Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

OBJECTIVE: To profile complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) utilization patterns in the municipality of Bayamón, Puerto Rico. METHODS: The study consisted of a cross-sectional household survey conducted in 2008. A multi-stage probabilistic sampling method was used to obtain a total of 203 household interviews. The survey used was based on a culturally adapted version of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Supplement of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The statistical analysis included means, frequency distributions, and a multiple logistic regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of CAM use ranged from 55.7% to 92.1%, depending on the modalities included under CAM. The most frequently reported medical conditions treated with CAM included back problems, headaches, allergies, anxiety, and depression. Sixty-four percent of the respondents had not informed their physicians that they used CAM. The results showed a marginal association 0.05

Metabolic Correction in Patients Sample with Diabetes: Clinical Outcomes and Costs Reductions.

Diabetes is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Diabetes complications produce profound impact on patient's quality of life and represent very significant economic cost to patients, their family, the government and society as a whole. Metabolic correction has been proposed as an efficient method to improve clinical outcomes and reduce costs in diabetes. Metabolic correction is a concept that supports health maintenance and promotes the healing processes by improving the body's biochemical-physiological mechanisms. This is done by helping activate the metabolic enzymes necessary to facilitate key physiological pathways. A group of 50 patients followed a simple metabolic correction strategy based on hydration, diet, and magnesium supplementation during a 6 months period. Outcomes measures included laboratory testing, anthropometric measures and medication use including its related costs. Patients had an average weight loss of 9.4 lbs (↓5.0%) from baseline at month 3 and 12 lbs (↓6.4%) at month 6. Waist circumference decreased on average 3.7 inches (↓9.0%) from baseline at month 3 and had further decrease to 5.5 inches (↓13.4%) from baseline at month 6. Laboratory testing of average triglycerides decreased from a baseline of 156.9 to 116.7 (↓25.6%) at month 3 and maintained a reduction of ↓24.2% by month 6. Total cholesterol concentration decreased from a baseline of 181.1 mg/dL to 173.9 (↓4.0%) in month 3 and to 171.1 (↓5.5%) at month 6. Average HgA1c decreased from baseline of 7.17 to 6.52 (↓9.1%) at month 3 and maintained 6.52 at months 6. The atherogenic index decreased from 4.18 at baseline to 3.85 at month 3 (↓7.9%) and then 3.47 (17.0%) at month 6. Medication use and cost was quantified in various ways. The average baseline monthly diabetes medication cost per patient of $124.10 was reduced to $ 78.23 (↓36.7% reduction) at month 3 and to $62.80 (↓49.4% reduction) at month 6. A simple and well structured metabolic correction program that includes a significant educational component, dietary modifications and dietary supplement intake was able to maintain or improve vital signs, anthopometric and laboratory measurements that correlate with improved clinical diabetes and cardiovascular health. This outcome was achieved while decreasing the use medications at month 3 and 6 at significant cost savings.

Metabolic Correction as a tool to improve diabetes type 2 management.

Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DM2) is a metabolic disease that develops by a decrease in sensitivity of insulin receptors as an effect of the disruption certain metabolic functions in the processing of glucose. DM2 patients have, uncontrolled glucose levels, and commonly have problems with obesity and cardiovascular disease. Patients are treated with standard diet, insulin, diabetic oral agents and antihypertensive drugs, but this approach does not completely stops tissue deterioration since it does not address the metabolic root of the disease. Metabolic correction is proposed as a suitable adjunct treatment to improve clinical outcomes. Metabolic correction is based on diet modification, proper hydration and scientific supplementation directed to improve cellular biochemistry and metabolic efficiency. In addition, other possible benefits may include reduction in medication use, disease complications and medical costs. To test the results of a metabolic correction program, 25 patients with DM2 participated in an education program about adequate food consumption that promoted control of blood glucose levels. Anthropometric measurements and blood tests were performed during a 13 week program based on a low carbohydrate diet, proper hydration and magnesium supplementation. The metabolic correction program implemented by a proprietary educational system resulted in significant reductions in glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, weight and waist circumference. Improvements in these values could represent an important reduction of coronary heart disease risk factors as well as other chronic degenerative diseases. In addition there was medication dosage reduction in one or more medications in 21 of the 25 participating patients, which suggest that the program has the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs.

