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With too little or too much iron the end result is a disaster. Iron deficiency in pregnancy causes mental retardation and iron excess in adults predisposes to premature aging. Five percent of the population has the gene for iron overload.      

Antidepressants, especially those in the SSRI category such as Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, may not work in people also taking painkillers such as ibuprofen and aspirin. This combination leads to lowered serum levels of the antidepressant and less antidepressant effects. This is just one more example of how many potential complications there are to using SSRI antidepressants....

  Life Extension published an article in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showing that there is a relationship between the inflammatory state and reduced levels of vitamins and minerals. Serum levels of these nutrients are often normal when the major stores, which are often intracellular. Measuring serum levels can be misleading because cellular...

  The story on whether or not intravenous vitamin C works has been ongoing for more than 40 years, when Linus Pauling began studing this treatment. The clinical trials that have been completed are controversial and have led to arguing. Studies on oral vitamin C show it does not work. However, intravenous treatment vitamin C leads to much higher levels...

This mineral has profound effects on our biochemistry and physiology in many diseases such as asthma and heart disease. Measuring it is under-utilized and should involve measuring intracellular levels, not just serum levels because 99% is intracellular, not in blood. 

Magnesium deficiency affects 80% of us. It is critical for hundreds of enzymatic reactions in the body. We need about 500 mg of magnesium glycinate. It is critical for building bone. Many micronutrients and lifestyle measures are needed to build bone. The dangers of calcium supplements in causing arteriosclerosis and kidney stones are reviewed.

SSRI antidepressants, according to research published in the February issue of Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, may increase serum levels of serotonin, but actually lower levels in the brain. This family of drugs blocks the re-uptake of serotonin by nerve tissue, which raises serum levels but actually lowers levels where we need them the most -- in...