rabiesjoy
02-09-2004, 02:18 AM
anyone out there had their pdoc request a vitamin and/or amino acid profile via lab work? can they do this in the lab? I'm assuming yes as my pdoc has the lithium level and kidney and liver functions analyzed semi-annually.
it seems very strange to me that these pdocs (and i've seen 6 different pdocs since my dx 3 years ago approximately) never have this vitamin lab work done. not only that, they don't really talk a whole lot about nutrition.
I think that one of the reasons bipolar and unipolar patients are the way they are is that their diet/nutrition is sub-par. I recently learned that protein is broken down into 8 essential amino acids and many more non-essential amino acids, many of which help fight depression. So when the literature and pdocs commonly refer to "chemical imbalance" it may have to do with improper nutrition as well.
my latest pdoc has me taking 1mg B12 and 1mg folic acid daily in addition to lexapro, carbamezapine, and lithobid.
he said that the multi-vitamin centrum "just colors your urine". but i started taking that as well as desiccated liver tablets (high in protein and other essential vitamins like A, C, D, K, and B's) as well as fish liver oil tablets.
i read that taking vitamins alone is not sufficient. you must supplement vitamins with minerals for it to work their way into the blood stream and brain properly.
omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like tuna and salmon help fight depression along with flax seed oil.
what vitamin regimens do you all take? how important do you think they are in helping with bipolar disorder?
of course, exercise and avoiding alcohol and street drugs is very important too.
thanks for listening.
"Know thyself, think for yourself, question authority."
-- Socrates.
may there be peace in the world by 2012 AD (the end of the Long count version of the Mayan calendar).
it seems very strange to me that these pdocs (and i've seen 6 different pdocs since my dx 3 years ago approximately) never have this vitamin lab work done. not only that, they don't really talk a whole lot about nutrition.
I think that one of the reasons bipolar and unipolar patients are the way they are is that their diet/nutrition is sub-par. I recently learned that protein is broken down into 8 essential amino acids and many more non-essential amino acids, many of which help fight depression. So when the literature and pdocs commonly refer to "chemical imbalance" it may have to do with improper nutrition as well.
my latest pdoc has me taking 1mg B12 and 1mg folic acid daily in addition to lexapro, carbamezapine, and lithobid.
he said that the multi-vitamin centrum "just colors your urine". but i started taking that as well as desiccated liver tablets (high in protein and other essential vitamins like A, C, D, K, and B's) as well as fish liver oil tablets.
i read that taking vitamins alone is not sufficient. you must supplement vitamins with minerals for it to work their way into the blood stream and brain properly.
omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like tuna and salmon help fight depression along with flax seed oil.
what vitamin regimens do you all take? how important do you think they are in helping with bipolar disorder?
of course, exercise and avoiding alcohol and street drugs is very important too.
thanks for listening.
"Know thyself, think for yourself, question authority."
-- Socrates.
may there be peace in the world by 2012 AD (the end of the Long count version of the Mayan calendar).