:: Jun-Jul 2008

Welcome to our Monthly Online Newsletter!

Repeated Past Article:

How complementary and alternative medicine practitioners use PubMed. (J Med Internet Res. 2007)

See Internet sites listed below

Featured site

NIH - NCCAM What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

NCCAM - Bitter Orange

NCCAM - Chamomile

NCCAM - European Elder

NCCAM - Herbs at a Glance

NCCAM - Hoodia

NCI - Complementary and Alternative Medicine

NCI - Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Treatment: Questions and Answers

NCI - Office of Cancer Complimentary and Alternative Medicine

NIH - Alternative Medicine

NIH - NCCAM Acupuncture

NIH - NCCAM Are You Considering Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

NIH - NCCAM Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Treatment: Questions and Answers

NIH - NCCAM Director Describes CAM

NIH - NCCAM National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine

NIH - NCCAM Treatment Information

NIH - NCCAM What Is Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?

Supplements - Nutrition

Vitamins

Supplements - Nutrition

Essential nutrients: food or supplements? Where should the emphasis be? (JAMA. 2005) "The consumption of adequate levels and proper balance of essential nutrients is critical for maintaining health. The identification, isolation, and purification of nutrients in the early 20th century raised the possibility that optimal health outcomes could be realized through nutrient supplementation. Recent attempts using this approach for cardiovascular disease and lung cancer have been disappointing, as demonstrated with vitamin E and beta carotene. Moreover, previously unrecognized risks caused by nutrient toxicity and nutrient interactions have surfaced during intervention studies. The most promising data in the area of nutrition and positive health outcomes relate to dietary patterns, not nutrient supplements."

Vitamins

Efficacy and safety of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol-increasing compounds: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (J Am Coll Cardiol. 2005) "OBJECTIVES: The aim of this research was to estimate the efficacy and safety of current high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)-increasing drugs. Ä CONCLUSIONS: Fibrates reduce major coronary events and increase HDL-C levels without significant toxicity. Niacin has a more potent effect on HDL-C levels, whereas data on cardiovascular event rate reduction are limited. Future studies need to evaluate whether additional HDL increase by fibrates or particularly newer niacin formulations on top of statin therapy translates into further event reduction in high-risk subjects, without significant toxicity."