By Mila McManus, MD

It’s been a while since we posted an article about this, so I wanted to revisit it. LDN is a great example of a surprisingly useful prescription drug for three reasons. First, LDN does not mask symptoms, unlike most prescription drugs. Second, it regulates a dysregulated immune system and reduces inflammation.  Third,  LDN has no known side effects other than transient effects on sleep and vivid dreams.

Since inflammation and immune dysregulation are at the root of many diseases, especially autoimmunity, clinicians are using it for a whole range of conditions involving inflammation and immune dysregulation, including Hashimoto’s, Grave’s, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, MS, ALS, alopecia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and neurogenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.  LDN is also used as a complementary medicine by functional specialists for cancer and HIV/AIDS, as well as for post-radiation salivary gland destruction, chronic allergic rhinitis, nerve damage, autism, shingles, weight management, infertility, and migraines.

A Little Background on LDN

The original commercial prescription use of Naltrexone was approved by the FDA in 1984 in a 50mg dose and was used for helping opiate addicts get off illegal and prescription drugs by blocking opiate receptors.  It’s also used to reverse opiate overdose (e.g., heroin, morphine). Since then, many doctors have pioneered the use of Naltrexone at very low doses, thus the name Low-Dose Naltrexone, or LDN. One of the first was Bernard Bihari, MD, a physician in New York City who was interested in treating cancer and AIDS patients. He discovered that low doses, between 3 and 4.5 mg, had very beneficial effects on the immune system.   Over the last 25 years, there have been increasingly more clinical trials with favorable results. Additionally, clinical and anecdotal experience is showing improvements for a wide variety of conditions. Studies with LDN have been especially encouraging for treating Crohn’s, with over a 70% remission rate and even complete mucosal healing as evidenced by colonoscopy in some cases.

Mechanisms of LDN

So far, two main mechanisms of LDN have been identified.  First, LDN modulates the immune system by helping the T regulatory cells balance immune function without suppressing the body’s ability to regenerate and repair.  T regulatory cells are responsible for turning inflammation on and off in the body.  Patients with overactive immune systems (such as asthma, allergies, and autoimmune conditions) have immune systems that get “stuck in overdrive.”  LDN helps to get the system balanced again. 

Second, LDN reduces inflammation in the central nervous system, which is thought to play a significant role in fibromyalgia, other forms of chronic pain, and depression.  In the central nervous system, receptors are found on certain brain cells called microglia.  These cells can become chronically activated, resulting in neurotoxicity, which causes a cascade of symptoms that are associated with chronic pain, fatigue, mood disorders, and cognitive problems.  LDN reduces inflammation and quiets the microglia, which slows or stops the cascade of symptoms.

Other Important Advantages

Another important advantage is that LDN is safe for almost everyone. People who regularly use opioid drugs or narcotic pain medication should not take LDN (however, there is a newer FDA-approved morphine that has a VERY low dose of LDN combined with it).  LDN is not addictive and can be stopped abruptly without harm or withdrawal.

While most conventional healthcare practitioners are unfamiliar with LDN, it’s gained popularity in functional medicine. At TWIHW, we’ve been prescribing LDN for several years for all sorts of health issues.  Because it’s specially compounded, it’s not covered by insurance.  Dosing is very personalized for each patient. In our practice, the dose varies from 0.5mg per day to 4.5mg twice daily.  Depending on the purpose or need, it can be formulated into capsules, sublingual drops, topical creams, nasal sprays, and eye drops.

Is LDN right for you? Be sure to ask your medical provider during your next visit!

Resources:

http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/

by Mila McManus, MD

Research is revealing the substantial ravages sugar has on coronary arteries. Over the last decade, the obesity and diabetes epidemics have propelled an especially large number of research studies across the globe to determine the cause.  One consistent outcome across them was not all that surprising: Sugar is a driver of all lifestyle diseases, not just obesity and diabetes!  It is also what is driving coronary artery disease and stroke, as well as ADD/ADHD, Cancer, and Auto-immune diseases.  Cholesterol medications won’t protect your health from the effects of sugar and other damaging dietary choices.  Sorry.

