TRYPTOPHAN AND DIABETES

TRYPTOPHAN AND DIABETES

Even the simplest explanation on tryptophan may seem too complicated. However, some very basic understanding about this amino acid must be provided to make sense of some of the statements that are presented in this book Remember, the body is a very complex chemical plant that is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in the flow of its primary raw materials.

The brain is designed to resuscitate itself, when there is water and salt shortage in the body. It raises the levels of sugar in circulation. The raised level of sugar is supposed to balance the vital osmotic equilibrium, in the same way that a doctor resuscitates a patient by the use of sugar and salt-containing intravenous fluid drips. One also needs to recognize another simple point: Osmotic forces that must be available for extracellular fluid volume regulation are developed primarily by its salt content, by its raised sugar content, and sometimes by its increased uric acid content.

But in insulin-dependent type of diabetes, there may be severe salt shortage, in which case the brain has no alternative but to raise the level of sugar even more to compensate for the low salt reserves in the body. This process is an automatic step in the design of the brain activity that is master-managed by the various direct, and indirect, functions of tryptophan. It has also been shown that tryptophan is the basic substance that the body needs as a vital ingredient to convert into the three or even four most essential neurotransmitters so far recognized.

In insulin-independent diabetes, one needs to pay particular attention to adequate protein intake to make up for the possible tryptophan insufficiency that may be the root cause of the disease. Why? It seems that dehydration causes a severe depletion of brain tryptophan, a most essential amino acid in the human body. When there is adequate amount of tryptophan in the brain, among its other effects, the pain threshold is raisedone endures pain better.

Tryptophan content in the brain shows a great drop in its levels in some diabetic animals.

To stress this point again, salt, sugar, and uric acid are involved in balancing the osmotic forces of fluid composition held outside the cells. Salt content is responsible for the greatest contribution to the extracellular osmotic balance. Regulatory properties of tryptophan itself, or its dependent neurotransmission systems, operate a measuring mechanism for the amount of salt that is kept in the body. Serotonin, tryptamine, melatonin, and indolamine are derived from tryptophan, and all are neurotransmitters. Thus, tryptophan is the natural brain regulator for salt absorption in the body. It seems that lower levels of tryptophanand in consequence, its neurotransmitter productswill establish lower-than-normal salt reserves.

As a back-up mechanism in the body, the RA system seems to compensate by inducing salt retention in the body. Histamine and its RA system activity become increasingly engaged if the tryptophan-dependent neurotransmitter systems become less involvedthrough shortage or increased breakdown of tryptophan. It follows that a low-salt diet is not conducive to the correction of a diabetic's high blood sugar.

If the blood sugar is to come down, a slight upward adjustment of daily salt intake may become unavoidable.

Tryptophan is also a most prominent amino acid employed in the correction of errors in the process of DNA 'printout' or replica production. With another amino acid, lysine, they form a bridging system (lysine-tryptophan-lysine tripod) that cuts and splices the inaccuracies in DNA transcription. This property of tryptophan is most essential to prevention of cancer cell development in the body.

With the brain's tryptophan replenishment, the histamine-operated systems will be trimmed down to their primary responsibilitiesunexaggerated functions. Salt content of the body will be better regulated. The sensation level before registering pain stimulus will be raised. Acid secretion in the stomach will come under normal control. Blood pressure will be normalized to its natural levels for the operation of all functions in the body: kidneys, brain, liver, lungs, gastrointestinal digestive activities, 'shower-head' filtration of water into the nerve cells, the joints, and so on will function within their normal range of activity.

There is a direct relationship between walking and the build-up of the brain tryptophan reserves. There are several amino acids that compete for crossing the naturally designed barrier system into the brain. They all have to 'piggyback' on the same transporter proteins. These competitors to tryptophan are grouped under the title of branched-chain amino acids (BC amino acids). During exercise, these BC amino acids, along with the fats, are used as fuel in the larger muscles. Muscles begin to pick up these amino acids from the circulating blood. As a result, the odds are changed in favor of tryptophan for its passage across the blood-brain-barrier and into the brain. One major physiological value to exercising is the direct relationship of muscle activity to the build-up of the brain tryptophan reserves.

