Antioxidant Vitamins Block Acute Toxic Effects!

Antioxidant Vitamins Block
Homocysteine's Acute Toxic Effects


Thanks to the December 2000 Nutrition Science News for the use of this article!


Diane Frances C.N.C.


About one-fourth of all American adults have excessively high blood levels of homocysteine. This amino acid is formed from methionine, which is taken into the body via animal-derived foods. High levels of homocysteine translate into a significant increase in hardening of the arteries known as arteriosclerosis. In that way, homocysteine is similar to cholesterol because prolonged, elevated levels of it gradually damage the inner linings of blood vessels, causing atherosclerotic plaque and narrowing of the arteries. However, for a catastrophic end result of this process to occur — a heart attack or a stroke — it typically takes more than just narrow arteries: It requires the blood within the artery to congeal into a clot, suddenly causing an obstruction.

What generally triggers clot formation are things like smoking a cigarette, acute emotional stress, physical overexertion, a virus or even just getting out of the bed too quickly in the morning. Each of these factors, in their own way, can act within minutes to recast arterial blood into a hyper-coagulable state. Then, for the next minutes, hours or days the blood remains prone to clotting. Recently, researchers discovered that high homocysteine levels also function as such a trigger, producing a double whammy in that it creates the problem, then induces the final outcome. However, certain nutritional supplements seem to be effective at overcoming this danger.

After the body experiences a trigger, the critical period of high vulnerability to clotting is extremely influential. The body immediately works to return the blood's stickiness to normal. Therefore, if one can get through this high-risk period, within hours or days, blood viscosity can revert to normal. Progression to a heart attack or stroke usually is not inevitable; in fact, it can be avoided for years or even decades.

This month I examine a study that demonstrates how high homocysteine levels can cause dangerous, "sticky" blood and how a timely dose of vitamins C and E can almost completely prevent such effects.

Researchers at the Department of Geriatrics, Second University in Naples, Italy, examined homocysteine's effects on 10 healthy young men and 10 healthy young women. The subjects were each given three loads in random order at one-week intervals of 100 mg/kg oral methionine in fruit juice, the same methionine dose immediately after taking 1,000 mg ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and 800 IU vitamin E, and a methionine-free fruit juice placebo. Since the body normally converts methionine into homocysteine and vice versa, loading up on methionine was expected to cause homocysteine levels to rise. In this case, the methionine-only group experienced a homocysteine increase nearly three-fold — from an average of 10.5 umol/L at baseline to 27.1 umol/L — all within four hours.

At the same time, there was a marked increase in the blood levels of several biochemicals that increase blood's tendency to clot. This showed that using a loading dose of homocysteine precursor (i.e., methionine) caused a major increase in blood stickiness. For a high-risk person who has been walking around with moderate or severe arteriosclerosis, this increase in homocysteine could be enough to trigger a heart attack.

The good news is that when researchers added the 1,000 mg of vitamin C and 800 IU of vitamin E along with the methionine load, homocysteine's pro-blood-clot effects were almost completely prevented. That is, the blood clotting parameters remained normal despite a drastic increase in blood homocysteine levels.

It appears that the combination of vitamins C and E may be an antidote to homocysteine, and one that works more quickly than traditional treatments such as vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid. These vitamins can lower homocysteine levels over the course of a few weeks. In contrast, vitamins C and E can act within hours. While they don't actually reduce homocysteine, these vitamins appear to protect the blood from clotting.

This study has a few important practical implications for people at risk for heart disease or stroke, although additional studies must be done to further support these findings.

First, increasing homocysteine by overloading on protein foods or methionine-containing high-protein supplements can be dangerous.

Second, adding the antioxidant vitamins C and E as well as homocysteine-lowering B6, B12 and folate should help keep blood thin. By thinning the blood, it appears as though vitamins C and E might reduce the threat of other acute proclotting triggers such as smoking, exertion, a high-fat meal or emotional distress. However, while these two nutrients may protect against high homocysteine levels for a few hours, the duration of their protective effect is unknown. Considering vitamin E is stored in fat, a single dose should be available in the body for days, depending on how fast the vitamin is metabolized. However, vitamin C dissolves in water and is excreted in the urine. Thus, for those at risk, I'd urge a 1 to 2 g twice daily vitamin C dose.



