| abstract |
The invention provides the use of at least one amino acid selected from the group consisting of glycine, alanine and serine, or the physiologically acceptable salts thereof, in the preparation of a medicament or nutritional formulation for the diminution of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels in patients in whom said levels are elevated beyond those which mediate physiological homeostasis and local inflammation. Such diminution of TNF levels can i.a. be achieved by inhibition or diminution of: (i) tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production by macrophage-type cells; (ii) the release of TNF from macrophage-type cells; and/or (iii) the binding of TNF by TNF receptors. |