Hemochromatosis and Autoimmune Conditions

[Gaby]

I thought red rice is bad because it works the same way as statins. What do you think?

Oh no, this is not the case as I have witnessed multiple times throughout the years with my patients. Those who get cramps and liver enzymes anomalies with statins, have none under red yeast rice which as a bonus, has a nice anti-inflammatory effect on cholestrol and lipids in general.

 

[Persej]

In between decantations (how's that for a word?) I'm doing the EDTA oral chelation as I've mentioned. I've been doing it three days on, four off, and taking mineral supplements on the four days off. It must be really doing something because I get these bursts of energy while taking EDTA. I understand that is because it is unloading the evil heavy metals and allowing the zinc to do its thing (whatever it is) with the mtDNA energy factories.

The difference I feel after doing a short round of EDTA is amazing, so it seems clear that the metals somehow block energy metabolism. And, as has been noted (think it was Sherry Rogers), when energy is compromised, the body begins to shut down systems so as to give what energy is available to essential functions.

I think I found an explanation for those bursts of energy:

EDTA is a very effective Mg ion scavenger. If you add it to an ATP/Mg solution, the Mg ions will bind to the EDTA and can no long complex with the ATP molecules. As a result, ATP cannot bind to your NBDs (this is the basis of the ATP hydrolysis inhibitory effect of EDTA)

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_EDTA_be_used_for_trapping_ATP_to_nucleotide_binding_domain_of_ABC_transporters_as_much_as_vanadate

ATP levels were nearly 8 times higher in EDTA plasma than in heparin plasma

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/ATP-breakdown-is-attenuated-in-EDTA-treated-blood-samples-a-Venous-blood-was-drawn-into_fig7_358421911

The in vitro degradation of ATP proceeded faster in heparinized blood as compared with citrated blood, reaffirming the role of plasma phosphodiesterase(s) in catalyzing this catabolic reaction. Citrate has been shown to chelate metal cations required for this catalytic activity.

Anticancer activities of adenine nucleotides in mice are mediated through expansion of erythrocyte ATP pools - PMC

ATP and AMP exhibit significant anticancer activities against established footpad CT26 colon adenocarcinoma in CB6F1 mice. Adenosine, inorganic phosphate, and inorganic pyrophosphate were without such effects under identical conditions. Daily ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Persej]

ATPases depend on divalent metal ions, including Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Zn²⁺, and we found that depletion of these ions blocked the hydrolysis of ATP and the formation of adenosine in human blood (...)

We added the metal chelator ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to human whole blood as a model to examine the roles of divalent metal ions in the conversion of plasma ATP and the regulation of PMN functions. EDTA added to whole blood resulted in a dose-dependent accumulation of extracellular ATP, which was paralleled by a decrease in plasma adenosine levels (Fig. 9A). These results demonstrate that divalent metal ions are needed to convert extracellular ATP to adenosine, which can be internalized by cells. EDTA concentrations as low as 0.5 mM had a significant impact on ATP hydrolysis in human blood. Interestingly, equivalent EDTA concentrations had little to no effect on the corresponding plasma Ca2+ and Mg2+ levels (Fig. 9B).

Removal of divalent ions with EDTA not only blocked ATP breakdown but also increased the activation of ROS production (Fig. 9C), CD63 expression (Fig. 9D), and CD11b and CD66b expression (data not shown) in response to PMN stimulation. EDTA concentrations of up to 0.5 mM enhanced those PMN responses, while higher EDTA concentrations caused suppression, likely due to complete chelation of free Ca2+ ions (see Fig.9B) that are indispensable for cell activation. Addition of Zn2+ to mouse plasma that had been depleted of divalent ions with EDTA dose dependently recovered ATPase activity (Fig. 9E). These findings support the concept that Zn2+ has a central role as a co-enzyme that helps control ATP levels in mouse plasma. Taken together, these findings suggest that metal ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, and particularly Zn2+ play important roles in the regulation of extracellular ATP and adenosine levels in mouse and human blood.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381959806_Impaired_ATP_hydrolysis_in_blood_plasma_contributes_to_age-related_neutrophil_dysfunction

 

[Kenny McCormick]

I have recently had blood work and looks like I have high numbers for both cholesterol and ferritin. My PA is not thinking the ferritin is overload but a result of inflammation. She is centering on the cholesterol issue for now. She is suggesting I take Ezitimibe as I have refused statins. I think she said I could take red yeast rice with that? I am confused because I think these products work on different organs and wonder if that is safe. I am also concerned after reading most of this thread, that my high ferritin is very concerning. She did not think giving blood would make it lower. In New York one has to have permission from a doctor to give blood if over the age of 76, which I am, but she will give me a slip if I press her for it, I am sure.

Here are the numbers:

Ferritin: 341
Iron: 87
Total iron binding capacity, calculated: 300
TIBC: 29
Unsaturated iron binding capacity: 212.5


LDL:182
HDL: 66
Total: 274
Triglycerides: 143
A1C: 5.9

I know I have to do better with diet, exercise and supplements and will do that. I also have osteoarthritis in my knees, back and hips so it has often been torturous to move the way I know will help. I am tired of feeling old and weak and depressed so any advice is appreciated before I make decisions and take action on her suggestions. thank you

Copper manages iron levels. High iron levels result from copper defficiency.

 

[Persej]

Regarding the trace minerals that is an interesting stuff. The question is if the trace minerals are beneficial, or they tend to interfere with the body functions in some way. Like forming some plaque. The cleaning of the vase or bottle invokes in me cleaning of the body and EDTA surely cleans the body. But it can be interpreted in many ways.

I think that your interpretation could be right. In this topic, the main problem is the accumulation of iron, but when we look at the topic of minerals in general, we can see that many of them have the same issue - they are stuck in wrong places or are not doing what they are supposed to be doing in the body. Now, Weston Price did some interesting experiments with calcium, where he showed that he can manipulate calcium in the body with his activator X, but one wonders if this activator X only influences calcium or perhaps also many other trace minerals? Perhaps all the problems that people have with trace minerals come from the lack of activator X in their diet? And which can be temporarily solved by EDTA?

Speaking about EDTA, it is interesting that EDTA removes a lot of zinc from the body, but very little copper. Perhaps that could explain why some people report energy increase when they take EDTA or copper? Perhaps they have too much zinc or too little copper in their body, which reduces their ATP levels?

https://academic.oup.com/metallomics/article/17/5/mfaf010/8117179

 

[Persej]

However, there is one very, VERY odd thing. Among the many tests I did at the Belgrade clinic was metals and minerals thing. You won't believe it but my iodine was critically LOW! AND, my zinc was critically high! And, despite the fact that I've done numerous rounds of DMSA and EDTA, my mercury was also high.

I don't have an explanation for this considering how long and how much I loaded iodine and continue to take it off and on.

It seems that I was right about zinc.

DMSA and EDTA don't seem to be good for mercury chelation. I don't know how to explain the lack of iodine. Perhaps Laura would benefit from taking blue iodine?