June 18, 2024 • 17 mins
Wellness Connection MD is THE evidence-based podcast on all things wellness. This episode is a follow-up to our previous show on the Top Ten Supplements for all-purpose use. However, in this edition Dr. McMinn and Coach Lindsay discuss specific supplements that may be helpful for our most common and devastating diseases. Dr. Peter Attia's excellent book "Outlive" describes the Four Horsemen of diseases: Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, Neurodegenerative diseases, and Metabolic dysfunction (like diabetes). These diseases are the leading causes of death for most Americans. In our usual evidence-based fashion we present to you some supplements that may be helpful for these conditions., along with some evidence to back up our recommendations. In addition to the Four Horsemen, we also provide some helpful hints on two other common health problems, which include arthritis and osteoporosis.
Coach Lindsay points out that supplements may be quite helpful, but they never replace a good diet. Also, attend to the other fundamentals of lifestyle medicine, such as exercise, restorative sleep, stress reduction, and toxin avoidance.
Always keep your healthcare provider in the loop before starting any supplement regimen, and consider cheking for drug/supplement interactions.
Visit McMinnMD.com for more resources and while you are there visit the Wellness MD Blog.
Rate and review the podcast on iTunes , and tell your friends and family about us to help the podcast grow.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Wellness Connection MD Podcast.
I'm Dr McBin.
Ever wonder what supplementsmight be helpful for your
specific health issues?
Well, we have some answers foryou on the show today.
We'll review for you the maincauses of disease, along with
some specific, evidence-basedsuggestions for some supplements
that may be helpful for thesemedical conditions.
So kick back and enjoy the show.
We hope you find it helpful.
So kick back and enjoy the show.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
We hope you find it helpful.
Welcome to the WellnessConnection MD Podcast with Dr
McMinn and Coach Lindsay, wherewe bring you the latest,
up-to-date, evidence-basedinformation on a wide variety of
health and wellness topics,along with practical take-home
solutions.
Dr McMinn is an integrated andfunctional MD, and Lindsay
Matthewzy Matthews is aregistered nurse and IIN
certified health coach.
Together, our goal is to helpyou optimize your health and
(00:50):
wellness in mind, body andspirit.
To see a list of all of ourpodcasts, visit McMinnMDcom.
And to stay up to date on thelatest topics, be sure to
subscribe to our podcast on yourfavorite podcast player so that
you'll be notified when futureepisodes come out.
The discussions contained inthis podcast are for educational
purposes only and are notintended to diagnose or treat
(01:11):
any disease.
Please do not apply any of thisinformation without approval
from your personal doctor.
And now on to the show with DrMcMinn and Coach Lindsey.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Hello and welcome to Wellness Connection MD, the
evidence-based podcast on allthings wellness.
We thank you so much forjoining us today.
I'm Dr Jim McMinn, and todayCoach Lindsay and I are going to
talk just a bit more about thetopic of supplements, but from a
different and importantperspective Unbiased, up-to-date
, evidence-based,outcomes-oriented information,
(01:44):
along with practical solutionsin order to empower you to
overcome your healthcarechallenges and to optimize your
wellness in mind, body andspirit and to become a great
captain of your ship when itcomes to your health and
wellness.
First, let me just remind youthat our podcast remains
commercial-free, so we can stayunbiased.
We're not here to sell youanything and we're not going to
waste your time with anyannoying commercials.
(02:04):
However, it does cost us moneyto produce these podcasts, so
think of this like public radio.
Consider making a contributionto help us keep it coming to you
.
There are a couple ways you cancontribute to the show.
First, if you buy nutritionalsupplements like the ones we're
talking about on the show today,then consider purchasing
physician-grade supplements fromour Fullscript dispensary at a
10% discount.
You can see a link to the fullscript below in the show notes,
(02:26):
or go to mcminnmdcom.
The link will also be there foryou at the bottom of the
homepage under helpful links.
It's quite simple Just click onthe link and they'll guide you
through the process.
It's a win-win you get highquality supplements at a
discount and we get your supportfor the show, for which we are
very grateful.
If you have any trouble withthis, just reach out to me at
drmcminn at yahoocom.
(02:47):
You can also make acontribution to the show
directly via credit card or byPayPal at the Support the Show
link which is in the show notes.
And please don't forget tosubscribe to the show and tell
your friends and family about usso we can bring this valuable
information to more people.
