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Patient Reference Library
Click links below for the article.
Brain Chemistry Imbalances
Cardiovascular Disease
Mediterranean Diet
Men's Health
- - - - -
Brain Chemistry Imbalances Linked To Depression, Anxiety and Many Physical Conditions Successfully Treated With Nutrition
Natural treatments offer new hope for many with depression and anxiety
By John Salerno, Ph.D. and Lauren Salani, BCIA,C Medical research has shown that fast foods, fast-lane living, inadequate sleep, and genetics significantly affect the brain’s ability to keep levels of neurotransmitters in adequate supply and balance. Neurotransmitters, in specific amounts, are vitally important because they are the substances that create our moods, define our behavior and establish the state of our overall health. You may have heard some of their names. Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, GABA, Dopamine, Histamine, PEA are a few neurotransmitters with excitatory or inhibitory effects. The brain extends communication to the organs of the body through nerve cells that “talk” with these substances. The brain tells the heart to beat, the gastrointestinal system to digest and the lungs to breathe. Thus, the list of clinical conditions that could arise from neurotransmitter levels either being insufficient or exorbitantly high is extensive and includes both mental and physical health. Addressing neurotransmitter imbalances may be the key to getting illness under control. The following is a list of commonly occurring neurotransmitter imbalance symptoms:
Fatigue
Chronic muscle and joint pain
Inappropriate food cravings
Irritability/hostility
Inability to focus/concentrate
Depression or agitation
Excessive body fat
Obsessive/Compulsive behaviors
Sleep disturbances
Physical and emotional stress
Recurrent diarrhea/constipation
Headache/migraine
Many people are being treated with medications that either alter neurotransmitter release or imitate their function in the body. Some medications such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft act to increase the time a
neurotransmitter, such as serotonin, will stay in-between the nerve cells
to increase the action. Problems arise when serotonin levels are so low that there is insufficient quantity to make drug levels effective. The study of
the synthesis and metabolism of this and other neurotransmitters has led to the discovery of methods for detecting functional levels of these substances. Subsequent treatment includes targeting the amino acids which are the building blocks of these excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters and providing these amino-acids at therapeutic levels so the body can start synthesizing its own supply and self-correct its own imbalances. This is very exciting news. Many patients seeking treatment for a variety of medical and psychological conditions are actually suffering from symptoms of an underlying neurotransmitter depletion or imbalance. Discovering the root of the problem makes treatment efficient and true relief a reality.
John Salerno, Ph.D. and Lauren Salani, BCIA,C are members of the Behavioral Medicine and Psychophysiology Team at Physicians for Alternative Medicine, P.C.Physicians for Alternative Medicine, P.C. offers free consultations to those who want to learn how natural medicine can best treat their medical and mental health problems. For more information about neurotransmitter (brain chemistry) testing or to make an appointment call: (732) 542-2638
- - - - -
Cardiovascular Disease – Nutritional Factors Make A Difference
An individual’s nutritional foundation and lifestyle are important missing pieces of the puzzle about why cardiovascular disease remains the nation's
leading crippler and killer. It provides solid information about what can be
done to significantly reduce cardiovascular risk today.
A staggering number of people are destined to experience a cardiovascular-related disorder sometime in their lives. Almost 1 million Americans die each year as a result of cardiovascular disease, whereas 556,000 die each year from cancer. Despite these facts, people are often more afraid of cancer than they are of vascular disease.
Americans have become complacent about the dangers of arterial disease. One reason is that the percentage of young people dying from acute heart
attacks has plummeted over the past 50 years. Explanations for these
reductions include lifestyle changes, greater use of dietary supplements/preventive medications, and improved cardiac medical care.
Many of the underlying causes of arterial disease have been identified in the scientific literature. Regrettably, cardiologists have only addressed a limited number of these factors, such as prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs, controlling hypertension, etc. By ignoring the other proven causes for the epidemic of vascular-related diseases, a significant number of Americans are experiencing needless suffering and are dying prematurely.
A growing consensus among scientists is that common disorders such as heart attack, stroke, and other vascular-related diseases are all caused in part by a chronic inflammatory syndrome. Numerous published articles demonstrate that the presence of blood indicators of inflammation are strong predictive factors for determining who will develop coronary artery disease and have a cardiac-related death.
