Metabolic Correction: a Functional Explanation of Orthomolecular Medicine
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JOM Volume 27, Number 1, 2012 Viewpoint Article 13 Metabolic Correction: A Functional Explanation of Orthomolecular Medicine Michael J. Gonzalez, DSc, PhD, FACN;1 Jorge R. Miranda Massari, PharmD2 1 Corresponding author, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, RECNAC 2 Project, School of Public Health, Dept. Human Development, Nutrition Program, GPO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 00936, Email: [email protected]; 2 University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, School of Pharmacy, Dept Pharmacy Practice Abstract Vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients take critical roles in a wide variety of highly complex and integrated cellular processes in human biochemistry. !e rate and extent of the enzy- matic activity that determines these processes depend on the bioavailability of these micronutrients. !e healthy state where optimal (maximum) functioning, health and wellbeing is achieved; may be attained by metabolic optimization. !is state is achieved when we facilitate the metabolism to reach full velocity and completion of reactions which can be considered the optimal metabolic equilibrium. A combination of genetic makeup, diet, trauma, diseases, toxins and environmental stressors among others are conditions that will often elevate the demand of nutrients in order to achieve the optimal metabolic equilibrium. Metabolic Correction is a functional biochemical/physiological concept that explains how improvements in cellular biochemistry help the body achieve metabolic or physiological optimization. Brilliant minds such as Roger J. Williams, Linus C. Pauling, Je"rey Bland and Bruce N. Ames have contributed in a fundamental way to our understanding of the importance of micro- nutrients to attain the healthy state. !e Metabolic Correction concept becomes important since our food is decreasing in nutritional value; diseases increase the demand for nutrients and medications can deplete nutrients. !ese nutrient insu#ciencies are causing enormous cost due to increased mor- bidity and mortality. In summary, Metabolic Correction increases enzymatic function that enhances biological functions contributing to better health and wellbeing. Origin of the Problem is commonly ignored and not fully appreci- Maximum or optimal health requires ated is the essential role that various min- metabolic harmony. !e multiplicity of criti- erals play in human biochemistry. Critical cal functions of vitamins, minerals and other enzymes require such metals as copper, zinc, nutrients at the cellular level, and especially manganese, selenium, etc. as an integral part their role as cofactors in enzyme reactions of their molecular structure or mechanism that protect genes from mutations and re- of action. Enzymes play a critical role in pair gene damage is probably unrecognized regulating and orchestrating the rates of the or unappreciated by most health profession- multitude of biochemical reactions that take als. It can be argued that the true impor- place in living organisms. tance of vitamins in human biochemistry is Metabolic nutrition is generally recog- far from fully elucidated, simply due to the nized as the study of how diet and nutri- high complexity of cellular processes. What tion a"ect the body’s metabolism. Nutrition 14 Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Vol 27, No 1, 2012 in general is a very complex science but its production of immune system components importance is relatively easy to understand. and neurological chemicals. When there is a Aside from starvation there are three levels lack of synergistic components of the meta- of nutrition: poor, fair, and good. Poor nutri- bolic network, an array of negative metabolic tion brings severe underdevelopment to the repercussions arise, eventually leading to loss young as well as de#ciency diseases such as of healthy physiological equilibrium and the beriberi, scurvy, pellagra, rickets, kwashior- acceleration of degenerative diseases. kor and all the ill de#ned combinations and variations of these a$ictions.1 Fair nutrition Metabolic Correction is good enough to prevent the well-de#ned !e Metabolic Correction concept pro- de#ciencies, but not good enough to pro- vides the biochemical elucidation of the mote good health and proper development. utilization of nutrients for preventive and !is mediocre nutrition is unfortunately the therapeutic purposes against disease. Meta- kind which we have been taught to regard as bolic Correction is a functional biochemi- satisfactory.1 Good nutrition is the one that cal/physiological concept that explains how provides not only the needed energy but high improvements in cellular biochemistry help quality protein, carbohydrates and fats; in the body