Important note: Information in this article was accurate in April 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. I'm back! And with a jam-packed article! I've enjoyed your many e-mail messages and here are some of the answers to your questions:
Cetyl myristoleate is an ester of fatty acid. Fatty acids are the individual components of oils in the same way that amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as linotenic acid and linoleic acid, are crucial to life and are called essential fatty acids (EFAs). Research shows that cetyl myristoleate appears to have the same beneficial characteristics as the EFAs; however, it is stronger and the benefits are longer lasting.
EFAs are essential to normal cell structure, physiological processes, body function, and function as components to nerve cells and cell membranes. EFAs are depleted in chronic inflammatory diseases and their deficiency is associated with many autoimmune diseases. EFAs when used over an extended period of time have been shown to decrease pain, inflammation, and motion limitations of arthritis. Cetyl myristoleate offers the same benefits in about a month instead of extended periods of time, which may be years.
If we take a fatty acid, myristoleic acid, and combine it with a long-chain alcohol molecule, cetyl alcohol, we have created an ester of this fatty acid called cetyl myristoleate. Both of these molecules occur in nature.
Cetyl alcohol was first derived from the oil of the sperm whale (don't go there!) but now is obtained from palmitic acid (a saturated fatty acid) found in coconut and palm oils. Myristoleic acid is found in the oil glands of beavers, the oil of the sperm whale again, and in certain vegetables and nuts. Both of these products were used in the cosmetic industry because of their ability to act as lubricants. One of the mechanisms of cetyl myristoleate is as a super lubricant (surfactant), a kind of WD-40 for the joints. A surfactant not only has a dissolving or thinning action, it also makes other products easier to absorb. It lubricates the entire body, making muscles glide more smoothly over other muscles, bursas, and bones and at the same time softens these tissues, making them more pliable.
Secondly, it functions as an immune system modulator. This is the reason it has been found to be so effective in treating auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and multiple sclerosis. (I don't have any information on its effects on AIDS.) Thirdly, it functions like a fatty acid in that it mediates inflammatory processes. When cooled, cetyl myristoleate is a waxy substance and, at room temperature, has a buttery consistency. It is used to lessen the effects of rheumatoid, regular, and osteoarthritis.
Shaman's Normal Stool Formula has been a good alternative to Immodium or Metamucil. Keith Henry, MD, of the University of Minnesota School of Medicine did a study with this product, and said that "I had good results with this product but the company decided it would not be granted FDA approval, so the product is available as a natural product and is somewhat pricey and not covered by insurance. Other pills that have been effective in some patients include oat bran tablets, Fibrocon, and Os-cal tablets." Nicely said, Dr. Henry! See also next question.
Turmeric, the East Indian spice used to dye clothing and give curry its characteristic golden color, contains a powerful antioxidant called curcumin -- a compound scientists say scavenges cancer-causing chemicals and prevents them from binding to healthy cells. Recent studies confirm that curcumin can shrink tumors; inhibit skin, mouth and breast cancers; kill parasites, bacteria and fungus; protect liver cells and the stomach lining; and reduce the inflammation and pain of rheumatoid arthritis, bruises, wounds and insect bites. In India, turmeric has traditionally been used not only as an aromatic agent to improve digestion and appetite, but also, as an all around "cleanser" and antibiotic for brushing teeth, clearing nasal passages, ears and eyes, and purifying the blood. The herb also can help regulate menstrual flow and prevent PMS, activate liver function, reduce blood sugar in diabetics, prevent and dissolve gallstones and lower elevated cholesterol. Indian herbalists' advice: "Let your spice rack be your medicine chest." It is a root, which comes in whole, cut or powdered root forms, capsules, tablets, and liquid extract. Its uses also include (internal) stomach and intestinal disorders, diarrhea, appetite loss, gallstones, menstrual irregularities, liver disorders and as an anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor (external), bruises, infected wounds, sore eyes, inflammatory skin conditions, and leech bites. Dosing: 2 to 3 grams powder or 1 teaspoon (prepared as tea or with food), 1 to 2 capsules/tablets (standardized to 400 to 500 mg), or 15 drops liquid extract -- twice or three times daily. Monthly cost: $1-$3 (powder); $8-$30 (capsules); $7-$12 (liquid extract.) Caution: Should not be used by people with bleeding disorders, colitis, stomach ulcers or obstructed bile ducts. Those who have gallstones or serious illnesses should be supervised by a physician.
Well, if you wake up several times a night to snack but rarely eat during the day, you may be suffering from Night Eating Syndrome (NES). Unlike other eating disorders, NES may be caused by a hormonal problem, according to researcher Grethe Stoa Birketvedt, MD, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "Night eaters do not have the usual nocturnal rise in melatonin, which helps us sleep," she says. The urge to munch may come from lower nighttime secretions of leptin, a hormone believed to suppress appetite. NES may affect up to 0.5% of the population, men and women. If you suspect you have NES, Dr. Birketvedt advises you take 0.2 mg of melatonin half an hour before bedtime.
Product quality and formulation are generally more important to supplement effectiveness than whether the vitamins used in the product are natural or synthetic, although my personal belief is that if you are going to pay for a supplement, why not buy one that works for your individual needs, in the way that nature produced it. Some vitamins, such as vitamin E, are significantly more bioavailable in the whole-food based form than the synthetic form. For most other vitamins, the synthetic molecule is identical to the one our bodies would extract from food, whether natural or synthetic. All vitamins used in supplements must be made with the molecular structure of vitamins described in the US Pharmaceutical Guide. But I don't know whether the synthetic vitamin is metabolised any more or less than the natural. And you could ask five different people their opinion on this subject and get five different answers, so the debate continues.
Minerals, on the other hand, are natural in form. They exist in nature only as inorganic complexes. Thus, the form the mineral takes in manufacturing is the important issue. Some "quality" guidelines to look for when you make product choices:
Hopefully this will give you a better idea of what to look for when selecting a supplement. For a list of the top ten brands that I recommend, send e-mail, call, or write to me at the Being Alive office in LA.
Wow! We're already out of room, so I'll have to stop for now. Keep your e-mail messages coming with your nutritional questions and I will answer as many of them as I can in this column.
Until then, stay healthy, eat healthy, and stay connected!
Cary Alexander, M.A., is a Nutritional/Fitness Consultant with over 13 years in the HIV/AIDS community. He has gladly volunteered his services to our organization since 1999. His article is in no way meant to be a cure, diagnosis, prognosis or treatment for HIV/AIDS or any other medical condition, but is purely for informational and educational purposes. You should always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before modifying your diet or food intake. He can be reached via e-mail at caryalx@surfbest.net, or at 818.985.8856. Or write to him at 11136 Acama St., #305, North Hollywood, CA 91602. He can also be reached through the Being Alive office: 310.289.2551 or e-mail banewsletter@aol.com
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