TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) is an important chemical secreted by the immune system.
Unfortunately, it also causes drastic inflammation and damage when released inappropriately. As
it turns out, TNF-alpha also triggers bone loss, and plays a critical role in bone loss after
menopause. TNF-alpha triggers free radical production and inflammation in the bone and causes the
release of cell destroying caspases that kill bone marrow stromal cells. These stromal cells are
stem cells found in bone marrow that generate bone, cartilage, fat, and fibrous connective tissue.
As it turns out, adding Alpha-Lipoic Acid to human stromal cells prevented the changes caused by
TNF-alpha. Pretreating the bone cells with Alpha-Lipoic Acid prevented the increase in free radicals,
inflammation, the release of caspases (the bone cell executioners) and ultimately prevented the
death of these bone forming cells. Alpha-Lipoic Acid may prevent or decrease bone loss caused by
inflammation. The study is published in the July 2005 issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral
Research: the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph.
It's not all about calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D when it comes to strong bones. Magnesium, strontium,
zinc, vitamin K, vitamin C, protein, and boron are also very important. Recent research shows that
controlling homocysteine levels, and consuming enough omega-3 fatty acids to balance out the omega-6
fatty acids found in plant oils, and consuming vitamin E, are all important for a sound bone structure.
Coenzyme Q10 helps lower triglycerides in patients resistant to drug therapy
Patients with massively high triglycerides are often helped with fibrates and fish oil type
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). In this study patients with massively high triglycerides
who didn't respond to fibrate and/or PUFA therapy were placed on various combinations for six
weeks and compared to patients who responded to fibrates and/or PUFA at specialized centers for
blood fat irregularity management.
Both groups were placed on each of the following for 6 weeks a piece:
Coenzyme Q10 150mg/day
fenofibrate (Tricor - a fibrate) 200mg/day
PUFA 3000mg/day
PUFA plus fenofibrate
PUFA plus Coenzyme Q10
fenofibrate plus Coenzyme Q10
or all 3
In the patients who responded to PUFA and/or fibrate therapy, Coenzyme Q10 helped lower both
systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and lipoprotein (a) with PUFA and/or with fibrate therapy.
In the group that did not respond to drug or PUFA therapy, adding the Conezyme Q10 to Tricor
significantly reduced triglycerides, total cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), uric acid and blood pressure.
In the drug resistant group given PUFA plus Coenzyme Q10, only blood pressure and lipoprotein (a)
decreased. In patients with massively high triglyceride levels not responding to either fibrate drug,
or PUFA therapy, adding Coenzyme Q10 to Tricor (fenofibrate) could improve the drugs effectiveness
significantly. The study was conducted through the Atherosclerosis Research Center, University of
Bologna, and is published in the may 2005 issue of the journal Biomedicine and
Pharmacotherapy.
