Detoxification Regimen for Xenobiotics

Potential Health Effects - Two types of health effects generated concern during review of the regimen; the potential effects of the tissue stored chemicals upon release, and the potential effects of the exercise, heat and vitamin program.

The effects expected from stored xenobiotics are usually chemical specific. However, there appears to be a common factor: chronic effect. For example, PCB has been shown to alter lipid metabolism at levels of exposure and bioaccumulation insufficient to produce overt symptoms.(18) Other similar biochemical alterations have been observed in individuals up to two years after PCB exposure.(60)

Dioxin has been shown to cause similarly chronic effects up to 10 years after exposure. (15,61) It seems reasonable that such chronic effects would subside if the chemicals were cleared from the body. Somewhat more egregious is the potential for cancer promotion. Investigators have found a relationship between adipose stored xenobiotics and cancer. (16-17) While mobilization of these chemicals may not be desirable, others feel that the risk is small and where a detoxification or excretion pathway exists mobilization should be encouraged. (5)

Aspects of the detoxification regimen raised some questions about safety. The use of large quantities of niacin was followed by reactions and flushes which appear to mimic radiation burns like sunburn. These somatic conditions appeared in decreasing intensity over the course of a few days.

The side effects of niacin have been discussed at length. (62-64) It is unclear why these phenomenon appear, but it is clear that simple vasodilation is an inadequate theory for these flushes. (65) It has been suggested that the reported side effects of niacin may actually be the creation of other vitamin and mineral imbalances, (36) a theory which can not be refuted on the basis of this study, as negative side effects were not noted when correct proportions were administered. The importance of vitamin and mineral balance during detoxification of xenobiotics has been recognized before, (66) and is an aspect which deserves further study.

The high degree of sweating may also cause minerals depletion. The instructions for the program specifically recognize this potential problem, and no cases of minerals deficiency were noted during the study. The importance of this aspect may be smaller than expected, in any case. Studies of individuals who perform heavy exercise and sweat profusely on repeated days do not appear to incur tissue hypokalemia.(67)

Vitamins also have positive effects during detoxification. Niacin has been shown to reduce dyspnea in paraquat poisoned rats. (24) Niacin administration has also been found to lower cholesterol levels, (64) and is the probable cause for lowered cholesterol levels in program participants. Vitamin C affords protection against enzyme activity alterations and histological changes caused by PCB toxicity. (23)

With respect to health, the program appears to be safe as long as it is done under the care of a physician. The exercise and sauna are tolerated very well as long as they are begun slowly and increased gradually. As with any major physical exercise program, however, general physical condition and physical health needs to be monitored. The regimen is inadvisable for any person with coronary artery disease or any other major physical disabilities unless directly done under the supervision of a physician familiar with exercise physiology who is willing to work out a specific exercise, sauna, and vitamin program for the patient.

Areas for Future Study - There are two specific areas which would be appropriate for study as a result of this work. First, the efficacy of the program should be determined, and is under study by the authorsat this writing. There are populations such as chemical workers who can be expected to have high levels of xenobiotic contamination. There are new simple bioassays utilizing human adipose tissue and sebum which have been successfully used on study groups. Analysis of sweat is becoming routine. Together they provide an excellent opportunity to study a detoxification regimen which might very well extend the lives of highly exposed individuals.

A second area for study is the potential for improved psychological status of groups exposed to environmental chemical threats. One example would be individuals exposed to the defoliant Agent Orange. These individuals have complained of nonspecific problems not unlike those which resolved in the study group after application of the detoxification program. While it is unlikely that Agent Orange, or dioxin caused these nonspecific complaints, it may be that the widespread use of drugs and alcohol among combatants is the more subtle source of continuing problems. The detoxification regimen may have large positive effects on such a population, especially since the experimental group had significant drug use and realized dramatic improvements in both IQ and personality traits.

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