Health & Fitness

 

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Your body uses vitamins for normal cell functioning; Essential vitamins must be consumed because they cannot be manufactured by the cells. Vitamins are grouped into two categories: fat soluble and water soluble.¹ The fat soluble types get stored in fatty tissue and absorbed when eaten with dietary fat.

Water soluble vitamins are not stored by your body. Instead, excessive amounts are excreted through the urine. This means that essential water-soluble vitamins must be consumed on a regular basis to prevent any shortages. Vitamin B7, colloquially called biotin, is a water-soluble vitamin your body uses for energy metabolism.

Vitamins have different jobs within the body, including supporting your immune system, neurological system and energy metabolism. Biotin is a cofactor for an enzyme that is crucial in the metabolism of glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. It is also used in the production of hormones and cholesterol.²

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that's required in the right amounts for good health. Your body uses about 1,000 mg of cholesterol every day to synthesize hormones and vitamin D and to make cell membranes and the myelin sheath, which surrounds nerve cells.³ Without adequate biotin, your body can’t make enough cholesterol.

What’s Behind Your Hair Loss?

Despite a lack of research to support the idea that biotin may help address hair loss or improve skin and nail health, dermatologists have been prescribing it for years.⁴ Studies published in 2016⁵ and 2017⁶ included results having to do with the use of biotin to help thinning hair.

Although it was helpful when prescribed to those with a biotin deficiency, it didn't appear to be useful in others. In the study published in 2016, researchers assessed patients from the Center for Dermatology and Hair Diseases who arrived with complaints of hair loss. They found that 38% of the women also had a biotin deficiency.

The most common type of hair loss in women and men is androgenetic alopecia.⁷ Men lose it at the front and vertex of the head, with thinning along the sides over the ear. Women start with diffuse thinning at the vertex.

By age 50, 50% of men will experience what is commonly called male pattern baldness. Interestingly, malnutrition, iron deficiency anemia and thyroid disease are also linked to hair loss. Other reasons for loss can include telogen effluvium, when the hair is lost in moderate amounts after a major body stress. Side effects from some drugs, medical illness and a fungal infection of the scalp can also cause hair loss.⁸

Yet, dermatologist Dr. Wilma Bergfeld from Cleveland Health Clinic finds that one of the most common causes is poor nutrition, more specifically the lack of essential vitamins. She says dermatologists start their detective work with a thorough physical exam and medical history, including family records and information on each patient’s diet, exercise and medications. She commented:⁹

“If your hair is falling out at the roots, often something is going wrong in your body or in your life situation. We find biotin to be very helpful for hair disorders. It also makes nails thicker, and oral biotin is exceedingly safe, even in large doses. Biotin improves hair growth and helps with inflammation. The hair follicle, the skin and the nails all benefit.”

Common Signs of Insufficiency

Insufficiency of this B vitamin is more rare than other nutritional deficiencies, but it can still occur. Since the body does not store it, your nutrient intake must be consistent. Some of the common signs of insufficiency include hair loss, brittle nails and a red, scaly rash around the eyes, nose, mouth and genitals. Other symptoms may include:¹⁰

• Depression
• Loss of appetite or nausea
• Tingling in the extremities
• Numbness
• Hallucinations

Several of the symptoms of biotin insufficiency are neurological in nature. Researchers also suggest that biotin supplementation may be helpful in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). It’s crucial in the development of the myelin sheath, which gets damaged or destroyed in MS. In one study, scientists concluded, “These preliminary data suggest that high doses of biotin might have an impact on disability and progression in progressive MS."¹¹

Dr. Bruce Cree is a neurologist from the University of California San Francisco. He has a special interest in the disease and commented on a study of a pharmaceutical grade biotin treatment for MS:¹²

“Taken together, these studies are very promising and provide hope for a condition that has thus far been largely intractable using treatments targeting neuro-inflammation. That the extension study from the SPI trial showed an apparent durability of effect suggests that high dose biotin may have disease modifying properties in addition to its proposed role in enhancing energy metabolism.

Furthermore, the positive impact of high dose biotin points to a new line of inquiry in understanding the pathophysiology of progressive MS.”

