New Form of Magnesium May Mitigate Memory Loss

By Teresa Bujacich, ND

Are you magnesium deficient? Only 16% of the magnesium found in whole wheat remains in refined flour, and magnesium has been removed from most drinking water supplies, setting a stage for magnesium deficiency. This is aggravated by the fact that magnesium is depleted by stress, sweating, alcohol consumption and a plethora of pharmaceutical drugs. Magnesium plays a primary role in a myriad of biochemical processes in the human body.

One critical effect of magnesium deficiency is that neuronal requirements for magnesium may not be met, causing neuronal damage, which could manifest as memory loss, depression, and more. Anxiety disorders, such as phobias and post traumatic stress disorder, are among the most common mental disorders and are associated with magnesium deficiency. Stress exposure, depending on its intensity and duration, affects cognition and learning.

A new form of magnesium (magnesium L-threonate) has been shown to be beneficial for mitigating these effects in several regions of the brain. Increasing plasticity in the prefrontal cortex and amygdale of the brain improves memory because these brain areas are also deeply involved in mediating the effects of exposure to stress on memory.

Several studies indicate that these same synaptic connections in the brain hippocampus, a critical brain region for learning and memory, decline during aging. Studies have also found low levels of magnesium in the brains of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Magnesium L-threonate was found in animal studies to increase learning ability, working memory, and short- and long-term memory.

Many nutrients are unable to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier, making it difficult to deliver them to this critical region. The difference with this new form of magnesium is that it is chelated, or bound, to a novel molecule called L-threonate that helps the magnesium to cross through the blood-brain barrier more efficiently.

Studies suggest that using magnesium L-threonate in a maintenance dose of 2 grams daily, or 3-4 grams daily for people experiencing memory loss, may be beneficial. Trademarked as Magtein™, this exciting new form of magnesium is now available in the Designs For Health product NeuroMag™. Benefits may be further enhanced when combined with their other memory product Brain Vitale™, which contains glycerol-phosphocholine (GPC), acetyl L-carnitine, phophatidyl-serine (PS), inositol, and ginkgo extract.

References
1. J Neurosci. 2011 Oct 19;31(42):14871-81.
2. Neuron. 2010 Jan 28;65(2):143-4.
3. Neuron. 2010 Jan 28;65(2):165-77.
4. Neural Plast. 2007;2007:30873. Epub 2007 Jan 16.

Cutting-Edge Nutrient for Cognitive Health

By Jennifer Morganti, ND, Director of Education for NEEDS

Uridine may not be an ingredient that is commonly found in dietary supplements, but research shows promising results that may change that fact. Uridine-5′-Monophosphate (UMP) specifically, is one of the basic building blocks for RNA and DNA, the foundations for our genetic coding. UMP also combines with omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA) and choline to produce the membrane of brain cells and ultimately promote nerve growth, nerve protection, and nerve communication. Clinical trials have shown that combining these three nutrients may improve cognitive function, particularly memory and learning.

A study published in 2010 evaluated the effects of a medical food that contains UMP, omega-3 fatty acids, and choline on cognitive function in 225 people with mild Alzheimer’s disease. Patients were randomized to take the formula or placebo for 12 weeks and were given various cognitive function tests at the beginning and end of the trial. The group taking the formula was found to have significantly improved one particular cognitive function, that being verbal recall (memory), as compared to the placebo group, which experienced no significant improvements.

An animal study also demonstrated that the combination of UMP, DHA, and choline raised phosphatidyl choline (PC) levels, which is the major lipid in nerve membranes and promotes nerve growth.

Because of this promising research, Cardiovascular Research now offers Uridine-300, which provides 300 mg UMP. Combine with DHA and choline for great brain support!

Act now: Oppose the FDA’s NDI!!!

Why You Need to Actively Oppose the FDA’s NDI (New Dietary Ingredient) Draft Guidance

By Dr. Jen Morganti / NEEDS Education Director

Your access to dietary supplements is at risk! The FDA is proposing changes that could significantly limit the availability of many herbs and vitamins, and potentially increase the cost associated with manufacturing, thus putting supplements out of financial reach for the average American. We need YOU to take action and help stop this unnecessary and unjust regulatory devastation. Please see the link to the petition below and take 2 minutes to help make a difference!