And now on to the show.
On our last show, we sharedwith you our top 10 list of
supplements for all-purpose use,along with some solid science
(03:08):
to support our recommendations.
However, today we're going tolook at the supplement issue
from a different perspective.
We're going to list for you themost common and important
diseases that affect folks, andthen we're going to share with
you some evidence-basedsuggestions for supplements that
may be helpful for thesediseases.
Dr Pita Adia, in his excellentbook called Outlive, described
the four horsemen of diseasesthat cause slow and sometimes
(03:30):
miserable death, and these arecardiovascular disease, cancer,
neurodegenerative diseases andmetabolic dysfunction like
diabetes.
These four diseases will be thecause of death for the vast
majority of Americans.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
So let's take a look at some of the supplements that
might be helpful against thesefour diseases.
We'll start with the number onecause of death, which is
cardiovascular disease, and Ipurposely say cardiovascular
disease instead of heart disease, since cardiovascular disease
also includes stroke, which, atthe end of the day, is mainly a
vascular issue.
(04:04):
Most of the supplements that werecommend for cardiovascular
disease include the things thatwe've already discussed, like
curcumin, a bioflavonoid complex, vitamin D, magnesium, and then
just that good generalmultivitamin and a multimineral
formula.
Also, there is an associationbetween heart health and a
healthy gut microbiome, so theprobiotics can even play a role
(04:26):
here in heart health.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Another one I like is called garlic.
You can get this through thefood you eat or you can take a
garlic supplement.
I take one called Allicin Max,s-a-l-l-i-c-i-n Max, which I get
online.
It's just one pill once a day.
An article from the journalNutrition concluded that garlic
supplementation has thepotential for cardiovascular
protection based on risk factorreduction, which include
(04:49):
hypertension and totalcholesterol.
An article from the UAB Schoolof Medicine states that eating
garlic is one of the best waysto lower blood pressure and
protect yourself fromcardiovascular disease.
Garlic seems to act bycholesterol reduction, blood
pressure regulation,antiplatelet effects,
antioxidant effects andinflammation reduction.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Vitamin K2 may also be helpful.
A systematic review andmeta-analysis published in the
journal Nutrients in 2019 foundthat higher dietary intake or
supplementation of vitamin K2was associated with a lower risk
of cardiovascular diseasemortality.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
The next of the four horsemen we'll look at is cancer
.
There are two issues herecancer prevention and cancer
treatment.
We'll start with vitamin D.
Several studies have linked lowvitamin D levels to higher risk
of various cancers, includingbreast, colorectal, lung and
prostate cancer.
However and this is animportant point even though low
levels meant more cancer,vitamin D supplementation did
(05:50):
not seem to reduce risk in thesestudies.
We see this every now and thenin medicine.
For instance, a low HDL maymean more heart attack risk.
However, raising the HDLdoesn't seem to improve risk, so
we have to make sure not tomake assumptions here.
But there is a workaround herethat Lindsay is going to tell
you about.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
So, as you know, exposure to sunlight triggers
our bodies to produce vitamin D.
Interestingly, even thoughsupplementation with vitamin D
did not change outcomes, in somestudies a higher exposure to
sunlight resulted in a lowerrisk of breast, prostate and
colorectal cancer, although therisk of skin cancer went up
(06:27):
significantly.
So I guess you got to pick yourpoison.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
That's right.
Another one I like is medicinalmushrooms.
Yes, they contain a wide varietyof bioactive compounds which
act on the immune system.
Mushrooms have been shown toexhibit anti-cancer properties
in preclinical studies.
Several studies have suggesteda greater intake of mushrooms
may result in decreased risk ofcertain cancers, including
breast cancer, prostate andcolorectal cancer.
Remember that most of ourchronic diseases are caused by,
(06:54):
at least in part, inflammation,and inflammation is often
immune-mediated.
So mushrooms help to boost theimmune system.
So, then, that may havebeneficial effects downstream
vis-a-vis less inflammation andthen less disease.
I take a product called MRS byPure Encapsulations, which is a
combination of mataki, reishiand shiitake mushrooms.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
The next supplement that may help is DIM,
diindylmethane, which is derivedfrom cruciferous veggies.
An observational study reportedthat supplementation with DIM
produced a decrease in MRIbreast density by greater than
10%.
That was associated with a 63%reduction in breast cancer risk
(07:37):
63%.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
That's huge, isn't it ?
