This article is an overview of how the three main processes to get rid of toxins functions in the human body. These processes are affected by your gene variants (or SNPs).  

Your genetics determine if the body can clear toxins efficiently. 

Clearance of toxic compounds also impacts your brain and mental health and helps to fight inflammation, including allergies & immune dysfunctions, ageing, cancer, and many other conditions 1,3. 

Our body has several “lines of defence” to eliminate potentially toxic molecules. These toxins fall broadly into two categories 1,2 : 

Endotoxins:  These are “internal” by-products of our metabolism. These also include endogenous compounds produced by bacteria living in our gut, mouth and other tissues (i.e. bacterial endotoxins).

Exotoxins: These are all the “external” toxic compounds that we are exposed every day in our lives. The most significant include 2,3 :

• agricultural compounds including pesticides and insecticides

• food additives 

3. Micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi, Viruses) 

4.Alcohol

WHAT HAPPENS DURING DETOXIFICATION? 

The first line of defence is in the liver (but also present in the mucosal surface of the intestinal tract), and it is a collection of enzymes belonging to the cytochrome P450 family. 

These enzymes, are involved in a process called PHASE I detoxification 6.

PHASE I enzymes “transforms” compounds like xenobiotics, pharmaceutical and steroid hormones such as Estrogen in new molecules 4. 

These new molecules also called “intermediates” are more water-soluble, and the body can more efficiently process them in a second stage called PHASE II. 

During PHASE II, additional enzymes “attach specific molecular tails” to these intermediate break down products in a process called “conjugation”.  This transformation makes these molecules, even more, water-soluble (List of critical enzymes involved in conjugation below).

 At this stage, modified metabolites are ready for disposal via the bile and kidneys. Elimination finally occurs trough Feces/stools and urine 2. 

Recent studies have shown that several genetic factors (SNP) determine if you are  “fast” or “slow” to break down toxins.  

Antidepressant, beta-blockers, opioid, Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) (e.g. Aspirin) are some of the drugs that can cause problems 2,6.  

Researchers have also found that only a few enzymes belonging to the P450 family break down approximately 70% of all medications that affect the mind6. 

Scientists discovered that 70% of the population has at least one of these genetic variants (SNPs) 6,7.

Also, up to 40-60% of individuals have adverse drug reactions 2,6. 

Remember that you inherit these SNPs from your Maternal and Paternal DNA. 

 A comprehensive gene testing system can help you to determine potential adverse drug and other toxins side effects caused by your genetic variation. 

In science, we call the relationship between genetic factors and drug response Pharmacogenetics.

These are few of the most critical SNPs identified by current research and pharmacogenetic studies that effects PHASE I and PHASE II detoxification: 

PHASE I

PHASE II  GLUTATHIONE CONJUGATION & ACETYLATION KEY GENE VARIANTS (SNPs).

KEY (SNPs) AGAINST OXIDATIVE STRESS INVOLVED IN DETOXIFICATION. 

How poor lifestyle habits and by-products of PHASE I detoxification can increase the number of free radicals.

Our bodies produce free radicals when we are stressed (mentally and physically) and with a poor diet and alcohol consumption.

Also, during PHASE I processes, we produce reactive oxygen species as “by-products.”

This situation deteriorates further when gene variants (SNPs) of Phase I are not functioning correctly and toxins start to “built-up” 3.

These un–metabolised toxins can slow down or/and compromise further transformation of these molecules by Phase II enzymes.

 This “imbalance” is called “uncoupling”.

Accumulation of reactive toxins (e.g. Reactive Oxygen Intermediates), caused by uncoupling, has detrimental effects on your health 2,3. 

ANTIOXIDANT/PROTECTIVE NUTRITIENTS/ PLANT DERIVATIVES (TO FIGHT REACTIVE OXYGEN INTERMEDIATES) 2.