EXCERPT - Diet & Important Supplementation

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EXCERPT - Diet & Important Supplementation

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The Second “Core†Component of Lyme Therapy: Basic Lifestyle Health

Principles and Nutritional Supplementation

 

I addressed antibiotics earlier in this chapter because their proper use

is critical to the effective treatment of Lyme and the TBDs. In the

remainder of this chapter, I will be sharing with you the core general-health

principles and alternative and complementary therapies that I recommend for

virtually all my Lyme/TBD patients.

 

Additional therapies for common specific problems and/ or issues

associated with Lyme—such as detoxification, lack of energy, hormonal

dysfunctions,

chronic inflammation, neurological factors, pain, sleep problems, and others

—are discussed in chapters 7 and 8. Chapter 9 addresses additional

therapies and self-care measures for achieving and maintaining overall

psychological and spiritual well-being.

 

General Care—All Patients

 

What follows are the essential elements of the general care program I

recommend for all patients with Lyme and TBDs. In addition to these steps,

adjunctive alternative therapies, which I also discuss below, may also be

advised.

 

1) The Lyme Inflammation Diet (LID). Since I discussed this diet and its

rationale in detail in the last chapter, there is no need to go into detail

about it here. Please review chapter 5 and be sure to follow the dietary

recommendations you will find there for each of the stages of the diet. The

reason I stress the importance of the LID is that it effectively helps to

minimize and reverse the effects of chronic inflammation. Chronic

inflammation is one of the main reasons so many patients with Lyme fail to

improve. As

I mentioned in chapter 5, once inflammation is brought under control, your

body will become better able to mobilize its defenses against Lyme and

other TBDs. Additionally, the Lyme Inflammation Diet is also highly effective

in help your body to detoxify and rid itself of toxins. The diet will also

help minimize your risk of developing candidiasis (systemic yeast

infection), as well as help you to bring yeast infection under control if you

already suffer from it. Of course, the LID principles would include complete

abstinence from both alcohol and tobacco usage during treatment. Ongoing users

of these substances generally do poorly with Lyme therapy.

 

2) Targeted Nutritional Supplementation. This is a very important next

topic of discussion because most, if not all, patients with chronic Lyme and

TBDs suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Chronic infection, along with

chronic inflammation and oxidative stress (discussed in chapter five), cause

this situation. In a depleted state, unfortunately, a healthy diet alone is

often unable to completely address the situation. For this reason, I

recommend that all patients take a general, high quality multi-vitamin and

mineral supplement on a daily basis.

 

At this point, I wish to address the most common vital nutrient

deficiencies that afflict many patients with Lyme and other tick-borne

diseases. They

are vitamins A, B-complex (especially vitamins B12 and B6), C, and D, as

well as the mineral magnesium.

 

Vitamin A: The first vitamin ever to be discovered, vitamin A is not a

single substance, but actually a complex of nutrients that include carotenoids

and retinol. Vitamin A has many health functions in the body, including

proper bone growth, cell differentiation, healthy eyesight, proper

gastrointestinal and respiratory function, and tissue repair. For patients with

Lyme

and other TBDs, vitamin A is particularly important because of its

significant ability to improve immune function and fight infectious disease and

its

role as an important antioxidant. Deficiency of vitamin A may prolong the

course of Lyme arthritis. I recommend a daily intake of 3–5,000 IU of ‘

fatsoluble†vitamin A itself and an additional 5–10,000 units of “

water-soluble†mixed carotenoids that the body can covert to vitamin A if

needed. (As

a precaution, vitamin A supplementation should not be used in pregnant

women without supervision of an obstetrician.)

 

B-complex Vitamins: B vitamins are water soluble, meaning that they cannot

be stored in the body and therefore must be obtained every day from the

foods you eat and, if necessary, as a nutritional supplement. The full range

of B vitamins includes B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5

(pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), and B12

(methylcobalamin). B vitamins work together in the body, and therefore, when

taken as a

supplement, they should be part of a complete B-complex formula.

