Author: Rob

Meta-Analysis: Current Evidence on Statin Benefits is Flawed

Written by Rob on . Posted in Anti-aging, Blood Sugar, Brain Health / Conditions, Cardiovascular Health, Disease Conditions, Health News. Leave a Comment

Today I wanted to share with you the results of a recently released meta-analysis published in JAMA questioning the benefits of statins:

A new meta-analysis questions the science demonstrating the link between statin-induced LDL-C lowering and improved CV, all-cause outcomes.

Pricera – NAD+ Precursor Highlight

From the Innovative Medicine website:

NAD+ and the Brain

One of the most impacted organs from NAD+ deficiency is the brain. NAD+ plays a vital role in the brain, with a 2007 study stating, “NAD+ and NADH (the reduced form of NAD+) may also mediate brain aging and the tissue damage in various brain illnesses. Our latest studies have suggested that NADH can be transported across the plasma membranes of astrocytes, and that NAD+ administration can markedly decrease ischemic brain injury. Based on this information, it is proposed that NAD+ and NADH are fundamental mediators of brain functions, brain senescence and multiple brain diseases.”

NAD+ helps to replenish the supply of neurotransmitters, improve cognitive functioning, withdraw from addictive substances, overcome anxiety, depression, chronic or acute stress, post-traumatic stress, CTE, and other conditions by giving the brain what it needs to return to proper functioning. NAD+ has been shown to be effective with cases of brain fog, cognitive impairment, and “chemo brain”. It has a powerful capacity to “reset” the brain to its original set point.

Reach out to me if you would like to get some more info on NAD+ therapy, our very popular practitioner grade NAD+ precursor formulation, the Sirtuin Longevity Genes etc.
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As you may know, statins have been a very popular prescription drug for many years for Cardiovascular Disease..

There are many potential negative side effects associated with the use of statins.

I witnessed this with my own parents. Lifestyle issues were involved however my father ended up becoming diabetic, he developed dementia and he had so little energy that we had to install an electronic lift for him to get up the stairs due primarily to the consumption of statins.

I had predicted all of these outcomes to my parents several years earlier if they continued their consumption of statins.

Hopefully this meta-analysis will provide ourselves as well as other health care practitioners in addition to the general public with further clinical data to be able to make an informed decision regarding the usage of statins.

Here is the article from the Patient Care Online website:

Current evidence on the association between statin therapy-driven lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and reductions in negative cardiovascular (CV) outcomes as well as all-cause mortality may no longer be indisputable, according to authors of a new meta-analysis.

Findings from research led by Paula Byrne, PhD, HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, suggest that lowering LDL-C using statins has an inconsistent and inconclusive impact on CVD outcomes such as myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and all-cause mortality. Specifically, the authors conclude that the association between statin-induced reduction in LDL-C and absolute risk reduction (ARR) compared with relative risk reduction (RRR) in these outcomes is modest, at best.

“The message has long been that lowering your cholesterol will reduce your risk of heart disease, and that statins help to achieve this,” Byrne said in a RCSI statement. “However, our research indicates that, in reality, the benefits of taking statins are varied and can be quite modest.”

Byrne and colleagues set out to look more closely at the association between statin-induced reductions in LDL-C and the absolute risk reduction in individual clinical outcomes with an ultimate objective to facilitate shared decision-making between clinicians and patients and inform clinical guidelines and policy.

The primary outcome associated with statin use they sought to clarify was all-cause mortality and secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction and stroke.

The investigators searched PubMed and Embase for eligible trials from January 1987 to June 2021. For inclusion trials had to examine efficacy of statins vs placebo or usual care in reducing total mortality and CV outcomes, enrolled ≥1000 participants aged >18 years, have a planned duration of ≥2 years, and reported absolute changes in LDL-C levels.

The final meta-analysis included 21 trials with at least 1000 participants. Of those, 33% were primary CVD prevention trials, 29% were studies of secondary CVD prevention, and 38% included both primary and secondary prevention populations.

Trial size ranged from 1255–20 536 patients. After pooling, statin and control arms each had >66 000 patients. Average follow-up among all trials was 4.4 years (range 1.9-6.1). LDL-C differences achieved ranged from 17-68 mg/dL.