Deficiency can happen with prolonged parenteral feedings that are not supplemented with vitamin B7. Individuals who eat raw egg whites for long periods of time can also experience deficiency, since the egg whites contain a type of protein called avidin, which binds with biotin,¹³ thus preventing the body from absorbing the nutrient.¹⁴

Biotin Brings the Good Stuff

Biotin plays a role in metabolic function and the metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids. The breakdown of these nutrients helps create energy. In one study of 447 people with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes, researchers added chromium picolinate with biotin for 90 days.¹⁵

When compared to the control group who received a placebo, the intervention group showed a reduction in their hemoglobin A1c by 0.54%. Fasting glucose levels were also lower, suggesting the combination may be a successful adjuvant to medication prescribed for glycemic control.

In a second, more recent study, researchers found that the synergistic effect with chromium picolinate is well-tolerated.¹⁶ Biotin has also been tested in people with Type 1 diabetes. Scientists believe it may have the potential to slow hepatic steatosis and control diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy.¹⁷

As you might expect, since a biotin deficiency can lead to brittle nails, adding extra biotin to the diet may help strengthen them. In an animal study, researchers looked at in vitro lab results involving animal claws and hooves. They used biotin as treatment for nail disorders and found “Several observations in animals and cells lines led to the hypothesis that biotin could be used to treat human nails.”¹⁸

Although supplementation with biotin rapidly clears skin rashes associated with the vitamin deficiency, there is no scientific evidence that it can improve everyone’s skin health.¹⁹ There is evidence that both deficiency and overload can adversely affect a growing baby. Women who are pregnant should consult their OB/GYN.

Supplements May Alter Thyroid Tests

The Food and Nutrition Board has not established the upper limits for biotin supplementation.²⁰ In 1998, scholars from the National Academy of Sciences gathered information from clinical observations and studies in which biotin deficiency was induced.²¹ Factors they identified that affect an individual's body requirement include the ingestion of raw egg whites, genetic defects, anticonvulsants and pregnancy.

They found no adverse effects associated with a high intake of biotin in humans or animals. People taking up to 200 milligrams by mouth each day did not have any signs of toxicity. However, based on results from an animal study, they did find that taking doses of biotin during pregnancy can inhibit placental growth and increase the risk of miscarriage.

The doses used in the study were higher than those that are frequently recommended and they were not found to be useful in determining an upper intake level for humans. The Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health reports that an upper limit for biotin has still not been established as there aren’t negative effects noted with high intakes.²²

However, even taking a low dose can interfere with diagnostic blood tests commonly used to measure hormones, such as your thyroid hormone. It can also alter results of vitamin D tests.²³ This can be crucial in optimizing your vitamin D level before the fall flu season and the expected second wave of COVID-19.

Taking biotin before a thyroid test has resulted in false diagnoses of Graves’ disease and severe hypothyroidism. A single 10 mg dose taken 24 hours before a thyroid function test can taint the results. The FDA published a warning in 2017 that biotin could interfere with lab tests.²⁴

They received a report of an individual who died following a troponin test, which had been done for markers of cardiac health. The individual had been taking high levels of biotin and the test revealed a false negative, resulting in no treatment following a heart attack.

Biotin can also interact with medications, and some medications can lower biotin levels. For instance, anticonvulsant treatments can significantly lower biotin, which may happen by increasing catabolism of biotin and inhibiting absorption.²⁵

Start With Biotin-Rich Foods

The best way to get your biotin is through whole food, especially if you are concerned about a supplement altering your test results. However, if you steer clear of taking excessive amounts and stop taking supplements at least 24 hours before a blood test, biotin supplements can be safe. It's important to let your physician know you are taking supplements if you must have an emergency blood test.

There are two forms of biotin found in food. The first is free biotin, found in plants. The second is protein-bound in protein-based animal foods. The free version is more readily absorbed, but your body can use both forms. Foods high in free biotin include:^26,27

• Almonds
• Sunflower seeds
• Spinach and broccoli
• Carrots, onions and cauliflower
• Sweet potatoes

Protein-bound biotin is found in:

• Organic, free-range/pastured eggs yolks
• Organ meats such as liver and kidneys
• Dairy products such as milk, butter and cheese (ideally organic raw milk from grass fed cows)
• Seafood (just make sure it's low in mercury and other contaminants, and wild-caught, not farmed)

One of the best sources of biotin is pastured egg yolk. Cooking the egg white deactivates the avidin, which means eating cooked eggs will not lead to a biotin deficiency. If you choose to take a biotin supplement for hair loss, the Cleveland Clinic dermatologists recommend a mega-B combination:

