‘Give me spots on my apples, but leave me the birds and the bees,
please!’ (From Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell, 1970).
Joni was more right than she, or we, knew. The spots on our apples – and
indeed, the traces of yeast and moulds that used to be on almost all our foods
– are now known to be as important for our health as the apples
themselves.
These micro organisms contain compounds in their cell walls known as 1-3, 1-6
beta glucans. We now know that these compounds are critically important in
priming a part of our immune system known as the innate immune system –
but we no longer have many of them in our diet.
To compound the problem, we have over-sanitised our environment, through the
wide-spread use of fungicides and bactericidal household sprays. (This is known
as the hygiene hypothesis – and it is supported by the fact that children
with pets do tend to have stronger immune systems).
Consequently we have left our immune systems less effective at defending us
against bacteria and viruses - and we are more likely to develop allergic
symptoms.
Immune function is further weakened by Type B malnutrition, a condition now
recognized by the UN Standing Committee on Human Nutrition as a major cause of
ill health. Type B mal-nutrition is characterized by a typical western diet
– with sufficient – even excessive in calories - but often depleted
in important vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
The key to restoring optimum immune function is nutrition, and this involves not
only good diet (one rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains), but also a
broad spectrum supplement, and a small number of key phyto-nutrients ie
nutrients derived from plants.
1-3, 1-6 Beta Glucans – priming the immune system
Of all the natural compounds known to activate the innate immune system, the
best documented and most effective are the 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans, generally
derived from baker’s yeast .(Kernodle et al ’98, Wakshull et al
’99, Mansell et al ’75, Hahn & Albersheim ’78, Robertsen
et al ’94, Song & Hsieh ‘94).
These micro-organisms have always been a threat to animal species, and so the
innate immune system long ago developed the ability to recognise 1-3, 1-6 beta
glucans and react to them by mounting an immune response. But it went further
than that. As yeasts are so universal, the innate immune system actually became
acclimatised to them, and dependent on them to function at peak effectiveness.
Then very late in the evolutionary day, modern technology effectively sterilised
our food chain and much of our environment. Levels of yeast and other fungi in
our foods, on our bodies and in our houses dropped away; and left the innate
immune system weaker. This is the so-called ‘Hygiene’ hypothesis
referred to above.
Adding 1-3, 1-6 beta glucans back into the diet restores the effectiveness of
the innate immune system, with considerable health benefits.
Biothera’s WGP 3-6 has been subjected to a significant number of clinical
trials and has recently been chosen by the US Government for trials in
situations where the public may face radiation hazards, whether accidental or
deliberate.
Several well-conducted research papers have shown that resistance to infection is
greatly enhanced (Onderdonk et al ’92, Kernodle et al
’98, Vetvicka et al ‘02).
Research results
Beta glucans are supplements derived and purified from the cell walls of common
baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Research has shown that
critical cellular components of the human immune system - macrophages,
neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells have specific receptors for the beta
glucan molecule.
Studies that support the efficacy of beta glucans (referenced below) originated
with laboratory experiments – for example, in one study 90 % of mice
exposed to very high levels of E-coli survived when their innate immune systems
were primed by 1-3, 1-6 beta-glucans. 0% survived in the control group.
In a further test, 80% survived exposure to high levels of Staphylococcus aureus
as opposed to 0% in the control group.
When beta glucans were administered in combination with anti-biotics after
exposure to bacteria, the number of bacteria needed to actually create
infection was increased up to 2,000 fold
A human study demonstrated that a beta glucan supplement significantly
increased the number of immune cells that were actively engulfing and
destroying foreign particles or intruders. After 10 days of treatment, the
supplement had increased the percentage of immune cells able to phagocytose (or
“eat”) pathogens from 37.3% to more than 50%.
These results show that taking beta glucans enhances the human immune system to
defend the body against a challenge. Additionally, the numbers of several
important cytokines (proteins which support immune function) were increased.
Food derived nutrients are, in principle, normally safer than
artificially created pharmaceutical drug molecules, precisely because they are
natural and have been consumed for centuries.
|