Suggestions on vitamins, etc. (? Anyone??)

[Guest guest]

I've begun taking 1000mg C, 400mg E, and 100mg niacin a day. What

are " best suggestions " for supplements?

Is anyone aware of work with protein-glycosilation-blocking drugs or

supplements? I know there was some work done on them a decade or

more ago, when it first began to be realized that high sugar levels

actually degraded structural and nerve proteins (and lipids?) via

gyclosilation.

Any thoughts on supplementation with " essential " fats, sugars, etc.

In diabetics, in particular, it has at least been theorized that

certain important pathways for converting precursors to essential

nutrients are either absent or don't work well. For example, I've

read that beta-carotene doesn't convert to vitamin A in diabetics. I

seem to remember that there is also a difficulty in LINOLEIC ->

linolenic acid conversion? In any case, I know I've read of some

studies where high doses of borage seed oil helped reverse

neuropathy. That is a major concern for me right now.

http://www9.netrition.com/borage_oil_page.html

<i>Borage oil contains 20 - 24% gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a non-

essential fatty acid, which has been shown to have many beneficial

effects. Borage has the highest GLA content of any plant source.

Studies show borage oil to be beneficial in the treatment of

rheumatoid arthritis, atopic eczema, and diabetic neuropathy, as

well as in the reduction of cholesterol levels. </i>

AND

<i>Gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA) is an unusual fatty acid that is rare

to find in foods in significant amounts. Pure chicken fat has 21 mg

in 3.5 ounces, while the same size of lean chicken meat has only 3.8

mg.

GLA in the skin gets converted to Dihomo-Gamma-Linolenic Acid (DGLA).

DGLA in the skin makes a powerful eicosanoid (15-OH-DGLA) that has

strong anti-inflammatory properties and reduces many of the symptoms

of dry, flaky skin.

Horrobin, who has published dozens of research articles on GLA

in both humans and animals, estimates daily GLA production rates of

250 - 1000 mg in humans - the higher end is most likely for children.

With a 50% loss by age 60, this suggests supplementation on the order

of 125 - 250 mg per day. GLA supplementation for atopic dermatitis,

where a defect in delta-6 desaturase (D6D) activity is believed to

create the disorder, have typically utilized 300 - 400 mg per day in

order to supply an approximate day's supply. In studies with post

viral fatigue, GLA doses were about 300 mg per day and required about

3 months to have an effect.

Some cases of alcoholism (especially in younger men) are due to low

levels of Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). PGE1 is one of the " good "

eicosanoids. Alcohol appears to promote the formation of PGE1. DGLA

is the essential fatty acid that PGE1 is made from. So low PGE1

levels indicate a depletion of DGLA. Low PGE1 levels causes more need

for alcohol to increase the amounts of PGE1 and the alcohol craving

process begins. GLA is converted into DGLA very easily. So, taking

GLA will increase levels of DGLA which form PGE1. This leads to a

more appropriate level of PGE1 in the absence of alcohol potentially

resulting in fewer cravings. In one study of alcoholics, 160 mg of

GLA per day was ineffective, but double that amount was effective.

However, not all cases of alcoholism are related to low PGE1 levels.

GLA is an acceptable form of therapy in England for several mild

conditions including atopic dermatitis and cyclic breast pain. In

this country, many women take GLA for menstrual discomfort. </i>

This is hopefully the year where I take back by future. I'm not the

kind of person to change half-way. ;-) All suggestions are

appreciated.

P.S. I'm trying to get access to the

http://www.calorierestriction.org/index.htm archives and newsgroup.

I've registered several times and supposedly have been granted

access . . . but I don't have access. If anyone frequents this

organization, I'd appreciate HELP! I've attempted to register with

two different emails: s_rudek@... and sjrudek@....

Thanks.