Nutrition in disease improvement and reversal

A colleague of mine requested a few cases where I used nutrition in clinical management.  Here is a brief list that I sent to him.
I routinely use high dose Vit C (~10,000 mg/day), Vit D3 5,000 -10,000 IU/day (to ensure blood Vit D level within 50-100 ng/ml), niacin (2,000 – 4,000 mg/day), thiamine (800 – 1,600 mg/day) as part of my integrative approach to disease management. I have helped many patients to improve or reverse their diseases, including:
Covid-19 and severe infectious disease and organ failure:
1. A 60-year diabetic man with severe Covid-19 and rapidly deteriorating disease recovered quickly after receiving antioxidants therapies including high dose Vit C, Vit D3 and glutathione.
http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v18n03.shtml
2. An ~80-year old lady in China with acute liver failure in ICU whose American daughter received hospital notice of her life-threatening condition. She received high dose IV Vit C and liposomal Vit C, upon my consultation, recovered within days.
3. A 5-year old boy was diagnosed of Covid-19 with high temperature (39.5C/103F) who was declined hospital admission due to shortage of hospital beds in December 2022 when China suddenly relaxed its lockdown policy. The boy received high dose antioxidants therapy including Vit C and completely recovered the next morning. Her mother was thrilled and couldn’t believe the quick outcome.
There are a lot more.
Cancer:
1. An 86-year man with metastatic prostate cancer lived 6 more years on a ketogenic diet and nutritional supplementation including high dose IV Vit C. When he finally passed away, there was no sign of his cancer.
2. A young Norwegian man whose chest lymphoma melted away on restrive-ketogenic diet and nutritional supplementation including high dose Vit C. http://www.drwlc.com/blog/2022/11/01/2351/
Atherosclerosis: http://www.drwlc.com/blog/2023/01/22/reversal-of-cardiovascular-diseases-sharing-a-few-cases/
1. A 62 yo man with symptomatic CTA-confirmed atherosclerotic coronary artery stenosis saw his stenosis completed resolved in 20 months on low carb diet and nutritional therapy including high dose Vit C.
2. A 63 yo man with carotid artery stenosis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (with elevated autoantibodies) , cholecystitis changes on ultrasound, as well as multipole other health problems received our integrative protocol including low carb/ketogenic diet, detox and nutritional therapy including high dose Vit C, saw carotid artery stenosis disappeared (CT confirmed) in 8 months. His thyroid autoantibodies became normal and inflammatory changes in his gallbladder went away as well.
Autoimmune disease:
Many of our patients with autoimmune diseases saw their disease improve or reverse, including half a dozen Hashimoto cases, psoriasis, vitiligo, eczema, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and inflammatory bowel diseases.
http://www.drwlc.com/blog/2022/05/20/reversing-hashimotos-thyroiditis-with-orthomolecular-medicine/
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Zoom Conference: Unlocking the Potential of Methylene Blue

Topic:  Unlocking the Potential of Methylene Blue

Time: Apr 4, 2023 10:00 AM US Time (EST)
Apr 4, 2023   4:00 PM Hungary Time
Apr 4, 2023 10:00 PM China Time

Meeting ID: 965 9382 2890
Passcode: MB123

Guests:

  • Dr. Laszlo Tretter, Professor of Biochemistry, Semmelweis University, Hungary.
  • Thomas E. Levy, M.D., J.D., Consultant, Riordan Clinic.

Host: Richard Z. Cheng, M.D., Ph.D.

Abundant research suggests that methylene blue has the following biological properties. Why wonder? Come join us.

 

Top 10 benefits of methylene blue + near-infrared (NIR) light:

1. Antidote for chemical poisoning and drug overdose
2. The greatest antimalarial drug ever discovered?
3. Antiviral Warrior
4. Effects on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
5. Boosts Brain Power and Enhances Cognitive Abilities
6. Antidepressant, improve sleep, reduce night anxiety
7. Is hope for autism?
8. Powerful pain relief function
9. Promotes Heart Health
10. Adjuvant cancer therapy

Selected references:

  1. Sváb G, Kokas M, Sipos I, Ambrus A, Tretter L. Methylene Blue Bridges the Inhibition and Produces Unusual Respiratory Changes in Complex III-Inhibited Mitochondria. Studies on Rats, Mice and Guinea Pigs. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Feb 16;10(2):305. doi: 10.3390/antiox10020305. PMID: 33669457; PMCID: PMC7920423.
  2. Tretter L, Horvath G, Hölgyesi A, Essek F, Adam-Vizi V. Enhanced hydrogen peroxide generation accompanies the beneficial bioenergetic effects of methylene blue in isolated brain mitochondria. Free Radic Biol Med. 2014 Dec;77:317-30. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.09.024. Epub 2014 Sep 30. PMID: 25277417.
  3. Levy, T. Resolving cold with methylene blue. Feb. 4, 2023. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v19n08.shtml
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Anti-Aging Lab Testing

Anti-Aging Lab Testing

  • Complete blood count, urinalysis and fecal analysis
  • Comprehensive metabolic panel
    • liver and renal function
    • lipids, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c
  • Full thyroid function panel, including autoantibodies and reverse T3 (rT3)
  • Vitamin D3
  • hsCRP, homocysteine (hcy), ferritin (ferritin)
  • Bone Densitometry (BDX)
  • Coronary artery calcium ion deposition score (CAC)
  • Men: PSA and testosterone levels
  • Heavy Metal panel
  • Environmental Chemical Toxins panels
  • Organic Acid Test (detection of effects on metabolism and liver detoxification function)
  • Stress hormone test
  • Comprehensive sex hormone testing
  • Others
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Interdependency among Vitamins & Nutrients

