Menopax

Uses

Calcium is a mineral found in over-the-counter supplements or prescription formulations used for the treatment of specific medical conditions related to calcium deficiency.

Calcium plays a vital role in the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of organisms and of the cell, particularly in signal transduction pathways. It is vital in cell signaling, muscular contractions, bone health, and signalling cascades.

Copper is a transition metal found in a variety of supplements and vitamins, including intravenous solutions for total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

For use in the supplementation of total parenteral nutrition and in contraception with intrauterine devices .

Manganese is a transition metal used for supplementation of manganese during Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN).

Indicated for use as a supplement to intravenous solutions given for Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). Administration helps to maintain plasma levels and to prevent depletion of endogenous stores and subsequent deficiency symptoms.

Vitamin D is an ingredient found in a variety of supplements and vitamins.

Vitamin D is indicated for use in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism, refractory rickets (also known as vitamin D resistant rickets), and familial hypophosphatemia .

Zinc is an essential element commonly used for the treatment of patients with documented zinc deficiency.

Zinc can be used for the treatment and prevention of zinc deficiency/its consequences, including stunted growth and acute diarrhea in children, and slowed wound healing. It is also utilized for boosting the immune system, treating the common cold and recurrent ear infections, as well as preventing lower respiratory tract infections .

Menopax is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Calcium Deficiency, Deficiency, Vitamin D, Osteodystrophy, Osteomalacia, Osteoporosis, Chronic Hypocalcemia, Chronic Hypocalcemia caused by anticonvulsant medications, Care of the Joint, Mineral supplementation, Nutritional supplementationEmergency Contraception, IUD, Trace Element Deficiency, Dietary supplementationMineral supplementation, Total parenteral nutrition therapy, Vitamin supplementation, Dietary supplementationDeficiency, Vitamin DCandidiasis, Common Cold, Diaper Dermatitis, Diaper Rash, Eye redness, Iron Deficiency (ID), Ocular Irritation, Skin Irritation, Sunburn, Wilson's Disease, Zinc Deficiency, Dietary and Nutritional Therapies, Dietary supplementation

How Menopax works

Calcium plays a vital role in the anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of organisms and of the cell, particularly in signal transduction pathways. More than 500 human proteins are known to bind or transport calcium. The skeleton acts as a major mineral storage site for the element and releases Ca2+ ions into the bloodstream under controlled conditions. Circulating calcium is either in the free, ionized form or bound to blood proteins such as serum albumin. Parathyroid hormone (secreted from the parathyroid gland) regulates the resorption of Ca2+ from bone. Calcitonin stimulates incorporation of calcium in bone, although this process is largely independent of calcitonin. Although calcium flow to and from the bone is neutral, about 5 mmol is turned over a day. Bone serves as an important storage point for calcium, as it contains 99% of the total body calcium. Low calcium intake may also be a risk factor in the development of osteoporosis. The best-absorbed form of calcium from a pill is a calcium salt like carbonate or phosphate. Calcium gluconate and calcium lactate are absorbed well by pregnant women. Seniors absorb calcium lactate, gluconate and citrate better unless they take their calcium supplement with a full breakfast. The currently recommended calcium intake is 1,500 milligrams per day for women not taking estrogen and 800 milligrams per day for women on estrogen. There is close to 300 milligrams of calcium in one cup of fluid milk. Calcium carbonate is currently the best and least expensive form of calcium supplement available.

Copper is absorbed from the gut via high affinity copper uptake protein and likely through low affinity copper uptake protein and natural resistance-associated macrophage protein-2 . It is believed that copper is reduced to the Cu1+ form prior to transport. Once inside the enterocyte, it is bound to copper transport protein ATOX1 which shuttles the ion to copper transporting ATPase-1 on the golgi membrane which take up copper into the golgi apparatus. Once copper has been secreted by enterocytes into the systemic circulation it remain largely bound by ceruloplasmin (65-90%), albumin (18%), and alpha 2-macroglobulin (12%).

