Nutrients Help Alleviate Mental Symptoms

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Nutrients Help Alleviate Mental Symptoms

 

By William Walsh, Ph.D.

 

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Each of us has innate biochemical factors that influence mental health, immune

function, allergic tendencies and more. Scientists tell us that the number of

different genetic combinations possible in a child from the same two parents

exceeds forty-two million. It's interesting to note that we do not possess a

combination of characteristics from our parents, but instead have a diverse

collection of characteristics from many ancestors on both sides of the family.

 

Except for identical twins, each human being has unique biochemistry resulting

in quite diverse nutritional needs. Shakespeare was correct when he wrote, “One

man's meat is another man's poison.” For example, some of us are genetically

suited for a vegetable-based diet and others are not. Some people can satisfy

their nutritional needs by diet alone and others must have nutritional

supplements to overcome genetic aberrations.

 

Because of genetic differences in the way our bodies process foods, most of us

are quite deficient in certain nutrients and overloaded in others. Even with an

ideal diet, most of us have certain nutrients that are at very low levels

causing us to require many times the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) to

achieve a healthy balance.

 

The nutrients in overload must be carefully avoided in vitamin supplements or

serious health problems can develop. After studying the biochemistry of 10,000

persons, I've learned that the greatest mischief is usually caused by nutrients

that are stored in excessive amounts, rather than those at depleted levels. The

most common nutrients that are stored in overload include copper, iron, folic

acid, calcium, methionine1, manganese, choline2 and omega-6 fatty acids3. Of

course, these same nutrients may be in deficiency in other persons. [Note: Some

technical terms are explained at the end of this article.]

 

I am amused by supplement manufacturers who attempt to develop the ideal

combination of vitamins, minerals and amino acids for the general population.

This is a bit like trying to determine the ideal shoe size for the population.

The truth is that multiple vitamins and minerals are too indiscriminate and may

do as much harm as good.

 

Each of us should ask the question, “Who am I nutritionally?” The answer to this

question is important for all, but may be especially critical for persons with

mental health problems.

 

NUTRIENTS AND MENTAL HEALTH

 

As we enter the new millennium, the medical and scientific communities agree on

the tremendous influence of neurotransmitters4 on behavior disorders, “ADHD”

(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), depression and “schizophrenia.”

People can have a predisposition for these problems due to genetically aberrant

levels of specific neurotransmitters. Our mental health is dependent upon having

the proper amount of these critical brain chemicals.

 

Some psychiatrists express their scorn for nutrient therapies, claiming that

they are too puny to have any real clinical potency. They often say, “You really

need a drug to get the job done for a serious condition like depression.”

 

My favorite response begins by asking the question, “Where do our

neurotransmitters come from?”

 

The brain is a chemical factory that produces serotonin, dopamine,

norepinephrine5 and other brain chemicals 24 hours a day. The only raw materials

for their syntheses are nutrients, namely, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc.

If the brain receives improper amounts of these nutrient building blocks, we can

expect serious problems with our neurotransmitters.

 

For example, some depression patients have a genetic pyrrole disorder that

renders them grossly depleted in vitamin B-6. A pyrrole is a basic chemical

structure that is used in the formation of heme, which makes blood red. Pyrroles

bind with B-6 and then with zinc, thus depleting these nutrients. These

individuals cannot efficiently create serotonin (a neurotransmitter) since B-6

is an important factor in the last step of its synthesis.

 

Many of these persons appear to benefit from Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft or other

serotonin-enhancing medications. However, as with all mind-altering drugs, side

effects occur and the true cause of the mental difficulties remains uncorrected.

Similar—and more healthful—benefits can be achieved by simply giving these

patients sufficient amounts of B-6 along with supporting nutrients.

 

Most neurotransmitter problems appear to be genetic in nature and involve

abnormal absorption, metabolism or storage of key nutrients. As neuroscience

advances, biochemical treatments to correct brain chemistry become better

defined. Nutrient therapy can be very potent and does not involve side effects,

since no molecules foreign to the body are needed. This therapeutic approach may

eventually eliminate the need for most psychiatric medications.

 

BIOCHEMICAL FACTORS IN BEHAVIOR DISORDERS,

“ADHD” AND “MENTAL ILLNESS”

 

The Pfeiffer Treatment Center has amassed a large database of biochemical

information from more than 10,000 patients with mental health problems.

Examination of this data shows that most of these persons have striking

abnormalities in specific nutrients required for neurotransmitter production.

