L-Carnitine for Fat-burning

L-carnitine helps burn fat without causing muscle loss! Overweight subjects benefited from supplementation with the amino acid L-carnitine in a study conducted at the University of Rostack Children’s Hospital Research Laboratory in Germany. Study subjects supplemented three grams of L-carnitine daily for 10 days. At the end of the study, researchers noted that the subjects experienced a significant increase in fat burning without attendant protein breakdown leading to muscle loss.

Metabolism 53(8):1002-1006, 2004

Designs for Health CarniClear™ supersaturated carnitine liquid is a pleasant naturally flavored non-acidic liquid form of carnitine, conveniently delivered in two sizes: 8 oz economy and 1 oz for travel. This product is both the most convenient, and most affordable way of delivering the multi-gram dosing of carnitine that is most often prescribed by health care practitioners.
In addition to the pure base L-carnitine, CarniClear™ contains small amounts of highly purified glycerine and 500 mcg of vitamin B12 and 100 mg of vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid). Vitamin B5 is added to support a necessary step in fat metabolism, the synthesis of Coenzyme A, which is essential for the transport of fat by l-carnitine. Vitamin B12 is an important cofactor in many metabolic pathways, including endogenous carnitine synthesis. Diets low in animal meat are very deficient in Vitamin B12, as well as carnitine.
L-Carnitine is a compound naturally occurring in all foods but significant amounts are only found in dark meats (due to high concentration of mitochondria), for example: lamb (190mg/4 oz), beef (143mg/4 oz), poultry(13mg/4 oz), fish (3-10mg/4 oz).
Carnitine supplementation may be needed especially for vegetarian diets or when dark meats are consumed in small amounts because neither preformed carnitine nor its precursor amino acids are ingested in adequate amounts to support optimal health.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Inositol May Help Fight Psoriasis caused by Lithium

According to a study in the British Journal of Dermatology, taking the supplement inositol may help reduce the severity of psoriasis, a common side-effect in people using lithium medication. Lithium carbonate is the most widely used long-term treatment for bipolar affective disorders, but its ability to trigger and exacerbate psoriasis can become a major problem in patients for whom lithium is the only treatment option.

Describing why they initiated their study, researchers reported that “Inositol depletion underlies the action of lithium in bipolar affective disorders and there are good theoretical reasons why the use of inositol supplements might be expected to help this group of patients.”

A member of the B-complex vitamin group, inositol has previously been shown to reduce some negative side-effects of lithium without impeding the benefits.

In the new study 15 patients with psoriasis who were taking lithium took part in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial comparing the effect of inositol supplements with those of a placebo. Study subjects were randomly assigned to take six grams of inositol per day or placebo for 10 weeks. Changes in the severity of their psoriasis were measured by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores recorded before and after the different courses of treatment.

Researchers found that the group taking inositol experienced a 35% decrease in psoriasis severity, whereas the placebo group’s psoriasis worsened by roughly 60%. They concluded that “the use of inositol supplements is worth considering for patients with intractable psoriasis who need to continue to take lithium for bipolar affective disorders.”

British Journal of Dermatology, 150(5):966, 2004

Designs for Health Inositol powder

Inositol Powder: Inositol is one of the most versatile nutrients for promoting brain wellness, a positive and relaxed outlook, and restful sleep. It also is one of the most crucial nutrients for promoting female hormonal health through its role in supporting optimal liver function. Inositol also helps maintain healthy serotonin metabolism, and by so doing helps treat many conditions that involve poor serotonin function. Inositol promotes liver health, and works especially well when taken along with phosphatidyl choline. Inositol is a pleasant, mildly sweet tasting powder that dissolves instantly in water. Patients love the taste!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Krill Oil May Help Inhibit Inflammation

A Canadian study clearly indicates that Neptune Krill Oil (NKO™) at a daily dose of 300 mg “significantly inhibits inflammation and reduces arthritic symptoms within a short treatment period of 7 and 14 days.”

In the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers wanted to assess the effect of NKO on C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with chronic inflammation; they also set out to evaluate the effectiveness of NKO on arthritic symptoms. CRP is a protein produced by the liver that is used as a marker of inflammation. It’s useful in determining the effectiveness of various treatments.

Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study design, 90 subjects with confirmed diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis and increased levels of CRP were recruited to undergo blood analysis for three consecutive weeks. Group A received 300 mg of NKO daily and Group B received a placebo. CRP levels and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) osteoarthritis scores were measured at the beginning of the study and at days 7, 14 and 30.

After seven days of treatment, NKO reduced CRP by more than 19% compared to an increase of 15% in the placebo group. After 14 and 30 days of treatment, NKO further decreased CRP by 30% and 31%, respectively. Meanwhile, the CRP levels of subjects in the placebo group increased to 32% after 14 days and then decreased to 25% at day 30.

