"Bone strengthening" drugs associated with numerous side effects

When reading this notice for medical practitioners from Medsafe, please bear in mind that what is being advised applies to all "bone-sparing" drugs of the bisphosphonate class, including the Fosamax which, among other brands, is the subject of thousands of court actions in the USA.
http://blog.garymoller.com/search/label/fosamax-lawsuits

I use the phrase "bone-sparing" with extreme cynicism because just two of this class of drug are blamed for causing 31,500 femur and hip fractures in the USA alone!

Bear in mind that less than 10% of adverse reactions ever get reported.

Read on and read the links I have provided.  As I said in an earlier article, "You would have to be nuts to be taking these".

Key Messages

• Patients who are treated with zoledronic acid can experience acute phase reactions.
• Symptoms include fever, diffuse musculoskeletal pain, gastrointestinal effects, and eye inflammation.
• The risk of renal reactions can be prevented by keeping patients adequately hydrated prior to and following infusions.

Acute Phase Reactions

Zoledronic acid (marketed as Aclasta and Zometa in New Zealand) is a bisphosphonate administered to patients by intravenous infusion. Prescribers are reminded that patients may experience an acute phase response or adverse effects on renal function following administration.

Acute phase reactions may present with the following symptoms: chills, fever, influenza-like symptoms, night sweats, rigors and shivering, diffuse musculoskeletal pain, gastrointestinal effects, and eye inflammation¹.

Acute phase responses can occur at any time up to approximately two weeks following an infusion¹. The majority of patients will experience symptoms within the first three days after an infusion¹. These reactions are usually self-limiting and resolve completely within 24 to 48 hours². However, in some patients symptoms may persist for longer periods.

Supportive and symptomatic management with paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is recommended, once other serious causes of fever such as infection have been excluded². Pre-treatment with paracetamol or ibuprofen may also be helpful for some patients².

Renal Reactions

Renal reactions can also occur shortly after infusion. Adequate hydration can help to reduce the risk of renal deterioration after a zoledronic acid infusion^4–6. Renal deterioration, progression to renal failure and dialysis has been reported in patients following the initial dose of zoledronic acid⁵.

If patients show signs of renal function decline after infusion, the benefits and risks of harm of continued treatment should be evaluated.

Factors which may increase the risk of renal deterioration following zoledronic acid infusions are:

• dehydration
• pre-existing renal impairment
• multiple cycles of zoledronic acid or other bisphosphonates
• concomitant use of nephrotoxic drugs
• a shorter infusion time than recommended.

Bisphosphonates are also associated with ocular inflammatory effects such as uveitis and scleritis³. Ocular complications are uncommon. However, patients should be advised to seek immediate medical attention if they experience any ocular symptoms while being treated with a bisphosphonate.

The Centre for Adverse Reaction Monitoring (CARM) has received 153 reports of musculoskeletal adverse reactions starting within one month after a zoledronic acid infusion. CARM also received 26 reports of ocular adverse reactions and 33 reports of urinary adverse reactions within one month following an infusion.

Healthcare professionals are encouraged to report all suspicions of medicine adverse reactions to CARM.

References

1. Reid IR, Gamble GD, Mesenbrink P, et al. 2010. Characterization of and risk factors for the acute-phase response after zoledronic acid. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism 95: 4380–4387.
2. Tanvetyanon T, Stiff PJ. 2006. Management of the adverse effects associated with intravenous bisphosphonates. Annals of oncology 17: 897–907.
3. Medsafe. 2011. Reminder: Keeping an eye on bisphosphonates. Prescriber Update 32(3): 24. URL: www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/BisphosphonatesSept2011.htm (accessed 19 May 2015).
4. Attivi D, Kosmalski G, Zeghmouli C, et al. 2014. Effect of intravenous hydration in patients receiving bisphosphonate therapy. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy 36: 1277–1281.
5. Novartis New Zealand Limited. 2014. Zometa Data Sheet. 21 October 2014. URL: www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/z/Zometaconcinf.pdf (accessed 19 May 2015).
6. Novartis New Zealand Limited. 2014. Aclasta Data Sheet. 8 October 2014. URL: www.medsafe.govt.nz/profs/datasheet/a/Aclastainf.pdf (accessed 19 May 2015).

Source of release:
http://medsafe.govt.nz/profs/PUArticles/June2015/June2015ZoledronicAcid.htm


Further reading:
http://blog.garymoller.com/search/label/fosamax

 About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Do you think her bone density is at a safe level, given that she is currently running and cycling in an attempt to lose weight?

Readers of Walking Magazine strike me as being intensely interested in health.  Especially as it relates to getting older.

As we get older we typically lose muscle, lose bone, dry out while gaining fat and weight.  Depressing as this might be, much of this decline is as much to do with controllable factors as it is to do with true "Ageing".  I am talking about controllable factors such as nutritional imbalances, medication side effects and lack of exercise (and sometimes too much exercise!).