 

I have found that deficiencies of vitamins B12 and B6 are common in

patients with Lyme and other TBDs. The reason vitamin B12 is so often deficient

is that it is not found in significant amounts in plant foods. It is also

easily depleted by stress, a common co-factor in chronic Lyme disease.

Absorption from the intestines may be erratic, especially in the elderly. B12

plays many roles in the body, including helping to manufacture protein from

amino acids and aiding in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and

fats. It is also necessary for proper functioning of the nervous system and

aids in the body’s production of red blood cells. Additionally, B12 can boost

energy levels in the body and help to counteract poor gastrointestinal

problems, memory problems, and mood swings.

 

I recommend that virtually all patients with Lyme and related TBDs have a

blood test to determine their vitamin B12 nutritional status. If a person

is a vegetarian, a vegan, or on a macrobiotic diet, it is especially

important that a blood test for B12 be done to assess one’s B12 status. For

patients with significant neurological Lyme problems, it may be important also

to

order two other tests: (1) homocysteine level and (2) a functional test

for vitamin B12 called urinary “methylmalonic acid.†If it is found that

you

have blood B12 levels less than 500 picograms/milliliter, elevated

homocysteine, or an abnormally elevated urinary methylmalonic acid, then

intramuscular injections of this important vitamin may be advised, along with

supplementing with sublingual B12. I prefer the methylcobalamin or oxycobalamin

preparations over cyanocobalamin. The dosage range for sublingual B12 is

1,000–2,000 mg per day. The intramuscular dose is 1,000 mg weekly.

 

Vitamin B6 deficiency may cause significant problems also. Among those

problems are elevated homocysteine levels, carpal tunnel syndrome, anxiety

(especially when combined with a deficiency of the minerals manganese and zinc

in a condition called pyroluria—see my Web site for more information),

depression (vitamin B6 is a necessary cofactor for serotonin production),

premenstrual syndrome (PMS), migraines, kidney stones, tremors, and others.

 

A good diagnostic clue to B6 deficiency is an elevated blood homocysteine

level. Specific blood tests for vitamin B6 can also be done. Generally,

vitamin B6 is given in a dose range of 50–100 mg per day. Often vitamin B6,

which is called pyridoxine, will be combined with an even more effective form

of vitamin B6 called pyridoxal-5-phosphate. This is a very effective way

to take vitamin B6 and highly recommended. It is also my usual practice to

combine vitamin B6 with a good quality magnesium supplement, since these two

nutrients work together in many biochemical processes in the body.

 

Remember, the standard American diet is often associated with inadequate

vitamin B6 and magnesium, especially a diet that contains significant

amounts of alcohol, white flour, and refined sugar, each of which tends to

deplete the body of both of these essential nutrients.

 

Vitamin C: Another water soluble nutrient, vitamin C is perhaps the most

versatile and important vitamin because of the wide range of functions it

supports in the body. Its importance for patients with Lyme and other TBDs

has to do with its powerful immune-boosting properties, its effectiveness in

fighting infectious microorganisms, and its role as a potent antioxidant

and detoxifying agent. It also acts as a natural antihistamine (especially

when combined with the bioflavonoid, quercitin), making it an important

nutrient for managing inflammation. Vitamin C is also essential for the overall

health of the body’s blood vessels, bones, cartilage, joint linings,

ligaments, skin, and teeth, as well as for wound healing. Additionally, along

with B vitamins, it is one of the most important nutrients for coping with

stress and also plays important roles in the metabolism of amino acids and

cholesterol and in the manufacture of hormones by the body. For patients with

Lyme/TBDs, I routinely recommend a daily oral dose of vitamin C ranging

from 500–2,000 mg per day in divided doses. The Lyme Disease Solution 2 6 4

 

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is a nutrient that in recent years has become

increasingly recognized for its health properties. Additionally, recent

research

suggests that a high percentage of people in the United States are deficient

in vitamin D, especially those who usually receive little to no exposure to

natural sunlight on a daily basis. Additionally, vitamin D levels in the

body typically diminish after the age of 40. A study published in June 2007

in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that supplementation

of vitamin D in older women reduced their risk of cancer by an amazing 60

percent.