Yeah?
And next up is folate.
A guy named Dr Zhang that'sZ-H-A-N-G at Harvard School of
Public Health found thatsupplementation with folate
reduced incidence of breastcancer by 45% in women who
consumed one or more alcoholicdrinks per day.
So listen up out there, women.
If you're a drinker, then youshould be taking fully.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Yes, and a lot of times.
That's going to be in your goodmultivitamin formulation.
Fish oils, flaxseed, curcumin,green tea, probiotics,
flavonoids like luteolin andiodine they all have some
supporting evidence for cancer,but the studies are inconsistent
.
So we just got to stay tunedfor more research to keep coming
out.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
The next of the four horsemen is the
neurodegenerative diseases thatinclude Alzheimer's, parkinson's
disease and ALS.
A small study evaluated theeffects of curcumin patients on
Alzheimer's disease.
After six months, significantimprovements were observed in
cognitive function behavior inthe curcumin group compared to
the placebo group.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
When it comes to curcumin and Parkinson's disease
, there's a randomizeddouble-blind placebo-controlled
clinical trial that waspublished in 2012 that
investigated the effects ofcurcumin in patients with
Parkinson's disease, and thatstudy found that curcumin was
well-tolerated and showedpotential benefits in improving
motor function and reducingoxidative stress markers.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Moving on to the flavonoids, one small pilot
study published in 2010evaluated the effects of
quercetin-rich supplements inpatients with Alzheimer's
disease.
After 26 weeks, the quercetingroup showed improvements in
cognitive function and moodcompared to the placebo group,
but the study had small samplesize and was not
placebo-controlled.
Several epidemiological studieshave suggested a diet rich in
(09:19):
flavonoid-containing foods, suchas berries, citrus fruits and
green leafy vegetables, isassociated with lower risk of
developing Alzheimer's diseaseand cognitive decline.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Ashwagandha, so there have been very few clinical
studies investigating theeffects of ashwagandha in
Parkinson's disease patients.
However, there's a small pilotstudy that was published in 2019
that evaluated the effects ofstandardized ashwagandha root
extract in patients withParkinson's disease, and that
study found that ashwagandhasupplementation for 12 weeks was
(09:51):
well-tolerated and it alsoshowed benefits in improving
motor function, cognitivefunction and quality of life for
Parkinson's disease patients ascompared to the placebo.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
And now we'll look at the herb Bacopa minori.
One small pilot study publishedin 2012 evaluated the effects
of Bacopa minori extract inpatients with Parkinson's
disease.
The study found B bacopa minorisupplementation for six months
was well-tolerated and showedpotential health benefits
improving cognitive function,attention and memory in
Parkinson's disease patients,compared with the placebo group.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
So, when it comes to bacopa and Alzheimer's disease,
there was a small pilot studypublished in 2008 that evaluated
the effects of bacopa Monoreextract in patients with
age-associated memory impairment, and the study found that
Bacopa Monore supplementationfor 12 weeks was again
well-tolerated and it showedpotential benefits for improving
(10:47):
memory, attention and cognitivefunction compared to the
placebo group.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Now let's turn to magnesium.
We're still again on the issueof neurodegenerative diseases,
but limited clinical data existson magnesium supplementation in
Parkinson's patients.
There are a few studies on this, but anecdotal reports from
some patients suggestedmagnesium supplementation may
help relieve muscle cramps, pain, I think when you think of
Parkinson's you think abouttremors and maybe even
(11:12):
Parkinsonian dementia, blah,blah blah.
But other effects like cramping, pain, constipation those are
also important.
So if you can relieve thosekind of symptoms, that can be
helpful as well.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
So let's also talk about vitamin C in Parkinson's
disease.
While clinical trials arelacking, observational and
mechanistic studies suggest thathigher vitamin C levels or
higher intake may reduceParkinson's disease risk and
delay the age of onset, likelybecause of the antioxidant and
neuroprotective mechanisms ofvitamin C.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
The list of supplements that some experts
have suggested may be helpfuland is quite long, but much of
the hype around thesesupplements is based on hopeful
and or mechanistic thinking.
For instance, we know that theaccumulation of amyloid plaque
is a finding associated withAlzheimer's disease, and a
particular substance may reducethis buildup of amyloid plaque.
Therefore, one might concludethat it might be good for
Alzheimer's disease.
