![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 33. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jrbecker on June 19, 2003, at 11:54:16
http://my.webmd.com/content/article/67/79921.htm?z=1728_00000_1000_ln_05
Vegetarian Diet and B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Seen in All Types of Vegetarians
By Sid Kirchheimer
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed By Michael Smith, MD
on Wednesday, June 18, 2003June 18, 2003 -- Researchers have long known that a strict vegetarian diet -- one that excludes all animal products -- can lead to vitamin B-12 deficiency, and possibly heart disease. Now, new research suggests that even those who follow a more lenient vegetarian diet are also at risk.
In the July issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, German researchers tracked 174 apparently healthy people living in Germany and the Netherlands.
They found that 92% of the vegans they studied -- those who ate the strictest vegetarian diet, which shuns all animal products, including milk and eggs -- had vitamin B12 deficiency. But two in three people who followed a vegetarian diet that included milk and eggs as their only animal foods also were deficient. Only 5% of those who consumed meats had vitamin B12 deficiency.
Take Heart
The problem: Vitamin B12 deficiency can boost blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid implicated as a strong risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Studies have suggested that high homocysteine levels can promote blockages in arteries over time, possibly leading to heart disease and stroke.
"As the number of vegetarians is increasing worldwide, we have special concerns about some health aspects of this diet," lead researcher Wolfgang Herrmann, MD, PhD, tells WebMD. "We have a particular concern over vitamin B12 status being regularly monitored in vegetarians -- most importantly, in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children of vegetarian mothers and on macrobiotic diets, elderly vegetarians, and people who already have atherosclerosis."
Unlike some other B vitamins, B12 is not found in any plant food other than fortified cereals. It is, however, abundant in many meats and fish, and in smaller amounts in milk and eggs. This makes it difficult for people following a strict vegetarian diet to get the necessary amount of vitamin B12.
Meat Eaters: This Includes You
Even young, healthy, vitamin-taking meat-eaters may not be getting enough B12, according to Tufts University nutritionist Katherine Tucker, PhD.
In a study published three years ago, also in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, she found that nearly 40% of 3,000 adults under age 50 had blood levels of vitamin B12 low enough to cause problems.
"There were very few vegetarians in our study, and a lot were taking vitamin supplements," she tells WebMD. "There really seem to be a lot of absorption problems, even in younger people. One theory is the increased use of antacids may be blocking the absorption of B12."
The good news: It is virtually impossible to consume too much B12, since it has a very low potential for toxicity. According to the Institute of Medicine, "No adverse effects have been associated with excess vitamin B12 intake from food and supplements in healthy individuals."
Tucker's advice: "If you are a vegetarian and have been for a long time, if you are taking antacids, or are getting older and may be having some problems, or are just concerned, you can safely take vitamin supplements at levels of 500 to 1,000 micrograms (1 milligram). Fortified cereals may not be enough."
Your Body and Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 helps maintain healthy nerve and red blood cells and is also needed to make DNA, which is why it's especially important that pregnant and nursing women consume enough.
Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to anemia. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, which usually come on gradually, include fatigue, weakness, nausea, and constipation. Long-term and severe vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nerve changes such as numbness, tingling in the hands and feet, balance and memory problems, and depression.
A blood test is the best way to test for vitamin B12 deficiency, and Herrmann recommends that all vegetarians get tested every year.
Posted by janejj on June 19, 2003, at 17:28:36
In reply to Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 Defic , posted by jrbecker on June 19, 2003, at 11:54:16
I am a vegetarian maybw that is why i am so fucked up !? I hate meat, it makes me feel sick for some reason.
Janejj
Posted by stjames on June 19, 2003, at 19:51:19
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 Defic , posted by janejj on June 19, 2003, at 17:28:36
> I am a vegetarian maybw that is why i am so fucked up !?
If you don't understand nutrition and are a
Vegetarian it is very likly you are malnurished.I go to the whole foods store and see lots of
sickly looking people with dark circles under the
eyes and yellowish skin. It is not so much the diet
as ignorance that causes this. You can't just cut out meat and leave it at that and be healthy.
