ICIM Blog

From AMSA/Stephen Feig

Lowering Blood Cholesterol With Fish Oil And Red Yeast Rice Instead Of Statins

— A great deal of scientific evidence shows that cholesterol-reducing medications known as statins can help prevent coronary artery disease. Although the safety of these medications has been well documented, as many as 40 percent of patients who receive a prescription for statins take the drug for less than one year.

Doctors believe that several factors -- including cost, adverse effects, poor understanding of statin benefits and patients' reluctance to take prescription medications long term -- may explain why some patients stop taking these medicines. In the July issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, a group of researchers from Pennsylvania examine whether an alternative approach to treating high blood cholesterol may provide an effective treatment option for patients who are unable or unwilling to take statins.

Study design
Researchers followed 74 patients with high blood cholesterol who met standard criteria for using statin therapy. Patients were randomly assigned to either the alternative treatment group or the statin group and followed for three months.
The alternative treatment group participants received daily fish oil and red yeast rice supplements, and they were enrolled in a 12-week multidisciplinary lifestyle program that involved weekly 3.5-hour educational meetings led by a cardiologist, dietitian, exercise physiologist and several alternative or relaxation practitioners. Red yeast rice is the product of yeast grown on rice. A dietary staple in some Asian countries, it contains several compounds known to inhibit cholesterol production.

The statin group participants received 40 milligrams (mg) of Zocor (simvastatin) daily, as well as printed materials about diet and exercise recommendations. At the end of the three-month period, participants from both groups underwent blood cholesterol testing to determine the percentage change in LDL cholesterol.

Results
The researchers noted that there was a reduction in LDL cholesterol levels in both groups. The alternative treatment group experienced a 42.4 percent reduction, and the statin group experienced a 39.6 percent reduction. Members of the alternative therapy group also had a substantial reduction in triglycerides, another form of fat found in the blood, and lost more weight.

"Our study was designed to test a comprehensive and holistic approach to lipid lowering," notes the study's lead author, David Becker, M.D., a Chestnut Hill Hospital and University of Pennsylvania Health System cardiologist. "These results are intriguing and show a potential benefit of an alternative, or naturopathic, approach to a common medical condition."
Dr. Becker acknowledges that a larger, multicenter trial with longer follow-up is necessary to determine long-term compliance with the alternative regimen, because previous studies involving diet and exercise have found a high rate of patients unable or unwilling to follow lifestyle recommendations. There seems to be poor compliance with pharmaceutical medications as well.

"The excellent adherence in the alternative group was undoubtedly related to the intensive follow-up, education and support provided for this group," says Dr. Becker.

Other authors of this article include: Ram Gordon, M.D., Patti Morris, and Jacqueline Yorko, M.Ed., from Chestnut Hill Hospital and the University of Pennsylvania Health System; Y. Jerold Gordon, M.D., from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Mingyao Li, Ph.D., from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; and Nayyar Iqbal, M.D., from the Philadelphia VA Medical Center/University of Pennsylvania.

A message from a new ICIM member in Portugal

I thank you very much for ICIM Documentation received and your kind words.
I wish all, health and fortune to ICIM Board and Members, that travel in their efforts to help a better World, knowing in the field the problems and trying to support solutions without further interest.
Brain contact with desease, pain and "Allien" thoughts, keep us in the way that make us walking, or travelling in the wind. Philosophy, Music, and Research knowledge as a time, but the time of our own exists also and more, in the silence, in the darkness, and in the steps to meet a smille and a real friend that touch us across the distance, or in daily life. Time to make a diference when someone is dying, or in a hand in front of us.
Time to thank you for our meeting.
Time to wonder that it's good to keep working.
Timelife, simple as we all,

Deep consideration
From your friend and simple man

Rui Ribeiro PhD, ND, DO

Submitted by Ted Rozema, MD

TIME TO TALK ABOUT CAM:
Health Care Providers and Patients Need To Ask and Tell

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM),
part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has launched Time to Talk,
an educational campaign to encourage patients -- particularly those age 50
or older -- and their health care providers to openly discuss the use of
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). CAM is a group of diverse
medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not
presently considered to be part of conventional medicine, such as herbal
supplements, meditation, naturopathy, and acupuncture.

