The Mosaic Diagnostics has been educating practitioners for over 15 years on how to help patients heal through cutting-edge testing, research and protocols. During our recent Environmental Toxin Summit, conducted on November 6-8, 2020, speakers reviewed patient cases, explained how to use diagnostic tests for toxins, pathogens, and metabolic imbalances in their practice, and reviewed what treatments they’ve found to be effective.
The following Q+A is a response to remaining questions speakers were unable to answer during their presentation.
The material contained within this article is not intended to replace the services and/or medical advice of a licensed healthcare practitioner, nor is it meant to encourage diagnosis and treatment of disease. It is for educational purposes only. Any application of suggestions set forth in the following portions of this article is at the reader’s discretion and sole risk. Implementation or experimentation with any supplements, herbs, dietary changes, medications, and/or lifestyle changes, etc., is done so at your sole risk and responsibility.
DALE BREDESEN, MD
Dr. Bredesen received his undergraduate degree from Caltech and his medical degree from Duke. He was postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Nobel laureate Prof. Stanley Prusiner. He was a faculty member at UCLA from 1989-1994, then was recruited by the Burnham Institute to direct the Program on Aging. In 1998 he became the Founding President and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and Adjunct Professor at UCSF; then in 2013 he returned to UCLA as the Director of the Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research.
Q: What do you do re: ketogenic diet in patient with cardiovascular risk, bad lipid profiles? Do you find they can still do a ketogenic diet ?
A: Absolutely—we see improved lipid profiles with the ketogenic diet (see KetoFLEX 12/3, described in the new book, The End of Alzheimer’s Program), which is plant-rich, high-fiber, low-carb, with appropriate fasting. We often see that patients are able to discontinue their statins.
Q: Do you have thoughts on progesterone dosing for proper trophic hormones?
A: You’ll want to talk to an expert in BHRT like Dr. Ann Hathaway, but typically people start with 100 mg of bioidentical progesterone at night. Then you’d like to see an estradiol: progesterone ratio of 80:2 or so, such that the ratio is between 10:1 and 100:1, following symptoms, of course.
Q: Which test do you prefer: NeuroQuant or PET scan to look at the brain?
A: Great point as these give different information. An amyloid PET scan will tell you whether there is amyloid present (although it may miss small amounts), and an FDG-PET will tell you whether there is reduced glucose utilization in a pattern compatible with Alzheimer’s (temporal and parietal loss, and increased specificity if there is reduction in the posterior cingulate and precuneus) as opposed to frontotemporal dementia (reduced in frontal and temporal regions) or Lewy body disease (reduced in parietal and occipital regions). The volumetric MRI (with NeuroQuant or NeuroReader) will show areas of atrophy. If there is a question about the diagnosis, then an FDG-PET is most helpful in differentiating Alzheimer’s from FTD or Lewy body disease.
JOSEPH PIZZORNO, ND
Dr. Joe Pizzorno, ND is a world leading authority on science-based natural medicine, a term he coined in 1978 as founding president of Bastyr University. A naturopathic physician, educator, researcher and expert spokesman, he is Editor-in-Chief of PubMed-indexed IMCJ, Chair of Board of IFM, board member of American Herbal Pharmacopeia, and a member of the science boards of the Hecht Foundation, Gateway for Cancer Research and Bioclinic Naturals. Author or co-author of six textbooks and 7 consumer books (Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, The Toxin Solution), he has been an intellectual, political and academic leader in medicine for four decades.
Q: I note your list of drugs causing or contributing to asthma included steroids. Could you comment on this? In your opinion, should steroids not be given to treat asthma?
A: Short term use is fine, long term is what causes the problems. The key mechanism appears to be causing bronchial spasm in susceptible people.
Q: Do you suggest testing both 25 OH vitamin D levels, and 1,25 OH levels?
A: Not unless there is a reason, such as:
1. 25-OHD3 does not go up in proportion to dosage
2. The have elevated serum ionic calcium
3. They have a granulomatous disease, which are known to cause over conversion
Q: the “3g/d” of fish oil, is that 3g of EPA/DHA or 3 g of ttl. fish oil?
A: Short term EPA/DHA. Long term fish oil.
Q: Can you water fast children safely? And for how long would you recommend
A: Yes. Must be closely monitored. Anything more than 2 days should be done at a facility specializing in fasting.
Q: Does following a blood type diet help reduce food reactions?
A: My clinical experience is “yes” but I’ve not looked for research.
Q: “100+mg/d” of DHEA? That’s a lot, no?
A: Yes! I only recommend considering in SLE unresponsive to the interventions discussed.
Q: What’s the best supplements to get the liver and kidneys working before doing a detox?
A: Not a simple answer. Get my book The Toxin Solution for detailed protocol. It is inexpensive.
Q: Does he like to have the Vitamin D with the Vitamin K to?
A: When using any of vitamins A, D and K, I prefer using them together.
Q: Testing for lead and arsenic via RBC best?
