Ideal Micronutrient Supplementation for Disease Prevention

Ideal Micronutrient Supplementation for Disease Prevention

NUTRIENT	POTENTIAL	WHAT IT DOES	SYMPTOMS AND POSSIBLE PROBLEMS	OPTIMAL LEVELS PER DAY
VITAMIN E	VERY COMMON	Antioxidant, regulates oxidation reactions, protects against cardiovascular disease, cataracts, muscular degeneration	Skin, hair, rupturing of red blood cells, eczema, psoriasis, wound healing, muscle weakness	Protects the heart 400–800 IU / 12 to 15 mg per day
CALCIUM	VERY COMMON	Required for bones and teeth, helps heart, nerves, muscles, needs vitamin D and Mg to work.	Osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteoarthritis, muscle cramps. Calcium citrate or lactate better absorbed than calcium carbonate or phosphate supplements.	800–1500 mg depending on the dietary intake.
CHROMIUM	COMMON	Assists insulin function, increases fertility, carbohydrate/fat metabolism, essential for fetal growth/ development	Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, decreased fertility	200–300 mcg
MAGNESIUM	VERY COMMON	Heart health, muscle/nerve function, strong bones, regulates calcium, copper, zinc, potassium, vitamin D metabolism	fatigue cramps, numbness, tingling, heart spasms, heart rhythm	500-800 mg
SELENIUM	COMMON	Antioxidant, works with vitamin E, immune function, prostaglandin production	Destruction to heart/pancreas, sore muscles, fragility of red blood cells, low immunity	200 mcg
ZINC	MOST COMMON	Supports enzymes, immune system, DNA synthesis, normal growth & development during pregnancy, childhood and adolescence	Growth retardation, hair loss, diarrhea, impotence, eye & skin lesions, loss of appetite, taste, weight loss, wound healing, mental lethargy	20 to 30 mg
CO Q10	COMMON	Powerful antioxidant, stops oxidation of LDL cholesterol, energy production, important to heart, liver and kidneys	Congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, angina, fatigue, cardiac arrhythmias	20–30 mg
N - ACETYL CYSTEINE (NAC) & GLUTA THIONE	MOST COMMON	Glutathione production, lowers Homocysteine, lipoprotein (a), decreases muscle fatigue, liver detoxification, immune function	Free radical overload, elevated homocysteine, cancer risk, cataracts, macular degeneration, immune function	Glutathione: 10-20 mg N-ACETYL CYSTEINE (precursor): 50-75mg
ALPHA LIPOIC ACID	COMMON	Energy, blood flow to nerves, insulin sensitivity, effectiveness of vitamins C, E, antioxidants	Diabetic neuropathy, reduced muscle mass, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's, brain atrophy, high lactic acid	15-30 mg
VITAMIN B1	VERY COMMON	Energy production, breaks down carbs, fats & protein	Fatigue, Age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer's.	20 - 30 mg
VITAMIN B2	VERY COMMON	Metabolism	Anemia, decreased free radical protection, B6 deficiency, fatigue, elevated homocysteine	25-50 mg
VITAMIN B3	LESS COMMON	Energy production, digestion, heart health	anxiety, fatigue	30-75 mg
VITAMIN B6	COMMON	Enzyme, protein metabolism, RBC production, reduces homocysteine, for nerve & muscle cells, DNA/RNA function, B12 absorption, immune function	Depression, sleep and skin problems, confusion, anxiety, fatigue	25-50 mg
VITAMIN B12	VERY COMMON	Healthy nerve cells, DNA/RNA function, red blood cell production, iron function	Anemia, fatigue, constipation, loss of appetite/weight, depression, poor memory, oral soreness	100–250 mcg (the RDA for the vitamin is only 4 to 10 mcg)
BIOTIN	LESS COMMON	Carbs, fat, amino acid metabolism	Depression, nervous system, premature graying, hair, skin	300-1000 mcg
FOLATE	VERY COMMON	Mental health, infant DNA/RNA, adolescence & pregnancy, with B12 to regulate RBC production, iron function, reduces homocysteine	Anemia, fatigue, insomnia, high homocysteine, cardiovascular disease	800-1000 mcg
PANTO THENATE (vitamin B5)	LESS COMMON	RBC production, immune function, healthy digestion, helps use other vitamins	Stress tolerance, skin problems, fatigue	80-200 mg
VITAMIN A	LESS COMMON	Eyes, immune function, skin, growth and development	Night blindness, immune function, zinc deficiency	1000-15,000 IU beta carotene Mixture of carotenoids is recommended Lycopene–1–3 mg Lutein/ Zeaxanthine–1-6 mg Alfa carotene-500–800 mcg
VITAMIN C	COMMON	Enzyme activation, blood clotting, cell and cell organelle membrane function, nerve impulse transmission, muscular contraction	Muscular and nervous irritability, muscle spasms, muscle cramps and tetany, tooth decay, periodontal disease, depression, possibly hypertension	Mixture of vitamin C’s such as calcium, zinc, magnesium ascorbates are more potent in handling oxidative stress 1000-2000 mg
VITAMIN D	VERY COMMON	calcium absorption, bone mineralization	Osteoporosis, calcium absorption, thyroid function	450–800 IU
VITAMIN K	LESS COMMON	Aids in formation of clotting factors and bone proteins, formation of glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver	Excessive bleeding, a history of bruising, appearance of ruptured capillaries or menorrhagia (heavy periods)	50–100 mcg
Silicon and Boron	LESS COMMON		Bone health	Silicon–3 mg Boron–2 to 3 mg
Choline, Trimethyl glycine, Inositol	LESS COMMON	Improved homocysteine levels and brain function		Choline–100–200 mg Trimethylglycine -200–500mg Inositol–150–250 mg
Essential Fats	COMMON	Heart health, cholesterol reduction, brain function, immunity, skin and hair	Raised cholesterol, triglycerides, hair fall, skin problems	Fish oil/Flaxeed oil 300mg to 1g per day

Source: Spectracell Laboratories – Advanced clinical testing

Srand, R.D. “What your doctor doesn’t know about nutritional medicine may be killing you”