Welcome to another edition of Common Ground Online. Here's what's in this week's edition:
Below are a few excerpts from a Feburary 27, 2010 front-page Montreal Gazette article by Albert Nerenburg about current and ongoing research into EMPowerplus:
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"The normalization of the mentally ill via nutrient supplementation would be the most significant breakthrough in the field of mental illness since the beginning of time."
Bonnie J. Kaplan, PhD, Psychologist, University of Calgary |
'Mental illnesses will be the No. 2 cause of death and disability by 2020, according to the World Health Organization. Along with many common mental illnesses, bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, is becoming more common. One in every five Canadians will have a mental health problem at some point in their lives and about one per cent will experience bipolar disorder, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association.'
'[Anthony] Stephan [Co-founder of Truehope Nutritional Support Ltd.] is not a doctor or a scientist, but a new wave of international research suggests this "regular guy" from rural Alberta could be part of a significant breakthrough in the way we see and treat mental illnesses. Stephan claims mental illnesses may not be life-long conditions but potentially treatable nutritional issues. But Health Canada, some doctors and some mental health experts have disagreed, warning against Stephan’s micronutrient approach.'
'Taking risks with medication is naturally dangerous and worthy of extreme caution and this story does not suggest people with mental illnesses stop taking prescribed medication. But a new approach may be on the horizon and with the announcement of a major clinical trial of treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with micronutrients, it’s time to take a look at the bigger picture.
'Studies at three major universities have now concluded the micronutrient approach to mood disorders merits serious examination.'
University of Colorado
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Scott Shannon, M.D., Psychiatrist,
University of Colorado |
'Dr. Scott Shannon treats adults and children with bipolar disorder in Fort Collins, Colo., and is an associate professor in psychiatry at the University of Colorado. He says he now regularly prescribes Stephan’s micronutrients to those patients: "It is so much safer and effective, and it’s really a shame that it’s not more well known."
'Shannon says unlike pharmaceutical medications, which often cause "weight gain and cognitive clouding, the only side effects we get is some soft stools because magnesium, one of the ingredients, is a laxative."
'Shannon said he personally has treated more than 150 patients with mood disorders with the micronutrient approach.
'"I would say 70 to 80 per cent respond robustly," he said. "After two years they often don’t need me anymore."'
Ohio State University
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| Mary Fristad, PhD,
Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology
Ohio State University |
'Research has taken root at Ohio State University... Professor Mary Fristad at Ohio State completed a study in 2009 on Truehope’s EMPowerplus, which showed positive results.
'"This report adds to accumulating preliminary evidence that further basic science and clinical studies of micronutrient supplements are warranted," says her study, published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
'Fristad is now working on finding funding for a full clinical trial of Truehope micronutrients as treatment for bipolar disorder.
'Child psychiatrist [Eugene] Arnold, also at Ohio State, says Canada has missed the boat on this one. "There’s been some intemperate claims about nutritional supplements in the past, which may have caused a backlash," he said. "But a lot of good people are on top of this. I think Canada missed the opportunity to be the leader in the area and now other countries are taking over."'
University of Canterbury
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Julia Rucklidge, PhD,
Psychologist,
University of Canterbury |
'...A double-blind, placebo-controlled study – the accepted standard for testing new treatments – is taking place in New Zealand, testing Stephan’s treatment on people with ADHD. (In such a clinical trial, neither the patients nor the researchers know who is getting a placebo and who is getting the treatment, so the results aren’t tainted by expectations.)
'The formal clinical double-blind, placebo-controlled study, treating ADHD with the micronutrient approach, is now in progress at the University of Canterbury under Professor Julia Rucklidge... Rucklidge says she’s been inundated with over 500 requests from people who want to be on the study, so they can access the treatment.
'"It’s been quite amazing," she said.
'As a Canadian, Rucklidge says, she was baffled by what she called Canada’s "crushing" of micronutrient research.
'"To try and shut down a natural line of investigation doesn’t make sense," she said in an interview. "Right or wrong, it’s in the best interest of everyone to find out."'
Click here to read the entire article at montrealgazette.com.
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The Truehope Staff
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