hi mirry, we'll see if your doc has any questions because you've cast a pretty wide net. i'll pull a bit of info together and if you need to you can forward to the doc.
there are a few key things specific to ms cases that would allow the doc to focus a bit. i can't advise on ideal hormone levels etc, i just know that nutrient levels can affect hormone levels.
when it comes to vitamins minerals and ms, i'd say this:
out of the b-complex, your
b12 level is most important. you shouldn't have to provide any backup info to justify this test.
get the rest of the b-complex done if you can: b1, b2, b3, b5, b6, b9.
vitamin d3. the exact test to ask for is 25(OH)D3.
this is pretty mainstream these days; you should not need to justify this request
start of march 2013 update:
zinc
Zinc and copper in multiple sclerosis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1083158/
The serum concentrations of zinc and copper were measured in 50 patients with multiple sclerosis. Lower serum zinc levels were found compared to age- and sex-matched controls. In younger patients low serum copper concentrations were noted.
sweet spot is around 18.2 - 18.4 μmol/l. i have TONS of replication for this number but here's one study for a little backup info:
Serum vitamin A and zinc levels of healthy people in northeast Thailand
The average serum zinc level of the population (n=1113)* was 18.20 μmol/l (95% CI= 18.05-18.36). There was no significant difference in the zinc levels between males and females, i.e. 18.20 μmol/l (95% CI=17.90-18.36) vs. 18.36 μmol/l (95% CI= 18.05-18.66). The zinc level tended to decrease significantly as age increased, particularly in the male population (p<0.05)**.
*that is one great 'n'!! **things that make ya go hmmm
uric acid
backup info:
Serum uric acid levels in multiple sclerosis patients correlate with activity of disease and blood–brain barrier dysfunction
Several findings suggest lower levels of serum uric acid in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. ... Sixty-three definite RRMS patients and 40 controls ... MS patients were found to have significantly lower serum uric acid levels (193.89 ± 49.05 μmol/l; mean value ±SD) in comparison with healthy donors (292.7 ± 58.65 μmol/l; P=0.000) ... MS patients with relapse had significantly lower serum uric acid levels (161.49 ± 23.61 μmol/l) than MS patients with remission (234.39 ± 41.96 μmol/l; P=0.000) ...
magnesium
backup info:
The multifaceted and widespread pathology of magnesium deficiency
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 7700911332
The range of pathologies associated with Mg deficiency is staggering: hypertension (cardiovascular disease, kidney and liver damage, etc.), peroxynitrite damage (migraine, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, Alzheimers disease, etc.)...
end of march 2013 update
About the Misdiagnosis of Magnesium Deficiency
http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/23/6/730S
...In patients with Mg
serum values lower than 0.9 mmol/l Mg, magnesium supplementation is recommended; for patients with values
lower than 0.8 mmol/l, starting Mg supplementation is
necessary. We recommend that a Mg serum value of
0.9 mmol/l Mg be considered as the
lower reference limit, in evaluating symptoms or diseases suspected as being associated with Mg deficiency. In this case, Mg has to be used as a first choice therapy.
When symptoms of the MDS are found,
patients with serum values of
less than 0.8 mmol/l Mg, or better 0.9 mmol/l Mg, ...
[not automatically] normomagnesemic.
selenium
backup info:
SELENIUM, VITAMIN E AND COPPER IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
...The Se content of whole blood was low (52.8 ± 11.3 ng/ml) in MS patients from this high-risk area compared to the controls (68.8 ± 11.0). ...
serum ferritin
always good to know, along with RBC folate. you should not have to provide backup info for those requests.
many here at TIMS would recommend more iron tests such as TIBC, serum transferrin etc. i suggest that ferritin and folate are ok to start and if you need to dig deeper then it would be time to look at the rest of the iron panel. your choice.
vitamin E (you would probably only be able to get an alpha-tocopherol test but that's okay)
backup info (this kind of study cracks me up):
Alpha-tocopherol and NADPH in the erythrocytes and plasma of multiple sclerosis patients. Effect of interferon-beta-1b treatment.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of interferon-beta-1b (INF-beta-1b) therapy on blood antioxidants (alpha-tocopherol and NADPH) in multiple sclerosis (MS).
METHODS: Patients with relapsing-remitting MS (n = 14) have been studied during 6 months of INF-beta-1b therapy. alpha-Tocopherol was determined by HPLC and UV or electrochemical detection; NADPH was quantified spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: The erythrocyte alpha-tocopherol level was reduced (p < 0.001) before treatment, but had regained the control level by 6 months of therapy.
thank goodness we have interferon to correct our low vit e levels
JULY 2011 ADD-IN:
Red blood cell fatty acids in multiple sclerosis
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... x/abstract
"The alterations reported in plasma and RBC in the MS patients are consistent with a relative deficiency of essential FA"
Red blood cell and adipose tissue fatty acids in mild inactive multiple sclerosis
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... x/abstract
"docosahexaenoic acid was not detectable in any MS patient, 40% of the controls had measurable levels varying from to 0.1 to 0.3% of total estimated fatty acid (p = 0.0003)."
Sialic acid and fatty acid concentrations in lymphocytes, red blood cells and plasma from patients with multiple sclerosis
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 0X84901047
"The fatty acid composition of the plasma neutral lipids plus free fatty acids showed a very significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the relative percentage of linoleic acid, a small decrease (P < 0.05) in arachidonic acid and significant increases in palmitic (P < 0.001) and oleic acids (P < 0.001) in MS, compared to controls"
END OF JULY 2011 EDIT
anyway all in all that would be a good start.
and i'm very well, thank you for asking
i'm uber stressed about work lately but at least i have some support during lean times and i got a fabulous performance eval at work so that's nice as long as it turns into $$ and security ha!
good luck with everything