Aggressive Supplements for Longevity

Antioxidants and cell-level nutrients

July 4, 2009

#1....Resveratrol
Resveratrol is the active ingredient in red wine that helps explain the French paradox, namely that the French typically eat a diet quite high in saturated fat, yet suffer a low rate of atherosclerotic heart disease. Resveratrol appears to work as a powerful antioxidant helping quench free radical damage in the body1, but also has a unique mechanism of action that may prove to have significant life extension properties. Resveratrol appears to help maintain healthy DNA and plays an important role in protecting cells.2

Resveratrol may produce benefits similar to caloric restriction (CR).3 The most powerful means of extending life span in animals appears to be through CR. While CR has not been shown to result in life extension in humans, some early studies suggest it may produce this desirable benefit.4 However, restricting calories by 30 percent or more is necessary to produce these benefits is very difficult for most people. Research has focused on compounds that affect SIRT1, the gene that seems most closely linked with life extension from caloric restriction.

One of the difficulties with resveratrol is that it is easily oxidized and difficult to absorb. Research suggests taking resveratrol with lecithin can enhance absorption;5,6 therefore, if you take a lecithin-derived phosphatidylcholine supplement, we recommend that you take it at the same time as resveratrol to enhance absorption

Coenxyme Q10
Your body produces Coenzyme Q10 at the cellular level to supply your daily energy needs and its natural presence is fundamental to life. As you grow older, fight disease or undergo other physical changes, your body's own level of natural CoQ10 drops. Supplementation helps the body meet its vital energy needs and continue to function properly.

But coenzyme Q10 is a difficult nutrient to absorb. Most supplemental CoQ10 comes in the form of ubiquinone, which is not biologically active in the body and must be converted to ubiquinol. Due to oxidative stress and the aging process, the natural conversion of ubiquinone to ubiquinol is seriously reduced. Taking preformed ubiquinol solves this problem.

Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant naturally formed in our bodies in small amounts. It is somewhat like a vitamin in that it needs to be supplemented in order to reach levels that are effective. It has been studied for more than 40 years and no serious side effects have been identified. ALA is unique in that it is the only antioxidant that is both fat- and water-soluble.1 This means it can reach virtually every cell in the body.

There is a significant degree of interaction between ALA and vitamins C and E. It has been found that ALA helps conserve both of these vitamins and promotes the effective interaction between them.2 It helps the liver in detoxification pathways for heavy metal pollutants.3

Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC)
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) is a naturally-occurring molecule that helps transport fatty acids into the mitochondria to be burned to create energy.4 Mitochondria are tiny organelles that are considered the intracellular powerhouses, as it is within the mitochondria that ATP, the universal energy molecule of the body is formed. ALC also has beneficial effects on the brain and mental function. The main benefits of ALC include its ability to help burn fat, its use as a smart nutrient and its ability to increase energy by maintaining ATP levels.

Phosphatidylcholine (PtC) is flexible phospholipid that serves as a major component of the cell membrane. PtC is found in higher concentrations in younger people, particularly in brain tissue, and, as an important part of the normal aging process, the amount of PtC in the cell membrane decreases.1 By taking supplemental PtC, you can reverse the age-related decline of PtC in your cell membranes and keep it at a youthful level.

Studies have found that PtC can aid memory and learning.2 PtC may also help promote normal skin elasticity and support healthy liver function. PtC has been used along with Apo A/1 Milano to assist in maintaining normal arterial cholesterol levels.

Phosphatidylserine (PS)
Dietary supplementation with PS has been proven to slow, halt, and, in many cases, even reverse age-related cognitive decline and memory loss. It also helps lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, the main hormone of aging.4 PS has been scientifically established to be among the most effective substances to consistently result in dramatic cognitive improvements and enhancements of other higher brain functions.

For Joints, Skin, and Vascular tissues

July 3, 2009

The most abundant steroid hormone in the human body—DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone—is primarily produced by the adrenal glands and eventually converted into male and female hormones (androgens and estrogens) by your cells. Although it is a precursor to other hormones, it has now been shown to have its own physiological effects.

Benefits of DHEA may include:

• Decreased stress1
• Improved memory2
• Relief of menopausal symptoms3
• Protection for strong bones4
• Enhanced libido5
• Increased lean body mass6
• Maintenance of immune system7

DHEA levels peak around age 25, then steadily decline by 50 percent in your 40s. By the age of 85, the body contains just 5 percent of youthful levels of this hormone, indicating a possible connection to longevity. Also known as the "superstar of the super hormones," DHEA has been shown to slow aging in some animal experiments.

Glucosamine: supposed to improve joint cartilage but in well-designed trials, it doesn't perform better than placebo for arthritis and osteoarthritis; but it has few side-effects and horses and dogs seem to respond well to it!

