Dr. Laszlo Boros on Deuterium

Guest: Dr. Laszlo Boros

Background

• Medical doctor, researcher, and professor
• Focus on deuterium research and teaching
• Established the field of “deuteronomics”

Deuterium and Health

• Deuterium is a rare yet influential isotope of hydrogen
• Affects many biological processes
• All major disease processes (obesity, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer) are affected by deuterium levels
• Deuterium can damage delicate nanomotors in mitochondria, leading to various diseases

Mitochondria and Deuterium

• Mitochondria produce water from food and oxygen
• Delicate nanomotors transfer protons to produce water
• Damage to nanomotors can lead to slowed metabolism, increased glycolysis, and excessive lactic acid production
• Broken nanomotors can lead to anabolic disease processes, such as weight gain and fat deposition
• Maintaining mitochondrial integrity and function is essential for overall health

Deuteronomics

• A growing field studying the effects of deuterium in relation to protons or hydrogen in the body and biology
• Aims to uncover mechanisms and provide doctors with knowledge for therapies

• Currently being taught at the Bright University in Amsterdam # Deuterium and Health

• Deuterium is a heavy isotope of hydrogen

• Our body has a disposal system for deuterium through water 
  • Glycolysis-​​based deuterium scavenging mechanism
  • Deuterium ends up in water and cytoplasmic water can leave to the interstitial water, circulation, and kidney
• Deuterium is required for structural proteins, but has to be excluded from delicate rotating proteins
• When the systems that separate the two isotopes are exhausted or damaged, deuterium starts making its way into these delicate proteins, causing cellular damage and disease

Deuterium and Cancer

• Deuterium can modify the nature and behavior of DNA 
  • Accumulation of deuterium in DNA can lead to continuous cell growth and division, leading to cancer
• Depleting deuterium in cancer cells has been shown to be an efficient way of treating certain types of cancer

• Otto Warburg’s research showed that tumor cells produce more lactic acid than normal cells

  • Lactic acid production is a result of pyruvic acid not being broken down in mitochondria
  • This indicates that the mitochondria are not able to accept pyruvic acid, leading to glycolysis being the only source of energy in tumor cells
  • This is known as Warburg metabolism # Oxidative Phosphorylation and Deuterium

• Oxidative phosphorylation is the process of producing ATP (biological energy) and water in our system

• Deuterium depletion is essential for maintaining healthy mitochondrial function
• When mitochondrial nanomotors stop working, metabolic crowding occurs, and the product of glycolysis (lactic acid) accumulates

Ketosis and Deuterium

• Being in ketosis helps lower deuterium levels in the body
• Fat and ketone bodies are naturally low in deuterium
• Consuming a diet low in deuterium, such as a carnivore diet, can help maintain healthy mitochondrial function

Mitochondria and Ketosis

• People in ketosis have been found to have more mitochondria and more effective mitochondria
• Ketone bodies can only be metabolized in mitochondria
• Being in ketosis triggers mitochondrial proliferation and increases the efficacy of mitochondrial functions

Carnivore Diet and Deuterium

• Consuming grass-​​fed animal proteins and fats can help maintain low deuterium levels
• Carnivore diet naturally low in deuterium, as it focuses on consuming animal products

• Eating fatty meats and limiting carbohydrate intake can help maintain low deuterium levels and support healthy mitochondrial function # Ketone Bodies and Deuterium

• Glycolysis is responsible for energy production, and the optimal fuel for mitochondria is ketone bodies

• Fasting, religious fasting, sauna, and exercise help maintain mitochondrial functions
• Babies have higher beta-​​hydroxybutyrate levels than the general population
• Maintaining a low deuterium metabolic state is important for health

Food Sources and Deuterium Content

• Grass-​​fed cows have lower deuterium content in their milk compared to farm-​​raised cows
• Homegrown plants have lower deuterium content than those grown with artificial fertilizers
• It’s important to know the source of your food and its deuterium content
• Eating a diet low in deuterium can help maintain a healthy metabolic state

Fasting and Sleep Patterns

• Fasting during the day can be beneficial for health
• Eating larger meals at night and fasting occasionally can help maintain a low deuterium metabolic state
• Maintaining a consistent sleep pattern is important for overall health

Sensing Deuterium in Water

• The deuterium content of water can affect the action potential in taste buds
• It’s possible to learn how to sense deuterium in water by taste

• This skill may become an important topic in future courses on deuterium and health # Deuterium Research and Health

• Deuterium research has been conducted for decades

• Medical applications and detection methods are being developed
• Deuterium affects the body’s energy production system 
  • Mitochondria are designed for proton harvesting and proton-​​based energy production
  • Deuterium has a role in the system, but it must be limited and filtered

Deuterium Depletion Methods

• Sweating, exhaling, and fasting can help deplete deuterium
• High-​​fat, low-​​carbohydrate diets can help the body produce water efficiently
• Consuming a spoonful of fat can help quench thirst and produce water

Deuterium and the Brain

• Deuterium may affect serotonin levels and be implicated in depression
• Brain cells need glucose and are exposed to higher levels of deuterium compared to other tissues

• More research is needed to understand the full effects of deuterium on the brain and mental health # Deuterium and Its Effects on the Body

• Deuterium: heavy isotope of hydrogen

• Damages the body based on the organ system it accumulates in

  • Liver: fatty liver, obesity
  • Brain: neurological problems, depression, anxiety
  • Circulatory system: heart muscle pump functions, chronic fatigue

• Deuterium accumulation in the brain

  • Consuming deuterium in the form of carbohydrates and sugars may lead to depression
  • Glucose is one of the few molecules that pass the blood-​​brain barrier
  • Brain cells cannot be in ketosis

• Deuterium and cell division

  • Certain cells (neurons, muscle cells, red blood cells) cannot divide due to exposure to deuterium
  • These cells protect themselves by getting rid of their DNA templates or losing the ability to use polymerases

• Deuterium and exercise

  • Long-​​distance runners develop gut bacteria that produce propionic acid, a deuterium-​​depleted ketone body, to help maintain energy levels during marathons

• Deuterium and diet

  • Vegetarian diets may not provide enough nutrients for optimal body function
  • Balancing diet with more meat and fat, and fewer greens or fruits, may be beneficial
  • Seasonal and local fruits can be consumed occasionally

• Deuterium and lifestyle

  • Monitoring deuterium levels can be done by observing the body’s interaction with the environment
  • Consuming less deuterium and maintaining a balanced diet can help preserve health and well-​​being # Wild Animals and Food Choices

• Wild animals prefer natural food sources

  • Example: animals eat apples and pears from trees, but not store-​​bought apples
• Humans are the only animals that make their own food and eat it 
  • Quote: “Humans are the only animals intelligent enough to make our own food and the only ones dumb enough to eat it.”

Living with Animals

• Developing relationships with animals like water buffaloes, grey cows, and pigs 
  • Animals can live in harmony with humans, providing food and protection
  • Humans have been living with animals and consuming them for food throughout history

Plant Toxins and Defense Mechanisms

• Plants have defense chemicals to protect themselves 
  • Some people avoid eating plants due to potential toxins
• Animals are designed to eat certain plants, like grass 
  • Humans are predominantly meat-eaters

Deuterium and Health

• Understanding deuterium levels in food sources can help people make better dietary choices
• Knowledge of biochemistry and metabolic pathways can help doctors diagnose and treat diseases
• People can take care of themselves by understanding their bodies and eating accordingly