Due to the GP120 & GAG inserts I thought I would do a cross reference. Bingo!
I already considered NAD but not your kynurenine pathway, I will now need to add this to my review.
Note the doom loop you also referred to and the need to break the cycle with therapeutics.
Clinical Relevance of Kynurenine Pathway in HIV/AIDS: An Immune Checkpoint at the Crossroads of Metabolism and Inflammation
Jean-Pierre Routy et al. AIDS Rev. 2015 Apr-Jun.
Abstract
Tryptophan degradation along the kynurenine pathway is associated with a wide variety of pathophysiological processes, of which tumor tolerance and immune dysfunction in several chronic viral infections including HIV are well known. The kynurenine pathway is at the crossroads of metabolism and immunity and plays an important role in inflammation while also playing an opposing role in the control of acute and chronic infections. In this review we have summarized findings from recent studies reporting modulation of tryptophan degrading the kynurenine pathway in the context of HIV infection. This immuno-metabolic pathway is modulated by three distinct inducible enzymes: indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 and 2 and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase. Increased expression of these enzymes by antigen-presenting cells leads to local or systemic tryptophan depletion, resulting in a mechanism of defense against certain microorganisms. Conversely, it can also lead to immunosuppression by antigen-specific T-cell exhaustion and recruitment of T regulatory cells. Recently, among these enzymes, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 has been recognized to be an immune response checkpoint that plays an important role in HIV immune dysfunction, even in the context of antiretroviral therapy. In addition to the activation of the kynurenine pathway by HIV proteins Tat and Nef, the tryptophan-degrading bacteria present in the intestinal flora have been associated with dysfunction of gut mucosal CD4 Th17/Th22 cells, leading to microbial translocation and creating a systemic kynurenine pathway activation cycle. This self-sustaining feedback loop has deleterious effects on disease progression and on neurocognitive impairment in HIV-infected patients. Therapy designed to break the vicious cycle of induced tryptophan degradation is warranted to revert immune exhaustion in HIV-infected persons.
I hinted at this pathway in regards to HIV and the Spike in the PAID Part IV (used to be reverse AIDS), I will next explain how this pathway can cause most of what we see from Covid, at least partially, then how it ties together.
The most important part is rescuing the body from the KP towards the proper catabolism of Tryptophan and NAD+. Because in this state, people are on the KP because the virus/jab fucked up their tryptophan deposits.
I also think, but can’t even propose anything yet, that this thing is flipping lots of epigenetic switchs. We are all basically becoming dependent in certain vitamins/supplements.
I can't tell you how many of the unaware transfected I am witnessing with rapidly declining health, premature aging and exacerbation of pre-existing conditions. I have to bite my lip unless they come for help.
That, among other things, including his carbohydrate-based diet and his use of statins. It seems we are not all far from the era in which Woodrow Wilson's wife was de facto running the country after Wilson suffered a stroke.
Great articles highlighting and exploring this. Interesting that ME/CFS has a lot of overlap with long covid, yet some studies show reduced kynurenine to tryptophan ratio. I always try to ask if a pathway is an innocent bystander or the actual evil cause.. Maybe ME/CFS patients have absolute deficiency of kynurenine metabolites whereas in covid there's a relative deficiency leading to similar symptom pictures...ie the pathway is activated but it just can't meet demands because the NAD+/NADH ratio is so screwed in covid. Potentially, the immune suppression may be a protective mechanism and IDO also has some direct actions against viruses and bacteria. Or it may just be that the pathway was never meant to be chronically activated in the presence of long lasting or reoccuring spike. Or then again, it could be that viruses have learnt to amplify our own immune tolerance to cause suppression so they have an easier ride. IDO activation may also deplete melatonin.
The ME/CFS metabolic trap theory suggests that mutations in the IDO2 gene keep tryptophan levels high which deactivate IDO1 after a tryptophan-raising event leading to lower kynurene levels after the stressor has passed.
I learned from a very smart friend something that came to be a valuable model to analyze these pathways. That most of the time it is a feedback loop with too much of something cascading other responses and creating said loop.
I think your assertion is correct, the NAD+/NADH is severely screwed in Covid, also how the body catabolize tryptophan, so in my opinion would be the main cause, I think there must be another underlying factor on ME/CFS, perhaps a latent viral infection creating a long-term low-grade inflammation, simplistic way to present it.
