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Great News for Brain-Damaged Vets
by Tom Valentine
Successfully treating dead and dying brain cells, whether caused by a Stroke or by roadside bomb concussion, or any trauma has proven difficult and not very efficient.
New research has delivered great news for treatments of brain cell destruction, and it comes from a vitamin with no side effects
“This is one of the first studies to provide evidence that a safe nutrient—a vitamin—can alter brain damage biology to produce a favorable disease outcome,” said study leader Dr. Chandra Sen of Ohio State University. (Stroke(doi:10.1161/strokeaha.
“Here, a natural nutritional product is simultaneously acting on multiple targets to help counter stroke-induced brain damage. This is a gifted molecule.”
Whenever brain or nerve cells are traumatized the body’s complex biochemistry swings into action, this invariably leads to “glutamate toxicity, “ which enhances cell death.
Glutamate is a form of the amino acid glutathione, a molecule pervasive throughout the body as a protection for cells, especially nerve and brain cells. But, oxidized glutamate, GSSG, can become destructive and obstructive.
The biochemical pathways are complex, and chemistry must remove toxic debris as well as provide nourishment and oxygen. Drugs are designed and synthesized to cope with all the complexity, and despite impressive technology, it is known that most drugs cause as many unwanted (side) effects as they do benefits.
This “gifted molecule” is a fraction of the vitamin E family of compounds—alpha tocotrienol. I try, when writing these kinds of stories, to not get too complex for the lay public, but in the marvelous micro-systems of our living bodies, there are literally trillions of very fast-moving variables.
A patient with damaged and dying brain cells, regardless of cause, wants relief and healing, in which he or she can have confidence This is why so much testing is required before claims can be made. In spite of testing, and myriad regulations it is now known that more than 100 people die every day due to prescribed medications. This fact adds to the appeal for using a safe nutrient.
For more than a dozen years the Ohio State researchers have been testing the apparent benefit of the specific vitamin E fraction called alpha tocotrienol as a safe and efficient therapy for brain damages mostly those caused by stroke. I have kept abreast of this unheralded research due to my newsletter writing for my nutritional supplement business. (Carotec. com)
This form of vitamin E taken orally can trigger production of a protein in the brain that clears toxins from nerve cells, preventing those cells from dying, giving them a chance to return function.
While the research team knew of the health-restoring benefit of this vitamin for years, including MRI pictures showing the changes in”white matter”in the brains of patients, they did not know how this occurred. What mechanism in biochemistry was responsible?
In the report published in the Oil Chemist journal Inform, Sept. 2011, they said: These researchers previously demonstrated the tocotrienol form of vitamin E protected the brain by blocking an enzyme that prevented the release of toxic fatty acids, and by inhibiting a gene that can lead to cell death.
Dubbing the subject nutrient TCT, the scientists have now determined the complex route of this “gifted” molecule: They first clarified the role TCT has in the genetic production of a protein (MRP1) that regulates biochemistry following brain damage. They then determined how TCT influenced microRNA production of the protein.
I repeat; Dr. Sen reported: “ This is one of the first studies to provide evidence that a safe nutrient — a vitamin—can alter microRNA biology to produce a favorable outcome.
Dr. Sen has led numerous studies on how this TCT form of vitamin E protects brain cells from stroke damage, and he intends to extend study into stroke repair and prevention in humans.
Stroke afflicts 15 million people worldwide, with 5 million deaths and another 5 million disabled permanently. The FDA recently certified TCT as GRAS (generally regarded as safe) and this propelled the NIH funded studies.
Gordon Duff reminded me that we should mention the 26,000 veterans who have been discharged after service, dishonorable and undesirable discharges, many related to TBIs that are undiagnosed and the 500,000, TBI patients, awaiting disability compensation.
Mouse studies determined the role of MRP1.
Two groups of mice, one group genetically modified to be deficient in MRP1, were compared after induced stroke. Both groups had the same decreased blood flow in the area of the stroke, but the MRP1-deficient animals displayed a larger volume of tissue death than the normal mice.
The deficient mice also had nearly double the amount of GSSG the oxidation (free radical) product that is cleared out by the protein MRP1.
Finally the team compared mice, which were treated with TCT, against controls fed corn oil for 13 weeks before stroke was induced. The amount of damaged brain tissue was smaller in the TCT supplemented animals than in the controls. Additionally, the vitamin supplementation was associated with a lower level of the candidate microRNA in the damaged brain tissue as well as an increase in the abundance of the cleansing protein.
