Tag Archives: Vitamins

Vitamins : Is Vitamin E Beneficial Or Harmful? Cutting Through The Clutter Of Different Scientific Opinions

Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and medical press questioning the value of vitamin E supplementation and suggesting that there are risks associated with its use even at doses previously thought to have been “safe”. What do we do with the hundreds of studies and extensive clinical research that has been published in the medical literature suggesting benefit in cardiovascular disease, alzheimers, diabetes and other degenerative diseases? A search of the National Library of Medicine yields over 25,000 citations, many funded or sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other prestigious medical and scientific organizations.
This month, the authors of an article in Health News (Health News. 2005 Apr;11(4):12-3) headlined this statement: “High doses of vitamin E may increase risk of death. Talk to your doctor before taking supplements containing more than 200 IUs.” Discussing these questions with your doctor is very important. The purpose of this article is to provide you with a tool, a resource that you can print out and discuss with your physician.
Negative Clinical Studies:
Increased cancer recurrence in patients with head and neck cancer:
Bairati and co-workers (J Natl Cancer Inst. 2005 Apr 6;97(7):481-8.) found in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized chemoprevention trial among 540 patients with head and neck cancer treated by radiation therapy that supplementation with alpha-tocopherol (400 IU/day) produced unexpected adverse effects on the occurrence of second primary cancers and on cancer-free survival.
No increase in cancer risk, but increased risk of Heart Failure in patients with established vascular disease or diabetes:
The HOPE Trial Investigators (JAMA. 2005 Mar 16;293(11):1338-47) evaluated whether long-term supplementation with vitamin E (Daily dose of natural source of 400 IU of vitamin E or matching placebo) decreases the risk of cancer, cancer death, and major cardiovascular events. The Hope vitamin E trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled international trial of patients at least 55 years old with vascular disease or diabetes mellitus (9541 patients, in 174 centers) with a median duration of follow-up of 7.0 years.
The investigators examined cancer incidence, cancer deaths, and major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death), heart failure, unstable angina, and need for cardiac revascularization.
Among all HOPE patients, there were no significant differences in the primary analysis: for cancer incidence, 11.6% in the vitamin E group vs 12.3% in the placebo group developed cancer (a non-significant reduction for vitamin E); for cancer deaths, 3.3% in the vitamin E group vs 3.7% in placebo (also not significant) and for major cardiovascular events, 21.5% vs 20.6%, respectively (not significant). Of concern, was that patients in the vitamin E group had a significantly higher risk of heart failure and hospitalization for heart failure. The authors concluded that in patients with vascular disease or diabetes mellitus, long-term vitamin E supplementation does not prevent cancer or major cardiovascular events and may increase the risk for heart failure.
Increased all-cause mortality:
A meta-analysis of randomized, 19 controlled clinical trials (135,967 participants) evaluating the dose-response relationship between vitamin E supplementation and total mortality (Ann Intern Med. 2005 Jan 4;142(1):37-46. Epub 2004 Nov 10.)
Published by Miller and associates at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, found High-dosage (greater than or equal to 400 IU/d) vitamin E supplements may increase all-cause mortality by 5% and should be avoided.
Neutral Clinical Studies:
Risk of Coronary heart disease (CHD) in Smokers not effected:
The effect of vitamin E on coronary heart disease (CHD) was evaluated in the alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene cancer prevention (ATBC) study (Eur Heart J. 2004 Jul;25(13):1171-8.). 29,133 male smokers, aged 50-69 years were randomized to receive alpha-tocopherol 50 mg, or beta-carotene 20 mg, or both, or placebo daily for 5-8 years. The risk for a first-ever major coronary event was insignificantly reduced by 5% among alpha-tocopherol recipients compared with non-recipients, and the risk for non-fatal MI was insignificantly reduced by 4%. The authors did not advocate the use of vitamin E supplements due to the weak findings.
Cardiovascular mortality and all cause Mortality not effected:
In a meta analysis of eighty-four trials (J Gen Intern Med. 2004 Apr;19(4):380-9.) examining outcomes of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, fatal or nonfatal myocardial infarction vitamin E was not found to have neither positive nor adverse effects. Shekelle and colleagues found that the use of vitamin E supplements insignificantly reduced the risk of all cause mortality by 4%, insignificantly reduced cardiovascular mortality by 3% and trended toward but did not achieve a significant reduction in nonfatal myocardial infarction, reducing the latter by 28%.
Positive Clinical Studies:
Reduced Risk of Congestive Heart Failure and Myocardial Infarction
