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Wednesday, July 7, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Niacin handles cholesterol numbers If readers would like to contact Dr. Gott, they may write him through your newspaper or send their mail directly to Dr. Gott c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., 4th fl., New York, NY 10016. However, if readers want to request a newsletter, they should write to the Ohio address. DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 75-year-old male who has struggled for years getting my HDL cholesterol up above the minimum desired, even though I was taking over-the-counter non- flushing niacin. My doc- tor then convinced me to take prescription niacin, even though it was the same strength. It is quite expensive, but my HDL jumped from the mid- 20s to the mid-40s. The only difference seems to be an ingredient to pre- vent flushing in the OTC variety. This seems to nullify any value the niacin has, so why does the Food and Drug Administra- tion allow OTC niacin with the antiflushing additive to be sold when it obviously does no good? DEAR READER: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) is often identified as the “good” cholesterol because it helps to keep low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from building in the arteries. High levels of HDL appear to help protect people from coronary artery disease. If your HDL levels were low, the natural place to begin was with appropriate diet and exercise. That is not to imply you are or were overweight. Rather, it refers to eating foods low in cholesterol and avoiding luncheon meats, fried foods, ice cream, cheese and a host of other items. If that failed to pro- duce results, over-the- counter supplements such as niacin, a water- soluble vitamin B3 sup- plement, might be appropriate. OTCs include regular and non- flushing forms. I cannot confirm that the non- flushing type is less effective for everyone in lowering cholesterol levels and raising HDLs than regular niacin, but this often appears to be the case. Now, on to the FDA. In most instances, man- ufacturers are responsi- ble for the safety of a product but are not required to register or Dr. Peter Gott obtain approval before producing or selling dietary supplements. OTC supple- ments don’t even require docu- mentation of efficacy or proof that they will be effective. The contents of OTC prepara- tions of niacin are not federally regulated in the United States. Those marketed as nonflushing may not contain nico- tinic acid and, as such, are likely ineffective. SOME formulations of sustained-release niacin such as Slo-Niacin and perhaps Endur-acin appear to be relatively safe, while other OTC sustained-release niacin formulations have been associated with an increased risk of hepato- toxicity. OTC immedi- ate-release niacin prepa- rations are inexpensive, contain a full amount of free nicotinic acid, and are safer than most sus- tained-release prepara- tions. Sustained-release Niaspan (which you may have been prescribed) is more expensive but appears to be safe, effec- tive and should not cause flushing. Your physician should have informed you that the nonflushing formula- tions don’t work for everyone. When a patient experiences flushing, he or she may be helped by taking one antihistamine or aspirin 15 to 30 minutes before taking niacin. I typically recommend the antihist- amine because aspirin is more likely to interact with some medications, and cause bruising, excessive bleeding and other unwanted side effects. To provide related information, I am send- ing you a copy of my Health Report “Under- standing Cholesterol.” Other readers who would like a copy should send a self- addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 440902-0167. Be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDr- GottMD.com. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.co m. SYDNEY (AP) — A judge ordered Australian band Men at Work on Tuesday to hand over a portion of the royalties from their 1980s hit ‘‘Down Under,’’ after previ- ously ruling its distinctive flute riff was copied from a children’s campfire song. But the penalty — 5 percent of the song’s royalties — was far less than the 60 percent sought by publishing company Lar- rikin Music, which holds the copyright for the song ‘‘Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.’’ ‘‘Kookaburra’’ was written more than 70 years ago by Australian teacher Marion Sin- clair for a Girl Guides competition, and the song about the native Australian bird has been a favorite around campfires from New Zealand to Canada. Sinclair died in 1988, but Larrikin filed a copyright lawsuit last year. In February, Federal Court Justice Peter Jacobson ruled Men at Work had copied their song’s signa- ture flute melody from ‘‘Kookaburra.’’ On Tuesday, Jacobson ordered Men at Work’s recording company, EMI Songs Australia, and ‘‘Down Under’’ songwriters Colin Hay and Ron Strykert, to pay 5 per- cent of royalties earned from the song since 2002 and from its future earnings. A statute of limitations restricted Larrikin from seek- Mom’s micro missives make mischief Dear Annie: Over the years, I have made sever- al major moves around the country and have found that my Facebook account is a great way to keep in touch. However, my dear mother does not seem to understand Face- book etiquette. She com- ments on my page as if each change were direct- ed specifically to her. If a friend posts a mes- sage that is clearly meant for me, Mom will respond before I have a chance to. My friends have stopped leaving me com- ments because they know they will end up having a conversation with my mother. She has even managed to insult a few of them when she disagreed with things they posted on their own pages. She does the same thing to my siblings. I live out of state, but I call Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar ‘‘unfriend’’ Mom. A spokesperson at Facebook said it is possible to set your preferences so that Mom is prevented from seeing specific things. You also can ‘‘hide’’ your wall so no comments are visible to others and make your- self available only through personal mail. Dear Annie: My niece, ‘‘Isla,’’ will be 6 years old soon, and she’s still using a pacifier. Every time I come Mom every week and instant- message her most days, as well. It’s not as if she isn’t up-to-date on my life. I don’t know how to fix this, though, because her feel- ings are easily hurt. — J.C. in Wisconsin Dear J.C.: Your mom thinks she is ever so cool because she communicates with your genera- tion through something as con- temporary as Facebook. It might help to tell her why her behavior has the opposite effect. Then gen- tly explain the best way to use Facebook