Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin E Deficiency in Friedreich’s Ataxia.

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Dr. Gary Pack

Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA) is a hereditary, neurodegenerative disease. There is progressively severe incoordination of the arms and legs to the point that the patient becomes incapacitated. There is associated heart muscle disease. It has been found, previously, that CoQ-10 benefits patients with FRDA. High doses of Coenzyme Q-10 show marked benefit in most patients with […]

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Conditions: Friedreich's Ataxia, Neurodegenerative disease

Supplements: CoQ-10 (coenzyme Q-10), Vitamin E

Tyrosine Hydroxylase Activity in Parkinson’s Disease.

Posted on May 4, 2010 by Dr. Gary Pack

Tyrosine hydroxylase is a BH4 (tetrahydrobiopterin) dependent enzyme which increases the conversion of tyrosine, an amino acid, to l-DOPA (l-dihydroxyphenylalanine.) This enzyme activity was measured in multiple parts of the leguminous plant, Mucuna pruriens (velvet bean.) l-DOPA is a treatment for Parkinsonism. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and is converted to dopamine in the brain. […]

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Conditions: Neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's disease

Supplements: Phenylalanine, Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), Tyrosine, Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens)

Miscellaneous: Dopamine, l-DOPA, Serotonin, Substantia nigra, Tyrosine hydroxylase

Melatonin as Related to Cancer.

Posted on January 9, 2008 by Dr. Gary Pack

Melatonin is a natural neurohormone found in the human body. It is produced in the pineal gland, primarily. It can be produced in the gut, retina, skin and white blood cells. One function of melatonin is to help maintain sleep-wake cycles. Melatonin is found in all living organisms, such as green algae, bacteria, fungi, plants, […]

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Folate and Neural Tube Defects.

Posted on April 8, 2007 by Dr. Gary Pack

Folate protects a human fetus from neural tube defects (NTDs). Two types of NTDs include anencephaly and spina bifida. This is the only instance in which a congenital malformation can be prevented, simply. If the neural tube does not close during development of the embryo, congenital defects can result. Folate is a B-complex vitamin that […]

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Conditions: Abortion, Anemia, Anencephaly, Congenital malformation, Elderly, Fetus, Megaloblastic anemia, Multiple sclerosis, Neural tube defects, Neurodegenerative disease, Pernicious anemia, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Spina bifida

Supplements: Folic acid (folate), Vitamin B complex, Vitamin B-12

Foods: Beans, Berries, Cereal grains, Citrus fruit, Citrus juice, Leafy green vegetables, Legumes, Peas

Miscellaneous: Amino acid, Coenzyme, Nucleic acids, Purines, Pyrimidines

Nitric Oxide in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease.

Posted on March 1, 2007 by Dr. Gary Pack

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas which is found throughout the human body, in plants and in insects, which is important for the following functions: Regulates blood vessel dilation. Prevents blood clot formation in blood vessels. Important in reproduction. Dilates bronchi in the lungs. Aids in bone formation. Works in memory function. Regulates insulin sensitivity. […]

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Low-Dose Toxins and Adaptive Stress Responses.

Posted on November 16, 2006 by Dr. Gary Pack

People with diets rich in fruits and vegetables have a reduced risk of developing various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. Some of the chemicals in these beneficial foods are antioxidants, which are called plant “biopesticides” and are believed to be chemical defenses developed by plants to protect themselves from insects and other invaders. At much lower […]

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Common Pathways of Depression and Pain.

Posted on July 18, 2006 by Dr. Gary Pack

Depression is a chronic disease with mental and physical symptoms, and there is evidence that there is a neurodegenerative component to depression that would make treatment urgent. With repeated episodes of depression, the episodes come more often, become more persistent and recovery becomes less complete. As depression becomes more chronic, structural changes develop in the […]

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Conditions: Depression, Fatigue, Headache, Neurodegenerative disease, Neurogenesis, Pain

Miscellaneous: Brain, Neurogenesis, Neurotransmitters, Norepinephrine, Serotonin

Neuroprotective Effects of Teas and Beta Amyloid.

Posted on March 17, 2006 by Dr. Gary Pack

Teas include a large family of plants which contain beneficial polyphenols. The author studied the theory that tea use protects from age-related neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). They studied green and black tea extracts against the toxicity of beta-amyloids. Tea use reduces the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, stroke and dementia of various causes. Beta-amyloids […]

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Conditions: Alzheimer's disease, Neurodegenerative disease

Supplements: Carnosine

Foods: Black tea (Camellia sinensis), Green tea (Camellia sinensis)

Miscellaneous: Amyloid, Catechins, Flavonoids

Lithium: Occurrence, Dietary Intakes and Essentiality.

Posted on February 17, 2006 by Dr. Gary Pack

Lithium has been studied for 100 years and has been used therapeutically for 50 years. It is the lightest alkali element. Scalp hair lithium levels are said to reflect the intake and bioavailability of lithium. Lithium deficiency reduces enzyme activity of the citric acid cycle, which is important for cellular energy production. It is found […]

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Conditions: Bipolar depression, Brain injury, Lithium deficiency, Neurodegenerative disease

Supplements: Enzymes, Lithium, Vitamins

Miscellaneous: Element, Hair analysis, Violent crime, Water, Water quality

Neuroprotective Properties of Alpha-Tocotrienol.

Posted on November 13, 2005 by Dr. Gary Pack

The vitamin E complex includes chemicals called tocopherols (TCP) and tocotrienols (TCT), of which the tocopherols are the best known. Studies are being done to find out more about the tocotrienols that have been studied very little. The tocotrienols are known to block neuronal cell death caused by glutamate, but the tocopherols do not. Glutamate […]

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Conditions: Cell death, Neurodegeneration, Neurodegenerative disease, Vitamin E deficiency

Supplements: Alpha-tocopherol, Glutathione, Tocopherols, Tocotrienols

Foods: Black tea (Camellia sinensis), Green tea (Camellia sinensis)

Miscellaneous: Arachidonic acid, Glutamate, Neurons