Alternative Medicine Review back issues from March 2008:
Good manufacturing practices should not be "skin deep".(Editorial)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Quality control in manufacturing, and the lack thereof, is being written about more and more, and is becoming increasingly more obfuscated. On February 5, 2008, an Associated Press wire story highlighted "the lack thereof" in pharmaceutical quality control, revealing the ...
Use of vitamin D in clinical practice.(Drug overview)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Abstract The recent discovery--from a meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials--that supplemental cholecalciferol (vitamin D) significantly reduces all-cause mortality emphasizes the medical, ethical, and legal implications of promptly diagnosing and adequately treating ...
Vitamin D and fracture reduction: an evaluation of the existing research.(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Abstract This article re-evaluates the literature on vitamin D and fracture reduction, highlighting the relevance of new understandings for fracture prevention. A new set of science-based research guidelines for clinical trials on vitamin D and fracture is proposed. The existing ...
Potential applications for alternative medicine to treat obesity in an aging population.
Mar 01, 2008; ... Abstract Obesity is a growing problem causing significant morbidity and mortality. The efficacy of conventional therapies is limited. Numerous alternative therapies are advocated for weight loss, including dietary modifications, hypnotherapy, and acupuncture. Many herbal ...
A mixture of extracts of black and green teas and mulberry leaf did not reduce weight gain in rats fed a high-fat diet.(Original Research)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Abstract Tea extracts are used in many over-the-counter preparations claiming to promote weight loss. The rationale for this usage includes reports that green tea extract increases thermogenesis, and extracts of green and black tea and mulberry leaf inhibit the ...
Citicoline.(Monograph)(Drug overview)
Mar 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Introduction Citicoline is a complex organic molecule that functions as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of cell membrane phospholipids. Citicoline is also known as CDP-choline and cytidine diphosphate choline (cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine) ....
Matricaria chamomilla (German chamomile).(Monograph)
Mar 01, 2008 ... Description Chamomile is a widely recognized herb in Western culture. Its medicinal usage dates back to antiquity where such notables as Hippocrates, Galen, and Asclepius made written reference to it. A common ingredient today in herbal teas because of its calming, carminative, ...
Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods.
Mar 01, 2008; ... Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods Jeffrey M. Smith Due to the use of generically modified (GM) soy and corn in processed foods, it is estimated that over 70 percent of foods in U.S. grocery stores contain genetically engineered ...
Clinical observation on Trigonella Foenum-graecum L. total saponins in combination with sulfonylureas in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. total saponins (TFGs) in combination with sulfonylureas (SU) in the treatment of patients with type 2 [sic] diabetes mellitus (T2DM) not well controlled by SU alone. Methods: Sixty-nine T2DM patients whose blood ...
Positive modulation of cognition and mood in the healthy elderly volunteer following the administration of Centella asiatica.(Recent Abstracts)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... AIMS OF THIS STUDY: Centella asiatica has a reputation to restore decline cognitive function in traditional medicine and in animal model. However, little evidence regarding the efficacy of Centella asiatica from systematized trials is available. Therefore, the present randomized, ...
Role of quercetin (a natural herbal compound) in allergy and inflammation.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... An investigated flavonoid, quercetin, is reviewed in this article. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid found in red wine, grapefruit, onions, apples, black tea, and, in lesser amounts, in leafy green vegetables and beans. Quercetin has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and prevents ...
Clinical assessment of CYP2D6-mediated herb-drug interactions in humans: effects of milk thistle, black cohosh, goldenseal, kava kava, St. John's wort, and Echinacea.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6), an important CYP isoform with regard to drug-drug interactions, accounts for the metabolism of approximately 30% of all medications. To date, few studies have assessed the effects of botanical supplementation on human CYP2D6 activity in vivo. Six botanical ...
Effect of dietary epigallocatechin-3-gallate on cytochrome P450 2E1-dependent alcoholic liver damage: enhancement of fatty acid oxidation.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... This study was designed to determine whether dietary epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin polyphenol in green tea, can protect the liver from cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1)-dependent alcoholic liver damage. Compared with an ethanol group, when EGCG was present in the ...
Tea catechin consumption reduces circulating oxidized low-density lipoprotein.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... It has been reported that green tea consumption reduces the risk of coronary artery disease and cardiac events. Catechin is a major constituent of Japanese green tea and an antioxidant. Lipids and oxidization of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) play important roles in ...
Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation decreases remnant-like particle-cholesterol and increases the (n-3) index in hypertriglyceridemic men.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Plasma remnant-like particle-cholesterol (RLP-C) and the RBC (n-3) index are novel risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on these risk factors in hypertriglyceridemic men have not been studied. We determined effects of DHA ...
Interactions of wine drinking with omega-3 fatty acids in patients with coronary heart disease: a fish-like effect of moderate wine drinking.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Moderate alcohol drinking and marine omega-3 fatty acids (omega3) have both been associated with low mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD). However, there is little data evaluating the interactions of wine ethanol drinking with omega3 in CHD patients. METHODS: The ...