IDO is found to be protective in quite a few number of situations, and so are some of the KYN metabolites, but the problem is the loop I described above. Somehow, down signaling and response, it creates a inflammatory loop that contradicts the immune suppression. (That is why I call paradoxical).
"Or it may just be that the pathway was never meant to be chronically activated in the presence of long lasting or reoccuring spike."
That has been my opinion since early 2021, and I have been going down all the many pathways ever since, trying to find that one common denominator that ties at least the things I cover, together. In fact the spike has a literal 2 dozen pathways for disease. I refer to it sometimes as the Sistine Chapel of virology.
One of the Substacks, maybe Toby Rogers, had a nice piece "Mitochondria or Hypochondria."
As much of this energy metabolism is mitochondrial, and ME/CFS and "long Covid" are equally frustrating in the clinic, is there a way to put this together with the NADH metabolism?
At another level, Marian Laderoute's Substack, HERVK102, follows the metabolism through genetics and nucleotides.
The pathway between my physical organic chemistry 50 years ago and 40 years of clinical medicine is a challenging bridge.
Thanks for your insightful response... I get it with the pathways re the self-amplifying nature of them. It's an ingenious design that they slowly get louder and louder until they overcome the threat...just unfortunate that the threat is the spike as they just keep on going and going. We're always looking to categorise things as good and bad, but I prefer the TCM view that 1 pole becomes excessive then transforms into the opposite. Anyway, one pathway I've had my eye on from the beginning is the tlr4 > stat3 > pai-1 pathway. Pai-1 and stat3 probably get stuck in a positive feedback loop. Pai-1 and hmgb1 seem to be damps for tlr4.. and tlr4 drives stat3. Many chronic disease states have raised pai-1 and tlr4 is likely overexpressed in insulin resistance. Probably already on your radar but anway.. thank you!
Higher chances because how the immune reaction works, it drains your body from nutrients you need. Just fast, take antioxidants (lots when infected), serapeptase to dissolve any possible super small fiber to not become that and it is mostly ok.
Yes it could, supplementing tryptophan is what some refer to as "chaotic catabolism" the breakdown isn't precise. You can limit this conversion towards the wrong pathway (kynurenine) by taking other supplements.
Basically my stack (supplements I suggest) does this. 1000 mg of tryptophan per day is "safe". I would worry if the dosage was similar as others use (2, 3, 4 thousands... personally like DAMN BRUH).
PLP works as antioxidant molecule by quenching oxygen reactive species (ROS) and counteracting the formation of Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs), genotoxic compounds associated with senescence and diabetes
Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), the active form of vitamin B6, works as cofactor in numerous enzymatic reactions and it behaves as antioxidant molecule. PLP deficiency has been associated to many human pathologies including cancer and diabetes and the mechanism behind this connection is now becoming clearer.
Interesting hypothesis, I think this can actually be tested in a causal analysis (Mendelian randomisation), - there there are genetic instruments for IDO. Similar to here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6560130/
There will be even higher powered studies available now and probably other members of the pathway.
Stupid question here but my family had covid last yr and recently I found out that I had two kidney stones which is not rare but my 23 yr old son also had kidney stone same time and while I was in er the lady in the next room also had kidney stone. Could this be related? We live in a very small town so I found it odd. Can covid damage kidneys?
Yes, and incidentally sometimes by this pathway, but yes Covid infection can cause kidney damage, and dysfunction on the tubules. Are you or your son taking any supplements ?
I have nac and vitamin C etc.. was scared to take nac did not know what effect it would have on my kidneys still have a stint. We also have elhers danlos sydrome meds do not work as well sometimes we might need more of a certain drug . My son still struggles with energy etc . I have been tying to find the right combo of drugs to give. I also think I need test for kidney function my right ankle will swell now I’m thinking that’s from my kidneys . Thank you for the reply I will dig further.
There is very little evidence NAC damages the kidneys unless the person has certain genetic defects or has high levels of homocysteine, which are fixable by using...vitamin C hehe.
Elhers Danlos is often a immune condition with lots of presence of Th17 cells (just read the pinned piece named PAID Part IV and you will understand).
He needs more NAD in whatever form you prefer. Niacin, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide or Riboside.
