Tuesday, December 11, 2007

New Marker for Debilitating Disease

Much news has been made recently about homocysteine levels becoming a new critical marker for heart disease and stroke -- possibly being even more important than cholesterol levels. Now it seems that high levels of this amino acid also have been linked to osteoporosis. To find out more, I spoke with Kilmer McCully, MD, probably the most respected authority on homocysteine in America and author of The Homocysteine Revolution (Keats).

BACKGROUND ON HOMOCYSTEINE

Homocysteine is a naturally occurring metabolite of the amino acid L-methionine used by the body for many functions including detoxification. It normally shows up in the blood at levels of about 6 millimeters(mm) to 8 mm for women and 8 mm to 12 mm for men. As long as the body keeps levels in check, there's not much of a problem. However, homocysteine may be toxic and inflammatory when in excess, and this can lead to serious consequences, including heart disease.

Dr. McCully first became interested in homocysteine back in the 1960s when he came across a few unusual cases involving children with atherosclerosis, a heart disease that generally is associated with much older people. Dr. McCully also found atherosclerosis scattered through the arteries of a boy who had died of a stroke. After some rigorous detective work, he noted that all these children had high levels of homocysteine. In 1969, he wrote his first paper suggesting that homocysteine was causing artherosclerotic plaque. Now, 35 years and a substantial amount of research later, it is well accepted that elevated homocysteine is a risk factor for vascular disease.

LINK TO OSTEOPOROSIS

So the connection to cardiovascular disease is well-known -- but what about the connection to osteoporosis? Could high homocysteine levels really have a correlation with osteoporosis? And if so, what can be done about it?

"Osteoporosis is a prominent feature of children with high levels of homocysteine. About two-thirds of the children with high levels of homocysteine also have severe osteoporosis," said Dr. McCully. "They also get scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, and have an increased risk for fractures. More recently, we've found that adult patients with elevated homocysteine also have an increased risk for osteoporosis."

Dr. McCully explained that the osteoporosis connection was revealed through a rather ingenious study in Japan, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association in the spring of this year. The study was done on stroke victims who, for reasons not completely understood, have a much greater risk for hip fractures. The Japanese researchers divided a number of stroke patients into two groups and followed them for two years. One group was given a combination of 5 milligrams (mg) of folic acid and 1,500 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B-12 while the other group received a placebo. Researchers wanted to see if the B vitamins would reduce hip fractures in this high-risk population. The results were dramatic: In the placebo group, 43 people had hip fractures, but in the vitamin group, only 10 did. And, homocysteine levels dropped in the treatment group by 38%, while they increased in the placebo group.

Could homocysteine be the connection? It sure looks like it. "Two other studies, in Germany and the Netherlands, also demonstrated that patients with higher homocysteine have a higher risk for osteoporotic fracture," Dr. McCully said. "It's likely that homocysteine affects the matrix upon which calcium and other minerals are deposited in the bone. This matrix becomes calcified during bone formation. Homocysteine seems to affect the formation of this matrix in a negative way." Dr. McCully also pointed out that men are less susceptible to osteoporosis than women, probably because testosterone maintains the bone matrix better. In women, it's a double whammy since osteoporosis risk goes up after menopause, and -- for reasons not fully understood -- so do homocysteine levels.

GETTING CONTROL OF HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS

How do we bring homocysteine down?

"Easily," Dr. McCully replied. "It can be done with dietary improvement and by increasing B vitamins. Eliminate processed foods, including flour and sugar, and eat more fresh vegetables, fresh meats, fresh fruits and whole grains." The three vitamins which have been shown to markedly reduce homocysteine are B-6, folic acid and B-12. "Only about 400 mcg of folic acid and 3.5 mg of B-6 are needed," said Dr. McCully.

Vitamin B-12 is another story, since older people have a harder time absorbing it. "About 15% of people over age 65 are deficient in B-12," Dr. McCully told me, "but not because they don't eat enough -- they don't absorb it well." He recommends taking B-12 (at least 1,000 mcg) sublingually -- under the tongue -- as directed on the bottle, since part of it is absorbed directly through the mucous membranes. Make sure that the B-12 is in either the hydroxycobalamine or methylcobalamine form. The conventional cyanocobalamine is poorly absorbed through the mucous membranes. The bottle will indicate which kind it is.

The take-home point: Get your homocysteine checked by a blood test. Improve your diet and talk to a trained professional about B-12, B-6 and folic acid supplements. Assuming proper dosing, taking these supplements is one of the easiest possible things you can do to improve your health and reduce your risk for both heart disease and osteoporosis.

Note: Juice Plus+ has been shown to reduce homocysteine in two separate published studies. These studies are available for review at our website below.

