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Patients with low vitamin D levels

Functional Medicine — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:20:00 GMT

Question

I have had a rash of patients coming in lately telling me there MD told them they have dangerously low D3 levels. What's going on? Is there a new test or new drug they are pushing? This is Tucson, we have at least 352 days of sunshine a year and our food quality is good, so what is going on? Most of these people are active, healthy people and it is both men and women. The sudden onset of so many people with low D3 levels seems questionable. Your thoughts?

Answer

Very good question indeed!

Vitamin D3 comes from two sources, sun and diet. So the pro-vitamin D3 (7-cholecalciferol) is converted to Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) by thermal energy and direct sunlight in the skin. Then both are converted in the liver by D25 Hydroxylase to 25 - hydroxy D3, it is further converted in the kidney from the 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1-alpha hydroxylase to 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3. This final conversion is into the bioactive form.

So there are 6 major answers:

1. Could be not enough direct sunlight. RX - 15 minutes in direct sun light every day between 10 am and 2 pm with no lotions or sunscreens.

2. Could be aggravated by poor dietary intake. RX - Eat wild caught fatty fish at least 3 times a week in place of beef or chicken.

3. Could be decreased by direct liver congestion. RX - Check liver enzymes, ultrasound for fatty liver (NAFLD/ NASH), detox the liver through herbs, water, exercise. Lots of meds, especially acetaminophen kill the liver, these medications will adversely affect the liver function in converting vitamin d3.

4. Could be decreased by direct kidney deterioration. RX - Check kidney function test, urinalysis, detox the kidney, take kidney glandulars, 1/2 body weight in ounces of water, exercise, herbs. Lots of meds, especially aspirin and ibuprofen kill the infrastructure of the kidney, these medications will adversely affect the kidney function in converting vitamin D 3 to the active form.

5. Besides poor vitamin D malabsorption, consider increased catabolism via medications or just an increased loss through nephrotic syndrome.

6. Electrolyte imbalance - Hypoparathyroidism, hypomagnesemia, hyperphosphatemia, pseudohypoparathyroidism, hypercalcemia (think malignancy) will also cause insufficient amounts of 1,25. These can be checked through some basic lab work.

I would look closely at the gut and liver. They are seeing NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease leading to cirrhosis) in liver biopsies of preteen children. We are now able to destroy the liver through our diet so much faster than alcoholics. Because of this, all processes that are catabolized or anabolized in the liver will be impaired. In this case, vitamin D.

I hope that helps.

This is why the functional medicine is so much different than clinical nutrition. Low vitamin D? Just give them more D without ever asking the most basic question, "What changed to allow for impaired Vitamin D conversion in so many patients?".

Patrick

Dr. Patrick Garrett
President / CEO
Intelligent Designs, LLC
Natural Medicine Seminars
Discount Lab Work
316-283-5708

American Board of Functional Medicine, Diplomate Functional Medicine / Nutrition
American Association of Integrative Medicine, Diplomate in Clinical Nutrition
Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Association, Member
American Association of Integrative Medicine, Member
American Academy of Functional Medicine, Chairman of the Board of Directors
American Board of Functional Medicine, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Should I give iron if patient has anemia but normal iron levels?

Functional Medicine — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:51:00 GMT

Question

I have a young patient with anemia, I have started giving him iron supplements and probiotics, but the labs show normal iron, normal MCV, normal tibc, ferritin, and transferrin. He also has a positive ASO titre. Any thoughts?

Answer

You wouldn't believe how many times doctors have asked me this same question. The main concern is over the proper differential breakdown for anemia.

Anemia is diagnosed by lab work NOT SYMPTOMS (not a good idea).

There are many different causes of anemia that do not include iron, so it is important to know how map it out. This is one of the first things that I learned in internal medicine rounds and it has served me well.

1st Does the patient have anemia? Female Hemoglobin (not RBC) < 12.5 g/dl // Males <13.5 g/dl

If yes, What is the size of the red blood cell (MCV)?

