Glyconutrients 101: Part One

Theres been a lot of talk lately about glycobiologyin the news, mentions on blogs, etc. And now, the National Academy of Sciences has emphasized its importance in a recent report,* which is a very big deal. But before we dive into glycobiology, lets start at the beginning with some basic definitions.

Glycobiology, Glyconutrients, Glyco WHAT?

Glycobiology is the study of everything related to the structure, biosynthesis and biology of sugars and saccharides. If youve heard the word glycobiology before, then its likely you are somewhat technically minded. Its certainly not a common term that youd expect to hear at swap meets or cocktail parties. You see, glycobiology actually undergirds much of what you (hopefully) put in your mouth: fruits and vegetables. So, perhaps you should know about it. In fact, to simplify things, lets look at the word itself. If you break it down, glyco is from the Greek word glukus, meaning sweet. Biology comes from the Greek root, bio, which means life and logy from the Greek suffix logy, which means study. In other words, its the study of biological sugars. Put another way, its the study

of the sweet language of life.

However, to really understand how glycobiology is important for us humans, you need a context. And that context is your body; specifically, your cells.

Do You Speak Cellular?

You may not. But your body does. Inside, you have trillions of cells that are constantly communicating with each other. These cells are multi-taskersthey take in nutrition, eliminate toxins, defend the body from intruders and repair damage in the body. They must communicate with one another and work as a team to promote good health. When your cells talk, your body listens. It flourishes. And you simply thrive. Modern science, as in the aforementioned National Academy of Sciences, is uncovering more evidence all the time supporting the concept that certain sugars control and influence many, many aspect of our cellular processes. These are fundamental sugars the body needs at its most foundational level to maintain optimal wellness. More than 200 sugars can be found in nature. Some dietary sugars are absorbed by the body and burned as fuel. But, according to Harpers Biochemistry, a textbook used in medical schools worldwide, eight specific sugars comprise the very chains of glycoproteins in our body.
Glucose** Xylose Fucose N-acetylglucosamine Mannose N-acetylgalactosamine Galactose** N-acetylneuraminic Acid

**Only two out of eight of these sugars are commonly found in our modern diets. When sugars are missing from the glycoprotein structures, our cells cannot function normally. They cant communicate or perform other critical functions. Sugars, you might ask? Yes, sugars! They are also called saccharides, but were not talking about the sugar you put on your cereal or in your afternoon tea. Thats sucrose, or table sugar. Were talking about plant-derived complex carbohydrates, or polysaccharides, that you wont find at your local Sack N Save. Where do these polysaccharides come from? Nature. Or, more specifically, natural food sources. However, because we typically dont eat the right kinds of

food, many of these sugars may be lacking in our modern diets.

Thats why supplementing with glyconutrients can be so important. Glyconutrients are formulated to help support the proper formation of glycoproteins . . . which may then help cells communicate . . . which, in turn, may allow the immune system and body to function as it should. Because of this, increasing numbers of health care professionals and nutritionists are now recommending glyconutrient supplementation.

Hello, Aloe!
Remember those sugars from nature, many of which cant be found at the store? Well, in the early 1980s, a research team, led by scientist Bill McAnalley, PhD, identified and isolated one of those complex sugarsa long chain of mannose sugarsas a key beneficial ingredient in aloe vera. And so, in 1994, Mannatech introduced the ManAloe complexa nutritional complex designed to support the proper structure and function of cells. Mannatech then recognized the potential benefits of combining this aloe vera gel polysaccharide with other plant-sourced carbohydrates. Continued studies, and a global search for the finest ingredients, led to the creation of the next generation of aloe-vera-based formulationsAmbrotose complex in 1996. The name Ambrotose was derived from ambrosia, the food of the gods in Greek mythology. But this formulation was and is far from mythological. Prior to Mannatechs development of Ambrotose, science had never before validated a beneficial effect of an aloe vera complex sugar molecule. However, since its inception, Ambrotose technology has received much recognition.

AmbrotoseA Missing Link in Human Nutrition

Ambrotose complex is the first dietary supplement to combine a standardized blend of plant-sourced glyconutrients. More than 50 patents worldwide have been issued on this breakthrough discovery in health. But dont take our word for it; third-party scientific studies prove otherwise. Lets start once more with some context:

The Old Theory

Scientists once believed that it was not possible to influence the bodys production of cell surface sugar structures through dietary intervention.

The New Reality

New research published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008) 65, 64856

reported that: For the first time, science has shown that the ingestion of a standardized blend of plant polysaccharides [Ambrotose complex] can induce significant changes in blood glycoprotein structures with no adverse effects. This study is one of many studies conducted by highly respected researchers and scientists on the benefits of glyconutrients. Just go to MannatechScience.org where you can read studies showing that Ambrotose supports improvements in brain function. And thats just the tip of the aloeberg.

Glyconutrients: Gimmick or Genius?

Even though the science of glycobiology emerged about 60 years ago and the study of glyconutrients emerged about 20 years ago, and they have achieved scientific milestones, glyconutrients are still slow to appear on the healthcare and nutrition professionals radar. But thats not uncommon when something is so revolutionary. The challenge and, frankly, the resistance that glyconutrients and their value have met from many naysayers reminds me of a famous often-quoted saying of the writer, Jonathan Swift: When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that dunces are in a confederacy against him. Certainly, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. If you have heard that glyconutrients is not a valid science, I challenge you to read, think and decide for yourself. I think the genius will be hard to miss.
*http://www.allaboutmannatech.com/archives/the-national-academy-of-sciences-speaks-out-onglycobiology
the product that was studied.

Studies may have been funded, in whole or part, by Mannatech. In some cases, this means that Mannatech donated
Lisa Johnson