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BOVINE LIVER EXTRACTS:
PEPTIDE GROWTH FACTORS
Viral hepatitis
is a fairly common systemic disease that is marked by hepatic cell
destruction, necrosis, and autolysis, all of which lead to anorexia,
jaundice, and hepatomegaly. More than 70,000 cases of the illness
are reported annually in the United States. Today, five types of
viral hepatitis are recognized.
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Type A (infectious or short-incubation hepatitis). The incidence
of hepatitis A is rising among homosexuals and those persons
with an immunosuppression related to an infection with the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The ingestion of seafood from
polluted waters can cause it. People who are infected with hepatitis
C, who also contract hepatitis A are in serious trouble. Recent
statistics indicate a 40% fatality rate within 48 hours. The
survivors are usually very sick for up to 6 months. Your doctor
may recommend hepatitis A vaccine. Keep in mind that taking
the vaccine will raise your hepatitis C viral load for awhile.
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Type B (serum or long-incubation hepatitis). Also increasing
among HIV-positive individuals, hepatitis B accounts for up
to 10 percent of post-transfusion viral hepatitis cases in the
United States. It is also transmitted by human secretions and
by feces, such as during intimate sexual contact, and from the
transfer of viruses into food prepared by infected restaurant
workers. |
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Type C (undetermined as to specific organism type). This disease
organism is mostly acquired by blood transfusion from asymptomatic
donors. Of all the hepatitis viral diseases, type C hepatitis
is on the fastest rise among Americans. Hepatitis C is the most
common reason for liver transplants in the U.S. today, and it
is causing an alarming increase of primary liver cancer. |
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Type D is found most frequently as a complication of acute or
chronic hepatitis B, because this type D virus requires the
hepatitis B organism's double-shelled surface antigen to replicate. |
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Type E (formerly grouped with type C under the name type non-A,
non-B hepatitis) primarily occurs among people recently returned
from an endemic area such as India, Africa, Asia, or Central
America. Of the five viral hepatitis diseases, hepatitis B and
hepatitis C are most dangerous because they have a high risk
of developing into liver cancer. |
Defining
Live Cell Liver Peptide Growth Factors
From the Department
of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Brown University in Providence,
Rhode Island, U.S.A., three investigating pathologists, Drs. N.
Fausto, A.D. Laird, and E.M. Webber, advise: "During liver regeneration,
quiescent hepatocytes (liver cells) undergo one or two rounds of
replication and then return to a non-proliferative state. Growth
factors regulate this process by providing both stimulatory and
inhibitory signals for cell proliferation." (20)
The idea of
intrinsic hepatic growth control factors produced by animal and
human liver cells has been stated in published reports, which date
back to approximately forty-six years ago. (21-25) Much of this
early research was conducted on rats and dogs, but currently clinical
investigations among both healthy human volunteers and really sick
people have taken place. (26)
Comprised of
the tiniest of protein molecules, which biochemists and physiologists
call peptides, these growth factors are of an exceedingly low molecular
weight (30,000 Da), which yield two or more amino acids on hydrolysis.
The Dalton with a symbol of D or Da, also called an atomic mass
unit, is equivalent to 1.657 X 10 (24) gm. Peptide growth factors
form by loss of water from the NH2 and COOH molecular groups of
adjacent amino acids and are additionally referred to in biochemistry
as di-, tri- tetra- etc. peptides, depending on the number of amino
acids in the molecule. Thus, peptides make up the constituent parts
of proteins. Examples of those several dozen peptides from the human
liver and other organs which often give birth to growth factors
are: hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF),
transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and dozens more. (27-30)
According to
which of the various scientific disciplines is being queried, different
names exist for peptide growth factors. Historically, for instance,
cell biologists have called members of their identified growth factor-type
set of molecules "growth factors;" immunologists have named their
growth factor-types "interleukins," "lymphokines," or "cytokines;"
while hematologists have used the growth factor-type descriptive
term "colony stimulating factors" (CSF). However, the present generally
delineating nomenclature of "growth factors" has been and is now
widely used throughout the world's scientific literature.
The term "growth
factor" is now used consistently among almost every scientific and
medical discipline, because in almost every case it reflects the
context of the original discovery or isolation of any peptide. Since
essentially all of these many molecules are multifunctional, it's
not easy to conceive unique new names for them that would be entirely
satisfactory; almost all of them are "panregulins," that is they
react as universal regulators of the particular organ from which
they derive. As you'll learn below, for the animal and human body,
peptide growth factors are actually physiological symbols for the
transfer of signals - a kind of language of biological regulation.
