Confusing cause and effect in public health policy.

When studying the literature on current public health policy challenges, a number of rankings can be found, created from data collected and processed by different methods and from different sources, ordering the challenges by their significance. Inevitably, in global studies, there are errors caused by averaging data across populations that differ significantly in population size and the causes of the decline in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), potentially in combination with years of life lost (YLL) and years of life lived with disability (YLD), that may serve as indicators of the health status of a given population (Lopez 2005). Averaging data from populations that differ significantly in size, the larger population dominates and the main causes of health problems may be the same in both populations, and malnutrition and infectious diseases should be targeted, although in the smaller population cardiovascular disease is the main risk.

PMA - Zeolite (Clinoptilolite) in the Management of Irritable Bowel Syndrome - a Non-Interventional Study.

Unlabelled: In clinical practice, the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can be very challenging. The aims of the present non-interventional study (NIS) were to investigate the tolerability and efficacy of PMA-zeolite under everyday conditions in patients with diarrheic IBS type (IBS-D) or constipated type (IBS-C) or mixed type (IBS-M).

Methods: To document prospective data on tolerability and symptom frequency in the frame of a nationwide NIS, we recruited 204 IBS patients.

PMA-zeolite can modulate inflammation associated markers in irritable bowel disease - an explorative randomized, double blinded, controlled pilot trial.

Objectives: Preclinical and clinical data suggest, that the microporous mineral with large inner surface and ion exchanger capability PMA-(Panaceo-micro-activation)-zeolite can bind irritating and inflammation associated chime-constituents. We hypothesised whether or not it can ameliorate subclinical inflammation, and investigated the potential in the management of patients with Irritable Bowel syndrome (IBS).

Methods: The trial design was prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blinded, pilot study with 41 patients.

Potential of the multivitamin-mineral-trace element composition LaVita® before, during and after pregnancy.

Objectives: Pregnancy is a period in life with a high demand of micronutrients. A prophylactic supplementation of folic acid to reduce the risk of neurological malformations in the newborn is common practice. The array of essential micronutrients during pregnancy includes neurotropic vitamins (Vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid), minerals like iron, and trace elements like zinc.

Prevention of "nitrosative stress" by a nutritional supplement (LaVita®) - a randomized placebo controlled double blind clinical trial with healthy volunteers.

Background: A common pathomechanism involved in many degenerative manifestations of non-communicable diseases is nitrosative stress, giving rise to a chronic insidious inflammation causing silent inflammation at a cellular level. The release of nitric oxide inhibits multiple enzyme reactions with reduced oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial ATP depletion.

Material And Methods: We hypothesized that enzyme-inhibition can be alleviated by micronutrient supply, and studied laboratory parameters associated with nitrosative stress (nitrotyrosine, mitochondrial activity) after a micronutrient supplementation (a multivitamin mineral and trace element formulation as verum: LaVita®) and a placebo in healthy volunteers (n=150) for six months.

Mood improving Potential of a Vitamin Trace Element Composition--A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical study with healthy volunteers.

Objectives: Neurotransmitters regulate mood, attention vigilance and other clinical symptoms linked with depression. Various medications ameliorate symptoms of depression and mood disorders by interference with the serotonic metabolism. Serotonin metabolism depends on nutritional cofactors such as pyridoxin together with essential mineral and trace elements.

Bioavailabilty of a liquid Vitamin Trace Element Composition in healthy volunteers.

Background: Many Vitamins and minerals for dietary supplements lack a standard scientific and regulatory definition that accurately reflects the bioavailabilities in humans. Especially the bioavailability of natural compounds in complex mixtures, where the different ingredients may interfere with each other, is unknown.

Methods: To learn more about the bioavailability of the ingredients in the complex compound LaVita® we examined blood levels of subjects, who ingested the multivitamin and trace element composition for 6 month continuously.

Neuroprotective impact of a vitamin trace element composition - a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial with healthy volunteers.

Objectives: Neurotoxic metabolites and oxidative and nitrosative stress reactions play a crucial role in the pathways leading to neuronal cell death and neurodegeneration. The bioavailability of the many antioxidant ingredients a vitamin and trace element composition was investigated, to reveal the neuroprotective (preventive) potential of the composition.

Methods: We recruited 159 healthy volunteers, assigned them randomly and double blind to a placebo and verum group.

Papaya preparation (Caricol®) in digestive disorders.

Objective: Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is used as a natural remedy in abnormal digestion in tropical and industrialized countries. Besides this wide distribution little evidence has been produced with reference to its physiological effect in humans and the proof of efficacy.

The effectiveness of choline citrate infusions monitored by lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) in multiple sclerosis. A new approach to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

The efficacy of intravenous choline citrate infusions was investigated in 34 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by clinical evaluation and by monitoring of lymphocyte proliferation in vitro against fragments of myelin basic protein (MOG-35-55, MBP15-31, PLP 39-15) over a period of 12 weeks. Patients have been diagnosed with MS at least one year before entering the study and suffered from mild relapsing/remitting course to long-term chronic progressive disease. Twenty one patients exhibited positive lymphocyte proliferation to myelin fragments prior to treatment and were therefore selected for further studies.