Download Therapy with cobalamin PANTOTHENIC ACID

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At risk: vegan diets provide insufficient vitamin B-12 & need to be supplemented; deficiency
develops slowly in vegan adults (10+ years); vegan children (small stores of B-12 to draw on)
may show deficiency 2 - 3 years after birth; HCl production decreases with age & elderly
individuals require more cobalamin;
Symptoms include: pernicious anaemia, characterized by inability of bone marrow to produce
normal, healthy red blood cells;
Prolonged pernicious anaemia can result in brain damage &/or severe neuritis, including
degeneration of nerves & spinal cord;
Sub-clinical deficiency may include: tenderness in legs; slow reflexes; memory loss; irritability
& mood swings; red-tipped sore tongue (like B-3 deficiency, without white coating); impaired
sensory perception; anaemia; fatigue, loss of appetite & constipation; laboured breathing;
palpitation; headache; difficulty walking; stammering & jerking;
Toxicity: injections of more than 1,000 µg/day cause no ill effects; low absorption rate suggests
that oral intake of 10 times that amount will produce no adverse effects;
Therapy with cobalamin
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Usual therapeutic doses range from 3 to 1,000 µg/day;
Injected B-12, or large oral doses, reverse clinical & sub-clinical symptoms;
Powerful rejuvenating & energizing effects; especially useful during periods of stress, fatigue,
recovery from illness (even when B-12 normal by standard measures;
Improves memory, reasoning ability, concentration; dispels mental disturbances, prevents mental
deterioration;
Restores appetite & vigour; helps patients recover from viral & bacterial infections;
Effective for treating osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, bursitis & asthma;
Protects against smoking-induced cancer (smokers have abnormally low levels of B-12 & folic
acid); smoke reduces levels of B-12 & folate in lung tissue;
2,000 - 4,000 mcg sublingually protects against toxins & allergens, especially sulphites (food &
wine additives);
Massive oral doses or injections help people lacking intrinsic factor;
Keeps those eating vegan or macrobiotic diets from deteriorating due to B-12 deficiency;
Intrinsic factor can also be supplemented together with B-12;
PANTOTHENIC ACID (Vitamin B-5)
Genera:l water-soluble; widely distributed in all living things; “anti-stress” vitamin;
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Pantothenic acid can come from foods or be made by bacteria in healthy intestinal tracts;
History: described in 1933; isolated in 1938; synthesized in 1940; biochemical function identified
in 1947; structure elucidated in 1953;
Nutrition
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Sources: best: organ meats (liver, kidney, heart), fish, whole grains; good: eggs, beef, beans,
milk, vegetables;
Supplements: B-5, B-complex, multi-vitamin, multi-mineral-vitamin formulations; Royal Jelly;
Absorption: takes place in the small intestine; about 50% of intake is absorbed;
Like other water soluble nutrients, circulates freely in the blood;
Improved by: folic acid aids in assimilation of B-5;
Antagonized by: antibiotics;
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Stability: destroyed in dry heat, acid, & alkali; stable in moist heat; 20 -35% lost from cooking
animal foods, 46 - 78% from vegetable foods; 50% lost in refining wheat;
Storage: highest amounts in liver, adrenal glands, brain, heart & kidneys;
Excretion: readily excreted in urine;
Metabolism: Co-enzyme A synthesized within cells, protein-bound & stays within cells;
increased need after injury, severe illness;
Interactions: with antibiotics;
Functions of B-5
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Component of co-enzyme A(CoA) & acyl carrier protein (ACP), vital for 70+ enzyme reactions,
including central role in carbohydrate, lipid, protein, amino acid & energy metabolism;
Necessary for formation of part of haemoglobin molecule (porphyrin);
Needed for normal functioning of intestinal tract;
Source or acceptor of acetate groups (CH3COO-); provides acetate for acetylcholine
(neurotransmitter) & used to detoxify some drugs;
Virtually all physiological functions & biochemical reactions in cells are affected by B-5;
Necessary for: synthesis of bile salts, neurotransmitters & growth hormone (STH); uptake of free
amino acids by cells; synthesis of fats from fatty acids; synthesis of cholesterol & adrenal steroid
