22 Comments
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Helen Tsamis's avatar

They do damage to the mito

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Dr Bernadette Violetta Di Toro's avatar

So appreciate you sharing this - so many questions - can’t wait to read your further thoughts on this

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SomeUserName's avatar

that's quite interesting. Nice column

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Zaida Anaya's avatar

I just want to know if the people who went off these meds can recover its homeostasis.

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Helen Tsamis's avatar

I’d like to know as well as I came off ssri

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Jill Monahan's avatar

Chris, I used to be the Boston chapter leader at WAPF. I have a profound genetic error of B12 metabolism. I have no problems with assimilation in the early stages, and so there's plenty in blood. My defects are with TCN I and TCN II. I can't push it from my blood into tissues. I can't take IVs or orally, as it just backs up in my blood and causes insomnia. My MMA is always 500-600, methionine elevated, and I have seriously damaged myelin. But my big worry is cognition. I'm OK right now at age 65, but I know I'll absorb less and less as I age. Can anything be done to help me absorb adequate amounts of B12? Willing to pay for consult. Can't bear the idea of the slow good-bye. Also have Ehlers Danlos, not severe.

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

If B12 is causing insomnia it's probably either a) putting stress on succinyl CoA metabolism which might be helped with high dose pantothenic acid or pantetheine and/or a ketogenic diet, or b) stealing folate into the methylation pathway which might be helped by folate. What you need to do is high-dose it against MMA reduction and intracellular B12 rise (see lab tests> comprehensive nutritional screening) while doing these other things to fix the imbalances. The only evidence it can't be "pushed" is that your intracellular B12 doesn't rise in response.

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Jill Monahan's avatar

Chris, what are "high" doses of pantothenic acid/pantetheine and folate in this context in a woman who's 5'10" and 137lbs and 65 years old? Ketogenic diet has not worked for me. Should I be avoiding meat, ie your comment "terrible advice?" I do eat a variety from Wild Pastures.

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BroncoDave's avatar

Eat a New York steak 3 times a week.

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Chris Masterjohn, PhD's avatar

Terrible advice for someone with elevated methionine and MMA.

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Skupe's avatar

Or daily as Carnivore often heals everything!

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Michael Hood's avatar

This comment indicates you have not widely read Chris’s articles.

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Skupe's avatar

Not very often but Dr. Jack Wolfson, a cardiologist in AZ, I read a lot. He also wrote The Paleo Cardiologist. I have been a member of WestonAPrice.org for 18 years as well as a follower of Dr. Paul Saladino's Animal-based carnivore and also have cut out grains and almost all carbs and sugar for the same 18 years as I am allergic and they make my weight go up. So I know what I'm talking about.

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Michael Hood's avatar

But that is just your own outcome. Others may need more nutrients than you get from eating carnivore.

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Skupe's avatar

So they can take them. Not from what Dr. Paul S. says, except for vitamin C, which I take 10 grams of per day as well as many other supplements. How much do you take? I think we should stop this discussion!

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TJ's avatar

Excellent article Chris and super interesting!

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Jaclyn Rizzo's avatar

Why is prozac performance enhancing?

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Eva's avatar

Thank you interest much piqued!

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Vinay's avatar

Heavy weights always used to slip off my hands and i had to use lifting straps. Now I know exactly what to do. Thanks Chris ;)

Just kidding, your articles are super helpful. Also, I went through mito.me, is there an Aussie equivalent?

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Jill Monahan's avatar

Dave, I eat plenty of meat and, more importantly, liver. But through food or supplement, I can't break it down at the end and push it from blood to tissue. Not a deficiency per se, but incomplete metabolism.

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