Metabolic Typing: The Science of Oxidation Rates
Every single one of us is unique. We have different lifestyles, preferences and live in different environments. We have different thought patterns. memories, genetic histories, height and weights. However, as humans, there still remains some common threads which help us design a mineral balancing program that is more in tune with one’s biological individuality and current nutritional status rather than making assumptions, generalisations and using cookie-cutter templates that are common in nutritional therapies.
Some of the pioneers in this field include; Dr David Watts, Dr Paul Eck, Dr Lawrence Wilson, Dr Melvin Page, Dr Roger Williams, Dr Emanuel Revici, Dr William Donald Kelley, and George Watson, many of which are very well esteemed in their fields and renowned in their respective fields and clinical disciplines.
To understand what is meant by metabolic rate and metabolic typing, you should be aware that fast or slow oxidation is simply a way of classifying the rate at which the body is releasing energy. In this article, we use the terms metabolism and oxidation rate interchangeably. But technically speaking, there is a slight difference.
Science is very specific, and the terms they use are as well. So for the inquiring mind, I have provided definitions for the differences between oxidation and metabolism below.
Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy or ATP (source).
Oxidation is shortened from oxidation phosphorlation. This is a simple concept but is complex mechanically. For now, it is the metabolic pathway that cells use oxidize nutrients with enzymes, which allows them to releasing energy so that they can produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (source, source).
As you can see from the definitions above, Mineral Balancing really is a science of balancing our body’s cells capacity to create energy. This is also why these terms are used interchangeably, which sometimes confuses people. By recognising that not everyone has the same capacity to create energy, we can create programs that correct their metabolism at the cellular level. This is also why some nutrients are beneficial to certain individuals, while other nutrients are contraindicated.
Metabolic Typing allows us to begin to develop nutritional programs that are much more personalised, instead of treating every person as if they are the same. We find that it when it is used clinically, it is particularly useful in the treatment and prevention of chronic health conditions. This is because it transcends the symptom-based, one-sized fits all approach of modern allopathy and modern nutritional or herbal sciences. By providing the person with specific nutrients that are required to balance their oxidation, we can begin to correct total body chemistry and support our inner physician, or our body’s innate intelligence.
Metabolic typing is not a new concept. Many ancient modalities such as Ayurveda (doshas and gunas) and homeopathy (constitutions) include a form of identifying an individual's constitution so that a remedy and diet could be prepared to suit their needs.
On an Integrative Mineral Balancing program, we only use a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) that does not wash the hair sample to mathetmatically identify the cellular metabolic rate. We currently use only two labs to assess this, they are Analytical Research Labs and Trace Elements Inc. Some practitioners use a questionnaire and we find that this is not very accurate and even misleading (Wilson 1986).
Analogies
There are a few analogies that can be used to explain what we mean by the oxidation rate. One that I commonly use, is the concept of fire. In this analogy, fire is symbolic of the release of energy from our cells after it burns or metabolises fuel to create energy. This is not unlike what happens at the cellular level and is an example from our external reality that is reflected in our internal reality.
The oxidation rate is largely dependant on the thyroid and adrenal glands. In slow oxidation, the thyroid and adrenal glands are underactive. This is akin to a low burning fire. In fast oxidation, the thyroid and adrenal glands are overactive and can be likened to a roaring fire.
When an individual is in a state of fast oxidation, they are capable of readily creating energy. However, the density of fuel (food) must be slow-burning such as a large log to maintain the flame.
If you were to try and maintain the large flames with only paper and small sticks (carbohydrates and proteins) you would have to keep adding fuel to feed the fire (this is akin to constantly eating). Large logs, on the other hand, provide a sustained release of fuel for the fire. This is why fast oxidisers do much better on fats and proteins than carbohydrates. They still require carbohydrates, however, but only about 20% of their diet, in contrast to 40% protein and fats.
When an individual is in a state of slow oxidation, they really struggle with creating adequate energy. Their flame is quite low. These individuals are often burnt out or burning out. For this metabolic type, less dense fuel sources such as carbohydrates (paper and sticks) allow the fire to rekindle and create adequate energy. If you were to ask a slow oxidiser to go on a ketogenic diet, intermittent fast, or carnivore diet, they would really struggle. The reason is that these sticks and logs are just too dense for the little flame of the slow oxidiser. They can snuff themselves out just by eating too much fat and protein.
In contrast to the fast oxidiser, slow oxidisers need much more carbohydrates to maintain their flame so that they can create energy from fuel effectively. This is why slow oxidisers do much better on a diet which enhances cellular metabolism. They need a diet of 40% carbohydrates, 40% protein and only about 20% fats.
