Tips Of All Sorts

Bioperine

Bioperine is a standardized piperine extract obtained from the fruits of the Piper nigrum, also called ´black pepper´ and/or Piper longum, also called ´long pepper´. Those fruits are hand harvested in India, just prior to ripening and then sun dried to assure their maturity and quality.
Although black pepper is a common household spice, its extract has also been used extensively for medical purposes, especially in Ayurvedic medicine. Its main action is to significantly enhance the bioavailability of supplemented nutrients through increased absorption and transportation into the blood. In fact, bioperine is the only product sourced out of piperine to obtain a patented status for this ability.
In the fat loss field

Its action is being widely exploited in these terms, since many dietary supplements include vitamins, mineral, amino acids and antioxidants that are better absorbed and used because of the bioperine action. For example, Nutrition Research has published a double blind, crossover trial in which the effectiveness of an extract from the fruit of black pepper, with a minimum 98% pure alkaloid piperine was evaluated for its ability to improve serum response of beta-carotene during oral supplementation.

Subjects were randomly selected to ingest a daily beta-carotene dose (15 mg) either with 5 mg of piperine or placebo during each of two 14-day supplementation periods. The selection of volunteers was limited to healthy adult males with fasting serum beta-carotene values < 20 mcg/dL, in order to minimize the inter-subject variability in pre-supplementation of serum beta-carotene levels.

After the 14-day period, the results indicated significantly greater increases (p < 0.0001) in serum beta-carotene during supplementation with beta-carotene plus piperine (49.8±9.6 mcg/dL vs. 30.9±5.4 mcg/dL) compared to beta-carotene plus placebo. Supplementation with beta-carotene plus piperine also produced a 60% greater increase in area under the serum beta- carotene curve (AUC) than the one observed during the beta-carotene plus placebo supplementation.

Bearing all these results in mind, experts explained the theory that the serum response during oral beta-carotene supplementation might be improved through non-specific, thermogenic property(s) of piperine, which are known as ´thermonutrient´ action. The word ´thermonutrient´ is used because of its ability to increase the absorption of nutrients comprising nutritional supplement formulations, as well as the body’s natural thermogenic activity utilizing the daily food apart from nutrients.

This increased bioavailability of supplemented nutrients caused by bioperine may be derived also from a strong enough increase in the thermal energy, to emphasize the natural thermogenic activity just named. So this action leads to some enhanced metabolic processes, which create more demand of a broad range of nutrients that contribute to metabolism, such as the ones that dietary supplements in general contain.

In another similar study, supplementation of 120 mg of coenzyme Q10 with piperine for 21 days also produced a statistically significant area (p=0.0348) -approximately 30% greater- under the plasma curve (AUC) than observed during supplementation with coenzyme Q10 plus placebo.

Dosage and side effects

So far, there are no reported side effects. Based on double blind clinical data, Sabinsa –the company that legally manufacturers and supplies bioperine- recommends to use it in the amount of 5 mg per dose but does not require this level in customer’s formulation. Bioperine taken in this dose, enhanced the blood levels and bioavailability of a wide range of nutrients, both fat and water soluble, by over 30-60% in studies. Powder should be diluted with other nutrients at 100-200 doses per gram of bioperine before use. It is also advised to take no more than 20mg/day.

In addition, blood tests revealed that the absorption of nutrients was markedly increased when bioperine had been administered earlier –e.g., selenium levels were increased by 30%, and vitamin B6 by more than 60%. As the optimal utilization of nutrients and minerals depends on the intake of food in terms of time, the additional intake of black pepper alone, or during the meals would have no particularly positive effects on the metabolism. So, before the meals is when bioperine can be taken most advantage from.