In two large clinical studies conducted by Stampfer et al470 and Rimm et al,471 vitamin E supplements were associated with a reduced risk of congestive heart failure. In an analysis of almost 45,000 men in the Health Professional Follow-up Study database by Ascherio and associates,823 the use of vitamin E, or multi-vitamin supplements, was associated with a significantly decreased risk of myocardial infarction. These results suggest that higher supplemental doses of vitamin E may be beneficial in patients with CAD, especially those on diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Reduction in Risk for Cardiovascular Disease and Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack):
The Nurses’ Health Study, a study of 121,700 women between the ages of 34 and 59 which was conducted by Manson and co-workers,69,805 used food frequency questionnaires to demonstrate a relationship between dietary intakes of foods rich in vitamin E and beta carotene, and the reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A recent analysis of the same data by Stampfer et al470 revealed that the protective effect of vitamin E was attributable to supplemental vitamin E at pharmacological levels exceeding 100 IU per day. Since dietary intakes of alpha tocopherol in the United States typically range from 4 to 16 IU per day, the former level of intake would be extremely difficult to achieve from diet alone.804 Those women who took 100 mg. vitamin E supplements (in addition to 15mg of beta carotene daily) experienced a 36% reduction in myocardial infarction, and women with the highest dietary vitamin E intake, and who consumed vitamin E supplements daily for two years, had a 41% reduction in risk (multivariant risk 0.59).
The Health Professionals Follow-up Study,471 involving 51,529 male health professionals, demonstrated similar cardiovascular benefits of a diet rich in antioxidants. As in the Nurses’ Health Study, these male participants’ antioxidant vitamin intake was assessed by a dietary questionnaire, and coronary heart disease was assessed by medical record review. After controlling for age and coronary risk factors, higher dietary vitamin E intake levels were associated with a significantly lower risk for CAD. For men consuming more than 60 IU (an amount usually requiring vitamin supplementation), the risk of myocardial infarction or cardiac death was 36% less (multivariant risk 0.64) than in those men consuming 7.5 I.U. per day. CAD risk was lowest for the men with the highest dietary vitamin E intake who additionally took at least 100 IU of vitamin E supplements daily for two years.
Low serum Vitamin E may be a greater risk factor for myocardial infarction than either high blood pressure or elevated serum cholesterol alone, according to research sponsored by the World Health Organization, and reported by Gey et al67 in the Multinational Monitoring Project of Trends and Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA) study. In the MONICA study, Gey and co-workers67 compared plasma antioxidant levels among 16 different groups of 100 men each from regions with a six-fold difference in CAD mortality and reported a strong inverse correlation (p=0.002) between plasma vitamin E and mortality from ischemic heart disease which was independent of lipid levels.
This inverse relationship for CAD mortality was strongest for vitamin E. Low serum vitamin E alone was an accurate predictor for fatal myocardial infarction in 60% of cases studied. Death from Acute Myocardial Infarction was accurately predicted in 80% of patients with both low serum vitamin E and elevated serum cholesterol; and fatal outcomes were accurately predicted in 90% of patients with low serum levels of both vitamin E and A in conjunction with high serum cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure. These findings were consistent with earlier scholarship published by Gey.580
Restenosis:
Cavarocchi and associates681 found that pretreatment of coronary bypass patients with 2,000 IU of vitamin E significantly inhibited the generation of destructive oxygen free radicals during surgery, and DeMaio and co-workers583 found that vitamin E supplementation reduced the incidence of restenosis in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
Angina:
Rimersma and co-workers469,643 found an inverse relationship between the risk of angina pectoris and vitamin E levels. Individuals with serum vitamin E levels in the lowest quintile (28.2 µM/L). Similarly, Byers870 reported that an increased dietary intake of vitamin E reduced death from myocardial infarction.
CAD:
A prospective study of antioxidant vitamins and the incidence of CAD in women, which was conducted by Manson et al,805 used food frequency questionnaires to estimate dietary intake of vitamin E, and found that the incidence of CAD was lowest among women with the highest intake of alpha tocopherol.
Reduced Risk of Cancer:
An inverse relationship between serum vitamin E levels and cancer has been found in seven epidemiologic studies,580,669,670,679,685,686,687 and vitamin E supplementation has been shown to suppress indexes of lipid peroxidation in the blood of both smokers and non-smokers, without effecting plasma lipoprotein concentrations.899 Because low density lipoprotein is one of the main transports for vitamin E and cholesterol in the blood stream, pharmacologic and certain dietary interventions resulting in reductions in LDL and serum cholesterol may reduce serum vitamin E in individuals whose diets are not supplemented.488,490 Hypolipidemic drug therapy may act as a vitamin E antagonist and reduce serum vitamin E.844
ALS:
Regular use of vitamin E supplements was associated with up to a 62% lower risk of dying of ALS in a study of 957,740 individuals 30 years of age or older participating in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study II. (Ann Neurol. 2005 Jan;57(1):104-10.)
The Balanced Approach:
Perhaps a reasonable approach would be a three-tiered effort:

