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Renagen Intensive Care Prescription only. Renagen Intensive Care contains herbs and minerals for the support of urinary functions. It helps with fluid and electrolyte regulation associated with occlusion or inflammation.
Herbs and Nutrients that may Assist Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus) Olive leaf (Olea europaea) Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva ursi) Dandelion leaf (Taraxacum officinale) Potassium chloride Magnesium citrate Oregano oil Dosage: 2-6 tablets daily Clinical Applications Urogenital infections, inflammation, irritation: Cystitis / urethritis Dysuria Haematuria Gout Kidney stones Hypertension Oedema Scientific Research Urogenital infections Cranberry helps to prevent and control Urinary Tract Infections due to its hippuric acid, oligosaccharide and proanthocyanidin content. In one study, 73% of patients showed good improvement.
Olive Leaf has several applications in this formula. It lowers blood pressure (due to the action of its bitter iridoid glycoside, oleuropein), inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, and increases circulation to the heart. More importantly, it is rapidly gaining a reputation as "the total antimicrobial". Again, it appears to be the oleuropein that is the major active constituent. It has been found active against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, malaria (Plasmodium spp.), and meningitis. It also inhibits or suppresses many types of viruses (due to calcium elenolate), a hydrolysis product of oleuropein that prevents virus shedding, budding or assembly at the cell membrane. It also penetrates infected host cells to irreversibly inhibit viral replication. Such viruses include HIV, the common cold, influenza, Epstein-Barr Virus, Herpes simplex Virus Types 1 and 2, Herpes zoster (shingles), and all three forms of the Polio viruses. Bearberry is traditionally used in the treatment of infections of the urinary tract. It contains arbutin, which hydrolyzes in the urine to the antiseptic hydroquinone. Dandelion leaf is the most powerful herbal diuretic, facilitating the flushing of toxins and microbes from the urinary tissues. Potassium chloride is included to compensate for any potassium loss through diuresis, as is magnesium citrate, which also reduces calcification through its alkalising effect. Incidentally, this alkalising action will potentiate the antiseptic action of bearberry. Oregano oil provides additional antimicrobial action as it is excreted. Avorn, J., et al. Reduction of bacteriuria and pyuria after ingestion of cranberry juice. Journal of the American Medical Association. 271(10):751 - 754, 1994.2 Azfriri, D., et al. Inhibitory activity of cranberry juice on adherence of type 1 and type P fimbriated Escherichia coli to eucaryotic cells. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 33:92-98, 1989.3 Howell, A. B., et al. Inhibition of the adherence of P-fimbriated Eschericia coli to uroepithelial-cell surfaces by proanthocyanidins extracts from cranberries. The New England Journal of Medicine. 339:1085-1086, 1998. 4 Renis, H. E. In vitro antiviral activity of calcium elenolate. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 1969:167-171, 1970.5 Juven, et al. Studies on the mechanism of the antimicrobial action of oleuropein. Journal of Applied Bacteriology. 35:559-567, 1972.6 Privitera, J. R. Olive Leaf Extract: A New/Old Healing Bonanza for Mankind. 1996.7 Walker, M., DPM. Olive leaf extract: The total antimicrobial. Nutrition Science News. 3(1):18-19, 1998.8 Pengelly A. The Constituents of Medicinal Plants. Sunflower Herbals, 1996.9 Sivropolou, A., et al. Antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of Origanum essential oils. J Agric Food Chem. 44:1202-1205, 1996.Chromium picolinate Chromium picolinate is currently recognised as the most absorbable form of chromium available. Chromium deficiency states are well-known in our society and many research trials show chromium (especially in the picolinate form) is required for, and improves insulin sensitivity, reduces basal glucose levels and reduces hyperinsulin states4 5 . By improving insulin action, chromium is known to have an anabolic effect (insulin is an important anabolic hormone). Chromium picolinate supplementation has been seen to increase lean muscle mass6 . As muscle is the prime tissue responsible for glucose disposal, this anabolic effect of chromium picolinate will further improve insulin sensitivity and glucose control while improving the key biomarker of ageing. This form of chromium has also been demonstrated exert an anabolic effect on bone to increase bone density7 . This is thought largely to be due to its effects on improving insulin sensitivity which increases insulin anabolic effects. In the same study chromium picolinate raised DHEA levels which may also have a role bone density. Chromium picolinate demonstrates numerous beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Hypertension is a key feature of syndrome X of which insulin resistance is the central factor. Improving insulin sensitivity is expected to reduce blood pressure when hyperinsulinaemia is contributory, which is very frequently. Supplementation with chromium picolinate shows it to reduce blood pressure.8 Elevated blood lipids is also a feature of Syndrome X and chromium picolinate has similarly reduced the levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B9 . HDL cholesterol increased in this trial which means that the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL got smaller. This ratio is another key biomarker of ageing. Chromium picolinate is not an antioxidant however supplementation has resulted in reduced oxidant stress.
