Presented by THE ROBERT CATHEY RESEARCH SOURCE http://www.europa.com/~rsc This essay is under construction. References will follow soon. 12aug97. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- For health maintenance, the general evolutionary-metabolic approach is that we need to maintain an adequate intake of raw foods, especially sprouts (cereal and vegetable) and fruits and their seeds, which research has proven made up the primal diet. Fire came long after the nutritive patterns had been set in our cellular makeup. That is, raw sprouting and seed foods, along with their fruits, have the longest evolutionary imprint on our bodily needs. They satisfy these needs, which no amount of synthetic or "natural" supplementation can mimick. Some foods must be cooked to be palatable and even safe (soy for instance), but raw foods besides being nutritive come along with enzymes required to break down the proteins, starches and carbohydrates into their monomeric units or absorbable forms. Then, as discussed further on, these enzymes can also be absorbed to a certain degree. I think in the case of taking supplemental enzymes, one can determine the daily need subjectively to a certain extent. In a paper now up at the web site, early in this century, Dr. Lambelle (misspelled in the Medical Record as Lamballe) considered maximum dosage at that point when the patient's temperature rose as a consequence of injection. An empirical method, to be sure, but the dietarily derived enzyme requirements of daily life have as yet to be quantitized, to say the least, let alone the "normals" for the inactive, surveillant forms of pancreatic enzymes in the blood and lymph. It is commonly believed, in fact, that the presence in the blood of these pancreatic enzymes is abnormal, and taken universally as an index of pancreatic disease (like pancreatitis). But see Lambelle's startling results using trypsin and amylase for malaria: http://www.europa.com/~rsc/lamballa.htm The absence or mildness of reactions to these treatments indicates that the body has normal mechanisms for dealing with their presence. Febrile or pyretic responses (feverish) have long been used by herbalists as a sign of sufficient action. For a healthy person considering the use of supplemental enzymes as a form of prevention against infection and possible cancer, there are other issues that need to be examined having to do with what we *lack* that potentiates the enzymes we naturally synthesize. The co-factors and co-enzymes that potentiate these enzymes are not fully determined. But we know magnesium, chromium, calcium and zinc are major co-factors for the enzymes known to play an important role in cancer prevention and anti-parasitical incursions[Note, chloride ions also activate amylase]. Also, as I have pointed out, perhaps ad nauseum, cyanide bearing nitriloside (vitamin B-17) is one such co-enzyme, that accelerates and extends in time the activity of the proteases, besides having specific anti-neoplastic and anti-parasitic cytotoxicity, while being at the same time harmless to the normal tissues in rational quantities (it was estimated by Dr. Dean Burk to be much less toxic than pure sugar). Studies in primitive diets, or stone-age diets, shows nitriloside intake was many times higher than it is now. It is generally believed that most people will probably remain dependent on mineral supplements to a certain degree, because our farming practices have moved away from flood plains where mineral re-deposition can occur. So some people, depending on the nature of their water supply (hard water is better), will be dependent on supplements, even with adequate raw food and seed intake grown on "industrial farms". Especially with regard to magnesium. For the latter, see http://www.execpc.com/~magnesum for a good primer to appreciate the importance of this element, and why the deficiency is termed "catastrophic". Magnesium is essential for the function of over 300 enzymes in the human body. The last RCRS email update indicated the wide extent of it's prophylactic power. I would point out that the importance of essential minerals is great, but beware of so-called mineral-drinks, which may have heavy metals in them, as the heavy metals are one of the major means of deactivation of these enzymes (besides contributing to systemic acidity). Copper, silver, mercury and lead heading the list of heavy metals capable of denaturing or deactivating enzymes and other proteins. There is also the question of how these minerals and metals are taken. Both zinc and chromium are essential, but they are competitive. We need to learn how to supplement in terms of time, so that these elements are taken optimally. It would appear that this is why apatite is still the best guide in many ways. As when having eaten adequately in terms of surfeit, we may still seek out other foods in attempting, possibly, to get some essential mineral with no competition. We believe that together with magnesium, the lack of GTF-chromium and to a somewhat lessor extent, biologically active calcium deficiencies have lead to the decreased activity of the pancreatic enzymes, which we also believe