Propolis—bee glue

Today I ordered a small bottle of propolis. . . bee glue.  On Feb. 28, which was “Rare Disease Day” I found a podcast about rare diseases which featured a bee keeper, formerly of Wall Street. https://harperspero.com/podcast-notes/carlystein

Her passion for the power of the bees originated from a personal medical issue she faced while traveling in Italy. After discovering the incredible healing properties of bee propolis while abroad, she set out on a mission to share the wonders from the hive and educate people on the integral role the bees play in our ecosystem.

So that aroused my curiosity and I began researching propolis, bee glue, which bees use to repair and protect their hives.

According to WebMD:  “Propolis is a resin-like material made by bees from the buds of poplar and cone-bearing trees. Propolis is rarely available in its pure form. It is usually obtained from beehives and contains bee products. Bees use propolis to build their hives.
Propolis is used for canker sores and infections caused by bacteria (including tuberculosis and upper respiratory tract infections), by viruses (including HIV, H1N1 "swine" flu, and the common cold), by fungus, and by single-celled organisms called protozoans. Propolis is also used for cancer of the nose and throat; for treating warts; and for treating gastrointestinal (GI) problems including Helicobacter pylori infection in peptic ulcer disease.
People sometimes apply propolis directly to the skin for wound cleansing, genital herpes, cold sores (herpes labialis), vaginal swelling (vaginitis), and minor burns. Propolis is also used topically as a mouth rinse to treat painful mouth sores and inflammation (oral mucositis) and thrush (oropharyngeal candidiasis) and to improve healing following oral surgery.
In manufacturing, propolis is used as an ingredient in cosmetics.”

I went to several stores that carry supplements, health foods, etc., and although I did find the spray, I didn’t find the capsules, so I ordered them on line.  Sounds like a wonder drug, and from the two research/medical articles I read, it’s different and useful for a variety of things based on the geographic area, just like honey.

This one has an emphasis on propolis from India, but covers all countries.  Lots of references. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3872021/

“Propolis is a natural resinous mixture produced by honey bees from substances collected from parts of plants, buds, and exudates. Due to its waxy nature and mechanical properties, bees use propolis in the construction and repair of their hives for sealing openings and cracks and smoothing out the internal walls and as a protective barrier against external invaders like snakes, lizards, and so forth, or against weathering threats like wind and rain. Bees gather propolis from different plants, in the temperate climate zone mainly from poplar. Current antimicrobial applications of propolis include formulations for cold syndrome (upper respiratory tract infections, common cold, and flu-like infections), wound healing, treatment of burns, acne, herpes simplex and genitalis, and neurodermatitis. Worldwide propolis has a tremendous popularity, but in India the studies over propolis have just started, not extensively reported except few regions of India like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Gujrat, and Madhya Pradesh.”

This one is very long and detailed with chemical analysis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4461776/

The one caution most sites mention is that some people have allergic reactions to honey and propolis.

https://saveourbones.com/the-overall-and-bone-health-benefits-of-caffeic-acid/

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is one of the main medicinal components of propolis. Propolis is a naturopathic formulation collected by honeybees from buds and exudates of conifer trees and plants. It is used by the bees as a protective barrier in the hive. CAPE in breast cancer research.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3144783/

Use of CAPE in dental diseases. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6381107/

Anti-viral properties of CAPE https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4665029/

Anti-microbial https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4927136/

Cognitive improvement elderly http://www.propolisscience.org/propolis-and-cancer/brazilian-green-propolis-prevents-cognitive-decline-into-mild-cognitive-impairment-in-elderly-people-living-at-high-altitude/   refers to article in Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 63(2) 551-560, April 2018

Anti-cancer affects of propolis  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.2042-7158.2011.01331.x#.WvHN9e5RMoU

What about NAD+

Highlights:  “NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease,” Shin-ichiro Imai and Leonard Guarente, Trends in Cell Biology, 2014, Aug. 24(8): 464-471. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4112140/  71 references

• NAD ⁺ plays a key role in regulating metabolism and circadian rhythm through sirtuins.
  