[Metabolic correction: a biochemical option against diseases]. / Corrección metabólica: Una opción bioquímica contra las enfermedades.

Human development and its physiology depends on a number of complex biochemical body processes, many of which are interactive and codependent. The speed and the degree in which many physiological reactions are completed depend on enzyme activity, which in turn depends on the bioavailability of co-factors and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. To achieve a healthy physiological state, organism need that biochemical reactions occur in a controlled and specific way at a particular speed and level or grade fully completed. To achieve this, is required an optimal metabolic balance. Factors such as, a particular genetic composition, inadequate dietary consumption patterns, traumas, diseases, toxins and environmental stress all of these factors rising demands for nutrients in order to obtain optimal metabolic balance. Metabolic correction is a biochemical and physiological concept that explains how improvements in cellular biochemistry of an organism can help the body achieve metabolic and physiological optimization. We summarize the contribution of several pioneers in understanding the role of micronutrients in health management. The concept of metabolic correction is becoming a significant term due to the presence of genetic variants that affect the speed of reactions of enzymes, causing metabolic alterations that enhance or promote the state/development of multiple diseases. Decline in the nutritional value of the food we eat, the increase in demand for certain nutrients caused by normal development, diseases and medications induce, usually, nutrients consumption. These nutritional deficiencies and insufficiencies are causing massive economic costs due to increased morbidity and mortality in our society. In summary, metabolic correction improves the enzymatic function, which favors the physiological normal functions, thus, contributing to improving health and the welfare of the human being. The purpose of this paper is to describe and introduce the concept of optimal metabolic correction as a functional cost-effective mechanism against disease, in addition, to contribute to diseases prevention and regeneration of the body and health.

Metabolic correction: a functional biochemical mechanism against disease--Part 2: mechanisms and benefits.

A healthy physiology depends on a plethora of complex interdependent biochemical reactions. In order for these reactions to occur suitably, the enzymes and cofactors that regulate their flow must be present in the proper balance. The term metabolic correction is used to describe a biochemical-physiological process that improves cellular biochemistry as a means to an individual's achieving metabolic or physiological optimization. Part 2 discusses how metabolic correction, through the increase of cofactors, can supply unmet enzyme needs and compensate for nutritional deficiencies induced by improper nutritional intake or by the increased demand for nutrients caused by genetics, health conditions, medications, or physical or environmental stressors. Nutrient insufficiencies are causing an increase in morbidity and mortality, at great cost to our society. In summary, metabolic correction improves enzymatic function and satisfies the increasing demand for nutrients. Metabolic correction can have a significant impact on the reduction of morbidity and mortality and their financial cost to our society and contribute to improving health and well-being.

Metabolic correction: a functional biochemical mechanism against disease--Part 1: concept and historical background.

Human physiology depends on countless biochemical reactions, numerous of which are co-dependent and interrelated. The speed and level of completion of reactions usually depend on the availability of precursors and enzymes. The enzymatic activity depends on the bioavailability of micronutrient cofactors such as vitamins and minerals. In order to achieve a healthy physiological state, the organism requires that biochemical reactions occur at a controlled rate. To achieve this state it is required that metabolic reactions reach what can be considered an optimal metabolic equilibrium. A combination of genetic makeup, dietary patterns, trauma, disease, toxins, medications, and environmental stressors can elevate the demand for the nutrients needed to reach this optimal metabolic equilibrium. In this, part 1, the general concept of metabolic correction is presented with an elaboration explaining how this concept is increasing in importance as we become aware of the presence of genetic variants that affect enzymatic reactions causing metabolic disturbances that themselves favor or promote the disease state. In addition, part 1 reviews how prominent scientists have contributed in fundamental ways to our understanding of the importance of micronutrients in health and disease and in the development of the metabolic correction concept.

Pharmacokinetics of vitamin C: insights into the oral and intravenous administration of ascorbate.

