Bioclinic Naturals HM-Clear

Benefits

• Targeted, concentrated formula containing herbs and nutrients including garlic as GarlicRich extract, glutathione as Opitac, selenium as SelenoExcell and levomefolic acid as the highly bioavailable Quatrefolic.
• Supports natural body detoxification processes.
• Supports healthy immune system function.
• Rich in antioxidants to help reduce free radical damage to body cells.
• Formulated to maintain body levels of key nutrients such as folate, selenium, vitamin C, zinc and manganese, which may be depleted as a result of heavy metal exposure.

Recommended Use

Adults: Mix 3.5 g powder (approximately one metric 5 mL teaspoon) with 250 mL water per day or as directed by a health care practitioner.

Active Ingredients

Key Features and Benefits

Heavy metals

Some heavy metals are highly toxic to us and the environment.1 These metals, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and mercury, significantly contribute to environmental pollution. Humans can be exposed through ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact and they can cause a number of effects that are time and dosedependent and are specific to the type of metal. Effects can include specific organ dysfunctions, metabolic abnormalities, altered hormones, congenital disorders and immune system dysfunction.2,3,4 Several studies have confirmed that exposure to certain heavy metals may cause long-term human health issues. The toxicities from these metals may be either acute or chronic and some more recent studies have shown that these toxic elements may interact with some physiologically important metals such as iron, calcium and zinc, to potentially impair their normal metabolic function.5

Heavy metals and ROS:

• Heavy metal toxicity generates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Many of the toxic manifestations of heavy metals are attributed to oxidative stress and an imbalance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant homeostasis.6-11
• Heavy metals can also bind to sulfhydryl groups of proteins and deplete glutathione.
• Antioxidants are considered to be key for the management of heavy metal detoxification, and to reduce the damaging effects of these heavy metals.6-11
• Studies also show that supplementation of antioxidants along-with a chelating agent provides better outcomes than monotherapy with chelating agents.9,10
• Supports the body’s natural detoxification processes

Supports the body’s natural detoxification processes

Selenium

This formula contains SelenoExcell selenium which is a high selenium yeast that provides 140 micrograms of selenium. Organically bound forms of selenium are high selenium yeast or selenomethionine. High selenium yeast contains three organic selenium compounds (selenomethionine, selenocysteine and methylselenocysteine), whereas selenomethionine is a single amino acid (methionine) with a selenium molecule attached to it. A recent study showed that 100% organically bound selenium yeast is most effective for reducing oxidative stress as compared to selenomethionine.12 Selenium is one of the few minerals that is intrinsic to mercury detoxification. The evidence now points to the fact that the selenium is actually the pathophysiological target of mercury and that mercury has a higher affinity for selenium than thiol/sulfhydryl groups. In fact, recent work has provided convincing evidence that the primary cellular targets are the selenoproteins of the thioredoxin system (thioredoxin reductase 1 and thioredoxin reductase 2) and the glutathione-glutaredoxin system (glutathione peroxidase). Mercury binds to the selenium site on these proteins and permanently inhibits their function, disrupting the intracellular redox environment.13,14

A number of other important possible target selenoproteins have been identified, including selenoprotein P, K, and T. Selenium therefore acts as a mercury magnet with a very strong binding affinity for the mercury. This strong attraction allows selenium to mix and neutralise their reaction characteristics. This new Hg – Se substance that is produced is not absorbed by the body and gets flushed out of the system. This beneficial interaction removes mercury from the body before it can lodge in fatty tissue and cause damage.13,14

Impairment of the thioredoxin and glutaredoxin systems allows for proliferation of intracellular reactive oxygen species which leads to glutamate excitosis, calcium dyshomeostasis, mitochondrial injury/loss, lipid peroxidation, impairment of protein repair, and apoptosis. Methylmercury is a more potent inhibitor of the thioredoxin system, partially explaining its increased neurotoxicity. A second important mechanism is due to the high affinity of mercury for selenium and the subsequent depletion of selenium stores needed for insertion into de novo generation of replacement selenoproteins. This mercuryinduced selenium deficiency state inhibits regeneration of the selenoproteins to restore the cellular redox environment.13,15-27

Therefore supplementing with additional selenium when faced with excess mercury may support the body’s natural detoxification of mercury, as well as to reduce mercury induced ROS. 

