ABC Submits Letter to the Editor of the WSJ Regarding Natural Alternatives to Vioxx
In the wake of the recent recall of the popular drug Vioxx due to recent research
demonstrating that it can increase the risk of heart disease, there has been a
rush by media to cover this story. The Wall St. Journal
(WSJ) is one of the many media outlets producing articles on this topic.
On Saturday, October 2, ABC Founder and Executive Director, Mark Blumenthal,
was interviewed by WSJ reporter Paul Davies for a story on various natural alternatives
in the dietary supplement industry that consumers might use an acceptable substitute
for Vioxx® (the multibillion dollar pain reliever from Merck). Unfortunately,
none of Blumenthal’s comments were used in the article published Tuesday, October
5, 2004. As a result, Blumenthal wrote a letter to the editor of the WSJ that has
not been published. Additionally, ABC has received no response from the author
for repeated requests for a copy of the article.
Vioxx is a known for its primary mechanism of action of inhibiting the enzyme
cycloogygenase-2 (COX-2), an enzyme involved in the production of prostaglandins
and the resulting inflammatory process. Inhibition of COX-2 is a successful strategy
developed recently for pharmaceutical drugs for controlling inflammation and associated
pain.
In his interview with the author of the WSJ article, Blumenthal discussed
herbs containing compounds with demonstrated COX-2 inhibiting activity, particularly
ginger and turmeric. He stated that both these herbs contain compounds that have
shown COX-2 inhibiting activity in published research. He also noted that several
proprietary herbal dietary supplement formulations intended to help manage inflammatory
conditions have included ginger (and/or turmeric) as primary ingredients. He also
stressed the safety of these time-honored herbs as foods and spices, noting that
turmeric is the spice that gives prepared mustard its bright yellow color.
One of the specific products he mentioned is Zyflammend® (New Chapter Inc.,
Brattleboro, VT), a proprietary combination of carbon dioxide extracts of ginger,
turmeric, rosemary, green tea and other herbs with Cox-2 inhibiting and antioxidant
activities. He also mentioned a Danish formulation made from ginger root and galangal
root (Alpinia galangal, an herb in
the ginger family), which has been shown effective in treating pain and symptoms
of osteoarthritis of the knee in at least one clinical trial. The Danish formulation
is imported into the U.S. by several companies, including Enzymatic Therapy (Green
Bay, WI) under the trade name FlexAgilityTM in health food stores,
and EV.EXT 77 (the original Danish product name) also sold under that name in
the U.S. under the PhytoPharmica line in independent pharmacies and by various
health care practitioners.
Blumenthal also mentioned the
well-known benefits and safety of glucosamine sulfate for providing relief from
osteoarthritic conditions. In a follow up email this morning, Blumenthal also
noted the potential benefits and COX-2 inhibiting effects of boswellia (Boswellia
serrata) and compounds derived from
it (e.g., boswellin), found in many Ayurvedic herbal formulations. Blumenthal
also mentioned that many “generic” ginger and turmeric herbal products would
probably offer some valued assistance to consumers suffering from pain and
swelling associated with various types of arthritis, but that most of these
products have not been subject to controlled clinical trials to test and
document their benefits in this area.
October 5, 2004
Letters to the Editor
The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty Street
New York, NY 10281
Sent via email: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com
Re: “Evaluating Vioxx Alternatives” by Paul Davies and Heather Von Tesoriero,
October 5, 2004.
To the Editor:
Your article explored various alternative treatments for controlling arthritis
pain and inflammation after the Vioxx recall, but it failed to include a promising
area of unconventional therapy: herbal dietary supplements.
The primary mechanism of action of Vioxx is inhibition of cycloogygenase-2
(COX-2), an enzyme involved in the production of prostaglandins and the resulting
inflammatory process. The common spices ginger and turmeric, and numerous other
herbs, contain compounds that have demonstrated COX-2 inhibiting activity in laboratory
and animal studies.
As I told your reporter, Mr. Davies, when he interviewed me for this story,
a 2001 study on a Danish ginger formulation (known as EV.EXT 77, or FlexAgilityTM
in the U.S.) reduced pain and improved symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.
While more clinical research is clearly needed, a growing body of science
suggests that selected herbal supplements may provide former Vioxx patients with
safe, low-cost relief from pain and inflammation. This information should have
been included in your article for the benefit of your readers.
Sincerely,
Mark Blumenthal
Founder and Executive Director
American Botanical Council
Austin, Texas
Editor, HerbalGram
P.S. References available upon request
Note: Product brands are included as part of the American Botanical Council’s
policy to provide names of clinically researched brands. This is done as an acknowledgement
of the specific formulation upon which scientific and medical research is conducted.
An independent research and education nonprofit organization, ABC does not recommend
or promote specific products.
EV.EXT 77 is a proprietary combination of ginger and galangal roots, manufactured
by Ferrosan A/S in Soeborg, Denmark. This product is imported into the U.S. and
sold as FlexAgility by Enzymatic Therapy of Green Bay, WI and as EV.EXT 77 by
PhytoPharmica of Green Bay. EV.EXT 77 was subject of a human clinical study: Altman
RD, Marcussen KC. Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
Arthritis Rheum 2001 Nov44(11):2531-8.