How important is niacin?

[orthomolecular]

THANK YOU!

 

The more information we have the better. You are so right about being cautious and not giving our kids nothing more than it is really needed. Thank you for all the links.

 

Staś takes 600mcg of lithium per day but I will make sure to check the level again very soon.

 

As for niacin, Pfeiffer says little it needed for undermethylated kids. My son is (was?) so he only get 25 mg/day

 

Where can I read something about methylation? I have no idea what it is but it is exactly something that is not quite right in Staś. Organix showed both methylation cofactors high (one, related to B12 even very high). Intervention options: B12 and folic acid. (Other abnormalities: high xanthurenate, i.e. impaired tryptophan metabolism; rec. P5P; high glucarate, i.e. hepatic phase I and II detox abnormality, rec. N-acetylcysteine, glutathione and hepatic support; very high D-Arabinitol,i.e. candida, of course - I hate this nasty thing)

 

But honestly, I have no idea on what basis our doctor recommended amino acids and 5-HTP. I will read carefully Claire's link on them and will make sure to ask our doc. So far, I already have cut Tri-Amino (Arginine/Ornithine/Lysine) by half.

 

When supplementing either typtophan or 5htp you need sufficient amounts of pryodoxine or you will experiecne the toxicty of tryptophan, which is xanuthuric acid and some other metabollic waste products (excreted in urine). This is a problem your child tested postive for. (Other abnormalities: high xanthurenate.) This is not what you want. You need more more vitamin b6.

 

Without enough niacin and supplementing either typtophan or 5 htp you can develop a NAD deficiency. NAD is an important brain chemical. The body can contert tryptophan into niacin.

 

http://www.eagle-min.com/faq/faq100.htm

 

I don't know what deficiencies your child was diagnosed as having, but there is a simple test to see how he responds to niacin (the form that causes the flushing). This form raises histamine levels. Low histamine types over-methylate. There are a few books that I know about out on methylation. Craig Cooney's is easy to read. He has a website too. There are some others though.

 

Give your child 50 mg. of niacin and see if that causes the flush. If 50 mg. of niacin produces a flush then that person has high histamine levels. (Folic acid should be avoided and only niacinamide or non-flushing forms of niacin should be used. B12 can also raise histamine levels too, but this is not so clear cut. You have to consult on a case by case basis for b12 in under-methylators.) This person would supplement some other things like calcium and magnesium to help lower histamine levels.

 

If it takes something like 250 mg. of niacin to produce a flush then that person has low histamine levels. Taking high doses of the niacin forum that causes flushing is essential. Folic acid is also important as is b12.

 

You can ask your doctor to test your child's blood for histamine levels too.

[kim]

Orthomolecular/ Others,

 

I went back to this site, http://www.biblelife.org/amino.htm to read about the amino acids that were rec. for Irena's son. I was noticing this under Tryptophane:

Requires pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P) a form of vitamin B6 to be converted into Serotonin. P5P deficiency will lower Serotonin levels, even if Tryptophan levels are normal.

 

I think I just read that somewhere. Thanks Orthomolecular

 

I asked this once before, but noone responded.

 

Can someone tell me what is most reliable for amino acid testing, blood or urine?

 

Under many of these amino acids, it lists vegetarianism as a risk for low levels.

 

I really want to have my "non eaters" amino acids tested.

 

Direct labs has both, obiviously urine would be easier if it provides as good of info.

 

TIA for any thoughts.

 

Kim

[Guest]

Hi Kim,

 

I think I read that its good to test amino acids by both urine and blood. My chelation doctor had me test both urine and blood for amino acids recently. He had me do both the urine and blood on the same day. In about a week I could certainly post the results so you know if there were any differences and what differences there were between the two of them.

 

Carolyn

[Claire]

Kim,

 

You know I don't read the board regularly, so this is the first I have seen of your question.

 

We did urine testing through Great Plains...I think it was ~$200. Don't know which is most reliable, but both our DAN doctor and Pfeiffer were happy with the urine test as a measure of it.

 

My son was (hopefully isn't) deficient in Lysine (along with others). But the Lysine deficiency fit so many of his issues at the time!

 

Claire

[kim]

Claire/Carolyn,

 

Thank you so much.

 

Claire, your answer was the one I was hoping for, and Carolyn, yours was the one I was afraid of. I think I read on Braintalk that testing both on the same day was the most accurate way to test. We may just have to do urine for now.

 

Carolyn, it would be wonderful if you would post what you see as differences btwn the two tests.

Giselle has said that getting amino acids "right" was really helpful to Hoyt, and since you have a history with the limited diet, I'll be anxious to see what kind of results you see from this testing. Are you eating meat yet?

 

Kim

[Guest]

Hi Kim,

 

Okay, I'll post that when I get the results. I have always been a large meat eater, never any problems with meat.

 

Carolyn