Shark Cartilage is natural substance from the shark’s cartilaginous skeleton. The basic compounds in shark cartilage are proteoglycans and glycoproteins, as well as protein and calcium salts. Different types of extracts are made from shark cartilage including squalamine lactate, U-995 and AE-941 (Neovastat).

Shark Cartilage Medical Benefits

Shark cartilage is used as a dietary supplement to treat cancer, arthritis, psoriasis, macular degeneration, and inflammatory conditions.

Cancer

Cancer therapy designed to stop the growth of blood vessels is called anti angiogenesis. Investigators have been interested in cartilage as a possible therapy for cancer because cartilage doesn’t contain any blood vessels. Some lab and animal-based studies have shown that some components in shark cartilage have the effects to slow the growth of new blood vessels. However no study has shown that it can do this in humans. An extract from shark cartilage called Neovastat® (AE-941) has been developed and is being researched as a cancer cure.

Taking shark cartilage extract Neovastat by mouth seems to enhance survival in people with advanced kidney cancer. Neovastat was administered to 331 patients with advanced solid tumors in two phase I/II trials. The results of these trials, but, have not been fully reported. A retrospective analysis involving a subgroup of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer suggests that Neovastat is able to lengthen the survival of people with this disease. In 2003, the findings of a phase I/II trial of  Neovastat in 80 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer showed that there was a significant survival advantage for patients receiving the highest doses (2.6 mL/kg/day) of Neovastat.

In a study, from” MD Anderson Cancer Center“, found that shark cartilage failed to increase survival of patients with stage-3, non-small-cell lung cancer. Results from a study reported in the July, 2005 edition of the” journal Cancer” demonstrated that adding powdered shark cartilage to normal cancer treatment didn’t help patients with advanced colorectal or breast cancer. A extremely purified extract of shark cartilage named AE-941 (Neovastat) was tested in a clinical study and reported in 2010. AE-941 was given alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy to patients with advanced lung cancer. The study demonstrated that AE-941 gave few adverse effects and was safe to take but did not help patients to live longer.

Arthritis

Shark Cartilage components, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate and mucopolysaccharidess, are necessary building blocks for healthful joints, tendons, ligaments and bones. Shark Cartilage contains mucopolysaccharides, which stimulate immune response and are useful for inflammation; and an angiogenesis-inhibiting protein, which blocks the formation of new blood vessels. The mucopolysaccharides are known to decrease inflammation. When applied to the skin products containing shark cartilage in combination with glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, and camphor, reportedly lessen arthritis symptoms.

Canadian scientists, have discovered that when a therapeutic preparation using shark cartilage is applied to the skin, it demonstrated  anti-inflammatory effects. A study that was performed in the seventies found out that when shark cartilage injections were given to 28 people with severe pain, 19 patients reported that their relief lasted for almost an year while just 3 out of the 28 did not respond to the therapy. In a other study, 147 people were given either shark cartilage extract or a placebo. 5 years later, the cartilage group reported a drop of 85 % in pain scores, compared to a 5 % drop in the placebo group.

Psoriasis

Some preliminary clinical findings show that extracts of  shark cartilage may lessen inflammation and itching from psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin problem that causes skin redness and irritation. Researches has found that the psoriasis-causing changes in the skin begin in the immune system when some immune cells (T cells) are triggered and become overactive. Psoriasis causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin, forming thick silvery scales and itchy, dry, red patches that are sometimes painful. Researches have shown that shark cartilage extract prevents the formation of  new blood vessels. The growth of new blood vessels is believed to play  role in the development and progression of  psoriasis lesions. Additionally, Shark cartilage is  known to have anti-inflammatory effects. Researchers extracted the active agent (Neovostat) from shark cartilage and test its antiangiogenesis effect using the embryonic vascularization test. The result showed that topical Neovostat had a positive effect in psoriasis.

In one study, a specially prepared extract of shark cartilage was found to inhibit both angiogenesis as well as the activity of a collagen digesting enzyme. Also, when the shark cartilage extract was applied to the forearms of test participants it was shown to have anti-inflammatory activities. This finding, demonstrate that shark cartilage has a positive effect in psoriasis. Oral preparation of  Neovastat containing water-soluble shark cartilage extract in a single-center, randomized, open-label, phase I/II trial found Neovastat to improve the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) in 50%, 41.7%, and 30.8% of 49 participant with psoriasis receiving 240, 120, and 60 ml/day Neovastat respectively. In other study, 10 patient with psoriasis where given shark cartilage for 40  days. The findings were that participants complaining of itching noticed its disappearance on day 6.  Over the course of  the 40 days, additional indications of improvement were noticed, and seven participant were healed by the end of the study. The investigators concluded that shark cartilage seems to “be able to control the greater part of psoriasis pathogenetic mechanism.”

