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05/03/2026

What does Functional Medicine say about low iron?

In the United States, low iron (iron deficiency) is primarily caused by unrecognized or chronic blood loss, followed by increased physiological needs and, less commonly in the U.S., poor dietary intake.

Iron deficiency affects roughly 14% of US adults, with prevalence rising significantly in specific demographics.

Here are the possible causes of low iron in the USA, ordered by highest frequency of occurrence based on current data:

Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding (Most Common in Men/Postmenopausal Women): Slow, chronic blood loss from the GI tract is the leading cause for adults. This is often due to:Peptic ulcers
Colorectal cancer or polyps
Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis)
Regular use of NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen), which cause stomach bleeding
Menstrual Blood Loss (Most Common in Women of Childbearing Age): Heavy or prolonged menstrual periods (menorrhagia) are the most common cause for premenopausal women.
Increased Physiological Needs (Pregnancy and Growth): Pregnant people have significantly higher iron needs to support increased blood volume and fetal development.
Infants and children (especially those consuming excessive cow’s milk) are also high-risk groups.
Malabsorption of Iron: Conditions that limit the body's ability to absorb iron, such as:Celiac disease
Bariatric surgery (weight loss surgery)
Atrophic gastritis (acid-suppressing medications)
Inadequate Dietary Intake (Less Common in USA): A diet low in bioavailable iron, such as strict, unplanned vegetarian or vegan diets.
Frequent Blood Donation: Donating blood too frequently without allowing time for iron stores to recover.

Note on Frequency: While anemia due to diet (DID) is cited in global studies, in the U.S. specifically, blood loss (menstrual or GI) is considered the most common reason for iron deficiency, followed by increased needs during pregnancy.

Risk Factors Affecting Frequency:
Age: Prevalence of iron deficiency increases in the elderly due to reduced absorption.
Race/Ethnicity: Studies have shown a higher prevalence of anemia in Black Americans compared to other groups in the US.
Income: Lower-income households in the US have a higher prevalence of anemia.

Iron dysregulation in the USA is highly prevalent, with a 2024 study estimating that nearly 1 in 3 Americans has some form of iron deficiency. The most common causes of iron dysregulation, ordered by frequency, are absolute iron deficiency, functional iron deficiency (iron sequestration), and hereditary hemochromatosis.

Most Common Causes of Iron Dysregulation (Highest Frequency)

Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) (Low Iron, Low Ferritin, High TIBC): The most common cause, caused by chronic blood loss (menstruation, GI bleeding) or low nutritional intake.

Anemia of Chronic Disease/Inflammation (Low/Normal Iron, High Ferritin, Low/Normal TIBC): Iron is present but "locked away" by inflammation.

Functional Iron Deficiency (Normal Iron, Normal/High Ferritin, Low/Normal TIBC): Common in obesity, diabetes, and CKD, where iron is present but cannot be used efficiently.

Hereditary Hemochromatosis (High Iron, High Ferritin, Low TIBC): A genetic disorder causing excessive absorption, affecting 1 in 300-500 people.

Liver Disease/Alcoholism (High Iron, High Ferritin, Low/Normal TIBC): Alcohol disrupts liver regulation, leading to liver iron overload.

Excessive Iron Supplementation (High Iron, High Ferritin, Low/Normal TIBC): Iatrogenic overload.Iron Panel Variations by Cause

Low Ferritin + High TIBC + Low Iron (Iron Deficiency): Indicates depleted stores (e.g., menorrhagia, malabsorption, iron-deficient diet).High Ferritin + Low/Normal TIBC + Low/Normal Iron (Anemia of Chronic Disease):

Chronic inflammation (e.g., infections, autoimmune diseases) or obesity causes the liver to produce more ferritin and less transferrin (lowering TIBC).

High Ferritin + High Iron + Low/Normal TIBC (Iron Overload): Typical of Hereditary Hemochromatosis or frequent blood transfusions.

Low TIBC + Low Iron + Normal/High Ferritin (Malnutrition/Liver Disease): Indicates poor nutritional status, such as protein deficiency or liver disease, which prevents the production of transferrin.

Key Findings on Prevalence
14% of US adults have absolute iron deficiency.
15% of US adults have functional iron deficiency.
6% of American young women have iron deficiency anemia.
16 million Americans have some form of iron overload (most commonly from metabolic syndrome, not genetic).40% of children under 5 are iron-deficient.

