Naked Science Forum
On the Lighter Side => Complementary Medicine => Topic started by: psophist on 01/10/2004 00:58:44
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Callin, check out this website for general info on Glyconutrients/glycobiology/nutraceuticals : http://glyco.dexlen.us
All of these are keywords for a very similar thing: the 8 essential sugars. There are also some books out on this topic: http://store.dexlen.com/Books.htm#s
If you have any questions, please ask. I’ll try my best to answer your question.
Good luck on the research
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I was just diagnosed with Lupus. I'm looking for information on homeopathic remedies that have real scientific backing, instead of coming from companies which have a monitary interest in convincing me to use their product. What I've learned so far is that in autoimmune diseases such as Lupus & diabetes your cells are not able to communicate properly & so your immune system, which is supposed to protect you by fighting foreign bacterias, have a hard time reading your own bodies cell & it begins attaching your own organs. This morning I read many positive things about Glyconutrients & their use in helping the cells to better communicate. But I can't find anything from a sight that is not profit driven to sell me their product.
What do you know about this? If these are useful, because of the high cost, could I achieve the same results taking the different sugars seperately at a lower cost?
Thanks
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One of the best sources of the information that you are looking for is found at the www.curezone.com discussion on glyconutrients, found at: http://www.curezone.com/forums/f.asp?f=223&p=16
Including the real science of these substances, and how to make your own for much cheaper. As for the "science" position concerning Lupus, consider a post at that website that I wrote last year (copied below). I am now aware of even more information supporting other mechanisms of how these ingredients can help autoimmune diseases, but this is good for a start. (No marketing material here, I am NOT associated with Mannatech).
One small note, ignore the "8 sugar" hype from these sales people. You are not deficient in these sugars, and you cannot absorb these sugars from these supplements. This is not to say they don't work, on the contrary, but their explanation is more marketing and fear mongering, than science.
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2/17/2005
First of all, there are several places on the internet where people who have had Lupus have reported good results with Ambrotose. While I take all reports with a grain of salt, I also realize that there stories could be true. Maybe it works for some, and not so well for others. Even with drugs, as you have found, some respond better than others.
If you have read my previous posts, you know that I have found ZERO evidence that Ambrotose works by "absorbing sugars." While that is a popular and easily explainable hypothesis, the current evidence shows that these ingredients cannot be broken down into the individual sugars for absorption. I still have not found any research that contradicts this. Everything I have read shows that the polysaccharides (chains of sugars) that are in this supplement pass through the small intestine into the colon where they are almost completely converted into short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, butyrate) which are then completely absorbed through the colonic mucosa. (1,2)
1. Vince AJ, McNeil NI, Wager JD, Wrong OM The effect of lactulose, pectin, arabinogalactan and cellulose on the production of organic acids and metabolism of ammonia by intestinal bacteria in a faecal incubation system. Br J Nutr. 1990 Jan;63(1):17-26
2. Edwards CA, Eastwood MA Caecal and faecal short-chain fatty acids and stool output in rats fed on diets containing non-starch polysaccharides. Br J Nutr. 1995 May;73(5):773-81.
Here is where there is some research that may support a benefit for these substances for autoimmune disease, such as lupus.
Butyrate, one of the short-chain fatty acids, has many beneficial properties, and its production is increased with these substances. The research that is important here is several studies that show that butyrate increases the production of a protein called GALECTIN-1. (3,4)
3. Gaudier E, Forestier L, Gouyer V, Huet G, Julien R, Hoebler C. Butyrate regulation of glycosylation-related gene expression: evidence for galectin-1 upregulation in human intestinal epithelial goblet cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Dec 17;325(3):1044-51.
4. Gillenwater A, Xu XC, Estrov Y, Sacks PG, Lotan D, Lotan R. Modulation of galectin-1 content in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells by sodium butyrate. Int J Cancer. 1998 Jan 19;75(2):217-24.
In fact one study showed that butyrate cause an 8 to 18 fold increase in Galectin-1 gene expression. That is fairly significant. Galectin-1 has some very interesting properties, and most importantly, it is potent in very small concentrations. and may be beneficial for a large number of pathologies, but doesn't seem to have a negative effect on normal physiology.
