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Posted by: admin | Posted on: July 28, 2025

DMSO for Respiratory Diseases — Research and Patient Reports on COPD, Asthma, and Lung Recovery

Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2025/07/25/dmso-respiratory-diseases-treatment.aspx

Analysis by A Midwestern Doctor July 25, 2025

Story at-a-glance

Chronic respiratory diseases remain profitable but poorly treated, subjecting patients to expensive healthcare, impaired stamina, and painful decline
DMSO is an “umbrella remedy” treating diverse ailments through therapeutic properties including reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and reviving dying cells
These properties uniquely address underlying causes of chronic respiratory diseases by reducing fibrosis and inflammation, restoring damaged organs, and improving circulation
DMSO addresses respiratory infections through antimicrobial activity, reduced lung inflammation, and potentiation of antimicrobial therapies
Extensive published data and user reports demonstrate DMSO’s remarkable results for asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and pneumonia, including cases in which transplant was no longer necessary due to significant organ recovery

Since childhood, I’ve known numerous smokers who had slow, agonizing deaths from COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). These deaths were often quite traumatic for their family and friends, particularly as patients became increasingly disabled from their loss of respiratory function.

Once I entered medicine, I saw the other half of this tragic story. I lost count of how many COPD patients were subjected to the same medical protocols — which they often couldn’t refuse because people will do anything to be able to breathe. They’d eventually get hospitalized for COPD exacerbations or pneumonia (common COPD complications), and before long, they’d enter a cycle of ever more frequent repeat hospitalizations until they died.

Note: Steroids are frequently used to manage COPD and slow lung destruction. However, steroids suppress the immune system, which coupled with the reduced respiratory turnover seen in COPD, makes patients much more vulnerable to pneumonia.

I later learned that the lungs concentrate a coating of glutathione (at levels 100 times that in other parts of the body¹) to protect them from damage and that restoring this coating with nebulized glutathione could (without side effects) prevent further progression of COPD. Numerous studies in turn showed this worked^2,3 particularly in COPD exacerbations⁴ and that in chronic lung diseases, the lung’s glutathione tends to be depleted.⁵

Unfortunately, this idea never caught on. Most of my conventional colleagues weren’t open to it, though I’ve come across many integrative doctors and naturopaths over the years who offer it for both COPD and chronic damage from wildfire inhalation.

To some extent, this resistance is predictable. Like many businesses, medicine revolves around recurring sales, and COPD is one of its core markets — patients are on medications for life and often need more as the disease progresses.

This helps explain why chronic diseases of the respiratory tract are the fourth most common cause of death in the United States, and in the US alone, 24 billion dollars was spent on COPD in 2023.⁶ This isn’t a market the medical industry will ever willingly give up, regardless of the suffering created.

Note: Asthma is in a similar situation. While not as fatal as COPD, it still makes over 40 billion a year (increasing at 4.4% annually).⁷ Despite all the money poured into it, asthma rates keep going up (e.g., in 1999, 9.1% of Americans had ever been diagnosed with asthma; by 2022, 44.2 million Americans had it).⁸

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The Power of Umbrella Remedies

In medicine, there are a few therapies (like ultraviolet blood irradiation) that can cure a wide range of diseases. We call these “umbrella therapies” because they address the root causes of many illnesses — things like poor circulation throughout the body, inflammation, and cells getting stuck in a state of shock where they stop functioning and eventually die.

DMSO safely does each of these and has repeatedly shown remarkable effectiveness for an incredibly diverse range of disorders:

Strokes, paralysis, neurological disorders (like Down syndrome and dementia), and circulatory disorders (Raynaud’s, varicose veins, hemorrhoids) — which I discussed here
Tissue injuries like sprains, concussions, burns, surgical incisions, and spinal cord injuries (discussed here)
Chronic pain from bad discs, bursitis, arthritis, or complex regional pain syndrome — covered here
Autoimmune conditions like scleroderma, amyloidosis, and interstitial cystitis (discussed here)
Head and neck problems: tinnitus, vision loss, dental issues, sinusitis (discussed here)
Internal organ diseases like pancreatitis, infertility, liver cirrhosis, and endometriosis (discussed here)
Skin conditions: burns, varicose veins, acne, hair loss, ulcers, skin cancer, autoimmune skin diseases (discussed here)
Challenging infections including chronic bacterial infections, herpes, and shingles (discussed here)
Many aspects of cancer treatment and symptoms (discussed here)

Additionally, DMSO has a unique ability to enhance the absorption of medications and natural therapies by facilitating their entry into the body, resulting in a myriad of beneficial therapeutic combinations (discussed here).

Because of this, I’ve now received over 3,000 reports⁹ from readers of life-changing benefits from using DMSO (which can be read here).

Real Stories from Real People

One thing that caught my eye in those testimonials was that numerous people shared how DMSO had either improved or reversed their incurable lung diseases, such as this man who overcame his incapacitating COPD.

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Daniel’s Story is not unique. For example:

“I am currently treating a 45 year old CF patient with DMSO and glutathione. She was in the beginning stages of getting worked up for lung transplant. We’ll have PFT’s from before treatment and updates every 3 months starting in August. 1 month in, she’s feeling like a teenager again, exercising and has been illness free for 4 weeks now, which is the longest period without antibiotics since she was in her 20’s.¹⁰

Okay, decades of smoking and drinking ruined my lungs — I knew it, but I was unable to stop at that point in my life. I’d had an operation to cut off some of the ruined parts of my lungs and that did not go well — Bullous Emphysema. Long story short, I was bedridden and on 4 liters of supplemental oxygen.

Trying to get upstairs in my home to shower was the biggest impediment. I was tremendously depressed and ready, (in my mind) to die. I tried nebulizing DMSO and now I can do household chores and light yardwork and my blood oxygen goes to 100%.¹¹

I was told I have emphysema in the upper part of my lungs. After 2 strokes due to a clogged left carotid, I purchased DMSO to apply on my scar — which diminished pretty quickly. I also rub it on my chest and nebulize it — which cured my COPD. I also apply a drop to my ear to lessen tinnitus — it went from 35 decibels to five.¹²

My husband is 85 and has pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. I rubbed his shoulders, back, and sides with DMSO for back pain and it’s amazing. Now he has more energy, is getting stronger, refused his wheelchair to go to church yesterday, and makes coffee for me before going to bed.¹³

I am using DMSO via a nebulizer (as well as topically) and it seems to be showing significant improvement in my lungs! I was on 4 liters and now use NO supplemental oxygen or any other medicine for my lungs (I was also taking Trelogy). Despite decades of excessive smoking and drinking, I am seeing remarkable results.¹⁴

I had a patient with scleroderma and interstitial lung disease (which had put them on the transplant list) but after receiving DMSO, the lung recovered and they no longer need a transplant. I also just saw a patient with sarcoidosis treating himself with DMSO nebulized. He said it made a big difference.” — James Miller MD¹⁵

Numerous studies over the decades in turn, corroborate these reports.

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How DMSO Protects Injured Lungs

DMSO’s protective and restorative properties have been shown to rescue and revitalize the functions of many different organs including the lungs. For example:

DMSO was found to prevent significant inflammation and tissue injury following traumatic impact on the lungs.¹⁶
In mice exposed to lethal radiation doses, oral DMSO allowed all to survive and protected many body parts including the lungs.¹⁷
DMSO prevented injuries from respiratory anoxia (being unable to breathe air in).¹⁸
Following cold-restraint stress, DMSO reduced lipid peroxidation and stress-induced injuries in the stomach and lungs.^19,20
In rats with lung injury caused by blood flow loss and restoration, treatment with 5% DMSO reduced lung swelling, lowered harmful inflammation markers, and decreased mitochondrial DNA release, helping protect lung tissue.²¹ Similar results have been obtained in other studies.^22,23,24
DMSO was found to prevent lung injury from hemorrhagic shock (significant blood loss) and transfusing lost fluids back.²⁵

COPD and Pulmonary Fibrosis — Where DMSO Really Shines

DMSO has been shown to effectively reduce fibrosis and scar tissue throughout the body (particularly in the skin). As this characterizes the lung damage in many chronic lung disorders, DMSO hence is a promising therapeutic option for them. Data includes:

DMSO at 0.5% to 3% in a dose-dependent fashion, roughly halving the proliferation of fibroblast cells, suggesting it could reduce the fibrosis seen in chronic lung diseases.²⁶
In rats with experimentally induced silicosis, DMSO (2 ml/kg) reduced pulmonary fibrosis, lowered hydroxyproline levels, and normalized lung white blood cell counts.²⁷
DMSO reduced chronic pulmonary fibrosis, particularly when combined with zinc.²⁸

