INTRODUCTION
In 1999, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Gunter Blobel for the discovery that proteins have intrinsic signals that govern their transport and localization in the cell. He built on this research into how cells use these signals that the functions of glycoproteins were discovered.
Glycoproteins are molecules that have sugars and proteins linked together. The sugar chains of glycoproteins play a role in determining their fate in the cell or body. The attachment of sugars to proteins to form glycoproteins significantly alters the properties of these proteins.
There are eight sugars that efficiently bind to proteins to form glycoproteins, these are: xylose, galactose, glucose, mannose, fucose, N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylneuraminic acid.
WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF GLYCOPROTEINS?
Glycans contain biological information and are the specific sequence of sugars on a glycoprotein that determine its recognition and interaction with other molecules in the cell, often resulting in a biological effect or response. These impart their function to the glycoproteins.
Glycoproteins have many functions in the human body. Some functions of interest is that they are used structurally in the body to form some types of collagen; or they are involved in cell-cell interactions, such as proteins involved in sperm-egg interactions during fertilization or how cells come together to form tissues and communicate with each other. They also function in cell signaling.
Cell signaling is the related study of how healthy cells respond appropriately to various stimuli, eg, hormones, growth factors, drugs, cell-cell contact, etc. Glycoproteins on the surface of one cell bind to glycoprotein receptors on another cell, allowing the cells to communicate with each other. These communications then result in other cellular events, such as secretion of bioactive substances, destruction of bacteria and cell debris, inhibition of adhesion necessary for bacterial infection. Conversely, the responses may be inappropriate in certain diseases, such as cancer and cancer cell metastasis.
Lectins, for example, are proteins that selectively bind to glycans. One lectin will recognize and bind to mannose at the end of a glycan, while others will recognize and bind to glycans that contain fucose, galactose, or other sugars. A class of lectins called selectins helps white blood cells reach sites of inflammation.
WHAT IS GLUCONUTRITION?
Glyconutrition is the supplementation of the 8 major sugars needed by the body from glycoproteins. They are considered essential nutrients, just like essential amino acids or essential fatty acids, meaning you must get them from your diet.
WHY IS GLUCONUTRITION CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL?
Metabolic pathways exist for the synthesis of sugars other than glucose from glucose, and glucose has long been thought to be the most important dietary sugar; It has recently been shown that glycoprotein formation actually prefers to use essential sugars other than glucose (eg, mannose) provided in the diet as substrates. In fact, if only glucose is supplied, the liver malfunctions due to a lack of other essential sugars, indicating that the body simply cannot synthesize all the other essential sugars from glucose to the extent that they are needed.
WHERE DO YOU GET THE 8 SUGARS IN THE DIET?
These 8 sugars will only appear in vine-ripened fruits and vegetables; this essentially means that the fruit or vegetable ripens on the plant. However, this is a process that no longer occurs in modern agriculture. Much of our fruit and vegetables are picked while green and artificially ripened before being placed on supermarket shelves. This unfortunately means that we have to supplement with them to obtain the eight necessary sugars essential for health.
HOW CAN THE CORRECT FORMATION OF GLYCOPROTEINS CONTRIBUTE TO DISEASE MANAGEMENT?
As can be seen from the previous paragraphs, glycoproteins are vital in the health and maintenance of the human body; so much so, that extensive research has been conducted on them in relation to certain diseases.
Implications for cancer. Research has shown that there are changes in the sugars in the glycoproteins of cancer cells. These changes are related to the cancer cell’s adhesion properties and its ability to stick to other cells in the body or metastasize. These altered glycoproteins may also be related to the tumor’s ability to avoid immune system responses. Altered glycoproteins have been found in cancers of the intestine, pancreas, liver, ovary, prostate, and lung.
Glycoproteins that have mannose in their structure have been shown to activate macrophages (a cell of the immune system), one of the most important cells involved in fighting cancer. In addition, the release of substances by the macrophage is stimulated, which activates natural killer cells (another cell of the immune system involved in the elimination of cancer cells).
Implications for chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. The main symptoms of these conditions include muscle and joint pain, chronic fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, chronic tension, migraines, and bowel and bladder irritability. The immune, endocrine (eg, hormones), nervous (eg, neurotransmitters, sleep pathways, psychological stress), and muscular (eg, tender points) systems of the body are intimately involved in these syndromes. All glycoproteins play an important role in maintaining the health and normal function of these systems. Therefore, supplementation with the 8 simple sugars may have a positive impact on these syndromes.
Implications for inflammation. Inflammation itself is not a disease, but rather occurs as a result of tissue injury, such as in a bacterial infection. Inflammation is usually beneficial to the individual. However, this process can get out of control, since many diseases that affect us are of inflammatory origin. As noted above, glycoproteins help guide immune cells to sites of inflammation, as well as being involved in the process of allowing immune cells to pass through the blood vessel wall and into the tissues at the site of inflammation. inflammation.
Implications for Helicobacter pylori-induced peptic ulcers. Helicobacter pylori adheres to 2 specific glycans on the cell surfaces of the stomach and duodenum. Once attached, the bacteria release various enzymes that, along with the acidic contents of the stomach, cause ulceration. Glycans are the first molecules encountered by bacteria as a means of adhering to cells. The 8 sugars compete with bacteria to adhere to glycans and is a way of blocking bacterial adherence.
Implications for stress. Research has shown that glycoprotein formation is significantly altered in various types of stress, such as infection, inflammation, and trauma.
Stress exists in many forms, be it psychological (as in nervous system dysfunction), environmental (as in extreme heat or chemical toxins), or physical-chemical (as in exercise). Glycoproteins prevent and repair damage to cells as a result of this stress.
Implications for rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory condition, and glyconutritions are known to positively affect inflammation.
RA is an autoimmune condition, which means that antibodies are produced against the body’s own tissues; This implies that there is a lack of communication between the immune system and the joint tissue. The abnormal antibody produced is IgG, which has lower than normal amounts of galactose in its structure, and during remission this reduction in galactose is reversed.
Fucose has also been found to be markedly reduced in RA patients. The greater the fucose deficiency in RA patients, the more severe the symptoms.
Supplementation of the necessary sugars, that is, galactose and fucose, which the body needs to fight this disease.
On the subject of autoimmune conditions, I would like to share a case of mine successfully treated with the ise of these 8 essential sugars. Mrs. T. presented me with discoid lupus, which is a milder case of lupus that actually affects the skin, causing hard ‘scar-like’ lesions. She had these lesions spread all over her body. I prescribed powdered sugars, 5g/day. After using them for a period of 3 months, all of her skin lesions were completely healed, and her antinuclear factor was reduced to normal levels in her blood.
In my personal experience with these sugars, I have found that they are the best for treating autoimmune conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, etc. If you have any questions about using the 8 sugars for your health condition(s), please feel free to contact me.
CONCLUSION
As you can see from the previous article, the proper formation of glycoproteins plays an important role in maintaining health and fighting disease. Unfortunately, six of the eight sugars no longer appear in our food supply and it has become necessary to supplement with these sugars to maintain optimal health.