Copper is an essential element in the body and is incorporated into many oxidase enzymes as a cofactor . It is also a component of zinc/copper super oxide dismutase, giving it an anti-oxidant role. Copper defiency occurs in Occipital Horn Syndrome and Menke's disease both of which are associated with impaired development of connective tissue due to the lack of copper to act as a cofactor in protein-lysine-6-oxidase. Menke's disease is also associated with progressive neurological impairment leading to death in infancy. The precise mechanisms of the effects of copper deficiency are vague due to the wide range of enzymes which use the ion as a cofactor.

Copper appears to reduce the viabilty and motility of spermatozoa . This reduces the likelihood of fertilization with a copper IUD, producing copper's contraceptive effect . The exact mechanism of copper's effect on sperm are unknown.

Most individuals naturally generate adequate amounts of vitamin D through ordinary dietary intake of vitamin D (in some foods like eggs, fish, and cheese) and natural photochemical conversion of the vitamin D3 precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin via exposure to sunlight.

Conversely, vitamin D deficiency can often occur from a combination of insufficient exposure to sunlight, inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D, genetic defects with endogenous vitamin D receptor, or even severe liver or kidney disease . Such deficiency is known for resulting in conditions like rickets or osteomalacia, all of which reflect inadequate mineralization of bone, enhanced compensatory skeletal demineralization, resultant decreased calcium ion blood concentrations, and increases in the production and secretion of parathyroid hormone . Increases in parathyroid hormone stimulates the mobilization of skeletal calcium and the renal excretion of phosphorus . This enhanced mobilization of skeletal calcium leads towards porotic bone conditions .

Ordinarily, while vitamin D3 is made naturally via photochemical processes in the skin, both itself and vitamin D2 can be found in various food and pharmaceutical sources as dietary supplements. The principal biological function of vitamin D is the maintenance of normal levels of serum calcium and phosphorus in the bloodstream by enhancing the efficacy of the small intestine to absorb these minerals from the diet . At the liver, vitamin D3 or D2 is hydroxylated to 25-hydroxyvitamin D and then finally to the primary active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in the kidney via further hydroxylation . This final metabolite binds to endogenous vitamin d receptors, which results in a variety of regulatory roles - including maintaining calcium balance, the regulation of parathyroid hormone, the promotion of the renal reabsorption of calcium, increased intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and increased calcium and phosphorus mobilization of calcium and phosphorus from bone to plasma to maintain balanced levels of each in bone and the plasma .

Zinc has three primary biological roles: catalytic, structural, and regulatory. The catalytic and structural role of zinc is well established, and there are various noteworthy reviews on these functions. For example, zinc is a structural constituent in numerous proteins, inclusive of growth factors, cytokines, receptors, enzymes, and transcription factors for different cellular signaling pathways. It is implicated in numerous cellular processes as a cofactor for approximately 3000 human proteins including enzymes, nuclear factors, and hormones .

Zinc promotes resistance to epithelial apoptosis through cell protection (cytoprotection) against reactive oxygen species and bacterial toxins, likely through the antioxidant activity of the cysteine-rich metallothioneins .

In HL-60 cells (promyelocytic leukemia cell line), zinc enhances the up-regulation of A20 mRNA, which, via TRAF pathway, decreases NF-kappaB activation, leading to decreased gene expression and generation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1beta, and IL-8 .

There are several mechanisms of action of zinc on acute diarrhea. Various mechanisms are specific to the gastrointestinal system: zinc restores mucosal barrier integrity and enterocyte brush-border enzyme activity, it promotes the production of antibodies and circulating lymphocytes against intestinal pathogens, and has a direct effect on ion channels, acting as a potassium channel blocker of adenosine 3-5-cyclic monophosphate-mediated chlorine secretion. Cochrane researchers examined the evidence available up to 30 September 2016 .

Zinc deficiency in humans decreases the activity of serum thymulin (a hormone of the thymus), which is necessary for the maturation of T-helper cells. T-helper 1 (Th(1)) cytokines are decreased but T-helper 2 (Th(2)) cytokines are not affected by zinc deficiency in humans [A342417].

The change of Th(1) to Th(2) function leads to cell-mediated immune dysfunction. Because IL-2 production (Th(1) cytokine) is decreased, this causes decreased activity of natural-killer-cell (NK cell) and T cytolytic cells, normally involved in killing viruses, bacteria, and malignant cells [A3424].

