Niacin, or vitamin b3, is helpful because it opens up the blood vessels and brings nutrients, blood, oxygen, and other nutrients to the brain. Mineral baths, consisting of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, which seep into our bodies through the pores of the skin, are also helpful."
Among Dr. Hodes's other recommendations are herbal remedies; homeopathic remedies; developmental/behavioral optometric vision therapy for improved visualization, perception, cognition, and memory efficiency; applied kinesiology; and chiropractic and osteopathic care. |
For the patients I work with, I give 3000 milligrams per day of either nicotinic acid or nicotinamide, which are both forms of vitamin b3."
Other nutrients include vitamin C, vitamin B6, and manganese. "I also use vitamin C at the same dose level and sometimes a lot more because vitamin C is a very good water-soluble antioxidant," Dr. Hoffer explains. "It is considered the foremost, the most active water-soluble antioxidant present in the human body. That's extremely important."
Manganese is used to protect against tardive dyskinesia. Dr. |
On the basis of these experiments, where we compared the effect of vitamin b3 against a placebo, we found that the addition of the vitamin to the standard treatment of that day, which was only elec-troconvulsant therapy, doubled the two-year recovery rate from 3 5 percent to 70 percent. That was the beginning.
"After that we ran another three double-blind controlled experiments. Since that time we have accumulated massive clinical experience; I myself have seen many thousands of schizophrenic patients. The treatment for the schizophrenic patient is really relatively simple. |
Copper depletes histamine levels and it also depletes vitamin b3 and C, which are needed to support mental functioning in low histamine individuals."
Dr. Abram Hoffer, who has researched and published extensively in the field, tells how the early treatment efforts influenced today's thinking: "The orthomolecular treatment of schizophrenia was started in Saskatchewan in 1951 when we ran the first double-blind controlled experiments in North American medicine and also the first in worldwide psychiatry. |
Brenda Watson and Leonard Smith See book keywords and concepts |
Heavy Metal Cleanse Ingredients
Morning Formula* biotin manganese vitamin B2 boron molybdenum vitamin b3 calcium selenium vitamin B5 chromium vanadium vitamin copper vitamin C vitamin B12 folic acid vitamin B1 zinc magnesium
* Do not start a heavy metal cleanse without first completing a total-body cleanse.
Evening Formula alpha-lipoic acid cilantro bladderwrack garlic chlorella kelp leucine
N-acetylcysteine sodium alginate
The morning formula in the heavy metal cleanse would be taken with breakfast. |
Hyla Cass See book keywords and concepts |
Vitamin B| (thiamine)
25 mg
Essential for many biochemical
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) vitamin b3 (niacin/niacinamide) Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
25 mg 50 mg 50 mg 50 mg processes in the body such as nervous system function and cellular energy production. Controls levels of homocysteine, implicated in heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
Vitamin B|2 (cyanocobalamin)
10 meg
Biotin
50 meg
Folic acid
400 meg
Vitamin C
250-1,000 mg
Functions as antioxidant and immune-booster; promotes gum and connective tissue health.
Vitamin D
400-2000IU
Builds bone. |
Note: If you're taking primidone or carbamazepine, note that vitamin b3 interferes with the breakdown of the drugs, and can cause an unsafely high drug level.
Needed supplements: Depending on the drug you are using, you'll use:
?Calcium: 1,000-1,200 mg daily with 400-600 mg of magnesium.
?Carnitine: 500-2,000 mg daily of L-carnitine or acetyl-L-carnitine.
?Vitamin B-complex: Use a B-complex or multivitamin that contains 25 mg of B1( 25 mg of B2, 50 mg of B3, 50 mg of B6, 400-800 meg of folic acid, 10 meg of B12, and 50 mg each of biotin and B5.
? |
Folic acid: 400-800 meg
?Vitamin B3: 25 mg daily.
?Vitamin B6: 10-50 mg daily. Vitamin B6 is strongly depleted by this drug, and this depletion is believed to be the reason for a common side effect: nerve damage in the hands and feet. Supplementing isoniazid with this vitamin is recommended even by mainstream medicine. See pages 48-52 for more on the B vitamins).
?Vitamin D: 1,000 mg daily.
LEVODOPA (L-DOPA)
This medication is used to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). |
Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts |
One way it does this is by raising levels of lactate in the body, which promotes anxiety. vitamin b3 enhances the breakdown of lactate.
