Do Arthritis Drugs Cause Cancer?

This was taken from www.mercola.com and is another great example of how we can use complementary medicine to help people in their lives, without causing devastating side effects. In the article he recommends some products that lifeengineer supplies, namely GNLD salmon oil plus (the worlds only omega 3 oil with all 8 omega 3 fats) and emotional healing (with kinesiology we have the most effective tool found today). Happy reading.

Do Arthritis Drugs Cause Cancer?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating whether four drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other immune system diseases might increase the risk of cancer in children.

The FDA has received reports of 30 cases of cancer among children and young adults treated with the drugs. The agency did not make clear how many children had taken the drugs.

The drugs involved are:

1. Enbrel, sold by Amgen and Wyeth
2. Remicade, sold by Johnson & Johnson and Schering-Plough
3. Humira, sold by Abbott Laboratories
4. Cimzia, sold by the Belgian company UCB

All of the drugs block a protein called tumor necrosis factor, and are therefore known as TNF-blockers. They are used to treat not only rheumatoid arthritis but also psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and other immune diseases.

Because the drugs block part of the immune system, it’s long been known that they might contribute to a higher risk of cancers and infections. The drugs’ labels contain warnings as such, including warning about a risk of lymphomas, which are cancers of immune system cells.

Among adults, meanwhile, one study found that those given Humira or Remicade to treat rheumatoid arthritis had 2.4 times the cancer rate of those in control groups.

Sources:

• New York Times June 5, 2008

Finally, the Truth About BlueTooth Wireless Technology… I designed my new and improved Blue Tube Headset to not only reduce EMR emissions, but also to deliver state-of-the-art, crystal-clear sound. Plus, it provides ergonomically designed comfort for your ear — and trouble-free use. Don’t be caught without the best cell phone radiation reducer out there.

Find Out More

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Rheumatoid arthritis can be a devastating disease during which your body starts destroying itself, but there’s no need to wait for the FDA to investigate this one. Most arthritis drugs are simply far too dangerous to use. Studies had already linked Humira and Remicade, for instance, to: Lymphoma Tuberculosis Pneumonia Skin, gastrointestinal, breast and lung tumors This was among adults, but the risks may be even more concerning among children, considering that the drugs suppress your immune system, and children’s immune systems are not yet mature. It’s sad, though, because if you visit a rheumatologist most of them will prescribe these drugs right off the bat, as though they are the only option. And though they may help to ease your pain, they’re doing it at what expense? Cancer down the road? Tuberculosis? A lung tumor? These are astronomical risks! Not to mention that these drugs are expensive. The cost of using Remicade for one year is about $12,000. No, I did not put an extra zero in there. This explains why Remicade, Humira and Enbrel had combined sales of more than $13 billion in 2007. If You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis, You do Have a Choice Drugs are NOT the only option, and this is something that most doctors won’t tell you. You have the choice to forgo arthritis drugs and their nasty side effects in favor of some lifestyle modifications. The following plan, which is based on my revision of Dr. Brown’s Antibiotic Protocol, has helped thousands of people with rheumatoid arthritis go into remission. I have treated over 3,000 patients with this protocol since the late '80s and the success rate is well over 80%. It really is amazing how powerful the healing potential of your body is once you address causal factors and provide it with the essential healing tools and resources. The protocol involves: 1. Improving your diet using a combination of my nutritional guidelines and nutritional typing. 2. Getting plenty of omega-3 fats by taking a high-quality, animal-based omega-3 supplement, like krill oil. 3. Getting your vitamin D levels checked and, if necessary, taking a supplement if you can't get daily sun exposure. This is absolutely crucial and, in my opinion, gross medical negligence and malpractice if it is not performed on nearly every RA patient as nearly all RA patients have low vitamin D levels 4. Having an effective method of addressing the nearly universal underlying emotional distresses that are present in most all autoimmune diseases like RA. 5. Incorporating regular exercise into your daily schedule. If your joints are painful, gentle exercises like yoga and Tai Chi are recommended. You may also want to have a consultation with an exercise professional so no permanent joint damage is done as a result of joint deformities. What About Psoriasis and Crohn’s Disease? Many people are also given arthritis drugs to treat these conditions, but these are two more examples of conditions that can be remedied without taking drugs that increase your risk of cancer. About 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, a skin disorder that causes scaly red patches. Carolyn Dean has written about some great natural methods to heal psoriasis, among them: Increasing your intake of omega-3 fats Dealing with stress in a healthy way Eliminating sugar and refined and processed foods from your diet I would add to that getting plenty of sun exposure to make sure your vitamin D levels stay where they need to be. As for curing Crohn’s disease, a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), naturally, the recommendations are much in the same: Increase your intake of animal-based omega-3 fats, while decreasing your intake of omega-6 fats (found largely in vegetable oils) Avoid sugar, as it will increase inflammation by increasing your insulin levels. Avoid grains until symptoms are under control. Many with inflammatory bowel disease have gluten sensitivities. Additionally, the grains tend to increase insulin levels in most. Make sure your vitamin D levels are optimized. Get plenty of beneficial bacteria (probiotics) --which will help to heal your intestinal tract -- in your diet. Try cultured raw milk kefir for this purpose, or you can also consider a high-quality probiotic supplement. Whatever you do, don’t let anyone suggest to you that drugs are the only way to handle immune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and psoriasis. You can get relief from your symptoms while healing the underlying causes by following the health principles I outlined abov

