Few reading this are unaware of the fact that one to two drinks daily may actually enhance health, while amounts greater than this can set the stage for all kinds of problems throughout the entire body. Not surprisingly, the liver – which is the bodies detox way-station and biochemical lab --  typically sustains bodily damage first, In-a-word, its coping mechanisms get overwhelmed and (over time) its veins, arteries and tissues begin to develop scarring (fibrosis – cirrhosis) and other negative side effects. The central nervous system including the brain, heart and blood vessels, pancreas, stomach, and throat all sustain damage as well.

Alcohol-induced disease is fairly commonplace among folks who abuse alcohol. As indicated above, fibrosis and cirrhosis by-and-large head the list. In both cases, abnormal changes take place in liver tissue that compromise this vital organ's ability to function optimally. For many people who drink, a doctor's finding of liver disease is enough to get them to either curtail their drinking or abstain altogether (Whether on a temporary or permanent basis).  About 3% or so of heavy drinkers wind up addicted.

Of course, when it comes to drinking to excess – be it binge drinking or habitual heavy imbibing -- curtailing or quitting is ideal. Those caught up in this sort of drinking pattern should seek professional help. But for addicts, alcohol abusers, and just plain ole social drinkers, offsetting some of the injury boozing does to the body (the liver especially) is a wise precautionary measure. As you will see further down below, the use of certain natural compounds such as  lecithin, SAM-e and the right form of glutathione should do the trick in this regard.


The conventional treatment for alcohol addiction involves nutritional support and various drugs or behavioral therapies and such to get people off the bottle and keep them off. Twelve step abstinence and social reinforcement programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous appear helpful in many instances. Doctors also have a wealth of drugs such as acamprosate (Campral®) and naltrexone (ReVia®) which appear to help drinkers kick their addiction by reducing cravings. Topirimate (Topamax®) also is of keen interest, because in some drinkers it seems to abolish the desire to imbibe partially and in some cases fully. Other old mainstays of alcohol treatment that are geared to cause extreme physical distress whenever a patient drinks – drugs like  disulfiram (Antabuse®) – which may work in people who develop powerful aversions fairly easily and readily. 

HBO has a very information website that delves into the many viable treatments approaches to attenuating alcohol (and other substance) addictions: HBO ADDICTION 

In at least two separate animal studies carried out during the past fifteen years, a natural compound called lecithin protected animals who consumed booze in truly great quantities. Indeed, the animals were protected from developing many of the liver abnormalities common when alcohol is abused. Here are the details of this very compelling body of research:

In a 10 year-long study involving baboons carried out at the Bronx Veteran Affairs Center (Section of Liver Disease and Nutrition), twelve baboons (eight females, four males) were fed a liquid diet rich in alcohol supplemented with polyunsaturated lecithin (50% of total energy) or isocaloric carbohydrate. This group was compared with another group of eighteen baboons who were fed an equivalent diet (with or without alcohol), but without lecithin.

Both groups developed increases in specific lipids or blood fats associated with alcohol use, but there were significant differences in the degree of liver injury (fibrosis) seen. For one thing, a form of scarring called septal fibrosis (accompanying cirrhosis in two animals) and transformation of their fat cells (lipocytes) into transitional cells developed in seven of the nine baboons fed the regular diet with alcohol. Septal fibrosis did not develop in any of the animals fed lecithin! In fact, they did not progress beyond the stage of perivenular (area around veins) fibrosis and had significantly lesser activation of fat cells to transitional cells.

 The clincher came when the scientists took three of the lecithin-consuming animals off same, but maintained their customary diet and alcohol mix. They very rapidly progressed to cirrhosis, accompanied by an increased transformation of their fat cells to transitional cells!

Baboon livers are remarkably similar to human livers (This is one reason an attempt was made many years back to transplant baboon livers into humans whose livers had failed). Given this, it seems logical that lecithin should provide human drinkers at least some of the benefits seen in the baboons. Accordingly, for those who drink -- especially heavily -- lecithin may be an invaluable form of health insurance. It is also easy on the pocketbook, being sold “dirt cheap” in health food and grocery stores plus pharmacies across the land.

S-adenosylmethione (SAM-e) and Glutathione

In addition to lecithin, there are other compounds that if taken by drinkers should help reduce the damage to their livers.

