READERS SUMMARY:
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CLINICAL SIGNS ONE MIGHT FIND WITHOUT TESTING OR A DOCTOR?
WHAT THINGS MIGHT I LOOK FOR AT HOME ?
WHAT VITAMIN OR SUPPLEMENT SIGNS SHOULD I PAY ATTENTION TO AS I ADAPT TO A PALEO TEMPLATE?
Do you think you may be deficient in Vitamin D? Might you also not be able to afford to see a doctor or get testing done? I think you might find this blog helpful until you can get a doctor’s help and blood testing and salivary testing done. There is a pretty easy “home testing” you can do by yourself if you know what to look for. Use an eating utensil like a knife or spoon handle or a screw driver shaft to roll over your tibia bone in your anterior lower leg. This is the part of your leg commonly known as the shin. People who are Vitamin D deficient usually have a lot of pain when it is rolled over their shin using directed compression of the hard instrument over the length of the tibia. If you have that symptom, you might be Vitamin D deficient and you may need to supplement with D3 or go higher in your dosing. You can even figure out how much to stop taking once the tibial pain begins to subside when you recheck yourself, but blood testing is way more accurate for an Optimized life. Pre tibial pain is pretty common these days because the poor qualities of food predispose us to lower Vitamin D levels. These lower levels control over 350 epigenomic signals for gene transcription. So it is really important to make sure your Vitamin D status is optimal.
How do you tell if you are taking too much Vitamin D to get to optimal? For men or women, you might notice your own free testosterone level is really low on a high Vitamin D3 supplemented level, and your libido is lagging badly or your body comp is not coming around. Or you might try reading in low light conditions and see how you do. Many will notice that they can’t do it well any longer. If you listened to my recent Nov 2011 podcast on JoanneUnleashed.com you might have wondered why I read in low light and red light levels during my own reset. I was checking myself for signs that I was pushing my Vitamin D3 status too high. Affected individuals are unable to distinguish images in low levels of illumination. Vitamin A deficiency affects vision by inhibiting the production of rhodopsin, the eye pigment responsible for sensing low light situations. Rhodopsin is found in the retina and is composed of retinal, which is an active form of vitamin A, and opsin a protein made by the retina. Basically, if you “over do” the use of Vitamin D3, you will not make enough rhodopsin (from a relative Vitamin A deficiency), and you will suffer from night blindness. I pick this up in patients who notice night time visual driving issues. Most people won’t read in low light levels like I do to assess themselves for this issue. However, you can use this simple test too. Their doctors usually send them to the ophthalmologist, but most are cured once they tweak their diets and add back some vitamin A containing foods.
They also suffer from a more serious subclinical problem. They can never cure their leaky gut due to chronic inflammation from infections. The reason for both of these clinical features is that they likely have a co morbid lack of Vitamin A in the diet to offset the raised supplemental Vitamin D3. Each cell in our body has 2 vitamin A receptors for every Vitamin D receptor. So as our vitamin D level rises, our endogenous Vitamin A source is used up even quicker. We need to make sure we are getting enough of the fat soluble Vitamin A too as Vitamin D3 goes up. These two vitamins are metabolically coupled. This is probably the most common reason people have persistent bloating and cannot clear H Pylori or Candida infections from their guts when they transition to a paleo template.
What about Zinc? Zinc deficiency can result in hair loss in case of cells on the scalp and lesions on the skin. This is one of the prominent signs of zinc deficiency. This also is important testosterone synthesis. Zinc is actually an aromatase inhibitor too. This means it decreases the conversion of testosterone to DHT and to Estradiol (E2). So if one is taking too much, it can actually cause your hormone panels to be altered. Another more common finding with a zinc deficiency, is an alteration of tasting and smelling things. They often report a lack of smell or a metallic taste in their mouths. I have seen this often in patients who are pre diabetic and do not realize they are becoming diabetic. It is now most common in young men with early onset andropause.
What about Iron? Iron deficiency causes spoon shaped nail beds on the hands and feet with ridges in them. Patients also often have the urge to chew ice. They often have unexplained hair loss and fatigue easy. Many times ferritin problems are the result of a gut malabsorption (leaky gut), and require testing to remedy. Many times they will develop restless leg syndrome without any underlying sleep abnormality. Restless leg syndrome is a common sleep disorder but when we send a patient for a sleep study and it comes back normal, you can bet they have an iron deficiency problem. Finding the source often times is a tough problem to find. I had one patient who got it from drinking too much coffee all day. We tweaked the diet and it went away.
What about Magnesium? People who sweat a lot tend to be very Magnesium deficient. Metabolism of carbohydrates and fats requires numerous magnesium-dependent chemical reactions. In 2002, Physiologist Henry Lukaski of the Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center in North Dakota (USA), established that during moderate activity, individuals with low magnesium levels use more energy, and therefore tire more quickly than those have adequate levels. My test is to have someone run up the stairs and see if they can do it without increasing their heart rate by 25% above the baseline and see if they break a sweat. Most diabetics report increased sweating as a symptom that few doctors pick up on. Often it goes hand and hand with low CO2 testing on a chemistry panel too.
What depletes Magnesium?
- coffee
- sugar
- Mental or physical stress (cortisol)
- alcohol in excess of 6 oz a day
- cola type soda
- high sodium diet
- tobacco
- medical drugs of all types
- low thyroid function
- diabetes
- diuretics
- chronic pain
- a high carbohydrate diet
- a high calcium diet (dairy)
What about Mercury? In high mercury states you might notice that your balance is not good after an acute exposure. Any time I go to my dentist’s office for anything I do this test on myself. I also do it after I eat seafood to see if the fish might have been tainted. Try to do some yoga poses that require you to be on one leg. You will notice a big change and your balance will be decidedly off from normal. When this happens, I usually supplement immediately with Selenium and eat a lot of Cilantro the next two weeks. Why? It’s a natural mercury chelator and selenium is the antidote for mercury toxicity.
Are you worried that your new resting tremor is an early sign of Parkinson’s disease? Remember that PD patients have low brain dopamine levels. People who have high dopamine levels tend to pleasure seekers and like rewarding behaviors. So to assess high brain dopamine levels : Follow how many times you blink in 30 seconds. If you are above 13 times your brain levels are likely OK. If you’re above 13 you likely will be leptin sensitive and notice you have a great mood at this time. Don’t try to do this in a mirror. You brain will slow your blink reflex down if you are watching it. Have someone else count for you. If you are below 13 blinks you likely are dopamine deficient and will tend to be lethargic, lack emotion, and not want to active at all. You are also more likely to be overweight. I use this visual testing in over trained athletes and those with LR issues. It is markedly abnormal in those with concussions and with PD.
What about Selenium? Here we see many gastrointestinal problems, hair loss, diarrhea, cirrhosis, fatigue, garlic breath, and sloughing off of nails. Thankfully it’s pretty rare, except in one group of folks. That is people who used sustained ketogenic diets. I see a lot of these people in neurosurgery for neurodegenerative diseases so I usually recommend one Brazil nut every other day as they maintain their ketogenic diets long term.
What about Iodine? Fibrocystic breast disease that is painful. Puffy faces and hands in the morning and after eating meals is also quiet common. A sluggish thyroid is also a problem here, but I always recommend preloading the diet with selenium (Brazil nuts) before adding a ton of iodine.
What about Vitamin K2? This one is an easy pick up when you brush your teeth or go to the dentist. If the hygienist or dentist tells you have a lot of plaque or tartar build up on your lingual incisors, you likely have got a K2 issue. If you also do not have a gallbladder, you might suspect this as a big problem too! Vitamin K2 oral cavity findings are easy to find yourself. Increase tartar and glycocalyx on teeth. This means your teeth won’t stay “pearly white” long after your dental cleaning because your teeth get coated pretty fast because your saliva is K2 deficient. Periodontal disease is also more common in K2 deficiency. Gingival bleeding is more common as well. So if you bleed when you floss or brush, pay attention to what this might mean. When you vitamin K2 level reverses and become normal, you might notice complete reversal of enamel fluorosis on your teeth as well. In severe K2 deficiency cases in women, menstrual bleeding may suddenly become more brisk with more cramping.
WHAT ABOUT THE B VITAMINS?
B1 usually seen in alcoholics and causes neurologic symptoms Wernicke’s or Korsakoff’s or neuropathy (pretty rare but cool to see)
B2 Riboflavin deficiency is caused by B2. This occurs within 7-14 days and is rare because B2 is used in most metabolic reactions of proteins, and fats. It is critical in FAD and FADH reactions in a ketogenic diet. It is also the supplement that makes your urine really yellow when you are supplementing B vitamins.
B3 (Niacin) One sees a dermatitis (flushing of the skin) and insufferable insomnia.
B4 is made completely by our body endogenously because it is vital to DNA and RNA replication (adenine)
B5 pantothenic acid causes resistant acne and neuropathy
B6 (Pyridoxine) causes a microcytic anemia, elevated homocysteine, mitochondrial fatigue. Magnesium deficiency, vitamin C and B6 deficiency all tend to walk hand in hand. Many people who think they have adrenal fatigue are suffering from nutrient depletion. Excessive B6 is a 5 alpha reductase inhibitor and can actually decrease your DHT levels to impact your erections and your libido. It’s rare, but I have seen it in men who supplement too much.
B7 (biotin) causes many skin rashes like seborrheic dermatitis and many skin fungal infections. Most nail bed infections can be tied to a biotin deficiency. It is a very rare B vitamin deficiency because it is ubiquitous in the food supply. (Most common in raw eggs)
B8 (Inositol) is made by our body in energy metabolism. AMP or myo-inositol (key second messengers in AMPk) is usually deficient in diabetics with metabolic syndrome, and often needs to be supplemented with choline to reverse a fatty liver.
B9 (Folic acid) seen in macrocytic anemia, elevated homocysteine levels, and neural tube defects
B10 (PABA) is an intermediate in the bacterial synthesis of folate; Humans do not have the enzymatic machinery to make this conversion, and this is why folic acid is required for humans. I think our food supply has always been deep in this. That is why we evolved away from endogenous synthesis.
