This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

interesting - elevated bilirubin and albumin.. erythrocytes and the liver...

albumin:
High albumin (hyperalbuminemia) is almost always caused by dehydration. In some cases of retinol (Vitamin A) deficiency the albumin level can be elevated to high-normal values (e.g., 4.9 g/dL). This is because retinol causes cells to swell with water (this is also the reason too much Vitamin A is toxic).[6]

as for bilirubin (with links to albumin): check out this neat video on hemoglobin breakdown (i love this site)
video link

so what might be causing elevated hemoglobin breakdown... i wanted to go to zinc because of the links to iron dysregulation and the body's ability to utilize vitamin A, and then i found this!:

Abstract
Zinc, iron, vitamin E, and erythrocyte stability in the rat
Previous studies have shown that deficiencies of zinc and vitamin E, as well as iron excess, contribute to peroxidative damage in several tissues in vivo. The present study reports on the sensitivity of red blood cells from young rats exposed to individual or concurrent imbalances of these three nutrients. For 21 d, rats were fed diets that were either deficient or replete in zinc and with or without excess iron or replete or deficient in vitamin E. When red blood cells from these rats were incubated in vitro, erythrocyte hemolysis, lipid peroxidation (assessed by MDA production), and hemoglobin degradation (assessed by alanine release), did not significantly increase unless vitamin E had been omitted from the diet. These results imply that either adequate tightly-bound zinc exists within the zinc-deficient cell to protect it from oxidative damage, or that other antioxidant defense mechanisms (including vitamin E) present within the plasma membrane and cytosol are sufficient to protect the cell from the otherwise damaging effects of zinc deficiency and/or iron excess.

which is interesting because vitamin E also figures so highly in the klenner protocol! whoa full circle hehehe

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

i'm working on some of my academic stuff today and going through the pre-eminent dr. james duke's database of chemicals and biological activities found in native plants, to narrow down a restoration/ethnopharmacy garden species list. thought i'd post some selected blue cohosh details just for one example. interesting!

CALCIUM Root 3,890 ppm; DUKE1992A
Antiallergic 500 mg/day; Antianxiety DAS ; Antiarrhythmic 500-1,500 mg RAF ; Antiarthritic 1,000 mg/day WAF ; Antiatherosclerotic 500 mg/day WER ; Anticlimacteric 1,000-1,500 mg/day WAF ; Antidepressant DAS ; Antidote (Aluminum) DAS ; Antidote (Lead) DAS ; Antihyperkinetic DAS ; Antihypertensive; Antiinsomniac DAS ; Antimenopausal; Antiobesity PIL ; Antiosteoporotic 500-2,000 mg/day; Antiperiodontitic 750 mg/day WER ; AntiPMS 1 g/day; Antirheumatic 1,000 mg/day WAF ; Antistress 500-1,500 mg/day WAF ; Antitic DAS ; Anxiolytic; Calcium-Channel-Blocker NP6:1 ; Diuretic NP6:1 ; Hypocholesterolemic 500 mg/day WER ; Hypotensive 1 g/day WER ; Laxative 1,000-1,200 mg WAF ; Tranquilizer 500-1,500 mg/day WAF ; Vasodilator NP6:1

FIBER Root 112,000 ppm; DUKE1992A
Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker NP6:1 ; Antidiabetic DUKE1992B ; Antihypertensive NP6:1 ; Antiobesity DUKE1992B ; Antitumor PAM ; Antiulcer PAM ; Beta-Blocker NP6:1 ; Cancer-Preventive 525 ; Cardioprotective DUKE1992B ; Diuretic NP6:1 ; Hypocholesterolemic DUKE1992B ; Hypotensive 10 g/man/day/orl PAM ; Hypouricemic X12350076 ; Laxative DUKE1992B ; Vasodilator NP6:1

IRON Root 1,640 ppm; DUKE1992A
Antiakathisic M29 ; Antianemic M29 ; Anticanker; Anticheilitic DAS ; Antimenorrhagic 100 mg/day/wmn/orl PAM ; Prooxidant PIL