(31-32)
Peptides often
promote cell growth, but they also can inhibit it; moreover, they
regulate many critical cellular functions, such as in the control
of cell differentiation and other processes, which have little to
do with growth itself. All peptide growth factors act in sets. To
understand their actions, one must always consider the biological
context in which they act.
Peptide growth
factors provide an essential means for a cell to communicate with
its immediate environment. They ensure that there is a proper local
homeostatic balance between the numerous cells that comprise a tissue
or organ. Since a cell must adjust its behavior to changes in its
environment, the cell needs mechanisms to provide this adaptation.
Therefore, the tissue cells, either singularly or collectively,
use sets of peptide growth factors as signaling molecules to communicate
with each other and to alter their own behavior to respond appropriately
to their biological context.
The most important
peptide growth factors of the liver's hepatocytes have been identified
as a collection of hormones called "somatomedins." These liver hormones
are peptides that produce major effects on the growth of bone and
muscle. They also influence the metabolism of ingested minerals,
including calcium, phosphate, carbohydrates, and lipids (fat). Somatomedin
growth factors are indirectly stimulated to divide by the pituitary
hormone somatotropin (also referred to as "growth hormone" by endocrinologists).
The peptide
growth factors act by binding to functional receptors that transduct
their signals and the peptides themselves may be viewed as bifunctional
molecules.
The following
are two main responses or actions that peptide growth factors accomplish:
(a) They possess an afferent function in that there is the conveying
of information to cellular receptors, providing them with information
from outside the organism's cell, tissue, or organ.
(b) They have an efferent function in that there is the inception
of a latent biochemical activity of the receptor.
The
Peptide Growth Factors within Liver Cells
A certain piece
of geographic knowledge in nature's lore (presented in the paragraph
immediately below) perhaps best illustrates how peptide growth factors
must be considered cell-to-cell signals, rather than as the equivalents
of metallic parts of a machine. They offer up physiological symbols
of communication within the organ systems of nearly all animal organisms.
Peptides possess the unique action of serving as a significant means
to convey information from one cell to another or from one organ
to another, including the brain and central nervous system; their
action in this regard is contextual.
Natural lore
shows us the way peptide growth factors act to convey information
inside their animal host. I ask you to visualize the reversal of
host animal peptide growth factors communication in the following
context:
It's a fact
that in two closely located islands off the coast of South Africa,
a rock lobster and a large snail have reversed their predator-prey
relationships. On island "Gamma," the lobster preys on the snail:
finds it, attacks it, and eats its soft parts with gusto. Fifty
nautical miles to the east on island "Omega," a reversal of the
roles between prey and predator takes place. The same species of
snail that had been eaten, now preys on the same species of lobster
by approaching it, extending a probing foot, burying that foot into
the lobster's body, and sucking out its gizzards. (32)
What produces
the reversal in predator prey relationships? It's the host animals'
peptide growth factors. Within each of the animal organisms, their
growth factors alter attitude so as to become contextual; they signal
differing elements of an intercellular language. To be contextual
means that the whole situation, background, or environment becomes
relevant to this particular animalistic prey-predator event, as
determined by molecular makeup of the participants' peptide growth
factors.
Interleukin-6
(IL-6), one of the known peptide growth factors, regulates the protein
synthesis in a human being's liver cells (hepatocytes). Also transforming
growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), another set of peptide growth factors
produced by normal human fibroblasts, additionally regulates the
synthesis and secretion of human immunoglobulins by B-lymphocytes.
(33-36) Since immune cells also synthesize both TGF-beta and IL-6,
these molecules provide a means of communication between the immune
system and its immediate neighbors. The liver is part of almost
every detoxification process; therefore, the hepatocytes are often
significantly involved with the metabolism of neighboring cells.
Inasmuch as
the liver's natural function makes it a part of all aspects of physiological
repair in the presence of body pathology, the peptide growth factors
of the liver cells must be critical determinants of every aspect
of tissue trauma or illness response. As such, liver cell peptide
growth factors have important and necessary therapeutic applications.