B12 another cause of macrocytic anemia, neuropathy, posterior column dysfunction (vibration sense) and subacute combined degeneration. If any of these occur, it tells you that you are very deficient body wide and in your diet. Most vegans and vegetarians are quite deficient in this. I have actually seen two vegans paralyzed from this in my career. I like people’s levels over 1000 on their blood testing screening. Often times those with a leaky gut can’t absorb it well and it requires injections to elevate. People who are diabetic and who use metformin need higher levels of B12 because metformin uses up B12 to a much greater degree metabolically.
If you have a high homocysteine level and lower HDL and drink alcohol, you may want to up your B vitamin intake. Alcohol will lower B vitamin bioavailability across the board.
B13 PQQ. Drs. Takaoki Kasahara and Tadafumi Kato have classified PQQ as a new member of the vitamin B complex. PQQ facilitates one- and two- electron transfers – it is an electron relay vitamin. PQQ catalyzes oxidation-reduction processes in the body. Many people think that humans may have evolved using PQQ, because it is more effective antioxidant. This might have been what marginalized human Vitamin C needs as we left the equatorial parts of earth away from abundant vitamin C sources. It does appear that PQQ, Vitamin C, and the Apo E allele might all seem tied to the ability to allow humans to live further from the equator and allow us to deal with more mitochondria stresses that a non equatorial diet might have presented to the epigenome. PQQ seems to be 5000 more times potent in stabilizing electron transport on the inner mitochondrial membrane during stress reactions compared to the effectiveness of vitamin C in the same capacity. It also helps in recovery from exercise. People who treat adrenal fatigue are beginning to see the clinical utility of using high dose PQQ in treating these people who clearly have mitochondrial fatigue as the underlying cause of their fatigue. PQQ is also important reproductive performance and athletic optimal performance.
What about BPA toxicity? I look for unexplained sexual problems in younger people. In women we might see PCOS in cases we might not expect it clinically, and in men seeing ED symptoms but seeing a normal hormone panel. Seeing osteoporosis in a young person with no other obvious causes for it is another clue. When the hormone response does not match the clinical picture an endocrine blocker is a distinct possibility. Many people use products with BPA in them. BPA is found in plastics and epoxies. I will usually ask about recent cosmetic dental work or sealants, consumption of water from bottles, and their use of canned products. Recently it was found in humans that those who ate canned soup for five days consecutively had BPA levels that were 1200% elevated.
What about Omega six content of your diet? Many of you know that I think this is the biggest game changer for our epigenomic programming and is at the seat of most of our metabolic issues as modern humans. Soybean oils are particularly problematic. So what should you look for?
Look for skin tags in folds of skin or around your neck. It is a pretty common finding these days. When I see them, I tell the patient the next step will be diabetes generation. You might also find many lipomas on your body too. I also screen family members for this issue. Many causes of fibrocystic breast disease are also due to higher omega six consumption in the diet. According to research at The Ohio State University Center for Integrative Medicine, most lipomas develop in people on high plant oil diets. There is scant evidence to support lipomas occurring in people until after plant oil was introduced in the diet in the USA in 1909. This increased omega-6 plant oil consumption leads to the bone marrow producing excess monocyte cell types which reflect the plant oil toxicity on all tissues in the body, including the fat which develops the Lipomas. I happen to see this often in MRI’s of the spine that show a prominence of epidural fat. I always wondered why some people had this condition and never got a firm answer when I was in my training, until I spoke to a friend who worked at OSU department of neurosurgery.
To screen for excessive bone marrow monocyte types, you will need to see if your monocyte count on your CBC differential blood count is greater than 3.5%. So ask your doctor for your blood test results and double check what they reveal. Many physicians do not know about these relationships.
What about altered estrogen levels? For this one, I look for skin spots that are bright cherry red and raised. They are very common in men who also have gynecomastia. In women, they tend to have more spider veins and more painful periods and migraines. Both sexes will also have a much thinner skin over time.
CITES:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seborrheic_dermatitis.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Alternative-Medicine-991/2008/6/Lipomas-7.htm
http://EzineArticles.com/1940742
http://meridianvalleylab.com/5-alpha-reductase-over-inhibition/
Kasahara and Kato, Nature, 422(6934): 832 (2003)
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57330301-10391704/bpa-levels-soar-after-eating-canned-soup-study/
www.medicalcenter.osu.edu/go/integrative (Nutrigenomic Education Laura Kunze, Center Coordinator, at 614-293-9777)
www.nutritiondata.com
Dr K – is there a recommended K2 doseage for a no gallbladder case?
Hope you had a restful and happy time on your cruise – thanks for another great post, I even understood most of this one
You are so kind to give us this information about "tells" so we can focus our lab testing dollars.
Glad to have you back and writing.
Good to have you back – Hope you all had a good time.
Just as Jesus said, "Man cannot live by bread alone,"
I think, "Man cannot live by science alone." A few windows, for poetic experiences, are to be left open; so some sun, some wind, some rain can come from real existence.
Thanks for another blog. Will look forward to the follow up on the Rx for several issues raised in it – especially the altered estrogen levels.
If one is taking a multiple vitamin complex and a B complex as rec from the Leptin Reset supplements…it looks like most of the items you mentioned with the exception of D3, PQQ & K2 can be obtained. However, the concentrations may not be optimal.
Can we believe that multiples and B complexes contain levels of each ingredient that are blended for the average person?
Costco Kirkland B and Multiple is what I currently use.
in my internet travels i have found research that says if one is anemic, supplementing with iodine will be less effective. i will try to find the article and post a link.
Will eating liver 2-3 a week supply enough Vitamin A if you are taking 5000 to 10000 iu daily of vitamin D3 supplements?
If not, how much Vitamin A supplementation do you recommend for every 5,000iu of Vitamin D3 ?
@Adriana Yes it will if it is grass fed offal.
Very interesting read, thanks! I have been primal for 6 months, how long for Vit A levels to get to a healthy level? I'm sure I was low in the past, but my diet should provide plenty of Vit A these days. I take 5000 IU Vit D3 daily, but will decrease the amount when summer finally hits Melbourne, hopefully by December…
Would love to see a follow-up post on what to do about each of these issues, especially if your doctor says you're fine. I think many of us are the typical "the blood work says you're normal" victims.
@jenny i am not sure what you mean? If your doc wont follow up on them you have a choice to find a new doctor no?
I wish I had read something like this for 5-10 years ago… I've had those shin pains for years. That was way before I got diagnosed with hashimoto's. Already at that time I knew I always felt better during/after sunny holidays.
Now I supplement with 4000IU D3 (for winter, 2000IU for summer) + solarium and struggle to stay above 40.
Regarding magnesium I'd like to add my signs for a shortage of magnesium:
Muscle twitches (only at slight deficiency, disappears after a while), quick cramping of toes when I point my big toe up and all the rest of the toes down and press. (Like the balet pose, but whit the big toe pointing away from the rest.) The longer I can keep this position without cramping, the better my magnesium status. (Yes, it's strange, but I'm positive this correlates for me.) Decreased sleep quality. If I ignore these signs for a week or two more I get stiff shoulders and later long, low-level headaches (due to shoulder/neck stiffness and cramping of jaw).
I experienced this while supplementing calcium.
A strange side effect of upping the magnesium is that my lunulaes seem to tentatively re-emerge for the first time in years.
It's sometimes very difficult to test for these things. Serum isn't always a reliable measure, and the doctors (most in Norway anyway) may be unwilling to order such "unnecessary" tests, so I'm thankful for a collection of signs in order to firstly self-assess.
Yes, tell us about liver! I have about 12 pounds of fresh grass fed liver in my fridge to cut up and freeze today, and I do wonder how much liver/how often is too much. Generally I figure if you eat liver several times in one week out of the month, that's good, but is it?
Thanks!
@Jennifer My rule for offal is twice a week. That is how I roll.
Good to have you back – Hope you and yours had a good time.
in 5/2011 I was 71yo
monocytes(absolute)(all done at LabCorp)
7/1996=0.1(0.1-1)
9/2005=0.3(0.1-1)
9/2005–Liposarcoma cancer (size of quart of milk) removed from left thigh
9/2011–=0.6(0.1-1)
comments?
JanSz you are asking for specific medical advice unrelated to 1. this blog post and 2. leptin reset or 3. The Quilt
Dr Kruse,
I have what i think might potentially be a vitamin related question. maybe someone else here has had a similar experience.
Over a week ago my face became very itchy and my eyes very puffy with red splotches under my eyes. At first i thought it might be an allergic reaction to shellfish since i had leftover bacon wrapped scallops for breakfast and lunch and shrimp for dinner. But I took those out of my diet and the itchiness continues. I stopped using my anti-wrinkle cream.
Today i only took my multivitamin and vit C and did not take all the other supplements i normally take on a daily basis. I have noticed that the discomfort has subsided.
I was wondering if any of these supplements may be causing the itchiness:
Vit D 6,000 iu
Super K
COQ10
Fish Oil
Potassium Citrate
Kelp
B100 Complex
Brazil nut
Thank you, Marci
@Marci Clearly its something in your supplements. I would buy ones without preservatives like Magnesium stearate, soy, wheat, and omega 6 oils. I bet that you have some of those in the supplements you bought.
I just tried the blink test, I can do about 120 blinks in 30 seconds!
@Eddie Your mood and dopamine levels should be pretty solid then. And you should be leptin sensitive with those numbers.
AdrianaG Says:
November 28th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
JanSz you are asking f
———–
I trust that you have not have meant it that way, but I felt your response as impolite.
Have you been nominated for a traffic controller? Show me your badge.
Any post, before it is posted, is moderated already.
.
Dr K – I've been reading your blog day and night for the last few weeks. I started the leptin reset about a week ago and have a few questions for you.
I had already been VLC being on an anti-candida diet and then GAPS for the last 18 months, so I feel as though most of my cravings are already gone. However, I started to notice an improvement in my sleep immediately after starting the leptin reset.
