Calcium
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Thanks, it's been a crazy morning over here
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What I (think I) know about calcium:
Calcium comes from the diet. Absorption is enhanced by vitamin D. That Enhancement is inhibited by vitamin A. Vitamin K2 helps with utilization, specifically putting the calcium into the teeth and bones, as opposed to kidney stones.
Blood calcium levels are influenced by the process above, and if they go too low, PTH (parathyroid hormone) makes you pull calcium from your bones to keep things stable.
Calcium flows from the bloodstream into cells, through calcium ion channels. In order to regulate things, magnesium and taurine are calcium channel blockers. In magnesium deficiency, taurine production is ramped up - but magnesium is preferred. (Taurine is a sulfur amino acid from transsulfuration that could otherwise be turned into sulfate for detox.) Glutamate holds those channels open, so presumably GABA helps close them?
Calcium flowing into cells turns processes on - like keratin production (when enough cysteine is present) and mucous production (when enough sulfate is present). Calcium is also used in muscle contraction, so signs of high calcium can include muscle cramps and tiptoeing.
for more info:
A/D/K relationship
high calcium in ASD
mag/taurine
glutamate/GABA
glutamate sensitivity
hypercalcemia
What I (think I) know about calcium:
Calcium comes from the diet. Absorption is enhanced by vitamin D. That Enhancement is inhibited by vitamin A. Vitamin K2 helps with utilization, specifically putting the calcium into the teeth and bones, as opposed to kidney stones.
Blood calcium levels are influenced by the process above, and if they go too low, PTH (parathyroid hormone) makes you pull calcium from your bones to keep things stable.
Calcium flows from the bloodstream into cells, through calcium ion channels. In order to regulate things, magnesium and taurine are calcium channel blockers. In magnesium deficiency, taurine production is ramped up - but magnesium is preferred. (Taurine is a sulfur amino acid from transsulfuration that could otherwise be turned into sulfate for detox.) Glutamate holds those channels open, so presumably GABA helps close them?
Calcium flowing into cells turns processes on - like keratin production (when enough cysteine is present) and mucous production (when enough sulfate is present). Calcium is also used in muscle contraction, so signs of high calcium can include muscle cramps and tiptoeing.
for more info:
A/D/K relationship
high calcium in ASD
mag/taurine
glutamate/GABA
glutamate sensitivity
hypercalcemia
I think we're looking at high glutamate - I fit a lot of the symptoms at the heartfixer link above - causing magnesium deficiency (chocolate cravings), and increasing demand for taurine.
This redirection of taurine creates a deficiency of other sulfur stuff, and sequesters what is available into things like hair, nails and skin/keratosis pilaris (keratin/cysteine) and mucous (sulfate) instead of into detox pathways like glutathione and sulfation. (As an aside, I wonder if this is part of why milk causes congestion in some people - it spikes blood calcium levels?)
Then there's a deficiency of cysteine to make more taurine, and so the calcium channels stay open and I crave sulfur foods and chocolate. A fun loop.
I think the cause of my (assumed) high glutamate is high ammonia (not tested, but I have the appropriate MTHFR genes and low BH4 symptoms that respond to folate) and high alpha-ketoglutarate (due in part to low coA (known adrenal issues) creating a block in kreb's cycle). The two combine in the brain to make glutamate.
This redirection of taurine creates a deficiency of other sulfur stuff, and sequesters what is available into things like hair, nails and skin/keratosis pilaris (keratin/cysteine) and mucous (sulfate) instead of into detox pathways like glutathione and sulfation. (As an aside, I wonder if this is part of why milk causes congestion in some people - it spikes blood calcium levels?)
Then there's a deficiency of cysteine to make more taurine, and so the calcium channels stay open and I crave sulfur foods and chocolate. A fun loop.
I think the cause of my (assumed) high glutamate is high ammonia (not tested, but I have the appropriate MTHFR genes and low BH4 symptoms that respond to folate) and high alpha-ketoglutarate (due in part to low coA (known adrenal issues) creating a block in kreb's cycle). The two combine in the brain to make glutamate.
