Metabolic Diet Supplement

This dietary supplement is formulated by Doctor Poon to help his patient to combat obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides).

One bottle contains 100 capsules to be taken three times per day.

These are all hallmarks of Metabolic Syndrome.

There are 10 ingredients in this formula.

1. Coenzyme Q10 is a good source of ubiquinone, which is an important compound in fat metabolism. Low ubiquinone level could lead to congestive heart failure in patient who has a weak heart. Some cholesterol lowering medications such as Crestor, Lipitor and Zocor were found to deplete our ubiquinone storage. A common side effect of this group of medication is muscle ache. Taking Coenzyme Q10 can minimize the level of ache. However, the dosage of Coenzyme Q10 has not been determined yet. Coenzyme Q10 can be found naturally in red meat and vegetables. There is no known side effect of Coenzyme Q10.
   
   
2. Folic acid is an oxidized form of folate and is not found in nature but is the pharmacological form of this vitamin. Folic acid is used to lower the serum homocysteine level, prevent neural tube defect of fetus, and treat megaloblastic anemia. Patients who have high cardiovascular risk have high level of homocysteine level in their blood. High homocysteine level in blood can cause damage to the blood vessel wall that promote blood clotting (thrombosis) and smooth muscle cell proliferation leading to narrowing of the blood vessel. Whether folic acid supplementation can decrease the risk of thrombosis and/or prevent heart disease is still unknown. Because of low toxicity of this vitamin supplement, most nutritionist agrees that it should be used in the high-risk population.
   
   
3. Vitamin B3 is also known as Niacin. It requires an essential amino acid tryptophan for niacin synthesis. Elevated serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride levels, and diminished level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level are all independent risk factors for heart disease. Niacin has the ability in reducing these risk factors by increasing the HDL-C while decreasing the LDL-C and triglycerides levels.
   
   
4. Chromium picolinate is an essential trace element in our diet. Its main function is to potentiate insulin action and increase insulin sensitivity. Deficiency of chromium can leads to high blood sugar, elevated blood fatty acid level and abnormal function of the nervous system. Chromium picolinate was found to be able to help burning fat, increasing the muscle mass and leading to weight loss.
   
   
5. Calcium is present in all kinds of food other than dairy products. It is found in abundance in fish, meat, dark green vegetables and beans. The rate of bone fracture is lower in countries that consume less diary product than North America. If you rely on diary product as your source of calcium intake, you are likely to be consuming extra amount of saturated fat and carbohydrates. Supplement with calcium is found to be more effective way to prevent osteoporosis. Some calcium loss through the kidney occurs during ketosis and taking this supplement can prevent bone loss.
   
   
6. Magnesium is important in calcium metabolism. One of the features of Metabolic Syndrome and type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance, which can lead to hyperinsulinemia. High blood insulin level causes magnesium deficiency that can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine headache, muscle cramp, premenstrual syndrome, anxiety, depression and other psychiatric disorders. Patients with Metabolic Syndrome should have their serum magnesium level done yearly.
   
   
7. Potassium is present in abundance in fruits, vegetable and meats. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you have to eat a banana or to drink a glass of the orange juice to replenish your potassium. A banana carries 32 g of sugar and starch that can ruin your diet. Unless you are taking a very large dose of water pills (diuretics), you do not need to take prescription strength potassium supplementation. Also there are many different kinds of water pill and some of them can be potassium neutral (e.g. Dyazide) or potassium retaining (e.g. Aldectone). The patient may also be taking other blood pressure pill that can cause potassium retention (e.g. Altace). One pill may be balancing out the other with regarding to the potassium effect. The safest way to find out if potassium is needed is by doing a blood test. For patients who are not taking any of those pills, an extra amount of potassium is lost when they increase their water consumption. A small amount of potassium supplementation can be of benefit to the patient in order to prevent muscle ache and cramp. Increase in potassium intake can help to eliminate sodium from our body and help with lowering water retention and high blood pressure.
   
   
8. Vitamin D supplementation can be helpful in facilitating the absorption of dietary calcium and its metabolism.
   
   
9. Vitamin B6 deficiency can produce glossitis, stomatitis, angular cheilosis, irritability, depression and confusion. Vitamin B6 helps with the synthesis of niacin, which in turn treats dyslipidemia.
   
   
10. Vitamin B12 helps with hemoglobin metabolism. It was found to help with mental alertness, energy and depression. People who take folic acid need to take Vitamin B12 at the same time.
    
    

This supplement is by no mean a replacement for diet and exercise. For patients who have difficulty in losing weight, even if they are following the diet program, this supplement can increase their chance of success. It can also augment this diet in treating the underlining diseases. Treat all supplements as medications. You are advised to ask your doctor for an advice before taking any supplements.

Dr. Poon's Metabolic Diet Formula Supplement is available for purchase online at www.ontarionutrition.ca