A controversial documentary from 2008, with much being around the dubious backgrounds of its makers... but overall, I still find it an interesting watch, there is still much to learn from it with a pinch of salt... personally, I am a proponent for diet change and TCM against cancer, as I'm against the current methods of chemotherapeutic treatments... its just too unspecific.. but that's just me =S



but yeah, a pinch of salt..

like the issue about niacin..

Tryptophan, an amino acid, is used to create Niacin and Serotonin via 2 separate pathways. Niacin a precursor to the NADH/NADPH pathway and essential to the body, and a deficiency in Niacin manifests asPellagra.


Serotonin on the other hand, is an essential neurotransmitter which binds to the 5-HT serotonin receptors, and regulates learning, memory, mood and sleep.

During chronic alcoholism, the absorption of vitamins is hindered, and together with the diuretic effect of alcohol, the body's vitamin levels drop as stores are gradually being depleted.. this can result in a range of diseases seen secondary to chronic alcoholism, such as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (due Thiamine, Vit B1 deficiency).

As such, the body's supply of Vitamin B6 is also decreased. Vitamin B6 is a co-factor used to convert amino acids such as Tryptopham into its downstream products, Niacin and Serotonin. Thus, a decrease in Vitamin B6, eventually leads to a decrease in Serotonin, and you get depression or mood swings.

So, it would seem that the administration of Niacin may be the solution to alleviate depression and increase serotonin production from Tryptophan.. Indeed, Niacin is also useful as it has anti-cholesterol activity and is currently a treatment to lower blood cholesterol... however, there are some side effects...

It is shown that Niacin also raises the levels of liver enzymes.. while proponents of Niacin treatment will say that this doesn't directly prove that the liver is damaged, think of it this way, enzymes are supposed to be contained within the cells, and are freely released when these cells are damaged or lyse.. it is not much of a leap to say that the presence of enzymes mean damaged cells.

And as it has been shown, the liver function tests, when taken together, are highly conclusive of the liver's condition...so yes, you gotta look at it in a larger picture.. if the depression was caused by alcoholism, taking Niacin might help with the depression, but it will aid the alcohol in harming your liver.. is that what you really want?