BAD SCIENCE + BAD MEDIA = CONFUSED CONSUMERS

BAD SCIENCE + BAD MEDIA = CONFUSED CONSUMERS
The latest sleight of hand from the anti-vitamin lobby

16 April 2008
By Robert Verkerk PhD (Executive & Scientific Director) and Dr Damien Downing (Medical Director)

Today sees the release of yet another “study” led by Serbian scientist and “visiting researcher” at Copenhagen University Hospital, Goran Bjelakovic. His name is now synonymous with vitamin meta-analyses (studies of other studies) which appear to show that vitamin supplements either don’t work or end up increasing your risk of death. Two recent bursts of negative international headlines on vitamins supplements (1 October 2004 and 28 February 2007) followed releases of previous research papers (see asterisked articles in Reference list below).

What consumers need to know and are not being told is:

1. This isn’t new. This isn’t a new study! This a scientific rehash of the very same data sets that led to the previous negative studies – and these methodologies tell us nothing about the way in which high quality combinations of nutrient supplements work! For a previous critique on why the methods used are irrelevant, see a detailed analysis by Dr Steve Hickey, a member of the ANH Scientific Expert Committee: http://www.alliance-natural-health.org/_docs/ANHwebsiteDoc_270.pdf

2. This isn’t research. This is a re-analysis of studies that have been conducted and reported on previously, by a man at a computer. In this case a group of men with a known axe to grind, who have never produced a study favourable to supplements, which is itself statistically unlikely unless you have a bias.

3. This isn’t meaningful. When you select or reject studies on criteria that only mean something to statisticians, and ignore important things like duration, how long the study ran for — which ranged from 28 days to 14 years — your findings are immediately meaningless. Even the huge difference in dose of supplements between different studies — Vitamin E ranging from 10 to 5000 units daily, for instance — they didn’t deem important.

4. Two bites at the cherry. The anti-vitamin lobby has managed to benefit, yet again, from more anti-vitamin headlines, just by republishing the same study on previous studies – again! Bjelakovic’s latest assault, published today through the Cochrane Review system, is more or less a dead ringer for a paper by the very same authors, published last year (28 February 2007) in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Extensive international media followed the 2007 JAMA paper, including a front page article in the Times newspaper, which told consumers that vitamin pills could cause early death. Today’s Cochrane review relies on 67 studies rather than the 68 used in the JAMA paper. In evaluating studies for inclusion, the authors omitted a massive 405 potentially eligible studies BECAUSE there were no deaths in the studies!! Another 69 studies were excluded because they weren’t randomised controlled trials! Most of the trials used pertain to already sick people being given very high dose, synthetic, isolated nutrients for relatively short periods – they therefore have no relevance to the vast majority of vitamin consumers!

5. These studies apply only to synthetic forms of vitamins (as produced by the pharmaceutical industry). The authors of this latest Cochrane review state: “The present review does not assess antioxidant supplements for treatment of specific diseases (tertiary prevention), antioxidant supplements for patients with demonstrated specific needs of antioxidants, or the effects of antioxidants contained in fruits or vegetables.” This shows that the study has no relevance to natural sources of vitamins and minerals or antioxidants sourced from plants (e.g. flavanoids, anthocyanins, sulforaphanes, salvestrols/resveratrol, etc.), which are included in many of the leading-edge natural health supplements claiming potent antioxidant activity.

