Fwd: Re: Re: liver function and detoxification pathways chapter

[Guest guest]

Scanned from the book " 7-Day Detox Miracle " by N.D. and

Barrie

N.D. with Sara Faye. Published by Prima Health, a division of Prima

Publishing. ISBN:0-

7615-1422-8

The Liver's Detoxification Function

Your body doesn't like to keep any molecules around for a long time.

Even " good "

molecules, such as hormones, are constantly being disassembled and

reconstructed to

prepare them to be recycled or eliminated. Thanks to detoxification

enzymes, the liver is

able to break tip most molecules, even toxic and dangerous ones.

Enzymes are molecules

that act as catalysts in the transformation process. There are

thousands of different

enzymes, each with a unique role.

Think of this detoxification process as a two-phase wash cycle.

Enzymes are like the

soap that liberates grease into little droplets, removing impurities

that the water can't

remove on its own. In the first part of the wash cycle (Phase 1),

enzymes break toxins

down into intermediate forms. Figure 5.2 illustrates the complicated

process of how some

common toxins are broken down during Phase I detoxification. Some

toxins are ready for

elimination at this stage, but others require a second wash cycle. In

Phase 2, these

intermediate compounds are routed along one of six chemically driven

detoxification

pathways, where they are further broken down, and then bound to

specific types of'

protein molecules which act as " escorts " to guide them out of the

body, allowing them to

exit through the kidneys (in the form of urine) or the bile (in the

form of feces). This

process is called conjugation and is illustrated in figure 5.3. Of the

six pathways, three

warrant special mention.

One of the most important systems in Phase 2 is the glutathione

conjugation pathway,

which utilizes glutathione for the detoxification of deadly industrial

toxins such as PCBs,

and the breakdown of carcinogens. Its activity accounts for up to 60

percent of the toxins

excreted in the bile. Glutathione also circulates through the

bloodstream combating free

radicals. No other conjugating substance is as versatile as

glutathione and the body's

supply of it, most of which is produced by the liver, is easily

depleted. Exposure to high

levels of toxins exhausts reserves of glutathione, possibly increasing

susceptibility to

cancer. Chronic disease, HIV, and cirrhosis use up reserves of

glutathione. Excessive

exercise, which increases oxidative stress and ree radical production,

and alcohol

consumption, which blocks glutathione production, also deplete

glutathione in the blood.

The weakest pathway in most people, from a dietary standpoint, is

sulfation, the one

responsible for the transformation of neurotransmitters, steroid

hormones, drugs,

industrial chemicals, phenolics (compounds derived from benzene,

commonly used in

plastics, disinfectants, and pharmaceuticals), and especially toxins

from intestinal

bacteria and the environment. Intake of too little dietary sulfur, a

molecule that must

come from our diets, is a cause of ineffective detoxification. If your

exposure to

substances that need to be deoxified via the sulfation pathway is

high, but your sulfate

reserves are low due to an inadequate diet, you will not be able to

break down these

toxins.

Studies have established a strong association between the function of

the sulfation

pathway and a variety of illnesses including Alzheimer's disease,

Parkinson's disease,

motor neuron disease, autism, primary biliary cirrhosis, rheumatoid

arthritis, food

sensitivity, and multiple chemical sensitivity. The detoxification

profile test described in

Chapter 7 identifies alterations in this pathway.

The body manufactures five different types of amino acids that form a

third

detoxification pathway: glycine, taurine, glutamine, arginine, and

ornithine. Of these,

glycine is the most important for the neutralization of toxins. In

some cases, the body

cannot make enough glycine to keep up with its own detoxification

needs. Though not

considered an essential amino acid because the body can make it,

glycine production

depends on an adequate intake of dietary protein. Individuals who eat

a protein-deficient

diet have trouble detoxifying environmental pollutants.

Glycine supplies can be depleted by lifestyle stresses. Benzoates for

example, found in

soft drinks, bind with glycine and rob the body's store of it. One

study found that people

who consumed a large number of soft drinks had problems breaking down

toluene, a

common industrial organic solvent. Aspirin also slows down this

detoxification pathway

because it competes for available glycine in the liver.