There is a strong advocacy movement for large doses of vitamin C. Some authors argue that the biological half-life for vitamin C at high plasma levels is about 30 minutes, but these reports are the subject of some controversy. NIH researchers established the current RDA based upon tests conducted 12 hours (24 half lives) after consumption. The dynamic flow model refutes the current low-dose recommendations for dietary intakes and links Pauling's mega-dose suggestions with other reported effects of massive doses of ascorbate for the treatment of disease. Although, a couple of controlled clinical studies conducted at The Mayo Clinic did not support a significant benefit for terminal cancer patients after 10 grams of once-a-day oral vitamin C, other clinical trials have demonstrated that ascorbate may indeed be effective against tumors when administered intravenously. Recent studies confirmed that plasma vitamin C concentrations vary substantially with the route of administration. Only by intravenous administration, the necessary ascorbate levels to kill cancer cells are reached in both plasma and urine. Because the efficacy of vitamin C treatment cannot be judged from clinical trials that use only oral dosing, the role of vitamin C in cancer treatment should be reevaluated. One limitation of current studies is that pharmacokinetic data at high intravenous doses of vitamin C are sparse, particularly in cancer patients. This fact needs prompt attention to understand the significance of intravenous vitamin C administration. This review describes the current state-of-the-art in oral and intravenous vitamin C pharmacokinetics. In addition, the governmental recommendations of dose and frequency of vitamin C intake will also be addressed.

Supraphysiological cyclic dosing of sustained release T3 in order to reset low basal body temperature.

The use of sustained release tri-iodothyronine (SR-T3) in clinical practice, has gained popularity in the complementary and alternative medical community in the treatment of chronic fatigue with a protocol (WT3) pioneered by Dr. Denis Wilson. The WT3 protocol involves the use of SR-T3 taken orally by the patient every 12 hours according to a cyclic dose schedule determined by patient response. The patient is then weaned once a body temperature of 98.6 degrees F has been maintained for 3 consecutive weeks. The symptoms associated with this protocol have been given the name Wilson's Temperature Syndrome (WTS). There have been clinical studies using T3 in patients who are euthyroid based on normal TSH values. However, this treatment has created a controversy in the conventional medical community, especially with the American Thyroid Association, because it is not based on a measured deficiency of thyroid hormone. However, just as estrogen and progesterone are prescribed to regulate menstrual cycles in patients who have normal serum hormone levels, the WT3 therapy can be used to regulate metabolism despite normal serum thyroid hormone levels. SR-T3 prescription is based exclusively on low body temperature and presentation of symptoms. Decreased T3 function exerts widespread effects throughout the body. It can decrease serotonin and growth hormone levels and increase the number of adrenal hormone receptor sites. These effects may explain some of the symptoms observed in WTS. The dysregulation of neuroendocrine function may begin to explain such symptoms as alpha intrusion into slow wave sleep, decrease in blood flow to the brain, alterations in carbohydrate metabolism, fatigue, myalgia and arthralgia, depression and cognitive dysfunction. Despite all thermoregulatory control mechanisms of the body and the complex metabolic processes involved, WT3 therapy seems a valuable tool to re-establish normal body functions. We report the results of 11 patients who underwent the WT3 protocol for the treatment of CFS. All the patients improved in the five symptoms measured. All patients increased their basal temperature. The recovery time varied from 3 weeks to 12 months.

Effect of a dietary supplement combination on weight management, adipose tissue, cholesterol and triglycerides in obese children.

A dietary supplement combination consisting of vitamins, minerals and fibers was studied to determine its safety and efficacy on weight/fat loss, cholesterol and triglycerides in children between ages 7-13. This open label trial measured total body weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, total cholesterol, triglycerides before and after 6 weeks of treatment. The study population consisted of 25 mildly to moderate obese, otherwise healthy children of both sexes. After 6 weeks of treatment, the combination supplement had a statistically significant (p < 0.05) weight reducing effect. This weight reduction was associated with a corresponding statistically significant (p < 0.0001l) decrease in body fat percentage. In addition, significant decreases in total cholesterol (p < 0.0001) and triglycerides (p < 0.0001) were obtained, plus reductions in waist measurements. We conclude that the combination supplement studied herein is a safe and effective way to assist children in weight, fat percentage, cholesterol and triglyceride reduction.

