Tag Archives: supplements

Carvings November 1, 2024

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In the news

The resurgence of tuberculosis. Should we worry?

            During the 19th century tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death throughout the world. Three of my own grandparents died of the disease and the fourth undoubtedly had it, as did many, if not most of the population of that era. 

            Although the bacterium responsible for TB can invade any part of the body, it usually affects the lungs, producing a chronic cough that allows it to spread continually to others, especially in crowded conditions. In healthy persons who become infected, only 5-10% will develop actual disease. Most infected persons recover naturally but the organism commonly finds sanctuary in the lungs, staying viable, and breaking free when the host’s immune system falters because of age, poor nutrition, HIV infection, chemotherapy or a variety of other factors.

Tuberculosis is a disease of the poor, as evidenced by the huge number of cases in Africa and Asia. Fewer than 20,000 cases occur annually in the United States and the majority of these victims were born outside of this country. Now that the COVID pandemic has subsided TB has regained its place as the leading infectious cause of death worldwide.

Why are so many health authorities concerned? A major source of anxiety is the fact that in developing countries the uncontrolled use of anti-tuberculosis drugs has led to strains that are resistant to nearly all currently available antibiotics. Millions of persons cross our borders each year as visitors, students, documented workers and those who arrive without permission, most of whom come from countries where tuberculosis is present in at least a quarter of the population.

Persons born in this country are at low risk of infection and even lower risk of illness. The classic hallmarks of the disease are persistent cough, fever, nightsweats, weight loss and bloody sputum. Disease can occur with milder symptoms, and all persons who work in the healthcare field, or with children or the elderly, should receive a tuberculosis skin test every year. 

Lifestyle

Cold season is here. Do supplements help you to avoid them or shorten them?

            It’s likely that you will endure one or two colds this winter. For those of you who are old enough to be on Medicare it should be a little consolation that your decades of encounters with a variety of cold viruses have left you with some degree of immunity, and if we take steps to maintain our immune system and overall health, we are far less likely to experience as many colds as our grand- and great-grandchildren.

            There are many supplements that have been touted over the years as cold preventatives or modifiers, including vitamin C, elderberry, zinc, garlic, echinacea, etc. That there are so many should be a clue that there is no magic bullet among them. Many studies have been poorly done but their “results” have found enthusiastic audiences notwithstanding. On the other hand, some quality studies have found value from certain supplements but none has been very significant. Shortening cold symptoms for half a day may be statistically accurate but practically useless. On the other hand real benefit has been found when persons are deficient in the supplement in question, e.g. zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D.

            The best cold preventative is a healthy diet, rich in antioxidants, plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fish oil.

            And a little red wine, of course.

Carvings October 1, 2024

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In the News

The flu season begins today

          Today marks the official start of the influenza season and this post is a reminder that it should be a top priority for everyone, especially those of us who are old enough to be on Medicare.

From a prior post: The influenza vaccines that have been developed over the last half-century are far from perfect, but to quote an old saw: “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” Some vaccines have low efficiency, perhaps about 25 percent, but some are much better and it will take a few months before we know how effective the latest version is. As I have noted numerous times over the past several decades, the flu vaccine might not keep you from getting that disease but the evidence has been consistent that it will keep you out of the hospital, and from dying. Remember that influenza weakens the immune system, which is why nearly all influenza-related deaths are not due to the virus itself but to secondary bacterial invaders, many of which are now resistant to almost all antibiotics. The problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria continues to worsen and many of these are circulating in hospitals.

           Another benefit: a nine-year study involving more than four million adults showed that the influenza vaccine reduced the incidence of all forms of stroke by about 25 percent. Previous research indicated that there is a similar reduction in heart attacks in vaccinees. Conversely, there is a significantly greater risk of heart attack and stroke following natural influenza virus infection.

            As of this week there is almost no influenza activity in the U.S., but you should plan on getting the vaccine no later than the end of October. It remains effective for about six months, which will take you through the end of the flu season in the Spring.

Lifestyle

Vitamin C deficiency versus inadequacy

            If your car runs out of gas (deficiency) it stops. If you fill the tank with poor quality gas it will sputter and barely make it up a steep grade (inadequacy). A publication in the journal Nutrients revealed that the same concept applies to vitamin C.

            Scurvy is a debilitating and often fatal disease caused by an absolute deficiency of vitamin C and was the scourge of seafarers until a British naval physician convinced the admiralty to provision its ships with fruit, especially citrus (hence “limeys”, a term describing British sailors). The Nutrients article notes that persons with inadequate levels of vitamin C are 2.3 times more likely to suffer from coronary artery disease than those with normal levels.

            During the recent pandemic it was noted that severe, sometimes fatal infections were associated with “vitamin C deficiency”. (Note: even researchers misuse the term “deficiency” when they really mean “inadequacy”, as embarrassingly noted in the article.)

            Vitamin C is a critical nutrient that helps to control inflammation, which is a driver not only of heart disease, but also of cancer, stroke and osteoporosis, among other maladies. Further, it is necessary for the proper maintenance of connective tissue, the element that literally holds our cells and tissues together. When it fails the result is bleeding in the gums and other tissues, tooth loss, neurologic disorders, weakness and death – the hallmarks of scurvy.

            It’s well-known that organized medicine, with a few exceptions, claims that vitamin supplementation is foolish. Yet a report from the University of Colorado points to the occurrence of frank scurvy among children, most of whom have poor eating habits. Those researchers also observe that the nutrient value of today’s mega-farmed plant foods is considerably lower in vitamins, minerals and protein than those grown 75 years ago.

The lesson: vitamin deficiencies are not common but vitamin inadequacies are. Even the American Medical Association, in a pair of landmark publications in 2002, (Journal of the American Medical Association June 19, 2002, Vol. 287, No. 23, P. 3127) urged that everyone should take a multivitamin/multimineral every day, a position completely opposite that of earlier recommendations and sadly still espoused by some physicians today.