so her comments are welcome. We’d hate to have you back to visit my family, I pray she has given up the ‘‘passy,’’ but she hasn’t. My mom and I have brought this up numerous times, but my sister claims she isn’t strong enough to take it away from her. Isla knows I hate seeing her with the pacifier, so she hides it from me. I refuse to let her speak to me with this thing in her mouth, and when she’s not around, I secretly dip it in vinegar in the hope that she will dislike the taste of it. I’ve sent my sister articles on the dangers of using a pacifier for long periods of time and also hints on ways to wean my niece off of it. Isla is now starting to show signs of overuse with fre- quent ear infections, but nothing is being done. How do I make my sister understand that taking the easy way out puts my niece at risk? — Anti-Pacifier Uncle Dear Uncle: We agree that Isla is too old to be using a pacifier, and your sister is too lazy to work on it, but we are more upset with you. You have succeeded only in making Isla feel terrible when she is around her uncle. You, too, can find more positive ways to encourage the girl to give up the pacifier by complimenting her when she takes it out of her mouth instead of criticizing and punish- ing her when she doesn’t. And if Isla’s teeth require braces later, that is your sister’s problem. Please be the uncle Isla loves instead of the one she avoids. Dear Annie: As a board-certi- fied behavior analyst and the wife of a chronic ‘‘door left open’’ husband, I have an alternate sug- gestion for ‘‘Help,’’ whose hubby leaves cabinets ajar: Catch him actually closing a door, and as soon as he does (within five sec- onds), give him a really sexy kiss. The next time he closes some- thing, reward him in a similar fashion. Keep this up, and I guar- antee results. More effective than nagging? Yes. She should try it. They may both like it. — BCBA from Con- necticut Dear BCBA: Thanks. Of course, it presupposes that you can actually catch him closing a door. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. BLM seeks members for advisory council The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public nominations for five open positions on its Northwest California Resource Advisory Council, which advises the BLM on public land issues. Nominations are due by July 29. Those who have already submitted nomi- nations in 2010 do not have to provide new nominations. The positions open are in the following cat- egories: • Category One — one 3-year term and one 1-year term open — Public land ranchers and representatives of orga- nizations associated with energy and mineral development, the timber industry, transportation or rights-of-way, off- highway vehicle use, and commercial recre- ation. • Category Two — two open positions — Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmen- tal organizations, archaeological and his- torical organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro inter- ests. • Category Three — one open position — Representatives of state, county, or local elected office; representatives and employees of a state Band penalized for copied riff in hit ing royalties earned before 2002. The court didn’t specify what the 5 per- cent penalty translates to in dollars. ‘‘I consider the figures put forward by Larrikin to be excessive, overreaching and unrealistic,’’ Jacobson wrote in his judg- ment. Mark Bamford, a lawyer for EMI, said the company plans to continue with its appeal of the February ruling. ‘‘The ruling today on quantum is a good result in light of Larrikin’s ’excessive, over- reaching and unrealistic’ claim’’ for a high- er cut of the profits, Bamford said in a state- ment. ‘‘EMI Songs will now focus on its appeal against the broader decision.’’ Adam Simpson, Larrikin Music’s lawyer, said the company had no comment on the ruling, due to the pending appeal. Hay and Strykert were not in court for the decision and couldn’t immediately be reached. ‘‘Down Under’’ and the album it was on, ‘‘Business As Usual,’’ topped the Aus- tralian, American and British charts in early 1983. The song remains an unofficial anthem for Australia and was ranked fourth in a 2001 music industry survey of the best Australian songs. Men at Work won the 1983 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. agency responsible for natural resources man- agement; representatives of Indian Tribes within or adjacent to the RAC’s area of interest; teachers involved in natural sci- ences; and the public-at- large. Nominations should be sent to: Bureau of Land Management, 2950 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA, 96130, attention: RAC nomina- tions. Groups can provide nominations or individu- als can nominate them- selves. Nominations must include a complet- ed nomination form and at least one letter of sup- port. Nominees, who must be California residents, will be judged on the basis of their training, education, and knowl- edge of the council’s geographical area. Nominees should also demonstrate a commit- ment to consensus build- ing and collaborative decision making. Nomination forms are available on the web at http://www.blm.gov/ca/s t/en/info/rac.html or by contacting BLM offices in Arcata, Redding and Ukiah. For further informa- tion, call BLM Public Affairs Officer Jeff Fontana at (530) 252- 5332 or e-mail jfontana@blm.gov. The BLM’s resource advisory councils (RACs), composed of citizens chosen for their expertise in natural resource issues, help the bureau carry out its stewardship of 253 mil- lion acres of public lands. The bureau, which manages more land than any other federal agency, has 24 RACs across the West, where most BLM-managed land is located. The diverse member- ship of each RAC is aimed at achieving a balanced outlook that the BLM needs for its mission, which is to BOOK BARN Used Books Tues-Fri 10-5 Sat 10-2 Serving Tehama County since 1994 619 Oak St., Red Bluff (530) 528-2665 manage the public lands for multiple uses. The Northwest Cali- fornia RAC advises the BLM on issues affecting public land managed by the Arcata, Redding and Ukiah field offices. “I value the advice given to the BLM by these citizen-based resource advisory coun- cils, and I know that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar shares my view of their importance,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey. “The people who live, work, and recreate near or on BLM-man- aged lands deserve a for- mal voice on public land issues, and their input will enhance our agency’s ability to man- age the public lands for multiple uses while con- serving resources for future generations.” COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2995 + cert. Pass or FREE retest 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St.