Absolute and relative risk compared

Writing in JAMA Internal Medicine, Byrne et al report among patients randomized to receive statin treatment, an absolute risk reduction (ARR) of 0.8% (95% CI, 0.4-1.2%) for all-cause mortality, 1.3% for MI (95% CI, 0.9-1.7%), and 0.4% (95% CI, 0.2-0.6%) for stroke.

They found associated relative risk reductions for statin-treated patients of 9% (95% CI, 5-14%), 29% (95% CI, 22-34%), and 14% (95% CI, 5-22%) respectively.

Results of a metaregression to explore the potential mediating association of the magnitude of statin-induced LDL-C reduction with relative and absolute treatment effects were inconclusive, demonstrating a proportion of between-study variance explained by LDL-C ranging from 0-14%.

 Absolute risk reductions of treatment with statins in terms of all-cause mortality, MI, and stroke are modest compared with the relative risk reductions. A conclusive association between absolute reductions in LDL-C levels and individual clinical outcomes was not established, and according to the authors, these findings underscore the importance of discussing absolute risk reductions when making informed clinical decisions with individual patients.

Some association was found for the relative effects on all-cause mortality and stroke, but not for myocardial infarction. Similarly, some association was found between the magnitude of LDL-C reduction and size of the absolute treatment effect on stroke, but not for all-cause mortality or myocardial infarction.

Absolute risk reductions of treatment with statins in terms of all-cause mortality, MI, and stroke are modest compared with the relative risk reductions. A conclusive association between absolute reductions in LDL-C levels and individual clinical outcomes was not established, and according to the authors, these findings underscore the importance of discussing absolute risk reductions when making informed clinical decisions with individual patients.

“We believe that absolute risk reduction is essential for clinical decision-making and provides the clinician with a more accurate means of discussing the true benefits and harms of a specific therapy with their patients,” Byrne and colleagues wrote.

“Framed this way, our analysis found that when considering the absolute risk reduction of statins, the benefits are quite modest, and most trial participants who took statins derived no clinical benefit.”

Reference: Byrne P, Demasi M, Jones J, et al. Evaluating the asssociation between low-density lipoproetin cholesterol reduction and realtive and absolute effects of statin treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
JAMA Intern Med. Published online March 14, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.0134

Is This the Key to Managing Sarcopenia?

Written by Rob on . Posted in Anti-aging, Brain Health / Conditions, Cardiovascular Health, Disease Conditions, Exercise, Health News. Leave a Comment

Sarcopenia is recognized as an issue related to the aging process and/or immobility.

From Wikipedia, here is a description of sarcopenia:

Sarcopenia is a type of muscle loss (muscle atrophy) that occurs with aging and/or immobility. It is characterized by the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass, quality, and strength. The rate of muscle loss is dependent on exercise level, co-morbidities, nutrition and other factors. The muscle loss is related to changes in muscle synthesis signalling pathways. It is distinct from cachexia, in which muscle is degraded through cytokine-mediated degradation, although both conditions may co-exist. Sarcopenia is considered a component of frailty syndrome.[1] Sarcopenia can lead to reduced quality of life, falls, fracture, and disability.[2][3] Obviously, remaining active as we age is a key cornerstone to optimal health however there are additional factors at play which can be modified to help to maintain muscle mass and strength/power.

In a paper published in the journal Nature Aging, it suggests that maintaining optimal NAD+ levels can be a significant factor in maintaining metabolic and physical function.

NAD+ levels decrease precipitously as we age: by the age of 50, it is down 50% and by the age of 80 it is down 90 – 96% so it is essentially gone.

One of the key functions of NAD+ is to activate the Sirtuin Longevity Genes which as the name implies are critical to healthy aging.

If these genes are not activated, it accelerates vascular aging.

If you have not yet experienced the wonders and benefits of NAD+ optimization by consuming our Pricera NAD+ precursor formulation, reach out to me.

Following is the abstract:


Healthy aging and muscle function are positively associated with NAD+ abundance in humans

Nature Aging volume 2, pages 254–263 (2022)

Abstract

Skeletal muscle is greatly affected by aging, resulting in a loss of metabolic and physical function. However, the underlying molecular processes and how (lack of) physical activity is involved in age-related metabolic decline in muscle function in humans is largely unknown.

Here, we compared, in a cross-sectional study, the muscle metabolome from young to older adults, whereby the older adults were exercise trained, had normal physical activity levels or were physically impaired. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) was one of the most prominent metabolites that was lower in older adults, in line with preclinical models.

