SUPPLEMENT
N E W S L E T T E R o f T H E N E W Y O R K BU Y E R S ’ C LU B
Volume II, No. 8 Summer 2007
PROBIOTICS COME OF AGE
when it comes to good health, trust your gut
IN THIS ISSUE:
PROBIOTICS
COME OF AGE AT 100!
I t’s time to celebrate – by open-
ing another…container of yogurt!
It’s the 100th anniversary of Rus-
body’s immune system.
“Restoring its function is crucial
to ridding the body of the virus,” as-
Health Organization listed these
conditions and stated that “the ap-
plication of probiotics to prevent and
SUMMER STOCK @ NYBC
CAST CHANGES ANNOUNCED!
sian-born microbiologist Élie Metch- serts Dandekar. treat these disorders should be more NYBC TURNS THREE!
nikoff’s work on probiotics—a term Even when patients are seeming- widely considered by the medical
generally meaning bacteria or yeast ly getting better, with higher T-cell community.” Well said! CHILL OUT!
used as a dietary supplement. Yogurt counts and undetectable viral load In January, 2007, the New York SUPPLEMENTS TO PUT
is probably the best-known probiotic levels, there is likely still immune Times took note of the emerging trend
source, a fact that yogurt manufac- system damage occurring in the gut, in an article titled, “In Live Bacteria, YOUR MIND AT EASE
turers have been rightfully exploit- undetected. Food Makers See a Bonanza,” point- herbs for hiv
ing in their advertising and packag- ing to the success of Dannon’s Ac-
ing as of late. Just look on the label
of any yogurt and you’re apt to see
Probiotics exercise tivia products (available in Europe
since 1995, it turns out). The article established that the overuse of anti-
biotics has given birth to dangerous,
such fine microbes as lactobacillus
bulgaricus (sometimes listed as “ac- their beneficial effect also notes that the use of probiotics
has been slow to catch on here in the mutated, and drug-resistant strains
tive cultures”). U.S. because of a “culture that has of bacteria (such as Clostridium dif-
Probiotics exercise their beneficial by re-balancing the traditionally relied on pills, rather ficile, aka C diff). This, coupled with
the fact that modern diets are typi-
effect by re-balancing the natural than food and natural remedies, to
ecology of microbes in the gastro-
intestinal tract, called the gut flora,
natural ecology of remain healthy.”
This September, the University of
cally poor in dietary
fiber (which can
which can be negatively impacted by Nevada School of Medicine is inau- also “feed” the
the use of antibiotics or other drugs, microbes in the gurating an annual conference of top gut’s good
excess alcohol, stress, and disease. researchers and advocates in the area bacterium),
While diarrhea is the most common
sign of imbalance, it is but a symp-
gastrointestinal tract. of probiotics. The symposium, Clini-
cal Applications of Probiotics in
contribute to
many health
tom of a larger problem. A typical Like traditional botanicals, some Human Health, will provide an over- problems on
mechanism of action is for a probi- probiotic foods (such as yogurt and view of the physiological roles of the rise.
otic species to “crowd out” a harmful kefir) have been in use by humans the gastrointestinal microflora and a So when
microbe in the gut, and in this way for ages. But more detailed knowl- history of probiotic use in medicine. considering
Also featured are seminars covering bolstering your
SUPPLEMENT YOUR KNOWLEDGE more recent and lesser-known appli- immune system
on the web American Society for Microbiology
www.asm.org cations of probiotics, such as their
use in treatment of food allergies,
through healthier
eating habits, take
Probiotics Resources: www.USprobiotics.org atopic eczema, and autism spectrum a look at pro-
International Scientific Association for Pro- A nonprofit research and education website biotics. Élie
disorders.
biotics and Prebiotics www.isapp.net Read about the University of Western On- Next on the healthwatch hori- would
Symposium: Clinical Applications of Probi- tario’s exciting project: bringing the power zon is prebiotics, foods that contain be
otics in Human Health, September 14-15, of probiotics to AIDS-ravaged Tanzania in “natural carbohydrates” that, while proud.
www.probioticsymposium.com Africa: www.westernheadseast.ca. indigestible to us, stimulate healthy
bacterial growth in the gut. Dietary
restore the gastrointestinal system to edge about how probiotics work, sources of prebiotics are soybeans,
good functioning. how to store and deliver them, and Jerusalem artichokes, raw oats, un-
A recent study conducted by Uni- their potential application to par- refined wheat, and unrefined barley.