In humans, zinc deficiency may lead to the generation of new CD4+ T cells, produced in the thymus. In cell culture studies (HUT-78, a Th(0) human malignant lymphoblastoid cell line), as a result of zinc deficiency, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation, phosphorylation of IkappaB, and binding of NF-kappaB to DNA are decreased and this results in decreased Th(1) cytokine production .

In another study, zinc supplementation in human subjects suppressed the gene expression and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased oxidative stress markers [A3424]. In HL-60 cells (a human pro-myelocytic leukemia cell line), zinc deficiency increased the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-8 cytokines and mRNA. In such cells, zinc was found to induce A20, a zinc finger protein that inhibited NF-kappaB activation by the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor pathway. This process decreased gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers .

The exact mechanism of zinc in acne treatment is poorly understood. However, zinc is considered to act directly on microbial inflammatory equilibrium and facilitate antibiotic absorption when used in combination with other agents. Topical zinc alone as well as in combination with other agents may be efficacious because of its anti-inflammatory activity and ability to reduce P. acnes bacteria by the inhibition of P. acnes lipases and free fatty acid levels .

Toxicity

Copper toxicity is belevied to be due to fenton-type redox reactions occuring with high copper concentrations which produce damaging reactive oxygen species .

The use of pharmacological or nutraceutical vitamin d and/or even excessive dietary intake of vitamin d is contraindicated in patients with hypercalcemia, malabsorption syndrome, abnormal sensitivity to the toxic effects of vitamin d, and hypervitaminosis D .

Hypersensitivity to vitamin d is one plausible etiologic factor in infants with idiopathic hypercalcemia - a case in which vitamin d use must be strictly restricted .

As vitamin d intake is available via fortified foods, dietary supplements, and clinical drug sources, serum concentrations and therapeutic dosages should be reviewed regularly and readjusted as soon as there is clinical improvement . Dosage levels are required to be individualized on an individual patient by patient basis as caution must be exercised to prevent the presence of too much vitamin d in the body and the various potentially serious toxic effects associated with such circumstances .

In particular, the range between therapeutic and toxic doses is quite narrow in vitamin d resistant rickets . When high therapeutic doses are used, progress should be followed with frequent blood calcium determinations .

When treating hypoparathyroidism, intravenous calcium, parathyroid hormone, and/or dihydrotachysterol may be required .

Maintenance of normal serum phosphorus levels by dietary phosphate restriction and/or administration of aluminum gels as intestinal phosphate binders in those patients with hyperphosphatemia as frequently seen in renal osteodystrophy is essential to prevent metastatic calcification .

Mineral oil interferes with the absorption of lipid-soluble vitamins, including vitamin d preparations .

The administration of thiazide diuretics to hypoparathyroid patients who are concurrently being treated with vitamin d can result in hypercalcemia .

At this time, no long term animal studies have been performed to evaluate vitamin potential for carcinogens, mutagenesis, or fertility .

As various animal reproduction studies have demonstrated fetal abnormalities in several species associated with hypervitaminosis D, the use of vitamin d in excess of the recommended dietary allowance during normal pregnancy should be avoided . The safety in excess of 400 USP units of vitamin d daily during pregnancy has not been established . The abnormalities observed are similar to the supravalvular aortic stenosis syndrome described in infants that is characterized by supravalvular aortic stenosis, elfin facies, and mental retardation .

In a nursing mother given large doses of vitamin D, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol appeared in the milk and caused hypercalcemia in her child. Caution is subsequently required when contemplating the use of vitamin d in a nursing woman, and the necessity of monitoring infants' serum calcium concentration if vitamin d is administered to a breastfeeding woman .

