hip pain, osteo,and niacinamide therapy

[Guest guest]

Hi, I noticed that you mentioned that since your chemo, you have had hip

pain. Additionally, you have osteo. Perhaps your hip pain is from the osteo

itself? Are you familiar with the work of Dr William Kaufman. and A Hoffer ?

There is a lot of info if you Google " osteoarthritis and niacinamide " . Here

is a lengthy cut and paste, to give you a ballpark idea of the effectiveness

of nicotinic acid and niacinamide therapy on arthritis. There are over 100

different types of arthritis, with osteo being one of the most difficult to

address, so anything that helps it even minimally, is to be considered. These

docs had some AMAZING results. The therapy fell by the wayside, because it

was a natural substance that could not be patented, so greedy drug companies

could not make a fortune with it. If you dispense with anecdotal testimonies,

and strictly stick to clinical studies, the info is impressive on these

nutrients. This therapy is a bit of a nuisance, since the vitamins are water

soluble. To keep blood levels high,. you must take small doses every 2 or

three hours, thru out the day. Read up on it. PLEASE REMEMBER... there are

three types of niacin formulations : 1) nicotinic acid ..this is plain ole

niacin, and addresses cholesterol. 2) inositol hexanicotinate ...this is no

flush niacin, and seems to address triglycerides best. 3) timed release

niacin...HEPATOTOXIC, and should be AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS. I was discussing

this in

AOL's Holistic Health chat room last night, and was simply amazed at how many

otherwise knowledgeable people were unaware of the hepatotoxicity of timed

relase niacin. It should be pulled from the market. Also, with arthritis,

since it is autoimmune, you have to be cautious if you take immune boosting

nutrients. For a quick fix with the pain, you might consider castor oil packs.

They release endorphins and enkephalins, so they are naturally anti

inflammatory( and used in cancer patients, so they should be safe). For a quick

fix,

you can even consider topical 99.9% pure DMSO, diluted to 70% for better

absorption, for a short time. I would probably buy that directly from the

source, Dr Jacobs, so I knew it was properly prepared. AS always, read about

these therapies, and how to employ them safely. Hope this helps. Best,

Lisa

 

Arthritis

The prevalence of arthritis is increasing in both Canada and the United

States. In the former country, for example, it rose from 12.7 percent in the

period 1994-1995 to 19 percent in 2000-2001. It is typically more common in both

females and the elderly. At age 15-24 only 2 percent of the Canadian

population has arthritis, but this figure rises steadily with maturity to 4.7

percent

at age 25-34, 8.8 percent in those aged 35-44, 17 percent in those between

45-54, 29.8 percent in 55-64 years old, and 39.9 percent at ages 65-74. In the

elderly, that is those 75 years older or more, this figure reaches 47.5

percent. Almost half the Canadian population older than 75 years, then, has

arthritis, and this illness is the third most common cause of disability in the

country, costing some $4.8 billion each year. Arthritis is even more of a

problem in the United States, where its prevalence is roughly 35 percent. By

age

18-44, 19 percent of the American population has arthritis; this figure rises

to 42.1 percent at ages 45-64, while more than half, 58.8 percent, of

Americans 65 or over suffer from the ailment. Arthritis cost the USA $82

billion in

2001.

In 1954, a 67-year-old woman was not well. She described her health problems:

an inability to see from her left eye, painful arthritis in her hands,

tiredness, and generally feeling unwell. Hoffer “knew†that these were all

old

age changes and that there was nothing anyone could do about it. However, he

also “knew†that one should offer some hope; that is offer a placebo if

nothing else. By this time he had several years experience with niacin and

niacinamide, had taken them himself and knew they were safe. He also felt that

the

initial flushing would give greater credibility to the placebo and could not do

her any harm.

At his urging, she agreed to take 1 gram of niacin three times daily after

meals. About one month later, she wrote that she was very much better, could

see again, that the arthritis was leaving her hands and “those little bumps

on

her finger joints (Heberden’s nodes) were going awayâ€. Hoffer was delighted

but “knew†that none of this could be true as Heberden’s nodes never went

away, and that there was no treatment for old age and its associated changes.

But when she was seen again she was very much better. Her mind was clear and

the arthritic nodes were flattening out and not as prominent. She remained on

high dose niacin until she died in 1975 at age 88.

Bill Kaufman_1_

(http://www.orthomolecularvitamincentre.com/arthritis.php#sdendnote1sym) _2_

(http://www.orthomolecularvitamincentre.com/arthritis.php#sdendnote2sym) was

the first to report that niacinamide in large doses,

starting from 250 milligrams taken four times daily, was useful in reversing

the

changes normally associated with old age. His primary interest was in reversing

arthritic symptoms, but he observed significant associated improvement in

other functions. Kaufman wrote, “Ever since 1943 I have tried to call my work

on

niacinamide to the attention of leading hematologists, nutritionists and

gerontologists through conversations with them, by sending them copies of my

monograph and paper on this subject and by two talks given on the usefulness of

niacinamide and other vitamins which I gave at International Gerontological

Congresses in 1951 and 1954. I think two factors have made it difficult for

doctors to accept the concept that continuous therapy with large doses of

niacinamide could cause improvement to joint dysfunction and give other

benefits;

(a) the advent of cortisone and (b) the fact that my use of the vitamins was

such a departure from the recommended daily allowance for vitamins by the

National Research Councilâ€.

Dr. Hoffer then prepared a brief report of his work supported by the results

of six cases_3_

(http://www.orthomolecularvitamincentre.com/arthritis.php#sdendnote3sym) . One

patient with osteoarthritis became normal, another with

rheumatoid arthritis became much better, two arthritis cases became normal, one

patient with both schizophrenia and arthritis became completely well, while

the last, who suffered from vascular nodulitis, was much improved.