A: Sorry, don’t know and unclear from literature. At this time, blood lead and urinary arsenic have the most research.
Q: How often do you see aluminum toxicity and what might be the main source?
A: The aluminum toxicity is unclear to me, despite perusing the research. Probably real, but likely highly dependent on susceptibility.
Q: If I could only get one of your textbooks. Which one would you recommend to quickly figure out solutions to problems we would face in functional medicine practice.
A: Textbook of Natural Medicine! Has been the leading textbook in the field for 35 years. 5th edition—2 volumes, full color graphics for first time—just came out in August.
Q: I have patients that feel awful with glutithione supplementation. Thoughts?
A: Most likely sulfur metabolism problem. Check their urinary sulfite/sulfate ratio. If elevated, consider molybdenum.
Q: Do you have a specific detailed detox protocol for BPA and Phthalates?
A: Easy, stop exposure. These are non-persistent and clear within days.
Q: Protocol for Lead and mercury? Many thanks! Really enjoy your talk and your books!
A: Thank you! My protocol is the same for both:
· 500 mg NAC orally once or twice a day
· 250 mg DMSA oral every 3rd night
· 5 g fiber bid
· Patience—takes months to get these heavy metals out safely
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BEN LYNCH, ND
Dr. Ben Lynch is the best-selling author of Dirty Genes and President of Seeking Health, a company that helps educate both the public and health professionals on how to overcome genetic dysfunction. He received his doctorate in naturopathic medicine from Bastyr University. He lives in Seattle, WA with his wife and three sons.
Q: Will the Genetic Testing be available for CTNC/Functional Nutrition Health Coaches?
A: We offer wholesale pricing to licensed health professionals.
Q: Are there discounts for physicians for the StrateGene test?
A: Fullscript also carries StrateGene and possibly offers it to health coaches at a discount.
Q: Will Dr. Lynch be offering a discount on his test for those attending?
A: Seeking Health offers wholesale discount tier pricing based on volumes. Our wholesale team has information about this. I’m not sure of the tiers.
Q: Can you repeat the site for the courses?
A: Online courses are available here – and much of the content is actually given as part of StrateGene – so if a health professional buys StrateGene, they are given access to much of the online courses – which pertain to understanding pathways and incorporating them into practice.
LYN PATRICK, ND
Dr. Lyn Patrick ND graduated from Bastyr University in 1984 with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine and has been in private practice as a state licensed naturopathic physician in Arizona and Colorado for 35 years.
Q: How do you suggest we look at detoxing these chemicals?
A: Best way to “detox” is to prevent exposure. We call it “avoidance” in environmental medicine and it is the very first intervention we employ.
For toxicants that have short half-lives: BPA, perchlorate, solvents (TCE, PAH, etc.), organophosphate pesticides, atrazine, glyphosate (Round-up, etc.), phthalates, and arsenic the best intervention is to find the source (drinking water, diet, air pollution, off-gassing or source inside home) and remediate: water filtration, air filtration, and dietary changes are basic and necessary.
For persistent toxicants (lead, mercury, cadmium, organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, other persistent organic pollutants) interventions will necessitate lowering body burden. For metals: chelation is necessary using proven chelating agents like DMSA, DMPS and EDTA. For others high fiber, binders (cholestyramine, charcoal, clay, etc.) plus glutathione/phosphatidylcholine support and sauna to liberate fat-stored toxicants is necessary. For details look at the library of lectures available for members: National Association of Environmental Medicine (envmedicine.com)
Q: A lot of my patients have memory foam pet beds for their osteoarthritis (I’m a DVM). How long to de-gas?
A: I would not suggest waiting until they off-gas, just get rid of them and replace with something non-foam, why continue to expose animals to carcinogens and potent sources of neuroinflammation?
MARK FILIDEI, DO
Dr. Mark Filidei is an Internal Medicine physician who completed training in General Internal Medicine at Brown University. He is the Director of Integrative Medicine for the Amen Clinics. Dr. Filidei is an officially trained member of ILADS and treats Lyme disease and mold illness with both natural and conventional treatments. Dr. Filidei specializes in Hormone Replacement Therapy and the treatment of Mental Health disorders utilizing a functional medicine approach. He is a member of the Millennium TBI Network treating brain injury.
Q: Do you run your EBV PCR test through lab/quest? How frequent are Antibodies positive PCR positive for EBV in your patients?
A: Yes labcorp and quest. Positive quite often.
Q: For toxic encephalopathy, what is the most accurate test for toxic metal? Is it through hair, urine or blood?
A: All of them, provoked urine is the best.
Q: Can Biomin products be used in humans? Any studies?
A: I wish. No
Q: Before doing detox protocol do you make sure the person is methylating ok and have the right nutrients on board for detox?
A: There are many detox protocols, but glutatione and detox support always apart of it.
Q: What is the name of the organization?
A: Iseai
Q: Biomon says not available in US and Canada in the ad.
A: Correct
Q: Which method of mold testing for home or office is most reliable?
A: Ermi