DMSO hence has been shown to help those lung patients regain the ability to breathe. For example, in older patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency (characterized by chronically low blood oxygen levels, elevated carbon dioxide, and abnormal acid-base balance), daily intramuscular DMSO was found to lead to recovery without hospitalization in 35/43 (81%) patients.²⁹

Note: Other studies have also shown that DMSO helps with chronic non-specific lung diseases.³⁰

Protection Against Toxic Exposures

“DMSO has helped me though. I have a weak heart and lungs due to 10 years of exposure to chlorine in a pool. My chest pain instantly retreats when I use it as well as tinnitus when I apply to my forehead.”³¹

Many chronic lung issues come from respiratory exposure to toxins or numerous small ones, such as the particulate matter from smoking and wildfires (e.g., research from Hawaii shows the majority of those in the Lahaina fire still have symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, weakness, breathing issues, chest pain).^32,33

• After sheep experienced lung injury from inhaling smoke, nebulized DMSO (with negatively charged heparin) was found to reduce lung damage significantly.³⁴

Note: Positive ions (which disrupt the physiologic zeta potential) disable the movement of cilia, and hence prevent the airway from expelling harmful particulates.^35,36

• In human lung cells, cooking oil fume condensate caused genetic damage — which DMSO effectively reduced.³⁷

• Radioactive uranium dust (either from mining or depleted uranium munitions) is quite toxic and challenging to heal from. Fortunately, numerous studies have shown DMSO effectively neutralizes its toxicity and DNA damage in airway cells in a dose-dependent fashion.^{38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48}

• DMSO prevents the inflammation, cellular damage, and edema alloxan causes in the lungs.⁴⁹

• In human lung cells exposed to harmful cigarette smoke, a mixture of tea polyphenols and DMSO provided strong protection by significantly reducing DNA damage, chromosome abnormalities, and gene mutations.⁵⁰

Note: Nebulized glutathione is also often very helpful for recovering from smoke or wildfire injuries.

Respiratory Infections

My English bulldog had a very stubborn case of pneumonia. She was on three different antibiotics over eight weeks and nothing seemed to help. Then we added DMSO to the treatment protocol! One week later her lungs were clear.⁵¹

Many of DMSO’s properties make it uniquely suited for treating infections, particularly in enhancing the penetration of antibiotics and reducing antimicrobial resistance. Since pneumonia is one of the top causes of hospital admissions and deaths, particularly in individuals with chronic lung diseases, this facet of DMSO is also quite helpful. Here’s what the research shows.

• Tuberculosis is the world’s most deadly infection, particularly due to increasing resistance. Many lab studies have shown DMSO directly inhibits bacterial growth⁵² and increases sensitivity to antibiotics by 3 to 200 times.^53,54,55,56 As such, in guinea pigs with isoniazid-resistant tuberculosis, all died despite treatment, whereas if DMSO was given prior, they all survived.⁵⁷

• In humans, DMSO significantly improves tuberculosis outcomes, such as in patients with destructive pulmonary and endobronchial tuberculosis who received nebulized antibiotics mixed in DMSO,⁵⁸ in children,⁵⁹ including a study where it healed destructive cavities,⁶⁰ and where children had contracted tuberculosis from contaminated vaccines.⁶¹

• DMSO also treats other acute or suppurative respiratory diseases such as acute stenosing laryngotracheobronchitis in children.^62,63,64 For example, in 2020,⁶⁵ a Libyan hospital reported administering 16.67% DMSO and 2.78% ceftriaxone to 31 patients with lung abscesses — all experienced complete recovery with no recurrence.⁶⁶

ARDS — When Lungs Fill with Fluid

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition where alveoli fill with fluid and collapse (often requiring ventilators). DMSO has also been shown to help here:

• In rats with ARDS, intraperitoneal DMSO maintained blood oxygen levels, reduced plasma protein leakage into the lungs, and significantly protected the capillary-alveolar lining.⁶⁷ When vitamin E was given as well lung injury further decreased.⁶⁸

• In one study where DMSO was used for ARDS (given intravenously at concentrations under 10%),⁶⁹ it produced a dramatic improvement in all three patients who received it. Prior to DMSO, all three were near death. In one case, when DMSO was nebulized, improvement was observed within one hour.

Asthma — Breathing Easy Again

As DMSO both reduces inflammation, relaxes muscles, and increases blood circulation, it holds significant promise for asthma.⁷⁰ Many readers with asthma, in turn, have shared how DMSO changed their lives:

“Holy moly, this is crazy. Dosed this weekend, 3 days, taking a short break (just can’t have that odor during office hours), and already my asthma is almost non-existent. Beyond belief.⁷¹

I’ve been using DMSO for about a week now for rather persistent asthma … and have felt a marked improvement! I went from using my inhaler more than I have in a while to now using nothing but DMSO and feeling like my chest has opened entirely and I can take entire deep breaths! I went on a walk this morning and cruised up rather steep hills without barely any increase in my respirations! That never happens.⁷²

Within days of starting to take 1 tablespoon of DMSO per day, I was able to use my albuterol inhaler less. Now it’s been months since I last used it. I used to need an inhaler every time I played table tennis, but now never. I feel less sensitive to dust, although certainly not cured.⁷³

I’ve been using DMSO since November 2024 (big improvement in veins and circulation). That is helping my severe asthma amazingly.⁷⁴ DMSO has greatly improved my asthma.”⁷⁵

Including for a cat:

“My 20 yr old cat developed a cough which the vet diagnosed as asthma.⁷⁶ He wanted to put her on an inhaler, but I had my doubts that she would tolerate that. So I tried using DMSO on the back of her neck … No coughing at all. Amazing stuff.”

Research supports these accounts:

• In mice with asthma, DMSO significantly reduced the proportion of TCD4 cells (which play a key role in airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness).^77,78

• A study gave 153 adults DMSO mixed with a bronchodilator, steroid, and antihistamine via intramuscular injections. After evaluation, 37 (24.5%) had excellent results, 92 (60%) had good responses, while 24 (15.5%) had no change.^79,80

• Numerous studies found DMSO increases steroid potency, making it possible to use much lower doses.^81,82,83,84 Since steroids often have significant toxicity,⁸⁵ this can be quite useful.

Note: There is also a century of research showing ultraviolet blood irradiation (which shares many therapeutic properties with DMSO) treats asthma, including treatment resistant cases.

Conclusion

DMSO’s broad spectrum of applicability for so many different diseases suggests that many illnesses we have arise from similar causes, and that illnesses rather than being discrete entities are simply different ways the body ends up manifesting that disease process.

Unfortunately, this way of looking at medicine goes against the interests of the medical industry, as it relies upon having different proprietary treatments for each condition that do enough to improve the condition that patients continue to take them, but not enough to cure it (and hence prevent them from becoming lifelong customers).

As such, umbrella remedies like DMSO are heavily marginalized by the medical profession, irrespective of how much data supports their use or how dire the need is for an effective therapy in many of the conditions they treat.

Fifty years ago, the recognition of what DMSO could do for struggling patients motivated many scientists and doctors around the world to devote themselves to studying it, and while the FDA largely succeeded in erasing their work — in reality, they only delayed it because if something is true, it is impossible to suppress it forever.

Due to an extraordinary confluence of events, it now appears we have arrived at the time many of the things the medical industry has spent a century burying can no longer be suppressed, with DMSO being just one of many things now suddenly emerging into the public consciousness. This is an incredibly exciting time to be alive and thank each of you for being a part of it with me.

Author’s Note: This is an abridged version of a longer article which goes into greater details about how DMSO and nebulized glutathione can be used to treat lung diseases. That article, along with resources and protocols for obtaining and using DMSO can be read here.

A Note from Dr. Mercola About the Author

A Midwestern Doctor (AMD) is a board-certified physician from the Midwest and a longtime reader of Mercola.com. I appreciate AMD’s exceptional insight on a wide range of topics and am grateful to share it. I also respect AMD’s desire to remain anonymous since AMD is still on the front lines treating patients. To find more of AMD’s work, be sure to check out The Forgotten Side of Medicine on Substack.

