Entries in EPA (8)

Friday
Jul022010

Statin-Induced Muscle Pain - What is the Culprit?

DateFriday, July 2, 2010 at 8:12PM

About 10 years ago I got a drastic call from one of my patients.  He was in the hospital and felt like he was dying.  He had a multitude of medical problems but at his last visit he complained of horrible muscles aches and pains.  Since he was on a high dose of statin drugs I asked him to speak to his physician regarding his symptoms.  On the other end of the line he said “Susan – you were correct.  I woke up unable to move this morning and they took me to the ER.  It was the statins.”

Although this story is drastic, there are many individuals who have moderate to crippling muscle aches and pains shortly after beginning statin drugs.  What causes this pain and is there a solution?

Physicians prescribe statin drugs for a high cholesterol level.  All the cells of our bodies have a framework of cholesterol – i.e. cholesterol is the structure of the cells.  Changing the cholesterol level can change the structure of the cells, which can be a precursor to muscle pain.

In addition, remember your school days in Science class learning about the mitochondria or “powerhouse” of the cells.  Statins actually lower a compound that helps make energy within the mitochondria called Coenzyme Q10.  Lowering this important compound can lead to muscle wasting, weakness and inflammation of the tendons and ligaments.

A more recent study showed that Vitamin D deficiency could be partly responsible for statin-induced muscle pain.

If you have a high cholesterol level or are at risk for heart disease consider taking fish oil.  It contains the powerful omega 3 fats called DHA and EPA which can substantially lower inflammation in the body. Cells that have adequate DHA and EPA are healthy and flexible.  Good nutrients can enter and waste can exit.  Cells that are deficient in DHA and EPA are rigid.

If you do take a statin drug, make sure you are taking a Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin D3 supplement to avoid possible symptoms.    Consider speaking to your physician if you have muscle aches or pains so you don’t end up in the hospital like my patient of long ago.

AuthorSusan Dopart | Comment1 Comment |
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Friday
May072010

How Can I eat Healthy During Pregnancy?

DateFriday, May 7, 2010 at 5:33PM

Since we've been discussing the genetics of what happens in the womb, what are the guidelines for having a healthy pregnancy?

What you eat and how active you are determines your child’s future well-being.  Although specific recommendations may vary hitting these key foods will help set the tone for health.

Here is a checklist for healthy eating for fertility, pregnancy, or breast-feeding.

   Strive for balance in your diet:

  • Protein - lean sources of beef, lamb, chicken, and fish; eggs, nuts/seeds, nut butters at each meal and snack
  • Carbohydrates - fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed whole grains
  • Fats – omega-3 rich and monounsaturated fats (avocados, nuts/seeds and olive oil) on a daily basis:
  •        ALA – found in ground flax seed
  •        DHA  -found in fish and fish oil
  •        EPA – found in fish and fish oil

Eat or drink dairy - 3 to 4 servings of plain low fat yogurt, cottage/ricotta cheese, hard cheeses (grass-fed)

Consume fruits - 3 to 4 servings per day, including one citrus or vitamin-C rich fruit

Eat your vegetables - dark green leafy and orange/yellow/red daily

Choose real, whole foods - avoid processed and refined foods.  Choose fresh, unprocessed foods, and as much as possible, organic and non-genetically modified foods and animal products that are grass fed 

Avoid diet foods or foods with non-nutritive sweeteners 

Minimize caffeine and avoid alcohol

AuthorSusan Dopart | CommentPost a Comment |
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Thursday
Feb252010

Childhood Obesity starts with Formulas?

DateThursday, February 25, 2010 at 8:39PM

Last week’s blog regarding the New York Times article citing bypass surgery for children set off a raw nerve with readers.  Childhood obesity is multi-factorial but can it actually start with the first bottle of formula?

One ingredient to avoid on food labels is high fructose corn syrup or corn syrup.  Many infant formulas list this ingredient as second or third.  Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at UCSF, gave an elaborate lecture on u-tube regarding the consequences of sugar and high fructose corn syrup.  He blew the whistle on the obesity epidemic starting with corn syrup in infant formulas.

Many women are unable to breastfeed for multiple reasons.  A few years ago some of my female clients turned to me for help in selecting an appropriate formula.  After spending many hours online and in the store I only found one or two formulas that came close to something I would recommend.