I had a VAP done with an HDL of 77, which as I understand it, does not indicate a major problem with my gut. I do have hypothyroidism (though I don't think it's Hashi's) and obvious liver/gallbladder issues. I've been reading about the connection there and am just fascinated.
My main problem at this point seems to be constipation and a lack of bile. I started adding coconut oil to my diet and that seems to really be exacerbating things for me. Any ideas why? I also tend to pass a lot of gallstones – that along with the lack of bile that causes clay/white stools tells me that I have some blocked ducts. Any suggestions on dealing with this? Will it resolve as I continue on the leptin reset protocol?
@Jean it does sound like you have a gallstone problem. A high fat paleo diet is best to reverse it in 6-12 months and to deal with the constipation and stool colors you need to consider higher dose oral magnesium and liberal use of epsom salt baths or pedicures. For the stool colors I would consider adding ox bile salts to your supplements while your unclogging your cystic duct. Avoid grains and carbs like the plague until you have reverse the gallstones.
"AdrianaG Says:
unrelated to 1. this blog post"
on this blog post one will find:
"This increased omega-6 plant oil consumption leads to the bone marrow producing excess
monocyte
cell types which reflect the plant oil toxicity on all tissues in the body, including the fat which develops the
Lipomas."
@Jansz I do not think liposarcoma is tied to the exact same mechanism that forms lipomas……but I do think an excess of omega 6's is a real risk for cancers. I think your stress level that happened at the same time was no coincidence. And I thought your question was fine.
Great post as usual.
Re the shin test for vitamin D sufficiency: How much pressure should one use on the shin test? Wouldn't a slender person necessarily feel more discomfort due to lack of body fat versus an overfat/obese person?
@Alexandra I use firm pressure on the shin with my reflex hammer of my thumb. Often that alone elicits pain from the periosteum of the soft bone. Fat or not most people have no fat over their shins and that is precisely why this is the best area to test for soft bone. There is no subcutaneous fat over our shin
I have the exact same question as Adriana – based on understanding that Vitamin A needs re-balancing as Vitamin D is increased – but there's warnings about the toxicity of overdoing Vitamin A supplementation, for example as found in Cod Liver Oil – Looking forward to your insight Dr. Kruse.
@Ian TO give you a definitive answer would require knowing some variables that I dont know. But I think if you can get it from food from a paleo template easy. It can be obtained from food in two different forms, pre-formed vitamin A is called retinol or retinal. It is found in animal sourced foods and it is the one I favor. It is also found in plant sources as a pro-vitamin A called beta carotene that is a a clear second choice because many do not have the machinery to convert it to the retinol form. The last choice is to supplement with a dose. 10000 IU is a safe dose for most but those who are taking a lot of D3 may need more. Those who have low D levels I usually use K2 to simultaneously to help raise it as well so we do not need higher doses of Vitamin A.
@ Selma- you may need to switch to emulsified D3 and up your dose. Many people with Hashimoto's have Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphism, meaning they don't manufacture and absorb it well, so they need higher doses to get their levels up.
Hashimoto's expert Dr. Datis Kharrazian says he likes Hashi's patients to get their D into the high end of normal in order to manage autoimmunity.
I cringe when you call it offal. LOL Liver sounds much more appetizing!
@Colleen I ate it for breakfast this AM. I see you all had some drama over that the HCG site huh?
@Erin – Thanks. I'll have a look at emulsified d3.
thank you Jack!
I started Vitamin D supplementation (haphazardly) and then used a ZRT at-home blood test for Vit D. Blood levels were 46 ng/ml. I then started supplementing with
D (10-15,000 IU/day),
A (10-20,000 IU/day), and
K2 (High vitamin butter oil, Kerry Gold grass-fed butter, and some K2 pills – pills only once a week – from Carlsons. They are 5mg of menatetrenone
Sometimes I take Blue Ice fermented Cod Fish Liver Oil
I will retest blood in March.
I noticed a big change in tarter on my teeth and could not figure it out. Now I know its the K2. I used to brush and floss daily, eat 80% paelo, but still suffer from excess tartar. It was so bad each night I would have to scrape it off my teeth with my finger nail. Now, there is hardly any at all. The change happened over night.
Dr K, any thoughts on my supplementation routine for getting Vit D to optimal (which I assume is 60-70).
@David I think your plan is a solid one. And your results on your teeth are not surprising at all.
sorry, a few stats: I'm caucasion, 185 lbs, 5'11", and 37yrs old. In good health.
I'm getting the impression from reading your posts that if you're post menopause you will have much more difficulty resetting leptin. Do you have any specific recommendations for women post menopause? Any partiuclar supplements? Do you have any opinion on natural progesterone creams?
@Ellen Most post menopausal women need to have their hormones optimized while they are doing the reset to really get to optimal. this is something that many women struggle with the doctors with and honestly I am at a loss why so many MD's are not up on the current treatment options available to women today. I had to go through the same issue with my own female family members and it is quite frustrating. Most are afraid of bio-identical HRT because of the terribly flawed Women's Health Study. I would tell you to see your provider about getting this done as soon as possible because optimal does depend upon your hormone status being optimal in the top quartile of the labs ranges
"We need to make sure we are getting enough of the fat soluble Vitamin A too as Vitamin D3 goes up. These two vitamins are metabolically coupled. This is probably the most common reason people have persistent bloating and cannot clear H Pylori or Candida infections from their guts when they transition to a paleo template."
Could you elaborate how vit D and vit A levels relate to candida?
@crepitus You asked a technical question so here comes some biochemistry………According to the World Health Organization and I quote: "Vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children and increases the risk of disease and death from severe infections." This includes all infections in many places. Why? Vitamin A, in the retinoic acid form, plays an important role in gene transcription and immune function with the Vitamin D receptor. The physiological form of retinoic acid (all-trans-retinoic acid) regulates gene transcription by binding to nuclear receptors known as retinoic acid receptors (RARs) which are bound to DNA as heterodimers with retinoid "X" receptors (RXRs). RXR's bind with the Vitamin D receptor to allow for proper immune surveillance in the gut and the skin. Vitamin A's RXR will form heterodimers with many other nuclear receptors as well, including the thyroid hormone receptor (RXR-TR), the Vitamin D3 receptor (RXR-VDR), the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (RXR-PPAR) and the liver "X" receptor (RXR-LXR) to alter receptor function. Vitamin A is also a cofactor for making all our steroids in the body. This is why Vitamin A is critical in protecting us from pathogens. Vitamin A is found in large quantities in the intestines because they are important in modulating the immune response at the Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissues (GALT) that I have blogged about in my autoimmune posts. I also mentioned this when I talked here in this blog about the inflammasomes. http://jackkruse.com/why-leaky-guts-lead-to-ms/ and in my leaky gut posts. Vitamin A is a co factor in the correct response to digested foods. When chyme is digested and crosses the intestinal barrier it must interact with the immune system (GALT), and the fats are broken down to their components like AA (arachidonic acid) and amino acids. In the intestinal submucosa, vitamin A is present and it creates the back round cellular "terroir" required for the immune system to react properly with digested chyme components to not cause an autoimmune reaction or a food intolerance.
Doc, there is always drama on a forum. LOL some thought we were too gung ho about your ideas but that's okay. We can lead a horse to water. . .
Wow; I love this post! Thank you! It raises so many questions for me as I try to understand the implications.
1. My D used to be 23 (63 after 6mo of supp'ing 6000IU/day), but I don't remember this pain.
2. Will twice/monthly offal + regular grassfed butter + 3 pastured egg yolks/day + 1/4tsp fermented Blue Ice CLO provide sufficient vitamin A to balance the D? I know all of these have D, too, in the naturally occurring ratios, so I'm not sure if it can correct a balance that is already off. Or perhaps a daily balance matters more than correcting past imalances?
3. I don't seem to have night vision problems that I'm aware of, but I do have persistent, stubborn stubborn bloating despite HCl correction, fermented foods, GAPS, zero carb (anti-candida diet is a natural result of this), and an HDL of 80.
4. Even with all those products mentioned above (naturally rich in K2), I have tartar on incisors. Could this also indicate potassium, Mg, or phosphorous issues?
5. I've heard that if you need zinc, zinc supplements will taste very good to you.
6. What do you mean by "ridges" in the feet? I get very cracked foot skin occasionally. I don't have spoon-shaped nails, but I do have ALL of the other signs you mention for anemia – yet my ferritin is 142 & my hematocrit is 13.1. I have lots of signs of B12 deficiency, too, yet my B12 is 798 – near the top of the lab range, although below your recommended 1000.
7. Are your B signs for excess or deficiency – or a little of both? E.g., looks like what you have for B3 is excess and B5 is deficiency?
8. My monocyte count was 8%. The lab range is 4.0 – 13, yet you're recommending <3.5%? (My absolute is .4.)
Mercury test is *fascinating*. I will jump on the brazil nuts immediately. I hate 'em. Got a favorite way to get them down?
I am coming to Nashville; it's just a matter of when! I think I'll combine it with a trip to Dave Ramsey after I pay off my house. (soon!)
Jean – maybe you could try topical application of magnesium (Mg) oil? If you google this oil you'll find many sites with a lot of info on its benefits as well as places to buy it. It's very concentrated so you only need a little each time. I rub a small amount on my skin (best in a bony area like the knees) as part of the total amount of Mg I take daily (the rest is in oral form).
Mg oil is not really an oil – it's a saturated solution of Mg chloride in water + trace elements. It feels a bit oily going on but that feeling disappears immediately. It can also be sprayed on, is used as a massage oil, to relieve muscle pain, etc… But it is a way of delivering Mg that does not produce some of the adverse effects of oral Mg (diarrhea if too much taken).
I don't believe there are any safety concerns with this liquid. A very good book on the subject is "The Magnesium Miracle" by Carolyn Dean.
Thanks for the response Dr. K. I’ll definitely take your advice and stick with a high fat paleo diet. Only problem is I cannot tolerate oral magnesium at all. It turns my stools black and gives me extreme kidney pain. I do take a few drops of Fulvic Acid Ionic minerals daily, but I’m sure that’s not giving me much Mg. Anything else you’d suggest?