When the diet is supplemented with glycine, as well as the other

nonessential amino

acids, there is a noticeable improvement in the detoxification

capabilities of many

people.

Problems in Phase I and Phase 2

Detoxification

When the liver is " sluggish, " Phase I of the detoxification cycle may

not be processing

toxins at a normal and necessary speed. This causes toxins to

accumulate in the

bloodstream. If the hormone estrogen, for example, is not dismantled

during Phase 1, the

buildup can reach potentially harmful levels. Premenstrual tension can

be an expression

of this. Many factors can cause Phase I to become sluggish. As we age,

our detoxification

processes slow. Use of medications such as anti-ulcer drugs

(cimetidine) and oral

contraceptives; exposure to cadmium, lead, and mercury; and

consumption of large

amounts of sugar and hydrogenated fats hinder Phase I detoxification.

Substances that slow down Phase I detoxification, setting the stage

for a toxic buildup,

are called Phase I inhibitors. They affect the DNA of the liver cells,

causing less

detoxification enzymes to be produced. In addition to those mentioned

previously, Phase

I inhibitors include:

• Grapefruit

• Turmeric

• Capsicum (found in hot peppers)

• Cloves

• Drugs containing benzodiazepene such as antidepressants and Valium

• Antihistamines

• Ketoconazole (used in antifungal medications)

• Toxins from bacteria in the intestines

Pancreatitis and the Detoxification Bottleneck

Mainstream medicine generally does not factor in bottleneck

detoxification problems in

diagnosis and treatment. Our clinical experience, however, has shown

us that when

treatment focuses on eliminating this problem, other disease

conditions improve. For

example, we believe that many cases of pancreatitis are caused by a

bottleneck

detoxification problem. The use of alcohol, cigarettes, and a

body-abusing lifestyle

creates this bottleneck, and the free radicals generated in this

process cause inflammation

in the pancreas.

We had a patient who had been in the hospital several times for acute

pancreatitis. He

was always alternating between a healthy lifestyle and use of alcohol

and cigarettes.

After every binge, he would end up in the hospital with pancreatitis.

We put him on a

detoxification program with great success. Patients with pancreatitis

often report

exposure to diesel fumes, solvents, and trichloroethelene. These

toxins also seem to

accentuate the susceptibility to alcohol-related pancreatitis. The

treatment of pancreatitis

with detoxification medicine is not mentioned in medical literature.

However, we believe

there's ample evidence to make it a first-line treatment consideration.

A different type of detoxification problem develops if Phase I breaks

down toxins at so

fast a rate that Phase 2 cannot keep up. In this situation, the toxic

intermediates produced

during Phase I waiting to be washed out in Phase 2 flood the system.

Many of these

intermediate compounds-stuck in between Phase I and Phase 2-are more

dangerous than

the original toxin. This bottleneck can become a biochemical

nightmare, damaging the

liver, brain, and immune system.

Some of the substances that accelerate the breakdown of toxins in the

liver by increasing

the production of Phase I enzymes, without a concurrent increase in

Phase 2 enzymes, are

known carcinogens- paint fumes, and cigarette smoke. Others are well

known for their

detrimental effects, such as alcohol and steroids. Even some otherwise

harmless

substances such as limonene from lemons, increase Phase I

detoxification. But unlike

cigarette smoke, limonene does not create dangerous intermediate

molecules. As you

read the following list, keep in mind that it is not strictly a list

of " bad " things, but of

those that increase the rate of Phase I detoxification, and that this

becomes a problem

only when Phase 2 can't keep up.

• Phenobarbital

• Steroids

• Sulfonamide medications

• Foods in the cabbage family

• Charbroiled meats

• High-protein diets

• Citrus fruits

• Vitamin B1

• Vitamin B3

• Vitamin C

• Environmental toxins (exhaust fumes, paint fumes, dioxin, pesticides)

• Cigarette smoke

• Alcohol

• Endotoxins from intestinal bacteria in the bloodstream

Exposure to a toxin, when coupled with exposure to another substance

that speeds up

Phase 1, is especially dangerous.

