A retrospective evaluation of the effects of deuterium depleted water consumption on 4 patients with brain metastases from lung cancer

Nutritional deuterium depletion and health: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Large variations in fatty and amino acid natural 2H/1H ratios in reference with solvent water point to the active involvement of compartmental, inter- and intramolecular deuterium disequilibrium in adaptive biology. Yet, the human deutenome is an untapped area of energy metabolism and health in humans.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this scoping review is to examine health effects through deuterium homeostasis using deuterium-depleted water and/or a deuterium-depleted diet. We also aim to reveal health effects of nutritional, metabolic and exercise ketosis, i.e. complete mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation with the production of deuterium depleted (deupleted) metabolic water.

METHODS

A protocol process approach was used to retrieve current research in deuterium depletion according to the preferred reporting items protocol for systematic reviews and meta-analyses, extension for scoping reviews with checklist (PRISMA-ScR).

RESULTS

Fifteen research articles were used. All retrieved articles were heterogenous in nature and additional themes did not evolve. Deuterium depletion was found to have beneficial health effects in the following conditions: cancer prevention, cancer treatment, depression, diabetes, long-term memory, anti-aging, and sports performance. Deutenomics is actively pursued in drug research and there are biomarker roles attributed to large natural variations with adaptive significance in biology.

CONCLUSION

Even with limited data, consistent deuterium depletion can be seen across all conditions reviewed. More randomized control trials are recommended to confirm cause and effect for translationally and clinically informed integrative nutrition-based medical interventions.

The biological impact of deuterium and therapeutic potential of deuterium-depleted water

Since its discovery by Harold Urey in 1932, deuterium has attracted increased amounts of attention from the scientific community, with many previous works aimed to uncover its biological effects on living organisms. Existing studies indicate that deuterium, as a relatively rare isotope, is indispensable for maintaining normal cellular function, while its enrichment and depletion can affect living systems at multiple levels, including but not limited to molecules, organelles, cells, organs, and organisms. As an important compound of deuterium, deuterium-depleted water (DDW) possess various special effects, including but not limited to altering cellular metabolism and potentially inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, demonstrating anxiolytic-like behavior, enhancing long-term memory in rats, reducing free radical oxidation, regulating lipid metabolism, harmonizing indices related to diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and alleviating toxic effects caused by cadmium, manganese, and other harmful substances, implying its tremendous potential in anticancer, neuroprotective, antiaging, antioxidant, obesity alleviation, diabetes and metabolic syndrome treatment, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification, thereby drawing extensive attention from researchers. This review comprehensively summarizes the latest progress in deuterium acting on living organisms. We start by providing a snapshot of the distribution of deuterium in nature and the tolerance of various organisms to it. Then, we discussed the impact of deuterium excess and deprivation, in the form of deuterium-enriched water (DEW) and deuterium-depleted water (DDW), on living organisms at different levels. Finally, we focused on the potential of DDW as an adjuvant therapeutic agent for various diseases and disorders.

A Preliminary Study Indicating Improvement in the Median Survival Time of Glioblastoma Multiforme Patients by the Application of Deuterium Depletion in Combination with Conventional Therapy

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and malignant gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumors. Temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy plus radiation therapy (RT), admi-mistered after debulking surgery, increased the median survival time (MST) from 12.1 months with RT alone merely to 14.6 months, respectively. In this study, the actions of deuterium-depleted water (DDW) on the survival of GBM patients who also received conventional therapies was investigated. Without changing the conventional treatment, the daily fluid intake of the patients was wholly replaced with DDW in 1.5-2 L per day volume to reduce the D concentration in their bodies. The primary endpoint was the MST. The 55 patients involved in this study, who received conventional treatment and consumed DDW, showed a longer MST (30 months) compared to the historical control (12.1-14.6 months). There was a massive difference between the two genders in the calculated MST values; it was 25 months in the male subgroup (n = 33) and 42 months in the female subgroup (n = 22), respectively. The MST was 27 months without TMZ treatment (38 patients) and 42 months in the TMZ-treated group (17 patients), respectively. For the selected 31 patients, who consumed DDW in the correct way in addition to their conventional treatments, their MST was calculated as 30 months. Within this group, the 20 subjects who had relapsed before DDW treatment had 30 months of MST, but in those 10 subjects who were in remission when DDW treatment started, their MST was 47 months. In the subgroup of patients who began their DDW treatment parallel with radiotherapy, their MST was again 47 months, and it was 25 months when their DDW treatment was started at 8 weeks or later after the completion of radiotherapy. Altogether, these survival times were substantially prolonged compared to the prospective clinical data of patients with primary GBM. Consequently, if conventional therapies are supplemented with D depletion, better survival can be achieved in the advanced stage of GBM than with the known targeted or combination therapies. Application of DDW is recommended in all stages of the disease before surgery and in parallel with radiotherapy, and repeated DDW courses are advised when remission has been achieved.

