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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / May 2005

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Post-Op and Pathology

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OCL - 07 May 2005 01:40 GMT
Sorry this is so long, but it's a one-time (hopefully post) and some of this
might be helpful for someone about to have Robotic Laparoscopy who wonders
what one person - me - experienced the week after surgery.  I had Robotic
Laparoscopy last Thursday, 4/28/2005.  Post-op today to remove catheter and
get pathology report. Except for the cancer cell found in an area around the
apex there was no capsular penetration, no seminal vesicle involvement, and
no lymph node involvement. The cancer cell that was found could have been
pulled out of the prostate as it was cut away. It was in an area where
prostate tissue and striated muscle mix together and there are no clear
capsular defining lines.  The surgeon examined the path slides himself and
is confident it was within the prostate.  Everywhere else the cancer cells
were 2 or 3 layers of healthy cells beneath the capsule surface. I had much
more cancer in the lobes of the prostate than the biopsy showed. I had
extensive cancer in both. That is why I had such a high PSA count even
though my prostate was small. It was small, but with a lot of cancer in it
including some developed Stage 4 tumors. My last PSA prior to surgery was
three weeks after my biopsy and had actually fallen from 15.3 to 12.1. So it
was down 3.2 from the first one. Surgeon thought that was really interesting
and quite surprising.  He had expected it to be much higher so soon after
the biopsy.  But, when I got my biopsy report on 3/30/2005 I went on a no
animal products, no cholesterol diet and began taking a carefully selected,
well-researched set of supplements.  My cholesterol fell from 221 to 168 in
the three weeks after that change.

Surgical pathology report says that I have a Gleason Grade of 4+3 upgraded
from 3+3. I had a 2.2 cm tumor. I am at pathological stage T2-c (confined in
both lobes). On the Sloan-Kettering Nomogram I end up:

2 Yr Progression-Free Probability 98 percent
5 Yr Progression-Free Probability 95 percent
7 Yr Progression-Free Probability 94 percent

If that one cell whose homebase is questionable was in the Margin after all
then there is a slight shift:

2 Yr Progression-Free Probability 93 percent
5 Yr Progression-Free Probability 84 percent
7 Yr Progression-Free Probability 81 percent

My surgeon wants to take a PSA in 3 months. See what it is. It may not be
down to 0 yet, but it should be way down. Probably that PSA isn't sufficient
to make a decision about radiation, but if the PSA rises above 1.0 for sure
then he recommends radiating the prostate bed immediately.

As to incontinence. So far, so good. He put four ounces of water in my
bladder through the catheter to "leak-test" me. Removed the catheter (no big
deal at all). Had me stand up holding a towel on my front covering my penis.
Then handed me a cup and asked me to pee in it. I peed a little bit, but
stopped. He said most people lose it all right away and as it's coming out
he asks them to try and stop it. I told him that I couldn't pee more because
I just didn't feel like I had an urge to pee. He thought that was all good.
So we drove home and I went to the bathroom and my liner was dry. Sat down
in the bathroom and peed. I could easily stop it at will. I peed a little
more and that was that. Got up a bit ago and peed again on my own and was
able to start and stop the stream.

I asked about exercise and he said no weight training that would strain any
of the surgical area for a month, but easy swimming, recumbent biking slowly
and hot tub is ok in four days if I am still peeing okay. Activities: No
real limits other than to not strain or overdo anything and to listen for
pain. Diet - nothing special.

Fred

----------------
PSA 15.3 2/21/2005 @ 52 years of age
Biopsy 3/23/2005 G6 (3+3), T1c
PSA 12.1 4/22/2005
RLRP 4/28/2005 G7 (4+3), T2cN0M0 Neg margins
Alan Meyer - 07 May 2005 04:50 GMT
An interesting report Fred.  It sounds like your surgeon must
have been a real artist to leave you dry and functional so quickly
after surgery.

I was particularly interested in your falling PSA and cholesterol.
Can you tell us what supplements you are taking and why?

I used to think the case for over the counter supplements was
very weak but your the second person who has reported a
drop in PSA in the last couple of months after taking supplements.
I myself had a significant drop (1.8 to .5) after adding lycopene
and gamma Vitamin E to my diet, but it's impossible to say
whether the supplements were involved, or whether the
1.8 was a post radiation bounce that would have come
down just as fast and far without them.

