477 Depression Biotypes [25 June 2018]

In his book Nutrient Power – Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain, William J. Walsh describes the five major depression biotypes that he discovered over 20 years collecting data on nearly 3,000 depressive patients. Like the schizophrenia biotypes discussed last week, each depression biotype has its own unique biochemistry, neurotransmitter imbalances, symptoms and characteristics. Walsh also outlines the nutrient therapy protocols he developed to correct the imbalances.

Undermethylated depression (38%) is characterized by reduced serotonin and dopamine activity. Patients tend to be high achievers and perfectionists, with a high tendency to suicide. SSRI meds offer some improvement. Beneficial nutrients include SAMe and methionine. Avoid folate, choline, and certain other nutrients.

Folate deficiency depression (20%) is characterized with elevated serotonin and dopamine. Patients tend to also have anxiety and ADD, and frequently have food and chemical sensitivities. They are intolerant to SSRI antidepressants (sometimes suicidally), antihistamines, SAMe and methionine. They improve with folic acid and certain other nutrients, and need to avoid tryptophan, 5HTP and some others.

Copper overload depression (hypercupremia) (17%) is characterized by elevated norepinephrine and reduced dopamine activity. These are usually women, often with a history of post-partum depression. They may also have anxiety, sleep disorder, childhood hyperactivity, tinnitus and estrogen intolerance (birth control pills, chocolate worsens depression). Nutrient therapy includes zinc, manganese, and several antioxidant nutrients.

Pyrrole disorder depression (15%) is characterized by reduced serotonin, dopamine and GABA. Depression is often severe with anxiety, low stress tolerance and extreme mood swings. Improvements are rapid with nutrient therapy including B6 or P5P, zinc, selenium, and manganese.

Toxic metal overload depression (5%) weakens the blood-brain barrier, disables brain antioxidants, and damages the myelin sheath. Nutrient treatment may include EDTA chelation and supplementation of vitamins and minerals which will depend on the metals involved, usually lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic.

The takeaway lesson here is that there are several conditions usually lumped together as “depression”, each with a different cause. It is critical to know the biotype because the commonly prescribed serotonin enhancing drugs work well on a few types, don’t work on a few others, and can be fatal for another. A good case history and a few blood tests can determine which group a depressive patient is in and therefore which therapy protocol is most likely to benefit.

The second lesson is that there are nutrient therapies that effectively correct the imbalances without the usual side effects of the psychiatric drugs.

Again, like with the schizophrenias, diagnosis and nutrient therapy should be undertaken only under the supervision of an experienced professional.

Next week: autism.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

475 Biochemical Imbalances in the Brain [11 June 2018]

In his book Nutrient Power – Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain, William J. Walsh stated that he considers the greatest achievement of Dr. Carl Pfeiffer to be his discovery of different biochemical types of schizophrenia, each with distinctive symptoms and blood and urine chemistries. Pfeiffer had also developed effective nutritional therapies for each biotype. Over the last three decades Walsh refined these biotypes and their biochemical therapies.

Mental health depends on a balance of the neurotransmitters, especially serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Their concentration is largely regulated by special large molecules in the cell membrane called transporters which allow the neurotransmitters to be reused, a process called reuptake. The synthesis of transporters is in turn regulated by the relative amounts of methyl (CH3) and acetyl (CH3CO) attached to the DNA of the respective genes. The methylation and acetylation processes are strongly influenced by the presence of certain nutrients: folate (B10) and niacin (B3) promote acetylation (which enhances gene expression) while methionine and SAMe promote methylation (which inhibits gene expression). Walsh writes:

“After 25 years of searching, we finally have a convincing explanation for the apparent effectiveness of the folate, niacin, and methylation therapies developed by Abram Hoffer and Carl Pfeiffer”.

In addition to over or under-methylation, Walsh observed other biochemical imbalances that occur in unusually high frequencies in many completely different mental disorders: copper overload, B6 deficiency, zinc deficiency, oxidative stress overload, amino acid imbalances, essential fatty acid imbalances (especially DHA deficiency), and toxic overload (heavy metals, pesticides). He realized that what these had in common was playing a role in the synthesis or function of neurotransmitters.