For example, in alcoholics the conversion of the amino acid methione to S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) is significantly reduced. In baboon models of alcoholism, the animals experienced alcoholic cirrhosis that was opposed by replenishing SAM-e. Other lines of research indicate that bolstering SAM-e levels in human alcoholics decreases mortality, and offsets oxidative stress resulting from alcohol and alcohol byproduct induction of a liver detoxification enzyme designated cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1).

SAM-e as a mood modulator: Dopamine depletion and reduced dopamine transit are associated with depression. S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) is the chief methyl donor used in dopamine and other neurotransmitter metabolism in mammals. Low SAM-e is associated with depression and other psychological and neurological disorders in humans. SAM-e is used to treat depression and some other neurological and psychiatric disorders.

In a meta-analysis of 28 qualified studies dealing with the efficacy of SAM-e to decrease symptoms of depression, it was noted that:

Compared to placebo, treatment with SAM-e was associated with an improvement of approximately 6 points in the score of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression measured at 3 weeks (95 percent CI [2.2, 9.0]). This degree of improvement is statistically as well as clinically significant and is equivalent to a partial response to treatment. Too few studies were available for which a risk ratio could be calculated for either a 25 percent or 50 percent improvement in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Therefore a pooled analysis could not be done, but the results generally favored SAM-e compared to placebo.

SAM-e can readily be replenished by taking an oral form that is bioavailable (Not all forms are!) Two products rich in bioavailable SAM-e is SAMePLUS™ and SAMeSLEEP™ - both of which are available from NutraCAM

As the liver is a prime site for manufacture of one of the bodies most powerful antioxidants, glutathione, it logically follows that heavy use of alcohol would impact synthesis of this compound. And indeed, at least one animal study indicates this to be the case.

Fortunately, glutathione can be orally supplemented. However, not just any form of glutathione will work, as most forms are broken down in the gut and thus never reach the bloodstream intact. There is, however, at least one form that does defy breakdown, a patented form that is marketed as a chewing gum called TH-QUEEN

D-Phenylalanine for Mood Support

D-Phenylalanine is converted in the human brain into phenylethylamine (PEA), a neurochemical that actually elevates mood and increases the ability to mentally focus and pay attention. In the human CNS, L-phenylalanine can be converted into L-tyrosine and then L-dopa (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), norepinephrine and epinephrine or to phenylethylamine (PEA). L-dopa is subsequently decarboxylated to dopamine by L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. D-phenylalanine is primarily converted to PEA.

Results from studies in depression, Parkinson's disease, and animal models of depression suggest a deficiency of dopamine in depression. Dopamine precursors such as L-Phenylalanine, dopamine agonists, and dopamine reuptake inhibitors show therapeutic efficacy in depression. Both electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and standard pharmacological antidepressants enhance dopamine function.

Phenylethylamine (PEA) as a mood modulator: PEAis an endogenous neuroamine that has been shown to increase attention and activity in animals and has been shown to relieve depression in 60% of depressed patients in several studies. It has even been proposed that PEA deficit may be the cause of a common form of depressive illness.

In one telltale clinical trial, fourteen patients with major depressive episodes that responded to PEA treatment (10-60 mg orally per day, with 10 mg/day selegiline to prevent rapid PEA destruction) were reexamined 20 to 50 weeks later. The antidepressant response had not diminished in 12 patients and the effective dosage did not change with the passage of time. In addition, there were no apparent side effects. PEA was found to produce sustained relief of depression in a significant number of patients, including some unresponsive to standard treatments. It should be noted that PEA improves mood as rapidly as amphetamine but does not produce tolerance

Interestingly but not surprisingly perhaps is the fact that PEA is a natural component of chocolate that is found in higher levels in the brains of people who are infatuated or in love.

One natural formula that contains D-Phenylalanine is NEPSOL The mood modulating activity of the ingredients in Nepsol™ dovetail nicely with those of SAM-e (See above).

Chronic abuse of alcohol may lead to improper deficiencies of numerous vitamins and minerals.  For this reason, use of a general or wide-spectrum nutritional supplement may be advisable.

In addition, the supplement trimethylglycine (TMG) stimulates the synthesis of SAM-e and might be helpful for alcoholic liver disease.  However, no meaningful controlled clinical studies have been published to-date. One premium source of TMG in TIME-RELEASE form is NUTRACENE.

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