Young Bamboo

Iron and clinical depression

It is an established fact that iron is very essential for neurological functions and development. Iron deficiency is very prevalent all over the world. This deficiency can lead to depressed neurotransmitter response, leading to clinical depression. When iron is not transported from the blood plasma pool to the cerebrospinal fluid, depression can set in.

The Importance Iron Balance

The importance of iron for sustaining good health cannot be underestimated. Lack of iron can lead to exhaustion, clinical depression, vulnerability to viruses, cancer, and various degenerative conditions.

On the other end of the spectrum, excess iron or change in the iron-binding capability leads to a situation where the free unbound iron causes or aggravates all diseases, infections, cancers and toxicities.

Therefore, in our efforts to acquire the right proportion of iron or lose excess iron, we must not overlook the fact that iron must be bound and properly guided through the body from the time of ingestion to excretion.

If we do not pay attention to bind and properly guide iron during the detoxification process, the toxic effects of iron may nullify its various benefits.

It is very difficult to determine the exact iron content in the body, since no test or combination of tests, under any clinical condition, can give us the accurate estimate.

Before laboratory investigations lead us to any conclusion, it must be understood that the results of each laboratory test may be influenced by factors such as infection, inflammation, liver disease and malignancy. Sometimes laboratory tests are inadequate.

Most elements can either donate or accept electrons in order to attain a stable electronic configuration; but iron can both, donate as well as accept electrons.

Due to this ability of iron, it is highly reactive and can be highly toxic. Hydrogen Peroxide in our body readily dismutates in the presence of iron, giving rise to free radicals. Unbound iron speeds up this process of producing free radicals. Free radicals play havoc by damaging cell structures and ultimately killing the cell, resulting in various diseases.

The role of Proteins

Most living organisms bind iron atoms to protein molecules in order to prevent this damage done by unbound iron. This enables them to restrict the damaging action and take advantage of the various benefits offered by iron.

Proteins play an important role in metabolism by speeding up biochemical reactions by their enzymatic action. Enzymes produced due to chronic inflammation, action of free radicals and change in the related subclinical markers cause a breakdown of connective tissue, which holds the body together.

The words protein, peptide and polypeptide tend to be a little confusing. Although they have common characteristics, they are distinct.

Protein is a complete biological molecule with a three dimensional structure, whereas peptide is a finite chain of amino acids which lacks proper structural arrangement. A polypeptide is an infinite chain of amino acids which also lacks a proper structure.

Biochemical screening is a test done to detect the presence of any disease. Such tests have revealed that every degenerative disease results from six subclinical defects, namely, pH imbalance, anaerobic metabolism, free calcium excess, chronic inflammation, connective tissue breakdown and oxidative stress.

Our body metabolism and exposure to pollution gives rise to extremely reactive ions called free radicals. Free radicals are produced due to iron imbalance which indicates that iron is not bound to protein and therefore, is free to cause damage to cells.

Iron deficiency or Copper deficiency?

Acute inflammation is actually a positive sign since it triggers the immune system to fight diseases and withhold iron. This is kept in mind by health professionals while formulating medications for treating cancer, iron deficiency, excessive tiredness, memory loss and depression.

Sometimes tests show that a person has low iron content in blood serum. Prescribing iron supplements may pose a risk because low iron may actually indicate low copper content.

When clinical tests show low serum iron, elevated Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) and low Transferrin Saturation, it could not only mean that there is free iron but also a copper deficiency.

How do we know? Let’s get a little technical. Ceruloplasmin is a copper protein complex found in blood plasma. Ferritin is a protein complex that is found in cells, and it stores iron in soluble and non-toxic form. Transferrin is a blood plasma protein that binds iron tightly and therefore, reduces free iron. Now, Ceruloplasmin takes iron from Ferritin and attaches it to Transferrin. Two molecules of iron can be attached to a single molecule of Transferrin. Therefore, there is a vacancy for two iron molecules on every Transferrin molecule. In a normal person, only 30% of these vacancies get filled. When fewer iron molecules are attached to Transferrin, the TIBC rises. This is an indication of low copper. Since copper is low, it cannot produce Ceruloplasmin and the above-mentioned process of attaching iron to Transferrin cannot take place.

In short, clinical tests that show low iron content in blood serum may actually indicate low copper content. Therefore, prescribing iron supplements may aggravate the condition.

What else does free iron indicate?

Also, when there is free iron, it can mean that there are not enough amino acids. Amino acids are the most abundant neurotransmitters available in the brain. Research has shown that a lack of specific neurotransmitters may induce clinical depression. Antidepressants regulate the action of these neurotransmitters thereby providing relief to the person.