Emerging Role of Deuterium/Protium Disbalance in Cell Cycle and Apoptosis

Deuterium, a stable isotope of hydrogen, is a component of water and organic compounds. It is the second most abundant element in the human body after sodium. Although the concentration of deuterium in an organism is much lower than that of protium, a wide variety of morphological, biochemical, and physiological changes are known to occur in deuterium-treated cells, including changes in fundamental processes such as cell division or energy metabolism. The mode and degree of changes in cells and tissues, both with an increase and a decrease in the concentration of deuterium, depends primarily on the time of exposure, as well as on the concentration. The reviewed data show that plant and animal cells are sensitive to deuterium content. Any shifts in the D/H balance outside or inside cells promote immediate responses. The review summarizes reported data on the proliferation and apoptosis of normal and neoplastic cells in different modes of deuteration and deuterium depletion in vivo and in vitro. The authors propose their own concept of the effects of changes in deuterium content in the body on cell proliferation and death. The altered rate of proliferation and apoptosis indicate a pivotal role of the hydrogen isotope content in living organisms and suggest the presence of a D/H sensor, which is yet to be detected.

The underexplored links between cancer and the internal body climate: Implications for cancer prevention and treatment

In order to effectively manage and cure cancer we should move beyond the general view of cancer as a random process of genetic alterations leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation or simply a predictable evolutionary process involving selection for traits that increase cell fitness. In our view, cancer is a systemic disease that involves multiple interactions not only among cells within tumors or between tumors and surrounding tissues but also with the entire organism and its internal "milieu". We define the internal body climate as an emergent property resulting from spatial and temporal interactions among internal components themselves and with the external environment. The body climate itself can either prevent, promote or support cancer initiation and progression (top-down effect; i.e., body climate-induced effects on cancer), as well as be perturbed by cancer (bottom-up effect; i.e., cancer-induced body climate changes) to further favor cancer progression and spread. This positive feedback loop can move the system towards a "cancerized" organism and ultimately results in its demise. In our view, cancer not only affects the entire system; it is a reflection of an imbalance of the entire system. This model provides an integrated framework to study all aspects of cancer as a systemic disease, and also highlights unexplored links that can be altered to both prevent body climate changes that favor cancer initiation, progression and dissemination as well as manipulate or restore the body internal climate to hinder the success of cancer inception, progression and metastasis or improve therapy outcomes. To do so, we need to (i) identify cancer-relevant factors that affect specific climate components, (ii) develop 'body climate biomarkers', (iii) define 'body climate scores', and (iv) develop strategies to prevent climate changes, stop or slow the changes, or even revert the changes (climate restoration).

Deuterium Content of the Organic Compounds in Food Has an Impact on Tumor Growth in Mice

Research with deuterium-depleted water (DDW) in the last two decades proved that the deuterium/hydrogen ratio has a key role in cell cycle regulation and cellular metabolism. The present study aimed to investigate the possible effect of deuterium-depleted yolk (DDyolk) alone and in combination with DDW on cancer growth in two in vivo mouse models. To produce DDyolk, the drinking water of laying hens was replaced with DDW (25 ppm) for 6 weeks, resulting in a 60 ppm D level in dried egg yolk that was used as a deuterium-depleted food additive. In one model, 4T1, a cell line with a high metastatic capacity to the lung was inoculated in the mice's mammary pad. After three weeks of treatment with DDW and/or DDyolk, the tumor volume in the lungs was smaller in all treated groups vs. controls with natural D levels. Tumor growth and survival in mice transplanted with an MCF-7 breast cancer cell line showed that the anticancer effect of DDW was enhanced by food containing the deuterium-depleted yolk. The study confirmed the importance of the D/H ratio in consumed water and in metabolic water produced by the mitochondria while oxidizing nutrient molecules. This is in line with the concept that the initiation of cell growth requires the cells to generate a higher D/H ratio, but DDW, DDyolk, or the naturally low-D lipids in a ketogenic diet, have a significant effect on tumor growth by preventing the cells from raising the D/H ratio to the threshold.