Sign the Petition Here

In 1994, the FDA instituted guidelines for marketing and manufacturing dietary supplements called the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, otherwise known as “DSHEA”. Within DSHEA, there is a requirement that every “new” dietary ingredient brought to market after 1994 must file as a “New Dietary Ingredient” or NDI to prove their safety. Up until now, every ingredient that was already on the market prior to 1994 was grandfathered in and did not require any additional documentation to be sold in the US.

The NDI guidelines have been quite vague ever since DSHEA was instituted, so the FDA is finally attempting to “clarify” the NDI requirements in a document now known as NDI (New Dietary Ingredient) Draft Guidance. Unfortunately, this supposed “clarification” of the NDI sounds much more like a total revision. It significantly raises the requirements to bring a new ingredient to market, and more importantly it disqualifies many of the grandfathered ingredients that are currently being sold and used by consumers. The likely results, if this is passed, is that  many dietary supplement ingredients and formulas will be pulled off the market, many small manufacturers will go out of business because they can’t meet the stringent, expensive, time consuming new requirements, and that innovation for new ingredients will virtually cease due to the excessive expense.

Required Testing

The safety testing requirements for NDIs have been raised to a level well above what was suggested originally in DSHEA. The new NDI will require the manufacturer to submit extensive information about “new” ingredients, including expensive research on safety in humans and animals. It will require toxicology studies, human studies, and other safety studies in order to allow an ingredient to be brought to market. This will apply to many ingredients that are already on the market, which have already proven to be safe by extensive human use for many years. In addition, the current list of “grandfathered” ingredients that was created by dietary supplement industry associations and referred to by manufacturers will no longer be acceptable, thus putting the burden on each manufacturer to provide evidence that their ingredients were sold and used prior to 1994, in that exact form, using exactly the same technology. These requirements will be harder for manufacturers to meet, inevitably leading to fewer new products in the marketplace.

Redundancy in NDI Documentation Process

Beyond the fact that the FDA will require manufacturers to conduct practically drug-level research studies on perfectly safe ingredients, they will also require EVERY manufacturer to provide documentation on every ingredient in every product, even if those exact ingredients have already been approved through the NDI procedure by another manufacturer. And every time an ingredient is added to a different formulation, or used in a different dosage, it will need a new NDI to prove its safety in combination with other ingredients, i.e.: different forms of minerals will each need their own NDI, and a change in the ratio of EPA to DHA in a fish oil would require an NDI. This level of documentation is redundant and wasteful of the manufacturers’ resources and the FDA resources required to review each NDI. NDIs must be submitted 75 days prior to releasing a product to the market. The 75-day wait period can be suspended indefinitely if the FDA deems the application is not adequate, thus causing additional financial stress on the manufacturer. Furthermore, it is clear that the FDA doesn’t have adequate resources to handle the expected influx of NDI applications and it is inconceivable how this process could be managed without a significant and costly increase in FDA resources.

The Potential Downfall of the Dietary Supplement Industry

In the spectrum of food regulation to pharmaceutical regulation, dietary supplements are currently viewed more like foods rather than under the category of drugs. This proposed legislation will slide dietary supplements much closer to the category of drugs. The enormous expense of this procedure will put many nutrition companies out of business, and for those that can afford the process, they will have to increase prices closer to drug prices, without the benefit of being covered by health insurance to help absorb the cost (as drugs are). If this guidance document went into effect, it is expected to significantly cripple the dietary supplement industry to the detriment of consumers who rely on supplements to maintain their health and wellbeing.

Our current call to action is to sign the petition sponsored by Citizens for Health, “calling for Congress to withhold FDA appropriations until this unaccountable agency is held accountable: by adjuring the FDA to withdraw the supplement-killing NDI Guidance and to cease and desist from reviewing and enforcing against dietary supplements and nutritional ingredients according to its willfully adversarial reinterpretation of the laws governing dietary supplements.”