For more information regarding eating right for your metabolic type, check out the articles:
Determination of the Oxidation Rate by Glandular Activity
The thyroid and adrenal glands are the sources for the lion’s share of energy in the body. These glands determine the rate of metabolism. The oxidation rate can be identified by using the ratios on an HTMA that have been correlated by Dr Paul Eck (Wilson 1986).
The healthier these glands, the more powerful and adaptive the individual's energy. These individuals are also more resilient to stress. The weaker these glands, the more poor quality of energy due to an imbalanced oxidation rate. In slow oxidation the body still produces energy (ATP). However, efficiency is drastically reduced since they do not have adequate amounts of nutrients that are required for creating energy from glucose. While fast oxidisers metabolise glucose to quickly and require nutrients to help them metabolise fat. The overall goal is to balance the body’s ability to create energy from fuel.
The thyroid and adrenal glands function in a very close relationship, similar to the husband/wife law in Traditional Chinese Medicine. To make energy, simple sugars need to be metabolised by the liver and to do this an elegant interdependence is required between the liver, the adrenal glands and the thyroid glands. They work together to release simple sugars from the liver and then process them at the cellular level into energy, ATP. The rate at which this energy is created determines our body’s cellular oxidation rate. The various metabolic types do not mean that there are different types of oxidation, but instead, there are various rates of oxidation. This means that some people release (or metabolise, from the Greek, to change) energy from their food at different rates.
In other words, cortisol from the adrenal glands convert simple sugars (glycogen) which are stored in the liver, into an activated fuel (glucose), which then serves as the fuel for the thyroid gland. The thyroid ignites these activated sugars (glucose) and converts them into energy. When these glands are in a harmonious relationship, the body is able to effectively utilize energy at its peak capacity.
By raising blood sugar, the adrenal glands supply the fuel that the thyroid gland ignites. It does this by speeding up the metabolic rate to provide the “spark”. Both of these processes are needed in the right amounts to produce a vibrant state of health and abundant vitality in the body, which is indicated by a balanced oxidation rate. One of the primary goals of the Integrative Mineral Balancing Program is to balance your cellular oxidation rate through diet recommendations and nutrient supplementation.
The oxidation rates are one of the primary factors that allow us to design a supplement and dietary program that supports your biological individuality. For example, a high-fat diet will slow down the oxidation rate by raising calcium levels. This is generally contraindicated for a slow oxidiser, since they already have high calcium levels. Though, for a fast oxidiser, raising the calcium and slowing down the oxidation rate is just what they need to sustain their energy levels throughout the day.
In contrast, a diet higher in complex carbohydrates and lower in fats and oils enhances or speeds up the oxidation rate. This type of diet is not ideal for a fast oxidiser as they require more dense forms of calories to maintain their energy.
In addition to diet, the metabolic type also indicates which nutrients are required to balance your cellular metabolism. Nutritional supplements, such as calcium, magnesium, copper and Vitamin A and D, inositol and choline tend to slow the metabolic rate. While vitamin B-complex, C and E, and zinc and manganese have an opposite effect, in that they enhance the metabolic rate. It is not ideal to only provide a slow oxidiser with nutrients which enhance metabolism and the fast oxidizers with nutrients which slow the oxidation rate. This ideology creates an imbalanced program and does not provide adequate nourishment and may lead to secondary deficiencies.
Eating the wrong diet, or taking the wrong supplements can further imbalance your metabolism. This is one reason why shotgun nutritional supplementation may work for one person, but not another. Slow oxidisers generally do quite well when they take vitamin C. However, if a fast oxidiser were to take large amounts of vitamin C, they would exacerbate their copper deficiencies which could cause symptoms similar to vitamin C deficiency (pseudoscurvy) (Hoyle 1999).
When the body is receiving optimal nutrients according to its tissue levels, the body’s cells will have the raw materials that are required to improve overall energy production to heal and detox heavy metals that have accumulated deep in our tissues. The more efficient and balanced an individual's oxidation rate becomes, the more energy they experience and the more capable are these individuals of detoxifying toxic elements.
Definition of the Oxidation Rates
On a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), there are 4 main metabolic types or oxidation types that are identified on a properly performed test. They are Fast and Slow oxidation.
Fast Oxidation. This pattern has an overactive thyroid (a calcium/potassium ratio less than 4) and an overactive adrenal gland (a sodium/magnesium ratio greater than 4.17) at the cellular level. When one is in a state of fast oxidation, an abundance of energy occurs. However, there is a caveat, the energy present in the fast oxidiser is only temporary and is necessary for an alarm reaction of stress according to Dr Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome.