– Sources and References

¹ See all references

Posted in COPD, DMSO, Lungs | No Comments »

Posted by: admin | Posted on: December 19, 2024

CoQ10 Triumphs Over Ubiquinol in Heart Health Battle

Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/12/12/coq10-ubiquinol-heart-health.aspx

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola December 12, 2024

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

CoQ10 supplementation shows significant benefits in heart failure patients, leading to lower cardiovascular death rates and improved cardiac function, making it more effective than the reduced form, ubiquinol
CoQ10 aids in the early recovery of cardiac function post-myocardial infarction by reducing inflammation through the inhibition of CCR2+ macrophage recruitment and suppression of the NLRP3/IL1β inflammatory pathway
Intravenous administration of CoQ10 demonstrates promise in emergency ischemic conditions by rapidly increasing tissue penetration, reducing infarct size, and enhancing antioxidant capacity, offering protection during acute ischemia and reperfusion
CoQ10 reduces inflammation via the NLRP3/IL1β pathway, which is crucial for heart health, and its anti-inflammatory properties help improve cardiac function and reduce fibrosis and hypertrophy
CoQ10’s antioxidant properties protect against oxidative stress, providing a promising alternative to conventional heart failure treatments with fewer side effects and long-term benefits

Heart failure is a significant health concern, especially among older adults. The average one-year case fatality rate for heart failure patients is 33%, highlighting the serious nature of this condition.¹ Prevalence rates vary widely however, from as low as 0.2% in a Hong Kong hospital study to as high as 17.7% in a U.S. Medicare population aged 65 and older between 2002 and 2013.²

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has been extensively researched for its role in heart health, and numerous studies suggest CoQ10 supplementation can significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality and improve cardiac function. These benefits are crucial, given the high prevalence and mortality rates associated with heart failure.

Interestingly, in a surprising reversal of long-held beliefs, recent research suggests that CoQ10 (ubiquinone) is more effective for heart health than its reduced form, ubiquinol.³ For years, health experts and supplement manufacturers have advocated for ubiquinol, claiming its superior bioavailability made it the obvious choice for those seeking cardiovascular benefits.

Their recommendation seemed logical: since ubiquinol is the active form of CoQ10 in the body, taking it directly should provide better results. However, emerging evidence challenges this conventional wisdom, indicating that the body may actually use standard CoQ10 more effectively for cardiac function. As noted by the authors:⁴

“A slightly better water solubility and a lack of understanding absorption and transfer of CoQ10 and CoQH2 have led to misleading interpretations pushing CoQH2 as more bioactive form.”

This finding not only questions our understanding of CoQ10 supplementation but also highlights how assumptions about bioavailability don’t always translate to real-world therapeutic benefits.

I was absolutely thrilled to come across this new study, which confirms what I concluded after delving into Ray Peat’s work. It has helped me recognize that reductive stress is a significant factor contributing to reverse electron flow in the electron transport chain (ETC). The solution to reductive stress lies in the use of oxidants. Examples of effective oxidants that can help remove excess electrons include quinones such as vitamin K2, methylene blue, and ubiquinone (CoQ10).

When we were selling ubiquinol, the studies seemed to support its use, so I took the initiative to confront the company about it. After three months, their chief scientists produced a 30-page PowerPoint presentation in an attempt to convince me that ubiquinol was superior. However, the scientific evidence I presented indicated that the oxidized form was actually more effective.

Now, with this new study providing objective confirmation of my conclusions from two years ago, I finally have the proof I needed.

CoQ10 Mechanisms of Action

CoQ10 is a vital supplement for cardiovascular health, known for its role in energy production and antioxidant protection. This compound is essential for the production of ATP, the energy currency of cells, and plays a crucial role in maintaining mitochondrial function.

Mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell, rely on CoQ10 to shuttle electrons during the process of energy generation. This function is particularly important in heart cells, which have high energy demands.

Conventional treatments for heart failure often fall short, leaving patients with limited options and significant side effects. CoQ10 offers a promising alternative, providing cardiovascular benefits with fewer adverse effects. Its ability to reduce heart failure mortality and improve cardiac function makes it a key player in heart health management.

By improving mitochondrial function and energy production, CoQ10 supports the heart’s ability to pump efficiently. Additionally, its antioxidant properties protect against oxidative stress, a major contributor to heart disease. This dual action not only aids in the prevention of heart failure but also supports recovery in those already affected.

CoQ10 has also been shown to aid in the early recovery of cardiac function following a myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack. By reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, CoQ10 helps to preserve heart tissue and improve overall cardiac health. This makes it an important supplement for those at risk of or recovering from heart-related events.

CoQ10 Proven Superior in Lowering Heart-Related Deaths

Importantly, a recent scientific review of 28 studies found that CoQ10 is more effective than its reduced form, ubiquinol, in reducing deaths related to heart diseases.⁵ Participants who took CoQ10 supplements showed significantly lower rates of cardiovascular mortality compared to those who took ubiquinol.

CoQ10 enhances mitochondrial function, which is crucial for energy production in heart cells. By improving how mitochondria operate, CoQ10 ensures that the heart muscle gets the energy it needs to pump blood efficiently. This improvement in energy production directly contributes to better heart health and reduced mortality rates.

Moreover, CoQ10 is more stable and bioavailable than ubiquinol. This means that CoQ10 is easier for the body to absorb and use effectively. Higher bioavailability ensures that more of the supplement reaches the heart cells where it is needed most, providing greater benefits.

Long-term studies have shown that the positive effects of CoQ10 persist over time, offering sustained protection against heart failure. In contrast, ubiquinol does not demonstrate the same level of long-term benefits, making CoQ10 the preferred choice for ongoing heart health management.

CoQ10 supplementation is particularly important if you’re on a statin drug. Statins block HMG coenzyme A reductase in your liver, which is how they reduce cholesterol. But this is also the same enzyme that makes CoQ10, making deficiency highly likely. Statin-induced CoQ10 deficiency is in many cases responsible for the myopathic side effects attributed to these drugs (i.e., side effects involving loss of muscle control).

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CoQ10 Aids in Early Recovery of Cardiac Function Post-Myocardial Infarction

Other recent research found that CoQ10 significantly reduces inflammation by inhibiting the recruitment of CCR2+ macrophages. CCR2+ macrophages are a type of immune cell that contribute to inflammation in the heart after a myocardial infarction, making their reduction crucial for recovery.⁶

Additionally, CoQ10 suppresses the NLRP3/IL1β inflammatory pathway. This pathway plays a key role in the body’s inflammatory response, and its inhibition by CoQ10 helps decrease overall inflammation, promoting better heart function after an infarction.⁷

The research also demonstrated that CoQ10 improves cardiac function and reduces both fibrosis and hypertrophy. Fibrosis refers to the stiffening of heart tissue, while hypertrophy is the enlargement of heart muscle cells. By mitigating these factors, CoQ10 supports a healthier heart structure and more efficient pumping action.⁸

Furthermore, CoQ10 enhances survival rates in models of myocardial infarction. This improvement in survival underscores the compound’s potential to not only aid in recovery but also to increase the likelihood of long-term survival following a heart attack.

CoQ10’s anti-inflammatory properties are therefore crucial for heart health. By targeting specific inflammatory pathways and reducing harmful immune cell activity, CoQ10 helps maintain a balanced inflammatory state, which is essential for the heart’s healing process and overall function after ischemic injury.

Intravenous CoQ10 Administration Shows Promise in Emergency Ischemic Conditions

Yet another 2024 study found that administering CoQ10 directly into the bloodstream can quickly boost its levels in vital organs.⁹ This rapid increase is crucial because it allows CoQ10 to act swiftly during emergencies like heart attacks or strokes.

When CoQ10 is given intravenously, it reaches the affected tissues much faster than when taken orally. This speedy delivery ensures that organs under stress from a lack of blood flow receive the necessary protection immediately. By enhancing the heart’s ability to function during acute ischemia, CoQ10 helps maintain essential energy production and prevents further damage.

In emergency situations, CoQ10 plays a significant role in reducing the size of the damaged area, known as the infarct. Smaller infarct sizes mean that less heart muscle is lost, which directly improves the heart’s overall function and the patient’s chances of recovery.¹⁰ This reduction in damage is a key factor in improving long-term outcomes for patients experiencing severe heart conditions.

Additionally, intravenous CoQ10 boosts the body’s antioxidant defenses, which help neutralize harmful free radicals created during ischemic events. By reducing oxidative stress, CoQ10 protects cells from further injury and supports the healing process.¹¹ This enhanced antioxidant capacity is vital for minimizing the overall impact of the ischemic event on the body.

Given these benefits, intravenous CoQ10 stands out as a valuable treatment option in acute medical settings. Its ability to rapidly increase tissue concentrations, protect against immediate damage, and support long-term heart function makes it an essential tool for managing emergency ischemic conditions.¹²

CoQ10 Counteracts Reductive Stress

As mentioned earlier, reductive stress is a major factor that contributes to reverse electron flow in the electron transport chain, and CoQ10, being a potent oxidant, helps remove excess electrons.

Reductive stress is an important topic because it’s fundamental to optimizing your biology. In a nutshell, reductive stress means you have too many mobile electrons in the cell. Think of your body’s cells as tiny engines that need to process fuel (from the food you eat) efficiently.

Just like a car needs the right mixture of fuel and air to run smoothly, your cells need the right balance of electrons (which come from breaking down food) and carriers (like NAD) to transport these electrons. These carriers work like taxis moving passengers (electrons) around the city (your cell).

