CCH Health Review
Ideas & Strategies to Improve Your Health
November 2006
Osteoporosis Reversal – A Case History
Over 40? Get Your Vitamin D Level Checked
Aromatherapy for Menstrual Cramps
Osteoporosis Reversal – A Case History
Karen has been coming to the office for two years now. She first consulted me at the age of 55 with chronic IBS and low energy. Just prior to her initial consultation, she had been experiencing heartburn so an endoscopy was performed and showed mild inflammation of the esophagus. Her gastroenterologist prescribed the acid blocker Prilosec. Her IBS symptoms worsened and she decided to seek out another approach. I won’t get into the process that successfully cleared her GI symptoms in this letter, as a more interesting part of the story just emerged.
Just over a year ago, I ordered a DEXA bone density test on her. The results were disappointing but not surprising with her family history and years of malabsorption at play. Her primary care physician received the results and urged her to start Fosomax immediately. Naturally, Karen was more than hesitant about beginning a therapy known for causing GI disturbance and the reports about periodontal breakdown associated with Fosomax had just hit the press.
We talked about options. Her diet was good, but she agreed to add more leafy green vegetables to support Vitamin K. I felt certain that her improved digestion and absorption were going to make a huge impact on her nutrient status. Karen wanted to try a supplement program for a year and repeat the bone density test before considering prescription drug therapy.
After ordering a Vitamin D blood test on her and finding her significantly low in that important nutrient, she began a program of Vitamin D3, Vitamin K1 and other nutrients known to build bone. This past month, after a year on her supplement regimen, I ordered a repeat DEXA scan. The results we just got back were remarkable. All measurements significantly increased. Her Lower Spine gained bone mass and increased by 6.7%. All other measurements, including Lateral Spine, Femoral Neck, Total Hip and Forearm all showed an increase in bone mass by over 3.5%.
This is one of those situations I love as a practitioner. The patient had made huge progress in addressing her GI complaints and had averted a potential decline in digestive ease by avoiding the osteoporosis medication. She adhered to her good diet and long-standing exercise plan and now had shown dramatic improvement in her bone density with the addition of a few nutritional supplements.
In this case I didn’t focus on Calcium too much and to be honest, I don’t use large amounts of calcium supplementation. There is conflicting information regarding just how much supplemental calcium is necessary. I ask my patients to incorporate large amounts calcium containing foods in their diet such as leafy greens, seeds and nuts and small amounts of acceptable dairy products. Foods can generally supply 300-600mg of dietary calcium which has to be counted when considering supplemental calcium. I tend to keep supplemental calcium at 600mg daily at most. We will be hearing a lot more about this during the coming year as some osteoporosis clinical studies coming to an end will most likely conclude that large amounts of Calcium supplementation are not beneficial. Bone health is not only about Calcium from food or supplements. Proper dietary balance and an adequate intake of supplemental Vitamin D, vitamin K, and Strontium have very important roles in bone health.
In the Journal “Menopause” (2006; 13:799-808), an article on the importance of vitamin K was published, pushing us to eat more leafy greens. With adequate vitamin K, calcium works with other hormones to strengthening bones. It has also been shown that when estrogen levels decline during menopause, the function of vitamin K is impaired making it even more important to get appropriate amounts. It was also noted that although some multivitamin preparations contain vitamin K, few contain enough to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Naturally, patients taking blood thinners like Coumadin should not use vitamin K supplements.
Over 40? Get Your Vitamin D Level Checked
I saw a patient last week who had given a copy of her blood work that I ordered to her primary care physician. She is a woman in her late 50’s with a very fair complexion, a family history of osteoporosis and is mildly hypertensive. She explained to me how baffled her physician was at my ordering a vitamin D level on her as part of a routine blood work up and told her he was certain vitamin D was not that important and she could get enough by drinking more milk anyway . She got the blood test done despite his objections. Her blood level of Vitamin D was very low and there is just too much good science published about the importance of vitamin D for us to ignore. When Michael Holick’s group (the vitamin D guru from Boston University) tested cow’s milk for vitamin D levels, only 29% contained between 320 and 480 i.u. of vitamin D per quart. Skim milk had undetectable vitamin D. It is not possible to get enough Vitamin D from drinking milk. You would have to consume 15 glasses per day. The take home message, getting your blood level of Vitamin D measured seems like a prudent and necessary thing to do.