NKO also showed a significant reduction in all three WOMAC scores. After seven days of treatment, NKO reduced pain scores by 29%, reduced stiffness by 20% and reduced functional impairment by 23%.

Journal of the American College of Nutrition 26(1):39-48, 2007
Bookmark and Share

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

CLA and Weight Loss

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) combined with treadmill exercise may decrease fat mass and increase lean muscle tissue, according to research published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Researchers began their study stating, “Nearly half of the U.S. adult population is overweight or obese, which may be related to increased energy intake combined with lack of physical activity. Obesity increases the risk of several chronic diseases including diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension and stroke.

“Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) were shown to decrease fat and increase lean mass in several animal studies. However, the effects of CLA in combination with exercise on body composition have not been studied in an animal model. We examined the effect of a low concentration of either safflower oil as control (0.5%) or mixed isomers of CLA (0.4%) along with treadmill exercise on body composition in male mice fed a high-fat diet.”

Scientists found that CLA consumption lowered fat mass and a combination of CLA and exercise decreased fat mass even further. Lean mass did not increase with exercise alone but increased significantly due to the combination of CLA and exercise. Also, serum insulin, glucose, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 were lower in CLA-fed mice.

“In summary,” researchers said, “the combination of dietary CLA and exercise decreased fat mass and increased lean mass in mice fed a high-fat diet.”

Journal of Nutrition 135(5):1124-1130, 2005

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Keverne's Healthy Facts

Fact #1:
Synergy is a good thing. Nature knows best.
We are now all fully aware of the cardiovascular and healthy lipid enhancing benefits of the omega 3 fatty acids found specifically in certain fish. Recently, a study using healthy human volunteers, has demonstrated even more profound benefits of using omega 3 fatty acid (EPA and DHA) in combination with supplemental taurine, an amino acid also abundantly found in seafood.Using both taurine and DHA and EPA together raised HDL and lowered LDL total cholesterol and ApoB even more than using omega 3’s alone.

DFH’s Taurine comes in either powder or capsule forms. Taurine is found in 13 synergistic DFH products including Lipoic Synergy, Chromium Synergy and Zinc Supreme.

Source: Seafood diets: Hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects of taurine and n-3 fatty acids.

Fact #2:
While I’m at it, maybe I’ll add some vitamin C to my blackberry chocolate cheesecake.
In another study that underscores the many important functions and properties of vitamin C, a semi quantitative food questionnaire revealed that those people with relatively high plasma vitamin C levels and to a lesser degree, higher fruit and vegetable intake, were associated with a substantially decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.

For those on the go and who have trouble getting in their fruits and veggies, DFH’s Stellar C contains both natural forms of vitamin C and citrus bioflavonoids. PaleoReds and PaleoGreens are the next best thing.

Source: Plasma vitamin C level, fruit and vegetable consumption, and the risk of new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus: the European prospective investigation of cancer--Norfolk prospective study.

Fact #3:
On second thought, maybe I’ll skip the cheesecake altogether.
One of the reasons people on low-carbohydrate diets may lose weight is that they reduce their intake of fructose, a type of sugar that can be made into body fat quickly, according to a researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Current health guidelines suggest that limiting processed carbohydrates, many of which contain high-fructose corn syrup, may help prevent weight gain, and the new data on fructose clearly support this recommendation. “Our study shows for the first time the surprising speed with which humans make body fat from fructose,” said lead author of the study Dr. Elizabeth Parks.

Fructose, glucose and sucrose, which is a mixture of fructose and glucose, are all forms of sugar but are metabolized differently. “All three can be made into triglycerides, a form of body fat; however, once you start the process of fat synthesis from fructose, it’s hard to slow it down,” she said.

Source: Dietary sugars stimulate fatty acid synthesis in adults.

Fact #4:
It appears we still have a lot of work to do.
According to a report released by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern for kids in 2008, topping smoking and drug abuse. In 2007, childhood obesity ranked third among parents’ top 10 overall health concerns for kids.

Source: Obesity Tops List of Biggest Health Problems For Kids in 2008

Fact #5:
The niacin/liver relationship is clarified.
A research team has uncovered the likely target of niacin (vitamin B3) in the liver, which should provide a clearer picture of how this vitamin helps maintain adequate HDL-cholesterol levels in the blood and thus lower the risk of heart disease. The study indicates niacin hinders the liver from removing HDL from the blood, thus maintaining high plasma HDL levels. Importantly, niacin does not affect another major pathway known as "Reverse Cholesterol Transport." Therefore, it maintains HDL levels while still allowing the removal of other cholesterol types, explaining why niacin is especially beneficial.

Source: Niacin inhibits surface expression of ATP synthase beta chain in HepG2 cells: implications for raising HDL.