I do try to take epsom salt baths at least 3-4 times a week, but lately I’m finding that they actually make me nauseous. Any idea why?
_________________________________
@Jean it does sound like you have a gallstone problem. A high fat paleo diet is best to reverse it in 6-12 months and to deal with the constipation and stool colors you need to consider higher dose oral magnesium and liberal use of epsom salt baths or pedicures. For the stool colors I would consider adding ox bile salts to your supplements while your unclogging your cystic duct. Avoid grains and carbs like the plague until you have reverse the gallstones.
Is it possible to teach us how to interpret a blood panel? What to look for and
what the numbers mean?
@Brenner I kind of think my blog is doing this. This is why at times it is very hard to follow if you do not understand the biochemistry. I would suggest getting a biochem book and reading it.
@Judy Great email! The short answer to your low salivary AM cortisol levels are this: I personally advocate increasing exposure to AM sunlight and max out the darkness at sunset by sleeping with an eye mask. Why? This is precisely how light levels control the circadian rhythm for cortisol in utero and why I use the light cycles in how I live after the Leptin Rx is completed. I am not a big advocate of using carbs to do it. Its too messy and does not work as well as the light sensors in our retina and lateral geniculate nucleus. This maneuver helps us reset the circadian cortisol cycle by allowing for optimal cortisol levels during daybreak and low cortisol at night. This also allows for optimal leptin function too because cortisol and leptin are supposed to oppose each other when one is high and the other low. It is also key to avoid living and working in semidarkness during the day. I have a radiologist patient whose cortisol could not be solved by four other doctors without steroid replacement. When I told him about the light cycle trick he was able to get off all exogenous steroids in 3 weeks and now is feeling pretty solid.
@HS4 Carolyn Dean's book is awesome on Magnesium. Needs to be updated but its solid.
Hi Dr. Kruse – I read about cilantro chelating mercury many years ago and wondered why this story wasn't more well known. I searched many sites and most of them had similar stories, about a Japanese dr that found his patients' urine contained much more mercury after eating a soup with lots of cilantro.
I copied the Dr's name into a search engine and found that a Japanese American
@Momma Grok 1. My D used to be 23 (63 after 6mo of supp'ing 6000IU/day), but I don't remember this pain. YOu would not remember if it was not tested for by pushing on your shin. Most people have no idea that is how old school docs checked for rickets.
2. Will twice/monthly offal + regular grassfed butter + 3 pastured egg yolks/day + 1/4tsp fermented Blue Ice CLO provide sufficient vitamin A to balance the D? I know all of these have D, too, in the naturally occurring ratios, so I'm not sure if it can correct a balance that is already off. Or perhaps a daily balance matters more than correcting past imbalances? Short answer…….maybe. Depends upon a lot of variables.
3. I don't seem to have night vision problems that I'm aware of, but I do have persistent, stubborn stubborn bloating despite HCl correction, fermented foods, GAPS, zero carb (anti-candida diet is a natural result of this), and an HDL of 80. Tells me the gut has issues…..no way to tell without cyrex labs, metametrix, or Genova profiles. Ask your PCP to get them or order them yourself. You dont need a doc to get them now.
4. Even with all those products mentioned above (naturally rich in K2), I have tartar on incisors. Could this also indicate potassium, Mg, or phosphorous issues? K2 and your gut is what it means to me……not surprising considering the bloating you mentioned.
5. I've heard that if you need zinc, zinc supplements will taste very good to you.
Yes……
6. What do you mean by "ridges" in the feet? I get very cracked foot skin occasionally. I don't have spoon-shaped nails, but I do have ALL of the other signs you mention for anemia – yet my ferritin is 142 & my hematocrit is 13.1. I have lots of signs of B12 deficiency, too, yet my B12 is 798 – near the top of the lab range, although below your recommended 1000. Cracked feet or mottled skin on feet that is dry
7. Are your B signs for excess or deficiency – or a little of both? E.g., looks like what you have for B3 is excess and B5 is deficiency? Deficiency
8. My monocyte count was 8%. The lab range is 4.0 – 13, yet you're recommending <3.5%? (My absolute is .4.) Its a clinical marker if your monocytes are consistently that low to look for it……
Mercury test is *fascinating*. I will jump on the brazil nuts immediately. I hate 'em. Got a favorite way to get them down? Chew them…..?
Oops, finger slipped, to continue…
A Japanese American dr — with the exact same name as was listed in the cilantro articles — was practicing in the US (don't remember which state, sorry). I found some kind of clinic that this dr was working at, and no where on the that clinic's site was cilantro mentioned.
It made me wonder why a dr wouldn't want to be associated with such a discovery. Could it be that maybe the cilantro that his patients ate had been growing in mercury-laden soil, therefore causing the spike in his patients' urine?
Personally, I'd love for it to be true, but would also like more proof than patients' urine with higher concentrations of mercury after eating soup with cilantro. Now if the cilantro were tested for mercury BEFORE someone ate it, then their urine had high concentrations, that would be awesome, and more believable.
Thanks for letting me know I need to up our Vit A intake, since we're supplementing with 5000mg Vit D3.
Dr. K,
you talk about sustained Ketogenic diets for certain groups like neurodegenerative diseases? I am trying this with my dad…i am trying the coconut oil? Nothing seems to be working…
I guess what I am asking is have you had anybody in a full blown neurodegenerative disease come out of it…something that kick starts the brain to grow again…any example?
@Brenner no one with a full blown neurodegenerative disease comes out of it with just coconut oil. It improves a bad situation. The best play is avoiding the things that put you in that spot to begin with.
THANK YOU for the answers, and also for the response to Judy about fixing low AM cortisol.
"Tells me the gut has issues…..no way to tell without cyrex labs, metametrix, or Genova profiles."
Is any one of these preferred over the others? This is next on my list.
"I do have ALL of the other signs you mention for anemia – yet my ferritin is 142 & my hematocrit is 13.1. I have lots of signs of B12 deficiency, too, yet my B12 is 798 – near the top of the lab range, although below your recommended 1000."
Are there other possible explanations for all these anemia-mimicking symptoms with #'s like these that seem to say no anemia is present?
"8. My monocyte count was 8%. The lab range is 4.0 – 13, yet you're recommending <3.5%? (My absolute is .4.)" "Its a clinical marker if your monocytes are consistently that low to look for it……"
I just want to be sure I understand what we're looking for… the lab range says you should be above 4.0, but you say you should be below 3.5?
Much of my Thanksgiving Day was spent in gratitude for the health improvements that have come from *your* work, Dr. K. Thank you!
For 20 years I have had my teeth cleaned professionally every 2-3 months. Been on Vit K for about 2 months with an increase of dosage from the 15 micro gram to the 5 mg about a week ago. As an added benifit it would be great if my tarter buildup slows down to an appreciable degree. My dental hygentist will be shocked.
I've resisted asking for free medical advice, but since this seems relevant and may help others, here goes:
My wife (56yo, always been thin, lactose intolerant, IBS), started having bone pain and wrist tendonitis almost a year ago. After reading your blogs last summer, I found her labs showed severe Vit D deficiency (7ng/ml) for several years. She went to her doctor who put her on 50,000IU D2 for 12 weeks. When she retested in August, her D was 55ng/ml. Doc never mentioned follow-on supplements, only that she was now 'cured'. She started taking 10,000IU D3 on her own. Her bone pain is gone, but the wrist tendonitis remains very painful. She is considering cortisone injections on advice from PT nurse who has been doing occupational therapy. I contend that she needs to get her D3 optimal and it will resolve itself. Any advice?
Not bad Jack.
You didn't mention that D3 is aromatase inhbitor too.
I doubt coffee is THAT important in magnesium deficiency since it is rich in it (1 cup has ~100mg).
Thank you Dr.K for your great response! What supplementation source would you recommend for vit A besides the natural food sources? Fermented Cod Liver oil?
@crepitus Liver and eggs are great sources. Spinach and cabbage are great for veggies. I eat offal twice a week and eggs 4 times a week.
From your statement about mercury and your dentist's office, I assume you still have mercury fillings?
You don't recommend to have them removed?
@Owl if they are in an fine it is more damaging to remove them and replace them. And here is a bigger kicker…….some replace it with plastic composite that has BPA in it. Gold inlays and onlays are inert but only done on the West Coast these days.
Thank you for yet another fantastic article, Dr Kruse!
What is your take about copper? With greying hair at age 33, I am interested in remedies and I have heard that it might be due to a copper deficiency.
@Erik copper is rarely a problem unless you have a horrible gut/liver. Most greying is due to aging of hair follicle melanocytes. It can be slowed of you employ a leptin reset diet the uses longevity principles. I have not wrote about that yet. its coming.
@Dr. K:
Regarding the eye mask you use at night — I've tried this so many times but the total blackout seems to make me more groggy in the am because there is no gradual lightening of the room. Did this ever happen to you and did it subside with time?
@Alexandra For me this was not an issue. But for my wife it was……we installed a lutron remote control switch that is linked to a light sensor and problem solved for her. Cost was around 30 bucks.
Why doesn't widely acknowledged vitamin D expert Dr. Holick talk about supplementing with vitamin A and D is increased? In his book the Vitamin D Solution, he says that no supplementation of any kind is necessary.
@V I believe when he wrote his book all the science we now know was not known. As science unfolds so does our knowledge. It is then up to us to adjust and evolve. If you read an old book and its advice seems odd it is not because its wrong but more likely it is old and not congruent with the new context that new science reveals.
I mean "as Vitamin D is increased.."
In his book the Vitamin D Solution, Dr. Holick says that you don't need to supplement with anything in tandem with vitamin D. Just calcium if that is your concern.
@ V…….OK……you have to go with your gut or instinct on this……Holick or me. Opinion vs our biochemistry? This is not my opinion. It is a biologic truth that as we increase D3 supplementation we need more Vitamin A. I make no axiomatic statements……I let you the reader be a skeptic and decide for yourself.