The good news is lifestyle changes and certain dietary supplements can suppress these dangerous inflammatory components of blood. One of the
dangerous inflammatory markers that have been identified is a coagulation
protein called fibrinogen. The findings of published scientific studies show
that persons with high levels of fibrinogen are more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack. Excessive homocysteine blocks the natural breakdown of fibrinogen. Folic acid, TMG, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 reduce elevated
homocysteine levels. High doses of fish oil or olive oils, have also been shown to lower fibrinogen in humans with elevated fibrinogen levels. Vitamin C, in pharmacological doses, has also been shown to break down excess fibrinogen.
Another inflammatory marker is C-reactive protein. Some studies show that people with high levels of C-reactive protein are almost three times as likely to die from a heart attack. Cardiovascular risk factors such as fibrinogen and C-reactive protein are produced in the liver by pro-inflammatory cytokines called interleukin-1B, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor. Supplements such as highly concentrated DHA fish oil and DHEA suppress excess production of some of these dangerous cytokines.
Conventional medical journals have published hundreds of new studies in recent years that unequivocally link elevated homocysteine to greater risk of heart attack and stroke. The medical establishment woke up to the dangers of homocysteine when The New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association published articles suggesting that vitamin supplements be used to lower homocysteine levels. While folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and tri-methylglycine (TMG) all lower homocysteine levels, it is impossible for any individual to know if they are taking the proper amount of nutrients unless they have a homocysteine blood test. People taking vitamin supplements think they are being protected from the lethal effects of homocysteine when, in reality, even supplement users can have
homocysteine levels far above the safe level of 6.3.
With cardiovascular disease, like most degenerative diseases, prevention is simply, the very best medicine. Not only has a balanced and preventive lifestyle (diet, exercise and knowledgeable use of nutritional supplementation) been well documented to dramatically reduce risk to heart attacks and cardiovascular disease but add significantly to one’s quality of life. Natural approaches also exist that effectively treat existing heart disease and diseased, blocked arteries.
Physicians for Alternative Medicine is offering a free consultation to those who want to learn more about Dr. Volpe’s “Healthy Heart Program” as well as other natural treatment programs.
- - - - -
Mediterranean Diet Associated with Significantly Fewer Deaths
Over Ten Year Period
The findings of a study published online on January 18 2006 in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that individuals whose diets scored higher on one of three dietary quality scores experienced less mortality from all causes during a ten year period.
Researchers in the Netherlands evaluated the diets of 2,068 men and 1,049
women between the ages of 70 and 90 enrolled in Healthy Aging: A
Longitudinal study in Europe (HALE). The Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS),
which measures adherence to a traditional Greek Mediterranean type diet, the Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI), which assesses how closely a diet reflects the Italian Reference Mediterranean diet, and the Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI), based on WHO guidelines for disease prevention, were used in the current study. Dietary histories were obtained by dieticians who queried the participants concerning their food consumption over the prior month. Participants were followed for ten years, during which there were 1,382 deaths.
The researchers found that among participants whose scores were greaterthan the median on any of the diets had less mortality from any cause. A higher Mediterranean Diet Score was associated with an 18 percent lower risk of dying during the study period than that experienced by those with a lower score, while a higher Mediterranean Adequacy Index was associated with a 17 percent lower risk, and a higher Healthy Diet Indicator with an 11 percent lower risk.
The dietary scoring systems provide points for greater consumption of
legumes, cereals, vegetables and fruits, and less consumption of saturated fat, among other components. Analysis of single nutrient components showed associated mortality risk reductions similar to those of the total diet scores for some, but not all of the components. Examining the impact of single nutrients on mortality and/or disease fails to detect the interrelation of dietary components, which makes the current study and others that evaluate dietary patterns of interest to those wishing to live longer.
The premise of taking actions to maintain youthful health and vigor is based on findings from peer-reviewed scientific studies that identify specific factors
that cause us to develop degenerative disease. These studies suggest that
the consumption of certain foods, food extracts, hormones, or drugs will help
to prevent common diseases that are associated with normal aging.
One of the most compelling reports that high-potency supplements extend
lifespan in humans was by Losonczy et al. in the August 1996 issue of the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This study involved 11,178 elderly
people, who participated in a trial to establish the effects of vitamin
supplements on mortality. The study showed that the use of vitamin E
reduced the risk of death from all causes by 34%. Effects were strongest for coronary artery disease, where vitamin E resulted in a 63% reduction in death from heart attack. In addition, the use of vitamin E resulted in a 59% reduction in cancer mortality. When the effects of vitamins C and E were combined, overall mortality was reduced by 42% (compared to 34% for vitamin E alone) (Losonczy et al. 1996). These results provided significant evidence about the value of vitamin supplementation, yet the media failed to report on it. What made this study so credible was that it compared people who took low-potency "one-a-day" multiple vitamins to those who took higher-potency vitamins C and E supplements.
