Researchers publishing in the June 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that those with higher levels of vitamin B6 and the essential amino acid methionine that is found in most protein had a lower risk of lung cancer including current or former smokers. The study analyzed blood samples from 385,747 participants between 1992 and 2000 and by 2006, 899 lung cancer cases were identified. These were matched by country, sex, date of birth, and date of blood collection with 1,770 control participants.
After analyzing the incidence rate of lung cancer within the total cohort, the researchers found a lower risk of lung cancer among those with higher levels of vitamin B6 (comparing the fourth vs first quartile of B6 levels) and also with higher levels of methionine. These same results were seen in those who were never, former or current smokers. The researchers concluded “results suggest that above median serum measures of both B6 and methionine, assessed on average 5 years prior to disease onset, are associated with a reduction of at least 50 percent on the risk of developing lung cancer. An additional association for serum levels of folate was present that when combined with B6 and methionine, was associated with a two-thirds lower risk of lung cancer.”

A current study carried out at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota concluded that those with inadequate levels of vitamin D used higher amounts of pain medication. In the study researchers retrospectively studied 267 chronic pain patients who were admitted to the Pain Rehabilitation Center between February and December 2006.The vitamin D level of the subjects was measured at the time of admission and compared with other indicators such as the amount and duration of narcotic pain medication usage; self-reported levels of pain, emotional distress, physical functioning and health perception; and demographic data such as gender, age, diagnosis and body mass index. Results showed that patients with inadequate levels of vitamin D were taking much higher doses of pain medication that was nearly twice as much as those with adequate levels of vitamin D. In addition, this group self reported worst physical functioning, and worse overall health perception. The researchers concluded that further research should document the effects of correcting deficient levels among these individuals.

Dr Jacob Teitelbaum (left) and Dr David Russell were interviewed by Dr Carl O. Helvie on the Holistic Health Show last night. Dr Teitelbaum, a Board Certified Internist and Medical Director of a National Chain of Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers (www.fibroandfatigue.com)suffered from and overcome these diseases. He is senior author of landmark studies in these areas and author of the best seller From Fatigue to Fantasy and also author of additional books mentioned earlier on this website. More information is available on www.Vitality101.com

My second guest, Dr Davids Russell, holds a doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and is competing another Doctorate of Divinity and is the Founder and Director of the non-profit organization Caritas Traditionalis whose goal is to create a self-sustainable medical presence in economically depressed communities. He has studied classical medicine around the world including Europe, Nepal and the Middle East. More information can be found on an earlier blog here.

Their interviews follow. I hope they are informative for you.

A research study in a recent issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry reported that Calcitrol, an active form of Vitamin D, was found to induce a tumor suppressing protein that could inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. In the study at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, the researchers built upon previous research that concluded that increased serum levels of Vitamin D were associated with an improved prognosis in breast cancer patients. This study looked at the factors that determine the effect of calcitrol on inhibiting breast cancer growth and looked specifically at the protein involved in this process. They concluded that the results provide an important process in which vitamin D may work to reduce the growth of the breast cancer cells and form a basis for a design of new anticancer agents that can target the protein.

Dr Rubio is Medical Director of the Rubio Cancer Center and his biography was presented earlier. More information is available at www.rubiocancercenter.com Dr Rubio discusses his use of immunotherapy and other alternative therapies in successfully treating various types of cancer.

Dr Perlman is Director of Integrative Medicine at St Barnabas Health Care System and Medical Director of the Carol and Morton Siegler Center for Integrative Medicine in Livingston, New Jersey. His biography was presented previously. He discusses the integrated approach to cancer treatment that is used at St Barnabas and that is a model of care combining traditional and altenative therapies.

Ms Carolyn Gross was diagnoses with stage 3 breast cancer in 2003 and was treated successfully by Dr Rubio with immunotherapy and alternative therapies. Her biography was presented earlier and she will talk about her treatments.

The interview follows and is also on iTunes. If you wish to have this mailed to you, please sign up on another page on this site.

The drug industry has also been known to work with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) of the Federal Government to try to take natural food supplements that have proven successful and that they can make money from and make them drugs. This deprives the American public of these health substances or at the least costs them more money in order to put money in the pockets of the drug industry.

One current example is Vitamin B-6 which has been demonstrated by research to be effective and safe against the following conditions: skin wrinkling; atherosclerosis, chronic inflammation, cataract formation, kidney failure, diabetes complications, and Alzheimers disease among others. Pyridoxamine the natural form of Vitamin B-6 is the safest form of Vitamin B-6 and is found naturally in small amounts in foods such as fish, chicken, walnuts, carrots, eggs, and others. Now the FDA seems to have caved in to the Drug Industry by accepting their petitioned to investigate this natural food and food supplement and consider making it a new drug. Without pressure from the public this may become a drug and cost the public far more than it does currently. It may also be restricted to certain uses and require a prescription. .Thus, from what I read it seems to this author that instead of protecting the public health and welfare the FDA is protecting the profits of the Drug Industry. There is something you can do. Go to www.lef.org/pyridoxamine for a full discussion of the actions taken to date and what you can do to protect the interests of the public.

You may wonder why I am writing about this topic. However, if you look at my definition of Holistic Health on my website you will see that I define it as physical, mental, and spiritual health; relationships; the environment; and political action. Working with all of these concepts is necessary to protect your health. Political action is as important as other concepts identified because political groups are involved in most major decisions about health and health care and all of their decisions affect you. So I ask you to take action today and be involved.