Kinetic isotope effects and synthetic strategies for deuterated carbon-11 and fluorine-18 labelled PET radiopharmaceuticals

The deuterium labelling of pharmaceuticals is a useful strategy for altering pharmacokinetic properties, particularly for improving metabolic resistance. The pharmacological effects of such metabolites are often assumed to be negligible during standard drug discovery and are factored in later at the clinical phases of development, where the risks and benefits of the treatment and side-effects can be wholly assessed. This paradigm does not translate to the discovery of radiopharmaceuticals, however, as the confounding effects of radiometabolites can inevitably show in preliminary positron emission tomography (PET) scans and thus complicate interpretation. Consequently, the formation of radiometabolites is crucial to take into consideration, compared to non-radioactive metabolites, and the application of deuterium labelling is a particularly attractive approach to minimise radiometabolite formation. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of the deuterated carbon-11 and fluorine-18 radiopharmaceuticals employed in PET imaging experiments. Specifically, we explore six categories of deuterated radiopharmaceuticals used to investigate the activities of monoamine oxygenase (MAO), choline, translocator protein (TSPO), vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2), neurotransmission and the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease; from which we derive four prominent deuteration strategies giving rise to a kinetic isotope effect (KIE) for reducing the rate of metabolism. Synthetic approaches for over thirty of these deuterated radiopharmaceuticals are discussed from the perspective of deuterium and radioisotope incorporation, alongside an evaluation of the deuterium labelling and radiolabelling efficacies across these independent studies. Clinical and manufacturing implications are also discussed to provide a more comprehensive overview of how deuterated radiopharmaceuticals may be introduced to routine practice.

Deuterium Depletion Inhibits Cell Proliferation, RNA and Nuclear Membrane Turnover to Enhance Survival in Pancreatic Cancer

The effects of deuterium-depleted water (DDW) containing deuterium (D) at a concentration of 25 parts per million (ppm), 50 ppm, 105 ppm and the control at 150 ppm were monitored in MIA-PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells by the real-time cell impedance detection xCELLigence method. The data revealed that lower deuterium concentrations corresponded to lower MiA PaCa-2 growth rate. Nuclear membrane turnover and nucleic acid synthesis rate at different D-concentrations were determined by targeted [1,2-13C2]-D-glucose fate associations. The data showed severely decreased oxidative pentose cycling, RNA ribose 13C labeling from [1,2-13C2]-D-glucose and nuclear membrane lignoceric (C24:0) acid turnover. Here, we treated advanced pancreatic cancer patients with DDW as an extra-mitochondrial deuterium-depleting strategy and evaluated overall patient survival. Eighty-six (36 male and 50 female) pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients were treated with conventional chemotherapy and natural water (control, 30 patients) or 85 ppm DDW (56 patients), which was gradually decreased to preparations with 65 ppm and 45 ppm deuterium content for each 1 to 3 months treatment period. Patient survival curves were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Pearson correlation was taken between medial survival time (MST) and DDW treatment in pancreatic cancer patients. The MST for patients consuming DDW treatment (n = 56) was 19.6 months in comparison with the 6.36 months' MST achieved with chemotherapy alone (n = 30). There was a strong, statistically significant Pearson correlation (r = 0.504, p < 0.001) between survival time and length and frequency of DDW treatment.

Slight Deuterium Enrichment in Water Acts as an Antioxidant: Is Deuterium a Cell Growth Regulator?

Small admixtures in water, e.g. of metal ions, often act as cell growth regulators. Here we report that enrichment of deuterium content in water, normally found at 8 mm concentration, two-three folds increases cell proliferation and lowers the oxidative stress level as well. Acting as an anti-oxidant, deuterium-enriched water prevents the toxic effect of such oxidative agents as hydrogen peroxide and auranofin. This action is opposite to that of deuterium depletion that is known to suppress cell growth and induce oxidative stress in mitochondria. We thus hypothesize that deuterium may be a natural cell growth regulator that controls mitochondrial oxidation-reduction balance. Because growth acceleration is reduced approximately by half by addition to water a minute amount (0.15%) of ¹⁸O isotope, at least part of the deuterium effect on cell growth can be explained by the isotopic resonance phenomenon. A slight (≈2-fold) enrichment of deuterium in water accelerates human cell growth. Quantitative MS based proteomics determined changes in protein abundances and redox states and found that deuterium-enriched water acts mainly through decreasing ROS production in mitochondria. This action is opposite to that of deuterium depletion that suppresses cell growth by inducing oxidative stress. Thus deuterium may be a natural cell growth regulator that controls mitochondrial oxidation-reduction balance. The role of isotopic resonance in this effect was validated by further experiments on bacteria.

