Metabolic correction: a functional biochemical mechanism against disease--Part 2: mechanisms and benefits.

A healthy physiology depends on a plethora of complex interdependent biochemical reactions. In order for these reactions to occur suitably, the enzymes and cofactors that regulate their flow must be present in the proper balance. The term metabolic correction is used to describe a biochemical-physiological process that improves cellular biochemistry as a means to an individual's achieving metabolic or physiological optimization. Part 2 discusses how metabolic correction, through the increase of cofactors, can supply unmet enzyme needs and compensate for nutritional deficiencies induced by improper nutritional intake or by the increased demand for nutrients caused by genetics, health conditions, medications, or physical or environmental stressors. Nutrient insufficiencies are causing an increase in morbidity and mortality, at great cost to our society. In summary, metabolic correction improves enzymatic function and satisfies the increasing demand for nutrients. Metabolic correction can have a significant impact on the reduction of morbidity and mortality and their financial cost to our society and contribute to improving health and well-being.

Metabolic correction: a functional biochemical mechanism against disease--Part 1: concept and historical background.

Human physiology depends on countless biochemical reactions, numerous of which are co-dependent and interrelated. The speed and level of completion of reactions usually depend on the availability of precursors and enzymes. The enzymatic activity depends on the bioavailability of micronutrient cofactors such as vitamins and minerals. In order to achieve a healthy physiological state, the organism requires that biochemical reactions occur at a controlled rate. To achieve this state it is required that metabolic reactions reach what can be considered an optimal metabolic equilibrium. A combination of genetic makeup, dietary patterns, trauma, disease, toxins, medications, and environmental stressors can elevate the demand for the nutrients needed to reach this optimal metabolic equilibrium. In this, part 1, the general concept of metabolic correction is presented with an elaboration explaining how this concept is increasing in importance as we become aware of the presence of genetic variants that affect enzymatic reactions causing metabolic disturbances that themselves favor or promote the disease state. In addition, part 1 reviews how prominent scientists have contributed in fundamental ways to our understanding of the importance of micronutrients in health and disease and in the development of the metabolic correction concept.

[Metabolic correction: a biochemical option against diseases]. / Corrección metabólica: Una opción bioquímica contra las enfermedades.

Human development and its physiology depends on a number of complex biochemical body processes, many of which are interactive and codependent. The speed and the degree in which many physiological reactions are completed depend on enzyme activity, which in turn depends on the bioavailability of co-factors and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. To achieve a healthy physiological state, organism need that biochemical reactions occur in a controlled and specific way at a particular speed and level or grade fully completed. To achieve this, is required an optimal metabolic balance. Factors such as, a particular genetic composition, inadequate dietary consumption patterns, traumas, diseases, toxins and environmental stress all of these factors rising demands for nutrients in order to obtain optimal metabolic balance. Metabolic correction is a biochemical and physiological concept that explains how improvements in cellular biochemistry of an organism can help the body achieve metabolic and physiological optimization. We summarize the contribution of several pioneers in understanding the role of micronutrients in health management. The concept of metabolic correction is becoming a significant term due to the presence of genetic variants that affect the speed of reactions of enzymes, causing metabolic alterations that enhance or promote the state/development of multiple diseases. Decline in the nutritional value of the food we eat, the increase in demand for certain nutrients caused by normal development, diseases and medications induce, usually, nutrients consumption. These nutritional deficiencies and insufficiencies are causing massive economic costs due to increased morbidity and mortality in our society. In summary, metabolic correction improves the enzymatic function, which favors the physiological normal functions, thus, contributing to improving health and the welfare of the human being. The purpose of this paper is to describe and introduce the concept of optimal metabolic correction as a functional cost-effective mechanism against disease, in addition, to contribute to diseases prevention and regeneration of the body and health.

[Study on the resilience internal factors in a sample of Puerto Rican centenarians]. / Estudio sobre los factores internos de resiliencia en una muestra de centenarios Puertorriquenos.

UNLABELLED: Old age is a stage that is usually characterized by lost at the physiological, psychological and social level that generates much distress to individuals. However, the centenaries have been identified as an example of successful aging, within other factors, because they have adequate managed skills that help them to deal with healthy normal losses. Resilience could be one of the factors that may help the Centennials to age successfully. It is necessary more studies with Puerto Rico Centennials since we lack such investigations. METHODOLOGY: This study has an expo facto design; in addition we evaluate psychometrically the Symptoms Check List 90-R (SCL-90-R). The scale of Internal Resilience Factors (EFIR), a semi structured interview and the SCL-90-R were used to identify factors associated with successful aging in the centennials. In addition we explore if there exist gender differences in internal factors of resilience within the sample. SAMPLE: 23 Centennials, 15 men and 8 women, of different parts of Puerto Rico (average age = 101. 5 years). RESULTS: Internal resilience factors associated with the aging process were identifying, those were: emotional stability, optimism, behavioral factor and behavioral and emotional skills component. These factors are consistent with the revised literature on positive emotions and adaptive ageing. On the other hand, no statistically significant difference was identified (p <. 05) for the internal factors of resilience on the basis of gender, a finding agreed with the revised literature. The multiple tests administered showed adequate internal consistency (EFIR: (=. 726); SCL-90-R: (=. 941). The Symptoms Check list 90-R (SCL-90-R) was valid with a Cronbach's alpha of. 941. CONCLUSIONS AND LIMITATIONS: We identified internal resilience factors that could be linked with successfully aging: those factors are encouraging the elderly population. In addition used tests showed adequate internal consistency. Limitations in relation to the size of the sample and the distribution of gender were identified, thus we suggest further research with larger samples.

