As a scientist who's involved in both patient care and research, not a week goes by that I don't get asked a decent question by a patient who's seeking an alternative method of healing or recovery. This got me thinking. How many of us have questions and are interested in knowing about herbals, nutraceuticals or drugs before they become popular or even hit the market? How many doctors are actually up to date when it comes to alternative therapies, new drugs, new uses for old drugs, and the role of supplements and nutrition in health care and optimal living?

Well, that's what this column deals with – stuff your doctor and pharmacist either don't know or won't tell you. Welcome to the cutting edge of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical science.

Soy Conspiracy Update

I just got off the phone with Agent Mulder. He reported that at least here in the U.S., the populace is still not being told about the potential downsides of high soy intake or the use of soy supplements.

However, Mulder did tell me that the Foods Standards Agency of the United Kingdom (www.foodstandards.gov.uk) recently released a report denoting that phytoestrogens as found in soy (and in other foods/supplements) do indeed have estrogenic effects on estrogen receptors and thus in some females may increase the risk of hormone sensitive cancers. The report also said that infants fed soy formulas are exposed to the greatest concentrations of phytoestrogens (isoflavones). Finally, the report noted that soy can interrupt and disrupt thyroid function and activity in infants by inhibiting the enzyme thyroid peroxidase.

These findings have led the U.K. government to recommend that physicians monitor thyroid function in infants fed soy-based formulas. The agency (FSA) also noted that soy altered reproductive health in some animal studies (ala the soy-boy).

The report should also make many rethink their vegan or strict vegetarian ways.

The FSA believes the high soy intakes in these groups have an even greater estrogenic potential and thus people who eat this way may eventually accrue a mountain of possible negative health side effects.

Also, the FSA strongly stated that individuals with hypothyroidism who take thyroid replacement while on a high soy diet run the risk of inactivating their medications since the phytoestrogens in soy can disrupt thyroxine activity.

To summarize, while us in the "T-know crew" know much of the aforementioned, many people in our society do not. Soy supplementation may just be the antithesis of a supplement for the bodybuilder or powerlifter. However, if you eat soy every now and then, there should be no worries. It's the aspect of soy disrupting thyroid function in infants, hypothyroid people on replacement, and perhaps even the dieter that give me concern. Couple this with the fact that soy may not be good for the female with breast cancer or at risk for breast cancer and we have evidence of a misinformation campaign that’s been played on the U.S. public.

In short, soy sucks.

Legal Gear?

For years, many people in the bodybuilding and anti-aging community have been seeking the Holy Grail for ultimate fat loss and new muscular growth. This Indiana Jones quest has led to great inventions such as MAG-10, but this venture has also lead to a bigger underground and the growth of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M).

Knowing that most people these days want to look and feel better has led to the creation of a company named Cellular Nucleonic Advantage. CNA is based in Texas and is a medical group that for a one-time consultation fee of $50.00 will run a bunch of tests to see if they can prescribe and supply you with any of the following medications: HGH (Saizen), stanozolol, anavar (oxandrolone), Testosterone enanthate/cypionate/propionate/suspension, deca durabolin, HcG, lasix, fluoxymesterone, clomid, tamoxifen, Arimidex, Teslac, Synthroid, Cytomel, L-carnitine (30cc) as well as supply you with syringes and other gear needed for use of the medicinals.

CNA asks you to fill out a health questionnaire and to fill out a medical questionnaire as well as supplying them with basic blood work. Do this and they'll supposedly supply you with a medically supervised "health enhancement" program. Call 1-877-211-0101 to get the paperwork. This just may take the fear out of getting fakes or getting ripped off by your local "physique enhancement supervisor."

Next Big Muscle-Enhancer?

While we know that things such as creatine and other items help with weight and muscle gain when combined with a smart lifting and eating program, the combination of Kreb cycle and metabolic intermediates citrulline and malate may have been overlooked by many in the sport supplement world.

A recent study found that supplementing citrulline and malate (six grams total per day) over a 15-day period reduced muscle fatigue, increased energy production (ATP) by 34%, and caused a 20% increase in phosphocreatine recovery after exercise. Simply put, this means that at least in this one study, the citrulline-malate supplement improved aerobic metabolism, enhanced cellular energy production, and induced an enhanced state of muscular recovery.

More studies are needed, but this citrulline/malate combination just might be the next generation in effective, natural sports supplements.

Overseas "T"

Many in the iron game like to travel to countries that have "friendly laws" or at least easy access to "enlarging" supplements. If you get a chance to travel to Hong Kong, the company Yick-Vic Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals (phone 011-852-2542-3444) is said to be more than obliging in providing or creating T-enhancing items. Some of these items may require a prescription (well, at least here in the U.S.) or just a purchase order "for research purposes only."

This company has been in business since 1980 and has a great reputation and will keep any custom synthesis programs confidential. The Yick-Vik corporation (no, the name isn't a joke) produces agents varying from chemotherapies to antibiotics to various forms of Testosterone and HgH.

The Managing Director, Victor Leung, is very accommodating and will answer your e-mails. Write the company at yickvic@hkstar.com in order to get their full spectrum of available products and prices. Again, their custom pharmaceutical raw materials appear to be unsurpassed.

To Recap:

• Soy supplementation still doesn't appear prudent for the bodybuilder (or dieter, infant, or health enthusiast).

• A medical group based in Texas seems more than willing to prescribe the right agents for enhanced muscle growth.

• Citrulline combined with malate at six grams per day may just be the next supplement to take the world by storm.

• If you visit Hong Kong or even the World Wide Web, the Vick-Yik Corporation is fast becoming the "raw material pharmaceutical intermediate" supplier of choice.

That wraps up this edition! If you have a question for the Alternative Pharmacist, send it to DKalman@MiamiResearch.com.

About the Author

Douglas Kalman works as a Director for Miami Research Associates, a pharmaceutical and nutraceutical service organization. MRA conducts Phase II through Post Market Surveillance trials. Their website can be found at MiamiResearch.com.