We can measure our rate of physical decline - and its reversal - by the use of Bioelectrical Impedence Analysis (BIA) technology which is now available, embedded in bathroom weighing scales.  I have now done thousands of assessments of body composition (Weight, muscle, fat, water and bone) using this technology.  I sell these machines, the Salter 9106, for $99.89 delivered within NZ so that my clients can self-monitor their progress to health and fitness.  many people have these machines sitting idly in their bathrooms.  Its time to put them to good use!

The following is a letter from a Walking Magazine reader who has some questions about BIA which I want to share with other readers (Name withheld and personal identifying information has been removed).

"Hi Gary,

I lent my BIA scales to XXXX who's trying to lose weight and was somewhat alarmed at her bone reading of 1.9 kg. I've just read over your article and see that she falls within the 'normal' range, however I still feel that this number is too low. Here are her other stats:

Salter 9106 BIA Scales

• age: 42, 
• height: 165 cm, 
• weight: 87.4 kg, 
• fat: 39.7 %, 
•  bone: 1.9 kg, 
• water: 44.5 %, 
• muscle: 34.7 %. 

She has a history of competitive racing (marathons and triathlons).....
Do you think her bone density is at a safe level, given that she is currently running and cycling in an attempt to lose weight?

Kind regards."

______________________________

Gary:

BIA (Bio Impedance Analysis) works by passing a weak current through the body.  With the help of some nifty technology that senses the way the current is "impeded" by water, bone and fat, and with the help some smart mathematical algorithms, BIA weighing scales can work out quite accurately the makeup of a person's body.

The BIA scales being used, in this case, are the Salter 9106 model which I have found to be simple to use, affordable and consistently accurate for home use.  Here are two key points to bear in mind when using BIA scales for monitoring body composition:

1 Use Athlete Mode only

There are two modes: "Athlete" and "Sedentary".  Use "Athlete Mode" only even if the person is currently sedentary: We are all athletes in waiting!  The reason for using one mode only is because the machine makes some arbitrary changes between the two and confusion can be caused if one switches from one mode to the other.

2 Repeat Measure on the same day of week at the same time of day

One reading, on its own, can be misleading.  Repeat the weigh-in on a weekly basis at the same time of the day wearing minimum clothing each time and record the readings.  This helps you to detect and discard any outliers and enables you to see trends in body composition changes, such as the gradual loss of fat as a percentage of total weight.

Now, some observations about your friend's body composition

(I am assuming that the scales have been set in "Athlete" mode.)

1. Body Fat Percent: At 39% she is carrying several excess kilograms.  A healthy body less percent for a female is about 25%.  A very fit woman may be as low as 15% fat. Less than 15% and the woman must take great care with her nutrition to ensure she remains in good health.
2. Bone Mass: The BIA measure of bone is of estimated mass in kilograms: Not bone density.  In my experience, an estimated bone mass of 1.9 Kg is fine and does not in any way represent increased risk of fracture.  As an aside, bone mass and bone density are not accurate predictors of fracture risk (Take note that this statement applies, as well, to X-ray densitometry such as the Dexa-Scan).  Bone is living tissue, not inanimate chalk.  The key to strong bones is partly to do with how much bone one has in relation to body weight; but a much greater factors are how well nourished the body is to fuel the constant processes of bone remodeling that respond unceasingly to the physical stresses upon the body and the presence of drugs such as asthma steroid medication and bisphosphonates which can thin and weaken bones.  Better predictors of fracture risk include: Poor balance, being obese, poor leg muscle strength and the use of prescription drugs such as for blood pressure.
3. How to use BIA scales to monitor health: As a person's health improves, there is a percent increase in water and muscle, while there will be a decrease in fat percent.  Bone will increase by 1-200 grams; but over a long time - months and years - not weeks.  It is possible to improve these measures regardless of age.  In fact, I find that some of the most dramatic improvements happen in people well past 60 years.  It is best to take readings weekly as outlined earlier and chart the results using a computer programme such as Excel.

 

As a general rule: The slower and the more steady the rate of improvement in measures of body composition, the more likely those gains will be lasting, rather than being transitory!

 

How can she improve her body composition?

Lose weight - Then run

 In my opinion, running when carrying several excess kilograms of fat is simply not enjoyable. and carries with it a high level of risk of stress injury.  Rather than running, your friend would be better off doing a mix of brisk walking, cycling and other activities for the upper body such as swimming. 

What she eats is very important

I have found that weight loss through calorie restriction usually ends in disappointment with any lost weight quickly regained.  Lasting fat loss is best achieved by a diet that is not unduly calorie restrictive and which is rich in protein, fats (including animal fats such as butter), plenty of vegetables (70% of them cooked, the rest raw), while being relatively low in sugars and carbohydrates, including most fruits.  The best time to eat fruit and carbohydrates when trying to lose fat is before and after exercise.  Processed foods that claim to be 99% fat free are best avoided because they are likely to be rich sources of hidden carbohydrates which, when in excess, are converted into fat by the liver.

