7 Syndrome Healing: Supplements for the Mind and Body
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About this ebook
Stress Syndrome Metabolic Syndrome Cardiovascular Syndrome Immune Syndrome Malabsorption Syndrome Hormone Syndrome Osteo Syndrome
These seven categories comprise hundreds of health problems in our modern world problems that get worse and cause subsequent illness if left untreated. 7-Syndrome Healing takes you on an in-depth journey that covers more than 130 of the most effective and beneficial dietary supplements on the market today. These vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other products help stop the endless progression of health problems, and they do so in the best way: naturally.
Youll learn the basics of core vitamins, minerals, and other natural compounds that are important to anyone seeking to prevent the seven syndromes and to live a long, healthy life.
Each easy-to read section of 7 Syndrome Healing will help you quickly identify information in the areas of health that interest you and pertain to your unique needs. This complete manual features detailed examinations of the most popular and effective dietary supplements, nutrients, herbs, and other natural alternative remedies, their applications, their history, and their benefits.
Marcia Zimmerman
Marcia Zimmerman is an internationally acclaimed author, educator, and consultant. She holds a California State Life Credential in chemistry, biology and mathematics. As one of the health industry’s most well respected certified nutritionists, Marcia serves as consultant to leading nutrition and supplement companies in the United States and Europe. Her books, which have been translated into seven languages, include the A.D.D. Nutrition Solution, Eat Your Colors, The Anti-Aging Solution, Reverse Aging, and 7-Color Cuisine. Marcia lives in Chico, California with her standard poodle Jordy Z, a registered therapy dog. Visit Marcia on her blog site, www.marciazimmerman.com. Jayson Kroner is a certified sports nutritionist, health and fitness journalist, industry consultant, and online columnist whose work has appeared in a number of national forums. He lives in Oak Park, Illinois. 7- Syndrome Healing is Jayson’s first book.
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7 Syndrome Healing - Marcia Zimmerman
Copyright © 2013 by Marcia Zimmerman
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
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ISBN: 978-1-4759-8125-4 (sc)
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Contents
What is a Syndrome?
Foreword
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER ONE
The Basics of Healthy Living
Quality and Regulation
Why Supplement?
Non-essential Nutrients
What You Will Find in This Chapter
Growth and Differentiation Factors
Nutrients for Building and Maintaining
Nutrients That Regulate Metabolism
Choosing a Multiple Vitamin
CHAPTER TWO
The Stress Syndrome: Mind, Body, Spirit
What You Will Find in This Chapter
Effective Stress Management
Mood and Anxiety
Memory and Attention Span
Age-Related Memory Loss
To Sum it All Up
CHAPTER THREE
The Metabolic Syndrome
What You Will Find in This Chapter
Weight Loss
Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)
Hypoglycemia
To Sum it All Up
CHAPTER FOUR
The Cardiovascular Syndrome
Cardiovascular—a Man’s Disease?
What You Will Find in This Chapter
Step One: Managing Blood Lipids
Step Two: Inflammation and Protecting Arteries
Step Three: Homocysteine Regulators
Step Four: Heart Energetics
Stage Five: Varicose Veins and Restless Legs
Step Six: Peripheral Circulation
To Sum It All Up
CHAPTER FIVE
Immune Syndrome
What You Will Find in This Chapter
Chronic Inflammation and Autoimmunity
Acute Inflammation and Infection
Allergies
Asthma
To Sum It All Up
CHAPTER SIX
The Malabsorption Syndrome
What You Will Find in This Chapter
The Digestive Process
and Malabsorption
Poor Digestion and Leaky Gut
Ulcers, Celiac, and Irritable Bowel
Constipation and Detoxification
To Sum It All Up
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Hormone Syndrome
What You Will Find in This Chapter
Premenstrual Syndrome
Menopause
Andropause and Virility
Prostate Health
Energy and Sleep
To Sum It All Up
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Osteo Syndrome
What You Will Find in This Chapter
Osteo Power
Muscle, Ligament, and Tendon Power
Bone Health
Joint Pain and Osteoarthritis
Joint Injury and Recovery
Bone Thinning
Oral Health
To Sum It All Up
APPENDIX A
Tables
APPENDIX B
References
Dedication
7-Syndrome Healing is dedicated to those who have served the public to help make natural healing something that everyone can understand.
They are the unsung heroes who have fought for the right of consumers to choose more healthful products and dietary supplements to support optimum wellness. They are practitioners who have risked being ostracized by their peers as they recommend dietary change and use of nutritional supplements.