It lasted 9 years! Most studies that attempt to evaluate the benefits of vitamin supplementation are for shorter time periods. It should be noted, however, that the famous Harvard Nurses' Health Study found that vitamin
E reduced coronary artery disease mortality by more than 40% after only 2 years!
It included 11,178 people, a larger group than most previous studies.
- - - - -
Health News for Men
Vitamin E boosts lycopene’s inhibition of prostate tumor growth.
A Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics sponsored bythe European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Association for Cancer Research held in Geneva was the site of a presentation on September 30 2004 by Dr. Jacqueline Limpens of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands which confirmed the inhibitory effect of lycopene on prostate tumors and revealed that vitamin E may enhance that effect.
Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes and other fruits. Epidemiologic
studies have established an inverse association between lycopene intake and prostate cancer risk. The current study involved mice in who received human prostate tumor implants. The animal were divided into groups who received one of the following regimens: low dose synthetic lycopene, high dose synthetic lycopene, low dose synthetic vitamin E, high dose synthetic vitamin E, low dose synthetic lycopene plus vitamin E, or a placebo.
Dr Limpens explained the results: "We found that low dose lycopene suppressed the growth of the human prostate tumors by over half (at day 42 of the study), extending the tumor doubling time accordingly, while all other single treatments had no significant effect. However, the combination of low-dose lycopene and vitamin E produced the greatest tumor inhibition – 73%. Importantly, we also saw that the doubling time of PSA values matched the tumor responses in all the experimental groups. This means that we can use PSA values as a surrogate marker in short phase II/III human trials as it is clear that PSA values are accurately reflecting the inhibiting activity of the lycopene and vitamin E on tumor growth.
Of interest was the finding that a low dose of both nutrients provided a greater benefit than a high dose of lycopene or vitamin E alone. Dr. Limpens recommended, "Regular consumption of supplements and fortified foods may help to obtain adequate amounts of lycopene and vitamin E, which may otherwise be difficult to obtain while maintaining a balanced diet."
Men over 50 should discuss this issue with Dr. Volpe and Dr DiSanto to insure the appropriate protective measures are in place.
Click links below for the article.
Brain Chemistry Imbalances
Cardiovascular Disease
Mediterranean Diet
Men's Health
- - - - -
Brain Chemistry Imbalances Linked To Depression, Anxiety and Many Physical Conditions Successfully Treated With Nutrition
Natural treatments offer new hope for many with depression and anxiety
By John Salerno, Ph.D. and Lauren Salani, BCIA,C Medical research has shown that fast foods, fast-lane living, inadequate sleep, and genetics significantly affect the brain’s ability to keep levels of neurotransmitters in adequate supply and balance. Neurotransmitters, in specific amounts, are vitally important because they are the substances that create our moods, define our behavior and establish the state of our overall health. You may have heard some of their names. Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine, GABA, Dopamine, Histamine, PEA are a few neurotransmitters with excitatory or inhibitory effects. The brain extends communication to the organs of the body through nerve cells that “talk” with these substances. The brain tells the heart to beat, the gastrointestinal system to digest and the lungs to breathe. Thus, the list of clinical conditions that could arise from neurotransmitter levels either being insufficient or exorbitantly high is extensive and includes both mental and physical health. Addressing neurotransmitter imbalances may be the key to getting illness under control. The following is a list of commonly occurring neurotransmitter imbalance symptoms:
Fatigue
Chronic muscle and joint pain
Inappropriate food cravings
Irritability/hostility
Inability to focus/concentrate
Depression or agitation
Excessive body fat
Obsessive/Compulsive behaviors
Sleep disturbances
Physical and emotional stress
Recurrent diarrhea/constipation
Headache/migraine
Many people are being treated with medications that either alter neurotransmitter release or imitate their function in the body. Some medications such as Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft act to increase the time a
neurotransmitter, such as serotonin, will stay in-between the nerve cells
to increase the action. Problems arise when serotonin levels are so low that there is insufficient quantity to make drug levels effective. The study of
the synthesis and metabolism of this and other neurotransmitters has led to the discovery of methods for detecting functional levels of these substances. Subsequent treatment includes targeting the amino acids which are the building blocks of these excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters and providing these amino-acids at therapeutic levels so the body can start synthesizing its own supply and self-correct its own imbalances. This is very exciting news. Many patients seeking treatment for a variety of medical and psychological conditions are actually suffering from symptoms of an underlying neurotransmitter depletion or imbalance. Discovering the root of the problem makes treatment efficient and true relief a reality.