These anecdotal stories about PSA drop after taking
supplements do not constitute scientific data.  A number
of different factors can cause a PSA drop and my doctor
told me that PSA can vary up to 30% in 24 hours due
entirely to the presence or absence of local factors like
ejaculation or other prostate stress.  Nevertheless, when
you find supplements that are cheap, not harmful and
may help, even weak evidence for them may be worth
pursuing.

   Alan
OCL - 07 May 2005 05:56 GMT
> An interesting report Fred.  It sounds like your surgeon must
> have been a real artist to leave you dry and functional so quickly
> after surgery.

Alan: He also completed a residency in urological reconstuctive
surgery so I suspect he's got a little edge maybe over the regular
urologist in that area.  Although from his description it sounds
like it has a lot to do with the patient as well - the unique anatomy
of the urethra and bladder and prostate connections, etc.  But,
I am amazed.  I was all prepared for incontinence - at least some.
But I have had the catheter out for 11 hours now and have gone
to the bathroom and peed four times.  Twice standing! :-)  It
takes some effort to stop the stream, but I can do it and hold it.
So looks like that will be okay.

> I was particularly interested in your falling PSA and cholesterol.
> Can you tell us what supplements you are taking and why?

I started my research at:
   http://www.grouppekurosawa.com/

I recommend reading through:
   http://www.drmyattswellnessclub.com/prostatecancer.htm

Here is what I have been taking and am continuing to take and
one or two websites for each that I think summarizes fairly well
the reasons I am taking it.  I chose only one or two sites
to avoid overload.  But, after making my list I went to the
National Cancer Institute:
   http://researchportfolio.cancer.gov/

Here I searched for research studies being done with these
supplements and I found that almost all of them are involved
in some studies related to prostate cancer or cancer in
general.  So, for example, using their search engine I found
four currently funded research studied using Green Tea
for cancer treatment.  Here is one example:
   http://researchportfolio.cancer.gov/cgi-bin/abstract.pl?SID=373021&ProjectID=46065

I performed this kind of study and analysis of each of the
supplements I considered.  I rejected any that had any
indication of some kind of interactions or that had any
evidence of toxic or hurtful side effects.  So I took all
of this stuff and still am and I don't notice a thing when
I take it all.

Green Tea Extract - 300 mg twice times a day (standardized to a minimum of
80 percent polyphenols)
   http://www.prostate-cancer.org/education/nutrprod/greentea.html
Paw-Paw Extract - 25 mg twice a day
   http://www.trueoptionhealth.com/pawpaw.html
Quercetin - 500 mg four times a day
   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/03/010327081312.htm
Milk thistle - 350 mg twice a day (standardized to 80 percent Sylimarin)
   http://www.herbalfields.com/c23.html
Turmeric - 450 mg twice a day (standardized to 95 percent circuminoids)
   http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Turmericch.html
   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9
489587&dopt=Abstract

Vitamin D3 - 700 mg twice a day
   http://www.lef.org/prod_hp/abstracts/php-ab424.html
   http://www.psa-rising.com/med/zemplarvitdwakef082003.shtm
Lycopene - 10 mg twice a day
Selenium- 200 mg in the morning
Zinc - 50 mg once a day
Saw Palmetto - 320 mg twice a day
Magnesium - 250 mg twice a day
Calcium Citrate - 315 mg twice a day
Melatonin - 30 mg every night
   http://www.drmirkin.com/archive/7210.html
   http://www.prostatecancerdeception.com/prostate-cancer-sleep.html
   http://www.icon.co.za/~edibo/melatonin.htm
Lovastatin -10 mg every night
   http://www.ohsu.edu/news/2004/060704cholLowering.html

> I used to think the case for over the counter supplements was
> very weak but your the second person who has reported a
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> 1.8 was a post radiation bounce that would have come
> down just as fast and far without them.

Right.  I hear you.  My original PSA was 15.3.  Well, I had
sex the night before, had gone to the gym and put some
miles on the recumbent bike, and an hour before my blood
draw had a DRE in my annual physical.  I should have
waited.  Did that combination of stuff nudge my PSA up?
Maybe?  Did the stuff I started taking lower my PSA?
Maybe?  It didn't cost me a lot.  I was a wise shopper.
All of this stuff doesn't cost all that much.  I mail ordered
the Paw Paw from the manufacturer and got enough for
two months for something like $49 or so.  I gulped to
spend it, but then thought - "Hey, what's my life worth?"

> These anecdotal stories about PSA drop after taking
> supplements do not constitute scientific data.  A number
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> may help, even weak evidence for them may be worth
> pursuing.