They are the scientists who have worked to explain how dietary supplements work and what they are useful for.
And they are the retailers and manufacturers who have dedicated their lives, and companies, to improve the health of millions.
Because of these dedicated people, we now have the freedom to choose complementary medicine as the best route to long and healthy lives.
This book contains the best of what these people have accomplished.
INTRODUCTION
What is a Syndrome?
Syndrome … It’s a word that we hear frequently. It’s also one that’s often confused as a synonym for other words, such as disease, illness and trauma. In fact the word syndrome has a different nuance entirely. Webster’s defines it as a group of signs and symptoms that occur together to characterize a particular abnormality.
Not every sign or symptom related to sluggish health is indicative of a true syndrome. Unfortunately, too often today we tend to over-generalize and use the term syndrome
almost as a cliché to indicate poor health. From there it follows that we become a little too comfortable asking for a drug of choice to cure
whatever syndrome
we think we’re experiencing.
And that’s where the big mistakes start.
In the business of health and medicine, syndrome is a term that’s used carefully as a way to identify an umbrella of related health challenges that can lead to chronic disease. It’s a particularly appropriate term for this handbook, as we’ve worked hard to examine some of the most common little
things that we notice about our bodies. Many are harmless and may never graduate past embarrassing nuisance levels of worry. But just as many have the potential to snowball and feed off the compromised conditions of other systems. When left unaddressed, this situation can spell biological human disaster.
Regardless of where they rank on the severity scale, it’s the collective accumulation of little things that often leads to the development of a legitimate syndrome. By listening to your body, considering genetic and lifestyle risk factors, and taking appropriate dietary and supplement actions, your chances of experiencing a legitimate health-challenging syndrome will be tremendously decreased.
Of the many points that you’ll want to remember from 7-Syndrome Healing three are key.
First, we wanted to set the standard to identify and describe each of the body’s major biological syndrome categories. This is our modest attempt to eliminate the high redundancy rate that often accompanies the use of the word. For example, high blood pressure is not a syndrome, but rather a condition. By contrast, high blood pressure coupled with irregular heart rate, clogged arteries and chest pain would unquestionably fall under the umbrella of the cardiovascular syndrome—one of seven that we’ll be discussing in great detail throughout the book.
Next, we wanted to paint a clear and accurate picture of the health network that connects within our bodies, as well as to delineate the connection among corresponding major syndromes. As you’ll learn, there is an amazing biological link that defines us. The conditions associated with the stress syndrome, for example, can have a direct impact on cardiovascular, structural and hormonal health. Rarely do we think about it, but some of our most common (and seemingly insignificant) physical anomalies often serve as stepping stones to much more serious conditions.
Finally, we want to enlighten you to the countless measures that can be taken when trying to attain and preserve good health. By this we’re referring to lifestyle adjustments, dietary consciousness, nutrition and supplementation and many others that will be covered in great detail throughout. Because regardless of who you are, where you hail from, and what your life’s work entails, you alone are responsible for improving your health by taking appropriate measures that acknowledge your needs.
7-Syndrome Healing is the result of our shared passion for everything that we now have at our health-seeking disposal. Dietary supplements are more than just pills that line the shelves of health food stores. They’re gifts of immeasurable worth, many of which come to us in a nearly unadulterated fashion from the soil we share. Henry David Thoreau once wrote,
In wildness is the preservation of the World. Every tree sends its fibers forth in search of the Wild. The cities import it at any price. Men plow and sail for it. From the forest and wilderness come the tonics and barks which brace mankind…
Of course, Thoreau penned these words of wisdom at a time when health-seeking individuals didn’t have access to the science and knowledge that we do today, but he makes a good point. We have been blessed with everything we need to become and remain healthy. The primary purpose of 7-Syndrome Healing is to educate you about the specific health benefits of dietary supplements, the potential risks in combining them with medicines, and how to use them effectively and responsibly. You may be one of 46 percent of Americans who use dietary supplements regularly, or one who wants to close the gap between scientific knowledge, accurate information, and the urban myths that surround their use. While easy-to-read and straightforward in style, this book is based in scientific fact. We hope that you’ll find it interesting and helpful and feel assured knowing that our research is extensive. In 7-Syndrome Healing you’ll find information about more than 100 dietary supplements that explains:
• How supplements work within the body.
• Their benefits for seven common syndromes.
• Companion (synergistic) supplements for each.
• Brands to look for.
• Medications that interfere and contraindications for use with medications.
