The detoxification processes – better known as “detox” – of the body are quite complex and require a detailed explanation for a better understanding.
In the following article, we will try to focus on the fundamental questions to explain the reactions that take place in the liver, which is the main detoxifying organ.

Let’s start with the definition: detoxification or biotransformation is a series of enzymatic reactions that convert non-polar xenobiotics into water-soluble substances so that they are more easily eliminated in urine and feces.

In other words, our liver will be responsible for ridding us of any toxic substance that intends to circulate in our body.

And a question that comes to us very often is why should we do detox treatments? The answer is very simple: because our liver is saturated with so many toxins.

Let’s remember that we live in a world with very high levels of pollution and our body acts like a barrel.
At first it can store a good amount of toxins and continue to function without obvious alterations, but when the storage and elimination capacity is saturated, we begin to see the negative effects.

The substances that are generated by the development of industrial activities generate pollutants and are very varied.
Some of them are observed with greater concern in reference to the environment and human health.
That is why when we talk about pollution we are not only referring to the smoke that circulates in the air, but we are talking about heavy metals in the fish we consume, aldehydes derived from the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons, agrochemicals present in food that comes from agriculture and the list goes on…

In addition, the liver is also responsible for the processes to transform some internal substances and make them water-soluble so that they can be excreted.
These endogenous substances include bilirubin and both steroid and thyroid hormones.

Liver detoxification phases

Detoxification reactions in the liver can be classified into two large groups: phase I and phase II.

The most representative reactions of phase I are catalyzed by the cytochrome P450 complex and are:

• -Oxidation
• -Reduction
• -Hydrolysis

While those of phase II are:

• – Glucuronidation
• -Sulfation
• – Glutathione conjugation
• – Conjugation with glycine
• -Methylation
• -Acetylation.

The adequate activity of these pathways depends on the availability of those nutrients (cofactors) that intervene in the enzymatic reactions in each phase.

As we can see, phase I enzymes transform toxic products into intermediate forms that are more accessible for phase II.
These intermediate forms are much more chemically active and therefore more toxic.

A major side effect of this phase I is the production of free radicals.
The ideal antioxidant to neutralize phase I free radicals, and which also serves as a platform for phase II enzymatic processes, is the glutathione system that is composed of two enzymes, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase.

Glutathione reductase is an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of oxidized glutathione to reduced glutathione which will be used by glutathione peroxidase for the reduction of peroxide and lipoperoxides, which are reactive oxygen species.
This enzyme plays an important role in antioxidant defense and its presence is highly widespread in different tissues and organs.
Conjugation with glutathione allows detoxifying electrolyte compounds such as solvents, herbicides, fungicides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, lipid peroxides and heavy metals.

Let’s talk a little about genes

For enzymatic reactions to take place, we must express genes.

The GST M1 gene is present mainly in the liver, but also in the testicles, brain and mammary gland.
Its substrates are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, epoxides and some dyes.
If their activity is zero, there will be no elimination of these toxins.
As an important fact, we can say that 50% of the European population has the null genotype for this gene.

The GST P1 gene is found in the brain, skin, heart, and lungs.
Its substrates are acrolein – which is present in grilled and fried foods – ethacrylic acid which is a sweetener and chlorodinitrobenzene which is used in insecticides.

If any of the genes that encode these isoenzymes are not present, our body will not be able to eliminate these toxins.

It would be interesting to be able to do a genetic study that could reveal the variations we have in our genes and how this environmental pollution affects us.
These studies also allow us to know what nutritional or supplementation guidelines we should follow to make our liver better eliminate toxins.

Some supplements such as Resveratrol is useful in decreasing Phase I activity and Immun’Âge Fermented Papaya may stimulate the expression of Phase II isoenzymes.
This tandem is one of those perfect allies capable of promoting better detoxification.

To name a very interesting fact, a study by the liver transplant unit of the Victoria Hospital, in Australia, detected that the most frequent acute liver failure in that country is due to paracetamol poisoning.
And one of the most frequent causes is fasting, since this practice depresses glucuronization and lowers liver glutathione levels, so the drug cannot be metabolized, leaving a highly toxic residue in the body that can be very serious and even fatal.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6669190/

The most powerful antioxidant enzyme

SOD (superoxide dismutase) is one of the most potent endogenous antioxidants in the human body. It catalyzes the reaction that inactivates the superoxide free radical, one of the most deleterious and abundant.
In the human body there are two types of SOD, the first is located mostly in the cell cytoplasm and has copper and zinc as cofactors (SOD Cu/Zn), while the second type is located in the mitochondria and has a manganese atom.

Several studies agree that the mitochondrial SOD isoform would be essential for cellular antioxidant defense, but its most relevant role could differ depending on the target organ where it acts.
In general, it has been seen that mitochondrial dysfunction leading to a disruption of energy metabolism seems to be the predominant metabolic feature in heart aging, while loss of protein homeostasis would be the distinguishing feature of brain aging.

How do you know if you need to eliminate toxins?

If there is an overload of toxins, our body will alert us with various manifestations or symptoms that are quite non-specific, such as migraine, asthenia or dyspepsia, which are clear symptoms that there is a toxic overload and physiological functions cannot be carried out normally.

Other frequent symptoms include allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions, fatigue with no apparent origin, insomnia, frequent infections, obesity, fluid retention, loss of memory and concentration, mood swings, irritability, skin problems (acne, eczema…), etc.

These symptoms could indicate that the body is overloaded with toxins that it cannot metabolize on its own, so it needs a treatment that favors and stimulates Drainage and Detoxification.

How do we help our liver in detoxification?

The goal of good detoxification is to achieve a balance between the processes of Phase I and Phase II.

Supplements such as Immun’Âge Fermented Papaya would counteract the formation of free radicals and stimulate the genetic expression of antioxidant enzymes and the formation of interferon-gamma and the release of nitric oxide.

In Phase I of detoxification, polar groups are created in the same molecule soluble in water, Thus, a good detox plan should include an inhibitor of the proactiveness of carcinogens such as Resveratrol contained in Active Resveratrol and ACTIVE DETOX.

Then we should treat oxidative stress.
And this is where antioxidants come into play, such as SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidase.
Remember that each individual has particular antioxidant needs, but we can indicate some substances that will be part of the pool of precursors of the same.
For example, Selenium cofactor of Glutathione Peroxidase or Zinc cofactor of SOD, these minerals are found in ACTIVE DETOX, which can be supplemented in the form of daily intakes.

As relatively high amounts of antioxidants will be used, alpha lipoic acid will be necessary for the regeneration of vitamins C and E. Alpha lipoic acid is also found in the ACTIVE DETOX formula.

The goal of Phase II detoxification is to add a highly water-soluble molecule, so that both substances can be removed together.

In this case, supplementation should be aimed at increasing the levels of lycopene, omega-3 fatty acids, sulfur amino acids , and precursors of the glutathione system such as N-acetylcysteine, selenium , and alpha-lipoic acid.

With all the information available, it is not uncommon for us to be invaded by insecurities about which supplements and what quantities to consume and/or indicate to our patients.
That is why we encourage you to fill out the contact form so that we can communicate and together resolve doubts and concerns.

We know that this article will not answer all your questions, but we sincerely hope that it has generated more interest to continue in the search for more information about this complex and exciting topic.
See you in the next post.