Posted by fachad on July 5, 2002, at 14:53:18
In reply to Vitamins...anybody swear by any in particular?, posted by jrbecker on July 5, 2002, at 2:39:46
Here's what I've come up with for my supplement regimen.
I've done years of research, and tried to be conservative and only take things that have numerous studies and good scientific data.
I'm not going to list the (purported) benefits of each (except for notes on Milk Thistle). I'll just give what I take, how much, and when.
1. Multi-Vitamin/Multi-Mineral. (look for one without iron, and look for the trace minerals like boron, molybdenum, etc. 1 with morning meal.2. Beta Carotene. 25,000 IU with morning meal.
3. Vitamin B. B-50 complex. 1 with morning and 1 with evening meal.
4. Vitamin C. 1 g. 1 with morning and 1 with evening meal.
5. Vitamin E. 200 mg. 1 with morning and 1 with evening meal.
6. Magnesium. Krebs cycle chelate preferred. 400mg. 1 with morning and 1 with evening meal.
7. Calcium. Citrate preferred. 500mg. 1 with morning and 1 with evening meal.
8. Flax Seed Oil. Cold pressed. 1g. 2 with morning and 2 with evening meal.
9. Coenzyme Q-10. 50mg. 1 with morning and 1 with evening meal.
10. Milk Thistle. 150mg, standardized to 70% Silymarin. 1 with morning and 1 with evening meal.
I skipped purported benefits and health claims for others, but with Milk Thistle, I feel that some comment is necessary.
This herb has been shown to prevent damage and death to liver cells when they are exposed to various toxins, even carbon tetrachloride, which is one of the most potent heptotoxic compounds known.
It has also been shown to promote the flow of bile and to prevent drug induced cholestasis (stagnation of the bile). Proper bile flow is necessary for digestion, elimination of toxins, fat metabolism, etc.
Some of the drugs known to commonly cause cholestasis are the phenothiazines like chloropromazine (Thorazine) and its derivates. TCAs and hormones including BC / OC pills have also been frequently implicated in causing drug induced cholestasis.
Many medications, including, but by no means limited to, psych meds, have been shown to have some degree of heptotoxicity, i.e., they are toxic to the liver.
So all of us that take psych meds on a regular basis are running a higher risk of heptotoxicity and cholestasis. Both conditions can develop gradually and below the threshold of standard medical tests.
An alcoholic does not develop cirrhosis after 1 huge drinking binge, it develops gradually over a lifetime of drinking; a lifetime of putting an extra load on the liver to metabolize toxins and lifetime chronic exposure of the liver to toxins.
Just because alcohol is used recreationally and self-destructively and psych meds are used therapeutically and under medical supervision does not change the fact that in both situations the liver is being exposed to extra toxic chemicals and forced to break them down on a constant basis.
Milk Thistle has even been shown to promote healing and regeneration of liver tissues in those with toxin induced liver damage, including alcoholic cirrhosis and alcoholic fatty liver.
So, I swear by ALL 10 of the supplements in my regimen, but I think that anyone who takes ANY medication on a regular basis / lifetime basis should look at the Milk Thistle research and consider taking Milk Thistle.
Finally, I'll provide the two most helpful sources I've used to develop my supplement regimen. Both are very balanced and generously documented with references from academic and scientific journals. I went through a lot of crackpot and hokey quack books in the process, but these two are top notch sources.
Hendler, Sheldon Saul M.D., Ph.D. The Doctor's Vitamin and Mineral Encyclopedia. Fireside Publishing, 1990.
Murray, Michael, N.D. and Pizzorno, Joseph, N.D. The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Revised 2nd Edition. Prima Publishing, 1998
I too, hope this thead stirrs up some comments and discussion.-fachad
poster:fachad
thread:111449
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020628/msgs/111489.html