Pharmacogenomics allows health care providers to identify sources of an individual's profile of drug response and predict the best possible treatment option for this individual. Instead of the standard hit-or-miss approach to treating patients, where it can take multiple attempts to find the right drug and the right dose, doctors will eventually be able to analyze a patient's genetic profile and prescribe the best available drug therapy and dose from the start. Both the guidance and a new Web page are part of a broad effort underway at the FDA to foster pharmacogenomics during drug development.

Source Naturals HYDROGENBOOST, a breakthrough natural mineral nutritional supplement, is a souce of negatively charged hydrogen ions bound to silica. Developed by Dr. Patrick Flanagan, HYDROGENBOOST may be the world's most potent antioxidant.

HYDROGENBOOST's negatively charged hydrogen molecule (H-) possesses two electrons instead of the typical one. This extra electron can be donated without generating the free radical cascade, making HYDROGENBOOST the only antioxidant that doesn't become a free radical when it dontates an electron to quench a free radical. It harnesses the power of active hydrogen to neutralize free radicals, boost energy, and improve cellular hydration.

Source Naturals: Sarah, could you please share the nutritional strategy that helps give you a competitive edge?
Sarah Kerlin: I'm a big fan of melatonin. It really improves my ability to compete the next day after I've flown cross-country. I take inosine, which helps with the creation of ATP. More ATP can help stop cramps late in a race. It also means more powerful muscle contractions which can help you push past your limits. I like whey protein because it's not a plant protein. It's easy to digest and assimilate. I use a diluted whey protein liquid in a water bottle during race events. Just a little protein will level out your blood sugar level and this will help prevent energy "bonking" (crashing). I use whey blended with a banana after a race as a recovery drink. It's the simplest way to begin the recovery process.

SN: Your nickname is "Bella Loca." How did you get that handle?
SK: I was in Vermont for the NORBA (National Offroad Biking Association) Nationals and I had a bad spill on my first lap early in the race, which dislocated my shoulder. I popped my shoulder back in and continued to race! It was a rocky, treacherous, downhill course and impossible to stop. Instinct and adrenaline took over. I was cussing and yelling each time I hit a rock. The fans loved this and they were cheering because I was screaming from the pain. My teammates, not knowing how to deal with my single-mindedness, labeled me crazy, "Bella Loca", and it stuck. Racing provides a way to learn about yourself and that's part of what I like about it. I was injured in a bad car accident not too long afterward. I used a holistic approach to healing both injuries. I've been studying yoga for 10 years. Yoga postures helped me to regain my strength and avoid surgery.

SN: Can you tell us about the Velo Bella Racing Team?
SK: My dad, who's been in cycling for 40 years in northern California, says that Velo Bella is an important breath of fresh air in the cycling scene right now. It started locally but we now have members from all around the country. We don't emphasize the competitive aspect but that doesn't mean we don't win. It's more about the friendships, training together, dancing together, and so on. We're very connected and it's a lot of fun.

SN: Where do you see yourself in the near future?
SK: October thru January will be a full season of cyclo-cross, which has become my focus because I found out I'm good at it! I really want to win one of the home races in the national tour. I look forward to the finals at Golden Gate Park. I want to go back to Europe around Christmas.
SN: Good luck, Sarah!

Quercetin is a unique bioflavonoid that has been extensively studied by researchers over the past 30 years. Bioflavonoids occur as pigments in plants, where they usually are found in close association with vitamin C.

Histamine and Leukotriene Inhibition: Helping Us Enjoy the Natural World
Quercetin has a strong affinity for mast cells, the body's main storage unit for histamines. Like many other bioflavonoids, it has the ability to stabilize cell membranes, preventing histamines from spilling out of mast cells into the bloodstream and surrounding tissues. Also, quercetin helps inhibit the action of two enzymes-phospholipase A2 and lipoxygenase-which act on arachidonic acid to create leukotrienes. By inhibiting the release of histamines and leukotrienes into our bloodstreasm, quercetin can leave us free to enjoy the natural world.

Combined Excellence
Source Naturals ACTIVATED QUERCETIN is a state-of-the-art quercetin complex. This unique formula features quercetin, along with bromelain, magnesium and nonacidic vitamin C (magnesium ascorbate). Together this combination of ingredients provides powerful seasonal support.

The researchers reported that total amyloid was cut by 70% in mice on the DHA-rich diet compared with those on another diet. Brain plaques were reduced by 40.3%.

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oil that provides nutritional support for the brain and nervous system. The results of the study suggest that dietary DHA could be protective against amyloid production, accumulation, and potential downstream toxicity.

An estimated 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. The number has more than doubled since 1980. Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging. It is a disorder of the brain's nerve cells that impairs memory, thinking, and behavior and leads, ultimately, to death.

Source:The Journal of Neuroscience, www.jneurosci.org, March 23 online issue.

A new Harvard study, published online February 2 in the journal Health Affairs, looked at 1,771 individuals who filed for bankruptcy in 2001 in California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. All respondents filled out questionnaires related to the causes of their bankruptcies; in addition, 931 underwent follow-up interviews about their financial and medical circumstances. Bankruptcy is widespread in the United States, involving four million debtors and dependents in 2001.

Most Medical Debtors Had Insurance
The researchers were surprised to learn that 76% of study respondents were covered by medical insurance when they developed the illnesses that led to their bankruptcies. However, many lost coverage when their health conditions led to job loss, and could not obtain insurance later due to pre-existing conditions. Others could not afford high out-of-pocket medical expenses, which averaged $11,854 annually.

The researchers concluded that insurance coverage should be divorced from employment to avoid disruptions at the time of illness. They contrasted U.S. statistics with those in Canada, where national health insurance is associated with much lower medical- related bankruptcy rates of 7-14%.

Typical Medical Debtor Profile
The average debtor was a forty-one year old woman with children and at least some college education, according to the study. The majority owned homes, and their scored ratings for "occupational prestige" placed them in the middle or working classes.

During the two years before filing for bankruptcy, 43% of the medical debtors lost telephone service, 21% could not afford adequate food, and 17% had to move from their homes. Almost two-thirds went without needed doctor or dentist visits, and almost half failed to fill prescriptions.

Needed: A Wellness Revolution
The Harvard study is further proof of the need for a revolution in preventive health care. An effective response to out-of-control medical costs requires education about healthy lifestyles, support for holistic health professionals and natural product stores, and the development of a personal, nutritional supplement regimen that focuses on prevention of costly health problems.

Source: Himmelstein, David U. et al. February 2005. Illness and Injury as Contributors to Bankruptcy. Health Affairs. Available online at www.healthaffairs.org

Disclaimer: The information contained in this e-letter has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned in this e-letter are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.