Treatment for 2 mo with n 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces adiposity and some atherogenic factors but does not improve insulin sensitivity in women with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled study.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Information is lacking on the potential effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the adipose tissue of patients with type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated whether n-3 PUFAs have additional effects on adiposity, insulin sensitivity, adipose tissue function ...
Effectiveness and tolerability of oral administration of low-dose salmon oil to HIV patients with HAART-associated dyslipidemia.(Recent Abstracts)(humanimmunodeficiency virus)(Highly active antiretroviral therapy)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of low-dose salmon oil for the treatment of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-induced dyslipidemia in HIV-infected patients. METHOD: Randomized, open-label, parallel and crossover, multicenter study. Patients received 1 g salmon oil tid for ...
Phenotype of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus may determine clinical response to chromium supplementation.(Recent Abstracts)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Considerable controversy exists regarding the use of chromium (Cr) supplementation to modulate carbohydrate metabolism in subjects with diabetes. Recently, we reported that Cr supplementation, provided as 1000 microg/d as Cr picolinate, enhanced insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 ...
Metabolic therapy for early treatment of age-related macular degeneration.(Recent Abstracts)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Currently, age-related macular degeneration is one of the most common eye diseases causing severe and permanent loss of vision. This disease is estimated to affect approximately 300-500 thousand Hungarians. While earlier no treatment was available, in the recent decade an antioxidant ...
Weight loss, but not fish oil consumption, improves fasting and postprandial serum lipids, markers of endothelial function, and inflammatory signatures in moderately obese men.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Overweight persons are at risk for cardiovascular diseases, which may relate to a disturbed endothelial function and pro-inflammatory serum profiles. Indeed, weight loss lowers cardiovascular disease risk, but weight maintenance is difficult. Therefore, dietary supplements such as fish ...
Metabolic and hormonal effects of caffeine: randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... In short-term studies, caffeine has been shown to increase insulin levels, reduce insulin sensitivity, and increase cortisol levels. However, epidemiological studies have indicated that long-term consumption of beverages containing caffeine such as coffee and green tea is associated with a ...
Efficacy of lycopene in the treatment of gingivitis: a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial.(Recent Abstracts)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of systemically administered lycopene (LycoRed) as a monotherapy and as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in gingivitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty systemically healthy patients showing clinical signs of ...
Lycopene inhibits disease progression in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Lycopene is a promising nutritional component for chemoprevention of prostate cancer (PCa). A possibly beneficial role of lycopene in patients diagnosed with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), who are at increased risk of developing PCa, has been suggested, although clinical data are ...
Randomized clinical trial of an ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Aim: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, and dose-ranging study was carried out in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum that shows the strongest 5alpha-reductase inhibitory activity among the ...
Physiological dose of lycopene suppressed oxidative stress and enhanced serum levels of immunoglobulin M in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a possible role in the prevention of long-term complications.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the antioxidant effects of lycopene in physiological doses and its possible effects on the immune response in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 35 patients with T2DM of both sexes aged ...
Randomized, double blind placebo-controlled trial: effects of myo-inositol on ovarian function and metabolic factors in women with PCOS.(Recent Abstracts)(polycystic ovaries)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Oligomenorrhea and polycystic ovaries in women are one of the most important causes of the high incidence of ovulation failure. This is linked, perhaps, to insulin resistance and related metabolic features. A small number of reports show that myo-inositol improves ovarian function, but in ...
A randomized trial of beta carotene supplementation and cognitive function in men: the Physicians' Health Study II.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress contributes to brain aging. Antioxidant treatment, especially over the long term, might confer cognitive benefits. METHODS: We added cognitive testing to the Physicians' Health Study II (PHSII), a randomized trial of beta carotene and other vitamin supplements ...
Alpha-lipoic acid as a new treatment option for Alzheimer's disease--a 48 months follow-up analysis.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Oxidative stress and neuronal energy depletion are characteristic biochemical hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It is therefore conceivable that pro-energetic and antioxidant drugs such as alpha-lipoic acid might delay the onset or slow down the progression of the disease. In a ...
Phosphatidylcholine for steroid-refractory chronic ulcerative colitis: a randomized trial.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Although long-term steroid treatment is discouraged in ulcerative colitis, alternatives are lacking when therapy with immunosuppressant drugs fails. An insufficient level of phosphatidylcholine in colonic mucus is a possible pathogenetic factor for ulcerative colitis ....
Clinical trials of ultra-high-dose methylcobalamin in ALS.(Recent Abstracts)(Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting both upper and lower motor neurons. Weakness may begin in the legs, hands, proximal arms, or pharynx. The course is relentless and progressive without remissions, relapses, or even stable plateaus. There is no ...
Clinical trial of Rhodiola rosea L. extract SHR-5 in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of standardized extract SHR-5 of rhizomes of Rhodiola rosea L. in patients suffering from a current episode of mild/moderate depression. The phase III clinical trial was carried out as a randomized double-blind ...