Reductive stress happens when there’s too much fuel coming in. When all the electron carriers are full, new electrons have nowhere to go, creating a traffic jam in your cells. This typically occurs when we flood our system with too many calories. Just as a car engine runs poorly with too much fuel and not enough air (called a “rich” mixture), your cells can’t function properly when overwhelmed with too much energy input.

This cellular traffic jam is what scientists call reductive stress, and it’s a key feature of metabolic syndrome and other health issues.

To understand how oxidants like CoQ10 helps in this instance, think of it as a traffic controller for those electrons. When you have reductive stress, oxidants open up new routes to help move the traffic along.

CoQ10 specifically has a unique ability to accept backed-up electrons and safely transport them through the cellular machinery, helping to clear the congestion. By providing these alternative pathways for electron flow, oxidants like CoQ10 help restore balance to the system. They essentially help convert those backed-up electron carriers back into their empty form (NAD+), making them available to transport more electrons again.

Optimizing Your Heart Health with CoQ10

If you’re new to CoQ10 supplementation, an initial dose of 200 to 300 mg per day is recommended. After about three weeks, when plasma levels typically reach their optimal plateau, you can transition to a maintenance dose of 100 mg daily, which is sufficient for most healthy individuals. However, if you maintain an active lifestyle, exercise frequently, or experience high stress levels, you might benefit from continuing with 200 to 300 mg daily.

Special consideration must be given to certain health conditions. Those taking statin medications should supplement with at least 100 to 200 mg of CoQ10 daily, and possibly more. Similarly, individuals managing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, ALS, chronic fatigue, or autism may require higher doses.

For optimal absorption, split your daily dose into two or three portions rather than taking it all at once, and take it with a healthy source of fat since CoQ10 is fat-soluble. While these guidelines provide a general framework, working with an integrative physician can help determine the most appropriate dosage for your specific needs.

Additionally, given the varying quality of supplements available in the market, it’s crucial to select a CoQ10 product specifically formulated for maximum absorption and bioavailability.

CoQ10 Outshines Ubiquinol in Enhancing Heart Health

CoQ10 significantly reduces heart-related deaths more effectively than Ubiquinol. Studies demonstrate that individuals taking CoQ10 supplements experience lower rates of cardiovascular mortality due to improved mitochondrial function and efficient energy production in heart cells.

The stability and bioavailability of CoQ10 ensure it is easily absorbed and utilized by the body. This higher bioavailability allows more of the supplement to reach heart cells, providing consistent and long-lasting benefits that surpass those of Ubiquinol.

CoQ10 plays a crucial role in the early recovery of cardiac function after a myocardial infarction. It reduces inflammation by inhibiting specific immune cells and inflammatory pathways, which helps preserve heart tissue and improves overall heart health following a heart attack.

Intravenous administration of CoQ10 offers rapid elevation of its levels in vital organs during emergency ischemic conditions. This swift delivery protects the heart muscle, reduces the size of damaged areas, and supports better long-term recovery, making CoQ10 an essential treatment option in acute medical settings.

Incorporating CoQ10 into your daily routine can optimize heart health. By selecting a high-quality supplement, determining the appropriate dosage based on age, and maintaining consistent supplementation, you can enhance energy production, boost immune responses, and protect your heart from damage.

– Sources and References

^1, ² Heart 2022;108:1351-1360
^3, ^4, ⁵ Current Cardiology Reports (2023) 25:1759–1767
^6, ^7, ⁸ BMC Cardiovascular Disorders (2024) 24:76
^9, ^10, ^11, ¹² Life 2024, 14(1); 134

Posted in Blood Thinners, Cardiovascular, COPD, Eggs, Faint, Fermentation, Heart, Osteoporosis, Pneumonia, Polyphenols, Spice, Supplements, Thymus | No Comments »

Posted by: admin | Posted on: December 2, 2024

Osteoporosis warning: How bone loss signals inflammation and a risk of disease

Reproduced from original article:
https://www.naturalhealth365.com/osteoporosis-warning-how-bone-loss-signals-inflammation-and-a-risk-of-disease.html

by: Lori Alton, staff writer | November 23, 2024

(NaturalHealth365) Osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become brittle and prone to breakage, is so widespread that 50 percent of all women over age 50 (and 25 percent of all over-50 men) will eventually suffer an osteoporosis-related bone fracture. A new study published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle reveals systemic inflammation and frailty as key contributors to osteoporosis and fracture risks.

Unfortunately, the consequences of osteoporosis extend even beyond the pain and disabling effect of broken bones. In fact, recent research highlights a shocking connection between osteoporosis and life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.

Fortunately, a combination of natural nutrients may help prevent osteoporosis – and offer protection against the devastating diseases that can accompany it.

Pro-inflammatory molecules released by bone loss are linked to increased risk of deadly diseases

The creation of bone is regulated by the actions of the body’s osteoblasts (bone cells that create new bone) and osteoclasts (cells that break down bone).

At about age 35, the “balancing act” begins to shift – and the rate of bone breakdown starts to overtake the rate of bone development, leading to bone loss. Researchers are now learning that aging bones contain more “senescent” cells – meaning they have stopped reproducing themselves and now exclusively promote the breakdown of bone tissue.

These senescent cells release pro-inflammatory molecules into the bloodstream, laying the groundwork for disease. Senescent bone cells have been found in plaque deposits in heavily calcified arteries.

And, having large numbers of senescent cells in the bones is linked in studies with accelerated aging – particularly affecting the brain. Finally, people with osteoporosis have an increased risk of cancer.

Keep in mind, when over-activated, the bone proteins that normally regulate bone maintenance and healing can lead to uncontrollable cell growth and replication.

Discover a natural way to strengthen your bones

The antioxidant vitamin C plays a critical role in preventing bone loss – which it does by preventing the oxidative stress that destroys bone structure. Vitamin C also plays a pivotal role in the formation and structure of bones by forming collagen and developing other bone proteins.

If the body’s need for vitamin C is unmet, insufficient collagen production can result – leading to easily fractured bones. Many natural health experts believe osteoporosis is a vitamin C deficiency or “scurvy of the bones.”

Bone-building vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, kiwi, strawberries, and bell peppers. However, supplementation may be necessary – especially if you have osteoporosis. By the way, for superior bioavailability (absorption), natural health experts advise using a liposomal form of vitamin C.

Boron reduces the loss of indispensable calcium from the bones

This little-known trace mineral packs a powerful punch when it comes to supporting bone health.

Simply put, boron helps the body produce and use vitamin D – a mainstay of bone health. The mineral also helps regulate calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus levels – all “MVPs” of bone maintenance and support.

A study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal showed that 3 mg of boron daily helped prevent calcium loss and bone demineralization in postmenopausal women.

Natural health experts may advise 3 to 6 mg of boron daily. You can increase your dietary boron intake by eating organic nuts, beans, avocados, and whole grains.

Calcium: The primary structural component of bones

Bones contain 99 percent of the body’s calcium stores – integral to bone building.

But, for your body to use calcium to build bone, you must have sufficient levels and adequate amounts of vitamin D. Deficiency in both minerals can cause bone loss and symptoms of muscle pain, muscle cramps, and weakness.

Calcium exists in sardines, including the bones, dark leafy greens, and cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts. Most adults require between 1,000 and 1,200 mg of calcium a day.

Magnesium deficiency is a cause of “incalculable” suffering

Magnesium works in concert with calcium to suppress hormones that break down bones – while activating enzymes needed to produce new bone. Unfortunately, experts estimate that about half of all Americans fail to consume enough of this important mineral.

More than 40 percent of post-menopausal women have low magnesium blood levels, which can trigger excessive bone breakdown.

In one landmark study on magnesium benefits, the researchers lamented that the deficiency of such an “inexpensive, low-toxicity nutrient” is currently causing diseases that are a source of untold “suffering and expense” worldwide.

Eating organic dark leafy greens, potatoes, raisins, chocolate, pumpkin seeds, nuts, and avocados can help ramp up your dietary intake of magnesium. Of course, your holistic healthcare provider may recommend supplementing with magnesium to avoid shortfalls.

Most natural healers recommend 250 to 750 mg a day. Magnesium citrate, magnesium glycinate, and magnesium taurate are considered the most bioavailable forms.

Vitamin D helps improve calcium absorption

Vitamin D reduces the activity of the pro-inflammatory signaling molecules that are released from senescent bone cells during bone breakdown. Unsurprisingly, vitamin D shortfalls are bad news for your bones and the rest of your body.

Vitamin D deficiency has been identified as a major contributor to osteoporosis – as well as to cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and lowered cognitive functioning. This fat-soluble vitamin is found in cold-water fatty fish (like wild-caught salmon), as well as in mushrooms and egg yolks.

Because the body manufactures vitamin D in response to sunlight, many natural health experts advise getting 20 minutes of direct sunlight three or four times a week. However, supplementation may be necessary to maintain healthy vitamin D levels, especially in northern climates.