versity of California researchers led ticular conditions has come only in Watch for “prebiotic” claims in so-
by Dr. Satya Dandekar brought to recent years. In the last few decades called “functional foods” – another Élie Metchnikoff, née Ilya Ilitch Metch-
nikov (1845-1916), the “the father of
light the critical link between gut there has been much new research on buzzword gaining in use. modern immunology,” won the No-
health and effective HIV therapy. the usefulness of probiotics in coun- Finally, probiotics are receiving bel Prize for Medicine in 1908 for his
They found that the HIV virus effec- teracting gastrointestinal infections, their due, as more attention is be- decades of work on the cellular basis
tively “hides” from treatment in the certain bowel disorders, allergies, ing given to the value of main- of the immune system, but the study
gut. As gut-associated lymphoid tis- and urogenital infections. taining good gut health natu- of probiotics was the special passion of his
sue (GALT) accounts for 70% of the In a 2001 report, the UN’s World rally. Scientists have already later years.
dii, a yeast identified in the 1920s by a French Green Defense (Jarrow): contains an ex-
microbiologist and extensively studied for an- tract of Propionibacterium shermani, studied
tibiotic-related diarrhea, traveler’s diarrhea, for intestinal health. 6.35 ounces (a 30-day
Jarro-dophilus + FOS (Jarrow): Lacto- and Lactococcus diacetylactis. No refrigera- and C. difficile, among other conditions. No supply); $15.50
bacillus group and Bifidobacterium group + tion needed. By the way, this product passed refrigeration needed. 50 capsules; $33.00
natural carbohydrates on which they thrive. all tests in a December 2006 Consumer Labs ProGreens (Nutricology): Lactobacillus
Refrigeration required. 100 capsules; $8.50 report (many do not). 60 capsules; $11.70 group, Bifidobacterium group, and S. ther-
Jarro-dophilus EPS (Jarrow): species of Florastor (Biocodex): “The #1 probiotic mophilus. 9.27 ounces (a 30-day supply);
Lactobacillus, Bifidus, Pediooccus acidilactici worldwide” contains Saccharomyces boular- $35.50
SUPPLEMENT
N E W S L E T T E R o f T H E N E W Y O R K BU Y E R S ’ C LU B
Volume II, No. 8 Summer 2007
NYBC TURNS THREE!
REVOIR , TERRIB LE TWOS!
MEMBERS STORE AU
UPDATE
NEW PRODUCTS ADDED TO CATALOG,
OTHERS face early RETIREment
T his summer, it’s farewell to some
products at NYBC, and hello to
new ones: We will now be carrying
popular Added Protec-
tion and Ultra Preven-
tive multis. We’re now
Recently, we here at the New York Buyers’ Club celebrated our
NAC, alpha lipoic acid, glutamine carrying DHEA at 50 mg third anniversary! During our first three years, we have seen our
(in capsules and in bulk) from our and 7-keto DHEA (which sphere of positive influence grow ever wider, and our membership
friends at Montiff (long-time supplier does not convert to testos- more than double – and of these things we are very proud. We truly
to our predecessor DAAIR). These terone). Judith Rabkin and thank everyone for their support.
products are the same as those we her group at Columbia have shown
stocked under our own label. Note that DHEA can be helpful for people Even during our “terrible twos,” and in times of financial uncer-
that we still stock NYBC Super C with HIV suffering from depression,
and acetylcarnitine with our own but their studies used higher doses tainty, we have held true to our belief that everyone has a right to
label, and at very affordable prices. (up to 200 mg per day). And the effect (and information about) beneficial, alternative and complementary
For the time wasn’t just in men—women also ben- therapies so that they can make informed decisions regarding their
being, we will efited from its use. Meanwhile, a re- health. And whether you’ve been looking for a natural therapy for
carry ThioNAC cent study by Abrams and colleagues gastrointestinal distress, or just trying to find out exactly what sup-
from Jarrow, but confirmed that DHEA can help people plements you might consider and what they can do (and can’t do!)
we are looking with HIV with quality of life, though
into private-label this investigation did not – we’ve been here for you. And of that we are also very proud.
manufacturing of see a benefit with other
our very popular parameters (such as CD4 Now would be a great time for you to support the programs of the
NYBC-label ThiolNAC: this alpha- count or lean tissue). New York Buyer’s Club: Our free education and information servic-
lipoic/NAC combination is extremely
useful to the many people who sup-
plement with both. Now that we have
W e’re glad to an-
nounce that Pro-
Greens from Nutricol-
es, our low-income supplement access program, and aid to kindred
spirits in need, like those bravely working in the face of terrible odds
exhausted our previous supply, we’re ogy has made a return to NYBC. This at The Centre in Zimbabwe.
