ABSTRACT
Introduction: A dietary supplement combination program (PHASE DIETS: ONE WEEK DIET PROGRAM) consisting of liquid supplement and a protein shake was studied to determine its safety and efficacy on weight/fat loss, cholesterol and triglycerides levels in thirty five overweight adults between ages 14-60. Methods: This open label trail measured total body weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, hips (females), chest (females), abdomen (males), glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides before and after one week on the dietary program. A group of thirteen subjects continued on the dietary program for one more week and anthropometric measures were obtained. Results: Interestingly after only one week on the dietary supplement program the subjects experience a statistically significant (p < 0.05) weight reducing effect. This weight reduction was accompanied with a corresponding statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in body fat percentage. In addition significant decrease in total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and triglycerides (p < 0.01) resulted. Also reduction in waist, hip and chest measurements were obtained. Conclusion: We conclude that the dietary supplement combination program studied herein is a safe and effective way to assist adults in weight, fat, cholesterol and triglyceride reduction.
Subject(s)
Adipose Tissue , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Body Weight/diet therapy , Body Weight/prevention & control , Cholesterol , Dietary Supplements/physiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity/diet therapy , Obesity/prevention & control , Obesity/therapy , Triglycerides , Weight Loss , Young AdultABSTRACT
The effect of vitamin C in cancer has been a subject of great controversy; mainly because of the inconsistent results obtained by oral intakes of ascorbate when used as an anticancer agent. We believe the intravenous application of ascorbate will provide more consistent results in cancer patients since Vitamin C blood levels attained are substantially higher in a range proven cytotoxic to malignant cells. In this article we will present and discuss our proposed mechanism on the chemotherapeutic activity exhibited by ascorbate.
Subject(s)
Humans , Ascorbic Acid/administration & dosage , Antioxidants , Neoplasms , Orthomolecular Therapy , Injections, IntravenousABSTRACT
We tested the effect of different concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA), 50, 100, 250 mg/500 mg/dL) with copper sulfate (CS), 10 mg/dL) on human breast carcinoma (MDA-MB231) cell proliferation in vitro. Cell proliferation was measured using a colori-metric assay (Cell proliferation kit II (XTT), Boehringer, NJ). The results of the mean absorbance of the tissue culture at different AA concentrations and a constant CS concentration were as follow: 0.82 +/- 0.03 (control, mean +/- SE), 0.64 +/- 0.02 (CS above); 0.48 +/- 0.03 (50 mg/dL) AA), 0.21 +/- 0.02 (100 mg/dL), 0.08 +/- 0.01 (250 mg/dL) AA, 0.60 +/- 0.05 (500 mg/dL). These results show that a combination of AA and CS inhibits human breast carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro. This cell proliferation inhibitory effect is directly proportional to the AA concentration with the exception of the 500 mg/dL AA dose. This chemotherapeutic effect was optimally enhanced when AA was added at a concentration of 250 mg/dL. The AA concentrations of 500 mg/dL had a biphasic effect on tumor cell proliferation probably due to back and forth redox reactions between AA and dehydroascorbic acid in a closed system. This study provides preliminary evidence that AA and SC can be used as biological response modifiers (BRM) for tumor growth inhibition.
Subject(s)
Humans , Ascorbic Acid/pharmacology , Breast Neoplasms , Copper Sulfate , Breast Neoplasms , Cell Division/drug effects , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
The use of alternative/complementary medicine has been increasing considerably. Conventional medicine must begin to address issues related to the use, safety, regulation, research and education of alternative/complementary medicine. Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine and alternative complementary practices. Integrative medicine is an innovative approach to medicine and medical education. It involves the understanding of the interaction of the mind, body and spirit and how to interpret this relationship in the dynamics of health and disease. Integrative medicine shifts the orientation of the medical practice from disease based approach to a healing based approach. It does not reject conventional medicine nor uncritically accepts unconventional practices. Integrative medicine is an effective, more fulfilling human approach to medicine based on the benefit of the patient by following good medicine practices in a scientific manner.