sackie B3, selenium, and CFS

[Guest guest]

Hi, all.

It is well-known that people with chronic fatigue syndrome (PWCs)

often test positively for various viral infections. In the U.S.,

these commonly include the herpes family viruses Epstein--Barr,

cytomegalovirus and HHV-6A. There are reports in the literature of

sackie B3 viral infections being found in PWCs as well, but these

reports appear to originate primarily from the U.K. and from other

European countries, not from North America. I have been puzzling

over this apparent difference for some years.

Recently I learned of the work of Prof. Harold D. of the

University of in Canada (http://www.hdfoster.com). Among

other things, Prof. has advanced a recommendation for the

treatment of AIDS that is based on supplementing selenium and three

of the amino acids (tryptophan, cysteine and glutamine). The basis

for this treatment is his theory that the HIV virus produces full-

blown AIDS by depleting the body of these nutrients. In his view,

the virus does this by expressing the enzyme glutathione peroxidase,

which is encoded in its genome. This enzyme requires these

nutrients for its synthesis. I think this is a very promising

approach to the treatment of AIDS, as his initial testing has shown

(Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine 20(2), pp. 67-69 (2005)).

Prof. notes, based on the work of E.W. (Journal of

Orthomolecular Medicine 12(4), pp. 227-239 (1997)) that not only the

HIV virus, but also several other viruses are known to encode for

selenoproteins in their genomes, and he suggests that these viruses

may produce infections by depleting their hosts of selenium, also.

These viruses include sackie B3, Ebola Zaire, Molloscum

contagiosum, and hepatitis C.

It is known that the intake of selenium by the populations of the

U.K. and other European countries has been dropping in recent years

since the formation of the European Union and the consequent greater

proportion of the wheat consumed in these countries coming from

Europe rather than North America. Wheat from Europe is known to be

significantly lower in selenium content than that from Canada and

the U.S., because of differences in the soil contents in these areas

(Rayman, M.P., British Medical Journal 314, p. 387 (1997)).

Putting these propositions together, it occurs to me that perhaps

the reason for the occurrence of sackie B3 infections in PWCs in

the U.K. and other European countries, but for the most part not in

the PWCs in North America, may be a result of greater selenium

deficiency in the populations of the former countries as a result of

differences in food sources. sackie B3 may be more prevalent in

general in these populations because of the generally lower levels

of selenium in them.

This is not to say that selenium deficiencies are not also present

in PWCs in North America. In fact, it is known that mercury forms

stable complexes with selenium in the body, taking it out of

bioavailability. When glutathione depletion occurs, as it does in

many PWCs, the body is not able to rid itself of mercury with normal

efficiency. PWCs who are exposed to mercury from dental fillings,

fish consumption, or nearby environmental sources such as coal-fired

power plants, therefore experience a buildup of mercury in their

bodies, and this can deplete the bioavailable selenium, impacting

not only the activity of the glutathione peroxidase enzymes, but

also those that convert the thyroid hormone T4 to the more active

hormone T3, as well as the other selenoenzymes.

Nevertheless, sackie B3 appears to be much less prevalent among

PWCs in North America. Again, perhaps this is a result of a smaller

general prevalence of this virus in this population because of its

generally higher selenium levels.

As I noted in my poster paper at the most recent AACFS meeting last

October

http://www.cfsresearch.org/cfs/research/treatment/15.htm

the herpes family viruses that are found to be producing infections

in PWCs are highly prevalent in their latent state in the general

U.S. population, and they are reactivated at the onset of CFS. It

appears, based on work at the University of Rome which I cited in

that paper (Palamara, A.T. et al., Antiviral Research 27, pp. 237-

253 (1995)), that the reactivation of these viruses in PWCs is a

direct result of glutathione depletion.

I would appreciate receiving comments on these hypotheses.

Rich

[Guest guest]

Hi Rich,

As always, thanks for the info.

I can only add, from personal experience of years spent on thyroid

forums, that many AI hypothyroid patients are supposedly deficient in

selenium (not sure if this hypothesis has been tested out) and one of

the first line nutritional defenses is selenium supplementation. Many

patients reported improvement in fatigue levels when supplementing

with it.

I didn't find any noticeable change in my symptoms with prolonged

selenium supplementation, but on the other hand I DID notice big

changes when supplementing with chromium (primarily elimination of

carb cravings). Zinc is the other biggie that hypos are supposedly

deficient in, and people seem to respond too. (conversely HYPERthyroid

patients respond to zinc's antagonist copper). Have you looked at zinc

as well, Rich?

