Russel M. Jaffe - International Scientist of the Year

[ofonorow]

I am researching papers by Russel Jaffe looking for his references to support his contention that vitamin C is indeed a potent heavy metal chelator - at the proper dosage and at the proper pH, etc.

I am not paying to see this seminar report,
First Line Comprehensive Care. Part II: Anthropogenic Xenobiotics in Functional Medicine. Managing Persisting Bioaccumulating Pollutants: Toxic Minerals, Biocides, Hormone Mimics, Solvents, and Chemical Disruptors
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1543115005000554
but there is a good bio of Dr. Jaffe which includes this information:

Russell Jaffe is Senior Fellow of the Health Studies Collegium research foundation. He is developer of various functional methods from occult blood detection in early colon cancer screening to platelet dose–response aggregation studies in coagulation to the LRA by ELISA/ACT tests and plans, the d-penicillamine nutritional and toxic mineral assessment protocol, the ascorbate calibration protocol, magnesium uptake protocol, glutamine recycling protocol, among others. He serves as director of ELISA/ACT Biotechnologies, LLC and, PERQUE, LLC, nutritive supplements.

He is recipient of the International Scientist of the Year 2003 awarded by the International Biographical Commission of Cambridge, England to recognize his contributions to Biochemistry, Clinical Medicine, and Immunomics. He was recently elected as a Fellow of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry. He also maintains Fellow status in the American Society for Clinical Pathology, American College of Nutrition, American College for Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, American Medical Laboratory Immunology, and the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies. He is also a certified clinical nutritionist (CCN).

Looking for the background on using ascorbate to chelate heavy metals, found this paper,
Managing Toxic Metals, Biocides, Hormone Mimics, Solvents, and Chemical Disruptors
http://www.healthstudiescollegium.org/docf/HSC%20Jaffe%20chapter29%20Kohlstadt.pdf

Here is a Townsend Letter article that summarizes Jaffe's presentations (page 22 (5 of PDF)
http://abcmt.org/Metals%20in%20Medicine.pdf

Metals affect the DNA, messenger RNA, mitochondria, enzymes, hormones, free radicals and the
immune system. Dr. Russ Jaffe has neatly organized a few of the known mechanisms in his lectures. The following list of mechanisms is taken from these lectures.32 The toxicant metals act as: 1) metabolic uncouplers that cause bioelectrical short circuits; or 2) haptens that cause immune sensitizing of small molecules resulting in secondary autoimmunity; 3) enzyme inhibitors that
bind to active sulfhydryl sites; 4) agents for depleting glutathione and ascorbate and agents for decreasing adenosine triphosphate; 5) concentrating agents in the brain’s choroid plexus and kidneys; 6) inhibitors of thiamine (B-1) and pyrodoxine B-6); 7) inhibitors of glutathione binding, which leads to altered brain tubulin, disrupted nerve function and communication; betatubulin
disorders of the brain causing neurofibrillary tangles; 9) inhibitors of nerve cone growth with retrograde degeneration of neurite membrane; 10) the cause of most, if not all, aberrant biochemistry in Alzheimer’s disease brain in the case of mercury;33 11) a toxicant, in the case of mercury, that passes the placental barrier, allowing toxicant metal in the mother to be transferred
to the fetus; 12) an agent that decreases dopaminergic brain activity leading to neurodegeneration. These are 12 mechanisms by which toxicant metals affect our health. Together, Dr. Jaffe and Dr. Deth provide 13 mechanisms of toxicant metals. As more resources are poured into studying the basic mechanisms of toxicant metals, more mechanisms will be forthcoming.

But so far, I cannot find a paper to go with that wonderful video lecture of Dr. Jaffees. How ascorbate chelates heavy metals in the proper amount and environment. Help appreciated.

[ofonorow]

Discussion of his background at NIH
D-penicillamine in Toxic Metal Detoxification - Russell Jaffe MD PhD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY5h6tDF4iw

[ofonorow]

2010 version of the 2009 Jaffee lecture originally posted. This is a better explanation of how/why vitamin C works!

Russell Jaffe, MD, PhD discusses safe detox methods IAOMT 2010 Galloway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fnfa48mjL8

"Safer removal of toxic metals"

"complexing, mobilizing and safely excreting toxic metals"

"ascorbate loves to scavenge toxic metals.. double valent catons - such as lead, mercury etc will bind to ascorbate.

