Summary:
Did you ever feel an area of your body that has been hurt, and the area feels warmer than the rest of your skin? Did you ever have a fever? The warmth is from something called a metabolic burst. It is the rate at which the body is using energy to heal the area.

NADH is directly involved in the metabolic burst as the rate of energy being released. The metabolic burst appears to be one of the initial steps leading to the cell's destruction of a foreign invaders, and harmful organisms.

We don't know if the body needs an enhanced immune system to fight chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Many CFS patients have immune system abnormalities. Isn't it nice to know that increasing the inter-cellular pool of NADH enhances the immune system, just in case the body needs it.

The definition of the Immune system
The immune system is an integrated body of systems, like antibodies, that differentiates itself from its non-self. The immune system's primary function is to locate and neutralize potentially pathogenic (harmful) organisms in the organs, tissues, cells, and cell by-products.

An immune system response is based on the activities of special white blood cells. They are:

• T-lymphocytes
• B-lymphocytes
• macrophages.

Macrophages are responsible for the direct elimination of foreign bodies by engulfing and absorbing the waste material.of harmful micro-organisms. The engulfing and absorbing of foreign invaders is called the phagocytic process. Macrophages also initiate a series of events resulting in antibody production.

A direct relationship exists between the white cells going to work (phagocytosis) and the activation of the immune system. The first step leading to phagocytosis is disturbing the cell's membrane by a bacterium or foreign matter. This results in a marked increase in metabolic activity. The oxygen consumption of this cell being invaded, increases dramatically. Most of the oxygen is converted to hydrogen peroxide or superoxide. This phenomenon is known as the metabolic burst. It appears to be the initial step leading to the destruction of the invader. NADH is directly involved in the metabolic burst or the rate of energy being released.

For our readers, who want it in scientific terms
Pyridine nucleotide (a coenzyme) plays an essential role in the metabolic burst and the activity of macrophages. Neutrophils contain NADH-oxidase, which generates superoxide in the phagosomes which destroy foreign organisms. The "killing mechanism" associated with phagocytosis is fueled by NADH and NADPH which are internally derived from an increased activity of the hexosemonophosphate shunt. NADH is therefore directly involved in the cellular immune defensive system. NADH may also increase the phagocytolytic capacity of leukocytes during the metabolic burst.

. . . Rebuilding Neurotransmitters
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