This is a long post but may prove useful for women who wish to improve their libido. I'm dividing it into two parts. Part I explains how to lower the toxic metabolite, peroxynitrite. Part II takes this information and adds to it to give ideas on elevating the female libido. References are numbered by the part of the post they are in.
PART I
Lowering peroxynitrite
Peroxynitrite, appears to be a big player in many stereotypical female problems like edema, premature skin aging, thinning hair, fragile nails, a tendency to have headaches, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, low libido and more. Controlling peroxynitrite is very valuable in maintaining maximum functioning and appearance if you produce estrogen or take it as a medication.
(1) helps explain what happens with women to make more peroxynitrite. In low androgen (testosterone, for example) situations peroxynitrite generation is greater. Also, dysfunctional estrogen metabolism that often occurs as women age may create more peroxynitrite.
Following are various ways to limit peroxynitrite toxicity:
Protection from toxicity:
* Taurine - does not lower peroxynitrite but is protective against the damages it causes to the liver, kidney and more. Since estrogen lowers taurine this is a highly recommended nutritional supplement for women. It is particularly useful for female type edema related to estrogen usage.
* Regular voluntary aerobic exercise - elevates BH4 which is damaged by peroxynitrite and is a key player in the psychological problems caused by peroxynitrite. Anything which is exciting and gets our blood flowing rapidly will also elevate BH4. You figure it out - a higher libido which leads to more sexual activity will elevate BH4 which will lead to (you guessed it) more libido.....
Peroxynitrite scavengers include:
* Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
* Blackberry extract
* Caffeic acid - in coffee
* Citrus juices - Grapefruit juice is particularly effective but it reacts with many medications so use with caution.
* Folinic Acid (a more active form of folic acid) - available as a supplement but also in sprouts, brewers yeast, liver & kidney meats.
* Gamma tocopherol (a type of vitamin E)
* Ginger
* Green tea
* Red wine
* Rosmarinic acid (in the spice Rosemary)
* Others may be found by a Google and PubMed searches.
Reduction of the generation of peroxynitrite may be accomplished by:
* Limit consumption of processed foods.
* Intermittent fasting - the most effective health intervention currently known to science. Is anti-aging, lowers peroxynitrite, lowers risk of infection, lowers cardiovascular risk factors, lowers risk of cancer, etc. Highly recommended for most people. Discuss with your doctor if you have significant medical problems as this diet is not for everyone.
* Magnesium - estrogen lowers this which is unfortunate since magnesium lowers peroxynitrite production. Regular soaking in the tub with a cup of Epsom's salt added is the best way to replenish magnesium. Add bath oil to limit drying of skin. Side note - magnesium + taurine really make skin look great.
* Maintaining a low body weight. BMI 20 - 22 is recommended for most women.
* Not smoking
* Vitamin C - 3 grams/day is a good dose.
* Zinc - 30 to 50 mg/day (Incidentally, the best natural source for both zinc and taurine is male semen. But, then there are all those nasty sexually transmitted diseases. Fair warning.)
Tricky stuff:
Peroxynitrite lowers brain DHA (a component of fish oil). Even after lowering peroxynitrite our DHA will be low. High dose molecularly distilled fish oil (omega 3) in an egg yolk emulsification can replenish this. Take one tablespoon of molecularly distilled fish oil and beat together with an egg yolk. Take daily. Unfortunately fish oil increases peroxynitrite generation in our intestine. Taurine protects against this.
Mix and match techniques to maximize your health, functioning and feminine appearance.
1. Nitric Oxide. 2005 May;12(3):163- 76 Androgen deprivation increases neuronal nitric oxide metabolism and its vasodilator effect in rat mesenteric arteries. The generation of ... peroxynitrite was greater in segments from orchidectomized than control rats. PMID: 15875321
PART II
Enhancing your female libido
These things work for my libido. I've tried them a number of times. You may have fun doing the same.
First, some background:
(1) indicates that high dose vitamin C (3 grams) significantly increases libido with the effect most prominent in single heterosexual women.
Marrena Lindberg, in her book "The Orgasmic Diet", recommends high dose fish oil. She feels 1600 mg of EPA and 800 DHA is a good dose. I recommend taking a tablespoon of molecularly distilled fish oil. This is about 50% more of these fatty acids than she recommends.
High dose fish oil has a tendency to oxidize in our intestine which is not a good thing. This can be prevented by taurine. I recommend taking 4 grams.
The female libido is driven by the hormone DHEA (2). This reference recommends taking DHEA as a supplement, 50 mg/twice per day. DHEA is a dangerous supplement. Don't do this unless under the supervision of a doctor. DHEA has a number of nasty side effects if overdone.
Lindberg, in her book, advises a low carb diet and limiting caffeine consumption as ways to naturally elevate DHEA. I agree with the low carb recommendation. However, lowering our intake of caffeine may lower libido. Most people get caffeine from coffee which has caffeic acid in it. Caffeic acid scavenges peroxynitrite.
Lindberg also recommends consuming rich, dark chocolate. She feels this elevates dopamine which is how it works. However, my research suggests that the female nemesis, peroxynitrite, is involved and not dopamine. (3) indicates that chocolate protects against peroxynitrate toxicity.
As I mentioned earlier the female libido appears to be inversely proportional to the level of peroxynitrate activity. I have not found this in the literature so this may be new information (or I just haven't looked hard enough). I've yet to figure out if the relationship is direct, as in more peroxynitrite activity lowers libido, or if the relationship is indirect, as in poor health lowers libido and elevates peroxynitrite.
Various references list n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) as being able to elevate female libido. My experience strongly agrees with this. Literature review suggests NAC elevates androstenedione. This is the androgen that DHEA in the brain converts into and which elevates female libido. Unfortunately NAC has negative side effects so only take sparingly. A few times per week should be fine.
Summary
To elevate female libido try these things:
A. One tablespoon of molecularly distilled omega-3 fish oil per day. Beat together with an egg yolk without the white to maximize effect.
B. One to two NAC capsules - no more than twice per week. Discontinue use if you discover shortness of breath as that is a side effect of too much NAC. I stopped taking it for that reason. Too bad since it really elevated libido. I was taking two capsules daily. I'll resume and take only a few per week.
C. 3 grams of vitamin C/day.
D. 4 grams of taurine/day
E. A few ounces of rich, dark chocolate/day. Raspberries and dark red wine seem to enhance this effect but I'm still researching this.
F. A low carb diet.
G. Any of many methods to lower peroxynitrite as discussed earlier
H. A rich, hot mocha, which has cocoa in it and caffeic acid, works well for a special treat to raise libido. Be sure to get a real mocha and not the artificial ones made at most of the chain coffee houses. You should see the baristi crush dark chocolate and add to the mocha to know you're getting the real thing.
1. Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Aug 15;52(4):371- 4
High-dose ascorbic acid increases intercourse frequency and improves mood: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Brody S. Center for and the Psychosomatic and Psychobiological Research, University of Trier, Germany.
BACKGROUND: Ascorbic acid (AA) modulates catecholaminergic activity, decreases stress reactivity, approach anxiety and prolactin release, improves vascular function, and increases oxytocin release. These processes are relevant to sexual behavior and mood.
METHODS: In this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled 14 day trial of sustained-release AA (42 healthy young adults; 3000 mg/day Cetebe) and placebo (39 healthy young adults), subjects with partners recorded penile-vaginal intercourse (FSI), noncoital partner sex, and masturbation in daily diaries, and also completed the Beck Depression Inventory before and after the trial.
RESULTS: The AA group reported greater FSI (but, as hypothesized, not other sexual behavior) frequency, an effect most prominent in subjects not cohabiting with their sexual partner, and in women. The AA but not placebo group also experienced a decrease in Beck Depression scores.
CONCLUSIONS: AA appears to increase FSI, and the differential benefit to noncohabitants suggests that a central activation or disinhibition, rather than peripheral mechanism may be responsible.
PMID: 12208645
2. http://www.thehormo/ neshop.com/ dheatiedwomensli bido.htm
Male Hormones Not Tied to Women's Libido, however, DHEA is!
SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, July 6, 2005....
...a low level of dehydroepiandroster one sulfate (DHEAS) did correlate with low sexual desire, arousal, and responsiveness.
The results contradict the idea of using testosterone to treat low sexual desire disorder, the researchers conclude....
DHEAS levels can be elevated by the simple suplementation of USP grade DHEA. 50 mg taken twice a day for 2 weeks had a significant effect on how 87% of women had a positive effect and increased levels of DHEA...
3. FEBS Lett. 1999 Nov 26;462(1-2): 167-70
Protection against peroxynitrite by cocoa polyphenol oligomers.
...epicatechin oligomers found in cocoa powder and chocolate may be a potent dietary source for defense against peroxynitrite.
PMID: 10580113
Nerissa
Friday, November 2, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Artificial sweeteners induce weight gain
Studies on people who drink diet sodas shows that "something" in diet sodas induces these people to gain weight (1).
The "something" is the artificial sweeteners that are in the diet drinks. These stimulate alpha-gustducin (2). This is a taste receptor that allows us to taste sweetness. It is in our intestine in addition to on our tongue.
In our intestine, once stimulated, it increases sugar absorption. Artificial sweeteners may stimulate it more than actual sugar or conversely may not increase the compensatory normal elevation in glucagon-like peptide-1 (not in the literature so just a guess by me). Meaning when we use artificial sweeteners we often end up absorbing more sugar and more calories. Result = a tendency to gain weight.
This same effect should happen whether the artificial sweetener is in diet drinks or anything else we consume. Acesulfame K (acesulfame potassium or K) and Splenda (sucralose) are particularly bad in this regard.
1. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/13/health/webmd/main701408.shtml Diet Soda Drinkers Gain Weight Overweight Risk Soars 41 Percent With Each Daily Can Of Diet Soda J
June 13, 2005 (WebMD)
People who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight, a new study shows.
The findings come from eight years of data collected by Sharon P. Fowler...
For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
26 percent for up to 1/2 can each day
30.4 percent for 1/2 to one can each day
32.8 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day
47.2 percent for more than 2 cans each day.
For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
36.5 percent for up to 1/2 can each day
37.5 percent for 1/2 to one can each day
54.5 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day
57.1 percent for more than 2 cans each day.
...something linked to diet soda drinking is also linked to obesity. ...
2. J Physiol. 2007 Jul 1;582(Pt 1):379-92
Sweet taste receptors in rat small intestine stimulate glucose absorption through apical GLUT2.
Mace OJ...
Sweet taste receptors in rat small intestine stimulate glucose absorption through apical GLUT2. Natural sugars and artificial sweeteners are sensed by receptors in taste buds. ...
Intestinal brush cells or solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) have a structure similar to lingual taste cells and strongly express alpha-gustducin. ...
Artificial sweeteners increase glucose absorption in the order acesulfame potassium approximately sucralose > saccharin...artificial sweeteners are nutritionally active, because they can signal to a functional taste reception system to increase sugar absorption during a meal...
PMID: 17495045
Nerissa
The "something" is the artificial sweeteners that are in the diet drinks. These stimulate alpha-gustducin (2). This is a taste receptor that allows us to taste sweetness. It is in our intestine in addition to on our tongue.
In our intestine, once stimulated, it increases sugar absorption. Artificial sweeteners may stimulate it more than actual sugar or conversely may not increase the compensatory normal elevation in glucagon-like peptide-1 (not in the literature so just a guess by me). Meaning when we use artificial sweeteners we often end up absorbing more sugar and more calories. Result = a tendency to gain weight.
This same effect should happen whether the artificial sweetener is in diet drinks or anything else we consume. Acesulfame K (acesulfame potassium or K) and Splenda (sucralose) are particularly bad in this regard.
1. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/13/health/webmd/main701408.shtml Diet Soda Drinkers Gain Weight Overweight Risk Soars 41 Percent With Each Daily Can Of Diet Soda J
June 13, 2005 (WebMD)
People who drink diet soft drinks don't lose weight. In fact, they gain weight, a new study shows.
The findings come from eight years of data collected by Sharon P. Fowler...
For regular soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
26 percent for up to 1/2 can each day
30.4 percent for 1/2 to one can each day
32.8 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day
47.2 percent for more than 2 cans each day.
For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese was:
36.5 percent for up to 1/2 can each day
37.5 percent for 1/2 to one can each day
54.5 percent for 1 to 2 cans each day
57.1 percent for more than 2 cans each day.
...something linked to diet soda drinking is also linked to obesity. ...
2. J Physiol. 2007 Jul 1;582(Pt 1):379-92
Sweet taste receptors in rat small intestine stimulate glucose absorption through apical GLUT2.
Mace OJ...
Sweet taste receptors in rat small intestine stimulate glucose absorption through apical GLUT2. Natural sugars and artificial sweeteners are sensed by receptors in taste buds. ...
Intestinal brush cells or solitary chemosensory cells (SCCs) have a structure similar to lingual taste cells and strongly express alpha-gustducin. ...
Artificial sweeteners increase glucose absorption in the order acesulfame potassium approximately sucralose > saccharin...artificial sweeteners are nutritionally active, because they can signal to a functional taste reception system to increase sugar absorption during a meal...
PMID: 17495045
Nerissa
Friday, October 12, 2007
Lowering chocolate cravings
Intestinal bacteria influence our eating habits. For example, they can increase our desire for chocolate. We should be able to manipulate these bacteria to change our food desires and help us eat a healthier diet. In this post I hypothesize that eating more pectin, consuming chitosan and drinking tea will lower our craving for chocolate. Being a male helps too!
By seeing the relationship of taurine and glycine in chocolate cravers (taurine high in non-cravers and glycine high in cravers) and knowing that only these two amino acids conjugate with bile it is fairly easy to determine the bacteria that bile salts are involved.
PMID 7611405, below, points out the amazing fact that chocolate is a mimic for the taurine conjugated type of bile salt. PMID 17152920, also below, takes this information and indicates the bacteria that consume this type of bile salt. These bacteria, mostly of the bacteriodes type, should be the ones that induce a chocolate craving.
What to do? Simple - increase the bacteria that consume glycine conjugated bile. These will out-compete the ones that induce chocolate cravings. Consuming a high pectin diet will do this. Citrus fruit and in particular grapefruit is sky high in pectin.
Another thing that might help is to consume chitosan. This substance selectively inhibits bacteriodes bacteria. It is extracted from the shells of shrimp and other sea crustaceans.
Also, consider regular consumption of tea. PMID 16962743 indicates this lowers bacteroides.
Grapefruit, chitosan and tea are already commonly used in weight reduction programs. While they may not help any particular person drop excess body weight they should at least lower their chocolate craving which might be a start to a better diet.
Special note for the ladies and my male to female transsexual friends - PMID 12877349, below, indicates that estrogen increases taurine bile salt and furthermore that the bacterial activity on the bile salt is elevated. Can it be a surprise that estrogen increases chocolate craving? My experience in transitioning from male physiology to female physiology supports this idea.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_he_me/diet_chocolate_craving
Scientists explain chocolate cravings
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer
Fri Oct 12, 4:34 AM ET
WASHINGTON - If that craving for chocolate sometimes feels like it is coming from deep in your gut, that's because maybe it is.
A small study links the type of bacteria living in people's digestive system to a desire for chocolate. Everyone has a vast community of microbes in their guts. But people who crave daily chocolate show signs of having different colonies of bacteria than people who are immune to chocolate's allure.
That may be the case for other foods, too. The idea could eventually lead to treating some types of obesity by changing the composition of the trillions of bacteria occupying the intestines and stomach, said Sunil Kochhar, co-author of the study. It appears Friday in the peer-reviewed Journal of Proteome Research.
Kochhar is in charge of metabolism research at the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The food conglomerate Nestle SA paid for the study. But this isn't part of an effort to convert a few to the dark side (or even milk) side of cocoa, Kocchar said.
In fact, the study was delayed because it took a year for the researchers to find 11 men who don't eat chocolate.
Kochhar compared the blood and urine of those 11 men, who he jokingly called "weird" for their indifference to chocolate, to 11 similar men who ate chocolate daily. They were all healthy, not obese, and were fed the same food for five days.
The researchers examined the byproducts of metabolism in their blood and urine and found that a dozen substances were significantly different between the two groups. For example, the amino acid glycine was higher in chocolate lovers, while taurine (an active ingredient in energy drinks) was higher in people who didn't eat chocolate. Also chocolate lovers had lower levels of the bad cholesterol, LDL.
The levels of several of the specific substances that were different in the two groups are known to be linked to different types of bacteria, Kochhar said.
Still to be determined is if the bacteria cause the craving, or if early in life people's diets changed the bacteria, which then reinforced food choices.
How gut bacteria affect people is a hot field of scientific research.
Past studies have shown that intestinal bacteria change when people lose weight, said Dr. Sam Klein, an obesity expert and professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.
Since bacteria interact with what you eat, it is logical to think that there is a connection between those microbes and desires for certain foods, said Klein, who wasn't part of Kochhar's study.
Kochhar's research makes so much sense that people should have thought of it earlier, said J. Bruce German, professor of food chemistry at the University of California Davis. While five outside scientists thought the study was intriguing, Dr. Richard Bergman at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, had concerns about the accuracy of the initial division of the men into groups that wanted chocolate or were indifferent to it.
What matters to Kochhar is where the research could lead.
Kochhar said the relationship between food, people and what grows in their gut is important for the future: "If we understand the relationship, then we can find ways to nudge it in the right direction."
Am J Physiol. 1995 Jun;268(6 Pt 1):G1051-9.
Role of amidation in bile acid effect on DNA synthesis by regenerating mouse liver.
Barbero ER, Herrera MC, Monte MJ, Serrano MA, Marin JJ.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Spain.
Effect of bile acids on DNA synthesis by the regenerating liver was investigated in mice in vivo after partial hepatectomy (PH). Radioactivity incorporation into DNA after [14C]thymidine intraperitoneal administration peaked at 48 h after PH. At this time a significant taurocholate-induced dose-dependent reduction in DNA synthesis without changes in total liver radioactivity content was found (half-maximal effect at approximately 0.1 mumol/g body wt). Effect of taurocholate (0.5 mumol/g body wt) was mimicked by chocolate, ursodeoxycholate, deoxycholate, dehydrocholate, tauroursodeoxycholate, taurochenodeoxycholate, and taurodeoxycholate. In contrast, chenodeoxycholate, glycocholate, glycochenodeoxycholate, glycoursodeoxycholate, glycodeoxycholate, 5 beta-cholestane, bromosulfophthalein, and free taurine lacked this effect. No relationship between hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance and inhibitory effect was observed. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that inhibition of thymidine incorporation into DNA was not accompanied by an accumulation of phosphorylated DNA precursors in the liver but rather by a parallel increase in nucleotide catabolism. Bile acid-induced modifications in DNA synthesis were observed in vivo even in the absence of changes in toxicity tests, which suggests that the inhibitory effect shared by most unconjugated and tauroconjugated bile acids but not by glycoconjugated bile acids should be accounted for by mechanisms other than nonselective liver cell injury.