Effect of the deuterium on efficiency and type of adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells in vitro

In this study, we performed an adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro with different deuterium content (natural, low and high) in the culture medium during differentiation process with parallel analysis of the gene expression, metabolic activity and cell viability/toxicity. After ADSCs differentiation into adipocytes we have done the analysis of differentiation process efficiency and determined a type of resulting adipocytes (by morphology, gene expression, UCP1 protein detection and adipokine production analysis). We have found that high (5 × 10⁵ ppm) deuterium content significantly inhibit in vitro adipogenic differentiation of human ADSCs compared to the groups with natural (150 ppm) and low (30 ppm) deuterium content. Importantly, protocol of differentiation used in our study leads to white adipocytes development in groups with natural (control) and high deuterium content, whereas deuterium-depleted differentiation medium leads to brown-like (beige) adipocytes formation. We have also remarked the direct impact of deuterium on the cellular survival and metabolic activity. Interesting, in deuterium depleted-medium, the cells had normal survival rate and high metabolic activity, whereas the inhibitory effect of deuterated medium on ADSCs differentiation at least was partly associated with deuterium cytotoxicity and inhibitory effect on metabolic activity. The inhibitory effect of deuterium on metabolic activity and the subsequent decrease in the effectiveness of adipogenic differentiation is probably associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, deuterium could be considered as an element that affects the substance chirality. These findings may be the basis for the development of new approaches in the treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes through the regulation of adipose-derived stem cell differentiation and adipocyte functions.

Effect of Systemic Subnormal Deuterium Level on Metabolic Syndrome Related and other Blood Parameters in Humans: A Preliminary Study

The effects of deuterium depletion on the human organism have been, except for the antitumor action, seldom investigated by now and the available data are scarce. In oncological patients who also suffered from diabetes and were treated with deuterium-depleted water (DDW), an improvement of glucose metabolism was observed, and rat studies also proved the efficacy of DDW to reduce blood sugar level. In the present work, 30 volunteers with pre- or manifest diabetes were enrolled to a clinical study. The patients received 1.5 L of water with reduced deuterium content (104 ppm instead of 145 ppm, equivalent 12 mmol/L in human) daily for 90 days. The effects on fasting glucose and insulin level, on peripheral glucose disposal, and other metabolic parameters were investigated. Fasting insulin and glucose decreased, and insulin reaction on glucose load improved, in 15 subjects, while in the other 15 the changes were opposite. Peripheral glucose disposal was improved in 11 of the subjects. In the majority of the subjects, substantial increase of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and significant decrease of serum Na+ concentration were also seen-the latter possibly due to activation of a Na+/H+ antiporter by the decreased intracellular deuterium level. The results support the possible beneficial role of DDW in disorders of glucose metabolism but leave questions open, requiring further studies.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Deuterium-Depleted Water Plus Rosa Damascena Mill. Essential Oil Via Cyclooxygenase-2 Pathway in Rats

Objectives

Natural medicine has been proposed for treating sepsis worldwide. Therefore, in this study, the effect of deuterium-depleted water (DDW) alone and adjuvant with Rosa damascena Mill. (RD) essential oils was considered through the evaluation of oxidative stress-antioxidant parameters and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inflammatory gene in liver damage caused by sepsis.

Materials and Methods

The rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: 1) laparotomy group; 2) cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group; 3) DDW (15 ppm and 30 ppm doses) group; 4) DDW (15 ppm and 30 ppm doses) plus RD essential oil (100 mg/kg.bw); 5) indomethacin (2 mg/kg.bw) as a positive control. The treatments were daily administrated for 2 weeks and the CLP model was created on the day 15. Then, the animals were killed and their liver tissue was separated for histopathologic and biochemical assessment.

Results

Our results demonstrated that the treatment of animals with DDW and DDW plus RD essential oil was effective due to the regulation of the oxidative stress-antioxidant parameters including lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH), GSH s-transferases, myeloperoxidase, ferric reducing ability of plasma and inflammatory parameters such as prostaglandin E2 and COX-2. Pathological studies also showed that sepsis led to the liver tissue injuries, which can be reduced by treatments.

Conclusion

Sepsis caused oxidative stress in the liver tissue, but the administration of DDW and DDW plus RD essential oil can be useful to prevent and heal these injuries.

