Germanium: antioxidant and antihypoxant
Germanium (Ge)
Antioxidant and antihypoxant.
Germanium is a trace element that boosts the immune system, fights cancer, and reduces pain in the human body.
The daily requirement for the human body is 0.4–1.5 mg.
Germanium is well absorbed by the body (about 95%) and is distributed relatively evenly throughout the organs and tissues (both in extracellular and intracellular spaces). Germanium is excreted from the body mainly in urine (90%).
Biological role in the human body. In the human body, organic germanium has a wide range of biological activity:
- it has an antihypoxic effect – it ensures the transport of oxygen to the body’s tissues and, by transporting oxygen, prevents the development of oxygen deficiency at the tissue level, reduces the risk of developing so-called blood hypoxia, which occurs when hemoglobin in red blood cells decreases;
- stimulates immunity by suppressing the reproduction of microbial cells and activating macrophages and specific immune cells;
- has antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties (stimulates the production of interferon to protect against foreign microorganisms);
- is a powerful antioxidant – a blocker of free radicals in the body;
- slows down the development of malignant neoplasms and prevents the appearance of metastases (neutralizes negatively charged tumor particles, thereby inhibiting its development);
- regulates all valve systems of the digestive, peristaltic, and venous systems;
- reduces pain (germanium compounds stop the movement of electrons in nerve cells, thereby stopping pain).
Germanium prolongs the life of laboratory animals by 25-30%.
Synergists and antagonists of germanium. There is evidence of a synergistic effect between germanium and selenium.
Signs of germanium deficiency: development of osteoporosis, increased risk of cancer. Insufficient germanium in the diet is accompanied by damage to the bone matrix.
The main signs of germanium excess: skin irritation (upon contact with GeCl2, for example, with lignite ash), liver and kidney damage (at very high doses).
Germanium is necessary for: infections of various origins, general low body tone, recovery from illness, osteoporosis, treatment of anemia and immunodeficiency states.
Food sources of germanium: garlic, green parts of garlic, bran, beans, white mushrooms, tomato juice, fish, squid, mussels, shrimp, kelp, milk.
Garlic is the champion in germanium content among foods. It contains 750 mcg of germanium per 1 g of dry weight of garlic cloves.