Many, if not all, vitamins and micronutrients do not work alone in our body. They work in synergistic, antagonistic or interdependent manners. While the synergistic and antagonistic actions are well known, the interdependent manner is much less known. Here are some examples of this “interdependency”

  1. B vitamins cannot do their job without enough omega-3s, and vice versa: https://foodforthebrain.org/campaigns/alzheimers-prevention/omega-3-and-b-vitamins/#:~:text=associated%20with%20Alzheimer’s.-,B%20vitamins%20found%20not%20to%20work,omega%2D3%20and%20vice%20versa&text=Also%2C%20at%20the%20end%20of,benefit%20from%20the%20B%20vitamins.
  2. Young, L.M.; Gauci, S.; Arnoldy, L.; Martin, L.; Perry, N.; White, D.J.; Meyer, D.; Lassemillante, A.-C.; Ogden, E.; Silber, B.; Scholey, A.; Pipingas, A. Investigating the Effects of a Multinutrient Supplement on Cognition, Mood and Biochemical Markers in Middle-Aged Adults with ‘Optimal’ and ‘Sub-Optimal’ Diets: A Randomized Double Blind Placebo Controlled Trial. Nutrients 202214, 5079. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14235079
  3. Liao S, Omage SO, Börmel L, Kluge S, Schubert M, Wallert M, Lorkowski S. Vitamin E and Metabolic Health: Relevance of Interactions with Other Micronutrients. Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Sep 9;11(9):1785. doi: 10.3390/antiox11091785. PMID: 36139859; PMCID: PMC9495493.
  4. Vit D and K on bone health: https://www.foodandnutritionjournal.org/pdf/vol10no3/Nutrition_Vol10_No3_840-857.pdf
  5. Non drug intervention on glaucoma: Fahmideh F, Marchesi N, Barbieri A, Govoni S, Pascale A. Non-drug interventions in glaucoma: Putative roles for lifestyle, diet and nutritional supplements. Surv Ophthalmol. 2022 May-Jun;67(3):675-696. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2021.09.002. Epub 2021 Sep 23. PMID: 34563531.
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Reversal of Cardiovascular Diseases, Sharing a Few Cases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death, killing some 18 million people globally, costing more than $320 billion annually in the USA alone. About 2/3 of these deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, with atherosclerosis the key pathology. Although the causes of CVDs continue to be debated, it is generally accepted in the literature that atherosclerotic CVDs are inflammatory diseases with elevated oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is due to the imbalance of excessive oxidants (toxins) and deficient antioxidants. The resulting deficiency of vitamin C, a primary antioxidant, leads to impairment of collagen synthesis. Collagen plays a critical role in the integrity of arterial walls. Collagen deficiency results in arterial wall damage and an inflammatory response leading to atherosclerosis and associated pathologies including coronary artery stenosis and occlusion.

Based on the review and analysis of decades of research, we have previously proposed an integrative orthomolecular medicine approach that includes healthy lifestyle, nutritional supplementation with a focus on high dose vitamin C and other antioxidants, and toxin avoidance and removal (detox). We report here that with this protocol we have reversed two cases of atherosclerotic CVDs. Existing evidence and clinical experience suggest that atherosclerosis is preventable and reversible.

[The above 32 minute presentation inaugurates the new video arm of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service. The Orthomolecular Medicine Educational Video Service is free-access, peer-reviewed, and non-commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1dbpz2xB3jhAAyjvLn2yOQ/about
Videos will also be posted on Brighteon at https://www.brighteon.com/channels/OMES
Your comments, corrections and suggestions are invited and may be made directly to <DrCheng@drwlc.com> .]

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Safety of High Dose Vit C, D etc in Covid Management

A brief review of the Safety and Effectiveness of Vitamins C and D in Covid-19 Treatment

This is for information exchange only, not to be used without the supervision of a trained and experienced physician.

Cytokine storm has recently been recognized as the key pathology responsible for the severe symptoms of Covid-19 and other viruses and non-viral agents. The underlying biochemical cause of cytokine storm is excessive oxidative stress. Cytokine storm and its associated oxidative stress appears to be a universal non-specific mechanistic pathway common among many causative agents, for example viruses, that leads to severe clinical disease.

 

A biochemical sequence known as “lipid peroxidase chain reaction” (LPCR) plays a critical role in oxidative stress and cytokine storm. Prevention and blocking the occurrence of cytokine storm/oxidative stress appears to be a logically sound and effective strategy to prevent the severe symptoms of Covid-19. If this could be performed world-wide, it could reduce the devastating medical, economic and societal impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Preventing or blocking LPCR and the excessive oxidative stress requires intact antioxidant systems, especially the antioxidant vitamins and nutrients, including vitamins C, E, CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid, glutathione and niacin (to promote NADP+/NADP), selenium and others. Insufficiency or absence of any of these antioxidant agents may render these antioxidant systems ineffective, which may be responsible for the inconsistent results of antioxidant therapies in the literature. Here we propose an integrative and systematic therapy that includes these antioxidant vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. The “universal and non-specific nature” of cytokine storm/oxidative stress makes possible a pre-emptive treatment to prevent or block cytokine storm/oxidative stress induced by severe diseases, even before full recognition of the underlying causative agent. This is very significant because it allows us to potentially prevent and block a pandemic of a new virus or a new viral mutant when it happens without requiring the extended time needed to develop a specific drug or vaccine treatment. With the seemingly endless mutations of SARS-Cov-2, we may still have time to apply this strategy to break the Covid-19 pandemic1.

