Full Description
A specially formulated high potency vitamins B-2/B-3 combination to be used as part of a complete nutritional program, emphasizing magnesium instead of calcium.*
ATP Cofactors™ is a specially formulated high potency vitamins B-2/B-3 combination, containing 100 mg of Riboflavin and 500 mg of Niacin (as inositol hexanicotinate) per tablet. ATP Cofactors™ is intended to be used as part of a complete nutritional program, emphasizing magnesium instead of calcium.
Background Information The unit of energy available from food is called calories. The metabolism of the macronutrients carbohydrates, fats, and proteins supply these calories. However, the body can not use these calories as a source of energy to perform life sustaining functions unless these calories are converted to a substance called ATP, which is the energy currency used by the body. About one-half of the calories obtained from food are used to maintain body temperature and body water in a state essential for normal enzymatic activities and cell membrane fluidity. Therefore, 50% of the calories ingested are converted to ATP and the other half is used to pay a form to taxation in order to keep body temperature in the ideal range. In order to convert food to ATP and use ATP as a source of energy, several micronutrients are required: vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. There is a close interaction and synergism between these micronutrients. For example, the B-complex vitamins, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and pyridoxine cannot function well without being activated by phosphorylation. This phosphorylation is magnesium dependant. Therefore, adequate magnesium is required to optimize the performance of the B-complex vitamins.* The synthesis of ATP by intact respiring mitochondria requires the presence of oxygen, magnesium, ADP, inorganic phosphate, and the substrates from the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids.* The generation of these substrates depends on the presence of adequate amount of vitamins, minerals and trace elements.* When all substances are presenting optimal concentrations, the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane and the capacity of the enzymatic system in the respiratory chain become rate limiting.*
Rationale for the use of ATP Cofactors™ As previously discussed, ATP is the universal currency of energy used in biological systems to maintain an organism in a state that is far from thermodynamic equilibrium with the environment, that is far from death. The active from of ATP is a complex of ATP with mainly magnesium, but also with manganese.* In case of manganese deficiency, magnesium can replace manganese.* The turnover of ATP is extremely high. For example, a human at rest consumes one half of his/her weight of ATP daily. The synthesis of ATP from ADP plus high energy phosphate group is called oxidative phosphorylation and is dependant on the electron flow through the electron transport chain via electron carriers.(2) NADH and FADH2 are the major electron carriers in the synthesis of ATP. The B vitamins, niacin and riboflavin, are the precursors of the Cofactors NADH and FADH2.* These Cofactors play an important role also in the oxidation and organification of iodide by generating hydrogen peroxide via the NADPH oxydase system.*(3,4) In some conditions, the body cannot efficiently synthesized NADH and FADH3 from Niacin and Riboflavin because of defect/damage to the enzymes involved in this conversion.*(5-8) More Riboflavin and Niacin are needed to override the inefficient enzymes in order to obtain adequate levels of cofactors.
Usage Directions
One to three tablets daily, or as recommended by a healthcare provider. When used in conjunction with Iodoral® 50 mg tablets, the recommended amount is one tablet of ATP Cofactor for each 50 mg tablet of Iodoral®.