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Ideas on how someone (me
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) could drink 1/2 gallon of raw goat milk a day and have low blood calcium? My Spectracell analysis back in September revealed that. I guess since the OAT didn't give any calcium clues I must be good now though. Of course, I drink 1/2 gallon of nutrient tea daily... all those nettles are doing their job!
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The only path I know of to look down is vitamin D. If that's not it, I wonder if it could have something to do with the kidneys?
Originally Posted by mtn.mama  Ideas on how someone (me
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MtnMama, I've been wondering if a Spectracell for me, maybe at the end of this year (enough time before April of next year to hopefully correct whatever's still wrong) would be helpful. Was it in general helpful? I really should focus on my immediate situation and not so far out, but thinking of this stuff is happy and hopeful, and less dreary than figuring out how to cook grain-free (though I think that will be rewarding, after I figure it out).
I really need to stop and read all the links whoMe included near the top, and maybe make a checklist for each of us, since my husband is so different than the rest of us. But I want to figure out this calcium thing, it's odd (and since it seems to be warming up again, the vitD creation will be picking up around here).
I really need to stop and read all the links whoMe included near the top, and maybe make a checklist for each of us, since my husband is so different than the rest of us. But I want to figure out this calcium thing, it's odd (and since it seems to be warming up again, the vitD creation will be picking up around here).
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I did find the Spectracell Analysis helpful. It was very clear about where I was deficient compared to "normal", whatever that is.
The Integrative MD that I'm seeing now doesn't care for the Spectracell. He prefers the OAT, because instead of comparing you to everyone else- it tells you how your body is functioning with the nutrients that it has at hand.
This said, I've gotten useful info from both. And of course, from the DDI stool test, which ID'ed the specific strain of abx resistant bacteria that I'm fighting- and it told me which herbs would work and which wouldn't.
(Warning: about to jump off thread... Tanya, since you're one of the BTDT metals gurus... if there were heavy metals in my spring water- which I've been drinking almost exclusively for 14 years- would they show up in urine porphyrin test? The ND wanted me to do a DMSA provocation but my crystal said no. The porphyrin test came back clean. Should I still wonder about my mountain water, which tastes better than any other water under the sun?)
The Integrative MD that I'm seeing now doesn't care for the Spectracell. He prefers the OAT, because instead of comparing you to everyone else- it tells you how your body is functioning with the nutrients that it has at hand.
This said, I've gotten useful info from both. And of course, from the DDI stool test, which ID'ed the specific strain of abx resistant bacteria that I'm fighting- and it told me which herbs would work and which wouldn't.
(Warning: about to jump off thread... Tanya, since you're one of the BTDT metals gurus... if there were heavy metals in my spring water- which I've been drinking almost exclusively for 14 years- would they show up in urine porphyrin test? The ND wanted me to do a DMSA provocation but my crystal said no. The porphyrin test came back clean. Should I still wonder about my mountain water, which tastes better than any other water under the sun?)
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I should do that too
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Originally Posted by TanyaLopez I really need to stop and read all the links whoMe included near the top, and maybe make a checklist for each of us, since my husband is so different than the rest of us. But I want to figure out this calcium thing, it's odd (and since it seems to be warming up again, the vitD creation will be picking up around here). |
I haven't looked deeply into urine porphyrin testing, Ellasmom may know more.
What I think is, a urine porphyrin test should tell you if you have enough of several heavy metals (I think it's more than just mercury, but I haven't focused as much there), then your body will start maladapting in such a way as to show up on the test. So it's not so much a matter of what the source is, it's whether it's hanging around in your body causing trouble.
Your urine porphyrin test came back fine? Did they send it off to France? I hear many labs aren't reliable, but there's one in France that is (Ellasmom would know which one, it's where they're sending Ella's urine sample).
