Lets talk about the nutrients in these pills! (Heme Iron, Vitamin A, Protein, Vitamin B12, Copper, Riboflavin, Folate, Choline and Selenium)
Heme Iron:
Heme iron is the form of iron available in animal sources. It is more bioavailable than non-heme iron available in sources such as spinach. Sadly, iron deficiency has become more and more prevalent. Iron serves several key functions in the body.
1. Iron plays a key role in transporting oxygen around the body. Iron is one of the essential building blocks of hemoglobin (a protein found in red blood cells). Hemoglobin gathers oxygen from the lungs and binds with iron to transport it around the body. As iron levels are too low, hemoglobin levels may drop leading to various repercussions.
2. Iron is essential for a healthy nervous system. It is a cofactor for several enzymes that play a role in the CNS (Central Nervous System). Iron plays a role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are essential for proper brain function, mood regulation, and cognitive processes.As such, iron is essential for proper cognitive development and has been shown to improve cognitive function. Deficiencies have been linked to behavioral problems (1, 2).
3. May alleviate exhaustion and restore energy levels. Studies have shown that self-reported levels of fatigue are reduced in individuals with non-anemic iron deficiency (3). This was correlated with increased levels of hemoglobin.
4. Energy metabolism. Cytochromes are enzymes that are necessary for cellular energy production. These enzymes require iron.
5. Improve aerobic capacity and endurance. With its important role in oxygen transportation, iron is crucial for our aerobic capacity and endurance. Increasing iron levels has been shown to improve sports performance and red blood cell volume (4, 5).
6. Essential for a healthy pregnancy. Iron is one of the most important nutrients for a developing baby and has a big impact on the baby's brain, organs and neurodevelopment (6, 7). It is also important to note that women in their reproductive years require a higher intake of iron due to monthly loss via menstruation.
7. Iron is an important cofactor for the activation of several enzymes. It is involved in the activity of enzymes responsible for DNA replication, cell division, and repair of damaged DNA strands, thus supporting cellular growth and proliferation.The compounds known as ''iron enzymes'' that rely on iron in sufficient quantities to do their job effectively in the body are:
Beta-carotene 15, 15-dioxygenaseGlutamate synthaseQuercetin 2, 3-dioxygenaseTaurine dioxygenaseAnd many more (8)
8. Treat and prevent iron deficiency anemia. There are some other potential causes of iron deficiency anemia but low dietary iron intake is the leading cause and increasing intake is the main method of treatment (9, 10).
Vitamin A:
Vitamin A is a crucial nutrient for our health. Our body does not produce vitamin A but it is attainable through our diets. There are two types of vitamin A. One is carotenoids found in plant sources such as carrots and sweet potatoes. Carotenoids need to be metabolized with fats to convert into its active form (retinol) that our body can use. The other form of vitamin A is retinoids found in animal sources. Your body can use this form right away.
What does vitamin A do for the body?
1. Supports healthy vision. Vitamin A works to change the light that hits your eye into an electrical signal that is sent to your brain. It is also used by the body to make pigments for your retina to work well and aids in moisturizing the cornea. Maintaining vitamin A levels may help ward off cataracts and macular degeneration (11).
2. Strengthens the immune system. Vitamin A supports white blood cells as well as the mucus membranes in your lungs, intestines and urinary tract. It helps ward off infections and free radicals that lead to inflammation (12). Essentially, it provides double protection by playing a role in supporting both our innate and adaptive immunity. It is also a potent antioxidant. Vitamin A has been shown to reduce severity of measles in children. 3. Can improve skin health. Getting the right balance of vitamin A can help to ward off acne and maintain the health of the skin. 4. Maintains healthy bones and teeth. 5. Supports a healthy reproductive system. Vitamin A supports the production of sperm and eventually the growth of a healthy baby. It helps the placenta form, and also allows the growth and maintenance of epithelial tissue, bones and teeth.
Protein
Protein is essential for muscle repair, growth, and overall health, and beef liver is an excellent source. It provides all the essential amino acids your body needs, making it a complete protein. The amino acid profile of beef liver is superior in some aspects to other protein sources, including plant-based ones, offering benefits for muscle maintenance and overall bodily functions.
Vitamin B12
This organ meat is a powerhouse of B vitamins, particularly Vitamin B12, essential for neurological health and energy. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that helps with nerve function and brain function, including memory. B12 supports the growth and health of our red blood cells, and it helps with the formation of our DNA.Suboptimal B12 levels are increasingly common and occur in 30-60% of the population (13). Low levels of B12 can cause fatigue, restless sleep, balance problems and B12 deficiency anemia. Low levels in pregnant women can harm a developing fetus, putting the baby at increased risk of neural tube defects and low birth weight.
Copper
Copper is a naturally occuring metal that is found in soil, rocks and water and is an essential micronutrient. It assists in producing energy for the body, breaking down and absorbing iron, and building red blood cells, collagen, connective tissue, and brain neurotransmitters. Copper also supports normal brain development and immune functions, and is a component of an antioxidant enzyme that dismantles harmful oxygen “free radicals.” Copper is absorbed in the small intestine and found mainly in bones and muscle tissue (14). Copper deficiency is caused by malabsorption and genetic disorders. Signs of deficiency include anemia, high cholesterol (15), osteoporosis, increased infections and loss of skin pigment.
Choline
Choline is an essential nutrient that the body produces some of but not enough to meet needs. Choline is converted into a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which helps muscles to contract, activates pain responses, and plays a role in brain functions of memory and thinking. It is metabolized in the liver and is essential for breaking down cholesterol and also feeds the healthy bacteria in our gut (16). A true choline deficiency can lead to muscle or liver damage, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (17).
Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that the body only needs a small amount of. Selenium is an essential component of various enzymes and proteins, called selenoproteins, that help to make DNA and protect against cell damage and infections; these proteins are also involved in reproduction and the metabolism of thyroid hormones (18). The thyroid gland holds the highest concentration of selenium due to various selenoproteins that assist with thyroid function. It is also stored in muscle cells.
Folate
Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9. It plays a key role in breaking down homocysteine, an amino acid that can exert harmful effects in the body if it is present in high amounts. Folate is also needed to produce healthy red blood cells and is critical during periods of rapid growth, such as during pregnancy and fetal development. Some things that may cause a deficiency in folate are alcoholism, pregnancy, intestinal disorders and malabsorption and the MTHFR gene that interferes with the conversion of folate (19, 20).
1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1540447/
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3136663/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29626044/
4. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/513894
5. https://europepmc.org/article/med/11323542
6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6143763/
7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2711433/
8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780444527400500132
9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4836595/
10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3219760/
11. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8921295/
12. https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/7/9/258
13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043452617300414
14. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/copper/
15. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304416521001380
16. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/choline/
17. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3601486/
18. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/selenium/
19. https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/folic-acid/20. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3573592/