Less than 80; The most common cause is iron deficiency (60%), then anemia of chronic disease (30%), Thalassemia and Sideroblastic.

Between 80-100; you will need to follow up with a reticulocyte count.

Normal tic% <2 could be acute blood loss <7 days, Anemia of chronic disease (70%), early iron deficiency anemia, malignancy, renal disease, and aplastic anemia.

High tic% >3% relates to 5 defects and 1 acute blood loss <7 days.

MCV of >100 points to folate deficiency (Most common), B12 deficiency, alcoholism, hypothyroidism, aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and chemotherapy. You may be able to assume acetominophen consumption and high glycemic / fatty diet would also impair the liver to cause this.

So this patient has normocytic anemia that is obviously not iron deficiency. You are going to have to do a reticuloctye count. asap. You also have to d/c the iron supplementation.

My initial clinical insight would be that the patient may have the beginnings of anemia caused by chronic infection due to the positive ASO. Because the ASO is positive, this is most likely not an acute infection but has been brewing. You can kill the strep bacteria with many herbs, foods, and silver.

I hope that helps.

Patrick

Boy with High B12

Functional Medicine — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:50:22 GMT

Question

I have a 12 year old male patient with high B12 levels, any thoughts?

Answer

To get B12 in our diets, most doctors think we have to consume meat, yet it is actually our good bacteria (probiotics) that make B12 as it converts B vitamins for us to absorb.

My clinical insight would be that the patient is young, so he has probably taken antibiotics in the recent past, his diet is probably high glycemic and thus has created what is called Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SBBO). Too many bacteria, making too much B12, which is readily absorbent.

I have seen similar cases like this before and this is one of the topics that I lectured on during the Functional Approaches to Gastroenterology CD in 2010.

So have the patient take a SBBO test where they consume a form of sugar, usually D-xylose and then breath out into these lab bags for analysis.

The gut bacteria need to be restored. Widest variety of strains of bacteria, not just lacto and bifido, water, exercise, and you may want to consider a natural antibiotic (food / herbs) to kill bad bacteria and yeast.

Also D/C the B12 supplements that you are giving.

Patrick

Low Omega 3 levels

Functional Medicine — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:57:00 GMT

Question

You almost stumped me with this one.

An athlete, baseball player, they did some good blood tests on him and said he still doesn't have enough omega 3. He's been taking Dr. Murphy's NW Complete Omega 3 essentials every day. And these people, lucky ducks, grew up in Alaska and he grew up on salmon and halibut and moose meat. So do you know why the omega 3 would be low? Could it be that there is too much omega 6 and that makes the omega 3 level low??

Answer

So you were right on the money. I had to take a look at the biochemistry. Synthesis of omega 3 directly competes with omega 6. While they used to eat high omega 3 foods prior, they might be like most Americans and consuming a 40:1 ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 diet. This of course means a lot more inflammation and health risks.

Food companies switched from omega 3 oils because they had a shorter shelf life (3 months) than omega 6 oils (like corn oil). Companies make more money, customers can buy larger quantities of oil, but at the cellular level, the body is constantly inflamed.

I would suggest having him identify any food sources of omega 6 that his family are consuming and switch to omega 3.

Uncooked - olive oil, avacado oil, etc... (No butter or margarine - just use olive oil)

Only cook with olive oil, smoke point 350 degrees.

Only fry with avacado oil, smoke point 500 degrees.
Both are very stable below their smoke points and are very healthy.

Introduce or increase these high omega 3 foods

Fatty fish (no more than 3 times per week - never farm raised!)

chia seeds

kiwi

flax seeds (must be ground)

lingonberry

black raspberry

Hemp milk

walnuts

pecans

hazel nuts

Avoid

Meat - beef, chicken, pork only once per month. Wild game is preferred like deer or elk.

No salad dressings except - olive oil and vinegar. Both are super healthy, anti-inflammatories.