As many Americans will agree, dietary supplements play a valuable role in promoting health and preventing illness, and 6 out of 10 adults currently use them on a regular basis, according to a 2001 survey conducted by the Natural Marketing Institute. During the same survey period, it was determined that another 25 percent of adults took supplements, although not regularly. If you’re like most people, you’re probably familiar with multiple vitamins and other popular supplements such as vitamin C, garlic and ginseng. But these better-known supplements merely scratch the surface of what is currently at your disposal.
Sadly, fewer than half of supplement users discuss their supplement choices with their doctors, leaving a gap between using supplements responsibly as a complement to conventional therapies. Many of today’s most skilled physicians now recommend the use of dietary supplements, although just as many have voiced concerns about the interactions that they may pose with prescribed medicines or inappropriate dosages. This handbook provides guidelines that can strongly benefit physicians and their patients.
One of the biggest problems in taking prescription drugs is that their activity may deplete essential nutrients. Unfortunately, this information is often not conveyed to the patient and so he or she can ultimately experience unnecessary and otherwise avoidable side effects.
According to the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau, the following are among the most commonly prescribed medications that have the potential to deplete nutrients:*
• Atorvastatin (Lipitor®)
• Azithromycin (Zithromax®)
• Conjugated Estrogens (Premarin®)
• Inhaled Corticosteroids (Nasacort®)
• Lansoprazole (Prevacid®)
• Omeprazole (Prilosec®)
• Oral Corticosteroids (Prednisone®)
• Pravastatin (Pravachol®)
• Risperidone (Risperdal®)
• Simvastatin (Zocor®)
As we proceed, you’ll find the specific nutrients that these medicines deplete as well as important information about how to design a supplement program that may offset many common side effects.
Similarly, we’ll examine which supplements can actually enhance the effects of medications, and which ones to discuss with your doctor. They include:
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin K
• SAM-e
• Vitamin E
• St. John’s Wort
• 5-HTP
Ideally, we want you to use this handbook as your personal guide to select formulas for specific indications. Condition-specific formulas have surged in popularity and when choosing them you should look for those that contain the specific nutrients we’ve listed. They’ll help you in your quest to prevent and manage the seven syndromes that we’ll be exploring. Keep in mind that combination formulas
can provide a synergism of action and many include amounts that vary from formula to formula. You can use the amounts given in this handbook to gauge whether or not the formula you choose contains a reasonable amount of each nutrient.
The dietary companion to this handbook is 7-Color Cuisine: A Nutrition Guide and Cookbook. With this two-volume set, you’ll have all of the tools necessary to take charge of your life today and enjoy years of vitality and good health.
Foreword
The first and second editions of Pharmacology: Essentials of Basic Science written in 1992 and 1996 (Little, Brown & Co.) contained groundbreaking information on drug nutrient interactions, which was written by Marcia Zimmerman. At the time my colleagues and I wrote the book, there was little appreciation for the interference of medications with vitamins and minerals. Of equal importance was the lack of information on how certain dietary supplements could enhance or inhibit the action of prescription and over-the-counter medicines. Moreover, the lack of required information on the source and purity of many supplements introduces the possibility of interactions with impurities or byproducts. Little did we know back then how vital this information would be as more and more consumers have turned to dietary supplements (nutraceuticals) as the first line of defense against numerous medical conditions.
Today, over half the population is seeking alternative remedies for practically every disease known without informing their physicians. The demand for dietary supplements has led to an explosion in products –often bearing unfounded claims – with little supporting scientific evidence. While dietary supplements have a long history of safety, guidelines on what consumers should look for are clearly needed. Moreover, for every 5 years after age 50, one is diagnosed with one disease for which two drugs are prescribed on average; for every two drugs, there is a 20% chance of drug interactions, without taking any drug-supplement interactions into account. A definitive guide on interactions between dietary supplements and drugs is, therefore, of the greatest importance. Many reputable companies offer products that conform to the highest pharmaceutical standards and this book suggests brands to shop for in the appendix. The information in this handbook is, therefore, pre-eminent for anyone using dietary supplements and for physicians who want credible information upon which to base supplement recommendations.
Marcia Zimmerman has been on the cutting edge of nutraceutical technology for many years. She has formulated hundreds of products, been a popular speaker, and written extensively on the health benefits of nutraceuticals – natural compounds with medicinal properties. My own research spanning the past 25 years offers strong evidence for incorporating these natural compounds in mediating inflammatory conditions. The applications presented in this handbook include stress, cardiovascular disease, immune disorders, allergies, chronic infections, and cancer.
