Harnessing the Power of Nutrients

Chris Masterjohn, PhD's Substack 'Harnessing the Power of Nutrients' merges scientific insight with innovative thinking, focusing on health optimization through nutrition, genetic factors, and biochemistry. It challenges mainstream health narratives, explores nutrient impacts on health, and presents actionable advice based on personal health data and scientific research.

Nutritional Science Genetic Health Analysis Dietary Recommendations Mitochondrial Health Supplementation Metabolic Health Iron Metabolism Vaccine Analysis Health Policy Food Safety

The hottest Substack posts of Harnessing the Power of Nutrients

And their main takeaways

How Many Calories Does Sulfur Have?

878 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Metabolism
  1. Calories do not only come from carbohydrate, fat, and protein, but also from sulfur through a complex metabolic process involving sulfur amino acids
  2. The caloric yield of sulfur can vary depending on how it is metabolized, ranging from 0.15 to 0.45 Calories per gram
  3. Most sulfur intake is from cruciferous and alliaceous vegetables, but the caloric value of sulfur in these foods is complex and can be quite low

My Iron Overload Protocol

798 implied HN points • 14 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Diet Health Conditions Genetics Wellness
  1. Iron overload can lead to various symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, and mood swings, and increase the risk of diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
  2. Manganese overload can result in issues such as headaches, irritability, and signs similar to Parkinson's disease.
  3. Testing for iron and manganese overload is crucial, as symptoms can overlap, and genetic testing often misses rare mutations related to iron overload.

Alcohol’s SURPRISING Role in Your Health and Longevity

1397 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Alcohol Longevity Toxins
  1. Alcohol may have surprising health benefits in moderation, with up to one drink per day associated with lower risk of heart disease and all-cause mortality.
  2. Observational data suggest that 0.3-0.5 drinks per day could be the optimal dose for lower risks of diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes, and chronic pain.
  3. Alcohol might trigger hormetic effects at low doses, potentially improving vitamin A activation and increasing defense against reactive oxygen species.

Interpreting the Genova Methylation Panel

1298 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Testing Methylation Genetics Nutrition
  1. Methylation is crucial for many body processes, with signs of imbalance like fatty liver disease, cardiovascular risks, fatigue, and more.
  2. Simply testing homocysteine, folate, and B12 isn't enough to assess methylation levels accurately. More in-depth tests like the Genova Methylation Panel are recommended.
  3. The interpretive section of the Genova Methylation Panel report provides helpful insights, but it may not cover all relevant patterns. Supplementing with genetic testing like StrateGene is also suggested.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Energy Metabolism Governs Everything

2096 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Energy metabolism Nutrition Genetics Stress management
  1. Energy metabolism governs everything in our bodies and plays a crucial role in health and disease.
  2. The laws of thermodynamics, especially the second law, are fundamental to understanding the process of energy metabolism, how the body functions, and how disorder affects health.
  3. Optimizing energy metabolism through proper nutrition, stress management, and addressing idiosyncratic genetic impairments can have a profound impact on overall health and wellbeing.

Startled?! Try Glycine

1557 implied HN points • 28 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Nutrition Genetics Testing Supplementation
  1. Being easily startled could indicate an issue, while a normal startle response is crucial for protection and fight-or-flight preparation.
  2. The startle reflex involves visual, auditory, and tactile inputs, with enhanced reflex indicative of certain conditions like PTSD.
  3. Glycine plays a crucial role in inhibiting the motor response of the startle reflex, and low glycine levels can lead to heightened startle responses.

Help make local meat affordable again!

1697 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Agriculture Food Safety Economy
  1. Support for the PRIME Act can lead to more affordable and accessible local meat options by allowing farmers to use local butchers without costly USDA intermediaries.
  2. Passage of the PRIME Act would increase access to local slaughterhouses, improve food safety, boost food security, and contribute to the local economy.
  3. Taking action by calling or emailing legislators to support the PRIME Act, meeting with representatives, and spreading awareness can make a significant impact on the future of local meat production.

Stop Measuring Glucose Without Measuring Lactate

1338 implied HN points • 12 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Metabolism Medical Technology Biochemistry Testing
  1. Measuring glucose alone is not rational; it should also be measured along with lactate and ketones for better understanding of metabolic changes.
  2. BCAAs can impact glucose levels through multiple pathways, highlighting the importance of context in interpreting metabolic markers.
  3. Having a home test for pyruvate could provide more valuable insights into metabolic health, along with glucose and lactate measurements.

