Interview with Dr. Helena Orfanos-Boeckel,Internist & Nephrologist, Berlin
Belle&Yell: Dr. Orfanos-Boeckel, how did you develop your focus on nutrients and hormones?
Dr. Orfanos-Boeckel: My medical journey began at the university hospital here in Berlin, where I completed my specialization in internal medicine and earned an additional qualification in nephrology within a large internal medicine and nephrology department.
In particular, working in the kidney transplant outpatient clinic, it was crucial to closely monitor the metabolism of kidney transplant patients through comprehensive laboratory diagnostics and to adjust their medication to protect the kidneys. There, I learned how to analyze blood values and optimize them not only with medications but also with nutrients and hormones to preserve the kidney function of the transplant for as long as possible.
The Key: Prevention
I later developed this approach further in my own practice to proactively influence age-related metabolic processes, even in relatively healthy individuals without severe chronic diseases. Early laboratory diagnostics and an individually targeted regulation of metabolism help prevent diseases and improve overall well-being.
What I found particularly fascinating was that many metabolic issues that later led to serious illnesses were already evident in blood values at a very early stage.
Dr. Helena Orfanos-Boeckel
Dr. med. Helena Orfanos-Boeckel is a holistically practicing physician specializing in internal medicine and an expert in the field of nutrients and endogenous hormones. She studied human medicine in Brussels and Berlin and completed her specialist training in internal medicine with a focus on nephrology (kidney medicine) at the Free University of Berlin, now Charité Berlin. She spent a total of ten intensive and educational years in various internal medicine departments, the intensive care unit, and the kidney transplant outpatient clinic.
Since 2002, Helena Orfanos-Boeckel, a third-generation physician, has been running her own practice for holistic internal medicine, metabolic medicine, and preventive medicine in Berlin-Charlottenburg.
A lot of diseases can be detected many years in advance
For example, a slightly elevated fasting insulin level in the morning can indicate the onset of insulin resistance long before type 2 diabetes develops. Similarly, the HbA1c value, also known as the long-term blood sugar level, typically takes 10 to 20 years to rise to a level where type 2 diabetes can even be diagnosed.
The same applies to bone metabolism—bone degradation markers in the blood are already elevated ten years before osteoporosis can be diagnosed through bone density measurement. Another important fact: even a slight increase in kidney function markers means that one and a half kidneys are already no longer functioning properly.
This realization fundamentally changed my perspective on internal medicine. I no longer wanted to only treat the severe consequences of chronic diseases; I wanted to intervene early to help ensure a good quality of life in old age. In this regard, a targeted, individualized nutrient and hormone therapy based on laboratory diagnostics can be highly effective.
Preventive nutrient therapy
Belle&Yell:
It doesn’t help that nutrient supplementation is not covered by health insurance in Germany. In other words, people have to pay for it out of pocket, which still leads many to think, “Well, if I have to pay for it myself, then it can’t really work.”
Dr. Orfanos-Boeckel:
Yes, that is exactly how it is often portrayed in the media, and I understand why many people think that way. What I describe in my books is a new approach. I use nutrients medically, based on lab results, which is something very few people do—especially not in a preventive way.
Our healthcare system is primarily designed to treat acute illnesses and life-threatening consequences of chronic diseases, rather than to prevent them in the first place. This means that while our system responds extremely well in emergencies, very little happens when there is no urgent need. Some preventive measures are covered by health insurance, mostly for cancer screenings, but preventive supplementation with nutrients and hormones based on lab diagnostics is simply not part of the system.
Yet, there are cases where nutrients are already part of medical guidelines, such as folic acid for pregnant women or iron and erythropoietin—the kidney’s natural hormone—for dialysis patients.
Health insurance does not cover it
However, there is no coverage for preventive nutrient therapy in general. Many people then assume: “If I have to pay for it myself, it can’t be important or effective.” But this is a misconception. After all, we also pay for healthy food, exercise, and relaxation techniques—all of which have a significant positive impact on our health.
The specific protection of biochemical health simply has not been researched well enough yet. There are no established guidelines on this topic within the system. But just because something is not included in medical guidelines—and therefore not covered by health insurance—does not mean it is ineffective. It simply means that our system does not cover it, primarily for economic reasons.
I hope this will change in the future and that nutrient and hormone-based medicine, much like sports and nutrition medicine, will eventually find its place in academic medicine. This could help prevent many of the severe consequences of age-related diseases.