Just remember to opt for vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) over vitamin D2.

Vitamin K2 directs calcium in the body

Vitamin K2’s job is to route calcium where it belongs – in the bones and teeth – while keeping it out of blood vessel walls (thereby helping to prevent heart disease).

Vitamin K2 improves bone mineral density and is particularly beneficial for improving bone mineral content of the femoral bone – which is particularly susceptible to fracture during falls. Researchers have found that vitamin K2 is synergistic with vitamin D3 – meaning that each nutrient enhances the beneficial effect of the other.

In an influential study published in Maturitas, supplementation with a combination of vitamins K2 and D3 protected and increased vertebral bone mass in postmenopausal women.

Food sources of vitamin K2 include liver, egg yolks, and natto, a food made from fermented soybeans.

Your doctor may recommend 100 mcg per day of vitamin K2 in the form of menaquinone-7, a highly available form of the nutrient.

Prescription drugs can jeopardize zinc supply

Zinc is needed for bone cells (osteoblasts) to create bone tissue – and is crucial for the entry of vitamin D into cells. And, yes, patients with osteoporosis have been found to have low levels of zinc.

Ironically, pharmaceutical osteoporosis drugs – such as Boniva and Reclast – actually rob the body of this important trace mineral. The RDA for zinc is 8 mg for women and 11 for men.

You can increase your dietary zinc intake by eating organic pumpkin seeds, chickpeas, nuts, yogurt, and cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli. Grass-fed beef, oysters, and pasture raised poultry are also rich in zinc.

As with the other vitamins and minerals, consult your holistic doctor before supplementing with zinc.

With millions of people either suffering from osteoporosis – or at serious risk – it’s time to fight back. And, your best weapons in the battle to slow and reverse bone loss could be these non-toxic, natural micronutrients.

Sources for this article include:

NIH.gov
LifeExtension.com
SaveOurBones.com
UniversityHealthNews

Posted in Blood Thinners, Bones, COPD, Eggs, Faint, Fermentation, Food, Inflammation, Minerals, Osteoporosis, Pneumonia, Polyphenols, Prescription Medication, Spice, Supplements, Thymus, Vitamins | One Comment »

Posted by: admin | Posted on: November 24, 2024

Why Your Multivitamin May Be Harming Your Health

© GreenMedInfo LLC. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of GreenMedInfo LLC.
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Reproduced from original article:
https://greenmedinfo.com/content/why-your-multivitamin-may-be-harming-your-health
Posted on: Thursday, November 7th 2024 at 12:15 pm
Written By: Sayer Ji, FounderThis article is copyrighted by GreenMedInfo LLC, 2024

What comes to mind when you think of toxic waste disposal? Biohazard suits, lead-lined vaults, and burial deep underground? You might be shocked to learn that a dumping ground for these chemicals is a product that many people consume daily to ensure good health – and it may be in your medicine cabinet.

When it comes to dietary supplements, all products are not created equal. A label can identify the presence of a specific ingredient without indicating if it’s from a natural, bioavailable and biocompatible source, or from a synthetic, inorganic source. This is despite the fact that our bodies may not recognize these synthetic ingredients as food.

When a supplement contains an ingredient that is not bioavailable, the body either will not absorb or utilize it correctly. The best one can hope for is that the substance will pass, inert, through the body. But with certain ingredients, the material from which they are extracted is highly toxic, rendering a substance that can do more bodily harm than good.

Industrial waste products such as fluoride (a byproduct of aluminum manufacturing and known neurotoxin), and cobalt-60, a radioactive waste material culled from nuclear reactors, have been used for decades in broad-reaching applications to make our water “healthier” and our food “safer.”

With FDA-approval and cherry-picked, manufacturer-sponsored studies as “proof”, the unsuspecting public is lulled into a sense of safety regarding these practices. And these aren’t the only such hoaxes being perpetrated on the American people.

Hidden in Plain Sight

As with most things in our modern world, understanding this logic requires you to follow the money trail. The economics are simple: chemical byproducts and industrial waste are environmentally hazardous and in abundant supply. This makes them both difficult and costly to dispose of properly. Selling these waste products as cheap, raw materials is a BIG win for manufacturers. And repackaging them as health supplements can be extremely profitable.

One of the most popular health supplements by category is the multivitamin. Consumed by adults and children alike, multivitamins are sold as veritable health insurance. If you don’t get enough of the recommended daily allowance of essential vitamins and minerals, taking a quality multivitamin can fill this dietary gap.

But not all vitamins on supermarket shelves are actually good for you. Some manufacturers source “healthy nutrients” that are toxic to the body, even in small quantities. This confounding trend is not limited to off-brand manufacturers looking to produce cheap knock-offs of “the good stuff”. Some of the most trusted name brands use ingredients that show up on global watch lists of hazardous substances we’ve been instructed to avoid for health and safety.

Disguised as healthy nutrients, the following toxic imposters are listed on the labels of popular multivitamins Centrum, One-A-Day, and Flintstones for Kids. As you will see, some of the biggest dangers to consumers are hidden in plain sight!

Sodium selenate/Sodium selenite

Sodium selenate, a byproduct of copper metal refining, is four times more toxic than the known killing drug, cyanide. Yet, it is proudly listed as a “nutrient” in many common health products.

Based on animal studies, we know that a mere 100 milligrams of the stuff are a fatal dose to most humans. The amount found in Centrum is 55 micrograms (mcg); that’s 5 mcg more than the EPA allows in a liter of drinking water before declaring it unsafe for human consumption!

Organically-bound selenium is the vital human nutrient that sodium selenate can not replace. Selenium is found in foods like nuts, seeds, and organic produce grown in selenium-rich soil. This naturally-occurring trace mineral is very different than the unbound, synthetic form being put into some multivitamins.

Organic selenium is known for its ability to boost the immune system, improve thyroid function, protect against heart disease, and even prevent cancer. Sodium selenite/selenate, on the other hand, has been shown to cause DNA damage associated with cancer and birth defects.

This mass market vitamin reveals a litany of toxic chemicals sold as “nutrients’

Cupric oxide

Cupric oxide is one of several derivative forms of “dietary copper”, a micronutrient needed to ensure proper growth and development of bones and connective tissues, as well as for maintaining the health of vital organs such as the brain and heart.

Organically, copper is found in a variety of foods, including dark leafy greens, organ meats, beans, nuts, dried fruits, nutritional yeast, as well as oysters and shellfish. The synthetic derivations found in many multivitamins are an entirely different kettle of fish!

For decades, cupric oxide was the principal source of dietary copper in supplements sold for livestock and companion animals. But an array of studies conducted as far back as the 1980’s on the bioavailability of cupric oxide determined it was not fit for animal consumption. This hasn’t stopped it from being fed to humans!

A summary of these studies published by The American Society for Nutritional Sciences ascertained that cupric oxide is not bioavailable due to it’s inability to permeate the gut wall. The fact that this form of copper is still being used in human health supplements and even baby formula, is particularly troubling since an estimated 61% of people in the U.S., U.K., and Canada have dietary deficits of this essential nutrient. Copper deficits are linked to heart disease, osteoporosis, and poor blood sugar metabolism, among other troubling disorders.

The dangers of this supplement go beyond the nutritional deficits caused by this deceptive masquerade. Cupric oxide is listed on the European Union’s Dangerous Substance Directive as a hazardous substance, for humans and the environment. Not surprising, considering its use as a chemical in industrial applications such as the production of rayon fabric and dry cell batteries.

Ferrous fumarate (aka iron)

With a list of side effects a mile long including nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, blackened stools, tooth discoloration, and anorexia, it should come as no surprise that this is the one ingredient in Flintstones vitamins to precipitate the warning on the label:

Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

However, it might surprise you to learn that the amount of ferrous fumarate in one Centrum vitamin is six times higher than the maximum EPA allowed limit for 1 liter of drinking water!

Another tip-off that this isn’t the iron Popeye was getting from spinach, is the fact that it is impossible to die from too much iron obtained from food. But ferrous fumarate is so toxic that accidental overdose is “a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6.”

Ferrous fumarate is an industrial mineral that is not found in nature as food. A byproduct of iron mining, ferrous fumarate has drawn even more criticism as a supplement due to its interaction with vitamin C leading to ulceration of the GI tract, chronic inflammatory diseases, and cancer.

Adding to these concerns are the high doses present in many health supplements. Studies found high concentrations of iron to be associated with several pathologies, including cancer, diabetes, liver and heart disease.

Dishonorable Mention

In addition to the offenders already mentioned, the following common multivitamin ingredients have disturbing toxic rap sheets, and are found in dangerously high concentrations in most multivitamins.

Stannous chloride (tin)

In a 1983 study, it was determined that stannous chloride was “readily taken up by white blood cells and can cause damage to DNA.”

