Organogermanium: Potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system
Abstract Organogermanium, especially poly‐trans‐[(2‐carboxyethyl)germasesquioxane] (Ge‐132), has been known to enhance immune‐modulatory activities. However, the in vivo and in vitro evidence accumulated over the last 20 years reveals that Ge‐132 has unique but underappreciated multi‐functional prop...
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Wiley
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Physiological Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70234 |
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| author | Kunihiko Aizawa Takashi Nakamura Yasuhiro Shimada Tomoya Takeda Junya Azumi Angela C. Shore |
| author_facet | Kunihiko Aizawa Takashi Nakamura Yasuhiro Shimada Tomoya Takeda Junya Azumi Angela C. Shore |
| author_sort | Kunihiko Aizawa |
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| description | Abstract Organogermanium, especially poly‐trans‐[(2‐carboxyethyl)germasesquioxane] (Ge‐132), has been known to enhance immune‐modulatory activities. However, the in vivo and in vitro evidence accumulated over the last 20 years reveals that Ge‐132 has unique but underappreciated multi‐functional properties that have a potential positive effect for the cardiovascular system. A hydrolysate of Ge‐132, monomeric 3‐(trihydroxygermyl)propanoic acid, forms a complex with a vicinal diol structure (i.e., having two adjacent hydroxyl groups such as the cis‐diol and catechol groups) that exists in ribose (e.g., adenosine triphosphate), catecholamine (e.g., adrenaline), and saccharide (e.g., glucose). Additionally, Ge‐132 enhances macrophage phagocytosis and the heme catabolic pathway by upregulating key enzymes that are responsible for producing cytoprotective molecules such as biliverdin and bilirubin during the process. These multi‐functional properties exert pleiotropic physiological effects after an oral intake of Ge‐132 such as anti‐oxidation, anti‐inflammation, anti‐hypertensive, anti‐glycation, and erythrocyte lifecycle enhancement, all of which appear to assist the cardiovascular system. Of those effects, the effects on the lifecycle of erythrocyte may have an important implication for maintaining optimal vascular function, augmenting the availability of oxygen by enhancing the elimination of senescent, and damaged erythrocytes as well as promoting erythropoiesis. Human studies are warranted to determine whether these beneficial effects observed in previous studies are translated into humans. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a6c8e6ce1cc84dc48c7adbae4d7492f1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2051-817X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Physiological Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-a6c8e6ce1cc84dc48c7adbae4d7492f12025-08-20T03:26:38ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-02-01133n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70234Organogermanium: Potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular systemKunihiko Aizawa0Takashi Nakamura1Yasuhiro Shimada2Tomoya Takeda3Junya Azumi4Angela C. Shore5Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences University of Exeter Medical School Exeter UKAsai Germanium Research Institute Co. Ltd. Hakodate Hokkaido JapanAsai Germanium Research Institute Co. Ltd. Hakodate Hokkaido JapanAsai Germanium Research Institute Co. Ltd. Hakodate Hokkaido JapanAsai Germanium Research Institute Co. Ltd. Hakodate Hokkaido JapanDepartment of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences University of Exeter Medical School Exeter UKAbstract Organogermanium, especially poly‐trans‐[(2‐carboxyethyl)germasesquioxane] (Ge‐132), has been known to enhance immune‐modulatory activities. However, the in vivo and in vitro evidence accumulated over the last 20 years reveals that Ge‐132 has unique but underappreciated multi‐functional properties that have a potential positive effect for the cardiovascular system. A hydrolysate of Ge‐132, monomeric 3‐(trihydroxygermyl)propanoic acid, forms a complex with a vicinal diol structure (i.e., having two adjacent hydroxyl groups such as the cis‐diol and catechol groups) that exists in ribose (e.g., adenosine triphosphate), catecholamine (e.g., adrenaline), and saccharide (e.g., glucose). Additionally, Ge‐132 enhances macrophage phagocytosis and the heme catabolic pathway by upregulating key enzymes that are responsible for producing cytoprotective molecules such as biliverdin and bilirubin during the process. These multi‐functional properties exert pleiotropic physiological effects after an oral intake of Ge‐132 such as anti‐oxidation, anti‐inflammation, anti‐hypertensive, anti‐glycation, and erythrocyte lifecycle enhancement, all of which appear to assist the cardiovascular system. Of those effects, the effects on the lifecycle of erythrocyte may have an important implication for maintaining optimal vascular function, augmenting the availability of oxygen by enhancing the elimination of senescent, and damaged erythrocytes as well as promoting erythropoiesis. Human studies are warranted to determine whether these beneficial effects observed in previous studies are translated into humans.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70234arteryblood pressurediabeteserythrocyteinflammationoxidative stress |
| spellingShingle | Kunihiko Aizawa Takashi Nakamura Yasuhiro Shimada Tomoya Takeda Junya Azumi Angela C. Shore Organogermanium: Potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system Physiological Reports artery blood pressure diabetes erythrocyte inflammation oxidative stress |
| title | Organogermanium: Potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system |
| title_full | Organogermanium: Potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system |
| title_fullStr | Organogermanium: Potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system |
| title_full_unstemmed | Organogermanium: Potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system |
| title_short | Organogermanium: Potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system |
| title_sort | organogermanium potential beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system |
| topic | artery blood pressure diabetes erythrocyte inflammation oxidative stress |
| url | https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70234 |
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