The information in 7-Syndrome Healing is well organized by Marcia Zimmerman and her co-author Jayson Kroner, and presented in an easy to read style. I have found the information contained in this book extremely credible and useful not only for consumers, but also for my health providing colleagues.
T.C. Theoharides, Ph.D., M.D.
Professor of Pharmacology, Internal Medicine and Biochemistry
Tufts University School of Medicine
Tufts-New England Medical Center
Founder and President of Algonot
Acknowledgments
We are deeply grateful for Dr. Theoharides critical review of the medical and pharmacological information in this book. Dr. Theoharides work in validating the effectiveness of several nutraceutical compounds discussed in this book lends tremendous credibility to it. Readers and medical practitioners can have confidence that the material presented is accurate. You can read more about Dr. Theoharides work and download his publications at www.algonot.com.
We both owe a debt of gratitude to Clare, Jay, Dan, and Neil, for their friendship, faith, and advice during this project. Jayson also acknowledges the love and support of his parents Michael and Elizabeth and his sister Shannon Kroner.
Chapter One
The Basics of Healthy Living
Living in the twenty-first century is fraught with challenges—work responsibilities, family needs, social obligations and—a mind-numbing list of many that can’t even be categorized. Individually, each one can be demanding. But when you collectively cram them all into the blender of life, add a few major ups and downs for flavor, and then frappé the thing for five, ten, and even twenty years, things have a tendency to get messy. Good health, sadly, is almost always one of the first areas to suffer.
There is, however, good news.
We are living in an age of exceptional science and incredibly brilliant minds. The past decade has been one of the most exciting to date. As a result of these great advancements, we’ve discovered hundreds of new ways to cope with many of the most common diseases and health challenges. There is a catch, though. In order to reap the benefits of all that we now know, we must first learn to embrace and understand the basics of healthy living, stress reduction, commitment to lifestyle, and sound diet.
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably at some point turned to any number of products to improve the quality of your own health and well being. If you have, you already know that there’s certainly no shortage of offerings when it comes to bettering human health. Each one of us has access to a worldwide supply of promise, and throughout each chapter of this book we’ll be reviewing many of what we consider to be the best.
It’s no secret that the business of health and wellness is doing very, very well. As we speak, seventy-seven million baby boomers are refusing to follow their parents by simply going quietly into an advanced middle age. Instead, they are fighting back with every healthy and natural tool they can grasp. Fueling this passion for prime health are incomes that are higher and more disposable than ever before in history. At the same time, there has been unprecedented growth in the senior population. Much longevity may be attributed to medical advances that have made it possible to lead longer, more active lives. And as it turns out, this year’s freshman class of senior citizens is far more likely to use supplements than any of their predecessors. And why not? In many cases, dietary supplements are much more benign and far more affordable than prescription drugs. Plus, there’s an expanding environmental awareness that continues to drive health-conscious consumers towards natural products. Americans are seriously concerned about the quality of the air they breathe, the water in their faucets, and the foods they serve and consume. Many have made the decision to avoid pesticides, hormones, and extensive food processing. Consequently, there has been a 17 percent growth in the sale of natural and organic foods, not to mention a 7 percent increase in the overall market for health-related products in just the last year.
The Demand for Dietary Supplements
Sixty percent of Americans now use dietary supplements on at least a periodic basis. This makes the natural products industry one of the fastest growing categories in the human health arena. But with that popularity, comes a dilemma: choosing the best supplements for you can be confusing. Are you one of the growing numbers of Americans who sincerely want to take charge of your health, but are disturbed over conflicting news regarding the use of supplements? And what about the mantra sung by supplement critics—that supplements are unregulated,
and therefore of questionable safety? Before we pass judgment, let’s sort out the facts about dietary supplements, beginning with their origin.
The Birth of Health Foods and Dietary Supplements
The dietary supplement industry grew out of the need to supply super foods
for those with special dietary needs. It all started with the first ready-to-eat dry, whole grain cereal produced in 1894 by W.K. Kellogg and his brother, Dr. John Kellogg, for use in their sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The popularity of health foods
didn’t really catch on until the 1930s and 1940s. Several companies emerged, including California’s Hain Health Foods, which produced supplemental garlic and parsley tablets, and Bragg Health Products which offered liquid amino acid formulas. At the same time in the Midwest, Gaylord Hauser launched Modern Health Products while Fearn Soya Foods began catering to crowds that preferred the natural, organic and wholesome.