Heavy Water Affects Vital Parameters of Human Melanoma Cells in vitro

Purpose

Although regular water is composed of two hydrogens and one oxygen, referred to as H₂O, a small amount of water on this planet contains alternative forms of elements with different molecular weights because of the addition of neutrons. The present study was dedicated to studying the effect of heavy water (D₂O), in which the two hydrogens become substituted by deuterium, on the cell physiology of different human cells with particular focus on malignant melanoma cells.

Methods

Cells were cultured in regular medium in which the content of H₂O was gradually substituted by D₂O or deuterium-depleted water (DDW). Following this, the changes of basic cellular parameters, such as morphology, migration, proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and microtubule integrity were examined.

Results

It was found that raising the D₂O content above the standard levels led to a concentration-dependent decrease in proliferation. Lowering the D₂O levels below this level had no effect. Likewise, elevated D₂O levels hampered migration. Moreover, cell-cycle analysis showed an increase of sub-G1 cells. Corroboratively, markers for apoptosis were induced (histone-associated DNA fragments, Bax, and PARP). In regard to microtubule integrity, only very high levels of D₂O (75%) caused partial filament condensation.

Conclusion

D₂O, although chemically identical with H₂O, shows proapoptotic and antiproliferative effects on melanoma cells. These findings give a closer look of this interesting compound.

Anticancer Effect of Deuterium Depleted Water - Redox Disbalance Leads to Oxidative Stress

Despite the convincing empirical evidence that deuterium depleted water (DDW, 25-125 ppm deuterium) has anticancer effect, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, redox proteomics investigation of the DDW action in A549 cells revealed an increased level of oxidative stress, whereas expression proteomics in combination with thermal profiling uncovered crucial role of mitochondrial proteins. In the proposed scenario, reversal of the normally positive deuterium gradient across the inner membrane leads to an increased export of protons from the matrix to intermembrane space and an increase in the mitochondrial membrane potential, enhancing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The resulting oxidative stress leads to slower growth and can induce apoptosis. However, further deuterium depletion in ambient water triggers a feedback mechanism, which leads to restoration of the redox equilibrium and resumed growth. The DDW-induced oxidative stress, verified by traditional biochemical assays, may be helpful as an adjuvant to ROS-inducing anticancer therapy.

Deuterium-Depleted Water Influence on the Isotope 2H/1H Regulation in Body and Individual Adaptation

This review article presents data about the influence of deuterium-depleted water (DDW) on biological systems. It is known that the isotope abundances of natural and bottled waters are variable worldwide. That is why different drinking rations lead to changes of stable isotopes content in body water fluxes in human and animal organisms. Also, intracellular water isotope ratios in living systems depends on metabolic activity and food consumption. We found the 2H/1H gradient in human fluids (δ2H saliva >> δ2H blood plasma > δ2Hbreast milk), which decreases significantly during DDW intake. Moreover, DDW induces several important biological effects in organism (antioxidant, metabolic detoxification, anticancer, rejuvenation, behavior, etc.). Changing the isotope 2H/1H gradient from "2H blood plasma > δ2H visceral organs" to "δ2H blood plasma << δ2H visceral organs" via DDW drinking increases individual adaptation by isotopic shock. The other possible mechanisms of long-term adaptation is DDW influence on the growth rate of cells, enzyme activity and cellular energetics (e.g., stimulation of the mitochondrion activity). In addition, DDW reduces the number of single-stranded DNA breaks and modifies the miRNA profile.

Deuterium Depleted Water Inhibits the Proliferation of Human MCF7 Breast Cancer Cell Lines by Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest

Recent studies have shown that the depletion of naturally occurring deuterium can result in tumor regression. The aim of the present study was to show the growth inhibitory effects of DDW discretely and in combination with 5-FU on MCF-7 breast cancer cells and to determine possible mechanisms underlying these changes. MCF7 cells were grown in RPMI medium with decreasing deuterium concentrations of DDW individually, 5-FU alone and both for 24, 48, and 72 h. Cell viability was determined with the MTT assay. The cell cycle and antioxidant enzymes status were measured using flow cytometry and quantitative luminescence methods, respectively. Our results showed that treatment with DDW especially in 30-100 ppm concentrations imposed the highest cell growth inhibitory effect. The cell cycle analysis revealed that DDW caused the cell cycle arrest in the G1/S transition, reduced the number of the cells in the S phase and significantly increased the population of cells in the G1 phase in MCF-7 cells. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes also increased in the same low concentrations of DDW. In conclusion, DDW can open new strategic approach in breast cancer therapy. Highlights DDW cause lethality in cancer cells. DDW augmented 5-FU inhibitory effects on breast cancer cell lines. Cell inhibitory results lead to the discovery of synergic effects of DDW-drug combinations Synergistic anti cancer effects of DDW with 5-FU is enhanced by decreasing deuterium content of the DDW. DDW exerts effects on the cell cycle, changes in cell configuration and induces antioxidant enzymes in vitro. DDW can be considered as an adjuvant to conventional anticancer agents in future trials.