However, in most instances,there is no direct evidence that
(12:11):
the substance reallysignificantly changes the
outcomes in Alzheimer's disease.
The bottom line is that morerobust, well-designed clinical
trials are needed to furtherevaluate the efficacy and safety
of many of these supplements inneurodegenerative diseases.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
So we come to the last of those four horsemen of
the deadly chronic diseases, andthat was diabetes.
A number of clinical trialshave suggested that the herb
berberine may help with bloodsugar regulation.
Clinical trials have suggestedthat the herb berberine may help
with blood sugar regulation.
Other studies have alsoconcluded that Gynema sylvestre
(12:46):
it's an herb that's also knownas, and it may be helpful for
managing blood sugar.
So there's also other studiesthat have suggested that
supplementation with chromium,ala or alpha lipoic acid,
magnesium and cinnamon canimprove glycemic control.
However, at the end of the day,the scientific evidence is
mixed and inconclusive, so it'shard to give these a ringing
endorsement.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Before we close out, there are two other common
medical conditions that wefrequently see in the clinic
We'll just briefly mention, andthose are arthritis and
osteoporosis.
Starting with arthritis, one ofthe most common supplements
would be the glucosamine,chondroitin and MSM compound.
It seems like about half of ourpatients benefit from this and
half didn't.
It's worth a try.
It falls into the category ofmight help and probably won't
(13:27):
hurt you.
Other supplements to considerfor arthritis include fish oil,
curcumin and boswellia.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
The last one that we'll mention is osteoporosis,
and this is a huge problem,especially for us women.
Certainly, there are drugs forthis, but the drugs do have
those potential side effects andrisks, and I have seen some
women come back with significantincrease in bone mineral
density based on follow-up DEXAscans, without drugs.
And you're asking what was thesecret?
(13:55):
And they had been on acombination of bioidentical
hormone replacement, sometargeted supplements.
Some of those supplementsincluded vitamin D, calcium K2,
and a good mineral supportformula like OsteoPrime Ultra by
Integrative Therapeutics orBoneUp Ultra, along with good
(14:17):
weight-bearing exercise.
That's important too.
So a few studies have suggestedthat melatonin supplementation
could also be helpful inmaintaining bone mineral density
for postmenopausal women, whohave an increased risk of
osteoporosis due to the estrogendeficiencies.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Okay now we're closing out now with a few
pearls of wisdom.
Before you start taking asupplement, look for potential
drug supplement interactions.
You can ask your doctor orpharmacist, or you can find this
information on websites such asWebMD Interaction Checker or
Drugscom Interaction Checker.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
And, in an attempt to be thorough, we have covered a
lot of ground.
However, if you're like me, youcan only take so many pills, so
you want to choose wisely,based on your particular need,
and for most of us, there arekind of four basics a good
multivitamin, a probiotic,vitamin D and fish oil.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Always work with your healthcare provider to make
sure that the supplements anddosing are appropriate for you.
Coach, I think that'll about doit for this episode of the
Wellness Connection MD.
Thank you so much for joiningus today.
We hope we're able to sharesomething with you that was
helpful for you.
After all this, why don't we dothe podcast?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Don't forget to check us out at mcminnmdcom, where
you can find lots of greatresources and check out the
Wellness MD blog Also.
Please help us grow thispodcast by telling your friends
and family about us.
Share on your social media,please.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
And take a moment to rate us on iTunes.
These reviews really do help usout.
We've had some feedback fromsome folks that this could be a
little bit difficult to do, sowe have a dedicated page on the
website to explain exactly howto do this for you, step-by-step
, and you can find this atmcmindycom forward slash reviews
.
If you want to reach out to meby email, you can do so at
drmcmindy, at yahoocom.
(16:00):
You can also find me atfacebookcom, slash mcmindy or
instagramcom, slash mcmindy.
I'll have all our links at thebottom of the page for you at
our homepage at mcmindycom.
And now, coach Lindsay, leaveus with a.
Coach Lindsay, pearl of wisdom.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Well, thanks, dr Mack .
You know we said this at thebeginning, but I think it's
worth a revisit that there is nomagic pill and, at the end of
the day, no supplement willreplace diet and exercise, and
so that's just always soimportant to be consistent with
that.
And we've talked about that80-20-90-10 rule where you know
(16:38):
majority of the time you'redoing all those right things,
but gosh.