The most common chemical imbalances we encounter include the following:

 

Over-methylation

 

Many persons who suffer from anxiety along with depression are over-methylated.

Methyl is an important chemical group consisting of one carbon and three

hydrogen atoms (CH3). Over-methylation (too many added methyl groups) results in

excessive levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine and

serotonin. Typical symptoms include chemical and food sensitivities,

underachievement, upper body pain and an adverse reaction to serotonin-enhancing

substances such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, St. John's Wort and SAMe6.

Over-methylated persons have a physical tendency to be very depressed in folates

(a form of folic acid), niacin and vitamin B-12, and biochemical treatment

focuses on supplementation of these nutrients. These persons are also overloaded

in copper and methionine (a sulfur-containing amino acid) and supplements of

these nutrients must be strictly avoided.

 

Under-methylation

 

Many patients with obsessive-compulsive tendencies, “oppositional-defiant

disorder7,” or seasonal depression are under-methylated, which is associated

with slow serotonin levels. They generally exhibit seasonal allergies and other

distinctive symptoms and traits. They have a tendency to be very depressed in

calcium, magnesium, methionine and vitamin B-6 with excessive levels of folic

acid. These under-methylated persons can have a positive effect from Paxil,

Zoloft and other serotonin-enhancing medications, although nasty side effects

are common. A more natural approach is to directly correct the underlying

problem using methionine, calcium, magnesium and B-6. SAMe, St. John's Wort,

Kava Kava and inositol (a natural sugar alcohol) are also very useful in

treating these individuals.

 

Metal-metabolism

 

A common problem in “ADHD,” behavior disorders and hormonal depression is a

physical inability to control copper, zinc, manganese and other trace metals in

the body due to improper functioning of metallothionein—a small protein

synthesized in the liver and kidney in response to the presence of some metal

ions8, including zinc, mercury, cadmium and copper. It binds the metal ions

tightly and is important both in ion transport and in detoxification.

 

These patients are often deficient in zinc and manganese, the amino acids

cysteine and serine, and vitamin B-6. They are commonly overloaded in copper,

lead and cadmium. They must avoid supplements and “enriched foods” containing

copper. In addition we recommend they drink bottled water and limit use of

swimming pools and jacuzzis treated with copper sulfate anti-algae agents. Foods

to be limited due to high copper content include shellfish, chocolate and carob.

 

Elevated copper levels are associated with hormonal imbalances and a classic

symptom is intolerance to estrogen. Biochemical treatment focuses on stimulation

of metallothionein using zinc, manganese, cysteine, serine and vitamin B-6.

 

Pyrrole Disorder

 

A common feature of many behavioral and emotional disorders is pyroluria,

detectable as a purple (on testing paper) metabolite in urine called “the mauve

factor.” Pyroluria is an inborn error of pyrrole chemistry, which results in a

dramatic deficiency of zinc, vitamin B-6 and arachidonic acid (an omega-6 fatty

acid). Certain pyrroles called kryptopyrroles (literally, “hidden pyrroles”)

bind with B-6, then zinc to deplete the body's supply. Common symptoms include

explosive temper, mood swings, poor short-term memory and frequent infections.

These patients are easily identified by their inability to tan, poor dream

recall, abnormal fat distribution and sensitivity to light and sound. The

decisive laboratory test is analysis for kryptopyrroles (the “mauve factor”) in

urine. Treatment centers on zinc and B-6 supplements together with omega-6

essential fatty acids.

 

Glucose Dyscontrol

 

Our database indicates a significant number of our patients have chronic low

blood glucose levels. This problem doesn't appear to be the cause of behavior

disorders, depression, etc., but instead is an aggravating factor that can

trigger striking symptoms. Typical symptoms include drowsiness after meals,

irritability, craving for sweets, trembling, anxiety and intermittent poor

concentration and focus. Treatment includes chromium, manganese and other

glucose-stabilizing nutrients, but the primary focus of treatment is on diet.

These patients benefit from six or more small meals daily with emphasis on

complex carbohydrates and protein. In essence, they cannot tolerate large meals

or quick sugars. Complex carbohydrates provide the necessary glucose in a slow,

gradual manner and may be thought of as “time-released” sugar.

