Nutrient analysis & therapy
In primary care diagnostics, homocysteine metabolism and the levels of freely available hormones, vitamins, and minerals in the blood are given little or no attention, even though they play a central role in the performance and health of active people.
Nutrient deficiencies can be caused by lifestyles such as intense physical exertion (professional sports), lack of exercise, physical and mental stress, toxins, chemicals, and high-calorie diets ¹, ² or even by falls/accidents (see “Atlas Repositioning”). They lead to energy loss, slower regeneration, and increased susceptibility to disease. Nutrient analyses can help to identify these dysfunctions at an early stage and treat them in a targeted manner.
Through detailed blood analysis of nutrients and individual therapy with micro-nutrients (vitamins, minerals, trace elements, omega-3 fatty acids, etc.), athletes can improve their performance and recovery. A balanced nutrient balance supports the cell powerhouses (also called mitochondria), which leads to more energy and better physical performance. Competitive athletes often need four times the amount of micro-nutrients.
Nutrient robbers are common medications such as statins (blood lipid-lowering drugs) that cause a deficiency of coenzyme Q10 and thus weaken (heart) muscles. This deficiency can trigger the heart attack that statins are supposed to prevent. The contraceptive pill can cause a deficiency in vitamins C, E, B6, B12, and folic acid, as well as magnesium, zinc, and selenium, which in turn can lead to fatigue and mood swings. Tablets for stomach acid and heartburn can lead to a loss of vitamin B12, magnesium, and calcium, which can cause muscle cramps, anemia, and osteoporosis. If these or other medications are taken long-term, it is essential to compensate for the loss of essential nutrients.
- Nutrient analysis
- Optimization of the all-important mitochondrial functions
- Individual therapy with success monitoring
Method
- A personalized laboratory blood analysis provides us with information about the status quo.
- Through an individually tailored micro-nutrient therapy, we aim to achieve metabolic balance and the mechanisms for neutralizing oxygen radicals and nitric oxide (NO) in around three months, so that your tissues are optimally supplied again (e.g. muscles or brain – those with particularly high energy requirements).
The optimal supply of the cells with the appropriate micronutrients increases the energy production of the mitochondria and strengthens the immune system. A strong immune system is currently of great importance for symptoms of Long-Covid.
Scientific background
Mitochondria are found in large numbers in every cell of the body and make up almost 50% of heart muscle mass (with the exception of erythrocytes)! Heart and liver cells are the front-runners with up to 10,000 mitochondria per cell, as these are the organs that have to work particularly hard!
Specific blood analyses provide important reference values on the functionality of the mitochondria and give us information about the individual situation of oxidative or nitrosative stress in the mitochondria (oxidative = caused by oxygen radicals, or nitrosative = caused by increased nitric oxide NO formation)
- In order to adequately metabolize acidic metabolites (e.g., lactate) produced during cellular metabolism, the enzymes responsible require B-complex vitamins such as niacin, riboflavin, biotin, and pantothenic acid as cofactors. However, these are increasingly consumed by stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, toxins, and pharmaceuticals, which can lead to a deficiency. Gröber (2007) and Fuchs (2020) include alcohol, analgesics, PPIs, antiepileptics, ACE inhibitors, corticosteroids, diuretics, statins, SSRIs, and oral contraceptives (birth control pills) among the latter.
Add oxidative stress: This mainly involves the super-oxide radical O2-, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and the hydroxyl radical OH. One consequence of oxidative stress is lipid peroxidation, which ultimately leads to cells having to expend more energy to stabilize their membrane potential. Further consequences are protein oxidation and DNA damage. These processes have a major influence on the ageing process and life expectancy. The attack of free radicals on unsaturated fatty acids contributes to the formation of arteriosclerosis. It is assumed that oxidative stress is involved in the development of cancer, diseases of the immune system as well as rheumatic and neuro-degenerative diseases.
Add nitrosative stress: The effects of increased NO formation extend to a large number of organ functions, corresponding to the extensive physiological functions. High levels of NO inhibit enzymes of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The resulting loss of ATP primarily affects cells with high energy requirements and leads to an increase in the activity of the glutamate receptor. The neurotransmitter glutamate then opens the receptor channel to a greater extent, resulting in an influx of calcium ions. Under nitrosative stress, this mechanism is intensified and can lead to a permanent loss of function and death of the nerve cells.
Add Energy metabolism: The body’s energy metabolism ensures the uninterrupted supply of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the universal energy currency in the organism. Every cell can generate energy directly by splitting this molecule. However, the high-energy molecule cannot be stored for long. In theory, it would be completely used up after just a few moments. After ATP is broken down, ADP and phosphate are produced as degradation products. In the mitochondria, the power plants of our cells, ADP is phosphorylated back to ATP. Although the cells cannot store ATP, they can re-synthesize it extremely quickly. In this way, the continuous formation of new ATP is guaranteed. One of the prerequisites for this is a regular supply of micro-nutrients, as ATP is only produced in the course of various metabolic processes.
1 Johannsen DL, Ravussin E (2009) The role of mitochondria in health and disease. Curr Opin Pharmacol, 9(6):780-786.
2 Ostojic SM et al. (2021) What do over-trained athletes and patients with neurodegenerative diseases have in common? Mitochondrial dysfunction. Exp Biol Med, 246(11):1241-1243.