According to a national consumer survey conducted by NCCAM and AARP,
almost two-thirds of people age 50 or older are using some form of CAM, yet
less than one-third of these CAM users talk about it with their providers.
The NCCAM/AARP survey revealed some reasons why this doctor-patient
dialogue about CAM does not occur. The most common reasons survey
respondents cited were

-- That the physician never asked
-- They did not know they should discuss CAM
-- There was not enough time during the office visit.

More than one-half of respondents who had talked about CAM with their
physician said they (not their physician) initiated the CAM discussion. The
telephone survey was administered to a nationally representative group of
1,559 people age 50 or older.

"In an era of genomics and personalized medicine, we need to remember
that a key ingredient to good health care is the dialogue you, as a
patient, have with your providers," said Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., NIH
Director. "And talking about what CAM therapies you use is an important
part of that discussion. This is important for people of all ages."

The Time to Talk campaign is aimed at addressing the need for this
dialogue to help ensure safe, coordinated care among all conventional and
CAM therapies. Talking not only allows integrated care, it also minimizes
risks of interactions with a patient's conventional treatments. When
patients tell their providers about their CAM use, they can more
effectively manage their health. When providers ask their patients about
CAM use, they can ensure that they are fully informed and can help patients
make wise health care decisions.

"As frequent users of CAM, people 50 and older need to understand the
importance of discussing CAM use with their providers to ensure
coordinated, safe care. Simply put, it's time to talk," said Josephine P.
Briggs, M.D., NCCAM Director. "Giving your health care providers a full
picture of what you do to manage your health helps you stay in control."

NCCAM's Time to Talk campaign encourages patients to tell their providers
about CAM use and providers to ask about it by offering tools and resources
-- such as wallet cards, posters, and tip sheets -- all of which are
available for free on the NCCAM Web site or can be ordered
from NCCAM's information Clearinghouse (1-888-644-6226). NCCAM is reaching
out to professional associations and consumer organizations to help educate
their members about the importance of this dialogue and the availability of
NCCAM's campaign materials. As the Federal government's lead agency for
scientific research on CAM, NCCAM is committed to educating both consumers
and health care providers about the importance of discussing CAM and
providing evidence-based information to help with health care decision
making.

PATIENT TIPS FOR DISCUSSING CAM WITH PROVIDERS

-- When completing patient history forms, be sure to include all
therapies and treatments you use. Make a list in advance.
-- Tell your health care providers about all therapies or treatments --
including over-the-counter and prescription medicines, as well as herbal
and dietary supplements.
-- Take control. Don't wait for your providers to ask about your CAM use.
-- If you are considering a new CAM therapy, ask your health care
providers about its safety, effectiveness, and possible interactions with
medicines (both prescription and over-the-counter).

PROVIDER TIPS FOR DISCUSSING CAM WITH PATIENTS

-- Include a question about CAM use on medical history forms.
-- Ask your patients to bring a list of all therapies they use, including
prescription, over-the-counter, herbal therapies, and other CAM practices.
-- Have your medical staff initiate the conversation.

For more information on Time to Talk, to order or download materials, or
read the full NCCAM/AARP report on CAM use communication

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's mission
is to explore complementary and alternative medical practices in the
context of rigorous science, train CAM researchers, and disseminate
authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional
information, call NCCAM's Clearinghouse toll-free at 1-888-644-6226.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research
Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency
for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical
research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both
common and rare diseases.

Submitted by Gary Coller MD:

"This is the most amazing trailer for a movie coming out that I have
ever seen. It is worthwhile for every one of your patients,friends, clients and family to see." -Mara

http://www.foodmatters.tv/trailer.php

Here's one good reason to attend our "Getting Well With Food and Nutrition" conference in Pittsburgh!

Submitted by Michael Ryser:

Everyone, look at this trailer for a new Lyme disease movie.

http://www.underourskin.com/