I hope you listeners enjoyedthis podcast, though it's so
highly practical.
I hope you enjoyed getting tosee.
You know these are some of ourbrands.
Welcome to the kitchen here.
Yeah, they're right, you knowwe're telling you these are
what's on our shelves.
And these are what's on ourshelves and these are important
things and we appreciate youlistening.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Well, thank you, coach, for your pearl wisdom,
and that should wrap it up.
Thanks again so much forlistening.
We really appreciate it.
This is Dr McMinn.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
And this is Coach Lindsay Take care and be well.
Welcome to the Wellness Connection MD Podcast.
I'm Dr McBin.
Ever wonder what supplementsmight be helpful for your
specific health issues?
Well, we have some answers foryou on the show today.
We'll review for you the maincauses of disease, along with
some specific, evidence-basedsuggestions for some supplements
that may be helpful for thesemedical conditions.
So kick back and enjoy the show.
We hope you find it helpful.
So kick back and enjoy the show.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
We hope you find it helpful.
Welcome to the WellnessConnection MD Podcast with Dr
McMinn and Coach Lindsay, wherewe bring you the latest,
up-to-date, evidence-basedinformation on a wide variety of
health and wellness topics,along with practical take-home
solutions.
Dr McMinn is an integrated andfunctional MD, and Lindsay
Matthewzy Matthews is aregistered nurse and IIN
certified health coach.
Together, our goal is to helpyou optimize your health and
(00:50):
wellness in mind, body andspirit.
To see a list of all of ourpodcasts, visit McMinnMDcom.
And to stay up to date on thelatest topics, be sure to
subscribe to our podcast on yourfavorite podcast player so that
you'll be notified when futureepisodes come out.
The discussions contained inthis podcast are for educational
purposes only and are notintended to diagnose or treat
(01:11):
any disease.
Please do not apply any of thisinformation without approval
from your personal doctor.
And now on to the show with DrMcMinn and Coach Lindsey.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Hello and welcome to Wellness Connection MD, the
evidence-based podcast on allthings wellness.
We thank you so much forjoining us today.
I'm Dr Jim McMinn, and todayCoach Lindsay and I are going to
talk just a bit more about thetopic of supplements, but from a
different and importantperspective Unbiased, up-to-date
, evidence-based,outcomes-oriented information,
(01:44):
along with practical solutionsin order to empower you to
overcome your healthcarechallenges and to optimize your
wellness in mind, body andspirit and to become a great
captain of your ship when itcomes to your health and
wellness.
First, let me just remind youthat our podcast remains
commercial-free, so we can stayunbiased.
We're not here to sell youanything and we're not going to
waste your time with anyannoying commercials.
(02:04):
However, it does cost us moneyto produce these podcasts, so
think of this like public radio.
Consider making a contributionto help us keep it coming to you
.
There are a couple ways you cancontribute to the show.
First, if you buy nutritionalsupplements like the ones we're
talking about on the show today,then consider purchasing
physician-grade supplements fromour Fullscript dispensary at a
10% discount.
You can see a link to the fullscript below in the show notes,
(02:26):
or go to mcminnmdcom.
The link will also be there foryou at the bottom of the
homepage under helpful links.
It's quite simple Just click onthe link and they'll guide you
through the process.
It's a win-win you get highquality supplements at a
discount and we get your supportfor the show, for which we are
very grateful.
If you have any trouble withthis, just reach out to me at
drmcminn at yahoocom.
(02:47):
You can also make acontribution to the show
directly via credit card or byPayPal at the Support the Show
link which is in the show notes.
And please don't forget tosubscribe to the show and tell
your friends and family about usso we can bring this valuable
information to more people.
And now on to the show.
On our last show, we sharedwith you our top 10 list of
supplements for all-purpose use,along with some solid science
(03:08):
to support our recommendations.
However, today we're going tolook at the supplement issue
from a different perspective.
We're going to list for you themost common and important
diseases that affect folks, andthen we're going to share with
you some evidence-basedsuggestions for supplements that
may be helpful for thesediseases.
Dr Pita Adia, in his excellentbook called Outlive, described
the four horsemen of diseasesthat cause slow and sometimes
(03:30):
miserable death, and these arecardiovascular disease, cancer,
neurodegenerative diseases andmetabolic dysfunction like
diabetes.