Cyclooxygenase inhibitors combined with deuterium-enriched water augment cytotoxicity in A549 lung cancer cell line via activation of apoptosis and MAPK pathways

Objectives

Combination chemotherapy is a rational strategy to increase patient response and tolerability and to decrease adverse effects and drug resistance. Recently, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been reported to be associated with reduction in occurrence of a variety of cancers including lung cancer. On the other hand, growing evidences suggest that deuterium-enriched water (DEW, D2O) and deuterium-depleted water (DDW) play a role both in treatment and prevention of cancers. In the present study, we examined the effects of DEW and DDW in combination with two NSAIDs, celecoxib and indomethacin, on A549 human non-small lung cancer cell to identify novel treatment options.

Materials and Methods

The cytotoxicity of celecoxib or indomethacin, alone and in combination with DDW and DEW was determined. The COX-2, MAPK pathway proteins, the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and pro-apoptotic Bax proteins and caspase-3 activity were studied for cytotoxic combinations.

Results

Co-administration of selective and non-selective COX-2 inhibitors with DEW led to a remarkable increase in cytotoxicity and apoptosis of A549 cells. These events were associated with activation of p38 and JNK MAPKs and decreasing pro-survival proteins Bcl-2, COX-2 and ERK1/2. Furthermore, the combination therapy activated caspase-3, and the apoptosis mediator, and disabled poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), the key DNA repair enzyme, by cleaving it.

Conclusion

The combination of DEW with NSAIDs might be effective against lung cancer cells by influence on principal cell signalling pathways, and this has a potential to become a candidate for chemotherapy.

On the Effect of Planetary Stable Isotope Compositions on Growth and Survival of Terrestrial Organisms

Isotopic compositions of reactants affect the rates of chemical and biochemical reactions. Usually it is assumed that heavy stable isotope enrichment leads to progressively slower reactions. Yet the effect of stable isotopes may be nonlinear, as exemplified by the "isotopic resonance" phenomenon. Since the isotopic compositions of other planets of Solar system, including Mars and Venus, are markedly different from terrestrial (e.g., deuterium content is ≈5 and ≈100 times higher, respectively), it is far from certain that terrestrial life will thrive in these isotopic conditions. Here we found that Martian deuterium content negatively affected survival of shrimp in semi-closed biosphere on a year-long time scale. Moreover, the bacterium Escherichia coli grows slower at Martian isotopic compositions and even slower at Venus's compositions. Thus, the biological impact of varying stable isotope compositions needs to be taken into account when planning interplanetary missions.

Submolecular regulation of cell transformation by deuterium depleting water exchange reactions in the tricarboxylic acid substrate cycle

The naturally occurring isotope of hydrogen ((1)H), deuterium ((2)H), could have an important biological role. Deuterium depleted water delays tumor progression in mice, dogs, cats and humans. Hydratase enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle control cell growth and deplete deuterium from redox cofactors, fatty acids and DNA, which undergo hydride ion and hydrogen atom transfer reactions. A model is proposed that emphasizes the terminal complex of mitochondrial electron transport chain reducing molecular oxygen to deuterium depleted water (DDW); this affects gluconeogenesis as well as fatty acid oxidation. In the former, the DDW is thought to diminish the deuteration of sugar-phosphates in the DNA backbone, helping to preserve stability of hydrogen bond networks, possibly protecting against aneuploidy and resisting strand breaks, occurring upon exposure to radiation and certain anticancer chemotherapeutics. DDW is proposed here to link cancer prevention and treatment using natural ketogenic diets, low deuterium drinking water, as well as DDW production as the mitochondrial downstream mechanism of targeted anti-cancer drugs such as Avastin and Glivec. The role of (2)H in biology is a potential missing link to the elusive cancer puzzle seemingly correlated with cancer epidemiology in western populations as a result of excessive (2)H loading from processed carbohydrate intake in place of natural fat consumption.