The brain tryptophan content, and its various by-product neurotransmitter systems, are responsible for maintenance of the 'homeostatic balance of the body.' Normal levels of tryptophan in the brain maintain a well-regulated balance in all functions of the bodywhat is meant by homeostasis. With a decrease in tryptophan supply to the brain, there is a proportionate decrease in the efficiency of all functions in the body.

Depression and some mental disorders are the consequence of brain tryptophan imbalance. Prozac used in some mental disorders, particularly in depression, is a drug that stops the enzymes that break down serotonin, a byproduct of tryptophan. When more serotonin is present, all nerves function normally. However, Prozac cannot replace the indispensable role of tryptophan itself. One has to work at replenishing body reserves of tryptophan through a balanced diet and regular water intake.

My research has shown there is a direct relationship between water intakehemodilutionand efficiency of function in the transport system for the passage of tryptophan into the brain. Water shortage and proportionate histamine release bring about an increase in the rate of tryptophan breakdown in the liver. It seems that adequate water intake arrests the increased and inefficient metabolism of tryptophan in the body. Chronic dehydration causes its loss from the pool of different amino acids held in the body. Tryptophan cannot be manufactured in the body; it must be imported through food intake. It is one of the essential amino acids. Thus, hydration of the body, exercise and the intake of right foods help replenish brain tryptophan reserves.

Another most important fact to remember is the idiosyncrasies that seem to operate in protein metabolism and their manufacture. Proteins are manufactured from joining amino acids together. There are 20 amino acids (AAs) from which different proteins are made. Each protein has a different mix of these AAs. Depending on the sequence of the mix, different characteristics are installed in each protein. Depending on the sequence and the number, the mix can function as enzymes, as assembly lines for the manufacture of other proteins, and as energy generators in the hydroelectric pump units.

All functions of the body are regulated by the special properties and the 'sequence characteristics' of its AAs used in enzymes and body proteins. There are eight essential AAs that are not manufactured in the human body; they must be imported from food intake. There are three AAs that can be manufactured but in limited quantities. At certain times, they also become partially scarce. The other nine AAs are amply manufactured within the body. If the normal percentages held in the reserve pool of AAs in the body begins to fluctuate beyond a certain range, some AAs are dumped (differently broken or consumed) to keep the composition of the AA pool within the normal range for future protein and enzyme manufacture. Of the AAs that get dumped in stress, tryptophan seems to be one of the most important.

However, one can not consume this or that amino acid by itself to balance the pool, even if one knew all the intricate ramifications. One must consume the full range of AAs to build the 'reserve pool' in due time. The precaution one can take is to eat proteins that have these AAs in ample proportions. Some proteins, such as long-exposed meat, may become deficient in some amino acids. The best proteins are those stored in the germinating seeds of plants, such as lentils, grains, beans, etc.also in eggs and milk that nature provides to produce the next generation of chickens and to feed the calf.

Lentils and green beans in particular are good stores for AAs in food ingredients. They contain about 28 percent proteins, 72 percent complex carbohydrates, and no oil. These types of foods are by nature better stores for provision of AAs in proportioned amounts. After all, these better choice of 'foods' are naturally designed to procreate a 'perfect' replica of the species concerned. The storage of a balanced amino acid composition as a life starter is part of the process.

Insulin-independent diabetes should be treated with an increase in water intake, exercise, and diet manipulation to provide the necessary amino acid balance for tissue repair, including brain tissue requirements. Salt regulation should also be kept in mind. Diabetes is a good example of the next-generation damage that is caused by dehydration. Whereas the onset of dehydration-induced diabetes is normally seen in the elderly and it is often reversible, the more serious and structurally damaging variety of the disease is often inherited by the offspring. Juvenile diabetes will need the same approach to its early preventive treatment before permanent structural damage can take place. It should be remembered that the genetic transcription mechanism of the parentsin particular the motherif affected by amino acid pool imbalance, will be equally represented in the offspring. In effect, this is how genetic damage and inherited disorders establish. What you will read in the next few paragraphs is designed to show a representative process.