Polyphenols and Aging

 

The world has come a long way from the 1980's when I remember a famous medical radio talk show hots arguing that the flavonoids and polyphenols in citrus and other foods were not essential nutrients and offered no benefit. A recent article titled The Epigenetic Link between Polyphenols, Aging and Age-Related diseases points out that polyphenols mimic the effects of caloric restriction on the DNA of cells in the body. Fasting or caloric restriction is generally accepted as one of the most successful means of prolonging lifespan and reducing the incidence of degenerative diseases of aging in both humans and animals.

Polyphenols do not change genes, but they change the way genes function through a process called epigenetics (this literally means "on top of the genes)." This highly technical article suggests that polyphenols not only slow the aging process but can also be beneficial in a number of health conditions including cancer, arthritis, heart disease, nerve degeneration, diabetes, lung and kidney problems, and Alzheimer's. After discussing many polyphenols, the article concludes "These polyphenols and many others provide evidence that polyphenol-rich diets may provide benefits to an organism's health and display strong anti-aging properties as well as attenuate the effects of various diseases."NeoLife has long been a leader in polyphenol research and has many products which include flavonoids and polyphenols including Tre, Flavonoid Complex, NeoLife Tea, Aloe Drink, and Super C.

Reference:

Link to article on polyphenols and aging. Arora, I., Sharma, M., Sun, L. Y., & Tollefsbol, T. O. (2020). The Epigenetic Link between Polyphenols, Aging and Age-Related Diseases. Genes, 11(9), 1094. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes11091094

Aging Vitamin D, Omega-3, and Exercise

 A major study out of Switzerland was recently published reporting that vitamin D, omega-3 fats, and exercise all slow the rate of aging. This three year study found that this combination slowed the aging process by almost four months. The report concluded, "In summary, our trial indicates a small protective effect of omega-3 treatment on slowing biological aging over 3 years across several clocks, with an additive protective effect of omega-3, vitamin D and exercise based on PhenoAge." The effect of omega-3 fats was the key nutrient they looked at, but the observation was made that vitamin D and exercise added benefit in an attempt to slow the aging process.

Over 2,000 individuals were involved in this trial. The researchers had done earlier studies showing the benefits of each of the measures in improving aging. This study looked at each of the factors individually and also all three collectively. The conclusion was that these health measures resulted in epigenetic changes to the genes. In other words, the genes themselves were not altered, but the manner in which they functioned was.

The researchers observed that "omega-3 alone reduced the rate of infections by 13% (ref. 22) and the rate of falls by 10% (ref. 23), and all three interventions combined had a significant additive benefit on reducing prefrailty by 39% (ref. 24) and incident invasive cancer by 61% (ref. 25) over a 3-year follow-up."

Amazing results like these provide a strong motivation to exercise and obtain adequate intake of vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. The vitamin D intake was 2,000 IU per day and the daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids was 1,000 mg per day. Exercise was done at home.

Reference:

Link to article of aging and omega-3. Bischoff-Ferrari, Heike A., et al., Individual and additive effects of vitamin D, omega-3 and exercise on DNA methylation clocks of biological aging in older adults from the DO-HEALTH trial, Nature Aging, February 3, 2025.

CoQ10 and Aging

 CoQ10 is a little understood nutrient by the average individual. It plays a crucial role in the generation of cellular energy. The energy factory of the cell is called the mitochondria. The generation of energy involves the risk of generation of free radicals which can damage the cells leading to chronic diseases including heart disease and cancer. CoQ10 is a fat soluble antioxidant that accumulates in the mitochondria reducing the generation of free radicals and protecting the cells. This nutrient has been shown to enhance the immune system and benefit individuals facing potential heart failure.

Ageing, poor eating habits, stress, and infection all affect the body's ability to produce adequate amounts of CoQ10. After the age of about 35, the body begins to lose the ability to synthesize CoQ10 from food and deficiency develops. Many researches suggest that using CoQ10 supplements alone or in combination with other nutritional supplements may help maintain health of elderly people or treat some of the health problems or diseases associated with aging.

Reference:

Summary article on CoQ10 importance.

 Covid and Pre-existing Conditions

Cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes are the leading pre-existing conditions that increase risk of death from Covid 19. Why are deaths higher in the U.S. than many other countries? Even though we have a highly advanced "disease" care system, our "health" care system is abysmal. The people of the U.S. have more pre-existing conditions likely to increase risk from Covid-19 infection than anywhere else in the world. It all can be traced to SAD (the Standard American Diet) of high intake of sugar, rancid and oxidized fats, and highly processed foods. Almost three out of four Americans are either diabetic or pre-diabetic by the age of 65. Next time you think about blaming a politician for deaths from infection take a look in the shopping baskets of people in America's supermarkets. It is appalling.