PMID: 7611405
Lipids. 2006 Sep;41(9):835-43
Deoxycholic acid formation in gnotobiotic mice associated with human intestinal bacteria.
Narushima S, Itoha K, Miyamoto Y, Park SH, Nagata K, Kuruma K, Uchida K.
Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
In humans and animals, intestinal flora is indispensable for bile acid transformation. The goal of our study was to establish gnotobiotic mice with intestinal bacteria of human origin in order to examine the role of intestinal bacteria in the transformation of bile acids in vivo using the technique of gnotobiology. Eight strains of bile acid-deconjugating bacteria were isolated from ex-germ-free mice inoculated with a human fecal dilution of 10(-6), and five strains of 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria were isolated from the intestine of limited human flora mice inoculated only with clostridia. The results of biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that seven out of eight bile acid-deconjugating strains belong to a bacteroides cluster (Bacteroides vulgatus, B. distasonis, and B. uniformis), and one strain had high similarity with Bilophila wadsworthia. All five strains that converted cholic acid to deoxycholic acid had greatest similarity with Clostridium hylemonae. A combination of 10 isolated strains converted taurocholic acid into deoxycholic acid both in vitro and in the mouse intestine. These results indicate that the predominant bacteria, mainly Bacteroides, in human feces comprise one of the main bacterial groups for the deconjugation of bile acids, and clostridia may play an important role in 7aplha-dehydroxylation of free-form primary bile acids in the intestine although these strains are not predominant. The gnotobiotic mouse with bacteria of human origin could be a useful model in studies of bile acid metabolism by human intestinal bacteria in vivo.
PMID: 17152920
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cabi/bjn/1989/00000062/00000003/art00005;jsessionid=2e953w9ke2hvh.alice?
Bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration in rats fed on pectin
Authors: Ide, T.1; Horii, M.1; Kawashima, K.1; Yamamoto, T.1
Source: British Journal of Nutrition, Volume 62, Number 3, November 1989 , pp. 539-550(12)
Publisher: CABI Publishing
A relationship between bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration was investigated in rats fed on citrus pectin. When rats were fed on the diets containing varying amounts of pectin (10, 30, 60 and 100 g/kg dietary levels), biliary excretion of bile acids increased as the dietary levels of pectin increased. The increase was entirely due to the glycine-conjugated bile acids. The biliary excretion of taurine-conjugated bile acid was somewhat decreased as the dietary level of the fibre increased. Consequently, most of the bile acids were conjugated with glycine in rats fed on the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg. On the other hand, dietary cellulose (60 and 100 g/kg) did not affect the biliary bile acid excretions. The major proportion of bile acids in rats receiving a fibre-free diet and the diets containing cellulose were conjugated with taurine. Hepatic taurine concentrations decreased as the dietary levels of pectin, but not of cellulose, increased. Although dietary pectin (100 g/kg) also slightly decreased the taurine concentration in the kidney, those concentrations in other non-hepatic tissues examined (heart, brain and serum) were unaffected by the dietary fibre. Supplementation of the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg with methionine (10 g/kg) and taurine (10 and 50 g/kg) strikingly increased hepatic taurine concentrations. In this situation, the conjugation of bile acid with glycine was almost abolished and taurine conjugates became abundant in the bile of these animals. It is suggested that dietary pectin mediated an increase in the biliary bile acid excretion which may have depleted the hepatic pool of taurine available for bile acid conjugation and, thus, increased glycine conjugation of bile acids.
Keywords: Bile acid conjugation; Pectin; Taurine; Rat
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1079/BJN19890056
Affiliations: 1: Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, National Food Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tsukuba Science City, 305, Japan
Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2006;51(4):306-8
Effect of chitosan on the growth of human colonic bacteria.Simůnek J, Tishchenko G, Hodrová B, Bartonová H.Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia. simunek@iapg.cas.cz
Growth of 6 bacterial strains representing dominant members of the human colonic microflora was measured in the presence of 0.025, 0.05 and 0.5 % chitosan (from shrimp shells, with a 97 % final degree of deacetylation). The effect of chitosan was variable and dependent on bacterial species. The most susceptible to chitosan were bacteria belonging to genera Bacteroides and Clostridium (91-97% growth inhibition). On the other hand, Roseburia sp., Eubacterium sp. and Faecalibacterium sp. were more resistant (63-83 % inhibition of growth). Chitosan can thus be considered as one of the means for influencing the bacterial population in the human colon.PMID: 17007432
Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2003 Jun;54(5-6):381-6Influence of ethinyloestradiol propanolsulphonate on serum bile acids in healthy volunteers.
Barth A, Klinger G, Rost M.Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany. Astrid.Barth@mti-n.uni-jena.de
The present work was done to clarify the relevance of altered serum bile acid (BA) profile in healthy women after the administration of the depot oestrogen ethinyloestradiol propanolsulphonate (EES). In the serum of 20 healthy women before and two times after oral EES application, 11 free and 14 taurine- and glycine-conjugated BA were analysed by HPLC with postcolumn derivatisation and fluorescence detection. EES significantly enhanced the total serum BA concentration and that of taurine-conjugated BAs, more pronounced the secondary BAs taurodeoxycholic, tauroursodeoxycholic and taurolithocholic acid. These secondary BAs are produced in the intestine by bacteria due to 7alpha-dehydroxylation of the primary BAs cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid. Because of unchanged free BAs, also produced by intestinal bacteria due to deconjugation, the results were interpreted as a sign of disturbed transport of BAs into the liver. Inhibition of the liver Na(+)-bile salt co-transporter (Ntcp) in the sinusoidal membrane by ethinyloestradiol, formed from the prodrug EES, may be responsible for the altered BA profile in serum.
PMID: 12877349
Res Microbiol. 2006 Nov;157(9):876-84
Effect of tea phenolics and their aromatic fecal bacterial metabolites on intestinal microbiota.
Lee HC, Jenner AM, Low CS, Lee YK.Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117597, Republic of Singapore.
Tea is rich in polyphenols and other phenolics that have been widely reported to have beneficial health effects. However, dietary polyphenols are not completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and are metabolized by the gut microflora so that they and their metabolites may accumulate to exert physiological effects. In this study, we investigated the influence of the phenolic components of a tea extract and their aromatic metabolites upon bacterial growth. Fecal homogenates containing bacteria significantly catalyzed tea phenolics, including epicatechin, catechin, 3-O-methyl gallic acid, gallic acid and caffeic acid to generate aromatic metabolites dependent on bacterial species. Different strains of intestinal bacteria had varying degrees of growth sensitivity to tea phenolics and metabolites. Growth of certain pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile and Bacteroides spp. was significantly repressed by tea phenolics and their derivatives, while commensal anaerobes like Clostridium spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and probiotics such as Lactobacillus sp. were less severely affected. This indicates that tea phenolics exert significant effects on the intestinal environment by modulation of the intestinal bacterial population, probably by acting as metabolic prebiotics. Our observations provide further evidence for the importance of colonic bacteria in the metabolism, absorption and potential activity of phenolics in human health and disease. The bioactivity of different phenolics may play an important role in the maintenance of gastrointestinal health.
PMID: 16962743
Nerissa
By seeing the relationship of taurine and glycine in chocolate cravers (taurine high in non-cravers and glycine high in cravers) and knowing that only these two amino acids conjugate with bile it is fairly easy to determine the bacteria that bile salts are involved.
PMID 7611405, below, points out the amazing fact that chocolate is a mimic for the taurine conjugated type of bile salt. PMID 17152920, also below, takes this information and indicates the bacteria that consume this type of bile salt. These bacteria, mostly of the bacteriodes type, should be the ones that induce a chocolate craving.
What to do? Simple - increase the bacteria that consume glycine conjugated bile. These will out-compete the ones that induce chocolate cravings. Consuming a high pectin diet will do this. Citrus fruit and in particular grapefruit is sky high in pectin.
Another thing that might help is to consume chitosan. This substance selectively inhibits bacteriodes bacteria. It is extracted from the shells of shrimp and other sea crustaceans.
Also, consider regular consumption of tea. PMID 16962743 indicates this lowers bacteroides.
Grapefruit, chitosan and tea are already commonly used in weight reduction programs. While they may not help any particular person drop excess body weight they should at least lower their chocolate craving which might be a start to a better diet.
Special note for the ladies and my male to female transsexual friends - PMID 12877349, below, indicates that estrogen increases taurine bile salt and furthermore that the bacterial activity on the bile salt is elevated. Can it be a surprise that estrogen increases chocolate craving? My experience in transitioning from male physiology to female physiology supports this idea.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071012/ap_on_he_me/diet_chocolate_craving
Scientists explain chocolate cravings
By SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer
Fri Oct 12, 4:34 AM ET
WASHINGTON - If that craving for chocolate sometimes feels like it is coming from deep in your gut, that's because maybe it is.
A small study links the type of bacteria living in people's digestive system to a desire for chocolate. Everyone has a vast community of microbes in their guts. But people who crave daily chocolate show signs of having different colonies of bacteria than people who are immune to chocolate's allure.
That may be the case for other foods, too. The idea could eventually lead to treating some types of obesity by changing the composition of the trillions of bacteria occupying the intestines and stomach, said Sunil Kochhar, co-author of the study. It appears Friday in the peer-reviewed Journal of Proteome Research.
Kochhar is in charge of metabolism research at the Nestle Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The food conglomerate Nestle SA paid for the study. But this isn't part of an effort to convert a few to the dark side (or even milk) side of cocoa, Kocchar said.
In fact, the study was delayed because it took a year for the researchers to find 11 men who don't eat chocolate.
Kochhar compared the blood and urine of those 11 men, who he jokingly called "weird" for their indifference to chocolate, to 11 similar men who ate chocolate daily. They were all healthy, not obese, and were fed the same food for five days.
The researchers examined the byproducts of metabolism in their blood and urine and found that a dozen substances were significantly different between the two groups. For example, the amino acid glycine was higher in chocolate lovers, while taurine (an active ingredient in energy drinks) was higher in people who didn't eat chocolate. Also chocolate lovers had lower levels of the bad cholesterol, LDL.
The levels of several of the specific substances that were different in the two groups are known to be linked to different types of bacteria, Kochhar said.
Still to be determined is if the bacteria cause the craving, or if early in life people's diets changed the bacteria, which then reinforced food choices.
How gut bacteria affect people is a hot field of scientific research.
Past studies have shown that intestinal bacteria change when people lose weight, said Dr. Sam Klein, an obesity expert and professor of medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.
Since bacteria interact with what you eat, it is logical to think that there is a connection between those microbes and desires for certain foods, said Klein, who wasn't part of Kochhar's study.
Kochhar's research makes so much sense that people should have thought of it earlier, said J. Bruce German, professor of food chemistry at the University of California Davis. While five outside scientists thought the study was intriguing, Dr. Richard Bergman at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, had concerns about the accuracy of the initial division of the men into groups that wanted chocolate or were indifferent to it.
What matters to Kochhar is where the research could lead.
Kochhar said the relationship between food, people and what grows in their gut is important for the future: "If we understand the relationship, then we can find ways to nudge it in the right direction."
Am J Physiol. 1995 Jun;268(6 Pt 1):G1051-9.
Role of amidation in bile acid effect on DNA synthesis by regenerating mouse liver.
Barbero ER, Herrera MC, Monte MJ, Serrano MA, Marin JJ.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Spain.
Effect of bile acids on DNA synthesis by the regenerating liver was investigated in mice in vivo after partial hepatectomy (PH). Radioactivity incorporation into DNA after [14C]thymidine intraperitoneal administration peaked at 48 h after PH. At this time a significant taurocholate-induced dose-dependent reduction in DNA synthesis without changes in total liver radioactivity content was found (half-maximal effect at approximately 0.1 mumol/g body wt). Effect of taurocholate (0.5 mumol/g body wt) was mimicked by chocolate, ursodeoxycholate, deoxycholate, dehydrocholate, tauroursodeoxycholate, taurochenodeoxycholate, and taurodeoxycholate. In contrast, chenodeoxycholate, glycocholate, glycochenodeoxycholate, glycoursodeoxycholate, glycodeoxycholate, 5 beta-cholestane, bromosulfophthalein, and free taurine lacked this effect. No relationship between hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance and inhibitory effect was observed. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that inhibition of thymidine incorporation into DNA was not accompanied by an accumulation of phosphorylated DNA precursors in the liver but rather by a parallel increase in nucleotide catabolism. Bile acid-induced modifications in DNA synthesis were observed in vivo even in the absence of changes in toxicity tests, which suggests that the inhibitory effect shared by most unconjugated and tauroconjugated bile acids but not by glycoconjugated bile acids should be accounted for by mechanisms other than nonselective liver cell injury.
PMID: 7611405
Lipids. 2006 Sep;41(9):835-43
Deoxycholic acid formation in gnotobiotic mice associated with human intestinal bacteria.
Narushima S, Itoha K, Miyamoto Y, Park SH, Nagata K, Kuruma K, Uchida K.
Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
In humans and animals, intestinal flora is indispensable for bile acid transformation. The goal of our study was to establish gnotobiotic mice with intestinal bacteria of human origin in order to examine the role of intestinal bacteria in the transformation of bile acids in vivo using the technique of gnotobiology. Eight strains of bile acid-deconjugating bacteria were isolated from ex-germ-free mice inoculated with a human fecal dilution of 10(-6), and five strains of 7alpha-dehydroxylating bacteria were isolated from the intestine of limited human flora mice inoculated only with clostridia. The results of biochemical tests and 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that seven out of eight bile acid-deconjugating strains belong to a bacteroides cluster (Bacteroides vulgatus, B. distasonis, and B. uniformis), and one strain had high similarity with Bilophila wadsworthia. All five strains that converted cholic acid to deoxycholic acid had greatest similarity with Clostridium hylemonae. A combination of 10 isolated strains converted taurocholic acid into deoxycholic acid both in vitro and in the mouse intestine. These results indicate that the predominant bacteria, mainly Bacteroides, in human feces comprise one of the main bacterial groups for the deconjugation of bile acids, and clostridia may play an important role in 7aplha-dehydroxylation of free-form primary bile acids in the intestine although these strains are not predominant. The gnotobiotic mouse with bacteria of human origin could be a useful model in studies of bile acid metabolism by human intestinal bacteria in vivo.
PMID: 17152920
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/cabi/bjn/1989/00000062/00000003/art00005;jsessionid=2e953w9ke2hvh.alice?
Bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration in rats fed on pectin
Authors: Ide, T.1; Horii, M.1; Kawashima, K.1; Yamamoto, T.1
Source: British Journal of Nutrition, Volume 62, Number 3, November 1989 , pp. 539-550(12)
Publisher: CABI Publishing
A relationship between bile acid conjugation and hepatic taurine concentration was investigated in rats fed on citrus pectin. When rats were fed on the diets containing varying amounts of pectin (10, 30, 60 and 100 g/kg dietary levels), biliary excretion of bile acids increased as the dietary levels of pectin increased. The increase was entirely due to the glycine-conjugated bile acids. The biliary excretion of taurine-conjugated bile acid was somewhat decreased as the dietary level of the fibre increased. Consequently, most of the bile acids were conjugated with glycine in rats fed on the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg. On the other hand, dietary cellulose (60 and 100 g/kg) did not affect the biliary bile acid excretions. The major proportion of bile acids in rats receiving a fibre-free diet and the diets containing cellulose were conjugated with taurine. Hepatic taurine concentrations decreased as the dietary levels of pectin, but not of cellulose, increased. Although dietary pectin (100 g/kg) also slightly decreased the taurine concentration in the kidney, those concentrations in other non-hepatic tissues examined (heart, brain and serum) were unaffected by the dietary fibre. Supplementation of the diet containing 100 g pectin/kg with methionine (10 g/kg) and taurine (10 and 50 g/kg) strikingly increased hepatic taurine concentrations. In this situation, the conjugation of bile acid with glycine was almost abolished and taurine conjugates became abundant in the bile of these animals. It is suggested that dietary pectin mediated an increase in the biliary bile acid excretion which may have depleted the hepatic pool of taurine available for bile acid conjugation and, thus, increased glycine conjugation of bile acids.
Keywords: Bile acid conjugation; Pectin; Taurine; Rat
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1079/BJN19890056
Affiliations: 1: Laboratory of Nutrition Chemistry, National Food Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tsukuba Science City, 305, Japan
Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2006;51(4):306-8
Effect of chitosan on the growth of human colonic bacteria.Simůnek J, Tishchenko G, Hodrová B, Bartonová H.Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czechia. simunek@iapg.cas.cz
Growth of 6 bacterial strains representing dominant members of the human colonic microflora was measured in the presence of 0.025, 0.05 and 0.5 % chitosan (from shrimp shells, with a 97 % final degree of deacetylation). The effect of chitosan was variable and dependent on bacterial species. The most susceptible to chitosan were bacteria belonging to genera Bacteroides and Clostridium (91-97% growth inhibition). On the other hand, Roseburia sp., Eubacterium sp. and Faecalibacterium sp. were more resistant (63-83 % inhibition of growth). Chitosan can thus be considered as one of the means for influencing the bacterial population in the human colon.PMID: 17007432
Exp Toxicol Pathol. 2003 Jun;54(5-6):381-6Influence of ethinyloestradiol propanolsulphonate on serum bile acids in healthy volunteers.
Barth A, Klinger G, Rost M.Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany. Astrid.Barth@mti-n.uni-jena.de
The present work was done to clarify the relevance of altered serum bile acid (BA) profile in healthy women after the administration of the depot oestrogen ethinyloestradiol propanolsulphonate (EES). In the serum of 20 healthy women before and two times after oral EES application, 11 free and 14 taurine- and glycine-conjugated BA were analysed by HPLC with postcolumn derivatisation and fluorescence detection. EES significantly enhanced the total serum BA concentration and that of taurine-conjugated BAs, more pronounced the secondary BAs taurodeoxycholic, tauroursodeoxycholic and taurolithocholic acid. These secondary BAs are produced in the intestine by bacteria due to 7alpha-dehydroxylation of the primary BAs cholic and chenodeoxycholic acid. Because of unchanged free BAs, also produced by intestinal bacteria due to deconjugation, the results were interpreted as a sign of disturbed transport of BAs into the liver. Inhibition of the liver Na(+)-bile salt co-transporter (Ntcp) in the sinusoidal membrane by ethinyloestradiol, formed from the prodrug EES, may be responsible for the altered BA profile in serum.
