There is no doubt that we live in a high stress society.  Not only do we live and work in unnatural environments, our foods are vastly different than they were 150 years ago.  Until relatively recently, no human ever consumed synthesized isolated USP vitamins.  Should stress vitamin formulas be primarily synthetic substances which can add stress to the body?  We think not! 

Vegetarian Adrenal is a 100% vegan Food supplement intended to nutritionally support the adrenal glands and help support biochemical imbalances associated with cortisol production.  The adrenal glands play a role in energy, stress, mood, and even pain control [1].  The adrenal glands have probably the greatest store of vitamin C in the body.  Vegetarian Adrenal is basically Food intended for the adrenal glands (it is not advised if breastfeeding). If additional endocrine support is indicated, consider adding Vegetarian Thyro or Vegetarian Tyrosine.

Acerola Cherry is one of the most vitamin C dense Foods (the adrenal glands tend to store vitamin C in the body [1]) Not only does it have free radical scavenging abilities, it also has been shown to increase the antioxidant abilities of some other foods [2].

Ashwagandha Withania somnifera is considered to be an herb to help deal with stress.  An animal study, “concluded that ashwagandha possesses adaptogenic, cardiotropic, cardioprotective and anticoagulant properties” [3].

Carob Pod Ceratonia siliqua is a natural Food source high in the amino acid serine (see L-Serine below) [4].  In addition, research has concluded, “The presence of substances with central benzodiazepine activity in carob extracts seems of great importance in view of the possibility to use carob extract as potential natural products with anxiolytic-sedative effects” [5].

Kelp is Food that supplies trace minerals [6], and adrenal glands contain trace minerals.

L- Serine is an non-essential amino acid, that along with some others help produce the “enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the conversion of circulating dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), pregnenolone or 17alpha-hydroxypregenolone to produce the appropriate, active steroid hormone(s): estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, aldosterone or cortisol respectively” [7].  L-serine is known to help restore compromised adrenal function, as well as helping to reduce elevated cortisol levels.

L-tyrosine is an amino acid used in the production of adrenal and thyroid hormones [1] and may “improve vigilance and lessen anxiety” [8].  Women on oral contraceptives have been found to have less plasma and brain levels of tyrosine which results in a reduction in catecholamines, which affect mood [9]. Oral consumption of tyrosine has, in some case, been shown to completely alleviate depression while increasing plasma tyrosine levels [10,11].

Rice bran is a Food source of B vitamins [7], which are often used for stress, anxiety, and adrenal support. 

Tomato powder supplies carotenoids and lycopene.  Lycopene in tomato powder, which is how it is in Vegetarian Adrenal appears to be more bioavailable than that in fresh tomatoes, and tomato powder has (by weight) 26-144 times more lycopene than fresh tomatoes [7]. “Among the common dietary carotenoids lycopene has the highest singlet oxygen quenching capacity in vitro. Other outstanding features are its high concentration in… {the} adrenal gland” [8]. Studies suggest it has a variety of protective effects [7].

Vitamin B-6: “An understanding of the various forms [of vitamin B-6] and quantities of these forms in foods is important in the evaluation of the bioavailability and metabolism of vitamin B-6” [12]. One of the forms that vitamin B-6 exists in is the form “5’0-(beta-D-glycopyransosyl) pyridoxine.  To date only plant foods have been found to contain this interesting form of vitamin B-6” [12].  Yeast and rice bran contain more natural food vitamin B-6 than other foods [13].   Reports suggest that food vitamin B-6 is superior to forms [14].  At least one synthetic vitamin B-6 analogue has been found to inhibit natural vitamin B-6 action [15].  Pyridoxine HCL (hydrochloride) which is found in most non-food supplements is made with petroleum ester combined with HCL and processed with formaldehyde [16].  “Disorders treated with (B-6)...include Down’s syndrome, autism, hyperoxaluria, gestational diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, and diabetic neuropathy” [17].  Many problems including anemias, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), PMS, cardiovascular complaints, confusion, depression, irritability, and certain immune problems have responded to vitamin B-6 [18].  A study of healthy elderly individuals found about 1/3 had marginal vitamin B-6 deficiency [18].

Vitamin B-12: A relatively high number of those with certain adrenal conditions seem to be deficient in vitamin B-12 [19].  Supplemental vitamin B-12 may have a role in supporting adrenal health [20]. 