Unfortunately, zinc gives me hyper type symptoms, insomnia, racing

heart, anxiety. A bit of a dilema since my SpectraCell testing shows

me deficient in zinc.

Zinc's the only mineral I tested deficient in. Vitamins were B2, B12,

Pant. acid, D, and the amino acid, arginine (which is partially

synthesized from Glutamine and aspartate). Deficiencies of Asparagine

manifest as 1) fatigue, 2) immune stress. (i.e. 32% of RA patients

tested deficient for Asparagine in one study). Have you done any

research on Arginine, Rich? I'm not sure there's much out there yet.

penny

<richvank@a...> wrote:

>

>> I would appreciate receiving comments on these hypotheses.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Penny.

> Hi Rich,

>

> As always, thanks for the info.

***You're welcome.

Zinc is the other biggie that hypos are supposedly

> deficient in, and people seem to respond too. (conversely

HYPERthyroid

> patients respond to zinc's antagonist copper). Have you looked at

zinc

> as well, Rich?

>

> Unfortunately, zinc gives me hyper type symptoms, insomnia, racing

> heart, anxiety. A bit of a dilema since my SpectraCell testing

shows

> me deficient in zinc.

>

> Zinc's the only mineral I tested deficient in.

***Well, zinc is involved in over 200 enzymes in the body. It's

important for the immune system for one thing. It's also important

for making one type of superoxide dismutase, which takes care of

oxidizing free radicals. Maybe you could take a lower dosage and

work up slowly. Your symptoms may result from your being deficient

in zinc, and when you take it, your functions come back, sort of

like a herxheimer reaction. I think that going slow is best.

Everyone's body really does need zinc.

Vitamins were B2, B12,

> Pant. acid, D, and the amino acid, arginine (which is partially

> synthesized from Glutamine and aspartate). Deficiencies of

Asparagine

> manifest as 1) fatigue, 2) immune stress. (i.e. 32% of RA patients

> tested deficient for Asparagine in one study). Have you done any

> research on Arginine, Rich? I'm not sure there's much out there

yet.

***I'm not sure whether you really mean arginine or asparagine here,

since you mentioned both. But if you mean arginine, the main thing

I know about it is that it is the precursor for nitric oxide, which

is important for the immune system and also for dilating blood

vessels to give good circulation.

>

>

> penny

Rich

> >

[Guest guest]

Ack, no I meant asparagine. Thanks for catching that. It's not

talked about a lot (yet), but pretty interesting. the little

research I did on it made me think you might find it interesting as

well.

penny

> > Hi Rich,

> >

> > As always, thanks for the info.

>

> ***You're welcome.

>

> Zinc is the other biggie that hypos are supposedly

> > deficient in, and people seem to respond too. (conversely

> HYPERthyroid

> > patients respond to zinc's antagonist copper). Have you looked

at

> zinc

> > as well, Rich?

> >

> > Unfortunately, zinc gives me hyper type symptoms, insomnia,

racing

> > heart, anxiety. A bit of a dilema since my SpectraCell testing

> shows

> > me deficient in zinc.

> >

> > Zinc's the only mineral I tested deficient in.

>

> ***Well, zinc is involved in over 200 enzymes in the body. It's

> important for the immune system for one thing. It's also

important

> for making one type of superoxide dismutase, which takes care of

> oxidizing free radicals. Maybe you could take a lower dosage and

> work up slowly. Your symptoms may result from your being

deficient

> in zinc, and when you take it, your functions come back, sort of

> like a herxheimer reaction. I think that going slow is best.

> Everyone's body really does need zinc.

>

> Vitamins were B2, B12,

> > Pant. acid, D, and the amino acid, arginine (which is partially

> > synthesized from Glutamine and aspartate). Deficiencies of

> Asparagine

> > manifest as 1) fatigue, 2) immune stress. (i.e. 32% of RA

patients

> > tested deficient for Asparagine in one study). Have you done any

> > research on Arginine, Rich? I'm not sure there's much out there

> yet.

>

> ***I'm not sure whether you really mean arginine or asparagine

here,

> since you mentioned both. But if you mean arginine, the main

thing

> I know about it is that it is the precursor for nitric oxide,

which

> is important for the immune system and also for dilating blood

> vessels to give good circulation.

> >

> >

> > penny

>

> Rich

> > >