This link will direct you to the petition, and can be found on www.natur-tyme.com:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/750/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8806

Three Reasons You May Need More Magnesium

Magnesium is a basic but significant mineral that is involved with over 325 biochemical reactions in the body. Because it’s such a critical nutrient, it’s a problem that over 60% of Americans are deficient in this key nutrient. Some of the reasons for deficiency include the fact that our food has lower magnesium content due to poor quality soil, we lose magnesium when stressed, and sweating causes magnesium depletion.

You probably don’t want to read a list of the 325 biochemical reactions that rely on magnesium, so let’s just stick with the three “I” s: Insomnia, Inflammation, and Insulin resistance.

Insomnia can be caused by many reasons, with magnesium deficiency being at the top. Magnesium calms the nervous system, relaxes muscles and counters stress. Replenishing magnesium can lead to a longer, uninterrupted sleep pattern.

Insulin resistance is when cells don’t respond adequately to insulin’s attempt to shuttle glucose into the cell after eating, resulting in elevated blood sugar and increased fat storage. It is the hallmark of pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Research shows that people with adequate magnesium levels have improved insulin sensitivity. People with the highest magnesium levels have a lower risk of developing diabetes, even if they have the risk factors such as smoking, low activity level and excessive weight.

Inflammation is at the root cause of so many health problems, such as arthritis, heart disease and obesity. Magnesium has been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory. More than one study has shown that as magnesium levels decrease, CRP (a marker for inflammation) increases. Elevated CRP is also associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Magnesium comes in many forms, but be sure to avoid the oxide form. You may want to try powdered magnesium citrate. To determine the appropriate dosage, start with one or two pills, and increase the dosage over the course of a few days, until it has a laxative effect, then decrease the dosage slightly. This method determines the appropriate dosage for your individual body, based on your level of deficiency. Magnesium is a simple nutrient, but it can make a huge impact on your health!

Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Brain Health

Fish oil is one of those supplements that everyone should be taking, especially if you are concerned about aging and memory loss. Two studies from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that Omega-3 fatty acid consumption slows age-related cognitive decline.

One study, conducted in theNetherlands, tracked the fish consumption of 210 healthy men age 70 to 89 over a five-year period. All of the men started the study with stable cognitive function. At the study’s conclusion, the men who did not consume any fish (which is an excellent source of EPA and DHA omega-3s) experienced cognitive decline four times greater than men who consumed fish on a regular basis. In this study, a clear dose-response relationship demonstrated that daily consumption of a total of 400 mg of EPA and DHA omega-3s was protective against decline in cognitive function.

A second study, conducted in theUS, followed over 2000 middle-aged adults over nine years. They found that by the end of the study, those who had higher blood levels of omega-3s had significantly better verbal fluency than those with low levels.

The best source of Omega-3s is fish; however, pollutants such a methyl mercury, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenols are showing up in this invaluable food source. A safer alternative is to take a high-quality fish oil supplement, which is molecularly distilled to remove the toxins and heavy metals. Fish oil has a wide variety of proven health benefits, so I recommend taking 3-4 grams of fish oil or cod liver oil daily for brain health, heart health and joint health.

Do Vitamins Kill ?

No Deaths from Vitamins – None at All in 27 Years

Commentary by Andrew W. Saul and Jagan N. Vaman, M.D.
Taken from the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, June 14, 2011 http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/index.shtm
(OMNS, June 14, 2011) Over a twenty-seven year period, vitamin supplements have been alleged to have caused the deaths of a total of eleven people in the United States. A new analysis of US poison control center annual report data indicates that there have, in fact, been no deaths whatsoever from vitamins . . . none at all, in the 27 years that such reports have been available.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) attributes annual deaths to vitamins as:
2009: zero
2008: zero
2007: zero
2006: one
2005: zero
2004: two
2003: two
2002: one
2001: zero
2000: zero
1999: zero
1998: zero
1997: zero
1996: zero
1995: zero
1994: zero
1993: one
1992: zero
1991: two
1990: one
1989: zero
1988: zero
1987: one
1986: zero
1985: zero
1984: zero
1983: zero

Even if these figures are taken as correct, and even if they include intentional and accidental misuse, the number of alleged vitamin fatalities is strikingly low, averaging less than one death per year for over two and a half decades. In 19 of those 27 years, AAPCC reports that there was not one single death due to vitamins. [1]
Still, the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Editorial Board was curious: Did eleven people really die from vitamins? And if so, how?

