Page 23 - Winter2008

against polar bear liver being eaten with the excitotoxins. Boosting their levels in the brain
membrane would therefore be useless. Finally, helps prevent the experimental induction of
vitamin A toxicity generally accompanies seizures, while depleting or antagonizing them
chronically high intakes over time, usually of lowers the amount of drugs necessary to induce
chemically altered supplemental forms, whereas seizures. 36
the hysterical episodes found among the Inuit are The production of endocannabinoids from
acute and sporadic. arachidonic acid is critically dependent on the
In 1972, another author offered a much supply of calcium since it is the influx of this
better hypothesis tying the episodes to hypocal- mineral into the cell that turns on the enzymes
cemic tetany, a disorder of involuntary muscle responsible for this conversion. At a minimum,
17
contractions accompanying severe deficiencies vitamin D is required to supply sufficient calcium
of calcium and vitamin D. The muscle contrac- to the brain in order for this influx to take place.
35
tions occur because the peripheral nerves cannot Since some cells use vitamin D as a signal to
regulate their impulses in the absence of calcium. open calcium channels and allow a rapid influx
The disorder is often accompanied by “emotional of calcium, it is possible that brain cells require
19
and cognitive disorganization” and convulsive vitamin D for endocannabinoid production in
seizures, probably resulting from the absence this way as well.
of calcium in the central nervous system. Like
pibloktoq, episodes are acute and sporadic. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Populations that inhabit areas of the Arctic When taken together these data suggest that
where fishing is limited or the weather is un- nutrient-dense animal fats rich in vitamin A, ara- A return to
suitable for drying fish—the primary source of chidonic acid, and vitamin D will not only help
vitamin D and calcium in the Inuit diet—have us avoid mental illnesses such as depression and traditional
high rates of tetany in infants and muscle cramps, anxiety, but help us to confront our challenges foods and
a related symptom, in adults. The bone disease with focused, goal-oriented behavior and to sus- traditional
rickets, by contrast, is extremely rare, suggesting tain effort over time in order to realize important
that in the physically demanding environment goals in the future. While there are many other methods
of the Arctic, the Inuit have adapted by giving factors that influence mental health—cognitive, of food
skeletal development priority over the nervous social, spiritual—there is a physiological element production
system. The Inuit have inherited numerous of mental health that cannot be ignored. A return
cultural adaptations centered on providing suf- to traditional foods and traditional methods of and
ficient calcium and vitamin D to the members of food production and preservation will help us preservation
their groups, especially to pregnant and lactating restore a culture willing to invest in its future will help us
women, reinforcing the concept that vitamin D while supplying the nutrients necessary to sup-
and calcium are periodically limiting factors for port the motivation to make that future happen. restore a
good health in these populations. culture willing
If we are to investigate the mechanism by to invest in its
which vitamin D may be involved in this ill- Chris Masterjohn is creator and maintainer of
ness, we should look first of all to its primary Cholesterol-And-Health.com and a frequent future while
function—maintaining calcium status. One contributor to Wise Traditions. He is currently supplying the
compelling explanation for how vitamin D may pursuing a PhD in Nutritional Science with a nutrients
prevent the convulsive seizures associated with concentration in Biochemical and Molecular
hypocalcemic tetany and pibloktoq is that it sup- Nutrition at the University of Connecticut. necessary to
plies the calcium necessary for the production support the
of endocannabinoids. The marijuana derivative motivation to
hashish has been used since at least the fifteenth
century to treat epilepsy. More recent research make that
has shown that the endocannabinoids named future
after this drug are powerful inhibitors of gluta- happen.
mate toxicity and many other seizure-promoting

WINTER 2008 Wise Traditions 23