 

Among its many important roles, vitamin D helps support the body’s

endocrine system, especially the adrenal and thyroid glands. Studies in recent

years have shown that vitamin D plays a major role in the regulation (not mere

suppression) of the immune system. It has been shown that low vitamin D

levels are associated with increased levels of inflammatory markers such as

IL-6, TNF-alpha, and CRP. As I discussed in chapter 4, vitamin D plays an

important role in the reduction of autoimmunity by helping the body to

control excessive Th1 responses. Its immune-regulatory function is vital to

good

health.

 

Treatment with vitamin D can reduce musculoskeletal pain in a certain

percentage of Lyme patients. For this reason, I believe that Lyme patients with

chronic inflammatory problems should be assessed for vitamin D deficiency

with a blood test called “25-hydroxy vitamin D.†Supplementation with

sunlight Core Treatment Strategies for Lyme Disease and Other Tick-Borne

Diseases 2 6 5 or oral vitamin D should be done if levels are low (less than 40

ng/mL). The usual oral supplement dosage for vitamin D (D3 or

cholecalciferol is the preferred form of vitamin D) is 400–5,000 IU per day,

depending on

the level of deficiency. The goal of vitamin D supplementation (along with

sunlight) is to achieve a level of 45–60 ng/mL. I don’t recommend levels

over 70 ng/mL for prolonged periods of time.

 

Interestingly, sunlight may result in formation of 10,000–20,000 IU per

day, but feedback control mechanisms in the skin prevent toxic vitamin D

blood levels from occurring. Therefore, if your vitamin D level is too high,

the elevated blood level must be occurring from oral intake of vitamin D and

not from sunlight. Finally, there is one exception to my vitamin D

recommendations above. If a person has Lyme and a condition called

“sarcoidosis,â€

then restriction of vitamin D may be useful.

 

Magnesium: Both Lyme and Bartonella significantly deplete the body’s

supply of magnesium. Magnesium is one of the most important mineral nutrients

necessary for good health, and also one of the minerals that Americans in

general are most commonly deficient in. The recommended daily intake of

magnesium for healthy people is 400 mg per day, but the sad reality is that the

average American gets about half that amount per day. The best nutritional

sources include green foods, especially collards and chard (magnesium is to

chlorophyll what iron is to hemoglobin), orange-colored foods, nuts,

chocolate, figs, apricots, coconut, bran, oats, beans, and legumes.

 

Most widely known for its ability to support the health of the bones,

heart, skeletal muscles, and teeth, magnesium also plays essential roles in the

maintenance and repair of all body cells, energy production, hormone

regulation, nerve transmission, and the metabolism of proteins and nucleic

acids. It also helps to reverse muscular tension and is involved in the

functioning of literally hundreds of the body’s enzymatic reactions. A lack of

magnesium can also contribute to immune system dysfunction, depression, fatigue,

high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gastrointestinal problems,

irregular heartbeat, memory problems, mood swings, muscle spasms and twitching,

and

motor skill problems.

 

Many chronic symptoms of Lyme/TBDs are related to magnesium deficiency,

and the correction of that deficiency can be very effective in relieving

those symptoms. For that reason, I routinely test nearly all patients with

chronic Lyme symptoms for magnesium deficiency. The problem with blood testing

is that the magnesium blood test should be done on the red bloods cells and

not the serum. This is because magnesium exists primarily inside of cells

(intracellular, as in red blood cells), and deficiency will not be detected

in fluid outside of the cells (extracellular, as in serum or plasma) until

a very profound deficiency exists. If you can afford it, the best, and

also most expensive, test is the blood “ionized†magnesium (performed by

most

large commercial labs).