To moderately increase vitamin E levels with healthy dietary sources of the vitamin (which may allow for an equivalent level of 15-45 IUs per day from optimizing diet)
The addition of MODERATE levels of supplementation with NATURAL (d-isomer) mixed tocopherols (which are closer to the mix seen in diet) and
Use of minimum levels of vitamin E that have shown beneficial effect (100 IU or greater) and not exceeding levels which have been associated with risk (greater than 400 IU) and certainly not greater than 1,600 IUs where increased risk seems to be more clearly defined in some studies.

This is in line with recent recommendations made this month by Hancock and co-workers who analyzed a large database of numerous clinical studies, (Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Apr;81(4):736-45) and writing for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) in Washington, DC declared:
“… dietary supplements of vitamins E and C are safe for the general population…. Many clinical trials with these vitamins have involved subjects with various diseases, and no consistent pattern of adverse effects has occurred at any intake… Thus, we conclude from clinical trial evidence that vitamin E supplements appear safe for most adults in amounts less than or equal to 1,600 IU ….” Additionally, this is in agreement with recommendations of Denton Harmon, M.D. Ph.D., the father of the Free-Radical Theory of Aging (D. Harmon, J. Gerontol. 11, 298-300 (1956).) who recommends 400 IU of vitamin E daily (Life Extension Magazine, Interview, January 1998).
DISCUSSION: What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin that is involved in the metabolism of all cells. Vitamin E protects vitamin A and essential fatty acids from oxidation in the body cells and prevents breakdown of body tissues. Vitamin E is widely accepted to be the primary physiological antioxidant in man. 472,488,844,845,846

Vitamin E exists in eight different forms, each with its own biological activity and functional use in the body(Traber MG and Packer L. Vitamin E: Beyond antioxidant function. Am J Clin Nutr 1995;62:1501S-9S). Alpha-tocopherol is the name of the most active form of vitamin E in humans. It is also a powerful biological antioxidant (Traber MG. Vitamin E. In: Shils ME, Olson JA, Shike M, Ross AC, ed. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease. 10th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1999:347-62). Vitamin E in supplements is usually sold as alpha-tocopheryl acetate, a form that protects its ability to function as an antioxidant. The synthetic form is labeled “D, L” while the natural form is labeled “D”. The synthetic form is only half as active as the natural form (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2004. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 16-1).

Epidemiology Regarding Vitamin E:
Pacht and colleagues498 found deficient levels of vitamin E in chronic cigarette smokers. Similarly, Riemersma and associates469 found low vitamin E levels among angina patients who were smokers, and Brown et al899 found that smokers sustained an increased free radical load (characterized by increased indices of lipid peroxidation) because of their exposure to large quantities of reactive free radicals in the gas and tar phases of cigarette smoke. The researchers determined that this increased lipid peroxidation was reduced in vitro following vitamin E supplementation. These findings are in accordance with other clinical research which suggests that smoking reduces plasma vitamin E levels, and increases oxidative stress. 590,591

Excessive alcohol consumption may have an adverse effect on serum antioxidant levels which is independent of nutritional status. Excessive consumption of alcohol has been associated with low serum vitamin E levels,499,889 malondialdehyde (MDA) markers of oxidative stress and free radical activity.889 Numerous studies have shown that alcoholics have lower serum beta carotene,901 alpha tocopherol,889 selenium,889 and ascorbic acid889 concentrations than control subjects who drink moderately.

Supporting the hypothesis that heme iron acts as a pro-oxidant in vivo, and validating previous clinical research, Ascherio et al823 found that a high intake of antioxidant vitamin E may prevent the adverse cardiovascular effects of excess heme iron consumption,830,831,832,833 and concluded that oxidative stress resulting from smoking837 and hyperglycemia associated with diabetes834,835,836 may enhance it.

Nutritional recommendations:
According to many nutritionists who have evaluated this data, 150 to 200 IUs a day is probably beneficial and safe for most individuals wanting to supplement their diet. That is more than three times what people can get from a healthy diet (good sources include: nuts, cooking oil, sweet potatoes, mayonnaise, wheat-germ oil, fish, eggs, fortified cereals) and low-dose multivitamins. Almonds may help to increase vitamin E in the blood and reduce lipid levels (J Am Diet Assoc. 2005 Mar;105(3):449-54). Kiwi fruit contain high amounts of vitamin E and may be cardioprotective (Platelets. 2004 Aug;15(5):287-92).

