Mainstream medical treatment of cancer revolves around surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, used either alone or in combination (Isobe T et al 2005; Ostoros G et al 2005). Chemotherapy and radiation therapy cannot discriminate between cancer cells and healthy cells; thus, they damage both types of cells and cause serious and often debilitating side effects, frequently forcing patients to abandon treatment (Ettinger DS 2005; Giraud P et al 2004; Munden RF et al 2005). Therefore, it is not surprising that many cancer patients now opt to complement conventional treatments with alternative therapies that may not only temper the adverse side effects of conventional cancer therapy, but also improve its effectiveness via independent anti-cancer effects.
The contributions of aspirin and microbial oxygenase to the biosynthesis of anti-inflammatory resolvins: novel oxygenase products from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Arita M, Clish CB, Serhan CN.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2005 Dec 9;338(1):149-57. Epub 2005 Aug 10. Review.
PMID: 16112645
doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.07.181
Dietary linolenic acid is inversely associated with calcified atherosclerotic plaque in the coronary arteries: the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study.
Djoussé L, Arnett DK, Carr JJ, Eckfeldt JH, Hopkins PN, Province MA, Ellison RC; Investigators of the NHLBI FHS.
Circulation. 2005 Jun 7;111(22):2921-6. Epub 2005 May 31.
PMID: 15927976
doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.489534
ScienceDaily (July 1, 2005) - St. Louis, June 28, 2005 -- Expectant mothers at risk of premature birth may want to consider drinking pomegranate juice to help their babies resist brain injuries from low oxygen and reduced blood flow, a new mouse study from Washington University School of Medicine in St.
Vitamin D and the epidemiology of prostate cancer.
Schwartz GG.
Semin Dial. 2005 Jul-Aug;18(4):276-89. Review.
PMID: 16076349
DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-139X.2005.18403.x
Half of the patients with an acute hip fracture suffer from hypovitaminosis D: a prospective study in southeastern Finland.
Nurmi I, Kaukonen JP, Lüthje P, Naboulsi H, Tanninen S, Kataja M, Kallio ML, Leppilampi M.
Osteoporos Int. 2005 Dec;16(12):2018-24. Epub 2005 Aug 24.
PMID: 16133642
Half of the patients with a hip fracture suffered from hypovitaminosis D. The situation was worst in institutional and residential care, although there are personnel for taking care of vitamin D supplementation. In the late summer, one-third and in late winter two-thirds of the patients suffered from hypovitaminosis D. The geographical location of Finland indicates extensive efforts to increase the use of vitamin D supplements among elderly.
Loren DJ, Seeram NP, Schulman RN, Holtzman DM. \nMaternal dietary supplementation with pomegranate juice is neuroprotective in an animal model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.\nPediatr Res. 2005 Jun;57(6):858-64. Epub 2005 Mar 17.\nPMID: 1577483
Pharmacologic ascorbic acid concentrations selectively kill cancer cells: action as a pro-drug to deliver hydrogen peroxide to tissues.
Chen Q, Espey MG, Krishna MC, Mitchell JB, Corpe CP, Buettner GR, Shacter E, Levine M.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Sep 20;102(38):13604-9. Epub 2005 Sep 12.
PMID: 16157892
Support ellagic acid therapy in patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) on standard chemotherapy using vinorelbine and estramustine phosphate.
Falsaperla M, Morgia G, Tartarone A, Ardito R, Romano G.
Eur Urol. 2005 Apr;47(4):449-54; discussion 454-5. Epub 2005 Jan 19.
PMID: 15774240
doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2004.12.001
Sakhaee K, Maalouf NM, Abrams SA, Pak CY.
Effects of potassium alkali and calcium supplementation on bone turnover in postmenopausal women.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jun;90(6):3528-33. Epub 2005 Mar 8.
PMID: 15755853
Frick KK, LaPlante K, Bushinsky DA.
RANK ligand and TNF-alpha mediate acid-induced bone calcium efflux in vitro.
Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2005 Nov;289(5):F1005-11. Epub 2005 Jun 21.
PMID: 15972386 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
Vitamin d deficiency and seasonal variation in an adult South Florida population.
Levis S, Gomez A, Jimenez C, Veras L, Ma F, Lai S, Hollis B, Roos BA.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Mar;90(3):1557-62. Epub 2005 Jan 5.
PMID: 15634725
The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is considerable even in southern latitudes and should be taken into account in the evaluation of postmenopausal and male osteoporosis.
Paradigms and Paradoxes
Last month Dr. Armin Zittermann of Ruhr University, Germany, published the best vitamin D paper of the month. He reviewed the mounting evidence that vitamin D deficiency is a major cause of heart disease. Zittermann A, Schleithoff SS, Koerfer R. Putting cardiovascular disease and vitamin D insufficiency into perspective. Br J Nutr. 2005 Oct;94(4):483-92.
Before we start, let's talk about paradigms and paradoxes. A paradigm is a set of assumptions, concepts, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality. The current paradigm is that heart disease is caused by a combination of genetics, hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, obesity, inactivity, and diet. A paradox is a fact that contradicts the paradigm.
Prevalence of Vitamin D inadequacy among postmenopausal North American women receiving osteoporosis therapy.
Holick MF, Siris ES, Binkley N, Beard MK, Khan A, Katzer JT, Petruschke RA, Chen E, de Papp AE.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jun;90(6):3215-24. Epub 2005 Mar 29.
PMID: 15797954
doi:10.1210/jc.2004-2364
Conclusions: More than half of North American women receiving therapy to treat or prevent osteoporosis have vitamin D inadequacy, underscoring the need for improved physician and public education regarding optimization of vitamin D status in this population.