A PhD's Secret Weapon: The Four Biomarkers Every Expert Should, But Doesn’t, Analyze

1977 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Metabolism Supplements Biomarkers Medical Advice
  1. Tests ordered in health space often don't go deep enough to uncover root causes.
  2. When analyzing health biomarkers, considering the main fuels of mitochondria is crucial.
  3. Understanding the ratios and interactions of biomarkers like lactate, pyruvate, and ketones can reveal important insights for mitochondrial function.

The Ultimate Vitamin K2 Resource

359 implied HN points • 28 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Supplements Diet Biochemistry Testing
  1. Vitamin K2 has several health benefits, such as improving bone strength, stabilizing blood sugar, enhancing exercise performance, and protecting against cancer.
  2. The different forms of vitamin K2 have unique functions in the body, with MK-7 being effective for bone health and MK-4 playing a role in cancer protection and sexual health.
  3. Getting enough vitamin K2 from food sources like natto, goose liver, cheese, egg yolks, and chicken, or through supplements, is essential for overall health, and it's important to pay attention to form, dosage, and food pairing.

Nutrient Targets

1058 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Research
  1. Customized nutrient targets for protein, ethanol, vitamins, and minerals suggested by the research may differ from official recommendations.
  2. The post is specifically for paid subscribers, indicating exclusive content access.
  3. The author, Chris Masterjohn, PhD, discusses the importance of personalized recommendations for nutrient intake.

Update on the Question Contest

698 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
💼 Business Updates
  1. Chris Masterjohn, PhD plans to catch up on the Question Contest soon after tackling a backlog of reports for BioOptHealth customers.
  2. The Question Contest update mentioned work on personalized reports causing a delay, but a return to normal pace by the month's end.
  3. Paid subscribers can access additional content about the Question Contest update and future plans on the Substack post.

The 3 things Bryan Johnson is missing from his longevity routine.

958 implied HN points • 17 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Longevity Nutrition Genetics Testing
  1. Eating a highly nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy body composition, and systematically testing nutrient status are impactful habits for longevity that we can all adopt.
  2. Key aspects missing from Bryan Johnson's longevity routine are ranked and sorted genetics, functional markers of nutrient status, and thorough screening for energy metabolism impairments.
  3. It may not be necessary for most people to follow an extreme caloric deficit like Johnson's 25%. Opting for a less drastic approach, along with comprehensive nutrient testing, can be more realistic and beneficial.

Methylene Blue in Ten Minutes

1258 implied HN points • 02 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Supplements Biohacking
  1. The post discusses a condensed version of Methylene Blue, offering a quicker read than a 51-page document.
  2. The content is now available for free on various platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and podcast apps.
  3. Readers can access a 51-page guide on Methylene Blue, with both paid and free subscribers receiving a downloadable PDF.

The Guide to Methylene Blue

1178 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Guides
  1. The Guide to Methylene Blue is a 51-page comprehensive resource.
  2. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, offers insights on methylene blue in this guide.
  3. Access to the guide is available for Masterpass members through a subscription.

Vitamin C, Whole Food Vs. Synthetic: Does It Matter?

1018 implied HN points • 07 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrients Supplements Medical Advice
  1. Whole food vitamin C is preferred because it provides important nutrients, but it is not fundamentally different from ascorbic acid.
  2. Plant sources of choline and flavonoids do not have high levels of vitamin C, and the absorption of flavonoids in plants is low.
  3. Synthetic ascorbic acid is not structurally different from natural vitamin C; however, natural sources like whole food supplements offer additional nutrients and benefits.

Start Here for MTHFR and Methylation

1677 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Methylation Nutrition Supplementation Genetics Holistic health
  1. Methylation is crucial for physical, mental, and emotional health. It involves the transfer of methyl groups and plays a role in synthesizing important molecules like creatine and phosphatidylcholine.
  2. Balancing methylation is vital; too much can have negative consequences. Proper nutrition, including methionine, vitamins B12 and folate, betaine, and glycine, is essential.
  3. To optimize MTHFR status, focus on foods and supplements that support methylation. Searchable databases and related articles provide valuable information on this topic.

Biological Age Clocks: Are They Useful?

778 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Interventions Health Testing Longevity
  1. Biological aging clocks can help us monitor the effects of our health choices on how fast or slow we age.
  2. If biological aging clocks are inaccurate, they can potentially misinform us and lead to unnecessary worry or misguided actions.
  3. Understanding the effectiveness and reliability of biological aging clocks is crucial to prevent irreversible health damage and take proactive steps to reverse any harm.