How to Use

Shark cartilage comes in different forms. Shark cartilage is generally taken by mouth as a powder, capsule or liquid extract. Also, in  trials, it has sometimes been given as an enema (into the back passage – rectum) or injected under the skin. Neovastat is a highly purified extract of  shark cartilage. Other shark cartilage supplements may not have similar effects.

Side Effects

Some studies have reported adverse  effects such as nausea, vomiting,stomach upset, constipation, low blood pressure and fatigue. A few patients who were administered with the injections were found to be at a risk of developing hypercalcemia. Children,  patients who have had a recent heart attack or surgery, women who are pregnant or breast feeding not use cartilage.

Brewer’s yeast is derived from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungus, which is a common yeast for beer making. Brewer’s yeast is rich in the mineral chromium, selenium as well as several B vitamins. (Brewer’s yeast is generally a by-product of the brewing industry and should not be confused with nutritional yeast or torula yeast).

Brewer’s Yeast and Diseases

The vitamins and minerals in brewer’s yeast support the functions of  liver, digestive tract, nerves and brain. Brewer’s yeast is usually used as a source of  B-complex vitamins, selenium and chromium. It is one of the best natural sources of the entire B-Vitamin complex. The B-complex vitamins in brewer’s yeast include thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7) and folic acid (B9). B Complex vitamins help your body convert carbohydrates into glucose, the primary source of energy for muscles, brain and other vital organs.  Fat and protein metabolizing is also aided by B vitamins, as well as healthful nervous system functioning. Deficiency of  B vitamins can cause anemia, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, dizziness, abdominal pain, depression, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, muscle cramps, eczema, hair loss, respiratory infections, poor growth in children, and birth defects.

B vitamins are necessary for healthy skin. A compound derived from brewer’s yeast, SRF (skin respiratory factor) reportedly has wound healing effects. Brewer’s yeast has been used in the therapy of  contact dermatitis, a problem of the skin characterized by red, itchy, and inflamed skin. Other component of brewer’s yeast also has wound healing effects. Glucan, (a substance derived from the yeast), has been shown to improve wound healing in mice by activating macrophages and promoting the growth of skin cells and capillaries.

Brewer’s yeast is a important source of chromium, a mineral used to transport sugar across cell membranes. (Two tablespoons of brewer’s yeast yields about 120 micrograms of chromium, an amount equal to the recommended daily allowance). In vitro and in vivo studies show that chromium potentiates the activity of insulin. Some researches demonstrate that chromium supplements may help patients with diabetes control blood sugar levels. This mineral may help the body use insulin more effectively and this can lower blood sugar levels. Because brewer’s yeast is a good source of chromium, experts think it may help treat high blood sugar. One Danish study reported that participants with hypoglycemia demonstrated an development in their symptoms after taking two tbsp of brewer’s yeast every day for 1 month.

Brewer’s yeast is rich in selenium. Selenium is a vital component of the antioxidant enzyme known as glutathione peroxidase. Production of glutathione peroxidase for free radical scavenging depends upon the availability of  selenium. Glutathione peroxidase protects cell membranes from effect from free radicals released from hydrogen peroxide formed during normal metabolism in the cells mitochondria. Selenium stimulates the function and development of all types of white blood cells and enhances the ability of lymphocytes and NK cells, to activate and respond to invaders such as bacteria and viruses, including the flu. Protects your body after a vaccination by making antibodies that fight infections. Selenium is a critical mineral for maintaining healthy function of the thyroid gland. Is a necessary component of three enzymes that contribute to thyroid hormone production and your thyroid contains more selenium than any other tissue in your body.