Once the cause of a patient's individual low iron &/or ferritin then you can strategically target the cause while supplementing iron, I like Floradix with herbs.

If iron deficiency is due to bleeding then stop or reduce bleeding is an important part of the treatment strategy.

Taking iron supplements when your levels are not low can lead to significant health concerns, primarily due to the production of free radicals through the Fenton reaction. When the body has excess iron that is not safely bound to proteins like transferrin, it becomes "free" and highly reactive.Free Radical Generation (Fenton Reaction)The primary concern is that excess iron acts as a pro-oxidant. It reacts with hydrogen peroxide in the body to produce hydroxyl radicals—the most destructive type of free radical.

These radicals cause oxidative stress, which damages:
Cellular Structures: Destroys cell membranes (lipid peroxidation), proteins, and DNA.
Organs: Leads to "ferroptosis" (iron-induced cell death), particularly in the liver, heart, and pancreas.
Intestinal Lining: Unabsorbed iron in the gut creates localized oxidative stress, causing inflammation, ulcers, and potentially increasing the risk of colorectal cancer.

Immediate and Long-Term RisksGastrointestinal Distress: Even in healthy individuals, high-dose iron can cause nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, and diarrhea.Organ Damage: Chronic excess can lead to liver cirrhosis, heart failure, and diabetes as iron deposits in vital tissues.Infection Risk: High levels of free iron can stimulate the growth of certain bacteria and viruses, making you more susceptible to infections.

Nutrient Interference: Excessive iron can block the absorption of other essential minerals, such as zinc, further weakening the body's antioxidant defenses.Summary of Iron Toxicity Stages. If an overdose occurs, symptoms typically progress through these stages:
Stage 1 (0–6 hrs): Severe vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.
Stage 2 (6–48 hrs): A "latent" period where symptoms seem to improve, though internal damage continues.
Stage 3 (12–72 hrs): Critical condition involving shock, liver failure, and seizures.
Stage 4 (2–5 days): Potential death from liver necrosis or multi-organ failure. To avoid these risks, you should only take iron supplements if a healthcare provider has confirmed a deficiency through blood tests.

03/18/2026

Happy St Patrick's Day to you!
May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door.

May you live healthy as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

02/03/2026

Pharmacokinetics (PK) describes how the body handles a drug through four main, sequential stages often summarized as ADME: Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion.
Oral Glutathione gets absorbed into the local intestinal cells and can cause diarrhea. For this reason N-Acetyl-Cysteine is often used instead of oral Glutathione because it can get into the bloodstream and to other target tissue cells where it gets converted into intercellular Glutathione to protect the cell's power plant (mitochondrion) from oxidative damage from Reactive Oxidative Species ROS (aka free-radicals). Glutathione does this through the 'Glutathione Recycler' pathway biochemical pathway. This can occur in cancer cells too and so you may want to think twice about using it during chemotherapy so as not to protect the cancer cells from being killed.

The glutathione recycler pathway, or redox cycle, is the process of converting oxidized glutathione (GSSG) back to its reduced, active form (GSH) to maintain cellular antioxidant defense. This process is driven by the enzyme glutathione reductase, which uses NADPH as a cofactor, ensuring a continuous supply of glutathione for detoxification. (see image))

Key Aspects of the Glutathione Recycler Pathway:
Mechanism: When glutathione protects cells from oxidative stress, it becomes oxidized (GSSG). Glutathione reductase then reduces GSSG back into 2 molecules of active GSH.
NADPH Dependence: The recycler pathway relies on NADPH, which is often generated by the Hexose Monophosphate (HMP) shunt (or pentose phosphate pathway).Role of Enzymes: Glutathione peroxidase triggers the conversion of GSH to GSSG while neutralizing free radicals, and glutathione reductase reverses this, acting as the key recycling step.
Significance: This system is critical for mitochondrial health and protecting cells from oxidative damage.Supplementation: Formulas, such as those by Apex Energetics, often include N-acetyl L-cysteine (NAC), selenium, and other nutrients to support this natural recycling process.

Key Difference: Recycling (GSSG ---> GSH) is distinct from de novo synthesis, where GSH is built from scratch, though both are crucial for maintaining high levels of this antioxidant.