 

If blood testing shows low levels of magnesium and if kidney function is

good, supplementation is highly recommended, in a dosage range of 400–1,000

mg per day. Take in divided doses because taking large amounts of magnesium

may result in loose stools. There are many good products on the market,

the best of which contain primarily magnesium chloride or “chelatedâ€

magnesium (such as taurate, citrate, aspartate, glycinate, and others.)

 

Coenzyme Q10: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitaminlike substance that is found

in food. It is not a true vitamin since it can also be synthesized by the

body, with lessening amounts produced as we age. CoQ10 plays a variety of

intricate and important roles in your body’s ability to produce energy.

Perhaps its most important role is that of helping the cells’ mitochondria

manufacture cellular fuel, known as adenosinetriphosphate, or ATP. The amount

of ATP produced by the cells is directly related to energy levels. The more

ATP that is produced, the more energy is available. Without an adequate

supply of CoQ10, the cells are unable to produce enough ATP, resulting in

energy loss and fatigue. CoQ10 also acts as a fat-soluble antioxidant. It

enhances the ability of its fellow fat-soluble antioxidant, vitamin E, to do

its

job. CoQ10 is a critically important nutrient for the heart, improving

energy production in heart cells. Heart muscle biop- The Lyme Disease Solution

2 6 8 sies of Lyme patients often show CoQ10 deficiency, according to Dr.

Burrascano. In fact, this deficiency may be a major causative factor in the

chronic fatigue of some Lyme patients. An important additional risk factor

for CoQ10 deficiency is the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs called “

statins.†(I generally avoid the statin drugs in patients with chronic

fatigue,

but for those who must take the statin medications, I recommend

supplementation with CoQ10 and fish oil.)

 

This versatile nutrient has other important functions. CoQ10 can be very

helpful in the regulation of high blood pressure. Combined with L-carnitine,

it can help patients with congestive heart failure. It also helps to

improve immune function and has anti-cancer properties. Finally, it may act as

a

powerful brain anti-oxidant and “neuro-protector†(especially against

neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease).

 

The usual dosage range for CoQ10 is 50–200 mg per day. As a reminder,

CoQ10 (and also alpha lipoic acid and vitamin E) should not be used while you

are using the anti-Babesia drug atovaquone (Mepron, Malarone) because CoQ10

interferes with the action of this medication. While CoQ10 supplementation

on its own can often improve energy levels, I have found that best results

are achieved when CoQ10 is taken along with a full range of other essential

vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

 

 

 

 

 

If you would like to learn more about the book before ordering it, feel

free to browse these excerpts, which are available online, free of charge:

 

_Table of Contents_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-solution-table-of-contents) •

_Introduction_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-cdc-statistics) • _Controversy and

Background_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-amy-tan)

_Symptoms_ (http://www.lymebook.com/chronic-lyme-symptoms) • _Testing and

Diagnosis_ (http://www.lymebook.com/chronic-lyme-testing-and-diagnosis) •

_Natural Killer (NK) Cells_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-nk-natural-killer-cells)

_Anti-Inflammation Diet_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-inflammation-diet) • _Medical History

and Physical Exam_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-medical-history-physical-exam)

_Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-low-dose-naltrexone-ldn) • _Food,

Diet, and Omega Fatty Acids_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-omega-fat-diet-salmon-food)

_Hope and Positive Outlook_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-cure-hope) • _Index_

(http://www.lymebook.com/lyme-disease-solution-index)

 

 

 

 

" What I have accomplished with this 500+ page book, The Lyme Disease

Solution, is to share my everyday knowledge and practical experience of 10

years

as a Lyme-enlightened practitioner (who also is himself a Lyme-survivor).

Although I hesitate to use the “cure†word in relation to chronic Lyme,

the principles in this book have resulted in a greater than 90% response rate

in my patients. At least 60% of my patients achieve long-term improvement

that allows them to get off of antibiotics completely. "

— Ken Singleton, M