Good Sources of Vitamin E

Food Serving Size Milligrams % RDA

Egg, whole, fresh 1 large 0.88 5.8

Almond oil 1 tablespoon 5.3 35.3

Corn oil 1 tablespoon 1.9 12.6

Corn oil (Mazola) 1 tablespoon 3 5

Cottonseed oil 1 tablespoon 4.8 32

Olive oil 1 tablespoon 1.6 10.6

Palm oil 1 tablespoon 2.6 17.3

Peanut oil 1 tablespoon 1.6 10.6

Safflower oil 1 tablespoon 4.6 30.6

Soybean oil 1 tablespoon 1.5 10

Sunflower oil 1 tablespoon 6.1 40.6

Vegetable-oil spray 2.5 second spray 0.51 3.4

Wheat-germ oil 1 tablespoon 20.3 135.3

Tomato juice 6 fluid ounces 0.4 2.6

Apple with skin 1 medium 0.81 5.4

Mango, raw 1 medium 2.32 15.4

Macaroni pasta, enriched 1 cup 1.03 6.8

Spaghetti pasta, enriched 1 cup 1.03 6.8

Almonds, dried 1 ounce 6.72 44.8

Hazelnuts, dried 1 ounce 6.7 44.6

Peanut butter (Skippy) 1 tablespoon 3 5

Peanuts, dried 1 ounce 2.56 17

Pistachio nuts, dried 1 ounce 1.46 9.7

Walnuts, English 1 ounce 0.73 4.8

Margarine (Mazola) 1 tablespoon 8 53.3

Margarine (Parkay, diet) 1 tablespoon 0.4 2.6

Mayonnaise (Hellmann’s) 1 tablespoon 11 73.3

Miracle Whip (Kraft) 1 tablespoon 0.5 3.3

Avocado, raw 1 medium 2.32 15.4

Asparagus, frozen 4 spears 1.15 7.6

Spinach, raw 1/2 cup 0.53 3.5

Sweet potato 1 medium 5.93 39.5

Tomato, red, raw 1 tomato 0.42 2.8

Turnip greens, raw 1/2 cup chopped 0.63 4.2
Source: Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet
Web MD Interview of Dr. Petrosino Regarding Vitamin E (Sept. 26, 2000)
Vitamin E safety is posted in its entirety (with annotated footnotes) on http://www.nutritionadvisor.com
Other Reviews on nutritional Supplements by Dr. Petrosino

Dr. Petrosino received his Baccalaureate degree from Penn State University in 1975, pursued his Masters degree with honors at Penn State in 1978, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Doctorate in Nutrition from Lasalle University (Mandeville) in 1995. His doctoral dissertation examined the effects of race and poverty on cardiovascular health. He was an Adjunct Professor of Nutrition at LaSalle University (1995-1999); a member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Committee on Cardiovascular Disease; a Professional Member and Charter Member of the American Heart Association Scientific Council on Epidemiology and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease; a Professional Member and Charter Member of the American Heart Association Scientific Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism; a Professional Member of the American Heart Association Interdisciplinary Working Group on Functional Genomics and Translational Biology; an Allied Health Care Practitioner member of the….

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steven_Petrosino,_Ph.D.

Vitamins : Endometriosis – How to Treat Endometriosis With Vitamins

Endometriosis which grow somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. As we know, nutritional supplements play a very important role in treating endometriosis. In this article, we will discuss how vitamins help to treat endometriosis.

A. Vitamin A
I. Definition
Vitamin A is a bi-polar molecule formed by bonds between carbon and hydrogen. It is a fat soluble vitamin. This means it can not be stored in the liver but it can be converted from beta-carotene, a powerful antioxidant. Besides helping in treating endometriosis, it is also known to have strong effects in improving vision and enhancing bone growth.

II. Vitamin A and endometriosis
a) Vitamin A is a very powerful antioxidant that not only helps to strengthen the immune system, but also protects against the growth of endometriosis.

b) Vitamin A helps in regulating the gene expression by fighting against the forming of free radicals and protecting the body organs from abnormal growth of endometrial implants and adhesion.

c) Red blood cell production
Vitamin A working together with iron helps to aid the production of red blood cells and improve the oxygen level in the circulation of blood which is necessary for the body’s cells. This results in a stronger immune system as well as protecting the forming of abnormal cells.

d) Working together with Zinc
Zinc deficiency interferes with
a) Vitamin A function of protein synthesis and fatty acid metabolism.
b) Reducing the activity of enzyme that release vitamin A palmitate from the liver causing a weakened immune system fighting against the forming of free radicals, and endometrial implants, and adhesion.

e) Work together with iron
Iron is necessary for production of red blood cells that carry oxygen in the blood stream for the body’s cells. Women who have endometriosis with heavy blood loss during menstruation normally have iron deficiency because of loss of iron which is far greater than what the body can produce leading to anemia. Intake of vitamin A and iron will increase the production of red blood cells far better than taking iron supplements alone.
Remember, overloading on zinc or iron is toxic to our body. Please make sure to talk to your doctor for the correct amount.

B. Vitamin B1
I. Definition
Vitamin B1 is one of the members of the vitamin B complex, it is also known as thiamin or thiamine. It’s most common form is a colorless chemical compound with the formula C12H17N4OS. It was discovered in 1910 by Umetaro Suzuki in Japan. It is a water soluble vitamin, therefore it can be stored in the body and is required to be taken regularly.