Posted by Emme on June 19, 2003, at 22:01:18
In reply to Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 Defic , posted by jrbecker on June 19, 2003, at 11:54:16
Admittedly I'm no expert on the metabolism of the B vitamins. But I've been a vegetarian (not vegan) for about 12 years. My problems didn't coincide with my decision to not eat meat. Since I've been treated by my current pdoc, she's ordered my B-12 levels tested twice and both were normal. Maybe I'm just lucky so far. But it's smart to test for B-12 periodically when testing for other causes for psychiatric problems, whether one is veggie or not.
In my opinion it's not difficult to eat a healthy vegetarian diet without special knowledge. The key is variety - a variety of whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, dairy if you wish. I do take a multivitamin and recently started a B-50 complex for good measure with B-12, but I did not always take the B-50 and I'm not sure if it's actually doing anything for me. I also have had lots of vegetarian friends and acquaintances who were no more sickly than the rest of the population.
But I do think nutrition in general becomes an issue when you have a mood disorder. When you're thinking about whether you want to be alive the next week, it's tough to focus on shopping, cooking, and covering your bases food-wise. At least it is for me. But it's late...I'm tired...I ramble....
G'night.
Emme
Posted by Simcha on June 20, 2003, at 1:57:47
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by Emme on June 19, 2003, at 22:01:18
I've recently become a vegan. Mainly it was because I have been told by many sources that dairy is bad for Asthma. My asthma has been really bad lately.
I figured if I was going to stop dairy because of my asthma I might as well give up meat again. I used to be a lacto-ovo vegetarian. My weight was easier to control back then and I always took multi-vitamins to make up for any deficiency in my diet.
I have been a vegan for about a month now and I'm back on multi-vitamins. My asthma is a bit less, of course that might be due to the addition of an inhaled corticosteroid in my drug regimen.
Anyway, there are very easy ways to meet all of your dietary needs without consuming animal products. The multi-vitamin that I use is vegan and has B-12 as cyanocabalamin which is a vegan source. The supplements give me 100mcg which is 1667% of the RDA. I also use fortified soy milk and other fortified products that include B-12 in their fortification.
There are many reasons not to eat meat. To me there are many more reasons not to eat meat than they can come up with to convince me to eat it again. There are too many health issues with today's meat supply, let alone the cruelty of the meat industry... But I digress...
The fact is that you CAN be a very healthy Vegan.
The fact is that it IS healthier to be a vegetarian who eats a balanced diet than to be one of the many omnivores who does not have a balanced diet.The fact is that most people who eat meat in this country have vitamin deficiencies, cholesterol issues, artery blockage, colon cancer, antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, and a host of other health issues related to eating meat.
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 20, 2003, at 9:03:09
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by Simcha on June 20, 2003, at 1:57:47
> I've recently become a vegan. Mainly it was because I have been told by many sources that dairy is bad for Asthma. My asthma has been really bad lately.
Selenium intake is correlated to asthma symptoms. Selenium yeast is readily available. If you're not eating meat, you'll have lost your best non-supplement-derived selenium source. 200 mcg/day would be safe and potentially beneficial.
Also, niacinamide may have good effect, as it reduces histamine release from mast cells. 500 mg, as needed.
I have severe inhalant allergies (pollen and mould), requiring higher than label-dose of antihistamines, and I have used inhaled steroids for years, to control my asthma.
This year is different from my last thirty years. I've always used my puffers and allergy meds "as needed"....but, I needed them all the time. Except this year. I seldom used either, and I'm breathing fine. No weepy eyes, runny nose, sore throat (the warning signs that I need my meds). No coughing, chest tightness, weezing.
Just thought I'd make these suggestions.
Lar
Posted by stjames on June 20, 2003, at 9:34:46
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by Simcha on June 20, 2003, at 1:57:47
> The fact is that it IS healthier to be a vegetarian who eats a balanced diet than to be one of the many omnivores who does not have a balanced diet.
