Detoxification: Nature's Potent Liver Remedies

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Detoxification: Nature's Potent Liver Remedies JoAnn Guest Jun 10, 2005

15:28 PDT

Introduction

 

Toxic substances are everywhere. In the air we breathe, the food we eat,

and the water we drink. Even our bodies and the bacteria in the

intestines produce toxic substances.

 

These toxins can damage the body in an insidious and cumulative way.

Your ability to detoxify these harmful chemicals is a major factor in

determining your level of health.

 

When the detoxification system becomes overloaded, toxic metabolites

accumulate, and we become progressively more sensitive to other

chemicals.

 

This accumulation of toxins can wreak havoc on our normal

metabolic processes.

 

Enhancing detoxification primarily involves promoting improved liver

function. Our modern environment seriously overloads our liver,

resulting in increased levels of circulating toxins in the blood, which

damage most of our body's systems.

 

A toxic liver sends out alarm signals, which manifests as psoriasis,

acne, chronic headaches, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and

chronic fatigue.

 

Are You Toxic?

 

Diagnosing toxicity can involve measuring hair, blood, or fatty tissue

for suspected chemicals. However, perhaps the best recommendation that I

can give you to help you determine if your liver is functioning up to

par is to look over the following list.

 

If any factor applies to you, I recommend following the guidelines for

improving liver function given below:

 

Are you more than 20 pounds overweight?

Do you have diabetes?

Have you or do you have of gallstones?

Do you have a history of heavy alcohol or drug use?

Dou you have psoriasis?

 

Are you taking natural or synthetic steroid hormones like

Anabolic steroids?

Estrogens?

Oral contraceptives?

 

Have you been exposed to high levels of certain chemicals or drugs like:

 

 

 

Cleaning solvents?

Pesticides?

Antibiotics?

Diuretics?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?

Thyroid hormone?

Do you or have you ever had hepatitis?

 

Why is the liver so important in detoxification?

 

The liver is a complex organ that plays a key role in most metabolic

processes, especially detoxification. The liver is constantly bombarded

with toxic chemicals, both those produced internally and those coming

from the environment.

 

The metabolic processes that make our bodies run normally produce a

wide range of toxins 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.

 

Many of the toxic chemicals the liver must detoxify come from our

environment: the content of our bowel, the food we eat, the water we

drink, and the air we breathe.

 

The polycyclic hydrocarbons (e.g., DDT; dioxin; 2,4,5-T; 2,4-D; PCB;

and PCP), which are components of various herbicides and pesticides, are

one example.

 

Yet, as mentioned above, even those eating unprocessed organic foods

need an effective detoxification system because even organically grown

foods contain naturally occurring toxic constituents.

 

The liver plays several roles in detoxification: It filters the blood to

remove large toxins, synthesizes and secretes bile full of cholesterol

and other fat-soluble toxins, and enzymatically disassembles unwanted

chemicals.

 

How does the liver get rid of toxins?

 

Once the liver has modified a toxin, it needs to be eliminated from the

body as soon as possible.

 

One of the primary routes of elimination is through the bile.

 

However, when the excretion of bile is inhibited

 

(a condition called cholestasis),

 

toxins stay in the liver longer.

 

 

 

Cholestasis has several causes, including obstruction of the bile ducts

and impairment of bile flow within the liver.

 

The most common cause of

obstruction of the bile ducts is the presence of gallstones.

 

Currently,

it is conservatively estimated that 20 million people in the U.S. have

gallstones. Nearly 20% of the female and 8% of the male population over

the age of 40 are found to have gallstones on biopsy and approximately

500,000 gallbladders are removed because of stones each year in the U.S.

 

 

 

The prevalence of gallstones in this country has been linked to the

high-fat, low-fiber diet consumed by the majority of Americans.

 

Impairment of bile flow within the liver can be caused by a variety of

agents and conditions.

 

These conditions are often associated with alterations of liver

function in laboratory tests (serum bilirubin,

alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, LDH, GGTP, etc.) signifying cellular damage.

 

 

 

However, relying on these tests alone to evaluate liver function is not

adequate, since, in the initial or subclinical stages of many problems

with liver function, laboratory values remain normal.

 

Among the symptoms people with enzymatic damage may complain of are

fatigue, general malaise, digestive disturbances, allergies and chemical

sensitivities, premenstrual syndrome, and constipation.