In further review of this substance today, I found several articles that suggest that an increase in Galectin-1 may have some significant effects in autoimmune diseases. In fact artifically produced Galectin-1 is being studied as a treatment in these conditions. I do not know your education background, but here are some of the references I have collected that you can look up in order to evaluate this information:
Dimeric galectin-1 induces IL-10 production in T-lymphocytes: an important tool in the regulation of the immune response "
Authors: Judith van der Leij1; Anke van den Berg1; Tjasso Blokzijl1; Geert Harms1; Harry van Goor1; Peter Zwiers2; Rob van Weeghel2; Sibrand Poppema1; Lydia Visser1
The Journal of Pathology, December 2004, vol. 204, no. 5, pp. 511-518(8)
REGULATION OF IMMUNE HOMEOSTASIS:ROLE OF SECRETED AND INTRACELLULAR GALECTIN-1
“…Although galectin-1 is widely expressed in a large number of tissues and fulfills pleiotropic extracellular functions, it specifically acts on the immune response by preventing autoimmune and inflammatory processes….”
http://www.szbk.hu/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=25
Regulation of Immune Responses by Galectins
…Possibly because of galectin-1's apoptotic nature, the introduction of galectin-1 in various autoimmune model systems results in the amelioration of clinical symptoms…
http://www.gak.co.jp/FCCA/glycoword/ISA03/IS-A03E.html
There are more references and research in this area, but these references will do for a start.
From this information/references we can show that there is evidence of a hypothetical link of why substances in Ambrotose may have benefit in autoimmune conditions. While we can show that the ingredients in Ambrotose increase butyrate, and we can show that butyrate increases Galectin-1, and that Galectin-1 has beneficial effects on autoimmune processes, there are no studies that have actually shown an increase in Galectin-1 after taking these substances, and none that I have seen that show benefits in lupus.
I am aware that Dr. Axford is presently doing an extended study of Ambrotose and Rheumatoid Arthritis in England, but his study will not be done for a year.
There are some other mechanisms that may also be involved here regarding other "lectins" which I think may also be stimulated by these substances, but the evidence is very hypothetical at present.
Some other mechanisms may deal with these polysaccharides stimulating certain aspects of the immune system via certain receptors on cells that line the small intestine, and because of other effects of butyrate and propionate on inflammation, immune funtion, and receptors such as PPARgamma. Much of these correlations of the research, such as sugars-butyrate-galectin-immune regulation, has not even been proposed before. So if it ever gets researched in the future, you can say you heard it here first.
All the above, of course, is my opinion based on what I have read so far. From this research alone I would consider these substances as something that would be worthwhile to try if my wife had lupus, which is a nasty condition.
There are several different approaches you could take to accomplish this. The ingredients in Ambrotose are not unique, and you can purchase them separately, or similar combinations from other supplement companies. However, there is some research that shows that different combinations of different polysaccharides can give different amounts of the different short-chain fatty acids. It is possible that Ambrotose's combination gives more butyrate, I don't know. But I do know that the people who have claimed benefits, were taking Ambrotose.
If I had a family member who had this condition, I would probably try the actual brand name Ambrotose for at least 2 months, and probably give 2 to 3 teaspoons of the substance per day. This would not be a cheap approach, but from my experience, if there is going to be a benefit, it will require more than the 1/4 tsp dose, and 8 weeks should be long enough to see at least some benefit.
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? To increase the benefits, increase vegetables in the diet (more fiber more butyrate) and other natural sources of soluble fiber. I would also supplement with probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and bifidus supplements. These beneficial microorganisms, which make short-chain fatty acids, are naturally increased when taking these polysaccharides, but by increasing their number initially, you may get faster benefits by increasing the short-chain fatty acids quicker. This is just a hypothesis, based on knowledge of these organisms however.
If after 2 months you see a significant benefit, then I would suggest trying a cheaper approach, such as buying a sepsrate Arabinogalactan supplement (e.g. 100 g Arabinogalactan powder from Vermont Food Science. It is the exact same ingredient from the same manufacturer - Larex inc - as is in Ambrotose). And Manapol Immune Powder (Manufactured by Carrington, the same people who make the same ingredient in Ambrotose). Going through diffenent internect nutritional stores you could get each of these ingredients for less than $20.00 each. They make up about 60% of Ambrotose, and are probably the most beneficial part. By my calculations there is a little less than 1000 mg Arabinogalactan, and about 170 mg Manapol in a teaspoon of Ambrotose. Manapol immune powder gives you 160 mg per dose, and you would have 100 doses from the 100 gram Arabinogalactan.
You could also add glucosamine and gum tragacanth if you want. I haven't found a good source of gum ghatti. The glucosamine might not be a bad idea since lupus can effect the joints, but if Ambrotose works, I would suggest trying the arabinogalactan, manapol by themselves first. No reason to have to buy more substances than you need. If they don't work as well, then add the other substances. If they work great, then you might consider dropping one for a month and see if it is just one of these ingredients that is helping. I would try taking just the Arabinogalactan for awhile and see if it works. From what I have read it is 48% of Ambrotose anyway.
Or you can try each substance for one to two months and keep adding them as you like, but that would be the long way to go about it. That's my opinion and my two cents on the issue. I really hope that it is a miracle for your family either way.
Duane