The peptide growth factors, whose functions and applications are
described below by Stewart Lanson, M.D., of Scottsdale, Arizona
and Howard Benedict, D.C., of New York City, bring major impacts
to the practice of clinical medicine and nutritional science. These
peptide growth factors are involved in the repair of both soft and
hard body tissues, immunosuppression, enhancement of immune cellular
function, improvement of bone marrow function in numerous disease
states, treatment of many proliferative diseases including the remission
of cancer, the marked lowering of serum cholesterol, (37) and for
the elimination of all hepatitis viral diseases, but most especially
for hepatitis B and C. (38)
Stuart
Lanson, M.D., Treats Hepatitis C with Liver Peptides
Scottsdale,
Arizona clinical ecologist Stuart Lanson, M.D. is an allergist holding
board certification in environmental medicine. He is the medical
director of the Scottsdale Ear, Nose, Throat, Allergy, and Environmental
Health Center. Regarding treatment with liver peptides, he says:
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I use
the liquid liver peptides for those of my patients who are
environmentally ill with xenobiotics, allophatic hydrocarbons,
pesti-cides, PCBs, and solvents. All of these toxins are stored
in body fat, but they can be measured in the blood in parts
per billion.
For those
patients who have problems with detoxification, I employ the
frozen, liquid liver extract as a standard treatment. Also
I use this extract for those people suffering from the various
hepatitis illnesses, most particularly for viral hepatitis
C.
For example,
a woman in her early forties coming to me from a nearby Arizona
city had a clear diagnosis of hepatitis C. All of her liver
enzymes were severely elevated and her symptoms included an
enlarged, tender liver, lethargy, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting,
fever, joint pains, and jaundice. I put her on multiple nutritional
supplements, an elevated dosage of olive leaf extract, and
NatCell™ Liver. I did this in order to have these substances
work together against the virus and to strengthen her liver.
Also I treated some of her allergies with immunotherapy and
preservative free antigens.
This woman
has now dramatically improved. Her liver enzymes have returned
to normal levels and her various symptoms have left. She reports
having the same normal amount of energy as she had before
she contracted hepatitis C. My patient has now returned to
work; she has expressed her happiness to me; and she is basically
quite well.
I do need
to put in the limiting information that most of these hepatitis
C patients do not show improvements in their viral counts.
The counts continue to remain elevated, even though my patients
exhibit wellness and state that they feel better. The viral
numbers do not seem to lower significantly," and blood tests
indicate that their viruses have not disappeared.
Still,
I do treat many hepatitis C patients who respond just fine
to the strengthening of their liver organs by their sublingually
ingesting the live cell liver treatment. This treatment overcomes
their severe fatigue, impaired liver function, and elevated
liver enzymes. They see noticeable symptomatic improvement!
Invariably the patients' fatigue goes away, and they are able
to work once again. Of course, I add other modalities besides
the bovine liver growth factors, but these peptides are definitely
helpful in repairing damaged liver organs. My finding is that
the tiny live proteins repair a damaged liver.
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Among the hundreds
of clinical journal research reports that can be acquired from an
Internet search of Medline, the following are only a few about the
great physiological and metabolic advantages made available by liver
growth factors. Research on liver growth factors has been conducted
both on animals and cultures in laboratories, as well as on sick
patients receiving treatment in clinics and medical offices.
From the Department
of Internal Medicine at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan, researchers
report that a combined preparation of liver growth factors and flavin
adenine dinucleotide (FAD) has been widely used for patients with
chronic liver disease. In particular, those Japanese suffering with
hepatitis C viral infections (HCV) benefited from intravenous injections
of this preparation. It seems to be a potent agent for the enhancement
of the anti?viral efficacy of interferon (IFN) in patients with
chronic hepatitis C (CH?C). (39)
Extracts from
the weaning pig liver, although not bovine, also have acted synergistically
with hepatocyte growth factors to stimulate improved function of
the liver cells. The researchers did report that in the absence
of added porcine growth factors, the extracts had no activity.