In small doses, it’s known to cause side effects such as skin irritation, headache, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. In larger doses, severe growth retardation and cancer. While the EPA says a mere 4 mcg is the high-end limit for one liter of water to become undrinkable, you will find 10 mcg in one dose of Centrum.

Manganese sulfate

Manganese sulfate is often promoted as a supplement to prevent bone loss and anemia. The organic form of this essential nutrient helps with blood clotting, the formation of bones and connective tissues, as well as hormone regulation. Found in nuts, beans, seeds, and leafy greens, manganese is considered an essential nutrient. Manganese sulfate’s other claim to fame is its pervasive use as a chemical pesticide.

Even low doses of this chemical present significant neurological risk over time, as evidenced by reports of workplace exposure. Affected field workers showed loss of coordination and balance, along with an increase in reporting mild symptoms such as forgetfulness, anxiety, or insomnia.

In high concentrations, this supplement becomes a neurotoxin, presenting with Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms, including tremors and permanent memory loss. So why is the standard dose in a single Centrum more than four times the EPA safe consumption limit?

It should be noted that even if there aren’t extraordinary large amounts of these metals and toxicants in the vitamins you are taking, the age old justification that small amounts of chemicals or heavy metals won’t hurt you, i.e. “the dose makes the poison,” is now an outdated and disproved toxicological risk model. For instance, recent discoveries indicate that exceedingly small amounts of the following metals: “aluminium, antimony, arsenite, barium, cadmium, chromium (Cr(II)), cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenite, tin and vanadate,” exhibit estrogen receptor binding and stimulating properties, which has lead to them being described as ‘metalloestrogens’ with the capability to induce hormone reponse related carcinogenicity. This concept that, in some cases, the lower the dose concentration, or the lower the energy state, the higher the damage, has also been demonstrated with x-ray mammography, toxicants like glyphosate, and nanoparticles, to name but a few examples.

Who is Minding the Store?

It may seem unfathomable that these harmful, toxic chemicals could be allowed into our food and drug supply. The truth is, no one is minding the store. Loopholes abound, allowable limits are questionable, and even our organic food supply is not safe from subterfuge. Even organic infant formula can skirt regulatory oversight thanks to the numbers game.

According to the USDA’s National Organic Program guidelines, any multi-ingredient product that contains 95% or more organic ingredients may be labeled organic. That means even the copper sulfate in Similac’s Advance Organic formula falls within the “contains less than 2%” ingredient list guideline, giving this noxious chemical a free pass.

The public has a right to expect that any substance that is suspected of being harmful will be held to a high-level of scrutiny before it is approved for mass consumption. This basic, precautionary principle would minimize public risk until all known toxicological data has been thoroughly examined. Only when a determination that no serious health risks are present can be made, should a substance be allowed into mass-market products.

However, it is essentially the reverse of this model that is in effect today. Only when a substance has repeatedly demonstrated harm in already exposed populations, is it subject to the level of scrutiny that can precipitate its removal from FDA-approved products on store shelves. This means lobbying and corporate interests often prevail through the off-loading of harmful substances that are considered “innocent until proven guilty.” Guilt, in this instance, means acute or large-scale sickness suffered by the public.

Currently, no law forbids the use of any of these questionable substances in dietary supplements, despite copious laboratory research demonstrating their toxicity in animals, and significant clinical data demonstrating their actual or potential toxicity in humans. Don’t wait for the fallout to affect you before you act. Look for high-quality, organic supplements with food-grade sources, and a proven supply chain. Also consider using whole food concentrates and focusing on improving the quality of your food instead of focusing on taking supplements to try to counterbalance a deficient diet.

Sayer Ji is founder of Greenmedinfo.com, author of international best-seller REGENERATE: Unlocking Your Body’s Radical Resilience through the New Biology, co-founder of Stand for Health Freedom (501c4), and UNITE.live, a global, multi-media platform for conscious creators and their communities.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its staff.

Posted in Blood Thinners, COPD, Diet, Eggs, Faint, Fermentation, Osteoporosis, Pneumonia, Polyphenols, Spice, Supplements, Thymus, Toxins | No Comments »

Posted by: admin | Posted on: December 27, 2023

The Amazing Benefits of Dairy Fat

Reproduced from original article:
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2023/12/26/dairy-fat-benefits.aspx
The original Mercola article may not remain on the original site, but I will endeavor to keep it on this site as long as I deem it to be appropriate.

Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola December 26, 2023

STORY AT-A-GLANCE

Studies have repeatedly failed to find an association between full-fat dairy and cardiovascular events. Instead, full-fat dairy actually reduces your risk of cardiovascular events and deaths thereof. Dairy products are also associated with lower risks of Type 2 diabetes, liver disease and more
Whole-fat dairy contains the odd-chain saturated fats (OCFAs) pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) and heptadecanoic acid (C17:0), which have significant health benefits
OCFAs are found only in small amounts in certain foods, primarily dairy fat, and your body only makes C17:0. Researchers now believe C15:0 may be an essential fat, as your body cannot make it
Higher circulating levels of OCFAs in the blood is associated with lower risks of obesity, chronic inflammation, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, NASH, COPD, pancreatic cancer and all-cause mortality
OCFAs do not have an inhibitory effect on glucose burning because they are not converted to acetyl-CoA; rather, they enter the Krebs Cycle as succinyl-CoA. What this means in practical terms is that you don’t need to restrict your consumption of full fat dairy, as it won’t affect your ability to burn glucose

Do you avoid whole milk, or better yet, raw milk, because of its saturated fat content? If so, you may be missing out on one of the greatest health foods there is. Studies¹ have repeatedly failed to find an association between full-fat dairy and cardiovascular events. Instead, they’ve found the opposite — full-fat dairy reduces your risk of cardiovascular events and deaths thereof.

Dairy products are also associated with lower risks of Type 2 diabetes,² liver disease and more. One of the reasons for these health benefits is because whole-fat dairy contains health promoting compounds such as:³

Specific amino acids	Unsaturated, medium-chain, and branched-chain fats
Odd-chain saturated fats — pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) and heptadecanoic acid (C17:0)	Phospholipids
Vitamins and minerals	Probiotics

Odd-Chain Saturated Fats From Dairy Are Likely Essential Fats

Of these, the odd-chain saturated fats (OCFAs) are of particular importance. In fact, recent research⁴ suggests these are likely one of the most essential fats in the human diet, unlike linoleic acid (LA) that most foods are loaded with. It’s virtually impossible to become deficient in LA outside of a laboratory diet.

The same cannot be said for the OCFAs. You need to get them from dairy, because that’s the primary source. As noted in the 2020 scientific report, “Efficacy of Dietary Odd-Chain Saturated Fatty Acid Pentadecanoic Acid Parallels Broad Associated Health Benefits in Humans: Could It Be Essential?”:⁵

“Dietary odd-chain saturated fatty acids (OCFAs) are present in trace levels in dairy fat and some fish and plants. Higher circulating concentrations of OCFAs, pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) and heptadecanoic acid (C17:0), are associated with lower risks of cardiometabolic diseases, and higher dietary intake of OCFAs is associated with lower mortality.

Population-wide circulating OCFA levels, however, have been declining over recent years. Here, we show C15:0 as an active dietary fatty acid that attenuates inflammation, anemia, dyslipidemia, and fibrosis in vivo, potentially by binding to key metabolic regulators and repairing mitochondrial function.

This is the first demonstration of C15:0’s direct role in attenuating multiple comorbidities using relevant physiological mechanisms at established circulating concentrations.

Pairing our findings with evidence that (1) C15:0 is not readily made endogenously, (2) lower C15:0 dietary intake and blood concentrations are associated with higher mortality and a poorer physiological state, and (3) C15:0 has demonstrated activities and efficacy that parallel associated health benefits in humans, we propose C15:0 as a potential essential fatty acid.”

Dietary Guidelines Got It Backward

The low-fat recommendation has been around for more than 40 years, and since that time cholesterol levels and heart disease rates have gone in the opposite direction of what was intended.

As noted in the featured paper,⁶ in the two decades following that recommendation, average intake of whole fat milk dropped more than fourfold, from 283 grams to 65 grams a day, yet prevalence of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rose to new heights.

Meanwhile, researchers kept finding that people who consumed whole fat milk had lower risks of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Clearly, something was off. At the same time, consumption of LA skyrocketed as saturated fats were replaced with processed seed oils, and we now have robust evidence showing that excessive LA is a key driver of these chronic diseases, as it destroys mitochondrial function and metabolism.

In short, the U.S. dietary guidelines discouraged consumption of what now appears to be a TRULY essential fat — odd-chained saturated fats found in milk — while encouraging consumption of what was believed to be an essential fat, but in fact is one of the most destructive ingredients in the modern diet.

