Clinical Pearls

In the late 1940s, the steroid cortisone, an anti-inflammatory drug, was first synthesized and hailed as a landmark. Cortisone shots became one of the preferred treatments for overuse injuries of tendons, like tennis elbow or an aching Achilles, which had been notoriously resistant to treatment. The shots were quite effective, providing rapid relief of pain.

Even though an article in the '50s pointed out some negative aspects of cortisone, today cortisone shots remain a standard, much-requested treatment for tennis elbow and other tendon problems.

A recent review article in The Lancet raises questions on cortisone safety and efficacy. The review looked at the results of 48 randomized trials, covering thousands of people with tendon injuries including tennis elbow and Achilles-tendon pain. Over all, people who received cortisone shots had short term pain relief but a much lower rate of full recovery than those who did nothing or who underwent physical therapy. They also had a 63 percent higher risk of relapse. Those people receiving multiple injections may be at particularly high risk for continuing damage.

Exposure to sulfites is a common cause of excessive inflammation and pain. Unfortunately, sulfites are all too common. Various sulfites are widely used in potato salad (as a preservative), salad bars (to keep the vegetables looking fresh), dried fruits (sulfites keep dried apricots orange), wine, and some medications.

Sulfoxidation

Sulfoxidation is the process by which the sulfur-containing molecules in drugs and foods are metabolized. It is also the process by which the body eliminates the sulfite food additives used to preserve many foods and drugs. Normally, the enzyme sulfite oxidase metabolizes sulfites to safer sulfates, which are then excreted in the urine. Those with a poorly functioning sulfoxidation system, however, have an increased ratio of sulfite to sulfate in their urine. Such people are more sensitive to sulfur-containing drugs and foods containing sulfur or sulfite additives. Those with a faulty sulfite oxidase system could experience sulfite accumulation causing unpleasant symptoms like joint inflammation and pain, asthma, nasal and sinus congestion, rhinitis, postnasal drip, frontal headache and bronchospasm.

Molybdenum and Sulfites

Molybdenum, an important trace mineral, is a component of sulfite oxidase, the enzyme that breaks down sulfite toxin build-ups in the body. Because of its critical role in sulfite metabolism, molybdenum supplementation should be considered for those experiencing symptoms of sulfite toxicity, especially joint inflammation and pain, or for those who consume high levels of sulfites. Supplementation with molybdenum may help maintain a healthy ratio of sulfites to sulfates. Sulfites can be measured in the urine, and used as a means of monitoring symptom correlation with molybdenum supplementation.

Persistent Organic Pollutants
One study recently in the news looked at persistent organic pollutant (POP) levels in the U.S. food supply.This study, conducted by cientists at the University of Texas School of Public Health,showed that there are chemicals like Perfluourinated Compounds (PFCs), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)and pesticides like DDT found in many types of food, even though their use has been banned. All of these chemicals have been shown to have toxic effects, including decreased fertility, cancer, and hindered neurologic development.

The study found total daily consumption of DDTs was 263 ng/day, mainly from dairy products. The daily consumption of other chemicals was lower, with PCBs at 33 ng/day. While none of these individual levels exceed EPA limits, as the researches point out, we dont yet know the effects of being exposed to many organic pollutants simultaneously. Read more:

Article on PCBs & Other Chemicals in Food
Article on PCBs in Food & Feed
Organophosphates

Organophosphates are one of the many types of chemicals we are exposed to in our daily lives. These insecticides, chemically similar to "nerve gas" used in WWII, kill insects by attacking their nervous systems. Organophosphates are used on farms as well as for home use to kill or repel mosquitoes, ants, cockroaches and other household and garden pests. These chemicals have been known to cause serious health problems affecting normal brain, reproductive, and other body developments including cancer.

Read more:

Omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in fish oil supplements may reduce the risk of breast cancer by almost 32%, as determined by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. They followed 35,016 post-menopausal women who had no history of breast cancer. Each woman was asked to fill out a pre-study questionnaire about their use of non-vitamin, non-mineral specialty
supplements. The women were then followed for an average of six years. They found that women who regularly used fish oil supplements had a 32 percent reduced risk of developing the most common form of breast cancer. Of the total number of women in the study, 880 developed the disease.

The Fred Hutchinson PERQUE Triple Cancer Center study was part of a larger 10-year study that is looking at the
EFA Guard effects of fish oil and other non-vitamin supplements on cancer in men and women.

What do these findings mean?

While these results may be preliminary, this is encouraging news that warrants additional research. Long-chain,omega-3 fatty acids are essential building blocks for the cell membranes of the body and brain, blocking inflammation and allowing messages to be transmitted between cells, she said. These are called essential fatty acids since they are not manufactured in the body and people must get it from their
diet: fatty fish (like salmon, mackerel and sardines) is the best source. Plant -based sources of omega-3 fatty acids -- including canola, soybean and flaxseed oil -- but the body can't convert them to the more potent form as well as it can the
ones that are found in fish, she noted.

PERQUE EPA/DHA and PERQUE Triple EFA: The RIGHT EFA's in the RIGHT proportions with the RIGHT purity.
Call PERQUE today to place your order or to have our Client Services team answer any questions you may have.