Can you please elaborate more about estrogen? I seem to be having an issue with it. I have painful periods and migraines that come around the same time every month, a few days before the period and sometimes also a few days after.
I've done the Leptin reset and currently on paleo diet. I've tested D levels and it's around 47, tested Omega 3 vs 6 range and it's great too. I eat liver for vitamin A. I take B 100 vitamins, resveratol, magnesium, selenium, e, zinc. I tested my cortisol and it was fine too. My cholesterol is great, I have no other health issues. I work out with weights ones a week and do sprints sometimes. I'm thin and never been overweight.
I've had my migraine issues for years now. It's a bit better lately, but I'm wondering if you can recommend something else to normalize my estrogen levels? or something else to help my migraines?
thank you very much.
@AnnaK Sounds like sex steroid hormone imbalance and a Magnesium issue. Testing should reveal it all. You need to look up Colleen Coble on the MDA thread. She suffered for 30 yrs with this until she found the light. She would be a great person for you to speak with it. She is a gracious with her experience at the MDA thread and her experience is congruent with mine. Sadly few OB/GYNS see it as we do.
Great interview Dr K.! Thanks. I am on the reset now, going on 3 weeks. My sleep felt like it was improving, deeper sleep and not feeling groggy upon waking… the i added mag in the MALATE form… took that before bed and would wake up feeling very tired and groggy, limbs very heavy. Is this an indication of something? it felt as bad as my old adrenal fatigue / chronic fatigue days. haven't taken it again, should i stay away?
I've been supplementing w/K2 since August… and my tarter problem on my teeth improved to the point the only place I had tarter was on the back molars of my bottom jaw…looking fwd to seeing what things look like again in May – I'm expecting not tarter at that check up.
Both my tartar build- up and staining have improved significantly since I started adding liver in with the Vitamin K 2. I have also been addressing leaky gut issues which I supect also affected the ability to metabolize it.
Dr. K – I have been doing the reset for 4 weeks and doing great. I was very low in Vit D prior to starting and had terrible bone pains and "tennis elbow" from lifting heavy things. Now my Vit D is 65ng, up from 11! Bone pain easing, but tennis elbow still awful. I had cortisone shots that eased it for a couple weeks, but now right back to where it was. I'm worried this will effect the reset as it effects sleep and general mood. Do you recommend cortisone shots? It seems to be my dr's go-to answer for pain.
@Rogg I used to like to use steroid injections for things like this but I stopped liking them when I realized the effect it had on adipocytes, leptin and the immune system. I try to use other more natural antiinflammatories like Krill Oil and Fish oil that dont carry major side effects but take longer to work.
Anna, I just saw your comment. I sympathize, honey. I was there for decades as Doc mentioned. I read a book called The Migraine Cure by Dr Dzugan and realized migraines are hormonal. Before I got the book, I read this article in LIfe Extension magazine: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/dec2006_cover…
Balance the hormones and they are gone. Unfortunately, just the diet alone can't fix all the hormonal issues. The good news is that there are many anti aging clinics out there now who seem to have some insight into bioidentical hormones.
As Doc said, you for sure need magnesium. You also need progesterone and maybe even estrogen. Blood work would tell for sure. Pregnenolone too and dhea most likely. The good news is that there are some anti aging clinics out there now that prescribe bioidentical hormones. Some are good and some aren't but at least you have some choices. Run a search for some in your area. Or if you're close to Nashville, go see Dr. Kruse!
Hi dr. Kruse,
I know it's not related to the post 100% but I hope you can answer with generosity.
I got a phone call from my doctor today that I should not take B6 because my blood test on B6 came back extremely high. I told her that I don't take any vitamin b6 or anything whatsoever, she was never concerned. What can cause high b6? What does it indicate?
Thank you so much in advance.
@Hiri Vitamin B6 is involved with more than 100 enzymatic reactions in humans, its function in the body is diverse and far-reaching. It is involved in protein and carbohydrate metabolism and synthesis of all nucleic acids for replication. The newest finding is that B6 is a co factor in clearing excess inflammation form many sources like excess omega 6 tissue content, obesity, chronic cortisol elevations and excessive series two prostaglandins seen in leptin resistance. Researchers are not yet clear on the mechanisms involved yet, but repeated studies have shown that vitamin B6 is required to minimize risk of unwanted inflammation in the body. Your elevation could be from exogenous sources or could signal that you have an an extremely serum level of Highly Sensitive CRP (inflammation from some source) that is decreasing your need for B6. I am not aware of any "negative" medical condition from an elevated B6 level. I do know that if one uses exogenous supplementation that exceeds two grams of B6 a day can cause some toxic neurologic reactions but it is close to impossible to get over 2 gms daily of B6 from food. If your have a an exogenous source it is possible. I do know that most neolithic diseases make our RDA go up in the stratosphere for B6.
Dr. Kruse,
Could you say more about your feelings on ideal ferritin levels for men? I ask because most of the forward-thinking docs out there are recommending LOWERING ferritin as far as you can without dipping into deficiency, usually aiming for around 50ng/mL, whereas you seem to talk mostly about RAISING levels.
This is an important question for me because I have developed serious problems with blood sugar regulation which a VLC paleo diet — including one month now on your leptin reset protocol — has not resolved. I have read claims (e.g. from Anthony Colpo) that reducing ferritin through phlebotomy can dramatically improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. My ferritin is currently 120ng/mL and I have been considering donating blood to see if it will have any positive result. Perhaps it's a long shot but I am becoming desperate and don't know what else to do. I am not at all overweight and tested negative for islet cell and GAD antibodies, but I am still watching myself descend rapidly into full-blown diabetes despite my every attempt to take the bull by the horns.
Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks so much for your time!
@MM I think you might have mischaracterizered or misunderstood what I said. A paleo diet of any type is loaded with Iron because of all the offal and skeletal meat. So you will have plenty of Iron substrate. That is where the idea of a higher ferritin comes from. In women with a period they have a built in safety valve. Men and post menopausal women do not. This can be handled with bleeding yourself as you mention or more simply using coffee at the same time with you heavy iron meals. Coffee also helps insulin sensitivity from two fronts. It blocks Iron absorption in the gut and has chlorogenic acid in it that also improves IR. Iron levels are important for those with hypothyroid problems as I laid out in several blogs in the past.
Dr. K,
Did u know about this website?
http://www.functionalmedicine.org/
I got this from a Ted Post that Robb made on FB
B
Dr. Kruse,
Thank you for your reply. So do you have any thoughts on how I might proceed in terms of labs (or self-experimentation or anything else) in order to pin down why I am losing blood sugar control so rapidly? Again, I am lean and the autoimmune antibody tests I have done (islet, GAD, thyroid) have all come back negative. HS-CRP and CRP are extremely low, and 24hr saliva cortisol is normal.
Many thanks again!
Dr. Kruse,
I am female, Russian-Ukranian, 37, 5'3'', 108 lbs as of this morning. I have been on Leptin reset for about 4 weeks in October, have gained 5-7 lbs! This fat is mostly around my waist and it is 2 inches bigger now then before Leptin RX! I am steadily gaining lbs eating BAB, lowish carb, some days zero cabs, no fruits, coffee 3-4 times/week with drops of heavy cream, tea, offal, fish, eggs, grassfed beef, pastured butter, some coconut oil…Could never tolerate amounts of nuts. I want to be optimal, but gaining weight is not my idea about optimal health!
I started eating Paleo in spring 2011, prior to that about 3 years of raw vegan, 4 months frutarian during that time. I lost my period right around then for 3-4 months, weight was down to 89-93 lbs. All my life since late teens I have been in the range of 102-107 lbs, grew up eating W.A. Price style, have been border anemic, very fatigued, battled acne since 14 y.o. My skin is better now than when I was vegan, but I still have pimples and dry flacky redness around my nostrils (rosacea/eczema/dermititis?). Ridges on some fingernails. Pain in the fingers, also craking joints when I do yoga 2-3 times/week.
In Dec. 2008 (right after became raw vegan)
Chol 140 Trigl 42
HDL 55 LDL 81
Glucose 94 TSH 1.37 Free T4 1.1
Ferritin 23.3 B12 402
Dec 2010 blood work
Chol 164 Trigl 99
HDL 60 LDL 84
fasting Glucose 88
Urea Nitrogen serum only 4!
B12 198 Ferritin 15
TSH 2.45
Doctors give up on me saying I am fine as I don't look unhealthy to them and advise to rest more and eat more… well, I do!
My main issue is skin and I suspect low thyroid? I have been taking your recommended supplements for about 2 months. Normaly have always had low blood pressure around 90-s over 54…Have had very bad constipation since the start of Leptin reset having BM 1-2/week. It is a bit better not, but BM feels incomplete every time. I want to get optimal now at 37, so I don't get suprise later on with T2D, stroke, etc.. Any of your recommendations/thoughts are highly appreciated! Thank you very much, Doctor!
@Nadya The Leptin RX reset is not for you. You do not meet the major criteria to do it!!! You do not appear to be LR! The place for you to start is here at this post…….this is your ideal starting spot! http://jackkruse.com/so-you-completed-the-leptin-…
Please keep me informed of how you do and I think it is way cool that we have reached into Russia!!!
Very useful post. Printed to digest it.
"skin spots that are bright cherry red and raised", it's 'funny'. I asked that to my dermatologist a couple of years ago, the first time I saw a couple of them on my chest. I was told, it was nothing, a simple question of age…. so difficult to find good doctors. Now I have to get a history to convince a doctor to have a prescription to measure estrogen…
@Jack
a bit unrelated… but do you know if having one or two little blisters on the lower lip from time to time, which appears and disappear out of the blue without any apparent damage, are related to something I should check?.
Thanks. Santiago
@Santiago Blistering lips can be a lot of things. The next time they show up you should photo them with your phone and post them somewhere so we can see them to try to biohack you. The most common cause is Herpes Simplex 1 vesicles on the lips due to increased cortisol of decreased vitamin D levels. The second one is could be apthus ulcerations which are also stress related but usually intra orally found.