There’s some findings that taking brewer’s yeast may enhance the immune system and lower the risk of getting the flu and colds. A study reported in the Feb 2008 edition of  Urologic Nursing demonstrated the possibility that brewer’s yeast, when given in conjunction with the flu shot, caused people to experience fewer incidences of the flu. In a large, randomized study, 116 participant who had received a flu shot were given either 500 mg of a brewer’s yeast product called EpiCor or placebo for 12 weeks. Scientists found that those who received Epicor had fewer flu and colds. Also those on Epicor who did get a flu or cold were sick for a shorter length of time compared to participants taking placebo.

Side Effects

Patients who take monoamine oxidase inhibitors should not use brewer’s yeast. Brewer’s yeast interacts with some medications such as drugs for diabetes, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors and Meperidine. Brewer’s yeast could increase the effects of medications used for diabetes and lead to hypoglycemia.

Bee pollen is the pollen gathered from plants by honey bees, and brought back to their hive. Quality, color and texture vary considerably depending on location, environmental conditions and flower species. Bee pollen contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, trace elements,enzymes and coenzymes, essential fatty acids  enzymes, carbohydrates, carotenoids, bioflavonoids, phytosterols, beta-sitosterol, kaempferol, rutin and  quercetin.Also, bee pollen provides a high content of the immune boosting RNA (ribonucleic acid) and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).DNA and RNA are important for health and longevity. Various researches have described pollen as nearly a complete food, containing nearly every nutrient required to sustain life.Bee pollen supplements they are available as capsules, chewable tablets, jelly, liquids and powders.

Bee Pollen Medical Effects and Benefits

Bee pollen has been used to improve symptoms of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and chronic prostatitis, reduce allergies, and protect the liver from effects of some toxins. In 1997, Naum Petrovich, a Russian researcher and the author of the book “Bees and People” states he agrees that bee pollen users live long lives.

Bee pollen contains rutin, which strengthens capillaries and blood cell walls. Rutin is a glucoside that provides increased resistance to the walls of the capillaries, and its basic function is to reinforce the general resistance throughout the entire capillary system. Also, strengthens the heart, and helps control high blood pressure.

Bee pollen has a high level of iron in it, which helps to raise levels of iron and hemoglobin in the blood, fighting off conditions with anemia. Bee pollen helps to enhance red blood cells. In one animal-based study, bee pollen resulted in increases in hemoglobin and serum iron.  In a study on humans, bee pollen and some Chinese herbs were found to increase the number of red blood cells. A study by Dr. Peter Hemuss, found an increase of gamma globulins among women receiving bee pollen to reduce the undesirable adverse effects of radiation treatment. Those who used the pollen demonstrated a higher level of immune system activity, less nausea and less hair loss than those who did not take bee pollen. Romanian scientists, gave bee pollen to 110 chronic hepatitis patients. Each patient took 30g of bee pollen each day for a period lasting from 90 to 180 days. The findings demonstrated an healing in the ratio of gamma globulin to bloodalbumine in all the 110 patients.

The basic antiallergy compound in bee pollen is quercetin. This antioxidant stops inflammation caused by neutrophils, the white blood cells activated in response to an allergen. A study in Japan found that quercetin is twice as effective as a drug called sodium cromoglicate, sold as Nalcrom. A scientist at Heidelberg University Children’s Clinic in Germany, studied seventy children with hay fever and allergy-related asthma. He fed them a solution of honey and bee pollen daily during the annual hay fever period and 3 days weekly during the winter. Most of the children showed fewer symptoms after following this regimen. In a study reported in Sep 2008 edition of  Ethonopharmacology found a bee pollen useful for allergies and improves inflammatory markers in the lung tissues. A therapy for allergies, called desensitization, was developed at St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London. It improves allergies by helping to build immunity to allergens by using pollen as an antigen. Dr. Leo Conway, documented that 94% of his patients were completely free from allergy symptoms once treated with oral feeding of pollen.