• 3 milligrams of biotin
• 30 milligrams of zinc
• 200 milligrams of vitamin C
• <1 milligram of folic acid

Bergfeld notes, “Occasionally, the mega B-vitamin combination gives some patients minor gastric trouble but switching them to biotin alone relieves it.”²⁸

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According to China Daily,¹ traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoctions are being successfully used against COVID-19 in China. March 23, 2020, Yu Yanhong, party chief of the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, issued a statement² saying 91.5% of COVID-19 patients in China have been treated with TCM. Yu claims:

“All TCM prescriptions have effectively relieved symptoms, slowed the progression of the disease, improved the cure rate and reduced the mortality and boosted the recovery of patients.”

Six Traditional Chinese Medicine Remedies for COVID-19

The State Council of the People’s Republic of China website lists³ six TCM medicines that have been shown to be effective against the pandemic illness, which according to TCM diagnosis falls under the designation of “noxius dampness” that causes stagnation of qi:

Lianhua Qingwen capsule (LQC) — As a TCM remedy for the common cold and influenza, this concoction, composed of 13 herbs, is said to have “a curative effect in patients with mild symptoms and helps to relieve fever, cough and fatigue,” and may also “help prevent the disease from worsening.”

Jinhua Qinggan — This remedy for mild and moderate COVID-19 symptoms consisting of 12 herbs, including licorice, mint and honeysuckle, helps remove heat and detoxify the lungs. According to the State Council:4 “A comparative experiment showed patients who took Jinhua Qinggan granule tested negative for coronavirus 2.5 days earlier than a group that did not take it. The group treated with the granule also took eight days to show improvement, while the other group took 10.3 days.”

Xuebijing injection — Developed and used during the 2003 SARS epidemic, this remedy consists of five herbs that help detoxify and remove blood stasis. In China, it’s also used in the treatment of sepsis, which is a common cause of death in severe COVID-19. According to the State Council:5 “A comparative experiment of 710 cases jointly conducted by over 30 hospitals showed the injection, combined with regular treatment, can reduce the mortality rate of severe patients by 8.8% and shorten intensive care unit hospitalization by four days.”

Lung Cleansing and Detoxifying decoction — Consisting of 21 herbs, this decoction is said to improve symptoms of fever, cough, fatigue and lung conditions. According to the State Council:6 “Studies have proved the decoction can regulate multiple cell signaling pathways … to inhibit virus replication. Huang Luqi, president of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, said 1,264 patients in 10 provinces received the decoction and 1,214 have recovered, accounting for 96.1%, and no cases worsening.”

Huashi Baidu — This is a remedy of 14 herbs that is used to detoxify, remove dampness and heat and relieve cough and is suitable for mild, moderate and severe cases of COVID-19 pneumonia. It’s said to “significantly shorten the length of hospital stays and improve clinical symptoms and lung conditions, as shown by CT scans and other examinations.” Animal research suggests it can lower the viral load in the lungs by 30%.7

Xuanfei Baidu — Consisting of 13 herbs, this remedy helps detoxify the lungs, clearing dampness and heat, and is recommended for patients with mild to moderate symptoms. “Research has shown the prescription can shorten the time it takes for clinical symptoms to vanish and for temperatures to return to normal. It can also effectively prevent patients with mild and moderate symptoms from deteriorating,” the State Council says.8

Many TCM Remedies Are Under Investigation

An article by the Healthcare Medicine Institute also highlights the use of TCM remedies against COVID-19, stating:⁹

“According to the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), the herbal formula Qing Fei Pai Du Tang had a 90% response rate out of a total of 214 clinical cases of COVID-19 related pneumonia¹⁰ …

Another investigation tracked 701 COVID-19 patients across 10 Chinese provinces that were treated with Qing Fei Pai Du Tang. A total of 130 patients (18.5%) were cured, symptoms including fever and coughing completely resolved in an additional 51 patients (7.27%), symptom improvements occurred in an additional 268 patients (38.2%), and stabilization occurred in 212 patients (30.2%).”