MAGNESIUM Root 1,300 ppm; DUKE1992A
Antiaggregant 400 mg/day; Antialcoholic PIL ; Antianginal WER ; Antianorectic DAS ; Antianxiety WER ; Antiarrhythmic; Antiarthritic DAS ; Antiasthmatic PAM ; Antiatherosclerotic; Anticephalagic PIL ; AntiCFS PIL ; Anticlimacteric 500-750 mg/day; Anticonvulsant FAC ; Anticoronary 400 mg/day SYN-X ; Antidepressant DAS ; Antidiabetic 400-800 mg/man/day; Antidysmenorrheic 100 mg 4 x/day WER ; Antiendometriotic 500 mg/day WAF ; Antienterotic KEN ; Antiepileptic 450 mg/day; Antifatigue KEN ; Antifibromyalgic 200-300 mg 3x/day; Antigastrotic KEN ; Antiglaucomic ABEL1999 ; Antihyperkinetic DAS ; Antihypertensive NP6:1 ; Antihypoglycemic DAS ; Antiinflammatory 100 mg 4 x/day WER ; Antiinsomniac DAS ; Antilithic PAM ; AntiLyme 400-1,000 mg; Antimastalgic PAM ; Antimenopausal 500-750 mg/day; Antimigraine 200 mg/day/man WER ; Antimitral-valve-prolapse PIL ; AntiMS; Antinephrolytic; Antineurotic DAS ; Antiosteoporotic 500-1,000 mg/day/wmn/orl; Antiplaque 500-1,000 mg/day WAF ; AntiPMS 400-800 mg/day/wmn orl 400-800 mg/day/wmn/orl; AntiRaynaud's 280-350 mg/day WAF ; Antiretinopathic 400 mg/day SYN-X ; Antispasmodic PIL ; Antispasmophilic 500 mg/day WER ; Antistress 500-750 mg/day WAF ; Antistroke 400 mg/day SYN-X ; Antisyndrome-X 400 mg/man/day SYN-X ; Anxiolytic 500-750 mg/day; Calcium-Antagonist; Cardioprotective PIL ; CNS-Depressant FAC ; Diuretic NP6:1 ; Hypocholesterolemic 400 mg/day WER ; Hypotensive 260-500 mg/day; Immunomodulator KEN ; Insulinogenic 400 mg/day SYN-X ; Laxative 300-500 mg/day; Litholytic PIL ; Myorelaxant 100 mg 4 x/day WER ; Neurotransmitter; Tranquilizer 500-750 mg/day WAF ; Uterorelaxant 100 mg 4 x/day WER ; Vasodilator

MANGANESE Root 237 ppm; DUKE1992A
Antialcoholic FHN ; Antianemic MAR ; Antiarthritic PIL ; Antidiabetic 10-30 mg/man/day 3-5 mg/day WER ; Antidiscotic DAS ; Antidyskinetic MAR ; Antiepileptic 450 mg/day WER ; Antiosteoporotic; Antiototic DAS ; Antioxidant PIL ; AntiPMS PIL ; Antisyndrome-X 10-30 mg/man/day SYN-X ; Hypoglycemic

POTASSIUM Root 7,250 ppm; DUKE1992A
Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker NP6:1 ; Antiarrhythmic DAS ; Antidepressant DAS ; Antifatigue DAS ; Antihypertensive; Antispasmodic DAS ; Antistroke; Anxiolytic WAF ; Beta-Blocker NP6:1 ; Cardioprotective 3,000-5,000 mg PIL ; Cardiotoxic 18,000 mg/man/day DUKE1992B ; Diuretic NP6:1 ; Hypotensive; Vasodilator NP6:1

there's a selection of other nutrients in blue cohosh root, like zinc, selenium, ascorbic acid, etc but with lower ppm or no ppm figure listed. i might see if you can ask the database to return a list of native plants with the highest zinc concentrations and such