One or two cups of coffee a day are not a problem for most people. Yet five to ten cups daily can be, as can fewer cups of a high-caffeine brew, such as Starbucks. Starbucks' beverages contain extremely large amounts of caffeine. A twelve-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee has 195 mg of caffeine, or a little more than 16 mg per ounce. |
Marshall Editions See book keywords and concepts |
Take 200-400 mg of chromium picolinate a day. vitamin b3 (niacin) is also a component of glucose tolerance factor. Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) helps to control fat metabolism and improves the response to stress. Vitamin B6 balances hormone levels. Take 50 mg of a B-complex vitamin that contains all of the above B vitamins three times a day. Inositol increases the effectiveness of insulin in women with PCOS, reduces male hormone levels, and restores normal periods. Although inositol can be found in a B-complex vitamin, a total of 500 mg should be taken twice a day. |
Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts |
Anxiety, Nervousness, and Depression
Tension
High-potency multivitamin or
Vitamin B6
High-potency B-complex vitamin b3 high-potency B-complex Vitamin B6
Folic acid (enhances antidepres-
GABA
Magnesium sant drugs) Inositol
Theanine
SAMe
5-HTP or tryptophan Arginine plus lysine St. John's wort Sage
Omega-3 fish oils
5-HTP or tryptophan
Tyrosine
St. |
Ray D. Strand See book keywords and concepts |
Strong evidence exists that patients who suffer from arthritis are deficient in several antioxidants and supporting nutrients such as vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, boron (a mineral), and vitamin b3.4 As you have been learning throughout this book, you need to supply all these antioxidants at optimal levels in an attempt to bring oxidative stress under control.
Peggie was taking all of these nutrients in supplementation, as well as another important one: glucosamine sulfate.
Glucosamine Sulfate
Glucosamine is one of the basic nutrients for the synthesis of cartilage. |
Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts |
Note: The niacin form of vitamin b3 causes a flushing sensation that lasts about one hour. Niacinamide does not cause this flush.
Silymarin. This antioxidant extract of the herb milk thistle helps liver function, which may be impaired after long-term alcohol abuse. Take 100 to 300 mg daily.
Kudzu. This herb (Pueraria lobata) may decrease the desire for alcohol, leading to a reduction in alcohol intake. Take 1,000 mg three times daily.
Chromium picolinate. This supplement can improve glucose tolerance. Take 500 meg twice daily.
Probiotics. |
Dr Ron Roberts See book keywords and concepts |
Tobacco also depletes Vitamin Bl, vitamin b3, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, magnesium and zinc stores in the body, which saps your vitality, makes you lethargic and prone to infection.
If you are a parent there is added incentive to give up smoking. There is substantial evidence that children who grow up in homes where cigarette smoke is present have increased frequency of asthma. Dr Des Mulcahey, a paediatrician, has stated that a disproportionate number of parents of children admitted to hospital with asthma attacks are heavy smokers. |
Gary Null and Amy McDonald See book keywords and concepts |
Simply providing the proper vitamin, in this case vitamin b3 or niacin, was the treatment. It cleared up the psychosis.
"Niacin is often used in much higher doses than the others in order to accomplish some of these changes. Niacin is a ubiquitous vitamin. It is being used greatly to help reduce cholesterol levels, to improve the good cholesterol and reduce the bad. The dosages being used are much greater than those used to simply overcome a deficiency.
You have to be a little bit careful of niacin because over long periods of time, in high doses, there can be some effects on the liver. |
The Editors of FC&A See book keywords and concepts |
Salmon and tuna are good sources of vitamin b3 and B6, both of which help your body make melatonin. Sunflower seeds and wheat bran also give you both of these vitamins. For additional vitamin b3, eat chicken, turkey, peanuts, and apricots. Get more B6 from avocados, bananas, carrots, rice, and shrimp.
Bounce back with chicken broth. Don't wait until you have a cold to enjoy soothing chicken soup. Have some, as well, when your brain is tired — like after doing your taxes or struggling to compare insurance policies. |
Dr. Steven R. Gundry See book keywords and concepts |
Unlike what your doctor will probably tell you, my research, as reported in the journal Atherosclerosis, has shown that Diet Evolution and two simple supplements, C0Q10 and niacin, also known as vitamin b3, will lower Lp(a) to normal levels in the vast majority of people.6 You can turn off the genes producing Lp(a).
THE TRIGLYCERIDE CONNECTION
The level of triglycerides in each person's blood correlates exactly to his or her intake of "white," "beige," and "brown" foods, as well as of fruits. |
Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts |
Consider adding an additional 100 mg of the more biologically active form of vitamin B6, called pyridoxyl-5-phosphate, as well as an additional 500 mg of vitamin b3 (niacinamide). Note: Take B vitamins in the morning or the early afternoon, with food—not in the evening.
Inositol. Functionally related to B vitamins, inositol has been shown to significantly diminish the occurrence of panic attacks. This is noteworthy because only 70 percent of patients with panic attacks respond to conventional medical therapies. |
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and Alan R. Gaby, M.D. See book keywords and concepts |
However, research suggests that vitamin b3, vitamin C, carotenoids, flavonoids, calcium, potassium, selenium, chromium, zinc, copper, silicon, iodine, and essential fatty acids all play a role in atherosclerosis prevention. More-detailed information is available for individuals interested in further study.22
Excessive intake of iron, on the other hand, may actually increase the risk of heart disease,23 although not all studies agree on that point. Because iron is an oxidizing agent, iron overload might cause some of the same problems we are trying to prevent by taking antioxidants. |
James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D. See book keywords and concepts |
NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)
Description: NADH is the coenzyme form of vitamin b3 (niacin), which plays a role in cellular energy production. Preliminary research has shown NADH to be helpful for chronic fatigue syndrome and depression. It may also hold promise in reducing the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, although these uses have not been proven.
