Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) – 2 bioactive forms!

Thiamine refers to a group of water-soluble vitamins that participates in a number of chemical reactions in the body. One form called thiamin pyrophosphate works as a cofactor in the processing of carbohydrates, fats and protein. Actually every single cell in the human body requires vitamin B1 to help churn out adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the biologic fuel our bodies run on. Thiamine also promotes healthy circulation and bolsters brain function including cognition.

Benfotiamine ( S-benzyolthiamine-O-monophosphate ) is a fat soluble (laboratory) version of thiamin, belonging to a family of compounds known as "allithiamines." Benofotiamine is has greater bioavailability and physiological activity than thiamin. It readily increases blood levels of thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP), the biologically active co-enzyme of thiamin, and stimulates transkotelase, a cellular enzyme essential for maintenance of normal glucose processing pathways in the body. Benfotiamine's blood sugar regulating properties helps the body better control generation of cell and tissue damaging Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs). AGEs cause cross-linking of collagen and thus can contribute to arterial stiffening.

It is benfotiamine's role in promoting healthy circulation and helping keep a lid on AGEs that led Nutracene's designers to include it.

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is a water-soluble member of the B-complex family of vitamins. In the human body riboflavin partners up with other compounds to form coenzymes called flavins such flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and flavin mononucleotide (FMN). Flavin coenzymes that help form enzymes are called flavoproteins. These coenzymes and enzymes act as catalysts that help facilitate vital biochemical activities in cells, such as processing carbohydrates, proteins and fats. You could think of them like the spark plugs in your car engine.

The flavin coenzyme FAD plays a key role in the energy production system in cells called the electron transport chain, including those in the heart. It also forms part of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase, both of which protect cells damage by reactive oxygen species (free radicals) such as hydroperoxides. It is these roles that led to riboflavin's inclusion in Nutracene.

Vitamin B3 (Inositol hexaicotinate)

Inositol hexanicotinate (IHN), also called "inositol niacinate," is a form of niacin that accords users the health-promoting properties of niacin without niacin's uncomfortable, skin-reddening "flush." Various studies have shown that IHN significantly lowers blood lipids at high enough doses (400 mg, 3-4 times daily). One team of researchers (Drs. Welsh and Eade) found that IHN was more effective than niacin in terms of lowering serum cholesterol and reducing high blood pressure. Like niacin, IHN lowers "bad" cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein), Lp(a) lipoprotein, triglycerides, and fibrinogen while also increasing .heart healthy. HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) levels.

These properties made inositol hexaicotinate a must for Nutracene!

Vitamin B5 (Pantethine)

Pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 is a critical player in some of the most fundamental life-sustaining systems in every cell in our bodies. It most often exists in the form of coenzyme A (CoA), which is essential to a wide variety of chemical reactions that give rise to energy from fats, carbohydrates and proteins. It also is required for the production of cholesterol, various steroid hormones, melatonin, and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

One particular form of pantothenic acid called pantethine has been found to significantly reduce serum cholesterol and triglycerides in various human studies. It is this lipid lowering effect that led to pantethines being a part of the Nutracene formula.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxal-5-phosphate)

Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that exists in six forms or isomers: pyridoxal, pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, and three phosphate derivatives: pyridoxal 5'-phosphate, pyridoxine 5'-phosphate, and pridoxamine 5'-phospate. Pyridoxal-5-phosphate is the active coenzyme form that contributes to the function of over 100 enzymes that are integral to all kinds of chemical processes in the human body. In addition, B6 works in concert with vitamin B12 and folic acid to help regulate homocysteine. When homocysteine is elevated in the blood, there is an increased risk for developing heart disease and stroke.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is a water-soluble B-complex vitamin. There are 2 forms of this vitamin used in supplements and foods: Folic acid, the most stable form, and various naturally occurring folates. Folates are found in foods as well as in the human body.

Folate is utilized, in part, to generate coenzymes that are essential for the processing of several important amino acids. For example, the synthesis of methionine from homocysteine requires a folate coenzyme and a vitamin B12 dependent enzyme. When folate is in short supply, a deficiency can result which brings about a decreased synthesis of methionine and a build-up of homocysteine. At least 80 studies indicate that to even moderately elevated levels of homocysteine in the bloodstream increases one.s risk of developing various heart and vascular diseases. This association compelled the creators of Nutracene to include it in the formula blend.

Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)

Vitamin B12 is unique among vitamins in that it contains a metal ion, cobalt. The presence of cobalt is why the term "cobalamin" is employed to refer to the various forms of B12. In terms of human biology, methylcobalamin and 5-deoxyadenosyl cobalamin are the only used. While most supplement forms use cyanocobalamin, which is converted to 5-deoxyadenosyl and methylcobalamin in the body, although this conversion is not terribly efficient. As a result, the makers of Nutracene chose to use pure methylcobalamin.

Methylcobalamin is essential for producing the amino acid methionine from homocysteine, which is created as part of normal metabolic activities in the body. However, homocysteine can bring about cardiovascular damage if it reaches even moderate levels. B12 works in concert with folate and vitamin B6 to help keep homocysteine in check.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that's involved in more than 300 metabolic reactions in the human body including the processing of carbohydrates and fats to generate energy. Magnesium is also essential for the creation of the .cellular energy fuel. adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by mitochondria. In addition, many enzymes that help churn out carbohydrates and fats depend on magnesium for their activity. The antioxidant glutathione also requires magnesium for its synthesis, and it is vital to the conduction of nerve impulses, the contraction of muscles, and normal heart rhythm.

Many published studies have shown that magnesium may help maintain healthy blood pressure. Also, many other studies have found decreased mortality from various cardiovascular diseases in areas where the people regularly consume "hard" (mineral-rich) water.

Zinc

Zinc is an important player in cell metabolism, and influences many aspects of growth and development, immune response, neurologic function, and reproduction. Almost 100 enzymes need zinc in order to bring about various chemical reactions. It also is integral to the structure of proteins and cell membranes. When zinc is not present in biological membranes in sufficient quantities, they become susceptible to oxidative damage that can undermine their function. These multitudinous roles of zinc in the body complement that of the other ingredients in Nutracene.

Copper

Copper is an indispensible part of a many essential enzymes called cuproenzymes. One of these is cytochrome c oxidase, which is vital to energy production in cells. The free radical scavenging enzymes copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD) and extracellular superoxide dismutase both rely on copper for their function.

At least two autopsy studies have shown that copper levels in heart muscle are lower in patients who died of coronary heart disease (CHD) than those who died of other causes. People with a history of heart attacks were found to have lower levels of extracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD) than those without a history of heart attacks.

Copper's role in the generation of cell and blood vessel protective enzymes and to cellular energy production led to its inclusion inNutracene.

Trimethylglycine TMG is a methyl donor, which is to say it can transfer a methyl group, i.e., one carbon atom attached to three hydrogen atoms (CH3), to another compound or substance. Many important biochemical processes in the human body rely on methyl donation or methylation, including the processing of lipids and DNA. Many researchers suspect that adequate methylation of DNA can prevent the expression of genes that give rise to serious health challenges such as cancer. Many also feel that our ability to methylate declines we age.

As a methyl donor, TMG helps convert homocysteine to methionine, something crucial when it comes to the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. In animal studies, TMG helped protect the liver and increased S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) level.

After relinquishing a methyl group TMG becomes dimethylglycine, a compound that increases cellular oxygenation.

TMG's role as a methyl donor is one reason it was selected to be part of the Nutracene formula blend.

Dimethylglycine

Dimethylglycine TMG is a methyl donor, which is to say it can transfer a methyl group, i.e., one carbon atom attached to three hydrogen atoms (CH3), to another compound or substance. Many important biochemical processes in the human body rely on methyl donation or methylation, including the processing of lipids and DNA. Many researchers suspect that adequate methylation of DNA can prevent the expression of genes that give rise to serious health challenges such as cancer. Many also feel that our ability to methylate declines we age.

As a methyl donor, DMG helps convert homocysteine to methionine, something crucial when it comes to the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. It also increases cellular oxygenation.

CoQ10 is made and used by the body to produce energy for cells, and also acts as an antioxidant or free radical scavenger. Not surprisingly, CoQ10 is highly concentrated in heart muscle cells due to their continuous need for energy. In addition, when CoQ10 levels decline in the heart, the organ can weaken resulting in congestive heart failure. Indeed, medical researchers have found that the severity of heart failure correlates with the severity of CoQ10 deficiency. Straightforward logic would suggest that giving CoQ10 to those in the grip of congestive heart failure should be of clinical benefit and, indeed, this is exactly what study-after-study has demonstrated over the course of the past  14+ years.  