Generally, the more that one eats in the way of quality food, the more one can exercise and the more energy one burns even while at rest.  The result is a gradual loss of excess fat, an increase in muscle, bone and water and one feels great!

Calorie restriction diets tend to fail miserably

Calorie restriction, such as low fat diets, tend to shut down the metabolism while at rest and tend to make exercise an unpleasant effort.  Generally, one must compensate for the lack of available energy by backing off on the intensity and volume of exercise.  People on calorie restriction diets tend to feel very tired throughout the day.  Any weight loss may include loss of muscle and even bone, as well as some fat - Not good!  Hence, calorie restriction weight loss programmes tend to have a very poor track record.

Looking at the body composition results, I wonder if your friend is suffering from "burnout"?

Have you ever wondered what happens to "retired" marathon runners and triathletes?

These athletes seldom retire: Most grind to a painful and very tired halt!  Like dying elephants, they quietly leave the herd, disappearing into the thick undergrowth, never to be seen again.  The attention of the masses, meanwhile, is on the next up and coming youthful champion.

Burnout is a  modern epidemic constituting at least 80% of my business and most common in older active people.  Other than feeling constantly tired and constantly getting sick there are physical signs of burnout that include fat gain, loss of muscle and bone and suffering one niggling injury after another.

If this appears to be the case with your friend, it would be advisable to consult a natural health practitioner for advice about what to do while keeping the exercise at a relatively low intensity for the time being.

If you do purchase a Salter 9106 BIA scale off me, then email (gary@garymoller.com) your readings and questions and I will give some advice and guidance.

 

About this website 

The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Candida and Fungal Infections? Gary Moller recommends you explore this programme: Click Here!

Muscle strength linked to magnesium in older adults

PALERMO, ITALY.

Magnesium is central to human health as it plays a role in a wide range of activities on the cellular level. A deficiency can lead to muscle weakness, fatigue and insomnia. This nutrient may therefore be essential for maintaining muscle strength throughout life.

Evidence from athletes supports a role for magnesium in avoiding damage to muscle cells. Muscle mass and function can be compromised in older age, a condition known as sarcopenia.
Researchers from the University of Palermo investigated the relationship between sarcopenia
and magnesium status.

Magnesium status was found to be significantly related to each of the measures of muscle strength - grip strength, lower-leg muscle power, knee rotation, and ankle strength.

_________________________

Gary Moller comments:

Depending on the study, around 70% of adults do not get enough magnesium in their diets to remain healthy. Hard exercise, emotional stress, injury, illness and various medications boost our daily requirements.

Few athletes would not benefit from supplemeting their diets with this mineral which is their principal protection from muscle cramps.

Magnesium has an important role, working with other nutrients including vitamin D, for prostate, blood pressure and bone health.

Programmes to reduce falls in the elderly are a wasted exercise if nutrition (including Mg intake) is poor because physical strength can not be created out of thin air. Any gains will be temporary, impossible to sustain for long.

Magnesium supplementation is cheap and very safe. Up to 800mg of total Mg can be safely taken per day depending on need.

Kiwis Hand Hygiene Habits And Attitudes Worrying

Monday, 17 April 2006, 1:27 pm
Press Release: TNS Research 16 April 2006

Kiwis Hand Hygiene Habits And Attitudes Worrying Given Threat Of Viral Pandemic

New research indicates that New Zealanders are not cleaning their hands well enough to stop the spread of disease.

Gary Moller comments:
This is hardly a surprise, since the teaching and practice of hand washing during childhood is a farce. If people do not have this essential habit in place during their formative years, it is unlikely that it ever will be. The sad fact is that childcare facilities and schools are physically and financially unable to provide proper hand washing training for children.

Here is what I have written about hand washing in the past. Go to this PDF, download it and then click on the link to "I wash my hands - Yeah right!" Enjoy the read

Magnesium may be more important than calcium for preventing otseoporosis

I have always wondered why it is that a country like NZ with its massive consumption of calcium coantining dairy products has such high rates of osteoporosis. We might now know why. The answer might be that we have been barking up the wrong tree. The problem is not with calcium intake but deficiency in the other things that allow the body to make good use of calcium. This might explain the low rates of osteoporosis in populations that have relatively low calcium intakes but little apparent osteoporosis.

According to a recent study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, the best way to increase bone mineral density in the bones of adolescent girls is to increase their dietary intake of magnesium through foods and supplementation.

I have found, in my consultations with clients that there is widespread magnesium deficiency, causing problems with cramp, blood pressure problems, fatigue and so on.