The levels of these nutrients are well-regulated for most people, but genetic or epigenetic abnormalities can result in a deficiency or overload. Walsh found that providing the missing nutrients in appropriate doses, while slower to take effect, worked as well or better than psychiatric drugs but without the undesirable side effects.

Next week – the schizophrenias.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

474 Biochemical Therapy [4 June 2018]

In previous articles on nutrition and mental health [#297 8 Dec 2014 “Mental Health Revolution”; #300 5 Jan 2015 “Medicate or Nutrate?”; and #317 4 May 2015 “Nutritional Psychiatry”] I argued that it was time for another revolution in mental health treatment. A recent book by William J. Walsh (revised 2014), Nutrient Power – Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain, indicates that this revolution is well on its way.

Walsh worked closely with Dr. Carl Pfeiffer, a pioneer in nutritional treatment of mental illness and the first to recognize that there were different biochemical types of schizophrenia (in my personal reference library I have a 1970 copy of Pfeiffer’s book The Schizophrenias, Ours to Conquer). Walsh went on to refine both the diagnosis and nutritional treatment (which he calls biochemical therapy) of mental illness based on recent research. His book Nutrient Power summarizes many decades of research and tens of thousands of cases.

Brain biochemistry is highly complex. More than 100 different neurotransmitters are active in the brain, and mental health depends on their proper function at the nerve synapses. Each neurotransmitter depends on numerous nutrients for its synthesis and function. Special proteins called transporters embedded in the nerve cell membranes allow the neurotransmitters to be reused. Epigenetics – inheritable environmental factors which control gene expression – plays a critical role in the production of neurotransmitters and transporters. The presence or absence of certain nutrients or toxins turns on or off the genes which produce these critical proteins.

Walsh cautions readers not to try this therapy without supervision by an experienced medical professional. There are many different biochemical imbalances which cause mental illnesses, and specific tests and history analysis are required to determine which are involved and therefore which treatment to use. Too much of a nutrient, for example folate, can be as harmful as not enough. In Walsh’s words:

The challenge is to carefully identify the specific nutrient overloads and deficiencies possessed by an individual and to provide treatments that normalize blood and brain levels of these chemicals with rifle-shot precision. This is the essence of biochemical therapy.

I find this book fascinating and will share more from it in coming weeks.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

422 The Brain-Gut Axis [29 May 2017]

Last week we looked at how our gut microbiome affects our immune system. This week we’ll discuss how it affects our brain, mood and memory. I last wrote about this topic two years ago [#320]. The network of neurons and chemical pathways connecting the digestive tract and the central nervous system is called the Brain-Gut Axis.

The brain uses this axis to monitor the digestive tract for hunger, stress, and the presence of pathogens; and to control aspects of it, including transit speed, production of mucous lining the colon, and the secretion of stomach acid, bile and pancreatic enzymes. But the signaling goes both ways – the condition of the digestive tract, including the bacteria living in it, also influences the brain.

Justin and Erica Sonnenburg in their 2015 book The Good Gut devote a chapter to this connection and share findings from some of their animal experiments. Lab mice specially raised to have a bacteria-free gut lacked the caution that helps wild mice avoid predators, and scored lower in memory tests than mice with normal gut microbes. Other experiments showed that transplanting gut bacteria from anxious mice to calm mice increased their anxiety (and vice versa) along with measurable changes in their brain biochemistry.

One way that the gut bacteria influence the nervous system is by the chemicals they produce which get absorbed into the bloodstream. Some of these chemicals have a beneficial effect like the short chain fatty acids mentioned last week. An estimated 90% of our serotonin, the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, is produced in our gut with the help of certain bacteria. Other bacteria-produced chemicals are toxic and have undesirable effects. An example is EPS, which was found to be greatly elevated in mice with autistic-like behavior; the behavior improved when different bacteria were introduced which normalized the EPS levels.