Menstrual Cramps Revisited
I often report on cases of dysmenorrhea for two reasons. The first is personal. I freely explain that the reason I became interested in alternative medicine was because of my own history of menstrual cramps. The second reason is because I see many women who have monthly recurrent debilitating symptoms causing missed work, and more importantly, they miss out on well being. Patients tell me they schedule vacations, dinner out with friends, family events and other activities making certain that they won’t be menstruating during important times.
It was only after years of prescription therapy that really did nothing to help me and only complicated my life by leaving me in pain and unable to think straight, I turned to herbs, nutrients and dietary changes, which changed my life in a matter of months. I remember that the first supplement I ever took in 1976 was vitamin E. I recently came across an article in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2001;108:1181-3. In short, the study participants who took 500 IU of vitamin E per day experienced a significantly greater reduction in menstrual pain compared to those taking the placebo. And the benefit was felt the first month of treatment. That is how I remember it so many years ago; being amazed how much better I felt after only a month.
In practice, I believe that many nutrients and botanicals can influence the pain brought on by hormone changes at the start of the menstrual period. Diet and exercise also can have a major impact. Peanuts, dairy, and red meat seem to favor the formation of the hormones that trigger inflammation. I routinely suggest that my patients with painful periods refrain from these foods at least five days before the anticipated onset of the menstrual flow. The vitamin E article just reminded me of another important nutrient to help with this symptom that reportedly affects up to 72% of menstruating women.
Aromatherapy for Menstrual Cramps
Plant Essential oils have many healing properties and they have an added benefit of smelling really good! A recent study found that a blend of specific essential oils massaged into the abdomen reduced menstrual cramps by 50%. I just read the study and have only prescribed the treatment to two patients, but both of them reported success with the treatment, which they both said helped within a half hour of the application. Even if Advil were to work, it usually takes longer than a half hour to get some relief and the essential oils don’t cause stomach upset!
Ginkgo Extract and Ovarian Cancer
At the American Association for Cancer Research’s annual meeting in Baltimore last year, Ginkgo was highlighted for its use in the prevention of ovarian cancer. Both initial laboratory and epidemiological evidence demonstrated that women who took Ginkgo supplements for six months or longer were shown to have a 60 percent lower risk of ovarian cancer. Lab experiments showed that the ginkgo extract caused ovarian cancer cells to stop growing. The researchers observed an 80% growth reduction in non-mucinous ovarian cancer cells. Ovarian cancer I believe instills more fear in women than any other disease because of its aggressive and silent arrival. Patients frequently ask me if there are any specific things they can do to prevent ovarian cancer. Perhaps Ginkgo Extract shows promise in yet another arena.
Intense Skin Itching
I seem to be seeing an increasingly large number of patients who react to exercise or the cold weather with intense itching of exposed areas or with a rash and hives which can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. This type of reaction is thought to be caused by the chemical histamine. I have recently had complete success with two patients, both experiencing exercise induced itching. The regimen I gave them included: Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, Quercetin, and an herbal tincture combining Nettles and Eyebright. Now the real job is looking for the cause. Certain environmental exposures or food intolerances may have pushed these patients to a heightened allergic response.
Glutamine Eases Chemotherapy Nausea
I have seen another case of chemotherapy induce nausea disappear with the use of Glutamine powder. Within a few days of starting treatment, MaryAnn experienced intense nausea throughout the day with no vomiting episodes. She was taking oral Zeloda for the treatment of colon cancer. I started her on fairly large doses of Glutamine Powder 2 times daily. It made a world of difference for her. She has been on this regimen for the past 6 weeks with no recurrence of the nausea.
If you, a loved one, a family member or a friend has any of these problems or similar health issues, please consult with one of our physicians. We have some excellent treatment options to offer you.
Best of Health,
Dr. Jacqueline Germain
