Toxicity in the Modern World
Living in a modern society means exposure to toxins, both exogenous and endogenous, is unavoidable. Environmental toxin exposure comes from ‘heavy’ metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, aluminium, etc.), herbicides, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other persistent organic pollutants (POPs); along with plasticisers such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Endogenous toxins (endotoxins) are produced within the body itself; the most common being lipopolysaccharides (LPS) – cell wall fragments of dead gram-negative bacteria that reside within the gut. Other sources of endotoxins include metabolically-induced free radicals, and various products of glycation, maldigestion and hormonal metabolism.
In order to safely remove these toxins, all four phases of detoxification need to be functioning well, in addition to all organs of detoxification; including the kidneys and lymphatics. Renal detoxification occurs via uptake, biotransformation and excretion. Once toxins are conjugated, their urinary excretion depends upon the acid/base status. When the urine is more alkaline (ideally pH 7.4), conjugated toxins are able to be excreted at a 1.4-fold higher rate than in acidic urine conditions.[1] Therefore, alkalising the urine can significantly contribute to the efficacy of renal detoxification.
The lymphatic vessels have traditionally been considered to ‘clear toxic wastes’, although there is little hard scientific evidence to support their role in detoxification from a conventional perspective. Viewing toxicity as a form of chronic inflammation, however, we can see the importance of the lymphatic system in the elimination of metabolic waste and toxins. Lymphatic vessels act as transport channels for immune cells and their inflammatory mediators, with the resolution of inflammation in any tissue dependent upon the ability of the lymphatic system to clear interstitial fluid loaded with inflammation-inducing cytokines, prostaglandins (PGs), and histamines.
Toxicity may also be driven by dysbiosis, intestinal hyperpermeability (‘leaky gut’) and the local and systemic inflammation generated from this. LPS promoted by dysbiotic states create inflammation (as do undigested food particles), which leads to epithelial barrier disruption and intestinal hyperpermeability. As such, reversing the dysbiotic state decreases the inflammatory stimuli damaging the epithelial barrier and reduces the translocation of LPS into circulation and onto the liver. However, if carried out insensitively, reducing dysbiotic bacterial load can lead to an increase in LPS and an increased risk of Herxheimer reactions (often referred to as a ‘healing crisis’). This can manifest as increased inflammation, headaches, nausea, and a general worsening of symptoms. By supporting gastrointestinal barrier integrity during detoxification, the influx of LPS into systemic circulation is reduced; as is the potential for further tissue damage during the detoxification process.