In Defense of Dr. Bland

To My Website Readers: As a bit of background, an interview appeared in a publication called Dynamic Chiropractic between Dr. Doug Andersen and Dr. David Seaman. In it, Dr. Seaman said some things that I didn’t agree with, and I decided to let him know about it. This letter was published in a subsequent issue. Thanks for taking the time to read it.

Letter to the Editor,
 
Once again, as if we haven’t seen enough of petty, infighting between colleagues who should be on the same team, Dr. David Seaman has chosen to make a thinly veiled attack on 2 major players in the field of alternative and/or functional medicine. (Liver Detoxification: Interview with Dr. David Seaman, Part II, Dynamic Chiropractic, June 18, 2001, by Dr. Doug Andersen, DC) Though not mentioned by name, Dr. Seaman emphasized 3 times the uselessness of "a powder containing rice protein, rice syrup solids and vitamins and minerals that gives you what any basic multiple vitamin provides". This is an obvious reference to Dr. Jeff Bland and HealthComm’s (now merged with and called Metagenics) Ultra Clear and Ultra Clear Plus liver detoxification products. Dr. Seaman also states, "I read through all of the articles provided by the main laboratory using this approach, and found that not one article supported their testing claims."This can be assumed as a reference to Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory, the leader in functional testing. Apparently, Dr. Seaman feels that liver detoxification is so complex that only he could be the judge of proper testing procedures and protocols designed to improve liver function.

This tale goes deeper than it appears at the surface. There seems to be a misunderstanding from many years ago that has created a one sided rivalry. I attended a seminar given by Dr. Seaman at Life University in 1995 or 1996 and heard the attack on the Bland products then. The rest of the seminar was brilliant, detailed and one of the best educations in nutrition that any student could receive. I subsequently purchased Dr. Seaman’s books and have his posters in my waiting room. I certainly appreciated the message, but was slightly disappointed by the messenger. I was able to ask Dr. Bland about this a couple years later and he politely refrained from detail, only to say that he heard of the ongoing comments by Dr. Seaman. I learned through others in his organization that there was a miscommunication many years previously that caused Dr. Seaman to feel slighted. It should also be said that in the past, Dr. Seaman has had a relationship with Interplexus, another supplement supplier, though this relationship no longer exists.

Dr. Seaman’s comments about Great Smokies are curious and must be considered in light of his past relationship with Diagnos-Techs, another lab doing unique functional testing, with whom he also has no current relationship. His comments in the Andersen interview suggest that the testing by Great Smokies using aspirin and acetaminophen challenges is inaccurate (GSDL also uses caffeine) and no valid research exists to support findings of fast or slow Phase I or II detoxification pathways. This is in direct opposition to his position in his handbook from 1995, Nutrition and Pain Control and Nutrition for Chiropractic. In his handbook, which promotes Diagnos-Techs and Interplexus throughout, he clearly likes a salivary caffeine clearance test pioneered by Diagnos-Techs in 1988. In an article written for FCA Journal, Winter 1994, Dr. Seaman praises the laboratory director of Diagnos-Techs, Dr. Elias Ilyia and developer of the salivary caffeine clearance test and states that the test, "..offers a high predictive accuracy in assessing cumulative damage or impairment to the functionality of liver cells."He goes on to say, "The therapies associated with most tests involve diet and nutritional supplements."

In the Andersen interview, Dr. Seaman claims that "..not one article even remotely suggested the utility of testing Phase II enzymes in the general patient population."Yet in his handbook he describes in detail the findings of the caffeine clearance test that can identify an increased or decreased Phase II detoxification pathway. Dr. Seaman also states that, "..whether the patient’s P-450 test shows up as either under active or overactive, the same nutritional supplement is typically recommended..), another reference to Ultra Clear. In his handbook, he suggests the use of a cytoprotective supplement called Livit 2, a trademark of Interplexus and Ayush Herbs, with no differentiation as to its use for Phase I or II or for over active or under active findings.Apparently, Dr. Seaman has changed his mind about the efficacy of liver testing and the use of Interplexus products. He certainly has the right to do that; liver testing has always been controversial. I simply take issue with his inflammatory remarks (another possible use for UltraInflamX) regarding people or companies that he ought to be happy to have on his team and the belittling of decisions that other practitioners might make as to how to diagnose, test and treat their patients. We all do things differently in our office. We use our education, experience, standard and non-standard tests and intuition to do the best job we can.

Dr. Seaman challenges, "..if a doctor can provide us with some concrete, nonanecdotal examples of liver detoxification and nutritional therapy, it would be very helpful."If I want to use a liver function test, design a nutritional protocol with any product I chose, retest to show the numbers change and, oh by the way, the patient feels better (anecdotal)…It’s all the patient wants. And each practitioner needs to support his colleagues. Dr. Seaman knows full well that the reason for so many chiropractic techniques is that a chiropractor chooses a technique that suits both the doctor’s personality and the needs of the patient. The same holds true for nutritional therapies. There are studies that show increased liver function using many different protocols, only a few are cited following this article.1-5 Whether it’s glutathione supplementation, glutathione sparing herbs (milk thistle), cytoprotective/ antioxidants, Ayurvedic, homeopathy or dietary change, the liver functions better and the protocol is up to the discretion of the practitioner.

Dr. Seaman, this is getting old. Please stop. Let’s reserve our energy to work together to educate as many people as possible to alternatives to traditional medical care through chiropractic, nutritional therapies and any other protocol. Petty rivalries diminish not only you, but also all of us.

MacIntosh, A., Ball, K. (2000) The effects of a short-term program of detoxification in disease free individuals. Alternative Therapies 6: 70-76.

Miners, J. O., Mackenzie, P.I., (1991) Drug Glucuronidation in Humans. Pharmac. Ther. 51: 347-369

McFadden, S.A., (1996) Phenotypic variation in xenobiotic metabolism and adverse environmental response: focus on sulfur dependent detoxification pathways. Toxicology. 111: 43-65.

Jost, G., Wahllander, A., von Mandach, U., Preisig, (1987) Overnight salivary caffeine clearance: a liver test suitable for routine use. Hepatology. 7(2): 338-344.

Dolara, P., Ludovici, M., Salvadori, M. (1987) Urinary 6-betaOH-cortisol and paracetamol metabolites as a probe for assessing oxidation and conjugation of chemicals. Pharmacol Res Comm 19(4): 261-273.

Published: 6/25/2001