Recent Research Highlights the Importance of Nitric Oxide!
Researchers at Duke University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute recently discovered one of the keys to the cause of pain in sickle cell disease. Their findings were reported in the January 31, 2005. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Their research showed that when normal red blood cells move through the arteries they release a signaling molecule that tells the arterial walls to expand. The signaling molecule is nitric oxide. Nitric oxide causes the smooth muscle in the blood vessel wall to relax which opens up the vessel to allow the cells to pass through.
For those with sickle cell anemia, when the red blood cells are distorted into the sickle cell shape, the researchers at Duke University discovered that the walls of the arteries do not expand. This distorted shape of the sickle cells, combined with the fact that they tend to clump together, ends up blocking blood flow through these small arteries and capillaries. The Duke researchers noted that as the blood pulses, the walls of the arteries did not expand as if they do with normal red blood cells.
Their research also noted that the degree of nitric oxide deficiency directly correlated with symptom severity. This means that the less nitric oxide produced the greater the pain. This Duke/HHMI study found that when nitric oxide was administered to people with sickle cell anemia their symptoms were relieved. One of the conclusions from this study was that abnormal nitric oxide processing may be the real cause of sickle cell circulatory restrictions. In addition to the Duke/HHMI study, several other studies found that the administration of nitric oxide to people with sickle cell anemia relieved symptoms.
In 1998 the Nobel Prize in Medicine was award to the researchers in nitric oxide. Part of what came out of their research was that the primary pathway for creating nitric oxide in the body came from an essential amino acid called L-arginine. L-arginine is called an essential amino acid because your body cannot produce it so it must be brought into your body through your diet. L-arginine is found in foods like milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, and other proteins.
The world’s leading researcher in L-arginine is Dr. Ann de wees Allen. Dr. Allen has over 20 years of experience with L-arginine and her research has led to some breakthrough discoveries that center on the remarkable properties of L-arginine. In fact, L-arginine is considered one of the most important neutraceuticals ever developed and is referred to by scientists as the Miracle Molecule. Columbia University refers to L-arginine as the “MAGIC BULLET” for the cardiovascular system.
To be effective and safe, L-arginine must utilize a low-glycemic method. Through much research and development, Dr. Allen determined that an L-arginine molecule attached to a kiwi glycoside (from the Kiwi plant) will create the formulation that allows L-arginine to cross the proper barriers as well as allow it to be taken orally without the taste buds rejecting it. Dr. Allen formulated a product called ProArgi-9 that was granted patent #6,608,109. With this patent the FDA and FTC allowed Dr. Allen to make 15 legal claims for ProArgi-9 and legal claim #14 is “help produce Nitric Oxide.”
Two prominent researchers became aware of Dr. Allen’s work and product. Dr. Clair Francomano (former Chief of the Medical Genetics Branch at the National Institutes of Medicine, National Genome Research Institute, and Chief of Human Genetics for the Laboratory of Genetics at the National Institute on Aging) and Dr. Randall Maxey (renowned U.S. cardiologist and President, National Medical Association Research Foundation for Ethnic-Related Diseases) approached Dr. Allen regarding her patented delivery system for L-arginine and its ability to create nitric oxide safely and effectively in the human body. Because of their experience and research in genetics they were aware on an additional genetic polymorphism common to the African-American community. Many African-Americans produce too much of an enzyme called arginase. In the bloodstream, arginase destroys L-arginine so that it is no longer available for the production of nitric oxide.
With the help of Dr. Clair Francomano and Dr. Randall Maxey, Dr. Allen was able to genetically engineer a low-glycemic delivery system for L-arginine specifically designed for the African-American community. This product is call ENCODE. It is designed to help provide the body with a high level and quality of L-arginine so that proper production of nitric oxide can be achieved with the resulting health benefits that can come from nitric oxide.
by Kenneth Obiero and colleagues
