Vitamins and Detoxification Pathways

R-Lipoic Acid and Detoxification

• R-Lipoic Acid (R-ALA) is more bioavailable than S- and R-enantiomer mixtures and may offer superior therapeutic effects.

B Vitamins and Selenium Support Detoxification Pathways

• B vitamins serve as cofactors for hundreds of enzymes in the body, including those involved in vital detoxification pathways.
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is a vital cofactor for transketolase, an enzyme involved in the pentose phosphate pathway, essential for antioxidant defenses.
• Vitamin B1 supplementation may correct heavy metal-induced thiamine deficiency, bolster antioxidant defenses, and reduce the body burden of mercury, arsenic, and lead.
• Vitamin B5 (d-calcium pantothenate) supports glutathione production through its vital role in ATP production and has hepatoprotective effects via its free radical-scavenging activities.
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal-5-phosphate) alleviates oxidative stress, caused by elevated homocysteine, by redistributing glutathione from the liver into the blood plasma.
• Vitamin B6 may also assist in lead detoxification by chelating or interfering with intestinal absorption of the heavy metal.
• Selenium is an essential cofactor for glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that detoxifies damaging peroxide radicals into innocuous alcohol molecules and oxygen, protecting cells from oxidative damage.

Clear Way Cofactors

• Clear Way Cofactors is a proprietary blend of botanically-sourced polyphenolic antioxidants, R-Lipoic Acid, B vitamins, selenium, and high-potency nattokinase designed to maximally support metal detoxification pathways.

Botanicals and Intracellular Detoxification

• The plant kingdom offers an abundance of botanicals that enhance intracellular detoxification pathways, assisting in the detoxification of endogenous and exogenous toxins, repairing damaged proteins, and quenching oxidative stress.
• Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) is a fruit that has been used for thousands of years in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine to support detoxification pathways.
• Dietary selenium also protects against and alleviates mercury toxicity by inhibiting the binding of mercury to cellular targets in the thioredoxin and glutathione antioxidant systems.

Glutathione Functions

• Provides potent protection inside mitochondria, the cell's energy powerhouses
• Critical to immune system function, dampening inflammation, and autoimmune response
• May confer protection from cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease

Detoxification Phases

• Phase I: Oxidation - liver converts lipid-soluble toxins into less harmful compounds
• Phase II: Conjugation - glutathione binds to toxins, making them water-soluble
• Phase III: Elimination - cellular transport and elimination of conjugated substances through bile or urine

Immune System Regulation

• Glutathione regulates TH1 and TH2 immune responses
• Modest increase in intracellular glutathione levels potentiates immune action of lymphocytes
• Reduced glutathione levels linked to autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis

Neuroprotection and Cardiovascular Health

• Glutathione protects the heart by reducing oxidative stress and preventing atherogenesis
• Glutathione is a key antioxidant in the brain, protecting against neurodegenerative diseases
• Lowered glutathione levels linked to Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment

Toxic Defense

• Glutathione conjugates and eliminates mycotoxins, methylmercury, and other neurotoxins
• Prevents mercury toxicity by targeting and binding methylmercury

Liver Function and Detoxification

• Glutathione plays a critical role in liver function and detoxification
• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) supports liver function and detoxification by preventing the absorption of harmful compounds

The role of vitamins, especially B vitamins, and selenium in supporting detoxification pathways in the body, including their effects on enzymes and antioxidants.