 

Vitamin C

  1. Safety of high dose vitamin C.

Vitamin C, when taken by mouth or intravenously, is very safe, even at high doses. “Vitamin C has low toxicity and is not believed to cause serious adverse effects at high intakes. The most common complaints are diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, and other gastrointestinal disturbances due to the osmotic effect of unabsorbed vitamin C in the gastrointestinal tract” , according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements2.

 

Vitamin C can also be safely administered at high doses of up to 1.5 g/kg body weight, when properly used under an experienced physician. “Studies have shown that vitamin C can be safely administered to healthy volunteers or cancer patients at doses up to 1.5 g/kg…” according to the National Cancer Institute, NIH3. For a 170-pound person, up to 115 grams of vitamin C can be safely given intravenously.

 

  1. Vitamin C has immune-enhancement properties.
    1. Reduces oxidative stress, as an antioxidant4 5 6
    2. Reduces inflammation6
    3. Supports epithelial barrier function (e.g., alveolar membranes) and endothelial barrier protection7
    4. Supports differentiation and maturation of T cells and NK cells8
    5. Enhances microbial killing and antibody production8 9
    6. Enhances migration of immune cells to sites of infection8 9
    7. Impaired chemotaxis observed in severely infected patients6
    8. Protects immune cells from oxidative burst (rapid release of ROS)6
    9. Promotes programmed cell death (cell death)6
  2. Vitamin C deficiency is common, especially in Covid-19 patients
    1. “The available evidence indicates that vitamin C hypovitaminosis and deficiency is common in low- and middle-income countries and not uncommon in high income settings.”10 Vitamin C deficiency is also common in the Western countries11 12. Insufficiency and deficiency of micronutrients including vitamin C and D are also rampant in the US. A recent US national nutrition survey found “Specifically, 45% of the U.S. population had a prevalence of inadequacy for vitamin A, 46% for vitamin C, 95% for vitamin D, 84% for vitamin E, and 15% for zinc.”13
    2. Lower plasma vitamin levels are associated with greater risk of organ failure and death in patients with septic shock14
    3. The average plasma vitamin C concentrations in COVID-19 patients were five times lower than in healthy volunteers15
    4. Vitamin C levels are undetectable in more than 90% of COVID-19-associated ARDS patients16
    5. Vitamin C intake of at least 2-3 g/day may be required to maintain normal plasma vitamin C levels during viral infection12
    6. Covid-19 patients had significantly lower plasma vitamin C levels than controls, longer hospital stays, and higher mortality17
  3. Clinical studies show effectiveness of Vitamin C in Covid-19 treatment.
    1. A review of twelve studies, including five “gold standard” randomized controlled trials, shows that this simple vitamin saves lives when given in the right dose18. Vitamin C can prevent a serious Covid infection. The current level of evidence from the RCTs suggests that intravenous vitamin C intervention may improve oxygenation parameters, reduce inflammatory markers, decrease days in hospital and reduce mortality, particularly in the more severely ill patients. High doses of oral vitamin C supplementation may also improve the rate of recovery in less severe cases. No adverse events have been reported in published vitamin C clinical trials in COVID-19 patients19. Vitamin C has been shown to be effective in the prevention and treatment of various other viral infections12. Despite the fact that vitamin C is safe, now proven effective, inexpensive and widely available, it is not widely accepted nor promoted by medical authorities or hospitals.  In some instances, high dose vitamin C usage is even prohibited, allegedly due to medical reasons.
    2. Beneficial aspects of high-dose intravenous vitamin C in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a retrospective case series20.
      1. High-dose intravenous vitamin C for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.
      2. Improvements in inflammatory response and immune and organ function are beneficial.
    3. Phase I safety trial of intravenous ascorbic acid in patients with severe sepsis21.
      1. Daily IV infusions of 3.5 and 14 g of vitamin C for four days significantly reduced multiorgan failure scores, with the higher dose showing twice as much reduction in failure scores as the lower dose.
    4. Vitamin C improves the disease and shortens ICU stay22.
    5. Vitamin C may shorten duration of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients23
    6. In this RCT, hospitalized elderly patients with acute respiratory infection received 200 mg of vitamin C orally per day for 4 weeks. Taking vitamin C can reduce the severity of disease and reduce mortality24.

Vitamin D

  1. Supports transcription of antimicrobial peptides that have activities against various bacteria, viruses, and fungi 25 26 27.
  2. Induces autophagy (cleaning out of damaged or unnecessary cellular components) thereby enhancing clearance of viruses and viral constituents28.
  3. Modulates innate and adaptive immune activity29.
  4. Regulates growth and differentiation of several types of immune cells30.
  5. Suppresses over-expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines30.
  6. Supports gut integrity and gut microbial balance31.
  7. Helps maintain the integrity of epithelial tight junctions which decreases risk of infection and pulmonary edema32.
  8. Helps maintain TH1:TH2 immune balance28 by reducing TH1 and inducing TH2 immune responses26 (Bae & Kim, 2020).