Cernilton, an extract of bee pollen, has been used in prostatic problems for its anti-inflammatory and antiandrogenic activities. The efficacy of  Cernilton (as 1 tablet 3 times daily for a 6-month period) for the therapy of chronic prostatitis syndrome was assessed in 90 men. 78% of participants without complicating factors experienced a favorable response with Cernilton treatment. 36%  were cured of their symptoms, and 42 % improved in measures such as flow rate, leukocyturia in post–prostate massage urine. A clinical study performed in Germany using a specific bee pollen extract significantly improved total symptoms, pain and quality of life in men with inflammatory chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Cernilton has been used to manage benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis in Europe for more than 35 years. A clinical study reported in the “British Journal of Urology” included 53 men with outflow obstruction due to benign prostatic hyperplasia who took either Cernilton or placebo daily for 6 months. At the end of the therapy period, 69 % of the men who took the extract said their symptoms had improved, compared with just 30% of the men who took placebo. A total of 89 patient with BPH participated in a 4-month study in which they received either Cernilton or Pygeum (Tadenan). More than three-quarters of men -78%-  who received cernilton reported significant healing in their symptoms compared with 55 % of the participants who took Tadenan. Also, In a study, reported in the Nov 2007 edition of the journal Phytotherapy Research, found that steroids extracted from the bee pollen of the Brassica campestris herb promote apoptosis, of human prostate cancer cells in the lab.

Side Effects

Bee pollen is contraindicated in those with pollen allergies. Severe anaphylaxis can occur in people with bee pollen sensitivities.

Alpha-lipoic acid (also known as lipoic acid, thioctic acid, or ALA) is a vitamin-like chemical called an antioxidant. Researchers discovered the importance of alpha-lipoic acid in the 1950s, and recognized it as an antioxidant in 1988. In humans, Alpha lipoic acid is synthetized by the liver and other tissues with high metabolic activity; heart, kidney. ALA is absorbed from the small intestine and distributed to the liver via the portal circulation and to other tissues in the body via the systemic circulation. Alpha Lipoic Acid is not to be confused with the alpha-linolenic acid (called ALA) found in flax and canola oil.

Food Sources

Yeast, beef, and organ meats, broccoli, spinach, and potatoes are good sources of alpha-lipoic acid.

Alpha Lipoic Acid Therapeutic Benefits

ALA has 2 important functions in body. First, it serves as a coenzyme  in several metabolic pathways. Second, it is an powerful antioxidant.Alpha Lipoic acid is a coenzyme for a group of enzymes responsible for the eventual conversion of fats, carbohydrates and proteins in to biological energy. The body needs ALA to produce energy. It plays a very important  role in the energy-producing structures in cells. Alpha lipoic acid is essential for the production of cellular energy in the form of ATP, therefore delivers a boost of energy. ALA increases the formation of glutathione. Glutathione is an important antioxidant that helps the body eliminating deleterious substances. ALA was effectively used to treat children exposed to radiation from the Chernobyl accident in the former Soviet Union.

Energy

Alpha-lipoic acid is a naturally occurring dithiol compound that functions as a cofactor for many mitochondrial enzymes involved in energy metabolism. ALA is part of 2 enzyme systems;  alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase. Functions as a co-enzyme cofactor in the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase  mitochondrial enzyme complexes in the production of energy.

Antioxidant Activity

Alpha-Lipoic acid possesses strong antioxidant activity. The reduced form dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) is more potent than lipoic acid. ALA protects mitochondria by removing free radicals and improves the recycling of other antioxidants. Unlike other antioxidants which are either fat soluble or water soluble, Alpha-lipoic acid simultaneously acts as both a fat and a water-soluble antioxidant in the body. Because of its two-fold interactions with both water-soluble (vitamin C) and fat-soluble (vitamin E) substances, Alpha-lipoic acid has been shown to avoid lack of both vitamins in both human and animal studies. ALA administration has been shown to be useful in a number of oxidative stress models such as diabetes, ischemia-reperfusion injury,  cataract formation, HIV activation, neurodegeneration, and radiation injury.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a condition characterized by high levels of sugar in the blood. ALA has the potential to prevent diabetes, influence glucose control, and avoid chronic hyperglycemia-associated complications such as neuropathy. A placebo-controlled study of 72 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus found that oral administration of Alpha-lipoic acid  at doses of 600 mg/day, 1,200 mg/day or 1,800 mg/day improved insulin sensitivity by 25% after 4 weeks of therapy.

In a study of a controlled-release form of oral Alpha lipoic acid, 15 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus took 900 mg/day for 6 weeks and 1,200 mg/day for another 6 weeks, in addition to their current drugs. At the end of 12 weeks, plasma fructosamine concentrations decreased by approximately 10% from baseline. A clinical trial in 13 people with type 2 diabetes mellitus found that a single intravenous infusion of 1000 mg of Alpha-lipoic acid improved insulin-stimulated insulin sensitivity by 50% compared to a placebo infusion. In a study of 20 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, intravenous infusion of 500 mg/day of  Alpha lipoic acid for 10 days also improved insulin sensitivity when measured 24 hours after the last infusion.

Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition characterized by pain and numbness in the hands and feet that occurs in people with diabetes, nerve pressure, vitamin deficiency, kidney or liver disease and alcoholism. More than 20% of diabetic patients develop peripheral neuropathy. Oral and Intravenous (IV) alpha-lipoic acid has been used for years to treat peripheral neuropathy in Germany. The current studies, suggests therapy with 600 mg/day of intravenous Alpha-lipoic acid for 3 weeks significantly reduces the symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

In a study diabetic individuals suffering from peripheral neuropathy who were given 200 mg of Alpha-lipoic acid intravenously for 21 days reported a decrease in pain. A study in Austria found that more than half of the cancer patients who took Alpha-lipoic acid after getting the chemotherapy drug oxaliplatin reported an reduction in neuropathy symptoms. In a study, oral with 1,200 mg/day of Alpha-lipoic acid for 6 weeks improved a measure of capillary perfusion in the fingers of eight diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 181 patients with diabetic neuropathy found that oral with 600 mg/day, 1,200 mg/day, or 1,800 mg/day of Alpha-lipoic acid for 5 weeks significantly improved neuropathic symptoms. In this study, the 600 mg/day dose was as effective as the higher doses. A meta-analysis that combined the results of 4 randomized controlled trials, including 1,258 diabetic patients, found that therapy with 600 mg/day of intravenous Alpha-lipoic acid for 3 weeks significantly reduced the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy to a clinically meaningful degree.

Liver

Alpha lipoic acid was used in the 1970s as a therapy for various forms of  hepatitis. The scientists administered ALA intravenously to 79 people with acute and serious liver damage at medical centers across the United States, and 75 recovered full liver function. According to a study ALA inhibits the expression of matrix metalloproteinase in cancer cells, which may play a role in liver cancer invasion and metastasis. In a study, published in a 2008 issue of  “Hepatology”, determined that Alpha-lipoic acid prevented fatty liver disease and may be used to prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in insulin-resistant patients. Amanita is a extremely poisonous mushroom that causes liver damage. ALA infusions were used in the therapy of amanita mushroom poisoning in 75 patients between 1974 and 1978. Normally, up to 50% of patients recover without intervention; but, 89 % recovered after ALA infusion.

This combination of Alpha lipoic acid, silymarin, and selenium replenishes glutathione stores, promotes liver cell regeneration, and puts the brakes on viral replication. Dr. Berkson has utilized an antioxidant protocol consisting of alpha-lipoic acid 300mg, twice a day; oral selenium, 200 mcg, twice a day; and oral silymarin, 300 mg per day. Dr. Berkson  reported his triple-antioxidant protocol in 1999, in the content of a pilot study involving 3 patients with cirrhosis, portal hypertension, and esophageal varies related to HCV. All 3 were candidates for liver transplant. After a year on Alpha lipoic acid, silymarin, and selenium, all were healthy, demonstrated improved hepatic function. (Also to the Alpha-lipoic acid, selenium and silymarin, Dr. Berkson recommends a B vitamin complex because high dose Alpha-lipoic acid will deplete thiamine, niacin and riboflavin.)

Brain

Animal-based study shows that animals treated with ALA suffered less brain damage and had 4-times greater survival rate after a stroke than animals who didn’t receive Alpha-lipoic acid.

Alpha-lipoic acid is one of the antioxidants that can pass the blood brain-barrier, which enables it to protect brain tissue and prevent free-radical damage. ALA  may have a favorable effect on patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of memory dysfunction secondary to trauma or cerebral vascular accident. By decreasing oxidative damage in the central nervous system, Alpha-lipoic acid  may reduce the severity of central nervous system disorders. ALA reduces amyloid-beta-induced inflammation and improves brain cells production of the chemical signaling molecules called neurotransmitters.

Researchers believe that Alpha-lipoic acid may increase the production of acetylcholine, an essential nervous system messenger that is deficient in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease patients. A 2007 research in Journal of Neural Transmission showed that high doses of Alpha-lipoic acid slowed Alzheimer’s progression to a greater degree than standard therapy. A small study involving 9 patients showed that there might be a positive effect in using Alpha-lipoic acid in Alzheimer’s disease. Six-hundred milligrams per day of Alpha-lipoic acid for as many as 14 months has reportedly allowed Alzheimer’s patients to maintain scores on neuropsychological tests commonly used to assess Alzheimer’s disease patients.