6. There is extensive scientific evidence that higher intakes of vitamins in the forms and combinations consumed in the diet substantially reduce risk of killer diseases such as cancer and heart disease. In fact, it is this research (some of which is referenced in the introduction to both the JAMA and Cochrane papers) that has stimulated pharmaceutical companies to undertake research on pharmaceutical-grade, synthetic forms of supplements, which they manufacture. There are good reasons why this pharma-sponsored research has generally yielded disappointing results. These reasons have been considered in many previous rebuttals. See also: http://www.alliance-natural-health.org/_docs/ANHwebsiteDoc_231.pdf

7. Over the top on synthetics! The studies included in the latest meta-analysis rely on very high dosages of pharmaceutical-grade, synthetic forms of supplements manufactured by the pharmaceutical industry. The dosages used are typically much greater than those recommended on the labels of food or dietary supplement products. In most countries, the dosages used in the trials would be considered ‘medicinal’ by regulatory authorities and therefore would not legally be allowed for food or dietary supplements.

The authors, the editorial boards of the journals that so readily accommodate the papers, as well as the media which then spin the findings, appear unable to bear the thought that consumers know what they are doing.

They forget the power of experience and observation, and that so many people taking these products have experienced startling, positive results. If you read a headline in a newspaper relaying some anti-vitamin hype from an anti-supplement research group in Denmark and you, and your friends and family around you, have all experienced positive results with supplements, would you stop taking your supplements?

Have they forgotten the significance of the countless findings of observational and epidemiological studies, which demonstrate strong correlations between high intakes of natural sources of nutrients and substantially reduced risks of chronic disease?

Do they not realise that their failure to duplicate these results with synthetic vitamins might be more down to the differences between natural and synthetic, as well as the non-applicability of their methods, rather than that their meta-analyses have now disproven what has been observed scientifically over decades?!

They forget, it seems, that most people are already, or are fast becoming, disillusioned with evidence-based medicine (EBM), which is now generally agreed, scientifically, to be the third or fourth leading cause of death in western societies.

It seems also that more and more people no longer wish to worship at the altar of EBM, the most important component of which is the randomised clinical trial (RCT). RCTs, the gold standard for EBM, fail, for reasons that are becoming increasingly clear, to amply demonstrate or help elucidate the complex responses that humans show when they choose to engage in natural systems of healthcare. Science is able to answer many questions, but not when its tools are used either by those with narrowed minds or those with an insatiable desire to control healthcare through the use of patented drugs based on new-to-nature molecules.

It has to be asked what the Cochrane Collaboration is doing, allowing, endorsing and indeed promoting unscientific, invalid rehashes such as this. Cochrane were supposed to be the only guys you really could trust.

REFERENCES

**Bjelakovic G, Nikolova D, Gluud LL, Simonetti RG, Gluud C. Mortality in randomized trials of antioxidant supplements for primary and secondary prevention: systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 2007 Feb 28; 297(8):842-57. Review.

Bjelakovic G, Nagorni A, Nikolova D, Simonetti RG, Bjelakovic M, Gluud C. Meta-analysis: antioxidant supplements for primary and secondary prevention of colorectal adenoma. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2006 Jul 15;24(2):281-91. Review.

Bjelakovic G, Nikolova D, Simonetti RG, Gluud C. Antioxidant supplements for preventing gastrointestinal cancers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004 Oct 18;(4):CD004183. Review.

*Bjelakovic G, Nikolova D, Simonetti RG, Gluud C. Antioxidant supplements for prevention of gastrointestinal cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2004 Oct 2-8;364(9441):1219-28. Review.

** Paper on which latest Cochrane review is based; negative findings created wide media interest

* Paper which created extensive media interest and formed basis of Cochrane review published in the same month.

another vote for free range chickens!

For those of us who watched Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's River Cottage Spring, we were once again treated to a smorgasbord of why we should grow and eat more of out own food. But, most importantly, we also found out another reason to eat free range chicken: that not only is it lower in fat than battery raised chicken, but also that it is higher in the all important omega 3 fats. 10x higher no less.

Go here for Hugh's page on the channel 4 website. http://www.channel4.com/food/on-tv/river-cottage/river-cottage-spring/episode-4-gooseberries-and-garlic-08-06-18_p_6.html

Enjoy! (both the show, and the knowledge)

are eggs bad, really?

This was sent to me via my subscription to the Metabolic Typing advisors forum. Makes for interesting reading, and gives more evidence that dietary intake of cholesterol and blood cholesterol are not the best indicators of risk for Cardiovascular disease. Happy reading

David Vaughan

www.foodpharmacy.com <http://www.foodpharmacy.com/>

From: www.naturalstandard.com <http://www.naturalstandard.com/>

A new study supports consuming eggs in moderation after finding no evidence
that eggs increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels are collectively known as
cardiovascular diseases. These include atherosclerosis (hardening of the
arteries), coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, arrhythmia
(irregular heartbeat), heart failure, high blood pressure, low blood
pressure, shock, endocarditis (bacterial infection of the heart), diseases
of the aorta and its branches, disorders of the peripheral vascular system
and congenital heart disease.

