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ISSUE 1
Dr. Mark Rhodes Newsletter
7 March 2001
CONTENTS
Editorial - Introducing Myself
Summary of Cases Dated 12 February through 23 February 2001
Featured Test - Adrenal Stress Index
Editorial - Introducing Myself
ISSUE 1 — Dr. Mark Rhodes Newsletter, 7 March 2001
A few of you already know me. The rest of you will get to know me little by little as time goes on. I am sure my personality will come out in the web site and in my communications with you.
I am a research scientist who has the privilege of talking to health care providers around the country. I also get quite a few calls from Canada and the occasional one from France or the United Kingdom. What do we discuss? Usually we discuss patients and their laboratory test results. I help the doctors (and other providers) interpret what the numbers on the reports mean.
The more experienced doctors usually just want a "sounding board" for their interpretations and proposed therapy. So they set an appointment with me. Those not as familiar with the tests need more help. I ask them questions that are meant to probe into the causes of the particular patient's problems. I try to help them get at the real root of the problems. Then I usually give the doctors some ideas of what many other doctors would do for a patient in a similar situation. I have been doing this now for over four years. That translates to thousands of cases.
The typical patients involved may have seen several doctors before they found one who could really help. Many of their health problems are chronic. Many have been told that their problems are just in their heads. I get the true satisfaction of helping their doctors help the vast majority of them.
This is the first of many newsletters. The format may change over time, but for now, I will present a summary of two weeks' worth of cases, feature a supplement that works, and discuss a particular test or notable page on the web site. I expect you or some acquaintance will be able to relate to some of the cases. Perhaps you will discover the appropriate test that can be a step toward dramatically better health for you.
A vague idea for the web site has been in my head for some time. However, it was just the end of January that I decided to launch a comprehensive effort. I hope you enjoy watching the web site grow, but more than that, my goal is to serve you by providing information, supplements, tests, and other helpful materials so that you may experience a more healthy life.
Some portions of the newsletter or web site might be more suited for doctors rather than patients. Some portions will definitely be quite technical. However, I realize that patients want to know more than they did in the past. Please help me through time by giving me feedback so that this can become the best site and newsletter possible.
Summary of Cases Dated 12 February through 23 February 2001
ISSUE 1 — Dr. Mark Rhodes Newsletter, 7 March 2001
In this two-week period I talked to 20 health care providers from nine states. We discussed 32 tests on 28 patients. Twenty-eight of those patients were women (average age 53, range 36 to 77); five were men (average age 43, range 29 to 61).
Of the 32 tests, 12 were the Short Post Menopause Hormone Panel, five were the Adrenal Stress Index, five were the Female Hormone Panel (for cycling women), three were the Expanded Gastrointestinal Health Panel, and two were Male Hormone Panels. Then we discussed one each for the Regular Gastrointestinal Health Panel, the Long Post Menopause Hormone Panel, the Food Intolerance Panel, a single Progesterone sample, and a Candida screen.
As you can see, I deal with the accumulated effects of stress, female and male hormone problems, and GI complaints. Most patients are women, many of whom are experiencing the symptoms of diminishing ovarian hormone output. Most patients are under some degree of stress and have been for some time. I'll give two brief case studies here. These are current cases from a few days ago.
The first patient is a 29-year-old man. He had been so fatigued from stress that he had to quit a business that earned him a very good living. The doctor gave him the Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) kit to take home. He mailed in the four saliva samples, and I discussed the results with the doctor. The test results showed that the patient had a low morning cortisol and a very low level of DHEA. (Cortisol and DHEA are important stress hormones produced by the adrenals.) He was struggling to start the day and in a pro-catabolic state. The effects of ongoing stress also had reduced his overall immune response. And there was an indication that he might have some mild gluten intolerance.
The doctor will prescribe hydrocortisone to be taken in the morning and DHEA supplementation. He also will recommend the patient try avoiding gluten for a few months to see if that helps relieve some ongoing stress. Then another ASI is planned to monitor the patient's progress.
The second patient is a 38-year-old female also suffering from fatigue. I discussed her ASI results with her doctor. She also had very low DHEA and low immune response (salivary secretory IgA, i.e. antibodies). However, her cortisol pattern throughout the day was almost perfectly normal! This combination often confuses doctors the first time they see it and is a good reason not to rely on cortisol measurements only to deduce adrenal health.
This patient's adrenals had been working hard for some time. Initially, they had produced high cortisol levels. The stressors had not diminished to any great extent, and the adrenals were becoming less and less capable of producing cortisol. However, as the cortisol levels move from high output to low output, they pass through the normal range! The reason we know her cortisol had been high is that (assuming normal adrenal function originally) the SIgA and DHEA were both low, artifacts of high cortisol output in the past. And this interpretation fits her history.
In my opinion, this patient needs adrenal support and DHEA. She also needs AmlaPaste, vitamin E, and moderate exercise to boost her immune response.
Featured Supplement - Adapt
ISSUE 1 — Dr. Mark Rhodes Newsletter, 7 March 2001
In dealing with patients under stress I often mention a product called Adapt. It contains vitamins and minerals that aid adrenal function. Adapt helps place us in a more pro-anabolic state, improves protein synthesis, and helps with blood sugar control.
Featured Test - Adrenal Stress Index
ISSUE 1 — Dr. Mark Rhodes Newsletter, 7 March 2001
The Adrenal Stress Index (ASI) is an excellent test for many patients who have been under stress. It consists of a series of four saliva samples that depict the rhythm of adrenal hormone output under real life circumstances. The non-invasive, cost-effective, and thorough ASI allows us to address many problems much better than more commonly used blood or urine tests.
Warm regards,
Dr. Mark Rhodes, Ph.D.
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