Vitamin E is the collective name for a set of 8 related α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols and the corresponding four tocotrienols, which are fat-soluble vitamins with antioxidant properties.[1][2] Of these, α-tocopherol (also written as alpha-tocopherol) has been most studied as it has the highest bioavailability.[3]

It has been claimed that α-tocopherol is the most important lipid-soluble antioxidant, and that it protects cell membranes from oxidation by reacting with lipid radicals produced in the lipid peroxidation chain reaction.[1][4] This would remove the free radical intermediates and prevent the oxidation reaction from continuing. The oxidised α-tocopheroxyl radicals produced in this process may be recycled back to the active reduced form through reduction by other antioxidants, such as ascorbate, retinol or ubiquinol.[5] However, the importance of the antioxidant properties of this molecule at the concentrations present in the body are not clear and it is possible that the reason why vitamin E is required in the diet is unrelated to its ability to act as an antioxidant.[6]. Other forms of vitamin E have their own unique properties. For example, γ-tocopherol (also written as gamma-tocopherol) is a nucleophile that may react with electrophilic mutagens[3]; and the tocotrienols having specialized roles in protecting neurons from damage[7], cancer prevention[8] and cholesterol reduction[9] by inhibiting the activity of HMG-CoA reductase[16-1];δ-tocotrienol blocks processing of sterol regulatory element‐binding proteins (SREBPs)[16-1].However, the roles and importance of all of the various forms of vitamin E are presently unclear,[10][11] and it has even been suggested that the most important function of vitamin E is as a signaling molecule, and that it has no significant role in antioxidant metabolism.[

CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) is a beneficial unsaturated fatty acid naturally present in dairy and meat products. Created in the stomachs of ruminant animals such as cows, one of the most potent natural sources of CLA is beef, with grass-fed livestock producing more than their corn-fed counterparts.1

Clinical research has shown that CLA is associated with loss of body fat.2,3,4 Doses of between 1.8 and 3 grams per day have been shown to reduce body fat in human studies, while preserving lean muscle mass.5 Supplementing with CLA as part of a healthy exercise and nutrition program may increase metabolism and aids fat burning potential, helping to maintain a healthy body weight over the long term. This fatty acid supports lean body mass and healthy adults can benefit from its ability to help regulate cellular energy intake and output, reducing fat composition particularly in the abdominal area.6,7

One study found that participants taking CLA were more likely to avoid seasonal weight gain and fewer of these individuals reported feeling negative emotions during the research period. These findings suggest that CLA can help reduce body fat while supporting a positive mood

Arginine changes into nitric oxide, which causes blood vessel relaxation (vasodilation). Early evidence suggests that arginine may help treat medical conditions that improve with vasodilation, such as chest pain, clogged arteries (called atherosclerosis), coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, heart failure, intermittent claudication/peripheral vascular disease, and blood vessel swelling that causes headaches (vascular headaches). Arginine also triggers the body to make protein and has been studied for wound healing, bodybuilding, enhancement of sperm production (spermatogenesis), and prevention of wasting in people with critical illnesses.

The omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA are the preferred brain fats. Essentially the only place you can obtain these fatty acids is by eating fish and other seafood. The old wives’ tale “Fish is brain food” is correct. If you don’t eat fish and consume other less desirable fats such as the trans-fats found in margarine or heated rancid fats such as are typically found when food is deep fried, your brain incorporates these fatty acids into its infrastructure. The brain does not operate nearly as well on these less desirable fats.5,6

Brain and Mood Group

July 3, 2009

These are for memory and mental balance.

GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system of humans and other mammals. It is needed to regulate neuron activity and is involved in many tissues and organs outside the brain as well as the regulation of muscle tone.1

During fetal development, GABA acts as a nerve growth factor and has an important role in sending signals that keep brain cells alive.2 It also regulates the growth and production of neural progenitor cells, which are similar to adult stem cells in that they can differentiate to become a specific type of cell.3

Synapses are connections between neurons that allow information to pass back and forth. GABA is integrally involved in the formation of synapses and is needed for neurons to properly exchange information.4

GABA Supplementation may help:

* Improve mood
* Alleviate anxiety
* Maintain healthy sleeping patterns

Vinpocetine is reported to have cerebral blood-flow enhancing[2] and neuroprotective effects,[3] and is used as a drug in Eastern Europe for the treatment of cerebrovascular disorders and age-related memory impairment

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is produced in the body from the amino acid tryptophan and is involved in nervous system health.1 It is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, sleeping patterns, appetite, sexuality, and emotional states such as anger and aggression.2,3 5-HTP increases serotonin levels in the brain, which can help promote a calm mood and healthy sleep patterns.

"SAM-e enhanced the effects of the treatment for people who were having little or no response to SSRIs," researcher Jonathan Alpert, MD, PhD, associate director of the Depression Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, tells WebMD.

Plus, the supplement is associated with fewer side effects, such as weight gain and sexual dysfunction, than conventional antidepressants, Alpert says.

SAM-e is a molecule that naturally occurs in the cells of our body. As we age, our bodies produce less SAM-e, so some researchers have suggested that replacing it with a supplement can beat clinical depression.