• NAD ⁺ becomes limiting during aging, affecting sirtuins’ activities.
  
• NAD ⁺ decline is likely to be due to a NAD ⁺ biosynthesis defect and increased depletion.
  
• Supplementing key NAD ⁺ intermediates can restore NAD ⁺ levels and ameliorate age-associated pathophysiologies.
  

Another article (print full text, free) to read at the fitness center.
“NAD AND THE AGING PROCESS: ROLE IN LIFE, DEATH AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN” Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2017 Nov 5; 455: 62–74.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5419884/

“NAD was discovered over a hundred years ago (Harden and Young, 1906), and now that it has achieved its status as a super-centenarian molecule, its role in the biological process of aging is being recognized (Braidy et al., 2011; Gomes et al., 2013; Lin et al., 2000; Massudi et al., 2012; Scheibye-Knudsen et al., 2014; Zhu et al., 2015). It has been shown that NAD levels decline during chronological aging, and that this decline is both a consequence of the aging process and also a contributor to the development of age-related cellular dysfunction (Braidy et al., 2011; Gomes et al., 2013; Massudi et al., 2012; Scheibye-Knudsen et al., 2014; Verdin, 2015; Zhu et al., 2015). It is possible that a vicious cycle exists in which molecular mechanisms involved in the aging process, such as oxidative stress, DNA damage, senescence, and inflammation, lead to tissue NAD decline which subsequently exacerbates the processes that caused its decline in the first place (Figure 1). To potentially intervene in this vicious cycle it is crucial that we understand the mechanisms that lead to cellular NAD decrease during aging and, in particular, whether the decrease is mediated primarily by changes in its degradation, synthesis, or both. Furthermore, it is critical to understand how oxidative stress, DNA damage, inflammation, and senescence impact cellular NAD metabolism during the aging process. In the current review we will present a critical analysis of this subject, and will provide new mechanistic hypotheses to explain the age-related NAD decline.”

Protein supplementation + resistance and the elderly

I’m not ready to write my conclusions yet, but the medical research shows protein supplementation with resistance exercises is important for the elderly (yes, I am). Protein in combination with resistance exercises can reverse some of the wasting of muscle we experience.

“Effects of protein supplementation combined with resistance exercise on body composition and physical function in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 106, Issue 4, 1 October 2017, pp 1078–1091  https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/106/4/1078/4651887( Because this is a review article, the protein supplement varied by article.  The types of PS included whey protein, leucine, casein, milk protein, and the leucine metabolite β-hydroxy β-methylbutyrate. The protein sources for the PS differed among the included trials, comprising milk-based beverages, a whey protein and essential amino acid combination, fortified milk, milk protein concentrate, and dairy delivered through diet.)

“Effect of exercise and nutritional supplementation on health-related quality of life and mood in older adults: the VIVE2 randomized controlled trial”  BMC Geriatrics. 2018; 18: 286.  [BioMed Central] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6249766/  (The nutritional supplement provided 150 kcal, 20 g of whey protein, 800 IU vitamin D and a combination of vitamins and minerals, as previously described.)

“Nutritional Supplementation With Physical Activity Improves Muscle Composition in Mobility-Limited Older Adults, The VIVE2 Study: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, Volume 73, Issue 1, 1 January 2018”  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28977347, https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/73/1/95/4034773 [Oxford] (“daily nutritional supplement (150 kcal, 20 g whey protein, 800 IU vitamin D, 119 mL beverage)”

In the discussions and conclusions all suggested that protein supplement combined with resistance exercises were beneficial for the elderly. Then the question becomes what kind of supplement?  Whey?  Soy? Animal based? Plant?  These studies seemed to all use whey.

“Protein quality as determined by the Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score: evaluation of factors underlying the calculation” Nutrition Review. 2016 Sep; 74(9): 584–599. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6322793/ Extensive analysis of IAA. Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid (DIAA),

“Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial” British Journal of  Nutrition. 2015 Oct 28; 114(8): 1237–1245  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4594048/ (Used collagen peptide, The product was provided by GELITA AG (BODYBALANCE^™). The amino acid composition of the collagen peptides is shown in Table 1.)

