DISORDERS

Disorder: CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF)

Description: Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that begins to clog the lungs with a thick, life-threatening mucus in early childhood. The gene responsible for CF was identified in 1989. All human cells (except red blood cells, eggs, and sperm) contain two copies of this gene, one inherited from each parent. CF results when both copies of the gene are abnormal. If one copy is abnormal and one is normal, an individual will show no signs of CF but is a carrier capable of passing a defective gene on to offspring. A child of two carrier parents has a 1 in 4 chance of inheriting CF; a 1 in 4 chance of being completely free of the mutant gene; and a 1 in 2 chance of being a carrier like the parents. About 8 million people in the U.S. may be carriers.

Symptoms: Symptoms begin early in life. Glands in the lungs and bronchial tubes secrete large quantities of thick, sticky mucus that blocks lung passages and traps harmful bacteria, resulting in chronic coughing and wheezing, difficult breathing, and recurrent lung infections. Thick secretions also often obstruct the release of pancreatic enzymes, resulting in digestive difficulties and malabsorption problems, particularly with metabolism of fats. Malnutrition often results because nutrients from foods are not properly absorbed. This can cause pain after eating and, especially in young children, failure to gain weight normally. Persons with this disorder also lose large amounts of salt through their sweat glands. Sweating may be profuse. Other signs suggestive of CF include clubbing of the fingers and toes (due to poor circulation); infertility; greasy, bulky, foul-smelling stools; and salty-tasting skin. An individual may have any or all of these symptoms.

Incidence: Cystic fibrosis is the most common inherited illness among Americans of northern and western European ancestry, affecting some 30,000 people. It occurs with approximately equal frequency in men and women, and is far more common in Caucasians (an estimated incidence of 1 in 2400) than in African-Americans (1 in 17,000).

Causes: CF is caused by a defect in a gene that encodes instructions for a protein that regulates the passage of salt in and out of the cells of the body’s exocrine glands. This glitch in genetics affects many different glands in the body including the pancreas, sweat glands, and glands of the digestive and respiratory system.

Treatments: The identification of the CF gene has enabled researchers to begin developing new approaches to diagnose and treat the disease. To keep the body as strong as possible, a person with cystic fibrosis is encouraged to eat a well-balanced diet and to take specially prepared supplemental pancreatic digestive enzymes, plus multivitamin/mineral supplements as prescribed by their physician or nutritionist.

The dosages suggested below are for adults. For children between the ages of 12 and 17, reduce the dose to three-quarters of the recommended amount. For children between 6 and 12, use one-half the recommended dose, and for children under six, use one-quarter the recommended amount.

Supplement Dosage Comments

Herbs:

Recommendations:

Considerations:

Medical Alert: The correct types and amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements should be individualized by the patient’s own physician or nutritionist.

Vitamin For Life Recommended Regimen and cost:

Sources:

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 2^nd Edition

By James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.

Prevention’s Healing with Vitamins, by the Editors of

Prevention Magazine Health Books

Alternative Medicine, The Definitive Guide

Compiled by the Burton Goldberg Group