A scientific review¹¹ in the International Journal of Biological Sciences titled “Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Patients Infected with 2019-New Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): A Review and Perspective,” lists several other promising TCM remedies. It also provides a list of clinical trials currently investigating various TCM remedies for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

China’s Standard of Care Includes TCM Treatment

Of the six remedies listed above, Lianhua Qingwen capsules or LQC for short, is the most popular. LQC, which is also used against seasonal influenza, has reportedly been part of China’s standard of care against COVID-19 since February 2020,¹² and other countries such as Thailand and Laos have also embraced the product.¹³ It was originally developed as a treatment against SARS.¹⁴ According to Vice:¹⁵

“… Zhong Nanshan, billed by state media outlet CGTN¹⁶ as ‘China's top respiratory expert,’ maintained in a webinar with Chinese students (who have received LQC in care packages from Chinese embassies) that the capsule is effective.

Zhong said that a recent experiment … found that LQC was able to ‘weakly inhibit’ the virus, and treat cell damage and inflammation. Patients who used the treatment experienced shorter fevers and saw their symptoms improve two days earlier than those in the control group. ‘It's the first time in the world that we have enough evidence to prove the Lianhua Qingwen capsule is effective and can help patients recover,’ Zhong said.”

The trial,¹⁷ published online May 16, 2020, in the journal Phytomedicine, compared the outcomes of 142 patients who received LQC along with “usual treatment” against 142 patients who received standard treatment alone. According to the authors, which included Zhong:¹⁸

“The recovery rate was significantly higher in treatment group as compared with control group (91.5% vs. 82.4%). The median time to symptom recovery was markedly shorter in treatment group (median: 7 vs. 10 days). Time to recovery of fever (2 vs. 3 days), fatigue (3 vs. 6 days) and coughing (7 vs. 10 days) was also significantly shorter in treatment group.

The rate of improvement in chest computed tomographic manifestations (83.8% vs. 64.1%) and clinical cure (78.9% vs. 66.2%) was also higher in treatment group. However, both groups did not differ in the rate of conversion to severe cases or viral assay findings. No serious adverse events were reported.”

Licorice Shown to Reduce COVID-19 Severity

Jinhua Qinggan granules and Xuebijing injections are also part of China’s standard therapies list for COVID-19. As mentioned, Jinhua Qinggan granules contain a mix of 12 different herbs, including licorice, mint and honeysuckle.

As reported in “Can Licorice Reduce the Severity of Coronavirus Infection?” a compound found in licorice root called liquiritin appears to prevent SARS-CoV-2 reproduction and inhibit proinflammatory cytokines. It also has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties, modulates the immune system and helps improve lung function.

Interestingly, when an artificial intelligence platform called InfinityPhenotype was used to predict the efficacy of 3,682 drugs and natural products against the gene set of SARS-CoV-2, liquiritin came out on top. Results were verified in the lab, showing liquiritin had the ability to obstruct the growth of SARS-CoV-2 in monkey cells by mimicking Type I interferon.

According to Judy Mikovits, Ph.D., Type I interferon could be used to make an oral “vaccine” against COVID-19, as it stimulates antibody humoral responses and has powerful antiviral effects. As Mikovits explained in my interview with her, featured in “Could Retroviruses Play a Role in COVID-19?”:

“I was part of the team that first used the immune therapy, a purified Type 1 interferon alpha, as a curative therapy for a leukemia ... [Type 1 interferon] is a simple food. It's a simple spray … Interferon alpha is your body's own best antiviral against coronaviruses and retroviruses.”

Understanding Interferons

Interferon Type 1^19,20 is a type of beneficial cytokine released by your body as one of its first lines of defense against viral infections. In a nutshell, it interferes with viral replication. As part of your immune system, it digests viral DNA and viral proteins in infected cells while simultaneously protecting noninfected neighboring cells.

Interferon alpha and beta also help regulate your immune response. As noted in a 2018 paper²¹ on the dual nature of Type 1 and Type 2 interferons, “both antiviral and immunomodulatory functions are critical during virus infection to not only limit virus replication and initiate an appropriate antiviral immune response, but to also negatively regulate this response to minimize tissue damage.”