This lower level was even more pronounced in impaired older individuals, and conversely, exercise-trained older individuals had NAD+ levels that were more similar to those found in younger individuals. NAD+ abundance positively correlated with average number of steps per day and mitochondrial and muscle functioning. Our work suggests that a clear association exists between NAD+ and health status in human aging.

Is This The Cause of MS?

Written by Rob on . Posted in Anti-aging, Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Parasites, Brain Health / Conditions, Disease Conditions, Health News, Pain / Inflammation. Leave a Comment

Epstein-Barr virus may be the leading cause of multiple sclerosis

Summary:

A new study provides compelling evidence of causality between Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis. It suggests that most MS cases could be prevented by stopping EBV infection, and that targeting EBV could lead to the discovery of a cure for MS.

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive disease that affects 2.8 million people worldwide and for which there is no definitive cure, is likely caused by infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), according to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers.

Their findings will be published online in Science on January 13, 2022.

“The hypothesis that EBV causes MS has been investigated by our group and others for several years, but this is the first study providing compelling evidence of causality,” said Alberto Ascherio, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard Chan School and senior author of the study. “This is a big step because it suggests that most MS cases could be prevented by stopping EBV infection, and that targeting EBV could lead to the discovery of a cure for MS.”

MS is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that attacks the myelin sheaths protecting neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Its cause is not known, yet one of the top suspects is EBV, a herpes virus that can cause infectious mononucleosis and establishes a latent, lifelong infection of the host. Establishing a causal relationship between the virus and the disease has been difficult because EBV infects approximately 95% of adults, MS is a relatively rare disease, and the onset of MS symptoms begins about ten years after EBV infection. To determine the connection between EBV and MS, the researchers conducted a study among more than 10 million young adults on active duty in the U.S. military and identified 955 who were diagnosed with MS during their period of service.

The team analyzed serum samples taken biennially by the military and determined the soldiers’ EBV status at time of first sample and the relationship between EBV infection and MS onset during the period of active duty. In this cohort, the risk of MS increased 32-fold after infection with EBV but was unchanged after infection with other viruses. Serum levels of neurofilament light chain, a biomarker of the nerve degeneration typical in MS, increased only after EBV infection. The findings cannot be explained by any known risk factor for MS and suggest EBV as the leading cause of MS.

Ascherio says that the delay between EBV infection and the onset of MS may be partially due the disease’s symptoms being undetected during the earliest stages and partially due to the evolving relationship between EBV and the host’s immune system, which is repeatedly stimulated whenever latent virus reactivates.

“Currently there is no way to effectively prevent or treat EBV infection, but an EBV vaccine or targeting the virus with EBV-specific antiviral drugs could ultimately prevent or cure MS,” said Ascherio.

Other Harvard Chan School researchers who contributed to this study include Kjetil Bjornevik, Marianna Cortese, Michael Mina, and Kassandra Munger.

Funding for this study came the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (NS046635, NS042194, and NS103891), the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (PP-1912-35234), the German Research Foundation (CO 2129/ 1-1), the National Institutes of Health (DP5- OD028145), and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

  1. Kjetil Bjornevik, Marianna Cortese, Brian C. Healy, Jens Kuhle, Michael J. Mina, Yumei Leng, Stephen J. Elledge, David W. Niebuhr, Ann I. Scher, Kassandra L. Munger, Alberto Ascherio. Longitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis. Science, 2022 DOI: 10.1126/science.abj8222

  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. “Epstein-Barr virus may be leading cause of multiple sclerosis.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 13 January 2022. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220113151342.htm>.

Can Nerve Damage Be Reversed With a Food Compound?

Written by Rob on . Posted in Anti-aging, Brain Health / Conditions, Diet, Disease Conditions, Health News. Leave a Comment


Let me introduce you to the concept of “neuritogenic” compounds: molecules that are known to regenerate nerve tissue and help repair damaged brains.

The Green Med Info website has a great database for published papers on different topics.

When using the search term “neuritogenic” some of the compounds that come up include:

  • Ubiquinol – CoQ 10
  • EGCG – as from green tea
  • Puerarin
  • Cannabinoids
  • Green Coffee Bean
  • Jujube
  • Lion’s Mane
  • Gensenosides
  • Curcumin

One key neuritogenic compound is sulforaphane with broccoli sprouts being the best source.

