In this podcast we explore the importance of the oft neglected gel-like barrier surrounding your blood vessels called the glycocalyx. This newly discovered proteinaceous substance helps form a barrier protecting your cardiovascular system from inflammatory damage and pathogens.
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Show Notes:
00:50 Glycocalyx is a gelatinous substance that lines the interior portion of your cardiovascular system.
02:28 Glycocalyx shedding, from diabetes and high blood pressure, renders your lung and cardiovascular cells more vulnerable to infection.
03:10 Pathogens discriminate. They exploit hosts that have more dysfunctional interior environments. Metabolically healthy people are more resilient and have a-symptomatic or mild cases of illnesses.
04:00 Glycocalyx offers a secondary barrier, preventing pathogens from invading your lung and cardiovascular tissue.
04:33 You may have a compromised glycocalyx if you have imbalanced methylation, imbalanced sulfate metabolism or cysteine metabolism. Cysteine is a sulfur containing amino acid which makes glutathione.
07:30 Glycocalyx is involved in blood clotting, blood flow and immune responses. It is dependent upon sulfur metabolism. Glycocalyx cannot be directly measured.
09:00 Glycocalyx is a complex mesh of proteins and carbohydrates. Its components are often present in collagen and bone broth, both are rich in sulfur.
11:20 Under sulfated or aberrant sulfation may increase susceptibility to viral infection and may inversely impact your physiologic response to the infection. If your sulfation is off, there could be increased risk of clotting.
12:20 Sulfate tends to be negatively charged, causing the glycocalyx to be negatively charged, causing it to act as a repellant against pathogens.
12:45 Sulfate comes from dietary sulfur. A great deal of sulfation occurs in your body in the detoxification of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. This depletes sulfate stores, leading to under sulfated glycocalyx.
13:50 Glycocalyx is compromised by low protein diets, high sugar intake, caffeine, alcohol, smoking, drugs, environmental toxins, certain medications and excessive endurance exercise.
16:55 Sulfur is found in high amounts in animal products: meat, eggs, and dairy. If you are vegetarian/vegan, you need to supplement with N-acetylcysteine and sulfur and/or eat a lot of sulfur rich foods.
17:40 Avoid exposure to environmental chemicals, drugs and other substances that need to be sulfated. Eat organic food. Filter your water. Avoid pharmaceuticals. Avoid anabolic steroids, performance enhancing drugs, and high levels of hormones as they need to be sulfated within the body.
18:45 Tylenol depletes glutathione, and it needs to be sulfated.
References
Biering, S. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 Spike triggers barrier dysfunction and vascular leak via integrins and TGF-β signaling, 1–49. http://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.10.472112
(Chelazzi 2015) Chelazzi, C., Villa, G., Mancinelli, P., De Gaudio, A. R., & Adembri, C. (2015). Glycocalyx and sepsis-induced alterations in vascular permeability. Critical Care, 19(1), 1–7. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-015-0741-z
(Yamaoka-Tojo 2020) Yamaoka-Tojo, M. (2020). Vascular Endothelial Glycocalyx Damage in COVID-19. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(24), 9712. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21249712
Great work. I have gained most of my scientific insight from you. Here’s from down under mate.
I would like to know what you eat. Keto, Carnivore or paleo?
Enjoy your podcasts, Mike!
One thing I’ve been noticing across this whole health fiasco is the importance of magnesium in dealing with Covid–oxygen sensing, nerve conduction, blood glucose regulation, fatigue, anti-inflammatory, synthesis of glutathione, etc.
I add the following to see what your thoughts are in regards to the glycocalyx. I couldn’t find specific sources for this (yet), but it sounded reasonable. Thoughts?
“Magnesium is also essential for the structure of the gelatin like matrix within and surrounding cells. Each atom of magnesium can hold 18 molecules of water in an electrically stabilized cloud of water surrounding the magnesium atom.”
https://transcendingsquare.com/category/glycocalyx/