Remember that the only reason that fish have good omega 3 is because they eat plants high in omega 3. So if given the choice introduce large amounts of vegetables, nuts and seeds that are rich in omega 3 into the diet.

I hope that helps.

Patrick

Calcium for nursing?

Functional Medicine — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:07:00 GMT

Question:

Dear Doc

She asked me and I said would ask you. Aren't you the lucky one. She is the one who they thought was underweight, etc. Could the mother not be getting enough calcium and, therefore, not giving enough to baby? From being a Mom myself, I don't think so - the baby saps every ounce out of you.

She is now taking one half of a Total Children's Chewable per day. Okay with you?

All the best to you and yours,

Sincerely,

Answer:

Good question.

This is similar to another question that I often get "If my calcium levels are normal, do I need to take a calcium supplement?"

OK, so calcium is one of the many electrolytes in the blood that is tightly regulated through homeostasis. Calcium is required for every muscle fiber movement and every brain transmission. Too much in your bloodstream can cause you to have a heart attack and too little can cause you to heart failure. This means that your blood will steal calcium from your bones and gut to ensure it has enough to run these important functions. A person with a normal calcium blood level but poor calcium intake (through calcium rich foods) will ultimately have significant osteoporosis.

So what about mom's milk? There used to be an old wives' tale (back in the old days) that a woman will loose one tooth per child. This is because the baby steals the calcium from the mom during pregnancy and nursing.

If mom is using calcium to run most aspects of her own body and dumping 5.9 mg with every nursing event, obviously mom needs more calcium. Human milk averages 200-340 mg/liter or 5.9-10.1 mg/oz calcium [Hamosh 1991, Riordan & Auerbach 1999].

Here are some considerations:

Diet high in calcium - Eat foods high in calcium and let the body decide on the dosage.

Supplement calcium - Studies show that calcium folate absorbs 80%, calcium citrate absorbs 66%, while calcium carbonate absorbs only 22%. Mom needs 1000 to 1500 mg every day. What is she getting through diet and what does she need to supplement?

Food high in Calcium (it is important to stay away from dairy as much as possible)

Food Calcium (mg) per serving Soy beverage, calcium-fortified, 8 ounces 80-500 Tofu, processed with calcium sulfate 200-330 Orange juice, calcium-fortified, 6 ounces 200-260 Ready-to-eat cereal, calcium-fortified, 1 cup 100-1,000 Broccoli, cooked 94 Almonds 89 Almond butter 86 Tofu, processed with nigari 80-230 Soy milk, commercial, plain 80 Blackstrap molasses 400 Collard greens, cooked 357 Sardines, canned in oil, with bones, 3 ounces 324 Cheddar cheese, 1.5 ounces 306 Calcium-fortified orange juice 300 Mozzarella, part skim, 1.5 ounces 275 Turnip greens, cooked 249 Tempeh 215 Salmon, pink, canned, solids with bone, 3 ounces 181 Kale, cooked 179 Soybeans, cooked 175 Okra, cooked 172 Bok choy, cooked 158 Mustard greens, cooked 152 Tahini 128 Spinach, cooked, ½ cup 120 Turnip greens, boiled, ½ cup 99 Kale, cooked, 1 cup 94 Kale, raw, 1 cup 90 Chinese cabbage, raw, 1 cup 74 Tortilla, flour, ready-to-bake/fry, one 6" diameter 37 Broccoli, raw, ½ cup 21 Bread, whole-wheat, 1 slice 20 Age Daily Calcium Intake (mg) 0-6 month 210 7-12 month 270 1-3 year 500 4-8 year 800 9-18 year 1300 19-50 year 1500 Over 50 year 1500

Caveats -

You can get all the calcium you need without ever using dairy!

Also try to avoid calcium fortified foods - try to eat foods that already contain calcium; they will absorb the best.