Like Mikovits, Dominic Chan, a doctor of pharmacy who recently updated an article on interferon on Medicinenet.com., proposes using interferons against COVID-19. The earlier version of this article, written by Eni Williams, Pharm.D. and Ph.D., before she died in 2017,²² says:²³

“Interferons modulate the response of the immune system to viruses, bacteria, cancer, and other foreign substances that invade the body. Interferons do not directly kill viral or cancerous cells; they boost the immune system response and reduce the growth of cancer cells by regulating the action of several genes that control the secretion of numerous cellular proteins that affect growth …”

The article goes on to list a number of interferons that are commercially available, including Intron-A (interferon alfa-2b), Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) and many more. In April 2020, Chan added:

“Interferon beta-1a, currently in use to treat multiple sclerosis, and interferon alfa-2b are both under investigation as potential treatments for people with COVID-19 coronavirus disease …

Interferon Beta 1a, specifically, activates macrophages that engulf antigens and natural killer cells (NK cells), a type of immune T-Cell … The theory is, interferon may be able to make the immune system stronger by turning on dormant parts and directing them toward the defense against SARS-CoV-2's assault.”

One of Mikovits’ primary treatment recommendations for COVID-19 is interferon 1 alpha, sold under brand names such as Alferon and Roferon, to shut down the replication of RNA viruses, including retroviruses and coronaviruses. She believes it might be beneficial to take twice a day for the duration of known exposure.

It’s worth noting the warnings, however. According to Chan, if you already have flu-like symptoms and take interferons, the symptoms are likely to get worse before they get better, as your immune system ramps up. “If someone is already on a ventilator and symptoms are about to overwhelm them, giving them an interferon-based medicine could be catastrophic,” he says.

TCM in the United States

To obtain a TCM remedy against COVID-19 (or anything else, for that matter), you would need to see a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of Chinese medicine. It’s important to realize that TCM doctors, in China and elsewhere, treat the whole patient, taking into account a wide variety of symptoms. So, self-treating with herbal remedies is ill advised. While they contain natural substances, TCM remedies should still be approached as drugs.

That said, there are several nutritional supplements that can be helpful that do not require medical expertise. You can find more information about these in “Consider These Nutraceuticals to Reduce Clots With COVID-19” and “Essential Nutrition to Protect Yourself From Coronavirus.”

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Osteoporosis — loss of the density and quality of bone¹ — is a widespread and serious condition. As bones become more fragile and porous, they are at greater risk of fracturing, which is especially consequential for older people, particularly if they become bedridden. Of all individuals over the age of 50, about 50% of women and 25% of men will suffer a fracture in the years to come.²

Many factors can contribute to the development of osteoporosis from aging to smoking, to excessive alcohol consumption and a suboptimal diet, to the side effects of medications, a genetic predisposition or the loss of hormones after menopause.³

Postmenopausal osteoporosis now affects as many as 46 million women in the U.S., according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, because the menopausal years occupy one-third of a woman’s life.⁴

Replacement hormones and bisphosphonates, drugs that inhibit the resorption and loss of bone by osteoclasts, have been used to treat osteoporosis but, as mentioned in a study in Nutrients,⁵ their side effects can be so dangerous that they may outweigh the benefits. That is why it is good news that resveratrol, a phytonutrient found in red grapes and berries, has been found to fight and prevent osteoporosis.

Resveratrol Boosts Bone Density for Postmenopausal Women

In a study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research that was conducted at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, researchers detected improvements in bone density in postmenopausal women who were given resveratrol.⁶

In the study, called “Resveratrol for Healthy Ageing in Women (RESHAW),” women took 75 milligrams (mg) of resveratrol twice daily or a placebo for 12 months, after which researchers measured their bone density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans, commonly called DXA scans.⁷

"The modest increase in bone mineral density at the femoral neck with resveratrol resulted in an improvement in the study population’s T-score and a reduction in the 10-year probability of major fracture risk," said Peter Howe, an author of the study and professor emeritus at the university.⁸

A T-score is used to measure your bone density.⁹ In a subanalysis of the study results, subjects who supplemented their resveratrol with vitamin D and calcium showed greater improvement, added Howe.

According to the researchers, resveratrol improved bone density and lowered fracture risk even in women without clear signs of osteoporosis:¹⁰

"Following 12 months of supplementation with resveratrol versus placebo, there were positive effects on bone density in the lumbar spine and neck of femur, which were accompanied by a 7.24% reduction in C-terminal telopeptide type-1 collagen levels, a bone resorption marker, compared to placebo …

The magnitude of improvement was higher in women with poor bone health biomarker status … Regular supplementation with 75mg of resveratrol twice daily has the potential to slow bone loss in the lumbar spine and femoral neck, common fracture sites in postmenopausal women without overt osteoporosis."