Besides corn syrup in cow-based formulas there even more issues with soy formulas since they are made with soy protein isolate (SPI).  To make SPI, manufactures take soybeans that are about 90 percent genetically modified, and mix them with a solution to remove the fiber.  This fiber-less soybean is then dried at high temperatures which denature the quality of the protein.  In addition, soy acts like a pseudo-estrogen in the body and it is estimated that an infant fed soy formula receives the amount of estrogen per day in at least 5 birth control pills – not such a great start to life.

Formula makers are now supplementing with the important omega-3 fats DHA and EPA to help the baby’s brain development.  However, the sources of these essential fats can be poor or contain inadequate amounts.

It might be time to demand infant formula makers to make a change-maybe the first step needed in Michelle Obama's campaign against childhood obesity.  Women receive cases of these formulas free in the hospital to encourage usage, unknowingly feeding their babies something which could influence their future health.  It’s time we started preventing obesity from the beginning – rather than prescriptions later.

AuthorSusan Dopart | CommentPost a Comment |
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Thursday
Jan212010

Telomeres and Omega 3's: Is there a Connection?

DateThursday, January 21, 2010 at 2:24PM

This week researchers at the University of California in San Francisco reported results on patients they had studied over 5 years who had a history of heart attacks and/or heart disease.  They were specifically looking at the effects of omega 3 fats on aging and telomere length.

Telomeres are DNA complexes on the ends of chromosomes.  Researcher Elizabeth Blackburn compares telomeres to the tips at the ends of new shoelaces which preventing unraveling.  As the telomeres shorten the ends unravel and this unraveling has been linked with aging.

Individuals who had higher levels of omega 3 fats in their blood had significantly less shortening of their telomeres than those who who had low levels.  The study did not differentiate between food or supplements.

What is the take home message for us?  Many people take multiple medications and/or supplements to prevent aging.  If you eat fatty fish 3-4 times a week you may be adding years to your life.  If fish is not in your diet I recommend you take a good quality fish oil supplement with at least 500-1000 mg. each of the omega 3 fats DHA and EPA.  By eating 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed you will easily be getting  your needs for the third omega 3 fat – ALA.  Remember it’s prevention, not prescription.

AuthorSusan Dopart | Comment2 Comments |
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Sunday
Nov222009

Omega-3 Fats versus Statin Drugs?

DateSunday, November 22, 2009 at 3:37PM

You may have heard those four dreaded words from your physician:  “Your cholesterol is elevated." Then the next feared sentence – “I would like you to consider going on a statin drug.”  Statin drugs are ones like Mevacor, Lipitor, and Crestor.  The drug companies prefer most people to be on one.  A few years back the guidelines magically changed for the optimal value for LDL (the lousy cholesterol as I like to call it).  It is now recommended that the LDL value be below 70 versus the old recommendation of 100 mg/dl.

It is almost impossible to have an LDL value below 70 WITHOUT being on a statin drug – presto!  However, are there alternatives to statin drugs and what is the research showing?

A 2008 study published in The Lancet looked at the difference between statin drugs versus supplements of omega-3 fatty acids on heart failure.  After almost four years of follow-up, the group taking the omega-3 supplements reduced the risk of mortality by 9 percent and admission to the hospital for any cardiovascular cause by 8 percent.

There were no differences seen in lowered risk of mortality or hospital admissions in the group on statin therapy.  Therefore, the omega 3 supplements were more effective than the statin drugs.  What are omega 3 fatty acids and how do they work?

There are 3 types of omega 3 fats:  ALA, DHA and EPA.  I will spare you the long names but will share with you where they are found and how to incorporate them into your diet.  ALA is found in the highest concentration in ground flax seed.  If you incorporate 1 tablespoon per day into your diet you will meet you needs for ALA. 

DHA and EPA are found in fish and fish oils.  If you consume fatty fish on a regular basis (2-3 times per week) you can easily meet your needs.  If you are not a fish lover, there are liquid fish oils that are easy to incorporate into a smoothie, yogurt and just take by themselves.

Omega 3 fats are extremely effective at lowering all kinds of inflammation in the body including cholesterol and heart disease.  Combined with a balanced healthy diet of lean protein sources, fruits, vegetables, and exercise there are many alternatives to going on statin drugs.

So if you ever hear those 4 dreaded words from your physician know you have a choice and omega 3 fats may be one of the answers.  Or better yet, be prepared in advance and make the necessary changes before you have to have a cholesterol conversation with your physician.   And remember – it is prevention not prescription!

AuthorSusan Dopart | Comment3 Comments |
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