According to Dr. Lester Packer at the University of  California in Berkeley, ALA may have a role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, head injuries, and spinal cord damage. Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative and demyelinating disease of central nervous system. Alpha-lipoic acid has been examined as an effective treatment in a rat model of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Alpha-lipoic acid dose dependently prevented the development of clinical signs in this model.

Eye Health

Alpha-lipoic acid may support healthy vision and help prevent and treat glaucoma and cataracts. The efficacy of ALA was analyzed in a study involving patients with open-angle glaucoma. Notable improvements were observed with respect to both the biochemical measures and visual function as compared with the control group receiving only local hypotensive treatment.

A study revealed that the combination of Alpha-lipoic acid and vitamin E helped prevent retinal cell death in animals with retinitis pigmentosa. The enzyme aldose reductase plays an substantial role in the development of cataracts in diabetes. ALA inhibited aldose reductase activity in the rat lens. In other animal study, Alpha lipoic acid inhibited cataract formation experimentally induced by buthionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutathione  synthesis. ALA was administered to 75 participant with open-angle glaucoma at dosages of either 75 mg  daily for 2 months or 150 mg daily for one month. The important improvements in the biochemical parameters of glaucoma and visual function were observed in the group receiving  150 mg ALA.

HIV

Alpha-lipoic acid inhibits replication of  HIV by reducing the activity of reverse transcriptase, the enzyme responsible for manufacturing the virus from the DNA of lymphocytes. Experimental results show that lipoic acid is an effective inhibitor of human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV-1) replication. In one study, it was found that therapy of immune system cells called the T cells with ALA significantly increased their glutathione levels. HIV patients are known to have low tissue levels of glutathione.

ALA blocks the activation of a substance called NF-kappa B, which is essential for the transcription of the HIV virus. ALA may play an important therapeutic role for HIV-infected people. In a study with HIV-infected participants, with ALA provided a variety of advantages related to antioxidant status, T-helper lymphocytes, and the T-helper/ suppressor cell ratio .One small study demonstrated a combination of effects from supplementation with ALA including increases in CD4 cells, increases in blood levels of vitamin C and glutathione, and reduction in the body compounds that result from oxidative stress. Other a study was carried out in 33 HIV-infected individuals with a history of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) unresponsiveness to test the hypothesis of whether supplement with  Alpha-lipoic acid would increase blood total glutathione and improve immune T-cell function. After six months of therapy, the mean whole blood total glutathione level in the ALA-treated group increased significantly compared with placebo. In response to the CD3 monoclonal antibody, lymphocyte proliferation decreased 66% in the placebo group over 6 months, compared with  a 3.7-fold enhancement in the anti-CD3 response in the ALA-therapy group.

Metal Chelation

ALA appears capable of chelating certain metals. In vitro and animal studies suggest ALA might be a useful component in the therapy of heavy metal toxicity, particularly toxicity involving cadmium, lead, copper, or mercury. In animal-based studies, Alpha lipoic acid has been shown to provide protection against arsenic poisoning and to safeguard the liver against the effects of cadmium exposure. Other study demonstrated that ALA helped protect the delicate nervous system against the deleterious effects of mercury poisoning.

A study on mercury  intoxication revealed an injection of 10 mg/kg/day Alpha-lipoic acid in rats inoculated with 1 mg/kg/day mercuric chloride prevented damage to nerve tissue caused by lipid peroxidation. In one study an intraperitoneal injection of 25 mg/kg Alpha-lipoic acid given to rats for 7 days was  able to significantly alter the oxidative stress induced by lead toxicity.

Dosage

Recommended oral therapeutic dosages of ALA range from 600 mg-1800 mg daily. Since taking Alpha-lipoic acid with a meal decreases its bioavailability, it is usually recommended that ALA be taken on an empty stomach.

Polyphenols are chemical compounds that are found in plants. Many of which are responsible for the attractive colours of the, fruits, flowers and leaves. Polyphenols involved in defense against ultraviolet radiation or aggression by pathogens. The 2 classes of polyphenols are flavonoids (anthocyanins, flavanones, flavones, catechins, isoflavones) and non-flavonoids (ellagic acids). Polyphenols are found in maximum concentrations in the skin.