Vitamins Not THE Cause of DeathIn determining cause of death, AAPCC uses a four-point scale called Relative Contribution to Fatality (RCF). A rating of 1 means “Undoubtedly Responsible”; 2 means “Probably Responsible”; 3 means “Contributory”; and 4 means “Probably Not Responsible.” In examining poison control data for the year 2006, listing one vitamin death, it was seen that the vitamin’s Relative Contribution to Fatality (RCF) was a 4. Since a score of “4″ means “Probably Not Responsible,” it quite negates the claim that a person died from a vitamin in 2006.

Vitamins Not A Cause of DeathIn the other seven years reporting one or more of the remaining ten alleged vitamin fatalities, studying the AAPCC reports reveals an absence of any RCF rating for vitamins in any of those years. If there is no Relative Contribution to Fatality at all, then the substance did not contribute to death at all.

Furthermore, in each of those remaining seven years, there is no substantiation provided to demonstrate that any vitamin was a cause of death.
If there is insufficient information about the cause of death to make a clear-cut declaration of cause, then subsequent assertions that vitamins cause deaths are not evidence-based. Although vitamin supplements have often been blamed for causing fatalities, there is no evidence to back up this allegation.

References:
1. Download any Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers from 1983-2009 free of charge at http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/NPDSPoisonData/NPDSAnnualReports.aspx The “Vitamin” category is usually near the very end of the report.
Most recent year: Bronstein AC, Spyker DA, Cantilena LR Jr, Green JL, Rumack BH, Giffin SL. 2009 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System (NPDS): 27th Annual Report. Clinical Toxicology (2010). 48, 979-1178. The full text article is available for free download at http://www.aapcc.org/dnn/Portals/0/2009%20AR.pdf
The vitamin data mentioned above will be found in Table 22B.

Nutritional Medicine is Orthomolecular Medicine
Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight illness. For more information: http://www.orthomolecular.org or http://orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html to subscribe.

High-Dose Vitamin D Supplements May Reduce Inflammation

The current study evaluated inflammatory markers in patients with congestive heart failure. Patients took 500 mg of calcium, plus either a placebo or 2000 IU of vitamin D, daily for nine months. Researchers measured cytokines (chemical messengers of the immune system), such as pro-inflammatory TNF (tumour necrosis factor) and anti-inflammatory IL-10 (interleukin 10).

It was found that people who took the vitamin D supplement showed a 43% increase in the anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine, whereas the placebo group showed no change. The vitamin D group also maintained levels of the inflammatory TNF cytokine, where the placebo group had a 12% increase in the inflammatory marker.

Previous research suggests that vitamin D may also improve muscular function, control blood pressure, and improve glucose tolerance. Inflammation is an underlying cause in those conditions, and in cardiovascular diseases, such as congestive heart failure.

In recent past, physicians recommended 400 IUs of vitamin D daily. Evidence is mounting that supplementing 2000 IUs of vitamin D is necessary for optimal health. Sunshine stimulates vitamin D production via the intestinal tract, however fears of skin cancer causes many Americans to avoid sun exposure, leading to increased incidences of vitamin D deficiency.

I personally feel that it is best to take a vitamin D supplement that is in an oil base, since vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. This can be in a softgel form or in a dropper bottle. Vitamin D Drops from Carlson in a coconut oil base are an easy way to get 2000 IUs per drop!

References:
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 83 (4), 2006; pp 754 -759.

Do You Need More Vitamin D?

By Dr. Jennifer Morganti

Vitamin D has been the topic of the most exciting news in the scientific community for the past several years. Numerous clinical trials reveal that a large portion of the North American population is quite deficient in this critical nutrient, and this may be a key reason so many suffer with one or more inflammatory-based conditions.