hormones (cortisone); tissue water balance; synthesis of red blood cells;
Stimulates immune antibody response; stimulates intestinal absorption of nutrients;
Vital to all energy-requiring processes in all cells;
Quantities
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Measurement: in milligrams;
Optimum: (SONA) average ranges not yet set;
Individual optimum must be determined individually;
Minimum: (DRI) set at 5 mg/day; (7mg during pregnancy);
Less than RDA: % unknown; estimate: 25% of population;
Deficiency may result from inadequate diet; poor absorption; increased requirement; deficiencies
are rarely seen, due to widespread occurrence of B-5 in foods;
Symptoms include: physical weakness & cramps, impaired co-ordination, insomnia, depression,
disrupted nerve function, anorexia, constipation, fatigue, irritability, nausea, vomiting,
susceptibility to infection, lower disease resistance; slowing down of many metabolic processes;
adrenal exhaustion, skin disorders, insulin sensitivity, low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia);
“burning” feet; upper respiratory infections; duodenal ulcers; low stomach acid;
Toxicity: not known; 10,000 - 20,000 mg doses cause diarrhoea;
Therapy with pantothenic acid
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Usual therapeutic dose ranges from 10 to 1,000 mg/day;
Improves adrenal function; useful in hay fever & allergies;
Improves stress tolerance;
1,000 - 2,000 mg/day relieves morning stiffness, disability & pain severity in rheumatoid arthritis
(low B-5 levels in this condition); best results with vegetarians using B-5 plus Royal Jelly;
B-5 appears to stimulate cell growth in healing process, wounds heal faster & firmer;
May help in treatment of depression & anxiety;
Used to overcome post-operative shock & reverse curare & isoniazid poisoning;
Used to treat gastrointestinal tract paralysis after surgery; increases G.I. motility;
Detoxifies acetaldehyde, a toxic product of alcohol;
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Extends life span of mice by about 20%;
Might help prevent premature ageing & wrinkles (anecdotal evidence);
Might restore hair colour in some people (anecdotal evidence);
2,000 mg/day improves athletic performance, uses less oxygen, produces less lactic acid; useful in
treating liver cirrhosis & marginal diabetes;
600 - 1,200 mg/day of pantethine, a metabolite of B-5, lowers high cholesterol (15%) &
triglycerides (30%); appears to inhibit dangerous clots & irregular heartbeats;
Pantethine may boost immune functions of macrophages & natural killer cells;
Protects against cellular damage caused by excessive radiation;
Calcium pantothenate stops tooth grinding (bruxism) while asleep;
BIOTIN
General water-soluble; “hair” vitamin;
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First isolated from egg yolks & identified as vital growth factor for yeast;
Raw egg white contains a glycoprotein (avidin) that inactivates biotin & prevents its absorption
from the gut; 27 egg whites/day are necessary to induce deficiency;
Biotin comes from foods & bacteria in healthy gut make unknown amounts of it;
History: need for biotin in yeast identified in 1924; egg white injury in rats (dermatosis & loss of
hair) reversed by liver factor in 1927; need for biotin demonstrated in human diet in 1942;
biological functions identified in 1959; genetic error in biotin-dependent carboxylase described in
1971;
Nutrition
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Sources: best: yeast, liver, kidney, soy bean, egg yolks; good: sardine, salmon, whole grains, nuts,
cauliflower; fair: corn, legume, rice, spinach, chicken; intestinal bacteria produce some biotin
(stimulated by sucrose);
Supplements: B-complex, multi-vitamin & multi-vitamin-mineral formulations;
Absorption of biotin occurs in upper part of small intestine; 50% of estimated daily 25 to 45 mg
from foods is absorbed;
Antagonized by: poor diet; raw egg white; antibiotics; excess choline; rancid fats; low stomach
acid; saccharin;
Stability: destroyed by alkali & oxidation; relatively heat-stable; slight cooking losses; moderate
processing & refining losses;
Storage: highest in liver, kidneys, brain, adrenals; blood levels high;
Excretion: excess excreted in urine;
Metabolism: usually bound to protein, released by enzyme action; works with zinc; increased
need during pregnancy & lactation; works with lysine (biocytin);
Interactions: alcohol consumption increases need for biotin; antibiotics including sulphonamides
& oxytetracycline reduce biotin-producing bacteria;