Environmental and dietary metabolic stress in workers: Novel avenues in oral heavy metal chelation and fatty liver aids

Metals are commonly prevalent in the body along with various other fundamental molecules. However, an alteration in their concentration may damage vital physiological functioning. Several toxic metals may be predominant contributing factors in the occurrence of several chronic diseases which often produce only subtle clinical signs leading to misdiagnosis or being left undetected. The terminology “heavy metal” is referred to a toxic metal which does not normally belong to our biological system and is harmful when accumulated in the body. The accumulation of these heavy metals is more prominent in industrial workers. The toxic effects of heavy metals which have entered our body can be effectively counteracted by utilizing natural substances such as “Zeolites” which assist our organs to gradually cleanse and discard the toxic metals. Although natural zeolites were discovered over 250 years ago, people have begun to realize the true potential and capabilities of zeolite only in recent times. Zeolites, due to their specific internal structure, are able to trap heavy metals, mainly by their ability to exchange inherent cations for other cations on the basis of ion selectivity mechanisms. Novel studies have indicated that not all zeolites possess the same “trapping ability.” In this chapter, specific studies have been highlighted that exhibit a new class of zeolites that are far more effective than the ones that are currently available. Metabolic syndrome and various other associated cardiovascular and neurological complications, affects various social classes, mainly the workers under stressful conditions, invariably tend to be forced towards more detrimental dietary and lifestyle attitudes (pre-cooked food in company cafeteria, junk food, night shifts, lack of exercise, limited inclination to healthy food choices, eating while commuting etc. to mention some). This opens the way to a creeping, silent fatty liver infiltration (NAFLD) which is far more than a simple excess fat accumulation, but it does represent the first step leading to a much worse cascade of events. NAFLD at the moment has a prevalence of 23-34% in USA, China (with reports up to 46%) and alarmingly rising in Middle-East too. Patients with T2DM and NAFLD have a 2-3 fold higher incidence of acute myocardial infarction than those without NAFLD. In this regards,, late in 2004, some research studies had been done on a promising mixed herbal compound made in China (YHK) with a number of positive experimental and scanty clinical reports, following some empirical observational data. Further studies making pure extracts of the main ingredients together with inner enrichment of specific bioactive fraction (FOLHK) proved through very stringent, either in vitro or in vivo animal studies and clinical trials its effectiveness. This was shown to be significantly better over the common silymarin-based liver protectors as well surpassing the benefit of the initial prototype formulas while confirming its safety. While better working environment, healthy food and attitudes maintain their fundamental role as main pillars of health and disease prevention, the above non-chemical interventions may represent a convenient aid to support health protection.