“Glyco” means sugar or carbohydrate. The area of glycobiology research has exploded in recent years and left impressive marks on virtually all areas of biology and medicine. Some of these areas are immunology, cell biology, developmental and reproductive biology, and neurobiology. As a doctor who is interested in healing at a fundamental level, this research is more than exciting. I can tell you that the implications for glyconutritionals are astounding. I have begun to witness this in my practice as well.
Carbohydrates that sit on the surface of virtually every cell in our bodies are essential for recognition and information processing between cells. The carbohydrate molecules provide the most specific form of biological information for the code of life. By 1996, scientists had identified eight sugars that are involved in the cellular recognition process. When one or more of these eight sugars are missing or malfunctions, compromised health appears. We see this type of malfunction occur in autoimmune diseases, cancer, certain genetic diseases, and immune abnormalities. Because carbohydrate technology is so complex, only recently have there been methods to study them and reveal their biological message.
Food is the ultimate source of the glycomolecules essential for the body. But of the eight sugars only two are commonly found in the diet (glucose and galactose). Those who do not eat dairy products only get one from the diet. The body must convert these two sugars into the other six. However, since the body utilizes enzymes to convert one form of sugar to another and many people are born with the inability to use these enzymes, often these sugars are missing. In others, illness or toxins damage the enzymes or the sugars. Since certain vitamins and minerals are needed for these reactions to occur, which may be missing as well, you can see how one could become deficient in this area. While a good diet is crucial, it is doubtful that most of us get all that we need in the form of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and the like, let alone these essential sugars. There is mounting evidence that supplementing these glyconutrients is probably the only way to assure that cellular health is not compromised by lack of conversion of these molecules.
Many interesting studies are being published in the areas of rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, ADHD, Autism, cancer, pregnancy, asthma and allergies etc. Because these carbohydrates are so basic for biological and immunological communication it is probable that most health problems will be addressed in some form by these sugars. These sugars are not a treatment for disease, per se, but ultimately enable the body to function optimally so that restoration of health is possible.
THE EIGHT ESSENTIAL CARBOHYDRATES:
Glucose
Galactose
Mannose
Fucose
Xylose
n-acetylglucosamine
n-acetylgalactosamine
n-acetylneuraminic-sialic acid
If you would like more information on glycobiology, or on how to supplement your body with the eight essential carbohydrates, please send me an email.
Reference material about glyconutritionals:
Medical Journals:
1996 24th Edition of Harper’s Biochemistry (text used in medical schools)
1998 Jan, Vol.33, #1 Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science Journal
1998 Acta-Anatomica 161 (1-4) 1-276 from Karger
2001 Physicians Desk Reference – PDR
Dr. Jennifer Reid
27530 SE Division Drive, Gresham, OR 97030 Telephone: (503)492-9427
