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Minimal and Essential Nutrients

Description

Minimal and Essential Nutrients is excellent when a one a day vitamin/mineral is needed. Minimal and Essential has all the necessary nutrients without the bulking agents of calcium and magnesium.

Minimal and essential nutrients should be used daily as a multiple vitamin/mineral support. A separate calcium/magnesium supplement should be taken to meet daily minimum requirements.

Packed with a powerhouse of essential vitamins and minerals, minimal and essential nutients provide a comprehensive answer to full nutritional support in a convenient one a day program. Minimal and essential nutrients provide high amounts of the antioxidant nutrients, i.e. vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, and betatene. All the major vitamins and minerals are included except for calcium and magnesium. Calcium and magnesium are bulking minerals and take up room in a capsule. For those individuals who take a separate calcium/magnesium supplement, minimal and essential nutrients is the easy and convenient way to go. Minimal and essential nutrients include all your B vitamins and your important minerals in elemental form, including zinc, manganese, copper, chromium and selenium. The high concentration of nutrients makes this an ideal choice for anyone looking for a "one a day", convenient multi vitamin and mineral.

Vitamin A is necessary for the growth and repair of the body, especially epithelial (i.e. skin and organ linings) and mucus surfaces (i.e. lungs, gastrointestinal tract, etc. which harbor the antibodies known as, "secretory IgA," a necessary "first defense" component of the immune system. Vitamin A also prompts secretion of gastric juices which are necessary for proper digestion of proteins. Vitamin A aids in the manufacturing of healthy red blood cells (RBCs), in the healing process, and is important in proper cellular reproduction. Vitamin A supports the immune system - supplementary treatment of vitamin A is reported to protect cells and enhance antibody formation (B cells) and T cell formation.

B-vitamins help give us the energy to function. They are known as the, "catalytic spark plugs" of the body; they catalyze many biochemical reactions because of their role as coenzymes. They provide energy by converting carbohydrates into glucose, and are vital in the metabolism of fats and proteins. Biotin is an example of a water-soluble B-vitamin.

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant which protects all cells, regenerates other antioxidants such as vitamin E, and guards against the increased production of free radicals (which damage cells). It has a powerful ability to detoxify heavy metals. Vitamin C is a cofactor in numerous biochemical reactions, including collagen synthesis. Vitamin C is greatly involved in many aspects of the immune system, such as healing wounds, forming red blood cells, (RBCs), fighting bacterial infections, enhancing white blood cell (WBC) production, reducing inflammation and aiding in phagocytosis (digestion of damaged, dead or foreign cells). Suboptimal vitamin C intake can result in impaired digestion, poor circulation, increased infection, and slow wound healing.

Vitamin D increases the absorption of calcium. In addition to the fact that vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption, is the fact that many people feel we are in a dire vitamin D deficiency state. Risk for deficiency is increased by low light exposure, diabetes, hypertension, and anti-convulsant drug therapy. The New England Journal of Medicine reports that vitamin D deficiency is common, even in those people exceeding the RDA, and also in those without apparent risk factors for D deficiency (NEJM 1998;338:777-783).

Vitamin E is the major lipid antioxidant in the body. It strengthens capillary walls, stabilizes cell membranes, and prevents lipids, proteins (including hormones such as pituitary and adrenal), and other substances from being oxidized. It contributes to the antioxidant protection of phase I in the liver. Its ability to stabilize cell membranes is critical to cell preservation, detoxification function, and glucose control.

Chromium is a blood sugar regulator. Chromium is part of the glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which is thought to potentiate the action of insulin at the cellular level. Chromium supplementation has been used in the treatment of diabetes, hypoglycemia, elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, (Press, RI. Geller, J., and Evans, GW. The Effect of Chromium Picolinate on Serum Cholesterol and Apolipoprotein Fractions in Human Subjects. Western J Med, 152, 41-45, 1993) and obesity. It has been shown to restore glucose tolerance to normal, reduce insulin requirements, and eliminate encephalopathy in doses of 150 mcg/day (JAMA 1979; 241:496-98).

Copper is an essential mineral necessary for the proper functioning of nerve, bone, blood and connective tissue. Copper is a catalyst in the synthesis of hemoglobin and red blood cells (RBC’s), has a crucial role in respiration, facilitates iron absorption, and is involved in protein metabolism and healing processes. The best food source of copper is oysters. Nuts, potatoes, vegetables, dried legumes, cereals and meat also contain copper.

Principle uses of manganese include: trauma and injury (sprains and strains), inflammation, ligament support, osteoporosis, epilepsy and diabetes. Manganese is an important component of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD), which is an enzyme that battles the damaging free radicals that cause swelling. Immediately after trauma, the body starts coding for more MnSOD to be produced (J Biol Chem. 1992;267:10625-30). Repletion of manganese after inflammatory trauma is necessary to keep up the free radical defense system.

Principle uses include: liver support, heart disease, cancer risk reduction, eye disorders, heavy metal toxicity, and thyroid support. Selenium, as part of the glutathione peroxidase enzyme, is involved with antioxidant reactions. Additionally, however, it has reported antioxidant activity of its own, the mechanism of which is not certain (Shils & Young, Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease 1988. Lea and Farbiger. Phil. Pa. p. 263). Studies on the metabolism of phenobarbitol in rats suggest that selenium is needed for normal functioning of the hepatic (liver) microsomal P-450 system, and this function is also independent of glutathione peroxidase. Epidemiological studies suggest that many diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, are higher in areas where selenium is depleted in the soil.

Zinc is a constituent of 25 enzymes involved in digestion and metabolism. Zinc is a component of insulin, plays a part in carbohydrate digestion, protein metabolism and phosphorus metabolism, is essential for growth and development of the reproductive organs, is necessary for proper functioning of the prostate gland, is important in wound healing and burns, maintains acid-base balance, and is essential to proper immune function. Zinc also has antioxidant properties, plays an important role in taste and smell, and is beneficial in skin conditions.

1-2 per day or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Use caution in pregnancy. Vitamin A in doses over 10,000 i.u. should not be consumed by women who are pregnant or who are capable of becoming pregnant. Even though there are conflicting studies on the possibility of Vitamin A in large doses causing birth defects, it is better to be cautious. High dosages of vitamin C should not be taken in gout, kidney stone formers, or iron overload disease. Vitamin D is fat-soluble but not toxic in doses less than 2400 IU/day.

Copyright: Copyright HealthQuest, Inc. All rights reserved. Information used with permission from the HealthQuest Nutritional Database Version 4.0
http://www.hquest.com

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