Contrary to popular belief, LA is not an essential fat, in part because it’s found in most foods, making it near-impossible to become deficient. Odd-chained saturated fats, on the other hand, are found only in small amounts in certain foods, primarily milk, and your body only makes C17:0. It doesn’t appear to make any C15:0 endogenously,⁷ which means you have to get it from your diet.

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Milk Fats 101

As you can see by the list above, whole milk contains several different kinds of fat. About 68% of the fats are even-chain saturated fats (ECSFs), the primary ones being:⁸

Myristic acid (C14:0)
Palmitic acid (C16:0)
Stearic acid (C18:0)

The odd-chain saturated fat (OCFA) pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) represents only 1% of the fat content, and heptadecanoic acid (C17:0) makes up 0.5% of the total.⁹

OCFAs Linked to Lower Disease Risk

Previous studies have shown that higher dietary intake of OCFAs, and subsequently higher circulating levels of OCFAs in the blood, is associated with LOWER risks of:¹⁰

Obesity	Chronic inflammation
Cardiovascular disease	Metabolic syndrome
Type 2 diabetes	Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)	Pancreatic cancer
All-cause mortality

In the video above, Dr. Paul Saladino reviews studies showing similar benefits for butter. For example, one eight-week-long randomized controlled trial found people who ate about 1.5 tablespoons of butter per day had lower levels of inflammation (based on inflammatory markers) at the end of the trial.

A Closer Look at OCFAs

To get a better idea of how OCFAs affect human health and prevent disease, the featured Scientific Reports paper conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo studies using 99% pure OCFAs. First, OCFAs were tested for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonist activity.

There are three primary PPARs: α (alpha), δ (delta) and γ (gamma). PPARs are transcription factors known to reduce triglyceride levels when activated.¹¹ They’re also involved in the regulation of metabolism and inflammation, and they do that by detecting and responding to the presence of dietary fats.¹²

Agonists are compounds that activate a given receptor, so what they were looking for was whether OCFAs might work by activating PPARs.

They also assessed the impact of OCFAs on mitochondrial function and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondrial dysfunction is at the heart of all disease, and elevated ROS production, which is indicative of inflammation, is another hallmark of most, if not all, disease states.

OCFAs were also tested across a variety of human cell systems mimicking chronic inflammatory and fibrotic disease states. Next, the effects of oral OCFA supplementation were studied in in vivo models of cardiometabolic, inflammatory, liver, hematologic, and fibrotic diseases. Here’s a summary of what they found:¹³

C15:0 is a dual, partial agonist for PPARα (65.8%) and PPARδ (52.8%). Effective concentrations of C15:0 needed to reach half-maximum activities for PPARα and PPARδ were 11.5 and 2.7 micrometer (µM), respectively.

C15:0 repaired mitochondrial function and reduced mitochondrial ROS production in a dose-response u-curve. Mitochondrial function and reduced ROS were found in cells supplemented at doses of 10 µM, 20 µM and 50 µM, but at C15:0 concentrations of 100 µM and 200 µM, there were no differences in ROS production compared to non-supplemented controls.

C15:0 reduced proinflammatory and profibrotic states in the human cell systems tested. C17:0 also had these effects, but to a lesser degree.

According to the authors, “this study … supports that a relatively minor increase in C15:0 concentrations (e.g. from 2.2 µM to 6.7 µM) can positively impact its anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activities.”

On a side note, µM is a unit of measure, not a dose. To convert µM to milligrams (mg), divide it by 1,000. So, a concentration of 2.2 µM equates to 0.0022 mg and 6.7 µM is 0.0067 mg.

Daily supplementation of C15:0 at a dose of 5 mg per kilo of bodyweight lowered inflammation, glucose and cholesterol levels in obese mice.

Daily supplementation of C15:0 at a dose of 35 mg per kilo of bodyweight improved hemolytic anemia in rabbits with diet-induced hypercholesterolemia, anemia and NASH, decreasing the loss of red blood cells and lowering new red blood cell production.

This dose also resulted in lower cholesterol, triglycerides, globulins, and platelets compared to non-supplemented diseased controls. Liver health indices also improved to the point they matched that of healthy controls. They had less severe liver fibrosis, and unlike the diseased controls, they did not progress from Stage 2 to Stage 3 fibrosis.

C15:0 had no off-target pharmacological activities and was noncytotoxic across the 12 human cell systems tested.

C17:0 is a PARδ agonist, with a maximum activity of 39.8%. To achieve half-maximum PPARδ activity, a concentration of 17.4 µM was required.

The ECSFs myristic acid (C14:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0) had similar activity as C15:0. Both are agonists for PPARα and PPARδ, leading the researchers to hypothesize that “carbon chain length may be a determinant of PPARα/δ binding.”

None of the saturated fatty acids had PPARγ agonist activity at concentrations below 100 µM.

What Dose of OCFA Will Achieve These Benefits?

To assess the dose required to achieve these kinds of benefits, they gave an oral dose of C15:0 at 35 mg per kilo of body weight to Sprague Dawley rats. Within 30 minutes, plasma concentrations of C15:0 were increased. Maximum concentration (20 µM) was achieved at one hour post-ingestion, and plasma levels remained above baseline for 24 hours.

“Thus, a single oral dose of C15:0 at 35 mg/kg succeeded in achieving our targeted active plasma concentrations in this rodent model, between 2.5 to 5 µg/ml (equivalent to 6.7 to 20 µM), from 1 to 8 hours post-dose,” the authors write.¹⁴ “Plasma total C17:0 levels also increased, albeit less so than C15:0, following a single oral dose of C15:0.”

To further evaluate the safety of C15:0, rats were dosed orally once a day for 14 days with increasing doses, up to 350 mg per kilo of body weight. No abnormalities were found, and there were also no significant differences in body weights, organ weight-to-body weight ratios, abnormal chemistry values or histologic observations between those who got the C15:0 and the controls.

C15:0 Is Likely an Essential Fat

Based on the findings from this investigation, the researchers concluded that C15:0 (but not C17:0) is most likely an essential fatty acid:¹⁵

“Essential fatty acids are defined as active dietary fatty acids that: (1) are required to maintain a healthy physiological state, (2) are not made at adequate levels endogenously, and (3) require dietary intake in order to maintain healthy concentrations in the body.

Given our demonstration of C15:0 and C17:0 as active dietary fatty acids, we reviewed the literature for evidence supporting or negating C15:0 and C17:0 as potential essential fatty acids.

Due to reported direct correlations between dietary C15:0 intake and circulating C15:0 concentrations, indicative of primarily diet-based drivers of circulating C15:0, and evidence of endogenous production of C17:0, only C15:0 had supportive evidence across all three criteria that were consistent with a potential essential fatty acid …

Chronic low-grade inflammation, driven by proinflammatory chemokines and cytokines, contributes to cardiometabolic comorbidities and the aging process.

Here, daily oral supplementation with C15:0 and C17:0 lowered proinflammatory states in obese mice with metabolic syndrome, as well as lowered proinflammatory biomarkers in primary human cell systems mimicking chronic inflammation …

Dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia are components of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions impacting approximately 1 in 3 people globally. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and all-cause mortality.

In our studies, daily oral C15:0 supplementation over 12 weeks lowered total cholesterol and glucose in an in vivo model with metabolic syndrome.”

Dairy Fat — It Does Your Body Good

The take-home from all of this is that diary fat is a crucial source of an essential fat — pentadecanoic acid or C15:0 — that your body needs and cannot make.

A long list of studies^16,¹⁷ through the years have shown that this and other OCSFs improve mitochondrial function and increase ATP production,¹⁸ lower your risk of obesity,¹⁹ diabetes^20,^21,²² and cardiovascular disease,²³ including the risk of heart problems in diabetics,²⁴ promote healthy hair growth,^25,²⁶ lower inflammation and much more.

While you can drink whole fat milk, it has 4% fat. Butter has 20 times the fat concentration of whole fat milk, and ghee 25 times the fat as whole fat milk. It is far easier to get these odd chain saturated fats by eating a healthy butter. Ghee is easer and has 25% more fat than butter.

A reasonable dose for most people is 1 tablespoon of butter a day. You can increase that, but it would be unwise to go over 5 tablespoons a day. Unlike raw milk, high quality butters are far more difficult to purchase commercially. About the only way you can is to purchase directly from the farmer.

If you are looking for an easier commercial solution, you can purchase 1 pound of organic ghee for about $20 a pound, including shipping.

Milk Fats Do Not Inhibit Glucose Metabolism

Interestingly, OCFAs are only partially metabolized via the beta-oxidation pathway that ECFAs use. In this pathway, fats are first converted to acetyl-CoA, which allows them to enter the Krebs Cycle. OCFAs, in contrast, are first converted into succinic acid, then succinyl-CoA, which then enters the Krebs Cycle and helps support electron transfer at complex II in the mitochondria. As explained by Georgi Dinkov, an expert on bioenergetic medicine:²⁷

“Since rising levels of acetyl-CoA has an inhibitory effects on pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), eating a diet high in fat with mostly even-chain fats would result in reduction of glucose metabolism, even if all the fats are of the SFA type, as per the Randle Cycle.