That said--can you just test the water? I'm guessing that's more complicated than I'm thinking? Or do you think something changed, so that the water was suspect in the past but now is good?
Or are you wondering if another source of metals may exist? Your low glutathione isn't great (from your OAT), do you think that's just dietary?
Hair is so nice because it's so non-invasive. I don't know how to interpret DMSA provocation tests, and I guess they scare me because I'm using DMSA very specifically, and carefully, to pull out metals. It scares me to take a whole lot at once and then just let the chips fall where they may, in terms of resettling.
Do you know what, specifically, he's looking for? Does he want to focus on particular metals (or figure out if it's A or B), or he thinks there's something big that's been the underlying cause of the gut dysbiosis?
What I think is, a urine porphyrin test should tell you if you have enough of several heavy metals (I think it's more than just mercury, but I haven't focused as much there), then your body will start maladapting in such a way as to show up on the test. So it's not so much a matter of what the source is, it's whether it's hanging around in your body causing trouble.
Your urine porphyrin test came back fine? Did they send it off to France? I hear many labs aren't reliable, but there's one in France that is (Ellasmom would know which one, it's where they're sending Ella's urine sample).
That said--can you just test the water? I'm guessing that's more complicated than I'm thinking? Or do you think something changed, so that the water was suspect in the past but now is good?
Or are you wondering if another source of metals may exist? Your low glutathione isn't great (from your OAT), do you think that's just dietary?
Hair is so nice because it's so non-invasive. I don't know how to interpret DMSA provocation tests, and I guess they scare me because I'm using DMSA very specifically, and carefully, to pull out metals. It scares me to take a whole lot at once and then just let the chips fall where they may, in terms of resettling.
Do you know what, specifically, he's looking for? Does he want to focus on particular metals (or figure out if it's A or B), or he thinks there's something big that's been the underlying cause of the gut dysbiosis?
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IDK. At that time, the ND was helping me try to rule out some causal factors for our whole allergy syndrome. I'm thinking I should go ahead with the hair test, at least for Taslyn and see what it shows. Then I'll know better if my amalgams from childhood are overtly harming us.
As for the low glutathione... doesn't kale boost glutathione? I've been eating a case a month since the beginning of January. Doesn't seem like it would be dietary. I'm still investigating this lead. I'd only been using NAC and lipoic acid for about 6 weeks when I was tested- so maybe I'm still headed in the right direction... just early on the path?
Back to our water... I drink water from a handdug spring. I tested it for things like iron and copper and nitrites and nitrates and something else... IDK. It occurred to me recently to investigate it. And then my husband brought it up. And then a neighbor brought it up. So I'm investigating. Oh. I know what caught my eye on the test... the pH is low, like a 5-6.
As for the low glutathione... doesn't kale boost glutathione? I've been eating a case a month since the beginning of January. Doesn't seem like it would be dietary. I'm still investigating this lead. I'd only been using NAC and lipoic acid for about 6 weeks when I was tested- so maybe I'm still headed in the right direction... just early on the path?
Back to our water... I drink water from a handdug spring. I tested it for things like iron and copper and nitrites and nitrates and something else... IDK. It occurred to me recently to investigate it. And then my husband brought it up. And then a neighbor brought it up. So I'm investigating. Oh. I know what caught my eye on the test... the pH is low, like a 5-6.
Are you taking lipoic acid now? Um, that's a huge mobilizer of heavy metals. You've been seeing ups and downs in good foods, could that be related to this?
Glutathione can be low if you're low in zinc or selenium, and I surely was, for me the mercury depleted them. I always need to check on the other things involved because those have been so big for me. And I don't know how long it would take to make a change that would be seen in testing, I've done very little testing so far, that's why I'm asking you about stuff like OAT and Spectracell, because at some point I may want something more concrete that says I'm doing okay, or I have some things to still work on. It's hard to visualize how things will be so far out.
Testing the water is probably a good idea, just to know. I've always been on city water, so I haven't had to figure out how to test and what to test.
