Nutrition Q&A With Dan Lukaczer, N.D.
Question:
Please explain fructo-oligosaccharides. What are they, what do they do and how do they work?
Answer:
Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are a mixture of nondigestible carbohydrates that occur naturally in a variety of plants such as onions, garlic, barley and Jerusalem artichokes. Although we cannot digest them, the beneficial bacteria that reside in our gut readily use FOS as a food source.1 Thus, FOS are a potent growth factor for a number of bacteria and appear to be selectively used by beneficial intestinal bacteria, particularly bifidobacteria.2 Conversely, unfavorable bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens and others are unable to use FOS as a food source.3
It is well-known that increasing the growth and numbers of beneficial bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacillus has benefits that range from relieving constipation and diarrhea to helping modulate sugar and fat metabolism. In Japan, FOS is commonly added to a variety of foods. FOS has been closely evaluated and appears to be safe and well-tolerated.4,5
Question:
Chromium can be useful in treating diabetes, but how much is enough?
Answer:
As you know, there has been quite a bit of work on chromium and blood sugar control.6,7 Chromium deficiency itself has been related to elevated blood glucose levels, hyper-cholesterolemia and the development of aortic plaques.8
A randomized, placebo-controlled study of chromium supplementation in Type II diabetics showed that fasting and postprandial (after a meal) blood sugar and insulin, as well as glycated hemoglobin (a measure of damage from high glucose levels), were significantly reduced with chromium.9 The study also showed that a dose of 1,000 mcg/day was far more effective than the 200 mcg/day dose often recommended by nutrition-oriented practitioners.
Question:
I've heard that Co-Q10 is being used to treat cancer. Can you tell me about this?
Answer:
First, a little background on this interesting organic compound. Co-Q10 is a component of the electron transport chain in the mitochondrial membrane. Mitochondria are the major energy-producing organelles in the cell and thus Co-Q10 has a critical function in the manufacture of ATP, the cells' energy currency. High concentrations of Co-Q10 are found in areas that need the largest supply of energy, such as the heart, liver and immune cells.
Although Co-Q10 can be manufactured in the body, the process involves many steps and the presence of at least eight vitamins.10 Hence, some researchers think Co-Q10 may be a conditionally essential nutrient under certain health conditions or in people with low levels. For instance, relatively large doses have been used to treat hypertension.11 Co-Q10 has also been used to reduce the toxicity of certain chemotherapy drugs.12
The data on actually treating cancer are exciting but preliminary. Research suggests a relationship between various cancers and the level of Co-Q10 in the blood.13 One human trial studied the effect of 90 mg/day of Co-Q10 on breast cancer patients. The results showed that after two years, the women who took Co-Q10 lived longer. Because there was no placebo in this trial, the researchers calculated that on standard therapy, a percentage of these women would have died in this time period. With the nutritional protocol, none of them did.14
The same research group reported that a few of those women were later given much larger doses of Co-Q10—390 mg/day. In two cases, there appeared to be complete remission of the cancer metastases.15 It is unclear how these massive dosages may be working, but it may involve stimulating the immune system.16 Co-Q10 appears to be virtually nontoxic even at these doses. Although Co-Q10 may prove to be a useful nutrient in certain cancer treatments, much more research is needed.
Dan Lukaczer, N.D., is an educator and researcher at the Functional Medicine Research Center, a division of HealthComm International Inc. in Gig Harbor, Wash.
References
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2. Mitsuoka T. J Industr Micro 1990; 6:263-8.
3. Hidaka H, et al. Bifidobacteria microflora 1986;5(1):37-50.
4. Clevenger M. J Am Coll Toxicol 1988;7(5):643-61.
5. Spiegel J, et al. Food Tech 1994;48(1):85-9.
6. Linday LA. Medical Hypo 1997;49:47-9.
7. McCarty MF. Med Hypo 1997;49:143-52.
8. Anderson RA. Clin Physiol Biochem 1986; 4:31-41.
9. Anderson RA, et al. Diabetes 1997; 46:1786-91.
10. Folders, K. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 1996;224:358-61.
11. Langsjoen P, et al. Mol Aspects Med 1994;15:s265-72.
12. Oluma K, et al. Gan To kagaku Tyoho 1984;11(3):502-8. As cited in Biok J. Cancer and Natural Medicine, Oregon Medical Press; 1995.
13. Austin S. Alt Med Review 1997;2:4-11.
14. Lockwood K, et al. Molec Aspects Med 1994;15(suppl):s231-40.
15. Lockwood D, et al. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 1994;199:1504-8.
16. Lockwood K, et al. Biochem Biophys Res Comm 1995;212:172-7.