Several thousand molecules having a polyphenol structure have been identified in higher plants, and several hundred are found in edible plants. Evidence strong supports a contribution of polyphenols to the prevention of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis and suggests a role in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Many plant polyphenolic compounds have been shown to have cancer preventive effects in lab experiments. Polyphenols have been shown to inhibit the abnormal platelet aggregation that cause most sudden heart attacks and strokes, while fighting inflammation and supporting healthful blood lipids.

Polyphenols Foods List

Blueberries, cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, apples, apricots, grapefruits, oranges, elderberry, red grapes, raspberry, strawberries, blackberries,  gooseberry, dark plums, kiwi, ligonberries, marionberries, acai berry juice, black or red currants, green tea, Oolong tea, Cocoa beans, onions,  garlic, turnip, watercress, cashews, peanuts, soybeans.

Polyphenols Benefits

According to some research, ellagic acid reduces the effect of estrogen on cancer cell growth in breast tissue and promotes the breakdown and removal of cancer-causing substances in the blood via the liver. Ellagic acid prevents the destruction of P53 gene by cancer cells. Can bind with cancer causing molecules, therefore making them inactive. Also shown to induce apoptosis and potentiate all-trans retinoic acid myeloid differentiation therapy in human leukemia HL-60 cells.

Isoflavones are polyphenolic compounds that are talented of exerting estrogen-like activity. Therefore, they are classified as phytoestrogens plant-derived compounds with estrogenic effect. Soybeans are the most important source of isoflavones and the main isoflavones in soybean are daidzein and genistein. Epidemiological studies demonstrated a preventive activity of soy protein on breast tissue as evidenced by the lower rates of breast cancer in East Asian countries where soy is a part of the diet. A new study has showed that isoflavones have strong antioxidant effects, comparable to that of the  vitamin E. The antioxidant properties of isoflavones can decrease the long-term risk of cancer by preventing free radical damage to DNA.The main sources of isoflavones in diet include soybeans, soy milk, tofu, and bean curd.

Quercetin works as an antioxidant by scavenging damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. Antioxidants are chemical substances that donate an electron to the free radical and convert it to a harmless molecule. Quercetin has powerful antioxidant properties and works to protect the body from free radical damage which can damage DNA and cause ageing, heart disease and cancer. Quercetin has demonstrated significant activity in helping with inflammation of direct activity of several initial pathways that can lead to an inflammatory response. Studies done in cell cultures have shown that quercetin has activity against some types of cancer cells. Quercetin significantly inhibits the growth of precancerous cells affecting the liver, according to a study published in 2011 issue of Nutrition and Cancer.

The antioxidant effect of resveratrol helps to avoid damage to DNA, influences the transcriptions of genes responsible for redox metabolism and inhibits proliferartion of cancer cells. Resveratrol dilates blood vessels to develop blood flow and increases nitric oxide production, which is a important Resveratrolpart of healthful blood flow and heart health.That includes the inhibition of synthesis and release of pro-inflammatory mediators, modifications of eicosanoid synthesis, inhibition of some activated immune cells, or inhibiting the enzymes, such as COX-1 or COX-2, which are responsible for the synthesis of pro-inflammatory mediators through the inhibitory property of resveratrol on transcription factors like nuclear factor kappaB or AP-1.

Anthocyanins may help prevent cardiovascular disorders, inflammatory responses, cancer, and degenerative diseases. Anthocyanins also improve neuronal and cognitive brain functions, ocular health as well as protect genomic DNA integrity. Crude anthocyanin extracts have been administered both orally and via injection to reduce capillary permeability. The anthocyanins cyanidin and delphinidin have been shown to prevent the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, a compound that has stimulates atherosclerosis.

The importance of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate. Some researchs have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, lung, breast, colon, esophageal, and bladder. Green tea contains chemicals recognized as polyphenols, which have antioxidant effects. Catechins are antioxidants with the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species such as superoxide, the hydroxyl and peroxyl radicals. Green tea’s anticancer effects include its ability to inhibit the overproduction of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, a protein whose overproduction has been implicated as a factor in many diseases, including cancer. A study of 18,000 Chinese men found that men who drank green tea frequently had a 50% lower risk of developing stomach cancer as compared to men who did not drink tea.