levels in the blood are inversely proportional to cardiovascular risk (84). Although not a well publicized study, this statistical association is stronger than the association between high blood cholesterol and heart disease. Modern cooking techniques of deep frying, eating processed and highly refined foods has lead to a low intake of vitamin E compared to 50 years ago (85). In fact it is extremely difficult to obtain therapeutic levels of vitamin E even in an excellent diet.
Vitamin D
FORM - Cholecalciferol is considered the animal form of vitamin D. Ergocalciferol is the plant derived form of vitamin D and subsequently has no vitamin D activity in humans. AMC uses cholecalciferol which can be activated by the liver and kidneys to the biologically active forms of vitamin D.
FUNCTIONS - The active forms of vitamin D function to regulate body calcium (86). Regulating calcium levels in the body goes far beyond its role in good bone health (osteoporosis). Calcium balance is crucial for proper nerve, cardiac, skeletal muscle, smooth muscle (gastrointestinal motility and vascular tone), cell signaling, hormone, and cell membrane function (87). The importance of proper calcium metabolism and therefore proper vitamin D metabolism cannot be overstated. An imbalance of calcium metabolism has been hypothesised to be involved in a variety of chronic degenerative diseases (88, 89). With people spending so much time indoors and consuming a diet low in sea fish, vitamin D supplementation may be especially important to assure proper handling of supplemental calcium.
Vitamin K
FORM -The main form of vitamin K found in foods is phylloquinone. This is the form used in the AMC formula and is the form which can be readily activated to the biologically active form in the liver.
FUNCTIONS - Vitamin K has three major functions/affects in the body. It is needed to produce a variety of proteins, all of these specially, vitamin K-modified proteins can bind calcium (90). In essence this means that vitamin K has a role to play in biological activities which involve calcium. These include proper blood clotting (not to fast and not too slow), proper bone formation and dissolution and prevention of calcium oxalate kidney stones (91). These varied actions of vitamin K suggest that vitamin K may be beneficial in osteoporosis, speeding fracture healing, treating excessive bleeding from high doses of aspirin or coumarin drugs, and the treatment of kidney stones (92, 93).
OTHER NUTRIENTS
General
Some researchers consider these "other" nutrients as B vitamins (not chlorophyll and bioflavonoids). Although it is not clear that they are vitamins, it is clear that they may have some therapeutic benefits and that people with specific health conditions may require these nutrients beyond what the body is able to make (94). Some of the following substances have well established functions in the body which may account for their health-giving properties.
Choline
FUNCTIONS - Choline is a component of cell membranes and of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (95). Choline is also important for normal lung function (it is a major component of lung surfactant) as a component of lipoproteins (e.g. LDL and HDL) (96, 97). Since choline is part of phosphatidylcholine (lecithin), which can act as a good emulsifier , it is no surprise that choline is an excellent lipotrophic agent (98). Lipotrophic agents are able to help remove fat from the liver and prevent liver congestion and the development of a fatty liver. Choline deficient diets have been associated with the development of heptocellular carcinoma in animal models (99). A number of different populations appear to have an especially high requirement for choline including; pregnant or lactating women, a patient with liver cirrhosis, a malnourished patient, an infant, and possibly a person on long-term parenteral nutrition (100).
Inositol
FUNCTIONS - The important function of inositol in the body is as a part of the cell membrane component phosphatidylinositol (PI) (101). PI plays a very important role for intrcellular signal transmission of both hormones and neurotransmitters (101). It is therefore not surprising to find that inositol might be of some benefit in neuropathies (102). Inositol is extremely important for normal infant development (especially lung surfactant) and adequate intakes help prevent fat accumulation in the liver (i.e. it has lipotrophic activity, but not as potent as choline) (103).
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
ACTIONS - This nutrient, sometimes considered a type of B vitamin appears to have role in the promotion of healthy hair and skin. PABA may be helpful in the treatment of skin problems.
Lipoic acid
FUNCTIONS - This fatty acid type compound is considered a cofactor for two different enzymes, both of which are intimately involved with energy metabolism (104 ). Lipoic acid is also considered a potent antioxidant (105). Lipoic acid and its reduced form, dihydrolipoic acid are both able to keep sulfhydryl groups in a reduced form, thereby protecting sulfur containing proteins from oxidative damage (106). Furthermore, lipoic acid may play an important role in helping to prevent free radical membrane damage because of its ability to regenerate reduced vitamin C (ascorbate) which in turn is needed to regenerate reduced vitamin E (the main vitamin to protect cell membranes) (107). Lipoic acid's antioxidant activity may well account for its ability to help prevent cataracts and neuropathies in diabetic animal models (108 ).
Chlorophyll
The chlorophyll in AMC comes from alfalfa and wheat grass juice concentrates. Chlorophyll is produced in plant as a result of photosynthesis (the process of capturing light for energy). This substance is responsible for the green color of plants.
ACTIONS - Chlorophyll has a number of important therapeutic properties. Chlorophyll can aid in the regeneration of tissues and enhance production of red blood cells (109, 110). Chlorophyll also appears to be able to help check bacterial and toxin tissue destruction and actually have bacteriostatic action (111, 112). More recent work would suggest that chlorophyll also has anticarcinogenic and radioprotective properties (113).
Bioflavonoids
Bioflavonoids are a large group of plant pigment compounds (114). They give fruits and vegetables their bright colors. ACTIONS - These flavonoid compounds have strong antioxidant activity and appear to be able to modify the body's response to toxins such as allergens, viruses, and carcinogens (115, 116, 117). Besides having anti-inflammatory activity the flavonoids are especially helpful in connective tissue health (118). Since connective tissue is found throughout the body flavonoids have wide reaching health benefits.
MINERALS
General
Minerals are inorganic substances and must come from the earth. Minerals are what remains when organic substances (animals and plants) are completely burned. About 5% of our body weight is in mineral form, most of that in the bones. The main minerals which make up bones are calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. These three minerals along with potassium (the main intracellular mineral or ion) and sodium (the main extracellular ion) make up the macrominerals. All five of these minerals have established RDA's or in the case of sodium acceptable amounts. The microminerals which have been recognized as necessary for human health (e.g. essential) are iodine, iron, chromium, selenium, manganese, zinc,and copper. These minerals are needed in much smaller quantities than the macrominerals. Other minerals contained in the AMC formula, although no RDA or recommended amounts have been established they have known beneficial effects on human health including boron, silica, vanadium, and molybdenum. Sometimes the microminerals are considered trace minerals because they are only needed in very small amounts.
Obtaining the full spectrum of minerals may be even more important than vitamins. There are several reasons why mineral deficiencies are more common than vitamin deficiencies; (1) minerals can be difficult to extract from foods , (2) minerals can be difficult to absorb, as a variety of food factors can interfer with absorption, (3) since all minerals come from the earth if the soil is depleted of minerals then plant foods can end up depleted of minerals which occurs due to the use of synthetic fertilizers (119), (4) food processing techniques can leave foods depleted of minerals (120), (5) minerals can be lost be heavy exercise and heavy sweating and (6) low intakes. For example a number of surveys have found that intakes of minerals chromium and magnesium tend to be lower than recommended amounts (121).
Since mineral absorption can be difficult mineral supplements are better if they use more absorbable forms of minerals such as chelated minerals. When minerals are chelated (bonded) to organic compounds they can then be absorbed by a different mechanism which allows more absorption than the mineral in its free or
