What Are Alkylglycerols?
Basically it's important to understand that alkylglycerols are a unique fatty nutrient with a wide variety of purpose and possibility for your body. Though they were first studied for their involvement and boosting in the immune system, they are now moving into a broader context of basic cell nourishment for health. They easily become part of cell membranes and participate in cell signaling. New science is beginning to explain their diverse functions in supporting good health.
Alkylglycerols are a type of lipid called an ether lipid. Lipids are fatty in nature. Lipids do many things in your body; they build cell membranes and perform cell signaling. All of the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) are different kinds of lipids. Alkylglycerols are a fatty-like lipid nutrient. Ether lipids are lipids in which one or more of the carbon atoms on glycerol is bonded to an alkyl chain via an ether (single-bonded oxygen) linkage, as opposed to the usual ester (double-bonded oxygen) linkage. It is these ether bonds that make alkylglycerols uniquely active as a type of fatty substance.
What you need to know
Alkylglycerols, alkylglycerophospholipids and their derivatives, commonly known as ether lipids, have been the subject of a lot attention because of their special physiological functions in humans. Ether lipids have been used in the therapy for cancer, since they are potent antineoplastic agents which inhibit growth, show antimetastatic activity and induce differentiation and apoptosis in cancer cells. Immune stimulators properties have also been attributed to dietary ingestion of these substances. They are located in the human body mainly in the cells of the immune system and in higher doses in human milk. Natural sources of alkylglycerols are ratfish liver oil, shark liver oils, dogfish and various other species of elasmobranch fish.
Other Positives
An improvement in offspring health status by ingestion of Alkylglycerols by pregnant mother has been observed; therefore, it could be of interest for optimization of the lipid diet during and after pregnancy. In the field of fertility, beneficial effects in vitro of alkylglycerols on boar sperm motility and fertility have been observed. Studies have shown that Alkylglycerols have been shown to stimulate that production of leukocytes (white blood cells) to normal levels and encourage the growth of antibodies. Alkylglycerols have also been shown to reduce inflammation in tests performed.
The Blood Brain Barrier
The transfer of a variety of chemotherapeutic drugs across the blood-brain barrier was shown to be increased dramatically by intracarotid drug administration in the presence of alkylglycerols. The blood-brain barrier represents the major impediment to successful delivery of therapeutic agents to target tissue within the central nervous system. Alkylglycerols are thought to be a very promising principle to facilitate the transport of therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier. Alkylglycerols increase delivery of compounds to normal brain and brain tumors.
Where to Find Them
The highest concentration of Alkylglycerols can be found in Ratfish Liver Oil. The Ratfish, or Chimaera Monstrosa, has up to 33% more Alkylglycerols than any other fish in the sea, including sharks. The Ratfish are related to sharks and were given this odd name because of it's long, pointed tail. The Chimaera Monstrosa can only be found in the deep, cold waters of the North Atlantic. A Norwegian company by the name of Rosita Real Foods is the primary global supplier of the fish oil and uses oil extraction methods that don't use heat or machines of which both can damage the Alkylglycerols.
More on Ratfish Liver Oil
Ratfish are extremely old. The species of shark-like fish are thought to date back 400 million years. They are found in all the world's oceans, residing close to the ocean floor at depths of up to 1,600 meters. The oil from the liver of the Ratfish has been used in traditional medicine for centuries by Scandinavian fishermen from Norway and the surrounding countries. The term ‘gold of the ocean’ was given to it by the Vikings and revered above all other fish oils. The oil was used for its strengthening effects, for the maintenance of general health as well as for specific purposes like speeding up wound healing and as a general remedy for ailments of lungs and digestive system. There was once confusion in regards to the relaton of Ratfish and skate fish. Research has shown that these 2 fish have very little in common. The Skate fish and Ratfish both have cartilage skeletons instead of bones, but that is where the similarities end. Skate fish oil doesn't come near the Alkylglycerol content of Ratfish Oil which can be as high as 33%. There is more in-depth research that can be found on this website which is an off-shoot of Rosita Real Foods.