Kidney stones mostly form from oxalates, and those come from a high oxalate diet coupled with certain gut issues and/or produced by our own metabolism when there is a lack of b6, b1. They can also form with excess gelatin / collagen ingestion as well as large amounts of vitamin C. They often accumulate inside cells, but with high oxidative stress, they form more outside cells, such as kidney stones. Oxidative stress also increases our internal production. A covid infection creates a lot of oxidative stress, but not for a long time, so perhaps more likely it depleted B vitamins which then favoured an tendency that already existed in the family - either genetic or lifestyle. Many were doing large doses of vitamin C (grams per day for extended periods) and many have high oxalate diets without realising.
Yes that makes sense. I definitely was taking to much vitamin C now that I think about it. My family including me ,my mother and daughter all have had low level of vitamin D so I was trying to boost immune system. I found a good NAD product and I’m taking that and it’s helping . I’m trying to find the right combo supplements to take. I’m thankful I found your Substack it has helped me understand things .
Please look into the herb Chanca Piedra (Spanish for "stone breaker"). There are published studies, and many anecdotal reports, showing that it can dissolve (and prevent) gallstones and kidney stones. It's available in most health food stores as a tea, or capsules that I've seen, plus plants in the same family grow wild in many areas.
Chanca piedra works well for some if the stones are oxalate based. It also reduces oxidative stress in the kidney which is great, but can sometimes mobilize many oxalates so should be introduced slowly. Great for liver too. Avoiding high oxalate foods and making sure there's enough b1 and b6 in the diet is important. Citrates reduce intestinal absorption and kidney stone formation and magnesium helps mobilize calcium oxalate deposits, so magnesium citrate is great, but away from meals. Organic acid tests help figure out a lot of what's causing oxalate issues as well as testing many things mentioned in this post.
So I’m not imagining that the smell of my pee has changed since I had covid!! Long Covid sufferer here, it totally sucks. Zyrtec and nattokinase got me back on track but I relapsed when I tried interval training. I’m like back at square one, brain fog and all.
No you are not, change in the smell of pee means you are peeing more of a certain substance (protein or otherwise). The type of smell can help.
If you have long covid you NEED both lots of antioxidants and to address this pathway, the NAD+ thingie, that will be helpful. Just search my Substack for “brain stack” it will be helpful for anything brain related. Hope you recover soon.
When you describe long Covid as a different metabolic state, that is EXACTLY what it feels like. And it does something to nerves. Makes me shaky and unbearably anxious.
I have an 1000 mg NAC supplement I’m going to start trying today. What other antioxidants would you suggest? And thank you. I feel like crying. My kids miss their mom being strong and healthy and happy.
Vitamin C is also a good one to take along the day, but NAC is the main one, you need to take NAC. Serapeptase, an enzyme that helps a lot with inflammation and dissolving anything you don't want building in your body. Berberine and melatonin too, and some Vitamin D depending on your levels or how much sun you get. These are a must, there are many other, but these are nonnegotiable.
You might want to switch your diet to a lower carb, or just fast sometimes. Fasting helps A LOOOOOOOOOOT with everything, especially Long Covid, it will help with the metabolism.
Don't worry, you will recover, this is why I spend so much time reading, to try and solve parts of this and help people.
I just commented to my friend this am that my urine smelled “weird”! Being a nurse I have smelled a lot of pee and this is totally different. Is the smell a good thing? I’m getting stuff out or a bad thing? I have chronic Lyme (another Fauci gift) and getting Covid has reactivated so much. I’m on most of what u recommend but I’m struggling to get back to my baseline. Anything in particular for pee smell?
Yes, one of the reasons, to rescue the body from this metabolic state. Replenish NAD+, and the body will shift from this to the normal pathway. I will cover this the next one, but this is one of the reasons Long Covid is about to skyrocket.
What Brian said. You can minimize the flush if you take Niacin with enough food, I barely get any flush. But the flush (in my opinion, no scientific evidence anywhere for it) is often related with inflammation.
I used to get lots of flush in my nerves (just the feeling, it wasn’t actually in my nervous system) and especially in my brain after something.
Niacinamide will work ok too, it is the second best in my opinion, also preferably taken with food.
Thanks. The flush wasn't always there for me so maybe i was taking on empty stomach when it came. NMN seems to be better for the NAD+ effects than Niacinamide from a brief look...
Same with NAC, vitamin C and most supplements. My counter is now full of mason jars full of powders and my scale to measure. I’m sure it looks a little sketchy. Lol staying healthy has become a full time job.
