Ambrotose - Body Building for the Gut

If you think it is only protein the body uses to repair itself think again. It was in 1979 that Dr Bill Mc Analley at the University of Texas Health Sciences Centre in Dallas while investigating the curative reputation of the Aloe Vera plant renowned for treating wounds, ulcers and burns discovered that the key element was actually a carbohydrate. Of the four major classes of biomolecules--proteins, nucleic acids, lipids (fats) and carbohydrates-carbohydrates are the most complex. Because of their complexity, technology has only recently developed the methods to study them, unlock their codes, and reveal their biological secrets.1 Since Dr Analley's discovery carbohydrate technology has grown into its own field called glycoscience and has yielded a new class of product called glyconutrients. Ambrotose is one such award-winning patent-pending product derived from free-dried Aloe Vera inner leaf gel extract and fortified with glucosamine, rice starch and selected plant gums developed by his team at Mannatech in the U.S.2 This remarkable glyconutrient product is touted to treat a constellation of inflammatory and immune conditions like Alzheimer's, ADHD, asthma, alcoholism, autism, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes, dyslexia, hepatitis lupus erythematosis, microbial infections, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, stress and has strong anti-inflammatory and protective effects on the gastrointestinal system.

Glyconutrients - Alphabet soup for the immune system

Each human cell is coated with its own unique signature of carbohydrates which are made up of branched combinations of eight essential sugars. These are glucose, galactose, mannose, fucose, xylose, N-Acetyl-glucosamine, N-Acetylgalactosamine and sialic acid.1. Nearly all tissues in the human body require a proper "dusting" of these branched sugar molecules on their surface to act as receptors for proper recognition and communication between cells. It is through interactions between these receptors that immune cells recognize friend from foe and without them we would be defenceless against invading pathogens8.

Under normal circumstances the body obtains these sugars by breaking down starches supplied in the diet into glucose. This is because the principal sources of carbohydrates in our diet are limited to maize, rice or wheat, sugar cane or beets and milk and these foodstuffs supply only glucose and galactose. Its is glucose then which acts as a common denominator from which all the others can be fashioned through a time consuming and energy dependent series of steps. In reality however we are often deficient in up to six of these sugars because of inborn errors in metabolism, missing or defective enzymes and even vitamin deficiencies all of which are required to orchestrate the assembly of carbohydrate receptors on the cell surface. Over time this may lead to a breakdown in communication between the immune system and local tissues and even result in autoimmune diseases like arthritis, celiac disease and even HIV. Until recently experts have placed little importance on simple sugars as anything more than an unhealthy fuel source but it is now accepted that glucose and its descendents are essential for cellular immunity.

Studies are showing rather than manufacturing these missing simple sugars from more common types like glucose or galactose, cells actually prefer to absorb them directly intact and unchanged from the intestine into the blood and from the blood into the cells1 and this is where Ambrotose comes in. Its aloe concentrate supplies all the essential sugars the body needs in pre-packaged form and this restores cellular recognition and communication without putting unnecessary stress on the body to synthesize the raw materials itself. In this way Ambrotose prevents the immune system from pouncing on cells with faulty receptors ensuring rapid tissue recovery in many autoimmune and inflammatory conditions like Crohns, IBS, Colitis, Celiac and even less well understood cases of ADHD, Arthritis, CFS/FMS cluster, HIV and cancer.

Sugar coating protects the gut

We have seen that by calming the immune system Ambrotose reduces inflammation in many autoimmune disorders but it is by feeding an inflamed gut the protective sugars it needs directly, that Ambrotose exerts a powerful soothing action in conditions like Celiac, Colitis, Crohns and Leaky Gut Syndrome (LGS). Indeed N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) one of the glyconutrients present in Ambrotose is vital for the integrity of the surface barrier of our intestine and has been used alone to treat LGS. But Ambrotose is also fortified with glucosamine (a derivative of chitin from fungal cells which is a polymer used to heal burns and wounds) which has the ability to prevent the binding of yeasts like Candida to the intestinal mucosa and aids directly in its restoration.7 Furthermore by encouraging the bowel to express protective carbohydrate receptors in its lining Ambrotose has been shown to protect it from the ravages of acid, pepsin, mechanical damage and even gastric bleeding all of which have been linked with inflammatory conditions like LGS.5 What's more by bolstering immune function Ambrotose recruits the body's defences to deal with invading pathogens like yeasts and bacteria that may aggravate the condition. Its incredible anti-inflammatory effect not only heals an inflamed gut but enhances digestion, absorption and the secretion of pancreatic enzymes. Studies have also found that Ambrotose has a powerful effect in modulating our response to academic and environmental stress, depression, surgery and even starvation. This is critical because during the "flight or fight" stress response our stomach is the first organ to suffer a loss of blood supply as the body diverts reserves to the muscles which over time leads to malabsorption and inflammatory conditions. Reassuringly Ambrotose glyconutrients also increase the powerful antioxidant glutathione by a factor of 100% which mitigates the tissue damage and exaggerated immune reactions to partially digested food particles entering the bloodstream common to LGS. Building glutathione with Ambrotose helps "cool" an inflamed gut and quieten an overworked immune system.7

Fighting Candida with Sugars?