The combination of alcohol and acetaminophen provides a good example.

It's not

uncommon to drink heavily, and later take acetaminophen for the

headache that follows.

The intermediate compound (from acetaminophen) is an extremely toxic

substance

called n-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI). Under normal conditions,

NAPQ1 is

removed quickly during Phase 2, but alcohol intake forces more NAPQI

into the liver

than Phase 2 can handle.

Research has shown that specific foods and nutrients not only have a

beneficial effect on

detoxification capability, but can also provide a safe and viable

approach to treating a

variety of immune disorders and toxicity syndromes.

If two or more detoxification accelerants are combined, they can

interact, with serious

consequences. An individual on a prescription medication who smokes,

for example,

actually needs higher dosages of the medication because smoking causes

the medication

to be broken down faster than it normally would be during Phase 1. If

Phase 2 can't

handle the extra burden, a detoxification bottleneck results. We

predict that in the future,

medical specialists will check detoxification capabilities in order to

give more accurate

drug prescriptions.

Case History

Joanie was a forty-eight-year-old female who had a history of

hepatitis B, a disease of the

liver. She had worked for many years in the graphic arts field, and

was regularly exposed

to volatile organic solvents. She came to our clinic with symptoms of

chronic fatigue. We

did a comprehensive liver detoxification screening. The test clearly

showed which

pathways were out of balance. After recommending the correct

nutrients, Joanie was on

the road to repairing her damaged liver function and rebuilding her

health.

Problems in Phase I and Phase 2 liver detoxification are so prevalent,

and have such a

major impact on health that we believe it's a good idea for everyone

to have liver

detoxification tests as part of a standard medical workup. This lab

test, described in

Chapter 7, can identify problems localized in the different

detoxification pathways. If you

suffer from chronic liver and gallbladder problems, you're probably a

candidate for this

test. Abnormal results, of course, will require ruling out a liver

disease before going

ahead with detoxification therapy. Assessing detoxification function

makes it possible to

diagnose a problem before symptoms actually appear. Tests that measure

Phase I and

Phase 2 enzymes take much of the guesswork out of estimating the

severity of liver

detoxification dysfunction, and can to some extent indicate whether a

person is at special

risk for cancer, neurological disease, chemical and drug sensitivity,

and immune

problems.

Diet and Detoxification: Feeding Phase I and 2

You can take steps to keep your liver detoxification system running

smoothly. Diet has a

strong effect on detoxification enzymes, and foods can help " regulate "

or balance Phase I

and 2 activity. Eating foods that support the liver can reduce your

susceptibility to

damage from toxins and to conditions Such as multiple chemical

sensitivity syndrome,

chronic fatigue syndrome, and cancer. Research has shown that specific

foods and

nutrients not only have a beneficial effect on detoxification

capability, but can also

provide a safe and viable approach to treating a variety of immune

disorders and toxicity

syndromes.

Essential fatty acids are vital for Phase I detoxification, and the

standard American diet

does not provide an adequate supply of these vital nutrients.

Essential fatty acid intake in

the form of cold-water fish and flaxseed oils have a demonstrated

ability to heighten

detoxification. Other sources of essential fatty acids include edible

oils, such as those

made from sunflower seeds, walnuts, and sesame seeds; wheat germ; and

supplements of

black current seed, borage, or evening primrose oil.

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily is a good way to continually

replenish your body's

store of glutathione, necessary for one of Phase 2 pathways.

High-quality protein

nourishes both the amino acid and the sulfation pathways. Vegetable

sources of sulfur for

the sulfation pathways include radishes, turnips, onions, celery,

horseradish, string beans,

watercress, kale, and soybeans. Eggs, fish, and meat are also

excellent sulfur sources.

Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, citrus fruits, and lemon peel

oils support Phase 2

activity. Studies have shown dramatic results from consuming broccoli

sprout extract,

which inhibits the activity of Phase 1 enzymes and, simultaneously

enhances the Phase 2

glutathione pathway. Broccoli sprout extracts are especially

beneficial for people who

have frequent or high-level exposure to pesticides, exhaust fumes,

paint fumes, cigarette

smoke, or alcohol. Anyone who is exposed to known carcinogens will

benefit from

broccoli sprout extract.

Foods to Support Liver Detoxification

• Cabbage family

• Cold-water fish

• Flaxseed oil

• Fruits (fresh)

• Garlic

• Nuts and seeds

• Onions

• Safflower oil

• Sesame seed oil

• Sunflower seed oil

• Vegetables (fresh)

• Walnut oil

• Wheat germ and wheat germ oil

Nutritional Supplements to Support Liver Detoxification

• Bioflavonoids

• Black currant seed oil

• Borage oil

• Carotenes

• Coenzyme QIO

• Copper

• Evening primrose oil

• Folic acid

• Iron

• Lecithin

• Magnesium

• Manganese

• N-acetyl-cysteine

• Niacin

• Riboflavin

• Selenium

• Silymarin (milk thistle)

• Trace minerals

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

• Vitamin B12

• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin E

• Vitamin K

• Zinc

The Gallbladder, Bile, and Gallstones

The gallbladder is the end of the detoxification road that begins in

the liver. Bile is the

fluid into which the liver excretes its toxins. (The other routes of

elimination are the

sweat glands and the kidneys.) After bile is produced in the liver, it

runs into the

gallbladder and eventually into the intestinal tract. We have found

that in many cases

people with liver problems also have gallbladder problems, and vice versa.

Bile is made in the liver from cholesterol, bilirubin, and lecithin,

and is then secreted into

the gallbladder. While in the gallbladder, bile is concentrated by a

reabsorption of the

liquids back into the circulatory system. A proper ratio of bile

components is necessary

for it to remain in solution. Abnormal ratios promote the formation of

cholesterol crystals

or stones in the gallbladder. During a meal, bile is secreted by the

gallbladder into the

intestines to promote the digestion and breakdown of oils and fats.

After the intestines

absorb them, these bile-digested fats are used in the body to build

cells, hormones, and

prostaglandins (a group of chemicals that act like hormones).

When constipation occurs, bacteria in the intestines split the toxins

that are bound up in

the bile, in turn causing reabsorption of these already detoxified

poisons. A diet high in

vegetables will prevent constipation. Beta-glucuronidase is an

intestinal bacterial enzyme

that releases compounds for reabsorption. To prevent this reabsorption

of toxins, an

adequate supply of calcium d-glucarate, a natural ingredient in

vegetables that inhibits

beta-glucuronidase activity, is necessary. Charcoal will also bind up

the bile and prevent

toxins from being reabsorbed into the bloodstream.

Gallstones-a common complaint in North America-easily disrupt the flow

of bile. They

are found in sixteen to twenty million Americans and are twice as

common for women as

men. Usually the stones are a mixture of cholesterol, calcium,

bilirubin, and lecithin.

Occasionally, however, the gallbladder also forms a stone consisting

mainly of calcium

with a little bit of cholesterol. If you have gallstones, observe the

following instructions:

1. Take lecithin daily. Cholesterol stones are caused when your liver

excretes more

cholesterol into the gallbladder than it does lecithin and bile acids.

The cholesterol tends

to " supersaturate " and form stones. A daily supplement of 500 mg of

lecithin with meals

keeps the bile flowing smoothly.

2. Limit dietary sugar. Sugar intake correlates with gallstone

formation, suggesting that

sugar stimulates cholesterol synthesis.

3. Take 5 g of soluble fiber (pectin in fruits, beans, or oat bran)

daily with meals.

