Recovery - Anti-catabolic and Anti-inflammatory Effects
Recovery 6 page monograph
INDICATIONS:
Significant anti-inflammatory benefits indicate Recovery® may be used to reduce inflammation and imrove quality of post-trauma recovery.
aging, arthritis (osteo & rheumatoid), autoimmunity, back pain, bursitis, diabetes, eczema, fasciitis, fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, psoriasis, tendinitis, trauma rehabilitation, wound healing
The ability to decrease catabolism of cell structures associated with trauma and degenerative disease is what gives Recovery® a potentially broad-spectrum indication profile. Results observed by clinicians over the last 10 years warrants further research for the treatment of chronic skin, respiratory, gastrointestinal and autoimmune conditions.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY:
Trauma, Catabolism and Disease
When oxygen is utilized by the body, damaging "exhaust" called reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released. ROS include hydroxyl radicals, superoxides, hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide, to name a few. Minimal amounts of ROS, play necessary roles in metabolism; whereas, when ROS production increases and the cell's ability to neutralize ROS decreases, the overall effect on tissues is destructive (aging and disease). (1-4)
Increased cell production of ROS is linked to most degenerative conditions including heart disease, arthritis, cancer, periodontal disease, liver disease, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, autoimmunity and asthma. (5-7)
ROS react with cells initiating chain reactions that result in tissue damage causing inflammation, spasm, pain and disease. (1, 3)
Antioxidants, such as Coenzyme Q10, alpha lipoic acid and NADH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and anti-catabolic enzymes, such as glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase minimize the damage due to ROS. Younger healthy cells produce larger quantities of protective substances. (3, 5)
Aging and disease result in diminished cell production of protective compounds leading to increased damage to cell membranes; inevitably, damage to membranes diminishes cellular ability to repair damaged tissue. (1, 7)
Membrane and extra-cellular matrix damage leads to decreased ideal first-intention healing involving parenchyma. (8-10)
Cell damage leads to:
1. Dehydration and Loss of Cell Function
Decreased production of long chain glycosaminoglycans (GAG's) with an increase in shorter chain GAG's, resulting in dehydration of tissue and loss of membrane function (9, 11, 12)
2. Loss of Membrane Receptivity to Growth Factors
Cell membrane desensitization to growth factors (somatomedins, insulin, etc.) necessary for cell repair, maintenance, protection and communication (13-15, 41)
3. Sclerosing of Tissue
Deposition of heavily glycosylated, compact and inflexible collagen types V and VI (12, 16-22)
4. Compromised Ability to Heal
Increased granulomatous second intention healing involving stromal elements (i.e. development of scar tissue) resulting in loss of cell/tissue function (9, 42)
Consequences:
Loss of cell and tissue function results in further inability to repair damage, leading to increased tendency to bruising, excessive inflammation, spasm, joint stiffness, digestive abnormalities and respiratory distress. (7, 9, 15, 20, 21, 23, 24)
* Insulin normally acts as a shuttle to drive amino acids, glucose, fatty acids, glucosamine and other precursors into the cell so that the cell may synthesize required structures for tissue repair.
PHARMACOLOGY:
Recovery® is a functional food engineered to treat and prevent degeneration and inflammation at the "root". (43, 44)
Nutricol®, a potent proprietary bioflavonoid complex containing EGCG, proanthocyanidins, theaflavin and resveratrol from grapes and tea, is the primary active ingredient in Recovery®.