Vit D in Covid-19

  • Serum vitamin D3 levels < 27 ng/ml: significant increase in Covid-19 mortality. Vit D3 > 30 ng/ml. the mortality rate is close to zero.
  • Large study of >1.4 million people (54 studies) again shows: low blood vitamin D levels associated with higher risk of Covid-19 infection, ICU admission and mortality33
  • The 2-year survey of 662,835 U.S. military veterans concluded that vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 supplementation reduced the risk associated with COVID-19 infection by 20% and 28%, and reduced the risk of death from COVID-19 infection within 30 days. The associated risk reductions were 33% and 25%.34
  • 50,000 IU per day x 5 days in COVID-19 patients resulted in less inflammation and shorter recovery times compared to patients receiving 1000 IU/day35.
  • Combined with standard care, early high-dose vitamin D therapy avoids ICU admission in COVID-19 patients36.
  • “The mean vitamin D3 dose was 35,291 ± 21,791 IU per day…We found a very weak relationship between oral doses of vitamin D3 and subsequent calcium levels, both in serum and 24-hour urine.”37

 

Intervention of Covid-19:

Case 1. Mr. W, an 80-year-old man in China with history of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, brain infarction and Alzheimer’s disease, has been in ICU for Covid-19 pneumonia, high fever (~39.5 C) for 20 days, with standard hospital care including auxiliary oxygenation, without much improvement.  The family sought our consultation. We recommended our Integrative Orthomolecular Covid-19 Treatment Protocol. He improved quick with the high fever gone the same night and never came back. His inflammatory markers and other lab parameters improved.  He was off auxiliary oxygenation and moved from ICU to a regular ward on day 3. The family was pleasantly surprised.

Case 2. A 4-year-old boy was diagnosed of Covid-19 pneumonia with high fever of 39 C. There was no bed available at the hospital. The mother sought our consultation and we recommended our Integrative Orthomolecular Covid-19 Treatment Protocol. The boy improved significantly the next morning with fever gone, with some residual respiratory symptoms. By the 2nd day, the boy was happy and playful. The mother thanked us profusely and called the Protocol “miraculous”.

Case 3. We previously reported a case of rapid recover from severe Covid-19 (1). Briefly, Robert, a 60-year-old man with diabetes, was admitted into an ICU at a local hospital with severe Covid-19 pneumonia. His lab showed very high inflammatory markers (ferritin, D dimer, CRP) as well as reduction of oxygen saturation. We offered the same protocol (adjusted to the hospital requirement). The patient recovered quickly.

Case 4. A diabetic whose blood sugar has been stable on a low-carb diet, suffered a stroke and was intubated 2 weeks after receiving 2 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. He later developed pneumonia with a fever. The family consulted me and I recommended similar antiviral and antioxidant therapies with detailed guidance and follow-up. Within 3-4 days, his fever subsided.

Intervention of Non-Covid cases:

Case 5. Acute liver failure. Dr. F is a professor of music and an old friend of mine in the United States. About a year ago, her 80-year-old mother was admitted to the ICU with acute liver failure. Dr. F received a notice that his mother was critically ill. Her journey back to China to visit her mother was extremely difficult due to Covid travel restrictions. She consulted with me and I recommended a comprehensive antioxidant regimen (similar to the one described above). I also discussed options with her mother’s attending physician. In just 2-3 days, her mother has improved and was transferred from the ICU to the general ward, and later discharged to home care. Her mother is in good health and continues to receive antioxidant therapy including vitamin C.

 

The following is what we have been using for our clients (primarily in China. For information exchange only.  The information here should not be used without a qualified physician’s supervision).

Integrative Orthomolecular Covid-19 Prevention Protocol.

  1. Vitamin C, 3,000mg – 10,000mg/day, divided into 2-3 times.
  2. Or liposomal vitamin C (Liposomal-Vit C), 1-2 grams / day.
  3. Vitamin D3, 5,000 IU/day; blood vitamin D3 levels of 50 – 100 ng/ml are recommended.
  4. Zinc, 30 mg/day.
  5. Magnesium ions, 500-1000 mg/day.
  6. 1-3% hydrogen peroxide atomized inhalation, 5-15 minutes, return from going out or have suspicious contact.
  7. Cheng TotoCell Nutrition (with high levels of all vitamins plus mitochondrial and micronutrients)
  8. Vitamin E, 400 – 2000 IU/day.
  9. Quercetin (promoting the virus-killing effect of zinc) 500 mg, 3-4 times/day.
  10. Melatonin (melatonin 5 – 20mg/night), a powerful immune booster

 

Integrative Orthomolecular Covid-19 Treatment Protocol.

  1. Vitamin C, 1,000 – 3,000 mg/hour (first to diarrheal dose).
    1. Or liposomal vitamin C (Liposomal-Vit C), 1-2 grams/time, 1-4 times a day. Or IV: 30-60 g/day.
  2. Vitamin D3, 50,000IU/day x 5-7 days; then, 5,000 IU/day; after 1-2 months, blood vitamin D3 (50-100 ng/ml).
  3. Liposomal Glutathione (Liposomal-GSH), 1-2 g/day
  4. Zinc, 50-100 mg/day x 7-10 days.
  5. Magnesium, 500-1000 mg/day.
  6. 1-3% hydrogen peroxide atomized inhalation, 5-15 minutes, 3-4 times/day.
  7. Melatonin (melatonin 5 – 20mg/night), a powerful immune booster.
  8. Cheng TotoCell Nutrition (with high amounts of all vitamins plus mitochondrial and micronutrients)
  9. Vitamin E, 400 – 2000 IU/day.
  10. Quercetin (promoting the virus-killing effect of zinc) 500mg, 3-4 times/day.
  11. Other: healthy lifestyle habits, sun exposure, exercise, other antioxidants.