Effect of Ginkgo biloba (EGb 761) and aspirin on platelet aggregation and platelet function analysis among older adults at risk of cardiovascular disease: a randomized clinical trial.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Several case reports have implicated Ginkgo biloba in clinically adverse bleeding disorders. Ginkgo biloba has been reported to increase pain-free walking distance among patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Standard PAD therapy includes 325 mg/day aspirin. The objective of this ...
The effect of herbal medicines on platelet function: an in vivo experiment and review of the literature.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Herbal medicines are used by a considerable number of surgical patients. An increased risk of bleeding, substantiated by anecdotal reports, has been attributed to the use of certain herbs, and numerous in vitro experiments have identified some herbal extracts as platelet ...
Dose response to vitamin D supplementation among post-menopausal African American women.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Reports on the dose response to vitamin D are conflicting, and most data were derived from white men and women. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine the response of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] to oral vitamin D(3) supplementation in an African American population ....
Urinary catecholamines in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): modulation by a polyphenolic extract from pine bark (pycnogenol).(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Our study tested the hypothesis that treatment with a potent polyphenol complex not only reduces hyperactivity of children, but also catecholamine excretion and oxidative stress. Urine catecholamine concentrations were measured in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children ...
Effect of high-dose alpha-tocopherol supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress and inflammation are crucial in atherogenesis, alpha-Tocopherol is both an antioxidant and an antiinflammatory agent. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the effect of RRR-alpha-tocopherol supplementation on carotid atherosclerosis in patients with stable coronary artery ...
Glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in very low-birth-weight infants: effect on the incidence of allergic and infectious diseases in the first year of life.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of glutamine-enriched enteral nutrition in very low-birth-weight infants on the incidence of allergic and infectious diseases during the first year of life. DESIGN: Follow-up study. SETTING: Tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: All surviving infants who ...
Epigallocatechin gallate inactivates clinical isolates of Herpes simplex virus.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... In the absence of a fully effective Herpes simplex virus (HSV) vaccine, topical microbicides represent an important strategy for preventing HSV transmission. (-) Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (MW 458.4) is the primary catechin in green tea. The present study shows that EGCG has greater ...
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) prevents body fat accumulation and weight gain in an animal model.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to reduce body fat and increase lean body mass in mice, rats, and pigs. A recent human trial indicated that CLA may work more effectively if used for prevention of body fat deposition and weight gain. To test this hypothesis, we conducted 2 ...
Comparison of glucosamine sulfate and a polyherbal supplement for the relief of osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized controlled trial.(Recent Abstracts)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of a dietary supplement derived from South American botanicals was compared to glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis subjects in a Mumbai-based multi-center, randomized, double-blind study. METHODS: Subjects (n = 95) were screened and randomized to ...
Prenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation has greater impact on birthweight than supplementation with iron and folic acid: a cluster-randomized, double-blind, controlled programmatic study in rural Niger.(Recent Abstracts)(Clinical report)
Mar 01, 2008; ... BACKGROUND: Micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including reduced birthweight. Low birthweight is associated with increased risk of infant mortality and growth failure. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of prenatal supplementation ...
A phase 1 study of the safety of the nutritional supplement, active hexose correlated compound, AHCC, in healthy volunteers.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) is an extract of Lentinula edodes of the basidiomycete family of fungi rich in alpha glucans. AHCC has been used for many years as a dietary supplement to enhance the immune system and in clinical trials as an adjunctive treatment in hepatocellular ...
Fish oil supplementation improves left ventricular function in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Fish oil has a cardioprotective effect in adults with ischemic heart disease. The authors examined the effects of fish oil in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Eighteen DCM patients (group I) and 12 healthy children (group III) were given fish oil (10 mL/d). Their ...
Nitric oxide metabolism in the inclusion of N-acetylcysteine into the complex therapy of patients with community-acquired pneumonia.(Recent Abstracts)(Brief article)
Mar 01, 2008; ... Thirty-five patients with community-acquired pneumonia were examined. Studies of red blood cells and expired air condensate revealed significant nitric oxide metabolic disturbances in them. In a group of 17 patients, the use of N-acetylcysteine in the complex therapy resulted in the ...
Corrections.(Recent Abstracts)(Correction notice)
Mar 01, 2008 ... David A. Carlson; Anthony R. Smith, PhD; Sarah J. Fischer; Karyn L. Young; Lester Packer, PhD. The plasma pharmacokinetics of R-(+)-lipoic acid administered as sodium R-(+)-lipoate to healthy human subjects. Altern Med Rev 2007;12(4):343-351. The last line of the article should ...
Events calendar.(Calendar)
Mar 01, 2008 ... March 12-15, 2008: Oxygen Club of California 2008 World Congress co-sponsored by the Linus Pauling Institute, in Santa Barbara, CA. Contact: Dr. Cesar Fraga oxyclubcalifornia@ucdavis.edu, cgfraga@ucdavis.edu, http://www.oxyclubcalifornia.org/OCC2008.cfm March 14-17, 2008: ...