For supplements, calcium absorptions requires 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium, 600 to 800 IU vitamin D, and an acidic stomach. (NO TUMS)

Look at medications that interfere with calcium absorption

antacids
cholesterol drugs
laxatives
birth control pills
antibiotics
diuretics
pain drugs
anti-inflammatory drugs
anticonvulsants drugs
anti-cancer drugs

Also calcium enters through the mouth but only absorbs if the gut is healthy, so ensure there is a good variety of gut bacteria (probiotics).

Let me know your thoughts,

In Health,

Patrick

The Price of Chronic Illness

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:18:00 GMT

Chronic illness- all time high

Chronic diseases are the most devastating problems Americans face today. As our lifestyles change so does our health. Today, over 50 million Americans suffer from auto immune disease. 1 out of every 3 people will die of cancer while 1 our to 2 will die of heart attacks. It is has been estimated that of all the children born in 2000, 1/3 will develop diabetes. Even adult onset diabetes (type 2) is occurring as young as 8 years old. In recent years mental health conditions such as ADD/ ADHD, Autism and depression are increasing at alarming levels each year.

Why is does this matter?

Look around your home, your job, your church and do the math. The majority will be lost. tragically to these diseases.

The price of illness - disease

Rising cost of healthcare went from $1,067 to nearly ~$6,000 in a matter of only 25 years! Surpassing inflation and salaries increases.

We pay more than ever so we must have better health, right?

Sadly no, We spend the most on health but have some of the poorest health in the world. How does that work. We are not getting returns on our investments. We have the Enron of healthcare systems!

Health Vs. Disease: Pay now or pay later.

As Americans demand better health a new concept has swept the country: wellness. Investing in your health to prevent or prolong the financial and emotional devastation that disease breeds. Wellness is the new trillion dollar industry. While pharmaceutical companies and hospitals make huge financial gains off our illness and diseases, pioneers are presenting the concept of living longer and healthier by investing now in your health. Research has proven that it is by far cheaper to prevent illness than to treat it. Wellness is not a vitamin or an exercise, wellness is a lifestyle, a process where we limit bad things and encourage the good things.

Dr. Patrick Garrett

President / CEO
Intelligent Designs, LLC
Natural Medicine Seminars
Discount Lab Work
316-283-5708

American Board of Functional Medicine, Diplomate Functional Medicine / Nutrition
American Association of Integrative Medicine, Diplomate in Clinical Nutrition
Harvard Medical School Postgraduate Association, Member
American Association of Integrative Medicine, Member
American Academy of Functional Medicine, Chairman of the Board of Directors
American Board of Functional Medicine, Chairman of the Board of Directors

Toxic Facts

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:17:00 GMT

Toxic facts

Over 4 Million chemicals have been reported since 1965.

3,000 have been intentionally added to our food supplies and more than 700 have been added to our water.

The National Academy of Sciences says that most Americans ingests 40 mg of pesticides from food sources alone.

Toxins are stored in the fat of animals and humans.

70% of our brain is made of fat

The EPA has found that airborne chemical levels in homes were up to 100 times higher than outside air

Out of the 17,000, 70% have not been adequately tested for negative health effects

70,000 synthetic chemicals are in commercial use with 2000 new chemicals added every year

Almost 10 years ago, 6.5 trillions pounds of chemicals were used by industries

Almost 6 years ago, these industries dumped 7.1 billion pounds of chemicals into our air and water

Most Americans spend 90% of their time indoors

EPA 5 year study, over 400 toxic chemical residuals have been identified in human blood and fat

Bio-accumulation studies have shown that some toxins store for life in our bodies

EPA, toxic metals are the 2^nd worst environmental helath problem in the United states

Adult Health Concerns

American Cancer Society, In the last 100 years, cancer rates have gone from 1 in 8000 to 1 in 2

Toronto Indoor Air Conference, Women who work at home are at a 54% higher rate of cancer

Over 80% of adults and 90% of children in US have residues of one or more harmful pesticides in their bodies

California Air Board, Diesel soot accounts for 70% of the cancer risk from toxic air pollution

Institute of Medicine, 1 in 5 Americans suffer from allergic rhinitis

1 in 9 Americans suffer from allergy related sinusitis

1 in 10 Americans suffer from allergy related asthma

1 in 11 Americans suffer from allergic dermatitis

1 in 100 Americans suffer from serious chronic allergic diseases

Journal of American Medicine, constant exposure to toxic chemicals in our food, air, and water have been shown to lower our threshold of resistance to diseases and alter our metabolism, causing enzyme dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies and hormone imbalances.