Will update as I find them.

Not all supplements are good for you

Pay attention to your supplement suppliers. They are not regulated, and could be harmful. DNA testing of the product showed ". . . five out of six products tested did not contain the herb on their label, and that many contained cheap filler, like powdered rice, beans and houseplants, not listed. Some products even showed powered legumes, a plants class that includes peanuts and soybeans, which could harm people with allergies. " Good to know those retailers are removing them.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-avoid-buying-fake-herbal-supplements.html

A.G. Eric Schneiderman has sent “cease & desist” letters to four major retailers – GNC, Target, Walmart and Walgreens – ordering them to stop selling certain popular products, including Echinacea, Ginseng, St. John’s Wort, and others until they could “provide detailed information relating to the production, processing and testing of herbal supplements sold at their stores, as well as set forth a thorough explanation of quality control measures in place,” a statement said.

Third world children are America's lab rats

Parul Christian, DrPH
Center for Human Nutrition
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
615 N. Wolfe St
Room W2041
Baltimore, MD 21205

Dear Dr. Christian,

Today I read the account of your research done on Nepalese children in the Dec 22/29, 2010 issue of JAMA.

My first pregnancy was in 1961 and I received prenatal vitamins containing iron, and I believe the need for folic acid has been known and added to prenatal vitamins since before 1990. For some years it has been known that the relationship between zinc and iron is iffy, with the benefits of each perhaps cancelling the other.

Why is it ethical to experiment on third world children when we already know the benefits of prenatal supplements, and have known for 50 years or more? The control group will remain behind the supplement group for the rest of their lives. Just looking through other studies on the interaction of zinc and iron, I see Bloomberg is supporting research on poor children in other countries. So was that the real point of this research, to show that zinc is not useful as a supplement?

Norma Bruce
Faculty Emeritus
The Ohio State University

Parul Christian, Dr. P.H., of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, and colleagues conducted a study to assess intellectual and motor functioning in a group of 676 children, aged 7 to 9 years in June 2007-April 2009, who had been born to women in 4 of 5 groups of a community-based, randomized controlled trial of prenatal micronutrient supplementation conducted between 1999 and 2001 in rural Nepal. Study children were also in the placebo group of a subsequent preschool iron and zinc supplementation trial. Women whose children were followed up had been randomly assigned to receive daily iron/folic acid, iron/folic acid/zinc, or multiple micronutrients containing these plus 11 other micronutrients, all with vitamin A, vs. a control group of vitamin A alone from early pregnancy through 3 months postpartum. These children did not receive additional micronutrient supplementation other than biannual vitamin A supplementation. Through various tests, intellectual (including memory and reasoning), executive (such as processing speed) and motor function (such as manual dexterity and balance) were assessed.

The researchers found that maternal prenatal supplementation with iron and folic acid was positively associated with general intellectual ability, some aspects of executive function, and motor function, including fine motor control, in offspring in a rural area where iron deficiency is prevalent. In general, the differences in test scores between the other intervention groups and controls were not statistically significant.
http://pubs.ama-assn.org/media/2010j/1221.dtl#3

Let's pretend we're moving!

On my list of New Year's Resolutions is #11--clean out and rearrange the kitchen cabinets by pretending we're moving! We're not, of course, we absolutely love it here and haven't missed our home of 34 years even one day. So today, I'm standing on a chair cleaning a cabinet I can't reach unless I'm on a chair. Top shelf had only the waffle maker and my mother's decorative ceramic pie holder. But the next shelf down, the one I can reach, Oh My! Empty containers and a ton of supplements.

I found CVS Natural Fish Oil 120 mg, 100 softgels, probably about 90 left in the container. I looked it up here and here and here. So, I guess I'll keep them. We don't eat a lot of fish. Burp.