Scientists Found Resveratrol-Rich Plums Aid Bone Density

The bone-strengthening benefits of resveratrol have been identified in other studies. In research published in the journal Nutrients,¹¹ scientists found that dried plums (also known as prunes), which are rich in resveratrol,¹² showed bone benefits in both animal and human studies.

The researchers removed the ovaries of rats to create an animal model of human menopause and found the "ovariectomy led to significant declines in the bone mineral density (BMD) of the 4th lumbar vertebrae and femurs, as well as a decrease in the tibial trabecular bone area."¹³

However, when the rats were given a diet composed of 25% dried plum for 45 days, they didn’t lose bone, leading the researchers to conclude that “dried plum prevented bone loss, in part, by increasing the rate of bone formation, but not through inhibiting bone resorption.”¹⁴ Bone can be lost either through lack of bone formation or through bone resorption, which is caused by specialized macrophage cells called osteoclasts.¹⁵

The authors of other studies have also shown plum to be beneficial to women’s bone health, wrote the researchers.¹⁶ Older postmenopausal women given resveratrol had less loss of BMD than controls and the benefits were retained even when they had not continued eating dried plums. The researchers wrote:¹⁷

"Of the 100 women who completed the initial clinical trial, 20 came back for a follow-up visit. All participants, irrespective of group assignment, reported that they did not regularly consume dried plums.

We found that individuals that received the dried plum intervention in our previous one-year clinical trial retained BMD of the ulna and lumbar spine to a greater extent than those who received the dried apple intervention."

Other Scientists Find Resveratrol Benefits

The authors of a study on the effect of resveratrol on the bones of rats published in the International Journal of Biomedical Science also found bone health benefits of resveratrol when given as a supplement.¹⁸

Noting that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was linked to an "increased risk of breast and possibly uterine cancer," the researchers wrote that women often seek dietary alternatives as disease preventives, including foods that contain resveratrol, such as grapes, peanuts and wine.¹⁹

Like the previous study, rats were ovariectomized and lost bone density, just like human women in menopause.²⁰ After treatment with resveratrol, all three groups of ovariectomized rats had bone mineral density measurements at the level of the control, non-ovariectomized rats.²¹

Moreover, wrote the researchers, the bone density of the ovariectomized rats after they were given resveratrol treatment was superior to comparator rats given estrogen replacement. Plus, the rats’ lumbar region density was nearly the same as the control group’s.²²

The bone benefits of resveratrol may come through two separate mechanisms, wrote the researchers — the promotion of osteoblasts, which build bone, and the inhibition of osteoclasts, which cause bone resorption.²³

"… trans-resveratrol may promote bone formation by enhancing the osteoblasts' activity and stimulat[ing] osteoblasts' proliferation and differentiation … also studies reported significant inhibitive effects of trans-resveratrol on the expression and/or production of cytokines which enhance the osteoclasts' activities and reduce … bone resorption."

The authors of a study published in Molecular Medicine Reports about the role of resveratrol in periodontal disease also identified cytokine-related anti-inflammatory actions.²⁴

"… the present study is the first to demonstrate that resveratrol not only enhances the osteogenesis of hPDLSCs [human periodontal ligament stem cells] … but also exerts anti-inflammatory effects by activating this pathway. Ultimately, resveratrol decreases the TNF-α-mediated secretion of inflammatory cytokines …

Therefore, resveratrol may be a good candidate for an anti-inflammatory agent that can induce bone remodeling in response to an inflammatory microenvironment."

A Safe Alternative for Menopausal Women

As I mentioned above, the use of HRT for menopausal treatment was well established until the Data Safety and Monitoring Board for the Women's Health Initiative Clinical Trials determined in 2002 that it "did not provide net benefit as measured by" a “… global index … of coronary heart disease, invasive breast cancer, stroke, pulmonary embolism, endometrial cancer, colorectal cancer, hip fracture, and death due to other causes.”²⁵

However, other researchers have argued that HRT did have one clear benefit — it was effective in preventing bone loss and related fractures.²⁶ As HRT was losing favor with millions of women, Big Pharma rolled out the bone drugs called bisphosphonates to keep their customer base. Unfortunately, these drugs, which include the well-known brands of Fosamax and Boniva, come with side effects, some of which can be quite unpleasant (see graph below).