Journal of American Medicine, the incidence of respiratory infection is 45% higher among occupants of a new building than those in an older building

Research shows that male and female infertility is on the rise and pesticides are a viable cause

Allergic reaction to “sick” indoor environmentals account for more than 10 million workdays missed by US employees every year

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, 50% of illness are aggravated by polluted indoor air

Cancer Prevention Coalition, over 15% of Americans suffer from chemical sensitivity

Environmental Health Perspective, Many toxins resemble hormones and cause disease like: infertility, fatigue, depression, mood swings, memory loss, endometriosis, and loss of sex drive

State of Massachutes Study, 50% of all illness is due to poor indoor air quality

National Institue of Health, Due to the toxic buildup in our bodies of formaldhyde, dead bodies are not decomposing as fast as they used to

EPA, found residues of PCBs, styrene, and dioxins in 100% of fat biopsies

Only 10-20% of cancers are attributed to genetic inheritance

80-90% of cancers are attributed to environmental causes

90% of autoimmune diagnosis are women

10% of women of childbearing age have infertility

Health risks: ADD, infertility, asthma, allergies, autism, breast cancer, endometriosis, Alzeheimer’s, Parkinson’s, nervous disorders, emphysema, congestion, burning eyes, headaches, burning/ tingling, muscle aches, irritability, mental confusion, uncooordination, hyperactivity

Toxic Products

Within 26 seconds after exposure to chemicals such as cleaning products, traces of these chemicals can be found in every organ of our body.

American Journal of Public Health, we absorb damaging amounts of chlorine and chloroform through our skin while showering with city water

Percholrate is a thryoid hormone disrupter found in common household fertilizers

EPA, Toxic chemicals in household cleaners are 3 times more likely to cause cancer than air pollution

Physicians for Social Responsibility, Petrochemical cleaning products are easily absorbed into the skin and into the blood stream.

Indoor household chemicals place a family at risk for nervous system damage, kidney damage, liver damage and asthma

Cancer Prevention Coalition, over 20 % of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma cancers among women were attributed to their use of hair dyes

Cancer Prevention Coalition, Not a single cosmetic company warns consumers of the presence of carinogens in its products, despite the number of common cosmetic ingredients that are carcinogenic or carcinogenic precursors

Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Risk for childhood leukemia increases by 4 to 7 times, ages 10 and under, whose parents use home/ garden pesticides

Dove Beauty Bar has formaldehyde which is a carcinogen

Johnson’s Baby Shampoo contains FD&C Red 40 which is a carcinogenic

Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste contains Saccharin which is carcinogenic

Tide or Cheer laundry detergent contains Thisodium Nitrilotriacetate which is carcinogenic, the power contains fiberglass too.

Fantastic 409 and Windex contain Butyl Cellosolve which is a neurotoxin

Lysol Disinfectant has Dioxins which is not only a carcinogen but is 500,000 times more deadly than DDT

Products at risk: shampoo, toothpaste, shaving cream, laundry soap, household cleaners, dish soap

It may take over a year to eliminate the unhealthy effects of spraying 2 ounces of dissinfectants, even in heavy cross ventilation

US House of Representatives report, Of the chemicals found in personal care products:

884 are toxic

146 cause tumors

218 cause reproductive complications

314 cause biological mutations

376 cause skin or eye irritation

Over the last 20 – 30 years, more toxic chemicals have been introduced in greater amounts, the level of toxins stored in our fat tissue has risen

Consumer Product Safety Commission has identified 150 chemical linked to allergies, migraines, birth defects, cancer, psychological abnormalities and high blood pressure.