PMID: 12877349
Res Microbiol. 2006 Nov;157(9):876-84
Effect of tea phenolics and their aromatic fecal bacterial metabolites on intestinal microbiota.
Lee HC, Jenner AM, Low CS, Lee YK.Department of Microbiology, National University of Singapore, 5 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117597, Republic of Singapore.
Tea is rich in polyphenols and other phenolics that have been widely reported to have beneficial health effects. However, dietary polyphenols are not completely absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and are metabolized by the gut microflora so that they and their metabolites may accumulate to exert physiological effects. In this study, we investigated the influence of the phenolic components of a tea extract and their aromatic metabolites upon bacterial growth. Fecal homogenates containing bacteria significantly catalyzed tea phenolics, including epicatechin, catechin, 3-O-methyl gallic acid, gallic acid and caffeic acid to generate aromatic metabolites dependent on bacterial species. Different strains of intestinal bacteria had varying degrees of growth sensitivity to tea phenolics and metabolites. Growth of certain pathogenic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile and Bacteroides spp. was significantly repressed by tea phenolics and their derivatives, while commensal anaerobes like Clostridium spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and probiotics such as Lactobacillus sp. were less severely affected. This indicates that tea phenolics exert significant effects on the intestinal environment by modulation of the intestinal bacterial population, probably by acting as metabolic prebiotics. Our observations provide further evidence for the importance of colonic bacteria in the metabolism, absorption and potential activity of phenolics in human health and disease. The bioactivity of different phenolics may play an important role in the maintenance of gastrointestinal health.
PMID: 16962743
Nerissa
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Naturally lean women have it all
In (1) middle aged women who remain lean, as compared to those who do not, are reported to have a higher "female" estrogen to "male" androgen ratio. These women have a high activity of P450 aromatase which converts their androgens to estrogens. The study also reports that naturally lean women "indicated higher education and socioeconomic status, frequent sports activities, and better psychosocial adaptation and psychological health."
OTOH women who do not convert androgens well tend to become obese and unhealthy both physically and emotionally.
Not only do the naturally lean women have less androgen in their body but the receptors they have for androgen are less sensitive than the other women per the article. It appears that excessive activity of male androgens in a female are the kiss of death for her health.
Bonus health points to the women with active love lives. Semen has P450 aromatase in it (2). You can figure out how a woman might get more P450 aromatase activity in her body. :)
1. http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/reprint/10/2/115.pdf
The Lean Woman
Fariba Baghaei...
Obes Res. 2002;10: 115–121.
2. Hum Reprod. 2003 Aug;18(8):1650-9
Towards a physiological role for cytochrome P450 aromatase in ejaculated human sperm.
PMID: 12871877
Nerissa
OTOH women who do not convert androgens well tend to become obese and unhealthy both physically and emotionally.
Not only do the naturally lean women have less androgen in their body but the receptors they have for androgen are less sensitive than the other women per the article. It appears that excessive activity of male androgens in a female are the kiss of death for her health.
Bonus health points to the women with active love lives. Semen has P450 aromatase in it (2). You can figure out how a woman might get more P450 aromatase activity in her body. :)
1. http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/reprint/10/2/115.pdf
The Lean Woman
Fariba Baghaei...
Obes Res. 2002;10: 115–121.
2. Hum Reprod. 2003 Aug;18(8):1650-9
Towards a physiological role for cytochrome P450 aromatase in ejaculated human sperm.
PMID: 12871877
Nerissa
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Ladies: SAMe/whey or hot love making - you decide!
Hi everyone,
The male brain stinks! I'm not speaking figuratively. Males literally have brains that smell like rotten eggs. The rotten egg smell is hydrogen sulfide (H2S). (1) indicates that testosterone increases the production of H2S in the brain.
This topic is the most under-researched of any topic I've ever reviewed. We're talking Nobel prize winning material is still out there waiting to be studied. Brain H2S may account for many of the differences between men and women.
Yet, there is very little in the literature about the significance of this difference. But, from what little is available it appears that low H2S harms our ability to learn and makes us prone to depression. It also leads to a sensitivity to glutamate as in MSG which I've observed.
H2S may be elevated in the feminized brain by consuming more cysteine which is most available in undentatured whey protein. Cysteine will also elevate the level of glutathione in the brain leading to one having more psychological energy. Elevating glutathione is also useful for people with chronic fatigue (http://www.dfwcfids.org/medical/whey.html) and related problems like fibromyalgia. Warning - some sources mention a brief worsening of symptoms may happen after taking whey. Ride these through and whey may help.
Some companies selling "undenatured whey" products are misleading the public and are not doing so. Two undenatured whey products which appear to be legitimate are the following:
ProPeptide by CNP - available many places. http://www.affordablesupplements.com/propeptide.asp has a good price.
Beyond a Century brand - the 90% whey seems the best bang for our buck. See http://www.easycart.net/BeyondACenturyInc./Protein_Meal_Replacement.html .
A reputable health food store can provide similar products. I advise avoiding the health food chain stores due to the questionable quality of their products and lack of knowledge of their staffs.
H2S may also be increased by taking the natural anti-depressant S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe).
SAMe effects join my increasingly long list of female beneficial substances which involve semen. (3) points out that SAMe works in part by elevating spermidine and spermine in the brain. You can tell by the names of these compounds that they are associated with semen. Putrescine, also elevated by SAMe, is in semen also. So, semen provides all these beneficial compounds and elevates H2S too.
Research in this and other areas over-whelmingly supports my contention that biogals and male to female transsexuals on feminizing drug treatment function best if they have regular unprotected sex with men. Obviously, this only the case if we avoid catching a serious disease we'd be best off without.
(4) agrees with me about the value of semen when it comes to relieving depression. My contention is the woman who is not into having unprotected sex with men, or who couldn't get a man if she payed one, can compensate by taking SAMe and consuming undenatured whey protein.
1. J Neurochem. 2002 Oct;83(1):80-6 The production of hydrogen sulfide is regulated by testosterone and S-adenosyl-L-methionine in mouse brain. Eto K, Kimura H. National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is endogenously produced in the brain from L-cysteine by the enzyme cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and functions as a neuromodulator in the brain. H2S selectively enhances NMDA receptor-mediated responses and alters hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). The production of H2S is regulated by Ca2+/calmodulin-mediated pathways and is enhanced in response to neuronal excitation. In addition to this fast regulation, we describe here a slower form of the regulation of H2S production by testosterone and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), a CBS activator. Endogenous H2S in the mouse brain increases after birth, reaches a maximum level at 8 weeks and then decreases. Female brain contains less H2S than male brain at each age. A single administration of testosterone to female mice increases the endogenous H2S and SAM, which reach levels similar to those of male mice. In contrast, castration of male mice decreases the levels of testosterone, SAM and H2S in the brain. Administration of SAM once a day for 3 days increases the brain H2S without significantly changing the testosterone level. These observations suggest that testosterone can regulate the brain H2S level via changing the level of SAM. PMID: 12358731
2. http://www.cassmd.com/library/SAMe.support.html SAMe for Depression...and Arthritis and Liver Support ... What is SAMe? SAMe, or s-adenosyl-methionine is a naturally occurring substance in the body, with the following uses:
It is used in the production of the feel-good neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers in the brain that mediate our mood. These include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. ... SAMe has also been shown to protect the liver and body from the effects of excess and unbalanced estrogen levels, seen in some estrogen replacement therapy, oral contraceptive use, and premenstrual syndrome. ... SAMe's antidepressant activity may lead to the manic phase in individuals with bipolar (manic) depression.
3. Neuroreport. 2001 Dec 21;12(18):3939-42 Influence of SAMe on the modifications of brain polyamine levels in an animal model of depression. Genedani S, Saltini S, Benelli A, Filaferro M, Bertolini A. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41100 Modena, Italy. The mechanism(s) of the antidepressant activity of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) have not yet been elucidated. SAMe is essential for the synthesis of polyamines, which have a key role in protein synthesis, cell proliferation, and neuronal plasticity. On the other hand, accumulating data indicate that depression is associated with a reduction in regional brain volume and that antidepressants increase neurogenesis in defined brain regions and also influence neuronal plasticity. Here we show that in a validated rat model of depression (chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced anhedonia) there is a significant reduction of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus, and of only putrescine in the nucleus accumbens septi. SAMe, at a fully antidepressant dose (300 mg/kg i.m., daily for 7 days), completely restores the levels of putrescine in the nucleus accumbens, and restores in part the levels of both spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus. These results may suggest (i) a role for brain polyamines in depression and in reward processes, and (ii) that the antidepressant effect of SAMe may be due, at least in part, to a normalization of putrescine levels in the nucleus accumbens septi. PMID: 11742215
4. http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20021002-000009.html Crying Over Spilled Semen Why women who don't use condoms feel happier. By:Tiffany Kary The finding that women who do not use condoms during sex are less depressed and less likely to attempt suicide than are women who have sex with condoms and women who are not sexually active, leads one researcher to conclude that semen contains powerful—and potentially addictive—mood-altering chemicals.
Study author Gordon G. Gallup, Ph.D., a psychologist at the State University of New York in Albany, also found that women who routinely had intercourse without condoms became increasingly depressed as more time elapsed since their last sexual encounter. There was no such correlation for women whose partners regularly used condoms.
Nerissa
The male brain stinks! I'm not speaking figuratively. Males literally have brains that smell like rotten eggs. The rotten egg smell is hydrogen sulfide (H2S). (1) indicates that testosterone increases the production of H2S in the brain.
This topic is the most under-researched of any topic I've ever reviewed. We're talking Nobel prize winning material is still out there waiting to be studied. Brain H2S may account for many of the differences between men and women.
Yet, there is very little in the literature about the significance of this difference. But, from what little is available it appears that low H2S harms our ability to learn and makes us prone to depression. It also leads to a sensitivity to glutamate as in MSG which I've observed.
H2S may be elevated in the feminized brain by consuming more cysteine which is most available in undentatured whey protein. Cysteine will also elevate the level of glutathione in the brain leading to one having more psychological energy. Elevating glutathione is also useful for people with chronic fatigue (http://www.dfwcfids.org/medical/whey.html) and related problems like fibromyalgia. Warning - some sources mention a brief worsening of symptoms may happen after taking whey. Ride these through and whey may help.
Some companies selling "undenatured whey" products are misleading the public and are not doing so. Two undenatured whey products which appear to be legitimate are the following:
ProPeptide by CNP - available many places. http://www.affordablesupplements.com/propeptide.asp has a good price.
Beyond a Century brand - the 90% whey seems the best bang for our buck. See http://www.easycart.net/BeyondACenturyInc./Protein_Meal_Replacement.html .
A reputable health food store can provide similar products. I advise avoiding the health food chain stores due to the questionable quality of their products and lack of knowledge of their staffs.
H2S may also be increased by taking the natural anti-depressant S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe).
SAMe effects join my increasingly long list of female beneficial substances which involve semen. (3) points out that SAMe works in part by elevating spermidine and spermine in the brain. You can tell by the names of these compounds that they are associated with semen. Putrescine, also elevated by SAMe, is in semen also. So, semen provides all these beneficial compounds and elevates H2S too.
Research in this and other areas over-whelmingly supports my contention that biogals and male to female transsexuals on feminizing drug treatment function best if they have regular unprotected sex with men. Obviously, this only the case if we avoid catching a serious disease we'd be best off without.
(4) agrees with me about the value of semen when it comes to relieving depression. My contention is the woman who is not into having unprotected sex with men, or who couldn't get a man if she payed one, can compensate by taking SAMe and consuming undenatured whey protein.
1. J Neurochem. 2002 Oct;83(1):80-6 The production of hydrogen sulfide is regulated by testosterone and S-adenosyl-L-methionine in mouse brain. Eto K, Kimura H. National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is endogenously produced in the brain from L-cysteine by the enzyme cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and functions as a neuromodulator in the brain. H2S selectively enhances NMDA receptor-mediated responses and alters hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). The production of H2S is regulated by Ca2+/calmodulin-mediated pathways and is enhanced in response to neuronal excitation. In addition to this fast regulation, we describe here a slower form of the regulation of H2S production by testosterone and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), a CBS activator. Endogenous H2S in the mouse brain increases after birth, reaches a maximum level at 8 weeks and then decreases. Female brain contains less H2S than male brain at each age. A single administration of testosterone to female mice increases the endogenous H2S and SAM, which reach levels similar to those of male mice. In contrast, castration of male mice decreases the levels of testosterone, SAM and H2S in the brain. Administration of SAM once a day for 3 days increases the brain H2S without significantly changing the testosterone level. These observations suggest that testosterone can regulate the brain H2S level via changing the level of SAM. PMID: 12358731
2. http://www.cassmd.com/library/SAMe.support.html SAMe for Depression...and Arthritis and Liver Support ... What is SAMe? SAMe, or s-adenosyl-methionine is a naturally occurring substance in the body, with the following uses:
It is used in the production of the feel-good neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers in the brain that mediate our mood. These include dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. ... SAMe has also been shown to protect the liver and body from the effects of excess and unbalanced estrogen levels, seen in some estrogen replacement therapy, oral contraceptive use, and premenstrual syndrome. ... SAMe's antidepressant activity may lead to the manic phase in individuals with bipolar (manic) depression.
3. Neuroreport. 2001 Dec 21;12(18):3939-42 Influence of SAMe on the modifications of brain polyamine levels in an animal model of depression. Genedani S, Saltini S, Benelli A, Filaferro M, Bertolini A. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41100 Modena, Italy. The mechanism(s) of the antidepressant activity of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) have not yet been elucidated. SAMe is essential for the synthesis of polyamines, which have a key role in protein synthesis, cell proliferation, and neuronal plasticity. On the other hand, accumulating data indicate that depression is associated with a reduction in regional brain volume and that antidepressants increase neurogenesis in defined brain regions and also influence neuronal plasticity. Here we show that in a validated rat model of depression (chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced anhedonia) there is a significant reduction of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus, and of only putrescine in the nucleus accumbens septi. SAMe, at a fully antidepressant dose (300 mg/kg i.m., daily for 7 days), completely restores the levels of putrescine in the nucleus accumbens, and restores in part the levels of both spermidine and spermine in the hippocampus. These results may suggest (i) a role for brain polyamines in depression and in reward processes, and (ii) that the antidepressant effect of SAMe may be due, at least in part, to a normalization of putrescine levels in the nucleus accumbens septi. PMID: 11742215
4. http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20021002-000009.html Crying Over Spilled Semen Why women who don't use condoms feel happier. By:Tiffany Kary The finding that women who do not use condoms during sex are less depressed and less likely to attempt suicide than are women who have sex with condoms and women who are not sexually active, leads one researcher to conclude that semen contains powerful—and potentially addictive—mood-altering chemicals.
Study author Gordon G. Gallup, Ph.D., a psychologist at the State University of New York in Albany, also found that women who routinely had intercourse without condoms became increasingly depressed as more time elapsed since their last sexual encounter. There was no such correlation for women whose partners regularly used condoms.
Nerissa
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Nerissa's Romantic Love Diet
The Romantic Love Diet (RLD) is the easiest way to practice calorie restriction. While possible for men it is much easier for women to the point that an alternative name for the diet is the Amazon Diet. Unfortunately that name is taken so the "Romantic Love Diet" will have to do.
To be fair using the term "my" with the RLD is a bit misleading. It turns out the RLD was perfected by a man well known to most of us - Jesus. Doubt this? When is the last time you ever saw a picture of a fat disciple?
Flashing back 2000 years see http://www.reuniting.info/node . Early Christianity encouraged nonsexual but sensuous relationships known as "agape." Agape is defined as "spiritual, selfless, chaste love."
http://www.reuniting.info/wisdom/agapetae goes into more detail. An agape type relationship was characterized by sensous activity such as sleeping together. It was non-sexual in the sense that the relationship did not lead to orgasm.
http://www.reuniting.info/wisdom/samael_aun_weor_sex_secret_gate_to_eden explains that this type of love has been encouraged by various religions over time.
Least you think I'm kidding you, to take this to the scientific plane consider http://www.reuniting.info/science/prolactin_sex_libido which points out that prolactin surges after having an orgasm. Bad news! This increases appetite leading to a tendency for weight gain.
However, sensous but non-orgasmic love increases dopamine which is a natural narcotic which lowers appetite. The RLD also encourages strong friendships even without the sensuality. As you can see from (1) modern research suggests that being in a sensous physical relationship (i.e. increases dopamine which is like morphine and which has the normal narcotic effect of lowering appetite immediately) leads to a long term increase in appetite BUT the desire for being sociable increases even more. Fullfilling that desire eliminates the long term appetite stimulation effects of sensous relationships.
So, how hard can my RLD be? Have a handful of physically sensous relationships that do not involve orgasms and a lot of close friends one socializes with regularly.
Of course if you know men you'll realize that a RLD is going to be difficult if they are on the receiving end of romance! Most men will not avoid trying to have sex with you for long!
So, a woman on the RLD is best off practicing agape type romance with other women. From http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb07/lovesnot.html we see that romantic partners best have the following qualities: "kindness, warmth, a sense of humor, sociability, trustworthiness and a stable personality."
Compare and make your own decision -
Tradional diet - count calories and exercise fanatically - FOREVER!
The Romantic Love Diet - have a few non-orgasmic yet physically sensous relationships with women who are kind, amusing, dependable, etc. and have a lot of close friends of both genders that one socializes with regularly.
Keep in mind that I've been in relationships like this with my transgendered and bisexual friends in Houston. These being the same friends who often smoke lots of pot while staying quite slim. The power of the lifestyle easily overcomes the appetite stimulating aspect of marijuana. How did the RLD work for me? I lost about 30 pounds without counting calories and with very little exercise.
1. Behav Brain Res.
2007 Apr 20
Prior morphine experience induces long-term increases in social interest and in appetitive behavior for natural reward.
Nocjar C, Panksepp J.
Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Brecksville, OH 44141, United States.
Brain opioids regulate social emotional responsivity. One neuro-evolutionary theory of addiction suggests that exogenous opiates may induce addiction via opioid-controlled emotional changes; with the drug eventually fulfilling the need for social comfort that is normally provided by endogenous opioids. This view predicts that past opiate experience may enduringly alter social responsivity. Although the acute social effects of opiates are well known, little evidence is available concerning the enduring effects of past opiate experience on social motivation aside from copulatory behaviors. This study evaluated the long-term effects of 10 daily morphine (10mg/kg/day) or saline injections on social and non-social motivated behaviors. Following 3 days or 2 weeks drug abstinence, social interest, food-seeking, and sexual pursuit were assessed. After 2-weeks opiate withdrawal, sexual pursuit and food-seeking behaviors were significantly increased. After a shorter 3-day withdrawal, these effects were not seen. Importantly, social interest was consistently magnified, even after short-term 3-day opiate withdrawal, and it was magnified more than sexual or food pursuit. These findings indicate that the incentive for social and non-social natural rewards were increased following withdrawal from intermittent opiate treatment, but that different morphine-induced neuroadaptations may regulate their expression.