I think best is NMN.i bought some 2 months ago.gave it to a friend with covid.now i cant purchase it anymore. I bought niacinamide instead as i think JP said its 2nd best.and after that plain old niacin vit b3 will do. My other schizophrenic friend takes niacin to stay straight in the head.i wonder if tryptophan or other vits would also help him from schizo episodes.
This pathway is directly related to Schizophrenia according to some researchers, so yes, dietary and supplementary interventions can help in his episodes, if I recall correctly.
This ties very very VERY closely to the following posts.
https://hiddencomplexity.substack.com/p/omicron-evasion-sars-cov2-and-the
https://hiddencomplexity.substack.com/p/sars-cov-2-the-brain-and-the-sugar
https://hiddencomplexity.substack.com/p/sars-cov-2-the-brain-and-amyloid
Due to the GP120 & GAG inserts I thought I would do a cross reference. Bingo!
I already considered NAD but not your kynurenine pathway, I will now need to add this to my review.
Note the doom loop you also referred to and the need to break the cycle with therapeutics.
Clinical Relevance of Kynurenine Pathway in HIV/AIDS: An Immune Checkpoint at the Crossroads of Metabolism and Inflammation
Jean-Pierre Routy et al. AIDS Rev. 2015 Apr-Jun.
Abstract
Tryptophan degradation along the kynurenine pathway is associated with a wide variety of pathophysiological processes, of which tumor tolerance and immune dysfunction in several chronic viral infections including HIV are well known. The kynurenine pathway is at the crossroads of metabolism and immunity and plays an important role in inflammation while also playing an opposing role in the control of acute and chronic infections. In this review we have summarized findings from recent studies reporting modulation of tryptophan degrading the kynurenine pathway in the context of HIV infection. This immuno-metabolic pathway is modulated by three distinct inducible enzymes: indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 and 2 and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase. Increased expression of these enzymes by antigen-presenting cells leads to local or systemic tryptophan depletion, resulting in a mechanism of defense against certain microorganisms. Conversely, it can also lead to immunosuppression by antigen-specific T-cell exhaustion and recruitment of T regulatory cells. Recently, among these enzymes, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 has been recognized to be an immune response checkpoint that plays an important role in HIV immune dysfunction, even in the context of antiretroviral therapy. In addition to the activation of the kynurenine pathway by HIV proteins Tat and Nef, the tryptophan-degrading bacteria present in the intestinal flora have been associated with dysfunction of gut mucosal CD4 Th17/Th22 cells, leading to microbial translocation and creating a systemic kynurenine pathway activation cycle. This self-sustaining feedback loop has deleterious effects on disease progression and on neurocognitive impairment in HIV-infected patients. Therapy designed to break the vicious cycle of induced tryptophan degradation is warranted to revert immune exhaustion in HIV-infected persons.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26035167/#:~:text=The%20kynurenine%20pathway%20is%20at,of%20acute%20and%20chronic%20infections.
https://doorlesscarp953.substack.com/p/pathophysiology-of-spike-protein
I hinted at this pathway in regards to HIV and the Spike in the PAID Part IV (used to be reverse AIDS), I will next explain how this pathway can cause most of what we see from Covid, at least partially, then how it ties together.
The most important part is rescuing the body from the KP towards the proper catabolism of Tryptophan and NAD+. Because in this state, people are on the KP because the virus/jab fucked up their tryptophan deposits.
I also think, but can’t even propose anything yet, that this thing is flipping lots of epigenetic switchs. We are all basically becoming dependent in certain vitamins/supplements.
I can't tell you how many of the unaware transfected I am witnessing with rapidly declining health, premature aging and exacerbation of pre-existing conditions. I have to bite my lip unless they come for help.
Certainly looking forward to your follow up meta-analysis.
No doubt Biden's cognitive capacity will significantly benefit from this kynurenine pathway activation.
If he did, indeed, take the vaccines, it would explain the vertiginous decline of his cognitive capacity.
That, among other things, including his carbohydrate-based diet and his use of statins. It seems we are not all far from the era in which Woodrow Wilson's wife was de facto running the country after Wilson suffered a stroke.
word o' da day
vertiginous
https://youtu.be/BZzsi1y82Y8 vic reeves dizzy song
I heard about a therapy for biden et al. It's a thick rope with a loop on one end hanged above a floor hatch.
Ketogenic?
You get a steak for the correct answer =)
Ding, ding.