Hormones Are Never In Charge

1018 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Hormones Nutrition Metabolism Supplements Medical Advice
  1. Hormones are not the primary cause of problems and are simply messengers between tissues.
  2. Hormones can be affected by factors like nutrient deficiencies, body fat levels, and energy metabolism issues.
  3. Addressing the root causes of hormonal imbalances through optimizing body composition, correcting nutrient deficiencies, and managing energy metabolism can be more effective than relying solely on hormone treatments.

The Dark Side of Biotin

998 implied HN points • 23 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Supplements Nutrition Health Issues
  1. Biotin and other supplements can have harmful effects on the body's energy metabolism if not balanced properly.
  2. Measuring waking fasting lactate levels can be a useful way to monitor and identify potential metabolic issues caused by supplementation.
  3. Supplements like thiamin, B6, and biotin can cause increases in lactate levels, indicating a metabolic imbalance that may lead to health problems.

I'm Hiring an RD! Please Apply

459 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
💼 Business
  1. Chris Masterjohn, PhD is looking to hire a licensed RD in the US to work intermittently for BioOptHealth, providing a chance to gain insight into his cutting-edge work.
  2. Interested applicants can fill out a form linked in the post for consideration for the job opportunity.
  3. The position offers a unique opportunity to be involved in exciting work and collaborate with Chris Masterjohn, PhD.

Can B12 and Folate Help Detoxify Oxalate?

998 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Detoxification Supplementation Testing Metabolism
  1. B12 and folate can help detoxify oxalate by converting it to formate and joining it to tetrahydrofolate in a two-step process.
  2. The rate of the first detoxification step exceeding the rate of the second step can lead to oxalate dumping symptoms.
  3. Nutritionally supporting the two detoxification steps requires biotin, manganese, tetrahydrofolate, B12, and various other nutrients.

Comprehensive Screening for Energy Metabolism

878 implied HN points • 14 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Energy metabolism
  1. The post discusses comprehensive screening for identifying bottlenecks in energy metabolism.
  2. The content is exclusively available for paid subscribers, signaling a focus on in-depth and specialized information.
  3. Readers can subscribe to access detailed information about screening for energy metabolism issues.

Why High-Dose Biotin Could be the Answer for Your Blood Sugar, Neurological Health, and Skin Health

1557 implied HN points • 19 Jan 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Supplements Health Conditions Vitamins Research
  1. High-dose biotin can help with issues like diabetes and smell/taste disorders, but may not be suitable for everyone - consulting a healthcare professional is important.
  2. Some studies suggest high-dose biotin can worsen conditions like multiple sclerosis and even cause adverse effects on blood sugar levels.
  3. Finding the right biotin dosage is crucial, as too much can lead to errors in lab tests and potential serious health consequences, while most people may need more biotin than they currently get.

Questions on NAC, biofilms, vitamin C and brain fog, energy metabolism driving autoimmune disorders.

918 implied HN points • 30 May 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Autoimmune Metabolism Supplements
  1. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) can disrupt biofilms at specific doses but may harm gut health with chronic use.
  2. Vitamin C can lead to muscle pain, joint pain, and brain fog due to oxalate crystals and energy metabolism issues.
  3. Autoimmune conditions might be linked to deficiencies in vitamins A and D impacting energy metabolism, potentially causing vitamin A activation issues.

Erythritol and Blood Clotting

1258 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Supplements Research Metabolism Biochemistry
  1. Erythritol may contribute to cardiovascular disease by increasing blood clotting propensity, especially in individuals with high erythritol levels.
  2. Understanding the polyol pathway and pentose phosphate pathway is crucial for comprehending how erythritol metabolism affects thiamin deficiency and oxidative stress.
  3. Plasma erythritol likely serves as a marker of pentose phosphate pathway activation, indicating NADPH depletion and suboptimal thiamin status.

Biotin’s Health Benefits: Way Beyond Hair and Nails

718 implied HN points • 25 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Nutrition Supplements Health Benefits Deficiency Diet
  1. Biotin deficiency can cause a range of symptoms like moodiness, hair loss, and muscle pain, but these are reversible with biotin supplementation.
  2. Biotin is crucial for various bodily functions beyond hair and nails, such as regulating cholesterol levels and improving taste loss in certain cases.
  3. The recommended biotin intake varies based on protein consumption, with the general rule being to consume at least 150 micrograms per day from a diet rich in animal products and fresh produce.