Other than taking a decent amount of exercise and following
a healthy diet, we may feel there is little we can do to
help our bodies maintain themselves. However, it is possible
to boost the immune system and encourage cell production
through the use of supplements containing nucleotides –
the body’s essential cell building blocks.
The body has an ongoing demand for new cell production,
and must create cells at the same rate at which its cells
die. To do this, a typical cell must double its mass and
duplicate all of its contents in order to produce the two
new ‘daughter’ cells.
This multiplication of a cell starts with the doubling
of the information (inter-phase) - namely the DNA. Previously
we discussed how the DNA is formed by the five key nucleotides.
A normal DNA consists of 3 billion nucleotides.
It is only after this multiplication of the DNA that the
M-phase can start. This is where the two cell nuclei are
formed and the cells start to divide into two separate cells.
Cell proliferation is a lengthy and complicated process,
dependent mainly on energy and supply of the specific building
blocks, the five key nucleotides.
Research has shown that by providing extra dietary sources
of nucleotides, the multiplication of these new cells can
be speeded up. This applies to the following cell types:
- Intestinal mucosa cells – the cells lining the
gut
- Bone marrow cells, namely leukocytes (especially Lymphocytes)
– more commonly termed as the white blood immune
cells
- Erythrocytes – Red blood cells
- Certain brain cells
For years, nucleic acids and nucleotides were considered
essential nutrients. Now these nucleotides are increasingly
considered to be limiting in certain diets and during periods
of stress and illness.
It was thought that the body could synthesise sufficient
nucleotides to meet its physiological demands via ‘de
novo’ synthesis of nucleotides. However, research
during the last several years indicates that this is not
correct. There are certain conditions in which the body
requires dietary nucleotides to meet its physiological requirements.
These conditions include:
- Rapid growth
- Limited food supply
- Stress
- Chronic disease
- Bacterial and viral infections
In these situations, metabolic demand exceeds the capacity
of the ‘de novo’ synthesis, and therefore dietary
nucleotides become conditionally essential.
Importantly, dietary nucleotides may also spare the energetic
costs of ‘de novo’ synthesis of nucleotides.
Critical point in nutrition: energy
Building nucleotides by the ‘de novo’ process
requires lots of time and energy. Supplementing purified
nucleotides to the diet reduces the proportions required
to manufacture, while accelerating all active processes
and saving energy also.
Supplementary nucleotides have been demonstrated to enhance
the efficiency of a number of vital organs; these include:
- Immune organs including the bone marrow
- Liver
- Intestines
- Consequently, supplementary nucleotides have an effect
on a number of vital functions:
- Immunity
- Production of stress hormones
- Digestion and absorption of nutrients
- Vitality and well-being
- Focussing on Immunity
Nucleotides are an essential part of an healthy immune
system, because they have been shown to support the following:
- The reversal of malnutrition or starvation-induced immunosuppression
- Enhancement of T-cell maturation and function
- Enhancement of natural killer cell activity
- Increase of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity
- Aiding resistance to infectious agents such as Staphylococcus
aureus and Candida albicans
- Modulation of T-Cell responses toward type 1 CD4 helper
lymphocytes or TH1 cells.
In layman’s terms, nucleotides help to boost the
immune system by speeding up the process of creating new
defence cells, which are essential for the body to fight
infections.
Reducing the effect of an infection
In 2003 a double-blind placebo controlled trial was carried
out by Dr Isobel Davidson at Queen Margaret University College,
Edinburgh. This clinical trial was carried out to test the
effects of nucleotides on reducing the severity of specific
symptoms, secondary infections and healing time after a
natural infection by the cold or flu virus. The findings
showed that the specific formula of nucleotides significantly
reduced the symptoms of painful sinuses and earache. Over
the first six days of taking the nucleotides or a placebo,
the discomfort level was on average greatly reduced for
the nucleotide patients:
Dry mouth: 30% less
Sore throat: 20% less
Muscle aches: 15% less
Headache: 40% less
Salivary IgA (antibody) concentrations were similar at
recruitment, but the subsequent to this were higher in general
for the nucleotide group. For the layman, higher antibody
levels indicate a greater immune response.
Preserving a strong immunity
The positive effects of supplementary nucleotides on immunity
was also backed up with another placebo controlled trial
carried out by Professor Lars McNaughton, University of
Bath, 2002. McNaughton tested the effects of nucleotides
on athletes under both short-term and high intensity, and
moderate endurance exercise. Again these results were significant
and conclusive. Athletes on the nucleotide treatment showed
a 25% higher IgA concentration after 90 minutes endurance
exercise, compared with the placebo group.
The stress hormone, cortisol, was 10% reduced for the nucleotide
supplemented group. High cortisol levels have been shown
to impede the effectiveness of disease fighting cells. Hence,
the placebo group showed a greater drop in antibodies. High
decreases in IgA (antibodies) are thought to be a reason
for increased levels of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
(e.g. colds and flu) for athletes and people suffering high
levels of stress.
In conclusion, the body needs nucleotides to help support
a healthy immune response. The body can normally take these
from food, but in times of stress, illness, poor diet or
rapid growth, dietary nucleotides become conditionally essential;
supplementing all five nucleotides has been shown to preserve
a strong immunity, and reduce the severity of infections.
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