Reducing dietary cholesterol is important for preventing cardiovascular
disease (CVD). Researchers from Harvard Medical School explained that
although eggs are high in cholesterol, there is limited and inconsistent
evidence that egg consumption increases CVD risk and mortality.

The researchers examined the association between egg consumption and
cardiovascular disease in 21,327 participants from the Physicians' Health
Study I. Egg consumption was assessed with an abbreviated food
questionnaire.

After an average follow-up of 20 years, 1,550 new heart attacks, 1,342
incident strokes and 5,169 deaths occurred. The study found that egg
consumption was not associated with incident heart attack or stroke.

The study authors concluded that occasional egg consumption does not seem to
influence the risk of CVD in males. However, egg consumption was positively
correlated with mortality, especially in diabetic subjects.

Integrative therapies with strong scientific evidence in the treatment of
heart conditions include beta-glucan, beta-sitosterol, niacin, omega-3 fatty
acids, policosanol, psyllium, red yeast rice and soy. These can be ingested
through a healthy diet in addition to eggs.

Beta-glucan is a fiber that comes from the cell walls of algae, bacteria,
fungi, yeasts and plants. Numerous trials have examined the effects of oral
beta-glucan on cholesterol. Small reductions in total and low density
lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) have been reported. Little
to no significant changes have been noted to occur on triglyceride levels or
high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) levels.

Beta-sitosterol is found in plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables,
soybeans, breads, peanuts and peanut products. It is also found in bourbon
and oils. Many human and animal studies have found that supplementation of
beta-sitosterol into the diet decreases total serum cholesterol as well as
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid, is a well-accepted
treatment for high cholesterol. Multiple studies show that niacin (not
niacinamide) has significant benefits on levels of high-density cholesterol.
Niacin has been shown to produce better results than prescription drugs.
There are also benefits on levels of low-density cholesterol, although these
effects are less dramatic.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oil and certain plant/nut oils. Fish
oil contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA). Multiple human trials report small reductions in blood pressure with
intake of omega-3 fatty acids. There is strong scientific evidence from
human trials that omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil supplements (EPA
+ DHA) significantly reduce blood triglyceride levels. Benefits appear to be
dose-dependent. Fish oil supplements also appear to cause small improvements
(increases) in high-density lipoprotein. However, increases (worsening) in
low-density lipoprotein levels are also observed. The American Heart
Association has published recommendations for EPA + DHA. Because of the risk
of bleeding from omega-3 fatty acids, a qualified healthcare provider should
be consulted prior to starting treatment with supplements.

Policosanol is a natural mixture of alcohols derived from plant-based waxes
that has been shown to lower cholesterol. Policosanol has been used and
recommended to treat high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). Numerous
studies have analyzed the effects of policosanol on cholesterol levels and
have found benefits. At this time, the evidence supporting the efficacy of
this agent is compelling, although greater acceptance in the U.S. market may
await additional larger studies.

Psyllium, also known as ispaghula, comes from the husks of the seeds of
Plantago ovata. Psyllium is well studied as a lipid-lowering agent with
generally modest reductions seen in blood levels of total cholesterol and
low-density lipoprotein. Because only small reductions have been observed,
people with high cholesterol should discuss the use of more potent agents
with their healthcare providers. Effects have been observed in adults and
children, although long-term safety in children is not established.

Red yeast rice (RYR) is the product of yeast (Monascus purpureus) grown on
rice. Since the 1970s, human studies have reported that red yeast lowers
blood levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein/LDL and
triglyceride levels. Other products containing red yeast rice extract can
still be purchased. However, these products may not be standardized and
effects are unpredictable. For lowering cholesterol, there is better
evidence for using prescription drugs such as lovastatin.

Soy is a subtropical plant native to southeastern Asia. Numerous human
studies report that adding soy protein to the diet can moderately decrease
blood levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. Small
reductions in triglycerides may also occur, while high-density lipoprotein
does not seem to be significantly altered. It is unknown if products
containing isolated soy isoflavones have the same effects as regular dietary
intake of soy protein.

