Posted by Cam W. on August 20, 2001, at 11:23:57
In reply to Re: Nutrition cure, posted by good4u on August 19, 2001, at 20:29:29
> Read this: http://www.biochemimbal-behavior.com/default2.htm
To All - Read the disclaimer carefully. Would a composer have the same insight into how the body works, as would someone who has made pharmacology or physiology a lifelong pursuit (ie. reseach scientists)? Before spending a lot of money on overprice vitamins, I would say to watch your newspapers over the next 6 months, to see how one megavitamin group stacks up against science.
Yes, some "psychiatric" disorders in the past have benefitted from vitamin therapy. For example, a vitamin B defiency caused pellagra, especially in sailors. Pellagra had some pseudo-demetia symptoms that resolved with treatments of fresh fruit. British sailors learned to avoid pellagra by carrying and eating limes while at sea (hence, their being called "Limeys"). Researchers have looked for vitamin deficiencies in many psychiatric disorders (eg. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder), and, while outside of some general nutritional problems which were corrected with changes in diet and vitamin supplementation, the core symptoms of the disorders were not improved.
Another observation about vitamins is "more is not better". With the water soluble vitamins (eg. B-complex and C) taking too much gives you nice bright yellow pee. The body uses what it needs and excretes the rest.
The fat soluble vitamins (eg. A, D, E, and K) can build up in the body. They are taken up by the fat cells of the body and not readily excreted. Caution must be taken if one is taking high doses of these vitamins, especially without medical supervision.
As for minerals, there is no indication that taking an excess can do anything positive for the body. In fact, too much iron intake can cause a disorder known as "bronze diabetes" (exogenous hemochromatosis). While chromium does help with carbohydrate metabolism, too much can result in pneumoconiosis (similar to asbestosis). Other examples: encephalopathy from excessive lead; "Mad Hatter's syndrome" from excessive; biliary cirrhosis from excessive copper; metal fume fever from excessive zinc; etc.
Vitamins and minerals are essential to a body's functioning, but remember, moderation is the key.
My 2¢ - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:75579
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010814/msgs/75666.html