Archive 2007 2008 2009 2010

Q: Can so-called "glyconutrients" boost immunity and cure illness, as claimed?

A: There’s no convincing evidence that these supplements enhance the immune system, let alone fight AIDS, colitis, diabetes, high cholesterol, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, or any other medical condition.

Sold primarily by the supplement manufacturer Mannatech under the product line Ambrotose, glyconutrients contain eight monosaccharides (that is, simple carbohydrates, or sugars). Mannatech alleges that because of soil depletion and overprocessing, our diets are lacking in all but two—glucose and galactose—of these sugars.

You may be surprised to know that sugars are not just "empty" calories but do, in fact, play an essential role in many biological functions, including cell-to-cell communication and immunity. There’s actually an emerging and important field of science, called glycobiology, which explores the function of carbohydrates in health and disease. But glyconutrient marketers take a big leap when they say that consuming sugars in supplements has health benefits.

First, we are not deficient in any sugars. Our bodies are able to convert the sugars in foods (such as fruits and vegetables) from one form to the other forms as needed. There is no evidence that toxins, stress, drugs, or other factors interfere with the conversion process, as the marketers claim. Nor is there evidence that relying on our bodies to create the sugars instead of ingesting them in food or supplements causes any problems.

Marketers provide long lists of studies that supposedly support the use of glyconutrients for all kinds of medical conditions, as well as for general health. But these are unpublished conference presentations, anecdotes, and lab or animal studies, or they are from obscure journals of questionable reputation. We could find no well-designed research showing health benefits of glyconutrient supplements. Don’t waste your money on these expensive products.

Keep in mind: Glyconutrients are sold primarily via multilevel marketing. If you buy the product, you can become a distributor and then sell it to your friends and relatives, who sell it to their friends, etc., with profits passing up to the top of the pyramid, at least in theory. Such marketing often involves questionable practices and dubious health claims. Indeed, Mannatech is being sued by investors on such charges.

Q. Is it true that people with osteoarthritis should avoid nightshade vegetables, such as peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and potatoes?

A: Though scores of studies have been conducted, no dietary regimen has ever been shown to alleviate or prevent osteoarthritis—except for a diet that helps you lose weight, if you’re overweight.

There are claims about countless dietary regimens—from avoiding fruits and vegetables in the nightshade family, meat, dairy products, cooked or processed foods, or wheat to eating large amounts of garlic, alfalfa, wheat germ oil, or molasses. Anecdotal success stories are plentiful.

The problem is that osteoarthritis gets better, then worse, then better again, but can’t be cured—only managed. As such, it naturally inspires home remedies. Anything can seem like a miracle worker at some point. That’s the insidious part of it—and why osteoarthritis is such a fertile field for entrepreneurs.

Vegetables and fruits in the nightshade family, especially peppers and tomatoes, are nutritious and good sources of phytochemicals and fiber. Don’t give them up.

Q: Are frequent nosebleeds anything to worry about?

A: Usually not. As people get older they tend to get more nosebleeds because their mucous membranes become thinner; moreover, many take medications that "thin" the blood (such as aspirin) or dry the nose.

Most nosebleeds stop on their own. Occasionally nosebleeds can be a symptom of benign or malignant tumors, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), or possibly high blood pressure. Nosebleeds are usually anterior—that is, from the front of the nose, where the skin lining is thin. Posterior bleeding—from behind the fleshy area—is much less common, but can cause serious blood loss and generally requires medical help if it doesn’t stop within a few minutes.

If you have frequent nosebleeds or difficulty stopping them, or if they make you feel faint, you should check with your doctor.

If you’re prone to nosebleeds, put petroleum jelly just inside the nostrils once or twice a day to moisturize them. Keep the air in your home humidified. Avoid picking or vigorously blowing your nose. A saline spray (one-quarter teaspoon of salt in a cup of water) can be a good moisturizer, especially in a plane cabin or other dry environment.

Q: Can drinking oxygenated water give me more energy or have any other health benefits?

A: No. Makers of oxygenated water (such as Aqua Rush, Athletic Super Water, LifeO2) claim the water is infused with 7 to 40 times as much oxygen as regular water. This, supposedly, will help your muscles and improve athletic performance.

But this makes no sense. First, there’s little free oxygen gas in water to begin with; adding more doesn’t amount to much. According to researchers at Duke University, a bottle of oxygenated water had less oxygen than what you get taking a single breath.

Most important, it doesn’t matter how much oxygen is in the water, because we absorb oxygen into our blood through our lungs, not our digestive tracts. And, in general, healthy people’s blood already contains all the oxygen it needs. You can’t force much more in. Not surprisingly, no published studies have shown that these waters increase oxygen levels in the blood or muscles or improve athletic performance. Oxygenated water is a scam.

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, January 2006