The researchers recruited healthy adolescent girls whose daily dietary magnesium intakes were lower than 220 milligrams. The girls were randomly assigned to receive either 300 milligrams of magnesium oxide or placebo for one year. Throughout the course of the study, the researchers measured bone mineral content (BMC) changes in certain sites in the girls' bodies. At the end of the year, the girls' bone mineral content, particularly in the hips, was significantly higher than it was at the beginning of the study in the magnesium-supplement group.



Good food sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, meats, and nuts but this assumes that they are gown in soils that have not been depeleted of magnesium and other trace minerals. We can safely take up to 800mg of magnesium per day.

Products from www.myotec.co.nz that contain plenty of magnesium include:
Calcium Complete
Phyto Calcium
Sports Multi
Magnesium Complete
Cramp Buster
Chrometate Multi-mineral
Red Seal Magnesium Mineral Drink

A factor that is essential for proper use of minerals like magnesium and calcium is vitamin D. The only way of determining if vitamin D levels are adequate is by a blood test. The optimum for health is from 120-160mmol and so far the nearest to that of those I have had tested has been a leading NZ marathon ruinner who returned a result of 106nm/l/L. Our sun scare policies are working - to our detriment.

How to interpret your vitamin D results

Over the last year, I have had many people obtain blood tests through their doctor or specialist for vitamin D levels. This test is often not easy to obtain with some doctors refusing outright to order the test, or charging the patient extra to get it done which is outrageous.

What I can tell you is every test result - without exception - has come back as either clinically deficient, or not far off. Nobody, including me, has produced a result anywhere near optimum. If a person is suffering ill health such as depression, low energy, viral infection, heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, muscle and joint pain and so on and so on, then nothing less than optimum is acceptable as far as vitamin D is concerned.

Whenever you are addressing a health issue: "Normal" is not necessarily "Healthy". Always find out what is "Optimal" and go for that and settle for nothing less

When interpreting Lab test results for Vitamin D:

Optimal 25-hydroxy vitamin D values are:

45-50 ng/ml or 115-128 nmol/l

Normal 25-hydroxy vitamin D lab values are:

20-56 ng/ml 50-140 nmol/l

Your vitamin D levels should NEVER be below 32 ng/ml, or the equivalent in nmol/l. Any levels below 20 ng/ml are considered serious defiency states and will increase your risk of breast and prostate cancer, osteoporosis and autoimmune diseases like MS and rheumatoid arthritis - to name a few.

(Reference: Holick MF. Calcium and Vitamin D. Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Clin Lab Med. 2000 Sep;20(3):569-90)

Warfarin linked with brain bleeds

"Warfarin is often prescribed to prevent blood clotting and help combat the most common type of stroke, known as ischemic stroke. However, warfarin itself has been linked to intracerebral brain hemorrhage, another type of stroke caused by ruptured blood vessels and subsequent bleeding in the brain." (Click on the title for the full article).
_________________________________
Gary Moller comments:
As with most medicines, the full extent of adverse side effects goes largely unnoticed. This is because there is usually no direct link between taking a drug and the adversity.

For example (A real one), a dentist may be conducting a routine tooth extraction to be horrified to find that a chunk of dead jaw bone comes out with the tooth! Of course this means the patient is in real trouble. The condition is called osteonecrosis for which there is no effective treatment. Tests are completed, specialists are consulted and there is no reason for this happening in a 50'ish patient. The only suspiscion the dentist has is that the patient has been taking Warfarin (rat poison) for a decade for a heart condition; but the association is dismissed by the experts.

Here is my take on what is happening: The Warfarin is causing micro-bleeding into the bone of the jaw. Why it shows mostly in the jaw is because the jaw is constantly stressed by the action of chewing on the teeth, thus causing the micro bleeds. Bone is very sensitive to bleeding - the delicate bone cells die off similar to what happens when taking biphosphenates that cause "Fossy Jaw".

My experience is that the majority of people I come across who have been placed on Warfarin need not be on it and non drugs strategies should first have been explored and exhausted.

If for example a patient has atrial fibrilations that may increase risk of a clot that might settle in the brain, how about a course of:

• Fish oil plus vitamin E to stabilise the heart electrical activity and condition the blood to reduce clotting risk
• A multi mineral with magnesium and calcium that relax the heart, nerves and stabilise blood pressure
• A course to learn to breathe properly using the diaphragm and thus stabilise body PH - over-breathing is known to cause heart irregularities that can be so severe as to be mistaken for a heart attack
• Sunbathing to increase vitmamin D levels to at least 120 nmol - low vit D is associated with heart disease (Have you had a blood test for your own vitamin D yet?)

Should these fail to brig about a resolution after about 21 days then the option of medication can be considered.

Why did Arnold Schwarzenegger break his femur?

How could such a strong, big-boned man who has pumped iron all his life break a femur by tripping and falling onto a ski pole?