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

this is a story that has unfolded over the last year.

it was early 2010 when i switched from magnesium citrate to magnesium glycinate.

also early in 2010, i developed a cough so intense that i missed time at work due to exhaustion from inability to sleep or eat. this cough actually gave me dry heaves. i lost 15 lbs. it wasn't an infection, i wasn't 'sick', but the cough was incapacitating.

then i recovered from the initial intensity and went on to cough for the entire ensuing year.

over that time my doctor dxd an acid reflux cough and sent me to a specialist. at the lab they said yes there is reflux, but they had not seen anyone come through their facility with such a terrible cough (this is when it wasn't really terrible any more from my perspective). for a while i was convinced that meant my cough could NOT be due to reflux, but something else as yet undetermined.

so i was at the doc a few months ago and she gave me a handout on acid reflux and it mentioned no alcohol, no smoking, no eating late at night, etc. it specified that alcohol and smoking loosen the lower oesophageal sphincter. she also gave me a pharma sample which of course i can't get on board with at all.. i tried it for a week but couldn't get past my objection to drugs in general.

over the next few weeks i tossed the info around in my head and then i finallly thought relaxation... magnesium.

then i thought, well i've had this cough for a year, and i've been taking the glycinate form of magnesium for about the same time. i went back and checked the dates to make sure (thank you TIMS!), and i developed the cough after i started using magnesium glycinate.

things were finally starting to make sense. magnesium is supposed to get absorbed in the lower intestine. the problem with supplemental forms like oxide is that they are insoluble so they just go through you. for me, the problem with magnesium glycinate seems to be that while it is more absorbable than oxide or citrate, it still likely gets released from the capsule in the stomach. i thought i had probably been bathing my LES in nice absorbable relaxing magnesium and that this could be the origin of my year of coughing.

so, i started upping my dietary magnesium intake. i tried to stop taking magnesium, but the muscle spasticity and menstrual pain and facial/eyelid twitching would start to creep in. over the last couple of weeks i have managed to avoid the magnesium supplement as much as possible.

my cough is virtually gone!

is it a coincidence? maybe. i don't really want to start taking it again to see if the cough comes back. nonetheless, i think the next step in the process will be to see if i can avoid the cough but still get the benefits of the mag, by taking the pill right before a substantial meal so it stays in the stomach for as little time as possible. might work, might not. if not, it's gonna have to be high dietary and figuring out some other answer for supplementary forms.

i don't imagine magnesium glycinate gives everyone a cough, but just thought it'd put it out there.

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

Hey JL, Just saw your reply back to me regarding albumin and bilirubin!!
Thanks so much for taking the time to research, very interesting info.

Also just read your experiences with Magnesium...I hope you can find a way of taking mag supps to ease your symptoms without it causing the cough x

Hi Jimmylegs,
It's great to hear that you're doing better now. That cough sounds awful!. I agree that since magnesium has effects as a muscle relaxant, that the lower oesophageal sphincter was likely affected by the magnesium.

NHE

yvw LR, and thanks NHE!

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

Hi Jimmylegs!

Interesting reading (even if I can't understand all but the basic stuff!!). At least I know where you got "Jimmylegs" from!!

I recently switched magnesium glycinate, but just a partial dose until I see how well I can tolerate it. When you had the cough (sounds awful), were you taking enough calcium to balance it out? (mag relaxes, cal contracts) I don't know how my body likes this switch though. In just a few days, there are feelings of discord all over the place vague tingling, burning, pain (more than usual) but it could also be from the stinking weather. Just have to wait it out.

There was something you said in one of your earlier posts that I wanted to bring up. Candida... have you ever done castor oil packs? To rid candida it's at least every day for 3 weeks. Not unpleasant (a little messy) and it's a good time to meditate. Just wanted to mention it.

