Glyconutrients: Scientific Breakthrough Or Hype?

It has been said that the most important discovery of the last 100 years is a group of simple carbohydrates that is central to cellular communication called glyconutrients. Scientists had been baffled for years how the system of cellular communication works - How is it that the body can decide whether to attack an invading organism or ignore it. How the body knows exactly which substances are harmful to the body and which are not. Above all, how the entire body functions based on an intricate system of continually sending signals from one cell to another. It turns out the answer lies in a group of sugars that bind (or glycosylate) with various cells.

There are more than 200 glyconutrients available but only eight are needed by the body. These include xylose, galactose, fucose, glucose, mannose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, and N-acetylglucosamine. These appear in various forms in nature and have individual functions that generally help speed up cell to cell communication, promote the body's immune system, and improve general wellness.

Xylose, for example, is a typical component of bubble gum and toothpaste that was recently discovered to have anti-bacterial and antifungal properties alongside its property that enhances cellular communication. Glyconutrients that are abundant in human breast milk and dairy products are fuctose and galactose. The former helps in promoting brain development, in warding off infections caused by allergens, and inhibits tumor growth. The latter, meanwhile, plays central role in healing wounds, inhibiting the formation of cataracts, lessening inflammation, and like fuctose, in inhibiting the formation and spread of tumor growth.

Mannose, a nutrient that is important in tissue remodeling, prevention of infections from parasites, viruses, bacteria, and fungi, as well as in preventing the formation of tumor, is found in the gums of Indian sumac and African acacia tree.

The rest of the eight essential glyconutrients are N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and N-acetylgalactosamine. Most of the benefits that may be had from N-acetylglucosamine focus on alleviating symptoms of osteoarthritis such as weakened cartilage, pain, inflammation, and decreased range of motion. N-acetylneuraminic acid, which comes mainly from breast milk, was discovered to have pivotal roles in brain development, learning, memory, and performance. It also has influence over cholesterol levels and blood coagulation. There is, however, no extensive data on N-acetylgalactosamine. Nevertheless, it has been shown to have properties that resemble those glyconutrients that were mentioned previously like the properties to prevent tumor growth and promote cellular communication.

Unfortunately, the body only receives two of these important nutrients in high and regular quantities – glucose or simply sugar which has recently earned a reputation as the underlying cause of various conditions when taken in excess and galactose that is frequently found in dairy products.

Clearly, glyconutrients are all about benefits. There are no known side effects to using supplements containing these sweet nutrients and there is no apparent danger in overusing them. However, as with anything revolutionary in the field of medical science, glyconutrients are instantly becoming a source of controversies, not because they are nothing but hype but because many marketers are taking advantage of the public acceptance of their value to health. This does not prevent medical scientists and nutritionists from promoting the use of these nutrients, nevertheless. In fact, the recent years have seen increased interest in glyconutrients that is parallel to the increased interest in promoting health and wellness.