Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi carried by ticks and transmitted to humans when these infected ticks bite human flesh and embed themselves under the skin.
Symptoms of infection include fever, rash, headaches and a bullseye rash known as erythema migrans. Late infection of Lyme can spread to the joints and nervous system. Laboratory testing is sometimes useful in making the diagnosis using ELISA and Western Blot methods. Most cases of Lyme Disease can be successfully treated with a 2-week course of antibiotics such as doxycycline or cefuroxime.
Estimates suggest that over 300,000 people suffer from Lyme Disease each year here in the United States.
Some people suffer from fatigue, joint aches and other neurological symptoms even though they have been treated with antibiotics. These people are known to have post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) or post Lyme disease syndrome (PLDS). People in the community sometimes also call this chronic Lyme however it is uncertain if this reflects continuing bacteria infection or a dysfunction with the immune system of those previously infected.
Recently research has implicated oxidative stress as the possible pathogenesis of Lyme disease. Mitochondrial superoxide (a damaging free radical) was found to be significantly higher in those with Lyme as compared to healthy controls. This suggests that oxidative stress and interrupted intracellular communication may ultimately contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction in the immune cells of Lyme borreliosis patients.
Since mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in Lyme disease then NAD+ may be depleted. NAD is an important coenzyme involved in energy synthesis within the mitochondria. We know that NAD+ is depleted in chronic diseases and inflammation. Therefore, replenishing NAD+ intravenously in those with Post Lyme Syndrome or Chronic Lyme may show some promise.
We are treating Lyme with an NAD+ Brain Refuel™ Program and FastVitaminIV® push. Additionally, we are using Glutathione as an adjunctive treatment for Lyme as well. Glutathione levels drop with disease states and environmental stressors.