 

Toxic Substances

 

Occasionally we encounter a patient whose condition has resulted from a

heavy-metal overload (lead, cadmium, mercury, etc.) or toxic levels of

pesticides or other organic chemicals. Our database indicates that persons with

a metallothionein disorder are especially sensitive to toxic metals and that

over-methylation is associated with severe chemical sensitivities. Effective

treatment requires a three-part approach: (1) avoidance of additional exposures;

(2) biochemical treatment to hasten the exit of the toxic substance from the

body; and (3) correction of underlying chemical imbalances to minimize future

vulnerability to the toxic material.

 

Malabsorption

 

Although only 10% of our database case histories involve serious malabsorption,

more than 90% of autistics exhibit this problem. There are three primary classes

of absorption problems: (1) stomach problems, including excessive or

insufficient HCl (hydrochloric acid) levels; (2) incomplete digestion in the

small intestine; and (3) problems at the brush-border, the tiny villi9 that

tremendously increase the surface area of the intestine, where most nutrients

are absorbed into the blood stream. The consequences can include nutrient

deficiencies, irritation of the intestinal tract, candida and mental health

problems. Incomplete breakdown of protein and fats can adversely affect brain

neurotransmission, and is associated with impulsivity and academic

underachievement. Treatment depends on the type of malabsorption present and may

involve adjustment of stomach HCl levels, digestive enzymes that survive stomach

acid, nutrients to enhance digestion, and special diets.

 

Essential Fatty Acids

 

The brain is 20% fat (by dry weight) and these fatty substances fulfill very

important functions. The myelin sheaths that surround our brain cells contain

essential fatty acids that are directly involved in nerve receptor formation and

nerve transmission. A 1998 Symposium at the National Institute of Mental Health

presented strong evidence of the important roles for omega-3 oils (especially

EPA and DHA10) and omega-6 oils (especially AA and DGLA11) in “ADHD,” depression

and “schizophrenia.” A recent Harvard study showed EPA and DHA supplements to be

more effective than psychiatric medications in combating “bipolar depression.”

 

Typical American diets usually result in insufficient omega-3 and excessive

omega-6 and some nutritionists routinely recommend supplements of omega-3 oils.

However, biochemical individuality also exists with oils and certain persons are

innately low in omega-6 oils. A review of symptoms and specialized plasma and

red-cell-membrane lab tests can identify individual needs.

 

SUMMARY

 

Nutrients play a critical role in mental health. They are the building blocks of

the nervous system. Correct testing and understanding of deficiencies and

overloads can pinpoint the causes of many severe mental symptoms, thus opening

the door to hope and recovery.

 

 

--

 

Reprinted by permission from HRI-Pfeiffer Treatment Center, Naperville,

Illinois; 630-505-0300; info; www.hriptc.org.

 

William J. Walsh, Ph.D., is a scientist with more than 30 years of research

experience. He founded the Health Research Institute in 1982, and the Pfeiffer

Treatment Center, which has provided individualized nutrient therapy to more

than 14,000 patients, in 1989. Dr. Walsh has authored more than 200 scientific

articles and reports, and he presently serves as chief scientist of the Pfeiffer

Treatment Center.

 

Footnotes

 

1. Methionine is an amino acid you need that you can only get from food or

supplements.

 

2. Choline is part of the vitamin B complex family.

 

3. Fatty acids are the building blocks of fats. The tail end of the fatty acid

molecule is called the “omega.” Some fatty acids have two carbon atoms together

located 6 atoms from the end. These are called omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3

fatty acids have a double carbon atom at 3 from the end.

 

4. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transfer messages from one nerve cells

to the other.

 

5. Serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine are all neurotransmitters.

 

6. SAMe stands for S-Adenosyl Methionine. It is a supplement and a chemical

produced in the brain from the amino acid methionine. In one chemical process,

SAMe adds methyl groups, thus would be harmful to people already

over-methylated.

 

7. This is a psychiatric diagnosis for a pattern of negativistic, hostile and

defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months.

 

8. An ion is a negatively charged atom or group of atoms. They tend to want to

combine with other atoms or groups of atoms.

 

9. Villi are minute, finger-like projections that give the small intestine

lining a velvet-like appearance. They absorb nutrients.

 

10. There are 3 kinds of omega-3 fatty acids. Two of them are EPA and DHA, which

are found in fish oil.

 

11. There are 3 kinds of omega-6 fatty acids. Two of them are AA (arachidonic

acid, mentioned earlier in this article) and DGLA.

 

http://www.wellbeingjournal.com/nutrients.htm

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