Thiamin, or vitamin B1 is very commonly deficient.  It helps the body make nerve transmitters (neurotransmitters) and ATP for energy.  B1 enhances muscle function and especially the heart muscle.  Low levels of thiamin reduce heart function (congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy) and also cause fatigue and reduced endurance.  Lack of thiamin decreases learning capacity and causes age-related brain decline and Alzheimer’s dementia.

Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, has a low likelihood of being deficient.  It helps metabolism, ATP (energy) production, growth, and reproduction.  It has antioxidant properties, aids glutathione regeneration and activates vitamin B6.  Deficiency of B2 causes poor iron absorption and anemia, decreased protection from free radicals, cataracts, impaired thyroid function, B6 deficiency, fatigue, reduced endurance and elevated homocysteine with an increased risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and coronary (heart) artery disease such as heart attacks.

Niacin, or vitamin B3, is so commonly low that up to 33% of Americans are deficient.  It helps energy production, metabolism, lowers levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (fats) and lessens anxiety.  If deficient, a lack of B3 may cause cracking and scaling of skin, digestive problems, confusion, anxiety, fatigue and less endurance.

Pyroxidine, or vitamin B6, helps in amino acid metabolism (proteins) and is an enzyme co-factor that helps enzymes work better.  It is very commonly deficient.  Lack of B6 may cause reduced serotonin (neurotransmitter) production with depression and sleep disturbances, skin abnormalities, increased homocysteine with artery and heart diseases and a high nerve and hormone response to low blood sugar.

Cobalimin, or vitamin B12, helps the growth and maturing of red blood cells and immune cells, production of myelin (a substance that covers nerves), function of the nerves and in making melatonin, which is a hormone that helps with sleep.  B12 is very commonly deficient.  Lack of B12 causes anemia (pernicious anemia), reduced immune system function, mental deterioration, sleep disorders with lowered melatonin levels, precancerous changes of mucosal surfaces (mucous membranes line our nose, sinuses, mouth, throat, bronchial tubes, stomach, intestines, colon and urinary system), increased homocysteine with strokes and reduced arterial circulation (low blood flow) and fatigue with less endurance.

Pantothenate, or pantothenic acid, helps with metabolism (by aiding in the production of acetylcholine, phospholipids, porphrin and steroid hormones), detoxification of alcohol, reduces stress and improves adrenal gland function, and aids in wound healing and keeping skin healthy.  Pantothenate is commonly deficient and causes reduced tolerance of stress, poor wound healing, skin problems and reduced endurance with fatigue.

Biotin helps in ATP (energy) production and in growing healthy hair, skin and nails.  Fortunately, it is rarely deficient.  If biotin is low it causes depression, nervous system abnormalities, premature gray hair and hair loss, and also dry, scaly, wrinkled skin.

Folate, or folic acid, helps in the production of genes (genetic material or DNA and RNA) and aids in cell division and in the maturing of red blood cells and immune system cells, protects against cell changes that may lead to cancer and helps to break down homocysteine which causes cholesterol to deposit in arteries even with a normal cholesterol level.  Folate is very commonly deficient and may cause changes that could lead to cancers of the cervix and mucosal surfaces, anemia, lessened immune function, increased homocysteine with heart attacks and strokes, fatigue, insomnia and premature hair loss.

Ergocalciferol, or vitamin D, helps as the primary regulator of calcium balance, development of the skeleton and adequate blood levels of insulin.  Vitamin D is commonly deficient and may cause osteoporosis (loss of calcium from bones), decreased absorption of calcium from the intestines and high parathyroid hormone levels.

Tocopherol, or vitamin E, helps as a potent antioxicant, protects cell membranes, prevents free radical damage, enhances immune function, protects against heart and blood vessel diseases, cataracts and macular (a part of the retina in the back of the eye) degeneration.  Vitamin E is commonly deficient and may cause dry skin, dull dry hair, red blood cell ruptures, anemia, easy bruising, PMS (premenstrual syndrome) with hot flashes, eczema and psoriasis, cataracts, an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH), poor wound healing, muscle weakness and sterility.

Magnesium helps as the main regulator of calcium flow in the body, ATP (energy) production, is a factor in over 300 chemical or enzyme reactions in the cells of the body, and is vital for the normal function of nerves and muscles.  Deficiencies of magnesium are extremely common and cause muscle weakness with tremors and leg cramps, irregular heart rhythms, heart muscle spasms with heart attacks, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, depression, confusion and more allergy problems.

Selenium helps as a cofactor for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase (glutathione is the final common pathway for all antioxidants), has anti-viral activity, increases immune function, activates thyroid hormones and prevents oxidation of fats.  Antioxidants prevent oxidation of fats.  Oxidized fats cause heart and blood vessel diseases.  Selenium deficiencies are common and cause destructive changes in the heart and pancreas, sore muscles, increased breakage of red blood cells and a weakened immune system.

Zinc helps genetic material (DNA, RNA), production of proteins, division of cells, expression of genes (effects of DNA), repair of DNA, wound healing and synthesis of the main thyroid hormone that controls metabolism and is known as T3 or triiodothyronine.  Marginal deficiencies of zinc are very common and cause impaired immune function, poor wound healing, depression, impaired senses of smell and taste, problems with skin, hair and nails, joint pain, fatigue and reduced endurance.

Antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin C and E, and selenium help neutralize free radicals which lead to oxidation and disease, prevent DNA (gene) damage with mutations (leads to cancer), prevents oxidation of fats (cardiovascular diseases) which lessens the chances of strokes and heart attacks.  Deficiencies of antioxidants are very common and cause an overload of free radicals and disease-causing oxidation, increased risk of blood vessel and heart and brain diseases, increased risk of cancer, cataracts, degeneration of part of the retina (macula) which leads to poor eyesight and blindness, and skin wrinkles.

Ubiquinone, or coenzyme-Q10 (co-Q10), helps produce ATP and energy, has antioxidant properties, prevents oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol, reduces risk of blood vessel disease (atherosclerosis) and heart diseases (heart attacks, heart failure, etc.) and strokes.  Co-Q10 deficiency is common and causes congestive heart failure (CHF), high blood pressure (hypertension), heart chest pain (angina), prolapse of the mitral valve in the heart, stroke, heart rhythm abnormalities, enlarged poorly contracting heart (cardiomyopathies), lack of energy, gum inflammation in the mouth (gingivitis) and generalized weakening of the immune system.

Alpha lipoic acid helps improve blood flow to nerves in the body, decrease oxidation of fats (lipids), increase glutathione (antioxidant) levels in the brain, increase the sensitivity of cells in the body to insulin, enhance glucose (sugar) transport and energy production.  Deficiencies of alpha lipoic acid are common and cause diabetic neuropathy (numbness and pain due to diabetes damaging nerves), reduced muscle mass (smaller muscles), increased risk of blood vessel diseases and heart attacks and strokes, Alzheimer’s dementia, failure to thrive (poor health and growth), brain atrophy (brain shrinks in size) and increased lactic acid production.

Carnitine helps regulate the production of energy for the heart to function, facilitate fat transport through cell membranes for energy production, oxidizes amino acids (they make proteins) for energy production (this is good oxidation), and metabolize ketones which are a byproduct resulting from normal metabolism.  Fortunately there is a low level of carnitine deficiency but if low it causes elevated lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides), abnormal liver function, muscle weakness, reduced energy and impaired glucose (blood sugar) control.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) help because NAC is the primary building block for GSH.  They help lower levels of homocysteine (cholesterol deposits in arteries) and lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a) which is a dangerous form of fat, heal the lungs of free radical damage (bad oxidation) and lung inflammation, decrease muscle fatigue, aid liver detoxification, boost immunity and protect against free radical damage and heavy metal toxicity.  Deficiencies of N-acetyl cysteine and glutathione are common and cause free radical overload (bad oxidation), elevated homocysteine with risks of blood vessel and heart and stroke diseases from cholesterol, increased risk of DNA (gene) mutation and cancer, cataracts, macular degeneration (eye disease), weakened immune function and impaired elimination of toxins.

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid (there are 20 different amino acids in protein) and helps protect intestinal integrity (health of the stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon).  It is the primary source of energy for intestinal cells and cells of the immune system, it is an overall source of energy, promotes wound healing, increases growth hormone production which preserves muscle and decreases accumulation of fat.  How common glutamine deficiency is present is not known.  Deficiencies cause increased permeability of the intestines to allergens and toxins (things that cause allergies and toxins pass through the intestinal cells into the body easier and more than they should) inflammation of the intestines, food allergies, inflammatory arthritis (joint inflammation), fatigue, skin rashes, impaired immune function, poor wound healing and slow recovery from illness.

Choline helps as a methyl (a chemical substance that contains carbon and hydrogen) donor to make amino acids and synthesize proteins, is a precursor of the neurotransmitter (helps nerve transmission) acetycholine, is required  for the production of lecithin (a phospholipid found in cell membranes) and helps in the metabolism of fat.  Deficiency rates of choline are not known but cause dementia, anxiety, depression and increased fat deposition with weight gain.

This information is from Spectracell Labs and is a brief overview of problems with nutrition.  You may have recognized yourself with some of the symptoms and diseases.  Most of the patients I have tested are deficient in essential amino acids and essential fatty acids, along with low levels of vitamins and minerals.  Essential means your body cannot make these nutrients.  You have to absorb them.

Amino and fatty acids are the building blocks for cell membranes, enzymes, chemical messengers, muscles, nerves and brain tissue.  It is not surprising many of my patients are so sick.  Part of the trouble may be what people eat and do not eat.  But poor absorption of nutrients from the intestines may be a significant factor, along with excess consumption of nutritional substances by germs, or abnormal wasting by excretory organs such as the kidneys.  Who knows?  It would be nice to know the causes, but the fact remains that most of my patients have multiple and often severe deficiencies of several nutritional substances that are vital for normal health and life.

Jiroffa nutritional products carry a guarantee of satisfaction.  The best ingredients known on planet earth are what go into Jiroffa supplements.  It is standard advice that whatever supplement you try, give it at least three to four months before you give up on it.  Gingko biloba should be given at least nine months before you decide it has not helped your memory or thinking.