iron and folate-vitamin b12-methylation pathway
Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:44 pm
An abstract of this research from Tygerberg Hospital in SA was recently posted: I emailed one of the authors and was startled and pleased to receive almost immediately in response the full text of the article, as well as a handout of a proposed regimen based on the research's hypothesis...that is... that body may require specific suppliments to encourage myelin repair. I've inserted some of that information on the regimen below.
BIOCHEMICAL HYPOTHESIS (THE RAPHAH REGIMEN):
The body is programmed to prevent and repair injuries. The philosophy behind the Raphah regimen is that in order for repair mechanisms to work properly, ALL the necessary raw materials must be present at ALL times, especially at the time when injuries happen. It is also necessary to have an understanding of the process of injury, so that the protective mechanisms are in place at ALL times. In the case of MS, myelin (which consists of proteins and lipids), is attacked by over-activated immune cells such as monocytes, which produce free radicals which then digest the myelin.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES:
The body generally protects itself against free radical damage by scavenging (neutralising) the free radicals as they are formed. This is done by the twin enzymes superoxide dismutase (containing zinc and copper) and glutathione peroxidase (containing selenium), as well as the antioxidant vitamins.
SYNTHESIS AND REPAIR OF MYELIN:
Myelin, which insulates neurons, is synthesized and repaired every day, whether persons are in a relapse or not. The process needs a lot of energy, and therefore needs enough iron, as well as ALL the components of the folate-vitamin B12-methionine one-carbon metabolic system, amino acids (for the proteins) and essential (unsaturated) fatty acids (for the lipids). All these ingredients need to be replenished EVERY DAY.
The body repairs injuries using raw materials from the food we eat. Some of the molecules necessary for repair can be manufactured by the body, but some can not and therefore have to be provided from the diet.
Small (adequate) amounts of the following raw materials have to be ingested daily:
Every Morning:
1. Iron (15 mg/day), if blood iron parameters are not high (hemochromatosis). Have a blood test done for iron first.
2. Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. There are about 22 of which 9 are “essential”, i.e. they cannot be synthesized from other amino acids by the body. These are leucine, isoleucine, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine and histidine. They are available in diet milk shakes, or in tablet form. It is not necessary to ingest large amounts, but take them EVERY DAY.
3. Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid: Natrodale “Vitamin B12 and Folic acid – High Strength”. It contains 18 mg of “Intrinsic Factor”. Also take an extra 5 mg tablet of folic acid per day.
4. Lecithin (300 mg - Vital Health Foods).
5. An antioxidant formulation of your own choice, e.g. Procydin, or Beta Guard from GNLD, etc. Also eat lots of fruit and vegetables. They contain many antioxidants not available in supplements.
Every Evening:
6. Essential fatty acids (Vital Health Foods): Evening Primrose Oil (500 mg) and
Salmon Oil (500 mg).
7. A multivitamin-multimineral. Suggestion: “Centrum”, the one that contains 100 mg of magnesium and other minerals.
BIOCHEMICAL HYPOTHESIS (THE RAPHAH REGIMEN):
The body is programmed to prevent and repair injuries. The philosophy behind the Raphah regimen is that in order for repair mechanisms to work properly, ALL the necessary raw materials must be present at ALL times, especially at the time when injuries happen. It is also necessary to have an understanding of the process of injury, so that the protective mechanisms are in place at ALL times. In the case of MS, myelin (which consists of proteins and lipids), is attacked by over-activated immune cells such as monocytes, which produce free radicals which then digest the myelin.
PROTECTIVE MEASURES:
The body generally protects itself against free radical damage by scavenging (neutralising) the free radicals as they are formed. This is done by the twin enzymes superoxide dismutase (containing zinc and copper) and glutathione peroxidase (containing selenium), as well as the antioxidant vitamins.
SYNTHESIS AND REPAIR OF MYELIN:
Myelin, which insulates neurons, is synthesized and repaired every day, whether persons are in a relapse or not. The process needs a lot of energy, and therefore needs enough iron, as well as ALL the components of the folate-vitamin B12-methionine one-carbon metabolic system, amino acids (for the proteins) and essential (unsaturated) fatty acids (for the lipids). All these ingredients need to be replenished EVERY DAY.
The body repairs injuries using raw materials from the food we eat. Some of the molecules necessary for repair can be manufactured by the body, but some can not and therefore have to be provided from the diet.
Small (adequate) amounts of the following raw materials have to be ingested daily:
Every Morning:
1. Iron (15 mg/day), if blood iron parameters are not high (hemochromatosis). Have a blood test done for iron first.
2. Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. There are about 22 of which 9 are “essential”, i.e. they cannot be synthesized from other amino acids by the body. These are leucine, isoleucine, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine and histidine. They are available in diet milk shakes, or in tablet form. It is not necessary to ingest large amounts, but take them EVERY DAY.
3. Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid: Natrodale “Vitamin B12 and Folic acid – High Strength”. It contains 18 mg of “Intrinsic Factor”. Also take an extra 5 mg tablet of folic acid per day.
4. Lecithin (300 mg - Vital Health Foods).
5. An antioxidant formulation of your own choice, e.g. Procydin, or Beta Guard from GNLD, etc. Also eat lots of fruit and vegetables. They contain many antioxidants not available in supplements.
Every Evening:
6. Essential fatty acids (Vital Health Foods): Evening Primrose Oil (500 mg) and
Salmon Oil (500 mg).
7. A multivitamin-multimineral. Suggestion: “Centrum”, the one that contains 100 mg of magnesium and other minerals.