For more information on these therapies, please visit Natural Standard's
Foods,



www.foodpharmacy.com <http://www.foodpharmacy.com/>

From: www.naturalstandard.com <http://www.naturalstandard.com/>

A new study supports consuming eggs in moderation after finding no evidence
that eggs increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Conditions that affect the heart or blood vessels are collectively known as
cardiovascular diseases. These include atherosclerosis (hardening of the
arteries), coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, arrhythmia
(irregular heartbeat), heart failure, high blood pressure, low blood
pressure, shock, endocarditis (bacterial infection of the heart), diseases
of the aorta and its branches, disorders of the peripheral vascular system
and congenital heart disease.

Reducing dietary cholesterol is important for preventing cardiovascular
disease (CVD). Researchers from Harvard Medical School explained that
although eggs are high in cholesterol, there is limited and inconsistent
evidence that egg consumption increases CVD risk and mortality.

The researchers examined the association between egg consumption and
cardiovascular disease in 21,327 participants from the Physicians' Health
Study I. Egg consumption was assessed with an abbreviated food
questionnaire.

After an average follow-up of 20 years, 1,550 new heart attacks, 1,342
incident strokes and 5,169 deaths occurred. The study found that egg
consumption was not associated with incident heart attack or stroke.

The study authors concluded that occasional egg consumption does not seem to
influence the risk of CVD in males. However, egg consumption was positively
correlated with mortality, especially in diabetic subjects.

Integrative therapies with strong scientific evidence in the treatment of
heart conditions include beta-glucan, beta-sitosterol, niacin, omega-3 fatty
acids, policosanol, psyllium, red yeast rice and soy. These can be ingested
through a healthy diet in addition to eggs.

Beta-glucan is a fiber that comes from the cell walls of algae, bacteria,
fungi, yeasts and plants. Numerous trials have examined the effects of oral
beta-glucan on cholesterol. Small reductions in total and low density
lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) have been reported. Little
to no significant changes have been noted to occur on triglyceride levels or
high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) levels.

Beta-sitosterol is found in plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables,
soybeans, breads, peanuts and peanut products. It is also found in bourbon
and oils. Many human and animal studies have found that supplementation of
beta-sitosterol into the diet decreases total serum cholesterol as well as
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid, is a well-accepted
treatment for high cholesterol. Multiple studies show that niacin (not
niacinamide) has significant benefits on levels of high-density cholesterol.
Niacin has been shown to produce better results than prescription drugs.
There are also benefits on levels of low-density cholesterol, although these
effects are less dramatic.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish oil and certain plant/nut oils. Fish
oil contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid
(EPA). Multiple human trials report small reductions in blood pressure with
intake of omega-3 fatty acids. There is strong scientific evidence from
human trials that omega-3 fatty acids from fish or fish oil supplements (EPA
+ DHA) significantly reduce blood triglyceride levels. Benefits appear to be
dose-dependent. Fish oil supplements also appear to cause small improvements
(increases) in high-density lipoprotein. However, increases (worsening) in
low-density lipoprotein levels are also observed. The American Heart
Association has published recommendations for EPA + DHA. Because of the risk
of bleeding from omega-3 fatty acids, a qualified healthcare provider should
be consulted prior to starting treatment with supplements.

Policosanol is a natural mixture of alcohols derived from plant-based waxes
that has been shown to lower cholesterol. Policosanol has been used and
recommended to treat high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia). Numerous
studies have analyzed the effects of policosanol on cholesterol levels and
have found benefits. At this time, the evidence supporting the efficacy of
this agent is compelling, although greater acceptance in the U.S. market may
await additional larger studies.

Psyllium, also known as ispaghula, comes from the husks of the seeds of
Plantago ovata. Psyllium is well studied as a lipid-lowering agent with
generally modest reductions seen in blood levels of total cholesterol and
low-density lipoprotein. Because only small reductions have been observed,
people with high cholesterol should discuss the use of more potent agents
with their healthcare providers. Effects have been observed in adults and
children, although long-term safety in children is not established.

Red yeast rice (RYR) is the product of yeast (Monascus purpureus) grown on
rice. Since the 1970s, human studies have reported that red yeast lowers
blood levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein/LDL and
triglyceride levels. Other products containing red yeast rice extract can
still be purchased. However, these products may not be standardized and
effects are unpredictable. For lowering cholesterol, there is better
evidence for using prescription drugs such as lovastatin.

Soy is a subtropical plant native to southeastern Asia. Numerous human
studies report that adding soy protein to the diet can moderately decrease
blood levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. Small
reductions in triglycerides may also occur, while high-density lipoprotein
does not seem to be significantly altered. It is unknown if products
containing isolated soy isoflavones have the same effects as regular dietary
intake of soy protein.

For more information on these therapies, please visit Natural Standard's
Foods,