detoxification

[Guest guest]

FYI: This subject of Detoxification has come up before and I thought I'd pass on this description of what the body does, from:

Pizzorno: Textbook of Natural Medicine, 2nd ed., Copyright © 1999 Churchill Livingstone, Inc.

Chapter 50 - Detoxification

INTRODUCTION

The concepts of internal cleansing and detoxifying have been integral to naturopathic philosophy since the profession’s inception over a century ago. The problem of “toxicity” has grown as the number and quantity of poisonous compounds in the air, water, and food have increased. A substantial and growing body of research now supports the significant impact on health of acute and chronic exposure to endogenous and exogenous toxins and the efficacy of an individual’s detoxification mechanisms.

DETOXIFICATION MECHANISMS

The body eliminates toxins either by directly neutralizing them or by excreting them in the urine or feces (and to

TABLE 50-1 -- Major detoxification systems

Organ

Method

Typical toxin neutralized

Skin

Excretion through sweat

Fat-soluble toxins such as DDT and heavy metal such as lead and mercury

Liver

Filtering of the blood

Bacteria and bacterial products, immune complexes

Bile secretion

Cholesterol, hemoglobin breakdown products, extra calcium

Phase I detoxification

Many prescription drugs (e.g. amphetamine, digitalis, pentobarbital), many over-the-counter drugs (acetaminophen, ibuprofen), caffeine, histamine, hormones (both internally produced and externally supplied), benzopyrene (carcinogen from charcoal-broiled meat), aniline (the yellow dyes), carbon tetrachloride, insecticides (e.g. Aldrin, Heptachlor), arachidonic acid

Phase II detoxification

Glutathione conjugation

Acetaminophen, nicotine from cigarette smoke, organophosphates (insecticides), epoxides (carcinogens)

Amino acid conjugation

Benzoate (a common food preservative), aspirin

Methylation

Dopamine (neurotransmitter), epinephrine (hormone from adrenal gland), histamine, thiouracil (cancer drug)

Sulfation

Estrogen, aniline dyes, coumarin (blood thinner), acetaminophen, methyl-dopa (used for Parkinson’s disease)

Acetylation

Sulfonamides (antibiotics), mescaline

Glucuronidation

Acetaminophen, morphine, diazepam (sedative, muscle relaxant), digitalis

Sulfoxidation

Sulfites, garlic compounds

Intestines

Mucosal detoxification

Toxins from bowel bacteria

Excretion through feces

Fat-soluble toxins excreted in the bile

Kidneys

Excretion through urine

Many toxins, after they are made water-soluble by the livera lesser degree from the mucous membranes, lungs and skin). Toxins that the body is unable to eliminate build up in the tissues, typically in the fat stores and bone. The liver, intestines, and kidneys are the primary organs of detoxification.

LIVER DETOXIFICATION

Overview

The liver is a complex organ that plays a key role in most metabolic processes, especially detoxification. The liver neutralizes a wide range of toxic chemicals, both those produced internally and those coming from the environment. The normal metabolic processes produce a wide range of chemicals and hormones for which the liver has evolved efficient neutralizing mechanisms. However, the level and type of internally produced toxins increases greatly when metabolic processes go awry, typically as a result of nutritional deficiencies. These non-end-product metabolites have become a significant problem in this age of conventionally grown foods and poor diets.

Proper functioning of the liver’s detoxification systems is especially important for the prevention of cancer. Up to 90% of all cancers are thought to be due to the effects of environmental carcinogens, such as those in cigarette smoke, food, water, and air, combined with deficiencies of the nutrients the body needs for proper functioning of the detoxification and immune systems. The level of exposure to environmental carcinogens varies widely, as does the efficiency of the detoxification enzymes, particularly phase II. High levels of exposure to carcinogens coupled with slow detoxification enzymes significantly increases susceptibility to cancer.

Phase I detoxification

The liver’s third role in detoxification typically involves a two-step enzymatic process for the neutralization of unwanted chemical compounds ( Table 50.3 ). These not only include drugs, pesticides, and toxins from the gut, but also normal body chemicals such as hormones and inflammatory chemicals (e.g. histamine) which become toxic if allowed to build up. Phase I enzymes directly neutralize some chemicals, but most are converted to intermediate forms that are then processed by phase II enzymes. These intermediate forms are much more chemically active and therefore more toxic. If the phase II detoxification systems are not working adequately, these intermediates can cause substantial damage, including the initiation of carcinogenic processes.

Phase I detoxification of most chemical toxins involves a group of enzymes which, collectively, have been named cytochrome P450. Some 50–100 enzymes make up the cytochrome P450 system. Each enzyme works best in detoxifying certain types of chemicals, but with considerable overlap in activity among the enzymes.

TABLE 50-3 -- Chemicals detoxified by phase I

Drugs

• Phenytoin

• Erythromycin

• Codeine

• Warfarin

• Amitryptyline

• Phenobarbital

• Prednisone

• Steroids

OTCs

• Acetaminophen

• Ibuprofen

• Salicylates

Foods

• Caffeine

• Vanillin

Nutrients

• Arachidonic acid

• Fatty acids

Environmentals

• Alcohol

• Insecticides

• CCl4

• Benzopyrenes (cigarette smoke, charcoal-broiled meat)

TABLE 50-6 -- Inhibitors of phase I detoxification

Drugs

• Benzodiazepines (e.g. Halcion, Centrax, Librium, Valium, etc.)

• Antihistamines (used for allergies)

• Cimetidine and other stomach-acid secretion blocking drugs (used for stomach ulcers)

• Ketoconazole

• Sulfaphenazole

Foods

• Naringenin from grapefruit juice

• Curcumin from the spice turmeric

• Capsaicin from red chili pepper

• Eugenol from clove oil

• Quercetin from onions

Botanicals

• Curcuma longa (curcumin)

• Capsicum frutescens (capsaicin)

• Eugenia caryophyllus (eugenol)

• Calendula officinalis

Other

• Aging

• Toxins from inappropriate bacteria in the intestines

Phase II detoxification

Phase II detoxification typically involves conjugation in which various enzymes in the liver attach small chemicals to the toxin. This conjugation reaction either neutralizes the toxin or makes the toxin more easily excreted through the urine or bile. Phase II enzymes act on some toxins directly, while others must first be activated by the phase I enzymes. There are essentially six phase II detoxification pathways:

• glutathione conjugation

• amino acid conjugation

• methylation

• sulfation

• acetylation

• glucuronidation.

So here we have an actual description what detox is all about in the real world that takes place all the time. Some interesting info in this book. Notice the glutathione conjugation. It is known that fasting lowers glutathione so I wonder how fasting aids detox.

I noticed some common food items are called toxins or inhibit detox. Much more in the book. The only source I know of the book is mdconsult.com (it's an expensive book).

Regards.