Book Review: Nutritional Medicine

Stacie Deyglio, ND

Nutritional Medicine

Devotion, commitment, and intrinsic ardor for uncovering scientific applications of nutritional deficiencies to disease are the founding tripods of success that Dr Gaby relied on for the creation of his 30-year project. The result is a textbook entitled Nutritional Medicine.

Nutritional medicine is the study of correcting imbalances or deficiencies based on using substances natural to the body such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, trace elements, and fatty acids. This field of medicine seeks to restore the optimum environment of the body by influencing biochemical pathways that have significant genetic variability and are directly affected by depletions within the nutritional matrix and biochemical milieu: “This book is the result of more than 30 years of study, contemplation and experience. My hope is that it will help promote better health, reduce the cost of healthcare and stimulate further research in this promising and exciting field of medicine” (p xv).

Within over 1300 pages of the book, more than 400 common and uncommon medical issues and diseases are addressed. For these ailments, Dr Gaby supplies documented evidence-based dietary modifications, nutritional supplements, and other natural remedies proven to be supportive for the elucidation of the disease in question: “[B]ased on the combination of clinical experience and literature review, I am certain that nutritional therapy has an important role to play in the practice of medicine. Depending on the clinical situation, dietary modifications and nutritional supplements can frequently be used as an adjunct or an alternative to conventional therapies” (p xv).

With 342 chapters in total, 61 chapters are devoted to individual vitamins, minerals, amino acids, hormones, and other therapeutic agents. The additional 270 chapters discuss the nutritional treatments for more than 400 specific health conditions. These include asthma, ear infections, erectile dysfunction, arthritis, high blood pressure, bowel disorders, cancer, prostate problems, esophageal reflux, heart disease, infertility, migraine headaches, and sinus infections, to name just a few. With more than 15 000 scientific references, Dr Gaby provides information about drug-nutrient interactions, dosages, adverse effects, and nutrient-nutrient interactions within the context of each health condition addressed. Six chapters are devoted to discussing nutritional medicine as it relates to certain modalities (eg, detoxification, irradiation, and anesthesiology).

This expert guide is a valuable resource for every medical professional seeking alternative approaches to conventional medical treatments. Dr Gaby’s understanding of the clinical application of nutrition is consummate. Thus far, Nutritional Medicine is the only published textbook available to present scientifically reliable and clinically applicable information on the use of nutritional biochemistry as a leading treatment modality.

Stacie Deyglio, ND received her baccalaureate degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the College of Mt. St. Vincent in New York. Her personal health issues paved the way to discovering naturopathic medicine in 1999. Resonating with the philosophy and principles of naturopathic medicine, Dr Deyglio graduated from the University of Bridgeport, College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2003. As a medical student, she was involved in student government, fundraising and the generation of two successful student-run health fairs. Dr Deyglio’s interests include relating integrative therapeutics to the health of pediatric and geriatric populations. Currently residing in Phoenix, Dr Deyglio is an avid bookworm, and is actively creating her practice.