PMID: 17512616
Nerissa
To be fair using the term "my" with the RLD is a bit misleading. It turns out the RLD was perfected by a man well known to most of us - Jesus. Doubt this? When is the last time you ever saw a picture of a fat disciple?
Flashing back 2000 years see http://www.reuniting.info/node . Early Christianity encouraged nonsexual but sensuous relationships known as "agape." Agape is defined as "spiritual, selfless, chaste love."
http://www.reuniting.info/wisdom/agapetae goes into more detail. An agape type relationship was characterized by sensous activity such as sleeping together. It was non-sexual in the sense that the relationship did not lead to orgasm.
http://www.reuniting.info/wisdom/samael_aun_weor_sex_secret_gate_to_eden explains that this type of love has been encouraged by various religions over time.
Least you think I'm kidding you, to take this to the scientific plane consider http://www.reuniting.info/science/prolactin_sex_libido which points out that prolactin surges after having an orgasm. Bad news! This increases appetite leading to a tendency for weight gain.
However, sensous but non-orgasmic love increases dopamine which is a natural narcotic which lowers appetite. The RLD also encourages strong friendships even without the sensuality. As you can see from (1) modern research suggests that being in a sensous physical relationship (i.e. increases dopamine which is like morphine and which has the normal narcotic effect of lowering appetite immediately) leads to a long term increase in appetite BUT the desire for being sociable increases even more. Fullfilling that desire eliminates the long term appetite stimulation effects of sensous relationships.
So, how hard can my RLD be? Have a handful of physically sensous relationships that do not involve orgasms and a lot of close friends one socializes with regularly.
Of course if you know men you'll realize that a RLD is going to be difficult if they are on the receiving end of romance! Most men will not avoid trying to have sex with you for long!
So, a woman on the RLD is best off practicing agape type romance with other women. From http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb07/lovesnot.html we see that romantic partners best have the following qualities: "kindness, warmth, a sense of humor, sociability, trustworthiness and a stable personality."
Compare and make your own decision -
Tradional diet - count calories and exercise fanatically - FOREVER!
The Romantic Love Diet - have a few non-orgasmic yet physically sensous relationships with women who are kind, amusing, dependable, etc. and have a lot of close friends of both genders that one socializes with regularly.
Keep in mind that I've been in relationships like this with my transgendered and bisexual friends in Houston. These being the same friends who often smoke lots of pot while staying quite slim. The power of the lifestyle easily overcomes the appetite stimulating aspect of marijuana. How did the RLD work for me? I lost about 30 pounds without counting calories and with very little exercise.
1. Behav Brain Res.
2007 Apr 20
Prior morphine experience induces long-term increases in social interest and in appetitive behavior for natural reward.
Nocjar C, Panksepp J.
Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Brecksville, OH 44141, United States.
Brain opioids regulate social emotional responsivity. One neuro-evolutionary theory of addiction suggests that exogenous opiates may induce addiction via opioid-controlled emotional changes; with the drug eventually fulfilling the need for social comfort that is normally provided by endogenous opioids. This view predicts that past opiate experience may enduringly alter social responsivity. Although the acute social effects of opiates are well known, little evidence is available concerning the enduring effects of past opiate experience on social motivation aside from copulatory behaviors. This study evaluated the long-term effects of 10 daily morphine (10mg/kg/day) or saline injections on social and non-social motivated behaviors. Following 3 days or 2 weeks drug abstinence, social interest, food-seeking, and sexual pursuit were assessed. After 2-weeks opiate withdrawal, sexual pursuit and food-seeking behaviors were significantly increased. After a shorter 3-day withdrawal, these effects were not seen. Importantly, social interest was consistently magnified, even after short-term 3-day opiate withdrawal, and it was magnified more than sexual or food pursuit. These findings indicate that the incentive for social and non-social natural rewards were increased following withdrawal from intermittent opiate treatment, but that different morphine-induced neuroadaptations may regulate their expression.
PMID: 17512616
Nerissa
Saturday, April 14, 2007
calorie restriction and leaky gut syndrome
Every time my weight drops into the range I desire I develop leaky gut syndrome. Which means I feel like dog meat until I regularly eat more. This has lead to an endless cycle of dropping weight, feeling bad, regaining weight...
Least you think I'm some anorexic nut case my BMI fluctuates around about 24 +/- 1. I want to get down to about BMI 21 to 22 which still is safely out of the "please hold me down and stuff food into my mouth" anorexic range.
Why does calorie restriction (CR) trash our guts out? Two reasons:
First, CR elevates the so-called anti-inflammatory hormone adiponectin. High adiponectin is a really good thing for our health per many references. Unfortunately, adiponectin is PROinflammatory in our gut (1).
Second, CR lowers insulin. In many ways this is great for our health. Unfortunately, low insulin is associated with INCREASED gut permeability (2).
Surf the net and you can find many ideas for dealing with leaky gut. A treatment I've come up with is the following:
Combine a scoop of Citrucel (methylcellulose) with 1/2 glass of lemonade, 400 mg of magnesium citrate and a tablespoon of coconut oil and drink it just prior to bedtime. The methylcellulose binds most pathological bacteria (via binding to their type 4 fimbriae; PMID: 9811650), the lemonade has anti-inflammatory properties, the magnesium lowers permeability of the intestine (PMID: 16180088) and the coconut oil is great for killing various pathological bacteria (too many references to list).
1. Gastroenterology. 2007 Feb;132(2):601-14
Adiponectin deficiency protects mice from chemically induced colonic inflammation.
...APN deficiency is associated with protection from chemically induced colitis. APN exerts proinflammatory activities in the colon by inducing production of proinflammatory cytokines and inhibiting bioactivity of protective growth factors. Thus, in colitis, APN exerts an opposite role compared with atherosclerosis.
PMID: 17258715
2. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2006;34(1-2):259-63
Permeability response of the rat mesenteric microvasculature to insulin.
...insulin reduces mesenteric venule permeability differently in males and females. Further studies are needed to differentiate the permeability responses with respect to age and gender.
PMID: 16543645
Nerissa
Least you think I'm some anorexic nut case my BMI fluctuates around about 24 +/- 1. I want to get down to about BMI 21 to 22 which still is safely out of the "please hold me down and stuff food into my mouth" anorexic range.
Why does calorie restriction (CR) trash our guts out? Two reasons:
First, CR elevates the so-called anti-inflammatory hormone adiponectin. High adiponectin is a really good thing for our health per many references. Unfortunately, adiponectin is PROinflammatory in our gut (1).
Second, CR lowers insulin. In many ways this is great for our health. Unfortunately, low insulin is associated with INCREASED gut permeability (2).
Surf the net and you can find many ideas for dealing with leaky gut. A treatment I've come up with is the following:
Combine a scoop of Citrucel (methylcellulose) with 1/2 glass of lemonade, 400 mg of magnesium citrate and a tablespoon of coconut oil and drink it just prior to bedtime. The methylcellulose binds most pathological bacteria (via binding to their type 4 fimbriae; PMID: 9811650), the lemonade has anti-inflammatory properties, the magnesium lowers permeability of the intestine (PMID: 16180088) and the coconut oil is great for killing various pathological bacteria (too many references to list).
1. Gastroenterology. 2007 Feb;132(2):601-14
Adiponectin deficiency protects mice from chemically induced colonic inflammation.
...APN deficiency is associated with protection from chemically induced colitis. APN exerts proinflammatory activities in the colon by inducing production of proinflammatory cytokines and inhibiting bioactivity of protective growth factors. Thus, in colitis, APN exerts an opposite role compared with atherosclerosis.
PMID: 17258715
2. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2006;34(1-2):259-63
Permeability response of the rat mesenteric microvasculature to insulin.
...insulin reduces mesenteric venule permeability differently in males and females. Further studies are needed to differentiate the permeability responses with respect to age and gender.
PMID: 16543645
Nerissa
Friday, January 12, 2007
Hot sex for hard bones
Hi everyone,
Exposure to low frequency mechanical vibration for two to ten minutes per day stimulates musculoskeletal development (1, 2). The vibration used in both studies was 30 Hz. Before you rush out and buy a vibration machine consider that the natural frequency of orgasmic vibrations is 8 Hz. Which is of little value if you're the only one experiencing them. But, consider if you're with a partner. The phenomenon of resonance kicks in.
http://www.elitesoft.com/sci.hvac/itreson1.html explains what resonance is: "When the natural frequency of an object is excited by a vibration of the same frequency the objects natural frequency escalates to a point much greater than the exciting force or vibration. Hence, the singer breaks the glass, or the walls of Jerico come falling down."
So, hot sex will lead to resonance vibrations in both partners of 16 Hz, 32 Hz, etc. 32 Hz is close enough, I suspect, to help our bones and muscles.
Note that 32 Hz is 4 times 8 Hz which makes (3) interesting indeed. Research has shown that having mutual orgasms is four times as beneficial as doing it solo. The researcher seems to have a blind spot for gay sex since the two choices were heterosexual or solo. I'm sure gay sex together works just fine too although some of the men might have trouble making the two minute point. :)
6/13/2008 update - see (4) for a recent report on vibration and our health. The researchers note that vibration improves flexibility. No kidding!
11/27/2016 update - see (5) which discusses vibration and obesity control. It links to a study at (6) which mentions how this ties in with bone health.
1. J Bone Miner Res. 2006 Sep;21(9):1464-74
Low-level, high-frequency mechanical signals enhance musculoskeletal development of young women with low BMD....
The potential for brief periods of low-magnitude, high-frequency mechanical signals to enhance the musculoskeletal system was evaluated in young women with low BMD. Twelve months of this noninvasive signal, induced as whole body vibration for at least 2 minutes each day, increased bone and muscle mass in the axial skeleton and lower extremities compared with controls....CONCLUSIONS: Short bouts of extremely low-level mechanical signals, several orders of magnitude below that associated with vigorous exercise, increased bone and muscle mass in the weight-bearing skeleton of young adult females with low BMD. Should these musculoskeletal enhancements be preserved through adulthood, this intervention may prove to be a deterrent to osteoporosis in the elderly.
PMID: 16939405
2. J Sports Sci. 2007 Jan;25(1):111-9
Whole-body vibration can reduce calciuria induced by high protein intakes and may counteract bone resorption: A preliminary study....
Excess protein intake can adversely affect the bone via an increase in calcium excretion, while suitable mechanical loading promotes osteogenesis. We therefore investigated whether vibration exposure could alleviate the bone mineral losses associated with a metabolic acidosis. Ten healthy individuals aged 22 - 29 years (median = 25) underwent three 5-day study periods while monitoring their dietary intake. The study consisted of recording the participants' usual dietary intake for 5 consecutive days. Participants were then randomly divided into two groups, one of which received a protein supplement (2 g . kg-1 body mass . day-1; n = 5) and the other whole-body low-magnitude (3.5 g), low-frequency (30 Hz) mechanical vibration (WBV) delivered through a specially designed vibrating plate for 10 min each day (n = 5). ...results indicate that vibration stimulation can moderate the increase in bone resorption and reduction in bone formation caused by a metabolic acidosis.
PMID: 17127586
3. http://sexuality.about.com/od/sexualscience/a/weirdscience3.htm
Weird Sexual Science: Sex with a partner is 400% better
From Cory Silverberg,
Orgasm Study Offers Status Quo and Universal Generalizations
The same researcher who last month brought us the study suggesting that heterosexual intercourse was much better than any other kind of sexual behavior, is at it again.
This month New Scientist is reporting on a study by Prof. Stuart Brody (and colleague) that examined the blood level of the hormone prolactin following heterosexual intercourse versus masturbation. Prolactin is related to feelings of sexual release. The results?
After orgasm from sexual intercourse, the increase in blood prolactin levels was 400 per cent higher in both sexes compared with after orgasm from masturbation. The resulting headline (which I copied above) suggests that heterosexual sex is 400% better than masturbation. Prof. Brody is quoted as saying “this explains why orgasm from intercourse is more satisfying than masturbation.”
4. http://www.galenicom.com/es/medline/article/18477873/Whole+body+vibration+exercise:+training+and+benefits.
Whole body vibration exercise: training and benefits.
Autores:
Dennis G Dolny, G Francis Cisco Reyes
Idioma:
Eng.
Fecha:
14-05-2008
Revista:
Current sports medicine reports (1537-8918)
Entrega:
Curr Sports Med Rep. ;7(3):152-7
Abstract:
In recent years, it has been suggested that exercise using whole body vibration (WBV) platforms may increase muscle activity and subsequently enhance muscle performance in both acute and chronic conditions. WBV platforms produce frequencies ranging from 15-60 Hz and vertical displacements from ~1-11 mm, resulting in accelerations of ~2.2-5.1 g. Acute exposure to WBV has produced mixed results in terms of improving jump, sprint, and measures of muscle performance. With WBV training, younger fit subjects may not experience gains unless some type of external load is added to WBV exercise. However, sedentary and elderly individuals have demonstrated significant gains in most measures of muscle performance, similar with comparable traditional resistance exercise training programs. WBV training also has demonstrated gains in flexibility in younger athletic populations and gains or maintenance in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. These promising results await further research to establish preferred WBV training parameters.
Copyright:
Current sports medicine reportsDepartment HPERD, University of Idaho, College of Education, Human Performance Laboratory, Moscow, ID 83844, USA. ddolny@uidaho.edu
5. https://theconversation.com/why-so-many-people-regain-weight-after-dieting-65095
Anyone who has tried to lose weight and keep it off knows how difficult the task can be. It seems like it should be simple: Just exercise to burn more calories and reduce your calorie intake. But many studies have shown that this simple strategy doesn’t work very well for the vast majority of people.
A dramatic example of the challenges of maintaining weight loss comes from a recent National Institutes of Health study. The researchers followed 14 contestants who had participated in the “World’s Biggest Loser” reality show. During the 30 weeks of the show, the contestants lost an average of over 125 pounds per person. But in the six years after the show, all but one gained back most of their lost weight, despite continuing to diet and exercise.
Why is it so hard to lose weight and keep it off? Weight loss often leads to declines in our resting metabolic rate – how many calories we burn at rest, which makes it hard to keep the weight off. So why does weight loss make resting metabolism go down, and is there a way to maintain a normal resting metabolic rate after weight loss? As someone who studies musculo-skeletal physiology, I will try to answer these questions.
Activating muscles deep in the leg that help keep blood and fluid moving through our bodies is essential to maintaining resting metabolic rate when we are sitting or standing quietly. The function of these muscles, called soleus muscles, is a major research focus for us in the Clinical Science and Engineering Research Center at Binghamton University. Commonly called “secondary hearts,” these muscles pump blood back to our heart, allowing us to maintain our normal rate of metabolic activity during sedentary activities.
Resting metabolism and weight maintenance...
6. http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/288/3/R623.long
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2005 Mar;288(3):R623-9.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00513.2004
Plantar vibration improves leg fluid flow in perimenopausal women.
Stewart JM1, Karman C, Montgomery LD, McLeod KJ.
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that plantar-based vibration may be an effective approach for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. We addressed the hypothesis of whether the plantar vibration operated by way of the skeletal muscle pump, resulting in enhanced blood and fluid flow to the lower body. We combined plantar stimulation with upright tilt table testing in 18 women aged 46-63 yr. We used strain-gauge plethysmography to measure calf blood flow, venous capacitance, and the microvascular filtration relation, as well as impedance plethysmography to examine changes in leg, splanchnic, and thoracic blood flow while supine at a 35 degrees upright tilt. A vibrating platform was placed on the footboard of a tilt table, and measurements were made at 0, 15, and 45 Hz with an amplitude of 0.2 g point to point, presented in random order. Impedance-measured supine blood flows were significantly (P = 0.05) increased in the calf (30%), pelvic (26%), and thoracic regions (20%) by plantar vibration at 45 Hz. Moreover, the 25-35% decreases in calf and pelvic blood flows associated with upright tilt were reversed by plantar vibration, and the decrease in thoracic blood flow was significantly attenuated. Strain-gauge measurements showed an attenuation of upright calf blood flow. In addition, the microvascular filtration relation was shifted with vibration, producing a pronounced increase in the threshold for edema, P(i), due to enhanced lymphatic flow. Supine values for P(i) increased from 24 +/- 2 mmHg at 0 Hz to 27 +/- 3 mmHg at 15 Hz, and finally to 31 +/- 2 mmHg at 45 Hz (P < 0.01). Upright values for P(i) increased from 25 +/- 3 mmHg at 0 Hz, to 28 +/- 4 mmHg at 15 Hz, and finally to 35 +/- 4 mmHg at 45 Hz. The results suggest that plantar vibration serves to significantly enhance peripheral and systemic blood flow, peripheral lymphatic flow, and venous drainage, which may account for the apparent ability of such stimuli to influence bone mass.
PMID: 15472009
Nerissa
Exposure to low frequency mechanical vibration for two to ten minutes per day stimulates musculoskeletal development (1, 2). The vibration used in both studies was 30 Hz. Before you rush out and buy a vibration machine consider that the natural frequency of orgasmic vibrations is 8 Hz. Which is of little value if you're the only one experiencing them. But, consider if you're with a partner. The phenomenon of resonance kicks in.
http://www.elitesoft.com/sci.hvac/itreson1.html explains what resonance is: "When the natural frequency of an object is excited by a vibration of the same frequency the objects natural frequency escalates to a point much greater than the exciting force or vibration. Hence, the singer breaks the glass, or the walls of Jerico come falling down."
So, hot sex will lead to resonance vibrations in both partners of 16 Hz, 32 Hz, etc. 32 Hz is close enough, I suspect, to help our bones and muscles.
Note that 32 Hz is 4 times 8 Hz which makes (3) interesting indeed. Research has shown that having mutual orgasms is four times as beneficial as doing it solo. The researcher seems to have a blind spot for gay sex since the two choices were heterosexual or solo. I'm sure gay sex together works just fine too although some of the men might have trouble making the two minute point. :)
6/13/2008 update - see (4) for a recent report on vibration and our health. The researchers note that vibration improves flexibility. No kidding!
11/27/2016 update - see (5) which discusses vibration and obesity control. It links to a study at (6) which mentions how this ties in with bone health.
1. J Bone Miner Res. 2006 Sep;21(9):1464-74
Low-level, high-frequency mechanical signals enhance musculoskeletal development of young women with low BMD....
