Glyconutrients

The Sweet Nutrients

The term “glyconutrients” is derived from a combination of the Greek word “glukus,” which means “sweet,”^[1] and the word “nutrient,” which is something that the body needs to function properly. “Glyconutrients” refers to a class of “sweet nutrients,” or dietary nutrients composed of simple sugars. Recent scientific research has shown that there are eight simple dietary sugars (monosaccharides),^[2] most of which are no longer found in abundance in the standard modern diet,^[3] that are known to form the very words of life at the cellular level.

These eight monosaccharides (glyconutrients), when eaten, are absorbed into the bloodstream and delivered to cells throughout body.^[4] Glyconutrients are taken up by the cells where they are attached to newly created proteins and lipids, creating glycoproteins and glycolipids respectively (known as a post-transcription modification). At the point that a sugar is attached to a protein, creating a glycoprotein, it is said that the protein is glycosylated. A general name for all glycosylated molecules in the body is a glycoform.^[5][6][7]

We are specially interested in glycoproteins. Glycoproteins are the basis for intercellular communication. Glycoproteins reside on the surface of every cell, bacteria (good and bad), virus, toxin and just about every substance (including pathogens) in the human body.

In his article “Capitalizing on Carbohydrates” in Bio/Technology, Vol. 8, Feb 1990, John Hodgson said that, “Almost without exception, whenever two or more living cells interact in a specific way, cell surface carbohydrates will be involved.“

There is little debate as to the important role that glyconutrients play in intercellular communication. And many experts agree that it is necessary to take a glyconutritional supplement.^[3]

As previously stated, the body requires eight glyconutrients. According to “Organic Chemistry” by John McMurray (the ONLY organic chemistry text book used by most universities in the U.S.), “Although all [glyconutrients] can be biosynthesized from simpler precursors if necessary, it’s more energetically efficient to obtain them from the diet.“ Through a starvation mechanism, the liver can produce some but not the full amount of glyconutrients that it needs.^[9]

Unfortunately we only receive an abundant amount of two of the eight essential monosaccharides (glyconutrients) from the modern diet, glucose and galactose. If you are lactose intolerant, then the only sugar in your diet is most likely glucose. And because nutrients in your food are almost non-existent^[10][11][12], you are forced to take a glyconutrient supplement.

Contact us for information about our advanced glyconutrients, the only product in existence with the eight essential monosaccharides.

References:

[1] Answers.com Dictionary. Available at:
http://www.answers.com/topic/glyco.
Accessed April 21, 2010.

[2] McMurry, John. Organic Chemistry. 7e. Belmont, CA: Thompson Higher Education, 2008.

[3] “Is Saccharide Supplementation Necessary?”
by Jane Ramberg, MS, and Bill H. McAnalley, PhD.

[4] WebMD. “D-xylose Absorption Test.” Available at: http://www.webmd.com/ibs/d-xylose-absorption-test.
Accessed April 21, 2010.

[5] PubMed Central. “Characterizing Glycosylation Pathways.” Available at:
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=138933.
Accessed April 21, 2010.

[6] BioChemWeb.org. “Carbohydrates and Glycosylation.” Availlble at:
http://www.biochemweb.org/carbohydrates.shtml.
Accessed April 21, 2010.

[7] Answers.com Dictionary. Available at:
http://www.answers.com/topic/glycosylation.
Accessed April 21, 2010.

[9] Panneerselvam, K.. “Human Fibroblasts Prefer Mannose over Glucose as a Source of Mannose for N-Glycosylation.” The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc Volume 272, Number 37 12 Sep, 1997 pp. 23123-23129.
Available at: http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/272/37/23123.
Accessed April 21, 2010.

[10] Mayer A-M. “Historical Changes in the Mineral Content of Fruits and Vegetables,” Brit Food J 1997; 96(6): 2007-11.

[11] Christian J. “Charts: Nutrient Changes in Vegetables and Fruits, 1951 to 1999.” CTV.ca News 2002. Available at: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20020705/favaro_nutrients_chart_020705. Accessed April 21, 2010.

[12] Davis DR, Epp MD, Riodan HD. “Changes in USDA Food Composition for 43 Garden Crops, 1950 to 1999.” J Am C Nutr 2004; 23(6): 669-82.