Alan, of the things that I am taking the most cost effective
in my opinion based on all the research I have done is
Green Tea Extract, Paw Paw Extract, Milk Thistle and
Melatonin.  If I had to take just two it would be the Green
Tea and the Melatonin.

Best wishes,

Fred
OCL - 07 May 2005 06:00 GMT
I should have added that I was looking for supplements that "kill" cancer or
slow its growth and not just stuff to prevent it.  But my focus was on stuff
that kills the cancer cells in some way.

I should add that before this I have not been the kind of person who is into
natural or organic foods or taking stuff like this.  Not at all.

And I have no financial interest in any of it either!!!!

Fred
Alan Meyer - 07 May 2005 15:10 GMT
>I should have added that I was looking for supplements that "kill" cancer or slow its
>growth and not just stuff to prevent it.  But my focus was on stuff that kills the cancer
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Fred

Fred,

Thanks for the info.  I will read all of it.

   Alan
ron - 08 May 2005 01:36 GMT
OCL wrote...snip...
> Zinc - 50 mg once a day

Hi Fred...This one caught my eye.  Have you found a reference to zinc
helping fight PCa?  I've only seen negative things about zinc and
PCa...Best wishes and good health, Ron

Natl Cancer Inst 2003 Jul 2;95(13):1004-7

Zinc supplement use and risk of prostate cancer.

Leitzmann MF, Stampfer MJ, Wu K, Colditz GA, Willett WC, Giovannucci EL
M. F. Leitzmann, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National
Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health
and Human Services, Bethesda, MD.

The high concentration of zinc in the prostate suggests that zinc may
play a role in prostate health. We examined the association between
supplemental zinc intake and prostate cancer risk among 46 974 U.S. men
participating in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. During 14
years of follow-up from 1986 through 2000, 2901 new cases of prostate
cancer were ascertained, of which 434 cases were diagnosed as advanced
cancer. Supplemental zinc intake at doses of up to 100 mg/day was not
associated with prostate cancer risk. However, compared with nonusers,
men who consumed more than 100 mg/day of supplemental zinc had a
relative risk of advanced prostate cancer of 2.29 (95% confidence
interval = 1.06 to 4.95; P(trend) =.003), and men who took supplemental
zinc for 10 or more years had a relative risk of 2.37 (95% confidence
interval = 1.42 to 3.95; P(trend)<.001). Although we cannot rule out
residual confounding by supplemental calcium intake or some unmeasured
correlate of zinc supplement use, our findings, that chronic zinc
oversupply may play a role in prostate carcinogenesis, warrant further
investigation
OCL - 08 May 2005 01:51 GMT
Hii Ron,

I started taking the 200 mg of zinc when I increased my calcium citrate
intake.  Even calcium intake is somewhat controversial.  But, my
urologist felt that with my added calcium that the zinc would not be
harmful.  It is certainly one of the supplements that I was least committed
to taking.

Fred

> OCL wrote...snip...
>> Zinc - 50 mg once a day
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
> oversupply may play a role in prostate carcinogenesis, warrant further
> investigation
Steve U - 07 May 2005 18:45 GMT
Fred.
Glad to hear about your great results.May your recovery continue to be
quick.
Steve U
Bob Anthony - 07 May 2005 23:09 GMT
Very informative and interesting post! I too had robotic surgery on
12/14/04 and was dry from day 1. I am very interested in you post on the
supplements. I will read them carefully. I too am now taking
oxidants/vitamins as well as green tea extract. I worked out most of my
life, kept my weight down, and was generally athletic and overall very
healthy. I took supplements, but I too was not much of a big pill
popper, just multiple vitamins and minerals and tried to eat right most
of the time.  I also was diagnosed with PC at 52! Go figure. Good luck
and all the best with your recovery.

Stats:
PSA 7.6 @ 52 years of age
Biopsy 8/04 G6 (3+3), T1c
RLRP 12/14/04 G7 (4+3), T2cN0M0
Neg margins
Organ contained
OCL - 08 May 2005 00:55 GMT
> Very informative and interesting post! I too had robotic surgery on
> 12/14/04 and was dry from day 1. I am very interested in you post on the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> time.  I also was diagnosed with PC at 52! Go figure. Good luck and all
> the best with your recovery.

Bob: Yes, we sound like we have some similar history. A couple
of thoughts about supplements - one is that I learned that there
are some antioxidants that are great to take to prevent cancer,
but some of them actually help protect cancer cells from radiation
for example or some that will counteract the killing effect of other
supplements.  Vitamin E, for example, is a powerful antioxidant
and is widely touted for use in preventing cancer.  But, if you
are receiving radiation that same Vitamin E could help protect
the cancer cells from the effects of the radiation.  It could also
help protect the cancer cells from the possible killing effects of
something like Melatonin.  So, it's important to review each
supplement you are taking and ascertain if there is any indication
that what was helpful before you had cancer might not now be
as useful.