Isotopic resonance hypothesis: experimental verification by Escherichia coli growth measurements

Isotopic composition of reactants affects the rates of chemical and biochemical reactions. As a rule, enrichment of heavy stable isotopes leads to progressively slower reactions. But the recent isotopic resonance hypothesis suggests that the dependence of the reaction rate upon the enrichment degree is not monotonous. Instead, at some “resonance” isotopic compositions, the kinetics increases, while at “off-resonance” compositions the same reactions progress slower. To test the predictions of this hypothesis for the elements C, H, N and O, we designed a precise (standard error ±0.05%) experiment that measures the parameters of bacterial growth in minimal media with varying isotopic composition. A number of predicted resonance conditions were tested, with significant enhancements in kinetics discovered at these conditions. The combined statistics extremely strongly supports the validity of the isotopic resonance phenomenon (p ≪ 10⁻¹⁵). This phenomenon has numerous implications for the origin of life studies and astrobiology, and possible applications in agriculture, biotechnology, medicine, chemistry and other areas.

Deuterium depleted water effects on survival of lung cancer patients and expression of Kras, Bcl2, and Myc genes in mouse lung

Although advances in cancer therapies continue to develop, the shortness of the survival of lung cancer patients is still disappointing. Therefore, finding new adjuvant strategies is within the focus of cancer cure. Based on observations that deuterium depletion inhibits the growth of cancer cell lines and suppresses certain proto-oncogenes, we have conducted a clinical study in 129 patients with small cell and nonsmall cell lung cancers who consumed deuterium-depleted drinking water (DDW) as a nontoxic agent in addition to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Median survival time (MST) was 25.9 mo in males and 74.1 mo in female patients; the difference between genders was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Median survival of subjects with brain metastasis was 27.1 mo. Cumulative 5-yr survival probabilities were 19%, 52%, and 33% in males, females, and all patients with brain metastasis, respectively. Gene expression analysis in mouse lung indicated that DDW attenuates 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced expression of Bcl2, Kras, and Myc in females. In conclusion, DDW counteracts the DMBA-induced overexpression of Bcl2, Kras and Myc genes in mouse lung, and it may extend survival of lung cancer patients as a nontoxic anticancer dietary supplement, especially for women with tumors overexpressing cancer-related genes, because MST of DDW-consuming group was 2-4 times longer than it is generally observed in lung cancer patients.

Revealing water's secrets: deuterium depleted water

Background

The anomalous properties of water have been of great interest for generations of scientists. However the impact of small amount of deuterium content which is always present in water has never been explored before. For the first time the fundamental properties of deuterium depleted (light) water at 4°C and 20°C are here presented.

Results

The obtained results show the important role of the deuterium in the properties of bulk water. At 4°C the lowest value of the kinematic viscosity (1.46 mm²/s) has been found for 96.5 ppm D/H ratio. The significant deviation in surface tension values has been observed in deuterium depleted water samples at the both temperature regimes. The experimental data provides direct evidence that density, surface tension and viscosity anomalies of water are caused by the presence of variable concentration of deuterium which leads to the formation of water clusters of different size and quantity.

Conclusions

The investigated properties of light water reveal the origin of the water anomalies. The new theoretical model of cluster formation with account of isotope effect is proposed.

Physicochemical Properties of the Water Depleted of Heavy Isotopes

Data on physicochemical properties of the light water (deuterium concentration is reduced to the ratio D/H = 4 ppm and that of the isotope of oxygen 18 – to the ratio 18O/16O = 750 ppm) have been obtained. They include the melting and boiling points, kinematic viscosity, density, the spin-spin proton relaxation time, self-diffusion coefficients, and the small-angle laser light scattering. An explanation was proposed for the detected significant changes of the light water as compared with the high-resistivity water having geochemically ordinary isotope composition.

Anti-aging effects of deuterium depletion on Mn-induced toxicity in a C. elegans model

Work with sub-natural levels of deuterium (D) in animals has demonstrated an anti-cancer effect of low D-concentration in water. Our objective was to investigate whether deuterium-depleted water (DDW) can overturn reverse manganese (Mn)-induced reduction in life span, using the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as a model system. DDW per se had no effect on worm's life span 48 h after treatment; however, it reversed the Mn-induced decrease in C. elegans life span. Mn reduced DAF-16 levels, a transcription factor strongly associated with life-span regulation. Low D-concentration (90 ppm) restored the Mn-induced changes in DAF-16 to levels indistinguishable from controls, suggesting DDW can regulate the DAF-16 pathway. We further show that insulin-like receptor DAF-2 levels were unaltered by Mn exposure, tAKT levels increased, whilst superoxide dismutase (SOD-3) levels were decreased by Mn. DDW (90 ppm) restored the levels of tAKT and superoxide dismutase (SOD) to control values without changing DAF-2 levels. Treatment of Mn exposed worms with DDW (90 ppm) restored life-span, DAF-16 and SOD-3 levels to control levels, strongly suggesting that low D concentrations can protect against Mn toxic effects.