First of all, the very action of the drugs is ill-conceived. Rather than treating the cause of osteoporosis, the bisphosphonates just work to halt calcium loss in your bones by killing off osteoclasts, thus preventing or slowing bone density deterioriation.²⁷

As the medications have become more widely used, there are reports of women who are taking them suffering from serious fractures in their thigh bones — an ordinarily rare occurrence. The bones, which had not been remodeled, “snapped like a twig,” according to reports,²⁸ even during normal daily activities. Normally, the femur or thighbone is one of the strongest bones in your body.

Another serious side effect is osteonecrosis of the jaw, which not only can cause a fracture, but can be painful and sometimes infectious.²⁹ Causing fractures, when the bisphosphonates were supposed to prevent fractures, is only one of the many harmful side effects of this class of drugs. Other side effects include:³⁰

Serious eye inflammation, uveitis	Gastrointestinal issues, flatulence, diarrhea, nausea
Muscle pains	Hair loss
Esophageal cancer	Joint pain and swelling
Acid regurgitation and esophagitis	Skin reactions
Hypocalcemia (blood calcium levels are too low)

These ill-conceived bone drugs are not limited to bisphosphonates. Big Pharma also markets an injectable medication to treat postmenopausal osteoporosis called Prolia.

Like so many of Pharma's high-priced, injectable and specialty drugs, Prolia is a "biologic" medication, meaning it contains genetically engineered human proteins instead of synthetic chemicals. Some biologics, like the popular Enbrel, contain genetically-modified Chinese hamster ovary cells.³¹

Since Prolia works in the same way as bisphosphonates, not allowing bone to remodel, it is no surprise that its side effects are similar too. It also inhibits the immune system, inviting infections. The warnings on Prolia's prescribing information include:³²

Serious allergic reactions	Low blood calcium
Jawbone death	Unusual thigh bone fractures
Increased fractures, including in the spine	May affect your body's ability to fight infections
Dermatitis, rash and eczema	Bone, joint or muscle pain

The drugs’ U.S. approval, aggressive marketing and high prices reveal how much the U.S. FDA has been captured by Big Pharma.

Resveratrol Improves the Bones of Obese Men

Finding a dietary alternative that can maintain bone strength and prevent fractures without resorting to dangerous and expensive medications is good news for older women. But it is also good news, it turns out, for obese men. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism notes that people with obesity and metabolic syndrome are at particular risk of osteoporosis.³³

"Obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are major health problems worldwide, and due to several severe comorbidities, the health care costs related to these conditions are high. MetS is associated with low-grade inflammation, and inflammation is a major cause of both local and systemic bone loss, caused by excessive bone resorption as well as impaired bone formation.”

The authors conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled study of the effects of resveratrol (RSV) on bone and found:³⁴

"The bone formation marker BAP increased by 16% after 4 weeks in the high-dose RSV group compared with placebo and remained elevated throughout the study … impressive considering the short intervention period of 16 weeks, and the age and phenotype of the trial subjects … we believe that a 2.6% increase over a shorter intervention period in a nonosteoporotic population of obese men makes it worth the effort to further investigate the antiosteoporotic potential of RSV."

Resveratrol Improves Alcohol-Related Osteoporosis

There is another group that may suffer from osteoporosis in addition to post-menopausal women and those with obesity and metabolic syndrome — people who have used alcohol excessively. According to research published in the Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences:³⁵

"One factor that plays a central role in alcohol-induced osteoporosis is the excessive generation of free radicals, which in turn causes oxidative stress. The reactions … eventually lead to reactive oxygen species formation. [It can also] lead to increase in cytokine production which may induce damage in many organs including bone.”

Another way in which excessive alcohol consumption can degrade bone quality is that it can decrease testosterone in men and estrogen levels in women, while increasing cortisol levels, which can reduce bone density.³⁶ Regardless of the mechanism of bone loss, researchers found that in aging alcoholic rats:³⁷

“These findings demonstrate that resveratrol increases bone microstructure and bone mechanical properties in old male rats, suggesting that resveratrol might be used as anti-aging therapy to resist age-induced bone loss.”

A New Benefit to a Valuable Compound

Resveratrol has been linked to many health benefits. It suppresses brain inflammation,³⁸ improves brain blood flow³⁹ and protects against depression.⁴⁰ It may inhibit plaque buildup,⁴¹ decrease fatigue⁴² and also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.⁴³ The identification of bone benefits adds another dimension to this wonderful compound.

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