Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Essential Fatty Acids

Here is a picture of the metabolic pathway for Omega-6 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, GLA, EPA, DHA and also the resultant prostaglandins.

(diagram thanks to www.nutrisana.com/canada/omega.html)

Discussion on fish oil for treatment of immune disorders / AS:
http://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=202742

Source Saturated fat Omega 9 (Oleic) Omega 6 (Linoleic) Omega 3 (Linolenic, EPA, DHA) Other
Cod Liver Oil 15% ? ? 27%
(EPA=9-10% and DHA=10-11%)

 per ml: Vitamin A 625 IU, Vitamin D 2mcg
Flaxseed oil ? 13% 16% 60%
Hemp seed oil ~11% 10-16% 50-70% 15-25%

References:

Posted by zarkme at 11:33:41 | Permalink | Comments (4)

Tuesday, May 3, 2005

Bromelain

Bromelain is quite a useful supplement. It is an enzyme derived from pineapple, so don’t use it if you are allergic to pineapples (and that is fairly rare). I find it works wonderfully well at first, but unfortunately the effect becomes weaker the longer I use it, and after a week or two I need to give it a rest for a fortnight before trying it again.

* some excellent information here on proteolytic enzymes (that includes bromelain) and a range of health problems that it is useful for
http://www.womenandinfants.com/body.cfm?id=388&chunkiid=21671

Posted by zarkme at 06:01:06 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Probiotics

* eric says he is getting great results from an acidophilus probiotic that cultured on apple pectin: far less pain, improved concentration, and more energy. Taking 6 doses a day for a total of 20-30 billion bacteria daily
http://www.kickas.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=197567

Posted by zarkme at 05:47:06 | Permalink | No Comments »

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Glyconutrients - The eight essential sugars

Links

Posted by zarkme at 11:27:24 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sunday, January 16, 2005

Vitamin A

Article about Psoriasis treatment using Vitamin A. Quoted from http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/diseasemanagement/dermatology/psoriasis/psoriasis.htm

Oral Retinoid Therapy: Special Considerations
Retinoids are naturally or synthetically derived from Vitamin A (retinol) and have anti-inflammatory, antikeratinizing, and antiproliferative effects on the skin. Acitretin is the only oral retinoid approved for psoriasis therapy in the United States. The drug has demonstrated good to excellent therapeutic results, especially in combination with other conventional treatments.

  • Adverse Effects of Oral Retinoids
    Although oral retinoids have numerous side effects, they are generally not serious, except for teratogenicity. The most common and frequently troublesome side effects are dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, hair loss, and nail changes. Patients taking acitretin for years may develop diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis-like involvement of the spine. Extraspinal tendon and ligament calcifications are more common. Many of these changes are asymptomatic, and well- established guidelines for monitoring skeletal toxicity are lacking.

  • Lipid Effects
    Retinoids cause hyperlipidemia, especially elevations of serum triglyceride, and decreases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that retinoids induce increased synthesis of apoprotein B and triglycerides. Fish oil supplements given to patients receiving acitretin significantly decrease triglyceride levels. Gemfibrozil or atorvastatin calcium are useful for treating patients with hyperlipidemia due to acitretin who do not respond to dietary manipulation and dose reductions of acitretin.16

  • Use In Pregnancy
    Acitretin is reserved for men or for women who are not of childbearing age. Fertile women with severe psoriasis who take acitretin must follow two-method contraception or abstinence and have monthly pregnancy tests. Acitretin may be converted to etretinate, which has a long half-life and is stored in fat. Therefore, the manufacturer’s guidelines warn that patients must abstain from drinking alcohol during treatment and must not conceive for 3 years after terminating treatment.

Posted by zarkme at 07:09:02 | Permalink | Comments (2)