Why bother with a sugar cane drink if you want Uridine?

[Guest guest]

Uridine has shown interesting effects and can be purchased.

The cane extract marketed as Mitconol, contains some Uridine, yet is

supposedly quite bitter. What is odd about this is the fact that:

Uridine is not bitter;

phosphates of Uridine, such as Uridine Monophosphate, block the

sensation of bitterness;

So there are impurities in Mitconol which are not Uridine, yet are

so bitter that the Uridine Phosphates in the product are not

powerful enough to mask them. Bitterness usually serves as a warning

that something is poisonous.

If I wanted to take Uridine I'd take Uridine rather than something

containing mostly odd, unknown, impurities.

>

> Edwin J. Bernard, Thursday, May 06, 2004

> German researchers report the success of an oral sugar cane

supplement,

> mitocnol, in rapidly reversing signs of NRTI-induced life-

threatening

> mitochondrial toxicity, according to a letter published in April

30th

> issue of the journal, AIDS.

>

> Mitochondria produce energy within cells, but nucleoside analogues

> inhibit their replication by inhibiting the action of polymerase

gamma

> within mitochondrial DNA. Polymerase gamma is essential for the

> production of new mitochondria, so when its activity is blocked by

> nucleoside analogues the numbers of mitochondira within cells

falls and

> other cellular functions are impaired. This process is called

> mitochondrial toxicity.

>

> Mitochondrial toxicity contributes to the development of:

>

>

> * Peripheral neuropathy

>

> * Lactic acidosis

>

> * Pancreatitis

>

> * Hepatic steatosis

>

> * Myopathy

>

>

> At last year's International AIDS Society conference in Paris,

> Ulrich and colleagues presented in vitro data regarding the

> relationship between low uridine levels and NRTI-induced liver cell

> death. also reported that one 36g sachet of the 17% sugar

cane

> supplement, mitocnol (brand name NucleomaxX) increases uridine

serum

> levels from 5µM to more than 100µM.

>

> The Paris report also included brief initial data on the use of

mitocnol

> in a 50 year-old HIV-positive man with NRTI-induced mitochondrial

> toxicity, concluding that three sachets a day for four days was

safe and

> effective in resolving symptoms that included hepatitis, steatosis

> (fatty liver) and elevated lactate.

>

> In the newly published letter to AIDS, includes a second

report

> of the use of mitocnol to treat NRTI-induced mitochondrial

toxicity. A

> 54 year-old caucasian man diagnosed with AIDS, with a CD4 count of

25

> cells/mm3 in 1999, began a d4T-containing regimen and within two

years

> his CD4 count rose to 682 cells/mm3 and his viral load was

undetectable.

>

> In 2001, when he was on HAART consisting of 3TC, d4T, abacavir and

> efavirenz, he began experiencing stomach pains, and an ultrasound

showed

> massive fat deposits (steatosis) in his liver. Creatine, lactate

and

> liver function tests were abnormal and continued to worsen. d4T-

related

> mitochondrial toxicity was suspected and, rather than stop his

NRTIs, he

> was given three sachets of NucleomaxX to drink a day for four days.

>

> Two weeks later, despite remaining on three NRTIs, liver and muscle

> enzymes were much improved, and the man reported that the stomach

pains

> had improved rapidly. Lactate levels normalised after seven weeks,

at

> which point d4T was switched to tenofovir. No clinical or

laboratory

> abnormalities were reported, viral load remained below 50

copies/ml, and

> ultrasound showed a substantial improvement in the size of his

fatty

> liver.

>

> To date, there are few data on effective treatments for NRTI-

induced

> mitochondrial toxicity, other than discontinuing NRTI treatment.

> Riboflavin, thiamine and L-carnitine have been proposed as

treatments

> for lactic acidosis, although the evidence remains inconclusive.

> Suggestions that vitamins C and E, and co-enzyme Q10 may protect

against

> damage to the mitochondria remain unproven.

>

> Dicholoroacetate, which has been used to treat lactic acidosis in

burns

> victims, has been used at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

> in four cases of lactic acidosis occurring after NRTI treatment.

> Resolution of symptoms occurred in three out of four cases, with

> normalisation of lactate levels after at least two treatments, but

one

> individual subsequently developed acute pancreatitis and died.

>

> and colleagues concede that " case reports cannot replace

> clinical trials, " but suggest that mitocnol, which is a cheap

> (around £6 a sachet), simple and apparently effective treatment for

> two cases of suspected NRTI-mitochondrial toxicity, may be used

when

> NRTI-related mitochondrial toxicity is life-threatening.

>

> Further information on this website

>

> Lactic acidosis

> <http://www.aidsmap.com/treatments/ixdata/english/0bfbe157-f1fb-

40c4-854\

> 0-d6692f734438.htm> - overview

>

> Reference

>

> UA et al. Beneficial effects of oral uridine in

mitochondrial

> toxicity. AIDS 18 (7), 1085-86, 2004.