very interested in obtaining a new formula remains a favor-
high-quality, low-cost option for our ite, although a little cost- With your help, the New York Buyers’ Club will continue
membership. (Note: If you want to lier than Jarrow’s Green to thrive and grow. Thanks for being there for us.
help underwrite the cost of manufac- Defense (also in stock). It
turing of this key supplement, we’d contains a variety of pro-
welcome your tax-deductible dona- biotics as well as wheat
tion to NYBC, a 501c3 grass, barley grass, oat
nonprofit organization.) grass, flax seed and other ingredients Yours in Good Health,
I n other NYBC news,
recently, we began car-
that enrich a daily diet that may oth-
erwise not provide enough greens.
rying Calcium 1000 from
Twinlabs. This product
has 1000 mg of calcium
F inally, consider pyridoxal-5-
phosphate. (A real mouthful!)
This is the metabolically active form
(in a mix of carbonate and of Vitamin B6, key for the body’s
citrate forms) along with 400 IU of vi- processing of proteins, amino acids,
tamin D. Vitamin D supplementation p.s. You don’t have to become a member to donate!
lipids (fats) and carbohydrates. One
has been in the news a lot lately, show- distinctive feature of Jon All well-wishers welcome!
ing an association, for example, with Kaiser’s potent multi in K-
reduced risk for certain cancers. (And PAX is the higher level of
cancer remains an important consider- vitamin B6 (250 mg daily).
ation for people living with HIV.) The Does this add to the CD4
calcium-Vitamin D combination also benefits people see using
addresses concerns about bone loss K-PAX? We don’t know.
(osteopenia or osteoporosis), and we But with this addition, NYBC can of-
look forward to having more data on fer a comparable multivitamin-alpha Make a tax-deductible donation to the NYBC today!
its potential benefit in this department. lipoic-NAC-acetylcarnitine combo Visit www.NewYorkBuyersC lub.org/do nate
We also have new DHEA products for those unable to access K-PAX. or call us at 800-650-49 83!
from Douglas Labs, makers of the
SUPPLEMENT
N E W S L E T T E R o f T H E N E W Y O R K BU Y E R S ’ C LU B
Volume II, No. 8 Summer 2007
having trouble sleeping? energy low? Feeling down? TRY THESE
SUPPLEMENTS TO PUT YOUR MIND AT EASE
S leep disturbances are the third
most common complaint among
people with HIV seeking medical at-
tigue among people with HIV, and is folic acid and B12 in our multis, and
especially common among women. may want to consider adding a sepa-
(A recent large study found that about rate vitamin B supplement as well.
only DHEA, but 5-HTP, Tryptophan,
SAMe, St. Johns Wort, and even fish
oil). You may not see these names fea-
tention. Everybody knows what it’s 30% of people on HAART had moder- While treating anemia can be a tured in sleek TV or magazine ads, but
like to sleep poorly, then feel cranky key to helping some people with HIV take a look at the catalog descriptions
and fatigued the next day. But persis- A recent trial found overcome fatigue and its frequent on the NYBC website, discuss with
tent insomnia, followed by chronic companion depression, there are other your health-care provider, and you may
fatigue, can become major medical that low-dose cases where low energy is not related find an option that suits your needs.
issues for people with HIV when they to low red blood cell levels, and where
lead to poor medication adherence melatonin the treatment options are therefore Now Available from NYBC
and lower CD4 counts. So it’s worth different. Particularly in HIV+ men,
reviewing some supplement options may be perfectly steroid hormones (testosterone and SEE RELAX, BE HAPPY
IN OUR ONLINE MEMBERS’ STORE
for dealing with these problems. DHEA) have proven useful in combat-
A 2005 research presentation sug- effective as a ing the fatigue-depression combina- 5-HTP (Jarrow) Each bottle, 60 capsules.