 

Causes of Cholestasis

 

Presence of gallstones

Alcohol

Endotoxins

Hereditary disorders such as Gilbert's syndrome

Hyperthyroidism or thyroxine supplementation

Viral hepatitis

Pregnancy

 

Certain chemicals or drugs:

 

Natural and synthetic steroidal hormones:

 

[comp: indent all following entries]Anabolic steroids

Estrogens

Oral contraceptives [all the following are not hormones and should not

be indented]

Aminosalicylic acid

Chlorothiazide

Erythromycin estolate

Mepazine Phenylbutazone

Sulphadiazine

Thiouracil

 

Perhaps the most common cause of cholestasis and impaired liver function

is alcohol ingestion.

 

In some especially sensitive individuals, as little as 1 oz of alcohol

can produce damage to the liver, which results

in fat being deposited within the liver.

 

All active alcoholics demonstrate fatty infiltration of the liver.

 

---

 

What do you recommend to support the liver and proper detoxification?

 

A rational approach to aiding the body's detoxification involves:

 

 

(1)

eating a diet which focuses on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole

grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds;

 

(2) adopting a healthy lifestyle including avoiding alcohol and

exercising regularly;

 

(3) taking a high potency multiple vitamin and mineral supplement;

 

(4) using special nutritional and herbal supplements to protect the

liver and enhance liver function; and

 

(5) going on a 3 day fresh juice fast at the change of each season.

 

====================================================================

 

How does diet impact detoxification?

 

The first step in supporting proper liver function is following a health

promoting diet low in animal foods and sugar,

 

and high in whole plant foods such as organic vegetables, whole grains,

legumes, fruits, nuts, and seeds.

 

Such a diet will provide a wide range of essential nutrients the liver

needs to carry on its important functions.

 

If you want to have a healthy liver, there are three things you

definitely want to stay away from: (1) saturated fats; (2) refined

sugar; and (3) alcohol. A diet high in saturated fat increases the risk

of developing fatty infiltration and/or cholestasis.

 

In contrast, a diet rich in dietary fiber, particularly the

water-soluble fibers, promotes increased bile secretion.

 

Special foods rich in factors which help protect the liver from damage

and improve liver function include:

 

 

high sulfur containing foods like garlic, legumes, onions,

and organic eggs;

 

good sources of water-soluble fibers such as pears, oat bran,

apples, and legumes;

 

cabbage family vegetables especially broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and

cabbage;

 

and artichokes, beets, carrots, dandelion,

 

and many herbs and spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and licorice.

 

---

 

Can I drink alcohol or is it always harmful to the liver at any level?

 

Alcohol stresses detoxification processes and can lead to liver damage

and immune suppression,

 

but it is related to how much you drink and how

healthy your liver is.

 

Avoid alcohol if you suffer from impaired liver function and only drink

in moderation (no more than two glasses of wine or beer, no more than 2

ounces of hard liquor per day).

 

 

 

What supplements should I take to support the liver?

 

A high potency multiple vitamin and mineral is a must in trying to deal

with all the toxic chemicals we are constantly exposed to.

 

Antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C, beta-carotene, and vitamin E are

obviously quite important in protecting the liver from damage as well as

helping in detoxification mechanisms, but even simple nutrients like B

vitamins, calcium, and trace minerals are critical in the elimination of

 

heavy metals and other toxic compounds from the body.

 

 

 

Choline, betaine, methionine, vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12

are important.

 

 

These nutrients are referred to as " lipotropic agents. "

 

 

 

Lipotropic agents are compounds which promote the flow of fat and bile

to and from the liver. In essence, they produce a " decongesting " effect

on the liver and promote improved liver function and fat metabolism.

 

Formulas containing lipotropic agents are very useful in enhancing

detoxification reactions and other liver functions.

 

Lipotropic formulas have been used for a wide variety of conditions by

nutrition-oriented physicians including a number of liver disorders

including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and chemical-induced liver disease.

 

 

 

Most major manufacturers of nutritional supplements offer lipotropic

formulas.

 

The important thing, when taking a lipotropic formula, is to

take enough of the formula to provide a daily dose of 1,000 mg of

choline and 1,000 mg of either methionine and/or cysteine.

 

--

Are there any herbs that I can take to support my liver and proper

detoxification?

 

There is a long list of plants that exert beneficial effects on liver

function.

 

However, the most impressive research has been done on a

special extract of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) known as

 

silymarin -

a group of flavonoid compounds.

 

These compounds exert tremendous effect on protecting the liver from

damage as well as enhancing detoxification processes.

 

Silymarin prevents damage to the liver by acting as an antioxidant.

