Improvement of kidney function in a natural way

How nitric oxide improves kidney function

The kidneys are one of our most important detoxification organs and many people are affected by kidney disease. Modern, sedentary lifestyles and the regular consumption of processed foods have an overall negative impact on the body and the kidneys in particular.

Effects of medication on kidney function

Some over-the-counter painkillers can be particularly dangerous for kidney cells. They constrict the capillaries in the kidneys, impair blood flow and lead to a lack of oxygen. They can also cause allergic inflammation.

Painkillers can lead to increased blood pressure, fluid and water retention and increased potassium levels. People with Diabeteshigh blood pressure, heart disease and the elderly are particularly at risk. It is important to avoid taking painkillers regularly in order to protect the kidneys and prevent further damage.

The kidneys can only maintain the fluid and electrolyte balance if the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's homeostasis, functions properly and is well regulated by hormones. If hormonal regulation is disturbed or the autonomic nervous system is dysregulated, especially in the parasympathetic state, kidney function is inadequate.

How the kidneys work

On average, 1500 litres of blood flow through the kidneys of an adult every day. This means that our blood (approx. 5 litres) circulates through them 300-350 times a day. Normally, therefore, around 1300 ml of blood flows through the blood vessels and tubules every minute, filtering and excreting the end and breakdown products of the body's metabolism, toxins, excess water and mineral salts. The end result of this complex process is the formation of 1 to 2 litres of urine per day, which is excreted by the kidneys via the ureter, bladder and urethra.

Molecular control of kidney function

The next step in regulation is the regulating role of the so-called tissue hormones or neurotransmitters.

Each kidney contains around 1.2 million small "purification plants" that work independently of each other. The total length of the renal glomeruli and renal tubules is 220 to 240 kilometres, the diameter of the renal tubules is 40 micrometres. In such a thin and incredibly long tubular organ, in which vasodilation (dilation of the blood vessels) plays a major role, the role of the regulating neurotransmitters is particularly important.

Nitric oxide (produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) via the L-Arginine-metabolism) is an important regulator of vascular wall function. Damage to this system plays a role in a number of pathological processes in the vascular system, including atherosclerosis (vasoconstriction), angiogenesis (the ability of blood vessels to grow and regenerate), neointimal hyperplasia (thickening of the vascular lining) and pulmonary hypertension (increased blood pressure in a small blood vessel).

Nitric oxide (NO) has several important functions as a neurotransmitter, including the dilation of blood vessels, allowing blood to flow at a higher velocity through a larger cross-sectional area at lower blood pressure. It also contributes to the opening of microcapillaries, which improves the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells. The regulation of blood flow to the kidneys is maintained by medullary perfusion (sufficient blood flow through the renal tubules). When this works well, the kidneys also have sufficient tubular sodium reabsorption.

There are three isoforms of the NO-producing enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The regulation of NO synthesis in the kidney is complex. Recent studies have shown the different roles of nNOS and eNOS in the regulation of NO synthesis in the kidney.

Complex physiological role of the kidney

In addition to their excretory function, the kidneys have other tasks. The kidneys play a role in regulating arterial blood pressure, not only by maintaining the volume and composition of extracellular fluid, but also by secreting (producing) a hormone called renin.

Another endocrine function of the kidney is the regulation of red blood cell production (erythropoiesis). The regulating hormone erythropoietin is formed to 90 % in the kidney. Erythropoietin regulates the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. In many cases, the lack of this regulatory hormone is the cause of anaemia and not iron deficiency.

Do animals have the same kidney problems as humans?

Today, 10-15% are anaemic in pigs in livestock farming. When analysing the urine of these animals, the rapid test always shows very high values that indicate impaired kidney function (creatinine and urea values two to three times above the upper limit).

Pathological examination of the kidneys of pigs also shows pathological signs of Kidney damage.

Relationship between vitamin D levels and kidney function

The final step in the synthesis of the vitamin D hormone 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (also known as calcitriol) takes place in the kidneys.

Why do so many people have too little calcitriol (D hormone) in their blood? With vitamin D supplements we take vitamin D3, cholecalciferol, which is not the active D hormone. In the Liver calcidiol (25-hydroxycholecalciferol) and calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol), the active D hormone, is formed in the kidneys.

If blood tests show a reduced or low GFR (a measure of the filtering capacity of the kidneys), this plays an important role in the development of osteoporosis and an increased risk of cancer due to a hormone D deficiency.

Many other regulatory molecules are also formed in the kidneys and, when released into the bloodstream, act as hormones or as local paracrine mediators (local hormones).

Basic building block of kidney function: nitric oxide

The key to good kidney function is the regular production of nitric oxide. The presence of arginine in the body is essential for good nitric oxide production.

In ischaemic kidney disease, less blood flows through the kidneys, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is significantly reduced and there is a loss of renal parenchyma (renal cortex) due to narrowing of the renal arteries.

Nitric oxide is an important endogenous messenger substance that circulates in the blood. The body's own production of nitric oxide causes the blood vessels to constrict and dilate, which improves blood flow to all organs and cells.

