Page 40 - Spring2012

Metformin is Seroquel – bipolar given the fact that this patient does not drink milk
the diabetes Metformin – to control the increased and spends most of his days indoors, along with a

diagnosis which many studies link to low vitamin
appetite caused by Seroquel
drug I often Social Services – (social worker) D levels. In my three years of working at this
6,7
think of when hospital I have never seen a pateint's vitamin D
A diet instruction for this patient was not or B levels tested or nutritional supplementation
I think of requested. The patient's diet history is poor, initiated.
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nutrient consisting mostly of refined foods and sugars. A healthy diet program of whole, unrefined
depletion. The patient does not drink milk and receives foods that work within the family budget should
little sunshine. No blood nutritional levels were be initiated. The entire family should be involved
drawn. No vitamin or mineral therapy is in place. in this new nutritional plan.
This approach should not devalue the benefit
A HOLISTIC APPROACH accomplished by pharmaceutical intervention,
The patient discussed above is taking Se- which is often necessary. Pharmaceutical therapy
roquel, a frequently prescribed psychotropic to suppress symptoms in combination with heal-
medication. A side effect of this medication is ing modalities such as nutritional therapy would
increased appetite and weight gain. The patient be the ideal approach.
was later prescribed Metformin to suppress the
increased appetite caused by the Seroquel. This THE REALITY
medication, usually used to control blood glu- The prospect of treating psychiatric condi-
cose in diabetics, is often prescribed to control tions nutritionally with or without pharmaceuti-
appetite in adolescents. cal intervention is promising and researched, but
1,2
Metformin is the diabetes drug I often rarely implemented in practice. I think nutritional
think of when I think of nutrient depletion. therapy is not part of the treatment plan nor is
Metformin is thought to decrease the absorp- it sought because the physician conducts the
tion of vitamin B by lowering intrinsic factor treatment plan and is not aware of or does not
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in the gut—which is necessary for the absorp- understand a nutrition-based therapy approach.
tion of this vitamin—or possibly through other Unless physicians have studied outside the
mechanisms. Reduced B serum levels occur parameters of the pharmaceutical industry pre-
3,4
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in up to 30 percent of those individuals who take sentation, they only understand how to treat a
Metformin chronically. Those with a higher risk disease process pharmaceutically. A physician’s
of developing the deficiency include this group of education and continuing education (classes,
adolescent patients, whose diet is poor and whose seminars, workshops, books, articles, studies) are
vitamin B intake is most likely inadequate. At all conducted and presented via a pharmaceutical
2
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B levels only slightly lower than normal for a partner or investment partner who is financially
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very short period of time, a range of symptoms involved and motivated within the industry.
such as poor memory, fatigue, and depression Other physicians believe that a therapy
may be experienced. 5 must be firmly grounded in "proven" fact be-
A holistic medical approach would treat the fore utilized; an assurance only afforded by the
“source” of this patient's disorders, which might pharmaceutical industry since research studies
include nutritional deficiency. It would be ap- are expensive to conduct.
propriate in this case to evaluate B blood levels, My greatest frustration is in observing how
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especially since the child presents with two of reluctant physicians are to give up “control” of
the symptoms typically caused by B deficiency. the patient, never asking another practitioner's
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If B was found to be low, analyze B intake advice about a treatment they do not understand,
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as well as the patient's ability to absorb B and even if the treatment is safe and has no ill side
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then suggest vitamin supplementation if he was effects.
unable to meet his increased B requirements
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through diet alone. GOOD NEWS
Vitamin D levels should also be evaluated, These days I observe more pharmacists, nu-
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