AUSTRALIAN NATUROPATHIC NETWORK
 Serving the community since 1998

The following lists certain disease states and Vitamin and Mineral deficiencies that can be associated with the condition. Clicking on the condition will take the reader to an explanation for the association of the particular vitamin/mineral deficiency.

Note! This paper only suggests possible links to vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Treatment of any medical condition should be referred to a primary health care provider.

How the Vitamin / Mineral functions within the disorder.

Dementia - This is a chronic or persistant disorder of the mental processes due to organic brain disease. Can be characterised by personality disintegration, confusion, disorientation, reduced intellectual capacity and impairment of the control of memory (there are many other features).

Vitamin B1- normal functioning of the nervous system- prod. of action potentials & acetyl choline.

Vitamin B3- It’s active forms NADP & NAD coenzymes are needed for more than 200 reactions in the body. Vasodilation , cellular respiration & biosynthesis.

Vitamin B12- Essential for the functioning of all cells; DNA & RNA formation; functional integrity of myelin sheath; formation of healthy RBC’s.

Vitamin B13 -Synthesis of bases for RNA & DNA.

Vitamin C -Neurotransmitter production- serotonin and dopamine; increases cyclic AMP; nec. for conversion of folate to folacin; works with Vit. E as antioxidant; detoxifies body.

Manganese-Production of Dopamine; Role in brain function- stim. cAMP & regulating role in action of several neurotransmitters; pituitary function.

Zinc- Foetal N.S. development; structure of myelin sheath; pineal gland & hippocampus.

Smelly Feet - Unpleasant odour of the feet.

Silica- Mucopolysaccharide functions- regulation of metabolites and water in connective tissue.

Intermittent claudication - is a cramping pain, induced by exercise and relieved by rest, that is caused by inadequate supply of blood to the affected muscles.

Vitamin B12- RBC production & haem production (oxygen carrying to the cells).

Vitamin E- Capillary dilation & increased collateral circulation.

Calcium- Initiates skeletal muscle contraction; need to neutralise lactate buildup in athletes.

Magnesium- Muscle relaxation; prevents arterial spasm; function in normal nerve irritability by decreasing the sensitivity of motor end plates to acetyl choline.

Cheilosis - Swollen, cracked, bright red lips. A common symptom of B2 def.

Vitamin B2- Necessary for cellular growth; acts with Vit A in helping maintain the health of mucous membranes & integrity of the epithelial tissue.

Vitamin B9- Methylation reactions - nec. for all rapidly dividing tissues; RBC production- thus oxygen & nutrients to tissues.

Conjunctivitis - Inflammation of the conjunctiva, which becomes red and swollen and produces a watery or pus-containing discharge.

Vitamin A- maintains all skin, mucous membranes, epithelial membranes; immune function, decreases sensitivity to pollutants, membrane integrity, increases lymphocytes, increases resistance to infection and cancer.

Vitamin B2- acts with Vit A in maintaining mucous membranes and integrity of epithelial tissue.

Muscle Twitching - Excessive muscle contraction.

Magnesium- decreases the sensitivity of motor end plates to acetyl choline (defic. causes "over-excitability").

Scalloped Tongue - raised, wavey edges (margins) of tongue.

Vitamin B3- cellular respiration and biosynthesis; necessary for the conversion of retinol to retinal (thus Vit A; skin)

Herpes zoster (shingles) - is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox. Following an attack of chickenpox, the virus lays dormant in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord. Characterised by painful skin eruptions.

Vitamin A -maintains all skin, mucous membranes, epithelial membranes; immune function, decreases sensitivity to pollutants, membrane integrity, increases lymphocytes, increases resistance to infection and cancer; maintenance of myelin sheath along which virus travels and inflames.

Vitamin B1- normal functioning of the nervous system- prod. of action potentials & acetyl choline.

Zinc- important function of the thymus gland (immune system); production of retinol binding protein (thus Vit A prod., thus skin etc).

Morning Sickness - Nausea and vomiting occurring during early pregnancy. Impaired liver function has been evident in pregnant women due to the increased hormonal activity. The extra workload for the liver congests it’s function. Thus, toxic substances circulating causes nausea and vomiting.

Vitamin B6- improves liver function.

Psoriasis - A chronic skin disease in which itchy scaly pink patches form on the elbows, knees, scalp, and other parts of the body. Cause unknown.

Vitamin A -maintains all skin, mucous membranes, epithelial membranes; immune function, decreases sensitivity to pollutants, membrane integrity, increases lymphocytes, increases resistance to infection and cancer; integrity of cell walls; directs proliferation and differentiation regulator in cells via DNA and RNA.

Sulphur- Muccopolysaccharides, an essential part of connective tissue- strength and elasticity- important for body structure, intracellular ground substance, cell coat; detoxifying compounds.

Night Blindness - The inability to see in dim light or at night. It is due to a disorder of the cells in the retina that are responsible for vision in dim light and can result from dietary deficiency of Vitamin A.