are the front line in the immune defenses. Fortunately, chromium is abundant in brewer's yeast, and for those who can tolerate it, that deficiency can be met by taking a tablespoon of brewer's yeast with every meal. For those who might not tolerate that, high potency brewer's yeast tablets are available from Twinlabs. I am told that some people taking GTF as high as 1000 micrograms a day have found their requirements for insulin have impressively deminished, some altogether. This makes sense, because besides potentiating trypsin, GTF aids in the function of insulin and amino acid transport. The research shows that chromium nicotinates are the preferred biologically active form in terms of absorbtion and utility in the body, complexing with cysteine, glycine and glutamic acids, all components of glutathione which plays a role in antineoplastic chemistry by reactivating proteolytic enzymes. Dr. Passwater seems to think chromium picolinate is the way to go. The pancreatic protease trypsin is absolutely dependent on GTF for proper function. Being reduced to a mere 5% of activity when chromium is absent(Bresler, Rozentsveig, 1951). Chromium helps in the binding of these enzymes to their substrates, as well as to their proper conformation or optimal shape. The adequate intake of magnesium insures that the pancreatic zymogens...the inactive secreted form of the enzymes...are activated. It is essential for enteropeptidase activity (enterokinase). For this reason, although Mg-sulphate has been observed to play this role(Northrop, 1935), the best form is probably the chloride, which will hydrolytically dissociate into the ionic form. Calcium ions, which activate amylase, would probably most efficiently ionize if absorbed as the chloride form as well. There is a long going debate as to the absorbability of dietarily appropriated enzymes. But the empirical evidence is overwhelming: when we take in more enzymes, we feel better, and orally ingested enzymes alone have been used from everything to sports injuries to cancer with definite effects. The correlation between cancer remissions and these additions or changes to the diet have been studied by researchers and the results obviously go beyond merely aiding digestion (see e.g.: Harold D. Foster, "Lifestyle Changes and the 'Spontaneous' Regression of Cancer: An Initial Computer Analysis," International Journal of Biosocial Research, 10:17, 1988; reprinted in: Healing Newsletter, 5:14, no. 3.). To what extent these enzymes circulate outside the digestive tract (that is, in the serum and lymph) must be determined more carefully. The research has been stymied on the theory of "entero-pancreatic" circulation. In this theory, the enzymes are absorbed across the intestinal epithelium (via baso-lateral membrane), circulated in the blood, then re-absorbed into the pancreas, to conserve these macro-proteins. This last point has hopelessly side-tracked the most important issue: are they found in any form in the blood and lymph? The fact that specific weak inhibitors for these enzymes are found in the blood (alpha-1-antitrypsin for example), and that systemic anaphylactic or allergic reactions or simple sensitivity arise at a certain point with the use of oral enzyme formulations derived from animals or plants suggest, indirectly, that there is absorbtion (Though some contend the inflammatory reaction is relegated to the intestinal epithelium, and the reactors--histamines, etc.--are then disseminated throughout the bloodstream). There is uncertainty as to precisely how the enzymes get into the blood, perhaps by an undetermined endocrine/exocytotic pathway. But some researchers do show positive findings of them non-pathologically. But it can get confusing in cancer, in that similar proteases can be found secreted by cancer cells, whose only difference between those of the normal pancreas and cellular enzymes seems to lie in stereochemistry. They are enantiomers, or mirror-image enzymes to those we produce. And yet they act differently, or on substrates *not* acted on by our own enzymes of similar form. That is, cancer enzymes degrade our tissues, while our own circulating enzymes do not. Having the same constituents, they apparently lack the proper shape. Enzymes as you may recall, operate like a key fits a lock. This is the basis possible utility of protease inhibitors in cancer. The variable results seem to lie in the fact that the synthetic inhibitors may actually be isomeric (mixed left and right handed enzyme) solutions: half the inhibitors acting against the body's antineoplastic pancreatic enzymes. If we inhibit only half of the cancer enzymes, and all of our own in the serum, we are in big trouble. There is large amount of work on these isozymes in cancer. It seems clear our antineoplastic enzymes circulate as zymogen or weakly inhibited enzymes. They can be activated by active proteases. Apparently our system is geared to recognize the M.O. of invading parasites and trophoblast or cancer. Cancer and parasites secrete proteases, which possibly activate our surveillant enzymes. Then begins a battle of quantities: cancer secretes strong inhibitors (like