Nutrient analysis & therapy
Nutrient deficiencies can be caused by lifestyles such as heavy physical exertion (professional sport), lack of exercise, physical and mental stress, toxins, chemicals and high-calorie diets ¹, ² or even falls/accidents (see point “Atlas Repositioning”). They lead to loss of energy, slower regeneration and increased susceptibility to illness. Nutrient analyses can help to detect these dysfunctions at an early stage and treat them in a targeted manner.
Through a 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 regeneration. A balanced nutrient supports the cellular power plants (also known as mitochondria), which leads to more energy and better physical performance. Using the example of “antioxidant requirements“, the following guideline values can be mentioned:
- Vitamin C: non–athletes 75mg/day, recreational athletes 100mg/day, competitive athletes 500mg/day
- Vitamin E: non–athletes 12mg/day, recreational athletes 15mg/day, competitive athletes 50mg/day
- Selenium: non–athletes 50 mcg/day, recreational athletes 70 mcg/day, competitive athletes 200 mcg/day
It follows that competitive athletes usually need 4 times more micronutrients.
- 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
An optimal supply of mitochondria is crucial for top athletic performance, as it influences endurance, strength, concentration and the ability to recover.
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; those organs that have to perform particularly well!
Specific blood analyses provide important reference values about the functionality of the mitochondria and give us information about the individual situation of oxidative or nitrosative stress of the mitochondria (oxidative = caused by oxygen radicals, or nitrosative = caused by increased nitrogen monoxide NO formation).
In order to adequately metabolize acidic metabolites (e.g. lactate) produced during cell metabolism, the responsible enzymes primarily require B-complex vitamins such as niacin, riboflavin, biotin and pantothenic acid as co-factors. However, stress, a poor diet, lack of exercise and toxins or pharmaceuticals increase their consumption, which can lead to a deficiency situation. Gröber (2007) and Fuchs (2020) count in particular 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.