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Cancer accounts for nearly one-quarter of deaths in the United States. The life expectancy after standard treatment for these patients is dismal. New treatment modalities should be considered and evaluated. Ascorbic Acid (AA, Vitamin C) is a relatively low cost and safe nutrient even when given at very high doses (intravenous) that could be a very relevant co-adjuvant in cancer treatment. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown benefit of using high dose intravenous vitamin C as adjuvant therapy in cancer patients. There is significant supporting evidence of the benefits of the use vitamin C with chemotherapy.

One of the most common treatments available for cancer patients is surgical removal of the malignant tumor; its long-term implications, however, are still little-known. The purpose of this review is to look at the perioperative effects and determine if there is any correlation between surgery, anesthetics and analgesics, and cancer progression, in the form of cancerous tumor growth and progression and patient survival, within the Puerto Rican population. A retrospective literature review was conducted. Current data suggest that surgery is associated with an increase in cancer proliferation and metastasis, for various reasons such as angiogenesis enhancement and bloodstream migration. Also, it was found that some anesthetics and analgesics have been associated with cancer progression, based on the peri- and postoperative immune status of the patient. Thiopental, ketamine, isoflurane, halothane and some opioids were positively correlated with cancer progression given their role in immunosuppression; while propofol, lidocaine, ropivacaine and bupivacaine were negatively correlated with tumor progression given their immune enhancement. Others, like sevoflurane, nitrous oxide, and etomidate showed inconclusive correspondence. Therefore, it was concluded that immune system boosting anesthetics and analgesics can reduce cancer progression in a patient that has undergone surgical resection. For further research and since the available data are not extensive, other variables such as age, sex, stressors and comorbidities could be considered to better understand the mechanism in which the chemicals hereby studied can cause cancer progression.

Patients infected with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) exhibit specific characteristics, including high fever, rigors, headache, photophobia, petechial rash or maculopapular rash, and incapacitating joint pain. It is thought that the presence of CHIKV immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies play an important role in a new type of rheumatoid arthritis reported in 2009. It has been reported that 97% of patients with CHIKV infection complain of recurrent symptoms for 6 months. Fatigue was considered to be totally disabling in 4.6% of patients and very disabling in 42.8% of patients. Only 10% of patients considered their mood normal, whereas 37.8% felt demoralized and 43.9% considered their mood weakened. This article presents our review of the literature in which we looked for an effective nutritional approach for the treatment of CHIKV infection and its sequelae. It has been reported that the use of omega-3 fatty acids, intravenous vitamin C, bromelain, and curcumin plays an important role in decreasing the inflammatory response during an acute viral illness and other inflammatory processes, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Our general recommendation based on the current evidence, is that the use of omega-3 fatty acids, intravenous vitamin C, bromelain, and curcumin could be an effective treatment option for the inflammatory sequelae of CHIKV infection.

Objective: We conducted a comprehensive review of the most current data available on the antihypertensive effects of 29 different nutraceuticals.Design: In this review, we collected evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses of clinical trials with human subjects that are representative of the general adult population; studies of infants, children, and pregnant women were excluded. Observational studies were included in some cases as supplementary evidence, and in vitro or animal studies were included only for the purpose of explaining hypotensive mechanisms. PubMed served as the primary search engine.Outcome measures: The efficacy of each nutrient and botanical was demonstrated by a treatment that resulted in a reduction of either systolic or diastolic blood pressure in humans.Results: All of the reviewed botanical and nutrient supplements, with the exception of French maritime pine bark extract and maitake (Grifola frondosa), have been demonstrated to effectively lower blood pressure in humans with good tolerability.Conclusions: Current data supporting the use of nutrients and botanicals in the treatment of blood pressure are encouraging.

Nutrigenomics is the study of the effects of food and food constituents on gene expression. The study of nutrigenomics may have a major impact in the development of tailor-made food, supplements and beverage products in the near future. The “genetic nutritioneering” concept summarizes the information on how diet, supplements, lifestyle and environmental factors influence gene expression. In order to overcome their particular genetic pre-disposition that can lead to serious diseases, people may be able to choose customized diets, supplements and make lifestyle modifications, which would optimize their metabolic status. Nutrient intake for each person varies according to their unique genetic make-up and individual lifestyle choices. Therefore, it may be possible to “correct” physiological disruptions by implementing “Metabolic Correction” principles. To completely accomplish these goals of optimal health, new international alliances and policies need to be developed and implemented and more sound, evidence-based research needs to be conducted.

A healthy physiology depends on a plethora of complex interdependent biochemical reactions. In order for these reactions to occur suitably, the enzymes and cofactors that regulate their flow must be present in the proper balance. The term metabolic correction is used to describe a biochemical-physiological process that improves cellular biochemistry as a means to an individual's achieving metabolic or physiological optimization. Part 2 discusses how metabolic correction, through the increase of cofactors, can supply unmet enzyme needs and compensate for nutritional deficiencies induced by improper nutritional intake or by the increased demand for nutrients caused by genetics, health conditions, medications, or physical or environmental stressors. Nutrient insufficiencies are causing an increase in morbidity and mortality, at great cost to our society. In summary, metabolic correction improves enzymatic function and satisfies the increasing demand for nutrients. Metabolic correction can have a significant impact on the reduction of morbidity and mortality and their financial cost to our society and contribute to improving health and well-being.