Nutrition Q & A with Dan Lukaczer, N.D.

Q.
What's the best way to take psyllium?

A.
Psyllium seed husks (Plantago ovata) are a common source of supplemental dietary fiber. The seed husks contain mainly mucilage fiber components, which are water soluble. When mixed with water or juice, psyllium thickens rapidly and must be drunk quickly. I generally suggest taking it this way, before a meal, followed by another glass of water. Among other things, psyllium increases the feeling of fullness and acts as an appetite suppressant.

Although it is easiest to take psyllium in capsule or pill form, getting the recommended 5 g one to two times daily may mean taking five to 10 capsules at once, which your customers might find unappealing. However, some people find that taking as little as 2 g improves bowel regularity.

Regardless of form, recommend that customers start slowly and work their way up, remembering to drink 8­16 ounces of water with their psyllium.

Q.
Do raspberry leaf and rutin effectively relieve glaucoma?

A.
Glaucoma is increased pressure in the eye (intraocular pressure) that results from a buildup of fluid called aqueous humor. Chronic glaucoma, as opposed to acute glaucoma, is a common problem in older people and often goes undetected because it has few symptoms. Left untreated, however, this pressure buildup can lead to vision loss and blindness. One underlying cause of chronic glaucoma may be a decrease in the eye's collagen network. Certain types of collagen make up structural components in the eye and maintaining their integrity may be important. Bioflavonoids, such as rutin from citrus, can strengthen and improve collagen integrity, so there is some theoretical basis for rutin's use.⁶

I have not seen any studies on raspberry leaf, but another berry, European bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), may be of some help because of its high flavonoid content. I am unaware, however, of any recent literature on preventing or treating chronic glaucoma with these flavonoids. Although flavonoid treatments may be useful, people with glaucoma run the risk of permanent vision loss, and should carefully follow therapy to assure intraocular pressure has normalized.

Q.
Which supplements do you recommend for treating kidney stones?

A.
Kidney stones are an increasing problem in the United States. Nearly 10 percent of all men will experience a kidney stone attack during their lifetime—usually after age 30. This is double the occurrence in women. Not all kidney stones are created equal. Generally, they come in four varieties: calcium oxalate, uric acid, struvite and cystine stones. The different types of kidney stones form for different reasons and must be accurately diagnosed before they can be treated.

By far the most common is the calcium oxalate stone, which appears to form when calcium and oxalate (a salt of oxalic acid) both precipitate out of solution. This generally happens when a person has too much oxalate in his system, not enough water to keep oxalate in solution, or both.

First and foremost, suggest customers drink lots of water. After that, the most important nutritional therapies are magnesium and vitamin B6. Although it has long been suggested that cutting down on calcium-containing foods prevents kidney stones, research suggests calcium intake isn't the problem, but an imbalance of calcium and magnesium is.¹ Magnesium increases the solubility of calcium oxalate crystals, and supplemental magnesium has been shown to effectively prevent recurrences of kidney stones.^2,3

I believe magnesium deficiency or insufficiency is a serious problem in the United States and an increased incidence of kidney stones may be one result. I generally suggest that someone with a history of calcium oxalate kidney stones take 400­600 mg daily of a well-absorbed magnesium supplement such as magnesium citrate or glycinate. I also recommend they supplement with vitamin B6. B6 supplementation has shown positive results in people with calcium oxalate stones.⁴ It also improves the response to magnesium supplementation.⁵ I suggest getting 25­50 mg in a quality B-complex vitamin.

Dan Lukaczer, N.D., is director of clinical services at the Functional Medicine Research Center, a division of HealthComm International Inc., in Gig Harbor, Wash.

References

1. Takahasi E. The magnesium-calcium ratio in the concentrated urines of patients with calcium oxalate calculi. Invest Urol 1972;10:147.

2. Hallson P, et al. Magnesium reduces calcium oxalate crystal formation in human whole urine. Clin Sci 1982;62;17-19.

3. Goldwasser B, et al. Calcium stone disease: An overview. J Urol 1986;135:1.

4. Mitwalli A, et al. Control of hyperoxaluria with large doses of pyridoxine in patients with kidney stones. Int Urol Nephrol 1988;20(4):353-9.

5. Lyon E, et al. Calcium oxalate lithiasis produced by pyridoxine deficiency and inhibition with high magnesium diets. Invest Urol 1966;4:133-42.

6. Stocker F. New ways of influencing the intraocular pressure. NY St J Med 1949;49:58-63.