The potential for brief periods of low-magnitude, high-frequency mechanical signals to enhance the musculoskeletal system was evaluated in young women with low BMD. Twelve months of this noninvasive signal, induced as whole body vibration for at least 2 minutes each day, increased bone and muscle mass in the axial skeleton and lower extremities compared with controls....CONCLUSIONS: Short bouts of extremely low-level mechanical signals, several orders of magnitude below that associated with vigorous exercise, increased bone and muscle mass in the weight-bearing skeleton of young adult females with low BMD. Should these musculoskeletal enhancements be preserved through adulthood, this intervention may prove to be a deterrent to osteoporosis in the elderly.
PMID: 16939405
2. J Sports Sci. 2007 Jan;25(1):111-9
Whole-body vibration can reduce calciuria induced by high protein intakes and may counteract bone resorption: A preliminary study....
Excess protein intake can adversely affect the bone via an increase in calcium excretion, while suitable mechanical loading promotes osteogenesis. We therefore investigated whether vibration exposure could alleviate the bone mineral losses associated with a metabolic acidosis. Ten healthy individuals aged 22 - 29 years (median = 25) underwent three 5-day study periods while monitoring their dietary intake. The study consisted of recording the participants' usual dietary intake for 5 consecutive days. Participants were then randomly divided into two groups, one of which received a protein supplement (2 g . kg-1 body mass . day-1; n = 5) and the other whole-body low-magnitude (3.5 g), low-frequency (30 Hz) mechanical vibration (WBV) delivered through a specially designed vibrating plate for 10 min each day (n = 5). ...results indicate that vibration stimulation can moderate the increase in bone resorption and reduction in bone formation caused by a metabolic acidosis.
PMID: 17127586
3. http://sexuality.about.com/od/sexualscience/a/weirdscience3.htm
Weird Sexual Science: Sex with a partner is 400% better
From Cory Silverberg,
Orgasm Study Offers Status Quo and Universal Generalizations
The same researcher who last month brought us the study suggesting that heterosexual intercourse was much better than any other kind of sexual behavior, is at it again.
This month New Scientist is reporting on a study by Prof. Stuart Brody (and colleague) that examined the blood level of the hormone prolactin following heterosexual intercourse versus masturbation. Prolactin is related to feelings of sexual release. The results?
After orgasm from sexual intercourse, the increase in blood prolactin levels was 400 per cent higher in both sexes compared with after orgasm from masturbation. The resulting headline (which I copied above) suggests that heterosexual sex is 400% better than masturbation. Prof. Brody is quoted as saying “this explains why orgasm from intercourse is more satisfying than masturbation.”
4. http://www.galenicom.com/es/medline/article/18477873/Whole+body+vibration+exercise:+training+and+benefits.
Whole body vibration exercise: training and benefits.
Autores:
Dennis G Dolny, G Francis Cisco Reyes
Idioma:
Eng.
Fecha:
14-05-2008
Revista:
Current sports medicine reports (1537-8918)
Entrega:
Curr Sports Med Rep. ;7(3):152-7
Abstract:
In recent years, it has been suggested that exercise using whole body vibration (WBV) platforms may increase muscle activity and subsequently enhance muscle performance in both acute and chronic conditions. WBV platforms produce frequencies ranging from 15-60 Hz and vertical displacements from ~1-11 mm, resulting in accelerations of ~2.2-5.1 g. Acute exposure to WBV has produced mixed results in terms of improving jump, sprint, and measures of muscle performance. With WBV training, younger fit subjects may not experience gains unless some type of external load is added to WBV exercise. However, sedentary and elderly individuals have demonstrated significant gains in most measures of muscle performance, similar with comparable traditional resistance exercise training programs. WBV training also has demonstrated gains in flexibility in younger athletic populations and gains or maintenance in bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. These promising results await further research to establish preferred WBV training parameters.
Copyright:
Current sports medicine reportsDepartment HPERD, University of Idaho, College of Education, Human Performance Laboratory, Moscow, ID 83844, USA. ddolny@uidaho.edu
5. https://theconversation.com/why-so-many-people-regain-weight-after-dieting-65095
Anyone who has tried to lose weight and keep it off knows how difficult the task can be. It seems like it should be simple: Just exercise to burn more calories and reduce your calorie intake. But many studies have shown that this simple strategy doesn’t work very well for the vast majority of people.
A dramatic example of the challenges of maintaining weight loss comes from a recent National Institutes of Health study. The researchers followed 14 contestants who had participated in the “World’s Biggest Loser” reality show. During the 30 weeks of the show, the contestants lost an average of over 125 pounds per person. But in the six years after the show, all but one gained back most of their lost weight, despite continuing to diet and exercise.
Why is it so hard to lose weight and keep it off? Weight loss often leads to declines in our resting metabolic rate – how many calories we burn at rest, which makes it hard to keep the weight off. So why does weight loss make resting metabolism go down, and is there a way to maintain a normal resting metabolic rate after weight loss? As someone who studies musculo-skeletal physiology, I will try to answer these questions.
Activating muscles deep in the leg that help keep blood and fluid moving through our bodies is essential to maintaining resting metabolic rate when we are sitting or standing quietly. The function of these muscles, called soleus muscles, is a major research focus for us in the Clinical Science and Engineering Research Center at Binghamton University. Commonly called “secondary hearts,” these muscles pump blood back to our heart, allowing us to maintain our normal rate of metabolic activity during sedentary activities.
Resting metabolism and weight maintenance...
6. http://ajpregu.physiology.org/content/288/3/R623.long
Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2005 Mar;288(3):R623-9.
DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00513.2004
Plantar vibration improves leg fluid flow in perimenopausal women.
Stewart JM1, Karman C, Montgomery LD, McLeod KJ.
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated that plantar-based vibration may be an effective approach for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. We addressed the hypothesis of whether the plantar vibration operated by way of the skeletal muscle pump, resulting in enhanced blood and fluid flow to the lower body. We combined plantar stimulation with upright tilt table testing in 18 women aged 46-63 yr. We used strain-gauge plethysmography to measure calf blood flow, venous capacitance, and the microvascular filtration relation, as well as impedance plethysmography to examine changes in leg, splanchnic, and thoracic blood flow while supine at a 35 degrees upright tilt. A vibrating platform was placed on the footboard of a tilt table, and measurements were made at 0, 15, and 45 Hz with an amplitude of 0.2 g point to point, presented in random order. Impedance-measured supine blood flows were significantly (P = 0.05) increased in the calf (30%), pelvic (26%), and thoracic regions (20%) by plantar vibration at 45 Hz. Moreover, the 25-35% decreases in calf and pelvic blood flows associated with upright tilt were reversed by plantar vibration, and the decrease in thoracic blood flow was significantly attenuated. Strain-gauge measurements showed an attenuation of upright calf blood flow. In addition, the microvascular filtration relation was shifted with vibration, producing a pronounced increase in the threshold for edema, P(i), due to enhanced lymphatic flow. Supine values for P(i) increased from 24 +/- 2 mmHg at 0 Hz to 27 +/- 3 mmHg at 15 Hz, and finally to 31 +/- 2 mmHg at 45 Hz (P < 0.01). Upright values for P(i) increased from 25 +/- 3 mmHg at 0 Hz, to 28 +/- 4 mmHg at 15 Hz, and finally to 35 +/- 4 mmHg at 45 Hz. The results suggest that plantar vibration serves to significantly enhance peripheral and systemic blood flow, peripheral lymphatic flow, and venous drainage, which may account for the apparent ability of such stimuli to influence bone mass.
PMID: 15472009
Nerissa
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Narcotic like addiction behind eating of fatty foods
Hi everyone,
The abstract below demonstrates that it only took five days for daily consumption of corn oil by rats to induce what amounts to a narcotic addiction in them. I.E. the corn oil appears to elevate brain narcotics (endodorphins) and/or to directly stimulate a narcotic receptor to the point the rats become addicted to it.
This certainly makes sense evolutionary-wise. Imagine one of our ancestors finding a source of high oil supplying food. Nothing guarantees repeat business like a narcotic addiction. Additionally when the food would run out nothing guarantees a very active search for another similar source like being addicted. Ask any smoker who runs out of smokes at midnight.
Limiting calorie intake long term successfully for most people involves breaking a narcotic drug addiction. However, since oils are a required part of a healthy diet staying clean of this addiction is impossible.
The solution? Satisfy the addiction by finding things, other than eating, that makes us feel good. Or limit the need to be addicted by limiting exposure to things that make us feel bad. Or do both.
Biomed Res. 2006 Dec;27(6):259-63.Daily increase of fat ingestion mediated via mu-opioid receptor signaling pathway.
Mizushige T, Matsumura S...
We investigated the involvement of opioid receptors such as the mu and delta receptors in the predominant elevation of corn oil appetite just after 5-day repeated treatment of corn oil ingestion. Rats were given 5% corn oil emulsified with 0.3% xanthan gum for 20 min at the same hour for 5 consecutive days. A strong appetite for fat was formed after the 5 days presentation, and it was inhibited by naloxonazine, a selective antagonist of the mu-1 receptor, at doses of 3 mg/kg, but not by antagonists of the opioid delta receptor. In days 6, after the formation of a strong appetite for corn oil, an additional injection of naloxonazine suppressed fat intake 0-30, 30-60, 60-90 and 90-150 min after the presentation of the corn oil, but antagonists of the opioid delta receptor did not. These data suggested that the opioid mu receptor is involved in the sharp elevation of corn oil appetite during repeated presentation of corn oil to rats.
PMID: 17213681
Nerissa
The abstract below demonstrates that it only took five days for daily consumption of corn oil by rats to induce what amounts to a narcotic addiction in them. I.E. the corn oil appears to elevate brain narcotics (endodorphins) and/or to directly stimulate a narcotic receptor to the point the rats become addicted to it.
This certainly makes sense evolutionary-wise. Imagine one of our ancestors finding a source of high oil supplying food. Nothing guarantees repeat business like a narcotic addiction. Additionally when the food would run out nothing guarantees a very active search for another similar source like being addicted. Ask any smoker who runs out of smokes at midnight.
Limiting calorie intake long term successfully for most people involves breaking a narcotic drug addiction. However, since oils are a required part of a healthy diet staying clean of this addiction is impossible.
The solution? Satisfy the addiction by finding things, other than eating, that makes us feel good. Or limit the need to be addicted by limiting exposure to things that make us feel bad. Or do both.
Biomed Res. 2006 Dec;27(6):259-63.Daily increase of fat ingestion mediated via mu-opioid receptor signaling pathway.
Mizushige T, Matsumura S...
We investigated the involvement of opioid receptors such as the mu and delta receptors in the predominant elevation of corn oil appetite just after 5-day repeated treatment of corn oil ingestion. Rats were given 5% corn oil emulsified with 0.3% xanthan gum for 20 min at the same hour for 5 consecutive days. A strong appetite for fat was formed after the 5 days presentation, and it was inhibited by naloxonazine, a selective antagonist of the mu-1 receptor, at doses of 3 mg/kg, but not by antagonists of the opioid delta receptor. In days 6, after the formation of a strong appetite for corn oil, an additional injection of naloxonazine suppressed fat intake 0-30, 30-60, 60-90 and 90-150 min after the presentation of the corn oil, but antagonists of the opioid delta receptor did not. These data suggested that the opioid mu receptor is involved in the sharp elevation of corn oil appetite during repeated presentation of corn oil to rats.
PMID: 17213681
Nerissa
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Manipulation of GI bacteria for our health using the essential sugar, fucose
Hi everyone,
In postings to the Calorie Restriction Society I have mentioned the anti-cancer effect of butyrate. Prior postings have shown it to suppress appetite also. Butyrate is produced by GI bacteria digesting (fermenting) resistant starches. Of these bacteria, Roseburia sp., are some of the most productive of butyrate.
For example, (1) points out that Roseburia inulinivorans is up-regulated by the essential sugar, fucose. What is fucose? It is a very interesting sugar which appears little appreciated in human health (2).
Read the end of (2) to see the role that Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (BT) plays with fucose. Not only is fucose in food but it is actively produced by our intestinal linings on request by BT. Without this bacteria we will not actively produce fucose. BT is one of the most abundant bacteria in our colon so unless you've been on antibiotic therapy recently you should have plenty of this bacteria.
Fucose is in the supplement Fucoidan and is from brown seaweed. There are several hundred published articles on the health and longevity enhancement effects of fucose/Fucoidan. See (3, 4) for more.
If you're in an experimental mood consider (5). BT requires ammonia to grow well. Our bodies produce ammonia from protein metabolism and then we excrete it via our urine with most of it in the form of urea. I wonder what might happen if we were to give BT some ammonia directly? For example, (6) tells how to make ammonia cookies. Will this really increase the amount of fucose we produce? I have no idea. It simply seems something fun to try. I've never had ammonia cookies.
1. J Bacteriol. 2006 Jun;188(12):4340-9
Whole-genome transcription profiling reveals genes up-regulated by growth on fucose in the human gut bacterium "Roseburia inulinivorans".
Scott KP, Martin JC, Campbell G, Mayer CD, Flint HJ.
Gut Health Division, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, United Kingdom. K.Scott@rowett.ac.uk
"Roseburia inulinivorans" is an anaerobic polysaccharide-utilizing firmicute bacterium from the human colon that was identified as a producer of butyric acid during growth on glucose, starch, or inulin. R. inulinivorans A2-194 is also able to grow on the host-derived sugar fucose, following a lag period, producing propionate and propanol as additional fermentation products. A shotgun genomic microarray was constructed and used to investigate the switch in gene expression that is involved in changing from glucose to fucose utilization. This revealed a set of genes coding for fucose utilization, propanediol utilization, and the formation of propionate and propanol that are up-regulated during growth on fucose. These include homologues of genes that are implicated in polyhedral body formation in Salmonella enterica. Dehydration of the intermediate 1,2-propanediol involves an enzyme belonging to the new B12-independent glycerol dehydratase family, in contrast to S. enterica, which relies on a B12-dependent enzyme. A typical gram-positive agr-type quorum-sensing system was also up-regulated in R. inulinivorans during growth on fucose. Despite the lack of genome sequence information for this commensal bacterium, microarray analysis has provided a powerful tool for obtaining new information on its metabolic capabilities.
PMID: 16740940
2. http://www.innvista.com/HEALTH/nutrition/essensug/fucose.htm
Functions
It is now known that Fucose glycoconjugates (glycoproteins and glycolipids) are an essential part of eliminating or reversing such disease processes as cancer, inflammation, and immunity.
Fucose concentrations are found in such areas as:
a) at the junctions between nerves, implying that a deficiency could affect synaptic transmissions;
b) in the proximal tubules of the human kidney, indicating the vital need for this saccharide for proper kidney function;
c) in the testes, suggesting that it plays an important role in reproduction;
d) in the outer layer of skin, where it may be involved in maintaining skin hydration.
Fucose is profoundly important for efficient neuron transmission in the brain. According to studies, Fucose is known to influence brain development and may also help improve the brain’s ability to create long-term memories. Several studies have shown that, by inhibiting the Fucose-containing protein, amnesia developed. Research is ongoing but showing good promise.
Fucose is a powerful immune modulator. It is distributed in macrophages, which are critically important to immune function. There have been numerous well-documented benefits for its necessity in immune function ,especially that of an overactive immune system, the cause of autoimmune disorders. Fucose is showing promise in its ability to normalize immune function.
Fucose is particularly active in inflammatory diseases and has the ability to suppress such allergic skin reactions as contact dermatitis.
Fucose and another essential sugar, Mannose, have the ability to kill bacteria and to help fortify resistance to infection. This is particularly true of respiratory cells. New studies reveal that, because bacteria have lectins on their surfaces that stick to the host’s saccharide receptors, supplying the body with these essential sugars can help deflect host-binding so that an infection can either be foiled or lessened.
Researchers who injected Fucose into lab animals found a possible treatment for breast cancer. U-fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide found in brown seaweed, was able to kill cancer cells in vitro within 72 hours. Interestingly, the destruction was self-induced (apoptosis), suggesting that the sugars were able to break down the DNA within each cancer cell through enzyme action.
Fucose can be found in blood cell antigens, which are involved in determining blood type.
Cancer
Fucose studies are also showing that it plays a significant role in many diseases, including cancer and its spread. Research is still ongoing but showing promise in the areas of inhibiting and reversing leukemia and breast cancer, including the suppression of tumor growth. Some studies have concluded that Fucose and Mannose appeared to be the most effective of the essential sugars when it came to slowing the growth of cancer cells.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Levels of Fucose are low in those with rheumatoid arthritis, and supplementation is showing promise as a harmless but surprisingly effective treatment. What is particularly interesting is the lower a person’s level of Fucose (as well as Galactose, another essential sugar), the more advanced the disease.
Other Diseases
Fucose metabolism appears to be altered in various diseases. Several studies have concluded that Fucose metabolism is abnormal in those with cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and during episodes of shingles, which is caused by a herpes virus. These studies go on to suggest that the sugar is active against other herpes viruses. In addition, the saccharide guards against respiratory tract infections and inhibits allergic reactions. Liver function and serum protein levels were also affected by a deficiency of Fucose. All these disorders, as well as many others, go back to immune function where fucose is showing to play a significant role.
Future Use
In other studies, Fucose proved that it can be incorporated into certain areas of the body where and when it is most needed. For instance, Fucose incorporated into the photoreceptor layer of the retina, may help with the biosynthesis of rod cell glycoproteins. In psoriasis, fucose may play a significant role in the disease process because of altered glycoprotein distribution. Normally, skin keratinocytes and non-psoriatic cells have most of their fucose on the plasma membrane, whereas psoriatic cells retain most of their fucose within the cytoplasm. The list is endless for connecting the reversal and prevention of disease and the use of Fucose and other essential sugars.
Out of the 400 or so species of intestinal microbes found in the human intestine, one has been studied as being of particular interest in its relation to Fucose – Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Present from birth, this bacterium survives in the lower part of the gut and feeds on Fucose. Cells lining the intestine manufacture it and post it on the surface of the cell. During weaning, Fucose production stops but begins again if B. thetaiotaomicron is present, leading researchers at Washington University School of Medicine to conclude that the bacterium is able to communicate to the intestine that it requires Fucose for its food. Understanding this communication between microbes and human cells may help provide treatment when friendly intestinal bacteria are destroyed after the use of antibiotics, for instance.
3. http://www.nutraingredients.com/news-by-health/productpresentation.asp?id=382&k=jinke-gingko-fucoidan
Fucoidan for a Healthy Life
04/1/06 - Jinke Group USA Inc, as the Subsidiary of Beijing Gingko Group announced a new product Ginnovay Fucoidan to the market. Ginnovay is the Trade Mark of BGG
BGG is leading the way to provide a potential natural non-toxic holistic healing product, Fucoidan, to support the body ability to forestall a lot of health problem, reported by Dr. Jay Lee in Jinke Group USA Inc.