 

 

 

References:

  1. Cheng, R. A Hallmark of Covid-19: Cytokine Storm/Oxidative Stress and its Integrative Mechanism. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v18n03.shtml (2022).
  2. Office of Dietary Supplements – Vitamin C. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/.
  3. Intravenous Vitamin C (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version – NCI. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/vitamin-c-pdq (2013).
  4. Richard Cheng MD PhD. Oxidative Stress, Ignored Key Pathology of Covid-19. (2021).
  5. Cheng, Richard Z. Can early and high intravenous dose of vitamin C prevent and treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Medicine in Drug Discovery 5, 100028 (2020).
  6. Milani, G. P., Macchi, M. & Guz-Mark, A. Vitamin C in the Treatment of COVID-19. Nutrients 13, 1172 (2021).
  7. Gröber, U. & Holick, M. F. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – A supportive approach with selected micronutrients. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 92, 13–34 (2022).
  8. Iddir, M. et al. Strengthening the Immune System and Reducing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress through Diet and Nutrition: Considerations during the COVID-19 Crisis. Nutrients 12, 1562 (2020).
  9. Cerullo, G. et al. The Long History of Vitamin C: From Prevention of the Common Cold to Potential Aid in the Treatment of COVID-19. Front Immunol 11, 574029 (2020).
  10. Rowe, S. & Carr, A. C. Global Vitamin C Status and Prevalence of Deficiency: A Cause for Concern? Nutrients 12, 2008 (2020).
  11. Gröber, U. & Holick, M. F. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – A supportive approach with selected micronutrients. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 92, 13–34 (2022).
  12. Holford, P. et al. Vitamin C-An Adjunctive Therapy for Respiratory Infection, Sepsis and COVID-19. Nutrients 12, E3760 (2020).
  13. Reider, C. A., Chung, R.-Y., Devarshi, P. P., Grant, R. W. & Hazels Mitmesser, S. Inadequacy of Immune Health Nutrients: Intakes in US Adults, the 2005-2016 NHANES. Nutrients 12, E1735 (2020).
  14. Borrelli, E. et al. Plasma concentrations of cytokines, their soluble receptors, and antioxidant vitamins can predict the development of multiple organ failure in patients at risk. Crit Care Med 24, 392–397 (1996).
  15. Xing, Y. et al. Vitamin C supplementation is necessary for patients with coronavirus disease: An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry finding. J Pharm Biomed Anal 196, 113927 (2021).
  16. Chiscano-Camón, L., Ruiz-Rodriguez, J. C., Ruiz-Sanmartin, A., Roca, O. & Ferrer, R. Vitamin C levels in patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. Crit Care 24, 522 (2020).
  17. Sinnberg, T. et al. Vitamin C Deficiency in Blood Samples of COVID-19 Patients. Antioxidants (Basel) 11, 1580 (2022).
  18. Holford, P., Carr, A. C., Zawari, M. & Vizcaychipi, M. P. Vitamin C Intervention for Critical COVID-19: A Pragmatic Review of the Current Level of Evidence. Life (Basel) 11, 1166 (2021).
  19. Carr, A. C. Vitamin C in Pneumonia and Sepsis. in Vitamin C: New Biochemical and Functional Insights (eds. Chen, Q. & Vissers, M. C. M.) (CRC Press, 2020).
  20. Zhao, B. et al. Beneficial aspects of high dose intravenous vitamin C on patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in severe condition: a retrospective case series study. Ann Palliat Med 10, 1599–1609 (2021).
  21. Fowler, A. A. et al. Phase I safety trial of intravenous ascorbic acid in patients with severe sepsis. J Transl Med 12, 32 (2014).
  22. Hemilä, H. & Chalker, E. Vitamin C Can Shorten the Length of Stay in the ICU: A Meta-Analysis. Nutrients 11, (2019).
  23. Hemilä, H. & Chalker, E. Vitamin C may reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients: a meta-regression analysis. J Intensive Care 8, 15 (2020).
  24. Hunt, C., Chakravorty, N. K., Annan, G., Habibzadeh, N. & Schorah, C. J. The clinical effects of vitamin C supplementation in elderly hospitalised patients with acute respiratory infections. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 64, 212–219 (1994).
  25. Vyas, N. et al. Vitamin D in Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19: Current Perspective and Future Prospects. J Am Coll Nutr 40, 632–645 (2021).
  26. Bae, M. & Kim, H. The Role of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Selenium in Immune System against COVID-19. Molecules 25, 5346 (2020).
  27. Mitchell, F. Vitamin-D and COVID-19: do deficient risk a poorer outcome? Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 8, 570 (2020).
  28. Malaguarnera, L. Vitamin D3 as Potential Treatment Adjuncts for COVID-19. Nutrients 12, 3512 (2020).
  29. Radujkovic, A. et al. Vitamin D Deficiency and Outcome of COVID-19 Patients. Nutrients 12, 2757 (2020).
  30. Sulli, A. et al. Vitamin D and Lung Outcomes in Elderly COVID-19 Patients. Nutrients 13, 717 (2021).
  31. Charoenngam, N. & Holick, M. F. Immunologic Effects of Vitamin D on Human Health and Disease. Nutrients 12, 2097 (2020).
  32. Shakoor, H. et al. Immune-boosting role of vitamins D, C, E, zinc, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids: Could they help against COVID-19? Maturitas 143, 1–9 (2021).
  33. Chiodini, I. et al. Vitamin D Status and SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes. Front Public Health 9, 736665 (2021).
  34. Gibbons, J. B. et al. Association between vitamin D supplementation and COVID-19 infection and mortality. Sci Rep 12, 19397 (2022).
  35. Ohaegbulam, K. C., Swalih, M., Patel, P., Smith, M. A. & Perrin, R. Vitamin D Supplementation in COVID-19 Patients: A Clinical Case Series. Am J Ther 27, e485–e490 (2020).
  36. Entrenas Castillo, M. et al. Effect of calcifediol treatment and best available therapy versus best available therapy on intensive care unit admission and mortality among patients hospitalized for COVID-19: A pilot randomized clinical study. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 203, 105751 (2020).
  37. Amon, U., Yaguboglu, R., Ennis, M., Holick, M. F. & Amon, J. Safety Data in Patients with Autoimmune Diseases during Treatment with High Doses of Vitamin D3 According to the ‘Coimbra Protocol’. Nutrients 14, 1575 (2022).