Original contribution: how much toxic metal can a gram (5 mmol) of ascorbate bind with a toxic metals. Conservative methods find a gram of ascorbate finds 10 mcg of Hg.

Ascorbate is the molecule cells like most... Cells accumlate ascorbate levels 30x over plasma

Typical populaton "calbibrates (ascorbate requirement) more than 10 g, and less than 130 g of ascorbate.

Ascorbate safely protects, mobilizes, complexes, and excretes toxic minerals.

60% in urine, 30% in feces, 10% in sweat

Healthy levels of magnesium/zinc are synergistic and assist ascorbate chelate (He speculates
because these promote a more alkaline state) How many in healthy alkaline state? Very few.

Sulphur sources in diet can help ascorbate (conjegation) toxic metals (lower the burden)

Objective: reduce oxidative stress

Always means buffered form of ascorbate (never acidic form) in this talk

Can find out alkaline status with First Morning Urine. Test for metabolic acidosis. 6.5 to 7.5 is
healthy range.

selenomethionine - the beneficial form of selenium - other forms do not work well.

To enhance extretion - selenomethionine and sulfur rich foods (eggs, onions, garlic, ginger, brassica sprouts)

sulfur rich foods promote GSH store

metalothionein - natures protection for heavy metals - combines with metal, frees mg/zinc, lower levels better.

ascorbate is the most effective way to raise GSH (Alton Miester was right all along) (min 27)

Minute 35 - Ascorbate Calibration method.

Healty - 1.5 g every 15 min
Moderately ill - 3 g every 15 min
Chronically ill - 6 - 12 g every 15 min

for two hours until "evacuation" - contrast with bowel tolerance, slow buildup, which can recirculate toxins! This will flush toxins.

http://www.PERQUE.com - ascorbate calibration procedure

After discussion of Sulphur foods - requirement,

talks about bioflavonoids/polyphenols

Lipoic acid protects the nucleus (antioxidant) (around min 52 )

Discussion why " ascorbate is never a pro-oxidant in biological systems. " (min 53)

[ofonorow]

Here is the same basic Jafee lecture - from 2008 .
Dr. Russell Jaffe discusses using Vitamin C for heavy metal detox IAOMT 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOZo0-vC93I

[randian]

Sulphur sources in diet can help ascorbate (conjegation) toxic metals (lower the burden)

Another use for MSM?

selenomethionine - the beneficial form of selenium - other forms do not work well.

Other than its general dietary properties, what does selenium offer for the detox program Jaffe is talking about?

Ascorbate Calibration method

Is this just a quicker way to find your daily bowel tolerance number?

[Lemonaid]

Selenoproteins have a high affinity with binding to mercury.

[ofonorow]

Good questions.

Sulphur sources in diet can help ascorbate (conjegation) toxic metals (lower the burden)

Another use for MSM?

I am compiling a list of questions for professor Jaffee - and this is a good one, since the implication that the sulfur atom is important. (However, thinking about glutathione - it is composed of 3 aminos, (Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide made up of the three amino acids cysteine, glycine and glutamate). The aminos cysteine (and methionine) contain sulfur, yet alone, they do not work like glutathione to attach to toxin and and emerge from the cell (detoxify the cell).

selenomethionine - the beneficial form of selenium - other forms do not work well.

Other than its general dietary properties, what does selenium offer for the detox program Jaffe is talking about?

Good explanation from Lemonaid.

Ascorbate Calibration method

Is this just a quicker way to find your daily bowel tolerance number?

Great question. All these years and just realizing the important distinction.

I have now watched all three of Russell Jaffee's hour-long lectures. Basically the same, (filmed a year apart.) Ascorbate Calibration does determine your requirement, but seems to be an detoxification method.

Dr. Jaffee's specialty is "heavy metal detoxification". His PHD thesis was on this topic. (He says he entered "this" field (vitamin C?) as a skeptic to debunk it.)

What I am understanding is that the concentration and intensity of oral ascorbate determines its ability to "complex", "mobilize" and "safely excrete heavy metal toxins" from the body. Jaffee said that calibration is different than bowel tolerance, because "slowly titrating to tolerance" will allow toxins to recirculate!

The implication is that his intense calibration method (at least 1.5 g every 15 minutes) will not! (Those with chronic illness would take 6-12 g every 15 minutes!)