Since then many patients with arthritis have recovered or become much better

when they took vitamin B-3. A most dramatic case came for help in a

wheelchair, pushed by her very tired and sick-looking husband. She was sitting

on her

legs crossed over as she could not extend them. She had been sick for the

previous 20 years and had had every known treatment for arthritis including

hormones and gold injections. Nothing had helped. Her hands were totally

useless

and she was crippled. Her husband had to carry her around the house, even to

the bathroom. He provided her with the equivalent care of four nurses, around

the clock. No wonder he was totally exhausted and sick. Hoffer “knew†she

could not be helped, since such very chronic deteriorated arthritis cases

generally did not do well. She said to her doctor, “I know that you cannot

help

my arthritis, but the pain in my back is terrible. All I want is some relief

from itâ€. He started her on a vitamin program of which the main constituent

was niacin, but he did not really expect to see much improvement. She returned

a month later in her wheelchair, again being pushed by her husband. This

time, however, she was sitting in her chair with her feet dangling straight

down.

Her husband looked relaxed and had lost his dreadful sick look. She

immediately said “THE PAIN IS GONEâ€. She was so much better that Hoffer

began to

think that maybe, with skillful surgery, some function might be restored to her

hands.

Six months later she telephoned. She called about her husband who had a cold.

She was able to get around in her home with her wheelchair. She wanted some

advice about how to help him. This woman died several years later, having

achieved her goal of a pain free existence.

A November 1999 Nutrition Science article by Dan Lukaczer_4_

(http://www.orthomolecularvitamincentre.com/arthritis.php#sdendnote4sym) ND

reported, “A few

years ago, Wayne Jonas from the NIH Office of Alternative Medicine in

Bethesda, Md., conducted a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of

72

patients to assess the validity of Kaufman’s earlier observations that niacin

was of great benefit to the elderly, reducing arthritis. Jonas reported that

niacinamide at 3 g/day reduced overall disease severity by 29 percent,

inflammation by 22 percent and use of anti-inflammatory medication by 13

percent.â€

Patients in the placebo group either had no improvement or worsened.

Although these may be considered only modest changes, Kaufman noted that

improvement among his patients started after four to twelve weeks - the time at

which Jonas’ study stopped. He also found that people might continue to

improve for up to a year before they plateau. Jonas’ recent study identified

no

significant side effects, but to be safe, those who opt for long-term

niacinamide therapy should have their liver enzymes periodically assessed by a

doctor.

Dan Lukaczer ND, the author of the article in Nutrition Science, is the

director of clinical services at the Functional Medicine Research Center, a

division of HealthComm International Inc., in Gig Harbor, Washington.

For more information click below:

* _Arthritis_

(http://www.orthomolecularvitamincentre.com/arthritis.php)

 

_1_ (http://www.orthomolecularvitamincentre.com/arthritis.php#sdendnote1anc)

Kaufman W (1943): Common Forms of Niacinamide Deficiency Disease: Aniacin

Amidosis. Yale University Press, New Haven. Conn.

 

 

 

_2_ (http://www.orthomolecularvitamincentre.com/arthritis.php#sdendnote2anc)

Kaufman W (1949): The Common Form of Joint Dysfunction: Its Incidence and

Treatment. EL Hildreth and Co, Brattleboro, Conn.

 

 

 

_3_ (http://www.orthomolecularvitamincentre.com/arthritis.php#sdendnote3anc)

Hoffer A: Treatment of Arthritis by Nicotinic Acid and Nicotinamide. Can Med

Ass J 1959;81: 235-238.

 

 

 

_4_ (http://www.orthomolecularvitamincentre.com/arthritis.php#sdendnote4anc)

Jonas WB, Rapoza CP, & Blair WF. The Effect of Niacinamide on

Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study. Inflamm Res; 1996;45:330-4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

This is interesting and makes sense. I would be interested in

knowing what percentage of people with OA get results. Any studies?

Does this also work for rheumatoid arthritis?

 

Thanks

GB

 

 

, SilkGirlSix

wrote:

>

> Hi, I noticed that you mentioned that since your chemo, you have

had hip

> pain. Additionally, you have osteo. Perhaps your hip pain is from

the osteo

> itself? Are you familiar with the work of Dr William Kaufman.

and A Hoffer ?

> There is a lot of info if you Google " osteoarthritis and

niacinamide " . Here

> is a lengthy cut and paste, to give you a ballpark idea of the

effectiveness

> of nicotinic acid and niacinamide therapy on arthritis. There are

over 100

> different types of arthritis, with osteo being one of the most

difficult to

[Guest guest]

You mentioned three kids of niacin . . . which one of the three is

the 'niacinamide'?

 

 

, SilkGirlSix

wrote:

>

> Hi, I noticed that you mentioned that since your chemo, you have

had hip

> pain. Additionally, you have osteo. Perhaps your hip pain is from

the osteo

> itself? Are you familiar with the work of Dr William Kaufman.

[Guest guest]

I think niacinamide is considered a derivative, although personally, it

seems to make sense it is a 4th type of niacin. I guess there are as many forms

of niacin as nutrient companies choose to make. Niacinamide can make one

sleepy initially, so presumably it takes some acclimation. I always question

the

use of synthetics verses natural products. One tweak in a molecular chain

can make a product unable to be absorbed, and we don't know if there are as yet

undiscovered natural co-factors that influence bioavailability,

Lisa