Kirk Gair, DC, IDE
1901 W Pacific Ave Suite 205, West Covina, CA 91790
626-338-3600
NUTRITION EVALUATION: 12/1/2010
PATIENT:C., REYNA
Thank you for choosing our office to perform your functional blood chemistry analysis. This report will explain the findings of your blood test, explain any patterns that are present, and give you a plan for improving your health. At the end you will see your lab tests broken down into a chart and interpreted compared to the ‘healthy or optimal” ranges, and you will also see the standard ‘clincal’ values. You will also see dietary recommendations, exercise recommendations, and supplement recommendations.
Your supplement recommendations will be broken down to the supplement type and amount based on your age, weight, and sex. Remember, the recommendations that I give you in this report have not been evaluated by the FDA, and no claims to curing or treating a disease are being made. Furthermore, at no time am I advising you to discontinue or decrease any medications that your medical doctor has placed you on, as that decision can only be made by a discussion between you and the prescribing doctor. I also recommend that you discuss the results of this analysis with your primary doctor for a second opinion. Should you have questions about this report or the recommendations, please feel free to email me or call the office.
Also, remember that following this plan will take time for you to notice the changes in your health. Usually the first two months of changing your habits and incorporating the supplements will have ups and downs. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t follow all the dietary guidelines or exercise guidelines exactly. They are a template that you will use to build healthy lifestyle changes. The supplements and dietary changes that are recommended here are not necessarily what you will be doing for the rest of your life. Your plan will be modified when we do your follow up blood test, symptom survey, and evaluation.
However, for optimal health, you can never return to your old habits, or your health will return to how it was before. If you do “fall of the wagon”, don’t stress about it, as we all have setbacks. Simply make better choices at your next meal, and make sure you don’t skip your supplements next time. Also, some people feel worse before they get better. If your inflammation levels are very high, or if you have an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast, or if you have addictions to certain foods (caffeine, sugar, etc), you may notice problems initially, such as fatigue, headaches, upset stomach. They are normal, but please contact me if you do have them so I can help you through it and answer any questions you have. Also, if you are on any antibiotics at the time of this report, or if you are placed on them or a new medication while taking the supplements, please be sure to let your medical doctor know what you are taking. Many antibiotics will have interactions with magnesium, so you cannot take certain supplements while on antibiotics. Also, if you are going to have a surgical procedure, be sure to let your surgeon know what supplements you are taking, as they may recommend that you stop for a few weeks because certain supplements can thin the blood which can cause complications for surgery (vitamin C is one blood thinner).
One of the biggest problems in western medicine is that it is really disease management and crisis intervention. This is fine if you have a serious accident or severe disease that needs major intervention such as drugs or surgery. However, if you are looking to improve your health and energy, and truly prevent disease and illness, there is no system in place. So many times patients complain that they feel terrible or have less energy or ability to concentrate than they used to, yet all of their tests come back ‘normal’. Screenings such as mammograms and prostate exams are called preventative, but what they actually are is early detection that catches disease at a state where it requires medicine or surgery but in a smaller amount. In contrast, the method that we use here can catch patterns that are developing much earlier, before they are even detectable by traditional diagnostics, and determine what lifestyle factors may be causing them, and give you a system of healthy habits, foods, and supplements to truly practice prevention and wellness. This is true prevention, wellness, and longevity care. Congratulations on investing in your health now instead of waiting until later!
INTERPRETING ALL TEST RESULTS
Your test results are color coded for ease of analysis:
Yellow = values are outside the healthy range but still within the clinical range
Red = values are outside the clinical range
Blue = values extremely higher or lower than the clinical range limits. These are considered in the ‘critical’ or ‘alarm’ ranges in functional analysis.
INTERPRETING BLOOD LAB RESULTS
On the blood test results page found later in the report, you'll notice two columns on the right side of the page labeled
"Optimal/Healthy Range" and “Clinical Range". The clinical range is used by the medical community. Any values outside this
range are indicative of a disease process. The way that the clinical range is determined is by applying the bell curve to all the values within the population of people. This means that 96% of people will have their values fall within the bell curve of “normal”, while 2% will be high and 2% will be low. These values have changed from year to year based on the average health of the US population and on other factors. You will also see that certain labs have different ‘normal’ values than other labs. What also occurs with applying the bell curve is that the sicker the population gets on average, the wider these ranges become so that 96% will stay within that range.
The Healthy Range that we use is much narrower than the Clinical Range. These values are not affected by the bell curve, so as society gets sicker, they do not move. There is some difference in opinion as to what the optimal ranges are, so they are not ironclad and there is some controversy over their use to improve health. However, they do give us a more sensitive method for uncovering the roots of your problems.
