Boost the immune system the natural way part 2

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Title: Boost the immune system the natural way part 2

Word Count: 932

Author: McEvoy

Email: davemcevoy2004@...

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Boost the immune system the natural way part 2

Copyright 2005 McEvoy

Other than taking a decent amount of exercise and following

a healthy diet, we may feel there is little we can do to

help our bodies maintain themselves. However, it is

possible to boost the immune system and encourage cell

production through the use of supplements containing

nucleotides – the body’s essential cell building blocks.

The body has an ongoing demand for new cell production, and

must create cells at the same rate at which its cells die.

To do this, a typical cell must double its mass and

duplicate all of its contents in order to produce the two

new ‘daughter’ cells.

This multiplication of a cell starts with the doubling of

the information (inter-phase) - namely the DNA. Previously

we discussed how the DNA is formed by the five key

nucleotides. A normal DNA consists of 3 billion nucleotides.

It is only after this multiplication of the DNA that the

M-phase can start. This is where the two cell nuclei are

formed and the cells start to divide into two separate

cells.

Cell proliferation is a lengthy and complicated process,

dependent mainly on energy and supply of the specific

building blocks, the five key nucleotides.

Research has shown that by providing extra dietary sources

of nucleotides, the multiplication of these new cells can

be speeded up. This applies to the following cell types:

Intestinal mucosa cells – the cells lining the gut

Bone marrow cells, namely leukocytes (especially

Lymphocytes) – more commonly termed as the white blood

immune cells

Erythrocytes – Red blood cells

Certain brain cells

For years, nucleic acids and nucleotides were considered

essential nutrients. Now these nucleotides are

increasingly considered to be limiting in certain diets and

during periods of stress and illness.

It was thought that the body could synthesise sufficient

nucleotides to meet its physiological demands via ‘de novo’

synthesis of nucleotides. However, research during the last

several years indicates that this is not correct. There

are certain conditions in which the body requires dietary

nucleotides to meet its physiological requirements.

These conditions include:

Rapid growth

Limited food supply

Stress

Chronic disease

Bacterial and viral infections

In these situations, metabolic demand exceeds the capacity

of the ‘de novo’ synthesis, and therefore dietary

nucleotides become conditionally essential.

Importantly, dietary nucleotides may also spare the

energetic costs of ‘de novo’ synthesis of nucleotides.

Critical point in nutrition: energy

Building nucleotides by the ‘de novo’ process requires lots

of time and energy. Supplementing purified nucleotides to

the diet reduces the proportions required to manufacture,

while accelerating all active processes and saving energy

also.

Supplementary nucleotides have been demonstrated to enhance

the efficiency of a number of vital organs; these include:

Immune organs including the bone marrow

Liver

Intestines

Consequently, supplementary nucleotides have an effect on a

number of vital functions:

Immunity

Production of stress hormones

Digestion and absorption of nutrients

Vitality and well-being

Focussing on Immunity

Nucleotides are an essential part of an healthy immune

system, because they have been shown to support the

following:

The reversal of malnutrition or starvation-induced

immunosuppression

Enhancement of T-cell maturation and function

Enhancement of natural killer cell activity

Increase of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity

Aiding resistance to infectious agents such as

Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans

Modulation of T-Cell responses toward type 1 CD4 helper

lymphocytes or TH1 cells.

In layman’s terms, nucleotides help to boost the immune

system by speeding up the process of creating new defence

cells, which are essential for the body to fight infections.

Reducing the effect of an infection

In 2003 a double-blind placebo controlled trial was carried

out by Dr Isobel son at Queen Margaret University

College, Edinburgh. This clinical trial was carried out to

test the effects of nucleotides on reducing the severity of

specific symptoms, secondary infections and healing time

after a natural infection by the cold or flu virus. The

findings showed that the specific formula of nucleotides

significantly reduced the symptoms of painful sinuses and

earache. Over the first six days of taking the nucleotides

or a placebo, the discomfort level was on average greatly

reduced for the nucleotide patients:

Dry mouth: 30% less

Sore throat: 20% less

Muscle aches: 15% less

Headache: 40% less

Salivary IgA (antibody) concentrations were similar at

recruitment, but the subsequent to this were higher in

general for the nucleotide group. For the layman, higher

antibody levels indicate a greater immune response.

Preserving a strong immunity

The positive effects of supplementary nucleotides on

immunity was also backed up with another placebo controlled

trial carried out by Professor Lars McNaughton, University

of Bath, 2002. McNaughton tested the effects of nucleotides

on athletes under both short-term and high intensity, and

moderate endurance exercise. Again these results were

significant and conclusive. Athletes on the nucleotide

treatment showed a 25% higher IgA concentration after 90

minutes endurance exercise, compared with the placebo

group.

The stress hormone, cortisol, was 10% reduced for the

nucleotide supplemented group. High cortisol levels have

been shown to impede the effectiveness of disease fighting

cells. Hence, the placebo group showed a greater drop in

antibodies. High decreases in IgA (antibodies) are thought

to be a reason for increased levels of Upper Respiratory

Tract Infection (e.g. colds and flu) for athletes and

people suffering high levels of stress.

In conclusion, the body needs nucleotides to help support a

healthy immune response. The body can normally take these

from food, but in times of stress, illness, poor diet or

rapid growth, dietary nucleotides become conditionally

essential; supplementing all five nucleotides has been

shown to preserve a strong immunity, and reduce the

severity of infections.

About the Author:

Dave Mcevoy: A great resource for nucleotides is Nucell

Active. For more information visit http://www.nucell.co.uk

, or to purchase go to http://www.mind1st.co.uk