Charcoal, Cholestyramine And Clay As Co-Binders Of Mycotoxins

The Multi-Mycotoxin Binder

Click Here For The List Of Other Toxin/Mycotoxin Binders

Using Multiple Binders Together

Some people are reporting the use of charcoal, clay and cholestyramine together and getting a synergistic effect. I am looking for research using two or more of these toether (or other binders) and I will post anything that is relative below. Although there is little research of the use of multiple binders at one time, the idea of using this way makes sense as each type of binder is more effective at binding specific toxins. The fact that many people do not know which mycotoxins are even bothering them, means using a mix of binders would seem a smart way to go. Many people do use multiple binders in every day practice.

So far, I have found an article looking at the use of charcoal, and cholestyramine used seperately, and together to lower cholesterol. It appears in this case the use of them together was slightly less useful than the use of cholestyramine by itself. However, 1/2 the amount of cholestyramine is being used, which would decrease the cost. The slight lessening of effect may be worthwhile in exchange for a decreased cost of using 1/2 charcoal. However, it is possible that just using the reduced amount of cholestyramine might give you the same results.

I have usually used cholestyramine by itself, however I do mix bentonite clay and zeolite with charcoal. I have to wonder with the clays having a more negative charge and the cholestyramine a more positive charge if they would end up binding each other to some degree. Let me know if you know of research or have personal experience.

Looking at cholesterol removal by binders is useful, as like the mycotoxins,  cholesterol is bound to bile and goes through the enterohepatic circulation. Cholestyramine is used to bind the bile and remove cholesterol and mycotoxins. In both cases it is through fecal elimination of the bile bound items. This is the reason I look at cholesterol binding research. I assume if something is able to lower cholesterol, it might be binding bile acids and therefore would help in removing mycotoxins. However, it is just a possible explanation and I can't know that for sure.

Bile acids by themselves have been shown to attach to some types of toxins and remove them also.

 

Research

Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1989;37(3):225-30.
Activated charcoal in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia: dose-response relationships and comparison with cholestyramine.
Neuvonen PJ1, Kuusisto P, Vapaatalo H, Manninen V.

Abstract
The dose-response relationship of activated charcoal in reducing serum cholesterol was determined and the effects of charcoal and cholestyramine were compared in patients with hypercholesterolaemia. In a cross-over study 7 patients ingested charcoal 4, 8, 16 or 32 g/day, and finally bran, each phase lasting for 3 weeks. Serum total and LDL-cholesterol were decreased (maximum 29% and 41%, respectively) and the ratio of HDL/LDL-cholesterol was increased (maximum 121%) by charcoal in a dose dependent manner. Ten further patients with severe hypercholesterolaemia ingested daily for 3 weeks, in random order, activated charcoal 16 g, cholestyramine 16 g, activated charcoal 8 g + cholestyramine 8 g, or bran. The concentrations of total and LDL-cholesterol were reduced by charcoal (23% and 29%, respectively), cholestyramine (31% and 39%) and their combination (30% and 38%). The ratio of HDL/LDL-cholesterol was increased from 0.13 to 0.23 by charcoal, to 0.29 by cholestyramine, and to 0.25 by their combination. Serum triglycerides were increased by cholestyramine but not by charcoal. Other parameters, including the serum concentrations of vitamin A, E and 25(OH)D3 remained unaffected. The changes in lipids only partly subsided during the 3-week bran phase. In general, the acceptability by the patients and the efficacy of activated charcoal, cholestyramine and their combination were about equal, but there were individual preferences for particular treatments.
PMID: 2612535 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

This article below is not research on a mix of ingredients, but it does compare clays, cellulose, yeast cell walls and charcoal.

Springer Plus - Open Acess
Evaluation of mycotoxin sequestering agents for aflatoxin and deoxynivalenol: an in vitro approach
Changsu Kong, Seung Youp Shin and Beob Gyun KimEmail author

Abstract
An experiment was conducted to determine the efficacy of mycotoxin sequestering agents for binding or degrading aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and deoxynivalenol (DON) by an in vitro method. Ten toxin binder products including 5 bentonite clays (bentonite A, B, C, D, and E), 2 cellulose products (cellulose A and B), a yeast cell wall, an activated charcoal, and a mixture product containing minerals, microorganisms, and phytogenic substances were used in this experiment. An in vitro procedure was used to mimic the digestive process in pigs. The binding ability for AFB1 of the cellulose products was less compared with the values of other sequestering products (p < 0.05). The percent adsorption of AFB1 by bentonite clays, cellulose products, yeast cell wall product, activated charcoal product, and the mixture product were 92.5 (average of 5 bentonite products), −13.5 (average of 2 cellulose products), 92.7, 100.2, and 96.6, respectively. The respective values for DON were 3.24, 11.6, 22.9, 14.4, and 4.3. In conclusion, most toxin sequestering agents used in the present study had potential to bind AFB1 rather than DON based on the in vitro study which simulated the pH condition of the gastrointestinal tract of pigs.

Full article found here.