S-acetyl L-glutathione (SAG) and N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) both act to increase intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels, but they operate through different pathways and with varying efficacy. While NAC acts as a precursor providing the raw materials for de novo synthesis, S-acetyl L-glutathione acts as a direct delivery mechanism of the intact glutathione molecule, often resulting in more rapid or efficient replenishment of cellular stores. S-Acetyl L-Glutathione (SAG) in the Glutathione Pathway SAG is a stable, acetylated form of glutathione that is designed to overcome the poor absorption of standard oral glutathione. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Mechanism: SAG is absorbed intact in the gastrointestinal tract and is more stable in the blood. Due to its acetyl group, it easily crosses cellular membranes. Once inside the cell, it is deacetylated (the acetyl group is removed) to release active, reduced glutathione (GSH) directly into the cytosol.Glutathione Recycler Interaction: SAG provides a direct, ready-to-use form of GSH. It does not rely on the cell’s rate-limiting synthesis enzymes (like gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase) to work, making it highly effective in cells where synthesis is impaired (e.g., in aging or disease).Key Advantage: It bypasses the need for the body to produce or recycle GSH, immediately augmenting the intracellular pool.

Apex Energetics offers three distinct approaches to increasing intracellular glutathione levels, each targeting different parts of the glutathione pathway: AC-Glutathione (direct intracellular delivery), Glutathione Recycler (synthesis/recycling support), and Trizomal Glutathione (three-tiered delivery).
1. AC-Glutathione (K88/K117)
Mechanism: Direct Intracellular Delivery (S-Acetyl L-Glutathione)
Active Ingredient: S-acetyl L-glutathione (SAG).
Action: This form is designed to be highly stable in the digestive tract and easily absorbed. The acetyl group allows it to pass through cell membranes more effectively, directly increasing intracellular and mitochondrial glutathione levels.
Key Advantage: It is designed to resist breakdown in the digestive system, making it ideal for direct, targeted intracellular, and mitochondrial antioxidant support.
Best For: Individuals who need to directly boost reduced glutathione (GSH) levels inside the cell, particularly if sensitive to N-acetyl L-cysteine (NAC).

2. Glutathione Recycler (K57/K81)
Mechanism: Synthesis and Recycling Support (Cofactors & Precursors)
Active Ingredients: N-acetyl L-cysteine (NAC), Selenium, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Cordyceps, Gotu Kola, and Milk Thistle.
Action: Rather than providing glutathione directly, this formula supplies the necessary building blocks (cysteine via NAC) and metabolic cofactors (selenium) to help the body produce its own glutathione. It also includes ingredients aimed at recycling "used" (oxidized) glutathione back into its active "reduced" (GSH) form, thereby improving the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio.
Key Advantage: Focuses on optimizing the body's natural production and recycling mechanisms.
Best For: Individuals looking to support the body’s internal, natural synthesis and recycling pathways, or needing liver and detoxification support.

3. Trizomal Glutathione (K-122/K-129A)
Mechanism: Three-Tiered Liposomal Delivery
Active Ingredients: A combination of S-acetyl L-glutathione (SAG), Reduced Glutathione (GSH), and N-acetyl L-cysteine (NAC) in a liposomal solution.
Action: This is a comprehensive approach that uses three methods simultaneously:
Intracellular (SAG): Direct delivery via acetylated glutathione.
Biosynthesis (NAC): Providing precursors for intracellular production.
Systemic (GSH): Providing reduced glutathione for extracellular/systemic support.
Key Advantage: Uses a "double layer" of protection (liposomal delivery + acetylation) for maximum absorption and bioavailability of the glutathione molecule.
Best For: Individuals needing the highest level of comprehensive support (cellular, mitochondrial, and systemic).

11/05/2025

What is Cancer?

Cancer is a genetic disease, it is caused by one of two things: inactivated of a tumor suppressor gene (normally active and interfering with the expression of a proto-oncogene) or activation of a proto-oncogene (genes possible normally active during human development with rapid cell growth and division). Gene mutation can be a factor. Epigenetic (epi "upon" genetics "genome") are factors in the internal and external environment that can influence the expression of genes.

The six common types of gene mutations, which can be categorized by the structural changes they cause, are: deletion, duplication, inversion, insertion, translocation, and point mutation. Other classifications exist, but these six represent a broad overview of common changes to a gene's structure or nucleotide sequence.

