Deficiency:
Detecting nutrient deficiencies: Some laboratory tests might be useful in identifying the nutritional needs of some patients. These tests could be of special importance to patients who present genetotrophic diseases or genetic polymorphism associated with specific conditions. However, some laboratory tests do not necessarily reflect nutrient and enzyme levels within specific organs or tissues, particularly in the nervous system. The need for laboratory testing for nutrients varies among individuals. For many patients, therapeutic trial and dose titration is often the most practical therapy approach, especially when utilizing synergistic metabolic correction formulations. Biochemical individuality is a central precept of metabolic correction. Hence, the search for optimal nutrient combination doses is a practical issue. Doses of nutrients and their combinations above the recommended daily allowances are often effective. Many patients tolerate optimal doses and respond well; however, dose titration is indicated in otherwise unresponsive cases. Recommended daily allowances (RDA) for diseased individuals . RDAs for nutrients are intended for normal, healthy people. By definition, diseased patients are not normal or healthy and not likely to be adequately served by obtaining just the recommended daily allowances. Practically every person is deficient or insufficient in a nutrient at some level due to an insufficient diet among other limiting factors (genetics, medication, toxins, etc.). Environmental pollution of air, water, and food is an increasing problem and more common than is generally recognized, posing a very important risk factor for mitochondrial damage and related diseases such as cancer and neurometabolic disorders. Diagnostic search for toxic pollutants and treatment is necessary to identify these factors and design a proper treatment approach. Monitor and update metabolic correction over time . Optimal health is a lifetime challenge. Biochemical needs change, and our metabolic correction prescriptions need to change based upon follow-up, repeated testing, and therapeutic trials to permit fine-tuning of each prescription and to provide the best possible health outcome. Nutrient-related disorders are always treatable, and deficiencies and insufficiencies are curable. Most diseases encounter some nutrient-related disruption. To ignore their existence is malpractice. Nutrigenomics and pharmacogenomics. Genetic and hereditary disorders are often responsive to metabolic correction because it takes advantage of nutrigenomics and pharmacogenomics. Inspire active role-taking responsibility for your health. Inspire patients to understand that health is not merely the absence of disease, but the positive attainment of optimal function and well-being. This requires an individual to take an active role in necessary lifestyle changes, and it requires a commitment to continuous education along with a responsible attitude about health.
Co-factors:
To encourage the most efficient metabolism, we need basic macronutrients required for fuel: fat, protein, and carbohydrate. But we also need about 15 vitamins that are coenzymes and about 15 minerals that are required for enzyme function. We also need two essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) and seven or eight essential amino acids. In addition, other important nutrients – such as coenzyme Q10, acetyl-L-carnitine, and lipoic acid – must also be considered in our quest for physiological optimization. Virtually every metabolic pathway requires micronutrients. Certain individuals have a greater need than that supplied by the diet (even if a good dietary regime is followed). This could be caused by an array of variables (digestive problems, malabsorption, food sensitivities, metabolic dysfunction, low levels of neurotransmitter precursors, etc.). This lack of needed micronutrient cofactors manifests insidiously and is difficult to identify. Some vague symptoms may be present, such as lethargy, irritability, insomnia, and difficulty in concentrating. This also affects the body’s ability to resist disease and infection, its ability to recover from exercise, surgery, or disease, and the ability of the brain to function at an optimal level. Detecting and treating disease at its earliest stages of cellular biochemical abnormality, rather than waiting for clear clinical symptoms, is cost-effective and of benefit to the patient. We need to abandon outdated paradigms framing nutrient intake as needed merely to prevent deficiencies and expand them to include preventing chronic degenerative diseases and achieving optimal health.
Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy by: Diane Noland, Jeanne A. Drisko, Leigh Wagner