The first natural vitamins were produced in the early 1940s. One of earliest pioneers in this new and profitable line of business was Eugene Schiff. Anabolic Labs, Kal, NOW Foods, Plus, Solgar, and Thompson products soon joined him. These products were sold in health food stores, which began cropping up around the country. At the same time, the first supplements supplied for the military were commissioned during World War II.
Quality and Regulation
In the early days, food supplements were produced using the same standards that governed food products. They were also regulated as foods by the newly formed Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Doing so tightened the reins on qualified health claims, and only recently has the FDA allowed health claims that are supported by scientific evidence. Still, at the time of this writing, that agency has approved fewer than a dozen claims for foods and dietary supplements. Foods that can make these claims are referred to as functional foods; they contain specified amounts of an ingredient that has been shown to alter the course of disease.
The production of dietary supplements has come a long way since the early days. Reputable supplement manufacturers now produce vitamins and other products according to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Today, strict controls must be in place to:
• Quarantine raw materials until their identity and freedom from contaminants and toxins can be confirmed.
• Operate an in-house laboratory including biochemical analysis and microbiological testing capabilities.
• Maintain sanitary standards for workers, equipment, and filling and production chambers.
• Test for potency, stability, product uniformity, production and packaging.
• Retain samples of each product batch for future testing.
• Verify what was done and who signed off on each step of the manufacturing process.
• Submit to unannounced FDA inspections and render labels for scrutiny.
In addition, most manufacturers submit their products to third party testing facilities administered under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) or United States Pharmacopoeia (USP). Designation for these programs appears on the labels of products regulated by these organizations.
The Natural Products Association (NPA) American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) have created codes of ethics that their respective members must adhere to. Both organizations insist that their members ensure that products actually contain what labels claim and that all proper manufacturing procedures are followed. These associations will also issue product alerts upon discovering adulterated products.
The FDA maintains strict rules for supplement labels. Products must specify the percentage of the recommended dietary or daily allowance (RDA) for essential vitamins and minerals. In the case of herbs, the agency required manufacturers to disclose the product’s Latin name, as well as the specific parts of the plant used and the percentage of active components in standardized herbs. Finally, the ingredients used to encapsulate or tablet the product and facilitate disintegration in the gastrointestinal tract must also be listed.
When looking for dietary supplements there are many factors to consider. Aside from the quality and science behind the companies that provide them, there are other questions you’ll want to first ask. Does the company use environmentally friendly packaging? If it manufactures supplements, does it offer a website with access to scientific papers or literature that supports the product’s claim? Is the company committed to promoting product integrity and advocacy issues? These, along with quality products, are usually good indicators that the company has done their homework.
In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) allowing the unrestricted sale of vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and semi-vitamins—as long as manufacturers don’t make medical claims for these products. Manufacturers can, however, relate the use of their products to particular body functions, such as vitamin A for healthy vision or calcium for bone health. Moreover, the following disclaimer must accompany any structure/function claims on product labels, advertisements, spec sheets, etc.;These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for regulating such claims and the FDA has been fully empowered by Congress to remove any supplement that is deemed harmful. This power was demonstrated when the FDA made a bold move to ban the sale of ephedrine-based products in 2004. Although regulation of dietary supplements is a herculean task, it comes in handy when some unscrupulous characters attempt to sneak products into the public domain with the intention of cashing in before they get caught.
That said, it’s important to investigate claims that seem a little too good to be true. When shopping for supplements, do so at reputable stores and through credible online providers. Use this handbook to guide you and read labels carefully, paying special attention to guarantees and extravagant promises.
Now, let’s move onto putting your personalized supplement program together!
Why Supplement?
The craziness of living in these times and our increasing exposure to environmental toxins has driven millions of people to seek increased health protection with dietary supplements. A good place to start is with a daily multiple vitamin and mineral. Even the ultra conservative Harvard School of Public Health included a daily multiple in its suggested food pyramid in 2004. According to Harvard researchers, a daily multivitamin, multimineral supplement offers a kind of nutritional backup.
Several large studies have shown that healthy adults who supplement with a multiple vitamin and mineral formula can reduce their risk of heart disease and cancer, while enhancing immunity and brain function.
Advantages of a Daily Multiple
It’s easiest to begin with a daily multiple because in it vitamins and minerals are kept in balance, which avoids depleting any of them. B vitamins, for example, work as a team and seem to work more effectively when supplemented together. And like B vitamins, antioxidants afford greater protection against a wide range of conditions when combined.