Speculations on the initiation of chromosome replication in Escherichia coli: the dualism hypothesis

The exact nature of the mechanism that triggers initiation of chromosome replication in the best understood of all organisms, Escherichia coli, remains mysterious. Here, I suggest that this mechanism evolved in response to the problems that arise if chromosome replication does not occur. E. coli is now known to be highly structured. This leads me to propose a mechanism for initiation of replication based on the dynamics of large assemblies of molecules and macromolecules termed hyperstructures. In this proposal, hyperstructures and their constituents are put into two classes, non-equilibrium and equilibrium, that spontaneously separate and that are appropriate for life in either good or bad conditions. Maintaining the right ratio(s) of non-equilibrium to equilibrium hyperstructures is therefore a major challenge for cells. I propose that this maintenance entails a major transfer of material from equilibrium to non-equilibrium hyperstructures once per cell and I further propose that this transfer times the cell cycle. More specifically, I speculate that the dialogue between hyperstructures involves the structuring of water and the condensation of cations and that one of the outcomes of ion condensation on ribosomal hyperstructures and decondensation from the origin hyperstructure is the separation of strands at oriC responsible for triggering initiation of replication. The dualism hypothesis that comes out of these speculations may help integrate models for initiation of replication, chromosome segregation and cell division with the 'prebiotic ecology' scenario of the origins of life.

Biological significance of naturally occurring deuterium: the antitumor effect of deuterium depletion

A felszíni vizekben a deutérium (D) koncentrációja több mint 16 mmol/l (150 ppm), az élő szervezetekben 10 mmol/l fölötti. A csökkentett deutériumtartalmú (30±5 ppm) vízzel folyó kutatások során korábban azt tapasztalták, hogy a deutériummegvonás gátolta a sejtosztódást in vitro különböző tumoros sejtvonalakban (PC-3, humán prosztatatumor; MDA, humán emlőtumor; HT-29, humán vastagbéltumor; M14, humán melanoma). A csökkentett deutériumtartalmú víz tumorregressziót idézett elő humán eredetű tumorral xenotranszplantált, immunszuppresszált egerekben (MDA és MCF-7 humán emlőtumor, PC-3 prosztatatumor), és apoptózist indukált in vitro és in vivo . A csökkentett deutériumtartalmú víz (25±5 ppm) részleges vagy teljes tumorregressziót idézett elő spontán tumoros kutyákban és macskákban. A készítményt 1999-ben daganatellenes állatgyógyszerként törzskönyvezték (Vetera-DDW-25 A.U.V., 13/99 FVM). Injekciós változatát klinikai vizsgálatban sikeresen tesztelték. Az Országos Gyógyszerészeti Intézet 5621/40/95 számú engedélye alapján, a GCP-elvek betartásával lefolytatott randomizált, kettős vak elrendezésű humán fázis II klinikai vizsgálat szignifikáns különbséget igazolt a kontroll- és a kezelt csoport között a vizsgált paraméterek vonatkozásában. Egyéves utánkövetés során a csökkentett deutériumtartalmú víz szignifikánsan csökkentette a prosztatatumoros betegek halálozási arányát, miközben a túlélés hosszát szignifikánsan növelte. Az eredmények azt igazolják, hogy a sejtek képesek szabályozni a deutérium/hidrogén (D/H) arányát és ennek változtatásával elindítani bizonyos molekuláris folyamatokat, amelyeknek kulcsszerepük van a sejtciklus szabályozásában. Feltételezzük, hogy nem az intracelluláris pH változása, hanem az azt kísérő D/H arány változása adja meg a sejteknek a jelet az S-fázisba lépéshez. A D-koncentráció csökkenése beavatkozik a szignáltranszdukciós folyamatokba, így idézve elő a tumor regresszióját. A D szerepének felismerése a sejtosztódás szabályozásában új lehetőségeket nyit meg a daganatterápia és a megelőzés területén, hozzájárulva ezzel a jelenlegi daganatellenes terápiák hatékonyságának növeléséhez.