Great articles highlighting and exploring this. Interesting that ME/CFS has a lot of overlap with long covid, yet some studies show reduced kynurenine to tryptophan ratio. I always try to ask if a pathway is an innocent bystander or the actual evil cause.. Maybe ME/CFS patients have absolute deficiency of kynurenine metabolites whereas in covid there's a relative deficiency leading to similar symptom pictures...ie the pathway is activated but it just can't meet demands because the NAD+/NADH ratio is so screwed in covid. Potentially, the immune suppression may be a protective mechanism and IDO also has some direct actions against viruses and bacteria. Or it may just be that the pathway was never meant to be chronically activated in the presence of long lasting or reoccuring spike. Or then again, it could be that viruses have learnt to amplify our own immune tolerance to cause suppression so they have an easier ride. IDO activation may also deplete melatonin.
The ME/CFS metabolic trap theory suggests that mutations in the IDO2 gene keep tryptophan levels high which deactivate IDO1 after a tryptophan-raising event leading to lower kynurene levels after the stressor has passed.
I learned from a very smart friend something that came to be a valuable model to analyze these pathways. That most of the time it is a feedback loop with too much of something cascading other responses and creating said loop.
I think your assertion is correct, the NAD+/NADH is severely screwed in Covid, also how the body catabolize tryptophan, so in my opinion would be the main cause, I think there must be another underlying factor on ME/CFS, perhaps a latent viral infection creating a long-term low-grade inflammation, simplistic way to present it.
IDO is found to be protective in quite a few number of situations, and so are some of the KYN metabolites, but the problem is the loop I described above. Somehow, down signaling and response, it creates a inflammatory loop that contradicts the immune suppression. (That is why I call paradoxical).
"Or it may just be that the pathway was never meant to be chronically activated in the presence of long lasting or reoccuring spike."
That has been my opinion since early 2021, and I have been going down all the many pathways ever since, trying to find that one common denominator that ties at least the things I cover, together. In fact the spike has a literal 2 dozen pathways for disease. I refer to it sometimes as the Sistine Chapel of virology.
One of the Substacks, maybe Toby Rogers, had a nice piece "Mitochondria or Hypochondria."
As much of this energy metabolism is mitochondrial, and ME/CFS and "long Covid" are equally frustrating in the clinic, is there a way to put this together with the NADH metabolism?
At another level, Marian Laderoute's Substack, HERVK102, follows the metabolism through genetics and nucleotides.
The pathway between my physical organic chemistry 50 years ago and 40 years of clinical medicine is a challenging bridge.
Thanks for your insightful response... I get it with the pathways re the self-amplifying nature of them. It's an ingenious design that they slowly get louder and louder until they overcome the threat...just unfortunate that the threat is the spike as they just keep on going and going. We're always looking to categorise things as good and bad, but I prefer the TCM view that 1 pole becomes excessive then transforms into the opposite. Anyway, one pathway I've had my eye on from the beginning is the tlr4 > stat3 > pai-1 pathway. Pai-1 and stat3 probably get stuck in a positive feedback loop. Pai-1 and hmgb1 seem to be damps for tlr4.. and tlr4 drives stat3. Many chronic disease states have raised pai-1 and tlr4 is likely overexpressed in insulin resistance. Probably already on your radar but anway.. thank you!
"Could the kynurenine pathway be the key missing piece of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) complex puzzle?"
Of note: Section titled "Treatments under investigation"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9276562/
Hi John,
Would love if you can do a deep dive on these weird protein clots being reported.
https://www.naturalnews.com/2022-07-22-vaccine-clot-biostructures-harvest-conductive-metals-from-blood.html
They are amyloid based clots, I covered a little bit about it before. That is why I tell people to take serapeptase.
Thanks. How bad is it potentially for the vaccinated?
Higher chances because how the immune reaction works, it drains your body from nutrients you need. Just fast, take antioxidants (lots when infected), serapeptase to dissolve any possible super small fiber to not become that and it is mostly ok.
Virus itself can do that too, at a minor degree
You are welcome.
I got this info from a Chat GPT query
“ Some of the metabolites generated in the
Kynurenine Pathway have been linked to various physiological and pathological processes, including inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders”
Is it just obesity that can cause this negative effect of the KP or are other factors involved?
Inflammation, infection, diabetes, autoimmune diseases (but in this particular case, it becomes the chicken or the egg).
