Scleroderma

 

A chronic disease of unknown etiology characterized by inflammatory, vascular, and fibrotic changes of the skin, internal organs (G.I. tract, esophagus, thyroid, kidney, heart, and lungs) and articular structures. It is also called Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (PSS).

The skin thickening and restriction follows an idiopathic overproduction of collagen. The disease is highly individual

in terms of severity and progression. Some patients may experience only skin changes and restrictions in the hands and face for decades before visceral or organ involvement begins. Others may rapidly develop generalized cutaneous thickening and often lethal internal organ disease. The full manifestation of the disease is known

as the CREST Syndrome: Calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, Esophageal dysfunction, Sclerodactylia, and

Telangiectasia.

Scleroderma is seen in women four times as often as in men, and is rare in children. It is found worldwide but more rarely in Asia. The usual age of onset is around 20-40.

Although the course of the disease is variable and unpredictable, it is characterized by a slowly progressing involvement of the skin and/or visceral organs. Remissions are rare but do occur. The disease is typically very gradual: 80% of patients will be alive after 2 years and 20% will be alive after 10 years. The disease is most severe in black women; in whites, men are often affected worse than women. The usual causes of death are renal, cardiac and/or lung complications.

 

Symptoms

 

Initial complaints include:

• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Skin thickening of the fingers
• Swelling of the extremities

 

As the disease progresses:

• Skin becomes hyperpigmented
• Skin of the whole upper body may become firm, leathery; the face looks mask-like; the lower extremities

are not usually affected much

• Flexion contracture of the fingers, wrists, elbows
• Subcutaneous calcifications or ulcers develop on the bony prominences
• Telangiectasias
• Skin becomes dry and rough and loses hair and the ability to sweat
• Restricted opening of the mouth
• Esophageal dysfunction: the esophagus is the most commonly involved visceral organ: dysphagia,

regurgitation of stomach contents, and peptic esophagitis often occur

• Joint pain, swelling, stiffness of fingers and knees
• Small intestine involvement: malabsorption, steatorrhea, weight loss, bloating, abdominal pain
• Large intestine involvement: chronic constipation and fecal impaction
• Respiratory/cardiovascular involvement: fibrosis of the lungs causes exertional dyspnea, dry cough,

pleurisy; cardiac problems: causing 15% of PSS deaths: include arrhythmias, pericarditis, and conduction

disturbances.

• Renal involvement: causes half the deaths of PSS: acute failure causes rapid development of severe

(possibly malignant) hypertension

 

Nutrients Involved

• Vitamin E, PABA

Suggested Nutritional Supplementation

 

Core Nutritional Support Protocol

• UltraInflamX® Plus 360 - 2 scoops twice daily

Multi-mechanistic support with key nutrients, phytonutrients, and selective kinase response modulators (SKRMs) to address underlying inflammation.

• Follow either the Modified Elimination Diet or the Anti-Inflammatory Diet
• LactoFlamXTM - 1 capsule daily

LactoFlamX features L. plantarum 299V - a strain-identified probiotic that has been specifically shown to support the integrity and healthy function of the muscosal lining.

• EPA-DHA 6:1TM Enteric Coated - 2 softgels three times daily.

EPA-DHA 6:1 Enteric Coated omega 3 fatty acids providing a ratio appropriate for patients with chronic inflammatory conditions.

3

• Iso D TM - 1 tablet three times daily.

Vitamin D3 with Isoflavones.  Iso D3 is designed to support optimal metabolism of vitamin D to its

active form.

If there is a soy sensitivity use:

3

• D 1000TM - 2 microtablets three times daily.

High potency vitamin D3 - the most bioactive form of supplemental vitamin D.

 

 

 

Additional Nutritional Support Considerations

 

Body composition management

• High BMI - Introduce lower calorie Modified Elimination or Anti-inflammatory Diet
• Low BMI - Introduce higher calorie Modified Elimination or Anti-inflammatory Diet and measure hsCRP
• If hsCRP is greater than 1.5mg/l then increase Kaprex® AI to 2 tablets, three times daily

 

Insulin resistance and dysglycemia

• MetaglycemXTM - 2 tablets, three times daily

 

Sex hormone dysregulation

• EstroFactors® - 3 tablets daily.
• Meta I3C® - 2 capsules daily.
• ActiFolate® - 1 tablet, three times daily.

 

Hepatic detoxification imbalances/Drug or Chemical toxicity

• AdvaClear® - 2 capsules twice daily.

 

Gastrointestinal Restoration (4R Program)

• EndefenTM - 1 tsp, three times daily.
• UltraFlora I.B.TM - 1-2 capsules daily.
• Glutagenics® - 2 tsp, three times daily.

 

TH1 dominance or chronic allergy

• EstroFactors® or Testralin® - 3 tablets daily.

 

Impaired biotransformation or hepatic detoxification imbalances

• AdvaClear® - 2 capsules twice daily.
• Silymarin 80 - 3 tablets daily.

 

Oxidative stress

• Oxygenics® - 2-6 tablets daily.
• Celapro® - 2 softgels daily.
• MetaLipoate® 300 - 1 tablet twice daily.

Vitamin A insufficiency

• Ultra Pure Cod Liver OilTM - 1 tsp, three times daily

 

Thyroid Support

• Thyrosol® - 1-3 tablets twice daily

 

Dietary Suggestion

• Anti-Inflammatory Diet