 

 

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OXYGEN THERAPIES

OXYGEN THERAPIES A) HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY (HBOT)

by Charles Wile, MD

{According to a lecture by Jason Sonners at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) Module VIII conference, in Charleston, S.C. on 10/29/2022:} Oxygen is our primary nutrient. Without oxygen we won’t survive for more than several minutes. There are several principles that are necessary for understanding the physiology of oxygenation. With a GRADIENT, atoms, electrons, ions (charged particles), and molecules move-diffuse from a higher concentration to a lower concentration until an equilibrium is achieved. The rate of diffusion is relative to the size of the gradient. The atmosphere of Earth contains 21% oxygen everywhere. The PRESSURE-weight of air is variable: At sea level the pressure of the air is “1- atmosphere”. With ascending up a mountain or by flying to 18,000 feet above sea level, the pressure differential is ½-atmosphere. With descending down below the sea to 33 feet, the pressure differential is 2-atmospheres. At sea level our blood is approximately 100% saturated with oxygen– almost all is carried– (bounded)– by our red blood cells (RBCs). Normal pulse oximetry measures the normal range @ 96% to 100%. Our bodies will shunt our blood flow to the “working tissues” as a function of need: eg. to our gut after eating or to our legs if we need to run to escape a threat. Other than the oxygen saturation of our RBCs, oxygen is also carried directly in the plasma as a function of pressure. {Consider a bottle of seltzer: at rest, a bottle of plain-water and a bottle of seltzer-water appears to be identical. However, once the seltzer-water bottle is opened, the pressure-dissolved carbon dioxide gas becomes released and the gas bubbles from the water as a function of the gradient: fast at first, and then slowing as it approaches equilibrium.} Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) bypasses using RBCs to carry oxygen in the blood stream. For example, blood at 1-atmosphere will carry 3 ml of oxygen per liter of plasma. And, with HBOT pressure, the plasma can carry 60 ml of oxygen per liter of plasma. Therefore, if there is tissue damage– with damage to the capillaries and an inability of RBCs to traverse the damaged tissues, freefloating oxygen in the plasma, with the quantity enhanced by HBOT, can maintain cellular functioning and promote healing– {the added oxygenation will also stimulate an angiogenic effect for healing repair.} HBOT is both safe and effective for a range of treatments. The “trick” is to match the intensity of the therapy– the pressure and duration of HBOT– to the severity of the problem. And, there are many protocols that have been developed and that are still under investigation to identify optimum treatments. If there is an inflammatory response, there is a loss of the tissue-oxygenationgradient which triggers a cascade of problems which interfere with a healing response. HBOT increases the free-floating arterial pressure of oxygen: the pO2. Our cells require 40 – 50 mmHg of oxygen. Capillary oxygen pressure is sufficient at room air: with 21% concentration of oxygen at a “normal” (sea level—1 atmosphere) pressure resulting in a pO2 of 50 mmHg. By using 100% oxygen at 1 atmosphere of pressure, the pO2 is increased to 75 mmHg. There is an exponential increase of the pO2 with increasing pressure: eg. at 1.3 atmospheres the pO2 is 246, and at 1.5 atmospheres the pO2 is 437.5. HBOT is currently used to prevent and treat “the bends” associated with under-sea diving, and a total of 14 FDA recognized medical conditions, including wound healing. However, there are 150+ offlabel conditions where HBOT can be beneficial: eg. to stimulate angiogenesis, mitogenesis, neurogenesis, fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis, boost stem-cells, for antibiotic synergy, and others. The “Hallmarks of Aging” are analogous to the “Hallmarks of Disease”. There is a concept called “hormesis”– creating a little stress to stimulate an adaptive/resilience response. HBOT can be used to create an hormetic response for mitochondrial and cellular repair/healing, and for decreasing senescent cells and increasing telomere lengths, which helps to reverse the pillars of chronic illness. Rather than using HBOT as a last-resort in a treatment protocol, HBOT should be considered as the cornerstone in order to start a healing protocol. With very few exceptions, eg. a pneumothorax, HBOT can be used to benefit a healing protocol. The “magic” of HBOT comes from the cumulative effects of hyper-oxygenation followed by a RELATIVE HYPOXIA over time: it is not a “one-and-done” therapy. There is a healing response timedelay for HBOT to trigger signaling-responses to take effect, eg. stimulating stem-cell mobilization and activation. Whereas chronic hypoxia is detrimental, the intermittent relative hypoxia of HBOT is beneficial– (that is: after leaving the hyperoxia in the chamber). This is the so-called “hyperoxiahypoxia paradox”. External environmental oxidation depletes our anti-oxidant systems. Whereas, internal oxidation increases our antioxidant systems. The hyper-oxygenation-induced increased mitochondrial ATP energy production, with its corresponding natural increase in free-radicals, is counteracted by also stimulating our anti-oxidation molecules and enzymes, eg. glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and others. We need to consider that HBOT should be a non-specific therapy, like administering an extra-dose of a vitamin. The use of 100% oxygen is not always needed in order to be beneficial. The hyperbaric chamber can be used with room air with a pressure of 1.3 atmospheres, resulting in an increased cellular oxygenation by 30%. The relative hypoxia, on exiting the chamber, can also promote beneficial metabolic cascades. A specific protocol for chamber usage, therefore, depends upon the individual and the problem being addressed. Here’s an example of an HBOT prescription: the chamber is set at 100% oxygen and 1.3 atmospheres, for 60 to 90 minutes, and used 4 to 6 times per week, for 6 to 10 weeks. Although chamber usage has been around for several hundred years, use of this treatment is still in its infancy. Also, when using oxygen to treat a medical problem, such as COPD and emphysema, the use is typically constant and persistent, perhaps only varying in the concentration of the oxygen delivered. [When I was using oxygen in the Emergency Department 40+ years ago up until about 10 years ago, the rule-of-thumb was: “oxygen for everybody all the time”. Now, because of concerns about oxygen toxicity, the use of oxygen in the ER is guided by a finger-tip plethysmographic monitoring of the PO2.] It is important to be flexible in our thinking as we learn more. {We always need to consider the risk-benefit ratio when evaluating any treatment.