Download Enhancing the Six Phase II Detoxification

Enhancing the Six Phase II
Detoxification
Pathways
by
Consuming
the
Necessary
Nutrients
The detoxification system of the body consists of three phases that
process toxins for excretion from the body. The Phase I detoxification
pathway is responsible for breaking fat-soluble toxins down and then
sending the metabolites to the Phase II detoxification pathways, which
builds new substances from the metabolites by adding molecules to them,
which is called conjugation.
The purpose of the addition or conjugation of new substances to the Phase
I toxic metabolites is to convert them into water-soluble forms and make
them easier to transport, more stable and more functional for the body to
excrete. Once the toxic metabolites are conjugated by Phase II
substances, Phase III molecules transport the stable toxins out of the
body through the urine and/or bile.
There are 6 Phase II detoxification pathways in the body.
Each
conjugation pathway serves a specific purpose of detoxifying certain
toxins and requires specific nutrients to function. These 6 detoxification
pathways include:
Glutathione conjugation
Methylation
Sulfation
Acylation/Glycation
Acetylation
Glucuronidation
These 6 conjugation pathways are found primarily in the liver and in
various other locations within the body:
Locations of Phase 2 Conjugation Pathways
Conjugation
System
Location in Body
Acylation/Glycation
conjugation
liver, kidney
Glutathione
conjugation
liver, kidney
Glucuronidation
liver, kidney, intestine, lung, skin, prostate,
brain
Acetylation
liver, lung, spleen, gastric mucosa, RBCs,
lymphocytes
Sulfation
liver, kidney, intestine
Methylation
liver, kidney, lung, CNS
Source: Liston HL, Markowitz JS, DeVane CL (October 2001). “Drug glucuronidation in clinical
psychopharmacology”.
J
Clin
Psychopharmacol
21
(5):
500–15.
doi:10.1097/00004714-200110000-00008. PMID 11593076
In order for each conjugation pathways to function properly, they require
specific nutrients. These nutrients are listed in the Table below:
Phase II Conjugation Pathways
Conjugation
Pathway
Function
Detoxifies
Nutrients to Enhance
Glutathione is
an intracellular
antioxidant. It is
synthesized
from the amino
acids cysteine,
glutamic acid,
and glycine. It is
synthesized
from the amino
acids cysteine,
Fat soluble toxins:
glutamic acid,
solvents, herbicides,
and glycine.
fungicides,
Cruciferous vegetables,
Glutathione
hydrocarbons and
Vitamin C, Alpha lipoic
Glutathione
conjugation is
lipid peroxides.
acid, whey protein, N-
conjugation
used to
Heavy metals
Acetyl-Cysteine,
eliminate toxins
(mercury, cadmium,
Glutamine and
through the
lead). Nicotine and
methionine, milk thistle
lungs, intestines
toxins from tobacco
and kidneys, as
smoke. Alcohol
well as the liver.
Exposure to
high levels of
toxins and
heavy metals
deplete
glutathione
faster than it
can be
replenished
Conjugation
Pathway
Function
Detoxifies
Nutrients to Enhance
Conjugation
Pathway
Function
Detoxifies
Nutrients to Enhance
Hormones: estrogen,
melatonin.
Methylation
conjugates
toxins to methyl
Methylation
groups,
particularly the
amino acid
methionine
Neurotransmitters:
Epinephrine and
Amino acid: methionine,
norepinephrine,
B-Vitamins: B12, B6 and
dopamine,
Folic acid, Choline,
histamine, serotonin.
Betaine (TMG),
It converts pyridine, Magnesium, Zinc, SAMe
sulphites and
(S-adenosylmethionine)
hypochlorites into
compounds excreted
through the lungs
Conjugation
Pathway
Function
Detoxifies
Nutrients to Enhance
Conjugation
Pathway
Function
Detoxifies
Nutrients to Enhance
Conjugates
toxins to sulfur
compounds.
Sulfation
requires
sulphate and is
limited by the
amount present
in the body.
Sulphate may
be ingested
from food, but is
Sulfation
also produced
by the action of
the enzyme
cysteine
dioxygenase on
the amino acid
cysteine.
acetaminophen,
Food additives:
aspartame,
Hormones and
neurotransmitters:
cortisol, thyroid,
steroidal, Toxins
from intestinal
bacteria, Various
environmental
Methionine and
cysteine, sulfur rich
vegetables, B Vitamins:
B1, B2 and B12,
Magnesium, Zinc, MSM,
N-Acetyl-Cysteine,
Indole-3-Carbinol
toxins,
Xenoestrogens
Sulfoxidation, a
final stage of
methylation,
transforms toxic
sulfites into
sulfate
Attaching toxins
to amino acids
glycine,
Amino Acid
glutamine and
Benzoate, Salycilates
Conjugation:
tuarine.
(aspirin), Toluene
Acylation/Glycination Attaching toxins
(industrial solvent)
to glycine is also
Protein-rich foods,
Amino acids: glycine,
taurine, glutamine,
arginine, and ornithine
known as
glycination
Conjugation
Pathway
Function
Detoxifies
Nutrients to Enhance
Conjugation
Pathway
Function
Detoxifies
Nutrients to Enhance
Attaches acetyl
co-A to toxins.
Neurotransmitters:
Poor acetylation histamine, serotonin,
prolongs the life Salicylic acid, PABA,
Acetylation
span of drugs
Sulfa drugs,
and other toxic
environmental
chemicals in the
toxins, tobacco
body, thus
smoke, exhaust
enhancing their
fumes
Pantothenic acid (B5),
Vitamin C, Thiamine
(Vitamin B1)
toxicity
Conjugation
Pathway
Function
Detoxifies
Nutrients to Enhance
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