Adverse reactions associated with the use of vitamin d are primarily linked to having hypervitaminosis D occurring [FDA Lanel]. In particular, hypervitaminosis D is characterized by effects specific effects on specific organ systems. At the renal system, hypervitaminosis D can cause impairment of renal function with polyuria, nocturne, polydipsia, hypercalciuria, reversible asotemia, hypertension, nephrocalcinosis, generalized vascular calcification, or even irreversible renal insufficiency which may result in death . Elsewhere, hypervitaminosis D can also cause CNS mental retardation . At the level of soft tissues, it can widespread calcification of the soft tissues, including the heart, blood vessels, renal tubules, and lungs . In the skeletal system, bone demineralization (osteoporosis) in adults can occur while a decline in the average rate of linear growth and increased mineralization of bones, dwarfism, vague aches, stiffness, and weakness can occur in infants and children . Finally, hypervitaminosis D can also lead to nausea, anorexia, and constipation at the gastrointestinal level as well as mild acidosis, anemia, or weight loss via metabolic processes .

The LD(50) in animals is unknown .

According to the Toxnet database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the oral LD50 for zinc is close to 3 g/kg body weight, more than 10-fold higher than cadmium and 50-fold higher than mercury .

The LD50 values of several zinc compounds (ranging from 186 to 623 mg zinc/kg/day) have been measured in rats and mice .

Volume of Distribution

A pharmacokinetic study was done in rats to determine the distribution and other metabolic indexes of zinc in two particle sizes. It was found that zinc particles were mainly distributed to organs including the liver, lung, and kidney within 72 hours without any significant difference being found according to particle size or rat gender .

Elimination Route

Copper absorption varies inversely with intake. Absorption range is 12-65%.

Vitamin D3 and D2 are readily absorbed from the small intestine (proximal or distal) .

Zinc is absorbed in the small intestine by a carrier-mediated mechanism . Under regular physiologic conditions, transport processes of uptake do not saturate. The exact amount of zinc absorbed is difficult to determine because zinc is secreted into the gut. Zinc administered in aqueous solutions to fasting subjects is absorbed quite efficiently (at a rate of 60-70%), however, absorption from solid diets is less efficient and varies greatly, dependent on zinc content and diet composition .

Generally, 33% is considered to be the average zinc absorption in humans . More recent studies have determined different absorption rates for various populations based on their type of diet and phytate to zinc molar ratio. Zinc absorption is concentration dependent and increases linearly with dietary zinc up to a maximum rate [L20902].

Additionally zinc status may influence zinc absorption. Zinc-deprived humans absorb this element with increased efficiency, whereas humans on a high-zinc diet show a reduced efficiency of absorption .

Half Life

Although certain studies suggest the half-life of 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3 may be approximately 15 hours, the half-life of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 appears to have a half-life of about 15 days . Intriguingly however, the half-lives of any particular administration of vitamin d can vary and in general the half-lives of vitamin D2 metabolites have been demonstrated to be shorter overall than vitamin D3 half-lives with this being affected by vitamin d binding protein concentrations and genotype in particular individuals .

The half-life of zinc in humans is approximately 280 days .

Clearance

Some studies propose an estimated clearance rate for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D as 31 +/- 4 ml/min in healthy adults .

In one study of healthy patients, the clearance of zinc was found to be 0.63 ± 0.39 μg/min .

Elimination Route

The kidney excretes 250 mmol a day in urine, and resorbs 245 mmol, leading to a net loss in the urine of 5 mmol/d.

Copper appears to be eliminated primarily through bile .

The primary excretion route of vitamin D is via the bile into the feces .

The excretion of zinc through gastrointestinal tract accounts for approximately one-half of all zinc eliminated from the body .

Considerable amounts of zinc are secreted through both biliary and intestinal secretions, however most is reabsorbed. This is an important process in the regulation of zinc balance. Other routes of zinc excretion include both urine and surface losses (sloughed skin, hair, sweat) .

Zinc has been shown to induce intestinal metallothionein, which combines zinc and copper in the intestine and prevents their serosal surface transfer. Intestinal cells are sloughed with approximately a 6-day turnover, and the metallothionein-bound copper and zinc are lost in the stool and are thus not absorbed .

Measurements in humans of endogenous intestinal zinc have primarily been made as fecal excretion; this suggests that the amounts excreted are responsive to zinc intake, absorbed zinc and physiologic need .

In one study, elimination kinetics in rats showed that a small amount of ZnO nanoparticles was excreted via the urine, however, most of the nanoparticles were excreted via the feces .

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