} There is a big difference when using oxygen to enhance fitness-performance and for wellness: because here the use of oxygen is intermittent and briefly transient. Thus, the risks associated with using oxygen this way seem to be mitigated by the extended health benefits. OZONE THERAPY { According to a lecture by Phillip Mollica, DMD at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) Module VIII conference, in Charleston, S.C. on 10/29/2022:} Low-dose ozone is non-toxic, safe, effective, and economic with minimal to no side-effects. Pure ozone (O3) is never used for therapy. Ozone therapy is always a mixture of oxygen and ozone (O2/O3). Ozone is negatively charged– meaning it has an electron available to donate. Please remember: “the poison is in the dose” {Paracelsus}. Ozone therapy uses the principle of hormesis. For example, ozone can be used to improve and accelerate wound healing. A little ozone-stress triggers the healing cascades. With disease and injury, the tissues are dysregulated and the ecology is imbalanced. Ozone therapy helps to disinfect tissues, activate RBC metabolism (via 2,3-DPG), activate enzymatic antioxidation, and scavenge free radicals. Ozone has anti-inflammatory effects, and upregulates the production of nitric oxide (NO) used to dilate blood vessels in order to improve the micro-circulation and to stimulate angiogenesis. Ozone will activate immunocompetent cells to release cytokines (such as interleukens and interferons), and help to modulate the immune system. Our environment is filled with biotoxins– (such as heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, solvents, and others)– which cause an imbalance of anaerobic organisms in our microbiome. Anaerobiosis causes vascular and lymphatic congestion, which causes the tissues to shift towards a more acidic terrain, which is a part of chronic diseases. Oxygen based ATP-energy metabolism is balanced by naturally produced antioxidants, such as glutathione. Anaerobic metabolism– that is: fermentation– not only produces less ATP-energy, but also free radicals are over-produced, which leads to oxidative-stress and tissue injury. Ozone is produced when a source of energy– such as lightning, ultraviolet radiation, waterfalls, ocean movement– breaks stable oxygen O2 into a highly reactive singlet oxygen, which then combines with stable O2 oxygen to create reactive O3 as peroxides. Because pathogens don’t have antioxidant protective enzymes in their cell membranes, our white blood cells naturally produce ozone-peroxides for protection during a bacterial infection in order to punch holes in the micro-organism’s membranes, in order to kill the infecting organisms. Also, WBCs produce ozone for programmed cell death– apoptosis. Exogenous antioxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, act within our cells to balance the innate production of ozone. Endogenous antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase and SOD, are also produced within our cells to balance the innate production of free radicals– reactive oxygen species (ROS). Small doses of ozone gently stimulate– or “shock”– and upregulate our multivaried biological protective responses. Since infections are positively charged, they attract the negatively charged ozoneperoxides. Since gaseous ozone is a biological precursor, it instantly goes into solution, and then it is transformed into oxygen and water, with the singlet oxygen producing peroxides which do the work. Thus, one should never fear an air embolism when gaseous ozone is injected into the body. Ozone creates a cascade of secondary reactions that stimulate immune activation and recruit growth factors for healing. The rule-of-thumb: “start low and go slow” applies to ozone therapy. High quality equipment is required to produce a precise concentration of ozone when it is bubbled into distilled water, where it becomes “trapped” within the structure of the water. {Ref. The Longevity company for quality ozone generators.} Typically one desires to produce an ozone concentration of 25 to 30 ug/ml, varying up to 40 to 60 ug/ml. And, for example, when an infection has been controlled, the dose may be reduced to a 10 to 20 ug/ml concentration. The distilled water becomes maximally concentrated in about 6 minutes. It can be stored as an ice cube, and, when refrigerated, it maintains its potency for 3 days. While ozone concentrations remain the same, treatments vary by the route and the frequency of administration. Here are some examples of how (O2/O3) ozone therapy can be used: a) ear insufflation using ozonated water with a fan for about 5 minutes, for an external ear infection; b) limb bagging with gaseous ozone to treat skin ulcers; c) directly injecting gaseous ozone into and/or around warts; d) injecting ozone mixed with procaine– “prolozone”– into knees or into trigger points. Procaine is added to minimize an associated burning sensation. e) Rectal insufflation of gaseous ozone to manage ulcerative colitis, cancers, and HIV. f) Ozone can be mixed with a person’s own blood and injected IM as an “auto-vaccine” for herpetic lesions, or when they are experiencing symptomatic allergies, and repeated in a week. g) Ozone can be simply used IV in a 50-50 mixture using the patient’s blood and ozone {by using a self-contained kit from Germany which avoids using a plastic bag and heparin}. It can also be irradiated with UV light, and followed with IV vitamin C. h) Ozonated olive oil is also great for helping with healing. One should avoid using ozone in the eyes and the lungs because these tissues have poor antioxidant systems. However, using ozone gas with nasal prongs while mouthbreathing is OK. {Also, Ref. The American Academy of Ozone Therapy.}

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Aasmund Has Been Cancer Free for 4.5 Years with Integrative Cancer Therapy

Recently I interviewed Aasmund from Norway, on his cancer fighting journey. I am very happy to report that 10 years after his initial lymphoma diagnosis, he has been cancer free for 4.5 years. He now lives a normal life in Norway as an IT engineer with his partner and 2 beautiful children.