The safe track record of multivitamin and multimineral formulas is another good reason for basing your nutrition regimen on a basic multivitamin. It can be difficult to choose which individual vitamins, minerals or herbs to use as supplements, especially with the conflicting reports that always find their way into the evening news. This handbook will take the mystery out of making the right decisions for you.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals that have demonstrated the ability to reduce the symptoms of a nutritional deficiency are considered essential. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences is charged with reviewing the latest scientific research to determine the level of essential vitamins and minerals that are needed on a daily basis to prevent disease. This level is referred to as Recommended Daily Intake, or RDI. Current RDIs are very conservative, and serve as the basis for governmental regulation of dietary supplements. Figure 1-1 lists the RDI, function, and deficiency symptoms of each vitamin. Figure 1-2 lists the RDI, function, and deficiency symptoms of each mineral.
The RDI can help consumers gauge the quality and balance of their diet. As mentioned above, you will find the percentage of the RDI for each nutrient listed on the supplement panel. The Food and Nutrition Board also sets optimum and upper limits of intake. In many cases, these more closely reflect the potencies included in today’s supplements. The list of essential nutrients keeps growing as new scientific evidence reveals the need for particular nutrients. Interestingly enough, many of the most effective supplements are not considered essential.
Figure11Vitamins.tifFigure 1-1 Vitamin Functions at a Glance
Non-essential Nutrients
Non-essential doesn’t always equal not important. To make this distinction clear, scientists have proposed the term semi-essential to describe nutrients that don’t have RDIs, but are helpful in overcoming metabolic bottlenecks. A growing body of scientific evidence supports the use of semi-essential nutrients, and they have become the darlings of complementary and alternative medicine.
What You Will Find in This Chapter
Significant detail about each of the essential vitamins and minerals is included in this chapter. Throughout this book, you will find a cross-reference for many essential nutrients. These are coenzymes or cofactors for semi-essential nutrients, herbs, or amino acids—each recommended for the particular syndrome under discussion. The essential vitamins and minerals included in most multiple formulas function in several specific categories, and have been grouped accordingly in this chapter.
• Growth and differentiation factors
• Antioxidants
• Nutrients that regulate metabolism
• Nutrients for building and maintaining
Growth and Differentiation Factors
Vitamin A
Major Application of Vitamin A • Vitamin A is most often associated with vision, but there’s more to its effectiveness than just maintaining a healthy set of eyes. Vitamin A has a direct impact on the integrity of the immune system, digestive function, cellular growth and differentiation, nervous system function, brain development, and skin.
An Overview of Vitamin A • First isolated in the 1930s, Vitamin A (or retinol) was the first fat-soluble vitamin ever to be discovered. Until then, we were at the mercy of our diets to get adequate amounts of this ultra-important nutrient. Back then, yellow and dark green vegetables provided carotenes that could be converted into vitamin A, and oils from fish livers were a common tonic during winter months. Then again, that was 75 years ago—a time when vitamin A deficiency was not much of an issue. When you fast-forward to modern times, however, the situation is vastly different. Fast food, days riddled with stress and deadlines, long working hours, increased exposure to toxins, and a host of other elements catapult vitamin A supplementation to the rank of necessity.
The symptoms associated with low vitamin A intake are so rampant in third world countries, that the scientific community has proposed a widespread enrichment of native foods, rice included. Closer to home, the increasing incidence of obesity, along with certain metabolic and malabsorption syndromes, continues to fuel the rise in vitamin A deficiency.
How Vitamin A Works • Vitamin A, a nutrient found only in animal-derived foods, is produced in the intestines from its dietary precursors—the carotenoids (natural pigments) alpha and beta carotene and beta cryptoxanthin. Vitamin A is stored in the liver until needed, and dispensed to many of the body’s vital systems. These include the eyes, where vitamin A is required for photoreceptors to function. Vitamin A is also essential for the integrity of epithelial tissues, including those that line internal organs, the body cavity, the mucus membranes, and the skin. If your daily diet doesn’t include 5 – 10 servings of red, orange, and yellow fruits and vegatables, this is one supplement you won’t want to neglect.
Therapeutic Uses for Vitamin A
• Cancer: Certain types of cancer, most notably breast, lung and skin, may respond well to vitamin A supplementation. Scientists at the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have proposed that vitamin A may curb ovarian cancer by blocking telomerase activity in cancer cells. Telemeres are found at the end of chromosomes in normal and cancer cells, and are often described as molecular clocks. They shorten each time a cell divides in order to keep cellular reproduction in check. However, cancer cells have