With over 36 peer-reviewed studies confirming the efficacy of Ambrotose in many chronic inflammatory conditions its efficacy against Candida has often gone understated. Candida albicans is a yeast which ordinarily populates the bowel but when overgrown causes an array of debilitating diseases from a-symptomatic to life-threatening. It is known that noxious micro-organisms like Candida bear carbohydrate receptors on their surface just like human cells and this means that when overgrown they can often outmanoeuvre the immune system, get access to our body, start to multiply and cause disease. Taking Ambrotose can counteract this subterfuge by supplying some of the essential sugars like mannose and fucose which prevent attachment of bacteria and yeasts in the intestines and mobilizes immune cells to take evasive action.8. Studies show that immune cells like macrophages (the body's first line of attack) when exposed to Ambrotose exhibit enhanced Candida killing activity of up to 50% compared to control cultures and in other studies investigators reported that these essential sugars actually protect against colonization of these bugs.8 Moreover it is the "friendly" bacteria in human intestinal flora that are actually responsible for the production of some of these8 essential sugars like fucose. But under conditions of yeast overgrowth or dysbiosis essential sugar manufacture is hindered3 making supplements like Ambrotose that supply them indispensable until normal carbohydrate manufacture is restored. Its strong anti-microbial properties means products like Ambrotose may well be on the cards to replace conventional drug therapies as new antibiotic and anti-fungal-resistant strains of bacteria and yeast become more difficult to treat. Finally it is common knowledge that yeasts like Candida thrive on simple sugars but because the carbohydrates in Ambrotose are not broken down into glucose they cannot be used and this prevents the accumulation of toxic sugar end-products responsible for the characteristic symptoms of brain fog and memory loss.

No more sugar blues

But who would have thought sugars could be good for the ailing brain? Well that's exactly what new research indicates because essential sugars in Ambrotose like sialic acid increase during pregnancy and lactation and this coincides with early brain development when carbohydrates appear to be important in the formation of nerve structures.3 Also given its stress-relieving properties it is not surprising that Ambrotose has been found to exert a direct calming effect in the brain via hormones and carbohydrate messengers5. Similarly it is effective in treating the psychiatric symptoms associated with a liver enzyme defect common to Autism and Candidacies which causes the accumulation of stimulatory chemicals in the brain, personality changes and disperceptions. By encouraging the absorption of necessary co-factors from the gut Ambrotose detoxifies these end-products in the nervous system and restores mental health. What's more it has been shown remove heavy metals like mercury, copper and lead which are responsible for inducing serious cognitive impairment and creating the conditions for Candida, LGS and dysbiosis to take a hold in the first place.7 The positive effects on mental function is very good news for those suffering with an inflamed bowel at the mercy of sugar-related "dry drunk" behaviour and mind-bending allergies. If all that wasn't enough Dr. Kathryn Dykman's studies of Ambrotose in psychiatric conditions like ADHD and the Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia cluster in the U.S. have now been accepted on MedLine and the product has even been approved for inclusion in the Physicians Desk Reference. When Ambrotose is accepted as protocol for these diseases, as Dr. McAnalley anticipates he says, "It will be malpractice for a doctor not to recommend it!"2

Directions for use

The sugars in Ambrotose have been shown to be totally non-toxic even at very high doses, are hypoallergenic and have no contraindications or side effects even in diabetes, reactive hypoglycaemia and candidacies. The recommended intake of Ambrotose powder is 1/4 teaspoon one or two times a day one or two capsules three times a day.

Sources

Ambrotose is currently only available in the U.K. from the Manufacturer Mannatech. They can be contacted by telephone on 0207 659 7970 or email at CustServ@mannatech.co.uk

References

1. Introduction to Glyconutritionals by Dr Bill H. McAnalley and Eileen Vennum
2. The Discovery and Development of Ambrotose Complex by Willis S. Langford
3. Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of 8 known dietary Monosaccharides required for glycoprotein synthesis and cellular recognition process by Tom Gardiner PhD
4. Harpers textbook of Biochemistry
5. Increased demand for glyconutrients during stress by Tom Gardiner PhD
6. Stanley S. and Doris L. Lefkowitz, Ph.D.s.,Proceedings of Fisher Institute for Medical Research, Vol. 1, No. 2, February 1999.
7. A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Autism by Willis S. Langford
8. Glyconutritionals: implications in antimicrobial activity by S. Stanley Lefkowitz PhD and Doris L Lefkowitz PhD.