Vitamin A- Regeneration of rhodopsin the visual purple pigment involved in accommodation.

Zinc- In high concentration in the retina and lens; action unknown; decreased zinc> direct vision painful, difficulty adjusting to bright lights.

Splitting Nails - Finger nails Split

Silica- Mucopolysaccharide functions- nail growth; forms a structural part of collagen; gives strength.

Iodine- Cell differentiation and growth; maintenance of skin and hair; stabilises and controls most biochemical reactions.

Sulphur- Part of the three S- containing a.a.s - methionine, cysteine and cystine; Muccopolysaccharides, an essential part of connective tissue- strength and elasticity- important for body structure, intracellular ground substance, cell coat.

XS Mn- abnormalities in bone and cartilage- retard growth ( especially hair and nails).

Varicose Veins - veins that are distended, lengthened and tortuous. Dilated with incompetent valves.

B Complex- Maintenance of strong blood vessels and protection against capillary fragility.

Vitamin C- Formation of collagen used in blood vessel walls; removes calcium out of tissues and keeps it in solution to prevent atheromas adhering to blood vessel wall; antioxidant to prevent free radical damage to vessels.

Bioflavonoids- Blood vessel strengthener; increases capillary resistance; aids with absorption and utilisation of Vitamin C.

Vitamin E- Blood vessel dilator; improves circulation and venous return; prevents clots and blockages; antiprothrombic.

Hypothyroidism - Reduced activity of the thyroid gland.

Copper- Needed to convert T3 to T4.

Vitamin C- Increases cell production and action of hormones and stabilises thyroxine.

Iodine- Part of thyroid hormones.

XS Calcium- Sedative; decreases basal metabolic rate.

Burning Feet - A neurologic disorder characterised by symptoms of a burning sensation in the soles of the foot.

Vitamin B1- normal functioning of the nervous system- prod. of action potentials & acetyl choline.

Vitamin B5- Synthesis of the myelin sheath; synthesis of acetyl choline.

Vitamin B2- Needed for tryptophan (a.a for N.S.), B1 B6 for B3 production.

Wakefulness & Vivid Dreams - sleeplessness or insomnia; (of light or colour) bright, intense.

XS B6

Cramps - Prolonged painful contraction of a muscle.

Vitamin B6- Helps form co-enzyme A-need B6 to activate B5; involved in the Na/K pump; magnesium dependent.

Vitamin C- Neurotransmitter production- serotonin and dopamine; increases cyclic AMP; nec. for conversion of folate to folacin; takes Ca out of tissues and keeps it in solution.

Calcium-Initiates skeletal muscle contraction; sedative to nervous system.

Magnesium- decreases the sensitivity of motor end plates to acetyl choline (defic. causes "over-excitability").

XS Ar- retards several oxidation/ reduction systems.

Angina Pectoris - Pain in the centre of the chest, which is induced by exercise and relieved by rest and may spread to the jaws and arms. It occurs when the demand for blood by the heart exceeds the supply of the coronary arteries.

Vitamin C- Maturation of RBCs and release of Fe from ferritin- transport of O2 and nutrients to cardiac cells; adrenal cortex production of corticosteroids- mineralocorticoids- fluid balance- blood volume and blood pressure- hypertension; decreases cholesterol- decreased VLDLs- decreased atheromas (cause of reduction of blood from coronary arteries); takes Ca out of tissues and keeps it in solution to prevent atheromas in vessels.

Chromium- Synthesis of fatty acids, TGs and cholesterol- VLDLs- atheromas; component of GTF & maintenance of normal blood sugar levels- decreases blood viscosity- decreases formation of atheromas.

Vitamin B12- Essential for functioning of all cells.

Vitamin B13 -Lipid metabolism- decreases TGs and cholesterol

Vitamin B15- Oxygen sparing effect, promotes cellular respiration, decreases hypoxia.

Magnesium- Muscle relaxation by restricting Ca re-entry into cell- dilates arteries and prevents arterial spasm.

Epilepsy - A disorder of brain function characterised by recurrent seizures that have sudden onset. Caused by an uncontrolled electrical discharge from the nerve cells of the cerebral cortex.

Vitamin B9- Choline synthesis; synthesis of noradrenaline; helps to metabolise some of the long chain fatty acids in the brain.

Magnesium- decreases the sensitivity of motor end plates to acetyl choline (defic. causes "over-excitability").

Zinc- Foetal N.S. development; structure of myelin sheath; pineal gland & hippocampus which controls pituitary- secretion of hormones.

Calcium- Normal irritability of nerves; coenzyme to acetylcholine esterase- destroys acetyl choline; allows nerves to return to resting phase after action potential by decreasing permeability of the membrane to Na.; need Ca to trigger release of various substances e.g. hormones , neurotransmitters.

Hyperthyroidism - An excess of glucose in the bloodstream .It may occur in a variety of diseases, most commonly in diabetes mellitus, due to insufficient insulin in the blood and excessive intake of carbohydrates.

XS B3- Metabolism of carbohydrates (overstimmulation).