 

Silymarin is many times more potent in antioxidant activity than

vitamin E and vitamin C. The protective effect of silymarin against

liver damage has been demonstrated in a number of experimental studies.

 

Experimental liver damage in animals is produced by extremely toxic

chemicals such as carbon tetrachloride, amanita toxin, galactosamine,

and praseodymium nitrate.

 

Silymarin has been shown to protect against

liver damage by all of these agents

 

-

 

Besides acting as an antioxidant, are there other ways in that silymarin

 

aids detoxification?

 

One of the key manners in which silymarin enhances detoxification

reaction is preventing the

 

depletion of glutathione.

 

As discussed above, the level of glutathione in the liver is critically

linked to the liver's ability to detoxify.

 

The higher the glutathione content, the greater the liver's capacity to

detoxify harmful chemicals.

 

Typically, when we are exposed to chemicals which can damage the liver

including alcohol,

 

the concentration of glutathione in the liver is substantially reduced.

 

This reduction in glutathione makes the liver cell susceptible to

damage. Silymarin not only prevents the depletion of glutathione induced

by alcohol and other toxic chemicals, but has been shown to increase the

level of glutathione of the liver by up to 35%.5 Since the ability of

the liver to detoxify is largely related to the level of glutathione in

the liver,

 

the results of this study seem to indicate that silymarin can

increase detoxification reactions by up to 35%.

 

 

 

Can silymarin help in hepatitis and other liver disorders?

 

Yes. In human studies, silymarin has been shown to have positive effects

 

in treating liver diseases of various kinds, including hepatitis;

cirrhosis; fatty infiltration of the liver (chemical and alcohol induced

fatty liver); and inflammation of the bile duct.6-9

 

 

 

What is the form of silymarin that you recommend?

 

Recently, a new form of silymarin has emerged that may provide the

greatest benefit. The new form binds silybin the key component of

silymarin to phosphatidylcholine, the key component of our cellular

membranes throughout the body.

 

The result is a product known as SILIPHOS (available from Natural

Factors as Silybin Phytosome).

Current research indicates that SILIPHOST is better absorbed and

produces better results than other silymarin or milk thistle extracts.

 

What is the evidence to support the claim that SILIPHOST is better?

Several human and animal studies have shown SILIPHOST is better

absorbed. In one study, the excretion of silybin in the bile was

evaulated in patients undergoing gallbladder removal because of

gallstones.

 

 

A special drainage tube, the T-tube, was used to get the samples of

bile necessary. Patients were given either a single oral dose of the

SILIPHOST or silymarin. The amount of silybin recovered in the bile

within 48 hours was 11% for the SILIPHOST group and 3% for silymarin

group.10

 

One of the significant features of this study is the fact that silymarin

 

has been shown to improve the solubility of the bile.

 

Since more silymarin is being delivered to the liver and gallbladder

when the phosphatidylcholine-bound silymarin is used, this form is the

ideal form for individuals with gallstones or fatty-infiltration of the

liver - two conditions characterized by decreased bile solubility.

 

In another study designed to assess the absorption of SILIPHOST, plasma

silybin levels were determined after administration of single oral doses

of SILIPHOST and a similar amount of silymarin to 9 healthy volunteers.

The authors concluded SILIPHOST was absorbed roughly 7 times greater

than regular milk thistle extracts standardized to contain silymarin

(70-80%).11

 

Are there any studies showing better results with SILIPHOST?

 

Several clinical studies have also shown SILIPHOST to produce better

results than regular silymarin extracts.12-14 In one study of 232

patients with chronic hepatitis (viral, alcohol, or drug induced)

treated with SILIPHOST at a dosage either 120 mg twice daily or 120 mg

three times daily for up to 120 days, liver function returned to normal

faster in the patients taking SILIPHOST compared to a group of controls

(49 treated with a commercially available milk thistle extract

standardized to contain 70% silymarin; 117 untreated or given

placebo).14,

 

Better results were also seen in a preliminary study in patients with

chronic viral hepatitis (3 with hepatitis B, 3 with both hepatitis B and

hepatitis C, and 2 with hepatitis C) given SILIPHOST for 2 months.12

After treatment, serum malondialdehyde levels (an indicator of lipid

peroxidation)

 

decreased by 36%, and the quantitative liver function

evaluation, as expressed by galactose elimination capacity, increased by

15%.

 

A statistically significant reduction of liver enzymes was also seen:

AST decreased 17% and ALT decreased 16%.