These four diseases will be thecause of death for the vast
majority of Americans.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
So let's take a look at some of the supplements that
might be helpful against thesefour diseases.
We'll start with the number onecause of death, which is
cardiovascular disease, and Ipurposely say cardiovascular
disease instead of heart disease, since cardiovascular disease
also includes stroke, which, atthe end of the day, is mainly a
vascular issue.
(04:04):
Most of the supplements that werecommend for cardiovascular
disease include the things thatwe've already discussed, like
curcumin, a bioflavonoid complex, vitamin D, magnesium, and then
just that good generalmultivitamin and a multimineral
formula.
Also, there is an associationbetween heart health and a
healthy gut microbiome, so theprobiotics can even play a role
(04:26):
here in heart health.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Another one I like is called garlic.
You can get this through thefood you eat or you can take a
garlic supplement.
I take one called Allicin Max,s-a-l-l-i-c-i-n Max, which I get
online.
It's just one pill once a day.
An article from the journalNutrition concluded that garlic
supplementation has thepotential for cardiovascular
protection based on risk factorreduction, which include
(04:49):
hypertension and totalcholesterol.
An article from the UAB Schoolof Medicine states that eating
garlic is one of the best waysto lower blood pressure and
protect yourself fromcardiovascular disease.
Garlic seems to act bycholesterol reduction, blood
pressure regulation,antiplatelet effects,
antioxidant effects andinflammation reduction.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Vitamin K2 may also be helpful.
A systematic review andmeta-analysis published in the
journal Nutrients in 2019 foundthat higher dietary intake or
supplementation of vitamin K2was associated with a lower risk
of cardiovascular diseasemortality.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
The next of the four horsemen we'll look at is cancer
.
There are two issues herecancer prevention and cancer
treatment.
We'll start with vitamin D.
Several studies have linked lowvitamin D levels to higher risk
of various cancers, includingbreast, colorectal, lung and
prostate cancer.
However and this is animportant point even though low
levels meant more cancer,vitamin D supplementation did
(05:50):
not seem to reduce risk in thesestudies.
We see this every now and thenin medicine.
For instance, a low HDL maymean more heart attack risk.
However, raising the HDLdoesn't seem to improve risk, so
we have to make sure not tomake assumptions here.
But there is a workaround herethat Lindsay is going to tell
you about.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
So, as you know, exposure to sunlight triggers
our bodies to produce vitamin D.
Interestingly, even thoughsupplementation with vitamin D
did not change outcomes, in somestudies a higher exposure to
sunlight resulted in a lowerrisk of breast, prostate and
colorectal cancer, although therisk of skin cancer went up
(06:27):
significantly.
So I guess you got to pick yourpoison.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
That's right.
Another one I like is medicinalmushrooms.
Yes, they contain a wide varietyof bioactive compounds which
act on the immune system.
Mushrooms have been shown toexhibit anti-cancer properties
in preclinical studies.
Several studies have suggesteda greater intake of mushrooms
may result in decreased risk ofcertain cancers, including
breast cancer, prostate andcolorectal cancer.
Remember that most of ourchronic diseases are caused by,
(06:54):
at least in part, inflammation,and inflammation is often
immune-mediated.
So mushrooms help to boost theimmune system.
So, then, that may havebeneficial effects downstream
vis-a-vis less inflammation andthen less disease.
I take a product called MRS byPure Encapsulations, which is a
combination of mataki, reishiand shiitake mushrooms.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
The next supplement that may help is DIM,
diindylmethane, which is derivedfrom cruciferous veggies.
An observational study reportedthat supplementation with DIM
produced a decrease in MRIbreast density by greater than
10%.
That was associated with a 63%reduction in breast cancer risk
(07:37):
63%.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
That's huge, isn't it ?
Yeah?
And next up is folate.
A guy named Dr Zhang that'sZ-H-A-N-G at Harvard School of
Public Health found thatsupplementation with folate
reduced incidence of breastcancer by 45% in women who
consumed one or more alcoholicdrinks per day.
So listen up out there, women.
If you're a drinker, then youshould be taking fully.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Yes, and a lot of times.
That's going to be in your goodmultivitamin formulation.
Fish oils, flaxseed, curcumin,green tea, probiotics,
flavonoids like luteolin andiodine they all have some
supporting evidence for cancer,but the studies are inconsistent
.