Part of the content for this article comes from an article published on the Natural News website


Further from the Natural News article:

Green Med Info has also published an overview of sulforaphane and its brain repair mechanisms as documented in published science. From that story:

The researchers determined the optimal concentration range of sulforaphane in promoting neural stem cell (NSC) growth without harming neurons. The researchers determined that “Concentrations of less than 5 mM did not induce cytotoxic e?ects, but rather potentially promote the growth of NSCs.”

Green Med Info has also published an overview of sulforaphane and its brain repair mechanisms as documented in published science. From that story:

The researchers determined the optimal concentration range of sulforaphane in promoting neural stem cell (NSC) growth without harming neurons. The researchers determined that “Concentrations of less than 5 mM did not induce cytotoxic e?ects, but rather potentially promote the growth of NSCs.” The term 5 mM means 5 milli-molar which is a reference to the concentration of sulforaphane in blood. 5 milli-molar is 5 thousands of a Mole. A Mole is a set number of molecules in one liter of a solution, regardless of molecular weight.

Although this depends a lot on body weight, we think it wouldn’t require much consumption of broccoli sprouts to achieve 5 mM concentrations in the blood of a person.

When neural stem cells were exposed to sulforaphane, they transformed into neurons

From the Green Med Info article:

…exposing NSCs to sulforaphane resulted in their differentiation [into] neurons, lending powerful support to the hypothesis that sulforaphane could stimulate brain repair.

This means that sulforaphane is a kind of molecular “activator” that causes neural stem cells to become neurons. This is how damaged brain cells are regrown.

How to grow your own sulforaphane for mere pennies

Because God and Mother Nature gave us all the medicine we need, you can “manufacture” your own sulforaphane for mere pennies and literally transform air into sulforaphane through the use of broccoli sprouts.

  1. Buy broccoli sprouts, a mason jar and a sprouting lid (see image below).
  2. Put about a tablespoon of broccoli spouting seeds into a mason jar, rinse with water, affix the sprouting lid and turn it upside to drain the water.
  3. Keep the sprouting jar upside down. Once a day, rinse with water and drain.
  4. In a few days, you have broccoli sprouts with loads of sulforaphane.

You can then eat the sprouts, use them in salads, blend them into smoothies, drop them into soups or whatever you want to do. Sulforaphane is a very robust molecule and it’s somewhat difficult to destroy, so don’t think you have to treat it like a delicate, fragile substance. Blending sprouts does not destroy their molecules. That’s because these molecules are very, very small.

Many grocery stores that offer sprouts typically also offer broccoli sprouts.

Other benefits of sulforaphane

Sulforaphane also exhibits powerful anti-cancer properties. GreenMedInfo lists the best properties of this molecule as reflected in published medical literature. It shows that sulforaphane is documented to help with:

  • oxidative stress
  • inflammation
  • prostate cancer
  • breast cancer
  • colon cancer
  • autism
  • pancreatic cancer
  • diabetes type-2
  • DNA damage
  • bladder cancer
  • insulin resistance

… and many other conditions.

Brain function is of course a key concern for many people these days and consuming foods which contain sulforaphane can help to maintain brain health.

Earthing: Parasympathetic, Inflammation Downreguation, Improved Sleep & More

Written by Rob on . Posted in Anti-aging, Blood Sugar, Brain Health / Conditions, Cardiovascular Health, Digestion / Gut Health, Disease Conditions, Health News, Male Conditions / Issues, Pain / Inflammation. Leave a Comment

I was reminded this morning of the significant potential health benefits of earthing/grounding while watching a program on GAIA.

If you are not familiar with GAIA, it is similar to Netflix but with more of an emphasis on topics such as integrative health, spirituality etc.

In fact I enjoy the content available on GAIA that I rarely watch Netflix any more.

Here is a link to the episode that I watched this morning on earthing/grounding which you can watch for free

Here is an example of what the published research has to say about the potential health benefits of earthing/grounding:
Environ Public Health. 2012; 2012: 291541. Published online 2012 Jan 12. doi: 10.1155/2012/291541 PMCID: PMC3265077PMID: 22291721

Earthing: Health Implications of Reconnecting the Human Body to the Earth’s Surface Electrons

Gaétan Chevalier, 1, 2 ,*Stephen T. Sinatra, 3 James L. Oschman, 4 Karol Sokal, 5 and Pawel Sokal 6

Abstract

Environmental medicine generally addresses environmental factors with a negative impact on human health. However, emerging scientific research has revealed a surprisingly positive and overlooked environmental factor on health: direct physical contact with the vast supply of electrons on the surface of the Earth.