Antioxidant support 

Alpha lipoic acid

Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that regenerates other antioxidants (e.g. vitamins E and C, and reduced glutathione) and has metal-chelating activity. Both fat and water soluble, it is readily absorbed from the gut and crosses cellular and blood-brain membrane barriers.28,29 Animal studies have shown that alpha lipoic acid may attenuate the oxidative stress caused by arsenic (along with vitamin C) and lead. There is also a clinical trial that demonstrates its possible preventive effect in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) through an antioxidant mechanism.30,31

Vitamin C 

As an electron donor, vitamin C is a potent water-soluble antioxidant in humans. Antioxidant effects of vitamin C have been demonstrated during in vitro experiments. Oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA results in specific oxidation products that can be measured in the laboratory. In plasma, vitamin C is thought to be the most effective antioxidant in part due to its water solubility and to the wide range of ROS that it can scavenge.31,33

In addition, due to its antioxidant activity, there is a large body of evidence demonstrating that maintaining healthy vitamin C levels can have a protective function against age-related cognitive decline.32, 33

As an antioxidant vitamin C has also been demonstrated to support the detoxification of the oxidant effects of some heavy metals including lead and arsenic.34-36

Glutathione

Opitac is a L-glutathione product in its reduced (GSH) form. It is known as a simple tripeptide and consists of glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine, which exists in every cell of the human body. This form has been shown to significantly increase the protein-bound form of glutathione in human blood after oral administration.37

Glutathione plays a role in protecting cellular macromolecules against endogenous and exogenous reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. It directly quenches free radicals, and it deals directly with the causes of oxidative stress such as mercury and POPs.38

Glutathione is involved in the detoxification of both xenobiotic and endogenous compounds. It facilitates excretion from cells (Hg), facilitates excretion from body (POPs, Hg) and directly neutralises (POPs) many oxidative chemicals. Glutathione facilitates the plasma membrane transport of toxins by at least 4 different mechanisms, the most important of which is formation of glutathione S-conjugates. Low levels of glutathione and/or transferase activity are also associated with chronic exposure to chemical toxins and alcohol, cadmium exposure, macular degeneration, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Glutathione directly scavenges a diverse array of oxidants: superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide and carbon radicals. Glutathione catalytically detoxifies: hydroperoxides, peroxynitrites, and lipid peroxides.39 Another way glutathione protects cells from oxidants is through recycling of vitamins C and E.40 

In summary, glutathione is an important physiological chelator, and the reduced form of glutathione protects cells from reactive oxygen species associated with heavy metals.41-44

Zinc

Zinc is an essential component of numerous proteins involved in protection against oxidative stress.9 Zinc has been shown to reduce oxidative stress caused by exposure to lead and cadmium, due to its role as a cofactor of the antioxidant enzyme copper zinc-superoxide dismutase.45

Studies in both humans and animals have also reported that zinc deficiency can lead to greater absorption and toxicity of both lead and cadmium.45 Zinc has similar physical and chemical properties to lead and cadmium and competes for the binding sites of metal absorptive and enzymatic proteins.

Zinc intake also induces the synthesis of metallothionein, a low molecular weight protein that has a high affinity for cadmium and leads to its detoxification by binding to cadmium. In addition, zinc supplementation effectively protects the activity of the zinc dependent enzyme that is very sensitive to lead toxicity in the blood.45

Immune and digestive function support

Garlic

Heavy metals have been shown to cause immune and lung disorders as well as GI dysfunction and discomfort. In particular mercury, chromium, arsenic and lead.8

Garlic has traditionally been used in Western herbal medicine to help promote bile flow and support healthy digestive function.47 Garlic is also traditionally used to relieve symptoms of mild upper respiratory tract infections.47-53

GarlicRich, a potent and odourless 10:1 concentrate, is made from the whole bulb of garlic to ensure its synergistic complexity. The garlic is grown without pesticides and the bulbs are hand-picked and stored in cool temperatures away from light and air to preserve the enzymes and other compounds that make garlic so beneficial. The bulbs are then gently processed without alcohol or other solvents.

Table 1: Specific nutrients for HM toxicity and clearance

Warnings

Warnings: Bioclinic Naturals HM-Clear

Warnings

Adults only.

Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet.

Bioclinic Naturals HM-Clear contains selenium which is toxic in high doses. A daily dose of 150 micrograms for adults of selenium from dietary supplements should not be exceeded.

Bioclinic Naturals HM-Clear is not recommended for use by pregnant and lactating women.

If symptoms persist, talk to your healthcare practitioner.

Precautions and contraindications

High dose vitamin C supplements in excess of 500 mg daily, should be used with caution in patients with a history of kidney stones due to concerns that vitamin C may theoretically increase oxalate excretion.

Vitamin C enhances iron absorption.

Caution is advised with high dose vitamin C intake in individuals with iron metabolism disorders such as hereditary haemochromatosis, sideroblastic anaemia or thalassaemia.

Adverse effects

The ingredients in this product are generally well-tolerated.

Some ingredients such as garlic, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin C and zinc have been associated with mild gastrointestinal adverse effects. These may include abdominal cramps, bloating, loose stools, flatulence, dyspepsia, nausea and vomiting.

Pregnancy and lactation Use of this product during pregnancy and lactation is not recommended.