Indications: Alzheimer's disease
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Depression
Parkinson's disease
Fibromyalgia Precautions: NADH appears to be nontoxic. Dosage: Take 5 to 10 mg daily on an empty stomach. |
Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts |
Specifically, low levels of vitamin b3 lead to genetic instability, chromosome fragility, and breaks in DNA strands. Studies have found that low levels of vitamin B2, which plays a role in DNA repair enzymes, also lead to more breaks in DNA. Similarly, low intake of vitamin B6 inhibits the effectiveness of enzymes involved in DNA synthesis.
People with marginal intake of folic acid also have a high rate of chromosome damage, which can be corrected with supplementation. |
Dr. Jonathan Prousky, BPHE, BSc, ND, FRSH See book keywords and concepts |
Hepatic toxicity from large doses of vitamin b3 (nicotinamide). N Engl J Med 1973;289:1180-82.
43. Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine [www.cebm.net/levels_of_evidence.asp#levels]
(D
TREATING ANXIETY WITH VITAMIN B-12 (COBALAMIN)
Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) is involved in numerous biochemical reactions as a cofactor and coenzyme. Its main functions involve DNA synthesis, methionine synthesis from homocysteine, and conversion of propionyl into succinyl coenzyme A from methylmalonate. |
Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D. See book keywords and concepts |
B3). Cleary concluded that alcoholism might be a manifestation of niacin deficiency in some people and recommended that alcoholics consider supplementation with 500 mg of niacin per day.4 Without specifying the amount of niacin used, Geary's preliminary research findings suggested that niacin supplementation helped wean some alcoholics away from alcohol.5 Activated vitamin b3 used intravenously has also helped alcoholics quit drinking.6 Niacinamide—a safer form of the same vitamin—might have similar actions and has been reported to improve alcohol metabolism in animals. |
Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts |
Although technically not a B vitamin, NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is built around vitamin b3 and plays a central role in cellular energy production. In a study conducted at Georgetown University Medical School, Dr. Joseph Bellanti reported that 10 mg of NADH daily led to gradual improvements in CFS patients.
Carnitine
Carnitine helps transport fats into mitochondria, where they are burned for energy. In a study of 28 men and women with CFS, Dr. Audius V. |
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and Alan R. Gaby, M.D. See book keywords and concepts |
Inositol Hexanicotinate
Niacin (one of the forms of vitamin b3) is a vasodilator, and it exerts other beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. However, niacin often causes an uncomfortable skin flush, and in high doses it may occasionally damage the liver. A derivative of niacin known as inositol hexanicotinate has been used as an alternative to niacin. Inositol hexanicotinate consists of one molecule of the B-vitamin inositol and 6 molecules of niacin. It is preferred by many individuals, because it rarely causes a skin flush. |
Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts |
B3 (niacin or niacinamide) and vitamin C. They theorized that schizophrenics were genetically predisposed to making their own hallucinogen, a by-product of adrenaline called adrenochrome. Hoffer and his associates conducted the first double-blind studies in psychiatry and published their results in the prestigious Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic. Hoffer's work has never been accepted by mainstream medicine, partly because much of medicine has a bias for pharmaceuticals over inexpensive vitamins. |
Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts |
Supplemental vitamin b3 helps reinforce DNA, especially when it is exposed to cancer-causing chemicals.
How B-Vitamin Deficiencies Affect DNA Repair
Many people are fearful of radiation exposure from nuclear power plants and other sources. However, according to Bruce N.Ames, Ph.D., one of the world's leading cell biologists and professor emeritus at the University of California at Berkeley, DNA damage from B-vitamin deficiencies is identical to damage caused by radiation. In both cases strands of DNA break apart. |
Another supplement, NADH, which is built around vitamin b3, has also been shown helpful in fatigue. Dr. Joseph A. Bellanti and colleagues at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C, treated 26 patients suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome with 10 mg of vitamin NADH or a placebo daily for four weeks. After the four-week "washout period," the NADH and placebo treatments were reversed. Eight (31 percent) of the 26 patients responded to NADH supplements with about a 10 percent reduction in chronic fatigue symptoms. In contrast, only 2 subjects (8 percent) responded favorably to the placebo. |
Gabriel Cousens, M.D. See book keywords and concepts |
A deficiency of vitamin b3, or niacin, has been associated with cerebral pellagra, with symptoms resembling schizophrenia. The early work of Drs. Hoffer and Osmond showed that a certain percentage of people diagnosed with schizophrenia overcame the symptoms with high doses of niacin. This indicates the importance of nutrients on the function of the mind.7 Other researchers have found that high doses of vitamins B6, B12, E, and C may improve mental functioning in some people. |
Jack Challem See book keywords and concepts |
Note: the niacin (but not niacinamide) form of vitamin b3 results in a strong tingling and flushing sensation that lasts for about an hour.
Methylation Reactions and Molecule-Building Processes
Other types of methylation reactions, which similarly depend on folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12, and several other nutrients, affect many other biochemical processes in the body. |