@ MM Losing blood sugar control fast can be a sign of many things. There is no way to get to the bottom of it without testing and your doc. Thinking out loud, low intracellular Mg levels (exatest), LR, High 06/3 content on tissue and serum, a leaky gut, hepatic disease undiagnosed, environmental toxin exposure, unknown MSG exposure from foods are some off the top of my head for you and your doc to consider.
Ex-pat Brit living in Lusaka, Zambia. A foreigner with a job can eat and live like a king here, unfortunately it made me very slothful. I did the reset with wonderful results and have been following the Primal Blueprint since. Question: Are there any things to look for at home that would indicate elevated cortisol? I feel sometimes I'm overdoing my PB workouts and have stalled a bit with fat loss. I notice when I slack off on the daily walks or eat a bit more than I feel I should, I counter-intuitively lose weight. I've heard excess cortisol can cause problems like this and wonder how to test for in at home.
@Simon. I have a Cortisol blog in the que…….not sure when it will go live but it wont be too long. Decemeber is a busy month so I wont be doing a ton of new writing just refining many of the blogs I have written. I think you will find the cortisol post illuminating.
Dr. Kruse,
I know you are just thinking out loud but these leads are more valuable than I can say. Especially Exatest, as I have been concerned about Mg and supplementing to bowel tolerance but have not been able to find a meaningful way to test. Thank you!
The only thing I think I can rule out from your list is O6/3, as I had that tested and was shocked at how good it was (less than 2:1).
The MSG possibility may be closest to the mark, as I have good reason to believe that my problems were triggered by serious excitotoxicity. You have said that HPA damage is one of the hardest things to fix, and I fear that this may be precisely the boat that I am in.
Thank you again — very much!
I appreciate your answer for me yesterday. If very high b6 level indicates excess inflammation I wouldn't be surprised. I've been having multiple medical problems: I've been diagnosed with Lupus, Spondylo-arthritis, PCOS, Celiac, IBS, Kidney Inflammation(and Infection), Pancreatic insufficiency, Chronic transient Small bowel intussusception, Thyroditis, Several Enviromental Allergies and Asthma, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Gastric Motility disorder, and the last thing is that I was told by my gastrologist this week that I have Leaky Gut.
Doctors have been debated about my condition as to whether what I have really is lupus or not or if it's another systemic inflammatory disease like MS. The only thing every doctors agree each other is that I have severe inflammation that manifests systemically.
My symptoms are Blurred Vision(i get occasional sudden blurred vision on-sets that last hours or days), Pins and needles on legs, arms, Hip bone pain, Unexplained hands swelling with heat sensation, Blurred vision, Water retention on legs especially, Shoes don't fit, Migraine headache, Irregular periods, Numerous intestinal problems, Dry skin, Forgetfulness, Easy Bruises, Scars that don't heal, Dizziness, Pounding head, Blood sugar goes from high to low, low to high like a roller coaster, Swelling of Glands (armpits), Muscle stiffness, Clumsy hands dropping things all the time, Fingers swelling, Knees soreness, Gassy stomach, Intestinal bloating, Fatigue, Joint Pain, slight Shortness of Breath, Photosensitivity, Itchy skin, Darkened skin(slightly yellow skin), Unable to process much water intake-I get sick if i drink more than a cup of water, legs get swollen.
Blood vessels became very visibly sticking out on the skin.
etc..
Most of all, I feel very sick, dull, dizzy, in pain, all day.every day,
I've always been thin framed in my life although the water retention thing makes
the bottom parts of my body very swelling, puffy looking compare to my chest area.
I used to take Prednisone but did not help much. I can't eat anything without it. I used to be on IV fluid instead of food, because I couldn't let go down any solid food, I could start eating once I got rid of Gluten in diet, nevertheless, I still have many of the digestion problems remained. I also used to get mild ellipses at sleep which is in "remission" now.
I have very low Vit D level, very low ferritin level(not being fixed with Iron supplement of 10 months!), Anemic, Low C3, Low Vit A, Fat in stool, Ketone and billirubin in urine, all kinds of Antibodies, Thyroid Panels not too off but still, none normal, extremely high Vit B12 and B6(I don't take supplements) and many more abnormalities on blood tests that make 100 pages.
Everything started suddenly one day and I'm only in my 30's. I've been in and out of hospital last 2 years yet, doctors haven't succeeded on treating me back to health. there is not even one solid diagnosis. I personally don't think that I have Lupus (3 doctors think I do and 2 docs think I don't) or is what i have MS…?
What do I have?…I mean, What can I do to help myself?
I can't express enough appreciation towards your help. Thank you!
@Hiri I am not sure what afflicts you but I am quite sure that if you eat a strict paleo template you will be better by doing so. To get you right would require a lot o serious biohacking. Many of the meds your on are not helping your gut. I think your first focus should be the diet. Then weaning the meds. Then strengthening the immune system. You should never give up. There is an answer even if we are not sure where to find it. Some times we have to burn bridges to get progress. The light of those fires may be the beacon to a new understanding.
nadya, i'm not a doctor or even someone with a heavy scientific background. i have just been reading and asking questions to try to handle my own problems. one of which was iron deficiency anemia which i believe was brought on by heavy periods, although i don't know what precipitated the heavy periods.
do you have heavy periods? also, as for any testing of iron/ferritin- i would test at the same time in my cycle. for example, try to have all your blood work done on the 20th day of your cycle. that way your iron stores will be more comparable from test to test.
Dr.K:
After dropping 45lbs following your leptin protocol, the old bugaboo of anixiety/panic has crept back into my world. Any advice on how to stay the course while resuming meds and continuing to lose the last 40lbs. Would be much appreciated. In fact, it might help my anxiety…..
@Vince I would say this is rather common because in wieght loss and especially if you are suing the Leptin Rx reset you are altering genetic expression of things hard wired into your limbic system that controls emotions and anxiety. I would stay the course but consider upping you fish oil intake with a double or a triple in dose. I would also tell you we are in the worse time of the yr for light cycles and this greatly effects depression and anxiety in many. Light decreases cortisol and increases T3. In decrease light levels from Nov and Dec we are more prone to changes in mood and anxiety. So consider adding a light box, upping your vitamin D3 and maybe exercising more in the light and not at night. you also must let your retina see some sun this time of the yr. It is critical.
so even though sunlight in nj in november is not capable of helping to generate vitamin d in the skin, it is still very important nonetheless. i make sure i walk around at least a little bit outside without my glasses on, even though everything is super blurry. i wonder how the blind are affected. also, i seem to recall reading that people in comas still follow a sleep-wake cycle. how is that possible?
@V this may shock you but most blind people "see light" The only ones who can not are the blind who have their eyes totally destroyed from trauma or congenital defects of the afferent visual pathways. The light is not perceived by the visual cortex but it registers first in the suprachiasmatic nucleus right above the pituitary gland at the distal end of our optic nerves before it ever registers in the visual cortex. The light then hits the lateral geniculate nucleus in the brainstem and there connects to the leptin receptors in the hypothalmus before the visual cortex ever registers the sensory perception of light yet again. So must blind people do actually have a light cycle circadian rhythm but do not perceive light. There is a massive difference. Those who have damage to the anterior visual tracts that block the light before the brainstem synapses still perceive light from their skin. This is why just a penlight shown on your skin behind your knee for 1 second can abolish the conversion of melatonin from serotonin. Once this happens it has been shown that this directly reffects of our circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and shifts it and changes the two genes that control internal clock keeping. This is one way light can disrupt the normal leptin cycle. It is also why most people with sleep apnea tend to obese. Their light/sleep cycles are uncoupled from leptin circadian cycles. This is why my Leptin Rx reset will allow people to sleep better as they lose weight and why they find they no longer need an alarm clock to wake up after several months. See brain surgery without a knife is cool like that.
thanks for the great interview, Dr. Kruse
@Dr. K: thanks for responding…it means a lot that you take the time to converse with your followers…Hey, are you a Predators fan?
V, thank you for your thoughts, it makes sense to have test done at the same day of the cycle and I remember you mentioned that before. I used to have very heavy periods especially after the birth of my daughter, but with starting Paleo they seem less heavy.
Thanks for all the information. I have small cherry red spots that are not elevated. I have had them since around my menopause. Does this still mean hormone problems? Do they go away when the hormone problems are over?
So you have reached the Netherlands too.
@Marijke I had these on my torso and they have been reduced by 90% over the last five yrs. Most of my patients have not been paleo/leptin Rx reset as long as me so I cant generalize it but I think it is a safe bet to say they will go as hormones and inflammation become in optimal ranges. Cool in the Netherlands!
Dr. K.
You have done a wonderful thing by providing all of this free health information and giving of your time to help others. Thank you. Have been slowly reading through all the posts and have a question about Hashimoto's. You say it's a problem with methylation. Would taking DMG or TMG help? Along with fixing the leaky gut of course.
@Jay without know all the particulars its hard to say 100% but most cases have at is core a leaky gut, altered gut immunity and poor Mineral absorption, higher inflammation and lowered hormonal status. Poor methylation is usually a core problem in most cases.
too bad most swimming pools are much warmer than Mark Phelps' 50 degrees; Germans & Scandinavians do something called a Wechselbad, going from hot to cold water repeatedly–the cold water seems to stimulate GH, not sure what the warm water does…
just found this page, in case anyone else here does not know it–
http://tinyurl.com/Dr-Kruse-References
for months now I have been trying to do the leptin reset, but I never get past a few days or at the outside a week before I succumb to one of the forbidden foods
worst of all, when I fall off the wagon I tend to binge on sugars & grains
I feel like a crack addict
dr. k, right after finishing 'z-pak' antibiotics, i have been on antibiotics for a urinary tract infection. i will take my last pill tomorrow. what can i do to start building up the gut flora that was killed off by the antibiotics? can the regular store bought probiotic yogurt help me? it's usally filled with sugar, so would plain yogurt from say stonyfield farms be my best bet? or should i order a specialty product off the internet? thanks as always. ps i have also just begun 50,000 iu a week for 8 weeks of drisdol since my vitamin d was 28. i'm also going to do the sperti lamp after i'm done my last antibiotic.
ps thanks for the interesting info on the blind and circadian rhythms.