achieve metabolic or physiological addition to the necessary vitamins and min- optimization. Impaired or incomplete cellu- erals. !e concept of a balanced diet was de- lar biochemical reactions are amended with veloped to prevent de#ciency diseases based Metabolic Correction. on the knowledge that an appropriate mix- ture of food items will provide the minimum The History of Metabolic Correction requirements of the nutrients needed by the Brilliant and incredibly knowledgeable body. We should be aware that this suppos- pioneers provided the groundbreaking basis edly good nutrition may not be enough for of what we call Metabolic Correction. !eir physiological optimization leading to excel- innovative scienti#c contributions have sub- lent health. We should acknowledge that stantially advanced our understanding of food alone may not provide su%cient micro- molecular nutritional biochemistry, and es- nutrients for preventing de#ciency.2 pecially how it can in&uence the pathological Inadequate dietary intakes of vitamins or disease state. and minerals are widespread, most likely due In 1947, Dr. Roger J. Williams, contrib- to excessive consumption of calorie-rich, nu- uted to the evolution of the molecular origin trient poor, re#ned food. Sub-optimal intake of disease with the development of the con- of micronutrients often accompanies caloric cept of “Biochemical Individuality,” which excess. !ese inadequate intakes may result refers to the di"ering nutritional needs for in metabolic disruptions.3 Episodic short- optimal function among di"erent people.4 ages of micronutrients were common dur- He also described anatomical and physi- ing evolution. Natural selection favours short ological variations among people, and how term (emergency) survival at the expense of these impacted their disease susceptibility long term health.3 Short term survival was and nutritional requirements. achieved by allocating scarce micronutrients “Molecular Medicine” was a term used by triage.3 As micronutrients become scarce, by two-time Nobel laureate in chemistry and a triage mechanism for allocating scarce mi- peace, Dr. Linus C. Pauling, in his landmark cronutrients is activated. !is triage means, article on the mechanism of the cause of sickle prioritization of the use of relatively scarce nu- cell anaemia published in 1949.5 He de#ned a trients to the most fundamental life preserving new perspective on the origin of disease based functions. In metabolic reactions, enzymes in- upon the recognition that speci#c gene muta- volved in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) syn- tions can create an altered molecular environ- thesis would be favoured over deoxyribonucle- ment, which therefore modi#ed physiological ic acid (DNA) repair enzymes; as well as the function associated with speci#c diseases. Metabolic Correction: A Functional Explanation of Orthomolecular Medicine 15 In 1950, Williams also coined the term ni#cant genetic variability and diseases such “Genetotrophic Disease” to describe dis- as atherosclerosis, cancer, schizophrenia or eases which resulted from genetically deter- depression are associated with speci#c bio- mined nutritional metabolic needs not being chemical abnormalities which are causal or met by the individual, and which result in contributing factors of the illness. 6 poor gene expression. Patients with gene- Dr. Je"rey S. Bland created the concept totrophic conditions have increased needs of “Functional Medicine” in 1991, which is of one or more nutrients in order to achieve a form of personalized medicine that deals normal physiologic functioning. !ese con- with primary prevention and underlying ditions respond favourably when enough of causes, rather than only the symptoms, of the required nutrients are provided. Many serious chronic diseases. Functional medi- chronic diseases can be conceived as subtle cine is anchored by an examination of core genetotrophic diseases, as long as nutri- clinical imbalances that underlie various dis- ent supplementation #lls a metabolic need ease conditions. !ose imbalances arise from to improve a patient’s condition. With this environmental inputs, such as diet, nutrients concept, Williams opened the eyes of the (including air and water), toxins, exercise, and research and medical communities that ex- trauma together with a unique set of genetic pression of genes and therefore phenotypic predispositions, attitudes, psychological stress function was modi#able through altered diet and beliefs. !e core clinical imbalances that and nutritional status. He pointed out that arise from malfunctions include: hormonal human biochemical variation in function and neurotransmitter; oxidation-reduction was much greater than nutrition and medi- and mitochondropathy; detoxi#cation and cine recognized prior to his publications. biotransformation; immune; in&ammatory; !e need for essential