Phosphatidyl serine
Phosphatidyl serine is a naturally occurring phospholipid that has a structural role in the biological membranes of plants, animals and other life forms. It is found in fish, green leafy vegetables, soybeans and rice, and is essential for the normal functioning of the brain cell membrane, in which it is more concentrated than in the rest of the cells.
Improving cognitive function
Phosphatidyl serine helps regenerate damaged nerve cells, reversing defects in nerve cell message transmission, helping to establish new receptor sites in the brain. It also supports the functions of several important membrane proteins. In fact, large protein molecules station themselves like sentries along the phospholipid wall, where they perform a variety of important functions like those recently named. More specifically, they process enzymatic and hormonal signals from outside the cell, catalyze the nerve cell’s mitochondrial energy production, facilitate the release of neurotransmitters, and support the functions of the proteins in the neurotransmitter receptors of dendrites. That is why phosphatidyl serine is usually used to benefit memory, learning, concentration, mood, alertness, and reaction time. 
In the largest multicenter study to date of phosphatidylserine and Alzheimer’s disease, 142 subjects aged 40 to 80 were given 200 milligrams of phosphatidylserine per day or placebo over a three-month period. The scales normally used to assess Alzheimer’s status were used, and showed that those treated with phosphatidylserine showed an improvement on several items. Although the differences between placebo and experimental groups were small the experts catalogued them as ´statistically significant´.
Phosphatidylserine has also shown some efficacy in some non-Alzheimer’s dementias, in age-associated memory impairment and general mental deterioration. Although more clinical trials need to be conducted before elaborating conclusions, taking into a count the results to date, plus the fact that there are very few side effects associated with phosphatidyl serine and also so few treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease, one research group concluded that the therapeutic possibilities offered by phosphatidylserine should not be dismissed.
Cortisol –against fat loss

In terms of fat loss, phosphatidyl serine is not known for having a direct effect on this field. However, it is commonly included in many fat loss supplements in order to reduce muscle soreness, as it is said to suppress cortisol, which is known to break down muscle tissue and also contribute to abdominal fat storage.

According to a study performed at University Hospital in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, elevated cortisol levels provoked by both emotional stress and physical stress -like sleep deprivation and vigorous exercise- stimulates a fat-gathering enzyme, which is more easily taken up by the abdomen than other parts of the body.

However, several phosphatidyl serine supplementation seems to blunt cortisol release significantly secondary to stress. In fact, the journal Biology of Sport published a study in which phosphatidyl serine supplementation reduced cortisol levels by 30 percent compared to a placebo following exercise.

Dosage and forms
Phosphatidyl serine supplements can be derived from bovine brain or from soy lecithin. However, in the case of phosphatidyl serine taken from bovine cortex, it is usually not sold because it may contain viruses or infectious agents inadvertently introduced in the phosphatidyl serine product when extracted from the animal brain. So the phosphatidylserine currently available is derived from soy. In this case, it undergoes an enzymatic process that converts phosphatidyl choline -another major phospholipid found in egg yolks and soy- to phosphatidyl serine.
As it is common to use the results of studies done with phosphatidyl serine from cow brain to hypothetically prove that soy derived phosphatidyl serine is also effective, the reader should distinguish between both sources. Apparently, the extracts taken from bovine cortex contain other brain components apart from phosphatidyl serine, which may have led to better improvements in brain function than the ones taken from soy. So, when trials are performed using BC-phosphatidyl serine, they are referring to the one taken from bovine cortex, and not the one extracted from soy.
There is preliminary research indicating that the dose of phosphatidyl serine for inhibiting exercise-induced increases in cortisol ranges from 400 up to 800 mg per day, while other sources suggest to take 100 milligrams three time daily.
Although it is not contraindicated with any known medication, the lack of long-term safety studies suggests phosphatidyl serine should be avoided by children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. Also, those suffering from the antiphospholipid-antibody syndrome should exercise caution in the use of phosphatidylserine and only take it under medical supervision and monitoring.
.

Ginger

Ginger root is actually the rhizome of a perennial plant that is used extensively as a spice in many, if not most cuisines of the world. Originating in southern China, cultivation of ginger (Zingiber officinale) spread to India, Southeast Asia, West Africa, and the Caribbean. Young ginger roots are juicy and fleshy with a very mild taste. They can be pickled in vinegar as a snack or just cooked as an ingredient in many dishes. They can also be stewed in boiling water to make ginger tea.