News: Dec. 23 was Arnold Schwarzenegger's turn to become a Bald Mountain statistic.
According to reports, the accident sounds to have been something of a fluke. Skiing with family members and friend Adi Erber of Ketchum, Schwarzenegger simply slipped, according to Erber.

"His pole got caught underneath his ski, and he tripped over it," Erber said. "He fell on his ski pole, and the impact broke his femur."
By GREG STAHL and JODY ZARKOS Idaho Mountain Express
_______________________________________

Gary Moller comments:
What is so remarkable about Arnold Schwarzenegger is the fact that he is still alive. Let me explain why:

It is no secret at all that Arnold Schwartzenegger's body was honed with more than a liberal concoction of anabolic steroids. The list of longterm health effects is long and terrifying. A common cause of premature death among athletes who abuse steroids is liver cancer.

Body building and heart disease
The heart problems that are associated with body building are interesting: What happens when the skeletal muscles are artificially swelled by anabolic steroids, is the heart muscle does the same. The problem with this is the heart is a ball of muscle and, as it swells its ability to contract and expand to pump blood can be seriously compromised. It simply can't fill and empty its chambers properly. An accompanying factor in stressing the heart when body building is the loss of flexibility of the arteries and excessive over-development of the left ventricle of the heart from excessive straining that comes from repeatedly lifting heavy weights. This is because the systolic blood pressure rises enormously when straining with heavy weights. Coming on top of all of this are the dietary extremes, including deliberate dehydration that a body builder resorts to. These practices are downright unhealthy and contribute to heart disease and kidney problems.

Do you remember Olympic sprint champion Florence Griffith Joyner, who was only 38 when she died in her sleep of an apprarent heart attack? Controversy still surrounds her cause of death.

It is a commonly held view in the fitness industry that body builders, despite their huge cut muscles, are the most unhealthy group of people you'll find in a gym.

It therefore comes as no surprise that Arnold Schwarzenegger's physical appearance and health have deteriorated so dramatically since turning 50. He required, as I understand it, heart valve replacement in his early 50's. It is standard to prescribe blood thinners like warfarin or heparin post heart valve surgery and this may have something to do with his fractured thigh. Read on...

Arnold's latest health problem: Is it osteoporosis?
What is interesting about Arnold Schwarzenegger's skiing accident is how innocuous the fall appeared to be. Its the kind of fall that happens to klutzy skiers like me all the time. Apparently, he was stationary, tripped on his pole and fell landing with his thigh across it - "SNAP!" That's not the sort of thing that should happen to a 50'ish ex-athlete who has pumped iron like crazy all his life.

One of the consequences of longterm use of drugs like heparin and warfarin is osteoporosis. It would be interesting to know if he is on any of these drugs for his heart condition. He should be.

The lessons from this short story:

Do not take chemical shortcuts to achieve your goals - do not cheat; there are few medical drugs that can be taken long-term without the risk of serious secondary consequences; and these side effects may never be related back to the real causative agent.

Oh! - And don't smoke, even if you are being paid by the big tobacco companies to help them addict young fans. Remember the fate of the real Marlborough Man (He died young of lung cancer).

Fossy Jaw - jawbone death, bone decay, or jaw rot

"As potent inhibitors of osteoclast activity, the nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates might retard skeletal repair processes associated with trauma to or infection of the oral mucosa that involves the underlying bone. Since the jawbones are in constant use and are characterized by active remodeling, bisphosphonates might accumulate there preferentially, resulting in concentrations that exceed those found elsewhere in the skeleton. "
______________________________________
Gary Moller comments:
Losing your jaw is not pleasant. More to the point: horrific!

While this is the most commonly reported side-effect of these anti-osteoporosis drugs, I think this is only one of many possible adverse side effects that are coming to the fore. This class of drugs may be causing damage to arterial walls and kidney leading to early onset of cardiovascular disease of various forms and even dementia. Rather than preventing fractures, the longterm result may be more fractures and poor healing because the poor victim is left with old bone that does not heal.

These drugs have an estimated 1/2 life of 10 years, so if a user stopped today it could be as long as 20 years before the drug is completely eliminated.

Its not worth the risk taking these things. If you are diagnosed by a bone scan or blood test as having osteoporosis or close to it here is my advice:

• Challenge the accuracy of the test because these tests are more often unreliable than reliable.
• If you are small, the odds are the bone density test will have you with a low bone mineral density which is probably dead wrong.
• If you have been unwell or in hospital for any reason and your blood calcium levels are high (A reason for putting you on these drugs) and you are given a biphosphenate don't take it.
• Blood calcium goes through the roof if you are deprived of sunlight and unable to exercise - its a normal thing.
• Read Gillian Sanson's book about the Myth of Osteoporosis first.