II. How Vitamin B1 benefits women with endometriosis
Women with endometriosis are found to have vitamin B complex deficiency during the menstrual cycle. It is not known if it is caused by unhealthy diet or the inability of digestive absorption.
a) Level of estrogen
Vitamin B1 helps to detoxify the liver which may be caused by intake of of alcohol, smoking and heavy metals. A strong liver is particularly important for secretion of cholesterol in breaking down estrogen that causes menstrual cramps as well as hormone balancing in the body.

b) Immune system
Vitamin B1 is an antioxidant that helps to strengthen the immune system against the forming of free radicals, endometrial implants, and adhesion somewhere else in the body except the endometrium.

c) Red blood cells
Study shows that vitamin B1 helps to normalize the activity of an enzyme called transketolase in red blood cells resulting in increased amounts of the two proteins THTR-1 and RFC-1 which helps to transport thiamine into red blood cells. This increases the production of red blood cells in the bloodstream.

d) Nervous system
It helps to reduce tension of the nervous system as a resulting of converting carbohydrates to energy which is necessary for the proper functions of the nervous system. Thereby it reduces symptoms of endometriosis in some women such as anxiety, depression, and mood swings.

e) Intestine muscle tone
Vitamin B1 helps to secrete hydrochloric acid in the stomach which is essential for the complete digestion of food particles and decreases the risk of nutrient deficiency causing hormone imbalance in the menstrual cycle.

C. Vitamin B2
I. Definition
Vitamin B2 is water soluble, also known as riboflavin. It has a chemical compound formula of C17H20N4O6. Like many other vitamin B complexes, it plays an important role in providing energy to our body by the metabolism of fat, carbohydrates and protein.

II. How vitamin B2 helps to treat endometriosis
1. Red blood cell formation
Vitamin B2 includes the active co-enzyme forms of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) that helps to transport vitamin b2 into the red blood cell as well as maintaining the red blood cell formation.

2. Strengthens the immune system
Vitamin B2 is an antioxidant that helps to rejuvenate the immune system caused by toxins accumulated in the liver that helps to maintain our body’s function fighting against any abnormality of cell growth including abnormal endometrial cells.

3. Cell growth
Since vitamin B2 helps in protein metabolism, it helps to maintain normal cell division or cell growth which decreases the risk of cell abnormality and prevent endometrial cells to grow somewhere else in the body excluding the endometrium.

4. Iron and vitamin B6
Vitamin B2 is needed for a healthy mucus membrane in the digestive system. It enhances the absorption of iron and vitamin B6 which is essential for women with endometriosis and heavy flow during menstruation.

5. Migraine
The Riboflavin that is found in Vitamin B2 has shown beneficial results by assisting in decreasing the time as well as the frequency in which one gets a migraine headache due to symptoms of endometriosis during menstruation.

6. Nervous system
Vitamin B2 can assist with alleviating stress as well as reducing symptoms of depression that are brought on by digestive disorders that generally affects women with endometriosis during the menstrual cycle.

D. Vitamin B3

I. Definition
Vitamin B3 , also known as niacin, is a water-soluble vitamin. Besides being usedto treat pellagra caused by dietary lack of vitamin B3 and protein, it also has been known to be effective in treating endometriosis because women with endometriosis are found to have vitamin B3 deficiency. It has a chemical compound formula of C6H5NO2.

II. How vitamin B3 helps in treating endometriosis
1. Hormone synthesis
Vitamin B3 is found to help the manufacturing of hormones such as cortisone and the sex hormone estrogen in a woman’s body. Besides helping to inhibit levels of bad estrogen that causes menstrual cramps during menstrual cycle, it also helps to balance the prostaglandin hormone which causes over-active uterine muscles.

2. Digestive system
Deficiency of vitamin B3 is generally found in women with endometriosis during menstruation. It may be caused by the inability of the digestive system in breaking down food particles. Intake of vitamin B3 helps to re-balance the hormones that cause menstrual cramps.

3. Metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats
Besides helping to provide energy for our body in metabolism of carbohydrate through bile secretion, vitamin B3 also helps in the metabolism of protein and fat which are important for our body’s function.

4. Circulatory stimulation
Vitamin B3 also helps in stimulation of the circulatory system by reducing the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) from the arteries in some people.

5. Nervous system
Vitamin B3 is important for the healthy activity of the nervous system by providing the metabolism of protein and fat which are nutrients necessary for brain cells resulting in reduced symptoms of endometriosis such as depression, anxiety, and irritation.

6. Inflammation
Vitamin B3 increases the level of prostaglandins hormones which control the physiologic processes of blood clotting and inflammation.

E. Vitamin B5
I. Definition
Vitamin B5 is also known as pantothenic acid. It plays an important role in the forming of co-enzyme A and is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fat. Vitamin B5 has a chemical structure formula of C9H17NO5.