~^,,^~

hi hk, yes i was taking calcium most of the year, there was just a short period when i ran out for a while but the cough didn't worsen at the time.
as for the candida my doctor at the time told me it was a secondary infection and i did not believe her. now i do. my naturopath recommended castor oil packs in 2006, for leaky gut, and even managed to sell me a bottle of castor oil. i never did the procedure but through sorting out my nutritional status i have managed to avoid problems with candida since.
hope you feel better soon. i can't imagine magnesium increasing pain levels that would be weird! are you taking vitamin d3?

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

Glad to hear the candida isn't a problem! I do castor oil packs as regularly as I can to keep my lymphatic system drained and clear.

I take 4-5000 units of D3 daily. Haven't had blood work in a while since it ends up being costly. Any time I've asked my GP for blood work, he just orders the minimun. At this point, it might be wise to pursue this. Would you give me a list of what I need to ask for? It would certainly be easier if I knew what needed tested before I make an appointment to see him!

As far as the change in supplements.... I think the increase in pain is from the weather but the tingling increase really has me concerned. I haven't tingled like this in a long time. hahahaha...tingled. For some reason that made me smile. Geesh. So easily entertained sometimes. Sorry, it's late, I'm tired!

~^,,^~

hi hk, sure for starters check out the very first post in this thread. i have edited to provide some summary intro info. there's more to come but you can pick and choose from what's there now, it should be plenty to get you started!

lol! still tingly?

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

Thanks jl!

Yes, tingly off and on now...not full time.... sure wish I knew why. Just a tingle here, tingle there, here-a-tingle, there-a-tingle, everywhere a tingle tingle hahaha!

so i finally found a video to go with this oooold post:

http://www.thisisms.com/ftopicp-55856.html#55856

and the video...

JIMMY'S 'WORLD WITHOUT ZINC'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPym09LQfnc

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

Awesome jimmylegs! Thank you for the links

~^..^~

yvw

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com

i started working on this yesterday but accidentally dumped it, so here it is redone:

TODAY'S BREAKFAST
I sauteed onion and pepper in cast iron with olive oil. added the egg. spread spinach across the top, sprinkled tiny cubes of cheese across, and covered it. toasted the bread, then served the veggies/egg on top.

1 large egg whole, cooked, fried.
glycemic load 0. IF = -43 mildly inflammatory

1 slice bread, multi-grain, toasted.
glycemic load 5. IF = -32 mildly inflammatory

1 ounce onions, sauteed
glycemic load 1. IF N/A. (when raw, 65 mildly anti-inflammatory)

1 ounce red peppers, sauteed.
glycemic load 1. IF = 19 mildly anti-inflammatory

1 ounce spinach, cooked, without salt.
glycemic load 0. IF = 81 mildly anti-inflammatory

1 cubic inch cheddar.
glycemic load 0. IF = -15 mildly inflammatory.

TOTAL BREAKFAST INFLAMMATION FACTOR = 10 MILDLY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY (possibly 75 if you count onions)

LAST NIGHT'S DINNER
I thawed the salmon, baked the sweet potato whole, prepped and boiled an entire bunch of chard greens, and fried the salmon with lemon and pepper and dished it up. Added half the sweet potato and mashed it, added a little butter. Added half the chard and dressed it with salt, vinegar and a little butter. YUM.

~1/2 cup sweet potato, baked in skin.
glycemic load 10. IF = 216 moderatelyl anti-inflammatory

1c swiss chard, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt.
glycemic load 4. IF = 243 moderately anti-inflammatory

100g salmon, wild, cooked. glycemic load 0.
IF = 581 strongly anti-inflammatory.

TOTAL SUPPER INFLAMMATION FACTOR = 1040 STRONGLY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

I just remembered I also had a romaine salad tossed in vinaigrette and topped with sunflower seeds but I can't be bothered to add it now! hehe

_________________
my approach: no meds so far - just balanced whole foods (partial 'paleo', much less outright elimination), science, supplements, & bloodwork
my regimen - www.thisisms.com/ftopict-2489.html
www.whfoods.com, www.nutritiondata.com