Kudzu Extract (40% Isoflavones)
Kudzu Extract is a traditional Chinese medicine for alcohol related disorders. Kudzu is widely utilized in the Orient and helps prevent the cravings for alcohol, when blood sugar levels are stabilized. Its active components prevent oxidative stress and protect against alcohol-induced apoptosis (programmed cell death).

L-cysteine
L-cysteine is a sulfur containing amino acid that scavenges acetaldehyde, the major toxic oxidation product of alcohol.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC)
NAC is one of the most effective methods to increase glutathione, a constituent of antioxidant enzymes, which is severely depleted by alcohol abuse.

R-Lipoic acid (RLA)
RLA is the naturally occurring form of Alpha Lipoic Acid. It is a powerful antioxidant itself and increases levels of glutathione. It inhibits gene expression of NF-Kb, a redox sensitive transcription factor associated with increased oxidative stress (from hydrogen peroxide), liver cell inflammation and death.

Milk Thistle Standardized extract (80% Silymarin)
Silymarin and its active constituent, silybin, function as antioxidants; scavenging free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Studies also suggest that they protect against genomic (the total gene complement of a set of chromosomes) injury, increase hepatocyte (liver cells) protein synthesis, decrease the activity of tumor promoters, stabilize mast cells, chelate iron and slow calcium metabolism.

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) as Calcium Ascorbate
Calcium ascorbate is the neutral (non acidic) form of Vitamin C. It reduces oxidative stress in the liver as a result of alcohol consumption and is one of the body's primary antioxidants. Calcium ascorbate helps maintain L-cysteine in the reduced state, which increases its efficacy against the detrimental effects of acetaldehyde, one of the primary irritants resulting from alcohol consumption.

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Alcohol depletes the brain and body of Vitamin B1. This loss significantly increases the toxicity of alcohol to liver and brain cells.

Curcumin from Turmeric Extract (98% curcuminoids)
New research demonstrates that alcohol induced liver disease is a result of NF-Kb (producing an increase in oxidative stress) and is significantly reduced by curcuminoids.

Dandelion Extract (4:1)
Taraxacin, the active constituent, strengthens the entire body, especially the liver and gallbladder, where it promotes the flow of bile, reduces inflammation of the bile duct and helps eliminate gall stones. Dandelion Extract is useful for chronic hepatitis by reducing liver swelling and jaundice that may result from alcohol abuse.




References for ALC-Kit ingredients


For an excellent review article discussing many of the alcohol protective nutrients and their mechanisms of action see the CERI article Living With Alcohol by Stephen Fowkes. http://www.ceri.com/alcohol.htm

Kudzu Root
  1. Keung WM, Vallee BL. Daidzin and daidzein suppress free-choice ethanol intake by Syrian golden hamsters. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993;90:10008-10012.
  2. Shebek J, Rindone JP. A pilot study exploring the effect of kudzu root on the drinking habits of patients with chronic alcoholism. J Altern Complement Med. 2000;6:45-48.
  3. http://www.restoreunity.org/alcoholism_alcohol.htm
  4. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2002 2:12 The effect of Puerariae radix on lipoprotein metabolism in liver and intestinal cells
  5. Biol Pharm Bull 2003 Jan;26(1):37-40 Effect of Puerariae radix on c-Fos Expression in Hippocampus of Alcohol-Intoxicated Juvenile Rats.
  6. Jpn J Pharmacol 2002 Mar;88(3):355-8 Effects of Puerariae radix on cell proliferation and nitric oxide synthase expression in dentate gyrus of alcohol-intoxicated Sprague-Dawley rats.
  7. Jpn J Pharmacol 2001 Dec;87(4):338-42 Protective effects of puerariaeflos against ethanol-induced apoptosis on human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-MC.

L-Cysteine and N-Acetyl Cysteine
  1. Scand J Gastroenterol (Norway) May 1992, 27 (5) p405-11 Sulfur amino acid metabolism in hepatobiliary disorders.
  2. Alcohol Alcohol (England) Sep 1994, 29 (5) p597-604 Effect of S-adenosyl-L-methionine administration on red blood cell cysteine and glutathione levels in alcoholic patients with and without liver disease.
  3. Gut (England) Feb 1993, 34 (2) p161-5 Glutathione prevents ethanol induced gastric mucosal damage and depletion of sulfhydryl compounds in humans
  4. Arukoru Kenkyuto Yakubutsu Ison (Japan) Oct 1990, 25 (5) p429-40 Effects of amino acids on acute alcohol intoxication in mice--concentrations of ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetate and acetone in blood and tissues.
  5. Biochem Pharmacol (United States) Aug 15 1977, 26 (16) p1529-31 A possible protective role for sulphydryl compounds in acute alcoholic liver injury.
  6. Physiol Chem Phys (United States) 1976, 8 (6) p543-50 Protection against toxic effects of formaldehyde in vitro, and of methanol or formaldehyde in vivo, by subsequent administration of SH reagents.
  7. Fed Proc 33(3) (Part 1): March 1974 Sulfhydryl compounds and ascorbic acid.
  8. Smart Drug News [v5n5] CERI. December 13th, 1996 Living with Alcohol
  9. Nico Chest May 1995;107(5):1437-1441 N-Acetylcysteine for Lung Cancer Prevention
  10. The Liver: Biology and Pathobiology, 3rd Edition, 1994; 27:461-470 S-Adenosylmethionine and the Liver

