# Supplement & Elimination Stack

## Context

Addressing interconnected issues: suspected celiac disease (confirmed by dermatitis
herpetiformis), kidney damage/stones, uremic neuropathy affecting vision (diplopia
progressing to accommodation loss), orthostatic hypotension, autonomic dysfunction,
chronic inflammatory loading from diet.

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## Eliminations (Priority — as important as additions)

- **Gluten** — primary autoimmune trigger; even occasional pastry exposure maintains
  inflammatory cascade
- **Sucralose & Acesulfame K** — directly damage gut barrier tight junctions, disrupt
  microbiome
- **Maltodextrin** — carrier for artificial sweeteners, triggers salivary gland colic
- **Energy drinks** (Hell Focus etc.) — combines caffeine, fructose/HFCS, sucralose,
  maltodextrin; L-carnitine + caffeine causes jaw clenching
- **Seed oil chips / high omega-6 foods** — linoleic acid loads inflammatory
  prostaglandin cascade; tissue half-life ~2 years
- **Excess fructose** — metabolized like alcohol in liver, produces uric acid damaging
  renal tubules, depletes ATP, loosens gut tight junctions, depletes magnesium
- **Alcohol** — directly neurotoxic, worsens neuropathy, dehydrates, suppresses thirst,
  stresses kidneys
- **Caffeine** — taper gradually; disrupts sleep, suppresses thirst long-term, masks
  fatigue with rebound; short-term helps convergence but net negative

### Nicotine — special case

Serves genuine self-regulation function (acetylcholine modulation for impulse control).
Taper during period of lower social/workplace stress, not during high-friction periods.

---

## Supplement Stack

### Priority 1 — Gut barrier repair

| Supplement        | Dose              | Notes                                         |
|-------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| L-Glutamine       | 5-10g daily       | Empty stomach; primary fuel for enterocytes    |
| Collagen peptides | 10-15g daily      | Proline + glycine for mucosal membrane synthesis |

### Priority 2 — Correct malabsorption deficits

| Supplement                  | Dose                | Notes                                                      |
|-----------------------------|---------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|
| Magnesium glycinate         | 200-400mg elemental | NOT oxide or citrate (osmotic/laxative); glycinate absorbs well without motility issues |
| Vitamin D3                  | 4000-5000 IU daily  | Likely severely depleted from malabsorption; regulates Th17 differentiation |
| Vitamin K2 (MK-7)          | 100-200mcg daily    | Directs calcium to bones, not kidneys — critical alongside D3 |
| B12 (methylcobalamin)      | 1000mcg sublingual  | Bypasses compromised gut absorption; nerve repair            |
| B1 (benfotiamine)          | 100-300mg daily     | Fat-soluble thiamine form; nerve repair, better bioavailability |

### Priority 3 — Anti-inflammatory rebalance

| Supplement             | Dose                    | Notes                                              |
|------------------------|-------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
| Omega-3 (EPA/DHA)     | 2-3g combined EPA+DHA   | Fish oil or sardine-based; displaces omega-6 from cell membranes |

### Hydration & kidney support

- **Lemon/lime juice in water** — citrate prevents kidney stone formation, dissolves
  calcium deposits, sour taste stimulates thirst
- **Pinch of salt in water** — triggers osmoreceptor thirst response without BP spike
  at low dose
- **Increase plain water intake** — foundation for renal clearance

### Note on potassium

Potassium citrate would normally be indicated for kidney stones but worsens existing
orthostatic hypotension from autonomic neuropathy. Avoid supplemental potassium until
autonomic function improves from B vitamin/gut repair.

---

## Convergence / Vision exercises

- **Pencil push-ups** — hold pencil at arm's length, slowly bring toward nose while
  maintaining single image, repeat
- **Brock string** — string with beads at intervals, focus on each bead to train
  convergence

These retrain the vergence system while underlying nerve function recovers from
B vitamin repletion.

---

## Sources (EU, ship to Croatia)

### Best overall: iHerb

- **URL**: [iherb.com](https://www.iherb.com/)
- **Croatia shipping page**: [iherb.com/shipping/hr](https://www.iherb.com/shipping/hr)
- Ships to Croatia via Overseas Express, Croatia Post, DHL, FedEx, UPS
- **Free shipping over EUR 40**
- All duties/taxes pre-collected at checkout (no surprise fees on delivery)
- Carries ALL items in this stack
- Significantly cheaper than Croatian pharmacies (often ~50% less)
- Key brands: Thorne (L-glutamine powder), Doctor's Best (magnesium glycinate),
  NOW Foods (benfotiamine, D3+K2), California Gold Nutrition (collagen peptides,
  omega-3)

### Alternatives

| Store                    | URL                                                        | Notes                                       |
|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
| Life Extension Europe    | [lifeextensioneurope.com](https://www.lifeextensioneurope.com/) | EU-based; 500+ supplements; mag glycinate EUR 26.50, D3+K2 EUR 22.50, omega-3 EUR 53.23; may not carry all items |
| VitalAbo                 | [vitalabo.com](https://www.vitalabo.com/)                  | EU-based; free delivery from EUR 42.90       |
| Greatlife.eu             | [greatlife.eu](https://www.greatlife.eu/)                  | EU-based; ships all over Europe; check L-glutamine availability |
| HSN Store                | [hsnstore.eu](https://www.hsnstore.eu/)                    | Own manufacturing facilities; 3-5 day delivery |
| Biovea Europe            | [biovea.com/eu](https://www.biovea.com/eu/)                | Large EU retailer                            |
| Mass-Zone                | [mass-zone.eu](https://mass-zone.eu/en/)                   | Carries Thorne, NOW Foods, Seeking Health; worldwide 24h shipping |

### Recommendation

Order from **iHerb** as primary source — widest selection, all items available,
cheapest, confirmed Croatia shipping with pre-paid customs. Use EU-based stores as
backup for items that may be restricted or out of stock on iHerb.

---

## Mechanism summary

The core upstream problem is likely **celiac disease** (evidenced by dermatitis
herpetiformis) causing chronic gut barrier damage and malabsorption. This produces:

1. **Nutrient depletion** (B12, B1, D3, magnesium, calcium) -> neuropathy, poor nerve
   repair, autonomic dysfunction
2. **Kidney stones** from oxalate malabsorption (unabsorbed fat binds calcium, leaving
   oxalate free to concentrate in kidneys) + fructose-derived uric acid
3. **Chronic systemic inflammation** from gut permeability + omega-6 prostaglandin
   loading + autoimmune activation
4. **Vision problems** from cranial nerve neuropathy (B vitamin depletion) affecting
   convergence and accommodation
5. **Orthostatic hypotension** from autonomic neuropathy
6. **Salivary gland colic** from dehydration-related duct obstruction, triggered by
   sugars/maltodextrin

The strategy: repair the gut barrier, remove triggers, correct deficiencies, let the
immune system recalibrate without suppression.

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*Compiled 2026-02-16*