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The Benicar dose may be adjusted up or down to keep symptoms tolerable but a dose should be taken every  

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The ability to mount an appropriate response to intracellular infection is highly dependent on a competent vitamin D receptor (VDR). [1] When it appears that 1,25(OH)2D is unable to up-regulate the VDR due to microbial activity, another VDR ligand may be able to act as an agonist (an agonist increases the signal transduction activity of a cell when bound to a receptor on that cell) and restore VDR competence. Over 3000 synthetic VDR ligands have been identified but most have no clinical use because of their undue disruption to calcium regulation. [2] A number of non-vitamin D VDR ligands have been identified (curcumin, arachidonic acid, linoleic acid), and lithocolic acid but their usefulness is disputed. [3-7] However, Marshall et. al [8], using computer modeling, found evidence that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) modulate activation of the VDR. In particular, the ARB olmesartan medoxomil (brand name Benicar®) was estimated to have a Ki value in the low nanomolar range, similar to the Ki values of the natural vitamin D ligands.

In the clinical setting, olmesartan is being used off-label as a novel VDR ligand and it appears to function as a VDR agonist. [9] Olmesartan is noted to provoke inflammatory symptoms in patients with autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. This response suggests the expression of endogenous antimicrobials under VDR control. Olmesartan is the only ARB shown to lower angiotensin II (a peptide that's implicated in the inflammatory process). [10, 11] The endogenous VDR ligand 1,25(OH)2D has a similar anti-inflammatory effect in that it represses renin gene expression to down-regulate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and reduce inflammation via the Nuclear Factor-kappa ß (NFk-ß) pathway. [12] VDR and RAAS receptors are distributed in almost the same tissues. Shao et.al [13] found a link between RAAS activity and activation of the VDR:

...the inappropriate stimulation of the RAS has been associated with the pathogenesis of hypertension, heart attack, stroke, and hypertrophy of both the left ventricle and vascular smooth muscle cells. Changes in RAS activity and activation of VDR seem to be inversely related, making it possible to speculate that both systems could have a feedback relationship. [The researchers conclude] the combination of RAS blockade and VDR stimulation appears to be more effective than each one used individually.

This is what olmesartan appears to accomplish (blocking angiotensin II and stimulating the VDR) and is consistent with a theory of VDR incompetence. Hajishengallis et. al [14] concluded that a blockade of hijacked receptors may offer promising options to control infection and associated immunopathology. Although this use of olmesartan is off-label, its safety profile is well established. [15] The multiple beneficial effects of olmesartan, including the ability to correct imbalance in Th subsets, to treat cardiovascular and kidney disease, prevent migraines, and ameliorate ischemic cerebral brain damage, suggest it could play a key role in the resolution of chronic systemic inflammation. [16-20]

References

1. Liu PT, Schenk M, Walker VP, et al. Convergence of IL-1beta and VDR activation pathways in human TLR2/1-induced antimicrobial responses. PLoS One. Jun 2009;4(6):e5810.
2. Carlberg C, Molnar F. Detailed Molecular Understanding of Agonistic and Antagonistic Vitamin D Receptor Ligands. Curr Top Med Chem. 2006;6(12):1243-53.
3. Bartik L, Whitfield GK, Kaczmarska M, et al. Curcumin: a novel nutritionally derived ligand of the vitamin D receptor with implications for colon cancer chemoprevention. J Nutr Biochem. Dec 2010;21(12):1153-61.
4. Haussler M, Haussler C, Bartik L, et al. Vitamin D receptor: molecular signaling and actions of nutritional ligands in disease prevention. Nutr Rev. Oct 2008;66(10 Suppl 2):98-112.
5. Jurutka PW, Bartik L, Whitfield GK, et al. Vitamin D receptor: key roles in bone mineral pathophysiology, molecular mechanism of action, and novel nutritional ligands. J Bone Miner Res2007. 22 Dec(Suppl 2:V):2-10.
6. Ishizawa M, Matsunawa M, Adachi R, et al. Lithocholic acid derivatives act as selective vitamin D receptor modulators without inducing hypercalcemia. J Lipid Res. Apr 2008;49(4).
7. Guo C, Rosoha E, Lowry MB, Borregaard N, Gombard AF. Curcumin induces human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide gene expression through a vitamin D receptor-independent pathway. J Nutr Biochem. May 2013;24(5):754-9.
8. Marshall TG, Lee RE, Marshall FE. Common angiotensin receptor blockers may directly modulate the immune system via VDR, PPAR and CCR2b. Theor Biol Med Model. Jan 2006;3:1.
9. Proal AD, Albert PJ, Marshall TG, Blaney GP, Lindseth LA. Immunostimulation in the treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. Immunol Res. Apr 2013;[published online ahead of print April 11, 2013].
10. Ichikawa S, Takayama Y. Long-term effects of olmesartan, an Ang II receptor antagonist, on blood pressure and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in hypertensive patients. Hypertens Res. Nov 2001(24(6)):641-6.
11. Suzuki Y, Ruiz-Ortega M, Lorenzo O, Ruperez M, Esteban V, Egido J. Inflammation and angiotensin II. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. Jun 2003;35(6):881-900.
12. Li YC, Kong J, Wei M, Chen ZF, Liu SQ, Cao LP. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) is a negative endocrine regulator of the renin-angiotensin system. J Clin Invest. Jul 2002;110(2):229-38.
13. Ferder M, Inserra F, Manucha W, Ferder L. The world pandemic of Vitamin D deficit could possibly be explained by cellular inflammatory response activity induced by the renin angiotensin system. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. Jan 2013.
14. Hajishengallis G, Lambris JD. Microbial manipulation of receptor crosstalk in innate immunity. Nat Rev Immunol. Mar 2011(11(3)):187-200.
15. Schwocho LR, Masonson HN. Pharmacokinetics of CS-866, a new angiotensin II receptor blocker, in healthy subjects. J Clin Pharmacol. May 2001(41(5)):515-527.
16. Shao J1, Nangaku M, Miyata T, et al. Imbalance of T-cell subsets in angiotensin II-infused hypertensive rats with kidney injury. Hypertension. Jul 2003;42(1):31-8.
17. Ferrario C. Effect of angiotensin receptor blockade on endothelial function: focus on olmesartan medoxomil. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2009;5(1):301-14.
18. Yanagi M, Tamura K, Fujikawa T, et al. The angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker olmesartan preferentially improves nocturnal hypertension and proteinuria in chronic kidney disease. Hypertens Res. Mar 2013;36(3):262-9.
19. Charles LA, Jotkowitz S, Byrd LH. Prevention of migraine with olmesartan in patients with hypertension/prehypertension. Headache. Mar 1996;46(3):503-7.
20. Takizawa S, Dan T, Uesugi T, et al. A sartan derivative with a very low angiotensin II receptor affinity ameliorates ischemic cerebral damage. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. Oct 2009;29(10):1665-72.

A 53 year old male, diagnosed with atherosclerosis, sarcoidosis, hypertension and Raynaud's disease, was treated with Inflammation Therapy. He stated "My results were significant and immediate. Many symptoms which had persisted for years began disappearing. The quality of my life has immeasurably improved.  

Please click this link to read his case report.

"I am truly grateful for the support the CIR Forum provides me. I can log on and ask for advice, knowing someone will help me sort things out. CIR and its dedicated staff are high on my list of reasons to be thankful!" ~Cindra