National Research Council states that no toxic information is labled on 80% of the chemicals in everyday use products. Only 1% are required to be listed on the labels, because companies classify their toxic formulas at “trade secrets”

New carpet and padding will emit formaldehyde fumes for up to five years

Childhood Toxic Effects

Nearly 5 million children suffer from asthma, this has increased 256% in the last 25 years

Childhood cancers rates, such as leukemia and brain cancers, have increased consistently

1 out of every 28 babies are born with a birth defect, with birth defect being the primary cause of mortality.

More than 1 million children have irreversible nerve damage due to lead

ADHD increased by 90% since 1989

Brain cancers in children is up 40% in the last 20 years

Asthma is the #1 cause of absenteeism in school

30 years ago, the 3 major childhood illnesses were chickenpox, measles, and mumps; Now it is asthma, ADD and cancer

Children are a greater risk for toxic accumulation effects because they are smaller in size and weight

Medical reports, conventional cleaning chemicals are neurotoxins which may impair a child’s developmental and learning abilities

1 in every 400 Americans can expect to get cancer before the age of 15

Girls in the US are entering puberty at earlier ages

Greater amounts are being stored at younger ages

Disease that used to occur in older age are now appearing more in younger ages

Zinc

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:08:00 GMT

Zinc

Recommended Daily Allowance: (FDA) 15 mg for adults, pregnant, and lactating women.

Physiological Effects: A component of insulin found in many enzymes. Aids in manufacturing of nucleic acids. Important in growth and development of reproductive organs. Maintains normal prosthetic function. Is an extremely important element for stimulating immune systems. Important to the absorption and action of vitamins and phosphorus. Maintains body's acid-alkaline balance, reduces cholesterol deposits.

Deficiency Disorders: Retarded growth and fatigue. Prolonged healing of wounds. Potentates diabetes. Loss of smell and taste. Acne. Prosthetic problems, anorexia.

Natural Sources: Seafoods, Brewers yeast, sunflower seeds, organ meats, soybeans, liver, milk, nuts.

Synergistic Substances: Vitamin A, calcium, copper, and phosphorus.

Antagonistic Substances: Lack of phosphorus, excess of copper, cadmium, oral contraceptives, Orasone, Prednisone, Sterazolidin, alcohol, excessive consumption of calcium.

Vanadium

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:08:00 GMT

Vanadium

Recommended Daily Allowance: Not established

Physiological Effects: Inhibits cholesterol formation in blood vessels and the nervous system, essential for normal growth and mineralization.

Deficiency Disorders: Increased cholesterol formation in blood vessels and central nervous system. Delayed sexual development and sterility.

Natural Sources: Seafood, especially sardines and herring.

Synergistic Substances: None known.

Antagonistic Substances: None known.

Tin

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:07:00 GMT

Tin

Recommended Daily Allowance: Not established

Physiological Effects: Necessary growth and tooth development factor.

Deficiency Disorders: Widely distributed in trace amounts making deficiencies unlikely.

Natural Sources: Found in both plant and animals.

Synergistic Substances: None known.

Antagonistic Substances: None known.

Sulfur

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:06:00 GMT

Sulfur

Recommended Daily Allowance: None established. The RDA of protein provides sufficient amount of sulfur.

Physiological Effects: Constituent of amino acids, hormones, vitamins, lipids, and enzymes. Aids in secretion of bile.

Deficiency Disorders: Anemia, hypoproteinemia, inhibition of hair growth.

Natural Sources: Liver and other meats, fish, cabbage, brussel sprouts, dried beans.

Synergistic Substances: B complex vitamins.

Antagonistic Substances: None known.

Sodium

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:05:00 GMT

Sodium

Recommended Daily Allowance: None, average daily intake is 3-7 grams.