II. How vitamin B5 helps in treating endometriosis
Most women with endometriosis were found to have low levels of vitamin B5 during the menstrual cycle for what ever reason. Without enough vitamin B5 in a woman’s body, it causes:
1. A weakened immune system
Since vitamin B5 is necessary in the metabolism of carbohydrates, it helps to generate energy for our body’s cells. Without enough levels of vitamin B5, our body’s immune system is weakened and is dangerous for the forming of free radicals and cell abnormalities.

2. Poor circulation
Our liver is the first line of defense by secreting bile into the digestive system to produce good cholesterol, which helps to inhibit the bad cholesterol in the arteries. Without enough vitamin B5, bad cholesterol is left unchecked causing difficulty for blood circulation.

3. Increased risk of over-active uterine muscles
Liver helps in metabolism of fat. Without enough vitamin B5, it causes hormone imbalance in the prostaglandins family leading to over-reaction of uterine muscles which in turn causes abdominal pain.

4. Increased tension of nervous system
Fat and protein are important for nourishing the cells in the nervous system. Low levels of vitamin B5 weakens the brain cell’s function. This leads to symptoms of endometriosis such as anxiety, mood swings, and depression.

5. Increased risk of allergic reaction
Insufficient vitamin B5 in our body causes deficiency in co-enzyme A which is necessary for our body to react to sudden substances that enter our body, causing violently allergic reactions.

6. Acne
Fatty acid metabolism becomes less efficient and the individual is more prone to have acne.

7. Hormonal imbalance
Besides helping to reduce acne, vitamin B5 also interacts with other members of the vitamin B complex by increasing the function of the adrenal glands which is necessary to balance hormones and promote normal growth of the body.

F. Vitamin B6
I.Definition
Vitamin B6 is water soluble and a member of vitamin B complex. It plays an important role in amino acids metabolism that helps to maintain the proper function in our body.

II. Endometriosis and Vitamin B6
1. Hormone balancing
Vitamin B6 is essential for the production of the right levels of prostaglandins hormones in the prostaglandins family. Deficiency of vitamin B6 causes over active uterine muscles resulting in endometrial cramps.

2. Estrogen inhibitor
Vitamin B6 helps the live in protein and fat metabolism, thereby increasing the production of good estrogen that inhibits the bad estrogen produced by the body resulting in hormone re balancing and decrease the risk of cell abnormality and cancer.

3. Anemia
Vitamin B6 increases the production of red blood cells that usually are depleted for the women with the heavy menstrual flow during menstruation.

4. Nervous system
Our nervous system requires variety of nutrients to function daily, vitamin B6 helps not only maintain a right levels of cholesterol but also increase the circulation of nutrients to our nervous system needed resulting in decreasing the symptoms of endometriosis, such as memory loss, confusion and anxiety.

5. Cell Growth
Vitamin B6 aids in the synthesis of DNA and RNA by maintaining the proper cell division and preventing cell abnormal growth such as peritoneal cells developing into endometrial cells.

G. Vitamin B12

I. Definition
Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin and a member of vitamin B complex. It plays an important role in treating women with endometriosis, such as reducing symptoms of endometriosis during menstrual cycle, maintaining protein and fat metabolism, avoiding iron deficiency, etc.

II. Endometriosis and vitamin B12
1. Anemia
Women with endometriosis are found to have low levels of vitamin B12 during menstrual cycle for what ever reason. Deficiency of Vitamin B12 deceases the production of red blood cell in the blood stream causing depletion of levels of iron in the blood leading to anemia.

2. Nervous system
Vitamin B12 is vital for protein and fat synthesis that helps to strengthen the function of nervous system resulting in lessening the nervous tension such as irritation, loss of memory, depression and mood swing.

3. Insomnia and fatigue
Besides helping in protein and fat synthesis, vitamin B12 also play an important role in carbohydrate metabolism that helps to provide energy for our body function and aids in insomnia and fatigue.

4. Immune system
Liver required vitamin B12 to function properly, deficiency of vitamin B12 causes enlarged liver resulting in decreasing the function of liver in fighting against environment toxins leading to high levels of bad estrogen in the body resulting in menstrual cramps for women with endometriosis.

5. Cell abnormality
Vitamin B12 is vital for the synthesis of DNA. Deficiency of vitamin B12 increases the risk of abnormal cell growth in the body such as endometrial cells growing somewhere else in the abdomen.

H. Biotin
I. Definition
Biotin is one of the members of the vitamin B complex. It is also known as vitamin H or B7. Vitamin B7 is a co-factor in the metabolism of fatty acids, leucine, and in gluconeogenesis. It has a chemical structure formula of C10H16N2O3S. Deficiency is extremely rare, as intestinal bacteria generally produce an excess of the body’s daily requirement but for what ever reason, women with endometriosis are found to have low levels of biotin.