Many other factors involved because this pathway (tryptophan -kynurenine) is a metabolic one. Exercises, tissue damage can also influence it
KP is the perfect example of an double edge sword 🗡️. In some situations is protective.
Thank you.
So could supplementing with tryptophan take the ‘wrong path’ within the KP if the conditions you describe exist?
Yes it could, supplementing tryptophan is what some refer to as "chaotic catabolism" the breakdown isn't precise. You can limit this conversion towards the wrong pathway (kynurenine) by taking other supplements.
Basically my stack (supplements I suggest) does this. 1000 mg of tryptophan per day is "safe". I would worry if the dosage was similar as others use (2, 3, 4 thousands... personally like DAMN BRUH).
Hope this helps
“ You can limit this conversion towards the WRONG pathway (kynurenine) by taking other supplements.”
Do you mean there are other supplements that will ensure the correct pathway?
Somewhat yes. B6, melatonin will both directly limit kynurenine "bad side"
NAC+Glycine
Quercetin. There are many options.
Thanks JP
PLP works as antioxidant molecule by quenching oxygen reactive species (ROS) and counteracting the formation of Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs), genotoxic compounds associated with senescence and diabetes
Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP), the active form of vitamin B6, works as cofactor in numerous enzymatic reactions and it behaves as antioxidant molecule. PLP deficiency has been associated to many human pathologies including cancer and diabetes and the mechanism behind this connection is now becoming clearer.
You mean the insect diet fix it right!? /s
Interesting hypothesis, I think this can actually be tested in a causal analysis (Mendelian randomisation), - there there are genetic instruments for IDO. Similar to here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6560130/
There will be even higher powered studies available now and probably other members of the pathway.
Stupid question here but my family had covid last yr and recently I found out that I had two kidney stones which is not rare but my 23 yr old son also had kidney stone same time and while I was in er the lady in the next room also had kidney stone. Could this be related? We live in a very small town so I found it odd. Can covid damage kidneys?
Yes, and incidentally sometimes by this pathway, but yes Covid infection can cause kidney damage, and dysfunction on the tubules. Are you or your son taking any supplements ?
I have nac and vitamin C etc.. was scared to take nac did not know what effect it would have on my kidneys still have a stint. We also have elhers danlos sydrome meds do not work as well sometimes we might need more of a certain drug . My son still struggles with energy etc . I have been tying to find the right combo of drugs to give. I also think I need test for kidney function my right ankle will swell now I’m thinking that’s from my kidneys . Thank you for the reply I will dig further.
There is very little evidence NAC damages the kidneys unless the person has certain genetic defects or has high levels of homocysteine, which are fixable by using...vitamin C hehe.
Elhers Danlos is often a immune condition with lots of presence of Th17 cells (just read the pinned piece named PAID Part IV and you will understand).
He needs more NAD in whatever form you prefer. Niacin, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide or Riboside.
Will do. Thank you so much.
Kidney stones mostly form from oxalates, and those come from a high oxalate diet coupled with certain gut issues and/or produced by our own metabolism when there is a lack of b6, b1. They can also form with excess gelatin / collagen ingestion as well as large amounts of vitamin C. They often accumulate inside cells, but with high oxidative stress, they form more outside cells, such as kidney stones. Oxidative stress also increases our internal production. A covid infection creates a lot of oxidative stress, but not for a long time, so perhaps more likely it depleted B vitamins which then favoured an tendency that already existed in the family - either genetic or lifestyle. Many were doing large doses of vitamin C (grams per day for extended periods) and many have high oxalate diets without realising.
Yes that makes sense. I definitely was taking to much vitamin C now that I think about it. My family including me ,my mother and daughter all have had low level of vitamin D so I was trying to boost immune system. I found a good NAD product and I’m taking that and it’s helping . I’m trying to find the right combo supplements to take. I’m thankful I found your Substack it has helped me understand things .
Please look into the herb Chanca Piedra (Spanish for "stone breaker"). There are published studies, and many anecdotal reports, showing that it can dissolve (and prevent) gallstones and kidney stones. It's available in most health food stores as a tea, or capsules that I've seen, plus plants in the same family grow wild in many areas.