Many scientists have noted that CoQ10 levels decline with age. Some experts have suggested that person over age 35 or so would be wise to take between 100-300 mgs. of CoQ10 daily to prevent depletion that might adversely impact the heart and circulatory system .

It should be noted that CoQ10 may also be of benefit in reducing high blood pressure. In one study, CoQ10 was given to 109 patients with essential hypertension. Fifty-one percent (51%) were able to stop between one and three antihypertensive drugs they were on about 4.4 months into the study (on average). In another study, 424 patients with cardiovascular disease were placed on CoQ10 and, as a result, forty-three percent (43%) were able to stop between one and three of the cardiovascular drugs they were on.

Inflammation plays a key role in the genesis of heart disease. When blood becomes viscous or sticky, it injuries the arterial wall facing the blood stream (called the endothelium). This brings about the compounds that attract white blood cells called monocytes and lymphocytes to the injured endothelium. It also results in the synthesis of proteins called adhesion molecules that the white blood cells stick to.    

Once these white blood cells adhere to the endothelium, they migrate across it and into the arterial wall and become trapped. Once this happens the monocytes take in oxidized (“bad”) cholesterol and are then converted into fat-laden foam cells. The creation and aggregation of these foam cells creates a fatty streak, the beginning of arterial plague building that eventually results in a narrowing of the artery and, in time, full blown cardiovascular disease.

Since regulation of the adhesion molecules has been linked to inflammation and production of free radicals (oxidative stress), it follows that certain dietary and supplemental antioxidants that reduce inflammation might impact the generation of these stocky proteins.

Armed with this knowledge, Weijian Zhang, MD, PhD, and his team at the Linus Pauling Institute decided formally test certain antioxidants in relation to formation of cell adhesion molecules (in culture). They found that alpha-lipoic acid significantly inhibited both the genesis of adhesion molecules and the adherence of monocytes to endothelial cells. Surprisingly, they discovered that these processes were not influenced by vitamin C or glutathione, which they felt suggests “that general oxidative stress does not play a significant role in the activation of human endothelial cells to produce adhesion molecules.”  So why did alpha-lipoic acid work so well? Dr. Zhang and his team speculated that because alpha lipoic acid is a good metal chelator, metals such as iron or cadmium or such may be involved in the production of adhesion molecules. To test this, they added compounds to the cell culture that specifically chelate or grab onto iron or copper. They found that these metal chelators inhibited the production of adhesion molecules and monocyte adherence to cultured endothelial cells.

This line of research plus other suggesting that alpha lipoic acid may lower high blood pressure and thus reduce certain players in heart disease led to its inclusion inNutracene.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a compound produced in the liver which has been linked to the development of heart disease, Indeed, CRP has emerged as a strong predictor of heart attacks and stroke, even in cases where cholesterol levels are normal.

Thankfully, vitamin E and a number of other natural substances have been shown to lower CRP. In one randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind study, vitamin E in the form of alpha-tocopherol (1200 IU/d for 2 y) was compared with a placebo in 90 patients with coronary artery disease. One of the things to emerge from this study is the fact study participants who took the “Real McCoy” (Vitamin E) had significantly lower CRP (32%). The results of this and other studies led to the inclusion of a powerful vitamin E form known as vitamin E succinate inNutracene.

Vitamin K2 has thirteen forms or isomers known as menaquinones. Published research has shown that one of these menaquinones, in particular, menaquinone-7 (MK-7), helps transport calcium out of the blood and also arteries and into bone. Population (epidemiological) studies have shown that when K2 levels are high, hardening of the arteries is lower as compared to people with lower levels of K2.

Case-in-point: During the early 1990s a Dutch team of scientists gleamed data from a previously published study known as the Rotterdam Study. Among the most intriguing of their findings was the fact thatt participants who had a high vitamin K2 intake bolstered the lowest levels of calcification in their aortas, while low vitamin K intake was linked to an increased risk of dying from coronary heart disease.