Six types of gene mutations
Deletion: A segment of the DNA sequence is lost.

Duplication: A segment of the DNA sequence is repeated.
Inversion: A segment of a chromosome is reversed end-to-end.

Insertion: A segment of DNA is added to a chromosome.
Translocation: A segment of a chromosome is moved to another chromosome.

Point Mutation: A mutation that alters a single nucleotide base pair. This can be a substitution (swapping one base for another) or an indel (inserting or deleting a single base).

Other important classifications
Frameshift mutations: These occur when insertions or deletions shift the reading frame of the genetic code, changing every subsequent amino acid.

Silent mutation: A point mutation that does not change the amino acid sequence.
Missense mutation: A point mutation that changes one amino acid in the protein sequence.

Nonsense mutation: A point mutation that changes an amino acid into a stop codon, prematurely ending protein synthesis.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867418303593

The etiological factors influencing these mutations can be broadly categorized into environmental exposures, lifestyle factors, infectious agents, and endogenous cellular processes.

Etiological Factors by Mutation Type
Mutation Type Etiological Factors
Point Mutations (Single nucleotide variants) Errors during DNA replication are a primary endogenous cause. Exogenous factors include chemical carcinogens (e.g., in to***co smoke causing specific KRAS mutations in lung cancer), UV radiation (linked to BRAF V600E in melanoma), and certain infectious agents.

Insertions and Deletions (Indels) These can result from errors in DNA replication or repair processes. Some chemical carcinogens and biological elements like transposons can also induce insertions and deletions.

Translocations and Inversions (Chromosomal rearrangements) Ionizing radiation (gamma rays, X-rays) is a major external cause of double-strand breaks that can lead to large-scale rearrangements. Internal factors include defects in DNA damage repair pathways and errors during cell division. For example, specific translocations are characteristic of certain leukemias.

Aneuploidy (Changes in chromosome number) This is often caused by errors in the process of cell division (mitosis), specifically issues with chromosome segregation. These errors can be influenced by inherited genetic factors (e.g., mutations in genes that regulate mitosis) or environmental toxins that disrupt the cell cycle.

General Etiological Categories
Most cancers are caused by acquired somatic mutations occurring after birth, which are heavily
influenced by the following factors:

Chemical Carcinogens: Substances like those found in to***co smoke (a major cause of various cancers), asbestos, benzene, and formaldehyde damage DNA and lead to various mutations, including point mutations and deletions.

Radiation:
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun causes specific DNA damage (e.g., thymine dimers) primarily leading to point mutations in skin cells.
Ionizing radiation (e.g., medical imaging, radon gas, occupational exposure) can cause single and double-strand breaks, frequently resulting in larger chromosomal rearrangements.

Infectious Agents: Certain viruses and bacteria can induce mutations or chronic inflammation that increases cancer risk. Examples include Human Papillomavirus (HPV) linked to cervical cancer, and Hepatitis B and C viruses associated with liver cancer.

Lifestyle Factors & Chronic Conditions:
Diet and Alcohol can influence cancer risk and potentially the types of mutations that occur, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract.
Obesity and Chronic Inflammation create environments that can lead to increased cell proliferation and the accumulation of mutations over time.

Inherited Genetics: A small percentage (5-10%) of cancers are linked to inherited germline mutations in genes like BRCA1, BRCA2, or TP53, which make an individual more susceptible to accumulating additional cancer-driving mutations over their lifetime.
Age: The accumulation of mutations over a lifetime due to both internal cellular processes and environmental exposures is a primary reason why cancer risk increases with age.

(adding topics to cover)
Parasites & pathogens
Disease progression vicariation Heel

Genetic alterations in signaling pathways that control cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, and cell growth are common hallmarks of cancer, but the exte…

10/04/2025

Walking 7,000 steps per day reduces the risk of dying https://www.thefocalpoints.com/p/new-study-walking-7000-steps-daily?fbclid=IwT01FWANNfaFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHnvQj0VrOctjJOlAMhXEfgYJpJ0w9KJsf0xXSxaau_7iF3zA4cbGZzyFvABW_aem_Q7O18GcviCVy5IftmFmCeQ

Landmark meta‑analysis of nearly 1 million people finds walking reduces death risk by almost half and protects against many major diseases.