Fucoidan is a type of glyconutrient as a new and more specialized type of nutraceutical. The main effective ingredient in Fucoidan is the fucose, one of the eight essential biological sugars. Since 1996, a total of four Nobel Prizes in medicine have been awarded for work in glycobiology. Unlike other nutritional supplements, Fucoidan provide special saccharide, biological sugars, which have recently been identified as being absolutely essential for cell-to-cell communication through glycoproteins and glycolipids.
Typically only glucose and galactose are in the foods we eat so we don’t consume Fucose and must produce over thirty-four different enzymatic reactions to generate intermediate molecules to make Fucose. During the conversion process if there is any problem in any step (due to toxins, stress etc) it will cause a severe and chronic disease. Now there are evidences that people in Japan who consume large quantities of these seaweeds (Fucoidan) have the longest lifespan.
Fucoidan produced by BGG is extracted from two brown seaweeds, Cladosiphon okamuranus grown in Japan and Ascophyllum nodosum from Norway.
4. http://limu.icthus.net/fucoidan.shtml
Excerpts from the book: Fucoidan
Fucoidan, The Ocean's Gift: Many people don’t fully understand the extreme importance of controlling free radical cellular damage in the body. A free radical is an unstable oxygen molecule that must find another electron to make itself complete. In order to do this, the free radical begins randomly bombarding the body’s cells, resulting in injury to the surrounding cell tissue.
The damage from free radicals can be countered by antioxidants. Antioxidants stop free radical damage by donating an electron without becoming a damaging free radical themselves. The problem in today’s society is that because of the lack of proper nutrition and moderate exercise, the number of free radicals in our bodies vastly outnumbers the number of antioxidants. This leads to premature aging and chronic disease.
The answer to this dilemma is to supplement our diets with plant-derived substances that contain antioxidants. However, not all supplements are made the same. Some supplements contain mostly filler or they contain impure plant products. Sometimes, the plants from which the supplements are made were grown in soil that lacks the necessary vitamins and minerals to create a plant rich in antioxidants. Again, Limu Moui does not suffer from soil deficiencies. It contains the antioxidants necessary to help prevent the negative effects sustained from free radical damage. Researchers in Madrid, Spain, showed that ingredients in brown seaweed exhibited great capacity as a natural antioxidant-even greater than extracts from green and red sea plants.
Fucoidan in Limu Moui
Limu Moui has been a vital source of food and commerce for many coastal peoples. Not surprisingly, some of these people credit the plant for their long lives. Many Tongans, for instance, stay robust, full of life and vigor, without suffering the effects of disease normally associated with aging. If you were to ask for their secret, chances are the Tongan people would direct you to Limu Moui as the reason for their good health.
In Japan, sea plant dishes like kombu and wakame are well known, but a lesser known dish call mozuku shares a common characteristic with Limu Moui. The people in the regions of Japan where mozuku is used enjoy longer lives and lower incidences of cancer when compared to counterparts in other parts of Japan.
Recent studies actually verify these phenomenona. Japanese scientists have isolated a substance in Limu Moui that promotes healthy living, seems to slow down the aging process, and fights a myriad of diseases. This substance is called fucoidan. A large number of recent scientific studies have shown fucoidan fights against cancer formation, development, and growth. Other research also indicates that fucoidan can be used for many other ailments common in today’s world.
5. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=186696
Appl Microbiol. 1974 August; 28(2): 251–257.
Nutritional Features of Bacteroides fragilis subsp. fragilis
Vincent H. Varel and Marvin P. Bryant
Departments of Dairy Science and Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
Studies of three reference strains of Bacteroides fragilis subsp. fragilis showed that they grow well in a minimal defined medium containing glucose, hemin, vitamin B12, minerals, bicarbonate-carbon dioxide buffer, NH4Cl, and sulfide. The vitamin B12 requirement of 0.1 ng/ml was replaced with 7.5 µg of methionine. Cysteine or sulfide was an excellent source of sulfur, thioglycolate was a poor source, and thiosulfate, methionine, ß-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, sulfate, or sulfite did not serve as sole sources of sulfur. Neither single amino acids, nitrate, urea, nor a complex mixture of L-amino acids or peptides effectively replaced ammonia as the nitrogen source. Comparative studies with a few strains of other subspecies of B. fragilis including B. fragilis subsp. vulgatus, B. fragilis subsp. thetaiotaomicron, and B. fragilis subsp. distasonis indicate that they exhibit similar growth responses in the minimal medium. A single strain of B. fragilis subsp. ovatus required other materials. The results indicate the great biosynthetic ability of these organisms and suggest that, in their ecological niche within the large intestine, many nutrients such as amino acids are in very low supply, whereas materials such as ammonia, heme, and vitamin B12, or related compounds, must be available during much of the time.
6. http://www.emerils.com/recipes/by_name/ammonia_cookies.html
AMMONIA COOKIES
from Cooking Section, September 2001
Ingredients needed:
1 cup milk
One-half ounce ammonium carbonate
One-half cup shortening
One and one-fourth cups sugar
1 egg, well beaten
One-half ounce oil of lemon or 1 ounce lemon extract
5 cups sifted enriched flour
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Add the milk to the ammonium carbonate and let stand for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Cream the shortening and the sugar; add the egg, lemon flavoring and the milk mixture. Stir in the flour. Chill. Roll the dough to one-fourth-inch-thick on a floured board. Cut into 3-inch squares. Prick with a floured fork. Bake on a greased baking sheets at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until slightly browned.
Note: Ammonium carbonate is no longer readily available in stores. It can be special-ordered by many druggists, and sells for about $1.75 an ounce. Commercial bakeries use ammonium carbonate as a dry rising agent for various products, and may be willing to sell small batches to the public on request.
Makes three and one-half dozen.
Nerissa
In postings to the Calorie Restriction Society I have mentioned the anti-cancer effect of butyrate. Prior postings have shown it to suppress appetite also. Butyrate is produced by GI bacteria digesting (fermenting) resistant starches. Of these bacteria, Roseburia sp., are some of the most productive of butyrate.
For example, (1) points out that Roseburia inulinivorans is up-regulated by the essential sugar, fucose. What is fucose? It is a very interesting sugar which appears little appreciated in human health (2).
Read the end of (2) to see the role that Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (BT) plays with fucose. Not only is fucose in food but it is actively produced by our intestinal linings on request by BT. Without this bacteria we will not actively produce fucose. BT is one of the most abundant bacteria in our colon so unless you've been on antibiotic therapy recently you should have plenty of this bacteria.
Fucose is in the supplement Fucoidan and is from brown seaweed. There are several hundred published articles on the health and longevity enhancement effects of fucose/Fucoidan. See (3, 4) for more.
If you're in an experimental mood consider (5). BT requires ammonia to grow well. Our bodies produce ammonia from protein metabolism and then we excrete it via our urine with most of it in the form of urea. I wonder what might happen if we were to give BT some ammonia directly? For example, (6) tells how to make ammonia cookies. Will this really increase the amount of fucose we produce? I have no idea. It simply seems something fun to try. I've never had ammonia cookies.
1. J Bacteriol. 2006 Jun;188(12):4340-9
Whole-genome transcription profiling reveals genes up-regulated by growth on fucose in the human gut bacterium "Roseburia inulinivorans".
Scott KP, Martin JC, Campbell G, Mayer CD, Flint HJ.
Gut Health Division, Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, United Kingdom. K.Scott@rowett.ac.uk
"Roseburia inulinivorans" is an anaerobic polysaccharide-utilizing firmicute bacterium from the human colon that was identified as a producer of butyric acid during growth on glucose, starch, or inulin. R. inulinivorans A2-194 is also able to grow on the host-derived sugar fucose, following a lag period, producing propionate and propanol as additional fermentation products. A shotgun genomic microarray was constructed and used to investigate the switch in gene expression that is involved in changing from glucose to fucose utilization. This revealed a set of genes coding for fucose utilization, propanediol utilization, and the formation of propionate and propanol that are up-regulated during growth on fucose. These include homologues of genes that are implicated in polyhedral body formation in Salmonella enterica. Dehydration of the intermediate 1,2-propanediol involves an enzyme belonging to the new B12-independent glycerol dehydratase family, in contrast to S. enterica, which relies on a B12-dependent enzyme. A typical gram-positive agr-type quorum-sensing system was also up-regulated in R. inulinivorans during growth on fucose. Despite the lack of genome sequence information for this commensal bacterium, microarray analysis has provided a powerful tool for obtaining new information on its metabolic capabilities.
PMID: 16740940
2. http://www.innvista.com/HEALTH/nutrition/essensug/fucose.htm
Functions
It is now known that Fucose glycoconjugates (glycoproteins and glycolipids) are an essential part of eliminating or reversing such disease processes as cancer, inflammation, and immunity.
Fucose concentrations are found in such areas as:
a) at the junctions between nerves, implying that a deficiency could affect synaptic transmissions;
b) in the proximal tubules of the human kidney, indicating the vital need for this saccharide for proper kidney function;
c) in the testes, suggesting that it plays an important role in reproduction;
d) in the outer layer of skin, where it may be involved in maintaining skin hydration.
Fucose is profoundly important for efficient neuron transmission in the brain. According to studies, Fucose is known to influence brain development and may also help improve the brain’s ability to create long-term memories. Several studies have shown that, by inhibiting the Fucose-containing protein, amnesia developed. Research is ongoing but showing good promise.
Fucose is a powerful immune modulator. It is distributed in macrophages, which are critically important to immune function. There have been numerous well-documented benefits for its necessity in immune function ,especially that of an overactive immune system, the cause of autoimmune disorders. Fucose is showing promise in its ability to normalize immune function.
Fucose is particularly active in inflammatory diseases and has the ability to suppress such allergic skin reactions as contact dermatitis.
Fucose and another essential sugar, Mannose, have the ability to kill bacteria and to help fortify resistance to infection. This is particularly true of respiratory cells. New studies reveal that, because bacteria have lectins on their surfaces that stick to the host’s saccharide receptors, supplying the body with these essential sugars can help deflect host-binding so that an infection can either be foiled or lessened.
Researchers who injected Fucose into lab animals found a possible treatment for breast cancer. U-fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide found in brown seaweed, was able to kill cancer cells in vitro within 72 hours. Interestingly, the destruction was self-induced (apoptosis), suggesting that the sugars were able to break down the DNA within each cancer cell through enzyme action.
Fucose can be found in blood cell antigens, which are involved in determining blood type.
Cancer
Fucose studies are also showing that it plays a significant role in many diseases, including cancer and its spread. Research is still ongoing but showing promise in the areas of inhibiting and reversing leukemia and breast cancer, including the suppression of tumor growth. Some studies have concluded that Fucose and Mannose appeared to be the most effective of the essential sugars when it came to slowing the growth of cancer cells.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Levels of Fucose are low in those with rheumatoid arthritis, and supplementation is showing promise as a harmless but surprisingly effective treatment. What is particularly interesting is the lower a person’s level of Fucose (as well as Galactose, another essential sugar), the more advanced the disease.
Other Diseases
Fucose metabolism appears to be altered in various diseases. Several studies have concluded that Fucose metabolism is abnormal in those with cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and during episodes of shingles, which is caused by a herpes virus. These studies go on to suggest that the sugar is active against other herpes viruses. In addition, the saccharide guards against respiratory tract infections and inhibits allergic reactions. Liver function and serum protein levels were also affected by a deficiency of Fucose. All these disorders, as well as many others, go back to immune function where fucose is showing to play a significant role.
Future Use
In other studies, Fucose proved that it can be incorporated into certain areas of the body where and when it is most needed. For instance, Fucose incorporated into the photoreceptor layer of the retina, may help with the biosynthesis of rod cell glycoproteins. In psoriasis, fucose may play a significant role in the disease process because of altered glycoprotein distribution. Normally, skin keratinocytes and non-psoriatic cells have most of their fucose on the plasma membrane, whereas psoriatic cells retain most of their fucose within the cytoplasm. The list is endless for connecting the reversal and prevention of disease and the use of Fucose and other essential sugars.
Out of the 400 or so species of intestinal microbes found in the human intestine, one has been studied as being of particular interest in its relation to Fucose – Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. Present from birth, this bacterium survives in the lower part of the gut and feeds on Fucose. Cells lining the intestine manufacture it and post it on the surface of the cell. During weaning, Fucose production stops but begins again if B. thetaiotaomicron is present, leading researchers at Washington University School of Medicine to conclude that the bacterium is able to communicate to the intestine that it requires Fucose for its food. Understanding this communication between microbes and human cells may help provide treatment when friendly intestinal bacteria are destroyed after the use of antibiotics, for instance.
3. http://www.nutraingredients.com/news-by-health/productpresentation.asp?id=382&k=jinke-gingko-fucoidan
Fucoidan for a Healthy Life
04/1/06 - Jinke Group USA Inc, as the Subsidiary of Beijing Gingko Group announced a new product Ginnovay Fucoidan to the market. Ginnovay is the Trade Mark of BGG
BGG is leading the way to provide a potential natural non-toxic holistic healing product, Fucoidan, to support the body ability to forestall a lot of health problem, reported by Dr. Jay Lee in Jinke Group USA Inc.
Fucoidan is a type of glyconutrient as a new and more specialized type of nutraceutical. The main effective ingredient in Fucoidan is the fucose, one of the eight essential biological sugars. Since 1996, a total of four Nobel Prizes in medicine have been awarded for work in glycobiology. Unlike other nutritional supplements, Fucoidan provide special saccharide, biological sugars, which have recently been identified as being absolutely essential for cell-to-cell communication through glycoproteins and glycolipids.
Typically only glucose and galactose are in the foods we eat so we don’t consume Fucose and must produce over thirty-four different enzymatic reactions to generate intermediate molecules to make Fucose. During the conversion process if there is any problem in any step (due to toxins, stress etc) it will cause a severe and chronic disease. Now there are evidences that people in Japan who consume large quantities of these seaweeds (Fucoidan) have the longest lifespan.
Fucoidan produced by BGG is extracted from two brown seaweeds, Cladosiphon okamuranus grown in Japan and Ascophyllum nodosum from Norway.
4. http://limu.icthus.net/fucoidan.shtml
Excerpts from the book: Fucoidan
Fucoidan, The Ocean's Gift: Many people don’t fully understand the extreme importance of controlling free radical cellular damage in the body. A free radical is an unstable oxygen molecule that must find another electron to make itself complete. In order to do this, the free radical begins randomly bombarding the body’s cells, resulting in injury to the surrounding cell tissue.
The damage from free radicals can be countered by antioxidants. Antioxidants stop free radical damage by donating an electron without becoming a damaging free radical themselves. The problem in today’s society is that because of the lack of proper nutrition and moderate exercise, the number of free radicals in our bodies vastly outnumbers the number of antioxidants. This leads to premature aging and chronic disease.
The answer to this dilemma is to supplement our diets with plant-derived substances that contain antioxidants. However, not all supplements are made the same. Some supplements contain mostly filler or they contain impure plant products. Sometimes, the plants from which the supplements are made were grown in soil that lacks the necessary vitamins and minerals to create a plant rich in antioxidants. Again, Limu Moui does not suffer from soil deficiencies. It contains the antioxidants necessary to help prevent the negative effects sustained from free radical damage. Researchers in Madrid, Spain, showed that ingredients in brown seaweed exhibited great capacity as a natural antioxidant-even greater than extracts from green and red sea plants.
Fucoidan in Limu Moui
Limu Moui has been a vital source of food and commerce for many coastal peoples. Not surprisingly, some of these people credit the plant for their long lives. Many Tongans, for instance, stay robust, full of life and vigor, without suffering the effects of disease normally associated with aging. If you were to ask for their secret, chances are the Tongan people would direct you to Limu Moui as the reason for their good health.
In Japan, sea plant dishes like kombu and wakame are well known, but a lesser known dish call mozuku shares a common characteristic with Limu Moui. The people in the regions of Japan where mozuku is used enjoy longer lives and lower incidences of cancer when compared to counterparts in other parts of Japan.
Recent studies actually verify these phenomenona. Japanese scientists have isolated a substance in Limu Moui that promotes healthy living, seems to slow down the aging process, and fights a myriad of diseases. This substance is called fucoidan. A large number of recent scientific studies have shown fucoidan fights against cancer formation, development, and growth. Other research also indicates that fucoidan can be used for many other ailments common in today’s world.
5. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=186696
Appl Microbiol. 1974 August; 28(2): 251–257.
Nutritional Features of Bacteroides fragilis subsp. fragilis
Vincent H. Varel and Marvin P. Bryant
Departments of Dairy Science and Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801
Studies of three reference strains of Bacteroides fragilis subsp. fragilis showed that they grow well in a minimal defined medium containing glucose, hemin, vitamin B12, minerals, bicarbonate-carbon dioxide buffer, NH4Cl, and sulfide. The vitamin B12 requirement of 0.1 ng/ml was replaced with 7.5 µg of methionine. Cysteine or sulfide was an excellent source of sulfur, thioglycolate was a poor source, and thiosulfate, methionine, ß-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, sulfate, or sulfite did not serve as sole sources of sulfur. Neither single amino acids, nitrate, urea, nor a complex mixture of L-amino acids or peptides effectively replaced ammonia as the nitrogen source. Comparative studies with a few strains of other subspecies of B. fragilis including B. fragilis subsp. vulgatus, B. fragilis subsp. thetaiotaomicron, and B. fragilis subsp. distasonis indicate that they exhibit similar growth responses in the minimal medium. A single strain of B. fragilis subsp. ovatus required other materials. The results indicate the great biosynthetic ability of these organisms and suggest that, in their ecological niche within the large intestine, many nutrients such as amino acids are in very low supply, whereas materials such as ammonia, heme, and vitamin B12, or related compounds, must be available during much of the time.
6. http://www.emerils.com/recipes/by_name/ammonia_cookies.html
AMMONIA COOKIES
from Cooking Section, September 2001
Ingredients needed:
1 cup milk
One-half ounce ammonium carbonate
One-half cup shortening
One and one-fourth cups sugar
1 egg, well beaten
One-half ounce oil of lemon or 1 ounce lemon extract
5 cups sifted enriched flour
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Add the milk to the ammonium carbonate and let stand for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Cream the shortening and the sugar; add the egg, lemon flavoring and the milk mixture. Stir in the flour. Chill. Roll the dough to one-fourth-inch-thick on a floured board. Cut into 3-inch squares. Prick with a floured fork. Bake on a greased baking sheets at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until slightly browned.
Note: Ammonium carbonate is no longer readily available in stores. It can be special-ordered by many druggists, and sells for about $1.75 an ounce. Commercial bakeries use ammonium carbonate as a dry rising agent for various products, and may be willing to sell small batches to the public on request.
Makes three and one-half dozen.