II. How biotin helps in treating endometriosis
1. Cell abnormality
Biotin acts as a co-factor with the other members in the vitamin B complex. It plays an important role in managing the body’s cell growth. Without enough biotin, it causes cell growth abnormality such as the forming of perinatal cells into endometrial cell in the abdominal regions.

2. Poor blood circulation
Since biotin helps in gluconeogenesis, it regulates the sugar levels in the blood stream. Without enough levels of biotin, the level of blood sugar rises causing the thickening of blood which reduces the circulatory function and blocks the transportation of nutrients and oxygen to our body’s cells. This results in an increased risk of symptoms of endometriosis.

3. Endometrial cramps
Since biotin is necessary in the metabolism of fatty acids, it helps to maintain levels of prostaglandins. Deficiency of biotin causes some members in the prostaglandins family to be over-produced during the menstrual cycle leading to menstrual and endometrial cramps.

4. Respiratory problem
Since biotin helps to synthesize carbon dioxide, without enough biotin it causes shortness of breath in women with endometriosis.

5. Risk of heart disease and stroke
If the liver cannot produce enough bile to generate good cholesterol because of not enough amounts of biotin in the body, it leads to cholesterol building up in the arteries causing the thickening of the arterial wall and the blockage o circulation of blood resulting in an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

6. Weaken function of nervous system
Since biotin acts as a co-factor with other vitamin B complexes in the metabolism of protein, deficiency of biotin interferes with that process. It weakens the normal functions of cells in the nervous system leading to tension of the nervous system such as anxiety, dizziness, loss of memory, and depression.

I. Folic Acids
I. Definition
Folic acid is one of the members of the vitamin B complex family and is a water soluble vitamin. It also known as vitamin M or folacin. It’s major function is to maintain normal growth and DNA of our body’s cells. It has a chemical structure formula of C19H19N7O6.

II. How folic acids helps in treating endometriosis
1. Anemia
Since folic acid deficiency limits cell division, women with endometriosis with heavy blood flow during menstruation are required to take enough folic acid to help in production of red blood cell. If not, it will lead to megaloblastic anemia.

2. Cell abnormality
Since folic acid is necessary for cell division, deficiency of it will lead to abnormality of some cells in the body. Some endometrial cells may become cancerous or grow into endometrial cells in the abdomen.

3. Protein synthesis
Folic acids interact with other members of the vitamin B complex family in the metabolism of protein. This helps to provide nutrients to the cells in the nervous system. Deficiency of folic acids cause the weakening of the nervous system leading to symptoms of endometriosis.

4. Abnormal cell growth
Folic acid is essential to normal DNA replication, DNA repair, and cell division. Deficiency of folic acid interferes with cell production and cannot repair the damage of cell caused by toxin accumulated in the body leading to abnormal cell growth.

5. Heart disease and stroke
Deficiency of folic acid may help to decrease the circulating level of homocytesteine in the blood. Study shows that high levels of homocysteine in the bloodstream damages coronary arteries or makes it easier for blood clotting, resulting in an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

6. Endometrial cancer
Since we already know that adequate levels of folic acid helps in the synthesis, repair, and functioning of DNA. Deficiency of folic acid may result in damage to DNA that may lead to cancer.

J. Choline
I. Definition
Choline is a water soluble vitamin and belongs to the group of vitamin B complexes. It was discovered by Andreas Strecker in 1864. It is used in traditional medicine in treating heart and liver disease caused by choline deficiency.

II. How choline helps in treating endometriosis
1. Strengthens the immune system
Deficiency of choline causes fat to be deposited into the liver and reduce the function of liver to fight against the abnormal forming of endometrial implants and adhesion in other parts of the body causing inflammation.

2. Reduce risk of heart diseases
Women with endometriosis are found to have low levels of choline during their menstrual cycle. The causes of deficiency are still unknown. Choline interacts with other members in the vitamin B complex family to help in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism which are necessary to provide energy and nutrients for our body. It also helps help to strengthen the liver in bile production, which helps to reduce the level of bad cholesterol resulting in decreasing the risk of heart diseases.

3. Increase function of nervous system
Since choline is a chemical precursor needed to produce the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, it helps to enhance the various congestion systems within the brain resulting in an improved function of the nervous system leading to reduced symptoms of endometriosis such as memory loss, poor concentration, anxiety, and mood swings.

4. Balancing hormone
Deficiency of choline causes abnormal functions of the liver. Since the liver plays an important role in fatty acid metabolism, deficiency of choline weakens the liver function resulting in excessive estrogen produced during menstrual cycle leading to hormone imbalance and endometrial cramps.

K. Vitamin C
I. Definition
Vitamin C is also known as L-ascorbate. It is a water soluble vitamin with a chemical structure formula of C6H6O6. It cannot be stored in the body for more than 24 hours and we are required to take it regularly. It is also best known for it’s antioxidant property in strengthening the immune system.