Research holds the promise of modifying our microbiome in the treatment of not only inflammation related chronic diseases like MS and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), but also mood disorders like stress, anxiety, depression, and even neurological conditions like autism, ADHD, OCD, and schizophrenia. This is one field of research that I plan to keep an eye on. More next week.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

408 Nutrients for Diabetic Neuropathy [21 Feb 2017]

Tingling, numbness or pain in the hands and feet are symptoms that affect 60-70% of people with diabetes. This condition is called diabetic neuropathy and is caused by excess sugar in the blood and cells.

Sugar molecules combine with protein and fat in our cells in a process called glycation. This is the same process that occurs when you toast bread or caramelize onions. The resulting sugar-protein compounds are called Advanced Glycation End Products (AGES). These AGES attack the myelin sheath that surrounds nerves and the nerves themselves, and also trigger an inflammatory response. The result is numbness, tingling and pain. The peripheral nerves in our hands and feet are the longest and thinnest so are the most affected.

There is much you can do to prevent and even reverse diabetic neuropathy naturally. The most important thing is to control blood sugar levels; avoiding refined carbs. Other helpful lifestyle choices are to keep blood pressure under control, stay active, manage stress, and don’t smoke. Supplements that have shown promise include:

• Benfotiamine, the fat soluble form of B1, has been shown to reduce the production of AGES, improve nerve function and peripheral sensation, and reduce nerve pain
• Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is an antioxidant that inhibits glycation by converting more glucose into energy (which most of us could use!), improves blood flow to nerve cells, and reverses nerve dysfunction caused by high sugar levels (see #89 Nov 2010)
• Acetyl L-Carnitine, an amino acid, improves nerve function relieves diabetic pain and promotes nerve regeneration (see #239 Oct 2013)
• Methylcobalamine, the active form of vitamin B12, helps rebuild the myelin sheath and peripheral nerves and protect them from further damage (see #339 Oct 2015)
• Vitamin B6 promotes the synthesis of neurotransmitters necessary for healthy nerve function
• Omega 3 (fish oil) and GLA (evening primrose oil) are anti-inflammatory and reduce numbness, tingling and pain (see #388 Sept 2016)
• Capsaicin cream applied topically may temporarily relieve pain

Be patient - it often takes several weeks to see improvements as the nerves heal.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

347 Light Therapy & Depression [30 Nov 2015]

I wrote about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) back in December 2009 and discussed exposure to full spectrum light as one of the effective treatments. A recent Canadian study suggests that this light therapy might also be effective for non-seasonal major depressive disorder (MDD). Previous studies on light therapy for MDD were poorly designed and inconclusive.

A study published this month in JAMA Psychiatry randomly divided 122 people from clinics in Vancouver and Toronto with moderate to severe non-seasonal depressive disorder into four groups: light therapy and fluoxetine hydrochloride (an antidepressant pill); light therapy and placebo pill; fluoxetine and placebo device (inactive ion generator); and both placebos. The light therapy consisted of a 30 minute exposure to a strong (10,000 lux) fluorescent light box every morning.

After 8 weeks improvement was observed in about 75% of the patients receiving the light therapy with the antidepressant; about 50% of those receiving the light therapy alone; about 29% for the antidepressant alone; and 33% for the placebos. The study concluded that “Light treatment, whether in monotherapy or in combination with fluoxetine, is efficacious and well tolerated in the treatment of nonseasonal MDD.” Surprisingly the antidepressant alone appears less effective than placebo, but this study was too small to draw any conclusions on this observation. An earlier study showed that fluoxetine and light had similar benefits in patients with SAD.

The researchers speculated that light therapy may resynchronize circadian rhythms that have become disturbed in MDD or rebalance neurotransmitter function. Sunlight triggers the pineal gland to produce more serotonin and less melatonin. Low serotonin is associated with depression and carbohydrate cravings; high melatonin with sleepiness and loss of concentration.

