What does Bilirubin do to you?

Bilirubin is an important bile pigment and is one of the final products of heme metabolism, mainly derived from bovine bile (senescence red blood cells). There are two forms of bilirubin, one is free (unbound state) and the other is bound state. There are essential differences in the solubility between them. Unbound bilirubin is fat-soluble, insoluble in water, and easily soluble in organic solvents such as chloroform and methanol. Bilirubin is water-soluble and soluble in water.

Its core structure is linear tetrapyrrole. The unbound type is fat-soluble and water-insoluble due to intramolecular hydrogen bonds. It is neurotoxic and needs to be easily excreted after the liver is converted into a water-soluble binding type.

Its appearance is an orange-yellow or reddish-brown crystalline powder that usually decomposes around 192°C.

1.Strong antioxidant effect

The methylene bridge in bilirubin molecules is a key reduction site, which can directly react with free radicals and is oxidized into biliverin. Biliverin can be quickly reduced to bilirubin by the choleverin reductase in the cells, forming an efficient antioxidant circulation system.

Therefore, bilirubin can effectively neutralize reactive oxygen/nitrogen radicals such as peroxides, superoxides, peroxynitroso, and protect cell membrane lipids, proteins and DNA from oxidative damage. This protects lipids, and their lipid solubility allows them to be embedded in cell membranes and lipoproteins, prevent lipid peroxidation and reduce the risk of atherosclerosis.

In neonates, bilirubin acts as an antioxidant to combat oxidative stress caused by the hyperoxygenic environment after birth. However, for pathological jaundice, phototherapy or blood exchange is required to avoid keratinous jaundice (neurotoxicity). At this time, it is necessary to accurately balance its potential benefits and huge risks.

In patients with type 2 diabetes, bilirubin can neutralize hyperglycemia-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), protect pancreatic beta cell function, and reduce oxidative stress damage in diabetic nephropathy.so it can reduces complications of diabetes.

2.Anti-inflammatory effects

Bilirubin achieves inhibition of inflammatory signaling pathways may help reduce inflammation.

For liver disease protection, especially non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, it can inhibit the release of proinflammatory factor TNF-α by hepatocytes, thereby reducing hepatocyte damage.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, It is suitable for patients with rheumatoid arthritis you can take bilirubin-related products.But you must be taken strictly as doctor's advice, taking it by yourself may be harmful .By inhibiting synovial fibroblast proliferation, thereby reducing joint destruction.

3.Cardiovascular protection

By inhibiting oxidative damage to vascular endothelial cells, maintaining nitric oxide bioavailability and improving vasodilation function.

It can reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and delay atherosclerotic plaque formation. Mild elevation of serum bilirubin levels within the normal range is significantly associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), so it can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis.

Summarize:

Bilirubin plays an important role as a "guardian" in physiological concentrations, and its powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities provide protection for cardiovascular, metabolic systems, etc.

1. The benefits of bilirubin are only reflected in normal or mildly high physiological concentrations. Any bilirubin level significantly higher than the normal range is pathological and requires medical intervention.

2. Bilirubin is not only an important endogenous antioxidant, but also a neurotoxic metabolic waste. Its effect is highly dependent on the concentration and the site of existence.

3. Bilirubin is absolutely not recommended to try to obtain its "benefits" by taking oral or injecting bilirubin. Exogenous supplementation is ineffective and may be harmful. Its value lies in understanding its physiological role and may be utilized by regulating endogenous pathways such as induction of HO-1.

1. The most serious one is keratinous jaundice, which mostly occurs in the neonatal population. The neonatal serum is not combined with bilirubin >20 mg/dL, and blood-brain barrier insufficiency. Free bilirubin passes through the blood-brain barrier and is deposited in the basal nerve nucleus and hippocampus, which can lead to intellectual disabilities and irreversible nerve damage.

2. Side effects of other organ systems, liver and gallbladder system damage, kidney damage and gastrointestinal reactions.

During feeding of newborns, abdominal distension and vomiting will occur, and hyperbilirubinemia suppresses gastrointestinal motility.

3. Risks for special groups

Newborns (especially premature babies) and liver and renal insufficiency

Absolutely avoid exogenous bilirubin supplementation (whether orally or injected), which leads to extremely low bioavailability and uncontrollable toxicity. Strict physiological concentration range (0.2-1.2 mg/dL), if it exceeds it, it is harmful. At the same time, strictly follow the medical advice.

Note：

"This content is compiled based on existing research, and the actual results vary from person to person. Please consult a doctor to make a decision after making

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