Magnesium diglycinate Magnesium diglycinate is the most absorbable form of magnesium, with the least gastrointestinal side-effects, and has been clearly demonstrated to have significant beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. Research trials show magnesium to be a commonly deficient nutrient and to improve insulin sensitivity, glucose control, stress levels10 , blood pressure11 , inflammation, antioxidant defence12 , muscle mass, bone integrity and cardiovascular risk factors.Interestingly, magnesium deficiency contributes to poor insulin action which in turn results in accelerated magnesium excretion7 . This worsening vicious cycle of magnesium depletion and insulin resistance appears to be a core issue in this increasingly prevalent condition and high quality, high dose magnesium supplementation is essential in the effective treatment of insulin resistance, obesity and any of the other previously mentioned magnesium dependent pathologies13 14 .
Zinc A huge volume of literature is available showing that zinc deficiency is very common and important in the vast majority of enzymatic biochemical reactions and pathways. Zinc is known to be required for effective glucose metabolism and supplementation is indicated in these patients15 . Test patients’ levels with the Zinc Taste Test and supplement with Zinc Liquid for optimal repletion. Pyruvate This is an exciting nutrient that has recently become available, with a wide range of very important actions and applications. Pyruvate is an intermediate in glucose and fat metabolism and supplementation with pyruvate has been shown to dramatically affect these. Pyruvate supplementation improves insulin sensitivity, glucose control, increases lean body mass, decreases body fat percentage16 17 and increases resting metabolic rate18 19 20 . The implications for pyruvate in the treatment of obesity, type II diabetes and Syndrome X is very exciting.
Glutamine Supplementation with glutamine has demonstrated beneficial effects on glucose control and elevated insulin levels. This may in part be due to glutamine’s ability to reduce elevated levels of fat in the blood. High serum fat induces insulin resistance, and glutamine both reduces the circulating fat levels and improves insulin sensitivity21 . The same research found that the administration of glutamine resulted in an increase in lean muscle mass and a decrease in body fat percentage. This may also be contributory to improved glucose control.
Conjugate linoleic acid and weight loss Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is an novel and exciting addition to natural medicine. Combining two molecules of linoleic acid to form CLA alters the function of this essential fatty acid in several ways and appears to dramatically improve its therapeutic ability22 . Research on the application of CLA for weight loss has shown it to promote normalisation of both fat mass and lean muscle mass. Reductions of 20% of body fat have been seen after 3 months of supplementation23 . Accompanying this fat reduction has been an increase in muscle mass with its expected improvements in glucose tolerance. Studies on animals show CLA has dramatic effects on body composition to increase lean muscle mass and reduce body fat percentage. Mice fed CLA exhibited as 57-60% reduction in body fat percentage with a concomitant increase in lean muscle mass of 5-14%24 . Other researchers have shown CLA to lower blood cholesterol levels and to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis25 .
Antioxidants The combining of high quality proteins, specific oxidant inhibiting minerals with the new antioxidants, pyruvate and CLA, provides a potent antioxidant complex. This is especially useful for the detoxification aspect.
Conjugated linoleic acid Linoleic acid, being a polyunsaturated fatty acid, has pro-oxidant activity due to its high density of double bonds. Linoleic acid in the conjugated form (CLA) is the exact opposite - a potent antioxidant agent. Many of the beneficial effects of CLA are due to its potent free radical quenching ability26 . Making CLA even more effective and unique amongst antioxidants is that it has been shown to prevent oxidant formation. The dual effect of preventing free radical production and the neutralising effect on the radical make CLA a novel and potent antioxidant.
Pyruvate Not unlike CLA in its antioxidant abilities, pyruvate both quenches free radicals and inhibits their production. Other agents which have this dual effect are unknown at this time and combining the two makes for potent antioxidant defence.
Selenium Minerals have no antioxidant ability in themselves, however they are important structural components of our naturally produced antioxidant enzymes. Selenium is vital to their efficient activity of our most important intracellular antioxidant – glutathione. By forming a structural role in the enzyme glutathione peroxidase selenium fulfils the role of optimising the activity of the antioxidant, heavy metal chelating and liver detoxifying enzyme glutathione. Recent research also suggests that selenium is able to directly chelate with heavy metals, thereby facilitating their elimination.
Magnesium Low levels of magnesium lead to extensive oxidant stress. Magnesium is required for free radical defence and deficiency causes increased adrenal production of catecholamines. The production of excessive catecholamines is associated with psychological stress and increased free radical production.