Michael Terman, PhD, professor of psychiatry, Columbia University, commented on the study:

“…the dramatic …result …[means that] 10,000 lux light therapy upon awakening or, by implication, a walk outdoors if the sun is up – now can be recommended to patients with recurrent depression, many of whom will respond without recourse to drugs.”

So if you are suffering from depression, talk to your doctor about adding light therapy to your treatment. Caution – people with certain eye conditions or with bipolar disorder should not use the light therapy.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

247 Phosphatidyl Choline & Cell Membranes [16 December 2013]

Healthy bodies depend on healthy cells which in turn require healthy cell membranes. Cell membranes (CM) are the “skin” around each of the 100 trillion cells in our body that protect the cells, control movement of nutrients and waste products in and out of cells, and help give cells their shape. CMs are composed of proteins, cholesterol, and special fats called phospholipids, of which the most important is phosphatidyl choline (PC).

Phosphatidyl choline keeps cell membranes strong, supple and functioning properly. When we are born, 90% of the phospholipids in our CMs are PC; as we age this decreases until by 70 it can be as low as 10%. This affects all aspects of our health including our heart, blood vessels, liver, brain and other organs causing cardiovascular problems, memory loss, poor sleep, and much more. PC is also a precursor to acetylcholine, an important brain neurotransmitter.

Fortunately increasing our intake of this vital nutrient can reverse many of these conditions – turning the clock back as it were. Supplementing with PC can:
• normalize cholesterol and reduce triglycerides
• lower homocysteine levels, a known risk factor for heart disease
• improve health of arteries and veins and improve circulation
• reduce inflammation
• improve liver health and function
• improve digestion of fats
• improve brain health and function (memory)
• be used to treat Alzheimer’s, PMS, bipolar disorder and tardive dyskinesia
• boost the immune system
• increase production of glutathione, our body’s most important antioxidant
• make your skin look and feel healthier
• increase energy and endurance

Food sources of PC include egg yolks, liver, peanuts, sunflower seeds and soybeans. It is also available as a supplement in capsule form. PC is similar to, and is a component of, lecithin.

Sources:
Institute for Natural Healing newsletter 9 Dec 2013
Wikipedia "Phosphatidyl Choline"
WebMD "Phosphatidyl Choline"
Natural Factors (a manufacturer of PC) "Phosphatidyl Choline"

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

170 Lysine – the “Cold Sore Cure” [18 June 2012]

Lysine is one of the eight essential amino acids, meaning that we must obtain all our daily needs in our diet. That is usually not a problem as lysine is found in meat, fish, poultry, eggs, pulses (lentils, beans and peas) and dairy. A vegan diet depending on grains for protein would be deficient in lysine, so it is commonly added to animal feed.

Lysine is an essential building block for all protein in the body, including hormones, enzymes and antibodies. It is important for increasing muscle and in the healing of wounds or surgery. Lysine plays a role in calcium absorption and is essential in the production of collagen, a protein found in skin, tendons and cartilage. Lysine also helps regulate serotonin, one of the anti-anxiety neurotransmitters I discussed in column #167.

Lysine is sometimes taken as a supplement to help fight infections of herpes simplex virus which causes cold sores. For this purpose, lysine is often taken in a formula along with zinc, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, and immune-supporting herbs like garlic, echinacea and goldenseal. Studies have found that a diet high in lysine and low in arginine reduces the frequency and severity of herpes outbreaks.

Lysine appears to inhibit herpes infections by suppressing arginine, the amino acid I wrote about last week, which is essential for the virus to replicate. Arginine and lysine compete with each other for absorption, so increasing lysine will create a relative deficiency of arginine. So if you are taking lysine for this purpose, you should avoid supplementing with arginine and temporarily reduce consumption of foods high in arginine (see list in last week’s column). Because arginine is also important to our health, long-term supplementation of lysine is not recommended.

