104 Advanced Nutritional Medicine – Nutritional Medicine in Systemic Health Problems

This is the fourth of 6 courses in the ROHP-Qualifying Program (Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioners).

This course consists of the following subjects:

1. Liver Pathologies
2. Kidney Pathologies
3. Essentials of Pharmacology
4. Blood Tests, Biomarkers, and Longevity

1. Liver Pathologies

This course reviews the pathophysiological processes involved in common liver and gallbladder disorders, including fatty liver disease (NAFLD and NASH), hepatitis, cirrhosis, and gallstones. It explores the evidence-based use of diet, lifestyle, and natural health products (such as Milk Thistle, Silymarin, N-Acetylcysteine, and Alpha-Lipoic Acid) shown to support liver detoxification, reduce hepatic inflammation, and protect liver architecture.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. The student will develop an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiological processes that occur in common conditions of the liver (and gallbladder).
• 2. The student will have an in-depth understanding of the human clinical studies, using various dietary and supplementation interventions, shown to improve various liver conditions.
• 3. The student will have the skills to provide patients who present with various liver conditions with evidence-based, personalized dietary, supplementation and exercise protocols aimed at improving or stabilizing their condition, that work in conjunction with (and not antagonistic to) concurrent medical treatment.

2. Kidney Pathologies

In clinical practice, patients often present with a condition or with co-morbidity issue involving the kidneys. This course reviews the etiology and pathophysiology involved in common disorders of the kidney. The program also provides an in-depth discussion of evidence-based dietary and supplementation practices shown to help improve many of these conditions, as well as the dietary factors and supplements that can make these conditions worse, sometimes producing life-threatening consequences.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. The student will develop an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiological processes that occur in common conditions of the kidney.
• 2. The student will have an in-depth understanding of the human clinical studies, using various dietary and supplementation interventions, shown to improve various kidney conditions.
• 3. The student will have the skills to provide patients who present with various kidney conditions with evidence-based, personalized dietary, supplementation and exercise protocols aimed at improving or stabilizing their condition, that work in conjunction with (and not antagonistic to) concurrent medical treatment.

3. Essentials of Pharmacology

This seminar educates healthcare professionals on the use of commonly prescribed medications and compares the action and efficacy of these drugs to specific nutritional supplements in regards to the mechanism of action, adverse side effects, clinical efficacy, and contra-indications. Many practitioners are aware that nutrition, exercise, and targeted supplementation interventions may, in some cases, reduce or eliminate a client’s requirement for certain medications, or act as complementary agents to enhance the management of client outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. The student will have a solid, scientific understanding of how all the major classes of drugs work in the body.
• 2. The student will have the skills to identify common and highly relevant adverse drug side effects.
• 3. The student will have the skills to use diet and supplementation interventions, in conjunction with the patient’s medication program, to enhance clinical outcomes and guard against important drug-nutrient interactions.

4. Blood Tests, Biomarkers, and Longevity

This course reviews the key blood and urine tests required to make an accurate assessment of objective health parameters of importance in the day-to-day nutrition and natural medicine management of a person’s health. The course explains the meaning of each lab test, how the body generates these molecules and the various genetic and environmental factors (including nutrition and drugs) that can affect their values in the blood, urine, and saliva. The course highlights ideal values associated with longevity, disease risk, and disease diagnosis.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. The student will develop an in-depth understanding of commonly used blood and urine tests that evaluate objective health parameters in a medical setting.
• 2. The student will develop an understanding of how various dietary and lifestyle factors can influence blood and urine lab results in regards to disease processes.
• 3. Based on lab findings, and in concert with other physical exam and consulting information, the student will have the skills to provide patients with evidence-based, personalized nutrition, supplementation, exercise and other lifestyle interventions to help improve or optimize important blood, urine (and in some cases, saliva) values in disease management and prevention.