From the Third
Department of Internal Medicine, National Defense Medical College
in Saitama, Japan we learn about the peptide growth factor known
as Transforming Growth Factors?alpha (TGF?alpha). These particular
growth factors cause biological activity when they come in contact
with an extract of human exocrine pancreatic cancer associated with
humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. (40)
Two mitogenic
pepticles in bovine liver extracts show mitogenesis and other metabolic
activity when they come in contact (in the laboratory) with basic
fibroblast growth factor (FGF). (41)
Originally described
as a hepatocyte peptide specific mitogen, hepatocyte growth factor
(HGF) is a potent stimulator of DNA synthesis in a wide variety
of cell types. It has the unique ability to transmit information
that determines the spatial organization of epithelial cells in
tissues as well as induce cell migration and invasion of extracellular
matrix in a variety of epithelial cells. HGF is involved in physiological
processes such as embryogenesis and development and in pathophysiological
processes such as regeneration and carcinogenesis. (42)
Investigations
conducted at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, U.S.A. indicate
that HGF is an important mediator of interactions for carrying on
human mitogenesis, motogenesis, and morphogenesis. (43)
As a mesenchymal
derived morphogen, HGF supports epithelial branching duct formation
in the developing lung. It prevents the onset or progress of hepatic
fibrosis/cirrhosis and accompanying severe liver failure. HGF may
be used successfully as treatment for vascular disease, gastric
ulcers, diabetes mellitus, and neuronal disease. (44)
From the Department
of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh, we learn that HGF,
epidermal growth factor (EGF), TGF?alpha, IL?6, tumor necrosis factor?alpha
(TNF?alpha), insulin, and norepinephrine each play important roles
in the sequential changes of gene expression, growth factor production,
and morphologic structure. (45)
The
Potential Healing Benefits of Live Cell Liver Peptides
Located under
the diaphragm and occupying most of the right hypochondrium and
part of the epigastrium of the abdomen, the liver provides vital
functions for the body by means of its growth factors.
In preparing
for our interview about his use of frozen, liquid, bovine liver
peptide growth factors, Dr. Howard Benedict, a nutrition?oriented
chiropractor practicing in New York City, discussed with me the
potential healing benefits of these frozen liver peptides. In summary,
Dr. Benedict offers the following information about the liver's
numerous growth factors:
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The growth factors of the liver have vascular functions, in
that they cause the liver to store blood, regulate blood clotting,
cleanse blood, discharge waste products into the bile, and aid
the immune system by filtering the blood to remove bacteria
and adding certain immune factors. |
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They have secretory functions, in that they aid digestion by
synthesizing and secreting bile and keeping hormones in balance.
. |
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They have metabolic functions in that they help to manufacture
new proteins, produce quick energy, regulate fat storage, control
the production and excretion of cholesterol, store certain vitamins,
minerals, and sugars, metabolize alcohol, carbohydrates, proteins,
and fat, and proceed with detoxifying, neutralizing, and destroying
xenobotic substances such as drugs, pesticides, chemicals, and
pollutants |
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They are therapeutic when administered for fatty liver, hepatitis,
fibrosis, cirrhosis, and damage to the liver as the result of
exposure to internal and environmental toxins. |
Dr. Benedict
says:
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Patients
who consulting receive a functional liver assessment or test,
and I check their phase one and phase two metabolic liver
detoxification processes.
A patient's
liver is challenged with caffeine or aspirin to determine
its function; and if there is an elevation of enzymes, tissues
within the liver designed for detoxification are tested for
breakdown. Liver enzyme elevation indicates such tissue breakdown.
That being the case, I intervene on behalf of the patient
to enhance his or her health and well-being on a functional
level, way before there is the onset of disease.
For those
people with advanced liver pathology, the usual orthomolecular
nutritional treatment protocols such as the taking of vitamin
C, alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle, curcuminoids, dandelion,
green tea, and others are not enough. The more aggressive
and effective treatment required is the NatCell™ Liver. Such
therapy helps the patient's liver regenerate. In many situations,
especially in chronic illnesses, giving someone a chance by
feeding his or her ailing organ the live liver peptide growth
factors, taken from a bovine source, does the job.
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How
to Use the Frozen, Liquid Bovine Peptide Growth Factors
Howard Benedict,
D.C., conforms to the manufacturer's suggested instructions for
patient and health professional's use of the frozen, liquid extract.
The manufacturer's product package insert tells us that the liquid
extract is marketed as a food supplement only for oral use and should
always be kept frozen. The insert also states:
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Peptides should be taken on an empty stomach
in the morning or in the evening, either half an hour before
or two hours after a meal. |
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They come in a seven?cubic centimeter vial
of frozen liquid that should be thawed by holding the vial in
the hand. |
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Shake the contents of the vial well before
unscrewing the vial cap. |
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Pour half of the vial's 7 cc?content (3.5
cc) under the tongue. Hold the liquid sublingually for five
minutes, and then swallow it. |
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Repeat this same action with the second half
of liquid. |
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Keep the vial closed between each step. |
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According to Dr. Benedict, who adheres to
the manufacturer's recommendations, use should be as a nutritional
supplement at the rate of one or two vials per week. |
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This frozen, liquid, bovine liver peptide
live cell extract may not be suitable for pregnant or nursing
women and children under twelve years of age. |
During my
treatment I took:
Two 500 mg. liver organic capsules two times per day.
I suggest Natcell liver, two vials per week (optional).
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