Moving towards the Right Solution

If the above-mentioned factors are studied well, a proper diagnosis and treatment for clinical depression can be arrived at.

The risk of infection, disease and high toxic levels can be reduced once we identify iron imbalance. Thereafter appropriate measures must be taken to restore the iron balance. Therefore we must consider a few factors:

1. Since intestinal mucosa contains Transferrin, it must be well maintained.

2. Protein levels should be optimally maintained.

3. The right balance of aerobic-anaerobic metabolism must be attained. Too much of anaerobic metabolism results of production of toxins and resulting in fatigue, which is a symptom of clinical depression.

4. Overpowering acid stress by maintaining alkalinity

5. Getting rid of toxins and organic solvents that may hinder the iron binding action done by proteins.

6. Individuals who are diagnosed to have free iron should take to a diet rich in whole eggs and cultured dairy products.

7. A proper phlebotomy and testing program must be conducted to monitor iron overload.

Since iron deficiency or excess plays a key role at every step in the diagnosis and treatment of clinical depression, we should be careful to monitor its status in order to avoid the chain of events that are triggered by its imbalance.

Last but not least, a clinical depressed person who snores, needs to address to apply snoring remedies in order to stop the snoring and support their biochemistry.

Racing is the most exciting thing to do. You must love it too, especially when you are still young. With today’s traffic jam, it is hard to do any race today. That is why there is midnight race today. Everybody who wants to get their adrenaline pumped and experience the excitement of a race will gather in the midnight to do some illegal race. Midnight racer is not the same as those legal races you find at the television. It is far shinier if we can put it that way. Their car will look a lot like superstar car. They have great modification and style and their purpose solely only to have fun.

Midnight racer has unique modification. One of the most unique modifications is their wheels and tires. They realize it is the most important part in car. Without a good one, winning will be only a dream. midnight racer need a great performance every night, that is why if you want to be the one, start your car modification now because normal ride won’t make you be anything, not even a participant. Be wise and do the modification before you become the laughing object at the midnight gathering; it won’t be fun that way.

Waking up tired? Tossing and turning at night? Your not alone hundreds of thousands of people suffer from poor sleep everyday. Poor sleep affects their lives, work, and happiness. Fortunately there are effective sleep remedies and medications to help ease your self into a peaceful and refreshing nights sleep. Picking the best sleep medication that suits your needs is essential.

There are a few general categories for sleep aids and medication. Over the counter sleep aids, prescription sleep aids, and natural sleep aids.

Over the counter sleep aids offer a moderate expense for little or no sleep help. These usually contain anti-histamines in them which cause you to become drowsy or drugged up depending on how you view it. They often help moderate cases but lose effectiveness fast and leave the user with undesirable side effects. With these sleep aids the user will wake up the next morning feeling a slight to moderate hangover. Critical thinking is often impaired and in addition they make you feel drowsy the next day.

Prescription sleep aids offer a complete chemical cocktail to induce sleep. They often have moderate results for an expensive price. In addition like over the counter medication these prescriptions often leave you hung over the next day. You can also gain a strong tolerance to these pills. That means you’ll need to take more medication for the same effect.

Natural sleep aids are probably the safest way to combat sleeping problems. Natural sleep aids usually contain herbal supplements like melatonin known to naturally make you more relaxed and lull you into sleep. Sometimes these supplements offer other ingredients which try to relieve stress and anxiety in the user which can often be the cause for poor sleep.

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Mesothelioma occurs when the cells of the mesothelium, a two-layer lining of the internal organs, become abnormal and attack the organ or spread to other parts of the body. There are three malignant types of mesothelioma:

Melatonin is an all natural sleep aide. It’s secreted by the pineal gland, a small pea size gland in the center of the brain, as our eyes register the fall of darkness. At night melatonin is produced to help our bodies regulate our sleep and wake cycles. The amount of melatonin produced by our bodies decreases with age. Scientists believe this may be why young people have less of a problem sleeping than older people will. Though we create our own melatonin, you can also buy a Melatonin supplement at most natural health food shops.

It seems that melatonin supplements make it easier sleep and ease jet lag (for long distant travelers), without the hazards or side effects of prescription and over the counter sleeping pills.

Currently, research is being done to also determine melatonin’s effect as an anti-oxidant. Tests are still being done now because there is much still to be learned about melatonin and its effects on the human body.

It’s been reported that some parents are now offering melatonin to children diagnosed with hyperactivity or autism. Some parents claim the effects of the melatonin has calmed and relaxed anxiety ridden children. While this may be true for some children, it’s not the answer for everyone. Check with your pediatrician before starting any supplement programs with your child.

