J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2008;71(21):1415-29.
Splenda alters gut microflora and increases intestinal p-glycoprotein and cytochrome p-450 in male rats.Abou-Donia MB, El-Masry EM, Abdel-Rahman AA, McLendon RE, Schiffman SS.

Department of Pharmacology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham,
North Carolina 27708, USA. donia@duke.edu

Splenda is comprised of the high-potency artificial sweetener sucralose (1.1%) and the fillers maltodextrin and glucose. Splenda was administered by oral gavage at 100, 300, 500, or 1000 mg/kg to male Sprague-Dawley rats for 12-wk, during which fecal samples were collected weekly for bacterial analysis and measurement of fecal pH. After 12-wk, half of the animals from each treatment group were sacrificed to determine the intestinal expression of the membrane efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) metabolism system by Western blot. The remaining animals were allowed to recover for anadditional 12-wk, and further assessments of fecal microflora, fecal pH,
and expression of P-gp and CYP were determined. At the end of the 12-wktreatment period, the numbers of total anaerobes, bifidobacteria,lactobacilli, Bacteroides, clostridia, and total aerobic bacteria were significantly decreased; however, there was no significant treatment effect on enterobacteria. Splenda also increased fecal pH and enhanced the expression of P-gp by 2.43-fold, CYP3A4 by 2.51-fold, and CYP2D1 by 3.49-fold. Following the 12-wk recovery period, only the total anaerobes
and bifidobacteria remained significantly depressed, whereas pH values, P-gp, and CYP3A4 and CYP2D1 remained elevated. These changes occurred at Splenda dosages that contained sucralose at 1.1-11 mg/kg (the US FDA Acceptable Daily Intake for sucralose is 5 mg/kg). Evidence indicates
that a 12-wk administration of Splenda exerted numerous adverse effects, including (1) reduction in beneficial fecal microflora, (2) increased fecal pH, and (3) enhanced expression levels of P-gp, CYP3A4, and CYP2D1, which are known to limit the bioavailability of orally administered drugs. Read the rest of this entry

DALLAS – July 24, 2008 – One of the reasons people on low-carbohydratediets may lose weight is that they reduce their intake of fructose, atype of sugar that can be made into body fat quickly, according to a researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. Elizabeth Parks, associate professor of clinicalnutrition and lead author of a study appearing in a current issue of the Journal of Nutrition, said her team’s findings suggest that the right type of carbohydrates a person eats may be just as important in weight control as the number of calories a person eats. Read the rest of this entry

Here is a research article from several years ago showing that acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine is effective for seasonal rhinitis. (Of course it came out of Germany as they lead the world in non-invasive medical care). I certainly have many patients that call right before the springtime allergy season for their tuneups. It really helps either eliminate or cut down on their medications. Read the rest of this entry

A recent review study showed that acupuncture in conjuction with in-vitro fertilization improved the chances of a rates of pregnancy and live births.   (This really shouldn’t come as a surprise since there have been many studies showing that acupuncture helps couples conceive.)   This study was a review of 7 trials and over 1300 women undergoing IVF, so it wasn’t just a small pilot study, it did have some significance. The It was a 1.65 odds ratio which suggests that acupuncture increased the odds of clinical pregnancy by 65% compared with the control groups. However the authors correctly state that this is an overestimation and what it actually means is that for every 10 women that get treated there will be one more live birth.  Consider the exorbernant cost of IVF acupuncture is very cost effective.   Still this is significant, especially if you are one of those 10.

I’m always amazed at how incredible acupuncture is for regulating female hormones.   So it isn’t a surprise that acupuncture helps with pregnancy. The authors concluded: “Current preliminary evidence suggests that acupuncture given with embryo transfer improves rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation.”

In Health,
George Mandler
Licensed Acupuncturist
Licensed Dietitian / Nutritionist

Maynard, MA & Cambridge, MA

A recent review study looked at fish oil supplementation as a primary prevention method of age related macular degeneration. (Age-related macular degeneration :An eye disease with its onset usually after age 60 that progressively destroys themacula , the central portion of the retina , impairing central vision.) Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) rarely causes blindness because only the center of vision is affected. However, injury to the macula in the center of the retina can impair the ability to see straight ahead clearly and sometimes make it difficult to read, drive, or perform other daily activities that require fine central vision. Read the rest of this entry