“As I’ve been trying to make clear for many years now, P.S.A. testing can’t detect prostate cancer and, more important, it can’t distinguish between the two types of prostate cancer — the one that will kill you and the one that won’t,” said Richard J. Ablin, PhD, a research professor of immunobiology and pathology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the president of the Robert Benjamin Ablin Foundation for Cancer Research, who discovered PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in 1970.

“Infections, over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen, and benign swelling of the prostate can all elevate a man’s P.S.A. levels, but none of these factors signals cancer,” Ablin notes.

“Men with low readings might still harbor dangerous cancers, while those with high readings might be completely healthy.”

He wrote this in an Op-Ed in The New York Times in 2010 which was titled The Great Prostate Mistake.

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“The results from the American study show that over a period of 7 to 10 years, [PSA] screening did not reduce the death rate in men 55 and over,” said Richard J. Ablin, PhD, a research professor of immunobiology and pathology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the president of the Robert Benjamin Ablin Foundation for Cancer Research, who discovered PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in 1970.

“The European study showed a small decline in death rates, but also found that 48 men would need to be treated to save one life.”

“That’s 47 men who, in all likelihood, can no longer function sexually or stay out of the bathroom for long.”

He wrote this in an Op-Ed in The New York Times in 2010 which was titled The Great Prostate Mistake.

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“Numerous early screening proponents, including Thomas Stamey, a well-known Stanford University urologist, have come out against routine testing; last month [2010], the American Cancer Society urged more caution in using the test,” said Richard J. Ablin, PhD, a research professor of immunobiology and pathology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the president of the Robert Benjamin Ablin Foundation for Cancer Research, who discovered PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in 1970.

“The American College of Preventive Medicine also concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening.”

“Testing should absolutely not be deployed to screen the entire population of men over the age of 50, the outcome pushed by those who stand to profit.”

“Prostate-specific antigen testing does have a place.”

“After treatment for prostate cancer, for instance, a rapidly rising score indicates a return of the disease.”

“And men with a family history of prostate cancer should probably get tested regularly.”

“If their score starts skyrocketing, it could mean cancer.”

“But these uses are limited.”

He wrote this in an Op-Ed in The New York Times in 2010 which was titled The Great Prostate Mistake.

Read the entire article | Email this article

“I never dreamed that my discovery [of PSA] four decades ago would lead to such a profit-driven public health disaster,” said Richard J. Ablin, PhD, a research professor of immunobiology and pathology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the president of the Robert Benjamin Ablin Foundation for Cancer Research, who discovered PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in 1970.

“The medical community must confront reality and stop the inappropriate use of P.S.A. screening.”

“Doing so would save billions of dollars and rescue millions of men from unnecessary, debilitating treatments.”

He wrote this in an Op-Ed in The New York Times in 2010 which was titled The Great Prostate Mistake.

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“Prostate cancer may get a lot of press, but consider the numbers: American men have a 16 percent lifetime chance of receiving a diagnosis of prostate cancer, but only a 3 percent chance of dying from it,” said Richard J. Ablin, PhD, a research professor of immunobiology and pathology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and the president of the Robert Benjamin Ablin Foundation for Cancer Research, who discovered PSA (prostate-specific antigen) in 1970.

“That’s because the majority of prostate cancers grow slowly.”

“In other words, men lucky enough to reach old age are much more likely to die with prostate cancer than to die of it. Even then, the test is hardly more effective than a coin toss.”

He wrote this in an Op-Ed in The New York Times in 2010 which was titled The Great Prostate Mistake.

Read the entire article | Email this article

People taking one gram (1,000 mg) of the dietary fiber glucomannan three times a day one hour before meals weighed 7 pounds less than people given a placebo after two months according to a 1984 study. Read the entire article | Email this article

Hypertensive patients given 1,000 mg of glucomannan three times a day before meals lost 3.1 pounds in one month compared to a weight loss of 5.3 pounds for those given glucomannan in addition to a low-calorie diet versus an average loss of 0.4 pounds for those taking a placebo according to one study. Read the entire article | Email this article

Women given a combination of the dietary fibers glucomannan, guar gum and alginate, lost and who were on a 1200 calorie per day diet lost an average of 9.7 pounds in five weeks compared to 5.9 pounds for those given a placebo, a difference of 3.8 pounds, according to a study from the University of Tromso in Tromso, Norway. Read the entire article | Email this article

Glucomannan may slow the aging process according to a study by Peng et al (1994 and 1995). Read the entire article | Email this article

A product called CM3 Alginate, which is highly cross-linked cellulose, is being sold as a weight loss product. A new study from Germany reveals that it does not work.

"In obese subjects, acute administration of the weight-loss supplement CM3 does not delay gastric emptying and does not influence subjective appetite sensations." Read the entire article | Email this article

People given 120 mg of glucomannan plus 120 mg of guar gum before meals and who were on a 1200 calorie per day diet lost an average of 9 pounds in five weeks compared to 4.6 pounds for those given a placebo, a difference of 4.4 pounds, according to a study from the University of Tromso in Tromso, Norway. Read the entire article | Email this article

Women given 340 mg of glucomannan before meals and who were on a 1200 calorie per day diet lost an average of 8.4 pounds in five weeks compared to 5.5 pounds for those given a placebo, a difference of 2.9 pounds, according to a study from the University of Tromso in Tromso, Norway. Read the entire article | Email this article

People given 1.5 grams (1,500 mg) of glucomannan immediately before breakfast and dinner, lost an average of 4.8 pounds after one month and 8.4 pounds after two months according to another study (Biancardi et al, 1989).
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Patients given a glucomannan supplement lost an average of 5.5 pounds in two months compared to a weight gain of 1.5 pounds for those given a placebo according to one study. Read the entire article | Email this article

Patients lost an average of 5.1 pounds in six weeks taking a combination of glucomannan, chitosan, fenugreek, Gymnema sylvestre and vitamin C before compared to no weight loss for those taking a placebo according to a study by Woodgate and Conquer (2003). Glucomannan is a gel-forming fiber that is similar to guar gum. Read the entire article | Email this article

Guar gum, along with glucomannan, appears to be the most effective fibers at causing weight loss. Read the entire article | Email this article

Women taking guar gum to lower cholesterol, lost 5.5 pounds in four months compared to 0.9 pounds for those taking a placebo. Read the entire article | Email this article

People taking guar gum or wheat bran on alternating weeks before lunch and dinner, lost an average of 15.6 pounds after 2.5 months.

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One obese patient taking 10 grams of guar gum twice a day lost 136.4 pounds after one year. The other six people taking the same amount of guar gum lost an average of 49.5 pounds. Read the entire article | Email this article

Women taking 10 grams of the dietary fiber guar gum immediately before lunch and dinner lost 9.4 pounds in two months according to a 1984 study. Read the entire article | Email this article

GLUCOMANNAN ADDED TO A NORMAL CALORIE DIET caused as much weight loss as a low calorie diet according a recent study. Read the entire article | Email this article