By: Hemmi N. Bhagavan, Ph.D., F.A.C.N.

Alpha-Lipoic acid is a naturally-occurring compound. It is produced in our body and is also derived from the foods we eat. Lipoic acid, also known as thioctic acid, is a relatively small molecule that plays a crucial role in our metabolic processes. It occurs in two forms, i.e. isomers …Read More

A visitor to the epic4health web site recently asked: “Why are you recommending calcium carbonate?” This visitor went on to say in the email inquiry: “Calcium carbonate is nothing but chalk and is not the choice you should be recommending to people. Calcium citrate and ma …Read More

For what its worth, here’s our take on the Coral Calcium phenomenon.

Maybe the word “phenomenon” – as in “marketing phenomenon” — has already given you an idea where we stand as claims abound in advertising that Coral Calcium can virtually …Read More

Under a January 2004 settlement with the Federal Trade Commission, Robert Barefoot, Deonna Enterprises, Inc., and Karbo Enterprises, Inc. are prohibited from making claims that the dietary supplement “Coral Calcium Supreme” or any other coral calcium product can treat or c …Read More

In a study done at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 2008, researchers found evidence that Curcumin Plus Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Help Prevent Pancreatic Cancer.

The study used mice injected with pancreatic canc …Read More

The human body contains a total of 20-25 gm of L-carnitine, about 98% of which is in the skeletal and heart muscles. This shows the importance of carnitine in muscle function. The dietary intake is estimated to about 100-300 mg per day on a Western diet. Meat and dairy products are the major dietary sources of carnitine (Re …Read More

Carnitine has been considered an ergogenic compound mainly because of its role in energy production. While there are several studies showing a beneficial effect of supplemental carnitine on exercise performance, the overall evidence is equivocal at this point (Brass, 2000). This may be due …Read More

Carnitine and Alzheimer’s disease

There are several reports in the literature on the beneficial effects of carnitine supplementation in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Carnitine as acetyl L- carnitine was employed in these studies, with very encouraging outcome. The data suggest that …Read More

Two interactions are very well recognized. One is the role of carnitine, along with coenzyme Q10, in countering the cardiotoxicity induced by the anticancer drug adriamycin. The second is toxicity of the antiepileptic drug valproate, especially in younger patients. Valproate has been shown to impair the uptake and the synthe …Read More

The discussion of the effects of L-Carnitine will not be complete without mentioning the unique and important metabolic interrelationship and synergy between carnitine and coenzyme Q10 in their primary functions in the body. Carnitine is essential for delivering the fuel (fatty acids) to the mitochondrial matrix and coenzyme …Read More