This goes without saying !I also notice a lot of anger in the vegan's I know who are mal-nurished
Posted by Simcha on June 20, 2003, at 12:01:54
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by stjames on June 20, 2003, at 9:34:46
Folks, I think there is some confusion about vegetarianism. I think that much of this is because we get a slanted viewpoint from health practicioners who are influenced by the Dairy and Meat Industries. Here are some links if you are interested in vegetarian nutrition. I've even included links to Quackwatch, a sceptic's site, for a more balanced perspective.
http://www.quackwatch.org/03HealthPromotion/vegetarian.html
I could include some disturbing accounts of how the dairy and meat industries manufacture their products yet I know that these stories and testimonials are disturbing to me. I know most of us there have depression and I don't want to put shocking stuff here that might trigger people.
Anyway, thanks for the advice, Larry Hoover. Actually Selenium comes from the soil where our veggies are grown. It does not come from meat. My supplement gives me an extra 100mcg of Selenium per day. Also, the soil in America is not Selenium deficient, according to Quackwatch anyway.
I am very careful and conscientious about what I eat and how my diet may affect my health, both mentally and physically. I've done a lot of research on supplements and diet. I know that improving diet can really help with depression because I've experienced benefits from improving my diet concerning my mental state.
Thanks to all who respond.
Posted by Simcha on June 20, 2003, at 12:07:43
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by stjames on June 20, 2003, at 9:34:46
>
> > The fact is that it IS healthier to be a vegetarian who eats a balanced diet than to be one of the many omnivores who does not have a balanced diet.
>
>
> This goes without saying !
>
> I also notice a lot of anger in the vegan's I know who are mal-nurishedAnd I've been angry most of my life and I was raised in the Midwest on huge portions of all kinds of meat. I was angry then and I get angry now when appropriate. The medication has helped a lot with managing my anger and bringing it to appropriate level.
Posted by stjames on June 20, 2003, at 13:09:36
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De » stjames, posted by Simcha on June 20, 2003, at 12:07:43
I was vegan for a while, but ate eggs and cheese.
It does consern me that people say "as long as I eat a varied veggie diet I am OK." My understanding is that one will not get specific
aminos if on does not consume specific beans.
I find far too many just start eating veggies and leave it there, and get malnurished. The dark circles, yellow cast to the skin, and anger follow.I used to drive a friend with brain cancer (GBM) to the whole foods store as she went macro-biotic. I noticed lots of sickly people shopping there and at first thought they too had cronic or terminal illnesses and were trying to eat healthy.
Nope, there were just trendy, stupid people who went vegan and had no clue as to nutrition.
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 20, 2003, at 13:27:39
In reply to VegetarianDiets--B12 Healty Vegetarian Eating..., posted by Simcha on June 20, 2003, at 12:01:54
> Anyway, thanks for the advice, Larry Hoover. Actually Selenium comes from the soil where our veggies are grown. It does not come from meat. My supplement gives me an extra 100mcg of Selenium per day. Also, the soil in America is not Selenium deficient, according to Quackwatch anyway.It is true that the soil is the ultimate source of the selenium in our diets, but the same is true of our meat-providing animals. Meat is indeed an excellent source of selenium, particularly the liver. Whole grain is a good source of selenium, and meat animals are grain-fed.
Given that I could not know that you are American, and the worldwide scope of membership in this discussion group, I did not see any reason to restrict my recommendation by geographical parameters. If, by chance, you were a resident of certain Scandinavian countries, Great Britain, or New Zealand, it would be virtually a foregone conclusion that you were selenium deficient.
Even the highly conservative American medical community has no objections to supplemental selenium at 200 mcg/day.
Lar
Posted by Emme on June 20, 2003, at 17:51:19
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by stjames on June 20, 2003, at 13:09:36
> I was vegan for a while, but ate eggs and cheese.
Then you weren't a vegan. Vegans do not eat dairy products.