Speaking of arginine, two functions that I missed mentioning last week are:
• arginine enhances the immune system by stimulating the thymus gland to increase production of B and T cells
• arginine stimulates the pituitary gland to produce human growth hormone (HGH)

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

167 Zesty or Tranquil? [28 May 2012]

Two weeks ago I mentioned that one of the functions of amino acids is to act as precursors to neuropeptides (NPs) and neurotransmitters (NTs). Neuropeptides are short chains of amino acids found in neurons (nerve cells) that control many body functions including pain. One called Substance P transmits pain from the peripheral nervous system to the central nervous system; other NPs called endorphins block this transmission. Opiate drugs like morphine are similar to and work like endorphins.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals between nerve cells. They control our mood and certain physiological effects such as appetite, sleep, heart rate and temperature. NTs are divided into two classes depending on their effect on our mood – excitatory and inhibitory.

The main excitatory NTs are epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. Released during high stress they prepare our bodies for “fight or flight”. The amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine are precursors to dopamine, another excitatory NT. In the right balance excitatory NTs elevate our mood, improve our memory and ability to focus, and increase energy and sex drive; they could be called the “Zesty Neurotransmitters”.

The main inhibitory NTs are GABA and serotonin. The amino acid taurine is a precursor to GABA, and L-theanine, an amino acid abundant in green tea, promotes the production of GABA. The amino acid tryptophan is converted in our bodies to 5HTP which in turn is a precursor to serotonin. The inhibitory NTs reduce tension and anxiety, calm and relax our mood, improve sleep, and enable us to handle stress; they could be called the “Tranquil Neurotransmitters”.

Optimum emotional health requires a balance of the “zesty” and “tranquil” NTs. Which do you need more of in your life? Caution: people with serious mood disorders (bipolar, severe depression) should not experiment with supplemental neurotransmitters without medical supervision.

For more information on this or other natural health topics, stop in and talk to Stan; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.

024 Food and Mood [10 August 2009]

Julia Ross in her 2004 book “The Mood Cure” shares good news for those suffering from mood disorders. She explains how we can feel better naturally, without the use of caffeine, alcohol, tobacco or anti-depressants. Furthermore she predicts that we can begin to see the results in just one day.

Whether we experience depression, anxiety, oversensitivity, compulsive behaviors, eating disorders, food cravings or addictions, Julia offers hope of a drug-free cure using a special diet and certain supplements.

The diet is high in protein and supplemented with amino acids to provide the building blocks for your body to synthesize the hormones and neurotransmitters that we need to feel good. The only carbs allowed are vegetables. [Note: in this respect the program is similar to the Atkins Diet]

The diet emphasizes Omega 3 efas (essential fatty acids), particularly DHA and EPA from fish oils, which improve our mood. Flax oil is a good source of ALA, another Omega 3 efa, but one that requires conversion by enzymes that are lacking in most of us. Olive oil is high in Omega 9, another good-mood efa, so is included in the diet. Omega 6 efas found in most vegetable oils and margarines worsen your mood and are replaced in the diet with healthy saturated fats like coconut oil and butter. In her book Ross explains that the myth of saturated fats as the cause of heart disease is not supported by nutritional studies [more on this in another column].

Other supplements used in Ross’ program may include Folic Acid, GABA and 5HTP. In her clinic, Ross found that the amino acid 5HTP could usually elevate mood noticeably within 24 hours. A 2001 study by Eli Lilly showed that 5HTP increased serotonin more than 4 times more effectively than Prozac. Other clinical studies found 5HTP at least as effective as SSRI anti-depressants but without the side effects.

An interesting “side effect” of Ross’ mood program is a 180 turn around in food cravings. Instead of craving unhealthy and fattening foods like ice cream and pasta, healthy foods like protein and vegetables become more appealing. The result is a return to a more healthy weight as well as a healthy mood. This is especially significant when one of the side effects of many antidepressants is weight gain.

This information was gleaned from articles published in the summer 2009 Healthy Horizons magazine. Stop in for your free copy. You can also look up Julia Ross’ website at http://www.moodcure.com/.

This article is intended for educational purposes only; for medical advice consult your licensed health practitioner.