So we just got to stay tunedfor more research to keep coming
out.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
The next of the four horsemen is the
neurodegenerative diseases thatinclude Alzheimer's, parkinson's
disease and ALS.
A small study evaluated theeffects of curcumin patients on
Alzheimer's disease.
After six months, significantimprovements were observed in
cognitive function behavior inthe curcumin group compared to
the placebo group.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
When it comes to curcumin and Parkinson's disease
, there's a randomizeddouble-blind placebo-controlled
clinical trial that waspublished in 2012 that
investigated the effects ofcurcumin in patients with
Parkinson's disease, and thatstudy found that curcumin was
well-tolerated and showedpotential benefits in improving
motor function and reducingoxidative stress markers.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Moving on to the flavonoids, one small pilot
study published in 2010evaluated the effects of
quercetin-rich supplements inpatients with Alzheimer's
disease.
After 26 weeks, the quercetingroup showed improvements in
cognitive function and moodcompared to the placebo group,
but the study had small samplesize and was not
placebo-controlled.
Several epidemiological studieshave suggested a diet rich in
(09:19):
flavonoid-containing foods, suchas berries, citrus fruits and
green leafy vegetables, isassociated with lower risk of
developing Alzheimer's diseaseand cognitive decline.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Ashwagandha, so there have been very few clinical
studies investigating theeffects of ashwagandha in
Parkinson's disease patients.
However, there's a small pilotstudy that was published in 2019
that evaluated the effects ofstandardized ashwagandha root
extract in patients withParkinson's disease, and that
study found that ashwagandhasupplementation for 12 weeks was
(09:51):
well-tolerated and it alsoshowed benefits in improving
motor function, cognitivefunction and quality of life for
Parkinson's disease patients ascompared to the placebo.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
And now we'll look at the herb Bacopa minori.
One small pilot study publishedin 2012 evaluated the effects
of Bacopa minori extract inpatients with Parkinson's
disease.
The study found B bacopa minorisupplementation for six months
was well-tolerated and showedpotential health benefits
improving cognitive function,attention and memory in
Parkinson's disease patients,compared with the placebo group.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
So, when it comes to bacopa and Alzheimer's disease,
there was a small pilot studypublished in 2008 that evaluated
the effects of bacopa Monoreextract in patients with
age-associated memory impairment, and the study found that
Bacopa Monore supplementationfor 12 weeks was again
well-tolerated and it showedpotential benefits for improving
(10:47):
memory, attention and cognitivefunction compared to the
placebo group.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Now let's turn to magnesium.
We're still again on the issueof neurodegenerative diseases,
but limited clinical data existson magnesium supplementation in
Parkinson's patients.
There are a few studies on this, but anecdotal reports from
some patients suggestedmagnesium supplementation may
help relieve muscle cramps, pain, I think when you think of
Parkinson's you think abouttremors and maybe even
(11:12):
Parkinsonian dementia, blah,blah blah.
But other effects like cramping, pain, constipation those are
also important.
So if you can relieve thosekind of symptoms, that can be
helpful as well.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
So let's also talk about vitamin C in Parkinson's
disease.
While clinical trials arelacking, observational and
mechanistic studies suggest thathigher vitamin C levels or
higher intake may reduceParkinson's disease risk and
delay the age of onset, likelybecause of the antioxidant and
neuroprotective mechanisms ofvitamin C.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
The list of supplements that some experts
have suggested may be helpfuland is quite long, but much of
the hype around thesesupplements is based on hopeful
and or mechanistic thinking.
For instance, we know that theaccumulation of amyloid plaque
is a finding associated withAlzheimer's disease, and a
particular substance may reducethis buildup of amyloid plaque.
Therefore, one might concludethat it might be good for
Alzheimer's disease.
However, in most instances,there is no direct evidence that
(12:11):
the substance reallysignificantly changes the
outcomes in Alzheimer's disease.
The bottom line is that morerobust, well-designed clinical
trials are needed to furtherevaluate the efficacy and safety
of many of these supplements inneurodegenerative diseases.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
So we come to the last of those four horsemen of
the deadly chronic diseases, andthat was diabetes.
A number of clinical trialshave suggested that the herb
berberine may help with bloodsugar regulation.
Clinical trials have suggestedthat the herb berberine may help
with blood sugar regulation.
Other studies have alsoconcluded that Gynema sylvestre
(12:46):
it's an herb that's also knownas, and it may be helpful for
managing blood sugar.