12/18/2024

Jiminy Crickets I was hoping to stay out of the Facebook/Meta free-speech censors this year but, here goes anyways . . .
Originally vaccines were designed to have an initial inoculation shot as a primer followed by a booster after 28 days.

The humoral immune system normally produces IgM immunoglobulin in first response to an antigen on a bacteria and then upon subsequent exposure undergoes a class-shift to make IgG immunological memory B-cells.

If a pathogen is severe and not cleared right away, and lasting 3 weeks then the Thelper cells can produce IL17 (Interleukin-17) cytokine that induces a Th17 immune response which speeds up the process of creating memory B cells.

Over concern that a parent might not give their children the booster shots and the vaccine loosing it's efficacy, the pharmaceutical companies developed single shot vaccines. These includes the attenuation agent Thimerosal which contains mercury which is a toxic heavy metal. The Thimerosal induces a Th17 response causing the humoral immune system to react more aggressively to induce immunological memory.

Did Scientists lie to the American public about the association between vaccines containing mercury in Thimerosal causing Autism?
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1156548989255017?mibextid=9drbnH&s=yWDuG2&fs=e

Mercury can cross over the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and get lodged in brain tissue and act as a hapten causing this combination of heavy metal + brain tissue to be identified as a foreign antigen and induce an immune response by triggering the microglia that are the immune cells in the brain. An activated microglia is kinda like straping a bazooka onto a chihuahua, highly excitable and indiscriminately destructive. If you aim a bazooka at a target on the wall, you end up taking out the whole wall!

In the rest of the body we have Treg (Regulatory T-cells) that have receptors for vitamin D which activate these cells which then calm down the Thelper cells lowering the immune response for example after getting over a cold/flu.

But, in the brain we do not have Treg cells to calm down activated Microglia. This is like a house on fire, neuroinflammation causing 'brain fog' this can result in the production of neurotransmitters (NT) as well as decreased NT receptor sensitivity.

Add to this the fact that childhood vaccination schedules often call for giving multiple vaccinations or a combined vaccine shot at tye sane time including vaccinating simultaneously against bacteria and viruses.

This Rev-up in cytokine production overestimating the immune system to induce immunological memory and inadvertently Reving-up the Microglia attack on the brain and impairing NT function is possible to be the culprit with the large increase in Autism and spectral disorders. Further research would help to rule this out or corroborate this observation.

The 'Cellular' immune system is our body's natural response to virus.

The Th1 subset of cytokines stimulate the Cellular immune response.

The 'Humoral' immune system is tye body's natural immune response to bacteria. The humoral immune system is primed and subsequently induced into immunological memory during vaccinations.

Thimerosal is still used in some Flu shot and travel vaccinations! It might be a really good suggestion to avoid getting vaccines containing Thimerosal but, as a doctor. Oh, by the way iatrogenic medicine (doctor error) is no longer the #3 most common cause of death in America, it got passed up by Covid.

The most common cold/flu are rhinoVirus, influenza Virus, respiratory sensitive Virus (RSV), and coronaVirus; notice that these are all Viruses and not bacteria (staph or Strep, etc). Antibiotics only work against Bacteria (not Virus). And, if your vaccine kicks in to start making antibodies this will shift your Thelper cell immune balance away from Th1 Cellular (the body's natural anti-viral response) over to Th2 Humoral instead to make antibodies (our body's normal anti-bacteria response). All these cytokines actually cross over the BBB and influence Microglia immune response as either M1 or M2 which have a hard time switching back.

01/17/2024

People are going to talk, hate, and put out negative energy when you're growing, evolving, and becoming the person God wants you to be. Don't let what other people are saying or doing stop you from shining.

11/23/2023

What are you thankful for today on Thanksgiving day? And, what is your favorite food at Thanksgiving dinner? Please post your answer in the comments and see link in comments for survey results.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YSDLG6J

10/25/2023

Have a safe and Happy Halloween! Safety tip, if you happen to encounter the Grimm Reaper quickly run and take sanctuary in the 'Living room'
🤣🤣🤣
https://youtu.be/Dy4HA3vUv2c?feature=shared

08/31/2023

There are two main branches to the immune system, the "cellular" and the "humoral" (means fluids). The 'Cellular' immune system has white blood cells (WBC) such as killer T-cells (Tkiller) which survey and destroy body cells that are either infected with virus or that have cancer. And, the 'Humoral' immune system B-cells produce antibodies (aka immunoglobulins such as IgG, IgA, IgM, IgG, and IgD) these Antibodies circulate throughout the blood stream as well as in the other humors (fluids) IgA is in breast milk and tears, etc and they can attach to other cells such as macrophage.

