Organic germanium Ge-132 supplement: benefits and advice

Organic Germanium Ge-132 is an organic germanium supplement typically used for its reinvigorating benefits. Naturally present in a number of foods, this trace-element has exceptional properties and is very well absorbed by the body.

What exactly is organic germanium?

Number 32 in the periodic table, germanium has the chemical symbol Ge. In its mineral form, this metalloid is found at very low levels in the Earth’s crust as well as in certain types of mineral ore.

It was first identified in 1866 in a Frieburg silver mine by German chemist Clemens Winkler, who named it ‘germanium’ after its country of origin. But it was only in the 20^th century that the semi-conductor properties of the germanium mineral were discovered, opening up a new era in the field of optics, infrared, electronics and photovoltaic cells.

Far removed from these technological applications, the discovery of organic germanium followed a quite different trajectory. In 1955, Japanese professor Kazuhiko Asai became interested in medicinal plants with an age-old history of use (reishi, shiitake, Korean ginseng ...) and their germanium content. His painstaking investigations produced striking results: all displayed the particular feature of having a significant germanium content.

The scientist was quick to understand the key role this trace-element played in the growth of these plants as well as in maintaining their cellular integrity, and predicted similar effects in humans, particularly in supporting immunity.

The advent of the first organic germanium supplements

It was in 1967, when he was approaching his 60s, that Professor Asai succeeded in formulating the first water-soluble organic germanium compound, the result of protracted efforts that had involved many ‘false dawns’.

Subsequently suffering from extreme fatigue and confined to bed, he decided to risk everything by experimenting on himself with his new formula. Just 10 days later, he had apparently regained enough energy to resume his daily walk, thus also demonstrating the absence of toxicity and side-effects of his discovery.

Buoyed by this success, he immediately founded the Asai Germanium Research Institute in order to develop organic germanium supplements for therapeutic use.

What are the benefits of organic germanium?

While the mineral germanium is known to be toxic for the body, the organic germanium isolated by Professor Asai has been shown to be safe and very well tolerated in numerous studies conducted between 1970 and 1980 (1).

We’d reiterate that many foods naturally contain germanium, such as garlic, shiitake mushrooms, celery, broccoli, chestnuts and the fermented drink kombucha.

Several large-scale studies have provided evidence of the benefits of organic germanium supplements :

• Clinical research was conducted to identify how germanium interacts with oxygen in the body, with the activity of Natural Killer cells and with production of interferon gamma (2).
• A study on mice infected with a strain of theinfluenza virus examined the potential of germanium and its immunomodulatory effect (3).
• Mammalian cells subjected to oxidative stress were also exposed to organic germanium to clarify its action, particularly its antioxidant properties (4).

What can you do to boost your immune system naturally?

The immune system is a powerful system of defence against external pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi…), but unfortunately, it tends to become less effective with age. It is also weakened by chronic stress, dietary imbalance or underlying diseases.

Here are some additional tips to help boost your immune defences:

• try to get enough sleep: good quality sleep maintains an effective immune system by encouraging T lymphocytes to migrate at night from the circulation to lymph nodes. This temporary withdrawal is thought to boost adaptive immune memory (5);
• adopt a healthy lifestyle: eat a balanced, antioxidant-rich diet, while limiting alcohol, and avoiding smoking, as these two factors alter mucosal and systemic immune systems (6-7);
• take regular, moderate exercise: physical activity exerts an immune-protective effect by maintaining good blood and lymphatic circulation. Take care not to overdo it though, as exercise that’s too intense can produce the opposite effect - those who over-train are at greater risk from microbial attack (8);
• try to relax properly: by avoiding stress whenever possible, you will prevent the formation of free radicals, unstable molecules which precipitate cellular ageing. One German study also suggests that high adrenalin levels may impede activation of integrins of T-lymphocytes, protein receptors which enable them to adhere to infected cells (9).

How should you take your organic germanium supplement Ge-132?

Studies conducted by the Asai Institute have shown positive effects with daily doses ranging from 100mg to 300mg of germanium, that’s 1-3 capsules of Organic Germanium Ge-132. Consult your therapist or doctor if you wish to increase your daily dose.

The best supplements to combine with Organic Germanium

Are you keen to improve your immunity by optimising the effects of your germanium supplementation?

Then make sure you have an adequate intake of vitamin C which supports good immune system function (10). Alongside a diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, try the supplement Triple C, which contains three forms of vitamin C as well as flavonoids for maximum absorption.

Primarily produced by skin cells from exposure to the sun, vitamin D plays an important role in our natural defences by supporting good immune function, yet is often lacking in the population, especially in older people (11). With its universally-suitable dose, the formulation Vitamin D3 1000 IU can be taken by everyone.

1. Cho JM, Chae J, Jeong SR, Moon MJ, Shin DY, Lee JH. Immune activation of Bio-Germanium in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with 130 human subjects: Therapeutic opportunities from new insights. PLoS One. 2020;15(10):e0240358. Published 2020 Oct 19. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0240358
2. Aso H, Suzuki F, Ebina T, Ishida N. Antiviral activity of carboxyethylgerma-nium sesquioxide (Ge-132) in mice infected with influenza virus. J Biol Res-ponse Mod. 1989 Apr;8(2):180-9. PMID: 2471817.
3. Wada T, Hanyu T, Nozaki K, Kataoka K, Kawatani T, Asahi T, Sawamura N. An-tioxidant Activity of Ge-132, a Synthetic Organic Germanium, on Cultured Mammalian Cells. Biol Pharm Bull. 2018 May 1;41(5):749-753. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b17-00949. Epub 2018 Mar 2. PMID: 29503400.
4. Besedovsky L, Lange T, Born J. Sleep and immune function. Pflugers Arch. 2012;463(1):121-137. doi:10.1007/s00424-011-1044-0
5. Sarkar D, Jung MK, Wang HJ. Alcohol and the Immune System. Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):153-155.
6. Qiu F, Liang CL, Liu H, et al. Impacts of cigarette smoking on immune respon-siveness: Up and down or upside down?. Oncotarget. 2017;8(1):268-284. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.13613
7. Nieman DC, Wentz LM. The compelling link between physical activity and the body's defense system. J Sport Health Sci. 2019;8(3):201-217. doi:10.1016/j.jshs.2018.09.009
8. Segerstrom SC, Miller GE. Psychological stress and the human immune sys-tem: a meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquiry. Psychol Bull. 2004;130(4):601-630. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.130.4.601
9. Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1211. Published 2017 Nov 3. doi:10.3390/nu9111211
10. Aranow C. Vitamin D and the immune system. J Investig Med. 2011;59(6):881-886. doi:10.2310/JIM.0b013e31821b8755