Naturaldatabase.com update

[Guest guest]

I subscribe to this and it is worth every " penny " or in my case $92/year

---------------------

Here are just a few of the hundreds of updates we've made to *Natural

Medicines Comprehensive

Database*<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163a2b35d50542628a2af1d73237db4d1ea\

76b97d145e6ad4cf3>this

month. You can learn more about these and thousands of other natural

medicines by accessing the *Database*. Plus you can get fully accredited

continuing education credits.

*•

*L-methylfolate<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163ae76038858119d41a01fc84a70\

cc123ced791ea0055715cc1>is

being promoted by some manufacturers as a more active form of folic

acid.

L-methylfolate is in many prenatal vitamins such as

*Optinate<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163a70bc2ec12a54c007176ec5a3f187ab4\

cfa9a7f6d95a1449f>

*, *Neevo

DHA<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163ae0360ad53df17fd2b516fb0dd24a188975990\

978b89fc9b3>

*, *Prenate

Elite<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163a654a9f6fa9957fb34a311cd6db71d321481\

8f53b2a84abb8>

*; and regular vitamin supplements including *Optimized

Folate<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163a0c16ab57f6a1cd5a89f2727fe3d398982b\

2ed59e35150787>

*,

*MegaFolinic<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163add9ff3c0d89c37fd06228692237e\

ac0884455a7bff6d9710>

*, and others. It's also being used in medical foods for memory loss or

depression, in products such as

*CerefolinNAC<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163a7e6f2a0d85e2ac2e6e7f27cd5b5\

e3340eeb06dab6706b129>

* and

*Deplin<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163ad8ae8b5fdb2b9191e4155d7dd6219fc79\

85621898ed3e78f>

*.

" Folates " are a mixture of different forms of the vitamin that occur

naturally in food. Most supplements contain folic acid, a synthetic form of

the vitamin. In the body, all of these forms are converted to L-methylfolate

before entering the bloodstream and being stored by the body.

It is true that L-methylfolate is slightly better absorbed than folic acid.

You'll hear claims that L-methylfolate is a better alternative than folic

acid because many patients have reduced activity of an enzyme that

metabolizes folic acid to L-methylfolate. But, so far there's no proof that

this makes a clinical difference. Equivalent doses of folic acid and

L-methylfolate raise folate levels in pregnant women equally well. There is

also no proof that L-methylfolate is any better than folic acid for

preventing neural tube defects.

Explain to patients that L-methylfolate is just as safe as folic acid for

supplementation, but there is no reliable evidence that it's more

efficacious. Keep in mind that doses in some products are very high. *Deplin

* contains 7500 mcg and *CerefolinNAC* contains 5600 mcg. These amounts are

much higher than the 1000 mcg/day that has been linked to a higher cancer

risk in some patients.

*•

*Hibiscus<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163a1a2737f028d7ce74a81c06e06b5dc94\

264cef70041db79f8>(

*Hibiscus sabdariffa*) is getting more attention as a potential treatment

for hypertension. New clinical research shows that drinking a specific

hibiscus tea (Celestial Seasonings) three times daily for 6 weeks

significantly lowers blood pressure by about 7 mmHg in patients with

pre-hypertension or mild hypertension. This is promising, but preliminary.

Explain to patients that drinking hibiscus tea might help, but it's no

substitute for conventional treatments that are proven to improve

cardiovascular outcomes.

*• *St. 's

wort<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163a5af20525c5148dcad665b96d895e6b9a749c\

a6c9d8183222>has

now been linked to an increased risk of cataracts in new research.

There

have been concerns for years that St. 's wort might increase cataract

risk. The hypericin constituent of St. 's wort is photoactive. In the

presence of light, hypericin might damage lens proteins and precipitate

cataracts. A new population study shows that taking St. 's wort is

associated with risk of developing cataracts. People who spend a significant

amount of time in the sun should avoid taking St. 's wort.

A new course in the series is now available. Get an update and overview on

alternative treatment modalities in our course *Alternative Systems of

Medicine: Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and

Ayurveda<http://cl.exct.net/?qs=5e84951a58c1163a41e57baf9ddfe5db4fa108e38c8ecfe6\

1d95d52cd5488f5b>

*.

www.naturaldatabase.com

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

" Nutrition is a Science, Not an Opinion Survey "

" I'm still in my first marriage. I know it's wrong to talk about it so

temporary like that. My current husband hates it when I do that. " :-)