Interview on Rumble:https://rumble.com/embed/v1nt9y9/?pub=1iq9nn

 

Please note that I have been suspended or severely restricted on major social media (for sharing scientific research data and my medical understanding and experience of Covid-19). We just set up an account on Rumble and WeMe.
WeMe: www.mewe.com/i/richardcheng

Aasmund was athletic in his late 20s when he was diagnosed of an aggressive form of mediastinal large cell lymphoma 10 years ago in 2012 without any warning. He was shocked and severely depressed as anyone else would react the same. He was given standard chemo + radio therapy, from which he developed sever side effects. In one of the PET-CT exams, he was told the principle of PET-CT was to inject radio-labeled glucose solution. Cancer cells will pick up a lot more (can be up to 50-200 times more) glucose than the surrounding normal cells and will show on on the PET-CT scan. As the doctor casually explained the mechanism to him (yes, PET-CT has been a standard cancer diagnostic tool for decades), Aasmund was smart enough to think: well, if cancer cells like sugar, what if I cut off sugar from my diet? Aasmund is the first patient ever who thought this way. Out of the many cancer patients, I have never heard any other patient thinking this way. Often even after I explain in detail of how cancer cells depend largely on glucose for survival, many patients still don’t want to believe. So when I heard this from Aasmund around 7-8 years ago, I was impressed. Aasmund immediately started web search and sure enough he found out about cancer metabolic research.  It’s around this time, that Thomas Seyfried’s Cancer as a Metabolic Disease book was published. (I have this book translated and published in China several years ago. I also organized several international conferences in Shanghai with Dr. Seyfried as the main guest).  Aasmund discovered several experts in the field and also contacted me.  He started restricted ketogenic diet-based (R-KD) cancer therapy.

Aasmund with his daughter, ~2016

He recovered quickly from the side effects of chemo + radiation and felt good on R-KD and nutritional supplements. His lymphoma gradually decreased in size from the original 10 cm down to 2-3 cm after 2-3 years later. Aasmund immediately started web search and sure enough he found out about cancer metabolic research.  It’s around this time, that Thomas Seyfried’s Cancer as a Metabolic Disease book was published.  Aasmund discovered several experts in the field and also contacted me.

He started restricted ketogenic diet-based (R-KD) cancer therapy.  He recovered quickly from the side effects of chemo + radiation and felt good on R-KD and nutritional supplements. His lymphoma gradually decreased in size from the original 10 cm down to 2-3 cm after 2-3 years later. but the residual 2-3 tumor stayed there and wouldn’t shrink any further. He consulted me again and I suggested adding high dose Vit C IV (HDIVC) and glycolysis inhibitors.

After some trouble to get a central venous line in place, finally he got a central line placed from a Helsinki hospital in Finland. He received HDIVC 5 days a week as well as  intravenous glycolysis inhibitors. He tolerated these well without significant side effects. However he noticed a nodule on his left neck gradually growing which later turned out to be Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His hospital insisted on chemo + radiation again. Aasmund received about 8-9 months later, by March of 2018, the enlarged lymph node in the left neck has also disappeared (on PET-CT).

In the 4.5 years since then, He’s been living a normal life without any medical treatment nor any sign of tumor, he felt good and energetic. He continues his ketogenic diet, although he does enjoy some carbs on the weekends. He continues to take nutritional supplements.

Between 2016 and 2018, in a period of about 2 years, I sent several emails to Aasmund but without response. I got worried that something might have happened to him. But in late 2018 or 2019, one day I received an email from Aasmund telling me everything is fine and that he changed his website and email. I felt really thrilled and I remember my eyes even got wet when I heard this good news. I was really really happy for him and his family. Thank God, nothing bad happened to him.

I was scheduled to present at a national Cancer conference in Beijing. I told Aasmund’s story to the conference president who kindly extended invitation to Aasmund to attend the Beijing cancer conference in 2020. But then Covid-19 disrupted everything. I got into a super busy mode ever since.

I wish Aasmund and his family best of luck!

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WSJ: Rethinking the Origins of Inflammatory Diseases

Comment: The Wall Street Journal published an article titled “Rethinking the Origins of Inflammatory Diseases” by Dr. Shilpa Ravella of Columbia University on Oct. 6th, 2022. This article examines gaps in the medical community’s understanding of Covid-19. Much of what Dr. Lavera wrote is now well known in the literature, but remains largely unaccepted by mainstream medicine and incorporated into medical practice. What’s interesting about this article is that the Wall Street Journal published it. The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, etc. are some of the major news outlets that typically do not publish articles that are harshly critical of mainstream medicine​. Sure enough, if you read the entire article, you’ll see that what she wrote was actually pretty mild and only scratched the surface of the core of the health problems plaguing us today.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/rethinking-the-origins-of-inflammatory-diseases-11665068467

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The Global Virus-Only C19 Policy is Unscientific, not in the Best Interest of Public Health

A key point of my presentation at the Tokyo International Symposium of Nutritional Medicine (1):

The hard and undisputable facts show: the global C0vid-19 policies focusing on the virus only are incomplete, unscientific, and not aligned with the best interest of public health.

ttps://www.newagemedicine.net/

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