According to wikipedia.com, melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that can easily cross cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier. Unlike other antioxidants, melatonin does not undergo redox cycling, which is the ability of a molecule to undergo reduction and oxidation repeatedly. Redox cycling may allow other antioxidants, such as vitamin C, to act as pro-oxidants, counter intuitively promoting free radical formation.

Melatonin, once oxidized, cannot be reduced to its former state because it forms several stable end-products upon reacting with free radicals. Therefore, it has been referred to as a terminal (or suicidal) antioxidant.

The only real way to test the effects of supplemental melatonin is to try it. You can buy melatonin at most pharmacies, drug stores, health stores, and just about any store that sells vitamins.

Talk to your doctor about your sleep deprivation problem first!

Before purchasing any supplements, you will want to look into exactly why you feel the need for this particular supplement. Is your lack of sleep just temporary? Has this been going on for a period of time? It is best to speak to a family doctor or naturopathic doctor about your problem with sleeping to rule out any serious problems before considering a melatonin supplement as a cure all.

A cautionary note: chronic use of melatonin supplements may suppress the body’s own production of the hormone. Nobody knows what might happen if you have high natural levels and take a supplement on top of that. Melatonin can interact with other hormones, which is why, in part, pregnant women and children should never take it. Such drugs as aspirin, beta-blockers, and tranquilizers can affect melatonin levels. Finally, nobody knows what the best dosages are to take. Melatonin pills are not standardized. Thus, you really don’t know what you’re swallowing. That’s why you should really consult your doctor before moving forward.

Like many herbal remedies, melatonin is not regulated by Health Canada or the FDA in American. Make sure to talk to your family doctor or your naturopathic doctor before even buying and consuming Melatonin. It might be an herbal remedy, but you can never be too cautious. If you doctor doesn’t approve of you decision of consuming Melatonin, he/she can prescribe a sleeping medication that will be right with your body’s chemistry.

After all, not all bodies are created equal, so no one pill will work for everyone. Talking with your doctor and experimenting with different ideas is the best way to get a great night’s sleep. You may have to try several different things before you find the right solution or combination for your sleeping deprivation problem, but you and your doctor will find what works best for you.

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Trivial findings are immense in the scientific community, especially in the field of oncology. Much emphasis is aimed at building upon previous laboratory discoveries; let’s use the treatment of cancer as a broad example. As many of you know, it is now common to combine independently discovered chemotherapy treatments, with or without radiation and/or surgical intervention. The heart of cancer breakthroughs have stemmed from this methodical combination. In recent news, a new and stirring foundation for future therapeutic combinations has surfaced.

The discovery can be attributed to vigilant scrutiny of biological processes within the tumor cell. The review, in the March issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, focuses on a specialty known as epigenetics. Epigenetics is associated with inheritable disparity in gene expression while retaining the same base sequence of DNA. This essentially allows the cells, while stably maintaining the same DNA sequence, to assume different characteristics. Epigenetics is most commonly associated with x-chromosome inactivation in females, gene silencing, and post-transcriptional modification of amino acids.

Tumor cells are identifiable by numerous intracellular processes. For relevance and simplicity, I will only briefly discuss DNA methylation. Epigenetic processes can be marked by this methylation, which is vital to proper cellular function. Upon observing a metastatic tumor cell, one would find an increasing degree of hypomethylation as the tumor became more invasive. The actual comparison of DNA methylation (normal cells) and hypomethylation (tumor cells) was originally observed in 1983 during the research of colon cancer. Dr. Manel Esteller, who authored the more recent review, explained that the tumor cells were in a DNA methylation paradox depending on the location of the nucleic acid in question. The varying locations of DNA methylation directly contribute to the disturbance of chromosomes, or mutations, and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, hence the abnormal behavior of tumor cells. How can this be related to future treatment options though?

Methylation can actually predict one’s response to therapeutic treatment via protein analyzation. The targeted protein is MGMT, also known as O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, which is known to be significant in DNA repair. Observing MGMT for its degree of methylation allows the scientist a unique look at their prognosis with respect to certain DNA damaging drugs. For example: if MGMT is found to be hypermethylated, one can deduce the benefit of introducing DNA damaging drugs because the tumor cell will not be able to repair the DNA, leading to its death.

In conclusion, epigenetic markers can provide great insight into the potential of certain chemotherapeutic treatments: stepping away from mere protocol steps and into more individualized medicine. After all, it is the building upon minute discoveries and postulated treatments that will lead to the next breakthrough in cancer treatment.

N Eng J Med. 2008;358:1148-1159.