Additionally, we do not just evaluate for high and low and then give recommendations to ‘correct’ a test. We also look for patterns that are occurring in your lab values that illustrate how various organs and systems are functioning in the body so that the appropriate dietary and supplementation changes can be implemented to restore optimal functioning. Test valuesoutside of the Healthy Range indicate results which are not as good as they should be, and the tighter guidelines of theHealthy Range allow us to see signs of any developing diseases/conditions BEFORE they become more serious where they might require medications or other interventions to correct them.
INTERPRETING HAIR LAB RESULTS
A hair analysis was not performed on you initially. However, it is a good idea to perform an analysis to see if you do have any kind of heavy metal burden. Additionally, the test can also determine your tissue levels of minerals, which, especially in the case of magnesium, can be very different than your blood levels.
The hair analysis screening is looking for essential, nonessential and potentially toxic elements. These elements areirreversibly incorporated into growing hair. The amount of each element found in the hair is proportional to levels inother body tissues. This makes the hair analysis a suitable indirect screening for physiological excess, deficiency ormaldistribution of elements in the body. All screening tests have limitations which must be taken into consideration.Scalp hair is vulnerable to external contamination by water, hair treatments and other products, as well as the testing itself. The data provided bya hair analysis should be considered in conjunction with symptoms, diet analysis, occupation and lifestyle, watersource, physical examination and the results of other laboratory tests. It is not a stand alone diagnostic tool.
However, accepting these limitations, hairanalysis can provide useful insights into the toxic load and biochemical condition of the body.For each elevated toxic element in the hair, the most common sources of exposure are listed in the report. Due topollution, our industrial culture and other environmental factors, it is impossible to completely eliminate your exposureto some toxic elements. However by knowing the sources of toxins elevated in your body, you can work to reduceyour exposure, thus lessening the total toxic burden on your body. Additionally, knowing the sources can help you prevent from continuously accumulating more toxins.
DIAGNOSTIC FINDINGS
The topics in RED had values outside of normal and optimal ranges and are listed first because they are the most important.
INTESTINAL PARASITES
This is suggested by your high eosinophils that were over a level of 3. More evidence comes when we look at the fact that your white blood cells were low as well, and your basophils were slightly elevated, and your erythrocyte sedimentation rate was high (an indication of inflammation).
These are a common problem that can be difficult to diagnose. For confirmation, we would most likely want to do a stool analysis. However, many times the test will be inconclusive or even negative for parasites even when you have them. Or, we can simply have you take some supplements that can clear them out. The risk of parasites is increased if you own house pets or live or work around animals. Parasites can be transmitted between family members. Rates are increased in people who travel outside of the US, especially if you drink untreated water.
RECOMMENDATIONS:This is mostly an “avoid” recommendation. First, avoid sushi as it is one of the highest sources of parasites. Additionally, rare meats are sources. If you have animals in the house with you, these are common sources as well. The supplement Paradex is good for removing the parasites.
VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
Your vitamin D levels are low and are even beneath the standard ranges. The ideal levels should be between 60 and 80, but less than 100.Yours is only 12.4. In fact, it is one of the lowest ones we have seen in our office so far. Along with this, your calcium levels are below optimal. Vitamin D is necessary for proper utilization of calcium, and is important for normal immune function and cancer prevention. Without adequate vitamin D you will continue to have low levels even if you supplement with calcium. Low vitamin D is also connected with inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and can cause generalized body pains and affect hormone formation and function.
Vitamin D also protects against muscle weakness and is involved in regulation of the heartbeat. From your intake you listed muscle fatigue, weakness, tremors as problems you are having, which can be caused by low vitamin D. It is important in the prevention of osteoporosis, enhances immunity, and is necessary for normal thyroid function and blood clotting.. When there is a liver or kidney dysfunction there is a greater risk for osteoporosis, because the liver and kidneys are needed to turn vitamin D into its active form.
Recently a report has been issued that claims that most Americans get enough D from their diet and that taking extra D does not help reduce disease or illnesses and that excess D can be dangerous. You have probably read about this on the internet. At no time do they mention how they determined any of these findings. Therefore, I still stand behind the interpretation used here, which states that levels under 30 are insufficient and need to be elevated. As long as we continue to test your D levels and make sure they do not go over 100, most of the current research says there is not a health issue. I highly recommend that you read Dr James Dowd’s book. “The Vitamin D Cure” for more information on this topic and to make an informed decision. In my opinion, the risks of being deficient or insufficient in D far outweigh the risks of D supplementation, as long as your levels are monitored and your dosage is appropriate for your blood levels.
SUPPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS:
Vitamin D • safe exposure to sunlight (see section on Sun exposure)
FOOD RECOMMENDATIONS-
Fish liver oils, dairy (only use organic), and eggs are the main sources. It is also found in buter, dandelion greens, liver, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, sardines, salmon, and tuna. Herbs like alfalafa, horsetail, nettle, and parsley also contain D.
ANEMIA
There are several types of anemia, with the most common being iron deficiency, and B6 or B12/Folate deficiency. Because you a high mean corpuscular volume and a high mean corpuscular hemoglobin rate, you fall into the pattern of B12/Folate anemia. This is most likely caused by the intestinal parasite, which will affect absorption.
B12 and folic acid are needed for proper nucleus development. Deficiency of B12/Folate occurs for the following reasons:
1-Decreased ingestion, such as with a vegan diet
2-Impaired absorption. Such as from hydrochloric acid need, hypochlorhydria, malabsorption, intrinsic factor deficiency, pernicious anemia
3-Competitive parasites, such as tapeworms from fish or other meats
4-Increased requirements. Such as chronic pancreatic disease, pregnancy, or hypothyroidism
5-Impaired utilization. Such as enzyme deficiencies, abnormal binding proteins
For confirmation, you could have your B12 levels tested. However, since it is a water soluble vitamin it is relatively safe to supplement with sublingual B12/folate. The sublingual form is better absorbed than the form in a standard swallowed pill.
B12/Folic acid is important for utilization of iron, proper digestion, carb and fat metabolism, cell formation and longevity. It also prevents nerve damage, maintains fertility, and maintains the protective myelin sheaths around the nerves. The neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which assists memory and learning, requires B12. Deficiencies can also cause balance problems, abnormal gait, fatigue, constipation, depression, digestive disorders, dizziness, hallucinations, headaches, tongue inflammation, irritability, labored breathing, memory loss, moodiness, nervousness, nerve damage, palpitations, ringing in the ears, and spinal cord degeneration.
RECOMMENDATIONS- Sublingual B12/Folic acid. Digestive enzymes for better nutrient absorption.
FOOD SOURCES- sources of B12 include eggs, brewer’s yeast, liver, mackerel, seafood, clams, and milk/dairy. If you do decide to include dairy in your diet, make sure it is always from an organic source to avoid the pesticide, antibiotic, and hormone contamination of conventional dairy.
CORONARY RISK ASSESSMENT
Total Cholesterol: 210OPTIMALHDL Cholesterol- 75.7 OPTIMAL
LDL Cholesterol: 114.3 HIGHVLDL Cholesterol: 20 OPTIMAL
Coronary Risk Assessment: 2.77- PROBABLY PROTECTED
Your profile actually looks great! Even though your LDL was just outside of optimal, your good cholesterol was so good that it counteracts it. The coronary risk is determined by taking the total cholesterol and dividing it by the HDL. To reduce your risk of
cardiovascular problems a value below 4 is recommended. The Total Cholesterol is determined by adding the HDL,LDL, and VLDL together. Cholesterol is critical for the following functions: 1) cellular membranes, where it helps regulate membrane fluiditiy and intracellular communication, 2) myeling sheaths, where it provides for the structure in the nervous system to help regulate nerve transmission, 3) steroid hormones, such as adrenal hormones, sex hormones, and vitamin D. Low cholesterol can place a stress on the immune system, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.
Recent studies have shown a correlation between a high HDL and longevity. Think of HDLas the Healthy cholesterol and generally the higher the better. HDL cleans up the arteries of cholesterol. In your case, the HDL is optimal, which is over 55.
LDL is commonly known as the ‘bad’ cholesterol, as it tends to plug thearteries. Factors that can make LDL more likely to clog up arteries include chronic infections, inflammation, and free radicals. Your LDL was just barely outside of the optimal ranges.
Recent studies show that there are 2 types of LDL, one that is a large molecule and one that is small. These studies suggest that the large LDL has some very important functions for the immune system, and has been shown to be able to help neutralize MRSA. The VLDL, which is the small molecule, is the Very worst cholesterol and is more like sludge. It is very sticky and can very easily attach to arterial walls. Your VLDL is very high and is the biggest concern that I have right now in this section. Lower is better for the LDL and VLDL indetermining coronary risk and overall health. However, what is extremely important regarding cholesterol is preventing the oxidation of it, which makes it more likely to cause plaques, and also decreasing inflammation in the body, which also facilitates plaques. In your case, your overall health could be improved by getting your LDLinto the optimal range. Other than that, your coronary profile is excellent! In fact, you have the best HDL level I have seen in all the tests so far!.