Physiological Effects: Helps regulate osmotic pressure, acid/base balance, and water balance. Along with potassium, it is involved in muscular contractions and expansions and nerve stimulation. Aids solubility of the body minerals. Necessary for HCl production. Acts with chlorine to improve blood and lymph. Involved with carbon dioxide excretion.

Deficiency Disorders: Headaches, muscular cramps, weakness, collapse of blood vessels, loss of appetite, intestinal gas, and neuralgia.

Natural Sources: Table salt, seafoods, carrots, butter, cheese, bread, beets, poultry, kelp, and meat.

Synergistic Substances: Chlorine, Vitamins D and K, potassium.

Antagonistic Substances: Lack of chlorine or potassium, Colbenemid, Calcidrine.

Silicon

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:04:00 GMT

Silicon

Recommended Daily Allowance: Not established

Physiological Effects: Needed for normal growth and bone development. A factor in aging, wound healing, and heart disease.

Deficiency Disorders: Because of abundance, deficiencies are unlikely.

Natural Sources: Most abundant mineral upon the earth. Natural foods are good sources.

Synergistic Substances: None known.

Antagonistic Substances: None known.

Selenium

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:03:00 GMT

Selenium

Recommended Daily Allowance: 50 mcg

Physiological Effects: Aids Vitamin E. Protects internal fats from oxidation. Recent research has shown anti-cancer properties. Preserves tissue elasticity and antibody formation. Aids protein metabolism. Needed for the synthesis of coenzyme Q, which increases the body's resistance to infectious diseases, hypertension, heart disease, malignancies and gum disorders. Selenium is an antioxidant. Is a component of the enzyme glutathione perioxidase, which is important to the blood vessels and heart. Neutralize is heavy metal pollutants (mercury, cadmium, silver, and lead).

Deficiency Disorders: Cancer, Cystic Fibrosis, premature aging, Kwashiorkor disease, heart disease, pancreatic problems.

Natural Sources: Bran, wheat germ, tuna fish, lobster, broccoli, bunnies, tomatoes, eggs, whole grain.

Synergistic Substances: Proteins, Vitamin E.

Antagonistic Substances: Mercury, cadmium, silver, arsenic, sulfate, food processing.

Potassium

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:01:00 GMT

Potassium

Recommended Daily Allowance: None but thought to be 2000-6000 mg for adequate intake.

Physiological Effects: Vital for nervous stimulation of the heart. Acts in sodium-potassium intracellular fluid balance. Helps maintaining normal pH. Regulates kidney functions. Assist in converting glucose to glycogen. Necessary for adrenal functions. Assist in oxygen transport to the brain.

Deficiency Disorders: Low blood sugar, irregular heartbeat, respiratory failure, muscle weakness and paralysis, indigestion and flatulence.

Natural Sources: Bananas, lettuce, lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, unsalted nuts, grains, orange juice, sunflower seeds, olives, cheese.

Synergistic Substances: Vitamin B6 and sodium.

Antagonistic Substances: Diuretics, cortisone, dehydration, Digitalis, insulin, penicillin, Amphopen, stress, surgery, excessive hard work, Aldyctazide, Colbenemid, alcohol, Sterazolidin, coffee, laxatives, Diucil, excessive sodium consumption, salt, sugar, Diuril, Aldactone, Orasone, Prednisone.

Phosphorus

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:00:00 GMT

Phosphorus

Recommended Daily Allowance: (FDA) 500 mg for infants.

1000 mg for adults.

1300 mg for pregnant and lactating women.

Physiological Effects: Aids calcium in normal dental and bony physiology. Aids in maintaining normal blood pH. Constituent of nucleoproteins. Utilized in kidney and nerve functions. A part of phospholipids, of enzymes and carbohydrate metabolism. Part of myelin sheath of nerves. Normal body balance is 1 part phosphorus to 2-1/2-part calcium. Stimulates muscle contraction. Promotes hormonal secretions. Plays a part in almost every chemical reaction in the body. Aids utilization of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for growth, repair, and maintenance of cells and for the production of energy. Important for heart regularity.