Wellness Today

Spread the Word about Lifelong Health and Wellness
Edited by David E. Wade, DC, CCSP, CCST
Doctors of chiropractic are recognized as capable, efficient providers of health care services, particularly for their emphasis on preventing illness and promoting health and wellness.
A recent two-part study sought to specify the role and use of maintenance care (MC) within the chiropractic profession. Part I focused specifically on chiropractors' attitudes toward MC and the preferred types of MC provided in U.S. chiropractic offices; part II addressed the frequency of MC use by the elderly.
Results from part I
€ Chiropractors agree that the primary functions of maintenance care are to optimize health, prevent conditions from developing, reduce/relieve conditions, and minimize the recurrence of such conditions.
€ They also agree that MC should combine exercise, chiropractic adjustments/manipulation, and dietary and lifestyle changes.
€ While MC is recommended to nearly 80% of chiropractic patients, only 34% actually receive such care.
Results from part II:
€ Elderly patients make an average of 17 visits per year for chiropractic MC.
€ These patients report making only half the annual number of visits to medical doctors compared with the national average.
€ Stretching exercises, aerobic exercises, dietary advice and other prevention strategies are also recommended for this age group.
The moral to this story is clear: Chiropractors believe in providing well-balanced preventive care that focuses on maintaining wellness and dealing with potential health problems. Many people take advantage of this opportunity, but many more have yet to receive the benefits chiropractic can offer. Do you have friends or family who've never been to a chiropractor? Tell them about your experiences and help them follow the same road to wellness you've chosen.
Reference:
Rupert RL. A survey of practice patterns and the health promotion and prevention attitudes of U.S. chiropractors. Maintenance care, part I. Also: Rupert RL, Manello D, Sandefur R. Maintenance care: health promotion services administered to U.S. chiropractic patients aged 65 and older: part II. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Jan. 2000: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp1-9 and 10-19.

Spinal Decompression

Spinal Decompression
The New Way to Treat Herniated Discs Without Surgery
By Dr. David E Wade, DC, CCSP, CCST
If you’re suffering from a herniated disc and your current therapy has not yielded sufficient benefit, you should ask chiropractic doctors Cornelius or McManus if you might be a candidate for spinal decompression therapy.

What is spinal decompression therapy?
It’s a non-surgical, traction-based treatment for herniated or bulging discs in the neck and low back. Anyone who has back, neck, arm or leg pain caused by a degenerated or damaged disc may be helped by spinal decompression therapy. Specific conditions that may be helped by this therapeutic procedure include herniated or bulging discs, spinal stenosis, sciatica, facet syndrome, spondylosis or even failed spinal surgery.

Many patients, some with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-documented disc herniations, have achieved “good” to “excellent” results after spinal decompression therapy.
The computerized traction head on the decompression table or machine is the key to the therapy’s effectiveness. The preprogrammed patterns for ramping up and down the amount of axial distraction eliminate muscle guarding and permit decompression to occur at the disc level. This creates a negative pressure within the disc, allowing the protruded or herniated portion to be pulled back within the normal confines of the disc, which permits healing to occur.

Your specific treatment plan will be determined by the doctor after your examination. Based on research and my clinical experience, the best results are achieved with 20 sessions over a six-week period. To reduce inflammation and assist the healing process, supporting structures sometimes are treated with passive therapies (ice/heat/muscle stimulation), chiropractic adjustments (when indicated) and/or active rehabilitation in order to strengthen the spinal musculature. The complete rehabilitation protocol lasts 12 to 16 weeks.
The cost for 20 sessions can range from $3,500 to $5,000 or more. While this may seem like a lot, it is very reasonable, considering the cost and potential adverse outcomes associated with spine surgery.

Spinal decompression therapy has saved many people from spinal surgery. If you are suffering from a degenerated or herniated disc, I encourage you to explore safe and effective spinal decompression therapy before risking surgery. The rationale for treating a herniated disc without resorting to surgery has research support on its side: According to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, surgery is no more effective than non-invasive treatments, including chiropractic care, for patients with lumbar disc herniation causing sciatica.

Ask chiropractic doctor Cornelius or McManus for more information about spinal decompression and if you might be a candidate. If they can’t help you, they can refer you to someone who could.

What Does It Mean?
Not familiar with some of the terminology in this article? Don’t worry: Here’s a brief explanation of what these terms mean in relation to your spine.

Anulus Fibrosus: The tough outer ring of a vertebral disc; it encases the nucleus pulposus (see description below) within the disc.
Facet Syndrome: An irritation of one or more of the joints on the back of the spinal vertebrae, which comprise the spinal column.
Herniated Disc: Displacement of the center of a vertebral disc through a crack in the outer layer. Disc herniation can put pressure on spinal nerves and cause pain.
Muscle Guarding: Muscle spasming, often in response to a painful stimulus.
Nucleus Pulposus: A gel-like substance within each intervertebral disc, surrounded by the anulus fibrosus.
Sciatica: Pain in the lower back, buttocks, hips, or adjacent anatomical structures, frequently attributable to spinal dysfunction.
Spinal Stenosis: Narrowing of the spine at one or more of three locations: in the center of the spine, where nerves branch from the spine, or in the space between vertebrae. This puts pressure on spinal nerves and can cause pain.
Spondylosis: Otherwise known as spinal arthritis, spondylosis is a degenerative condition in which spinal discs weaken, particularly with age.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Wellness Today

I am excited about the opportunity we have to communicate wellness principles. Our office will be co-hosting a Senior Health and Fitness Day along with our local Shopping Mall. We expect 50 plus vendors to share their information geared towards Senior Wellness Concepts: see www.wellnesseducationfoundation.org. We have also partnered with Hands on Volunteer Network, HealthierUS, and Health Care providers across the country to promote wellness to the world. Lot's of idesa out there - what's yours?

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Wellness Today

Wellness Today

April 15th - a good day for starting the WEF Blog. I'm excited about wellness, and I hope by exchanging ideas about the subject we can create an awareness shift towards personal responsibility for decisions that will support better vitality and longevity.