I didn't mention diet in my previous post, but I said before that
I changed my diet to no animal products and no cholesterol.
The elimination of animal products is simply to try and eliminate
foreign hormone sources.  I read one study suggesting that the
average American man over 60 now has more estrogen in his
body than the average woman.  While it is widely accepted
that testosterone feeds prostate cancer and one of the effective
therapies is to remove testosterone from the body, at the same
time there is another competing theory that it isn't the testosterone
that does it but the ratio of testosterone to estrogen and that
men may have too much estrogen.  There are other explanations
as well.  So, I decided to eliminate hormones and the best way
to do that for now was to not eat animal products.

Cholesterol effects are being studied and you can read one news
report of a study done in Boston at:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/acs/20050426/hl_acs/cholesterol_drugs_m
ay_slow_prostate_cancer


and

http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=146674&source=r_science

High cholesterol seems to inhibit cancer cell apoptosis or cell
death.

It really has not been hard to make this dietary change.  The
positive side is my cholesterol dropped from 221 to 168 in
three weeks.

Fred
-----------------------------------------
PSA 15.3 2/21/2005 @ 52 years of age
Biopsy 3/23/2005 G6 (3+3), T1c
PSA 12.1 4/22/2005
RLRP 4/28/2005 G7 (4+3), T2cN0M0 Neg margins
Bob Anthony - 08 May 2005 17:32 GMT
Hi Fred:

Thanks for the reply.
I am interested to mainly prevent a chance for a biochemical failure, as
well as maintain general health. My last PSA was 0.01. So far, so good
on that area. I am very interested on the killing effects of Green Tea
Extract, which I now take, as well as Melatonin, which I would like to
start on too. I take a supplement now which can be found at this link:

http://www.vitaminproshop.com/033984012066.html

I do not want to negate the effects of certain vitamins/anti-oxidants
with something like the positive effect of Melatonin on killing cancer
cells or visa versa. An example would be the high Vitamin E on my
present supplement dosage vs the Melatonin.

I've also read the book, as well as others on PC, by Dr. Glenn J.
Bubley, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Prostate Cancer" on the
supplement issue on Chapter 9.

Again, thanks for your reply!

        
OCL - 08 May 2005 19:49 GMT
> I am interested to mainly prevent a chance for a biochemical failure, as
> well as maintain general health. My last PSA was 0.01. So far, so good on
> that area. I am very interested on the killing effects of Green Tea
> Extract, which I now take, as well as Melatonin, which I would like to
> start on too.

Bob: What I found that I was doing as the weeks passed and I did more
and more research was that I was mentally, at least, focusing in on just
a very few supplements that I had more confidence in and that would
not interact in neagtive ways.

So what I am now doing even after my surgery is to take the Green
Tea Extract and Melatonin and I will finish up the Paw Paw extract
and the Milk Thistle that I have purchased, but not replace either of
them.  The Green Tea and Melatonin are what I would consider my
core anti-cancer supplements.  I'll continue taking my prescription
low-dose Lovastatin every night to help keep my cholesterol low
and stay on a low cholesterol diet (very low) with only organic
hormone free lean meat or non-farm raised fish occasionally.  I'll
increase my exercise as much as I am able.

Fred
I. P. Freely - 08 May 2005 20:53 GMT
This reminds me . . . weeks ago someone mentioned a supplement cocktail he
blended up and drank each day. It sounded like something only a pregnant
Klingon could enjoy! There IS a better way to take some of these
hypothetical boosters, as long as they're safe, whether beneficial or not;
it's called EATING. Sure, tumeric fits in a blender, but why not actually
ENJOY it? It's a prime seasoning in Indian (not native American . . . those
OTHER Indians) food, and is DELICIOUS on many dishes. Try it on just about
any chicken dish, for starters. Cinnamon is another theoretically PC-helpful
spice that goes well in many foods, such as Mexican dishes. Some tumeric-
and cinnamon- spiced dishes taste even better the next day, after flavors
blend better. And why blend cooked tomato products into a Fear Factor slurry
when marinara sauce is a Trifecta on so many foods: it tastes marvelous,
it's a good salt "substitute" (duh! . . . because it's full of salt), and
it's lycopene city. Slather it (and/or salsa) on everything from scrambled
eggs to chicken.