>

[Guest guest]

I'm lately thinking that mitochondrial damage may be the mechanism of action in a lot of HIV related complications these days, including lipodystrophy. Since I've been taking Carnitor - specifically for that - I've noticed reduction in fat pads and lipomas on my body (though the middle-age tendency toward a gut has to be managed by exercise and diet, I'm afraid). Also, I seem to be more alert and have more energy. I've also adjusted my diet (less starch and sugar) and added a few more vitamins, so as usual it's hard to pinpoint what works from anecdotal experience. Unfortunately, the facial wasting shows little sign of improvement. Weight training does have a strengthening effect on my facial muscles, which helps a bit - but also accentuates the hollow cheeks a bit more. I'm looking into Sculptra possibilities - maybe in the near future my face will match my body again?

Anyway - I'm sticking with the Carnitor as long as my insurance covers it, and I think looking at mitochondrial toxicity is an important treatment long-view. The Uridine idea is intriguing.

BG

Why bother with a sugar cane drink if you want Uridine?

Uridine has shown interesting effects and can be purchased.The cane extract marketed as Mitconol, contains some Uridine, yet is supposedly quite bitter. What is odd about this is the fact that:Uridine is not bitter;phosphates of Uridine, such as Uridine Monophosphate, block the sensation of bitterness;So there are impurities in Mitconol which are not Uridine, yet are so bitter that the Uridine Phosphates in the product are not powerful enough to mask them. Bitterness usually serves as a warning that something is poisonous.If I wanted to take Uridine I'd take Uridine rather than something containing mostly odd, unknown, impurities.>> Edwin J. Bernard, Thursday, May 06, 2004> German researchers report the success of an oral sugar cane supplement,> mitocnol, in rapidly reversing signs of NRTI-induced life-threatening> mitochondrial toxicity, according to a letter published in April 30th> issue of the journal, AIDS.> > Mitochondria produce energy within cells, but nucleoside analogues> inhibit their replication by inhibiting the action of polymerase gamma> within mitochondrial DNA. Polymerase gamma is essential for the> production of new mitochondria, so when its activity is blocked by> nucleoside analogues the numbers of mitochondira within cells falls and> other cellular functions are impaired. This process is called> mitochondrial toxicity.> > Mitochondrial toxicity contributes to the development of:> > > * Peripheral neuropathy> > * Lactic acidosis> > * Pancreatitis> > * Hepatic steatosis> > * Myopathy> > > At last year's International AIDS Society conference in Paris,> Ulrich and colleagues presented in vitro data regarding the> relationship between low uridine levels and NRTI-induced liver cell> death. also reported that one 36g sachet of the 17% sugar cane> supplement, mitocnol (brand name NucleomaxX) increases uridine serum> levels from 5µM to more than 100µM.> > The Paris report also included brief initial data on the use of mitocnol> in a 50 year-old HIV-positive man with NRTI-induced mitochondrial> toxicity, concluding that three sachets a day for four days was safe and> effective in resolving symptoms that included hepatitis, steatosis> (fatty liver) and elevated lactate.> > In the newly published letter to AIDS, includes a second report> of the use of mitocnol to treat NRTI-induced mitochondrial toxicity. A> 54 year-old caucasian man diagnosed with AIDS, with a CD4 count of 25> cells/mm3 in 1999, began a d4T-containing regimen and within two years> his CD4 count rose to 682 cells/mm3 and his viral load was undetectable.> > In 2001, when he was on HAART consisting of 3TC, d4T, abacavir and> efavirenz, he began experiencing stomach pains, and an ultrasound showed> massive fat deposits (steatosis) in his liver. Creatine, lactate and> liver function tests were abnormal and continued to worsen. d4T-related> mitochondrial toxicity was suspected and, rather than stop his NRTIs, he> was given three sachets of NucleomaxX to drink a day for four days.> > Two weeks later, despite remaining on three NRTIs, liver and muscle> enzymes were much improved, and the man reported that the stomach pains> had improved rapidly. Lactate levels normalised after seven weeks, at> which point d4T was switched to tenofovir. No clinical or laboratory> abnormalities were reported, viral load remained below 50 copies/ml, and> ultrasound showed a substantial improvement in the size of his fatty> liver.> > To date, there are few data on effective treatments for NRTI-induced> mitochondrial toxicity, other than discontinuing NRTI treatment.> Riboflavin, thiamine and L-carnitine have been proposed as treatments> for lactic acidosis, although the evidence remains inconclusive.> Suggestions that vitamins C and E, and co-enzyme Q10 may protect against> damage to the mitochondria remain unproven.> > Dicholoroacetate, which has been used to treat lactic acidosis in burns> victims, has been used at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital> in four cases of lactic acidosis occurring after NRTI treatment.> Resolution of symptoms occurred in three out of four cases, with> normalisation of lactate levels after at least two treatments, but one> individual subsequently developed acute pancreatitis and died.> > and colleagues concede that "case reports cannot replace> clinical trials," but suggest that mitocnol, which is a cheap> (around £6 a sachet), simple and apparently effective treatment for> two cases of suspected NRTI-mitochondrial toxicity, may be used when> NRTI-related mitochondrial toxicity is life-threatening.> > Further information on this website> > Lactic acidosis> <http://www.aidsmap.com/treatments/ixdata/english/0bfbe157-f1fb-40c4-854\> 0-d6692f734438.htm> - overview> > Reference> > UA et al. Beneficial effects of oral uridine in mitochondrial> toxicity. AIDS 18 (7), 1085-86, 2004.>