Instead of taking these awful drugs that also cost a fortune:

• Insist on getting your vitamin D levels tested. If below 120 then:
• Get some sunlight on your back and tummy and thighs 3 times a week for about 10 minutes. Failing that, find a sunbed and get a few minutes that way (No burning and no excessive tanning please).
• Repeat the vitamin D test about 3 months later to see how you are going.
• Take a multi mineral like Calcium Complete daily and take cod liver oil.
• Cut right down on dairy and refined grains and eat your veges, especially ones like brocolli and cabbage.
• Walk briskly daily, do housework, dig the garden and lift light weights above your head.

Low vitamin D, depression, high blood pressure and the rest

"M" has been suffering excessively high blood pressure, a racing heart, poor energy and depression. In her early 80's she has been consulting her doctor. Other than blood pressure medicine, there has been little else her doctor can do for her.

At my urging over some months, she finally persuaded her doctor to test her vitamin D levels. The results have come back: her levels were just 15 - as good as zero - which means she is seriously deficient and at real risk of numerous ailments including osteoporosis, heart failure and various cancers and nervous conditions!
Optimum vitamin D levels are in excess of 100, so "M" has a lot of work to do. Her Dr has prescribed cholecalcitrol (vit D) and I am encouraging her to get outdoors into the sunshine (If only there was some in Wellington!).

So far, every person that I have had tested for vitamin D who are suffering health problems, such as chronic pain have come back with levels less than 60.

Why on earth don't doctors test for this critical vitamin more often? I just can not understand why not.

I will keep readers posted as to "M's" progress. In the meantime, go get your own levels tested.

Chiropractic News - Bones of Contention

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR CHIROPRACTORS AND CHIROPRACTIC
PATIENTS – BONES OF CONTENTION FROM THE WORLD OF RESEARCH
Editor’s Comment: "Estrogen supplementation was also thought for years to increase bone density, but many researchers now consider that it did this by inhibiting old bone removal (osteoclastic activity). So bone material would remain, but not be remodeled..."

To read the full commentary, follow the link above. Refer page 3

This editorial comments on a full reprint of my article "Let's place Granny on the suds". I am delighted that health professionals are beginning to talk about this important issue.

Wrist fractures in children on the increase due to lack of sunlight

The following extract is from the newsletter of the Vitamin D Council. It relates to my concerns about the harm we are doing to our children by keeping them out of the sun, especially our Polynesian and darker-skinned citizens for whom skin cancer is a non-issue.

To work out what are your Optimum Vitamin D levels to reduce risk of heart disease, cancer and auto immune diseases, go here
___________________________________________________
Photo: Jasmine and Alama Moller, dressing appropriately according to their skin type

Dear Dr. Cannell:

I have always been very protective of my children's health. I made sure they ate right, went to bed on time, and always wore sunblock. A few weeks ago, my 16 year old computer whiz son decided to start jogging instead of playing computer games all weekend. The very first day he came home with his right foot hurting and the doctor said the x-ray showed he had broken a bone in his foot, a "stress fracture," from jogging! He didn't step on anything or twist his ankle, it just broke for no reason. The doctor told him he should drink more milk but he drinks plenty of milk. What could have caused this?

April in Duluth, Minnesota

Dear April:

Your son had what I call a "Gilchrest fracture." About 30 years ago, dermatologists like Barbara Gilchrest at Boston University, began telling Americans, including children, to stay out of the sun, lather on the sunblock, and to "drink milk" if they are concerned about vitamin D. The problem is that your son would have to drink at least 40 glasses of milk a day to get enough vitamin D if he followed her sun-avoidance advice and it sounds like he did.

Gilchrest fractures are vitamin D deficiency fractures in healthy people that occur after normal activities. Two studies have clearly linked such fractures to low vitamin D levels. A recent Finnish study found Gilchrest fractures to be almost four times more likely in young soldiers with vitamin D levels below 30 ng/ml (75 nmol/L). An earlier study of Israeli soldiers showed the same thing. The surprising thing about both studies was none of the men were obviously vitamin D deficient, indicating - once again - that current lower limits of vitamin D blood levels are set too low and that serum 25(OH)D levels should be maintained at 50 - 70 ng/ml, year around.
Ruohola JP et al. Association between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and bone stress fractures in Finnish young men. J Bone Miner Res. 2006 Sep;21(9):1483-8.
Givon U et al. Stress fractures in the Israeli defense forces from 1995 to 1996. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2000 Apr;(373):227-32.

The rates of Gilchrest fractures, even in young people, have been steadily increasing over the last thirty years, since dermatologists have been handing out their pathological advice. For example, the incidence of fractured wrists in American kids went up 32% in boys and 56% in girls between the years 1970 and 2000.
Khosla S, et al. Incidence of childhood distal forearm fractures over 30 years: a population-based study. JAMA. 2003 Sep 17;290(11):1479-85.
A study in Great Britain showed a clear latitudinal variation with the lowest fracture rates in sunnier southeast England and the highest rates in of Gilchrest fractures in Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland.
Cooper C, et al. Epidemiology of childhood fractures in Britain: a study using the general practice research database. J Bone Miner Res. 2004 Dec;19(12):1976-81.