None of these things is proven to help PC, but a little extra flavor never
hurts anything, either, and if proof ever emerges that some of these rumors
are true, we'll be ahead of the game.

I.P.

>> I am interested to mainly prevent a chance for a biochemical failure, as
>> well as maintain general health. My last PSA was 0.01. So far, so good on
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Fred
OCL - 08 May 2005 21:28 GMT
> This reminds me . . . weeks ago someone mentioned a supplement cocktail he
> blended up and drank each day. It sounded like something only a pregnant
> Klingon could enjoy!

I.P.: Yes, thay might have been me.  Perhaps it would be
more enjoyable if I was a pregnant Klingon - I don't
know how the tastes of pregnant Klingon's run.  I prepare
some of my supplements by heating it in boiling coconut
milk and then when it cools I add others to it.  They are
the more fat soluble supplements that I take and they
solubilize more effectively in coconut milk and are
then ingested more easily and more of the helpful
ingredients enter into my blood and lymph systems.  If
once has Prostate Cancer then one would want to have
more of those possibly cancer-killing chemicals in the
lymphatic system, I would think.  Would you?

> There IS a better way to take some of these hypothetical boosters, as long
> as they're safe, whether beneficial or not; it's called EATING.

You and I are certainly entitled to our own opinions about
whether taking these supplements through eating is as effective
as taking them in more concentrated doses and in ways that
more of the biochemical agents bypass the body's natural
gateway called the liver.  You are probably familiar with the
First Pass Phenomenon and the problems it presents to
the pharmaceutical industry.  No matter what you eat, the
chemicals have to make it past the liver to be clinically
effective.  Most drugs, as you know, do not make it past
the stomach, intestines, liver and kidneys intact.  That is why
we take something like oral morphine in doses of 15 or 20
mg to achieve some pain relief, but can achieve similar benefit
from a few milligrams when injected into the blood or taken
via some transdermal method.

> Sure, tumeric fits in a blender, but why not actually ENJOY it?

The amount of turmeric needed to produce the effects of
the kinds of doses used in clinical research studies funded
by the National Cancer Institute would require you to eat
enough curry to choke a horse.  The same is true for most
other supplements being studied in medical school and
university settings.  I enjoy Green Tea, but I don't want to
drink a few dozen strong cups a day.  I would prefer to
take four tablets a day.

If you are aware of a food source of Melatonin so that I
can get my 30 mg a night, I would appreciate any tips
you can give me! :-)

> None of these things is proven to help PC, but a little extra flavor never
> hurts anything, either, and if proof ever emerges that some of these
> rumors are true, we'll be ahead of the game.

Right.  Few of these things have passed human double-blind
trials.  That is not to say that they have not been proven to
be effective in vitro or ineffective in principle.  That the
National Cancer Insititute is putting as much research
money into these  "Complementary" therapeutic modes
suggests that they quite promising.  In the meantime we
have anecdotal evidence or limited studies.  They certainly
do not meet any recognized standard of proof or of proven
truth.  But, I would prefer to take supplements that could
give me even the slightest edge in dealing with PCa.  Other
than government funded research it would, of course, be
unreasonable to expect drug companies to study something
like Green Tea or Melatonin as anti-cancer drugs.  Who
would make any money ?

You have made other choices, apparently.  I respect your choice.

Fred
I. P. Freely - 09 May 2005 01:09 GMT
I wasn't denigrating your path; I was merely trying to alert people to other
choices since so few people are willing to stick with such challenging
methods. Heck, the vast majority won't even give up their junk food and
spare ribs, let alone make special concoctions each day. Additionally, I
wasn't aware of most of the issues you point out, such as using cocoanut
milk as a Trojan horse to sneak fat-absorbed nutrients past the body's
absorption barriers. It makes sense, at least at a superficial level and
presuming your research has gotten past pseudoscience into real science.

Assuming the latter, what can you tell us about the widespread rumor that
adjusting our lymphatic system ph by consuming lots of calcium will kill
cancer cells? I've heard it from many lay sources, but have found nothing on
it so far in medical literature.

I.P.

>> This reminds me . . . weeks ago someone mentioned a supplement cocktail
>> he blended up and drank each day. It sounded like something only a
[quoted text clipped - 68 lines]
>
> Fred
ron - 09 May 2005 01:36 GMT
I. P. Freely wrote...snip...
> Heck, the vast majority won't even give up their junk food and
> spare ribs.