[Psychosocial characteristics of an initial sample of Puerto Rican centenarians]. / Caracteristicas psico-sociales de una muestra inicial de centenarios puertoriqueños.

This is the first research done in Puerto Rico presenting a basic socio-demographic profile of a sample of Puerto Rican centenary elderly that also includes psychological characteristics. The sample consist of eleven subjects, divided in five women and six men (mean age sample = 102.4 years) evaluated with a battery of psychological instrument that include the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R); the Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI-II); the Beck Suicide Scale (BSS); the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS); the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Folstein Mini-Mental. Main findings demonstrate that, with the exception of anxiety and hopelessness symptomatology, this particular sample is with a good psychological health. It is recommended to continue this type of research with a bigger sample and include other psychological and psychiatric screening instruments.

Factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) with Puerto Rican elderly.

The Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II; (1) is one of the most useful measures for depressive symptomatology in many countries (2). The psychometric properties of this inventory, however, have not been reported with Puerto Rican elderly. This paper reports, exploratory psychometric results with a sample of 410 elderly Puerto Rican (65 years and older; men=94, women=316). The assessment of the construct validity of the BDI-II yielded four factors accounting for 52% of total variance and an internal reliability coefficient (alpha Cronbach) of .89. A factor analysis with the 21 items of the BDI-II was performed using principal component analysis as the extraction method and Varimax rotation. This analysis revealed that the BDI-II was a good measure of the dimensions of depressive symptomatology in the present sample, which resembled prior findings reported with the general Puerto Rican Population (3). This study also reports further data supporting the reliability, validity, and practical utility of the BDI-II for the Puerto Rican population including elders. Implications for potential research with minorities and clinical uses of the BDI-II are also discussed.

Metabolic Correction in Patients Sample with Diabetes: Clinical Outcomes and Costs Reductions.

Diabetes is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Diabetes complications produce profound impact on patient's quality of life and represent very significant economic cost to patients, their family, the government and society as a whole. Metabolic correction has been proposed as an efficient method to improve clinical outcomes and reduce costs in diabetes. Metabolic correction is a concept that supports health maintenance and promotes the healing processes by improving the body's biochemical-physiological mechanisms. This is done by helping activate the metabolic enzymes necessary to facilitate key physiological pathways. A group of 50 patients followed a simple metabolic correction strategy based on hydration, diet, and magnesium supplementation during a 6 months period. Outcomes measures included laboratory testing, anthropometric measures and medication use including its related costs. Patients had an average weight loss of 9.4 lbs (↓5.0%) from baseline at month 3 and 12 lbs (↓6.4%) at month 6. Waist circumference decreased on average 3.7 inches (↓9.0%) from baseline at month 3 and had further decrease to 5.5 inches (↓13.4%) from baseline at month 6. Laboratory testing of average triglycerides decreased from a baseline of 156.9 to 116.7 (↓25.6%) at month 3 and maintained a reduction of ↓24.2% by month 6. Total cholesterol concentration decreased from a baseline of 181.1 mg/dL to 173.9 (↓4.0%) in month 3 and to 171.1 (↓5.5%) at month 6. Average HgA1c decreased from baseline of 7.17 to 6.52 (↓9.1%) at month 3 and maintained 6.52 at months 6. The atherogenic index decreased from 4.18 at baseline to 3.85 at month 3 (↓7.9%) and then 3.47 (17.0%) at month 6. Medication use and cost was quantified in various ways. The average baseline monthly diabetes medication cost per patient of $124.10 was reduced to $ 78.23 (↓36.7% reduction) at month 3 and to $62.80 (↓49.4% reduction) at month 6. A simple and well structured metabolic correction program that includes a significant educational component, dietary modifications and dietary supplement intake was able to maintain or improve vital signs, anthopometric and laboratory measurements that correlate with improved clinical diabetes and cardiovascular health. This outcome was achieved while decreasing the use medications at month 3 and 6 at significant cost savings.

El suicidio en ancianos puertorriquenos / Siucide in Puerto Rican elderly

En el último siglo han ocurrido cambios demográficos en la población puertorriqueña en los cuales se destaca el aumento progresivo de la población de edad avanzada. Se argumenta que estos cambios en el tamaño y la proporción de la población han sido el producto de múltiples factores entre los que se incluyen el descenso en la mortalidad y en la natalidad así como del movimiento migratorio entre personas menores de 35 años de edad. La literatura sugiere que la natalidad es el factor que mas influye en términos del aumento de la población de 65 años en adelante (Sanchez-Viera, 1981). Teniendo presente este aumento en la población de envejecientes, se discuten en el presente trabajo cuales son los factores psicológicos y sociales que pueden llevar al envejeciente a cometer suicidio. El suicidio ha sido definido como la motivación voluntaria en donde la persona toma acción sobre finalizar su vida por un deseo personal, no por creencias religiosas o factores externos (Schneidman, 1985). Para explorar cómo se ha desarrollado en los años 1980 a 1990 este problema en Puerto Rico, hemos realizado uno de los primeros estudios epidemiológicos retrospectivos en esta area donde presentamos el total de suicidios, los métodos utilizados y una comparación entre las tasas de suicidio de la población de 65 años o mas y el resto de la población. Una vez realizada la anterior comparación, encontramos que la pob]ación de envejecientes tiene una diferencia en la tasa promedio de suicidios 12 puntos mayor que la población general. Finalmente, se señalan algunas de las técnicas de prevención y tratamiento expuestas en la literatura revisada, exhortando a una concientizacion mayor de la población general sobre esta problemaática. Se enfatizan factores de prevención para evitar el suicidio en la población de envejecientes puertorriquenos, y se mencionan algunos factores importantes a ser considerados en términos de política pública gubernamental para la prevención del suicidio.