 

In another study designed primarily to evaluate the dose-response

relationship of SILIPHOST , positive effects were again displayed at a

level better than those reported for milk thistle extracts containing

70-80% silymarin.

 

In the study, patients with chronic hepatitis due to either a virus or

alcohol were given different doses of SILIPHOST : 20 patients received

80 mg twice daily, 20 pts received 120 mg twice daily, and 20 patients

received 120 mg three times daily for two weeks. At all tested doses,

SILIPHOST produced a remarkable and statistically significant decrease

of mean serum and total bilirubin levels.

When used at the dose of 240 or 360 mg per day, it also resulted in a

remarkable and statistically significant decrease of the ALT and GGTP

liver enzymes. These results indicate that even short-term treatment of

viral or alcohol-induced hepatitis with relative low doses of

phosphatidylcholine bound silymarin can be effective, but for the best

results higher doses are indicated.

 

 

 

How does SILIPHOST compare with Milk Thistle Phytosome?

 

Milk Thistle Phytosome is a less potent version as it contains all three

 

flavonoids of silymarin and the ratio of to phosphatidylcholine to

silymarin is 2:1. In comparison, SILIPHOST contains only silybin is the

most potent of these active substances of silymarin in a one to one

ratio with phosphatidylcholine. One 150 mg capsule of Milk Thistle

Phytosome is slightly less potent than the 120 mg capsule of SILIPHOST.

 

What is the dosage recommendation for SILIPHOST ?

For general support for the liver and detoxification, 120 mg of

SILIPHOST is recommended. When additional support is needed, the dosage

recommendation is 240 to 360 mg per day.

 

Summary

Detoxification of harmful substances is a continual process in the body.

 

The ability to detoxify and eliminate toxins largely determines an

individual's health status.

 

A number of toxins (heavy metals, solvents, pesticides, microbial

toxins, etc.) are known to cause significant health problems.

 

Milk thistle extracts standardized for silymarin content (usually

70-80%) can dramatically improve the liver's ability to detoxify harmful

 

compounds and function more optimally. A new form of silymarin,

SILIPHOST, is proving to be even more effective.

 

References:

 

Flora SJS, Singh S and Tandon SK: Prevention of lead intoxication by

vitamin B complex. Z Ges Hyg 30:409-11, 1984.

Shakman RA: Nutritional influences on the toxicity of environmental

pollutants: A review. Arch Env Health 28:105-33, 1974.

Flora SJS, et al.: Protective role of trace metals in lead intoxication.

 

Toxicology Letters 13:51-6, 1982.

Hikino H, et al.: Antihepatotoxic actions of flavonolignans from Silybum

 

marianum fruits. Planta Medica 50:248-50, 1984.

Valenzuela A, et al.: Selectivity of silymarin on the increase of the

glutathione content in different tissues of the rat. Planta Med

55:420-2, 1989.

Canini F, Bartolucci, Cristallini E, et al.: Use of silymarin in the

treatment of alcoholic hepatic steatosis. Clin Ter 114:307-14, 1985.

Salmi HA and Sarna S: Effect of silymarin on chemical, functional, and

morphological alteration of the liver. A double-blind controlled study.

Scand J Gastroenterol 17:417-21, 1982.

Boari C, et al.: Occupational toxic liver diseases. Therapeutic effects

of silymarin. Min Med 72:2679-88, 1985.

Ferenci P, et al.: Randomized controlled trial of silymarin treatment in

 

patients with cirrhosis of the liver. J Hepatol 9:105-13, 1989.

Schandalik R, Gatti G, and Perucca E: Pharmacokinetics of silybin in

bile following administration of silipide and silymarin in

cholecystectomy patients. Arzneim Forsch 42(7):964-8, 1992.

Barzaghi N, et al.: Pharmacokinetic studies on IdB 1016, a

silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex, in healthy human subjects. Eur J

Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 15(4):333-8, 1990.

Mascarella S, et al.: Therapeutic and antilipoperoxidant effects of

silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex in chronic liver disease:

Preliminary results. Curr Ther Res 53(1):98-102, 1993.

Vailati A, et al.: Randomized open study of the dose-effect relationship

 

of a short course of IdB 1016 in patients with viral or alcoholic

hepatitis. Fitoterapia 44(3):219-28, 1993.

Marena C and Lampertico: Preliminary clinical development of silipide: A

 

new complex of silybin in toxic liver disorders. Planta Medical

57(S2):A124-5, 1991.

 

 

www.doctormurray.com

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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