These antibody molecules make up the various barriers systems in the body (GALT, MALT, SALT, BALT). Gastrointestinal Associated Lymphocytic Tissue (GALT) can become 'Leaky gut'

Every cell in our body except Red Blood Cells (RBC) have a receptor that it presents proteins made by that cell, (sort of like a tray at a party with a lot of fancy hors d'oeuvres). This receptor is MHC-ll (Major Histocampatibility Complex Type ll). There is also a MHC-l (Type l) which is found on some of the White Blood Cells (WBC) that are involved with the Humoral immune system.

The Cellular immune system has Antigen Presenting Cells (APC) that present for foreign protein (antigens) to the Immune system manager cells called T-helper cells (which are the ones target by the HIV virus that causes AIDS).

The Tkiller cells present antigen on its MHC l recrptor to the to the Thelper cell on its T-cell Receptor type l (TcR-l) which then activates the Thelper to produce Interlukin-2 (IL-2) to stimulate its own Interlukin-2 Receptor (IL-2R) as well as the IL-2R on the Tkiller cell which causes this cell to express genes turning it into a Cytotoxic killer cell (CTL). This enables that cell that is holding onto a virally infected or cancerous cell, to kill it by releasing 'perforin' which cause holes in the infected cell's membrane so that it swells up and is destroyed.

Cortisol is an anti-inflammatory because it 'down regulates' (decreases the gene expression) of IL-2R on the Thelper cell

The four classical signs of inflammation, originally recorded by the Roman encyclopedist Celsus in the 1st century A.D. are calor (heat), dolor (pain), rubor (redness), and tumor (swelling).

Insulin resistance causes inflammation.
Excessive carbohydrates including complex and simple sugars can cause the insulin receptors to become desensitized to insulin. (This is probably so the body can adapt and not take too much sugar into the cells).

This causes elevated glucose levels in the blood vessels. The glucose is transported around in the blood vessels by the HbA1c "A1c" protein on the Red Blood Cells (RBC). Normally RBCs have to be flexible in order to bend in half so they can squeeze through tiny capillaries in the ankle to supply oxygen to the tissues of the toes and through tiny capillaries in the eyes.

Every cell in the body requires oxygen (O2) in order to live. When the A1c is loaded down with glucose "glycosylation" it makes the RBC more rigid & less flexible and unable to reach the toes & the eyes. This is the reason that diabetics can lose their toes &/or go blind.

Incidentally, glycosylation of the skin protein collagen is what causes wrinkles! If you want to have more youthful wrinkle-free skin then don't eat too much sugar or carbohydrates.

Messenger molecules called "cytokines" used by the immune system to communicate between immune cells. These cytokines are processed in the liver and converted into C-reactive protein (CRP). This is one of the makers that we use to check for inflammation. Homocysteine is another marker for inflammation and elevated levels have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk of having a heart attack.

The cartilage cells require oxygen. Special capillaries called "fenestrated" capillaries exchange oxygen from the blood into the synovial fluid that lubricates the joints. These fenestrated capillaries can get blocked up by the CRP. When this happens it can cause hydrogen peroxide that is normally in the synovial fluid to disassociate into two hydroxyl radicals which each have a lone unpaired electron thus making them highly reactive. These free radicals attack the cartilage, "it is like putting bees in a jar and putting the lid on and then shaking up the jar, the bees are going to bounce off the inside of the lid", (Dan Harper, MD). This causes 'oxidative damage' which over time can lead to osteoarthritis this causes pain and promotes inflammation. The joints become red, painful, swollen, and hot to the touch.

The conversion of Arachidonic acid (a 26-carbon molecule) into prostaglandin by the enzyme Cyclooxygenase (COX-1 or COX-2) which is inhibited by NSAiDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, aspirin, etc) produces PGD2 (stimulates pain receptors), PGE2, PGF2 (pyretic, causes fever), PGG2
(to be con't)

When two adjacent antibodies on a macrophage attach to an Antigen such a glyphosate-tainted gluten prote