NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1
Dr. Deborah Baker-Racine
2004-2005©
Some
inhalers can worsen asthma, researchers find
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
By LEE BOWMAN
SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE
An
ingredient found in some inhalers used to treat asthma actually acts
to worsen inflammation of the lungs over time, researchers have found.
The
discovery, presented yesterday before the annual meeting of the
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in San Francisco,
helps explain why long-term use of inhalers has proved counterproductive
for some patients.
"We
need to do further studies to understand the mechanisms, but the
findings suggest the current combination therapies involving these
drugs
may not be realizing their full potential," said Williams Ameredes,
a
research assistant professor in medicine and cell biology at the
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, who presented the findings.
The
drug albuterol, one of a class of medicines called beta-agonists,
has been widely prescribed for asthma. It is combined with steroids
to
prevent and treat asthma by relaxing and opening the muscles surrounding
air passages in the lungs.
But
many asthmatics and their doctors have noticed that if the inhalers
are used too often, for too long, they can actually worsen lung function
and increase inflammation.
Beta-agonist
molecules, like most molecules, have two mirror-image
forms, called isomers. Although they have the same chemical composition,
each isomer is arranged differently, much like a right hand and a
left hand.
In
albuterol, one of the isomers, called R-albuterol, is the active
version that binds to receptors in lung muscles to prompt them to
relax.
The other isomer, called S-albuterol, has been thought to be inactive,
although researchers have noted that it takes three or four times
longer
to break down in the body than the active half of the drug.
"We
wanted to look at the different mechanisms of these compounds from
the perspective of the isomers," Ameredes said, "thinking
they may
explain the paradoxical airway constriction and worsening of asthma
in
some patients that is severe enough to land them in the emergency
department."
Until
recently, it had not been possible to separate the two different
shapes of albuterol molecule to study the effects of the isomers.
That
hurdle was overcome several years ago, but other researchers have
focused on the effects of the two compounds on airway muscles alone.
Ameredes
and colleagues at Pittsburgh's Asthma, Allergy and Airway
Research Center tested airway muscle cells with the two compounds
to see
whether they enhanced or nullified the anti-inflammatory effects of
steroids given at the same time.
"We
found that with R-albuterol, in combination with a steroid
(dexamethasone), the muscle cells reduced production of an important
chemical signal that promotes inflammation," Ameredes said. "We
also
found that S-albuterol did not have these effects, and in fact, resulted
in increased production of that same pro-inflammatory cell signal."
"It
seems that at least some of the paradoxical responses we've observed
in asthmatics may derive from these pro-inflammatory effects,"
he added.
One
formulation of albuterol that contains only the active isomer is
already being used to treat asthma. It's called levalbuterol, but
so far
is only being sold in a form that's administered using mechanical
nebulizers.
The
drug is sold under the brand name Xopenex, marketed by Sepracor Inc.
The company recently completed human tests on the drug using the more
portable multidose inhalers, however, and is seeking approval from
the
Food and Drug Administration to sell the product under prescription
for
patients age 6 years and older.
Dr.
Deb's Comments: Here is just another example of pharmaceutical
companies having no idea of total health..that by giving one drug,
they are causing unknown effects through-out the
whole body. Even various forms of the drugs, exist and are used without
knowing the biochemical consequences.
Does
asthma exist because of the lack of steroids, albuterol or levabuterol?
Of course not. Then why treat continually with these drugs and do
nothing to regain normal respiratory function? Sure, in emergencies,
when someone contacts a severe allergen or irritant, you do not fool
around with breathing.
Its
the day to day re-building of healthy breathing that most people are
not attending to. Its important to address lifestyle, diet, exercise,
meditation and stress reduction.
I
have put together my favourite group of asthma/respiratory products
Asthma/Lung/Respiratory/Chest
Congestion
There
IS a better way.....
DID
YOU KNOW???
The
Bush administration is allowing organic farmers and food producers
to pollute their foods with hormones, pesticides, mercury and pcb's
to name a few things.
Read
the full account of organic food
pollution
NEWEST
INFORMATION ON STRONTIUM
FOR OSTEOPOROSIS
Not
Like “Chocolate in Your Peanut Butter”
High-Dose Strontium and Calcium Don’t Go Well Together
Advanced Orthomolecular Research (AOR) is proud to be an
innovator in the nutraceutical world, researching novel, science-backed
orthomolecules and bringing them into the hands of health-conscious
people and life extensionists first.
Such has been the case with many key supplements, including R(+)-lipoic
acid (a world’s first), Benfotiamine
(the first in North America), and recently,
the bone health powerhouse strontium
(AOR’s Strontium Support was the first supplement in the world
to deliver the doses used in clinical trials).
But
in the time since AOR first released Strontium Support, “me
too” supplements have recently begun to appear. These supplements
have attempted to make sales by including strontium as part of a “complete”
bone health supplement, featuring among other things the old standby,
calcium.
Now, calcium is undeniably a key bone health nutrient, and it’s
important for users of any strontium supplement to ensure that they
are also getting enough calcium. Animal studies suggest that
strontium is not effective, and may even be counterproductive, if
your calcium intake is not adequate. But including the full dose of
strontium in combination with calcium is a sure way to negate most
of the benefits of your strontium supplement.
If
the formulators of these new knockoff supplements had done their homework,
they would have known that high-dose strontium supplements
should absolutely not be combined with calcium in one formulation.
The reason for this was made plain in a recent review by Dr.
