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www.willner.com | Page 15 Looking for more? Visit us online and browse our BRAND NEW website! Since 1911 • Willner Chemists: The Nutritional Supplement Professionals Support Your Body’s Detoxification System with Supplements * T he body possesses a very sophisticated and efficient natural detoxification system. To be more accurate, it consists of a multitude of detoxification processes working simultaneously, day in and day out, to maintain a clean interior milieu. This internal balance is obtained by getting rid of substances known as xenobiotics (environmental foreign elements entering the body) and by eliminating the normal waste created by our own bodily functions, mainly through the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, as well as the liver and kidneys. In this article, we will explore some of the endogenous detoxification processes and how some supplements can support them.* Free radical scavenging is a detoxification process taking place throughout the body, 24/7. Free radicals are small unstable molecules generated within the body during normal metabolic processes, including those generated by immune system activity. While the generation of free radicals is an important normal function of the body, in some circumstances, an overproduction of free radicals can be deleterious – hence the need for free radical scavengers that can be either produced within the body or ingested as nutrients through foods or supplements.* Other important detoxification processes are known as phase I and II detoxification. These two phases of detoxification take place in the liver; their ultimate goal is to facilitate the biotransformation of xenobiotics and some compounds generated by the body, such as steroid hormones, into inactivated forms that can be easily eliminated in the bile and urine. Phase I refers to the first step of the metabolic biotransformation of fat-soluble compounds into inactivated water-soluble excretable metabolites. Phase I is mediated by a family of enzymes known as cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and other enzymes in charge of the biotransformation of molecules that need to be discarded by the body. Phase II refers to the biotransformation facilitated by a range of different liver enzymes that modify the chemical structure of substances present in the liver into a chemical form that is easily eliminated by the body. The body possesses other detoxification tools, including those involved in modulating the expression of genes in charge of the production of detox proteins. Detoxification also occurs through protein carriers dedicated to eliminating heavy metals.1 Now, we return to supplements that can be used to support the body’s detoxification processes.* Chlorophylls are green pigments naturally occurring in plants. Sodium copper chlorophyllin, a form of chlorophyll, has been demonstrated to be a potent free radical scavenger in laboratory experiments.* 2 Furthermore, chlorophylls have the ability to form tight molecular complexes with specific xenobiotics, limiting their ability to reach the bloodstream when ingested together.* Finally, in laboratory experiments, chlorophylls have shown to affect phase I and phase II detoxification processes, possibly assisting with the excretion of xenobiotics.* 3-7 Another hypothesis advanced by some scientists supporting the detoxification properties of chlorophylls is that the similarity in structure between chlorophylls and hemes (red pigments present in the blood, muscle tissue) could partially explain the beneficial effects on gut health of a diet rich in green vegetables such as spinach compared to a diet rich in red meat.* For more information about this hypothesis see reference number 8. 8 N-acetyl cysteine (also known as N-acetyl-L-cysteine or NAC) has been used in clinical practice for decades; however, the molecular mechanisms by which NAC exerts its diverse effects are complex and still unclear. Its main mechanism of action involves serving as a precursor of amino acid cysteine and replenishing cellular glutathione levels in the liver.* High concentrations of glutathione are sometimes needed to detoxify the liver from harmful chemicals found in the environment. 9 Additional mechanisms of detoxification by NAC include scavenging of free radicals (*OH, *NO2, *CO3−) and thiyl radicals, as well as detoxification of semiquinones, hydrochlorous acid (HOCl), nitroxyl (HNO) and heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium).* 10 Indole-3-Carbinol (I3C) is a beneficial compound found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage. After ingestion of these vegetables I3C is transformed in the acidic environment of the stomach into 3,3 ′ -Diindolylmethane (DIM) and other related compounds. In laboratory experiments, DIM was able to modulate several phase I and phase II metabolic biotransformation processes, suggesting that it plays a significant role in the elimination of specific xenobiotics and estrogens.* For more information about the amazing properties of DIM, see reference number 11. 11 Calcium-D-glucarate is the calcium salt of D-glucaric acid, a substance produced naturally in small amounts by the body. Glucaric acid is also found in many fruits and vegetables with the highest concentrations to be found in oranges, apples, grapefruit, and cruciferous vegetables. Calcium-D-glucarate’s detoxifying properties are attributed to its ability to increase the biotransformation and excretion of potentially toxic compounds.* This metabolic biotransformation that takes place during phase II detoxification in the liver. Glucuronic acid is attached to chemicals, steroid hormones, and other fat-soluble xenobiotics to make them easier to discard via urine or through the biliary tract to be eliminated in feces.* Beta- glucuronidase is an enzyme present in the colonic microflora that is capable of breaking the bond between glucuronic acid and the xenobiotics to which it was attached, making it possible for them to be reabsorbed by the intestine rather than being discarded in feces. By blocking the action of beta-glucuronidase, calcium-D- glucarate contributes to increasing the elimination of xenobiotic compounds and to decreasing the activity of harmful substances that are most active in their free state (unattached to glucuronic acid). * As detailed above, the body’s own detoxification processes are very sophisticated, and the body is able to rid itself of many different types of potentially harmful compounds, either naturally generated by our own body or coming from the environment and entering the body while breathing, eating, or drinking.* Supplements are a good way to easily and safely support our own detoxification processes as shown in the above examples. In this article, we will explore some of the endogenous detoxification processes and how some supplements can support them.* By Céline Torres-Moon, Science Writer, Protocol For Life Balance ® Willner Chemists Product Recommendations Protocol For Life Balance ® , a brand of high- quality dietary supplements, offers a wide range of detoxification supplements acting at different stages of the body’s detoxification processes, from single ingredient products such as NAC and Calcium D Glucarate , to more comprehensive formulas such as Liver Detox Support , a nutrient-botanical product specifically formulated to support liver function.* 12,13 Protocol For Life Balance ® also carries simple formulas such as DIM 200 plus CDG 100 and Chlorophyll. This wide range of products allows for customized supplementation that meets the needs of each individual seeking to support their inner detoxification functions. * Consulting a healthcare professional to tailor the right detoxification program is recommended to optimize the elimination of unwanted possibly toxic compounds our bodies have to fend off every day.* Your healthcare practitioner can help you determine which supplement is best for your specific needs when it comes to managing stress and the maintenance of a positive mood * *Note: Information in this article is provided for informational purposes only. Any and all information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare provider. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.