Natural Therapies—when Ignorance Is Not Bliss!!

Abstract

significantly greater degree of hypoxia than the control subjects. The magnitude of ODI was not different between middle-aged and elderly patients with OSAS.Circulating AM levels in middle-aged and elderly patients with OSAS were significantly greater than in the ageand BMI-matched controls, although neither age nor sex affected them (Table 1). nCPAP treatment significantly decreased the higher levels of circulating AM in the patients irrespective of age and sex. After 3 months of treatment with nCPAP, AM levels in elderly patients (26.5 AE 2.4 pg/ mL) were not different from those of middle-aged patients (24.7 AE 2.1 pg/mL).These results indicated that plasma AM levels were higher in middle-aged and elderly patients with OSAS and could be deceased with nCPAP treatment, regardless of age and sex. The augmented increase in AM caused by severe nocturnal hypoxemia and oxidative stress due to OSA may overcome the age-dependent increase of AM levels in middle-aged and elderly patients with OSAS. Because AM is reported to induce cell surface expression of adhesion molecules, including E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), on human endothelial cells, the higher level of AM is one of the mechanisms of higher levels of ICAM-1 in patients with OSAS. 10 The current study also indicates that treatment with nCPAP may be effective for the prevention of cardiovascular complications in elderly patients with OSAS.

Drug-induced acute pancreatitis: results from the hospital-based Berlin case-control surveillance study of 102 cases

“…Furthermore, several cases of hepatotoxicity associated with valerian radix have been published in the past, indicating a broader toxic potential of this herbal remedy. In contrast to herbal hepatotoxicity, reports of AP associated with either herbal medications or dietary supplements are rare, a possible cause being the less stringent surveillance of such remedies. Taken together, this is the first controlled study showing an increased risk of AP for two well‐known herbals.…”

Influence of the tolerability of vinegar as an oral source of short-chain fatty acids on appetite control and food intake

“…On this basis, the promotion of vinegar as a natural appetite suppressant does not seem appropriate, particularly in view of the potential health risks. [7][8][9][10][11] Further work is warranted to investigate effects of chronic supplementation with apple cider vinegar capsules in overweight and obese subjects on appetite control, body weight and adverse symptoms, to investigate if marketing these capsules as a weight loss aid is appropriate and safe.…”

“…Vinegar is therefore being promoted as a natural appetite suppressant in the popular press, resulting in the perception that vinegar is a healthy addition to the diet to aid weight loss, 6 and giving rise to the marketing of weight loss capsules that contain apple cider vinegar. However, this raises concerns about the appropriateness and safety of this advice, as ingestion of vinegar products have been reported to be linked with oesophageal injury, 7,8 biochemical disturbances, 9 dental erosion 10 and acute pancreatitis 11 and symptoms such as acid reflux, burping/ flatulence and changes in bowel habit. 12 It could further be argued that the scientific evidence currently available is not sufficient to warrant such health claims.…”

Health Promoting Properties of Cereal Vinegars

“…In Austria, a 28-year-old woman presented high urinary excretion of K, Na, and bicarbonate, and stimulated plasma renin activity after a daily consumption of 250 mL of vinegar (12.5 g acetic acid) diluted in water and as salad dressing for 6 years [157]. In another case, a 72-year-old Caucasian man added 2 tablespoons daily of household vinegar to his diet for almost 2 weeks, resulting in hospital with intractable singultus (hiccups) for approximately 9 days, associated with anorexia and epigastric pain [158].…”