functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...
functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...
functional medicine and nutritional genomics - American Association ...
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AAPI’S NUTRITION GUIDE TO OPTIMAL HEALTH: USING PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS<br />
Anti-Cancer – Vitamin D inhibits proliferation <strong>and</strong><br />
stimulates the differentiation of cells when bound<br />
to VDR receptors. Vitamin D has also been<br />
shown to induce apoptosis (programmed cell<br />
death) vi<br />
.<br />
Immunity – There are a significant number of VDR<br />
receptors on T cells <strong>and</strong> macrophages <strong>and</strong> there<br />
is evidence that when bound to these receptors,<br />
vitamin D acts as a selective immunosuppressant<br />
<strong>and</strong> can either prevent or significantly affect many<br />
autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis,<br />
SLE, type 1 diabetes <strong>and</strong> IBD vii<br />
. Vitamin D can<br />
also enhance innate immunity <strong>and</strong> has been<br />
shown to be beneficial against tuberculosis <strong>and</strong><br />
through this mechanism may be useful against<br />
additional infectious agents, such as influenza viii .<br />
Diabetes – The bioactive form of Vitamin D has<br />
been shown to stimulate insulin production in the<br />
pancreas in type 1 diabetics <strong>and</strong> may play a role<br />
in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes through its<br />
ability to impair insulin synthesis <strong>and</strong> secretion ix<br />
.<br />
Blood Pressure Regulation – Vitamin D can<br />
decrease the expression of the gene that codes<br />
for rennin, <strong>and</strong> therefore plays a role in controlling<br />
hypertension x .<br />
Toxicity<br />
Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that is stored in<br />
the liver <strong>and</strong> fatty tissue <strong>and</strong> is eliminated more<br />
slowly than water-soluble vitamins. Excess levels<br />
of Vitamin D can cause hypercalcemia,<br />
hypercalciuria, hypertension, constipation, fatigue<br />
<strong>and</strong> more. While adequate levels of Vitamin D are<br />
very important, you can get too much of a good<br />
thing. Monitoring therapy is important to ensure<br />
adequate, but not excessive dosage.<br />
155<br />
What to Test<br />
Whether supplemented or manufactured in the<br />
skin, cholecalciferol (D3) is hydroxylated in the<br />
liver to form 25-hydroxycholcalciferol (25(OH)),<br />
<strong>and</strong> this is the major circulating form of the<br />
vitamin. Though it goes through an additional<br />
hydroxylation (primary in the kidney) to form<br />
1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol before it is<br />
biologically active, the 25(OH) form is considered<br />
the most accurate measure of the amount of<br />
Vitamin D in the body, which is why testing<br />
25(OH) is preferred xi<br />
.<br />
Jay H. Mead is the President <strong>and</strong> Medical<br />
Director of Labrix Clinical Services, Inc. <strong>and</strong> a<br />
visionary for innovative testing for discerning<br />
practitioners. He is a leading expert in Salivary<br />
hormone <strong>and</strong> Urine iodine testing. Dr. Mead has<br />
been practicing as a clinician for over twenty<br />
years <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong>s the need <strong>and</strong> value of<br />
accurate, reliable laboratory testing. Dr. Mead is a<br />
board certified pathologist (AP/CP), a retired<br />
USAF Flight Surgeon <strong>and</strong> cofounder of a<br />
progressive full-service complementary <strong>and</strong><br />
alternative medical clinic. He also has board<br />
certification in blood banking <strong>and</strong> has led the<br />
Pacific Northwest Region of the <strong>American</strong> Red<br />
Cross as the Chief Medical Officer for over 10<br />
years. Dr. Mead is the co-author of the newly<br />
released book: Slim, Sane <strong>and</strong> Sexy; Pocket<br />
Guide to Natural, Bioidentical Hormone Balancing.<br />
Dr. Mead speaks at national <strong>and</strong> international<br />
conferences on topics including Best Practices for<br />
State-of-the-Art Hormone Testing; Best Practices<br />
for Men’s Hormone Health; Beyond<br />
Testosterone…Progesterone for men, Youth’s Best<br />
Kept Secret; Vitamin D The Forgotten Hormone;<br />
Neurodegenerative Disease <strong>and</strong> Endocrine<br />
Balancing; an Integrative Approach; Thyroid Health<br />
<strong>and</strong> Prostate Health.<br />
2012