Would you believe we have something in common with a honey-baked ham and a meringue pie – glycation!
Glycation is the process of cross-linking sugar with protein and applying heat. The brown glaze on a honey ham is glycation. Combining egg white and sugar to make meringue is glycation. In our bodies, sugar interacts with protein on a very long 98 degree cooking cycle, and over years will produce a “sludge” of glycation end products within the cells. This “sludge” builds up over years getting more and more cross-linked and oxidized until they become “advanced glycation end-products” or AGEs. These AGEs are toxic to cells and evidence suggests they may contribute to several degenerative diseases including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and cancer.
Carnosine is nature’s perfect remedy for AGEs formation. Carnosine is a simple combination of two amino acids, beta-alanine and l-histidine, and has been shown to prevent AGE formation as well as protect against protein and lipid oxidation and protein-protein cross-linking. It also mops up aldehydes which are toxic by-products of the breakdown of fats, sugars and proteins. Carnosine is also a potent anti-oxidant and chelator of toxic metals. I especially recommend Carnosine for diabetic patients given the higher blood sugar levels they need to contend with. Vitamins C, E, and alpha-lipoic acid are other supplements shown to reduce glycation.
Another process that needs addressed is methylation and homocysteine. Homocysteine is an important amino acid involved in the recycling of sulfur-containing amino acids in the body. It is a potent oxidant and neurotoxin that will damage the linings of the artery walls, encourage artery plaque, and destroy the protective sheath of nerve fibers. High levels of homocysteine are associated with heart disease, stroke and peripheral artery disease.
Methylation is simply a chemical process that involves moving a methyl group from one chemical to another. In order for our bodies to process homocysteine it requires methylation reactions, which demand adequate levels of Vitamins B12, B6 and Folate. Individuals who are low in these vitamins have high levels of homocysteine, while supplementing them will lower homocysteine in most people. For about 20% of people another pathway must be utilized to lower homocysteine, and it requires supplementing with trimethylglycine (TMG), providing an alternate route for methylation.
There are over 40 studies confirming the predictive value of homocysteine as a marker for various diseases. A recent study found it to be the only helpful predictor of heart disease in elderly people. Methylation support is key to lowering homocysteine levels.
Recommended daily intakes for the above mentioned supplements are vitamins are: Vitamin B12 200-300 mcg, Folate 600-800 mcg, TMG 350mg, Carnosine 1000mg, Vitamin C 1,500mg, Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 600 IU (gamma or mixed-tocopherols) 200mg and alpha-lipoic acid 100mg.
This is the last in a series of articles on choosing dietary supplements. The entire series is available online at www.imcwc.com in the news and references section. The seminar “How to Choose a Supplement” is presented at the Integrative Medicine Center and is also available for download at www.lumigrate.com.
Bio
Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He specializes in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement, thyroid disorders, fibromyalgia and other complex medical conditions. As medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com) he collaborates with all the providers in a weekly Collaborative Care Conference where patient treatment is planned.