Good Nutrition Begets Good Nutrition

The regulatory machinery in the body that guides us to consume healthy foods that our bodies need requires sound nutrition. Roger Williams points out that Dr. Macy-Hoobler was the first to find "that children on a well-formulated diet consumed (by choice) less candy that those on a poor diet." Williams goes on to write, "In our laboratories at Texas we have confirmed this finding by giving rats poor and good diets in succession and noting their consumption of sugar-water. A deficient diet causes increased consumption, while correcting the diet causes a decrease in sugar consumption." Elsewhere Williams wrote, “no one who follows good nutrition practices will ever become an alcoholic.” Williams found that lack of any one of a number of nutrients could cause animals to binge on alcohol while restoration of the missing nutrients would often reduce of eliminate alcohol consumption.

Reference:

Williams, Roger, J., Nutrition in a Nutshell, New York: Dolphin Books, 1962, 20.

Roger Williams on Aging

"It would seem desirable on the basis of common sense for each of us as we age to favor our weakest member with the best possible nutrition for the cells and tissues involved in it....For the present, nothing can take the place of a well-rounded nutritional supply of everything that our body's cells and tissues need."

Williams was one of the first to describe the "Chain of Life" which makes life possible. The older we become the greater nutritional needs can become as body processes become less efficient. Attention to quality nutrition as we age can make the elder years more pleasant and less filled with suffering.

Reference:

Williams, Roger, J., Nutrition in a Nutshell, New York: Dolphin Books, 1962, 63.

 

A Cause of Aging

A paper by Robert Naviaus titled Incomplete Healing as a Cause of Aging triggered some thoughts on the importance of nutrition for long term health. He writes that "the cell is the fundamental unit of aging." This concept is probably not new to many who have been familiar with NeoLife over its history since 1958. The company early on adopted the concept of cellular nutrition. If the cell is the fundamental unit of aging in the body, what can be done to slow the process that leads to impairment and degeneration as we age? The obvious answer is optimal nutrition. But what is optimal nutrition? Let me make some suggestions. Optimal nutrition can not take place without provision of the nutritional "chain of life." This includes all nutrients essential for life processes. The number of nutrients considered essential has grown over the years. Today scientists recognize a number of essential nutrients and a wide variety of nutrients which can be considered conditionally essential or beneficial. NeoLife has always sought to provide these conditionally essential nutrients by providing nutrients as natural complexes based on foods rather than synthetic nutrients. The wisdom of this choice has been shown month after month and year after year for decades. A simple illustration. Years ago I heard a debate on natural versus synthetic nutrients. A prominent media physician ridiculed the idea that there was any importance to spending extra money for a vitamin C product which contained flavonoids. Today we know that flavonoids and polyphenols are among nature's most potent anti-cancer compounds. Nutrition is more than just supplying nutrients, however. NeoLife has long taught the concept of the Stages of Nutrition. This is discussed below. Reference: Article by Robert Naviaux

Growth Hormone and Aging

     Injections of growth hormone have long been a staple of anti-aging therapy. A recent study found that people in their 90's with naturally low levels of growth hormone appear to have a far better chance of living into the 100's. The lesson here might be that we ought to optimize nutritional intake and leave hormone manipulation to the inherent wisdom of the body if at all possible.
Link to article.

Aging and Protein

     Older individuals often lose muscle. Contributing factors are reduced appetite, preference for carbohydrate over protein, and decline in the ability to digest protein foods due to reduced production of hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes.
     Studies have shown that older men and women who use a protein supplement have greater strength and muscle mass gains when they exercise than those who do not use the supplement. Retention of strength for as long as possible is important as we age because muscle weakness increases the likelihood of falls and broken bones.
Reference:
 Evans WJ, Protein Nutrition, Exercise and Aging, J Am Coll Nutr, 2004;23(6):601S-609S.

Vitamin E and Aging

Vitamin E and Aging

Lack of vitamin E is often an indicator of poor nutrition. The vitamin is readily destroyed by food processing and is not particularly abundant in foods.

Researchers in Tuscany, Italy studied people 65 and older between 1998 and 2003 with regard to blood levels of different micronutrients. The researchers found that levels of vitamin E were most closely associated with physical decline associated with aging. The researchers wrote, "Although the findings from this epidemiological study cannot establish causality, they provide a solid base that low concentration of vitamin E contributes to decline in physical function."

Aging researcher Richard Cutler found that blood levels of two nutrients were predictive of lifespan-- vitamin E and carotenoids.

GNLD Vitamin E Complex has several unique features. It is water miscible which greatly improves absorption. It contains all 8 members of the vitamin E family along with associated factors found in wheat germ oil. It is almost impossible to find a food derived vitamin E complex on the market today.

GNLD Carotenoid Complex is also outstanding. It provides the complete spectrum of carotenoids as found in foods rich in carotenoids. One capsule provides an ideal profile of carotenoids. Testing by the USDA on this product showed a 37% enhancement in immune function in 20 days, a 5-fold increase in antioxidants in cholesterol, a 20% increase in the natural killer cells which help us fight off cancer, and a 44% reduced rate of oxidative damage in the tissues which is associated with aging.

To learn the full story about Carotenoid Complex follow this link to GNLDU.com.