Re: Detoxifying acetaldahyde

Biogenic amines are life-essential substances that the body creates internally for diverse purposes. The monoamine subclass contains a single amino group connected to an aromatic ring by a two-carbon chain (-CH2-CH2-).

A prime example is serotonin which plays a major role in regulating intestinal movements, mood, appetite, sleep, memory, and learning.



Note the long tail terminated by the NH2 group. We have seen this configuration before in the discussion on carnosine:

See Acetaldehyde+carnosine //www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1958520

The Pictet-Spengler reaction is a condensation reaction of this type of configuration with an aldehyde that effects a ring closure even at physiologic conditions (i.e. spontaneously within the body).

The acetaldehyde reaction with carnosine is just such a Pictet-Spengler reaction that allows the body to scavenge reactive aldehydes before they inflict damage. However, since serotonin also has this structure, we might expect serotonin exposed to acetaldehyde to form a Pictet-Spengler reaction product:



In fact, this is exactly what happens with the result being a beta-carboline called 6-hydroxy-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline (6-OH-MTBC). But this isn't serotonin anymore, ever again! The serotonin levels that are essential to metabolic function will be depleted in proportion to the amount of acetaldehyde that comes into contact with serotonin.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder of unknown origin. Although there are no structural or pathologic abnormalities present, people suffering from IBS experience altered bowel habits, frequently suffering from constipation, diarrhea, or alternating episodes of both. Since serotonin is involved in intestinal motility a disorder of its function at the molecular level is suspected in this condition.

See Gershon http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/12776000

About 90% of the body's serotonin content is located in the gut, the primary colonization site for yeast. In essence the serotonin in the gut is acting as a scavenger of acetaldehyde released from Candida Albicans but at the expense of its vital role in intestinal motility. As a consequence of its depletion the body may up-regulate its production but since acetaldehyde release from the yeast is spasmodic and dependent upon dietary intake, the net result may be sometimes too much serotonin (diarrhea) and sometimes too little (constipation).