The good news is that your son only suffered a broken foot by following Professor Gilchrest's advice. As you will see below, others have lost their lives.

Warning about serious side effects of Warfarin

The US label for warfarin has been strengthened to include a black-box warning about the risk for major or fatal bleeding.SIDE EFFECTS: The two most serious side effects are bleeding and necrosis (gangrene) of the skin. Bleeding can occur in any organ or tissue. Bleeding around the brain can cause severe headache and paralysis. Bleeding in the joints can cause joint pain and swelling. Bleeding in the stomach or intestines can cause weakness, fainting spells, black tarry stools, vomiting of blood, or coffee ground material. Bleeding in the kidneys can cause back pain and blood in urine. Other side effects include purple, painful toes, rash, hair loss, bloating, diarrhea, and jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin). Signs of overdose include bleeding gums, bruising, nosebleeds, heavy menstrual bleeding, and prolonged bleeding from cuts.
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Gary Moller comments:
I have referred to this widely prescribed cardio medication in the past as "rat poison" and we are now seeing plenty of evidence why it should never be given to humans.

Only a fraction of the complications resulting from prescription medications ever get to be reported, so when the authorities start requesting special warnings be placed on the packaging of a pharmaceutical, we should take heed. The problem/threat is probably much larger than it appears.

Most complications are so subtle and take so long to manifest that the association may never be noticed, let alone proven. While the big side effects may be fatal, it is the subtle ones that are the most prevalent and often they go un-noticed and are never recorded. If you take careful note of the list of complications above from taking Warfarin (especially the section that I have highlighted for you), you will not be surprised to learn what I am about to tell you:

The osteoporosis drug, Fosamax is associated with "Fossy Jaw" or death of the bone of the jaw, a horrific disease for which there is no effective treatment. Well, it may not be just Fosamax: I can tell you that Warfarin may be producing similar cases of bone death, possibly the result of chronic micro-bleeding into the bone. I am aware of one case where this appears to be happening with the result that this unfortunate person is steadily losing his jaw bones; but these matters are difficult to prove, as I mentioned earlier. What is most astonishing about this horrific case is he is still being prescribed the Warfarin! This stuff is what horror movies are made out of.

If you want effective alternatives to rat poison to reduce cardiovascular risk, try a daily Kiwi Fruit, fish oil, vitamin E, the B Group of vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C, plus your usual fruit and veges.

Oh! I almost forgot - and exercise.

Rickets on the increase

Waikato Seeing An Increase In Rickets,10 Oct 2006
Doctors in Waikato say they are concerned about an increase in the number of cases of rickets in children.The disease can cause severe bone deformities, including bowed legs and is caused by a lack of vitamin D which is mainly obtained by sunlight.Although rickets is usually associated with poorer nations, Dr John Goldsmith from Waikato Hospital says the condition seems to be becoming more common in New Zealand.He says that could be because children are not regularly given vitamins and are staying out of the sun more, probably due to skin cancer campaigns.
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Gary Moller comments:
This report comes on the tail of a recent study here in Wellington showing an upsurge in rickets among South Wellington children. These are the very same kids that I published a picture of a few years ago because school policy did not allow them to go outside on bleak Wellington days without being covered up (Many of these kids are of Northe African descent, so sunburn is hardly and issue!). I have been going on about this for years and it is only now when disabling ailments are afflicting our kids that we get any kind of acknowledegement from these experts that running about without being covered from head to toe might be a healthy behaviour. The evidence has been out there for decades that raising our kids in dark caves and not allowing them to play and be active outdoors is not good for them.

Sunlight is essential for health; but professional myopia continues to predominate. For example; it continues to be ignored that exposure to sunlight during adolescence may reduce breast cancer risk by up to 50%. As I have said before, if a drug were invented that was as effective as sunlight, it would be a media and health profession sensation. But sunlight is free.

I was listening to Dr Goldsmith doing a radio interview about rickets a few minutes ago and, while he referred to the importance of sunlight and exercise, his parting comment was to suggest vitamin D pills for kids! This is both ridiculous and unsafe and further sets out to medicalise an entire generation of healthy people. It is easy to overdose with vitamin D medication; whereas production via sunlight is self-regulating. A person taking vitamin D pills needs regular blood tersts to ensure there is no overdosing.

Medicating kids normalises the taking of pills and this is highly undesirable for their futures especially when it does not deal with the underlying issues - lack of wholsome exercise outdoors.