II. Vitamin C and endometriosis
1. Immune system
Vitamin C plays an important role in strengthening the immune system because of it’s powerful antioxidant property. It helps to guard our body against the forming of free radicals and abnormal growth of endometrial cells in other parts of the body.

2. Increase absorption of digestive system
Most women with endometriosis are found to have deficiency of some kinds of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B complex, folic acid, zinc, and magnesium. Increasing intake of vitamin C not only helps to improve digestive absorption, but also increases the body’s function in fighting against all kinds of diseases including endometriosis.

3. Hormone balancing
Besides helping strengthen the liver function to balance the estrogen level during menstrual cycle, vitamin C also balances the level of prostaglandins hormones in the prostaglandins family resulting in the calming of over-active uterine muscles.

4. Reduce heavy blood flow and blood clotting
Vitamin C not only helps to protect the breaking off of the capillaries that cause heavy blood flow for women with endometriosis during menstruation but also prevents blood clotting caused by reduction of prothrombin, thrombin, and thrombokinase concentrations in the body.

5. Decrease infection and inflammation
Vitamin C helps in protein metabolism. It not only provides our body with certain necessary proteins but also blocks the synthesis of vital proteins that cause infection and inflammation.

L. Vitamin E
I. Definition
Since vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, it can be stored in our body and we don’t require to take it regularly. It is best known for its powerful antioxidant property.

II. The effects of Vitamin E in women with Endometriosis
a) Immune system
Since vitamin E is an antioxidant, it helps to increase liver function in fighting the forming of free radicals, abnormal cells and cancers. In endometriosis, it prevents the growth of abnormal endometrial to form implants and adhesion in other parts of the body excluding the endometrium.

b) Cell protection
Since vitamin E protects the fatty acid against degradation in the human body, it helps to prevent against the oxidation in cell membranes and cellular regions resulting in protecting against the breaking off of the capillary wall causing heavy blood flow during menstruation.

c) Red blood cells
Deficiency of vitamin E in women with endometriosis were also found to have anemia. It is caused by the faster than normal aging of red blood cells because of oxidative destruction of red blood cells.

d) Nervous system
Since we already known that vitamin E is essential for increasing the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen in the circulation system, it helps to nourish the brain cells fighting against symptoms of endometriosis such as mood swings, anxiety, and depression.

e) Hormone imbalance
Deficiency of vitamin E also interferes with normal functions of thyroid and pituitary glands causing the increase of levels of fatty acids resulting in endometrial menstrual cramps which in turn result in the over-production of certain prostaglandins hormones.

M. Vitamin K

I. Definition
Vitamin K was first discovered by Danish scientist Herrik Dam in 1929. It is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is best known for its ability of protein synthesis and blood coagulation. Dietary deficiency is extremely rare because it is produced by bacteria in the digestive system. Since it is fat soluble, it can be stored in our body and we do no need to take them regularly.

II. How vitamin K effects women with endometriosis
1. Nervous and circulation systems
Vitamin K helps to convert glucose into glycogen which is essential for improving the liver function in fighting against the forming of bad cholesterol accumulated in the blood stream causing high blood pressure, making transportation of oxygen more difficult to the body’s cell, increasing the risk of heart disease and elevating tensions of nervous system. Glycogen can be stored in the liver, muscles, and can be used in case of deficiency.

2. Abnormal bleeding
Vitamin K also helps in production of prothrombin which is an important substance for blood clotting. Women with endometriosis were found to have vitamin K deficiency leading to heavier than normal bleeding during menstruation.

3. Immune system
Since vitamin K helps to strengthen the liver’s function, indirectly it protects our body from environmental toxins that cause abnormal endometrial implants and adhesion growing somewhere else other than the endometrium as we mentioned in the other articles.

4. Cell Growth
Vitamin K is also said to be an important vitamin that helps to regulate the cellular functions including cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and protection against the cell’s cytoskeleton to break up the membrane and bulge outward causing the loss of membrane asymmetry and attachment. Deficiency of vitamin K may cause an increase in the risk of irregularity cellular growth, such as endometriosis.

5. Anemia
Since vitamin K deficiency causes heavy bleeding for women with endometriosis adhered to the abdominal region leading to anemia as a result of depletion of red blood cells in the body or inability of the body to produce more red blood cell to cover the loss during menstruation

Since endometriosis is treatable and manageable by natural remedies and a self help course, if you have endometroisis, please look on the bright side.

For How To Choose The Best Endometriosis Self Help Program, Visit http://theendometroisisguide.blogspot.com/

For series of Infertility Articles, please visit http://fertility-infertility.blogspot.com/

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“Let You Be With Your Health, Let Your Health Be With You” Kyle J. Norton
I have been studying natural remedies for disease prevention for over 20 years and working as a financial consultant since 1990. Master degree in Mathematics, teaching and tutoring math at colleges and universities before joining insurance industries. Part time Health, Insurance and Entertainment Article Writer.

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