Role of stomach acid (HCL), iron, B12, Ferritin and Folate in body.

Topic Discussed in April Health Seminar:

Role of HCL, Vitamin B12, Ferritin, and Folate.

¨  Stomach Acid Is Also Called Hydrochloric Acid Due To Its Chemical Structure Of One Hydrogen Ion Combined To One Chlorine Ion Making HCL.

¨  Our Autonomic Nervous System Is Composed Of 2 Main Branches.  The Sympathetic And Parasympathetic Branches.

¨           Sympathetic System: Fight Or Flight, Parasympathetic System: Rest or Digest

¨  Proper Digestion Depends Upon Us Being In A Parasympathetic Dominant State.  Chronic Stress Puts Us In A Sympathetic Dominant State Which Restricts Activity In The Digestive Tract And Causes Poor Digestive Function.

¨  PARIETAL CELL : Histamine, Gastrin, ACh attach to receptors. Gastrin is released by G cells and produced in stomach, pancreas. Hydrogen/Potassium pump or Proton Pump exchanges H+ for K+ (H2O = H+ OH-), Chlorine or Cl-simply diffuses. H2 Blockers or antiHistamine 2 blockers: Zantac, ranitidine block the  receptors, Proton pump inhibitors or PPIs : Prevacid, Prilosec

¨  CAUSES OF LOW HCL: Eating when upset (Stress),          

¨  Eating a nutritionally-deficient diet of processed and fast foods. Lack of sufficient minerals in the daily diet.Excess carbohydrate consumption and poor food combining. Protein deficient diets

¨  Zinc deficiency. B vitamin esp. Thiamin deficiency , Anti-biotics Transform Your Microbiome And Cause An Increase In Intestinal Related Inflammation In The Body.  This Inflammation Causes A Rise In Stress Hormones Which Reduce The Bodies Ability To Produce HCL

¨  H Pylori Produce An Enzyme Called “Urease” Which Breaks Down The Urea In The Stomach Into Carbon Dioxide And Ammonia.  This Causes Belching And Halitosis (Bad Breath) For The Individual And It Neutralizes The Acidifying Effects Of Hydrochloric Acid

¨  Poor Diet: A diet rich in processed foods, sugars, grains, cause chronic inflammation and elevated stress hormone production.  Refined sugar, which depletes minerals. Drinking ice water with meals. Age – as you get older, stomach acid production tends to decrease especially if there is any chronic illness. Antacid use.Taking prescription and over the counter drugs that suppress HCL production either directly or indirectly.Candida.  Stay on a lower carbohydrate, higher fat, anti-oxidant rich diet and your stomach acid levels will improve.

¨  Overuse of NSAIDs : Tylenol, aspirin, aleve and ibuprofen  wear down the stomach lining and reduce the ability of the stomach cells to produce HCL

¨  Proton Pump Inhibitors: further reduces stomach acid, which leads to microbial overgrowth and further stress on the body

¨  Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: SIBO causes chronic stress in the body, which reduces the bodies ability to produce adequate HCL

¨  Aging: As we age in our society, all of systems slow down and especially the digestive  system

¨   Food Sensitivities : gluten , corn, soy, peanuts and pasteurized dairy

¨  Thyroid antibodies (TPOAb, TGAb) appears 10 years before TSH is even detected

¨  Presence of TPO antibodies indicates that active destruction is going on against the thyroid

¨  Case study : TSH 4.5 and TPOAb 2000 iu/l ( Normal less than 2)

¨  SYMPTOMS OF LOW HCL : Chronic fatigue, Paleness, Weakness, Pica, Cold hands and feet

¨  Hair Falling, Brittle Nails,

¨  FUNCTIONS OF STOMACH ACID : Sterilizes the food , Activates Intrinsic factor, Activates Pepsin, Produces Ferritin , Digests proteins and minerals B 12, iron, zinc, Ca, Stimulates the delivery of bile and pancreatic enzymes, Closes the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)

¨  Opening of the pyloric sphincter, Activates migrating motor complex (MMC)

¨  HOW TO RAISE HCL : Iron, Zinc, Eradicate H. Pylori, Probiotics , ACV, Lemon Juice,  Ginger Tea Increases Hcl Secretion, Iodine,    Thyroid,    Betaine Hcl With Pepsin,    Bitters : Bitter Gourd, Methi, Gentian, Dandelion Leaves, Aloe Vera, Cabbage Juice, Marshmallow Root, Slippery Elm,  DGL (Licorice) Dandelion , Ginger, Goldenseal Root, Milk Thistle, Wormwood

¨  HOW HCL AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH : Malnutrition , Iron deficiency anemia , Osteoporosis

¨  Periodontal disease, General and food allergies, Leaky gut syndrome, B12 deficiency

¨  Gallstones risk , Diabetes, Skin problems, psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo , Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Heart burn , acid reflux, Bloating, belching, and flatulence immediately after meals, Indigestion – heavy feeling in the stomach, Candida, Upset stomach, Nausea

¨  FERRITIN: Ferritin can easily be measured in blood. The levels correlate with the total amount of iron stored in the body. Hence, serum ferritin reflects the body’s iron stores.