On the other hand, mature ginger roots are fibrous and nearly dry. Their juice is often used as a spice in Chinese cuisine to cover up other strong odors and flavors such as in seafood and mutton, so it is extremely potent.

Ginger is also made into candy, being used for flavoring cookies, crackers and cake. It is also used to elaborate beverages, from non-alcoholic ones to beer, liqueur, and wine. In the form of powdered dry ginger (ground ginger), it is typically used to add spiciness to gingerbread and other recipes.

Composition

Ginger contains up to 3% of an essential oil that causes the typical fragrance of the spice. Its pungent taste is due to nonvolatile phenylpropanoids (particularly gingerol –chemically relative of capsaicin- and zingerone).

Traditional uses

Ginger root is very popular in the treatment for nausea, although it is not advisable for morning sickness commonly associated with pregnancy. Ginger root also contains many antioxidants, while the gingerols recently named have analgesic, sedative, antipyretic, antibacterial, and GI tract motility effects. Therefore, powdered dried ginger root is made into pills for these uses.

Ginger root is also said to avoid cramps, relieve inflammation, and has blood thinning and cholesterol lowering properties. However, more conclusive research is needed in order to prove these actions.

Fat loss action?

During a trial performed on the Department of Environmental and Symbiotic Sciences, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, in Japan, an aqueous extract of ginger inhibited the hydrolysis of triolein emulsified with phosphatidylcholine by pancreatic lipase in vitro. The extract also reduced the elevation of rat plasma triacylglycerol levels 1 and 2 h after oral administration of a lipid emulsion containing corn oil.

According to the experts, these results suggested that the aqueous extract of ginger root might inhibit the intestinal absorption of dietary fat by inhibiting its hydrolysis. Therefore, they investigated the antiobesity effects of this extract by feeding a high-fat diet to mice for 8 weeks.

The results showed that body weights at 2-8 weeks and final parametrial adipose tissue weights were significantly lower in mice fed a high-fat diet containing 3% aqueous extract of ginger root than in the controls fed the high-fat diet alone. However, they also fed another group a high-fat diet containing just 1% aqueous extract of ginger root, and it also significantly reduced final parametrial adipose tissue weights, which were elevated in mice fed the high-fat diet.

Hence, experts concluded that the evident antiobesity effect of aqueous ginger root extract in mice fed a high-fat diet may be due in part to the inhibition of intestinal absorption of dietary fat by the active compounds of this herb.

Another possible way ginger may be useful in the fat-loss field is the one related to its thermogenic action. Apparently, ginger might induce the muscle tissue to consume more oxygen, which is necessary for burning fat as a source of energy fuel. That is why some supplements combine this herb with some others, like cayenne, since its constituents have been shown to have similar properties, as well as to affect metabolic rate.

Forms and doses

Ginger taken as an infusion has a standard dosage of 1 cup 2-3 times daily, while in the tincture form, 5 to 10 mils per week are advised. As fresh root, ½ to 1 gm 3 times daily, and in powder form, 1/2 gm 2 times daily should be taken.

Although normal doses of ginger have not been associated with any problems, large doses should be avoided during pregnancy, and also in cases of gallstones, as well as before surgery. It is good to keep in mind also that ginger may increase the absorption of other medications, so the opinion of a qualified caregiver is advised for every case.

SoundPractice.Net has a free podcast on finding the right office staff. It caters to the MD crowd, but there are few interesting points in the 20-odd minutes.

Perhaps even better, there are over 100 free podcasts on the same site...

SoundPractice.Net - Podcasts for Medical Practice Management and Health Care Administration

(For a full list of all the podcasts, check out: http://www.mpmnetwork.com/page.cfm?name=featured_content )

CAMLAW has a new post on the "acceptance" of complementary and alternative medicine by the AMA.

While I'm sure many of you didn't need the blessing, it does provide more ammunition for getting more referrals from MD's who have been reluctant to "buy in" to your modality, or who are nervous for liability reasons.

CAMLAW : Complementary And Alternative Medicine Law Blog: American Medical Association Supports Alternative Medicine