4. Eat a low-fat diet to prevent obesity.

5. Eat small meals to ensure proper digestive capacity.

6. Avoid food allergens, which are notorious for provoking acute

attacks of gallbladder

inflammation. Eggs are considered the worst offender.

7. Take 500 mg of bile acids with every meal; this is usually 50

percent effective in

reducing the size of the cholesterol variety of gallstones.

8. Take supplements of the amino acids methionine and taurine. Because

women's bodies

make less taurine than men's, this might be the clue to their twofold

increased risk for

gallstones. The dose is 1 g of each, between meals, twice daily.

9. Take dandelion root (Taraxacum officinalis) extract. It's a superb

cholegogue (releases

stored bile), gentle in action, and safe to use. The dose of the solid

extract is 1 teaspoon, 3

times a day. The solid extract is hard to find in the store, but the

next best thing is to use

the powdered root. The dose is 8 g as a tea, 3 times a day.

Detoxification and You

Human beings are not created biochemically alike. Everyone has a liver

and a

gallbladder; all livers and gallbladders are designed to do the same

work; but not all

livers and gall bladders work the same. Some of us are genetic

warriors, naturally

equipped to stay up all night, drink alcohol, eat whatever we like,

smoke, work brutal

hours under tremendous stress, and even so die peacefully in our sleep

at the age of

ninety-five. But for others, not born with a hardy, resilient

constitution, such a lifestyle is

a prescription for poor health and an early death. Despite the fact

that advertisements for

everything from painkillers to breakfast cereals create the impression

that what's good for

one is good for all, there is really a large range of variability in

how we function

metabolically and what we need.

Genetic biocapabilities determine, to a large extent, our

ability to handle the onslaught of environmental toxins.

Each of us faces the physical, mental, and emotional stresses of life

equipped with a

unique molecular system characterized by its own inherent weaknesses

and strengths.

These genetic biocapabilities determine, to a large extent, our

ability to handle the

onslaught of environmental toxins. For example, much of the

variability in the activity of

both the glutathione and sulfation pathways is inherited. Your inborn

capacity to manage

toxins creates the climate in which either health or disease will

flourish. A family history

of estrogen-related breast cancer, smoking-induced lung cancer, and

other types of cancer

can be related to inherited weaknesses of detoxification capability.

These genetic differences are a result of the wide variance in how

detoxifying enzymes in

the liver express themselves. The term to describe this is metabolic

polymorphism. This

means that there is a variety (poly) of forms (morphism) that humans

have in detoxifying

their environment (metabolic).

In the book entitled Genome, authors Jerry E. Bishop and

Waldholtz, propose

that genetic susceptibility factors should be the major focus of

medicine in the future.

This, they suggest, would make it possible to modify the environment

appropriately to

protect individuals against diseases related to genetic polymorphism.

Yet hereditary

variations in the biochemical breakdown and transformation of toxins

is still one of the

most undervalued and under-utilized areas of prevention and treatment.

Medical doctors could be individualizing health care plans and

minimizing risks using

laboratory tests (described in Chapter 7) to assess detoxification

functions. This

screening process would identify those individuals who have very

strong detoxification

abilities as well as those who require special help to discourage the

onset of disease. Not

taking genetics and detoxification abilities into consideration sets

the stage for illnesses

that are preventable.

It is possible to minimize the impact of our biological weak links.

The " Achilles' Heel "

that's encoded in our DNA that makes each of us more susceptible to

certain stressors can

be countered by our daily lifestyle choices and compensated for with

nutritional medicine

and detoxification support. Naturopathic doctors have many ways to

stimulate the liver,

for example, using herbs, special diets, physiotherapy, and

homeopathic medicines.

Treatment of gall bladder disease frequently includes the same herbal

medicines that are

used for liver detoxification problems. If you have an inherited

weakness in these organs,

the EcoTox program will help. It is designed to stimulate the liver

and gall bladder, as

well as the proper digestion of foods and nutrients necessary for

their activity. In the

following chapter, you'll learn more about the sources of toxins that

place such a heavy

burden on the liver, and the toll they take on your health.

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