hCG); the body must free our inhibited enzymes (by nitrilosides and other oxidation-reducing agents like glutathione and cysteine) as well as produce an abundance of the enzymes amylase and trypsin, carboxypeptidase, etc. These enzymes will strip away the pericellular coatings that give cancer cells and other parasitical forms their electro-negative charge, making them repulsive to the immune cells. Obviously, if the reserve of these enzymes is low, the majority going towards digestion of foods, or inhibited by polutants (like organophosphates) or heavy metals, the battle is lost before the assault has even really begun...before metastasis. To what degree are dietary or supplemental enzymes absorbed? Some contend the transport/absorbtion of amylase is close to 100%. Other large enzymes like trypsin, chymotrypsin, bromelain, or papain, perhaps 20 to 40%. Let that be as it may. Assuming that the body acquires only 20%, then if we are taking in 4,000 units of one of these proteases daily, on an empty stomach, we may presume that the actual absorbtion is 800 units absorbed. This would be in addition to the natural serum content. In cancer therapy, good results were attained with a mere 2000 units of amylase, and 1,000 units (Roberts tryptic units) of trypsin daily over a a period of months or years. These were injected, so the loss was close to zero. So if one were to take in say 24,000 units of amylase, and 12,000 units of trypsin (or papain and bromelin), assuming a loss of amylase similar to that of the larger proteases, the ratios would come out to about 4600 units of amylase absorbed, and 2400 units of trypsin at a 20% absorbtion. This more than doubles the amounts used in successfully treating full blown cancers by Beard's associates. In the event an incursion of parasites, or a primary or original cancer cell arises, the surplus provided by such a concentration would *theoretically* more than suffice to prevent its coming into full bloom. Remember, however, that plant enzymes like bromelin and papain do not have the same specificity as animal enzymes, so comparisons in terms of digestion units may not be fully equivalent. The empirical practice is that the enzymes be taken between meals, but also with meals. The idea being that for insufficiency in the pancreatic function, say because of lack of chromium or poor absorbtion of free amino acids, and di- and tripeptides, this extraordinary intake will provide a means towards reconstitution. The ideal is to synthesize adequate amounts of the specific enzymes trypsin and amylase, and of course all the other pancreatic enzymes. But high intake gives a margin for possibly greater losses in transport of raw materials in cancer cachexic stages. Because apricot and their seeds, apple and their seeds and peach and prune seeds, and figs are good alkalinizing foods, and because they bear nitrilosides yielding hydrogen cyanide and sometimes benzaldehyde, they have been regarded by many of the world's most successful cancer clinicians as one of the most important adjuncts to fighting cancer. It is true that where nitriloside intake is very high, cancer incidence is rare if it occurs at all. It is believed this is because, besides extending in time and increasing the proteolytic power of pancreatic and dietary proteases, they also have a fully demonstrated selective cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. Our antineoplastic enzymes prefer a neutral to slightly alkaline environment, and so it is important to use lots of fruits, and their juices. Figs are particularly powerful alkalinizing food, and yield goodly amounts of potassium, calcium and magnesium. Not all nitrilosidic foods are alkalinizing, but apricots are. As an interesting aside, the "fig factor" which may be said to include the protease "ficin" will dissolve ascaris or round worm even when trypsin cannot. In the Hebrew scripture, in 2nd Kings, chapter 20, vv 1-7, Isaiah applied a lump of figs to what was most likely malignant melanoma, and cured it. Dr. Ernst T. Krebs had a simple axiom or criterion for people to use in determining what they should and should not do to prevent cancer. "What would primitive man do?" Should we cook all our foods? What would primitive man do? Should we expose ourselves to heavy metals, pesticides, and exhaust? Eat refined white sugar? Drink stagnant water? It follows that we should educate ourselves as to what primitive man's dietary life was like, before the innovation of cooking. To help in this task, this web site has some very informative papers: It goes without saying, that all the known vitamins and minerals are required for the full system to operate regularly. It would probably be better not to even speak of individual vitamins and minerals, but to conceive of them as components to the daily elixir or vital continuum expressed as food, air and water. Because taking one small part out, can spell a cascade of collapses which may take years to fully impact our sense of well being. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The ROBERT CATHEY RESEARCH SOURCE. All pages Copyright © 1996 R.S.Cathey, except where specified otherwise.