Effects of high dose ascorbate administration on L-10 tumor growth in guinea pigs.

Sodium ascorbate is preferentially toxic to tumor cells at high concentrations. It has not been established, however, whether sufficient intra-tumor ascorbate concentrations are safely achievable in vivo. We administered sodium ascorbate subcutaneously or orally for eighteen days to Sewall-Wright strain-2 guinea pigs bearing intradermal L-10 hepatocarcinoma tumors. Tumor masses and intra-tumor ascorbate concentrations were determined at necropsy. L-10 cells formed tumors that metastasized to the lymph nodes, with tumor burdens reaching nearly 50 grams in untreated animals. Subcutaneous injections of ascorbate (500 mg/kg/day) inhibited tumor growth by as much as sixty-five percent, with oral supplementation reducing it by roughly fifty percent. Tumor growth correlated inversely with intra-tumor ascorbate concentration, the latter exceeding 2 mM in some cases. Ascorbate concentrations sufficient to kill tumor cells can be safely achieved in solid tumors in vivo, suggesting a possible role for high dose intravenous ascorbate in treating cancer.

Orthomolecular oncology review: ascorbic acid and cancer 25 years later.

The effect of ascorbic acid on cancer has been a subject of great controversy. This is a follow-up review of the 1979 article by Cameron, Pauling, and Leibovitz published in Cancer Research. In this updated version, the authors address general aspects of ascorbic acid and cancer that have been presented before, while reviewing, analyzing, and updating new existing literature on the subject. In addition, they present and discuss their own mechanistic hypothesis on the effect of ascorbic acid on the cancer cell. The objective of this review is to provide an updated scientific basis for the use of ascorbic acid, especially intravenously as adjuvant treatment in pharmacological nutritional oncology.

A pilot clinical study of continuous intravenous ascorbate in terminal cancer patients.

Case studies suggest that vitamin C, given intravenously at doses of 10-100 grams/day can improve patient well being and in some cases, reduce tumor size. While ascorbate is generally considered safe, clinical data on high intravenous doses is limited. Twenty-four late stage terminal cancer patients were given continuous infusions of 150 to 710 mg/kg/day for up to eight weeks. Blood chemistry and blood count profiles were obtained at roughly one-week intervals while patient health, adverse events and tumor progression were monitored. The majority of patients were vitamin C deficient prior to treatment. Intravenous infusions increased plasma ascorbate concentrations to a mean of 1.1 mM. The most common adverse events reported were nausea, edema, and dry mouth or skin; and these were generally minor. Two Grade 3 adverse events 'possibly related' to the agent were reported: one patient with a history of renal calculi developed a kidney stone after thirteen days of treatment and another patient experienced hypokalemia after six weeks of treatment. White blood cell counts were stable while hemoglobin and hematocrit levels dropped slightly during treatment, consistent with trends observed prior to therapy. Blood creatinine, BUN, glucose, and uric acid concentrations decreased or remained stable during therapy, suggesting that ascorbate infusions did not adversely affect renal function. One patient had stable disease and continued the treatment for forty-eight weeks. These data suggest that intravenous vitamin C therapy for cancer is relatively safe, provided the patient does not have a history of kidney stone formation.

Cell membrane fatty acid composition differs between normal and malignant cell lines.

