Illness Is Optional Health Blog

By blocking this enzyme, the medication decreases the body’s internal production of cholesterol. Unfortunately, a well known and fairly common side effect is muscle pain and weakness that can often be debilitating. In addition to blocking the production of cholesterol, it is well known that these medications also block the production of important nutrients such as coenzyme Q10. We have known that a deficiency of coenzyme Q10 can lead to muscle pain and that supplementation can help to reverse this side effect. A recent study sheds light on another nutrient that is closely linked to muscle pain, vitamin D. We have known that vitamin D deficiency can cause both pain and weakness in the muscles, however, research had not linked vitamin D deficiency to muscle pain induced by cholesterol lowering medications…until now.

In a study of 621 patients who were prescribed statin medications, it was found that those who suffered with the muscle pain were significantly deficient in vitamin D. When the patients who suffered with muscle pain were supplemented with vitamin D, 92% of the patients saw resolution of their pain symptoms.
(Transl Res, 2009; 153(1): 11-6)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:

We have always known about statin’s impact on coenzyme Q10 levels and we commonly recommend coenzyme Q10 supplementation in those who take a statin medication. This study, may explain why some people continue to have pain even after supplementation with high doses of coenzyme Q10 and I am now beginning to recommend vitamin D supplementation for those who are taking statins. This makes perfect sense given the fact that your body produces vitamin D from, you guessed it, cholesterol. When cholesterol drops, it makes good sense that vitamin D levels may drop as well. In this study, the participants were placed on the prescription vitamin D at a dose of 50,000 iu weekly. I would recommend using a natural form of vitamin D on a daily basis rather than a synthetic form in high dose once weekly. For the general population I recommend 2,000 iu daily. If your blood is significantly deficient, you may require higher doses. Have your doctor order a blood test for 25-OH vitamin D with your next cholesterol test and to learn more about vitamin D, read our article 15 Facts You Must Know About Vitamin D.

In addition, 35% of the subjects receiving the thiamine had a normalization of urine protein.
(Diabetologia. 2008 Dec 5)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
Kidney damage is a major complication of diabetes and can result in poor quality of life and ultimately death if left to progress. Conventional medicine uses medications like ACE Inhibitors to slow the progression of kidney damage, however, the medications are only modestly effective and can leave the patient with side effects. Thiamine appears to be effective without causing side effects. In addition to thiamine, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil and activated coenzyme Q10 are also important parts of any kidney protection program.

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The study enrolled patients who reported forming at least one canker sore every two months during the previous year. They were then given either 1,000 mcg of sublingual (dissolved under tongue) B12 or placebo (sugar pill). After 6 months the researchers reported dramatically reduced numbers and severity of these nasty little mouth sores. Interestingly enough, these benefits occurred even if the patient did not show low blood levels of this vital nutrient.

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
Canker sores are annoying and painful sores that develop in the inside of the mouth or on the tongue. These crater-like sores can form after trauma (such as biting your lip) or can form out of the blue. For some unfortunate people, they are prone towards forming these sores on a regular basis and apparently without cause. This study suggests that a vitamin deficiency may be at the foundation of the problem. In addition to supplementing with B12, one study found that your choice of toothpaste can play a dramatic role as well. Look for toothpaste that does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate as these compounds can trigger inflammation and canker sores in the mouth. If the toothpaste is the problem, you will likely see dramatic reductions or even complete resolution of the problem.

In this study, 91 women age 40-55 who were suffering an average of 2.58 hot flashes daily were given either a supplement containing EPA or a placebo. The group receiving EPA decreased the number of hot flashes by an average of 1.58 while the placebo group only saw a decrease of approximately 0.5.
(Menopause, 2008: Nov 20)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
It does not surprise me that omega-3 fatty acids have an impact on incidence of hot flashes. This is just one more notch in the belt of fish oil. Although this research is fairly preliminary, the multitude of other benefits are pretty clear and thus fish oil should be a part of most people’s supplement program. This finding is simply icing on the cake.

The researchers determined that fish oil resulted in a 23% decrease in risk of death from all causes while statin medications resulted in only a 13% reduction. For death rates from heart disease related conditions, fish oil decreased the death rates by 32% while statins decreased the rate by 22%. Overall, the fish oil provided the most benefit compared to other treatments.
(Arch Intern Med., April 11, 2005; Vol. 165, 725-730)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
When we look at studies for medications and supplements that impact a condition such as heart disease we want to know how that product benefits funeral rates (death rates). If a medication lowers rates of heart attack and has no benefit to longevity then it begs the question “why not?” This is the type of situation that we see with aspirin. Aspirin decreases death rates from heart attack, however, the side effects from the medication increase risk of death from other causes such as bleeding in the stomach or brain. In the end it is a wash because overall funeral rates are the same in the group who received the aspirin or the sugar pill. Said another way, people who take an aspirin a day don’t live a day longer than someone who doesn’t take an aspirin a day. Fish oil appears to decrease cardiovascular related deaths as well as death from all causes. In fairness, statins appear to achieve a decrease as well. There are two differences though, first fish oil worked better than statins and second, fish oil has almost no side effects while statins can cause pain, muscle weakness, and liver damage. I know which one I will choose, how

In this study, 107 overweight subjects were given either green tea or a placebo containing an identical amount of caffeine only. The group who was given the green tea enjoyed more weight loss, abdominal fat loss and better triglyceride levels. This study confirms numerous other studies that have shown similar results.
(J Nutr, 2009; 139(2): 264-70)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
Green tea and other supplements used to assist with fat loss can be helpful, however, it is important to note that these supplements are best used as a means of enhancing other fat loss efforts. If you expect to take a green tea supplement and lose weight without working hard on diet and the gym, think again. The BEST fat loss supplements can enhance fat loss by 1-2 pounds a month. This study used a green tea extract that was standardized to contain 625 mg of catechins and 39 mg of caffeine.