From around the age of 40, nitric oxide production inevitably decreases in all people, so that people in their 50s and 60s only have around half the amount of nitric oxide they used to have. This leads to significantly poorer blood flow to the heart and kidneys and therefore to the entire body. However, as long as the body has the substances it needs to produce nitric oxide, the production of this important component will never cease completely.

Foods that form nitric oxide

Scientific studies on certain foods and Herbs support the ancient, traditional approach to regenerating the heart. Many of the foods tested, which have been used for centuries to treat cardiovascular problems, provide the body with highly effective substances that it uses to convert nitric oxide.

Examples include green leafy vegetables such as spinach, horseradish, white cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, Swiss chard and many root vegetables such as celery, carrots and beetroot. They are all excellent sources of the raw materials needed to produce nitric oxide. It is therefore important to regularly include these foods in your diet.

Observations on animals

According to Alan Archibald, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh, drug trials on pigs provide the best results when it comes to investigating the effect on humans.

Over the last 15 years, the kidney status of pigs has changed dramatically. Between 1990 and 2011, our lead product developer examined the kidneys of 7-12,000 pigs per year, and between 2011 and 2017, he dissected almost 300 pigs reared in pig farms and delivered to slaughterhouses. This is known as slaughterhouse monitoring. Experience shows that the problem lies in the composition of the feed for the reared animals and not in the content of fungal toxins in the grain used for feeding.

The fact that a 4-5 month old pig does not produce enough nitric oxide despite its young age is worrying. A 4-5 month old pig is at the beginning of its reproductive phase, whereas a human is around 14-15 years old.

What is the problem?

The relationship between age and NO production and the role of NO in vasodilatation are already known, but one important factor has not yet been mentioned: lysine-arginine antagonism, which is the main cause of insufficient NO production. The importance of this process, which is unfortunately ignored by the feed and food industry, is explained below.

Arginine deficiency in the human body and the role of Fulvic acid

Around 20% of the human body is made up of proteins, which play a crucial role in almost all biological processes. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Amino acids influence the function of organs, glands, tendons and arteries and are involved in the transport of nutrients. They are also important for wound healing and the regeneration of tissue, especially muscles, bones, skin and hair, as well as for the breakdown of deposits of all kinds that occur during metabolism.

In recent years, the use of L-lysine as a free amino acid has increased as a flavour enhancer in processed foods. Lysine has a pleasant flavour. Due to its pleasant flavour, lysine has a negative effect on blood circulation. As lysine and arginine are very similar, the two amino acids share the same transport molecule, the so-called membrane transport protein (carrier molecule).

Free amino acids are practically not found in large quantities in nature. The number of carrier molecules in the body is limited and the absorption of free amino acids follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The absorption of lysine from the intestine removes the carrier molecules from the body, resulting in a localised arginine deficiency due to the lack of carrier molecules.

Fulvicherb-Synergy contains a high proportion of fulvic acid, which offers two advantages. Due to its molecular weight, it is easily absorbed by simple diffusion in the first part of the small intestine. It contains a large number of carboxyl groups in relation to its molecular weight, which allows the free amino acids to bind in complex form (absorption in complex form ensures that the process does not use up the limited number of available carrier molecules).

Fulvicherb - Synergy is already mixed with the food in the stomach. The amount of fulvic acid present allows the free amino acids in the food, especially lysine and arginine, to be absorbed as a fulvic acid-amino acid complex. When the free amino acids are absorbed as a complex, no lysine-arginine antagonism occurs.

The presence of arginine in the body enables the formation of nitric oxide and vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels). This physiological effect contributes to the maintenance of circulation and optimal blood pressure.

Arginine - a discovery that was honoured with the Nobel Prize

In 1998, 3 Nobel Prizes were awarded for the clarification of the physiological role of L-arginine and nitric oxide.

The medical term for the restoration of healthy kidney function is renal ischaemia-reperfusion (RIR). Several independent research institutes have conducted physiological experiments with various laboratory animals in which renal ischaemia-reperfusion (RIR) was induced with L-arginine.

The content of "protected arginine" in Fulvicherb - Synergy (Fulvic acid-arginine complex) has a significantly higher biological effectiveness than L-arginine itself according to the Michaelis-Menten kinetics law.

Biochemical perspective - histamine sensitivity and intestinal flora

The three most important substances that regulate the dilation of blood vessels (vasodilation) are nitric oxide, prostaglandins and the biogenic amine Histamine.

Nitric oxide is involved in the activation of prostaglandin production and has a synergistic (mutually reinforcing) effect.

The overproduction of biogenic amine Histamine is a negative effect of harmful intestinal bacteria. The so-called decarboxylase enzyme-producing bacteria play the biggest role here. The Liverin optimal condition and capacity, also plays an important role in the very fine and precise regulation of optimal histamine and other tissue hormone levels in the body through the production of the enzymes monoamine oxidase (MAO) and diamine oxidase (DAO).

Nitric oxide is essential for many physiological processes and sufficient levels are essential for maintaining good health.