|
2001 updates
1998-99 updates
 March
2000- Vitamin C unfairly criticized. A new report that
supposedly shows that vitamin C causes damaging thickening
of the carotid arterial wall has left many people reconsidering
their intake of this important vitamin. This study conflicts
with hundreds of previous studies, and the benefits of vitamin
C that are known are far more convincing than the dubious
harm suggested in one contradictory study. It would be unfortunate
if many people started to limit their healthy vitamin C supplementation
because of this one unconfirmed report.
Vitamin C is not dangerous. Many studies show the benefits
of vitamin C for the heart, the arteries, and the brain, including
reduced risks of heart attacks and strokes, and lowered blood
pressure. This study by Dwyer and colleagues was reported
at the American Heart Association meeting, but it has not
yet been published for critiques. It is virtually certain
that supplements of vitamin C even in excess of 2000 mg are
beneficial, rather than harmful. Nothing in this study even
suggested decreased blood flow as a result of vitamin C, and
many studies confirm increased blood flow with vitamin C supplements,
even intravenously.
It is possible to get 2500 mg of vitamin C from food with
a diet of all fresh fruits, and fresh vegetables, including
potatoes, but most people don't eat this way and therefore
supplements are essential to achieve protective levels.
March 2000- Asthma and antioxidants. In the Journal
of Asthma (J Asthma 2000;37:59-63) it was reported that the
antioxidant status of asthmatics was significantly lower than
in controls, when they compared levels of the antioxidant
enzyme SOD (superoxide dismutase). SOD is dependent on zinc,
manganese and copper, and the authors suggested that low antioxidants
might contribute to the asthma.
Other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, have already been
shown to help asthmatics. Although cause and effect was not
shown in this report, it is suggestive that asthmatics would
do better if they kept their antioxidant status high. Other
antioxidant nutrients include vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic
acid, and a variety of flavonoids, including proanthocyanidins.
March 2000- Fruits and vegetables reduce prostate cancer
risk. Yet another article supports the value of a diet
high in vegetables (Cohen JH, Kristal AR, Fruit and vegetable
intakes and prostate cancer risk. J Natl Cancer Inst
2000 Jan 5;92(1):61-8). Researchers report that cruciferous
vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower, dramatically
reduce the risk of prostate cancer. For those men who ate
more than 28 servings of vegetables a week, the risk was reduced
by 35 percent. If they ate at least three servings of cruciferous
vegetables a week, the risk was reduced by 41 percent. These
contain isothiocyanate, a phytochemical that helps detoxify
carcinogens.
December 2000- Toxic chemicals and aging. "Some
of what we have been calling ‘normal aging’ may
in fact be due to past exposures to chemicals or other agents
that can affect the central nervous system," says one
researcher after examining the effects of lead exposure on
mental decline with age. (Schwartz BS, et al., Neurology
2000 Oct 24;55(8):1144-50.) Exposure to many toxins may be
associated with various chronic degenerative diseases, and
it is important to protect yourself by drinking clean water
and breathing clean air as often as possible. (I use a MultiPure
solid-carbon block water filter for all drinking and cooking
(it removes lead, other heavy metals, pesticides, chemical
solvents, and more. Available from QCI Nutritionals at 888-922-4848
or at www.qcinutritionals.com) I also recommend intravenous
chelation therapy for heavy metal exposure, and for all industrial
lead workers.
drjanson@drjanson.com
November
through May: 386-409-7747
June
through October: 603-878-2256
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