Although we are seeing more research every day about how vitamin D impacts many different conditions, the likelihood is we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg as far as what conditions will benefit from vitamin D supplementation. For example, here are some examples of recent data:

1. Low vitamin D blood levels increase risk of poor brain function by 200 percent. (J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol, 2008 Dec 10;)
2. Low vitamin D linked to increased risk of colon cancer (Nutr Cancer, 2009; 61(1): 70-5.)
3. Vitamin D protects against Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (Mult Scler, 2009; 15(1): 9-15)

Aside from these studies there are literally hundreds of other studies linking vitamin D to bone health, heart health, cancer risk, immune function, flu prevention, and much more. The fact of the matter is vitamin D has hormone-like activity that interacts with over 600 known genes. By interacting with these genes, vitamin D can either activate or inactivate a certain process in the body depending on the need. This means, vitamin D may activate the uptake and utilization of minerals while simultaneously inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Few other nutrients have such a robust impact on the body. On your next physical, ask your doctor to order a vitamin D blood test. I will warn you however, if it does come back low avoid the prescription vitamin D and instead opt for natural vitamin D3 which can be found at any health food store.

Researchers looked at the blood tests of 3,289 Chinese subjects between the ages of 50 and 70. A blood test called serum ferritin, a measure of stored iron, was determined to be an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome and diabetes. In fact, the group who had the highest ferritin level was more than 300 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and nearly 300 percent more likely to develop metabolic syndrome. This connection held even when the study controlled for other potential risk factors such as obesity, markers of inflammation, adipokines and other risk factors.
(Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2008; 93(12): 4690-4696.)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
First, it is unlikely that iron overload is the primary cause of metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Clearly, the most prevalent cause of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome is a diet full of refined carbohydrates and a lifestyle devoid of activity. With that said, it is interesting to see how other factors that are not normally associated with diabetes may in fact play a role with insulin resistance and blood sugar control. Iron overload can cause problems for the body by causing the production of high levels of free radicals, basically leading to a “rusting” of the cells. This rusting effect may cause important receptors, such as insulin receptors, to lose function. If you suspect metabolic syndrome or suffer with diabetes, it may be helpful for to have your doctor order a test for ferritin to determine if you have an issue with iron overload.

In this procedure, the doctor sends a small tube into the arteries of the heart through the artery of the leg. A liquid contrast material is then injected into the blood vessel through the catheter so that they can see where blockages have developed.

The contrast material used in this procedure can be quite challenging for the kidneys and is a leading cause of hospital induced kidney failure. This means that you can go into the test with working kidneys and come out of the procedure needing dialysis. For most people, this is a scary thought.

A recent study evaluated the use of a natural compound called N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) before and after the procedure. Researchers gave 212 people either high dose NAC (1200 mg twice daily before and on the day of the procedure) or high dose vitamin C before and after the procedure. The group who received the NAC faired significantly better than the group who received the vitamin C. The researchers concluded “High dose NAC seems more beneficial than ascorbic acid in preventing contrast-induced renal [kidney] function deterioration in patients, especially diabetic patients, with renal insufficiency undergoing coronary angiography.”
(American Heart Journal, 2009)

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
This test procedure is commonplace in many hospitals and the population who is most likely to undergo this procedure are diabetics, the group at the highest likelihood of developing kidney failure. The findings of this study are very important because one simple supplement can significantly decrease your risk of losing kidney function after the test is complete. Now, there is good news and bad news…The good news is most hospitals already have NAC on their formulary because NAC is used in treating Tylenol toxicity. The bad news is most doctors will never hear about this study and so it is up to you to ask for NAC on the day of the procedure. You will also want to take the NAC, which is available in most health food stores, for a couple days before the procedure to allow it to build up in your body. The recommended dose is 1000 mg twice daily for a few days before and a few days after the procedure. I would also recommend taking 100 mg twice daily of ubiquinol, an active form of coenzyme Q10, which can help to energize the cells of the kidney and heart.

A report from the Journal of the American Medical Association warns that a number of patients who were started on this medication died from bacterial sepsis or viral meningitis. The FDA is warning doctors to monitor patients closely and not prescribe it to patients under the age of 18 for fear of permanent suppression of the immune system.
(Journal of the American Medical Association, 2008; 300: 2359) {moshits}

Dr. Ray’s Notes:
This medication belongs to a class of drug called monoclonal antibodies which is considered an immunosuppressant. This potentially fatal side effect is a class-wide side effect and thus should be extended to other monoclonal antibody medications. It is lunacy to start people on these medications as a first or even second line treatment for psoriasis. Psoriasis can often be treated with diet, lifestyle and certain nutritional supplementation. Please see our psoriasis protocol for details about lifestyle changes that could help to control this health challenge.