Deficiency Disorders: Anorexia, loss of weight, irregular breeding, pyorrhea, physical and mental fatigue, obesity.

Natural Sources: Meat, seafoods, poultry, eggs, dairy products, vegetables, cereals, nuts, bone meal, wheat germ, seeds.

Synergistic Substances: Vitamin A and D, fatty acids, calcium, iron, manganese and protein.

Antagonistic Substances: Sugar, aluminum, iron, milk of magnesium and other antacids, excessive consumption of sugar.

Nickel

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:58:00 GMT

Nickel

Recommended Daily Allowance: None established.

Physiological Effects: Activates several enzyme systems. Highly concentrated in the RNA. Nickel is an essential mineral but its application in human nutrition is unknown.

Deficiency Disorders

Natural Sources: Vegetables

Synergistic Substances: None known.

Antagonistic Substances: None known.

Molybdenum

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:56:00 GMT

Molybdenum

Recommended Daily Allowance: Widely distributed in commonly used foods. None established but minute amounts found in the body.

Physiological Effects: Constituent of certain oxidative enzymes. May help prevent anemia. Aids in carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

Deficiency Disorders: Anemia and premature aging.

Natural Sources: Cereal grains, organ meats, yeast, milk, liver, legumes.

Synergistic Substances: None known.

Antagonistic Substances: None known.

Manganese

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:55:00 GMT

Manganese

Recommended Daily Allowance: 2.5-5 mg

Physiological Effects: Aids in glucose metabolism, fat synthesis, and metabolism. Synthesis of cholesterol. Enzyme activator. Needed for skeletal development. Maintains sex hormone production. Plays a part in protein, carbohydrates and fat production. Involved in blood formation. Involved in production of nucleic acids and cartilage.

Deficiency Disorders: Weak ligaments and muscular incoordinations, vertigo, blindness and deafness in infants, diabetes, possible etiological factors in multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, allergies, and epileptic seizures, fatigue.

Natural Sources: Organ meats, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, nuts, pineapples, egg yokes, bran, wheat germ, seeds, legumes.

Synergistic Substances: Vitamins B and D, calcium and phosphorus.

Antagonistic Substances: Excessive intake of calcium, phosphorus, and iron.

Magnesium

Functional Medicine — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:54:00 GMT

Magnesium

Recommended Daily Allowance: (FDA) 70 mg for infants.

400 mg for adults.

450 mg for pregnant and lactating women.

Physiological Effects: Normal bone and tooth metabolism. Acts as a catalyst in relation to calcium, phosphorus, potassium, carbohydrates, fats, and protein metabolism. Helps utilize B complex, C and E in the body. Necessary for proper function of nerves and muscles. May help prevent kidney stones. Aids regulation of body temperature. Aids in conversion of blood sugar to energy. Helps reduce cholesterol. Aids acid/base balance. Nucleic acid formation.

Deficiency Disorders: Heart attacks, atherosclerosis, mineral deposits in soft tissues, nervousness, irregular heartbeat, tics and tremors, seizures and convulsions, lower visual acuity sensitive teeth, irritability. Kidney stones, disturbed calcium metabolism. Lassitude and lethargy. Insomnia and muscle spasms, enuresis (bed wetting).

Natural Sources: Whole grain (unrefined), dolomite, kelp, sea food, nuts, cocoa, fresh green leafy vegetables, soybeans, fits, apricots, dates, corn, apples, almonds, honey, bone meal, bran.

Synergistic Substances: B6, Vitamins C and D, calcium, phosphorus, proteins.

Antagonistic Substances: Sugar, alcohol, diuretics, antidepressant drugs, oral contraceptives, Achromycin, Diupres, Diuril, Sumycin, Tetracin, excessive intake of calcium, excessive high-fat diet.