Here are a few links to start your research:
http://www.stuartxchange.com/SampaSampalukan.html
http://www.eattheweeds.com/newsletter-7-april-2020/
Chanca piedra may even be effective against covid: https://www.earthclinic.com/chanca-piedra-for-covid.html
Chanca piedra works well for some if the stones are oxalate based. It also reduces oxidative stress in the kidney which is great, but can sometimes mobilize many oxalates so should be introduced slowly. Great for liver too. Avoiding high oxalate foods and making sure there's enough b1 and b6 in the diet is important. Citrates reduce intestinal absorption and kidney stone formation and magnesium helps mobilize calcium oxalate deposits, so magnesium citrate is great, but away from meals. Organic acid tests help figure out a lot of what's causing oxalate issues as well as testing many things mentioned in this post.
Great info, thanks!
Thank you so much for the information I will look into it.
So I’m not imagining that the smell of my pee has changed since I had covid!! Long Covid sufferer here, it totally sucks. Zyrtec and nattokinase got me back on track but I relapsed when I tried interval training. I’m like back at square one, brain fog and all.
No you are not, change in the smell of pee means you are peeing more of a certain substance (protein or otherwise). The type of smell can help.
If you have long covid you NEED both lots of antioxidants and to address this pathway, the NAD+ thingie, that will be helpful. Just search my Substack for “brain stack” it will be helpful for anything brain related. Hope you recover soon.
When you describe long Covid as a different metabolic state, that is EXACTLY what it feels like. And it does something to nerves. Makes me shaky and unbearably anxious.
I have an 1000 mg NAC supplement I’m going to start trying today. What other antioxidants would you suggest? And thank you. I feel like crying. My kids miss their mom being strong and healthy and happy.
Vitamin C is also a good one to take along the day, but NAC is the main one, you need to take NAC. Serapeptase, an enzyme that helps a lot with inflammation and dissolving anything you don't want building in your body. Berberine and melatonin too, and some Vitamin D depending on your levels or how much sun you get. These are a must, there are many other, but these are nonnegotiable.
You might want to switch your diet to a lower carb, or just fast sometimes. Fasting helps A LOOOOOOOOOOT with everything, especially Long Covid, it will help with the metabolism.
Don't worry, you will recover, this is why I spend so much time reading, to try and solve parts of this and help people.
I just commented to my friend this am that my urine smelled “weird”! Being a nurse I have smelled a lot of pee and this is totally different. Is the smell a good thing? I’m getting stuff out or a bad thing? I have chronic Lyme (another Fauci gift) and getting Covid has reactivated so much. I’m on most of what u recommend but I’m struggling to get back to my baseline. Anything in particular for pee smell?
So is this where NMN supplements come in post-infection?
Yes, one of the reasons, to rescue the body from this metabolic state. Replenish NAD+, and the body will shift from this to the normal pathway. I will cover this the next one, but this is one of the reasons Long Covid is about to skyrocket.
Do you have a preferred NAD booster?
Niacin because it is cheaper and has many, many other uses. And a low carb diet to fix everything else this pathway causes.
I couldn't tolerate the flush, even at lower doses around 200mg... is non-flush or niacinamide ok too?
What Brian said. You can minimize the flush if you take Niacin with enough food, I barely get any flush. But the flush (in my opinion, no scientific evidence anywhere for it) is often related with inflammation.
I used to get lots of flush in my nerves (just the feeling, it wasn’t actually in my nervous system) and especially in my brain after something.
Niacinamide will work ok too, it is the second best in my opinion, also preferably taken with food.
Or Nicotinamide Mononucleotide/Riboside.
Thanks. The flush wasn't always there for me so maybe i was taking on empty stomach when it came. NMN seems to be better for the NAD+ effects than Niacinamide from a brief look...
You can buy niacin in bulk and measure out a tiny bit to take. You can also get capsules down to 50mg.
Same with NAC, vitamin C and most supplements. My counter is now full of mason jars full of powders and my scale to measure. I’m sure it looks a little sketchy. Lol staying healthy has become a full time job.
I think best is NMN.i bought some 2 months ago.gave it to a friend with covid.now i cant purchase it anymore. I bought niacinamide instead as i think JP said its 2nd best.and after that plain old niacin vit b3 will do. My other schizophrenic friend takes niacin to stay straight in the head.i wonder if tryptophan or other vits would also help him from schizo episodes.
This pathway is directly related to Schizophrenia according to some researchers, so yes, dietary and supplementary interventions can help in his episodes, if I recall correctly.
Thanks Brian. Still available here in UK… will check back on JP’s previous articles re dosage