Nutrient deficiency
Belle&Yell:
Many people say, “I eat healthily, so I don’t need additional nutrients.” What is your response to that?
Dr. Orfanos-Boeckel:
This assumption is very common, but it is incorrect. In practice, I often see that even people who follow a conscious and healthy diet have relevant deficiencies, where an extra supply of nutrients could help improve metabolic function. Many processes in the body could run more efficiently if cells were better supplied with nutrients.
A good example is magnesium: Many people either consume too little of it or use up too much. People with high stress levels or those who engage in intense physical activity often have an increased need for magnesium. Another example is iron, which is often too low in women due to blood loss during menstruation. Vitamin B12 and the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are frequently deficient—not only in vegetarians and vegans but also in some meat eaters.
A body that is optimally supplied with nutrients simply functions better—immune defense and immune tolerance, strength, fitness, digestion, hair growth, fertility, concentration, energy levels, and even mental stability all depend significantly on the quality of nutrient intake.
Everything normal – or not?
Belle&Yell: What do you understand by nutrient misconceptions?
Dr. Orfanos-Boeckel: One common misconception is that many people only look at whether a nutrient level falls within the laboratory reference range. However, being “normal within the reference range” does not automatically mean “optimal.” For many nutrients, the reference values simply reflect the average levels found in the general population—not what is actually ideal for health.
Another misunderstanding concerns the recommended daily nutrient intake. Many intake guidelines (such as those from the German Nutrition Society (DGE)) are based on the minimum amount needed to prevent deficiency diseases—not on how much would be optimal for the body’s best possible function. It’s like asking how much money you need at a minimum to avoid starving, instead of asking how much is necessary for a good quality of life.
Hormones need nutrients
Belle&Yell: You talk about a meaningful combination of nutrients and hormones. How do they work together?
Dr. Orfanos-Boeckel: Hormones are cell regulators—they determine the direction of metabolic processes. Nutrients, on the other hand, serve as the building blocks that provide the energy required for these cellular processes.
A good example is blood formation: Iron, B12, and folic acid are essential nutrients for the synthesis of red blood cells. However, without the hormone erythropoietin, the body would not be able to produce enough red blood cells. Similarly, vitamin D, in combination with hormones such as parathyroid hormone (PTH), regulates calcium metabolism and thereby influences bone health.
Another key example is the thyroid gland: Its function depends heavily on the availability of iodine, selenium, and iron.
If any of these nutrients are missing, the thyroid cannot produce and activate its hormones in sufficient amounts. Over time, this can lead to fatigue, weight gain, miscarriages, and depressive symptoms.
Measure, understand, measure again
Belle&Yell: So, what can we do if we want to actively support our metabolic health?
Dr. Orfanos-Boeckel: Measure—because the first step is knowledge. This is exactly why I wrote my books: to help people better understand their lab values and make informed decisions based on them. If you actively ask your doctor to check specific nutrients in the context of your symptoms, you increase the chances that they will actually be tested.
There is also the option to have blood values analyzed independently at specialized laboratories. You can easily find information online about which labs offer this service. With my books—especially the practical guide—a lot of nutrient therapy can be managed on your own, as long as you are relatively healthy and regularly monitor your levels.
However, if you have serious medical issues or feel overwhelmed and anxious about getting things wrong, you should seek professional help. Clinics specializing in orthomolecular medicine or functional medicine can be a great resource. Experienced practitioners have a better overall understanding of metabolic interactions.
That said, conducting your own initial tests can be a helpful first step—allowing you to identify potential deficiencies and determine whether you should seek medical guidance.
You can learn to understand your own blood values. In my blue book, I provide detailed guidance on which values are optimal and what nutrient dosages can help you reach those levels.
Many of my patients report that by understanding their own lab results, they develop a completely new sense of self-responsibility for their health. That is my goal: to empower people to actively and preventively manage their health, rather than simply reacting only when symptoms appear.
Dr. med Helena Orfanos-Boeckel
Since 2002, Helena Orfanos-Boeckel, a third-generation physician, has been running her own practice for holistic internal medicine, metabolic medicine, and preventive medicine in Berlin-Charlottenburg. From the very beginning, she took an innovative approach, combining classical internal medicine with new insights from hormonal, orthomolecular, and mitochondrial medicine.
Helena Orfanos-Boeckel is a pioneer of a new medical approach—nutrient and hormone-based medicine. This approach utilizes nutrients and endogenous hormones both therapeutically and preventively, based on comprehensive, individualized laboratory diagnostics.