Richard N. Podell, M.D., M.P.H., is director of the Podell Medical Center in New Providence, N.J.



Reference



1. Nappo F. Impairment of endothelial functions by acute hyperhomocysteinemia and reversal by antioxidant vitamins. JAMA 1999;281:2113-8.

7 Reasons why our body needs vitamins and antioxidants!

7 Reasons Why You Must Take Supplements
Find out why you need supplements, no matter what your health condition is.

Enlarge Image1. Food irradiation: is a food processing technique to extend the shelf life of food by destruction of harmful microorganisms and delay of ripening. The food is exposed to ionizing energy and radiation. However, this process also eliminates the essential nutrients especially water soluble vitamins and antioxidants. Food irradiation is widely used in products like chicken, meats, and vegetables. This technique is approved and used in more than 40 countries world wide.

2. Environmental Pollution: Everyday millions kilograms of chemicals are dumped into our environment. These wastes go to the air, water and food that we eat. For example, if you eat fish, you are quite likely to consume excessive mercury at the same time. Studies show that environmental pollution is the main cause for degenerative diseases. Thus, you need quality and potent health supplements to detoxify your body against the pollution and boost immune system.

2. Genetically modified (GM) foods: are crop plans created for human or animal consumption with advanced technology. GM foods are created to improve crop protection and improve the nutritional value. Although all GM foods you see from the market passed risk assessment, there is no long term study indicate that they are safe to human. In fact, GM foods can cause allergic reaction in some people. In addition, rat studies have shown that consumption of GM foods increased intestinal infections and reduce immunity.

3. Soil depletion: Aggressive farming, acid rains, use or artificial fertilizers and synthetic pesticides have caused soil depletion. These activities deplete the essential nutrients in the soil. As a result, nutritional values of fruits and vegetables are greatly reduced. In fact, the vegetables you eat today taste bland due to lack minerals in the soil. According to a recent study sponsored by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), about 17% of land in the world has been damaged. However, soil remains is either slowly losing nutrients, or no longer contain the essential nutrients.

4. Lifestyle: Depending on your lifestyle and behavior, you may need nutritional supplements. For example, smoking destroys certain vitamins. Both first hand and second hand smokers need to take extra antioxidants to protect the body against free radicals. Excessive alcohol consumption impairs the body's ability to absorb many nutrients and inhibits the production of digestive enzymes. In the above mentioned situations, taking supplements is MUST to stay healthy. Other examples that require extra supplementation include: athletes, pregnant ladies, people who work in radioactive environment and those who work in physically demanding occupation.

5. Stress: is not an unusual terms to many of us. Stress can deplete your energy, lead to acceleration of aging process and degenerative diseases. The symptoms of stress include fatigue, depression, panic, anxiety, loss of appetite, and insomnia. Fortunately, there are supplements that can work to effectively reduce the detrimental effects of stress, and also relief the symptoms of stress.

6. Pesticides in foods: Pesticides are widely used in agricultural activities to control and destroy pests. Pesticides are poisonous and reside in our foods. According to a study by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the health benefits of fruits and vegetables are reduced by use of pesticides. When you eat foods that contain pesticides, they may cause health problems to immune system, nervous and hormonal system. Unfortunately, there is no way you can detect pesticides in foods.

7. Food Processing: Most of the foods from supermarkets are processed. Processed foods are not fresh and contain fewer nutrients compare to fresh foods. For example, grain peels which contain natural fiber are removed in the processing stage. Processed foods also contain no live enzymes. Enzymes are necessary for digestion and metabolic function. Lack of enzymes can cause degenerative diseases. In addition, processed foods contain refined sugar, extra salt, unhealthy fat, and chemical additives. These substances may bring negative impacts to your body