ANSWER: Urica dioica rhizome (root) is a well-accepted remedy in Europe for prostatic enlargement. It has even been compared to the drug Proscar and found to be more effective, with less side effects. Lignans ((+)-neoolivil, (-)-secoisolariciresinol, dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, isolariciresinol, pinoresinol, and 3,4-divanillyltetrahydrofuran) from the roots of Urtica dioica and their metabolites bind to human sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). The net effect of this anti SHBG activity is a positive influence on testosterone metabolism. Testosterone is also metabolized by enzymes called aromatase and 5-alpha-reductase. Prostate enlargement is characterized by elevated testosterone levels (specifically elevated levels of the enzymes involved in testosterone metabolism), and stinging nettle is thought to lower the activity of one or both of these enzymes. This probably plays a key role in the traditional use of the plant to control prostatic enlargement.

Stinging nettle (both the leaf and root) also appears to prevent the over stimulation of proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta. Cytokines can be thought of in simple terms as immune system messengers. And while a discussion of these proinflammatory cytokines and immune system balance is beyond the scope of this column, cytokine balance is a growing area of interest in medicine. In fact, virtually all immune disorders (from HIV, to cancer, to autoimmune diseases), allergic conditions (like asthma and allergies) and even obesity/insulin resistance have characteristic imbalances in cytokine levels as part of the functional derangement occurring at a metabolic level.

Urtica dioica has a lectin with many unique characteristics. Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA), a V beta 8.3-specific superantigen, prevents the development of the systemic lupus erythematosus-like pathology in mice. Stinging nettle lectin is actually a "super lectin" called UDA superantigen (UDA for short). For those interested, UDA appears to be an N-acetylglucosamine specific lectin. Evidence indicates that this super lectin can inhibit a range of viruses including those responsible for HIV, colds, and influenza.

For prostate and immune health, Urtica dioica, the humble nettle plant, is hard to beat.

COMMENTARY: None.

ANSWER:

No, beneficials and avoids function on a different axis; i.e eating a "avoid" food containing a lectin will do damage to the intestinal lining. No "beneficial" food will repair it per se.

ANSWER: In 1998, the FDA issued a warning letter citing manufacturing violations and stating that it was illegal for any company to market "spray vitamins" as dietary supplements. Spray vitamins (atomizing vitamins in solution and typically spraying them into the nasal cavity) violate the Dietary Supplement Act.

In one instance the labeling stated that "Vitamin B12 is best absorbed through the tongue membranes or injection because if it is ingested, gastrointestinal juices will break down the vitamin, thereby destroying its value. Just one spray under the tongue enables the vitamins, including over 100% of the recommended daily value (DV) of vitamin B 12 to be absorbed into the body efficiently."

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) became law on October 25, 1994. Section 201(fl) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Act) defines the term "dietary supplement" to be a product that is formulated with vitamins, minerals, or a botanical that is intended for ingestion in tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid form. Consequently, any spray vitamin which is not intended for ingestion cannot meet the definition of "dietary supplement."

This is just incorrect, especially since the type of B12 used in the formula is the very inexpensive cyanocobalamine form versus the biologically active methylcobalamine form.

The body is a wonderful mechanism, which does not typically require any esoteric delivery system. Remember your digestive tract is designed for assimilation, not your nose.

ANSWER: A scan of the relevant lectin literature disclosed no lectin like activity in the plant (which I've also verified in my own lab), but the bigger question may be efficacy more than toxicity.

Hydroxycitric acid, the active ingredient in the herbal compound Garcinia cambogia, inhibits the extramitochondrial enzyme adenosine triphosphate-citrate (pro-3S)-lyase. As an enzyme that may play an essential role in de novo lipogenesis inhibition, Garcinia is claimed to lower body weight and reduce fat mass in humans. However, Garcinia cambogia failed to produce significant weight loss and fat mass loss beyond that observed with placebo. (1) A second study showed no difference in the short-term rate of fat oxidation in the fasting state during rest or moderate exercise, with doses likely to be achieved in humans while subjects maintain a typical Western diet; approximately 30-35% total calories as fat. (2)

Having used the product in years past in several patients, I've since stopped employing it as it appears that the reputed action of the herb is minimal at best.



1. Heymsfield SB, Allison DB, Vasselli JR, Pietrobelli A, Greenfield D, Nunez C. Garcinia cambogia (hydroxycitric acid) as a potential antiobesity agent: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 1998 Nov 11;280(18):1596-600.

2. McCarty MF. Utility of metformin as an adjunct to hydroxycitrate/carnitine for reducing body fat in diabetics. Med Hypotheses. 1998 Nov;51(5):399-403.

ANSWER: This result only shows that your wife is Rh-, since 'D' is tha major antigen on the Rh (Rhesus) system. Thus, if your wife was D+, she would be "Rh+."