- Nutricol® reinforces membrane and matrix structure (halts damage that initiates inflammatory and spasmodic reactions) (26, 27, 31, 45, 46)
- Nutricol® increases membrane receptivity to hormones such as insulin, IGF and thyroxine (required for anabolic repair/healing) (13, 14)
Site of Action
Nutricol® embeds in the cell membrane and matrix. (43, 44, 48)
Mechanism of Action
The significant water and fat soluble antioxidant actions of Nutricol® produce the following anti-catabolic and anti-inflammatory effects:
- 1. Stabilize collagen aldimine reducible cross-links to reinforce the strength and elasticity of connective tissues such as cartilage, synovium, ligaments, tendons, fascia, bone, blood vessel walls and the dermis of the skin (26, 27)
- 2. Neutralize ROS and catabolic enzymes decreasing their negative impact on cellular and extra-cellular structure and function; this improves membrane receptivity to growth factors such as insulin, somatomedins and thyroxin required for anabolic repair and cell maintenance (4, 10 , 13, 28-30, 35, 49)
- 3. Decrease excess production of catabolic sustances such as collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase, TNF, NOS and xanthine oxidase*; these substances are released from immune, microbial and damaged cells and cause damage to connective and epithelial tissue, resulting in joint pain, inflammation, capillary fragility and other soft-tissue damage (4, 25, 31-35)
- 4. Prevent the release of inflammation promoters such as histamine, serine proteases, prostaglandins and leukotrienes by non-competitively inhibiting the release of the pro-inflammatory enzymes cyclo-oxygenase, lipoxygenase and phosphodiesterase (33, 36)
- 5. Improve protective epithelial mucosal surface integrity (digestive, respiratory & genitourinary tract) (37-40)
*Xanthine oxidase - enzyme that produces ROS. (4, 50)
INGREDIENTS:
- Nutricol® 150mg
- methyl sulfonyl methane 1,250mg
- glucosamine hydrochloride 750mg
- dimethylglycine (DMG) 200mg
- vitamin C 300mg
In a base of fructo-oligosaccharides (water-soluble fiber).
*serving = 1 teaspoon powder or 5 vegetarian caps
ADMINISTRATION AND DOSE:
Suggested use (capule form):
5 capsules twice daily or as directed by a health practitioner.
Suggested use adults (powder form - preferred for best absorption):
Typical 150lb man or woman: Introduce gradually over a two week period to a concentrated dose of two to three teaspoons spread throughout the day. Mix with water or diluted juice. After 30 - 60 days it may be possible to reduce intake to 1/2 the concentrated dose as stated above.
Suggested use children 12 and under (powder form):
Introduce gradually over a two week period to a concentrated dose of ½ teaspoon per 20 lbs body weight. Mix with food, water or diluted juice. After 30 - 60 days it may be possible to reduce intake to ¼ teaspoon per 20lbs body weight.
SUMMARY:
By implementing Recovery® (a Biostructural® Medicine), healthcare professionals can safely and effectively manage inflammatory conditions, prevent tissue damage and improve the quality and rate of healing.
Recovery® is believed to decrease trauma (from disease, surgery and injury) by increasing the stability of the membrane and matrix and membrane receptivity growth factors.
Recovery® use has produced significant results in treating trauma, inflammation, pain and poor healing.
COMBINING SAFELY WITH DRUGS:
Due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-catabolic action, combining Recovery® with drugs can lead to reduced drug toxicity and side effects:
Anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs/cox-2 inhibitors)
Most conventional NSAIDs interfere with cyclo-oxygenase and prostaglandins. Cell damage still continues because:
- 1. Oxidation of membranes remains unblocked
- 2. With standard NSAIDs, the production of PG1 and PG3, normally involved in repair, are also blocked
Recovery® benefits alone or combined with NSAIDS include:
- 1. Inhibiting the inflammatory cascade or "domino effect" by increasing a cell's ability to neutralize lysosomal enzymes and ROS released from neighboring damaged cells - reducing trauma.
- 2. Increasing delivery of certain hormones, neurochemicals and nutrients into the cell and enhancing waste transport out of the cell - improving cell communication.
Studies have shown that the addition of ingredients in Recovery® with Sulindac (NSAID) results in a synergistic effect on prevention of colon cancer in rats and a reduction in GI side-effects that accompany Sulindac usage (Ohishi et al. Cancer Lett 2002, 177(1):49-56)
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids mimic cortisol, which reduces inflammation; however, corticosteroids inhibit immune response and ability to repair, predisposing individuals to risk of infection and accelerated rate of tissue breakdown.
Excessive levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), an enzyme that produces nitric oxide, are involved in the initiation and progression of cancer and inflammation. Studies have shown higher levels of nitric oxide in various inflammatory bowel diseases, and that corticosteroids have no effect on reducing NOS. (N Leonard, et. al. J. Clin. Pathology: 1998, 51: (10) 750-753)
Recovery® may compliment corticosteroids as it can normalize levels of NOS (Yu-Li Lin et.al. Molecular Parm: 1997 (52):465-472).
Acetaminophen
Recovery® ingredients reduce acetaminophen-induced kidney and liver toxicity (Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol 2000; 107(1-2):137-66), (Ray S.D., Arch Biochem Biophys 1999 Sep 1; 369(1):42-58).