R-Lipoic Acid
  1. Liver 2002 Aug;22(4):355-62 Inhibition of glucose production and stimulation of bile flow by R (+)-alpha-lipoic acid enantiomer in rat liver.
  2. FASEB J 1999 Feb;13(2):411-8 (R)-alpha-lipoic acid-supplemented old rats have improved mitochondrial function, decreased oxidative damage, and increased metabolic rate.
  3. Antioxid Redox Signal 2000 Fall;2(3):473-83 (R)-alpha-lipoic acid reverses the age-associated increase in susceptibility of hepatocytes to tert-butylhydroperoxide both in vitro and in vivo.
  4. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2002 Apr;29(4):281-4 Effect of alpha-lipoic acid on lipid peroxidation and anti-oxidant enzyme activities in diabetic rats.
  5. Exp Gerontol 2001 Dec;37(1):81-7 Effect of DL-alpha-lipoic acid on glutathione metabolic enzymes in aged rats.
  6. Med Klin 1999 Oct 15;94 Suppl 3:84-9 A conservative triple antioxidant approach to the treatment of hepatitis C. Combination of alpha lipoic acid (thioctic acid), silymarin, and selenium: three case histories.

Milk Thistle (silymarin)
  1. Am J Gastroenterol 1998 Feb;93(2):139-43 Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for the therapy of liver disease
  2. Pares A, Planas R, Effects of silymarin in alcoholic patients with cirrhosis of the liver: results of a controlled, double-blind, randomized and multicenter trial. J Hepatol 1998 Apr;28(4):615-21
  3. Torres M, Caballeria J, Silymarin as a potential hypocholesterolaemic drug. Physiol Res 1998;47(1):1-7
  4. Rink C. Therapy of alcoholic hepatitis Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax 1992 Jun 9;81(24):798-9
  5. Salmi H, Sarna S. Effect of silymarin on chemical, functional, and morphological alterations of the liver. Scand J Gastroenterol 1982;17:517-21.
  6. Ferenci P, et al. Randomized, controlled trial of silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. J Hepatol 1989; 9: 105-13.
  7. Wellington K, Jarvis B. Silymarin: a review of its clinical properties in the management of hepatic disorders. Bia BioDrugs 2001;15(7):465-89
  8. Lieber CS. Alcoholic liver disease: New insights in pathogenesis lead to new treatments J Hepatol 2000;32 Suppl 1:113-28
  9. Par A Pathogenesis and management of alcoholic liver injury. Acta Physiol Hung 1992;80(1-4):325-50
  10. Muzes G, Deak G, [Liver-protective action of silymarin therapy in chronic alcoholic liver
  11. diseases] Orv Hetil 1989 Dec 17;130(51):2723-7
  12. Feher J, Deak G [Silymarin in the prevention of hepatic damage by psychopharmacologic drugs. Clin Ter 1980 Oct 31;95(2):157-64
  13. Carrescia O, Benelli L, [Aspects of liver damage after experimental administration of some drugs. Arch Sci Med (Torino) 1980 Jul-Sep;137(3):367-86
  14. Martines G, Copponi V, Cagnetta G Investigations on the actions of silybin on regenerating rat liver. Effects on Kupffer's cells. Arzneimittelforschung 1979;29(7):1024-8
  15. Magliulo E, Scevola D, Carosi GP. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) for the therapy of liver disease. Am J Gastroenterol 1998 Feb;93(2):139-43
  16. Ferenci P, Dragosics B, Randomized controlled trial of silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. J Hepatol 1989 Jul;9(1):105-13

Ascorbic Acid
  1. Fed Proc 33(3) (Part 1): March 1974 Sulfhydryl compounds and ascorbic acid.
  2. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2003 Mar;134(3):397-401Combined effect of ascorbic acid and selenium supplementation on alcohol-induced oxidative stress in guinea pigs.
  3. Toxicol Lett 1999 Feb 22;104(3):221-9 Impact of massive ascorbic acid supplementation on alcohol induced oxidative stress in guinea pigs
  4. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 2000 Oct;44(4):401-10 Effects of exogenous vitamin C on ethanol toxicity in rats

Thiamine (B1)
  1. Int J Vitam Nutr Res (Switzerland) 1977, 47 (4) p325-35 Thiamine status of institutionalised and non-institutionalised aged.
  2. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1986 Apr;49(4):341-5 Clinical signs in the Wernicke-Korsakoff complex: a retrospective analysis of 131 cases diagnosed at necropsy.
  3. Schweiz Med Wochenschr (Switzerland) Oct 23 1976, 106 (43) p1466-70
    [Vitamin B 1 deficiency in chronic alcoholics and its clinical correlation]

Curcumin
  1. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2003 Feb;284(2):G321-7 Curcumin prevents alcohol-induced liver disease in rats by inhibiting the expression of NF-kappa B-dependent genes.
  2. Lukita-Atmadja W, Ito Y, Baker GL, Effect of curcuminoids as anti-inflammatory agents on the hepatic microvascular response to endotoxin. Shock 2002 May;17(5):399-403

Dandelion extract
  1. Cordatos E. Taraxacum officinale. In: Murray M, Pizzorno J, eds. A Textbook of Natural Medicine. Seattle: Bastyr University Press; 1992.
  2. Taraxacum officinale.Altern Med Rev 1999 Apr;4(2):112-4
  3. Cho SY, Park JY, Park EM Alternation of hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profile in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by supplementation of dandelion waterextract. Clin Chim Acta 2002 Mar;317(1-2):109-17
  4. Maliakal PP, Wanwimolruk S. Effect of herbal teas on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes in rats. J Pharm Pharmacol 2001 Oct;53(10):1323-9


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