti-biotics kill off the ‘good bacteria’ right along with the pathogenic
bacteria. Loose use of antibiotics alter GI flora, crippling our ability to get
VitaminK-2.

FACT #6: Taking the wrong form or formulation of Vitamin K, or Vitamin K-2 is
worthless in therapeutic benefit.

Vitamin D-3

Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D-3) is necessary for the absorption of calcium from
the gut as well as for deposition of calcium in the bone. Vitamin D-3 deficiency
leads to Osteoporosis. [editors note: Vitamin D is actually not a vitamin in the pure
sense by definition as our bodies make this compound when exposed to sunlight, however by
convention it is still referred to as a "vitamin". (Saleeby)]

Vitamin D-3 is really is not a vitamin, at all, but it is a hormone. Its
metabolic product, calcitrol has genetic receptors in over 200 genes in the
human body, and vitamin D deficiency is a major factor in the pathology of at
least 17 varieties of cancer as well as heart disease, stroke, hypertension,
autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis,
osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, and periodontal
disease.

FACT #7: Vitamin D-3 supplementation reduces the risk of breast cancer,
prostate and colon cancers by as much as 50%, and reduces the risk of developing
multiple sclerosis (MS) by as much as 40%.

Strontium

Strontium is an element necessary for the maintenance of calcium matrix.
Strontium supplementation decreases the risk of vertebral fractures, by 49%
within the first year of treatment. Further, this risk of non-vertebral
fractures is decreased by 16% and, in patients at high risk for such a fracture,
the risk of hip fracture is decreased by 36% over 3 yrs.

Other Important Nutrients



However, there are other vitamins and minerals needed for metabolic processes
related to bone, including manganese, copper, boron, iron, zinc, vitamin A,
vitamin C, and the B vitamins. The diet must be sufficient in balanced protein
as well as balanced with the appropriate fats and oils.

Deficiencies in zinc, magnesium, manganese, strontium, vanadium and chromium,
result in many disease states ranging from obesity and diabetes to Alzheimer’s
Disease and cancer.

To this end, I find it easiest to start my patients on a balanced mineral
supplement, separate and distinct from the vitamin and hormonal supplement
requirements. This permits adjustment for age, gender, and disease state. If
these products were presented in one capsule or packet formulation,
customization would be difficult if not impossible.



Summary

Bone is a dynamic organ system. Physiologic forces promote bone deposition and
production, while others promote resorption and destruction. Nutritional
influences are extremely important, both in positive and negative terms. It
takes a wide variety of essential substances, mineral, vitamin, protein, and
hormonal to maintain the health and integrity of each and every organ system,
including the musculoskeletal system.



Source: David S. Klein, MD e-mail newsletter