John Salerno, Ph.D. and Lauren Salani, BCIA,C are members of the Behavioral Medicine and Psychophysiology Team at Physicians for Alternative Medicine, P.C.Physicians for Alternative Medicine, P.C. offers free consultations to those who want to learn how natural medicine can best treat their medical and mental health problems. For more information about neurotransmitter (brain chemistry) testing or to make an appointment call: (732) 542-2638
- - - - -
Cardiovascular Disease – Nutritional Factors Make A Difference
An individual’s nutritional foundation and lifestyle are important missing pieces of the puzzle about why cardiovascular disease remains the nation's
leading crippler and killer. It provides solid information about what can be
done to significantly reduce cardiovascular risk today.
A staggering number of people are destined to experience a cardiovascular-related disorder sometime in their lives. Almost 1 million Americans die each year as a result of cardiovascular disease, whereas 556,000 die each year from cancer. Despite these facts, people are often more afraid of cancer than they are of vascular disease.
Americans have become complacent about the dangers of arterial disease. One reason is that the percentage of young people dying from acute heart
attacks has plummeted over the past 50 years. Explanations for these
reductions include lifestyle changes, greater use of dietary supplements/preventive medications, and improved cardiac medical care.
Many of the underlying causes of arterial disease have been identified in the scientific literature. Regrettably, cardiologists have only addressed a limited number of these factors, such as prescribing cholesterol-lowering drugs, controlling hypertension, etc. By ignoring the other proven causes for the epidemic of vascular-related diseases, a significant number of Americans are experiencing needless suffering and are dying prematurely.
A growing consensus among scientists is that common disorders such as heart attack, stroke, and other vascular-related diseases are all caused in part by a chronic inflammatory syndrome. Numerous published articles demonstrate that the presence of blood indicators of inflammation are strong predictive factors for determining who will develop coronary artery disease and have a cardiac-related death.
The good news is lifestyle changes and certain dietary supplements can suppress these dangerous inflammatory components of blood. One of the
dangerous inflammatory markers that have been identified is a coagulation
protein called fibrinogen. The findings of published scientific studies show
that persons with high levels of fibrinogen are more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack. Excessive homocysteine blocks the natural breakdown of fibrinogen. Folic acid, TMG, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 reduce elevated
homocysteine levels. High doses of fish oil or olive oils, have also been shown to lower fibrinogen in humans with elevated fibrinogen levels. Vitamin C, in pharmacological doses, has also been shown to break down excess fibrinogen.
Another inflammatory marker is C-reactive protein. Some studies show that people with high levels of C-reactive protein are almost three times as likely to die from a heart attack. Cardiovascular risk factors such as fibrinogen and C-reactive protein are produced in the liver by pro-inflammatory cytokines called interleukin-1B, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor. Supplements such as highly concentrated DHA fish oil and DHEA suppress excess production of some of these dangerous cytokines.
Conventional medical journals have published hundreds of new studies in recent years that unequivocally link elevated homocysteine to greater risk of heart attack and stroke. The medical establishment woke up to the dangers of homocysteine when The New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association published articles suggesting that vitamin supplements be used to lower homocysteine levels. While folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and tri-methylglycine (TMG) all lower homocysteine levels, it is impossible for any individual to know if they are taking the proper amount of nutrients unless they have a homocysteine blood test. People taking vitamin supplements think they are being protected from the lethal effects of homocysteine when, in reality, even supplement users can have
homocysteine levels far above the safe level of 6.3.
With cardiovascular disease, like most degenerative diseases, prevention is simply, the very best medicine. Not only has a balanced and preventive lifestyle (diet, exercise and knowledgeable use of nutritional supplementation) been well documented to dramatically reduce risk to heart attacks and cardiovascular disease but add significantly to one’s quality of life. Natural approaches also exist that effectively treat existing heart disease and diseased, blocked arteries.
Physicians for Alternative Medicine is offering a free consultation to those who want to learn more about Dr. Volpe’s “Healthy Heart Program” as well as other natural treatment programs.
- - - - -
Mediterranean Diet Associated with Significantly Fewer Deaths
Over Ten Year Period
The findings of a study published online on January 18 2006 in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that individuals whose diets scored higher on one of three dietary quality scores experienced less mortality from all causes during a ten year period.
