The utilization of natural antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress is a promising therapeutic approach to prevent diseases by reducing ROS. Flavonoids, phenolic compounds, antioxidant vitamins like vitamin C, and amino acids such as N-acetyl cysteine are commonly used as a single unit or mixed to provide beneficial effects. These improvements can be traced to mitochondrial function, antibacterial effects to heavy metal elimination and detoxification.

Detox as weight gain solution?

Commonly, detox diets or supplementations are thought to serve as a weight loss solution. Nevertheless, a detox regime comprises laxatives, vitamins, minerals, bioactive compounds called “cleansing foods,” starvation fasts, high fiber smoothies or juices, and even a sauna to eliminate the toxins from the body. A typical detox or cleanse is not precisely targeted to weight loss. The vitamin content may help metabolic pathways and reduce inflammation but not be considered weight loss mechanisms.

Body composition

The correct assessment of body composition can be attainable through bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). This assessment can provide a better understanding of intracellular water content and body compartments.

 

Toxin

The word “toxin” is loosely used and could refer to environmental pollutants such as synthetic chemicals, heavy metals, processed foods, or even harsh cleaning products. However, detox programs never claim to eliminate a particular contaminant. They have been commercially focused de stop a wide range of toxins.

 

 

So how does detox work? Most detox uses a mix of antioxidant vitamins, phenolic and bioactive compounds that target different metabolic pathways and up-regulate antioxidant enzyme production and function or binding to harmful substances and excreting them through the gastrointestinal tract. Here is a list of the multiple active compounds used as a detox and their process.

 

Vitamins

 

Vitamins A ((retinol, retinoic acid), vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid, ascorbate), vitamin E (α-tocopherol), β-carotene are commonly used as antioxidants. An antioxidant is defined as any substance able to eliminate ROS and derivatives (RNS, or reactive sulfur species, RSS), directly or indirectly, acting as an antioxidant defense regulator, or reactive species production inhibition.

 

Vitamin C

 

An acute deficiency of vitamin C is associated with an increased metabolic consumption due to critical illness-induced oxidative stress. Indeed, conditions such as trauma, ischemia/reperfusion injury, and sepsis can trigger oxidative stress, and vitamin C could become insufficient to cover the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

As part of the injury-induced inflammatory response, the release of proinflammatory cytokines by Nf-Kb, and ROS’s overproduction leading to uncoupling of mitochondrial phosphorylation, activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, lipoxygenase, cyclooxygenase and inducible nitric oxidase (iNOS), and oxidation of catecholamines. Lastly, if Vitamin C cannot provide enough antioxidant support to counteract the ROS, this will lead to cellular injury, endothelial dysfunction, and progressive organ failure.

 

Pleiotropic Effects of Vitamin C

 

Antioxidant
Direct radical scavenger	Superoxide Peroxynitrite
Reduction of ROS-production	Inhibition of activation of NADPH oxidase Inhibition of activation of xanthine oxidase Reduction of leakage of electrons from the E- transport chain Inhibition of iNOS
Regeneration of antioxidants	a-tocopherol, protecting against lipid peroxidation Glutathione Urate Tetrahydrobiopterin
Anti-inflammatory	Inhibition of NF-kB, reducing pro-inflammatory mediators
Immune support	Improvement of chemotaxis Stimulation of interferon production Enhancement of neutrophilic bacterial killing Support of lymphocyte proliferation Modulating regulatory T-cells Inhibiting bacterial replication Production of host defense peptides
Cofactor/co-substrate biosynthesis
Dopamine Norepinephrine Vasopressin Serotonin Cortisol Collagen	Recycling BH4, a cofactor of tyrosine hydroxylase Peptidylglycine cofactor
Increase of catecholamine sensitivity	Binding adrenergic receptors
Tightening of endothelial barrier	Improves function of tight junctions
Improving microcirculatory potency	Inhibition of TNF-a

 

N-acetyl-cysteine

 

N-acetyl-cysteine is the natural derivate of the amino acid L-cysteine. Since 1960, NAc has been used as a mucolytic, and later it was applied to the treatment of acetaminophen poisoning.

 

• Mucolytic action: NAC can break disulfide bridges of glycoproteins of mucus. This results in reduced viscosity.
• Acetaminophen poisoning: NAC can replenish hepatic glutathione (GSH).

 

NAC’s antioxidant activity can be related to these mechanisms:

 

• Direct scavenger of specific ROS and oxidative species.
• Cys precursor, which is a building block of glutathione synthesis promoting the synthesis and function of several antioxidant enzymes
• A breaking effect on disulfides and the ability to restore thiol pools, which regulate the redox state.

 

The utilization of multiple vitamins or amino acids, such as Vitamin C and NAC as antioxidants has been widely used and studied with positive results. The clinical applications of these compounds are the result of their mayor interaction with antioxidant enzymes or electron donation potential, which ultimately reduce oxidative stress. It is outstanding to use these compounds to target toxicity, scavenge free radicals and enhance glutathione function to counteract acute conditions. – Ana Paola R. Arciniega. Master in Clinical Nutrition.

 

 

 

References

 

Spoelstra-de Man, Angélique M E et al. “Vitamin C: should we supplement?.” Current opinion in critical care vol. 24,4 (2018): 248-255. doi:10.1097/MCC.0000000000000510

 

Aldini, Giancarlo, et al. “N-Acetylcysteine as an antioxidant and disulphide breaking agent: the reasons why.” Free radical research 52.7 (2018): 751-762.

 

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Disclaimer

 

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the musculoskeletal system’s injuries or disorders. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and issues that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us 915-850-0900.  Read More…

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, CTG*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
phone: 915-850-0900
Licensed in Texas & New Mexico