Jean-Yves Reginster, an investigator with the World Health Organization
(WHO) Collaborating Center for Public Health Aspects of Rheumatic
Diseases, and with the Bone and Cartilage Metabolism Unit of the University
of Liège.
Dr.
Reginster is the author of fourteen peer-reviewed
scientific journal articles on the role of strontium in bone health,
and was a principal investigator on three of the largest and best-designed
trials. In his review, Dr. Reginster specifically notes that
“The simultaneous intake of [strontium] and calcium
remarkably reduces the bioavailability of [strontium]. This is probably
due to competition at the sites of active absorption. Simultaneous
food intake also has a negative influence on the bioavailability of
[strontium]”. Based on this critical factor, Dr.
Reginster recommends that high-dose strontium should not be taken
“concomitantly with a meal or a calcium intake.”1
This
fact has long been known, and is the basis for the fact that all of
the clinical trials using strontium have carefully ensured that the
supplement is taken on an empty stomach, away from calcium in food
or in supplements. , , , , , , In the largest and
best-designed trials,2,3,4,5 women have taken their strontium first
thing in the morning, half an hour to an hour before breakfast, and/or
three hours after dinner in the evening; they took their calcium supplements
separately, with a meal. This is the protocol we recommend at AOR.
Pills
or powders which combine calcium with strontium are, therefore, not
the “convenient.” “inexpensive” deals
they initially seem, but are ill-designed and likely ineffective “kitchen
sink” hodgepodges.
Some of these strontium-calcium products then further shoot
their users in the foot by using poor forms of key ingredients. Some,
for instance, use poor forms of calcium, such as cheap calcium carbonate
(which has low bioavailability and which reduces your absorption of
other nutrients by neutralizing stomach acid) and synthetic
calcium hydroxyapatite (an extremely poorly-absorbed synthetic
calcium phosphate salt not to be confused with ossein microcrystalline
hydroxyapatite complex (MCHC)).
Others use magnesium carbonate as a magnesium source;
this is another antacid, and like calcium carbonate is poorly absorbed.
Likewise, one of these products is even trading off of the research
on Menatetrenone (MK-4) – the mammalian form of vitamin
K2 and the one used in all of the “vitamin K2” clinical
trials – to sell another “vitamin K2:” the unproven,
bacterial menaquinones.
It’s
a different thing if there is only a small amount of strontium
in a core bone health supplement, such as 500 micrograms to 5 milligrams
– doses in the range of human dietary intakes. Such doses are
appropriate, as they preserve the ratio of calcium and strontium present
naturally in whole-food diets.
In fact, all natural calcium sources also have a small amount
of strontium in them, because of the similar metabolism of the two
nutrients in living beings.
The
presence of calcium with no strontium in calcium supplements
might be expected to upset this natural balance, leading to supression
of whatever strontium is in your diet and ultimately perturb the natural
balance of minerals in your bone.
Indeed,
some evidence already exists that, over a lifetime, these
low, nutritional doses of strontium do have a role to play in your
health. For example, it was discovered in the 1960s
that areas with more strontium in the water have a lower incidence
of dental caries , – a finding which was to be reinforced by
the findings of at least eight more studies over the course of the
next few decades.
Everyone
concerned about their bone health needs a core calcium supplement,
along with other key nutrients such as magnesium, vitamin D3, and
Menatetrenone. In such a supplement, a small, nutritional dose of
strontium is a good balancing act, reflecting the trace levels of
strontium naturally present in food.
But
if you need the potent support of a “megadose”
strontium supplement, it should absolutely not come in a combination
with calcium. Feed your bones these two great “tastes”
– but remember, they don’t “taste great
together.”
On
the heels of this information, we at Y2K Health and Detox Centre are
suggesting Strontium Support to those who have been diagnosed
with osteoporosis or are susceptible either because of body type or
family history to take 2 about 30 minutes before breakfast and 2 in
the evening..about 2 hours away from dinner.
Use
Ortho-Bone 3-6 at breakfast and 3-6 at dinner. Vitamin
Peak K2 can then be taken 1 at breakfast and 1 at dinner.
Click
on the pictures above to purchase or find more information. Bone-Up
is for those who desire a superior calcium supplement without
the Vitamin K2 or Strontium.
BETAXANTHIN
- OUR NEWEST ADDITION TO OUR
IMMUNE
SUPPORT/ANTI-AGING/ANTI-CANCER LINE
We
all know that today health has been jeopardized by vaccinations, bad
water, polluted food, unhealthy lifestyles and as the largest group
of people - the Baby-Boomers - edge into their 50's and 60's answers
to good health for all their remaining years has become of the essence.
It
has been said that mankind could live to 120 years of age..and well.
We as a population of this planet have managed to shorten that to
just over half of that number on average.
I
constantly seek the best of the best for my patients and readers..both
in supplements to offset our environment in trouble and information
for people to make wiser, more fully educated choices for themselves
and their families.
To
that end, I have included one of the most impressive new supplements
to my protocols. Betaxanthin blends the benefits of beta 1,3-D Glucan
(the best source) and Astaxanthin, a very high end member of the carotenoid
family.
Read
about Betaxanthin- used for immune support,
anti-aging, antioxidant, cancer and many other health issues.
Our
next issue..in the next couple of weeks will outline all the changes
made to the pet portion of my site..including new remedies formulated
specifically for pets by my son and I!
Be
well,
Warmly,
Dr. Deb
MERCURY:
e-LYBRA
8 THE CUTTING EDGE OF RESONANCE TESTING-NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE!