gested that melatonin supplements can tion. Recent federally-funded research Each capsule, 100 mg; $16.50
improve sleep patterns in people with sleep promoter, on DHEA showed it to be an effective Melatonin (Source Naturals) Each
HIV. Melatonin, a hormone secreted by anti-depressant, with the added inter- bottle, 100 sublingual 1mg tablets; $4.50
the pineal gland, has long been studied making it a very safe esting feature that it can enhance sex Melatonin (Douglas Labs) Each bottle,
as a sleep regulator—levels increase in drive (rather than undermining it, as do 60 3mg sublingual tablets, $5.50 (or 60
response to darkness, then fall during and inexpensive certain common prescription anti-de- 5mg sublingual tablets, $7.35)
daytime. It’s also been investigated pressants). And a Columbia University SAMe (Jarrow) Thirty 400mg tablets,
as an anti-cancer agent, where it has remedy for study of DHEA for fatigue and depres- derived from 800 mg tosylate disulfate;
shown the capacity to combat solid tu- sion in people with HIV has found it $30
mors. (However, melatonin should not sleeplessness. to be a successful treatment for some, Perika Pro (MMS) Each bottle, 90
be taken by people with cancers affect- with the added bonus that, unlike cer- tablets. Each tablet, 300 mg of St. John’s
ing immune cells, such as lymphoma ate anemia. Women had an 80% great- tain prescription energy boosters, it Wort extract; $14.75
or leukemia.) er risk of being anemic than men, and doesn’t carry the risk of addiction. Theanine Serene (Source Naturals)
Here’s some good news: a recent
trial found that low-dose melatonin
(0.5 to 1.0 mg) may be perfectly effec-
African-Americans had a risk of ane-
mia 2.6 times higher than whites.) It’s W e know there are a lot of pre-
scription anti-depressants on the
important to learn the source of anemia market these days, and we recognize
Each bottle, 30 tablets, containing
(among other things) Relora, a propri-
etary blend of extracts from Magnolia
tive as a sleep promoter, making it a in people with HIV (taking Retrovir, that many people benefit from them. officinalis and Phellodendron amurense;
very safe and inexpensive remedy for AZT, is a drug-related factor). Treat- But it’s also widely acknowledged that $6.25
sleeplessness. ment options include increasing intake finding an effective anti-depressant Max DHA (Jarrow) Each bottle, 180
Of course fatigue can stem from of iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. Note can be tricky—what works for one softgels. Each softgel contains 500mg
other causes besides sleep disturbanc- that NYBC stocks multivitamins with person, does nothing for another. So fish oil, recently found to positively impact
es. Anemia, a shortage of red blood iron for those concerned about their we’re glad there are additional options mental well-being; $15.50
cells, is another leading cause of fa- intake of this mineral. You’ll also find among dietary supplements (see not
SUPPLEMENT
N EW S L E T T E R o f T H E N EW YO R K BU Y E R S ’ C LU B
SUPPLEMENT: Newsletter of the New York
Buyersʼ Club is published quarterly and
features articles focusing on current items of
HERBS FOR HIV
ancient chinese herbs meet
NOW ONLINE!
One of the Internet’s
most complete
supplement information
interest in the world of neutraceuticals, brief
reviews of individual supplements and their
uses, and information about upcoming NYBC
modern science; takers sought resources.
education and outreach events. 1Tribe Herbs, a collaboration be- this formula available through our
New York Buyersʼ Club is a nonprofit organi- tween Mark Kuebel of FIAR (Foun- Members Store for $65/month. SUPPLEMENT
zation with the goal of increasing awareness dation for Integrative AIDS Research) Individuals interested in joining FAQ
about and access to vital nutritional supple- DOWNLOADABLE
ments, with a focus on the needs of those af-
and Fred Blair, is currently conduct- in the clinical evaluation will be FACT SHEETS
fected by HIV/AIDS, Hep C, and other condi- ing a study of a new, exclusive Chi- urged to provide bloodwork and RECOMMENDED
tions. nese herbal formulation intended to other data to evaluate the effects of READING + LINKS
email: contact@newyorkbuyersclub.org slow HIV progression and maintain the herbs. All information will be W W W . N E W YO R K B U Y E R S C L U B
phone: (800) 650-4983 crucial blood work values (such as kept confidential. Those interested
post: 75 Varick St., Suite 1404 – DC 1707 CD4 and viral load). The formula is in joining the study should contact .ORG/RESOURCES
New York, NY 10013 designed for individuals who have mark-kuebel-lac@rcn.com or
SUPPLEMENT is distributed free of charge. If you wish not yet begun antiretroviral therapy afblair3@yahoo.com. “And if it be true, as has been asserted so often,
to receive additional copies for yourself or your or-
ganization, or learn more about what we do, please
(ARV) or who have decided to take a See our website (www.NewYork- that man can live by faith alone, the faith
contact us. All issues of SUPPLEMENT are archived on break (a treatment interruption) from BuyersClub.org) for more on this must be in the power of science.”
our website, www.NewYorkBuyersClub.org, where ARV, and uses principles of Chinese promising and exciting product.
you can also find free information and resources, and
– Elie Metchnikoff
access our Members Store.Based on a sliding scale, herbology and recent laboratory data Look under “Spring Break” in the From The Nature of Man:
annual NYBC memberships range from $5 to $25; see on Chinese herbs that have anti-HIV Members’ Store categories. Studies in Optimistic Philosophy
our website or mail order form for details.
properties. NYBC is now making