Just a century ago, people consumed about 15 grams of sugar per day, mostly from pure cane sugar.  Today, the typical person consumes a whopping 73 grams of sugar per day, mostly in foods sweetened with the cheaper corn-derived fructose sugar. It’s no wonder that our arteries are deteriorating.  A more subtle source of sugar intake comes from refined grains in the Standard American Diet (SAD).

A direct relationship is being established between sugar, particularly fructose, and coronary artery disease.  Specifically, the findings include:

• Sugar can increase your systolic blood pressure.
• Sugar can cause hardening of the arteries.
• Sugar increases triglyceride levels, increasing the risk for heart disease.
• Sugar and grains break down into glucose, elevating insulin, the hormone that tells the body to store deep belly, visceral fat, which releases proteins and hormones that lead to inflammation and damage to arteries. [Click HERE to read more about how glucose and insulin work in the human body]

It comes down to the fact that sugar and refined grains are inflammatory foods that ravage our coronary arteries and destroy cellular structures, leading us to today’s most common reasons for death, all of which are degenerative diseases.  The most common causes of death today include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and now obesity. Choosing health means choosing a better lifestyle. A better lifestyle must include a drastic reduction in sugar intake and a substantial increase in whole plant organic foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and animal sources of protein and fat.

Be nice to your arteries. Stop the sugar. Be Well.

Reference:

https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar

https://www.scripps.org/news_items/7679-how-does-sugar-affect-your-heart-health

There are many supplements that support weight loss and weight management.  As you clean up your diet, eat less, and move more, you may want to consider adding one or more of these to aid your efforts. It’s possible to be deficient in some of them, and your battle of the bulge may be an uphill one as a result.

• Collagen[1] – The most abundant protein in the body, collagen makes up the majority of your muscles, ligaments, tendons, and skin. As we age, we produce less of it, resulting in sagging skin, achy or swollen joints, less energy, and a decline in muscle mass.  Adding collagen can help support appetite suppression, satiation, increased lean muscle mass, and improved metabolism.
• Curcumin[1] – Found in the Indian spice turmeric, curcumin is an anti-inflammatory agent, and obesity is considered a low-grade inflammatory disease. In fact, overeating causes inflammation.  Curcumin also helps regulate metabolism by increasing the hormone adiponectin.  In one study involving 1,600 people, curcumin was found to help reduce weight, waist circumference, and overall body mass index.  Curcumin also aids in liver detoxification and enhances fat burning, which in turn boosts weight loss.
• 5-htp – Naturally occurring in the body, this amino acid derivative is a precursor to serotonin. Serotonin is produced in both the gastrointestinal tract and the brain, playing a crucial role in regulating mood, promoting calmness, and facilitating sleep.  It can also help reduce carbohydrate cravings and support healthy eating patterns. [Are you a stress eater?]
• Hepatothera [2] – Successful dieting and detoxification require support for the liver to perform its many duties. This supplement is designed to support cellular levels of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) – the crucial antioxidants that protect hepatocytes and help detoxify everyday foreign substances. Moreover, some studies suggest that because toxins are stored in our fat cells, the more toxins we carry, the more fat the body wants to make to sequester them.
• Fiber – Essential for good gut health, fiber helps cleanse the intestinal tract. It is essential to keeping the bowels moving, assists with a feeling of fullness, and feeds our favorable gut bacteria.  It is essential to drink plenty of water when taking Fiber Supplements.  
• L-Tyrosine – This amino acid helps to boost chemicals in the brain that affect energy, mood, and appetite. It is also a precursor to thyroid hormone, and thyroid hormones affect metabolism.
• Hiphenolic[3] – This supplement combines Lemon Verbena Leaf Extract and Hibiscus Flower Extract with Green Coffee Bean Extract, creating a powerful combination of plant polyphenols that work synergistically to activate AMPK and promote optimal metabolic efficiency by modulating fat metabolism.

So, eat better, eat less, move more, and consider complementing your efforts with one or more of these supplements, all of which are available in our office. And, of course, we also offer weight loss protocols with injectibles. Call 281-298-6742 to inquire.

Cheers to better health and to better weight!

References:

Published Saturday, December 12, 2020

by Mila McManus, MD