In this issue:

Sodium Raises Cardiovascular Risk Orange Juice May Raise HDL Supplements May Prevent Vision Loss From Macular Degeneration Victory For Glucosamine Sulfate Shark Cartilage May Help Scleroderma

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Sodium Raises Cardiovascular Risk In a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers showed that sodium raises cardiovascular risks in overweight adults, independent of its effect on blood pressure, and may have important health implications for the next century.  Overweight individuals in the study who consumed an extra teaspoon of salt each day had a 61% higher death rate from heart-related ailments.  In addition, their stroke rate increased by 32% and their risk of dying from stroke increased by 89%, while their chance of dying from any cause whatsoever increased by almost 40%.  For patients who were not overweight, by contrast, consuming extra sodium did not raise the risk of dying, heart disease, or stroke. Researchers theorize that overweight people may be more salt sensitive and suggest they reduce their sodium intake. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommends that all Americans consume no more than 2400 mgs of sodium per day.

Supplements May Prevent Vision Loss From Macular Degeneration Recent evidence shows that several nutrients found in plant chemicals known as carotenoids and antioxidant vitamins may be able to prevent and slow the progression of macular degeneration or other common eye diseases. We have found that intravenous and oral antioxidants such as bilberry, glutathione, lutein and selenium have reversed macular degeneration in selective cases.

Orange Juice May Raise HDL At a recent American Heart Association meeting, researchers reported that people with elevated cholesterol who drank three eight-ounce glasses of orange juice each day for one month increased their HDL (good) cholesterol levels by 21% and lowered their ratio of  LDL (bad) chosterol to :HDL by 16%.  These 25 subjects with elevated cholesterol were asked to follow a low-fat diet.  Researchers, however, found that there was no increase in HDL in drinking only one to two glasses of orange juice each day.  Orange juice is rich in bioflavonoids, which are natural antioxidants and may be the reason for the successful results of this study.  Fresh-squeezed and organic varieties of orange juice are preferred because of their greater nutritional value and reduced levels of pesticide residues.

Victory For Glucosamine Sulfate During the past ten years, glucosamine sulfate has become a popular supplement for treatment of arthritis.  Unfortunately, it is still not widely accepted by the orthodox medical community. In fact, an opinion paper put out by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons strongly recommended that patients do not take glucosamine sulfate and called its use "fraudulent." However, numerous studies have shown it to be beneficial.  In a recent Belgium trial, results of which was presented at a meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Boston,  researchers found that this dietary supplement may be able to halt the loss of joint cartilage caused by osteoarthritis. In this trial, patients were divided into two groups. Half were given a placebo and the other half received 1500 mgs of glucosamine sulfate daily. In the placebo-group subjects, joint space narrowing occurred at the rate of approximately .1 millimeter per year whereas those who took glucosamine sulfate had no joint space narrowing.  Moreover, the patients taking glucosamine reported a 15 to 25% improvement in symptoms of pain, joint stiffness, and physical functioning. Glucosamine sulfate may be one key in treating arthritis, but there are many other adjunctive therapies which are useful.  Please visit the section of this site called "Alternative Therapies," and click on prolotherapy.  Prolotherapy is a reconstructive ligament therapy that Dr. Greenberg has successfully used in many of our patients to alleviate their joint symptoms. Prolotherapy, in fact, is the only treatment that helped relieve former Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop's chronic back pain.

Shark Cartilage May Help Scleroderma Scleroderma is a serious condition characterized by thickening and stiffening of the skin, blood vessels, and tissues in the lungs, heart, and kidneys. In a small study of four patients given shark cartilage, all reported experiencing improvement in their condition.  Reduction in pain of fibromyalgia to reversal in arthritis symptoms were reportedly improved. A larger trial is needed to evaluate its benefit, however.  Shark cartilage may inhibit angiogenesis and has been used by many patients with cancer.  You can read more about this in the book by Dr. William Lane entitled Sharks Don't Get Cancer.

DISCLAIMER: The items in this newsletter are intended for informational purposes only.  Nothing in this newsletter is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis and advice.