Supplements Update

The following are updates on supplements we thought might help many of you. Some of our patients are asking if phytosterols in national products such as Centrum Cardio and Bayer with Heart Advantage lower cholesterol. Phytosterols, found in soy, lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol by preventing absorption in the gut. National guidelines say 2,000 mg per day of phytosterols lower cholesterol up to 15%, but there are no studies on cardiac outcomes. Centrum Cardio offers 800 mg a day with two tablets and Bayer with Heart advantage 400 mg per dose. This is about a 2-5% reduction of LDL cholesterol, so the effect is small. You would need to take higher supplement doses or use alternative products that have a higher cholesterol reduction. Remember slow release Niacin is still an excellent alternative for moderate cholesterol problems. It raises good HDL as well as lowers bad cholesterol. As always, discuss treatments with your doctor.

Aspirin Update

On the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Oz suggested that men and women over 40 years of age should take two baby aspirin tablets daily to reduce cardiac and cancer risk and to slow aging. Right now there is no proof that two aspirin work better than one. So this advice is circumstantial at best. A study on a group of 2,000 women 56-64 years old showed that giving low dose aspirin can prevent a heart attack; however, 200 of those women had an adverse bleeding complication needing treatment. As far as slowing aging and preventing cancer are concerned, the evidence is minimal. It is true that C-reactive protein (a marker for inflammation) is associated with diseases of aging and increased cardiovascular events, and there are safer and perhaps better alternatives to treat this than aspirin.

We recommend aspirin for those with clear risk factors and known heart disease if other risk factors are okay. Our office is offering specialized testing for inflammation and cardiovascular markers that identify increased risk for cardiovascular disease and aging. We have just added tests by Berkeley Labs in addition to our SpectraCell testing to look at several new biological markers that help us identify who truly is at higher risk for disease. We are one of only a few offices in Kentucky and Indiana that offer this testing to our patients to improve strategies for prevention. Many insurers, including Medicare, are paying for the majority of the testing. Using this testing allows us to focus on prevention at an earlier and earlier age well beyond the simple risks associated with cholesterol levels. It looks more and more as if simple cholesterol levels give us a very incomplete picture of who is at risk for health problems. This new testing allows us to be more specific in choosing what kind of diets, supplements and medicines are likely to work for individual patients. We are very hopeful and excited about this development. We will send a more detailed e-mail about this in the near future.

Zynex Electrotherapy Home Program

Our office will now be offering Zynex interferential therapy units for chronic pain and musculoskeletal syndromes such as muscle spasms, post-surgical pain and muscle re-education. In my experience, these units are generally more effective than TENS units which many patients have tried. These units use specialized alternating frequencies and are painless. Most insurers pay for the units if approved. However, the company promises two months at no charge if insurance does not cover this treatment. Two months is usually enough time to treat several conditions.

These units are used at home and will be a great support to the microcurrent and interferential therapy offered by Renita Trumbo on our Accutron Electrotherapy Machine in the office. Treatments can now be further supported at home, hopefully improving and speeding up results. Renita just got back form Arizona and received further training on the Accutron Machine and also on protocols for electo-accupuncture. We have upgraded our machine and learned a great deal to further improve our future results. This is a nice addition to Renita’s myofacial and massage therapy work for your musculoskeletal problems.

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and Healthy and Happy New Year!