Glutathione can be low if you're low in zinc or selenium, and I surely was, for me the mercury depleted them. I always need to check on the other things involved because those have been so big for me. And I don't know how long it would take to make a change that would be seen in testing, I've done very little testing so far, that's why I'm asking you about stuff like OAT and Spectracell, because at some point I may want something more concrete that says I'm doing okay, or I have some things to still work on. It's hard to visualize how things will be so far out.
Testing the water is probably a good idea, just to know. I've always been on city water, so I haven't had to figure out how to test and what to test.
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Oh no! I'll see if I still have the printout version I made (or if I gave it to my doctor) Do you want the glutamate stuff, or other stuff too?
Originally Posted by TanyaLopez Dangit! The heartfixer.com site expired on 4/3 my webpage says, and it's waiting for renewal. This is no fair! |
I know I don't understand glutamate and GABA, I think that's the big one at the moment. I've had that methylation page open for a while, I keep looking it over, but it's going to take longer for me to figure it out, though I think I should given the changes I think I'm seeing with our B12 supp (and so quickly, which didn't used to be normal for us). I am going to focus on the making-improvements side of this, and not dwell on the more disturbing aspects.
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What do you all think about this...
http://www.biology-online.org/articl...s_uncover.html
I had seen this awhile back, and some light dawned on me regarding skin issues and calcium utilization. I suppose this could apply to both external skin and mucosal/intestinal skin. Hmmm.
http://www.biology-online.org/articl...s_uncover.html
I had seen this awhile back, and some light dawned on me regarding skin issues and calcium utilization. I suppose this could apply to both external skin and mucosal/intestinal skin. Hmmm.
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How is your magnesium intake? Are/were you getting enough?
I was fighting cold sores for months and finally asked my AAT doc and he suggested possible calcium deficience(lysine wasn't helping much). I told him I consume plenty of dairy products, and he reminded me that without magnesium, your body can't absorb the calcium and put it to use. On my very limited diet in the last 10 months or so, I doubt I was getting enough magnesium.
I immediately got a cal/mag supplement and started taking it (almost) every day and have had no more problems with cold sores!
So, there must be *something* to this calcium thing(not that I doubted you guys, it's just that I only recently stumbled upon that link!).
Originally Posted by mtn.mama Ideas on how someone (me
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I was fighting cold sores for months and finally asked my AAT doc and he suggested possible calcium deficience(lysine wasn't helping much). I told him I consume plenty of dairy products, and he reminded me that without magnesium, your body can't absorb the calcium and put it to use. On my very limited diet in the last 10 months or so, I doubt I was getting enough magnesium.
I immediately got a cal/mag supplement and started taking it (almost) every day and have had no more problems with cold sores!
So, there must be *something* to this calcium thing(not that I doubted you guys, it's just that I only recently stumbled upon that link!).
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Ok, I am not going to pretend i understand any of this, but FOR ME, I could just tell my vitamin D supps (4000IU/day for over a month and a half) made my calcium go up, resulting in kidney probs that I'm still dealing with (hematuria)
again, waiting for my brain to kick in to try to 'get' the other stuff, but thought I'd throw that out there. (I'm off my supps for a few days so I can do my pyroluria test. yikes)
again, waiting for my brain to kick in to try to 'get' the other stuff, but thought I'd throw that out there. (I'm off my supps for a few days so I can do my pyroluria test. yikes)
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I'm finally cleaning up (friends coming over for dinner) and found the article! No time now, but I can definitely hook you up
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Originally Posted by TanyaLopez I know I don't understand glutamate and GABA, I think that's the big one at the moment. I've had that methylation page open for a while, I keep looking it over, but it's going to take longer for me to figure it out, though I think I should given the changes I think I'm seeing with our B12 supp (and so quickly, which didn't used to be normal for us). I am going to focus on the making-improvements side of this, and not dwell on the more disturbing aspects. |
I'm finally cleaning up (friends coming over for dinner) and found the article! No time now, but I can definitely hook you up
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