Slow Oxidation. This pattern is present in approximately 80% of people and is thus the most common pattern on an HTMA (Malter 2014). Slow oxidisers have a lowered rate of metabolism at the cellular level and are often fatigued, lacking energy.
Mixed Oxidation. This pattern is present when one of the two patterns are present. When one gland is underactive and another gland is overactive. Mixed oxidisers may experience a lack of energy followed by a sudden burst of energy. An individual can be in one of two states of either Fast-Mixed or Slow-Mixed oxidation.
Slow-Mixed. Occurs when the calcium/potassium ratio is greater than 4 and the sodium/magnesium ratio is greater than 4.17.
Fast-Mixed. Occurs when the calcium/potassium ratio is less than 4 and the sodium/magnesium ratio less than 4.17.
Balanced Oxidation. A balanced oxidation rate occurs when the thyroid and adrenal ratios are optimal. Thus this is the most difficult to attain and is the “Goldilocks” state of oxidation where the glands are not too fast, nor too slow and “just right”. We rarely find someone in a state of balanced oxidation. It is much more likely to be in mixed oxidation with ratios very close to ideal.
Note: There are many factors which can influence the mineral levels and ratios on a hair tissue mineral analysis. These include the presence of excessive toxic metals, nutritional deficiencies, infections, illnesses or stress from any source. For this reason, the first few hair analyses may give only a superficial picture of the condition of body chemistry. After several months to more than a year of nutritional balancing, the hair mineral patterns often change dramatically.
Symptoms of Oxidation Types
Fast Oxidation Symptoms
Anxiety
Arthritis (rheumatoid)
Aneurysms
Allergies (histamine)
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Diabetes (Hypoinsulinism)
Infections (bacterial)
High blood pressure
Hypertension
Hyperthyroid
Hypoparathyroid
Hyperadrenia
Parkinson’s Disease
Multiple Sclerosis (true)
Nervousness
Ulcers (peptic or duodenal)
Post Menstrual symptoms
Immuno-suppression (cellular)
Slow Oxidation Symptoms
Adult Onset Diabetes
AIDS
Anorexia
Arthritis (osteoarthritis)
Apathy
Asthma
Anorexia
Blood Pressure (diastolic) may rise and remain elevated depending upon the amount of hypothyroidism.
Bradycardia (Abnormally Slow Heart Rate)
Calcium Deposits In Soft Tissues
Carbohydrate cravings
Cardiovascular disease
Cold hands and feet
Cold Sensitivity in the extremities
Constipation
Copper Imbalances (unbound, bio-unavailable)
Depression
Diabetes (Hyperinsulinism)
Easy weight gain
Fatigue
Fungus/Candida/Yeast Infections
HypoadreniaHypotension
Hypoadrenia
Hypoglycemia
Hyporeflexia (below normal or absent reflexes)
Hypotension – abnormally low blood pressure – especially postural
Hypothyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism
Insomnia (Type 2) – falling asleep easily, but awakening frequently during the night. They
sleep several hours a night, but often wakes up tired
Insulin resistance or Type 2 Diabetes
Lethargy
Lupus
Multiple Sclerosis (false)
Osteoarthritis
Osteopenia and osteoporosis
Poor digestion
Premenstrual Syndrome
PMS – Premenstrual Syndrome
Ulcers (gastric)
Viral infections
Resources
Wilson, Lawrence (1986). Determination of Oxidation Type by Means of Tissue Electrolyte Ratios. http://orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1986/pdf/1986-v01n02-p126.pdf
Wilson Lawrence (December 2018). The Oxidation Types – Fast, Slow And Mixed. https://drlwilson.com/ARTICLES/Oxidation%20Types%201104.htm
Malter, Rick (September 2014). The Calcification of America: It’s Good for Business. https://malterinstitute.org/pdf/The_Calcification_of_America.pdf
Watts, David L. (1989). Utilization Of HTMA For Metabolic Typing. Trace Elements Inc. Newsletter VOLUME 3, SEPT/OCTOBER 1989, NUMBER 4. https://traceelements.com/Docs/News%20Sept-Oct%2089b.pdf
Watson, G. (1978). Nutrition and your mind: the psychochemical response. New York: Bantam Books.
Hoyle, Gretchen S. et al (1999). Pseudoscurvy caused by copper deficiency. The Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 134, Issue 3, 379.