Vitamin C in the human body, is found in the greatest abundance in the adrenal glands, which demonstrates that many aspects of adrenal physiology require vitamin C.  Foods generally contain two biologically active forms of vitamin C [17,21,22], yet most synthetic vitamin C only contains isolated ascorbic acid [23,24].  One M.D. writes, “If anything helps you battle the effects of stress, it is vitamin C” [25]; vitamin C “can readily donate electrons to quench a variety of reactive free radical and oxidative species and is easily returned to its reduced state...The vitamin efficiently scavenges hydroxyl, peroxyl, and superoxide radicals, as well as reactive peroxide, singlet oxygen, and hypochlorite species” and protects against lipid and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation” [17].  

Vegetarian Adrenal Video

Many people simply take Vegetarian Adrenal as a Food supplement to help them feel better. 

References
[1] Guyton AC, Hall JE. Textbook of Medical Physiology, 9th ed. WB Saunders, Phil., 1996
[2] Hwang J, Hodis HN, Sevanian A. Soy and alfalfa phytoestrogen extracts become potent low-density lipoprotein antioxidants in the presence of acerola cherry extract. J Agric Food Chem. 2001;49(1):308-314
 [3] Dhuley JN.  Adaptogenic and cardioprotective action of ashwagandha in rats and frogs. J Ethnopharmacol. 2000 Apr;70(1):57-63
[4] USDA.  Carob Powder. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18 (2005)
[5] Avallone R, Cosenza F, Farina F, Baraldi C, Baraldi M. Extraction and purification from Ceratonia siliqua of compounds acting on central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors. Fitoterapia. 2002;73(5):390-396
[6] Pederson M. Nutritional Herbology: A Reference Guide to Herbs, 3rd ed. Whitman Books, Warsaw (IN), 1998
[7]  Sheldon S, Rorvik D, eds.  PDR for Nutritional Supplements.  Medical Economics, Montvale (NJ), 2001
[8] Whitney EN, Hamilton EMN. Understanding Nutrition, 4ed. West Publishing, New York, 1987
[9] Jensen B.  The Chemistry of Man. Bernard Jensen Enterprises, Escondido (CA), 1983
[10] Gerster H. The potential role of lycopene for human health.  J Am Coll Nutr. 1997;16(2):109-126
[11] Null G.  The Complete Encyclopedia of Natural Health.  Kensington Books, NY, 1998
[12] Shils ME, Olson JA, Shike M.  Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th ed.  Williams & Wilkins, Balt., 1999
[13] Hendler S, Rorvik D, editors.  PDR for Nutritional Supplements.  Medical Economics, Montvale (NJ), 2001
[14] Vitamin-Mineral Manufacturing Guide Nutrient Empowerment, volume 1.  Nutrition Resource, Lakeport (CA), 1986
[15] Plesofsky-Vig N.  Pantothenic acid and Coenzyme A.  In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed.  Lea & Febiger, Phil.,1994:395-401
[16] Leklem JE.  Vitamin B6.  In Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 8th ed.  Lea & Febiger, Phil.,1994:383-394
[17] Ensminger AH, Ensminger ME, Konlade JE, Robson JRK.  Food & Nutrition Encyclopedia, 2nd ed.  CRC Press, New York, 1993
[18] Thiel R. Natural vitamins may be superior to synthetic ones.  Medical Hypotheses, 2000; 55(6):461-469
[19] Mervyn L. The B Vitamins.  Thorsons, Wellingborough (UK), 1981
[20] Vitamin-Mineral Manufacturing Guide Nutrient Empowerment, volume 1.  Nutrition Resource, Lakeport (CA), 1986
[21] Hendler SS, Rorvik D, eds.  PDR for Nutritional Supplements.  Medical Economics, Montvale (NJ), 2001
[22] Levine, M, et al.  Vitamin C.  In Present Knowledge in Nutrition, 7th ed.  ILSI Press, Washington, 1996:146-159
[23] Vanderslice JT, Higgs DJ.  Vitamin C content of foods: sample variability.  Am J Clin Nutr, 1991;54(Supp 6):1323S-1327S
[24] The United States Pharmacopeial Convention.  USAN and USP Dictionary of Drug Names.  Mack Printing, Easton (PA),1986
[25] Mangels AR, et al.  The bioavailability to humans of ascorbic acid from oranges, orange juice and cooked broccoli is similar to that of synthetic ascorbic acid.  J Nutr, 1993;123(6):1054-1061
[26] Understanding Vitamins and Minerals.  Rodale Press, Emmaus (PA), 1984