Nerissa
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Hurt me! The potential benefit of experiencing periodic pain for health.
Hurt me! The potential benefit of experiencing periodic pain for health.
Background information - this was originally written to be posted to the Calorie Restriction Society listserv. The CR Society practices calorie restriction for health and longevity. See http://www.calorierestriction.org/ for their web site. I've decided to post this to my blog instead of the CR listserv for various reasons I won't go into.
************************************************
Substance P (SP) is a chemical used by our nerves to communicate pain. It is located both in peripheral nerves and in the central nervous system. When SP is released our bodies and brain respond by producing protective agents against the SP. These agents include somatostatin (1) and beta-endorphins (natural narcotics). (1) indicates that somatostatin down regulated autoimmune disorders. (2) shows that beta-endorphins are lowered in autoimmune disorders.
In addition to these indirect effects SP has direct effects to down regulate autoimmune disorders. (3) shows SP has long lasting benefits in the treatment of autoimmune modulated diabetes. (4, 5) are also suggestive that substance P might be useful in limiting autoimmune disease.
Continuous exposure to high levels of substance P would not be pleasant. Constant pain is not much of a trade off for limiting the autoimmune diseases common with aging, for example. But what about intermittent pain? My belief is it might be quite beneficial. And particularly so if it is voluntarily received as in competitive athletics or various sexual activities I hope I don't have to explain to you.
Interestingly, cultures going back to the dawn of humanity have had mystic healers called by various names, Shamans being the common name today. These individuals were often what we would call gay or transgendered today. They are probably the first to discover the value of periodic pain for health. (6) explains more.
In a small world isn't it sort of way our founder Roy Walford may have known of some of this. (7) discusses his relationship with his performance artist girlfriend, Barbara T. Smith, at the time he was in Biosphere 2. Barbara appeared to have quite an interest in shamanism. Incidentally if you're new to our group you might think the founding inspiration of CR, Roy Walford would have been quite the stiff prude. After all isn't CR about "restriction?" Ah - but read it again. That is "CALORIE restriction." Not life restriction. (8) is his obituary which shows he really knew how to enjoy life and made doing so a priority. Also note that one of the last things he worked on was the role of immune system malfunctioning in aging.
1. Eur Cytokine Netw. 2000 Jun;11(2):161-76
Somatostatin and somatostatin receptors in the immune system: a review.
ten Bokum AM, Hofland LJ, van Hagen PM.
Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Communication and reciprocal regulation between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems are essential for the stability of the organism. Among others, cytokines, hormones and neuropeptides have been identified as signalling molecules mediating the communication between the three systems. This review focuses on the role of the neuropeptide somatostatin as an intersystem signalling molecule, with emphasis on the immune system. Somatostatin down-modulates a number of immune functions, among others lymphocyte proliferation, immunoglobulin production and the release of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN-g. Systemic or local treatment with somatostatin or somatostatin analogues has been shown to be beneficial in a number of in vivo models of autoimmune disease and chronic inflammation. In many of these models somatostatin appears to antagonise the effects of another neuropeptide, substance P. A somatostatin-substance P immunoregulatory circuit has been proposed to operate within murine Schistosoma mansoni-induced granulomas. In this review we extend the model of the somatostatin-substance P immunoregulatory circuit to include data derived from other biological systems, and those relying on human clinical situations. In addition, we present a hypothesis on the regulation of the default class of immune response within a tissue, based on the local balance of pro-and anti-inflammatory neuropeptides.
PMID: 10903795
2. J Neuroimmunol. 1999 Jun 1;97(1-2):129-33
Hypothalamic beta-endorphin concentrations are decreased in animals models of autoimmune disease.
Sacerdote P, Lechner O, Sidman C, Wick G, Panerai AE.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy. paola.sacerdote@unimi.it
Complex interactions between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems are present in autoimmune diseases. The central opioid peptide beta-endorphin (BE) has been shown to modulate peripheral immune responses in normal animals. In the present study we analyze the hypothalamic concentrations of this peptide in two models of spontaneous autoimmune disease, the MRL [corrected] lpr/lpr mouse, that develops a lupus-like autoimmune disease, and the obese strain (OS) chickens afflicted with spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis. In both instances, hypothalamic concentrations of BE are significantly lower than normal controls. In MRL [corrected] lpr/lpr mice, BE is already lower at 1 month of age, when no clinical sign of the disease is yet present. Similarly, low levels of BE are observed in OS chickens before the onset of thyroiditis, i.e., already at the embryonic stage. Moreover, a further decrease of BE is observed in OS chickens in correspondence with the first signs of thyroid mononuclear infiltration. Considering the immunosuppressive effects exerted by central BE, these results are suggestive of the fact that in autoimmune disease prone animals the low hypothalamic concentrations may be one of several factors predisposing for the development of autoimmune disease.
PMID: 10408966
3. Cell. 2006 Dec 15;127(6):1123-35
TRPV1+ sensory neurons control beta cell stress and islet inflammation in autoimmune diabetes.
Razavi R, Chan Y, Afifiyan FN, Liu XJ, Wan X, Yantha J, Tsui H, Tang L, Tsai S, Santamaria P, Driver JP, Serreze D, Salter MW, Dosch HM.
Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 1X8.
In type 1 diabetes, T cell-mediated death of pancreatic beta cells produces insulin deficiency. However, what attracts or restricts broadly autoreactive lymphocyte pools to the pancreas remains unclear. We report that TRPV1(+) pancreatic sensory neurons control islet inflammation and insulin resistance. Eliminating these neurons in diabetes-prone NOD mice prevents insulitis and diabetes, despite systemic persistence of pathogenic T cell pools. Insulin resistance and beta cell stress of prediabetic NOD mice are prevented when TRPV1(+) neurons are eliminated. TRPV1(NOD), localized to the Idd4.1 diabetes-risk locus, is a hypofunctional mutant, mediating depressed neurogenic inflammation. Delivering the neuropeptide substance P by intra-arterial injection into the NOD pancreas reverses abnormal insulin resistance, insulitis, and diabetes for weeks. Concordantly, insulin sensitivity is enhanced in trpv1(-/-) mice, whereas insulitis/diabetes-resistant NODxB6Idd4-congenic mice, carrying wild-type TRPV1, show restored TRPV1 function and insulin sensitivity. Our data uncover a fundamental role for insulin-responsive TRPV1(+) sensory neurons in beta cell function and diabetes pathoetiology.
PMID: 17174891
4. Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 1996 Jun;18(3):183-8
The role of substance P in the spinal dorsal horn in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases
Chen J, Li S, Liu Y, Wu S, Ji H.
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, CAMS, Beijing.
The aim of the present study is to explore the role of immunosuppression mediated by substance P (SP) in spinal dorsal horn (SDH) in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases. The experimental allergic neuritis (EAN), experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and adjuvant arthritis (AA) animal models were established in the guinea pigs and Wistar rats, respectively. The effects of alteration of SP activity in SDH on immune responses and the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases were observed. The results showed that decreasing activity of SP in SDH by pretreatment of capsaicin or intrathecal SP antagonist could enhance cellular and humoral immune responses and aggravate the autoimmune diseases, while intrathecal SP agonist could suppress the immunity and alleviate clinical signs. The contents of SP in SDH was elevated dramatically at the peak of immune responses. These results suggest that SDH SP might participate in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases. The increase of SP contents in SDH may inhibit the immune system via unknown pathway and ease clinical severity of the autoimmune disease, where SP might act as neurotransmitter in the immunoregulation of the negative feedback. To elevate SP content in SDH might be beneficial to the autoimmune diseases.
PMID: 9388989
5. Neuropeptides. 1991 Oct;20(2):73-8
Substance P and neurodegenerative disorders. A speculative review.
Barker R.
Department of Experimental Psychology, Cambridge, UK.
The causes of the neurodegenerative disorders of Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are unknown. It is proposed that all these disorders result primarily from a loss of trophic peptidergic neurotransmitter, possibly Substance P (SP). This loss in turn produces the classical neuronal degeneration seen in each of these diseases and occurs due to a combination of natural aging and chronic autoimmune destruction following a viral infection of the CNS, early in life. The loss is therefore slow and by the time of clinical presentation the inflammatory process is disappearing as the antigenic stimulus lessens with its removal. The implications of the theory in terms of future research and therapy are briefly discussed.
PMID: 1724684
6. http://www.links.net/vita/swat/course/shaman/heal.html
Shamans heal themselves.
By working through their own pain, they learn to help others.
wounded healin'
This appears a universal notion (if there is such a thing); from various shamanistic systems, as well as Greco-Roman mythology; I am reminded of Chiron, the wounded healer centaur:
"Hercules chased the maurauders all the way to Cape Malea, where Chiron himself was struck by one of Hercules' poisoned arrows, after it had passed through another centaur. The wound would have been fatal, but since Chiron was an immortal, he couldn't die of the wound, and its pain led him to a search for healing. In his search for a cure for his own wound, Chiron was the discoverer of medicine, which he taught to Asclepius."
- Chiron Mythology
In other cultures, particularly Siberian proto-Shamanic systems, healing proficiency is predicated on individual wounding and self-curation.
"But the primitive magician, the medicine man, or the shaman is not only a sick man; he is, above all, a sick man who has been cured, who has succeeded in curing himself."
- Mircea Eliade, Shamanism, page 27
Without delving into a world of detail, this preliminary sickness seems less than infectious. Perhaps the resulting celebration of destiny determines this, regardless, the sicknesses appear spiritual in origin; resulting from the shaman's need to experience pain and heal himself to become a shaman.
I am here reminded of Saint Francis of Assisi, who after a few months of fever recovered to embrace a severe ecstatic Christian mendicant life. I don't know that he was a healer, per se, but he certainly traversed the spirit realms for folks.
Once they've had their illness, or some other form of calling to the profession, many of the early shamanistic societies elaborated a ritual of pain and health to further train the shaman, or medecine man. They set up dismemberment rituals and mythology, where budding young healers and metaphysical wanderers are hacked into pieces then taken to heavenly surgeons who put together a new and improved shaman.
and/or their relatives sit around sticking cigarette butts in them for a few days.
Through this is achieved symbolic death and mystical resurrection.
Having gone through the process successfully themselves, they are thus prepared to help others through the process.
"If they have cured themselves and are able to cure others, it is, among other things, because they know the mechanism, or rather, the theory of illness."
- Mircea Eliade, Shamanism, page 31
Shaman sickness as medical training is obviated by Eskimos;
...the Eskimo neophyte must undergo a great initiatoy ordeal. Success in obtaining this experience requires his making a long effort of physical privation and mental contemplation directed to gaining the ability to see himself as a skeleton.
- Mircea Eliade, Shamanism, page 62
7. http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles2005/Articles0205/BTSmithA.html
BARBARA T. SMITH
Smith set up a role reversal in this epic performance, becoming a female Odysseus, organizing a journey to faraway sites from India to Norway (where she entered into the mythology of her personal ancestry in a journey paralleling Odysseus’ trip into the Underworld). Kit Galloway and Sherrie Rabinowitz of The Electronic Café International, set up communications between Smith and her partner, Dr. Roy Walford, a medical officer sealed in Biosphere 2 who became the male counterpart of Penelope. In an essay written for High Performance in 1987, Smith eerily predicted concerns she would carry on her Odyssey, including threats to life on the planet “that made the link between feminism, spirituality and ecology an obvious one,” and pleas for “the widespread recognition of the need and desire for an entirely new perception and method of living--capturing the power of the sun.”
Interlacing video projections with ephemera from the performances allows viewers’ to come closer to experiencing the cyclical and transformative nature of Smith’s work. But it is the catalog essays that enrich materials available in the gallery and compel deeper deliberation. Jennie Klein elaborates on Smith’s role as shaman.
8. http://www.grg.org/RWalford.htm
In a career that can only be described as colorful, Walford alternated years of intensive laboratory research on mice with yearlong sabbaticals in which he walked across India in a loincloth measuring the rectal temperatures of holy men, traversed the African continent on foot and lived in Biosphere 2, practicing what he called the Signpost Theory of Life..."I find it useful to punctuate time with dangerous and eccentric activities."
His most recent idea was that the immune system malfunctions during aging, producing an inappropriate response to pathogens that is manifested as the normal side effects of aging. ...
Upon graduation, what he later described as his periodic craziness took over, and he and Hibbs decided they wanted to sail around the world. Lacking money, a boat or the desire to earn the money working, they decided to try gambling. Analyzing roulette wheels, they found that each had its own idiosyncrasy, with certain numbers appearing more often than others. Armed with their observations and a borrowed $200, they tackled Las Vegas and Reno. They came away with $42,000, which allowed them to purchase the yacht of their dreams.
In addition to being a gifted scientist, Walford was also what one friend called a "cultural provocateur." Although he was on the clinical faculty at UCLA, he traveled with the Living Theater, writing reviews for the now-defunct Los Angeles Free Press. He wrote about the underground drug scene in Amsterdam before it became well known. His tastes were eclectic. He was close friends with members of the pop group Manhattan Transfer and "was into punk rock before the rest of us knew what it was about," UCLA's Cochran said. His adventures in India, Africa and Biosphere-2 got him elected to the Explorers Club.
He met and married Martha Sylvia Schwalb while he was in Chicago and they had three children, but the couple divorced after 20 years. After that, he gained notoriety for his large number of relationships with women. Friends joked that he wanted to extend his life span only because "there were too many women and too little time." Even so, he was a devoted father, his daughter Lisa said. "I majored in dance at UCLA, and he came to every performance I was in," she said. "He was my best friend."
Nerissa
Background information - this was originally written to be posted to the Calorie Restriction Society listserv. The CR Society practices calorie restriction for health and longevity. See http://www.calorierestriction.org/ for their web site. I've decided to post this to my blog instead of the CR listserv for various reasons I won't go into.
************************************************
Substance P (SP) is a chemical used by our nerves to communicate pain. It is located both in peripheral nerves and in the central nervous system. When SP is released our bodies and brain respond by producing protective agents against the SP. These agents include somatostatin (1) and beta-endorphins (natural narcotics). (1) indicates that somatostatin down regulated autoimmune disorders. (2) shows that beta-endorphins are lowered in autoimmune disorders.
In addition to these indirect effects SP has direct effects to down regulate autoimmune disorders. (3) shows SP has long lasting benefits in the treatment of autoimmune modulated diabetes. (4, 5) are also suggestive that substance P might be useful in limiting autoimmune disease.
Continuous exposure to high levels of substance P would not be pleasant. Constant pain is not much of a trade off for limiting the autoimmune diseases common with aging, for example. But what about intermittent pain? My belief is it might be quite beneficial. And particularly so if it is voluntarily received as in competitive athletics or various sexual activities I hope I don't have to explain to you.
Interestingly, cultures going back to the dawn of humanity have had mystic healers called by various names, Shamans being the common name today. These individuals were often what we would call gay or transgendered today. They are probably the first to discover the value of periodic pain for health. (6) explains more.
In a small world isn't it sort of way our founder Roy Walford may have known of some of this. (7) discusses his relationship with his performance artist girlfriend, Barbara T. Smith, at the time he was in Biosphere 2. Barbara appeared to have quite an interest in shamanism. Incidentally if you're new to our group you might think the founding inspiration of CR, Roy Walford would have been quite the stiff prude. After all isn't CR about "restriction?" Ah - but read it again. That is "CALORIE restriction." Not life restriction. (8) is his obituary which shows he really knew how to enjoy life and made doing so a priority. Also note that one of the last things he worked on was the role of immune system malfunctioning in aging.
1. Eur Cytokine Netw. 2000 Jun;11(2):161-76
Somatostatin and somatostatin receptors in the immune system: a review.
ten Bokum AM, Hofland LJ, van Hagen PM.
Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Communication and reciprocal regulation between the nervous, endocrine and immune systems are essential for the stability of the organism. Among others, cytokines, hormones and neuropeptides have been identified as signalling molecules mediating the communication between the three systems. This review focuses on the role of the neuropeptide somatostatin as an intersystem signalling molecule, with emphasis on the immune system. Somatostatin down-modulates a number of immune functions, among others lymphocyte proliferation, immunoglobulin production and the release of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN-g. Systemic or local treatment with somatostatin or somatostatin analogues has been shown to be beneficial in a number of in vivo models of autoimmune disease and chronic inflammation. In many of these models somatostatin appears to antagonise the effects of another neuropeptide, substance P. A somatostatin-substance P immunoregulatory circuit has been proposed to operate within murine Schistosoma mansoni-induced granulomas. In this review we extend the model of the somatostatin-substance P immunoregulatory circuit to include data derived from other biological systems, and those relying on human clinical situations. In addition, we present a hypothesis on the regulation of the default class of immune response within a tissue, based on the local balance of pro-and anti-inflammatory neuropeptides.
PMID: 10903795
2. J Neuroimmunol. 1999 Jun 1;97(1-2):129-33
Hypothalamic beta-endorphin concentrations are decreased in animals models of autoimmune disease.
Sacerdote P, Lechner O, Sidman C, Wick G, Panerai AE.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Milano, Milan, Italy. paola.sacerdote@unimi.it
Complex interactions between the neuroendocrine and the immune systems are present in autoimmune diseases. The central opioid peptide beta-endorphin (BE) has been shown to modulate peripheral immune responses in normal animals. In the present study we analyze the hypothalamic concentrations of this peptide in two models of spontaneous autoimmune disease, the MRL [corrected] lpr/lpr mouse, that develops a lupus-like autoimmune disease, and the obese strain (OS) chickens afflicted with spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis. In both instances, hypothalamic concentrations of BE are significantly lower than normal controls. In MRL [corrected] lpr/lpr mice, BE is already lower at 1 month of age, when no clinical sign of the disease is yet present. Similarly, low levels of BE are observed in OS chickens before the onset of thyroiditis, i.e., already at the embryonic stage. Moreover, a further decrease of BE is observed in OS chickens in correspondence with the first signs of thyroid mononuclear infiltration. Considering the immunosuppressive effects exerted by central BE, these results are suggestive of the fact that in autoimmune disease prone animals the low hypothalamic concentrations may be one of several factors predisposing for the development of autoimmune disease.
PMID: 10408966
3. Cell. 2006 Dec 15;127(6):1123-35
TRPV1+ sensory neurons control beta cell stress and islet inflammation in autoimmune diabetes.
Razavi R, Chan Y, Afifiyan FN, Liu XJ, Wan X, Yantha J, Tsui H, Tang L, Tsai S, Santamaria P, Driver JP, Serreze D, Salter MW, Dosch HM.
Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 1X8.