Many cases have demonstrated Recovery® may be superior to acetaminophen for chronic pain relief.
Recovery® decreases the need for acetaminophen
Antibiotics
2 studies report anti-bacterial action was enhanced when Recovery® ingredients were combined with ampicillin/sulbactam, benzylpenicillin, oxacillin, methacillin, cephalexin (Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2001, (48), 361-364), (Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 2001, 45, (6), 1737-1742).
Tamoxifen
2 studies report an enhanced anti-cancer effect when Recovery® ingredients were combined with Tamoxifen (Suganuma M., Biofactors 2000:13(1-4): 67-72), (Fujiki H., 1999 Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, Vol. 220, 225-228).
Anti-coagulants
Over the last 5 years, Biomedica has made observations with several patients on warfarin and Recovery®. There were no changes in prothrombin time reported, nor any signs of increased bleeding. In vitro studies show no effect on thromboplastin times or prothrombin times. Recovery® may have anti-platelet activity related to normalizing excessive platelet adhesiveness. (Kang WS., Thromb Res 1999 Nov 1; 96(3):229-37)
Amiodarone, Doxorubicin, Idarubicin, 4-HC
The ingredients in Recovery® reduce organ and serum toxicity induced by these drugs (Bagchi D., Drugs Exp Clin Res 2001; 27(1): 3-15), (Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol 2000; 107(1-2): 137-66)
SAFETY DATA:
Recovery® has significant benefits with very low risk. All Recovery® ingredients are naturally-occuring and non-toxic.
Nutricol® constituents have been clinically observed to possess anticarcinogenic properties in the liver, lung, breast, pancreas, bladder, prostate, skin and most of the gastrointestinal system (Fujiki. (1999) J. Cancer Res Clin Oncol.125:589-97).
Effects on Liver Function
Due to anti-catabolic and anti-oxidative actions, Recovery® may aid in the proper elimination and metabolism of drugs and other toxins by supporting 4 Phase II liver pathways (glutathione conjugation, taurine conjugation, methylation, and sulfation).
FOOD INTERACTIONS:
Dairy
Mixing Nutricol® with milk (except yogurt) inhibits absorption.
SIDE EFFECTS AND PRECAUTIONS:
Allergies
Recovery® contains hypoallergenic ingredients; however, the introduction of any new food or drug may result in an allergy.
TOXICOLOGY:
Nutricol®
EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate)
The LD50 in male rats is greater than 5,000 mg/kg and 3,090 mg/kg in female rats. The rats were Sprauge-Dawley rats (Yamane et al. (1995) Cancer 7:1662-7). Found to be non-toxic for Rodents and Humans (Fujiki et al. 1998).
Procyanidolic oligomers, resveratrol
The LD50* found to be greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight in a single oral intubation to fasted male and female albino rats. (Bagchi et al. (2000) Toxicology 148:87-197)
Glucosamine (2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucose)
No mortalities in mice or rats at very high levels. LD50 is greater than 5,000 mg/kg of body weight orally. (Pharmatherapeutica 1982; 3(3):157-68) Theoretically, long-term use of very high-doses of glucosamine may result in hyperglycemia.
*Recovery® has demonstrated hypoglycemic effects. Nutricol® increases membrane insulin sensitivity. Biomedica recommends that Recovery® is safe to administer to stable Type II diabetics.
MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane)
MSM has very low toxicity, with an LD50 in rats that exceeds 20,000 mg/kg body weight per day. In dogs, no toxicity was reported in a 30-day test receiving 3,000 mg/kg body weight per day, administered both orally and intravenously. There was a drop in hematocrit in the later stages of the high dose intravenous study that returned to normal post-treatment. (Metcalf, J.W. (1986) MSM status report, Eq. Vet. Data 7:332-334).
DMG (dimethylglycine)
Acute and chronic safety studies show DMG to be very safe, with an acute LD50 in rats of 7,000 mg/kg body weight, equivalent to approximately 500 grams in humans. (Braverman, Pfeiffer, The Healing Nutrients Within, Keats, 1987:251). A question of safety arose when a positive mutagenic response for DMG was reported under nitrosation conditions with sodium nitrite (Herbert et al., 1980). Later studies showed this was not true and that the nitrosating conditions without the DMG were toxic and mutagenic and there was no associated increase with an increasing concentration of DMG (Loveday and Seixas, 1981).