What! Spare ribs are junk food?..Ron
OCL - 09 May 2005 06:11 GMT
> Assuming the latter, what can you tell us about the widespread rumor that
> adjusting our lymphatic system ph by consuming lots of calcium will kill
> cancer cells? I've heard it from many lay sources, but have found nothing
> on it so far in medical literature.

I.P.

That's an easy one for me. I believe that the raising of body alkalinity
either in the blod or the lymph is quackery.  It denies the simple reality
that no matter what you eat or drink or how much calcium you consume
it is not going to alter your blood alkalinity.  Everything goes through
the stomach and the acidic stomach acids acidify everything that goes
in to approximately the same level.  The idea that you can eat or drink
or swallow anything that is going to turn you more alkaline has no
medical support that I am aware of.

Whenever people ask me about this I refer them to one of my favorite
websites and an article they have on this topic:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/coral2.html

and for anyone considering paying to have their saliva analyzed:

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Tests/reams.html

Fred
I. P. Freely - 09 May 2005 06:18 GMT
The people who praise ph changes for PC control emphasize that it's the
lymphatic system which must be altered. Quackwatch shoots down the whole
concept in one fell swoop. I had tried QW, but had failed to ask the right
question. Thanks.

I.P.
> I believe that the raising of body alkalinity
> either in the blod or the lymph is quackery.  It denies the simple reality
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/DSH/coral2.html
I. P. Freely - 08 May 2005 20:36 GMT
> I do not want to negate the effects of certain vitamins/anti-oxidants with
> something like the positive effect of Melatonin on killing cancer cells or
> visa versa. An example would be the high Vitamin E on my present
> supplement dosage vs the Melatonin.

Gotta watch that Vit E and balance its threats and benefits (if any). Each
new study condemns it further at ever-lower levels. Even the old "safe" 400
i.u. level is now contraidicated for the general public due to its
cardiovascular threat. Similarly, this entire antioxidant hypothesis takes a
new hit with most emerging studies.

I.P.
Bob Anthony - 09 May 2005 15:19 GMT
Hi I.P.

I was wondering when you'd get into the fray! I always welcome your
thoughts and find them very interesting.
I'm aware of the Vitamin E controversy. Am I correct that some studies
have used synthetic vitamin E instead of the d-alpha-tocopherol kind? I
know vitamin E rich foods contain alpha, beta, gamma, and delta
tocopherol as well as tocotrienols. I think that vitamin E in food is
70% d-gamma-tocopherol and studies suggest that gamma E has many
beneficial effects. D-alpha tocopherol wrongly became the most potent
form based on some rat studies performed decades ago. Supposedly, people
metabolize vitamin E differently, and benefit from all of these
different forms of the vitamin. But what do I know. I just try to read
and take in as much as I can understand and use to help myself in some way.

B.A.
I. P. Freely - 09 May 2005 15:50 GMT
You've already read, or at least digested and remember, more than I have on
Vit E. I rapidly forget the differences between the various forms of E.
There is as much confusion in the media about most supplements as there was
about Terri Schiavo, so I pay little attention beyond reading bottom lines
from sources I have some faith in, in the hopes of filtering out the ripples
and getting on with the rest of my life. I eat a LOT of food, so hope to get
most of my nutrients the way nature packs it, which seems to be quite
important to assimilation.

Glad you enjoy my ramblings. Maybe when I'm finally able to do little else
than sit here I'll have the time to condense them and refine their logic so
folks won't get so overwhelmed, bored, and/or confused by them.

I.P.

> Hi I.P.
>
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> B.A.
Bob Anthony - 09 May 2005 15:25 GMT
Fred:

Thanks for the reply. I'll try the Melotonin. I've read some of the
links that you've posted on it. What the heck, at the very least, it may
help me sleep better!

B.A.
OCL - 09 May 2005 16:27 GMT
> Fred:
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> B.A.

Bob: I was taking a small 3 mg dose of Melatonin every
night to help me sleep and to help curb what seemed to
be some seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which strikes
us folks sometimes who live in the grey, dreary northwest
of the US.  A small dose has been shown in clinical studies
at Oregon Health Science University to help with some of
the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.  I am
convinced that it simply helps produce more Vitamin D
and its successor hormones and that it enhances one's
feeling of physical well-being.  But, it also helped me
sleep.  It's used in sleep clinics as well.

I thought the 30 mg dose might knock me out, but it
really didn't. I didn't notice a thing.  But, then I was kind
of tired from having to deal with my cancer diagnosis and
all.

Best wishes to you!

Fred
 
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