DAN'S PAPERS, April 11, 2008 Page 63 www.danshamptons.com
Health, Beauty & Fitness Alcoholic Rats Live to Drink Another Day Researchers at Sapporo Medical University in Japan have made a huge leap forward in the cure of the often fatal disease, cirrhosis of the liver. The liver is an incredible organ that performs many crucial functions, but abuse from alcoholism or illnesses like hepatitis B and C can lead to its scarring. Strong, healthy tissue is replaced with collagen, which prevents the organ from doing its job. Today, collagen’s most popular role is in the form of injections to give women bee-sting lips, but it’s also created naturally in the body. The reason collagen is popular for creating big lips is because the material is firm. One of its many jobs in the body is to help give structure to tendons, muscle, skin, and cartilage. Add a little extra in your lips and you’ve got a set of plump, full smackers but adding extra to your liver is a whole different story. The liver processes toxins in the body and with a normal, healthy person – even if slight damage occurs – the liver has the ability to regenerate itself. When exposed to prolonged abuse (from alcoholism or drugs) the liver’s regeneration process
doesn’t work properly and instead of healthy new liver tissue, some cells begin to create collagen instead. The collagen creates fibrosis (hardening of the liver), which had been believed to be irreversible. As the disease persists, the liver becomes less and less able to do its many tasks and eventually a transplant may be necessary. But transplants may be on their way out. Japanese scientists have created a procedure using a manmade molecule that blocks the production of collagen. While the tests have only been performed on rats, the results were dramatic. One of the hurdles researchers had to overcome was to convince the collagen cells to accept this molecule. Their solution was to create a Trojan horse. Other research had shown that these collagen cells absorb vitamin-A quite well, so they coated their new molecule in vitamin-A. The cells “thought” they were simply absorbing the vitamin and then the molecule went to work, dissolving and blocking the production of collagen. Once that occurred, the liver was able to regenerate itself in a healthy way, actually curing cirrhosis. In the next few years, researchers plan to explore how human patients respond to this procedure. Until then there are several ways to keep your liver
healthy. Alcoholism, drug addiction and hepatitis are the most common conditions leading to cirrhosis, so avoid them. If you do have the occasional drink, there have been studies that show that one cup of coffee a day helps prevent alcoholic cirrhosis by 20% and four cups per day by 80%. Now, all that caffeine isn’t exactly great for the old ticker, so don’t think you can drink a bottle of wine a night and four lattes in the morning and everything will be just fine and dandy. As for hepatitis B and C, practice safe sex, don’t share needles, and don’t snort cocaine – all good guidelines for living in general. There is also a vaccination for hepatitis B. Milk thistle has been used for centuries in dealing with liver problems like jaundice. There is finally scientific evidence that supports these claims. Milk thistle contains silymarin, which seems to help stimulate antioxidant enzymes that support the liver in processing toxins in the body. Dandelion tea is also great for the gut, not to mention the kidneys and colon. If you’re afraid of taking herbs and you still want to support healthy liver function there are two veggies that will get the job done right.. Make it a goal to eat beets and artichokes and you’ll be sitting pretty Until the Japanese scientists perfect their liver treatment in humans, you can keep your body’s filter in good working order with these natural aids. Hopefully, by the time they make their vitamin-A coated molecules suitable for your liver, you won’t need it.
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