Archive for category Book Reviews

By: Suzan M. Streichenwein, M.D., FAPM

Who would like to live to be 100 years old? The number of centenarians has been increasing by about 7 % every year in developed countries. Since the 1950’s, there has been a decrease in mortality due to advances in medicine. However diseases of aging such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the roadblocks which keep many of us from reaching the century mark.

“The Youth Pill” by David Stipp, a medical journalist, is a well written and documented journey through all the theories, animal studies and human observations since the 1900’s about the attempts to find the fountain of youth. Mr. Stipp devotes chapters to the free radical theory, calorie restriction, genetic exploration and CR mimetics. Despite some technical descriptions, the book’s text flows and is very understandable to the lay public. The book provides the background for all the TV and magazine hype about antioxidants, reservation, sirtuin and low body weight as “anti-aging” treatments. One chapter describes present-day centenarians and their life-styles in an attempt to find commonalities in this ever expanding group of seniors..

Important questions are raised– such as, do we really want longevity if we must spend the extended years dealing with non-fatal diseases of aging? When do we begin a “ treatment” to deal with aging? Would chronic disease prevention be the key to a healthy long life?

Mr. Stipp delivers a detailed exploration of the complex quest for youth with humor and thoroughness. He entertains with details of intrigue and one- up- manship in the research world as well as everything you ever wanted to know about the naked mole-rat.

Reviewed for Medical Front Page
By Suzan M. Streichenwein, M.D., FAPM

Vitamin D—another treatment in a long line of faux Holy Grails? Or is Vitamin D the real thing? Dr. Michael Holick, author of the “Vitamin D Solution,” certainly thinks so.

A 2009 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that 70% of whites, 90% of Hispanics and 97% blacks have insufficient levels of Vitamin D according to Dr. Holick. He postulates that this deficiency is due to inadequate exposure to sunlight in what has become a “sun hysteria” movement in today’s world. He points out that we can “sun sensibly”. He provides us with many charts of latitudes, locations, times of the day and year so that we can absorb sunlight safely. In addition to the lack of sun exposure, we are more susceptible to a Vitamin D deficiency as we age. This certainly applies to seniors who live in northern countries during the winter months or who are residents in a nursing home.

Dr. Holick cites a long list of illnesses which have a “Vitamin D connection”. He writes that autoimmune diseases, many cancers, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and even psychiatric illness can be caused by a Vitamin D deficiency. He hypothesizes further that this deficiency may even be responsible for the disappearance of the dinosaurs and the slumped posture of the Neanderthals. Why were these connections not discovered before now? Dr. Holick explains that techniques using radioactive labeled substances were not available until the 1960’s ergo the lag.

This book is both informative and frightening. It will certainly push you to your doctor’s office for a 25-hydroxy Vitamin D blood test since it appears that the majority of people worldwide need more sunlight and supplements.

Dr. Holick explains the mechanics of how the human body produces Vitamin D from sunlight, dietary and supplement sources. This will be new information for most lay readers. There are tables with dosage recommendations. Dr. Holick also notes that there is no difference between D2 and D3 although most medical newsletters stress Vitamin D3 as a supplement. He suggests a preferable daily dosage of 2000 IU.

There is an important chapter on bone health which details the role of Vitamin D as a hormone and its relationship to calcium metabolism as well as to the parathyroids. If body calcium is low, the parathyroids signal the kidneys to produce Vitamin D. This in turn signals the intestines to transfer calcium from our intake of food over to the blood. If the food source is insufficient, the hormones Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone can mobilize stored calcium from the bones. This topic is extremely pertinent in today’s world as we become more cognizant of the incidence of osteoporosis in both men and women and the consequences of this disease. Baby boomers beware— improve your dietary habits!

The FAQ section, which is the final chapter of the book, contains interesting, informative and useful questions and answers.

There are numerous percentages, prevalence/incidence rates and estimates throughout Dr. Holick’s book which are not backed by any citations at all. Dr. Holick makes frequent reference to his discoveries and laboratory work as well as those of his colleagues. Again, it is unclear if this work has been published and if so was it in peer-reviewed journals. This book could be very valuable tome on Vitamin D to both medical readers as well as laymen if the data could be supported by a bibliography.

(Dr. Streichenwein specializes in geriatric psychiatry in West Palm Beach, FL.)