Fosamax Side Effects May Include 'Dead Jaw'

"Fosamax, one of the most-prescribed drugs in America, causes bone death in some patients, even though it was prescribed to prevent bone loss in women and men with osteoporosis".

To read the whole terrifying article, click on the linked title above.
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Gary Moller comments:
The prescribing of bisphoshonates to millions of people worldwide is an uncontrolled medical experiment on a scale never seen before.

The estimated half life of these drugs is 10 years. This means that 50% of the drug that is trapped within the body tissues will still be there 10 years later if the user stopped taking it today. It will take as long as 20 years to rid the system completely of the drug residue which poisons bone cells. This amounts to a life sentence for most people who are on these drugs.

In my opinion, we are witnessing the beginnings of what may become history's largest global medical disaster. Bookmark my newsfeeder on the topic and watch it unfold before your eyes.

Low vitamin D levels linked to increased risk of falling in elderly populations

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older men and women with vitamin D deficiency are more likely to fall multiple times in the course of a year than their peers with adequate vitamin D levels, researchers in The Netherlands have found. Vitamin D may be best known for its role, along with calcium, in maintaining bone health. However, vitamin D is also important for muscle mass and strength, and compromised muscle function may explain the fall risk seen in this study, according to the researchers. The findings suggest that older adults should be sure to get adequate vitamin D from food and multivitamins, lead study author Dr. Marieke B. Snijder, of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, told Reuters Health. However, she added, clinical trials are needed to prove that this actually prevents falls. Snijder and her colleagues report their findings in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. For their study, the researchers measured blood levels of vitamin D in 1,231 adults age 65 and older, then followed them for one year to track any falls they suffered. During that time, 33 percent fell at least once, according to "fall calendars" that each participant kept. Just over 11 percent fell two or more times. Overall, men and women who were deficient in vitamin D at the outset were 78 percent more likely than those with adequate levels to fall at least twice. Their risk of falling three or more times was more than doubled.
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Gary Moller comments:
Notice that the good researcher conveniently omitted to recommend sunlight as a source of vitamin D! Is it because it is not PC to make such recommendations?

I am currently investigating falls prevention programmes in NZ, of which there are a couple. The Otago exercise programme to prevent falls in older adults is a well researched example that reduces falls injuries by about 35% in over 65's.

While I am impressed with the programme's format and content, I am dismayed that none of the programmes I have looked at so far, this one included, seem to pay any attention at all to assessing participants' nutritional status (including vitamin D) and then correcting any identified deficiencies. When up to 90% of some elderly populations are nutritionally deficient in some way, assessing the nutritional status of elderly populations who are at high risk of falling would seem an obvious thing to do. But it isn't. With regards to vitamin D, it is hardly ever tested. When was the last time you had it done?

If an elderly person is, say, vitamin D deficient, low in dietary protein, anaemic or washed out of essential minerals and vitamins, then no amount of exercise therapy is going to work all that well. While there may be initial gains, this is hardly likely to be sustained and the individual will quickly back-slide. Strong bodies are not created out of thin air - they need good food to be built and to then be maintained over the long term.

I have demonstrated many times with elderly people under my care that it is possible to double their physical work capacity in as little as 12 weeks by taking a comprehensive approach to their care, including tidying their nutrition.

Osteoporosis and Active People

Osteoporosis is one of the most widely publicised health problems worldwide and drugs to counter the condition are now one of the most widely prescribed medicines. I am researching the condition and I want to hear from active people, male as well as female, who have been told that they have osteoporosis or are being treated for stress fractures.

If you are an active person and being treated, or have been treated for osteoporosis (weak bones, thin bones, chalky bones, stress fractures) please tell me your story.

Calcium and Vitamin D Deficiency linked to PMS

A study conducted by the University of Massachusetts in Amherst that stated women with a higher intake of calcium and vitamin D are at a lower risk for the anxiety, depression, headaches and abdominal cramps associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
The report said up to 20 percent of women experience symptoms severe enough to meet the definition of premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, including anxiety, depression, headaches and abdominal cramps. The study looked at the diets and supplement use of 1,057 women aged 27 to 44 years who reported developing PMS over the course of 10 years. The same data was compared to that taken from another group of 1,968 women who reported having no symptoms of PMS or only minimal symptoms.
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Gary Moller Comments: The list of ailments that has vitamin D deficiency implicated as a leading factor grows by the day. If you are a woman who suffers unduly from PMS, go see your Dr and ask to have your vitamin D levels tested. If the reult that comes back is less than 50, you definitely have something to work on. If your Dr wants you to take a vitamin D pill, consider the natural alternative first. The way Nature intened is to go and sunbathe a few minutes each side 3-4 times a week.

Sunbathing is a safe way to boost your D levels because your body has natural mechanisms for limiting over-production from sunlight. These mechanisms do not work with medication. Take care not to sunburn and get your D levels retested at regular intervals so that you know how effective your measures are.