In type 1 diabetes, T cell-mediated death of pancreatic beta cells produces insulin deficiency. However, what attracts or restricts broadly autoreactive lymphocyte pools to the pancreas remains unclear. We report that TRPV1(+) pancreatic sensory neurons control islet inflammation and insulin resistance. Eliminating these neurons in diabetes-prone NOD mice prevents insulitis and diabetes, despite systemic persistence of pathogenic T cell pools. Insulin resistance and beta cell stress of prediabetic NOD mice are prevented when TRPV1(+) neurons are eliminated. TRPV1(NOD), localized to the Idd4.1 diabetes-risk locus, is a hypofunctional mutant, mediating depressed neurogenic inflammation. Delivering the neuropeptide substance P by intra-arterial injection into the NOD pancreas reverses abnormal insulin resistance, insulitis, and diabetes for weeks. Concordantly, insulin sensitivity is enhanced in trpv1(-/-) mice, whereas insulitis/diabetes-resistant NODxB6Idd4-congenic mice, carrying wild-type TRPV1, show restored TRPV1 function and insulin sensitivity. Our data uncover a fundamental role for insulin-responsive TRPV1(+) sensory neurons in beta cell function and diabetes pathoetiology.
PMID: 17174891
4. Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 1996 Jun;18(3):183-8
The role of substance P in the spinal dorsal horn in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases
Chen J, Li S, Liu Y, Wu S, Ji H.
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, CAMS, Beijing.
The aim of the present study is to explore the role of immunosuppression mediated by substance P (SP) in spinal dorsal horn (SDH) in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases. The experimental allergic neuritis (EAN), experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and adjuvant arthritis (AA) animal models were established in the guinea pigs and Wistar rats, respectively. The effects of alteration of SP activity in SDH on immune responses and the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases were observed. The results showed that decreasing activity of SP in SDH by pretreatment of capsaicin or intrathecal SP antagonist could enhance cellular and humoral immune responses and aggravate the autoimmune diseases, while intrathecal SP agonist could suppress the immunity and alleviate clinical signs. The contents of SP in SDH was elevated dramatically at the peak of immune responses. These results suggest that SDH SP might participate in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases. The increase of SP contents in SDH may inhibit the immune system via unknown pathway and ease clinical severity of the autoimmune disease, where SP might act as neurotransmitter in the immunoregulation of the negative feedback. To elevate SP content in SDH might be beneficial to the autoimmune diseases.
PMID: 9388989
5. Neuropeptides. 1991 Oct;20(2):73-8
Substance P and neurodegenerative disorders. A speculative review.
Barker R.
Department of Experimental Psychology, Cambridge, UK.
The causes of the neurodegenerative disorders of Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are unknown. It is proposed that all these disorders result primarily from a loss of trophic peptidergic neurotransmitter, possibly Substance P (SP). This loss in turn produces the classical neuronal degeneration seen in each of these diseases and occurs due to a combination of natural aging and chronic autoimmune destruction following a viral infection of the CNS, early in life. The loss is therefore slow and by the time of clinical presentation the inflammatory process is disappearing as the antigenic stimulus lessens with its removal. The implications of the theory in terms of future research and therapy are briefly discussed.
PMID: 1724684
6. http://www.links.net/vita/swat/course/shaman/heal.html
Shamans heal themselves.
By working through their own pain, they learn to help others.
wounded healin'
This appears a universal notion (if there is such a thing); from various shamanistic systems, as well as Greco-Roman mythology; I am reminded of Chiron, the wounded healer centaur:
"Hercules chased the maurauders all the way to Cape Malea, where Chiron himself was struck by one of Hercules' poisoned arrows, after it had passed through another centaur. The wound would have been fatal, but since Chiron was an immortal, he couldn't die of the wound, and its pain led him to a search for healing. In his search for a cure for his own wound, Chiron was the discoverer of medicine, which he taught to Asclepius."
- Chiron Mythology
In other cultures, particularly Siberian proto-Shamanic systems, healing proficiency is predicated on individual wounding and self-curation.
"But the primitive magician, the medicine man, or the shaman is not only a sick man; he is, above all, a sick man who has been cured, who has succeeded in curing himself."
- Mircea Eliade, Shamanism, page 27
Without delving into a world of detail, this preliminary sickness seems less than infectious. Perhaps the resulting celebration of destiny determines this, regardless, the sicknesses appear spiritual in origin; resulting from the shaman's need to experience pain and heal himself to become a shaman.
I am here reminded of Saint Francis of Assisi, who after a few months of fever recovered to embrace a severe ecstatic Christian mendicant life. I don't know that he was a healer, per se, but he certainly traversed the spirit realms for folks.
Once they've had their illness, or some other form of calling to the profession, many of the early shamanistic societies elaborated a ritual of pain and health to further train the shaman, or medecine man. They set up dismemberment rituals and mythology, where budding young healers and metaphysical wanderers are hacked into pieces then taken to heavenly surgeons who put together a new and improved shaman.
and/or their relatives sit around sticking cigarette butts in them for a few days.
Through this is achieved symbolic death and mystical resurrection.
Having gone through the process successfully themselves, they are thus prepared to help others through the process.
"If they have cured themselves and are able to cure others, it is, among other things, because they know the mechanism, or rather, the theory of illness."
- Mircea Eliade, Shamanism, page 31
Shaman sickness as medical training is obviated by Eskimos;
...the Eskimo neophyte must undergo a great initiatoy ordeal. Success in obtaining this experience requires his making a long effort of physical privation and mental contemplation directed to gaining the ability to see himself as a skeleton.
- Mircea Eliade, Shamanism, page 62
7. http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles2005/Articles0205/BTSmithA.html
BARBARA T. SMITH
Smith set up a role reversal in this epic performance, becoming a female Odysseus, organizing a journey to faraway sites from India to Norway (where she entered into the mythology of her personal ancestry in a journey paralleling Odysseus’ trip into the Underworld). Kit Galloway and Sherrie Rabinowitz of The Electronic Café International, set up communications between Smith and her partner, Dr. Roy Walford, a medical officer sealed in Biosphere 2 who became the male counterpart of Penelope. In an essay written for High Performance in 1987, Smith eerily predicted concerns she would carry on her Odyssey, including threats to life on the planet “that made the link between feminism, spirituality and ecology an obvious one,” and pleas for “the widespread recognition of the need and desire for an entirely new perception and method of living--capturing the power of the sun.”
Interlacing video projections with ephemera from the performances allows viewers’ to come closer to experiencing the cyclical and transformative nature of Smith’s work. But it is the catalog essays that enrich materials available in the gallery and compel deeper deliberation. Jennie Klein elaborates on Smith’s role as shaman.
8. http://www.grg.org/RWalford.htm
In a career that can only be described as colorful, Walford alternated years of intensive laboratory research on mice with yearlong sabbaticals in which he walked across India in a loincloth measuring the rectal temperatures of holy men, traversed the African continent on foot and lived in Biosphere 2, practicing what he called the Signpost Theory of Life..."I find it useful to punctuate time with dangerous and eccentric activities."
His most recent idea was that the immune system malfunctions during aging, producing an inappropriate response to pathogens that is manifested as the normal side effects of aging. ...
Upon graduation, what he later described as his periodic craziness took over, and he and Hibbs decided they wanted to sail around the world. Lacking money, a boat or the desire to earn the money working, they decided to try gambling. Analyzing roulette wheels, they found that each had its own idiosyncrasy, with certain numbers appearing more often than others. Armed with their observations and a borrowed $200, they tackled Las Vegas and Reno. They came away with $42,000, which allowed them to purchase the yacht of their dreams.
In addition to being a gifted scientist, Walford was also what one friend called a "cultural provocateur." Although he was on the clinical faculty at UCLA, he traveled with the Living Theater, writing reviews for the now-defunct Los Angeles Free Press. He wrote about the underground drug scene in Amsterdam before it became well known. His tastes were eclectic. He was close friends with members of the pop group Manhattan Transfer and "was into punk rock before the rest of us knew what it was about," UCLA's Cochran said. His adventures in India, Africa and Biosphere-2 got him elected to the Explorers Club.
He met and married Martha Sylvia Schwalb while he was in Chicago and they had three children, but the couple divorced after 20 years. After that, he gained notoriety for his large number of relationships with women. Friends joked that he wanted to extend his life span only because "there were too many women and too little time." Even so, he was a devoted father, his daughter Lisa said. "I majored in dance at UCLA, and he came to every performance I was in," she said. "He was my best friend."
Nerissa
A night out with the girls
Last evening was my last Saturday night before nursing school starts again. So, I made the most of it by going to a shall we say wild club in the Atlanta area. I wore a hot red high cut Mexican style dress with a plunging neck line plus matching heels.
Two days before this I'd been to the world premier of the L Word at Sky Bar in Atlanta along with a bunch of high fem lesbians. To my fortunate coincidence some of these ladies were at the club last night as well. Anyone with the impression that all lesbians are boring and butch need to hang out with my new friends.
Ignoring for the moment that I'm middle aged (if I live to be over 100!) and the women in their 20s I joined them and we had a really good time. Somehow I ended up on a large bed with two of them in various states of undress. Details not forth coming!
I'm normally into men and not women but the women from last night may just convince me I'm lesbian. I'll have to do some more "testing" of this with them in the future.
Nerissa
Two days before this I'd been to the world premier of the L Word at Sky Bar in Atlanta along with a bunch of high fem lesbians. To my fortunate coincidence some of these ladies were at the club last night as well. Anyone with the impression that all lesbians are boring and butch need to hang out with my new friends.
Ignoring for the moment that I'm middle aged (if I live to be over 100!) and the women in their 20s I joined them and we had a really good time. Somehow I ended up on a large bed with two of them in various states of undress. Details not forth coming!
I'm normally into men and not women but the women from last night may just convince me I'm lesbian. I'll have to do some more "testing" of this with them in the future.
Nerissa
Belly fat and endocannabinoids leads to questioning of our free will
I like to research the medical literature and find things that have unexpected influences on our personalities. Today's post is about belly fat, of all things.
Endocannabinoids are natural versions of the active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in marijuana. THC and similar natural endocannabinoids stimulate appetite. The weight loss drug, Acomplia (rimonabant) works by blocking the receptors to endocannabinoids.
(1) is a study of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue. This fat was shown to metabolize endogenous endocannabinoids. Consider the appetite implications. Lowering of endocannabinoids might lower appetite. Conversely, if the fat were removed as with liposuction appetite might increase. The study states that "human adipose tissue" is able to "metabolize endocannabinoids." I suspect this comment overstates the facts. All human adipose tissue was not studied. Only superficial belly fat was studied.
My observations and readings suggest this fat is unique in our body. For example, I have literally dieted to the point my bones started to deteriorate and still not been able to rid myself of this fat. I maybe got rid of a third of it. Meanwhile the rest of me had the anorexic look. I finally gave up and figure when I have some other surgeries in the future I'll have it moved north a bit.
(2) mentions that Acomplia might be useful for treating various addictions. The mechanism is by blocking the endocannabinoid receptor the feel good effects of addictive substances ranging from rich foods, to tobacco to alcohol and more would be blocked.
Besides the fact that my research shows this is likely to increase cancer risk long term I find the philosophy behind the approach abysmal. As an analogy imagine a person with a sky high libido. This sort of approach would cure the "problem" by eliminating the libido. I think a better approach would be to introduce the person to someone with an equally high libido. Why in the world would be want to limit addictive personalities when the same qualities in a person could be used to become addicted to productive things? I see Acomplia good for short term use only but suspect many people will use it long term rather than take the time to develop alternative addictions less harmful to themselves or even beneficial.
Anyway, I find it amazing to what extent our personalities are affected by things like belly fat, diet, our hormone status and much more. Do we really have the power of self determination or are we simply responding to our internal and external environments?
1. Biochimie. 2006 Dec;88(12):1889-97 Human adipose tissue binds and metabolizes the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol.
Spoto B, Fezza F, Parlongo G, Battista N, Sgro' E, Gasperi V, Zoccali C, Maccarrone M.
CNR-IBIM, National Research Council Institute of Biomedicine-Clinical Epidemiology and Physiophatology of Renal Disease and Hypertension & Urology Unit, c/o Ki Point-Gransial Srl, Via Filippini, n.85, 89125 Reggio Calabria, Italy.
Endocannabinoids are a group of biologically active endogenous lipids that have recently emerged as important mediators in energy balance control. The two best studied endocannabinoids, anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the endogenous ligands of the central and peripheral cannabinoid receptors. Furthermore, AEA binds to the transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1), a capsaicin-sensitive, non-selective cation channel. The synthesis of these endocannabinoids is catalyzed by the N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-selective phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) and the sn-1-selective diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL), whereas their degradation is accomplished by the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and the monoglyceride lipase (MGL), respectively. We investigated the presence of a functional endocannabinoid system in human adipose tissue from seven healthy subjects. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue underwent biochemical and molecular biology analyses, aimed at testing the expression of this system and its functional activity. AEA and 2-AG levels were detected and quantified by HPLC. Real time PCR analyzed the expression of the endocannabinoid system and immunofluorescence assays showed the distribution of its components in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, binding assay for the cannabinoid and vanilloid receptors and activity assay for each metabolic enzyme of the endocannabinoid system gave clear evidence of a fully operating system. The data presented herein show for the first time that the human adipose tissue is able to bind AEA and 2-AG and that it is endowed with the biochemical machinery to metabolize endocannabinoids.PMID: 16949718
2. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/09/health/main654629.shtml
NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2004(AP / CBS)
(AP) A pill that helps you lose weight and quit smoking? That was amazing enough to capture headlines last week. But scientists say the experimental drug might be even more versatile, providing a new tool to help people stop abusing drugs and alcohol, too.
It's called rimonabant, or Acomplia, and last week researchers reported it could help people not only lose weight but keep it off for two years.
That burnished the drug's reputation after two studies in March, which suggested it could fight both obesity and smoking, two of humanity's biggest killers.
The French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Aventis SA plans to seek federal approval for rimonabant next year.
But the drug's benefits may go beyond just smokers and obese people, researchers say.
"I think it's going to have a big impact on the treatment of addiction," said Dr. Charles O'Brien, an addiction expert at the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Animal studies suggest rimonabant can block the effects of marijuana and fight relapse in alcohol and cocaine abuse, he said. Once it is approved for treating obesity or smoking, "we'll be free to study it in these other areas and I'll try to get my hands on it as quickly as possible," O'Brien said.
Nerissa
Endocannabinoids are natural versions of the active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in marijuana. THC and similar natural endocannabinoids stimulate appetite. The weight loss drug, Acomplia (rimonabant) works by blocking the receptors to endocannabinoids.
(1) is a study of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue. This fat was shown to metabolize endogenous endocannabinoids. Consider the appetite implications. Lowering of endocannabinoids might lower appetite. Conversely, if the fat were removed as with liposuction appetite might increase. The study states that "human adipose tissue" is able to "metabolize endocannabinoids." I suspect this comment overstates the facts. All human adipose tissue was not studied. Only superficial belly fat was studied.
My observations and readings suggest this fat is unique in our body. For example, I have literally dieted to the point my bones started to deteriorate and still not been able to rid myself of this fat. I maybe got rid of a third of it. Meanwhile the rest of me had the anorexic look. I finally gave up and figure when I have some other surgeries in the future I'll have it moved north a bit.
(2) mentions that Acomplia might be useful for treating various addictions. The mechanism is by blocking the endocannabinoid receptor the feel good effects of addictive substances ranging from rich foods, to tobacco to alcohol and more would be blocked.
Besides the fact that my research shows this is likely to increase cancer risk long term I find the philosophy behind the approach abysmal. As an analogy imagine a person with a sky high libido. This sort of approach would cure the "problem" by eliminating the libido. I think a better approach would be to introduce the person to someone with an equally high libido. Why in the world would be want to limit addictive personalities when the same qualities in a person could be used to become addicted to productive things? I see Acomplia good for short term use only but suspect many people will use it long term rather than take the time to develop alternative addictions less harmful to themselves or even beneficial.
Anyway, I find it amazing to what extent our personalities are affected by things like belly fat, diet, our hormone status and much more. Do we really have the power of self determination or are we simply responding to our internal and external environments?
1. Biochimie. 2006 Dec;88(12):1889-97 Human adipose tissue binds and metabolizes the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol.
Spoto B, Fezza F, Parlongo G, Battista N, Sgro' E, Gasperi V, Zoccali C, Maccarrone M.
CNR-IBIM, National Research Council Institute of Biomedicine-Clinical Epidemiology and Physiophatology of Renal Disease and Hypertension & Urology Unit, c/o Ki Point-Gransial Srl, Via Filippini, n.85, 89125 Reggio Calabria, Italy.
Endocannabinoids are a group of biologically active endogenous lipids that have recently emerged as important mediators in energy balance control. The two best studied endocannabinoids, anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the endogenous ligands of the central and peripheral cannabinoid receptors. Furthermore, AEA binds to the transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1), a capsaicin-sensitive, non-selective cation channel. The synthesis of these endocannabinoids is catalyzed by the N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-selective phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) and the sn-1-selective diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL), whereas their degradation is accomplished by the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and the monoglyceride lipase (MGL), respectively. We investigated the presence of a functional endocannabinoid system in human adipose tissue from seven healthy subjects. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue underwent biochemical and molecular biology analyses, aimed at testing the expression of this system and its functional activity. AEA and 2-AG levels were detected and quantified by HPLC. Real time PCR analyzed the expression of the endocannabinoid system and immunofluorescence assays showed the distribution of its components in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, binding assay for the cannabinoid and vanilloid receptors and activity assay for each metabolic enzyme of the endocannabinoid system gave clear evidence of a fully operating system. The data presented herein show for the first time that the human adipose tissue is able to bind AEA and 2-AG and that it is endowed with the biochemical machinery to metabolize endocannabinoids.PMID: 16949718
2. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/11/09/health/main654629.shtml
NEW YORK, Nov. 15, 2004(AP / CBS)
(AP) A pill that helps you lose weight and quit smoking? That was amazing enough to capture headlines last week. But scientists say the experimental drug might be even more versatile, providing a new tool to help people stop abusing drugs and alcohol, too.
It's called rimonabant, or Acomplia, and last week researchers reported it could help people not only lose weight but keep it off for two years.
That burnished the drug's reputation after two studies in March, which suggested it could fight both obesity and smoking, two of humanity's biggest killers.
The French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Aventis SA plans to seek federal approval for rimonabant next year.
But the drug's benefits may go beyond just smokers and obese people, researchers say.
"I think it's going to have a big impact on the treatment of addiction," said Dr. Charles O'Brien, an addiction expert at the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
Animal studies suggest rimonabant can block the effects of marijuana and fight relapse in alcohol and cocaine abuse, he said. Once it is approved for treating obesity or smoking, "we'll be free to study it in these other areas and I'll try to get my hands on it as quickly as possible," O'Brien said.
Nerissa
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