And you thought our "surefire" cold remedy was intense!

[ofonorow]

Material I just posted in the Mercury Detox protocol thread, but should also be here in Dr. Jaffey's thread.

Apparently in the 80s, Dr. Jaffee introduce "ascorbate calibration" (from 1.5 g to 12 g of ascorbate every 15 minutes by mouth until the person expels water) because Cathcart's Bowel Tolerance introduces ascorbate too slowly throughout the day "allowing toxins to recirculate."

It is now my understanding that the "ascorbate calibration" procedure is really a method of heavy metal detox, (why someone renamed it C Cleanse) and I would suggest using it as described below (with the possible exception of people fighting diarrhea for another reason.) As a "one day cell detox program"... Which can go on weekly..

Here is the paper on Jaffee's calibration test: http://www.perque.com/wheybetterguard/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/PIH_History-Of-The-C-Cleanse.pdf

Birth of the C Cleanse: Personalized medicine

In the 1980s Dr. Russell Jaffe identified these needs and presented the Ascorbate Calibration now called the C Cleanse as the new ‘beyond bowel tolerance’ mechanism to identify individual acorbates requirements. Here, buffered ascorbates powder, mixed in water, is consumed in increments of 15 minutes till as if you had an enema (from within) and not just taken till the development of loose stools.

There are 3 categories of individuals:

1. Highly healthy, for whom ½ teaspoon or 1.5 g every 15 minutes until the Cleanse occurs
2. Moderately healthy yet unwell, for whom 1 teaspoon or 3 g every 15 minutes is taken until the Cleanse occurs, and,
3. Unwell/ill, for whom 2-­‐4 teaspoons or 6-­‐12 g every 15 minutes is taken until the Cleanse occurs. In this case, a feeling of fullness occurs before the final Cleanse. At that time, reduce the
intake to 1.5 g every 15 minutes continuing until the final Cleanse occurs.

Helpful tips/hints: If the cleanse is not achieved within 3-­‐4 hours, it is recommended to stop
and restart fresh another day at a higher starting dosage. During the process, there will be a point
where a fullness or bloating sensation may occur; reducing the dosage at that time is advised so as not to take more than needed to achieve the C Cleanse end point. It is important to remember not to stop at the point of fullness; continuing to the Cleanse is essential to find out how much of the helpful ascorbate is needed and to remove toxic matter promptly so that it does not recirculate.


A C C cleanse result of ≤4 g is a healthy one and a goal for many to achieve. It is not uncommon though to see results of 50, 75 or even 100 g before the C Cleanse happens. Performing the C Cleanse on a weekly basis is highly recommended and usually the amount initially increases per cleanse till a plateau is reached and then as efficiency of recycling ascorbates improves, less is needed to achieve the Cleanse. Once the C cleanse is performed, 75% of that amount is the suggested daily requirement, however, for many it may be difficult to do this initially as other digestive issues are concurrently present. So, in such cases it is fine to do anywhere between 5-­‐50% of the cleanse dose while digestive repair is initiated (See PIH Digestive Repair Guide for Prebiotics, Probiotics and Recycled Glutamine). For some, it may even be important to do 2-­‐3 months of concentrated digestive repair with a minimal dose of buffered ascorbate and then initiate a C cleanse once basic digestive competence has been restored.

Consult with your health practitioner about your situation.

Interesting Jaffey bio (to say the least) http://americannutritionassociation.org/sites/default/files/RMJBio_HSC_2-11.pdf
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[ofonorow]

Of Jaffe's video lectures, this is perhaps the most relevant to this disccusion of whether Dr. Jaffe was for or against ascorbic acid for metal detox.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibz0IHGNCCU (2009)

When he says he recommends ascorbate - "uses ascorbate ' found in foods," we can tell by the later discussion that Jaffe is talking about L versus D ascorbate, not ascorbic acid versus sodium ascorbate!

Regarding heavy metal detox.

Says L-ascorbate is the only "divalent cation" - found in nature.

With " vicinal hydroxyls"

Two hydroxyls on the same side of adjacent carbons - unique in nature, only L ascorbate has that

D-ascorbate does not.

"can be used for heavy metal detox with or without the "pulsed chelator" d-penicillamine"

Says references are in physical chemistry, (the affinity the divalent cation has for the various metals mentioned)

J. of Experimental Botany, 2002: 53(272): 1351-1365