Modern lifestyle separates humans from such contact. The research suggests that this disconnect may be a major contributor to physiological dysfunction and unwellness. Reconnection with the Earth’s electrons has been found to promote intriguing physiological changes and subjective reports of well-being. Earthing (or grounding) refers to the discovery of benefits—including better sleep and reduced pain—from walking barefoot outside or sitting, working, or sleeping indoors connected to conductive systems that transfer the Earth’s electrons from the ground into the body. This paper reviews the earthing research and the potential of earthing as a simple and easily accessed global modality of significant clinical importance.

2.1. Sleep and Chronic Pain

2.3. Earthing Reduces Electric Fields Induced on the Body

2.4. Physiological and Electrophysiological Effects

4.4. Heart Rate Variability

4.5. Reduction of Primary Indicators of Osteoporosis, Improvement of Glucose Regulation, and Immune Response

4.6. Altered Blood Electrodynamics

Table 1

Subjective sleep, pain, and well-being feedback.

CategoriesTest subjects*Control subjects**
SameImprovedSameImproved
Time to fall asleep4 = 15%23 = 85%20 = 87%3 = 13%
Quality of sleep2 = 7%25 = 93%20 = 87%3 = 13%
Wake feeling rested0 = 0%27 = 100%20 = 87%3 = 13%
Muscles stiffness and pain5 = 18%22 = 82%23 = 100%0 = 0%
Chronic back and/or joint pain7 = 26%20 = 74%23 = 100%0 = 0%
General well-being6 = 22%21 = 78%20 = 87%3 = 13%

*Reports not received from three participants.

**Reports not received from seven participants.

4. Conclusion

De Flora et al. wrote the following: “Since the late 20th century, chronic degenerative diseases have overcome infectious disease as the major causes of death in the 21st century, so an increase in human longevity will depend on finding an intervention that inhibits the development of these diseases and slows their progress” [33].

Could such an intervention be located right beneath our feet? Earthing research, observations, and related theories raise an intriguing possibility about the Earth’s surface electrons as an untapped health resource—the Earth as a “global treatment table.” Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth—whether being outside barefoot or indoors connected to grounded conductive systems—may be a simple, natural, and yet profoundly effective environmental strategy against chronic stress, ANS dysfunction, inflammation, pain, poor sleep, disturbed HRV, hypercoagulable blood, and many common health disorders, including cardiovascular disease. The research done to date supports the concept that grounding or earthing the human body may be an essential element in the health equation along with sunshine, clean air and water, nutritious food, and physical activity.

This simple behavioral change has the potential to initiate powerful improvements in health conditions and is something that may warrant consideration for everyone.

Is This the Most Effective Weapon Against Viral Infections?

Written by Rob on . Posted in Anti-aging, Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Parasites, Cardiovascular Health, Disease Conditions, Health News. Leave a Comment

Story at-a-glance

  • Nebulized hydrogen peroxide is a safe, inexpensive and incredibly effective way to prevent and treat viral illnesses of all kinds
  • While hydrogen peroxide kills viruses, it also kills other pathogens that can contribute to an unhealthy gut and/or oral microbiome. As such, it may also improve your microbiome and help resolve a wide variety of other chronic ailments, including gut problems and periodontitis
  • Hydrogen peroxide is part of your body’s natural defense against pathogens. So, when you nebulize hydrogen peroxide, you’re really just augmenting your body’s natural defense system
  • Being able to treat yourself at home at the first signs of COVID-19 symptoms will also virtually eliminate your risk of long-haul syndrome. So far, medical doctors who have treated COVID-19 patients agree that if treatment begins early enough, patients almost always fully recover and have no longstanding side effects from the infection
  • Buy the required supplies before you need them, so you have everything and can treat yourself at the first signs of symptoms. Most of the time, after two or three treatments, the infection will be stopped in its tracks
  • In this interview, Dr. Thomas Levy, a board-certified cardiologist perhaps best known for his work with vitamin C, discusses nebulized hydrogen peroxide, which has become my favorite intervention for viral illnesses, including COVID-19. In his latest book, “Rapid Virus Recovery,” Levy details this treatment. Best of all, he’s giving the e-book away for free. The 321-page physical book will be available soon online. It’s also available in Spanish.

Read more