Hi, thanks for your amazing work.
My aunt is suffering from debilitating sciatica. 2 MRI's show multiple disc problems, foramen narrowing, stenosis, and more. Lots of injuries lifting patients as an ICU nurse for 40 yrs. Her EMG is in a week.
She has been on a Ketogenic diet which has successfully treated a brain problem for the last year. She has added krill oil, d3, and most of your recommended supplements. Her weight was normal – bmi 20 until the pain stopped her and she is now gaining.
Do you do internet or phone consults? So that at least she could be properly prepared for surgery (last option)(she is in Wisconsin)
Thanks
So, this will be kindof fun. Just had some bloodwork done (including D, Bs, A, K, HS-CRP, Omega 6/3, so I will get to compare my "at home" tests with the blood ones.
I have always had sensitive shins – feels like they are bruised, but not as bad as in the past. Are shin splints related to Vit D, too? I've already noticed my Vit D supplementation has helped my mood, but how long does it take to help bone?
And what can you learn from looking at the lower eyelids and tongue? My doc always does this, but doesn't explain.
Dr. K,
Found a 2010 article off of Medscape
'Insights into Neurogenesis and Aging:
Potentail Therapy for Degenerative Disease'
Robert Marr; Roseanne Thomas, Daniel Peterson
Future Neurology. 2010;5(4):527-541
talks about gene therapy to 'modify cells and engineer
environments' has been developed …for 'therapeutic use
in the clinc'…but where and who is doing this …
the article doesnt say
V- if you are having problems with UTI then a terrific nutrient that knocks it out quickly is d-mannose, a sugar that keeps bacteria from sticking to urinary tract. Works very well including from taking it when just feeling initial 'possible' symptoms all the way to full fledged UTI. The amount of d-mannose needed per day is probably not enough sugar to interfere with paleo or low carb eating. It can be bought as a powder or in capsules. Some women who have persistent problems with UTI take a small amount of d-mannose daily whether needed or not. My daughter and I have found that keeping carbs down means rare if any UTIs.
I guess you can replenish good bacteria with either probiotic supplements or plain yogurts (besides Stonyfield Farm there should be good local yogurts, and maybe sheeps milk yogurt (a very good one is Redwood Hill Farm)) – is there a Whole Foods near you? They usually carry good local yogurts as well as the ones available nationally. BTW, I've always thought that it's a good idea to either eat a lot of plain yogurt or take probiotics at the same time as antibiotics. Seems to reduce problems though I don't know if there is actually any basis to this.
thx HS4
Any chance you would consider adding a forum to your site? It would make discussions with other readers (and you) a LOT easier.
@Darleen I thought about it but I like the comment format better and it answers the questions in a controlled fashion. I have no time to moderate MB fights.
well, that's what moderators are for, but it's your blog. I just thought it would be easier to carry on discussions and not have to hunt for things. I'm always amazed at how much you actually DO on this blog. Where EVER do you find the time?
@Darleen I have now reconsidered it. I am talking to my web masters about it. I think the idea has some merit if I can structure it right. Lots of changes are occurring in the Optimized Life because of many of your requests. Thanks for helping me see the light on this.
Hi Dr. Kruse I have had a myriad of unexplained apparently neurological balance, vision issues over the past few years, the worst being a year long descent from able bodied, to walking with a cane, to a walker and finally a motorized scooter to stay mobile a year and a half ago. I was thirty eight years old at the time. Two neurologists and an MRI later and they told me it was all in my head-I did get better gradually and I am fully funtional now. During this time they also discovered that I had a severe magnesium deficiancy, but never offered an explanation as to why, I take magnesium and I am starting to try to find clues on my own as to what I am putting in my body that might be causing issues. I stopped using all dairy for about 30 days, when I reintruduced it to my diet in small portions I noticed a definate increase in body odour, I am hoping this is concrete sign that I am reactive to dairy. I am on day five of my Leptin reset after a 35 day round of HCG and thirty pounds lost. I dont have jumping spasms in my muscles anymore so I am thinking my magnesium is good but would like to try and find more clues as to what my body needs and does not need during this time. Any ideas or things I should look out for would be helpful.
Thanks for considering Darleen's suggestion Jack. I think having your own forum is a great idea. Hope you can work it out soon.
There are at least a couple of us fans who are moderators/admin at other sites who would be happy to help keep the peace on your forum if you did one.
@Donna I may need that kind of volunteered help if we do this
I'll stay tuned.
Actually, it may be possible to merge the new forum that I admin with your site. We have a lot of your stuff on our site. Email me if you want to take a look.
@Donna what is the URL?
I've got some of my new blood result work today. My Primary doesn't know what to make of. She's referring to a neurologist but I thought it was good to ask your opinion before I go to any specialist- basically, here we are not reading something hidden behind this now or we can't read between the line in this abnormalities. I will appreciate your opinion on this. thank you.
GLUCOSE 108 HI
CHOLESTEROL 202 HI
T3 (THYRONINE), TOTAL 67 LOW
ANTI-TPO Ab 45 HI
LDL CHOLESTEROL 106 HI
VITAMIN B 12 1270 HI – I'm not taking vitamin b.
COMPLEMENT C3 76 LOW
HOMOCYSTEINE, SERUM 4.8 LOW
T3, FREE 2.3 LOW
—-
VITAMIN D 23 LOW – I'm taking vitamin d.
VITAMIN A 0.3 LOW
FERRITIN 8 LOW
TSH 0.36 LOW
RBC 4.0 LOW
CREATINE KINASE 23 LOW
Jack, the current site is http://optimalhealthcave.forumotion.com/. You will recognize several of the moderators.
BTW, I am itsybitsy at the forum http://optimalhealthcave.forumotion.com/
quote: "B4 is made completely by our body endogenously because it is vital to DNA and RNA replication (adenine)"
Raised my choline intake to lower homocysteine, which worked. However, recently I recognized clenching of my teeth sometimes, which is considered a sign of overdoing choline (at about 460 from diet and an additional 480 mg supplemented).
Dr. Kruse, I am a moderator on http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/HcgDieters/ with almost 30k people. I too would be glad to help moderate a forum on here. I would feel like I'm giving a little back to you for all you have done for us.
@Michele I will keep this in mind. If I do this I am leaning to it being a closed membership only type of forum because I anticipate a lot of personal data being posted on it and I dont think that should be done in a public forum.
Jack, certain categories on the forum can be private and only seen either by members or only by specific groups of members. We already do that with certain categories at http://optimalhealthcave.forumotion.com/. A special category could be created just for the personal info.
@Donna this site is gonna have a lot more than just a forum. I gave the web guys the go tonight. It is now on like Donkey Kong. Im done worrying about it being perfect. When its done I will hack it to my liking.
Sounds great!
Can't wait!!!
This is a sensational post. Literally.
Is there anything other than mercury that can cause bad balance? I remember having had bad balance since I was 12 or something (now I'm 35), maybe earlier than that. I have no mercury fillings.
I did a hair tissue mineral analysis test and it showed no signs of any mercury and I was told by a naturopath that that was a bad sign. We continuously get exposed to some mercury and the detox pathways should take care of that and the hair test should show some mercury if everything was ok. The test not showing anything would indicate that I accumulate mercury. Would you agree with this?
Can mercury cause acetylcholine deficiency? I have some issues like bad memory, bad reading comprehension, thinking slowly, hard to make decisions, hard to focus for very long. Could the bad balance and the cognitive issues be connected somehow?
@Tim Hg is only one heavy metal that can cause this. Many heavy metals can cause this and Hg can affect many of the NT synthesis pathways. I would suggest you head over to Dr. Grace's (Dr. B. G) blog for that. She is a rockstar of the heavy metal problem we face these days.
Thanks Jack! I'll definitely see her blog.
I'm also wondering if you have an opinion on bad posture. I have vulture neck and rounded shoulders, a typical 'S' shaped body. Chiropractors, naprapaths and physical therapists typically say that it's caused by too much sitting or weak muscles so it can only be fixed by sitting less and going to the gym training the weak muscles.
I'm rather sceptical, but I find most people believe this, even hip and researching paleo people. I have at least found some hope from neuro science blogs. It would make sense to me if bad posture was a result of a confusing brain that has got its body maps wrong or there is something wrong with the nervous system so the brain doesn't get correct sensory information. Or something along those lines. Is perhaps inflammation playing a role here? Toxins maybe? Cortisol? Malnutrition?
I can't find any information on this topic when googling. Do you have any clues to share?
Dr. K., i also volunteer to moderate any forum you start up. i am retired and have the time.
Hi Dr. Kruse – I'm having issues with my hair, I've always had thinning hair, but it seems to be worse and far more noticeable unfortunately. It's really beginning to stress me out more and more. I thought I read it could be from being diabetic/pre-diabetic, but from your post above it could be that I'm Zinc and/or Iron deficient. I've also noticed that my nails are yellow,this is something really new (noticed the change a week or so ago)…I read somewhere that the yellowing could be from a Zinc deficiency also. I wanted to get your thoughts please. If I do need to add a zinc supplement in my diet, how much do you recommend?
Thanks!
@Crystal…..I am a big natural Zn fan for women and not a supplement fan. Eat lots of oysters in your diet and see what happens. I have seen amazing results for women who eat a non dairy paleo diet at around 10-15% carbs. No more.
Dr Kruse – Oysters, huh? Unfortunately I can't stand seafood. Ha! I will definitely research other natural sources of zinc and if I have to I will try giving oysters another chance…though I'm not optimistic!
I am eating paleo at the moment and avoid most dairy, except cheese…I love cheese! haha I will make the adjustments though and cut it out of my diet. Thanks and as always I appreciate your advice!