> It does consern me that people say "as long as I eat a varied veggie diet I am OK." My understanding is that one will not get specific
> aminos if on does not consume specific beans.Rice or wheat or cornmeal + legume = complete protein. It doesn't have to be a specific bean.
Rice or wheat + sesame = complete protein.
Rice or wheat + milk = complete protein.
Beans or peanuts (both legumes) + milk = complete protein.
Those are just a few examples of complementarity. And I neglected to include nuts.
It's really not that hard, even if you skip the dairy.
You don't even have to be compulsive about ratios.
Protein is protein and amino acids are amino acids whether they occur in meat or beans.
Heck, a good old glass of milk and a PB&J sandwich on a good whole wheat bread gets you pretty far along in your daily protein.
> I find far too many just start eating veggies and leave it there, and get malnurished.I haven't seen any polls, but I suspect that those are in the minority. Among my acquaintances, I've personally found that the vegetarians eat balanced, reasonable diets. Any B-12 and iron concerns can be dealt with through vitamins and fortified foods (soy milk for example). That's not to say that some vegetarian wannabes out there don't eat well. But then I'm sure there are lots of non-vegetarians who eat poorly too.
Emme
Posted by stjames on June 20, 2003, at 19:34:05
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De » stjames, posted by Emme on June 20, 2003, at 17:51:19
It is too bad we have to kill life to eat, be it animal or plant.
Posted by noa on June 20, 2003, at 19:41:26
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by stjames on June 20, 2003, at 13:09:36
I have a relative who is a cancer survivor and has been on a strict macrobiotic diet for about 15 years and has remained cancer-free. Who knows if the macrobiotic diet has any thing to do with it, but I'm sure he isn't about to make any changes given that things have gone so well for so long.
I have another relative who is a long time vegetarian and then became a vegan a few years ago and forgot about the need to add B12 via supplements and became deficient in B12, her primary symptom being severe chronic fatigue. After B12 treatment (series of injections, etc.), she got better, and now uses a B12 supplement every day.
As for the variety thing--I think variety is a good principle but also some deliberate attention to amino acids, such as through combos of beans, grains, etc. (a la "Diet for a Small Planet") is important. I think that lacto-ovo-vegies have less to worry about in terms of the amino-acid intake than vegans. It certainly can be done and done healthfully, but some deliberate attention to certain nutrients is called for.
As for me, I became a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) way back in my early teens. In my late twenties, I started having yearly episodes of strong fish cravings. I would indulge these and then the cravings would go away. But the craving would return eventually and soon I discovered I seemed to really 'need' fish, or at least it felt like my body was saying I needed fish. So, in my early thirties, I just decided to become a fish eater. In light of how well I've responded to the fish oil in the past 6 months, I am convinced I read my cravings correctly.
Posted by Simcha on June 21, 2003, at 1:18:09
In reply to Re: On the other hand.., posted by noa on June 20, 2003, at 19:41:26
Noa,
> As for me, I became a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) way back in my early teens. In my late twenties, I started having yearly episodes of strong fish cravings. I would indulge these and then the cravings would go away. But the craving would return eventually and soon I discovered I seemed to really 'need' fish, or at least it felt like my body was saying I needed fish. So, in my early thirties, I just decided to become a fish eater. In light of how well I've responded to the fish oil in the past 6 months, I am convinced I read my cravings correctly.
I find this very interesting. I believe that my body craves the things it needs too. If you feel you need fish, then eat fish. I have cravings for nuts and grains. I eat nuts and grains.
Since I am currently a vegan I use supplements to round out my diet so that I'm sure that I take care of any deficiency my already careful diet might give me.
Everyone, Healthy eating!
Posted by Simcha on June 21, 2003, at 1:20:16
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by stjames on June 20, 2003, at 19:34:05
> It is too bad we have to kill life to eat, be it animal or plant.
St. James,
Well, all animals must kill to eat. We are also animals. We must kill to eat. I just try to remember where my food comes from when I eat it. I try to make good choices for my health and the health of the planet. It's a balance, and yes, sometimes I make not so good choices.