Conclusion The high quality proteins, when combined with the best mineral complexes and the nutrients, pyruvate and conjugated linoleic acid, is a leap forward in nutritional therapeutics with important applications for Zone based diets and detoxification, antioxidant protection, reduction of blood lipids and many other important conditions. See Metagenics Biomarkers Seminar for full discussion of these nutrients.
REFERENCES 1 Goyer RA. Toxic and essential metal interactions. Annu Rev Nut 1997;17:37-50. 2 Edelson GW, Sowers JR. Insulin Resistance in Hypertension: A Focused Review. Am J Med Sci 1993;306(5):345-347. 3 Despres JP, Lamarche B, Mauriege P. Hyperinsulinaemia as an independent risk factor for ischaemic heart disease. N Engl J Med 1996;334:952-7. 4 Anderson RA, et al. Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes 1997; 46: 1786-1791. 5 Preuss HG. Effects of glucose/insulin perturbations on ageing and chronic disorders of ageing: the evidence. J Am Coll Nutr Oct 1997;16(5):397-403. 6 Bahadori B, et al. Effect of chromium yeast and chromium picolinate on body composition of obese, non-diabetic patients during and after a formula diet. Acta Med Austriaca 1997;24(5):185-7. 7 McCarty MF. Anabolic effects of insulin on bone suggests a role for chromium picolinate in preservation of bone density. Med Hypotheses 1995;45(3):241-246. 8 Preuss HG, Grojec PL, Lieberman S, Anderson RA. Effects of different chromium compounds on blood pressure and lipid peroxidation in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Clin Nephrol 1997;47(5):325-330. 9 Press RI, Geller J, Evans GW. The effect of chromium picolinate on serum cholesterol and apolipoprotein fractions in human subjects. West J Med 1990;152(1):41-45. 10 Hua H, Gonzales J, Rude, RK. Magnesium transport induced ex vivo by a pharmacological dose of insulin is impaired in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Magnesium Research 1995; 8(4): 359-366. 11 Nadler JL, et al. Magnesium deficiency produces insulin resistance and increased thromboxane synthesis. Hypertension Jun 1993;21(6 Pt 2):1024-9. 12 Rayssiguier Y, Durlach J, Gueux E, Rock E, Mazur A. Magnesium and ageing. I. Experimental data: importance of oxidative damage. Magnes Res Dec 1993; 6(4): 369-78. 13 Lefebvre PJ, Paolisso G, Scheen AJ. Magnesium and glucose metabolism. Therapie Jan-Feb 1994;49(1):1-7. 14 Tosiello L. Hypomagnesaemia and diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med 1996;156:1143-4. 15 Blostein-Fujii A, et al. Short-term zinc supplementation in women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: effects on plasma 5'-nucleotidase activities, insulin-like growth factor I concentrations, and lipoprotein oxidation rates in vitro. Am J Clin Nutr 1997;66:639-42. 16 Stanko RT, Adibi SA. Inhibition of lipid accumulation and enhancement of energy expenditure by the addition of pyruvate and dihydroxyacetone to a rat diet. Clin Res 1992;30:550A. 17 Stanko RT, Ferguson TL, Newman CW, Newman RK. Reduction of carcass fat in swine with dietary addition of dihydroxyacetone and pyruvate. J Anim Sci 1989;67:1272-1278. 18 Stanko RT, Arch JE. Inhibition of regain in body weight and fat with addition of 3-carbon compounds to the diet with hyperenergetic refeeding after weight reduction. 19 Ivy JL, et al. Effects of pyruvate on the metabolism and insulin resistance of obese Zucker rats. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59:331-7. 20 Stanko RT, Arch JE. Inhibition of regain in body weight and fat with addition of 3-carbon compounds to the diet with hyperenergetic refeeding after weight reduction. 21 Opara EC, et al. L-Glutamine supplementation of a high fat diet reduces body weight and attenuates hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in C57BL/6J Mice. J Nutr 1996;126:273-279. 22 Belury MA. Conjugated dienoic linoleate: A polyunsaturated fatty acid with unique chemoprotective properties. 23 Thom E. A pilot study with the aim of studying the efficacy and tolerability of CLA on the body composition in humans. Medstat Research Ltd July 1997. 24 Park Y; Albright KJ; Liu W; Storkson JM; Cook ME; Pariza MW. Effect of conjugated linoleic acid on body composition in mice. Lipids 1997;32(8):853-8. 25 Nicolosi RJ, Rogers EJ, Kritchevsky D, Scimeca JA, Huth PJ. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid reduces plasma lipoproteins and early aortic atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolaemic hamsters. Artery 1997;22(5):266-77. 26 Ip C, Chin SF, Scimeca JA, Parisa MW. Mammary cancer prevention by conjugated dienoic derivative of linoleic acid. Cancer Res Nov 1991;51(22):6118-24.Antioxidants |
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