Twenty-eight fatty acids (C8:0 to C24:l n-9) were measured by gas chromatography in four normal cell lines (C3H / 10T1 / 2, CCD-18Co, CCD-25SK and CCD-37Lu) and seven cancer cell lines (C-41, Caov-3, LS-180, PC-3, SK-MEL-28, SK-MES-1 and U-87 MG). Results show differences in the content and proportions of fatty acids when comparing cancer cell lines with their normal counterparts. Cancer cell lines showed lower C20: 4 n-6, C24:1 n-9, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA's) and ratios of C20:4 n-6 to C20:5 n-3 and C16:0 to C18:1 n-9 and stearic to oleic (SA/OA) than their normal counterparts. All cancer cell lines had SA/OA ratios lower than 7.0 while normal cell lines had ratios greater than 0.7 (p<0.05). In addition, the ratios of total saturated fatty acids (SFA) to PUFA'S and the concentration of C18:1 n-9, C18:2 n-6, C20:5 n-3 were higher in cancer cell lines as compared to normal cell lines. A positive correlation was detected between C16:0 and longer SFA'S (r = +0.511, p<0.05) in normal cell lines whereas a negative correlation (r=0.608, p<0.05) was obtained for malignant cell lines. Moreover, cancerous cell lines exhibited a particular desaturation defect and an abnormal incorporation of C18:2 n-6 and C20-4 n-6 fatty acids.

Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition in cancer patients.

Essential fatty acids (EFA) have an important role in complex metabolic reactions. The metabolism of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) appears to be one of the critical targets in the complex metabolic stages that lead to, or are associated with cancer. The goal of our research was to analyze the erythrocyte specific types of membrane fatty acid content, level and distribution in cancer patients as compared to non-cancer patients. Changes in fatty acid composition may affect different aspects of cell structure and function, including proliferation. Analyses of RBCs membrane fatty acids were performed for 255 patients with different types of cancer (breast, prostate, liver, pancreas, colon, and lung), 2,800 non-cancer patients and 34 healthy volunteers. Our research study demonstrated a lower level of stearic acid and an increased content of oleic acid in RBC of cancer patients in comparison with control and non-cancer patients. According to the results of this investigation, the ratio of Eicosa pentaenoic acid (EPA) and Decosa hexaenoic acid (DHA) to Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) may be useful to estimate PUFA imbalances in cancer patients. EPA and DHA acid may be recommended as supplementation and in addition to current therapy during cancer treatment.

Intravenous vitamin C as a chemotherapy agent: a report on clinical cases.

A series of seven cases are presented in which intravenous vitamin C has been used as antineoplastic agent in the treatment of different types of cancers. The cancers cases reviewed are the following: Renal cell carcinoma (2), Colorectal cancer (1), Pancreatic cancer (1), Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (2) and breast cancer (1). Toxic reactions were not observed at these high doses of intravenous Vitamin C. All patients were prescreened for Glucose 6--phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency before administering intravenous Vitamin C in order to prevent hemolysis.

Effect of a dietary supplement combination on weight management, adipose tissue, cholesterol and triglycerides in obese subjects.

A combination dietary supplement containing vitamins, minerals, herbs, fibers and amino acids was studied to determine its safety and efficacy on weight/ fat loss, cholesterol and triglycerides in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trail. Total body weight, body fat %, waist and hip measurements, total cholesterol and triglycerides were evaluated before and after 6 weeks treatment with combination supplement or placebo. The study population consisted in 27 mildly to moderately obese, otherwise healthy, volunteers. After 6 weeks of treatment, the combination supplement had a statistically significant (p<0.001, mu=0.05) positive weight reducing effect (-8.59Lb vs. +2.14 Lb). This weight reduction was associated with a corresponding statistically significant (p<0.001, mu=0.05) decrease in body fat % in the treatment group (-2.88%) vs. the placebo (+0.86%). In addition, significant decreases in total cholesterol (-22.94 mg/dL) and triglycerides (-39.29 mg/dL) were obtained plus reductions in waist and hip measurements. These positive results lead us to conclude, that the combination supplement studied herein is a safe and effective way to assist in weight/fat reduction and decreases in total cholesterol and triglycerides in relatively short time (6 weeks).

Intravenous ascorbic acid as a treatment for severe jellyfish stings.

We report a case of jellyfish envenomation in a 39 year old male. He was stung extensively on both lower limbs by an unidentified jellyfish. This occurred in shallow waters of a beach in the vicinity of Labuan Island, Malaysia. The patient received ambulatory treatment with parenteral and oral ascorbate with remarkable recovery.