Healthy Eating!
Posted by McPac on June 21, 2003, at 23:50:21
In reply to Re: nutrients and asthma » Simcha, posted by Larry Hoover on June 20, 2003, at 9:03:09
Also, niacinamide may have good effect, as it reduces histamine release from mast cells. 500 mg, as needed.
>>>>>>Lar, doesn't niacin help BUILD histamine?
This year is different from my last thirty years.>>>>>>>>> What supplements seem to be helping so much (niacin? selenium? any others?) I ask because my brother has asthma. Thanks!
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 22, 2003, at 7:59:19
In reply to Lar, Re: nutrients and asthma, posted by McPac on June 21, 2003, at 23:50:21
> Also, niacinamide may have good effect, as it reduces histamine release from mast cells. 500 mg, as needed.
>
> >>>>>>Lar, doesn't niacin help BUILD histamine?The niacin flush reaction is release of histamine. Niacinamide blocks release of histamine. I don't have references at my fingertips, this second (that's where my first coffee awaits me), but I'll post some later, if you want.
> This year is different from my last thirty years.
>
> >>>>>>>>> What supplements seem to be helping so much (niacin? selenium? any others?) I ask because my brother has asthma. Thanks!It's got to be the vitamin B-3 and derivatives, with a possible interaction with selenium (that's stretching). I've been using NADH and niacinamide regularly this spring and early summer (novel supplementation), and my asthma and allergies are a tiny fraction of what I experienced every year for the last thirty or more.
Lar
Posted by Larry Hoover on June 22, 2003, at 8:35:54
In reply to Lar, Re: nutrients and asthma, posted by McPac on June 21, 2003, at 23:50:21
> Also, niacinamide may have good effect, as it reduces histamine release from mast cells. 500 mg, as needed.
>
> >>>>>>Lar, doesn't niacin help BUILD histamine?Most of the relevant research was done thirty years ago, and on other continents. I was able to track down some literal quotes from certain articles (a few weeks ago, not reproduced here), but most articles do not have abstracts available for perusal. I've pasted a few references in, because even the titles are pretty clear.
Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1976;50(6):729-36.
Inhibition by nicotinamide of antigen-induced histamine release from mouse peritoneal mast cells.
Wyczolkowska J, Maslinski C.
The in vitro antigen-induced histamine release from mouse peritoneal mast cells actively sensitized with IgE antibodies was inhibited by nicotinamide. The drug was either given in vivo to the sensitized mice (once daily 100 mg/kg) for 7 days before an in vitro experiment or incubated in vitro (in concentrations 1-40 mM) with sensitized mast cells before an antigen challenge. The possible action of nicotinamide on the mechanisms involved in the regulation of antigen-induced histamine release from mast cells is discussed.
Bekier E, Czerwinska U.
The effect of nicotinamide on the experimental asthma in guinea pigs.
Acta Physiol Pol. 1973 Nov-Dec;24(6):887-9. No abstract available.
Bekier E, Wyczolkowska J, Szyc H, Maslinski C.
The inhibitory effect of nicotinamide on asthma-like symptoms and eosinophilia in guinea pigs, anaphylactic mast cell degranulation in mice, and histamine release from rat isolated peritoneal mast cells by compound 48-80.
Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1974;47(5):737-48.
Bekier E, Szyc H, Czerwinska U, Maslinski C.
The influence of nicotinamide on the course of experimental bronchial asthma in guinea pig.
Agents Actions. 1973 Oct;3(3):176. No abstract available.Bekier E, Maslinski C.
Antihistaminic action of nicotinamide.
Agents Actions. 1974 Aug;4(3):196. No abstract available.Wyczolkowska J, Maslinski C.
Inhibition by nicotinamide of a homologous PCA reaction and antigen-induced histamine release from isolated rat peritoneal mast cells.
Agents Actions. 1974 Aug;4(3):202-3.