So there's also other studiesthat have suggested that
supplementation with chromium,ala or alpha lipoic acid,
magnesium and cinnamon canimprove glycemic control.
However, at the end of the day,the scientific evidence is
mixed and inconclusive, so it'shard to give these a ringing
endorsement.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
Before we close out, there are two other common
medical conditions that wefrequently see in the clinic
We'll just briefly mention, andthose are arthritis and
osteoporosis.
Starting with arthritis, one ofthe most common supplements
would be the glucosamine,chondroitin and MSM compound.
It seems like about half of ourpatients benefit from this and
half didn't.
It's worth a try.
It falls into the category ofmight help and probably won't
(13:27):
hurt you.
Other supplements to considerfor arthritis include fish oil,
curcumin and boswellia.
Speaker 3 (13:32):
The last one that we'll mention is osteoporosis,
and this is a huge problem,especially for us women.
Certainly, there are drugs forthis, but the drugs do have
those potential side effects andrisks, and I have seen some
women come back with significantincrease in bone mineral
density based on follow-up DEXAscans, without drugs.
And you're asking what was thesecret?
(13:55):
And they had been on acombination of bioidentical
hormone replacement, sometargeted supplements.
Some of those supplementsincluded vitamin D, calcium K2,
and a good mineral supportformula like OsteoPrime Ultra by
Integrative Therapeutics orBoneUp Ultra, along with good
(14:17):
weight-bearing exercise.
That's important too.
So a few studies have suggestedthat melatonin supplementation
could also be helpful inmaintaining bone mineral density
for postmenopausal women, whohave an increased risk of
osteoporosis due to the estrogendeficiencies.
Speaker 1 (14:33):
Okay now we're closing out now with a few
pearls of wisdom.
Before you start taking asupplement, look for potential
drug supplement interactions.
You can ask your doctor orpharmacist, or you can find this
information on websites such asWebMD Interaction Checker or
Drugscom Interaction Checker.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
And, in an attempt to be thorough, we have covered a
lot of ground.
However, if you're like me, youcan only take so many pills, so
you want to choose wisely,based on your particular need,
and for most of us, there arekind of four basics a good
multivitamin, a probiotic,vitamin D and fish oil.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Always work with your healthcare provider to make
sure that the supplements anddosing are appropriate for you.
Coach, I think that'll about doit for this episode of the
Wellness Connection MD.
Thank you so much for joiningus today.
We hope we're able to sharesomething with you that was
helpful for you.
After all this, why don't we dothe podcast?
Speaker 3 (15:22):
Don't forget to check us out at mcminnmdcom, where
you can find lots of greatresources and check out the
Wellness MD blog Also.
Please help us grow thispodcast by telling your friends
and family about us.
Share on your social media,please.
Speaker 1 (15:39):
And take a moment to rate us on iTunes.
These reviews really do help usout.
We've had some feedback fromsome folks that this could be a
little bit difficult to do, sowe have a dedicated page on the
website to explain exactly howto do this for you, step-by-step
, and you can find this atmcmindycom forward slash reviews
.
If you want to reach out to meby email, you can do so at
drmcmindy, at yahoocom.
(16:00):
You can also find me atfacebookcom, slash mcmindy or
instagramcom, slash mcmindy.
I'll have all our links at thebottom of the page for you at
our homepage at mcmindycom.
And now, coach Lindsay, leaveus with a.
Coach Lindsay, pearl of wisdom.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Well, thanks, dr Mack .
You know we said this at thebeginning, but I think it's
worth a revisit that there is nomagic pill and, at the end of
the day, no supplement willreplace diet and exercise, and
so that's just always soimportant to be consistent with
that.
And we've talked about that80-20-90-10 rule where you know
(16:38):
majority of the time you'redoing all those right things,
but gosh.
I hope you listeners enjoyedthis podcast, though it's so
highly practical.
I hope you enjoyed getting tosee.
You know these are some of ourbrands.
Welcome to the kitchen here.
Yeah, they're right, you knowwe're telling you these are
what's on our shelves.
And these are what's on ourshelves and these are important
things and we appreciate youlistening.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
Well, thank you, coach, for your pearl wisdom,
and that should wrap it up.
Thanks again so much forlistening.
We really appreciate it.
This is Dr McMinn.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
And this is Coach Lindsay Take care and be well.
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