Comments on: Er, what’s an adaptogen? http://northerndoctor.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/ "Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition" Adam Smith. A blog from a British doctor. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:32:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: J. Pruitt http://northerndoctor.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-348 J. Pruitt Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:57:26 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-348 I do not know all the science behind adaptogens, but all I know is that a blend of adaptogens helped me fight off my allergies. My immune system is finally working at its best. All I did, or change, in my life was taking the blend of adaptogens. So, in turn my running times has increased because being able to breath is a big part of running. I do not know all the science behind adaptogens, but all I know is that a blend of adaptogens helped me fight off my allergies. My immune system is finally working at its best. All I did, or change, in my life was taking the blend of adaptogens. So, in turn my running times has increased because being able to breath is a big part of running.

]]> By: northerndoctor http://northerndoctor.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-347 northerndoctor Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:13:12 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-347 Dr Dave - sorry about the delay in your comment appearing. It got gobbled up as spam and I have just retrieved it. Dr Aust has written quite a lot about CoQ10 - link in his comment above. I would say that it is always promising if a substance shows some beneficial effect in lab rats but does it translate into a safe, effective Rx for humans? Dr Dave – sorry about the delay in your comment appearing. It got gobbled up as spam and I have just retrieved it. Dr Aust has written quite a lot about CoQ10 – link in his comment above.

I would say that it is always promising if a substance shows some beneficial effect in lab rats but does it translate into a safe, effective Rx for humans?

]]> By: Dr Dave http://northerndoctor.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-332 Dr Dave Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:02:21 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-332 I had a quick look for CoQ10 research on Google scholar. I am interested in this supplement as an amateur triathlete recovering from post-viral fatigue. I even bought Elagen sport! Whether it worked or not I don't know. What would I have felt like had I not taken it? Anyway, I came across this, which suggests that CoQ10 supplementation reduces exercise induced muscular injury: Effect of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on exercise-induced muscular injury of rats. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18198662 CONCLUSIONS: These data indicated that CoQ10 supplementation increased total CoQ concentration in the slow-twitch muscles, and was useful for reducing exhaustive exercise-induced muscular injury by enhancing stabilization of muscle cell membrane. I had a quick look for CoQ10 research on Google scholar. I am interested in this supplement as an amateur triathlete recovering from post-viral fatigue. I even bought Elagen sport! Whether it worked or not I don’t know. What would I have felt like had I not taken it? Anyway, I came across this, which suggests that CoQ10 supplementation reduces exercise induced muscular injury:

Effect of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on exercise-induced muscular injury of rats.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18198662

CONCLUSIONS: These data indicated that CoQ10 supplementation increased total CoQ concentration in the slow-twitch muscles, and was useful for reducing exhaustive exercise-induced muscular injury by enhancing stabilization of muscle cell membrane.

]]> By: Dr Aust http://northerndoctor.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-266 Dr Aust Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:07:00 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-266 Sorry to have spoiled the punchline, ND.<br/><br/>It does seem to be rather a emblematic example of the "daft extrapolation" fallacy:<br/><br/>"It does something in cells in a dish, so <b>of course</b>...."<br/><br/>Talking of which, apparently a shedload of the stuff might make you live longer <a HREF="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18536978" REL="nofollow">if you are a soil-dwelling Nematode worm</a>.<br/><br/>So obviously good for triathletes, then. Sorry to have spoiled the punchline, ND.

It does seem to be rather a emblematic example of the “daft extrapolation” fallacy:

“It does something in cells in a dish, so of course….”

Talking of which, apparently a shedload of the stuff might make you live longer if you are a soil-dwelling Nematode worm.

So obviously good for triathletes, then.

]]> By: Northern Doctor http://northerndoctor.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-265 Northern Doctor Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:32:00 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-265 Thank you Dr Aust. You just beat me to the punch as I was teeing up another post highlighting that very study. I am still chasing some of the other claims they make...<br/>I am looking forward to sitting down later and enjoying your Co Q10 post. Thank you Dr Aust. You just beat me to the punch as I was teeing up another post highlighting that very study. I am still chasing some of the other claims they make…
I am looking forward to sitting down later and enjoying your Co Q10 post.

]]> By: Dr Aust http://northerndoctor.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-264 Dr Aust Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:22:00 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-264 I'm one of those crusty physiologists who teach the Northern Doctors of the future, and I've never heard of an "adaptogen" either.<br/><br/>Although, thanks to the wonders of <a HREF="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/" REL="nofollow">PubMed</a>, I can tell you that there is a recent-ish <a HREF="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15902991" REL="nofollow">small systematic review</a> of Eleutherococcus (aka "Siberian Ginseng") in exercise, which doesn't seem to bear out the manufacturer's claims. Funny that.<br/><br/>And as for Coenzyme Q10... <a HREF="http://draust.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/an-imperfect-q-ten/" REL="nofollow">don't get me started</a>. I’m one of those crusty physiologists who teach the Northern Doctors of the future, and I’ve never heard of an “adaptogen” either.

Although, thanks to the wonders of PubMed, I can tell you that there is a recent-ish small systematic review of Eleutherococcus (aka “Siberian Ginseng”) in exercise, which doesn’t seem to bear out the manufacturer’s claims. Funny that.

And as for Coenzyme Q10… don’t get me started.

]]> By: Elaine http://northerndoctor.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-263 Elaine Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:12:00 +0000 http://northerndoctor.wordpress.com/2008/09/30/er-whats-an-adaptogen/#comment-263 It's all woo and for the gullible only, sadly. It’s all woo and for the gullible only, sadly.

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