> This year is different from my last thirty years.
>
> >>>>>>>>> What supplements seem to be helping so much (niacin? selenium? any others?) I ask because my brother has asthma. Thanks!I mentioned B-3 derivatives and selenium, but I should also have made note of vitamin C and magnesium. I'm a tad more focussed on the water-solubles this year. B-12 is in better supply this year, too.
Lar
Posted by Dr. Bob on June 22, 2003, at 14:25:16
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 Defic , posted by janejj on June 19, 2003, at 17:28:36
> I am a vegetarian maybw that is why i am so f*cked up !?
I'm sorry if you're not doing well, but please don't use language that could offend others, thanks.
Bob
Posted by stjames on June 22, 2003, at 16:27:44
In reply to Re: On the other hand.., posted by noa on June 20, 2003, at 19:41:26
> As for the variety thing--I think variety is a good principle but also some deliberate attention to amino acids, such as through combos of beans, grains, etc. (a la "Diet for a Small Planet") is important. I think that lacto-ovo-vegies have less to worry about in terms of the amino-acid intake than vegans. It certainly can be done and done healthfully, but some deliberate attention to certain nutrients is called for.
>
> As for me, I became a vegetarian (lacto-ovo) way back in my early teens.I was lacto-ovo for that very reason (the aminos and other nutrients were abundant there & I am not a big bean and grain person) but despite my best efforts I was always anemic while a vegetarian.
I tried lots of things but finally had no choice but to restart meat & my iron stores and levels quickly returned to normal. I was always tired as a vegetarian. Everyone is different and some diets will not work for everybody.
Posted by stjames on June 22, 2003, at 16:32:08
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 Defic , posted by janejj on June 19, 2003, at 17:28:36
> I am a vegetarian maybw that is why i am so xxx up !? I hate meat, it makes me feel sick for some reason.
>
> JanejjI know for myself the vegie diet caused more problems, specifacally not enough iron, bespite supplements. I did a bunch of tests to indicate if
I was nutritionally deficient, perhaps the same could answer your question.
Posted by noa on June 22, 2003, at 21:08:51
In reply to Re: Lenient VegetarianDiets can still cause B12 De, posted by stjames on June 22, 2003, at 16:32:08
Yes, everyone is different. My iron has always been fine. I have rarely had anemia. And the few times I did, it was very mild, and around my period. And supplements solved that.
My sister, who has also been a vegetarian since adolescence, had severe anemia with her pregnancies and had to eat liver every day for a period of time each time it happened. Since I've never been pregnant, I don't know if I would have this problem, too.
Posted by McPac on June 22, 2003, at 23:14:35
In reply to Re: Lar, Re: nutrients and asthma » McPac, posted by Larry Hoover on June 22, 2003, at 7:59:19
I'm confused as to why Pfeiffer told me to avoid niacin (and I think niacinamide too)? The niacin I CAN understand but why the niacinamide? Maybe since the goal is to lower my histamine levels, they didn't want niacinamide used because they WANTED it to be released from my mast cells and THEN REMOVED from my body(by other supps?????)
Posted by McPac on June 22, 2003, at 23:48:45
In reply to Lar, Re: nutrients and asthma, posted by McPac on June 21, 2003, at 23:50:21
Lar, you're always helping everybody else out here....I happened to have this info so, just in case you (or others) may find it useful, here goes:
Asthma:
Taken from the Wellness Manual
Chapter 1 - Allergic Disorders, Pages 3 and 4
By Dr. Eric BravermanThere are increasing numbers of asthma cases documented in the United States because of indoor and environmental pollution, outdoor pollution, molds, cat danders, house dust, mites, and multiple other factors. If it can make you allergic, you can get asthma from it.
Asthma is associated with sinusitis, hypertension, emphysema, heart failure, eczema, and respiratory failure. Asthma can occur in patients with pneumonia, fractured ribs, tuberculosis, and arthritis. All these conditions can interplay with asthma.
Asthmatic patients are frequently allergic to cockroaches, house dust, ragweed, rats, mice, etc.