¨  In general, low levels suggests iron deficiency whereas high levels may suggest iron overload in the body. However, elevated levels are often found in the absence of iron overload.

¨  Males: 23-336 ng/mL ,Females: 11-306 ng/mL ,LOW LEVELS =IRON DEFICIENCY

¨  CAUSES OF LOW FERRITIN : BLOOD LOSS, HEAVY MENSES, BLOOD LOSS DUE TO ULCERS, GI TRACT, INFLAMMATION, CANCER OF STOMACH, SMALL INTESTINE , COLON, HEMORRHOIDS

¨  CELIAC DISEASE, HYPOTHYROIDISM,   VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY, VEGETARIANS

¨  SYMPTOMS OF LOW B12 : High homocysteine , Sore muscles, painful burning sensations

¨  Electric shock sensations on bending, Pin and needles in hands/feet, Peripheral neuropathy ( nerve damage), Quivering, trembling muscles, Muscle stiffness each morning

¨  Tender spots on your body (Fibromyalgia) Pain in elbows, shoulders, and hips from bursitis.

¨  Poor control of arm and leg movements.( Clumsiness), Difficulty walking in a straight line.

¨  Difficulty remembering words/ names, Irritability., Depression, Chronic fatigue, Aggressive behaviour, Paranoia, peculiar suspicions, hallucinations,Sore red tongue burning, mouth ulcers, canker sores, No or unpleasant taste in mouth, Pain in bladder in the absence of uterine infection, Difficulty swallowing. “Frog in throat” sensation, Nausea, Acid reflux, heart burn

¨  Flatulence, loss of appetite, constipation, Weak pulse , Sensory impairments, such as hypersensitivity to touch, fragrances, textures, flavors, lighting and noise. Constantly feeling cold

¨  Bruising easily, dry itchy skin, Premature grey hair, Hair loss, Thin , ridged nails that break easily

¨  Functions of B12 : B12 allows your body to make heme, a chemical component of hemoglobin, the protein that transports oxygen in your blood. Vitamin B12 also maintains healthy myelin, a fatty substance that promote nerve function. B12 might benefit men due to cobalamin's effect on fertility, boosting sperm production( azoospermia)

¨  Food Sources of B12: Because B12 occurs naturally in meat, eggs, and fish

Rumors exist that bananas and raw honey have B12s in them, but, so far, no plant has been found to contain the vitamin

FOLATE WITHOUT B12: Taking Folate Or Eating A Lot Of Folate-containing Foods Without Adding B-12 Can Actually Mask The Symptoms Of A B-12 Deficiency.

 Although Folate Will Keep Your Blood Count Normal In B12 Deficiency It Will Not Protect Your Brain And Nervous System.  Megaloblastic Anemia (Because Of The Folate),

¨   But Your Symptoms Of Numbness, Tingling, Balance Problems, And Emotional Issues Will Continue Unchecked.

¨  By Eating So Many Folate-containing Green Vegetables, Beans, And Lentils, Vegetarians And Vegans Inadvertently Mask Their Own Slowly Developing B-12 Deficiency.

¨  TREATMENT : It’s virtually impossible to take too much B-12 as any excess of this water-soluble vitamin is eliminated via urine. Use Methylcobalamin supplements (as opposed to sublingual cyanocobalamin ) Never supplement any vitamin on its own, always consult your physician first.

¨  Hydoxocobalamin or Methylcobalamin injections, Folate (not folic acid) 5-MTHF methyl tetra hydro folate , Folate 400 mcg/d, lactating 500 mcg, pregnant 600 mcg/d

¨  The Usual Supplemental Iron Dose Is 50 To 60 Milligrams Of Elemental Iron Twice A Day For Three months.(Ferrous fumarate, bisglycinate better than sulphate form. Vitamin C and protein meat increases bioavailability of non-heme iron.  Injectable Or Intravenous Iron Becomes Necessary When Oral Supplements Fail Or Cause Excessive Stomach Upset.

¨  B-12 Supplements Have A Much Higher Absorption Rate Than Foods Because This Form Of B-12 Doesn't Need To Be Broken Down Before It's Absorbed. By Mouth, Sublingually Under The Tongue, In Nasal Spray Form Or In Injection Or Intravenous Infusions

¨  B12 RDA is only 2.4 mcg/d But in deficiency 1000 mcg/d
Sukhwinder Brar
President
Healthy Lifestyle Knowledge Foundation