Nutritional therapeutics has largely been directed toward the recognition and
correction of nutritional deficiencies. However, it is now becoming more evident
that a loss of homeostatic equilibrium between nutrients can also have an
adverse impact upon health. A loss of this vital balance can lead to
sub-clinical nutritional disturbances, which outnumber overt deficiency
syndromes by ten to one. As stated by Vitale, "Determining nutritional
interrelationships is much more important than knowing mineral levels alone.
From a global standpoint, although dietary deficiency is at the more serious end
of the spectrum, the opposite end, dietary excess and aberrations contribute to
the burden of disease."
Although nutrients are generally synergistic, in that they work in concert to
maintain normal metabolic activity and health, imbalances between nutrients, for
whatever reason, can disrupt this synergistic relationship, producing relative
excesses and deficiencies. In the face of a nutrient deficiency, a normally
synergistic nutrient can become dominant and eventually lead to antagonism of
another nutrient through competition on an absorptive level, (intestinal
absorption) and a metabolic level (displacement) within cells tissue and organs.
The following links to the PDF mineral wheel graphics reveal some of the
antagonistic relationships between nutrients. The nutrient antagonisms shown in
these graphics represent as near as possible their biological relationships
based upon extensive research. These findings were developed by David L. Watts,
Ph.D. Director of Research for Trace Elements, and published between 1988 and
1994 in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine.
WHEELS - Over ninety percent of the calcium in the body is stored in the
bones and teeth, which act as reservoirs in which the calcium can be withdrawn
as required for extra-skeletal functions. Calcium is found in virtually every
cell throughout the body and is considered a biological messenger responsible
for carrying signals to target activities with cells through specific calcium
channels. Calcium is regulated in tissues and serum at the expense of skeletal
structures. It is regulated by the parathyroid, and kidneys and is affected by
insulin, adrenal, as well as male and female hormones. An imbalance of calcium
relative to its synergistic and antagonistic nutrients can be a major
contributor to osteoporosis even with adequate dietary calcium intake.
CHROMIUM WHEELS - Chromium is an essential trace mineral, important in
processing carbohydrates and fats, and helping cells respond properly to
insulin. It is known that chromium is a constituent of the glucose tolerance
factor (GTF) and is synergistic with insulin in promoting cellular glucose
uptake. Chromium is important for the structure and metabolism of nucleic acids.
A number of physiological and disease conditions are related to chromium status.
WHEELS - Copper is a constituent of many enzymes including cytochrome c
oxidase, superoxide dismutase, ceruloplasmin, dopamine B-hydroxylase, lysyl
oxidase and monoamine oxidase. An imbalance of copper relative to other
nutrients can disrupt the activity of these important enzyme functions. It
should be noted that excess copper is just as serious as copper deficiency. The
antagonistic nutrients shown in the following chart can aid in reducing
excessive tissue copper burdens.
WHEELS - Iron is involved in many metabolic processes, particularly
enzymes, and as a result, many clinical manifestations, including anemia, can
develop as a result of iron deficiency. While anemia is of course the most
recognized condition related to iron deficiency, other conditions, such as;
sideropenia can contribute to disturbances in immuno-modulation, endocrine,
physical and even emotional disorders. Iron excess or toxicity can be found at
the opposite end of the iron status spectrum, and can be specifically addressed
by providing nutrients that are antagonistic to iron.
MAGNESIUM WHEELS - Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the
body and is a key element in cellular metabolic functions. Magnesium is
responsible for activating over 200 critical enzymes. Due to the extensive role
of magnesium in biological processes recognizing its synergistic and
antagonistic role with other nutrients is extremely important and can greatly
enhance its therapeutic effectiveness in many health conditions.
MANGANESE WHEELS - Manganese is located largely in the mitochondria of
the cells. Therefore, the structure and function of mitochondria are
particularly affected by manganese status. Manganese is not only responsible for
activation of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase, but it also activates enzymes
associated with fatty acid metabolism and protein synthesis, which are highly
important for normal cellular function.
SELENIUM WHEELS - A direct biochemical role for selenium was found in
its' relationship to glutathione peroxidase activity. Selenium's synergistic
relationship to vitamin E found it to be an inhibitor of chemical carcinogens by
accelerating their detoxification. Selenium protects against chromosomal damage,
stimulates DNA repair and modulates the rate of cell division. Selenium has
since been found to play a role in normal thyroid expression and aids in the
peripheral conversion of T4 to T3 in the liver and kidneys.
WHEELS - Zinc is another important element that is essential for the
activity of over one-hundred enzymes. Zinc is involved in immune regulation,
anti-viral activities, growth and development, and perhaps its most important
role is the requirement of zinc in the synthesis of RNA. The balance of zinc
with other nutrients within the body is therefore critical for normal health but
assessment of this balance is critical when providing nutritional therapy.
VITAMIN A WHEELS - Vitamin A was one of the first fat-soluble vitamins
to be recognized and has many roles in body functions. Vitamin A status is not
only affected by its antagonistic and synergistic relationships with other
vitamins and minerals, but also by thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone
and adrenal hormones as well as protein status.
WHEEL - This nutritional wheel shows the common biological antagonisms
between the hormones. Hormones are known to affect nutritional status at several
levels including absorption, utilization, excretion, transport and storage of
nutrients. Nutrients in turn can exert an influence on hormones affecting their
secretions, activity, transport, receptors and target tissue binding sites.
Assessing nutritional status cannot be considered complete without evaluation of
the nutrient-endocrine interrelationships.