Asthma is well known to be a brain disorder. If you deplete certain neurotransmitters in the brain, tyrosine, phenylalanine, dopamine, and noracymethadol, you can have a dramatic increase in asthma.
Asthma occurs during periods of stress and can be successfully treated by antidepressants. Medications like Dilantin and anticonvulsants can be dramatically helpful.
Yogurt has been shown to be helpful for bronchial asthma, as well as any relaxation technique, biofeedback, CES, prayer, etc.
Brain norepinephrine has been shown to be depleted in asthmatics, again pointing out the benefits of various asthmatic treatments. Antiasthmatic effects have been shown with onion extracts, as well as mustard oils. Acupuncture has been recommended for asthma. Vitamin C has been shown to reduce some of the lung hyper-responsiveness of asthmatics. Intravenous magnesium has been shown to be useful in asthmatics. Diets high in
sodium are dangerous for asthmatics. Inhalants are used by doctors, but certain inhalants will actually result in rebound wheezing, palpitations, and serious side effects due to the drugs.Avoidance of allergic foods can dramatically help asthmatics. As many as 93 percent are dramatically helped who have bronchial asthma. This can be tested through IGG testing.
Snow crab processing workers have a high rate of asthma. We recommend shell fishing be avoided by asthmatics. (Shell fish are essentially rodents.) Occupational hazard asthma occurs with exposure to nickel and other irritants.
White wine can sometimes help asthmatics and sometimes may harm asthmatics. Sulfites have been linked to worsening asthma. Sulfites are found in fruit juices, soft drinks, wines, beers, cider vinegar, potato chips, dried fruits, and various vegetables. There is no doubt that one of the few benefits of coffee is that it can help asthma.
Vitamin B-6 has been thought to be helpful for asthma. Low selenium levels have been linked to asthma. Bronchitis has been a cause of asthma and has been treated with N-acetylcystine. Asthma frequently goes undiagnosed and has been associated with depression. It is sometimes related to sleep disorder.
Allergic rhinitis can be relieved by aspirin and Motrin.It is important to treat asthma since you can have more permanent loss of pulmonary function.
There has been one study which has shown that fish oil can help relieve asthma. Calcium channel blockers have been used in asthma. Their action is like magnesium. Theophylline is still used in asthma, but it may be obsolete. Beta agonist drugs can sometimes worsen your overall mortality and risk from asthma. The reason is that inhaled beta agonists have been linked to deaths (fenoterol and albuterol). This is why we don't use albuterol. We will use a little bit of Proventil and asthma Cort.
Smoking has been linked to childhood asthma. Quinoline antibiotics, norfloxacin may be helpful in acute exacerbation of asthma. The CES device (see section 10) is an important dimension in asthma. Methotrexate has been used with severe pediatric asthma when it is being treated like an autoimmune disease. Low glutathione has been associated with asthma. Antioxidants have been shown to be imbalanced in asthmatics.
Seventy-four percent of asthmatics that were elite swimmers were diagnosed after swimming and chlorine was associated with the asthma. There is also evidence of exercise-induced asthma. Asthma has been shown to be relieved by aspirin in some cases. Physical exercise training can be very important in asthmatics.
Bacteria has been associated with the cause of asthma. Food sensitivities must be carefully evaluated. All antioxidants such as Vitamin E can be beneficial in asthmatics. Lithium has been used effectively to treat asthma.
The causes of occupational asthma are quite extensive. Sensitizing agents have been rats, mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigeons, chickens, grain, mites, moths, butterflies, crabs, prawns, wheat flour, rye flour, coffee beans, tea leaves, tobacco leaves, wood dust, biological enzyme, isothiocyanates which are in automobile spray paint, epoxy resins, plastics, metals, tanners, platinum refiners, metal platers, aluminum solderers, pharmaceutical workers, refrigeration workers, hairdressers, plastics and rubber workers, insulators and multiple chemicals of all types have been associated with asthma.
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