@Crystal M If you cant stand it maybe that is why you have a problem? And dairy is not something i recommend either! Food > supplements
dear jack. i wonder if you could share any idea/input on the following:
Hx: 42y male, first health problems started at 20y: mono infection (i assume, bc of 6 week of severe cold symptoms with loss of voice etc) under severe job stress (stupidly, i kept working the whole time) -> never fully recovered. since then, moderate neurodermatitis, phases of chronic fatique, lack of drive, muscle pain, slow exercise recovery, etc. (could very well be diagnosed as CFS i guess), and since a few years (after a strong bout of 2 antibiotics): leaky gut and several food sensitivities developed (primarily gluten, dairy, egg), which i first noticed after suddenly getting arthritis in the knee a few weeks after the antibiotics therapy (which healed, after going paleo!).
so, about 2y ago – after developing these food sensitivities – it got all so bad that i stopped working, and dedicated all my time and brainpower to resoving my health problems. it worked (mostly), thanks to an ultra-strict A.I. paleo diet, resolving all my nutrient deficiencies (all across the board, but especially D, which singlehandedly cured my neurodermatitis!), and about 10 different mytochondrial boosters and other supportive supplements i take daily (NADH, ribose, creatine, etc etc). my energy is not quite as good as before it all started, but almost, and at least i'm back at work since about 1 year now
i still have all the food sensitivities, and the chonic throat infection, which never completely went away during all this time (slightly inflamed throat each morning, with constant slight swelling of a few neck lymph nodes).
now, there is still one curious thing that happens i can not explain:
since i started tinkering around with all these supplements to refill my deficiencies, i noticed that i'm incredibly sensitive to all preformed vitamin A. even just 500IU/day (!) is enough to trigger skin inflammation on the whole body. the same reaction strangely occurs with iodine as low as 1mg. symptom: almost immediate (within 1-2h) a low-grade skin inflammation (tiny, barely visible fine reddish wrinkles on the whole body) develops, and as a consequence, my skin instantly looks older several years because of this, for about 2-3 days, then the inflammation goes away. this reaction can be mitigated by taking megadoses of vitamin C during the day. if i take higher doses (5k-10k of A), skin inflammation increases, but now i also get this well known mood depressing effect of high-dose retinoid therapy. and all this while having a D level of ~100ng! do you have any idea why i'm so sensitive to retinoids and iodine at the same time? could it be some kind of herxheimer due to the chronic infection (the vit A boosting the immune system)? or even chronic liver damage? should i just try to take 10-20k retiny-acetate (for example), despite the symptoms, and see what happens over time (even tho my skin would hate me for it)? is there a serious risk doing this – given i'm so sensitive to it? also: can a chronic viral thorat infection be completely healed with todays drugs? from all i read: no. thanks for your input on this "riddle"!
Dr. Kruse – Well, I am willing to give it a try (oysters), I haven't tried seafood recently…I understand about the dairy and though it will be hard I am willing to do almost anything to stay on track and be fit/healthy.
@CrystalM the nutrient density of seafood is better than any of the food source
I've been supplementing with 30 to 45mg of MK4 K2 for months now, and eating lots of pastured butter. I have not seen much improvement in my excess tartar. What are the reasons that someone wouldn't absorb it well? Should I try adding the MK7 kind?
@Owl…..a leaky gut or a gallbladder that is not functioning well.
Dear Dr. Kruse,
I started your Leptin Reset yesterday (assuming that I am LR since I am 265#, 6'1"), but I have an iodine question based on my wife's problem. (I am NOT about to ask for specific medical advice!)
Wife has a multinodular goiter, which the endocrinologist has been watching for 15 years. It has now got to the size that he is recommending removing her thyroid. (Externally, hers is probably half the size of the Struma nodosa Class II photo at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goiter). However, this doctor has never mentioned iodine, or tested her iodine sufficiency in any way. (Her "thyroid function" labs have always been fine, and a biopsy she had several years ago showed no sign of malignancy.)
Should we run, run, as fast as we can from this doctor, or is it possible that there's a good reason that he didn't test for iodine deficiency, which appears to have been a known cause of goiter for hundreds of years?
Or, do I have just enough Google-fu to be dangerous?
@Alec go immediately to http://www.marksdailyapple.com under the nutrition tab forum and look for my monster thread. The last 20 pages has your issue discussed in detail
@Alec there is a current on going discussion on MDA monster thread about this very issue. I use a simple spot test for iodine…….get some Lugol's solution off the net and place a drop on your wife's forearm on the softer side not the top…….and if the yellow/brown spot disappears totally……and fast it means her body is starved for selenium and iodine. If it is I am a big fan of replacing it with food over supplements……..tell her to eat one brazil nut a day for about a month to replace the selenium and she might consider eating seaweed salad from a chinese restaurant four times a week……or you can by seaweed from WF and put in in your bone broth. I would tell you to head over to MDA and look for Jansz. He can fill you in on the Lugol's discussion on pages 1500-14. Do not let anyone take out her thyroid until she tries to fix it……..with this and her diet. She need to be on the strict autoimmune ketogenic paleo diet as outlined by Robb Wolf.
My profession (surgeons) are cut happy…….and I am still one of them but I no longer look to cut first and ask questions later. The girls in my office can attest to the dramatic changes in my own practice. I personally and professionally practice what I preach now for the last 5 yrs.
Thank you Dr. Kruse. She thinks I'm a nut, but I've got her "gluten free" so far (probably because it sounds like something normal people might do and because it got her off of daily prilosec). We just did the iodine spot test and it was gone in a few hours, but it was a 2% iodine solution (all they had a Walgreens) and not Lugol's.
I just about have her convinced not to go straight for the knife, and to ask her doc to order an iodine test. (I doubt that it will be a 24 hour loading test, though).
Thanks for the tip on seaweed in the broth. She loves the broth that I make from roasted chicken every week, so I'm sure that will fit right in.
Hi. Jack,
I've been reading your site night and day since starting Paleo (it's getting easier to understand the more I read and think- thanks!)
Above you list B13 and PQQ together- are these two separate nutrients? Wiki lists b13 as Orotic acid. In one of the comments you say that VK can be difficult to absorb if gall bladder problems are present.
I'm trying to figure out what to do as I have no gall bladder and yet very constipated even with lots of coconut oil no grains/sugars and my jeans are getting tighter! Also have no female innards (complete hysterectomy) and use Vivelle Dot 0.1mg, age is 64, weight 180, ht.5'6" .
Need to order blood work before Medicare kicks in, but not sure what to ask for that will be helpful in optimizing my well being. I have some baseline info from several months ago,but will not list now until I have comparison. Dr. put me on statin to bring down cholesterol, but have recently taken myself off this as per Dr. Eades. Also take 25mg for occasional tak accardia, 60mg fluoxitine, Centrum silver, D3. Taken myself off all OTC meds – advil and tramadol for joint pain – much better since starting Paleo .
Thank you for all you do to assist us in advocating for our own health!
@Marsha I call PQQ B13…….I did not know about orotic acid. I may have to call PQQ B14 then! As for your other issues consider this….. a strong suggestion to you that you go on http://www.marksdailyapple.com under the nutrition forum and look for the monster leptin reset thread to read about people just like you who had problems and how we tackled them. This thread might save your life.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum/thread32345-…
opps, forgot that I started taking mag malate at night for last several days in hopes of getting things moving. Info at Gut Sense and poop chart made lots of sense, but no info for no gall bladder.
Dr Kruse. I've just counted my blink rate and it's 6-7 blinks per minute. Before I throw myself from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is there likely to be a cause other than PD or similar. I already have MS, Hasis, lupus, DB2 and coelliacs.
@claudia just means your dopamine levels are likely low. With your history there I am not surprised in the least. Dont jump………you can repair and recycle your way to optimal. If I did so can you.
Thank you for your response, Dr Kruse. Would it explain why in the past year I feel I've lost my "zing". I start things and don't finish them, can't be bothered with others, get very cross about things that don't matter and get upset by things that I would normally shrug off or find funny.
Not me at all. I thought it may have been the MS diagnosis and my mum dying, all good reasons to get the blahs, but maybe it's also brain chemistry.
Thanks again. Much appreciated.
Also, good incentive to stick to your principles.
This bl**dy blink rate thing has now become an exciting new obsession with me! I'm now counting everyone's blink rate inc. the Prime Minister of Australia who, I've just noticed, blinks a lot less than the prescribed 13 per 30 seconds and certainly a lot less when she lies!!
So, thanks Doc. Like I didn't already have enough pointless endeavours to keep me occupied.
Hey Doc,
You are awesome! I just finished reading your CT-4 and it is mind blowing. A new paradigm really…thank you for your contribution to humanity. You have a big heart and a kind soul!
As you used to be a dentist I have oral health questions.
1-I have a lot of mercury amalgam in my mouth. Should I have it taken out? What should I replace it with-Composite resin? I have heard that they are not as resistant and they are loaded with BPA. I have heard that porcelain and gold also exist as options. What is your recommendation?
2-My brother broke his tooth in high school and got a root canal-17 years ago. Dr. Mercola has recently reported that 97% terminally ill cancer patients had root canals. I know my brother hasn’t been the same since this. What can we do? Remove the tooth and part of the ligament and put in a denture or implant?
Again thanks for all the information you provide us.
God bless you!
@MM I think testing would show an HG problem I am not a fan of removing amalgams unless there is a good reason. I still have mine if that helps you any.
"Are you worried that your new resting tremor is an early sign of Parkinson's disease?"
I was very worried about it. Guess what? I've been on your principles for 5.5 weeks and the tremor in my neck is gone. It was getting so bad that I couldn't wear mascara, or at least, on my lashes. I seem to be able to wear it all over my cheeks!
GONE!!!!
Many thanks for your brilliant help, Doc. Love ya; mean it!
@Claudia……awesome!
Are there any sources for quality vitamins on the internet? I’m looking for vitamins without magnesium stearate or other fillers. Where do you buy yours? I’m having difficulty locating some of the recommended vitamins. In particular: PQQ and K2 MK-4.
@Michael I have my own compounded.