Vitamins and Minerals

Question 1

Vitamin A

Answer 1

Retinol

Uses: immune, dermatology, eye

Toxicity: vomiting, weight loss, joint pain

Food: fish liver, dairy

Dose: over 10,000 IU can be taratogenic, liver damage possible, do not exceed 50,000 IU long-term

Labs: liver biopsy (gold standard) , serum retinol

Question 2

Beta-Carotene

Answer 2

Not for smokers (can increase risk of cancer)!

Uses: alcoholism, CVD, others possible

Biomarker for fruit and veg consumption

Food: fruits, vegs

Question 3

Biotin

Answer 3

Uses: diabetes, neuropathy, seborrheic dermatitis

CI: psoriasis (can worsen)

mcg doses

Question 4

Thiamin

Answer 4

B1 (mg)

Uses: alcoholism, neurologic, fibrocystic breast

Question 5

Riboflavin

Answer 5

B2 (mg)

Uses: eyes (cataract, mac degen), migraine, muscle cramps

Question 6

Niacin/Nicotinamide

Answer 6

B3 (mg)

Uses: hyperlipidemia, diabetes, migraines, schizophrenia, etc.

Warning: flushing (no matter what type)

Note:

• “-amide” = pysch use
• niacin or nicotinic acid = lipid use (BEST at increasing HDL)

Question 7

Pantothenic Acid

Answer 7

B5 (5 mg)

Uses: adrenals, allergic rhinitis

Question 8

Pyridoxine

Answer 8

B6, P5P, pyridoxal (mg)

Uses: MANY THINGS, pain, nausea, PMS, depression, diabetes, asthma, etc.

Warning: >500mg/d can cause periph neuropathy

Question 9

Cobalamin (mcg)

Answer 9

B12 (mcg/mg)

Uses: megaloblastic anemia, fatigue, depression, memory loss, periph neuropathy, etc.

1000mcg, up to 5000mcg+

Saturates at 1000, but no harming in going higher to super-saturate

Warning: always give with folate! Choose this option if provided on NPLEX

Question 10

Folic Acid/Folate

Answer 10

B9, 400mcg

Uses: anemia, cervical dysplasia, cancer, neurological, oral disease

Food: liver, greens (asparagus, broccoli), beets

Question 11

Ascorbic Acid

Answer 11

Vitamin C (mg)

Uses: cancer, immune, colds, CVD, asthma, allergies, iron deficiency anemia (to increase iron abs.)

Toxicity: dialysis, diarrhea, iron overload (CI hemochromatosis).

Dosing:

• Cancer: IV and high does (25-75g)
• Colds: 1g, not a very large clinical effect on an individual level, but across a population is useful.
• Asthma + allergies: to bowel tolerance (TBT)

Question 12

Calciferol / ergocalciferol / cholecalciferol

Answer 12

Vitamin D (1000 iu, 400 iu kids)

Uses: osteoporosis, bone, hypoparathyroidism, cancer, etc.

Toxicity: for NPLEX purposes, might want to consider high-dose (>10k) long-term as unsafe

Dosing:

• 5000iu per day in oncology.
• 2000iu or higher in N climates
• Some evidence for higher doses in MS.

Question 13

Tocopherols, tocotrienols

Answer 13

Vitamin E (mg)

Uses: BRAIN issues, alzheimer, parkinson, memory, cognition, atherosclesoris, PMS, cancer, etc.

Toxicity: synthetic forms may cause cancer, therefore choose d-alpha form (dl-alpha forms are synth) or tocotrienols.

Question 14

Vitamin K

Answer 14

K1, K2, K3 (mcg or mg)

Uses: klotting d/t deficiency, osteoporosis

Food: dark leafy greens

Labs:

• Prothrombin Time (PT)—extrinsic
• Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)—intrinsic
• International Normalized Ratio (INR)—extrinsic

“Play tennis (PT) outside internationally, play table tennis (PTT) inside”

Question 15

Boron

Answer 15

mcg

Uses: osteoporosis

Question 16

Calcium

Answer 16

Uses: bone (osteoporosis), muscle (tetany, spasms), allergies

1000mg, age depends

Question 17

Magnesium (citrate, carbonate, bisglycinate, malate)

Answer 17

Uses: hypertension (including pre-eclampsia), restless leg syndrome, migaines, asthma, constipation, arrhythmia

Forms:

• Citrate—better absorbed
• Carbonate—not well absorbed -> better laxative
• Bisglycinate—muscle pain/spasm
• Malate—CFS, fibro (energy production)

Question 18

Chromium

Answer 18

mcg

Uses: blood sugar regulation (hypo or hyperglycemia)

Question 19

Copper

Answer 19

mcg

Uses: immune concerns, bone, anemia possibly

Warning: depleted by zinc, zinc:copper ratio should be approx. 20:1

Question 20

Fluoride

Answer 20

mg

Uses: teeth, dental caries

Toxic: CNS damage, blocks thyroid

Question 21

Iodine

Answer 21

mcg

Internal Uses: thyroid issues, CF, sinusitis, fibrocystic breast, COPD

Topical Uses: disinfection, vaginities

Toxicity: hypothyroidism goiter -> suppressive

Def: also hypothyroidism goiter

Question 22

Manganese

Answer 22

mg

Uses: diabetes, immune issues, arthritis

Question 23

Molybdenum

Answer 23

mcg

Uses: asthma

Question 24

Potassium

Answer 24

mg, 4700mg per day adults

Uses: athletes, Crohn’s (absorption issues), meds that deplete (diuretics, birth control), eating disorders, smokers, alcohol/drug users

Foods: banana, avocado, nuts, citrus fruit, greens

Risks: drug intx, kidney, diabetes, heart disease – more risky

Overdose: confusion, low blood pressure, irreg heart beat

Question 25

Selenium

Answer 25

Dose: 200mcg per day

Uses: atherosclerosis, cancer, eyes, immune, thyroid (conversion of T4 to T3), decrease of thyroid autoantibodies

ANTI-OXIDANT

Toxicity: narrow margin of safety, especially when over 600mcg daily

Question 26

Silicon

Answer 26

mg

Uses: osteoporosis

Question 27

Sodium

Answer 27

mg

Uses: hypotension, dehydration (IV)

Question 28

Vanadium

Answer 28

mcg

Uses: diabetes

Question 29

Zinc

Answer 29

mg

Uses: skin, immune, prostate health

Toxicity: large doses may cause copper deficiency (thus balance out if given the option)

Don’t use doses higher than 25-50mg long term