Cal-M™ - How it Works

Background

Minerals

Calcium and magnesium are essential minerals which are the primary mechanical components of bones and teeth and absolutely required for voluntary and involuntary muscle contraction, nerve firing and energy (ATP) production¹. These two nutrients also play central roles in membrane selective permeability, electrolyte balance and salt transport. While calcium and magnesium deficiencies are often related to osteoporosis, magnesium deficiency can also result in muscle twitching, muscle wasting and puzzling patient nervousness. Both metals are cofactors in dozens of critical enzymes of metabolism; because of this deficiencies always become manifest. The first serious consequences are detectable as disturbances of muscle function displayed as cramping and spasms. The nutrients in Cal-M are balanced towards delivering a high ratio of magnesium to calcium, considering that magnesium is most often deficient in the modern diet – especially for those recovering from injury. Because it is phosphorus-free, Cal-M is ideal for patients in whom it is desirable to raise calcium and magnesium levels without adding any additional phosphorus to the diet.

Vitamin D3

Vitamin D3 is necessary not only for absorption of calcium from the gut but for calcium utilization by bone forming, osteoblast cells. In addition, vitamin D3 is responsible for the quick release of sequestered calcium in muscle cells for stimulation of muscle contraction². The rapid release of calcium in many tissues, signaled by vitamin D3, has been implicated in the metabolism of hepatocytes, enterocytes and parathyroid cells. Vitamin D3 is also important for suppressing autoimmune response by interacting, without involving calcium, in the manner of a hormone with immune cells³. D3 is much preferred over D2, with much higher activity than the related vitamin D2⁴. Recent studies report that a large number of North Americans are deficient in this vitamin, especially over the winter season, and the cost to our society by this epidemic is enormous⁵.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - is the key factor required for the formation of γ-aminobutyrate, a derivative of glutamate involved in neuronal regulation. γ-Aminobutyrate is the primary inhibitor of pain neurotransmission with GABA being quickly synthesized in the brain by local decarboxylases⁶. Pyridoxine is the essential vitamin required for the one-step, catalytic conversion from glutamate to γ-aminobutyrate. Many drugs, for instance anti-mycobacterial agents, induce a state of pyridoxine deficiency by depleting the cells of this important, water-soluble vitamin. Supplementation with pyridoxine alleviates potential drug side-effects and promotes localized pain relief via GABA biosynthesis.

Vitamin B1 (thiamin)

Vitamin B1 (thiamin) one traditional and current treatment for pain is alcohol. Consumption of this drug by patients is almost totally beyond the control of the health practitioner. While a few ounces may be just what the doctor ordered for acute conditions for short periods, chronic use leads inevitably to thiamin deficiency. While all mammalian cells suffer from thiamin deficiency during alcoholic episodes, the neurons seem particularly sensitive to thiamin depletion. It becomes crucial to supplement the diet with thiamin to avoid neural damage from alcohol use, for whatever reason⁷.

Niacin

Niacin is an essential, water-soluble vitamin required for proper energy metabolism. It is the functional portion of the famous coenzymes NAD, NADH, NADP and NADPH, where niacin is covalently bound with ribose and adenine. The NAD series are intimately involved with energy production (ATP and GTP) in the mitochondria, sugar oxidation, reduction of hemoglobin back to the functional form after heavy drug use and reverses lipid peroxidation after tissue damage.

References

1. Mathews, C.K. and Van Holde, K.E. (1996). Biochemistry, 2nd edition, Benjamin/Cummings Publishing, Menlo Park, CA.
2. Falkenstein, E. et al., (2000). Multiple Actions of Steroid Hormones – a Focus on Rapid, Nongenomic Effects. Pharmacological Reviews 52: 513-555.
3. Deluca, H.F. and Cantorna, M.T. (2001). Vitamin D: its role and uses in immunology. FASEB Journal 15: 2579-2585.
4. Trang, H.M. et al., (1998). Evidence that vitamin D3 increases serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D more efficiently than does vitamin D2. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 68: 854-858.
5. Hanley, D.S. and Davison, K.S. (2005). Vitamin D Insufficiency in North America. Journal of Nutrition 135: 332-337.
6. Jasmin, L, Wu, M.V. and Ohara, P.T. (2004). GABA puts a stop to pain. Curr. Drug Targets CNS Neurol. Disord. 3(6): 487-505.
7. Martin, P.R., Singleton, C.K. and Hiller-Sturmhöfel, S. (2003). The role of thiamine deficiency in alcoholic brain disease. Alcohol Research and Health 27(2): 134-142.

Supplement Facts - Cal-M™

Supplement Facts
Serving Size 3 Tablets Servings Per Container 30
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value
Vitamin D
(as cholecalciferol)	400 IU	100%
Thaimin
(as thiamin mononitrate)	45 mg	3000%
Niacin	90 mg	450%
Vitamin B6
(as pyridoxine hydrochloride)	45 mg	2250%
Calcium
(from calcium lactate)	250 mg	25%
Magnesium
(from magnesium oxide)	200 mg	50%
*Daily Value not established

Quality Assurance Statement - Anabolic Laboratories

Founded in 1924, Anabolic Laboratories formulates and manufactures clinical nutrition products. Our expertise in pharmaceutical manufacturing, patient programs, and clinician training sets the standard for health care professionals.

At Biossential Nutrition, we pride ourselves in offering the best products available to our customers. Offering the highest quality products & individual ingredients, as well as ensuring our products are effective & work as advertised, are the mains goals we strive to achieve with our product offerings.

Why We Recommend Anabolic Laboratories Nutritional Supplements

History

Anabolic Laboratories was founded as a nutritional products company in 1924 and became a pharmaceutical manufacturer in 1940. Anabolic Laboratories is one of the oldest manufacturers of nutritional products in the world.

Standards

As a pharmaceutical manufacturing operation, the standards used for raw materials, production and finished product testing exceed the new requirements for nutritional product manufacturing.

Quality

Pharmaceutical standards of manufacturing provide nutritional products with label accuracy, potency and purity as dictated by the USFDA (United States Food & Drug Administration).

Formulas

A nutritional program and clinical formulas that are based on the specifications used in the scientific research.

The Need To Consider Quality:

Of the magnesium supplements tested by ConsumerLab.com, 25% failed to meet quality standards. One magnesium supplement contained only 45.4% of labeled amount, despite boasting a "GMP" (Good Manufacturing Practices) seal on its label, and another supplement provided only 28.8% of the labeled amount.
Reference: ConsumerLab.com, Magnesium Supplement Reviews and Quality Ratings, Posted 5/19/09

Tests by ConsumerLab.com have found multivitamins that were short on ingredients, failed to dissolve properly, or were contaminated with heavy metals.
ConsumerLab.com, New Product Review: Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements, Posted 4/1/09

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that manufacturing problems have been associated with dietary supplements. Products been recalled because of microbiological, pesticide, and heavy metal contamination, and because they do not contain the dietary ingredients they are represented to contain, or they contain more or less than the amount of dietary ingredient claimed on the label.
Reference: June 22, 2007, FDA @ http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dscgmps7.html