It is common knowledge that vitamin D enhances absorption of calcium from the intestine to promote bone building, thus preventing osteoporosis. The latest research, however, has greatly expanded scientists’ understanding of vitamin D. A vitamin D deficiency has been linked with several health problems, including inflammation, depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), nervous system problems, Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal pain. Vitamin D’s anti-inflammatory activity seems to be one of the underlying mechanisms that make it so effective at alleviating these conditions.

Vitamins D2 and D3 are the primary forms, both of which are eventually converted via the liver and kidneys to the more bioactive form, calcitriol. Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol, can be obtained from food (animal sources), supplements, and from sun exposure, which is then converted to a usable form by cells in the skin. The pervasive use of sunscreen has likely contributed to high deficiency rates, as it blocks the absorption of UV light and vitamin D conversion. D2 (ergocalciferol) is derived from fungal or plant sources and less efficient at converting to usable calcitriol than D3. Some sources claim that D2 absorption is one third of the rate of D3 absorption. Vitamin D2 is also made synthetically, but this form can be toxic and should be avoided entirely. A wide range of the body’s tissues have vitamin D receptors and, like the kidneys, have the ability to convert preliminary forms of vitamin D to calcitriol. This indicates that this nutrient is critical to these tissues’ metabolic processes.

Because sunlight exposure is such a critical source of vitamin D3, there is a correlation between living in northern latitudes and vitamin D deficiency. Subsequently, this population has increased risks of at least two maladies: cardiovascular disease and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). One study shows that patients with cardiovascular disease have lower levels of vitamin D than healthy people. Another demonstrates that patients with hypertension reduced their blood pressure significantly simply by increasing vitamin D levels via increased exposure to ultraviolet light. Vitamin D also has been shown to reduce C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a marker for inflammation and an indicator of increased risk for heart disease.

MS is a neurological disease that exhibits symptoms of fatigue, muscle weakness, vision problems, loss of balance and muscle coordination, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness, and bladder problems to name a few. MS is also believed to have an autoimmune component. Incidences of MS are elevated in northern latitudes because of the limited availability of sunshine. The connection between MS and vitamin D levels was finally given credibility in 2006 when the Journal of the American Medical Association announced that MS risk can be lowered by increasing vitamin D based on a large amount of epidemiological data gathered between 1992 and 2004. These researchers felt that vitamin D may prevent MS because it is a potent immune modulator and because of its ability to temper MS’s autoimmune component. An additional clinical trial shows that daily supplementation with 5000 IU of vitamin D3 (plus calcium and magnesium) over two years reduced exacerbations of MS symptoms.

A multitude of studies also conclude that low vitamin D levels are linked with increased risk of cancer, such as breast, ovary, colon, and prostate, while many in vitro (laboratory-based), animal, and human studies show that vitamin D prevents cancer cells from proliferating. At the 2007 annual meeting of the conservative American Association for Cancer Research, the CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute confirmed that a significant amount of research strongly links low vitamin D levels with increased risk of many types of cancers.

Vitamin D levels can be measured by a simple blood test, which may be called either 25(OH)D or 25-hydroxyvitamin. Be aware that some labs have not yet updated their reference ranges, and that the ideal levels of vitamin D are now considered to be over 50 ng/mL versus 20-45 ng/mL as some labs may indicate. An article in the June 2007 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine describes how a leading researcher on vitamin D, Dr. Michael Holick, called for a fourfold increase in the recommended daily intake (RDI) of D3 from 200 IU to 1000 IU daily. Other physicians call for even higher doses, such as 2000-4000 IU. Holick also called for an increase in the current tolerable maximum daily dosage from 2000 IU to 10,000 IU daily. To raise vitamin D levels, it is wise to take at least 1000 IU daily for 4 to 8 months before levels return to normal. (Note: Vitamin D toxicity is now thought by some to occur only when taking over 100,000 IU daily for several months.)

Did you take your vitamin D today?