My independent company has more experience with the substance material used in these studies than any other American company. The Ohio State studies have always used the exact same special brand of alpha tocotrienol we carry. The patent-protected and trademarked form is called Tocomin®Supra/Bio®.
It is tocotrienol distilled from Palm oil, in special preservative processes, and enhanced for positive bioavailability, which means that it has been tested in humans to prove it survives the gastric acids and enters metabolism in good shape.
Next, What the hell is vitamin E
Short URL: http://www.veteranstoday.com/?p=147415
Posted by Tom Valentine on Oct 4 2011, With 0 Reads, Filed under Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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Tom, I thought this might also be of help
Research conducted by University of Kentucky neuroscientists.
Sasha Rabchevsky, associate professor of physiology, Patrick Sullivan, associate professor of anatomy and neurobiology, and Samir Patel, senior research scientist — all of the UK Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center (SCoBIRC) — have discovered that in experimental models, severe spinal cord injury can be treated effectively by administering the supplement acetyl-L-carnitine or ALC, a derivative of essential amino acids that can generate metabolic energy, soon after injury.
The researchers previously reported that following spinal cord injury, the mitochondria, or energy-generation components of cells, are overwhelmed by chemical stresses and lose the ability to produce energy in the form of the compound adenosine triphosphate (ATP). [1,2] This leads to cell death at the injury site and, ultimately, paralysis of the body below the injury level.
Rabchevsky, Sullivan and Patel have recently demonstrated that ALC can preserve the vitality of mitochondria by acting as an alternative biofuel providing energy to cells, thus bypassing damaged mitochondrial enzymes and promoting neuroprotection. [3]
Results soon to be published show that systemic administration of ALC soon after a paralyzing injury promoted the milestone recovery of the ability to walk. Unlike the animal control group given no ALC, which regained only slight hindlimb movements, the group treated with ALC recovered hindlimb movements more quickly and were able to stand on all four limbs and walk a month later. Critically, such remarkable recovery was correlated with significant tissue sparing at the injury site following administration of ALC.
Because ALC can be administered orally, and is well-tolerated at relatively high doses in humans, researchers believe that their discovery may be translated easily to clinical practice as an early intervention for people with traumatic spinal cord injuries.
What is wrong with you, Tom Valentine?
I am a college student who is trying to conduct a study on the college needs of veterans with TBI, and I can’t find participants for my planned case studies. A few of the colleges, that I have contacted, will not post my recruitment flyer, because they want to protect veterans from questioning. If only you could foster just a bit of their type of compassion before you fly off the handle with some vitamin remedy for brain damage. Your use of the words “Brain Damage” in the title of your article is a re-wounding casualty for veterans, and you really need to consider your motives for writing such an article. Do you know anything about cognitive rehabilitation? Do you know where your head/wallet is stuck?
Patricia, I suggest you take it up with the Ohio State researchers.
How do I respond, Patricia, without demeaning two things? Women and shrinks. What you posted here is double crap.
Tom,
Such an intelligent response… Maybe you could just start referring to brain injury as such and not as brain damage. Their brains’ are not damaged, they brains have been injured. TBI stands for traumatic brain injury not traumatic brain damage. Okay?
Every so called doctor, scientist and TBI expert, PTSD expert all claim to have the answer to save the day. Veterans like myself have been ginny pigs for every type of medical testing under the sun. To date not one Veteran has recovered from PTSD or TBI. Not one drug has cured any physical or mental medical issue. What has happened is that all these big drug companies make millions of dollars when the VA Psyhiatrist prescribes mind altering meds to the so called PTSD, TBI war vet. VA doctors who also work at their local hospitals double their money when they prescribe drugs to their patients. SO many side affects from these drugs. As a result thousands of Vets who take these drugs end up on the operating table for an intestine operation as a result of the zoloft and other drugs that they have taken for years. Many Vets are told and I quote “If you do not take these drugs your claim will be denied” Or ” If your records show that your taking drugs for your PTSD, TBI etc, this will be better for your claim. To all you Vets out there, get off the ZOLOFT and eat green vegies, get off the Narcotics and sober up before you end up on the operating table with stomauch problems and nerve problems etc.
Robert,
Perscription meds are shrinks solution for not having to do any work themselves.
Patricia, did you read the column; at the molecular level, following trauma there is well known damage. I do not enjoy being mean .
Stroke victims may recover from the “damage” though it usually takes more than a year or two. Recent data from stroke recovered individuals strongly suggests that nutrients, especially B vitamins are a positive factor. Not many knew of this form of vitamin E to have it be included in the data, but the recovery folks with the most impressive results were obviously health conscious individuals who watched what they consumed.