Health Boards
Tue-29-05-2012, 21:31 PM
Because energy plays such a vital role in our bodies a number of researchers have, including Nobel Laureate Szent Györgyi after the discovery of the citric acid cycle by Hans Krebs in 1937, done research to the cause of various chronic diseases suspected in mitochondrial dysfunction.
Out of that hypothesis, they have done experiments with all possible metabolites of the citric acid cycle in various diseases, without ever having achieved anything.
However, fumaric acid was not investigated, let alone fumaarzuuresters. It was thought at that time, in accordance with the above classical scheme (see previous post), that fumaric acid in the body is easily formed from succinic acid, and therefore, it was not tested separately. Succinic acid has been well studied for efficacy.
Also Schweckendieck, who himself was a psoriasis patient, started from the hypothesis that psoriasis is a mitochondrial disease, and he also performed this type of testing itself.
He did test, fumaric acid and found that this substance, as the only one of all other metabolites of the cycle, both orally and on the skin causes major reactions.
In the meantime, Schweckendieck found out that fumaric acid can only be formed of cis-succinic acid, and not by means of the normal (trans-) succinic acid. In the above schematic model (previous post), this distinction is not made. [For the synthesis of cis-succinic acid the Japanese T. Hara obtained in 1965 a patent].
According to his description fumaric acid caused erythema on his skin, and if taken in sufficient dosage, heat waves in the body (you bet it does....Caroline.). The publication of these interesting properties of fumaric acid by Schweckendiek in 1959, should have shaken the biochemists awake, if only it was for changing the name citric acid cycle into "Fumaric acid cycle".
A second argument is the special position of fumaric acid, because from there are three dicarboxylic acids synthesizable: oxaloacetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid and cis. Citric acid lacks this potential.
However, the name fumaric acid cycle despite the suggestion of Schweckendieck, never established and fumaric acid remained in the background.
Schweckendieck was disappointed that his groundbreaking discovery found no echo, but for him personally, it was obviously the most important thing. He could successfully treat his psoriasis with fumaric acid. There was a drawback in that, to achieve success quite a few grams of fumaric acid, at room temperature a crystalline powder, had to be used. That led to gastrointestinal complaints with Schweckendieck and brought him the idea to attempt the use of fumaarzuuresters as they by their lipophilic pool they easier penetrate the mitochondria than the acid.
Out of that hypothesis, they have done experiments with all possible metabolites of the citric acid cycle in various diseases, without ever having achieved anything.
However, fumaric acid was not investigated, let alone fumaarzuuresters. It was thought at that time, in accordance with the above classical scheme (see previous post), that fumaric acid in the body is easily formed from succinic acid, and therefore, it was not tested separately. Succinic acid has been well studied for efficacy.
Also Schweckendieck, who himself was a psoriasis patient, started from the hypothesis that psoriasis is a mitochondrial disease, and he also performed this type of testing itself.
He did test, fumaric acid and found that this substance, as the only one of all other metabolites of the cycle, both orally and on the skin causes major reactions.
In the meantime, Schweckendieck found out that fumaric acid can only be formed of cis-succinic acid, and not by means of the normal (trans-) succinic acid. In the above schematic model (previous post), this distinction is not made. [For the synthesis of cis-succinic acid the Japanese T. Hara obtained in 1965 a patent].
According to his description fumaric acid caused erythema on his skin, and if taken in sufficient dosage, heat waves in the body (you bet it does....Caroline.). The publication of these interesting properties of fumaric acid by Schweckendiek in 1959, should have shaken the biochemists awake, if only it was for changing the name citric acid cycle into "Fumaric acid cycle".
A second argument is the special position of fumaric acid, because from there are three dicarboxylic acids synthesizable: oxaloacetic acid, malic acid, succinic acid and cis. Citric acid lacks this potential.
However, the name fumaric acid cycle despite the suggestion of Schweckendieck, never established and fumaric acid remained in the background.
Schweckendieck was disappointed that his groundbreaking discovery found no echo, but for him personally, it was obviously the most important thing. He could successfully treat his psoriasis with fumaric acid. There was a drawback in that, to achieve success quite a few grams of fumaric acid, at room temperature a crystalline powder, had to be used. That led to gastrointestinal complaints with Schweckendieck and brought him the idea to attempt the use of fumaarzuuresters as they by their lipophilic pool they easier penetrate the mitochondria than the acid.