Sault Naturopath

A couple of studies that came out recently made me think about vitamin research, its implications and the role of the media in those implications.

You probably saw the headline (or something similar) “Vitamin E Raises Prostate Cancer Risk,” as a front page story in many newspapers online and offline. Here is a brief overview of the study these headlines refer to:  Read more...

• 35 000 men were randomized into one of four groups:
  • those taking just selenium (200 μg/d from L-selenomethionine)
  • those taking just vitamin E (400 IU/d of all rac-α-tocopheryl acetate)
  • those taking both selenium and vitamin E

Thiamin, vitamin B1, is an essential nutrient. Our bodies need thiamin to digest carbohydrates, to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, and to produce hydrochloric acid in our stomachs that is needed to digest food. Deficiencies are linked to PMS, anxiety, and peripheral nerve disease. Prolonged deficiency can lead to labored breathing and cardiac damage. Although important, thiamin deficiency unfortunately is often under diagnosed.

Early symptoms of deficiency may include:

• easy fatigue
• loss of appetite
• irritability and emotional instability
• confusion, loss of memory

Later signs of deficiency may include:  Read more...

• burning feet (especially at night)

So far we have examined nutrient depletions caused by antibiotics and antacids. Today let’s continue this series by examining nutrient depletions caused by oral contraceptives.

The following are a list of nutrients known to be depleted by oral contraceptives:

DHEA (a hormone)  Ortho Novum® 1/35 and Ovcon® 35 decreased serum concentrations of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS).  Estrogen-containing oral contraceptives have also resulted in decreased DHEAS.

Folate Long-term use of oral contraceptives can result in folic acid deficiency, including megaloblastic anemia.

Magnesium Women using oral contraceptives have been found to have lower serum magnesium levels.  Read more...