Those who believe in the powers of natural medicine are celebrating a victory.
The federal government will invest millions of dollars in a research project to see if natural substances can successfully treat arthritis.
There is also private funding for a similar study on cancer.
And much of that research may very well take place at the University of Utah. Science Specialist Ed Yeates reports.
The Department of Rheumatology at the U. is actually applying for the $6-million grant. If it gets it, the medical center here would manage a national research project involving more than 800 patients in selected hospitals around the country.
Therapists at the University of Utah stimulate Ann David's nerves with electricity.
Following surgery, her arthritic hand stretches with each electrical charge.
Ann is a professional pianist but arthritis now makes it not only difficult - but painful to play.
She says, "You're dealing with two things all the time. You're dealing with pain. But even during the time when you don't have pain, you're dealing with the fact that if it's active, it's still destroying joints."
But could this natural food supplement called Glucosamine -- which comes from the shells of sea life -- relieve not only the pain - but also restore tissue in joints destroyed by the disease.
Daniel Clegg, M.D., says, "It's sort of the building block of cartilage. It's a special kind of sugar which forms cartilage."
Hundreds of patients say Glucosamine works. But so far, it's all observational. Nobody has completed a double blind scientific study to prove the claims.
But NIH is willing to spend big bucks now to do just that.
Among 800 patients, some will get a placebo. Some will get glucosamine alone. And others - glucosamine combined with Chondroitin - another natural compound.
Researchers will avoid over-the-the counter products, using assayed compounds manufactured with guaranteed dosages.
"There are studies which show that the amount of glucosamine in any given tablet or batch can vary as much as 40 percent."
Like other arthritis patients, Ann David hopes the study proves out.
"Anything natural that you can do, you want-- better than having to take so many medications," she says.
Meanwhile - in Medicinal Chemistry - Dr. Jeanette Roberts will use a $32,000 grant from the Cancer Research Foundation to find out if another natural product prevents some forms of cancer.
It's called selenium.
Dr. Roberts explains, "It appears that levels at least five or seven fold higher than nutritional values appear to be required for cancer chemoprevention."
Too much selenium is poisonous. Too little has no effect on cancers. Her challenge - find the correct amount.
While over-the-counter food supplements won't be involved in either study, C.E.O.'s like Tom Mower at Neway in Salem, Utah say the industry welcomes this third party independent research.
Dr. Robert's group is also researching green tea and soy for other possible anti-cancer compounds.
Again, in scientific circles, nothing at this point is proven yet.
