Re: Detoxifying acetaldahyde

Tryptophan is one of the twenty standard amino acids. Although it isn't a biogenic amine like the ones discussed previously (e.g. dopamine, serotonin, histamine), it is also vulnerable to attack by acetaldehyde in a Pictet-Spengler ring closure reaction:





The resulting compound (3-carboxy-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline) can no longer participate in any of the amino-acid related functions of its parent tryptophan. Since tryptophan is an essential amino acid in the human diet, it is subject to deficiency by both dietary inadequacy (e.g. pellagra) or biochemical processes (such as reaction with acetaldehyde) that denature its structure.

Tryptophan is the only amino acid with a double ring in its configuration. It is the precursor for the synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxtryptamine):

See Acetaldehyde + serotonin //www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=1963129

melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), and when dietary intake of niacin is inadequate, of nicotonic acid as well.

The nicotinic acid connection with respect to acetaldehyde may be important because of the dependence of aldehyde dehydrogenase upon NAD(+) in the reaction that converts acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) into harmless acetic acid (CH3COOH). NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a derivative of nicotinic acid (vitamin B3), is a coenzyme electron acceptor in the reaction:

CH3CHO + NAD(+) + H20 -> CH3COOH + NADH + H(+)

This provides several points of potential interference from excess yeast-released acetaldehyde with tryptophan metabolism in the body: by direct condensation with tryptophan, itself; by condensation with its biogenic amine, serotonin; by the possible diversion of tryptophan into the production of NAD to support elevated levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase, and by depletion of normal downstream products of tryptophan (e.g. melatonin) because of exhaustion of tryptophan supplies.

Although both tryptophan and NAD/NADH mechanisms have been implicated in disease states such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and bipolar affective disorder (BAD), results are inconclusive, possibly because of the complex interactions of the processes involved.

See the reference ("Astrophysiology...and Yeast/Sick or Not?") for orthomolecular psychokinesiology (OPK) techniques that may be useful in rebalancing these affected pathways once the impact of acetaldehyde exposure has been limited.

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