RT3 Adrenals Supplements

Vitamins and minerals

While there is no question that adequate intake of vitamins is critical to

good health, blindly taking vitamin supplements is not necessarily a

smart approach. There are some substances in which almost everyone

is deficient, such as magnesium, and there are some substances that

one cannot have too much of, such as Vitamin B12, but many

substances taken in large amounts can create health issues. With few

exceptions, it is good sense to only supplement when a deficiency or

specific need has been demonstrated.

• Excess Vitamin E can encourage bleeding and interfere with Vitamin

K status. Vitamin E is made up of four tocopherols and four

tocotrienols. Many supplements contain Vitamin E as dl-alpha

tocopherol a synthetic version of only one of the eight isoforms. Even if

natural d-alpha tocopherol is used, high levels of alpha-tocopherol may

decrease levels of the more bioactive gamma-tocopherol.

• Excess Vitamin A has been linked to increased risk of hip fractures

• Excess Vitamin C can increase iron, which can be dangerous for

someone who has elevated iron levels

• Excess calcium without sufficient Vitamin K2 may increase arterial

calcification

• Multi vitamin or mineral preparations frequently contain the cheapest

form of the substances they include. Even the higher quality

preparations are likely to include some substance that a particular

individual would do better without.

For adrenal support

Cortex-only adrenal glandulars / Adrenal Cortex Extract

• Helps the adrenal glands to produce cortisol

• Bovine, porcine in origin

• Raw cortex is best

• Does not contain adrenaline as can whole adrenal glandulars

• Is dosed in higher amounts earlier in the day. Can be dosed similarly

to hydrocortisone

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra and Glycyrrhiza uralensis)

• Extends the life of ones own cortisol

• Deactivates enzyme that inactivates cortisol in the vicinity of

mineralocorticoid receptors giving it mineralocorticoid affects

• In high doses (10 grams) can

• elevate blood pressure

• decrease testosterone

• increase conversion of testosterone to estrogen

(for deglycyrrhized licorice root see Digestive Issues below)

Adaptogens

In theory, adaptogens are expected to increase cortisol where low and

decrease where high. In reality, they all lower cortisol

• Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)

• Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis)

• Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera sometimes called Indian ginseng)

• Astragalus (Astragalus spp)

• Holy basil, (Ocimum sanctum L.)

Ginsings

Various ginsengs are considered by some to be adaptogenic, but they

are likely too stimulating for fatigued adrenals.

• Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus, related to ginseng)

• American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)

• Red ginseng (Panax, Chinese, Korean or Japanese ginseng)

Adrenal formulas

• Contain both cortisol lowering and cortisol raising ingredients

• Not recommended

Isocort®

• No longer on the market

DHEA

• Will lower cortisol so is not recommended in adrenal fatigue

• Prohormone (primarily needed to convert to other hormones)

• Most likely will not convert properly in adrenal fatigue

Digestive Issues

Deglycyrrhized (DGL) licorice root

• supports the mucous lining of the stomach

Hydrochloric acid

• provides stomach acid when natural production is too low, common in

hypothyroidism

• Usually combined with betaine or pepsin

• Over the counter, inexpensive

• Take immediately before or in the middle of a meal

• Dose usually one, two or three 650 mg capsules

• Higher amount with protein-heavy meal

• Too much causes sensation of heat in the stomach.

• Over time may improve stomach acid production

• Never take without food

Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic (S. boulardii)

• Prevent/treat

• Antibiotic associate diarrhea

• C. difficile

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Resistant to all antibacterial antibiotics

• Minimum 10-20 billion organisms per day

• Approximately three days to achieve viable concentrations

• Cleared 2-5 days after oral supplementation

To correct deficiencies

Vitamin B12

• Most effective form is generally methylcobalamin in a sublingual

lozenge.

• For an individual who has an issue with overmethylation,

hydroxocobalamin or adenosylcobalamin are usually the

recommended forms

• Someone who has reacted to a high methyl dose can take 50 mg of

timed-release niacin to counteract the effects of the excessive

methylation.

Folate (not folic acid)

B-Complex, take when taking any single B vitamin

Vitamin D3, softgel

• Vitamin D3 is the active form and best for supplementation

• Increasing vitamin D intake increases the need for K2

• D3 is fat soluble so should be in a supplement with fatty acids such as

in a softgel or otherwise taken with fats

• Supplement from 1000 to 10,000 i.u. a day to achieve optimal levels

• Actual toxicity is extremely rare with the only reported cases occurring

with supplementation of 40,000 i.u. or more a day

Vitamin K2 MK7, softgel

• Helps balance D, A and E

• Prevents the calcium that taking vitamin D helps absorb from

calcifying soft tissue; 100 to 200 mcgs per day

Vitamin A

• Supplementing should be done cautiously, factoring in how much A is

in the foods eaten

• A total of no more than 8-10,000 i.u.s a day average, with only half of

that as preformed vitamin A

• Reduce those numbers by half for the elderly

• Vitamin A is fat soluble and builds up in the body.

Medication note: Retinoids or retinoid analogs, including acitretin,

all-trans-retinoic acid, bexarotene, etretinate and isotretinoin

(Accutane), should not be used in combination with vitamin A

supplements, as they may increase the risk of vitamin A toxicity.

Magnesium

• Needed by everyone

• M.Citrate for constiptation

• M.Glycinate to increase levels

• M.Taurate for sleep

Iron

• Albion® chelated bisglycinate iron is well tolerated (BlueBonnet Albion

Chelated Bisglycinate; Swanson Vitamins Ultra Albion Chelated

Ferrochel Iron Glycinate; Vitacost Chelate Iron - Albion® Ferrous

Bisglycinate Chelate, and others)

• When raising levels is difficult

• Heme iron polypeptide (brand name Proferrin®)

• Iron Protein Succinylate (brand Life Extension)

• Ferrous sulphate when red blood cell count is low

• 325 mgs ferrous sulphate = 65 mgs elemental iron

Anti-inflammatory Supplements

Omega 3 Fish Oils

• Choose high levels of EPA and DHA

• Molecular distillation removes contaminents

• Ethyl ester (EE) forms have reduced bioavailability

• Re-esterified triglyceride (rTG) forms have increased bioavailability

• Prescription pharmaceutical products currently are only EE form

• Do not use beyond expiration date

Ginger

• As a food or supplement

Tumeric or curcumin

• As a spice or supplement

• Black pepper improves availability

Krill Oil, 2000 mgs

• Helps reduce inflammation and move iron from ferritin into serum

• Choose one high in phospholipids and astaxanthin

Glucosamine and condroitin

• Shown to reduce C Reactive Protein and joint inflammation

Modified citrus pectin

• Shown to reduce Galectin-3 and C Reactive Protein