Researchers in the Netherlands evaluated the diets of 2,068 men and 1,049
women between the ages of 70 and 90 enrolled in Healthy Aging: A
Longitudinal study in Europe (HALE). The Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS),
which measures adherence to a traditional Greek Mediterranean type diet, the Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI), which assesses how closely a diet reflects the Italian Reference Mediterranean diet, and the Healthy Diet Indicator (HDI), based on WHO guidelines for disease prevention, were used in the current study. Dietary histories were obtained by dieticians who queried the participants concerning their food consumption over the prior month. Participants were followed for ten years, during which there were 1,382 deaths.
The researchers found that among participants whose scores were greaterthan the median on any of the diets had less mortality from any cause. A higher Mediterranean Diet Score was associated with an 18 percent lower risk of dying during the study period than that experienced by those with a lower score, while a higher Mediterranean Adequacy Index was associated with a 17 percent lower risk, and a higher Healthy Diet Indicator with an 11 percent lower risk.
The dietary scoring systems provide points for greater consumption of
legumes, cereals, vegetables and fruits, and less consumption of saturated fat, among other components. Analysis of single nutrient components showed associated mortality risk reductions similar to those of the total diet scores for some, but not all of the components. Examining the impact of single nutrients on mortality and/or disease fails to detect the interrelation of dietary components, which makes the current study and others that evaluate dietary patterns of interest to those wishing to live longer.
The premise of taking actions to maintain youthful health and vigor is based on findings from peer-reviewed scientific studies that identify specific factors
that cause us to develop degenerative disease. These studies suggest that
the consumption of certain foods, food extracts, hormones, or drugs will help
to prevent common diseases that are associated with normal aging.
One of the most compelling reports that high-potency supplements extend
lifespan in humans was by Losonczy et al. in the August 1996 issue of the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This study involved 11,178 elderly
people, who participated in a trial to establish the effects of vitamin
supplements on mortality. The study showed that the use of vitamin E
reduced the risk of death from all causes by 34%. Effects were strongest for coronary artery disease, where vitamin E resulted in a 63% reduction in death from heart attack. In addition, the use of vitamin E resulted in a 59% reduction in cancer mortality. When the effects of vitamins C and E were combined, overall mortality was reduced by 42% (compared to 34% for vitamin E alone) (Losonczy et al. 1996). These results provided significant evidence about the value of vitamin supplementation, yet the media failed to report on it. What made this study so credible was that it compared people who took low-potency "one-a-day" multiple vitamins to those who took higher-potency vitamins C and E supplements.
It lasted 9 years! Most studies that attempt to evaluate the benefits of vitamin supplementation are for shorter time periods. It should be noted, however, that the famous Harvard Nurses' Health Study found that vitamin
E reduced coronary artery disease mortality by more than 40% after only 2 years!
It included 11,178 people, a larger group than most previous studies.
- - - - -
Health News for Men
Vitamin E boosts lycopene’s inhibition of prostate tumor growth.
A Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics sponsored bythe European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Association for Cancer Research held in Geneva was the site of a presentation on September 30 2004 by Dr. Jacqueline Limpens of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, Netherlands which confirmed the inhibitory effect of lycopene on prostate tumors and revealed that vitamin E may enhance that effect.
Lycopene is a carotenoid found in tomatoes and other fruits. Epidemiologic
studies have established an inverse association between lycopene intake and prostate cancer risk. The current study involved mice in who received human prostate tumor implants. The animal were divided into groups who received one of the following regimens: low dose synthetic lycopene, high dose synthetic lycopene, low dose synthetic vitamin E, high dose synthetic vitamin E, low dose synthetic lycopene plus vitamin E, or a placebo.
Dr Limpens explained the results: "We found that low dose lycopene suppressed the growth of the human prostate tumors by over half (at day 42 of the study), extending the tumor doubling time accordingly, while all other single treatments had no significant effect. However, the combination of low-dose lycopene and vitamin E produced the greatest tumor inhibition – 73%. Importantly, we also saw that the doubling time of PSA values matched the tumor responses in all the experimental groups. This means that we can use PSA values as a surrogate marker in short phase II/III human trials as it is clear that PSA values are accurately reflecting the inhibiting activity of the lycopene and vitamin E on tumor growth.
Of interest was the finding that a low dose of both nutrients provided a greater benefit than a high dose of lycopene or vitamin E alone. Dr. Limpens recommended, "Regular consumption of supplements and fortified foods may help to obtain adequate amounts of lycopene and vitamin E, which may otherwise be difficult to obtain while maintaining a balanced diet."
Men over 50 should discuss this issue with Dr. Volpe and Dr DiSanto to insure the appropriate protective measures are in place.
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