shijing
The Living Force
Note: I've split this from the Endothelial Dysfunction thread since it seems to deserve its own.
I want to give an update since I just had another cardio appointment yesterday and got my bloodwork results back. As it turns out, my cardiologist requested a series of genetic tests for both clotting factor and something called MTHFR. The clotting mutations were negative, but I did test positive for heterozygous MTHFR mutations at the C677T and A1298C locations:
http://mthfr.net/mthfr-c677t-mutation-basic-protocol/2012/02/24/
http://mthfr.net/mthfr-a1298c-mutation-some-information-on-a1298c-mthfr-mutations/2011/11/30/
Since two locations are involved, it puts me in the category of "compound heterozygous", which is significant since the mutations work together synergistically. I've only started researching it, but my understanding at present is that this derails my methylation and BH4 pathways. Part of what's involved is an inefficiency in converting folic acid into methylfolate and 5HTP (or its precursor L-Tryptophan) into serotonin; the combination of these mutations is implicated in cardiovascular disease as well as a number of other autoimmune and degenerative disorders.
This makes sense out of several things in hindsight -- I'm betting that I've inherited this from my dad (who suffers from several things on the list including fibromyalgia, cardiovascular disease and Parkinson's), and have probably passed it on to my daughter. My mom responds normally to both 5HTP and L-Tryptophan, but they have never seemed to have an effect on either me, my dad or my daughter, which would make sense if they're not getting converted into serotonin (or at least not converted efficiently). I'm having my daughter tested the week after next, and have alerted my extended family on my dad's side about my results in case any of them want to get tested as well. This may also explain why I've experienced some ongoing symptoms such as fatigue and anxiety despite doing my best to adhere to the diet and use various supplements.
My doctor's analysis and recommendations are below -- I'm highlighting problematic (from our point of view) areas in blue:
I'm also supposed to retest my endothelial function in 6 months to evaluate my progress. In general, I'm happy about this in the sense that it seems to explain a lot of health issues that have plagued both me and my family members, and gives me a direction to work in actually doing something about them. The sticking points in the treatment plan above (that I've highlighted) revolve around smoking, plant consumption, and the whole pH issue which seems like it's probably bogus. One thing that seems contradictory is that I'm supposed to avoid folic acid, but the green leafy vegetables I'm supposed to eat more of are some of the highest sources of folic acid (they're being included in the above plan for their antioxidants (good) as well as to supposedly bring down my pH (probably irrelevant)).
I want to give an update since I just had another cardio appointment yesterday and got my bloodwork results back. As it turns out, my cardiologist requested a series of genetic tests for both clotting factor and something called MTHFR. The clotting mutations were negative, but I did test positive for heterozygous MTHFR mutations at the C677T and A1298C locations:
http://mthfr.net/mthfr-c677t-mutation-basic-protocol/2012/02/24/
http://mthfr.net/mthfr-a1298c-mutation-some-information-on-a1298c-mthfr-mutations/2011/11/30/
Since two locations are involved, it puts me in the category of "compound heterozygous", which is significant since the mutations work together synergistically. I've only started researching it, but my understanding at present is that this derails my methylation and BH4 pathways. Part of what's involved is an inefficiency in converting folic acid into methylfolate and 5HTP (or its precursor L-Tryptophan) into serotonin; the combination of these mutations is implicated in cardiovascular disease as well as a number of other autoimmune and degenerative disorders.
This makes sense out of several things in hindsight -- I'm betting that I've inherited this from my dad (who suffers from several things on the list including fibromyalgia, cardiovascular disease and Parkinson's), and have probably passed it on to my daughter. My mom responds normally to both 5HTP and L-Tryptophan, but they have never seemed to have an effect on either me, my dad or my daughter, which would make sense if they're not getting converted into serotonin (or at least not converted efficiently). I'm having my daughter tested the week after next, and have alerted my extended family on my dad's side about my results in case any of them want to get tested as well. This may also explain why I've experienced some ongoing symptoms such as fatigue and anxiety despite doing my best to adhere to the diet and use various supplements.
My doctor's analysis and recommendations are below -- I'm highlighting problematic (from our point of view) areas in blue:
Risk factors: endothelial dysfunction, positive MTHFR, elevated cholesterol (because of increased risk of oxidation), elevated levels of uric acid, smoking, high protein diet
Nutritional recommendations:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Adhering to an anti-inflammatory diet -- the Mediterranean diet (high in vegetables and some fruits, fish, small amounts of organic/free-range chicken and meat, use of olive oil and quality fats (nuts and seeds, avocado, coconut oil), very little amounts of sugars and simple carbs.
[*]Maintain hydration for detoxification -- water intake goal is 1/2 of body weight in ounces (avoid caffeine).
[/list]
Supplement recommendations:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Multivitamin (with 5-MTHF)
[*]Digestive enzyme
[*]Fish oil
[*]Medibulk fiber
[*]Probiotic
[*]CoQ10
[*]L-Arginine
[*]Magnesium
[/list]
Lifestyle recommendations:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Eliminate all smoking of tobacco (directly impairs endothelial function)
[*]Exercise (both cardio and resistance)
[*]Test saliva pH first thing each morning and urine pH on second morning sample
[*]Daily stress reduction (meditation, yoga, biofeedback, breathing exercises)
[/list]
I'm also supposed to retest my endothelial function in 6 months to evaluate my progress. In general, I'm happy about this in the sense that it seems to explain a lot of health issues that have plagued both me and my family members, and gives me a direction to work in actually doing something about them. The sticking points in the treatment plan above (that I've highlighted) revolve around smoking, plant consumption, and the whole pH issue which seems like it's probably bogus. One thing that seems contradictory is that I'm supposed to avoid folic acid, but the green leafy vegetables I'm supposed to eat more of are some of the highest sources of folic acid (they're being included in the above plan for their antioxidants (good) as well as to supposedly bring down my pH (probably irrelevant)).