However, if those fats are of the odd-chain species and enter the Krebs Cycle as succinic acid (i.e. without effect on the acetyl-CoA/CoA ratio), then virtually no such reduction of glucose metabolism is expected to occur and, in fact, PA [pentadecanoic acid] was described in … Japanese studies as stimulating mitochondrial function and ATP production, which ultimately resulted in improved hair growth.

The Japanese researchers even filed a patent for treating hair-loss with PA and in that patent they opined that other odd-chain fatty acids with similar length, especially the C17:0 fat … would have similarly beneficial effects on hair-growth through increasing mitochondrial function (OXPHOS).”

Put another way, as I’ve described in several previous articles, including “Crucial Facts About Your Metabolism,” when your fat intake is too high (likely above 35 grams or so), then your body’s ability to metabolize (burn) glucose in your mitochondria is reduced. Instead, it gets shuttled into the glycolysis pathway, which is extremely inefficient and produces far fewer ATP molecules per molecule of glucose. That’s what Dinkov is talking about here.

What’s fascinating is that OCFAs do not have this inhibiting effect on glucose burning, because they are not converted to acetyl-CoA but rather enter the Krebs Cycle as succinyl-CoA. What this means in practical terms is that you don’t need to restrict your consumption of full fat dairy, as it won’t affect your ability to burn glucose.

Equally interesting, excessive consumption of other dietary fats has been shown to lower your plasma level of C15:0 and C17:0.²⁸ So, there are more reasons than one to make sure your total fat intake isn’t too high.

– Sources and References

Posted in ATP, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Cholesterol, COPD, Diabetes, Fat, Food, Glucose, Hair, Heart, Inflammation, Mitochondria | No Comments »

Posted by: admin | Posted on: July 24, 2019

Selenium in your cancer prevention program

by: Lori Alton, staff writer | July 20, 2019

Original article: www.naturalhealth365.com/selenium-bladder-3052.html

(NaturalHealth365) What does selenium have to do with your health? The answer may surprise you (and motivate you – in a whole new way!)

Let’s start with a discussion about cancer – the second leading cause of death in the United States, right behind heart disease. Experts predict that cancer will soon surpass heart disease as the leading killer of American adults.

No doubt, we can all agree: the need for a safe (non-toxic) methods of preventing and treating this deadly disease is truly urgent. This brings us to why we – at NaturalHealth365 – are pleased to feature studies like this one – from Nutrition and Cancer highlighting the importance of consuming enough selenium – on a regular basis. (Note: PubMed has over 1,500 studies on “selenium and cancer prevention.”)

An essential trace element found in various foods, soil and water, selenium helps to prevent cancer by enhancing our immune system, increasing protection against stress and disease plus suppressing the growth of cancerous cells.

Selenium enhances the power of a “master antioxidant” to help detoxify the body

One of selenium’s most vital functions is to help create antioxidant enzymes, or selenoproteins, that recycle glutathione, the body’s “master antioxidant” and detoxifier. In this way, selenium strikes a blow against the disease-causing oxidative stress – which contributes to chronic degenerative disease.

But selenium also has many more “tricks up its sleeve” when it comes to fighting cancer.

Do NOT ignore the health dangers linked to toxic indoor air. These chemicals – the ‘off-gassing’ of paints, mattresses, carpets and other home/office building materials – increase your risk of headaches, dementia, heart disease and cancer.

Unlike therapies that address only one specific stage or type of cancer, selenium is pleiotropic. This means that it combats cancer through multiple pathways and mechanisms, allowing it to target the disease in various forms and stages.

So important is selenium that low levels are linked with an eight-fold increased risk of cancers of the bladder, lungs, stomach, esophagus and liver.

And, supplementation has been shown to lower cancer risk, particularly cancers of the bladder, lung and colon.

Selenium’s extensive therapeutic “toolkit” allows it to prevent cancerous cells from developing into tumors

In addition to preserving the selenoproteins that recycle antioxidants, selenium regulates inflammatory molecules that contribute to cancer growth.

This versatile nutrient also helps to boost the immune system, detoxify carcinogens and heavy metals, protect DNA from cancer-causing mutations and inactivate molecules crucial to the development of cancer cells.

In addition, selenium induces apoptosis – the programmed death of cancer cells – meaning it may help check the uncontrolled reproduction that can help cancer spread so swiftly.

Finally, selenium regulates sex hormone receptors used by some cancers, thereby helping to suppress tumor invasion and growth. Peer-reviewed research has documented reductions in cancer risk through selenium supplementation.

One recent meta-analysis involving nine randomized controlled clinical trials and over 152,000 participants showed that selenium supplementation can cut cancer risk by 26 percent.

Participants who had low levels of selenium at the beginning of the study experienced an even larger (36 percent) reduction in risk – and those in high-risk populations experienced a sizeable 34 percent decrease as well.

Great NEWS: Three different forms of selenium join forces to fight cancer “across the board”

Selenium exists in three distinct forms, each with its own unique capabilities against cancer. While their names can be tongue-twisters, it’s worth noting their individual benefits.

Inorganic sodium selenite destroys the mitochondria that exist in tumor cells – while leaving the mitochondria of healthy cells unharmed. It also helps repair damaged DNA while boosting the immune response.

While it is not absorbed as well as organic forms of selenium, sodium selenite seems to do the best job of boosting crucial glutathione activity.

The second form, selenium-methyl L-selenocysteine, is an organic complex of selenium that contains the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine.

This form suppresses tumor growth by inhibiting angiogenesis – the creation of new blood vessels that carry nutrients to tumors. It also induces the destruction of cancer cells, and has been shown to boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs.

The third form, L-selenomethionine, is an organic compound of selenium that contains the amino acid L-methionine. This is the form most frequently used in clinical trials – and it has yielded extremely promising results.

In a landmark 1996 University of Arizona study, participants were given 200 mcg of L-selenomethionine a day in order to discern whether the complex could prevent skin cancer. The study did not yield any evidence at all that L-selenomethione could prevent basal or squamous cell skin cancer, per se.

But what it did do – slash the incidence of death from all cancers, by 50 percent – caused researchers to do a double take.

The results were so impressive that the team did something that is almost unprecedented in medical research: stopped the “blinded” phase of the study cold – so that all participants could immediately begin to take advantage of maximum protection against cancer.

And that’s not all.

A separate study showed that L-selenomethionine could reduce risk of prostate cancer by 63 percent – when a prior history of cancer existed – and by a whopping 74 percent in those with normal levels of PSA (prostate-specific androgen, which researchers use as a marker of prostate cancer).

How to decrease your risk of bladder cancer by nearly 40 percent

Over 70,000 Americans will be diagnosed with bladder cancer over this year alone – and 14,000 will lose their lives to the disease.

A recent review shows that selenium can substantially decrease the risk of the disease.

In a meta-analysis involving over 17,000 participants and published in Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Biomarkers, the authors noted that selenium supplementation was associated with a 39 percent decrease in the risk of bladder cancer – when averaged out over both sexes.

When the researchers looked at the effects of selenium supplementation on women alone, they found that it reduced bladder cancer risk by a robust 45 percent. The team called for more study to further explore the benefits of selenium supplementation.

Proper nutrition can help raise selenium levels

The USDA advises that the adult daily allowance for selenium is 55 mcg a day.

You can increase your selenium levels by eating organic cage-free eggs, wild-caught salmon, halibut, poultry and grass-fed beef.

Vegans and vegetarians can obtain selenium through sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts. In fact, with a whopping 607 micrograms of selenium per cup, Brazil nuts are the single best source of this essential mineral.

If you think selenium supplementation might be right for you, check with your integrative healthcare provider before adding it to your health routine – to best advise you on the proper forms and dosages to take.

Sources for this article include:

LifeExtension.com
NaturalHealthResearch.org
NIH.gov
CDC.gov

Posted in Age, Anxiety, Blood Thinners, Cancer, COPD, Eggs, Faint, Fermentation, Fertility, Glutathione, Hair, Methylation, Nails, Osteoporosis, Oxygen, Pneumonia, Polyphenols, Skin, Spice, Supplements, Thymus | No Comments »

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Selenium in your cancer prevention program

by: Lori Alton, staff writer | July 20, 2019

Selenium enhances the power of a “master antioxidant” to help detoxify the body

Selenium’s extensive therapeutic “toolkit” allows it to prevent cancerous cells from developing into tumors

Great NEWS: Three different forms of selenium join forces to fight cancer “across the board”

How to decrease your risk of bladder cancer by nearly 40 percent

Proper nutrition can help raise selenium levels