What Doctors Don't Tell YouThe transparency of the cornea is dependent on adequate supplies of vitamin A. A deficiency in this vital vitamin causes degeneration of the delicate cells, which is first seen by clouding of the transparent media, which is followed by ulceration and finally destruction. Vitamin B1 and B2 are also essential for maintaining the transparency of the cornea. Vitamin C is vital to the crystalline lens and the normal growth of the lens fibres. Its deficiency causes cataract, and is a very significant factor in the onset and development of glaucoma.
The crystalline lens is mainly composed of protein so that a protein deficiency can help to cause cataracts. The aqueous humour, the water like fluid occupying the anterior chamber of the eye, flowing through a central canal in the vitreous humour, on both sides of the curtain like retina, around the crystalline lens and the inner surface of the cornea, is the essential vehicle of nourishment to all these transparent components of the eye. A nutritional deficiency will impair the quality of the aqueous humour and the transparency of these vital optical structures.It is important to remember that nutritional deficiency doesn’t just occur in one nutrient alone, but a number. In prescribing nutritional therapy involving the nutrients in the vitamin B group or complex, care must be taken in administering vitamins owing to the fact that they are intimately related. An overdose of one designed to correct a specific deficiency can precipitate a deficiency in another.
So it is essential, in formulating preparations for correcting deficiencies in the B group of vitamins to administer a large number of these nutrients in the ratio that the body normally requires them.
>From our work in Africa we developed the following nutritional regimen.
For any cataract patients, supplements should include:
1) Protein in the form of milk and/or powdered milk or egg products, or other high protein foods. The patient’s diet should also be assessed and adjusted to increase the protein intake. A minimum daily intake in cases of eye disorder is 70 to 80 gm.
2) Dextrose or glucose is essential to the maintenance of the transparency of the crystalline lens at least 9 gm to 15gm dextrose per day.
3) Between 30,000 international units and 180,000 units of vitamin A, according to the the eye condition being treated.
4) Between 5 mg and 15 mg of vitamin B1.
5) Between 4mg and 12mg of vitamin B2.
6) Vitamin B6 of the same quantity as that of B2 (between 4mg to 12mg).
7) Between 0.1mg and 0.5mg of vitamin B12.
8) Between 400mg and 3,800mg of vitamin C.
9) Between 300 and 3,000 international units of vitamin D2.
10) Between 100 and 450 international units of vitamin E.
11) Vitamin K is essential to normal circulatory function; a deficiency renders the patient susceptible to haemorrhage. Besides ensuring a much higher rate of success in eye surgery, this vitamin also assists in controlling any possible haemorrhage.
12) Between 15mg and 45mg of nicotinic acid when taken three times daily.
13) Between 2mg and 6mg of folic acid.
14) Between 10mg and 30mg of para-aminobenzoic acid.
15) Between 10mg and 30mg of calcium pantothenate.
16) Between 250mg and 750mg of calcium lactate.
17) Between 250mg and 750mg of choline.
18) Between 250mg and 750mg
inositol.
19) Between 35mg and 100mg of magnesium is essential to normal muscle and nerve control.
20) Between 35mg and 100mg of potassium.
21) Other minerals shown to be necessary to the patient, such as iron.
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD
