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(Reviewed by Paul McGlothin)

A quote from the book's preface may help define the intended audience:
"Sincemany of the nutritional aspects of nutritional medicine have not been
included to any significant extent ... in medical school curricula, this
bookhas been written for those who want to delve more deeply into this
subject." While dealing with laboratory testing, the authors give wonderful
explanations of the biochemistry that underlies so many List discussions.

For example, consider the effect of no fat, high carb meals on lipid
profiles. Although, variations of this subject have been discussed many
times on the List, I have never seen a clear explanation of the physiological
processes that make such a meal have a bad effect on lipids. In the
chapter, Fatty Acids, we learn that palmitic acid is the principal product of human
fatty acid synthesis. If someone ingests a simple carb meal with no fat (or
poor quality dietary fat), it results in fatty acid profiles with multiple
elevations of saturated fats, the principal product being palmitic acid. To
illustrate a related problem with simple carb meals, the authors give a
chart that shows clearly how palmitic acid has a linear relationship with serum
triglyceride concentrations. The authors go on to explain that higher
levels of PUFA suppress lipogenesis, which helps lower triglycerides.

But so what, Cronies might say. Having been through List discussions
regarding lipid peroxides, savvy Cronies might wonder how to balance good
fat intake with lipid peroxide production. One can then turn to the chapter on
Oxidant Stress on Aging. Here are methods for measuring lipid peroxide
status, as well as protein and nucleotide oxidation. The chapter then
continues with a discussion of antioxidant nutrients, pointing out the
dangers of single antioxidant supplementation and showing how antioxidant
status must be assessed from a number of perspectives. Tips on reducing
oxidative stress are frequently given.

Molecular Evaluations In Molecular Medicine will be invaluable to many
nonscientist CR practitioners on this list, as Averill and I fall squarely
in that descriptor field although we have for years had an acute interest in
biology and chemistry. The book by no means falls in the category of
patient education or consumer health information in approach. It's serious science
well written and documented.