Health Science Institute e-Alert: Riddle Me This
Dear Reader,
It's a puzzle.
For some years now, scientists have known that the inflammation that triggers arthritis pain is prompted by an enzyme-protein complex called cycloaxygenase-2 (COX-2). They also know that when COX-2 is inhibited, inflammation and pain are reduced.
So here's the puzzle: Drugs such as Celebrex (and the recalled drug Vioxx) effectively block COX-2 and bring relief to arthritis patients, but the side effects can have dire, even fatal consequences.
The solution to the puzzle is obvious: Inhibit COX-2 without raising heart attack risk, without damaging the liver or kidneys, and without upsetting the digestive tract. Mainstream drugs haven't solved this problem, but there's an herbal formulation that may be able to. And according to current research, this natural COX-2 inhibitor could even be an effective cancer-fighter.
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Putting inhibition to work
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Zyflamend is an herbal formulation that inhibits COX-2. Research on this formulation has produced promising results, with none of the side effects caused by COX-2-inhibiting drugs.
A new Zyflamend study is about to begin, and this one will reveal how effective the formulation might be in another area in which COX-2 inhibitors have been shown to be successful: restraining the growth of cancer cells.
Recently, scientists discovered that cancerous tissues have unnaturally high COX-2 levels. In fact, COX-2 appears to be a key aspect of inflammation's role in the growth of several cancer types, including breast, lung and colon cancer. Now researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center have begun the first clinical trial of Zyflamend in the prevention of prostate cancer.
The Columbia study is specifically designed to examine the effects of Zyflamend on patients who are diagnosed with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). PIN is a condition in which the cells on the prostate gland's surface divide more rapidly than the rest of the prostate cells. When not treated, the progression of PIN lays the groundwork for the development of prostate cancer.
Researchers at Columbia will examine the use of Zyflamend on nearly 50 men, aged 40 to 75, who have been diagnosed with PIN. The trial period will run for 18 months, so the length of this study will provide an excellent test of both the effectiveness and safety of Zyflamend.
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Cooling off
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In a study, researchers added Zyflamend to a culture of human prostate cancer cells. After 72 hours, the Zyflamend-treated cultures had a 78 percent reduction in the number of cancer cells, compared with untreated cultures. Researchers believe that Zyflamend encouraged apoptosis, or programmed cell death; apparently doubling the activity of a specific protein involved in apoptosis. And even among the remaining cancer cells, reproduction was significantly repressed.
So, what exactly does Zyflamend contain that has this profound effect on cancer cells? The formula is made up of several herbs used for centuries as anti-inflammatories. They include:
Holy basil (contains ursolic acid; a COX-2 inhibitor)
Turmeric (contains curcumin; a COX-2 inhibitor)
Ginger (inhibits both COX-2 and 5-LO, another enzyme cancer cells need to flourish)
Green tea (polyphenols reduce COX-2)
Rosemary (also contains ursolic acid)
Hu zhang (contains reservatrol; a COX-2 inhibiter)
Chinese goldthread and barberry (both contain berberine; a COX-2 inhibitor)
Oregano (contains more than 30 known anti-inflammatory compounds)
Scutellaria (contains a phytonutrients complex; a COX-2 inhibitor)
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Treading carefully
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With the recall on Vioxx, you can't help but wonder if any COX-2 inhibitor - whether drug or herb - might pose problems. But when I asked HSI Medical Adviser Martin Milner, N.D., about the risk of gastrointestinal damage with herbal COX-2 inhibitors, he said that using natural plant compounds as opposed to synthetic chemicals generally produces better results with fewer side effects. And no adverse effects were reported in the studies on Zyflamend.
Still, if you decide to try Zyflamend, you should inform your doctor to check potential interactions with other medicines you may be taking, and watch for signs of stomach discomfort or heart trouble. For more information about Zyflamend, you can visit the manufacturer's web site at new-chapter.com.
I will keep an eye out for further research concerning Zyflamend and cancer.
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"JUST ONE DROP DID IT"
Scientists accidentally create amazing pain eraser...
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SO POWERFUL, SEVERAL DROPS IS ALL IT TAKES! Learn more about this all-new and improved formula!
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...and another thing
Vitamin D has made several appearances in recent e-Alerts. And with good reason. The cancer prevention provided by adequate vitamin D intake could help you live a long, healthy life. But vitamin D provides other health benefits too. Like keeping bones strong.
Early last year I sent the e-Alert "D Does It" (1/7/04) about a study that revealed just how inadequate vitamin D levels tend to be in older people who live in high-level care facilities. In a trial of nearly 1,000 subjects over the age of 80, vitamin D deficiency was shown to be a reliable predictor of falls due to muscle weakness and poor bone metabolism created by low levels of the vitamin.
These results have been confirmed in a review of studies published in a recent British Medical Journal. This new research concludes that, "Vitamin D deficiency among elderly people is much more common than previously recognized." Geoff Vennine, the author of the review, recommends that housebound elders and residents of nursing homes should aim for an intake of 800 IU of vitamin D daily.
Of course, getting enough sunlight exposure is often a challenge for older people, especially those who are unable to get outdoors every day.
In fact, most of us, no matter what our age, probably don't get enough daily sunlight exposure to supply adequate amounts of vitamin D. (Your body manufactures vitamin D when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet light.)
For more information on vitamin D, you can access the "D Does It" e-alert I mentioned earlier in our archives at www.hsibaltimore.com.
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute
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Tap into the minds of other health-conscious readers like yourself at the new HSI health forum: http://www.healthiertalk.com
Sources:
"Herbal Supplement to Prevent Prostate Cancer?" NutraIngredients.com, 9/21/04, nutraingredients.com
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