Unfortunately, this only tells us about your wife's Rh status, whic is not really all that important with regard to diet. You will still need to get the ABO blood type as well.

ANSWER: Cyanocobalamin is the most commonly supplemented form of vitamin B12, but you might be surprised to discover that this form of vitamin B12 does not actually occur in plants or animal tissues. In other words, outside of the chemically synthesized cyanocobalamin that you encounter as B12 in most vitamin supplements, you would be extremely hard pressed to find this compound in nature (in fact you would not be able to find it). As the name implies, cyanocobalamin contains a cyanide molecule. Most people are familiar with cyanide as a poisonous substance. Although the amount of cyanide in a normal B12 supplement is small and from a toxicology point, viewed as insignificant, your body will still need to remove and eliminate this compound. This removal is accomplished through your detoxification systems with substances like glutathione being very important for the elimination of the cyanide.

Compared with cyanocobalamin, it appears that methylcobalamin is better absorbed and retained in higher amounts within your tissues. In simple terms, they are used much more effectively. In general, methylcobalamin is used primarily in your liver, brain and nervous system.

Methylcobalamin is the specific form of B12 needed for nervous system health. Because of this it should be the first form of this vitamin thought of when interested in attempting to optimize the health of the nervous system with vitamin supplementation. Indications of a potential deficiency of B12 in the nervous system might include numbness, tingling, loss of feeling sensation, burning sensations, muscle cramps, nerve pain and slowness of reflexes.

Because of methylcobalamin's importance in nervous system health, it is also an important nutrient for vision. In fact, continued visual work (like work on a computer) often leads to a reduction in something called "visual accommodation". Methylcobalamin can significantly improve visual accommodation, while cyanocobalamin appears to be ineffective.

An elevated level of homocysteine is a metabolic indication of decreased levels of the coenzyme forms of vitamin B12, especially methylcobalamin. Homocysteine has received a tremendous amount of emphasis in the scientific literature because of its associations with heart disease and a variety of other specific health conditions. I have even seen advertisements on television promoting folic acid, as a vitamin needed to lower homocysteine. While this is true, and folic acid does lower homocysteine levels, the combination of methylcobalamin and folic acid appears to work much better.

The most well studied use of methylcobalamin has to do with sleep. Although the exact mechanism of action is not yet clear, it is possible that methylcobalamin is needed for the synthesis of melatonin. Available information indicates that methylcobalamin can modulate melatonin secretion, enhance light-sensitivity, and normalize circadian rhythm (your 24-hour clock). Because of this, individuals supplementing this form of B12 often have improved quality of sleep, often will require slightly less sleep, and will not uncommonly report that they feel a bit more refreshed when waking in the morning. Methylcobalamin is particularly effective when your 24-hour clock is not running smoothly. This may be indicated by a need for excessive sleep, changing sleep-wake cycles, or a tendency to have altered sleep wake patterns. As examples, you might require 10-12 hours of sleep, or you might not feel tired until 2-3 am and you might wake at noon, or you might find that you wake a bit later every day and go to be a bit later every night. Under all of these circumstances the combination of methylcobalamin (about 3000 mcg daily) and exposure to bright light in the morning can help reestablish your 24-hour clock.

Because of methylcobalamin's impact on 24-hour clock and the cycles that feed of this, it is also an important vitamin to regulate your 24-hour release of the stress hormone cortisol. This seems to be particularly important for blood types A and AB. Methylcobalamin also seems to result in a better 24-hour maintenance of body temperature. Typically individuals supplementing this coenzyme form of B12 have higher temperatures in the later hours of the daytime. This usually corresponds with improved alertness at the same time of the day. While this can be of importance to all blood types, low body temperatures seems to be an area of greater challenge for A's and B's.

ANSWER:

Dong quai and primrose oil are generally fine for type As in menopause (or headed there!). If estrogen stimulation is needed (i. e if there is a history of bone loss or dementia, etc.) I advocate types A and AB talk to their physicians about using the fraction "estriol" (2-8mgs) in preference to the other more potent fractions found in the convention ERT Premarin. Though I was blasted initially in the town I practice in (Greenwich CT) for advocating this alternative, all the GYNS now prescribe it themselves! The herb "Black Cohosh," Cimicifuga racemosa, can also help with hot flashes.

COMMENTARY: I wish to thank Katrina (a particpant on the Bulletin Board) for this translation from the original article which appeared in Norwegian.

Perhaps my only problem with the article is that it holds the simplicity of my first book, Eat Right 4 Your Type, somewhat against me, even though the author references far more technical scientific articles that I've written that actually precede its publication. One cannot do two things simultaneously: You can write simplified books for the general public or technical works for scholarly journals. They must be evaluated differently, as they have widely different aims.

Nonetheless, I am gratified that the blood group diet theory is becoming the subject of a more serious scholarly interest, although perhaps despite its success in the mass-market, rather than because of it.